a happy thanksgiving eve from porto rafti

(sunet in porto rafti)

Today is our last day here in Porto Rafti. Today our school will be packing up from the conference center where we’ve been staying for the last four weeks, and leaving tomorrow by bus to travel to Corinth, where we will be until Saturday when we leave for Turkey. God has blessed us in our time here in Porto Rafti. Our schedule has been full, but it is apparent that he is bringing us to a deeper understanding of his character through the Bible.

Last week we spent in the book of Luke. It now makes sense why people consider it to be one of the most beautiful books ever written. I loved seeing the interaction of Jesus with those God put in his path, as he was a savior who associated closely with all people in all walks of life. Jesus himself said:

I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already good enough. Luke 5:32 (New Living Translation)

Jesus was not afraid to spend most of his time with the people that others thought to be sinners. He went into the places where the sinners (as the Pharisees and religious leaders called them) associated. He did not conform to their ways, but rather, he showed them a love that allowed them to transform their lives according to his grace. If we are to truly be preaching the gospel, it will be necessary to go into places that people may look down on; we will need to be intentional about ministering to the areas where “the sinners” associate. God isn’t looking for us to be clean-shaven and put together when we come to him; as Luke seemed to show, he is looking for those whose hearts are willing to take up their cross and follow him (9:23). We must acknowledge the fact that we are all sinners who are saved by God’s grace. When we understand this we will see that we are in no place to withhold that same grace from anyone, no matter what their background.

This week our speaker is David Hamilton, the Vice President of YWAM’s University of the Nations. He is taking us through the book of Acts this week. For this week, Dan Shannon and Andrew York who have been working with YWAM, and more recently Awaken Ministries in Northern India are also here to give us some added insight into the book of Acts. While we’re here in Greece, we’ve been going over the scriptures where the Apostle Paul was in Athens, which are found in Acts Chapter 17. Being in a place where the gospel had never before been preached, Paul found himself in a seemingly impossible situation. He didn’t know anyone, he had no connections, but God gave him the opportunity to debate with the Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers of the time. In those days, we’ve learned that Athens was the center for Philosophy and the Arts and Entertainment. All the latest ideas in thought and religion were sure to be floating around. Paul though, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit was able to come before these very lofty-minded people, and bring them the message of Christ in a relevant way. Paul said to these philosophers:

He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands cant serve his needs – for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need there is. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth… (Acts 17:24-26, New Living Translation)

Some philosophers laughed and scoffed at the idea of a resurrection, thinking Paul to be a babbler, but there were some that day who put their faith in Jesus.

(at the parthenon)

Yesterday our class went into Athens to view these places where the Apostle Paul went when he was here almost 2,000 years ago. We visited Mars Hill, the small, rocky hill where he debated with the Philosophers. We were also able to see the ruins of the Pantheon and the other temples that were devoted to the Greek Goddess of Athena. Though these were amazing works of engineering, it is interesting to see the ways in which the philosophies and beliefs behind those temples have not stood the test of time. The ideas have passed away, as has the work of mens’ hands in the buildings that have crumbled. Studying over just these last few weeks, I am so encouraged by the truth found in the Bible. Not only was God’s message applicable during the time of Paul; but it has also stood the test of time, persecution and controversy throughout the course of history, and continues to be applicable today.

(a view of the acropolis from mars hill)

(the parthenon)

(the agorra - the marketplace in the time of paul)

(the roman amphitheatre)

So it is true, Saturday we leave from Corinth and travel by boat to Izmir, Turkey. I am very excited to see a new side of God in a new country. As of right now, I don’t know how available the internet will be, but I will do my best to keep you all informed and updated when it becomes possible. Your prayers for safety and efficiency in travel are much appreciated. I don’t know what type of boat we will be taking, but please pray that myself and the team will be able to keep our stomachs settled for the duration of our Marine Quest for the land that is Turkey. Oh, and speaking of Turkey, I would like to wish you all a Pleasant Turkey Day, wherever you may be.

Tim.

New Wine for New Wineskins

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins. Mark 2:22

Spending the last week in Mark’s gospel, one of the ideas that impacted me the most was the idea of the new wineskins that Jesus talks about in chapter two. In the past, this has always seemed a bizarre verse to me, and I would often brush over it as something to leave for later. Here, Jesus is discussing with the disciples of the Pharisees and John the Baptist about the practice of fasting. Beyond just the idea of fasting, God brought to my mind a revelation of how the idea of pouring new wine into new wineskins can apply to the world in which we live, and the way that we go about sharing the message of Christ.

I am not an expert in theology, and I am not claiming to be. One of the things that is emphasized in this Bible course is that as followers of Christ, He has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit, who is faithful to bring the very insight of God to our human hearts. With this, even if we aren’t biblical scholars, as we seek God, he will be faithful to reveal himself to us in ways that we understand. So, I am not trying to state these ideas as something to quote in a research paper, but I simply desire to share with you all what God has revealed to my heart in these scriptures.

As a body of believers, we must be making attempts to bring the gospel to the spheres of society around us, in a way that is specifically relevant to those spheres of society. For each group we go into, we must bring the gospel in a way that will be most applicable to each group. Thankfully, we don’t have to figure this out on our own, as Christ already knows what will appeal to any group we are reaching. In Colossians it talks about Christ, “…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (2:3). Because all wisdom and knowledge are in Christ, he knows what is relevant to each sub-culture, scene, social atmosphere, generation, etc. and he will be faithful to reveal those truths to us through his Holy Spirit. God knows the type of wine that needs to be poured into each different wineskin. The gospel is a gospel of relevance. It is not old, it is not stagnant, and we must not portray it as such. The gospel is just as applicable to the life of a New York Stock Broker as it is to the homeless person they walk past on their way to work everyday. In each new area (the wineskin) to which we bring the message of Jesus, we must be sure to use the right wine to fill it, so to speak. The key is going to God to understand the proper approach.
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Porto Rafti has been an enjoyable place to study these scriptures, as it is very peaceful. It is definitely a huge blessing to be able to be away from the bustle and tourism in Athens, where Starbucks (a three story one at that) and McDonald’s (also three stories) are readily available. The weather has been getting a bit more extreme than when we first arrived here. It has been getting colder, very windy, and we’ve been having quite a bit of rain as well. Apparently this is the down-season for this area, as it the weather is getting colder and unsettled. Most of our weekdays are spent here at the conference center, with lectures in the morning, and then time for studying in the afternoons and into the night. In the next couple weeks, we will be going on excursions to Athens to have teaching on site at the Acropolis and Mars Hill, as well as in Corinth, so it will be nice to get to see a bit more of Greece.

This week we’ll be going through Luke. John Childers and his wife will be teaching us here again this week. It is such an amazing opportunity to be learning from people who have had so much different experiences in life, travel, and their ministry around the world. Looking at their lives, which have both been very impacted by the word of God, I am excited to think of the ways that these studies will bear fruit wherever I go or whatever I do. Thank you all for your prayers over the last week, they have been a huge help.

In Christ, Tim

Porto Rafti = Bibleville, USA

(The Mediterranean from Porto Rafti)

Hello everyone,

It has been a good week here in Porto Rafti. It now feels more like a home, at least a temporary home. This week we’ve begun our School of Biblical Studies (SBS) portion of the PhotogenX Track. Over the next three months, our school will be going through the core courses of the normal YWAM SBS, which usually lasts nine months. In these courses, we will be studying the bible, and we will even be studying on location in some of the places where parts of the bible were written here in Greece, and also later on the track when we go to Turkey, Egypt, and Israel. As a school, we desire to be taking photographs that be relevant in regards to issues that are taking place in our world. By studying scripture in depth, we believe that God will impart to us what his heart is for the things that are going on in our world, and this can then make its way into whatever photographs we may produce.

This last week, our class went through the book of Philippians. It was a lot of work, and a lot of writing journal observations, but I now feel so much closer with the ideas and heart that was put into this letter that the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi almost 2,000 years ago. A large theme in the book was unity, and Paul encouraged the church to “be of one mind” ( Philippians 2:1). I love the example he uses to portray how the church should go about promoting unity in their midst.

“5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV)

A lot of times we look at Jesus, and it is very easy to think that he was a very lofty leader who never associated with those of a lower class. But when we look at the scriptures, we see quite the opposite idea. He ate dinner with the tax collectors and other notorious sinners, he went fishing with the fishermen, and he washed the disciples feet. I find it interesting that Jesus, himself being the God of the universe, chose to reveal himself to us as one who served those around him. If the God of the universe has humbled himself to associate with us, how much more should we, created humans, choose to serve and be involved with the people and issues that surround us on a daily basis.

John Childers, the father of our school leader, Paul Childers, is here with us, and he will be giving us teaching as we go through the Gospels for the next two weeks. This week, we will be studying through the book of Mark. Over this next season of bible studying, I would greatly appreciate your prayers. I have been looking forward to learning more about the Bible, but even just going through the small book of Philippians, I was struck by how much work needs to go into studying God’s word. So, as we move onto studying bigger books, which will require even more reading and writing to process, please pray that I would be doing this by the strength that God provides me, and not on my own, weak, human strength. I know there are so many treasures in God’s word, and I want to be in a position where I allow myself to be affected by all of those treasures. Thank you for continuing to be a part of my life. I hope that I am able to pass on even part of what I see God doing in all these places.

Loving Jesus, Tim

(The Acropolis in Athens)