Missions Blog

Taken on a bus in China.

1. C.T. Studd: Criketer and Pioneer - C.T. Studd is the embodiment of “I count all things loss for the sake of Christ.”
2. Chasing the Dragon: One Woman’s Struggle Against the Darkness of Hong Kong’s Drug Den - The life of Jackie of Pullinger, who is still working in Hong Kong today. Incredible story of God using an unlikely girl for an incredible ministry.
3. God’s Smuggler - The story of Brother Andrew and his smuggling of Bibles behind the Iron Curtain. A very cruel man in his youth, he was transformed by the power of God and used mightily to minister to extremely persecuted Christians.
4. Praying Hyde: A Challenge to Prayer - Three accounts of the life of John “Praying” Hyde. A life so amazing it is hard to believe. Discover the incredible things God does when His people seek Him with all of their hearts.
5. Mountain Rain: A Biography of James O. Fraser, Pioneer Missionary to China - Another inspiring story of a man who labored to bring the Gospel to the Lisu people of China.

These are just my favorites, but I’ve read a ton more. What are your favorites?

I like taking pictures. I took this one in March at Lake Tahoe, NV.

I heard both of these last Spring, and wrote them down, but never got around to actually posting them.

“We stopped singing about Him and started singing to Him”

            - Seminary chapel speaker and Houston pastor on his churches change in worship style and the resulting impact on his church.

I wonder how often it occurs to people that they aren’t connecting with God during worship.  Isn’t it completely and utterly pointless without that seemingly obvious purpose?

“We could just send a ton of Christians overseas that don’t know the Lord very well, but that wouldn’t change anything. We need people who are intimate with the Lord who can change the world.”

            - My friend Chris, a missionary to East Asia, on the need for the right kind of    missionaries.

Chris pointed out something I often comtemplate.  If you don’t know God that well, how are you going to introduce people to Him?  That’s pretty obvious in all other relationships we deal with, why not this one?

Both thoughts focus on the importance of not just knowing about God, but truly knowing Him as a living being.  What do you think?

Where have I been? Well I’ve been a lot places since I was actively writing here.  In fact I’ve taken about 6 to 7 trips to Asia and Europe since then.  Most of those were actually on a ferry I took everyday in Istanbul when I was there for a week.  Nevertheless, I’m going to count it.  My friends I was visiting have probably taken hundreds of trips at this point.

But why didn’t you write? Umm, well I have to tell you, I just wasn’t feeling it anymore.  I should have done the mature thing and told you to your face, but I just did the easy thing and ignored you.  I’m sorry.

Seriously though.  Right, right…well honestly I was pretty burned out on life and ministry.  On top of that I think that blogs just let people feel self-important.  Not the ones where you just talk about your personal life and show pictures, but the ones where get all high and mighty about some cause or whatever.  Maybe it just was like that for me.  So I just stopped saying anything.  Also, I didn’t have anything good to say, so better to just keep my mouth shut. 

Things that have happened in my life:

• Taken 6 hours of Hebrew in 10 weeks. (AKA self-inflicted torture)
• Traveled to Asia and a little in Europe
• Moved to a new city (although I grew up here)
• Started a new job
• Found a new, incredible church
• Refound myself and my desire for God

I would never ever recommend working alone in ministry for more than a month.  Doing it for 3 and half years equals spiritual death. It wasn’t ever supposed to be that way, but it is sort of what happened.  BUT, BUT! God is beyond faithful and even though He has led me to a place I never thought I would live and to I job I never thought I would have He has completely restored my soul.  He has done immeasurably more than I could have asked or thought. He’s cool like that.

I could never explain in a blog post the incredible testimony He has given me in the last 9 months (maybe you could, but I’m not good at the whole writing thing). I wish I could explain to you all that has happened, maybe we can do it over a cup of coffee.  There were so many moments that just took my breath away. God’s in the details and he orchistrates circumstances in ways we could never hope to manipulate into being.

So to you, any questions?

P.S.  Starbucks Venti Iced Double-shot equals a new definition of “wired”.

You like it or not?  Any suggestions?

Wordpress 2.5 broke my old theme.  I can’t fix it while at work, but I might be able to tackle it tonight or this weekend. 

Please continue to keep Tim’ family in your prayers.