I 1 2 know...

Back in the saddle

I am back early this morning to attneding church.  Back at Midway, there are at least 30 people who are neither college/career nor high school, who didn't go to the retreat.  And somehow I am compelled to check in with them.

Right now I am grabbing a Starbucks before stopping by the jail and register for my visit later too.

The logical risk taking of faith

I really enjoy the retreat’s devotional materials prepared by Khuong.  Even though he is not here (his daughter is a week old this Sunday), he truly blessed me with the devotion on Psalms 23.  Khuong look at the focus for today’s schedule at the retreat (on vocation) and reflect on the Psalm about how we deal with stress and anxiety, especially when it comes to our future/career.

Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

I still remember the impression this verse had in my life when I was a college student.  Often people seek after goodness and love.  But as a follower of the Lord, goodness and love will follow us.  If we understand this, it will help us risk more, because we trust in God more.

I have been thinking about faith in the last couple of days.  Taking risks are pretty much the action of faith.  But then there are stupid risks and blind faith we also observe much in life too.  What are the differences?  In our small group discussion last night, our speaker even clarified it more, “I am not telling you to quit your job.  But we need to risk more.”  Tony summed up well, “The difference between a wise risk and a foolish risk is that the former grounded in the words of God.”

I remember the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in which he stepped out to the cliff in order to cross the canyon.  It was a risk, a leap of faith, which based on his trust in the journal of his father.  Faith, is seemingly foolishness to outsiders, who do not possess the insider’s information.  Without the affirmation and guidance from the Words of God, a person might altruistically sell his possession and move to Africa to be a missionary and still remain a fool in his heart.

But once we know the Shepherd, hear his voice, and experience his love; then we can risk follow him, even through the valley of the shadow of death, and we still possess the calmness within.  Goodness and love will follow us, for we follow our trusted Shepherd.

Guidance from God...

My favorite activity at a camp/retreat is devotional.  Khuong prepared the devotional for us this morning from Prov.27 and these few verses spoke directly in my own situation:

23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,
and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk
to feed you and your family
and to nourish your servant girls.

It seems like I will need to face the true condition of the flocks and proceed to weed through the dead hay for a new season of new growth.  Sometimes I stuck in the old times and fail to work the presence.

Heading out to Camp Wrightwood

We came back from Seattle Tuesday.  I made a wise choice to come to work yesterday; they requested for some rush report and was right there to solve it.  We are heading out to Camp today and should be back to translate the service on Sunday.

Jenney has been working hard to feed 60 people at camp.

Tran's luggage lost for good.  Hoa's projector inside also lost with it.

Mid EMC08 Reflection

I am back in my room. It's hot over here since we landed. No AC in the dorm.  I am putting Timmy to sleep, and listening to Gary's message "All the Small Things" at Midway (Thanks to David who recorded it for me).

I am over the hump now.  I gave my talks, and now I can relax and just spent times with people.

What struck me is the harsh reality of the churches.  We talked to four young people, and three out of four are no longer attending the Vietnamese church on a regular basis.  Most churches couldn't stabilize their English Ministry.  Churches which has one are a handful.

But there are also lights of hope.  I met a young man who came to Connecticut from Vietnam as a student.  He ended up realizing the Gospel for the first time in his life and became a Christian despite the atheistic/scientific upbringing he got from his upbringing.  I also heard a testimony of a university student came from Florida.  He was a non Christian but came to the Conference seven years ago when it was held in Florida.  He ended up accepting Jesus and today he's thinking of enrolling in seminary to serve God in the future in the Vienamese churches.

I am also amazed at the commitment of the Midway and Orange CM teams.  They run a fullblown VBS program with rotating stations and props.  The on-the-job training program with Philly didn't work out too well, we have only one participant.  We also do our little things here and there to help.  Ti's leading ice-breakers.  Jenney do CM registration.  Jimmy and I hang out with people.

As I listened to Gary's message this morning at Midway, somehow I think he's talking to us over here.  Because what we serve over here seems to be very insignificant.  MS Thach taught us to just show up and be with the people.  All the small things are those that counts.

As for me, I will also need to work more on the small things.  Be faithful in my daily offices, my study, my prayer life.