Archive - September, 2010

Busy times in Peru

September 30, 2010 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

Betty and I are enjoying our time in Peru. God is doing great things here. Tonight will be my first opportunity to preach at the Omega church. I have been counseling our daughter Joy and her future husband, meeting with church people and talking about the Lords work. We have got to spend time with our three wonderful children that live here, Jeremy Hall, David Velke, and others.

It is always good to be here. I know that God is doing a good work among his people. I wish you would get involved in one of the trips and come see for yourself first hand.

I will miss being at Vision tonight and I always do. I know that you will hear from a real man of God and a great message.

Pray for me that I will be the man of God that I should be here. Pray that he will use me to bless his people

More will be coming tomorrow.

Live in the now.

September 30, 2010 in Ministry Philosophy with 13 Comments

Jim Elliot used to say wherever you are, be all there.

I have a concern for all of us in the Christian life and especially those in the ministry. We usually live “working for” and “waiting for” the “next thing.” Seldom do we enjoy where we are now. Some how we think if only I could get to the next level I would be happy. I just need a little more money, a different position, a spouse, a child, or whatever.

I am almost happy but not quite there yet.

I have made this mistake for years. The problem is that when you get what you thought would make you happy you just need a little more.

That means we will never be really content or enjoy the abundant life we have been promised. It will simply be the proverbial carrot out there in front that frustrates us and we are never quite good enough to get.

How does that apply to your marriage? How does that apply to your job? How does that apply to the things or possessions that God has given us?

We want something more from our marriage. We aren’t satisfied. Our partner feels that they do not quite measure up. They are not good enough. So that frustrates us and leads us to fail and give up.

Our job isn’t enjoyable. It makes the hours longer and the days unbearable. We live for the weekend. The money isn’t good enough. The job isn’t fulfilling we want out.

Our car or house or other possessions are stealing our joy. They just will get us “by” but we are not happy or satisfied.

The problem really isn’t the spouse, the house, the job or anything else. It is us and our heart problem. It is not the things we want but our “wanter!”

This hinders our ministry. While in Bible school we live for tomorrow and the day we will begin our ministry. While we are on deputation we long to arrive on the field and begin learning the language. Then we want to start our first church. Then we want our second church. The vicious cycle never ends and we are never truly where we are. We always want more. I have been and am very guilty of all of this. It hurts you and those around you

The ministry and Christian life was meant to be lived in joy not frustrations. I wonder if God knows where we are? I wonder if he has something good for us right where we are but we are missing it because we are not in the now but in the morrow. Wanting now what God has for tomorrow.

We will remember with fondness these days one day in the future and then want to return but it will be too late. It was meant to be enjoyed today.

Why don’t we make a decision to enjoy what our Father is doing in our lives right now? Could it be he knows what is best for today? Could it be that life would be more of a blessing if we were happy with what we have now?

Give me your opinions in the comment section below. Call my hand, you do not have to just agree with me!

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Made for Man

September 30, 2010 in Devotionals with 0 Comments

Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

So often those that read the Bible read it for a rule book on how to live rather than an expression of love from the Father. The sabbath was made for man to get his rest, to have time to worship God, etc. It was not made to limit, hurt, control, or condemn man.

Isn’t that an interesting but different look at this truth. The Pharisees couldn’t understand it. Everything was a rule to be obeyed, an attitude of superiority to be had, a reason to feel condemned and less other wise.

So many things in the Bible aren’t what you think because you look at them through glasses tinted with your bad attitude or one that you inherited from others.

God is good. He loves us. He is working all things out for our best. The gospel is good news not a system of rules to trap you with.

Tomorrow’s reading Mark 3

His Word always comes true

Joshua 21:45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

The book of Joshua is drawing to a close. They have watched God do all that He promised. He always does. He is a God of unfailing truth and character. His Word is truth and things will happen just as he says.

Now comes the application. Are you seeing the Word as His Word. Do you realize that He is working it all out just like He promised. What do you need to do to get plugged in and learn of all of His wonderful promises?

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The Black Hole of Missions

September 29, 2010 in Mobilization, Resources with 22 Comments

Just thinking wild and crazy thoughts about World Evangelism this morning and wanted to share a thought with you. Right now I am sitting in Arequipa, Peru. Betty and I along with our family lived 18 years of our lives here. It was a wonderful and very exciting time. Things have changed drastically.

When we came we brought a “ham” or amateur short wave radio with us. That was our principal means of communication with the states and the family. Today we have twitter, blogs, email, voice over ip phones, and more is on the way.

There was one period of 6 months that our post office went on strike. There was no mail in and no mail out for 6 months. That was when mail was your principal means of communication. We made regular trips to the post office. Our last several years here we tried to check the post office every week or two because a few still used the post office.

Most of our correspondence rapidly changed to electronic means.

That brings me to my thought today. Have you ever heard of a black hole? I got the following from wikipedia but it is interesting to say the least:

According to the general theory of relativity, a black hole is a region of space from which nothing, not even light, can escape. It is the result of the deformation of spacetime caused by a very compact mass. Around a black hole there is an undetectable surface which marks the point of no return, called an event horizon. It is called “black” because it absorbs all the light that hits it, reflecting nothing, just like a perfect black body in thermodynamics

Did you notice that the black hole is a place where nothing escapes? It absorbs light that hits it but reflects nothing.

You might say what in the world is that about? Well here goes. God is doing so much on the mission field. It is so exciting to see what He is doing. I am back here now and living it. Yes, wild, crazy, stupid stuff happens but little gets reported.

We send money by the thousands of dollars all over the world but missionaries will not take the time to tell us what is happening. I know that was a problem when it took 6 months for a letter to get back. But even then Hudson Taylor and Adoniram Judson wrote books and letters.

I know that missionaries are busy but I think one of the most important things that they could do would be to make big of Jesus and what He is doing.

I am a communication nut. I love to know what is going on. My dad used to say that I was afraid to go to bed at night for fear that I would miss something.

I have lots of missionary friends. I hope that they will read this. I hope they will solve the problem of the black hole.

I hope they will communicate what God is doing.

I think that they don’t want to always be writing because it seems like all they talk about is themselves but they can learn to communicate without doing that.

Maybe they do not write because they don’t think much is happening then they can let the writing be an accountability for them to get up and get busy.

Maybe they don’t write because they do not want to seem to be always asking for money but then they could ask for prayer and just tell us what is happening.

If you will but share what God is doing then maybe you would be able to inspire others to live a life of taking the gospel to the other parts of the world.

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Sharing what Jesus has done for you!

September 29, 2010 in Devotionals with 0 Comments

Mar 1:45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

Jesus healed this man of leprosy. He was so excited that he went everywhere telling everyone what God was doing in his life. He told so many so much and told it so good that Jesus couldn’t get into town without getting mobbed. Everywhere Jesus turned other needy people were coming to him because of the testimony of this man.

I wonder as I read this if the reason fewer people are coming to Christ is that we are not excitedly telling others what He has done in our lives. This man couldn’t keep quiet. He couldn’t help but tell what Jesus had done for him.

I doubt he was telling them a gospel presentation. He was simply telling them what Jesus was doing in his life. We could do that . Why don’t we start today?

Some come to Jesus for less than genuine reasons!

Joshua 9:11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.

Some people come to Jesus of purely selfish reasons. They have no love for God. They are not seeking to please Him, be saved, live a holy life. They just want what they can get. That is what happens in this story about the Gibeonites.

They knew that politically and militarily they were in trouble with Israel. They figured out a way to deceive them and not be harmed. They come and act and talk as though they are genuine but it never was.

Many follow Jesus much the same way. I hope you are not like them. I hope you came genuinely repentant of your sin and realizing your need of a Savior.

I hope you are genuinely in love with Jesus. That will make all the difference in the world.

Tomorrow’s reading Mark 2

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