Mike's Psalm 23 sushi ninjas

Sensei Mike took several of his Psalm 23-memorizing young charges to Mizu just now. And we picked up a few extra people, too!

***

Kim came with her family, and Shihong blessed us with his words of wisdom :). Actually, it was great to hang out with Shihong and get to know him a little bit more and to hear how God has been growing him! And he really did pass on some words of wisdom to us about being in TIGS vs. CY, being a high school student, etc. ...

*

Got some straws stuck...I hate it when that happens. Thankfully, Joseph was there with the shell crackers to help! :)

Kim's Psalm 23 sushi junkies

Today I had the privilege of grabbing sushi with Kim and her Psalm 23-memorizing small group. We had a great time at Daruma Sushi House in West Sacramento! (That is, after I arrived with the guys, having made just about every wrong turn possible on the way to this West Sacramentan restaurant ;).)

Below are our group pictures.

***

While the rest of us take the group picture, Daniel suddenly remembers the 457th digit of Pi!

*

Meredith gets HAPPY, Chris gets violent, Daniel gets the munchies, and everybody else is just plain WEIRD.

:)
heee

***

Can you think of any better captions for these photos? If so, please post them in the comments!

Worship team testimony, part 3

I recently started posting installments of a testimony that I wrote several months ago at the request of the worship team. Below is the third part. (You can also read the first and second parts.)

***

A second “trauma”: sovereign love

Another “trauma” I suffered that year: Our pastor preached on Romans 8:28-29, which reads, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.” That's when I saw that God controls every single molecule (Eph 1:11, 1 Corinthians 8:6)! He does this every minute and nanosecond! He does this and never sins! And He works all things for our good!

Thus, in every trouble I go through, I know that God is ultimately behind it, and He works all things for my good. It is never hopeless; it is bottomlessly optimistic, even in the worst tragedies.

The extent of God's control amazed me, and His love impresses me. It is very practical and hope-giving. These verses amazed me.

"Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you"

Something that's been floating around my head recently in relation to welcoming the new incoming seventh graders:

"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." (Romans 15:7)

As I drove to church yesterday, I was struck by the need to pray for these incoming seventh graders. Join with me in praying that they become mature, stalwart men and women who love Jesus above all things!