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Back To Africa!

Africa1_036My heart is staring to morph the closer we get to heading back into Uganda after a two year absence. My community of faith has sponsored close to or over 200 children through World Vision in one area of Eastern Uganda called Kasitu.

Two years ago, when World Vision had just opened this ADP (Area Development Project) I was able to see the germ stage of transformation.

I also met Godfrey Baguma, a boy I sponsor from the village…I am excited to see him and his family again, and what has grown, changed and transpired in the last two years.

The team I am bringing in is excited, nervous, scared, full of faith…every human emotion is bouncing off the walls of their hearts as they prepare for the unpreparable!

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We leave on Monday the 30th…so pray for the team! As I go over our schedule, it looks like I will have a couple opportunities where there is electricity and internet connections before we journey  from Kampala into Kasitu. I’ll have another connection when we get back out of Kasitu and debrief before heading into Kenya and the Serengeti…I will try to upload some shots and type out some thoughts if at all possible.

When I get back I’ll process some of my thoughts and jot down my ruminations and God-mmoments on the blog for you to interact with!

May God show you more of His reality in the days ahead, as I am sure I will experience some "other" moments of clarity and confusion!
Illuminate Deo,
Monty

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New Man Old Man

Gollum I loved the Lord of the Rings Trilogy…one of my favorite moments is in Two Towers where Gollum is having it out with himself…you get a vivid picture of the Old Man New Man imagery of New Testament.

The battle within every human who breathes to render or hang up the previous way of life and put on Christ, or the new way of life. This is perhaps one of the most frustrating areas of the spiritual journey…how do I put away the old and put on the new…how do I live and journey in the way of the master when my ego continually tries to resurrect and take control?

Do I work real hard and reform the old me? Do I work real hard and try harder to create a new me? But, this is the beauty of what it means to be "In Christ" the new you is already done…Jesus did it for you…you don’t create it or improve it…you become it.

Watch the clip and listen to the pod-cast when it goes on!  Download Gollum-Smeagol.mov

Are you ready to jump and exclaim with Smeagol/Gollum "Smeagol’s Free!" The journey to freedom is found "In Christ" He is your freedom, He is your ticket!

It’s time to stop creating your own super improvement program and begin moving into the transformation that is already yours In Christ…your role is to move into it through faith and mercy.

No formulas…no theological tricks…rather it’s an identity change… a new wardrobe…a new you! So celebrate the smallest of changes, thank God for His graceful transformation.

As you see and celebrate each small change…the eyes of your heart will begin to see spiritual sights that you have never even imagined!

This journey rocks!

Illuminate Deo,
Monty

Posted on

New Man Old Man

Gollum I loved the Lord of the Rings Trilogy…one of my favorite moments is in Two Towers where Gollum is having it out with himself…you get a vivid picture of the Old Man New Man imagery of New Testament.

The battle within every human who breathes to render or hang up the previous way of life and put on Christ, or the new way of life. This is perhaps one of the most frustrating areas of the spiritual journey…how do I put away the old and put on the new…how do I live and journey in the way of the master when my ego continually tries to resurrect and take control?

Do I work real hard and reform the old me? Do I work real hard and try harder to create a new me? But, this is the beauty of what it means to be "In Christ" the new you is already done…Jesus did it for you…you don’t create it or improve it…you become it.

Watch the clip and listen to the pod-cast when it goes on!  Download Gollum-Smeagol.mov

Are you ready to jump and exclaim with Smeagol/Gollum "Smeagol’s Free!" The journey to freedom is found "In Christ" He is your freedom, He is your ticket!

It’s time to stop creating your own super improvement program and begin moving into the transformation that is already yours In Christ…your role is to move into it through faith and mercy.

No formulas…no theological tricks…rather it’s an identity change… a new wardrobe…a new you! So celebrate the smallest of changes, thank God for His graceful transformation.

As you see and celebrate each small change…the eyes of your heart will begin to see spiritual sights that you have never even imagined!

This journey rocks!

Illuminate Deo,
Monty

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Mountain Men

Prayer_over_the_valley_october_2006_033On the second Saturday of every month, there are men from my community of faith who gather together to pray. 

This month we had groups of men on three different mountain tops…strategically timed to summit together, pray, share communion, and just simply enjoy being guys!

This group of wild men are sitting on top of Mount Si, doin’ some hang time on the haystack. You know, in this day and age, it seems that men have abandoned the incredible God-adventure that they were created for, and have instead, traded that adventure in for the mundane, or at best for a few, the religous.

What pumps me up about the men I hang with, is that they are engaging full force, with every ounce of testosterone in their bodies, into the adventure that God has for them. No mere behavioral religion will do…no these guys, like me, long for more…yearn for more…and are out there on the edge with God experiencing more!

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It’s not about climbing or any one thing, but rather about realizing that playing it safe is risky…it’s risky for your faith, it’s risky to your relationships…and it’s risky for your heart. When a man ceases to engage His God with all that he is…and plays it safe, doing the 9-5 bit with a soccor game and maybe a church service thrown in for jollies…the result is a shriveled heart, a bored mind, and an apathetic life.

I am proud of the men who found their way to the top of Mount Si…Rattlesnake Ridge…and Snoqualmie Point…Not only did they step out, but they sought the face of God for other men who are trapped in a world they were not made for…men fighting for men to be free. The heavens are
exploding with praise!

Illuminate Deo,
Monty