Gideon Tsang

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I went on a young adult retreat for Watermark Community Church of Dallas. It was held at Pine Cove Camp in Tyler, Texas. I usually don’t do camping, or more I haven’t in a long time…but besides the mosquitoes, it was really a wonderful event that I’m so glad I went on. Having my best friend their though to listen when I complained about bugs, was priceless and probably the only way I managed to make it through that first night. She actually switched bunk beds with me because I was freaking out over the bugs by my bed! That’s a real friend for ya. She said they don’t bother her, but how could a bug not bother you? lol She is just an amazing example of self-sacrifice all the time though. I doubt I would of stayed through the first night without her. And the other part that made it great, was how much God was working all around us.

They had a main speaker come to lead the group and he was awesome! His name is Gideon Tsang, and I found his church’s podcast the next day when I got home and downloaded them all….I just uploaded them below here, so you can listen to them for free if you’d like. They are all great. He has a way of telling bible stories and making them come alive. His church, Vox Veniae, is located in Austin, Texas and I will visit next time I’m down there.I never got a chance to speak with him or thank him for how his words impacted my life alone, because he was always surrounded by so many people. I will next time I visit Austin. One line of his lines is now my favorite phrase to quote…

He told how his professor in Seminary once said to him, after he had given a horrible sermon for class, that “Gideon if the Lord can speak through Balaam’s ass, he can speak through you.” I just love that quote! He’s referring to Numbers 22:23, when Balaam’s Donkey speaks to Ballaam. I will use it now whenever someone says (or I say) “I feel like I just can’t do the word’s justice” or refer someone else to read the scripture in a group setting. I think it’s just a great line! And if I were a teacher of any Sunday school class or group like it, with kids afraid to speak in public, I’d use this story as an example !

His church: http://www.voxveniae.com

Here’s an exert of Numbers…

21Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.22But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.

24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides.25When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her again.

26Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff.28Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”

29Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”

30The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”
“No,” he said.

31Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

32The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.[1]33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her.”

34Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”

35The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.37Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”

38“Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”

39Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth.40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the princes who were with him.41The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he saw part of the people.

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