In Memorial: Peter Allen, a successful Student, Athlete, and Disciple of Jesus

In Memorial: Peter Allen, a successful Student, Athlete, and Disciple of Jesus

original post: Darren Overstreet

Peter Allen is a Sophomore at the University of Washington who was baptized as a Freshman a year ago. When we first met, I was immediately drawn to him, because he was the kind of guy everyone wanted to be around, spiritual, soft spoken and encouraging. At the time, he was on the crew team, trying to earn his way onto one of the top Freshman boats. He was enduring 6am practices with a full course load, yet he consistently got together twice a week to study the Bible. We had a few studies where Peter was so tired, he could barely stay awake. But like all things, he persevered and became our brother. Today, he is preparing to become a student Bible Talk leader and has helped a number of young men become Christians.

Peter has set an example in many areas of his faith and life and so I asked him if we could write an article about what motivates him. He reluctantly obliged and even managed to write some things about what has inspired him to aim for success spiritually, athletically, and academically. When asked about being a student leader on campus, he responded,

“ I don’t always see myself as a role model, or even a good example. I have been very blessed to have been given many opportunities in my life while so many other people in my life have faced and gone through more than I ever will. I have made many mistakes in my life and hold plenty of regrets. I’ve messed up many relationships and blown many opportunities. I’ve been hurt my people and hurt them even more. All these experiences, good and bad, have given me perspective and keep me humble, and I’m thankful for each and every one of them as without them I wouldn’t have been as affected by the Bible or seen the need for God in my life. God’s grace has given me the ability to forgive others and forgive myself. Without him and his sacrifice I’d have, and be, nothing.”

It’s so refreshing to see that kind of attitude in someone in a world where people tend to want to take credit for their accomplishments and talents, I enjoy is candid and humble take that without God, we would have nothing. It’s so true that it is God who gives us everything to work with, yet he does so wondering what we will do with it.

“I’m not close to the best at anything I do, but I think what success I have had in my life has come from my willingness to work as hard as I can, letting God help me, and in turn giving the glory back to him.”

As disciples, it can be easy to forget that at the center of every accomplishment is our God, a loving father who paved the way for us to give our best in everything, because he gave his best to us: by sending his one and only son to love us, lead us, and ultimately to die for us on the cross.

When asked about things that have indeed motivated him outside of the Cross, he mentioned a quote by a two way starter at Stanford University, Marecic Owen, who said “Today give all that you have, for what you keep inside you lose forever”.

As a campus disciple, it can be easy to forget that God wants us to give all we have in everything we do. We are challenged to do everything as if we are doing it for the Lord. How we treat our grades, our faith and our jobs should represent our commitment to Jesus: that in all things, we should give 100%. Sometimes we can go through a bit of confusion in how much should we give to being successful in both spiritual and secular pursuits in part because we worry about our own motivation or selfish ambition. Commenting on that, Peter had this to say, “ My drive and self-motivation in life was strong before I was a Christian, and while I studied the Bible, but it didn’t come into fruition until I understood Jesus’ sacrifice and made my motivation to serve rather than my own selfish ambition. Christ’s love has given me a fuller, better, and realer perspective on life and myself. Seeds of motivation planted when I was young, and my recently new love for the Lord now allow me to work hard for the right reasons. I now try to make the most out of each and every day, realizing that time is my most valuable tool and that even the smallest decisions (or indecisions) will make or break my effectiveness as a disciple. I try to share my faith more each day; every bible study or quiet time I have is because Christ’s love compels me. I’m proud of how God has stretched me, but I need him to keep me soft-hearted as I still have much more room to grow as I continue to serve him.”

It has been a joy to have Peter as a brother and I look forward to seeing all the ways God will use him over the course of his life. Peter has been working out daily and is considering rejoining the Husky Crew Team this year. He currently has a 3.54 GPA in Biochemistry.
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On Sept 5th 2011, Peter Allen had an accident that took his life. He went hiking, one of his hobbies, to a hill and fell down from a high place. It was a very sad story. I hope, by this post, all of you may know him and get the inspiration and become a better disciple in campus. God bless you. - Yohannes Affandy Siregar.

His Facebook Profile
His Funeral Facebook Invitation

Some testimonies from brothers and sisters who have met him.

Peter,
It just seemed like I talked with you a month ago at ICMC.... Your words of encouragement for me even though I had probably talked with you a couple of times. I had seen so much growth from you from the first time I met you to ICMC. God was working in tremendous ways through you to your crew members and the church and your family. I pray this opens doors for all of them to see that you were living for God and not for yourself. I am praying for your family, the Crew team, and the church. You have now reached salvation! I do wish I got to know you better and could have spent more time with you, but we will have time in heaven bro. I love you and I will miss you deeply. - John Biggerstaff

Thank You Peter, for the man of God that you are, and for the example that you set in our ministry. You are Dearly loved and missed. You will always be remembered. I love you so much. Can't wait to see you again, Well done Good and faithful servant, well done. - Kyle TheMan Winje

Peter, we love and miss you so much. we are all grieving because we miss you, but we know that you are partying it up with god in heaven. the views must be incredible. you have left such marks on all our lives, and will continue to inspire us even though you are gone. love you bro ♥ - Sara Brumley

Ministry

Exodus 31

God commanded Moses to build so many things such as tabernacle, altar, ark of the testimony, etc. But, did He just leave Moses alone to make all of those things? No. He gave friends. He gave Bezaleel the son of Uri, to help him made it. And Bezaleel himself got friends to help him. Yes, God filled those men spirit of God to do all things He wants. God gave talents to them so that they could work and serve God.

31:2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
31:3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

31:6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

What did I learn? God wants me to help His Kingdom more and more with anything I can do. I know electricity, digital devices and electronics a little for I choose electrical engineering in my campus Bandung Institute of Technology. So I thought,,, “Why don’t I use it for the glory of the Lord and help His Kingdom here on earth? So, I decide now to help the operation of sounds system of our church in Bandung. I’m still learning, but I love it. If Bezaleel used his ability to serve God, why don’t we? I believe that if Bezaleel had not used his talents to serve God, God would have been mad at him just like we know in Matthew 25 : 28 – 30.

25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

So my dear brothers and sisters, look around you. People need you and your talents. He wants you not only come to church and sit, but do something you can do for the glory of the Lord. We’ve been freed by the blood of the Christ. Don’t use it as a chance to do sins, but serve one another in love (Galatians 5 : 13)

5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

God bless you. Amen.

It is Good for My Soul....

2 Chronicles 13-14

If we see in both of these chapters, we can see that there is so much good news waiting for those who seek for God. At first we’ll see a lot of bad news come to us and trying to surround us just like what armies of Jeroboam did to armies of Abijah. They come from behind and the front.

13:13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them.
13:14 And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.

Seems there’s no way out, isn’t it? But, look what people of Judah did to overcome it? They yelled to God and ask for help. And what just happened?

13:15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
13:16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.
13:17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.

See? Can u imagine at that time what would it be in the Jerobeam side? Scared. There’s no hope, there’s no help. Even if they shouted to God, God wouldn’t help them for they have left Him and looked for another God. Can you see what the worth of seeking God is? Can you see the benefit of all this? In Jeremiah 29: 11-13 we can read how God really take care of His people who wholeheartedly seek for Him.

29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, said the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Now why there are so many bad news like unlimited waves rolling and rolling into us that seek Him? Who love Him wholeheartedly? Read Romans 8:28

8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

It’s good for our soul. It’s the challenge God want us to face and win. The key to win it is dependence only on God to face it. Admit Him in our life and love Him will bring your life fly higher and higher. Amen.

Solomon and the Chronicle of Moriah

2 Chronicles 3

3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Genesis 22

22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Can you see what I bold in this chapter? Yes, Moriah. Those places are the same. If you know why I bold that place, look unto this chapter.

1 Chronicles 21

21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
21:2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.
21:3 And Joab answered, The LORD makes his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? Why then doth my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?
21:4 Nevertheless the king's words prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
21:5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.
21:6 But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
21:7 And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.
21:8 And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
21:9 And the LORD spoke unto Gad, David's seer, saying,
21:10 Go and tell David, saying, thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
21:11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee
21:12 Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtake thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
21:13 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.
21:14 So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
21:15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, it is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
21:16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
21:17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.
21:18 Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
21:19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spoke in the name of the LORD.
21:20 And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.
21:21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
21:22 Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shall grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.
21:23 And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.
21:24 And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
21:25 So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.
21:26 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.
21:27 And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.
21:28 At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.
21:29 For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.
21:30 But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

See? God stopped in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite which was in the Land of Moriah when trying to kill Israel. Why? At first I ask why? Why God stopped there? The answer is because it was the place where Abraham was trying sacrificing Isaac, his son, to show God that he loves God more than his son. God remembered Abraham dedication so he stopped the punishment. Awesome, isn’t it? God still remember what His son, Abraham, has done. It appears that God really love his creation, and when He chooses us, His son, it’s not a dice game, or lucky shot. There is a plan in it. Believe in God. Amen.

PURITY

1 John 3: 1-10
The greatest love in this world and in this universe is the love of God, because we should be called children of God and when He appears again, we shall be like HIM. Wow………. It’s really a very marvelous HOPE for us.
So what we should do to response HIS LOVE? We should purify ourselves from sin, just as He, who is pure, there is no sin in HIM.

GOD’S WORD about purity is very clear

• 2 Corinthians 7:1 - let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit & perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
  
• 1 John 3:7 - do not let anyone lead you astray
  So, do not let everything or everyone lead us astray or contaminates our body or our mind or our heart. This should be decided by ourselves every time, everywhere in every situation.

A person who keeps on sinning and who continues to sin is

• a person who does not live in HIM and has neither seen HIM nor known HIM
  
• is of the devil

1 John 3:9 - No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in Him; He cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

A children of God do what is right in HIM and who love his brother.

Yohannes Shares... DO IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY

It’s been a long time since the last time I wrote here... Well, that’s all because I’ve been so busy with tasks and mid semester exams... But, Praise God, it’s been finished triumphantly. Hehehe… well, I want to share my QT from Joshua 13-22. … 9 chapters… yes! Because I got a lot of time to spend with God this morning… well, that was worth it...

I got a very nice share here… those chapters told me a lot about the land of Canaan division… Joshua divided that land among Israel tribe. What is interesting here is that God commanded Israel to destroy Canaanites; no one could be left alive.

Joshua 11:20 For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.

But… what Israel actually did?

Joshua 15:63 as for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.
16:10 and they drove not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.
17:12 yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
17:13 yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, but did not utterly drive them out.

Now, we know that those people had been a stumbling block for Israel to follow God’s Word…

Judges 2:1 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
Judges 2:2 and ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?
Judges 2:3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

What I learned here is… “Don’t do God’s will partially. Do His words wholeheartedly, because those are the best for us." He knows what the best for us. There is no one like Him who cares about our future more than our parents do. Well, I believe our parents really plan a great future for us, but they do it because they are used by God to give that future. God is the brain behind all those wonderful things. Now, what do we want to say about it? Give thanks.

Now, let’s be back to Joshua 13-22. I’ve got a lot of God promises this 3 months for we in Indonesia had a topic in Sunday Service about His Promises. We learned that God never break His promises to all His people. And He is still the same in the past, present, and forever. We can read it in Joshua 21: 43-45.

Joshua 21:43 And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he swore to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
Joshua 21:44 And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he swore unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
Joshua 21:45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

Even though Israel did God’s words partially, God still do His part. He fulfilled His promise to the ancestors of Israel. He never forgets His promise. That’s what makes me thankful of Him. But, it doesn’t mean that we could play Him. NO! These words mean not to doubt Him, even when we are in a middle of a grave trouble. We must keep His promise, that He never leaves us alone to solve the problems. If we keep our faith to walk, there would be a way. Amen.

Perhaps that’s all I can share today. I am doing my best to invite other campus’ers to send their e-mail, but it’s hard because not all of us like to write our quite time in computer. Most write it in personal notes. For me, I like both: in my notes and my computer. Well, thanks Bro Sis for your supports. God bless u all. Jesus loves u all. And me of course… hehehehe…^^

Yohannes shares........

Hi everyone......
This is my first share here in this blog....

I want to share my quiet time on Wednesday, March-05-08

I read Numbers chapter 22 to 26....

I read an encouraging verse here...

Numbers 23 : 19..

God isn't a man, that He should lie; Neither the son of man, that He should repent: had he said and shall He not do it? Had He spoken and shall He not make it good?

You know,, I woke up @ 4.30 am and as usual, kneeling and pray. I pray for a lot of things. mainly I pray for a brother who is weak till this post published.. I pray that he listen to God and be humble. I pray that he could be like Moses who was the most humble person in the world

Numbers 12 : 3
Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.

When I read Bible,, I found that verse... I've learned a lot about God's promise.. But there are sometimes anxiety here in my heart if I look around... look out my brothers who is weak... look out my friends who dislike studying Bible... I'm questioning how could it be... But, fortunately I found this Words.. He still the same... God is still the same forever... He never lie and never repent His words..

I like this verse ( maybe all of you do, too)

Jeremiah 29 :11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29 :12
Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you
Jeremiah 29 :13
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29 :14
I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

What I learned is that God will do His promise if only we do our part, too. Look into Israel,, they were so lucky to have God by their side who loved them so much. but, unfortunately, still not all of them couldn't reach the promised land because not all of them obey God's will..

This verse remind me a verse that said " Faith without action is nonsense "... We do believe in God, but without any action that prove we believe, there is no good at all.

That's all I can share today....

More to come and please pray for our brother Robert... who was awesome in 2007 but he is weak now. Thank you...

Jesus Bless you all...


With love,



Yohannes Affandy Siregar
ITB group

2008 call us Higher!!

Begin this year with 12 apostles,, Campus Ministry Bandung realize that 2008 is the year of Fruit.

We welcome you to a new atmosphere of Campus Ministry!!

after 4 years,, we think this year is the best condition in campus.

we know that this won't be easy,, but after 1 years seeing God has worked so awesome,, we have faith that we can pass 2008 triumphantly.

This blog is opened as our commitment to grow and shine not only in Bandung but also worldwide.

We enjoy friendship. We ask you to join our community and be changed in Christ.

Jesus bless you.