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.

a week on suffering...

So for those of you who know, or don't know, the past couple of weeks I've been struggling with homesickness, pretty bad actually, even to the point where I had my church pray for it. Crazy stuff huh? Its been haunting me for awhile, probably a month or so. But God has totally rocked my life this week of this subject; At our Monday morning base meeting our base director spoke about missionaries who just take beating after beating, mentally and physically, but yet still press on for Jesus, than we got two days of teaching on the book of Hebrews which was written to heavily persecuted Jews who were close to turning their back on Jesus and heading back to Judaism seeing as it was protected under Roman Law so they would have been safe there, and than after that we got a teaching on 1Peter which was written to people all through the Roman Empire who were facing discrimination from their friends, communities and even their own families and after all this how can I look at my life and thinking that theres something better? I'm an American, so that in itself helps me, I live in Taiwan probably one of the freest countries in Asia, and I have full support of my family and friends.

Heres the point: Jesus is worth it. Jesus is worth me leaving my home and following him, Jesus is worth persecution, Jesus is worth dying for. I really don't have much to say besides this. I just wanted to update this to show that my homesickness, though I'm still bugged with it, really is just me being selfish and not thinking about Jesus. My prayer is to be focused on him, on what He's doing, to be wrapped up in him, and just be focused on what he wants. Man God is good! w00t!

Oh, deceiver...

where do I start? It's been over two weeks since my last update on here, I have no idea how to recap all that has been happening...

I spend 6 days out of the week with my nosed buried in the bible, which I can say is totally a privilege but I feel like I've been soaking up plenty of head knowledge but not so much spiritual/maturity growth but I know its there; I feel it growing and working it self out. But something I've always struggled with is knowing the truth but yet not doing it, which all I can do is try and have grace for myself when I can't walk in the truth I believe Christians should be walking in. I've also been struggling with homesickness for the first time since my journey over seas (which started sept 1 2009) its been 9 months since I've lived the life I'm use to. and I've got about 10 more until I come back to the states. Which I'm sure when I get back to the states I'll be eager to head back here.

But whats my point in all this? Contentment. When I was reading/studying through 1Tim I got to the verse that reads... "Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment" (6:6) and I was smacked in the face with conviction. To me being content is not desiring what I don't have. I'm always looking around saying "Oh I want to do Titus (my next school), I want to learn Chinese (Plan for after my time state sides), I want to be in a band, and blah blah blah." But I have everything I need; Jesus. Why do I need anything else? and how dare I ask for anything else? I deserve Hell, but yet I get to live in the beautiful country of Taiwan, I have amazing friends and I get to spend every waking minute studying the book I love and now I'm even starting bible studies with my friends. My life is so beautiful and undeserved.

Do I need to say more? How do I follow up on these statements? By the laying down of ones self, and not being afraid to take that next step, to cut off what needs to be cut off. I was studying through Psalm 23 this week with a couple friends, and a random Taiwanese guy (random sat down at the tables listed to us talking about it/asked questions and left) and I was just blow away by David relying on God and how my life doesn't look like that even thought my situation is so much different than his.

In not so spiritual news, I watched the movie Pulp Fiction last night (which I DO NOT recommend) and just the evilness of it makes me look at my world and think wow is this really happening? Theres so much suffering in the world, anywhere you go, America, Taiwan, anywhere. There is pain. People need Jesus so much, I've just been in shock since than. But heres where the American (or maybe its just my sinful nature) in me comes out I want so badly to go everywhere and lead everyone to Christ so the pain goes away, which comes, hopefully, from a good heart, but Christ compares his kingdom to a seed, something small that grows into something big; I need to understand that be sharing the gospel of Jesus with my Taiwanese friends or just even encouraging my classmates/Christian friends in the end will look like seed at full growth. I believe Taiwan will one day send people out into the field all over the world (and it already has started) and it didn't happen by winning over the government but rather by changing the hearts of the Taiwanese, but here I go now trying to be political... and It turns out this is a lot more spiritual than I thought haha go me.

well before I start ranting I better get going, there will be a news letter soon, If you would want a direct email of it let me know I would love more than anything to send it to you. so... in memory of Saint Paul...

May the God of peace be with your soul, may you know that your life was bought at a cost, may you consider others greater than yourself, may you become lowly so the God of all creation may increase in glory and goodness, may you come to the understanding that the God who became man and died for you is madly in love with you, seek him, be content but always seek the God who desires you. To the Lamb who sits on the throne be praise and glory forever and ever. Amen

update...

So I know I haven't updated this page in forever, I've been so busy with school its crazy, life in general has been nuts. I've just been trying to soak in so much, change and do as much studying as I can, I mean I will only get one chance in my life to study like this, so why not go crazy.

The books we've been studying in week or so have been 1&2Thess, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon. It has been great to study these books, some have been more fruitful than others but my eyes have been open to the scriptures in ways they never have been before, it feels like I'm reading these books for the first time, though most I've read like 5 times before.

Something God has really been showing me, now and the last couple of months, the importance of becoming smaller and smaller so he can become bigger and bigger. And I believe the American mindset is something that hinders people from thinking like this, this is something I don't really want to get into to, but basically 'boo american dream' and 'yay the kingdom of God'

The other night I was laying in my bed and the next day we where having this 'future job' night at our local coffee bar so I was thinking about what I wanted to be. I never really had any real ambitions as a kid so I kinda had to think of something, seeing as I'm already doing what I know I'll be doing for the rest of my life. I thought about the future, and It was weird, being an american it has told me that I need to be rich to amount to anything, but yet I imagined me growing a garden in the middle of a slum. Wow. what happened?! Who thinks this?

In the book of 1Thess the text shows (when you look back at Acts 17) because of the situation going on they really had nothing but Jesus and I'm comfortably saying thats I have anymore, all my secrets are exposed, all my plans/desires have been let go of. I find my life has been ruined for Jesus and the odd part is that I'm not upset about that at all.

I've been trying to hard to make my life less about me, but the more I do so, the more I realize the selfishness of my own heart and actions and honesty its sickening. I wish to lay more and more of myself. This is basically all that's been running through my mind as of late, more stuff too, but trying to censer myself until I figure out the right words. I love you all!