Finally, something Mississippi can hold their head up over. Mississippi is often the butt of many news stories, including things like pregnancies and obesity. But here is one that should count for something, no matter how small it is. Mississippians believe that religion is an important part of their lives.
Now I'm no fool. I know that the numbers quoted (85%) do not mean that many people are born again; I don't doubt some who said it had to hide their Bud behind their backs when they said it. But it does speak well of the overall respect my fellow Mississippians have for spiritual things.
If you check the list, you will find that the south, by and large, is still fonder of spiritual things than those in other parts of the US. Now let's tap that rich source of spiritual oil and get it spread around the world...
Friday, January 30, 2009
Can the Great Commission be fulfilled in our lifetimes?
I read an interesting article today. You can find the main article here. The main question the article asks is the one I used for a title. The short answer to the question is, yes. Key evangelical leaders see us having shared the gospel with all the world in the next decade, certainly in our lifetime.
How could we do that? Do we fly over and drop fliers and leaflets? Do we mail Bibles? What do we do?
The key to sharing the gospel with every person is not as complicated as we sometimes think it is. The key is obedience. And we are now seeing a groundswell of motivated believers around the world, heading out with Bible in hand, ready to share the good news that Jesus forgives and fills us with hope.
That is our purpose now. We seek to be motivators in South America. I met with 2 ladies just 2 weeks ago that feel called to go into the world, away from South America, to a people far away. One wants to go to Japan. She wept as she told me of her burden. Another had tears in her eyes as she spoke of reaching the Muslim world. There are others, too. God is calling. People are responding.
Pray for God to send out more laborers from South America.
How could we do that? Do we fly over and drop fliers and leaflets? Do we mail Bibles? What do we do?
The key to sharing the gospel with every person is not as complicated as we sometimes think it is. The key is obedience. And we are now seeing a groundswell of motivated believers around the world, heading out with Bible in hand, ready to share the good news that Jesus forgives and fills us with hope.
That is our purpose now. We seek to be motivators in South America. I met with 2 ladies just 2 weeks ago that feel called to go into the world, away from South America, to a people far away. One wants to go to Japan. She wept as she told me of her burden. Another had tears in her eyes as she spoke of reaching the Muslim world. There are others, too. God is calling. People are responding.
Pray for God to send out more laborers from South America.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Urban Aches
This week was a vision trip with the youth pastor of a Louisiana church. It was to be to give him a vision regarding how his youth can plug into what we do down here. It was as much a fresh vision for me, as I rode with him and two of our three missionaries that he connected with. I saw sights and listened to pleas for spiritual help that stirred me deeply.
Some sights were so gripping that I was forced to stop speaking. As I watched men, women, young people, and children wandering in and out of crowded housing in Lima's inner city, I choked back tears. As we drove by the transvestites, prostitutes, and drug addicts, I felt their pain and wanted to reach out to them. Watching the homeless moved me, as well.
The incongruity of the sights was equally compelling. One street would be orderly and clean. Two blocks away, garbage would line the road and people would be thicker than the fleas on the street dogs down the road. In one part, tourists gawked at the interesting sights that a Latin American city offers. In another, we had to hide our belongings from the sight of the probable thieves that watched us. In fact, one man began running up to my window until he realized we spotted him; then he darted off in another direction.
All over the city, I was reminded of two things: Jesus died to set these people free. And we need many more workers to reach them before it is eternally too late.
Please pray for God to send his laborers to the urban centers around the world. Please pray for these large, lost groups of city dwellers.
Some sights were so gripping that I was forced to stop speaking. As I watched men, women, young people, and children wandering in and out of crowded housing in Lima's inner city, I choked back tears. As we drove by the transvestites, prostitutes, and drug addicts, I felt their pain and wanted to reach out to them. Watching the homeless moved me, as well.
The incongruity of the sights was equally compelling. One street would be orderly and clean. Two blocks away, garbage would line the road and people would be thicker than the fleas on the street dogs down the road. In one part, tourists gawked at the interesting sights that a Latin American city offers. In another, we had to hide our belongings from the sight of the probable thieves that watched us. In fact, one man began running up to my window until he realized we spotted him; then he darted off in another direction.
All over the city, I was reminded of two things: Jesus died to set these people free. And we need many more workers to reach them before it is eternally too late.
Please pray for God to send his laborers to the urban centers around the world. Please pray for these large, lost groups of city dwellers.
Monday, January 19, 2009
About Holiness, part two
Yesterday, I posted part of a message one of my friends preached to his congregation in Tennessee. He told me virtually all of the church stood before him during the invitation, head bowed, tears falling to the floor. Here is the second part of that message:
The Models of a Holy Heart
First of all, Paul is quite clear to announce who can be the models of a holy heart. It is the ones that are “having these promises.” It is not just any promises that declares who is qualified to have a holy heart. “These promises” are the ones that Paul gives right in the text. It is unfortunate that the compilers made a chapter division here in the Corinthian letter because the first verse of 2 Corinthians 7 depends on at least five other verses of chapter six to understand the whole of the message of God here. The first verse of chapter six says, “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” Did you know that some people can and do receive the grace of God in vain. They get under conviction under the gospel preacher. They squirm in their seat. Someone nudges them to go forward and talk to the preacher. They even go so far as to step into the public eye and profess faith in the grace of God through Jesus Christ and are baptized to show their death to the old way of life and resurrection to a new life. Then they last not longer than a fish out of water. They immediately head back to their holes and hideouts of sin. They believed in vain. They took the grace of God in vain. It was useless, absolutely useless, an empty formality that didn’t even raise the pen of God to write their names in the Lamb’s Book of Life. The devil himself has deceived them because they had a two-faced heart. They courted heaven all the while thinking of their hellish lovers they couldn’t leave. But they wanted to appear spiritual in the church. Because of that they will never appear in heaven but for a moment before they are sentenced in the damnation of their own unbelief and sent to hell. Why? Why? Why would people do that? It is because the pleasures of sin for a season are more tantalizing than the promises of God for eternity.
What are those promises? Look at them with me in verse 16. “I will dwell in them” - that is habitation. “I will walk in them” - that is occupation. “I will be their God” - that is invitation. “They shall be my people” - that is salvation. “I will receive you” - that’s affiliation. “I will be a Father unto you” - that is regeneration. Finally, “ye shall be my sons and daughters” - that is appreciation. My dear friend, seven promises and the thought that you could miss these is the worst of all predicaments of life. It would have been better that you were not even born to miss these or play with the gift of God’s grace and toss it aside as it were nothing to cherish and rearrange your life by. What does it take to have a holy heart and get these promises? Maybe I should say that the other way around. What does it take to get these promises and have a holy heart? Dear friend, you cannot be holy without the Holy Spirit living in your heart. Paul says in chapter six and verse 14, “for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” Some folks think they are saved and have the promises but they have never once and for all turned their back on unrighteousness. I don’t mean to say that these waterless wells, these figless fig trees haven’t put on a spiritual garment. Oh no, they may wear the finest church garments but their heart is not changed. Let me tell you dear soul if that is the case with your heart you don’t have these promises but you have some others. You have the promise of condemnation upon your soul right now as I speak. You’re not a condemned criminal against the cross of Calvary because you do certain things that God doesn’t like. You’re condemned because of your unbelief. True faith and true belief has a heart change, a total remake of your life. You have the promise of death to your body and death to your soul because it is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. You have the promise of experiencing the greatest shock of your life that can never be reversed when Jesus opens the Lamb’s Book of Life and your name is not there. You have the promise of hearing words that will send electrifying waves of shame over your being, “depart from me ye workers of iniquity for I never knew you.” You have the promise of living without end in a place called hell where there is weeping, screaming, and grinding of teeth. You will never get out. How can you bear it this morning to hear this truth and not reach out with the most sincere heart for Jesus Christ to be your Saviour?
Seven precious promises and all given to the ones Paul calls “dearly beloved.” Did you see that? How those words ring the highest bells of affection. Ephesians 1:6 says, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” It is because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross of Calvary that the thrice Holy Father can call us “beloved”. If you don’t accept Jesus you cannot be given this title of affection by God - beloved. If you don’t have such a life change through the blood of Jesus that you separate yourself from a patterned life of sin you’ll never be able to have a holy heart. Jesus today for real - that is the greatest decision a human soul can ever come to.
The Methods to a Holy Heart
Let me hasten on to tell you of the methods to a holy heart. Paul says, “let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness.” There are three methods to God’s sanctifying work on our hearts. First of all, there must be some personal action. “Let us cleanse ourselves” - that means we would do a good job if we were just as fond of straightening our own selves out as we are to find the faults of others. It is God’s Holy Spirit that will do the work but we must enter in to an active cooperation with God on this matter. The word for cleanse is the same word for what the Jews did when they celebrated the Passover. Seven days before the Passover the wife of the home searches for all leaven used in bread and cleans it all out except for ten pieces. Her husband has instructed his wife purposely to leave ten small pieces of leavened bread in the house. Then the father takes the children, along with a candle, a wooden spoon, a feather, and a piece of linen cloth, and searches through the house for the ten pieces of leaven. By nightfall on the day before Passover a final and comprehensive search is performed. At this time, the house is completely dark except for the candles. Once the father finds the leaven, he sets the candle down by the leaven and lays the wooden spoon beside the leaven. Then he uses the feather to sweep the leaven onto the spoon. Without touching the leaven, he takes the feather, spoon, and leaven, wraps them in a linen cloth, and casts them out of the door of the house. The next morning, on the fourteenth of the Jewish month Nisan, he goes into the synagogue and puts the linen cloth and its contents into a fire to be burned. This is called purging out the old leaven. Children of God, we need to do a good bit of this. Leaven in the Bible is the symbol for sin. We need to search it out and take it out. We need to search for it by the candlelight of God’s word. We live in dark houses, overcome by the darkness of this world. I grew up in a G-rated society. Our entertainment was movies like Roy Rogers, Tarzan and Huckleberry Finn. In just 50 years we have become a XXX society where Christians think nothing of sinning because everybody else is doing it. When Dan Brown can write a book, The DaVinci Code, saying that Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and had a child, and that blasphemous nonsense sells at $25 for 25 million copies, and Christians buy the trash we’ve got filthy hearts. Ron Howard made a movie out of it and it grossed over $700 million worldwide. All I’ve got to say about that is Opie has gone Dopie. When multitudes of parents just smile and look the other way as their children read Harry Potter novels which teach the casting of spells, rebellion against parents, lying, and divination, we’ve got a sickness in our Christian homes that is far worse than cancer. We need to get clean. We need a holy heart.
Second, there not only must be personal action, there must be some painstaking acknowledgment. Paul says we are to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to put the spotlight on both sins of the flesh and spirit. Sins of the spirit lead to sins of the flesh. Have you got anger you can’t control? Its time to get rid of it. You’re a filthy hearted Christian if you don’t. Have you got a lazy disposition about working in the kingdom of God? That is dangerous leaven in the home of your heart that defiles the message of Passover. Have you got pride in your heart that you think you’re pretty clean? Maybe you’re hiding from the spotlight of God. Turn off your little penlight that hardly finds a speck and let the blazing noonday sun of His convicting word shine all over your dirty spots so you can get clean. You know, Christians have for the most part in this age lost their sensitivity to the ruin of sin. We’re dangerously close to an Ananias and Sapphira scandal in the church today. When Christians keep back what belongs to God and they pretend to be such fine dedicated saints it is a mystery to me why God allows them to live. He didn’t let Ananias and Sapphira live in the first century. He cleaned up His church by death then and it is only the mercy of God in longsuffering that He’s patient and doesn’t do that as the first resort today. But I can tell you, He will not be patient forever.
Thirdly, there must be some powerful accomplishment. Paul describes this process to a holy heart with the words “perfecting holiness”. That word “perfecting” is epiteleo in the Greek. It comes from the same word Jesus used at the cross, tetelestai, “It is finished.” There is no accomplishment of holiness if the cleansing stops midstream. If you edit the sermon for your pleasure you’ve short circuited God’s cleansing work. If you hear the whole sermon well and have the presence of mind to recall the sermon point by point yet you file away those points that convicted you making no response, hoping they’ll go away, you’ve derailed God’s train of holiness from its tracks. Follow through. Decide to get clean. Accomplish the full work of God’s cleansing Word by making a decision during the invitation time. Hebrews 12:11 says, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” This is why folk’s problems seem to never go away because they choose an alternate route than to take God’s correction, a quick solution devised from the heart of man calculated to avoid the deeper cleansing of God upon their heart. You see, men and women, God loves us the way we are but He also loves us too much to leave us that way.
The Motivation for a Holy Heart
Now, I must close to tell you the motivation for a holy heart: “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” The fear of God is something that is dangerously missing from God’s church today. Do you know why a Church of England bishop, the Right Rev. David Gillet, can stand in his pulpit and say that they are going to have a Mothering Sunday to emphasize the motherhood of God in order to counter masculine images? It is because that bishop has no fear of God. Do you know why the inauguration committee and Barrack Obama can invite a homosexual episcopalian bishop to come and pray at the 2009 inauguration of a new president and Rick Warren, the pastor of the largest Baptist church in America, a man who led the fight against the same-sex marriage amendment in California, praises the decision. It is because Barrack Obama nor Rick Warren has any fear of God. Do you know why church members can sit in their pews or chairs on Sunday and act as though they have nothing to change in their hearts demonstrated by their unwillingness to come to God’s altar at invitation time? It is because they have no fear of God. Another passage echoes it well, “Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
We have witnessed to airplane crashes this week on the news. A few years ago a US AIR airplane crashed near Pittsburgh. The cause of that crash was a mystery, because the plane just seemed to fall from the sky. So it was with great interest that the investigators listened to the information recorded in the plane’s black box. CNN played a portion of that recording on the air, revealing that there were just a few seconds from the time the pilot detected trouble until the plane crashed. The black box revealed these sounds from the cockpit: First, there was an “Oh,” followed by profanity and a string of “curse words,” then came the crash and silence. It was in those final moments that the pilot’s real habits and life message was laid bare before the whole world. There is going to come a day when you’ll have your last chance to change and cleanse a defiled heart and then you’ll meet Jesus Christ face to face. In that last hour you will be exactly what you have left your heart to be. Revelation 22:11 says, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” If you were to describe your life in one word would that word honestly be “holy?”
The Models of a Holy Heart
First of all, Paul is quite clear to announce who can be the models of a holy heart. It is the ones that are “having these promises.” It is not just any promises that declares who is qualified to have a holy heart. “These promises” are the ones that Paul gives right in the text. It is unfortunate that the compilers made a chapter division here in the Corinthian letter because the first verse of 2 Corinthians 7 depends on at least five other verses of chapter six to understand the whole of the message of God here. The first verse of chapter six says, “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” Did you know that some people can and do receive the grace of God in vain. They get under conviction under the gospel preacher. They squirm in their seat. Someone nudges them to go forward and talk to the preacher. They even go so far as to step into the public eye and profess faith in the grace of God through Jesus Christ and are baptized to show their death to the old way of life and resurrection to a new life. Then they last not longer than a fish out of water. They immediately head back to their holes and hideouts of sin. They believed in vain. They took the grace of God in vain. It was useless, absolutely useless, an empty formality that didn’t even raise the pen of God to write their names in the Lamb’s Book of Life. The devil himself has deceived them because they had a two-faced heart. They courted heaven all the while thinking of their hellish lovers they couldn’t leave. But they wanted to appear spiritual in the church. Because of that they will never appear in heaven but for a moment before they are sentenced in the damnation of their own unbelief and sent to hell. Why? Why? Why would people do that? It is because the pleasures of sin for a season are more tantalizing than the promises of God for eternity.
What are those promises? Look at them with me in verse 16. “I will dwell in them” - that is habitation. “I will walk in them” - that is occupation. “I will be their God” - that is invitation. “They shall be my people” - that is salvation. “I will receive you” - that’s affiliation. “I will be a Father unto you” - that is regeneration. Finally, “ye shall be my sons and daughters” - that is appreciation. My dear friend, seven promises and the thought that you could miss these is the worst of all predicaments of life. It would have been better that you were not even born to miss these or play with the gift of God’s grace and toss it aside as it were nothing to cherish and rearrange your life by. What does it take to have a holy heart and get these promises? Maybe I should say that the other way around. What does it take to get these promises and have a holy heart? Dear friend, you cannot be holy without the Holy Spirit living in your heart. Paul says in chapter six and verse 14, “for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” Some folks think they are saved and have the promises but they have never once and for all turned their back on unrighteousness. I don’t mean to say that these waterless wells, these figless fig trees haven’t put on a spiritual garment. Oh no, they may wear the finest church garments but their heart is not changed. Let me tell you dear soul if that is the case with your heart you don’t have these promises but you have some others. You have the promise of condemnation upon your soul right now as I speak. You’re not a condemned criminal against the cross of Calvary because you do certain things that God doesn’t like. You’re condemned because of your unbelief. True faith and true belief has a heart change, a total remake of your life. You have the promise of death to your body and death to your soul because it is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. You have the promise of experiencing the greatest shock of your life that can never be reversed when Jesus opens the Lamb’s Book of Life and your name is not there. You have the promise of hearing words that will send electrifying waves of shame over your being, “depart from me ye workers of iniquity for I never knew you.” You have the promise of living without end in a place called hell where there is weeping, screaming, and grinding of teeth. You will never get out. How can you bear it this morning to hear this truth and not reach out with the most sincere heart for Jesus Christ to be your Saviour?
Seven precious promises and all given to the ones Paul calls “dearly beloved.” Did you see that? How those words ring the highest bells of affection. Ephesians 1:6 says, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” It is because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross of Calvary that the thrice Holy Father can call us “beloved”. If you don’t accept Jesus you cannot be given this title of affection by God - beloved. If you don’t have such a life change through the blood of Jesus that you separate yourself from a patterned life of sin you’ll never be able to have a holy heart. Jesus today for real - that is the greatest decision a human soul can ever come to.
The Methods to a Holy Heart
Let me hasten on to tell you of the methods to a holy heart. Paul says, “let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness.” There are three methods to God’s sanctifying work on our hearts. First of all, there must be some personal action. “Let us cleanse ourselves” - that means we would do a good job if we were just as fond of straightening our own selves out as we are to find the faults of others. It is God’s Holy Spirit that will do the work but we must enter in to an active cooperation with God on this matter. The word for cleanse is the same word for what the Jews did when they celebrated the Passover. Seven days before the Passover the wife of the home searches for all leaven used in bread and cleans it all out except for ten pieces. Her husband has instructed his wife purposely to leave ten small pieces of leavened bread in the house. Then the father takes the children, along with a candle, a wooden spoon, a feather, and a piece of linen cloth, and searches through the house for the ten pieces of leaven. By nightfall on the day before Passover a final and comprehensive search is performed. At this time, the house is completely dark except for the candles. Once the father finds the leaven, he sets the candle down by the leaven and lays the wooden spoon beside the leaven. Then he uses the feather to sweep the leaven onto the spoon. Without touching the leaven, he takes the feather, spoon, and leaven, wraps them in a linen cloth, and casts them out of the door of the house. The next morning, on the fourteenth of the Jewish month Nisan, he goes into the synagogue and puts the linen cloth and its contents into a fire to be burned. This is called purging out the old leaven. Children of God, we need to do a good bit of this. Leaven in the Bible is the symbol for sin. We need to search it out and take it out. We need to search for it by the candlelight of God’s word. We live in dark houses, overcome by the darkness of this world. I grew up in a G-rated society. Our entertainment was movies like Roy Rogers, Tarzan and Huckleberry Finn. In just 50 years we have become a XXX society where Christians think nothing of sinning because everybody else is doing it. When Dan Brown can write a book, The DaVinci Code, saying that Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and had a child, and that blasphemous nonsense sells at $25 for 25 million copies, and Christians buy the trash we’ve got filthy hearts. Ron Howard made a movie out of it and it grossed over $700 million worldwide. All I’ve got to say about that is Opie has gone Dopie. When multitudes of parents just smile and look the other way as their children read Harry Potter novels which teach the casting of spells, rebellion against parents, lying, and divination, we’ve got a sickness in our Christian homes that is far worse than cancer. We need to get clean. We need a holy heart.
Second, there not only must be personal action, there must be some painstaking acknowledgment. Paul says we are to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to put the spotlight on both sins of the flesh and spirit. Sins of the spirit lead to sins of the flesh. Have you got anger you can’t control? Its time to get rid of it. You’re a filthy hearted Christian if you don’t. Have you got a lazy disposition about working in the kingdom of God? That is dangerous leaven in the home of your heart that defiles the message of Passover. Have you got pride in your heart that you think you’re pretty clean? Maybe you’re hiding from the spotlight of God. Turn off your little penlight that hardly finds a speck and let the blazing noonday sun of His convicting word shine all over your dirty spots so you can get clean. You know, Christians have for the most part in this age lost their sensitivity to the ruin of sin. We’re dangerously close to an Ananias and Sapphira scandal in the church today. When Christians keep back what belongs to God and they pretend to be such fine dedicated saints it is a mystery to me why God allows them to live. He didn’t let Ananias and Sapphira live in the first century. He cleaned up His church by death then and it is only the mercy of God in longsuffering that He’s patient and doesn’t do that as the first resort today. But I can tell you, He will not be patient forever.
Thirdly, there must be some powerful accomplishment. Paul describes this process to a holy heart with the words “perfecting holiness”. That word “perfecting” is epiteleo in the Greek. It comes from the same word Jesus used at the cross, tetelestai, “It is finished.” There is no accomplishment of holiness if the cleansing stops midstream. If you edit the sermon for your pleasure you’ve short circuited God’s cleansing work. If you hear the whole sermon well and have the presence of mind to recall the sermon point by point yet you file away those points that convicted you making no response, hoping they’ll go away, you’ve derailed God’s train of holiness from its tracks. Follow through. Decide to get clean. Accomplish the full work of God’s cleansing Word by making a decision during the invitation time. Hebrews 12:11 says, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” This is why folk’s problems seem to never go away because they choose an alternate route than to take God’s correction, a quick solution devised from the heart of man calculated to avoid the deeper cleansing of God upon their heart. You see, men and women, God loves us the way we are but He also loves us too much to leave us that way.
The Motivation for a Holy Heart
Now, I must close to tell you the motivation for a holy heart: “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” The fear of God is something that is dangerously missing from God’s church today. Do you know why a Church of England bishop, the Right Rev. David Gillet, can stand in his pulpit and say that they are going to have a Mothering Sunday to emphasize the motherhood of God in order to counter masculine images? It is because that bishop has no fear of God. Do you know why the inauguration committee and Barrack Obama can invite a homosexual episcopalian bishop to come and pray at the 2009 inauguration of a new president and Rick Warren, the pastor of the largest Baptist church in America, a man who led the fight against the same-sex marriage amendment in California, praises the decision. It is because Barrack Obama nor Rick Warren has any fear of God. Do you know why church members can sit in their pews or chairs on Sunday and act as though they have nothing to change in their hearts demonstrated by their unwillingness to come to God’s altar at invitation time? It is because they have no fear of God. Another passage echoes it well, “Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
We have witnessed to airplane crashes this week on the news. A few years ago a US AIR airplane crashed near Pittsburgh. The cause of that crash was a mystery, because the plane just seemed to fall from the sky. So it was with great interest that the investigators listened to the information recorded in the plane’s black box. CNN played a portion of that recording on the air, revealing that there were just a few seconds from the time the pilot detected trouble until the plane crashed. The black box revealed these sounds from the cockpit: First, there was an “Oh,” followed by profanity and a string of “curse words,” then came the crash and silence. It was in those final moments that the pilot’s real habits and life message was laid bare before the whole world. There is going to come a day when you’ll have your last chance to change and cleanse a defiled heart and then you’ll meet Jesus Christ face to face. In that last hour you will be exactly what you have left your heart to be. Revelation 22:11 says, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” If you were to describe your life in one word would that word honestly be “holy?”
Sunday, January 18, 2009
About Holiness, Part One
The following is a manuscript from a friend. Dr. Tim Adams is pastor in middle-north Tennessee; he is a faithful prayer warrior for this wandering missionary. For brevity's sake, I am going to make this a two or three part post. Aside from that, the manuscript is unedited.
God has moved upon my heart to preach this morning on The Vision of a Holy Heart for God. In the earth today there are tremors of God’s judgment to bring the church back to His bosom. We must come back to be a people of prayer, extraordinary prayer, spending time - even hours with our God to be sustained by His power. There is the tightening of the noose of judgment upon the economics of the land, not that we elect another president of another mind hoping he can solve the disappearing dollar mystery. It is no mystery, I promise you. It is God waiting for His people worship Him in spirit and truth, to have no other gods including the ones in our wallet or even the ones we wish were in our wallet, so that the Lord of Heaven may operate within His righteous character, turning calamity into blessing for those who seek Him. Now, this morning we are called to the Throne Room to be smitten once again for our healing. The church is sick, deathly sick. We suffer from a grossly backslidden heart that has let all kinds of unholy and carnal infestations creep into the soul, a soul that in salvation was set apart to be a clean vessel for God. Do you drink of clean water from a scum crusted cup? No, you don’t. Neither will God drink and fill Himself full from a life that has docked in the harbor of sin and iniquity becoming totally crusted with the barnacles of filth and wickedness. God has called us to have a holy heart, church. He has not called us to clean the saucer up on the outside that it may be a pretty place setting in the church house while bearing the smears and smudges of hidden sin. There are three things you need to see in our passage today to receive the message of God on having a holy heart.
“The Vision of A Holy Heart” 2 Corinthians 7:1
It is October 14th, and the sun is reflecting mirages of water on an Air Force base runway in southern Florida. The silence of that scene is interrupted as a long-winged plane touches down on the runway and taxies to the hanger. A thousand planes a day go through this same routine, but this one plane’s payload is different from all the others. Its payload is just a few rolls of film, but the information on that film will shape the events of the world. It will shift the balance of power in the world. The film is transported to a top-secret laboratory and developed. It is sent to the Pentagon and then to the Oval Office in the White House. The year is 1962, and a young president, John F. Kennedy, just 44 years old, sits at the desk in the oval office of America. The decision he makes moves the armies of the most powerful nation in the world to counter a crisis of immense proportions. The photos taken were from a U2 reconnaissance aircraft. One picture in particular revealed that the Soviets had placed medium-range missile silos in Cuba. These missiles were capable of reaching strategic targets throughout the United States. The risk of world conflict hadn’t reached this level since WW2, and it involved the two greatest superpowers in the world, Russia and America. The president moved decisively, ordering Premier Khrushchev to halt all further deliveries of weapons and to immediately dismantle the missile sites. A broadcast to the American people let us know the gravity of the situation. The president said, “This secret, swift, extraordinary buildup of communist weapons is a deliberate and unjustifiable challenge to our national security, and it will not be accepted.” America braced for what was to come. President Kennedy ordered an immediate naval and air blockade of Cuba. Premier Khrushchev decided he would test this young president’s fabric and challenge this nation’s resolve. The Soviet ships sailed on toward Cuba. The world held its breath in nervous anticipation as hours crept by and ships grew closer and closer to one another. As kids we played a little game called ’chicken’ but this was no harmless game. There is a word for this standoff in wartime vocabulary. It is called “brinkmanship.” Brinkmanship is the willingness to expose oneself to risk, to press the limits of safety for a cause. It is walking the tightrope of disaster. The Soviets were going to press the boundary, walk the line, and see just how much they could get away with. The Soviet ships were 100 yards away from our American ships. Our Navy was on full battle alert with orders to stop the Russians at all costs. Some of you recall those moments as people were glued to the radios and TV’s to see who would flinch, who would fire, or what the world would look like in this latest age of nuclear war. With just feet to spare, at the brink of disaster and destruction, the Soviets turned.
It is October 14th, and the sun is reflecting mirages of water on an Air Force base runway in southern Florida. The silence of that scene is interrupted as a long-winged plane touches down on the runway and taxies to the hanger. A thousand planes a day go through this same routine, but this one plane’s payload is different from all the others. Its payload is just a few rolls of film, but the information on that film will shape the events of the world. It will shift the balance of power in the world. The film is transported to a top-secret laboratory and developed. It is sent to the Pentagon and then to the Oval Office in the White House. The year is 1962, and a young president, John F. Kennedy, just 44 years old, sits at the desk in the oval office of America. The decision he makes moves the armies of the most powerful nation in the world to counter a crisis of immense proportions. The photos taken were from a U2 reconnaissance aircraft. One picture in particular revealed that the Soviets had placed medium-range missile silos in Cuba. These missiles were capable of reaching strategic targets throughout the United States. The risk of world conflict hadn’t reached this level since WW2, and it involved the two greatest superpowers in the world, Russia and America. The president moved decisively, ordering Premier Khrushchev to halt all further deliveries of weapons and to immediately dismantle the missile sites. A broadcast to the American people let us know the gravity of the situation. The president said, “This secret, swift, extraordinary buildup of communist weapons is a deliberate and unjustifiable challenge to our national security, and it will not be accepted.” America braced for what was to come. President Kennedy ordered an immediate naval and air blockade of Cuba. Premier Khrushchev decided he would test this young president’s fabric and challenge this nation’s resolve. The Soviet ships sailed on toward Cuba. The world held its breath in nervous anticipation as hours crept by and ships grew closer and closer to one another. As kids we played a little game called ’chicken’ but this was no harmless game. There is a word for this standoff in wartime vocabulary. It is called “brinkmanship.” Brinkmanship is the willingness to expose oneself to risk, to press the limits of safety for a cause. It is walking the tightrope of disaster. The Soviets were going to press the boundary, walk the line, and see just how much they could get away with. The Soviet ships were 100 yards away from our American ships. Our Navy was on full battle alert with orders to stop the Russians at all costs. Some of you recall those moments as people were glued to the radios and TV’s to see who would flinch, who would fire, or what the world would look like in this latest age of nuclear war. With just feet to spare, at the brink of disaster and destruction, the Soviets turned.
There are a lot of people who play this game of spiritual brinkmanship with God. They push the envelope of their lives into realms of darkness, compromise, filth, carnality, and wickedness all the while calling themselves a Christian. Some of the greatest pornography lovers are in the church. Some of the worst thieves are in the church. Some of the worst liars are in the church. Some of the worst adulterers are in the church. But that doesn’t mean they’re in the family of God. Let those who name the name of Christ forsake their iniquity. Brinkmanship - pushing God to the limits of mercy and grace right on up to the last few hours in the Intensive Care ward at the hospital and crying crocodile tears for a life wasted in the devil’s lair and these folks think God will treat them royally in the judgment. Better to think again. Brinkmanship - sailing deep into the waters of adultery and fornication and expecting God to rescue a condemned vessel when the storms of disease and death hit. Wearing the wedding ring of God is no guarantee you’ll make it to the marriage supper. Brinkmanship - very little church involvement, don’t want to talk about your salvation, couldn’t quote one scripture if your life depended on it but you expect that God will smile on you as you walk through the pearly gates. There may be no gates except the prison walls of consuming darkness in hell and no smile, just weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.
We are living in times of unprecedented deception. The god of this world has indeed blinded the minds of men lest they truly believe and the light should shine unto them. Did you know that 21 percent of Americans consider themselves to be holy. Yet the same 21 percent of those responding to a holiness questionnaire said they admit they don’t know how to be holy. There is a mass of people attending church today that do not understand the concept of holiness. Proverbs 30:12 says, “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.”
Would we dare to think God is not serious about holiness when He mentions it 659 times in scripture? “Ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” That verse echoes across the centuries of time and 1500 years later Christ is saying, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” The incense they burned in the tabernacle was holy incense made of specific and unique ingredients. Only the best and pure for God. The High Priest could only go into the Holy of Holies where God dwelt between the cherubim on the ark of the covenant once a year and when he did it he was scared senseless. They tied a rope to his waist and feet to drag him out in case he died in the holy presence of God. The Bible says in Habakkuk 1:13 that God is too pure in His eyes to even look upon evil. If you were to come into the presence of God in your mortal state and see Him face to face the exposure of mortal with immortal, corruption with total incorruption, filth and wretchedness with absolute purity would kill you dead right in the spot where you stand. The great prophet Isaiah who encountered the call of God on his life in an amazing way: one of the seraphim who stood before the throne of God shouting praise, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory,” flew down with a live, white hot, cleansing coal off of God’s altar and burned purity into Isaiah’s mouth and tongue calling him to the prophetic ministry, that Isaiah declares in the 57th chapter of his prophecy and the 15th verse, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” God’s name is holy. God’s celestial city is holy. God’s worshipers are all holy or they don’t ascend the hill - remember Psalm 24:4, “clean hands and a pure heart.” The offerings given to God all had to be holy and consecrated. God’s thoughts are holy and just. The Bible says all of God’s judgments are holy (Isaiah 5:16). God never, never, never, ever makes a wrong judgment. If He wiped every living soul off the earth it would be a holy act of God justified because of man’s defiance of a thrice holy God.
God has moved upon my heart to preach this morning on The Vision of a Holy Heart for God. In the earth today there are tremors of God’s judgment to bring the church back to His bosom. We must come back to be a people of prayer, extraordinary prayer, spending time - even hours with our God to be sustained by His power. There is the tightening of the noose of judgment upon the economics of the land, not that we elect another president of another mind hoping he can solve the disappearing dollar mystery. It is no mystery, I promise you. It is God waiting for His people worship Him in spirit and truth, to have no other gods including the ones in our wallet or even the ones we wish were in our wallet, so that the Lord of Heaven may operate within His righteous character, turning calamity into blessing for those who seek Him. Now, this morning we are called to the Throne Room to be smitten once again for our healing. The church is sick, deathly sick. We suffer from a grossly backslidden heart that has let all kinds of unholy and carnal infestations creep into the soul, a soul that in salvation was set apart to be a clean vessel for God. Do you drink of clean water from a scum crusted cup? No, you don’t. Neither will God drink and fill Himself full from a life that has docked in the harbor of sin and iniquity becoming totally crusted with the barnacles of filth and wickedness. God has called us to have a holy heart, church. He has not called us to clean the saucer up on the outside that it may be a pretty place setting in the church house while bearing the smears and smudges of hidden sin. There are three things you need to see in our passage today to receive the message of God on having a holy heart.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Thinking of Home
The past 4 weeks have been a whirlwind. Our youngest daughter had flown home for a visit. "Home" is in South America. Melissa was born there. She grew up there. And, to a large degree, her heart is in her home country of Peru. It's her delight. When Melissa speaks of it, her eyes light up; there is an excitement in her voice. You know how it is. You remember the foods, the sounds, and the sights of things that bring you to that nostalgic point in your mind.
As we rode together through the twisting streets of Lima, I reminded Melissa and one of her friends that our true home is ahead of us. We are part of the celestial family. Our citizenship is in heaven. Home--our true home--is with the Lord.
Now the Lord was wise in how he set things up. He knows us. The Lord Jesus told us a little about how heaven would be (John 14). Then he said, as it were, "Don't worry, guys. I am sending you the Comforter to be with you till we see one another again." "The Comforter" is the Holy Spirit. Among other things that the Holy Spirit is for us, is that word that Paul used in 2 Corinthians and Ephesians: "the down payment." He is a sample of what is awaiting us.
This is my point: the Holy Spirit of God keeps us yearning for "home." If he did not reside within us, I fear we would wander off, carried away by the interests and cares of this world. We would not be interested in, or longing for, the presence of God. We would not be further motivated to encourage others to turn to Jesus for salvation. We would forget, both where we came from and where we are headed.
But Paul said in 1 Cor. 2 that, even though it has not entered into the mind of man what "home" is really like, the Holy Spirit reveals that to our spirit. He whispers about the beauties of heaven. Sometimes I think he fairly shouts it to us. He taps us on our spiritual shoulders when we get too distracted with the things around us, pointing "upward" to heaven.
In short, keep thinking of home. One day we will, I hope, meet one another there. One day we will see that the wait has been worth it all.
As we rode together through the twisting streets of Lima, I reminded Melissa and one of her friends that our true home is ahead of us. We are part of the celestial family. Our citizenship is in heaven. Home--our true home--is with the Lord.
Now the Lord was wise in how he set things up. He knows us. The Lord Jesus told us a little about how heaven would be (John 14). Then he said, as it were, "Don't worry, guys. I am sending you the Comforter to be with you till we see one another again." "The Comforter" is the Holy Spirit. Among other things that the Holy Spirit is for us, is that word that Paul used in 2 Corinthians and Ephesians: "the down payment." He is a sample of what is awaiting us.
This is my point: the Holy Spirit of God keeps us yearning for "home." If he did not reside within us, I fear we would wander off, carried away by the interests and cares of this world. We would not be interested in, or longing for, the presence of God. We would not be further motivated to encourage others to turn to Jesus for salvation. We would forget, both where we came from and where we are headed.
But Paul said in 1 Cor. 2 that, even though it has not entered into the mind of man what "home" is really like, the Holy Spirit reveals that to our spirit. He whispers about the beauties of heaven. Sometimes I think he fairly shouts it to us. He taps us on our spiritual shoulders when we get too distracted with the things around us, pointing "upward" to heaven.
In short, keep thinking of home. One day we will, I hope, meet one another there. One day we will see that the wait has been worth it all.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Eco-political thoughts about 2008
There have been some phrases and words used in 2008 that have become so cliche, I am sincerely hoping they disappear from our computer screens, mouths, and magazines.
One is the word "change." It was so ravaged by the politicians, that I am sick of hearing it. It's a catch-all word for those guys, that does not really mean what they think you think it means. For the politicians, the only change they want is a change in power; well, they got it, didn't they? We gave it to them. We believed them. But don't expect their use of change to change your quality of life; it probably won't.
Next on my list is "carbon footprint." What a contrived idea. Seriously. Every organic object has a carbon footprint. They all expend energy; it's part of life. Living things expend energy. Yes, "carbon footprint" is mostly used to describe your voracious appetite for, and expenditure of man-made energy. But this is in the mostly-debunked myth that man-made energy is a bad thing for the environment. What? You did not know that all the hooplah over global warming is just that? Sorry to spoil your day. My dog's carbon footprint just temporarily expanded by a natural expulsion of methane. Oops. TMI.
My top two are equally related: "green," and "global warming."
I once owned a green car and a green truck. Those were the colors. Now it takes on another meaning and you have to be very specific as to what you mean. Sorry if this upsets you, but it's an abuse of your good minds to be convinced to use that word in such an anti-human way. Yes, some of the most ardent defenders of the green concept believe that they can reclaim the earth by removing the worst influence: people. It's odd that they mean everyone but themselves.
As for global warming, too many conferences had to be cancelled in 2008; it was too cold to meet. There was one purpose for that phrase: to get bigger-government people in office, so that you would lose more control, pay more taxes, and have less responsibility for your own future. Don't think I am making this up. You have to read the bottom line that these guys have written. It's all about power, no pun intended.
I suppose I should be spiritual, or something, in this last post of 2008. I do, in fact, believe in global warming. It's prophesied in Peter. The earth shall melt with a fervent heat. I just happen to believe it will happen all at once, not gradually. What does that mean for now? Since we do not know when the Day of the Lord will happen, I suggest you forget the carbon footprint and follow the Creator's footprints. Jesus said to take up your cross and follow him. Those are the footprints you need to be focused on.
One is the word "change." It was so ravaged by the politicians, that I am sick of hearing it. It's a catch-all word for those guys, that does not really mean what they think you think it means. For the politicians, the only change they want is a change in power; well, they got it, didn't they? We gave it to them. We believed them. But don't expect their use of change to change your quality of life; it probably won't.
Next on my list is "carbon footprint." What a contrived idea. Seriously. Every organic object has a carbon footprint. They all expend energy; it's part of life. Living things expend energy. Yes, "carbon footprint" is mostly used to describe your voracious appetite for, and expenditure of man-made energy. But this is in the mostly-debunked myth that man-made energy is a bad thing for the environment. What? You did not know that all the hooplah over global warming is just that? Sorry to spoil your day. My dog's carbon footprint just temporarily expanded by a natural expulsion of methane. Oops. TMI.
My top two are equally related: "green," and "global warming."
I once owned a green car and a green truck. Those were the colors. Now it takes on another meaning and you have to be very specific as to what you mean. Sorry if this upsets you, but it's an abuse of your good minds to be convinced to use that word in such an anti-human way. Yes, some of the most ardent defenders of the green concept believe that they can reclaim the earth by removing the worst influence: people. It's odd that they mean everyone but themselves.
As for global warming, too many conferences had to be cancelled in 2008; it was too cold to meet. There was one purpose for that phrase: to get bigger-government people in office, so that you would lose more control, pay more taxes, and have less responsibility for your own future. Don't think I am making this up. You have to read the bottom line that these guys have written. It's all about power, no pun intended.
I suppose I should be spiritual, or something, in this last post of 2008. I do, in fact, believe in global warming. It's prophesied in Peter. The earth shall melt with a fervent heat. I just happen to believe it will happen all at once, not gradually. What does that mean for now? Since we do not know when the Day of the Lord will happen, I suggest you forget the carbon footprint and follow the Creator's footprints. Jesus said to take up your cross and follow him. Those are the footprints you need to be focused on.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Just Jesus!
I bet you think this is going to be another pontification about Christmas being about Christ. Though it is, I have something else in mind; I read a news article today that showed America's apostasy. That is, when it comes to heaven, salvation, and those kinds of things, too many professing Christians have bought the tolerance lies that Satan has spewed out since the Garden of Eden. They believe that salvation is about your sincerity of belief. Okay, maybe they did not use those precise words. But they did affirm multiple ways to heaven.
A majority of professing Christians have moved from respecting one's right to choose their form of worship, to actually believing that there are multiple ways to heaven. In fact, that figure reaches to an alarming 65 percent. This includes all professing Christias. Fifty-one percent of evangelicals believe that there are multiple ways to heaven. That figure was higher six years ago, so someone woke up and smelled the burnt coffee. Thank the Lord for a little good news in the midst of the bad.
Still, too many people think that salvation can be about Buddha, or Allah, or some other person. It's not, folks. Salvation is through Jesus. Period. Not Jesus, plus your works. Just Jesus. Not Mohammed as God's prophet. Just Jesus. Not the Noble Path. Just Jesus.
The good news is that God provides a full pardon for our sins. He paid the debt himself by sending Jesus to die for you. God proved he was satisfied with Jesus' sin payment by raising Jesus from the dead. And God said, as it were, "You want salvation? You want eternity in paradise? It's paid for, but you have to accept my payment as good enough. And my payment was Jesus' death on the cross. And to prove I was satisfied, I raised him from the dead after 3 days."
The good news cannot be good without bad news alongside it. The bad news is that, no matter how sincere you may be, if you do not turn to Jesus and place your faith in him and him alone, there is no salvation. There is only that terrible place called hell. Not annihilation. Hell. Not purgatory. Hell. The bad news gets worse: "He that does not believe [in Jesus] is already condemned." Read about it in John chapter 3. So if you do not believe in my Jesus, dear friend, you have already been condemned and are only awaiting the execution of the death sentence. You are on death row. That is what makes the good news good. Someone else was executed in your place, if you are willing to accept his payment. If not, you stay on death row.
Don't place your hope in your ability to earn your way to heaven. Don't trust your religion. Just trust Jesus.
Pray for America. Perhaps God will spare America a few more years so that we can turn to him.
A majority of professing Christians have moved from respecting one's right to choose their form of worship, to actually believing that there are multiple ways to heaven. In fact, that figure reaches to an alarming 65 percent. This includes all professing Christias. Fifty-one percent of evangelicals believe that there are multiple ways to heaven. That figure was higher six years ago, so someone woke up and smelled the burnt coffee. Thank the Lord for a little good news in the midst of the bad.
Still, too many people think that salvation can be about Buddha, or Allah, or some other person. It's not, folks. Salvation is through Jesus. Period. Not Jesus, plus your works. Just Jesus. Not Mohammed as God's prophet. Just Jesus. Not the Noble Path. Just Jesus.
The good news is that God provides a full pardon for our sins. He paid the debt himself by sending Jesus to die for you. God proved he was satisfied with Jesus' sin payment by raising Jesus from the dead. And God said, as it were, "You want salvation? You want eternity in paradise? It's paid for, but you have to accept my payment as good enough. And my payment was Jesus' death on the cross. And to prove I was satisfied, I raised him from the dead after 3 days."
The good news cannot be good without bad news alongside it. The bad news is that, no matter how sincere you may be, if you do not turn to Jesus and place your faith in him and him alone, there is no salvation. There is only that terrible place called hell. Not annihilation. Hell. Not purgatory. Hell. The bad news gets worse: "He that does not believe [in Jesus] is already condemned." Read about it in John chapter 3. So if you do not believe in my Jesus, dear friend, you have already been condemned and are only awaiting the execution of the death sentence. You are on death row. That is what makes the good news good. Someone else was executed in your place, if you are willing to accept his payment. If not, you stay on death row.
Don't place your hope in your ability to earn your way to heaven. Don't trust your religion. Just trust Jesus.
Pray for America. Perhaps God will spare America a few more years so that we can turn to him.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
What Christmas Means to "Them"
Many in the western world are busying themselves with their Christmas preparations. Even in our city, one can drive around and find houses trimmed with lights and all kinds of joyful signs of this great celebration. We laughed as we made our way to the airport a few nights ago. There were all kinds of lighted snowmen, angels, bells, and other decorations lining the median in the avenue. We were amazed to see them, till we saw the locks holding them to the posts. But even at that, it is the first Christmas I remember seeing such decorations on open display in that part of town.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, things don't look quite the same. Christians in parts of India fear for their lives. You can read about it here. Not far away from there, many Chinese are suffering for the cause of Christ, as stated here. There is an agressive attempt to erradicate Christianity from China. Some people never learn; God opened the door and no man will shut it. Nigerian believers are suffering; the same goes in many other parts of the world.
And we westerners still express dismay and amazement over our nativity scenes, over our right to openly display the words "Merry Christmas." Do not misunderstand me; I have a great appreciation for the liberties we have historically enjoyed. I don't want to lose them anymore than the next guy. But when compare with the believers in Iran, or Iraq, or Bangladesh, such harrassment is so small and inconsequential.
Next week, when you stop to open that gift that your loved one bought or made for you, take time to remember your brothers and sisters around the world whose lives may be in danger in the very moment you are sharing your love with one another. "Merry Christmas" for them just may mean living through the night without fear of reprisal for living for Jesus.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, things don't look quite the same. Christians in parts of India fear for their lives. You can read about it here. Not far away from there, many Chinese are suffering for the cause of Christ, as stated here. There is an agressive attempt to erradicate Christianity from China. Some people never learn; God opened the door and no man will shut it. Nigerian believers are suffering; the same goes in many other parts of the world.
And we westerners still express dismay and amazement over our nativity scenes, over our right to openly display the words "Merry Christmas." Do not misunderstand me; I have a great appreciation for the liberties we have historically enjoyed. I don't want to lose them anymore than the next guy. But when compare with the believers in Iran, or Iraq, or Bangladesh, such harrassment is so small and inconsequential.
Next week, when you stop to open that gift that your loved one bought or made for you, take time to remember your brothers and sisters around the world whose lives may be in danger in the very moment you are sharing your love with one another. "Merry Christmas" for them just may mean living through the night without fear of reprisal for living for Jesus.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Pray for Persecution in Gambia
Pray for David and Fiona Fulton. These British Missionaries are being held in Gambia for sedition. Pray for each of them to be able to be a witness for the glory of God, even in the midst of suffering. But pray for them to be set free, if at all possible.
While the charges against them may be sedition, their crime is proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Muslims despise the truth as much as secular humanists in the west do. Some Muslims just happen to be more decisive in their opposition to the word of God.
While the charges against them may be sedition, their crime is proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Muslims despise the truth as much as secular humanists in the west do. Some Muslims just happen to be more decisive in their opposition to the word of God.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
About Suffering
It's far easier to speak about suffering when it isn't your own. It's far easier to be an encourager when you are sitting comfortably, looking over at the person, or persons, who are hanging on by a thread. It's that ivory tower mentality that gets us in trouble.
So this is not from my tower. It's up close and personal. It's the kind of comments that come after many a sleepless night, heart palpitations brought on by wondering what the next phone call would bring, and lots and lots of prayer.
Why does God let us suffer? Why do we pass through the fire? Why do we have to pass those sleepless nights, or have to be unable to alleviate the suffering of others? I can think of several reasons. Here are just a few, for starters.
Sometimes suffering is our own doing. You'll find illustrations in King David's life about suffering he brought on himself, as well as on others. You can also see Peter's admonition in 1 Peter 4:15 - "If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler." When it is our own doing, we need to repent.
Sometimes suffering is the result of the evil of this world. I am not in the camp that thinks that everyone is basically good. Most of us have a measure of goodness in us; but the Bible teaches we are not basically good; instead, God teaches that there is none good, not even one (see Romans 3). There are, consequently, a lot of people out there who have given themselves over to evil, to practice what is in their hearts. And we end up suffering because of it.
Do you think that those men who commandeered the jetliners on 9-11 were basically good? They were depraved, indifferent, evil men. Do you think that handful of terrorists who struck in Mumbai were good? They were violent men who sold themselves to do evil. What we often fail to remember, however, is that the same spirit that will lead us to lie is that spirit that will lead us to cheat, curse others, give in to road rage, and even kill.
So some suffering comes as a consequence of evil in others.
Sometimes we suffer because of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Americans are too often unaware of such suffering. We have actually reached a point where we seem to think that it is our right to prosper and live at ease. And when suffering comes, we groan and weep, questioning God for that which comes upon us. Or we file lawsuits. Or we go to the press. And we cast our pearls before swine (the lost world), mumbling something about our rights being trampled. Of course they are being trampled! The world has no interest whatsoever in the things of God's children.
Around the world, even as you are reading this, men and women (and sometimes children, too) are suffering for the cause of Christ. Some are in prison. Some are being starved to death. Some are being tortured in attempts to make them recant their faith in Jesus Christ. Some are being burned alive.
Would you like to know what Peter said about that? Read these verses from 1 Peter 4:12-14:
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."
Don't be surprised. You are blessed. Rejoice.
It ain't easy to rejoice when you feel like God's enemies are squeezing the life out of you. But we can do it. It isn't easy to give thanks when everything around us goes wrong; but we can do it.
One more thought comes to mind. Suffering can be God's means of shaping us to be more like Jesus. He is the potter, we are the clay. God can use pressure to mold us. The purest of gold comes out of the smelter's fire. The finest jewels are formed under pressure. The pressures of suffering produce Christ-likeness in God's children. If we allow it. If we let God have his way. If we wait patiently for God to finish the work.
Suffering is not enjoyable. It's not something we need to seek. Troubles will find us soon enough, sooner if we are sold out to Jesus. But suffering is to be expected; it's a part of life. Receive it when it comes. Let God demonstrate what he can do with someone submitted to him.
So this is not from my tower. It's up close and personal. It's the kind of comments that come after many a sleepless night, heart palpitations brought on by wondering what the next phone call would bring, and lots and lots of prayer.
Why does God let us suffer? Why do we pass through the fire? Why do we have to pass those sleepless nights, or have to be unable to alleviate the suffering of others? I can think of several reasons. Here are just a few, for starters.
Sometimes suffering is our own doing. You'll find illustrations in King David's life about suffering he brought on himself, as well as on others. You can also see Peter's admonition in 1 Peter 4:15 - "If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler." When it is our own doing, we need to repent.
Sometimes suffering is the result of the evil of this world. I am not in the camp that thinks that everyone is basically good. Most of us have a measure of goodness in us; but the Bible teaches we are not basically good; instead, God teaches that there is none good, not even one (see Romans 3). There are, consequently, a lot of people out there who have given themselves over to evil, to practice what is in their hearts. And we end up suffering because of it.
Do you think that those men who commandeered the jetliners on 9-11 were basically good? They were depraved, indifferent, evil men. Do you think that handful of terrorists who struck in Mumbai were good? They were violent men who sold themselves to do evil. What we often fail to remember, however, is that the same spirit that will lead us to lie is that spirit that will lead us to cheat, curse others, give in to road rage, and even kill.
So some suffering comes as a consequence of evil in others.
Sometimes we suffer because of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Americans are too often unaware of such suffering. We have actually reached a point where we seem to think that it is our right to prosper and live at ease. And when suffering comes, we groan and weep, questioning God for that which comes upon us. Or we file lawsuits. Or we go to the press. And we cast our pearls before swine (the lost world), mumbling something about our rights being trampled. Of course they are being trampled! The world has no interest whatsoever in the things of God's children.
Around the world, even as you are reading this, men and women (and sometimes children, too) are suffering for the cause of Christ. Some are in prison. Some are being starved to death. Some are being tortured in attempts to make them recant their faith in Jesus Christ. Some are being burned alive.
Would you like to know what Peter said about that? Read these verses from 1 Peter 4:12-14:
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."
Don't be surprised. You are blessed. Rejoice.
It ain't easy to rejoice when you feel like God's enemies are squeezing the life out of you. But we can do it. It isn't easy to give thanks when everything around us goes wrong; but we can do it.
One more thought comes to mind. Suffering can be God's means of shaping us to be more like Jesus. He is the potter, we are the clay. God can use pressure to mold us. The purest of gold comes out of the smelter's fire. The finest jewels are formed under pressure. The pressures of suffering produce Christ-likeness in God's children. If we allow it. If we let God have his way. If we wait patiently for God to finish the work.
Suffering is not enjoyable. It's not something we need to seek. Troubles will find us soon enough, sooner if we are sold out to Jesus. But suffering is to be expected; it's a part of life. Receive it when it comes. Let God demonstrate what he can do with someone submitted to him.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Are You a Waiter?
There are tens of thousands of men and women, both young and old, that make your meal or other event a little more pleasant when you visit your favorite feed trough. That's what they are there for; they wait on you. They stand to one side (if not scurrying from table to table) and wait for your request so that they can serve you. Today they call themselves "servers" in many places. We once called this group "waiters." Because their single goal was to wait for your call and command and then fulfill it.
That concept is ancient now. The idea that someone would wait for another to give them direction has faded, perhaps due to the fast-food culture that permeates too many societies now. Not so, here. Even the fast-food places have people who will be your waiter. It's nice.
Gone with the concept of a waiter is the concept of waiting, too. Do you like to wait for that word from someone else? Do you find yourself frustrated with serving others? Moms once had to serve as waiters. Now with both parents working in so many places, there are exceptions to that way of life. [I did not say only moms should do that; it's just how things were.]
King David often spoke of waiting in the Psalms. He spoke of it as a privilege. He compared himself to a hand-servant waiting on his master. Our relationship with God should include such a concept. God is the King. We are the servants. He gives the orders; we wait on him to give them to us. And then we fulfill them in his strength and for his honor. It's not to be congratulated. Waiting is strictly for the honor of the one we serve.
Be a waiter for God today. Wait for him to speak and then do what he says.
That concept is ancient now. The idea that someone would wait for another to give them direction has faded, perhaps due to the fast-food culture that permeates too many societies now. Not so, here. Even the fast-food places have people who will be your waiter. It's nice.
Gone with the concept of a waiter is the concept of waiting, too. Do you like to wait for that word from someone else? Do you find yourself frustrated with serving others? Moms once had to serve as waiters. Now with both parents working in so many places, there are exceptions to that way of life. [I did not say only moms should do that; it's just how things were.]
King David often spoke of waiting in the Psalms. He spoke of it as a privilege. He compared himself to a hand-servant waiting on his master. Our relationship with God should include such a concept. God is the King. We are the servants. He gives the orders; we wait on him to give them to us. And then we fulfill them in his strength and for his honor. It's not to be congratulated. Waiting is strictly for the honor of the one we serve.
Be a waiter for God today. Wait for him to speak and then do what he says.
Friday, November 07, 2008
The Birth and Growth of an Idea
This morning I sat on a couch in our office complex, looking across at a couple who have been called to, and trained for, missions. Together, we two couples form a team. We are a team of international missions consultants. Our job is both simple and complex. Simply stated, we find those called and help them get to their place of service, as I wrote a few weeks back. The complexities come in when you consider interviewing candidates, training, networking, and the entire proverbial ball of wax that is a part of sending out missionaries.
This couple--Peruvians by birth, up-bringing, and culture--was excited as we shared our vision for sending out Latin-Americans into all the world. For me, the most gratifying thing was hearing the wife ask (names omitted intentionally), "Who is on our team?" Did you see that small possessive pronoun in that? "Our." It's "our" team. She did not ask, "Who is on "your" team; she asked about "our team."
That is a great hurdle that we have crossed. We bridged a river. Find the cliche that works for you and run with it. We see one another as equals, partners in ministry. We bring to the table what each can bring, showing (trying to, at least) mutual respect and learning what we can from one another.
One important ramification is that when any of us shares an idea, it is not filtered quite as much as can normally happen in cross-cultural communication. So when I brought up some ideas as to how we may accomplish sending out missionaries, I saw their faces light up. When they shared their opinions regarding some of the details, they got to see my excitement.
It was an incubation room. An idea was born and began to grow. It is not a North American idea; it is not a South American idea. It is a mission team idea. I am excited about this for two reasons: one, the goal to send out missionaries from this country is a realistic one in the eye of those with whom we work; two, when the "product" is finally presented to the national church or churches, it won't be seen as imported from another world.
May the idea of sending out laborers continue to grow and bring fruit!
This couple--Peruvians by birth, up-bringing, and culture--was excited as we shared our vision for sending out Latin-Americans into all the world. For me, the most gratifying thing was hearing the wife ask (names omitted intentionally), "Who is on our team?" Did you see that small possessive pronoun in that? "Our." It's "our" team. She did not ask, "Who is on "your" team; she asked about "our team."
That is a great hurdle that we have crossed. We bridged a river. Find the cliche that works for you and run with it. We see one another as equals, partners in ministry. We bring to the table what each can bring, showing (trying to, at least) mutual respect and learning what we can from one another.
One important ramification is that when any of us shares an idea, it is not filtered quite as much as can normally happen in cross-cultural communication. So when I brought up some ideas as to how we may accomplish sending out missionaries, I saw their faces light up. When they shared their opinions regarding some of the details, they got to see my excitement.
It was an incubation room. An idea was born and began to grow. It is not a North American idea; it is not a South American idea. It is a mission team idea. I am excited about this for two reasons: one, the goal to send out missionaries from this country is a realistic one in the eye of those with whom we work; two, when the "product" is finally presented to the national church or churches, it won't be seen as imported from another world.
May the idea of sending out laborers continue to grow and bring fruit!
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Mr. Obama Is President-elect; Now What?
America cast its vote. Congress did not change all that much; it did move to the left. But the presidency took historic steps. So now what do we do? We pray. We do the same thing we would do, no matter the winner. We pray for our leaders. We depend upon the hand of the living God to mercifully move this country to a third great awakening.
Above all, we obey what God teaches in Psalm 37:3 - "Trust in the Lord and do good."
God save America. God save the congress and the president.
Above all, we obey what God teaches in Psalm 37:3 - "Trust in the Lord and do good."
God save America. God save the congress and the president.
Monday, November 03, 2008
An Election Day Prayer
This was placed as a comment on another post. I chose to post it here to be sure it is seen by more people.
A Prayer for the ElectionNovember 3, 2008 By: John Piper
Category: Commentary
Father in heaven, as we approach this election on Tuesday, I pray
1) that your people will vote,
2) and that they will vote with a sense of thankfulness for a democratic system that at least partially holds in check the folly and evil in all our hearts so that power which corrupts so readily is not given to one group or person too easily;
3) that we would know and live the meaning of being in the world, but not of it, doing politics as though not doing them, being on the earth, yet having our lives hidden with Christ in God, rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s;
4) that we would discern what truths and values should advance by being made law and which should advance only by the leavening of honest influence;
5) that your people would see what love and justice and far-seeing wisdom demand in regard to the issues of education, business and industry, health care, marriage and family, abortion, welfare, energy, government and taxes, military, terrorism, international relations, and every challenge that we will face in the years to come;
6) and above all, that we will treasure Jesus Christ, and tell everyone of his sovereignty and supremacy over all nations, and that long after America is a footnote to the future world, he will reign with his people from every tribe and tongue and nation. Keep us faithful to Christ’s all important Word, and may we turn to it every day for light in these dark times.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
A Prayer for the ElectionNovember 3, 2008 By: John Piper
Category: Commentary
Father in heaven, as we approach this election on Tuesday, I pray
1) that your people will vote,
2) and that they will vote with a sense of thankfulness for a democratic system that at least partially holds in check the folly and evil in all our hearts so that power which corrupts so readily is not given to one group or person too easily;
3) that we would know and live the meaning of being in the world, but not of it, doing politics as though not doing them, being on the earth, yet having our lives hidden with Christ in God, rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s;
4) that we would discern what truths and values should advance by being made law and which should advance only by the leavening of honest influence;
5) that your people would see what love and justice and far-seeing wisdom demand in regard to the issues of education, business and industry, health care, marriage and family, abortion, welfare, energy, government and taxes, military, terrorism, international relations, and every challenge that we will face in the years to come;
6) and above all, that we will treasure Jesus Christ, and tell everyone of his sovereignty and supremacy over all nations, and that long after America is a footnote to the future world, he will reign with his people from every tribe and tongue and nation. Keep us faithful to Christ’s all important Word, and may we turn to it every day for light in these dark times.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Another Holiday Somewhere in South America
November 1st is a holiday where we live. It's All Saints Day. Had this day fallen during the week, schools and businesses would have closed, for the most part. It's that important to some here.
So what goes on? What do people do on All Saints Day? I can't speak for all parts of the world. But here, entire families often go to the cemetery where their departed loved were buried. Often musical bands will be in the cemeteries. The families makea big party out of the event. They bring food, flowers, and beverages. Strong beverages. Intoxicating beverages. They will place the flowers and plates of the deceased's favorite food, and pour them a drink. Then the living family members will often begin to drink along with them. The particpants drink themselves drunk. They dance, tell tales, and drink some more.
This morning, our house helper showed up early--8 AM. She told us that the streets were filled with drunks. I asked if she was speaking of her neighborhood, some 90 minutes away from here. She told me that yes, in that part of the city they were drunk; but right in front of my house the local security personnel had loaded up several who were drunk. Fights, she said, broke out all over. Men fighting men, women fighting women (I have seen the same, as well).
Seeing such a sight is heartbreaking. There is no way I can convey the images through words. Men and women alike pour themselves into this raucous carnival-like event. God is dishonored. Christ is ignored. He is mentioned, but only the most perfunctory manner. After all, it's All SAINTS Day. It's not about Jesus. It's about the dead.
I see little root difference between this kind of celebration and that of ancestor worship. I am pretty sure the same devil dreamed up both of them. And I am fully persuaded that God is not honored in either.
Why does it happen? It's because mankind has set up false gods to satisfy his desire to live free from the God of glory. Mankind seeks a means to justify his life; this is just another of many false truths circulating around the world.
May we seek the living Lord, not celebrate the dead!
So what goes on? What do people do on All Saints Day? I can't speak for all parts of the world. But here, entire families often go to the cemetery where their departed loved were buried. Often musical bands will be in the cemeteries. The families makea big party out of the event. They bring food, flowers, and beverages. Strong beverages. Intoxicating beverages. They will place the flowers and plates of the deceased's favorite food, and pour them a drink. Then the living family members will often begin to drink along with them. The particpants drink themselves drunk. They dance, tell tales, and drink some more.
This morning, our house helper showed up early--8 AM. She told us that the streets were filled with drunks. I asked if she was speaking of her neighborhood, some 90 minutes away from here. She told me that yes, in that part of the city they were drunk; but right in front of my house the local security personnel had loaded up several who were drunk. Fights, she said, broke out all over. Men fighting men, women fighting women (I have seen the same, as well).
Seeing such a sight is heartbreaking. There is no way I can convey the images through words. Men and women alike pour themselves into this raucous carnival-like event. God is dishonored. Christ is ignored. He is mentioned, but only the most perfunctory manner. After all, it's All SAINTS Day. It's not about Jesus. It's about the dead.
I see little root difference between this kind of celebration and that of ancestor worship. I am pretty sure the same devil dreamed up both of them. And I am fully persuaded that God is not honored in either.
Why does it happen? It's because mankind has set up false gods to satisfy his desire to live free from the God of glory. Mankind seeks a means to justify his life; this is just another of many false truths circulating around the world.
May we seek the living Lord, not celebrate the dead!
Where Do They Stand?
Before you in America cast your vote, know where the two primary candidates stand on the main moral issues. As I said a few weeks back, it is not about the economy; this is about the moral future of our nation.
Vote with wisdom!
Vote with wisdom!
Friday, October 31, 2008
No Room for Complaints!
I don't know who originally wrote the following. It has been attributed to various TV celebs. It doesn't matter who the author was. I think it is worth a read:
'As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.'
'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?'
A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move thro ugh each state.
F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
K. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that i s what has 67% of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see ;us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?
Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer wha t sell s, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!
Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek , and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
'As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.'
'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?'
A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move thro ugh each state.
F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
K. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that i s what has 67% of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see ;us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?
Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer wha t sell s, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!
Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek , and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
Thursday, October 30, 2008
When We Pray for the Harvest
If the name were not a trademark, I would call myself an International Harvester. That is the calling upon my life. I am involved in soul-harvesting. It's a life-changing thing, both for me and the ones that respond to God's call.
Jesus told us the fields were white--ready to be harvested (John 4). He also said that there were few laborers to be found. I live in South America, where the harvest is big enough. But I try to think globally, not just about South America. So one thing I do is pray for the harvest. As Jesus told us to do, I pray for laborers.
Now when we pray for the harvest, we need to be ready. Two weeks ago a man approached me with a claim on his life. God answered our prayers for the harvest for a closed country. This man and his wife feel called to go. So, knowing I try to find ways for men and women to fulfill that call, the man asked me how I could help him get to his harvest field.
Not long before the man I just mentioned, I received other calls and e mails from other people who have answered God's call. They have the same question: how do they get from South America to the place where God has told them to go?
We are delighted to actually see God answering our prayers for laborers for the world. I want to encourage you to continue to pray for laborers. God is answering. God is sending his laborers. When we pray, the Lord of the Harvest answers...
Jesus told us the fields were white--ready to be harvested (John 4). He also said that there were few laborers to be found. I live in South America, where the harvest is big enough. But I try to think globally, not just about South America. So one thing I do is pray for the harvest. As Jesus told us to do, I pray for laborers.
Now when we pray for the harvest, we need to be ready. Two weeks ago a man approached me with a claim on his life. God answered our prayers for the harvest for a closed country. This man and his wife feel called to go. So, knowing I try to find ways for men and women to fulfill that call, the man asked me how I could help him get to his harvest field.
Not long before the man I just mentioned, I received other calls and e mails from other people who have answered God's call. They have the same question: how do they get from South America to the place where God has told them to go?
We are delighted to actually see God answering our prayers for laborers for the world. I want to encourage you to continue to pray for laborers. God is answering. God is sending his laborers. When we pray, the Lord of the Harvest answers...
Monday, October 27, 2008
A Time for Intolerance
The skinheads are on the march. Their latest antics include threats against Obama and promises to murder blacks in Tennessee.
Now is the time for intolerance. We should stand up and speak out against such a reprehensible plan. Such racial bigotry is repugnant. Thank God these thugs were found out before they could perpetrate such evil.
Christ broke down the middle wall of separation. As we sang when I was a child, "Red and yellow, black and white; they are precious in his sight." Obama may not share my values; but he has the right to his own personal journey. God said we should pray for him, not persecute him.
Now is the time for intolerance. We should stand up and speak out against such a reprehensible plan. Such racial bigotry is repugnant. Thank God these thugs were found out before they could perpetrate such evil.
Christ broke down the middle wall of separation. As we sang when I was a child, "Red and yellow, black and white; they are precious in his sight." Obama may not share my values; but he has the right to his own personal journey. God said we should pray for him, not persecute him.
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