IFI Fellowship Dinner

On April 18^th 2015, IFI hosted its 9^th Annual Banquet at The Ohio State Union Ballroom Hall. It is the most marvelous activities of IFI throughout the whole year. There were up to 600 people attended this dinner.  I am one of the co table hosts for the dinner. Another ISEEDer Angelique and I invited up to 11 guests. During this time, it is my great honor that my career mentor Bonita and her husband Merle could joined our dinner, which gave them a deeper insight of IFI ministry to them. Every attendant got to know what God has done with IFI International Student Ministry (ISM) through this dinner.

An IFI outstanding international student leader, future ISEEDer, TT Zhang shared her testimony, she shared about how IFI influenced on her on the way to the Kingdom and why she choose to enroll in ISEED program after she graduate this May. It was very encouraging. An Italian couple also shared their testimony after then. They were born in a traditional Roman Catholic family in Italy and later came to know the Lord. And IFI gave them an opportunity to grow deeper in Christ. 

On the first working day after dinner, I am one of the financial team in charge of processing people’s donation. I was touched and burst into tears by their generosity, no matter what amount they gave. Their kindly donation benefits a great amount of international students, like me. Just like the mission of IFI – “We serve internationals and partner with them to make Christ known among the Nations.”  If you are interest in various giving opportunity and are willing to help IFI ministry, please visit https://www.ifipartners.org/ for additional information. 

Live Victoriously: Masterlife reflection

In light of our last masterlife class, I thought it would be quite fitting to reflect on one (among many) thing I am taking away from this amazing, life-changing class. We were going through the second book “The Disciple’s personality” which explains how to become more Christlike in character, behavior and attitudes. It is a six week study which focuses mainly on how we should invite Christ to transform our “character into Christlikeness through the work of the holy spirit.”  During the last week, the author focuses more on how to LIVE VICTORIOUSLY.  Allow me to share with you the scripture-memory verse that was ascribed to this same week:  “DO NOT LET SIN REIGN INTO YOUR MORTAL BODY SO THAT YOU OBEY ITS EVIL DESIRES. DO NOT OFFER THE PARTS OF YOUR BODY TO SIN, AS INSTRUMENTS OF WICKEDNESS BUT RATHER OFFER YOURSELVES TO GOD, AS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FROM DEATH TO LIFE, AND OFFER THE PARTS OF YOUR BODY TO HIM AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” Rom.6:12-13 .  These verses pretty much sum up how one can live victoriously (especially in this fallen world).

So why did this strike me more than anything else, you might be wondering… Because I feel as though I am yet to start living victoriously. My life has been revolving around some type of fear to fully submit to God’s authority, hence, failure to live a victorious life. I used to feel this excruciating fear anytime I started thinking about God’s authority over my life. I would start weighing things I would have to let go vs. what I could gain; basically comparing the incomparable things: There is no such thing as submitting yourself under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It brings with it so much joy, satisfaction and strength to endure challenges. So, failing to yield to God’s authority lead to confusion and lack of the willpower to let Christ transform my character. One truth is that God will let us have our ways because He has given us the freedom of choice but He will NEVER change his ways. I needed a renewed mind from the futility of my thinking because I [like you] was bought with a price and was brought from death to life.

Going through the Disciple’s Personality book has left me with nothing but cravings for a more renewed mind; but Jesus and I make a very unbeatable team so we are working really hard on this. I want to develop a more Chistlike character which will ultimately allow me to live victoriously. A lot of us find ourselves trapped in entitlement bondage, where we think we deserve this and that and when we do not get whatever it is that we want, we start “rebelling” against God… at least I know I am like this a good number of times; that’s why I need a renewed mind.

Let me end on this note, sometimes we lose focus of our identity and goals and start looking for comfortable things and we tend to revert to the old self when things get tough.  One’s true identity is found in Christ alone. We all should be striving to be more like Christ and learn more about ourselves daily.  The younger generation seem to have time to keep up with the Kardashians rather than keeping up with themselves.  In order to live victoriously, we need to stay in tune with who we are in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

R factor - a can't miss workshop

Since March 8^th, all ISEEDers are invited to attend an applicable and powerful six-series of workshop held in Heritage Christian Church – R factor, leaded by Tom Knight. Mr. Knight is a founder of a consulting firm called Focus 3. There are many well-known organizations, such as The Ohio State University Athletics, American Electric Power, Ohio Health, Nationwide, Ernst and Young Banks of America etc.  

The most influential take out from this workshop for me is its core equation: E+R=O, which stands for Event + Response = Outcome. This equation renounce for tons of time in my mind after I attended this workshop. For all the outcomes we encounter, are not determined by the event itself, but are determined by how we respond to this event.

In the past, when I confronted some difficult situation, I always complain about the event. If I have a bad score on my test, I complain the questions are difficult. When I have harsh team member, I cannot stand why I don’t have a change to work with a nice, easy-going team member. Those are inappropriate response. I cannot change what is asked in a test, I cannot control other’s character. Why do I focus on the event I experience, rather than how to response to those event?

Now I learn to control over how I respond, but not control the event.

Thanks God for taking me to this powerful workshop. Cannot wait for the rest three classes!!! Yeah!! 

Here is the useful link if you want to know more about R-factor

Since March 8th, all ISEEDers are invited to attend an applicable and powerful six-series of workshop held in Heritage Christian Church – R factor, leaded by Tom Knight. Mr. Knight is a founder of a consulting firm called Focus 3. There are many well-known organizations, such as The Ohio State University Athletics, American Electric Power, Ohio Health, Nationwide, Ernst and Young Banks of America etc. The most influential take out from this workshop for me is its core equation: E+R=O, which stands for Event + Response = Outcome. This equation renounce for tons of time in my mind after I attended this workshop. For all the outcomes we encounter, are not determined by the event itself, but are determined by how we respond to this event. In the past, when I confronted some difficult situation, I always complain about the event. If I have a bad score on my test, I complain the questions are difficult. When I have harsh team member, I cannot stand why I don’t have a change to work with a nice, easy-going team member. Those are inappropriate response. I cannot change what is asked in a test, I cannot control other’s character. Why do I focus on the event I experience, rather than how to response to those event? Now I learn to control over how I respond, but not control the event. Thanks God for taking me to this powerful workshop. Cannot wait for the rest three classes!!! Yeah!!

If you want to know more about R factor, please visit http://www.focus3organizationalculture.com/