Conversations: Nassau, Bahamas

On the plane from Nashville to Atlanta
*owner of an information technology company originally from India.

"I'm a practicing Hindu. My wife is very religious and so is my son. I got serious about it when I married my wife and have been consistent ever since... Shivah is the main deity I believe in."

"That's interesting. So, do you know anything about Jesus?"

"Actually, when I was a child, I lived in Sri Lanka for a few years. My father was in the military so our family moved around quite a bit. My siblings and I attended a church every week and I heard a lot of Bible stories from the teachers there. They're not  faded memories, I mean, I have very vivid memories of the stories about Jesus."

"Wow, that's cool. What do you think about him now?"

"Well, they told me that he was God. Not so sure now. But I think it's great that you believe in him so strongly. I think everyone needs something to believe in. If they don't, they're lost."

*still praying for him to know Jesus as God.


Next to the cruise ship quay downtown Nassau (Bahamas)
*young Bahamian guy

"Yeah, I'm backslidden. I'm not living for Jesus and if I died today, I would go to Hell."

"You know you don't have to. You can change that right now."

"Yeah, but I'm just gonna wait for the right timing. Not today."

"That's kind of risky. What if the end comes before you're ready?"

"Well, I just won't be ready. I don't want to change today. Not today."

"What's the thing that's stopping you from following Jesus?"

"It's just.... I'm not ready."

"Ok... well... we're here talking to you right now because we don't want you to go to Hell. We want you to be saved and start a real relationship with Jesus. We don't want to preach down at you. We just really care about you."

....*head nod, pursed lips*


College of the Bahamas sitting under a gazebo
*college girl, giving her a survey

"So this is the most important question: If you died today, do you know where you would spend eternity?"

".......uh.....no......ok, so I have a question. If you get saved, can you lose it?

"Well, it's kind of like when you decide to get on a boat. God's not gonna keep you on there if you change your mind and don't wanna be on it anymore."

"So... I could lose it?"

"Yeah... basically... you make that decision."

"Oh... *nods head, serious look*... ok. Go ahead, what's the next survey question?"

*at the end of the survey, my friend and I prayed with her to be set free from whatever was separating her from God.


Nassau Airport, Gate C51
*traveling muscian

"So do you ever go to any churches when you travel?"

"....*shakes head, smiles warmly*....No, I don't really believe in anything. I'm originally Hindu, but since I moved to California, I just follow my heart."

"Has your heart ever lead you in the wrong direction?"

"No. Never."

"Not even one time that you can remember? Have you thought about it before?"

"I don't think. I just do." *casual shoulder shrug

".......So.... where do you think you would go if your life ended today?"

"I don't think about that."

"What if you....?"

"I don't like this project. Let's start a new project."

"....Ok.... uh.... well, how long have you been playing the bamboo flute?"


Seaside outdoor restaurant
*waiter who just read our message written in ketchup: "Thanks for excellent service. Jesus loves you."

"Oh wow." *big smile

"You like it?"

"I'll have to show it to the guys in the back." *starts walking away

"Sir! Are you a Christian?"

"Does goin' to church count?"

".....uh.... no... not really." *smirk

"It's been years since I was really livin' for him. I've been waiting for the right time to come back to him."

"Well....*suggestive smile*....how bout now?"

*he prayed with us and decided to start living for Jesus again.



Great spring break mission trip to the Bahamas with the best campus ministry in the world. Lots of good conversations no matter what the end results were. We trust that the Holy Spirit is still working. Our team members collectively saw 75 salvations/re-dedications.


You can share your faith, too. Christians are called do it. Go ahead.

It's Not About the Letters

There's been a raving fad going among my friends since last summer. Ever since the words "Briggs-Myer" was mentioned at some table in some fast food restaurant when some of my friends were having some conversation, it seems to slip into pretty much every day of my life. In case you don't know, Briggs-Myer has to do with four letters that determine your personality.

E or I: Extroverted or Introverted
S or N: Sensing or Intuitive
T or F: Thinking or Feeling
P or J: Perceiving or Judging

We've all become so-called experts in the great art of assigning letters to people. I have to confess that I'm probably the most obsessed of everyone. In some of my free time, I research the different personality types of my friends, but not even that.... I'm also really interested in the letters of famous historical people. I'm a personality junkie. Every time I watch a movie, I analyze all of the personalities of the characters--even if they're cartoons. Oh, yes.

It's so fascinating to me to learn about why people say things and do things that they normally do. I'm interested in questions like: "Why does she always do that? Why do they always have to have every thing in perfect order? Why do some people get distracted when I'm talking to them? How come one person doesn't get along with another person? Why did he say that? "

I've learned a lot about myself, too, like the reasons I can be Mister Roger's when I'm teaching classes or hanging out with people and then be completely happy with spending a few hours in my room being Socrates. Or why I can easily talk for hours with some people and can only stand a few minutes with someone else. Whatever's going on with my behavior or other people's thought processes and however their brains are wired--I want to know. It's like I almost need to know. It's all because I'm an "INFJ."

That pretty much sums it up...

Intriguing as it may be, after almost 7 months of talking and reading and thinking about it, I think it's become nothing more than a way to put all the facets of human complexity into a 16-type box of assorted-chocolates. It has helped me understand people A LOT, but I can't remember a time in my life that I've been more judgmental. Since I supposedly have the knowledge about every single person on the face of the earth, I can easily point out where they fall short and why we just don't click. It may give me the material to build walls rather than bridges between people I interact with every day.


Here's the thing: no human is so simple enough to place into a particular category. Sure, the percentages of each letter varies, but I think we can do better things with humans then put them on shelves and give them a shiny label.

Is the work of Jesus limited to the weaknesses of your personality? Can we not value people the way we're supposed to even if our types don't mesh? You are more than 4 letters. That one friend, they're more than 4 letters. Apparently, they were and are worth dying for, because the most perfect person that ever lived thought so.

So treat them as such and think of yourself like that, too. God did create everyone with different personalities, but we are redeemed from that. We were predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, not to the image of 4 letters.

I like it when...

...friends put nice notes under the windshield wipers of my car.

And I like that my friend tried to use a quote that was coined among my group of Camp Beechpoint friends. What she meant to remember from the back of my summer quote shirt was "Power Pony tastes like crud!"

Also, I think I know exactly who it is. The fact that it's written on the back of Human Physiology notes gives it away.... Shelby...

Those People: Camp Friends

This weekend, I got to hang out with those amazing people I met and worked with over the summer. We had overly excited greetings, gangnum style dances, perpetual long walks around town, Mexican cuisine, back massage trains, jam sessions, hikes to breath-taking views (Little Grand Canyon), and the chance to watch a live web stream of an adrenaline junkie free falling from the stratosphere at the speed of sound (didn't see that one coming). You can see a recap of it if you click here. It's nuts.

All the times that involved long late night conversations about spiritual stuff, listening to prayer requests, and singing hymns and worship songs under the stars were definitely the sweetest.

Jesus is so good to me for bringing people like this into my life.

I Love International Students: 10 Good Reasons

This summer, I've been doing an internship with the English As a Second Language program at my university. Everyday, I experience a perpetual string of interaction with students from different countries.
They are precious--precious.


1. Their concept of "together-ness" in circles of friendship is valued so much more than it is in American culture. If I'm with them and need to leave, they will walk me to my bike. All of them.

2. In a restaurant or anywhere you can refill your fountain drink, I'm usually asked if I want more. They'll gladly take my glass for me.

3. They listen so intently.

4. Maybe they don't understand all of my jokes or funny puns, but they usually laugh... then they start asking each other in their language something like...."What did she say? I have no idea."

5. They're not too shy to invite you to their house or dorm for a meal. The food is AMAZING. After you're stuffed, they apologize for not cooking enough food.

6. They will follow you where ever you go: A bunch of us went to the fair. I wanted to go on a ridiculously fast, spinny, scream-your-lungs out ride. A couple of them were really scared and said they weren't going, but got in line anyway. Turns out, they followed me and rode anyway. After we got off, one of them said, "I was fighting you... the whole time.Why, Liz? WHY?"

7. I've eaten free August Moon (Chinese restaurant) twice. They paid.

8. One time I went to the wellness center and saw my Chinese friend. He was bored and wanted to run with me. Every few minutes he would say,
"Oh... I'm so tired."
"We can stop. No problem."
"....No.... I will keep running..."

9. I know how to write my name in a different language. My friend taught me:

.

10. Their smiles almost captivate me.


"When a foreigner lives with you in your land, don't take advantage of him. Treat the foreigner the same as a native. Love him like one of your own. Remember that you were once foreigners in Egypt. I am God, your God."

Leviticus 19: 33-34 (The Message)

Cherry Blossoms

I got an e-mail from my friend today.

Hi, Liz!

How are you? It's finally warm in Japan.

One month has passed since I went back to Japan. A new school semester started yesterday. I'm a sophomore, and playing in a softball team now!

Now cherry trees are in full bloom. So beautiful! There are some stalls on the street, and pleasure boats are very popular. A lot of people enjoying the cherry blossoms. I send some pictures I took. I hope you'll come to Japan and see cherry trees in spring!

Thanks,

Mikako

Here they are:

The Sweet Hangout

I read John chapter 21 today. Usually, when I read the Bible, I try to read the words with some depth. It's exciting when you can dig deep and pull out something helpful or correcting. There have been a lot of times where I read something and then think, "Wow. I've been doing that. I'm sorry, Jesus. Help me to stop."Even though it's good to study the Bible looking for ways to improve your life, it's not the only thing that makes an intimate relationship with Jesus.

(So back to John 21). This is one of those "Shazam" moments after Jesus rose back to life. His friends Peter, John, Thomas, and Nathanael have been hopelessly fishing all night without a single jerk of the nets. Jesus appears on the beach (SHAZAM!) and shouts over the water, "Hey, fellas. Why don't you throw your net on the other side of the boat and see what happens!" So the disciples are like... "This guy's a little of his rocker, but, shoot, why not?" They do it and then (SHAZAM!) the net's completely filled up with fish. They realize who it is that gave them some amateur fishing advice. "IT'S THE LORD!" Peter hollered as he plunged into the water and swam like a mad man to the beach. When they all get to the shore, Jesus already had some fish ready to eat so they grub out.

What a sweet hangout. What a thoughtful man Jesus was to come back just to hang out on the beach with his friends. He likes to teach us, but it's nice to just chill every once in a while. Jesus wants a relationship like that with us--his children.

He wants to know what you did at school today. He wants to hear about how you ate your favorite food for lunch. He wants to listen to what's been pressing down on you. He wants you to be so excited about hanging out with him that you would jump off a boat and swim menacingly to the beach so you can see Him.

Yeah. Most of the time it's just that simple.

Take me away with you! Let's run off together! 
   An elopement with my King-Lover!
We'll celebrate, we'll sing, 
   we'll make great music.
Yes! For your love is better than vintage wine. 
   Everyone loves you—of course! And why not?
Songs of Solomon 1:4

Happy Box

(hap-ee boks)
noun-
container that holds a variety of items that bring about feelings of sporadic joy. Items may include warm-fuzzies, encouraging words, humorous pictures, and the like.


Example: Drawing received in the mail from twin girls that live in Japan.

Loving Jesus in Korean

Last night, after a weekly campus ministry service, I was planning on going to the library with my friend Lu.

Our other friends, MiHyun and Jinwoo from Korea, were walking with us from the Curris Center. They said they were headed to Fine Arts to hear Jinwoo play the piano.

Lu and I thought it was a good idea to go with them before the homework commenced. We got to one of the practice rooms and Jinwoo pulled out his music book and began playing. I was pleasantly surprised at his skill. He plays extremely well.

He started playing a familiar tune: "Jesus, I believe in you... Jesus I belong to you. You're the reason that I live, the reason that I sing..."

I sang in English while MiHyun sang in Korean.
After our mixed duo, Jinwoo asked me, "Liz, do you know this one?"

I heard the tune to the hymn "As the Deer." I couldn't help but sing it. Then, I sang "Amazing Grace" with Jinwoo accompanying me.

After that, I insisted that MiHyun and Jinwoo sing a Korean song. Hearing them sing to Jesus in harmony was one of the most beautiful sounds I've heard in a long time. After each song, they explained to Lu and I what the Korean lyrics meant.

"The song says... even though I'm living here... on earth... my mind is in Heaven." And the other song meant, "Jesus, I will follow you with my whole heart."

Jesus just keeps on being more and more real to me. He was so obviously in that practice room.
I love Him.

Those People

It's Bandle. Like Candle with a B.

Jennifer Bandle.
The girl next bed to me.

Major: Music Education
Favorite Color: Yellow
Favorite Food: Cheese
Favorite Holiday: Veteran's Day
Favorite Season: Tornado
Favorite Movie: Space Jam
Favorite day of the week: ARMY DAY
Dream summer job: Counselor at Camp Wijiwagan


I like her. Our room is probably the most lively after 9PM each night because of her boisterous laugh bringing people knocking on our door wanting to know "What's so funny?" Whenever Jennifer Lofland is missing something(s) from her room or complains about a random item hanging on her door, Bandle's my partner in crime. Once, she talked me into doing lunges all the way from our room, to the end of the hall, and collapsed right in front of the bathroom before we could go on any further. She gives fake names to certain people we see on campus who have distinct characteristics. Here are some examples: Houdini, Stanley Stan, Manson, Le Bron, The Soul-Stealer.

This past Sunday, she spontaneously decided to go with a friend to Illinois for church and had to leave early in the morning. That morning, I forgot to set an alarm on my phone. She did it for me. I was a little surprised to wake up to an alarm and wondered who in the world did set it for me. Two minutes later, Kerry came knocking on my door to make sure I was awake, because, Bandle, being the awesome roommate that she is, asked Kerry to do so. Two minutes later, Jennifer Lofland, came to make sure I was awake. Yeah. That was pretty thoughtful. I would have not made it to Sunday School that morning. Thanks, roommie.


World's Greatest Mom and Dad
Jeff and Melanie.
Two really huge influential factors of my life.

They do what awesome parents do.



Examples: Giving me really cool hair. Playing guitar for me when I was unborn. Taking me to church and teaching me about Jesus and His love.

This week, Dad was coming up to Murray and I asked Mom to tell him to bring one of my dresses that I forgot to bring for a Valentine's Dinner next week. My Dad shows up with a NEW dress and NEW shoes. Okay. Wow. They decided that morning to go to Penny's and buy me new, beautiful clothing. I shared this story with a friend of mine leading to her asking if I rented out my parents. Thanks, Mom and Dad.


The Simpsons

Thank goodness I'm not talking about that stinkin' TV show.

Thomas, Mika, Josiah, Judah, and Reynah (new arrival, not pictured). This family means a lot.
Thomas and Mika: Youth pastors
Josiah and Judah: fellow space cadets/dragon-slayers/Goliath-killers/air guitar-jammers.

Lots of quality time and love have been spent with me and on me as a result of knowing them.

Yesterday, I got a call from PT (Pastor Thomas). He said he was just thinking about me and wanted to know how life's going. I LOVE it when people call me just to talk, not needing anything from me, just to say "Hey" and "I'm proud of ya" type things.


Jesus, thank you for giving me relationships with people who help me and love me and teach me to enjoy life.

With Hearts as One

Tonight, I watched the Hillsong United DVD called the I Heart Revolution (Part I-With Hearts As One). Basically, The I Heart Revolution is Hillsong's mission trip around the world. How awesome is that?


In the DVD, every song is shown in a different country. It shows people walking down the streets of New York or London. You see kids from Africa carrying plastic jugs on their heads, or smiling, or running, or dancing. It also shows people in poverty and desperation. One of my favorites is the footage of their concert in Shanghi. It's incredible to see hundreds of people from China dancing and singing with so much passion because they know Jesus. It's literally mind-blowing to see that there are people from all parts of the world worshipping God in spirit and truth. It's so real. I always get chills from it. God is an awesome God! That's what those people scream because of their genuine love for Jesus.

And call me crazy, but I feel united to those people. We are all human and we all have one thing in common: Jesus. I had an experience in Nicaragua that made me feel like this for the first time. It was after a service in a small church and our mission team was at the alter praying for people in the congregation. I laid my hands on this elderly woman and started praying for her. Before I knew it, we were embracing each other with tears streaming down our cheeks. I didn't understand why we suddenly felt so much love for one another. I had never seen her before in my life, we spoke different languages, we were from completely different backgrounds of socio-economic status, but we felt completely united in love.

That was a taste of Heaven. That's what it'll be like. People from Africa, India, China, Russia, America, Europe, ...everywhere. Laughing, crying, dancing, embracing, sharing, sacrificing, encouraging, giving, singing, making joyful noises... all because of Jesus.

The thought of that is crazy. It's crazy, I tell you!