How Good is Your News?

Hello everyone! Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written one of these things. Hope you enjoy…

When we think of news we usually like to measure it by saying things like ‘this is really good news’, ’this is terrible news’, etc. Now, if we usually like to measure our news how do we do that? I believe we measure news by the level of impact that the news has had on our lives. We can measure the news on a ‘good & bad’ scale but we can also measure it on a ‘small & large’ scale.

An Example:

One of my best friends & ministry partner is having his first child soon. So let’s measure this news: This is my friend and his wife’s first child, the child was planned and attempted for, so when they found out that they were pregnant they automatically knew that this news on the ‘good & bad’ scale came out as ‘good’. So, now let’s look at the ‘small & large’ scale. This news really impacts my friend and his wife’s life; everything for them will be different after having their first child (free time, sleep, money, etc.). So that means that this news effects my friend and his wife on a rather large level, so when describing their news we would use (positive) words like ‘terrific’ ‘great’ ‘awesome’ and so on.

But! Let’s look at another aspect; how much does this news impact those around them? Well, as a friend and ministry partner my life is/will be pretty impacted by this; possibly less time of ministry together, less free time to hang out, etc. So, the goodness and the greatness of this news seems to grow as it impacts more and more people, but this news is only so great. This news has very little impact on my housemates lives and even smaller impact on my family across the sea in America.

So where am I going with all of this? Here it goes: News is determined by the level of positive or negative impact is has on a person(s).

In my life as a Christian (started at 17) I learned very early that the word ‘gospel’ means ‘good news’ in the original language. So, my challenge/question to you is; How good is your news? We know that the size and power of news is determined by it’s impact on our (and the people around us) lives. So what is level of ‘good & bad’ and ‘small & large’ of the gospel in your life? Is Jesus’ good news just something that makes you stop swearing but you still have rage in your heart or is Jesus’ good news something that’s so big it goes past the action and goes into the root (motive) of the action? Also, is this news just going inwards and just changing your life or is this news drastically impacting everyone that you know/are connected to?

I believe the good news of Christ to be the greatest news ever. Why? Not only has this news of salvation and forgiveness in Jesus’ cross been told (actively by Christians, missionaries, pastors, etc.) for almost 2000 years but this news also has the power to come into every area of your life and change you to be more like Jesus and it also has the power to impact everyone you meet in positive ways.

Don’t let this news be small and bad but instead let it be large and good. 

a headless prophet, a song and me...

I was thinking of a blog title that would catch your attention... hopefully that one did it.

This morning during my quiet time I read about John the Baptist's beheading and even though I've read through this section so many times before this is the first time that this has really clicked in my head. John gets beheaded and Jesus hears of the news and the first thing he does is jumps on a boat and he goes right to his Comforter, his Father. I can't help but think about what was happening on that boat. Sitting out on the sea. Praying. Crying. Listening. Healing. When Jesus returns to the shore he find's over five thousand people waiting there for him and the scripture says '...and he had compassion on them healed their sick.'

I love you Lord.

The last couple of months have been pretty rough for me. But when I read this scripture and see that Jesus heals and feeds because he had compassion for them. I am comforted and convicted. When Jesus looks down and sees my hurting, sees your hurting. He understands. He was rejected by his family and friends, poor, dealing with death all the while knowing what was ahead of him. The cross. Jesus looks down on us and has compassion. I love the example that Jesus sets. He runs to the Father but then what does he do? He does ministry, he gives out, he heals, restores, brings hope! He thinks about people other then himself. When we are hurting, and I am so guilty of this, we focus on our self-made-trinity; Me, Myself & I. But what does Jesus do? He gives out. He doesn't ask for anything. He gives out.

So tonight as I was spending some time writing in my journal I was listening to the song 'All the Poor and Powerless' by 'All Sons and Daughters' and this is what the song says...

All the poor and powerless

And all the lost and lonely

All the thieves will come confess

And know that You are holy

And know that You are holy

And all will sing out

Hallelujah

And we will cry out

Hallelujah

All the hearts who are content

And all who feel unworthy

And all who hurt with nothing left

Will know that You are holy

And all will sing out

Hallelujah

And we will cry out

Hallelujah

Shout it

Go on scream it from the mountains

Go on and tell it to the masses

That He is God

We will sing out

Hallelujah

And we will cry out

Hallelujah

God is so good. I was just a broken sinful boy when he found me but he is doing something in my life. A work that no positive thinking, no mindset or work could do. The Spirit of the Living God is alive and working in me, changing me daily. He calls the broken to himself and then sends them out to do his work.

In your brokenness, in your comfort, where ever you are in life. Have compassion, because it is our Savior's reaction to pain.

In a galaxy far far away...

I can't believe I'm about to do this... but here's a blog about what God spoke to me through Star Wars...

In the past week I've watched episode 4,5&6 (the older ones... go figure) and I just finished episode 6. This is the first time I've watched Stars Wars in a long long time and looking at it from an adult point of view it's pretty different. I remember being a kid and seeing Luke as a good guy; no mistakes, defeats the bad guy, always comes to the rescue. But now that I'm older and actually understand what's happening I can see him as he really is. Stupid. He makes rash decisions, doesn't listen to wisdom and after he tells Leia she is his sister he plants a kiss right on her lips.... I mean what is that!? Now don't get me wrong he's a great guy but pretty flawed and as I've been watching and growing more and more frustrated with him I finally realized why. He's just like me and he's just like you.

For those of us who would dare to call ourselves Christians we know that daily we must fight against sin. Daily we must choose to follow God. Walk by the Spirit and make choices to further our sanctification. The thing with Luke is that he keep's finding himself faced with choices; he has to choose to do what is wise and best for everyone but usually his choices reflect what benefits him best.

How do I relate to this? As I sit and reflect on my life sometime I find myself saying, more then I'd like to admit, 'well that was stupid' and I'm sure our friend Mr. Skywalker could relate. But don't think that I'm starting to be 'to hard' on myself or whatever. I know when I make wise choices and I encourage myself with them, as I'm sure Mr. Skywalker would have as well.

What am I trying to say?! Luke makes so many mistakes but yet in the end he celebrates with his friends over the defeat of his enemy. Through every right and wrong choice he makes 'the force' still seems to work everything out to good where Luke fulfills his destiny. The same goes for me and you. No matter what choices, we as Christians make, God is sovereign over them. As we struggle with sin we must push forward, trusting in the Holy Spirit, making wise choices and not giving into temptation. Because instead of 'the force' (which sounds a lot like the wind) we have a living God, who is completely in control.

And one day we'll get to celebrate. We wont be dancing with a bunch of Ewaks but instead we'll be worshipping the one and only God and every hard choice we had to make during our lives will be nothing compared to the greatness of God.

So finally... I want to say. Make wise choices. If you are a Christian, make godly-God glorifying choices. If you are not a Christian, make the choice of following God. God is good. God is love. As I write this I think of the scripture from Hebrews 12:1-2 that says...

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that isset before us, looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God

May this be the cry of your heart as you run the Christian race. Putting off everything that weights you down and running hard after Him.

Is heaven about us?

So lately, as I'm sure most of you are aware, there's been a lot of talk of hell and if it's a real place or not. And I'm not going to address that but if you're curious, yes I believe hell is real and without excepting Jesus sacrifice over your sin you're going there.

Right now I would like to focus on heaven. There's a big topic! Okay let's make it more specific... Is heaven about us? Meaning; when we get to heaven does it revolve around us? I've noticed lately that people are, in the words of a dear friend of mine, "becoming less and less selfish in this life so they can be totally selfish in the next." That's a harsh truth.

So the book of Revelation may be a difficult book but it is clear on one thing: God receives praise when we are before him (Rev 7:9-12, 14:3-5 and so on). Jesus is preparing something for us (whatever that is, big houses, gold streets and all that jazz) but it seems, from these verses, that the redeemed don't seem to bothered with those things. The main focus of the redeemed is God. Theres no doubt that heaven is glorious but it's glorious because of God.

Ephesians 1:14 says this "who (the Holy Spirit) is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY." I believe when I read this verse that I see God has sealed us for this promised inheritance so that we praise him. Not because we deserve or earned it, but because he is worthy of praise.

The things of heaven are to point us in a direction of worship of God not in a direction of 'I deserved this' and this is where the FALSE doctrine of no hell goes wrong. We see heaven as a place that people deserve to go and that a loving God wouldn't send people to hell and if he did would heaven really be 'heaven' without our family and friends who aren't there: heaven is not about us or how we think we will feel it's about Jesus and him getting the praise and glory He deserves.

So is heaven about us? In a sense yes, heaven is spoken of as our reward and rest but in a big way no because we wouldn't be able to go to heaven if it wasn't for Jesus and since we have nothing to do with our going to heaven we can't (and wont) spend our time there focusing on ourselves but rather we'll be entirely focused on the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus.

So for us today, in application, when we receive blessings do we become selfish or do we understand that our blesses are suppose to end in praise to God? This is challenging because if we think our blessings are about us, heavens going to be a big let down.

Everything is about him, not us. There's beauty and freedom is that.

Why am I a missionary?

So lately I've been thinking about this: why am I a missionary/in ministry? I mean every month I wait on a check that could lessen, I'm on the other side of the world from my family and friends, who could leave this world at any moment... Etc. Etc.

The answer is simple: Jesus

I believe that because of Jesus' one act of righteous and obedience on the cross everything is changed, back then and today. Jesus, in Matthew 28, gives the 11 disciples (and us) a command; go, teach them, disciple them and baptize, so the first things the 11 disciples, soon to be apostles, did was sign up for a mission organization and got shipped off to a foreign country right? WRONG! The book of Acts which follows the apostles never mentions them (the 11 around Jesus) going out of Israel. In fact historically the apostles (minus Paul) are never recorded as leaving Israel until around 70 A.D when they are forced to leave because Rome came in and took it over.

So were the apostles wrong in never leaving even though Jesus gave them the 'go' command? I don't think so. I believe Jesus' 'go' command was a 'go and be faithful where you're at' command. I believe some people are called to foreign countries (or I'm sure a lot of you would be confused), but I believe we are ALL called to be faithful where we are at. The apostles stayed in Israel at first because it was all they knew but as they grew in the Lord they realized they were actually called to the Jews (Gal. 2:7).

So back to my question... Why do I do what I do? Because of Jesus' sacrifice I want to be faithful where I'm at. I didn't come to Taiwan in order to finally serve Jesus but in serving him I was lead here. Just as some of you have served him and it's lead you to the church you are at, the place you live, etc etc. All that's happening in our lives should be a result of following Jesus.

So here's our challenge in being faithful were we are at: Recently I've been reading Ephesians with two friends and I was really challenges about what we read in chapter 3 verse 8, which says "To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given TO PREACH TO THE GENTILES THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST" Do you notice that Paul doesn't just say 'Yup! God gave me grace' but he realizes that his grace is for others. So no matter where ever following Jesus has lead you, you have been given grace from God FOR the people around you meaning the people around you should benefit from your salvation (hearing of Jesus, experiencing God's love etc etc).

So may we be people who, where ever God has lead us, are mission minded and may we remember that OUR, not just missionaries or pastors or whatever but whoever professes the name of Christ, command to 'go' and be faithful were ever he has placed us just as the disciples and Paul did.

Lord. I thank you for the grace that has been given to us for others and Lord I pray that me and my brothers and sisters wouldn't be selfish with this grace but that we would be radically wrecking the world around us for you.

The sunset and Talmidim...

I believe theirs power in music; both good and bad. I believe music can bring you closer to God but I also believe that it can sway you and make you live off your emotions. I've been trying to find a healthy balance of how music affects me.

This week we started charting through the book of Exodus; a book about God's deliverance and I don't think this book could come at a better time. I've been struggling with looking back to who I was. So today I woke up and headed straight for Exodus and as I struggled through the first couple chapters and I got to chapter 11 the Passover and final Plague. I think it sunk it how through these Plagues it's not just God's heart that the Hebrews believe in him but also the Egyptians and I think sometimes its easy to read the OT and know that God loves the Jews but he really loves all people and wants to set them free into this promise land, this is why 'a mixed multitude' goes up out of Egypt wanting the promise land.

And the truth is God wants to set all of us free and I have been one of the blessed one who can say that God has set me free and I try to walk in that forgiveness and redemption (for three years now). And something that I am always reminded of as I read these books is that I don't deserve to be set free, but I have been. God has brought me out of my Egypt, how dare I look back at it?

(Heres where everything connects to the top)

I went for a walk today to go meet some friends for dinner and on the way I looked out my window from my house which gives me about an inch view up to the sky and seeing as it has been raining off and on for the past 24 hours I expected rain to join me on my walk. As I walked out the house I put on the song Talmidim (The Servant) by For Today and, for those of you familiar with the song, I got to the first build up where the singer pleads with God for a new name, and worthy to process the name of God and as this happened I looked over and saw one of the most beautiful sun set I've seen in awhile. I wish I could have kept that moment; hearing a plea for newness and seeing such a beautiful site. God didn't have to speak because I know what he would have said. Tim, I've brought you out of the rain, theres so much more beautiful things ahead, don't look back, don't look back...

I know season in my life will come and go, dry seasons, storms, fruitful season all that jazz but I also know that no matter what I am God's and he is mine, nothing will ever bring me back to who I was, not after the grace and love I've experienced. I feel like the Hebrews standing on the opposite side of the Red Sea and it has just closed behind me and all my fears and enemies have been swept away and the sea is closed behind me; theres no go back. never...

I pray as you walk with God the Father, Lord of all creation, that you would strive for the Promise Land, that you would walk your day to day life knowing that Jesus Christ has brought you out of you're Egypt and is brining you home, never go back, always push forward...

be still and know I AM..

so its been a long time since I've updated this, over a month. I've been a busy boy. Sorry everybody! but I hope you enjoy this...

I don't really know where to start, I mean how do you describe what you've learned after spending 50+ hours a week studying the bible. I'm sure I could sit here and rant about how Egypt believed in gods that where half person and half animal or how revelation is broken into the same story 4 different times, but all I really have been seeing is just how amazing God is and how bad I am.

I've recently come to realize that this season is the season for SBS, not for anything else really. I've been putting things before the Lords current plans for my life (which is SBS), but I've seen how faithful He is so I'd like to return the favor and try to be faithful for him. I've been desiring to meet God at a deeper level, go deeper into homework, go deeper into living, all that stuff. I've come to the point in SBS where I'm proud to say I can no longer do this on my own, I need God, badly.

I've been wondering a lot about missions; what IS missions? who is called? why are we called? all that jazz. It's easy for my pride to tell me that God called me because I'm an amazing Christian but the truth is, from studying the word, God doesn't need to use 'amazing' people, he uses broken, sinful, wretches which I am one. I did nothing to get called to missions, it isn't because of anything I've done but it's all about God's divine choice. I mean all I did was read Matt 28 and thought well that makes sense I need to do that. I look at people like Jonah who was called out of Israel and seeing how unwilling his heart is, or Jacob making demands from God or he wouldn't follow him, but both these men have found themselves saying 'welp... im screwed, I need God.' But theres one thing I know about God, he loves us, a lot and he will help any of us as we walk this road into eternity with him. He is a good and loving God who, as the psalm says, has righteousness that reaches the highest heavens. I know he has never ending love for sinners and brings us to our knees....

God, though I am not deserving of anything you give, I need you.