Green Eggs & Hamster

CraftMondays

2009-11-12T15:15:00.000-08:00

Some Quotes to Chew On

2009-08-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

C.S. Lewis on Beauty and Longing:
The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through was longing. These things - the beauty, the memory of our own past - are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself, they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of the worshippers. For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited."

Charles Spurgeon on Happiness:
"What a blessed time it will be when having moved beyond every secondary cause we rest upon the bare arm of God! What a glorious hour when God, and His creatures - the Lord, and not His works - will be our daily joy! Our souls will then have attained the perfection of bliss."

Paul E. Miller on Prayer:
"Don't be embarrassed by how needy your heart is and how much it needs to cry out for grace. Just start praying."

Tears of the Saints

2009-08-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

HT: JT

VBS 2009 Summary Video

2009-06-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

Investing in the Next Generation: Recounting His Faithfulness

2009-06-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

Upon the Rock

2009-05-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry blog,
and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
Psalm 40:2

"Don't Look Back"

2009-02-25T17:04:00.000-08:00

This coming Sunday, Wellspring Church will be moving to Pleasanton, CA where we will worship at Foothill High School in the multi-purpose room. Our church will be a "mobile church" which will require set-up and shut-down each Sunday. The very process of preparing for this move has already taken a colossal amount of preparation and effort - which explains why this blog has been quiet for the past few months. But I know that this is only the beginning as we move from a church building to a high school, and to the community where the majority of our church members live. I'm not sure what to anticipate, but already, the Lord has been teaching me that He alone is sovereign and in control. My job is to look to Him for help and wisdom, and to trust Him along the way so that many will see how great a God He is and that He alone is worthy of praise.

As I reflect upon this moment in the life of our church, I am grateful for the exhortation given last Sunday on the eve of our move by John Bruce, Senior Pastor of Creekside Community Church (where our church used to rent its facilities). And I wanted to share them here (as written up by Meg on the church forum), so that I may look back and remember, especially during those times when things do not go "according to plan" and I find myself longing for the "good ol' days":

1. Don't look back. Look forward to the purpose set forth in moving; don't keep looking back as the Israelites did in Exodus, foolishly longing to be back in Egypt. For sure things will be less convenient and you may go through difficulties, but don't lose sight of why you're moving. [Creekside also used to meet at a school. One time, their service was canceled because the school was flooded; another time because the janitor didn't show up to open the doors for their service. It was week to week at times, so it was important to not lose sight that they were moving to reach the community better from where they were.]

2. Protect Sam (Pastor Sam). Cover him with prayer, bless him, encourage him. He will have to deal with even more in coordinating and overseeing the church in this time. Make sure he cares for his family, for himself and his spiritual needs - this is important so that he can be a pastor.

3. Be a blessing to Foothill High School. Be the best tenants you can - and by this, you will start gaining a reputation with the community. Don't just see the school as a facility you are renting, but seek ways to be a blessing to the school. If there are opportunities to serve the school, that will be one of the best ways the community will hear about church, about the Gospel.

Through this process, I pray that God may be glorified and exalted in the Bay area!

Sister Act

2009-01-05T13:31:00.000-08:00

Advent

2008-12-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

In this Advent season, how easy to forget why we are even celebrating in the first place. This is why I ordered Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Nancy Guthrie, ed.), a collection of Advent readings from much-respected theologians, old and new, such as George Whitefield, Charles Spurgeon, Martin Luther, John Piper, John MacArthur, and Francis Schaeffer.

Here is an excerpt from George Whitefield in a reading entitled "Contemplating Christmas" (p.11):

It was love, mere love; it was free love that brought the Lord
Jesus Christ into our world. What, shall we not remember
the birth of our Jesus? Shall we yearly celebrate the birth
of our temporal king, and shall that of the King of kings be quite
forgotten? Shall that only, which ought to be had chiefly in remembrance,
be quite forgotten? God forbid! No, my dear brethren, let
us celebrate and keep this festival of our church with joy in our
hearts: let the birth of a Redeemer, which redeemed us from sin,
from wrath, from death, from hell, be always remembered; may
this Savior’s love never be forgotten!

At a time when this whole month can be a blur, I am praying that this will draw me to treasuring Christ above all else.

Piper's Challenge to Women

2008-11-25T11:01:00.000-08:00

A good reminder from JP of what I need to be mindful of in living out my days here on earth.

A Challenge to Women

That all of your life—in whatever calling—be devoted to the glory of God.
That the promises of Christ be trusted so fully that peace and joy and strength fill your soul to overflowing.
That this fullness of God overflow in daily acts of love so that people might see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in heaven.
That you be women of the Book, who love and study and obey the Bible in every area of its teaching. That meditation on Biblical truth be the source of hope and faith. And that you continue to grow in understanding through all the chapters of your life, never thinking that study and growth are only for others.
That you be women of prayer, so that the Word of God would open to you; and the power of faith and holiness would descend upon you; and your spiritual influence would increase at home and at church and in the world.
That you be women who have a deep grasp of the sovereign grace of God undergirding all these spiritual processes, that you be deep thinkers about the doctrines of grace, and even deeper lovers and believers of these things.
That you be totally committed to ministry, whatever your specific role, that you not fritter your time away on soaps or ladies magazines or aimless hobbies, any more than men should fritter theirs away on excessive sports or aimless diddling in the garage. That you redeem the time for Christ and his Kingdom.
That, if you are single, you exploit your singleness to the full in devotion to Christ and not be paralyzed by the desire to be married.
That, if you are married, you creatively and intelligently and sincerely support the leadership of your husband as deeply as obedience to Christ will allow; that you encourage him in his God-appointed role as head; that you influence him spiritually primarily through your fearless tranquility and holiness and prayer.
That, if you have children, you accept responsibility with your husband (or alone if necessary) to raise up children who hope in the triumph of God, sharing with him the teaching and discipline of the children, and giving to the children that special nurturing touch and care that you are uniquely fitted to give.
That you not assume that secular employment is a greater challenge or a better use of your life than the countless opportunities of service and witness in the home the neighborhood, the community, the church, and the world. That you not only pose the question: Career vs. full time mom? But that you ask as seriously: Full time career vs. freedom for ministry? That you ask: Which would be greater for the Kingdom— to be in the employ of someone telling you what to do to make his business prosper, or to be God's free agent dreaming your own dream about how your time and your home and your creativity could make God's business prosper? And that in all this you make your choices not on the basis of secular trends or yuppie lifestyle expectations, but on the basis of what will strengthen the family and advance the cause of Christ.
That you step back and (with your husband, if you are married) plan the various forms of your life's ministry in chapters. Chapters are divided by various things—age, strength, singleness, marriage, employment choices, children at home, children in college, grandchildren, retirement, etc. No chapter has all the joys. Finite life is a series of tradeoffs. Finding God's will, and living for the glory of Christ to the full in every chapter is what makes it a success, not whether it reads like somebody else's chapter or whether it has in it what chapter five will have.
That you develop a wartime mentality and lifestyle; that you never forget that life is short, that billions of people hang in the balance of heaven and hell every day, that the love of money is spiritual suicide, that the goals of upward mobility (nicer clothes, cars, houses, vacations, food, hobbies) are a poor and dangerous substitute for the goals of living for Christ with all your might, and maximizing your joy in ministry to people's needs.
That in all your relationships with men you seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in applying the Biblical vision of manhood and womanhood; that you develop a style and demeanor that does justice to the unique role God has given to man to feel responsible for gracious leadership in relation to women—a leadership which involves elements of protection and care and initiative. That you think creatively and with cultural sensitivity (just as he must do) in shaping the style and setting the tone of your interaction with men.
That you see Biblical guidelines for what is appropriate and inappropriate for men and women in relation to each other not as arbitrary constraints on freedom but as wise and gracious prescriptions for how to discover the true freedom of God's ideal of complementarity. That you not measure your potential by the few roles withheld but by the countless roles offered. That you turn off the TV and Radio and think about...

The awesome significance of motherhood

Complementing a man's life as his wife

Ministries to the handicapped

hearing impaired
blind
lame
retarded

Ministries to the sick:

nursing
physician
hospice care—cancer, AIDS, etc.
community health

Ministries to the socially estranged:

emotionally impaired
recovering alcoholics
recovering drug users
escaping prostitutes
abused children, women
runaways, problem children
orphans

Prison ministries:

women's prisons!
families of prisoners
rehabilitation to society

Ministries to youth:

teaching
sponsoring
open houses and recreation
outings and trips
counseling
academic assistance

Sports ministries:

neighborhood teams
church teams

Therapeutic counseling:

independent
church based
institutional

Audio visual ministries:

composition
design
production
distribution

Writing ministries:

free lance
curriculum development
fiction
non-fiction
editing
institutional communications
journalistic skills for publications

Teaching ministries:

Sunday school: children, youth, students, women
grade school
high school
college

Music ministries:

composition
training
performance
voice
choir
instrumentalist

Evangelistic ministries:

personal witnessing
Inter Varsity
Campus Crusade
Navigators
Home Bible Studies
outreach to children
Visitation teams
Counseling at meetings
Billy Graham phone bank

Radio and TV ministries:

technical assistance
writing
announcing
producing

Theater and drama ministries:

acting
directing
writing
scheduling

Social ministries:

literacy
pro-life
pro-decency
housing
safety
beautification

Pastoral care assistance:

visitation
newcomer welcoming and assistance
hospitality
food and clothing and transportation

Prayer ministries:

praying!!!
mobilizing for major Concerts of Prayer
helping with small groups of prayer
coordinating prayer chains
promoting prayer days and weeks and vigils

Missions:

all of the above across cultures

Support ministries:

countless jobs that undergird major ministries

(HT: TC)

Worldliness: A Sickness That Kills The Soul

2008-11-14T12:19:00.000-08:00

Given the vulnerability of my heart to the seduction of the
peacetime mind-set, which is pushed into my mind every day by
media and entertainment, I need these images and these
reminders. We are at war, whether the stocks are falling or climbing,
whether the terrorists are hitting or hiding, whether we are
healthy or sick. Both pleasure and pain are laced with poison,
ready to kill us with the diseases of pride or despair. The repeated
biblical warning to “be alert”fits the wartime image. And I need
this warning every day...

I need to hear this message again and again, because I drift
into a peacetime mind-set as certainly as rain falls down and
flames go up. I am wired by nature to love the same toys that the
world loves. I start to fit in. I start to love what others love. I start
to call earth “home.” Before you know it, I am calling luxuries
“needs” and using my money just the way unbelievers do. I begin
to forget the war. I don’t think much about people perishing.
Missions and unreached peoples drop out of my mind. I stop
dreaming about the triumphs of grace. I sink into a secular mindset
that looks first to what man can do, not what God can do. It
is a terrible sickness.

-John Piper in Don't Waste Your Life

1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Matthew 6:21
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Nhamatonda

2008-10-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

(Pictures taken by Harold)

Here are some pictures from our day trip to Nhamatonda, which is an area about 2 hours west of Gondola, where Pastor Carlos visited in June/July of this year to see how the local believers could be mobilized to care for the most vulnerable in their community. Compared to the regions of Gondola and Maforga where we spent most of our time in Moz, the needs here in Nhamatonda are even more dire with currently no material provisions for outreach and relief to the surrounding community. But the amazing thing is that Pastor Simon, the leader of the work there, along with his volunteers from local churches, have been caring for the poor, orphan, widow, and sick by doing home visits to bring encouragement and prayer, even utilizing their own resources to help those poorer than them.

This is also where Tim led a Pastors' workshop for a couple of hours in which it was quite evident that there was a vast spiritual hunger for the Word of God and Gospel-centered teaching. One of the values of Hands at Work that I deeply appreciate - which are evident in Carlos, George Snyman and the Apostle Paul - is their willingness and pursuit to go to the places where not only the needs are the greatest, but to go to the places where no one else will go.

Romans 10:14-15
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Dad's Birthday Visit

2008-10-27T13:35:00.000-07:00

Going Home

2008-10-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

I'm taking off for a week to visit family and friends back home. The occasion? My Dad's 70th! I'm looking forward to celebrating this milestone with him and my family, and in seeing Bee, Caleb, and Eunni! Sounds like they've grown so much.

Living such a far off distance from them does make these visits with my family so precious. And I'm grateful for this opportunity. God is good!

Youth In Action!

2008-10-10T15:24:00.000-07:00

Stanley (top row, 2nd from R) and student leaders with Masoyi in S. Africa

Tim and Stanley in deep discussion

Found this video related to yesterday's post of how orphans are being empowered and taught through another ministry of Hands at Work: Forward Education. In the video you will meet two other individuals the Wellspring team met - Elvis and Stanley, the Masoyi staff leader for the youth programme at K2. What a blessing it was to meet them and observe their heart for the youth in S. Africa!

Hands At Work - Serving the Poor

2008-10-10T08:55:00.001-07:00

Here is a recent video from the ministry of Hands at Work highlighting the testimony of some of their volunteers, including Dara Hillstrom (a Footprinter or short-term volunteer) and Carlos Giua (Project Coordinator) who are currently serving in Mozambique. The Wellspring team had the privilege of serving alongside these two individuals, along with Laura Eliason.

HT: Carly da Costa

All Is Not Lost

2008-10-09T13:42:00.000-07:00

As I reflect upon coming back from a continent where death is so common that most of the children whom you meet almost without exception have stood over the grave of their mother or father, or both, I was forced to deal with seeing and touching death and loss on a much grander scale. For anyone who has lost a loved one, it can have such a profound effect on shaping who you are and become. But to be confronted with the loss of one or both of your parents at such a young age may potentially handicap you - deep emotional trauma that remains with you like a stubborn scar that won't go away.

But what if you not only had to deal with the loss of your parents, but also face the responsibility of providing for and caring for your sibling(s)? And there are no aunts or uncles or grandmothers in the picture. You are now the caregiver for your younger siblings. At an age when children still need the supervision and care of their parents, the burden and role of providing for your family is now shouldered by you - because of the sheer fact of birth order. You've thought about quitting school to take care of your siblings, but then how will you eke out a living? At least you have shelter and the home that your parents left you. But what if your house is destroyed by an uncontrollable fire that sweeps through your area? All that is left are the ashes of the little belongings you had, and remnants of charred wood that could possibly be sold for charcoal. This is your life.

These are the types of questions and scenarios that 10- and 12-year old's are facing all over Africa. They're growing up too fast it seems, but what choice do they have? A continent replete of child-headed households. Hoards of children malnutritioned - hungry and waiting for their next meal. Vulnerable and fearful - a whole generation of children wondering what will become of them. Others left with no choice but to sell themselves for sex to provide the next meal. The situation seems ominous and overwhelming. Are things hopeless because of the staggering prediction that Africa will be a continent of orphans? Some predict 40 million by 2,010. Is all lost?

No. Let me introduce you to Clarence. Clarence is a 16-year old boy that I met at K2 (a daycare and youth drop-in for orphans) last year; he is actually the friend of Sekile. I met him again this year during a youth programme in SA, and I was so encouraged to hear a little bit of his story. He is one of the student leaders being groomed by the volunteer staff at Masoyi and he shared with me his dream to finish his education and make a future for himself. I was touched by his optimism and hope that he did not see his life as a loss despite the challenging circumstances around him. I pray that those at Masoyi will continue to lead Clarence and others like him to an eternal hope, for all is not lost when we have Christ. Not necessarily hope for a better life or even a life void of suffering, rather a life lived knowing that you have a heavenly Father who has lavished His love on you to save you from the worst kind of disease - sin-sickness. He has saved the sick-in-the-heart from the clutches of sin and has promised a life of joy for those who would trust in Him. And when this eternal hope anchors our life, then we are able to see that even death is not a loss but a gain.

With Clarence (the most L) and some other youth

Final Team Picture

2008-09-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

We're Back!

2008-09-28T01:49:00.000-07:00

The Moz team is back after a 28-hr.+ journey across the Atlantic. It feels surreal to be back, and there are a myriad of thoughts running through my mind and heart as I consider what I saw over in S. Africa and Mozambique, the things that the Lord taught/is teaching me through my time there, and the people whom I met. There is much to process through, and hope to do so over the next few weeks.

It is a kindness to be back and to be greeted by friends and family who missed us. There is much to give thanks to God for over these past few weeks.

Here's a pic from our Orphan Day where we met with 400 children for a day of games:

A side note: I tried to bring back some ostrich and kudu biltong (dried, preserved meat or think beef jerky African-style) for the Africa 07 Team but only to have it confiscated by customs at Dulles. Oh well. :( But I did manage to bring back some rooibos tea which ironically we didn't end up drinking much of during our time over there.

Pray: Moz 08

2008-09-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

We are leaving today for our trip to S. Africa (SA) and Mozambique (MOZ) from Sept. 9-27. (Click on the photo above to access the PDF of Team Prayer Card.)

Please keep us in your prayers, especially for our travels, connections, health, safety, team unity, and ministry there. Pray that our eyes would be fixed on the cross of Jesus Christ, and that we would look to the Gospel of grace in all circumstances and at all times. Thank you!

Young & Tim's Wedding

2008-09-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

(Photos taken by Sam)

Angela's Birthday Dinner

2008-09-05T22:31:00.000-07:00

Worship God 08 (Gaithersburg, MD)

2008-08-06T13:28:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a week-long visit to the East Coast (not home) where I spent a few days visiting with a friend (whom I haven't seen in 3 years) and to attend the Worship God 08 Conference held by Sovereign Grace Ministries with some folks from Wellspring.

The theme of the conference was Rediscovering the Psalms and in preparation for this time, TimK encouraged us to read one Psalm a day starting March 1st that would end with the completion of the entire Book of Psalms on the first day of the conference. What a fruitful exercise and blessing it was to read through and meditate upon the truths of Who God is, and honest and often gutsy, yet God-centered hope of the Psalmist. The main conference speakers (Craig Cabaniss, Thabiti Anyabwile, Mark Dever, David Powlison, and Bob Kauflin) each spoke on an aspect of what we may learn from the Psalmist.

The plenary sessions are available online.

The View From the Seats

The Ladies (sans Teri)

The Men (sans Thomas)

Waiting for the Session to Begin

Meeting with Mark Altrogge

The Launch: Moz 08 Team Website

2008-07-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

The team website is up and running (click on the photo), thanks to the awesome skills and efforts of Nathan Logan , one of our teammates.

Unless the Lord builds this "house", we know that we labor in vain, so I covet your prayers for the team and our time in S. Africa/Mozambique. Thank you!

A Glimpse at "Faith Expedition"

2008-07-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

As promised, here's a selection of photos from VBS 2008! Kudos to Jason Kim for these great shots, and Sam Shin for processing them.