Exciting!

Well. Where to begin? We’ll start with the important news. Firstly, Christ is Lord, still is that’s right. I’m glad He is too, or this whole thing would fall apart literally. So praise God for grace and mercy and His love. Secondly this last week has been really good. My Old Testament course is wrapping up this week, and it has been really awesome. I agree with my teacher, “If you don’t see Christ in the Old Testament, then you’re reading it wrong.” The sheer multitude of instances where Christ is implied through, prophecy or otherwise is actually pretty astonishing. A tip I learned for all of you studying the Old Testament, “The OT teaches by implication, while the NT teaches explicitly.” or “What the OT shows through circumstances and examples, the NT directly addresses in words.” So needless to say this class has been pretty sweet. Also the Lord has been challenging me a lot in the realm of the pursuit of Him. I’m going through a semi-dry time right now, and I know so often in the past I’ve wanted to think and say, “Ah God where did You go? Woe is me, God doesn’t like me, come back Lord.” But I was convicted about that mindset, and instead challenged to take the mindset of pressing on and pressing through instead of sitting down in the road and crying. It’s kind of like a cosmic spiritual game of hide-and-seek, and I think God wants to test how desperate we are for Him by going ahead a bit, and then seeing if we’ll keep on walking in His ways and searching for Him. Lastly I broke my wrist playing soccer. That’s right. Praise God. I mean that in all seriousness. Because I could have broken it earlier on and not have played as much soccer as I’ve gotten to. Also this will cause me to not get too overbooked with things I want to do up here. So the Lord’s infinitely good. Please be praying for His healing of my wrist, and that I wouldn’t get discouraged or distracted in the pursuit of Him. Thanks all. Love.

Warren

Ah the first week.

Sorry I didn’t get this up last night guys. The last week has been really busy I’ve had quite a bit of homework for my Old Testament class. It has been a stellar class so far and I’m learning a lot. Please pray for the teacher, his name is Tom Shetler, he’s used to teaching this class over the course of three semesters, and not three weeks like he’s having to do right now. So far though it has been really excellent. It is just starting to cool off up here, and fall is beginning to set in, yay! I’m looking forward to winter even though everyone keeps telling me that it is long and cold. I’m glad to have finally been to all my classes so that I can actually plan out my nights and weekends to be effective here. I’m going to try out for a band on campus here because BCOM has just started a House of Prayer, and they are looking for musicians to play. I’m also going to be giving drum lessons to one of the kids here on campus who is the son of one of the students that I’m in class with. I’m looking forward to that. In addition to that I’m steadily trying to learn the guitar, and get back in shape (I have lofty goals) before Christmas, Lord I need strength. We fasted through lunch today which we will do every Tuesday and just prayed to and worshipped the Lord; needless to say it was an excellent time in the Lord’s presence. In the afternoons we have practical training which is where we (the students) have jobs that we do around campus to keep it running, and costs down. I’m on the lawn crew so I’ve been mowing, and occasionally moving furniture around in apartments. It has been really fun though; in the midst of mowing you can just pray and meet with God which I though was cool. Prayer request wise if you guys could be praying that in the midst of working hard up here that I don’t lose my focus on the Lord that would be much appreciated, because it is really easy to do that. And also that He would continue to be glorified by the life I lead. Thanks a lot. I love you all.

Warren

Finally!

For any of you that have been waiting for this blog to get up and running I apologize for the delay. Orientation week has been absolutely insane, and I’m just now catching up. For those of you who don’t know what this blog is about: My name is Warren Sterling. This blog is to keep in touch with people that I know in various different places of the U.S. I am a student at Bethany College of Missions in Bloomington, MN. My life has changed exponentially in the last 4 months. I graduated in 2005 from high school, and went to Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX for two years majoring in Music. I received a  a call on my life from the Lord to go live in Northern Uganda and help, love, and represent Christ to the people there. Therefore, I began looking at missions schools in the hope of finding a good stepping stone and preparation place for that calling. Bethany College of Missions (BCOM) runs a full 3 year B.A. of Cross-Cultural studies in which the student comes to the campus here in Bloomington for a full-year. Within that year the student takes various classes over Biblical topics. Upon the completion of the first year the student will take 4 months off to work, and raise support for an internship set-up through the college. The internship is 16-months long where the student goes to another country with a group of 8-12 other students from the school. The time is occupied by learning the local language, learning the city or town, continuing to take courses through local pastors and BCOM, potentially planting churches, etc., etc. When the internship is finished the student comes back to the BCOM main campus for their “senior” year which consists of 4 more months of classes and then graduation.

I personally am hoping, and believe that, this school will prepare me to do the work that I know the Lord has called me to do. Check out the “Invisible Children” video that I have linked on this website, and you’ll know which people group I hope to live amongst someday. I would covet your prayers that the Lord would continue to teach me and prepare me for this life. I will also hopefully be updating this blog at the beginning of each week to summarize some of the things that I have learned, and the goings on in my life from the prior week. This blog is open to comments so don’t be afraid to drop a Hello, or questions off here. Or if you really want me to answer something desperate then e-mail me at copaceticseven@hotmail.com. Thanks and May the Lord bless you and keep you.