GetTheWordOut's Xanga

MTC Christmas

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 22:32:52 GMT

The FOL-More Than Conquerors Christmas service was last night up at Dominguez Hills. God gave us a great rap up for the semester. The testimonies were deeply encouraging. I was really moved by the vulnerability and authenticity as the students and staff declared God's goodness this past semester. Joe Gevas preached the Word and did his first altar call. Seven people responded with commitments. A preacher emerges!

MTC introduced and welcomed Dave Choi, the new director of FOL Campus Ministries. It is a grace to have him join our team.

Kenny Kim, our homeboy from Chicago, took some great pics. Enjoy.

The Blog Turns One

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:01:14 GMT

In two weeks, we hit the one year anniversary of the blog. It has been really fun. I am rethinking the blog for this upcoming season of life. My time is pressed with FOL weekly worship, city outreach and a coupel of writing projects.

As I think about the future, I would like your help. What have you liked about the blog? What has proven helpful to you? What would you like more of?

Thanks for reading and commenting. I have enjoyed the blog connection big time. I will be offline for a couple of weeks.

Rudy Was A Quitter

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 01:57:36 GMT

We had a great time at the USC v Notre Dame game this weekend. The game atmosphere was electric. USC is a Bruins win away from the BCS title game. We are nearing historic levels success at USC. Rival games are no gimmes, but Pete and the gang can smell Glendale. (Plus they have a little something-something for Coach Dorrell and the downsides of negative recruiting ).

This was Daniel's, my eight-year old nephews first big game. He was jacked up, cheering his little old heart out. His best cheer was yelling for the defense to "GO", while Notre Dame was on the field. He then added, "...to sleep". (Insert crowd laughing at cute cheers.)

I was impressed with thousands singing, "Here come the Irish..." and doing push-ups in the crowd. Very cool.

My favorite sign at the game: "Rudy was a quitter!"

Here are some pictures from our day, including a picture with a Heisman Trophy winner.

Beat the Irish Pep Rally

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 00:46:45 GMT

I was up at USC today visiting a friend and checking out the Notre Dame pep rally. The Trojans brought in an Irish bag-piper. When he emerged from the crowd and started blowing, people began to boo. He then belted out an Irish-pipe rendition of "Fight On!" It was a classic moment.

It was nice to see Patrick Turner, wide receiver. He is a real nice young man and was very faithful in the Bible Study last year. I hope he has a big game tomorrow. Here are a couple of pics from the rally.

Beat the Irish!!

The Big Game

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 14:33:27 GMT

USC is in control of it's national title game destiny. What a crazy turn of events to put the ball in the Trojan's hands to reach the BCS title game. Is Texas kicking themselves or what?

Notre Dame v. USC this week. That's big. With USC playing for the BCS title game bid, it gets bigger. I think the Trojans are going to absolutely roll Charlie and Company. I picked Ohio State-USC at the beginning of the season. (I didn't think Oregon State would be a factor, but that is why they play them). The pick looks like it might materialize.

Good thing Charlie can't grow out the grass this year. Fight on!

Chicago

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 11:08:32 GMT

We are back from our trip to Chicago and Colorado. It was a study in contrasts: Chi-town and La Junta, Colorado. Big city. Rural. Seeing the Trump Plaza on the River out of one window and the neighbor's cow out of another. A full itinerary with ministry leaders and friends. Another itinerary open for hiking, birthdays and playing with seven children.

Here are seven highlights from Chicago:

Alex Gee It was great catching up with Alex and all of the great things God is doing in Fountain of Life, Madison. We particularly enjoyed celebrating the release of his new book. You can order a copy here.

Dave Choi He is a great Korean-brother who we met at the J-Gen conference in Taylor, IN. Dave hooked us up with tasty all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and a tour of Navy Pier. God is doing a moving work in Dave's heart for urban ministry and church planting. Very exciting!

Yun Choi We loved having Yun and his ministry team from Chicago serve with us during the summer. We met one of the missionaries, Temi, on the airplane to Chicago. (What are the odds she would be in the row behind us?) We enjoyed great fellowship with Yun, who fought traffic to roll us on time to O'Hare. What a servant!

Noel and Mary Anne Castellanos We enjoyed a wonderful meal on the Magnificent Mile with the Castellanos family. We ate at Gino's East off of Superior. The food, fellowship and walk along the mile was tremendous. It was 70 degrees. For a moment we thought we were down at Shoreline, Long Beach.

IVP Noel and I met with InterVarsity Press editors Cindy Bunch and Al Hsu. We are talking about a new writing project based on Luke's Gospel and the call for urban-suburban churches and ministries to meet in the middle for the good of the city. We will keep you updated.

Evangelism I had a blast meeting with Evangelical Covenant leaders for evangelism. We are rethinking and retooling the evangelism training curiculum for the denomination. The meetings were full of energy, passion and God's Spirit. I am honored to be associated with a group of leaders so committed to winning lost people to the local church! It was a special grace spending the afternoon with Soong-Chan Rah.

Joy This was the first time Joy has traveld east. She was excited to be on the plane and did very well. She is so delightful and melted hearts everywhere. She rocked her new hat from Target. She even left her mark at Gino's!

November Trip

Sun, 29 Oct 2006 02:06:12 GMT

Becky, Joy and I are off to Chicago. Joy has been making airplane signs and sounds all week. She is pumped. We love this city. We were engaged in the Hancock Tower so it brings back great memories. Plus, what is not to like about the food and the atmosphere?

I was invited to evangelism leadership meetings for the Evangelical Covenant denomination. We are thinking about mobilizing witness in the local church and how to equip evangelism leadership. It should be exciting. We also have meetings with IVP about some new projects and are nailing down some recruiting for FOL. I will share more later.

On the way home we will kicking back for a couple of days in La Junta, CO. Elizabeth Perry is one of Becky's college roommates and was in our wedding. She has a great family and we are excited for some quality down time. I will be back blogging next week. Payce!

Wednesday Witness: Old Friends, New Friends

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:09:07 GMT

Last week my friend Dave Palmer and I put it in the calendar to reach out to people in his apartment building. It was a great time and two observations emerged. First, it is an excellent grace to reach out to lost people with a dear and faithful friend. Dave is a passionate disciple, who is committed to winning lost people (like me back in 1992). It is so encouraging to go out with friends. Jesus surely knew what was up as he sent disciples out in twos.

Second, I am reminded that evangelism must be a part of our calendar. It rarely “just happens.” But the Spirit seems to move in special ways when we call on his name, by putting witness in the calendar! Putting it in the calendar prepared us spiritually and very practically opened us to God leading us to those he is drawing to faith.

God sent us to a sweet woman named Nancy. She operates the front desk of Dave's apartment building. She is Mexican woman who came to the United States when she was 11 years old. She is from a Catholic background but does not go to church or read the Bible. I introduced Jesus into the conversation by telling her that Dave had met Mother Teresa while he ministered in Kolkutta. (That one works every time!) She opened up and began to share her experiences with God, and her struggles.

Nancy is a single mom and has struggled in a mighty way with anxiety for her little daugther. She struggles with panic attacks. She is looking for help and I told her to join the club. We shared with her 1 Peter 5.7 and told her the really good news that Jesus is the Great Worker and invites us to put all of our heavy loads onto his cart. She was visibly moved as the Word landed on soft soil. Her disposition changed! She asked us more about Fountain of Life and even asked us for a flyer to our church. We told her about CROSSwalk, our children’s ministry, and served her by telling her we would love to help develop her daugther. She was bummed that we aren’t in weekly services yet. When we told her we meet at Hamilton Middle School, she even told us that she went to middle school there. How cool is that?

After our conversation ended, Dave and I went outside to pray. We thanked God for his obvioius grace in her life. We asked that she would know that God cares for her. We asked for relief from the anxiety. We prayed that the gospel would save her soul, and save her family.

And we thanked God for partnership and friendship in the gospel. Old friends making new friends is the heart of the gospel. Is there a better way for two friends to spend an afternoon together? May you and one of your friends experience that same joy this week!

Clothes That Fit

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 02:06:47 GMT

The third season of Project Runway finished Wednesday night. Becky and I still miss Chloe. We were hoping Michael would come up big in the Olympus Fashion Week, but we are glad for Jeffrey. He studded out when the chips were down.

In honor of the show’s season ending, I wanted to drop a post about men’s fashion.

In March, Tim and I traveled to Bangkok to learn from the Newsong work in Thailand. An unexpected learning was about fashion. My friend Dave took me to get a suit. I have never owned custom made clothing. (In Bangkok, the American dollar goes a long way). Having clothes that fit is a great discovery. It only took me 35 years. Here is hoping my next fashion breakthrough will come before 2041.

The Jacksons

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 03:12:14 GMT

This weekend is the wedding of Tim Jackson and Lindsay Pelloza.

Linsday has been a part of MTC for years. She had a prodigal daughter come home experience through our campus ministry and today is a legitmate disciple of Jesus. Tim comes from a great family of believers and puts in work for UPS. Tim and Lindsay are part of the FOL core group. They are great people, and make an even better couple. This gifted duo are both part of the FOL worship team. It's in the heritage. Lindsay's step-father wrote the song, "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High". What Christian hasn't experienced Jesus through that song at some point in their life?

I love this couple very much. My heart is full of joy for them and their big weekend. They are a great model to many of our young people in MTC. It is worth waiting for the right person.

Please pray that God will bless them with nothing less than his great presence on their wedding day!