Transitioning

Sorry for the delay on this one folks :P

Those who know me well are familiar with the struggle that I've had finding direction for my life. My interests range from economic development to writing to ecclesiology (church-y stuff) to music to entrepreneurial ventures...adding to the breadth of my interests my propensity to indecision complicates the situation.

This summer, I hoped, would encompass many of those interests and help provide some direction for life after undergrad. Well, I'm pleased to report it did. And I am eternally grateful to those who made this experience possible; supporters (financial, prayer, emotional, intellectual, and morale), those at FH who organized everything, my home church (Central Christian) and my other home church (ECC).

In Indonesia, in some form or another, I was able to dabble in missions, church life, development, entrepreneurship, writing, leadership, followership :), agriculture, dirt bike driving, jungle trekking...you get the point. So I couldn't have asked for a more fitting opportunity.

What I learned this summer really will be life changing...direction altering...mission focusing....

The unifying factor in all these interests of mine is the Gospel. The direction that God wants me to head is straight towards the cross of Christ (Phil 3:14). His plan for me is the same as His plan for you (Heb 9:12). He plans to, and will, restore our broken souls to glory (2 Pet 1:3-4).

Phillipians speaks volumes to this. Paul opens the letter by sharing how his suffering in prison has "really served to advance the gospel". And at the close of the same chapter he lays it out clear and simple in this line,

"to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (1:21).

In case you tend to favor the left side of your brain...

Life = Christ
Death = Gain

Pretty simple.

The lines that follow flesh out this incredible Truth; "If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose (life or death) I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart (DIE) and be with Christ for that is far better."

Lord willing I will be graduating this December. That's about four and a half months from now. So what's next, Andrew?

For me, it's His glory...my Joy (Psalm 119:111 et al).

As I mentioned in my previous entry I will be transitioning away from this blog. I intend to use this address to keep my friends in Indonesia posted on life in Indiana. Feel free to check it out for those updates.

I also plan to set up a more substantial blog to share my walk in a more personal and more participatory way with those who are interested. If you'd be interested in following along with me there, send an email to andrewhhughes@gmail.com and I will let you know when I get the details ironed out.

Until Then...



"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you." Titus 2:11-15

: )

Hello All!

I just wanted to throw up a quick post letting you know that I have arrived in Indiana safe and sound.

I hope to post tomorrow a sort of transitional post...update on what's next for me, how you can hear more about my time in Indo (seriously, we're all friends/family...just give me a call!), and what's next for 'Andrew in Indo'.

In short I intend to transition this blog into a blog to update my brothers and sisters in Indo! I will occasionally post about the goings on here in Indiana and maybe some pictures of people and places that I talked about in Indo.

I am also planning to launch another blog devoted in some way, shape, or form to my personal musings. Once I map that out a little better I will let you know :)

Until then, it's been a blessing and a pleasure.

Check back tomorrow for my 'farewell' post!

His,

Goin' Home

***Note: This blog is a few days behind...I fly out from Medan in 9 hours :)***

Throughout my time here in Indo, one particular musician has proven a consistent source of encouragement (ask David, he'll tell ya!)


And as I pack my bags (both the 'way too big for just two months away' green duffel bag as well as the emotional baggage I've been unpacking with gusto)to head out, the words of his (Josh Garrels, of course) song "Going Home" have faithfully accompanied the process...

I, I’m going home

she, she’s going home

we, we’re going home

going home

when we die

going home

in the sky

going home

by and by

going home

to live with Christ

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Amen

...It really is a beautiful song.

As I process through the weightier parts of this trip (relationships established and left behind...souls who don't know the hope to which we have been called...the body of Christ...missions...the Gospel) God keeps bringing me back to the simple Truth in the words of this song. My home is in Christ.

The other day I was perusing the blog of a dear friend of mine when I stumbled across a post that had been tucked away in his Archives. He is preparing to move from Indiana to New Jersey to work with a church plant next month and writes about leaving home.

I encourage you to check out the whole post (by clicking the words "a post")...but the hope that it pointed me to was this:

I am leaving Calang tomorrow morning around 7 am (for those who are worrying about my travels, I will fly from Meulaboh to Medan tomorrow, from Medan to Phoenix on Tuesday the 5th and then from Phoenix to Indiana on the 9th...and I'll do my best to keep you posted throughout). I'm going home.

When I get there I suppose there will be a week or so of rejoicing, relaxing, and rejuvenating. I have scores of friends and family to update, Thank You letters to write, presentations to plan and schedule, I have to find housing for this Fall (pray for that!), and then there's all the hustle and bustle of the forthcoming semester.

Before long, however, my restless soul will feel that deep down itch for a new place. Home (Bloomington, Indiana, the US...Earth) will have provided a much needed sanctuary. But the satisfaction fades. There is a place prepared for me in my Father's house to which no worldly wind, no matter how full it fills my sails, can carry me.

The blog post ends with this exhortation:

We must shape our lives around the reality of true hope, our home in Christ. Else we have no hope. “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, you too will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:3-4). God is our portion, our heritage. So we die to ourselves and live for Christ. Why New Jersey? I don’t know. :)
But my Father does.

Pray for safe travels. Pray that I don't miss any flights.

Pray that as I head back, get things settled in for my last semester and plan steps for after graduation, I would shape my life around the reality of true hope. My hope and my home in Christ.