A Samoan soldier died here this past Sunday. He was at a lake having picnic with his family. The irony of his death is that he had just returned from a fifteen month tour in Afghanistan and then dies on a peaceful lake. His wife said that she had just "let down her guard." She was constantly worried for him day and night and had prayed for his safety day and night when he was deployed. But when he got back, she thought her nightmare of constant worry was over.
By all accounts he was a strong swimmer. His brother said he was a fisherman back home and would dive under water for long amounts of time. They were baffled at how he could drown in eleven feet of water in a supposedly calm body of water with no currents. The only conclusion that I came to was that it was his time. He survived fifteen months in one of the most dangerous places on earth, and yet died at one of the most peaceful, a lakeside. We often don't understand what God's plans are for us. We often ask why this happens or that happens. We look at things and say how unfair life can be. Why would he bring a soldier through his deployment and then let him die as his kids were watching from the shore as he struggled for life.
But that's just life I guess. If life was always fair, I don't know if I want to live in that world. A fair world is a world without grace. So often, if it weren't for the grace of God, I don't know where my life would be now. Sometimes we may never know why things happen the way they do. But the only sure thing in life is that God said His grace is sufficient for me. That He will never put me through an ordeal that I cannot handle. And when the pain becomes too much, that's when He is carrying me, like the poem footprints in the sand. So I once again come to you to ask that you lift up this soldiers' family in your prayers. May God's grace be upon them in their time of need.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Lessons learned at a revival
Our youth group was invited to a revival this past Sunday. At first I was a little apprehensive. I will be honest and tell you that a lot of times I go to Pentecostal services, I always feel judged. I feel like they are preaching to me and telling me that I'm a sinner and unworthy or salvation because I smoke (back when I was smoking), or drink or dance or because I haven't been "saved." I know that not all Pentecostal people are like this, but that has been my usual experience.
And at the beginning of the revival, it was no different. Several speakers got up and said they don't believe in dancing, that they only dance for God. And here we are preparing for our family night with all kinds of dances. I guess I'm going to hell. LOL But then our Worship Team got up to testify through their music. At first I sensed a lot of people there were caught off guard. I could see the look of confusion on some peoples faces. Wait a minute, how can these kids testify about the love of God when I just saw them smoking outside. I heard they went to the Fiji concert last night and then went...dancing afterwards...or whatever it is they do at karaoke. But they're quoting the Bible and testifying about God's grace in difficult times and...this just doesn't make sense.
When the speaker got up, he said he never thought he'd see the day when a mainline, LMS church would have a Worship Team singing at a Pentecostal revival. Praise the Lord. His message was, in my view, directed at the contradictions in my heart. He spoke about how important it is to have a pure heart. He said that the Lord doesn't look at our actions as much as He looks at our hearts and the pure love we have for Him. He said it's easy to come to church and lift up our hands and say hallelujah, but when church is over a lot of us use that same mouth that we had just praised the Lord to curse someone or gossip behind someone's back. In the church parking lot no less. He continued that just because someone smokes or drinks doesn't make them a sinner. He quoted the Bible that it's not what goes in a person's body that defiles them, it's what comes out of it that defiles a person.
Now it was my turn to have the perplexed look on my face. Wait a minute, this is a sermon you usually hear at a LMS church. Am I really at a Pentecostal revival? The speaker went on to say that we would all stand before God and will be judged by the purity of our hearts and the works that we did for God. I was amazed. And humbled. Here I was accusing them of being judgemental, yet I was also judging them and assuming that they all had the same mindset. I learned a valuable lesson and was fed spiritually. Never judge a book by its cover.
And at the beginning of the revival, it was no different. Several speakers got up and said they don't believe in dancing, that they only dance for God. And here we are preparing for our family night with all kinds of dances. I guess I'm going to hell. LOL But then our Worship Team got up to testify through their music. At first I sensed a lot of people there were caught off guard. I could see the look of confusion on some peoples faces. Wait a minute, how can these kids testify about the love of God when I just saw them smoking outside. I heard they went to the Fiji concert last night and then went...dancing afterwards...or whatever it is they do at karaoke. But they're quoting the Bible and testifying about God's grace in difficult times and...this just doesn't make sense.
When the speaker got up, he said he never thought he'd see the day when a mainline, LMS church would have a Worship Team singing at a Pentecostal revival. Praise the Lord. His message was, in my view, directed at the contradictions in my heart. He spoke about how important it is to have a pure heart. He said that the Lord doesn't look at our actions as much as He looks at our hearts and the pure love we have for Him. He said it's easy to come to church and lift up our hands and say hallelujah, but when church is over a lot of us use that same mouth that we had just praised the Lord to curse someone or gossip behind someone's back. In the church parking lot no less. He continued that just because someone smokes or drinks doesn't make them a sinner. He quoted the Bible that it's not what goes in a person's body that defiles them, it's what comes out of it that defiles a person.
Now it was my turn to have the perplexed look on my face. Wait a minute, this is a sermon you usually hear at a LMS church. Am I really at a Pentecostal revival? The speaker went on to say that we would all stand before God and will be judged by the purity of our hearts and the works that we did for God. I was amazed. And humbled. Here I was accusing them of being judgemental, yet I was also judging them and assuming that they all had the same mindset. I learned a valuable lesson and was fed spiritually. Never judge a book by its cover.
Monday, August 10, 2009
My roots
It's been a hectic weekend. On Friday, we buried my nephew. The funeral was really moving. To see the outpouring of love and support was to see the hand of God at work. There were so many people at Thursday family service that it was standing room only. And on Friday, it was packed for a midday funeral on a workday. It became a mini reunion as so many of our friends came from around the state and some from as far away as Samoa. We were all there to help comfort the parents and the family. And to some extent, we were there to comfort each other.
We practiced the unity in spirit and body that Paul spoke about. When one member of the body hurts, we all hurt together. We all grieve together.
It was a unique experience because my brother is married to a palagi lady. Her family were all there. And for many of them, this was their first taste of Samoan culture. And they were really moved and touched. First off was the singing. The choir sang and they really were moved by the voices. Different experience for them. Then they saw how we were like a big family. Most of us were not related by blood, but came out because a fellow Samoan needed help. They were amazed at the cultural presentations and gifts that were exchanged during the funeral and really like the way we came together as a village.
I was proud to be a Samoan that day. Not a boastful, xenophobic pride. But I was thankful to God that I was born into a culture that treasures family and comes together in times of need. The fa'aSamoa gets a bad rap sometimes, often due to misunderstanding the culture or the bastardization of the culture. But at the core of fa'aSamoa is reciprocal living, where we live for each other. When one family is in need, all the other families pitch in. We share our burdens. In many ways, we epitomize the Christian ethos of helping one another, all being part of the same body. The fa'aSamoa and Christianity go hand in hand. I saw it on display, again, on Friday.
We practiced the unity in spirit and body that Paul spoke about. When one member of the body hurts, we all hurt together. We all grieve together.
It was a unique experience because my brother is married to a palagi lady. Her family were all there. And for many of them, this was their first taste of Samoan culture. And they were really moved and touched. First off was the singing. The choir sang and they really were moved by the voices. Different experience for them. Then they saw how we were like a big family. Most of us were not related by blood, but came out because a fellow Samoan needed help. They were amazed at the cultural presentations and gifts that were exchanged during the funeral and really like the way we came together as a village.
I was proud to be a Samoan that day. Not a boastful, xenophobic pride. But I was thankful to God that I was born into a culture that treasures family and comes together in times of need. The fa'aSamoa gets a bad rap sometimes, often due to misunderstanding the culture or the bastardization of the culture. But at the core of fa'aSamoa is reciprocal living, where we live for each other. When one family is in need, all the other families pitch in. We share our burdens. In many ways, we epitomize the Christian ethos of helping one another, all being part of the same body. The fa'aSamoa and Christianity go hand in hand. I saw it on display, again, on Friday.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Jesus Take The Wheel
I'm a firm believer that the most important ingredient for a Christian is faith. Without it, our belief system crumbles. Faith is a huge part of who we are as Christians. The Bible describes faith as "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). In the last ten days, I've really had to lean on my faith to make it through.
I had lunch yesterday with my brother who lost a child last week. Speaking to him was heart wrenching as he shared his sorrow and pain with me. He said the one thing that has sustained him through this is his faith that he will be reunited with his son one day. And he said the pain hasn't gone away, but he's taking it one day at a time. I'm reminded of that Carrie Underwood song, "Jesus Take the Wheel." The chorus goes like this:
I had lunch yesterday with my brother who lost a child last week. Speaking to him was heart wrenching as he shared his sorrow and pain with me. He said the one thing that has sustained him through this is his faith that he will be reunited with his son one day. And he said the pain hasn't gone away, but he's taking it one day at a time. I'm reminded of that Carrie Underwood song, "Jesus Take the Wheel." The chorus goes like this:
Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheel
This is one of the top recording songs in the history of country music. And these lyrics explain perfectly the reason the song touches so many people everyday. It's about a woman who's had a tough time lately and driving home she lost control. Literally, she let go of her wheel and asked Jesus to take over. Metaphorically, it speaks a truth that we can all relate to. It essentially, is a sermon on faith. When we've lost all other hope, we turn to Jesus. That's what faith is. We blindly believe that Jesus will see us through our darkest hours. When we can no longer endure, we let Him take over.
And in the end, through all the shattered pieces that our lives sometimes become, we begin to pick up. But when the car is spinning and we aren't in control, we ask Jesus to take the wheel. And that's the stage I believe my brother's in. He's asking Jesus to take the wheel. I'm just thankful we have someone to turn to in our darkest hours.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Schedule adjustments
We had just finished Youth group practice Friday night. We are preparing for our annual family night fundraiser. This year the Youth group is doing an international theme. They are doing dances from different regions around the world. That night, they were working on an Indian number. They are also doing a Latin number, a European dance as well as a Japanese geisha dance by the boys. Don't ask. LOL
And then my phone rang. It was a call that would alter my family's life immensely. We were asked to be caregivers for two children from our church. They were going through some problems that caused them to be placed into protective custody of the state. If we didn't take them, they would be placed into the system and could be placed with families from anywhere in the state. In fact, they told us that the families of these kids may not see them again for a while because they could be placed in El Paso, or Brownsville or wherever there was room for them. We didn't have much time to deliberate. It was getting close to eleven o'clock at night. My wife and I looked at each other, said a quick prayer and said: Yes. We accepted because it was in the best interest of the children.
We knew our routines would be disrupted and that our schedules would have had to be adjusted. We work very hard to try and provide a normal schedule for our one child. Now we had to do it for TWO additional children. It had taken us over four years to finally get a routine for our little one and it was constant adjustments an reconfiguring just for ONE child. It was beginning to become overwhelming. As we ran around that night and the next day looking for playpens, high chairs and mattresses, we looked at each other and said. "what have we gotten ourselves into?" But perhaps the person that was making the biggest sacrifice was my daughter. All of a sudden, her space was invaded by two other children. Where she had free run of the house, now she was having to share it. Not that it's a bad thing, but she was just thrown into the situation without any warning or any time to prepare and ease her into the transition. If we were having a hard time, I could only imagine what she must be going through.
I was the serving deacon for communion last Sunday. As I was praying for the blood of Christ, I realized our sacrifice was a shadow of His sacrifice on the cross. Here I was complaining about adjustments to my schedule and whatnot. But at least I wasn't asked to give up my life. At least I wasn't asked to sacrifice my child so that sinners could be reconciled and have a bridge to eternity. I guess I needed the perspective to put things in context. When burdens become unbearable think of what was done for you and me at Calvary. It doesn't mean that my situation will be all peaches and cream. But it does make me realize that there are millions of people out there that have it worse than me. There are soldiers in harms way fighting for my freedom. There are missionaries in dangerous places spreading the Gospel. We each have our calling. I guess this is my family's calling. To do our part to help better the lives of two children. Or as my wife would often put it - "Invest in the children". Please keep us in your prayers. And keep the families of these children in your prayers as well.
And then my phone rang. It was a call that would alter my family's life immensely. We were asked to be caregivers for two children from our church. They were going through some problems that caused them to be placed into protective custody of the state. If we didn't take them, they would be placed into the system and could be placed with families from anywhere in the state. In fact, they told us that the families of these kids may not see them again for a while because they could be placed in El Paso, or Brownsville or wherever there was room for them. We didn't have much time to deliberate. It was getting close to eleven o'clock at night. My wife and I looked at each other, said a quick prayer and said: Yes. We accepted because it was in the best interest of the children.
We knew our routines would be disrupted and that our schedules would have had to be adjusted. We work very hard to try and provide a normal schedule for our one child. Now we had to do it for TWO additional children. It had taken us over four years to finally get a routine for our little one and it was constant adjustments an reconfiguring just for ONE child. It was beginning to become overwhelming. As we ran around that night and the next day looking for playpens, high chairs and mattresses, we looked at each other and said. "what have we gotten ourselves into?" But perhaps the person that was making the biggest sacrifice was my daughter. All of a sudden, her space was invaded by two other children. Where she had free run of the house, now she was having to share it. Not that it's a bad thing, but she was just thrown into the situation without any warning or any time to prepare and ease her into the transition. If we were having a hard time, I could only imagine what she must be going through.
I was the serving deacon for communion last Sunday. As I was praying for the blood of Christ, I realized our sacrifice was a shadow of His sacrifice on the cross. Here I was complaining about adjustments to my schedule and whatnot. But at least I wasn't asked to give up my life. At least I wasn't asked to sacrifice my child so that sinners could be reconciled and have a bridge to eternity. I guess I needed the perspective to put things in context. When burdens become unbearable think of what was done for you and me at Calvary. It doesn't mean that my situation will be all peaches and cream. But it does make me realize that there are millions of people out there that have it worse than me. There are soldiers in harms way fighting for my freedom. There are missionaries in dangerous places spreading the Gospel. We each have our calling. I guess this is my family's calling. To do our part to help better the lives of two children. Or as my wife would often put it - "Invest in the children". Please keep us in your prayers. And keep the families of these children in your prayers as well.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
To the moon
Many of us remember Neil Armstrong's first words on the moon: "This is one small step for man, but one giant leap for mankind." But few know the first meal on the moon. Buzz Aldrin took a tiny communion kit from his church with him. Aldrin sent a radio broadcast to earth asking listeners to contemplate the events of that day and to give thanks.
Then, in radio blackout for privacy, Aldrin poured wine into a silver chalice. He read, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (John 15:5). Silently, he gave thanks and partook of the bread and cup.
God is everywhere. We are told that wherever we are, God is also present. Whether we are in His sanctuary or thousands of miles from Earth on the surface of the moon, God is intimately present with us.
Are you far from home? Are you on a mountaintop or a dark valley? God is just a prayer away. Let me close with one of my favorite all time hymns. Actually, it's just this verse of the hymn. It is so deep and moving in so many ways, that every time I sing it, I get goosebumps.
Have a blessed communion Sunday.
Then, in radio blackout for privacy, Aldrin poured wine into a silver chalice. He read, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (John 15:5). Silently, he gave thanks and partook of the bread and cup.
God is everywhere. We are told that wherever we are, God is also present. Whether we are in His sanctuary or thousands of miles from Earth on the surface of the moon, God is intimately present with us.
Are you far from home? Are you on a mountaintop or a dark valley? God is just a prayer away. Let me close with one of my favorite all time hymns. Actually, it's just this verse of the hymn. It is so deep and moving in so many ways, that every time I sing it, I get goosebumps.
Just a closer walk with thee
Grant it Jesus is my plea
Daily walking close to thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Have a blessed communion Sunday.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Playground memories
I spent some quality time with my daughter and my niece today. Nothing major - just lunch at McDonald's and letting them play in their playground. These two are more like sisters than cousins. They were both students at my parents' daycare since they were born. They were born three months apart and they've been almost inseparable.After the events of this week, I was almost overwhelmed with emotion sitting there just watching them play. I tried to imagine what life would be like without my little girl. The thought was too much for me. So I just sat there and took in these precious moments. Because anyone of us could be gone in a blink of an eye. Our family is still traumatized by the death of Adonijah, but watching the news tonight, I heard about a girl 21 years old who was killed in a car accident down the road from us. In the newspaper this morning there was a soldier on Ft. Hood that was killed by his wife. And so forth and so forth. We really could be called at anytime. So how should we act? At first I wanted to take my daughter home and make sure she wouldn't get hurt. I wanted to protect her. On Wednesday, every second she was out of my sight, I was calling her name.
But then I came to realize that we can't be with them 24/7. There is no full proof way for us to protect them. And the ultimate reality is that we will all die some day. Most will die old. Some will die in middle age. And unfortunately, some will die at a young age. God has determined the amount of time we spend on this earth. I then came to the realization that the best thing we can do is to treasure all the moments we are given. The things we take for granted, shouldn't be anymore. We never know when our time will be up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
