New York And Some Random Thoughts

Greetings one and all. On July 4th, Lord willing, a family from church and I will fly to Syracuse, NY to work with Camp Hunt (www.camp-hunt.org) for one week. The next week after camp I plan to go around visiting a few churches that are looking for a minister or an extra minister. My plan after Sunset is not (repeat: is NOT) to be a preacher or youth minister. My deepest and greatest desires are in college campus and/or singles ministries, and/or community outreach ministry, and/or member involvement ministry. If any one out there reading this is part of a church (or know any one who is) looking for an extra minister focusing on any of those areas, please have someone on search committee look at this and to email me at blaisdellzack14@gmail.com. I have a resume and philosophy of ministry statement prepared to send out to any churches who would like to see them. I am loving my school time at Sunset International Bible Institute! If all goes well my class and I will graduate in May 2010.
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Now some totally random thoughts.

As everyone out there reading this knows, I LOVE sports and have to admit that I am a flip-flopper. Meaning I am an occasional fair-weather fan.
For example: I have been cheering for the Buffalo Bills since 1991 when they played in their first of four Super Bowls that they lost. That is, until they signed Terrel Owens (aka TO). He’s the best wide receiver in the NFL in my opinion, but I DON’T want him on my team. I promised my self a long time ago I wouldn’t ever cheer for him nor any team that has him. Sadly, that includes the Buffalo Bills. I have been cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers for a few years now, and will devote my full fan attention to the Steel curtain for the forseeable future.
Another example: In college football, I have loved the Nebraska Cornhuskers for a while now. But I also root for the Oklahoma Sooners as well. Those are my favorite and most dominate teams. I also root for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Colorado Buffaloes, Florida Gators, and Auburn Tigers a lot too.
In college basketball I cheer for the Duke Blue Devils, Kansas Jayhawks, and North Carolina Tar Heels.

In the NBA, my fan attention is only on the Dallas Mavericks.

In Major League Baseball, I cheer the Texas Rangers. If my Rangers aren’t in the playoffs, I cheer for the Boston Red Sox.

In hockey, I only root for the Dallas Stars.

I get way in to sports way too much and can get pretty boisterous. I’m currently trying to ton it down a little bit.

This has been way longer then I thought it would be. My apologies.

I hope and pray each of you has a great day today. God bless you all. Grace and Peace.

A Review of God Work: Confessions Of A Stand Up Theologian

While at Cameroon I read “God Work: Confessions Of A Stand Up Theologian” by Randy Harris. It was published in 2009 by Leafwood Press in Abilene, TX. Randy Harris is a Bible Professor at Abilene Christian University also in Abilene. The book has a total of 163 pages and 12 chapters. If I understand right this book is a collection of lessons Randy has presented over the years.
The first chapter is on doctrinal disagreement: must it be war (?). Of course it doesn’t, but way too many times it does.
The remainder of the book is broken down into four sections. The first section is Looking For God. In these three chapters Randy talks about God being in all things, that He works in all things. That we have the right to chose and God works in and through our choices that honor Him. We chose to have God part of our choices and decision making.
The second section talks about three theological explosions. These are the explosions of grace, experience, and presence. We all need God’s grace. When we get His grace, we experience Him, and His presence in our lives.
The third section is Navigating the Brave New World. This section addresses life after the death of humanity and the gospel after the death of truth. Life after the death of humanity talks about how society dehumanizes people. Even when we are trying to help people we end up putting them down and making them feel bad about themselves. In gospel after the death of truth, Mr Harris talks about the gospel in a world that says anything and everything goes. That there is absolute truth. And that truth is in the gospel.
And the forth section is The Kingdoms of Earth and the Kingdom of God. In this section Randy talks about God’s Kingdom trumps over all allegiances: to family, to country, to friends, and everything else. Randy talks about the power and powerlessness of all in society in general and those in political power. And lastly he talks about being an American or Christianity. There is a lot of good in the United States of America, but there is a lot about our country that goes against Christianity also. Our first and primary allegiance is to God and not to our country.
I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to any one. I fully endorse this excellent work by Professor Randy Harris.

Cameroon Trip

Greetings everyone! I returned from the trip to Cameroon, Central Africa. I went with four other men. Their names are Jim Corner, Kurt Simmons (both of these are from my home church), Michael Baker(from Laural, MD), and Josh Hardy(from Altoona, PA).
My group and I left June 9th and traveled to Paris, France on June 10th. We spent that day touring Paris. That was my first time to be there. Got to see Norte Dame and the Eiffle Tower. The Effle Tower was HUGE! I traveled to Paris, TX while going through AIM. Paris, TX has a much shorter Effle Tower that has a cowboy boot on top of it. The real Effle Tower was much bigger and was very impressive.
On June 11th we flew from Paris to Douala, Cameroon. We met with three Cameroonian preachers who we have known since 1996. There names are Jean (John) Claude, Louis, and Vincent. We spent a day in Douala through the 12th and went to our first ministry site in Ekondo Ti Ti. We stayed in a hotel there June 13th through the 16th. We traveled to different villages in and around Ekondo Ti Ti the 14th through the 16th. Jean Claude and I personally taught ten people with one person deciding to become a Christian. We were blessed to teach a Bible class and preach each day as well.
On June 17th we traveled from Ekondo Ti Ti to Kumba were we stayed through the 21st. We were going to split our time between two different villages. On Thursday the first place we were going to go apparently didn’t even know we were going to be there. We went out there and discovered the church there wasn’t prepared at all. So Jean Claude and I went to other villages were our teammates were working. In one place we studied with four precious souls and three responded to the gospel for baptism. The next day (Friday) we went to a different village. We studied with one precious soul and that one decided to become a Christian.
The next two days (Saturday and Sunday) Jean Claude and I got to spend time in one place. This village was called Three Corners Fiango. On Saturday Jean Claude and I taught a Bible class and taught one soul who decided to be baptized on Sunday morning before Bible class. On Sunday we taught a Bible class and Jean Claude preached. We taught another precious soul who decided to be a Christian. We preached one more time and the work portion of the trip was completed.
Monday we left Kumba and went down to Douala. Tuesday night we flew from Douala to Paris. We had a layover of four or five hours and flew from Paris to Dallas.
We arrived in Dallas a little bit before 3 PM Wednesday afternoon.
The trip was absolutely awesome! I loved making new friends and renewing the friendships we made the first time I went there.
Thank you all for thinking about me and praying for me.
I read a book while we were out there and will make a blog review of that tomorrow or the next day.
God bless you all. Grace and Peace.

Cameroon

Greetings one and all. Today is the day. Today four other guys and I will fly to Paris, France. We should arrive there tomorrow morning there time (June 10th). We’ll spend the day there and fly to Cameroon on the 11th.
I’m really excited about this trip! We’ll be working side by side with the Cameroonian brethren. We’ll be preaching and teaching, and the Cameroonian brethren will be translating for us. I’m really looking forward to this!
I will not take my computer or cell phone with me on this trip. I promise to report on what happened during the trip when I get home on the 24th (Lord willing).
Please keep us in your prayers. I get really worried while flying. We’ll be fine. This is going to be a great trip!
I’ll write about the trip as soon as possible after returning home. Thank you all for the prayers. God bless. Grace and Peace.

Weekly Update

Greetings one and all! My classmates and I finished our first year of the two year program at Sunset International Bible Institute at the end of May. My parents got into Lubbock Friday night to see Katie, Jacob, Allie, I. We packed my car and my parents’ van. On Saturday at noon we left Lubbock and drove back home. And it is so good to be home! Loving every second of it!
At this moment I don’t know how I did in my classes for school this last term. I am fairly confident about most of them, and extremely nervous about one of them. Just hoping and praying I past all of them!
On Tuesday, I leave for Cameroon. Really excited about this trip! I am part of a group of five guys. Three of us, including myself, are from my home congregation. The other two are from Maryland. We’ll be teaching the gospel using World Bible School materials. We’ll be working side by side with our Cameroonian brethren. These brothers will be translating for us. It’s going to be pretty cool!
Since being at home I have met my new baby nephew, Conner Blaze Chism. Super cute baby boy! Can’t wait to get to know him! I love being Uncle Zeebo to my two nieces: Mady and Allie and to my baby nephew Conner!
School starts back up on August 10th. I plan to take the Congregational Ministry courses, to hopefully develop my speaking skills (or lack there of), leadership skills (or lack there of), and church planting.
My personal hopes and goals in ministry are in church planting, leadership development, and campus ministry.
I don’t know where God would send me, but I want to be adequately trained to go wherever God sends me to and to do whatever God wants me to do. God bless us all as we go about these things!
I will post again on Monday. God bless you all! Grace and Peace.

Patrick Mead’s Blog

Greetings everyone! I read Patrick Mead’s blog for the first time yesterday. He wrote a GREAT post on the season of prayer he and his wife are currently in for themselves, their family, and the church they serve in the Detroit, MI area. I am absolutely going to pray for them, my family, church, and my self. As many of you know I have been attending Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock, TX. I have some ideas of what the Lord can use me to do, and places He would have me to go. But ultimately, I want to be adequately trained and be open to what the Lord would have me to do and where He would have me to go.
I highly recommend Patrick Mead’s blog. Check it out at www.patrickmead.net.
God bless! Grace and Peace.

First year done/Home/Summer Plans

Greetings one and all! Yesterday, my classmates and I took our last final exam for the current school year. Now I just hope I passed everything We are now done with the first year of the Sunset program. When we come back to school in August we’ll be second year students.
Today (Saturday) I will go home to Dallas with my parents. My Mom and Dad got in yesterday, and we plan to go back home today.
On June 9th through June 24th I plan on being in Cameroon, Central Africa for two and a half weeks. My group and I will be teaching the gospel using World Bible School materials. On July 4th through July 20 I plan to be in New York to help out with at Camp Hunt and check out a few churches and other areas for church planting.
Lord willing I will get to do all of that. I plan on leaving the computer at home when I leave on these trips. But will absolutely update on all my activities when I get back home.
I will miss my classmates while gone and will be praying for each of them while we are away from each other. I have missed all my family and friends and am very excited to see each of them.
Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me, financially supported me, sent me cards and letters, and been a friend and encouragement to me over all the years. I wouldn’t be here with out any of it. Thank you all so much for everything! Thank you from my heart to yours!
Can’t wait to see each of you very soon! Much love. God bless. Grace and Peace.

Happy Memorial Day!

Greetings family and friends! I hope and pray everyone reading this is having an awesome Memorial Day! Some of my classmates and I had a cookout at a park here in Lubbock. It was a lot of fun! A few of them brought some friends and neighbors of theirs. So it it was great to get to meet them. Hopfully we can influence them to come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
One of my friends and I met at the Sunset church building and drove over there. When he and I drove back to the building we listened to a great Christian song on the Christian radio station here. I can’t remember the name of the writer or what the song was called, but the words are very powerful! Especially the words to the chorus. The chorus goes like this, “My Savior loves! My Savior lives! My Savior’s always there for me! My God He was! My God He is! My God is always gonna be”! And it repeats those words about 3 or 4 times. If any one knows who sings that song, write me on the comments page. I love that song! It drives me to tears every time.
I talked to a few of my classmates at the cookout and they all have plans to travel on mission trips this summer. Two couples are going to India. One family is going to Brazil. A few others are going to Australia. And several others have plans of going to internships. Please be praying for us in our travels this summer as we go out to preach and teach. Please be praying for the AIM students today. One team impreticularly is going to their mission field in Leon, Mexico. Please pray for them to have a great experience there as they work with the mission team in Leon. I think the AIM team going to Salt Lake City, Utah arrived there a few days ago. Another team headed to the Mexico City area leaves July 15. I am not sure about the others. Please pray for all of them, that God will be with them as they work with the missionaries in their respective places.
Please be praying for those who just graduated from Sunset that God will use them powerfully in the churches that they are going to preach for and what not. Several of them formed mission teams and will come back to Lubbock to go through Advanced Missions at Sunset starting in August and going through December. Please pray for them.
Please pray for the new AIMers that will move to Lubbock to start AIM. And for those who will move to Lubbock to start at the school of preaching.
And finally please be praying for my classmates and I as we start our final exams this week. Thank you all so much!
I wouldn’t be where I am today without all the love and support I have received all of my life.
See you all in a week! Happy Memorial Day! God bless. Grace and Peace.

A Review of Hero: Becoming The Man She Desires

This book Hero: Becoming The Man She Desires is co-authored by Fred Stoeker and his son Jasen Stoeker. Fred is the author of Every Man’s Battle, Every Young Man’s Battle, and numerous other titles along the same subjects.

I absolutely loved this book! Hero follows on the heals of Every Man’s Battle and Tactics. This book is about setting boundries in yourself and in your relationships, especially dating relationships. Fred told how his father had been living to gratify himself sexually and that Fred himself was living to do the same. He said how he had done so until he made the decision to stop the tide. I can’t remember if he was involved in that lifestyle when he got married or not. His marriage is lasting and loving now, and that is applaudable!

This book says how Fred’s oldest son Jasen started living a disciplined lifestyle from the start of his teen years. Jasen had set up good godly guidelines from the start well before he had dating relationships with any girl. His lifestyle choices had led him to a great godly woman with whom he is now very happily married to. Most of this book is a journal of Jasen’s and his wife Rose’s thoughts and prayers their hopes, dreams, and desires well before they even met each other through their dating relationship, and into their wedding day. This book is also a tribute to their commitment to purety through out their lives into their marriage.

This book has sixteen chapters and 217 pages. Chapter one is called Victory. It is about Jasen’s and Rose’s  first commitment to sexual purity and the beauty of their wedding day.

Chapter two is called Baal and surveys the Old Testament and how God’s people so easily feel into sexual sin with worshiping this vile idol. Fred also draws in application to today in how the American society is falling into the idol of sex.

Chapter three is about idols as well and how easily the American society has made sex and everything tempting into sexual idolatry.

Chapter four is about how our society and our inability to control these desires and gratifications. It’s also more sad that so many fill their hearts and minds with sexual images. That definetly has to have a lot to do with the temptations and desires to fulfill their sexual desires after that.

Chapter five is about how even brethren get caught up in all of this too.

Chapter six is about all the pain all of this stuff can cause in our lives and our relationships.

Chapter seven is about disappointing (and even betraying) the girl that we’re pursuing because we get caught up in gratifying desires we should have never have been having in the first place.

Chapter eight discusses a woman’s needs.

In chapter nine we learn about a woman’s desires.

Chapter ten talks about making the decision to stop living in sin, setting and maintaining bounderies in our lives and relationships. It’s about looking for women who are living by these boundaries themselves and gaining the respect of the other.

Chapter eleven talks about how living right in these respects will bring about respect on both sides mutually for the other.

Chapter twelve is about picking and chosing women who live by your standards and ask that they live by yours.

Chapter thirteen is about running away from situations when she will not abide by your wishes for purity.

The fourteenth chapter is about not having fear but trusting in God to bring you the right mate at just the right time.

The fifteenth chapter is about doing hard things (the book by Alex Harris and Bret Harris ) and doing what God requires us to be doing.

And the sixteenth chapter is about how to live this lifestyle that God requires us to live by.

This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. No matter if your single and never married. Or in a dating relationship. Engaged. Married. God designed the sexual experience for the guidelines of marriage and no other place. God bless us all as we strive to live God-honoring lives.

School Is Almost Done

Greetings everyone! I have heard a few people at Sunset say that missionaries on support should be sending little posts every week saying how they are doing. I am going to do better at this from now on. We have two weeks left of school. This week is classes. The seniors are graduating on Saturday. A few of them will be leaving Lubbock to go work for churches as ministers and youth ministers. Some others are going to work on more education in various fields. Most of them have formed mission teams already and are going to stay in Lubbock and go through the Advenced Missions department at Sunset International Bible Institute. That is really exciting! The Missions department at Sunset says this is the largest class they have ever had for Advanced Missions. Also, I have heard there is a large number of those who are enrolling for the first year of the School of Preaching. And a large class coming in for Adventures in Missions (AIM) this fall as well. Exciting and challenging times at Sunset!

Most of you know about my summer plans. Lord willing I will go to Cameroon, Central Africa to teach the gospel using World Bible School material. I’m really excited about that! Also I’m planning on going to New York for a few weeks as well (July 4th through July 20th) to help work at Camp Hunt and check out a few places that might be looking for a minister or extra minister. I am thinking my real calling is State-side church planting. My goal, hope, and prayer is to accomplish that in a college community. I am thinking and praying about places in the Northeast and other places in the United States. 

In closing I just want to ask for prayers for my classmates and I to our first year strong. Please pray for us while we are traveling. For safety. For open doors for when we’re preaching and teaching we’ll be talking to people who are searching for more meaning in their lives and searching for God.

One last thing, I probably won’t take my laptop to Cameroon nor New York. I am very nervous about forgetting it there and most likely won’t see it again. So I probably won’t take it with me. But I do promise to post about the trips as soon as possible after getting back home from each of the trips.

Thank you all for your support, prayers, thoughts, emails, and for everything y’all do for me. I would not be where I am today without it. Thank you all from my heart to yours.

I’m making an effort to email more often from now on. Thanks again! God bless. Grace and Peace.