MQotW

"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?" - David Livingstone

Pray for Art Rogers

Please take a moment and pray for Art Rogers who posts over at 12 Witnesses after you read today's post.

Rejoice with me!

Luke 4:17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him (Jesus). And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, Luke 4:18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, Luke 4:19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." Luke 4:20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. Luke 4:21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

My grandmother (same on as in the post below) had some sort of stroke behind her left eye in 1986 and left her sightless in that eye. A year or so ago, she had a stroke behind her right eye and eventually lost 99% of the sight in her right eye. It has left her (understandably) depressed and sad by the turn of events in her latter years (she's 91).

Today, my mother took her to the eye doctor . (She has been to countless eye specialists to see what could be done; they all said they could do nothing) However, this new doctor took a look at her eyes, then another look, then yet another look. Finally, he sat back and said, "I think I can help". He told her about a laser procedure and my grandmother wanted it done right then and there. They were able to do it.

MY GRANDMOTHER HAS FULL SIGHT BACK IN HER LEFT EYE!
PRAISE THE LORD!

Update on my grandma's church

Well, I preached yesterday at my grandmother's church. To give you some background, this is the church that dismantled the indigent clothes closet because they "didn't want that riff-raff coming in and out" of their church. Since then, they also made it clear to me that they weren't going to give me an honorarium because I was still on full salary with the IMB and didn't need the money. They are correct; I don't need their money. (at this point, I don't want it, either)

So, for the past 6 weeks or so, I have been praying about what to preach on. I specifically didn't want my emotions to get away with me and prevent God getting the glory for yesterday. So, I ended up preaching on James 2:1-13. I called the sermon "Prescription for an Ailing Church". I was gracious, but I didn't hold back. I told them that they were a sick church and they needed fixing and anyone who didn't see that their church was in trouble was part of the problem. My whole family attended, since it was Mother's Day. I saw many, many mouths gape open wide at much that I had to say. Again, I was gracious, told them I needed to hear it as much as they did, and the reason that I was saying what I was saying was because I loved them and wanted them to be the very best they could be.

Last night, I showed slides about our missionary life. I challenged them and encouraged them to reach our of their comfort zone and reach the people around them. I did a mini-sermon on Acts 1:8 before I showed the slides (PowerPoint) Afterwards there was an ice cream social. I mentioned at the beginning of the slide show that several people had been offended by what I said, due to the number of folks, (n0ticably deacons) who weren't there that night who normally were. I went on to explain that since most of what I had to say was scripture, that they were offended by the Word of God and were under conviction by the Holy Spirit.

Many people who attended last night told me how much they appreciated what I had to say. They said they felt like their toes got stepped on, but that was OK as they hadn't been stepped on in a very long time.

Pray for this little church. Pray that God would get a hold of them and really shake them up. For HIS glory!

MQotW

"The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity." - Mike Stachura

Really?

Do we really need this many different kinds of cereal? I need therapy after every time I go to Wal-Mart!

MQotW

"Go, send, or disobey." - John Piper

What it's like: part 7 (GIC)

GIC, or Global Impact Conference, is the mission's emphasis strategy created by Johnny Hunt, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA. In a nutshell, it follows the Acts 1:8 strategy of reaching your hometown, then your state, then your country, then the world. It encourages a church to combine their missions offerings into a year long endeavor, not just IMB at Christmas, NAMB at Easter, etc. Generally, it serves to increase the offerings, not dilute them. The actual event is a missions fair, with lots of local, state, NAMB, and international missionaries and ministries invited to attend and to "schmooze" with the local congregation.

The missionary assumes the role of spiritual celebrity, much to the uneasiness of the missionary. Certainly of all the things we do missions for, we don't do it for our own glory. It is a constant job to keep the focus on God and HIS work, not on our OWN pitiful little corner of HIS work. I have, however, decided to keep attending them when asked, because I have seen God change people through these conferences. Basically, I see God at work there and I choose to join Him.

I received the following letter from a man at the last GIC I attended. It had the subject line: I'm mad at you for stirring the waters of my life If you read it the same way I do, it looks like he should be mad at God, not me! (lol)

I must share with you what an impact you have on me this week-end. I visited with you at breakfast on Saturday, and again on Sunday, individually with (your wife). Your courage and conviction are contagious. The waters in my life are quite peaceful, and I am happy. You, however, stirred those waters, and I am entering a grappling contest. I want the peace that I know and cherish. I do not want to pulled down by the current the crashes over the waterfall. I told (your wife), that I was mad at you because you have stirred the waters of my life.

I must confess that I have really enjoy participating in GIC's. They are unique opportunities to address crowds of people who are already interested in missions. They are opportunities for missionaries, especially those of us in Security 3 areas, to "feel" like missionaries. We get to wear special name tags that identify us as missionaries, we get to tell our stories to folks who want to hear, and we get to be loved on and let us "refill" our cup. We get to stay with members of the church and get to know them and their families.

If you ever have an opportunity to attend a GIC, or even better, house a missionary during a GIC, GO FOR IT!

MQotW

"If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn't it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death." - Dave Davidson

Totally Outraged

My grandmother, who is 91 years old, had some sort of stroke behind her eyes about two years ago and has completely lost her sight. Despite that, and a few other health problems, she has maintained her sense of humor and her sense of purpose. For the past several years, she has operated her church's "Clothes Closet" for the poor. It has allowed her to be active and gives her a place of ministry, since she can no longer see to teach Sunday School. It has given her an outlet for her to love God by loving others. I am very proud of my grandmother.

A couple of weeks ago, a deacon of her church came and told her that they were 'shutting down the clothes closet'. My grandmother asked why (of course) and she was told this: "We don't want all that riff-raff coming in and out of our church each week!" My grandmother was outraged! But the deacon was bull headed and wouldn't give in. (he has been the ram-rod around there for a long time and wasn't going to back down).

My grandmother was crushed. Her ministry outlet was gone. Her last "purpose" was gone (according to her). She has endured bullies before and usually came out on top. But this time, it was different. She said she just didn't have the strength to fight for it. I think she is depressed about the fact that she "gave in". She told my sister that now, all she has is simply to wait for the Lord to take her home." She said "I can't see to teach, I can't see to drive people to the doctor; I'm no longer strong enough to go out on visitation; I am simply useless". (I wasn't there at the time; my sister told me about it later)

It broke my heart to hear her talk like that. Please pray for her to be encouraged (and for sight). We call her "Meme".

I am going to be preaching in that church on Mother's Day. I really need your prayers to control what I say from the pulpit and not use it for my own (very heated) opinions. Pray that I would glorify the Father in what I say. Anybody got any ideas about what to say?

Really Encouraged

I was at the mall Wednesday getting something before I make a trip to a GIC (Global Impact Conference). I was trying to get some information from the lady at the information booth. While there, an older man walked up and she moved away from me and told the man that she missed him at church last Sunday night and asked him if he was going to be there that night. He made some excuses then she went on to say how important it was for him to go to church and that they really miss him when he doesn't come. She told him that he was important to her and the church and wanted to make sure that he knew that.

I was impressed.

That was one of the very few times I have happened to be privy to a conversation like that, with me being completely on the outside. After the man walked off, I asked her a few things, first of all where she went to church. She told me it was one of the local SBC churches! PTL! She went on to tell me that the man wasn't a member of her church, but only a sporadic visitor. She said she didn't even know if he had ever accepted Christ, but was trying to make sure he had every opportunity.

Bless her heart! That just made my whole day.

MQotW

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." - C.T. Studd

STAS is great!

Life in America is just too cool! You can read the road signs (much to the chagrin of your sister) and they keep bringing you more pop at any restaurant without having to pay extra!

The only problem is (well, one among several) that I don't have good connectivity at our furlough house. I only have dial up. Actually, I don't even have that. The phone line to our house is down, so I have to go next door just to do email. In some ways, that isn't anything to complain about; at least my wife is happy that I'm not "surfin" all day and night.

In any case, my posts will be sporadic until we can get the internet up and runnin' in the sticks.

Stateside Observations

Here are some observations about being back in the US (in no particular order):

• Boy! Americans are fat!
• Mexican food sure is good! (possible reason for observation above)
• Wal-Mart still "sells for less".
• Why do Americans gripe so much?
• Spring is great!
• Too many cereal choices!
• I forgot how good "Little Debbie's" are! (possible reason for first item above)
• McDonald's tastes the same everywhere. (too bad)
• Americans need a good geography lesson.
• I sure am glad to see my mom.
• American cars are big!
• American stores have a selection to choose from in "my size".
• Rural America is so different than rural "10/40 Window".
• Have you seen the candy aisle? (another possible reason for first item above)
• Church bulletins; what a concept!
• Christian radio stations; what a blessing!
• Sonic needs to go international. (yet another reason for first item above)
• Suffering is relative.
• So is poverty.
• Americans have a LOT of leisure time, but they fill it with busy stuff.
• No one has yet to ask me about life overseas.
• Even bad roads are good in America.
• Do you really need that many varieties of Colgate?
• ENOUGH about Anna Nicole Smith already!

MQotW

"Our God of Grace often gives us a second chance, but there is no second chance to harvest a ripe crop." - Kurt von Schleicher

Hot Spots

For the past several years, I have subscribed to "Hot Spots", a global summary of security issues, country by country. It is a great way to keep a finger on the pulse of things happening in the world. Their main web site is: http://www.asigroup.com

You can subscribe to their daily email summary at: http://www.asigroup.com/hotform.htm

I highly recommend it. Let me know if you like it.

MQotW

"Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist." - Oswald J. Smith

MQotW

When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, "You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages." To that, Calvert replied, "We died before we came here."

from the "lighter side"

Someone alerted me to the fact that Crabtree & Evelyn of London has a new product line for men called "Nomad". Too bad I didn't think of that first!

The Task

At David Rogers' (whom I greatly respect) suggestion, I have reposted my story about "Dawn".

I am greatly saddened by the events of today, but it brings home again, the sense of urgency we have as believers. And the importance of our task.

Folks, there is a battle for souls. Satan will do anything to steal them away. The Lamb of God has paid the greatest price for those souls and HE ALONE deserves their worship.

Join in the work. Either by your presence, your prayers, or your presents. Pray for laborers for the Harvest for the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.