Requests and Updates for 4/15/08

Requests
==
+ Submission to the missions training and planning
+ Discipline to finish the semester strong
+ Stress and final planning of Boba Nite
+ Power and knowledge as I disciple Sean and Hilary
+ Guidance for summer plans
+ Preparation for Kyrgyzstan

Updates
==
Greetings and many thanks for your faithful prayers.

Missions training was really discouraging. The way the run it and the plans that they have all seem arbitrary. Also, the way that they're selling these trips to us doesn't get us excited to do God's work. It's difficult when you're constantly being told that you're going to be ineffective and you can't accomplish anything in 2 weeks. At the same time, there's this blind faith that no matter what we do, God will use it, so we shouldn't try very hard.

But I'm not in charge, I'm not in control. I wasn't given knowledge and intelligence to instigate dissension. But now that I have knowledge, I feel that it is my responsibility to correct where things are wrong. Especially with things that are important. Like missions.

This trip is really important to me because it's a taste of the direction I think God is taking me. I was in contact with some staff from Kyrgyzstan and we talked about the documentary plans. It's really amazing because both our visions are perfectly aligned. Both of our visions, purposes, plans, and intents are the same. They're also very willing to support me with interpreter and transportation to accomplish the documentary. The church is also supporting me by approving the budget for a new camera. We actually got more money than we asked for. Now we need to be responsible and spend that money wisely.

God has given me the passion for film and is definitely building my skills. Kyrgyzstan represents a lot of firsts. it's going to be my first documentary. It's going to be my first time doing a missions project like this. Although I'm going with other people, our missions and responsibilities are completely different, so in a sense, I'm on my own. First time in central Asia.

That's why this trip is so important to me. It represents the possibility of my future ministry. As much as I want to do well and be a good steward of the resources that God has given me, I know that I have to trust in Him for the out come. Finding that balance is so difficult, because we're so used to equating an effect from a cause.

More immediately, school is about to finish. I have about 3 more weeks until no more responsibilities. Finals, papers and such are all I see in the future. It's really hard to focus and to be disciplined to finish my work well. Although I've been doing well this semester, I feel very ill-prepared for all my finals.

This is compounded by the final planning of Boba Nite. Still need to buy a few things such as boba, drinks, and other food. A lot of final planning to make this the best show yet and to plant the seeds for following years.

In the meantime, I'm still meeting with Sean. I started going through the discipleship program I developed a few months back. So far, it seems like it's going well, even if we only get to meet every other week. Once the semester ends, I should be a lot more consistent.

Since Hilary accepted Christ, I want to walk with as she learns to walk with the Lord. We are definitely lacking follow up in the Church. We're so focused on getting numbers and conversions, that we sometimes forget that it's not the prayer that saves. Rather, it's the regeneration of the mind and spirit. I want Hilary and Sean to have the resources and guidance that I never had in walking with the Lord.

Then beyond that, there's a lot of mist and fog. My semester ends May 9 (extended because of extra credit) and starts again Sep 2. That's a lot of time to develop spiritually, professional, and personally. Aside from Kyrgyzstan, which is about 3 weeks in late June early July, it's wide open. Whether I intern at church, go to Beijing, or something else, I don't know. Not worrying too much about it, but it's definitely in the back of my mind.

Requests and Updates for 4/8/08

Requests
==
+ Guidance and faithfulness as I plan the summer
+ Protection, holiness, and power as I disciple Sean and Hilary
+ That I would have an attitude of learning rather than academics at school
+ Preparation for Kyrgyzstan

Updates
==
Thank you all for your faithful prayers. The Lord has heard them and has already begun to answer.

Last night, I had the humble opportunity to pray with Hilary as she accepted Christ. It's amazing the journey that God has brought her on and will continue to carry her through.

God has been good and provided a 4th act for Boba Nite: Tim Be Told. It's really exciting, and our hope is that we'll be able to put on a show that honors God, but most importantly, to create an environment where people can come to know God.

I spent a lot of time trying to render Gene & Rosita's video, and it came out really well. There's a few things I still need to adjust for Boba Nite, but it's mostly done.

As finals approach, I want to finish strong. I have one class that I absolutely hate and want to drop but I want to finish it out and not let the spirit of evil hinder my studies.

I met with Charles briefly to talk about Kyrgyzstan. Both trips, Kyrgyzstan and Taiwan, seem really disorganized. But I want to be humble and know my place.

As I look at the summer, there are so many possibilities. I have a lot of time to develop skills and gain experience, in what area, I still don't know. I want to be faithful and pursue what God wants for me, but at the same time, I don't want to be stagnant and just wait. I think I need to pursue different paths, find out details, and make a decision in faith.

Please let me know how I can pray for you.

Hilary Comes to Christ

It's only by the grace of God that anyone comes to know Jesus. It was my great pleasure and opportunity that He would let me lead Hilary to know Him.

To everyone who has helped guide Hilary along the way, your work has not been in vain. It was truly everyone who watered and planted the seeds that one of God's lowly servants had the benefit to reap what others have sown.

All praise to our creator God, for He is holy, powerful, and love.

On Unity

I went to a retreat this past weekend with my seminary. I don't know what it was, but I didn't feel comfortable. Maybe it was because I showed up at 3pm, towards the end of the retreat, or something else. But amongst these Christians, I felt alone.

Today, in class, we were talking about the split between Judaism and Christianity and then the further split amongst all the Christians. We have Catholics and Protestants. Even within Protestantism, we have different denominations, Baptist, Presbyterian, Evangelical.

I thought back to when I had met someone on the street. When he asked me what kind of Christian I was, I didn't know how to answer him. Aren't we all the same? Don't we all believe that Christ is our salvation? Don't we all love God?

This is the unity that so many churches and fellowships long for. Not so much that we agree on everything, but these core concepts of loving God. Rather than preaching for this kind of unity, so many people preach togetherness.

As great as togetherness is, diversity is so much better. In diversity, we have creativity, we have uniqueness, we have collaboration, we have the sum of different life knowledge and life experiences. If we were all "one" as many people desire, then we'd be so boring. Everyone would think the same and would result in stagnation.

I say, celebrate our diversity. Welcome people into the family of Christ in love. Love God and love His people. Be one in the spirit. That's unity.

Requests and Updates for 4/2/08

Requests
==
+ Meeting with Hilary tonight to talk about Jesus. Pray that the Holy Spirit does its thing
+ That I would finish the semester strong, on top of all the ministry.
+ I would just love God more.
+ Preparation for Kyrgyzstan.
+ Possibly interning at CCCNJ.

Updates
==
Thank you all for you faithful prayers!

There's nothing quite like witnessing to get you on a spiritual high. After I met with Hilary on Saturday, her salvation is all I've been thinking and caring about.

Boba Nite is also coming it up fast. Both Peter and I feel that God is going to do something great. We may still not have a 4th act, but that's okay. It's just that Boba Nite is right around finals, so things are going to be especially hectic for me. I want to be sure to finish off the semester strong.

I got accepted to the Kyrgyzstan mission trip. They still don't have a plan for the trip but I already know what I'll be doing. I'm going to go and shoot a documentary. Some of the footage will be used as promo, but I really want to just tell their story, whatever that may be. There's a lot of stuff that I'll need to buy in preparation for the trip. Hopefully, the church will have approved the camera budget.

I've started thinking about interning at CCCNJ. There hasn't been a lot of talk about it, so I don't want to get my hopes up. But it would be nice to get something I can put on my resume and also a little bit of money. Things are definitely starting to get tight in my bank account.

As always, let me know if there are anyways I can pray for you.