One of the passages in Scripture that I absolutely love is Matthew 4:1-11. In the few verses that precede this passage, Jesus is baptized by John, which marks the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Following that, Matthew says in chapter 4, verse 1, "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil." It's almost mind-blowing to think that right after Jesus is baptized by John, the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
What is the desert?
The desert is obviously a very lonely place with not a lot of anything. Food is scarce, water is even more scarce, and there is hardly any protection from the sun that constantly beats down. Am I the only one who finds it ironic that the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the desert right after being baptized?
I believe Jesus was led into the desert so his faith would be strengthened, and also to give the perfect example of how we are to handle the "deserts" of life. Verses 2 through 11 go on to describe how Jesus was tempted by Satan. Obviously, Satan's offer of food, God's protection, and all the kingdoms of the world would have been very attractive to Jesus, especially since Jesus had been fasting for forty days. However, Jesus was spending those forty days intimately with God the Father. He uses memorized Scripture to fight-off Satan's temptations (a perfect example to us). Jesus came out of those forty days in the desert having an even deeper relationship with the Father. His time in the desert helped prepare him for the ministry God had planned for his life.
I think the same goes with us. The past three years have felt like the desert to me. I have questioned why God would lead me to a small college in the middle of Oklahoma through the game of golf, and then allow me to enter the largest slump of my life. I came to college thinking by the time I reached my senior year I would be an incredible golfer, looking to hopefully win a national championship, but here I am entering my senior year not on the golf team, but rather doing a part-time accounting internship. This is not at all what I had in mind three years ago entering college. However, I know God has a master plan and I trust that He is leading me down the path He wants me to take.
I am so thankful for where I am today. I am thankful for the internship I have, I am thankful for the university I attend, but most importantly, I am thankful for the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. The "deserts" of life are some of the most incredible seasons we will ever experience. It feels like the sun is always beating down and there is no escape from the heat. It feels like God has forgotten about us or betrayed us, but in reality, God is right there with us. Satan's temptations will always look attractive, but we have to use the power of prayer and God's word to fight off those temptations, trusting God will provide our every need.
God has lead me through what seems like the desert for the past three years to prepare me for the ministry He has planned for my life. I have said this before, the last three years have not been the most fun, but they have definitely been the most beneficial years I have ever experienced. I know there will be tougher times ahead than what I experienced the past three years, but I also know Jesus is bigger than any "desert" that lies ahead.
..............................
There are many of you who are going through extremely difficult times right now. I am sure some of you feel like you are going through the "desert" and the end is nowhere in sight. Life is not easy. It was never promised to be easy. Some of you are going through situations where no word of encouragement could even bring the slightest comfort. I cannot relate to the pain some of you are going through. The one thing I do know is that God is right there with you. He may be leading you through this time in the "desert" to prepare you for a future ministry he has for your life. He is faithful.
Below is a link to a song I heard today in church. The lyrics brought me to tears (yeah, I'm a softy). If you're going through a difficult time I hope these lyrics bring comfort and hope.
Blessed to know all of you,
Kyle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1bXG4WIesA
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
South Sudan 2011 Video
I finally got around to putting all my South Sudan mission trip pictures in a video. I wanted to post this on South Sudan's first birthday on July 9, 2012, but the video wasn't cooperating. It finally decided to cooperate! For better quality, go to the bottom of the video screen and click on "Change quality." Then click on "720pHD." Hope you enjoy the video!
Monday, May 14, 2012
I Will Never Forget
I will never forget the disappointment in his eyes, the look of hopelessness he effortlessly displayed. He didn't beg, he didn't nag, he didn't persist. He just slowly lowered his head and walked away. You could see the slight hope he had as we approached him, but that look quickly faded as I muttered the words with embarrassment and shame, "No, I'm sorry. Not right now." All he wanted was five dollars to buy a sandwich or two from Sonic. That's it.
We just finished a fun night in Thunder Alley watching the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers. We had a great time talking, eating, laughing, and cheering on OKC. We walked back to the car and approached a man walking toward us with a dried-up gash on his forehead, and everything he owned on his back. All he asked for was five dollars. Five. Dollars. I had just spent seven dollars on a burger, and four dollars on ice cream. And here was a man who was literally carrying on his back everything he owned. And I refused to to take the time to carry on a conversation with him, help meet his needs, and pray with him. I know the homeless have a "bad reputation" for spending what little money they have on alcohol, but still, I had two Sonic gift cards in my wallet that I could have easily given him. I will never forget the look on his face. It was the most sincere and authentic look of disappointment I have ever seen. His appearance may not have been the most welcoming, but under the dirty clothes, behind the hopeless eyes, is a man who longs to be loved. A man who desires to have a home. A man who fully trusts that God will provide his next meal. A man, who in reality, is no different than me. That face I saw was the face of Jesus. And all I did was mutter a brief, heartless response, and walked away. If only you could have seen his face, your heart would have sank too. The more I reflect on it, the more I think of Matthew 25:31-46. I urge you to read it. The part that specifically keeps going through my mind is Matthew 25:40, which reads this, "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" That was the face of Jesus. He was the one who was hungry, but I gave him nothing to eat (Matthew 25:35, 42).
I pray for everyone who reads this, and I pray especially for myself, that we would meet the needs of the poor. May we DESTROY the lifestyle of safety, comfort, busyness, entitlement, and selfishness. May we truly live humble lives, willing to live among, and fellowship with, those who may not materially possess as much as us, or may not look the same as us. May we be the hands and feet of Jesus, and have compassion and love for everyone around us, especially those in need. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." -Jesus (Luke 12:47, 48).
We just finished a fun night in Thunder Alley watching the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers. We had a great time talking, eating, laughing, and cheering on OKC. We walked back to the car and approached a man walking toward us with a dried-up gash on his forehead, and everything he owned on his back. All he asked for was five dollars. Five. Dollars. I had just spent seven dollars on a burger, and four dollars on ice cream. And here was a man who was literally carrying on his back everything he owned. And I refused to to take the time to carry on a conversation with him, help meet his needs, and pray with him. I know the homeless have a "bad reputation" for spending what little money they have on alcohol, but still, I had two Sonic gift cards in my wallet that I could have easily given him. I will never forget the look on his face. It was the most sincere and authentic look of disappointment I have ever seen. His appearance may not have been the most welcoming, but under the dirty clothes, behind the hopeless eyes, is a man who longs to be loved. A man who desires to have a home. A man who fully trusts that God will provide his next meal. A man, who in reality, is no different than me. That face I saw was the face of Jesus. And all I did was mutter a brief, heartless response, and walked away. If only you could have seen his face, your heart would have sank too. The more I reflect on it, the more I think of Matthew 25:31-46. I urge you to read it. The part that specifically keeps going through my mind is Matthew 25:40, which reads this, "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" That was the face of Jesus. He was the one who was hungry, but I gave him nothing to eat (Matthew 25:35, 42).
I pray for everyone who reads this, and I pray especially for myself, that we would meet the needs of the poor. May we DESTROY the lifestyle of safety, comfort, busyness, entitlement, and selfishness. May we truly live humble lives, willing to live among, and fellowship with, those who may not materially possess as much as us, or may not look the same as us. May we be the hands and feet of Jesus, and have compassion and love for everyone around us, especially those in need. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." -Jesus (Luke 12:47, 48).
Saturday, March 17, 2012
God's Provision
About six weeks ago I committed to going on a mission trip to New York City over Spring Break with Oklahoma City K-Life. For those of you who don't know what K-Life is, K-Life is a middle school and high school student ministry that I help out with. Anyway, I committed to going on the mission trip not really knowing where the finances would come from.
I decided to go on the trip because while I was praying about it, Matthew 28:18-20 was put on my heart. Some of you may know this as the "Great Commission" where Jesus instructs the disciples to "make disciples of all nations." As I thought about this verse, I began thinking, "Why wouldn't God want me to go on this trip?" I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to go, so I committed. The only problem was I wasn't sure how I would pay for it.
Ever since I was a little kid I saved all my money. When my sister and I would get an allowance for weekly chores, I saved every penny I received. Through the years I built-up a savings, but I had to cut into my savings this past year to pay for my trip to South Sudan. To help pay the total cost of going, I raised support from friends and family. I am so thankful for the generosity of those who supported me on that trip. I still had to use a large portion of my savings though to pay for the rest of the costs. I wasn't sure how I was going to pay for the trip to New York City knowing the money in my savings account would not be enough to cover all the expenses. I wasn't going to raise support either since I had just done that a few months ago. I just trusted that God would provide the money in His timing.
A couple weeks ago I wrote a check that covered part of the cost of going on the trip. Last Friday, March 9, I found out a K-Life board member donated a very generous amount on my behalf. After the generous donation by the board member, I still owed $300 as of this time last week. I continued to pray that God would provide.
Last Saturday, March 10, my mom left a voicemail on my phone telling me she had some "Good news." I called her back later that afternoon. She told me there was an envelope in the mail addressed to me that came in the mail the day before. When my mom saw who it was from, Mercy St. John's, she figured it was an insurance reimbursement for an office visit. When she opened the envelop, she saw a check addressed to me for $323. She suddenly realized St. John's reimbursed me for the vaccination shots I had to get before going to South Sudan. That's not the craziest part though.
When I received the vaccinations during Fall Break last year, I asked if our insurance would cover the cost, and they told me it would not. FIVE MONTHS LATER, I received a check they said would not come. Not only did I receive a check they said would not come, but I received the check the week the money was due for the New York City mission trip. I owed $300 for the mission trip, and I received this check for $323.
Is it any coincidence this money came the week the money was due for the New York City mission trip? I think not! God revealed his power in one of the most mighty ways I have ever experienced. I received those vaccinations FIVE MONTHS AGO! And they told me I would not be reimbursed for them. God intervened though and prompted someone to send me a reimbursement check.
There is no way anyone can doubt the power of God in this situation. There's no other explanation why this money would be sent to me at this specific time. It was all in God's timing.
If you don't believe in God, or don't believe in the power of God, seriously consider the significance of this situation. First, I wasn't even supposed to receive a reimbursement. Second, the money (that wasn't supposed to come) came the week all the money was due for the mission trip and happened to be enough to cover the $300 I still owed.
There is no other explanation other than God revealing His power, provision, faithfulness, and incredible timing, all for His glory and my joy.
If you ever feel the Holy Spirit prompting you to do something you don't have the resources for, take a step of faith and commit to whatever it is. God will reveal His power in ways you never could have imagined. NEVER let finances keep you from doing something God is calling you to do. He will provide all you need, in His timing... and don't be surprised if this happens to be at the last second.
God is real. God is loving. And God is active.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
(untitled)
Every Wednesday night I try to attend a Bible study on campus here at Oklahoma Christian University. The Bible study is directed mostly toward athletes. In previous years it was called "Character Class," but I think that name scared off too many people. I think most students thought it was a reform class for students with major character issues.
Anyway, tonight's topic was about controlling the tongue and not swearing. The speaker talked about how in today's society we're seeing more and more of a tolerance for bad language. Today, it is not uncommon to hear a little kid in the 1st grade use the word "sucks". Just a few years ago this would not have been tolerated.
One person in the group mentioned how society seems to be okay with just about every word as long as nobody uses the F-word. If someone uses the F-word, then that person has crossed the line. Just about every other word though seems to be acceptable.
Since when has it been okay for little kids to use the word, "sucks," not to mention everyone else? I know a lot of you are thinking, "Kyle, seriously? You're worried about kids using the word sucks?" Honestly, yeah, I am worried about young kids using that word. It goes deeper than that. It goes much deeper than that. The heart of the problem is what we're experiencing as a society. We are slowly experiencing moral decay (and cue the sighs and rolling eyes). We are experiencing a slow fade toward more and more ungodliness, including those who profess to follow Christ.
The speaker then asked those at the Bible study why we are seeing more of a tolerance for bad language. I responded first and said the answer is simple. I said we have wandered from studying Scripture. Scripture is being studied less and less, and as a result, we are straying from the truth. We are being more accepting of things that definitely would not have been acceptable fifteen years ago. We are not allowing God's word to transform our lives, and transform the way we think and act. Fewer and fewer people are actually studying Scripture to get more of God, and allow his Spirit to light a fire in our soul for Him and what He values.
Typically, if people happen to read the Bible daily, they tend to read a chapter or two, check it off their to-do list, and think they are "good" with God. Or at least that was my case until 14 months ago. Instead of studying scripture and seeing what the text meant during the time it was written, people are twisting Scripture to make it apply to their situation. For example, so many athletes use the verse Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him (Christ) who strengthens me." When Paul wrote this he was not meaning the point guard at the free throw line will make the game winning shot for the conference championship. Paul wrote this, meaning in every circumstance, whether having plenty, or having very little, he could be content in every situation because the power of Christ, through the Holy Spirit, strengthened him. And Paul was placed in some pretty extreme situations (i.e. imprisoned, shipwrecked, abandoned, homeless, etc.) Due to a lack of studying Scripture to get more of God and prayerfully value what He loves, we are being more tolerant of the things the world says are acceptable.
Typically, if people happen to read the Bible daily, they tend to read a chapter or two, check it off their to-do list, and think they are "good" with God. Or at least that was my case until 14 months ago. Instead of studying scripture and seeing what the text meant during the time it was written, people are twisting Scripture to make it apply to their situation. For example, so many athletes use the verse Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him (Christ) who strengthens me." When Paul wrote this he was not meaning the point guard at the free throw line will make the game winning shot for the conference championship. Paul wrote this, meaning in every circumstance, whether having plenty, or having very little, he could be content in every situation because the power of Christ, through the Holy Spirit, strengthened him. And Paul was placed in some pretty extreme situations (i.e. imprisoned, shipwrecked, abandoned, homeless, etc.) Due to a lack of studying Scripture to get more of God and prayerfully value what He loves, we are being more tolerant of the things the world says are acceptable.
Another student spoke up after I finished. The first thing he said was, "Well, I think that's the easy answer. I think the problem is the ideas, rules, and morals during the 60's were so extreme that people have tried to correct that, and as a result, society has possibly overcorrected to the point of being too tolerant."
After the student finished talking I spoke up and asked him a question. I asked him if he honestly thought the ideas during the 60's (and any other decade during the 20th century) were really that extreme from a Biblical viewpoint.
When I study Scripture it seems to me Christ calls us to live a pretty extreme life. If we look at how Jesus and the disciples lived, they were incredibly extreme. People absolutely hated those who followed Christ because they were so passionate about the faith. Look at the way Paul lived. Read the book of Acts. In 2 Timothy 3, verse 12, Paul says this, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,..." It's no secrete we, as believers, are called to live extreme lives. That's why the books Crazy Love by Francis Chan and Radical by David Platt have recently been written. We have strayed from living the radical life we are called to live as followers of Christ.
Like I said earlier, this problem goes much deeper than a young kid using the word "sucks." Today, PG-13 movies would have been considered R-rated movies fifteen years ago. There is less censorship on movies and music than ever before. People are being glorified on television shows for living lives full of sin... and we think it's funny.
As I said earlier, the whole problem comes down to not studying Scripture. We are not pursuing the heart of God to see what He values. Until we return to God through His Word for direction, wisdom, and life transformation, we will continue to head down a path of moral decay. Even today there are many churches that teach good morality, but refuse to preach from God's word. There is no true, positive, life transformation apart from Jesus. When we refuse to let the Holy Spirit transform us through Scripture, we eventually come up with books and T.V. shows titled, "Good Christian Bitches," also known as, "GCB." It's this kind of stuff that makes Christianity a joke.
A friend and I have been reading the book Doctrine by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears. In the tenth chapter the authors talk about the Church. In one part they discuss why the church has struggled recently and why it doesn't look like the church in Acts 2. At the bottom of page 306 and the top of page 307 it talks about how we can regain the mission of what the Church is supposed to be. The authors write this, "The answer is a simple, humble, and continual return to Scripture to rekindle the love of God the Father, life of God the Son, and leading of God the Spirit in order that we be the church for the sake of the world to the glory of God."
The student who replied to my comment at the Bible study by saying, "Well, I think that's the easy answer", was absolutely correct. The answer is that easy! All we have to do is study the Bible in prayerful expectation that the Holy Spirit will rekindle our love for God and what He values, which will change the way we live. It's that simple.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Carry His Name
Lately, I have been going through the book of Acts with a few friends. The more I read Acts, the more motivated I become. The passion the early church had for serving Christ was absolutely incredible! Nothing else mattered except spreading the truth about how Christ came from His throne in Heaven to this fallen and broken world to save humanity from the death we deserve. There was a sense of urgency among the disciples during this time. They preached the truth with boldness and fearlessness. They didn't care what others thought about them, they were living for an audience of One. It didn't matter if they were going to be made fun of, if they were going to be rejected, if they were going to be brutally beaten, or if they were going to be killed. I love Paul's attitude. In Acts 20:22-24, Paul says this...
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
This is one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture. Paul was compelled by the Spirit. While reading through Acts I have realized how Spirit-led Paul and the disciples were. Their ministry was successful because they had an intimate relationship with the Spirit. Everything Paul did was for the glory of God because he felt the Holy Spirit leading him. He knew the importance of living for eternity. Keep in mind, this is a guy who was persecuting Christians not long before. And when the Bible says he was persecuting Christians, it doesn't mean he was just making fun of them. He was ripping families apart. In Acts 8:3 it reads this, "But Saul (the name of Paul before God intervened) began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison."
The life Paul was living was beautifully interrupted by God's grace, which set in motion one of the best examples of what it looks like to passionately pursue Jesus. This is the power of the gospel. It doesn't matter what we have done, or the things we have said, Jesus still wants to have an intimate relationship with us. Humbling for sure.
From the moment Paul's life was interrupted by Jesus, he passionately served the LORD. Acts 9:20 says this of Paul, "At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God." Paul didn't hesitate after entering a relationship with Jesus. He immediately started sharing the gospel with others. My question is, do we have the same passion Paul had? Do we, as people who profess to follow Christ, have a burning desire for others to enter into the incredibly JOYFUL relationship with Christ?
Paul was not afraid to publicly preach that Jesus was the Son of God. Paul wasn't afraid to enter the synagogues and preach about Jesus to the teachers of the law. He was just an ordinary person like you and me. He had no official title of "Pastor" or "Pharisee". Every city Paul visited, he typically entered the Jewish synagogue. He wasn't afraid of confrontation. If there was false teaching, he would speak up and preach the truth. He had a deep desire for everyone to know Jesus as the Messiah. Heated discussions over truth were not uncommon to Paul. Oh, and Paul was led by the Holy Spirit.
Another man who fearlessly preached Jesus as LORD was Apollos. Apollos busts onto the scene in Acts 18. Starting in verse 24, we begin to learn about Apollos. Scripture says, "He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures." Apollos wanted to go to the province of Achaia (lower part of Greece) to the city of Corinth. He went there to preach the truth to the Jews who did not believe Jesus as the Messiah. In Acts 18:28, Luke writes this of Apollos, "For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ." Apollos didn't just casually say, "Yeah, you all may want to take a look at these Scriptures. I think there's some truth in here that may help you. Here's a copy of the Scriptures. I'll be praying for you guys." No, he "...vigorously refuted the Jews."
Acts 19:8 reads this, "Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God."
Paul, Apollos, and many other disciples during this time were not afraid to preach truth to those who did not believe. I feel like we have strayed sooooo far from that. Today we're told to respect other's opinions and not "step on other people's toes." If we offend someone, then we have definitely crossed the line. I personally think this is ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I believe we should respect others. If people are not willing to argue the truth, then we need to respect that. But if people are willing to argue the truth, then argue it. We're talking about LIFE and DEATH here. Eternal life and death. It doesn't get anymore urgent than that. If we truly love others, then we need to share the truth with them before it's too late. There should be a sense of urgency among followers of Christ today to preach Jesus as the Son of God.
St. Francis of Assisi said this, "Preach the gospel always, if necessary use words." Yeah, this sounds great, but what if we actually lived this way? What if Paul and Apollos lived this way? What if Paul hardly ever used words to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God? Where would the body of Christ be today if Paul didn't have the boldness to argue persuasively about the Kingdom of God? I'm guessing you (if you profess to follow Christ) and I wouldn't be Christians right now. We have to use words to preach the gospel. We have to preach the gospel always through word and deed. The Holy Spirit's work through Paul is one of the main reasons the story of Jesus as LORD continues today.
Remember, Paul was just another ordinary person. He wasn't a pastor or teacher of the law, he built tents for a living. So many people who profess to follow Christ think, "Well, I'm not a pastor so it's not really my job to preach the gospel." They think they don't have the qualifications or credentials to preach to others. Some may think, "Well, I don't want others to think I'm too 'Holy'." Others may have the idea that they will be viewed as above everyone else if they preach Jesus. If Paul had this attitude then we would all be in trouble. Thankfully, Paul didn't care what others thought of him and lived solely for God. His only mission was to faithfully serve Christ, no matter what the cost. We are called to do the same.
My prayer for us as followers of Christ, is that we would develop an intimacy with the Holy Spirit, and would boldly and fearlessly share the gospel. Just because you may be in high school or college doesn't mean you can't be mature in the faith and boldly preach Jesus as the Son of God. God is no respecter of age. Don't be afraid to argue the truth with others. It just may lead to their eternal salvation.
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
This is one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture. Paul was compelled by the Spirit. While reading through Acts I have realized how Spirit-led Paul and the disciples were. Their ministry was successful because they had an intimate relationship with the Spirit. Everything Paul did was for the glory of God because he felt the Holy Spirit leading him. He knew the importance of living for eternity. Keep in mind, this is a guy who was persecuting Christians not long before. And when the Bible says he was persecuting Christians, it doesn't mean he was just making fun of them. He was ripping families apart. In Acts 8:3 it reads this, "But Saul (the name of Paul before God intervened) began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison."
The life Paul was living was beautifully interrupted by God's grace, which set in motion one of the best examples of what it looks like to passionately pursue Jesus. This is the power of the gospel. It doesn't matter what we have done, or the things we have said, Jesus still wants to have an intimate relationship with us. Humbling for sure.
From the moment Paul's life was interrupted by Jesus, he passionately served the LORD. Acts 9:20 says this of Paul, "At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God." Paul didn't hesitate after entering a relationship with Jesus. He immediately started sharing the gospel with others. My question is, do we have the same passion Paul had? Do we, as people who profess to follow Christ, have a burning desire for others to enter into the incredibly JOYFUL relationship with Christ?
Paul was not afraid to publicly preach that Jesus was the Son of God. Paul wasn't afraid to enter the synagogues and preach about Jesus to the teachers of the law. He was just an ordinary person like you and me. He had no official title of "Pastor" or "Pharisee". Every city Paul visited, he typically entered the Jewish synagogue. He wasn't afraid of confrontation. If there was false teaching, he would speak up and preach the truth. He had a deep desire for everyone to know Jesus as the Messiah. Heated discussions over truth were not uncommon to Paul. Oh, and Paul was led by the Holy Spirit.
Another man who fearlessly preached Jesus as LORD was Apollos. Apollos busts onto the scene in Acts 18. Starting in verse 24, we begin to learn about Apollos. Scripture says, "He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures." Apollos wanted to go to the province of Achaia (lower part of Greece) to the city of Corinth. He went there to preach the truth to the Jews who did not believe Jesus as the Messiah. In Acts 18:28, Luke writes this of Apollos, "For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ." Apollos didn't just casually say, "Yeah, you all may want to take a look at these Scriptures. I think there's some truth in here that may help you. Here's a copy of the Scriptures. I'll be praying for you guys." No, he "...vigorously refuted the Jews."
Acts 19:8 reads this, "Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God."
Paul, Apollos, and many other disciples during this time were not afraid to preach truth to those who did not believe. I feel like we have strayed sooooo far from that. Today we're told to respect other's opinions and not "step on other people's toes." If we offend someone, then we have definitely crossed the line. I personally think this is ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I believe we should respect others. If people are not willing to argue the truth, then we need to respect that. But if people are willing to argue the truth, then argue it. We're talking about LIFE and DEATH here. Eternal life and death. It doesn't get anymore urgent than that. If we truly love others, then we need to share the truth with them before it's too late. There should be a sense of urgency among followers of Christ today to preach Jesus as the Son of God.
St. Francis of Assisi said this, "Preach the gospel always, if necessary use words." Yeah, this sounds great, but what if we actually lived this way? What if Paul and Apollos lived this way? What if Paul hardly ever used words to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God? Where would the body of Christ be today if Paul didn't have the boldness to argue persuasively about the Kingdom of God? I'm guessing you (if you profess to follow Christ) and I wouldn't be Christians right now. We have to use words to preach the gospel. We have to preach the gospel always through word and deed. The Holy Spirit's work through Paul is one of the main reasons the story of Jesus as LORD continues today.
Remember, Paul was just another ordinary person. He wasn't a pastor or teacher of the law, he built tents for a living. So many people who profess to follow Christ think, "Well, I'm not a pastor so it's not really my job to preach the gospel." They think they don't have the qualifications or credentials to preach to others. Some may think, "Well, I don't want others to think I'm too 'Holy'." Others may have the idea that they will be viewed as above everyone else if they preach Jesus. If Paul had this attitude then we would all be in trouble. Thankfully, Paul didn't care what others thought of him and lived solely for God. His only mission was to faithfully serve Christ, no matter what the cost. We are called to do the same.
My prayer for us as followers of Christ, is that we would develop an intimacy with the Holy Spirit, and would boldly and fearlessly share the gospel. Just because you may be in high school or college doesn't mean you can't be mature in the faith and boldly preach Jesus as the Son of God. God is no respecter of age. Don't be afraid to argue the truth with others. It just may lead to their eternal salvation.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
What God Calls You to Do, He Equips You to Do
This Christmas break I had the opportunity to go to South Sudan with my cousin, Jennie. First, I want to apologize to those who supported me on this trip. In my letter I told you I would update my blog on how the LORD is working in South Sudan. Once I returned from the mission trip I failed to make time to blog about some of my experiences in Africa. So, to those who supported me, sorry for not being more timely in updating you on how the trip went. I also want to say I will blog more on my experiences while in South Sudan, but it would be impossible to share them all in one blog post. Well, it may be possible, but I doubt any of you would read it because it would be a very long post (much longer than this one). So, I will be sure to blog about my experiences as the LORD puts them on my heart to share. Anyway, onto the trip...
South Sudan is located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. The countries that border it are Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, and Sudan. South Sudan is the world's newest nation. They gained their independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011, just six months ago. It is a country that has been devastated by civil war the past 30+ years. Many of the people in what is now South Sudan have placed their faith in Christianity and wanted freedom from the extremist Muslim Arab North. Many families have been ripped apart because of the violence. Literally, millions of children are orphaned in Sudan and South Sudan because their parents have died due to war, disease, or famine. It's a country that has endured more pain and suffering than most of us can imagine.
I met Jennie in Washington D.C. on December 16th. We stayed at a couples house who Jennie attended college with. That night we had our last American meal at a Mexican restaurant (how ironic, I guess that's not really American haha) and then we drove around the National Mall, looking at all the monuments lit at night. After playing "Tourist" for a couple hours, we went back to their house and got ready for bed. That night there were definitely butterflies in my stomach. I was nervous about going to Africa, especially South Sudan. I knew violence was still prevalent throughout both countries, and I knew rebel groups were still creating problems in South Sudan. I was also aware of the danger of disease. Before going on the trip I had to get vaccinated for many diseases, including Yellow Fever. I also received a 37 page packet warning me of the dangers of traveling to this area. While I was getting ready for bed, I saw a framed scapbook page hanging on the wall of the room I was staying in. The guy we were staying with had been to West Africa a few years before and the pictures in the frame were from his trip. Along with the pictures was the Bible verse, Joshua 1:9, which reads, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Reading this brought me so much confirmation and comfort; knowing God was going to be with me the whole way. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
The next morning we woke up and went to Washington Dulles International Airport. As we stood in line at the check-in counter butterflies started fluttering in my stomach again. I was dressed in a red hoodie with black sweat pants. All the Sudanese people around us were dressed up in their finest clothing, including the very tall Sudanese diplomats dressed up in their suits and ties. It began to cross my mind that I was about to enter a culture that was completely different than anything I was used to. We made our way to the terminal and found a place to sit down. The thought went through my mind, "Well, there's no turning back now." We boarded the plane and I found my seat next to two Americans headed to Malawi for Christmas break. They were two college students who were very experienced travelers. As we talked, they asked where I was headed. I told them where and why I was traveling. They were so excited to hear I was going to South Sudan. They told me they would love to visit there at some point. This got me excited and relieved the butterflies I was feeling. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
We arrived in Juba, South Sudan the next day after catching a connecting flight in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The good news was we arrived safely in Juba, the bad news was our five bags did not. Because a lot of people were returning home to South Sudan for the holidays and bringing lots of Christmas gifts, Ethiopian Airlines got way behind on delivering bags to South Sudan. While I sat outside the airport trying to grasp the fact that I was in a third-world country with only my Bible, a few snacks, credentials, one change of clothes, and my vitamins and malaria medication, my cousin was busy trying to see when we could expect our bags and trying to find someone who would give us a decent exchange rate. When she returned, I asked her when the Ethiopian Airlines airport administrator thought our bags would arrive. She said they were expected to arrive in 2-4 days. Typically, this would make me a bit worried (okay, a lot worried), but at this point I felt the power of prayer and realized God was in control and would provide for our needs. If I wasn't 100% sure that God called me to go on this mission trip, I would have bought a ticket for America right then. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
We spent a couple days in Juba at a women's drop-in shelter called Confident Children Out of Conflict. It's a center that provides girls 18 and under a safe place to hang out during the day since the streets can be dangerous. For those two days in Juba I wore the set of clothes I packed in my carry-on backpack. Wearing the same thing two consecutive days, especially in Africa, is not the most clean thing to do. The whole city is very dusty and dirty, so it doesn't take long for clothes to be covered in dirt. I also didn't have any of my toiletries, so being clean at this point wasn't really an option. If you know me well, you know I like to be very clean. I often take two showers a day and always wash my hands before I eat. Wearing the same nasty clothes for two days could have given me a bad attitude, but I was able to relax and trust that God was in control. I fully know the reason I was able to relax and not worry was because there were so many people back home praying for Jennie and me. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
Two days later we received our bags. The next morning we traveled to a Children's Village/orphanage in Yei, South Sudan. It was a 100 mile trip from Juba to Yei that took 6 hours and 35 minutes. The dirt roads are incredibly bad and the 15 passenger van loaded with 18 people was not moving very quickly due to all the luggage placed on top of the van. At one of the stops, my cousin informed me that the lady in front of her was vomiting. Once again, if you know me well, you know I don't handle vomit very well. Naturally, when we started moving again, I would glance over to see if she was sick. It was one of those moments when you put your hands over your eyes, but you peak through the gaps between your fingers to see if it's true. As we kept traveling, the bumpy roads continued to upset the women's stomach, and she continued to get sick. Once again, a calming peace came over me and I was able to relax. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
We spent five, great days in Yei. It was amazing hanging out with all the kids! There are about 120 kids at the Children's Village. Every kid just wants to be held and loved. I was blessed to meet some incredible people who encouraged me in my walk with Christ, and taught me some great truths about God's word. We celebrated Christmas day by having all the kids open gifts, and then we had church. After church we had Christmas day lunch! Christmas day lunch was a huge treat. We had rice, cabbage, fries, goat, lamb, intestines, and goat hair that had accidentally fallen into the meat while it was being prepared. While I was eating Christmas day lunch, a child had fallen off a bench and began crying hysterically. The child had eaten a little too much and couldn't catch his breath, so he started vomiting about fifteen feet from where I was sitting. One of the older guys at the village tended to the child. I looked at the child, looked at my food, and started eating the rest of my Christmas day lunch. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
The next day we left the Children's village and went back to Juba. As we were leaving the bus park a lady a couple rows in front of us started feeling sick. We pulled over and she got a couple bags from someone on the street. We left Yei and began the bumpy trip back to Juba. The lady was sick for at least half the trip. Once again, I felt the calming peace of prayer come over me and I was able to relax. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
Some of the other situations where I felt the power of prayer and God's hand upon me...
1. Having a peace during the whole trip knowing God is in control
2. Processing all the poverty in the region
3. Never getting sick from the water or food
4. Having a great attitude about some of the inconveniences that come with being in a third-world country i.e. bucket baths and latrines
5. Not running into any problems with the authorities i.e. extra and unnecessary visa charges
6. Not worrying about safety, and many other situations
In this blog I know I focused on some of the things that didn't go according to my plan. I want to be clear that this trip was amazing! The reason I pointed out some of the difficulties was because I wanted to make the point that God provides for our every need, especially when He calls us to tasks that stretch our faith. I knew without a doubt God was calling me to go on this trip. One of the things that He taught me was that no matter where I go, He is always with me. When obeying God's call, He will provide for every need that may arise. He may put you in situations that require you to lean on Him more than you usually would, but that's the point. Everything He does is designed to bring us into a deeper relationship with Him. There is NO WAY I would have made it nine days in South Sudan without God strengthening me the whole time. I have never felt the power of prayer like I did on this trip. When situations came up that would typically put me in a bad mood, the Holy Spirit gave me a great attitude about it, and strengthened me to press on.
I want to encourage any of you who may feel God's call to do something that seems impossible, or more than you think you can bear. If God is calling you to a certain task, do not ignore it. There is something incredible He wants to do through you, and probably something He wants to reveal to you, all designed to bring you into a deeper relationship with Him. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
South Sudan is located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. The countries that border it are Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, and Sudan. South Sudan is the world's newest nation. They gained their independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011, just six months ago. It is a country that has been devastated by civil war the past 30+ years. Many of the people in what is now South Sudan have placed their faith in Christianity and wanted freedom from the extremist Muslim Arab North. Many families have been ripped apart because of the violence. Literally, millions of children are orphaned in Sudan and South Sudan because their parents have died due to war, disease, or famine. It's a country that has endured more pain and suffering than most of us can imagine.
I met Jennie in Washington D.C. on December 16th. We stayed at a couples house who Jennie attended college with. That night we had our last American meal at a Mexican restaurant (how ironic, I guess that's not really American haha) and then we drove around the National Mall, looking at all the monuments lit at night. After playing "Tourist" for a couple hours, we went back to their house and got ready for bed. That night there were definitely butterflies in my stomach. I was nervous about going to Africa, especially South Sudan. I knew violence was still prevalent throughout both countries, and I knew rebel groups were still creating problems in South Sudan. I was also aware of the danger of disease. Before going on the trip I had to get vaccinated for many diseases, including Yellow Fever. I also received a 37 page packet warning me of the dangers of traveling to this area. While I was getting ready for bed, I saw a framed scapbook page hanging on the wall of the room I was staying in. The guy we were staying with had been to West Africa a few years before and the pictures in the frame were from his trip. Along with the pictures was the Bible verse, Joshua 1:9, which reads, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Reading this brought me so much confirmation and comfort; knowing God was going to be with me the whole way. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
The next morning we woke up and went to Washington Dulles International Airport. As we stood in line at the check-in counter butterflies started fluttering in my stomach again. I was dressed in a red hoodie with black sweat pants. All the Sudanese people around us were dressed up in their finest clothing, including the very tall Sudanese diplomats dressed up in their suits and ties. It began to cross my mind that I was about to enter a culture that was completely different than anything I was used to. We made our way to the terminal and found a place to sit down. The thought went through my mind, "Well, there's no turning back now." We boarded the plane and I found my seat next to two Americans headed to Malawi for Christmas break. They were two college students who were very experienced travelers. As we talked, they asked where I was headed. I told them where and why I was traveling. They were so excited to hear I was going to South Sudan. They told me they would love to visit there at some point. This got me excited and relieved the butterflies I was feeling. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
We arrived in Juba, South Sudan the next day after catching a connecting flight in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The good news was we arrived safely in Juba, the bad news was our five bags did not. Because a lot of people were returning home to South Sudan for the holidays and bringing lots of Christmas gifts, Ethiopian Airlines got way behind on delivering bags to South Sudan. While I sat outside the airport trying to grasp the fact that I was in a third-world country with only my Bible, a few snacks, credentials, one change of clothes, and my vitamins and malaria medication, my cousin was busy trying to see when we could expect our bags and trying to find someone who would give us a decent exchange rate. When she returned, I asked her when the Ethiopian Airlines airport administrator thought our bags would arrive. She said they were expected to arrive in 2-4 days. Typically, this would make me a bit worried (okay, a lot worried), but at this point I felt the power of prayer and realized God was in control and would provide for our needs. If I wasn't 100% sure that God called me to go on this mission trip, I would have bought a ticket for America right then. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
We spent a couple days in Juba at a women's drop-in shelter called Confident Children Out of Conflict. It's a center that provides girls 18 and under a safe place to hang out during the day since the streets can be dangerous. For those two days in Juba I wore the set of clothes I packed in my carry-on backpack. Wearing the same thing two consecutive days, especially in Africa, is not the most clean thing to do. The whole city is very dusty and dirty, so it doesn't take long for clothes to be covered in dirt. I also didn't have any of my toiletries, so being clean at this point wasn't really an option. If you know me well, you know I like to be very clean. I often take two showers a day and always wash my hands before I eat. Wearing the same nasty clothes for two days could have given me a bad attitude, but I was able to relax and trust that God was in control. I fully know the reason I was able to relax and not worry was because there were so many people back home praying for Jennie and me. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
Two days later we received our bags. The next morning we traveled to a Children's Village/orphanage in Yei, South Sudan. It was a 100 mile trip from Juba to Yei that took 6 hours and 35 minutes. The dirt roads are incredibly bad and the 15 passenger van loaded with 18 people was not moving very quickly due to all the luggage placed on top of the van. At one of the stops, my cousin informed me that the lady in front of her was vomiting. Once again, if you know me well, you know I don't handle vomit very well. Naturally, when we started moving again, I would glance over to see if she was sick. It was one of those moments when you put your hands over your eyes, but you peak through the gaps between your fingers to see if it's true. As we kept traveling, the bumpy roads continued to upset the women's stomach, and she continued to get sick. Once again, a calming peace came over me and I was able to relax. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
We spent five, great days in Yei. It was amazing hanging out with all the kids! There are about 120 kids at the Children's Village. Every kid just wants to be held and loved. I was blessed to meet some incredible people who encouraged me in my walk with Christ, and taught me some great truths about God's word. We celebrated Christmas day by having all the kids open gifts, and then we had church. After church we had Christmas day lunch! Christmas day lunch was a huge treat. We had rice, cabbage, fries, goat, lamb, intestines, and goat hair that had accidentally fallen into the meat while it was being prepared. While I was eating Christmas day lunch, a child had fallen off a bench and began crying hysterically. The child had eaten a little too much and couldn't catch his breath, so he started vomiting about fifteen feet from where I was sitting. One of the older guys at the village tended to the child. I looked at the child, looked at my food, and started eating the rest of my Christmas day lunch. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
The next day we left the Children's village and went back to Juba. As we were leaving the bus park a lady a couple rows in front of us started feeling sick. We pulled over and she got a couple bags from someone on the street. We left Yei and began the bumpy trip back to Juba. The lady was sick for at least half the trip. Once again, I felt the calming peace of prayer come over me and I was able to relax. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
Some of the other situations where I felt the power of prayer and God's hand upon me...
1. Having a peace during the whole trip knowing God is in control
2. Processing all the poverty in the region
3. Never getting sick from the water or food
4. Having a great attitude about some of the inconveniences that come with being in a third-world country i.e. bucket baths and latrines
5. Not running into any problems with the authorities i.e. extra and unnecessary visa charges
6. Not worrying about safety, and many other situations
In this blog I know I focused on some of the things that didn't go according to my plan. I want to be clear that this trip was amazing! The reason I pointed out some of the difficulties was because I wanted to make the point that God provides for our every need, especially when He calls us to tasks that stretch our faith. I knew without a doubt God was calling me to go on this trip. One of the things that He taught me was that no matter where I go, He is always with me. When obeying God's call, He will provide for every need that may arise. He may put you in situations that require you to lean on Him more than you usually would, but that's the point. Everything He does is designed to bring us into a deeper relationship with Him. There is NO WAY I would have made it nine days in South Sudan without God strengthening me the whole time. I have never felt the power of prayer like I did on this trip. When situations came up that would typically put me in a bad mood, the Holy Spirit gave me a great attitude about it, and strengthened me to press on.
I want to encourage any of you who may feel God's call to do something that seems impossible, or more than you think you can bear. If God is calling you to a certain task, do not ignore it. There is something incredible He wants to do through you, and probably something He wants to reveal to you, all designed to bring you into a deeper relationship with Him. What God calls you to do, He equips you to do.
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