Dec 26
Dear Amazing God,
Praises to Your Holy Name LORD! It's 11am on Dec 27 as I'm writing this. No sleep but feeling pretty good. The weather is snowy and cold—just how You created nature to be :) During one stop over, when our bus driver swapped with another, one said, “I'm going back to Canada where it's warmer!”
During this bus ride, I sat beside my coworker Wai and she shared her testimony and I was amazed at how You O God works—how we must die to self daily, how You already work behind the scenes, (ex: how You supplied the Urbana fundraising—your grace was more than enough). Dear Jesus, You also have convicted me regarding prayer, I haven't been consistently and faithfully been doing that as I used to. As well, I sensed that You were wanting to deal with a struggle of mine before I went to Urbana. The following 3 verses convicted me:
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” Rom 12:10
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” Rom 12:12
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up” Rom 15:1-2
The word 'hope' has popped up several times. Help me God to hope when my struggles seem hard. Thank You God for how You loved us on the cross, For “very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die, But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:7-8. I pray for Your sufficient grace today, that I may continually die to self daily, to always fix my mind on Christ, and to live as 'Christ in me' wants me to live. In Jesus name, Amen.
Okay, so Wai beside me is sleeping and this time I woke her up so she could proof read this blog like she wanted to. but she just said, “give me 5 minutes”--see! Had I woke her up for McDonald's it would have been useless!
Wai; I would have woken up for food!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Pre-Urbana
Dear Almighty God,
Thank You LORD for the privilege of allowing me to go on this trip. LORD, I have not even heard of Urbana until a friend asked me to promote it. Many good things have been mentioned about this conference from years past by coworkers/friends. I pray that You O God Most High will continue to use Urbana to change lives and reveal Your vision for us. I ask the Holy Spirit for protection for all Urbana participants as You God, our Shepherd, lead us to "green pastures and still waters", without fear for You are with us, "Your rod and Your staff comfort us"(Psa 23). I'll be honest God, I don't see myself being a missionary, nor a pastor, nor a church planter, but if You call, I will follow, obey and go. Open my heart to be sensitive to Your leading, reveal how I can creatively help build Your kingdom of righteousness, for "we are Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."(Eph 2:10) God, may Your Name be praised as we see/hear how You are working mightily throughout the world. Tug at my heart to prayerfully/financially support the different mission agencies You providentially allow me to network with. Thy will be done, in Jesus Name, Amen.
I have looked at the Urbana sessions and the following look appealing:
Cross-Cultural Crucible: Character Development through Missions
Steve Hoke (global issues in missions)
Crossing Borders: Teaching in a Distant Classroom
Teri McCarthy discusses core issues and questions about serving God in an overseas classroom. We’ll look at how to be an effective instructor and an effective witness. Learn best practices to prepare for this unique and challenging yet rewarding response to the Great Commission—teaching in a distant land as a viable Christian mission.
Teri McCarthy (global issues in missions)
Emerging Issues in Mission Today
Come and explore the critical challenges that the Church needs to respond to while engaging in cross-cultural mission in the 21st century. It will help you pray effectively, plan strategically and participate meaningfully in Jesus’ Great Commission.
T.V. Thomas (global issues in missions)
Getting Prepared to Stay
Are you considering a career in cross-cultural ministry? Are you prepared to finish well? Come learn the essential practices to integrate into your life now to equip you for tomorrow.
Bill Taylor and Steve Hoke (global issues in missions)
Six Ways to Reach God's World
As part of Christ's body we are all called to reach God's world for his glory and our great joy! But not every part of the body is required by Christ to "go" overseas to evangelize the lost. Come consider how God is calling you to be involved in reaching the world: Pray, Send, Welcome, Go, Mobilize and Learn. Beginning with these six ways to reach the world, we'll expand to over 300 ways you can be involved in missions, right where you are now!
OMF International (global issues in missions)
Around the World in 60 Minutes
Paul Borthwick (church around the world)
The Church in English & Portuguese Speaking Africa
Joseph Morennamele (church around the world)
Discovering Your Calling
Gordon T. Smith (missions 101)
Sharing the Gospel with Your Jewish Roommate
Aaron Abramson (evangelism)
Asian Americans in Cross Cultural Missions
Tom Hsieh (diverse people reaching diverse world)
Catholicism and the Latino Heritage
Orlando Crespo (diverse people reaching diverse world)
Using Your God-Given Talents to Engage the World
Brian Chan (in the workplace and academy)
Evangelism through the Gospel of John
Heidi Chew and Steve Mark (heart & soul in mission)
Leader's Don't Grow on Trees
InterVarsity (heart & soul in mission)
Pray Big, Pray Bold -Pray Scripture
Sunder Krishnan (heart & soul in mission)
Prayer, Fasting, Scripture and Worship 101
Jeannie Musick (heart & soul in mission)
Spiritual Warfare
Jack Voelkel (heart & soul in mission)
The Power of Prayer in the Life of Ministry
Desmond Rogers (heart & soul in mission)
Multicultural Worship
Urbana 09 Worship Team(arts & media)
Musicians Living Fully in Christ
Urbana 09 Worship Team(arts & media)
Worship: From Life to Music
Richard Allen Farmer (arts & media)
Artists in Culture: Making A Difference.
Colin Harbinson (arts & media)
Arts in Mission
OM Arts (arts & media)
Thank You LORD for the privilege of allowing me to go on this trip. LORD, I have not even heard of Urbana until a friend asked me to promote it. Many good things have been mentioned about this conference from years past by coworkers/friends. I pray that You O God Most High will continue to use Urbana to change lives and reveal Your vision for us. I ask the Holy Spirit for protection for all Urbana participants as You God, our Shepherd, lead us to "green pastures and still waters", without fear for You are with us, "Your rod and Your staff comfort us"(Psa 23). I'll be honest God, I don't see myself being a missionary, nor a pastor, nor a church planter, but if You call, I will follow, obey and go. Open my heart to be sensitive to Your leading, reveal how I can creatively help build Your kingdom of righteousness, for "we are Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."(Eph 2:10) God, may Your Name be praised as we see/hear how You are working mightily throughout the world. Tug at my heart to prayerfully/financially support the different mission agencies You providentially allow me to network with. Thy will be done, in Jesus Name, Amen.
I have looked at the Urbana sessions and the following look appealing:
Cross-Cultural Crucible: Character Development through Missions
Steve Hoke (global issues in missions)
Crossing Borders: Teaching in a Distant Classroom
Teri McCarthy discusses core issues and questions about serving God in an overseas classroom. We’ll look at how to be an effective instructor and an effective witness. Learn best practices to prepare for this unique and challenging yet rewarding response to the Great Commission—teaching in a distant land as a viable Christian mission.
Teri McCarthy (global issues in missions)
Emerging Issues in Mission Today
Come and explore the critical challenges that the Church needs to respond to while engaging in cross-cultural mission in the 21st century. It will help you pray effectively, plan strategically and participate meaningfully in Jesus’ Great Commission.
T.V. Thomas (global issues in missions)
Getting Prepared to Stay
Are you considering a career in cross-cultural ministry? Are you prepared to finish well? Come learn the essential practices to integrate into your life now to equip you for tomorrow.
Bill Taylor and Steve Hoke (global issues in missions)
Six Ways to Reach God's World
As part of Christ's body we are all called to reach God's world for his glory and our great joy! But not every part of the body is required by Christ to "go" overseas to evangelize the lost. Come consider how God is calling you to be involved in reaching the world: Pray, Send, Welcome, Go, Mobilize and Learn. Beginning with these six ways to reach the world, we'll expand to over 300 ways you can be involved in missions, right where you are now!
OMF International (global issues in missions)
Around the World in 60 Minutes
Paul Borthwick (church around the world)
The Church in English & Portuguese Speaking Africa
Joseph Morennamele (church around the world)
Discovering Your Calling
Gordon T. Smith (missions 101)
Sharing the Gospel with Your Jewish Roommate
Aaron Abramson (evangelism)
Asian Americans in Cross Cultural Missions
Tom Hsieh (diverse people reaching diverse world)
Catholicism and the Latino Heritage
Orlando Crespo (diverse people reaching diverse world)
Using Your God-Given Talents to Engage the World
Brian Chan (in the workplace and academy)
Evangelism through the Gospel of John
Heidi Chew and Steve Mark (heart & soul in mission)
Leader's Don't Grow on Trees
InterVarsity (heart & soul in mission)
Pray Big, Pray Bold -Pray Scripture
Sunder Krishnan (heart & soul in mission)
Prayer, Fasting, Scripture and Worship 101
Jeannie Musick (heart & soul in mission)
Spiritual Warfare
Jack Voelkel (heart & soul in mission)
The Power of Prayer in the Life of Ministry
Desmond Rogers (heart & soul in mission)
Multicultural Worship
Urbana 09 Worship Team(arts & media)
Musicians Living Fully in Christ
Urbana 09 Worship Team(arts & media)
Worship: From Life to Music
Richard Allen Farmer (arts & media)
Artists in Culture: Making A Difference.
Colin Harbinson (arts & media)
Arts in Mission
OM Arts (arts & media)
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