I used to focus on finding a beautiful girl and getting into a relationship with her. Often, it was at the cost of other areas of my life, like my social and work lives. I'm not sure why it was so important to me. Maybe it was to enhance my perceived status with others. Maybe it was to boost my confidence. If I had a beautiful girlfriend who adored me, I would have a one-up on someone who didn't, right? Or, maybe I just wanted to make out. Perhaps it was a combination of all of the above. (It definitely had to include option 3).
Whatever was the reason for it, I "set the woman up on the highest pedestal" in my life, as my good friend Tye once told me. But my highest priorities in a woman "on the highest pedal" usually had little to do with her character. If I can be very frank, I was almost always more interested in her charm and beauty. Don't get me wrong, I do not believe these are characteristics one should not look for in a female. But they are far from the vital characteristics. That is, unless you want to go insane over the long-haul (which you very well may regardless).
As I am getting older, however, and since my last relationship ended almost a year ago, I have begun looking for other characteristics in my future "significant other," those that are not as "deceptive" and "fleeting" as charm and beauty. Believe me, I have dated some women with amazing character. But, I figure that because I am getting older, any woman I date now will most likely have the characteristics of someone whom I will eventually marry. It is not 100% probable, but it is still probable. So, I figure I better look for someone whose thoughts and actions closely mirror those I aspire to now. And, as a corollary, I better begin thinking and acting to the standard I aspire to now. No sense in "regressing," as my roommate Karyn says.
As I have been spending a lot more time in the Bible in the past 10 months than I ever have before, I came across some provoking questions to ask about someone I want to date and potentially marry. They are my list of priorities in a potential mate:
-Does she love and fear the Lord? (Proverbs 31:30)
-Can I have full confidence in her in all aspects of her life? (31:11)
-Would she bring good, and not harm, to my life? (31:12)
-Does she work vigorously and wisely to profit and provide for herself and those close to her? (31:13-19)
-Does she care for the needy? (31:20)
-Does she plan ahead for hard times? (31:21-22)
-Would her life bring me respect and praise? (31:23)
-Does she exhibit strength and dignity? (31:25)
-Does she speak wisdom and instruct faithfully? (31:26)
-Does she wisely attend to her affairs? (31:27)
-Would I be able to praise her for her thoughts and actions? (31:28-29)
Naturally, many of these questions make me turn inward to my own thoughts and actions. Do my own thoughts and actions square up with these standards?
More important than my focus on a future mate is my focus on who I am in Christ. (My friend Whitney called me on this one - Thanks, Whit!) This idea leads me to some further priorities:
-Do I take each thought captive and make it obedient to Christ - to make it in line with Him? (2 Cor. 10:5)
-Do I meditate on God's word day and night so that I can act it out? (Joshua 1:8, James 1:25)
-Do I think and act as though I know that Jesus is the "way, the truth, and the life," and that no one sees God except through Him? (John 14:6)
-Do I love God and love my neighbor as myself? (Matthew 22:36-40)
I will add more and more priorities as time goes on. But these seem to be enough priorities for several lifetimes, let alone the only one I'm guaranteed here on Earth. And if I were to evaluate myself honestly, I don't know if I'd be passing. And if I were to have my friends evaluate me on these, I wonder how they would respond...
Perhaps it's time for some rearranging, some "summer cleaning" before India. I'm going to preach much of these latter priorities there, and only if necessary would I like to use words.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
My Brother's...or Sister's...Keeper pt. 2
Rather than continue with all the issues the film brought to the viewer's attention, I want to focus on a line in the poem about which I had an important question.
When her sister Kate dies, Anna writes that nothing great came of her death. "There were no buildings named after her or monuments erected in her honor," were her main qualifications for what it meant to have something "great" come from one's death. The minute I heard this, I asked myself, "What about having a building named after a person or a monument erected in a person's honor makes him or her 'great' in death?" I am fascinated that these were the qualifications for Anna for her sister's death to have been great.
What about Kate's caring so much for the dignity of both her and sister's lives that she told Anna to sue her parents for the rights to her own body so that neither of them would be sliced open continually for the sake of the preservation of Kate's currently terrible state? Was it not an act of sacrifice for Kate to refuse the idea that her sister be her natural organ harvest? Did Kate not see a greater meaning for Anna's life than to be her personal organ harvest, when even with Anna's kidney she would not regain health but only be prevented from further downward spiral? What did Anna believe is the meaning of life? Surely for Kate, it was something more than the "reason" her mother had Anna - to serve as a genetically perfect match for Kate in case she needed any organs. She wanted a life for Anna that included the ability to have children and participate fully in physical activities in her adolescent years, and the ability to CHOOSE for herself what to do with her body, when, where, and for what reason. She steadfastly refused to allow Anna to be used to keep herself alive. And yet, at the end, Anna does not mention it.
Why wouldn't she mention it? Quite simply, Kate did not see the meaning of her life as sitting in bed as her body wasted away slowly, or its corollary, receiving new organs so that she could continue to sit in bed as the REST of her body wasted away slowly. "Time [was] up," and the family needed to accept it. And thus, her choice to refuse Anna's body parts for help seemed to be made more out of a personal choice than a sacrificial choice. And as a consequence, Anna did not see her sister's death as something meaningful.
I think Sartre's words illuminate Anna's thoughts on her sister's life: "A man is involved in life, leaves his impress on it, and outside of that there is nothing." To Anna, Kate was involved in life, had enjoyable experiences with her family, and outside of that, there was nothing else.
Another interesting question I have is whether Kate felt the kind of anguish, forlornness, and despair Sartre talked about. My initial thoughts are no. I do not think Kate was a complete existentialist. But she did seem hopeless and resigned to her "fate".
From a Christian perspective, I want to compare and contrast the story of Kate's battle with cancer in the film and that of my friend Richard Felipe's battle with cancer in real life. Like Kate, Richard lost his battle. Besides the similarity in the end results, the stories leading up to the end look completely different. Nowhere in the film did I see Kate sure of the reasons for her cancer, the fact that she could heal, nor what would happen if she did not heal. Richard was. Throughout his battle, I saw him take joy in his trial, because it was making him more like Jesus, who also suffered immensely in his life. I also heard him and many of our brothers and sisters say, "We are sure he can be healed." And yet, they also said, "But there is no less glory if God decides not to heal him." Because all were sure that many lives would be changed for the better because of how they saw Richard live in spite of his cancer. And they were sure that people would see the powerful influence of this "Jesus" character on his thoughts, attitudes, and actions. And lastly, Richard knew that when and if he died, he would immediately be with his Lord in heaven, a place of rejoicing and worshiping God for eternity.
At the end of the film, I did not see Kate living her life to serve others. Yet, our pastor made it a point to say often in the days and weeks leading up to Richard's death, "Richard is living for others." When he saw people in the hospital, he asked what he could do for them. He believed so much that those who did not know Jesus needed to know Him to live eternally that he shared the gospel with as many as would listen. And in spite of his worn condition at church three weeks before his death, I saw him standing and praising God during our worship time, with a facial expression that spelled "peace." The fruits of the Spirit were alive in him, because he made pleasing God by living by Jesus' example his number one priority. He was truly living out the two greatest commandments: to love God and to love one's neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:37-40). I am truly convicted to live more and more according to Richard's example.
Prayer for India: Jesus, I want to have the same heart as Richard, to live to please You as an example to others. I know this means that I must share more how vitally important Your sacrifice was to truly live, to love others as much as I love myself, and to love You by keeping Your "light burden." Thank you for what you did in Richard's life and his example to the world of Your amazing love, mercy, and compassion. May his life continue to bring You a harvest despite the fact that he is gone from this world.
When her sister Kate dies, Anna writes that nothing great came of her death. "There were no buildings named after her or monuments erected in her honor," were her main qualifications for what it meant to have something "great" come from one's death. The minute I heard this, I asked myself, "What about having a building named after a person or a monument erected in a person's honor makes him or her 'great' in death?" I am fascinated that these were the qualifications for Anna for her sister's death to have been great.
What about Kate's caring so much for the dignity of both her and sister's lives that she told Anna to sue her parents for the rights to her own body so that neither of them would be sliced open continually for the sake of the preservation of Kate's currently terrible state? Was it not an act of sacrifice for Kate to refuse the idea that her sister be her natural organ harvest? Did Kate not see a greater meaning for Anna's life than to be her personal organ harvest, when even with Anna's kidney she would not regain health but only be prevented from further downward spiral? What did Anna believe is the meaning of life? Surely for Kate, it was something more than the "reason" her mother had Anna - to serve as a genetically perfect match for Kate in case she needed any organs. She wanted a life for Anna that included the ability to have children and participate fully in physical activities in her adolescent years, and the ability to CHOOSE for herself what to do with her body, when, where, and for what reason. She steadfastly refused to allow Anna to be used to keep herself alive. And yet, at the end, Anna does not mention it.
Why wouldn't she mention it? Quite simply, Kate did not see the meaning of her life as sitting in bed as her body wasted away slowly, or its corollary, receiving new organs so that she could continue to sit in bed as the REST of her body wasted away slowly. "Time [was] up," and the family needed to accept it. And thus, her choice to refuse Anna's body parts for help seemed to be made more out of a personal choice than a sacrificial choice. And as a consequence, Anna did not see her sister's death as something meaningful.
I think Sartre's words illuminate Anna's thoughts on her sister's life: "A man is involved in life, leaves his impress on it, and outside of that there is nothing." To Anna, Kate was involved in life, had enjoyable experiences with her family, and outside of that, there was nothing else.
Another interesting question I have is whether Kate felt the kind of anguish, forlornness, and despair Sartre talked about. My initial thoughts are no. I do not think Kate was a complete existentialist. But she did seem hopeless and resigned to her "fate".
From a Christian perspective, I want to compare and contrast the story of Kate's battle with cancer in the film and that of my friend Richard Felipe's battle with cancer in real life. Like Kate, Richard lost his battle. Besides the similarity in the end results, the stories leading up to the end look completely different. Nowhere in the film did I see Kate sure of the reasons for her cancer, the fact that she could heal, nor what would happen if she did not heal. Richard was. Throughout his battle, I saw him take joy in his trial, because it was making him more like Jesus, who also suffered immensely in his life. I also heard him and many of our brothers and sisters say, "We are sure he can be healed." And yet, they also said, "But there is no less glory if God decides not to heal him." Because all were sure that many lives would be changed for the better because of how they saw Richard live in spite of his cancer. And they were sure that people would see the powerful influence of this "Jesus" character on his thoughts, attitudes, and actions. And lastly, Richard knew that when and if he died, he would immediately be with his Lord in heaven, a place of rejoicing and worshiping God for eternity.
At the end of the film, I did not see Kate living her life to serve others. Yet, our pastor made it a point to say often in the days and weeks leading up to Richard's death, "Richard is living for others." When he saw people in the hospital, he asked what he could do for them. He believed so much that those who did not know Jesus needed to know Him to live eternally that he shared the gospel with as many as would listen. And in spite of his worn condition at church three weeks before his death, I saw him standing and praising God during our worship time, with a facial expression that spelled "peace." The fruits of the Spirit were alive in him, because he made pleasing God by living by Jesus' example his number one priority. He was truly living out the two greatest commandments: to love God and to love one's neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:37-40). I am truly convicted to live more and more according to Richard's example.
Prayer for India: Jesus, I want to have the same heart as Richard, to live to please You as an example to others. I know this means that I must share more how vitally important Your sacrifice was to truly live, to love others as much as I love myself, and to love You by keeping Your "light burden." Thank you for what you did in Richard's life and his example to the world of Your amazing love, mercy, and compassion. May his life continue to bring You a harvest despite the fact that he is gone from this world.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
My Brother's...or Sister's...Keeper
*PLOT SPOILER ALERT*
Teach for America invited me tonight to a pre-screening of the film "My Sister's Keeper" at the Grove. The film's writer raised some pertinent questions about the issues of freedom and the meaning of life in the script. Afterward, I had the chance to discuss the film with my roommate, David, in both a Christian and a non-Christian context. I am going to attempt to discuss these "hot topic" issues from several points of view. Pardon my paraphrasing at times...but I think I did comprehend the most important points of the film enough to analyze it.
There are two main questions related to the issue of freedom that arise in the film. The first could read, "Is it right to freely forsake all opportunities to regain health and choose one's own certain death in the context of one's immense suffering?" The doctor applied practically all treatments to the leukemia-laden older sister, Kate, and all failed. There was at least one hope left, of course: her younger sister would be a perfect match to donate a kidney, which she needed because hers had both failed. At that point, however, Kate comments that her mother would eventually have her "chopped into so many pieces we can't even count...2,000 petri dishes full of Kate..." And this all presumably to keep her body from fully succumbing to cancer. In other words, Kate's mother will go so far as to reduce her to nothing in her quest to keep her from dying of cancer. And frankly, Kate's had enough of the pain, the brokenness, and the destruction of her body merely to keep it alive. She doesn't want the kidney transplant that would restore her endocrine system. She tells her baby sister, "It's come to the end," and she implies that her family needs to accept it.
To be continued tomorrow...
Teach for America invited me tonight to a pre-screening of the film "My Sister's Keeper" at the Grove. The film's writer raised some pertinent questions about the issues of freedom and the meaning of life in the script. Afterward, I had the chance to discuss the film with my roommate, David, in both a Christian and a non-Christian context. I am going to attempt to discuss these "hot topic" issues from several points of view. Pardon my paraphrasing at times...but I think I did comprehend the most important points of the film enough to analyze it.
There are two main questions related to the issue of freedom that arise in the film. The first could read, "Is it right to freely forsake all opportunities to regain health and choose one's own certain death in the context of one's immense suffering?" The doctor applied practically all treatments to the leukemia-laden older sister, Kate, and all failed. There was at least one hope left, of course: her younger sister would be a perfect match to donate a kidney, which she needed because hers had both failed. At that point, however, Kate comments that her mother would eventually have her "chopped into so many pieces we can't even count...2,000 petri dishes full of Kate..." And this all presumably to keep her body from fully succumbing to cancer. In other words, Kate's mother will go so far as to reduce her to nothing in her quest to keep her from dying of cancer. And frankly, Kate's had enough of the pain, the brokenness, and the destruction of her body merely to keep it alive. She doesn't want the kidney transplant that would restore her endocrine system. She tells her baby sister, "It's come to the end," and she implies that her family needs to accept it.
To be continued tomorrow...
Faith
After sleeping only five hours last night and attending a gifted and talented conference for 7 hours today, I was pretty exhausted. Plus, I still had a case study due for my Counseling course at church. When my friend called me, clearly fresh off a crying session, and said she was coming over, my flesh said, "I have things to do." Yet, I immediately prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to renew a right spirit in my heart and to give me the words and demeanor to comfort her in whatever was bothering her. After this small prayer, I felt lighter and more willing to help.
I walked outside and sat down with her on the porch. I was ready to listen. As she talked about her own situation, I asked myself if I would react to her situation as faithfully as she has. For the past several months, she has endured quite a bit of suffering in different areas of her life. And I have rarely heard her complain. Normally, she responds with, "God will/is tak(e)(ing) care of it," and she has meant it. It has been an awesome example for me, who is too easily prone to complaining and whining. However, today was different. Today, she was very upset about the people around her who are suffering so much and why it has to be so.
She vented her frustration for several minutes and I launched my own response. Yet, I quickly realized that I wasn't helping. One part of me reminded me how much I had to write in the next two hours. The other part of me reminded me to pray to the Spirit for the right response. We sat silently for several moments and I resumed a much lighter and more Spirit-led response. I reminded her that she has those close friends and family to show her their amazing faith in the midst of suffering; that they are not suffering purposelessly, as existentialists believe. Rather, because we believe in redemption in this life and a life to come, this suffering is intended for the good and reward of those undergoing it. And that will come at a time when it's most needed, since "all things work together for the good of those who love God." Our worldly perspectives are so small - what we intend or think occurs for evil, God uses for good. Even our friend Richard's death has served to bring many to Christ, and some even closer to Him than they already were.
As I was telling her this, it reminded me of the discussion I attended in my former Great Books class about Kierkegaard's view of faith and suffering. My former professor, Dr. Gose, values Fear and Trembling because it shed new light on the role suffering plays in a Christian's more complete understanding of faith in Christ, and the fact that our faith, which others may not understand, may cause us to suffer in ways no one else can comprehend. This was one of my friend's main complaints - why do those close to her have to undergo such intense suffering? I think Kierkegaard provides a thought-provoking portion of the answer.
By the time she left, she felt much better. I think I shifted her "paradigm" on this issue from "Why is so much evil happening to people who are so faithful to God?" to "How is their faith in God shaping their response to that evil?" And, I finished my case study on anger and forgiveness in a little under an hour, which must be a world record!
To be honest, I haven't felt pain like my friend has experienced yet. My main prayer is that when I do, I will take it to the one who suffered the turning of His Father's back on Him for the salvation of humanity. Peter wrote almost a couple thousand years ago about the purpose of our suffering in this life. "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth,
Prayer for India:
Jesus, You suffered so much for humanity and You love them regardless of whether they love You or not. I admit that I haven't lived up to Your perfect ways and that I need your forgiveness. Thank you for offering it so freely to me. As I prepare for India, remind me day in and day out that faith in You is not cheap and that it requires me to empty myself of everything I want and need. Give me strength to start that process. In Your name, Amen.
I walked outside and sat down with her on the porch. I was ready to listen. As she talked about her own situation, I asked myself if I would react to her situation as faithfully as she has. For the past several months, she has endured quite a bit of suffering in different areas of her life. And I have rarely heard her complain. Normally, she responds with, "God will/is tak(e)(ing) care of it," and she has meant it. It has been an awesome example for me, who is too easily prone to complaining and whining. However, today was different. Today, she was very upset about the people around her who are suffering so much and why it has to be so.
She vented her frustration for several minutes and I launched my own response. Yet, I quickly realized that I wasn't helping. One part of me reminded me how much I had to write in the next two hours. The other part of me reminded me to pray to the Spirit for the right response. We sat silently for several moments and I resumed a much lighter and more Spirit-led response. I reminded her that she has those close friends and family to show her their amazing faith in the midst of suffering; that they are not suffering purposelessly, as existentialists believe. Rather, because we believe in redemption in this life and a life to come, this suffering is intended for the good and reward of those undergoing it. And that will come at a time when it's most needed, since "all things work together for the good of those who love God." Our worldly perspectives are so small - what we intend or think occurs for evil, God uses for good. Even our friend Richard's death has served to bring many to Christ, and some even closer to Him than they already were.
As I was telling her this, it reminded me of the discussion I attended in my former Great Books class about Kierkegaard's view of faith and suffering. My former professor, Dr. Gose, values Fear and Trembling because it shed new light on the role suffering plays in a Christian's more complete understanding of faith in Christ, and the fact that our faith, which others may not understand, may cause us to suffer in ways no one else can comprehend. This was one of my friend's main complaints - why do those close to her have to undergo such intense suffering? I think Kierkegaard provides a thought-provoking portion of the answer.
By the time she left, she felt much better. I think I shifted her "paradigm" on this issue from "Why is so much evil happening to people who are so faithful to God?" to "How is their faith in God shaping their response to that evil?" And, I finished my case study on anger and forgiveness in a little under an hour, which must be a world record!
To be honest, I haven't felt pain like my friend has experienced yet. My main prayer is that when I do, I will take it to the one who suffered the turning of His Father's back on Him for the salvation of humanity. Peter wrote almost a couple thousand years ago about the purpose of our suffering in this life. "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth,
and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."
If you are suffering today, know that His wounds have healed you, if you will accept them.Prayer for India:
Jesus, You suffered so much for humanity and You love them regardless of whether they love You or not. I admit that I haven't lived up to Your perfect ways and that I need your forgiveness. Thank you for offering it so freely to me. As I prepare for India, remind me day in and day out that faith in You is not cheap and that it requires me to empty myself of everything I want and need. Give me strength to start that process. In Your name, Amen.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Anger
As I read tonight from my Counseling book, I came across the section on anger once more. The first day's passages from "Anger" deal with the heavenly attitude towards wrong done to someone personally. In this case, I obviously read it as it pertained to my life.
Specifically, I was hit by Romans 12:21, which reads, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." It struck me because to act this out requires a completely different attitude that one we are naturally accustomed to take when we feel wronged. More poignantly, it struck me because I do not have this heavenly, godly attitude working for the most part in my life. And nowhere is this more visible than when I step onto a soccer field (or into any other competitive arena - heck, I am competitive when I play Uno with my 10 year-old nephew).
As many know, I play soccer at least once a week at USC's Cromwell Track and Field. Normally, students and people from the neighborhood mingle and play pickup "footie" matches. Sunday night is the normally scheduled night. However, I am out of school now and that means any night is fair game. Over the past week, I have retaliated several times against people for playing too physically or unfairly. Sometimes, these retaliations have been completely unwarranted. Even worse, some of them have been worse than the original "wrong."
As I read some of the verses dealing with anger, I felt convicted about how little discretion and how much foolishness I show in retaliating. I am not "pursuing peace with all men" when I do this (Hebrews 12:14-15), nor am I "looking at others as more important than myself" (Philippians 2:3-5). And I do not act this way only on the soccer field. It shows up in my classroom and at my home.
Therefore, I resolve to meditate on Hebrews 12:14-15, Proverbs 15:1, Philippians 2:3-5, 14, and Proverbs 19:11 to help reshape and remold my attitude. My roommate Tom and I had a discussion this evening about how our brains must be rewired to change our behaviors, through both thinking and practice. This helped me realize that I can't change much without putting change into practice. Although, I also know I need to pray for help from the Holy Spirit. Dwelling on this Scripture will help me remember to act differently, which in turn, will change my attitudes even more so. Thus, a never-ending cycle of goodness flowing into my mind and out to my actions, preparing me to respond lovingly to situations which might have angered me before!
Prayer for the Day
Jesus, help me to remember your sacrifice on the cross more and more every day, so that I can have your attitude: considering others better than myself. I am so weak to do this, because I can be very selfish. Yet, convict me with the Holy Spirit to cease from anger, forsake wrath, and overlook transgressions in love. Give me the strength to love those who don't love me, because you love them.
Specifically, I was hit by Romans 12:21, which reads, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." It struck me because to act this out requires a completely different attitude that one we are naturally accustomed to take when we feel wronged. More poignantly, it struck me because I do not have this heavenly, godly attitude working for the most part in my life. And nowhere is this more visible than when I step onto a soccer field (or into any other competitive arena - heck, I am competitive when I play Uno with my 10 year-old nephew).
As many know, I play soccer at least once a week at USC's Cromwell Track and Field. Normally, students and people from the neighborhood mingle and play pickup "footie" matches. Sunday night is the normally scheduled night. However, I am out of school now and that means any night is fair game. Over the past week, I have retaliated several times against people for playing too physically or unfairly. Sometimes, these retaliations have been completely unwarranted. Even worse, some of them have been worse than the original "wrong."
As I read some of the verses dealing with anger, I felt convicted about how little discretion and how much foolishness I show in retaliating. I am not "pursuing peace with all men" when I do this (Hebrews 12:14-15), nor am I "looking at others as more important than myself" (Philippians 2:3-5). And I do not act this way only on the soccer field. It shows up in my classroom and at my home.
Therefore, I resolve to meditate on Hebrews 12:14-15, Proverbs 15:1, Philippians 2:3-5, 14, and Proverbs 19:11 to help reshape and remold my attitude. My roommate Tom and I had a discussion this evening about how our brains must be rewired to change our behaviors, through both thinking and practice. This helped me realize that I can't change much without putting change into practice. Although, I also know I need to pray for help from the Holy Spirit. Dwelling on this Scripture will help me remember to act differently, which in turn, will change my attitudes even more so. Thus, a never-ending cycle of goodness flowing into my mind and out to my actions, preparing me to respond lovingly to situations which might have angered me before!
Prayer for the Day
Jesus, help me to remember your sacrifice on the cross more and more every day, so that I can have your attitude: considering others better than myself. I am so weak to do this, because I can be very selfish. Yet, convict me with the Holy Spirit to cease from anger, forsake wrath, and overlook transgressions in love. Give me the strength to love those who don't love me, because you love them.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Thank You Letters
Today, I spent some time with my new housemate, Karyn (Tim's sister), creating thank you cards for those that have supported me financially or through prayer to my knowledge as of June 12th. It was an excellent exercise in reminiscing to pick out different pictures that reminded me in some way of you awesome, generous, and gracious people. Your support reminds me that Jesus wants something awesome done in India, and that the Holy Spirit is working in many hearts and minds to make it possible to get there and carry out His purposes.
Today's prayer: "Father, give each of us group members the opportunities to to make growth in the areas in which we're weak. Be our strength in these areas and call us time after time to do Your will with every step we take on our trip."
Today's prayer: "Father, give each of us group members the opportunities to to make growth in the areas in which we're weak. Be our strength in these areas and call us time after time to do Your will with every step we take on our trip."
"How do I sign up?"
It is 2:30 on Sunday morning and this really should have been my third hour of sleep, considering I must be up for 10:00 church. Yet, I have felt the Holy Spirit tugging me to create this blog so that those who wish may come and see what He is doing in me as He prepares me for my mission trip in India.
First, I have made my focus verse for this trip John 4:35, which in the NASB reads, "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.'" I must say that my house on 2900 Walton is a field ripe for harvest itself. Yet, ever since my roommate from my freshman year at Pepperdine, and his wife, returned from their first year of marriage in South Korea last October and told me of their ministry there, I have desired to travel to Asia with the purpose of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. This past February, my friend Whitney Roth, with whom I completed credentialing classes, informed me that the church she previously attended was organizing a mission trip to India. I immediately asked her, "How do I sign up?"
After filling out an application and, a couple months later, interviewing, Larry called me and said that he could not wait to have me on the team. And, I learned that my friend Whitney would be a member of the team, too. Although I know I could work with a group whose members I had never met before, it was very comforting to know that one of these members would actually be someone I know quite well.
As of today, we have now had four meetings, which occur every two Sundays. I am part of the speaking and drama teams and part of my responsibility is to develop at least one 15 minute message on some aspect of Christ's love with an accompanying dramatic presentation of the Scripture on which the message is based. If you feel led, please pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to give me the words that those in my household, my life in LA, and in India need to hear about the sacrificial love and salvation of Jesus of Nazareth.
For future reference, I will end each entry with my prayer for the day for India.
"You have loved me when I have been selfish, rebellious, and even when I have turned my back on You, God. Thank You that I must not earn your love. I pray that You will continue to allow me to dwell on the fact that You love me unconditionally, that Your love has covered my sins, and that it should transform my thoughts and actions into Your thoughts and actions, which glorify You."
First, I have made my focus verse for this trip John 4:35, which in the NASB reads, "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.'" I must say that my house on 2900 Walton is a field ripe for harvest itself. Yet, ever since my roommate from my freshman year at Pepperdine, and his wife, returned from their first year of marriage in South Korea last October and told me of their ministry there, I have desired to travel to Asia with the purpose of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. This past February, my friend Whitney Roth, with whom I completed credentialing classes, informed me that the church she previously attended was organizing a mission trip to India. I immediately asked her, "How do I sign up?"
After filling out an application and, a couple months later, interviewing, Larry called me and said that he could not wait to have me on the team. And, I learned that my friend Whitney would be a member of the team, too. Although I know I could work with a group whose members I had never met before, it was very comforting to know that one of these members would actually be someone I know quite well.
As of today, we have now had four meetings, which occur every two Sundays. I am part of the speaking and drama teams and part of my responsibility is to develop at least one 15 minute message on some aspect of Christ's love with an accompanying dramatic presentation of the Scripture on which the message is based. If you feel led, please pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to give me the words that those in my household, my life in LA, and in India need to hear about the sacrificial love and salvation of Jesus of Nazareth.
For future reference, I will end each entry with my prayer for the day for India.
"You have loved me when I have been selfish, rebellious, and even when I have turned my back on You, God. Thank You that I must not earn your love. I pray that You will continue to allow me to dwell on the fact that You love me unconditionally, that Your love has covered my sins, and that it should transform my thoughts and actions into Your thoughts and actions, which glorify You."
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