Ryan's Ramblings

More Perspective

A few days ago I posted the video made by Zac Smith.  Here is a link to the post.  It is a powerful word for the Lord from a man whose physical life is ebbing away.  I mentioned in the earlier post how inspirational Zac's message has been to me.  I don't know how I ever came across Zac's video.  It doesn't matter.  Over the last few days his message has served as a great blessing and challenge to me and to those around me.  Glory to God.

In Zac's message he mentions that he went to high school in Ecuador.  A man I work with here in South Korea also went to school in Ecuador and he is about the same age as Zac.  I mentioned Zac's name and sure enough he knows Zac--he went to high school with him.  Yeah...wow.

Here is another video by Zac.  It appears that he made this one before the video that I posted a few days ago.  It is profound.  In the video he speaks backwards in time to his seventeen year old self.  It is powerful.  May God use it to speak to you as you live forwards into God's preferred future for your life.

Brother Saul

I didn’t become a Christ follower until I was a teenager.  As a young boy I used to go to church occasionally with my grandmother and I always found it odd that the people in the church referred to one another as “brother” and “sister.”  To me, it was a bit too intimate of a reference to bestow upon friends and acquaintances.  It just seemed strange and out of place.  At that time I didn’t have the maturity to fully understand and appreciate the Christian reference of “brother” and “sister” as a form of address of another person.

In chapter 9 in the book of Acts I read of a man named Saul who was, “…uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers.”  In the biblical account Jesus knocked Saul off of his high horse and then sent one of his followers to pray for and care for Saul in his time of need.

Jesus sent Ananias to lay hands on and pray for Saul and Ananias didn’t like this idea.  He replied, “But Lord, Saul is the enemy.  He is a torturer and killer of Christians!”

Jesus’ response to Ananias was, “Go."

It is in verse 17 of Acts 9 that this interesting story takes an odd twist for me.  “So Ananias went and found Saul.  He laid his hands on him and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’”

“BROTHER Saul?!?”

It is strange enough to refer to fellow Christians and friends at church as “brother” and “sister,” but “BROTHER Saul?”  Why would Ananias do this?

Because Jesus said, “Go.”

Nearly forty years later I still don’t think that I fully understand why Christians would consider and address one another, and the people that make up the world around them, as “brother” and “sister.”  I am still immature in this realm of my faith.  1 John 4:9-11 is a good place for me to begin to grow up in this area.

“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.”

“BROTHER Saul?”

Jesus said, “Go.”

Perspective

I ran across this video in the midst of my blog wanderings.  I expected to be inspired.  Instead, I was challenged and gained a bit of perspective.  I can't stop thinking about this clip and its message.  And, I can't quit praying for Zac.

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

44 Years

Here is an email message that I sent to my parents this morning...

Dear Mom and Dad,

Happy Anniversary!  Wow, 44 years is a long time...  :)  Your marriage commitment to one another is commendable.  Anniversaries seem to be an event that are only remembered and celebrated by the couple, whereas birthdays and other seemingly less significant events are remembered and celebrated by groups of people in our lives.  I think this is upside down thinking.

Every year of committed marriage that the two of you live, remember, honor and celebrate serve to resonate the faithfulness of God and Kingdom living throughout the lives of your friends, family, coworkers, children, grandchildren and future generations.  A wedding anniversary is a most significant event, and to remember and celebrate your 44th wedding anniversary is truly a blessing to me for which there are no words to express.

Thank you for your lives of commitment to one another.  I pray you have a wonderful day.

Love,
Ryan

My Part...

"O Thou who indwellest in our poor and shabby human life, lifting it now and then above the dominance of animal passion and greed, allowing it to shine with the borrowed lights of love and joy and peace, and making it a mirror of the beauties of a world unseen, grant that my part in the world's life today may not be to obscure the splendor of Thy presence but rather to make it more plainly visible to the eyes of my fellow men."  --John Baillie

The above quote is from A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie.  This is a book of morning and evening prayers that I have recently incorporated into my devotional life.  I am loving it.  I want to do my part--so I share it with you.

Remember to check your calendar...

Meet Wisdom

I don't know about you, but I need wisdom.  The opposite of wisdom is...foolishness.  I seem to have plenty of that in my life.  Wisdom is an interesting thing in the Bible.  It is always there and always associated with God, but it is hard to get a handle on. 

Wisdom in the Bible is called "wisdom" and is at times referred to as a lady.  Wisdom is personified as one who was with God from the very beginning.  At times it seems as if wisdom is realized in God and at other times wisdom is referenced as something or someone that is alongside of God.  I don't know the answer to this, but I am encouraged as I see that there is an essential connection and relationship between wisdom and God.

As I have shared before, I like to try to read a chapter of Proverbs every day--because I desperately need the wisdom of God in my life.  This morning I read Proverbs 8 and I learned something about wisdom and I thought that I would share it with you.  In Proverbs 8 wisdom is talking and here is what he, she, it, is saying:

• This is where I (Wisdom) am found.  (vs. 1-5)
• This is what I (Wisdom) am worth.  (vs. 6-21)
• These are my (Wisdom's) credentials.  (vs. 22-31)
• This is what you should do as it relates to me (Wisdom).  (vs. 32-36)

Do you need some wisdom today?  Take a look at Proverbs 8 and meet wisdom.

Building Lights at Seoul Station

Amazing building lights at Seoul Station.

Teachable

Proverbs 12:15 says,

"Fools think their own way is right,

but the wise listen to others."

I try to read a chapter of Proverbs every morning.  I have been doing this a long time and every day I am challenged to consider my ways and to incorporate some of the wisdom that I find in the book into my life.

I find it amazing that Solomon, the writer of Proverbs and the wisest person who ever lived, says time and again that it is the wise who seek counsel and it is the wise who listen to others.

In other words, the wise among us are those that put away their pride and who are teachable.

Last February I spent a week at an orphanage in India and during my days there I had the privilege of teaching some Math and Science lessons to a group of 5th graders who lived at the orphanage.   What a delight that was for me.  The students sat up on the edge of their seats drinking in every word of "wisdom" that I had for them.  They were ready to answer questions, participate in the lessons and they were quick to listen.

There is a time to talk and a time to listen.  Listening puts us in a position where we are able to be taught--teachable.

I have so much to learn from the Holy Spirit, King Solomon and those precious orphans in India.  As I put away my pride and live in a teachable manner, I hope that I am a delight to the ultimate teacher--God.

Tuesday Night

It is almost eleven o'clock at night.  I just got home from work for the second time this evening.  I got called away from my home earlier in the evening to go and help solve a problem at one of our school's campus dormitories.  It is late, I am tired and I should be justifiably "grouchy" about putting in a sixteen hour day, but instead I am brimming over with gratitude towards God.

At the International School in South Korea where I work, we board nearly 220 students.  I got called into one of our high school dormitories this evening to assist the Residence Director with a potentially serious situation.  The issue was resolved rather quickly and as I was walking out the front door of the dormitory, headed for home, I noticed the dorm students gathering in the recreation room for a time of late night Bible study and prayer.  I decided to stay.

As the kids gathered and sat on couches, chairs and pillows throughout the room many of them said "hello" to me and acted surprised to see me in their "home."  The evening devotional time was simply a time of silent prayer as the R.A. on duty strummed quietly on her guitar.

As I sat there praying with a bunch of 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade boys and girls from different places, experiences and cultures throughout the world, I quickly realized that I was in a place that many would call "holy ground." 

Tonight I sat and prayed with children of missionaries whose parents are serving in very "dark" places in the world.  The kids know much better than I of struggle and sacrifice and they know what a privilege it is to be attending school and living in safety in a dormitory with friends and adults that care about them and love them.

I prayed with teenagers who are essentially, "on their own."  They have been living away from their upwardly mobile, affluent parents for years and they are tasked with the responsibility of achieving educational success and subsequently a "ticket" to the good life of Western Education.  They are alone except for the fact that they have dorm parents, good friends and God.

For me there was something special about praying with these kids tonight.  As I prayed, I wondered what the students were thinking about and praying for.  Tears filled my eyes as I remembered the joys, the pain, the fears and the questions that filled my teenage heart so long ago.  Tonight God reminded me that He was with me then and he is with the students in the dorm now. 

God also reminded me that He is with me now too.

It is late. The house is quiet.  My wife and daughters are asleep and I have had a long day.  I am tired, but I am not feeling alone, discouraged or justifiably grouchy.  Rather, I am at peace.  I know that God is with me, He loves me and I am thankful.

By the way, He loves you too.  G'nite.