If you haven't bought and listened to the album Marked by Heaven by Jake Hamilton, please do it now. It is passionate and spirit-led worship, and truly an anthem for our generation. He is one of the worship leaders at Bethel church (pastored by Bill Johnson- one of my heroes, and surely the topic of another post) and part of Jesus Culture. As I was on the subway the other day, I was listening to the song Embrace, and God really spoke to me through it.
"It's all gonna be okay, for I know if your eye is on the sparrow and your heart is on Me"
First I felt the judgment of God- the idea that He was watching me and looking carefully at my sin, knowing when my heart strayed from His. But then His love just hit me. He is the good Father, watching over His children. He knows us from the inside out. He watches because He love us, so He can guide and discipline us. As I was sitting in the subway car, knowing that God was watching, He filled me with peace. The words of King David made a little bit more sense- "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!" (Psalm 139:23) What a joy that God knows our hearts!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
hero
Tony Dungy is one of my heroes. One of his friends wrote this about him, "He asked me if there was anybody who I thought could talk to the young man. I told him Tony Dungy was a man of impeccable integrity, who understands young men." (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=100128/TonyDungy)
How many people can you say that about? "He is a man or woman of impeccable integrity." This is the type of integrity that goes beyond external actions; it screams of selflessness and love. It's the type of integrity Jesus had, willing to give up everything for another. In that sense, it's no surprise that Tony Dungy is such a powerful witness for Christ. It's also something that you don't one day just have, impeccable integrity is earned through difficulty and sacrifice. Here is part of his testimony- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3PUPCR7NFA&feature=related.
I know my own character is far from there, but I pray that He'll keep on directing me and changing me.
How many people can you say that about? "He is a man or woman of impeccable integrity." This is the type of integrity that goes beyond external actions; it screams of selflessness and love. It's the type of integrity Jesus had, willing to give up everything for another. In that sense, it's no surprise that Tony Dungy is such a powerful witness for Christ. It's also something that you don't one day just have, impeccable integrity is earned through difficulty and sacrifice. Here is part of his testimony- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3PUPCR7NFA&feature=related.
I know my own character is far from there, but I pray that He'll keep on directing me and changing me.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
still alive
I've been reflecting on my trip to Haiti and the earthquake for some time now, and I admit I'm still broken, confused and sometimes even angry. I wrote an extensive update for my supporters within a few days of coming back, but after the earthquake I realized that some things have changed. Some of the questions I had in those few days have been answered, while other questions have popped up. In the end though, I believe God is glorified through all of this: my team's work in Haiti, and even through the earthquake.
I find myself endlessly editing that original update (it's too long to post), and in the process I can see God's heart for Haiti more and more. I remember reading an article about the evangelist Pat Robertson claiming that the earthquake was God's punishment for a pact Haiti had made with the devil. While God does indeed curse people, and even nations for their sin, I believe that it is beyond us to claim to know God's will in this.
One thing that I couldn't help but notice, in my time in Haiti, was the brokenness: there is no infrastructure, there is almost no economy, and there is often no justice. Corruption is rampant; even Christianity is corrupted by voodoo. But, there was one other thing I saw: Haitians that were willing to do anything to help their people, churches doing everything they could to see Christ glorified in Haiti, and the multitude of foreign aid groups and missions teams yearning and praying for change in Haiti. All of this was before the earthquake. The church, the body of Christ, is reaching out to Haiti before and after the earthquake. In the news reports of Haiti, I have read numerous claims of people on the streets repenting, turning their lives to Jesus, and people singing songs of praise in the face of death and destruction. From the survivors, there seem to be more cries of thankfulness for life than anger from loss. I pray that this will be a time when lives are changed for the better.
From a more personal perspective, it has been really hard hearing updates from people in Haiti. Most of the doctors we worked with have lost all their possessions, and many have lost family as well. I cannot imagine what they are going through and the pain they are feeling. But there is also a sense of joy. One of the doctors who almost died in the earthquake wrote this, "still alive to continue our mission on the earth." Amen.
I find myself endlessly editing that original update (it's too long to post), and in the process I can see God's heart for Haiti more and more. I remember reading an article about the evangelist Pat Robertson claiming that the earthquake was God's punishment for a pact Haiti had made with the devil. While God does indeed curse people, and even nations for their sin, I believe that it is beyond us to claim to know God's will in this.
One thing that I couldn't help but notice, in my time in Haiti, was the brokenness: there is no infrastructure, there is almost no economy, and there is often no justice. Corruption is rampant; even Christianity is corrupted by voodoo. But, there was one other thing I saw: Haitians that were willing to do anything to help their people, churches doing everything they could to see Christ glorified in Haiti, and the multitude of foreign aid groups and missions teams yearning and praying for change in Haiti. All of this was before the earthquake. The church, the body of Christ, is reaching out to Haiti before and after the earthquake. In the news reports of Haiti, I have read numerous claims of people on the streets repenting, turning their lives to Jesus, and people singing songs of praise in the face of death and destruction. From the survivors, there seem to be more cries of thankfulness for life than anger from loss. I pray that this will be a time when lives are changed for the better.
From a more personal perspective, it has been really hard hearing updates from people in Haiti. Most of the doctors we worked with have lost all their possessions, and many have lost family as well. I cannot imagine what they are going through and the pain they are feeling. But there is also a sense of joy. One of the doctors who almost died in the earthquake wrote this, "still alive to continue our mission on the earth." Amen.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
back to the 'real' world
I'll be posting my Haiti update after I've had a little more time to process what happened during the trip, but right now I'm definitely struggling with the transition back to the 'real' world. It scares me that the world I live in, is so completely different than the world I just came from. It also scares me how much I desired to get back to this 'real' world with warm showers and mosquito-free rooms: the more comfortable life. Could I do long-term missions in a similar setting; could I let go of these comforts?
Jaeson Ma (jaesonma.com/refocus), in a blog entry about refocusing in 2010, asks the question, "Do I look like Him?" Jesus is the ultimate example; He was willing to let go of every comfort, and even life itself for our sake. Can I let go of everything for Him? Do I look like Him?
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