Urbana and more!
hello!
This past month after Urbana has passed by so quickly! I’m sorry I’ve taken so long getting to write this update.
Thank you all for both your support. Urbana was a wonderful blessing! Here are some of the thoughts and lessons I’ve had… I am struggling to keep everything cohesive but bare with me hehe:
The theme to Urbana 06 was “Live a life worth of the calling”. Coming away from this missions conference I didn’t receive God’s specific calling to serve somewhere in missions. I did however feel strongly called to a greater life for God! I felt inspired and challenged to push myself still harder. To push harder with deeper passion. This out of the appreciation of the grace given us and because of the love of God. Not what God asks me to do. But that I love God.
Half-way through the Urbana week I was struck by something in a skit. The background…
A girl (let’s call her Denise since I forgot) comes back from a missions trip with Habitat for Humanity. She had been on many missions trips before with her family and church all around the world. This time was different though. As not before, she experienced on the mission trip a much more intimate connection with those she lived and served. She saw more clearly the destitution and poverty and lack of spiritual salvation in the world. She recognized her blessed affluent life and had been tithing and making offerings through charities. But she comes to a realization… people may give and give monetarily, and people may even go in person to help here and there. But what are the stakes?
How much truly do we put our heart and strength into loving God and to expressing that in ministering to others? Do we stop at just giving a little money, do we stop at a token missions trip? Are we just deceiving ourselves not being wholehearted?
Of course, I realize different people are blessed with different roles. But that scene struck a chord in me to challenge me and to convict me.
- Another intense question laid out: Is the gospel worth it?
- Some people’s testimony before conversion was so juicy! And ahh how blessed an event when they converted and committed. But after it becomes so boring… How is it for you?
- Behave as Christ would to others. Behave as you would if the other was Christ.
Urbana was also a time of amazing amazing worship. I love worshipping in a congregation. To see a mass of 22000 like-minded brothers and sisters loving God was awesome. The worship was also very multicultural. It was really cool to worship in spanish, french, creole, korean in addition to english. I saw the unity in the body of Christ in that and was much encouraged.
More Recently
The whole past month or so has been filled with big things for me… Finishing me academic 2B term, Urbana, 21st Bday, and then campus fellowship Winter Retreat. I’ve been convicted almost daily this in this time of things to change, to do, not do, attitudes and views to take and not take. I’ve also failed to meet my commitments over and over again. Satan is working extra hard to stall me and to drive me to the left or right away from the good path. I’m sitting on a critical period of change and growth in my life and the devil knows it.The recent week though I have made great headway and am resolved and determined on yet a higher level to kick satan’s butt!
There’s been SO much on my mind and so many things to do. There’s so much I’ve learned lately! I’d love to share more right now if I had the time but I must get going. Please pray for my continual growth and realization of all my convictions in action.
I summarized for myself the 4 guiding themes of this past month:
- living simply
- generosity
- God-focussed w/ action & productivity
- water God-given relationships
February 3rd, 2007 at 11:38 pm
Bily,
Thanks for sharing, encouraged to hear that you’re fighting the fight and placing God first. May you continue to surrender unto Him that He might do immeasureably more than we could ever ask or imagine.
I believe a huge part of the problem that we face as the stereotypical North American church is realizing what JC did on the cross. So much of what we have is so easily accessible that we need not work very hard for anything. We don’t know what it means to suffer or to work as if our lives were at stake.
Christians need to realize that the lives we have are not our own, they were bought at a price (1 Cor 6:19-20). It is not Yours, but you are to be responsible stewards (1 Cor 7:23-24 byproduct of this reference).
May we all be continually captivated by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. May this curiosity be confirmed in the seeking of God first (Matt 6:33) and be contageous as the Spirit of Jesus lives in us (Gal 2:20-21) as we wait til the day that salvation is complete (Phil 1:6) when all is reconciled back to Him. Glory be to the Father, Son and Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.
ps: i love the action items. Continue to discover the peace and joy of orthopraxy/orthodoxy Bily!
February 3rd, 2007 at 11:40 pm
opps. sorry to spam on your blog, but was also goign to mention that what the Kenyan speaker mentioned was great, how the church needs to embrace other parts and perhaps that will help us understand how the gospel is ment to be evidenced in God’s creation.
February 3rd, 2007 at 11:45 pm
hey bily,
praise God for your time at Urbana. I’m glad to see that you’ve gotten much out of it.
hope you plan to serve in missions somewhere, but be willing to stay here if that’s God’s call for you. most people say they’re willing to go, but they’re planning to stay!
God bless.
February 5th, 2007 at 5:00 am
hey bily!
whoa, it’s been a while. i guess you’re leaving xanga for a world of your own. fine fine fine, ditch us. lol, =p
it’s exciting to hear about your Urbana experience! i went in 03, awesome stuff hey? =p
February 5th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Hey Bily!
Long time no see!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! They’re awesome, and totally inspiring! I’m so glad that God has been doing so much in your life. May He continue His good work!
February 7th, 2007 at 4:49 am
Hey Bily. finally! A new post!!! Now i have to post i mine lol. But yeah, its great you’re fighting the good fight. But satan is a decieving one. Just remember what Rick Warren said. WWW!!!
Whatever, Whenever, Whereever