I’m going to let you in on a little secret: I think swing dancing is a lot of fun. I’ve never been good at it, but it didn’t really depend on me. As long as the guy knew what he was doing, all I had to do was hit the rock step and hang on for the ride. One of my friends was especially fun to dance with. He had a little hip-hop thing going on, so dancing with him was almost as fun as California Screamin’ at Disney’s California Adventure. [This is no secret: I like fast rides. ] Besides swing, we also tried our hand (and feet) at other ballroom dances: waltz, quickstep, even salsa. The waltz was nice, but the faster-paced dances were especially entertaining. None of it really stuck, but it was fun while it lasted and a hilarious form of group exercise, mostly ab-work from all the laughing. I wouldn’t give up my solitary runs for it, but dancing was a nice occasional alternative for a workout…the faster the song, the better. Continue reading…

Hello! Thanks for praying faithfully to our faithful God! Even though the events of the week felt like a roller coaster, it was nice to take moments to be still and remember who is God…and it isn’t me!

This week, can you please pray:

• for a final decision about going to East Asia in October. Doors have opened and closed. And opened and closed. And opened and are slowly closing. All in the span of about 10 days. So…yep, pray for clarity. Due to timing, we’ll have to make a decision soon.
• another team ministry that will be starting up, God-willing, this academic year. I’ll be leading a small group of local university students and recent graduates in a vision-sharing/mobilizing/recruiting/support-raising effort through worship and prayer on local university campuses. This is a huge experiment, since it will be the first time we’ve ever tried this. Pray for God to fill in the last remaining roles with His “first round draft picks.”
• for joy. Usually not a problem , but when things are as chaotic as they have been, it’s easy to lose sight of “the joy set before me” among all the crazy details.

Thanks! God bless you with confidence in Him this week!

Immanuel…josie

I’d heard about it, but I never actually saw it until tonight. As I was driving onto the freeway, I saw a man get dropped off so he could ask for money, food, and whatever else at the stoplight. To give him the benefit of the doubt, I suppose it’s possible he hitch-hiked there, and the driver was a random brave stranger who offered him a ride. There is no reason to jump to the conclusion they are a part of the scam some more cynical people have told me about.

But at the end of a challenging day, when nothing about it seemed fair or just, it’s easy to let my mind go there and believe the worst. As I was driving — ironically, toward a short evening run to get an endorphin fix — I didn’t even have the words to tell Jesus how bummed out that scene had left me. I know I’m still going to give them food or water if I have it in the car. I’ll still buy a little something from the nearest coffee shop or restaurant if I’m walking by. It’s an opportunity to talk to someone and to speak the presence of God into a life, even (or especially) if they feel they need to deceive the general public. But still…it’s a little disheartening to think they think I’m a sucker.

I didn’t have any words, but Jesus did.

…take heart! I have overcome the world.¹

Today didn’t exactly qualify for the trouble He was referring to in verse 32. But the events of the day, topped off by the scene at the freeway entrance, were just reminders of our fallen nature and world. It takes the heart of Jesus to help us overcome it.

Later, as I was responding to a message from the other side of the world, I was reminded of how useless it is to compare pain and struggle. Each life and each culture has its own unique roadblocks to Christ-likeness. My friend is brave enough to choose entrance into the pain that surrounds her. What an encouragement and example to take my eyes off my own troubles so I can find the image of God in the life of another. We aren’t always in position to know another’s motivations, but we can know God is good. Because of that certainty, I think I can wake up tomorrow and take heart.

I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27.13-14

1. John 16.33 [↩]

For the past month or so, God has really been challenging me to be honest in my beliefs about Him. It started innocently enough: catching up on over a year’s worth of Francis Chan sermon podcasts. (Two months down, at least 15 months more to go!) He has a talent for pointing out the obvious, yet ignored, parts of Scripture so that even one sermon will inspire me to confession and repentance, even while I’m cracking up at his jokes.

The underlying theme for me seems to have been how God used very inclusive terms throughout the Bible. When He does or says something, He doesn’t go half way. He doesn’t stop short of His goal. Even — or especially — when it comes to our salvation, He doesn’t make exceptions: nothing short of holiness will do. Thanks to Jesus’ embodiment of this trait, holiness is actually possible for us!

I, on the other hand, assume exceptions when applying biblical principles to my life. For example, Continue reading…

Hello prayer warriors! In the words of 3 John 13, “I have much to tell you.” For the sake of keeping these updates short, let me just say thank you for praying for punching in Japan, and stay tuned for more details in the next monthly update! Through an invitation to Japan in mid-October, we’re starting to see cracks in the wall and still hoping to see God break it wide open by

• assembling His perfect team for Japan and China (it would be a combined trip: China invited us about two months ago, but we’ve been waiting for God to also open up Japan to us)
• pouring His resources through His Church into this trip
• arranging His best dates, flights, and housing for us

There are actually quite a few other opportunities before us for early next year and a possibility for India this fall. It’s a bit overwhelming and confusing at times to consider all the options, so please pray for a unified heart among the leaders in this, that we would clearly and corporately sense God leading us so we would be followers of Him first before we are leaders of others.

Thank you so much. Your support propels us further along His purposes. Please join us in praising God for faithfully encouraging us, regardless of how He works all of this out.

Immanuel…josie