Who am I ?

I am not worthy to even mention the name of Christ. Why He chooses to love me and use me is still a mystery to me. I know a few things about this life; I will fail on my own, and HE is always faithful. WHen I try and add these things up logically - it does not make sense. Thankfully We have a great equation on our side!

My sin + disobedience + lack of passion ..... should equal = Wrath, death, and no hope

however

there is an AMAZING extra to that equation

My sin + disobedience + lack of compassion + Jesus sacrifice = Love, forgiveness, redemption, and mercy

Awesome - THERE IS MORE TO READ AFTER THE PICTURE....

Anyway This weekend with Tim Hughes was amazing! I loved hearing him sing and getting involved in worship! Good stuff! Things here are up and down, as most of life is. I never can seem to get "it" right. Thankfully there is forgiveness. Today I was told to move all of my stuff out of my "office" because it was needed for something else. HA - for those of you who dont know - I moved a computer into a small CLOSET sized room in the office so that I could have a place to study the word, work on stuff, and email. I was told today that it was going to be used again now that I am in there... lol - gotta love it when you pray in the morning that God would keep you humble.... lol now I am moved into my supervisors office - He is on vacation - can't wait to see his face when he returns to see me at his desk hahaha. Anyway I LONG for your prayers and I want to hear from you ! I want to know that this blog is being viewed. haha so feedback would be great!

much love

andrew

Life in the fast lane

So those of you who haven't heard, I recently went to Beijing. This means I left Hong Kong and took a 25 hour train ride up to the north. The distance between Hong Kong and Beijing is approximately 2,300 kilometers ( 1,409 miles. ) Anyways, to put that into your mind, imagine driving from Orlando Florida all the way to Montreal Canada. Yeah that's about how long the trip was. But I must say it was all worth it! Beijing is amazing! I mostly enjoyed hanging out with other Americans and getting to hear their stories and enjoy our time together. There was never a dull moment. From the Great wall, to the forbidden palace, all the way to the Beijing "African" safari, I had so much fun! (Ps. the safari was awesome - we sat in a caged vehicle and they threw live chickens outside the van and the lions attacked them.) My time there was amazing and I honestly hope to return soon.

Life back in the city has been more than interesting. I recently obtained my own office (converted closet) and am now sitting in my own office at my own computer semi-working / semi-fooling around. I am currently taking over 500 cassette tapes, recording them onto a computer, and then editing them and turning them into mp3's so people can put them on an Ipod. cool idea - boring work. I also went to campus today and met with two friends. I need you to pray that I hear clearly what Father wants me to do this summer here.

To end things, Tonight was amazing. Our worship leader (Tim Hughes - THAT'S RIGHT) was awesome! we are attending the Worship Central conference and it has been amazing! Father is really moving in the hearts of people through music, worship, scripture, and love. I can't wait to hang out with our friend Tim Hughes more and enjoy learning from the Word. (Ps. Tim Hughes = Here I am to Worship / Happy Day / Beautiful One and so many more)

With Love

Andrew

Forgive me

So it has literally been a month since my last post. I am sorry guys. I honestly forgot I even had this blog. Well I will begin by saying that life is tough. I'm not talking about life in Asia, but life in general. We live in a battle zone. Always facing an enemy, whether it is a foreign enemy, or the enemy within ourselves. I must say that I am in the midst of redemption. I feel like I have collapsed to the floor at the doorway to reconciliation. As if I am so close I feel as though I am about to have a revived heart. No more fear, no more selfishness, no more bondage. I can no longer live a double life. I have to come clean before Christ. I know that its either Him or me... and all I can say is I have to choose Him. I look back on life and I see times when I could feel Him, hear Him, and almost reach out and touch Him. Why would we ever want to go back to a time before Christ?

Romans 6:11a (The Message)
"Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us."

To be honest, we all struggle with sin, but most of the time I feel all alone in my battles. As if everyone around me is doing fine. As if I am the only one on planet earth who claims Christ, but yet can't get it right. I know what your probably thinking - "Me too." Why is it that we feel as though we are all alone in our struggles?

I am here today to cry out for true redemption. God I need you. I need your love. I need your forgiveness. I need a new heart. Take this heart of stone and give me Your heart. Secondly I am here to say that you are not alone in your struggles. One thing I can never get enough of is accountability. I need people to hold me accountable. People who will ask the tough questions and will hold me accountable. Questions like "Are you staying in God's word?" "Are you striving for holiness?" "What areas in your life need change?" These questions are just a start.

I just want to say today, here and now, that I am asking for you to hold me accountable. I am also offering my accountability. Why not help each other out in the battle called life? I need Him. I need your help. I need accountability.

With Love,

Andrew

Jesus Wept

Luke 19:41-42

As He (Jesus) approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, " If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes."

I listened to a sermon today about the triumphal entry. Though Easter is over, I have been focusing on this event more and more as time has gone on. As Scott (FBC Vidalia) spoke about this triumphal entry, I began to see more and more the heart of Jesus. I am blown away by this passage. It is the second of only two instances where it is recorded that Jesus wept. The first is in John 10 & 11 in which Jesus weeps over the death of his friend Lazarus.

Imagine these scenes. Jesus becoming overwhelmed by emotion. Our Saviour overcome by sorrow. The one who brings peace, torn apart by sadness. The Christ, eyes filled with tears, crying because of us.

When I read these passages in John and Luke, I began to become a little overwhelmed myself. Jesus crying. Jesus weeping. Why? What for? Why is he crying? That's the beauty of it all. Christ was weeping because of his love for people; which includes you and me. We see that when Lazarus died, Jesus felt true compassion for him. He wasn't just some emotionless person. He was filled with emotion. I can't even begin to express the awesome power behind these verses. To see Jesus break down and cry when he looks at Jerusalem. He knew what had to happen. He knew he had to become the embodiment of sin for us. He knew all along. Yet, he never backed down. He never turned from us like we turn from him. He never said, "I changed my mind." He was faithful to the point of death.

Philippians 2:5-8

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!

Christ's love for us knows no bounds. It never ceases. It never goes away. I see this now because of the smallest scripture. I believe that the smallest amount of words can speak louder than any sermon. "Jesus Wept." Do you see it? Do you see the emotion behind these words. Jesus wept, because He felt compassion. It's because He loves you. He became the embodiment of sin itself so that we could have a restored relationship with God. How can you tell me that's not love. Think about it. Jesus wept, yet he knew that we didn't deserve salvation. We don't deserve his love. Yet, he still wept. He had so much emotion for us that he carried the cross and set us free. I could go on and on about this, but I will leave it with the smallest of words. "Jesus Wept" - John 10:35

Andrew

It's been a while...

So I am so sorry that I haven't been faithful to keeping you guys up to date on my blog. So I have decided to write up two blogs today. One is just filling you in on my day to day life, and the other will focus on my spiritual journey. Though the two can't really be separated, I am going to share as much with you as I can without boring you to tears.

Ok so, Lately I have been having less and less "student hang out time." It has been a while since people have really been able to hang out. They always have "something" to do. However, the times we do spend together are every special and I enjoy getting to hang out with them. We even talked to one of the students about creation and evolution. Though in the end, we agreed to disagree, the conversation got him thinking, and it also reminded me of how awesome Father is.

I have been studying more and more Korean lately, considering it is super easy compared to Cantonese! Seriously... 9 tones! Crazy! Anyway I am currently praying about a few things that are coming up in the next few weeks and months. In May, me and tommie are going to Beijing to see the Great Wall and to meet up with some friends of ours. It should be very exciting and I will make sure I take lots pf pictures with my broken camera. by the way, my camera broke. The screen cracked, but it still works. I just cant see the pics until after I upload them on my computer.

The other things I am facing are starting a small group over the summer for locals and mainland students who stay in town. This group would reach out to the "unchurched". Though this phrase is often overlooked, I feel like there is a desire to learn and grow, and I am seeking after Father on how to even go about starting something. Finally I am praying, along with my partner in crime, about writing / co-authoring a book all about the church and grace, and redemption. There are so many ideas going on right now. We are both seeking after Him and hoping just to konw what He wants. I just ask that You be faithful and pary for me and tommie.

Thanks

Love,

Andrew Michael Tucker

Exile

Have you ever really read into the story of Israel's first and second exile? Most of us know the story about God's chosen people, the Israelites, bound to slavery in the land of Egypt early on in the history of the world. We see that the Israelites were slaves Egypt for over 400 years. 400 years of slavery. 400 years of harsh treatment. 400 years of oppresion (Exodus 12:40) I had often wondered why God had finally "heard them after 400 years." Why hadn't God saved them early on? Why had God allowed them to be slaves in the first place? However God, in His aweseom power, broke the chains of the oppressed and set the captives free. He did this for His glory. He did this to show the world that He alone sets the captives free. This brought Israel out of

One thing I have noticed about this life is that many times we find ourselves under oppression. We find ourselves far from joy. A place where we are separated from true peace and contentment. This is the place of the oppressed. Though we may question why God would allow us to go through times of oppression, I can see how these times are sadly necessary. I have been seeing the fact that we can't experience true joy unless we have experienced true sorrow. How can we ever know what true contentment is until we have experienced oppression? These times of sorrow and times of oppression often bring us back to repentance, which leads us back to a restored relationship with God.

As I look at Israel's long history, I see two major themes. Theme #1 - Israel is unfaithful. Theme #2 - God is always faithful. Israel, just like myself, always seems to find its way back to being unfaithful. Time after time, Israel would rebel and turn from God. The interesting thing is that God sent many prophets and teachers who told them to turn back. Time and time again, Israel turned its back on God and His prophets. Finally, God allowed Israel to become captives by the Babylonians. It is ony after Israel lost everything it once had that they began to cry out to God for restoration. In exile, we find ourselves at a place where we realize that we are not independent. This is a place that is good to visit often. To the Israelites, it seems that there is no hope. God has allowed them to become slaves again. They now again find themselves in the land of the oppressed.

However, The story does not end here. Thankfully we have hope of restoration. Allthroughout Isaiah and Jeremiah we find God's promise to resotre His people. We have been promised that He will redeem us and reconcile us. Isaiah 54 tells us all about our new reconciled state.

Isaiah 54:5-8 "For your Maker is your husband - the LORD Almighty is his name - the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in the spirit - a wife who married young, only to be rejected, says your God. For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger. I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you, says the LORD your Redeemer.

How does this apply to us today? Many of us are under some sort of oppression. We are in a land that is foreign and we are crying out for rescue. We are in a place of exile. A place of uncertainty. A place where we cant seem to find hope. However, we must hold onto the promise that help is on the way. Help has come; His name is Jesus. He has rescued us from oppression, and He has given us hope. Though we find ourselves in exile, remember this feeling of oppression. Because when we enter a reconciled relationship with God, we can only truly enjoy His glory when we reflect on how lost and in need we were before Him.

Andrew

Lighter side of life...

So, I have been in HK for almost 2 months now! Wow time flies when your having fun (cliche). Anyway I have been having a lot of fun here and I am beginning to see my Father work here. I am hoping to see a small group started on campus very soon. Please pray for this venture and for the students who would be coming. I am extremely excited to be able to be used by Him and I am seeing Him work in so many ways in my own life. One main example is that He has changed me quite a bit since I have been here. One main thing I had always had trouble with was learning something spiritual on my own. I have always seemed to rely on other peoples "left-over" spiritual knowledge. Lately I have been stretched and have been learning so much from Him in study on my own. I am going to begin reading through parts of Genesis and Exodus to see His promises and His glory revealed to the world. Thats about it for now.

PS> DragonBall Z Evolution comes out this week - Its a HUGE deal here :) , and yes Eli, I will buy you a copy!

With Love,

Andrew