As some may know, I now have a website along with my wife. Here is the first post:
http://www.tonyandestherchuang.com/#!Journey-Back-to-Malaysia/c1o3h/54cd517a0cf2f9ae3ff6a377
Check it out! Here's the first part...
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From December 18, 2014 to January 11, 2015, we traveled from Chicago, Illinois (USA) to Penang, Malaysia to Taipei, Taiwan to Chuncheon, Korea to San Francisco, California (USA). We were in Malaysia and Taiwan because of my brother's wedding. And they were definitely two of the most unusual, non-traditional weddings that we've been to. Weddings aside and seeing family aside, for me, going back to Malaysia had a different significance...
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Thursday, April 17, 2014
A Global Calling
If someone asked me why I was attending Moody Theological Seminary, if someone asked me what I was doing here, or if someone asked me how I know I’m in the right place, my response could be summarized into this Bible verse that the prophet Jeremiah wrote in Jeremiah 20:9, “If I say, ‘I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’ there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.”
God has called me to preach the gospel for as long as I have breath, and I intend to do just that. I tried going through life without doing that, but the desire to preach the gospel full time has gotten too strong. I was no longer content to just do a nine to five job during the day and be do ministry in my spare time. Though I was already going to church 5 days a week and serving in different capacities, this was not enough. God had called me to full-time ministry.
I found myself reading the Bible at work. I would eventually feel bad that I’m doing this on company time and then I would go back to work. But then my mind is constantly distracted by either theology or some aspect of ministry. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed my work as a programmer. In fact, I was happy programming all day every day. There is something about writing Java, C#, and VB code that brings joy to a geeky guy like me.
It was not as if I was tired of my job and wanted something new. It was just that between the gospel and anything else, whatever that other thing is, it is no match for the longing that I had to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everything is as trash compared to “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil 3:8). That was when I realized that God had called me to full time ministry and not to programming.
I do not believe that serving God full-time was more important than serving God in the workplace. In fact, there are many people in the workplace that could most easily be reached by Christian coworkers. Furthermore, without Christians in the secular workplace making money, a lot of other Christians who depend on support for living would not be able to raise money as easily.
I say all this to say that as proud as I am of my calling, I do not see it as inherently superior. Though I once saw it as such in my olden days, I’ve since had to repent of such an arrogant attitude. To say the truth, this attitude is one reason that I did not pursue my calling earlier. I realized that I may have wanted to enter ministry because I wanted to be the best Christian possible, one that could beat all other Christians in terms of usefulness and anything else.
God waited a few years, took me through a lot of trials and subsequent pain, before he finally allowed me to do what I am doing now. So here I am, taking classes at Moody Theological Seminary and reminiscing about how I got this far. This fire is still shut up in my bones and threatening to explode very often. Though I have calmed down considerably, my passion in large part remains the same: I WILL preach the gospel for the rest of my life.
I am not satisfied with just preaching to a small audience either. I want to preach to the entire world. Now there is nothing wrong with just a small audience. It is very important that we have an abundance of churches, many of which having small congregations. This is so that each member can be properly cared for by a pastor. If the church grows too big, some people will inevitably slip through the cracks.
No, there is nothing wrong with small audiences, but my heart yearns for bigger crowds. It’s not that I want to be more famous or that I want more people to hear “Tony Chuang, preacher extraordinaire, the next Spurgeon!” I do admit such a title is very flattering. However, I wish that I could speak to the whole world. Then I could tell them of how God changed my life. I could speak of the way that God has saved me from both physical death and spiritual death, then I could speak of how God could save them as well. I could shepherd people, comfort people, and pray for many people specifically.
Most importantly, I could have the chance to personally plea before the millions of lost souls, begging them to not throw their lives into the fires of Hell. Oh the things that I could do if I got a microphone large enough. Oh the ways that this dying world would change if someone had a platform that broad and a microphone that loud.
The dream that I have is global revival. This is the vision that both my wife and I have. I see a world lit on fire by the holy fire of God. I see pockets of revival happening all over the globe, first in many localities but then growing and merging with one another. I see this spreading like wildfire, consuming all in its path. This global revival is what God has called me to. And He has called my wife to the same thing as well, which is why we are now both laboring tirelessly toward such an end.
My wife Esther is an amazingly gifted pianist, able to play the most difficult of classical pieces as well as lead people in Spirit-filled worship. Together, we seek to travel the world and host revival meetings in as many countries as will open to us. We seek to reach out primarily to the churches, to the people of God. For revival always starts with the people of God. Only after the children of God are revived does the rest of the world get reborn into this family. An awakening of souls starts with the awakening of the church.
I am no idiot though. I know that persecution will come like a tidal wave with such a platform. That is why now that I have a wife, I cannot step into this as readily. After all, I have a responsibility to protect her and my future children as well. I fear not for my own safety, but I fear for hers more and for our relationship. Such a ministry brings much strain to marriages and we still have so much to learn in marriage without such strains.
I fear for her health. I do not want to unduly stress her out. And doing what I want to do is a very stressful endeavor. I fear for her comfort. I want to spoil her, to give her a good life (yes, even materially). But I know that we cannot be in ministry to make money. I also know that having many material possessions is not always good spiritually either (something that I myself am still learning).
Along with that fear, I fear that we would not have enough money to do this. Traveling costs a lot of money. Even just traveling within one country costs a lot of money. We have not thought of a sustainable way to do this yet, which forces us on our knees as we cry out to God for His always sufficient provision. This is no easy task and no relaxing task either. But it is one that ensures a prayer-filled life that’s for sure.
So why not just preach the gospel? Why go to seminary at all? Well, I am here at seminary to be further equipped. I am not naïve nor that arrogant. I dare not presume that I have the ability to serve God in such a capacity without first being trained by older, godlier man. There is much in their wisdom that I lack in my youthful passion. There is also much that we can glean from official Christian centers of higher education that we should not carelessly discard. Yes the Spirit of God has in the past and will in the future use untrained people on fire for Him. But training is very seldom bad.
As I examine my own life now, the passion is still there and it is not going anywhere. Ever since God rescued me from Hell eleven years ago, I have not stopped running hard after Him and I do not intend on stopping now. I will fight the good fight (1 Tim 6:12) and I will finish the race (Acts 20:24). I could not do anything but think about God and preach His gospel a few years ago, which is what brought me to seminary. That remains true today. I pray that this will always be true in my life. I pray that this fire shut up in my bones will spread. I pray that if there be any sinful desire in my vision, God would uproot it. I pray that above all, I would never stop kneeling before Christ at the feet of His cross.
So Lord, here am I, mold me, send me, take me, use me… for the reviving of all nations.
God has called me to preach the gospel for as long as I have breath, and I intend to do just that. I tried going through life without doing that, but the desire to preach the gospel full time has gotten too strong. I was no longer content to just do a nine to five job during the day and be do ministry in my spare time. Though I was already going to church 5 days a week and serving in different capacities, this was not enough. God had called me to full-time ministry.
I found myself reading the Bible at work. I would eventually feel bad that I’m doing this on company time and then I would go back to work. But then my mind is constantly distracted by either theology or some aspect of ministry. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed my work as a programmer. In fact, I was happy programming all day every day. There is something about writing Java, C#, and VB code that brings joy to a geeky guy like me.
It was not as if I was tired of my job and wanted something new. It was just that between the gospel and anything else, whatever that other thing is, it is no match for the longing that I had to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everything is as trash compared to “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil 3:8). That was when I realized that God had called me to full time ministry and not to programming.
I do not believe that serving God full-time was more important than serving God in the workplace. In fact, there are many people in the workplace that could most easily be reached by Christian coworkers. Furthermore, without Christians in the secular workplace making money, a lot of other Christians who depend on support for living would not be able to raise money as easily.
I say all this to say that as proud as I am of my calling, I do not see it as inherently superior. Though I once saw it as such in my olden days, I’ve since had to repent of such an arrogant attitude. To say the truth, this attitude is one reason that I did not pursue my calling earlier. I realized that I may have wanted to enter ministry because I wanted to be the best Christian possible, one that could beat all other Christians in terms of usefulness and anything else.
God waited a few years, took me through a lot of trials and subsequent pain, before he finally allowed me to do what I am doing now. So here I am, taking classes at Moody Theological Seminary and reminiscing about how I got this far. This fire is still shut up in my bones and threatening to explode very often. Though I have calmed down considerably, my passion in large part remains the same: I WILL preach the gospel for the rest of my life.
I am not satisfied with just preaching to a small audience either. I want to preach to the entire world. Now there is nothing wrong with just a small audience. It is very important that we have an abundance of churches, many of which having small congregations. This is so that each member can be properly cared for by a pastor. If the church grows too big, some people will inevitably slip through the cracks.
No, there is nothing wrong with small audiences, but my heart yearns for bigger crowds. It’s not that I want to be more famous or that I want more people to hear “Tony Chuang, preacher extraordinaire, the next Spurgeon!” I do admit such a title is very flattering. However, I wish that I could speak to the whole world. Then I could tell them of how God changed my life. I could speak of the way that God has saved me from both physical death and spiritual death, then I could speak of how God could save them as well. I could shepherd people, comfort people, and pray for many people specifically.
Most importantly, I could have the chance to personally plea before the millions of lost souls, begging them to not throw their lives into the fires of Hell. Oh the things that I could do if I got a microphone large enough. Oh the ways that this dying world would change if someone had a platform that broad and a microphone that loud.
The dream that I have is global revival. This is the vision that both my wife and I have. I see a world lit on fire by the holy fire of God. I see pockets of revival happening all over the globe, first in many localities but then growing and merging with one another. I see this spreading like wildfire, consuming all in its path. This global revival is what God has called me to. And He has called my wife to the same thing as well, which is why we are now both laboring tirelessly toward such an end.
My wife Esther is an amazingly gifted pianist, able to play the most difficult of classical pieces as well as lead people in Spirit-filled worship. Together, we seek to travel the world and host revival meetings in as many countries as will open to us. We seek to reach out primarily to the churches, to the people of God. For revival always starts with the people of God. Only after the children of God are revived does the rest of the world get reborn into this family. An awakening of souls starts with the awakening of the church.
I am no idiot though. I know that persecution will come like a tidal wave with such a platform. That is why now that I have a wife, I cannot step into this as readily. After all, I have a responsibility to protect her and my future children as well. I fear not for my own safety, but I fear for hers more and for our relationship. Such a ministry brings much strain to marriages and we still have so much to learn in marriage without such strains.
I fear for her health. I do not want to unduly stress her out. And doing what I want to do is a very stressful endeavor. I fear for her comfort. I want to spoil her, to give her a good life (yes, even materially). But I know that we cannot be in ministry to make money. I also know that having many material possessions is not always good spiritually either (something that I myself am still learning).
Along with that fear, I fear that we would not have enough money to do this. Traveling costs a lot of money. Even just traveling within one country costs a lot of money. We have not thought of a sustainable way to do this yet, which forces us on our knees as we cry out to God for His always sufficient provision. This is no easy task and no relaxing task either. But it is one that ensures a prayer-filled life that’s for sure.
So why not just preach the gospel? Why go to seminary at all? Well, I am here at seminary to be further equipped. I am not naïve nor that arrogant. I dare not presume that I have the ability to serve God in such a capacity without first being trained by older, godlier man. There is much in their wisdom that I lack in my youthful passion. There is also much that we can glean from official Christian centers of higher education that we should not carelessly discard. Yes the Spirit of God has in the past and will in the future use untrained people on fire for Him. But training is very seldom bad.
As I examine my own life now, the passion is still there and it is not going anywhere. Ever since God rescued me from Hell eleven years ago, I have not stopped running hard after Him and I do not intend on stopping now. I will fight the good fight (1 Tim 6:12) and I will finish the race (Acts 20:24). I could not do anything but think about God and preach His gospel a few years ago, which is what brought me to seminary. That remains true today. I pray that this will always be true in my life. I pray that this fire shut up in my bones will spread. I pray that if there be any sinful desire in my vision, God would uproot it. I pray that above all, I would never stop kneeling before Christ at the feet of His cross.
So Lord, here am I, mold me, send me, take me, use me… for the reviving of all nations.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Betrothal Vows
We had written a special set of vows just for this occasion and I would like to share them here. On the wedding, which is happening this Saturday, we will be sharing completely different vows. So these vows here are uniquely betrothal-like.
First, my vows:
Esther Shin, world-renowned pianist and incredible vocalist. On August 28 of last year, when you sat down at my table at the commons, I did not expect you to be someone who was so talented, nor did I expect you to be so funny, caring, and sweet. I also did not expect your uncanny ability to bump into random objects and even people. Your skill at turning everything into a Korean drama is also quite surprising. With you, there’s no longer a need to watch TV anymore, life is exciting enough as it is. Lastly, I definitely did not expect to fall so madly in love with you and to be married to you.
But here we are, standing in front of each other at a church with a whole cloud of witnesses. I look back at all the things that we’ve been through together and I can say that God orchestrated all of it. I came to Moody Theological Seminary at this precise time because it was only at this time that you were ready for me. We have narrowly missed each other for all this time in these different countries, but finally God has brought us together.
“What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mark 10:9). I promise that I will not let anyone, anything, and least of all, I will not let myself be a cause for our separation. I know I can be less than ideal sometimes… often times… all the time… but I am learning and I am growing.
I am learning the importance of color matching and how sometimes the color is more important than usability. I am growing in my appreciation of the color purple. I am learning that you are always right. And I am growing in my ability to say that and actually mean it. That’s a slow process… I am learning how to be a man, to be someone worthy of the calling he has received. And I am growing in being someone worthy of you, for you are my calling in this life. I have been created to pursue and be with you. I am learning what it means for Christ to love the church, especially how deep that love is. And I am growing in the love of Christ, which in turn compels me to love you more.
Esther, I am deeply thankful for each moment that you bear with me and my self-righteous aroma. I am deeply thankful for the way that you have chosen to submit to me, a sinner. I am deeply thankful for all the meals that you have cooked for me, they’re truly delicious. Love really is the best secret ingredient.
Hoseas 2:19-20 says this, “And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.” I wish I could say that our betrothal is exactly like how Hosea puts it here and that your being betrothed to me will result in all these things. But you are not Israel and I am not God. Proper hermeneutics does not allow me to say that.
But I can say this, I promise to be with you for as long as we both shall live. I promise that by being with me, we will pursue all that is righteous, just, loving, and merciful. I will lead us to pursue the Lord of hosts, the king of majesty, we will pursue Jesus Christ our Lord and savior. And by so doing, I will lead us to all that Christ commanded us to do. As much as it depends on me, we will go to all nations and preach the gospel.
I promise also to be faithful to you, to never even so much as look at another woman with any impure thought. With you being so amazing and beautiful, this promise is easier to keep. And I promise to lead you more to Christ every day. Esther, I make these promises regardless of whether we are married. I make them to you now as your betrothed, soon as your husband. But in both cases, you are still the love of my life. I love you baby. And I can’t wait to finally be your husband.And here are Esther's vows:
Tony Chuang,
You are the man I have been praying for for the past 7 years. I have prayed for my future husband for years now, and I am so glad I finally met you! I am grateful to God for sending you to me, I am so grateful to be chosen to be yours and I am honored to be your ezer, your helper. I am excited that soon and very soon I will be your wife and you will be husband. I remember the very first time I saw you at the school commons/ cafeteria, when my heart raced and I had a very strong urge to talk to you. It was a very strong feeling that I now think is from God. I am so glad that I walked over to you, and am very grateful to our dear friend Walter who called me over to the table you were at. I remember when I first shared about my vision and my ministry, how your jaw just dropped. I remember that first week when we talked for hours and hours everytime we met, and how we both lost our voices. I remember when you first told me about your intentions towards me, how you said “ I find you very interesting” and told me later with nervous words how you wanted to pursue me. I was very very happy. I remember when I left for NY for a few days and asked what you wanted for a souvenir, you said, “I want you-ish.” I thought that was really cute. Before we entered this committed relationship I remember when I said I have so many fears, you gently asked me to share my fears with you because you wanted to work through them with me. You told me that you want to carry my fears and my baggage with me, saying, that is what guys are supposed to do, to carry heavy things for girls. I appreciate that you took the time to fast and pray about us before we entered our courtship. I also very much appreciate that you waited for my father’s permission to court me and also to ask for marriage. Thank you so much. I also appreciate that you tell me over and over how I am precious and amazing to you. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for making me so happy. I cannot say enough of how I am so blessed to have met you and to become your wife.
Thank you for being so sweet and tender to me, for treating me like queen, and loving me so much. I know as a fact that there hasn’t been and will never be any other man who will love me the way you love me. You always tell me that you will love me not only with words but with actions and will show your love and prove to me for the rest of my life. You always tell me and show me with your actions that I am your priority. Thank you for always sacrificing so much for me. I also vow to love you, to sacrifice for you, and make you my priority. I will trust you for the rest of my life. Thank you for taking me and loving me for who I am, an imperfect person, still with many flaws and fears. At those times when I had fears and thought you deserve someone better than me, thank you for telling me that you believe that you were created for me, and there’s no one else for you, and that I have no other competition in this world. Thank you for telling me that someone else was never in the picture. So I will become that better person for you, the wonderful wife you deserve to have.
I also believe that God created you for me, and me for you. You are perfect for me in every single way; I love your passion for God, the same vision and heart we have for the nations, your sweetness and gentleness, your patience towards me, your understanding and love for me, your work ethics, your high intelligence, your appreciation of classical music, your compassionate heart, your heart towards evangelism, and even the fact that you get so cold just like I do; It makes me be in awe thinking that every detail of you is perfect for me.I love this woman so much.
Honey, I love you so much. I vow to love you for the rest of my life, to be faithful to you, and to be with you in every season of life. I have promised from the day I met you to never run away from you, and I will keep that promise for the rest of my life. Even at times that will be so difficult, I will never run away from you, but always run towards God and towards you. I will respect, honor and submit to you as my leader, and I look forward to spend the rest of my life with you, glorifying God and worshiping God together, as one. I am yours and yours only.
Come to our wedding on Feb 1st, 2014 in Toronto. Visit our website at walkwithchrist.wix.com/tonyandesther
Friday, November 22, 2013
To Beat Cancer
This is Jacqueline Li. She had a wonderful story.
We went to the same church in Toronto (Harvest Bible Chapel - York Region), grew in the same small group, ate sushi together, and were pretty good friends.
She has been fighting cancer for the past few years. Late last night, she died... She is with the Lord in Heaven now... :( She was about 23.
I want you to know that she redefined what it means to beat cancer for me. So often we think that beating cancer means that we beat the odds and live through it. But she showed everyone that it means something else.
Though we have shed many tears together, though her pain was seemingly constant through it all, though everything seemed hopeless... her hope was truly inspiring, her strength edifying, and her joy infectious.
To all reading this, I want you to know that to beat cancer is to find hope in Heaven, to find strength in Christ, and to find joy in God's presence.
This is Jacqueline Li. She beat cancer.
We went to the same church in Toronto (Harvest Bible Chapel - York Region), grew in the same small group, ate sushi together, and were pretty good friends.
She has been fighting cancer for the past few years. Late last night, she died... She is with the Lord in Heaven now... :( She was about 23.
I want you to know that she redefined what it means to beat cancer for me. So often we think that beating cancer means that we beat the odds and live through it. But she showed everyone that it means something else.
Though we have shed many tears together, though her pain was seemingly constant through it all, though everything seemed hopeless... her hope was truly inspiring, her strength edifying, and her joy infectious.
To all reading this, I want you to know that to beat cancer is to find hope in Heaven, to find strength in Christ, and to find joy in God's presence.
This is Jacqueline Li. She beat cancer.
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| http://vimeo.com/78500266 |
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
I Have Loved You
"'I have loved you,' says the LORD. But you say, 'How have you loved us?'" - Malachi 1:2
"I have loved you," says the Creator of the universe.
Did you know that God loves you? Did you know that He cares about you? Did you know that He has not abandoned you? Nor has He turned away from the death that so engulfs our world today from Syria to Kenya to Pakistan.
"I have loved you," says Jesus Christ on the cross.
Did you know that He wants you? Did you know that He put Himself through excruciating torture for you? Did you know He has died for you?
"I have loved you..."
Christian, please don't forget this love. Non-Christians, please don't doubt this love as the people in Malachi's days did. Do you want to be loved? That's what it means to be Christian. Repent and believe in Jesus Christ. You won't just receive forgiveness. You'll also receive love, wonderful, amazing love.
"I have loved you," says the Creator of the universe.
Did you know that God loves you? Did you know that He cares about you? Did you know that He has not abandoned you? Nor has He turned away from the death that so engulfs our world today from Syria to Kenya to Pakistan.
"I have loved you," says Jesus Christ on the cross.
Did you know that He wants you? Did you know that He put Himself through excruciating torture for you? Did you know He has died for you?
"I have loved you..."
Christian, please don't forget this love. Non-Christians, please don't doubt this love as the people in Malachi's days did. Do you want to be loved? That's what it means to be Christian. Repent and believe in Jesus Christ. You won't just receive forgiveness. You'll also receive love, wonderful, amazing love.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Meditations on Vision
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| Photo by helgabj |
Vision.
To think, plan, and imagine a future. To know the possibilities and to act upon it. To see it so vividly that it feels like one can reach out with one's hands and simply grasp it...
Vision.
To see a world so lost that it hurts. To feel the traumatizing pain that is killing billions of people across the planet. To weep because they are dying. To weep because no one else seems to care.
Vision.
To see my own sin so clearly that I feel repugnant of myself. To hate it and to mortify. To scream out Romans 7:24. To feel utterly broken...
Vision.
To understand what it takes to change all of this. To calculate the steps. To count the costs (cf. Luke 14). To embrace suffering. To deny oneself. To be restored by the cross.
Vision.
To have no pride. To see only that one thing. To want only that one thing. To have only that one thing... Christ in me, the hope of glory (cf. Col 1:27).
The fruition of a vision is not measured by money or influence or ministry success or planting a church! Its fruition is measured by seeing a smile from God Himself and hearing on that day, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt 25:23). Yes, that is enough.
Lord, grant me vision. Let Your smile be the only thing I want to see, Your embrace the only thing I want to feel, Your presence the only thing I want to know. Amen.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Good News Week - A Summary
Hey guys! Let me share some good news with you!
I am here at Moody Theological Seminary! I'm actually here! Sitting in my room on campus, I realized that it has only been a week since school started. Since then, God has done so much. In fact, I prayed very specifically that God would give me a piece of good news each day that I can share with you all. God answered.
Some of you may not know this, but US immigration and I don't really get along. We haven't for the past 5 years since they kicked me out. In fact, at the border two weeks ago, I was almost refused entry. I don't blame them though, it's my fault. But still, the very fact that I am in the US is by God's grace and really a miracle. For those more legally inclined, have you ever heard of someone entering the US without an I-20? Ya, I did that.
I have also started learning both Greek and Hebrew in an official capacity, thoroughly enjoying the lessons. I look forward to every class I attend, bathing in the knowledge and wisdom of my professors, men of God from whom I can learn much. I've been encouraged and inspired by my peers, men and women with a vision for what God can do in our lives. I got a free number, countless new friends, and even a job I didn't ask for! God has really given me something exciting to share each and every day.
See, Facebook, blogs, or any kind of social media is ideal for sharing good news. We do it all the time when we use instagram or write status updates. I had plenty this week. But every single day, I actually had better news to share. I have something that I want more than anything (cf. Psalm 73:25), a piece of news that allows me to get up in the morning (cf. Lam 3:22-23), a hope that both drives and sustains me (cf. Psalm 119:116)...
This my friends is the best news of all: That there is a God. And this God has revealed Himself in the Bible and in the person Jesus Christ. Compared to knowing God, me getting a job means nothing. Compared to receiving His love, me making friends amounts to nothing. Compared to feeling the intimacy and warmth of His embrace... I want nothing else.
God is worth more than my job, my education, my home, my hopes, my dreams, my plans, and yes, even my life... I now know more than ever what my purpose in life is, to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19), to proclaim the gospel wherever I go (Mark 16:15), to preach as long as there is breath in me, to cry out every day, "Here I am! Send me" (Isa 6:8).
Christian, don't you dare waste your life on trivial things and petty games. Live for God! This was the best decision I made in my life and the best news that I've been told: that I need only repent and believe in order to be a son of God. If you haven't done that yet, you need to. Right now. I have and I've never looked back since.
I am here at Moody Theological Seminary! I'm actually here! Sitting in my room on campus, I realized that it has only been a week since school started. Since then, God has done so much. In fact, I prayed very specifically that God would give me a piece of good news each day that I can share with you all. God answered.
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| The Moody Campus |
Some of you may not know this, but US immigration and I don't really get along. We haven't for the past 5 years since they kicked me out. In fact, at the border two weeks ago, I was almost refused entry. I don't blame them though, it's my fault. But still, the very fact that I am in the US is by God's grace and really a miracle. For those more legally inclined, have you ever heard of someone entering the US without an I-20? Ya, I did that.
I have also started learning both Greek and Hebrew in an official capacity, thoroughly enjoying the lessons. I look forward to every class I attend, bathing in the knowledge and wisdom of my professors, men of God from whom I can learn much. I've been encouraged and inspired by my peers, men and women with a vision for what God can do in our lives. I got a free number, countless new friends, and even a job I didn't ask for! God has really given me something exciting to share each and every day.
See, Facebook, blogs, or any kind of social media is ideal for sharing good news. We do it all the time when we use instagram or write status updates. I had plenty this week. But every single day, I actually had better news to share. I have something that I want more than anything (cf. Psalm 73:25), a piece of news that allows me to get up in the morning (cf. Lam 3:22-23), a hope that both drives and sustains me (cf. Psalm 119:116)...
This my friends is the best news of all: That there is a God. And this God has revealed Himself in the Bible and in the person Jesus Christ. Compared to knowing God, me getting a job means nothing. Compared to receiving His love, me making friends amounts to nothing. Compared to feeling the intimacy and warmth of His embrace... I want nothing else.
God is worth more than my job, my education, my home, my hopes, my dreams, my plans, and yes, even my life... I now know more than ever what my purpose in life is, to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19), to proclaim the gospel wherever I go (Mark 16:15), to preach as long as there is breath in me, to cry out every day, "Here I am! Send me" (Isa 6:8).
Christian, don't you dare waste your life on trivial things and petty games. Live for God! This was the best decision I made in my life and the best news that I've been told: that I need only repent and believe in order to be a son of God. If you haven't done that yet, you need to. Right now. I have and I've never looked back since.
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