Balancing the salvation check book

How much would you pay for a life? No, I am not talking about a hit job, but how much would you pay if you “could” buy someone’s salvation?

I came to think about this question when I first became a Christian.  I wanted so much for my parents to be saved, but to this day they’re still not.  I thought at that time, if only I could trade something with God for their salvation, I mean anything, even my life.  If God says, “Amy, in order for your parents to be saved, you have to die.”  I would say, “Absolutely! Take my life!”  Thankfully, Jesus has already given his life for my parents, and I am not qualified for the job anyway.

If one could give one's life up for another's salvation, I don't know how many Christians would give up their lives for Buddhist and Muslims.  I thought of the decades of unceasing work in the gospel hard soil of Japan and numerous Islamic countries. The enormous amount of resources pouring in sure does not seem like it is ‘balancing’ the number of people saved. However, I am sure if you ask any one of those who are supporting ministries in these countries, who are working faithfully, who have given their lives for the people in these countries, “Is it worth it?” They will give you a definite "YES!"

God, through this, is telling us that ‘balancing the salvation check book’ is not our concern, it's his business, all we need to do is to remain faithful to what he has called us to do, walk with him, look to him, feel his heart for the lost, the rest is God's concern, not ours.

Where in the world?

In the past few months, we were in Asia, now we are in the U.S., and a month from now, we will be in Europe!

With all these changes to adjust, it is hard to leave mental energy to write on my blog. Although I have not written for a few months, I do THINK about writing often, but all the traveling we do left me with little energy to even sit down and think.

After a whirlwind visit to Hong Kong, we are back in the U.S. staying with Dan's mom. This is still not our destination yet, we are heading to Aberdeen, Scotland in just over a month's time for Dan's PhD studies at the University of Aberdeen.

After we left the Philippines, so many things have happened. One of the most important changes is that we are switching from ReachGlobal Asian team to ReachGlobal European team. We were going to separate from ReachGlobal and set up a new ministry to serve the Mainland Chinese students and scholars in U of Aberdeen, however, when Dan talked about our vision with the Asia Director of ReachGlobal in Hong Kong, he saw the strategical value of the ministry and asked us to stay with ReachGlobal.

This is a wonderful confirmation of our hope to serve and minister in this capacity.

House Sold

Things have been progressing pretty quickly in the Bush household. Other than the fact that we sold our house in a buyer's market within 9 days, our support came in faster than we anticipated, and we found good tickets flying eastward in September, we are now progressing well in our sorting and packing of household goods. Over the 4th of July weekend, since not many World Cup Soccer games are on, we were able to sort and pack quite a few boxes that will be shipped to Cebu. All of Dan's books are packed, plus all of our clothing are sorted. We still have lots of packing to do, but at least we are off to a good start.

Crazy

Things have been going pretty crazy these days. A typical day is for me to get up in the morning, feed Kioni breakfast, get myself ready then rush off to work. Somedays when Kioni didn't get up until later in the morning, I can't give her breakfast, Dan will have to do it. Dan cares for Kioni during the day. After work I rush home and take over, so that Dan can work in the library on his thesis from 5:30pm untill mid-night, he then comes home and work some more. So in the morning, it is hard for him to get up to take care of Kioni with just a few hours of sleep. He cannot work on his thesis during the day, toddlers just need so much attention all the time. Dan also has to work on support team building. Hopefully, all these craziness will end when we head off to the Philippines, because I won't be working full-time, Kioni really prefers to have me around in addition to daddy. She cries every morning when I leave for work.

My boss is discussing with me the possibility of handing over my position to a new person we interviewed last week. He wants this to happen on July 1, 2006, that is good and bad. Good because I can stay home and take care of all the details for the big move to the Philippines. Bad is that we will not have insurance nor income, but we won't know if we can head to the Philippines yet since we won't know how support-team building will go by then.

Lots of things we have to lift up to the Lord, and depend totally on His grace.

Accepted

Dan and I are accepted by the EFCA-International Missions as missionaries to Cebu, Philippines. Our area of ministry will be teaching. We are in the process of support team building. Please see our website if you would like more detailed information, or photos of the school and the city we are going to: www.bush-family.info

In the middle of the EFCA-IM Candidate School in Minneapolis back in mid-July, we received news that Dan's father died of a massive heart attack. His body is cremated and we are going back to Michigan this weekend for the burial and a memorial service. We are not sure if his father was a believer, though he attended church regularly early on. He was only 57. Dan's parents are divorced, when dad died, he was living in South Carolina with his sister and attending U of SC for a BA.

School has started back at Trinity, my work involves a lot of academic advising, therefore, it has been non-stop for a while. Dan is under pressure of writing his thesis for the Master of Theology program, he will have to finish it by December.

Due to everything that happened, it has been difficult for me to concentrate for translation, I have tried to do a little bit at a time, but it has been challenging.

Prayers:

1) Support team building: pray that God will guide us to the churches and individuals whom he has ordained to join our support team, we know God has already provided, it is a matter of finding out who!

2) In the midst of all the stress that Dan and I have right now, pray that we will have peace and grace to handle everything that is on our plates.

FInal STP Post

Dear Special Prayer Team,

Thank you for your patients over the past several weeks. I just received tonight at 10:30 PM the official grade on my major comprehensive exam. The grade was recorded as a straight PASS. (If you will recall the possible grades on the exam were: Pass, Pass with recommendations, Conditional Pass, and Fail.) The receipt of a pass means that no further work is required from me regarding making it over the major comprehensive exam hurdle.

In addition to the major comprehensive exam, on March 29th was the oral defense of my ThM thesis. My official thesis readers PASSED my thesis contingent on the making of a few adjustments (they thought that the adjustment could be accomplished in 4 hours, but it has taken me longer). The contingency of a few adjustments seems to be the norm for masters and doctoral level projects in the US and UK, so no big deal.

Anyway, all this means that I’ll be able to walk and officially graduate on May 13th without any hitches. Hopefully by next week I’ll be able to turn my attention once again to support raising for our mission to the Philippines.

Thanks to all 40 of you for praying for me through this ordeal. I’m really glad that it ended well and that the Lord answered our collective prayer with a double YES. It has also been very delightful and encouraging to see the people of God functioning as the church in a very special way. Again, many thanks—we did it together by His grace!

By grace,
Dan

P.S.: This is the final message from me with relation to the Special Prayer Team.

SPT 07

Dear SPT,

It is finished! About 1-hour ago the order to stop writing and print was given. (The exam was held in one of divinity school’s computer lab). Over the 3 hours of the exam I wrote 6 full pages (typed and single spaced)
answering 5 questions. Overall, I feel that I performed quite well. That is, I believe that I passed!

The school handbook notes that there are 4 grades that one can receive on the exam. In order to get a pass on an essay question, a score of a “B” is required. The categories of grading the entire exam are as follows:

Pass – Student learning objectives related to the major comprehensive examination have been met or exceeded. No further work is required.

Pass with Recommendations – Student learning objectives related to the major comprehensive examination have been met; though potential areas for improvement exist. Recommendations given are optional, but in the best interest of the student should be completed. No further work is required.

Conditional Pass – Student learning objectives related to the major comprehensive examination have not been met; and remedial work is required. While no section has been Failed, remedial work which may include additional reading and/or writing must be submitted before the major comprehensive exam
is rendered completed. Upon successful completion of examination conditions, the department chair forwards a memo to the Records Office indicating the conditions have been met.

Fail – Student learning objectives related to the major comprehensive examination have not been met; and one or more sections of the exam must be rewritten following department guidelines. The retake must be completed at the next regular scheduled time with exceptions granted only by the Academic Exceptions Committee. Note: a Fail on even one section of the Examination renders a Fail on the entire exam until relevant sections can be rewritten.

My gut feeling is that I passed all of the essays outright; at the very least, I got a pass with recommendations. I don’t believe that I failed any section/essay question. When I opened the exam and looked at the questions I felt a rush of confidence, for I discovered that I was likely able to answer well any of the 11 questions that were posed. It was comforting to learn that my study method covered the right material at the appropriate level. I chose the following 5 questions because I could remember more minute details:
(1) Describe the biblical and historical development of the doctrine of the Trinity.
(2) Describe and evaluate the theological views concerning the imputation of original sin (per Rom 5).
(3) Describe the person of Christ and the heresies that the Council of Chalcedon dealt with.
(4) Describe and evaluate the various views of the Lord’s Supper.
(5) Describe and evaluate the various views of the rapture.

The studying method for this exam, the pace and energy of study, the recall this morning at 9:00 am, and the successful outcome of the exam, where all possible because of the grace and goodness of God. I am excited that the Holy Spirit brought you and me together as a team to pull off what presently feels like a win! I also believe that the Lord ordained that the manner in which this exam was to be accomplished for me was through hard work supported by many prayers and reliance upon him. The time limitations on studying for this exam made it tough, but your prayers made it possible.

Thank you for supporting me through this ordeal. I’m glad it is over!!!

Cheers,
Dan

SPT 06

Dear SPT,

This is the last week that I will need to intensive prayer support. The exam is coming this Friday (March 17th). Show time is 8:45 am; the exam begins at 9:00am.

Last week was productive. The tasks I set for myself were all accomplished. It was a lot of work, but each day a little more was whittled down until there was nothing left. I finished going through my 125 pages of typed study notes and the creation of study outlines. Outlines for 33 questions were created (using 48 typed 4”x6” cards [8pt font], but don’t worry I have reading glasses). I was also able to work through all the comments on my thesis from my second reader and prepare a “defense draft.” The draft will be printed out
tonight and turned in on Wednesday (right on schedule).

I feel a certain peace about the coming exam. I hope it is due to both a certain level of preparedness and faith in the goodness of God, but sometimes I wonder if it is not just a surrendering to the inevitable. The former certainly seems more likely, yet either way, know that I am ultimately surrendering-with-faith to His divine providence. This is most important!

This week my plan is to study by continually reviewing my note cards and returning to read my note pages. I’ve also begun an exercise regiment, which hopefully will continue with more intensity after this week (I know Amy would be happy if it did). I’m going for a run around campus before I begin my studies, and then I plan to go for another run late in the evening to take my mind off studies. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will include study sessions that will go till midnight. On Thursday, my plan is to do some light
reviewing, watch a movie, and get a bunch of sleep. I’ll wake up early on Friday morning, review my note cards once more, pray, and then sit for the exam.

Please stay with me this week. You can pray primarily that my studying will be efficacious with regard to content retention. I understand all the material; it’s now a matter of being able to get it out in detail and into an essay. Please also pray that I will think well when I see the exam questions on the day of the exam, so that I will be able to draw upon what I’ve studied to create quick and appropriate outlines to guide my essay writing. I’ll only have about 30 min. for each essay question, so there is no time to dilly-dally.

Lastly, please know that I am greatly encouraged knowing that all of you, close to 40 strong, are out there lifting me up in prayer. I do feel the Lord’s strength as the “day” approaches. I read Psalm 28 (Chinese) before bed last night and was reminded of the journey that I’ve been on over the past few months . . . I hope my journey ends like David's in the psalm. David begins the psalm with a cry for mercy, but ends in a wonderful course of praise. With your prayer support my cries of mercy have turned into praise. Let’s continue to pray that all will end well, that we may join together in a few days and offer praise once more to God for his faithfulness and goodness. "We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Only 4 days to go!

By prayer,
Dan

SPT 05

Dear SPT,

This week was good in many ways. Amy, Kioni, and I returned to health and I continued to make progress in my studies (although my four days with the Air National Guard retarded my progress a little bit). Having completed my major textbook review the week before, this past week I began the process of reviewing my notes and making some outline study cards. As far as specific progress is concerned, I was able to review a little bit more than half of my notes and create 15 outlines. Work is not done yet, but tonight I am a bit more closer.

My plan for the coming week is to finish the current note review and outline creation task, then to move into the tough project of drilling myself repetitively through the outlines and rereading the notes for memorization.
My study to-date has made me thoroughly familiar with all of the content. The trick now is to remember all the pieces and parts so I can come up with them again when answering the essay questions.

The work thus far, although stressful, has been rewarding in two senses: (1) I am finding the review to be a wonderful pedagogical tool, refreshing many things first studied long ago (please note I took my first systematic theology course way back in 1997); and (2) I am being continually reminded of many truths about God and the Christian faith that perhaps time and distractions tends to make distant from our immediate conscious. If any of you have been praying for my deepening connection with God through the review of the material, know that your prayers are being answered.

In my personal devotions, in the material studied, and in some of my brief conversations with some of you this past week, I have been continually reminded of God’s faithfulness and commitment to finish the good work that he has begun. Many of you have even encouraged me by confessing that you believe that I will do just fine on the exam. I do hope that the Lord is communicating through his people! I do have moments when I begin to worry again, but I have posted Bible verses on the kitchen cabinets to remind myself of what you and God have been saying to me. Thinking on these verses has been very helpful. I have continued to make further progress in trusting in God’s goodness and providential care (I really liked reviewing again the doctrine of God’s providential care; what timely material). I shall continue to do my part in being faithful to study hard and pray heavily!

Please focus your prayers this week in the following manner: (1) memorization, memorization, memorization; (2) continued progress in spiritual growth in the midst of this wonderful review of evangelical theology; (3) stamina and energy for the week; (4) refreshing and meaningful breaks with Amy and Kioni; (5) a sense of peace, calmness, and confidence that I am “getting it”; and (6) reasonable progress on amending my thesis per my second readers comments; (7) retention, retention, retention. Please be sensitive to the Spirit and feel free to pray in whichever way he leads you, for he knows my needs best.

Thank you all for your faithfulness and stamina over the past several weeks. Your prayer support has really been wonderful and likely more meaningful than you can know. Know that I am truly thankful. Please remain strong in your praying as I endeavor to do so in my faith and studies—only 13 more days to go!

By prayer,
Dan

SPT 04

Dear SPT,

Another week has come and gone, and your prayers continue to be very much appreciated. Not as much was accomplished this week in comparison to last week, but perhaps it has been a blessing in disguise. I shall explain . . .

This week I was able to complete in full the reading and note taking from Millard Erickson’s Christian Theology. But I have not had the energy to move beyond this major milestone and wonderful review to formulate possible exam questions and begin study of my own notes. Where is the blessing? Well, the
sickness that has engulfed me and my family, and caused everything to slow down, has forced me to get more sleep that I have been accustom to over the past several months. So perhaps, despite the coughing and sniffling, this week has been a bit of recuperation in preparation for another big push (although Amy has not slept well).

My plan for this coming week is to begin studying my notes and the formulation of mock essay outlines. I am planning to push hard this week on the studying, but there will be a little bit of a twist thrown into the schedule. This week, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I will be pulling duty with my Air National Guard unit in Peoria, IL. I should still have my evenings free for study, but I expect the study time to be reduced.

You can pray for me this week in the following ways: (1) pray that I’ll be able to formulate good and appropriate mock questions and essay outlines (10 to 12 should do the trick); (2) pray that I’ll be able to have a good and robust review of my notes; (3) pray that my reviewing of notes will translate into good retention; (4) pray for the full renewing of my family’s health, as well as mine; (5) pray for my 3-hours drive to and from Peoria, IL; (6) the second reader of my thesis will return his comments to me this week, please
pray that they will be of a nature that I can deal with them quickly without taking much time from my exam studies (the defense draft of the thesis is due on March 15th and the oral defense is scheduled for March 29th).

Thank you for your prayers. I am feeling the Spirit’s peace, although there is still much hard work to do. Thanks for keeping with me on this—only 20 days to go!

By prayer,
Dan

SPT 03

Dear SPT (Special Prayer Team):

Thank you all for your prayers this week, they have been very helpful and noticeable. Let me explain by way of an update on my progress. In the review of my theology textbook I am now on chapter 57 (of 60); recall that I was on chapter 35 when your prayer support was first requested. I has been a very long, but productive week. To-date I have taken 120 pages of single spaced notes.

I expect to have the review of my theology textbook completed by this coming Monday evening and for the note pages to grow by approximately 12 pages. My study plan thereafter will be to continually review the notes that I’ve taken, to create sample essay outlines (without content included) on 4”x6” cards, and
then to also study the cards.

The progress made so far in studying is personally encouraging and my emotions have perked-up a bit. I am still quite nervous about the exam, but the tears have stayed away. Moreover, many of you have ministered to me by sending me Bible passages that speak of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and love. I have truly taken these verses to heart and have also been aided by my review of theological material that speaks to the same truths. In concert with your many prayers, God has changed my emotions, removed a great deal of my fear/stress, and blessed me spiritually. I have felt very close to him this past week. Thank you for your prayers.
Some other things have transpired this week to inform Amy and I that there is more to our stress this month than meets the eye. All in our household have become sick. Kioni got sick first, followed by Amy, and now I am sick again.
We are all taking over-the-counter meds (Kioni has some prescription meds too), but none of us are sleeping well or breathing well for that matter. All of this has caused Amy to ask if perhaps the evil one is hoping to hinder our future ministry by making it more difficult for me to finish the degree program. I am sure that this is a possibility, certainly if we allow for the notion that evil one can work through indirect means like stress and sickness.
Nevertheless, we have you praying for us and God is faithful; he is our shield and defender! A good thing, however, has come out of this period of stress and sickness: although we three are experiencing a lack or sleep, feel crummy, and have short tempers, we are also all being driven to God in prayer. Even Kioni is voicing her little prayers thanking God for the pills and dailypraying for daddy at the library.

Please keeping praying for my study progress. It would be helpful if this week you include specific prayer for my retaining of information, as well as that God would guide me into focusing on the right material for the exam (by way of reminder, please know that I have no clue as to what the questions might be). Please also include significant prayer for all three of us with regard to the quick dissipation of our colds. Lastly, note that in addition to preparing for my exam, I am also preparing the defense draft of my ThM thesis, which is due to be turned in on March 15th (2 days before I take the exam). If you would also pray for this, it would be helpful.
Thank you very much for all that you have done in helping me through prayer this past week. Please do not stop praying—only 27 days to go.

By prayer,
Dan

SPT 02

Dear “Special Prayer Team” (SPT) friends:

The response that I have received from you has been overwhelming and greatly encouraging! Of those whom I invited to join my SPT, over 35, across 6 states, have responded with interest and a commitment to regularly pray for me during this difficult period. “Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped” (Psalm 28:6-7a). Through your prayer covenant I hear the Lord saying, “Look here; I have heard and I am your strength and shield!” and my nerves are calmed. Thanks to all of you for your care andprayers.

Although the SPT is of a considerable size, please do not think that your individual prayers are unimportant. The SPT is the size that it is for a very important reason: God, in his mercy and grace, has saw fit to design it as such. Therefore, you are part of God’s work and your individual prayers are very much meaningful and necessary. Again, thank you for covenanting to pray diligently for me from now until March 17th (32 more days).

I will send you regular weekly updates over the next month (hopefully on Sundays), but please find attached a basic prayer guide that you can print out and keep with you as a prayer reminder.

By prayer,
Dan

P.S.: I’m sending this message out as a blind copy so that you will not be inundated with a plethora of email addresses or possible replies.

Denied

I have found myself in a very tight spot: Dr. Feinberg (Chair of the Trinity ST department) has denied my request push the ThM/ST major comprehensive exam back a few weeks. Therefore, I will be taking the exam on March 17th at 9:00am (its a 3 hour essay exam). Needless to say, I haven't had much time
to prep for the exam, since last semester I was required to exclusively work on my thesis.

Currently, I'm working my way through Millard Erickson's theology and am at chapter 35 (out of 60); so far, I've taken about 50 pages of notes. My plan is to finish my way through the book and then go back and study my notes. I am currently spending about 6 hours each night on studying, but I think that I need to find a way to ramp up the time. I am very stressed out over the fact that my degree rides on this exam and that I’ve only had a month so far to study (2 ? months by the time the exam date comes). If I pass the exam, life at the Bush household should become much more happier. But if I fail, then the stress will rise to new levels (I can take the exam one more time if I fail, but not until October). (I’m already at the level of wanting seriously to cry often, no joke!)

My specific reason for writing this message to you is because I am seeking to put together a group of folks that will serve as a prayer team to get me through this difficult period. Without significant prayer and the Lord's grace, I don't think that I will make it. I'm asking those on my prayer team to pray deliberately for me once daily from now until March 17th. Will you please consider joining my prayer team? Once I’ve got a few folks on my team, I will send out some specific prayer guidance, as well as regular updates on my study progress.

By prayer,
Dan