no land in sight

I have had one busy week. Packing, closing down my pending obligations, and trying to fit as much time in with family and friends that is humanly possible. I have not been entirely successful at the latter, however, that will change over the next few days. I am just about finished with my packing, and now I can begin to focus on the people that I cherish and love.

I have still been able to maintain my strict routine, despite all of the life changes I'm going through. Every morning I arise to make breakfast, watch the headlines, and then off to the gym for a couple of hours. As most of you know, I exercise at a retirement community, which has been such a wonderful experience for me. I chat with the old people while I bike, I "help them" with some of their weight lifting techniques (I think they want to have someone to talk with more than anything else), and afterwards us old guys go down and play volleyball or share war stories. The knowledge base that the elderly have is simply amazing! I gain such insight just by listening and laughing with them.

I first walked in to that gym thinking, "Okay, I'm the young guy here and I feel good being able to run circles around these crippled people". It's true, I can lift ten times as much, run eight miles faster, and do more crunches in one sitting then they'll do in the rest of their lives. But over the course of time, the opposite has occurred: I have learned from them. Crazy how that happens, isn't it? I thought I was better, only to be given a quick reminder of a valuable lesson.

I don't know if it's because I have California constantly on my mind, but all I can hear from God right now are lessons on trusting in Him. One of my favorite authors, Oswald Chambers, put it this way: When we have an idea that God is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal; He is not.

I never understood what he meant by that until the other day when I read through the passage of Christ walking on the water. Jesus was out there, through the chaos, through the storm, and with the disciples who had no land in sight. God was not working toward a particular finish; His end was the process. I realized that I must look past my obstacles in life and be able to see Christ walking on the waves, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea. If I have a further end in view, I am not paying sufficient attention to the immediate present. It is the process, not the end which is glorifying to God.

Lord, I pray that I can focus on you, watching your calm eyes even though the waves of life are overpowering my little boat. I love you Father. I will depend on you and your power right now.

"And straightway He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side..."
~Mark 6:45

Sunday School

I know that around this time of year we are concentrating on the birth of our Lord, His sacrifice for us, and the redemptive plan He has for our lives. Here in America we are free to do as we wish, worship God in the streets, even singing Christian music out loud in the middle of a supermarket (as I often do).

Oversees missionaries often do not have such opportunities. There are many parts of the world where things we take for granted such as Sunday School are outlawed. Keep them in your prayers. For many, their Christmas will be spent in the confines of a cold, damp jail cell.

Read this story to find out more.

the one con

This past week has been quite amazing for me. Have you ever had a time in your life when you thought you knew where you were going, what you were supposed to do, and why you were in a particular place? I thought I had it all figured out. I thought that God had allowed me to remain in the Michiana area while I continue my education and ministry opportunities at GCC.

However, this proved to be an incorrect assumption. While I was working in Kalamazoo this past week, I received an email from the highest levels of my command, informing me that I was to attend language school out in Monterey, CA. "How could this be?", I thought. I was sure that God had answered my prayers the week before when my school was cancelled. It wasn't until I called my command that things started to make sense.

I spoke to the woman in charge of handling the schools. She said, "I don't know why, but you are getting through the system. You shouldn't be going, but you are. There must be some reason for you to go." That last sentence made me think. Do I truly believe there is a divine purpose to everything? Is my life being formed by God even as I type this post?

I would find out later that my acceptance to this school for a second time is extremely rare, almost unheard of. You see, the regulations state that SOCOM will only pay for one language per soldier. Since I've already studied and graduated from a language, it should be impossible for me to get another. Yet I'm going. How is this possible?

So here I am. Ready to go, but hesitant to leave. I will truly miss my friends at GCC. They have become like siblings to me. I will miss our dinners after church, the laughter as we share our crazy life stories together, our intimate moments of worship and Bible studies, the enthusiasm of participating in Oasis and Sun City Kids, long hilarious days at the beach, Friday night movies, roadtrips, laughter, fun, enjoyment, fellowship.

When I discovered I was to attend DLI (Defense Language Institute), I made a list of pro's and con's for going. On the list, the pro's far outnumbered the con's. Almost two to one. I thought, "Well, this proves it's better for me to go, I shouldn't complain". Then my aunt told me, "Jonathan, it doesn't matter how many pro's you have. The one con of 'homesickness' can defeat all the pro's on that list." And she is right. I know that there is a grand purpose for me to go. But it will not diminish the fact that I am going to be homesick for my dearest friends while I'm out there. I am sure that Paul missed his family and friends while he was on his missionary journeys. I'm sure he despised creating those close friendships, only to depart months later. The one thing I can learn from Paul is that he had his eyes on the endstate. He knew that he was fulfilling a heavenly purpose despite his feelings.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Lord, you love is eternal; do not abandon the work of your hands.
~Psalm 138:8

a new ab machine

I think one of the things I enjoy doing most in life, besides attending GCC, helping out with it's ministries or reading through Ephesians, is exercising. I enjoy it so much because I have so much built up energy that I just need to release. Maybe it's that time of life I'm going through, not quite sure, but it just feels good to vent all of the energy I have on my weight machines. My favorite part of my exercise routine has become my abdominals. I don't know why, but over the past two months, I have become obsessed with toning and mastering the art of ab workouts. I have seen many parallels between my exercise life and my spiritual life. I saw one yesterday that was so blatant that I just have to write about it today.

My gymnasium received a new ab machine last week. It's awesome, you sit in this chair and bounce all over the place while your abs are being stretched . . . trust me, it's cool. When I approached the machine, I thought, "Okay, I'm a professional at abs, have been for years, this machine . . . it is nothing to me". I sat in it, it seemed easy, however, by the same time the following day I realized that I had jumped to an unfortunate conclusion. Yep, my abs were hurting, so bad that I was hardly able to sit down straight (you know how you kind of bend to the side as you sit, yeah that was me).

The point that was presented to me is this: Sometimes I think I am an expert in a particular field, only to realize that I'm not, that it has become a painful process, and God is intent on growing me in that area.

In the past I would sometimes think, "Well, the going's getting tough, so it must not be God's will that I'm here". I have since learned that this is completely unscriptural. Now I believe that Christians should live above life's circumstances, not be guided by them. I once heard a motivational speaker say, "You may have to set sail by the tide, but you'd better be guided by the stars." It's true that circumstances may have an effect on my plans, but I have a far greater accountability to God. I must follow Him, not the tide of circumstance.

Each time I go back to that gym, I face off with that machine, as if it's my arch-nemesis. I have now put that painful machine in my exercise routine three times a week. Hopefully, given a little time, the pain will turn to strength!

I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am
~Phillipians 4:11

our struggle

Well, I spent last night almost in tears reading some of the hateful words written about GCC and its ministry. I found this website through a friend's blog and after reading it for over a half-an-hour, I came to the realization that there is definitely a battle going on. And it's happening right under our noses.

I have been attending GCC for 8 months, and in that short amount of time my spiritual life has grown by leaps and bounds. I have been warmly welcomed into a small group, been to Core Class 101 (enrolled in 201), listened to sermons that have stirred my heart in ways I never thought, and participated in various church ministries such as Oasis and Sun City Kids.

I still find it hard to believe that there are people, Christian brothers and sisters, who despise GCC. Why? I'm not quite sure. But it's a scary thing to read their hateful words. I actually found myself angry at them. I wanted to give them a piece of my mind. I had to stop, breath deeply, and forgive them, confessing that it was wrong to think such ways (I actually had to say Galatians 5:22-23 and Eph 6:12 a few times). I had to remind myself that our battle is not against our fellow man, but against the dark rulers of this world.

I had considered not including the website in this posting, because I was unsure of its effects to those who read it. But after I finished reading it for myself, I realized that it is important to understand that we must be vigilant and aware that the Evil One is out to destroy the ministry of GCC. If you haven't begun praying for our church leadership, now is the time to start. As my friend Dr. Hovind says, "if you don't want to shoot, you can at least carry bullets".

THE ANTI-GCC SITE

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
~Ephesians 6:12

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
~Galatians 5:22-23

guide my steps

Have any of you ever been so excited about God and doing His work that you don't want to do anything else? I have been experiencing that a lot lately, just by being at GCC. Being involved with nevaeH on Sunday's, Oasis on Wednesday's, and helping out with Sun City Kids have really been a blessing in my life. I have also begun the try-out process for the drama team. Things are really beginning to cement in my life, and it feels good. It feels right. I know that God is beginning to use me in the areas He has gifted me in.

I was driving back from church last night, thrilled after working with the middle-schoolers and seeing their excitement for God. I turned off my radio and I prayed, "God, I know that it probably isn't possible, because I have a course reservation to go to California in January and study Arabic with the military, but you know my heart, and you know that I enjoy working for you here at GCC. Please God, if it be your will, let me stay. Let me find a good job here, and keep me where you have begun to plant me."

Then it happened. I opened my email today and found a letter from my military liason telling me that it was a mistake that I was scheduled to go to Monterey. WHAT?! Could this be a sign from God? The night before I had prayed that if it be His will for me to stay, then the door would be closed. And here I am, not 12 hours later, staring at an email telling me to stay.

If it ends up that I don't go, I still have a lot of things I need to work out, like finding a job, a place to live, etc. But one thing's for sure: I will allow God to guide my steps, being sensitive to His leading, not my own. I am going to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, even though I don't know where He is leading me.

One of my favorite authors, Oswald Chambers, put it best when he said, "The disciples loved Jesus Christ to the limit of their natural capacity, but they did not understand what He was after."

I covet your prayers during this period of transition; when I am leaning on the Lord, not understanding exactly what He has in store for me.

driving around Tikrit (Iraq letter)

Iraq Correspondence: 18 June 2004

Well, another week has passed. It seems to be going by so quickly. You know what they say. "Time flies when you're in an Arabic country far from home". I think that's how the saying goes.

Each Friday is my team's maintenance day, a chance to work on our vehicles. Chan and I take our vehicles down to the motorpool and then the mechanics tell us what new and interesting things are wrong with it this week. We've both been taking an active role in the repairing of the vehicle. So much, in fact, that the mechanics are letting us do most, if not all, of the work. I can repair fly-wheels, starters, alternators, oil filters, air filters, etc. It's actually become some what of a hobby for me. Anyway, so yesterday I take my vehicle down and they tell me that the half-shaft was popped out of socket. I had never worked on a half-shaft yet, so I said, "that doesn't sound too good". The mechanic, understanding I wasn't mechanically inclined, said, "No, it isn't. I'm surprised you didn't lose control and drive off the road. You're really lucky." I said that it wasn't luck, but God's providentialism. I'm always amazed at how God takes care of us. This was an example when I should have crashed while driving around Tikrit, but God is always at work around me, and wouldn't allow that to happen. We had Bible study last night and the topic was miracles, and God's provision. Interesting how God brings circumstances to coincide on the same day you read about them in the scriptures.

Happy Father's Day dad. Tomorrow, in celebration of father's everywhere, my battalion is going to have a cookout. It should be a good time. The personnel/records sergeant for my battalion, had 3,000 waterballoons mailed to her. Also on the schedule are many games of volleyball. It looks to be a very relaxing, enjoyable day.

The picture I've included is one of myself and Boyd out in Tikrit, cooling down by eating some of the local's ice cream. Some of the 1st Infantry Division soldiers that go out with us refuse to eat anything on the economy. They claim that they will get extremely sick. I've been eating everything from ice cream, to what I believe were lamb intestines, and nothing has happened to me. Maybe I've just been lucky.

One of the main nuisances here are the power outages. We have about fifteen a day. Sometimes they last for a few seconds, other times they last for hours. I have compiled a "top ten list" of worst times power can go out. And number ten . . . .

10. While you're running around base and suddenly all the street lights go out, so you have to cautiously walk back to your barracks (which could be a couple miles away).

9. During chow, when you can't see what you're eating (or how big it is) until it's in your mouth.

8. When you are watching the news and the power shuts off right during one of President Bush's speeches.

7. When you're on the phone to someone at home, and the line suddenly goes dead.

6. When you're in the middle of a briefing to your commander, and suddenly you lose your power point presentation (I knew I should have printed those out, as a backup!)

5. After five minutes of running on the treadmill, and it goes dead. You worked up a sweat, but you didn't get an exercise.

4. When you're in the middle of watching a Kent Hovind DVD.

3. When you're in the shower and the water stops, while you're lathered up.

2. When it's hot and you really need the air conditioner to work.

And the #1 Worst time power can go out . . . . .

1. When you're taking a dump. "Did I get it all?"

Thank you all for your prayers. God is at work. It is very evident. I am definately being "pruned" by God right now. Things to pray for: That I can grow closer to my major. That an opportunity will present itself to speak with Chan about Christ. He needs to hear it from a different angle, then what I've been approaching him with. Please pray for wisdom in this area.

Love in Christ,
Jonathan

"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

~John 15:2

submitted for approval (Iraq letter)

I have decided to close out my Yahoo account. I know, it's crazy, but I'm beginning to enjoy this blogging thing. It has allowed me to connect with people on a level that I never thought possible. I can read people's daily activities, understand who they are, and actually talk with them about topics that they are concerned with! Amazing.

I have had a lot of experiences in my life. Some exciting, some dangerous, and some just plain boring. Over the next few days, I would like to share some of these with you. Most of these I found on my yahoo account, in my saved file, and I wanted to permanately keep them, and I thought that putting them on the blog was the best way to do that. I'll start with some of my Iraq correspondence:

Things have been going well over on this side of the world. Tikrit, thankfully, is a very quite place right now. Attacks have been minimal, and casualties have been few and far between. We credit most of the improvements to the fact that we are pumping a ton of money into the Iraqi economy. Now, I don't know about you, but most people I know have never held two million US$ in their palms. We are approving projects here in the 1/4 million to 1/2 million dollar price range. New schools, new roads, new hospitals. Each day I am astounded at how much money is being contributed to the reconstruction effort.

What is the Civil Affairs role in all of this you may ask? (Some of you are asking what civil affairs is, that's my job.) We go out each day and meet with the locals to ensure that the commanders mission is being accomplished (reconstruction efforts), and that projects are being proposed and submitted for approval. It's amazing to think that the work of forces in Iraq today will have a drastic effect on foreign policy between America and Iraq in ten years. The way that we impact these children and young adults here will determine if they grow up to become "bad guys" or democratic, free thinking adults.

To get a bit more personal, I find much enjoyment in what is being accomplished here. My dad has informed me that the news back home is filled with anti-war sentiment. I've seen some of that, in what little news I get here, and it saddens me. The other day I heard Al Bore, I mean Gore, talk about how "American forces have no idea what their mission is over there, and commanders are not instructing them on proper procedures". He was referring to the prison abuse. Well let me say that we have a very good idea of what our mission is and I for one feel very well trained in my profession. We are here to win the war on terror and free an oppressed people. What better mission can there be than that?

All in all, things are going well. My faith in the Lord has brought me through many difficult times here. He is very good, and blesses me richly each day. I look forward to seeing you all soon, and will maintain contact through this newsletter.

Love in Christ,
Jonathan Anderstrom

"I will be strong and courageous,
I will not be terrified, or discouraged.
For the LORD my GOD is with me
Wherever I go."

-Joshua 1:9