The Chronicles of Janie

Worship was standing in the living room , singing hymns from red-covered hymnals. Picking out new tunes on the old organ, we tried to create harmonies with a handful of people who were more (or less) musically gifted. I memorized the words before I learned how to read them. Worship was a guitar and a djembe and unfamiliar choruses projected (with more or less accuracy) onto a screen. Sweaty, dirty, exhausted people sang their hearts out, hands lifted high. I kept my hands at my sides and wondered what I'd gotten myself into. Worship was the sunny spot in the woods where I was completely alone. Where, at last, God taught me that I could worship with my posture as well as my words. Inch by inch, my hands went up as I reached out to the Father with whom I was just becoming acquainted. Worship was singing into a microphone, in front of other people , and hearing God ask me to lift my hands and worship Him there. I closed my eyes to shut out the faces and, tremblingly, obeyed. ...

August 18 YWAM's ship, Next Wave, came into harbor at Mgarr. I explored a bit on board, got a sunburn, and exciting stuff like that. I also used an ATM for the first time in my simple little life, so now I have MONEY! August 19 Research and writing for Equip Moz. Laundry on the balcony, with the breeze and the view. None of my garments ended up in the swimming pool or the cactii, but it was a very dicey thing. I lingered a bit longer over the folding than was strictly necessary and it was a relief to do something other than stare at a computer screen. They are burning off the nearby fields. The smell has been following me about all day, and will probably linger in my clothes. August 20 Open-air market with cast & crew. I bought what may have been the only decent, medium-sized tank top that wasn't encrusted in sparkly logos. I was really quite pleased with myself. Also, thanks to some marvel...

Source unknown The earth produced vegetation; seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that is was good. Genesis 1:12 The created order presents us with the first picture of discipleship; a process described so succinctly by Paul as he admonished the Corinthian church to 'imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.' (1 Cor. 11:1)  Nature shows that the pattern has already been shaped and the process set in motion. All that is required of us is to follow the Divine order set down from the beginning. We are not called to form some new and original creation. We are the new creation in Christ. "Remain in Me," Jesus tells us, "and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me...My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples." J...

So here I am in Gozo, Malta. It is hot. It is sunny. It is beautiful! Because of the aforementioned heat (and the tenacious effects of jet lag), I haven't gotten out and about very much. I'm staying in a huge, old stone house (parts of it dating back 400 years) with a balcony opening off of my bedroom and another just down the hall that offer spectacular views of the ocean and the town. There is also a swimming pool and some great company, so basically I can see amazing sights and have interesting conversations without ever leaving a cool place. I'm becoming pretty thoroughly spoiled! Never fear, though, I will get out of the house soon. I have plans to explore the town and the local beach. There are some beautiful old churches here, one right beside the house and the other a short distance away, and I've enjoyed having the progress of the day marked by the chiming of the bells. However, I want to get inside , as old churches rank high on my list of...