East Asia Mission Trip

March 18, 2018                             

Dear

I want to bring you up to date on what is happening in my life. As you know, I’m a student at Bethel College, where I also compete on the basketball team. Two of the most important things in my life have been my athletics and the opportunity to know Jesus Christ in a personal way.

This summer I again, have an incredible opportunity to combine my faith and play for a basketball team sponsored by Athletes in Action (AIA), the sports ministry of Cru formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ.  The tour is May 12 to June 3, 2018. I am looking forward to going on this trip again because of the impact that the Chinese had on me and the impact that we had on the Chinese. I can’t wait to go back and plant more seeds. I have a heart for the unreached people groups and hope to be able to reach them and have an impact.

We will partner with the AIA East Asia staff to help them accelerate their ministry by building relationships with men’s basketball players and coaches at different universities. We will be playing games, conduct camps/clinics and practicing with the teams. Our primary purpose will be to creatively share the love of God in an effort to open doors for our Athletes in Action staff to minister to the athletes & coaches after we leave.

My personal goals for the summer include deepening my relationship with God, learning how to share my faith more effectively, continuing to develop my leadership skills, and leading people to a personal relationship with Christ. Needless to say, this will require a great investment of my time and energy.

This team is made possible by interested individuals such as you, who are willing to invest in our commitment to serve in East Asia, and thereby become part of our team as we travel and train. In order for our team to travel each member is asked to raise $4,500, which is a portion of the team’s goal that covers food, lodging, travel expenses, and other ministry expenses. All funds must be raised by May 1st.

Would you prayerfully consider giving $ 75, $100, $250 or some other amount to help our team meet our goal? You will not only be helping reach people for Christ in East Asia, but also helping my teammates and I grow in our faith in Christ.

Your financial support can be given online at www.give.cru.org by entering 0948756 in the “Give A Gift” box, or you can make checks payable to Athletes in Action and return it to the address listed below. Please don’t put my name on the checks, rather put the number listed above. (0948756)

Thank you for your consideration in partnering with our team to minister to the people of East Asia!

Sincerely,

Luke Fisher

5350 CR 27

Stryker, OH 43557

If you read through this letter, I will be posting a blog about Good Friday tonight. 

"Left Side! Strong Side!"

I have been reading through the book of the Genesis the past 32 days, along with a couple of other books that you may have noticed from my posts. I have never actually read through the entire book of Genesis. I think I have tried a couple of times and have always stopped...I now understand why. It is a difficult book to read. Sometimes the chapters are very long and the stories really are not that intriguing or entertaining. Genesis may be the first book in the bible but I wouldn't start there if you are trying to read the entire thing some day. 

I am thankful that God finally used something in Genesis this morning to catch my eye and encourage me with. I have it written down in my journal that trying to pick something out of the book of Genesis has been so hard.

Last night in my journal I wrote this: "Like for real man...I struggle so hard with the book of Genesis." 

I have been praying about it and then I opened up my bible this morning in Genesis 32 there was an encouraging story. Praise be to God. Maybe it was a coincidence, but I think not. 

Do you ever feel like you are in a wrestling match against God, your friends, or life in general? 

When I think of a wrestling match, I don't necessarily think of two sweaty dude in spandex. I think of two warrior like men who are doing everything they can in their power to defeat the other dude. The movies I have seen in my life time, are what gives me this idea about wrestling.

When I feel like I am in a wrestling match it is usually because I am a little fed up in what is going on my life. I am not fed up with God, I just start to have questions sometimes...I am sure that you have all been there before. 

Recently, I think about the internship hours I need to my sports management major. I applied to at least 20 places and didn't really hear back from any of them. It's almost April and time is ticking away for a possible Summer internship. We are fortunate enough to serve a God who provides. I heard back from Notre Dame and found out that I got an internship position there in the Fall. 

If you know me well, I like to remain as humble about things as I possibly can. I haven't even told my friends this. It took a lot out of me to share it on here, but I share it to show that God is so good and the power of prayer is amazing.

Quick Story: This past Sunday I had the choice to go to either Harvest Bible Chapel with my girlfriend and one of her best friends or go to LifeWorks. This was tough for me because I love going to church with her on Sunday's and I enjoy hanging out with her and her friend. I was planing on going with them, but when I woke up in the morning I felt like I needed to be at LifeWorks that day. I told Jen I was going to go to LifeWorks because I felt like God needed me there and he definitely did. As soon as I walked in, Sheila, one of the strongest women of God I know, immediately asked me how she could pray for me. I told her that I was stressing out about finding an internship. She took me aside, we sat down and she prayed for me. On Monday afternoon, I received an email from Notre Dame telling me that I was going to be able to get internships hours in the fall. 

I wrestled with God about that situation in my life. It was incredibly stressful and still is. I even wrestled with my family on this one, because I kept hearing..."Luke, you got to get on this." 

Jacob Wrestles With God

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's him so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." 

But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

The man asked him, "What is your name?"

"Jacob," he answered. 

Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and you have overcome."

Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."

But he replied, "Why do you ask me my name?" Then he blessed him there.

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. ( Genesis 32:22-31)

What an incredible story that is! Jacob wrestled with God the entire night...the entire night. I wrestle with my friends and get tired after like 5 minutes. Jacob was going to wrestle him until He blessed him. I think that is such a valuable lesson for us. Sometimes I think that we lose faith and forget what he have faith for. Jacob was determined to be blessed by God and he was blessed. 

When I think of these two wrestling it out the entire night, I think of the scene from Remember The Titans when the T.C. Williams football team is practicing at camp and they are having practice at night. The only way the could see was because they had car headlights illuminating the field. I think of the famous part where Julius and Gary are arguing back in forth saying..."Left side! Strong side! Left side! Strong Side!" 

Julius and Gary were the two studs on the team and they were going head to head. That is how I imagine Jacob and God going at it. 

I didn't know what the word "Peniel," meant until right now. It means "face of God." Jacob named that location Peneil because he saw God face-to-face and God spared him his life. I encourage you to find your Peniel. To see God face-to-face. There is noting to be afraid of. Sometimes I think it is what God wants. He wants to see that fire that we have inside of us! I believe that is shows that we really love him.

God will bless us when we overcome certain things in our life. Even when we overcome, we will still wrestle with thins. It's a never ending battle until the day Christ returns.  That is exactly what he said in the passage. He told Jacob that he was going to bless him because he had struggled with God, and humans and he had overcome. 

I really don't think any of you will physically wrestle God any time soon, but I encourage you to have some fight in you! 

Walk N' Confess

I am not going to lie, when I read through 1 John 1 tonight, I thought to myself...how is God going to use this through me?

As I sat here and thought about it, and I read through the passage a couple of times, something finally came to mind.

One thing that we as people do is talk a lot and not have action and are too afraid to admit our mistakes. Do you agree? How easy is it to tell your friends that you will do something with them and then you don't do it? It is actually pretty easy. Our lives are so jam packed day-to-day that we sometimes just forget the things that we try to remember.

I think that we need to walk it like we talk it. We talk a lot but don't walk it. It's incredibly easy to say that you are going to do something and then not do it. Talk is not enough. It might look pretty and sound flattering but doesn't amount to anything.

Another problem is that people don't like to admit their mistakes. Especially guys. Men are so bad at this. Vulnerability and accountability are so vital when you are trying to have the best relationship with Christ possible. You have to be vulnerable and admit your mistakes and your sins. When we walk what we talk (walk in the light) we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us all. Walking in the light is the way that we should be walking. Sometimes walking in the light means taking the path that is less traveled. Just like Robert Frost once said.

You might counter with..."Doesn't God already know that I sin? Why do I have to confess that I do?"

I believe it shows God that we know that we sinned and that we were wrong. Like I have mentioned over and over again, sometimes we might not understand that we are sinning. When you get into the word that is when you build your knowledge and understand the difference between right and wrong...sin...righteousness and unrighteousness. We should never be afraid to confess our sins to God. When we don't confess we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. When we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and he will forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Why touch on our walk and if we confess or not?

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. ( 1 John 1:5-10 ) 

One of my favorite words is the word "purify." When I hear that word I think of something that is refreshed and clean. Think about it! When I hear that water is purified or something that I just want to drink it...

Purify: remove contaminants from

Okay, so the actual definition doesn't make it sound like its anything special...but I promise you that it is. I bring this up because that passage from 1 John 1 says that we will be purified when we walk in the light and we will be purified when we confess our sins. I want to be purified by God. I hope that you have that same desire. When we are purified by God, he gets rid and forgives us for the bad and dirty things in our lives.

If you don't know anything about the book of 1 John 1, the letter was sent to a group of unbelievers who were in the midst of an unsettling situation. If you are an unbeliever right now and haven't decided to make that decision yet I hope that you were encouraged by this post and that you have the desire to walk in the light and confess your sins. When you do it, you are purified and you are made new. So if you're in an unsettling situation right now, I hope this post encourages you in more ways than I could ever imagine.

I pray for all of you who are in unsettling situations right now.

You are loved!

Be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil

On a daily basis, there are divisions and obstacles that we experience from the time we roll out of bed to the time we lay out heads on our pillows to go to sleep at night.

Most of the time, you probably notice that certain people are creating those divisions and the same people are often putting obstacles in your life. Obstacles as in tough decisions you might have to make, in order to live a righteous and obedient life. Those things really are obstacles because nothing in smooth sailing in this life. 

The thing that gets us is that sometimes we don't even know that there are people around us who cause those divisions and who put those obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Those people are sneaky and they are deceiving. 

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are country to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. ( Romans 16: 17-20 ) 

A key part in that verse is that those people who are trying to keep you away from what is good are not serving Christ. They have their own agenda and their own appetites. Where we are so easily deceived is with the smooth talk and the flattery that is used. Sometimes it's easy for people to give into the smooth talk of those people. 

I have noticed in my life, when I had a struggle with some things that the people around me were so easily convincing to to me. When I was get caught in the battle, I would tell myself, I got this. It was easy sometimes, but sometime the smooth talk would get to me. The smooth talk from maybe a couple peers but mainly the smooth deceiving talk of Satan. You have probably been in this situation before. You think that you have the battle at hand won, but you eventually give in and commit that sin.

It happens though, and it happens to people every single day. 

It's also easy to see because sometimes we are unaware of the sin that we are committing. 

Here's a look at James ...

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have learned, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do. ( James 1: 22-25 ) 

I encourage you with that passage form James because I believe that we are unaware of our sin until we spend time in the word of God. The word of God is like that mirror. We look at it, we read it, and when you remember the things you learned you remember what you look like because you can see yourself in that mirror. 

Maybe I am way out of context, but I believe that is how God wants me to use that scripture to encourage you. 

I hope that this post encouraged you to be on the look out at all times. In order to be on the look out, I believe you have to be in the word. You don't only have to be in the word but you also have to be doing what the word says. When you do that, that is when you will develop a greater understanding between right and wrong. Just as Paul wrote in Romans, we need to be wise about what is good. When we are wise about what is good it changed our lives. 

I have not mentioned it yet but did you catch the last verse in the Romans 16 passage I shared? 

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. ( Romans 16:20 ) 

That verse fires me up! How awesome is that? God has already defeated Satan but he will soon crush him under our feet!

One of the greatest joys to me is winning spiritual battles and crushing Satan every single time. Satan tries to take our eyes off Jesus. Crushing Satan is the best. When I am in the midst of a battle and win I just think about kicking Satan's butt and laughing, and giving a little wink...saying "nice try."

If brings me great joy to win battles every single day. 

If you are struggling to win these battles in your life, get into the word and it will change your life. It's changed mine. It's way easier to win a spiritual battle when you feel God's presence all the time and that happens when you are in the word on a consistent, every day basis. 

Be on the look out my friends! 

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is a Sunday that I have experienced being at church for many years. Not until this Sunday did I learn and finally understand the importance of Palm Sunday. It's such a good story to read and you can never take enough time to read the story for yourself. It is found in Matthew 21. 

Chris Garner preached on this topic yesterday at LifeWorks. Unfortunately I did not have enough time yesterday to write about it. I was sad that I couldn't, but I get to today! 

The story of Palm Sunday is in Matthew 21.

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at one you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." This took place to fulfill what was spoken though the prophet:

"Say to Daughter Zion,

'See, your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted. 

"Hosanna to the son of David!"

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

"Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"

The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." ( Matthew 21:1:11 ) 

At the beginning of the story, Jesus is entering the city at Passover. The people's response really says it all. 

At the time, Jesus was so popular. Everyone wanted to listen to him preach and learn as much as they could from him. It was written that 3,000 - 5,000 people would find Jesus on the country side just to find out more about Jesus. How crazy is that? That is basically everybody from my small town back home. I can't imagine that many people gathering on the country side to listen to Jesus preach. 

On Palm Sunday, everything was different. Jesus decided to make an appearance on a donkey. He usually liked to be pretty low-key and not draw a lot of attention to himself. Jesus rode a donkey to make sure that people understood that He was bringing peace. He was coming to deliver the people out of slavery, impoverishment, discontent, etc. (Much like our world today)

This was a very bold move by Jesus. 

Remember...walls surrounded the city of Jerusalem and there were usually roughly 40,000 people inside of those walls. During this passover it was said to be more than 250,000 people were jammed packed inside of those city walls. 

As Jesus entered, the people were shouting: "Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest heaven." 

Hosanna was a term that was used to praise Christ. 

As Jesus was entering, the whole city stirred and asked "who is this?"

Now picture this, whenever Jesus usually entered cities he would enter the temple first. Our bodies are the temple for the Holy Spirit. When he entered Jerusalem he entered through all of the people. I hope that you can wrap your head around that. 

Jesus came into Jerusalem bringing peace. That is what he wants to do in your life. Jesus knew that the people of Jerusalem suffered and they needed a savior and they needed peace so he entered.

Jesus knows that we are broken, we sin, and we have a longing for more in our life. It says in Ecclesiastes that eternity is placed in our hearts. God knows! He knows that we are waiting for him to enter into us just like Jesus entered into Jerusalem. 

People in this world are desperate to find all sorts of wats to make themselves feel better. People try to fill themselves with things of this world that they think will fulfill them. 

Before the EXTERNAL THINGS in my LIFE will Truly Change - the INTERNAL WAY I face them must change first. Truly, it is my heart that must change. 

The peace that we all want, comes when we let go. 

Philippians 4 MSG says this:

My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel so much joy, fill me with such pride. Don't waver. Stay on track, steady for God. 

Celebrate God all day, every man. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! 

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and mediating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work tougher, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. 

-

I don't know if you ever read any scripture from the Message version but I would recommend it. It's a super unique and different way to read your bible. 

I hope that you were encouraged by this post. It was really cool to hear the sermon by Chris yesterday at church. 

Remember that Jesus is the king of your heart that brings peace. 

Let him in, and let go of all the things that are holding you back.

Every knee will bow

One of the things that I have been struggled with this past school year and more so the past couple months is the difference between those who seem to be alive in those whose faith may seem dead.

I don't know why it has been that way for me. I am not one to judge someone based on how strong or alive their relationship with Christ is.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have felt isolated a lot this year, just because I believe I am in a different place spiritually...which is totally fine! We won't ever be in the same place spiritually until we are all in heaven someday. I often isolate myself because I just don't want to be around sinful nature. We all sin though right? I never thought that I was better because I was at a different place spiritually...

One of my problems was the way I thought about the people around me. I don't think they are bad people or anything, I just saw there sin and didn't think they were trying very hard to live a very spiritual life.

I was convicted of this by the Holy Spirit yesterday, and when I read this scripture this morning that I was wrong. I was wrong in everything that I thought. My friends and the people around me just fight different battles than I do. Maybe they are really trying to live a more righteous lifestyle but struggle to conquer sin that has been holding them back.

A very close friend of mine applied for an RA position next school year. I love this friend so much and know him very well. I had a friend in Spanish class yesterday morning ask if my friend got the position. I told her that he did not. She said "wow, that is surprising, he seemed like the perfect guy for the job."

Here is where I was wrong. My thought was that my friend wasn't in the right place spiritually for the job. I got knots in my stomach. I was upset for a couple of reasons. I really don't care what people say about me or think about me but I have heard what people have said before and it's hard for me. It's hard for me to hear that because I know that I have made mistakes, but I really try to live my life for Christ every day. I don't know why I should've let anything like this bother me, but I was bothered by the fact that my friend had such a great reputation, but I know the real him. That is where I was wrong. I looked past all of the battles my friend fights every day and was only thinking about the wrong things that he has problems with. What I see as problems and sin is totally different than he might see it or anyone else.

Let that be a lesson to you. No matter where you are at spiritually, you can't think of other people any differently. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We are a family. We are one. A relationship with Christ is a roller coaster, and we are all at different places on the track. Just because you are riding up the first hill doesn't mean you are any different than the person waiting in the station.

Reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Love them all. It's way to easy to think that just because you are a great place spiritually, that you don't have to help those who are behind you.

You, then, why do you judge your brother or your sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: 

"'As surely as I live, ' says the Lord,
' every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.'"

So then, each of us will give an account of our selves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.  ( Romans 14:10-13 )

I was conceited because I forgot that every knee will bow. Let that thought really soak in...it is an incredible thing to think about. I know that I need to work on not passing judgment on one another and that I need to stop putting stumbling blocks or obstacles in the way of my brothers and my sisters.

I know it's tough, but it can be done. All things are possible through Christ.

If you took one thing away from this post, I hope it is that if you have any friends who struggle with things and you might judge them for it that you need to stop and try not to do that. Love you brothers and sisters.  Remember that someday they will be kneeling in front of our Lord Jesus Christ right there with you.

Love, Love, Love

A topic that was placed in my hear this afternoon was love in action.  There are two different passages in Romans that I want to share with you.

Love in Action

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of lower position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of the everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ( Romans 12:9-21 ) 

Love is something that you must also do. You cannot just say you love something, or love someone, you must love with action. That action is your actions and what you do on a daily basis. When people you are around start to talk wrongly about someone, you love by not participating or telling them to stop. When you see your friends doing something or saying something they shouldn't be doing...you can love by saying something. People cause and swear, it's not right, but it's just something that people do, it may sound a little dumb but when I have heard my friends swear this week, I say something about it. We need to live in harmony with one another. Like the scripture said, we need to rejoice with those who rejoice in mourn with those who mourn. We must associate with everyone. Not just the people who we are comfortable being around but everyone. When people do wrong to you, don't try to get revenge but try to show them love and that you care for them deeply. That is what God does for us. We screw up and we sin every single day. When we sin, we are wronging God, he doesn't try to get revenge against us. HE LOVES US. We are broken. We are so messy. Yet, God still loves us unconditionally.

That is what love is action looks like.

Love Fulfills the Law

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal, "You shall not covet," and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. ( Romans 13:8-10 ) 

There is one thing about this passage that sticks out to me and I love. It's the part that says all the commands can be summer in one one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Lastly, the day of salvation is near. Every single day that goes by the day becomes closer and closer. I am so excited for that. As scripture says..."The night is nearly over; the day is almost here." Since the day is coming quicker than we know, we must put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. We need to love as many people as we can before we run out of time.

Don't miss out on any opportunities to love someone or to show love to someone today.

You are loved!