Blog This Dummy

Death By Billions

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 08:35:18 -0400

Unreached People Groups: 7,051

Unreached People: 2.84 Billion

2.75 Billion of those 2.84 Billion live in the 10/40 window (see: http://www.joshuaproject.net/10-40-window.php )

Total sum of money, influence, and theological training possessed by the American church: Incalculable

Total sum of money, influence, and theological training we are sending to the 10/40 window: Pathetically minuscule

*shameless appeal*

If you have any amount of influence, please, use it to share this simple message.

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Mon, 04 Jun 2012 00:27:23 -0400

"Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God..."

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 09:55:41 -0400

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. This hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

- Romans 5:1-5

I was celebrating my birthday at the pool with some sweet tea...

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 09:59:13 -0400

I was celebrating my birthday at the pool with some sweet tea and ridiculousness.

The sun setting over Lake Monroe.

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:53:00 -0400

The sun setting over Lake Monroe.

Last night I decided that I wanted to drive out to Lake Monroe. Just to hang out. There wasn’t...

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:59:08 -0400

Last night I decided that I wanted to drive out to Lake Monroe. Just to hang out. There wasn’t any reason in particular. I rolled the window down, cranked on Amos Lee, and drove. It’s one of my favorite drives because the road is curvy and the tree’s are high. You come up on the lake very suddenly, and it’s one of the coolest moments when you see the sun setting over the hills with rays of light beaming up behind the trees while sailboats and pontoons are still on the lake. It’s a jewel in Southern Indiana, and I will miss it.

On the way, I passed an elderly couple working in the garden in their yard. It was adorable. They looked really perplexed by something, but they were working together on it. They had a beautiful house and a beautiful yard.

When I saw it, I got angry with God for a second.

I don’t know if I will have an old lady by my side in 40 years working on a garden with me. He has called me to Asia for an undetermined amount of time. Could be a year, could be the rest of my life. And I’m willing to go wherever He wants me. I’m willing to forsake my desires to serve Him. It would be nice to be comfortable. To have a house, a wife, a dog, a garden in Indiana.

For a second I forgot that what God has called me to is infinitely greater than anything I could muster up. What He has called me to will bring more glory to Him, and more joy for me. I forgot that I can rejoice that He is sending me to Asia, and I have no idea what adventures lie ahead for me.

I very well could have a wife in 40 years, with a garden and a dog. I very well could be single, living in Asia working on the mission field. I have NO IDEA where my life is going. It’s scary, but I’m okay with it.

"One who is really leaning on the Beloved finds it always possible to say, “I will fear no evil, for..."

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:11:29 -0400

“One who is really leaning on the Beloved finds it always possible to say, “I will fear no evil, for thou art with me” [Ps. 23:4]. But I am so apt, like Peter, to take my eyes off the one to be trusted and look at the winds and waves. … Oh for more stability! The reading of the word and meditation on the promises have been increasingly precious to me of late. At first I allowed my desire to acquire the language speedily to have undue prominence and deadening effect on my soul. But now, in the grace that passes all understanding, the Lord has again caused his face to shine upon me. … Oh, for more implicit reliance on the wisdom and love of God!”

- Hudson Taylor | Spiritual Secret - pp. 38-39, 41 (via michaelysoh)

halfoverhalf: (halfoverhalf) (@Iamthepv)

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:09:12 -0400

halfoverhalf:

(halfoverhalf) (@Iamthepv)

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Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:08:31 -0400

I don’t know when I’m headed to Asia, but I’ve...

Thu, 31 May 2012 12:13:55 -0400

I don’t know when I’m headed to Asia, but I’ve already started packing my suitcase with the essentials.

Santa Claus Footie Pajamas
Chopsticks
Remote Control Helicopter
Panda Hat
Laxatives
Going Rogue by Sarah Palin
Disc Golf Disc (I hate disc golf)
A picture of my dog and I
My favorite purple shirt

I’m ready.

Since I’m on staff with Campus Crusade, I have to raise my support. I have already raised a...

Tue, 29 May 2012 09:56:44 -0400

Since I’m on staff with Campus Crusade, I have to raise my support. I have already raised a base support for my internship this year, so I know it’s possible and have gone through it once. But to join staff full-time, support-raising is a little bit more rigorous.

I also have to raise almost $3500 for my training in June-July. I sent out the letters a little over a week ago, and have already seen the Lord raise $950. I am so encouraged by the saints who support me, and who continue to serve alongside me by continue to give generously. It just continues to confirm for me that this is the path the Lord wants me on.

Please pray for the remainder of my support to come in.

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen -Philippians 4:19-20

This morning I kind of realized that I didn’t have much of an eternal perspective for the...

Mon, 28 May 2012 18:27:03 -0400

This morning I kind of realized that I didn’t have much of an eternal perspective for the people I don’t know (and barely for the people I do know). The past couple of weeks I have noticed my heart has become somewhat calloused to the truth that people have eternal souls. This morning when I was praying, I realized that attitude towards people has a lot to do with this. I felt the Lord leading me to work on this. So this afternoon I went on a walk in this neighborhood close to my apartment with the goal to reflect and pray for each person that I pass.

It wasn’t all that busy - which was surprising.

But I did see an older woman get out of a minivan with two little girls. I did feel the Lord move my heart in that moment when I thought about the eternal destination of that old lady. I thought, “Gosh, she has spent decades building a life to the best of her ability, and if she doesn’t know the Lord, she will be filled with such regret.” I also thought, “She has spent so many years building a life, and if she were to receive Christ, her whole life will turn upside down.”

Neither one of those scenarios are really that easy to swallow. But one is filled with so much hope, a confident hope that will not disappoint.

My heart is starting to break for people again.

"We must keep our eyes focused firmly on the cross. Christians who are only intent on pulling down..."

Mon, 28 May 2012 13:31:58 -0400

“We must keep our eyes focused firmly on the cross. Christians who are only intent on pulling down the strongholds of the enemy have not seen the fuller picture. If they had, they would be instead intent on pulling down the very glory of God into their midst. Satan is not the focus of the Church; the Bridegroom is. The only answer to darkness is to switch the light on, and become so full of Jesus that He fights for us. the glory of God, living in God’s presence, and being full of His light must be our preoccupation. We are not seekers of the enemy, we are seekers of God. When God comes to us in power, the enemy comes looking for us! And when he does find us, the enemy comes face-to-face with the One who is with us. A stronghold is pulled down when our intimacy with the Lord intimidates the enemy.”

- Graham Cooke, Beholding and Becoming

My best friend and I were sitting out by the pool today and had a really interesting conversation....

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:08:42 -0400

My best friend and I were sitting out by the pool today and had a really interesting conversation. At first I didn’t want to have any of it because I was sleepy, but I was glad that I entertained the conversation!

He’s going to East Asia with me on our next assignment, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be walking this journey with him (both on the mission field, and in life).

I’ve been blessed with some parents who seem to be dedicated to not getting in the way of their kids’ dreams and passions. Being a missionary was probably not something that my parents dreamed that I would be, but I’m beginning to wonder if they ever dreamed anything but for me to be happy. I am so thankful for this. I don’t make a lot of money, and my job is one that makes some people in my family very angry. But my mom and dad fully support what I do on every level. “As long as your happy doing what you do, I’m happy for you,” is something that I remember my dad saying to me over the past year. And it’s not even just because I am happy, it’s because they believe in what I do.

So when I told them that I was planning to move to Asia I was met with no resistance. Questions? Yes, of course. A lot of them. But they said that they are not going to get in the way of what the Lord is calling me to, even though they don’t want me to go.

My best friend cannot sing the same tune though. His parents, while believers, are very adamant that they don’t want him to go. And it breaks my friend’s heart, and I hate that he has to walk through this. But it’s good for him. And it’s good for his parents too.

I received a prayer letter from a friend of mine who is also serving in East Asia right now. She was talking about how difficult it is for people to live out their Christian faith when their parents are so militantly opposed. Their children refuse to deny their faith, and their parents get angry at them about it. She said something that I found to be very striking.

She said the best way for a child to honor their mother and father is to boldly follow the one true God.

My friend feels the Lord calling him to East Asia, and is sacrificing so much to follow Him there. His parents are hurting, but he is not dishonoring them because he is boldly following the one true God! Christ calls us to a radical life, and we have to make some tough choices to place Him on the throne of our lives! But God is pleased when we obey Him first and foremost. I see my friend obeying the Lord, and I see him dealing with hard things on this earth as a result, and I know that the Lord will be glorified through him.

There is no clean end to this yet. There may never be. But I’m challenged by how faithful my friend is to the Lord’s calling on his life. Sometimes the sacrifice is great, and the obedience is hard, but if we want God’s kingdom on earth we need to be willing to be used in awesome ways by Him. Comfortability is not an issue for God. Reliance and trusting in His great and loving nature is. A willingness to stand before the Creator of the universe with open hands is the posture He desires for our hearts!

And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29

Please pray for my friend and his parents as they walk through this. Pray for soft hearts, pray for reconciliation, and a peace that surpasses all understanding to guard their hearts and minds as they live for Christ.

This is one of my favorites by Kristin Wiig. It never gets old!

Tue, 22 May 2012 23:29:08 -0400

This is one of my favorites by Kristin Wiig. It never gets old!

http://www.jamesmacdonald.com/teaching/video/#divSpecialVideoFeatures-tab

Tue, 22 May 2012 08:49:21 -0400

http://www.jamesmacdonald.com/teaching/video/#divSpecialVideoFeatures-tab:

I know this may be a hot-button issue for a lot of people, but this is one of the most solid talks I’ve heard on the biblical truth of homosexuality. James MacDonald tells the truth so boldly, but also communicates the hope found in Jesus Christ. Definitely worth some attention.

You will never see me not wanting to eat a lox bagel.

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:02:12 -0400

You will never see me not wanting to eat a lox bagel.

My parents just moved to Crawfordsville, IN. If you ask me, it’s the best representation of a...

Mon, 21 May 2012 19:22:00 -0400

My parents just moved to Crawfordsville, IN. If you ask me, it’s the best representation of a post-apolcalyptic society that I’ve ever come across. It’s way in the country, and tattoo artists make a KILLING there.

I was driving back to Bloomington from my parents on 231 and I couldn’t help but notice that there are dozens of churches. Brick Chapel, Cloverdale Assembly of God, New Hope Baptist Church, the list goes on forever. Seriously. At least 40 churches. Even on my way to my church here in town, I pass four churches.

America is a very churched nation.

Right now, I am making plans to move to East Asia to be a missionary. East Asia is not a very churched nation. You won’t pass four churches on your way to the grocery store. Any above-ground churches at least.

The Gospel is so available here. But there is still so much work to be done! I have plenty of friends in full-time missions. I’ve spent the past year working at Indiana University, and I’m certainly convinced that there is a lack of laborers here in America. But I hear God beckoning me to East Asia, to a place where the Gospel is not quite as accessible. Who am I to disobey the God who created me?

Paul’s words grip me when I read them in Romans 15.

My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.

There it is. That is my ambition.

I hate blogs. I had one once, and I hated it. I like to believe that the only people that should...

Sun, 20 May 2012 17:09:02 -0400

I hate blogs.

I had one once, and I hated it. I like to believe that the only people that should have blogs are people who have interesting lives. Which means you either live a rootless existence, or you’re old and smart.

I’m 23. I’ve lived in Indiana for pretty much my whole life.

Maybe things will get more interesting as time goes.

I promise if this sucks, I’ll kill it!

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Sun, 20 May 2012 16:41:03 -0400