Not an update

Hey guys,
This isn't really an update, yet it is. I received an email from the YWAM Tokyo Registrar earlier this evening with this information from a trusted and knowledgeable source (they told us who, which I trust, I'm just not telling you):

Workers are still working around the clock to restore power.

Cabling is now hooked up to the #2 plant and they are performing
critical inspections on the electrical gear prior to turning power on.
They are still running cable to the other plants.  There was a bit of
a scare last night when some unexplained smoke emitted from the #3
plant and workers were temporarily evacuated for their own safety but
they have been able to return.
      

Rad levels both on and off site are consistent with the last
three or four days.  There is no cause for concern outside the 30KM
zone.
      Reactor plants 1-4 remain the concern along with their
respective spent fuel pools.  Reactors 5&6 are effectively safe at
this point.
     

 Lots of talk in the news media about the contaminated food.
Shipment of food from the affected area has been put on hold so their
is no need for alarm.  The World Heath Organization made a statement
this morning stating that they are monitoring the situation and the
rad levels, and Japan has made the right decisions in halting affected
shipments, but that in any event, nothing found thus far is of
immediate danger to anyone even if they did eat it.
      

We're all keeping our fingers crossed for those electricians as
they race to connect power which will not only restore normal cooling
but it will restore the vital instrumentation that will let us have a
much better picture of the status of each reactor plant.

As usual I will continue to send updates as I get information.

It was crazy for me to think about the lives of those individuals who are working on reconnecting and correcting the issues at the plant. What toll will this take on them? Will it even have one? If so, what courage to continue to work at the sacrifice of themselves for the greater good! Praise God for them and their bravery.

So this is a simple non-update, but it is definitely some good news. Less than two weeks now!

Isaiah 24:15

So I think many (probably like 4 people) have been waiting for my response to the events of Friday in Tokyo, to hear not what I thought but of what I would do, and i hope to answer this question with this post (which should be easy except for the fact it is two in the morning, so prepare for some rambling). When I first heard about the earthquake and tsunami, my heart was not worried or saddened that my trip would be canceled. No, it was more confirmed in my mind that I needed to go. I have no intention on allowing this tragedy to prevent me from going and serving the people of Japan, for there is no greater need than now.Not that my goal is to take advantage of people in a weakened state to share the gospel with them, but I pray that God would use such an event to soften the hearts of the Japanese people to the fact that life is fleeting. It might be insensitive to say such a thing, but if any of us do not understand this universal truth, we MUST face it. Each of us, at some point, is going to die. Everyday we move closer and closer to this point. We can spend our time worshiping ourselves and our time, we can try to mask it with Botox, we can fight it with exercise, but sooner or later, our heart will stop beating.

So, what does this have to do with Japan? With such a reality striking on their doorsteps, no, on their hearts, they need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ: God descended from Heaven to take the form of man, live a life without sin and was consequently murdered, sacrificed, for it, then rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven so that ALL who believe in Him would not perish but would have eternal life! So while I reside inside this earthly tent, I pray to God that I would spend all that I am to share the love of the One who has saved me even though I am totally unworthy of it. I have nothing to offer God, yet He still wants me and longs for me to be a part of His ministry. I have nothing to offer this world except to tell them about the Savior who has saved me. And if God has called me to go to Japan, to share this message with those who are hurting, who are lost, who are perishing, then I am going to go. This was how it was before the earthquake and tsunami, and it has not changed anything on that front. What I do pray is that these people will be more receptive to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

So for those who are worried, do not. Fear not. I pray that you will not fear for me, worry for me, but will instead rebuke your fear in the name of Jesus Christ! He calls us to not worry! If you do not believe me, then read Luke 12. I do not fear death. No, I fear the one who I will judge me after death. What would I tell Him if I did not go to Japan now? I was scared? That I was afraid to die? That I did not have enough faith? Do I not believe as Paul said in Philippians 1:21: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." In fact, I say that if I do die that you should not mourn. No, you should be mad! That I beat all of you home! That I had the opportunity to step into the heavenly home that is being prepared for me before you! So do not fear for me, do not worry for me. If the Lord wills it, I will go to Japan. I pray that you all would turn your fear to the Lord and ask, am I in your will? Am I being the servant you call me to be?

As for some practical details beyond my personal stance and feelings, the DTS is still on schedule to be taking place on April 4th; Korean Air has removed the warning message it was displaying on Friday about flights to the two major airports in Tokyo being delayed/rescheduled/canceled; and the US State Department's travel warning for Japan is stated to end on April 1st, the day my flight is scheduled to leave.

I know that it may seem I am being naive or ignorant to some major details in all of this, but just as I am confident that the Lord will provide all of the support I need for my trip, He will also provide the means to get to where He wants me. If I can trust Him with my life, I am sure I can trust Him with not my trip, but His ministry that He has allowed me to be a part of that Isaiah 24:15 may come to life:

"Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord; exalt the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea."

Amen.

Here is my W-4...

So I have felt convicted about what I have told people about my trip to Japan. For the past two months, when it has come to telling people about my trip, I have usually only said that I am going to Japan to attend a Discipleship Training School, never expounding on what this means for me and my future. Yet while I am "withholding" information, I am getting upset every time someone says, "It is going to be a great experience." Yeah, it is. There is no doubt it will be. But it is so much more than an experience! So much more!
The need for Christ in Japan is overwhelming, and I hope that God plans to use me in a way to make a difference. My time will not be spent going to museums, landmarks, and locations to see Japan in a new light; this trip is about me spending time in unity, scripture, prayer, and outreach to see my Lord and Savior in a new way (how can light itself be seen in a new light?), and glory in Him. This trip is not for me to avoid my career, to do something before settling down, or to have fun, it is for God to be glorified. If I ever think otherwise, God strike me down.
However, the great part about it is while following after God, I DO get to have fun, see things different, visit landmarks and locations, all the while living life for Christ. There is no doubt that living for Christ is an adventure in and of itself!

A Calling...

So I have been in Houston for two weeks now working. So far, I have yet to do a 2010 tax return, but I have inputted multiple returns for 2007, 2008, and 2009. I have really enjoyed work, seeing the theory and principles I have learned about during my education actually at play, to know what someone else is talking about when discussions about clients come up, but I still have so much to learn. I do not know what to look for in order to help lower someone's tax liability or pay less, but I am sure I will learn in time. But I really have enjoyed my time in Houston so far.

One big development since I have been there, though, is my acceptance into the Discipleship Training School with YWAM Tokyo, so it is a for sure deal! It is very exciting knowing I will be going to Japan in a couple of months. There are so many preparations still to be made, yet I am trusting God that they will be taken care of (Probably a great deal more detail will be following this soon, but I have different plans for this post in conjunction with this topic.)

Even though it has been exciting this past week with work, snow, and confirmation, I could not help but to begin wondering about why I might be going. It is hard to explain: I knew going is what God wanted me to do; I see a great need for Christ in the nation of Japan; I wanted to go oh so badly. But why? I was starting to doubt why I wanted to go. To spread the gospel, of course. To tell others about our great savior. To bring unbelievers into the kingdom of God. But why? Why do that?

Thursday evening, after returning home from work, my neighbor and friend Colby asked me a simple question:

"What did you see in the word today?"

"Man, I haven't had time to look into the word today," I replied.

"What did you see in it yesterday?"

After thinking and knowing that I looked at some scripture the day before, I could not recall any of it, and it was a sad feeling. Eventually, I walked back to my apartment, and pondered it some more, yet it still took me until later that night to open my Bible up. Is it not amazing how hard it is to open your Bible sometimes? You have a desire, you really do, yet you think of a hundred other things you could or would like to or need to do. Praise the Lord that He brought me into His Word, for He definitely had something to show me.

I found myself in 2nd Corinthians that night, marveling at Paul's love for the Corinthian church. It brings me great joy in seeing how he loves all of the churches he writes, even though sometimes he has to bring the smack down on them, too (which is love at work). As I was reading along, taking notes here and there, I eventually came to chapter 3:4-6: "...Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves,but our competence comes from God..." (v.5) Seeing this helped me comprehend that I am not a competent minister, but it is God, through His Spirit, that allows all of us to be a competent ministers for Him.

And just as God gives us the ability to be competent ministers, He calls all of us to be ministers of reconciliation to the world. But it is not us who reconciles others to God, but God reconciles us to Him by sending His son to die for us on the cross! He no longer counts our sins against us! Praise be to God! And for this reason, He makes His appeal to the world through us. We each have a great and important ministry before us, and He works in us to make it happen, so may we all rely on Him and His Spirit to carry on the ministry as we long for and move towards the heavenly house He has prepared for us.

(This comes from 2nd Corinthians 5; if you read this and see something different, please, please, PLEASE comment and tell me so. And I also kind of wrote this through out today, so there might be disconnects, and for that, I apologize if so)

Making One from None

So it's 2011. Big whoop. I am having to get used to writing a one on the end of "201". 2010 was so nice because it had a pattern to it. "20" then "10"; it was rather nice. Alas, it is gone. For now...

But it's not the only pattern broken recently. Like my 174 straight wins in solitaire on "Draw Three" and "Vegas Style" and 5 straight magic poops. Alright, alright, I made those up, but my life really has seen a shift. Shortly after feeling called and choosing to respond towards attending a Discipleship Training School with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), I was asked if I was interested in a spring internship with an Accounting firm in Houston, MS. I have some previous ties with Houston; I could use the money to support myself; and I could use the experience in working towards my CPA, so I decided to pursue the opportunity. Fast forward, and today was my first day! How exciting!

Yet there was still one big decision to make: move or commute. Houston is 45 minutes from Starkville, yet Houston is a very small town, and unfortunately, unexciting (in most perspectives). I am settled in Starkville, and moving is a hassle. My dad feeds me in Starkville (yes, he literally puts my food in my mouth for me. Wait, what?!), yet I would have to provide for myself. Rent is expensive (when you haven't been playing it), but so is gas. I tried to rationalize, but you know what? My plans are terrible. Absolutely terrible when compared to the Lord's. And you know what He told me to do: move to Houston. You know, when God tell you to do something, it is very exciting, but you know what is not exciting: fully comprehending what God is telling you and realizing it goes against what you want. Yep. That's not exciting, especially if you won't deny yourself, and that is just disobedient. So yeah.

While I wish I could say "Needless to say", but I know I am not always obedient. Yet I am here. And so far, I love it (which doesn't mean too much when all you have is two nights and one day under your belt). Being here has helped me see a little bit of how good I had it in Starkville. My living space was clean, I had food, I had power, I had internet, I had cable, I had central heat and air, I had 3G, I had so many things! Yet now... This morning Colby let me use his dishes and shower so I could go to work. Tonight he took me to the grocery store. Who knows what I will need from him tomorrow.

It has been really interesting so far. I will probably go to Starkville several weekends during my tenure, but honestly, I don't care to that much. I think walking to work is going to start spoiling me pretty soon, making 45 minutes way too long. The 10 minutes to Wal-Mart in Starkville was hard enough, but I kind of miss the 24-hour Supercenter... But I am excited. I think God has some good things in store for me. He has already revealed some of them. I can't wait to see the rest. I hope I will only have the mindset of Paul in Philippians 4:11-13:

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Sorry, athletes, but this isn't about hitting a bunch of home runs, scoring a lot of touchdowns, or making goals; in fact, it should be preparing you for when you DON'T just as much as when you do. Who knows, maybe that's why you write that on your sports paraphernalia. I'll let you alone. For now.