Waterdeep Sounds Better In Bosnia...

And I’ve been trying my whole life to be good without the cross
But all that I have gained is this emptiness and loss

So speak to me in my hopeless lonely place
Speak to me
Raise me up when no hope seems to remain
Raise me up


Ah, the words of Waterdeep, how they refresh my soul. Martin Luther once said, "My heart, which is so full to overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary." I find that God uses some tuned in bands like Waterdeep to do that very thing. I worship the same God that they do and that joys my heart! Its so funny how many times the scriptures and words of God that I study seem to coincide with the things going on around me. I have been reading through the book of Romans since I have been in Bosnia. Romans has always been a book that God has used to encourage my soul, however this time, I have felt the need to go through it slowly and really take time to study it (I am so bad at that). And I must admit, God is rocking my socks off through the Book. Chapters 3 and 4 and well really the whole book is built around the same thought that Don Chaffer used in the lyrics above as well as the crisis that I and ever Christian faces every day. And that is the battle between righteousness through faith and righteousness through works.

Why do we try earn our eternity so much? Why do we try to clean up before we come to the cross? Why do we try to what Jesus has already done? Its hurts so much when God slaps me in the face with the conviction of my menial attempts of works righteousness, as if anything I could do would make up for my sins. I could spend my whole life working off the penalty of the sin in my heart and I could so easily regain that debt in just one day. My sin is great. However, that is the power of the cross! What we could and cannot do in a lifetime to cover just one day, Christ did in an instant. I am so glad that forgiveness could not be so easily earned. That is what makes our God great. If I were able to earn my keys into the pearly gates, Heaven would only be as big as what man could conceive. But my sin, your sin, the sin of everyone took the sacrifice of the One True God to forgive. An expensive price, yet a great reward. This great reward is the offer to anyone who allows the sacrifice of Christ to represent the forgiveness of your sins and in return allow God to be Lord or ruler of your life. It makes me think: Such an expensive ransom must mean that God really wants to see His people come to Him.

17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

What A Long Strange Journey Its Been...

Who would have guessed that packing all your needs in to a suitcase, a guitar case and a bookbag would entail such a world of excitement. Well, its official, I am here in Bosnia and let me just start off by saying how amazingly (is that even a word?) beautiful this place is! The people are beautiful, the mountains are beautiful, this is certainly not a place void of God. He Is Here! My travels were quite interesting to get here. On the way, I found myself next to a man that drank a lot and talked even more. Nonetheless, I was never more unsure about my journey then when I looked out of the nearest window seat at promptly 3 am, EST time of course, to see the sun shinning brightly! And I kept thinking, what a long, strange journey its going to be. As we landed in Munich, it was 8 am local time and yet my body told me, "don't be deceived, its really 3 am." However I pressed on and went aboard my next flight to Vienna. Me and 7 other passangers occupied the plane that could easily seat 90 and lo and behold, out of all those available seats, the airline stuck me next to a man who chest hair protuded from his shirt as if it resented the rest of his chest. I asked the stewardess that since there were so few people and so many seats, could I grab one not next to him (he turned out to be really nice by the way). She approved and so I sat my things down in row 4, one row ahead of chest hair man. The stewardess quickly informed me that i was now in the First Class section and would have to move back. To my surprise I had no idea this was first class since the only thing dividing first and economy was a 6 inch curtain that pulled over between rows 4 and 5. Seats the same, drinks the same, yet that curtain made those 2 people a whole class better than me. I had a good laugh as even in my tired mind I thought what a long strange, journey this is becoming. My flight into Spilt was uneventful however, it was good to finally get my things and meet those there to pick me up. Josh and I arrived at our apartment and I was astonished to see how awesome this apartment was. Wood floors, couches, chairs, everything a man needs to survive. Except. There is always an except. As I was turning in for the night, tired from the 24 or so hours straight of walking narcolepsy, I go to retire in my room. I close the door behind me and I realize, its stuck. Handle broken, door stuck, Adam inside. Yikes. Josh and I pound away. I tried every thievery method I learned in college and nothing worked. So I found myself climbing out of my window, into the bathroom window to get into the rest of the house. For 3 days that is. In the middle of the night, early in the morning, as I retire for bed. All 180 lbs of me, ok I lied (205), crawling in and out of a window. And now as I sit in the World Hope Office, in Bosnia with the door fixed now, I think, "wow, what a long strange journey I am in for." I will try my hardest to keep this thing updated, but be patient as I have yet to establish any kid of schedule. I began my language today and I am excited to be learning it so I can communicate with those around me. What a great place. Please pray that I can pick up on the language ratherly quickly. Everyone is really forgiving in me not knowing, but I do want to be able to communicate at some point. And pray for patience, as this long strange journey unfolds, that I may wait on the Lord. I miss my home and my family and friends, but I truly feel confirmed in being here. Now, I am off into the wild blue yonder.