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10/10/13
October Update
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You can also view our previous updates here and subscribe to future updates here.
You can also view our previous updates here and subscribe to future updates here.
10/9/13
YouTube of the Month: October
I made the mistake of joining a men's basketball league and we had our first game last night. It wasn't pretty and I'm definitely the "my bad" guy.
10/4/13
Nicholas James Fletcher
I'm typing this post in my living room with a huge lump in my chest. It's October 4th. A day I have been dreading for months. Fletch is sitting across the room and checking in for his flights back to the states. We got back a few minutes ago from breakfast at his favorite pancake place right around the corner. We ate, talked, laughed, reminisced, as I fought back tears. I'm so thankful for his friendship! I love this guy and because of that I'm gonna hate saying "goodbye" to him!
When Fletch and I went through Missionary Training International in 2007, they informed us that by becoming missionaries we were getting into the business of saying "goodbyes." At the time I didn't realize how true that statement was and how painful it would be. And that eventually I would need to say "goodbye" to the guy who I had begun this missionary journey with.
On November 15th, 2007 Fletch and I said "goodbye" to our families together in Sky Harbor Airport. Up until that day I had never cried so much in my life. We boarded a flight bound for Latvia. And that began our crazy Latvian journey.
Now six years later, we are sitting in my living room and waiting for a friend to pick us up and take us to the airport. Life has come full circle and today I need to say "goodbye" to Fletch as he boards a flight bound for Sky Harbor Airport. Didn't think it would end up like this.
I believe God is leading Fletch in this next step of his life and because of that I have peace. However it still sucks saying "goodbye" to such a close friend! Few people on this planet have seen me at my worst. Fletch has. He has been next to me at some of the lowest points of my life and he still loves me. I see Jesus in that. I don't know many people who have a friend (outside of their spouse) like that. And for that I am grateful! That is what makes saying "goodbye" to him so hard. As my teammate Donna said, today feels like an end of an era in Latvia. Fletch will no longer live here, but God used him to leave a mark on this country. And I am sure that the next places where God leads Him will be just as blessed as we have been in Latvia.
God has blessed me by allowing me to "grow up" over the last six years with this guy by my side. He became family and saying "goodbye" to family is never easy. We went through a lot of great times and a lot of hard times and I'm blessed to have seen God's faithfulness through it all! I'm holding onto that for our futures now on different continents.
Fletch loves selflessly and in that He reflects Jesus. He is a servant at heart and in that He imitates Jesus. Fletch works hard and does everything with 100% effort. I have learned a lot from him and am thankful to have been part of his life.
Thank you, Fletch! You ran well. You blessed this country. You are loved. Keep going!
PS-Come visit us sometime! :)
When Fletch and I went through Missionary Training International in 2007, they informed us that by becoming missionaries we were getting into the business of saying "goodbyes." At the time I didn't realize how true that statement was and how painful it would be. And that eventually I would need to say "goodbye" to the guy who I had begun this missionary journey with.On November 15th, 2007 Fletch and I said "goodbye" to our families together in Sky Harbor Airport. Up until that day I had never cried so much in my life. We boarded a flight bound for Latvia. And that began our crazy Latvian journey.
Now six years later, we are sitting in my living room and waiting for a friend to pick us up and take us to the airport. Life has come full circle and today I need to say "goodbye" to Fletch as he boards a flight bound for Sky Harbor Airport. Didn't think it would end up like this.I believe God is leading Fletch in this next step of his life and because of that I have peace. However it still sucks saying "goodbye" to such a close friend! Few people on this planet have seen me at my worst. Fletch has. He has been next to me at some of the lowest points of my life and he still loves me. I see Jesus in that. I don't know many people who have a friend (outside of their spouse) like that. And for that I am grateful! That is what makes saying "goodbye" to him so hard. As my teammate Donna said, today feels like an end of an era in Latvia. Fletch will no longer live here, but God used him to leave a mark on this country. And I am sure that the next places where God leads Him will be just as blessed as we have been in Latvia.
God has blessed me by allowing me to "grow up" over the last six years with this guy by my side. He became family and saying "goodbye" to family is never easy. We went through a lot of great times and a lot of hard times and I'm blessed to have seen God's faithfulness through it all! I'm holding onto that for our futures now on different continents.
Fletch loves selflessly and in that He reflects Jesus. He is a servant at heart and in that He imitates Jesus. Fletch works hard and does everything with 100% effort. I have learned a lot from him and am thankful to have been part of his life.
Thank you, Fletch! You ran well. You blessed this country. You are loved. Keep going!PS-Come visit us sometime! :)
9/30/13
Radiate
The theme for this year's fall conference was "Radiate." 230+ youth workers from Central and Eastern Europe gathered in Czech to spend four and a half days focusing on God as a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29). Throughout Scripture and church history we can see that as God's people draw nearer to Him they are more able to clearly reflect His glory and "heat" to others. When we draw closer to Him we also find true freedom in His presence (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
The scary reality is that we can serve God without a passionate love for Him. If this is true, we won't radiate anything of significance. But we cannot have a passionate love for God without service/good deeds! That will be a natural overflow of our abiding in Him (John 15). During the conference we spent a lot of time reading through the Gospel of John and the first few chapters of Acts. The Gospel is such Good News!
I'm also thankful that Anna was able to go with me this year! This made conference much more enjoyable for me :) and it was a special time for our marriage. I have been asking God to solidify the things that He wants us to take away from conference.
Here is our group from Latvia!
Follow these links if you would like to download the workbook and talks.
The scary reality is that we can serve God without a passionate love for Him. If this is true, we won't radiate anything of significance. But we cannot have a passionate love for God without service/good deeds! That will be a natural overflow of our abiding in Him (John 15). During the conference we spent a lot of time reading through the Gospel of John and the first few chapters of Acts. The Gospel is such Good News!
I'm also thankful that Anna was able to go with me this year! This made conference much more enjoyable for me :) and it was a special time for our marriage. I have been asking God to solidify the things that He wants us to take away from conference.
Here is our group from Latvia!
Follow these links if you would like to download the workbook and talks.
9/5/13
9/1/13
France
We had a great time in France! It was a blessing staying with Anna's cousin Ieva and for Tim & Lauren to join us and travel together. Here are a few highlights from our trip;
8/26/13
Something I Noticed
It was an interesting and full summer for The Latvian Brookses. God did some pretty amazing things and He taught me a lot. But there was one particularly small (but very important) trend that I noticed this summer...
Does that have any application in our daily life? In our families? In our churches?
Who are we following? Who are walking with? And what are we focused on?
When a group of people who are following Jesus pray, work, and focus on the same thing >>> God brings lots of fruit!Hmmm... Don't know how I never caught onto that before. Pretty simple.
Does that have any application in our daily life? In our families? In our churches?
Who are we following? Who are walking with? And what are we focused on?
8/23/13
Propaganda
I've been a fan of this man for awhile. He used to come to spoken word nights at Biola and I remembered him to be an extremely skilled poet with an obvious love for Jesus and heart for social justice. Here's a glimpse;
He has has recently been popping up as a guest at different conferences and was featured in an interview on iamsecond.com. He also happens to make good music. You can download his last two albums for free here and if you like it, leave him a tip! His latest album "Excellent" is some of the best new music I've heard in a long time.
8/10/13
Debriefing
At the end of every summer we (JV staff + interns) take a few days to pause and reflect on what God has done that summer. This is a healthy "rhythm" of life and always a good time of fellowship as we share how we saw God at work. We also eat a ton and get to sleep in a bit! Can't beat that. Here are a few of the people who I got to serve with this summer (minus a few who had to go back early)...
God loves Latvija! Grateful for how He continues to send His people from all over the world to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Thank you Jesus!
God loves Latvija! Grateful for how He continues to send His people from all over the world to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Thank you Jesus!
8/6/13
My Current Jam(s)
A friend of mine told me about Lowercase Noises a few months ago and I've been playing his stuff all summer long. Beautiful ambient music, and for the next few days you can get all his albums for free! Of course, if you like his music you can also spend some $.
Check it out at lowercasenoises.com
Check it out at lowercasenoises.com
8/4/13
YouTube of the Month: August
Don't agree with everything here, but nonetheless a moving short film about sacrificial love.
8/3/13
"The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning
I just finished reading this book and would say it is a must read!
Brennan Manning emphasizes the need for the Christian church to return to the basic Gospel that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. If in fact we are all "ragamuffins" in need of a gracious Savior, the playing field is level and that should free us to be gracious with others. Manning often parallels experiences from his own life where he has faltered with those of the early disciples who at times weren't the picture of perfect faithfulness. But the Good News for us all is that Jesus always welcomes us back! He always holds up His end of the deal, even when we don't.
Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book;
Brennan Manning emphasizes the need for the Christian church to return to the basic Gospel that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. If in fact we are all "ragamuffins" in need of a gracious Savior, the playing field is level and that should free us to be gracious with others. Manning often parallels experiences from his own life where he has faltered with those of the early disciples who at times weren't the picture of perfect faithfulness. But the Good News for us all is that Jesus always welcomes us back! He always holds up His end of the deal, even when we don't.
Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book;
"Do you really accept the message that God is head over heels in love with you? I believe that this question is at the core of our ability to mature and grow spiritually. If in our hearts we really don't believe that God loves us as we are, if we are still tainted by the lie that we can do something to make God love us more, we are rejecting the message of the cross."A refreshing read!
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