i get by with a little help from my friends

Yesterday, at Orientation, we looked at different stories of "call" during our morning Bible study. We were to pick a story that interested us and answer some questions pertaining to it. I chose the story of the calling of the disciples as told in Luke 5. It's a wonderful story. Christ tells Simon Peter to cast out the nets, nevermind the fact that they haven't caught anything all day, and the haul is nothing but enormous. Christ then tells the discples that if they give up their possessions and follow Him that He will make them fishers of men. Needless to say, the discples do just that.

One of the questions that was given to me on the passage simply asked me to write down words and phrases that stuck out. I hadn't thought of breaking down a passage in this way before and it proved to be an incredibly useful tool. I wrote down "because you say so, I will," "called their partners for help," "don't be afraid" and "left everything and followed." I think these phrases work well together to tell the story of what a calling from God often turns out to look like. First, we choose to take the course of action that we do because we perceive that God has told us to do so. Second, we go forward in confidence knowing that God will help us and does not want us to be afraid. Lastly, we often give up comforts, peace of mind, even relationships to walk the path He has layed before us.

I've addressed three of the phrases I wrote down about the passage but purposely left out "called their partners for help." For a long time I thought that a calling from God was an individual thing. He would lay it on my heart to do something and I would go do it. It was my responsibility. I realized yesterday that this is not the case. The disciples are told by God to throw their nets into the sea, but they are not able to bring them back in by themselves. They have to call for help. The job that God gave them is much greater than what they can handle alone. Through this passage and the preparation for this YAV year, I have realized that even though God has called me to serve in Northern Ireland, I cannot do this alone. And the evidence of this is overwhelming. When Kendra and I needed to raise $16000, friends and family came forth and helped us take care of that. When I've needed pick-me-ups because I've begun to understand what I am leaving behind, a kind email arrives in my inbox encouraging me to go forth and live out what God has planned. Your support has been enormous and I thank you for the help you are giving me in my calling. Blessings and peace!

nearing departure...

In a short time Kendra and I will be flying to YAV orientation in Stony Point, NY. About 30 hours to be more precise. I'm getting nervous. After a week in Stony Point we'll fly to Belfast, Northern Ireland. About a year later, we'll fly home. This blog will be the story of our time overseas loving God's people and learning about ourselves, His plan and what amazing things can happen when we simply get out of God's way and let them.

I've been putting off starting this blog for some time. Tonight I'm putting off sleep so the blog is finally getting its due start date. I've decided to name the blog "put your hand in the hand" a reference to the old gospel song. I love the line from the song "take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently by putting your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee." When we are willing to walk side-by-side with Christ, then we give up our identity as part of the society. We give up that identity that is thrown on us by this world and we become like Christ in that we can begin to see other people for what they are truly worth and who they truly are, not for the ways the world labels them. Because I am trusting and hoping that God will open my eyes and heart in ways that allow me to see other people through His eyes, I thought this would be a fitting title for my blog.

This first entry is just going to be a short one. I hope you'll take the time to continue following my blog and Kendra's blog (http://belfastbulletin.blogspot.com) through the year. I would also like to thank all of you who have supported us financially and with your prayers. At this point we have raised all of the money we have been asked to (about $16000 for the two of us) but donations will still go to further offset the costs of sending us abroad through the program. Thus, if you would like to give and haven't, please do by going to http://gamc.pcusa.org/give/E210109/ and making a donation. Most importantly, please keep us, the people we will be working with and all of the Young Adult Volunteers serving in the States and abroad in your prayers. Thank you again for your love and support. Blessings and peace!

Karl