Jim B, who we loved along with so very many people whose lives he blessed, will be dearly missed. He went to meet the Lord that he loved on Monday, March 31, after a sudden heart attack while playing basketball during his lunch break. Our hearts are breaking, aching for your loss Beth. And still, our hearts are settled with peace- the peace we are praying for you to be solidly surrounded and supported and strengthened by- as we have solid confidence of Jim's joy in Jesus' presence now.
We will miss you Jim and we are praying for you and grieving with you dear Beth.
Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense
by Luise Henriette of Brandenburg
Jesus Christ, my sure Defense
And my Savior ever liveth
Knowing this, my confidence
Rests upon the hope he giveth
Though the night of death be fraught
Still with many an anxious thought
Jesus, my Redeemer lives
I, too, unto life shall awaken
Endless joy my Savior gives
Shall my courage then be shaken?
Shall I fear, or could the Head
Rise and leave His members dead?
Nay, too closely I am bound
Unto Him by hope forever
By His grace the Rock's been found
Grasped it, and will leave it never
Even death cannot now part
From it's Lord, the trusting heart
Laugh to scorn the gloomy grave
And at death no longer tremble
He, the Lord, who came to save
Will at last His own assemble
They will go their Lord to meet
Treading death beneath their feet
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Near or Far- these things really matter
A few days ago, after big events in the southern part of this country influenced a gathering of students on our university, a block from our apartment complex, my heart was more broken than ever for this land. When things like this happen and piercing words are spoken just a block from our home, it tends to hit harder than when I just read about it far away. Right away I wrote a flaming blog draft, bursting with emotion, blazingly bold with risk... and my husband wisely cautioned me from posting it.
We're not here as political activists (the ones who this gov't are most eager to "show the door"), although we are here to work, bringing peace and hope. Since I don't have a full understanding of what's going on in the south, whose behind the good and the bad of what's happening there, I can't comment on it. But I do know that there is some awful stuff that's going on and I know that matters deeply to the heart of God.
As Christians, we are called to let these kinds of events- ones near and far- affect us and move us to action- to prayer and to work. In a study recently on the book of Romans, our group noted Paul's powerful example to us in praying for the Romans.... though he had never met them. I don't think this is natural. Most of us are far more concerned with the stuff in our own backyards, of course. But I think we all need to lift our eyes a bit... I know I do.
I haven't been to the south, but I am writing from the capital to tell you: PRAY. Believe me when I say there are needs worth imploring our gracious God to intervene for. There are people here, well over a billion of them (1 in 4 on the earth) and they are worth asking for Him to protect, give peace to and deliver. And I know there are needs around your corner of the earth too.
I've been thinking of Jesus telling us to be persistent, to trust him, to submit our requests for his glory and I know its good... but it does feel way beyond me. It is... it's well beyond all of us. I don't pray like I'd like... But thanks be to God for His grace. We do have "all his energy, which so powerfully works in us." (Col.1:29)
I want for me and I hope for you too, to take initiative to educate myself and bring to God the good and the bad that we learn of what's happening in the world... and as we pray for people, may God anchor us with his own great love and make our hearts more like his, full of love (the ready to go, give, serve, suffer, and die kind of love). Move us with your compassion Lord! Move us to action! Bring your peace.
We're not here as political activists (the ones who this gov't are most eager to "show the door"), although we are here to work, bringing peace and hope. Since I don't have a full understanding of what's going on in the south, whose behind the good and the bad of what's happening there, I can't comment on it. But I do know that there is some awful stuff that's going on and I know that matters deeply to the heart of God.
As Christians, we are called to let these kinds of events- ones near and far- affect us and move us to action- to prayer and to work. In a study recently on the book of Romans, our group noted Paul's powerful example to us in praying for the Romans.... though he had never met them. I don't think this is natural. Most of us are far more concerned with the stuff in our own backyards, of course. But I think we all need to lift our eyes a bit... I know I do.
I haven't been to the south, but I am writing from the capital to tell you: PRAY. Believe me when I say there are needs worth imploring our gracious God to intervene for. There are people here, well over a billion of them (1 in 4 on the earth) and they are worth asking for Him to protect, give peace to and deliver. And I know there are needs around your corner of the earth too.
I've been thinking of Jesus telling us to be persistent, to trust him, to submit our requests for his glory and I know its good... but it does feel way beyond me. It is... it's well beyond all of us. I don't pray like I'd like... But thanks be to God for His grace. We do have "all his energy, which so powerfully works in us." (Col.1:29)
I want for me and I hope for you too, to take initiative to educate myself and bring to God the good and the bad that we learn of what's happening in the world... and as we pray for people, may God anchor us with his own great love and make our hearts more like his, full of love (the ready to go, give, serve, suffer, and die kind of love). Move us with your compassion Lord! Move us to action! Bring your peace.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The Fish Party
Could it be that our baby boy is so close to manhood already? Well, manhood is a stretch ... but he is clearly well beyond "baby". Pieces fell together (by fantastic sovereign arrangement!) for Nainai ("grandma"- Matt's mom, Mary) to come for a visit and so we celebrated Isaiah's second birthday a little early with her.
Our boy is pretty into fish these days so we had a fish party. The evening started with seven of his little friends collaborating on an ocean scene on poster paper and then each contributing a fish to make the scene complete. Then we moved on to eating like fish... bobbing for apples. It didn't go over all that well, but a few brave ones followed Matt's lead to launch into the deep in search of their apples and a few were victorious! Lastly, each of the kids got to go fishing for toys- with the broom handle that Matt had rigged up quite nicely as a fishing pole. It was quite a fun evening... only would have been better to have all Isaiah's buddies and family from the states join in!
Isaiah recieved several fantastic gifts for his birthday... not that the boy was really lacking anything before- but it was still fun! His favorites: the guitar from Nainai, a bag of balls, "Mikos Town" (Isaiah's word for Music... the toy is actually "Alphabet Town", a great ABC toy imported by Nainai) and a scooter ("kuzu" to Isaiah) from Mama and Papa... we think he'll grow into it by summer :)
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Gems of Hope
Living overseas, we often end up listening to Bible teaching off of one of our favorite web sites. We recently listened to some great sermons taught by Sunder Krishnan (www.rexdalealliance.org) that were especially good. I know this is a lot of text to post- but this stuff has been pretty life changing for me and I hope it might be for you as well! My notes are kinda flaky- the sermons were much better- but I hope that you will be, as Matt and I have been, re-inspired to come with fresh hunger and thirst to the Word of God, the Bible, as you look over these points.
Learning from Saul's Fatal Errors
1- Impatient Worship, I Samuel 13
Saul wasn't willing to wait. His impatience led straight to disobeidence. For Israel (Exodus 32:1), impatience's offspring was idolatry. Why is it that we (the church) and that I myself tolerate this sin as if it's not anything too terrible?
Sunder suggests that a key way we allow impatience to rule in our times with the Lord, are when we hold (knowingly or not) our To-Do lists as more important than His Word.
2- Utilitarian Worship, I Samuel 24:16-21
Just like an old ad, "things go better with Coke," too many times we come to God because we think He should make things better, nicer, easier for us. We come to Him only or mainly for blessing, guidance, help or instruction. (side point- SK mentioned a quote from Bible professor Bruce Waltke that sometimes our obsession with "the will of God" is primarily a pagan obsession... because we can get too focused on some magical, mystical perfect plan, instead of focusing on relating to and loving, honoring the Perfect God whose plans cannot be thwarted.)
The Word has more to say about our need for God for strength, hope, courage for trials than it has to say about happy, easy lives for believers. Jesus said we are His branches- to live intimately (in relationship) wrapped around Him.
3- Rationalistic Worship, I Samuel 28:5-7
Too often we worship God just like Baal worshippers worshipped... our worship is defined by, tyrannized by our feelings and emotions. We worship the experience of worship. It wasn't a "good worship time" unless we were deeply caught up in exciting, sensory emotion... Yes, worshipping God can be like this (David's experience was just this when the ark was brought into Jerusalem) but we must not limit worship, ourselves, or God to be only this.
Recapturing the Wonder of the Word
The Word of God is not just words: data, information to be communicated.
Genesis 1 shows us how God's voice creates out of nothing.
Psalm 29
For Hosea, his whole life became a vehicle for communicating God's voice, His Word to him.
For Jeremiah, God's voice to him was like a "fire shut up in [his] bones."
For Amos, God's voice was like a lion roaring out of his mouth.
God's Word is, still today, spoken to us with His own living voice. It is not a dead message, merely words on a page... The Word is not just a transferable piece of info.
The Voice of God that creates, destroys, transforms... invites all people into dialog with Himself.
(Sunder acknowledges learning this from Eugene Peterson- not sure which book)
The Printing Press brought big changes
A Shift from Listening to Reading
Before the press, the Word would usually be read over people, from a pastor in an elevated pulpit. The Greek word for obedience means something like "to listen under." Readers initiate the start and stop of reading (unless you follow a reading schedule of some sort.) Listeners are more submissive, less in control.
A Shift in Education- from relating to the teacher/ master to acquiring information. *We need to refocus our time in the Word to come ready to hear the Living Voice of God, eager to relate to the Speaker and not just acquire information.
To turn our reading eyes (which can easily skirt letting words' message enter our hearts and minds) into listening ears, receiving hearts: Expose yourself continually to all of God's Word. SK suggests reading through it yearly or some comparable plan. "Let the texture of the text get into you," Eugene Peterson.
Like the Word, prayer is not dry either... (we are not merely talking at God like we could talk to the ceiling) we are responding to the voice of God in His Word.
Let the Word be your fuel in prayer. God initiates prayer by speaking to us in His Word. He tells us of Himself, His ways, His promises. Engage with Him in His words, respond to Him.
Prayer is like learning a language. How many children are nervous about learning their mother tongue? How many parents tell their child, "I'll start talking to you once you learn to talk"? Dive in. Pick a passage and respond to what the Lord has spoken there in His Word.
Final Thoughts
The burning bush didn't burn up not because it was some extraordinary species of bush, but only because the fire didn't need it for fuel.
The purpose/ life work that God gives us to do, is not our gift to Him, but it is His gift to us... He uses it to refine us, recreate us in His image, refresh us with His own faithful care and presence in our lives.
These teachings are affecting lots of change in my heart and perspective when I come the Word. I've known that it is the Living Word of God... but did I really know it? Lord, work your transformation in me!
Matt and I are going to try to listen to a little bit together- either straight from the Word or a short teaching- together two mornings a week. You can check back with me in a little while to hear how it's going...
Learning from Saul's Fatal Errors
1- Impatient Worship, I Samuel 13
Saul wasn't willing to wait. His impatience led straight to disobeidence. For Israel (Exodus 32:1), impatience's offspring was idolatry. Why is it that we (the church) and that I myself tolerate this sin as if it's not anything too terrible?
Sunder suggests that a key way we allow impatience to rule in our times with the Lord, are when we hold (knowingly or not) our To-Do lists as more important than His Word.
2- Utilitarian Worship, I Samuel 24:16-21
Just like an old ad, "things go better with Coke," too many times we come to God because we think He should make things better, nicer, easier for us. We come to Him only or mainly for blessing, guidance, help or instruction. (side point- SK mentioned a quote from Bible professor Bruce Waltke that sometimes our obsession with "the will of God" is primarily a pagan obsession... because we can get too focused on some magical, mystical perfect plan, instead of focusing on relating to and loving, honoring the Perfect God whose plans cannot be thwarted.)
The Word has more to say about our need for God for strength, hope, courage for trials than it has to say about happy, easy lives for believers. Jesus said we are His branches- to live intimately (in relationship) wrapped around Him.
3- Rationalistic Worship, I Samuel 28:5-7
Too often we worship God just like Baal worshippers worshipped... our worship is defined by, tyrannized by our feelings and emotions. We worship the experience of worship. It wasn't a "good worship time" unless we were deeply caught up in exciting, sensory emotion... Yes, worshipping God can be like this (David's experience was just this when the ark was brought into Jerusalem) but we must not limit worship, ourselves, or God to be only this.
Recapturing the Wonder of the Word
The Word of God is not just words: data, information to be communicated.
Genesis 1 shows us how God's voice creates out of nothing.
Psalm 29
For Hosea, his whole life became a vehicle for communicating God's voice, His Word to him.
For Jeremiah, God's voice to him was like a "fire shut up in [his] bones."
For Amos, God's voice was like a lion roaring out of his mouth.
God's Word is, still today, spoken to us with His own living voice. It is not a dead message, merely words on a page... The Word is not just a transferable piece of info.
The Voice of God that creates, destroys, transforms... invites all people into dialog with Himself.
(Sunder acknowledges learning this from Eugene Peterson- not sure which book)
The Printing Press brought big changes
A Shift from Listening to Reading
Before the press, the Word would usually be read over people, from a pastor in an elevated pulpit. The Greek word for obedience means something like "to listen under." Readers initiate the start and stop of reading (unless you follow a reading schedule of some sort.) Listeners are more submissive, less in control.
A Shift in Education- from relating to the teacher/ master to acquiring information. *We need to refocus our time in the Word to come ready to hear the Living Voice of God, eager to relate to the Speaker and not just acquire information.
To turn our reading eyes (which can easily skirt letting words' message enter our hearts and minds) into listening ears, receiving hearts: Expose yourself continually to all of God's Word. SK suggests reading through it yearly or some comparable plan. "Let the texture of the text get into you," Eugene Peterson.
Like the Word, prayer is not dry either... (we are not merely talking at God like we could talk to the ceiling) we are responding to the voice of God in His Word.
Let the Word be your fuel in prayer. God initiates prayer by speaking to us in His Word. He tells us of Himself, His ways, His promises. Engage with Him in His words, respond to Him.
Prayer is like learning a language. How many children are nervous about learning their mother tongue? How many parents tell their child, "I'll start talking to you once you learn to talk"? Dive in. Pick a passage and respond to what the Lord has spoken there in His Word.
Final Thoughts
The burning bush didn't burn up not because it was some extraordinary species of bush, but only because the fire didn't need it for fuel.
The purpose/ life work that God gives us to do, is not our gift to Him, but it is His gift to us... He uses it to refine us, recreate us in His image, refresh us with His own faithful care and presence in our lives.
These teachings are affecting lots of change in my heart and perspective when I come the Word. I've known that it is the Living Word of God... but did I really know it? Lord, work your transformation in me!
Matt and I are going to try to listen to a little bit together- either straight from the Word or a short teaching- together two mornings a week. You can check back with me in a little while to hear how it's going...
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
vacation in Thailand
We have been pretty spoiled for the past few days... we just returned from the land of smiles: sunshine, palm trees and swimming, and coconut curry and mangos with sticky rice. We had a really great time in Thailand with some good friends of ours from here and a few other families that live overseas. It was a super refreshing time for all of us! Here are a few pictures for you (Peegao- as Isaiah calls them)
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