Funny experience today:
So I’m in Yu-Yu’s Asian Food Market with four of my Chinese friends. As soon as we walked in, one scene really caught my attention. There’s this Hispanic kid with his grandma (in the Asian food market?!) and he's speaking in Spanish to his abuela about a box of Green Tea. He was talking to a Chinese guy who was working at the store. The poor man spoke little English, and the poor grandma spoke little English. And here was this 10-year-old kid, translating between them. It was the greatest transaction of cultures I've seen in a long time.
On another note, last Sunday night I had dinner with some new international students. I have never in my life sat at a table with people from such diverse cultures. The countries represented at our table were India, Belgium, Venezula, Brazil, Korea, and US.
Ah, the fresh wind of diversity.... I love it.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Friday, November 7, 2008
New Perspectives
Since I moved here to Kentucky,I've met a bunch of cool people - internationals and Americans both. This job is absolutely amazing. I can't believe just half a year ago I had NO IDEA WHATSOVER what I would do after graduation. Now, here I am... giving this year to God and the nations.
And, as weird as it seems, even though I originally thought it would be a year of giving to Him, I have received so much from Him. He has given me more in the past half year than I could have ever imagined in my finite mind.
He has exceeded my expectations.
The coolest thing God's given me lately is a new perspective of life. New perspectives on an array of ideas - from cultures to ministry techniques to hospitality to community to my definition of "possible" to rethinking my entire personality.
Yes, I feel like a different person has emerged in the past 2 months.
I still have the same demeanor, but He has sanded off some rough edges that had never been touched before. He is causing me to lose some of that characteristic worrisomeness, uptightness, hurriedness, strict adherence to a schedule, constant stress, time-consciousness and tension.
All in all, I used to be like a ball of rubber bands - all bound up and tight, and now God has been slowly picking apart the rubber bands and giving each one of them a rest from the tension.
He is causing me to focus on flexibility and relationship-building.
He is showing me that He is all about people, and He is not about performance.
It is still very weird to not be required to perform at all to impress anyone at all.
Just stop and think about how freeing that is....
No performance, just being.
I’ve always lived in performance mode, pushing myself so hard to fit everything into each day and please everyone who required things from me. My life has been constantly over-regimented since I was about 10 years old. Now, things are much different this year.
I am experiencing a completely different way of life with a freedom I have never before had. It seems that the more I offer "my" time to God (which is His already), the more He orchestrates it into glorifying Him... while also teaching me to be flexible and not to worry. It is definitely nothing I could have taught myself.
This quote by Richard Foster sums up my past couple months perfectly. It's quoted in "Discipleship Essentials":
"For too long we have been in the far country:
a country of noise
and hurry
and crowds,
a country of climb
and push
and shove,
a country of frustration
and fear
and intimidation.
And he welcomes us home:
home to serenity
and peace
and joy,
home to friendship
and fellowship
and openness,
home to intimacy
and acceptance
and affirmation."
He has brought me out of the far country and has welcomed me home.
I lack nothing.
And, as weird as it seems, even though I originally thought it would be a year of giving to Him, I have received so much from Him. He has given me more in the past half year than I could have ever imagined in my finite mind.
He has exceeded my expectations.
The coolest thing God's given me lately is a new perspective of life. New perspectives on an array of ideas - from cultures to ministry techniques to hospitality to community to my definition of "possible" to rethinking my entire personality.
Yes, I feel like a different person has emerged in the past 2 months.
I still have the same demeanor, but He has sanded off some rough edges that had never been touched before. He is causing me to lose some of that characteristic worrisomeness, uptightness, hurriedness, strict adherence to a schedule, constant stress, time-consciousness and tension.
All in all, I used to be like a ball of rubber bands - all bound up and tight, and now God has been slowly picking apart the rubber bands and giving each one of them a rest from the tension.
He is causing me to focus on flexibility and relationship-building.
He is showing me that He is all about people, and He is not about performance.
It is still very weird to not be required to perform at all to impress anyone at all.
Just stop and think about how freeing that is....
No performance, just being.
I’ve always lived in performance mode, pushing myself so hard to fit everything into each day and please everyone who required things from me. My life has been constantly over-regimented since I was about 10 years old. Now, things are much different this year.
I am experiencing a completely different way of life with a freedom I have never before had. It seems that the more I offer "my" time to God (which is His already), the more He orchestrates it into glorifying Him... while also teaching me to be flexible and not to worry. It is definitely nothing I could have taught myself.
This quote by Richard Foster sums up my past couple months perfectly. It's quoted in "Discipleship Essentials":
"For too long we have been in the far country:
a country of noise
and hurry
and crowds,
a country of climb
and push
and shove,
a country of frustration
and fear
and intimidation.
And he welcomes us home:
home to serenity
and peace
and joy,
home to friendship
and fellowship
and openness,
home to intimacy
and acceptance
and affirmation."
He has brought me out of the far country and has welcomed me home.
I lack nothing.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Church for All Nations
What would it look like if we could all worship together - people from all different languages and cultures?
I've seen this before a little at conferences, but never at a normal every-Sunday type of church service. I'm used to a church full of people who look just like me and share my culture and have the same taste of food/music/etc.
Yesterday, I went to church and experienced something TOTALLY different... and I loved it.
I attended The Church for All Nations just about 15 minutes down the road. I walked in and was greeted by a lady from Kenya. The worship team was comprised of people from Haiti, Nigeria, Kenya and Russia. The pastors were from India and Nigeria. Many people were wearing their country's native dress. The congregation was about half African: from the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, etc. Several of the Africans were recent refugees and didn't speak English. They had to have a man translate for them in their language, Kerundi.
When we sang, the pastor said, "We do not come to celebrate our cultures, but to celebrate Jesus. We are all one in Christ Jesus. We come in anticipation of every tongue, tribe and language celebrating around His throne."
We worshipped in Swahilli, Russian, French Creole. The best part was the "special music" (which the congregation really got into). A lady called out the main lyrics while some kids and another lady echoed -- "Thank You, Jesus" in Swahili... the whole song was in Swahili... they were swaying back and forth.... everyone was clapping... and some African ladies in the back were crying out in some kind of celebratory yell... the driving beat of the bongos and the complimentary beat of the beaded gourd. Everyone swaying, clapping, smiling and praising. I don't know what it was, but it was amazing. I felt like I was in Heaven.
Later on, we ate together... people had made foods from their home countries and we all shared the meal. I talked with a girl from India whose parents minister there to their own people, training in a Bible school, running a Christian elementary school. Our conversation really opened my eyes - hearing how her family has to be careful because of the law against "making converts." In her region, pastors are literally putting their lives on the line by doing their job.
I'm still trying to take it all in. I don't think I've accurately and fully described it.
We sang this... and I couldn't help but think of how true it is in my life:
Mungu ni mwema
Mungu ni mwema
Mungu ni mwema
ni mwema wangu
God is so good... He's so good to me!
I've seen this before a little at conferences, but never at a normal every-Sunday type of church service. I'm used to a church full of people who look just like me and share my culture and have the same taste of food/music/etc.
Yesterday, I went to church and experienced something TOTALLY different... and I loved it.
I attended The Church for All Nations just about 15 minutes down the road. I walked in and was greeted by a lady from Kenya. The worship team was comprised of people from Haiti, Nigeria, Kenya and Russia. The pastors were from India and Nigeria. Many people were wearing their country's native dress. The congregation was about half African: from the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, etc. Several of the Africans were recent refugees and didn't speak English. They had to have a man translate for them in their language, Kerundi.
When we sang, the pastor said, "We do not come to celebrate our cultures, but to celebrate Jesus. We are all one in Christ Jesus. We come in anticipation of every tongue, tribe and language celebrating around His throne."
We worshipped in Swahilli, Russian, French Creole. The best part was the "special music" (which the congregation really got into). A lady called out the main lyrics while some kids and another lady echoed -- "Thank You, Jesus" in Swahili... the whole song was in Swahili... they were swaying back and forth.... everyone was clapping... and some African ladies in the back were crying out in some kind of celebratory yell... the driving beat of the bongos and the complimentary beat of the beaded gourd. Everyone swaying, clapping, smiling and praising. I don't know what it was, but it was amazing. I felt like I was in Heaven.
Later on, we ate together... people had made foods from their home countries and we all shared the meal. I talked with a girl from India whose parents minister there to their own people, training in a Bible school, running a Christian elementary school. Our conversation really opened my eyes - hearing how her family has to be careful because of the law against "making converts." In her region, pastors are literally putting their lives on the line by doing their job.
I'm still trying to take it all in. I don't think I've accurately and fully described it.
We sang this... and I couldn't help but think of how true it is in my life:
Mungu ni mwema
Mungu ni mwema
Mungu ni mwema
ni mwema wangu
God is so good... He's so good to me!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Possible, but not Easy
My sweet friend, Ashley Lawler, has a thought-provoking sign above her fireplace that reads,
Faith makes things possible, not easy.
How I identified with that quote this year! Specifically the end of this past semester and then every single second of every minute of every day of this summer.
When Jesus called me to have faith and to step out and trust Him, He never promised that it would be an easy ride.
I have not called you to where it's easy, He said to me, this past January.
I've learned that it's pointless to feel sorry for myself when things don't seem to be looking up. Getting upset is normal, but do I let my disappointments draw me to work even harder to have the faith to which He has called me? Or do I stay put down, in my pit of despair?
There is a cool image that a friend/pastor brough to my mind a couple weeks ago.
I had just had the worst week of my summer. I had encountered many closed doors and many answers of "No." I was about to give up. Yes, I was at the halfway point of fund-development, but things just did not seem to be looking up.
That was when my friend brought this vision to me. Remember the part in the Facing the Giants movie when the coach is making the team captain do the "Death Crawl" at football practice? The team has so much incredible potential, but the attitude of its leader stunk. (And to use a line from my favorite movie of all time - Remember the Titans - "Attitude reflect leadership, captain.")
The coach called on the captain to do the death crawl as far as he could. Remember how he thought he could only get to the 50-yd-line? He ended up in the end zone, baby. He underestimated his potential.
And look at how the coach acted toward him.
At first, the captain was OK, carrying the other player on his back without touching his knees to the ground. As it became more difficult, the coach encouraged him, "Keep going, Brock! You can do it!" And then, as Brock's strength seemed to fail him and he said, "I can't go any more... I gotta stop and rest," the coach yelled, "Don't stop now... negotiate with your body for more strength. Do not stop until you have done your best! I want your best!!" The coach got down on the ground, crawling along with Brock, continually encouraging him on until he could go no farther.
And there he was... in the end zone. He didn't think it was possible. He didn't think he had the strength. His attitude was failing, but he got encouragment from his coach: "God has gifted you with the ability of leadership. Don't waste it!" He had learned the importance of perseverance.
That is how I have seen myself this summer. Just going and going, as hard as I could, until there was no strength left, and then finding supernatural strength from Him (and learning all along that every ounce of that strength came originally from Him).
And God is my coach, first lightly encouraging me, then getting right there, down in the middle of it all, yelling "Don't stop now Corrie! This is possible through Me. I have called you to hard faith, not easy apathy!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As I walked into work that next morning, I felt like a new person.
I walked through the parking lot, singing "Great is Thy Faithfulness."
And I had peace.
And then I found that just when I thought I could not go any farther, God took over and began to show up in huge, huge ways. Incomprehensible ways. And all I had to do was sit there and watch.
I was in the end zone.
Faith makes things possible, not easy.
Faith makes things possible, not easy.
How I identified with that quote this year! Specifically the end of this past semester and then every single second of every minute of every day of this summer.
When Jesus called me to have faith and to step out and trust Him, He never promised that it would be an easy ride.
I have not called you to where it's easy, He said to me, this past January.
I've learned that it's pointless to feel sorry for myself when things don't seem to be looking up. Getting upset is normal, but do I let my disappointments draw me to work even harder to have the faith to which He has called me? Or do I stay put down, in my pit of despair?
There is a cool image that a friend/pastor brough to my mind a couple weeks ago.
I had just had the worst week of my summer. I had encountered many closed doors and many answers of "No." I was about to give up. Yes, I was at the halfway point of fund-development, but things just did not seem to be looking up.
That was when my friend brought this vision to me. Remember the part in the Facing the Giants movie when the coach is making the team captain do the "Death Crawl" at football practice? The team has so much incredible potential, but the attitude of its leader stunk. (And to use a line from my favorite movie of all time - Remember the Titans - "Attitude reflect leadership, captain.")
The coach called on the captain to do the death crawl as far as he could. Remember how he thought he could only get to the 50-yd-line? He ended up in the end zone, baby. He underestimated his potential.
And look at how the coach acted toward him.
At first, the captain was OK, carrying the other player on his back without touching his knees to the ground. As it became more difficult, the coach encouraged him, "Keep going, Brock! You can do it!" And then, as Brock's strength seemed to fail him and he said, "I can't go any more... I gotta stop and rest," the coach yelled, "Don't stop now... negotiate with your body for more strength. Do not stop until you have done your best! I want your best!!" The coach got down on the ground, crawling along with Brock, continually encouraging him on until he could go no farther.
And there he was... in the end zone. He didn't think it was possible. He didn't think he had the strength. His attitude was failing, but he got encouragment from his coach: "God has gifted you with the ability of leadership. Don't waste it!" He had learned the importance of perseverance.
That is how I have seen myself this summer. Just going and going, as hard as I could, until there was no strength left, and then finding supernatural strength from Him (and learning all along that every ounce of that strength came originally from Him).
And God is my coach, first lightly encouraging me, then getting right there, down in the middle of it all, yelling "Don't stop now Corrie! This is possible through Me. I have called you to hard faith, not easy apathy!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As I walked into work that next morning, I felt like a new person.
I walked through the parking lot, singing "Great is Thy Faithfulness."
And I had peace.
And then I found that just when I thought I could not go any farther, God took over and began to show up in huge, huge ways. Incomprehensible ways. And all I had to do was sit there and watch.
I was in the end zone.
Faith makes things possible, not easy.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
"Fun-Raising"
I'm going to Kentucky.
I can't believe I'm leaving so soon. Actually, it is all very overwhelming to me and hard to take in how far I've come. It seems so surreal.... I look at where I was back in March (when I didn't have a clue about the next step in life) and then I look at where I am now, and I am astonished. All I can say is "The Lord has done great things for me, and I am filled with joy!"
I have this theory that support raising for a ministry is like giving birth, although I have never experienced having a baby (yet -- ha!). You work hard and prepare for months, and then you get to the climax and push until all your strength is gone, and then you seem to find more strength from some supernatural source to keep persevering.
And in the middle of it, you think, "I am never ever doing this again... I just want to give up..." And then your baby's here, and it's a joyous moment! And all the work seems so worth it. But then it hits you... "Oh shoot... I actually have to raise this child. I am responsible for it now."
So with me, I'm like "Wow, God has provided for me and blessed me!" and then I'm like, "Oh boy, He must have a LOT of confidence in me to give me so much responsibility... peoples' souls are hanging in the balance now.... WOW. Where do I even begin?" Talk about overwhelming.
So, that's just a little taste of what I'm feeling. :)
I can't believe I'm leaving so soon. Actually, it is all very overwhelming to me and hard to take in how far I've come. It seems so surreal.... I look at where I was back in March (when I didn't have a clue about the next step in life) and then I look at where I am now, and I am astonished. All I can say is "The Lord has done great things for me, and I am filled with joy!"
I have this theory that support raising for a ministry is like giving birth, although I have never experienced having a baby (yet -- ha!). You work hard and prepare for months, and then you get to the climax and push until all your strength is gone, and then you seem to find more strength from some supernatural source to keep persevering.
And in the middle of it, you think, "I am never ever doing this again... I just want to give up..." And then your baby's here, and it's a joyous moment! And all the work seems so worth it. But then it hits you... "Oh shoot... I actually have to raise this child. I am responsible for it now."
So with me, I'm like "Wow, God has provided for me and blessed me!" and then I'm like, "Oh boy, He must have a LOT of confidence in me to give me so much responsibility... peoples' souls are hanging in the balance now.... WOW. Where do I even begin?" Talk about overwhelming.
So, that's just a little taste of what I'm feeling. :)
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Sun and Rain
Have you ever seen a rain shower while the sun was shining brightly? It's quite a sight! I saw such a shower today. It was the most inspirational thing I've seen in a long time, and I can't exactly say why... just the deep lush green of the leaves and grass, and the huge drops of cool rain on a warm afternoon - drops that sparkle like jewels reflecting in the sun...
It was almost like liquid rays of sunshine falling down. It was the kind of rain that makes you want to throw off the urge to stay dry and civilized under your umbrella and go dance.
And then the rainbow... Oh my. The dark threatening clouds moving fast to display behind them a crisp baby blue sky spotted with whiter clouds.... a sky set off by the most beautiful arch of vibrant colors.
I guess life is a little like that. In one small time period of my life, there can be both sunshine and showers - at the same time. And the sun makes the showers a beauty rather than a burden.
Reminds me of that David Crowder song:
Sun and rain
Joy and pain
Oh my soul
You never let go....
It was almost like liquid rays of sunshine falling down. It was the kind of rain that makes you want to throw off the urge to stay dry and civilized under your umbrella and go dance.
And then the rainbow... Oh my. The dark threatening clouds moving fast to display behind them a crisp baby blue sky spotted with whiter clouds.... a sky set off by the most beautiful arch of vibrant colors.
I guess life is a little like that. In one small time period of my life, there can be both sunshine and showers - at the same time. And the sun makes the showers a beauty rather than a burden.
Reminds me of that David Crowder song:
Sun and rain
Joy and pain
Oh my soul
You never let go....
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The Journey
Well, I never thought I'd be making another blog... but here it is. It's going to be used as a means to update any and all who are interested in the happenings of my life.
I'm getting ready for a big change, and I'm leaving a lot of amazing people behind as well as preparing to meet more amazing people (while still keeping the first group close to my heart!).
So here starts the accounts of a journey to be continued...
I'm getting ready for a big change, and I'm leaving a lot of amazing people behind as well as preparing to meet more amazing people (while still keeping the first group close to my heart!).
So here starts the accounts of a journey to be continued...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
