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Hi friends,

I have gotten some emails about how I am doing lately. I just wanted to share I am great. I am digging life in Portland, have an awesome job in a horrible economy and have one more night of class and two more papers before I am done with my bachelor's and am digging the ways my church is reaching out to the community.

Most importantly I have not given a full update on Cambodia. I will not be leaving in two Sundays. Mostly because I didn't raise the money and the team was larger than initially planned. I WILL BE GOING IN SEPTEMBER or August. So I still need contributions if people are willing. The team had a couple changes and I was approached to defer to the later trip. I initially was not willing but after a lot of thought accepted.

I will still be in Malaysia from the 5th through 17th of February though. I will be eating, laughing, touristing and hiking Mt Kinabalu! Please let me know if you will or can be in Penang during that time and I will give you more details. I am most excited to climb a mountain in Borneo mostly because it sounds so cool.

For those who are used to me being incredibly involved in ministry it is quite a different Jeremiah around now. I am involved at Imago with feeding homeless about once a month (although I should do it more) and am in a couple discussion type groups where we discuss race in the context of reconciling the Body and "Lost". Ok, that one isn't a ministry but it's fun.

I did noticed I have recently made it a ministry to stop false doctrine and hate speech. A few mornings a week I spot a post it note on a light post that reads "TO GOD YOU WILL ANSWER!" in large letters with scriptures in smaller letters below - Ecc 12:13-14, Romans 1:18-20, Matt 12:36-37. I believe strongly that these verses are incredibly out of context and at first I just was angry with them. One morning I saw someone nonchalantly rip it off and keep walking. I smiled. I felt this was what needed to be done. So if I see them I do take them. This is my ministry now, stopping people in this city from thinking God hates them when it is proven He loves them.

Ironically, I do this because I believe God is watching me and is wanting me to carry out His work. Some might say I will answer to Him, but instead of the big scary judge that condemns me, I believe He will ask if I am sinful and when I start making excuses and apologizing He will simply bear hug me with the love of the Heavens!

I have added the verses with larger context below (italics mine). Please click the link for Romans because I strongly disagree with quoting any of that first chapter without the rest. Am I sinning or are condemning tracts misrepresenting the God who died once for all?

Matthew 12:30-38 (New International Version)

30" He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Ecclesiastes 12 (New International Version)

9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

13 Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil.

Romans 1 (New International Version) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1&version=NIV