SBS Pass Time; Hand Stand Walking

SBS Pass Time- Hand Stand Walking from Sean O'Connor on Vimeo.

5 Minutes Left

There's 5 minutes left until my birthday is over... now 4...

There's really one major thing that I want to share really quick and it's not the fact that I ate a wide variety of Desserts today (Tiramisu, Chocolate Cake, Chocolate fudge Brownie Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie, and a Pizza Cookie cooked extra Crispy), but the fact that God is so stinkin good in providing!

I had an amazing day with encouraging words and letters from family, friends, and my AMAZING girlfriend (who made me the cupcake at the top and took a 13 hour, one way, train to surprise me in Montana last week... blog on that will be later). The day was full of the Bible, as is everyday with my School of Biblical Studies program, as I'm studying 1 and 2 Corinthians. I couldn't be more lucky!

But the thing that blew my mind is when I came back from being at a local restaurant with some friends. I came back in my room and there's an envelope on my computer that has been printed, having no pen marks. I open it up to $60.00 and an INCREDIBLY encouraging letter. I have no idea who this was from, and obviously they don't want me to find out, but how amazing is it to see God provide! In the little and the Big... amazing!

Road to Emmaus

I'm looking out over the crystal Flathead Lake as the Rockies loom in the backdrop with pastel clouds covering the sky, and a marion berry muffin and cup of coffee in each of my hands I'm realizing again why I ventured on this journey to Lakeside, Montana.

I desire more of Jesus. I desire more of his heart; his face. I desire to experience him. I desire to communicate him. I desire to sing to him. I want him to carry away my heart.

I stopped and took a breath today and as a result, 3 people began to tell me their story, goals, and thoughts about where they are at in life. They then asked me about what I'm doing and what this YWAM thing is all about. I got to share my heart and see them get excited; see their eyes opened.

I believe we are created to live with our eyes open. In my SBS program I feel I have lived as the men that met Jesus on the road to Emmaus, but didn't realize it was him. He told them all the Scriptures of the things concerning the fulfillment of the Prophets from Moses and the Prophets, and these men just listened and were amazed... but their eyes weren't opened. Even in the presence of Jesus, they didn't see him... Later on their eyes are were opened and they saw Jesus. "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" (Luke 24:31-32)

My heart is on fire

Check out a video from the Concert!

Check out a video from my show:

http://www.new.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=150921902758&ref=mf

Thank You

I want to Thank everyone who came and supported me at my show back in September. I had so much fun and am so blessed to have people in my life that care about my passions and dreams. Thank you to those who financially helped support me in this next chapter of diving into the Bible through the School of Biblical Studies Program with YWAM in Lakeside, Montana. In the first two weeks, God has been speaking to me through the word, while I'm learning priceless inductive Bible study skills.

Thank You!

Mobile update:
Started on Ephesians today. Out-loud reading, paragraph titles/structure/theme, and color coding done! 8 more steps left!

Fresh Prince of Titus

So in class yesterday we were put in groups and given the task to tell the book of Titus in a skit. The only rules was it had to be "PG" because there were going to be kids there...

My group came up with the idea to take the theme song to "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and re-write the lyrics to tell the story of Titus. We dressed up as gangstas complete with huge hoodies, knuckle tattoos, and tin-foil grills. You can't really understand us in the video because the recording is from my blackberry and a buddy was filming it and laughing most of the time.

Here's the lyrics we had:

___________________________

So now this is a story all about how

Titus’ life got flipped, turned upside-down

And I’d like to write a letter, Just stay in your seat

I’ll tell you why I left you, in a place called Crete

In that place where all the traders would meet

We went there for a reason, the reason was to teach

I left you for a purpose, that purpose was straight

Appoint the elders, and rebuke the saints

Here’s the pre-req’s of husband, wife, and son

They can’t live like a drunkard, or they’re done

Arrogance, violence, quick-temper won’t due

But a self-controlled, hospitable life is true

The Doctrine that is taught, in the faith that you know

Our God is our savior, and his grace overflows

Training us to renounce all worldly desires

And to live self-controlled, up-right as his admires

Grace be with you all

____________________________

Fresh Prince of Titus from Sean O'Connor on Vimeo.

Fire is 70% contained- a couple hundred people that were evacuated have been allowed back to there homes. Thanks so much for praying!!! Serious answer to prayer

Hiking at Glacier National Park

I went Hiking with 10 other SBS students at East Glacier National Park on the 26th. It was amazing weather but with 70 mph winds! Here's a little video.

Hiking Glacier National Park from Sean O'Connor on Vimeo.

Pray from the YWAM Montana Base

Yesterday a fire started on Blacktail Mountain. The winds were high, blowing it directly toward the YWAM Base here where I am doing my schooling. After a few hours of worship and prayer, the winds changed and blew it sideways away from the base-- praise God! It stayed like this through the night, but this morning it turned back towards the Base. Please continue to pray for YWAM MT. This picture was taken from the property last night. This morning the fire is within 2 miles of the base and is slowly burning down the road towards the YWAM property. Thankfully no wind at the moment but still a critical time. Base is ready to be evacuated at any moment should the wind come up.

Thank you so much for your prayers!

Video Update- 9/24/09

Video Blog Update 9/24/09 from Sean O'Connor on Vimeo.

Philemon Chart

Philemon- 1st chart

My Room

So here's my room... and my desk...

Were in our third day and things are going great!!! We're learning their Inductive Bible Study methods and steps and its awesome. Philemon is getting some color (color coding) and some serious in-depth study.

Let it RAIN!

SBS (School of Biblical Studies) has begun! Today is the first official day and we are learning a method of Inductive Bible Study. Observation, Interpretation, and Application are the main steps to IBS (Inductive Bible Study), while there are 10 methods and 12 Steps that are subcategories falling in the midst of the three steps. This is very exciting stuff!

We begun on our first Book today-- Philemon... All 25 verses... :)

So pumped for what's ahead. Here's where I'm sitting in my lecture hall for the next 3 weeks. There are 46 students in the school from all over the world. We will be splitting into 2 groups, Morning and Afternoon sessions, and so the class lectures will be smaller and more personal.

Thanks so following me and supporting me with prayer!

About to go wakeboarding with the McCutchins for the last time in Oregon! Amazing day, amazing people, and amazing new tires on my honda!...

Life is good :)

CONCERT

Headlining:

Sean O'Connor

Opening:

Aaron Cowan and Natalie Yonkman

Where:

Ike Box- Salem, OR

When:

8:00 pm

Cost:

Free

_______________________________

I'm having my first ever Salem Show on September 17th!! I have wanted to have a show in my home town for years now. Every summer I got back from College or YWAM I would say that I was going to have a show, and every summer, before I knew it, the summer would be gone... show-less... Well not this summer! I realized that God has called me into music, yet I limit my progress in many ways. I have had many shows in Oklahoma, when I was at school there, and Montana, during my Discipleship Training School, but I have had this 'barrier' that was for some reason keeping me from having a show in Salem. It was my desire that when I had my first show in Salem, I wanted everything to be perfect-- 10 hit, original songs that were going to make Salem erupt in a musical frenzy... for me...

That's ridiculous!

This is a chance to break that pressure and have a fun, chill show. I'm pursuing God's calling and I'm having a blast!

Also, the show is going to be a chance for me to raise some money for my School of Biblical Studies. I have been saving money through the summer for this school but I am still short. I am having it open to any donations that will go directly towards my schooling that can either be given directly to me at the show, or sent to YWAM Montana for me so it can be tax deductible.

I'm really excited for this show and the new things on the horizon.

Thanks for reading and God bless!

I'm leaving September 19th for a School of Biblical Studies program in Lakeside, Montana

YWAM Montana Advertisement

I was asked to make an advertisement for YWAM Montana that will be aired on cable television. Here it is. I hope you enjoy.

If you are interested in a video production for either personal, business, a non-profit organization, or a church please e-mail me at oconnor.seanmichael@gmail.com.

Thank you.

Michael Jackson, dead?

So I'm going to the bathroom and I receive a phone call from an unknown phone number. Curiosity wins over my current situation and I answer the phone. It's a young lady who asks if I'm Paul. I quickly tell her she has the wrong number and expect a promt adieu so I can focus on my, "task at hand, "when suddenly she tells me that Michael Jackson has passed away as of 2:00 today. I'm still in the bathroom, writing this on my phone, but I will quickly wrap things up in here and discover if what this mystery caller told me is true. If so, it will be forever remembered- as will he.


-Sean O'Connor
Mobile upload

Top 5

     Here's a list of the top 5 things that have happened since my last post (in reverse order of importance).

5.) I don't have to Mow my lawn

As I came home today from the Riverfront park, I see my great neighbor, Steve. Steve and I are friends. We also have a deal. He mows both of our  lawns one week and then I mow them the next week. It's great. Well today that all ended. As I got home I saw Steve getting out the mower and this is how straight forward and brutal our convo went:

Steve: "Sean, I'm gonna mow the lawns from now on."

Sean: "Oh, no way Steve. We want to help out. Just like we did last week....."

Steve: "well Sean... I don't like the way you do it... I'm just gonna do it from now on."

 

What do I say to that? I can't argue his dissatisfaction. Humbled I retired to my house and began to write this blog as I hear the lawn mower right outside.

4.) BlackBerry 8900

  So I got the new BlackBerry 8900, complete 

with.... a lot of things, including wi-fi where I'm able to connect to any router without having to pay for internet. Awesome stuff. Ever since I got my first Smart phone, 2 years ago, I can't seem to go to anything else. I'm very pumped about this phone.

3.) 3 pools trips

I have been able to take 2- 3 pools trips already and they have been a blast... The water is substantially colder from the normal glacier run off, but it is as gorgeous as ever and the cliffs are so fun to jump from!

2.) I have 2 jobs

So if you are wanting a direct, physical answer to prayer-- here's one huge one. Upon my return from Montana, post-DTS, when Luke Dubbleman and I came back to Salem, Oregon, we began to pray for a free house and 2 jobs for us (the story of our free house is in some previous blogs- check it out!). Luke's vision, among other things, was to see this idea of community begin to develop and have something and somewhere to go for the rest of the summer. about 1 month and 2 weeks ago I received a call from a very esteemed restaurant called, Caruso's. After two interviews, I was hired as a server, a position that I have done before but never in this level of a restaurant. I didn't have the resume for this job, and they told me that, but for some reason they liked me and took a risk on me.... 

God? 

That was my first job. Then 2 weeks before Luke left to go back home to North Carolina (about 2 and 1/2 weeks ago), I received a call from Black Rock Coffee and they asked for an interview. Before their call, I had felt that I was just supposed to be content with the Caruso's Job (which is fantastic) and trust that God would provide for everything else so I wasn't pursuing another job anymore, but I felt that this was a sweet opportunity. After two interviews I was offered a job as a Barista. I couldn't believe it!

...2 Jobs...

... A Free House...

Prayer is Powerful!

1.) God has been revealing himself

Specifically, in the past 5 days, God has been really working in my heart and thoughts. I have had a revived passion for understanding the Bible, and a new hunger for prayer. I have always had a hard time with prayer. I wouldn't consider myself at all a 'prayer warrior.' In fact, I had a talk with my good friend, Kevin Kostenko, where I realized my relationship with God doesn't consist of much prayer....  other than, '... help ME,' or, 'God please do ____ and ____ for me.' 

I have felt and seen a change in my heart and I'm wanting to pursue God more. That is the whole purpose of this house... 

this summer... 

my life... 

our lives....

right?

This is an experiment; our lives. I want to try something different from what others are trying. Not to be different, but because I believe there are more colors in this world.

__________________

So there's my Top 5... Thanks for reading!

 

Welcome to the House

Welcome to the HOUSE!

Here's a little video that shows our (Luke and my) house for the summer that we have. We're in the process of painting and will be in the process of 'fixing up' for a good while.... if you know what I'm saying....

But it's a great place and I wanted to show you a physical answer to prayer- if you want the back history check out the previous two blog entries.

 
Welcome to the House from Sean O'Connor on Vimeo.

1 Month Later

So this coming Monday will mark the 1 month point that Luke and I have been home in Oregon after DTS. During this past month we have been on a roller coaster of events and emotions. We have entertained so many possibilities of what God might do, and we have been surprised every time. Things like: What will our living situation be like? What will our income look like? How will we get money for SBS and the Missionary school Luke wants to do? Are we spending too much time waiting? Are we not spending enough time listening?

A huge question we are asking each other is how much do we do, and how much do we just wait and 'trust' on God? And for that matter, what does it look like to Trust on God? let me give you an example-- 

When Luke and I arrived in Salem we decided we would relax for the first week and just read in the Bible and reflect on what has happened the past 6 months. On the second day I found a job on craigslist.com as I was casually browsing. It seemed like it was a God thing as we would make $2,000 a month (during this huge Eco-Crisis) AND Luke and I would be able to work together as a team (so we thought). So we jumped at it. We were going to be KIRBY Shampooers. The job description was quite vague, as well as the interview, but we got the job instantly (I was convinced it was because I wore a blazer and Luke tucked in his shirt). We were so pumped! We celebrated our victory- Applebees... Sampler plater... 

Here's the point...We saw God provide for our needs, 2 DAYS after we got into Salem, during the largest Eco-Crisis since the great depression! WOW! It must be because we're so spiritual... God loves us... 

That was the high... The fall came quickly after... Long story short, after going to the first of 4, 4 hour training sessions, we realized a bunch of things that not were not mentioned at the interview or on the advertisement. After some praying and weighing what God was saying to us, we concluded that this wasn't the right move. 

  

Questions seem to multiply as we continue to pursue God. This up and down motion is just a continuing cycle that births deeper contemplation. 

So what have I learned from 1 month of pursuing life in a community? 

- I can't see myself living life alone. The idea of living without Luke seems to be not near as fulfilling. I have enjoyed living life with him for the past month as we have realized that we really are opposites on so many things, keeping each other balanced and open to another way of living. 

- I have seen God work (keep reading and you'll see)

- I've continued seeing my personality from a new perspective. This is both positive and negative- instead of being blind to my selfishness or  commandeering personality, I have seen it highlighted and in bold. 

- Through studying the Bible and talking about different books Luke and I are reading, I have had so much insight that I can confidently say I wouldn't have had without Luke. 

These are a few things that Luke and I talked about when we poised this question to each other. The time I have had with Luke has been such a blessing and is continuing to be an amazing transition from DTS to life back in the States. I'm excited to see what the next 2 months will be like.

Oh... yeah one true God story-- So when me and Luke came back to Salem we essentially began asking God for a house and 2 jobs. This would be a miracle. Well yesterday one of those prayers was directly answered! We Got a House! It's in a perfect location right by my church, Salem Alliance Church, and will be the foundation for our Community vision. We wrote up a little diddy that sums up this community idea that we have. Here it is:

________________________

Vision

To create a short-term, God centered community that has a life long effect on the people involved and a high-impact on the surrounding area of Salem.


Living in the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) environment opened our eyes to the importance of community. We believe that God is all about relationships and he created us to be in relationship with others; to grow and seek him as one. Having the opportunity to see this first hand in Montana, Brazil, and India, we now want to apply this lifestyle to Salem. We have seen such a hunger for discipleship and the pursuit of God from our peers, but they all share a mindset that it is an individual journey (except with church and small groups). We want to experiment with a lifestyle that is constantly seeking God in traditional and new ways; waiting, looking, and listening for Him.

How do we see Salem Alliance playing a part in this?

Living in close proximity of the church, is an ideal location for a meeting place to house the vision. I heard about the two homes that SAC owned and Steve Dangaran’s vision for interns to live in them. Though we are not interns at SAC, we want to be involved in the Youth department (High School and College) and invite them to join in this journey with us. Being able to use one of these homes would be an essential building block for our vision.

How do we see ourselves playing a part in SAC’s vision?

The purpose of the community is to seek God and invite others along with us. We want to help out SAC specifically in the youth and college department. The purpose is not to take away anything from the weekly activities of SAC, but rather to add a new dimension of pursuing God.

___________________

In short, things are going amazing during our time here in Oregon and we are seeing God work in both different ways then expected and in exact ways prayed for.

What can I say about this time?

God is unpredictable and exciting...

...Join the ride

Community... and a little more

After spending 3 months in Brazil in Cities such as: Rio de Janeiro, Macea, Juiz de Fora, Salvador, Recife, Olinda, Borel, Amapa, Caxius, Arraial Do Cabo, and a few more places. 

Here's a map of Brazil on Google that shows the places we went (zoom out 4 times to see all the places up north):

View Larger Map

So we had an amazing time! We as a team learned so much and I pulled so much away from my DTS that is was such a great experience! 

While I was doing my DTS, I was asked to create a interview/documentary of my DTS experience (my experience being the focus). I created this under-10 minute video for the Lakeside, Montana YWAM base--

DTS "The Journey" from YWAM Montana on Vimeo.

I have not yet created a full-length YWAM DTS- Brazil team video yet, but I plan on doing that within this next month or so. Also I have weeded through a few of the pictures from our trip but our team together took around 7,000-8,000 pictures!.... ridiculous! I'll post more on my facebook so check there for pictures.

If we are not friends--

Click Here and ask me to be your friend

                                    ______________________________________________

I want to also share one of the biggest things that I pulled away from the Outreach phase of my DTS. This idea of 'Community' and all the stuff that comes with it. God began to put this on my heart during my time in Brazil and I had some amazing dialoges with my team leader Benji about this. When I arrived back in Montana and began the week long 'debriefing' that happens for DTSers as they try to ease back into North American Society, I felt the urge to ask one of the other DTS guys from the India team if he wanted to come back to Oregon with me to experiment with this community vision. A few hours later he came up and said he was in for at least a little while. 

Well it's been 2 weeks now that we have been back in Salem, OR and Luke and I are loving it! We have been learning so much through each-other and we are SEEING how God is the same God in Oregon as he is in Brazil and India. 

We both had an opportunity to speak together at Salem Alliance Church for the High School group. We had no guidelines and the opportunity to speak on anything we wanted too so we dove into what we are doing right now and a little on what we're learning-- Community and God's Grace.

Community and Grace from Sean O'Connor on Vimeo.

                         ____________________

Thank you so much for checking out this Blog. I plan on continuing to share what God is doing in Luke and my life, and I invite you to join in this adventure with us!

-Sean O'Connor

Final Brazil Update

Hey Everyone,

Thank you everyone who has been shooting e-mails to me and encouraging me through this time that I´ve been in Brazil and Montana! I am in Recife, Brazil right now and have been here for a little over 3 weeks. There´s been some amazing stuff that has happened in these weeks with both our team and with me personally that it has completely changed the outlook and experience of my DTS outreach!
I came into this internet Cafe to check if I had any mail from the past few weeks I was instantly overwhelmed. I do apologize if I do not respond until after I get back in the States (March 5ish- Back to Oregon) but I have a limited amount of time online and its not the fastest internet.
I wanted to make sure and say thank you for all your encouragement and comments. I am doing fantastic here in the latter part of my outreach, with high expectations for myself and God as we travel to Salvador, BR in 6 days and are apart of the Biggest Party in the World- An Estimated 20 million people.

This will be my last post until I am back and a little grounded in Oregon. I will be arriving in Lakeside, MT on March 1-- I am making a movie for the YWAM base in Montana that will be a recap of my fall DTS. This will probably take a few days and then I plan to arrive back to Oregon between March 5-7.

Please keep sending me e-mails and encouragement, but just know I most likely will not be able to respond and give excited stories and much information about my experiences until I arrive in Oregon!


Thank you so much again!

-Sean O´Connor

Pictures are here!

I finally had the time and means to post some pictures from the past month of being in Brazil. They are from all over and not all pictures that I have taken. 

You can check them out on my facebook photo page at:

Click Here

I didn't have time to give descriptions of all the pics but I at least posted some of them so you can see some of my new friends, adventures, and places I've been seeing.

Thanks so much!