i'm...

done!!!

now its all up to God and see if this is something He wants me to do.

55...60 tops

thats the percentage of this application that i have completed...this thing is becoming ever more clear and real...i am beyond excited and can't wait to see what will come out of this process =]

i should get back to the app now...pieces

urbana09...a "short" recap

So here's my response paper to Urbana09 for my church for giving me a full scholarship: (its suppose to be only 2 pages max 1.5 spaced)

           As I sit here once again thinking about what happened at Urbana09 last week, I find myself to be in a similar position to what I felt 3 years prior: major writer’s block. The sense that I have absolutely no idea where to begin my reflection/response paper is due to the fact that so much had happened last week. For me to sum it up in these few words would be nearly impossible. Nevertheless, here is my attempt to be as concise and brief as possible. But first, a disclaimer:

In response to what most people are intending when they ask “how was Urbana09?” My answers would be: worship was awesome, speakers were great, and the seminars were pretty good, at least the ones I went to. However, this is actually a question I hate answering because it gives me no leeway to share more in depth of how/what Urbana was for me. So for those of you reading this, please don’t ask “how was Urbana?” to me, or any of the attendees. If you really want to know more about Urbana09 (even after reading this whole booklet), please come up and ask us to share some details in which God has spoken to us at Urbana, to share with you on how God is moving in us and how YOU can help us and pray for the decisions we may have committed at Urbana09. Personally, I would love to discuss it over beverage or even a meal, depending if I know you or not? Haha…

Anyways, in response to an invitation like that, I would answer that Urbana09 was overwhelming, informational, moving, and answering.

First, it was overwhelming because of the nature of the conference. To be among 17,000+ attendees, volunteers and leaders was even too much for an extrovert like me. Trying to find some alone time to spend with God in solitude, a spiritual discipline I’ve been trying to practice, was nearly impossible. However, sticking to what I had told the rest of OCM Urbana attendees, I was fortunate enough to find time each day to fast(only for 2 days =X), pray, and really listen to what God wanted to tell me. I found that through these times of solitude and prayer, I was able to listen with clarity for the things that God wanted to say to me. For the things that God wanted to me to do, as well as for the things that God wanted to convict in my heart for the things that convicts His heart.

Second, Urbana09 was informational, as all other preceding Urbanas with the thousands of seminars available, as well as the hundreds of mission agencies that were there. One particular seminar that struck me the most was the very first one I attended. The title of the seminar was “The Missional Church and Worship.” In summary, the speaker points out that people who experience genuine transformation and enter into renewing covenant with God will be unable to NOT be Missional. In return, we will be able to engage with God in spirit and in truth as true worshipers; by living out a lifestyle that is of transformation, a lifestyle that has a renewal of a covenant with God, and a lifestyle that speaks of missions in all that we say and do.

Thirdly, I say that Urbana09 was moving because I definitely felt that God is making a move with the current generation and the generations of collegiate students to come. God is definitely stirring the hearts of this generation to the things that stir His heart. The statement that echoes in my head was asked by one of the speakers, Ruth Padilla Deborst, when she asked us, “Jesus Christ became flesh, and He chose to dwell with us in our neighborhoods. Do you have the eyes to see Him?” As many of you know (or for those that bought an OCM Urbana shirt) that the theme verse for Urbana09 was John 1:14. The idea that Jesus, God, the word, became flesh and chose to dwell among us in our neighborhood was echoed in all the plenary talks. That the King of all kings, Lord of all lords, the almighty, the creator, the one true God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to live and dwell among us, to die for us and our sins.

Lastly, Urbana09 was answering. I say this because going into Urbana09, I was longing for an answer from God for a direction. From Urbana06, I had felt that God was calling me into full time ministry. But for the past 3 years or so, I have been searching and searching for an answer from God and found no luck. I was beginning to become discouraged and was extremely scared that I might have misheard God 3 years ago. Going through the internship over these last few months at OCM and volunteering with Intervarsity however, I was affirmed that I didn’t mishear God; I was merely at a crossroad between seminary and full time staff with Intervarsity. So with this at heart, I prayed and hope that God would finally give me an answer to my dilemma…and He did. As I have mentioned, I was able to find time to pray and consult God alone, as well as with Spiritual Advisors and peers throughout the week. As a result, I have decided to apply to be a full time staff worker for Intervarsity. I have an understanding that God is calling me to the mission field of University/College Campuses. To mobilize the collegiate communities in New York/New Jersey region to help raise awareness on the importance of being transformed by God, renewal of our campuses and covenant with God, being missional in the things we say and do, and to live a lifestyle of true worshipers that our Father seeks  with students and hopefully with faculty as well.

So yeah, that was Urbana09 in a nutshell for me. If you have any more questions and/or would like to know more, please come speak to me. i definitely have a LOT more to share if you're interested. =]

do YOU know who HE is?

Jesus Christ became flesh, and He chose to dwell with us in our neighborhoods. do you have the eyes to see Him?

i had to give a sermon O_0?

so as my internship here in OCM is drawing near the end, one of my last "assignments" was to preach at youth service...and yeah, i'll admit it...it was pretty fun. sharing with people of the things that i have learned/know has always been something i LOVE to do. getting this opportunity was a LOT more fun than i had anticipated and i definitely don't dread it as much as i did when i first got this assignment.

so yeah...just wanted to leave that thought there...in case i ever wonder if i actually like preaching if given the chance again...haha

if you wana hear a clip...lemme know and i can send it to you?

thats all for now..i really should/need to get some sleep

pieces

prayer warrior

Dear Grandma,

it was quite hard and confusing last week when i first heard that you were gone. i wasn't exactly sure if i should be in sorrow or be joyful. whether i should be in tears or smiling. if i should have been angry or be happy. but to hear of the things that were said about you over the last couple of days, to see the many that have come to "pay their respects", to see how you've continued to bless your family, even through your death...its inevitable to say that i'm beyond overjoyed that God has brought you back in His arms, finally. to know that you're in the safest and best place you could be...and you're finally able to enjoy the treasures you have stored in heaven. 

Thank you for loving me, even when you didn't really get to know me. Thank you for your prayers, even though you didn't know what was going on in my life. Thank you for displaying the faith you had in God, and the way you lived out your life as an example to your family, friends, and the church. most importantly, thank you for showing what it means to be a warrior, a [prayer] warrior for God.

I believe that He loves you where you are
I believe that you've seen the hands of God
I believe that you'll know it when
You're back in His arms again

I believe that He never let you go
I believe that He's wanting you to know
I believe that He'll lead you 'til
you're back in His arms again 

And I know that He's callin'
He's callin' you Home

One life, one love, one way Home
And when you rise and when you fall
He will see you through it all
He is waiting, you are called,
back in His arms again. - Mark Schultz

with love from Him, in Him, and through Him

your grandson,

boaz

p.s. can't wait to see you again some day =]

where to start?

oh man...its been quite some time since i've made a public post...

theres just so much that has occurred that i couldn't get myself to write anything out despite all the good things that has come over this past month. but now that i've had a chance to think things through, i have a few things that i'd like to share with all of you.

1. one of the things i've realized is that God has been awesomely good to me...and the random posting of the song didn't end up being so random afterall. i've found that within this chaos and confusion that i've gone through, it is most certainly true that God was sovereign and unchanging. and because of that, i've found that i have even MORE reasons to be grateful for all the GOOD things that God is doing in my life now, and all the AWESOME things that He's gona do in my life to come.
2. i LOVE serving in ministry. i have no idea how/why, but i get extremely excited when i know i have the oppourtunity to serve along brothers and sisters for the sake of God's mission and in bringing His kingdom to our communities.
3. lastly, i've come to realize again that God loves to work in the weirdest ways. even in the midst of my weakness, God is able use me and teach me lessons that are beyond valuable to my growth spiritually, even extending it to my growth emotionally, mentally, and physically. why? because i worship a God who isn't unable to sympathize with my weaknesses, but i have one who has been tempted in every way, just as i am—yet was without sin (Heb. 4:15)
   

so yeah, thats kinda my month in a nut shell...there's a lot more i could write, but im being lazy...haha...i'll write more some other time.

but before i go, here's another song i wana share with you...

Bless the Lord (Son of Man) - Tye Tribbet & G.A.

Son of man, Son of righteousness
King of the earth for sinners slain

I was lost, in darkness found
You ransomed my heart and i will sing

(You are )my Strength, (You are)my Deliverer
The One who rescued me
(You are) my Hope, (You are)my redeemer
Your love has set me free
(Thats why i will)

Bless the Lord oh my soul

In the splendor of Your Majesty
from deep within my spirit sings, holy holy


pieces =]