Skip to main content

Training: Day 2-3

These last few days of training have been great for bonding as a team and learning how the Lord will guide us through the coming weeks.  I have been blow away by the stories that our team members have brought forth as to how the Lord has provided for them.  The excitement is growing in our team as we count down the hours before we board our first flight for Bosnia at 9am.  We then have a 21 hour trip taking us through four airports before we get to Sarajevo.
Today we had some free time and went to the Astros v Braves 1pm game up at Turner Field.  I hadn't seen the Braves this season and it was great to be able to spend this time with my team members at the game.  It was empty as it was a day game during the week so we got some cheap tickets and found a section to claim as our own on the third base line towards the outfield.  We also had a pair of tickets right behind the plate on the second row so we rotated who got to use the nice tickets.  They were probably the closest I have ever been to the field in a pro-game.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/sports/mlb/2011/05/mccann-homers-twice-braves-beat-astros-3-1-11
Now we are preparing for our travels tomorrow by making our final packing and preparation.  I am very excited to be able to serve the Lord for this amazing period of time abroad.  There is such a need for all people, not just students in Sarajevo, to hear the Gospel I am excited for these next six weeks and the years and years of ministry to come.

All is Great in the Lord

Paul Shackelford
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Rise Again - Needtobreathe

I have been reading a book about the arts and Christians role in creating culture.  Steve Turner, the author, asserts a major critique that modern Christian art does not speak about real life.  The art created does not sound genuine or have any ties to real life that people outside the faith can connect with.  While reading the book I listened through this album and I think that this song does a great job of breaking the mold.  The members of Needtobreathe are all outspoken followers of Jesus but very little of the art that they produce mentions Jesus or Christianity at all.  Instead they craft creative music, written from places of pain and joy.   "Rise Again"  steps through pain that occurs in life as we see relationships stretched and torn.  The bitterness of broken hearts and friendships is then contrasted with the truth that we will get up from this pain and rise again.   "I can see us moving on, I can feel that coming on strong", the joy that comes after the
Read more

Twenty-Four - Jess Ray

Lately I have been listening to lots of music and podcasts while working and biking to work.  I was feeling a need for some new music so I turned to NoiseTrade to check out some new artists.  My favorite thus far is Jess Ray because of the honest lyrics, tastefully simple musicality and overall enjoyable listening environment.  While on my flight back to Atlanta I was struck by this song at first because of the drums that propel this song behind the walking guitar.  If I were to add drums to a track like this it would have been done in a very similar manner.  Once I got past the drums I was awe struck by the simple power of these lyrics, take a read below and follow the link to her blog to listen.   To me it was not written for an outward expression of hope or encouragement but rather as a inward proclamation to the soul.  As the psalmist often choose to sing, this song speaks inward in a call to stand up and be reminded of truth all to often forgotten.  As I gear up for the star
Read more

You Will Be My Ain True Love - Alison Kraus

This song has so much power, even if you remove the lyrics.  I just decided to take in the full potential of the song by turning the stereo all the way up and playing the song a few times.  Before even looking for a video of this song I knew it was related to the Civil War and the separation that occurred between loved ones.  This song starts out explaining the battle field and how the soldier has survived the terrors of war.  As the song continues to build you can tell that the soldier wants to be with his love.  They have been separated by this war and now he wants to be back with her.  The last few lines portray his death and how he has been reunited with his "True Love".  I believe that this song describes his "True Love" as God, our eternal True Love. He has returned to his maker after being killed in Battle and this song paints that picture so well. This song has tons of power in the music behind the lyrics, it adds so much to the meaning of this song!
Read more