He asked me what my name meant. I told him grace.
He asked me what grace was. I told him it has many meanings, but in the Christian faith, it's a gift. Something we receive without doing anything for.
He said with a smile, "Ya that's good for you. You show me gracious and kindness because you very busy but making time for me." I said, "Well God's given me a lot of grace. My purpose is to pass it on."
He said, "My name is difficult to understand. It means many things, but one is that there is meaning to life. I think this Bible book is good to find that in." I told him I agreed and asked if he had read it before. He said he read some stories back in his home country but would like to learn more, so I tried to figure out a time when he would be able to meet up with someone. He said he was too busy but asked if he could just email me questions. Little does he know I will send a couple guys to visit him anyway, and in the meantime I gave him an English/Chinese Bible.
His first language is Chinese. Mine is English. He speaks some English. I have exactly five phrases down in Chinese. But for a minute, God was present today despite the language barrier. And it was evident that He is at work.
Because the only reason the man came into the church in the first place was to attend our English class from 3:30-5pm. We didn't have a single class scheduled that day.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
[next to them]
Learned the coolest phrase today. Next to them. Yeah I know it sounds weird, but wait til you hear me out.
There once was a guy named Nehemiah. And he had this vision. His people, the Israelites, were in exile under the control of the Persians and under the Babylonians before that. When Nehemiah learns that his people's beloved city Jerusalem is in rubble without walls to protect it, he seeks the Lord in prayer for months. Then he finds the courage to ask the Persian king if he can return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls, and surprisingly, the king says yes. So Nehemiah sets off for home with his vision, protection from the king and timber for the project.
This isn't the cool part yet though. That comes next. Instead of taking it all on himself, Nehemiah rallies his people, and they begin to build next to each other. Twenty times the phrase "next to them/him" is used in chapter three as the building is describe in detail, and "beside them" is used once. Additionally, over 30 individuals are mentioned and eight groups of people are listed - all working on a different part of the city walls.
Priests/Levites. Perfume-makers. Rulers of districts. Temple servants. Guards. Goldsmiths and merchants. All are part of the plan. It wasn't left up to one group of people. It wasn't about one talent. It wasn't set-aside for only certain individuals. Each part of society was involved. Every person mattered. Everyone worked side-by-side with another. Not independently. Not just Nehemiah. Next to each other.
This is really cool too when you think about ministry. This is how it's supposed to happen. Next to each other. Not left up to pastors. Not left up to motivational speakers. Not left up to praise bands or music directors. Not left up to youth leaders or deacons or Sunday School teachers or elders. If the church's purpose is to show the world who Jesus is, then we have sorely missed the boat when we think God's work is left up to people who are "called" to it.
No, God's Kingdom is furthered best next to each other I think. With all involved. All talents. All segments of society. All heartbeats joined as one - to declare the glory and knowledge of God here on earth. That's a mission worth fighting for. That's a purpose worth living and dying for. And I pray that we would continue to rally the church of Christ to that and follow Nehemiah's example in boldness and courage. Let Your Kingdom come.
There once was a guy named Nehemiah. And he had this vision. His people, the Israelites, were in exile under the control of the Persians and under the Babylonians before that. When Nehemiah learns that his people's beloved city Jerusalem is in rubble without walls to protect it, he seeks the Lord in prayer for months. Then he finds the courage to ask the Persian king if he can return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls, and surprisingly, the king says yes. So Nehemiah sets off for home with his vision, protection from the king and timber for the project.
This isn't the cool part yet though. That comes next. Instead of taking it all on himself, Nehemiah rallies his people, and they begin to build next to each other. Twenty times the phrase "next to them/him" is used in chapter three as the building is describe in detail, and "beside them" is used once. Additionally, over 30 individuals are mentioned and eight groups of people are listed - all working on a different part of the city walls.
Priests/Levites. Perfume-makers. Rulers of districts. Temple servants. Guards. Goldsmiths and merchants. All are part of the plan. It wasn't left up to one group of people. It wasn't about one talent. It wasn't set-aside for only certain individuals. Each part of society was involved. Every person mattered. Everyone worked side-by-side with another. Not independently. Not just Nehemiah. Next to each other.
This is really cool too when you think about ministry. This is how it's supposed to happen. Next to each other. Not left up to pastors. Not left up to motivational speakers. Not left up to praise bands or music directors. Not left up to youth leaders or deacons or Sunday School teachers or elders. If the church's purpose is to show the world who Jesus is, then we have sorely missed the boat when we think God's work is left up to people who are "called" to it.
No, God's Kingdom is furthered best next to each other I think. With all involved. All talents. All segments of society. All heartbeats joined as one - to declare the glory and knowledge of God here on earth. That's a mission worth fighting for. That's a purpose worth living and dying for. And I pray that we would continue to rally the church of Christ to that and follow Nehemiah's example in boldness and courage. Let Your Kingdom come.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
[are we accomplishing our objective?]
I'm reading a punch-in-the-gut book just now. Revolution in World Missions is the title. K.P. Yohannan is the author. Conviction is the theme.
Yohannan grew up in India and founded Gospel for Asia - a mission organization that supports native missionaries in you can guess where. And his background gives him a unique perspective into American culture, materialism, pride and self-sufficiency - all of which numb my own heart and consume my soul. Oftentimes I'd rather make excuses for these things in my life rather than seeing them for what they are.
Yet beyond that, there is something else that has been slowly eating at me this summer. And I almost laugh out loud as I type this because it wasn't so long ago that this was my purpose and heartbeat. It's the "social" or "humanistic" gospel. The idea that bringing education or food or health care to a world in need is enough. That simply sharing the love of Christ is equal to sharing the truth and Word of Christ. That meeting only people's material needs will also save their soul. And yes, I did spend a semester in South Africa doing just that. You can say I know the social gospel because I've lived it out and truly believed in it with my entire heart.
I believe in helping people. I believe in serving people. I believe in being the hands and feet of Jesus in terms of sharing what I've been materially and physically blessed with so that others can also be blessed, but I've been learning over time and by the grace of God that if that is all I'm after, if that's all we're after, then we will still leave people bankrupt at the end of the day without Christ.
"We cannot say we love others if we ignore their spiritual needs. Just the same, we cannot say we love others if we ignore their physical needs. Jesus came for both," Yohannan writes. "The mercy ministries Jesus did were not an end in themselves, but were rather a means. And it is the same today." Or it should be the same today. But is it?
I cannot help but ask myself that question as I think to all the programs Christ's body - the church - is busy with these days. "That we are busy in the church trying to work one program of evangelism after another cannot be denied. But, are we accomplishing our objective?" wrote Robert E. Coleman in his book The Master Plan of Evangelism.
Matthew 28:18-20. I'd say that's a great objective verse. So. Then comes the question. Are we accomplishing it? "Do we see an ever-expanding company of dedicated people reaching the world with the gospel as a result of our ministry?" also Coleman. Are we making disciples who can make disciples? Great question. Do we have the guts to answer honestly?
Yohannan grew up in India and founded Gospel for Asia - a mission organization that supports native missionaries in you can guess where. And his background gives him a unique perspective into American culture, materialism, pride and self-sufficiency - all of which numb my own heart and consume my soul. Oftentimes I'd rather make excuses for these things in my life rather than seeing them for what they are.
Yet beyond that, there is something else that has been slowly eating at me this summer. And I almost laugh out loud as I type this because it wasn't so long ago that this was my purpose and heartbeat. It's the "social" or "humanistic" gospel. The idea that bringing education or food or health care to a world in need is enough. That simply sharing the love of Christ is equal to sharing the truth and Word of Christ. That meeting only people's material needs will also save their soul. And yes, I did spend a semester in South Africa doing just that. You can say I know the social gospel because I've lived it out and truly believed in it with my entire heart.
I believe in helping people. I believe in serving people. I believe in being the hands and feet of Jesus in terms of sharing what I've been materially and physically blessed with so that others can also be blessed, but I've been learning over time and by the grace of God that if that is all I'm after, if that's all we're after, then we will still leave people bankrupt at the end of the day without Christ.
"We cannot say we love others if we ignore their spiritual needs. Just the same, we cannot say we love others if we ignore their physical needs. Jesus came for both," Yohannan writes. "The mercy ministries Jesus did were not an end in themselves, but were rather a means. And it is the same today." Or it should be the same today. But is it?
I cannot help but ask myself that question as I think to all the programs Christ's body - the church - is busy with these days. "That we are busy in the church trying to work one program of evangelism after another cannot be denied. But, are we accomplishing our objective?" wrote Robert E. Coleman in his book The Master Plan of Evangelism.
Matthew 28:18-20. I'd say that's a great objective verse. So. Then comes the question. Are we accomplishing it? "Do we see an ever-expanding company of dedicated people reaching the world with the gospel as a result of our ministry?" also Coleman. Are we making disciples who can make disciples? Great question. Do we have the guts to answer honestly?
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