Zoe-bound!!

Dennis Cesone, David and Becky Hinckley and I are bound to be at Zoe in Nashville, Tennessee tomorrow! We're anxious to praise God along with 1,000 plus attenders. Here's the picture from last year's Zoe conference. It was stirring, exciting, moving and praiseworthy!

On right, Teresa Newsom, interpreting for the Zoe group. She's one fantastic interpreter who helped us praise God at levels that we've never experienced before! We're dancing the dance of praise this weekend!

Ancient Future

When I attended last year's Zoe conference, they had this large brown paper on the stage. I wasn't sure what it was for. During Mike Cope's lessons on "Ancient Future", a man and a women teamed up to do charcoal drawing. It took them approximately less than an hour and a half to complete this drawing.

The picture shows Abraham visioning God's plan for mankind. Behind Abraham, "The Fall of Man". God told Abraham that he will have children as numerous as the stars in the sky. Because of Abraham's faithfulness (Father of the faithful), through Abraham's seed, God will give the world His Son. All the people will follow Jesus to the cross, crucifying their old life, raised anew in Christ and live a pure and faithful life until He comes again.

Come, Lord, come! We rejoice in You for You are our God! Come, Lord, come. Shine Your love through us so the world will know You! Come, Lord, come. It is our prayer that the whole world will see You as Lord. Come, Lord, come.........

TGIF

To some people, it means: Thank God It's Friday.
To others, it's the name of the restaurant, "Thank God It's Friday".

I drove by a church sign saw another meaning for T.G.I.F.. But let's first read this verse:

"Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." Romans 4:7-8 (NIV)

Are you forgiven? Are you washed in His blood? Are you sanctified (set apart from the world) by God? Are you justified in the name of Jesus? (1 Corinthians 6:11) Are you clothed in Christ (Gal. 3:27) Does the Spirit live in you? (1 Corinthians 2:10-11) Have you received the Spirit of God after baptism and forgiveness of sins? (Acts 2:36-38) Are you a walking "living sacrifice" before God? (Romans 12:1-2)

If you have confidently answered, "Yes!" to the above questions (I could jot down even more questions but this is enough for us to understand we need Jesus to be forgiven of our sins!), then may you say this T.G.I.F.:

Thank God I'm Forgiven!

Though, we should make it a daily reminder to thank God for His forgiveness, we often forget to do so. Since many people always look forward to a "Friday" as the last day of the "work week", we should remind ourselves how God forgave our sins by giving us His Son.

Lord, have mercy on our wretched souls. I pray that everyone will come to know You and love You the way we love You! I must say this again and again and again, "Thank God I'm Forgiven". May we continue to fix our eyes on Jesus as He is the perfector of our faith. During the rest of our beating heart, I pray that Christians around the world will continue to increase their spiritual flame and let it burn before the eyes of the world so they may see Your goodness and grace!

Rooted!

Do you know what it is like to try and pull roots from the ground? It doesn't matter if it's a grass root, a plant root, a bush root but sometimes it is very difficult to pull them out altogether. Dennis Cesone and I were over at Kenny Hynes home helping prune up her yard yesterday. It was hard work but we got most done! Our body aches can prove it!

I was struggling to get the evergreen bushes out of the ground. First, I had to trim the top part of the bushes. Some branches were thick while many were thin. With the thin ones, I can use the electric bush trimmer. But when it comes to the thick ones, I had to use a bush clipper. After I finally got down to the core of the bushes, I began to work my way to the root. These five bushes have been rooted in the ground for more than 20 years! I used a shovel to pry the stump from the ground but to no avail, it wouldn't budge. I had to dig out some dirt from the sides in hope the roots were located. After a few minutes of digging one stump, I finally found its roots. Then I used the bush clipper to clip the think and long roots. Finally, the whole stump came out! It took me an hour and a half to work on all five of these stumps! My t-shirt was actually wet from sweat. My glasses were streaked with sweat from my forehead. My arms were throbbing from clipping, shaking, pounding, hitting the stumps.

This reminds me the importance of being rooted in our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

Where are you rooted in? Are you rooted in your job? Are you rooted in sports? Are you rooted in the world and its ways? Most importantly, I pray that you're rooted in Christ because He is the DOOR, He is the way to Heaven, He is the One who gives eternal life. Satan encourages all people to stay rooted in him and the world so that we may forget God. Satan will even work harder removing the fruitful branches of our Christian life and gradually leading himself to the root of our relationship with God. Then, "SNAP!" He can sever the strong ties you have with Jesus. He can pull you out of His love. He can disconnect us from eternal life. He can re-root you back into the world. It is Paul's prayer that we stay rooted in Christ alone! It is Paul's prayer that we be strengthened, growing our roots in Him, becoming thicker and thicker and stronger through bible study, fellowship, prayer, telling the world about Jesus and maintaining a loving relationship with God!

Father, it is my hearts desire to stay rooted in your love! You are the God of love and we dig ourselves in You. I pray that we will keep Satan away from the soil of our life which is our skin because if he touches our life, he will dig toward our heart and unroot us from You. Please help us look for these dangers, protect us from the evil one. We love You with all of our hearts. There's nothing else we want except You! In Jesus' name, Amen!

Bring them to Jesus!

I received an email from a dear member of ours telling about her son being admitted in the ER for swelling in the neck and chest plus a rash developing around his face sustained from a hornet sting! It happened on the same day when my daughter fell! I ask that you pray for their son, Ryan, as he recovers from this and is doing very well with medications.

When we go through all the pain and suffering in life, we ought to bring them to Jesus! In Matthew 4:24, "News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them."

In the last four days, I have received news about children being afflicted with various types of pain. It pains me to hear these. All we ask is that you go to our loving God in prayer and pray for all the children in the world!

Lord, there is none like You! You are awesome beyond description. You are beautiful to the whole world. We come, freely, before Your throne and humbly ask that you listen to all of our prayers. Your little children in the world are hurting and in pain. We have seen what is happening to them and our eyes are being lifted up to You. May You, the omnipotent God, put Your hand on them and heal them! Let us see Your loving power unfold so that we may glorify Your Name. Thank You, Lord! In Jesus' Name, we pray, Amen!

Come, Lord, Come!

The return trip home from the Florida gospel meeting in Jacksonville was great! Praise the Lord for two beautiful ladies confessing their sins before God on the throne. NO DELAYS this time which is an A+! : ) Let me explain what had happened the night after I arrived home from Dulles. Yes, it is a long letter but it poses as an example from the lesson I taught. If you remember the 4 C's during bible study last Sunday: CRISIS, COMMITMENT, CONVERSION, COOPERATION based on the Genesis story about Jacob and his struggle with God and man. And have you heard of the saying, "What goes around, comes around!" In fact, it has happened to us! We had a CRISIS that very morning (Monday, Sept. 20th) just after I arrived from Jacksonville and we had just gotten into bed. 2 1/2 hours later (1:00 a.m.), our middle daughter, Angela, fell out of her bed (top bunk bed) and landed her head on a bookshelf hitting her mouth and knocking out two teeth (adult tooth and baby tooth) and had a big gash around the lower lip and a gash inside in her upper gums. She was excessively bleeding. We woke up alarmed and immediately I had to get dressed, picked her up and took her to the ER. I cannot tell you how many neurons were exploding in my mind, heart was racing to seek the Lord's help and alot of questions such as "Why did this happen? What should I have done to prevent this? and the most popular question we ever ask is, "Why me?"" She had to have stitches, oral surgery, all on the same day! The oral surgery was the WORST for Angela. Though I am profoundly deaf and didn't wear my hearing aid that day, I could hear her scream from the top of her lung for mercy! Tears were flowing down from my eyes as I held her hands in mine. I was praying and praying and praying to God to give Angela strength and comfort! One of our dear friend and a Christian stood by us interpreting for Michelle and me. Michelle was just as upset as I was but angry for this had happened. Indeed, I was angry inside but we poured out our hearts to God into Angela's life.

As the CRISIS was gradually decreasing, we talked to God asking many questions. We even told Him that we are just as committed (COMMITMENT) as we ever are. I am not saying that God caused this CRISIS to get our attention, NO! But God allowed all things to happen so that we can experience the PAIN that leads to change. If you remember during the class, "The greater the pain is, the less we experience the fear of change." Pain enables us to change scenarios, change attitudes. After we returned home, Angela was resting very nicely and recuperating wonderfully! Thanks to the Lord for enabling us to persevere under extreme trials, especially Angela!. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! She was a brave, brave girl and she still is! I just cannot tell you how amazed I am to see Angela's courage to overcome this trial! Then we went straight to her bedroom to see the "scenario" of all that might have happened. We, immediately, began to CHANGE the bedroom! We got rid of the bunk bed (top one) and moved the shelf out of harms way (we just never thought it would come to this!). This reminds me of God changing Jacob's name to Israel. Out with the old and in with the new. The bedroom looks much better, danger-free!

Pain and crisis enables us to look up to our God on the throne! We confessed (CONFESSION) our sins. There's no one like You, God! We are no better than You! You are our Lord and King. To You, we bow down and worship You! To You, we give You our love! We want no better friend than You! One of our member of the Fairfax church said, "Love is PAINFUL!" I must agree with him and this reminds me of God's love for us that it is so PAINFUL that He is willing to give us His Son to be crucified for our sins! Can you imagine God crying as His Son was being crucified on the cross and all bloodied!? We can! It broke our hearts seeing our dear Angela on the table as the doctors worked on her.

Do you think I want to see Angela hurt again? NO WAY! Do you think we would change the bedroom back by putting the bunk bed up and putting Angela back up on there? NO WAY! I made the change to avoid a recurring crisis! This leads to the final word, "COOPERATION". We made the change and we will stick with it. Parallel to this, we know we are all sinners and Jesus died for our sins. Once we learn this good news (through a CRISIS, after a CRISIS or even no CRISIS), we are committed to an eternally-changed-living! We confess that we need God everyday! We must cooperate with God by sticking to that commitment! If we lead ourselves astray and return to our old sin, it is like Angela falling down all over again injuring her mouth! Are we out of our minds to allow such a thing! No way. Just as this Scripture says in 2 Peter 2:21-22 (NIV), "It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud." So we cooperated with the fact that we are staying with this change! And Christians cooperated with the fact that they are staying with their change! Pray with me: Lord, thank You for everything in life and thank You for the pain we endure. With this, it helps us keep our life in check with You. We are determined to keep this loving relationship forever! We ask that the next pain we have to endure (great and small) will help us build our Christian character and that we be an example to those in the world. May we continue to give You all the glory! Thank You for being with us. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen.

In addition to this, please pray for one of the member's friend's friend whose one week old baby is having seizures and is now in NICU. They are devastated about this and need our MUCH NEEDED prayers! The deaf couple's names are Sean and Tracy. Thank you..

Show Jesus,

Mark and Michelle Lowenstein

Cutting In!

Yesterday, I was driving down on Ashburn Village Blvd. faithfully obeying the speed limit of 35 mph while everyone was whizzing by me what seems like 50+ mph! If you get caught speeding on this Boulevard, you pay an additional $200 fine. I would rather keep that in my bank!

It came to a surprise to me that as I drove closer to Farmwell Blvd where the traffic jams in, a lady in a car horrendously cut in front of me forcing me to slam the brake and swerve away avoiding an accident! Go figure! One thing I did not keep in my heart was "self-control". It wasn't a wise thing for me to do. I pulled over to another lane to talk to the lady. I must say that she was very, very annoying and arrogant! I told her to "watch how you drive!" and she simply waved at me with an arrogant smile. Now, that's adding fuel to the fire brewing in me.

Ahhhh... What was I doing? What was I thinking? As I drove toward the messy intersection of 28, I thought to myself, "Why didn't you just let it go? Why didn't you just let God take care of this. He knows what He is doing." Mark, didn't you remember this verse, "God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well." (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7) Indeed, if I didn't rave on telling her to "watch herself" but maintain my composure showing Jesus to her and when she sees that, guilt may hit her. But that's not important! The only thing that is important is keeping "self-control" in the bank of my heart.

"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 15-16 (NIV)

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." Colossians 4:5 (NIV)

Lord, I thank You for this life you have given us! I thank you for the trials we face and endure because they help shape us into becoming more like Your Son. Thank you for showing me my imperfections to see the perfect Jesus Christ. This helps us know we need Jesus because He is the "perfector of our faith"! It is my prayer that everyone will come to know You and Your great love. Help every Christian to be "wise in the way they act toward others" so that they may see Jesus in us in our everyday encounters. Jesus, You are my great Friend! I love You!

Miracle Net

I stayed home yesterday to do some work via the internet since my office internet is still down due to a server company filing chapter 7 bankrupty. It's been down since July! So I got alot of work done: emailing members, updating the website, downloading pictures, reading Christian articles in heartlight.org, christianitytoday.com and other sites and more! It's amazing how the information highway is so important to us today than 10, 20, 30+ years ago! Just at the click of the mouse, you get information from far away places (the server!). You didn't have to leave home or office to retrieve information!

This reminds me of the Centurion during Jesus' time. In Luke 7:1-9, the Centurion came to Jesus asking if He can heal his highly valued sick servant. After series of conversation about "authority" and "not deserving a person in the home", the Centurion said, "..Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed." (v.6) Jesus was amazed at his faith! A non-Jew believing that Jesus can simply, I must say again, s.i.m.p.l.y. say the word and his servant will be healed. Jesus has not seen such faith, even in Israel! Just at the "click of his heart" He reached out to the Centurion's servant and healed him! Imagine Jesus reaching out through the airwaves, or His loving compassion flew at high-speed into the servant's life! It looks as if it was a "miracle on the net!"

Lord, please help us have this faith the Centurion had! In our struggles, troubles, conflicts, please help us depend on You, Your love, Your power, Your compassion, Your grace and lead us through them into a place of rest. We don't deserve Your grace but You freely gave it! We sink ourselves in Your loving arms and feel the warmth of Your love. Help us send this love You gave us through the net (sending e-cards or emailing) for we know You will provide miraculous result from them! May we depend on Your power in our daily service through the net.

One!

What a day it was yesterday! The Fairfax Deaf group worshipped God - praising Him, singing to Him, clapping to Him, meditating with Him, praying to Him, rejoicing before Him, pouring out before Him, and various -before Him's! :) It was a fabulously beautiful day!

What made the day beautiful was that people came to Fairfax to worship God! They are beautiful people with beautiful feet (..How beautiful are the feet.. - Romans 10:15) showing Jesus and showing Jesus and again, showing Jesus! That's what God expects from His worshippers! At the close of the worship we give to God, Ricky and Sally Newman came forward placing their membership with us at Fairfax. They have been added to His number (the church!). What a joyful moment that was! Then everyone adjourned outside for a church-wide luncheon with hamburgers/hot dogs and goodies and a great time of fellowship under the beautiful day! So this is the day, this is the day, this is the day to worship the Lord. I will rejoice, I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it! The members and I say, "Thank you, Lord, for this day!"

Brothers and sisters, don't forget about "one". Read and re-read Jesus' parables in Luke 15.

Ping!

Last night, I played softball for the Fairfax Church of Christ Class Acts team. We won both games and everyone did a very good job. I got a chance to meet David (last name withheld), a new player on the team, and he signs very little. It was good to meet him because he told me that he has a co-worker that is deaf with the USDA (agriculture department). Now, I wonder what God is going to do about this?

Today, my daughter, Amanda has a softball game. Then my youngest daughter, Alyson, has soccer practice. Then we will go to Baltimore to see the Holladays'. Cliff Holladay is the son-in-law of Billy Leavell, Becky's husband. He is working with a church near Baltimore. Pray that God will bless our day today, as well as yours!

Here's the verse I was reading today. Paul wrote to Timothy with strong and loving encouragements in 2 Timothy 2:1-4: "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer."

In case you were wondering why I had the word, "Ping!" as a title, I finally hit one, good, nice long ball toward the fence and got a double (on second)! It reminds me of Timothy's frustrations with many churches Paul sent him to. He was a young minister loving the Lord with his life. There will be times when you struggle as a minister or servant just as I struggled to hit one good ball out of 8 (despite some ground balls and bloopers!)! Paul urged Timothy to be strong and endure hardship! That's what it takes to be a servant - being strong and enduring hardship!

God is good! : )

Puppyville

Hey! This is my first blog on this Blogger! :)

Last Saturday, we brought home, Hope, our new black lab. She's an extremely cute friend! Our kids love her. One challenge we faced was having to spend tremendous amount of time watching, supervising, playing, walking, picking up excess waste (both in the home and outside) and serving our puppy with love, attention and care.

One blessing that we noticed since Saturday was that Hope brought the family closer together. Living in the East (west D.C.) requires us to be on the move! When we go from one place to another, check emails, upload information on a server, meetings with members, ECA's (extracurricular activities) for kids and the list is endless, our quality family time diminishes! Isn't that wonderful that God created animals like Hope. Dogs are man's best friends! God uses them to cure our hurts, despression, disappointments, and even divisions (among families). With one lick from a pet like Hope, they make us feel loved! Isn't God wonderful that He created these to see His love?

Before I close, I want to say, congrats and praise the Lord, to Laurel Starkey for completing (yes, she actually crossed the finish line!) the 5,000K race last weekend (it's actually 3 miles) and she did it in 34 minutes!