James 1:1 
James, the slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greetings to the twelve tribes who are scattered throughout the world.

At the very beginning of his letter James describes himself by the title wherein lies his only honour and his only glory, the slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Withe exception of Jude he is the only New Testament writer to describe himself by that term (doulos) without any qualification. Paul describes himself as the slave of Jesus Christ and his apostle (Romans1:1; Philippians1:1) but James will go no further than to call himself the slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are at least four implications in this title.
     (i) It implies absolute obedience. The slave knows no law but his master's word; he has no rights of his own; he is the absolute possession of his master; and he is bound to give his master unquestioning obedience.
     (ii) It implies absolute humility. It is the word of a man who thinks not of his privileges but of his duties, not of his rights but of his obligations. It is the word of a man who has lost his self in the service of God.
      (iii) It implies absolute loyalty. It is the word of a man who has no interests of his own, because what he does, he does for God. His own profit and his own preference do not enter into his calculations; his loyalty is to him.
     (iv) Yet, at the back of it, this word implies a certain pride. So far from being a title of dishonour it was the title by which the greatest ones of the Old Testament were known. Moses was the doulos of God (1Kings8:53; Daniel9:11; Malachai4:4); so were Joshua and Caleb (Joshua24:29; Numbers14:24); so were the great patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Dueteronomy9:27); so was Job (Job1:8); so was Isaiah (Isaiah20:3); and doulos is distinctively the title by which the prophets were known (Amos3:7; Zechariah1:6; Jeremiah7:25). By taking the title doulos James sets himself in the great succession of those who found their freedom and their peace and their glory in perfect submission to the will of God. The only greatness to which the Christian can ever aspire is that of being the slave of God.

William Barclay (commentary on James 1:1) 

I just finished The Shack and decided I'd get in on all the commotion, with my own review.
On the macro side (taking the book as a whole) I actually liked it. On the micro side (examining it point-by-point) I didn't.


Dislikes

• I really disliked the portrayal of the Trinity. Apart from being labeled as Modalistic, I just found Their personality too feminine for my liking. I know much of the reason for this book being written was to let God out of the box, but I found He/She was way too kissy-kissy for me. It was kinda gross.
• The book does indeed seem to support Modalism, which was rejected by the Christian majority in the late 4th Century.
• I also didn't like the author's explanation of why God chose to reveal Himself/Herself as Father, and not Mother or Brother, or Sister, etc. The reason was that God had known that most people throughout history would have severe "father issues" so He/She chose this title to fill that void. This may indeed be true, but it is built entirely on presumption.
• The fact that I have to refer to God as He/She when pertaining to The Shack is also quite unsettling. The fact is, whether we like or agree with it or not, God did indeed reveal "Him"self as a man. Sorry to all you feminists out there, but that's what we got.

Likes

• I really like the way the author tackled questions almost everyone has in a way that many non-Christians would actually read. Many say this book has a low view of Church and Scripture, and I would agree, but only somewhat. As the book went on, it seemed like the reverence for these special things increased. That being said, if someone read the book and wanted more information about Jesus, God, the Trinity, etc, there are few places for them to search out these feelings. Christians, and the Church seem to have a pretty strong monopoly on these subjects. It seems logical that a continuing search would lead here.
• I did like how the book enlarged my view of God. I really didn't have a problem with God revealing Himself/Herself to Mack as a large African-American woman. It was what Mack needed at the time.

Although doctrinally, this book is far, far from perfect (as we all are), I think it accomplished what I see as it's goal. It engages non-Christians on their level and even though communicates things that are doctrinally problematic, it ultimately points towards Christianity as the answer to all the questions life demands an answer to. If we Christians are truly upset about anything regarding The Shack, it should be because most of us are unprepared and inadequate in our ability to pick up where this book leaves off, and help these questioning seekers along their next stage in their journey for Truth. 

Well, we've been in our new home for about 2.5 weeks, and all is good. Jenny started working at Subway a couple of days ago and is well on her way to officially becoming a 'sandwich artist'. I am still working part time on the weekends doing homecare, and am waiting to hear back from another homecare job which would put me to work through the week. I also have applied at a couple of places to do some cleaning. Please continue praying that we would both settle into full-time positions so that we could afford to live! We are also in the midst of looking for a decent car. 
Embedded above is a fantastic worship tune I heard from Ghost Ship, who play at Mars Hill Church in Seattle.

This verse has become the mandate for Jenny & I in the rest of our time here on PEI. We want to strengthen our local Church while we are here. We have agreed to focus on this and this alone while we are here. The importance of the visible Church of Christ has never been more important to me than it is now. I realize that bitterness to something Jesus has the utmost concern concern and care for is not a sign of great maturity but is altogether shameful.
If the Church "sucks", it is because "we" suck. That includes our friends, wives, children, and all who actually make up the Church. Only when Christians have a proper view of the Church will we strive to better it and make it what Jesus intended it to be. People outside the Church should be envious of what they see inside; a community unaffected by personal desires and selfishness, a community transparent and willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of each other. A community of servants.
Jenny & I aren't naive enough to think that this will happen overnight. It takes a strategy to turn people around. It has taken years to change my thoughts on the subject even! We are praying and noting ideas to shift the current situation into something better.
Focus and discipline are words that will have to take on lives of their own as we strive to strengthen our local Body.
Last Sunday, Jenny got to share a timely exhortation (click -->HERE<-- to listen). What would it look like if this were the hearts cry of all who call upon the name of the Lord? We can sit and think about the answers, or we can take it and run with it.
Jenny and I are sick of criticizing, it is now time to edify.

Wow, who could imagine that life was so full of.........somewhat important things to do.
Since Jenny returned from Windsor, we have been running a rat race trying to meet with people, find jobs, find an apartment, find a car, get phones hooked up, watch Canada win medals, etc etc etc. I have a weekend job so far, with an interview for more work through the week on Tuesday. Jenny had a job interview at Tim Hortons today. We went and got hooked up with Koodo cell phones today. We have a couple of people keeping an eye out for a decent car for us. And we went and checked out a one-bedroom apt too. Busy busy busy stuff this life consists of. As soon as we get settled into a place, with some hours coming in, we will decide if correspondence is what will be of benefit to us, and start into that process.
One thing Jenny & I do not want to fall into is normal day-to-day, paycheck-to-paycheck "life". We have removed ourselves from the 'field' for a purpose, and unless we are fulfilling that purpose I will remove ourselves from this field as well. Stagnancy is something I just will not allow. We all must always be moving forward, even if it is only by babysteps. Spiritual advancement is absolutley necessary in life, or life starts to lose meaning. This life is much to short to become lacksidaisical or complacent.
If we take our eyes off the goal, then, what are we looking at?

Although I do love PEI, Cambodia is definitely preferable in February.

Jenny & I have returned to Canada. After a marathon itinerary, we arrived in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on Monday, the 15th. The reasons we returned are extremely personal, but we stand to our convictions and are convinced that the Cambodian Mission Outreach is not the ministry whom we want to partner with long term.
We really sense a desire to re-connect with our home Church and be a part of their life for more than our standard 2-3 weeks. I have been a part of Faithworks Center since Oct/01, and they have helped shape my Spiritual walk since Day 1. I really want Jenny to have the opportunity to be a part of our Church, and to get to know those whom I have 'grown up' with. We would love to have an active role in bettering our church and imparting into/recieving from those whom are so close to our hearts.
I believe that God really has something amazing in store for Jenny & I. We want to take this year and position ourselves into a place where we might even be able to recieve that which He desires for us. Many churches are crying out to God for reveival but if God ever blessed them with such a thing, they would be in no way able to sustain it. There needs to be vessels that are empty enough for God to be able to fill. Saying that, we would like to be able to do some correspondance which would lead to us obtaining masters degrees where we could enter into a role of full-time paid ministerial positions, such as chaplaincy at a prison or hospital, etc. This type of ministry is very near to the heart of Jenny & I, and it is what makes us who we are.
So, now that we have returned and are committing ourselves to a year or so in North America, we begin the foreign process of 'life'!! This includes finding a job, getting an apartment, getting cell phones hooked up, dealing with snow(?!), and all the other things that don't really have equivalents on the mission field. It should be a very trying season, but it is one we enter with joy, knowing that the results will far outweigh all the frustrations that Western living will bring.
I am also very excited to have started reading a book that was recently written by our great influence and friend George Woodward. He was the Dean of Students at the Bible College we attended, and he has served us in a variety of ways post-Bible school that we are ever indebted to him and his wife for. The book is called 'Raising Up And Mentoring The Next Generation: The Heart Of A Godly Father', and it is about just that, making sure the next generation is equipped and left with all that God has given to us.
We ask for prayer that we would be able to find jobs that would not hinder us from also doing extensive ministry while we are here on PEI, and we also ask prayer to find a nice simple apartment. Since we got married, Jenny & I have never had a place to call our own, and the thought of it actually excites us quite a bit. And finally, pray that we would postion ourselves into a place where we would be able to recieve the things God has in store for us.

Jenny & I so enjoy those times where we get out of our compound and take the 25 minute car ride to Central Market (Phsar Thom Thmei) and Sorya Shopping Center. We frequently visit these places, and have built relationships with tuk tuk drivers, store staff, gracery store clerks, and food court servers. The English we share with them is sparse, but they all know why we come. Whether we are buying a couple of DVD's, ordering our "same same" at the food court, or accepting a ride to the "waterpark" for "$3", we are enjoying these people whom God has put us in contact with.
On our venture today Jenny and Geoffrey (a new missionary at CMO) decided to partake of the local Cambodian delicacy of fried silkworm. We have often seen enormous plates filled to overflowing with silkworms, cockroaches, tarantulas, and God knows what else, but have never especially felt the desire to partake. Today was different though. I did not eat, I figure that "the two are one" so Jenny's bravery should be credited to my account as well :). Jenny actually didn't think it was so bad.  Maybe she has found a replacement for the 'dom loan tien' (deep fried sweet potatoes) we enjoy so much.
The highlight of my day was buying a black leather trenchcoat for $55. What a find.
There is much floating around our minds these days. Things are always interesting; sometimes moreso.

Tonight was the first official Bible Study I have done since being back in Cambodia. I have taught the Bible to some of my teacher/students, but tonight I was invited to teach 10 or so unbelievers. The weight of His presence was heavy, and conviction was evident on their faces. It was a poweful time, more powerful than I have ever had here in Phnom Penh.
Very early into the study, one of the students asked me, "So, how can we know God?" From there I spent a solid hour digging into foundational Christian truths, dealing mainly with why Jesus needed to come, what happened at and following the cross, where is Jesus now, why He's taking so long to return, and how easy God has made it for us to know Him. As I've already said, the weight of God in the classroom was evident, and the intense look on the students faces captured the moment well.
It is times like these that remind us of why we are here. Jenny & I have felt pretty lonely in our service to God here as "English teachers", but we have been given the green light to be teaching and discipling more. We couldn't be happier in that. It is a humbling realization that God uses those such as us, to advance His purposes. He could do it all Himself, but that would not bring glory to His name. He uses the weak, and the stupid, to glorify Himself. God has made His Gospel vulnerable by entrusting it to a Body who seems far less interested in reaching the lost than He.
The students are coming back for another study on Wednesday. I told them to take the next couple days to brood upon what I taught, and to take note of any questions they might have and bring them to the class. I will spend the next couple days praying for God to invade their lives through dreams, or supernatural encounters, or meetings with Christians who simply love to a degree they have never witnessed before.
It may be happening slowly, but the 10/40 Window is getting smaller everyday.

The day we retruned from Siem Reap (Dec23) I have not felt good. I developed a rash, fever, achy body, etc that took about 5 days to heal up. Immediately after, my eyes got incredibly sore accompanied by a bigtime headache. I went to a doctor and he told me that I had an infection and put me on 7 days worth of antibiotics. After a couple of days I started to feel better and went back to work. Too soon, I guess. My symptoms have returned and I am out of action again. Hopefully my remaining two days of antibiotics will kill this thing off so I can start being productive again.

We have made our decision that we'll return to North America in May. That gives us 5 months more here in Cambodia. We both would like to return to school and work towards a Masters degree. Florida Christian University supposedly accepts credits from Celebration Bible College, so we are gonna see about maybe doing some schooling in Orlando, or at least some correspondance, God willing. Whenever we decide to settle down, and if that happens to be in North America, we would like to be able to pursue employment within the ministry rather than secularly. Chaplaincy would be pretty sweet. A Masters, and ordination, would be required.

Cambodia remains hot. The fruit remains slow, and the ministry crawls forward, seeking to accomodate the increasing demands of New Hope English School. Our job in our time that remains is to pour into the NHES teaches, so that they can shoulder the English school after Jenny & I are gone.

It will be nice to see our home church again, and to spend some time in the company of like-minded people striving for more of the manifestation of God in our lives. Our time in Cambodia has been a realization of how much the presence of God should mean to us. "Obedience is better than sacrifice" has not been just a verse of scripture for us, but a practical life lesson.