Handshake

As I was walking past the VIP door on my way back to the dorms I saw him being escorted down the hall. My heart skipped two beats.  I gasped. I waited. The moment he stepped out, I split his two escorts and reached out my hand saying, "Pastor John! Thank you, I needed that message." He shook my hand, smiled, and then he was gone. I turned back towards the dorms with one piercing thought in mind: holy ambition.

Also, I didn't want to wash my hands...

Mission Monday III - 2

"Jesus Christ is more precious than life."

The world has its own standards for a qualified person. For example, at Samsung, one of the largest companies in Korea, applicants must meet certain qualifications that will place them well over their competition. They must be top in their class, be polite, be a quick thinker, and the list goes on. On the other hand, God's kingdom has just one qualification: humility in Jesus Christ. In fact, He lists this quality in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.

"Not many of you were wise by human standards... But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise... so that no one may boast before him..."

Think back to when God calls out to Moses through a burning bush. What if God called Moses with something more impressive than a little bush such as... a giant red oak! In our worldly standard the red oak is a mighty symbol of strength and power. (Imagine a humongous burning red oak calling out, "MOSES! Get those rainbows off yo feet!") However, God chose the small bush to move Moses into changing the history of a nation. When Moses appeared before Pharaoh as a lowly shepherd there was a fire in him that didn't consume him but consumed the land of Egypt. There was a confidence in knowing that God is the One to receive all glory.

Now think back to when the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus like a dove. What if God decided to show 'em up with something more impressive than a little dove such as... an eagle! In our worldly standard the eagle soars high above other animals and is a symbol of strength and power. (Imagine an eagle soaring down to Jesus, *eagle sound*). However, God chose a peaceful dove, which back in those days was the poor man's sacrifice (for those who couldn't afford the other animals). When Jesus appeared before His people as a carpenter and a Nazarene he was to be the Prince of Peace and bring redemption through his blood, forgiveness of sins, and true reconciliation between God and man. There was peace in knowing that God's will would be done.

The world will remind you of your looks, hair, height, materials, grades, money, success, your past, your unchanging present, your bleak future, lack of passion, how you cannot do it, how you have failed before, how you can live with no sacrifice, no cross. But God shows us through Jesus Christ the ultimate picture of humility. He uses the humble and contrite heart to reveal Himself so that no one may boast save in Christ alone.

Dying to the world and living in Christ. God didn't save us so that we can just be good church attenders. If that was true, then we would be living in our own wisdom. He saved us so we may serve Him and be a true witness of His love. Truly the small, humble fire he puts in our hearts has the power to change one forgiven sinner let alone a nation. If you follow Jesus, you'll lose the world. The one who can change the world is the one who has been abandoned by the world to be completely abandoned to God.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

Mission Monday III - 1

Be blessed and be a blessing!

The night was still young and the next speaker went up. His name was Ishmael Lim, a Korean missionary in his late 30s and the worship leader for the Intercp Korean ministry. His smile was natural and he looked younger than his age. His voice had the "prayer husk," the kind that you hear in those passionate pastors at old school Korean revival services. It always makes them sound more spiritual, and I'm working on mine....... Anyway, this is his sermon (divided in two parts), to the best of my notes and memory and with a little bit of my insight and my [needlessly redundant] comments.... better yet, this is more properly titled - what I learned from his sermon:

-

In every worship service, there are two kinds of people. First, there is the passionate worshiper. These are the ones who are deeply moved and make the "holy face" during worship sometimes shedding a tear or two These are the ones who actually raise their hands when singing "so we raise up holy hands." They are the ones who say, "Here am I, send me!"

Then there is the worshiper who is bored out of their minds. These are the ones who would rather not clap with the rest of the mindless clappers and would not mind sitting down at all during worship. These are the ones who nod like a gansta with a slightly pursed smirk and point both thumbs to themselves when singing, "prone to wander... prone to leave the God I love." They are the ones who say, "Well I guess I'll go. Nothing better to do anyway."

Out of these two, who do you think would make the better missionary? You guessed it. The bored worshiper by far would outlast the passionate worshiper. This is because in the mission field, especially in hostile regions, the passionate worshiper will stick out like a sore 8-1/2 x 11 inch study bible wherever they go. They will make the mistake of lifting up their hands in the public squares and shouting out praise from the rooftops. They will make every effort to seek and save the lost, and their testimony will be, "Look at my passion for Him." Even before the mission begins the devil will be all over them because they would be too holy of a spiritual force to deal with later. Go fight win!

On the other hand, the bored worshiper will blend right in with the pagans and find their true comfort zone in infiltrating the deepest darkest places of the temples, where they used to be during worship services. Connecting with the ones who do not know God will come naturally for them and they will say, "Look to Jesus Christ?" The devil will ignore them because these guys seem to have no passion for Jesus and will not be a threat to their Operation: Kingdom Down. In the end, as the passionate worshipers get deported back to their countries, the bored worshipers will be the ones to back stab the devil. He'll be like, "WTH?"

So next time you see a bored worshiper in service (or maybe it's you) don't lose hope, but rather thank the Lord and praise Him for preparing a secret weapon (you can pray for them too). And next time you find yourself with a log in your eye, know and remember that God does not look at the outside appearance; he looks at the heart.

Man looks at the outward appearance,

but the LORD looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7b

to be continued...

Media

The plural of medium.

I heard on the radio (99.5) the other day about Phil Vischer. He is the creator of Veggie Tales. He has created another franchise for children's ministry called JellyTelly. Check it out!

yo! move over gabba gabba!

Here is a quote by Phil Vischer:

"It's taken me 14 years to learn this lesson, I'm hoping I can save you a few. Do you dream of the work that you can do for God? Do you carry ambitions for changing the world in His name? When you're ready to put them on the altar, to kill them, to let them go, to live your whole life without them resting solely on your relationship with God, you're ready to be used by Him."

Seeking