Bloom Where You're Planted

February What's New(s) 2012

2012-02-04T13:01:00.000+08:00

Happy Chinese New Year from SINGAPORE!

February is going to be a full month for James and Kimberly! We sure wish you could be here, but if you can't, please keep us in your prayers!

1 Thank you Lord for these 5 years of having Andy Lim be part of our CRMS staff. Guide and prosper him as he uses the platform of sports ministry for spiritual mentoring younger leaders.

9 James leads a half-day seminar: Leading from Spiritual Authority.

12-17 James to Hong Kong to spend four days with 18 field staff of a China ministry, mostly Chinese-speaking.

13 CreateleVoyage Artist Meeting. As Kimberly shares with Christian artists in Singapore, Lord we pray that you would use her to draw them nearer to yourself.

16-22 A visit from Chuck and Sue Coventon, Kimberly's parents. We'll ask Singaporeans if any of them would like an opportunity this week for mentoring and a listening ear with this godly couple. Thank you Lord for their generous love over a lifetime. Use them this week in Singapore to share you love, not just with us, but with the people they'll meet while here.

18 James leads a seminar for Methodist church leaders on "Leaders as Mentors."

18 Five-OH! Kimberly's birthday concert/jam session with a few dozen "slaves" to help put on the best 50th birthday party ever! It's taken a lot of courage to mount such an evening! Lord, bring just the right people and details together for this evening to ultimately honor YOU. You are the one who has provided and led Kimberly through the adventures of her life this far. We want this night to be a testament to the reward of knowing and following you!

23 Focusing Leaders new pastors mentoring network begins.

23 Kimberly is 1/2 a century old!

27-March 2 James travels to Vietnam with 3 Singaporean pastors who will help begin mentoring networks for pastors in Vietnam.

HIghlights in January

Thank you for your prayers this past month!

Tyler celebrated his 19th birthday with a group of new friends at Cal Poly. Thank you Lord that he is thriving and so happy this Freshman year. Guide him as he is learning how to follow you while juggling ROTC, classes, friends, and now Sigma Nu, the fraternity he pledged this month.

Mike and Katie Crow mentors in CRM visit from "the big country." Thank you Lord for the Crows and their influence on Jim and Kimberly. Bless their language and culture learning and as they share Jesus' love and mentoring style to leaders in Asia.

The Prayer Summit was a fruitful time of connecting with pastors. Renewing friendships & sharing about the mentoring resources available to them through CRMS. As Pastors from Singapore reflect on our corporate time spent listening to you Lord, we ask that you would help us grow in our private discipline of daily listening to you & discernment to know your voice.

One afternoon in January, Kimberly made a visit back to our 1st home in 1999. At the very same time she was there, the sweet former neighbor pulled up alongside her. They still live there! They had a sweet reunion and Kimberly shared how this 'chance meeting' was arranged by God who wanted to show his love to her. Thank you Lord for prompting, and bringing healing through this visit. You reminded Kimberly of some good that happened while living there. Use the Creasmans as a testament that you are a worthy Lord and wonderful Savior.

How can we be praying for you?

James & Kimberly

Learn more from James about
Church Resource Ministries Singapore @
www.crms.org.sg

Thank you for making our work here an extension of your heart for God's Kingdom to come in Asia.

We pray that you will have great joy in your charitable contributions,

whether it is with us, or with other good work around the world!

USA online donation - www.crmleaders.org
Donation questions (in USA) 1(800) 777-6658
you may add "preferenced for Creasman-acct 5651"

CRMS CHURCH RESOURCE MINISTRIES SINGAPORE
39A Jalan Pemimpin #05-03, SG 577183

Creasmans: What's New(s) 2012

2012-01-11T15:54:00.002+08:00

Happy New Year from Asia!

I write this email from Melaka, Malaysia where Jim and I are attending the annual Pastor's Prayer summit and I am thinking about you and hoping your 2012 has begun with refreshed hope and courage. James sits near me working on a newsletter for CRMS to pastors and Christian leaders. We enjoyed sending out Christmas cards this year. If you didn't receive one, it's because I don't have your address! (Send it to me! I still have a few left!) It has been great to hear from friends around the world who are following Christ and using their gifts and talents to bless the world. Such an array of good things are happening, and we look forward to news of so much more in the new year.

Kimberly's Status

I've asked my Saviour if this year he would grow back my capacity and passion, and then that I'd live it out with more godliness and grace (& leave behind old habits of drivenness and perfectionism). I want to be at peace with God's definition of influence & significance and relinquish any of my hopes for attaining recognition or status. I want to see miracles happen as a result of prayer and spiritual authority, and lead people to knowing Jesus in a deeper way every day! 2012...Bring it on!!!

Jim's Status

I am excited about more itinerant mentoring outside of Singapore this year. Regular trips to China, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines are being planned with Singapore mentees who are pastors & leaders in churches here. This will help fulfill the Singapore Church's destiny to build spiritual leaders in Asia, and meet the needs of many Asian churches that are crying out for more leadership development. It is also a fulfillment for me of my calling to "entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim 2:2) as some of the Singaporeans who've had mentoring join me in serving Asian leaders beyond Singapore.

Year End Highlights

"Christmas Changes Everything" on Christmas morning in a local church where Jim was a guest preacher.

Lord we pray for those who gave their hearts to you this Christmas, and for those who long to know you and love you more in the new year.

Celebrate Christmas in Singapore is a remarkable effort of the Christian Community coming together to share the meaning of Christmas and the hope we've found in the infant Jesus who died to become our Saviour. This year a 1000+ mass caroling session was added!

We thank you God for the openness of Singapore to embracing and celebrating our multiple religions, and allowing Christians to share Jesus openly during the Christmas and Easter public holidays.

After a short visit to USA for Thanksgiving and a trip with Tyler to Cal Poly campus, Kimberly helped with the Elementary Christmas Pageant & took neighbor kids on the OM Logos Hopeship berthed in Singapore over the holidays.

Q: How does a creative person process the transition of her 1st born to university? A: Take all the tshirts/sweatshirts/school uniforms/old football jerseys AND socks, and make a quilt collage of almost all the stuff you can't bear to throw away!

Lord, you lavished generosity on me to have frequent flier miles and the opportunity to be with family on Thanksgiving and go with Tyler up to Cal Poly for a few days after. How happy I am to see that he's settled well and loves his school and new friends! Thank you for the fun I have when I have the chance to work with children and share your truths with them using drama.

Looking Ahead: Our Prayers in January

2 A small group of artists meet for "Post it Note Resolutions." It was sweet to see how God made connections among the group to help them move forward on various goals. Lord help us to not limit ourselves due to lack of faith in your power in us. We are yours to use as you please. Give us boldness this year to invite more people into your family and give us the capacity to love the unloveable, patiently nurture new believers and build up and encourage our peers.

6 CRMS staff meet and confirm some dates for training, mentoring and trips to neighboring countries in the new year. We have only a few months left with 2 interns from China, and we look forward to new Singaporean staff joining us in 2012. Lord, we move forward with these plans only by trusting that you are the one who inspired and commissioned us. We will succeed only as we abide in you, trust in you, and submit to you. Thank you for our staff who share a desire to mentor spiritual leaders. We look to you for our needs in leading/shepherding this organization and thank you for your continued provision to let us live in Singapore and serve leaders in this city and the region.

We had to say goodbye to our full-time administrator in November, but an intern has stepped into her shoes for the time being. Two ex-pat volunteers have surfaced who say "I love organizing and admin!" Lord we pray that we can pass on to these gals work which will delight them. So much of the admin is burdensome to us. Thank you for these divine contacts which arose at just the right time.

9 Cameron is back to school and gearing up to have a successful 2nd semester. We are considering a change to boarding school for next year, which is a tough decision. Lord, you have given us the privilege of being Cameron's parents. We love him so much and we thank you that he has a heart to follow you, that he loves people, and has such a happy personality. You have surrounded him with Godly support who believe in his potential and encourage him. We pray that this will be a semester of real growth and maturity for him when he dislikes the discipline of academics and work so much. Give us wisdom and patience to parent him in what feels like a crucial semester in determining his future.

9-12 Pastor's Prayer Summit, Melaka, Malaysia. We'll be together with Christian leaders in Singapore to meet and pray for our impact on the nation, region and world. Hosted by Love Singapore, our presence at this conference (since January 2000) has been an encouragement and affirmation for our role here in and the need for mentoring spiritual leaders. "An important part of journeying together is learning to wait on the Lord together as a community—to listen to His heart and hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Sad to say, waiting is neither a passion nor a forte of the Singapore Church. Most of us are impatient and impulsive. We are insanely busy, going from event to event, multi-tasking all the time! As a result, we suffer from short attention spans, restless spirits, crowded souls, cluttered minds, anxious hearts, and tired bodies." - Pastor Lawrence Khong, Chairman of Love Singapore

12 Tyler turns 19 and is very happy and doing well at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Currently a biology major and in Army ROTC. Father, we trust you for guidance in Tyler's life to keep him growing in godliness as well as in maturity and discovering your calling in his life.

23-24 Chinese New Year comes early this year. This is a holiday when families get together (like American Thanksgiving) and many like us are not near their families! We enjoy hosting those who are "orphans" over to share the holiday with us.

27 CRMS staff meet for a half-day enrichment time. Father, thank you for these four Singapore staff and two Chinese interns who have chosen to serve you through mentoring ministry. Please encourage them through your financial provision as they raise their financial support, give them clear guidance in their calling, and build them together as a team and raise up more staff to join them in building spiritual leaders in Singapore and throughout Asia.

30 CRMS staff and board members meet for a half day planning retreat to review CRMS' history over the past decade and wait on the Lord for future ministry direction. Father, please speak clearly to the staff and board members about your purpose and future for the CRM ministry in Singapore and Asia. Give them a bigger vision of you and specific direction for their future ministry.

How can we be praying for you?

Jim & Kimberly

Learn more from Jim about
Church Resource Ministries Singapore @
www.crms.org.sg

Year End Reflections & Resolutions 2011

2011-12-15T16:52:00.001+08:00

End of Year Reflections is a tradition of mine with creative friends... the guest list isn't exclusive.

I learned to…
I grew most in…
Another way I saw myself growing was…
One of my best adventures was…
I saw/knew God was doing something when…
A real gift from God was…
Something I really enjoyed doing more of was…
One of the happiest memories of 2008 I’d like to freeze in my mind…
I was really brave when…A Scripture passage that meant a lot to me was…
I’m still trying to learn what God wants to teach me through this hard experience…
The best word of advice or encouragement I can remember is…
One thing I’m looking forward to in 2012 is…

RESOLUTIONS
I use post it notes to brainstorm the resolutions. It is my way of saying, "they're just ideas, so if you don't do them, you don't have to feel guilty about it." When we do this in a group, after sharing some of the reflections above, we take a break to individually do the brainstorming, then come back together to share a few. It's fun because we find that some of us have the same goal, and realize that we can do it together. I have 6 categories for brainstorming resolutions:

Physical
Spiritual
Service
Important Relationships
Professional/Intellectual
Adventure/Risk

On the afternoon of the 2nd, we'll tackle the Post it Note Resolutions. Consider posting a resolution on the wall here to inspire the others!

If I don't get to see you, here's wishing you a blessed Christ focused Christmas, and a wonderful New Year!

Kimberly

2011-11-23T15:01:00.000+08:00

When the Lord called us to Singapore in 1997, he gave us a vision for Singaporean Christian leaders building up leaders and churches in China and in the other countries of Asia.

For the past 14 years, we have been personally investing in dozens and hundreds of leaders, who have reproduced into individuals and churches and ministries. Praise the Lord, this has been fulfilling as we have seen many Christian leaders equipped and encouraged for more fruitful ministry!

Through the years, we have had occasional involvement in overseas ministries in other countries. But two years ago, we sensed the Lord saying it was time to expand from our base in Singapore and intentionally start pioneering mentoring ministries in other Asian countries. Jim has been making trips to Malaysia, China, and the Philippines to support three of our CRM Singapore leaders who have started mentoring groups in those countries.

Last month, our group in the Philippines formally registered CRM Philippines, with the intention of multiplying mentoring groups among Christian leaders there. One of the pastors will be the CRM Philippines staff to build the ministry. Praise the Lord for their vision and enthusiasm, but it is still an infant movement, and will need a lot of nurture to develop well. Jim and Singaporeans will continue to mentor them in their ministry development.

Jim also senses the Lord directing him to Vietnam next year. He is planning trips every two months to start mentoring leaders there, and has already translated our curriculum and made contacts with many leaders who are interested in partnering.

Please pray for the beginning of the Vietnam initiative, as well as the continuation of the budding Malaysia, China, and Philippines groups.

And thank you for your partnership - by investing in us, you are investing in Asian Christian leaders!

Jim & Kimberly

an overview of the ministries of Church Resource Ministries (CRM) our sending organization in US: Crmleaders.org

The extension of that in Singapore which is now multiplying in Asia: CRMS.org.sg

Creasmans: What's New(s) November 2011

2011-11-04T00:11:00.000+08:00

October Highlights:

Jim:

Outstanding spiritual authority seminar! It was the 3rd time he had led it, and he's learning more each time. Lord we pray that our lives and ministries would be characterized by your living presence.

At our Staff/Executive Committee retreat there was good open and heartfelt sharing about the vision and growth of CRMS and ministry planning for 2012. Out of a dozen ministry intiatives we discussed, there was unanimous enthusiasm for starting new monthly learning groups for leaders to gather and discuss/digest quality books together over lunch meetings.

We also were unanimous about initiating mentoring ministry in Vietnam through five weeklong trips during the year. Lord, thank you for the joy we have working with a common passion for empowering spiritual leaders. We ask that confirm that these are your plans for us by bringing spiritual fruit through them.

Praise the Lord for a fantastic time with the mentoring network in the Philippines! At the October meeting, the group formally formed CRM Philippines, electing a President and VP and Secretary and Treasurer. They are very enthusiastic, and I look forward to staying in close touch with them to help them establish and grow the ministry. We have a three-day training set for December, to continue equipping them as mentors.

Kimberly:

A couple of events were delightful opportunities to watch younger leaders step out and take risks into their calling as artists or being more creative. Thank you God for the joy of seeing others blossom in serving you with their unique gifts!

We are also thankful for God's gracious provision as friends both here and abroad partner with us in tangible ways. Emerging from a time of "lack" we are so humbled to see an encouraging trend in our CRM and Singapore bank account! Thank you for your prayers about this need, and thank you to those who are partners in the ministry through your gifts! As the resources grow, we can advance with the opportunities!

TCA College Graduation. Student Jaqueline Khoo graduated in Creative Arts. She is a professional social worker and also serves in the Chinese Ministry, music and creative arts of Grace Assembly of God, Singapore. She and her husband have a dream to be full time Christian workers someday...somewhere.

Tyler (18):

Diagnosed last week with mono, he's not letting it slow him down much. Enjoying school and ROTC and new friends! Lord we pray for restored health and strength, and that by your Spirit, Tyler would follow you in all his ways, in all the new directions you are giving him opportunities to explore.

Cameron (14):

Football season is over and grades are out for first quarter. We are all so thankful Lord, for teachers at his school who work together with parents to give the students what they need to be successful and grow in godliness.

Our Prayers for November

3-5 Facilitator Training

One of the most important events of the year for CRMS. We have twelve graduates from our mentoring networks joining Jim for three days of training on group facilitation and personal coaching. In order to become new leaders for our mentoring networks. Lord, for Jim and for the participants, we pray that they would catch more of the passion and vision and skills for personally investing their lives in other spiritual leaders, for the sake of your glorious name!

10-20 CoNext Meetings

Jim travels to London for meetings with CRM country leaders around the world. CRM is a fraternal organization rather than a multinational organization, so each country has a separate entity that relates to the others on a peer level, rather than USA being the worldwide headquarters. This will be an important time for the dozen country leaders to grow closer together, to support each other and find out how we can learn fro each other and collaborate together. Lord, we pray that you will guide the agenda and use the discussions to strengthen the working partnerships that have been birthed from CRM - for the grown and multiplication of your church around the world!

14-18

An Invitation to Peace

From the CRM website:This fall we are honored to invite you to participate in CRM’s annual Week of Prayer.

From over 27 countries around the world, CRM staff and ministry partners will join hearts and minds together as we focus our attention on the Lord, who is the source of our peace and all good things. Through a daily email devotional, we will reflect on God’s invitation to be known and loved by Him, to be redeemed, to be still, to observe His provision, and to journey with Him.

If you would like to receive this shared reading and reflection every day from November 14 - 18, you can sign up on our prayer page at crmleaders.org/prayer.

We will also join together in more focused prayer on the annual Day of Prayer, on November 17. On this specific day, staff and ministry partners will pray for the requests of each other and for the movement of God around the world. We invite you to participate in whatever way you feel led, whether as a recipient of prayer or as one who might intercede for others.

Please reply to this if you want us to be praying for you. CRM also has offered to pray as a staff in our offices in Anaheim, CA. To submit a prayer request, simply send an email to donorservices@crmleaders.org or submit your request online at crmleaders.org/prayer.

If you would like to be involved in ministering to others through prayer, please contact Sheri Price at sheri.price@crmleaders.org.

We hope that this coming season will be one of deeper intimacy with the Lord, leading to an abundance of fruit and ministry in our lives and the world around us!

*All prayer requests are handled with the utmost care and privacy.

24-27 Thanksgiving!

Jim and Cameron will take a father-son trip locally while Kimberly cashes in on frequent flier miles to be with family in California. Lord God, we can't thank you enough for all you've done for us by giving us salvation and hope through Jesus and his sacrificial death for our sakes: to make a way to know you and live lives of purpose. And for those "secondary blessings" when good things come our way, or you provide peace and comfort in the midst of hard things, we are also grateful! Bless our friends and supporters this Thanksgiving with abundance and joy.

I have not stopped thanking God for you.
I pray for you constantly, asking God, the
glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to give you spiritual wisdom and insight
so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light
so that you can understand the confident hope
he has given to those he called—
his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
I also pray that you will understand
the incredible greatness of God’s power
for us who believe him.
This is the same mighty power
that raised Christ from the dead
and seated him in the place of honor
at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms

Ephesians 1:16-20 (New Living Translation)

Please let us know how we can be praying for you!

Blessing. Joy. Humility. Gratitude. Grace.

Jim & Kimberly Creasman

Charitable Giving thru CRM

Please consider making our work here an extension of your heart for Asia.

We pray that you'd have great joy in these kind of investments,

whether is it with us or with other good work around the world!

www.crmleaders.org

Donation questions (in USA) 1 (800) 777-6658

you may add "preferenced for Creasman-acct 5651"

CRM- 1240 N. Lakeview, Suite 120, Anaheim, CA 92807-1831

CRM Week of Prayer

2011-11-02T12:30:00.000+08:00

Having trouble reading this email? View it on our website.

Dear Friends of CRM,

One of the most powerful ways we can minister God’s love and truth is through praying for each other.

For this reason, CRM sets aside a special day each year to pray for our staff, our partners in
ministry, and the work that God is doing around the world. Please join us this year on
November 17, 2011 as we come before the Lord together.
We invite you to share your prayer requests with us or send them via email to prayer@crmleaders.org
so that we can pray for you more specifically.

Also, as an important member of CRM's community, you are invited to join us for a weeklong
observance of prayer. FromMonday, November 14 to Friday, November 18, we are offering
a short daily email featuring a Psalm and prayer points centered on God’s invitation for us to know
His love, be still before Him, and surrender ourselves to His providence.

Please join us as we draw together to reflect on the past year and all that God has accomplished
in our midst! You can subscribe online at crmleaders.org/prayer. (If you received our Lent
mailing in the past, you will automatically be added to the list.)

We hope this ministry of prayer will be a blessing to you and that you will be encouraged by spending a
few moments with the Lord as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday together. We look forward to
joining you as we give praise and thanks to our Creator.

Happy Thanksgiving!

CRM Empowering Leaders
www.crmleaders.org

Pass It On: If you know someone who may be interested in receiving this newsletter,
feel free to forward a copy.

To find out more about CRM or to send us your prayer requests,
send us an email or call 800-777-6658.
For more information, visit www.crmleaders.org.

YaYa Seasoned Sisters of Singapore- Amazon Link to What We're Reading This Fall:

2011-10-04T10:11:00.000+08:00

I love my group of Seasoned Sisters and look forward each week to Wednesdays. If you're in Singapore, have Wednesdays 1-3PM free, don't yet have a circle of trusted girlfriends, and need a spiritual home, come join us. Author Pam Farrel's a perennial cheerleader with encouraging and mature spiritual insights. THough this book is called The 10 Best Decisions a Woman Can Make, it's really more like The 10 CATEGORIES of Best Decisions a Woman Can Make. That's why my group of YaYas agreed with me to read it over again after we'd tried to make this book our summer reading!

Samples: Cost of Living, Singapore

2011-10-03T18:40:00.000+08:00

Once in 1998 we published a list like this; some samples of costs for living in China.
Someone was wondering recently what costs of living are for us in Singapore. This might be more financial info than my Western friends are comfortable talking about! I've become so Chinese about these things. Hardly a week goes by when I don't have a neighbor ask me how much I pay in rent!

So this morning I did a quick look at my records. I've been using this simple but great little phone app: Moneybook, just have to have the discipline to put the expenses in as we go and it does the calculations and syncing with an account online.

For those who are on our support team, or are considering it, here's a concrete way to think about what you might be supporting. A representation of some ministry & some of our personal expenses.

[US>SG$ calculated in current exchange rate]

Singapore dollars
$80 [US$62] /monthly transportation allowance for Cameron
$175 [US$134] approx cost for hosting last year's Thanksgiving Party/open house for 30 neighbors.
$300 [US$230] average monthly gas for the car.
(Never a day goes by that I am not immensely thankful to have a car!)
$250-$550 round trip ticket to mentoring w/pastors in neighboring countries (1/4ly)
$834 [US$640] /mo Singapore income tax
$1150 [US$883] food costs in September
$1200 [US$921] gifts sent to current donors at Chinese New Year 2011
$1400-$1800 [US$1047-$1381] one round trip plane ticket SINGAPORE>LA. Or to bring Tyler back for a holiday.
$2400 /mo rent [US$1842]
$4000 [US$3071] TOTAL monthly household expenses
$5,300 [US$5069] Total medical expenses so far this year

(we'll make our $5000 deductible for the first time, so we'll get some back!)

$8,500 [US$6525] Total receipts for our family trip to visit missionaries March 2010.

$16,000 [US$12,283] Annual School expenses for Cameron (blessed w/ 40% discount as an Mkid. With Tyler in a Cal State School, and having managed to maintain residency through home ownership and some California State Tax over the years, college costs less than school in Singapore!)

Weekend Update: I'm on an insulting streak!

2011-10-03T14:28:00.000+08:00

Saturday Evening:

I get to the announcer's booth after the first of the three High School football games for my "DJ" gig while Jim announces. Between games this is also where the officials cool off and get some refreshment in the airconditioning. Trying to figure out what time he'll be getting home, one of the refs asks,

"So, how long are these games lasting?"

I answer in jest, "I think it depends on how many yellow flags are thrown on the field."

Later I found out that the first game had an uncommonly large amount of penalties called.

Ooops. It surely sounded to that ref like I was being sarcastic rather than just joking.

Sunday Evening:

I was attending the TCA College graduation. Since 2006 I've been teaching college level theatre courses to those who want to use drama/creative arts in ministry. At the reception, I meet and get into conversation with a Board Member and a Richard Goetz professor of Theology, who comments about the power of the arts, and how Christian Churches are missing out on embracing the arts for worship and outreach. I feel like we're clicking in this conversation, so I make a comment along these lines:

I struggle sometimes with the paradox of generating excitement for practicing arts as ministry, because there will never be any income in it to speak of. I've spent my entire life devoted to exploring how to use arts in ministry, and though the thanks and praise were abundant, only on one hand can I count the years I was remunerated more than $500. That's what some churches will pay a one time guest speaker. And yet, they'll ask me to work longer and harder preparing a sketch for worship that supports his message....

Still, God has given me this passion and calling, so I keep having to put such facts at his feet. He has always provided for me, in other ways, but it's harder to have faith in his provision for my students, when I know they are destined to have the same sense of being devalued for the gifts in ministry God has given them and I am fanning into flame.

I went home last night and saw an interview with this faculty member in the Graduation Booklet:

"My passion is for the classroom...I told myself that this was so great that I will do this even if they don't pay me. When you find your passion you know it, because you can honestly say I will do this even if they did not pay me."

Ooops. I now imagine that he thought my comments were in critical response to his interview. Duh. Nope, I was just being guilelessly honest about my experience and what I wrestle with as an artist.

eNews>Praying for the Creasmans in October

2011-10-02T09:05:00.000+08:00

Thanks for your prayers with us in September

Jim:

Pastors who are starting CRM in the Philippines have met for their 3rd retreat with individual coaching. One of them is pursuing a call to lead this emerging ministry focused on empowering with this mentoring model. In turn they empower others under their leadership to grow in intimacy with God and live out His unique call on their lives.

Kimberly:

Loads of emails, and prayers and phone calls have ensued following a blog post I wrote in August. For me it's turning into a season of bridge building and encouraging Sending Churches in what their role can be in Missionary Care. As a case study, this experience is a remarkable model of processing conflict. This communication with my church leaders has built a stronger bridge. I'm really encouraged to know that I am part of a church where we call can respect one another, make apologies where needed and all be humble enough own our sin and move forward stronger in unity and purpose.

CRMS Annual General Meeting 2011: Thank you Lord for the momentum rolling with addition of new staff and expansion into neighboring countries.

Tyler:

Loving CPSLO after 2 weeks of classes and the week of orientation. He's training with ROTC and really diving in (which is unusual for TCKs - they tend to stay on the fringe and observe for awhile). Said, "Even though it's a large campus, nearly everywhere I go I see someone I've already met." He had a great 6 weeks with grandparents...getting driver's license, spending some fun time with them alone, helping them with some things around their homes (technical mostly). It's a fun season to see him step into adulthood and manage his time and money on his own (all bills are going to HIM now!)

Cameron:

As always a joy to live with if we ignore the mess! Upon returning to Singapore, a few noticed a change over the summer. He's more confident and stepping up as a leader with his peers. We stay positive that he'll continue to learn how to apply his mind to learning, his body toward strength and fitness, and his heart to following Jesus.

Prayers for October:

1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Singapore American Football League continues to be the Creasman's Fall pastime (missing only the accompanying cooler weather and marching bands!). Cameron (#54 left tackle) is playing on Tyler's former team in the High School league and we continue to deepen our friendships and influence in the expat community. Pray that we will have opportunities to share God's love and hope - the Gospel - every week of football!

Praise God for the graduates of TCA College! Thank you Lord for Kimberly's role as an occasional lecturer, equipping younger Christian leaders in their use of drama in ministry. Lead her to ways she can continue to use her expertise to inspire other young people who are passionate about the arts and ministry.

3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Lord, guide us as we spend some time on Mondays making phone calls and connecting with supporters and potential donors to our life and ministry here in Asia. Give us discernment about knowing who to call, and a continued confidence in your faithful provision, as we need to raise an additional $3,000 in monthly donations.

3-7,31

We host visitors who are coming through Singapore. Lord, we pray through us you offer vision and insight into the strategic role this little island has on the Kingdom of God in this region.

CRMS staff, Andy Lim leads the inaugural "Run for the Nation" prayer run across the island. Lord, thank you for calling such inspiring and godly Asian leaders to join us in CRMS & building spiritual leaders, we pray for wisdom as we join potential staff this coming week in seeking your will for joining us in this movement.

Count Your Blessings! After meeting a few times this month with Kimberly, thirteen dormitory staff of a Christian High School will perform Playback Theatre for students on the theme of "Thankfulness." Jesus, we pray that this outreach to international students studying and living in a Christian environment will draw them to a personal and lasting relationship with you!

17-19

Jim leads a mentoring network in Manila, and helps these pastors grow as mentors for others. Please pray for their own growth and for their vision and ability to empower other leaders.

18-19

Women's Retreat in nearby Johor, Malaysia. God, thank you for making it clear that you wanted K! to pass on the CRM Women's Leadership meetings in Spain (Oct 16-21). Hard to do it, but thank you for your guidance. In this short time away with her Singapore sisters, build us in unity, deepen our roots with you, and give us vision for your future for us as your daughters.

Jim teaches a seminar in Singapore on growing in spiritual authority - what it is, where it comes from, how to exercize it, and how to grow in it. We long for the evidence of God's presence in our lives and ministries. Lord we pray that Jim & Kimberly would continue growing in intimacy with Christ and that his leading and providing for them would be evident to all around them.

Handmade #3. K! is participating in an outreach with Grace Assembly of God. Lord we thank you for how you are using the arts to communicate your message! Thank you for Namiko and her gifts in dance and love for you! Bless her as she builds a team using Hawaiian Hula as a worship dance for you.

27-28

Retreat for CRMS staff and board members to evaluate and ideastorm our ministry to help churches and spiritual leaders grow and impact Asia. Lord, we pray that you would raise up godly and gifted men and women to join CRMS as spiritual mentors, and to go as missionaries to other Asian countries. We pray for love and creativity as a team, and for your guidance and resources to grow in our spiritual impact.

Plus:

Please pray that i would have Joshua's courage and Joseph's dream and vision to pursue the establishment of CRM Phils! - Pastor Nathan, Manila

Mid-Autumn festival "mooncakes" with Yi Hui.
She continues her frequent visits when Kimberly is home in the afternoons,
and is slowly getting socialized and learning how to read.
She's a much happier little "stray" who is taking
(and most certainly failing) the PSLE this week
(Primary School Leaving Exam)

How can we be praying

for you?

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. - 1 Peter 5:10

Jim & Kimberly Creasman

Charitable Giving thru CRM
Thank you for making our work here an extension of your heart for Asia.
We pray that you'd have great joy in these kind of investments,
whether is it with us or with other good work around the world!
www.crmleaders.org
Donation questions (in USA) 1 (800) 777-6658
you may add "preferenced for Creasman-acct 5651"
CRM- 1240 N. Lakeview, Suite 120, Anaheim, CA 92807-1831

More photo highlights from September:

We're keeping in touch via 21st century technology:

Living/Serving Overseas: More on the "CAMEL TEAM." A Short History of our Living Saints

2011-09-26T21:35:00.001+08:00

If you are on a church "M" Board (Global Outreach) somewhere, or you are someone "back home" who is making decisions about support for those working overseas from your church, I write this post for you.

When one has not experienced the challenges of trying to make a life in a foreign country, for more than a year, with children, in a new language, with very limited resources; it is next to impossible to understand and yet you are put in the difficult position of making judgements about how to best invest the church's international budget. Because I have been both a Sender and a Go-er, perhaps I have a unique vantage point. Both sides. (Before marriage, I served on a church m committee, and then my husband was a m pastor for our first 12 years of marriage. Since 1997 we've been in Asia as a 2nd career to be a resource to the church here.)

Though this is about one particular team, I hope it will serve as an encouragement, for those who are "Senders" to realize in a deeper way, the importance of their role in really knowing and praying for the overseas workers who have been raised up and sent from your churches.

Last March, our family traveled [here] to spend time with the group I wrote about in my post below. Their organization paid for mine and Jim’s airfare to go spend this time with them. We paid for the boys to come along and get to know the kids, and help with childcare while the adults spent time conferencing. It was a rich and meaningful week.

As I look back on this, I believe we should have engaged the Global Outreach Board at our mutual church more about this trip. We wrote before and after about it in our e-newsletter, but it would have been better had we intentionally drawn our mutual church missions leaders in on the plans and what came from the time together.

We wanted to just go and hug them and pray for them, and tell them how much we value them and admire their sacrifices these long years. Build them up. Give them some outside perspective. Hopefully speak prophetic words of healing, strength and hope into their lives. We did a retreat with them to help process their next steps for ministry by taking time to look back over their history together as a team. It was remarkable as we used post-it notes to cover the walls with lessons, and miracles, and events, and highlights of their journey as a team. There needs to be a book written. I don't think we're anywhere near the final chapters.

There’s has been traumatic, brave, difficult, physically, spiritually and emotionally costly journey. They have been in places that are extremely difficult physically to live, let alone that these places, people, governments are hostile to the Gospel of Jesus, and anyone who wants to change the status quo.

Now, in their THIRD country, moving forward (yet again), while learning their THIRD language. The team is geographically separated (they are no longer in the same city though they are finding ways to stay connected and close). Life is still very, very hard. They are in a country that is one of the least evangelized. They are on the frontlines in an Enemy stronghold.

You can bet the Enemy HATES that these Saints have tenaciously kept to their commitment to be a light for the Gospel. He's succeeded in getting them kicked out of 2 other countries hostile to Christianity and the West! Though they may have been uprooted and forced to live like gypsies, they have continued to dig in with their pursuit of God and team unity even during seasons when He has been silent and in places where there are very, very few believers in Jesus.

As trailblazers in dark territory, they have been completely dependent on the Holy Spirit for wisdom and the light to move forward and share the gospel.

I believe that it's possible they will not survive, let alone thrive in their ministry, unless we support them in prayer. They will not survive physically unless individuals and their churches support them financially.

For the Body of Christ which is their home/sending church to really support them now, in 2011, it’s important for new members, to know this history. To dig into why they are where they are, and doing what they are doing.

My email inbox had a newsletter from them today. Good news. Some tough news. They are moving forward! If you are not on their email list and want to follow them and pray for them, post a comment with your email and I'll forward it to them (can't just show the link!)

Advocating for Sent Missionaries from RHCC:

2011-09-23T19:35:00.003+08:00

As I continue to process the issues mentioned below, I feel compelled to be an advocate for a group of M__s from RHCC.

The CAMEL team.

This group has been in 3 countries where one must be cautious about what is said in communication, so as not to jeopardize their presence to a hostile government. For this reason, I don't write any names, or spell out the countries.

However, I'm starting to lose sleep over their need for their home church to rally behind this entire team who went out the same year we did!

The Creasmans have been pretty straightforward in our journey:

As originally planned, we’ve had two years of language and culture learning in mainland China (‘97-99), and then settled in for a long term investment in Singapore to be used in strengthening and building Chinese Christian leaders here. Not just for the sake and strength of Singapore’s churches and pastors, and missionaries who are based here, but for their strategic role in influence over this region due to Singapore’s spiritual and financial resources, heart for the world and multi-lingual schooling.

For our fellow laborers The CAMEL team who are now in their 3^rd country and 3rd language, their direction and journey has not turned out as originally hoped or planned. These diversions have been entirely out of their control.

When they went out as a team (3 families and 4 singles) in 1997, it was a remarkable achievement for our church: sending an ENTIRE team to an unreached people group.

Among them were former RHCC youth ministries leaders (Junior High Pastor) and administrators. Bright and gifted, they had developed a heart for the world early. Somewhere along the college years, and the missions pipeline of potential missionary small groups and missions retreats, and leading short term teams from the church we confirmed their calling to make a career in bringing the Gospel to the most unreached peoples in the 10/40 window. As a church we excitedly envisioned this team following the inroads our short term trips had made over a few years. We had "adopted the Kaz_ks" and RHCC short term teams had helped establish the first known Kaz_k church. Subsequent visits had made it seem to us as if Rolling Hills Covenant Church instrumental in seeing the Gospel preached and a thriving church established among a people where there had previously been none.

This was not to be the case.

I will not go into the details here, but as I remember it, due to their being “discovered” for their “covert” work in evangelism, their visas were not renewed after a few years. I think they were asked to leave the country on short notice, with a black mark against them so that they can not return. In turn, they relocated to a similar people group in Uzb_____, with clear leading from the Holy Spirit about where to move, and even which apartments to rent. However, during this term(s) they were in a political situation where ALL foreign non-profit workers were denied visa renewals and had to move their families out of a second country.

Fraught with opposition and conflict and uprooting and challenges, they have had to pull back, pull out, sort out, regroup, reconcile, hear from God and set out once again more times than any living missionary I know. And there’s a whole team of them! There have been marital issues, health emergencies, team strife and discord on top of the political opposition.

Lesser men and women might have given up, feeling like many do after facing such trials, “Well, we gave it a go, we did our best, perhaps God is directing us through these hardships to turn our hearts back toward home, and find a new path.” Heaven knows how many missionaries have set out at the beginning to invest their lives long term and our now back safely in their motherlands. It’s also pretty safe to say, that any of those missionaries who have returned would be the first to acknowledge the tremendous tenacity and commitment and sense of calling it has taken for this group of people from RHCC to stick with it.

I'll post more later, but this is a good start! Let's not forget them! They need our prayers and support as much now as ever!!

"Forbearance," my new favorite word

2011-09-22T17:17:00.003+08:00

This past month, there's been a lot of communicating with my home church leaders and a few individuals. Building bridges that had fallen into disrepair. I had lit a match on the fallen tinder by blogging about the fallen bridge (that particular part of the post below has been removed!).

To sum it up briefly: I was feeling awkward and like an alien whenever we return to our home church where we'd served for 12 years. Over 14 years it had grown worse and worse each of the times we'd come back as a family (In all fairness, Jim came back once on his own for the 50th Anniversary, and that for him was a remarkable homecoming speaking for and being honored in this special Missions Celebration). This summer was especially hard because, due to our serious shortfall in support, we finally had to start making connections at other churches. We've tried hard to keep our ties strong with this sending church because our trips back are so short that we'd prefer to concentrate our face-time, hoping to have a more significant time of re-connecting, rather than a one-off hellos in multiple church patios.

This summer, the contrasting experience we had going to other churches (and a few unfortunate and circumstantial mix ups and misses at our home church), turned my long-time sadness into anger. I was feeling mother-bearish for all the other missionaries sent from our church.

I didn't deal with the growing conflict in my heart in a Biblical way by approaching the missions pastor and commission advocate with grace. I instead spent a few jet lagged hours blogging about it when I got back to Singapore.

Then some actually read my post, and I subsequently needed to do a lot of apologizing! I've been humbled, and convicted that we didn't bring the problem up years ago to people who would probably have listened (calling it "grace" when it was really a lack of courage to speak up).

It's starting to be an amazing case study of dealing with and working through conflict, when to be part of the solution when you have a burden about something (and when to let things go), and seeing leaders - brothers and sisters in the body of Christ show forbearance (my new favourite word) and grace, and work together to build Christ's church. I still have a few people I need to apologize to directly (I pray the Holy Spirit will reveal any more!), but there's already such a hope that we are all going to be stronger and better from this.

It seems now, that even though I lacked judgement in writing publicly, and that I hurt some people by what I wrote; these instrumental leaders have heard. They have also apologized to us personally for this regrettable "blind spot," and now we're working together to make a change.

For the future, our united heart is that our sent missionaries will no longer be/feel forgotten. We'll find ways to introduce and advocate for them to those who are new people in the congregation (who didn't know them when they went overseas), and for those at home who have let their ties become too loose, we'll work to restore the bond. The mutual hope is that in the future, all of our church's "home-grown" missionaries will feel built up from their visits home. The wheels are in motion for this church to give them an intentional welcome, offer more practical care for them, and somehow publicly honor them when they return.

If you are interested in reading or talking more about it, you can write to me personally. As a case study, it is a remarkable model of processing conflict and I hope others will be able to learn from our mistakes. I'm really encouraged to know that I am part of a church where leaders can respect one another and all be humble enough own our sin and move forward in unity.

Our Sending Church's Human Capitol: A Legacy of Leaders

2011-09-19T16:32:00.001+08:00

As I've been learning who are the missionaries currently supported by my home church USA, I realize something they may not have: This sending church can be proud that among those who have gone out from our church over the years. There are a surprising number of directors or presidents of other mission organizations, or seasoned and godly and wise lights for the gospel on the front-lines in difficult places. I just started listing them...

Bill & Robin Harris. Missionaries whose passion for ethnomusicology and networking resulted in founding International Council of Ethnodoxologists (ICE). Robin is the ICE coordinator. Robin and her husband, Bill Harris, now work forOperation Mobilization-USA in the Heart Sounds International division. Bill and Robin Harris write several blogs.

Gwynn & Pooka Lewis, Sowers Int'l, Founder & Executive Director

Joe & Silk Handley, Asian Access, President

Dennis & Susan Wadley, Bridges of Hope Int'l, Founder/Int'l Director: From the Bridges website info on their Partners. BTW: This partnership was profiled in DualReach article about involving local church leaders in mission which in-turn inspires a congregation.

Rolling Hills Covenant Church

In 2004 Rolling Hills Covenant Church [RHCC] sent its first short-term mission team to South Africa to support Dennis Wadley, former high school ministry pastor at RHCC, and his family in their ministry “Bridges of Hope.” Since then, RHCC has continued to partner with Bridges of Hope in its efforts to serve communities and townships ravaged by HIV/AIDS, with specific care for the growing number of children orphaned by this disease. Together with Bridges of Hope, RHCC also partnered with St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Philippi, and provided funds for the construction of the church facility in Philippi.

The children in the black townships outside Cape Town grow up in terrible poverty in neighborhoods with high rates of crime and gang activity and lives that are devastated by AIDS. Many children are orphaned by AIDS and grow up with only knowing life in the township and the hopelessness it can breed. The vision shared Bridges of Hope and RHCC was to have a retreat center in which children could come and be ministered to in a loving outdoor and retreat center atmosphere. Rolling Hills Covenant has sent several short-term teams comprised of high school students and adults to run after school programs at the Center.

The dream was also to build a residential High School Academy for children orphaned by AIDS. This dream was rooted in the belief that God could use the children’s lives and transform them to become key parts of an emerging new generation to lead South Africa. With significant help from our RHCC, as well as other churches, that dream has now become a reality. A former bed and breakfast with acreage that used to be a vineyard was purchased. Rolling Hills helped to fund a full-time missionary, Ted Holdeman, who served in a key role during the construction of various buildings for the Bridges of Hope Leadership Academy, as well as maintaining the operations of the Bridges of Hope Retreat Center.

Rolling Hills Covenant Church has enjoyed our thriving partnership with Bridges of Hope. As a congregation we give praise to the Lord for connecting our church with Bridges of Hope. We pray that together we will serve Jesus in redeeming lives for His glory and bring lasting and sustained positive change to South Africa.

On Feeling Guilty/Convicted: How to know the difference between Satan's Voice and The Holy Spirit

2011-08-15T10:34:00.000+08:00

After reading a sweet email from a conscientious friend who was responding about her feelings she was wrestling with after reading the blog article below, I picked up a book I'm reading through with the bible study gals here in Singapore: The 10 Best Decisions a Woman Can Make.

It was a segment headed:

"So what do I do with the guilt?"

Just a refresher, I'm sure, but here's the bullets of what Pam Farrel wrote about processing guilt feelings:

If it's from Satan, he will make you feel

Condemned
Confused (half-truths, conflicting statements, distractions)
Calloused (I give up, why try! it's hopeless)
Driven to overcompensation (taking on responsibility that isn't yours to take on feeling, "If I don't do it, no one will" and fall headlong into a martyr role!)

If the conviction is from the Holy Spirit, he will

Be consistent (you keep getting the same message, in line with God's word, from a number of sources that point to the issue)
Be positive (even if it's strong, you won't feel like you are stupid, useless, hopeless etc!)
Be forward thinking (showing you long term consequences or long range eternal reasons why a behavior change or action is good- keeping end results in view)
Be specific (instead of vague innuendoes, and generalizations. ie he won't say, "yesterday was a waste of time" he may say, "you let yourself get sidetracked again by ___, what can we do to avoid that next time?"

"As you sort through the expectations that everyone has about you and your life, remember that healthy boundaries will send you back toward God. he will remind you: you are salt- one grain. You are light- a lght! A woman knows her place in His plan when she knows she is talented and capable but limited, and only God is limitless."

May we all sense the grace-filled leading of the Holy Spirit, not serve out of "oughts and shoulds" but out of a true sense of obedience to his calling. May we accept our limits, and be willing to obey when he calls us to be stretched in our faith and service.

In transit in BJ

2011-08-03T13:11:00.002+08:00

It's a sweet season of ministry- To be away and get messages from Singaporans while away. Being truly missed. Being eager to get back.

Finally, after all these years invested there, I feel in some ways like I'm going HOME.

Though being on the Air China flight, and on the same flight w some Miss'ys we know from Kunming (imagine that!), I kinda miss REAL China, and all the craziness there!

A Month Home: Schitzophrenically Glorious and Rotten at the Same Time

2011-08-03T05:04:00.421+08:00

Psalm 34:6-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;

he saved him out of all his troubles.

⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,

and he delivers them.

⁸ Taste and see that the LORD is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

-a status update from Leslie Green at the top of my newsfeed

when i awoke the other day at 4AM from a bad dream.

Coming Home...

We're so extremely blessed. I think I count 7 times we've been back since 1997. 7 times in 14 years! Sure, I have expat friends in Asia who return twice a year. But at least I didn't pack my stuff in my coffin when we headed out. This is what many missionaries did in previous generations. We've averaged coming back about every other year. This is a privilege of being a missionary in an age of air travel and frequent flier benefits. We're not complete strangers at home! Still, we can feel a bit alien returning...but I'll write about that in a minute. [NOTE: Now I'm dealing with it in a proper way, and that section is deleted! I apologize to those who were wrongfully hurt by the original, and am grateful if my lack of grace and forbearance has served to make things better.]

Our time in the USA started out with a sweet, unforgettable two weeks with family. We celebrated my parents' 50th Anniversary with our small but close extended family vacationing together. The adults had great joy in seeing the 4 cousins wrestling and giggling and making new memories despite their age difference (8-18) and the fact that they are being raised on opposite sides of the earth. This carefree joy of late June was followed by the inevitable feeling of needing to be productive in July.

After a week of reconnecting in the South Bay, there was a growing heartache over seeing first-hand the effects of the recession in the US. Many friends who are out of work, or living with less, or trying to get things done at work with hacked budgets.

[text removed]

Returning Home

We can turn our hearts back to Singapore with joyful anticipation.

I know our son Tyler, whom we left behind to start university, is READY. I'm confident that God has blessed our flawed parenting of him with enough grace and wisdom to produce an offspring who is going to make a difference for good in this world. And most likely that will be cross-culturally. We've raised a child who can navigate between worlds with understanding, confidence and remarkable insights from his multi-cultural upbringing. I'm so excited for him and this new stage of his life, I've not yet connected to the grief of losing him and not knowing when I'll see him again.

After 12 years serving the Singaporean churches, it's a sweet season of ministry here. Getting messages from singaporans while away, and being truly missed, we were eager to get back. Finally, after all these years investing our lives here, I feel in many ways like I'm going HOME.

Thanks again...

We are always especially thankful to our parents who've sacrificed so much in losing us all these years as we've been overseas instead of down the street. And thank you for always allowing us invade your tranquil lives when we come back.

And last, SPECIAL heaps of gratitude to Karen Boden, Megan Moore, Betty Lindholm, the Nygren Family, the Farrels and the Aanderuds for the multiple ways you gave of your love, advocacy and sacrificial support! You are heros for Christ's Great Commission: seeing the good news of our Saviour spread, and his church growing and healthy to the ends of the earth. Plus you are just good friends. We are so blessed by you!

Psalm 16

¹ Keep me safe, my God,

for in you I take refuge.

² I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;

apart from you I have no good thing.”

³ I say of the holy people who are in the land,

“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”

⁴ Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.

I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods

or take up their names on my lips.

⁵ LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;

you make my lot secure.

⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.

⁷ I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

⁸ I keep my eyes always on the LORD.

With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will rest secure,

¹⁰ because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,

nor will you let your faithful^[b] one see decay.

¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Encouraging Others

2011-07-20T06:35:00.004+08:00

from one of our heroes...it reminds me to send more encouraging notes to others! This means so much to me!

Dear Kimberly and Jim and Tyler and Cameron--

So nice to be with you last nite.......and I cherish the 50 minutes with you "4" here on my front deck. Sorry I had to kinda break up the evening to return to to my apt, but my daughter in Germany was going to call me long distance. So, we missed the accordion music and perhaps some singing......but on the other hand, people were so keenly interested in your work and ministry.

I'm so impressed with T & C what wonderful guys they are. You've done a superb job of bringing them up in another culture. I pray God's best and blessing and leading especially for Tyler---now headed to CPSLB. And Cameron? I think he's the greatest!!!

I'm already looking forward to your next internet report.......Excellent report on your work, Jim, and the nature of your mentoring and shepherding................keep the cards & letters coming.

Howie

"Strength for today....and bright hope for tomorrow!!!"

Choosing a backpack for college

2011-07-10T14:18:00.002+08:00

Trying to figure out how he might stand out in California - where everyone looks like him...

Resource for Equipping HS students for Keeping the Faith...

2011-07-04T16:43:00.000+08:00

Web Sites and Ministries - Focus on the Family

There are so many great resources from Focus these days. I read down the list on this link today and am thanking God for their faithfulness to helping families thrive. Have you heard of their webzines? When's the last time you did a little reading up on sociological, political or parenting issues from the perspective of some thinking-deep Christians.

The one I'd never heard about until today was True U - a dvd based apolgetics curriculum to "prepare high school students for the rigorous challenges and attacks that will confront them on the university campus."

Photo Projects Online...

2011-05-19T11:40:00.000+08:00

Link to Shutterfly!
This is my favourite photo hosting site. Had some fun today drafting up a graduation announcement...

Choosing Decent Plays for High School Shows.

2011-05-14T13:55:00.000+08:00

A director can't make much of a production when starting with a bad script. And then you add amateur actors on a low budget, it goes from bad to worse.

Zugzwang was all talking. It might have made a decent radio drama 40 years ago.
The Frogs was completely inaccessible.
My husband leans over 2 hours into the second "ONE ACT" and says, "If you want a ride home, you have to walk out of here with me at the curtain call." That was alright with me. I didn't know what I'd say to anyone when the show was over, and I'm sure that I wouldn't be able to overcome the stricken look on my face.

The best thing about this school play was that Tyler never ONCE said anything negative about it during rehearsals, the run, or after. Nuf said. I've already shown by this that I don't have as much character as my 18 year old son.

Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-08T23:31:00.001+08:00

It's been a good year of embracing motherhood. It's about time. The boys are teenagers. A lot of energy used to stay on top of Cameron! He seems to have matured a bit this year and as of last week had all his missing assignments turned in. One thing I love about their school here is the individual attention they've given to him. The new middle school principal has been meeting with him a couple times a week - just to check in - not threatening, but an "I'm on your team and want to see you succeed." Teachers help us stay with him to keep him honest. Everyone promises that unless he's psychotic he will grow out of it.

BIG NEWS is he broke two bones in his ankle friday night at 10:30PM - playing basketball. He's made me his slave and is LOVING being needy and "helpless" even to the point of "needing" me to put his SHIRT on this morning for school. He made us late driving him to school this morning. Tyler wrote on his tardy slip, REASON: "crippled brother is lazy." Ah, the adventure of boys.

Tyler pulled the trigger for Cal Poly SLO, even though he didn't have super strong feelings about it v. a couple of his other choices. Finances/Aid offers made the decision to nix a couple. He did get some generous offers from a couple of the private schools. It wasn't enough. There were a couple of circumstances come up that we felt were Divine interventions in helping him make his choice. Since then, it's been nothing but affirmation and confirmation that he made the right choice. Not the least of which is that two longtime good friends, and former pastors from our Los Angeles home church have daughters who are 1 week older than Tyler; they also chose Cal Poly. We all laughed and said there will be a little "Mustang corral" next year for kids of former Rolling Hills Covenant Pastor's kids...(I'm sure these teenagers who don't really know each other yet just LOVE that...).

We continue to manage just about every night eating off the downstairs hawkers without food poisoning. My little "flock" in the neighborhood has grown this year...Yi Hui has been a regular feature in our home and she has made some strides in learning to read and some other skills. I've managed to make it into the good graces of the family and pray that by the end of the year we can convince them to send her to a special school rather than put her to work at the end of the year. She'll certainly fail the primary school leaving exams, so no secondary school which will accept her. There's A LOT of strife, abuse and ignorance in her home, so we navigate how to help her with a lot of prayer.

All mine got for me was one of the freebie flowers from church (which the stem had broken at the top by the time it came to me), but I still felt deeply loved which is most important. Seriously been having some sweet family times with our guys. They love me, don't need flowers to prove it. Though taking out the trash without being reminded is also nice...

Two single guys in their 30's who are roommates and motherless called at 6 and came by with Subway sandwiches from the mall. One even gave me a red envelope cause he said he wanted to bless a mother and had decided it would be me. they were sweet, and a good object lesson for the boys for the future. I asked James to pray and when he'd finished (including thanking God for me), Cameron says, "SO is it mother's day or something? I wondered 'cause dad was making such a big deal about mom..." Later we called grandmas and on the speaker phone, they all asked, "so did your boys treat you well today?" and I went on and on about how "They made me feel like a Queen from morning till night." Grinning at the guys who were rolling their eyes and giggling.

My mother-in-law says, "Kimberly, you're not a good an actress as you used to be."

This is true.

CRM. Community of Transformation, Pt. Clear, Alabama

2011-04-14T13:36:00.001+08:00

The view from my room. Ahhh.

My brother and nephew attended the event.
A sweet time to be with them and let them see more of what CRM is besides what they know of us.

Mitch Albom | The college that rejects you may do you a favor | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com

2011-04-02T02:36:00.000+08:00

Mitch Albom | The college that rejects you may do you a favor | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com

gotta love that mitch. a friend sent this to me yesterday. great article.

LAUNCH

2011-03-31T23:13:00.002+08:00

Wrapped up in my ego

That’s wrapped up in him

I watch the 18 year old.

A most perfect rocket

In between the Lab and space

Crafted and invested

With all the explosive creative genius

I had to impart.

A high octane cocktail for fuel =

Nurture + Nature + Free Will + Sovereignty.

Elegantly, and with an air of casual

He stands out of reach on the launching pad.

Close to the final countdown that will launch him into his future.

Yet, despite his vitality

And talent

And intellect

The engine at his core

Won’t yet ignite.

What gravity has kept him so weighted to the ground?

Afraid to dream

Or work for a dream?

The tools I had to tinker with

To fine tune or tweak

Are proving useless now.

So I put them aside and dig out the binoculars.

Breathless, I watch.

4-3-2-1.

THE OLD MAN & THE BEAGLE - PART II

2011-03-18T00:03:00.000+08:00

(Continued from PART I - September 9th, 2010)

The “Fit Solution - Amazing Cellular Nutrition from Switzerland” had not been very fit for my body. It had only stayed down for a few minutes. As I mopped the orange mess from the front of my dress and started to get my wits about me again, I suggested we “make a move,” as we say in Singapore. It had been an eventful visit to this neighbor’s apartment.

“Uncle, we’d better get going now,” I call to the Old Man who had left us in his living room with the dogs and my vomit and was eating his dinner with his wife in the kitchen. We were in his home because he’d been trying to convince my Canadian friend LISA and her kids Emmett and Thizbe to adopt his Beagle. And while we were there, he had introduced us to a Pyramid Marketing product that sounded like the fountain of youth.

Awkwardly our menagerie, which also included my dog Jack, and the neglected neighbor girl Yi Hui started to move toward the door. Emmett was the first to open the door and before he’d gone outside where our shoes were left, in typical Asian fashion. The Beagle scooted out the door and past his reach.

Emmett called out and the Old Man started to scramble from the kitchen, as Lisa and Emmett took off after the dog in their bare feet.

The dog bolted straight down the hall past a few other apartments before he came to the top of the stairwell. He didn’t pause a second as he started down the nine storeys. It turned out this was a familiar route for him!

As Lisa and Emmett ran after the dog, I was in no shape to run and stood, still a bit dizzy, in the doorway amidst the pile of shoes. I was trying to will my groggy brain to think fast.

I put Jack’s leash on and slipped into my Barbie pumps. Thizbe, Yi Hui and I headed for the elevator. The Old Man was going to follow.

“Oh! I hope they can catch him!” Thizbe worried, knowing that this apartment block stands next to a busy street. It was rush hour by now. It was dark and and the streets were packed with cars. She couldn’t keep back her tears.

The elevator reached the first floor and we search what’s called the “void deck” for our friends and the dog. We must have been quite a sight to the Singaporeans returning from work. Scrawny Chinese little girl and a preteen with light curly hair, the floppy happy dog Jack, and me in my pumps and orange vomit stained white party dress. We were so intent on finding the dog, on a mission, that we didn’t really notice the others around who were surely noticing us.

The Old Man came down to the first floor soon after and he told us, “She does this all the time.” We continued to search the parking lot and walkways nearby. Upstairs in his apartment, he had just been showing us all of his discipline methods with his dog.

Singapore has many wonderful qualities. It’s an amazing little country. Unfortunately nearly everyone around the world, if they know anything about Singapore, has heard of an American Boy who, years ago, was caned by Police for vandalism. Singapore’s discipline methods are effective and famous, even if outsiders see them as a bit Draconian. Thinking that this Beagle is regularly whacked like this, I wasn’t surprised that the dog might bolt from “caning” at every possible opportunity.

Before too long we heard Emmett and his mom Lisa running down the pathway, the dog with her floppy black ears waving behind her, just out of their reach.

We tried to herd her in near the wall of letter boxes. She was getting cornered.

Emmett came up behind her and managed to get his hands around her hips. The dog turned around quickly and chomped down hard on Emmett’s hand. He cried out in pain and let go as the dog ran out of sight once again.

Now, Thizbe is crying for her brother and the lost dog and Emmett is crying in pain. Everyone is upset for multiple reasons, but eleven year-old Yi Hui is wide eyed and laughing. In her small simple world of this local neighborhood, she has probably never seen such excitement. Emmett’s hand is bleeding and we tell the Old Man that we’ll take Emmett back home to take care of his wound.

Awkwardly we decided who would go up to get Lisa and Emmett’s shoes from the 9th floor, and said goodbye to the Old Man. He assured us that he’d find the dog; he always does. We headed back home to our apartment a half block away, to tell the rest of my family of this crazy adventure.

Emmett’s hand wasn’t too badly injured, and within 30 minutes the Old Man had called to report that he’d found the dog.

As you might guess, LISA and the kids decided they’d not adopt the Beagle. I didn’t buy any Fit-Solution from the man.

At least not yet.

Japan Relief $ through network of Christian Ministries

2011-03-13T22:56:00.000+08:00

Kimberly Creasman Our ministry connections from Japan are all recommending this network: If you are looking for a way to respond to the disaster in Japan, here is one excellent option. We'll have a way to do online donating soon! http://crashjapan.com/

What's up with us in March...

2011-03-02T20:40:00.027+08:00

Accepted!

Excitement mounts as Tyler learns he's been accepted to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Waiting on 7 more Universities as the Creasmans do their taxes early for the first time ever. Motivation? Filling out the all-important FAFSA for Federal Aid needed the 2010 tax info!

LORD, we pray for Tyler to draw near to you as he makes his first important decisions as an adult: where he will do his undergraduate studies, and what he will study! We thank you for his gift of intelligence and wit, and his many interests. How can he have an A in AP Mandarin when there's not even a sign of any Chinese studies at home? Direct his steps and inspire him for how to use what you have made in him for your glory!

The Prayer of Examen.

Kimberly joins other CRM women for 2 weeks in exploring the spiritual discipline of what St. Ignatius called The Prayer of Examen. We are preparing to have a series of retreats starting in October for CRM women around the world. Examen is a morning and evening practice of quiet reflection with the goal of tuning our heart and souls to hearing God. Here's a guide for the prayer of examen and the 1/2 day retreat put together by our team leader Jenny Walley if you'd like to look into it for yourself and your own spiritual growth.

What We've Enjoyed Reading Recently:

Kimberly-
Rest, Keri Wyatt Kent

James-

Managing Transitions, William Bridges

Charitable Giving thru CRM
Thank you for making our work here an extension of your heart for Asia.
We pray that you'd have great joy in these kind of investments,
whether is it with us or with other good work around the world!
www.crmleaders.org
Donation questions (in USA) 1 (800) 777-6658
you may add "preferenced for Creasman-acct 5651"
CRM- 1240 N. Lakeview, Suite 120, Anaheim, CA 92807-1831

A HIGHLIGHT of FEBRUARY:

Tyler as a Singaporean taxi driver emcee'ing his school's international night. He and a classmate John Griffith made this

gag video to open the show .

This week he had a surprise debut at stand up comedy at Comedy Masala, Singapore's only weekly stand-up open mic. They tracked him down thru Facebook. We've joked that he could put "Accents" as a special skill on his college aps!

Best Birthday Card EVER!

2011-02-23T21:07:00.000+08:00

It was a good birthday.

simple yet full of surprises (3 gals from my Wednesday YaYa Sisterhood discovered my 'detox home' and Elaine join us from her work. She's interning this semester as a counselor at nearby ICS.

Missed a few of the girls who were still traveling. But maybe I can manage a make up birthday date!

After having watched THE DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA YA SISTERHOOD last night with James, my Seasoned Sisters of Singapore had a discussion today about the real YaYas from Caroline's hometown! They are really named The Hee Hees. And they are quite notorious in a way that my sophisticated and Godly girlfriends don't really want to be. Let me tell you!

Having been so long without on-the-ground girlfriends, I am deeply thankful for my friends and sisters here in my adopted country. Life is delightful when God is showing his feminine side of love for me through my girlfriends.

My boys were also sweet; in their masculine bumbling sort of way.

James showed the boys CORNY video from our honeymoon.

TYLER: Oh man. It's a good thing you waited 8 years to have kids. You needed some time to mature!"

I an have audio recording to remember them telling me Kimberly qualities A-Z.

The best was H="hot", I="indescribable" (tyler)
and
J="James' lover", W="winebibber" (cameron).

The actual day was much much better than the previous day. To protect the innocent (and easily embarassed) that post will stay in draft form until the teenage years have blown over.

The Swan Song: SINGLISH

2011-02-20T22:05:00.000+08:00

Tyler the Emcee for Int'l Night @ ICS
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly

He'll be off to Uni in June :-( This video was the intro to him coming on stage and emcee'ing ICS international night last night as a Singaporean taxi cab driver. It was fun to see him shine onstage in his "native tongue!" Hard for this stage mom to stay pretty much "hands off" and let the 18 year old do his thang. Should we submit this as a "special skill" to UCLA admissions office?

link to the intro video on FB

CRM USA February Receipt Letter: Kimberly & Yi Hui

2011-02-12T20:57:00.000+08:00

PERSONAL VISION for 2011

2011-02-10T14:37:00.000+08:00

In a couple's mentoring group we worked on Personal Vision statements this week. A dynamic/ever editing type of statement helps us focus on the important and weed out the urgent.

What's yours?

Tho I don't have much clarity for future LONG RANGE,

I'm very sure the now is to:

mix up creative small batches of love to
feed those who are in my immediate family and close circle of friends,
see the boys "launch" well fed and eager to feed others,
making sure we're eating a healthy BALANCED diet,
and working from a tidy kitchen with clean tools, and a healthier chef (who's not spread it too thin).

That means: Exercise the "no Muscle" on new inspirations by setting them on the back burner for the time being.

Oasis Home Group from RHC
tosses the Yu Sheng for Chinese New Year 2011

Knowing the Bible May Seem Like a Daunting Task, but it’s Do-able!

2011-02-01T23:25:00.000+08:00

(Wrote an article for our church blog. Here's an excerpt from the middle of it,)

After hearing some of our histories with the Word of God, our host lead us in a very practical exercise of how to make a plan to know God’s word over a lifetime. Here’s the condensed version of what he taught.

CORE Books or Passages

Christian leaders usually have favourite Bible books or passages which God has used mightily to spur their growth or solve their problems or guide their decisions. These books or passages form the basis of much of what they share with others, and they do it with added impact since there is a deep personal meaning. Pastors who have invested years in studying the Bible and preaching the Word have the opportunity to master more of the Bible than others, but all of us have some books or passages which we have or are becoming the core for us. God has provided all of us with different opportunities for learning and shaping us through the Scriptures.

Approaching Our Mastery of the Bible in Four Ways

1. Devotional Input - learning to hear from the Holy Spirit as you regularly read the Bible.

2. Mastery of Core - Really set your heart and mind to study and mastery of these sections as God reveals them to you.

3. Familiarity Reading – the sections of the Bible you don’t know as well.

4. Situational Studies – as topics come up that you need to know about, or have the opportunity to learn, God will lead you to expertise in certain areas.

Read the whole article

Reflections & Guilt Free Postit Note Resolutions

2011-01-08T15:43:00.004+08:00

It was 2 January 2004, with 5 young Singaporean theatre female friends that I first started these Reflections and "Post it note Resolutions". A couple of them went into it kicking and screaming, and now see it as something that has changed the trajectory of their lives.

It's really rewarding to reflect and look over the past years and see what's been accomplished, then look ahead with a sense of anticipation without the dread of feeling guilty about not following through on the ideas.

I've put the reflective questions below, and as a blank document here. If you've got the time, type out what you come up with, and send it on back. You could paste them here (a Facebook New Year's event) or below as a comment, to inspire others! Even if it's a comment on just one of the topics, please let us hear what's on your heart. I've posted mine here.

LOOKING BACK 2010

This year Iearned to..

I grew most in…
A Scripture verse, passage or book
that was important to me was…
One of my best adventures was…
I saw/knew God was doing something when…
A real gift from God was…
Something I really enjoyed doing
more of was…
One of the happiest memories I’d like
to freeze in my mind…
I was really brave when…
I’m still trying to learn what God
wants to teach me through this hard experience...
...But I think perhaps, it’s:
The best word of advice or encouragement I can remember:
Something I’m looking forward to in this new year…

(My answers with highlights are here)

LOOKING AHEAD 2011

Brainstorming Resolutions
NOTE: Phrase these as “do-able” not just “wishes” that are out of your control, but something you can do to grow or improve. Breaking it down into small steps you need to take to accomplish it, you can't DO a project, but you can do the steps toward accomplishing it!

Financial/Professional
Health/Physical
Personal Development/Intellectual
Spirituality
Relationships
Adventure Risk
Kimberly's Raisin Toast 2010
ie. Personal Development: "learn to make toast."

As I stated above, I did the reflections part, but I'm still working on the postit notes. I'm finding that though I made a lot of steps toward last year's resolutions, it's not quite done on many fronts! I'll get them up here when I get them done. But first, I'm listening to Getting Things Done on CD with the boys, and learning how to better start the year even more organized and focused.

Whether or not you do it, I look forward to hearing from you, or spending some time in the new year together!

2010-12-25T12:03:00.000+08:00

The Adentures of the Lost Boyz and Girlz of Clementi Ave 2

2010-12-20T22:43:00.003+08:00

Having fun planning for Christmas?

Hope your celebrations are wonderful family times and spiritually sweet to reflect on our Saviour's birth!

Today I found the BEST way to run errands!

Put on Christmas hats, give neighbor kids song sheets of Christmas songs, and drive around town delivering or picking up all the things that need to be handed off.
We brought smiles everywhere we went and it was SOOO much fun!

Julie, Victoria's Filipina maid helped me by baking all the gingerbread men for our neighborhood caroling tomorrow. Victoria is back in USA and Julie has some extra time. Bless her for offering to help me out!

The kids helped me decorate today and we'll pass these cookies out as we sing around the neighborhood tomorrow night.

To get ready for the big adventure of Christmas Caroling in Clementi, we sang our way around downtown prepping for the official party. Along with 4 other stops on my errands, we stopped by Annette Foster's and sang for her. If Lyn had been home, we'd have come by next door at the Collonade! We rolled the windows down and cranked the music up. The "Lost Kidz" started wishing people MERRY CHRISTMAS as we drove down the road, and were tickled that so many waved back with huge smiles!

Tomorrow night I have no idea how many are coming to sing.
Probably about 20, all ages and races.
Tonight a Malay barber I'd never met before asked if he can come singing with us.
The neighbors who work in the shops downstairs are looking forward to whatever it is...and happy to know that Yi Hui is part of it. I'm praying that it's just the right number. Not to many to overwhelm the neighbors, but a perfect picture of the Body of Christ and what heaven is going to be like. I know that whatever happens is going to be a springboard for a lot of sharing with neighbors in the coming year.

Operation NO NAGGING

2010-12-19T02:02:00.000+08:00

At week 3: looks to be an EPIC FAIL so far. EVIDENCE: This little slide show is made of photos taken on Saturday night of week 2 and 3 (after the boys had gone to bed). At the end of week 1 they told me "I DID IT!" when I said I'd picked up the slack on numerous occasions. Figured after that I needed to go CSI with my frustration rather than give in to nagging.

Bloom Where You're Planted

February What's New(s) 2012

Creasmans: What's New(s) 2012

Year End Reflections & Resolutions 2011

Creasmans: What's New(s) November 2011

An Invitation to Peace

CRM Week of Prayer

Dear Friends of CRM,

To find out more about CRM or to send us your prayer requests,send us an email or call 800-777-6658.For more information, visit www.crmleaders.org.

YaYa Seasoned Sisters of Singapore- Amazon Link to What We're Reading This Fall:

Samples: Cost of Living, Singapore

Weekend Update: I'm on an insulting streak!

eNews>Praying for the Creasmans in October

Living/Serving Overseas: More on the "CAMEL TEAM." A Short History of our Living Saints

Advocating for Sent Missionaries from RHCC:

"Forbearance," my new favorite word

Our Sending Church's Human Capitol: A Legacy of Leaders

Rolling Hills Covenant Church

On Feeling Guilty/Convicted: How to know the difference between Satan's Voice and The Holy Spirit

In transit in BJ

A Month Home: Schitzophrenically Glorious and Rotten at the Same Time

Psalm 34:6-8

Psalm 16

Encouraging Others

Choosing a backpack for college

Resource for Equipping HS students for Keeping the Faith...

Photo Projects Online...

Choosing Decent Plays for High School Shows.

Mother's Day 2011

CRM. Community of Transformation, Pt. Clear, Alabama

Mitch Albom | The college that rejects you may do you a favor | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com

LAUNCH

THE OLD MAN & THE BEAGLE - PART II

Japan Relief $ through network of Christian Ministries

What's up with us in March...

Best Birthday Card EVER!

The Swan Song: SINGLISH

CRM USA February Receipt Letter: Kimberly & Yi Hui

PERSONAL VISION for 2011

Knowing the Bible May Seem Like a Daunting Task, but it’s Do-able!

Reflections & Guilt Free Postit Note Resolutions

The Adentures of the Lost Boyz and Girlz of Clementi Ave 2

Operation NO NAGGING

To find out more about CRM or to send us your prayer requests,
send us an email or call 800-777-6658.
For more information, visit www.crmleaders.org.