My most deadly enemy in 2011

“…God blesses us so that His glory might be made known in all nations. But an all-important question remains. How do we make God’s glory known in all nations?” – David Platt in Radical

The house is quiet as I sit here on New Year’s Day. Football hasn’t started in the US and no one is up yet after the parting last night. So I’m thinking about the new year. In 2011, how do I do my part to make God’s glory know in all nations? What is it that I believe He is calling me to this year? Heavy stuff, but I’m most of the way through my pot of coffee and I think this is the kind of moment for these thoughts.

God has us in a unique position. He has shaped me in a specific way, given me experiences that most others haven’t had. You can say the same thing. You and I are instruments in our Father’s hand, formed by Him to fulfill a specific role in making His glory known in all nations. Heavy. Scary.

Most days, I love everything about what He has called me to. But there are days where I look at this place He has me and I want to step back into safer areas, areas where I don’t have to trust Him so completely. Comfort is probably one of my most deadly enemies. Humility and courage have to me two of my greatest allies.

I think I see the answer to the ‘how’ question for my life. The next is', “In His power, will I do it?” I’m praying for you and me, that this year we will.

Serving with the Army

Today I went with John’s 5th grade ICSB class to one of the Salvation Army homeless shelters in Budapest. The building was built by the Salvation Army in 1927-28 and operated as a homeless shelter for men until 1948 when it was taken from them by the communists. It remained some kind of shelter for men without families or just released from prison during the communist years in Hungary, but virtually no money was given toward upkeep. When the building was returned to the Salvation Army in 1991 it was in a shambles. They have worked hard to repair the building and rebuild the ministry to homeless men and women in Budapest.

John’s class brought supplies for the battered women’s shelter. The director met us at the men’s shelter to receive the gifts, since the location of the women’s shelter is secret. She was excited to accept diapers, baby food, bottles, toys and clothes for the children housed there.

The class was able to brighten the day of the 250 men and women who are served a free lunch there as well. The meal is simple, but provided every day of the year and cakes are donated for a nice dessert. They bring the people in to the dining room in three groups and the class sang Hungarian Christmas carols to each group.

I was impressed with two things today.

First, the ministry of the Salvation Army in Budapest. The officers discovered that 493 children in the 8th district are on a waiting list to get into daycare. While that might seem overwhelming, they are doing what they can. They opened a daycare that is currently able to care for 7 of them. That might seem like a drop in the bucket, but I’m sure it’s a cup of cool water to those 7 families.

Second, the 5th grade class at ICSB impressed me. Before we toured the facility, we were told to treat the people housed there with respect, to look them in the eye and speak politely to them. From what I saw, it seemed that every student did just that. One person even mentioned that they appreciated how the students honored them in their singing. When Andrew Morgan, the director, asked if they had any questions, he was flooded with good questions about the ministry there. These students seem mature and interested in how they can serve.

Today was a different day for me. Usually I’m talking with guys about the big picture. Today, I watched quietly as hundreds of lives were touched in the name of Jesus by some dedicated volunteers and 15 ICSB 5th graders.

Reaching a City with the Gospel

Tim Keller Argues For Churches In Cities [Lausanne] from Kenny Jahng on Vimeo.

Exercising

I'm getting healthy.

Today's exercise:

210 pushups (Hundred Push-up Program)

Ran 2 miles

30 sit-ups

15 minutes stretching

Breakfast:

Spinach egg-white omelet

1 men's vitamin

two glucosamine pills

Weigh-in: 233lbs

What am I doing? Yeah, I’m trying to lose weight, stay fit and be in better health, but what’s the point? Sometimes I’m not sure. Am I trying to turn back the hands of time, trying to stay young? Is this about personal discipline or health? Often, I think I’m just battling middle age, not coming to terms with who I am now. Do I have regrets about some of the choices I’ve made? Sure. I should have gone to the doctor about my shoulder when Matt Brandt dislocated it for me my junior year of high school. Maybe things would be different now. But that’s really not the point.

The point is: What do I love?

He loves Thee too little who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake.

Augustine in his Confessions

I had better be doing all this health stuff because I love God. It's not an attempt to try to gain His approval or earn any favor from Him, but because: I want to be a healthy, effective tool in His hands; I want to be an example to the people around me (my kids especially) of a healthy life devoted to God; and because it’s an exercise of giving myself over to Him. Measuring every motive against my love of God.

Ouch. I did my stretching today, but that one hit a tender spot. Can I live my whole life like it’s an exercise of giving myself over to Him?

119 Thoughts

I won’t list them all, but I did want to share a couple thoughts I wrote in my journal as I read through Ps 119. Most of these come from the second half of the psalm.

v. 126 It is time for you to act, O Lord, Your law is being broken.       -Father, You need to act in Europe.

v. 130 The unfolding of Your Word gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.       -Help me to skillfully explain/apply Your word in my preaching and conversation.

v. 133 Direct my footsteps according to Your Word; let no sin rule over me.    -Let my devotion be radical.

v. 143 Trouble and distress have come upon me, but Your commands are my delight.   -I want to find more delight in my Father than in my sin.

v. 162 I rejoice in Your promise like one who finds great spoil.   -I want to feel like I just found an extra $1000 when I open Your Word.

Nothing special, but I thought you might benefit in some way. =)

Normal People

Think about the biggest names in the Church today. Who are the most influential Christian leaders you read about and listen to? Some guy from California? A pastor from Minnesota? Chicago? Anyone from West Liberty, Ohio? (Just checking to see where your 'fame threshold' is!)

When I think about the people who are well-known or influential in the Church today, I come up with a list of names of people that I don't know. I have no idea who they are personally, so I assign them a character of perfection. My thinking goes like this: 'They must not have any flaws, because it seems like God is working through them to build His Church.' The next thought is, 'I can't be used like that, because I have flaws.' Strangely, when I was younger, I thought, 'God can use me because I'm just as good as they are.' Both of those conclusions are wrong. The reality is that God does some crazy stuff with normal, flawed people.

Recently, I was reading through the book of Judges, on my trek to read through the whole Bible and feel better about myself as a 'real' Christian who reads the whole Bible. As I rambled through this chronicle of the days following the death of Joshua, I found some interesting people.

• Ehud, a favorite among junior high boys, known for his stabbing technique as he delivered a message from God.
• Deborah, a favorite among junior high girls for her strength and independent nature.
• Gideon, the mighty warrior hiding to do his farm work.
  Jephthah, a guy of questionable pedigree (he didn't come from a Free church or go to Trinity), but God used him mightily.
• Sampson, the imperfect hero.

When I got done reading, I had this thought ringing in my head: God does some crazy stuff with normal, flawed people.

The reason I became a missionary was not to do email (it barely existed then, so it was difficult to hate it yet) or go to meetings or raise support (raising support isn't evil like rooting for the Oakland Raiders, only my attitude towards it). My problem is that those things become 'what I do.' My vision for what God is calling me to becomes too small. I can lose heart, and then, even if I had a tent peg or a donkey's jaw in my hand, I wouldn't know what do to with it.

Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

Reality Check 101: I am a normal, flawed person, but one who has been redeemed by Jesus. What God wants and plans to do with me is up to Him.

This reality check is for you, too. He has done some amazing things to bring you to the place you are right now. Those experiences weren't for nothing. Fight the battle of believing Him, believing the things He says about you (we are His masterpiece!) and to you. Shake off the things which so easily entangle you and do the things--the crazy things--He is calling you to in this place He has brought you.

Relevance

I've been following a conversation on a couple of different blogs on the Gospel and relevance. You can see what's being said here and here. Any thoughts?

Albania

I spent ten days in the Balkans in the beginning of February. It was a great time with some great people. I didn't take any pictures of note with a camera, but I have a couple in my mind. Here's one:

We were in a country neighboring Albania. The guy I was staying with asked if we could stop buy a friend's place for a while. Seems like his friend doesn't have too many friends where he lives, so my buddy likes to stop out to see him as often as he can. We drove out into the hills. The road was kind of paved, but not much. It was a grey, chilly, dark afternoon and it didn't take too long to decide a GPS would be a joke where we were headed. Rickety bridges, hairpin turns, interesting 'houses,' and after a while we were there. This guy lived alone. His two sons were grown and living in another country. His wife had left him to move back to her home country. All of them had returned last summer to see him be baptized in his village. After he did that, the neighbors killed his dog. Lots of family in the area, but not friends now. My buddy would spend a few hours with him talking about Bible stories and what they meant. This guy doesn't read. He's got God and my buddy.

The picture in my mind is this guy alone. Working in the field, splitting firewood, or puttering around the house...alone. How does he get any food for his soul? How does he stay alive?

I know I don't have the whole picture, but that's the piece that's stuck in my mind.

Humility

Gospel humility « Of First Importance:
“Humility agrees and is glad that everything we have is a free gift of God, and that this severs the root of boasting in our distinctives. Whatever talents, whatever intelligence, what ever skills, whatever gifts, whatever looks, whatever pedigree, whatever possessions, whatever wit, whatever influence you have, put away all pride because it is a gift, and put away all despair because it is a gift from God.”
- John Piper"