Well a whole summer has passed since I last posted, so I'm not sure if anyone reads this anymore. If you are looking for up to date information and important discussions on topics like "what's on John's mind right now" (that's a joke) I regularly post low-thought updates on my facebook page. But I am am going to make a quasi-valiant effort to get back to posting on this site.
I am attempting to post a series of theological reflections. I have no idea how long this series will last. The subject matter (God) is infinite and therefore the limiting factors will be not the lack of things to ponder but my ability or lack thereof to ponder them coupled with my lack of discipline.
I ask you to please challenge me and interact with what I post as much as possible. Hopefully this will be a fruitful journey for us all.
The idea for this series comes from my realization that I feel like systematic theology is one of the weakest areas of my life. There are probably many reasons for this but here are a few I could think of:
1. All systematic theologies have an inherent bias in them. The Bible is not a systematic theology book. Systematic theology requires the filter of a human mind and therefore can and most likely will have fallibilities in them. Wading through the muck of the author's presuppositions can often be daunting.
2. There is a strong temptation when studying theology to make it only academic. Every fiber of my being loathes studying just for studying's sake (although I too often fall into that trap). For that reason I have tended to deemphasize systematic theology. I remember being frustrated in seminary when the practical things I was experiencing in inner city ministry didn't seem to find a place in the systematic theology syllabus we were being taught. Part of that I believe was the personal bias' and perspectives of the professors who were not concerned/exposed to the issues of the inner city. Most of it was my failure to convert orthodoxy into orthopraxy.
3. I love expository preaching/studying. I have strong convictions that the expository method is the best and most faithful way to understand and explain the Word of God. Systematic theology done bad has all of the pitfalls of a bad topical sermon, namely taking verses out of context and eisegesis.
4. The Bible is not a systematic theology textbook, and I really like the Bible.
5. Systematic thinking is very much a western concept. Does that make it necessary for understanding and living out the truth of Scripture?
6. Good systematic theology books are huge and I am a lazy, slow reader.
7. I prefer reading narratives to didactic writing.
Well that's it for now
Next up: What I like about systematic theology and why I think it is essential
Shalom in Jesus
jrf
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
spiritual and physical needs
I recently got the following email:
Hello,
My name is XXXXXX, and I am a student at the Master's College in Dr. Tatlock's Urban Ministry Class. A project for the class involves studying an ethnic group within an LA enclave, and I have chosen Latinos and Hispanics in Pico Union. I was wondering if you could describe the spiritual and physical needs of the people 1st EV Free ministers to, and how the church has been working to meet these needs. Thanks so much for your time!
I thought I would post my response as it might give a little picture about what we do:
XXXXXXX,
my apologies for not getting back to you sooner. I have been out of town for the last week and was not able to get to your email. I hope it isn't too late.
I'll give you the short answer for now and if you want more info I'll be glad to respond more promptly.
Spiritual need: Well, the spiritual need of the people here is the same as that of all people - They are sinners who need to be reconciled to God. Obviously there is something supernatural that needs to happen in the life of a person for them to come to Christ, but God uses His people to proclaim the message and be midwives in the new birth, helping those seeking the truth to understand it, surrender to it, and live it. So some specific obstacles that need to be overcome when sharing the Gospel with those in our neighborhood are:
1. There is a distrust of outsiders, especially caucasians. Obviously this does not go for everyone but is the norm. This comes from a multitude of sources, including racism, oppression, classism, differing education levels, different languages, catholic vs. protestant issues, jealousy, and misinformation. When someone automatically does not trust you, they will not listen to the Gospel you have to share with them. It is important that Christians find ways to incarnationally live out the Gospel as they try to share it effectively in inner city Latino communities.
2. The culture of the city is one that is very spiritual, but very Godless. Therefore definitions of words should not be taken for granted. For example, we would define sin Bibilically as something which is outside of God's will, or missing God's mark. But to an unbeliever in the city, sin would be defined as anything that hurts someone else. As long as it doesnt hurt anybody, it is not sinful or evil. Thus, they have divorced the idea from any recognition of God and His Holiness. Tolerance is God. Everyone has their own ideas of what spirituality is, and in our neighborhood it is a strange mix of Catholicism, witchcraft, and MTV.
3. The Family, specifically fathers. Our cities will never be what they should until our neighborhoods will be what they should, and they will never be what they should until the churches in those neighborhoods are what they should be, and our churches will never be what they should be until the families in those churches are what they should be and they will never be what they should be until the fathers in those families are what they should be. (Sorry for the run-on sentence, I am preaching on this subject this week and get very passionate about it). In the youth group I oversee, 95% of the youth have only a mom at home. this has taken a huge toll on our community and the youth's understanding of family, responsibility, love...etc.
Some of the ways our church tries to meet these spiritual needs is by:
1. earning trust and introducing them to the love of Christ through meeting physical needs (job opportunities, providing education, helping with groceries, being advocates in legal and health issues, fighting for justice and those who have no voice in our political system, and having a ministry of presence, ie we live amongst them and are available to struggle through the myriad of trials they daily face with them). The Nehemiah House is a major tool in this aspect of our ministry
2. Placing an importance on the Word of God. We have to fight a battle of redeeming the culture of the city and the way to do that is by confronting and teaching people with the Word of God. In the word of Paul "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Co 10:4-5). We do this through providing Bible studies, services, and small groups in the heart language of the people. We make every effort to make the Word of God accessible to everyone, whether that means providing a ministry in their own language, or providing audio to the many who are illiterate in our community.
3. We are working on this one. We have a men's group, and we do MAN Camp for the youth, where we take them out of the city and do manly things and study what Scripture says about being a man of God. We try to emphasize the family in everything we do. Stressing the importance of the Father in the family is sometimes a source of contention as in most Latino communities, the mother is the center of the family. To be honest we have a lot of work to do in this area of our ministry...any ideas?
so I dont know if that was helpful or not. Let me know if you have any other questions. Of course the best way to learn would be to come down and spend a weekend with us and see what we do. You could come down on Friday for our youth group and stay till Sunday at the Nehemiah house. Let me know if you are interested.
Hope your paper goes well and you can apply it for the Glory of God outside of the classroom.
Hello,
My name is XXXXXX, and I am a student at the Master's College in Dr. Tatlock's Urban Ministry Class. A project for the class involves studying an ethnic group within an LA enclave, and I have chosen Latinos and Hispanics in Pico Union. I was wondering if you could describe the spiritual and physical needs of the people 1st EV Free ministers to, and how the church has been working to meet these needs. Thanks so much for your time!
I thought I would post my response as it might give a little picture about what we do:
XXXXXXX,
my apologies for not getting back to you sooner. I have been out of town for the last week and was not able to get to your email. I hope it isn't too late.
I'll give you the short answer for now and if you want more info I'll be glad to respond more promptly.
Spiritual need: Well, the spiritual need of the people here is the same as that of all people - They are sinners who need to be reconciled to God. Obviously there is something supernatural that needs to happen in the life of a person for them to come to Christ, but God uses His people to proclaim the message and be midwives in the new birth, helping those seeking the truth to understand it, surrender to it, and live it. So some specific obstacles that need to be overcome when sharing the Gospel with those in our neighborhood are:
1. There is a distrust of outsiders, especially caucasians. Obviously this does not go for everyone but is the norm. This comes from a multitude of sources, including racism, oppression, classism, differing education levels, different languages, catholic vs. protestant issues, jealousy, and misinformation. When someone automatically does not trust you, they will not listen to the Gospel you have to share with them. It is important that Christians find ways to incarnationally live out the Gospel as they try to share it effectively in inner city Latino communities.
2. The culture of the city is one that is very spiritual, but very Godless. Therefore definitions of words should not be taken for granted. For example, we would define sin Bibilically as something which is outside of God's will, or missing God's mark. But to an unbeliever in the city, sin would be defined as anything that hurts someone else. As long as it doesnt hurt anybody, it is not sinful or evil. Thus, they have divorced the idea from any recognition of God and His Holiness. Tolerance is God. Everyone has their own ideas of what spirituality is, and in our neighborhood it is a strange mix of Catholicism, witchcraft, and MTV.
3. The Family, specifically fathers. Our cities will never be what they should until our neighborhoods will be what they should, and they will never be what they should until the churches in those neighborhoods are what they should be, and our churches will never be what they should be until the families in those churches are what they should be and they will never be what they should be until the fathers in those families are what they should be. (Sorry for the run-on sentence, I am preaching on this subject this week and get very passionate about it). In the youth group I oversee, 95% of the youth have only a mom at home. this has taken a huge toll on our community and the youth's understanding of family, responsibility, love...etc.
Some of the ways our church tries to meet these spiritual needs is by:
1. earning trust and introducing them to the love of Christ through meeting physical needs (job opportunities, providing education, helping with groceries, being advocates in legal and health issues, fighting for justice and those who have no voice in our political system, and having a ministry of presence, ie we live amongst them and are available to struggle through the myriad of trials they daily face with them). The Nehemiah House is a major tool in this aspect of our ministry
2. Placing an importance on the Word of God. We have to fight a battle of redeeming the culture of the city and the way to do that is by confronting and teaching people with the Word of God. In the word of Paul "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Co 10:4-5). We do this through providing Bible studies, services, and small groups in the heart language of the people. We make every effort to make the Word of God accessible to everyone, whether that means providing a ministry in their own language, or providing audio to the many who are illiterate in our community.
3. We are working on this one. We have a men's group, and we do MAN Camp for the youth, where we take them out of the city and do manly things and study what Scripture says about being a man of God. We try to emphasize the family in everything we do. Stressing the importance of the Father in the family is sometimes a source of contention as in most Latino communities, the mother is the center of the family. To be honest we have a lot of work to do in this area of our ministry...any ideas?
so I dont know if that was helpful or not. Let me know if you have any other questions. Of course the best way to learn would be to come down and spend a weekend with us and see what we do. You could come down on Friday for our youth group and stay till Sunday at the Nehemiah house. Let me know if you are interested.
Hope your paper goes well and you can apply it for the Glory of God outside of the classroom.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Nehemiah 8-9
I had the privilege to preach for the English Congregation this Sunday. Below for your reading and Bible study enjoyment is the outline of my sermon on Nehemiah 8-9.
IV. Prerequisites for Understanding the Word of God
1. Hunger for it
2. Put yourself in a postion to receive and respond to it
3. Work at it until it’s meaning is made clear
V. 7 Necessary and Inevitable Responses to Understanding the Word of God
1. Understanding the Word of God must devastate you (8:9)
2. Understanding the Word of God must cause you to celebrate (8:10-12)
3. Understanding the Word of God must create compassionate fellowship (8:10-12)
4. Understanding the Word of God must produce obedience (8:13-17)
5. Understanding the Word of God must realign your religious traditions (8:17-18)
6. Understanding the Word of God must move you to confess your sins (9:1-4)
7. Understanding the Word of God must bring about a renewal of Covenant Faithfulness (9:5-38)
FINISH THE PRAYER! PUT YOUR HISTORY IN THERE! CONFESS THE WAYS YOU HAVE TURNED YOUR BACK ON GOD, AND REMEMBER THE WAYS THAT HE HAS DRAWN YOU BACK TO HIM!
NO GREATER EXPRESSION OF GOD’S LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS AND INEXHAUSTIBLE GRACE THAN THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST!
Take this time to respond to God’s Word. Hopefully God has made some things clear to you this morning. This is an opportunity to express to Him in writing how His word has Devastated you, Given you Joy, inspired you to seek and maintain compassionate fellowship, how it has produced in you a desire to live a life of radical obedience (get specific), caused you to rethink and reflect on your religious traditions, how it has moved you to confess your sins, and how the inexhaustible Love and Grace of God has given you a foundation by which you can renew your promises of faithfulness to Him.
IV. Prerequisites for Understanding the Word of God
1. Hunger for it
2. Put yourself in a postion to receive and respond to it
3. Work at it until it’s meaning is made clear
V. 7 Necessary and Inevitable Responses to Understanding the Word of God
1. Understanding the Word of God must devastate you (8:9)
2. Understanding the Word of God must cause you to celebrate (8:10-12)
3. Understanding the Word of God must create compassionate fellowship (8:10-12)
4. Understanding the Word of God must produce obedience (8:13-17)
5. Understanding the Word of God must realign your religious traditions (8:17-18)
6. Understanding the Word of God must move you to confess your sins (9:1-4)
7. Understanding the Word of God must bring about a renewal of Covenant Faithfulness (9:5-38)
FINISH THE PRAYER! PUT YOUR HISTORY IN THERE! CONFESS THE WAYS YOU HAVE TURNED YOUR BACK ON GOD, AND REMEMBER THE WAYS THAT HE HAS DRAWN YOU BACK TO HIM!
NO GREATER EXPRESSION OF GOD’S LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS AND INEXHAUSTIBLE GRACE THAN THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST!
Take this time to respond to God’s Word. Hopefully God has made some things clear to you this morning. This is an opportunity to express to Him in writing how His word has Devastated you, Given you Joy, inspired you to seek and maintain compassionate fellowship, how it has produced in you a desire to live a life of radical obedience (get specific), caused you to rethink and reflect on your religious traditions, how it has moved you to confess your sins, and how the inexhaustible Love and Grace of God has given you a foundation by which you can renew your promises of faithfulness to Him.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
On Skid Row
I want to point your attention to a documentary series on YouTube called "On Skid Row". We are showing this 5 part documentary to our youth, challenging them to think about what it means to be believers in Christ when Skid Row is only a few blocks away. I would put the same question to all of us, no matter how close you live to Skid Row. I would encourage you to watch the first segment and then follow the links to find the remaining four. It was not done by a believer, but is the best, and most up-to-date synopsis of the most concentrated area of desperation and depravity in our nation that I have seen. Keep in mind this documentary only scratches the surface. I could tell you stories that would make you sick, and my exposure to the area has been minimal.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Jesus and Psalm 90:14
I have been preparing for a sermon series in Youth Group called, "Portraits of Jesus". My goal is to present Jesus to the Youth the way the Bible does, which is not the way we normally think of Jesus. Too often we pick the things we like about Jesus and ignore the rest. Youth in the church grow up with a Jesus-lite and Youth outside the church get their ideas of Jesus from MTV or worse sources. My goal is to confront them with the real Jesus and see what happens. Should be fun.
A huge benefit of this series is that I get to spend all of my study time learning about my favorite person, Jesus Christ. Hopefully this time won't just be learing about Jesus through reading what other people think they know about Jesus but will also be a time where I can be taught about Jesus by Jesus Himself. When I get up to preach to the kids I don't want to just talk about the Jesus of history, or the Jesus of Billy Graham or Macarthur or Spurgeon....I want to talk about MY Jesus. The Jesus that I know personally. The Jesus that owns me. The Jesus that delights in me because of who His blood has made me to be. The Jesus that watches me sleep. The Jesus that rides my bike to church with me everyday. The real, living Jesus. To be honest I don't feel like I can talk about Jesus like that every day. But I want to.
In Psalm 90:14 Moses cries out that God would "satisfy us in the morning with His unfailing love." Since there is no greater expression of God's unfailing love than the person of Jesus Christ, another way of saying this could be, "God satisfy us with Yourself!" The idea of satisfaction is recieving something you want. something you are hungry for. If you are hungry for a steak, a pickle won't do the trick. I am not satisfied with Jesus, because I am not hungry for Him. So behind the prayer of Moses which I echo, is the prayer, "God, change my tastes. Help me not to settle for anything less than You! You are willing and able to satisfy me, if only I was hungry for You! Change my twisted desires. Complete Your promise to give me a new heart that craves only You! How I long for the day when there is no competition in my soul for the affections You deserve. I will never be truly satisfied unless I first hunger."
craving Jesus
jrf
A huge benefit of this series is that I get to spend all of my study time learning about my favorite person, Jesus Christ. Hopefully this time won't just be learing about Jesus through reading what other people think they know about Jesus but will also be a time where I can be taught about Jesus by Jesus Himself. When I get up to preach to the kids I don't want to just talk about the Jesus of history, or the Jesus of Billy Graham or Macarthur or Spurgeon....I want to talk about MY Jesus. The Jesus that I know personally. The Jesus that owns me. The Jesus that delights in me because of who His blood has made me to be. The Jesus that watches me sleep. The Jesus that rides my bike to church with me everyday. The real, living Jesus. To be honest I don't feel like I can talk about Jesus like that every day. But I want to.
In Psalm 90:14 Moses cries out that God would "satisfy us in the morning with His unfailing love." Since there is no greater expression of God's unfailing love than the person of Jesus Christ, another way of saying this could be, "God satisfy us with Yourself!" The idea of satisfaction is recieving something you want. something you are hungry for. If you are hungry for a steak, a pickle won't do the trick. I am not satisfied with Jesus, because I am not hungry for Him. So behind the prayer of Moses which I echo, is the prayer, "God, change my tastes. Help me not to settle for anything less than You! You are willing and able to satisfy me, if only I was hungry for You! Change my twisted desires. Complete Your promise to give me a new heart that craves only You! How I long for the day when there is no competition in my soul for the affections You deserve. I will never be truly satisfied unless I first hunger."
craving Jesus
jrf
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
The Amazing Leslie Woo
One of the joys of this summer was meeting Leslie Woo in Brooklyn, NY. He is a little boy around 10 years old who latched on to me while we taught VBS. He is definitely a trouble maker, and has virtually no social skills. His mother died when he was a baby and his father basically abandoned him, leaving his grandmother to raise him in her busy boarding house. For the first 8 years of his life virtually all human contact came in the form of television. The wonderful staff of the 2nd Evangelical Free Church of Brooklyn has taken on the challenge of loving and training Leslie. I was privileged to be a part of his life for a week and hope to continue having an input in his life over the years.
Here is a small taste of my man Leslie. I love how he say's "Mr. Big John"!
Here is a small taste of my man Leslie. I love how he say's "Mr. Big John"!
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Isaiah 25:8-9
Thursday, August 21 Sarah and I drove north from Seattle and entered Canada. After spending a few hours in downtown Vancouver we caught a ferry over to Vancouver Island and camped for a few days. Saturday morning Sarah told me that the night before she had had a dream in which she saw Joshua Ortiz walking down the street. Holding his hand was Jesus.* Sarah has vivid dreams almost nightly, so neither of us thought too much of it. On Monday, August 24 as we were driving south through the rain of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State, I dug out my phone from glove compartment. Finally being back in cell phone range, I began to check my messages.
"John, I'm calling to tell you that Joshua passed away this Saturday."
I pulled over next a marsh and sat outside and watched the Kingfishers and Herons fish in the rain while I tried to swallow what I had just heard. Josh, 17, who had been in youth group, who had played paintball with us at man camp, who I had tutored in english, math, and history, who I had picked up for youth group every Tuesday, my friend...was dead.
Yet as Sarah and I sat in the rain the same peace that I had experienced in the hospital room in Houston the last day I saw Josh seemed to come over us again. There were no words to be said just a heart of gratitude that Josh, who suffered so much rejection, abandonement, and physical pain in this world is now in arms of my precious Savior Jesus who by dying for, drawing to, preparing an eternal destiny for, and delivering Josh to heaven has loved and is loving Josh more than he could have ever known here on earth.
The last thing I said to Joshua is, "I love you and I will see you later." I still believe that. Joshua trusted in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to pay the deserved penalty for his sins. I made clear to Josh that must not just say these things now that he is sick and near to death without actually submitting his life to Christ as not only his Savior but also His Lord but truly believe and trust and acknowledge Christ's invasion and ownership of his soul, whether he lived another 80 years or 80 hours. I know as well as can be humanly known that Josh wanted more than anything to please his Jesus and that Jesus was pleased with Josh's dependence on Him.
It was an honor to know Josh as he passed through this temporal life and his eternal life will always be a reminder of why God has left me here on this earth for now.
In love with the One who is, did, enable, and is doing pure eternal Love
jrf
"John, I'm calling to tell you that Joshua passed away this Saturday."
I pulled over next a marsh and sat outside and watched the Kingfishers and Herons fish in the rain while I tried to swallow what I had just heard. Josh, 17, who had been in youth group, who had played paintball with us at man camp, who I had tutored in english, math, and history, who I had picked up for youth group every Tuesday, my friend...was dead.
Yet as Sarah and I sat in the rain the same peace that I had experienced in the hospital room in Houston the last day I saw Josh seemed to come over us again. There were no words to be said just a heart of gratitude that Josh, who suffered so much rejection, abandonement, and physical pain in this world is now in arms of my precious Savior Jesus who by dying for, drawing to, preparing an eternal destiny for, and delivering Josh to heaven has loved and is loving Josh more than he could have ever known here on earth.
The last thing I said to Joshua is, "I love you and I will see you later." I still believe that. Joshua trusted in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to pay the deserved penalty for his sins. I made clear to Josh that must not just say these things now that he is sick and near to death without actually submitting his life to Christ as not only his Savior but also His Lord but truly believe and trust and acknowledge Christ's invasion and ownership of his soul, whether he lived another 80 years or 80 hours. I know as well as can be humanly known that Josh wanted more than anything to please his Jesus and that Jesus was pleased with Josh's dependence on Him.
It was an honor to know Josh as he passed through this temporal life and his eternal life will always be a reminder of why God has left me here on this earth for now.
In love with the One who is, did, enable, and is doing pure eternal Love
jrf
Monday, August 11, 2008
Back from Houston
I returned from visiting Joshua Ortiz and his family in Houston a few days ago, but after getting a few hours of sleep headed north to San Fransisco to visit the in-laws. Tomorrow, Sarah and I continue our long-awaited road trip to Vancouver and back.
My time in Houston was good, all things considering. For those of you who know Josh or have been following his story on this blog, we thank you for your prayers.
His health is rapidly failing and unless God does a true miracle, which I believe He can, Josh probably has only a few more weeks with us. His organs are beginning to fail and the doctors have stopped treating him.
Please continue to lift Josh and his family (brother Alex, Grandma and adoptive mother, biological mother, and Aunt) up in your prayers, assured that God hears them and answers them according to his perfect and loving will.
While I will be processing and learning from this experience for the rest of my life, I want to record a few preliminary reflections here before the memory of my visit fades away. I apologize if they seem trite or make sense only to me.
- Josh asked me, "is it true that if I have played certain video games that are bad, I am going to hell?" What an honor and blessing it was to be able to clearly share the truth about the grace of God and that Christ's atoning work on the cross covers all of our sins, if we are willing to repent and trust in Him alone for salvation. Our salvation rests on what Jesus has done for us, not what we have done for Him. Jesus loves us not because of who we are or what we have done, but because of who He is and what He has done. Fundamental stuff but I was reminded of its power when explaining it to a person on the brink of eternity.
- To my shame, I was surprised at how even in this grave situation, I was unable to maintain the proper focus on things of an eternal nature.
- I prayed with Josh many times and each time, he began his prayers by praying for those around him, his doctors, his nurses, his family, his friends, often he didn't even pray for himself. I was floored by the Christ-given selflessness of this youth who by the world's standards has so much to complain about.
- It truly was a supernatural experience speaking to Josh about the reality of Heaven and seeing Jesus face to face. His entire countenance changed. As we talked of seeing our Savior a big smile came across his oxygen mask covered face and he began to cry. An incredible peace came over the room. I felt like I was in the presence of someone whose faith was already beginning to become sight.
Please join me in continuing to pray for Josh and his family.
My time in Houston was good, all things considering. For those of you who know Josh or have been following his story on this blog, we thank you for your prayers.
His health is rapidly failing and unless God does a true miracle, which I believe He can, Josh probably has only a few more weeks with us. His organs are beginning to fail and the doctors have stopped treating him.
Please continue to lift Josh and his family (brother Alex, Grandma and adoptive mother, biological mother, and Aunt) up in your prayers, assured that God hears them and answers them according to his perfect and loving will.
While I will be processing and learning from this experience for the rest of my life, I want to record a few preliminary reflections here before the memory of my visit fades away. I apologize if they seem trite or make sense only to me.
- Josh asked me, "is it true that if I have played certain video games that are bad, I am going to hell?" What an honor and blessing it was to be able to clearly share the truth about the grace of God and that Christ's atoning work on the cross covers all of our sins, if we are willing to repent and trust in Him alone for salvation. Our salvation rests on what Jesus has done for us, not what we have done for Him. Jesus loves us not because of who we are or what we have done, but because of who He is and what He has done. Fundamental stuff but I was reminded of its power when explaining it to a person on the brink of eternity.
- To my shame, I was surprised at how even in this grave situation, I was unable to maintain the proper focus on things of an eternal nature.
- I prayed with Josh many times and each time, he began his prayers by praying for those around him, his doctors, his nurses, his family, his friends, often he didn't even pray for himself. I was floored by the Christ-given selflessness of this youth who by the world's standards has so much to complain about.
- It truly was a supernatural experience speaking to Josh about the reality of Heaven and seeing Jesus face to face. His entire countenance changed. As we talked of seeing our Savior a big smile came across his oxygen mask covered face and he began to cry. An incredible peace came over the room. I felt like I was in the presence of someone whose faith was already beginning to become sight.
Please join me in continuing to pray for Josh and his family.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Back from NY
First let me apologize for the lack of posts while in NYC. I really only had time to put up pictures. (which can be seen on facebook here)
We returned back safely to LA on Sunday evening. Without going into too much detail, I will say that the trip was an amazing success! God worked in tangible and amazing ways both through our official ministry to the Chinese children and through the other events of the week. Many if not all of our youth had potentially life-changing experiences and tasted the glory and power of God in new ways.
Please join me in
- praising God for His faithfulness!
- lifting up the church in Brooklyn (2nd EV Free) and the children we were able to share the love of Christ with
- praying for our team, that they make the transition to "normal" life in a way that incorporates what they learned and experienced on this trip.
thank you for all your support and care!
We returned back safely to LA on Sunday evening. Without going into too much detail, I will say that the trip was an amazing success! God worked in tangible and amazing ways both through our official ministry to the Chinese children and through the other events of the week. Many if not all of our youth had potentially life-changing experiences and tasted the glory and power of God in new ways.
Please join me in
- praising God for His faithfulness!
- lifting up the church in Brooklyn (2nd EV Free) and the children we were able to share the love of Christ with
- praying for our team, that they make the transition to "normal" life in a way that incorporates what they learned and experienced on this trip.
thank you for all your support and care!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
New York Night
Last Friday Team New York, our church's first high school short term missions team, put on New York Night 08. The fundraiser included hot dogs, a short presentation about the trip, an art gallery full of student art, a raffle, and a stock exchange where patrons could invest in youth in exchange for having a postcard sent to them from NYC. The night was a smash success and we raised over $1000. Perhaps most exciting is seeing our church transition from being a church that recieves short term missions teams to one that sends them. We pray that this is the first of many.
The New York City trip will be from July 26-August 3. We will be working with the 2nd EV Free Church of Brooklyn. Our primary ministry will be running a VBS for the children of Chinese immigrants. Our group consists of 5 leaders (myself included) and 11 high schoolers. Please keep us in your prayers. If you would like to support us financially please let me know. The trip is $600 per person and so far we have raised about half of that.
by His grace
for His glory
The New York City trip will be from July 26-August 3. We will be working with the 2nd EV Free Church of Brooklyn. Our primary ministry will be running a VBS for the children of Chinese immigrants. Our group consists of 5 leaders (myself included) and 11 high schoolers. Please keep us in your prayers. If you would like to support us financially please let me know. The trip is $600 per person and so far we have raised about half of that.
by His grace
for His glory
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
νουθετÎω (Colossians 3:16)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:16-17)
As I was preparing for a Bible study on "How to respond to believers in sin" I was struck with something in these verses. Something that perhaps I knew but really hadn't understood clearly the implications of. In these verses, Paul is commanding, not suggesting, that the word of Christ (the Bible) permeates every aspect of the believers life in the Body of Christ. Some examples of this church life are then listed: teaching, admonishing, singing, hearts of thankfulness. Paul then sums it up by saying that "whatever you do" should be Christ centered.
What hit me is that in Paul's list of activities and attitudes that he assumes are a natural part of church life, admonishing is sandwiched right between teaching and singing. That seemed weird to me. I have been in the church my whole life. I have heard a lot of teaching. I have sung a lot of songs. But admonishing? Apart from the occasional pulpit pounding sermon, admonishing has not been a regular experience for me in the Body of Christ, either giving or receiving.
The word admonishment in Greek literally means "to counsel about avoidance or cessation of an improper course of conduct" (BDAG), in other words, confronting people in their sin and lovingly calling them to repent. I know that we most often see that kind of thing as the responsibility of the pastor to cover in his sermons (where, by the way he probably won't use names and confront any individuals directly) but if we really want to be faithful to Scripture we will realize that the command to admonish each other is binding on every believer. We must be confronting each other about our sin! Its not an option. Get your hands dirty at church. Some of us don't even know anybody well enough to know what they need admonishing about!
Perhaps that greatest realization that I had about this passage is that admonishing each other is and should be as natural a part of the Christian experience as teaching, preaching, and singing worship songs. In fact, in our Western church services where everything has to be compartmentalized and scheduled to the exact minute, we should have a "admonishment" time right between worship and the sermon. We tend to think that when confrontation of sin has to take place that it is a bad thing. Of course sin is bad. But that is why we need sanctification and it is clear from scripture that sanctification does not happen in a vacuum, it happens in the Body of Christ. What better place to be confronted about and confess and repent of our deepest, darkest, demons then in the midst of a community who has felt the same conviction of sin and tasted of the loving mercy of our Savior? What better way to love your brother or sister in Christ than to be willing to have a hard conversation about them and warn them of their wandering from God? God is calling you and me to be about confronting sin in the lives of His children. Let's be obedient to give and humble to receive admonishment.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Hope for those controlled by Hatred - A praise update
Last week I had the immense privilege of sharing the Gospel with a youth who had been involved with gangs and to watch God bring him to repentance and salvation. This young man had been trying to break ties with the gang he was in but was jumped by 10 other gang members, resulting in a dislocated shoulder, a few knocked out teeth, and a concussion. Ever since this happened this youth has been filled with thoughts of hatred and revenge. He told me, “If I see these people again and I have a gun, I will shoot them.” He knew it was the wrong thing to do but he felt like he had no other choice, his hatred had taken him over. I spoke to him about the transforming power of Jesus Christ and that Jesus didn’t want to just change or fix some things about him but he wanted to kill him and give him a new life. God wanted to nail his old, sinful, hate-controlled self up on the cross with Christ and give him a new life as a child of God. When I explained these things to him from Scripture, he said that was exactly what he wanted and needed. I told him to just express his heart to God and without any coaching from me, a tear-filled, contrite prayer with sentences like, “I know I need to change but I am helpless to change”, “I have sinned against you and need your forgiveness”, “please kill my old self and give me new life”, and “I trust you with my life now Jesus” poured out of this broken teenager. What a joy to be able to witness this miracle! Please pray that this youth will be protected from the temptations and dangers of his old life and will remain faithful in following Christ.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Hood Kids
Meme Webb, 19, grew up in a tough, lowincome neighborhood. Like many children, she was dragged to church in her early days but wondered what the church had to say to her generation—to whom God was acceptable but the church was considered out of touch. She writes:
Hood Kids
hood kids
but good kids
not bad kids
just misunderstood kids
watch mom shoot up
and dad shoot bullets
and combat the words
that scream that I'm useless
I'm not
just hot
and mad at dad who split
and mom who took him back
even though he split
her lip the third time
I watch from the sidelines
and grow full of hate
from parents' guidelines
and you, pastor
push me faster
to hate
taking our crumbs to fill
your already full plate
your frock is stained
you mock the name
of He who commissioned
cuz you're more concerned
with titles and pensions
than the mission to save me
don't forget the babies
don't be so lazy
cuz I need you greatly
it's not about parking spots
and who pays a lot
but who gives a lot
and who prays a lot
for me
the lost sheep
but nobody's looked for me
don't you know God made
the Good Book for me?
but I need direction
some protection
much affection
not rejection
I...NEED...YOU
man of God
woman of God
be of God
and keep your eyes peeled
for real
we're crying
and dying
but still trying
though momma ignores us
and daddy abuses us
I'm sure that God still
wants to use us
when momma doesn't hug us
and daddy slugs us
I'm confident that God
still loves us
cuz I'm a hood kid
but a good kid
not a bad kid
just misunderstood kid
and I need your help
before it's too late
and I walk the same path
that my parents made
look at us
behind the chain linked fence
pain wrenched kids
such tainted kids
who were struck
but never fainted kids
we live hellish lives
but can be saintly kids
if you just try TRY!
until then
we'll continue to die
continue to cry
the hood kids
that no one really cares about
it's so obvious that no one
really cares about 'em...
Hood Kids
hood kids
but good kids
not bad kids
just misunderstood kids
watch mom shoot up
and dad shoot bullets
and combat the words
that scream that I'm useless
I'm not
just hot
and mad at dad who split
and mom who took him back
even though he split
her lip the third time
I watch from the sidelines
and grow full of hate
from parents' guidelines
and you, pastor
push me faster
to hate
taking our crumbs to fill
your already full plate
your frock is stained
you mock the name
of He who commissioned
cuz you're more concerned
with titles and pensions
than the mission to save me
don't forget the babies
don't be so lazy
cuz I need you greatly
it's not about parking spots
and who pays a lot
but who gives a lot
and who prays a lot
for me
the lost sheep
but nobody's looked for me
don't you know God made
the Good Book for me?
but I need direction
some protection
much affection
not rejection
I...NEED...YOU
man of God
woman of God
be of God
and keep your eyes peeled
for real
we're crying
and dying
but still trying
though momma ignores us
and daddy abuses us
I'm sure that God still
wants to use us
when momma doesn't hug us
and daddy slugs us
I'm confident that God
still loves us
cuz I'm a hood kid
but a good kid
not a bad kid
just misunderstood kid
and I need your help
before it's too late
and I walk the same path
that my parents made
look at us
behind the chain linked fence
pain wrenched kids
such tainted kids
who were struck
but never fainted kids
we live hellish lives
but can be saintly kids
if you just try TRY!
until then
we'll continue to die
continue to cry
the hood kids
that no one really cares about
it's so obvious that no one
really cares about 'em...
Friday, February 29, 2008
Prayer Request - African Church Young Adult Retreat
My wife and I could use your prayers. Tommorrow we are speaking at a retreat for the African Church that meets in our church building. I am speaking for an hour and a half on sex, lust, and marriage and then for another hour and a half session my wife and I will be doing a Q and A, with Sarah answering questions from the women and me answering questions from the men. This a great yet humbling opportunity. Please pray that we represent God's truth in word and spirit and that the hope of His Gospel sets free those in bondage or deception concerning these issues!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Support Letter
Below is the support letter (minus the pictures) that Sarah and I have mailed out recently. It explains our heart for the ministry we are in, new opportunities coming up, and our need to raise support in order to keep ministering in this capacity. If you are interested in joining our support team send us a note and your address at Freibergjr@gmail.com.
Dear Friends and Family,
You have all been a part of our life in some meaningful way. It is our joy to share with you some of the new adventures God is taking us on.
What We’re all About:
Sarah and I (John) were married on July 22, 2007. We met each other while pursuing our passion, bringing Christ to the darkest parts of the earth. We were both attending the Master’s College and serving in the Nehemiah House, an internship house in the inner city of Los Angeles when we discovered that not only did we love serving Christ, we loved each other and wanted to serve Him together. Over the next few years of serving together in the youth ministry we knew that the Lord was calling both of us into full time ministry and that He was calling us to serve together as husband and wife.
Our ministry (or the ministry the Lord has graciously entrusted to us):
Since 2005 I (John) have been serving in the First Evangelical Free Church of Los Angeles as the High School Director. Our Youth Group consists of kids of church members as well as neighborhood kids who have received Christ through our outreaches. Some of the many responsibilities of being in this ministry include the normal youth group stuff: counseling, discipleship, staff development, running weekly meetings, preparing sermons, organizing trips and outreaches…etc. However, due to our inner city location there are many unique challenges to this ministry some of which include: poverty, generations of broken families, gang warfare, low education levels, language barriers, undocumented immigrants…etc.
Our Neighborhood: Pico Union
The following Wikkepedia entry gives a good overview of our neighborhood:
Pico Union is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Los Angeles… it is now primarily populated by first-generation Hispanic immigrants, particularly Mexicans, Guatemalans, Salvadorans, and Hondurans. Nearly 50% of the population is believed to be living in the United States illegally, but due to Los Angeles being designated a sanctuary city, many of the undocumented are allowed to freely live there. Most of the district lies within the infamous Rampart Division of the Los Angeles Police Department, and is plagued with high crime. Several transnational gangs, most notably the 18th Street Gang and Mara Salvatrucha ("MS-13"), were started in the neighborhood and maintain a strong presence. -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pico_Union
New Opportunities
Now that I have finished seminary, the church has asked me to become a full time associate pastor. My three areas of focus will be overseeing spiritual development (discipleship, Bible studies, and encouraging members to be consistent with their devotionals...etc), facilitating and hosting outreach groups from other churches/schools, and (the big one!) starting, organizing, overseeing, and running a new service geared for the younger generation in our church and neighborhood. This last task has been on our hearts for years and it is so exciting to be given the freedom and authority to pursue it. This service also has the potential to become a church plant in itself. These tasks are God-sized in scope and only through His strength, power, sovereignty, and grace will it become a reality, but we are overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunity and burning with excitement to start this new adventure.
Your Support
One of the challenges of inner city ministry is the lack of resources in the face of such great need. This challenge can be your opportunity. There are many ways that you can support our ministry in one of the darkest yet strategic cities in the world.
Prayer Support: God has promised and proven throughout time that He listens to the prayers of His faithful. Please consider battling alongside us through committing to praying for us and the Lord’s work in Los Angeles.
Ministry Support: There are many ways to use the gifts and resources God has given you to help further His work in the inner city. Organizing missions trips from your home church to our church, sponsoring a youth to go to summer camp, donating basketballs for a sports outreach, hosting meetings to create partnerships between inner city and suburban churches, helping run health clinics for children without health insurance…the sky is really the limit for possible ministry opportunities.
Financial Support: Due to our church’s inner city location and situation, they cannot afford to pay me. We are taking steps to provide salaries for staff members but at this point it is just not a reality. According to our budget, Sarah and I will need $2,500 a month for living and ministry expenses. (This does not cover any of Sarah’s medical school costs, we took out a loan for that). We are sure of our call to this ministry and trust that the Lord will make it possible, yet the means by which He will make it possible are yet to be seen. We do not know whether God will provide through the financial gifts of supporters like you or if He desires me to commit to less time at the church and work a secular job as well. It is obviously our desire that I would be able to devote all of my time and energy to the ministry and we believe that if that is God’s will He will make it possible. In the meantime, I continue working a night job at the Staples Center to meet our monthly quota. In short, if we are able to raise our goal of $2,500 a month through outside support I will be able to work full-time (and more!) at the church. We are very committed to this ministry and we will do whatever it takes to keep our commitment but your support would enhance, enable, and expand it greatly! Ultimately, we joyfully trust in God’s perfect plan and never-changing faithfulness in providing what is needed to respond to His call.
In Christ’s Love,
John and Sarah Freiberg
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:12-15)
“And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” (Hebrews 13:12-14)
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)
Dear Friends and Family,
You have all been a part of our life in some meaningful way. It is our joy to share with you some of the new adventures God is taking us on.
What We’re all About:
Sarah and I (John) were married on July 22, 2007. We met each other while pursuing our passion, bringing Christ to the darkest parts of the earth. We were both attending the Master’s College and serving in the Nehemiah House, an internship house in the inner city of Los Angeles when we discovered that not only did we love serving Christ, we loved each other and wanted to serve Him together. Over the next few years of serving together in the youth ministry we knew that the Lord was calling both of us into full time ministry and that He was calling us to serve together as husband and wife.
Our ministry (or the ministry the Lord has graciously entrusted to us):
Since 2005 I (John) have been serving in the First Evangelical Free Church of Los Angeles as the High School Director. Our Youth Group consists of kids of church members as well as neighborhood kids who have received Christ through our outreaches. Some of the many responsibilities of being in this ministry include the normal youth group stuff: counseling, discipleship, staff development, running weekly meetings, preparing sermons, organizing trips and outreaches…etc. However, due to our inner city location there are many unique challenges to this ministry some of which include: poverty, generations of broken families, gang warfare, low education levels, language barriers, undocumented immigrants…etc.
Our Neighborhood: Pico Union
The following Wikkepedia entry gives a good overview of our neighborhood:
Pico Union is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Los Angeles… it is now primarily populated by first-generation Hispanic immigrants, particularly Mexicans, Guatemalans, Salvadorans, and Hondurans. Nearly 50% of the population is believed to be living in the United States illegally, but due to Los Angeles being designated a sanctuary city, many of the undocumented are allowed to freely live there. Most of the district lies within the infamous Rampart Division of the Los Angeles Police Department, and is plagued with high crime. Several transnational gangs, most notably the 18th Street Gang and Mara Salvatrucha ("MS-13"), were started in the neighborhood and maintain a strong presence. -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pico_Union
New Opportunities
Now that I have finished seminary, the church has asked me to become a full time associate pastor. My three areas of focus will be overseeing spiritual development (discipleship, Bible studies, and encouraging members to be consistent with their devotionals...etc), facilitating and hosting outreach groups from other churches/schools, and (the big one!) starting, organizing, overseeing, and running a new service geared for the younger generation in our church and neighborhood. This last task has been on our hearts for years and it is so exciting to be given the freedom and authority to pursue it. This service also has the potential to become a church plant in itself. These tasks are God-sized in scope and only through His strength, power, sovereignty, and grace will it become a reality, but we are overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunity and burning with excitement to start this new adventure.
Your Support
One of the challenges of inner city ministry is the lack of resources in the face of such great need. This challenge can be your opportunity. There are many ways that you can support our ministry in one of the darkest yet strategic cities in the world.
Prayer Support: God has promised and proven throughout time that He listens to the prayers of His faithful. Please consider battling alongside us through committing to praying for us and the Lord’s work in Los Angeles.
Ministry Support: There are many ways to use the gifts and resources God has given you to help further His work in the inner city. Organizing missions trips from your home church to our church, sponsoring a youth to go to summer camp, donating basketballs for a sports outreach, hosting meetings to create partnerships between inner city and suburban churches, helping run health clinics for children without health insurance…the sky is really the limit for possible ministry opportunities.
Financial Support: Due to our church’s inner city location and situation, they cannot afford to pay me. We are taking steps to provide salaries for staff members but at this point it is just not a reality. According to our budget, Sarah and I will need $2,500 a month for living and ministry expenses. (This does not cover any of Sarah’s medical school costs, we took out a loan for that). We are sure of our call to this ministry and trust that the Lord will make it possible, yet the means by which He will make it possible are yet to be seen. We do not know whether God will provide through the financial gifts of supporters like you or if He desires me to commit to less time at the church and work a secular job as well. It is obviously our desire that I would be able to devote all of my time and energy to the ministry and we believe that if that is God’s will He will make it possible. In the meantime, I continue working a night job at the Staples Center to meet our monthly quota. In short, if we are able to raise our goal of $2,500 a month through outside support I will be able to work full-time (and more!) at the church. We are very committed to this ministry and we will do whatever it takes to keep our commitment but your support would enhance, enable, and expand it greatly! Ultimately, we joyfully trust in God’s perfect plan and never-changing faithfulness in providing what is needed to respond to His call.
In Christ’s Love,
John and Sarah Freiberg
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:12-15)
“And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” (Hebrews 13:12-14)
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)
Friday, February 15, 2008
Valentine's Banquet
Last Tuesday (Feb. 12) the high school youth group put on a Valentine's Banquet. This was both an outreach to the families of the youth and a fundraiser for a summer missions trip we hope to go on. We were hoping for 20-30 people but got over 130! This was of course a blessing but it definitely added to the craziness of the night and necessitated a couple emergency trips to the store to get more food. Despite the pandemoniom, the night was successful in the things that mattered.
The staff worked as a team, the youth stepped up and owned the night participating in everything from leading prayer and worship to waiting tables to fixing food, we raised over $400 and most importantly the Gospel was preached! My friend from college and seminary preached a short but excellent and potent message on having a cross-centered family that preaches and lives out the Gospel daily and Carlos Pizarro, assistant pastor for the Spanish Congregation, translated. Below are some pictures from the night. Enjoy and join with me in praising God for blessing the night!
The staff worked as a team, the youth stepped up and owned the night participating in everything from leading prayer and worship to waiting tables to fixing food, we raised over $400 and most importantly the Gospel was preached! My friend from college and seminary preached a short but excellent and potent message on having a cross-centered family that preaches and lives out the Gospel daily and Carlos Pizarro, assistant pastor for the Spanish Congregation, translated. Below are some pictures from the night. Enjoy and join with me in praising God for blessing the night!
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Church Website Now Up!
Our church has finally joined the digital age and our website is now up and running for your enjoyment. It is still under construction so check in periodically for new content. Here's the link: http://evfreela.com/
enjoy!
enjoy!
Monday, February 04, 2008
Snow Day!
This last Saturday we took the SAY Yes (our church's afterschool program) families up to Mount Pinos for a snow day. It was great to see the kids get out of the city and experience God's beautiful creation. For some it was their first time seeing snow! It was also great getting to make new memories with some of the families and staff. The day also gave me the opportunity to practice my snow photography with my new camera so enjoy!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Prayer Request
On Tuesday night one of mothers of the student leaders in our youth group was beaten by her drunk boyfriend. Since she does not have health insurance, she spent 16 hours in the waiting room of the LA County Hospital before she was treated for injuries to her face, including a broken nose. This is not the first time this has happened to this woman. Thankfully none of her 3 children were hurt.
Because this has happened before and because the boyfriend is connected with a local gang, the mother wants to get out of the neighborhood. Unfortunately she has no where to go and so is looking to stay at a shelter for battered women. There is also a possibility of the kids going into foster care. Obviously, our church would like to provide other alternatives to these scenarios but most of our church already lives in over crowded apartments that the social services would not allow this family to stay at. It would also be devastating to have to say goodbye to her children, who are a vital part of our youth ministries. So needless to say we need your prayers. Please pray that the mother would come to know Christ and his forgiveness and comfort, that her children (who are believers) will trust, find refuge in, and be protected by their heavenly Father and that our church, Christ's hands and feet in this neighborhood, can make responsible decisions that reflect God's heart for the widow, orphan, and abused.
on a personal note, this family is very close to Sarah and my's hearts and even as I write this my eyes are full of tears and my heart is full of pain and anger and desperation. I meet with the oldest son on a weekly basis and he has become like a little brother to me. To see them go through this pain is overwhelming. Please pray that I would see God's faithfulness even in this and that I would be able to point this family and others to that hope. Also please pray that I will have the ability to love even this boyfriend who I may see around the neighborhood (even in writing this request I feel the fires of anger against this man), yet still stand up for justice.
With hope in the Holy One
jrf
Because this has happened before and because the boyfriend is connected with a local gang, the mother wants to get out of the neighborhood. Unfortunately she has no where to go and so is looking to stay at a shelter for battered women. There is also a possibility of the kids going into foster care. Obviously, our church would like to provide other alternatives to these scenarios but most of our church already lives in over crowded apartments that the social services would not allow this family to stay at. It would also be devastating to have to say goodbye to her children, who are a vital part of our youth ministries. So needless to say we need your prayers. Please pray that the mother would come to know Christ and his forgiveness and comfort, that her children (who are believers) will trust, find refuge in, and be protected by their heavenly Father and that our church, Christ's hands and feet in this neighborhood, can make responsible decisions that reflect God's heart for the widow, orphan, and abused.
on a personal note, this family is very close to Sarah and my's hearts and even as I write this my eyes are full of tears and my heart is full of pain and anger and desperation. I meet with the oldest son on a weekly basis and he has become like a little brother to me. To see them go through this pain is overwhelming. Please pray that I would see God's faithfulness even in this and that I would be able to point this family and others to that hope. Also please pray that I will have the ability to love even this boyfriend who I may see around the neighborhood (even in writing this request I feel the fires of anger against this man), yet still stand up for justice.
With hope in the Holy One
jrf
Monday, December 31, 2007
Blessings and Trials...a look back at 2007
As with any year, month, or day, 2007 was a beautiful fusion of trials and blessings. Looking back now on the melange of pain and exhilaration, victory and failure, it is easy to see God's faithful constancy through every situation. During the trials I did not easily see this truth however, and often failed not only to remember that God was in control but that He was using these trials to break myself of myself and trust in Him. If I learned anything at all from this year I pray that it is the ability to believe and remember that God is faithful and good through all things.
I have a few goals for this post. For those of you who are interested and have supported our ministry with your prayers, I hope this provides you with a brief overview of what's been going on in our lives and the life of our church. I also hope that this post provides an outlet for me to reflect on the past years and hopefully grow in the process. Above all I pray that this post glorifies God and points you to Him.
Trials.
1. The Suicide of Jon Moore.
While this was a tragedy and trial much more for those closest to him, like his brother my pastor and Jon's children, Jon Moore was an integral part of our church family. He had been at our church since the seventies and had served as an elder for many years. More than that, he was one of the most outgoing and caring people I have ever met. While I do not know the details that led him to take his own life, I do know that he was on some pretty heavy medications and had not been himself for the months prior. While his suicide was a definite sin, and his vision of Christ and ability to persevere in His strength was obscured in his last months I believe that he did trust in Christ for his salvation and that I will see Jon again in heaven. I also know that the Gospel was powerfully proclaimed to over a thousand people at the various memorial services.
2. The Falling Away of Close Friends
This trial did not sting quite as sharp and suddenly, yet has proven to be more lingering and wearisome to my heart. 2007 saw the turning away of some close friends from Christ back to the bondage of the lusts of the world. Some denied Christ openly with their words, some denied Him with their lives. Few things are more painful than watching someone you love turn their backs on the One who truly loves them and chase (or slowly sink into) destruction. Yet as long as there is breath there is hope. In this I must also have faith that God will work His plan perfectly.
3. Sarah in Physician Assistant School
This is also a blessing but the fact that both Sarah and I were in full time school with me having a half hour both way commute and her having an hour both way commute each day definitely was stretching on our schedule and budget at times. God was gracious and we trust in Him to help us continue to manage our time and priorities.
Blessings
1. Watching God work in the lives of the Youth.
God has worked in a way more visible than I have ever seen Him work in the Youth Group. This yearI saw kids who live in homes where their mom's boyfriend continuously abuses them show a Christ-like love to their mom's abuser. I have seen the children of a prostitue share Christ publicly with an entire neighborhood. I have seen unchurched youth express a burning desire to know the Word of God and share it with others, with one youth even specifically feeling a burden to share the Gospel with the neighborhood drug dealers...and then do it! God is working powerfully in the youth and it is my eternal joy to be along for the ride.
2. Unity in our Church
God has also been working to bring more unity in our church family. As you may know, we have two congregations in our church - Spanish and English. At times in the past some in the congregations have clashed over everything from philosophy of ministry and doctrine to who gets to use the bathroom. This past year however, both congregations have made intentional steps to function as one body of Christ. In addition God has put us in situations that have forced and fostered true Christian community.
3. Finishing Seminary
Seminary was one of the most challenging things I have ever faced. Through it all God was overwhelmingly faithful to give me what I needed to get through (and sometimes no more). It will only be worth it if I can live out all of the treasure that I was privileged to learn.
4. Growing deeper in my relationship with Sarah
My wife is a deep cavern of untold riches. I am still interpreting the treasure map. What a blessed adventure!
5. Travels
As you know I love to travel and 2007 afforded a few more opportunities. Highlights were a month long road trip to Minnesota and back with Sarah, traveling to Minneapolis with my father to attend the Desiring God conference, a two night stay in a luxurious cabin (belonging to a friend of the church) at Big Bear, and a two night backpacking trip into the Ventana Wilderness with my wife and father-in-law.
While I could write for much longer recalling the ups and downs of last year, and remembering the constancy of God through it all, I believe that the above represents the major high and low points and provides a general overview of what we've been up to. I pray that you were encouraged and that you will trust with an ever-increasing confidence in the the God who is not us or like us but is for us, if we are in Christ.
Happy New Year
jrf
I have a few goals for this post. For those of you who are interested and have supported our ministry with your prayers, I hope this provides you with a brief overview of what's been going on in our lives and the life of our church. I also hope that this post provides an outlet for me to reflect on the past years and hopefully grow in the process. Above all I pray that this post glorifies God and points you to Him.
Trials.
1. The Suicide of Jon Moore.
While this was a tragedy and trial much more for those closest to him, like his brother my pastor and Jon's children, Jon Moore was an integral part of our church family. He had been at our church since the seventies and had served as an elder for many years. More than that, he was one of the most outgoing and caring people I have ever met. While I do not know the details that led him to take his own life, I do know that he was on some pretty heavy medications and had not been himself for the months prior. While his suicide was a definite sin, and his vision of Christ and ability to persevere in His strength was obscured in his last months I believe that he did trust in Christ for his salvation and that I will see Jon again in heaven. I also know that the Gospel was powerfully proclaimed to over a thousand people at the various memorial services.
2. The Falling Away of Close Friends
This trial did not sting quite as sharp and suddenly, yet has proven to be more lingering and wearisome to my heart. 2007 saw the turning away of some close friends from Christ back to the bondage of the lusts of the world. Some denied Christ openly with their words, some denied Him with their lives. Few things are more painful than watching someone you love turn their backs on the One who truly loves them and chase (or slowly sink into) destruction. Yet as long as there is breath there is hope. In this I must also have faith that God will work His plan perfectly.
3. Sarah in Physician Assistant School
This is also a blessing but the fact that both Sarah and I were in full time school with me having a half hour both way commute and her having an hour both way commute each day definitely was stretching on our schedule and budget at times. God was gracious and we trust in Him to help us continue to manage our time and priorities.
Blessings
1. Watching God work in the lives of the Youth.
God has worked in a way more visible than I have ever seen Him work in the Youth Group. This yearI saw kids who live in homes where their mom's boyfriend continuously abuses them show a Christ-like love to their mom's abuser. I have seen the children of a prostitue share Christ publicly with an entire neighborhood. I have seen unchurched youth express a burning desire to know the Word of God and share it with others, with one youth even specifically feeling a burden to share the Gospel with the neighborhood drug dealers...and then do it! God is working powerfully in the youth and it is my eternal joy to be along for the ride.
2. Unity in our Church
God has also been working to bring more unity in our church family. As you may know, we have two congregations in our church - Spanish and English. At times in the past some in the congregations have clashed over everything from philosophy of ministry and doctrine to who gets to use the bathroom. This past year however, both congregations have made intentional steps to function as one body of Christ. In addition God has put us in situations that have forced and fostered true Christian community.
3. Finishing Seminary
Seminary was one of the most challenging things I have ever faced. Through it all God was overwhelmingly faithful to give me what I needed to get through (and sometimes no more). It will only be worth it if I can live out all of the treasure that I was privileged to learn.
4. Growing deeper in my relationship with Sarah
My wife is a deep cavern of untold riches. I am still interpreting the treasure map. What a blessed adventure!
5. Travels
As you know I love to travel and 2007 afforded a few more opportunities. Highlights were a month long road trip to Minnesota and back with Sarah, traveling to Minneapolis with my father to attend the Desiring God conference, a two night stay in a luxurious cabin (belonging to a friend of the church) at Big Bear, and a two night backpacking trip into the Ventana Wilderness with my wife and father-in-law.
While I could write for much longer recalling the ups and downs of last year, and remembering the constancy of God through it all, I believe that the above represents the major high and low points and provides a general overview of what we've been up to. I pray that you were encouraged and that you will trust with an ever-increasing confidence in the the God who is not us or like us but is for us, if we are in Christ.
Happy New Year
jrf
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