Not unaware.

or: "Sam's Rambly, Disjointed Thoughts on Spiritual Warfare, Plus a Tiny Team Update."
or: "P.S. Impossible Love"
or: "That joke at the end isn't funny"
or: "Enough Subtitles Already!"


We had our last training today. It was incredibly encouraging;our team is right where we need to be. It was the Spiritual Warfare/Conflict training, which is probably the most intense one we do.

Some thoughts:

I always think of Spiritual Warfare as a primarily defensive activity. The Enemy attacks, we defend ourselves and sometimes retaliate with some feisty prayer. I've never thought of the offensive side of Spiritual Warfare much; that we wage war by worshiping God, loving one another, speaking the truth and by sharing the Gospel. That's a beautiful offense.

It's crazy how Satan uses the same tactics over and over, just custom-fitted to different people. Lies. Darkness. Division. Distraction. Condemnation. Whenever we see these things, it ought be a giant red flag that says "hey! listen! (navi?) you're under attack!" Though if you think about the inherent nature of those tactics, they can be hard to see sometimes.

That's the beauty of the simplicity of how we fight though. It doesn't need to be reactive. We don't have to wait until we feel threatened. We should Love and Worship and Encourage and Speak at all times, whether we feel the attack or not (it's still there). Our method of waging warfare is beautiful and enjoyable (though stretching and uncomfortable sometimes). We Love deliberately*.

The other fantastically encouraging thing is that these attacks haven't somehow slipped past God's defenses; he didn't miss a block or stop paying attention (read Job). God deliberately allows certain attacks to come at us in order to train us, in order to bless us and refine us and make us more like Christ. That doesn't mean they come from God or that they are not designed to "steal, kill and destroy;" it just means that God has designs to redeem them for our Good.

So can we lose? Yes. And No. We can lose battles with the enemy when we are not keeping in step with the Spirit, when we choose sin and darkness and lies. But! We've already won the War. It's just the final stages now; though the fighting is still fierce sometimes.

Anyway, that's your sermonette for the evening. I won't even get started on Conflict; that's something i can diatribe on for days.

We had a team time today, broken down into guys and girls, where we talked about insecurities and hidden sins. It was so good (for the guys at least, i wasn't in the girls' group, as you may have pieced together). The vulnerability! The unity! The encouragement and prayer! Mmmm. Good. (it couldn't be "Mm, Mm, Good," that has to be the other team, for obvious reasons)

This is waxing somewhat rambly, so i'll stop now. We're leaving for Mexico on Friday; please be praying for us!



*Now when i say "Love," i don't mean our culture's definition of love. I don't mean the feel-good, happy, nice, warm, fuzzies (though it can be that sometimes). That love is cheap; it's garish.

I mean the real, crazy, hands-dirty, scandalous, self-sacrificing, do-what-is-best-not-what-feels-best, freedom-bringing, culture-transcending, never-failing, gentle, patient, fierce Love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. The type of Love that is impossible unless you are in Christ and filled with the Spirit.

I guess....you could say.....if you wanted......we need to be....amor like Christ.