Love and Death

One thing that I've come to learn over the past 15 years is that who I used to think that I was is no longer completely true...and who I currently think that I am will likely change in the future, too. Let me try to explain without boring you with the metaphysics of my tiny pea brain. Over the past couple of decades, I have done things that I said I would "never" do, and I failed to do things that I always thought that I would or should.
That brings me now to the topic of Love and Death. Throughout my adult life, I have had very little fear or worry about death. Like I do with so many other aspects of my life, I held death as just an inevitable truth. "I don't have any control over it....why worry about it..." kind of attitude. Well, recently I had noticed a chink in my "why worry about it" armor. And, today as I was driving home from work, I passed a cemetery and experienced a physical and emotional response to seeing a grave being dug. My brain shouted out to the cemetery something like "Stay away from us!"
My response surprised me. But it didn't take me long to figure it out. I have never loved anything or anyone the way that I love my family. I want to protect them from everything. I don't want them to experience the pain of seeing someone they love die, and I don't want any of them to die (obviously). I know that this isn't realistic, but I'm not choosing to feel this way or think this way. This change in my philosophy wasn't by choice. I hate it; it's foreign to me; and I don't know what to do with these feelings of vulnerability.
So, I looked up death in the Bible, and the first thing I came to was 1 Cor 15:55 "Where Oh Death is thy victory; Oh where Death is thy sting?" That wasn't comforting to me......
But, then I read the entire chapter..... Paul discusses the resurrection of Christ. There are several passages that struck me, but the one that I read over and over...."And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame."
I was shamed somewhat by this, but more than that I was put back on point. "I die every day as surely as I glory over you.." What I read throughout chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians was "Yeah, this life is painful and sorrowful...there is no shelter from the deaths of this life. Don't wilt because of it. Make sure the ones you love know not just the harsh realities of this life, but also know the Message of our Resurrected Savior. Don't focus on sheltering; focus on empowering them to face this world's pain through the power of the Truth."

Stumbling Block

From the time we are infants, we have goals set for us and by us. We are judged, by those around us, according to how well we achieve these goals. It is usually thought that the one who achieves the most is the most successful. Is it really prideful to achieve something, and then stand back and admire your work? I think the answer is "NO!"................Unfortunately, I also think the answer is "YES!"
In Daniel 4:30-33, King Nebuchadnezzar walked into his palace and said, "Is this not The Great Babylon that I have built by my vast power to be a royal residence and to display my majestic glory?"
Although the line may be fine between being prideful and celebrating a victory, the king went well beyond the fine line. He took full credit for things achieved through him by God. He took credit not for the work, but for the power and the glory.
I haven't built any kingdoms lately, but I have had plenty of opportunities to take credit for things that God has made possible. How hollow it feels when I fail to give credit where it belongs.

Habbakuk Serves a Low Blow

A few weeks ago, I was feeling particularly down...everything in my life seemed fouled up: go to work (problems), go home (problems), turn on the computer (problems), look at bank statement (problems), turn on TV (problems), start the car (problems), look in the mirror (problems)... you get the idea.....wah wah wah.

In the morning, I was reading Habakkuk 3.

And he was talking about how awful things were gonna get for Judah... you split the earth; mountains writhed; decay crept into my bones; my legs trembled; I wait for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us; fig tree does not bud; olive crop fails; fields produce no food; no sheep in the pen; no cattle in the stall.........things are looking bleaker and bleaker

and I was right there in it and thinking, "Oh Great! How sucky is my life that even when I'm trying to refresh myself by reading the Bible, I'm having to read about more cruddy things." And as I read, I got more disgusted and more hateful and.....and then....I read verse 18.

"And yet I will REJOICE in the Lord, and be JOYFUL in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my STRENGTH....He enables me to go on..."

I don't know how that hits you, but it hit me right in the gut; kind of the way Job Chapter 1 did. This life is a gift; you only have so long to enjoy it, and if you waste most of it seeking useless treasures, you're a fool. I report this with much authority....I am the captain of all fools at times.

Modern Day Pharisees and Sadducees?

I've been reading Matthew lately and have really enjoyed Jesus' sense of humor in answering his disciples and the Pharisees and Sadducees. The below section of scripture is from Matt 15:1-20. I have read these passages about 5 times over the past 2 days because it really strikes me as being great humor mixed in with deadly truth. Additionally, the scenario is so very pertinent to our world today. In speaking with multiple young lost folks lately, a common pattern of concern was voiced from each... "I have a hard time accepting belief in something in which its believers say how much they love Jesus and then wag their fingers at my appearance. All the while, they are demonstrating a life that possesses none of the loving qualities that Jesus taught."

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
‘ These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”
So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

How about you? Are you more concerned about the external issues (that will ultimately be "eliminated"), or are you more concerned about what is proceeding from the heart? Apparently, there are plenty of modern day Pharisees and Sadducees.

Spoons

This is a story shared with me by a good friend a long time ago......

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like." The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
The holy man said, "I don't understand."
"It is simple," said the Lord, "It requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other. While the greedy think only of themselves. A friend is someone who reaches for your hand, and touches your heart."

Spoon photo courtesy of Roger Smith.

Prayer to Follow the Road

After leading someone through the Romans' Road, hopefully, you will want to also lead them in prayer. Here is a great example of a prayer for someone who has realized that they are in need of a Savior. This prayer was found in AllAboutGod.com

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”

On the very same page are some helpful follow-up statements and questions. Remember Eph 2:8-9 though, and recognize that the following suggestions are ways to help make your Christian walk purposeful, but your salvation is not dependent upon your works; thanks to God's Grace:

• Get baptized as commanded by Christ.
• Tell someone else about your new faith in Christ.
• Spend time with God each day. It does not have to be a long period of time. Just develop the daily habit of praying to Him and reading His Word. Ask God to increase your faith and your understanding of the Bible.
• Seek fellowship with other followers of Jesus. Develop a group of believing friends to answer your questions and support you.
• Find a local church where you can worship God.

Strength in Weakness

2 Corinthians 12 (New International Version) 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

So many times we humans become focused on our inabilities and on the hardships we are enduring. The bulk of many church's prayer lists/requests are focused on relieving people of their burdens, illnesses and pain. According to Paul, we should take delight in our weakness and hardships. He reasons that Christ is more able to reveal his strength in us at these times. This makes perfect sense if you think that if He revealed His strength in you when you are flying high, then you would most likely credit yourself and not Him.

Once again, live your life with the understanding that this world is not your home and that we are merely being prepared for something far better. If you do, when difficult times arise you will more readily accept them as opportunities to rely more fully upon Christ.

Ministry of Reconciliation

The NIV version of II Corinthians 5:18-20 says, "18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."
As I read this passage today, I was really impacted by the notion that the moment an individual receives Christ into their heart, they instantaneously become a minister. The main purpose of the ministry is intended to be sharing the message of reconciliation. In essence, because I have become reconciled, I then should share the opportunity of reconciliation with everyone else.
Does this responsibility scare you? Do you feel that you are not possibly up to the task? Maybe you are too shy, too ignorant of the Word, too afraid to be rejected by your friends or made fun of, or maybe you just don't know how to get started?
What I came to realize today was that none of that really matters. If you are a Christian, you are, by default, a minister of the message of reconciliation. If you happen to be not actively seeking to minister, it doesn't change the fact that you are a minister. You just happen to be a fairly inept minister.
My next thought regarding this matter occurred after speaking with a friend about the above topic. I asked the question, "Could the idea of instantly becoming a minister discourage someone from becoming a Christian?" The answer that we came up with was, "Probably yeah." I could see someone thinking that not only are they not good enough to be saved, they definitely aren't ready for ministry. Of course a response to that could be, "No one is. There is none perfect. No not one. However, through Him we are able." But, after I walked away from the conversation, it occurred to me....being afraid of becoming a Christ Follower because you are afraid that you cannot live up to the standards or that you will be a poor minister of the faith is an extremely illogical thought. My reasoning, regardless of whether you are a Christian or not, you are a minister of something. If you are not ministering to your friends about Christ, you are encouraging (ministering) them to do something.
So, take a good look at yourself today. What is your ministry about? Reconciliation? TV? Food? Sports? Material interests? Laziness? Depression? Fear? Gossip? Road rage?

Prayer Cells

Our pastor has recently called our church to prayer. Specifically, he has asked us to seek out prayer partners to begin meeting together for focused prayer on Kingdom matters. My initial response to this request was two-fold: 1) I would love to take part in such a thing, and 2) I doubt that the request will be fulfilled by greater than 5% of those asked.
Tonight I was pondering my response.
In regards to #1, I have taken part in similar experiences in the past, and have found them to be quite rewarding from a spiritual and social stand point. I really desire to have some meaningful male relationships in my life right now, and the idea of meeting with like-minded men to pray and share with God's Kingdom as the focus sounds like something that would be worthwhile.
In regards to #2, there are a litany of reasons why few people would share my #1 response. My thought is that the top 2 reasons are likely time and fear of the unknown. Participating in something like this must be somewhat intimidating to someone who has never experienced it before.
If you happen to be struggling with this issue, I would tell you that if you could only participate once, you would likely see that it is worth making time for and nothing to fear.
If you have Prayer Cell experience, I would love to hear your input.

GFA - Worth Checking Out

Back in June, I made mention of Gospel for Asia, and since that time, have received my free book from them and have read about 3/4 of it so far.
Listen to me. Regardless of your spiritual state, regardless of your views on world missions, regardless of how wise or unwise you think you are, it is worth your 5 minutes to receive this book. If you do nothing but read the first 2 chapters, it would be worth it to you.
I have never had any interest whatsoever regarding world missions. If you would have asked me to name the top 5 most boring church services I've ever attended, at least 3 of them involved listening to someone's slide show or other presentation of some missionaries. I am serious.
The author of this book, however, has got it right. His approach is right on, and I am energized to support him. Not just that, reading his book has energized me spiritually period. Its about paradigms. I think mine has shifted....in a good way.
Do yourself a favor, check it out.

Comfort

Over the past 3 months, Debi and I have talked about how the Amish have got it right in terms of denying themselves worldly pleasures and conveniences and being rewarded by a richer family life and spiritual life.
A fellow blogger responded to the Gospel For Asia article and commented that he is currently serving with GFA in New Zealand. I checked out his blogspot and saw an article titled "Comfort" that really spoke to me. I thought I'd share it with you. Check out his whole site, there are some really remarkable photos and articles. Enjoy.
Here is a quote from the "Comfort" article....
“Comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house as guest, and then becomes a host, and then master. Ay and it becomes a tamer, and with hook and scourge makes puppets of your larger desires. Though it’s hands are silken, it’s heart is of iron. Verily the lust for comfort murders the passions of the soul, and walks grinning to the funeral” - Kahil Gibran

Who Do You Serve?

Over the past few years, I've developed a much better concept of what hymnists, poets and song writers have meant when they wrote words to the effect that "This world is not my home" or "I'm just a pilgrim in a foreign land." As my walk has become closer to Christ's (granted I'm still way off), it has become more and more evident that I don't fit in here. This world is not rooting for me, and my welcome has long worn thin. Things of this world make less and less sense to me because my perspective on life has become more Kingdom focused and less world focused. Thus, the world perspective just does not make a whole lot of sense to me. (And when it does make sense, it usually indicates that I wandering the wrong direction.)
Once again, I am referencing Alistair Begg's daily devotional. Today, he discussed citizenship and Ephesians 2:19.
This devotional struck with me with the thought that the Christian Walk is not just something that is "a good idea", "nice to do" or merely morally correct. If you view your citizenship as being of heaven and your ruler as being God, then you're at risk of treason if you are bowing down to or serving someone or something else.
Who are you serving today? Personally, I can only say, "Thank God for Jesus."

Full Throttle?

Time for more confession. Another accurate description of me is "full throttle." No, I'm not a bundle of energy, but whatever I'm doing, I'm usually doing with laser beam focus with total disregard for what's going on in the rest of the world.
When I am geared up and serving the Lord, I am sold out for him. When I am geared up and working on a work related project, I am foaming at the mouth until it's done. When I am playing, I play hard. And when I am being a self-indulgent sloth, I do that with amazing zeal and with superhuman endurance.
Alistair Begg's daily devotion smacked me between the eyes today.

Praying The Names of God

Prayer Conference speaker Dr. Bud Fray shared with us that it is God's character to speak. Additionally, God reveals his character through his names. One can greatly enrich a prayer-life by recognizing, understanding and utilizing the different names of God while praying.
Here are two good sources to review to assist you in this regard:
AllAboutGod.com: Names of God Reveal Him

Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide By Ann Spangler

Long Distance Race

Much of my life has been spent in a sprint. Spiritually, I've either been in a huge hurry to be God's servant or racing to please my flesh. Ultimately, I've fatigued of one or the other and then ran the race of it's counterpart. EXHAUSTING!!!! Especially for those in my life trying to keep up with me during it all.

Hebrews 12:1-13 describes the discipline that it takes to run a long race, which life is. In Alistair Begg's daily devotional today, he explores He explores Hebrews 12:2, and relates that the Holy Spirit's role is to turn our eyes from self and onto Jesus. Whereas, Satan is fully intent on us focusing on self, self, and more self.

Excerpt from the devotion: He (Satan) insinuates, "Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you do not have the joy of His children; you have such a wavering hold on Jesus."
During my sprints, Satan has been pleased with my rapid fatigue and the wavering and self-doubt that went along with it. The end result was fractured relationship between my heart and the Father.

But, check this out, there's good news. Here is some more from the devotion: Remember, therefore, it is not your hold of Christ that saves you--it is Christ; it is not your joy in Christ that saves you--it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, although that is the instrument--it is Christ's blood and merits.

So, whether you are riding a spiritual high sprinting hard for Jesus' sake or riding a spiritual low feeling separation from Christ and The Father, keep your eyes off of self and onto Jesus. Pray that.

If you want to read more of the devotion, here it is: Looking To Jesus

Gospel for Asia

I am not worthy of speaking of missions or the mission field, but Gospel for Asia really strikes me as a well structured, well thoughtout and extremely Christ-focused orgazination making a dramatic impact. 3 points that really grabbed my attention: 100% of dollars sent to field, focused on the unreached and the training/sending of native missionaries.

K.P. Yohannan is the founder and president of Gospel for Asia, a mission organization involved in evangelism and church planting in the unreached regions of Asia. K.P. has a introductory video online, and he appears well-centered in Christ. This video can be viewed by requesting a free book.

Mission and Distinctives
Our mission in life is to be devout followers of Christ and to fulfill the Great Commission among the unreached in Asia through training, sending out and assisting qualified laborers in partnership with the Body of Christ.

100 percent of Support Dollars Sent to the Field

When a donor sends in the monthly support for their missionary, nothing is deducted for administrative purposes--100% is sent directly to the mission field for its intended purpose.
Focusing on the Unreached

Our focus and goal as a ministry is to reach the 2.7 billion people in the 10/40 Window who have never heard about the love of God. In India alone, there are over 500,000 villages with no Gospel witness.
Training and Sending Native Missionaries

Native missionaries have few or no cultural barriers to overcome. They can readily share the Gospel with those who, unlike their western counterparts, have never heard. While national workers do face difficult obstacles as they take the message from village to village, they still have an enormous advantage over their coworkers from North America and other non-Asian lands.
GFA currently has 54 Bible colleges where nearly 9,000 students are preparing to become full-time church planters among those who have never heard.
Tremendous Results by God's Grace

Currently, more than 29,793 churches and mission stations have been planted by Gospel for Asia native missionaries where no church existed before. On average, our missionaries establish approximately 15 fellowships every day in Asia among unreached villages and people groups.
But none of this has come easily. Our native missionaries are paying a high price of suffering, hardship and intense persecution to see churches established.
The churches planted in each culture are truly indigenous in character, self-governing, self-propagating and, as soon as possible, self-supporting.
Training Tomorrow's Leaders at the GFA Biblical Seminary

Over 600 students now attend Gospel for Asia Biblical Seminary in India, where they are being trained to become devout followers of Christ and to fulfill the Great Commission in Asia.

World Changers

Here is another organization to look at if you are interested in putting your faith in action and impacting the world around you.
World Changers is an organization that seeks to provide Christian youth and adults with opportunities to meet the physical and spiritual needs of others through practical learning experiences of servanthood and personal commitment to missions. Over 24,000 students and their adult leaders have committed to grabbing hammers, saws and paintbrushes this summer to make a positive change to the world one project at a time.
Participation is exclusively for Christians who have demonstrated spiritual maturity in their home church. Take a look at the stats page from 2006, and you will see why. They are not only making needed repairs to peoples homes, but allowing the Holy Spirit to repair broken lives through them.

Acts 1:8 Challenge

Acts 1:8: "And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world."

This month's edition of OnMission features a story describing the participation of a few churches in a program called Acts 1:8 Challenge. The feature story shares one pastor's comments that "We are a church of rednecks." And he goes on to say that they don't try to be something that they are not, and yet they have found that what they are consists of being a church that loves they the Lord, and they are living their love through their actions. It is inspiring to read about "normal" folks going out and doing the abnormal. They make it sound so easy.

Take a look at the story: OnMission feature story.

And take a look at the Acts 1:8 Challenge site.

Adopt An Annuitant

I learned about GuideStone Financial Resources via an article at the back of our church bulletin yesterday. Paul encouraged the Galatian believers to do something with their faith - to worship with their actions throughout the week as well as with their hearts and voices on Sunday. This organization's Adopt An Annuitant ministry allows you to make a positive impact for retired ministers and their widows.

Taken from The GuideStone website:
In 1918, the Board of Ministerial Relief and Annuities was born of a vision in the heart of Dr. William Lunsford. Burdened by the plight of retired Southern Baptist pastors and their widows, Dr. Lunsford sought to provide care for his brethren and their widows in their declining years. Decades later, GuideStone Financial Resources continues its commitment to Dr. Lunsford’s vision and to those who have labored in the Lord’s work by offering an array of personal investment, retirement, life, health, and disability plan option. But the realization of Dr. Lunsford’s dream is seen most clearly in the Adopt An Annuitant ministry.

Through the Adopt An Annuitant ministry, GuideStone provides financial assistance to retired Southern Baptist ministers, workers or their widows whose regular income is insufficient to meet their needs. Often, this small monthly income makes the difference in paying the electric bill or obtaining needed medications. The Adopt An Annuitant ministry relies on the support of churches and individuals to provide this vital assistance.

You can participate in this ministry by sending a gift, funding a Charitable Gift Annuity, designating the ministry as the beneficiary of your life insurance, will or estate plan, or requesting materials to share with others.

Movement

I have stumbled upon a guy's blogspot that I find remarkable and refreshing. He appears to be living a fairly heroic Christian walk. His profile states, "Joe co-leads an effort in Mexico City to launch missional Christ-centered movements on more than 400 university campuses before 2010. He joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ in 2003 and served for three years in Albuquerque, NM, where he launched movements with Latino students and athletes that are still active today. In 2006 he moved to Mexico City to work with "Enfoque Mexico", the Campus Crusade church partnership strategy he helps lead today. "
If you are interested in knowing what it takes to launch your own movement, here is a good starting point. "How to Launch Your Own Movement"
Regardless, if you are a regular blog reader, add Joe Cross' blog spot to your regular destinations. Check out his profile, because in addition to his personal spot, he is also co-blogger on a few other blogspots that are worth checking out.