Shaky Foundations…

Whenever Sky and I hold counseling sessions for people and lead them through healing of past wounds and deliverance of bondage/sin/lies they’ve been carrying, we can always tell who will walk out their newfound freedom best.  It is the people who have a foundation of knowing God’s Word and obeying it.  Has to be both.  These are the people who are able to receive truth the best and won’t let the enemy steal it from them.  But for those who don’t know the Word or who disregard the truth in it, they are usually all over the place… up and down in their faith, like a roller coaster.

True Christianity is a walk up the mountain of the Lord.  If we are walking consistently then our muslces are only getting stronger and stronger.  That means when we have a moment where we experience a surge in our faith (such as at a church retreat or revival or after going through a session of deep healing/deliverance) our muscles are able to endure the surge and we are able to continue on, only growing stronger.  But for those who have been walking with God inconsistently and have weak legs, the surge can feel great while they are in it but in the end they are spiritually wrecked.  The enemy is able to sweep in and attack them in their weak condition and they end up tumbling farther back than they were at before.

Matthew 7:24-27 – Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, becasue it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

Enjoy the Word of God!  Ask the Holy Spirit always for revelation before you open your Bible.  Become established on solid ground with strong spiritual muscles.  Nothing will shake you anymore.

God bless!

Relying on Yesterday’s Anointing…

For years when I would lead prayer at prayer meetings the hearts of people there would be stirred and there would be a strong anointing, even when I wasn’t as mature and experienced in faith and in the ministry.  During those same years I made sure I had extended times of prayer with the Lord as often as possible, every day if I could then.  Those times of prayer weren’t always powerful, but it was clear that I was storing up more and more Living Water with every prayer time and so when I would get to lead prayer I would be overflowing.

But then I began to minister more and more often.  I became a lay pastor at my church and led a church plant team to plant another church in Seoul.  I began to have to minister more and more.  While most of my sermons had been sharp before because they were few and far between, when I had to start preaching more often I found myself having to pace myself.  Some sermons were powerful, while others were just the word that needed to be shared.  I would be hard on myself when I didn’t feel there was much power in a sermon I would give.  I would feel like I hadn’t pressed in hard enough.  God was having to teach me grace.

Through grace I began to learn how to rely on the Lord more… not so much relying on how much time I spent with the Lord (although this of course was important), but trusting that whatever the Lord would give me from that time would be right, even if it wasn’t a power-packed word.  

Now though, I’ve led prayer and preached enough sermons and taught enough seminars that I’ve finally grown comfortable in these roles (I never thought this day would come!).  And now I’m facing a new danger… relying on yesterday’s anointing for the ministry today.  There is such a delicate balance of pressing in to the Lord and walking in His grace.  If we press in too hard we are becoming religious about our time with God and making it more about getting something out of Him rather than just being with Him.  But if we just relax and spend some simple time with the Lord and not press in all the time we can actually lose touch with the Lord.  We need a balance.

My wife doesn’t want a powerful date every time we go out.  She loves a romantic date and special occasions, but too much can be too much.  She would rather just hang out with me most of the time.  I have to keep a balance… it’s good to relax with her… but it’s also good to keep sharp and do something special here now and then… I can’t rely on the memories of our past powerful dates for our passion and love to keep strong.

These days I feel the Lord longing for some of those powerful, passionate times with Him.  He isn’t demanding, I just know it’s going to be good.  It will keep me from relying on yesterday’s anointing… and I know I will be overflowing again.

God bless!

The Need For Connection

I recently showed the movie “The Warrior” to some of my family while in Hawaii.  It’s a powerful film that demonstrates just how much we need to hear and to know we are loved.  That is something that so many people know, but so few people act upon.  

The song I’ve uploaded (The National – About Today) is a beautiful yet somber song that is such a great example of how much we need to keep connected, particularly with those we should be the closest with.  So many marriages are falling apart because people are becoming too wrapped up in their own lives/interests to connect with their spouses.  So many aren’t even getting married because they are too focused on their own lives and goals to take the time to simply connect.  And so life slips away.

People say you won’t know what you got until it’s gone.  But the truth is what we’ve got can often already be gone in our hearts and minds without us even being aware.  

It’s a somber song, but definitely worth the listen.  And please take some time today to connect with those who you know should be your top priority.  May every marriage, family, and close friendship only grow in intimacy and strength.

Blessings!

The National – About Today

Today you were far away
and I didn’t ask you why
What could I say
I was far away
You just walked away
and I just watched you
What could I say

How close am I to losing you

Tonight you just close your eyes
and I just watch you
slip away

How close am I to losing you

Hey, are you awake
Yeah I’m right here
Well can I ask you about today

How close am I to losing you
How close am I to losing

Hawaii Trip!

For one week Sky and I were able to travel to the big island of Hawaii to spend time with my parents, two sisters, and their husbands.  We went snorkeling, kayaking, ziplining, stargazing at “the best place for stargazing in the world,” 4-wheel driving to waterfalls and black sand beaches, and also took some time to relax on the beach and eat good home cooked meals together that my family made where we stayed.  It was an amazing vacation crammed within five days.  We wish it could have been longer, but it was still great and filled with memories.  Enjoy the pictures!  =)

Sky after being greeted by my parents at the airport

Our first dinner… made by my parents and my older sister Katie…

The family all gathered to eat… Todd too hungry to smile =)

At the beach with Sky

At a lu’au… the fire guy was by far the most entertaining, of course

At a rest stop area on the way up the mountain to stargaze

With mom

With Sky above the cloud line on the mountain where we would watch the sunset and then see the stars like we had never seen them before… in the background is one of ten huge telescopes owned by various countries… we were at literally the best place in the world to stargaze because of the lack of light pollution (middle of the ocean and Hawaii has a specific light code that allows for only low level/infrared lighting) and it being above the cloud line… they (multiple universities, businesses and nations working together) were actually planning to make a billion dollar telescope there… a billion dollars!!!

One of my favorite memories… taking our two four wheel drive jeeps down the cliff into a valley with a near identical cliff on the other side, a river in between the cliffs, the tallest waterfall in Hawaii on one side (the cliffs were in a U shape) and the ocean on the other side complete with a black sand beach where the river met the ocean.  The black sand was formed from the lava that initially covered the island from its first volcanoes… the black sand was so smooth and soft.  Loved this place!

Love this picture

Todd and I crossed the river and went to the end to the cliff… this picture is of us coming back and crossing the rushing river together (it got deeper, but we managed to stay upright since we supported each other)

I brought back a coconut I had found under a coconut tree for my wife who had been desiring to drink out of a coconut

Coconut juice!

My dad hiding in an amazing tree…

Check out my wife’s Facebook (Sky J Becker) or my Facebook (John Michael Becker) for more pictures.  Blessings!!!

The Kids (and Adults) Who Remain Children at Heart

Everyday I am at the home my kids will ask me to play with them after dinner.  They absolutely love it when I chase them all around the playground and try and catch them and tickle them. 

Today I told the kids I would come out and play with them after doing some work in the office.  While working in there we suddenly heard a bunch of the kids screaming out, “J–M!!!”  “J–M!!!”  “J–M!!!”  All the office workers looked at me wondering what was going on and I just shook my head and said, “I’m sorry.”  Soon some of the kids came in and asked again how long it would be and I said just a few more minutes.  And sure enough, just a few minutes later we heard them altogether shouting out my name again.  The manager asked me, “What are you going to do with them?”  I smiled sheepishly and said, “Chase them around… I’m 30 years old and I’m still playing this way.”  They all laughed.

What is somewhat surprising is that it isn’t just the kindergarten and young elementary school kids who love it when I chase them, catch them, and tickle them.  Almost all the boys who are middle school and even high school enjoy it too.  They usually won’t run around with the little kids, but if I do suddenly go after them they will laugh a lot and enjoy the attention.  Some of the middle school girls at the home also tend to still act childish and silly and enjoy the attention despite being at ages where they should have grown out of it at least a year or two earlier.  They are still little children at heart around mother/father figures who are playful with them. 

While serving as the healing and deliverance pastors at our church and counseling many different people, my wife and I have noticed how a number of people who were sexually abused as children have different childlike quirks to them.  Our thought was that because a large part of their childhood was robbed from them that it was still coming out despite them being adults.  But what we are realizing is that for people who didn’t have fathers or didn’t receive positive attention from their parents when they were young, they are often still starving for that parental attention even when they are adults.  I know different adult men who light up just like my kids when I give them a really big smile, a high five, and enthusiastic encouragement.  Most adults would feel awkward if they had to receive such actions from me, but for such people like my kids those actions are crucial for them.

I’ve noticed that more and more Korean kids are similar to my kids at the children’s home.  They are also starving for positive attention and safe touch and affection.  Kids in Korea have to study almost all the time and their parents are rarely around.  I asked one Korean middle school boy about his dad (who is a pastor) and he said, “I don’t know him that well.  He is always busy with work and ministry.”  It’s sad how big the lack is of positive attention from parents among the younger generation. 

One of my favorite memories from serving over 6 and a half years at the children’s home was seeing one of the oldest girls gather a bunch of the kids and toddlers in a circle and dance and skip around in a circle while happily singing.  All the kids were so happy and were so free!  I’m looking forward to seeing more and more of these kids find this freedom in the Lord and be able to dance and sing freely in His Presence, receiving all the needed, safe, positive attention that they had missed in their youth.  Come, Lord!

God bless!

Cars Falling and Other Madness!

Yay for silly apps on the iPhone…

I hope this one doesn’t disturb people…

Funny what makes kids laugh… (and me too)

Blessings!

Candy and Basketball… Does It Get Any Better? 

My cousin brought some candy from the States for the kids.  He and his kids purchased them together.  It was well enjoyed by many of the kids out here. 

Here is Da Heen enjoying a Jolly Rancher lollipop

Min Seung as well

They, along with all the other kids, were thankful =)

After dinner at the children’s home the kids get some break time and I usually end up playing with them outside… some days I’ll play basketball or baseball with the boys, other days I’ll chase the younger kids around by the playground, and on days when I’m a bit too tired to chase I will line them up to shoot the basketball and reward the top scorer with a piece of gum.  The kids love how I’ll keep order among them and cheer them on.

Soo Ah taking a shot

Eun Ji’s turn

Hae Hyun after a made shot

Soo Jeong in line

Eun Ji again

Min Ho posing

Happy Eun Suh

The baby room through the window screen

Hae Hyun and Hae Ran posing

Soo Ah joining them (all the outdoor pics were taken by one of the girls)

God bless!

Visualization (the power of daydreaming)

I was reading an article today about a famous soccer player, Wayne Rooney, and about how smart of a soccer player he is.  One of the main things the author shared about Wayne Rooney’s brilliance was that from childhood he had practiced visualization to help with his soccer game.  The day before a game he would ask the equipment manager what uniform the team would be wearing and then at night he would visualize himself wearing that uniform and making all sorts of plays during the game.  Little did Wayne Rooney know, this was the same technique that Tiger Woods learned when he was young along with another Olympic gold medalist.  Visualization is becoming an increasingly used technique in sports as studies are showing that combining mental imagery and repetitive training helps the brain create neutral patterns. 

We become what we see.  There is a truth that just simply daydreaming won’t get us anywhere.  But if we begin to put our dreams into practice, even if it’s very simple, beginner steps, we will be able to accelerate our growth much more quickly. 

Usually my most powerful times of ministry happen after I have already been praying and visualizing (daydreaming) of how I could see God wanting things to happen.  Faith and expectation rise up through visualization.

Daydream folks!  And begin to put your daydreams into practice.  If that means stepping out at an open mic night, volunteering to help lead a specific ministry, or doing something else to start, you will find an acceleration in your confidence and your abilities.  We become what we see.  Begin seeing yourself in the Spirit and acting out upon it.  =)

God bless!

Here is the article about the soccer player:  http://espnfc.com/us/en/news/1071240/beautiful-game-beautiful-mind-.html.

Trip To Lotte World Amusement Park

Every year the kids at the children’s home are sponsored to go to an amusement park for one Saturday in May.  This year was my SEVENTH trip with the kids to the park.  There are now social workers at my home who are younger than the kids I spent my first amusement park trip with.  Crazy!

Every year I make it a point to get at least one child to overcome their fears and ride a roller coaster for their first time.  For me I was scared of heights as a kid and wasn’t able to ride a roller coaster until I was in 8th grade.  But once I finally took a ride I discovered heights weren’t that bad and that I loved roller coasters.  I also grew a lot more secure and confident in myself. 

This year my target was Yong Shin, an 11th grade boy who has been terrified of roller coasters all his life.  It took a lot of prodding because he had a lot of fear, but I finally got him to agree to one round of “Rock-Scissors-Paper.”  If I won then he would have to ride one time with me, and if he won then I wouldn’t bother him any longer.  And of course, I won.  =) 

Yong Shin was so nervous!  Because we arrived at the park at 8am and some of the rides weren’t open until 9:30, we had to wait a while and do more simple rides like bumper cars.  Poor Yong Shin was a bit overwhelmed the whole time, but he kept his word and eventually went with me to the roller coaster.  A bunch of the kids and a couple other dorm dads (social workers) ended up joining us.  I sat next to Yong Shin and clapped and said “Yaaaay” the whole ride so that Yong Shin would relax.  He was super tense at first, but as we went I could tell he was gradually loosening up.  At the end he smiled and said, “So that’s what a roller coaster feels like.”  He got out and excitedly talked with the other boys about the experience (it was a fast coaster).  He was thankful for me pushing him so much and his demeanor as we enjoyed the rest of the day was completely different from his demeanor when we first entered the park.

With Yong Shin before the ride



With Soo Jeong and Hyun Hee… Soo Jeong, in 4th grade, was also riding the roller coaster for the first time^^



Hyun Woon dorm dad, Young Eun, Yoo Jin, and Sun Ran before the ride



With siblings Dal Woo and Soo Jin



Yo Han taking a picture of himself while waiting



With dorm dads Hyun Woon and Dong Min riding the “Gyro Drop” (100meters straight drop)



Doing sticker pictures with some of the girls… I would have never done this before I married my wife Sky



Some of the goofy wigs/hats



Jae



Dal Woo and Yoo Jin



With Young Eun and Yoo Jin



Riding the fake hot air balloon ride above the indoor part of the park with Young Eun and Hyun Woon dorm dad



The indoor portion of Lotte World, which is apparently the world’s largest indoor theme park



Soo Jin posing



Yoo Jin posing



Blessings!  =)

Our Unknowingly Prophetic Acts… 

A few years ago my prayer team leader who was serving with Campus Crusade here in Seoul got a cheap car for himself to get around in.  I was in my second year of being a missionary here in Korea and I felt extremely tight with my money (too tight… there is a “practical” tight, and there is a “lack of faith” tight).  But I lived on the outskirts of Seoul and my commutes by subway were typically 75-90 minutes, so after praying for a time I ended up getting a cheap car myself.  Both of our cars were old and not in the best of shape, but they got us around.  I even got the same model as his. 

Later he became the pastor of my church and prayed for a new car because his was becoming too dangerous (same for mine).  Through circumstances at the church he was able to get the exact car he had been praying for, a nice one!  For me it took getting hit by a truck that totaled my car (not my fault and no long term injuries, thankfully) that made me get a new one.  And this time around I wasn’t cheap, but spent more of my support money to get a decent car with good gas mileage.  It definitely isn’t as nice as my pastor’s car, but it’s a whole lot better than my old piece of metal. 

When my pastor got married he lived a decent three bedroom apartment that also doubled as the church office.  It wasn’t big, but it was relatively modern and was spacious compared to the tiny boxes a lot of people live in (as singles).  I originally imagined myself getting married and continuing to live in my old, small apartment.  But then my pastor, through prayer and the favor of God, was able to get a much bigger, nicer apartment.  Seeing that, I received faith to believe God for a bit better.  When I got married Sky and I, through prayer and favor, were able to get a nice, modern, 3 bedroom apartment similar to my pastor’s first place when he got married, although perhaps a tad nicer.  Sky would have been miserable in my old place.  It was literally old, dark, and small.  Not the place for newlyweds.  But if I hadn’t seen my pastor’s faith in action and God’s grace over him and his wife, I probably wouldn’t have had the faith to get a nicer place.

God is revealing to me more and more how prophetic our acts are, particularly for those who are serving under us (or the children we are caring for).  When one of my ministry’s full time volunteers joined in 2008 we went over her budget together.  I explained where her money should go to and different things she could expect.  I remember she asked me, “Where do you budget for clothes?” and I told her, “In my three years I haven’t bought any clothes” and just shrugged that question off.  Clothes were never an interest of mine and I actually didn’t buy any new clothes until my SIXTH year in Korea (when I began dating Sky, of course).  And then I found out that same full time volunteer had not bought clothes for three years, and she is a woman!  I felt so bad when I realized how by my actions I had put a wall up around her from feeling free to spend in that area.  She felt it was just a price of being a missionary… wear your clothes until they are rags and someone gets you something.  That had been my mindset before, and how poor of a mindset that was! 

Our actions really are prophetic.  If we are cheap, then those under us will be cheap.  If we act in faith, then those under us will be released to act in faith.  If we take care of ourselves, then those under us will also take care of themselves. 

So I’m learning to take better care of myself and of Sky.  I want the volunteers who serve with me to be well taken care of too.  And I desire the same for the children in the orphanages. 

God bless!