Divine Appointments

This weekend, I participated in 30 Hour Famine. Afterwards I came home, chillin, relaxing before I started editing. Out of the blue, Hilary IMs me, panicked about being wait-listed for her #1 choice. I don't know why, but I felt compelled to meet with her, so we met up at Starbucks at Barnes and Nobles.

She shared about college and the decision that she needed to make. I don't know where it came from, but I just started talking about God and eventually shared my testimony about how I'm messed up.

As we sat over cups of hot coco, I answered her questions about life, God, and such. The answers were right there and they all seemed to click.

We were talking about moral choices when I made gun fingers at some guy. I hadn't realized it, but we were literally sitting next to the Christian books section. Right after I made the motion, the guy turns around, "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation." And he put 2 books on our table. Hilary and I looked at each other, amazed.

Later, after I had prayed for her, a woman came up to us and said, "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear you praying. I think it's wonderful. God bless." Again, we were amazed.

This came after we talked about divine appointments and how everything led up to that singular point. The choices these people had made, the choices that we had made, led the four of us to that Barnes and Noble this night.

Hilary needed something to show her that God was real. Nothing quite like a divine appointment to show his power and his grace.

Thank you, Jesus. :)

On Fasting

When we think about spiritual disciplines, we think of things like praying, reading scripture, meditation, etc. How often do we think about fasting? I mean, giving up food? It's like, necessary or something.

Like when I watch TV, there's this subconscious desire to snack or just munch on stuff. Chips, candy, frozen foods, and sometimes fruit.

Or what about gum? I know plenty of people who just HAVE to have gum or they feel like they're going to die.

Are we doing these things because we're hungry or out of habit? When I see a commercial for pizza or chips, how often do I start digging through my fridge or pantry looking for something to eat?

There was this one time, my friend Brian had just come back from a cruise. If you've ever been on a cruise, it's all about eating. Your entire schedule revolves around meals. There’s breakfast, lunch, dinner. Then there's the buffets. Afternoon buffet, midnight buffet, brunch buffet, and people line up for these things. There's even cruises that have 24 hour pizza kitchens in addition to the ships set of 4 and 5 star restaurants.

So, Brian comes back from this cruise to the Bahamas. We're getting ready to have some barbeque and he loads up his plate with ribs and sausage. And I comment, "That's a lot of food." You know what he says? "I'm not even hungry." We're talking like 5 ribs and 3 sausages while I had 2 ribs and maybe 1 sausage. And he finishes it! All because it was time to eat.

So where does fasting fit into all of this?

One of the reasons we fast is to discipline our body. Paul said, "But I discipline my body and keep it under control." (1 Cor 9:27, ESV) By not giving into that psychological need to feed, that urge, that desire, we keep our body under control. In the first few hours of fasting, it's so easy to forget that you're not supposed to eat.

This one time, I gave up beef and video games for lent. The first day, I was in the dining hall for lunch. Without even thinking about it, I had fixed myself a burger. It wasn't until I took my first bite that I realized that I had given up beef for 40 days.

Eating has become habit for us because we have so much food available. Fasting helps to break that habit so that YOU control what and when you eat, not your body.


In Psalms it says,

"But I, when they were sick--
I wore sackcloth;
I afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed with head bowed on my chest." (Ps 35:13, ESV)

"I afflicted myself". The psalmist is in pain from not eating. And when you fast, you get really hungry really fast.

It's not just our bodies that control us, but other aspects of our lives. All the hurt, fear, shame, guilt, and secret desires we hide in our hearts. When we fast, those things start to reveal themselves. The psalmist says,

"When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting,
it became my reproach." (Ps 69:10)

It is through fasting that we are able to see all the subconscious things that control us. And because we are controlled by these things, rather than God, we’re ashamed of them. The key is to not to let ourselves get bogged down in the self-pity or self-criticism. Rather, turn those things over to God now that we’ve recognized them.

I grew up with Asian parents and I didn't always want to eat what my mom prepared. I'd eat some and then I'd say I was full. Or when I’d go out to eat and get this massive plate of food, I’m full, but my parents would tell me to finish. "There's starving kids in Africa." They'd quip. But how is finishing my plate going to help starving children in Africa? That never made sense to me.

You see, we're conditioned to eat. Most of the times we have hunger pangs, it's not because we're hungry, but because we're dehydrated. Our natural inclination is to grab something to eat. But what we really need is a glass of water.

Fasting reminds us that we are sustained by God.

When Jesus was tempted by Satan, at the end of the 40 days,

"he answered, "It is written,

"'Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Mt 4:4)

It's God who provides us with life and breath. Just as he breathed life into Adam at creation, he continues to sustain us. Of course, if we don't eat ever, we'll starve, but we can go for a surprisingly long time without physical sustenance.

The important question is, why do we fast. All these things are good reasons. Discipline the body, reveal the things that control us, and remind us that we aren't sustained by food alone. But all these have to be done in the context of centering on God.

"And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Mt 6:16-18)

The hypocrites would "disfigure their faces", purposely making themselves look emaciated and under nourished to not only receive the sympathy of others, but their praise and admiration as well. Especially now a days, fasting happens so infrequently that it's almost revered. Or somehow they're more special or more spiritual or more holy because they're fasting. But Jesus tells us to "anoint [our] head and was [our] face, [so] that [our] fasting may not be seen by others but by [our] Father".

Fasting is about humbling ourselves before God. We're not going to make God do anything because of our fast. He's not going to love us anymore, nor will he be more inclined to answer our prayers. That's not the point of fasting. The point is centering ourselves on God.

As we humble ourselves before God, we see our utter dependence on Him. It's not about what we want. Nor about what God can do for us. It's recognizing our place in relation to God.

Kyrgystan: Approved

It's official, I'll be going to Kyrgystan for short term missions this summer.

Our church has committed to sponsoring the development of a new school/orphanage in Kyrgystan. We've been sending kids out there for the last 4 years or so. With the new commitment, there's a lot of pressure to get people on board both financially and spiritually.

Last summer, I shot my first short film, Love Angle. Since then, I have been blessed with equipment and opportunities to use film for the Kingdom. Most of these opportunities have come out of my drama ministry, CG.Drama. Now, God has blessed me with a new opportunity in Kyrgystan.

I still need to meet with the missions committee to discuss the details of the project, but I'm really excited.

Analysis of Student Run Ministries

It is difficult for High School students to run effective ministries. Here are the reasons:

1. Lack of discipline. Kids at that age just don't have the drive or passion to pursue it as a full fledged ministry. There have been exceptions, but they eventually fizzle out as the original leader leaves. I would say that this is true for most organizations, not just our church.
2. Lack of leadership. It's not so much that the kids don't have the skills to lead or manage a team. Since they manage clubs in their schools, they definitely have the capacity to do it. For the most part, the ministries in the church are seen as afterthoughts. It's school first, then church. This may just be an issue of education, but it's difficult to overcome with overbearing parents and the pressures of media about college and careers.
3. Turnover. By the time kids have learned enough of the trade to lead it, bam, they're off to college and a new set needs to be trained. Coupled with the previous points, it's extremely difficult to make lasting ministries without an adult leader.

Case studies
CG.Dance, CG.Music, CG.VisualArts. 2 years ago, we had a thriving arts ministry. Every aspect was covered. But once the leaders moved on or got too busy, the ministries died. There were a few people who tried to carry on the torch, but they never really took off.

Drama continues to exist because I was willing to take up the mantle after our previous leaders left. I am the 3rd director of drama. Drama has been around for about 7 years and I've been heading it for the last 4-5 years. I've tried to set up structures to pass the torch, but I don't see enough interest in any of the youth to do it.

Solutions
I think the first step is to foster a thriving college ministry. By college, kids begin to discover their true passions and interests. They also have developed their skills in the area of ministry to effectively lead.

Mark Driscoll on Religion

It's such a subtle distinction between being a Christian and believing in Christianity. And we have to constantly remind ourselves that there is nothing we can do to earn God's love. Believing in Him, serving Him, none of it. He loves us regardless. And it's the reaction to that love that we believe, that we serve.

Genesis

Practical Christian is a blog about life, faith, and its intersection.

You will find musings on God, sin, man, theology, culture, ministry, and current events.

Come take the step.