A rest weekend before the Venture starts on Monday.
So far I've:
- had a chance for a bit of exercise playing tennis with Paul
- Rode in a Micronault - cheap transport. :)
- checked out the Ambassador Mall (a taste of shopping of sorts in Indonesia)
- sampled Indonesian dishes or delicacies like: mangosteen, brains, tripe, avocado juice. My stomach's still trying to determine if it's in a good mood or not....

And of course we've seen the team slowly arrive. :)
Rich, Kim and Suma arrived first. Robin had visa issues and was almost turned back. We only found out that he'd made it through when he turned up at the hotel. :) A miracle story to tell there.
And we picked up Giju and Asvanti from the airport tonight.
unfortunately Albert couldn't make it.
I believe that makes 4 indian consultants safely in, and Kim is relieved that her babies have made it to roost. ;)

Tomorrow we'll go to church as a group, meet the local consultants, and hopefully know how many clients we have so we can begin the client/consultant matching.
Now that the consultants are pretty much in place, please keep praying for more clients! :)
Errol found 3 or 4 more that might be interested at the talk he gave....

Spent a quiet time the Sunday before the Venture just listening to hear what God would say. Here's what I got.

"It's not about us. It's not even about them. It's about you God.
Help us to remember that it's all for you.
God first. His will and purpose accomplished.
He is the reason, he's the purpose, he's the objective, and he's the source.
Our clients - we need to love them, serve them, encourage them and exhort them. we need to be God's hand's and feet, and voice to them.
But if we make the mistake of thinking it's all about serving them, then we short change the purposes God has for them.
The best think we can do is bring truth, grace, and allow God to bring the power.
Ourselves - when we focus on ourselves, our discomfort, our failures, we lose sight of God. Help us to truely become living sacrifices. As we do so, unity will no longer be a concern.
Let us see Christ in each of our fellow team members.

So I asked the question: "What would bring you glory Lord?"
- unity with diversity. Honouring one another, loving and esteeming each other
- signs and wonders - Market place miracles that declare your presence
- lives changed and hearts transformed
- strongholds broken down
- giants attacked and defeated
- his children equipped and encouraged to do his will
- thousands of little "christs" in every sphere/sector of society
- people back home (supporters) not just encouraged but galvanized into action.

May we see all this and more during the Venture."

Ever think sometimes our perspective needs a little tweaking?
Oftentimes I've heard the statement that "there's a God shaped hole inside the heart of every individual that they're desperately trying to fill".
While I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment, and the fact that every one of us has an innate need that can only be fulfilled by God, there's also a certain dissonance in imagining that the sovereign, omnipotent God of the universe fits inside my heart.
Recently in a bible study, we discussed Romans 8:28-30
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

Which paints a very different picture in my mind.The picture I got was that "there's a 'me' shaped hole in the grand mosaic jigsaw puzzle that is God's plan and purpose".
The verse then assures me that if I love God, then there's a spot for me in that mosaic that he's predestined for me to fulfill.
To ensure that I can fill that hole, he's shaping and molding my jigsaw puzzle piece (in the likeness of his son) so that it perfectly fits into his plan.
No one else can fill that hole, because while we're all to be conformed to the "likeness" of his son, he's made each and every one of us unique, with different skills and talents, different personalities, different life experiences, and different passions and desires.
I think this is a much more accurate perspective I think.
However, a number of questions arise.
How much is God's doing, and how much is our responsibility?
How do we find this "me" shaped hole in God's mosaic?
Is there timing and preparation required? Lest we find that hole and discover to our dismay that we have not allowed God to shape and mold us sufficiently to fill that gap, and so have to "go around the mountain" one more time?

I don't have all the answers. ;) But I think starting to ask the right questions is a big step towards the solution.
Intentionally trying to discover the intersection between: my gifts and talents, my passions and desires, and what God is doing in the world today
might be a good indicator towards that hole for example.
And that's a continual "work in progress"....