In case you didn’t know, Tim Challies’s blog has some awesome resources. If you like these, check out the following links for more Visual Theology posters and resources.

Posts in this Series:

]]> http://www.lorraineyeung.com/index/2012/05/jesus-101-some-visual-theology-from-challies-com/feed/ 0 http://www.lorraineyeung.com/index/2012/05/a-beautiful-wedding-and-an-even-more-beautiful-marriage/ http://www.lorraineyeung.com/index/2012/05/a-beautiful-wedding-and-an-even-more-beautiful-marriage/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 18:22:03 +0000 LorraineYeung http://www.lorraineyeung.com/index/?p=2557 Posted in Video

We worship God when, while we partake of his good gifts, something occurs in the deepest parts of our soul that forbids terminating on the gift itself or on our enjoyment of it but that runs deeper into and extends out to the Giver. ~ "The Explicit Gospel" by Matt Chandler

Went for a walk today in this afternoon with my dear friend, enjoying creation!

Finally! Spring is here.

2011 hosted the worst Squamish summer I’ve seen yet; the seasons decided that it was going to skip summer completely, and from spring go straight to autumn.

2011/12 has felt like a pretty long winter. Last Sunday morning I woke up to a light dusting of snow everywhere…  for a moment I wondered whether God was playing an April Fool’s joke on all of us all.

Only in Squamish do you see all four seasons in one day. Later on in the afternoon it was nice and sunny out. Taking advantage of the great weather, I ventured out for a walk with a dear friend and her new puppy. Here he is!

Greatest pup ever!

Meet Chief. He’s the greatest puppy ever – he hates walking, but loves socialising – a little bit like me on a good day. :)

We took a stroll around the trails near the golf course. It was sweet. Loads of spring buds everywhere, and still cool enough to be bug free.

First few flowers of Spring

Spring Buds

Chief enjoyed the adventure. He has a busy time trying to catch up with my other friend’s golden lab. The sun was crazy bright all afternoon and lit up all the lakes and ponds amongst the trails.

lakes and ponds

The little one loved the adventure

Some little treasures

More treasures

Lots of little treasures on the way. I remember asking God one time that I would never lose the sense of wonder with His creation. Today was a refreshing reminder just enjoying what He’s done and made.

Cougars. Squamish, for you who don’t know is comparatively untamed places such as my homeland, England. I haven’t heard any more recent sighting so far this year, and I’m totally okay with that. There was a pretty crazy photo that went viral shot in Whistler of a cougar looking pretty well fed on someones back deck.

Cougars - not talking about the TV show...

We also saw this sweet ride, great eye candy. Oui?

Sweet ride

“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”

In the last moments of the crucified Messiah the crowd gathered about Him heard the Christ exclaim those words, meaning “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But what do they mean, and what is the significance?

God created and sustains everything, even those who hate Him.

God, even on the cross, in His infinite and common grace sustained, by the power of His word, the very hands that abused and tormented Him, the very hands that put Him to death.

By the common grace of God, a vast population of humans enjoy daily God’s creation. Whether we acknowledge it or not, everything you enjoy, every molecule and fibre, is sustained by the word of His Power. The food we enjoy, the mountains we ski and bike, the rivers we swim, the computer you’re reading this on, the body you’re living in, is all on loan to you, is created through Him, for His glory and for your delight in Him. In his generosity and grace He gives this out to everyone, even to those who make it their life mission to tell the world the God does not exist.

Hebrews 1:3

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (ESV)

If God at any moment decided to stop, the world will implode. It’s only by the power of His word that sustains every molecule of your being. Whether you realize it of not, it’s only by His power of His Word that sustains even the very lips that are cursing Him and great minds that inspire books against Him.

To be completely forsaken by God:- Hell

To be forsaken by God is to be completely abandoned by any of His goodness. To have His wrath upon you for eternity.

Darkness, Weeping and Suffering

Matthew 25:30

30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (ESV)

Many times Jesus lovingly warn us that for those who refuse to accept a friendship with Christ will be cast out in to darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

When we are separated from the goodness of God, there is no light, no happiness, no joy, no pleasure. Just darkness, suffering, anguish, sadness, grief, rage, and sorrow.

Unquenchable thirst and No Comfort

Luke 16:24-26

24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ (ESV)

We take for granted that when we are troubled, we have things to comfort us, for good or for bad, we find comfort in friends, companionship, sleep, food, toys, activities: God created these comforts.

Hell is no party. Scripture warns us that it will be a fiery furnace, an unquenchable thirst with no means of comfort. If we are abandoned by all the goodness of God, it means that we are no hope, no food, no water, no sleep, no friends, no companions. It means utter despair, thirst, hunger, loneliness, abandonment.

Jesus was forsaken by God for you

God is good. In order for God to be good He has to be just. In order for God to be just, when He sees a sin – the deviation from His perfect moral character – He must judge it. In order to judge He will require a penalty to be paid: the penalty is death, wrath and forsakeness.

God has a desire to forgive sinners and be merciful towards them as needing to be just against sin. God’s wrath against sin has to satisfied in order for Him to be just, but in order God’s wrath was satisfied at the crucifixion of His one begotten Son.

As Jesus was sweating blood in prayer at the garden of Gethsemane, His ultimate horror was not His inevitable scourging and crucifixion, but the looming dread that He was going to be completely forsaken by His Heavenly Father; that we was going to drink the full cup of wrath that God has for sin.

John 19:28-29

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. (ESV)

Matthew 27:45

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. (ESV)

As I write this I am astounded at what Jesus suffered and endured to the details of the crucifixion. He was abandoned in darkness, that swept over the land, in utter despair, sorrow, anguish and suffering; He thirsted with no comfort.

On the cross Jesus bore our sin and became sin. Sin is so repulsive to God that He poured His full wrath on to Jesus. And for the first time in eternity past, the eternal trio of friends, the perfect community and unity of the Godhead, was broken. Jesus was completely abandoned by God, separated from the Father and the Holy Spirit. He was separated from any of God’s goodness, love, hope, strength.

We fear the wrong thing

We fear and cry out against calamities, tragedies, war, poverty, addictions, abuses, injustice, illness, sickness and death. These things are terrible, ghastly and devastating things, but they are but mere symptoms and manifestations of a greater underlying issue. We are right to fear them, but it’s not the greatest thing we ought to fear. Our greatest fear ought to be being forsaken by God. To be forsaken by Him is hell and to be in hell.

If you spend your life rejecting Jesus, you will spend eternity being abandoned by Him and all the goodness He has created.

The sin that we all carry and are cursed by has a penalty.God knows we can’t do this by ourselves, and so in His mercy He has given all of us an easy way out. Because Jesus has paid the penalty for our sin, if you were to believe and trust in Him you needn’t be forsaken, you needn’t taste death. Jesus was forsaken that you might never have to be forsaken.

The Life as a Follower of Christ

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (ESV)

Matt 10:28

What’s the worse that can happen? My body may be inflicted with abuse, hunger, torture, disease, sickness, pain, imprisonment, but my soul will not be forsaken by God. My emotions may be trampled on, I might be betrayed and abandoned by friends, but I will not be forsaken by God.

You see, this life is the closest I’ll ever get to hell, but to God’s sadness, this life will be the closest many will get to heaven. I may suffer terribly in this lifetime, but I have the eternal joy of being with a good, holy, loving and fun God. As a Christian, although I might suffer, I can never be fully robbed of joy or comfort, because I know that I will never be abandoned by my Savior. No matter how hard life gets, how devastating the effects of sin, I will never be robbed of hope. I know that I’ll return to the loving arms of my Heavenly Father, and spend eternity with Him and all His goodness. The worse thing that can happen to me will be suffering and bodily death, and because Jesus was forsaken for me, I will need taste God’s wrath.

Loving this guy’s work. Check out Typographic Verses Website by Jonathan Ogden and other collaborators for more. The poster below is by wormsinfected.

C2C NETWORK from DARRYL | OTHER on Vimeo.

I’m having one of those days where I have such a vast appreciation for God’s grace and providence today.

As you know, I’m applying for my permanent residency for Canada. Through a lot of prayer, I have so far been successfully nominated by the province for a Permanent Residency, and recently received a request for my medical clearance. Praise God, another answer to prayer and another positive step towards attaining a resident status in Canada.

God has just been insanely faithful in providing, encouraging and prodding me where I need prodding. My whole day just ran on prayer, His grace, and providence. I see His hand through the help I received through people, friends and His Holy Spirit.

I’ve been running around Vancouver city today like an Amazing Race contestant. My mission?

1. Acquire documents for a police clearance and submit to consulate.
2. Find and complete medical checks for another consulate towards my permanent residency application.
3. Delivering all said evidence to my lawyer for submission to very scary decision makers :)

 The Holy Spirit helps organize my life.

The night before, the Holy Spirit literally reminded me of every document I needed to bring. He prompted me to check my online applications, and email certain files accordingly. He woke me up to remind me to bring certain photos and what not.

I’m still hindered by my delay on acquiring clearances from some countries, which potentially could sabotage my application. It’s been challenging. Nevertheless, I have absolute faith that if God wills me here, then it shouldn’t be a problem. But it’s definitely something I need to continue to pray for.

 All the conveniences  and God provided.

By God’s shear providence and grace, I have a building where I can conveniently park in the city. More over, that building not only houses the offices of my upper management where I can conveniently go to print out said documents, but also conveniently houses the offices of the consulate I needed to visit. The security guard was UNBELIEVABLY helpful in helping me find a nearby notary to acquire some certified copies of my passport. The notaries didn’t accept Visa or debit so by God’s providence, I had that cash in hand.

At the consulate, for whatever reason they wanted an extra copy of every document I needed to submit, and again, by God’s guiding, His Spirit already prompted me to bring extra copies.

Most medical check ups take half a day, but because I have colleague who has done this process, she recommended me a place where it’s all under one roof, and it only took me 1.5 hours to get my physical, X-rays and bio-medicals.

Medical Check. Whoohoo! TB? CLEARED!

I’m terrible with needles and nearly passed out again.

I didn’t eat breakfast that morning, and being terrified of needles had to buck up for my blood sample. The nurse was pretty sympathetic to my cause. She stuck a butterfly needle in my arm as opposed to the more giant ones. Last time I had a blood test back in Leeds, England. They prodded around my arm with a needle in my arm twice, no luck. I was so tense, all my veins constricted so they had to try with a butterfly needle in my hand. Eventually they gave up and decided to punch a hole in my thumb and milk it until they had enough blood for a sample. Somehow, even then I felt faint and required a high glucose sports beverage to help me get over the faintness.

On this occasion I regressed back to a childlike behaviour. The nurse, having successfully taken my blood sample, pulled out the needle out of my arm, and within moments all the blood drained out of my head. I tried to laugh off the dichotomized sensation of wanting to throw up and pass out. She kindly offered me a choice of orange or apple juice; I chose apple. After a couple of sips of that from a carton she helped me walk over to a room so I could be horizontal for a while.  Apparently, two other men in the last half hour also were fainters too, so I didn’t feel so bad :)

Blood is the life of the flesh

It’s highly unlikely that I’ll ever have an intravenous drug problem in this life due to (amongst many reasons, but also in addition to) my thankful aversion towards needles. That again is providence. Haha! Nonetheless, during that whole process, it made me contemplate God’s view on blood being spilled. I don’t think I faint at the sight of blood, but, psychologically, having blood be unnaturally extracted from my veins makes me feel nauseous. Definitely not God’s design. Blood is meant to stay in the body. :) The life of the body is the blood right? At least, that’s how God sees it.

 Afternoon high tea

It was a nice treat to end my day with some English style afternoon high tea. Little gourmet sandwiches, scones with jam and devonshire cream, and petite fours with tropical fruits. Yummy! I couldn’t resist. Was all quite charming and enjoyable to have that alone time.

Afternoon High Tea

A while ago I posted three bands I was stoked over finding. Recently came across these ones.

All Sons & Daughters – “Season 1″

Love, love, love this album; and a really super cute husband and wife duo. Just awesome listenable worship tracks with some poignant lyrics, great harmonies, and punctuated with some good sing-alongs moments. My favourite album of the year by far!

All Sons & Daughters "Season One"

Gungor – “Ghosts Upon The Earth”

More of a work of art than an album, Ghosts Upon The Earth takes you on the story of God from creation to the end. They’ve really taken it up a notch since their last album, “Beautiful Things”, with more eerie harmonies, orchestral highs and other little creative surprises.

Gungor - "Ghosts Upon the Earth"

John Mark McMillan – “The Medicine”

I’m a little slow on the take with this one. “The Medicine” was released all the way back in 2010. Was surprised to know that the song “How He Loves Us” was originally written by him after the tragic death of his good friend, which redeemed the song for me having heard some butchered versions of it. Listening to McMillan is a little bit of an acquired taste – his music makes me feel like I’m listening to some early 90s rock band.

John Mark McMillan - "The Medicine"

…You wake up to snowfall in the morning and return home with a rainbow in the evening

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be ~ Aaron Shust

Last night, as I’m thinking and preparing for Good Friday, I sat down and tried to articulate the story of God and the Gospel in my own words… Was definitely a blessing trying harsh through what I believe and articulate it in to coherent sentences… or at least try to. And even as I reflected back on it this morning I was overwhelmed by how everything I wrote down was like a grain of sand to the full picture of what God has done and continues to do.

Anyway, I would really encourage everyone to believes in Jesus to take some time during this period towards Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday to think through the Gospel, and the person and work of Jesus.

This here was my attempt, it’s not a full as it could be but I think it’s theologically sound for the most part…

So… looks like I’ll be going back to England for a wee bit this Spring/Summer after a 30 month stint in BC. Huzzah!!

Betty’s Tea, Hula Hoops, Asda, Dairy Milk, Skips, McCoy’s, PG Tips, Marks & Spencers, Clarks, Cornish Pasties, Pork Pies, Steak & Kidney Pie, Banoffee Pie, Stilton, Clotted Cream, Vintage Cheddars, Salty Air, Compact Cars, Sheep, Boots, Roundabouts, Sunday Pub Lunches, Pigeons, Cheese & Pickle Sandwiches, Country Roads, Left-hand drive, Dad’s Roast Duck, Hedges, Cobbled Streets, Stone Walls, Cow Pats, Old buildings, Sausages, Cottages, Crumpets, Scallies and Chavs… Oh, how I’ve missed thee.

Here’s a back link to a great explanation on the difference between Great Britain, the UK and England :)

Our modern day mobility

Our generation may travel a lot, but we’re probably the most immobile generation earth has ever seen. I’ve had the pleasure of helping out families get ready for an overnighter at the grandparents in the midst of their kids dancing in chaotic excitement and sugared frenzies. Assisting parents pack supplies the night before while ensuring they have an adequate supply of clothing and toiletries for the children with careful consideration for games and snacks for the car ride.

For me, packing for a 5 day city getaway normally consists of a long night of laboured planning and procrastination. Planning for my first camping holiday was great! (I bought a REI Kingdom 6 tent with the add-on vestibule. It survived our torrential downpour and floods, and is so HUGE I can jump around in it and not hit my head, although I guess I’m barely 5 feet tall…) Weeks of planning and nights of packing. It took us good hour or two to set up camp and even longer to pack down a mere week’s worth of supplies.

Tofino

So when I read Numbers the other day… I was astounded.

Numbers 9:15-23

15 On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 17 And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. 18 At the command of the Lord the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the Lord they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they remained in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they set out. 21 And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. 23 At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.

Could you imagine what it must have been like for Moses to mobilize his family of 2 million whiney Israelites as they camped through the desert for 40 years!? No wonder he was more that frustrated at times.

The Mobility of the Israelites

Yet, somehow, it’s incredible to see the obedience of Israel in this time. Israel would have witnessed the cloud of God, a visual presence of their Saviour day in day out. Wherever the cloud of God’s presence rested, they rested, whenever that cloud moved, they set out and followed it. Some days the cloud would rest over the tabernacle for weeks and months, and sometime for only a night. The people of Israel must of been diligent to keep their gaze on the Lord, to wait on Him for His guidance and command.

This meant that they people had to be ready all the time for immediate departure on any day. Every day the Israelites would have to fix their eyes on the Lord and wait on His command. And every time the cloud of God’s presence moved, it would have required the Israelite’s continual obedience to follow Him.

Are you ready? Everyday? In Obedience?

When I read this passage, I was pretty convicted and struck by the Holy Spirit. Am I ready for an immediate departure on any day at the call of the Lord? Am I fixing my eyes everyday on God awaiting his command to go? Am I fixing my eyes on him everyday for Him to show me where to rest and set up camp? Would I be or am I obedient to go and follow or stop and settle whenever and wherever He calls me to on any given day?

And more over, how much baggage do I have that’s slowing me down? The Israelites would have been prepared to pack up and go in a matter of hours. Yet with all my possessions and responsibilities, would I be even ready and prepared to pack up and go in a matter of days or weeks? Do I have a succession plan for someone to take over me if God calls me somewhere tomorrow, or calls me home? Am I ready? Am I prepared? Equipped?

Travelling light and being prepared

I think travelling light would help. To not be burdened with “bigger barns” filled with stuff, to not hold on to anything of this world too tightly. Don’t chain yourself back up to what you have been freed from, forgive and let go anger, bitterness and resentments, repent of sin and give your burdens and sins to Jesus.

To be continually making a building disciples, future leaders that can succeed and replace you at any time. To travel light but be equipped:- in training; in experience; in the love of the Lord; in what you are called to; in the gifts of the Spirit. Make a plan.

Last Sunday, I was SO blessed to have our home filled with people. An impressive 20 litres of pancake batter was fried up as we celebrated Shrove Tuesday, aka Pancake Day, with my church family. A game of sardines, again, was probably one of my favourite highlights. A deja vu moment was played out as we mysteriously lost kids camouflaging themselves into an apparently Narnian like wardrobe.

This year, as we lead up to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, I’m really stoked to be purposeful in making more time to be with my Lord, as opposed to feeling like I’m “giving something up”.

This year, I’ve scheduled in to my iCal the next 50 days or so of regimented curfews, bed times and wake up calls, planned dates with the Holy Spirit, and am getting rid of some distractions.

Anyway, here’s a book recommendation for this year’s Lent: ‘Fifty Reasons why Jesus Came to Die’ – John Piper

Together, on our skis and boards, we painted secret spots of untouched snowy canvas with fresh tracks. Dropped into crystal white abysses so bright that they made you see sparkles. Landed into glacial bowls vast as desserts. I floated through like a clumsy wind in the deafening silence of mountain forests. Squealed with shared glee and yelps rolling over bunny jumps, tumbling in to hairpin turns and out on to forgiving fluffy white powder.

In my backyard it probably the world’s best ski resort. Just a vast mountain to explore. It was a good day Jesus had made, and He made everything else in it. I really enjoyed His creation today, and I enjoyed even more the company I got to enjoy it with. How much more delightful will eternity be with Him.

In every minister's life there should be traces of stern labour. Brethren, do something; do something; DO SOMETHING. While Committees waste their time over resolutions, do something. While Societies and Unions are making constitutions, let us win souls. Too often we discuss, and discuss, and discuss, while Satan only laughs in his sleeve... Get to work and quit yourselves like men ~ Charles Spurgeon