Mississippi Bonner in Papua New Guinea

Cultural Contradictions?

2012-01-25T21:54:00.004+10:00

"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to point out what's wrong in other people's cultures but not our own? Or how easy it is to make a quick judgment without knowing all the facts? I find myself doing just this as I experience the culture of Papua New Guinea. One aspect of PNG culture that I have a difficult time with is the inferiority of women. And as I've experienced different aspects of the lives of women in New Guinea, little contradictions have stuck out to me which have made me question the validity of these beliefs. Let me give a couple examples:

1. Dress Code - Generally, women in PNG wear long skirts. It is seen as inappropriate for a women to reveal her knees or thighs in public. However, as I have crossed the river multiple times in the last few months, I have seen women in various stages of undress, from short shorts to only underwear. So I have wondered, "Why do I have to wear long skirts if men see women's knees and thighs when they are crossing the river?"
2. Stepping over Food - When a woman steps over food in PNG, the food becomes unclean. However, women do the majority of the garden work and are constantly stepping over food in while planting it, tending to it, or digging it up. So why is it such a big deal to step over food in the market if it's already been stepped over by a woman in the garden?

But just as I was feeling justified to ignore these aspect of PNG culture, I thought of some contradictions within my own culture:

1. Dress Code - It would be inappropriate for me to wear a swimsuit to church or work, but it is seen as appropriate to wear one to the beach or the pool. (Maybe not so different from being inappropriate to wear short shorts in public but not when crossing the river)
2. Professions - We accomplish tasks in our jobs that wouldn't be appropriate outside of that setting: doctors giving physical exams, dentists sticking their hands in people's mouths, or airport security rifling through someone's luggage. (Maybe not so different from being able to step over food in a garden setting but not outside of that setting)

Am I saying that people should be able to do whatever they want because it's their "culture"? No. I am saying that knowing and understanding someone's culture is important to know who people are and why they do something a certain way and not to hold a superior attitude just because the way they do something might be a little different. That's why I'm thankful for the time the Lord has given me to study the culture of Papua New Guinea.

PNG Lotu and the Western Church

2011-12-03T16:29:00.004+10:00

I am currently reading The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross by Nabeel T. Jabbour, and one of the points made in it is the difference between "Christendom" and the "Kingdom of Christ" (Christendom being the Western Christian culture and the Kingdom of Christ being a part of the Body of Christ, having a true relationship with Jesus Christ). My mind has been on culture a lot lately since I am involved in learning the culture and language of Papua New Guinea, and as I was reading, I began thinking about how often we assume someone is wrong or as Christians even assume someone is not saved because their culture is a bit different. This idea was on my mind as I attended a village church in PNG last Sunday. Many differences between this PNG lotu and my experience in the Western church were obvious.

PNG Lotu:
Arrival - Wading across the river to get there
Music - 3 guitars
Seating - Straw covered floor
Offering - Walk to the front and put money in held out plastic containers
Children - Nursing & playing in the congregation
Presentation - Chalkboard
Prayer - Everyone praying aloud at once
Language - Tok Pisin/Tok Ples

Western Church:
Arrival - Driving a car to get there
Music - Piano/Organ/Worship Team
Seating - Pews
Offering - Passing the offering plate
Children - Nursery/Children's Church
Presentation - Projector
Prayer - 1 person leading silent prayer
Language - English

I have to admit, at first I felt a little uncomfortable and wished for the familiarity of my Western church, but as I sang those worship songs in Tok Pisin and as I listened to the sound of a group of people all crying out to God in prayer at once, praising & petitioning Him, I realized I was amongst family. I was amongst the Body of Christ. The "how" of the worship wasn't important; the "who" of the worship is important. As I John 4:2 says, "By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God..."

PNG Meets the 21st Century

2011-11-05T21:43:00.002+10:00

Papua New Guinea is an interesting mixture of the different ages of time, for example the Stone Age and the Age of Technology. I remember first being hit by this interesting dichotomy when shopping in the coastal town of Madang. On one side of the road was the market - women sat on the ground with their fruits and vegetables laid out on pieces of plastic or material before them. On the other side of the road was the grocery store, complete with an aisle of refrigerated goods and bar code scanners at the door. And since the introduction of the cell phone to PNG several years ago, this dichotomy has only become more obvious. It is not uncommon to go to the Goroka Show (an annual event where tribal groups come together decked out in their traditional garb as well as face & body paint to perform dances that represent their customs for events such as funerals, marriages, and other celebrations) and see a man wearing nothing but leaves and paint talking on his cell phone.
I was once again hit by the clash of the ages last week when I was walking to a village with my language helper, Jogina. In order to get to her village, we must cross a river; however, there is no bridge, so we walk to the river and shed our skirts to wade across in the shorts we are wearing underneath. Fortunately, it hasn't been raining too much so the water only comes about waist high. As we are in the middle of the river with nothing but trees on either side, a strange noise breaks the silence of wind and water - a cell phone. Jogina's phone is ringing. She lets go of my hand, and we stand in the middle of the river with water flowing past us as she has a short conversation in PNG's trade language, Tok Pisin. At that moment it just hit me as interesting that someone who walks about half a mile, including crossing a river by wading across, in order to fill up plastic containers with fresh water because she has none in her village, or someone who does not have a bathroom inside her house, or someone who washes her clothes in the river is currently talking on a cell phone. Slowly but surely the 21st century is making its way into Papua New Guinea.

Eternal Security: The Age Old Debate

2011-05-24T08:36:00.000+10:00

Eternal Security: The Age Old Debate

Many believers, and unbelievers, differ in their views of eternal security, or “once saved always saved.” In fact, differing opinions on this subject were and are a part of the Calvinist-Armenian debate that began in the early 17^th century and continues on today. While the following topics are not likely to end this debate nor are an exhaustive covering of the issue, a logical look at justification, regeneration, and identification shows the believer eternally secure based on the Word of God.

An understanding of justification is needed in order to understand the validity of the doctrine of eternal security. Theologically, to justify means to declare righteous or right. Biblically, this definition implies that the one who was justified is not righteous on his or her own and must receive the righteousness of another who is righteous. Since Romans 3:10 clearly states, “There is none righteous, not even one,” (NASB) that means the righteousness received belongs to God. Additionally, this righteousness is not merited by the individual in any way (Ephesians 2:8). So while this righteousness is imputed to the individual, it is still God’s righteousness. Therefore, it stands to reason that since the individual did nothing to earn the righteousness and the righteousness belongs to God, the individual can also do nothing to lose this righteousness, resulting in eternal security. Specifically, justification results in eternal security for three reasons: sin is no longer imputed to the believer, justification results in salvation from future wrath, and justification results in glorification. Righteousness and sin are opposites; they cannot inhabit the same place at the same time. So when righteousness was imputed, sin was no longer imputed, and since the Lord will no longer take sin into account in this individual (Romans 4:7-8), there is no basis for the individual to lose what he or she received when justified. This amnesty does not just refer to past sins, but present and future sins as well. Romans 5:9 explains that those justified shall be (future tense) saved from the wrath of God. After all, all of the sins of present day believers were future at the time of Christ’s death on the cross. Happily, justification does not end with salvation from wrath. It goes even further to result in glorification. God has promised to glorify those He justified (Romans 8:30). This promise should affirm the doctrine of eternal security because glorification involves eternity with God, and God is always true to His word. Failing to keep His promise would be inconsistent with His character.

Righteousness, however, means nothing without life. Ephesians 2:1 asserts, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.” An individual must first be brought to life before being able to rest in the security of eternal life. This is where regeneration comes in. Regeneration literally means to be brought to life and can be seen in a continued reading of Ephesians 2 – “even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ…” (2:5, NASB). In addition to being justified, the individual is also regenerated at the point of salvation. Being given life in and of itself would not validate the doctrine of eternal security but being given an entirely new and eternal life would. II Corinthians 5:17 confirms that this life is new: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (NASB). And the promise that this life is eternal is confirmed throughout the Gospel of John (3:16, 36; 5:24; 4:14). A righteous God would not be able to promise new life for eternity if it was something that could be lost.

In addition to understanding both justification and regeneration, it is also important to understand identification when it comes to the matter of eternal security. The psychological definition of the word, identification, is a process by which one ascribes to oneself the qualities or characteristics of another person. The difference between the psychological definition and the Biblical definition is that Biblically the one receiving the identity is not doing the ascribing, God is. God has taken and applied the work of Christ to the believer. In other words, God has placed the believer into the identity of Christ. Colossians 3:3 states this idea in this way: “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (NASB). The believer has a new life in Christ because God has legally applied Christ’s death to the individual’s sinful self in order to free him or her from sin (Romans 6), the Law (Romans 7:1-6), and the world (Galatians 6:14) and made him or her able to walk in resurrection power (Romans 6:11, 13). Since the believer has died with Christ in order to receive these freedoms, the believer will also live with Christ. II Timothy 2:11 even goes so far as to say that it is a “trustworthy statement” (NASB). Personally, I have never heard anyone question the eternal security of Jesus Christ. And once an individual dies with Him (is saved through faith in Jesus Christ), he or she becomes united to Him (Romans 6:5). Therefore, if the eternity of Jesus Christ is secure, the eternity of the one united to Him is also secure.

With justification, regeneration, and identification in mind, eternal security comes down to two assurances: promise and position. God has promised that the life received by the believer is eternal and that justified believers will be glorified, an act involving eternity. Also, at the point of salvation the believer is identified with Christ, placed in His position. Since God is always true to His word and Christ’s eternity is secure, the believer can rest assured in his or her own eternal security.

The Christian Life: Where the Abnormal is the "Norm"

2011-05-24T08:35:00.001+10:00

The Christian Life: Where the Abnormal is the “Norm”

The Christian life is not a difficult life to live. The Christian life is an impossible life to live. Why is it so impossible? As Paul mentions in Romans 6:14, the Christian life is a life under grace rather than law (New Inductive Study Bible), and the standard of grace is actually higher than the standard of the law (Rick Barth). The standard of grace is the holiness of Christ, and as Christians we are called to be holy just as He is (NISB, I Peter 1:16). Fortunately, we do not have to live this holiness-requiring Christian life. Christ lives it for us, in us and through us. So living the Christian life is as simple as depending on God. This concept may seem too easy to line up with the complexities of Christianity, but consider how one becomes a Christian in the first place: we die in order to live (NISB, Matthew 10:39; Romans 6:8). The Christian life is a paradoxical one, so while aspects of it may seem contradictory or absurd, they actually express truth. Along the same lines, in order to live a “normal” Christian life, one must actually live abnormally in relation to the modern Christian culture. Normal does not mean usual or average, it means functioning in good health, in this case, as the Bible says we should (Richards). Therefore, as believers, we do not want to be living an average life but a life that is functioning in good health, which means a life completely dependent on God. What does living dependent on God mean? It means first knowing the provision of God, second reckoning this provision to be true in ourselves, and third, in light of the knowing and reckoning, yielding to the power of God every day.

In order to know the provision of God, one must first know who he is apart from this provision, which takes us all the way back to the beginning. In Genesis 3, the Fall occurred. Adam and Eve sinned, effectively damning the human race to a life and eternity separated from God. Romans 5:19a explains this idea: through Adam’s disobedience the rest of the human race were made sinners (Richard). Watchman Nee said it well, “…the teaching of Romans is not that we are sinners because we commit sins, but that we sin because we are sinners. We are sinners by constitution rather than by action” (Nee 35). So in Adam, we have imputed sin, inherent sin, and personal sin; we dwell in darkness and in death; we are enemies of God and at enmity against God; we are under condemnation, dominated by sin, and totally lost (Bonner).

Fortunately, God provided a solution, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:19 continues on to give hope: through Jesus Christ’s obedience the human race will be made righteous. Jesus Christ became obedient to the point of death (NISB, Philippians 2:8), and by accepting His death as the substitution for one’s own, one is justified or made righteous (NISB, II Corinthians 5:21). As Galatians 2:20 explains, this act removes the person from being in Adam and places him or her in Christ (The New Inductive Study Bible). In Christ, we have imputed righteousness; we still have inherent sin and personal sin, but we dwell in light and in life; we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ; we are not under condemnation; we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and totally saved (Bonner). Once again, this may seem too easy, but in reality it is exactly what was needed. The only way for God to justify the sinner was for His justice to be satisfied. Nothing we could do is able to satisfy God’s justice (NISB, Titus 3:5). At the point of salvation, His justice was satisfied due the fact that we are placed in Christ (NISB, II Corinthians 5:17), we are made righteous (NISB, II Corinthians 5:21), we are perfect in Christ (NISB, Hebrews 10:14), and we have received the fullness of Christ (NISB, Colossians 2: 9-10) (Bonner). It all comes from knowing Christ. So satisfying God’s justice did not simply save us from an eternity separated from Him. As II Peter 2:3-4 tells us, through the knowledge of Christ we receive everything needed for life and godliness; we become partakers in the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world (The New Inductive Study Bible). Knowing these facts is key to living the normal Christian life because the information that saves us is also what we need to stand, walk, and live. However, facts can be useless unless they are believed. This is where faith comes in, but the facts are needed for the faith. True faith comes from the facts of the Word of God (NISB, Romans 10:17). And as Miles Stanford put it, “Unless our faith is established on facts, it is no more than conjecture, superstition, speculation, or presumption” (Stanford 3).

Now that the provision of God is known, it must be reckoned to be true. Many people, including myself, have wondered how all this truth regarding our position in Christ plays out in our everyday lives. It plays out when we reckon it to be true. Growing up in a Christian home, I heard the facts day in and day out. I even knew them to be true, but these true facts did me no good until I appropriated them. On the West Rim of the Grand Canyon lies the Grand Canyon Skywalk. The Skywalk is a 70-foot-long, glass bottomed walkway which projects over the edge of a 4,000 foot drop. Someone may know that the structure is anchored by large steel caissons that are attached to piles drilled 40 feet into thick limestone (Lubell). Someone may even believe that these anchors will hold the structure steady, not allowing tourists to plummet to their death on the rocky floor of the Grand Canyon. But until that someone actually walks out onto the Grand Canyon Skywalk, he is not appropriating that knowledge; additionally, he is also missing out on a spectacular experience. As has already been mentioned, at the point of salvation we are placed in Christ. II Corinthians 5:17 tells us that this makes us a new creature (The New Inductive Study Bible). So in order to live the Christian life, we must appropriate that knowledge. This area is often where the problem of living a normal Christian life lies. One may know the facts and even accept them to be true, but unless he appropriates those facts he will be missing out on the spectacular experience that is the normal Christian life. Often, the problem is due to the idea of probability. As logical-thinking and skeptical humans, the fact that we have died to sin and are no longer enslaved to it does not seem probable. The fact that we are not under law but under grace (God’s unmerited favor) does not seem probable. The fact that we are freed from sin and slaves of righteousness does not seem probable. George Mueller responded to this problem: “Faith has nothing to do with probabilities. The province of faith begins where probabilities cease and sight and sense fail. Appearances are not to be taken into account. The question is – whether God has spoken it in His Word” (Stanford 4). And God has spoken it in His Word (NISB, Romans 6:11-12, 14, 18).

One might think that reckoning is just another word for positive thinking. It is not. Positive thinking is hoping that something will come true if one believes hard enough. Reckoning is acting on what one already knows to be true. The truth is that we have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (NISB, Ephesians 1:3); the truth is that we can do all things through Christ (NISB, Philippians 4:13); the truth is that we are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ and will be glorified with Him (NISB, Romans 8:17). So let’s start acting like these things are true and living in victory rather than defeat!

So far feelings have not played a part in living the normal Christian life, and this is because feelings can often contradict the facts. Many times one will not feel like he is dead to the “old man” (who he was in Adam) and alive in Christ, but God does not ask us to. He knows that the “old man” is still within us, but He does ask us to remember that it has already been judged (Cutting). It only has the power that we give it. And this is why it is so important that in light of the knowing and reckoning, we yield to the power of God every day. Romans 7:15 shows that we are still in need of God’s power for holiness. Even though we are new creations, we still lack the power to overcome sin and live righteously, and as Romans 7:24 expresses, someone else must deliver us (Richards). Therefore, we yield to God both in our mindsets and in our actions.

As we have already seen, mindset is key. Two important ideas to keep in our mindsets are that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him (NISB, Romans 8:28) and that we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (NISB, Romans 8:9). Knowing that God is sovereign and that He has our good in mind always are such freeing concepts. What could be better than the One who is in complete control of everything having our good in mind? Ideally, this arrangement would result in the perfect life and it does, but we have to remember one thing: our ways are not God’s ways (Isaiah 55:8). When we present ourselves to God, we are recognizing that we are altogether His. I do not consecrate myself to a certain life; I consecrate myself to Him, to His will, to be and to do whatever He desires (Nee 103). One does not know how his life will go, but he can know that God is sovereign and He has his good in mind. Suffering and trials may come into our lives, but reckoning these concepts to be true gives hope in the suffering and purpose in the trials. Additionally, we do not have to face these in our own power. The Holy Spirit indwells us. We have already seen who we are in Christ. This identification with Christ makes the Christian life possible, but walking in the Spirit makes it do-able. The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to actualize Christ’s life in me (Richards). Watchman Nee explains that the difference between victorious Christians and defeated ones is not that some have the Spirit and others do not, but that some know His indwelling and others do not. Those who know they have the Spirit recognize the divine ownership of their lives while the others are still their own masters (Nee 144). The Holy Spirit desires to empty us of our old life in Adam and fill us with our new life in Christ. He does this when we yield to Him by not grieving Him (NISB, Ephesians 4:30), which means we act according to our old life; by not quenching Him (NISB, I Thessalonians 5:19), which means we refuse to let Him lead us in our new life; and by walking in Him (NISB, Galatians 5:16, 25), which means living in light of the provision of Christ (Richard Barth 235). Another way to look at walking in the Spirit is to walk in communion with the Father, in dependence upon the Spirit, having the Lord Jesus as my one object (Bonner). I John 3:2 tells us that we will be like Jesus because we will see Him just as He is (The New Inductive Study Bible). So it makes sense that we can be like Him now by focusing on Him. If we spend all of our time looking at Him & who He is, we will have no time to focus on ourselves, and the normal Christian life will take care of itself by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In addition to yielding our mindsets, we also need to yield our actions. People often think of faith being something that is passive, but in reality it is very active. We want to make the activity be our works, keeping the Law, but doing this is unbelief. We must focus on who we are and what God wants us to do rather than what we were and what we cannot do, keep the Law (Richards). This activity that we should focus on is seen in the action verbs that are involved in the normal Christian life: believe, read, and pray. It has already been stated that the foundation of the normal Christian life is fact. We must know that we are dead to sin and alive in Christ. This is not a passive knowledge; it is an active reckoning. We must keep that mindset even when we do not feel like it is true. One thing that can be helpful in keeping that mindset is reading the Word of God. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (NISB, Romans 10:17). We possess everything we need at the outset and only progress as we advance in the knowledge of what we already have (Stanford 24). This knowledge comes from being in the Word of God. Additionally, II Peter 1:12-15 explains our source of protection from falling prey to the obstacles which cause failure in the Christian life is to be constantly presented with the truths involved in our salvation (Rick Barth). If we are constantly reading and studying the Word of God, we will be constantly thinking about and focusing on God rather than ourselves and our circumstances. Finally, we must pray. How can we expect to have a relationship with someone unless we communicate with him? In the age of the internet, blogs, and Facebook, a lot can be known about a person, but a relationship does not exist unless there is communication. God does communicate through His Word, but He desires for us to communicate with Him as well (NISB, Psalm 141:2). This action shows our dependence on Him and once again puts our focus on Him rather than ourselves.

Ultimately, the Christian is a person so it makes sense that his life would have the essential qualities of a personality, intellect, will, and emotion, or as they’ve been identified, fact, faith, and feeling. We know who we are and what we have in Christ, we reckon these facts to be true, and we yield to them in our lives. All of this brings us back to the paradox: an easy concept (dependence on God) that results in practical difficulty, essentially “easier said than done.” But one more fact dissolves this paradox: “It is finished” (NISB, John 19:30)! We are already victorious in the Christian life, so stop preparing for battle, stop trying to live the Christian life, and start reposing in Christ. As Psalm 46:10 states, “Cease striving and know that I am God” (The New Inductive Study Bible).

The Person of the Holy Spirit

2011-05-24T08:33:00.000+10:00

The Person of the Holy Spirit

Truly understanding the Trinity is impossible this side of Heaven; however, we can understand that all three Persons of the Godhead are just that, persons. It is easy to think of the Father and the Son as persons; the titles they hold imply personality (Barth 220). However the word “spirit” conjures images of smoke and ghosts, not personality. But if it is easy to think of the Father and Son as persons, it should also be easy to think of the Holy Spirit as a person because they are just as much “spirit” as He is. God the Father does not have a body with limitations, and prior to His incarnation, God the Son existed as a spirit and still is a spirit as to His essence (Barth 220). So the Holy Spirit is the same type of being as the Father and the Son.

We can know that the Holy Spirit is a person due to His having the characteristics of a personality: intellect, emotion, and will (Freeman). The intellect of the Holy Spirit is the mind of God. I Corinthians 2:10-11 reveals the Holy Spirit as a thinking being (Freeman). He studies and reasons; therefore, He has a mind. The emotion of the Holy Spirit is seen in both positive and negative lights. Ephesians 4:30 reveals that the Spirit can be grieved or saddened, and Galatians 5:22-23 identifies the fruit of the Spirit, several of which are positive emotions: love, joy, and peace. An emanation, inanimate force, or influence would not have the ability to feel. The will of the Holy Spirit is evident in how He relates to other beings. Acts 15:22-28 reveals that the Spirit chooses or decides (Freeman), and John 16:13 reveals that He guides. He operates according to His will.

The Holy Spirit’s relation to other beings does not simply prove He has a will, it proves He is a person. Relating to someone implies having something in common with him or her. Throughout the Bible the Holy Spirit is relating to persons by teaching them, speaking to them, and warning them (Freeman). He is able to relate to them in this way because of a common personality. Finally, an action on both my part in this paper and the inspired writers of the Bible emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s person aspect. That action is referring to Him using personal pronouns (Freeman). If the Holy Spirit was not a person, the inspired writers of the Bible would have used “It” rather than “He,” and I would have followed their example.

Why is this important? Knowing the Holy Spirit as a person rather than some inanimate force or being impacts believers in the church by allowing them to understand His ministry in their lives and properly respond to it. If believers were told a force descended on them, what would that mean and how should they respond? But if they are told that the Holy Spirit guides them, they know the proper response is to follow. For me personally, knowing that the Holy Spirit is a person encourages me that I am not alone in this Christian life. As a single woman who lives away from her family, it is very encouraging to know that someone else is always with me and always will be with me. When I first moved away from my family to live in Papua New Guinea, there were times of great loneliness and wondering if I would be able to make it without a present support system like I had at home. However, by knowing that the Holy Spirit indwells me and that He is a person, I knew that Someone would always be there. I don’t think this would have been as comforting or encouraging (if comforting and encouraging at all) without the Holy Spirit being a person that I can relate to because I am a person. This knowledge gives me freedom of movement. If I relocate to Papua New Guinea, He is there; if I make my bed in Waukesha, Wisconsin, behold, He is there.

Joy Found in Sorrow

2011-05-24T08:32:00.000+10:00

II Corinthians 7:6-12 – Joy Found in Sorrow

In a sin-filled world, sorrow is ever present, in believers and unbelievers alike. But is sorrow in believers a Biblical concept? The book of II Corinthians proves that it is. The Apostle Paul had much sorrow concerning the church in Corinth. In fact, after Paul’s second visit to Corinth, a painful trip due to the Corinthians’ rejection of him and his apostolic authority, he wrote a third letter to them. This letter was a warning, a call for discipline. This situation caused sorrow both for Paul and for the Corinthian believers. II Corinthians 2:1 informs the reader that Paul had come to them in sorrow on that second visit, and II Corinthians 7:8 informs the reader that the Corinthians were made sorrowful by that third letter. And while Paul said that he did not write that letter in order to make them sorrowful but to show them the love he had for them, sorrow resulted. Paul was so concerned about the Corinthians’ response to this letter that he was unable to minister in Troas and had to go to Macedonia in search of Titus. It was there in Macedonia that Titus brought Paul the Corinthians’ response to the letter, and it was there in Macedonia that Paul wrote II Corinthians. In II Corinthians 7:6-12 Paul’s reaction to the Corinthians’ response to this third letter is explained. The word sorrow is mentioned eight times in these verses, yet Paul’s reaction is one of great joy. How can joy be found in the midst of such great sorrow? How can Paul’s reaction be joyful if his intent was to not cause them sorrow in his letter? There are several reasons why Paul found joy within this sorrow: the situation provided Paul with a “teachable moment,” the sorrow that the Corinthians felt was God’s sorrow as opposed to the world’s sorrow, and just as Paul’s painful letter was meant to show his love for the Corinthians, the Corinthians’ sorrow shows their love for Paul.

“Teachable moments” are opportunities that a teacher has to put what he or she has been teaching into action or to clearly explain the application of what he or she has been teaching. For Paul, this moment came when Titus arrived in Macedonia with the Corinthians’ response to Paul’s third letter as well as in Titus’ example. In II Corinthians 1:3-7, Paul had explained that God was the God of all comfort, that we are comforted in order to share comfort with others, and that God’s comfort is just as abundant as our suffering. II Corinthians 7:6-7 is the application of that teaching. This application makes Paul’s teaching consistent. Even as he mentions in II Corinthians 7:5 that he was afflicted on every side, the very next words that come out of Paul’s mouth are, “But God, who comforts.” Additionally, the fact that we are comforted in order to share comfort with others played out with the Corinthians involved. They comforted Titus, and Paul mentions that he was comforted not only by God and the coming of Titus but by the comfort that the Corinthians gave to Titus. So despite the sorrow that had taken place, Paul was able to find joy in this “teachable moment” with the Corinthians.

More importantly, however, than a “teachable moment” is the fact that the sorrow that the Corinthians felt was God’s sorrow, not the world’s sorrow. Not all sorrow is bad; it can produce positive results. II Corinthians 7:8-12 is an example of positive sorrow. In other words, it is an example of God’s sorrow. There’s a difference between God’s sorrow and the world’s sorrow. God’s sorrow results in repentance while the world’s sorrow results in death. Paul states in II Corinthians 7:9 that he did not rejoice that they were made sorrowful but that they were made sorrowful to the point of repentance, and in II Corinthians 7:11 he refers to this sorrow as a godly sorrow. Godly sorrow is able to bring about joy because of its result. In the Corinthians’ case it produced a desire to right their wrongs, to turn from their ways; it produced repentance. And this repentance led to their salvation. This salvation is not referring to justification because Paul is writing to the Corinthian believers. This fact is evident in how Paul refers to his audience, such as when he calls them “brethren” in II Corinthians 8:1. It is also evident in the content of the letter. He speaks of repentance of action and discipline. Neither of these concepts has any effect on an unbeliever. If Paul were speaking to unbelievers, his message would be for them to put their faith in Christ. So in the case of the Corinthians, their sorrow led to repentance which led to salvation, referring to their sanctification and possibly glorification. Regarding their sanctification, they were no longer hindered in their fellowship with God. They were delivered, free to grow in their relationships with the Lord. Paul even mentions this fellowship as he closes the letter of II Corinthians: “…and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (II Corinthians 13:14). Regarding their glorification, they were no longer neglecting the great salvation mentioned in Hebrews 2:3, the sharing with the Son of God in the enjoyment of his final victory over all enemies and his glorious inheritance in His future kingdom over the earth (Richards). Paul had touched on this salvation before in his second letter to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 6:2). So while Paul’s third letter did produce sorrow, it was a godly sorrow which ultimately did show his sincere care, concern, and love for the Corinthians (Hodgdon). Therefore, joy could be found in this success.

But Paul’s love was not the only love that was made evident within this sorrow. The Corinthians’ sorrow shows their love for Paul as well. It is clear from II Corinthians 7:8 that the sorrow was caused by the letter from Paul. One does not often feel sorrow for disappointing someone that they have no feelings for. Despite the pain and problems that had come from Paul’s previous visits and letters, it is evident from this passage (II Corinthians 7:6-12) that they loved Paul. They cared for and respected him so deeply that his disappointment of them brought them to a point of sorrow. Therefore, joy could once again be found.

Prior to studying II Corinthians 7:6-12, I had considered sorrow negatively, and while to the world the word still has negative connotations, I can find comfort in the truth. As a Christian, I can have sorrow and joy at the same time. This is a radical idea in a world where being happy is the focus. But in Christ, I can experience worldly pain and sadness with hope and joy. This truth is important for my individual walk with God as well as my testimony to others. Remembering the positive results of Paul and the Corinthians’ sorrow can keep me from getting bogged down in my own afflictions and fears. And as I appropriate this truth, I may have a “teachable moment,” an opportunity to be a witness to others who are watching how I react to the circumstances of life. If one person is able to come to Christ because of my sorrow, then it is well worth it.

Looking Unto Jesus

2011-05-24T08:31:00.000+10:00

Looking Unto Jesus

“’…looking unto Jesus…’ (Hebrews 12:2) Only these three words, but in these three words is the whole secret of life” (Monod). The secret of life is what everyone is looking for; there have been songs written about it, movies produced about it, and lives wasted in search of it. Everyone today is looking for something to put faith in, but putting one’s faith in anything of this world is hopeless. People disappoint, natural disasters happen, treasures are lost, beauty fades. Jesus is the one constant. I Peter 1:2-3 talks of an inheritance that is found in Jesus Christ and will not fade away (New Inductive Study Bible). He is eternal (Revelation 22:13) and the only One worthy of faith. He is worthy of faith because He is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). We look unto Him because in this faithfulness He is our example. As Hebrews 12:2 explains, Jesus endured for a time and then rested. We will do the same, but first we have to endure. Without first enduring Christ would not have been able to rest. The common culture today is characterized with a desire to get something for nothing. Internet scams are built, diets are created, and machines are invented all around this idea. But the Christian life does not follow this same line of thinking. Some might say that this “something for nothing” line of thinking is the foundation of the Christian life since salvation is given freely to all who believe. But while salvation is given freely, it was far from free. Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Godhead, emptied Himself and humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, and it was because of this that God highly exalted Him (Philippians 2:7-9). Just as that first phase of salvation, justification, was far from free, so the third phase of salvation, the saints coming into their inheritance with Christ in the Messianic Age to come (Richards), is far from free. As Christians we must endure the sufferings, hardships, and trials of this life. How is this possible? Just as that first phase of salvation was impossible for us to accomplish on our own, so the third phase of salvation is impossible for us to accomplish on our own. We must fix our eyes on Jesus, putting our faith in Him to save us as He did before.

Why is this faith so crucial to the Christian life? In order to know why faith is so crucial, it is important to know what faith is. Faith is simply believing God, committing oneself to what He has said (Barth 275). Faith is basically appropriation. It is using what belongs to us (Bosworth). Faith is crucial because it is the foundation of the Christian life. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (New Inductive Study Bible). As has already been mentioned, Christians must endure suffering, hardships, and trials of this life. As J. Dwight Pentecost puts it, “Suffering is the necessary prerequisite for maturity” (204). So when these hardships arise, the Christian has two options: to walk by sight, focusing on the troubles, obstacles, and enemies, or to walk by faith, focusing on Christ and what He is doing through these troubles, obstacles, and enemies. Trusting what God says of us is true is the foundation we stand on when facing these adversaries. We can fight doubt by having faith that we are “accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6); we can fight fear by having faith that God is sovereign (Psalm 103:19); we can even fight death by having faith that we have eternal life (John 3:16). Faith is the foundation on which we can stand and fight.

This faith that is the foundation of the Christian life is not just faith in anything. As the book of Hebrews sets forth, Jesus Christ is the one object of our faith. God is the only One worthy of our faith. There is no one higher. He even has to swear by Himself because there is no one greater than He (Hebrews 6:13). And since Jesus Christ is God, as God the Father refers to Him in Hebrews 1:8 (New Inductive Study Bible), no one is greater than He. For some reason Jew and Gentile alike try to find other objects to put their faith in, but the writer of Hebrews puts all the possibilities under the feet of Jesus. He is higher than the angels (Hebrews 1:4); He is higher than Moses (Hebrews 3:3); He is even higher than the High Priest due to His being designated as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:10). The Melchizedekian priesthood is greater than the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 7:7). Its greatness is portrayed in two main reasons. As priest Jesus Christ enters the true holy place, into heaven itself, whereas the Levitical priests entered a mere copy of the true one (Hebrews 7:24). Also, Jesus Christ’s priesthood is permanent whereas the Levitical priests were prevented by death from continuing (Hebrews 7:23-24). Through all of these examples, the writer of Hebrews establishes Jesus Christ’s pre-eminence, making Him the only object of our ever so crucial faith.

The importance and the Object of our faith have been established, but what does this faith in Christ actually do for us? First, this faith frees us. Faith places all our confidence on the One who is able, Christ, rather than on the one who is unable, self. We can work in ourselves but the product won’t last for long, and ultimately will be ineffective. However, faith looks to Christ to do the work, making the product permanent and effective. I Corinthians 3:11 states, “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (New Inductive Study Bible). The product of man’s work is wood, hay, and straw which will be burned up in the fire of judgment, but the product of Christ’s work is gold, silver, and precious stones, which will remain and result in reward (I Corinthians 3:12-15). Faith frees us from the burden of living the Christian life and places that burden on One who is able, Jesus Christ. Second, this faith produces patient endurance. “If by faith we have assurance, confidence, and conviction, we will of necessity patiently endure until we realize that which we confidently expect” (Pentecost 175). Hebrews 12:1 exhorts the reader to “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (New Inductive Study Bible). This race is not a sprint; it is a marathon. The faith we have gives us something to look forward to which will sustain us through the long race. We even have witnesses to encourage us in this way. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is commonly referred to as the “Hall of Faith.” All of the people in this chapter were looking to something in the future. They did not receive what was promised (Hebrews 11:39), but they were able to endure because they laid hold of the promise by faith (Pentecost 197). This is how they could patiently endure, and that is how we can patiently endure. We look forward to a future hope.

What is this hope that we look forward to and how is faith in Christ related to it? Our hope is to share Jesus Christ’s inheritance, but even within this future hope we are given a present hope, a hope that Jesus Christ is able to carry us through any trial unto the end (Richards). In Hebrews 1:14, we are referred to as “those who will inherit salvation” (New Inductive Study Bible). The salvation emphasized in the book of Hebrews is future glorification, the church saints sharing with Christ His glorious inheritance and authority over the earth in the Millennial Kingdom (Richards). Some may say that this salvation, this hope, has nothing to do with our faith in Christ as far as patient endurance is concerned because it was secure at the moment of our justification. But Hebrews 2:3 says that we can “neglect so great a salvation,” and Hebrews 2:2 says “every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty” (New Inductive Study Bible). These statements imply a penalty will be the result of neglect. Yes, co-residence in heaven, shared intimacy of sons, and conformity to Christ is secure, but co-heirship with Christ over the universe and sharing with Christ His reign over the earth can be lost (Richards). This privilege, this rest, is our hope, what we can look forward to in order to keep us patiently enduring. It is the assurance, confidence, and conviction that will bring about our endurance until we realize what we confidently expect. But it can only be realized through faith in Christ. The Israelites were unable to enter into their rest due to unbelief (Hebrews 3:19), so it stands to reason that the only way to enter into rest is through belief (Hebrews 4:3). But a future rest is not the only hope we have. We also have the present hope of Jesus as the “Captain of our salvation.” He goes before us and paves the way in every phase of our salvation (Richards). He hasn’t just left us on our own to look forward to rest in the future. We can look to Him for relief in the present as well. Two of the reasons for His incarnation were to come to the aid of those who are tempted and to render Satan powerless to hold men in bondage (Hebrews 2:14, 18). So even now by fixing our eyes on Christ, we are able to have relief from our enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil, allowing us to patiently endure until our future, permanent rest is realized. Therefore, this faith should be a personal part of each of our lives.

For me, personally, looking unto Jesus means knowing who He is. The word translated “looking” or “fixing” in Hebrews 12:2 includes the idea of turning away from other things. So by focusing on who He is, I am not focusing on other things such as myself and my struggles or enemies. If I am looking unto Jesus, I am not looking unto myself. My troubles, struggles, irritations, annoyances, and sin mainly come from my being focused on myself and how I am either not getting what I want or getting something I do not want. If my focus is instead on Christ then those troubles, struggles, irritations, and annoyances can be put in perspective and my response can be Christ-like rather than selfish, resulting in less sin and a better testimony. If I am looking unto Jesus, I am not looking at the world, its rules and examples and customs (Monod). It’s easy to get caught up in what the world says is “right” or “acceptable” since I am living in it and am surrounded by it. But if my eyes are on Jesus then I will be looking at the world through His perspective and will know the truth of what is right and acceptable. I will not be easily deceived and manipulated by the world. If I am looking unto Jesus, I am not looking unto Satan. I will not be terrified by him, enticed by him, or deceived by him because I know the truth (Monod). I will see that while he is powerful, Jesus is more powerful and controls Satan. I will not give into his flatteries because I will know who I am in Christ and will not need to find any affirmation in Satan. I will not be deceived by Satan because I will be walking in the Spirit and be armed with the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11). Jesus Christ is the answer to my every need both in this life and in eternity.

The Freedom of Christ in Me

2011-05-24T08:30:00.000+10:00

The Freedom of Christ in Me

Those who struggle to live the Christian life are the ones trying to live the Christian life. It is impossible to live. Fortunately, we don’t have to live it, Christ does. Many people think that living the Christian life is keeping the Ten Commandments, going to church, giving to the poor, and basically being “good.” However, the Christian life is so much more than that. It is the life of Christ Himself. When people look at all they think they have to do, they don’t understand verses like Galatians 5:1, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free…” (New Inductive Study Bible). They see the Christian life as bondage to a lot of rules and regulations. However, the freedom that is the central concept of Paul’s epistle to the Galatians is evident when the Christian life is seen as Christ living it through the believer. All the believer has to do is trust Him. What could be more freeing? Trusting in Christ to live through us is a simple concept, yet it is difficult in practice. However, an understanding of this concept can make that practice easier. The explanation can be found in Galatians 2:19-20.

Galatians 2:19 states, “For through the Law I died…” (New Inductive Study Bible). The first fact that must be understood is the death of the sinner. Because I am unable to keep the Law, I must be punished to satisfy the Law, and that punishment is death (NISB, Romans 6:23). Jesus Christ died on the cross as my substitute, satisfying the Law, in order that I would not have to experience true death, eternal separation from God. However, I did experience death, death to sin (NISB, Romans 6:11). If the verse stopped there, I could look forward to eternity in Heaven, but that is all. The verse does not stop there; it goes on to say, “…so that I might live to God” (NISB, Galatians 2:19). So in the present I am to “live to God.” How can I do this? I can’t. Fortunately, Paul continues in verse 20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (New Inductive Study Bible). The death to sin I experienced was through identification with Christ. When He was crucified on the cross, I was crucified with Him; when he was buried, I was buried, and when He rose again, I also rose again. The second fact that must be understood is the regeneration of the believer. II Corinthians 5:17 says that I am a “new creature” (New Inductive Study Bible). And this “new creature” has been created in union with Christ. God gave me new life by giving me a new source of life, Christ in me. So when Galatians 2:20 says, “…the life which I now live in the flesh” (New Inductive Study Bible), it’s referring to the fact that I am still here on earth living in my same earthly body, but that life is lived by faith, faith in the new creation I became, faith in Christ. And when Galatians 2:20 says, “…it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (New Inductive Study Bible), it’s referring to the fact that God put His very character in me, so as long as I am living in reliance on Christ, that character will be my life, the Christian life.

How do these facts apply to my everyday life? It is simply a matter of focus. If I am focusing on anything other than Christ to make it through the day, I am denying Him. Some of the things I could be focusing on could be very “good” things in the world’s eyes – keeping the Ten Commandments, going to church, giving to the poor, and basically being “good” – but none of these things are Jesus Christ. Some of these actions may result from my focusing on Christ, but if they are the result of anything else, they are nothing. As Watchman Nee illustrates through the conversation with a young brother, “The Lord has shown me that I can do anything, but that he has said, ‘Apart from me ye can do nothing.’ So it comes to this, that everything I have done and can still do apart from him is nothing!” (234). My responsibility as a Christian boils down to one thing: to know Christ. If I focus on Him, He will live the Christian life through me.

God is So Good!

2011-05-24T08:29:00.000+10:00

God is So Good!

Imagine your greatest enemy, someone who has wronged you in a terrible way. Now imagine you have the opportunity to save his life. Would you do it? Perhaps. But would you then invite this enemy into your home as a member of your family, lavish riches upon him, and give him everything he needs to live a successful life? No. This is exactly what God did! Romans 5:10 expressly labels sinners as “enemies” of God, yet Romans 5:8 says that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (New Inductive Study Bible). We were God’s enemies, yet He saved our lives, our eternal lives at that, through the death of His Son. But He did not stop there. Ephesians 1:3 tells us that God “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (New Inductive Study Bible). He made us members of His family, lavished riches upon us, and gave us everything we need to live successful lives. I can’t imagine a greater testament to God’s goodness than the revelation of the many blessings God has bestowed upon His former enemies.

In order to get a clear picture of the amazing goodness of God, it is important to understand what we were prior to salvation. Ephesians 2:1-3 tells us exactly what we once were: dead, sons of disobedience, living in the lusts of our flesh, children of wrath. It’s hard to think of anything worse, but Ephesians 5:8 takes it a step further by saying we were darkness itself. This term removes any limit of the evil that we were capable of. Who would save someone that fits this description? Fortunately, Ephesians 2:4 answers that question with the greatest pair of words in the Bible, “But God.” In His goodness God saved us in our darkened state, but God’s goodness doesn’t stop there.

God didn’t just save us, He made us members of His household! Ephesians 2:19 says, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household” (New Inductive Study Bible). Additionally, God’s goodness gave us more than the position or title alone; it gave us the full privileges that go along with the position or title (qtd. by Hodgdon). This most gracious act is not something God decided to do after He saw how repentant and thankful we were for His saving us. Ephesians 1:5 tells us that God predestined us to adoption as sons. To predestine means to mark out beforehand (Hodgdon), and Ephesians 1:4 tells us when that predestination took place: before the foundation of the world. In His omniscience God knew what despicable creatures we would be and He knew that even after salvation we would struggle with our flesh, yet He marked out that as believers we would be glorified!

This future glorification is evidence of God’s goodness, but once again it doesn’t stop there. He did not just give us a hope for the future and leave us to flounder in the present. He lavished riches upon us and gave us everything we need to live successful lives. Ephesians 3:16 says, “…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man” (New Inductive Study Bible). God gave us the Holy Spirit as a pledge of that future inheritance (Ephesians 1:14), but being a pledge is not all the Holy Spirit does. He gives us access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18), He is building us into God’s dwelling place (Ephesians 2:22), He gives us insight (Ephesians 3:4-5), and He strengthens us (Ephesians 3:16). What greater riches could we ask for? These riches are essential for our success in the present. Another essential for success in the present is purpose, and God has given us just that. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we were “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (New Inductive Study Bible). However, God, in His goodness, didn’t just give us a purpose, He gave us the means to accomplish the purpose. He has given us His Word which is profitable in our lives (II Timothy 3:16); He has given the aforementioned Holy Spirit who reveals the things God has given to us (I Corinthians 2:12); and He has given us gifts to equip us in our service as well as edify one another (Ephesians 4:11-12).

God’s goodness in Ephesians is seen in how He goes above and beyond. He did not just save us, but He made us members of his household. He did not just make us members of his household, but He gave us full privileges in that position. He did not just give us hope of future glorification, but He gave us riches and necessity in the present. He did not just give us a purpose in life, but He gave us the means to accomplish that purpose. He did all of this despite the fact that we were His enemies and despite the fact that we can still do the things that characterized us as enemies. Why? God is so good!

How Great is My God!

2011-05-24T08:27:00.000+10:00

How Great is My God!

“God is great.” This is a statement I have heard and said many times in my life. Unfortunately, too often we say or sing statements or even exclamations that we don’t realize the true meaning of. Statements become cliché and roll off the tongue without any thought. Sadly, this is the case with many of God’s attributes. We know they are true, but we don’t grasp the true meaning behind the saying. Will I ever truly grasp God’s greatness? Not this side of eternity. However, God’s creation gives me a glimpse, and taking the time to study that creation, specifically where angels are concerned, has broadened that glimpse. Have you ever had one of those experiences where God reveals something to you about Himself, possibly just for a moment, and the light of understanding clicks on and you just marvel at God? That light clicked on for me while studying Satan. That may seem strange, but that strangeness makes it all the more amazing. God is so great that His greatness is revealed in His enemy!

The first testimony of God’s greatness that I see in Satan is revealed in his creation. God, in His omniscience as well as His prescience, knew that Satan would fall. However, this did not keep God from creating him, nor did this knowledge change how God created him. Satan was created with the necessary attributes of a person: intellect, emotion, and will. Satan was created in perfection, filling the pattern in both wisdom and beauty. Satan was created as a cherub, the highest order of angelic beings. A common misconception is that God and Satan are equal and are locked in an epic battle, the winner unknown. However, the truth is God is so much greater than Satan! God created Satan, proving they are not on equal ground. But we can even take it a step further. God’s greatness is so immense that He does not fear giving His creation choice of his own destiny. Therefore, He gave Satan the ability to think, to feel, and, most importantly, to choose. Additionally, He gave Satan perfection – wisdom, beauty, the highest position. Would anyone but the omnipotent God give one He knew would become His enemy these attributes? God’s greatness is not just found in the fact that He does not fear Satan. God’s ultimate greatness is found in the fact that He willingly created, in perfection, someone who would choose to oppose Him.

The second testimony of God’s greatness that I see in Satan is revealed in his restriction. Angels are amazing creatures. They are immortal, mighty in strength, and powerful. Even their appearance produces fear. Satan was the anointed cherub, the highest angel in the highest order of angelic beings. I can only imagine the type of power he has. Even Michael, the great archangel, did not rebuke Satan in Jude 9. But however “great” Satan is, God is greater! All the power that Satan has is limited. God’s power, however, is unlimited. And even with his great power, Satan can only do what God permits him to do. Just the fact that Satan, in his immortality, strength, and power, is subject to God’s will would be sufficient to show God’s greatness, but once again we can take it a step further. God actually uses Satan! All of Satan’s great plans, conceived in his perfection of wisdom, can be used to bring glory to God. Even when Satan tempts believers or causes negative circumstances to try their faith, God can receive the glory! The believers are forced to rely on God even more during these difficult times and can even grow in their faith and their walk with God because of them. So I see God’s greatness in how He not only restricts His enemy but uses him for His purpose.

The study of Satanology sounds like it should be all about Satan, but in reality, it’s all about God. He is so great that even the study of His enemy becomes about His greatness and His glory! Through this study, I have come to have a better understanding of God’s person. I love that God did not just create “robot” beings to worship Him, but that He actually gives His creation, even His enemy, the choice to do so, making the worship of Him so much sweeter and more meaningful. I have also come to have a better understanding of God’s control. Even the greatest created being is under the control of God. Seeing God’s control makes me realize how futile my fears of temporal issues are. I can easily get caught up in fears and concerns as I esteem people in this world. But when I remember that angels are more powerful than people and Satan was the most powerful angel and God created and controls him, what have I to fear? How great is my God!

Ode to Hockey

2010-06-03T21:17:00.003+10:00

Sticks and balls,
Goals and walls,
It's the sport we love.

Whether once or twice a week,
You're still a hockey geek,
It's the sport we love.

The signs of love are clear
And can be seen everywhere:
Bruises, broken bones, broken sticks,
People willing to take major licks

The fans can't get enough;
They think we're all very tough,
Whether waiting for basketball to begin
Or just coming to watch the men.

Recitals and grad
Cause the gym to be closed,
And we get very sad
To lose our hockey abode.

In summer there are less,
But we stay in good cheer.
We do our very best
And know there's always next year.

Bruises and breaks,
Goals and mistakes,
It's the sport we love.

It doesn't matter your nationality,
Come and join us at hockey,
It's the sport we love.

Perfect Timing

2010-05-08T13:40:00.003+10:00

Have you ever had an experience in which God's timing was abundantly clear? Sometimes these situations are very important and serious, and sometimes they seem rather insignificant. I think both types of situations are equally vital. Obviously the important and serious situations are important, but the rather insignificant situations show that God cares even about those things that we deem rather insignificant. And what could be seen as insignificant to one person could be seen as significant to another. Through my rambling here it's clear that I am not omniscient or sovereign, but I'm sure glad that God is and that He cares even about the seemingly insignificant happenings in our lives. All this brings me to an event at our school last week. Each year we try to have a "Field Day." We don't have track & field teams at our school, so this is an opportunity for the kids to get a taste of those events as well as just having fun being a part of team and playing some fun games. Well, in Papua New Guinea, we have 2 seasons: rainy and dry. While we thought Field Day was falling in dry season, the weather had other ideas. Field Day was planned for a Friday, and it rained every day that week. We prayed for dry weather, especially since several bush missionaries were out for this purpose, but it continued to rain, turning our field turn into a quagmire. The day after Field Day was supposed to take place the sun began to shine. It shone for a week straight, not a drop of rain in sight. This dried up the field for us to have Field Day the next Friday. Now, I don't have a clue for the reason behind having Field Day on one day rather than another, but I do know that the Lord controls the weather and His timing is perfect.

Signs of Love

2010-04-06T14:09:00.005+10:00

At Lapilo Center there are different ways to show love/appreciation for a person, or at least that's what they tel l me. The signs of "love" are physical and obvious.

Picture #1: I guess one sign of love is the assigning of nicknames. A couple of girls in the school have their own language. Since I am considered an "orp" (which I am aware of the meaning and it is a good thing but I'm sworn to secrecy), the Biblical name of Orpah was appropriate.

Picture#2: This is the nicest "tape job" I've ever had. Usually the entire porch and stairs are covered in black video tape. It is usually a web-like construction which serves the purpose of keeping me from entering my house until I cut or climb my way through. Video tape is used because of how expensive toilet paper is here. On this particular instance, I had let it slip that I would be gone all night (which is usually an open invitation to tape the house). As soon as I said it, I realized my mistake and begged them not to tape my house. This sign of love was what I received.

Picture #3: Oddly enough, all three of these pictures were done by the same couple of girls. Anyway, I have a pair of orange Crocs that I am "famous" for. At one event, someone dressed up like me, so she stole my Crocs, leaving only a note behind. She was very sneaky, and I didn't hear a thing. This time she wasn't as sneaky. I caught her in the act and mentioned that if I caught her stealing my shoes again, all that would be left of her would be a chalk outline on the porch (too much?). This is what I came home to that night.

I live with very creative and fun people.

You Might Be ...

2010-03-17T21:37:00.002+10:00

You might be teaching at a missionary kids' school if...
1. Class is interrupted by a helicopter landing on the sports field
2. A student is absent because he/she was med-evaced from the country
3. Your classroom is flooded after it rains the night before because your floor leaks
4. When you coach a sports team, you also have to organize the tournament, find your own referees, and referee other games at the tournament
5. In English class, you have to teach both American and Commonwealth grammar rules
6. Your students show their love for you by wrapping your house in video tape
7. You see your students at school, at church, at the store, and basically wherever you go
8. Your doctor is also your student's father
9. You change roles during the school year (i.e. from teaching to administrating to both)
10. You teach the same class for 4 years straight and are going to be sad to see them leave

When It Rains, It Pours

2010-01-26T20:16:00.002+10:00

So, I usually write about things that I have personally experienced, but I was just interested in this story. Papua New Guinea is definitely the "Land of the Unexpected." We've had quite a bit of rain lately, and last week the road to one of our campuses was unexpectedly and completely washed away. The kids weren't able to get out to school, and a couple of my friends were stuck there. One spent a couple of days digging the truck out of the mud. Since I didn't experience it myself, I don't know all the details, but I do know that I won't be complaining when I have to sit 5-10 minutes in a line because of road construction.

We're Playing Basketball

2009-12-06T15:30:00.004+10:00

Coaching basketball here in PNG is a bit different than coaching in the States. First, our season is only about 8 weeks long. That doesn't give a lot of time for conditioning and play learning, so we have to stick to the basics and work toward the best we can achieve. Limited time is definitely a hurdle that is difficult to overcome. Another hurdle is tournaments. Coming from the States, I'm used to tournaments that last a week or so. Here, we have one day tournaments. These are difficult because we usually play 3 games before even getting into the elimination part. Couple that with the lack of time for conditioning, and it can be difficult to keep up stamina throughout the day. Also, the conditions are a bit different. Have you ever been to a tournament where you had to sweep water and rocks off the court and put up your own nets before play began? These type of idiosyncrasies definitely make playing basketball in PNG memorable. Do I say all this to complain? No, I just want to give a picture of what it is like. Yes, those things are frustrating, and there are many unknowns: will teams show up, who will ref, will it rain, etc. Those frustrations and unknowns can make it difficult to be competitive. But working with a great team and a great co-coach make it all worthwhile. We had 8 girls on our team this term, and they made it a very fun season of achieving goals, working hard, and laughing a lot. I often get a little too serious and competitive when it comes to basketball, and they tend to even me out a bit. Besides, where else will a team mom give you a pie for coming in second place in a tournament?

Almost Doesn't Count Except in Hand Grenades & Horse Shoes

2009-10-17T13:52:00.002+10:00

I have a rather interesting travel record. When I traveled to New York in college, there was a city-wide blackout. When I traveled to Indonesia, I ended up getting stuck in a town with no phones or power unable to let anyone know where I was, and friends came very close to flying in to the rescue. I just recently traveled to Madang, but the two incidents that took place there were cases of almosts. And almost doesn't count except in hand grenades and horseshoes. My three friends, Carmen, Hannah, and Gail, and I went to Madang for a break from our routines as teachers. While there we were part of an almost car wreck and an almost tsunami. On our second day in Madang we went with some friends to a resort on the beach in order to do some swimming and relaxing, and we did just that. But on our way back, we hit the side of a small bridge that was hidden from view by overgrown grass. This caused us to have blowouts on both tires on the drivers' side of our van. Our driver showed great presence of mind by being able to pull us off to the side of the road. People can out of the woodwork (literally) to help us change the tires. The Lord was definitely protecting us. He kept us from getting hurt from the accident and sent people who helped. We later heard that a van had hit in the same place we had, just a week earlier, and had flipped off the bridge. On our last day in Madang we spent the morning relaxing before our flight arrived to take us home. As we sat near the ocean playing cards, the manager of our hotel came to inform us that there was a tsunami warning, and they were evacuating and heading to higher ground. The tsunami was supposed to hit at 11:30 and our flight was at 11:00 so they were going to drop us off at the airport. On our way to the airport we found out that our flight wouldn't come until 1:00. We were able to rely on our friends to help us out. They picked us up. As we went into town, the scene was a little eery with everyone leaving. Fortunately, the warning was called off, and we were able to have a nice lunch by the water in town. For all those who believe there is no God, I think my travel record and the fact that I'm still alive and well disprove your theory.

Love Thy Neighbor

2009-09-16T15:18:00.002+10:00

Living on a mission center in Papua New Guinea has many advantages and disadvantages. The community is a close-knit one, physically, emotionally, and socially. We share one another's joys and pains, we socialize with one another at Pinochle parties, movie nights, and sports events. We also share more than anyone wants to by living so closely with one another that we hear neighbor's kids being punished, movies & music playing, and even toilets flushing. You may decide for yourselves whether these things are positive or negative. But one thing that I must point out as positive is the care that each person has for one another here. As it states in Matthew, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." I definitely feel loved by my neighbors, the Hoskins family. They technically aren't my physical neighbors, but they take care of me. It is fairly widespread knowledge that I'm not a big fan of vegetables. This information apparently placed a burden on Jenny Hoskins' heart for me. She wanted to make sure I was getting my daily requirement of fruits and vegetables; therefore, she began leaving carrots for me. I found one on my porch, one on my desk in my classroom, and the latest one in my shoe. While some people may see this as strange and wonder about these strange people who live behind that fence in PNG, I'm thankful for neighbors who have my best interests in mind.

Who's on First, What's on Second?

2009-08-23T10:51:00.001+10:00

On Friday our school was a part of the provincial tournament in Papua New Guinea. Our boys were playing volleyball and our girls were playing softball. Often at these tournaments we have to provide our own referees/umpires. As one of the softball coaches, I was pulled into ump one of the games between two national schools. It was quite the experience. I walked over to the diamond to find one team there but the other team not. After being told that they were somewhere around there, I yelled out for them and they eventually showed up and we started the game. The team that took the field first only had about 4-5 gloves among their whole team, so they began shifting gloves so that the players who really needed them (catcher, 1st base, etc.) would have them. The game was then underway. After a bit of sloppy play, we were stopped by an announcement on the PA system. One school would have to leave the tournament due to a large group of people that had come into town just to cause trouble with them. Not often do you see a team have to leave a tournament because of a mob forming outside the gate with axes and other handmade weapons. We continued our game. Not long after, though, one of the mission schools that was there had to leave. Unfortunately, they were the ones who brought the bases we were using so we were now without bases. I asked the players if they had anything we could use as bases, shirts or bags perhaps. They suggested stones. I quickly told them that probably could be a bit painful and we settled on using people's flip-flops. The game continued and we eventually came out with a winner, but it was quite the interesting experience, especially for my first time umpiring softball.

Changing Looks

2009-07-04T09:00:00.001+10:00

My sister-in-law is an amazing blogger, and I am striving to be like her so I've changed the look of my blog. Obviously, it is nowhere near the caliber of hers (Britt, love the new look) but I have not the talent nor the true desire. So I'm good with just changing it a little and hopefully this will motivate me to keep it up a little more than I have over the last couple of years.

Tribute to Erika

2009-05-03T17:06:00.002+10:00

Erika Stucky is truly an amazing woman. She leaves PNG, yet does not forget the people there. She checks their blogs for news despite having better things to do in the States. This is why I write a tribute to her.

Erika Stucky, what can you say about her?
Well, for one thing, she's a great hockey player.
We miss her on the court -
She plays well even when she loses
And she'll always give you plenty of bruises

Erika Stucky, what can you say about she?
Well, for two thing, she's really fun at parties.
We miss her great costumes -
Her husband wasn't as great
But she would always participate

Erika Stucky, what can you say about her?
Well, for three thing, she's a gamer.
We miss the great competition -
Balderdash and Three Thirteen
Even in Hand and Foot she was never mean.

As this tribute comes to an end
Know that you are missed, my friend.

Mumu

2009-02-15T15:12:00.002+10:00

Living in PNG gives me the opportunity to partake in different cultural experiences. One such experience is a mumu. A mumu is a traditional way of cooking for a group of people here in PNG, and they are often used in celebrations or for saying you’re sorry. The process consists of heating stones and building a banis (fence) around them with sticks and banana leaves. You then place grass over the stones and pile in the food: kakaruk (chicken), kumu (greens), and kaukau (sweet potato). Then you cover the food with more leaves, dirt, and flour sacks, add some water, and the food steams to perfection. I was invited to this mumu as a part of a Pidgin “class” I have been attending. Tok Pisin (Pidgin) is the trade language of PNG. Most missionaries coming into the country spend their first few months here learning the language; however, teachers often don’t get this opportunity as we have to jump right into school. So several of us teachers have been meeting once a week at lunch time for a “Pidgin Lunch.” We speak only in Tok Pisin and often have guests come and help us out. I’m still nowhere near fluent, but I have enjoyed learning a bit more. One funny story that came from this mumu was that a few of the young ladies were showing a few friends and me how to turn rope in order to make bilums (string bags). I got better but am still pretty bad at it, so I have a long way to go before I can get married. Apparently, in PNG you have to be able to make a bilum to carry your baby in before you can get married. Oh well!

Christmas in PNG

2008-12-19T17:51:00.003+10:00

So Christmas time is probably one of the hardest times to be away from family and close friends, but if I had to be away, then this is where I would want to be. First, I have close friends here who have become like family to me. They'll do anything for you, like take your packages that people send you and wrap the presents so you have something to open on Christmas morning. Second, even though I miss out on a lot of traditions at home (i.e. Christmas Eve service, etc.), I get to make some traditions here - like helping Gail make Christmas cookies, driving around center in a golf cart to look at Christmas lights and drink hot chocolate while delivering cookie plates, going to Christmas Concert, or even making a paper tree until 1:00am. All that to say, I'm homesick and miss my family and friends, but God is faithful and is taking care of me just as He has promised to.

Fried Pickles

2008-11-01T15:00:00.003+10:00

It is my personal mission to bring a bit of the South into the South Pacific. I recently introduced fried pickles to some friends who had never heard of such a thing. They weren't as good as Catfish Haven but they weren't too bad. Now, if I can just get them to put more sugar in their tea!

Softball Provincial Tournament

2008-09-13T18:59:00.002+10:00

On September 5th, a provincial tournament was held in PNG. Katie Burdash and I coached our team to win that tournament. It was a grand finale to our season. We won 4 games in a row, but the last game, the final, was the only nail biter. We were tied at 4 at the end the regulation innings. We went into 1 extra inning. We batted first and scored 1 run. Our opposing team then batted and also scored 1 run. We were given the opportunity to call it a draw but no one on our team wanted to. As one player said, "It's all or nothing." So we played a second extra inning. We once again batted first and scored 4 runs. Our opposing team then batted. We immediately got 1 out due to them batting out of the batting order. They then scored 2 consecutive runs before we got another out. The score was 9-7 with 1 out. They then scored 1 more run and we got 1 more out. The score was 9-8 with 2 outs and a runner on 3rd in prime scoring condition. The ball was pitched, hit to the pitcher, and the pitcher threw the runner out at first. We won!!

Sleepover Fun

2008-08-10T15:55:00.002+10:00

My housemate, Andrea, and I recently had 2 little guests over for a sleepover - Kaili & Kiera. Their mom had been having migraines that week and we were trying to help by giving her the opportunity for a lie in. We painted nails, played cards, danced to VBS songs, and got up very early on a Saturday morning.

8-8-08

2008-08-10T15:42:00.001+10:00

In case you were not aware, Friday was 8-8-08. In order to have a little fun with this event, I got together with some friends and just had fun with eights. And then we watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics! Anyway, just thought I would give y'all a peek into our random fun.

Hair #2

2008-07-09T19:37:00.002+10:00

A new hair do for a new school year.

Hair #1

2008-07-03T17:31:00.004+10:00

I decided to have a little fun and dye my hair purple. It didn't turn out very noticeable and was only a temporary dye.

First Post

2008-06-22T15:41:00.002+10:00

Welcome to my Blog! My name is Emily Bonner. I am from Mississippi, but I am currently living in Papua New Guinea, an island nation just north of Australia. I teach English/Literature at a missionary kids' school called Numonohi Christian Academy. I love being here; however, I miss my friends and family back home very much. I hope this blog will help me keep in contact with them even more.