Jun 23, 2007 

Setting My Affairs in Order

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say I feel like I'm dying.

Most of you know that I'm headed to China to teach English for two years. It's really not an easy step to take. I feel like a dying man who has to scurry about and set all my financial and social affairs in order before I pass off the scene to another world. It's a little morbid.

I'm so excited. I've been searching for the next step for a long time. Law school, vocational ministry, gunning for a Ph.D.--nothing seemed quite what God had in mind. That's because He was sending me to China. I really have no idea what's waiting for me there, but I can't wait to find out.

I'm rather frightened (see the statement in the preceding paragraph regarding my knowledge of the future). I've heard horror stories about China. I don't believe them, but there's a little truth in every rumor. Not to mention I'm going to be jumping into a vocation I know absolutely nothing about. With clients that don't even speak my language.

I'm a more than a little sad. Besides leaving family, I'm losing a lot. It's hard enough leaving the close interaction with friends I had at college. To replace that time with half a world of separation is particularly disheartening. Great timing, huh?

So, let me take care of business.

I will have a new blog while I'm in China. Check it out here.

Edit: That blog is closed. Go here instead.

I have updated my contact information. Here are three things to note.
  • Please note that I'll be in China. Out of respect for my host country, please don't send overtly religious or political messages. Thanks.
  • I will be living twelve hours ahead of you. I'm good like that. If I don't answer your Skype calls, that may be why. Or it may be that I just don't like you.
  • Please contact me as often as you can. I'm going to try to stay as connected as possible.
Check my new blog for more contact information. I'm trying to set up a local phone number that will reach me in China. Once it's set up, I will post that number.

I think that about does it. For this post and for the Blurb. For a while. Pray for me. Keep in touch.

I love you all.

10:32 AM |


At 1:15 AM, Blogger Noah said,   

Justin, I am very excited for you see the doors opening for direction in your life. Keeping in mind how things need to be on your new blog, I will be "thinking" of you. Lean on our father, as well as the thoughts of your brothers and sisters. He will strengthen you in ways beyond your ability to imagine. If you can drop by Watertown when you get back (since I will probably still be here; hopefully working on my Master's in Counseling by then LOL), I hope to see you. Otherwise, meet you in the air or after we both pass through the valley; either way, I'll see you when we truly get home.

Fighting the Good Fight,
Noah

Post a Comment

Apr 13, 2007 

Proof

Greetings, faithful and shamefully unrewarded visitors.

I'm smart. I know that because I get good grades. More importantly, you know it because I get good grades. And because I'm probably going to wear a ribbon around my neck when I walk across the platform in a few weeks to get a piece of paper to prove how smart I am. And I'll reference some Latin terms and that paper for the rest of my life on the paper I send to businesses to prove how valuable I should be to them. Who cares that I can't even tell you what those latin words mean.

Notice the pattern?

I spent a little while Wednesday night reading a rather fascinating article about Joshua Bell playing his violin in the L'Enfant Plaza metro station (1 referral point to Brier). The article explored the various ways in which people missed opportunities to enjoy his genius. Confusion oozes from the author's consideration of the situation. His consternation is rooted firmly in his understanding that Joshua Bell is a master, and that he was playing masterful music. Certainly Joshua Bell could not have failed in an attempt to influence people--he's a validated genius. The crowd just missed it.

Two or three people stopped and enjoyed the masterful public concert, so we know they didn't miss anything. Except the rhythm of the human organism revolving upon itself on the platform. And the innocence of the child clinging desperately to his mother while straining to absorb the station's ethos. And the simple beauty of the light refracted onto the ceiling by the oscillating glass doors.

But they didn't win the Avery Fisher prize, so they don't count.

11:22 PM |


At 10:19 PM, Blogger Liz said,   

The Washington Post noticed-but I guess they don't count either. But you're right, greatness isn't measured by who notices it, at least it shouldn't be. It's a privilege to be recognized as great, but then you have to own up to it. I think I'd rather be unrecognized than fall short.


At 4:24 PM, Blogger Joy said,   

That is how so many great people are.. they are unnoticed and are the ones that do the things most people walk past. Look at godly men of the Faith.. some of the greats go unnoticed.. the ones that quietly read the bible, tell others of Christ, clean the church, help the needy and walk humbly before God. These men of Christ(and women) go unnoticed by the mass and yet they are heroes of the faith.


At 11:27 PM, Blogger Katiebug said,   

I don't really have a comment about your blog, but I just wanted to say hi and congrats on graduating!! My the Lord bless you as you seek to serve Him in whatever you do!!! Don't forget all your "old" college friends:-) Look me up sometime!


At 10:32 AM, Blogger jaron said,   

happy gradumatation. oh, posting never hurt anyone


At 10:07 PM, Blogger Noah said,   

That's interesting. I found that article off of Joshua Harris' blog probably a day or two after it was put in the Washington Post. Sorry Brier, no reference point for you from me, too. lol However, I have to admit, minus certainly worldly aspects of the article, it was a rather well written article, and the videos were hilarious to watch given people had no clue who they were passing by or what they were listening to. Sadly, as Joy pointed out, we as Christians are few too often like this, which was the point of Harris' blog post. I believe the title of it was, "Do you know who you just passed by?"

Congrats on graduating. You came in when I was a Junior and you beat me. :-)

Post a Comment

Mar 1, 2007 

Snow Day!



I used to like Minnesota. Really. I have lots of Minnesota friends. We spent a couple weeks of our last summer tour in Minnesota and really enjoyed it. Forgive my grammatical bent--have you noticed all the past tense verbs?

When I found out my last choir tour would be reaching no further than the snowy shores of the Land o' Lakes, I was less than thrilled. I'd like to think I'm not that hard to please, though, and I settled into the rural rhythms of a Minnesota tour. I thought I had, that is, until my smooth groove was imposed upon by a little tour delay. Then the tour just wouldn't fall in line with the music (Fellow Chambersians, am I the only one finding this tour something like "Meet and Right".)

Most recently, a heavy snow has us sitting in a hotel in just north of the cities. Internet, TV, free time, quiet areas to study. Tour's making sense now. It's not so much a choir tour, really, but we're having fun.

5:58 PM |


At 10:08 PM, Blogger Noah said,   

Praying for you guys. I hope that everything clears up for you so that you are able to have more of a ministry this week. Don't forget what it means to love your God: to make Jesus Christ the most important thing! And, never forget what it means to love your neighbor: to help them to make Jesus Christ the most important thing!


At 9:56 PM, Blogger Liz said,   

If you don't update soon, I'm officially firing you from blogging.

Post a Comment

Feb 10, 2007 

This Postmodern Society

I climb slowly onto my soapbox.

Look around. See all those people? People that think and work. People that choose to feel rather than think. People that smile and want a cookie. People that are right and people that are wrong.

And everyone thinks they're right. They are.

I'm not saying everyone has the truth or the truth is what you make of it. I'm saying John Doe thinks the way he thinks. And he thinks that way.

Even if he's wrong.

Is it my responsibility to correct his thinking? Can I correct his thinking? Can God correct his thinking? Would God correct his thinking?

If we group our soapboxes together into a bigger soapbox, do we get smarter?

2:08 PM |


At 7:33 AM, Blogger Noah said,   

Is it perhaps that God chooses not to do anything or that people that God would want to use either choose not to be used or choose not to be in a position where they can be used (i.e.- a clean vessel)? Are we useable? There's a worthwhile question to ask and one that unfortunately rips all the soapboxes right out from underneath us if we're willing to be humble about it (cause, those that know me know I like getting on a soapbox as much as anyone).


At 7:07 PM, Blogger Liz said,   

I think my buddy Clive Staples says it best, "If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or turth only soft soap and wishful thyinking to begin, and in the end, despair." So keep seeking for truth, even if you end up wrong.


At 12:04 PM, Blogger Liz said,   

I apologize for the comment without the proper spelling. Apparently it didn't translate well from copy to paste. If there is a way to correct it, please feel free to do so, or delete it, for the spelling humiliates me.


At 8:20 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said,   

Justin,
If we really look at ourselves the way we should, we would see that we are nothing short of a mess. Who are we to tell others that their ideas or thoughts are wrong? Don't get me wrong, just because it is not our place to tell them they are wrong, does not mean they are right. Anything that is not Biblically-based should be looked at very carefully. If it is your place to speak out, then by all means do so, but keep in mind that you may be the one that is being beat upon for some new idea one day. So, I guess if I had to answer the question, I would say first, get a right perspective on yourself and make sure you are faithfully in God's Word before you speak out against others.


At 4:30 PM, Blogger kathryn said,   

No , it is not my responsibility to correct anyone's thinking. But it may be my responsibility to try.

Of course, the question presupposes that there is "correct" thinking. I concur, though I have often known myself to be mistaken about what that correct thinking may be. There has to be an objective standard of correctness, whether it's known fact, company policy, etc. I suppose that's why discipleship is not about teaching other people to be like me, but teaching them to seek truth for themselves.

Can God correct thinking? Yes. He's corrected/is correcting mine and it's beautiful and it's freeing and it's making sense between Scripture and life. God is merciful and He is good in that way! But I don't think He pushes.

Just a thought...presupposing that there is correct thinking, if God couldn't correct it, where would that leave us?

Post a Comment

Feb 7, 2007 

Dreams of Reality

If only life were eternal.

Friends come and go. Why? They're not supposed to. I've heard all kinds of songs about how great friends are 'cause they always make you happy and stuff. And friends know you really well. They never misunderstand or have unfair expectations. They exist in a universe running directly parallel yours and serve only to enhance your trot 'round the life-clock. I've read poetry.

There are more people than I can make friends with in a day.

I have more friends than I can live with forever.

I've lived.

If only life were eternal.

8:40 PM |


At 9:50 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said,   

I plan to see most of my friends eternally in heaven...that's where I hear the real party starts.


At 8:15 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said,   

But if we lived eternally, then our friends would eternally come and go. Maybe I've allowed the point out your note slip fly directly over my head, but I would rather make a few good friends now that I know I will be with forever, then have many friends now that will move on to a life that no longer includes me later. I would rather live eternally in the new heaven and the new earth than here on this one.


At 8:25 PM, Blogger Heather said,   

Interesting thoughts...and congratulations on weaving a logic that gave me an instant headache.


At 1:57 PM, Blogger Dave Marriott said,   

Justin,

Maybe I missed the point; I often do:) But isn't life eternal?

I mean we have the gift of knowing Christ - isn't that eternal life (John 17:3)?


At 11:40 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said,   

It's too true. Somehow the best friendships often slip away too fast and the people we don't think will be friends become our best friends.


At 7:50 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said,   

Justin,
Good friends are one of God's greatest blessings to us in this life. They help us get through the everyday struggles, but they do not have to agree with all our likes and dislikes to be close friends. It is our differences that make us compatible. Our friends should help us with our weaknesses and vice versa. Really, truly, good friends are hard to come by. We should not plan on forgetting them or leaving them, but this life is just a bridge that will take some to a better place and some to an awful place. The good friends we choose on the way should be going the same direction we are going. Then when we get to the other side, our bodies may look different and our faces may have changed, thank heaven!, but the strong bond of the hearts with our close friends will still remain the same.

Post a Comment

Random Quote

About Me

  • I'm justinic9 .
  • Currently calling Changchun, Jilin, China home.
  • You'll really find out the most about me by reading my posts, but a little background never hurt. I just graduated from Maranatha Baptist Bible College with a B.S. in Humanities. I plan to go to grad school eventually, but I'm taking a few years to teach English in China before I go back to school. And, um, you should just go read the blog now.

Contact Me

I'm afraid I have new rules about contacting me. In order to protect the sensitive nature of our ministry, please do not discuss spiritual or political things when contacting me. Make a note--we'll talk about it when I get back.

Blogroll

Check These Links

Archives