the one after a hard day

Today was an awful day. It started out good, and ended ok, but the middle was just awful- even after reading Proverbs 19 and submitted my plans... awful.

Still, i am thankful for...

1. My friend Ken
We talked this morning briefly... well what felt brief... i feel we could talk a few hours and scracth the surface.
Ken was my best man.
The ironic thing is we didn't really become friends until i left the country... well my last year in the states we started hanging out, the next year talked a bit, the 2nd year began talking all the time.
i am thankful for a good friend who pursues me and cares about me, talks about God, loves the Gospel and can laugh with a whole lot - and can relate so well. Thank God for such a good friend

2. My wife
It's not new to the list, but i am thankful for Soo. She is the most important thing in the world to me. Proverbs 18:22 says he who finds a wife, finds a good thing - and that's true. Thank God for my wife.

3. pizza - again... perfect pizza tonight, and it helps after a rough day.

the one with a lot of birthdays

It seems like everyone has a birthday in January... Soo, my mom... wait, does anyone else matter?

Birthdays come in bunches here in East Asia it seems.
My first year 4 of the 6 birthdays were: Sept, 19, 26,28 & Oct 9
The next year Sep 19,26 & Oct 10

One year we had 4 birthdays  in a week in April
And now from my bday on Sep 26 to Oct 26... there are 6 birthdays...

January has been pretty crazy, with 6 people celebrating birthdays in the first ten days.

So...

Today i am thankful for...

1. Jeanne Thompson (born Jan 1)...
    rare collection of fun & deep, always asks good questions, loves the Gospel and loves God
2. Stevie Shale (born Jan 2)
    Quite possibly the most random person i've ever met. You just never know what to expect... and even expecting that, you're still surprised
3. Stephanie Schumacher (born Jan 10)
    cheerful, passionate, fun, real, encouraging. Made our teams awesome.

Thankful for friendships with these three. Thankful to be on teams with them. Thankful for their faith.
We hope we'll see you again soon!

Today i am thankful for... (Jan 7)

Jan 7: Mark Fertig's birthday
Jan 8: Soo's birthday

Today i am thankful for Mark
1. My friendship with Mark, good conversation
2. God brought Mark to Himself in college,
3. and then brought him to East Asia to impact others
4. Mark's faith
5. That Ohio state was not very good at football this year (sorry Mark)

Thank You Jesus for giving me Life

35 years in the books... Thank You Jesus for giving me life.

35 years is significant... my sister didn't make it to 30, Jesus died when he was 33... i have lived 5 years more than my sister did and have had more than a year than Jesus did too.

Life would be so different if my sister were around... i could imagine her being a great aunt, loving Halle & Soo well... sending a package every month... then again, i wonder if she hadn't gone through what she did, if i hadn't seen her faith, if i hadn't experienced disappointment, if i hadn't experienced death... would i be where i am now?

God gave me life. He created all peoples. God Almighty, Creator of the Universe, Author of all things.

But He not only gave a physical life, He gave me real life, everlasting life, the abundant life.

i may have had a physical body and lived life on earth... but my spirit was dead. My sin brought death. i was enslaved to sin and on path to eternal destruction... Jesus came to rescue me from death & give me life.

Looking back, my life was empty. i went to school, i played sports, i watched tv- but life had no meaning. i felt insecure, unimportant, useless, worthless. i didn't like life- at least my life. i had buddies i guess, but no friends. i could do some things, but i was nothing spectacular. There was no hope... i was just looking forward to death.

Christ established hope, brought me joy, poured out love, changed my life... gave me life!

If you know me, you know i am a sinful person. You know i am selfish. You know i can be impatient & anxious and certainly full of pride. i needed a Savior. God saw my need and sent His Son to die for my sin.
Now, i have life, life everlasting!


Looking back, i can see God's hand on my life. All over the place.
I am Indian.
Born to parents who were arranged in marriage
Indian parents who were Christian
Born in America... in Indiana
in Septmeber... so i'd be younger/smaller than everyone in my class
born ten years after my sister and eight years after my brother.
Born to parents who loved God, loved us, were giving to others.

i went to Purdue
lived in an all-guys dorm
there was a Bible study on my floor
lived on the same floor as Brian Bettag
at the last second he asked me to live with him sophomore year
met his brother Kevin, Kevin's best friend Andy, their co-worker Brack
i got involved in a Christian group i tried to avoid
i joined a Bible study i didn't want to be in, but didn't have the guts to say no on the phone
i made friends who changed my lfie

My sister got cancer.
My prayers weren't answered
i felt forgotten by God... when a friend told me he was praying for me... when my dad told me to keep faith...
i went to a conference around the same time, and learned about surrender
2 weeks later my sister died... i was far away from home with a lot of time to think...
Somehow i wasn't angry or scared... but hopeful... and given new perspective
... and i began praying more

i got convicted about going to the world... i hoped my parents wouldn't like the idea, but they were excited... until i told them i was going - they forgot all about that conversation... then i went... and i went again... had hard times... but God was still leading.

He led me through the book of Acts as i was considering my future... and He led me to Asia...
while in Asia, He laid the University of Michigan on my mind... and when i joined... that was the 1st option they mentioned...

But soon time at Michigan would be up too... and i left the country, just when everything was starting to go well
And though times were difficult, He convicted me to stay... then we started seeing some incredible things happen...
And i committed to 3 more years... with no wife... and after rejection after rejection after rejection... i met Soo... we got married, got pregnant, had a baby(notice no pauses)...

Been reading Exodus...
...without Esau hating Jacob, he would have never met Rachel
...without Rachel having difficulty conceiving, Joseph wouldn't have been favored so much, causing him to be hated
... without Jacobs brothers hating him and selling him into slavery, and Potiphor's wife slandering his name, Joseph would have never had the opportunity to advance as far he did
... without Joseph's power, Israel would have never been in Egypt and become slaves
... without being slaves, Israel would have never been delivered and gone to the promise land
And
without Jesus being wrongly accused, wrongly put to death... we would never be able to receive the blessing of eternal life with God



God's hand has been upon me.
He has led me.
He has been with me.
He has been with me during the hard times and the pleasant times.
He has been with me in America, Asia, Turkey, all my travels.
He has been with me when i was a Jesus freak, when i was apathetic, when i doubted, all the time

He is the source of joy.
He is the source of peace.
He is the source of love.
HE is the source of LIFE!

Where would i be without Him? i don't know.

But i am thankful for all the people He has put in my life.
i am thankful for all the places He has taken me.
i am thankful for the challenges and changes He brought to me.
i am thankful for the trials & difficulties & disappointments.
i am thankful He has changed my heart and changed my life.
i am thankful He has saved me.

John 15:5
Psalm 16
Acts 20:22-24


Thank You Jesus for giving me life!

My birthday wish

Soo & my parents and others have asked what i want for my birthday... but reality is: i don't need anything... and i get to live with my beautiful wife and amazing child... i have wonderful parents, a meaningful job, and a relationship with God Almighty & Savior Jesus Christ.

i don't need anything.

But y'know what millions elsewhere are suffering.

On twitter a few weeks ago, i saw Erwin McManeus post a tweet asking people to make donations to Charity:water. And so i have followed suit

http://mycharitywater.org/Matthew1042

Matthew 10:42 Jesus says: "And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”


Last year i read the hole in our Gospel, which talks a lot about our need to help the poor as disciples of Christ, as well as the huge needs people have - especially for water. i do suggest WorldVision as a source to give to as well.


As i think of this bday wish i think of the old Steve Martin SNL skit, and wonder if i'm honest is this what i wish for?


Well, actually that wouldn't be first


1st would be that my friends who have had trouble having kids would receive good news! i have 3 good friends struggling with infertility... i guess on top of that would be those who recently had kids with some health troubles... or those having trouble in marriage... even those struggling with lonliness... yeah, my wish would be these folks going through trouble would be blessed! i pray not only they would have kids or get what they want, but they'd experience the Lord and the Lord would be glorified in them!


There are some selfish wishes too... Overall, i'd say:


1. friends receive good news, esp those having trouble having kids
2. A day without an conflict:
    No conflict with Soo, people on my team, my leaders, random people... man i hate conflict
3. A day free of obligations & responsibilities:
    i love being a dad... and i love being a leader... but it means a lot of responsibilities (my buddy erik warned me when we got pregnant "remember in 'the life you've always wanted' when he said he'd take a day to do nothing for himself so he could serve others? Welcome to the rest of your life). 
    It'd be nice to have freedom to serve, ability to do everything on my schedule
4. the poor would be helped: water, food, etc 
5. A day with Dad: enjoying Him, connecting with Him thru His Word, writing, praise, prayer...
6. A day with Soo: a date... no conflict...
7.     Phone calls from good friends… and those friends who haven’t returned phone calls – you know who you are… good fun & deep conversations


As long as I’m dreaming, and let’s face it, these are all pipe dreams... 

1.     A night of playing Settlers with Corey, Mark, Ben & Doug… maybe we could add Josh & Jason too…  if someone asked who the lord of catan is at the end that'd be fun too..

2.     A conference like CSU- some good speakers, P&W… with a lot of my old staff friends like Berg, Dueck, ej, others… having those good conversations about the Bible and faith… of course guys I still keep in touch with like Ken & Scotty(though he’s not on staff anymore)… so how ‘bout other former interns & stinters like Sean, Will, Smylys, Scholten… yeah, that would be even better than #1...

3.     A Waffle ball reuion- with actual basketball games and actual waffles… no reunion would be complete w/o the Brothers Bettag, Brack, The Messmerizer, Crazy Uncle Tim, the Dowds, Justin, Big Sol & al… maybe some others... that would be fun

4.     Watch some football with a few friends… eating wings (maybe at Buffalo wild wings itself) and drinking something cold… i really miss this right now

5.     To be able to go on a walk at 10:30 at night with Soo & puppy… cool air, a nice breeze, good conversation, and a happy puppy

6.     I’d love to see some of my Asian friends again too… and hear about their faith

7.     Be able to share the Gospel… lead a Bible study… IN ENGLISH… and with people who really want to hear... though maybe more important would be a person coming to Christ or growing in faith... i guess this would be more important than anything on the list i suppose

8.     Returning to America for Food would be good too… In N out… jamba juice… Chipotle… Skyline… Grand Lux… a bleu cheese & bacon burger… Outback Special with a caesar salad… pepperoni pizza...

9.     Sleep in

10. If we’re talking about returns… how about Christ’s return? i guess that would be ultimate...

11. And i suppose if we're going past this year...i guess most of all, i pray Halle (and other children we may have) would love & follow Christ.

All in all...

My desire for this year... my motto for the year...

i would be sensitive/attentive to the direction of the Holy Spirit and i'd be sensitive/attentive to the needs of others! (which often are the same thing i think)

Oh, that i may be a blessing to others!

Bless others, Glorify God.

This is my hope, my desire, my goal, my prayer. 

The thing about facebook

i took Soo out on a facebook date tonight.
It included watching "The Social Network", talking about facebook and spending some time on facebook.

The movie was great! Great story-telling & great casting (but that is to be expected with Aaron Sokin & David Fincher).
It reminded me how much i liked facebook when it was clean & simple - and not the mess of applications it is now.
And how much better the facebook was when it was exclusive.
But yeah, it was an intense movie, great character development, fun.


It also showed me how much facebook has changed the world... i mean, we can know things about people we barely know at all...

i do often wonder what my life would have been like if facebook was around when i was in college. i'd have 500+ more friends... i think it would have made dating easier (knowing who was single and who was somewhat interested) but also more difficult (b/c i wouldn't know how to talk to people in person).
And would i have graduated?


I'm interested in seeing what people interaction's will be like in a few years- when all they've known is facebook. Will they really know how to talk with each other? Will they go out and make new friends? Will friends really be friends - or will they stay at superficial levels.
Will freshman in college have to go out and make new friends, or just stay in their room staying in touch with highschool buddies?

i am thankful for facebook now, i have reconnected with a buddy from college who i haven't talked to in a decade and a buddy from high school i hadn't talked to in 12 years... + i can keep up with people while living a continent away!


On our date, we discussed how can facebook be detrimental to our walk with God?
And how can we use facebook to advance God's Kingdom, serve God's purposes, glorify God?

Detrimental:
1. obviously wasting time
2. similarly: turn to facebook instead of God as a default
3. could keep from actually knowing people, initiating
4. could judge people w/o knowing what is going on

for glorify God:
1. pray for people- reminds us to pray, know better how to pray
2. write encouraging notes on people's walls
3. write notes, status updates that could encourage, challenge others by talking about God's Word.
4. make people aware of prayer requests
5. write praises, make people aware of God
6. post sermons, videos
7. contact old friends, build relationships, use for Evangelism


There were a few more things we did, could have done... We prayed for people on the date. We uploaded some pictures. we talked about stuff in our information section: tv shows, books, activities...
It was pretty fun.


Back to facebook: My first 2 fb friends: Nate Racklyeft & Laura Shunta... when i first started fb when i accepted friend requests i would write a note to them to say why i considered them a friend... that stopped pretty quickly. Paul Gustafson was the first person to write on my wall.
And being on facebook as a staff was a key insider move. When i left Michigan i i said "I'm not a student, but i am on facebook."


Go watch the movie.
Go spend time with your wife and/or friends, and don't waste all your time on facebook.
And spend your time on facebook wisely and to serve God's purposes.

My favorite birthday memories

Well, it was a great birthday, my first in the states in years... and first where people weren't required to come to my party... 56 people posted birthday messages on my wall (After the first few wrote matt, almost everyone wrote mookie)... got to see a bunch of friends over the weekend... it was great.

Though, i kinda feel like people forgot it was my birthday... not much singing these days (sideways glance)... not many phone-calls this year... actually only my parents... still it was a great day and birthday calls are kind of hard, so the next few days- that would be great.

This may go in my top 5 birthday memories. There wasn't much flashy, but it was relaxing, fun and encouraging. And it was my first with Soo as my wife, my first as a married man that is - and she's great.

We had a bunch of people over Saturday morning and Soo & my mom made doughnuts and some other stuff for breakfast. Then we had dinner with a couple friends (Brack & Marc) at the Weber Grill tonight. So, that was good.
i got a bunch of free stuff, which makes me happy.
i didn't get to spend the huge chunk of time at starbucks like i wanted, but did watch some football, and now going to spend some time with God... and went to church this morning.

So, best birthday memories?

My best bday memories

1.     2008: Serving others, time of sharing & worship, fun with a group, good convos… (i wrote about it in yesterday's blog, so i won't repeat myself)

2.     2001? UofM: Will threw me a surprise party (always great, always special), 3 birthday cakes (mom got me one, I took to Bible study, the girls across the street made one too… and another?) – or at least 3 parties, a good day of ministry: surveys, Bible study, discipleship even, lots of love and birthday wishes

3.     many growing up as a kid: we played baseball, football and basketball… went mini-golfing, and had pizza & video games at celebration station, all my friends spent the night… and I think doughnuts in the morning. God wasn’t involved here, but it was fun

4.     my 30^th bday: maybe just b/c I was turning 30… got some encouragement from lots of people and some creative gifts and a big party…. And a cake in the face

There have been a lot of sad birthdays and a number of average ones. This was a good one.

Thankful for good friends, loving family and of course my amazing wife. God has blessed me. My life has been good. And the Lord is good to me.

Thanks all!

My perfect day

about ten years ago i first heard this question: Describe your perfect day.
The Turkey Stint team discussed it. The most fun & memorable answer was given by sheila Settle who mentioned riding 4-wheelers, then realizing they were late for the ball and having a big dance party.

The one thing i certainly would not want is a dance party. That ruins any day for me.

i like asking this question. A lot of people may mention specific restaurants, others would have a lot of time alone. There could be dance parties or games... i don't know.

What would your perfect day be?

I used to say the day would go like this

Wake up in the morning and play basketball with a bunch of my good friends (And some random people) for a good couple hours… (roughly 9-11ish

Then go eat lunch with those folks + have a lot of other good friends join me (girls could be at both of course- though maybe more guys at basketball). For lunch we’d have waffles and some other good eats (rougly 11ish-1ish)

Take a nice long shower, and maybe watch some sportscenter – it’d be 2:30

Then I’d meet my significant other- whoever that may be- and spend time with her and go spend time with God together. Read some Bilbe, journal, talk together, pray together, maybe read part of a book

Then around 6 meet up with a bunch of friends for a Cook-out I guess : grilled burgers- even better Bleu cheese on the burger… maybe some BBQ stuff too… and cake, brownies, cookies, all that good stuff…A lot more friends would be there too- all sorts of friends  and like lunch (which I forgot to mention) good conversation. Fun conversation, lots of laughs. And also a lot of DEEP conversation, a lot of talking about God, Jesus, Bible, deep theology, and life issues. Some small group convos, maybe some one-one type stuff too. A lot of smiles, a lot of laughs, a lot of encouragement, edfiication & challenge.

Then there would be a great time of worship & prayer and perhaps a talk from God’s Word… followed by discussion and more prayer and more singing.

(I’m think 6-8 for the dinner part 8-10 for Worship,prayer, talk part, then an extra hour for more prayer, worship, talking)

Then we’d finish the night with some tv shows (at the point I would have first said this: Seinfeld & Simpsons + friends, maybe Cosby – now, I’d add scrubs, maybe 30 Rock, that 70’s show, maybe Sportscenter)… with some pizza- deep dish pizza even better.

People would head home, I’d walk my girl home, I’d come back, spend a good chunk of time journaling, then fall asleep.

I’ve changed that a few times, but pretty similar most of the time.

I kinda realized that was pretty much every weekend for my last 2 years of college  minus the girlfriend part (which maybe why there is just a little time with her in there).

Or it could be like Christmas Conference or fall retreat I suppose.

My Saturdays certainly started that way. Sunday mornings were kinda like that with church. Friday night we did have some prayer & praise nights that were pretty good.

Yeah, I had a pretty good life in College.

Later I said: maybe the best I could get now- my best day in fact would be: My wedding day! All my friends together. With my wife. Worship, good conversation…

Well, the wedding day was pretty good: after all, we got married.

No time for basketball… we did take a lot of pictures + there were a bunch of people I wasn’t too close too, people we hired who didn’t fulfill their bargains and a lot of stress… but it was still pretty good, even if we didn’t get the food we wanted all day long and several friends didn’t show up.

We had a great worship set, a talk, edifying conversation & encouragement of some sort – though not a lot of deep conversations- a lot of friends, some good food- and most importantly: my wife!

The key components to my perfect day:

1.     Good friends (family too)

2.     Worship in singing

3.     Feeling intimacy with God: through song, through prayer

4.     Time alone with God

5.     My significant other

6.     Good food

7.     Fun

8.     Laughter

9.     Deep conversation

10. And usually sports.

I added one component later- when I planned my last birthday as a single: serving others, blessing others instead of myself.

I like that.

A couple years ago : birthday 32 I did that. I invited everyone over and threw a party. I think years of parties not going the way I hoped, influenced that. But also a going away party too… and really, yeah, even though saw how expensive it was, I saw it as a huge blessing to bless others.

So that bday, I invited people over for games like corhole and catch or whatever, but not many came. The evening was mostly just filled with conversation and some silly games over dinner- though not a whole lot. Mostly conversation- as I made pizza and pulled pork sandwhiches for everyone. Then we had a wrship time. A few songs… then I opened it up for sharing and asked people to bless me, by sharing things God had been doing. That was pretty cool. And I may have even asked for prayer requests. Then we sang some more and prayed together. That was what I wanted on my birthday. To come together and celebrate God, not me.

After that, a few people stuck around talked and watched some friends episodes and ate some more.

Oh and in the morning, I did spend some time with God… and since some ppl came over early, there was some good conversation going on too.

So, now… yeah, maybe I need a couple days since I’m older… and married… and my friends are all different places, so… whatever.

But yeah…

I would want some intimate moments with my wife

- and that would be after a good sleep, and before… and I guess during breakfast- waffles (or doughnuts)

A nice hour long massage

A good shower

Lunch out with a bunch of friends – maybe Skyline Chilli or a Bleu Cheese burger or Weber Grill- yeah Weber Grill sounds good. (12-2:30)

Then a good chunk of time alone at a bookstore – reading books and the Bible, but probably mostly journaling (with a nice refreshing drink). Then some time talking with Soo about stuff (2:30-6)

Then dinner with friends – maybe pizza (Deep dish, bbq chik, pepperoni) and cake… also cookies, brownies…

Again both lunch & dinner should be good conversation: about God, Jesus, the Word, etc + a lot of stories and jokes and laughter.

Then around 8-10+ have a worship time with prayer and maybe sharing, maybe a talk – but maybe more people sharing encouraging things from the Word and from stories God is doing… followed by more worship, prayer & discussion – til 11…. Yes then maybe a movie or tv shows til about 1….

Everyone would leave, I would talk with Soo, watch sportscenter, journal, thank everyone on twitter, and spend more time with Soo before bed.

Time with God, time with Soo, time with friends, time alone, time talking, good conversation, fun, laughter, maybe some sports, good food, worship & prayer... this makes a perfect day