Where God Guides, God Provides

Usually waiting for something is worth it. But have you ever waited and waited, to find out that you really didnt need the thing you were waiting for? The thing you wanted most, somehow became average. Sometimes it's like ordering your favorite meal. Then one day, it just doesn't seem so appealing anymore. Maybe you over exaggerated how great it was. Perhaps it really was that great, but then your taste or perspective changed. I know this happens to me with video games. For 6 months i'll salivate over a new video game coming out. I'll read all the reviews, watch trailers and get extremely excited about it. Then when it comes out, i play it for 2 hours and say "meh, it's alright."

My point is that sometimes we chase after things. We sometimes chase after things that aren't really the best for us. We chase and chase, when in actuality it may not be right for us to have. Even though a boat has long sailed away, i kept my eyes on it. I kept dreaming of riding the ocean seas on this boat. I figured if i was stubborn enough, had enough patience, and just tried really hard to catch up to the boat, then maybe i'd get a chance to get on board. God wisely placed strong waves to keep hitting me back. This boat is obviously not something for my best, nor for God's utmost glory. Therefore, i realized i need to submit to God's waves.

Sometimes ill be paddling so hard to get out further out in the ocean, then suddenly a huge wave just swipes me away in the opposite direction. In fact, sometimes waves are so powerful that they take you whether or not you wanted to catch it or not. In this illustration, if the waves represent God's sovereign will; we are to catch these waves and surf in God's Spirit. Never fight or go against God's leading Spirit. Humble yourself and conform your will to His.

Sometimes God doesn't even give you a clear destination, because he wants you to embrace and enjoy the present riding experience. Maybe the point is to find satisfaction in the process. Perhaps this is where the transformation takes place. Trust in His sovereignty, provision, and find communion with Him. Sometimes you'll fall off that wave. And it'll be tempting to start going in your own direction again. However, if God brings another big wave, start paddling to catch it. Where is God guiding today?

Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you

Death

I just watched a movie called 50/50. It’s about a guy named Adam, who is dealing with cancer. This movie did a great job displaying the relational and emotional dynamics of someone who is possibly facing terminal cancer. Besides his own response to the cancer, it was interesting to see how those around him tried to cope with his situation. His girlfriend was more concerned about how hard it was for her and only pretended to care. She was the most unresponsive character because she didn’t want to deal with any of it and wasn't really there for him in his need. His mother seemed overly concerned and dramatic, which kind of pushed Adam away from even talking to her. His best friend tried to down play the circumstance by having fun and not taking it too seriously. The therapist in the movie seemed to approach Adam’s cancer the best by trying to draw out his thoughts and feelings. She was patient, understanding and reaffirming. Adam seemed indifferent, aloof and apathetic.. He couldn’t believe this was his reality. Adam seemed to withhold his emotions internally because he wasn't quite sure how to express his frustration.

This movie really hit a sensitive spot. Most people don’t like to bring up the topic of death. It can be a sad topic, but that doesn’t mean we should completely ignore the reality of it. This movie did a great job not only showing how much pain and hurt cancer brought to Adam, but also to his family and friends.

I asked my Dad yesterday, “What do you say to someone who has just lost a loved one?” He said, “There really isn’t anything you can say to make things better.” Most people usually give their condolences by saying that their “sorry for their lost.”

Last semester I took a pastoral care and counseling class. Our professor taught us that when someone has just gone through a traumatic experience, sometimes the best thing to do is to just be with them. Support them by mourning and grieving with them. If you didn’t know the person who pasted away, you could ask, “Tell me more about them. What were they like?” This allows one to reflect back on the good memories and qualities instead of the present and future heartache. Death can be a time to cherish and celebrate the life of an individual.

Our professor also taught us how important it is to listen and to reflect the same intensity. In 50/50, no one could reflect the same intensity that he was experiencing. Being able to describe one’s feelings accurate really helps one to feel that their understood. What seemed most helpful about the class was that a counselor’s goal isn’t to just give someone the quick answer fix that you would do in a given situation, but do guide them towards God and allow God to lead them to the right response. Genuine patience, compassion, and concern help one to feel that their situation and feelings are valid.

For the Christian death is seen in a different light.  Yes, death is painful no matter how you see it. Death is the result of our world’s sin. However, the good and great news is that there is not only life through Christ, but there is eternal life with Christ. Death is not the end for the believer. Christ has conquered sin and death on the cross. There is victory, salvation and life in His name. In the completion of God’s kingdom of Heaven, there is no more pain, no more suffering, no more sorrow and no more sin. For the Christian there is peace because whether we live or die we have the assurance that we will be with Him.

Emotional Break Down!

These past few weeks have seemed so busy that i've been having a hard time slowing down. I've been sleeping at 5-6am. I feel like it's so easy to freak out and worry about stuff. It's been hard to keep centered on Christ. I have this tendency to begin relying on myself and my own strength. That's normally when things go wrong. Lately i've also been getting angry at myself because i suck at making decisions. My recent days have been filled with bad decisions or no decisions. I get mad at myself when i waste time doing nothing productive. I'm an expert at wasting time. I feel like we only have so much time in this life, that we can only really invest ourselves in a few things. I ask myself what are those things? We'll it's easy to answer, "Oh God is most important! durr!" However, has my time and recent lifestyle reflected that?

It's easy to sing songs, "All I want is you Jesus, You're all I need, You're my everything, You're my all in all" and yet throughout the week I can't even remember the last time i sat down just to spend time with my God. Sometimes we hafta stop and ask, "Hey is Jesus really my greatest desire? And if not, what's competing against it?" We're always busy moving around trying to get stuff accomplished, sleeping, or we're plopped down in front of our laptops. Where exactly does Jesus fit into our busy schedules? I'm not saying we need to spend hours and hours a day doing spiritual disciplines, but at the same time do we have any spiritual disciplines going on? My spiritual life has been starving lately and it desperately needs to be nourished.

This week i went to a biola chapel, and worshiping with other believers was quite refreshing. Simple yet deep. As Christians we shouldn't just draw power from God, but we should also draw power, energy, and strength from fellowship with one another.

It can be so easy to put God off sometimes. Most of the time we don't even realize it. Other times it seems like a challenge to open God's Word and to pray. Why!? Shouldn't it be our joy? Shouldn't we be constantly craving this deep intimacy with our God? Isn't His love the most intense burning we've experienced? And yet i still find myself turning to other idols, why! Gosh i hate my sin so much. You know that feeling inside where u feel like your missing something, or maybe your day just feels off? I believe everyday we are in dire need of a spiritual renewal and internal transformation.

When we're tired we choose a cup of coffee over His strengthening Spirit. When we're hungry we choose food over a feast of His Word. When we're depressed we isolate ourselves rather than finding comfort in God. When we're bored we turn the tv on instead of communicating with God. I'm not saying that it's wrong to do those things, however does it ever cross our mind to turn to God for strength instead of some other activity? Shouldn't He be our greatest source of satisfaction? Make the most of every opportunity to serve, love, and worship.

At church i kind of had an emotional break down, cuz sometimes i feel like i really suck at being a leader. It's so much easier being a follower! I usually know when i completely blow a sermon and crash it into the ground. Sometimes i hear myself talking and ask myself "What the heck are you saying Chris! You sound like an idiot!" Then i just keep fumbling my words and just want to curl up into a ball and cry. I learned that instead of gaining self-confidence, i need God-confidence. Instead of relying on my own efforts to prepare and perform things, I need to depend on His Spirit and on others. I am thankful that i am surrounded with people who care enough to encourage me and pray for me when i'm down. So thanks chingus if ur reading this!

One thing that's recently been stressing me out is that both my roommates have a bad case of scabies. So i'm doin my best to stayed locked in my room. I think it's super gross cuz their always itchy and scratching. Then just thinking about it i begin to think i have it and get itchy. God i really don't want to get scabies! ahh! I jus want to go home to hawaii, chill at the beach and then freeze time.

"Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." -Eph 5:15-17

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones." 1 Thess. 3:12-13

Biblical Pastoral Theology in 1 & 2 Thessalonians

--> -->      The letters of 1 & 2 Thessalonians shed light on Paul, Silas and Timothy’s pastoral heart for the church. Investigating these letters to the Thessalonica church reveal many pastoral attributes. Pastors in ministry today should shape and conform themselves to these biblical principles. Paul, Silas and Timothy mention themselves as being models for them to imitate (1 Thess. 1:6, 2:14, 2 Thess. 3:9). What key themes were obvious in these pastoral leaders? How did they conduct themselves with the Thessalonica church? In the same way, how should our pastoral leaders of today mimic these themes?
            I have been honored to pastor a youth ministry. This is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to shepherd and lead a congregation. Even though I don’t always know exactly how to do things, I know that God can sovereignly use me as His instrument. I pray that the key pastoral themes in 1 & 2 Thessalonians would become actualized in my own life. This investigation in Thessalonians will help me understand what it truly means to be a pastor to a church. Through the Holy Spirit I pray that I can grow in these skills.

  Love
             The greatest attribute and most obvious one is their heart for the Thessalonians. It would only make sense that they model after the love that Christ demonstrated. Paul, Silas and Timothy not only spoke in a loving manner, but expressed this love through action. Paul and the others express how delighted they were to share not only the gospel, but their lives with them (1 Thess. 2:8). They describe themselves as being nurturing and gentle as a mother and how a compassionate father deals with his own children (1 Thess. 2:7, 2:11). When Paul was away from the Thessalonians, he expressed the intense longing he had to see them. They were so dear to him that he made every effort to come see them (1 Thess. 2:17). Paul and the others loved the Thessalonians so much that they describe them as their glory and joy (1 Thess. 2:20). Paul asks the Lord to make their love increase and overflow, just as Paul, Silas and Timothy’s love were growing more for them (1 Thess. 3:12). “Love, love, love. More, more and more.” This is what the pastors communicated again and again.
           Love should describe the Christian’s life. Pastors and teachers are to manifest God’s love and let this love overflow towards others. Love is the greatest apologetic. Compassion for the lost will attract them to this new life in Christ. In my own ministry it is my goal to love each student and to demonstrate the love of Christ. Christians in general may love, but often have a hard time displaying it in action and deed. I pray that I would love in the likeness of Christ and grow deeper in my love others. Father help me to love as you love us.
Encouraging/ Exhortation
          Over and over again it becomes clear how much Paul and the others encouraged the Thessalonian church. They encouraged them to live a life worthy of God (1 Thess. 2:12), to be strengthened in their faith (1 Thess. 3:2). Paul encourages them to increase in their love for each other and for everyone else; to become blameless and holy in the presence of God (1 Thess. 3:12-13, 4:10). The Thessalonians are encouraged to live as sons of the light and sons of the day (1 Thess. 5:5). Paul and the others encourage and urge them to live in peace, to warn those who are idle, to encourage the timid, to help the weak and to be patient with everyone (1 Thess. 5:14). The Thessalonians are encouraged to be strengthened in word and deed, perseverance, and in faith hope, and love ( 2 Thess. 2:15, 2:17, 3:5). In short, Paul, Silas and Timothy encourage the Thessalonians to be sanctified and blameless (1 Thess. 5:23-24). 
             In the same way Paul encourages the Thessalonians, I too need to encourage the members of our church body. It is easy for believers today to get spiritual burnt out and discouraged. As a pastor I am called to encourage the church at all times. We all need someone to encourage us, so we should be an encouragement to others by exhorting them in faith, hope and love. Even when Christians are doing well, we always need to be strengthened more and more. Sanctification in the Spirit is a life-long process; So we should make every effort to speak words of encouragement to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Teacher
          The authors of 1 & 2 Thessalonians weren’t just loving shepherds; They were also great teachers. They instruct and stress repeatedly how important it is to live a holy life to please God (1 Thess. 4:1). They also taught the Thessalonians to avoid sexual immorality, impurities and sin because it was contrary to a holy life and the Spirit (1 Thess. 4:3-7). The Thessalonians were taught to live a quiet life and to win the respect of outsiders by the way that they lived (1 Thess. 4:11-12). Paul and the others reminded them of the resurrection and the life that is through the death of Christ; That in the coming of the Lord, we will be with Him (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Paul reminds them to stand firm in these teachings (2 Thess. 2:5, 2:15), to obey their instructions and to keep away from those who are idle (2 Thess. 3:6, 3:14).
          Teaching about God through the scriptures is not an easy task. I know I need to put more time into preparing my teaching. I want to make sure that I am teaching the author’s intent and God’s truth. I pray that my teaching would also be relevant and applicable to my students. In the same way that Paul taught about holiness, godliness, and righteousness, I want my congregation to be blameless before the coming of the Lord. Many Christians today stop at justification and are not discipled to grow in sanctification. Knowledge and wisdom from scripture is absolutely necessary for one to live in righteousness and moral integrity. The church today should not just be a loving community, but a place where the teaching of God’s Word pierces our hearts and transforms our lives.

Thankfulness
            A major key theme that I wasn’t really expecting to see was thankfulness. Paul is constantly expressing is thanksgiving to the Thessalonians. Paul can’t seem to contain the joy that comes from the Thessalonian church and celebrates that they were being obedient and faithful to God. Paul thanks them for their work, labor and endurance. He thanks them for being a model to all believers and for persevering even through persecution and suffering (1 Thess. 1:2-10 2 Thess. 1:3). Paul thanks them for receiving and accepting the Word of God (1 Thess. 2:13). Paul also thanks them for sharing in the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 2:13-14). In expressing gratitude, the Thessalonians probably felt appreciated and even more willing to serve, obey and give.
           I can understand this joy that Paul and the other leaders experienced from the Thessalonians. I am filled with gratitude when I see that my students are applying the teachings of God’s Word and when the Spirit is at work within our fellowship. I am thankful that God has blessed us with the gift of unity in the church, so that we can worship Him together. I am also thankful that many of the leaders in our church are so eager to serve and give unconditionally. It’s extremely important that we remember to thank those who serve because it demonstrates that their work is significant and useful for His kingdom.

Self-Sacrifice
               Paul, Silas and Timothy all give their lives as a sacrifice to the ministry. Even though there was strong opposition and persecution they were willing to deliver the gospel to the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 2:2, 3:4, 3:7). Paul and the others didn’t want to be a burden to the Thessalonians so they endured toil and hardship; working for their own necessities (1 Thess. 2:9, 2 Thess. 3:8). Being self-sacrificial not only benefits the church, but also gives an example of how Christians should serve and love each other.
             In mimicking Christ, Paul and the other pastor leaders, I am resolved to lay down my life for the sake of the gospel. Loving and giving are self-sacrificial. If I see someone in need, it is a pastor’s role to try and meet their need, even if it requires some sacrifice. In my ministry I pray that I would endure any obstacles for the sake of the gospel, proclaim Christ as Lord and that my life would be an offering for His will. As shepherds, we are to give our lives to the sheep so that they can grow in faith, love and good deeds.

Prayerful
           Paul begins both epistles to the Thessalonians by thanking them and keeping them in prayer. Paul says that he remembers to mention them in his prayers (1 Thess. 1:2). Paul prays night and day to supply anything that is lacking in their faith (1 Thess. 3:10). Paul is constantly praying that the Thessalonians would be counted as worthy of God’s calling and that Christ would be glorified in them (2 Thess. 1:11-12). Being prayful for the Thessalonians shows his heart and compassion for their spiritual maturity.
                My pastor at church highly emphasizes prayer for the congregation. Asking each individual for prayer and praying for them throughout the week not only encourages them, but helps me to be invested in their lives. Being prayful for others also helps indicate what their needs are, and how they need support. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the power of prayer. Just reflecting on how Paul constantly prayed for the Thessalonians, is a huge reminder of how much I need to be praying for the people God has placed in my life.

Godly Examples
           Paul, Silas and Timothy mention how they lived among the Thessalonians. They mention how holy, righteous and blameless they were to be godly examples and witnesses of God (1 Thess. 1:5, 2:10). In their holiness they also practiced humility and reverence (1 Thess. 2:6). They demonstrated holiness to make themselves models for how the Thessalonians should follow (2 Thess. 3:9). Paul and the others made sure they “practiced what they preached” to help the Thessalonians to see how exactly they should conduct themselves.
            In the same way, I need to make sure I am not only preaching how to live, but displaying that godly, holy, and righteous example for others to mimic. Christians are often called hypocritical because they do not always display that righteous behavior that they talk about. It is highly pivotal that I live with the utmost integrity so that I become a model for the students in my ministry. Students will look at my life and see if I truly practice love or just talk about it. Christians are called to not only proclaim the gospel, but to live and walk by the gospel.
 
Correction
           Paul and the others made sure that the Thessalonians were living according to God’s teachings by correcting them. In order for them to be sanctified, Paul notes that they should avoid sexual immorality, honorably control their own bodies, not fall into passionate lust like the heathens and not wrong or take advantage of a brother (2 Thess. 4:5-8). Paul also warns about the counterfeit miracles by the man of lawlessness and to not be deceived by anyone (2 Thess. 2:3, 2:9). They emphasizes being obedient to their instructions so much that they ask the Thessalonians to not even associate with those who are disobedient, but to take special note and warn him as a brother (2 Thess. 3:14). Paul commands them to hold to these teachings and instructions because they are God’s commands.
           For Christians today, I see correction being used wrongly. Perhaps this is why many people are not hesitant to say, “Christians are so judgmental.” However, 1 & 2 Thessalonians clearly calls Christians to discern ungodly behavior and to correct each other. In churches today, instead of seeing a loving correction, I often see a self-righteous or hypocritical correction. Rather we should correct ungodly behavior to encourage one’s sanctification. As Christians, sometimes most loving thing we can do is to help someone acknowledge disobedient behavior and gently correct them towards a holy living.

          Paul, Silas and Timothy practiced pastoral attributes of love, encouragement, thankfulness, self-sacrifice, a prayerful heart, and correction. As shepherds, pastors, and teachers they lived what they taught. They did their best to imitate Christ so that others would imitate them. These men simply wanted to be there for the building and edifying of the church body. Their teaching was wise, but their lifestyle was inspiring. In 1 & 2 Thessalonians, I can hear Paul’s longing heart for their sanctification. The pastors and leaders desperately wanted to see the Thessalonian’s faith grow and attract others. 1 Thess. 2:12-13 stands out to me the most because it summarizes how affectionate they were for the Thessalonian’s spiritual maturity. I pray that my heart would be the same for those in my ministry and that I would incorporate a deeper actualization of these pastoral qualities. I pray that our love would increase and that we would be strengthened in our walk; Being holy and blameless for the glory and praise of our God and Father.  

A Walk With God

In Hawaii i used to take a lot more walks. Things weren't as busy over there. In Cali i haven't taken many walks around my neighborhood or explored many parks. It seems every time i intentionally try to meet with God while taking a walk, he immediately shows up and begins speaking to me in a variety of ways. The tough part is just to get my shoes on, throw a jacket on and get outside.

I often find myself caught and trapped in different worlds. What i mean by that, is that we often get lost in movies, tv, video games, entertainment, dreams, ambitions, school, work, technology, internet distractions, etc. For instance, when we walk into a mall, we are entering a world and culture that tells us what to worship and value. We are bombarded with things to buy, food, clothes, and shiny things. I'm not saying malls are bad, but why do we place so much value on having and possessing stuff. Another good example is the internet. There's facebook, email, youtube, music, hulu and other medias. We can easily be consumed by entertainment. There is a place and time for these things. I know i spend way too much time being on my laptop, when there is a world of beauty out there.

Today my goal was to get lost in God and to be consumed by Him. Sometimes we can't find the right radio frequency because of other distracting noises. Taking a walk allows one to get out of the house and to tune everything else out. Taking a walk allows one to observe nature. And creation seems to shout glory to God. For instance, as i was walking i saw a bunch of maple leaves on the ground. They were shades of red, orange, yellow, brown and green. They were all vivid colors and of all sorts of shapes and sizes. So i decided to stop and draw a couple, lol. i also saw this funny little squirrel, he was a fast little buggah. Stop to admire the beauty of life and then praise the Artist.

I thought it was interesting that what God's message for me was to learn how to listen and receive from Him. He was teaching me how to slow down, stop and take time out of our busy schedules to intentionally meet and commune with Him. Every moment we are given the opportunity to interact and participate in an intimate relationship with Him. Why not seize each moment to experience God to our fullest? How often are we receptive to the illumination of His Spirit? Do we have the eyes and ears to see and hear what God has in store for us today? Do we intentionally set aside time to invest in relationships with other people? Is it a priority and desire to enjoy fellowship, edify the church body, and worship with other believers? Where has our heart been lately?

Sometimes i can easily get caught up with knowledge and academic raw theology concepts. There's a place for that, but it can be useless without practical and personal application to our lives. Sometimes we need to stop and experience God's truths in our lives. We need to try to embrace His grace and absorb His love like a huge sponge. It usually results in an attitude of thankfulness and uncontainable joy.

Anyways, as i was walking i stopped on a curb in the neighborhood. I began to notice the cool wind surround me and rushing through the green trees. I took a deep breath and felt the fullness of being in God's presence. It's so much easier to encounter God in solitude. It was refreshing to find rest and peace in Him. I always found it interesting how much Jesus emphasized community and fellowship and yet He would often retreat to solitude. We too are to escape to God as our hiding place.

Wait upon God. Be ready and available to Him. Clear out the distractions buzzing in your head and get lost in God. Surrender any idols, confess sin. Cast your burdens upon Him, find refuge in Him, and give Him your entire heart. See the world as a child, cry out to Him and receive from our Abba, Father. Trust in His faithfulness, taste His goodness. Let gratitude draw you closer to this deep well of joy. Feast on His Word. Let the richness of His perfect, infinite, unconditional and explosive love satisfy your soul. Simply receive from Him. Do you hear Him calling? Can you hear His voice whispering? What is He speaking to you? Can you feel His relentless longing for you? Delight in Him, praise Him for all that He is, glorify Him for His sovereignty, rejoice in the salvation of the cross, dance in His freedom, become consumed in awe, and abide in Him.

God's Will

For a long time i wanted something. I wanted it so bad. I thought that because i desired it so much for so long that perhaps it was God's will for me to go after it. However, sometimes God purposely removes a piece of candy away from a baby. As our Father, He knows what's best for us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He clearly gave me a red light, but i wanted to run the light anyway. For awhile, my heart wanted to challenge God's will. God's will usually seems to be the more difficult decision, and yet it also happens to be the right decision. In faith, we must trust in His sovereignty, His love, provision and guidance; for He is always holy, righteous and faithful.

Instead of just listening to our heart, we must stop, discern and listen to God's will. Our heart can often mislead and deceive us. In discerning God's will, I learned to seek wise counsel of others, patiently offer my request to God in prayer, and to listen to both God's written and spoken word. What is on your heart? Does it distract your attention and affection away from God or draw you closer to Him? May the God of comfort and peace whisper to your heart.

Psalm 77:11-15

 ¹¹ I shall remember the deeds of the LORD;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
¹² I will meditate on all Your work
And muse on Your deeds.
¹³ Your way, O God, is holy;
What god is great like our God?
¹⁴ You are the God who works wonders;
You have made known Your strength among the peoples.
¹⁵ You have by Your power redeemed Your people,

Getting Into the Stride of God

"The test of a man's religious life and character is not what he does in the exceptional moments of life, but what he does in the ordinary times, when there is nothing tremendous or exciting on. The worth of a man is revealed in his attitude to ordinary things when he is not before the footlights. It is a painful business to get through into the stride of God, it means getting your second wind spiritually. In learning to walk with God there is always the difficulty of getting into His stride; but when we have got into it, the only characteristic that manifests itself is the life of God. The individual man is lost sight of in his personal union with God, and the stride and the power of God alone are manifested." -Oswald Chambers

Forgiveness

"In spiritual relationship we do not grow step by step; we are either there or we are not. God does not cleanse us more and more from sin, but when we are in the light, walking in the light, we are cleansed from all sin." -Oswald Chambers

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:9

Today one of our cats, snowball ran away. i was super bummed. But then while i was walkin to the kitchen, i saw his little funny face and sad blue eyes looking in through the screen door. He confessed his disobedience and for runnin away from home, and we accepted our prodigal cat back with love, joy n' grace.  

"American Beauty"

I just finished watching a movie called "American Beauty." It demonstrated that life can be empty without loving each other. It was a good negative example of how families don't know how to treat each other. It threw in a lot of dynamics about how people see the world and those around them. It displayed some of the difficulties in life and how different people handle social pressures. It threw in a mixture of personalities and perspectives. It threw in the dynamics of marriage, parenting, narcissism, low self-esteem, materialism, self-dependency, apathy, indifference, abuse, purpose, family, love, anger, fantasy, drugs, homosexuality, appearances, meeting people's expectations, pain, communication, conflict, and beauty. The thing that they all had in common was that they all needed to be loved. And because they couldn't receive love from others, they turned to other outlets of escape. They were all looking for their identity and something out of life. They all knew there was something more to live for, but they couldn't quite put their finger on it. Some characters would capture a glimpse of beauty and would just wonder what is the whole meaning to this thing we call life.

What was truly missing was a Christian perspective. They needed the love of God to show that there is more to life than chasing the American dream. The fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control can only come from the God. Romans 1 explains that God's creation testifies about Him, and that people can notice that there is something behind all this beauty in life. That there is a Divine Creator to this life we experience. That there is a God who compassionately cares for each one of us; That there is an abundant and full life through Christ and the fellowship of believers. That there is a love that goes beyond any of our descriptions. Are we living robotic, ordinary, boring, and routine lives? Or is there purpose in our life. Who or what do we serve and worship?

Have you ever taken a walk and seen the intense beauty of the sun, sky, wind and trees? God's creation is mind blowing, uncontainable, and can leave you breathless. After absorbing all of that, stop to ponder the unlimited, all powerful, relentless love of God. God uses natural revelation to draw us to special revelation, so that we can know that there is a God who loves us enough to die for us. To claim us, to be His, to save us from sin and death, and give us an eternal life with Him. It is impossible to encounter the full beauty and love of God and not be grateful, joyful, and to be full of awe. If you truly receive and trust Him as Lord over your life, you will be changed, you will love others, you will find your identity, purpose and meaning in life.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." -1 John 3:16-17

For The Joy of Our Lord is Our Strength

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him." -Psalm 28:7

The Likeness of Jesus

My TheologyI class assigned a prayer project to pray about our vocation and Phil 3:17. He asked, "What have you learned from observing those who embody the likeness of Jesus?"

     Praying about my vocation always seems to reinforce what I believe God has called me to. Becoming a pastor as a job in ministry is not the call. God has called me to preach and proclaim the Gospel, disciple His people in His Word, love Him with all that I am, and share His love with others. Now it’s a matter of being faithful to His call, and being, conscious of His daily will for me.
      I reflected on people who embodied the likeness of Jesus and observed those that follow Christ. Their life is explosive in love. I sense an overwhelming joy in their life, and it is absolutely contagious. They can’t help but smile and laugh all the time. They are extremely encouraging, especially when I’m discouraged. They do not hesitate to pray, they go directly to our Abba, Father. These people can have their down times, but are usually very solid. They inspire me to grow closer into the likeness of Christ, and to be in tune with the Holy Spirit. They take convictions seriously and are always willing to share what they have learned from God. These people encounter God, nay have fellowship with God everyday and what seems like every hour. These people don’t just worship God, they fall flat on their faces in submission. You can easily tell who reigns as their King. You can see how thankful they are for life and how much they cherish each moment of every blessing. These people see what most of us miss. They know how to stop and receive from God. I also observe that the people who imitate Christ have a huge heart for the lost and will put whatever they are doing aside to serve others.
      From observing these passionate followers of Jesus, I too inspire to live a fruitful life. I learned to glorify and magnify Him even in the smallest of things. I learned how important it is to receive His love and grace. I see that they are satisfied in God and hunger Him more than anything. I learned to be desperate for Him, to long and desire His Spirit. I learned to take delight in fellowship with Him and others. I learned to rejoice and praise God in all circumstances. I learned how crucial purity is, and how important it is to follow God’s will. I learned that every moment we have the opportunity to experience the intimate love of the Father. I learned to wait on God and be attentive to the many forms of His Word. I learned to apply the truth of scripture and to write it on my heart. These people have the fragrance and aroma of Christ. Their lives are their testimony. I pray that my life would also reflect the likeness of Christ.

 “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” –Phil. 3:17

 ¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. ¹⁵ For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? ¹⁷ Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.  ¹ Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? ² You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. ³ You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Cor 2:14-3:3

"¹Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, ² make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus" -Phil 2:1-5

Extra Notes
God's Word =
1) Creation (God's word enacted)
2) Voice (God's word spoken)
3) Jesus (God's word embodied)
4) Scripture (God's word written)

"Sin only looks appetizing to the the starving soul." -Dallas Willard 
If we have a feast for the main course that is full and satisfying, you won't crave desert.
Being satisfied in Christ protects our heart against sinful idols, and directs us to worship

Revelation

I believe that everyday we are in dire need of a fresh newness of God's love. A revelation, that God's love caused Him to die for us. A love so deep and rich, that he would sacrifice Himself on the cross. So that the lost might be redeemed. Sinners made righteous. Orphans adopted as His own children. A King laying down his life for you. His love will not only change your life, but save your life.

We have become numb, ignorant. We miss the out pouring of His love. We forget, we become distracted. We lose sight of His mind, His will, and His heart. Yet His grace is endless. We've all rejected God, and yet His holiness overcomes all our sins. He freely accepts unconditionally, calling us to trust Him and live out our faith. What have i been worshiping lately? God? or myself and idols? How have i used my time, resources and life? Where has my heart been? What have been my desires and motives?

I had dinner with some college church folks. It was refreshing to have fellowship and the chance to get to know people better. 1 John 4:7-21 talks about God's love for us, and how we are to love others. God reminded me that the 1st and 2nd greatest commandments, are really one. Christ responds by giving 2 because they can't really be separated. To love God, one must love thy neighbor. To truly love thy neighbor, one must really love God.

After dinner, my roommate and I were bored, so we went to the gym. Playin ball and lifting weights was also refreshing, because i'm so outta shape. I was super pooped after 3v3 and didnt wanna workout after, but after we were done it felt great to get something accomplished. Sometimes it's rejuvenating to push yourself in a good discipline... Now if i could only stop eating so much fast food! mmm french fries, oreo cookie shakes, bacon.. mm!

Anyways after the gym, came home showered, then ran off to dennys at midnight cuz we were super hungry. And my roommate brought some things up that i completely forgot about. Crazy extreme things we need to do before work or family stuff gets in the way. Life not lived to the fullest is meaningless. We wanted to take advantage of some opportunities. So we began throwing out ideas and created a to-do list. Yes it would take time to plan all of this out, but talkin this over allowed me to rekindle the adventure in life.

1)  3weeks -month retreat of solitude somewhere peaceful 

2)  Bike around America  (i was never sold on this one, lol)

3)  Bible Lands (Our school offers a trip to Turkey, Greece, Rome Israel)

4)  Become homeless for at least a month (i've been sold on this for a long time, but jus never found the right time or someone to be committed to it) We take so much for granted. Food, water, shelter, entertainment, technology, clothes, a blanket, shoes, air conditioner, cars, phones, etc. If you were homeless a quarter becomes valuable. We'd be able to direct our attention to God, because we would really have nothing else to rely on. We would become extremely thankful for what God has provided us with. I'm sure i would learn so much from being in extreme poverty. I jus hope i'd be able to survive. 

5)  Mission trip to  Guatemala, or somewhere else

6)  I go to Arizona to visit, he comes to Hawaii

7)  Snowboarding!

Expository Preaching

Some notes from my expository preaching class

-EP is an attitude or philosophy that is brought to preaching, not a methodology

-Do you subject the scriptures to your thought? or do you subject your thought to the Scriptures?

-Expository, is exposing what the original author intended to the original audience

-We are to preach the text and not our theology

-A text cannot mean what it never meant

-The job of the interpreter is to determine the single meaning intended by the author

-Preach the main point, meaning and purpose of the text, not secondary applications

-The points of your sermon must come directly from the text

- The purpose of an expository sermon must be the same as the biblical text

- A good communicator matches the right genre with the right meaning

-Adapt your communication style and mood with the genre of the text

- Balance the emphasis of the text, keep the tensions of the bible

- You are not the message, but the messenger

- Have confidence that you have the authority of Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit

Conviction Leading to Repentance

Just a blog about how I haven't been doing well spiritually this summer. But even through a dry season, God has been teaching me a lot about how I approach spiritual disciplines.

______________
EDIT  AUGUST 29, 2011

I often struggle with meeting my own expectations and trying to do everything right. It's like there's a bar, a high bar for what a Good Christian should be like. If i'm doing bad spiritually, then i often just isolate myself, pretend i'm doing well and withdraw from running to God. It really isn't that hard front and pretend your doing good. I often just hide in the shame and guilt of my sin. But because we have been forgiven and declared righteous in Christ, we shouldn't toil in our unhealthy shame and guilt. As children who've committed a wrong, we should confess, repent and know that there is forgiveness from our heavenly Father. But sometimes Christianity just seems like it's only about the Do's and Don'ts. If Christianity were just that, it'd just be another religion based on performance, works, and not sinning too much. And religion based on ....

Worlds Apart - Mostar Diving Club

Some day you will find me
I haven't gone too far
I miss the way we were back then
How we laughed
I can feel you in my heart

There's a world in your eyes
I can see it getting brighter
All the hours that we turned into days
We were young seemed like life would go on last forever
All I had was you by my side

Some day you will answer
Remember how we were
When all our hopes and dreams
Floated in the air I feel it in my heart

I can feel you in my heart
That's the way that it was in the past you remember
When we ran through the wind and the rain
We were young seemed like life would go on last forever
Now everything has changed

Surrender

When we sin against someone, there are consequences to pay for our wrong doing. When we sin against the most high God we deserve death, wrath, and eternal separation from him. For sinning against a holy and infinite God, we owe God an infinite debt for our transgressions. As finite creations we are unable to reconcile and satisfy our eternal debt. It would take an eternal being, God himself, to pardon our sins. When we come to terms with the reality of our sins and fallen depravity, we recognize our desperate need for a Savior.

The good news is that God saves sinners. God's unconditional love and unmerited grace was manifested in the person of Jesus Christ... (read more)

Being with God and God's Family

We all go through problems. We face difficult circumstances and tough situations. It's not hard to become overwhelmed by the stresses of life. To cope with our anxieties we often turn to media, family members, friends, addictions, or we can hold it to ourselves in hopes that we can derive at an appropriate solution for our problem. When we overly focus on our problems, sins, fears and failures, we feel discouraged, defeated, hopeless, exhausted, frustrated, confused, empty, depressed and lonely.

\/ read move \/

Spring 2011

What I learned this semester at Talbot

This blog is mainly for myself. It helps me to record and reflect, because I don't want to forget
Btw I took 6 classes for a total of 9 credits!

I haven't been sleeping too well for the past month. These last few weeks have been pretty stressful. I only have one more week which is finals week.

\/ HEY READ MORE!  \/

Prince of Egypt - "When You Believe"

Shirat Hayam  "Song of the Sea"  Exodus 15:1-18
(Hebrew children singing at 2:30)

אָשִׁירָה לַיהוָה כִּי-גָאֹה גָּאָה (verse 1)
[ashira la'adonay ki ga'o ga'a] x2
"I will sing unto the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously"

מִי-כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִם יְהוָה, מִי כָּמֹכָה נֶאְדָּר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ (verse 11)
[mi chamocha ba'elim adonay, mi kamocha ne'edar bakodesh]
"Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you majestic in holiness?"

נָחִיתָ בְחַסְדְּךָ, עַם-זוּ גָּאָלְתָּ (verse 13)
[nachita vechasdecha am zu ga'alta] x2
"You in your mercy have led forth the people which you have redeemed"

אָשִׁירָה ,אָשִׁירָה ,אָשִׁירָה
[ashira, ashira, ashira!]
[I will sing, I will sing, I will sing!]

A God Like No Other - 100th blog!

God is good. He is infinitely good. His perfect plans and purposes are for our good and for His glory. He is one of a kind, a God like no other. He is supreme above all. He is the sovereign Lord. He holds all things together. He pours out His Spirit within His people. He calls us friend, beloved, His chosen people. As fatherless orphans, He adopts us and gives us the right to become His children. We can be forgiven through the blood of the Lamb. The King Himself bore all the wrath of our sins for those who believe. He covers our sin and imputes His righteousness on us. He is a Redeemer, a just Judge, and a Sovereign God. He deserves the highest praise and all glory, for He is good.   READ MORE >>

Romans 3:21-26

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Being with God

For school we had to spend 30 minutes listening to God. Later on I'll have to do a 24 hour retreat outside of home. That's hard to do when your usually pressed on time. But it's refreshing to hear from God especially when I've been absent for so long. Anyway, here's a short meditation..

Our Daily Bread

A hotel in Singapore introduced an express buffet, eat all you can in 30 minutes and pay just half the price! After that experience, one diner reported: "I lost my decorum, stuffing my mouth with yet more food. I lost my civility... and I lost my appetite for the rest of the day, so severe was my heartburn."

Sometimes I think in our devotional reading we treat God's Word like an express buffet. We wolf it down as fast as we can and wonder why we haven't learned very much. Like physical food, spiritual food needs chewing! For those who have been Christians for a long time, we may have a tendency to speed-read through the passages we've read many times before. But in doing so, we miss what God is meaning to show us. One sure sign of this is when we learn nothing new from that passage.

What If We Treated Our Bibles Like Our Cell Phones?

If we treated our bibles like our cell phones we would have a stronger relationship with God. We would know God's heart and know Him more intimately. We would constantly check God's Word every time He had something to text us. We would be updated with divine messages meant for us to hear throughout our day.