by Kimberly | Jun 15, 2010 | Uncategorized
God is a good God. He brings people into our lives that matter and remain. 10 years ago I met one of these authors; the other I met 3 years ago. Both will be in my life in some way shape or form hopefully for as far as the future goes.
Dr. Shane Parker, who now teaches in Pennsylvania, and I were seminary students at SEBTS together. We worked DNOWs together and served as part of different Centrifuge staffs. I love his wife and kids are precious. I love Shane’s humility, heart for the church and missions, and his love for his family. Shane would clearly rank in the top 10 guys I know in my life. Thank you Shane.
Dr. Michael Wilder, associate Dean in the School of Church Ministries at Southern in Louisville, was one of my bosses while I worked there from 2007-2010. Couple things I appreciated about him: he treated me as an equal and not as a secretary – he cared about my opnions and believes in the gifts and talents God has given me. He loves his family. He loves to cook (and is a good one).
The only two things about either one of these guys that I don’t care for is their choice of college football teams: South Carolina and Georgia, respectively. But, we all have our faults.
This new book by both of them is not one of those faults. I loved hearing them talk about this book in the office and hear their passion for what they were learning. Now that you know a little about the authors – let’s work on the book.
TransforMission (great title by the way) is about the impact of short term mission trips on the lives of youth (student ministry) and how it can be a sanctifying agent in their lives and in the ministry as a whole. This title is seen clearly throughout the book as they keep their goal insight and never leave it behind.
If you aren’t a statistician (like me), I ask that you persevere through the first chapters. The authors do a skilled job at providing the reader with tons of research, well-done research, broad and indepth research on short term missions and churches.
Here is where I think Wilder and Parker excel:
1. My favorite part of the book is definitely the personal stories that each of them tell by some time each of them have spent on the mission field. I saw this book put in action by the telling of those stories. I had heard them both before – but seeing them written anchored that truth to me – the gospel is for the World – and these two men breathe this.
2. They keep their goal in mind. In all 200+ pages of TransforMission I never wonder why I am reading it. They know that mission trips, however long they might be, serve youth by changing their Americanized culture mindset and giving them a look at the world God created for His glory. They know that if youth pastors can give their students a view of the world – they will never be the same.
3. This book is filled with the Word. They don’t just rely on personal experience or research studies. They take it back to the infallible Word of God for the base of their study. They walk through the NT for its views and emphasis on sanctification. It was neat to see how different books of the NT had a different focus on sanctification. You can clearly see they hold the Word as their authority.
4. TransforMission has clear guidelines on how to do this. I think this book would be very useful in a seminary classroom or for a youth pastor who is fighting upstream at getting the other staff/parents at his church to see the importance of taking his students across the world. I once heard a seminary prof/pastor/friend say that it is not dangerous to send your kids overseas – it is dangerous not to. What he meant by that is it is harming your students if you allow them to stay chained to this weak American culture Christianity and never see what God is doing in the world. Videos and biographies can only do some much. My trip to SE Asia in 2005 helped shape me (you can read about it on page 64 in TransforMission, my first published writing). To see college students lives changed by seeing the devastating effects of the 2004 tsunami and the cold lies of the Islamic religion – and then to see some of those very students give their lives over the past years to serve over there – giving up (even for a short time) the American dream of getting a great job right out of college, getting married, owning their home…was humbling and causes me to praise Christ.
If you are involved at all in missions, discipleship, youth ministry, college ministry – you would be wise to pick up this book. This will help strengthen your argument for short term missions. My first one was in the summer between my junior and senior year of high school. I’m so thankful for Tommy Warnock at FBC Plant City who had a vision to take high school students to Gatlinburg TN and let us experience teaching kids the gospel. Then to Charleston, Costa Rica, Alaska, Russia, SE Asia, Thailand, New York City. Let me go back, Lord. Keep opening the doors.
I hope by reading this book you are compelled to proceed with getting your students and self overseas – no matter for what length of time.
So, when’s the next plane leave RDU?
“Firsthand exposures to the realities, people, and impact of a life lived on mission can enable the participant to get his hands dirty in genuine missions environments. In this way, contact through short-term mission is one gateway of seeing our world and our commission more clearly.” (p 46)
“We have realized that for students to become true disciples, they must themselves become concerned and active disciplers of the nations. If this generation will be influenced and developed toward, engaged in, and assessed for growth unto a global vision and life, God will raise them up to change the lives of whole tribes, communities, and nations.” (p 237)
by Kimberly | Jun 15, 2010 | Uncategorized
Blogs really provide me fodder for my own blog. Something I read each morning in my goodle feeder will instinctively prompt me to write something. Here we go for today’s:
I read a blog called Makeunder My Life by a Chicago girl named Jess. I really enjoy her design tips, views on living on purpose and with intention, and her blog design. She recently broke up with her boyfriend and posted on that yesterday. The hurt and pain was real in her post as she shared with her readers a part of her life that had ended. I’m thankful for honesty. Today, was a follow-up to that post with her sharing how she is able to forge ahead in life and with her business in spite of this relationship ending. I post this in saying nothing about Jess personally – because I do not know her. I only know her relationship with God via this post. And I only know that there are probably many more in your sphere of influence and friendship circle and community at church that also blend spirituality to make their own religion.
After re-reading yesterday’s post, I realized that it might appear as if I’ve glided through the last eight months on a cloud of understanding and ease; maintaining a sense of well-being and big picture perspective every step of the way. But in fact, the opposite was often true. I struggled with this. A lot. Privately. I never expected this to happen. And though the pain and hurt was overwhelming at times, I characteristically did (eventually) start asking myself, what am I meant to learn from all of this?
So basically what I am trying to say is that I’ve felt the whole range of possible emotions about this mutual decision – just like everyone would. But what is deeper than all of my pain was the faith that has served me in growing Jess LC and MML: I deeply believe that everything serves a purpose in my life. And over time, I started to seek out wisdom and grow as much as possible in this situation. And boy, did I have a lot to learn! Take a look.
Though I tip-toe around the idea of God here on MML, I cannot honestly explain what I’ve learned from this experience without touching on this subject. I think each person has their own evolving view on God which is entirely personal. My understanding of God is primarily spiritual, and I expose myself to teachings from a variety of sources including college courses and books on Confucianism and Buddhism, Anthony DeMello’s teachings, A Course In Miracles, Joyce Meyer, my Catholic childhood, and the local Lutheran church I go to on Sundays. I find that the universal truths inherit in all of these teachings create a broad base for my personal beliefs. Throughout these past eight months, I’ve exposed myself to some form of spiritual teaching everyday – whether it be in the form of a book, podcast, or tv show. This habit helped me to keep a bigger picture perspective even on the toughest of days.
I also began to pray. Though I have always been very philosophical about spirituality, my prayers have now become very active – I need help in each moment to remember the greater purpose this is serving in my life. And though it’s not always easy, prayer has helped me realize that I don’t need to have all the answers. But I can have faith that things are working out in my favor and that God is going to make this happen for the best. I’ve learned to give God control of my life and learn to follow his lead.
Universalism is anti-God. How do I make such a strong statement? God, Yahweh, I AM, the one Sovereign Creator of the entire universe, the Trinity, 3-in-1 (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) can’t be confused with the teachings of Buddha, or Taoism, or any other religion. It can’t even be confused with a religion that emphasises works for one’s salvation.
God says:
1. I am the one true God (Deut 6.4-9)
2. I am the only God and I will not give my glory to another (Isaiah 43 and 48)
3. I am the way, the truth, and the Life. (Jesus in the gospels).
4. I am the one who can destroy in hell (Matthew 10.28)
5. I am the one to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess (Phil 2)
6. I am the one whom the angels sing to: holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty (Rev 4 and Is 6)
7. I am the one who died on a cross to reconcile man to God and offer grace (Eph 2)
So…how did I deal with hurt and pain and disappointment yesterday? I preached the gospel to myself. I am so glad that I don’t have to rely on my good works, my perfect (ha) relationships, or the teachings of Joyce Meyer or the Koran to help me get through life. I am glad I have the One who will never leave me nor forsake me (Heb 13) and the one who calls me to Abide in His perfect grace and love and mercy. Nothing I bring to the table is worthy (Is 64). God is gracious and in Him alone I rest. All others will let me down. All others will fail me. I will fail them. I am a sinner – but I have Jesus. And in that, I rest. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
by Kimberly | Jun 14, 2010 | Uncategorized
Granola is a good thing. It is so much cheaper to make it yourself and you can make it to your specifications. I haven’t made my own in a while ut I got in a granola mood – and it is a perfect little gift to give as thank you or just because gifts. And giving is a wonderful thing. I hope this blesses people this week.
2 cups oats
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp salt
3 T canola oil
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup orange blossom honey (love orange and cranberry together)
1 tsp vanilla
heaping 1/3 cup of whole raw almonds
heaping 1/3 cup of chopped raw walnuts
2/3 cup craisins
Mix first three. Combine wet and pour over. Mix. 325 sprayed pan. Spread out – 10 minutes baking. Stir. Add almonds. 10 minutes. Stir. Add walnuts. 5 minutes. Add craisins and stir. Enjoy.
Like with any granola – about the only thing you can do wrong to it is burn it. Not a good thing. But, if you don’t burn it (please don’t, oats and cranberries and orange blossom honey and raw nuts are too good to waste) – its delicious.
by Kimberly | Jun 14, 2010 | Uncategorized
Before you say anything – the Gospel is our adornment. The lovely grace of God on our lives.
This is an outward working of that adornment.
Sometimes I think I get this – most often, I don’t have it. I struggle, I wish this reflected me. This is how I press into the gospel though – right? I’ll never be completely what I should be in this area – I can strive with grace (working out your faith with fear and trembling) – and pray for the return of Jesus. Complete sanctification. Will be a good thing. More importantly – Jesus.
This is from the Crossway Blog today:
The world tells women that happiness and success lie in white teeth, in muscle tone and trendy clothes. And today the women who have these physical assets are held out as role models for women and girls.
We find a very different sort of role model in Proverbs 31. From her example we discover how we, uniquely as women, have been made in God’s image. In other words, another way to be pure is to live so that others around us see the goodness of God through our femininity. How does this biblical role model in Proverbs demonstrate this?
If you read through verses 10 to 31, one of the first things you’ll discover is her priorities. She was focused on caring for her family, honoring her husband, helping the needy, and exercising her God-given talents. What we don’t find is a preoccupation with personal comfort, fleshly pleasures, and outward appearance. We also see her strength. She was strong in mind, body, and character. She took initiative to get things done but not in a spirit of self-serving independence. The most important thing we discover is that she feared the Lord, which we are meant to understand as the undergirding of every other good quality she possessed.
A woman like this is a beautiful picture of biblical femininity, and it glorifies God. Are we seeking to be like her? The answer depends on those we choose as role models. Of course we can’t actually become this ideal woman any more than we can become the air-brushed celebrities we see on magazine covers, because she isn’t real.
We can, however, become our own unique version of her—a woman who exults in being feminine to the glory of God—in our personal set of circumstances and in our calling. Radiating biblical femininity in all we do and think and say radiates purity.
Excpert modified from Purity: A Godly Woman’s Adornment. Join Lydia Brownback for Tuesday Talk as she chats through different topics on purity and godly womanhood.
by Kimberly | Jun 14, 2010 | Uncategorized
This morning I was able to teach 3rd graders the reason we were created (to praise God, Psalm 139.14). There are many other verses in Scripture that tell us that this is why we were created.
I’ve also been pondering hurt, pain, and the reality of sin today. It has also been a topic of conversation over the past few weeks with a dear friend.
Why will we never understand pain? Why will we never understand death?
Here is my answer: we weren’t created for it.
Setting: Garden of Eden.
Personality: Sinless Adam and Eve. Walking and talking, praising God, animals named, life going along just great.
Enter: Serpent. Apple (or some thing Eve ate). Lies. Mistrust.
Stupid Apple.
Yes, I know it wasn’t the apple’s fault.
God in his all-knowingness knew this was going to happen when He created. (Because of His eternal nature, He already knew Jesus was going to have to come die as well).
So…why doesn’t death and pain and hurt and disappointment and mistrust and ________ make sense to us. I don’t think we were designed for it. We were created (originally, before sin) for a life of relationship with our Creator. We failed. Enter sin and death.
So, when pain and hurt and disappointment come you can do a couple of things:
1. Learn from it.
2. Shut it out (close off your heart and emotions).
3. Trust God with it.
4. ___________
What do you do with hurt and death? Is it easy or hard for you to see and acknowledge God’s working in it. For me – it depends on the situation. I’m usually one of the first people to say something about God and theology and He is in control, etc. Sometimes, I’m not.
Praising Jesus for the work of the gospel in my heart today. And not loving the pain.
by Kimberly | Jun 14, 2010 | Uncategorized
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho]Was introduced to this video compilation yesterday and didn’t know it would be as powerful to me today as when I heard about it yesterday.
I remember seeing Johnny’s biography in our house growin up – never read it. Still haven’t (must remedy soon). But, ever since I watched Walk the Line, I’ve become curious about all things Johnny. Why? There is a marked detail of grace on that man’s life. Mercy has been poured rich on him.
In this video, a song by Nine Inch Nails, he talks about pain, fleeting rewards of this life, and how it all goes to nothing – dust.
I love the book of Ecclesiastes. Today is a good to be reminded. Pain, hurt, the gospel, letting people down; making mistakes, the joy of life – all of it. All of it fleeting compared to the grace of the gospel. how my perspectives get so out of whack sometime. May I always be reminded that nothing else matters in life. How did Johnny’s life look different? How will mine look different if I lived by that truth?
Ecclesiastes 1.13-18 (Some say this book in the Bible is depressing, I call it reality and gripping.)
And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
by Kimberly | Jun 14, 2010 | Uncategorized
I love Wayne Grudem. Although I didn’t use his theology text while I was in seminary, I taught through Bible Doctrines to my college girls while doing ministry at the Summit. That is one of the most used books in my library. It is either in my car or on my desk most of the time.
I also got to interact with Dr. Grudem while working at SBTS – that was definitely one of the highlights of my time there. He is such a gracious man and wise and caring and humble. It was great to hear his wife speak and see the two of them engage.
God is good to give us people like Wayne and Margaret Grudem. May you be inspired and challenged by watching this video by Mark Driscoll
by Kimberly | Jun 14, 2010 | Uncategorized
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e5ZVIpB4sw]In honor of my love for Johnny Cash and this week’s VBS theme “Need Answers? Ask God.” I love this video with Johnny, Shel Silverstein (masterful poet), and guitars. I wonder if I was ever this inquisitive with my parents while I was growing up…
And I love the talk about this relationship with a father and son. There are so many homes in our churches and in the world that are without dads. Father’s Day is coming up. Thank your Dad, if you can. If you can’t for whatever reason – you do have a grand FATHER in heaven – who will never leave you nor forsake you.
by Kimberly | Jun 10, 2010 | Uncategorized
If you are reading this and love Jesus – then this will not make you happy. It will show you a sad and burdened and weighty part of our world – maybe even your neighborhood, your cubicle, or the exact life of the person next to you on the plane. So, here is the post in its entirety – then a few comments:
My husband and I were both raised Mormon. Independently of one another, we both stopped going to church after high school. Now, as adults, we are happy and comfortable with our personal belief systems and neither of us have any interest in going back to church, any church. My husband’s belief system leans more toward the scientific and rational, while I still entertain some spiritual beliefs that don’t have a particularly secular explanation… but in the end we’d probably both call ourselves agnostic. Basically, neither of us believe that we can be sure one way or the other and, at least for me, I’m just not sure it matters. In the end, shouldn’t we be good people because it’s just the right thing to do, independent of judgment from on high? And any God who might be out there… wouldn’t he/she/it be rather pleased I’ve lived a good life and been kind to others? There’s just something about the notion of an all powerful being who will punish me for not believing despite the quality of my life that seems a little… self serving? Narcissistic?
So we’ve decided to raise our daughter in the way that makes the most sense to us. As she grows up and begins to question the world around her, we’ll help her understand that people all over the world believe all kinds of different things. As an intelligent human being, it’s her job to find the belief system that is right for her and makes her feel happy and fulfilled. If she has a burning desire to become a Catholic or a Wiccan or whatever floats her spiritual boat, I’m behind her. I did my fair share of exploring various religions, and it helped me to come to where I am today, which is a very comfortable place independent of any organized religion. If she asks about God, we’ll help her explore her own thoughts and feelings about it. I have ZERO problem with her choosing a religion whenever she wants to, as long as she chooses something that makes her happy, that’s pretty much all I need from life.
There’s just one little snag… Her father and I did get something from our church attendance. We both got a good moral background that helped us not to be drunken partiers or crazy promiscuous as teenagers/college kids, and I like how that has helped informed who we are as adults. Of course, my friends and family tend to joke that I am secretly Amish, since I have never been a big drinker, never done any drugs (not even marijuana, not even once), and was always sexually responsible. I want our daughter to grow up with similar values, but the truth is that I think we can instill them without the help of the Almighty. In fact, our background in the church might have given us a little too much morality… For years with both had some issues with guilt and self-consciousness when it came to intimacy even though we were happily married, thanks to years of being told how wrong sex was. So maybe it’s not such a bad thing that our daughter won’t get any religious themes when it comes to morality. A cleaner, simpler lesson for her will be to just do the right thing. Do it because it’s right, not because you fear retribution or judgment.
This weekend at a Greek festival we saw one more aspect of church that we feel like is missing from our non-religious lives. Community. Everyone knew everyone, and everyone had the support of this vast social and religious network. Even though we live in a small town, the people here are not quick to make and maintain friendships, and in the end our neighborhood (which has thousands of houses within it’s sprawling borders) feels less like a community and more like a random collection of strangers. We have friends, but most of them live pretty far away and not many have kids. So how do we foster the kind of social atmosphere that will help our daughter to understand the worth of friends and loved ones beyond the family? Play groups? Clubs? Classes?
We’re still working on that part…
1. God created sex. Its not wrong within the bounds of a marriage between a man and a woman. CJ Mahaney has a great book on that for guys and Carolyn Mahaney has a great one for women.
2. Would it be in the best interest of a parent to let their child do everything that would make them happy? If I wanted to eat all the candy in the world and gain 300 lbs by the time I graduated high school because it made me happy – would my parents be good parents if they let me? If I wanted to drink tons of alcohol and get in a car and drive at a 16th bday party (because it would make me happy) would my parents be kind if they let me? A child’s happiness should not be the sole purpose of every parent.
3. Why do most non-believers only see God has judge? Do we Christians spend so much time talking about God’s judgement (and hell, which is real) that we don’t give them an accurate view of the grace, kindness, goodness, lovingkindness, forbearance, mercy of God?
4. Community. So – they did get something (even from a Mormon community). How is your community (your church) different and loving of outsiders – and how does it impact your daily life? I am blessed to be in an amazing church. I’ve only spent a few years without a real church home in my life – and those were some long years. I know the beauty of a gospel-centered community where Christ is exalted in all – and I love it. If you want more on this – go read Total Church by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis.
What are some questions you would pose from this post? What are your thoughts?
by Kimberly | Jun 8, 2010 | Uncategorized
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QvSoRQrVJg]
Love this dude. Thank you for Bruce Roberts and Chuck Haddox for my introduction. Some people talk about humility very seriously. I love Brian’s take:
God is a good God. He brings people into our lives that matter and remain. 10 years ago I met one of these authors; the other I met 3 years ago. Both will be in my life in some way shape or form hopefully for as far as the future goes.
