we are...

Yeah, It's been a while.

But new things are in the works... Keep your ears to the ground, the footsteps are getting closer...

www.myspace.com/wearedoulos

www.twitter.com/wearedoulos

Get excited.

-Keith

The awakening...

As we wake up from our last night at Kirk and Denise Hubick's, it becomes very clear that our three week mission's experience is coming to a close...  As we pack our bags and say goodbye, we are overcome with this weird feeling conflicted with both wanting to stay, and looking forward to being home...

I have never spent three weeks with such intensity serving and studying about our Father, Creator, Saviour, and Lord!!  It has been an amazing experience and we are so thankful for your prayers, and support.  We are also so thankful for the entire Hubick family who showed Christian hospitality and welcomed us into their family.  It was nice to not just have a place to stay these past weeks, but instead have a home...

I assure you, I have quite a new outlook on evangelism and the urgency of it.  In Acts, Jesus told us to go be witnesses for Him...

Evangelism isn't a gift....

It isn't a skill...

It isn't a choice...

Evangelism is a calling we each share!

This has served as an awakening for me, God is real, and He is in control!!

"How on earth, can a Holy and Righteous  God know what I did, and thought, and said on yesterday, and not kill me in my sleep last night...?" 

- Dr. Voddie Baucham

We had a chance last night to hand out tracts at a parade in Truro, Nova Scotia.  It was an awesome ending to our time here!  It began to rain when we were just about done the parade route so James and Krik went to get the car, and Lucas and I stayed back with Kirk's oldest son, Kyle, in a nearby convenience store/gas station...  We had an awesome talk with the owner who had received a tract a little earlier..  He told us a testimony of wanting to end his life, and laying on his bed, crying, and crying out to God...  He ended up making it out (obviously) and was convinced it was only because of God that he did not kill himself that night!  Please pray for Dave as we are unsure if he is totally right with God (there is a difference between knowledge and repentance and trust)...

Pray for us as we travel home, and prepare for our presentation on Sunday, we look forward to sharing what we have learned and what God has done while we have been here...

Thank you!

The second trip...

Well, this is going to be a short one, as it is the morning of us leaving...  And I'll have to go shortly to beat Kirk in a game of ping-pong..  Just so you know, I am the official Bocce Champion, and so far the Phase 10 Champion...  However I lose horribly at everything else...  But I have a feeling Ping-Pong might be my game!!

Today we hard off to Kingston, Nova Scotia for a few days to do some more street evangelism...  We are excited and are anticipating a great trip (it's about a 3 hours drive away)...  We will be staying over nights at either a church or the pastor's house.  We will be back sometime Saturday...  Like I said we are excited and praying that God does amazing things again like He did in Halifax...

Gone to play Ping-Pong...

... I lost...

We leave in about an hour, so we are just hanging out with the kids for now in our lair (actually it's just the basement...  A great spot for us to stay and we are very thankful!)...  Everything is going very well here, and we are so glad to have a place to stay that feels like home...  Not to mention Denise's awesome cooking!!!

We said goodbye to Terrell Sine last night as his internship with Kirk is now through...  We had a great time getting to know another brother in Christ (and learning what that term really means), he taught us so much!!!  He mentioned a verse a couple Sundays ago while he gave his internship summary at Fundamental Bible Church that I thought was really cool and powerful...

"(For the Lord is our Judge, The Lord is our Lawgiver, The Lord is our King; He will save us)..." - Isaiah 33:22

What a declaration!  In other words, the Lord really is all we should want, because He is all we need...  It's hard to really examine yourself and see if God is all you want...  But it is important...

So...

... is He??

The law...

The law can do a few things for you...

It can be for you...

... or against you.

"What shall we say, then?  Is the law sin?  Certainly not!  Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law.  For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet."  But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire.  For apart from the law, sin is dead" - Romans 7:7-8

This is important... We do not know sin but by the law... Interesting...

This law I speak of is The Ten Commandments....  This is the essence of the philosophy of the type of evangelism we are doing, let me explain...

Fist of all, this weekend was AMAZING!!  We had the opportunity to help Kirk out at the Halifax Buskers Festival...  This was our first actual chance to try out full on witnessing...  And yeah, it was scary...  But when you submit and lean on God for strength and courage, you'd be surprise what amazing this He has in store for you!!  We did get kicked off the Halifax harbour front Saturday afternoon when we did a mock funeral...  One woman found our attempts at reaching the lost, less than what she wanted to see and hear...  And fought with Kirk over little details, causing quite a scene...  What an introduction to street evangelism for us!!  Police and everything (the other part of the law that physically exists here)...  We broke for dinner, and yes, returned that night for the best crowd yet (and even an applause after Kirk's presentation)...  This was a great day!!

I don't know exact numbers, but I am sure at least 100 people heard the Gospel in Halifax this weekend..  God was evident in the strength and determination presented by our group (which by the way on saturday grew to about 13 Christians working together with the common goal of ministering to Halifax during this year's buskers festival)...  It was an awesome feeling to be on fire with a large group of others and really reaching out to every person we cam in contact with...  As as most church members sit in their pews each Sunday, they'd be amazed at how much one person can do on the street when the Holy Spirt moves within them...  We are only vessels of good news...  What a privilege!!

When talking to someone we would ask some basic questions to start off easy...

1.) Do you believe in God?

2.) Do you believe there is a heaven?

3.) (assuming there is) How do you hope to get there?

From there we move to the ten commandments, as Paul said is the very definition of sin.  Have you ever noticed that Jesus always used the law (10 commandments) too!?  When the rich young ruler came to him, what did Jesus question him by?  The Ten Commandments!!  Many people may feel this is a very intrusive and 'wrong' way to witness...  But I dare say I am convinced it is the only way!!  Unless we realize we are guilty, the Good News of forgiveness doesn't mean a thing...

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

- 1 Corinthians 1:18

I will be honest...  Until I began learning this stuff, I believed todays watered-down beautiful story of redemption...  Although God is 100% love, I didn't give full credit to Him also being 100%  wrathful...

... take a look in the book of Mark, and what Jesus had to say...

"... and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent and believe in the gospel."" - Mark 1:15

Jesus didn't just say, 'believe in the me and you will be saved'... He

said REPENT!! So why are we no longer repenting? Instead we offer

the guarantee of love and forgiveness and blessing if we accept Him who

died and rose for us... God doesn't long for lukewarm converts who do

nothing but believe, but he wants Christians who fear Him, Christians

who repent... Christians who are ready for action... So I urge you, act!!

I once said, "Evangelism just isn't my thing... It's not my gift..."

Jesus claimed different...

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all

Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." - Acts 1:8

As recorded in the Bible, those where Jesus' last words... Sort of important... Notice He didn't say, 'some of you will be witnesses to Me'... 

Unfortunate news for those who are comfortable...

He meant you...

He meant me...

He meant us...

If you can't tell, I am excited... God is doing amazing things, and is 

maturing me in ways I didn't expect... And at the same time, revealing my weaknesses...  

Amazing...  

I wouldn't trade this experience for anything... God is doing amazing

things and I am seeing it!!

I am so thankful for this... Thank you for praying for me and the guys!! Your prayers make a difference!!

So as for an update.... We have a few days off (Monday and Tuesday) and head out again Wednesday until Saturday at another event... Please pray for us during this time!!

The Soldier...

I can't help but feel like a soldier preparing for battle the past two days.  Kirk is giving us tons of direction, and piles of information so we can suit up and be prepared.  Are we prepared?  Probably not...  But Terrel (an intern working with Kirk) said something quite convicting tonight..  He said, "You can only fail at evangelism if you aren't doing it!"

How often to we watch as dead men and women walk past us and we do nothing to warn them of the fact that they are dead.  I never want anyone to think, 'Why didn't Keith tell me..?'

We hold the amazing key to life within our hands, minds, and souls...  Terrel was right, and he helped me realize I've been failing...  It's so easy to get stuck in the mode of not bringing up Christianity, but living it quietly...  So I can say, I've been selfish!  I have something amazing, something beautiful...

LIFE

And yet I don't like talking about being alive...  How backwards is that!?

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way the persecuted the prophets who were before you." - Matthew 5:10-12

Yesterday we had a great time spending the whole day learning together and reading our Bibles...  It is awesome to just be able to forget what is going on in our crazy lives and get back to what matters... GOD!  Today we spent most of our day helping Kirk around the house with little jobs and things that have been put off...  It was great to take a bit of a mental break (I can't even explain how powerful yesterday was....  It was just awesome!) and do some good old physical labour...  We did however spend a bit of time first thing this morning being equipped with the classic Creation Vs. Evolution debate...  We really got a chance to just discuss, ask questions, and watch a few video seminars on the topic...  Not to mention rooting all our discussions, questions and answers in God's Word..  And yes, there is a lot more to the Bible than I ever realized...  It's amazing to get back to what God has written us, and learn from it...  I don't read it nearly enough, but now I long to...

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." - Matthew 5:6

It is about time we hunger, and it is about time we thirst...  How awesome is it that when we begin to become uncomfortable, hungry, and thirsty...  It continues...  I don't think Jesus meant filled as soon as we hunger, and as soon as we thirst...  But it is oh so satisfying to strive towards righteousness, because in heaven, we will be filled...

The other day working in the Gospel Lighthouse (back in Brantford), a women came in to buy a guardian angel medallion for a relative who was going off to the war in Iraq...  It really made me think what we are really depending on...  Does the medallion bring about God's compassion, grace, mercy, protection, and forgiveness?  Or do we have all that at our disposal..?  I think God is more in control than we can imagine, and that is what is so beautiful about being His soldier...  We don't need to know exactly where we are going, or what we are doing, we just have to trust our commanding officer...  God knows what He's doing..

And as soldiers prepare for war, we will be committed to the task at hand...

Tomorrow is our first day one the streets, and we plan to spend the weekend in Halifax (this coming weekend) doing 3 days of street ministry...  God has provided a church for us to stay at in Halifax (there will be five of us)...  I continually thank God for this opportunity...

...this awakening...

The arrival...

So we are here...  We arrived in Moncton about an hour late on yesterday (about 12NOON eastern time, 1PM here)... 

On our way to Kirk's (ps - he wanted me to let you know his last name is spelt wrong on our prayer card...  Only one 'B'... haha..) we stopped for some lunch at the local Maritime McDonald's (which by the way, has 'McLobster' sandwiches available only here on the east coast... no joke...)!  Yesterday also happened to be the anniversary of Kirk becoming a Christian years back...  He was pretty impressed that the total of our three meals came to $19.85, and it just so happened that the year he was saved (the 'birthday' he was celebrating) was 1985...  Just thought I'd mention that...  We got to see him in action in the drive through as he gave away tracts to the girl in each window we stopped at...  Our excitement only rises...

We then drove for a while (once in a while in the correct lane) to get to the local Frency's (a better, cheaper version of our Value Village) and a couple grocery stores...  Thrifty Kirk showed us the ropes...  He also gave out some more tracts to the cashiers, and had a chat with a a guy in the grocery store who wasn't treating his wife with very much respect...

When we got back to the little town, city, village (whatever it is) of Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia Kirk realized they we didn't have his little pocket calender (which holds his lists, places, gas receipts, and pretty much everything else useful for his ministry)...  Last time we had seen it was at in the store parking lot (about an hour away)...  He called the store but couldn't get an answer...  He called again today (Sunday August 3) and someone had turned it in!!  Very lucky, God didn't want him losing it just yet!!

Today we attended their home church (Fundamental Baptist Church, in Pugwash, Nova Scotia)...  We got a chance to participate in the Teen's Sunday School Class, and then sat in on a good service...  It is a very small church, but so warm and friendly!!  And it was so cool to see that the sermon, just so happened that the sermon was based on just sort of what I was saying in the last entry...  It was a great reminder of courage and the Christian life...  The sermon was based out of Matthew 16:24-27...  I made reference to this same event of Jesus but using the book of Mark.  So just for good measure, check it out in Matthew too!!  And while you're there...

"You are the salt and light of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify you father in heaven." - Matthew 5:13-16

Too often we long to hide, and fit in...  And be comfortable...  But Jesus calls us out in this verse to be more than the typical, to be a world changer!  Amazing...  So let us not be ordinary people, but the aliens of the earth, this is not our home, and our treasure is in Heaven!

I have gotten word that Kaila is home safe so that's awesome!  And in only a week My dad and the other men will be heading off to Shenstone...  I will be praying for you dad (and the other guys a bit too haha..)!!  As for our week, tomorrow we are planning on doing some training (i.e.- videos, and such...), Tuesday we hope to just help Kirk around the house with some neglected tasks that he could use some strong young men for!!  Wednesday we are planning to be our first day on the streets, and thursday is still in planning, but might consist of just hanging out with Kirk's 4 children (who are warming up to us quickly)!!  Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we will be in Halifax at the Buskers Festival doing street ministry.. And those are all the plans so far...  We are excited!!

The Courageous (from Friday August 1)...

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Isn't is awesome how God can use the weak to lead the strong?  How good you are means nothing without bravery to take risks, and act upon what you believe...  So what does that mean exactly..?  It means God can use someone like me, and someone like you, to accomplish what scares us.  As I sit here on our final connection train from Montreal to Moncton (after being physically removed from the wrong line by an umm... friendly stewardess...) I can admit I am scared.  It is when we begin to stretch that we realize how weak we are, and that only God and his power, and the courage He gives us, will pull us through.  It is amazing to know that God is going to use Lucas, James, and myself!  It is now that I know there is no turning back and whether I like it or not, I'm going to be 'out east' until my train pulls out on the 20th...  But let me tell you also, how excited I am!  This morning when we arrived at the Brantford Via Rail, you could tell we were stresses and unprepared...  We had the chance to meet a woman (probably in her mid-20s) on our way to Toronto, and got to tell her briefly about our trip!  Even though she probably doesn't know God, she thought is was cool, maybe foolish, but respectable nonetheless that we would give up three weeks of our summer to head out east to serve our Creator!  But doesn't Jesus call us to be those that are not ordinary, and seemingly foolish in the worlds eyes?  Jesus himself pulled out some pretty crazy stunts within His ministry, throwing all those around Him off guard, and into something more than just hype...

Love...

Take a look at John 8:1-12...  Such a cool event in Jesus' ministry!!  The Pharisees came to test Jesus, as they seemed to like to try a lot...  But Jesus in no fool (don't get me wrong, there is a difference between seeming foolish to the world for the sake of our Father, and simply being a fool)!

"...but Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with

His finger, as though he did not hear them." - John 8:6

He did something totally unexpected, and seemingly foolish, to reveal the foolishness of the Pharisees in their attempt to catch Jesus being anything less than what He claimed to be...

In Toronto we had the chance during our stopover, to sit in our train and pray together.  This really helped ease anxiety (for me anyways) and bring about the excitement of what we are about to do!!  It is awesome to give all we have to God (as broken, and messy as it is) and know that it is with His blessing that we are taking this 'risk'.  Jesus had courage, and inspired His followers to deny themselves and follow Him (Mark 18:34-37).  I am inspired, and I pray that my desire for a passionate, influential life never dies...

Tonight (after we got on the right train, from the right line... craziness...) James and I had the chance to just read and discuss the Gospels (and the Bible as a whole really...).  It was awesome to just sit, relax, read, question, discuss, and learn together..  God is preparing us for amazing things of the next 3 weeks (I can feel it in this moments, and moments like these), and I am SO excited!!  I can really feel Him on the train right now...  We are ready to get away from our busy, noisy, and messy lives, and focus on a God who loves us.  I only pray we can love Him back with, zeal, luster, and passion that will not die!

Some call it foolish...

... but I am RECKLESSLY in LOVE with JESUS!!

"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father.  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before MY Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 10:32-33