Indifference & Desiring the Will of God

Recently, I have been using a book by Larry Warner called Journey with Jesus: Discovering the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius for my quiet times and daily devotions. I am now a few months into the exercises, and have had the chance to pray and meditate on topics including love, service, praise, creation, etc. This weeks lessons are dealing with a new topic that I have not studied much, though I have come to learn during my missionary journeys in Grand Rapids, Chicago, Los Angeles, Manila, and now Kansas City - Indifference. The following is a segment of the introduction to Indifference, followed by some scriptures and daily examen questions. Let us continue to journey with Jesus, invite others along on our journeys, and find ways to accompany and help others along on theirs.

Knowing Where to Tinker: A Systems Thinking Approach

Love this story about 'knowing where to tinker'. Especially as related to systems thinking and how we should be engaging our cities. Thought of this story while talking with a pastor of a new church in Washington, D.C. called the District Church. Praying that God gives this pastor, and all of us engaged in building the Kingdom of God in our cities, wisdom, patience, and persistence, as "God works in us to will and to act according to His good purposes." (Phil 2:13)

"If Ever There Was a Country"

As I reflect over my last two and a half years, from Chicago to LA to Manila, I think about how far I have come, and yet how far I have left to go. This leg of my journey has brought me at times great sorrow and at others great joy, as well as many new friends, many of whom have become like family. Though not a perfect representation, and written over fifty years ago (though in a time not too different from our world today), this poem by Thomas Merton gives me hope to continue down the road less traveled, not necessarily as a monk in a countryside monastery, but as a sojourner in a foreign land...seeking a country where all men and women give their lives to the "one activity which is the beatitude of heaven."

Spiritual Warfare, Pregnancy, and Hunger

[Written October 15, 2013]

Magandang gabi (good evening) from Manila! After experiencing so many stories and encounters of faith over the last few months, I figured it is now a good time to share one with you all, as a way to catch you up a bit on my journey and life here in Manila!

A Faith Trip to India

I am hesitant to post two times in one day. Especially since it has been almost four months since I last published on this blog, or sent a ministry update to my partners in ministry.

But, in some ways, this, and the last post, are my weak attempts at speaking again, or breaking the silence that has been ongoing over the last four months. That is, as my last post describes, after a month of finishing our last area, two months of waiting for our next, and now two weeks into our new area of ministry.

Here though, I want to describe another area of ministry that God has put on my and our community's (Mission Ministries Philippines) heart in the last few months. A trip to India.

He Has Not Forgotten Us

In affliction, then, we do not know what it is right to pray for. Because affliction is difficult, troublesome, and against the grain for us, weak as we are, we do what every human would do. We pray that it may be taken away from us. However, if he does not take it away, we must not imagine that he has forgotten us. In this way, power shines forth more perfectly in weakness.

-Augustine

In Luke 24:29 Jesus looks over his disciples before going up into heaven and tells them to "stay in the city until (they) have been clothed with power from on high." This command to "stay" or to "wait" however comes only a few verses after Luke tells us that Jesus "opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures" (v. 45). After seeing, hearing and understanding the most amazing news that they, and the rest of humanity, had ever heard, they were told to wait. To stay together in Jerusalem until the coming of the Holy Spirit.

The Truth about Preaching and Missional Orders: Anna and the Moravians

Part two of "The Truth about Missional Orders." Again, the quotes and stories come from Scott Bessenecker's book, The New Friars. I think you'll really like this next group, the Moravians, and their fearless leader, Anna! For sure this is the work of God and not any man or woman!

reflections from the prayer room: revelation

6/1/2012

reflections from the prayer room: revelation

“To Him who ALONE DOES GREAT WONDERS. His love endures forever.” – Psalms 136:4

  

I have been challenged lately, in regards to church planting and the spiritual, physical, social, and mental needs. The primary component should be the spiritual, though not at the expense/neglect of the physical and social. It was part of the very substance of Jesus’ proclamation/ministry, and though His Kingdom is not of this world, it is manifested in this world and thus we are to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on EARTH as it is in HEAVEN.” It is a both/and, not either/or requirement. 

reflections from the prayer room: humanity

reflections from the prayer room: humanity

Today I am reminded of my humanity, and in fact, beyond that, our humanity as a human race.

reflections from the prayer room: part one.worthy to suffer

reflections from the prayer room: part one.worthy to suffer

“…rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” – Acts 5:41-42

reflections from the prayer room: introductions

reflections from the prayer room: introductions

6/9/2012

[taking a few weeks break from the 'picture a day', but bear with me. hope these next few posts gives you another picture of my life here in the Philippines.]

Lenten Devotionals...2012: A Call to Servanthood, Poverty, Compassion, and the Cross

So I'm not sure if I have many thoughts to add this Lenten season.  I obviously have had many thoughts over the past few weeks, but they seem to be all jumbled up in my head, heart, and soul.  Lord willing, He will bring clarity to my thoughts over the coming weeks and months as I continue to humble myself before Him and the Filipino people, and continue to seek Him in the faces of the poor, hurting, and lonely; as well as the faithful, spiritually rich, and those to whom the Kingdom belongs.

I feel the most clear way to express my thoughts from the past weeks actually comes from some devotional readings from Henri Nouwen that I have been reflecting on this lenten season.

Prayer Requests as I Go

God is good. Thank you for your prayers up to this point. I leave in less than a week, heading out of Chicago next Tuesday, January 17th, and hoping to get into Manila on Friday, January 20th.  The director of MMP (Mission Ministries Philippines) has already found a host family for me and ministry sight.  Praise God.  Here are a few prayer requests that you can be lifting up when you get a chance or as you're going about your day.

- Pray for safe travels and that God might provide me with opportunities even as I travel to minister to those I meet in the airport, on the plane, or in the cities I'll be having layovers in (Chicago, LA, Honolulu, Guam).

- Pray for my host family and church, that God would help them prepare for having another person in their home and congregation starting next week. Pray for their hearts and patience to receive me and mine to be humble, appreciative, and have the spirit of a learner and a servant.

- Pray that I might get a right spirit and attitude as I start language school soon after arriving in Manila. Pray that I might be able to stay focused, be diligent, and learn how to forgive myself all the many times I mess up.

- Pray that I might be able to establish a good routine soon after arriving. I will still need to find an internship sight for economic development, possibly connect with the running store, start language school, begin work with the church I'll be partnered with, etc., so this may take some time. Pray that through all of this, I might continue to seek the Lord in prayer and devotion, and love other as He loves me.

- Pray for our team: Katie, Brandon, Lindsey, and myself.  That we might learn to bear with each other in our weaknesses and encourage each other in our strengths.

Thanks for your support and prayers!

Prayer: For Workers and Unity

The following are segments from a chapter called "The Battle for the Gateway Cities," out of the book Praying for the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window, written by Viv Grigg, the director of the Urban Leadership Foundation [http://www.urbanleaders.org/home/] as well as the MA in Transformational Urban Leadership [http://matul.org/] that I began this past fall.

I appreciate these thoughts on prayer as we (1) pray for workers and (2) pray for the unity of the churches in the 100 cities mentioned in the book, and other cities around the world (including those in US)!  I have been encouraged and blessed beyond description by friends and family over the past few weeks, and had three churches say a sending prayer over me before leaving for the Philippines in a week (New City Church, LA; Holy Trinity Church, Chicago; Cherry Hills Baptist Church, Springfield, IL).  I'm more certain now than ever that God has called each of us to different roles in the body (some to plug into established churches and others to go and plant new ones), and that we all have a role to play!  I am truly filled with joy as I continue to surrender to what God has in store each and every day.