A meal with Jesus and friends

 I just started reading a book named A Meal with Jesus. I learned that the word “companion” comes from the Latin word “cum” (“together”) and “panis”(“bread”). I really like the idea to share a meal and time with friends.

My church (Linworth Road Church) held ten Chinese students this year and we had a luncheon reunion in the church after the service on Oct.23^rd. Around twenty church members (most of them are IFI volunteers) and six students came, and I talked with three of the students and I was happy to find that they had already got used to the life and study in the US. Even though I just had a short time to talk with the students and we did not have chance to go deep to spiritual topics, I think the conversations were still meaningful for building up relationships. We everyone showed kindness and love to them; we told them that we want to learn more about them and we said we are willingness to help them if they are in need. I even added one of the students through Wechat and offered to bring her to grocery stores in the future. When I see these students it always reminds me the time when I first came to the state. My host family picked me up in the airport and always invited me over for holidays meals, which quickly gave me a feeling of closeness to the city and the church. I really hope somehow I can also do the same thing to the students.

During this lunch, I also got to know one church member and her two cute baby girls. We talked about the autumn festivals in both America and China. I really enjoyed this meal with friends and the love behind it.

Hello again readers,

If you’ve frequently read my post, you will remember the story of one Chinese student that eagerly wanted to join the Bible discussion. Now she became our sister in Christ! The Bible verse Luke 15:10 said: “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents”. Praise the Lord!

It has been four weeks and four different sermons at the church we’re attending which really hit the same point that “Salvation comes by faith in Christ and through Christ not by doing good”. She had incorrectly thought that she had to do many good things to become a Christian. Romans 10:9 says “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”. After she received confirmations through these sermons she asked for the relationship with the Lord. Now she is so happy that she became a Christian through Jesus! We are so happy that she is now our sister in Christ and she studies the Word from our Bible discussion and by her devotion. She also shows interest in joining the worship band on Friday night at Xenos because she likes to sing. She joins our Bible discussion regularly and she invites new students to the group too. 

In mid-October, IFI arranged a trip to Hocking Hills State park and we had about 200 students and about 60 volunteer drivers. Me, my Group leader, and the Chinese student were there too. We had a lot of fun walking, hiking, good talking and our friendship becomes stronger. We also invited some students who rode in the same car with us to join our Friday Bible discussion. One of them came and we had a really good discussion on the topic of Abram’s calling (Genesis 12).  

Lastly, my readers, please pray for me, my Bible discussion group, new students, and the Chinese student who just accepted Christ that God will speak through their heart and give them wisdom to receive the good news and understand the Word and come to the group discussion regularly.

Hocking Hills and the great commission

One of the most beautiful things that I have experienced during my year with IFI is the possibility to interact with people and to be equipped to do ministry. I love the books that we have read, with group discussions and practical applications to my own life; the training that ha

ve always made me richer than before; the trips, the time with old friends, and the occasion to make new ones and be in touch with them.

This is the reason why I have been thinking lately about the way I put into practice all these resources that God is pouring onto me. Have I ever realized that the time is my most important resource? How do I spend it and to whom am I dedicating it? Working here, my thought goes immediately to the International students who left their home Country to come to the US. Will this experience make a difference in their lives? Will they find the real reason why they were created? How will I contribute to make God known among them?

Matthew 28:18, 20 says “ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The current circumstances allow us not to move from Columbus in order to accomplish the Great Commission. People from Europe, Asia, South, Central and North America, Oceania, and Africa, populate our cities today more than in the past. God is sending the Nations to us! 

I was surrounded by different cultures and experience this variety during the annual Hocking Hills trip organized on October 15^th. I think this kind of events is perfect to invite friends, get connected with new students and share life on life experiences. In fact, I was amazed of the possibility I had to listen to the students’ stories, the struggles they are facing with midterms and the difficulty of being so far from their families. At the end of the day, one of them told me: “Thank you for inviting me. I really needed some time surrounded by people instead of books! Being immersed in Nature without cellphones (we didn’t have service in the caves) was energizing!”

God, help me to engage in the students’ lives and to be salt and light for them. Teach me not to waste any occasion and to count my days wisely!

What I learned praying in my closet

It's hard to believe that two months have passed since I moved to Columbus as a new college graduate, anxious and excited, embarking for a year of discipleship and servant-hood with IFI. When I look back on the past two months, I've been blown away by all the blessings and teachings that God has poured into my life in so many ways. As I'm writing my first blog post today, I couldn't wait to share more of my journey in Christ with you this year and beyond. 

One thing that has constantly amazed me is the beautiful spaces God has surrounded me with ever since I got to Columbus.

On the first day of September, after moving twice during the initial few weeks (and stayed with several awesome IFI staff members), I finally settled down in the sweet and cozy basement with my host family in Dublin.


I have moved constantly due to a variety of reasons throughout college. And sharing a room with different people has never been a strange concept to me. Growing up as the only child, I've been both blessed and challenged by all the experience I had with my roommates. So when I first got here, I was so excited to move in with a family and finally have a living space for myself, or most importantly, a space where I could be comfortably in the sole presence of God.

The first month with IFI was very busy. We were constantly thrown into duties to welcome and serve new international students. It was exciting, yet spiritually draining. As I joyfully embraced all the opportunities to serve, I realized that my need for personal time with God has grown stronger than ever.

Journaling has been the primary way I spent time with God alone in the past. Since I didn't quite have a physical space to myself, I found that it was only when I write, I could give God undivided devotion with complete openness and honesty. Every time I look back at my journal, I’m amazed by the things I’ve shared with Him and the prayers that He answered in different ways.
 
Among the classes we take at IFI, my favorite one is Attending Prayer by Karen Oliver, the beloved “prayer warrior” as many people know her. She challenged us in many different ways to pray in faith, pray by listening, and pray for others. I still kept the reflection in my heart, seeing Karen praying in her room every morning and night when I was staying with her.

I’ve always considered myself a spontaneous person, and it shows in the way I pray. I never felt a need to have a designated time or place for prayers. I thought that it meant that I could simply pray wherever, and whenever I “feel” it. But the truth is, when I navigate through the busy schedule of daily life, prayer is probably the least thing that jumps into my head before the “I got this” mentality takes over. That is, unless there’s something that I just couldn’t do with my own abilities.

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." 

Matthew 6:6

I watched the movie, the War Room, quite a long time ago. I was deeply touched, but it never came across mind that I could take the idea of a prayer closet literally, and apply it in my life.

One night when I was returning home from the Master Life class, eagerly longing to spend some unwind time with my Master. All of a sudden, I felt a conviction to go down to my room, clean out everything from an extra storage room I got under the stairs, and make it my prayer room.

When I got home, without hesitation, I rushed downstairs, and started cleaning out all the moving boxes that were originally in that room. As I closed the door when everything’s done, I felt that I’ve also closed down the rest of the world. There’s an instant feeling of peace rising up in my heart. Simultaneously, I started writing down notes with names of people and prayer requests on the wall in front of me.

Then, I started praying. And for the first time, I prayed like I’m conversing with a close friend, letting down all guards and being all vulnerable in front of Him. All the joy I lifted up to Him in praise, all the questions I desired answers for I asked Him, and all the things that’s been troubling my heart I opened up to Him, knowing that He’s my ultimate refuge.
As I slowed down in my praying, I felt His comfort gently entering in me. It’s warm, and quiet. Suddenly there’s nothing that I need to rush for. No errands to run, no emails to reply and nothing to worry about. No one else is listening. It’s just me and Him. For a brief moment I was in complete silence. It was simply beautiful.

From that night on, I started to really enjoy my prayer time, my uninterrupted time with God, something I look forward to every day. I added a cushion in my prayer room and left a journal in there; the prayer lists on the wall continued growing and becoming more colorful. But what didn’t change is in the same sense of peace and joy in my heart every time I enter into that space.

Not only do I now have a prayer closet at home, I’ve also turned my car into a “prayer closet.” I’ve even found a “prayer closet” at work! A prayer closet is really a place wherever you can spend time alone with God. The concept is such a found treasure for me and I’d love to encourage everyone to try it if you don’t already have one. It’s sweet to spend time with the Lord!

   

Bike Riding Lessons

One night about three weeks ago, a good old friend messaged me, “How is OSU?” Without hesitation I replied, “It has taught me how to ride a bike!” Yes, indeed. In my first month at IFI, bike riding is not only a new skill, but also a new lifestyle through which God sent many blessings.

Friendship

After I moved in, I soon noticed my host housemate Bruce to be a mature brother-in-Christ and an avid fan of biking. Bruce gladly lent me one of his many bikes to practice and took me out for rides once I was able to keep the bike going. Had I not had Bruce as my housemate, I might not have learned to ride a bike. In addition to our continuous spiritual conversations that strengthen my faith, our biking tours bond us as close friends. My friendship with Bruce has become one of the best gifts from ISEED training.

I have also been on bike tours with two coworkers and two students, all of which turned out to be great bonding experience.

In the future, I pray to develop more friendships and ministry opportunities from bike riding.

God’s Perfect Timing

Growing up, I always have the privilege of living close enough to walk to school. I guess this has developed my habit and love of walking around. Although I always longed to ride a bike, life situation never forced me to learn. But this time around in Columbus, I tried hard because ride a bike to work could significantly reduce my commuting time. With some scratches, bruises, and mosquito bites, I finally learned. And once I could ride a bike, I fell in love with it. Whether it’s coasting on trails along rivers and fields, dashing downhill with breakneck speed, or enjoying the shadow of my flowing hair cast by street lights at night, I am in love with biking!  As a matter of fact, this blog post is dedicated to how God has been blessing me through bike rides.

I always wanted to ride a bike, but when God made it happen by bringing me to IFI in Columbus and my housemate Bruce, He also gave me so much more in this seemingly simple activity. Right now there are many uncertainties and longing in my life that I don’t even have the smallest hint of how to clear up and fulfill.  But this recent bike riding experience has reinforced my faith in God’s perfect timing and given me great joy in what he provides here and now.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Attending Prayer

Attending Prayer is a wonderful class taught by Karen about how to hear from God. Bike riding has turned out to be great communication time with God. One night after work, I felt so distraught that I chose to ride to OSU campus, hoping some outdoor activity would lift my spirits. As I was riding aimlessly around the campus, I felt God spoke to me loud and clear.

Now in retrospect, I think riding on bike-friendly routes allows me to keep minimal attention on traffic and have a peaceful mind to pray to and hear from God. That night when I was riding a bike, God lifted my burden by giving me clear instructions. What a relief that was! Since then, I have been appreciating bike riding as prayer times more and more. As I paddle gently with the peace of mind, the Spirit fills me from fresh breeze and natural beauty, bringing me ever so intimate with Him.

Dependence and Thanksgiving

Since I started to room together with two other brothers-in-Christ in my sophomore year, Christian friends have become not only people I live life and follow Christ with, but also my English trainers, cultural advisors, drivers and housing providers. In June and August, the same friend drove me from Champaign, Illinois to Columbus, Ohio and drove back the first time with his girlfriend, and the second time by himself. Having long been on the receiving side of the relationship, I deeply wish to be able to do things for other people and to take better care of myself.

Riding a bike reduces my commuting time from 25 minutes to 10 minutes. With greater ability of transportation comes greater sense of independence, a false and alarming thought that I finally don’t have to dependent on other people to give me car rides. I believe our relationships with other people ultimately mirror our relationship with God. If merely being able to ride a bike could give me such an inflated ego, will I still put my dependence on God when I learn to drive a car, or when technology one day allows me to teleport with a snap of fingers?

In Attending Prayer class yesterday, Karen told us a painting about a father giving a puppy to his daughter. During this joyful event, the father’s attention is focused on his daughter, whereas the daughter’s attention is focused on the puppy. Often we, like the daughter in the painting, rejoice in our gifts, but not in the love of the Giver.

When God blessed me with bike riding, I almost treated it as a ladder to independence from other people. But in this experience, God has taught me to realize the gifts in my life are from him and I should be dependent and thankful.

Satisfaction in what God gives

One afternoon when reading a book on cultural differences in the business world, I came across a brand name of a bike: Surly Long Haul Trucker. After work, I went to a local retail store to check the bike. At the bike shop, I was not surprised by the price of the bike, but surprised that the 1300-dollar price tag did not at all deter my material desire. Considering all the good things that had happened with bike riding, I could have easily rationalized a purchase. But as I was thinking whether to buy or not, something Karen had shared with me came to my mind, “Sin is to acquire by force of what God would give by grace.” Upon hearing this message again, I was reminded that if God had not assigned Bruce as my housemate, I might not have learned how to ride a bike. And none of the subsequent blessings were from an eye-pleasing bike.

In Bruce’s house, there are 6 or 7 bikes, just like in the 
Garden of Eden there are plenty of fruits. Based on what Adam and Eve did, and my personal experience, I modify what Karen told me to, Sin is not being satisfied with what God gives us freely and abundantly, but seeking in our own ways of what we think will satisfy ourselves. Later Bruce had his worst bike totally tuned up for me. The bike now is good as new. And I am so happy with what God gives me for free!  

Through it all, my eyes are on You

Through it all, my eyes are on You

Yesterday is a heartbroken day for both my wife Alex and me. When I got home at night, Alex was crying and couldn’t control her emotions. After I looked at the message on her phone, I was suddenly very depressed as well.

The message is from our puppy breeder. We ordered an Australia Blue Heeler from her two months ago when the dog mother was still pregnant. And after the mother gave birth to seven puppies, we went to pick our puppy two weeks ago. Together we found our favorite one, and named him Gaby. But since Gaby couldn’t leave his mother yet, we can’t take him right away and we need to wait for two more weeks. This coming Saturday, which is 10/7/2016, is the date we are going to take him home and invite him into our family.

We have already bought various dog food and toys for our coming friend, but the message from the breeder broke our sweet dream. She said that Gaby passed away on Sunday, and she is still investigating the cause, because there weren’t any obvious signs before Gaby passed away.

Alex can’t stop crying sitting by my side, and I feel the same deep sorrow in my heart. I begin a conversation in my mind. -Why does this happen? -Well, since this has already happened, it means that God allows this to happen. -Why? -We don’t know the reason yet at this point, but we are sure of one thing: God loves us, and he has a plan for us, and his plan is best for us. We just can’t see it right now. – OK, Lord, I trust in you. I believe you have your plan and authority. You have your reasons for this to happen, and your authority can’t be questioned. But I just ask you that please tell us the reasons, please reveal your intentions to us. Because we just don’t have the wisdom to see it through by ourselves. Lord, please comfort Alex and me, please wipe out our tears. We put our faith in you. Thank you, Lord.

Then I express my thoughts to Alex and we pray together, and she felt much better.  Together we sing out one of our favorite songs “It is well”: Let go my soul and trust in him, the waves and wind still know His name… Through it all, through is all, my eyes are on you. And it is well with me…

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. - 1 Chronicles 16:34

When Meals Are Not Just Meals

Now I'm sitting in front of my dest, working. It's almost noon and I haven't had anything yet except one chocolate chip and see salt cookie (from Sassafras and it's really good), and a cup of coffee. I'm staring at my computer screen but my mind is at somewhere else. I'm thinking about what I should have for lunch and who I want to eat with. Eating is one of the most important things in my life and sharing meals with someone is a way of showing my affection to them.

During my first month here at IFI, I learnt that meals are important on so many different levels. Particularly here at IFI, sharing a meal with someone shows hospitality. It is a gathering where the death and resurrection of Jesus is celebrated and where the message of salvation is communicated through food. I had so many good times at IFI and the most memorable moments so far are related to food and meals. 

The first big gathering of all the ISEEDers, apprentices and our bosses (Phil and Russ) involved a lot of learning to pronounce hard Mediterranean food names and making tough decisions on what to order. More importantly, it served as a great opportunity for us to get to know one another and share the importance of meals in the different backgrounds we grew up in. It was interesting to find out that almost everyone viewed meals as something with significance. We also got to know more about all the staffs at IFI during the apple picking at Phil's uncle's house and lunch at Gene's house. It almost became natural to us to share about stories in our lives either related to Christ or not. I can truly feel that there are connections being made and relationships being built at the table. 

Just like what's written in A Meal With Jesus, Christian community's meals are for many things. It expresses God's grace, reinforces the community that God has created, and shows us what it's like to live under God's reign. Without God's creation, it's hard to imagine that any of these would even happen. 

There might be many ways to define the word meal just as the internet defines it as the food eaten on regular occasions. However, there are so many things other than food and other than its literal meaning associated with this word. 

It's really not hard to see that love, grace and community is deeply rooted in meals and they became inseparable parts. Jesus lives His life as a perfect illustration of it and we should too.