Surpassing Worth

This ain’t your normal winter retreat.

You don’t go to OIL to mack on girls and check out guys, because frankly, you just don’t have the time!

You don’t go to OIL for the sweet rooms they put you up in, because honestly, you’d be lucky to get a bed.

You don’t even go to OIL to “microwave” your spirituality, because it will in fact change your life (you can count on it).

OIL is once a year, in the back hills of Montrose, Pennsylvania, where 1000 college students and young adults gather to gain a vision of God and join in one voice to give Him the worship He alone deserves. Not only does the band rock out the humble gymnasium, but you’re going to hear from some of the most gifted voices of our time (i.e. Ajith Fernando, Joshua Harris, Ralph Winters, George Verwer, Tony Campolo, Patrick Johnstone, K.P. Yohannan, etc.)

Personally, this has been one of the most foundational times in my spiritual journey. Every OIL (7 years) has served to be a critical point of departure for the ensuing year. I can’t think of a better way to spend both my money and my time. It’s not only a great deal, but you just can’t put a price on being led into a deeper love for Jesus and His people.

Check it out yo. It’s one of those things that will meet and exceed the hype. www.winteroil.org

It’s my last day in Champaign and everything just sort of makes sense to me. I used my last roll of toilet paper today. I ran out of body wash in the morning. And I have no more soap. My last ounce of hair wax is now in my head. If my toiletries could talk, they’d be saying, “get the heck outta here!” Ok, I’m on my way.

Recent moments that remind me of what’s mightier than the dollar:

Sunday, May 25 at YG – In my last service with CFCyg the sermon was the culmination of a 2.5 year series in the gospel of Mark. The subject? The resurrection power of Jesus. God opened my eyes once more to what my purpose is in this world: to reveal to a dying generation the surpassing worth of knowing Christ & the power of His resurrection that can bring new life. It was fitting.

Sunday, June 8 at SSC - In an impromptu “send-off service” in the middle of Pastor Ko’s office, I was joined by the very brothers and sisters that were able to witness God’s amazing faithfulness and transforming power in my life. “Dan Ko” and “pastor” would’ve never been uttered in the same sentance 8 years ago. But as they stood around me with their hands laid, in one voice interceding on my behalf, I felt the call of God being affirmed once again. It was as if God was saying, “it is here I found you, and now it’s from here I send you.” It seemed fitting.

Monday, June 9 in my apt – Tonight, I packed all my belongings into my tiny car. Do the math: lotsa stuff, tiny car. In the hustle and bustle of trying to move & fit everything, God gently reminded me that I don’t need any of this junk. What good are things when they take my eyes off the Maker. What good are gifts when I forget the Giver. All I need to bring is His Word & my dependent heart. Though I was tempted to radically leave it all behind. I thought it unwise to throw away much of my livelihood.

In these three snapshots, I came to realize that which is mightier than the dollar. Though it is a real concern of mine, what I must never forget is that the root of worry & stress comes from a heart that’s not fully dependent on the Lord. And that’s why prayer is mightier than the dollar.

Lord, concern me with the things of your heart. Let me seek thy beauty in the temple all the days of my life.

Not really, but please read on (even though it’s long)

A couple weeks ago, one of the most important marathon races of the year took place in Boston. The Boston Marathon is considered one of the most prestigious road races. Only those that meet qualifying standards are allowed to run in this event. The best runners from around the world are invited to compete for the illustrious crown every year.

This year’s men’s winner, Robert K. Cheruiyot from Kenya, had this to say about the Boston Marathon. “This was the hardest. Boston is not a very easy course, it’s very difficult. [But] I enjoy running the hills.” Although he repeatedly checked his watch as he ran alone for the last miles, Cheruiyot did not challenge the course record of 2:07:14 he set two years ago. His problem: no one to race with. “It’s very difficult when you’re running alone here in Boston,” he said. “You need company.”

As some of you may know, I’m moving to Boston in early June. I’ll be attending Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in the Fall. Actually, this decision’s been a long time in the making. Some of you may ask: why Boston? to answer all the cynics, “No, I’m not jumping on the bandwagon. Yes, all their professional sports teams are winning championships, but I still love my cubs, bulls, & bears.” Ok, so why Boston then? Simply, I feel called. Yes, the city is rich with history. Yes, it’s quaint & beautiful. But much more than that, I think about the Kingdom potential of the city (I blame Pastor Min for giving me eyes to always see potential). If you consider all the Ivy League schools within miles of each other & the types of people that flow through this city, it’s such a huge hub of influence. Men & women that will lead the future of this world flow through this very city. So imagine the Kingdom potential! If Christ can capture the heart of one…many will follow. It’s pretty exciting.

Don’t get me wrong. I realize the naive nature of this vision. But I can’t help but to hold on to the verse in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” There is a power in the Gospel that reaches far beyond hyper intellectualism. There is a power in the Gospel that breaks the grip of money-grubbing hands. And there most certainly is a power in the Gospel that redeems the worldliest efforts for power & influence. So it’s with this vision I set on toward Boston, but not one step ahead of Jesus, who leads me.

But unlike Cheruiyot, who had no one to run with, I won’t be alone in Boston. I’m going to be attending school with my good friend, Hojin. Among other friends already in Boston, I feel as though God’s surrounding me with much needed spiritual accountability. I can’t imagine what this next stage of life would look like without brothers and sisters in Christ that’ll run alongside me. What Cheruiyot said is so true. You need company.

If there’s anything I’ve learned in my 7 years on campus here at U of I, it’s that this Christian race is meant to be run with other people. With the spiritual accountability of my church, CFC, I always felt like I had 800 brothers and sisters running right alongside me at any given moment. And let me tell you, sometimes that’s what kept me going one more day. It’s a lesson I’ll always take with me wherever I go. When I fall, I need someone to pick me up. When I slow down, I need someone to push me. And when I’m tired, I need someone to keep me going. The Christian marathon was never meant to be run alone.

Most of all, I’m excited to be a part of God’s plan. I know very little about what next year’s going to look like. I’ll be a full-time student again, but other than that, I’m committed to walking by faith & not by sight. Beyond that I know much less about what the next 10 years will look like. Where will I live? Which church will I serve? Who will I be serving? Admittedly, they’re all questions I’m asking myself, but ultimately I entrust all things to the God who knows insurmountably more than I could ever know. So more than the anxiety of me not knowing, I’m thankful that God knows.

Please pray for me as I transition from the cornfields of Chambana to the winding roads of Boston. I’m still in the process of finding a place to live next year & in search for a church in the Boston area. Finances are also a huge worry and prayer request, because I forgot how poor you are when you’re a student! But most of all, pray that I’d faithfully run this race until the very end. Pray that whatever the circumstances, I’d never let up or give up.

First of all, didn’t feel that earthquake yesterday. Slept right through it. Appropriately, it’s a good sign of how things are spiritually for me these days. God’s knocking & rocking, but I’m in a deep slumber so I miss Him altogether. It may have been a rare occurrence here in the flatlands of Illinois, but it couldn’t have come at a better time, actually. It was a wake-up call of sorts. Call it what you will, but I think God’s wanting our attention (or at least mine).

Mark 13:8, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.”

I don’t know about you, but do you ever have those moments when your heart aches, because you know you’re not completely satisfied with the way you’re living? Last night was the spring lock-in at our church, a night where we pray through the night for ourselves, our world, and one another. As I was fighting a rough week, feeling physically drained & spiritually depleted, it was hard to get praying. I couldn’t help but to feel an incredible pain in my heart knowing that my desire at that moment wasn’t for what I knew it should’ve been for. I wanted more than anything to crawl into a soft bed. I wanted desperately not to face the rigor of fighting a cold heart that was not “in the mood” to pray. It would’ve been easier if I just didn’t have to fight.

But I knew this ache in my heart was a good sign that things weren’t right. Battling to get praying, I read portions of Mark. All the passages I’ve preached on these past couple years were haunting reminders to what my problem was. I didn’t treasure Christ. The rich young ruler, Judas Iscariot, the Teachers of the Law; what do they all have in common? Their greatest treasure was not Christ, but in secondary things. The widow & her two pennies, Mary & her alabaster jar, the boy & his fish, the disciples & their nets, the bleeding woman & her urgency; what do they all have in common? Their greatest treasure was Christ. So what was my problem? I had slowly let the secondary things take precedence. I had let them rival my desire to love Jesus ultimately. But good thing for a rival nature that fights my sin! It was a welcome rumble in my heart. Needless to say, it was a labor of love last night. My body and mind were at war with my heart. But I’d like to say my heart got the best of both of them!

Oh, wretched dual nature! I want to be rid of thee! Jesus, come! (and do it quickly)

In response to Pastor Min’s sermon last night on “The Mind & Culture” (1 John 2:15-17), I had several thoughts and convictions, but I’ll share just one.

In the beginning, he referenced Niebuhr in his book Christ & Culture by noting the many different trends of Christians in response to this subject of Culture & Christianity.

1. Christ against culture – Jesus was in opposition to the world
2. Christ of culture – Jesus was with the world and was one in the same
3. Christ & the culture in paradox – Jesus and the world are mutually exclusive
4. Christ transforming culture – Jesus was in the culture and changing it

Where are we today on this issue? Whether we know it or not, what we think about this issue and where we stand will greatly effect our life’s choices. Because depending on what your stance is, your attitude of missions & the Word of God will be effected.

But ultimately, I believe what’s lacking in our world is not merely relevance, influence, or even intellect, but it’s simply a lack of spirituality. Our lack of spirituality is the impotence of the Church. We don’t merely need greater insights into culture, but deeper intimacy with Christ. We often tend to lean toward one side or the other on this issue of Christ and culture, don’t we? But when that happens you lose hold of the other. Have your nose in the Word and you lose sight of the world. Have your ear solely on the world and you’ll never hear God’s voice. It’s not so much a delicate balance between the two as it’s a firm grasp on the Word and a loose grip of the world. But again, as Pastor Min poignantly put it, “Cultural change should be the result, not the aim of our Spirituality.” We are first in love with our God, then we are to love people. It’s the volatile mix of “Doxology & Missiology” (the rigid right hand & the loose left hand).

I hope that Christians would never lose relevance in our culture (though it may seem so at times), and that we’d be diligent students of culture, but even more devoted disciples of Jesus Christ.