Freedom

It's been a while and a lot has happened since I was last active here.

I finished serving Christ by leading a small Bible study on my campus. What an honor it was to be used by Him in that way! I am excited to see how He will use the Campus Christian Fellowship at MIIS next year and beyond.

My wife-to-be and I both finished our MA degrees!

I am now less than five days away from being united in Christ to the woman I love the most on this earth. I am looking forward to making this 50+ year commitment to her in front of our God, our families and our friends.

Despite the worldly view that I am signing my life away, that I am putting a noose around my neck, that I am giving up my freedom as a man, I believe there is freedom in marriage, not bondage. Just as there is freedom in Christ when we choose to follow Him.

I am looking forward to gaining an incredible wife, to having a wonderful companion during this walk here on earth, and to all of the things the Lord has in store for us.

Please pray that when He speaks into our lives we will have the courage to pick up and follow where He calls us to.

It will be a happy day when I post here as a married man...

Haiku

Haiku: "An unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respectively." -Webster's Online Dictionary

Jesus, Lord You are
Beautiful, Mighty and Pure
My heart smiles with joy

A Beautiful Update

Okay, maybe I'm just biased here, but I think it's a beautiful update. :-)

As everyone who reads this blog probably already knows: I'm engaged!

I had been thinking/praying about it for at least 5 weeks before I "popped the question" and had a lot of other people praying for us as well.

Three weeks before the day I became a fiance I went with my mom to pick out an engagement ring. (It was great to have a week with my parents to talk about marriage in general and my situation specifically.) It was kind of fun/funny to go around to 4 different jewelry stores all bunched together at the mall and ask 1) for an engagement ring with no stones or fancy stuff whatsoever (the sales people couldn't believe it and all of them had to ask me if I was sure. Hahaha!), and 2) for a ring that was small enough to actually fit on my lady's finger! I finally found a ring that was small enough to begin with that it could be sized down in the store without the help of a jeweler (which would have taken a couple of extra days but I couldn't wait as I was getting on a plane to fly to Japan the next day).

So I got the ring, sized down as small as the machine could make it, and just looked at it for a moment realizing how serious a step it was just to buy a ring. That put a smile on my face. :-)

The proposal didn't come until exactly three weeks later. During those three weeks I got to know my future wife a LOT better. One thing I absolutely adore about her is how open and honest we can be with one another which allows for our love and relationship to grow at a rate and level I've never experienced before. Amazing!

The first week and a half of the "ring bearing" time was spent getting myself to Japan and spending a good, solid 7 days with the love of my life in her native culture. I got to meet her family and spend some quality time with them, I got to travel and see my fiancee's home country and I consistently ate some of the best food I have ever had in my entire life throughout the trip.

The next ten days were spent getting readjusted to West Coast time, getting sick and TAing for an intensive J-term course.

During all this time I kept thinking about proposing (the how and when), praying for our relationship and seeking God's guidance.

And then Sunday, Feb. 1 arrived.

We went out Sunset Drive, pulled over at one of the many parking places where (you guessed it) the sun can be seen setting. We went on a walk down to the beach and had a pretty deep, serious conversation about a number of topics specifically pertaining to a future life together. We were asking each other questions and providing answers at which time we declared our desire to have God always be at the head of our relationship, for Christ to be our one and only foundation upon which we build our future. We also professed our love for one another, that we love each other more than anyone or anything else on this Earth.

So there we were, two kids in love, on the beach as the sun started to set... and me without the ring! The thought entered my mind to go get the ring and propose at a later time, but I knew at that moment beyond a doubt that I wanted to marry the most amazing woman I have ever met so when she asked if I had any other questions I said "Yes, I have one more."

"Will you marry me?"

I wish I could somehow share with you the look I saw in her eyes... a moment to remember forever, for sure.

She said "Yes!" We prayed. We hugged, kissed and laughed. We got engaged!

We had dinner plans with two friends of ours and so had to leave the beach shortly thereafter. I told my sweetheart I needed to run by my apartment really quick before we went to eat. She stayed in the car, I went up to my room, got the ring, came back down and gave to her a symbol and reminder of our love for each other and our promises to one another.

She was SO surprised! Two surprises in one day... awesome! :-)

I have been enjoying the engagement to no end already and have been delighting in a way I didn't know possible by sharing in our excitement and happiness with our families and friends.

Thanks for all of your love and support!

Please pray for us as we move closer and closer to our permanent union before God and all of you that can make it.

Thanks from the bottom of my heart!

Predestination

An interesting concept I just heard of for the first time about 10 days ago, and one I am still chewing on (i.e., praying about, reading Scripture about, talking to people about, etc.).

I really am not up to date on much of the theology that is out there, but that's okay, I'm not saved by my theology, but by my belief in Jesus Christ as my Savior!

Cleaning House

I'm in Tennessee right now. I'm staying with a friend whose roommate is an extreme pack rat. I mean, I've see clutter, but (and especially for just one person) this takes the cake! The outside of the house, however, is quite nice with a big yard and driveway with a '66 Mustang adding some flash and character.

My friend warned me that his house was a "bee's nest," but that couldn't have prepared me for what I walked into a short time later. Seriously, I couldn't believe it. There are some parts where you have to walk sideways just to get through, and all of it is my friend's roommate's stuff!

I would take some outside-the-house/inside-the-house pictures to show you just what I'm talking about but I don't think that would be appropriate.

Anywho, the point is just that I thought this was the perfect example of how, despite the image we project to the world around us, sometimes we are cluttered and dirty on the inside and are in need of cleaning up certain parts of our lives and rearranging priorities.

Sometimes, I believe, we can even have things we need to surrender to the Lord, parts of our lives that we give priority to that we shouldn't, but we don't even realize it. But I also believe that through prayer God will open our eyes to these areas in our lives that need cleaning and reorganizing. This was one of my prayers as I entered the new year, that God will reveal to me parts of my life that I need to work on so that they are more glorifying to Him.

How about for you? Do you have any "spring cleaning" you know you need to do?

Life Application

God taught me a lot in 2008. If there were a "theme," I would say it has been teaching me how to apply some of the teachings of the Bible to my life in a visible, tangible way.

Some examples are:

1) Reading my Bible regularly

• Psalm 1:1-3

1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

2) Praying more frequently/interceding for others.

• 1 Timothy 2:1

1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone

3) Fasting

• Matthew 6:16-18

16"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

4) Serving others

• Matthew 25:24-40

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Father, may you continue to teach me and mold me, as clay in Your hands. Amen.

Romans 12

Verses 6-17 are what stood out most to me (hence, the reason for them being in bold), but man, what a great chapter overall!

Living Sacrifices

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We are all so different, but it is through our uniqueness that God can use us to reach other unique individuals. Who you can relate to is not always going to be who I best relate to and vice versa.

No, This is NOT a Political Post

This started out as an email I was sending to some folks, and thought I'd put it up here as food for thought.

By NO means is this meant to be a political post. I refuse to turn this blog into a political discussion board, so please, if you have anything to say about either candidate, or anything politically charged at all, please do NOT post your comment here.

That said, if you have anything to say about how amazing Jesus is, about His divine plan, or something of that nature, please share!

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I stopped watching the news and looking at polls regarding this election a long time ago so I don't know how good of a chance either candidate has at becoming the next president, but I do know one thing: no matter what happens, God will eventually make it good, even if our tiny, limited-in-scope minds can't see the beauty of His divine plan.

Therefore, I think it is important that:

1) No matter what happens, we rejoice that it is one more election the Lord will see (imagine how many countless elections and otherwise He has seen, how many people He has seen rise and fall in power, how many Nations He has witnessed be built up and crumble!), and one less election standing in the way of His return (i.e., if we measured time by the number of elections happening around the world, there is less time until our Redeemer returns.). No matter who is elected president, no matter what they do in that office, God will use it to bring together His plan in which we will all be with Him someday.

2) No matter who is elected president, we must continue, as the Body of Christ, to seek ways outside of the political arena (and sure, inside as well) to minister to the weak, the poor, the hungry, the naked, the mistreated, the "least," the lost, the broken, the hurt, the thirsty, and on and on...

Whoever is elected president will never be able to implement a man-made social program that will heal our nation, much less, the world. Only the power of Christ's love can do so. We must live with whoever is in office and remember that, while that person may hold a lot of power in the eyes of man, they are still small in the eyes of our God.

That said, we, as children of the Almighty, as sons and daughters of the Holy One, must never lose sight of the fact that, regardless of who is in office, our responsibility is the same: to bring Jesus' message of reconciliation, His message of Love, Grace and Mercy, to the lost, making willing disciples out of all who will open their eyes, ears, minds, hearts and souls to our Creator.

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I know this was a little convoluted with all of the commas, but hey, that's the way my mind was pumping out these thoughts and I'm on a lunch break for a weekend class and don't have time to clean it up or make it any more sensical. :-)

I Wonder How Jesus Celebrated His Birthday

My friend Bobby just posted the following video on his facebook page: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU

I thought it was a great video and addresses very well an issue that actually makes me dread the coming of the "Christmas Season" in some ways.

I love the part about remembering my Savior's birth, but I don't like the consumerism aspect of that time of year.

This is not to say I'm against giving gifts. I think gift giving can be a beautiful thing if done right, i.e. giving a specific gift that addresses a specific need you are aware of, and not just fulfilling some want or desire. Although, I think giving a gift that will fulfill a want you are aware of in someone else's life can also be beautiful, but more so on a random, average day when they aren't expecting the blessing of a thoughtful, meaningful gift.

After I got done watching the video, I thought to myself, "I wonder how Jesus celebrated His birthday..." Especially during His time of ministry... I mean, did He stop and just chill, hang out and take it easy that day, or did He heal twice as many people as usual and perform even more signs and wonders, or did He just go on with things as though it were another day on Earth?

I don't know, but I do know that I would like to get Him a gift this year...

ABOVE & BEYOND

Today in Bible study we are going through Luke, Chapter 6. There is SO MUCH great stuff in this chapter, but when I was reading through the chapter the following popped right off the page and I actually felt like I had to stop and post it here.

Luke 6:27-36

Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

(NKJV)

I love how this is not just an amazing and countercultural declaration of how we should live our lives in response to those who hate us, who scorn us, who abuse us, who cheat us, etc., but that Jesus goes on to point out that by responding in this fashion towards those who despise us is really what will make us stand out from the world.

God designed us all to love, so it is no surprise that even those who reject Him feel love and love others. Thus, what is truly remarkable, what is truly astonishing is when we can love those who hate us and maybe even wish us dead.

It is easy to pray and do good things for people we know, love and care about, or even strangers going through a crisis (i.e., a tsunami, famine, etc.), but when is the last time you prayed for someone who hates you?

I can't think of a time when I have done that.

I think I will make that a focus this week. To think of people who despise me for my beliefs, because I am a "son of the Most High," and pray for them.

Lord, may we be a living example of Your love, not just to those who love us, but to those who hate us and mistreat us. Amen.