Chitwood Updates: July 15-21

It's been raining a lot lately!

It was nice to have a "normal" week after the holiday programs of last week! Ken got busy preparing for his next course that he's teaching at the BCNZ - Interpretive method B covering kin formation, exegesis, and historical perspective from early church fathers to modern. It also looks at the steps from Biblical theology to systematic theology! phew! He has his hands full. It begins the 23rd, so he's using this week to get ahead.

Wednesday was another all music team meeting. This time I had representatives from each team (actually multiple people from each team) attending, so that was a blessing! We reported on the NOISE conference from June, discussed the services from the past month, and began a Bible study on worship which focused on Psalm 63 (worshiping God even when we don't "feel" like it. In this Psalm, David worships God as his sons are chasing after him to kill him! When we don't feel like the atmosphere in church is conducive to worship, we need to remember this Psalm for a little perspective!)

Thursday night was the PLT and Directors meeting. We missed last months (we were at the debate over God's existence) so it was great to get caught up with the other directors and ministries at the church. Please continue to keep the Manawatu parish in prayer as we are seeking another pastor to call...we're hoping that by September we will issue the call.

Friday night we had all the youth over for a movie marathon of Lord of the Rings! It's the last weekend of school holidays for the kids, so they were pumped to use it to stay up 11 hours watching the extended version! They came to our house, so I was able to sneak into our bedroom to get some zzzzs around 1am. :)

Saturday we went to Trinity to record some more songs - one of the youth came with us to record his bass in them. It was really fun. My goal is by the time we're leave in February, to have a cd of 10-15 songs copyright that I can give to some producers in the states! I'm viewing myself now as part time DPM, part time songwriter.

Sunday evening about 12 people came to the movie Bible study of the month - Hancock. It turned out to be an awesome study! The movie itself was about a superhero who wasn't the "norm" superhero (actually he was an alcoholic!) and how one man took an interest in him to help him become the superhero LA needed. After tea, Ken discussed with us the issue of God's calling, vocation, and redemption. Redemption was probably the biggest theme, since Hancock was seen as a superhero that was beyond helping. However, someone took the initiative to help him, and in the end Hancock was able to fulfill his vocation. Sound familiar? God takes us, people who are helplessly beyond helping, and gives us his Son to save us, and now we can live out our calling in Christ!

Monday it was sunny, so we decided to go on a short tramp! Although once in the bush, the clouds gathered round...but it was still a beautiful walk and great way to end our busy week.

The start of the tramp