hey guys
if you could pray for me as i'm trying to get all my support letters sent out for my stm trip this summer. Administrative items make me unusually stressed out, more so than other things, and so amidst writing the letter to new college friends, old family friends as well as even a few nonbelievers i plan to send it to, I just need to give it up to God and trust in Him.
also to trust that God will provide all the money to go; to pray relentlessly to that end that He would be glorified in that way. i really have so much lessons to learn in trusting God. Lisa told benson who told me about just how much God provides for what you need to serve Him [in the context of sgl] If you withdraw b/c of your feelings of inadaquacy, its b/c you're not trusting God to use you. The only thing you do run hard after God. (even that i must question myself: am I doing always doing that in my life?) but It's really stuck with me this week (in a good but humbling way). I think the simplest lessons are always the most impacting to me-- you must trust in God. When you teach 3 year olds you hafta simplify your 'sermons' to 5 word lessons [eg. 'Put your hope in God']. Sometimes i think thats all i can handle. 'You must trust in God'. I think its why i feel so comfortable in children's ministry..
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
I saw Billy Graham today!
I don't mean to take away from this blog, but I wanted to let you all know what a cool day I had.
http://chrischois.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/ecumenical-conference-4108/
http://chrischois.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/ecumenical-conference-4108/
Sunday, March 16, 2008
reaching spring
its funny how finals studying always grants you the ability to remember forgotten distractions.
--such as this! NOBODY EVER READS OR POSTS HERE!!! [which we will try to fix in spring!] , So next quarter I expect to hear all of your thoughts!! i want to stalk/hear about you guys!!
Anways, good luck studying this week boys. =)
I found this blurb that I wrote last year [i think it was me, unless i copied it from somewhere] that i thought was really random...I dont remember writing it. It was on a document titled "Valentines day" (2007):
"When I say God hears your prayers, I don’t just mean he hears you, I mean he listens. When I say God listens to you, I don’t just mean he listens, but he answers. And when I say he answers your prayers, I don’t just mean he answers you, but he changes things, he acts, he changes hearts, he changes lives, he changes you."
ahahaha.. uhhh.. i dunno, i'm curious what you guys think? heresy? good poetry? biblical truth? I do miss freshmen year when I had the free time that I would suddenly burst into eccentric, but cheesy thought..
One more thing.. i read this yesterday:
Proverbs 11:7
For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.
Kind of an unusual reminder. But God really truly loves righteous deeds. I think sometimes the qualifier that it adds nothing to salvation, sometimes makes me think for a second that doing good is a less than good thing. But we were created for them! (eph 2:10). When we're saved, he loves to see us do good b/c it makes Him happy, and it makes Him look good, which also makes Him happy. So put on the right heart, and go do good things, and rejoice that you're pleasing God! Because he's saved us, because he enables us, we can please him! =)
study well guys =)
-jonathan
--such as this! NOBODY EVER READS OR POSTS HERE!!! [which we will try to fix in spring!] , So next quarter I expect to hear all of your thoughts!! i want to stalk/hear about you guys!!
Anways, good luck studying this week boys. =)
I found this blurb that I wrote last year [i think it was me, unless i copied it from somewhere] that i thought was really random...I dont remember writing it. It was on a document titled "Valentines day" (2007):
"When I say God hears your prayers, I don’t just mean he hears you, I mean he listens. When I say God listens to you, I don’t just mean he listens, but he answers. And when I say he answers your prayers, I don’t just mean he answers you, but he changes things, he acts, he changes hearts, he changes lives, he changes you."
ahahaha.. uhhh.. i dunno, i'm curious what you guys think? heresy? good poetry? biblical truth? I do miss freshmen year when I had the free time that I would suddenly burst into eccentric, but cheesy thought..
One more thing.. i read this yesterday:
Proverbs 11:7
For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.
Kind of an unusual reminder. But God really truly loves righteous deeds. I think sometimes the qualifier that it adds nothing to salvation, sometimes makes me think for a second that doing good is a less than good thing. But we were created for them! (eph 2:10). When we're saved, he loves to see us do good b/c it makes Him happy, and it makes Him look good, which also makes Him happy. So put on the right heart, and go do good things, and rejoice that you're pleasing God! Because he's saved us, because he enables us, we can please him! =)
study well guys =)
-jonathan
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Bible Intake (Part 1)...For the Purpose of Godliness
I posted about this on my own blog, but I wanted to share something that encouraged me as I was reading. Perhaps you will be encouraged too.
Have a God-glorifying break!
---------
[1] Geoffrey Thomas, Reading the Bible (Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1980), page 22.
Chris Chois
So go on reading it [the Bible] until you can read no longer, and then you will not need the Bible any more, because when your eyes close for the last time in death, and never again read the Word of God in Scripture you will open them to the Word of God in the flesh, the same Jesus of the Bible whom you have known for so long, standing before you to take you for ever to His eternal home. [1]
Have a God-glorifying break!
---------
[1] Geoffrey Thomas, Reading the Bible (Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1980), page 22.
Chris Chois
Sunday, December 16, 2007
a generous spirit
Lol, i was just gonna comment on gabe's post, but then i thought i might as well make another post, since we could use more activity here.. ><
Anyways, Yea! I was just reading 1 tim. and paul stresses money, along with false doctrine, that would lead people astray.. Its scary to think how one of our weaknesses could drive us to do really really bad and really damaging and hurtful things.. like get our friend crucified. I think money affects us all more than we think. I dont really think of myself as a materialistic person (compared to you Gabe lollll jk)(though maybe i should), yet I am struggling ALOT in seeing just how witholding I am in my heart with my possessions. If not to people, than just to God an unwillingness to assign myself fully to His tasks. Really, just a lack of generosity in my heart.
i was reading luke 6 (not sure if its parallel to sermon on mount, but its similar), and the application of being in the kingdom is not to read your bible more, but to give! Give to everyone who begs from you (ch6:30). Thats intense!! Jesus is saying that a regenerated heart is characterized by one who is generous. Buying someone a coffee may fool my ego into thinking I am generous, but when i hear stories of people giving their entire fortunes for missions or to the church, I ask myself what it is that prevents my heart from doing the same. And i know its not just responsibility and stewardship of money that explains it. I could say its the Chinese blood running through me (and be partially right), but really its just sin. its my selfish heart
And why can we be generous? theres the sense in Jesus' sermon that nothing on earth binds us any longer; we are no longer held captive by lusts of the world; desiring things of the earth. I'm no longer storing up for things here. We are FREE, to be non-withholding of our possessions and money. I think v.35 unifies it somewhat, "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and evil." It combines the spirit, with the action, with the eternal reward we seek in heaven.
It's like Jesus is saying, "How can you be poor in spirit, but withholding of money!?" humble people are not greedy people. It's no coincidence that Jesus talks about spiritual faith and bankruptcy, and then doing good to others, because they are directly related.
Spiritual dependence, then, is not purely spiritual, because it affects how you think and live in all areas of your life. So if I am to be spiritually dependent, it means I must submit to God all other areas of my life. It also means I must give.
Also.. this made me think that I need to look more intensely at Christ, b/c all human role models we have are far too worldly as well, lol..
anyways. whoever reads this.. pray for me please. I want to be like Christ.
oh, and pray for Gabe too, he still buys too much random asian figurine crap... ;)
Anyways, Yea! I was just reading 1 tim. and paul stresses money, along with false doctrine, that would lead people astray.. Its scary to think how one of our weaknesses could drive us to do really really bad and really damaging and hurtful things.. like get our friend crucified. I think money affects us all more than we think. I dont really think of myself as a materialistic person (compared to you Gabe lollll jk)(though maybe i should), yet I am struggling ALOT in seeing just how witholding I am in my heart with my possessions. If not to people, than just to God an unwillingness to assign myself fully to His tasks. Really, just a lack of generosity in my heart.
i was reading luke 6 (not sure if its parallel to sermon on mount, but its similar), and the application of being in the kingdom is not to read your bible more, but to give! Give to everyone who begs from you (ch6:30). Thats intense!! Jesus is saying that a regenerated heart is characterized by one who is generous. Buying someone a coffee may fool my ego into thinking I am generous, but when i hear stories of people giving their entire fortunes for missions or to the church, I ask myself what it is that prevents my heart from doing the same. And i know its not just responsibility and stewardship of money that explains it. I could say its the Chinese blood running through me (and be partially right), but really its just sin. its my selfish heart
And why can we be generous? theres the sense in Jesus' sermon that nothing on earth binds us any longer; we are no longer held captive by lusts of the world; desiring things of the earth. I'm no longer storing up for things here. We are FREE, to be non-withholding of our possessions and money. I think v.35 unifies it somewhat, "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and evil." It combines the spirit, with the action, with the eternal reward we seek in heaven.
It's like Jesus is saying, "How can you be poor in spirit, but withholding of money!?" humble people are not greedy people. It's no coincidence that Jesus talks about spiritual faith and bankruptcy, and then doing good to others, because they are directly related.
Spiritual dependence, then, is not purely spiritual, because it affects how you think and live in all areas of your life. So if I am to be spiritually dependent, it means I must submit to God all other areas of my life. It also means I must give.
Also.. this made me think that I need to look more intensely at Christ, b/c all human role models we have are far too worldly as well, lol..
anyways. whoever reads this.. pray for me please. I want to be like Christ.
oh, and pray for Gabe too, he still buys too much random asian figurine crap... ;)
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Money
Hey guys,
I was reading Matthew 26, and I noticed something: Judas Iscariot fell to money. Sure there were other factors leading to it, but the Pharisees bribed Him, and he traded the Son of Man for 30 pieces of silver. Looking at that, I wonder how many of us do the same thing. Personally I struggle (probably more than a lot of you) with materialism. I like the things of this world, but I'm working hard on putting my money where it really matters - for God's kingdom. Anyway, what I was getting at is that money is a huge issue. Even with Jesus right in front of Him, Judas still gave in to his materialism. Reading this has really humbled me, because I know there are times when we put our money or our own selfish gain (financially) before God. We are then also betraying Him because we love the world more than Him. As a result, I hope that we all begin to look seriously at how money pulls us away from Jesus Christ. Jesus warns of money more than anything else in Scripture, and I think there's a reason for that. I just hope that some day, we aren't looking ourselves in the eye and realizing what we have traded: Jesus Christ, our savior for something utterly vain, deceiving, fleeting, and unsatisfying. So in conclusion, we must learn now to free ourselves from the bondage of materialism, and to invest in something infinitely greater. Instead of cultivating a need for money, let's replace that with a need for God's grace, and give money away, knowing that regardless of how much we give, God will provide us with more. That's all... just really cool reading today! Have a good break...
p.s. read Randy Alcorn's Treasure Principle for more on having a joyful and giving heart!
I was reading Matthew 26, and I noticed something: Judas Iscariot fell to money. Sure there were other factors leading to it, but the Pharisees bribed Him, and he traded the Son of Man for 30 pieces of silver. Looking at that, I wonder how many of us do the same thing. Personally I struggle (probably more than a lot of you) with materialism. I like the things of this world, but I'm working hard on putting my money where it really matters - for God's kingdom. Anyway, what I was getting at is that money is a huge issue. Even with Jesus right in front of Him, Judas still gave in to his materialism. Reading this has really humbled me, because I know there are times when we put our money or our own selfish gain (financially) before God. We are then also betraying Him because we love the world more than Him. As a result, I hope that we all begin to look seriously at how money pulls us away from Jesus Christ. Jesus warns of money more than anything else in Scripture, and I think there's a reason for that. I just hope that some day, we aren't looking ourselves in the eye and realizing what we have traded: Jesus Christ, our savior for something utterly vain, deceiving, fleeting, and unsatisfying. So in conclusion, we must learn now to free ourselves from the bondage of materialism, and to invest in something infinitely greater. Instead of cultivating a need for money, let's replace that with a need for God's grace, and give money away, knowing that regardless of how much we give, God will provide us with more. That's all... just really cool reading today! Have a good break...
p.s. read Randy Alcorn's Treasure Principle for more on having a joyful and giving heart!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Manhood!
hey guys, i fell upon this as i was on john piper's blog. check it out, i think it really is cool how we can really bring out the best in both men and women by submitting to the roles that God has so graciously given us:
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/
as for our blog, do you think it is really necessary to make it private? i mean, i thought it would be cooler to have it open so that whoever ends up coming upon this would be able to see our testimony as christians of the faith... but if you feel like we have things that only us guys should discuss here, that's cool too... but yea... iono, i think it'd be cool to make it public so that others can be thinking about what we ponder... :p read the one called "valuing biblical manhood"
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/
as for our blog, do you think it is really necessary to make it private? i mean, i thought it would be cooler to have it open so that whoever ends up coming upon this would be able to see our testimony as christians of the faith... but if you feel like we have things that only us guys should discuss here, that's cool too... but yea... iono, i think it'd be cool to make it public so that others can be thinking about what we ponder... :p read the one called "valuing biblical manhood"
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