Both InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, USA and Ichtus Vlaanderen are member movements of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students or IFES. Here is a video that gives a sense of the worldwide scope and the values of IFES.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
I changed it anyway.
I said I was going to keep the name "Unfinished Deck" and I did (for a month and a half). If you want to continue reading my (occasional but hopefully becoming more frequent) posts please check out http://weaklinks.blogspot.com/ and be amused (if I'm lucky), be informed (if I get around to posting ministry and family updates), and be blessed (if you're lucky). And if you do I make you this promise (without reservation): I will continue to abuse (and overuse) parentheses (()) as much as I can.
(O, yeah) Life Lesson: some convictions (like blog name changes) can be held loosely
Thanks for reading.
Jeremy Hamilton
Your friendly neighborhood (InterVarsity) staff guy
(O, yeah) Life Lesson: some convictions (like blog name changes) can be held loosely
Thanks for reading.
Jeremy Hamilton
Your friendly neighborhood (InterVarsity) staff guy
Thursday, May 29, 2008
it will remain unfinished
My house is on the market. I'm pretty confident God has a buyer. And with two open houses coming up maybe that buyer is about to walk through the door. My family and I will be moving to Belgium later this summer, and the unfinished deck on the back of my house will remain unfinished...by me. If the new buyer would like to roof it, screen it, paint it, or replace it, that's up to him/her. But I will not be finishing it.
I thought about changing the name of this blog. The unfinished deck is not going to be my inspiration for much longer. But I think I'll keep it. There are very few things we get to finish in life. I think the bowl of Life cereal I eat in the morning would be the exception not the norm. We are raising our kids the best we can, but someday they will all leave our home and our care and someone else will be the main influence in their lives. We spent nine years serving university students at South Dakota State University with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, but now we'll move on, and in a few years very few students will remember who we are. And of course we put a lot of work into this house that was once abandoned (and rather stinky) but has become very close to the house we imagined. But that roofed and screened deck on the back of the house never caught up with our imagination.
Life lesson: Like the new owner of the house can choose to remodel or improve, God, the "owner" of all things, our family, our ministry, our lives, can do what he wants. And for that reason I'll keep the title "The Unfinished Deck." Maybe I'll be reminded to depend on God for all the things that matter.
I thought about changing the name of this blog. The unfinished deck is not going to be my inspiration for much longer. But I think I'll keep it. There are very few things we get to finish in life. I think the bowl of Life cereal I eat in the morning would be the exception not the norm. We are raising our kids the best we can, but someday they will all leave our home and our care and someone else will be the main influence in their lives. We spent nine years serving university students at South Dakota State University with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, but now we'll move on, and in a few years very few students will remember who we are. And of course we put a lot of work into this house that was once abandoned (and rather stinky) but has become very close to the house we imagined. But that roofed and screened deck on the back of the house never caught up with our imagination.
Life lesson: Like the new owner of the house can choose to remodel or improve, God, the "owner" of all things, our family, our ministry, our lives, can do what he wants. And for that reason I'll keep the title "The Unfinished Deck." Maybe I'll be reminded to depend on God for all the things that matter.
Monday, March 17, 2008
God's in the diet dew
Before you dismiss me as a heretic (or a lunatic) let me say the explanation for the title is coming. I have accepted a position with InterVarsity Link. Link is a program that connects American staff with our sister ministries around the world. I have been invited to serve with Ichtus, the Flemish Belgium student ministry. It's kind of a big change. And I mean big like those black & yellow barn spiders that scared me as a kid.
I don't have a good track record of knowing God's will. I have a good understanding of God's moral will--things like don't cheat on my wife or rob the bank. But it's those times when God seems to be giving me some choice that I really get confused. Perhaps those stories will show up in future posts. I'm so thankful that this move to Belgium is not one of those stories. This is a story of God's clear leading, of Scripture coming to life, of God flinging doors wide open.
Mark 2
A little over a year ago God began taking me to the second chapter of Mark, the story of the paralyzed man who gets lowered through the roof by some friends. The first time was at an InterVarsity staff meeting before Source 07, InterVarsity's winter conference in South Dakota. The conference director suggested we pray to be like the friends in the story and bring students to Jesus. Good story, good prayer. The next time was at another staff meeting where we did a devotional level approach to the chapter. Good story, interesting coincidence. The third time I began to really look for what God had for me in this story. And the fourth time was at the beginning of a very special week for me and my family, a week and a lesson in Mark 2 that deserves another post.
Life lesson: When God puts you in a passage of Scripture four times your response should be, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."
In pursuing this opportunity in Belgium God has consistently addressed our needs and concerns very directly. Last summer we attended family camp at Cedar Campus, InterVarsity's camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The speaker for the week was in Mark and the first session was Mark 2. One night Trina and I were having a discussion about how we should pray about this process (we had not yet applied for the Link program). I said, "Let's just tell God that we want to go and ask him to make the way or stop us." Trina was surprised and said, "I can't pray that!" I was surprised. The issue was that Trina didn't want to leave behind family and life as we know it. She did, however, want to obey. The next morning the speaker was in Mark 10. The verses that hit us will need no explanation. 29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.
That Scripture was so pertinent that I was elbowing Trina in the ribs.
There are many more examples of how we've seen God addressing our needs and concerns. I'll list them briefly.
*Trina's mom went from "Well, you're not taking my grandkids..." to "You have my blessing."
*Link is a "by invitation" program. The folks in Gent went from "We don't think we're interested in foreign workers right now," to "happy to proceed."
*The ministry needs in Gent fit our gifts, abilities, and family situation very well.
*Social needs: We have very good friends with whom we often play games. When we met the IFES director and his wife she said at one point, "Well, I suppose the most important question is, do you play Settlers?" We didn't at the time (though Settlers of Catan is currently Trina's favorite game), but it spoke into a need for friendship in our lives.
*Friends, acquaintances, friends of friends are gathering our household needs for when we arrive. How to pay for our needs on arrival has been a great concern for us.
*Trina home schooled Elijah for kindergarten. Home schooling is seen as abnormal by many Belgians. We found out that one of only 4 or 5 evangelical Christian schools in the whole country is in the neighborhood where we're looking for housing. We met our kids' teachers, saw some of them in church, and unlike Christian education in the states, it's free!
And then there's Diet Mountain Dew. This has been Trina's staple. Sadly, Diet Mountain Dew is not available in Belgium (it's actually one of the treats we take our missionary friends when we have opportunity). Over the past several months Trina has found that Diet Mountain Dew gives her a stomach ache. She won't even miss it.
I don't have a good track record of knowing God's will. I have a good understanding of God's moral will--things like don't cheat on my wife or rob the bank. But it's those times when God seems to be giving me some choice that I really get confused. Perhaps those stories will show up in future posts. I'm so thankful that this move to Belgium is not one of those stories. This is a story of God's clear leading, of Scripture coming to life, of God flinging doors wide open.
Mark 2
A little over a year ago God began taking me to the second chapter of Mark, the story of the paralyzed man who gets lowered through the roof by some friends. The first time was at an InterVarsity staff meeting before Source 07, InterVarsity's winter conference in South Dakota. The conference director suggested we pray to be like the friends in the story and bring students to Jesus. Good story, good prayer. The next time was at another staff meeting where we did a devotional level approach to the chapter. Good story, interesting coincidence. The third time I began to really look for what God had for me in this story. And the fourth time was at the beginning of a very special week for me and my family, a week and a lesson in Mark 2 that deserves another post.
Life lesson: When God puts you in a passage of Scripture four times your response should be, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."
In pursuing this opportunity in Belgium God has consistently addressed our needs and concerns very directly. Last summer we attended family camp at Cedar Campus, InterVarsity's camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The speaker for the week was in Mark and the first session was Mark 2. One night Trina and I were having a discussion about how we should pray about this process (we had not yet applied for the Link program). I said, "Let's just tell God that we want to go and ask him to make the way or stop us." Trina was surprised and said, "I can't pray that!" I was surprised. The issue was that Trina didn't want to leave behind family and life as we know it. She did, however, want to obey. The next morning the speaker was in Mark 10. The verses that hit us will need no explanation. 29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.
That Scripture was so pertinent that I was elbowing Trina in the ribs.
There are many more examples of how we've seen God addressing our needs and concerns. I'll list them briefly.
*Trina's mom went from "Well, you're not taking my grandkids..." to "You have my blessing."
*Link is a "by invitation" program. The folks in Gent went from "We don't think we're interested in foreign workers right now," to "happy to proceed."
*The ministry needs in Gent fit our gifts, abilities, and family situation very well.
*Social needs: We have very good friends with whom we often play games. When we met the IFES director and his wife she said at one point, "Well, I suppose the most important question is, do you play Settlers?" We didn't at the time (though Settlers of Catan is currently Trina's favorite game), but it spoke into a need for friendship in our lives.
*Friends, acquaintances, friends of friends are gathering our household needs for when we arrive. How to pay for our needs on arrival has been a great concern for us.
*Trina home schooled Elijah for kindergarten. Home schooling is seen as abnormal by many Belgians. We found out that one of only 4 or 5 evangelical Christian schools in the whole country is in the neighborhood where we're looking for housing. We met our kids' teachers, saw some of them in church, and unlike Christian education in the states, it's free!
And then there's Diet Mountain Dew. This has been Trina's staple. Sadly, Diet Mountain Dew is not available in Belgium (it's actually one of the treats we take our missionary friends when we have opportunity). Over the past several months Trina has found that Diet Mountain Dew gives her a stomach ache. She won't even miss it.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
they're half my age
I am on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at South Dakota State University. I'm in my ninth year. I was 27 when I first hit campus and even then students seemed kind of young to me. So I gravitated toward working primarily with upperclassmen and student leaders (who tended to be upperclassmen). There has always been someone else who was a little younger, a little rowdier, a little more likely to be a pal to a freshman. Next month I turn 36 and will be twice as old as your average freshman. When I was a freshman they were babies (and when I tell them that I always get harassed severely).
This week in the freshmen groups I lead (called "Life on the Road") I took students to a playground to study Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 13. The passages teach us that we must at once come to God like children and grow up, putting away childish things. To help the lesson come to life I had my 5 year old and 3 year old playing on the playground. It's funny that as I made an effort to remind my freshmen to be like children, a lesson I see played out before me day after day as a father of 3, I realized I can look at freshmen the same way.
Freshmen are people filled with hope. Some hopes are noble, like pursuing a medical degree to do AIDs mission work in Africa. Other hopes are selfish, like I'm going to get my engineering degree so I can make some good money. Other hopes are misguided, like when I get a girlfriend (or boyfriend, or good job, or new car, or nice house, or ...) then things will be good. But freshmen also still believe that God can change the world. And, that he'll use them to do it. Sometimes I am the old man who knows too well from years of experience that sure, God could do (fill in the blank), but this is more likely. And I make plans that depend on me and my performance. What's that verse? Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the LORD almighty. (Zec. 4:6)
Well working with freshmen is certainly a situation in which I need God's Spirit. I'm not cool enough, I'm not used to video game controls that have more than a direction pad and 2 buttons, and I can't afford to buy lunch everyday. But I'm praying that freshmen will listen to the bits of wisdom I've managed to gain, walk into Scripture with me with a heart willing to listen and obey, and gain a desire to be influential for Jesus at SDSU. Come Spirit, come.
Life lesson: I should take my kids to playgrounds more often, they really like them.
This week in the freshmen groups I lead (called "Life on the Road") I took students to a playground to study Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 13. The passages teach us that we must at once come to God like children and grow up, putting away childish things. To help the lesson come to life I had my 5 year old and 3 year old playing on the playground. It's funny that as I made an effort to remind my freshmen to be like children, a lesson I see played out before me day after day as a father of 3, I realized I can look at freshmen the same way.
Freshmen are people filled with hope. Some hopes are noble, like pursuing a medical degree to do AIDs mission work in Africa. Other hopes are selfish, like I'm going to get my engineering degree so I can make some good money. Other hopes are misguided, like when I get a girlfriend (or boyfriend, or good job, or new car, or nice house, or ...) then things will be good. But freshmen also still believe that God can change the world. And, that he'll use them to do it. Sometimes I am the old man who knows too well from years of experience that sure, God could do (fill in the blank), but this is more likely. And I make plans that depend on me and my performance. What's that verse? Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the LORD almighty. (Zec. 4:6)
Well working with freshmen is certainly a situation in which I need God's Spirit. I'm not cool enough, I'm not used to video game controls that have more than a direction pad and 2 buttons, and I can't afford to buy lunch everyday. But I'm praying that freshmen will listen to the bits of wisdom I've managed to gain, walk into Scripture with me with a heart willing to listen and obey, and gain a desire to be influential for Jesus at SDSU. Come Spirit, come.
Life lesson: I should take my kids to playgrounds more often, they really like them.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
a boy named Daniel
We have a new family in our church. They are from Ukraine. The dad served as an interpreter for several of our church's mission teams to Ukraine. Today they are cleaning their new apartment and their 6 year old son, Daniel, is playing at our house (along with his new friend Darin and our kids).
Daniel doesn't speak English. He likes mac & cheese and hot dogs. He knows how to battle with a sword and shield. He even likes superhero capes. But he's been at it all afternoon and he seems to be wearing out.
Life lesson: A person can understand a lot of what goes on around him without understanding the language. He can even have some fun, but it sure does wear a body out.
We came home from our mission trip to Pine Ridge a few days ago because our funding came up short. I don't even know if I wrote that sentence right. Should it say...
We came home... because we didn't raise enough money.
We came home... because God didn't provide for our whole time there, or didn't want us there the whole time.
We came home... because people didn't give as God led. [Because I want you to keep reading, I'll suggest it's not this one.]
Whatever the case is, we don't really understand. Sometimes it feels like the life of faith and especially ministry is one in which we figure a lot of things out, but if we could just learn to listen to God's voice more and depend on circumstances a little less, it wouldn't wear us out so much.
Please pray that God will provide according to his will. Our hope is to return to lead the debriefing time at the end of the project, or sooner if...
we raise enough money,
God provides, and/or
God's people give as he leads.
We are seeing extra gifts come in so I am hopeful that at least we will return for debriefing. Thanks for your interest and if you're praying we're doubly grateful.
Daniel doesn't speak English. He likes mac & cheese and hot dogs. He knows how to battle with a sword and shield. He even likes superhero capes. But he's been at it all afternoon and he seems to be wearing out.
Life lesson: A person can understand a lot of what goes on around him without understanding the language. He can even have some fun, but it sure does wear a body out.
We came home from our mission trip to Pine Ridge a few days ago because our funding came up short. I don't even know if I wrote that sentence right. Should it say...
We came home... because we didn't raise enough money.
We came home... because God didn't provide for our whole time there, or didn't want us there the whole time.
We came home... because people didn't give as God led. [Because I want you to keep reading, I'll suggest it's not this one.]
Whatever the case is, we don't really understand. Sometimes it feels like the life of faith and especially ministry is one in which we figure a lot of things out, but if we could just learn to listen to God's voice more and depend on circumstances a little less, it wouldn't wear us out so much.
Please pray that God will provide according to his will. Our hope is to return to lead the debriefing time at the end of the project, or sooner if...
we raise enough money,
God provides, and/or
God's people give as he leads.
We are seeing extra gifts come in so I am hopeful that at least we will return for debriefing. Thanks for your interest and if you're praying we're doubly grateful.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
No More Beef for Dessert
My family and I are a bit worn out. I had a second round of allergic reaction/food poisoning/gastroenteritis/whatever it is. It was eerily similar--roast beef for supper the night before, early morning onset, 6 hours of complete misery and a day to recover. That was Thursday morning. We then packed and loaded to relocate to our "permanent" housing for the project. Friday and Saturday we traveled to Omaha to be at one neice's graduation and to pick up the other neice who helps us with childcare at Pine Ridge. We found out that the drive from Omaha to Pine Ridge takes about 9 days. [To be fair it took about 7 1/2 hours, and would have taken less if we weren't traveling as a family of 6. In addition some of the scenery was stunning.]
InterVarsity Pine Ridge Global Project update:
We are settled into the basement of Pine Ridge Gospel Fellowship and the students have begun life in the pastor's basement. We enjoyed our first church service today. Annie, one of our students, helped lead worship. We provided a traditional ethnic meal, Swedish meatballs. Of course it isn't the ethnicity of most Pine Ridge residents, but I found out that John, one of the students on the project, is 3/4 Swedish.
Tonight was our first 3 on 3 basketball tournament. We grilled burgers and hot dogs and mixed with the crowd. I played on a team with Rick and Alice (a local girl). The team we played was polite and didn't skunk us. The play is full court, but the court is not full size. I didn't know 3 guys could take up all the space, but our opponents seemed to do that quite efficiently. I contributed very little to our team's effort, but my son was the most vocal fan in the crowd. If he were a little older he would probably have been less excited and more embarrassed.
Life lesson: It's probably time for me to retire from the 3 on 3 circuit and give church league softball another try.
We spent most of the first week in training. Topics included various cross cultural issues, personal witness, the Lordship of Jesus (which included some personal retreat time in the Black Hills). and team building. Tomorrow I'll train students to lead an investigative Bible discussion and we'll begin preparing content for Young Life on Wednesday evening. We'll also begin the process of creating a volleyball court.
InterVarsity Pine Ridge Global Project update:
We are settled into the basement of Pine Ridge Gospel Fellowship and the students have begun life in the pastor's basement. We enjoyed our first church service today. Annie, one of our students, helped lead worship. We provided a traditional ethnic meal, Swedish meatballs. Of course it isn't the ethnicity of most Pine Ridge residents, but I found out that John, one of the students on the project, is 3/4 Swedish.
Tonight was our first 3 on 3 basketball tournament. We grilled burgers and hot dogs and mixed with the crowd. I played on a team with Rick and Alice (a local girl). The team we played was polite and didn't skunk us. The play is full court, but the court is not full size. I didn't know 3 guys could take up all the space, but our opponents seemed to do that quite efficiently. I contributed very little to our team's effort, but my son was the most vocal fan in the crowd. If he were a little older he would probably have been less excited and more embarrassed.
Life lesson: It's probably time for me to retire from the 3 on 3 circuit and give church league softball another try.
We spent most of the first week in training. Topics included various cross cultural issues, personal witness, the Lordship of Jesus (which included some personal retreat time in the Black Hills). and team building. Tomorrow I'll train students to lead an investigative Bible discussion and we'll begin preparing content for Young Life on Wednesday evening. We'll also begin the process of creating a volleyball court.
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