The Dangerous Duty of Delight

An excerpt from the book

The Dangerous Duty of Delight

If you are a guide on a sightseeing trip, and you know that the people are longing to enjoy beauty-even willing to risk their lives to see it-and you come upon some breathtaking ravine, then you should show it to them and urge them to enjoy it. Well, the human race does in fact crave the experience of awe and wonder. And there is no reality more breathtaking than Jesus Christ. He is not safe, but He is stunning.

God has put eternity in man’s mind and filled the human heart with longing. But we know not what we long for until we see the breathtaking God. This is the cause of universal restlessness. Hence the famous prayer of Saint Augustine: “You made us for yourself and our hearts find no peace till they rest in you.”

The world has an inconsolable longing. It tries to satisfy the longing with scenic vacations, accomplishments of creativity, stunning cinematic productions, sexual exploits, sports extravaganzas, hallucinogenic drugs, ascetic rigors, managerial excellence, etc. But the longing remains….

The tragedy of the world is that the echo is mistaken for the Original Shout. When our back is to the breathtaking beauty of God, we cast a shadow on the earth and fall in love with it. But it does not satisfy.

“The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them… For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have yet visited.”

Work Around Basecamp

March 24th

Koky was in town and teamed up with Pastor Brady to put up some new lights.

March 27th

The forecast for Saturday, which is our Spring Work Day, is rain so these men came to Base Camp after work and put in a few hours so that our road wouldn’t continue to erode.

What a blessing it is to know men who willingly give up their time and energy for the Lord.

Spring Work Day

Here are a few mobile pictures from our Spring Work Day.

Family Fellowship

As a staff we try to have lunch together every Tuesday… Why?

Because we’re a family and family needs to spend time together in fellowship.

We need time to laugh together and encourage each other and spur each other on (Heb 10:24).

How about you… are you taking time to connect with your Oasis Family?

If you’re not already part of a LifeGroup check out our website here.

On Faith

There comes a moment when we need to make a statement of faith. I’m not talking about a collection of theological truths written on paper; I’m talking about a statement of faith written with our lives. Faith is not a noun; it’s a verb – an action verb. The greatest and truest statement of faith is a life well lived. It is faith fleshed out through risks and sacrifices. It is daring to go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention.

Ongoing Painting

We have been so blessed by Jonathan Warner who has continually given of his time

to bless the Oasis Family by painting the Life Center.

A Church of Us

We met three young men that are walking across the US, from coast to coast, sharing the Gospel with everyone they meet.

We found Trevor, Jonathan, and Jeff camping out on the church property.

We were thrilled they were able to join us for our staff devotions.

They then blessed us by praying for us as well as the whole Oasis Family.

Then we went back to their camp site to pray for them, their equipment, and their journey.

It was truly a blessing to meet these young men who are on fire for God

and are willing to follow Him wherever He leads them.

Chosen for Prayer

An excerpt from:

A Gospel Primer

When God chose me in Christ before the foundation of the world, He did not merely choose me to be “holy and blameless“; He chose me also to be “before Him in love.” To be sure, I am always in God’s presence on earth, and in heaven I will be in His presence more fully than ever. But it could also be said that in this life I am especially “before Him in love” when I come ‘before Him’ in prayer and worship.

Therefore, I can infer that prayer is not simply something I am allowed to do as a Christian; prayer is actually one of the great purposes for which God chose to save me. Christ Himself confirms this fact when He makes the following statement to His disciples: “I chose you . . . that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” As a chosen on of God, I was saved to pray; and whenever I come into God’s presence to behold Him, worship Him, or make request of Him, I am arriving at the pinnacle of God’s saving purposes for me.

Workday 01/04/14

We so appreciate everyone that came out for our workday… We could not have done it without you.

Cleaning & take downing down of Christmas decor.

Installation of shelves in shed.

New Tech Closet

Hanging Drapes

Installation of new paper towel and soap dispensers.

Painting the foyer in the Worship Center.

Cleaning/painting the Offices

New Year’s Eve Party

Thank you to everyone who came out to our first ever New Year’s Eve Party!!! Spending it with you all made it so special!!! I hope you enjoy these pictures.

Props for the photo booth