Wedding Shoot

Assisted on a wedding last week and working on the pics, have lots of them done but wanted to share one I particularly like so far. These guys OWNED!!!

Home from Auschwitz

I will not even begin to say i understand all of what i have seen today.  Today I visited Auschwitz, one of the biggest concentration camps used during the Holocaust, and the tour left me with so much to think about and to process.  Walking through the displays of glasses and combs and clothes and pots and pans and hair, seeing only a portion of what it represented.  I only glimpsed at a display of shoes of some of the children that had been gassed and burned - the punch i felt inside and the urge to just throw up left me walking past it without another look and a long time of silence.  Seeing pictures of some of the prisoners and the conditions the prisoners lived in.  I mean, come on, i have seen the movies, ive read the books, i was prepared, right?….WRONG!  to actually walk along the rails where the trains took the Jews and others captured, to walk on the platform shown in the movie Schindler’s List that countless stood on moments before their deaths, to walk through the barracks, gas chambers and crematoriums - words cannot express.

i am going to finish this random rambling and i hope to write more about it soon.

i will leave with one thought as i go, it seems as though many people leave very discouraged, and i can totally understand why.  i saw today one of the most depraved things man has ever done, the evil and just pure hatred is beyond imagination and discription.  but i was reminded of one very important thing.  through the depravity of ALL MAN God loves us, in fact He loved us so much so that even though we are capable of such evil He sent His son to die for us.  I am thankful for redemption, for renewed hearts and minds, im thankful for forgivness and love and grace.  i left encouraged by a God that knows my heart and my sin and loves me.

a rose stuck in the electric barbed wire fence between some of the barracks

Reading

I want to give a kid trying to decipher some stuff out a little affirmation….i read your blog.

im thankful to be keeping up with your journey as we are on different sides of the world.  I have been so blessed to share in this journey with you and i am thankful and honored to call you a friend and brother.

p.s. go read some calvin and hobbes…..seriously

IF

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
‘ Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And - which is more - you’ll be a Man, my son!

-Rudyard Kipling (1895)

been too long

so yeah…these things seem to come way too few and far between.  i bet you agree…well i actually wonder if anyone even reads these things.

where do i start?  what do i say?  out of all the stuff i have experienced what do i speak of?  the amazing kids, the crazy concerts, the salmonella poisoning, the trips to the castles, the trip to Vienna, the gypsy kids, the deep talks, the being lost about what to talk about?????  and thats only a few of the random thoughts that jumped into my head.  i guess i might make you mad and talk about a lesson learned instead.

when i heard that i was headed to a country that was predominantly atheist i just thought, oh ok.  with quotes ranging from 90% to 98% to 99.5% atheist it was something that really had no base point, coming from America, it was weird to think that people actually don’t even think about God.  Well its true and its trippy.  one school we went to, after talking to several hundred students, we heard of ONE Christian girl in the school, the others just didnt believe in anything.  Some have heard of Chrisitianity or spiritual things but to them its an old tradional thing that has no relevance in life today.  Many in not a malaciaous way, just have let the message pass by them.  To many here, Jesus is nothing more than the little baby that brings them presents on Christmas, yup, thats right, Jesus is Santa Claus out here.  How crazy must we sound trying to explain that He actually was a real man, who grew up, lived a sinless life and dies for our sins because He loves us so much and that gives us access to God.  Well pray for us, those conversations are coming up and the Lord has been mighty to move and start the discussions and to show fruit, to bless us with so many chances to share our faith and testimonies.  We have been able to partner with some amazing churches in the many cicites we have played in and help connect kids with them, the ministry here is so well done and so ripe.  so please pray for us.  trust me when i say I and WE miss you all.  thanks for reading.  time for bed

-iVk

So Many Books

This morning while I was reading some Charles Spurgeon after my study I came across the most perfect explanation of my feelings on there being so many books out there that many people say are must reads.  I get an awkward look when I respond that I have not read this or that book and have no desire to.  The usual response is very similar to this, “Well there is some truth in it, it gets you to think and you can find some good stuff in it.”

In C. H. Spurgeon’s message delivered on January 21st, 1855, titled Personality of the Holy Ghost, he speakes of the imense depth of the passage he was going to speak on; this is what he says:

“Old John Newton once said, that there were some books which he could not read; -they were good and sound enough; but, said he, “they are books of halfpence; -you have to take so much in quantity before you have any value; there are other books of silver, and others of gold; but I have one book that is a book of bank notes; and every leaf is a bank-note of immense value.”

I desire to spend the most time in the book with the most value, the one in which every ‘leaf is a bank note’.  Then maybe I will add some books of gold and silver.  But truly, there is not enough time for those halfpence books, you can keep em and read them if you’d like, but don’t get on me for not.

pax,
lj

Preach until…

Where the Wild Things Are

I can’t remember when i was this excited for a movie!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–N9klJXbjQ

blog update

    Currently it is just before midnight on April 22nd, I am sitting on a balcony with no guard rails with the most spectacular view of Usti, Czech.  Well its partially blocked by some trees but still its awesome.  I stopped myself right before I turned on my iTunes so I could truly appreciate the sounds of the city.  I can hear cars driving, the occasional train, the river thats not too far down the hill the house is atop, and I can hear the slight breeze.  I look up and see sparse clouds and many many stars, the moon must be on the other side of the house right now, but the lights are reflecting off the river quite nicely, and it smells….clean.  No smog, well at least not here.

    My apologies for the long over due update with things out here.  There are many things that are exactly how I expected them and it seems even more that are not even close.  For one, the communication is one that I kinda figured would be like it is.  When we are at our flat in Ostrava we have wireless internet all the time and its easy to check emails, facebook, skype and whatever to keep in touch but so far the places we have stayed while on the road have not had internet.  We found a KFC in a mall near one of the schools we played at had internet so some of the guys took their lap tops, iPhones and iTouches there to log on.  Today we actually had some free time at the YMCA we were doing afternoon activities at so the laptops came out again, it was awesome for many of the guys to be able to get in touch with people back home, to see the looks on their faces was sweet.  For me though, I checked my facebook and email after most of the kids were gone and I made sure to go to listen to a girl share her testimony as she had been satanist before.  For me, as many of you know, I struggle with staying plugged in, always being reachable, always texting, emailing checking messages and what not, but for me, the Lord really put it on my heart before I left as I searched phone company after phone company for a decent international phone service to not let myself be distracted.  I thought it was a crazy though and got support several times to take a phone, but over and over it was put on my heart that I would be distracted from the ministry in front of me with things back home.  To be faithful to Gods calling and those that supported me, I felt I needed to be available and not distracted.  So today I was glad to have left my laptop at the house and be available to play with some overly hyper gyspy guys and to support a young woman share her testimony in a country that is not very friendly to either.  Thank you for reading that ramble….if you did.

Now I continue.

    I will now try to bring you up to date with some of the things that have happened and what is going on.  The first week was spent getting to know the Czech team that is made up of the most amazing group of people, Daniela, Jana, Daniel, Milan, David and I know I am probably forgetting a few, but its late, so deal with it.  They are the main part of Exit Tour, which is what we are a part of, there are presenters and helpers who join us along the way for parts of the journey.  The first week was also spent with LOTS of practice and getting to know some other key people with Josiah Venture, let me tell you, the Czech people and the Word is so evident.

    Week two started and we were off no holds barred style, first tour included two weeks away from our flat in  Ostrava, which is now home away from home.  Complete with internet, food and a nice old lady neighbor lady that steals our laundry off the drying line to fold it and bring it by at a later time, long story with that one. Well we had a 6 hour drive to our first city, with the help of Jenny, the name we have given our GPS unit, we made it only getting slightly lost, not like yesterday when I drove the wrong way through Prague for 25K, but then again I was following Daniela as well, so I still blame her….i digress.  The set up is like this, Josiah Venture, through Exit Tour, has secured the opportunity to have a rock band, thats us silly, play at different high schools in several cities.  So first we travel to a city and meet up with some local small churches, thats all there is out here, to pray for the city and the students we will be in contact with.  We then wake up WAY too early, so far on school days the latest we have left is 6A, and you know how much I HATE mornings.  Well we head to the schools and set up the sound system and the kids start rolling in.  We have presented to well over one thousand students so far which is crazy when you think that something like this has never been done in the history of the country, kinda rad if you ask me.  Well the kids come into the gym where we are set up and then the Czech team goes to work, talking to the kids and having a great fun time just getting them involved.  Dizmas then plays a few songs, more talking and more songs, then the students are split up and go to different lectures, presenters mentioned above, I know this is random but thats how my brain works, so deal with it the lectures are everything from slavery, sex, drugs, the holocaust and others, well these lectures are presented by Christians so they all get to share part of thier testimonies with the students in the groups.  The groups of students rotate out and go to different lectures and activities.  Well when the students are with us, we get to show them a slide show of pictures of our team from home on many of our random adventures.  Its a way to share our lives with them and we also get to share our faith when we are talking in the groups, its awesome to hear some of the questions and see the students start to process the thought of God, SERIOUSLY I meant that, START TO PROCESS THE THOUGHT OF GOD. This country is truly an atheist majority, we presented in a high school with several hundred students and we knew of one christian girl.  Unlike the majority of America who say they believe in God and just dont do anything with that belief, the majority of Czechs just dont believe there is even a God.  So the chance to share is awesome and I dont want to miss out at all on that.  Please pray I am faithful with what is put in front of me.

    Well once the day at the school is finished we head somewhere for lunch and then afternoon activities, these are things put together by the local churches as a way to get students familiar with churches in their areas and to meet other Christians, and its another opportunity for us to hang out with students and share more about our lives and faith and answer any questions they might have.  The activities are so random its awesome, photography classes, dance classes, interview times, music lessons with the band members, to even just having fun playing rock band and wii.  We have seen how these times help make connections with young people and allow them the safety to open up and be more real.

    The week ends with a big free concert in the city we have been hanging out in all week, the students from all the schools know they are invited and they can bring their friends and family and whoever would like to come.  We go all out with lights and a big sound system, man I forgot how much work doing sound is!!  Thank you to Terry the englishman for the crash course in sound again!!!!!!  The last concert we had was attended by over 400 people and there was a clear gospel message presented and several hundred bibles given away.  THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS!!!

    One experience I must share before I freeze out here is from last week.  One of the last schools we went to I met this student, he was a tough guy that plans on being a soldier.  We chatted a little bit and seemed to be getting along ok, he was just a genuinely nice guy.  I incited him to the concert on Friday, and he said thanks but he had plans to party with some of his friends that night.  I left praying that he would show up, not much hope that he would though.  Well Friday night came, setting up was crazy but went smooth and when the concert began I felt a tap on my shoulder and it was my friend, he decided to bring his friend and check out the show.  We chatted a little during the show between songs and tried to make plans to hang out after.  We chatted for a bit after the show and then I got word we wouldnt be able to do anything after.  The bummed look on his face seriously broke my heart.  We chatted some more and I gave him a bible with a few of my favorite verses in and asked him to read it.  We talked some more and when it was time to take off, he did something that really surprised me, he leaned over and hugged me.  This tough high school guy did something in front of his friends and girls he had been hitting on that is not culturally normal for people here.  He let go and we said our goodbyes and what not then he hugged me again, this time tighter and he said that he didnt think it was a mistake that we had met.  I agreed and we went our separate ways, my heart was left there, heavy.  I wish I could say he gave his life to the Lord right then and there but thats not the case, we have chatted some on facebook and he said he has read some but he is not a beliver, so I am encouraging him to continue reading and just being his buddy.  I am praying for the Christians in his city, that they be strengthened and encouraged to continue on the ministry they have, they are truly a small bright light in a dark place.  Please keep them and us in your prayers.

My toes are frozen and im sure you are bored reading this.  I will write more later.

first day….is almost over

i only have a few short smiinutes for internet so here is a quick post - sorry for the bad spelling and grammer.

so yeah, after the long drive to the new city we are in (when i can ill look up the name and actually spell it out, Jaime calls it Checky Booty) we had a prayer meeting with the local churches about the week ahead, then we went out for dinner, amazing coffee here, and i think i got some awesome shots.  ill upload them as soon as i have a chance to go through them.  Bed at about midnight and then woke up at 130 when Matt showed up with Terry, the English dude who is AWESOME, and our luggage.  after i finally got to take my contacts out and back to bed at about 200 or 230 my wonderful alarm went off at 5A to start he day.

Here is a brief run down.  Set up for the concert was so smooth and the students were phenominal.  It was awesome to share stories about our lives at home, but to hear about what things are like here for high school students, not much different actually.  All the guys did great, i truthfully cannot belive the first school show went so smooth, like crazy smooth, i know God was with us.  After the school part of the day was over, which constists of the band playing to a few hundred high school students, then the students breaking off to different groups, the groups then split up, some going to lectures on heath and stuff, another from this amazing old dude who i will mention more further down, and other group hanging out with our team and paying some games and than just sitting and talking, it was a great time to share our faith and hear about when is important in the students lives and country.

That part of the day was over at about 130P and we headed to a local church for some lunch and then off to activites that they have set up around the city to encourage the students to come out and get involved, I went to a photo workshop, some of the guys went to a hip hop dance workshop and others went to game time at another place.  basically it means more time to intereact with high schoolers to share life and faith with, SO AWESOME!!!

well its about time for me to take off now, i will try to write more later and maybe upload some photos.  hope all is well with you.

peace and blessings

LJ