A Jesus Manifesto

I like how they call us out on our inconsistencies. It’s challenging. They also say a lot of what I’ve been thinking. I would question one or two statements (they don’t agree with each other on everything either, so it’s ok!), but they seem to be more perceptive and insightful than your average Christian.

Especially convicted by and appreciated points 1, 2, 6, 8 (“The cure for a big head is a big heart.” That makes me laugh and cringe at the same time!), and 9. It’s all a good read, though, and an even better reality check.

Thanks for praying so faithfully! It’s been an exciting week! Praise God for preparing the India team well. Time in Ohio was great! According to friends, children’s message went well yesterday and I didn’t sound nervous at all! Either you’ve been praying, or they were just trying to make me feel better.

Please pray:

• health, strength, and safety of our India team (follow their updates at www.reclaimingelephants.com)
• a date for a brainstorming meeting with some new friends from two weeks ago
• discipline to complete all the paperwork I need to catch up on! definitely not my strength…
• wisdom re: how to proceed with building a support network
• extra fruitfulness/productivity this week so I can set aside 2 days next week for reflection and receiving next steps from the Lord

Thanks so much! It was great to sense your partnership in prayer this past week!

First off, I’m thankful I don’t need to schedule game 6 into the agenda for team training! If you like the Lakers, you’ll understand. If you don’t follow the NBA, don’t worry about it.

Seriously, though, thanks for praying faithfully! Hopefully by the time you get this, I will have woken up at 3:00 am and made it to the airport by 4:30. And if that happened, you can definitely thank God! Also, please thank Him with me for allowing me to meet and connect with some encouraging people at an SVM2 gathering last Thursday. One guy and I are planning to gather a few people to brainstorm about a possible movement of worship and prayer for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

This week, I’ll be spending about 48 hours in Ohio with our team before they fly out of Chicago O’Hare for about two weeks in India. They’re actually already pretty well trained, I think. My presence there is more for encouragement/last minute logistics/commissioning. As a bonus, I’ll get to catch up with two of my teammates from last year.

Please pray:

• for safe travels for team and me
• for spiritual preparation of the team
• for physical rest for the team
• for awareness of the strong presence of the Holy Spirit during our time together and throughout their time in India
• secure identity in Christ for to override any culture shock the team may experience
• God’s peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4.7) will reign throughout all the changes that will inevitably happen
• personally, I’m going to need the ability to make a quick adjustment when I return home to networking and a catalog layout while enjoying an overnight babysitting stint (excuse me…kidsitting, according to my 8 year old nephew who is not a baby!)
• giving children’s message at my church on Sunday, 6/21…please pray I’ll be able to discern and communicate a single point about music and mission to our 4th grade-and-under crowd

I’m trying out a new system to get these updates out. Thanks for hanging in with me as I experiment with tech services. If you normally get these updates via email (not facebook), can you let me know if you received this? Thanks!

ISI Conversation Partner

Kaori is back in Japan. I miss hanging out with her, even though it’s been helpful to have a few extra hours each week. This story, though, has God written all over it. I finally got in touch again with an old friend in Yokohama who let us know her husband and another pastor were visiting different ministries in the U.S. A group of us got together to catch up with them over dinner, and I told them about Kaori. Halfway through dinner Kaori’s friend, Mizuho, walks in with one of my friends. It turns out Mizuho is my friend’s conversation partner! It was nice talking with her. Kind of like another connection to Kaori. I’m praying both Kaori and Mizuho will continue seeking and eventually find Jesus.

WCC PC

The ministry of initials is back again. This year (and next), I’m privileged to serve on their planning committee. It’s going to be a little hectic in the beginning, but the group has been pretty amazing. We (mostly they, since I’m always late to meetings) bonded pretty quickly and are sharing pretty deeply from the start. It’s great to have another community of like-minded people to serve with and go to Yogurtland together. Please pray I can figure out how to fit that in to an already full life. I had to ask God twice if He really wanted me to commit to this (since I thought I heard him wrong the first time). It’s been good so far, though. He already seems to be confirming some things among us. It’s cool to see Him at work like that.

Reflections of Praise

This past month, I was very grateful to have spent the first 3+ months attempting to set up a schedule and system! Although it still needs a LOT of refining, it served well enough to allow me to focus on building a foundation for communication. I am now no longer a coding dummy…I’m just not a coding expert, nor will I ever be. Nor do I want to be.

with WFI board & staff—more bars in more places

It all came at  a price, though. I’ve had several dreams (nightmares?) about PHP and CSS this month. As I write this, I also realize my mind is pretty mushy. I had to look back at the calendar to even see what happened beyond yesterday. I almost forgot one of the highlights was finally meeting the WFI leadership board! We could be part of an AT&T commercial if we were in the right order. It was such an encouragement to meet with them, receive their input, and be prayed for. I’m thankful for a group of godly men to provide leadership.

India 1 team is getting ready to leave, and the date keeps coming a lot faster than I expect! They’ve been on a faith journey of their own as they prepare for two weeks on the other side of the world. Despite significantly lowering the total from what we first anticipated (which in itself is a gift from God), they were still facing having to raise the last $5000 this past month. One of the guys works for a coffee shop and, out of the blue, a non-Christian customer gave him $1000! I haven’t met Micah yet, but besides being a testimony of God’s faithfulness, it is also a testimony of Micah’s witness at work through his relationships with customers. If you feel God leading you, please go ahead and give to the India 1 team! They only need about $1000 more. [Select "Global Impact" from the drop down menu on the WFI site and let me know.] Any overflow can go into my account, so don’t worry about it. We’re all on the same team, anyway. It would be such a blessing to me to know they are sent out with an abundance of support from the Body of Christ.

As for the India 2 team, we decided less is more. Because of the timing of when I came on staff and the different changes in strategy as a result, Scott and I thought it would be best to continue praying and recruiting for 2010 instead. We would rather send a team that is prayerfully prepared than send a team just for the sake of sending one. Cutting back on teams this year will allow me to invest time into solidifying policies and schedules to help run this ministry a little more smoothly. I’m so glad we have a history to refer to, but let’s face it: with cross-cultural ministry, it’s never a completely smooth road. I’m glad God made me to prefer more exciting roller coaster rides to slow-paced ones.

Please Continue Praying

• for the India 1 team:
  • God’s protection over them as He prepares them to go and while they are overseas
  • that I provide thorough logistical service and wise spiritual guidance
  • for their final fundraising efforts, especially one last concert on June 14
  • for their time of training June 15-17: the ability to begin disengaging from life at home to focus on the task ahead
• for discernment, joy, and fruitfulness as I invest one more month into developing a support-raising system and process (also, thank God for helping me learn as much as I have this past month!); please also pray for protection and healing of my right arm, which is feeling the effects of too much computer time
• for opportunities to build significant relationships, share the vision of WFI, and develop a much-needed and stronger support network
• giving children’s message on June 21…love speaking to kids, not so excited about all the adults who will be watching (and I heard something about a video camera, which really isn’t necessary!)…pray for steady voice and calm heart

Looking Ahead

I attended one of my favorite high school students’ final school concert tonight. [I have about 80-100 favorite students. ] They closed out the evening with “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” It was kind of thrilling, but a little surreal, to hear such affirmation for the cause of Christ in a public setting, especially since education is a very liberal channel of our culture. In particular, these lyrics caught my attention and encouraged me to continue pursuing God and His purposes in the midst of less-than-perfect conditions.

As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
While God is marching on

It’s considered an abolitionist song, first made popular during the American Civil War, but the entire song speaks of the very stark reality of  God’s judgment and salvation…with no holds barred! The original lyrics actually call us to “die to make men free.” Technically, abolitionists don’t actually make people free; they just make freedom available. Understanding that is such a relief and an encouragement to continually offer our lives as living sacrifices to God! It reminds me giving up is not a valid option for me; choosing that will be my personal eternal loss because God will continue to advance His kingdom with or without my obedience.

We all hit seasons of weariness and discouragement in the spiritual battle that is part of being a disciple of Jesus, but truth like this set to music like this does wonders to fuel me toward His assured victory. What freedom we can have in Christ! It’s a big part of why I’m so excited about this ministry. Please pray we will all keep our eyes fixed on Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, so we can finish our earthly assignments well and with confident joy in our unfailing Holy God.

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5.15