Joshua Wang

Jonah 2 v. 2 "I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me" v. 7 "When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD" v. 8 "Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love." 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Colossians 1:9-10 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

With promises of warmer weather, field work starts up again tomorrow, and with that, the beginning of my travels this year. I'm writing from Gananoque, near 1000 Islands, just east of Kingston. Here are a few reflections from my afternoon drive. Reflection 1: "I am Jonah" Today's sermon at church , our pastor talked about Jonah. So many things struck me from that sermon. I especially liked the part when the sailors asked Jonah who he was. His reply was simply: "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." First reaction is "Yikes! We're messing with the wrong god!" The other thing that struck me was Jonah's identity. It reminds me of that epic moment in the movie, Gladiator , when Maximus responds to Commodus ( reference ). [Commodus enters the Colesseum arena to greet the Spaniard] Commodus:  Rise. Rise. [Maximus stands up, clenching an arrow head in his right hand and in that same m

The year started strong. I was diligent in my Bible readings, serving Christ in joy and growing in community.  More recently, my life has been dry -- at least on the inside. This post is a self-reflection on my struggle to finish well, not on how to finish well. The latter I still need to learn. It started a couple months ago. I made three dangerous choices: 1. I fought for a diligent and fervent prayer life. 2. I started sharing my faith. 3. I asked God for passion. Shortly after a temporary high,  1. I chose sleep over prayer, my job over my God; 2. I cared more for my comfort than the eternal destiny of others; and 3. I filled my life with the passions and cares of this world, giving little room for a sold-out heart for God. My past self was resurfacing. Yikes! For example, Proverbs 12:16 says, "The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores [or overlooks] an insult." How easy it has been to be the fool rather than the pru