The Blessed Gospel

^{Romans 3: 19-20
19} Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. ²⁰ Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Nearly two weeks ago, I had two young men come to my gate asking if they could share some special news with me. I let them in (well, not in, but we went to the porch). This is a rarity for me. I actually have a deep heart for people who are within their faith, and every time I see them, they run away from me because I approach them!

I extended as much hospitality as I could, sat down, and they started asking me what I knew about their beliefs. I told them that in NYS we teach part of their history because it's a part of NYS history. They were pretty impressed (though, I was not) with my knowledge and even jokingly offered me their badge saying that I would make a good missionary because I knew everything that they're trained to talk about.

We had a good conversation, and some terms were clearly defined. I used Scripture to show the differences. They asked what would stop me from believing what they believe. I simply stated Revelation 22:18 and Deuteronomy 4:2. I spoke on the authority of the Word of God, and how our terms of "gospel," "salvation," etc were very different.

I was able to give my personal testimony about how I came to know Jesus Christ and the testimony of what He is taking me through now.

My testimony reminded one of a story in his book. He gave me a copy and asked me to read it and pray about. He asked me to ask "god" to reveal truth. And so I did...

I prayed for these two young men all week. I tried to be like the Bereans and study out the scriptures to see if what they said was true, but I already knew...I began to look up their doctrine, using specific references from their books and compared it to key Scripture passages in the Bible. I wanted to make sure I had a clear understanding of what they were talking about, using their references.

We met this afternoon again. The same two came back (also very rare)!. I walked out of my house with my Bible and several handwritten pages. One made a comment saying that I had a lot of papers. I told him that I did what he had asked. Not only did I pray about it, but I studied it out and compared it to the highest authority, the Word of God! Both young men were a bit shocked.

I jumped right to my final points, not going through the inconsitancies. God allowed me to speak about our inability to be perfect at this very point in time, how it's only through Jesus Christ is perfection imputed. I posed the questions about what must we do to be at peace with God? And are we relying on our self-rightousness or soley in the righteousness of Jesus Christ? I spoke about God's moral law and our inability to meet the high standards that Jesus places on us in Matthew 5:48 -- Be perfect as the Father is perfect. Unobtainable without Christ!! The reality of our failure to meet God's perfect standard is "outer darkness." This was shocking to them!

I pleaded with them. I expressed my broken heart for them. "You look perfect and self-rightous, but it must be eating you up from the inside! I can't imagine the stress that this system causes you to undergo!" It's only through Christ Jesus that you are set free from the bound of the moral law. They both sat speechless.

After this, they asked to go point-by-point through my chart. I did. I told them that their doctrine is not found in the Bible. (One also asked me what specific doctrine, I was refering to. I said the most important piece: Jesus is God. You should have seen his face drop, as if it was the most horrific thing a person could say). They admitted that they didn't know the Bible very well and had to look up the verses on the spot. I told them, if I am wrong at any point in regards to their doctrine, stop and correct me. They didn't. Again, they both sat speechless. In the end, the one young man asked if he could copy the scriptures down that I gave him. I told him he could have the chart (along with my moral law/perfection questions). He seemed grateful.

I told them I had nothing else to say other than we can be sincere about our faiths, but if we are sincerely wrong, we are in trouble. If they are right, I'm not in too much danger. My morals pretty much match up with theirs, and I'll be okay in the afterlife. However, if they are wrong and I'm right, they are going to "outer darkness." I told them that should concern you and scare you.

They have never heard anyone speak like this. They thanked me for my willingness to study things out and to invite them back. They spoke about how most people will not let them back. They asked if they could call again. I told them yes, but that I am letting you know that every time you call or want to meet, I will continually point you to Jesus Christ, as that's all I can do. Point you to the Christ who has come to redeem you back to the Father. It's all about Him!

They, then, asked if I would take their phone number; I did. Perhaps, I will check up on their studies in a week or so. I left them with this thought: If God honors His Word above all things, including His name, how should we view the Bible? Either the Bible IS the Word of God, and we take it at face value, or it is not.

Please continue to pray for these young men. I really hope they call. I hope they see the truth of the Gospel and come to faith in Christ Jesus alone.

I really thank God that I'm "stuck" in Suriname for the Christmas break again. I miss frequent witnessing opportunities. I miss being able to sit down with strangers and pour over the Scriptures with them leading them to the Cross of Christ...Let the Gospel go forth for His glory...

Diggin' in the Word

So, my cat, Judah, has taken up a new "hobby:" diggin' in the Word of God. Some how he manages to find my Bible, no matter where I leave it, open it up and start laying and rubbing his face on the pages. He does this at all hours of the day or night. He won't do it with other books, just the Bible. Yesterday, I finally caught him on camera. He was opened to Isaiah 40 which talks about the greatness of God. I love Isaiah 40! It seems also fitting that Isaiah 40 is prophecy concerning Judah and God's comfort of His people.

I don't read much into this. I'm more amused by it than anything. Hope you are, too.

Puffy Apple Omelet

So, many of you might have heard about my inability to choose what to make for Christmas brunch. I decided on a puffy apple omelet. This thing was so good, I'm sharing the recipe with you from Taste of Home. It's a bit deceiving, though. It tastes more like cake to me but yummy nonetheless. (I also increased the recipe 6x...It normally doesn't make this much...)

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt, optional
• 2 eggs, separated
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 
  TOPPING:
• 1 large tart apple, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

• In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt if
• desired. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks, milk and lemon juice.
• Stir into dry ingredients and mix well; set aside.

• In another small bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft
• peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon as a time, on high
• until stiff peaks form. Fold into yolk mixture.

• Pour into a shallow 1-1/2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray.
• Arrange apple slices on top. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle
• over apples.

• Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 18-20 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Serve immediately. Yield:2 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (prepared with fat-free milk and without salt) equals 252 calories, 5 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 213 mg cholesterol, 126 mg sodium, 44 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 9 g protein.

Lessons Learned through Suffering

It’s been a while since my last blog, and since I’m finally on yet another vacation, this might be the prime opportunity to give an update! (Insert cheers here).

I made it back to Suriname last week. I really have missed my friends and my students here. God has truly blessed me with some phenomenal brothers and sisters in the faith. It’s been tough transitioning back after being going for 2.5 months. Although, I will say, it’s nice be in 90+ degree weather again!! The past week was filled with a lot of cleaning, work, Christmas parties, cooking, writing midterms, grading (which I haven’t finished yet), and rehearsals. Clifton called me a week ago to help sing for the church musical which goes on tomorrow. I’m not confident in the song and keep screwing up. Pray for me.

This past Sunday I was able to share my testimony about what God has done with and through me over the past few months. Since I did not write it out for church, I will attempt to address all the points that I made during service.

I sincerely thank all of you that have carried me in your prayers. There have been so many times over the past 4 months that I did not even have the strength to vocally cry out to God. I appreciate each and every one of you who did so on my behalf.

While I was back in New York, it seemed like the question of the century (although, I know this not to be true), was which person in the Bible do you identify with? Most of my friends would say, “I identify with Paul,” or “I identify with Moses.” You know, I identify with Job. Not because I feel like, “Oh, woe is me!” But because of how God humbled Job at the end of the book that bears his name.

In the Book of Job, Job looses everything he owned and suffered from a terrible sickness. His friends insisted that Job was suffering as punishment for his sin. However, throughout, Job still confessed his love for God.

Over the past few months I’ve been sick, people tried to rationalize my situation just like Job’s friends did. I can’t explain why these things have happened, and I know that I have complained to God about them, too. But I also know that God is too great and wonderful for me to understand (this is actually the conclusion that I’ve come to).

I’ve been pouring over the last few chapters of Job, over and over again. God is silent through the whole book, until chapter 38. He comes in a storm, and poses these questions (that, of course, He doesn’t need the answers to) to Job. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely, you know!...Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn Its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?...Do you send the lightening bolts on their way?...Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?...Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane?” God continues to ask these types of questions to Job for about four chapters.

I love Job’s response in chapter 42. Throughout this journey, it has become my response. ‘I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, “Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

I read these chapters and feel utterly crushed under the weight of God Almighty! (That’s not a bad thing). I have no response other than silence in His presence because of WHO He is!

Who am I that I should question His wisdom and justice? Who? Tell me? When compared to the Holy One, I’m nothing, nothing, but a speck of dust in time. He will has been and will always remain the Eternal God!

When there is no rational or even theological explanation for the situations we face, we must trust God! We have no clue as to what His plans are for our individual lives. Even if we lose everything we have in this life, it is worth it to follow Christ. If God chooses never to give us another blessing, it's still worth it to follow Him. In all of our circumstances, we must come to a point where we praise God for WHO He is, and not what He give us.

We have an advantage over others because we have hope in a hopeless world. Whatever our situations may be, our hope lies in Christ Jesus. It’s not found in our family, our friends, our money, our looks, but it’s only found in Jesus Christ through His redeeming act of death upon the cross as payment for our sin.

I pray that you will remember this fact this Christmas season. It’s not about anything BUT Jesus Christ, God who came down to Earth in the flesh to redeem us to Himself.

I truly love you all and desire for you to know Christ, not as a baby laying in the manger, but as your Lord and Savior. To God be the glory in all that we do.

Steppin'

From Lecrae's song, "Background." Off the "Rehab" album

I had a dream that I was captain of my soul.

I was master of my fate, lost control, and then I sank.

So I don't want to take the lead

Cuz I'm prone to make mistakes.

All these folks that follow me gon' end up in the wrong place.

So, just let me shadow you. And just let me trace your lines.

Matter fact just take my pen.

Here, you create my rhymes.

Cuz if I do this by myself I'm scared that I'll succeed.

And no longer trust in You, cuz I only trust in me.

And see, that's how you end up headed to destruction.

Paving a road to nowhere. Pour your life out for nothing.

You pulled my card, I'm bluffing

You know what's in my hand.

Me I just roll to trust you to cause the dice to land.

I'm in control of nothing. Follow you at any cost.

Some call it sovereign will, all I know is you the boss.

And man I'm so at ease. I'm so content.

I play the background like it's an instrument.

This song has really ministered to me over the past month. It really is evident that no matter what we try to do, He is still in control. However, when we choose to obey, and not fight, He opens up amazing doors!!

Oswald Chambers wrote, "We only realize the power of the moral law when it comes with an "if." God never coerces us. In one mood we wish He would make us do the thing, and in another mood we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God's will is in the ascendant, all compulsion is gone. When we choose deliberately to obey Him, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with all His almighty power."

I'm going to step aside...