Thoughts of a Servant

I woke up with a big question on my head.  I wanted to know why God has blessed America so much…  I live in Orange County, yeah, the OC.  And I often experience a bit of culture shock when someone shows up in 300$ fur boots that they wear when it rains– once a year in SoCal.  But really, why would God bless us with abundance and others not as much?

Well I know for a fact that it is not because other countries are doing something wrong– All throughout the Bible we see instances of this similar situation.  Soddom and Gomorrah– Abraham tried to save them saying their may be a believer.  But God says that we should just mind ourselves, and he destroys the city after Abraham couldn’t find any believers.  And Abraham questioned why God would bring that kind of wrath on Soddom, were they doing something horribly different than I?  And the answer is, no, they were just as sinful as you and I– but unless I repent, the same will happen to me.

So although we have many ideas on why some Nations suffer greater than us, it is not true–  The only thing God says is that unless we repent, the same will happen to us.

Going back to America–  I was in a CHE seminar the other day, and it made me realize that sometimes we have to place the program in the location where it will cause the greatest change.  Sometimes, that location isn’t the same as the greatest need.  That can go into a very extended explanation, but in a sentence, thats the jest of it.  So– America.  We are definitely in a lifestyle of abundance, but maybe God thinks we can make the greatest change in the world should we follow Him.  We are all disciples and we are all commissioned to go out into the world and make more disciples.  Doesn’t mean we are better than anyone by any means!  If anything we are worse for ignoring that call.

I have the privilege of going to Mexico today, and its also my good friend and bro, Russell’s, 21st birthday today.  I am excited to see where God takes him as our 3 roommates have been being transformed into servants of a mighty God.

Cheers!

I went to a seminar thingy today at Rock Harbor.  It was pretty darn cool. This three week seminar is on Evangelism and what to expect.  I have learned a lot so far, but have also found that I am in the right thinking when I am out and about.  One cool story though…  The instructor shared this, and it is definately worth repeating…

She was mentioning one of the hard times in her life when she was actually thinking that there wasn’t a God and he was something that she just made up in her head.  She pictured him as an immaginitive figure that didn’t really exist.  At the time, she was going to Biola Univerisity, and leading fellowship groups, life groups, seminars, etc.  She was heavily involved, but unfortunately struggling whether she believed or not.

Meanwhile she was learning Russian and prepping for a mission trip to the Soviet Union for over a year.  The language, the culture, etc. wsa something that she was so excited to do, but now she was thinking that she wants to go to this country to share the Word of God with people even though she doesn’t believe in it herself.

About a week before the trip, she mentions to her friend that she doesn’t think there is a God.  Her friend took a pause and asked her to consider: if the funds come in for the mission trip, you will go– otherwise you can stay.

Nonetheless, the funds were provided and she ended up going on the trip. (Clearly a work of God, but it gets better)

This trip (over 60 people) included people going out into the steets and into homes / institutions and talking with people and professing their faith.  But the thing was: they couldn’t profess very loudly because the KJB was still very prominent back then.  The KJB actually had their room and their phones, bathrooms etc, monitored and bugged.  They were transported around town by KJB members and had to be very careful about what they said.  While monitored by the KJB, they were on one mission– each one of the students had a bible filled with bible text and hand written commentary all over the place for further reading.  They had to give this one bible away by the end of this trip.

Well, towards the end of the trip, my instructor mentioned that she still didn’t believe in God.  They were riding on the bus home when she realized that she was the only student that still had her Bible, and it crushed her.  She began to see that God had been so gracious to give all of the Bible’s away to a country that didn’t have a God and was shackled by communism.  She knew that she had made a huge mistake, and that God was more present in her life than she knew, and even though she was in complete disbelief, she would have never guessed how he would user her next.

All of the students left the bus and went into the airport.  My instructor stayed on the bus to talk to the KJB transporter.  They had gotten along at the beginning of the trip and she figured she might as well try and see what happens with the Bible.  She mentions to her the true reason they were over there (very bad thing to tell a KJB individual, you could go to prision and perhaps even torture / death).  And at the end of the conversation says, “I would like to give you this Bible”.

This KJB individual (I wish I could remember her name) gave her a stone cold look, one that would make you sore to your stomach as though you had done something wrong.  One that would make you reconsider going to Russia in the first place– worried about her outcome, she said these words…

“How did you know?!  …  (after a long pause) I have prayed every single day for 5 years that God would bring me His word. !”

HOW amazing is that.  God had used this girl who was utterly doubting God all together, and he used her in such a powerful way as to give this girl that had been living a God-centered life undercover in Russia, HIS word!!!

Faaan tastic.  After hearing this, I wanted to go to the soviet.

I’m not proud of it, I got so caught up in the Holidays that I didn’t keep up with the news, but there was really really really awesome news in November.  I wrote a blog in October about these Iranian women that had been imprisoned for their faith… We wrote letters, and so many people were praying for them.  But it clearly shows that God is so Good.  Because they were set free on November 18th, 2009 after 259 severe days in prison.  They may still face the judges of their country, so they still need our prayers.  But this is such an event to rejoice.  They never denounced their faith even in the face of death.  What powerful women of God.  Ahhhh! I am so excited.

http://www.elam.com/articles/Released/

I love this guy! This is a man that is living. I am sure everyone else loves him too once they have seen Britian’s Got Talent’s Paul Potts.  What an amazing story he has to tell.  If you haven’t seen the video, I would recommend checking it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA

I was watching that video over and over wondering why it is getting to me.  Every time he sings, it brings an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, atonement, and fulfillment to the performance. I had done some research and I found some things that interested me.  Simon said that he had heard so many opera singers that could sing like that, but what made him different was the fact that when he sang, you heard all of the pain– sorrow– suffering– anguish– etc. that he has endured over the course of his life.  You hear his story, his love, passion, and vigor struggle for success.  He shatters your first thoughts about him.  I’m guilty, I wasn’t expecting much, but I was absolutely blown away.

Apparently, he was severely bullied when he was young.  He was usually involved with the fights between the parents– and he would often run away to go sing.  Singing was his escape.  But thats not the end of it…  He found the love of his life on a chatroom, and then encountered several unfortunate events: his appendix burst before his wedding, complications came and eventually it was a tumor that they found.  But even in the midst of this, he performed at the opera thinking, “If I don’t grab the opportunity to perform, I might never get to do it again.”  Continuing on, he got hit by a car four days after his honeymoon fracturing his collarbone which put him out of work for 9 months.  His whole life he worked as a grocerie checker and warehouse manager, and then the extraordinary chance of fulfilling his dream through Britian’s Got Talent came about.

After singing on this stage, he was honored by the three panelists and the crowd.  He eventually went on to sing in front of the queen!

What an amazing story.  Was God in this? Most definitely.  Guiding him each step of the way.  Who knows where he goes now.  You can see his tour dates, and his life being unraveled on his site:

http://www.paulpottsopera.org/Paul-Potts-Autobiography.html

Cheers to you Paul.  Thank you for the smile.

It never stops. God is so good. I am blessed to be a part of what he is doing in my life. Today has been a great day and I have only been awake for 4 hours. I had breakfast with my friends of two+ years. They have come to Easter service but have never really asked questions about anything serious. But of them has been having a really difficult time with her job and career and schooling and really, life. She came to breakfast this morning, and I guess one of her really good coworkers (who had two kids, a beautiful wife, great job, etc) had recently committed suicide. It is a tragedy to her and people around her, and people are questioning whether he is in Heaven or not.

Continuing on, we were having a nice conversation about dancing (what else is new) until she interrupted with the question, “Where do we go when we die?” which I guess was God’s way of using that gentleman’s death as a tool (while still a tragedy, and I still feel deep grievances for her and the people around her– but He is using it to stir up our hearts causing us to ask the right questions).  And we sat there and talked about salvation (just being a real conversation, no preachy stuff).  And I am just blown away.  Because first of all, you have to realize the context of which this happened…  My friend has always believed that you have your belief, and I have mine, and we’ll leave it at that… But what I love about her is she is always open to discussion on any topic of choice.  So this makes it very easy to share what I believe and listen to what she has to say about her beliefs. We concluded the conversation on a good note, but I can only imagine the transformation that can occur.  This is a progression, nothing is instant– but it is the start of something beautiful.

To top it off, I come on home to find two Jehovah’s witnesses standing outside my door.  I ask them how they are doing, one of their names was Marvin–  I guess they were witnessing to Hispanics because they didn’t really want to talk to me.  I walked inside, but I felt that God wanted me to say something or talk to them.  So I found some water and walked back out to offer it to them…  If they asked a question or initiated some form of welcoming of the water, I knew that God would want me to talk with them.  But unfortunately they respectfully declined the water and waited for me to return inside.  Maybe I was ill-prepared for what they had to say and God was protecting me, or maybe it was not God’s timing on what they needed to hear.  Either way, just being open to God’s will is the key.  And he will work His wonders regardless.

I went to a leadership training the other day, and there was a Bible verse that just killed me.  I believe it was in Colossians 1:5-14…  Its kind of long, but well worth it.

5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on oura behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified youb to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption,c the forgiveness of sins.
The Holy Bible : New International Version, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996).

How Great!  God has stored our treasures up in Heaven, and he has “qualified” us to join in on the inheritance of a life tha is full of endurance, patience, joy, thanks, as he has recued us from the darkness, and forgave us of our sins.

Praise God for another wonderful day.  I am nothing, I am but dust– but He is the Creator, and my Savior.

ADDED: I found a cool passage that analysis the Colossians verse.. check it out:

1:5. Paul thanked God for their faith and love that spring from … hope.
This trilogy of virtue—faith, love, and hope—is a favorite of Paul’s (cf. 1 Cor. 13:13; 1 Thes. 1:3) and Peter’s (1 Peter 1:3, 5, 22). Faith is the soul looking upward to God; love looks outward to others; hope looks forward to the future. Faith rests on the past work of Christ; love works in the present; and hope anticipates the future. Even though “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6), and “hope does not disappoint us” (Rom. 5:5), nevertheless “the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13). The Colossians’ love extended to “all the saints” (Col. 1:4), or all believers, probably not only at Colosse but everywhere (cf. 1 Thes. 1:7-8 for a similar commendation).

John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-).

I just wanted to share a really cool point I heard in Francis Chan’s service today.  He was talking about when he went to Vegas when he was younger and he thought he would try gambling some money in order to get some money to pay for this speeding ticket that he had received while on his way to speak at a camp in Utah.  He started with 2 dollars and just kept letting it ride.  He kept betting it all and watching it double.  Eventually, he had a 100 bucks sitting on the table, and had to make that decision to fully pay for the ticket by doubling or to back down.  He ended up losing all of the money on the table.

He goes on to show how this relates to our faith.  For instance, if we were to talk to someone in India that was considered an “untouchable” or slums in Africa, or anywhere really– and say, “Drop everything and follow Jesus”… How easy would that be?  They would reply “Okay” in a heart beat.

But if you were to come to my neighborhood in Orange County, and ask, “Drop everything, Follow Jesus– he has a better life for you” They would just look at you like your nuts– “Why? Can you see how much I have?!?!”

Same thing with our early faith.  We are fearless when we are first Christians, talking to everyone and preaching like mad.  But eventually we get more involved with faith, more educated, more knowledgeable.  Then people start respecting the knowledge we have and we become conscious of our messages, and eventually conscientious of our ministry.  We have more to lose when we think we have everything…

But whom would you rather follow when you know that Jesus has something amazing planned for you versus what you can do on your own?

I started this blog a while back to write about my day, my life, etc.  It was a way for me to start recording my daily thoughts– But I realized today that this blog is more than my life, and I don’t suppose its about me either.  Its interesting to see that it started out about me, but as I grow in my faith it becomes more about how God is working in and through me.

Looking back at the beginning, I thought I was a believer– I thought I was a strong follower.  But where I am at makes me wonder (and I think a little scared) to think of where I was before.  But I am also scared to say that I have so much more to go.  I believe in God, he is my Lord and Savior, but I am a work in progress

Today is New Years Eve, and I am not one to make New Year’s resolutions– I would, however, make a life-long resolution.  I need to decrease and he must increase (John 3:30).  I am just about as good as dirt, but my name will be written in the Book of Life.

Its interesting.  I have gone through my slow time where you know God is there with you, but you don’t really feel Him… You know he is moving you in your life, but you still think your on your own.  You believe, trust and acknowledge Him, but it is just a time in life when you can’t see Him.  I have come back to my passionate Love that I feel towards God.  I have never been more content with my life even though so many negative things are happening.  But what scares me, it seems like a cycle:

1. Your on FIRE for God and no one can stop you, you talk to anyone and everyone.
2. You slowly lose that fire by people dulling you down and criticizing / ridiculing / suppressing you.  Its scary because it is not noticable… It is a silent enemy that slowly gets to you over time.  You slowly become hidden and more reserved about your faith.
3. You go through a period where you struggle, get tested, face temptation, and maybe even wonder if there IS a God.
4. After a period of pain, you find beauty in the pain– God’s plan becomes known to you and you are renewed with Fire…  Often you are wondering why you even questioned God.

Its a hard cycle, but its bullet proof.  God never gives us more than we can handle, and He knows our will and our heart.  Some people refer to these hard times as God testing us, but I think he is not testing us, he is strengthening us.  Think about it, we have these times of pain, but that is the time that we learn, grow the most.  If we didn’t have those struggles, we wouldn’t know how to relate to someone else and encourage them. If we didn’t know pain, we couldn’t mourn for those who are in pain.

For me, I am extremely happy.  I am even happy when there is pain knowing that God is working.  (Not saying it makes the pain easy, it just becomes more tolerable knowing that I have God on my side).  But this vicious cycle shows that if you are being persecuted, you are doing something right– you are growing in your faith, you are being tested.

This even goes back to when I first came back from my Africa trip.  I began having all of these conversations with my friends who practice Islam, Yogui, Mormonism, etc.  Those conversations made me dive even deeper into my faith by reading, researching, etc.  And there is no doubt that I was being tested.  But after that, I had a dull period where no one wanted to talk or even engage in any form of “religious” conversation.  But during that time, I was able to digest what I had researched, further the foundation of my beliefs and prepare for the next round.

Francis Chan did a sermon on You Have Everything You Need.  A point that really stood out to me was rejoicing in the right things.  There is a good point, we shouldn’t rejoice in the fact that ministry is “going well.”  We shouldn’t rejoice in church funds or personal funds being met– We should rejoice in the fact that our name is in the Book of Life.

¹ There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3

There is a time for everything.  As I sit here, it has never been more prominent in my life, that there is a time for everything.  There is a time for relationships, there is a time to be single, there is a time to be loud, there is a time to be silent.  There is a time to be courageous, there is a time to be passive.

The beauty behind this is: God gave us that instinct to know what time it is.  He has given us the gift of a living human to be able to act on time.

How wonderful.