What Week Is It Now?

Well hello again the world wide web! How has your week been? Not the actual web but the people who are on the world wide web reading this blog post. I hope you're all doing well. I know I am! God is so good. It has been another absolutely lovely week yet again here in Derby. God has been just so amazing in all of our outreaches and He day in and day out amazes with me with how He works. I got to play a little football this week with some of the kids at the Roma Outreach annnnd I got kicked directly in the face at point blank with the ball. You'd think I would stop playing right? WRONG! I toughed it out and apparently gained street cred from all of the kids so that's good. I'm still not very good at football, but playing with these kids is certainly helping. They are literally half my size and age yet they absolutely embarrass me. It's rather ridiculous. I just don't understand how their little feet can move so fast and mine move so... less fast. Rachel, I need you to make me better at football immediately. Or just play for me. 

Anyway, the lectures this week were truly amazing. Richard Lowe came and spoke to us on the subject of "sin, repentance and restoration." The main takeaway for me? Renew your mind. One of the main pieces of scripture we looked at was Romans 12:1-2. It states in the NAS, 

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

Present your bodies as a living sacrifice. It's interesting that the text does not say, "Therefore I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, get a good job, have a family, only share your faith when you're comfortable, stay in your comfort zone forever actually, give God your free time, you should probably go to church once a week if you can make it, and make sure you don't do anything risky."
I feel like that is what our culture of the Western church has become. Paul doesn't say to do any of that. Not that any of that is bad by any means. Not all of us are called by God to move to a village in Africa and preach the Gospel to only unreached people groups. If everyone did that, then there would be no one left in the other parts of the world. 

Paul writes to be a living sacrifice. He does not menace words. Or as I like to say, "Paul hath no chill." Or as Louie Giglio would say, "Turn down for what?!" That's exactly it. Live like someone died for you. Presenting the Gospel should feel uncomfortable at times and offensive because by nature the Gospel is offensive. Your body is for The Lord. You were made by Him. He died for you. He literally came to earth, died, and then rose for us because of how ratchet we are. That is the epitome of unequivocal love and grace. And I just think that if our response to that love and truth is not to tell our neighbors, coworkers, the people of the United Kingdom and beyond what we know and live for then we are missing something. Rapper KB says so well I think. 

Some say they've seen The Lord, but live on casually
I don't know what you saw, 
But The Lord a'int what you seen,
Cause once you really seen The Lord,
You're obsessed with what you seen

THAT IS SO TRUE!! You are obsessed with The Lord. That's really all I am trying to say to you all. Be so on fire for God that people know there is something different about you. Live it DAILY. Pick up your cross DAILY. Not just once a week for a couple of hours before your favorite football team plays on Sunday afternoon, but everyday. In the Old Testament, an animal was put down and burned up as a one time sacrifice. Done deal. One time event. No more. However, Paul says living sacrifice. That means to be in a state of perpetual sacrifice. This living sacrifice, this surrender of self in a humble submissive act to God, this, as Paul put it, bearing about in my body always the dying of Jesus Christ, this kind of living sacrifice is the basis of true worship. It is the foundation of all Christian dedication. It is what Paul meant when he said, "For to me to live is Christ and die is gain." "I have many things but," in Galatians he said, "I count all things manure compared to what I have in Christ." 

As Jeff Vanderstelt said, "God doesn't just want your afterlife, He wants this life too." 

However, that is not what the world, aka Satan's tool, tells us to be obsessed with. We are told to be obsessed with ourselves and our own happiness. Get more money, sex, whatever makes you happy and don't ever live uncomfortably. That is what we are fed by the media constantly. However, we need to unlearn what the media teaches us. Don't put your mind in harms way. Richard really talked a lot about how important it is to have accountability people in your life. I couldn't possibly stress that enough myself. Community is beyond important in your pursuit of Christ-like attributes and habits. You cannot do it by yourself. There is a reason you are in the church you are in, know the people you know, and live where you live. 

We cannot simply be tolerant of sins that the world tells us should be our lifestyle and livelihood. And that's why we also need to be refreshed in what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:12-13. Paul writes, "All things are lawful unto me but all things are not expedient, all things are lawful for me but I will not be brought under the power of any, I will not allow myself to become a victim of anything. The body is not for fornication but it's for the Lord and the Lord is for the body." I said it previously already but I am going to say it again as if I am Paul without exclamation points. The body is for the Lord. He can't work through you unless He works through your body. If you're going to speak, you've got to speak through your mouth. If you're going to see, you have to see through your eyes. If you're going to go, you have to go with your feet. If you're going to think, you have to think with your mind. The body is for the Lord. And the Lord is for the body.

I want to end with a quote. David Livingston, that great missionary to Africa, said, "People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply paid back as a small part of the great debt owing to our God which we could never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own reward of healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with such a word. It is emphatically no sacrifice, it is privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering or danger now and then with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life may make us pause and cause the Spirit to waver and sink, but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall hereafter be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice. Of this we ought not to talk when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His fathers throne on high to give Himself for us."


God bless you all and thanks for praying, interceding, aiding me financially, and reading! Don't forget to also check out my music site! www.soundcloud.com/drew-andrew-couch. Oh and check out this cat shirt.

Week Four Is No More

Well we are all currently watching The Proposal. Yes. The brilliant film with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. It's truly an instant classic of a Rom Com. (For those of you who aren't up to date on the hip lingo that means Romantic Comedy). Ryan Reynolds is truly a marvel for the world of Hollywood and man I really want to go to Alaska. Anywayyyyy. I turned 21 this weeeeeek. TURN UP. But seriously, I cannot even begin to describe how thankful I am for the loving gifts and cards from my family and friends. My amazing mother sent me a package, and then my two amazing leaders Clarence, and Jeanine put all of the contents of the package into a Happy Birthday bag (also sent by my mother). From making me laugh so hard it made me cry and simply bringing me to tears. What is interesting is that although I was not with any of my family and friends from home this year for my birthday, I have honestly never felt so loved and so encouraging by them all in my life. So Mom, Chuck, JJ, BIL, Bae, John Roper, Rick Bell, Giioo (you a 5), Autumn Prater, Shep Martin, Paul Harrison, Andrew, Kimberly, and Chris Evans, thank you so much for everything. I love you all so much that words cannot even describe it.

This week has truly been amazing (like all of the other ones) and I am so grateful for the upcoming week. This week was the first week in which we were able to go to all of our outreaches. One of the biggest highlights of the week actually came yesterday at one of our youth outreaches.

So we were at this park in the area called Sin Fin where we were going to reach out to the children in the city. However, we arrive there and there were only two kids there who are aged maybe 3 and 4. After a quick walk around a couple of the blocks, we prayed. We prayed that kids would come to the park and that God would just open up the door to speak to these kids and just talk to them. After maybe 10 minutes then one kid came, then two, and before we knew it there were over 20 young people there! It was truly brilliant. I am always blown away with how God works and answers prayers to glorify Him. I absolutely love it. Words really cannot describe how excited I am to just continue to be a part of the city and pour into the hearts of the young people in this community. 

Now I just finished my second book report write up and I really wanted to just share it with you all. I know I referenced "Thinking Loving Doing" last week in the post but the book was just marvelous from beginning to end that I cannot hide the information!

Most memorable quotes: 

“I pray that you will love God with all your mind—that you will engage your thinking as fully as possible for the sake of knowing God as fully as possible, for the sake of treasuring God as fully as possible” (p. 133).

“Our minds are broken by sin. Which means we cannot trust even what we think, ourselves. Jeremiah 17:9 says “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” We have an amazing ability to lie to ourselves. You do it all the time. So do I. We lie. We tell ourselves that things aren’t as bad as they really are. We tell ourselves that things are better than they really are. We tell ourselves that were doing okay when were not doing okay. We’re telling ourselves it’s no big deal when it is a big deal. In fact, the Bible tells us that you cannot be trusted to tell yourself the truth... because all sin begins with a lie. The Bible says Satan in “the father of lies” (John 8:44). And if he can get you to believe a lie he can get you to sin. Anytime you sin, you think that you know better than God.” (p. 28)

“When we begin to develop character and do good habitually-daily Bible reading, regular fasting, regular praying, regular days of prayer, regular witnessing-when these become the habits of our lives, the more we do them, the better we will get at them.” (p. 39)

“In the third chapter in Genesis, we read of the fall-the universal story that explains the intellectual crisis in which we find ourselves. In Adam’s fall, we all fell. Adam and Eve demanded to know what they were not to know, and once they knew it, they knew themselves as rebels. They became the enemies of God. We do not rightly know who we are without the biblical revelation of the fall. First the consequence of death created separation and alienation from God.” (p. 54)

Glossary:

1. Captivate: To attract and hold the interest and attention of. We need to not only pursue our minds and its thoughts, but we need to have the interest of it as often as possible.

2. Surrender: stop resisting to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority. In this instance, our sinful minds are an enemy to God. We must give up our minds to The Father and to His desires for us.

3. Guard: Protect against damage or harm. Satan does not relent from attempting to damage our minds. We need to guard our mind from garbage. What goes in will stay in.

4. Diligence: It is about being intentional in chasing a mind that glorifies God as much as possible. Pursuing such a mind is one that has to be done with a carefully working demeanor.

5. Intellectual Fatigue: With the fast pace of modern life and the multitude of matters pressing for our attention, we can begin to fell depleted in our intellectual capacities and mental reserves.

6. Sufficient: Enough. Adequate. We need to be absolutely satisfied in God and His desires for us.  

From not only a theological standpoint, but as well as an encouraging and challenging standpoint, the content of this book absolutely has changed the way that I look at thinking. The Bible directly tells us that our minds are depraved, sinful, dull, blinded, corrupt, and so much more. We have so much reason to question every single thought. We cannot believe everything we think. If Satan is the “father of sin” then why would he not desire to fill our heads with lies? This particular book has taught me that we simply have blind spots in our brains. We are preconditioned by the fall to have flawed thinking that is not wholesome and flat out against God. That one particular portion of the quote on page 28 really stuck out to me. “Anytime you sin, you think you know better than God.” Sometimes we can forget that we are doing that anytime we lie. That is the truth though. Whenever we worry, lie, deceive, we think that we know better than God. If God doesn’t desire it then neither should we. If it is not from God then Satan would love us to believe it. Had we not sinned, we would all share a right to accurate perspective. Our minds are unregenerate. We are to love God and glorify Him with all that we do. That includes our thoughts. Not just our actions. Proverbs tells us that the wise man will seek out knowledge. The wise man does not seek out things that simply cloud and clutter up our minds with negativity.

The content of this book has challenged me. Challenged me to change the way I think and to change what goes into my brain. That includes absolutely everything I read, listen to, watch, and do. We cannot expect to be effective in our own growing with God let alone our evangelism if what is going into our mind and what we are thinking is not glorifying to God. How can I glorify God if I am not thinking what would bring Him glory? It was in the fall where man’s thoughts and mind absolutely destroyed the relationship between man and God. In Adam’s fall, we fell. We suffer from total depravity and it is not by magic that our thinking is going to get any better.

The book has taught me we need to be skillful and practiced in winning the daily battle for our minds. Ecclesiastes 10:10 says “If the ax is dull and its edge is unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.” What is interesting to me is that it doesn’t say prayer will bring success. Yes, prayer is absolutely vital to our faith and our relationship with God, however if all we do is pray every second of forever then we are missing the point. There is so much more that God has. He has given us direct commands such as the great commission that cannot be ignored. Yet, in order to efficiently, effectively, and accurately preach the Gospel-like with edification of our faith-it takes much effort and practice to do so. We need to develop skills. If you are chopping wood and you are using a pair of scissors instead of an ax or chainsaw, then you are going to have a tough time chopping wood. A farmer can pray all that he wants, but if he tries to harvest a wheat field with a grape picker, the job will not get done. The bottom line is that we have to have the right skills. “Sharpening our ax” will never have negative repercussions. The Bible specifically instructs us to sharpen our thoughts and minds. If we are skillful in all of the things stated on page 39, then we will be able to be immeasurably more effective in not only personal relationship with God, but in evangelism as well. That’s what I desire. I desire to be growing in the way I not only am having The Holy Spirit evangelize me, but I desire The Holy Spirit to be able to evangelize through me more effectively because I place what God wants me to think about over what I want to think about. After all, if His thoughts are higher and His ways are better, then why would I not want to have His thoughts?

Isn't that just awesome encouragement from God? I thought so. I again want to thank everyone so much for all of the prayers and financial support throughout all of this. I can't wait to share with you what God is doing here in Derby next week! God bless you and peace be with you.

Week Three is History (And the Battle For Your Mind)

WELL GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS INTERNET WORLD. I turn 21 in four days!! T.U.R.N.T. U.P. Quick shoutout to Jeanine my leader. You're as dope as Steven Curtis Chapman.

It's Saturday! No sit down Rebecca Black. I hope that you are all having a wonderful week currently. I know I am! It's been a very busy yet extremely enjoyable week here at YWAM Derby. We had a lovely visit from the Cambridge YWAM team in which we played a rather intense game of Fish Bowl. No worries though, the team of Jeanine, Coach Clarence and myself were victorious. Unrelated, well kind of related because i just mentioned his name, happy early birthday Coach Clarence. You're leadership and passion to serve God and his people is fye. 

Back to what went on this week, it was really the first time that we had  the experience of going to multiple outreaches. Out of the three I have had the opportunity to go to, I can hardly begin to say I have a favorite for they are all truly amazing. All three times I had the opportunity to work with youth from our own city. As well as organized outreach, the time I have been able to spend spreading the glory of Jesus through music at local pubs has truly been marvelous. I have met quite a few very talented people as well as simply been able to preach the gospel in the best way I know how. 

However, there was one experience that really stuck out to me and that was at the "Roma Outreach." At the Roma outreach we work with kids from the ages of 10-18 that are a part of the Roma community. Now I was not entirely sure what to expect, but when we got to the church and there were approximately 50 young people needing to be loved, my heart just became elated. We just kinda hung out, some kids played football, some kids did arts and crafts, and others hung out with the music crew. It was really just so amazing to see how the kids bonded with me over one of my favorite gifts from God. It was one of the most adorable things ever to see the kids trying to rap and/or beatbox with me. They absolutely loved it. I am actually not sure who enjoyed it all more, the kids or me. 

One of the guys I got to talk a little more with, we shall call him Patrick, is trying to become a professional boxer (I will make sure to stay on his good side) is really an awesome kid. I say kid but he just turned 17 a couple of weeks ago. It was just really awesome to begin building a relationship with him that I have a feeling will last the entirety of my stay here in Derby. What made the conversations with him even better was that I got to tell him a little about Jesus. And he was sincerely interested in what I had to say. That's what it is really all about anyway. Fulfilling the Great Commission given to us by Jesus Himself. To "go and make disciples of all nations." I am just so grateful to God for giving me the ability to glorify His name and  use me to build His kingdom. Also he called me a dope rapper. Really though, Patrick is the dope one.

We also had a visit from the ever brilliant Ally Kay. He came and taught us on the history of the church of England, how to evangelize in the United Kingdom, and how to properly use Apologetics. It was truly a brilliant (I am trying to be more English) set of lectures. I already feel more equipped to go into the city and effectively evangelize. One of the main takeaways I got from the lectures this week is to become a part of the culture you are in and the need to build relationships with those in the community so that we may nurture them and walk with them from the beginning of their faith. I am seriously so grateful to all of those who aided me in finances in prayer in getting me to Derby. I am already learning so much and really growing in my personal walk with Jesus. Please continue to pray and intercede in everything we are doing over here in Derby.

Now, I have been reading the book "Thinking. Loving. Doing." I wanted to just share something with all of you that I absolutely loved from the chapter written by Rick Warren entitled "The Battle For Your Mind." Warren states, "One of the most important things we need to learn and teach others is how to guard, strengthen, and renew our minds, because the battle for sin always starts in the mind." That is brilliant isn't it? In manifold instances, the bible specifically talks about our minds and the faults of our minds. My favorite thing written by Rick Warren is about taking every single one of our thoughts captive:

""I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing... Wretched man that I am!" Romans 7:19, 24). The fact is, the reason we have so many ineffective Christians today is that they do not know how to fight the battle of the mind. And I blame pastors like me for that. We must spend more time teaching our people how to fight the battle of the mind."

He then goes on to discuss the faults of our mind depicted through scriptures:

1. Confused (Deut 28:20)
2. Anxious, Closed (Job 17:3-4)
3. Evil, Restless (Eccles 2:21-23)
4. Rash, Deluded (Leviticus 5:4; Isaiah 32:4)

Those are just a few of the examples he gave. The main takeaway for me from this chapter is simply the importance to take captive of our own minds. We cannot be a slave to the sin that desires to control us. Jesus said it Himself in Matthew 6. You cannot have two masters. You cannot be constantly in the darkness as a believer and be effective in your faith. 

I just want to encourage everyone to captivate your own mind. Do not be a slave to your own desires, but instead desire only the ways and thoughts of our Heavenly Father. After all, "His thoughts are higher and His ways are better." I love you all and please keep praying for revival here in the United Kingdom. 

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
-Romans 12:2

P.S: Love you Baechel.

Thanks to Clarence for the awesome picture! If you want to hear some of my music simply go to www.soundcloud.com/drew-andrew-couch

Week Two Is Thru

Happy Saturday! Yesterday someone asked me what day it was, and it was October 3rd, so I told her, "It's October 3rd."

Anyway... This week at YWAM UMDTS has certainly been one to remember. From amazing teachings to going to a couple of outreaches (one of which is a new one that I think God is calling me to). On Tuesday I went to a local pub and showcased how much we all need Jesus through music at an open mic night. The pub graciously let me do five songs (It was too turnt) and I will for sure be returning every Tuesday as long as they allow me.

My amazing leader Jeanine and I will also be going into the city to make beautiful music for an open mic on a slightly larger scale. Praying that there will be some hearts will be called to Jesus this evening. That is what it is all about anyway. Everything is about glorifying our Almighty Lord and Savior Jesus. Then on Wednesday I had the opportunity of going with a couple of my leaders to a wonderful local church and work with the youth group (middle school age mostly). It was a wonderful night of beginning to build relationships with these younger kids. After a message by the youth leader, we proceeded to play a rather intense hour or so worth of dodgeball. I am beyond grateful to be able to plug into the local community here in Derby. God is already using me in the churches here to help younger people grow in their relationship with Him. I absolutely love it here. God has blessed me with such an amazing group of people that surround me. I am just thankful for everyone here at YWAM Derby.

This week in lectures we went through and looked at what the holy scriptures tell us about the character and nature of God and looked at hearing God's voice. Hearing God's voice was actually from the wonderful teachings of YWAM Derby's very own Coach Clarence. If you read this Clarence, you did a very marvelous job. Your teachings on being prophetic to specially edify the church were powerful and incredibly encouraging.

It was all a brilliant reminder of how truly amazing, powerful, almighty, loving, righteously wrathful, and glorious God really is. From looking at His unchanging nature, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, the first few days of this week surrounded around the character and nature of God were truly ones I will never forget. One that really stuck out was when we looked at God's holiness. Francis Chan once said, "It is about actually becoming more like Him." That's so true. God is holy and we are made directly in His image, therefore it is something we are to pursue. We looked at God's holiness in relation to us throughout the scriptures. One that really stuck out to me was in Hebrews 12:14

"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see The Lord." (ESV)
The NAS version says: "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see The Lord."

In this particular epistle pursuing sanctification is explained as two different things:

1. A drawing near to God with full faith and a cleansed conscience. Now let's look back to Hebrews 10:19-25 we see that the writer is giving a summary of the arguments for the "superiority of Christ's priestly ministry." Particularly, verse 10:22 relates to what we just looked at 12:14. "Let us draw near..." Let us draw near. Yes. pursue holiness. Draw near to Him. We have already learned from the book of James in 4:8: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts..." We must draw near to Him.

2. A genuine acceptance of Christ as the savior and sacrifice for sin, bringing the sinner into fellowship with God. Think about this. "Unbelievers will not be drawn to accept Christ if believers' lives do not demonstrate the qualities God desires, including peace and holiness." (John MacArthur)
I mean, it says it straight up in 1 Peter 1:15-16.

"...but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also holy in all your behavior; because it is written "You shall be holy for I am holy."
There is no second guessing it. We are called to pursue holiness as Christ is holy. We are to practice a holy manner of living because we are directly associated with the holy Hod and must treat Him and His Word with respect and reverence. We therefore will glorify Him the best by being like Him. Verse 17 basically goes on to say that "if you address as Father..." (If you are a Christian) you are to respect God and during your time on earth, you will long to honor the heavenly Father.

For me that was all just incredibly encouraging and really just lit a fire in me to further pursue
Christ-like characteristics diligently. I am so grateful for everything so far here in Derby. It has only been two weeks and I am already learning so much. I realize that I have only but scratched the surface of who God truly is and what His will for me is. He has been speaking directly to me so much these past days through His word, others, and in prophetic ways. I am just overjoyed. Did I also mention that the English know how to cook? The food here is amazing. Except they like to put mayonnaise on their salads?? I don't know what that is about... As the great philosopher Jimmy Fallon would say, "Ew."

Well I love you all and look forward to sharing more with you next week! Everyone have a blessed week and pursue His holiness as He was holy. I love you Rachel! Also, did I mention how just absolutely beautiful the views are in this country? Georgia needs to step its game up.