Winter Con: Part II

There was a lot more to be learned at Winter Con and here are just a few of the thoughts and observations that I had from the last few days full of worship, outreach, talks, seminars, fellowship and time with the Lord.

One thing that really struck me after one talk was the idea that it really matters what we put into our minds. It matters what we spend our time looking at, reading, saying and doing in general. We are a product of our thought-life whether it's spending a lot of time in scripture or surfing the internet. I have experienced both as I would guess many others have too and immersion in either certainly has an effect.

This was truly convicting and made me want to take a moment to think about how I spend my days. But beyond time management, when I'm looking or reading or whatever I'm doing, is there a purpose behind it? Or it is meaningless?

I would like to think there is a purpose, but thinking back I'm not so sure and I'm sure there are others who might be able to relate. With all the modern conveniences and technology we have, ironically we seem to waste more time than we ever did before. It's a sad reality and its only bound to get worse and more intrusive.

Two practical ideas that were brought up were a media fast to take the focus off all of our worldly "devices" (literally and figuratively) to put our focus instead wholly on God. Another suggestion was scripture memorization, which I have always been bad at partially because I have never worked at it. The idea of having God's Word literally floating through my mind, ready to convict me and remind me and comfort me was another captivating thought. Such a simple rhythm and yet I am extremely curious to see the changes that might come out of it. Not only in mind but in heart too.

Another idea that relates to this discussion is eternal perspective. I've read verses about not being conformed to this world, keeping my mind on the things above  and storing up treasures in Heaven instead of earth. But had I ever been forced to think long and hard about such things? The honest answer is no.

The truth is the things I am doing now should seem pointless and meaningless if they are not done for the sake of Christ's glory. True, I already have assurance of faith, but that should not be the end of it. As people have said many times before salvation is not by works certainly, but as is said clearly in James, works come out of our faith in our Lord. They show that we earnestly desire to bring Him glory because he has radically changed our lives by flipping everything up side down from the worst to the best possible circumstances.

So with that assurance in mind I want to push forward to store up that treasure in heaven so that I can go before the Lord as my life is reviewed and hear "well done good and faithful servant." It's not a pride thing and if I am driven by it I desperately hope it never will be. Any amount of treasure or crowns attributed to an individual doesn't matter because ultimately we will be laying it before the Lord's feet because he is worthy of it. That'a awesome! And just imagine all the joy we will get by reliving all the victories of our brothers and sisters in the name of Christ! They will be the greatest of biopics. The greatest of highlight reels.

Thus, I want this infinitesimal amount of time on earth to matter because it has monumental significance in light of eternity. God has blessed me in certain ways and I want to use it all the more now because I see it in the context of what is to come. I want to have something to lay before my king when that day comes.

It goes without saying that I also enjoyed my time with staff and students from UCSD and SDSU as well as old friends and acquaintances. I am extremely exhausted but it's a good kind of tired. I hope I feel this way when I get to Heaven, it will mean I gave my all for the glory of my Heavenly Father.

All the GLORY be HIS.

Winter Con

So these last few days I've been at Winter Con and it's been pretty great as expected. That's despite being sick! There have been talks on Revelation, seminars to cultivate hearts for the lost and personal growth. And my favorite part, students from other campuses showing that our God is truly at work and alive in the hearts of so many students who want His Beautiful Name to be known all over the world.

Here are some thoughts:

-This is my first winter con, because the last two I was actually in Japan visiting my sister. It is almost surreal that she is here now and I get to see her here!

-I opted out of a game night to talk for an hour or two with a good friend and it was a blessing. There is such excitement in the air as I know a handful of people looking to do global missions. 

-There has also been an opportunity to reconnect with previous acquaintances and meet more students. At first I was a little bummed that more people from our Puerto Rico team were not here, but it allowed me to spend time with SDSU friends and people from other schools. 

-My favorite event so far was a dinner casting vision for missions in Japan. I realized that Puerto Rico was amazing but it could never take away the desire to reach Japan. I think I assumed that my heart for Japan would just dissipate or not be as heavy because I did another missions in its place. However, after hearing more and meeting other students who want to reach Tokyo, I realize there is a feeling that I want to go back there. 

Maybe it's partially that they feel like my people but also I have seen firsthand how broken they are and I want them to know on some level that they no longer need to be alone. 

Switching gears it's weird now three years later meeting students at campuses I never considered and especially on those I visualized going to way back when. There is a hint of wistfulness in a sense, but there is only a brief instant of that feeling. Immediately I can say with confidence that God put me in the right place and has blessed me in many ways beyond anything I would have expected. 

These are perhaps not any life changing revelations or epiphanies but that's not necessary. I feel like I'm still learning, wrestling and getting revived by being around a community of believers. I cannot wait for more the next couple days and  I hope that I can experience the Lord on a still deeper level. 

All the Glory Be His.

Finals Week and Christmas

Finals and Christmas. In many ways they seem like mutually exclusive things. They cannot possibly overlap or coincide. Finals drain us of all our energy and cheer, make us anxious and are continually monotonous. Christmas is the farthest thing away from all of those. It is characterized by joy, peace, goodwill and good news (as I have probably made clear in other posts)!

I got in a short conversation yesterday about how easy it is to forget about Christmas in light of this finals week because oftentimes the stress and work we put in can suck all our joy dry. It is so easy to lose sight of this season, because after all it is a season of Advent. Not just a day or two days on the 25th and 24th.

This is a short post (for once), but I simply pray that Christmas and Finals might coincide and collide. That they might both exist together and we might continue to have joy. Happiness is fleeting and is often replaced with anguish or anxiety. Joy can remain even during times of duress. Please pray for all my friends and for me that we might experience this Christmas season as it is meant to be experienced. That the Christmas season might not pass as by as we get distracted by necessary things, but also that we might remain diligent in our studies to pursue excellence for God's glory!

Thanks.

That's What Christmas is All About

I am too excited about Christmas to just write one post! After all there is a lot to be excited about. Mind you I write this as I start preparing for finals next week and I am still excited.

Since spending the last two Winter Breaks in Japan, I could care less about getting and even looking for present to give. What got me excited from the very beginning was the Christmas music, traditions and the like. One of the things that is included under that umbrella is Christmas specials. Although they have over time become gimmicky and perhaps not as good as they used to be, there are several I still enjoy

Rudolf is great, Here Comes Santa Claus is up there and of course the Grinch. They all get at some theme or essence of what Christmas is about. However, I will always have a special place for Charlie Brown's Christmas.

It's rather surprising because this 25 minute special wanders dismally and drearily at times beginning with the ironically mournful title track (Christmastime is Here). But out of this confusion and muddled mess that Charlie Brown finds himself wandering is perhaps one of the most clear depictions of this season. Like many people Charlie Brown realizes there is something special about this year. He just cannot quite pinpoint it. Linus acts as confidante when all the other children like Lucy and even his own dog Snoopy have bought into the superficiality. The materialism has taken precedent. A good thing has been slightly perverted and turned bad.

You would think the story would pick up at some point and it doesn't for a long time. Charlie Brown is the killjoy and butt of all the jokes. He receives all the ire from the other kids, because he has not bought in. They laugh at him. How can this story be redeemed; it's too far gone. Too depressing because these individuals seem poisoned by all the wrong reasons for Christmas.

It is Linus who pipes up and somehow drops a bombshell. A little unassuming gem from scripture:

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men." ~ Luke 2:8-14

In an instant the dreariness dissipates and new life is breathed into something that seems ruined and wrong. The shift is nearly instant and the whole tone of not only Charlie Brown, but of his friends, dog and this entire special lightens because of this Good News! It's for me as much as it is for the next person.

That's why it makes me sad when I hear about tragic death, injustice, the toppling of role models and individuals quarreling over the internet. Christians and non-Christians alike. We've all fallen short of the glory. That is the reality and it will continue to be. We all desperately need this message. Even if it is not a new one I desperately hope that each one of us can hear it with fresh ears every time whether it's a monologue by Linus or in a Christmas Carol or maybe during a Christmas Eve service.

This should fill each and everyone of us with immensely great joy! Get excited for what is coming. My prayer is that not just during this season but at all times we might have peace on earth and good will towards all men (even those who are difficult to love and even when we are difficult to love). The good news is that we have a God who has made all things news. Glory to God in the Highest.

Enjoy these upcoming weeks as we should but I hope that we all remain mindful of what is at the heart of Christmas. Surround yourself with at least one or two Linus-figures who will constantly point you back to what Christmas is all about.

All the Glory to Him and Merry Christmas again. Happiness and Cheer to all! Cue the music.

Context in This Advent Season

Recently I have been joking a bit about the strengths that matched me after I took a Strength Finders test at Crossroads. However, over the last couple weeks I have seen how context is an important part of my personal outlook.

According to the test:

Perspective and background are important for people with strong Context talents. They value the retrospective viewpoint because they believe that is where the answers lie. They look back to understand the present. From the past, they can discern blueprints for direction.

This partial definition resonates with me because I have always been fascinated by not only history but pop culture and historical events. I want to know and understand how they are all framed and how names, dates and people relate to each other.

Taking an example from the Bible, it makes sense that I have long been fascinated by Hebrews 11 and 12. In these two chapters we are first given a long lineage of Biblical heroes who were faithful to God. All of them sinned and fell at one point or another but ultimately they followed what God would have for them. It gets even better in chapter 12!

"We are surrounded by so great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12; 1-2

Over summer this bit of scripture really struck me, but I just want to reiterate the same fact. As Christians we have such a rich lineage and we are following in the footsteps of some amazing figures. It is truly humbling and yet at the same time we can have a certain confidence, because we all fall short of the glory of God. We all must look to Jesus and what we He has done for us. We must all move forward by Faith.

This context will hopefully cause us to live our lives differently or at least constantly force us to realign ourselves. I know I personally need to remind myself of where I am at and where my focus needs to be, because I so often get distracted from where I fit into this long family line.

A wonderful thing about this time of year is that we have just entered a season of what is called Advent or the coming of Jesus. During the advent season we are waiting for something that has already come. Jesus came to earth as a baby and ultimately saved an entire world due to his sacrifice to remedy our own brokenness. That's why we sing Christmas carols like "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" or "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus."   In a sense we look back at that moment in time to look forward to what is and what is still to come. Because God is with us.

Hopefully during this Advent season we can have the proper context and it will allow us to enter this season with Joy because we know even a degree of the magnitude that this event in history has for our lives. Enjoy your time with friends and family, spending time together and singing Christmas carols. I know I am excited!

All the Glory to Him. Peace on earth and goodwill to men.