Month: July 2013

  • Sovereignty and Death

     

    Quick Update: Life and running about and resting well back here at home is just as, if not more, robustly busy and fruitfully productive as it was in Japan, except a lot less "organized". Soli Deo Gloria. 


     

    [Poetry That I Squeeze From My Bible Saturated Being In Order To Preach To Myself Refreshingly]

    I know not what the future holds,

    But in Christ,

    His grace suffice,

    And sovereignty unfolds.

    So I strive to be a man with a plan,

    a godly man.

    Acknowledging my limited span

    And trusting in God's infinite hand.

    For I know not what the future holds,

    But in Christ,

    His grace suffice,

    and sovereignty unfolds.


    [What Death Reminds Us In Donut Tree]

    1. Death reminds that life has a God ordained purpose.
     
    2. Death reminds us that this world is broken by sin and needs Christ.
     
    3. Death reminds to be more missional with souls and love them with Christ's love because they have eternal destinations.
     
    4. Death reminds us that for those who die and are saved by the blood of Christ, we can celebrate in a time of sorrow.
     
    5. Death reminds us to not waste our lives. Only one life twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last.
     
    6. Death reminds us of the Gospel because Jesus Christ died a whorreble death He did not deserve so that we could live a soul satisfying eternal life we do not deserve.
     
    7. Death reminds us, the children of God, that there is coming a day where we will receive an immeasurable GAIN and see the glorious face of our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ face to face.

     
  • J-Days to Post J-Days: Crossing the finish line, but still running about!

    The following will record my last week in Japan which includes the last running about on campus, the farewell party, the retreat outside of Tokyo, and to now the last day of debriefing in SoCal. ENJOY and marvel at the King of kings for He works in clay and dust wondrously! Where do the stars go? Oh the comet comes home hot!

     

    -Resolve: Devote MORE mental grace driven and delight over discipline fueled effort to INCREASINGLY and INTENTIONALLY pray for souls by name and to pray specifically and earnestly and vibrantly and confidently in Christ because I know that I am a child of God beckoned to pray. Even though 16 hours away from certain souls, I can still partake in their lives not only through Facebook, but even [deep]er through sweet prayers in the name of Jesus Christ.

    -Last day on Waseda = Got to follow up with Rick who accepted Christ and we read John 4 together! Praying for him. How can a Christian in Japan survive without a Gospel centered community of grace aka the dearest place on Earth which is the church?

    -Connecting to souls through poetry! Another guy accepted Christ, but with no time to followup, how will I know what soil the seed landed upon? Again I see the need and pull to get on my knees and in my sweetest disposition and pray/plead to God. I cry out, "Abba!"

    -Last day on Rikkyo = Because of the timing of things, no one I really connected with throughout the past couple weeks could make it to the party EXCEPT for these two lovely souls that I met at Rikkyo! They are the last ones I talked to on campus and its crazy awesome that they came after only meeting me once. Soli Deo Gloria!

    -The Great Commission is NOT the Great Suggestion, for it is totally intrinsic to the redeemed Christian life and it is a command and mission abundant in joy and grace and love therefore LET THE NATIONS BE GLAD!(Oh how my soul sporadically loves to shout this loudly in my minds end and moments alone or when I'm with people it wouldn't be totally weird of me to do(most likely because they know me))

    -One of the biggest highlights in this whole summer project was seeing a class of Japanese Kindergarteners singing "Jesus Loves Me" (The video is on my Facebook), because after such bittersweet toiling in rough fields saturated with hard soil, language barriers, heavy spiritual warfare, great temptations, and blackholes, such a sight and sound was pure grace driven fireworks during a blue moon ecstatic bliss! Praise the Trinity for recording moments in HD for High Def Cuteness!

    -Running about so much, no time to CRElb how I'd like. Not enough time for my pen to keep up with the work of God. Oh God is sovereign over my schedule!

    -Exhorted to be/stay JOYFUL by a man of God and blessed to hear his exhortations for the rest of my fellow team brethren.

    -Lovingly charged by that same man of God with [something] serious and I pray/plead to God to help me remember that its NOT all about me, oh may grace sustain us. I pray for more than just me, but for US. Again too many souls, too many thoughts, so much to PRAY.

    -Praying for Team B, the STINTers, and Omar.

    -In prayer, I realize that I make a whorreble hero, therefore the Gospel makes perfect sense because we need Christ.

    -RETREAT!!! = Being in UNISON in YUNESSUN(naked bath house plus bath house amusement park)

    -Overcoming [DM] one day at a time with every means and weapon of grace that God provides.

    -Starting to think about certain things that I've been putting off because I wanted to stay focused on the mission at Japan. Intrepidatiously Excited yet Restlessly Nervous yet Paradoxically at Peace.

    -Good talks and good team bonding and good accountability with the team brethren especially the brothers because our GOD IS GOOD! Oh the details in this simple yet beautiful line of truth!

    -SO MANY GOOD MEMORIES THAT I WANT/NEED TO REMEMBER!

    -Pondering how things will be back home.

    -Bought all my souvenirs.

    -Two Days of traveling = 30 hours of travel from walking, buses, trains, and planes. Which led to 15 hours of [deep] thought going back home, there are three big subject matters that are being saturated in much prayer. 

    -Wrote out A LOT of stuff to talk to Wilson about = excited!

    -Blessed by Tim's dream of me and late night boba.

    -DEBRIEFING BEGINS!

    -Feels so good to be back home especially when I went for an exhilirating morning worship run after a nigh sleepless night of thoughts mixed with [DDDT]s and [SGCT]S!

    -My 1st Mentor in life saw me running on his way to work, CRAZY!

    -Still praying!

    -Will I have PMS? How will I have it? Will it be the same as last time? (PMS = Post Mission Syndrome)

    -Striving to finish well and keep on going! Therefore, expect at least one more blog post about Japan. Soli Deo Gloria!

     

    Last batch of Japanese souls to pray for: Takahiro, Yota, Shougo, Kai, Yusuke, Sena, Mai, Saki, Smoker Guy, and of course theres always so much more therefore my fellow saints, PRAY! If not for these souls, then at the very least for the souls around your life right now wherever God has sovereignly placed you. I exhort y'all to intimately communicate with our One True Love and intercede for them sweet pleas because we know that because of Christ, He hears us not as slaves, but as adopted and beloved children.

     

    [Still Working On A Title]

    How will this all play out?
    I'm harped with fear and doubt.
    As I plead, I'll start to shout.
    God be what this is all about!

    I know not what the future holds,
    But in Christ,
    His grace suffice,
    and sovereignty unfolds

    Thus my heart finds rest
    Because in Christ alone,
    His Gospel is sweetly shown
    And I know I have the Best.