Thoughts & Reflections

Mexico 2010

2011-01-09T10:02:00.000-08:00

Hymns

2010-10-23T06:19:00.001-07:00

Considering "What is Love"

2010-09-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

When you think about the topic of Love what first comes to your mind. This morning for me it was several songs. "Whats love got to do with it" ; " What is love, baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me no more". These were the first words that came to my mind this morning when I got into a conversation on the topic of Love.
How do you explain love?

This morning while on a training run, I got into a conversation with two girls on "what is love". One of the girls made a statement that she thinks of love as having three parts, especially when thinking in terms of romantic love. The three parts were choice, commitment, and affection/feelings. I thought that this was a well balanced idea and are all three connected. Upon further consideration I think that we could explain it with the illustration of a three legged stool. The three legs would be Commitment, Choice, Trust, and the seat would be feelings/affection.

I am pondering now, how balanced is my view of love and how am I practicing this.

"Radical" by David Platt

2010-08-23T18:11:00.000-07:00

I recently read this summer the book "Radical" by David Platt.
I whole heartily recommend that people should read and consider the thoughts and teachings presented. It is certainly a challenge laid down to the American Church.

I would also point anyone who has read this book to a blog response by Kevin Deyoung. One of my pastors, Doug Phillips, recommended this blog post of Kevin's. I respect Doug, Kevin, and David for their faithful handling and teaching of the Word of God.
Thank you Doug for leading me to this post.
Thank you Kevin for your helpful insights and thoughts regarding "Radical".
Thank you David for your passionate plea laid out in "Radical".

By far my favorite chapter in the book was chapter seven " There is no plan B". This was a great reminder of the gospel and the ministry that we as people touched and transformed by the gospel have.

Update 8.3.10

2010-08-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

I just returned to Chicago last week and have been able to continue working for Moody in their facilities department. I wanted to write and share with you how my time in Japan went. It is hard to imagine that I was actually able to spend seven weeks in Japan. Of course the time flew by, especially when your weeks are full of responsibilities and appointments.

During the seven weeks that I was there in Japan five of those weeks I was responsible for the running of the Lighthouse ministry. Many of you know that this is the same ministry that I was able to do an internship at last year. Of course the responsibilities that I had this time were different than when I was an intern. Running things while Jim and Martha Bowden were gone was a big responsibility. It was a great blessing that my mom was able to come out for three of the weeks to help with the kitchen and cooking responsibilities. I was blessed to have the opportunity to preach five times. This was a great opportunity and responsibility that I am so grateful for. Recognizing the great responsibility that preaching is; it was great to see how God used it in my life and in the life of the community to encourage and challenge growth.

One of the other opportunities that I had involved teaching a Bible study at a Japanese prison where American sailors are incarcerated. Three different times I was able to go and lead a Bible study with 10-12 guys. During one of these visits I had the opportunity to meet one on one with one of the men named Jeff. During this meeting I had the joy of seeing the Holy Spirit work in his life and lead him to Christ. Praise God for the salvation of Jeff and the work that He is doing in many of the inmate’s lives.

Overall my time in Japan served to encourage and remind me of all the ways that God has been working in my life. There is no reason that I should be known as a child of God, that I should have the opportunity to study at Moody Bible Institute, or that I should have opportunities to minister to people, like I did in Japan. I have two more years of schooling to do at Moody. I am looking forward to see how God is going to continue to grow and challenge me through the teaching and instruction that I will receive here. I am also looking forward to the continued opportunity to invest into the lives of younger men and women at the school. Pray that this year I will be able to influence and impact the guys on my dorm floor in a positive manner. My desire is to minister, mentor, and mobilize men while here at Moody. I thank God for the opportunities that he has already given me to do this.

This upcoming year, as part of my schooling I have to be involved in a ministry on a weekly basis. This year I will be given the opportunity to go to Great Lakes Training Center. This is the Navy’s boot camp and training location which is 45min north of Chicago. I will be going there every Sunday and will have the opportunity to teach in a Sunday school class at the recruit’s chapel. This ministry will be with Campus Crusades Military Ministry. This will give me a new exposure to military men and women, and will help me understand more what it is like for them at their boot camp. Doing this on Sunday mornings means I am having to find a new church in Chicago. I am planning on finding a church that offers a Sunday evening service which I can attend. Please pray that God would lead me to the congregation that he would have me commit to.

It will be interesting to see where and how God works over the next two years. I don’t yet know for sure what direction specifically that God is moving me in, but this I know, that my time back in Japan this summer has helped to confirm my direction towards fulltime pastoral ministry. Whether this takes place in a local church or on the mission field I am uncertain, but I am excited to be moving in that direction. Thanks for all your prayers and support over the years and this past summer.

Sola Die Gloria

“He is no fool who gains what he cannot lose to lose what he cannot gain.” Jim Elliott

Obedience to Christ

2010-07-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

This is a poem that was given as a reflection on Rom. 13:11-14.

When I stand at the judgment seat of Christ,
And He shows me His plan for me,
The plan of my life as it might have been,
and I see how I blocked Him here
And checked Him there,
And would not yield my will.

Will there be grief in my Savior’s eyes,
Grief though He loves me still?
He would have me rich,
But I stand here poor,
Stripped of all but His grace,
While memory runs like a hunted thing
Down a path I can’t retrace;
Then my desolate heart
Will well nigh break
With tears I cannot shed.

I will cover my face with my empty hands,
I will bow my uncrowned head.
O Lord, of the years that are left to me,
I give them to Thy hand.
Take me and break me and mold me
To the pattern Thou hast planned.

(MacArthur Commentary Romans 13 p.269-270)

Quote on Marriage

2010-07-02T00:02:00.001-07:00

"Marriage is to make us holy, not happy."
Mark Driscoll

List of books for people of all ages

2010-07-01T16:47:00.000-07:00

.....Great resources for summer reading

I found this link to these resources on my pastors blog.
Pastor Doug is faithfully posting resources to help us grow up in our sanctification, developing lives which are kingdom focused. Thank you pastor for your faithfulness in kingdom work.
You can check out his blog here:

This was my response to the great reading resources, which was the first link.

"Just think about the amount of time we use in entertaining ourselves. Our time spent learning and growing in our knowledge and understanding of God is minimal in comparison. Paul's prayer for the church in Colossi seems so fitting for us in the church today. "We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God".(Col. 1: 9-10)

Tues. June 29, 2010

2010-06-29T14:43:00.000-07:00

A lot happened today.
Praise God for the opportunity to lead someone to Christ. I am praying that the seed of the gospel has found good soil. This guy is in a Japaneess prison, this isn't the first time and he is only 22, drug issues will destroy you. Praise God for His work in peoples lives. We never know when or where the Spirit is at work; so we must be faithful to herald the truth at all times.
The Bible study at the prison today was great as well. We talk about forgiveness, Eph 4:31-32, and Matt.18:23-35. When we think about Romans 12:9-21, oh how important it is that we seek to forgive and not harbor bitterness, anger, resentment. Which will lead to a inner turmoil, fits of rage, burst of anger, poor relationships... "so far as it depends on you live at peaceably with all people".(Rom. 12:18)

We owe it to one another to support when you see one struggling and to remind them of truth when it is so easy to lose sight of it. I think far to often we stand idly by and don't get involved in the struggle or in the relationship.

Think about it, does God ever say that community is going to be easy? What about individual relationships are they supposed to be easy? We are told to "outdo one another in showing honor", we are told to love one another. I know from my own life that relationships are tough, and you can get hurt. However we were made for relationships and God has design his church to be centered on our relationship with Christ which then ties us together with His body, the church.

What needs to change in my life Lord to make me more sensitive to the people in my life. Lord help me to demonstrate honor and genuine love to the people around me in and through my words and actions. I am willing to suffer hurts and disappointments, because of trying to live intentionally in community. Lord give me the grace to persevere in this, that I may grow in my sanctification and that I might help others to grow in their sanctification.

Thoughts on Idolatry

2010-06-23T16:57:00.000-07:00

I found these quotes on my Pastors blog this morning. It is ironic, last night during Bible study I was referencing this book as we were studying through Romans 6 and we got to talking about the topic of Idolatry.

“What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything that you seek to give you what only God can give.

“A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would hardly feel worth living. An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought. It can be family and children, or career and making money, or achievement and critical acclaim, or saving ‘face’ and social standing. It can be a romantic relationship, peer approval, competence and skill, secure and comfortable circumstances, your beauty or your brains, a great political or social cause, your morality and virtue, or even success in the Christian ministry. When your meaning in life is to fix someone else’s life, we may call it ‘co-dependency’ but it is really idolatry.

“An idol is whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, ‘If I have that, then I’ll feel my life has meaning, then I’ll know I have value, then I’ll feel significant and secure.’ There are many ways to describe that kind of relationship to something, but perhaps the best one is worship.”

-- Tim Keller, “Counterfeit Gods” (Dutton) p.xviii

The first few days back in Japan

2010-06-09T06:29:00.000-07:00

Some may be wondering what Japanees food I had been craving the most. If you guessed CoCo's Curry than you are a winner. I went to CoCo's on Monday and had lunch there with a friend. I had the tankatsu curry, level 2, 200 grams with a non-bread.

Well in some ways it feels like I was only gone on a short vacation and now I am right back into the mix at the Lighthouse. On the other hand there has been many people who are new to the community and many who have left, this brings about a change in atmosphere.

Was talking today with a friend and were talking about how much things can change in a year. She remarked how much she and her husband were able to see a change over the years time of knowing me. A change that was a good change one of growth and maturing in Christ. I can say the same for her, it is amazing to see how Christ works in our life and uses events and people and places to spur on growth in our life.

There are many events and things that are taking place over the next weeks. There are also many things happen in the lives of the people here at the Lighthouse. Both good and bad, pray that Jim and Maratha would have the wisdom and insight in counseling and that they would be energized and encouraged in the ministry. Pray for Yuki as she works towards doing an internship with Cadence. Pray for relationships in the community here, that there would be reconciliation, forgiveness, love and peace.

Pray for me as I seek to keep things running smoothly starting next week. That I will have wisdom in studying for Friday night teaching and that I would be a source of encouragement and a catalyst in the spiritual walks of the men and women here.

Back in Japan

2010-06-06T16:39:00.000-07:00

A brief update and more will come soon.

I arrived in Japan yesterday June 6th. I had an uneventful flight on the way to JFK airport as well as to Narita airport. I followed up my plane ride with a bus ride to Yokohama and then a train ride from there to Yokosuka. Ending my travels with a walk up the hill to the Lighthouse.

I was anticipating finding an empty house and would unpack and head to bed. However on the porch I found some friends who were waiting to welcome me. As soon as I had hugged them and unlocked the door the phone rings and it is some more folks down on base who were wanting to welcome me back. Of course their welcome was come bowling with us. So off to base we headed and ended up bowling two games with the gang. I went to bed at 11 and got up at 7.

Please pray for me that I would remain in the vine and that God would fill me with his Spirit. These next six weeks are going to fly by and there will be many conversations and many tasks required of me. Pray that God would give me the wisdom for conversations. Finally pray that God would lead me in His word as I study and prepare for teaching on Friday night in the coming weeks.

What is my aim in following Jesus

2010-04-10T05:20:00.000-07:00

When we think about it, what in my mind and life drives my following Jesus?
Do I subconsciously think that I can obediently follow Jesus in my own way and strength?
What does God's Law require of us?
Can you live up to all this perfectly?

"Many people, well meaning church leaders included, are eager to boil down Christianity to the great commandments, or the Sermon on the Mount, or the Beatitudes, or Micah 6:8, or some other powerful summary of God's ethical intentions. But if all I have are God's ethical intentions for my life, I am in a worse fix....My own efforts to be a good person are, in comparison to what God requires of me, positively miserable. I'll be damned, discouraged, and dismayed if being a follower of Jesus means nothing but a new set of things I'm supposed to do for Him. Instead, my following Jesus should be, first of all, a declaration of all that He has done for me."

This is from "Lord's Day 2" which is found in Kevin DeYoung's new book
The Good News We Almost Forgot

A prayer in response

2010-03-27T08:25:00.001-07:00

A prayer in response to a devotional reading by D.A. Carson.

Father "Praise awaits you O God... O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins you forgave our transgressions. Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!"(Ps. 65:1-4) You have called us to be unified in you. Just as you, your son, and your spirit are one so art we to be likewise with fellow brothers and sisters. May our unity be in love that is formed within us as your Spirit works to mold and shape us in response to your Word. May our platform for unity among believers be grounded in your truth. May the centrality of the gospel be ever present on our minds. I praise you for your Son and the provision of His death and resurrection. Giving to us everything we need for life in godliness. For you call us to be holy just as you are. Oh the idolatry that rises in my heart, a continual root of pride that seeks to look after myself and not others. Father I long to grow in my understanding and application of your Word. That I would live in such a way as to sacrificially put others before myself motivated by your love for me and for others.

How to finish well

2010-03-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

This poem was shared by a pastor today in chapel. In his sermon he was addressing the staggering statistics about people in ministry who burn out and quite. Obviously recognizing the reality that ministry is hard How do we deal with and work through the difficult situations and be people who finish well? The speaker presented 2 Peter 1:3-8 with emphasis on verse 6 as an answer. He focused on self-control and steadfastness; showing the necessity for both of these in the life of a believer and even more so in one who is involved in full time ministry. I know that it is not scripture but the speaker also referred to this poem as a source of encouragement and motivation in his own life.

I found the thoughts in this poem to be inspiring.

IF.....

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

- Rudyard Kipling

Sin and its detrimental effect

2010-02-28T15:09:00.000-08:00

I went to "The Orchard" Evangelical Free Church up in Arlington Heights today.
Their pastor had this quote today as he taught from Mark 1:40-45.

"Leprosy does to the body what sin does to the soul. Leprosy causes loss of feeling and then loss of function on our body.Sin also causes loss of feeling and loss of function on our souls."

~Colin Smith

Impoverished Christian Walk

2010-02-27T18:49:00.000-08:00

I was reading tonight in Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest".
Today's section had this quote in it:

"The reason some of us are such poor specimens of Christianity is because we have no Almighty Christ. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment to Jesus Christ."

120 hrs finished

2010-02-27T13:42:00.000-08:00

Praise God for His great grace, His incredible goodness, His amazing love. I finished my five day fast on Friday night. It was interesting week altogether, some great highs and some lows. One thing for sure I really was relying on God to give me the energy for each day because by Tuesday I felt like I had zero.
I really missed the fellowship around meals. I even went twice to dinner just to talk. This of course was not easy because you are sitting around food but it was a good time of conversation.

Thank you to you who were praying for me this last week.

Fast 86 hrs

2010-02-25T05:32:00.000-08:00

Praise God, last night after I got done studying. I was able to join the Student Missionary Fellowship group for a time of prayer and singing. Oh how it was a joy to be able to focus on Christ last night. It was such a God send; his timing is perfect. He knew that in the middle of this week what I needed was to be encouraged and challenged to gaze upon the greatness of King Jesus. "For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him." Col.1:19-22

Fasting 72hr mark

2010-02-24T18:49:00.000-08:00

Well so far it has been an interesting experience. Have had hardly no hunger pains, even the first day. Have found that I lack energy, and I cannot believe how cold my hands are. There have been some difficult times of concentrating.
Tonight I felt a real need for community so I went down to the dinning hall and sat at my floors table. I can't say that it was difficult sitting and talking with everyone eating, but being honest I will have to say that I definitely had food going through my mind more than once.
I am missing being able to work out. Since I don't have enough energy to say go swim or run.

On the spiritual side of things. I am still focusing on those five areas, but I have also added to making a list of people that come to my mind while I am praying for other things. I was able from memory to record all 30 of the names of the guys on my floor in order of their room and roommate.

Additional Requests:
Seeking a more intimate community to engage in.
Deciding on a church.
Searching for a job in Chicago.
Relationships

I have had some great times in the word over the last few days. Reading in Exodus concerning Israel Egypt and the Plagues. Also have spent some great times in the Psalms. I went through Ps 119- oh how I long to have my view of God's Word be the same as the psalmist.

Fasting

2010-02-21T06:18:00.000-08:00

This week I am going to be fasting. This is sure to be a very challenging thing but I hope that through it I will learn more about my Savior. I am committing to this after a challenging message was given during founders week here at moody. Mark Jobe spoke on having a holy hunger for God. I am seeking the heart of God this week in these areas:
More of a hunger for God and His Word and an increased devotion in prayer
God's provision for this summer trip to Japan
Praise and Thankfulness in remember all that He has done for me
A fuller awareness of who I am in Christ
For His wisdom and discernment

This is my outline for the week. Starting at sundown tonight I plan, Lord willing, to fast until Friday at sundown. This is a complete food fast, so I will only be consuming water and some juice if necessary. Please pray that I would remain strong and focused this week. Pray that Satan would not use this time to increase temptation in my life and pray that in these five areas I would grow in my understanding and the application of in my life.

Random quote

2010-02-15T14:22:00.000-08:00

Think Theologically
Engage Globally
Live Biblically

I saw this today on an advertisement for Gordon Conwell Seminary.

It made me think how this is not just a call for our pastors and theologians.
This really is the Biblical call for all of us.

Excerpt from " For the Love of God"

2010-02-10T07:42:00.001-08:00

This is an excerpt from Feb. 10th's reading from D.A. Carson's " The Love or God"

Written on Mark 13.
"Those who are impressed by mighty buildings and spectacular human accomplishments could profitably think through the account of the tower of Babel (Gen. 11). Doubtless there were some then who were impressed by the edifice. But God, looking at the human heart and the reasons for the building, saw it as one more evidence of insufferable hubris.
In much the same way, we too are called to understand and evaluate our culture from God’s perspective. Because human beings are made in the image of God, there is much that we can do that is worthy and admirable. Theologically speaking, this is the product of “common grace.”But it is possible to be far too impressed by wealth, power, architecture, fame, learning, physical prowess, and technology, with the result that we do not think through the moral and spiritual dimensions of the world around us. We may see the glory, and overlook the shame; we may detect human accomplishments, and neglect the undergirding idolatry; in short, we may be impressed by all that impresses God’s fallen image-bearers, but fail to assess these realities in the light of the cross and in the light of eternity. We would do far better to follow the examples of Jesus and Paul."

Bold emphasis is mine.

Lord give me eyes to see and a heart to feel the way you do. Amen

I know the plans I have for you

2010-02-08T16:43:00.000-08:00

For I know the plans that I have for you
And you've got to trust me to see them through
All I ask is that you would keep seeking my heart
All I ask is that you would keep seeking my heart
You will find me, when you seek me with all your heart
You will find me, when you seek me with all your heart

This was a song that was written by a Moody student for Founders Week.
It is really catchy and it sticks in your mind. I love the fact that it reminds
me almost of a lulaby. I pray that in the future days when I am struggling with
remember God's providential plan, when it is hard to see the next step, I will be reminded of this song and it's truth will penetrate deep into my heart reminding me of the wonderful providential plan that God has for my life.
May I be found faithful in seeking after the heart of God.

Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer

2010-02-06T08:11:00.000-08:00

We sang this song several times this last week during Founders Week.
The words rang out so powerfully that I could not help but be moved to tears.
Oh may this be song be true in my life,
" And at the end of my heart's testing
With Your likeness let me wake"

Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer (Keith Getty and Margaret Becker)

This song was written in 2001 with Margaret Becker, when she agreed to be part of my New Irish Hymns series. I had written a folk melody in the Irish-bluegrass style and had always wanted a hymn that speaks to the subject of suffering. So many of the greatest hymns were written through such experiences, and I felt it was important to make this a key part of our work. Rather than being clichéd or self–obsessed, I wanted to write with a Psalmist-like honesty that clings to the promises of Scripture, that Christ is with us, refining us through our troubles, promising heaven as a real hope to fix our eyes on. —Keith

Chorus:
May this journey bring a blessing
May I rise on wings of faith
And at the end of my heart's testing
With Your likeness let me wake

Verse 1:
Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labor thro' the storm
You have called me to this passage
And I'll follow tho' I'm worn

Verse 2:
Jesus guide me thro' the tempest
Keep my spirit staid and sure
When the midnight meets the morning
Let me love You even more

Verse 3:
Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go
And at the end of this long passage
Let me leave them at Your throne

Super Bowl

2010-02-05T21:01:00.001-08:00

How come many of us this weekend have put more time into our plans for the Super Bowl than we did on attending the Lord's Day. I remember even as little as three years ago longing to watch the super bowl commercials. But God has been doing a work in my life and transforming the way that I think about media and my gluttonous consumption of it.

Lord please continue to work in my life and continue to transform my mind to see and think about the world the way God does.

My pastor pointed me to this helpful blog post by C J Mahaney.

Identity???

2010-02-04T11:52:00.001-08:00

Who is ______________________? ( Fill in your name )

If you answered this question with your job title or your occupation or a list of possibilities then...

"If who you are is what you do; who will you be when you don’t do that anymore?"
This question was asked last night by Joe Stowell.

What should our answer be? We need to consider our identity as one who is a follower of Jesus. This identity then should drive every area of our life.

A man after God's own heart

2010-02-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

This is the theme of Moody's Founders Week this year. What about a man makes him one who can be know as a man after God's own heart? Last night I had the privilege of hearing the President of Moody teach on this idea of what it looks like to be a man after God's own heart. His text was I Samuel chapter 13. His main point was that the distinguishing difference between Saul and David was obedience. He went on to say, "There is no gray area in life when it comes to holiness."
" It is to easy to get comfortable with partial obedience."
" God seeks those who seek His heart"

Whose heart are you seeking?

He also shared an illustration: a low wattage light built still looks very bright in a world which is getting darker and darker.

Think about that, even in the church we compare ourselves with one another and think that we are doing alright. My bulb is brighter than some or than those. But really if we compare our bulb and its brightness and intensity to Jesus we would find that our bulbs are like a nightlight compared to Jesus' spotlight.
How bright is your bulb shining?

A Man Seeking God's Heart

1> Obeys all of God's Word
2> Does not rationalize sin but repents

How do you boast?

2010-01-31T16:40:00.000-08:00

"He is the source of life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord"."
1 Corinthians 1:30-31

God's Providence

2010-01-26T12:44:00.000-08:00

Providence is mysterious. It must never be used to justify wrong actions or to mitigate sin: Isaac and his family are more than a little sleazy, Judas is a deceitful wretch, Haman is vile, and the Roman court trying Paul is more than a little corrupt. Yet God sovereignly rules, behind the scenes, bringing glory out of gore and honor out of shame.

See the rest of the article here
This quote comes from - For the Love of God by D A Carson

"Worship " what do we mean?

2010-01-18T20:09:00.000-08:00

Here is an interesting article by Dr. Harold Best, he was the former dean of Wheaton Conservatory of Music and Author of "Music through the Eyes of Faith".

Check out this article There are some amazing truths that he reminds us of. I found this to be both convicting and enlightening.

Racial Harmony

2010-01-17T17:48:00.000-08:00

This morning a heard John Piper teach on racial harmony. His challenge was to parents that they would strive to raise up their kids in such a way as to honor God in their actions and thoughts about people who are different from them.

Do you struggle with people who are a different ethnicity? Or what about someone who has a handicap? How can parents help their kids develop a worldview that will help them to have a biblical perspective on these topics.

Check out the sermon here.

Check out "NEXT"

2010-01-14T04:56:00.001-08:00

I am pondering and looking forward to going to this conference this year.
NEXT

A new phase of life

2010-01-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

I am an official student now at Moody Bible Institute. Here I am starting my studies this semester as a transfer student. Bring in some credits, I hope to complete the four year program in three years. Undoubtedly this new phase will bring with it many times of growth and many new experiences. I was challenged even yesterday by one of my pastors to really value and treasure this time at school. I am reminded of the quote from the movie " Saving Private Ryan" where Tom Hanks character says to the Ryan after they have rescued him, " Earn this" So here I am blessed with the opportunity to study the Bible let alone live in an incredible Christian community. What an incredible blessing it is that I must not take for granted. May I be found faithful in my studies and my time at school as God continues to prepare me for what He has in store. I reflect upon 2 Timothy 4:6-16 in times like these.

"Just Do Something"

2009-12-31T23:25:00.000-08:00

When you think of discerning God’s will, what initially comes to your mind? Probably if you are like me, that is growing up in the Christian culture you will think of things like “ open or closed doors” , a peace or mind, fleece, known or unknown, or difficult or easy. Well I would have to be honest and say that four years ago I was really struggling in the area of knowing or discerning God’s will for my life. At that time God used some of my Bible classes at New Tribes to open my mind to some new ways of looking at God’s will. The reality is that at the time I was really struggling thinking about a future career and marriage. ( of course the two big ones) Well it has been a journey and one that has gone up and down. The best part of it is looking back over the last few years I can rejoice to see how God has been growing me in my understanding and application of His Word and Will. To quote a good friend and mentor of mine “ I wish I could write a book but I am not smart enough…. I enjoy reading books written by guys who are way smarter than me but who agree with my theology of God.” I mention this because over this last year I have been thinking a lot about Christians and their decisions in dating, courting, marriage, career, singleness…. Naturally I find myself here, for I am in my late twenties and single. With all of this thinking and reading on the topic I have found the important need to develop a theology of relationships. ( for lake of better terminology, the pursuit of marriage) What does the Bible have to say about this?
Well these thoughts above come to me right now for I just finished reading the book by Deyoung. It is so refreshing to read a book on the topic of decision making and to find it stick so closely to the fundamental truth of scripture. It is also nice to read an author who agrees with me  . ( see above) The truth is that DeYoung did a great job of taking common practices and beliefs and putting them up against the filter of scripture. He then responds with a biblical centric view of decision making and the will of God. He lays out what he calls in the book the “way of wisdom.” This is to say that God has given us already everything that we need to make wise decisions, God’s word, prayer, and fellow believers. This book of course deals with decision making in general but I would like to look at it in relation to marriage. “ There is nothing wrong with being single. It can be a gift from the Lord and a gift to the church. But when there is an overabundance of Christian singles who want to be married, this is a problem. And it’s a problem I put squarely at the feet of the young men whose immaturity , passivity, and indecision are pushing their hormones to the limits of self-control, delaying the growing process and forcing countless numbers of young women to spend lots of time and money pursuing a career ( which is not necessarily wrong) when they would rather be getting married and having children. Men, if you want to be married, find a godly gal, treat her right, talk to her parents, pop the question, tie the knot, and start making babies.” P. 108
This is where I stand on this, I believe that far to many Christian men( myself included)are sinning in the area of not being responsible in their pursuit of marriage. I believe that God has created us to be married and so if you are single man, other than for the sake of ministry, I believe to not be pursuing marriage is to sin. That seems harsh I am sure and it is convicting to me, but when I look at it we have made life so much more complicated. We as men pursue our careers, hobbies, and our entertainment more than we pursue being married. I think that pride, unbelief, selfishness, and lazyness are of a few of the fundamental factors in this problem. We need men who are going to stand up and go against the flow of our culture including that of our Christian subculture. Men who will instead of asking the question of is this the right woman for me, will ask the question am I the godly man I should be. Men we need to step up and be the spiritually leaders, that means in relationships too. I believe that if we were to understand what God’s will for our lives is then it would help in all areas of decision making. Quite focusing on all of the temporal decisions and instead focus on seeking the kingdom of God. For the will of God is your sanctification. ( I Thess. 4:3) If we are truly focusing on this then all of the rest of the decisions in life will naturally fall into place. So men will you join me in taking the head knowledge and putting it into action.” Let us be active in the present, grateful for the past, and hopeful for the future.” P.120
“ Be holy like Jesus, by the power of the Spirit, for the glory of God” p. 62
Thoughts and quotes come from

“ Just Do Something” by Kevin DeYoung – This was an excellent book and I highly recommend it.

Mexico Report Service

2009-11-30T08:01:00.000-08:00

For all of you who faithfully followed and prayed for the team, I invite you out to South Church next Sunday night at 6pm to hear about the trip. We will be sharing in the evening service with music, pictures, and personal testimonies as to how God was at work both through the team in the the lives of the team members.

Thank you so much for your prayerful support during the week. There is no doubt in my mind, the trip was great and successful and that was because of your prayers. Continue to pray for the team members as they process through this past week. Many are working through how and where God would have them to serve Him.

Don't forget for those interested in the trip the plan at this point is to go again in 2010.

Save the date November 20 - 27, 2010

Mexico Team Returns to Michigan

2009-11-28T17:32:00.000-08:00

Well we had an uneventful journey home. Some caught up on sleep, others colored their coloring books while still others had conversations.
Overall another incredible year, God was so good in faithfully providing and working in and through the team.

If you would like to hear more of the specifics then come next Sunday evening when the team will be sharing about the trip.

Thanks for keeping us in your prayers and I hope that you will be touched by the experiences of the team this year.

Praise God for his faithfulness.

- Erik Hultquist

Almost home

2009-11-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

Well, we're sitting in the airport, almost ready to return to Michigan. Everyone on the team is excited to go home, but we're all tired too. The trip was amazing! We all learned so much and never want to forget our experiences. Being back in the States, we can see the stark contrast between materialistic America and relationship-oriented Mexico. One of the hardest things about leaving is just seeing how much we have that we take for granted while the people in Mexico have so little but seem so content and grateful. I seriously hope that we can learn to be content with what we have, and that we will be intentional with our lives. God really worked this week and showed His power. I will never forget what He taught me.
God bless!

-Courtney Myers

Jesus, Thank You

2009-11-27T06:25:00.001-08:00

Jesus, Thank You

The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend,
The agonies of Calvary.
You, the Perfect Holy One, crushed your Son,
Drank the bitter cup reserved for me.

Your blood has washed away my sin,
Jesus, thank You.
The Father's wrath completely satisfied,
Jesus, thank You.
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table,
Jesus, thank You.

By Your perfect sacrifice I've been brought near,
Your enemy made your friend.
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace,
Your mercy and Your kindness know no end.

Lover of my soul, I want to live for you

Your blood has washed away my sin,
Jesus, thank You.
The Father's wrath completely satisfied,
Jesus, thank You.
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table,
Jesus, thank You.

This has been one of the many great songs that we have had the opportunity to sign and to ponder afresh. Oh the love that was shown us, oh the joy that is ours.

How shall we respond?

Loving the Least of These

2009-11-26T21:25:00.000-08:00

Today we had the opportunity to tangibly love on God's children. A group of about 20 of us went to an orphanage in Tijuana that provides a home to both boys and girls under age 12. Though our Spanglish abilities vary, we were all able to communicate love to these children. We came with a hot dog lunch and toys for them which they were so excited about; but they gave us so much more back with their smiles and joy. Some wanted to play and spent the afternoon on our shoulders, playing futbol (soccer), or coloring with us. Others just wanted to be held. Cliff Beckett spent most of the day just holding and loving on a young boy named Alex who has downs syndrome. It was clear that one of the reasons God brought Cliff on this trip was to wrap his arms around Alex for the afternoon. The highlight of my experience was holding the little babies at the orphanage. One little boy was on my lap during lunch time and I fed him a hot dog bun and cookie bite by bite. He fussed like little ones do when I wiped his hands and face when he was done. I also held onto little Analu and covered her with kisses while we were there. She's the tiniest little thing, with the longest eyelashes you've ever seen. It broke my heart to leave there knowing tomorrow there may be no one to wipe their face or provide the kisses. My prayer is that God would provide families to love all these little babies. But more than that, my prayer is that these babies would learn of God's unconditional love for them as their heavenly Father.

It definitely made me thankful for all the ways God has blessed me with family, but I'm most thankful to be called a child of His.

Happy Thanksgiving!
~Diane Durow

Tues Build Day

2009-11-25T06:34:00.000-08:00

Pepto-Bismol pink isn’t not what you would think of a typical house color, but it’s pretty common in Mexico. This is my first time coming on this trip and it’s so amazing to me how much of a difference we can make in someone’s life just by sacrificing five or six hours to build them a house and spend time with them. Today we worked at a site by the bottom of a mountain, building a house for a woman named Kenya and her family. There was an adorable little boy there whose name was Nathaniel. I loved seeing how much joy we brought him just by talking to him and giving him attention. Not only has the building been rewarding for the families, but it really brings us together as a group. I have made so many new friends and I’ve had so much fun. I am so excited to see what God is going to do during the rest of the trip and when we go back home.
- Angela Krause

Climbing Cerro

2009-11-23T05:51:00.000-08:00

Every year it is one of my favorite parts of the trip is to climb up Cerro. ( a hill or mountain, depending on where you come from) We got up at 5:15am and left the dorms by 5:30. 28 of us started up the hill, immediately several paces were established as we start the arduous task of walking up Cerro. The incline would very but at its steepest point would be around a 50 degree incline. The best part was that it did not matter whether you were a turtle or a hare all 28 crested the top. Around 6:30 we were greeted by the sunrise and then the wind picked up. This wind always seems to cut our time shorter but we were able to get a great view of TJ. For many this is there first expansive view of the the city.

As we neared the bottom on our way down we came across a man by the name of Saul. Saul is a Mexican guy who was born in TJ and then moved to LA, CA. Two years ago he was deported back and because of drug and alcohol addictions he was put in to a rehab center, Oh and we know this because he spoke english fluently. Saul had been waiting for us at the bottom of the mountain ever since he saw our group going up. He started talking to us and asking us what we were doing down here in TJ. After sharing with him about the house building at Caravan he asked us if we would like to come to his church. He told us we could rest our feet as we could sit on their benches and then he asked if we would come to pray with him. His church was called "living water". On down Cerro we continued until we arrived at their church. There we found a one room church we were able to go in and pray with Saul for ten min. It was so neat to be able to hear Saul pray for his church and how thankful he was for God's faithfulness in his life, and how excited and encouraged he was by our willingness to pray with him.
We then headed back to the dorms and were greeted by a wonderful breakfast that Cliff and Ruth and prepared. A breakfast of burritos with potatoes eggs cheese and chorizo is a hearty breakfast for some hungry climbers.
A new word was invented today was several asked what our plan for the day was. Culturing - this is the process of experiencing and learning of another culture.
-Erik Hultquist

Travel Day and First Day in Mexico

2009-11-22T21:09:00.000-08:00

11.22.09
Hola from Tijuana, Mexico! It’s great to be back down here and we had a great time getting here. Not only did we get to sleep in the night before our flight (5:00 am!), but we got to share multiple times with people we met on our way down why we were traveling to Mexico. The main reason we were able to do that was because we were all wearing our bright green shirts, with the word “worship” written in Hebrew on them. I met some people from Holland (the country, not Michigan) and found out they had a daughter who used to live in Mexico, and now is a Spanish/English translator in the USA, and a son who graduated from a seminary in Grand Rapids. We also were greeted with “Shalom” a couple of times because we had some people think that we were Jewish. It’s cool how people feel more comfortable talking to you knowing you are with a large group.
After we had spent some time at the ocean in San Diego on Saturday, we left for Tijuana. It is surprising to me the stark contrast between the U.S. and Mexico when you cross the border. The land is different, the houses are different, and the culture is very different. Last year at this time I didn’t know what to think of the Mexican culture, but coming from the perspective of having been here before, I know that God doesn’t see a different culture. He sees eternal souls with eternal destinations, and he wants us to know him. I guess for me it sometimes takes getting out of my comfort zone to fully remember this.
I’m glad that you are thinking of us and praying for us. I would also ask that you pray for God to work in our lives and change us from the inside out. Also pray that I can avoid the really large potholes while driving (they’re everywhere!). We’ll see you all soon, and thanks again for your prayers.
Also to my wife Kristin; I love you sweetie!
- Jeremy Foco

11.22.09
So I’m kind of a pro at this trip now….. haha. This is my fourth year, but the amazing thing is how much it changes each year. I always think that I’m going to know exactly what to expect and any curveballs the trip might throw at me, but God always has other plans. This trip is just starting but, I can tell that God has something special planned for me and everyone on this trip. New relationships are beginning already and I am excited to see how God is going to unify this group. It is definitely cool to be able to keep everyone back home involved like this. We appreciate your prayers and we miss you! I will probably have something more interesting to say after we do some building, but until then take care everyone!

Jordan Mears

South Church 2009 Mexico Trip

2009-11-19T06:59:00.000-08:00

We are 35 hours away from a prayer meeting which will officially start this years Mexico Trip.
South Church has had church members going to Mexico since 2000. It was in 2003 that I first want to Tijuana to build houses. Jim and Martha Bowden were at the time leading the teams that would go down. Jim helped to mentor me in the trip and allowed me to co lead with him in 2005. It was in 2006 that I took over the trips. Knowing the incredible impact that these trips had on my life I have longed to pass that same experience on to as many people as I can. When we go to Mexico we partner with a ministry that operates in TJ ( Tijuana, Mexico) called Mexico Caravan Ministries ( aka MCM). They have a great balance of physically helping the Mexican people with houses, but primarily their focus is to teach and mobilize people with regards to missions.

We traditionally go over the week of Thanksgiving. During that time we will be building houses, working with an orphanage, and working with a portable bath house ministry ( spectrum ministries) .

This will be my eight team to be involved with going to TJ. South Church has seen over 150 people go to Mexico over the years. I know that there are many lives that have been touch and changed forever because of the trip and specifically how God was at work in their life. There are always more stories than can ever be told and you can never really understand what it is like with out going, but I do hope this year through sharing on this blog we might better communicate some of the thoughts and reflections of the team.

Be praying for the team as we go November 20th - 28th.

South's 2009 Mexico Team

Beckett, Chad

Beckett, Clifford

Cruz, Priscilla

Denyes, Kendra

Deshaw, Taylor

Durow, Diane

Durow, Jeffrey

Everett, Jamie

Foco, Jeremy

Feuss, Daniel

Hansen, Alyson

Hultquist, Bethany

Hultquist, Erik

Hultquist, Ruth

Krause, Angela

Lauterbach, Luke

Mears, Jordan

Mears, Katie

Mears, Kelly

Mills, Calvin

Mills, Emily

Myers, Paul

Myers, Courtney

Neuenschwander, Joshua

Peterson, Curtis

Risch, Callie

Scarantino, Nicholas

Shaw, Aubrey

Shaw, Shawna

Wieland, Autumn

What is the Bible???

2009-10-02T03:21:00.001-07:00

How do you answer that?
Is it God's Word?
Does it have authority?
Is it sufficient for all of life?

" Everything that God wants to tell all his people for all time about that kind of issue or situation will be found on the pages of the Bible."

" Just as our physical lives are maintained by daily nourishment with physical food, so our spiritual lives are maintained by daily nourishment with the Word of God. To neglect regular reading of the Bible is detrimental to the health or our souls."

-Christian Beliefs - Grudem ( quotes from ch.1)

Moody visit

2009-09-30T00:09:00.000-07:00

Today I visited Moody for the first time. I drove down to Chicago, leaving my house at 5 am. I had to leave that early because I had to make an appointment at 8:45. So I met with the admissions department and received a tour of the campus.I am really excited to be moving on to this next phase of life. It certainly will be different though, living in a dorm, being a fulltime student. living in Chicago... you get the point.
I am really excited to be getting into a dorm life, however this may also be one of the most difficult parts of transition. I saw the dorm size and not that I need much but having been to Michigan State University many times and been in the dorms these dorms for two are about half the size. So we will see, it will be interesting to see who my roommate will be and how we get along. You may be wondering then what part of dorm life are you excited about. Well it is the opportunity that I have to grow in community and the opportunity that I have to build into the younger guys on my floor. There are two different guys dorms... one is a three floor building that is farther removed from campus and these are triple occupancy rooms. Then there is a building which is centrally locateed. This dorm is 16 or so floors high and is only a double occupancy. I will be trying to request to live in the the highrise and be in the highest floor possible and this will give me only one roomate.
As for the rest of campus it was lovely. I was able to see the swimming pool which is another thing that I am really excited about being able to get back into swimming. When I was in Japan I was able to swim for about a month and a half last year and I loved it.
So my prayer is that I would be prepared and grow in the necessary grace to live at Moody.
Also that God would provide a great match in a roommate.

Missions the need is great

2009-09-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

my friend sent this to me its a blog entry from her friend who is a missionary in zambia,

September 12th, 2009
In the last 48 hrs, our newest visitor to Zambia is our intern Abbie’s fiancé, Paul. In this short amount of time he has fixed our water pump, installed an antenna and ran a line for our Zamtel modem and phone (while the Zamtel workers watched in awe), worked on our Land Cruiser, fixed some misc. computer issues, dug up and fixed water connections to get water to all the places in the house we need it and various other things. I am writing this to let you know the value of problem solving Mac Geiver types here on the mission field. Too many times I have heard people down play the gifts that the good Lord has given them. I know of some pretty amazing people who don’t see how amazing the gifts of fixing and building can be to those of us who live in places like Zambia, Africa. We have already been blessed by a good friend, Brian, who built us a kitchen from scratch as well as other things. His biggest impact was when he gave his Bible to a guy named Azzie (Ozzy) who carries it everywhere.
Being a “missionary” or “humanitarian worker” is not dependant on your ability to be a doctor or a preacher or even a good speaker. The people we need most here in Zambia are guys like Paul. I can’t tell you how many missionaries and aid workers here would be so blessed to have someone come and just fix things and build things. Having Paul here is like having a breath of fresh air as you see these things get fixed that you have been needing done and having someone say, “I can do that,” when you mention you have a need. I am so thankful for a guy that is willing to help and has the experience and knowledge to do it right!
Are you a mechanic and all around fix it person? Your gifting is gold to us here on the mission field, why don’t you look at seeing what God can do with it to change lives. It may be time for you to become “A Paul ing!”

What is the Kingdom of God?

2009-09-15T20:21:00.001-07:00

" For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but or righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Rom 14:17

Stoned for Jesus

2009-08-31T06:43:00.000-07:00

How often are you like me and we hear or read over a passage of scripture as if it is the newspaper and I am skimming to find a headline or a phrase that catches my eye. I think about how many times I have heard and read the story of Paul and Barnabas in Acts 14. We looked at this text yesterday in church and it struck me while we were reading it. Paul was stoned and left for dead. I think that he was beaten up and bruised by the stoning, but God performs a miracle and Paul lives. He being Paul gets up and returns to the city. Furthermore he then leaves and backtracks through the cities that he has just come from strengthening and encouraging the believers along the way. He also shares with them that tribulations, trials, persecutions will come and are part of the way of Jesus.

This all struck me because I defintely have never been stoned maybe verbally abused sometimes. This makes me think of my friends in the Navy who are stationed in Japan. They are verbally abused when they take a stand for Christ. We need to look at the example that Paul gave us and get up and be about the business of building into the body of Christ.

Mexico Trip Update

2009-08-29T19:37:00.000-07:00

So it is that time of year again where I start running full steam with the Mexico Trip. South Church has been going to Mexico specifically Tijuana for seven years. This is going to be my tenth trip down and my 4th time leading the trip. God has taught me so much over the years that I have been going.

Today we had womens conference at church and I had been asked to do a coffee shop slash latte bar. So we did and we made over 250 lattes Saturday morning and we received 830.00 dollars in donations. That is so amazing because that is more than one house. That money will go towards building one of the homes that will be built while we are down in TJ. Praise God for His faithfulness in providing money and people for the trip.

Depersonalizing God's wrath

2009-08-25T04:05:00.000-07:00

One of my pastors had this on his blog. It is scary to think of how close it is to the truth. How important having our foundational truth solidly grounded in Biblical truth. For truths such as this directly affect how I view who God is and who man is.

D.A. Carson:

"In recent years it has become popular to sketch the Bible‘s storyline something like this: Ever since the fall, God has been active to reverse the effects of sin. He takes action to limit sin's damage; he calls out a new nation, the Israelites, to mediate his teaching and his grace to others; he promises that one day he will send the promised Davidic king to overthrow sin and death and all their wretched effects. This is what Jesus does: he conquers death, inaugurates the kingdom of righteousness, and calls his followers to live out that righteousness now in prospect of the consummation still to come.

"Much of this description of the Bible's storyline, of course, is true. Yet it is so painfully reductionistic that it introduces a major distortion. It collapses human rebellion, God's wrath, and assorted disasters into one construct, namely, the degradation of human life, while depersonalizing the wrath of God. It thus fails to wrestle with the fact that from the beginning, sin is an offense against God."

Read more here at Justin Taylor's blog.

Video on Missions

2009-08-19T06:37:00.000-07:00

I heard about this.... I have watched this and I pass it on.
I am now held responsible because of the knowledge that I have been given regarding the state of the world. Will you join me in doing something?

You can view the video here.....

"The Gospel is only good news if it gets there in time." -- Carl F.H. Henry

"Go, send, or disobey." -- John Piper

HT: Justin Taylor

Is it really August

2009-08-16T13:32:00.001-07:00

I am ashamed that when I looked at the last time I posted.
Well I am back...

Here is whats new:

I am accepted and enrolled to start at Moody in January of 2010

I was given a minivan to replace my old one ( praise God for his faithfulness)

I have been accepted to our local community college and plan to take a few classes this fall

I have reconnected with a friend who I knew when I lived in Florida ( 87-95)

God has brought encouragement through several people this summer

More regular posts to come in the future

Updates on 30 day fast

2009-07-07T19:12:00.000-07:00

It has now been more than 30 days and I feel like it has been a great discipline. I dont feel like I have missed anything. That is not to say that there havent been several times where I had wanted to watch a movie but it has never been a strong pull. We will see how long I decide to keep going, I dont feel obligated at this point since my origanal decision was to go to the first of July. I highly recommend trying a discipline of fasting.

Lay it all down

2009-07-03T07:18:00.001-07:00

So today I was putting my books away and trying to clean up my room from the four suitcases that I unloaded in it after returning from Japan. While putting books away I came across one of the past journals that I have used. I use the word journal in the loosest term possible. Even as I read back through it it was funny how much time occurred between the different entries. I say all this just to get to the point that my last entry I found again challenging and worth posting.

" Lord send me anywhere, only go with me. Sever any ties but the ties that bind me to your service and your heart." David Livingston ( missionary to Africa)

He also prayed this prayer when he buried his wife in Africa:

" My Jesus, my King, my Lord, my life, my all, I again consecrate my life to You. I shall place no value in anything I possess, except as it relates to Your Kingdom and to you service."
Both quotes came from the book " Walking from East to West" Ravi Zacahrias

This was great how these quotes came at a time where I have been thinking alot about my schooling and direction of ministry. In this time of waiting to hear from Moody and at the same time trying to discern what or where to go. I know and am reminded that God is faithfully at work in my life.

Psalm 37:5-7 I will paraprase by saying :
Commit you ways to the Lord, Trust in the Lord and in His faithfulness, Be still and wait patiently for Him.

I see the great joy that comes from reading back over past thoughts or challenges. I resolve again to work on disciplining myself to journal.

My Baywatch Experience

2009-07-03T05:27:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to Carolina beach down in North Carolina. While we had just gotten onto the beach and I began to walk along with my mom and sis, my aunt and uncle and a friend Pam. We had to immediately cross under a boardwalk. As I was walking under it I noticed on the other side that there were several people staring out into the water. By the way at this point it is shortly after nine o'clock at night and is dark. As I come to the people I hear one gal crying and in hysterics. I listen to what is being shouted and there is a name being yelled , Romeo. Well there is some lady yelling at this young gal who is in hysterics about how she should of not let her dog go and should of keep him on a leash. Well at this point this gal did not need to be yelled at. So I approach this young gal and ask her what kind of dog is it, and she tells me it is an English bulldog. ( Actually it is found out later that the dog is actually an American bulldog)

I knew that I had seen something out in the water when we had first come out from under the boardwalk but when I looked out when I was talking to this gal I could not see anything. So we begin to walk away and getting about 30yrds away and with a different angle from the light of the boardwalk I see the head of the dog out in the water. So I said to my family that I was going in and with that I dropped my shorts and took off my shirt and off I went running into the water. Of course it is at this point that I see myself as David Hassolhoff as I go running into the surf. I run out until I am in almost to my mid thigh and then I start to swim. Keeping my eye on the dog I swim probably 20 meters. When I get closer to the dog I see that the dog is swimming in circles and is very confused based on the fact that people from the pier and the shore have been yelling his name and he has become disoriented. So I yell the dogs name and he looks and me but continues to swim in a circle so I swim right up to him coming up to him from the side and I reach out and grab his collar. I then turn and head back towards the shore. While swimming side stroke I held the dog by the collar, this way I was able to direct the dog and keep his head up above the water. When I made it in far enough to where I could stand up I took the dog and held him up tight to my chest. He then stopped kicking and started to licked my my face and was very happy to no longer be in the water. I made it to shore and found an extremely happy owner. Then after giving my info to the cop, I assume for his report, and two thank you hugs from gal who was the owner we returned to our evening walk on the beach.

Pic 1: Coming out of the surf with the dog
Pic 2: Back on land
Pic 3: Returning the dog to his owner
Pic 4: Cop wanting my info ( I assume for his report)
Pic 5: Shortly after my hugs of gratitude

Crazy Ideas

2009-06-10T23:10:00.000-07:00

" We need to be living lives that demand an explanation!"
quote taken from Jeff Vanderstelt

When we read the Bible , what is the natural conclusion of the life that Christ wants you to live?

Based on God's word and His Spirit at work in us filling us with power ( Acts 1:8) , leading us into understanding of the Word ( Jn 16:13) , and Sealing us in Christ ( 2 Cor5:5, Eph 1:13) .....

What is the natural course my life should take in response to God.

Being content is something that has been a common theme this last week. This idea of contentment that we find in 1 Timothy 6: 6-10. I have just been pondering what it looks like to live out these verses. I don't think that Paul could state it any clearer for Timothy. Now Timothy was being charged to preach and teach this. Paul was living it, you know I find those leaders that call us to action that when they are really demonstrating it in their own lives I find I have a greater desire to get behind them. Paul in Phil 4:13, the verse we all love to quote out of context, is clearly laying out the most natural and logical response to the foundational truths of his salvation. Jesus Christ is more than enough for me in any circumstance. For we see that for Paul no matter what happened in life he found contentment in Christ. Were there days of struggle and days of forgetting the truth? I would have to say yes because we are human and so was Paul. I think that Paul though was living his life out in such a way as to be walking according to the Spirit and serving his Savior and Creator God.

Lord fill me with understanding of your Word and Father I am weak is so many ways. I need your Spirit to be my strength in standing in this world. That I might learn to apply your Word to my life and live out a life which demands an explanation which can be none other than Jesus.

30 day fast from movies

2009-05-28T06:59:00.000-07:00

So after pondering and reflecting on a post that Doug Philips posted from John Piper. I have decided that I would fast from movies for the next 30 days. In this time I will use the times I would normally want to watch a movie to meditate and reflect on God's word. I was specifically convicted with the thought that if I were to die today what would I want to be caught doing? My prayer is that I would be able to say " exactly what I had planned to do" . I look forward to seeing how God will challenge and grow me in this area of media and entertainment.

Spectacular Sins

2009-05-13T00:28:00.000-07:00

So I just read this short book this morning. This was a challenging read as far as the depth of theology that is tackled in its short 110 pages. In it though were some incredible gems which Piper skillfully unpacked. The actual complete title is "Spectacular Sins and their global purpose in the glory of Christ". In this book he covers 8 topics deallying with God's sovereignty and man's sin. The accounts of Adam, The Tower of Babel, Joseph, and David as well as others are covered in this book.
Here are some of the questions which sparked the writing of this book which actually came out of a teaching series.

" How is Christ glorified in a world of sin?"
" Why does God want us to know His sovereignty over sin?"
"Why does God not restrain sin more often?"
" Can we have faith and Joy during the severity of the Last Days?"

To use Piper's words he summed up his book as follows:
" My aim is that you would conquer unbelief and despair in the face of spectacular sin and misery."

" Recently I went back almost three decades and listened to my candidating sermon at the church I still serve. It was Jan. 27, 1980. I told that old and graying downtown church that I had one supreme passion and one simple goal. I learned it from my father, and I learned it from the apostle Paul. I exist to magnify Jesus Christ. That is, I am on this planet for one ultimate reason: to do whatever I can to make Jesus Christ known and treasured - a knowing and treasuring that accords with his infinite beauty and immeasurable worth...
We are Christian Hedonist at Bethlehem. That means we believe and pursue the truth that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. But we know that in this life, joy in God is never unmixed with sorrow. Never. Love wont allow that. Our banner bears the seal of 2 Cor 6:10 'sorrowful yet always rejoicing'. We are pushing our way through a blood spattered life that makes us feel connected to the world and disconnected at the same time."

This will be a book that I know I will read through again. It is short, concise and filled with scripture. I thank God for the many men who faithfully handle God's Word and proclaim the gospel message.

Trust in the Lord

2009-05-05T17:14:00.001-07:00

As I have been having several conversations with people lately; I have found that the topic of trust has come up consistently. What does it really look like to daily trust God? How would my actions or even my thought life be different?

Prov. 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths."

I have also been thinking a lot this last year about the phrase "wait on the Lord". I have found that this idea requires actions not stagnation or passivity. Yet there is certainly a balance in life we find this tension played out in James 4:13-17. I don't know what the future will hold but I will trust in the Lord and wait on the Lord in His timing and in His way. Lord move within my heart to trust you more and within my mind to be more confident in your ways. Give me the confidence in you Lord to live according to your Word. Grow me into the Godly man that you would have me to be. May I always remain grounded in my identity in you. The future seems unknown and difficult but neither should keep me back. You Lord will provide the light for my path only as much as is needed for the next step. May my stride be strong and my steps sure straining as if it were a race and only one receives the prize. My all my life be for your glory alone.

The Lord knows the plans that He has for me.

Please pray with me for the next three months. I found out today that I am on the waiting list for Moody. This then is definitely a hopeful place to be but a difficult one as well. I need to live this summer in such a way as to plan on attending Moody. This means I need to work for the seven or so weeks that I will have in Lansing. I am praying that God would open the door for work.

Romans 12:15

2009-04-30T18:34:00.000-07:00

Rejoice with those who do rejoice and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15

Have you ever thought about which one of these you do better?
Do you find it easier to rejoice with people when things have gone well with them?
OR
Do you find it easier to weep with those who are hurting?

Maybe you have never even thought about it. I have pondered this verse several times with my life in view of it. I have to say that for me I do both but not consistently. That is that I find myself weeping with those who are hurting but not always. Then there are the times that I can rejoice with someone and again I find that I am not consistent. I was evaluating my life to see if there was a common factor between the two responses and I believe there is. I have found that if I have not been in the Word and have my mind focused on Christ and seeing the world through His lenses then I tend to not be able to empathy or celebration. I see that both of these then can be rooted in Pride. Yes that word and topic yet once again appears on my blog because it is so foundationally opposed to the way of Jesus.

I want to praise God for the work that He has been doing in my life. One of the areas that I was struggling in last year was in the area of jealousy. Specifically in regards to relationships. It can be hard to be around people all the time when they are the ones who are married or getting married or in a relationship headed towards marriage. I have realized that the times that I would be focused on that and allowing it to consume me were the very times that I was not focusing on Jesus and the work that He was trying to bring about in my life. I honestly can say that I can today rejoice with Brian and Emma as I heard the great news of their engagement. Praise God for His work in their lives and the picture of redemption that is displayed in marriage.

On the flip side, weeping with those who weep. I have found that in the past I would be more prone to being what some would call heartless. Granted I believe that the context must be a guide and truly only God and myself know what my heart was thinking. But I find the same to be true about showing empathy towards someone. Even when I can not relate personally to the trial or pain; if I am living life see people the way Jesus sees them then I will be able to honestly comfort and care for them this includes weeping and hurting with them. I believe that this is the heart of God.

Father fill my heart with compassion for the lost and hurting, transform my mind by your word to understand the reality of this life, and give me eyes to see people the way you see them. May your love flow from my heart and my actions. May my words be edifying and uplifting and drenched in the gospel truths. For it is only in through and by Jesus that I am alive.

A humble slave to righteousness

A divided heart renders us usless for Him

2009-04-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

This was a poem that I found while reading the journal entries of Jim Elliot.
I believe it came from an old hymnal.
The meditation that has come from reflecting on these thoughts is convicting and inspiring.

Have I an object, Lord, below
Which would divide my heart with Thee?
Which would divert its even flow
In answer to Thy constancy?
O teach me quickly to return
And cause my heart afresh to burn.

Have I a hope, however dear,
Which would defer Thy coming, Lord
Which would detain my spirit here
Where naught can lasting joy afford?
From it, my Savior, set me free
To look and long and wait for Thee.

Be Thou the object bright and fair
To fill and satisfy the heart,
My hope to meet Thee in the air,
And nevermore from Thee to part;
That I may undistracted be
To follow, serve, and wait for Thee.

G.W. Frazer

Am I living for the end?

2009-04-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

Phil2:20
"For I have no one like him who is genuinely concerned for your welfare."

Philippians 3

Am I glorying in, am I boasting in, am I proud of things in this world that I should be ashamed of?

Are all the things I think about the things of this earth or are they the things of heaven?

How do I stay focused on eternity?

It is so easy to wake up every day and feel like I am at home here. Rather than being a stranger...that is the reality.

Will I look like an idiot and be a fool for Jesus?

Two questions to ask ourselves

1 What have I done this last week that matters in light of eternity?

2 What have I done this last week that will not matter in eternity?

" How sweet and awsome is the place"

2009-03-31T07:22:00.000-07:00

How sweet and awesome is the place with Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays the choicest of her stories.

While all our hearts and all our songs join to admire the feast,
Each of us cries, with thankful tongue, " Lord, why was I a guest?"

Why was I made to hear your voice, and enter while there's room,
When thousands make a wretched choice, and rather starve than come?

Twas the same love that spread the feast that sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste, and perished in our sin.

Pity the nations, O our God, constrain the earth to come;
Send your victorious Word abroad, and bring the strangers home.

We long to see your churches full, that all the chosen race may,
With one voice and heart and soul, sing your redeeming grace.

Hymn by Isaac Watts " How sweet and awesome is the place"

Nehemiah's Prayer

2009-03-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

We are studying the book of Nehemiah on Wednesday nights. Last week and this week have been in working through chapters 1 and 2. Well in looking at the life of nehemiah I have been humbled by the prayer which he prays. You will find it in Nehemiah 1:4-11.
It starts off by saying that immediately after he had heard the report about Jerusalem he wept and mourned and fasted and prayed to the God of Heaven.

I think about that... and I ask myself is there a time that I would respond with those emmotions and actions. What would it be?

Then just looking at the rest of the prayer there are so many things which could be talked about. To summarize God lays on his heart a vision for the rebuilding of the walls. Nehemiah responds with an obedient heart and physical actions by first crying out to God then seeking to obey the proper channels of authority. We also find that he was persistent with his prayer. Finally he prays again in Chapter 2 when the king asks him whats wrong. Then he answers the king, the king responds favorable and Nehemiah responds in v 2:8 with a recognition that it was all because God's hand was upon him.

Looking at the life of nehemiah I am challenged to look at my life and see am I responding to the present world the way GOd would?

Will I respond to the call for Godly leaders?

Nehemiah was more concerned about the people of God and the city of God then he was about his job or even his life. Of this I am convinced.

The desert road

2009-03-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

It is a liberating freedom and joy which I have found in Christ which compels me to tell of His great love which has been demonstrated and given to us. I have over the last few years been struggling with an understanding of the truth. Or maybe a better way to say it is to say that I have been struggling to see the application of the truth lived out in my life. This has been a long arduous task which God has patiently been bearing with me and pulling me through. When I think about it I can best explain it as a road running through a desert. Wandering in the desert, perpetually parched, off the road and lost in the dunes and the oasis. This oasis which I sought would continually turn up as a mirage. The incredible joy is that I have found the road or maybe it would be more accurately to say that it has been revealed to me. So what is the road and this desert which I have spoken of?

Well to explain that it may be better to first talk about from where is the road from and to where is it headed. This road is the one we enter onto when we are justified in Christ. That is it is the path of life, the one which leads from the lost deadness which we had out of Christ and separated from God. The road leaves from a city which we all find ourselves in at birth. (Rom 1:21-25,Rom 5:12-21, Eph 2:1-3, Rom 8:7-8) This is a place of false realities and superficial happiness, yet it seems so real and so good. This is reality as we know it. It is the place we are born into at birth and the place in which we stay until Christ delivers us out.

So we are placed on a road but to where does this road lead? This is the road of life in Christ, the one we live until by death or by His return we enter into His presence. This is the Christian life lived out know in theological terms as sanctification or the process of being conformed into the image of Christ. The race and walk which Paul so often talks about. ( ICor 9:24, Heb 12:1-2, Gal 5:7,16,25) We find ourselves placed on this road and we begin to run for this is exciting. Soon just like in any race we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. Those could be tiredness, dehydration, or hunger. The situation is still the same, what we find is that we have started to walk. This ultimately either leads to stopping in the race or turning towards whatever we see which we hope can offer a relief from our present distress. The reality is that we cannot stop in this race this is a race in which we must continue to move forward in. There are of course oases in our desert.

These seem to be offer an enticing means of satisfying and meeting our current distress. These oasis stops are not given by God. Instead He has provided means of nourishment and encouragement to come while running; not while stopping. God provides us with His Word, with His Spirit and with the Body of Christ which serve as the means of our nourishment and strength which is supplied in Christ. ( Jn 6:35,7:37,8:31,16:12,Eph 4:1-16) The Body of Christ or the church are our fellow racers who are journeying down the same desert road. God has designed the church to be a source of encouragement, support, and tool to spur us on. ( Heb 10:24-25)

These are situations which we find ourselves in continually, and without having our direction being that of the road we find ourselves heading from one mirage to the next. For it is only the hallucinations which seem to offer the relief but really no relief is found and only a sense of utter lostness and despair sets in.

This of course is something that God being all knowing, made a way for us to get back on the road. It is the Gospel message. The Gospel is what put us on the road to begin with and it is what drives us back to the direction of the desert road. I say the Gospel because it is Christ who is the direction of the road and the means by which we travel the road. (Heb. 12:2 Rom 5:11, Heb 10:19-23)

This wandering in the desert pursuing oases and finding only a mirage; results only in the sense of despair. But praise God for his patient pursuit of me. For it is no longer a sense of despair in which I find myself. (Rom 8:1, Rom 5:1-2)Instead it is back on the road with my eyes fixed on Christ in which I find myself. Drawing from His strength and the means in which He provided for my strength and nourishment along the way. Knowing that the destination at the end of the road will be reached and that nothing I can do can keep me from reaching it. Even my wanderings and resting in the oases of life only serve to detour me and to waylay me from the road but do not ultimately keep me from my destination.

All of the desert wanderings have come from focusing on the things of this world. And pursuing them rather than pursuing Christ. These would be areas of sin in my life which produced guilt and shame and a sense of continual defeat in my life. There of course is the father of lies who would seek to remind continually of the accusations. Praise God that the accusations are false and have been conquered in Christ already. It is also the pride of my own life which would serve to drive me in the wrong directions and keep me from admitting that I was desperately lost. This of course was my reality before I was put on the road to begin with and it is the reminder of that which drives me back to Christ.

My aim and my pursuit in life is Christ. Through repentance and remembering the gospel truths I find freedom and joy in Christ. No matter the cost, no matter the suffering, there is joy in Him always.

Songs of encouragement and truth.

· You make everything glorious ( David Crowder)

· It is all because of Jesus I am alive ( Casting Crowns)

· The Stand ( Hillsong United)

Walk worthy of your calling

2009-03-02T06:31:00.000-08:00

Eph. 3 & 4

v14 -19 " I bow my knees before the Father...that He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit.. that you may have strength to comprehend.. and to know the love of Christ.. that you may be filled with the fullness of God.

Therefore

v1 -3 "Walk in a manner worhy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility and gentleness with patience bearing with one another in love eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Thy Mercy my God

2009-03-01T05:05:00.000-08:00

I was recently introduced to this song. The words are so rich and are definitely the cry of my heart.

Thy mercy my God is the theme of my song,
The joy of my heart, and the boast of my tongue.
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Hath won my affection and bound my soul fast.

Without Thy sweet mercy, I could not live here.
Sin would reduce me to utter despair,
But through Thy free goodness, my spirit's revived
And He that first made me still keeps me alive.

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart.
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground
And weep for the praise of the mercy I've found.

Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own
In the covenant love of Thy crucified Son.
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine.
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine.

God at work

2009-02-16T04:32:00.000-08:00

So I started praying for the ships in the 7th fleet. Specifically I was praying for them idividually and specifiacally for certain sailors on board. Well I didnt pray as regular or as often as I should of but it is amazing to here how God has been and is answering prayer out here.

Last night while I was at chapel one of the men who had just returned to port gave a testimony during prayer time. His testimony was a praise that God was doing some amazing things on his ship. There were record attendance at the weekly bible studies and chapel services. And this is a ship which does not have a chaplin. The amazing thing has been that I knew of at least five believers personally who were on board this ship so I had been praying for them and for their ship that God would move in the lives of the believers that they would be strong in their walk and commitment to God, and that their testimony on board would be strong. I also had been praying that there would be a revival on board that ship.

I was so excited to hear just a brief bit of what God had been doing while they had been gone for the past month. Thank you for you back home for your prayers for me and for the men and women of the 7th fleet. God is at work out here right now I can see it and feel it. HE answers prayer and delights in his children who boldly approach his thrown and yield their lives to him and offer up to him the prayers for the believers and the lost who are in our circles of influence. So join me in praying for the USS Lassen and the men and women on board that God would continue to burn a spirit of conviction in those people and that the believers would turn to God and live intentionally for His Kingdom on board their ship.

A few pictures from the past month

2009-02-12T00:47:00.000-08:00

We recently had a fire inspection at the lighthouse.

We passed with flying colors, and I was doing PR work in the picutre.

The winter retreat that I was the guest speaker at.

Northstar 2009 Winter Retreat Nagano, Japan

Some the regulars who bowl with us on Sunday nights after Chapel.

We started doing a new style of bowling that gives you a work out at the same time.

Push up challenge as we like to call it. When one bowls a strike everone does 10 push ups, when you bowl a spare everyone does 5 and for every pin you leave up you do 3 per pin.

Lets just say on average [ since I am not a great bowler and I am bowling against some pretty good bowlers (200 +) ] I end up doing around 150 push ups in a given game. Some would think that I should not of invented the game but it has brought some fun games and times with guys and gals alike.

Skyline of Yokohoma

A trip to the dentist

2009-02-12T00:28:00.000-08:00

Well I thought that I would take a minute and share with you my experience today at the dentist. I will start by saying that I never realized how many things I take for granted in every day affairs. So I ended up going to the college of dentistry which is right outside the back gate of the navy base. So I walk down to the building and walk in the front entrance. There I am greeted by a receptionist who hands me a card that I need to fill out. Then I am told well showed that I need to take the info to the window number 4. There my information is processed into a file and I am handed a baby blue briefcase and am told in brocken engrish to go to the third floor. So I do and upon arriving on the third floor I hand my BBBriefcase over to the ladies behind the counter and I am motioned to have a seat in the waiting area. So I sit and wait with open ears wondering what it is going to sound like when they call my name. Not much time passes and I am greeted by a gentleman calling my name and am asked to follow him. I follow him into a room that is probably a hundred plus feet long by 60 feet wide in this room are four rows of dentist chairs probably 32 or more. Well I am taken to a private chair in the corner where I guess I am going to get my consulte. So the gentleman spoke alittle engrish and procedeed to look at my mouth. After a brief look he writes some things on his chart and says that i need to go and get an x ray. So I am sent up to the fourth floor again with my BBbriefcase. I am agian asked to sit and wait and I again go through the routine of reading my book but listen with an alertness to hear when my name is called. So they take the xray my tech spoke no english and then I am sent back out to the waiting area again to wait for my xray to be processed. Once my xray was done I was sent back down to the third floor with my BBB to again turn in my BBB and wait in the waiting area. I am then again greeted with the gentleman who did my first consult and he and another lady then look at my xray and tooth. I am then told that I have an emergancy procedure that is needed but I have not idea what they said. For lack of being able to understand their engrish. I did have a look at the xray and could tell , from my past experience in the dentist) that the tooth did have a small area of decay next to the part that had been worked on last June. So I am again asked to leave the area and go wait out in the waiting area while they determine who is going to be my dentist. I wait a few min, probably only a page of my book, and then I am asked to follow this lady. So to another chair this time it is on the oppisite side of the room and is in the line of chairs. I sit and notice that I have a chair at 12 another at 1:30 and another at 3 oclock. All have people in them, this is a busy place. Did I mention this is a school of dentistry. Anyway I am no being worked on with two ladies who do not seem to speak any english. So I lay back and trust that God is in control of this situation and I am not going to lose all of my teeth. Well the gal ends up drilling a whole and then applying medicine I believe in the whole and then filled the hole temporally. This procedure lasts probably fifteen minutes and then I am again given my BBB and told to go to the second floor to schedule my appointment with my doctor. So now I have an appointment next Tuesday at 9am with Doctor Hokido( something like that). So then I am sent back done to the main floor to pay for my procedure. All in all I came out with a bill of 10,038 yen or around a hundred dollars. With all that said I believe the swelling has subsided some but not completely. I think that I have a root problem on the same tooth that was worked on in June. They asked me if I could feel any pain from the cold when they applied it and I said no. Then they asked if I could feel any pain from the tooth before they drilled. At least I think they drilled and then filled the hole. I said no so they procedeed. This was done with out any numbing of course I didnt need it because I felt no pain during the procedure. I dont know if this means the tooth root is dead or if it is still alive. I dont know it I need a root canal or if they are going to extract the tooth I dont know yet and wont know until next Tuesday. Well that is all I hope you enjoyed my tooth story and I do thank you for your prayers

An update as requested

2009-02-12T00:26:00.000-08:00

I actually started to write an update letter the other day so here is a portion of that.

Greetings from Japan
Well where has the time gone , it is incredible to think that an entire month has already past since my return to Japan. I trust that you all are finding this new year as full of God’s grace as I am. I have recently been marveling more and more in His incredible grace which He bestows upon those who believe in Him. This is serving as the basis by which I am motivated to serve others. I have recently been reminded of 1 Peter 4:7-11, and in there I find the challenge to “above all keep loving one another earnestly”. Love, the very thing that sent Christ to the cross; the very thing we must respond with in our daily lives. God has been challenging me in my life in how I need to be more loving and compassionate with people. I have found this very difficult in my flesh but the more I remind myself of God’s grace in my life the more I am able to show love to others. That I am be found and know just as Paul referred to Timothy in Philippians 2:20 as one “ who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare”.
A lot has happened since I have been back in Japan. First let me share with you how the winter youth retreat went. I was given the opportunity to be the retreat speaker for a middle school retreat. (6th -8th grade) This was an amazing experience, the retreat lasted for three and a half days and was held at a camp up in the mountains of Nagano. As you may recall this was the area of the Winter Olympics several years back. So the retreat was filled with snowboarding lessons for the kids, night games , and an evening session time. The topic that I covered during the retreat was running the race. This race that Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 9 and we find mentioned also in Hebrews 12. I spoke four times during the retreat and really enjoyed being challenged to do that. Who knows what God has done already in the lives of those 25 students or what He will do with the seeds that were planted in their lives.

Great sale at SGM

2009-02-05T04:52:00.000-08:00

I thought that I would pass on this info to those of you who read this. Soveriegn Grace Ministries is having a great sale during the month of February. 50% off their books and CDs and free shipping in the US.

I will recommend a few of the books from that sight.

I have read

Humility by C J Mahaney

Sex is not the problem lust is by Joshua Harris

Cross centered life by C J Mahaney

Christ our Mediator by C J Mahaney

I have not read these yet but I am recommending them based on my knowledge of them and the referral of others.

Preaching the cross

Feminine Appeal - highly rcommended by Harris and others

Girl Talk

Boy meets girl: say hellp to courtship by Harris

I thank God for faithful ministries such as SGM and their commitment to the truth. May God continue to use them and their resources in the building up of the body of Christ.

God's Incredible Grace in confounding the world

2009-02-03T16:05:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 1:27-31

"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despise in the world, even the things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, ' Let the one who boast, boast in the Lord.' "

I think about this concept and I am humbled by the fact that even when I am in the midst of being brought low and humble by God, and have struggles and sin that I am working on in my own life. God sees fit to bless people through me and to carry out an impacting ministry. That is totally by God's grace that it takes place.

Which is really the reality of it always but I was just blown away by that thought yesterday. Knowing that I would rather be where I am mentally and spiritually now than where I have been in the past. The end of that passage ends with " let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord" what does that look like in my life. Do I boast in the Lord to the people around me? Paul saw fit that it was only enough to know Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This is just encouraging to me that the ways of the Lord are many times totally opposite to the way of the world, why, so that no one can boast in themselves but in God alone. To finish the thought in my head, God equips those who he calls. So here I am knowing that I am a child of God one who has been bought with a price and one desiring to glorify God in his body and with his life.

I know that God has called me as a child of His to live my life out for Him. I must trust that He will equip me and provide for me as I follow Him. For and I quote " I was with you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

What is Recession For?

2009-02-02T19:16:00.000-08:00

http://http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2009/3566_What_Is_the_Recession_For/

Here is a challenging sermon by John Piper.

He gives five points that he believes are biblical reasons for recession.

1 Expose hidden sin

2 Wake us up - it shows where we are not trusting, where we are wasting....

3 Relocate the roots of our joy

4 Serves to advance His saving mission, His Kingdom....
( when the church cannot take credit financially)
5 He intends for His church to care for the needs of the people in the church

I was challenged by this sermon to thin in my own life how I can become more refined and focused in my life specifically in the areas of my time, and my money. If I am struggling with not trusting God and this is being seen in my fear of the future and my financial condition then I need to humble myself. For it is rooted in pride when we do not trust God with our future; for the converse of not trusting God is trusting in myself and that is pride. A spirit of an unhealthy worry, anxiety, fear of the unknown both financially and physically is rooted in a spirt of self reliance or self dependence. ( also known as pride)

I am reminded of three quotes, these I have on my wall here in Japan. These come from two missionaries who gave their lives for the spread of the gospel and a current pastor.

1 " To many of us are far more concerned about our standard of living than we are about others living." Francis Chan ( Context being both spiritual and physical living)

2 " Only one life twill soon be past only whats done for Christ will last" CT Studd

3 " He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot

Love compelled labor

2009-01-12T23:35:00.000-08:00

Paul's desciption of service to God

Colossians 1:29
" To this end I labor struggling with all his energy which so powerfully works in me. "

" The word labor means to work to the point of exhaustion, while from the greek word translated struggling comes our word agonize. So for Paul to serve God was ' to agonize to the point of exhaustion.' That doesn't mean it was miserable toil in fact the reason Paul worked so hard was because the only thing he loved more than serving God was God himself. God supplies us with power to serve Him. We struggle in service ' with all His energy, which so powerfully works ' in us. " p. 126

'Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian life' by Donald Whitney

New addition to my blog

2009-01-10T18:32:00.000-08:00

Here is a video blog entry. This is something new that I am trying out and I thought that I would let you experience this first. I am looking at the future possibilities of using this as medium in encouraging and challenging sailors while they are out at sea or away from the lighthouse.

Quote from Jerry Bridges

2009-01-06T20:36:00.000-08:00

I came across this yesterday as I was reading on the plane.

" I believe that human morality, rather than flagrant sin, is the greatest obstacle to the gospel today."

This came from The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges

Gods incredible grace

2009-01-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

I am reminded today of God's incredible grace in our lives everyday. To see Him work in and through people is an amazing thing. To see how God has been at work using people to impact my life. Praise God for His incredible grace in my life.

I am still alive

2009-01-04T19:24:00.000-08:00

In case anyone wondered if I made it to 2009 I am alive. I leave for Japan tomorrow morning and will be living there for five months. So my next thoughts will be coming from japan. I look forward to see how God will continue to work in my life on a personal level. Specifically in the area of personal holiness. I also look forward to see how God will use me in the ministry in Japan.

A cocoon which I will share

2008-12-30T20:11:00.000-08:00

"To believe is to act and to act is to believe"

I continue to wrestle with the implications of this quote.

A prayer of my heart

2008-12-26T12:58:00.000-08:00

"Let me not be blind with privilege
Give me eyes to see the pain
Let the blessing You’ve poured out on me
Not be spent on me in vain
Let this life be used for change. "

"I Will Go" by Starfield

My rights and suffering

2008-12-17T21:33:00.000-08:00

I read this on my pastor's blog. The ironic thing is that I was having a conversation about this very topic tonight. God is amazing and the more I see Him revealed in His word and in Life the more I fall in love with Him.

John Newton On How Faith Faces Trials
Concerning a believer, Newton writes, "...his faith upholds him under all trials, by assuring him, that every painful dispensation is under the direction of his Lord; that chastisements are a token of his love; that the season, measure, and continuance of his sufferings, are appointed by Infinite Wisdom, and designed to work for his everlasting good; and that grace and strength shall be afforded him, according to his need."

Thus, his heart being fixed, trusting in the Lord, to whom he has committed all his concerns; and knowing that his best interests are safe; he is not greatly afraid of evil tidings, but enjoys a stable peace in the midst of a changing world. For, though he cannot tell what a day may bring forth, he believes that he who has invited and enabled him to cast all his cares upon him, will allow nothing to befall him but what shall be made subservient to his chief desire—the glory of God in the sanctification and final salvation of his soul."

And if, through the weakness of his flesh, he is liable to be startled by the first impression of a sharp and sudden trial, he quickly flees to his strong refuge, remembers it is the Lord's doing, resigns himself to his will, and patiently expects a happy outcome."

The Truth

2008-12-17T06:43:00.000-08:00

I saw this last year at a youth convention and recently it came to mind.

Erik's December Japan Update

2008-12-16T21:39:00.000-08:00

I just want to thank you those of you for your support both financially and prayerfully and for your encouragement during my last 4 month stay in Japan. This time was profitable both for me personally as well as for the ministry there in Japan. I would like to briefly share with you how I was directly impacted, and how I saw people within the ministry impacted. I will start with sharing about the ministry and then will close with sharing about the challenges and growth that I have experienced in my own life.
Let me briefly describe my roles in the ministry. I am considered an intern at the Lighthouse; specifically regarding the men’s ministry. In some ways I arrived and found that what I needed to do in a lot of ways I had all ready been doing in Lansing. My time with Kainos and other ministries at South had largely prepared me already for the ministry in Japan.
During my time there I was involved in leading and teaching a men’s Bible study which took place on Wednesday nights. In this study we went through the book of Hebrews, and found that time to be extremely challenging and enriching. At the house we provide a meal both on Wednesday and Friday nights. We average 20 – 50 people on that night which means there is a lot to be cooked and prepped for on a regular basis. Working in and around the house with meals and other regular tasks was also part of my duties. At the Lighthouse we also manage a Christian bookstore which carries around three hundred titles. I know this because I am responsible for managing the sales and ordering for the bookstore. You would not believe some of the joy and excitement that I get to see in a sailor when they learn about our bookstore, since we are the only Christian bookstore in Yokosuka, Japan. When I arrived at the Lighthouse I brought with me the Truth Project. I started up two small groups which meet on a weekly basis and went through the lessons. It is exciting to know that there are at least two people who have taken the Truth Project dvd’s to their ships with the intentions of starting groups up on board. The other broader area of ministry which I am involved in is life on life living. What I mean by that is I seek to share life with these men and women continually looking for opportunities to have conversations. My focus is always to asses where they are at spiritually and to point them to Christ both in discipleship and in evangelism scenarios. It was a great joy to watch a young female officer come to know Christ this last summer. I have also had the joy of watching several sailors take great steps in growing in their relationship with Christ.
Personally over the last several months I have really been challenged and stretched in both ministry and in my personal walk with God. In my own personal study and reading the area of pride seems to keep coming up. My eyes have been opened to see just how self confident and self reliant I have been. Also in the area of personal holiness God has been challenging me with having to really look at does the way I live my life really demonstrate what it means to be sold out for Him. Having to learn more how to love the unlovable and how to exercise more patience are also some more areas where God has been stretching me. Of course you will notice that if you look at all of those areas they all are connected to the root of pride.
Keeping in touch with my ministry partners was also a very difficult thing, understanding the importance of this I am taking steps to become more disciplined in this area. Overall I am really excited to see how God has been challenging and growing me.
My future holds another five months in Japan with schooling after that. In November I was accepted to Moody Bible Institute in their undergraduate program with a major in Pastoral ministries. Although uncertain at this point if that is the best direction I am still considering it. One of my other possible choices is to finish a general associates degree from a community college and then go to seminary. My hopes and prayer is that within five years I will be able to complete one of these options and will be in a ministry position full time. I am uncertain still at this point what that direction or position will be, but I have decided that it will be in missions overseas or in mission’s mobilization within the local church. Most likely it will mean doing missions overseas for ten, fifteen, or twenty years and then returning to be a mobilizer within the local church.
It was truly amazing to watch how God provided financially for me during my time in Japan. Both through God’s provision and through staying under budget on my ministry costs; I still have money remaining in my account from last time, but I have a difference which I need to make up in order to return and remain in Japan until June. I thank those of you who partnered with me during this last time and I ask that you would consider continuing to partner with me.
I don’t know that I realized how encouraging it is to have people partner with you. I mean sharing how they have been praying for you, and supporting financially. I am convinced even more of the value and importance of partnering with and sharing in the lives of the missionaries of our local church. That is real, and raw, authentic body of Christ being lived out. So I just wanted to thank those of you who have played that part in my life.

All for His honor and His glory,

Erik Hultquist

Christless Christianity

2008-12-16T21:01:00.000-08:00

I have now started a new book called Christless Christianity written by Michael Horton.

As a segway into this book I will tie in one final quote from Crazy Love.

" I believe that much of the American churchgoing population, while not specifically swimming downstream , is slowly floating away from Christ. It isn't a conscious choice, but it is nonetheless happening because little in their lives propels them toward Christ." p. 95

Here is the first paragraph

Liberating a captive church

" Here we are in the North American Church - conservative or liberal, evangelical or mainline, protastant or catholic, emergant or otherwise - cranking along just fine , thank you. So we're busy downsizing, becoming culturally relevant, reaching out, drawing in, making disciples, managing the machinery, utilizing biblical principles, celebrating recovery, user-friendly, techno savvy, finding the purposeful life, practicing peace with justice, utilizing spiritual disciplines, growing in self-esteem, reinventing ourselves as effective ecclesiastcal entreprenuers, and in general, feeling ever so much better about our achievments.
Notice anything missing in this pretty picture?......................."

How about Jesus Christ.

Joy

2008-12-16T20:52:00.001-08:00

" There are reasons that we are where we are and who we are, and they are not random. It is the same way with joy in our lives. We tend to think of joy as something that ebbs and flows depending on life's circumstances. But we don't just lose joy, as though one day we have it and the next it's gone, oh darn. Joy is something that we have to choose and then work for."
Crazy Love by Francis Chan p. 146

This is challenging to me because it goes directly against the flow of our american christian church. We usually respond with joy only when our circumstances are calling for it. But what about where the root of all real joy comes from? The fact that everyday when we remind ourselves of the incredible truth of the gospel that we then must respond with joy when remembering who Christ is and what he has done for us. We then in light of the truth of the gospel must choose to fight for joy in all things no matter the circumstances.

More from "Crazy Love"

2008-12-16T20:42:00.000-08:00

I finished the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Here are a few thought provoking thoughts which challenged me....

True Faith
Is demonstrated by " loving a person after he has hurt you. True love makes you stand out"

" But we need to realize that how we spend our time, what our money goes toward, and where we will invest our energy is equivalent to choosing God or rejecting Him."

" When you are running toward Christ you are freed up to serve, love, and give thanks without guilt, worry, or fear. as long as you are running you are safe."

" A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be " humble enough", and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known( Matt. 5:16) "

Pride and Arrogance

2008-12-04T05:52:00.000-08:00

I have found that this is a continuous battle that rages in my life. The fight against my self, my flesh, the desire to either think more highly of myself, or to put myself before others.

Here is another quote from Francis Chan in his book "Crazy Love"

" Worry - Implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what;s happening in our lives.
Stress - says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.
Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance."

This next quote comes from Timothy Keller and from his book "The Reason for God"

" Sin is the despairing refusal to find your deepest identity in your relationship and service to God. Sin is seeking to become oneself ( SA -self accualzation) to get an identity apart from him( God)." Paranthesis and their thougths were added for explination.

The crux of it all...

2008-12-03T05:38:00.000-08:00

I got here from reading the new book by Francis Chan called Crazy Love. I am only in the first part of the book but so far it looks like it will be a convicting and challenging read. I am sure there will be more to come from this book. I will just leave this thought for now.

" The core problem isn't the fact that we're lukewarm, halfhearted, or stagnant Christians. The crux of it all is why we are this way, and it is because we have an inaccurate view of God. We see Him as a benevolent Being who is satisfied when people manage to fit Him into their lives in some small way. We forget that God never had an identity crisis. He knows that He's great and deserves to be the center of our lives. Jesus came humbly as a servant, but He never begs us to give Him some small part of ourselves. He commands everything from His followers."

http://www.juststopandthink.com/movieextras_movielg.php I found this to be an interesting video.

Some thoughts before Mexico

2008-11-19T04:43:00.000-08:00

So this week has been all about finalizing the trip to Mexico. I have 30 people joining me from Michigan and 1 coming from Colorado. I am really excited again for the incredible opportunity to take a group down there. Many people probablly think that we are stupid for going to Tiajuana. For many reasons I am sure here are a few that I can come up with: It is over Thanksgiving; you pay to do this; that sounds to ruff; it is not safe..... I am sure there are others which I have heard.

My prayer is that the eyes and hearts of the people going would be opened to the truth of God's word and the reality of the world around us. How should I be living right now , today, in light of what God has said I should be doing?

The focus that I have chosen for the week comes from Hebrews 13:7

" Remember your leaders those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. "

This verse is encapsulated in the statement before about the confidence that we can have because God has said "that He will never leave you nor forsake you" and after that " Jesus Chrust is the same yesterday and today and forever. There is also a quote which comes from the psalms. Specifically Ps 118:6 and Ps 56:10-11, We find the challenge here that " The Lord is my helper I will not fear what can man do to me?"

So focusing on Remember, Consider, and Imitate. These three words are verbs and they are active not passive. We find a warning in verse nine which says " Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings" How do we safe guard ourselves against this? By remembering the truth, the teaching of the leaders who are imparting to us the Word of God. Consider it then, weigh it out , count the cost, and then imitate those who are modelling the truth lived out.

Two posts in one day unheard of

2008-11-04T07:32:00.000-08:00

I know that this is long these are my exiting thoughts as I left Japan. This is more for me than for anyone to read all the way through, although you will have an understanding as to where I am hopefully from this excerpt.

Departing Japan

So here I sit waiting for my plane to board ; it has been an extremely fast four months. I hit the ground running and I feel like even today as I leave I was running to make the train. This of course brings backs memories of my first night in Japan.
I landed in Narita around 5pm having to run through baggage claim and customs. Obviously you can not run through customs , but I think you understand. So I make it to the counter to buy my bus ticket about five minutes before it is scheduled to depart. Of course this is where I find out first about the punctuality of the Japanees transportation service. That bus pulled in about four minutes before it was to depart and we started rolling right on time. This of course is my kind of punctuality.
So there is mixed feelings as I leave. The feeling of I can’t wait till I get home and get to see family and friends. Then of course there is the other side, where I wish that I wasn’t leaving, for the sake of the relationships that I now have here in Japan. There becomes this reality that you know exists I am speaking of the men and women on the base in Yokosuka, Japan. Not that God doesn’t and can’t use other people but there is a sense of responsibility which I feel. A sense that if God has called me there and has placed me there then I need to be doing the best that I can.
I am wrestling with the future decision of schooling. I am seeing two main options. First I go to a Bible school. Now this brings several questions where, and when. I have now committed to stay in Japan until the summer. So the first that I could attend at a school would be next fall the fall of 2009. If I am to attend a Bible school I probably have a minimum of three years to complete a degree. I am however going to start taking some online classes this semester when I go back in January. This is my second option which I see available to me. I could continue to stay on the field somewhere and while there I could be taking classes online. This would allow me to continue working overseas with the military but it also brings with it certain negatives. The first one being that I have never taken any classes online, but I expect that it will be very challenging. I cannot speak yet from personal experience but looking at the structure and format of online classes and the past experiences of others I think that it will be a real challenge for me to be disciplined to learn. Especially when I enjoy listen to a professor lecture the most. I find listening the easiest way to learn. Another negative is that I am not in a group of class setting where I can talk and wrestle with the material. On the other hand I would be in active ministry and would be able to use the classes in my interaction with people in the ministry.
There is another aspect of my future which I would be lying to say that I never think about it. That would be the thoughts on marriage. As I look at my future ministry opportunities and directions I really see at this point that if I am going to head towards Cadence Hospitality House Ministry then marriage is a must. Now I think that there is a balance which is required in the pursuit of this. So the battle ensues, God is in control, if marriage is what He has for me than if I have prepared myself for marriage then He can bring someone into my life no matter where I am. At the same time when you consider what better area to meet a Godly women who has similar passions for following God in full time ministry than at a Bible college.
Back to thoughts than on school I guess that there is a third and possible fourth options. These are ones that I have not looked into yet. See as I look at my heart and passion which God has cultivated in my life I see myself moving into roles where I am involved in shepherding people. This I see as being the role of a pastor to a flock as scripture calls it. So as I look at school I am looking at focusing on a program in pastoral ministries. This can be accomplished at a bible school, but also could be accomplished at a seminary. There is a problem for me in the pursuit of seminary. My understanding is that a seminary requires an undergraduate degree in order to enroll. Maybe there are seminaries which don’t require one but if that is true I have not been made aware of that yet. So the fourth option would be that instead of me taking Bible classes online, I could instead focus on finishing an undergraduate degree; then I could go to a seminary following that. This would be carrying my schooling out probably another five to six years.

Well I am touching down now so more to come later, to be continued…….

Back in Michigan

2008-11-04T07:30:00.000-08:00

I made it home with no difficulties, I arrived to a sunny mid sixties day, and my Tuesday is the same. It was so nice to be able to drive along and look at the colors in the trees. You definetly come to appreciate things more when you are absent from them.

I appreciate logging on to my internet without having to look at any Japanees text.

Shalom

Tonights mussings (sp?)

2008-10-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

I am to lazy to look up how to spell it correctly and I am paranoid about misspelling something. I know this comment will come back to haunt me someday.

So generational sins, ever thought about them? Is it true? Do the sins of the father really pass down to the third and fourth generations?

Tonight we were pondering passages from Ezekiel 18:1-4 and Exodus 34

My stance is that everyone is responsible for their own sins. That does not mean that you won't reap what you sow and it might be that the way you nurture and raise your kids the ramifications of your sins might continue in their lives as well, but our parents did not have to teach us how to sin, we do a great job of that on our own.

There does how ever seem to be a trend. Things run in the family. What you see your father or mother involved in alot of times you find the kids invovled in as well, sometimes even several generations.

The responsibility always falls on each individual, are they going to stop the sin patern. Are they going to be a curve in the generational patterns?

We then looked at Daniel 9: 3-5

Own the sin Dan 9:5
Confess the sin I John 1:9
Repent the sin Rev 2:5
Renew your mind Rom 12:2

That last step is critical and I think that is where I fall short. For if I do not replace what is in mind, if I do not change my thinking paterns, my worldview, then I will return to my old ways for I have nothing to keep me from going back. Just like the demons which are driven out and nothing is put in its place they come right back. So it is if we neglect to renew our minds. This can be a very difficult cocoon time which we must face. The amazing thing is that this is what Christ does in our lives. The testimony of a changed life by the power of Christ changing us from the inside out.

Being a Disciple of Christ

2008-10-21T21:34:00.001-07:00

" In the modern world it seems so difficult to walk with absolute certainty in the narrow way of ecclesiastical decision and yet remain in the broad open spaces of the universal love of Christ, of the patience, mercy, and the ungodly. Yet somehow or other we must combine the two, or else we shall follow the paths of men. May God grant us jow as we strive earnstly to follow the way of discipleship. May we be enabled to say NO to sin and YES to the sinner. May we withstand our foes, and yet hold our to them the Word of the gospel which woos and wins the souls of men."

This is take from The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Draw near to God

2008-10-20T23:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/sermons
Listen to the sermon from 10-12-2008
Sermon by Todd Nighswonger
This is a sermon from Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley California. This church is pastored by Francis Chan. This sermon is from one of the pastors on the staff at Cornerstone.

October

2008-10-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

So the pictures above are from the mens retreat that I went on this last weekend. It was a great time we had thirty guys go. We had a great time of getting in the word and talking. It was great because there were men who actually talked and converse about real life issues. Rather than the normal sports or work conversations. It was a great setting on one of the lakes at the base of Mt Fuji. There weather was incredible , so since we were right across the street from the lake I had to make sure I went for a swim. Those of you who know , understand that i like to go in every body of water that i get near.

The Passion Conference in Yokyo was amazing. It was great to be able to see 2000 people come out with probably 2/3 of those people being asian ( Japanees, Korean, Chineese, and more).

It was great to be able to help serve and help make it happen. If you look at the bottom picture my door was the one on the right and we were doing bag checks. There was no food or liquids allowed in and you should see how many bottles we had to dispose of.

Well that talks about a few of the big events which have happened in the last week. I am getting excited now to be going home in two weeks. I need to finish strong here but also need to start to plan my time back home.

Do I really believe

2008-09-30T17:27:00.000-07:00

To believe is to act and to act is to show what you are believing in.

"To many of us are far more concerned about our standard of living than we are about others living." Francis Chan

The apostel Paul said look at my life and live as I have lived. Did the way Paul lived his life make sense if he did not believe in eternity with God?

Is the way I am living my life make since outside of a belief that this world is a temporary residence one where I should be active in meeting the needs of people both physically , but only because I care so much for them because i want to share ulitmately, the gospel with them so that I can meet their spiritual need. Dont get me wrong the physicall side is important but when you wiegh it in light of eternity with God or hell, it pales in comparison.

Sept 29th 2008

2008-09-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

A day that is another step in my life in the pursuit of honoring and pursuing obediently, God. I have decided to stay in Japan for the next semester. My time in Japan will begin again in January and will probably run through into the summer months.

I am returning home in November 3rd, I will be home to lead the trip to Mexico and to put in order my arrangments for returning to Japan in January. I will then be setting up classes online to do during the next semester. It is my hopes to have that be the beginning of my continued pursuit of furthering my education and my ultimate pursuit of preparation for a life of ministry. I will be seeking enrollment into a school starting in the Fall of 09.

This is all of course dependent upon DV ( deo velencia ) - Lord Willing- This has been a struggle and a joy to be making this decision for the next stage of my journey.

For those of you who read this I just want to thank you for your prayers, support, and the encouragement that comes from knowing that you have been in support of me and the ministry here in Japan.

Please pray for the team which will be going to Mexico. I want lift up the preparations for the trip as well as the hearts of the people who will be going.

God is truly Immanuel

2008-09-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

" So if we embrace the Christian teaching that Jesus is God and that he went to the Cross, then we have deep consolation and strength to face the brutal realities of life on earth. We can know that God is truly Immanuel - God with us- even in our worst sufferings."
The Reason for God Timothy Keller