5 Little Golden Nuggets On The Way By...

Recently, I've been quite tired of all the simple but ridiculous things that seem to pile up stress and steal away satisfaction with a beautiful life I've been given by God. As an image bearer of God, its my true desire to be at my best, so that I can teach as well as guide others that follow me to be at their best THROUGH A CONSISTENT EXAMPLE. Out of honesty with myself, I decided to make a conscious choice to see what God could be saying to me through this. Am I resisting change in this area of my life because its comfortable for me? How can I learn to change my perspective and the way I cope? After all, isn't this what the world is looking at in me? 

So, here's the result of a couple lessons I've been learning amongst the rubble of life...

1. Find an abundance of joy and humour in the simplest of things - Having humour and creativity with it is a healthy way to cope. 

2. Celebrate with others. Celebrate their wins, what they enjoy, what they look forward to. And when they fall, look forward for them as a way to unconditionally love them with hope. 

3. Congratulate and appreciate those whom you lead because it will make team members for life.

This also goes a long way when someone needs to be approached for the purpose of correction. Applaud the positive first and last (goes along with #2!).

4. Be thankful and receive from others with thankfulness, [not out of false-humility].  There is a hidden abundance in the little if you look through the lenses of thankfulness.

         I know, I know this "be thankful" phrase is oft said and pounded into our brains from toddlerhood...But, take it from a person that lives on the currency of faith...use each opportunity to search this "thankfulness" thing out for yourself. You won't regret it. 

5. Stop every once and a while to evaluate the fruitfulness of your behaviour and actions in repeat situations. Are they you focused? Or God focused and purposed?

A thoughtful and prayerful examination of the behaviours and actions, even [emotional] reactions, to situations and events can reveal if those very aspects of your life hold something that you'd prefer to hold in higher priority than living close to God. SCARY! AND DANGEROUS! But its a great chance to steer yourself in another direction - with the Holy Spirit's help, of course! 

Number 5 is probably the touchiest lesson that I'm still learning. But its at the end, because it will sum up the total of all the previous lessons and put me in my place - THE place God wants me to be. The result of my answer to Lesson #5, also gives hope for me; that greater things are yet to come!

Be Blessed. 

Follow @KoradianAtHeart on Twitter.

God-Given "A-ha!" Moments

"More often He moves in ways that are past our knowing. Equipped with the knowledge of God's character and unfailing love, we can affirm on the authority of the Word that He is, in all circumstances, too loving to be unkind and too wise to make a mistake." - Competent Christian Counselling p.106

I love the moments in life when the light comes on, upon the remembrance of past memories, that God was blazing a path for me all along! Oh how blessed I am.

Growing up, my parents were faithful Christians who showed me that a home is made to be a place of ministry- just like the early Christians. And through the front door, we welcomed all those
who were weary, in need of rest and hope, a place to live and sleep, receive God's love and blessing, discipleship and counsel, from all over the earth. Many who entered became, not like, but as family. This is the first church I belonged to. Later on, as a product of their serving hearts, they were asked to be staff of Teen Challenge Lambeth (London, Canada). They accepted and took a huge leap of faith to blaze a trail they hadn't ever imagined to go on with their family. From the age of ten, I spent countless hours (alongside my siblings) at the center with my parents, traveling with ministry teams, on the bus...the list could go on! - and at times I was bored out of my mind...BUT I saw lives changed and thats what impacted me for years to come. I continually felt a strong desire to grow up and work with Teen Challenge in my future. This desire sometimes fell to the back when I struggled in my young adulthood, but never left. 

I often get asked if my parents were pastors or missionaries and I reply, "They were two business people who wanted to be used by God to love people and change lives. Now is my turn to carry the torch." In more ways than one, I realize this is true. I have often talked about how my parents did this, and that at Teen Challenge because I'm proud of them. I am also grateful to them for being obedient and thus, being vessels in my life to bring about God's plan for me. But, the light came on this week, upon seeing people that my parents served with, that I am not carrying on their legacy, or living in the shadow of what they did to make my place in ministry valid. God prepared me with experiences and examples to show me what is necessary to carry on HIS legacy.

For the past few days I've had a choir of voices in my head, singing in full concert force the line..."I am all He says Iam." What comes to mind is that, not only has He made me to be His glory shown on earth, but also, He says that I am a valuable participant in the plan for His Kingdom. I am a walking purpose that He planned on purpose.

I smile because God has been such a good keeper of His promises over my life. Who knew but Him that I would be serving with Teen Challenge in Korea of all places?! This past week marked the 2013 Global Teen Challenge conference, which happens ever year. I am excited like a little girl in a dress shop that Teen Challenge Korea was asked to host and to be a part of this event as a team member! It's been a privilege, only God could give. 

As a part of the Teen Challenge Korea team, I am responsible for photography, media and some design for promotion of events. The Global Teen Challenge banner featured above is a sample of what I do for Teen Challenge Korea. Thank-you for your ongoing support!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Created For God's Glory

As a student studying a Master's of Christian Counselling, one of the numero uno things that we discuss is the importance of knowing why we human beings exist. 

I don't know about you, but I can't deny that from time to time, even I ask myself questions like these.

"What is my purpose in life?"
"What is my reason for existing? For being on this earth?"
"WHY, oh WHY, was I created?"

Isaiah 43:6b-7 gives us a clue into answering these questions. See if you can catch it. 


I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.

If you had a keen eye, you'd be able to pick up on two very important points. 

        Firstly, we were created by God, in His image, to be image bearers. So that those who don't know Him will recognize who God is. Having God's image born upon us is like a thumbprint that everyone can bring up on their spiritual scanner and recognize. It's like nothing else we know on earth, but all have. Thus, having His image put onto us and in us allows us to have a relationship connected to God - its our commonality. Without His image on us and in us, we cannot know who He is because we cannot see Him face to face. Realistically speaking, human beings have a hard time relating to something they cannot see, but find it easier when there is evidence of the unseen - WE ARE THE EVIDENCE OF GOD'S IMAGE. Everything  about humanity is connected back to the image of God, who makes us feel our worth and value in existing. 

Secondly, as Isaiah 43:6b-7 says, we were created by God to show His glory and for God to see His [own] glory. Wait, hold up! Let's break this down here...

What does this word "glory" mean?

• Magnificence, great beauty
• A thing that is distinctive
• A cause for special pride, respect or delight
• The splendour or bliss of Heaven/God

Wait again! So that means that you and I are a show of God's glory?...You are correct! 

Why did God create you? Bluntly, because God wants to see the greatness of His glory - YOU - Living, breathing and active. When he looks at you and I, I have the imagination to think that God is up there in the Heavens, sitting down in front of His HUGE big screen tv, watching the most dramatic drama happening in the lives, He created on earth, IN HIS IMAGE. He's saying, "Wow, I am gooooood! Look at the handy work! Look what I created! That's the business right there!"

These are two very basic truths that we often hear, but should never grow tired of because these are crucial  to understand. Our understanding of who we are (an image bearer of God) and why we are created determines our [in]stability, whether we are in control (order) or out of control (disorder). In everything you do... including everyday work and living, relationships, hopes, dreams, thinking and believing AND lastly, how you carry it out. 

So how can I live as the glory of God in my life?

1. Rely upon God in every aspect of your life 

- Finances
- Good, eating with gratefulness
- Consideration
- Raising family
- Going to University, studying
- Loving and being loved

In relying upon God to the best of your ability, we show God's trustworthiness to others. 

2. Enjoy His glory 

God is most glorified in you and in your life, WHEN you are most satisfied/delighted in Him (who He is, what he does, in relationship with Him). 

I admit that I am not always successful at doing either of these, but having a growing understanding of why I have been created has resulted in giving me a more solid identity and purpose. I believe and pray that God can do the same for you, starting today!

Follow @KoradianAtHeart on Twitter. 

Where There's Life, There is a New Beginning

Welcome to One Canadian's missions adventure in Korea!!!

As of this post, a new chapter is beginning for myself personally and in the life of this blog.  Previously, I had used this blog as a kind of online journal for everyone to see my struggles, thoughts, questions and journey through faith, in order to help people who may have been mulling over the same things. But now, I want to dig my feet in change the direction and make use of this public connecting point to share my heart for missions in Korea as a whole (South AND North!).  Also, I will be posting some of the work that I am doing with media for ministry, talking about upcoming or current events, and cultural commentary. 

Coming to Korea initially was a fairly easy choice that laid before me. Obeying God's call on my life and continually return for missionary training as well as long-term missions here has been quite a challenge and stretching of faith. Some days I've quite seriously asked myself, "What the heck am I doing here!? You are NUTS!!" Yet, my heart's desire in saying "yes" to God is rooted in these foundational values:

• Redeeming a broken world. 
• Empowering generations with the Love of God
• Restoring the community, city and country

When I have doubts about the reasons I am here and am under discouragement, God always reminds me how he created me to be one of the first rebuilders, just as Nehemiah was. 

Who Is Your Historical Jesus?: A Documentary Review

As more and more time separates humanity from the reality of Jesus’ life and presence on earth, both curiosity and skepticism of his existence has grown. In response to understanding the “unascertainable,” theologians, philosophical thinkers, scholars and experts have driven forth the quest for the historical Jesus. N.T. Wright comments that the primary question on people’s minds, and in the Christian realm, concerning this quest is whether or not there is really anything new to say about Jesus. Secondarily, if new facts and so called discoveries arise, do they deny the authority of the Church’s traditional teaching or the wholeness of Scripture? Furthermore, one must consider what these discoveries mean in the context of personal faith. These very queries accompany James Cameron’s documentary, The Lost Tomb of Jesus.

In The Lost Tomb of Jesus, well-known Canadian journalist Simcha Jacobovici (“The Naked Archeologist”) uncovers the facts to ask, “has the tomb of Jesus really been discovered?” Cameron’s documentary is made with the intention of proving that “the 2,000 year old ‘Tomb of the Ten Ossuaries’ belonged to the family of Jesus of Nazareth” (discovery.com). His argument finds its foundation in four key claims: the inscriptions found on the ten ossuaries align with Jesus’ genealogy and NT records - together they are a rare combination; the ossuary of Jesus is in the tomb; the “unique” chevron found over the entrance of the tomb, along with an “omega”/”toah” that looks like a cross on the ossuaries, are ancient Christian symbols; DNA testing of two members “Jesus Bar Joseph” and “Mariamne” (Mary Magdelene) are unrelated and thus, married.

The alleged Jesus family tomb, was uncovered in 1980 at Talpiot, Jerusalem during construction. Archeologists rapidly examined and catalogued the ten ossuaries, which bore typical inscriptions with common names of the first century, identifying the bones of individuals once held inside. The inscriptions included names such as, “Jesus Bar Joseph”, “Maria” (the virgin?), “Mariamne” (Mary Magdelene?), “Judah Bar Jesus” and “Matthew.” Could these combination of names point to the Jesus family? Cameron plows ahead with the documentary insisting that all leading ephigraphers agree on the ossuary inscriptions. In spite of this, one oddity of this theory immediately rises to the surface. Hebrew tradition dictates that an individuals body would be returned to their place of birth and buried. Talpiot was not Jesus’ birthplace, so why break with tradition? Also, why include other unrelated members in Jesus’ tomb (ex. Mariamne)? Tested DNA samples taken from the ossuaries of Mariamne and Jesus Bar Joseph from The Lost Tomb proves that these members were not related. From this reasoning, the assumption is made that Jesus and Mary Magdelene were married and perhaps, even had a son (ossuary included in the tomb)?! Regardless of DNA testing, Mariamne could have been wife to another member of the family.

The Gospels tell us that Jesus was buried in a tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea (Matt 28:12) but rumor spread that things were done differently. Two proposed burial services were said to be conducted: a secret one done by the disciples and a second, attended by Jesus’ family a year later when the bones would be put into an ossuary, inscribed and placed into a niche in the family tomb. From this point on, Cameron’s documentary forces Christianity to examine key theological considerations in regards to the resurrection and ascension. In both considerations, a matter of faith is challenged and possibly contradicted. Finding the bones of Jesus would mean a bodily resurrection and spiritual ascension took place. Following through with this assumption, we too, would have a spiritual ascension. The issue here is that Jesus came in mortal body and ascended in the manner recorded for our sake, not God’s, so that we would have hope in our humanity.

In response to The Lost Tomb, Joe Amaral produced a rebuttal, Unearthed: The truth about the Lost Tomb of Jesus, using the same experts, with the exception of one, Father De Luca, the authority of Mary Magdelene.

Unearthed reveals a crucial element observed by Amaral connected to the use of the ossuaries. Sometimes ossuaries were used to hold three or more bodies and the tombs could have housed up to thirty-five people. Here lies the bone of contention for the DNA testing done on the proposed Jesus and Mary Magdelene ossuaries. In addition, no testing was done to distinguish whether the DNA was human or animal. Amaral did further investigation, taking copies of the inscriptions found on the ossuaries to expert epigraphers. What was proposed to be the ossuary of Mary Magdelene, the inscription reveals that it is highly likely a husband (“Mara”) and wife (“Mary”) were buried together. Thirdly, tests done for matching patina are not possibly tenable because patina does not have “fingerprint” indentifiability to prove that the James ossuary was the “missing ossuary” of Talpiot. Also, the James ossuary had been photographed in 1976 before the Talpiot tomb was uncovered. It had already been exposed to one hundred years of sunlight. Camron’s claim that the chevron found above the entrance of the Talpiot tomb was an ancient symbol of Christianity is disputed with the proof that it is a masons mark for an ossuary lid or used as a popular decorative design. Finally, the symbol of the cross would never have been used to identify Jesus’ followers because it was a highly offensive sign of brutality to early Christians.

Althroughout the Lost Tomb, the evidence smells like a gospel of gnostic Hollywood, conveniently bias and horribly assumptuous. Leaps and bounds are made toward “truth” that, in the end are made with false pretenses. Author of The Ressurection File (2002), Craig Parshall counters the claims of James Cameron’s Lost Tomb of Jesus by remarking that; “numerous first century ossuaries are unearthed in Jerusalem regularly...our culture today is so quick to try to use so-called ‘science’ to reduce Jesus to a mere mortal, rather than a risen Savior” (www.cbn.com). Having established the challenge of faith with mortal humanity, what exactly do the implications of finding Jesus’ bones mean to one’s personal faith? Some say that if Jesus’ resurrection was spiritual and not physical, it would not destroy anything for them. In fact, it would bring them closer to God, knowing that Jesus was truly mortal. Yet, the very hypotheses brings about serious theological dilemmas which took theological thinkers thousands of years to work out. It would also obliterate the credibility of first-hand witness accounts of the disciples recorded in the Gospels and demeans the authority of Christian tradition as well as theology. We should just pack up and go home! However, I am not so sure that God would string along humanity with the bait of hope, founded on a lie, because he was bored. Moreover, why would such a ingenious Creator of the universe slack-off on his plans for Jesus, only to be taken down in one fell swoop by a single individual argument. Surely, God must be given more credit of organizing events regarding His ultimate plans for humanity. Above all, the importance of quest for the historical Jesus will never diminish in its importance. Every “new” discovery encourages an individual pursuit of who God truly is.

WORKS CITED

"The Lost Tomb Of Jesus" Discovery Channel. 2007. 26 Jan. 2009

convergence/tomb/tomb.html>.

"'The Lost Tomb of Jesus: Lame Facts, Great Fiction." Christian Broadcasting Network. 26 Mar. 2007. 26 Jan. 2009

aspx>.

Note: All blogs written and photographs taken by Natalie M. Steele are protected. Use of any pictures taken by Legendary26 Media, such as the above, without permission is seriously not recommended.

Idyll's End

Many people I know are big time fans of movie watching. Every once and a while, I myself like to sit down and take in a story that makes me think - I'm a thinker...all the time I ponder. One of the most epic movies in my lifetime that touched many people's realities was the Green Mile. Everyone has their favorite character, with the smallest being Mr. Jingles. The center of the story focuses around John Coffey, a larger than life man who has been put on death row to die for a crime he didn't commit. The catch is that John is what you would call a faith healer. I have always been drawn to John and his amazing ability to intensely feel the sadness, confusion and gripping deception that this world takes on through the tainted start of humanity's being, absent from the knowledge of God or relationship with Christ.  At the risk of making others get the impression that the things I am about to say or do say are insane, I am going to make myself vulnerable. There are genuinely moments when I can identify with John Coffey's thorough sensitivity to the brokenness of this world and the individuals that have their existence in it. Day or night I watch the chaos. Although everything whizzes by, things in my heart, in the mind, in my spirit and body begin to become unhurried. Its like when you watch a subway train arrive into the station as it emerges and gradually retards, coming to a stop.  Time regresses itself to a slow pace. Every being in creation surrounds me, active in its own way. And yet, I am endowed upon with the feeling I am alone, fully aware I am not. At those moments, just like John Coffey, I literally physically feel everything in my body, every cry of the world, every pain, every tear of joy and sadness, of celebration, fear, vulnerability, the courage, the cowardice, the struggles, the victories and the failures. I ask myself in these times: "Imagine if you really did forsake God when you wanted to. How would you have lived life like the world, knowing the weight of all of these experienced and what life entails without God? - The living hell of just being a "good person"... and the tremendous risky responsibility of trying to carry your own salvation?" 

Please note, I am not saying that these missing individuals are unredeemable. Its the burden for them that I feel. 

Its at these moments when I am priviledged to what comes with this gift of empathy that I face a deep sense of sadness and larger than life humility. I cannot change and touch the ill realities of people's lives alone. I am so thankful that God is with me to reach down into the existence of ever being He has created. he is the one who can speak to their despair through my words and actions, drowning them in the hope of Christ as well as empowering with a new understanding of what it means to be courageous. To be re-defined by Christ. To risk a life choosing Him - less of me for more of Him. Every day spent away from God is another day a peice of the life you have been given dies. A piece of the life that one lives thinking that it will give fulfillment causes death. As one strives for everything but God, one slips away slowly instead of being given God's daily breath of life --- Remember to Breathe. 

God gives me the ability to see deep down into the piercing rawness of who these people around me are - who they are when no one's looking and who they are when everyone's looking but no one notices. I have no idea why god has done this in me other than to simply keep me on track with the mission He has given me; bring back the missing and be a re-builder of those who do belong. 

Every time I have these experiences, God builds in me a deeper world-view

I begin to understand the fragility of humanity on its own.

I begin to realize my own fragility that I behold in myself.

I realize how much I need God daily.

I am only a hero when I admit that. 

Note: All blogs and photographs taken by Natalie M. Steele are protected. Use of pictures taken by NMS Photography, without permission is seriously not recommended.

A Time For Everything: A Retrospect of 2009

Psalm 131 - A Look at Priorities

It always seems that my blog entries are few and far between. I've given up apologizing for it, 'cause well, life happens. PLUS, my life changes enough in between these posts that it makes it more interesting to see how things have changed with me. I'm never quite sure who reads this blogs, or even if anyone reads them apart from me. Every time I write, I have the prayer that my words will be "accidently" stumbled upon and impact someone for good with only God's knowledge of it. Some crave to know whom they've impacted and although it would be encouraging to know who's life I have unknowingly touched, the fact I don't know keeps me humble. After all, this life, all of our lives are in the hands of God. Saying this, I would like to share a reflection I recently did. 

Psalm 131


A song of ascents. Of David.

 1 My heart is not proud, O LORD, 

       my eyes are not haughty; 

       I do not concern myself with great matters 

       or things too wonderful for me.

 2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; 
      

     like a weaned child with its mother, 
      

      like a weaned child is my soul within me.

 3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD 
 

both now and forevermore.

1. Reading the Moment: Using a segment of a passage from Psalms or Proverbs comment on what is at the surface of that segment. In other words, why does the Psalmist or the Scribe respond to God in this way?

This psalm expresses David’s commitment to God and urges the Israelites, whom he is leading, to follow his example - not for his own glory, but to be a testimony for God. For a long time, the Israelites have lived in disobedience, wickedness, lusted after other gods while trying to incorporate idolatrous practices into their covenant relationship with the LORD. David is calling the people to desire the One who desires them so much, and longs for His children to return to excellence in relationship with Him. David responds to God so willingly, with the comfort of peace, because he has experienced the enrichment of God’s faithfulness in his life. For David,God is worthy of consideration for his respect because He is the One that is the distinct feature of David’s life.

2. Reflecting on the Moment: For that same passage, engage your mind to see what is beneath the surface. What is the underlying message that impresses on you?

If I were to interpret this psalm based on simple hermeneutic (method of interpretation) found in the surrounding passages, I would put it in such modern language as this:

My heart is not deeply pleased or consumed by my own accomplishments, things, or posessions, O LORD [I am that I am],
My eyes do not hunger after things that make me and show myself arrogant or full of contempt for God [neglecting the value of humbleness], considering Him unworthy of my respect.

I do not busy myself with overwhelming issues that God does not need my help with or things that are beyond my capacity to understand or accomplish apart from Him.
I do not consider it important to lust after things that are attractive but empty in value.

I let God have control over my life.

My very identity, the essence of who I am, is undisturbed by noisy interruptions that avert my attention and is rooted in the spot that God has placed me.
It is not anxious because I have peace with God in my period of time.
Having qualities as a child who is no longer accustomed to being dependent on what the world had to offer, but has now
become accustomed to find nourishment in God.
In a manner of a child’s trusting qualities, my very identity has found comfort and soldarity in the arms of the LORD, who is my foundational source.

O Natalie, do not place your expectation, desires, goals, ambitions in the hands of people, in the images of idols that can deceive you and fail you.
Place your expectancy in God in the active present and until the end of time, For only He can grant what you are in need of.

This psalm has been on my mind and heart for over a month now. I have had it posted on my white board during this time. I first picked it up while traveling on my way back to Canada from Seoul, S.Korea. Over the summer, while doing mentoring I & II, it was a refining process that gave me hope to return to Canada and begin a new life. My present mentor and I have been mulling over these issues every week since my return. I consider this psalm a reminder of where my new priorities, my motivations and my confidences are found or at least where they should be found.

3. Responding to the Moment: Give what you have from points one and two time to sit in your heart. Allow it to grow there, letting it take you upward to God and outward to other people. What does this do to you and your outlook on life?

Simply put, this fortifies my firm belief that I cannot look to things, to my own accomplishments and possessions to give me a firm foundation in which to plant my roots. I have a miniscule want for meaningless things that clutter my life and get in the way of what is truly important to me - God. The very core of who I am and what my motivations are for living life the way I do has to find confidence, rest and peace in God, in his faithfulness. It is comforting to be able to trust in a sovereign God who will not fail me like people will, no matter how much I love them. My outlook on life holds much expectancy for the great things that God will accomplish through me. I am relieved that he does not need my help, that he is powerful enough to execute His plans alone. I have strived for so long to try and be his personal assistant when what I need to be is his divine agent, empowered with the assurance of His message of Truth. God is my compass, my nourishment, my comfort, my foundational source. He is more than worthy of my adoration, my devotion and respect. The best thing that I can do as his servant is try my best and be consistently discontent with what little the world has to offer me, craving the abundance of Life.