Wisdom is more than knowledge or intelligence. If knowledge is the accumulation of facts, and intelligent is the development of reason, wisdom is found in the heavenly discernment and application of these things. For the spiritual leader, wisdom is the strong foundation from which many decisions may be made.
Spiritual wisdom involves knowing God and knowing self. It is a Holy Spirit filled gift. Jesus tells his disciples “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth... He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:12-14). Spiritual wisdom grows with time, being sustained by the Spirit.
Wisdom is introspective but it is also active. Paul writes, “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10). The spiritual leader takes wisdom and applies it, understanding that mere knowledge of the truth is never enough. We must also be doers of the word (James 1:22).
If wisdom is sought out of self-ambition, it is a burdensome thing. To face the human condition, entertaining the inevitable thoughts of depravity, wisdom can be a darkening thing. King Solomon solemnly speaks “For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow” (Ecclesiastes 1:18). The only way to bring wisdom out of the dark and into the light is to be filled with God's Spirit. Spirit-filled wisdom understands man's dependance on God and joyfully makes the path of humility known. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).
The spiritual leader exercises and hones wisdom through spiritually attentive testing and discernment. Paul writes “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). This kind of wisdom requires the transformation of our mind that can only come from the Lord. It enables us to discern the will of God.
Wisdom is more than knowledge or intelligence, it is also discernment and application. Spiritual wisdom is humble and Holy Spirit filled, always yielding itself to the Word of God. Wisdom is engaging eternal spiritual truth, which the Father gives us through Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Vision
Vision for a spiritual leader is both foresight and insight. Those who use this gift of vision to see the Kingdom of God in its current and future state are enabled to persevere through the difficulties and setbacks. Where there is difficulty, a visionary sees opportunity.
Vision that looks forward must not neglect the present circumstances. The spiritual leader may be gifted to see and understand where God is leading, but they should never take for granted the duties of the present day which God has granted them. Spiritual vision is always through the lens of faith in God, not self.
Vision understands the importance of the present as it leads to the future. The overarching story of the Old Testament is one of God pursuing His people and God giving them visions of Himself. The spiritual leaders were able to see and communicate these truths. Abraham, named “father of many nations,” taught his children the promises of God, entrusting to them the blessing and responsibility of their kinship. Moses had many visions from God but he didn't claim them as personal achievement. He dutifully made known the words of the Lord, leading an entire nation out of slavery and toward the promised land. David, upon learning he was to become the next king, didn't boast in his future. Instead, he was faithful to the present time and did not take the Lord's plans into his own hands. All the prophets of the Old Testament had visions of the coming Kingdom of God. They spoke about an eternal king and the restoration of the God's people – all of their visions were pointing towards Jesus.
When Jesus steps onto the scene everything changes and the visions become realities – they have a name and a face now. Jesus says early on in his ministry “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). He also says “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). He tells his disciples they are blessed for seeing what they see. The spiritual leader's visions always flow from a love and relationship with the Lord Jesus.
Vision always cares for people, the ones entrusted to the spiritual leader. As Jesus was nearing his arrest and crucifixion he spoke more and more intimately with his disciples. He made known to them the path he would walk, reassuring them that they would not be left alone. Jesus tells his disciples, “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:25-26).
Vision leads to venture. Once the disciples and apostles are empowered by the Holy Spirit, their vision pushed them to become missionaries and fulfill the great commission. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Spiritual eyes to discern what the Lord has for his people is vision. Vision always cares for people, maintaining hope and optimism. The spiritual leader with vision will march forward, confidently following where the Lord leads by the urgings and understanding of the Spirit.
Vision that looks forward must not neglect the present circumstances. The spiritual leader may be gifted to see and understand where God is leading, but they should never take for granted the duties of the present day which God has granted them. Spiritual vision is always through the lens of faith in God, not self.
Vision understands the importance of the present as it leads to the future. The overarching story of the Old Testament is one of God pursuing His people and God giving them visions of Himself. The spiritual leaders were able to see and communicate these truths. Abraham, named “father of many nations,” taught his children the promises of God, entrusting to them the blessing and responsibility of their kinship. Moses had many visions from God but he didn't claim them as personal achievement. He dutifully made known the words of the Lord, leading an entire nation out of slavery and toward the promised land. David, upon learning he was to become the next king, didn't boast in his future. Instead, he was faithful to the present time and did not take the Lord's plans into his own hands. All the prophets of the Old Testament had visions of the coming Kingdom of God. They spoke about an eternal king and the restoration of the God's people – all of their visions were pointing towards Jesus.
When Jesus steps onto the scene everything changes and the visions become realities – they have a name and a face now. Jesus says early on in his ministry “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). He also says “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). He tells his disciples they are blessed for seeing what they see. The spiritual leader's visions always flow from a love and relationship with the Lord Jesus.
Vision always cares for people, the ones entrusted to the spiritual leader. As Jesus was nearing his arrest and crucifixion he spoke more and more intimately with his disciples. He made known to them the path he would walk, reassuring them that they would not be left alone. Jesus tells his disciples, “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:25-26).
Vision leads to venture. Once the disciples and apostles are empowered by the Holy Spirit, their vision pushed them to become missionaries and fulfill the great commission. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Spiritual eyes to discern what the Lord has for his people is vision. Vision always cares for people, maintaining hope and optimism. The spiritual leader with vision will march forward, confidently following where the Lord leads by the urgings and understanding of the Spirit.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Stories
We all tell stories. I love that!
Don't you think that in some ways it's our stories that make us humans so unique? I can see a clear resemblance to our Maker because of stories. He said “Let us make man in our image” and thus began the great story between God and man.
Okay, I must be completely honest – I'm writing about stories because I just came back from the final Harry Potter movie. It was a good movie about a much better book, but all in all, a great story. What fascinates me about Harry Potter so much, especially after finishing the series, is the unbelievable connectedness and engaging nature of the story. As we grew up with the story, the story grew up with us. It became darker, more serious, more connected, and ultimately more satisfying. Alright, that's enough of an endorsement...
As great as Harry Potter is, there is a much better story. It's much darker, much more serious, much more deeply connected and fluid, and absolutely more satisfying. We read about it on the pages of Scripture, the Holy Bible. We experience it, all of us, but only some really respond to it.
The story that unfolds through the Bible is the story that unfolds in each of our lives. It's the promise of God when He says “I will be your God. You will be my people. I will prove this to you over and over again for eternity.”
The story that unfolds in each of our lives is the story we must never stop telling. It's better than anything we'd put on paper – more real than imagination. It's a story that is confirmed by God's Spirit. A story that is repeated by Jesus himself. Your life story is one that Jesus loves to tell to his Father, so you should be certain that it's worth telling to everyone you have the chance to.
“You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3).
Each of you have a story, not written down on paper, but written on hearts. It's to be known and told to everyone. You prove that your Story is from Christ because of the Spirit of the living God. It's more real than a book – it's as real as your beating heart.
What story do you have to tell today?
Don't you think that in some ways it's our stories that make us humans so unique? I can see a clear resemblance to our Maker because of stories. He said “Let us make man in our image” and thus began the great story between God and man.
Okay, I must be completely honest – I'm writing about stories because I just came back from the final Harry Potter movie. It was a good movie about a much better book, but all in all, a great story. What fascinates me about Harry Potter so much, especially after finishing the series, is the unbelievable connectedness and engaging nature of the story. As we grew up with the story, the story grew up with us. It became darker, more serious, more connected, and ultimately more satisfying. Alright, that's enough of an endorsement...
As great as Harry Potter is, there is a much better story. It's much darker, much more serious, much more deeply connected and fluid, and absolutely more satisfying. We read about it on the pages of Scripture, the Holy Bible. We experience it, all of us, but only some really respond to it.
The story that unfolds through the Bible is the story that unfolds in each of our lives. It's the promise of God when He says “I will be your God. You will be my people. I will prove this to you over and over again for eternity.”
The story that unfolds in each of our lives is the story we must never stop telling. It's better than anything we'd put on paper – more real than imagination. It's a story that is confirmed by God's Spirit. A story that is repeated by Jesus himself. Your life story is one that Jesus loves to tell to his Father, so you should be certain that it's worth telling to everyone you have the chance to.
“You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3).
Each of you have a story, not written down on paper, but written on hearts. It's to be known and told to everyone. You prove that your Story is from Christ because of the Spirit of the living God. It's more real than a book – it's as real as your beating heart.
What story do you have to tell today?
Sunday, July 17, 2011
A Series of Unlikely Events
God works in mysterious ways doesn't He. Often times we find ourselves in the most unlikely places because of a series of unlikely events. They are 'unlikely' in the sense that they were nothing we imagined or planned them to be. The point is this: God endlessly and faithfully works all things together for His glory and our good. What seems unlikely may be exactly what God has intended all along.
Believe that everyone who yields their person and plans to God will see every character and circumstance along the way in the ever-present light of God's everlasting plan.
God has set apart a people for Himself and He confirms His promises to them generation after generation. God promises this to Abraham, saying “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you” (Genesis 17:7). The deepest promise God ever made is the one He confirms day after day. “I will be your God and you will be mine.”
The most difficult and depressing series of events will never extinguish God's promise. Many times that promise is amplified during those difficult times. God calls us to be steadfast and immovable, as He is, so that we may see His love and power in every circumstance.
Let's take a look at a story about God's people. It involves many stories and series of unlikely events, but in the end it proves that God is ever-present and always faithful. Let's begin at the end and work backwards.
There was a time when God's people were suffering a drought that lasted seven years. What had begun as Abraham's family was quickly becoming a great nation, but they were all in danger of being wiped out by the drought. Rumor had spread that the Egyptians down south had plenty of food that had been stored up from years of harvest. Jacob, Abraham's grandson, sent his sons down to Egypt to try and find food, lest they starve. Through a miracle that was years in the making, the Lord provided for His people in a most unlikely way – through the power and forgiveness of a son; Jacob's son Joseph.
To give the end meaning we must explore those unlikely events which preceded it.
It all began with a dream. Joseph's dream.
We read about it in Genesis 27, when Joseph shares two dreams with his brothers. His brothers had already hated Joseph, but these dreams sent them over the edge. Joseph told them, on two occasions, that according to his dreams, he would rule over them one day. That is a wild dream – it enraged Joseph's brothers. In their anger they threw him into a ditch and sold him into slavery. They went home and told their father that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. While his father was grieving, Joseph was sent into slavery in Egypt.
It wasn't long before Joseph had proved himself to be useful to an officer of the Egyptian Pharaoh. The officer was so impressed with Joseph that he put him in charge of the entire household. Joseph was doing pretty well considering the dismal circumstance, but then another unlikely event occurred. The officer's wife tried to seduce Joseph but Joseph remained steadfast and resisted. He actually fled the scene, but when he did, the officer's wife made a fuss and claimed that he tried to seduce her. This lie landed Joseph in prison before he could make a case for himself.
After a while in prison, Joseph found himself with two new cellmates. They both had strange dreams one night and Joseph was able to interpret them correctly. It meant good news for one and bad news for the other, but the Lord remained faithful to Joseph, who found favor with the men. Years later Joseph was released from prison to become the servant of the Pharaoh because of the dreams he interpreted.
Joseph interpreted a dream of Pharaoh's and warned him that he needed to store up food and resources for an impending drought that would last seven years. Trusting Joseph, the Pharaoh put him in charge of all of Egypt's resources.
What started with a child's dream had taken Joseph through a series of very unlikely events, most of them tough, and landed him as the number two in charge over Egypt. Even so, things were about to get stranger still.
During the years of drought Joseph's brothers ended up traveling into Egypt to seek supplies. The spoke directly to Joseph. Believing that their brother was either dead or miserable in slavery, they didn't notice Joseph until he revealed himself to them. Once they recognized Joseph, they all wept and asked forgiveness.
Joseph replied, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones” (Genesis 50:19-21).
That child's dream had come true but it was far unlike anything Joseph would have imagined or planned. Joseph was able to provide for his family and God's people because God had been directing him all those years, but the decision was still left up to Joseph. Had Joseph remained bitter toward his brothers and never forgiven them, he could have refused to help them. God's people may have starved to death if it weren't for God's provision and Joseph's response.
In every circumstance, God's provision and our response work together. We must understand that as the Lord is always working for His glory and our good, our response still matters.
God has provided an incredible way for you to know and experience His provision day after day.
Will you respond to God?
Take some time to think about where you are today and how you got there. Take a trip down memory lane and examine those events that had powerful impact on your life. How has God used those to bring meaning and perspective to the life you live today? How have you responded along the way? How should you respond now and in the future?
Believe that everyone who yields their person and plans to God will see every character and circumstance along the way in the ever-present light of God's everlasting plan.
God has set apart a people for Himself and He confirms His promises to them generation after generation. God promises this to Abraham, saying “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you” (Genesis 17:7). The deepest promise God ever made is the one He confirms day after day. “I will be your God and you will be mine.”
The most difficult and depressing series of events will never extinguish God's promise. Many times that promise is amplified during those difficult times. God calls us to be steadfast and immovable, as He is, so that we may see His love and power in every circumstance.
Let's take a look at a story about God's people. It involves many stories and series of unlikely events, but in the end it proves that God is ever-present and always faithful. Let's begin at the end and work backwards.
There was a time when God's people were suffering a drought that lasted seven years. What had begun as Abraham's family was quickly becoming a great nation, but they were all in danger of being wiped out by the drought. Rumor had spread that the Egyptians down south had plenty of food that had been stored up from years of harvest. Jacob, Abraham's grandson, sent his sons down to Egypt to try and find food, lest they starve. Through a miracle that was years in the making, the Lord provided for His people in a most unlikely way – through the power and forgiveness of a son; Jacob's son Joseph.
To give the end meaning we must explore those unlikely events which preceded it.
It all began with a dream. Joseph's dream.
We read about it in Genesis 27, when Joseph shares two dreams with his brothers. His brothers had already hated Joseph, but these dreams sent them over the edge. Joseph told them, on two occasions, that according to his dreams, he would rule over them one day. That is a wild dream – it enraged Joseph's brothers. In their anger they threw him into a ditch and sold him into slavery. They went home and told their father that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. While his father was grieving, Joseph was sent into slavery in Egypt.
It wasn't long before Joseph had proved himself to be useful to an officer of the Egyptian Pharaoh. The officer was so impressed with Joseph that he put him in charge of the entire household. Joseph was doing pretty well considering the dismal circumstance, but then another unlikely event occurred. The officer's wife tried to seduce Joseph but Joseph remained steadfast and resisted. He actually fled the scene, but when he did, the officer's wife made a fuss and claimed that he tried to seduce her. This lie landed Joseph in prison before he could make a case for himself.
After a while in prison, Joseph found himself with two new cellmates. They both had strange dreams one night and Joseph was able to interpret them correctly. It meant good news for one and bad news for the other, but the Lord remained faithful to Joseph, who found favor with the men. Years later Joseph was released from prison to become the servant of the Pharaoh because of the dreams he interpreted.
Joseph interpreted a dream of Pharaoh's and warned him that he needed to store up food and resources for an impending drought that would last seven years. Trusting Joseph, the Pharaoh put him in charge of all of Egypt's resources.
What started with a child's dream had taken Joseph through a series of very unlikely events, most of them tough, and landed him as the number two in charge over Egypt. Even so, things were about to get stranger still.
During the years of drought Joseph's brothers ended up traveling into Egypt to seek supplies. The spoke directly to Joseph. Believing that their brother was either dead or miserable in slavery, they didn't notice Joseph until he revealed himself to them. Once they recognized Joseph, they all wept and asked forgiveness.
Joseph replied, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones” (Genesis 50:19-21).
That child's dream had come true but it was far unlike anything Joseph would have imagined or planned. Joseph was able to provide for his family and God's people because God had been directing him all those years, but the decision was still left up to Joseph. Had Joseph remained bitter toward his brothers and never forgiven them, he could have refused to help them. God's people may have starved to death if it weren't for God's provision and Joseph's response.
In every circumstance, God's provision and our response work together. We must understand that as the Lord is always working for His glory and our good, our response still matters.
God has provided an incredible way for you to know and experience His provision day after day.
Will you respond to God?
Take some time to think about where you are today and how you got there. Take a trip down memory lane and examine those events that had powerful impact on your life. How has God used those to bring meaning and perspective to the life you live today? How have you responded along the way? How should you respond now and in the future?
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Discipline
[I had a great opportunity this summer to do a study on Qualities of Spiritual Leadership with College Journey. These are the qualities that were included in the study. They are outlined in Oswald Sander's Spiritual Leadership]
Discipline is essential to the development of all spiritual gifts and qualities of leadership. This modern world has made it increasingly difficult to maintain any level of real spiritual discipline, but that should not be an excuse for laziness and lack of purpose. Each person was created for a great purpose – to be discipled in the Lord and declare His greatness. We can declare His greatness every day of our lives, but to become a great disciple requires great discipline.
Discipline is the preparation the occurs for the Lord to work mightily through His people. It is always initiated and sustained by His Spirit so don't be fooled into thinking that discipline is an independent endeavor. The spiritual leaderJesus’ knows that the Father leads them into enduring discipline.
Discipline preserves, practices, and produces. It preserves oneself in purity. It practices the spiritual gifts and disciplines. It produces the spiritual fruits. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
“We have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:9-11).
Discipline is the grace of our Heavenly Father, who longs for us to be made holy in righteousness. He will not forsake us nor abandon us. When discipline is difficult and painful, know that it produces the fruit of righteousness.
True leaders are more disciplined than most. They “work while others waste time, study while others snooze, pray while others daydream” (Sanders, Spiritual Leadership). A life of faithful discipline readies the leader for any struggle, enables them to lead others, and most importantly places them in constant communion with the Lord.
For all of the gifts and qualities of spiritual leadership, discipline is the harmonizing quality that enables and develops each.
Discipline is essential to the development of all spiritual gifts and qualities of leadership. This modern world has made it increasingly difficult to maintain any level of real spiritual discipline, but that should not be an excuse for laziness and lack of purpose. Each person was created for a great purpose – to be discipled in the Lord and declare His greatness. We can declare His greatness every day of our lives, but to become a great disciple requires great discipline.
Discipline is the preparation the occurs for the Lord to work mightily through His people. It is always initiated and sustained by His Spirit so don't be fooled into thinking that discipline is an independent endeavor. The spiritual leaderJesus’ knows that the Father leads them into enduring discipline.
Discipline preserves, practices, and produces. It preserves oneself in purity. It practices the spiritual gifts and disciplines. It produces the spiritual fruits. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
“We have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:9-11).
Discipline is the grace of our Heavenly Father, who longs for us to be made holy in righteousness. He will not forsake us nor abandon us. When discipline is difficult and painful, know that it produces the fruit of righteousness.
True leaders are more disciplined than most. They “work while others waste time, study while others snooze, pray while others daydream” (Sanders, Spiritual Leadership). A life of faithful discipline readies the leader for any struggle, enables them to lead others, and most importantly places them in constant communion with the Lord.
For all of the gifts and qualities of spiritual leadership, discipline is the harmonizing quality that enables and develops each.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Midsummer Update
Summer is already past halfway over?! Say it isn't so!
It's been a great summer so far and I wanted to give you an update on what I've been doing and what I'll be doing before long.
This summer I've been really blessed to intern with the college ministry at Journey Church. I love this church, love the people, love the leaders, and love the opportunities they have to serve and connect with the community, both locally and globally. Adam, the College Pastor, has given me some awesome projects and challenges along the way and it's been a lot of fun and really encouraging. My prayer each week is just that God would take the work out of my hands and just use me however he chooses so that the college ministry would grow inwardly and outwardly. Pray along with me in that. Let's be Spirit-led.
Come mid-August I will go to Colorado Springs for a 4 month internship with Engineering Ministries International (check out their website at http://www.emiusa.org/). I'll be living with a host family and working as an engineering intern on a project based out of Thailand (check out the details at http://www.emiusa.org/projects/projectprofile_5550.php). I'll also be working with the company TSC Global, helping better design and fabricate their already awesome roof designs (check them out at http://tscglobal.org/).
The vision of the project in Thailand is to use sustainable earth-based materials to design and build a primary care hospital and medical training facility. When I say primary, I mean primary – this facility will service a dozen remote villages that we won't even be able to travel to. We will incorporate the TSC roof into the design and then travel to Thailand for 2-3 weeks at the end of September. While we are in Thailand we will build a smaller facility and teach the locals how to construct the structure safely and strongly. After we leave the locals should take the designs and materials for the main facility and then construct it according to our instruction. Once completed, the facility will provide basic medical care to communities who have none. It will also be a place of education and medical training. It will ALSO be Christian faith-centered – a place where people can come to know Jesus through community, Bible studies, and prayer. This is a really incredible project for a number of reasons, but the two that excite me most are the provision of health services and the proclamation of the Gospel! Thailand, being a predominately rural and Buddhist nation, is in great need of both.
When I return from Thailand I will spend the rest of the semester working on the TSC roof designs. Our focus will be to improve the design for withstanding seismic and earthquake activity. We will also work on the design to improve its connectability with other structural systems while also designing a rain-water collection system. It will be a lot of lab tests with trial and error – hands on stuff that I love to do!
I am so excited for where God has me now and where He's taking me. Pray with me that I will be faithful to follow everywhere He leads, trusting He will enable me in all things.
It's been a great summer so far and I wanted to give you an update on what I've been doing and what I'll be doing before long.
This summer I've been really blessed to intern with the college ministry at Journey Church. I love this church, love the people, love the leaders, and love the opportunities they have to serve and connect with the community, both locally and globally. Adam, the College Pastor, has given me some awesome projects and challenges along the way and it's been a lot of fun and really encouraging. My prayer each week is just that God would take the work out of my hands and just use me however he chooses so that the college ministry would grow inwardly and outwardly. Pray along with me in that. Let's be Spirit-led.
Come mid-August I will go to Colorado Springs for a 4 month internship with Engineering Ministries International (check out their website at http://www.emiusa.org/). I'll be living with a host family and working as an engineering intern on a project based out of Thailand (check out the details at http://www.emiusa.org/projects/projectprofile_5550.php). I'll also be working with the company TSC Global, helping better design and fabricate their already awesome roof designs (check them out at http://tscglobal.org/).
The vision of the project in Thailand is to use sustainable earth-based materials to design and build a primary care hospital and medical training facility. When I say primary, I mean primary – this facility will service a dozen remote villages that we won't even be able to travel to. We will incorporate the TSC roof into the design and then travel to Thailand for 2-3 weeks at the end of September. While we are in Thailand we will build a smaller facility and teach the locals how to construct the structure safely and strongly. After we leave the locals should take the designs and materials for the main facility and then construct it according to our instruction. Once completed, the facility will provide basic medical care to communities who have none. It will also be a place of education and medical training. It will ALSO be Christian faith-centered – a place where people can come to know Jesus through community, Bible studies, and prayer. This is a really incredible project for a number of reasons, but the two that excite me most are the provision of health services and the proclamation of the Gospel! Thailand, being a predominately rural and Buddhist nation, is in great need of both.
When I return from Thailand I will spend the rest of the semester working on the TSC roof designs. Our focus will be to improve the design for withstanding seismic and earthquake activity. We will also work on the design to improve its connectability with other structural systems while also designing a rain-water collection system. It will be a lot of lab tests with trial and error – hands on stuff that I love to do!
I am so excited for where God has me now and where He's taking me. Pray with me that I will be faithful to follow everywhere He leads, trusting He will enable me in all things.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Freedom
Celebrate freedom.
Freedom on the Fourth of July conjures up all sorts of images. One of the first images that comes to my mind is William Wallace standing on a hill with one hundred other men screaming the word at the top of their lungs. Those men fought bravely for their freedom hundreds of years ago just as all our service men and women work tirelessly and fight bravely for our freedom today. It takes thousands upon thousands of dedicated persons to give us a level of security today, and we often take that for granted. It takes one person to tear down those walls of security and bind us in the shackles of fear. That person, the one who brings fear and death, looks different to a lot of people. I'm not writing as much about him though. I'm writing about the one person who secures our eternal freedom, that we may live fulfilling lives today.
Jesus Christ.
This is a brief meditation on the book of Galatians, written as a letter to Galatia by the apostle Paul. The book spends itself in the pursuit of making a case for our freedom in Christ. This is worth reading, writing about, and talking about. Let's not waste our time.
For those who long to know God, we must first gain some perspective on ourselves. How can you view anything properly if you aren't even sure of the lens you are viewing it through?
To gain perspective on ourselves, it doesn't take long to begin to understand our depravity and our need of a greater good, a Savior. If we would plumb the depths of our depravity, we would find in our hearts the tendency to turn good things to bad. Glimmers of light break the darkness whenever we experience true goodness, but those glimmers radiate from the truth that stands outside of ourselves. This is the true light. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Call this truth the Word of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. [John 1:14]
Jesus used his life and ministry to do many things. He spoke of the Truth but he also spoke to each person individually, showing them how they had come to misunderstand the truth. He exposed every misuse of what God had created for good, declaring that the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God, was here and being made full. At the fullness of this Kingdom, there would be no evil. [Revelation 21]
With such a powerful message, many expected Jesus to show his power by creating a kingdom of government on earth. They expected a warrior, a leader, and Jesus was those things, just not in the way they first expected. Jesus exposed the awful use of power by the authorities, which had be used to enslave and oppress people, by being a mockery in court where he was ridiculed, shamed, and tortured. The power of Jesus and his cross scream loudly “Look at what you've done – this is not the way things were meant to be. You've lost your freedom. You've made a mess of things.”
Freedom was lost under the law, but because of Jesus' death at the hands of the law and at the hands of God, freedom is again ours.
For freedom, Christ has set us free. Stand firm, and do not submit yourself again to slavery. [Galatians 5:1]
We do not live in this freedom from Christ by continuing to rely on ourselves. We will never climb a ladder of good works into heaven.
In his letter, Paul goes as far to say “You are severed form Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.”
“For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.” [Galatians 5:4-5]
The only thing that counts is Christ. Faith begins and endures in love.
So this is the message of freedom. When we lost freedom because we subjected ourselves to slavery by our own sin, when we made bad things out of the good things God gave us, God made a way through Jesus. He made a way back to Him, back to freedom, and only through Jesus. What Jesus has done, do not attempt to do better. Do not attempt to continue to earn the free grace of God by working tirelessly at making yourself better. That's not freedom – that's slavery to the law and slavery to self, the very things that Jesus has freed us from.
Live in love. Walk in the Spirit of God, which is no longer our spirit, but His. Produce the fruits of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-24] – but remember that those are produced by the Spirit and not yourself.
What God has done, let no man un-do. Jesus set you free, so walk with him and don't wander off trying to do it all yourself.
That's freedom, eternal freedom.
Freedom on the Fourth of July conjures up all sorts of images. One of the first images that comes to my mind is William Wallace standing on a hill with one hundred other men screaming the word at the top of their lungs. Those men fought bravely for their freedom hundreds of years ago just as all our service men and women work tirelessly and fight bravely for our freedom today. It takes thousands upon thousands of dedicated persons to give us a level of security today, and we often take that for granted. It takes one person to tear down those walls of security and bind us in the shackles of fear. That person, the one who brings fear and death, looks different to a lot of people. I'm not writing as much about him though. I'm writing about the one person who secures our eternal freedom, that we may live fulfilling lives today.
Jesus Christ.
This is a brief meditation on the book of Galatians, written as a letter to Galatia by the apostle Paul. The book spends itself in the pursuit of making a case for our freedom in Christ. This is worth reading, writing about, and talking about. Let's not waste our time.
For those who long to know God, we must first gain some perspective on ourselves. How can you view anything properly if you aren't even sure of the lens you are viewing it through?
To gain perspective on ourselves, it doesn't take long to begin to understand our depravity and our need of a greater good, a Savior. If we would plumb the depths of our depravity, we would find in our hearts the tendency to turn good things to bad. Glimmers of light break the darkness whenever we experience true goodness, but those glimmers radiate from the truth that stands outside of ourselves. This is the true light. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Call this truth the Word of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. [John 1:14]
Jesus used his life and ministry to do many things. He spoke of the Truth but he also spoke to each person individually, showing them how they had come to misunderstand the truth. He exposed every misuse of what God had created for good, declaring that the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God, was here and being made full. At the fullness of this Kingdom, there would be no evil. [Revelation 21]
With such a powerful message, many expected Jesus to show his power by creating a kingdom of government on earth. They expected a warrior, a leader, and Jesus was those things, just not in the way they first expected. Jesus exposed the awful use of power by the authorities, which had be used to enslave and oppress people, by being a mockery in court where he was ridiculed, shamed, and tortured. The power of Jesus and his cross scream loudly “Look at what you've done – this is not the way things were meant to be. You've lost your freedom. You've made a mess of things.”
Freedom was lost under the law, but because of Jesus' death at the hands of the law and at the hands of God, freedom is again ours.
For freedom, Christ has set us free. Stand firm, and do not submit yourself again to slavery. [Galatians 5:1]
We do not live in this freedom from Christ by continuing to rely on ourselves. We will never climb a ladder of good works into heaven.
In his letter, Paul goes as far to say “You are severed form Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.”
“For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.” [Galatians 5:4-5]
The only thing that counts is Christ. Faith begins and endures in love.
So this is the message of freedom. When we lost freedom because we subjected ourselves to slavery by our own sin, when we made bad things out of the good things God gave us, God made a way through Jesus. He made a way back to Him, back to freedom, and only through Jesus. What Jesus has done, do not attempt to do better. Do not attempt to continue to earn the free grace of God by working tirelessly at making yourself better. That's not freedom – that's slavery to the law and slavery to self, the very things that Jesus has freed us from.
Live in love. Walk in the Spirit of God, which is no longer our spirit, but His. Produce the fruits of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-24] – but remember that those are produced by the Spirit and not yourself.
What God has done, let no man un-do. Jesus set you free, so walk with him and don't wander off trying to do it all yourself.
That's freedom, eternal freedom.
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