"A gospel too small"

"A gospel which is only about the moment of conversion but does not extend to every moment of life in Christ is too small. A gospel that gets your sins forgiven but offers no power for transformation is too small. A gospel that isolates one of the benefits of union with Christ and ignores all the others is too small. A gospel that must be measured by your own moral conduct, social conscience, or religious experience is too small. A gospel that rearranges the components of your life but does not put you personally in the presence of God is too small."
-Fred Sanders, "The Deep Things of God"

It's a blessing to have to read this as homework. Freal.

Scattered thoughts v.SoCal

Humbled by how much I need to learn.

Broken by the reality of the Fall for the first time in a long time. It gets more real the older I get. People need to know that there's hope. 

Pensive but hopeful in the power of Jesus.

Grateful for the school and church God's provided me to learn and serve in.

Banking on the blood of Christ.

Wanting to yearn for a more real, consistent intimate relationship with Christ. There's always more life to be had.

Reminded that the end goal of the gospel is getting God. It is about getting back to the sweetness and satisfaction of knowing and being with God, Himself. It's what we were created for. It's what we rebelled against. It's what Christ died to restore. Communion with God is basically what atonement is about. It's basically everything. Though I didn't read the book, the idea of "God is the Gospel" (Piper) has really helped me in this slow process of sanctification. He's the goal.

Caught off guard that God would still want to pursue a relationship with me. Somewhere in this ministry thing I had forgotten that God still cared about Jon, not just them. 

As one of the books I am required to read put it, I really need to get over trying to "live for God" and instead just enjoy living with Him.

In effort to summarize what I'm learning in bite-size readable pieces,
-Jon

I don't know where I am right now and it's awesome.

So ... I'm in LA (or ... er ... "Southern California") lol.

I really don't know how I got here so fast ... it's so crazy, but I'm grateful for the opportunity.

I really feel like God literally just picked me up and carried me over here. It's been weird but this journey following Jesus is so unexpected sometimes ... It's so good.

I know new challenges will come but if there's anything I've learned, it's that I'm small and God isn't.

Here's to this next season of getting equipped and serving young kiddos for the sake of building up the body of Christ. Thanks God. Grow me more please!
-Jon Lau

Prayers

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation!"

"I believe; help my unbelief!"

"Hear my cry Father!"

"What are you downcast oh my soul! Why so downcast within! Hope in God!"

Only you can save Father. Draw more to Yourself.

Jesus, oh Jesus, there is none like You. There never will be. Thank you for giving a hope that is tangible and real, a hope that won't disappoint.

"Since then you've been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God! Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, you will also appear with him in glory."

"The law of the lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple"

Week 1 in the books.

So basically I'm getting paid to hang out with youth and teach them the Bible. This is awesome.

You know those times where you kind of just notice what's going on around you and you don't necessarily have a lot of time to take it all in but you know you're noticing it? I guess that could summarize some of the things I'm learning while spending time with the youth here at EPGCBC.

For the sake of organization and less ranting (doesn't mean this wont be a long post), I'll once again attempt at numbering my main thoughts:

1) Those thoughts I described in the previous paragraph seemed to happen a lot during my undergrad years at Baylor in regards to church planting ... and this internship really is a gift as I'm basically walking into a group of youth with no set leadership or resources. So for the main part, I'm grateful that in some ways I'm starting from scratch and I'm learning more and more concretely what I believe the heart of the scriptures say. Teaching youth will do that to you.

2) Not that I'm a pastor yet or that I'm owed it, but being a youth minister or pastor must be really freakin hard. Makes me love mine more. Within the 1st week of being here I've learned that youth ministry is a whole different ball game than college ministry, YET at the same time, I'm starting to see the connections between the two ... and how they ooze into the life stage I'm at now. It's like all the stages of my life so far are coming together in regards to ministry. I find it quite neat anyway ... but ya, youth ministry is no joke ... There's so much that goes into it.

3) There is a real need for more churches, more church planters, more pastors, more missionaries, more disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus and so on ... (reference to some book's phrase I haven't read but liked). One of the first thoughts I had after spending 2-3 days with the kids and their parents was "there must be a number of communities that don't have Christian leaders/pastors/churches to have the gospel shared to, much less discipleship." I'm trying to reach and equip first generation Chinese American youth and first generation American-born Chinese American youth in the city of El Paso ... And the first thing I thought even before getting here was "I wish I could bring 1-2 people here to help me." Though I was encouraged by the church leaders hospitality, I was a bit overwhelmed by how big the need here was for the church's youth.

4) One of the more sobering things I'm starting to see is that there really are no days off as a Christian.

5) To add to that, it is especially true of pastors. If I ever intend to be one, there has got to be some pretty substantial changes in terms of my normal routine lifestyle and habits (such as not blogging at 4am).

6) It's a privilege to be doing what I'm doing.

7) The gospel is really really the only message I have to give ... that will last.
*A gospel that doesn't have its readers gravitate to the person of Jesus and the event of the cross isn't really the Christian gospel. Like I want to teach in a way that you're at the scene of Golgotha and at the same time seeing the grand cosmic event (and transaction) taking place.

8) As financial realities have started to force me to "grow up," I wonder how Paul could trust God so much (and know God would come through so confidently) by constantly sharing the gospel "free of charge." I'm aware that he asked for donations at times and I'm sure it helped that he never married ... but still. Makes me thinks.

9) My heart especially goes out to those who "mature out of the faith." Separate blog post on this one by itself coming next probably.

10. So grateful for this opportunity that God's given me. I need prayer.

Heh, I made a top 10 (in no order though).

Because of Christ,
-Jon