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Look Back, Move Forward

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.  2 Timothy 1:13-14

I am learning that it is vital to look backward in order to move forward. If we are truly honest with ourselves, there is an element of excitement that comes with discovering something new. Its that feeling of unwrapping a new gift on Christmas day or finding that new  coffee shop that hasn’t become popular yet. The best example of this that I can think of is the infamous line in front of Apple stores nation wide when they release a new product. I remember seeing the people waiting for the iPhone 4 and the air seemed to be electric with anticipation. Most of these people were standing in line with their “old” iPhone 3 in hand, but they were enduring the elements for the sake of something new. I wonder if new is truly the most important element to advancement. What if it is the act of looking back unlocks what moves us forward? 

In 2 Timothy 1 Paul incorporates the theme of remembrance as he instructs Timothy. He reminds Timothy of the gift that he has received and the faith that was found not only in him but also in his family. In the center of his exhortation in this opening chapter Paul reminds Timothy of the Gospel. 

 Its a humbling thought.  If Timothy, the preacher of the Word and understudy of Paul himself, had to be reminded of the Gospel, how much more do I need that reminder? How much more do I need to look back and understand what was accomplished for me?

Paul makes it clear that it is easy to be distracted by the new and lose our understanding that is founded on something timeless (3:2-3). Instead, we are to look back to the Gospel in order to move forward in what God calls us to do. It is so easy to lose grasp of the truth, but by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit we can guard the deposit that God has placed in us to empower us for effective ministry. 

As we move forward into a new year and new season, may we have the courage to look back and follow the path God has already established for us to follow. 

The Paper is Not the Point

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 

- Isaiah 40:8 

There is something so ironic about wrapping paper. Its beautiful (or sometimes ugly) and is cut and folded with such precision and care. It costs more than any other common paper, for it serves no common purpose. It is a simple symbol of celebration. With all the effort, resources and focus it requires,  you would think that the paper would get more attention. 

But here is the commonly known truth: the paper is not the point. 

I have never seen a child stop and appreciate the paper or the perfectly folded edges. Who stops and cherishes the patterns or the material? The paper has a single destiny. It will be torn apart and left in a heap on the floor because of a simple truth: the paper is not the point. The gift is. 

But if you think about it, there are more layers to this metaphor. The gifts we give on Christmas are not the point either. Well, they shouldnt be. Much like the wrapping paper, these gifts will break, decay, and be forgotten soon after their use. And yes, they have required much effort, resources and focus, but they too are not the point. Most people buy the gift not to simply exchange material but instead make this sacrifice to bring joy. 

Much like the paper, these gifts are to point to a single gift of infinitly more value.

 The gift of salvation.

Though they shimmer and shine, the things we received will soon fade, but one thing will remain. God promised salvation and it has come. His Word (John 1:1) is here and he is the gift that we should cherish. He is our salvation. 

As I sit by our family’s Christmas tree, I am much more impressed by the Gift that came from above than the gifts that rest below this tree. I can celebrate this Christmas because the paper is not the point.

My King is. 

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

— Titus 3:4-7 ESV

I like this. 

(Source: wasbella102)

(Source: Rockharbor.org)

3 Elements of the Student Missionary Union

Below is a blog I posted on the Student Missionary Union Blog page. You can see other SMU blogs here: smubiola.wordpress.com. 

“But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20

Have you ever been on a plane next to a Grandma who has just visited her grandchildren? You start with some introductions and ask about where she is coming from, but in a matter of seconds the baby photos come out and the stories begin. You are her new captive audience for the rest of the flight, and there is no where to run. It is her joy to tell you their story, and by the end of the journey you have connected with this woman over one of her passions.

It’s incredible how something important to us can consume our conversations and permeate our thoughts. When something incredible has happened to our lives, we can’t help but tell someone about it via conversation, email, tweet or Facebook status. In a sense, a natural extension of our passion is sharing it with others.

I believe this is the same principle we see in Acts 4, and it is the driving force behind the Student Missionary Union. Despite the difficulties and trials, we are driven to share about the One who has given us freedom and relationship with the Father. “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” This Jesus is worth every breath we use telling the world about him.

If you spend any time with the SMU Staff, you will hear something along the lines of “it is our goal to push people closer to Jesus.” SMU is not only about sending trips or putting on conferences (though we do those things). The core purpose of SMU that drives every department is this passion of helping people to encounter Jesus and be changed by his character. We can’t help but tell people about Jesus and help others tell the world about Jesus; it is our passion to share what we have experienced.

There are a few practical ways that we mobilize the student body to live an Acts 4:20 lifestyle of telling others about the one who brings us life and freedom.  I want to share with you three elements that are woven into the tapestry of our ministry and are influencing everything we do as SMU.

• First, we want to be a group of people pursuing an intimate relationship with Jesus. John 15 makes it clear that we can do nothing outside of abiding in Christ. He is the source of our strength, vision, and life, and the cross was purposed to bring us into right relationship with the Father. Therefore, we want to experience the fullness of the relationship Jesus purchased on the cross.
• Second, we want be a people who prioritize prayer.  This flows from our pursuit of and relationship with Christ and results in stretching our faith as we ask God’s kingdom to invade earth.
• Finally, we want everything that we do to be driven through a vehicle of discipleship. As the Student Missionary Union, we invest a lot of our time, effort and attention on developing leaders who in turn develop leaders. I strongly believe that the Great Commission can only be completed through intentional discipleship. Again, our main objective is to push our volunteers and staff closer to Jesus, and it is our prayer that they would bear fruit that exemplifies a life that has encountered a holy God.

It is through these three elements that we believe the Holy Spirit will create a culture of radical disciples who have a single passion that drives every other interest and pursuit.  It is our prayer that these disciples of Jesus will be a people who, through their lives and the words that they proclaim, say “we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” And its our joy to send these radicals across our campus and to the ends of the earth.

Leadership Principle: They Are Going to Think That Your Are Crazy.

“Then He (Jesus) went home and the crowd gathered again so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind”.   Mark 3: 20-21 

I am still amazed by how well Jesus handled the presures of Leadership. First he is preaching town to town, healing entire communities, cleasing lepers,  and casting out demons. Then, He is constantly being questioned by the pharisees and accused of blasphemy. The crowds are constantly pressing in around him, and they are so invasive that he cannot even sit down to eat. 

But on top of that, his family thinks He is out of his mind.  

Imagine spending an entire week of ministry and being questioned at every city only to return to the safety of home where your own family does not even believe you. 

That is enough to break any leader, but Jesus takes it all. 

So many times I have forgotten that the entire world was against Jesus. They didnt take him seriously. To them He was the equivalent to a crazy man on the corner in a busy street.

That is the Jesus we follow. 

So why do we assume that when God calls us to respond to a broken world that they would take us seriously? His own family though he was crazy and the pharisees thought he was demon possessed. The early church was accused of being drunk when the Holy Spirit fell upon them. When it comes to picking up our cross, the world says, “they are out of their minds”. 

As I learn to lead others in following Jesus on Mission I am quickly learning that in the world’s eyes this is crazy, but I am convinced that a life that makes sense to the world is not walking as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). 

Freedom is found in Christ. This reality might look ridiculous to most of the world, but as leaders we must be willing to follow him wherever he calls us even if the world thinks we are crazy. 

Here is footage from one of the teams we sent out this summer. This is a picture of the Gospel reaching those who have never heard.