Urbana Day 4

Reflections on Day number 4.

We know that we should not stay in the darkness but walk in the light. However, there are so many wounds and issues that we do not want God to touch us and wanna cover up ourselves in the darkness.

Sometimes we are deep in these kinds of situations that even we hear the saving-call from God, but we seems like get stuck in the crowded stadium while you cannot find the exit.

That's me.

But the evening message give us the solutions: Prayer...!

We know how to pray, but sometimes our prayer just repeating the facts that God already know. We just forget what role did God has in our prayers. We forget His power. We forget His almighty. We forget HIM.

Pray with our full heart. Tell Him what is in our heart. Tell Him truly what we would want to ask Him. That is what the prayer is for.

There will only be one exit in the crowded stadium: Pray truly to God.

Urbana Day 3

Coming to day 3, everyone of us feeling tired, and... overwhelming.
So many information regarding mission, so many things about our inner lives, so many things about our future...

Really need time to sit down and digest...

Few things that I need to reflect on today

(1) John 2:11 saying that the miracle of turning water to wine was the first of the signs through which Jesus revealed his glory. If I were Jesus, what kind of changes do I want to become the first sign...?

(2)Since last nite, thru this morning, till this night... "Trust in God's providence" running around my head... Am I trust God enough regarding his providence?

(3)One speaker said, God do not want "helicopter missionary". Yes, I am now involving a few mission projects, but do I really have root in them?

(4)John 15 talking about abiding in God. Learning the word of God without obedience just like knowledge without live. Obedience... A huge hole for me to improve.

(5)Give is always better than get. Speaker today reminding me: Get is not bad, but its all about self-center. Give is something we should learn, experience and put in practice. Am I willing to give without thinking of getting?

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Tomorrow... commitment nite... hmm...

Urbana Day 2

A few questions today which really makes me to reflect on my own spirituality...

First Question, during the morning Bible study on John 1:35-42:
"If you really trusted God's role in bringing your friends to a place of belief, how would it affect the way you think about evangelism? What blocks you from inviting people to 'come & see'?"

Second reflection, during the exposition session on John 1:43-51...
Together with John 1:35-42, Jesus told the two disciples "Come and See" and they can see the Messiah. Philip told Nathanael "Come and See", that turns Nathanael declaring that Jesus is God.
Then, question to myself, am I good/faithful/trust-worthy enough for other to take my "Come and See"...?

Third reflection... for us, as a pastoral leader, our mission road should be like "Transformation -> Covenant -> Mission".
Do I Transform enough so that my testimony can display what God grace has cast upon me? Is my covenant with God a good testimony of my relationship with God? Will my direction of Mission be not in the right focus?

Urbana Day 1

After 15 hours of driving in a mild snow storm, we finally arrived in St. Louis safely.

And... the tiredness did not block the message of God in the very first day, given that its a short one.

First reminder: Despite any expectation of coming to Urbana2009, it won't make any difference unless we allow it to make some difference to us. Yes, I really have to open up my heart in order for His Message to flow thru my mind...

First message from Urbana2009:
John 1:14. God use "Incarnation" to (1) use as a mean to communicate with us (2) sending us a message and (3) be a model for us.

Speaker reminds me that Jesus did not save us by inviting us to his place, but coming to our world instead, a place where not the most comfortable.

My question to myself: Why I am working on campus with students?
Reflection: Simply because campus is the most comfortable place for students.

Yes, that is campus mission...