For today’s suggested journal promptings I am supposed to paraphrase a Psalm and to talk about “witnessing for the truth.”  So here we go.  My paraphrase is more of a prayer, I guess.

Psalm 15 (NIV)

 1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
   Who may live on your holy hill?

 2 He whose walk is blameless
   and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
 3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
   and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
   but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
   even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
   and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

   He who does these things
   will never be shaken.

Psalm 15 (My paraphrase)

All powerful God, how can anyone approach your glory?

Who are we to even presume to enter into your churches?

You desire for me to follow your path so closely that I am a man after your own heart.

Help me to do what is right, especially as it is difficult. 

Help me to speak truth and do not let my words wound another. 

Help me to love my neighbor as you love me. 

Help me to not despair in the face of evil, but to continue to hate evil and to turn to your power.

Help me to know how to honor and respect those whose walks are close with yours.

Help me to always be honest, especially about my faults.

Help me to be a good steward who is abundantly generous and does not take money from anyone.

Who can stand beside you?  Only those who have the Holy Spirit to help them be who you want them to be can.  Only those who walk in step with you will be unmovable.

As for “witnessing for the truth,” one thing our reading this week talked about how we are called to speak against evil.  This is a very hard thing for me to do.  When I speak to youth or preach, I have very little problem speaking about what the Bible teaches or what is right in God’s eyes.  However, I really am at a loss when it comes to addressing systemic evil.  I think specifically about alcohol, drug, and sexual abuse in the Native Alaskan villages.  I want to be a witness for truth, but I just don’t know of any other way than to keep doing what I’m doing.  I pray that God will help teach me and use me in the village of Unalakleet to help break the cycles of abuse.

This semester I am supposed to keep a weekly journal for one of my classes: “Journaling as a Spiritual Practice.”  As I journal, I am to follow the prompts that my teacher gives for different topics and entries.

In this first entry, we are to determine a time, place, and method of journaling that will work best for us.  For me, the best time is after the kids are asleep; sometime around 10pm.  The best place will be anywhere not in front of a TV.  The best method will be here on the computer, posting my entries on my blog to keep me accountable to make sure I am faithful in doing a weekly entry. 

Additionally, we are to complete the phrases, “I remember…” and “I do not remember.”  The instructions are open for interpretation.  So I am just going to write and see what comes out.

I remember the first time I set foot in Unalakleet.  It was 2001, right after Jr. High Fall Blast in Shaktoolik.  We had just had an awesome weekend of ministry; my first in the Bush.  This was my first taste of what God had called me to do with the rest of my life.  As we got on the plane to return home to Alaska Christian College in Soldotna, we flew the 60 miles south to fuel up in Unalakleet.  Curtis was with us.  I remember me, Milan, George, Jeff, Curtis, and Lucinda were there.  There were probably others too.  As we fueled up, we walked into the airport building.  I remember seeing the graveyard for the first time and looking out toward the houses in the village.  After spending the weekend in Shaktoolik, I remember thinking that Unalakleet was huge.  I remember wondering what it would be like to live there.  As we entered the building, we were greeted by many people, including Curtis’ parents.  I remember them especially because they gave Curtis a huge King salmon to bring back to ACC.  I bet it was 40 lbs. easy.  It was frozen whole and wrapped in a black trash bag.  I remember thinking it must be fun to catch those.  And now we are getting ready to head to Unalakleet as our new home.  I wonder what new adventures await us.

I do not remember a more relaxing time in my life than the past three weeks.  A trip to Hawaii and a trip to Chicago were an amazing time to be refreshed in this time of transition in our lives.  Even though I can hardly wait to get to Unalakleet, I am thankful for the down time that God has given us as calm before the storm.  I think I will be crazy busy this semester with a new ministry, full-time school, and a huge transition with my family.  This will be my last full-time semester of classes though.  After this I only have 3 classes left and a 6 week internship, location TBD.  I know that with Jesus I can make it…with Jesus I know I can stand…no matter what may come my way…my life is in His hands.  (That was a Gospel Choir song we used to sing).