The Glory of the Impossible

In both my Missiology and Perspectives classes I have been learning about the eras of missions history and the pioneers who saw many come to Christ and who laid the foundation for the movements to Christ we are seeing today. Some of the people I had heard about or studied before, such as William Carey, Adoniram Judson, Hudson Taylor and David Livingstone. Others I am learning about for the first time and their stories have impacted me with the power of God's working in their lives.

One person in the latter category is Samuel Zwemer. He became a part of the Student Volunteer Movement in the late 1800s and served in the Middle East for over 20 years. He went on to be a writer and speaker, opening up the Muslim world and training people to go and serve among Muslim peoples. He challenged people to go to the fields that were unoccupied by other missionaries.

In 1911, he wrote an article in the Student Volunteer Movement publication The Unoccupied Mission Fields of Africa and Asia called "The Glory of the Impossible". Here are some quotes from Zwemer, and from others that he included, that really stuck out to me.

~ The challenge of the unoccupied fields of the world is one to great faith and, therefore, to great sacrifice. Our willingness to sacrifice for an enterprise is always in proportion to our faith in that enterprise. Faith has the genius of transforming the barely possible into actuality.

~Does it really matter how many die or how much money we spend in opening closed doors, and in occupying different fields, if we really believe that missions are warfare and that the King's glory is at stake?

~ When [Adoniram] Judson was lying loaded with chains in a Burmese dungeon, a fellow prisoner asked with a sneer about the prospect for the conversion of the heathen. Judson calmly answered, "The prospects are as bright as are the promises of God".

~ From Bishop Phillips Brooks- "Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle".

Samuel Zwemer was not an extraordinary Christian (that I know of) but he was a man who was passionate about seeing those who had never heard come to Christ. His dedication and love for God and for God's people is such a great example for all of us today.

Running the Race

With the closing ceremonies this evening the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics are over. It has been an amazing 16 days of medals won, records broken, and memories made.

I remember my first Olympics in the summer of 1996, when they were held in Atlanta. My mom was telling us about the Opening ceremonies and telling us we were going to watch them. I was used to watching golf and Husker football on Saturdays and to this 10-year old watching sports of any kind was the MOST boring way to spend my time. So I know at least I, and maybe my siblings too, put up a big fight with lots of complaining. But, my mom won out and after seeing the parade of athletes representing nations from around the world, I was hooked. I will never forget seeing the USA women's gymnastics team win gold that year.

There are many reasons why I love to watch the Olympics. Each athlete has worked so hard to earn the privilege of competing in the Games, and I love to see them give their very best, even if they don't win gold. I love the emotion of winning, the spirit of the underdog who shocks everyone, the team spirit and the fun of the sports represented in both the winter and the summer games. I appreciate when those who do not win show respect and great sportsmanship.

These winter Olympics have given us many great stories of grace under pressure, heroic triumph under adverse circumstances, and dedication and love for the sport. I am sad to see the Games over for another 2 years (until the summer games) but I'm thankful I got the chance to see so many of the great moments.

The Christian life has often been compared to a race. We are Olympians in a way, striving to win the race to which God has called us, striving to the finish line and aiming to do the very best we can. I have been inspired by the great athletes I saw over the last 2 weeks, and I hope that I can honor God with the talents He has given me and run the race not for earthly medals for the crown in heaven.

Last Reflections on Love

Valentine's Day was several weeks ago, but I have still been reflecting on the theme of this month- love. Hearing comments from friends, seeing a chick flick last weekend and just looking at our world in general has provided me with many pictures of what love is NOT.

1 Corinthians 13 is a very familiar but beautiful picture of what love really is supposed to look like. Here are verses 3-7 in the Message version .

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Loves doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Loves doesn't strut,

doesn't have a swelled head,

doesn't force itself on others,

isn't always "me first",

doesn't fly off the handle,

doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

doesn't revel when others grovel,

takes pleasure in the flowering of the truth,

puts up with anything,

trusts God always,

always looks for the best,

never looks back,

but keeps going to the end.

We don't get much farther than verse 4 to see the contrast of this world's idea of love. In the NIV it says, "Love is patient". People don't really know the meaning of being patient these days with fast food, speedy checkout lanes, going 70 MPH in a 60 MPH zone, and every kind of convenience you can imagine. I'm thankful that God is patient with me. He shows us the kind of relentless, never-giving-up kind of love we are supposed to show to each other.

I thought this phrase was great: "Trusts God always". That's what love is supposed to be like. When I'm relying on God for everything, I think this brings joy and peace and allows us to have more room in our hearts to share God's love. It also increases our love for God, and helps us grow closer to Him to learn more what real love looks like.

I guess love isn't just a theme for one day or month out of the year, but should be theme of our whole life. God's picture of love is a whole lot different than the world's picture of love, and as we grow closer to God we can know more of what this love is supposed to look like.

Your Life is a Symphony

Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.

My Child…Your Life is a Symphony

You are to Me a beautiful song. Your life is a sweet symphony that I Myself am composing note by note. I take your failures, your tears, and your triumphs, and I turn them into a glorious harmony that will be sung in the heavens for all eternity. All your thoughts and deeds are laid before Me like notes on a page. Every choice you make is a significant chord in an eternal arrangement. Don’t let the noise of the world destroy your magnificent melody, My beloved. Seek Me in the quiet stillness of the morning, and I will fill your heart with divine music. Stay in rhythm with My Spirit throughout the day, and I will make your life an irresistible melody that will linger like sweet perfume in the hearts of all that journey with you. Walk with Me in absolute surrender, and you will draw others to Me in a rhapsody of praise.

Love,

Your King and your Composer

His Princess: Love Letters from Your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd

A Different Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. This might seem strange considering the fact that I have yet to find a “significant other” to send me flowers or chocolate or other such typical Valentine’s Day gifts. The holiday means so much more to me, though, than just a romantic time of the year.

Part of this is probably due to the fact that my dad often made Valentine’s special in my family. He frequently got a sweet store-bought card for my mom along with some Turtles or other candy. I remember several occasions when he gave handmade cards to my siblings and I. He would write the reasons why he loved us and why he was proud of us. Sometimes he would get pizza and Mambas and other goodies for us kids to have while he and my mom went out to dinner. I think this is part of why I love to give cards to people on Valentine’s day and other occasions. I think we should tell our friends and family that we love them on more than just February 14th, but Valentine’s day does provide a special time to show how much we love those around us.

Valentine’s day for me is also a time to dwell in the great love that my God has for me. Not just any God would send His son to take the punishment that I deserve. Sometimes we get so caught up in other things that we gloss over the awesomeness of God’s love. 1 John 3:1 says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (NIV). I love that word- lavished. God’s love for us is so abundant and amazing.

Because of God’s great love, we are able to love each other. What better day than Valentine’s day to share Christ’s love with someone who might not feel like they are loved. One of my favorite Valentine’s verses comes from the Message, in Ephesians 5:1-2: “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that”.

This Valentine’s day instead of buying your obligatory chocolates, pray for a person who you know is struggling and might need an extra dose of God’s love. Send someone a secret Valentine’s card sharing with them how much the Heavenly Father loves them. Send flowers to someone who might be alone this Valentine’s day. Take someone out to eat or perform a “random act of kindness” for someone who needs to see the light of Christ. I encourage you to make this Valentine’s day different, a day to show those around you how much you care about them and also dwell in the richness of God’s love for you, and pass that on to others.

The Whole Story

As you know, I'm taking the Perspectives class at my church. Our readings this last week dealt with the idea that instead of seeing the Bible as a collection of a bunch of different stories, we should see it as one whole story- the story of God revealing Himself to people, giving them the privilege of taking His name to the nations, and seeking worshippers from every nation. Throughout the entire Bible this theme can be seen.

God called Abraham in Genesis 12, saying that He would bless Abraham but that Abraham would also be a blessing. God's gracious blessing was to go out to the other nations through the people who would come from Abraham, the nation of Israel. God chose the people of Israel to be a witness of His name to all of the peoples around them.

When Solomon built the temple, he prayed that it would be a place for people to come to learn more about God. 2 Chronicles 6:32-33 records part of Solomon's prayer of dedication: "As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm- when he comes and prays toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name" (NIV).

Many times in the Psalms, the idea of the peoples giving praise to God comes out. Psalm 67 is just one example: "May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth" (verses 3-4, NIV).

Skipping way ahead to the end of the Bible, Revelation gives us a beautiful picture of the "end" of the story, when God reigns with His people who have believed in His name and who will worship Him for eternity.

The idea of this theme weaving it's way and encompassing the whole Bible has been on my heart as I've tried to ponder and comprehend it all. I just want to share one particular way this has really struck me. I have been reading through the Bible in the Message version in this new year, and I have been in the book of Leviticus lately. I was really struggling to understand why the book was in the Bible, what significance some of the rules and regulations had for me, and how this fit in with the idea of God's plan for His creation. I have always heard that we learn that God cares about details, and I think that's true, but it seemed like there should be more than that. This morning I read the following in chapter twenty two, verses thirty-two and thirty-three: "Don't desecrate my holy name. I insist on being treated with holy reverence among the people of Israel. I am God who makes you holy and brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am God" (The Message). So God gave these specific rules to the Israelites in order for them to be set apart and holy. Set apart from what? The nations around them, who probably were practicing many of the sinful things that God forbid the Israelites from doing. They were to be different from the nations around them in order to honor God's name, but also by setting themselves apart they were to set an example for the other nations and draw them to knowing God themselves. Even the laws that seem meaningless to me had the ultimate purpose of the fame of the Lord and the saving of the nations.

I'm not sure I have this all figured out yet, but I guess that is part of the journey! Please feel free to share your own thoughts and check back in for more of mine.

First Day of School

No matter how many years I have been in school, the first day is always very nerve wracking for me, but exciting at the same time. I have now started 34 semesters if you count Kindergarten on, make that 35 with the dawn of spring semester 2010. If you just look at my college days, I have probably seen about 30-35 syllabi, those lovely packets of paper that lay out for you the number of pages you will be required to read and write and other projects you'll have to do. Often these give you a bit of a snapshot of what the semester is going to look like: stressful, light, or downright ugly. Of course, if you were in one of my business classes the syllabus was kind of a waste of paper because all they put was the name of the course, overall objectives, and contact information, not very telling. No matter how many "first days" I've had, I always manage to get overwhelmed when I look at all that is before me.



My second semester of graduate school is no exception. Because of the holiday on Monday, classes officially started on Tuesday of this week. My class on campus actually started on Thursday, but I was able to view the syllabus and schedule ahead of time and get a flavor for the course, along with some assigned reading that we have to do BEFORE we came for the first class time. As I read the syllabi for the first time, I kept reminding myself that all of these papers and projects don't need to be completed at once, but they are spread out over the whole semester. It took me about 3 times of reading everything to finally feel like I could handle all that is coming. And you know, it will all work out (it has for the past 34 semesters). I need to take each assignment one at a time, be diligent in keeping up with my reading, and just be a good student the way that I have the past 18 years.



I do think I will enjoy my classes once I get into them. My online class is called Christians in Pluralistic World. This class looks at the many religions in the world both from an ideological standpoint and the day-to-day issues of the religion, and then also discusses how we as Christians can respond and dialogue with people from each different religion. As part of the class we have to do a roundtable paper where we take a particular view of a religion and describe and discuss to the point that a person from that religion would say, "Yes, that's what I believe". So it might be how Muslims view Jesus Christ, or something like that. There are only 2 books for the class, and we had to just read the introduction to the one this week but I think it will be really interesting. I especially like that the author will look at the day-to-day aspect of peoples' lives, and how their religion at home might be different from the facts that we normally study.


Once I got to my class on campus, Intro to Missiology, I also decided I will really like it! My professor was actually one the professors that my bosses, Kent and Erika, had when they were at Southwestern Seminary and Erika worked for Dr. Anderson for awhile. He is in his 80s but is still going strong, teaching adjunctly at a number of different colleges in the US and around the world. He was a pastor for about 10 years, then served as a missionary in Argentina, and after coming back to the states has been a professor for over 30 years. He also has a great sense of humor, which will make the class fun. We will be looking at the history and strategy and so forth of missions, so I know Dr. Anderson will have plenty of stories.

So, even though I was a bit overwhelmed at first, like I normally am, I know that I just need to be diligent and soak up all I can this semester, and it will be just fine!

My Job

This last week we hosted a planning meeting for the Ethne group focused on Church Planting Movements, which was Tuesday through Thursday. Then we hosted our board of directors for their meeting Friday and Saturday. One of my favorite jobs as a part of my work with MUP is taking care of guests when they come- finding them housing and transportation, and then making sure they have everything they need including plenty of coffee, some snacks and treats, and water or pop or whatever. Here is our refreshment table, and a snapshot of my work with MUP. :) First, here is a picture of me and my messy desk from a busy week.

Perspectives

My church is offering the Perspectives course this semester and I am so excited to be taking it and exploring more about God's heart for missions! This is a 15-week course designed to help believers from all different backgrounds to look at the world the way that Christ does, and study the historical and cultural perspectives of missions as well as what God is doing today around the world.

There is a lot of reading for this course! It's all good stuff, but it takes a lot of time to read and digest what all God is saying through the different articles. Here are a few quotes that stuck out to me from the reading for this week, which all had to do with the theme "The Living God is a Missionary God".

From the article "Israel's Missionary Call" by Walter Kaiser
"Israel was to be God's missionary to the world- and so are we by virtue of our identity as Abraham's spiritual descendants".

One of the major points of the readings for this week had to do with God's pronouncement of blessing on Abraham in Genesis 12. The blessing of God was fulfilled immediately in Isaac and his descendants, and then the intermediate fulfillment came with the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The ultimate fulfillment will come when Christ returns and the great multitude praises God for eternity.

From the article "Blessing as Transformation" by Sarita Gallagher and Steven Hawthorne
"To be God's blessing among all the peoples will require our utmost effort somehow blended with the exertion of God's miraculous, life-giving power."

We are a part of the blessing and promise God made to Abraham. Abraham's promise was that he would be the father of many nations, and this was both in the sense of children and grandchildren and so on, but also in the sense that Christians one day would be counted as part of the family of Abraham. We have the responsibility to share the good news of Christ as we grow the family of God.

Those are just a couple of thoughts from this last week's reading. Tonight is our first actual class session, and we will have a guy from the Traveling Team come and share. It should be excellent!

Christmas!

I am back in Texas after two weeks in Nebraska! Here are some of the highlights of my Christmas.

~ My family waited to decorate our Christmas tree until I arrived back on Sunday afternoon (the 20th). My aunt and uncle give my siblings and I an ornament each year until we turn 18. One of my favorite Christmas traditions is to pull out each ornament and turn an ordinary pine tree into a piece of art.

~ The Christmas blizzard of 2009. The snow started on Wednesday and on Christmas day the wind made it a full-blown blizzard. In all of my 23 years my family has gone either to my dad's side or my mom's, but this year we were stuck at home. Even though the wind was howling outside and the visibility was limited, we were cozy inside and we enjoyed a leisurely Christmas day. We took our time opening presents, then played games, watched movies and just hung out the rest of the day.

~ After the storm was over my siblings and I braved the cold and went outside to explore the drifts! There were some pretty amazing ones and although we didn't last too long, we enjoyed climbing the tall ones and blasting through the small ones.

~ Tuesday night (the 29th) my sisters and I had a girls' night in our room. We munched on pizza bites, chips, and M & M's, sipped sparkling grape juice and watched "Julie and Julia" on Beth's laptop. We laughed and enjoyed some special sister time. Meanwhile, the brothers watched "Star Wars" in their room and Mom and Dad watched "Cheaper by the Dozen" in the living room.

~ Wednesday I road-tripped to Iowa to visit two of my college friends. I had so much fun catching up with these lovely ladies, and we got to enjoy some good pizza. I am thankful for good friendships from my college days that have continued even though we have gone in different directions.

~ Friday my family took me back to the airport. My siblings and I had fun playing "Would You Rather...", and my family enjoyed Valentino's buffet before I got dropped off. It's hard to say goodbye, but it was a special time at home. Even though I missed out on celebrating with both sides of our extended family because of the snow, it was still good to be with my immediate family.