Friends – want to direct you to my post on our CBI Japan campus site. If you haven’t read the story of God’s amazing provision of a new ministry campus please take a few moments to do so! And please join us for prayer!
Here’s the site: cbijapan.org/campus
Michael
PS – you can follow me on Twitter @ ohfamily
Just wanted to let you know of our new ministry website (as lots of the info on my blog is a bit dated). I’ll try to continue to post prayer requests and updates to this site, but the most recent info and descriptions of our ministry are on our new site. Also please check out our new CBI video on the site under media.
Thanks!
Here’s the address:
http://www.cbijapan.org/jointheteam
I posted the link on my blogroll to the right as well for easy access.
(With great thanks to Jonathan Edwards who resolved much and accomplished much for the glory of Christ almost 300 years ago. Here are my resolutions that I bring before the Lord with hope in His infinite power to change lives.)
February 16, 2005
(Edwards) – Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.
Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.
Resolved, that my love and passion for the work of God would never compete with but always increase a whole-hearted and primary love for God Himself.
Resolved, to never live or make decisions on the basis of fear or ease.
Resolved, to so live my life that I am emptied on a daily basis of all that the Lord gives with trust that He will the next day fill me with more abundance that any thoughts of self-conservation and self-preservation are revealed as foolish.
Resolved, to seek the improvement of my heart and character as much as the skills of mind and life and more than the comfort and effectiveness of my surroundings and its tools.
Resolved, that my highest comfort in the midst of suffering would always be the sufferings and glory of my Lord Jesus Christ.
Resolved, that my sufferings would always result not from my own folly but because of faithfulness to Christ.
Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s. (Edwards)
Resolved, to major on what is major in God’s eyes – and to not leave until later what I know ought to be done now.
Resolved, to live in full expectation that God will powerfully and richly bless my life and work because I am His child.
Resolved, to diligently pour myself into the lives of a few, starting with my family, with all that the Lord grants me in love, wisdom, truth, and power.
Resolved, to diligently pour into my own heart and mind the lives of heroes past like Richard Baxter, John Owens, and Jonathan Edwards.
Resolved, to live with passion for all things for which God is passionate.
Resolved, never to become dull and proper in my Christianity despite being in the seminary.
Resolved, never to become lofty and proud as the admiration of others towards me grows because of my age, experience, position, or because of their ignorance.
Resolved, to never fade away into spiritually innocuous and physically comfortable retirement.
Resolved, to harness all the power and grace of God that the Lord allows to fulfill my wedding vows and the command of God to love my wife as Christ loves the church.
Resolved, to honor the Lord in faithful fulfillment of my ordination vows.
Resolved, to not let the pressures and challenges of work and ministry cause me to be short-tempered or less than fully giving to my children.
Resolved, to live for the pleasing of God even to the displeasure of man.
Resolved, to build eternal heavenly treasures with my life and despise the treasures of this earth.
Resolved, to give the Devil no reason for rejoicing in my life but only pain and despair.
Resolved, to be in regular heart introspection to see anything displeasing to God, to repent of it truly, and to pray and act for change forthright.
Signed,
Michael Oh
Isn’t this what it’s all about? Why live if there is no eternal worth and value in your life? As Martin Luther understood profoundly from the Scriptures, “The just shall live by faith”. Our righteousness, our value, our meaning are wholely in Christ. Our standing, our truth, our perseverance, our confidence, our mercy – all in Christ. This life that we live as Christians is not an easy one – but a good and right one if lived for Christ eternal. That’s the kind of life I aspire to live.