Thoughts and Book Reports

Biblical Manhood

2012-01-13T22:35:00.001-05:00

I've copied and pasted this prayer from a book called "Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood".

I pray this will be true of me and the men God has brought into my life.

1. That all of your life (in whatever calling) be devoted to the glory of God.
2. That the promises of Christ be trusted so fully that peace and joy and strength fill
your soul to overflowing.
3. That this fullness of God overflow in daily acts of love so that people might see
your good deeds and give glory to your Father in Heaven.
4. That you be men of the Book, who love and study and obey the Bible in every area
of its teaching; that meditation on Biblical truth be the source of hope and faith; that you
continue to grow in understanding through all the chapters of your life, never thinking
that study and growth are only for others.
5. That you be men of prayer, so that the Word of God will be opened to you, so the
power of faith and holiness will descend upon you; that your spiritual influence may
increase at home and at church and in the world.
6. That you be men who have a deep grasp of the sovereign grace of God which
undergirds all these spiritual processes; and that you be deep thinkers about the doctrines
of grace, and even deeper lovers of these things.
7. That you be totally committed to ministry, whatever your specific calling; that you
not fritter away your time on excessive sports and recreation or unimportant hobbies or
aimless diddling in the garage; but that you redeem the time for Christ and his Kingdom.
8. That, if you are single, you exploit your singleness to the full in devotion to God
(the way Jesus and Paul did) and not be paralyzed by the desire to be married.
9. That, if you are married, you love your wife the way Christ loved the church and
gave himself for her; that you be a humble, self-denying, upbuilding, happy spiritual
leader; that you consistently grow in grace and knowledge so as never to quench the
aspirations of your wife for spiritual advancement; that you cultivate tenderness and
strength, a pattern of initiative and a listening ear; and that you accept the responsibility
of provision and protection in the family, however you and your wife share the labor.
10. That, if you have children, you accept primary responsibility, in partnership with
your wife (or as a single parent), to raise up children in the discipline and instruction of
the Lord-children who hope in the triumph of God; that you establish a pattern of
teaching and discipline that is not solely dependent on the church or school to impart
Bible knowledge and spiritual values to the children; and that you give your children the
time and attention and affection that communicates the true nature of our Father in
Heaven.
11. That you not assume advancement and peer approval in your gainful employment
are the highest values in life; but that you ponder the eternal significance of faithful
fatherhood and time spent with your wife; that you repeatedly consider the new
possibilities at each stage of your life for maximizing your energies for the glory of God
in ministry; that you pose the question often: Is our family molded by the culture, or do
we embody the values of the Kingdom of God? That you lead the family in making
choices not on the basis of secular trends or upward lifestyle expectations, but on the
basis of what will strengthen the faith of the family and advance the cause of Christ.
12. That you step back and (with your wife, if you are married) plan the various forms
of your life’s ministry in chapters. Chapters are divided by various things-age, strength,
singleness, marriage, employment, children at home, children in college, grandchildren,
retirement, etc. No chapter has all the joys. Finite life is a series of tradeoffs. Finding
God’s will and living for the glory of Christ to the full in every chapter is what makes it a
success, not whether it reads like somebody else’s chapter or whether it has in it what
only another chapter will bring.
13. That you develop a wartime mentality and lifestyle; that you never forget that life
is short, that billions of people hang in the balance of heaven and hell every day, that the
love of money is spiritual suicide, that the goals of upward mobility (nicer clothes, cars,
houses, vacations, food, hobbies) are a poor and dangerous substitute for the goals of
living for Christ with all your might and maximizing your joy in ministry to people’s
needs.
14. That in all your relationships with women (not just in marriage) you seek the
guidance of the Holy Spirit in applying the Biblical vision of manhood and womanhood;
that you develop a style and demeanor that expresses your God-given responsibility for
humble strength and leadership, and for self-sacrificing provision and protection; that you
think creatively and with cultural sensitivity (just as she must do) in shaping the style and
setting the tone of your interaction with women.
15. That you see the Biblical guidelines for what is appropriate and inappropriate for
men and women not as license for domination or bossy passivity, but as a call to servant
leadership that thinks in terms of responsibilities not rights; that you see these principles
as wise and gracious prescriptions for how to discover the true freedom of God’s ideal of
complementarity; that you encourage the fruitful engagement of women in the countless
ministry roles that are Biblically appropriate and deeply needed.

St. Augustine quote

2011-12-20T20:58:00.003-05:00

I was listen to a sermon on 1 John 2:15-17

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

In the sermon the pastor quoted St. Augustine prayer from The Confessions.. it goes like this:

"He loves Thee too little who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake" ~ St. Augustine

God may I love you above all! And may the other people I love (namely Karen and Rachel) and things that I love, be loved for Thy sake and the glory of Your name.

Knowing God (J. I. Packer)

2011-12-18T14:23:00.003-05:00

I just finished reading the chapter titled "God Incarnate" in J.I. Packer's classic book Knowing God. Packer referred to 2 Corinthians 8:9 which states "You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich".

Then he stated something that I had to re-read a couple of times... it packs a good punch.

It is our shame and disgrace today that so many Christians - I will be more specific: so many of the soundest and most orthodox Christians - go through this world in the spirit of the priest and the Levite in our Lord's parable, seeing human need all around them, but averting their eyes, and passing by on the other side. That is not the Christmas spirit! Nor is it the spirit of those Christians - alas, they are many - whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice middle-class Christian home, and making nice middle-class Christian friends, and bringing up their children in nice middle-class Christian ways, and who leave the sub-middle-class sections of the community, Christian and non-Christian to get on by themselves. The Christmas spirit does not shine out in the Christian snob. For the Christmas spirit is the spirit of those, who like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves porr - spending and being spent - to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others in whatever way there seems need. (pg 71)

The Importance of a Good Statement of Faith at a Local Church

2011-11-29T20:13:00.002-05:00

I've been thinking lately about how important it is for each local church to have a sound Statement of Faith which the leaders and congregation can unite around. Then I was listening to this sermon (specifically the 25 minute mark) I heard this quote and couldn't agree more!

John Piper states (in a January 27, 1985 sermon):

We have the reputation of trying to preserve unity, not by exalting the glorious doctrines of Scripture but by avoiding them. [The apostle] John when he wanted to preserve and cultivate the unity of the fellowship got theological. When the Baptist General Conference tries to work and preserve unity it gets a-theological. And we are paying! God willing, we at Bethlehem with many other churches, will go the other way. We will be explicitly theological. We will lay our Calvinist cards on the table... Because the last thing I care anything about is attracting or keeping members by concealing the distinctives that give me fire for God... It is deadly to reduce biblical theology to the lowest common denominator of acceptability. It is the death knell of worship and orthodoxy and missions and morality and growth.

The Church, the Neighborhood and the Nations (Stetzer)

2011-10-08T09:15:00.003-04:00

And the final plenary session I want to make comments about was by Ed Stetzer. With all of the talk these days about the mission of God, the mission of the church, being missional etc I was eager to listen to his discussion on "The Church, the Neighborhood and the Nations"

He had 3 major points which build on one another.

1) We are sent (John 20:21)

Avery Willis says:
Mission = the total redemptive purpose of God to establish His kingdom
Missions = the activity of God's people, the Church, to proclaim and to demonstrate the kingdom of God in the world
Missionaries = are people set aside by God and the church to cross natural and cultural barriers with the gospel

The problem is these are all extra Biblical terms not found defined in the Bible.

I don't think these definitions are perfect. In fact, I'd like to see the scope of Missions narrowed to be cross-cultural proclamation of the gospel and another definition of Outreach to our own culture but I won't make a big deal about it. I would however disagree with Charles Spurgeon when he said that

"Every Christian is a missionary or an imposter" - Charles Spurgeon

See my previous post about Shooting Sacred Cows. The more people we call missionary the less we recognize that some people are called by God to cross cultures as ambassadors of Christ.

Stetzer continues:

God is a sending God:
a) Father sent the Son
b) Father sends the Spirit in Jesus' name
c) Jesus comes and establishes His kingdom
d) the Church is birthed to lived sent
e) the Son builds the Church by placing people in His kingdom
f) the Spirit empowers the Church to live sent

We're all sent. If you're a missionary in Africa, you're sent! If you live in Hamilton, you're sent! We're all sent, the only question is where and among whom.

We need to give more and go more!!! But we also need to live as those who are sent here and now... A lot of churches are missions-minded but not necessarily missional.

This is a good point. I would say that PMC started as a missional church in the early 1900s, then became a great missions-minded church and now is working to blend both. God help us!

2) We are sent TO ALL PEOPLE.

"panta ta ethne" is the Greek in Matthew 28
Some say Jesus was meaning ethnolinguistic groups. Well maybe....
In the most plain reading he meant the Gentiles. In the most plain reading he meant the non-Jews. But the disciples also saw much more. It's about making disciples everywhere.

There is a thread throughout Scripture about the topic "every, tongue, tribe and nation". From Genesis 11 to Revelation 7 and at many points in between

a) God scatters making nations (Gen 11)
b) God sends Israel to bring the nations up to Jerusalem (Ps 57:9, Isa 2:2). But the plan was not accomplished.
c) God had a sign and a plan for the nations (Acts 2:1). The Spirit gave them ability to speak languages. This is a sign that reverses the direction of God's mission from "up to Jerusalem" to "going out from Jerusalem"
d) God will be praised by men and women from every nation (Rev 7:9)

Then Stetzer closed this point with a great one liner

Don't let your church be a cul de sac on the Great Commission highway.

Stetzer's final point was

3) We are sent to all people WITH A MESSAGE

Luke 24:46

How am I going to do all these things?
- reach out missionally where I am?
- reach out to the nations?
- preach the gospel?

Only by the power of God (see Acts 1:8 "you will receive power")

He closes by saying something I pray the church I'm a part will be:

A missional, missions-minded, gospel-centered, Spirit empowered church!

God let me be a missional, missions-minded, gospel-centered, Spirit empowered man!

Courage, Christ, and Finishing the Mission (Ramsden)

2011-10-08T09:12:00.004-04:00

One of the other plenary sessions from the Desiring God 2011 Missions Conference I listened to was by Michael Ramsden titled "Courage, Christ, and Finishing the Mission"

At the 47 minute mark he states:

"Is it possible that we have ordered our church life and our Christian life so that its convenient for us. To look after our children, to do things that we wouldn't like to do, to pay the occasional missionary 1% of our total income, so they can go do things that we'd rather not do, so we can have an easy life here. I wonder..."

I wonder too. God help me not to order my life to be convenient but to serve and honor you my Master and King.

The Glory of God, The Lostness of Man, the Gospel of Christ (Platt)

2011-10-08T08:58:00.004-04:00

In October I listened to a few of the plenary sessions from the Desiring God 2011 Missions Conference. I wish I could've gone but Minneapolis is pretty far away...

One of the talks was by David Platt titled "The Glory of God, The Lostness of Man, the Gospel of Christ"

Here are some quotes:

The glory of God among the nations is not just the reason for which we have this conference. The glory of God among the nations is the reason for which we have breath!

We have an indescribably urgent mission.

At the 43 minute mark Platt develops 3 reasons answering to the question why must we go to them?

1) Because there knowledge of God is only enough to damn them to hell

"Every man in the African jungle or in an Amazon rainforest, every woman in an Asian village... all of them have the knowledge of God... It's clear in Romans 1. The knowledge they have shows them that God is glorious and they are guilty and that's all they've got.
You say well what happens to the innocent guy in Africa who never hears the gospel?
My answer to that is easy, based on the authority of God's Word, the innocent guy in Africa will absolutely go to heaven. Even though he's never heard the gospel... The only problem is, the innocent guy in Africa does not exist!
If he were innocent, which is the way the question is normally asked, why would he need the gospel? If he has no sin, of course he'll go to heaven. The problem is there are no innocent people in Africa waiting to heard the gospel. There are guilty people all over the nations, ready to hear the gospel that's why we must go to them!"

Platt's other points were that we must go to them...

2) Because the gospel of God is powerful enough to save them for heaven

3) Because the glory of God is good enough to satisfy them forever.

It's a good message.

The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism (Carl F.H. Henry)

2011-09-25T20:00:00.004-04:00

This short, 80-page book titled "The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism" was written in 1947. According to Bruce Ware in his Systematic Theology lecture on Liberalism, Neo Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism this was one of the key books that shifted the church from being "fundamentalist" to "evangelical". For those of you like me who aren't sure who Carl F. H. Henry is, he:
- was born in 1913
- rejected the rigidness and cultural disengagement fundamentalist Christians
- began the publication of Christianity Today magazine and was its editor from 1956-1968.
- helped establish Fuller Theological Seminary
- took part in the launching of the National Association of Evangelicals.
- died in 2003
Not a bad resume eh?

Here are two quotes from the "Foreward" updated in 2003 by another Christian author...

There are some books that are important to keep in print simply because they serve as instructive museum pieces. They give us glimpses into bygone eras, helping us to grasp the insights of creative thinkers who once wrestled with questions that are very difference than the ones we presently face. The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism is no mere museum piece. (pg ix)

[Henry had] a hope for a more open evangelicalism that would transcent the barriers that had been erected by a separatistic mentality; and a profound desire to engage culture in all of its created complexity. (pg x)

Then Carl F. H. Henry gets into the nuts and bolts of his argument.

First by saying the church for too long has just sat watching the world go by, or obsessing about one type of sin over another.

Fundamentalism is the modern priest and Levite, by-passing suffering humanity. (pg 2)

But the sin against which Fundamentalism has inveighed, almost exclusively, was individual sin rather than social evil... conservative churches have clustered about such platitudes as "abstain from intoxicating beverages, movies, dancing, card-playing, and smoking" (pg 7)

This sentence made me smile but then made me think. At first I thought he was just an "old guy" upset with the new drums and guitar in the church... but I'm hoping it wasn't that he was upset with. If Henry was against the songs that have lyrics that don't even mention "God", "Christ", "Jesus" or "Saviour" then I am with him!!!! God, raise up more composers who will write Christ-centered songs for the modern church!

There is also a tendency to replace great church music by a barn-dance variety of semi-religious choruses; some churches have almost become spiritualized juke boxes. (pg 5)

Then he discusses "the kingdom":

The kingdom is here, and it is not here... the kingdom exists in incomplete realization (pg 48)

The kingdom is not wholly future - Rom 14:17, 1 Cor 4:20, Col 1:13, Heb 12:28, Rev 1:9...
Yet the kingdom has a glorious future aspect - 1 Cor 15:24, 1 Cor 15:50, 2 Tim 4:1, 2 Tim 4:18, 2 Pet 1:10-11, Rev 11:15, Rev 12:10, Acts 1:6. (pg 53)

There is a growing reluctance to explicate the kingdom idea in Fundamentalist preaching, because a "kingdom now" message is too easily confused with a liberal social gospel, and because a "kingdom then" message will identify Christianity further to the modern mind in terms of an escape mechanism. Yet no subject was more frequently on the lips of Jesus Christ than the kingdom. He proclaimed kingdom truth with a constant, exuberant joy. It appears as the central theme of His preaching. (pg 46)

Did you get that "[The kingdom] appears as the central theme of [Jesus'] preaching." Van Plet would argue that in Biblical Theology the kingdom is the thematic framework for all of Scripture... but that's another blog post.

I think the following has come true regarding the previous obsession with "pre-millennialism" and "post-millennialism" and I think it may be a benefit to the church not to be obsessed with non-essentials.

There appears a tendency to discard dogmatism on details [referring to the end times]; if this continues, the eschatological preaching of the next generation will concentrate on the proclamation of the kingdom, the second coming, the bodily resurrection of the dead, and the future judgment, and will not concern itself too much with lesser events. (pg 45)

He also includes a couple great summaries of our faith. I hope you read these you can say with me "AMEN", "AMEN", "AMEN"!

Two great convictions are necessary:
1) that Christianity opposes any and every evil, personal and social, and must never be represented as in any way tolerant of such evil;
2) that Christianity opposes such evil, as the only sufficient formula for its resolution, the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit (pg 40)

[Christianity]
- insists upon a purposive and moral as over against a purely mathematical universe;
- it insists upon a personal God as against impersonal ultimates whether of space-time or elan vital variety;
- it insists upon a divine creation as over against a naturalistic evolution;
- it insists that man's uniqueness is a divine endowment rather than a human achievement;
- it insists that man's predicament is not an animal inheritance nor a necessity of his nature but rather a consequence of his voluntary revolt against God;
- it insists that salvation can be provided only by God, as against the view that man is competent to save himself;
- it insists that the Scriptures are a revelation lighting the way to the divine incarnation in Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of mankind, as against the view that they stand among many records of religious experience without a difference in kind;
- it insists that history is bound up with man's acceptance or rejection of the God-man, rather than that history is primarily what happens among nations;
- it insists that the future is not an open question, but that world events move toward an ultimate consummation in a future judgment of the race. (pg 58)

Henry touches on evangelism and missions by saying:

That evangelicalism may not create a fully Christian civilization does not argue against an effort to win as many areas as possible by the redemptive power of Christ (pg 67)

The program of home-front expenditure has been severely criticized, in view of the heightened missionary needs on foreign fields... The distinction between home and foreign missions is a generation outmoded. (pg 69)

The evangelical task primarily is the preaching of the Gospel, in the interest of individual regeneration by the supernatural grace of God, in such a way that divine redemption can be recognized as the best solution of our problems, individual and social (pg 88).

I partially agree with him that the distinction between home and foreign missions is a generation outmoded. We definitely need to be reaching our neighbors and those from around the world God has brought to us, but that doesn't minimize the need to "go and make disciples of all nations". There still are thousands of people groups with no access to the good news of Jesus, and "how can they hear unless someone is sent?" (Romans 10)

Henry then goes on to discuss education and politics:

Evangelicalism will have to contend for a new order in education... For the past three centuries, the state has steadily supplanted the church as the indoctrinating agency, and today secular education largely involves an open or subtle undermining of historic Christian theism (pg 68)

The evangelical mood must not withdraw from tomorrow's political scene. (pg 72)

He briefly makes mention of church buildings by stating:

The day has now come for evangelicalism to rethink its whole building program. By tremendous outlay of funds, most church communities provide a worship structure which usually stands idle except for two Sunday services and a mid-week prayer meeting, if the latter. No secular steward could long be happy about such a minimal use of facilities representing so disproportionate an investment. (pg 70)

And a quote which summarizes the book:

A Christianity without a passion to turn the world upside down is not reflective of apostolic Christianity (pg 16)

Is Hell for Real or Does Everyone Go to Heaven? (Tim Keller, Al Mohler, J.I. Packer, Robert Yarbrough)

2011-09-25T18:37:00.005-04:00

I walked into the Family Christian Bookstore last Friday to pick up a gift for my sister's birthday. I like those trips because usually it means I leave the store with a couple extra items :)
This time the extra items included a copy of the new Downhere (On The Altar of Love) and Steven Curtis Chapman (Re:Creation) CD's.

I also picked up this $10, 80-page book that was front and center on display. "Is HELL for real or does everyone go to HEAVEN?" Needless to say it caught my attention. After the uproar in the evangelical community with Rob Bell's "Love Wins" I wanted to re-study the topic again myself. With contributions from men like Timothy Keller, R. Albert Mohler Jr., J.I. Packer., and Robert W. Yarbrough I figured this would be a good book to have. The general editors are Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson (2 guys I don't know at all) but that's the background info if you're searching for the book somewhere.

The authors begin with a few questions, similar to how Rob Bell asked in his book...

Actress Elizabeth Taylor likely never professed faith in Jesus Christ. Dare one ask: Is she in hell now?... Osama bin Laden likely never professed faith in Jesus Christ. Is he in heaven now? (pg 7)

Pretty standard questions you'd think, but these days...

Looking too closely into someone's fate after death is, today, considered tasteless at best. At worst, it can appear hateful. (pg 7)

Chapter 1 - Is Hell for Real? (by R. Albert Mohler Jr.)

John Stott recently died and while he was a great evangelical Christian leader I don't agree 100% with everything he believed... for instance:

Stott said that the church had misunderstood the meaning of key biblical texts. In Matthew 10:28, for instance, Stott said that the Greek word for "destroy" meant complete destruction rather than eternal punishment. (pg 19)

Have you ever heard this line before "needing correction" not "deserving punishment".

Philosophers argued that justice is about restoration rather than retribution. Criminals came to be seen not as deserving punishment but as needing correction. (pg 21)

A sad truth Mohler is not ashamed to call out is that...

Many churches now talk about new life in Christ without talking about judgment apart from him. (pg 22)

God, may Philpott Memorial Church continue to preach about new life in Christ while at the same time proclaiming the eternal conscious torment awaiting those who reject Christ as King.

Chapter 2 - What Jesus Said About Hell (by Robert Yarbrough)

I liked this brief summary. People are upset about hell so take it up with Jesus. He preached on it more than he did on heaven...

To summarize, Jesus' words on hell seems fairly straightforward. There will be a bodily resurrection of all persons, the good and the wicked (John 5:28-29). The good (those who have received Jesus and his saving message) will enter heaven. This is a place of blessing and unending joy in the presence of God. The wicked (those who have not received Christ's saving message) will enter hell: "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life" (Matt. 25:46). The symmetry is stark and simple. As McKnight concludes, Jesus clearly teaches "punishment in an individual, eternal sense." We have seen that Jesus depicted hell as real, awful, everlasting, motivational, and influential in this life. In view of modern doubts about hell, Jesus' clear teaching is all the more helpful. (pg 29)

And if you're thinking... "I'll just share the '4 spiritual laws because my job is just to 'win people to Christ' or help them 'discover Jesus' ", well I encourage you to please revisit Matthew 28:18-20.

Jesus' followers are to go into the world teaching all the things that he commanded (Matt. 28:20). There is no reason to suppose that he granted them "a bye" when it came to the doctrine of hell. (pg 34)

Chapter 3: Three Pictures of Hell (by Christopher Morgan)

The three pictures of hell Morgan describes are: Punishment, Destruction and Banishment. I thought this was a great point because many times I can just call hell "separation from God". But the Bible states that that it's more than just "separation". Others can just think hell is only destruction and then believe in annihilation (that people don't live forever but will cease to be). This next quote was helpful...

At times, the pictures of hell even seem irreconcilable. How can burning fire coexist with blackest darkness, for example? How can destruction be linked to continual endless suffering? Instead of viewing these pictures as contradictory, however, we should understand them to be complementary. The different depictions of hell bring out shades of meaning that a single rendering could not. (pg 41)

Complementary. I like that word :) I was also persuaded that "banishment" is the word I should be using to describe hell instead of just "separation". Banishment means God is in control, not just a by-stander. Hell was and is God's idea.

Banishment is stronger than separation... Most evangelicals need to guard against the tendency to view hell in passive terms like separation rather than banishment (pg 46)

Then to summarize his three pictures he concludes:

Hell as punishment vividly depicts God as the Judge who justly sentences the wicked.
Hell as destruction portrays God as the Warrior or Victor who defeats his enemies.
Hell as banishment views God as the King who allows only his citizens into his kingdom. (pg 46)

Chapter 4 - Three Perspectives on Hell (by Robert Peterson)

God not only is the Judge who welcomes people to heaven and casts people into hell, He is the one who is in control in hell. Back in January 2011 a friend emailed me asking... "from a biblical position is it justified to say that Hell is a place that is absent of God. Does that go contrary to our belief that God is everywhere?"

I responded to him and said "God is present in hell. God is omnipresent, even in hell. He is omnipotent and rules hell, and will one day cast Satan and unbelievers there. I think I'd say that there is some sort of distinction between God's presence in and out of hell, but I don't have lots of time to dig out my Bible and come up with references to back this position..."

Here's a quote that reiterates my position:

God's sovereignty is expressed in his judgment. This theme recurs a number of times in the Gospels and Revelation, and it shows that the power of God over the wicked extends beyond the grave. The Bible also indicates that God rules over hell. Unfortunately, some have erred at this point. As one writer said, "Hell is where Satan rules... where his complete fury is unleashed." But this is wrong, for hell is where God alone rules and where his fury is unleashed against Satan, his angels, and wicked human beings. (pg 53)

I found this website link helpful too.

Appendix - Preaching Hell in a Tolerant Age (by Timothy Keller)

Here's a helpful definition and clarification:

I do not define sin as just breaking rules but also as "making something besides God our ultimate source of value and worth". (pg 76)

The universal religion of humankind is: We develop a good record and give it to God, and then he owes us. The gospel is: God develops a good record and gives it to us, and then we owe him (Romans 1:17)... You see, you can believe that people are saved by goodness or you can believe people are saved by God's grace, but you cannot believe both at once - and the approach that appears inclusive at first glance is really equally exclusive (pg 77-78)

I encourage you to do what I did, buy this book and then one Saturday night from 7:30-10pm take this book and your Bible in hand, and study the topic of hell. Trust me, as you sing Christ-centered, gospel-centered songs at church the next morning you'll be overwhelmed by God's love and grace.

It is only because of the doctrine of judgment and hell that Jesus' proclamation of grace and love are so brilliant and astounding (pg 80)

Conclusion - Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson

The final two quotes don't require any further explanation. God's ways are higher than our ways, and if He says hell exists, I believe him - hell exists.

Jesus himself stands out as hell's chief defender... Christians also must embrace the doctrine of hell because of its prominent place in a biblical worldview. The doctrine of hell does not appear in isolation in the Bible; it is linked to the indispensible doctrines of God, sin and the atonement. (pg 81)

Our prayer is that you will join us and countless Christians throughout history and around the world in sharing the whole counsel of God - including hell - with Christians and non-Christians alike. May we do it with a passionate love for the Lord Jesus, abiding conviction in the truthfulness of God's Word, and heartfelt compassion for the lost. (pg 83)

Sacred Parenting (Gary Thomas)

2011-09-24T20:06:00.004-04:00

As many of you know at this past summer my life changed forever. I became a dad!!! Here's not the place to describe all of the stress felt as your wife labors in pain to deliver your child, or the amazing feeling when you finally hold your daughter in your arms... needless to say Rachel has been a huge blessing in my life already and she's not even 3 months only :)

I'm not sure who Karen recommend this book to Karen but its the first "parenting" book we bought and one I definitely recommend. It's titled "Sacred Parenting" by Gary Thomas.

Here's a couple of quotes from the Introduction and you'll see why this was a great first parenting-type book to read.

The process of raising children requires skills that God alone possesses, and we are decidedly not God...If you thought this book would give you 5 steps to help your daughter succeed in school or 10 steps to prepare your son for adolescence, you're in for a big disappointment. Instead, it approaches a much different territory - how God uses these children to shape us, spiritually speaking. (pg 12)

Our kids have taught us how to sacrifice (chapter 12), and how to handle guilt (chapter 3); they've schooled us in the art of listening and forced us to our knees in prayer (chapter 4); they've shown us how to laugh (chapter 5), how to grieve (chapter 9) and how to live courageously (chapter 6); they've helped us face our inadequacy, need, and reliance on One who is greater than we are (chapter 13). The experience of parenting comprises one of the most influential aspects of spiritual formation I've ever known. (pg 13)

Spiritually speaking, we need to raise children every bit as much as they need us to raise them (pg 15).

One of the things I must confess already is that there have been times when it's easier to just let Rachel cry, or leave Rachel and Karen upstairs and selfishly "run" and "retreat" to do my own thing. God help me!

If we have only a selfish motivation, we will run from parenting's greatest challenges... not by retreating to our bedrooms or backyards, but to our offices, boardrooms, workout clubs, Starbucks or even churches. (pg 17)

But I must remember too that their are times when the most loving thing I can do as Rachel's dad and Karen's husband is to pour myself into God's Word and prayer...

Parenting is like an airline emergency. Parents should put on their own masks first before attending to their kids... What's true in the air physically is equally true on the ground spiritually. If we neglect our own "spiritual oxygen" - our walk with God - our motivations will become polluted. (pg 19)

One of the things this book repeated over and over is that parenting cannot be done in our own strength. God alone is in control - not us. Our role is to point our children to Jesus.

Parenting demands skills of me that I don't possess... It also puts me on the spot, in charge, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year - and even 366 days in a leap year. (pg 40)

None of us can be such good parents that God becomes obligated to save our children's souls. On the more encouraging end, none of us can mess up so badly that our children somehow extend beyond the reach of God's mercy. (pg 43)

I can't be God to my kids, but I can model my need for God (pg 46)

Another important reminder in this book was that parenting isn't just all about "the kids". God uses parenting to refine, purify and sanctify me! God, please use these next 20+ years when Karen and I have little ones running around our humble home to make me more like Jesus and to help me enjoy life more!

God has created an institution - the family - through which he can shape, mold, and form all of us, parents included. We come into the family as imperfect people, and we sin against each other every day; yet through rubbing shoulders and learning to ask for, and offer, forgiveness, we all come out the richer for taking part in this sometimes painful process. (pg 51)

Our children can also teach us to become a little less busy and enjoy life a whole lot more. (pg 82)

I absolutely loved this personal story that Gary Thomas shared. When I read it I stopped and prayed, "God I can't wait to get a phone call similar to this from Rachel! And when it happens, help me do the right thing and drop work to come home."

Instead of listening to traffic and weather reports "on the fives" I stretched out, a small step from heaven, in a place called contentment - not because of a call from a publisher, a job promotion, or a raise, but because a 4 year old had called with a simple question: "Dad, would you come home early and play football with me today?" (pg 84)

Have you ever thought how many relationships you had in your family growing up?

A family of five represents ten distinct relationships! Tension or disagreement in just one of those relationships can affect the entire family. (pg 142)

I had never thought about that but consider:
A family of 2 = 1 relationship (ie me + Karen). That's what our Heska family used to consist of.
A family of 3 = 3 relationships (ie me + K, K + Rachel, me + Rachel)
A family of 4 = 6 relationships
A family of 5 = 10 relationships
A family of 6 = 15 relationships
Pretty crazy!

This next quote was a good reminder too:

Pastor, it's okay that not every one of your sermons will be remembered... Go ahead and take that walk with your kids, even if your weekly sermon suffers. (pg 160)

I personalized it and thought "David it's okay that not every Saturday you get to read the newspaper" or "David it's okay that not every time you lead a Bible study that you've gone over the content 3x until you've read all of the parallel passages" or "David it's okay if you leave work on time. Tomorrow the same work will be sitting there for you."

God, help me to know when to say yes to ministry opportunities and when to say no. I recognize there will be different "chapters" in life and I thank you for each of them.

It is shortsighted at best, and the height of arrogance at worst, for fathers or mothers to become so busy with their own ministries and lives that they shortchange their children. (pg 184)

Elton Trueblood has helped many Christians face this between between family life, service, and devotion by pointing out that we live our lives in chapters. No one chapter defines a complete story. There is the chapter of your singleness, the chapter of your first years as a married couple, the chapter of your years raising toddlers, the chapter of your years raising teens, the chapter of your years as empty nesters, and the chapter of your years as a grandparent. God won't judge our lives by one chapter in isolation but by the story these chapters, woven together, create. (pg 192)

Help me to remember...

As parents, we cannot and must not live as childless men and women. (pg 192)

Here's one last fictional but cute story that makes me smile :)

A young father followed the same routine every evening: He went into the kitchen, opened a cupboard, and took out a glass. He then walked over to a cupboard, pulled out a cookie jar, took out two or three cookies, and put them on a plate. Then he'd go to the refrigerator, get some milk, and pour himself a tall glass. Following that, he'd walk into the living room and enjoy his milk and cookies while sitting in his favourite chair.

One evening as he was heading into the kitchen for his nightly ritual, the father noticed his 3 year old son heading into the kitchen ahead of him. The boy had a determined look on his face. Instead of announcing his presence, the father decided to stay unobserved so that he could watch what his son seemed so determined to do. The boy pulled out several drawers, essentially making steps so he could climb onto the counter - something he was forbidden to do. Next he walked across the counter (another no-no) and opened an upper cupboard door. He reached in and pulled out a glass, knocking over several other glasses in the process. The young boy placed his glass down, hopped off the counter, then picked up his glass, and put it on the floor. He marched to the refrigerator and pulled out the milk, then poured it into the glass. The flowing milk proved too strong for his little hands, and it spilled over the top of the glass. The little boy wiped up the spilled milk with his shirt.

Then he left his milk, walked over to another cupboard, and pulled out the cookie jar. This was strictly forbidden; the father's son knew he wasn't supposed to get cookies without permission. But he reached in and while doing so pulled several other cookies out of the jar. The boy put them back and wiped up the crumbs with his milk-soaked shirt. The father stepped out to intercept his son, only to be greeted by a huge smile. "Here are your cookies, Dad. I love you!"

In this story, I want you to place yourself in the son's position, not the dad's. We're the little child, trying to serve our heavenly Father and yet making a lot of messes in the process. We can't reach as high as we'd like, so we make do with makeshift steps to reach the counter. We knock over a few glasses, and we spill the milk while we're trying to prepare a drink. Lacking all wisdom, we come up with the great idea of cleaning up the mess with our shirt instead of with a washcloth. But what dad wouldn't feel touched by such a display of service, however messy it might be? (pg 52).

My prayer on September 24, 2011

God, as Karen and I stand up at church tomorrow to dedicate Rachel - it's only a public profession of our private heartfelt prayers. You have blessed us abundantly by entrusting us with the life of little Rachel Elisabeth and we declare that she is not ours, but yours.
I reiterate a what I declared at our wedding reception, that "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord". But I know that accomplishing this is not something I can do on my own. Help Karen and I love, protect, teach and nourish Rachel. Thank you for the family and friends we have to support us in this great adventure. In your time call Rachel into your kingdom. Seek her and save her. May she place her faith in You Jesus, as her Lord and Saviour at a young age; and may she live for You all her days.
For your glory alone and the sake of your great name among the nations. Amen.

Biblical Theology

2011-09-22T21:31:00.002-04:00

I've been listening to the first few mp3 lectures by Dr. Miles Van Pelt in a Biblical Theology course I'm taking.

I thought it was very interesting that other scholars answer the question "What is the Bible all about?" by saying, the Bible is all about:
- a creation theme (G K Beale)
- acts of God (G E Wright)
- monotheism (Paul House)
- the promise-plan of God (Walter Kaiser)
- the revelation of God (Vos)
- the Kingdom of God (Bright)
- the presence of God

Van Pelt believes the Bible is "purpose driven" and it's:
- Thematic Framework is the Kingdom of God
- Theological Center is Jesus Christ
- Canonical Structure is the Law and the Prophets

He says the Kingdom of God is "the skin" of the Bible, Jesus is "the heart" and the Law and Prophets are "the bones". I think I agree with him. I'm happy a friend recommended to Karen and I that we buy a copy of "The Big Picture Story Bible" to read with Rachel. It goes from Genesis to Revelation talking about Jesus as King of God's Kingdom!

Here's a quote from Stewart Olyott that made me say a good "AMEN" out loud in Fortinos while I was grocery shopping. This is from Olyott's book "Preaching: Pure and Simple":

"The third key feature of preaching is Christ-centeredness. It has to be. This is because preachers are heralds of the Scriptures, and all of the Scriptures are about Christ - explicitly or implicitly, directly or indirectly. Every single part of the Bible points us to Him. There is no passage in the whole book which is an exception.
It was the Spirit of Christ that moved every Old Testament author to write what he or she wrote (1 Peter 1:10-12). It was the Lord Jesus Christ himself who opened the Old Testament to his disciples and explained to them that He was in it everywhere (Luke 24). The four gospels and Acts, all the epistles and the Revelation also have him as their great subject.
So what shall we say about a preacher who opens the Bible and does not preach Christ from the passage in front of him. Such a preacher has not understood the Book, and if he does not understand the Book he should not be preaching!"

mp3s by Bruce Ware

2011-08-31T19:26:00.005-04:00

I just listened to this talk in Bruce Ware's Systematic Theology course online.

At the 43-51 minute mark he states the following:

Men and women are equal in essence but have different and complementary roles.

These 6 things were true in the Garden of Eden before sin and show God's design for male headship
1) Adam was created first (1 Cor 2:13, 1 Cor 11:8)
2) Woman was made for the man's sake (Gen 2 "helper", 1 Cor 11:8-9)
3) Man named the woman (before sin) and Adam named Eve (after sin)
4) Eve was taken from/out of Adam (1 Cor 11:9). She is the "image of God" by being the "image of man"
5) Adam was given primary responsibility in the Garden
6) Satan tempted the woman to usurp male headship. Eve sinned first but God comes to Adam first. Rom 5 and 1 Cor 15 say it was "Adam's sin" even though it was Eve who sinned first.

At the 54 minute mark he answers a great question which I've pondered before but never really thought through myself.

Q) Why did God use masculine language in Scripture? (There are some female metaphors to describe God, but no feminine descriptive terms. The Biblical words are "King", "Father", "Lord" not "Queen", "Mother" etc)
A) God created male and female in such a way He invested males with headship and authority. So God depicts Himself in the role of male (even though He is not male) because He is the chief authority over us. God is not male, but He deliberately cast Himself as male.

mp3s by Al Mohler and C.J. Mahaney

2011-08-28T17:50:00.010-04:00

One of the latest blessings in my life has been listening to free mp3s on the drive to and from work and construction sites. My favourite sites are
www.biblicaltraining.org
www.desiringgod.org
www.sovereigngracestore.com

From the Sovereign Grace page I downloaded one message by Dr. Al Mohler (President of SBTS) titled "Embracing God's Design for Marriage". In it he highlighted the importance of male headship in the home and church. Here are the 9 dimensions of headship he described. The whole talk is good but if you want to hear these 9 listen from the 38-50 minute mark.

1) spiritual - every husband must be a Bible teacher. He must ensure his wife and children are spiritually instructed.
2) relational - husbands must lead in developing deep meaningful relationships in the home. First with his wife, then with each child.
3) sexual - the husband must learn to be a lover. He must study his wife and please her.
4) governmental - the husband must govern, not as a president who was elected, or as a dictator not considering others opinions, but as a governor looking out for the best interests of his household
5) judicial - he must lay down the law. Obedience must be learned; disobedience must be punished
6) ecclesial - every godly husband must lead his family to be actively involved in a local church
7) cultural - he must take responsibility for the type of entertainment allowed into the home, for what his family sees and listens to
8) financial - husbands are to provide adequate provision, 1 Tim 5:8 reminds us we must first provide for our own family or else we're worse than unbelievers. Husbands should lead in giving to the church and to God's global purposes.
9) historical - husbands are to commemorate and instruct their children in the tradition of faithful ones who have gone before.

Overall I thought this talk was great. Very challenging and convicting. Definitely some points / ideas for future Men's Breakfasts!

I also listened to talks by C.J. Mahaney titled "Gospel-Centered Parenting". Here's part of one of his closing prayers:

We leave trusting You to work in the lives of our children in ways only You can work... We thank you that you have provided for us the children of Your choosing. [Thank you] that You are committed to caring for them, and will assist us with Your grace, as we train them to serve You for Your glory.

As he prayed that my voice cried out "AMEN". For some reason God has blessed Karen and I with Rachel Elisabeth. He has chosen her for us and He is more committed to loving and caring for her than we could ever be. What peace that brings!

He also said at one point:
Parenting is ultimately about preparing your child for the Day of Judgement.

And he emphasized that the local church family should be valued more than your individual family. He shared how valuable family nights have been for his family, but he also said make church family events even more of a priority!

In my application that means PMC family > Heska family. Interesting. He says the Church (big family) will endure forever. The Heska (little family) will not. I'm still wrestling through how that will be lived out.

Husband Coached Birthing (Robert Bradley)

2011-07-10T21:27:00.002-04:00

During the 9 months leading up to Rachel's birth Karen was reading various books on labour and delivery and I felt a bit out of the loop. So I got a copy of this book "Husband Coached Birthing" by Dr. Robert Bradley and read it. It wasn't the most exciting book I've read but there were some cool points he made that I highlighted:

In one chapter he asks: Is the husband really that important? Isn't it just easier for him to sit out in the waiting room until the "good news" comes? He lists these 25 reasons why it IS important for the husband to be there!

1. Who will go with the mother to classes to learn what to expect and how to help her in labor?
2. Who will encourage her to exercise during pregnancy?
3. Who will encourage her to eat well every day?
4. Who will help her in early labor?
5. Who will call the doctor or midwife when she's in labor?
6. Who will sign the admitting forms and answer questions?
7. Who will keep her relaxed?
8. Who will remind her to slow her breathing and relax again after something disturbs her?
9. Who will recognize the natural alignment plateau and keep her from getting discouraged?
10. Who will spoon ice chips in her mouth?
11. Who will wipe her sweaty brow while she is working?
12. Who will she rely on to keep watch and help her to avoid unnecesary pain?
13. Who will she depend on to tell her she's doing a great job over and over and over and over again?
14. Who will act as an advocate for the mother when decisions must be made?
15. Who will know what relaxes her?
16. Who will rub her sore back?
17. Who will hold her up in the shower if she wants to take one?
18. Who will sit with her in the bathroom when she wants to labor in there?
19. Who will help her find a good pushing position?
20. Who will hold her up in the pushing position, even for hours, if necessary?
21. Who will remind her to push to the point of comfort?
22. Who will relax her between contractions?
23. Who will tell her when you can see the head?
24. Who will share this special time of bonding?
25. Who will the mother say she couldn't have done it without?
The coach has a lot to do!! (pg 54)

Another good reminder for me was this:

Coaches have the responsibility to set the mood for labor. We tell them when they arrive at the hospital that they should say enthusiastically and with conviction tell everyone they come in contact with, "My wife's doing great" and "I am so proud of her" - frequently to as many people as possible. (pg 80)

And finally in the "Labour and Birth" chapter there was a great description of the internal miracles that happen during the first moments of life. What a joy it was to be there watching Rachel enter this world, take her first breath, let out her first cry and then see her cuddle up warmly on her mother's chest.

Internally, miracles are happening to your baby at birth. Valves are automatically closing in the umbilicus to prevent baby blood from running back in the cord. Valves are closing in the baby's heart, valves that remained open during the intrauterine life to direct blood through the cord and placenta to pick up oxygen and other nourishment from the mother via the placental surface. Other valves that remained closed are now opening for the first time, allowing the blood that used to go to the placenta for oxygen to circulate through the baby's lungs, which now contain air for the first time. Isn't it a miracle that these parts know how to do these things at the proper time? (pg 113)

Yet another reason I believe there is a very good Creator God!

Churchill (Paul Johnson)

2011-04-10T17:21:00.003-04:00

For those who know me, I like reading biography books. I had been wanting to learn more about Winston Churchill and after "seeing" him in "The King's Speech" I told Karen about how great of a leader I thought he was. So before our January road trip to Florida, my loving wife bought me this short 166 page biography on his life. C.J. Mahaney recommends it and I recommend it!

As a background... Do you know if Churchill was religious? Well...

Churchill read Winwood Reade's atheistic tract which turned him into a lifelong freethinker and a critic of organized religion (though he always conformed outwardly enough to avoid the label "atheist", which might have been politically damaging.) (pg 13)

Heading into our 2011 Canadian election its refreshing to think that Churchill didn't care which political party he was associated with.

He was not a party man. That was the truth. His loyalty belonged to the national interest, and his own. At one time or another he stood for Parliament under six labels: Conservative, Liberal, Coalition, Constitutionalist, Unionist, and National Conservative. (pg 22)

Here's a simple line from the book that made me smile.

Churchill delighted in his marriage. He was a happy man. (pg 28)

Churchill had power and worked hard.

As prime minister and minister of defense, Churchill held power "in ever growing measure" as he himself put it, from May 1940 to July 1945. Probably no statesman in British history had held power for so long in so concentrated and extensive a form. (pg 109)

Churchill himself began to set a personal example of furious and productive activity at Ten Downing Street. He was 65 but looked, seemed - was, indeed - the embodiment of energy. he worked a 16 hour day. (pg 113)

2 famous quotes which are classic!!!!!!

"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival." (pg 112)

"We shall not flag or fail. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender." (pg 116)

As with any great leader Churchill had unique abilities to foresee the future, get priorities right, and relax.

Churchill had a sense of the importance of airpower and his speed in grasping the opportunities it offered. (pg 117)

Churchill had an uncanny gift for getting priorities right. (pg 123)

Churchill's great strength was his power of relaxation. (pg 128)

I'm sure I was probably taught this in Grade 10 History class but I didn't remember it. So when I read that the Allies were decoding the Nazi signals I said to myself, "That's sweet!"

Thanks to possession of the Nazi encryption machine Enigma and the British decoding center at Bletchley, he was getting regular intercepts of top-level Nazi messages. This was the most closely guarded secret of the war, and it says a lot for the precautions Churchill personally took, and his own discretion, that the Nazis never suspected their codes were broken and continued to use them to the end. (pg 121)

And a great final summary the author rights is below, I couldn't say it better myself:

Winston Churchill lead a full life, and few people are ever likely to equal it - its amplitude, variety, and success on so many fronts. But all can learn from it, especially in 5 ways:
1) Always aim high
2) There is no substitute for hard work. (He also manifestly enjoyed his leisure activities, for him another form of hard work, to keep himself fit and rested and to enable himself to do his job at the top of his form. The balance he maintained between flat-out work and creative and restorative leisure is worth study by anyone holding a top position.)
3) Never allow mistakes, accidents, illnesses, unpopularity and criticism get you down.
4) Spend little time and emotional energy on the meannesses of life: recrimination, shifting blame to others, malice, revenge seeking, dirty tricks, spreading rumors, harboring grudges.
5) Be joyful. (No great leader was ever laughed at, or with, more than Churchill).
(pg 162-165)

As we lead, let us learn from Churchill's life and example.

History of Missions

2011-02-26T16:55:00.002-05:00

It's a wonderful Saturday afternoon as I sit down here after a great day at the TrueCity Conference. What a joy it is to worship among a group of Christians from various denominations as we pray, plan and encourage one another for the good of our city - Hamilton.

A friend sent me Chapter 1 of his "History of Missions and Development" textbook a few weeks ago and I've taken time today to reflect on it. Here are my thoughts:

"each Christian is one who is a missionary" -- I'd disagree with this statement. See my previous post on "Shooting Sacred Cows". All Christians are disciples, and all disciples are to evangelize; but the problem is that the more people we call missionaries the less we minimize the unique calling of going to the nations with the message of the gospel.

"A missionary means anyone who works to fulfill the church's mission. More usually it refers to those who cross cultural boundaries with the gospel, preaching and interpreting it in a way that is sensitive and relevant to the new context." --- I don't believe a missionary is "anyone who works to fulfill the church's mission"; that's too general of a definition. I'd prefer the definition to include "cross-cultural boundaries".

"The term "missions" on the other hand, refers to the specific task of making disciples of all nations, and thus refers to evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. It thus incorporates the work of mission agencies and organizations, churches, and missionaries around the world. By these definitions, missions would be a subset of mission: mission incorporates the entire task of the church and includes the traditional idea of missions." -- I agree with this one!! :)

In the hands of the World Council of Churches (WCC), since the 1960s, the understanding of the mission of God lies not in world evangelism and church planting, but in advancing the political and economic well-being of people. In this the WCC adopted an almost socio-political understanding of missio Dei. -- I do believe God's Mission "missio Dei" includes socio-political aspects BUT the Church must not water down it's passion for world evangelism and church planting. God's Kingdom will come complete with social change, political change, AND people from every tribe, tongue and nation responding in faith to the message of the gospel of Jesus!

Shooting Sacred Cows (David Mays)

2010-08-01T15:42:00.013-04:00

I found this great website on "Help for Church and Mission Leaders" www.davidmays.com

I listened to his sermon (here) and found the summary article (here) in which he shoots down 3 "sacred cows". Here are David Mays' points, with my thoughts...

1) Make Disciples is NOT the Core of the Great Commission.

Please don’t hear me say that we should not make disciples. We must.

“Teach” and “disciple” are transitive verbs. The sentence isn’t complete until you have the object. And the object is “all nations.” Thus the core of the Great Commission is not “make disciples” but “disciple all nations.” There is a great deal of difference between “making disciples” and “discipling all nations.”

I've heard people make this mistake before, and I've even done so. But if the purpose is just "make disciples" we gut the Great Commission of its "world scope".

2) Poverty, pain, and injustice are NOT God’s primary concern.

Now please don’t jump to the conclusion that God is not concerned about poverty, pain and injustice. He is. What I am saying is that it is not his primary concern.

I think that perhaps the primary thing on God’s mind is the glory of his name in all the earth, the billions of people he created who have no fellowship with him, and perhaps the great dark areas of the earth where people do not know Jesus or even anything about him.

Books on church and missions are being written that seem to interpret God’s primary concern is improving our physical situation. For example, the book "When Helping Hurts" (which I highly recommend), says that God was displeased with Israel because of Israel's failure to care for the poor and oppressed (Isa. 58:1-3, 5-10). This is a very partial explanation. All the books about the kings and prophets repeatedly warn Israel that their primary sin is the worship of false gods, breaking the first and second commandments. Failing to care for the poor and oppressed was part of their lack of obedience.

Helping the poor, the sick, and the oppressed is part of what we are to do as Christians, but it is not the primary part of it. Humanitarian ministries are not to be ignored or neglected. Jesus had compassion on people. He healed the sick and cast out demons.

Luis Palau in a Conference years ago told us that in the area of the world where he grew up, many Christians came and did humanitarian work. It all gradually faded away. Only where Christians came and planted churches did the people in those churches continue to do humanitarian work.

Robert Wuthnow, author of "Boundless Faith -The Global Outreach of American Churches" states: “The social pressures to emphasize service rather than evangelism…are quite powerful. Given the prevailing ethos of tolerance in the North America, it seems quite wrong to confront a devout Muslim or Hindu about his or her need to believe in Jesus, whereas no questions would be raised about giving a starving Muslim or Hindu a meal. Not surprisingly, a popular solution to this dilemma is to redefine service as evangelism” (242)

I suggest that the avenue of helping hurting people can be excellent ministry and the best route to helping people find spiritual life. I’m all for it. But we must be sure that the people we send live a life that is spiritually empowered and that they can effectively introduce people to Jesus.

Very very good point!!

3) Every Christian is NOT a missionary and not all ministry is missions.

You have been in services where the pastor says something like,
• We are all missionaries.
• You are the missionary to your world.
• When you leave the sanctuary today, be sure to read the plaque over the back door that says,
“You are entering your mission field.”

These are all very noble sentiments. We certainly do want people to be obedient disciples, live the Christ life, serve others, and reach out for Jesus where they live and work. The only question is whether it is helpful to call these people “missionaries.” You might think that “Christian” or “disciple” would be a suitable term.

The problem is that the more people we call missionaries, the more things we call missions, and the broader the missions budget, the less progress we make toward the most strategic priorities of reaching the rest of the world with the gospel. Our churches actually become the bottleneck for finishing the task of discipling the nations.

I've made this mistake before too, at Campus for Christ meetings I even said "We're all missionaries". Mays' argues that the term "missionaries" should be narrowed to those who go to the nations whereas the rest of us who "stay home" should be missional Christians, but let's not call ourselves "missionaries".

It's a timely point too talking about "the more things we call missions, and the broader the missions budget" as we review the "Missionary Formula" at church. Mays is all for reaching out to your local city and country, but to that money shouldn't be "borrowed" from missions. It should be designated separately!

Sharpening the Focus of the Church (Gene Getz)

2010-07-17T16:48:00.005-04:00

Our pastor referred to this book, and so I checked if it was on our bookshelf and we had it! It's a good all-round summary of the things I had been learning from other books like "Why We Love The Church".

For instance:

In some churches if you dare change the order of the morning worship service, you get the distinct feeling you are tampering with the Scriptures themselves. Who is to say how a service is to be ordered? There is very little in Scripture to suggest specific answers to this question. – pg 160

How can all members of the body use the grace God has given them to build up the rest of the body, when they are consistently “forced” to sit and listen to one man teach or preach? – pg 204

Our failure to provide balanced New Testament experiences for believers has resulted in an emphasis on correct doctrine and a knowledge of Scriptures, but has neglected other important needs that create mature Christian personalities. – pg 204

I also liked this quote. If ever Karen and I are a part of a church plant, I will make sure we're together with other families!

Family units are the building blocks for a healthy church. Only churches that are built out of basic social units have the true health and the potential of rapid growth and steady expansion. The decisive question in founding a church is not how many people are interested in the project, but rather how many families form the foundation of the church. Churches founded by families have the potential to flourish.

And finally I'll posted a few lists from different chapters.

Chapter 4 – Principles of New Testament Evangelism

1. every local body of believers must be responsible for its own community
2. corporate evangelism is basic to personal evangelism
3. presenting the gospel to the unsaved is to take place primarily “in the world” – not “in the church”
4. the primary target for evangelism should be adults and consequently whole households
5. The church is responsible to identify those who feel especially called by God to carry the good news in a special way out into the community and beyond the immediate community – even to “the remotest part of the earth”
6. New believers as soon as possible should be integrated into the life of the local church.
7. The 20th century church must develop its own contemporary structures and approaches to evangelism utilizing the principles and purposes just stated as biblical guidelines.

Chapter 19 – Cultural Implications for the 20th Century

1. The church of Jesus Christ must develop a correct perspective regarding the multiple causes of our present North American crisis.
2. The church must develop a correct view of history.
3. The church must understand clearly why God has left us on earth, and strive with His help to fulfill that purpose. Our primary task is to fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, to both “make disciples” and to “teach those disciples”. We are to be everlastingly busy at this task until Jesus Christ comes again. – pg 229
4. The church must recognize it has a divine mandate to show a vital concern for our government leaders in the life of our nation.
5. The church must provide an atmosphere where Christians can relate to one another in a non-institutionalized environment.
6. The church must provide stability and security for people – something which culture is increasingly failing to do.
7. The church must help Christians to “live in the world” without being a “part of the world”.
8. The church must recognize, and understand and adapt to the cultural effects of the communications revolution.
9. The church must understand the cultural effects on lifestyle and learn to differentiate between what is a violation of biblical principles and what is a violation of cultural norms we have come to accept as absolute.
10. The church must do all it can to strengthen the home, and to counteract the devastating cultural attacks upon this basic of all institutions. The greatest contribution the church can make to our decaying society, is to help build the home. Strong families build strong churches, and together strong homes and strong churches can do more than any one thing to stabilize and revitalize our culture.

Appendix A – Why the Church Exists?
Why the Church Exists in the World = Evangelism (going – make disciples)
Why the Church Exists as a Gathered Community = Edification (baptizing – teach them)

Sticky Church (Larry Osborne)

2010-07-17T16:47:00.011-04:00

"Sticky Church" is one of Larry Osborne's follow up books after "The Unity Factor". We also read this with the group at church and since many already lead small groups or will be leading small groups discussion was very lively!

As the title suggests Osborne wants his church (and others) to be "sticky", implying that people will not "drift out the back door and off to another church". But when he started off by saying

Everything we do is aimed at helping the Christians we already have grow stronger in Christ. – pg 20

I think he goes too far. If "everything" is aimed at Christians then what about evangelism and "going into all the world"? After this I think he gets back on track though.

He addresses some of the same topics as "Why We Love The Church" and "Pagan Christianity":

Some go so far as to call a return to house churches as the only way to return to New Testament Christianity. Their rationale goes something like this: If it was good enough for the New Testament apostles, it ought to be good enough for us. If they changed the world with small, mostly house churches, we can too. But their argument carries a fatal flaw. It’s the assumption that New Testament churches remained small and met in homes as a ministry strategy... The truth is, they had no other choice. Without automobiles or mass transit, everything in their culture was small and neighbourhood based. It wasn’t a better option. It was the only option. – pg 45

Then he suggests that the topics discussed in our small groups should be the topic of the previous Sunday mornings sermon.

The simplest and best tool I’ve ever seen for connecting people to one another and engaging them with the Bible for the long haul is a sermon-based small group. – pg 46

We started doing this at Philpott in the spring and will be doing it in the fall as well and the response has been great! As a result the following situation is avoided.

I grew up in a church where we studied one passage or topic in the Sunday sermon, another in Sunday school, still another on Sunday night, and something entirely different on Wednesday night. Frankly, I never had much of a clue as to what we were studying – something related to the Bible, I suppose. The teaching was far to disjointed to create any sense of focus. – pg 62

Near the end of the book he makes a couple good suggestions on how to set up church small groups:

The ideal size for a group of married couples is usually 12 to 14 people. For singles, 8 to 12 can be ideal... Most married couples have a me-too partner, someone who almost always agrees with whatever their mate says (at least in public). – pg 77

We’ve found that the small groups that have the greatest life-on-life impact and stay together the longest are always those in which the friendships are deepest. That’s why we tell people to choose a group primarily according to who else is in it rather than where or when it meets.- pg 78

It was a practical book which I'd recommend to any small group leader.

The Unity Factor (Larry Osborne)

2010-07-17T16:47:00.009-04:00

This was one of the books that I read over the past few months which was discussed with our pastor and group of young adults at church. Titled "The Unity Factor" the book has a picture of a 4 man bobsled team on the cover. The book talks about the importance of a united leadership team. I praise God for the 4 years I had the privilege of serving on the Servant Team at Mac. As I read this book I reflected and a lot on these years.

"The outlook that meetings exist for business and business only is one of the main reasons why prayer and devotions are often viewed as preliminaries to the "real meeting", and why few agendas include time for cultivating relationships." - pg 26

Thanks to Ian and Allan who set the bar high, the purpose of our Mac Servant Team meetings was never just business alone. The first hour (of our two hour meeting) was devoted to catching up with one another, prayer and Bible Study.

"Some boards eat together before each meeting. Others regularly schedule social events." - pg 26

Do you guys remember our Servant Team socials? (i.e. TCBY ice cream in Westdale, Kelly and MCs for breakfasts, Webster's Falls hikes)

"Allowing board members to serve indefinitely hasn't resulted in an ingrown board. It's resulted in a stable board." - pg 30

We kind of had this at Mac... The Servant Team had very little change over year after year.

"The nominating committee may be the most important committee in our church, because it serves like the headwaters of a river." - pg 43

Good point. The nominating committee is key!

"When an entire board tries to design, create, or generate new programs, it's headed for failure or frustration." - pg 53

And that's why for the big outreach events like I Agree With Dave or Does God Exist we put a single person in charge (Anton and Rony, respectively) and they took it and ran with it. We as a Servant Team didn't get bogged down.

"We hold Q&A sessions a few weeks before the annual general meeting, so everyone can make suggestions, register complaints, or clarify issues... The result? Boring congregational meetings." - pg 57

Sounds very very familiar to "Town Hall Meetings" we have a Philpott before our AGM.

"I keep no secrets from the board... The elders and I jointly shepherd the flock, and we can't do our job if we keep secrets from one another." - pg 70

Good advice.

Then Osborne states the difference between a typically Board Business Meeting and a less regular Shepherding Meeting. Shepherding Meetings sound like fun to me. It's like a mini Men's Breakfast!

"Usually on a Saturday morning... we begin with breakfast, usually in a home. While we eat, we swap stories, catch up on news, and renew our friendship. Then we move into our training time. For about an hour, we'll discuss some aspect of ministry or church leadership... Lastly, in our role as shepherds of the flock, we pray for the sheep." - pg 91

Finally, he makes a great point to invest time and money in volunteers, cause it's worth it!

"Board members need to understand that it costs money to run an effective volunteer organization. Volunteers aren't cheap... Purchase, as soon as possible, the equipment volunteers need... Cover the personal costs that volunteers incur" - pg 115

Why We Love The Church (Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck)

2010-07-17T16:45:00.007-04:00

I was very happy when at I found this book at the Christian bookstore. Having just finished Pagan Christianity and having many unanswered questions I flipped through this and knew I had to buy it. This was one of the most "readable" books I've read in a long time and it is very Scripturally sound.

Praise God for Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck!

We hope you will read this book with an open mind, considering what the Bible says about the importance of the church as organism AND organization, as a community AND an institution, as a living entity with relationships AND rules. (pg 16)

According to some disgruntled Christians, the church as we know it is an unbiblical, historical accident at best and a capitulation to paganism at worst. All that we think of as “church” – sermons, buildings, pastors, liturgy, offerings, choirs, and just about anything else you want to mention – are the result of the church falling from its pristine state in the first century into the syncretistic, over-institutionalized religion that now passes for Christianity.

I think he's referring to guys like Frank Viola and George Barna... don't you?

I don’t mean the “church” that consists of three guys drinking pumpkin spiced lattes at Starbucks talking about spirituality of the Violent Femmes and why Sex and the City is really profound. I mean the local church that meets – where you want it to meet – but exults in the cross of Christ; sings songs to a holy and loving God; has church officers, good preaching, celebrates the sacraments, exercises discipline; and takes an offering. This is the church that combines freedom and form in corporate worship, has old people and young, artsy types and NASCAR junkies, seekers and stalwarts, and probably has bulletins and by-laws. (pg 19)

When I read this last part I smiled. I was only 19 pages in but I was loving it! Then DeYoung and Kluck come out swinging with the book clearly in sight.

Pagan Christianity, like most restorationist literature, is full of historical hubris... Isn’t it a bit sweeping to declare that “everything that is done in our contemporary churches has no basis in the Bible”? (pg 117)

The arguments in Pagan Christianity are grossly overstated. On several occasions as I read Viola’s claims I thought, “You would be fine if you stopped right now and made the point that these things [pulpits, stained glass, robes, etc.] don’t have to be in the church, but then you go and try to prove that they can’t.” There may be Christians who think church can’t exist without pews. For them, Viola’s book may be a needed antidote. But just because pews come later in the church’s history, or even if pagans used them first, doesn’t make them unchristian. If you don’t like pews, fine. But they’re just benches. Can we not have hinges on our church doors if a nonChristian invented them? (pg 118)

It's a good point. Can we not have hinges on our church doors if a nonChristian invented them. :)

Viola makes some valid points. Christians can be obsessed with buildings, wasting lots of time and money on overexpanding facilities. We do sometimes equate a building with the church, when the people are what matter... I don’t think the ground is any holier inside the church than out. So I’m happy for Viola and others to correct mistaken notions some people may have about the importance of church buildings. BUT Viola overstates his case. He makes too much of the fact that early Christians met in homes... The Christians met in homes for 300 years because their faith was illegal. They didn’t have anywhere else to meet, which is why buildings starting popping up after Constantine decriminalized Christianity. A Roman house, especially with the courtyard, could be quite spacious, allowing for up to 100 people in attendance. So “house church” doesn’t necessarily mean small group Bible study. Moreover, the early Christians did not gather exclusively in homes. In Acts we see that they also met in Solomon’s Portico (Acts 5:12), still went to synagogues (Acts 3:1) and occasionally rented lecture halls, like the hall of Tyrannus in Ephesus (Acts 19:9).... Here’s the bottom line: The whole conversation about church buildings is much ado about nothing. You have to meet somewhere. (pg 121)

Viola is right to quote John Newton when he said “Let not him who worships under steeple condemn him who worships under a chimney”. But should not the reverse also be true? Let not him who worships on couches in the living room condemn him who worships with pews, pulpits, stained glass and a fellowship hall. (pg 122)

Next they tackle the topic of church membership and "churchless Christianity".

Without church membership there’s not place for the important role of church discipline. – pg 162

Churchless Christianity makes about as much sense as a Christless church, and has just as much biblical warrant. John Stott’s assessment of evangelism in the book of Acts is right: The Lord “didn’t add them to the church without saving them, and he didn’t save them without adding them to the church. Salvation and church membership went together; they still do.” – pg 164

And before closing the topic of leaders and sermons is addressed:

The Bible simply does not teach a leaderless church. Instead we see the apostles exercising great authority over the churches (e.g., 2 Cor. 13:1-4). We have pastors commanded to “exhort and rebuke with all authority” (Titus 2:15; see also 2 Tim. 4:2). We see elder rule (Acts 14:23; 15:2; 20:17; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; 5:17; Titus 1:5; James 5:14; 1 Peter 1:1; 5:1), accompanied by the office of deacon to care for the physical needs of the congregation (1 Tim. 3:8-13; Phil. 1:1; see also Acts 6:1-7). To be sure, elders are not to domineer over those in their charge, but they still must exercise oversight (1 Peter 5:2-3), and those in the congregation should “obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account” (Heb. 13:17). - pg 168

Today’s sermon, according to Frank Viola, has “no root in Scripture,” was “borrowed from pagan culture”, and “detracts from the very purpose for which God designed the church gathering.”... [But] the sermon was not stolen from the pagans. It came from Judaism, which developed and refined the practice of exegesis and expositional preaching in the centuries leading up to Christ... The Levites were to teach Israel the law (Deut. 33:10). The true priest was not just a butcher but a teaching priest (2 Chron. 15:3). Ezra read the law to the returning exiles, “giving them the sense of it” (Neh 8:6-8). And we see the same development in the New Testament. We know John the Baptist preached and Jesus preached. We know Paul preached and instructed his apprentice Timothy, with the most solemn warning, to also preach (2 Tim. 4:1-2). Even Jesus Himself, we should remember was a trainer of preachers, sending His disciples out not just to facilitate group discussions but to preach (Mark 3:14). – pg 174

On the last page of the book they write something that was very encouraging to me and I hope it is to you.

Don’t give up on the church. The New Testament knows nothing of churchless Christianity. The invisible church is for invisible Christians. The visible church is for you and me... So I guess this is my final advice: Find a good local church, get involved, become a member, stay there for the long haul. Put away thoughts of revolution for a while and join the plodding visionaries. Go to church this Sunday and worship there in spirit and truth, be patient with your leaders, rejoice when the gospel is faithfully proclaimed, bear with those who hurt you, and give people the benefit of the doubt. While you are there, sing like you mean it, say hi to the teenager no one notices, welcome the blue hairs and the nose-ringed, volunteer for the nursery once in a while. And yes, bring your fried chicken to the potluck like everyone else, invite a friend to church, take the new couple out for coffee, give to the Christmas offering, be thankful someone vacuumed the carpet, enjoy the Sundays that click for you and pray extra hard on the Sundays that don’t. – pg 237

Pagan Christianity? (Frank Viola and George Barna)

2010-07-17T16:44:00.002-04:00

Over the past 6 months I've finished many books on the topic of "The Church". Some of them have been good (see my summary on "Why We Love The Church" and "Sharpening The Focus of The Church") and some of them have been "different". This book by Frank Viola and George Barna is in the "different" category. I must preface this by saying, I was very intrigued when I read the back cover of Pagan Christianity?

It says:
Are we really doing church "by the book?" Not cure? This books amakes an unsettling proposal: Most of what present-day Christians do in church each Sunday is rooted, not in the New Testament, but in pagan culture and rituals developed long after the death of the apostles.

It peaked my interest! Here are a few other quotes from the book. Let me implore you, if you're going to read my summary on this book, please read my summary on "Why We Love The Church"!!

What follows is Luther’s order of worship:
Singing
Prayer
Sermon
Admonition to the People
Lord’s Supper
Singing
Post Communion prayer
Benediction (pg 56)

We grow by functioning, not by passively watching and listening. Let’s face it. The Protestant order of worship is largely unscriptural, impractical, and unspiritual. It has no analog in the New Testament. (pg 77)

This is a good point and I agree that the order of service is never prescribed in the New Testament.

The word “pastors” does appear in the New Testament. “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers” (Eph 4:11). This is the only verse in the entire New Testament where the word “pastor” is used. [footnote: a derivative form of the Greek word “poimen” is used in Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 5:2-3] (pg 106)

Okay, this is a good point too. But then Viola goes off the chart and states:

We believe the pastoral office has stolen your right to function as a full member of Christ’s body. It has distorted the reality of the body making the pastor a giant mouth and transforming you into a tiny ear. It has rendered you a mute spectator who is proficient at taking sermon notes and passing an offering plate. (pg 136)

Wow! He's pretty passionate about that one eh? Listen to these stats too about the pastoral office:

- 90% work more that 46 hrs a week
- 81% say they have insufficient time with their spouses
- 40% of pastoral resignations are due to burnout
Most pastors are expected to juggle 15 major tasks at once (1. casting vision 2. identifying and training leaders 3. preaching and teaching 4. raising money 5. serving the needy 6. providing strategy and planning 7. organizing church activities and programs 8. overseeing all administration 9. managing staff and volunteers 10. resolving conflict 11. representing the congregation in the community 12. providing congregation care and counselling 13. evangelizing the unsaved 14. administering the sacraments 15. discipling individuals)

Simply put: Jesus Christ never intended any person to sport all the hats a present-day pastor is expected to wear. (pg 139)

And I agree that God never intended any person to sport all of these hats. That's why the church needs a plurality of leaders.

Then Viola has a whole chapter on "dressing up for church", which I won't discuss here because I hope we're all past that.

I must say though that I did smile and agree with these quotes (if you'd like to refer to my previous 2009 summary of Master Plan of Evangelism please do).

Most evangelical Christians believe in and practice believer’s baptism as opposed to infant baptism. Likewise, most Protestants believe and practice baptism by immersion rather than by sprinkling. The New Testament as well as early church history stand with both of these positions. (pg 188)

A complete examination of the methods by which Christian workers were trained in the first century is beyond the scope of this book. However, a small chorus of books have been dedicated to the subject. [footnote: Robert E. Coleman, The Master Plan of Evangelism (1993); A.B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve (1979); Second Timothy 2:2 refers to the concept of training Christian workers that is exemplified in the Gospels and Acts.] (pg 201)

He also gives an interesting fact about the history of Bible chapter and verse divisions:

In the year 1227, a professor at the University of Paris named Stephen Langton added chapter to all the books of the Bible. Then in 1551, a printer named Robert Stephanus (sometimes called Robert Estienne) numbered the sentences in all the books of the New Testament (pg 229)

We need to abandon [the clipboard approach to pick and choosing verses to quote], step back, and take a fresh look at the Scriptures. We must become familiar with the whole sweeping drama from beginning to end. (pg 239)

Finally, he discusses church leadership and it in he makes some errors:

Decision making in the New Testament church fell upon the shoulders of the whole assembly. Traveling church planters would sometimes give input and direction. But ultimately, the whole church made local decisions under the lordship of Jesus Christ. It was the church’s responsibility to find the Lord’s mind together and act accordingly (pg 248).

I'm not sure if Viola missed reading Acts 15, but the elders played a much more important role than he seems to suggest.

Overall, the ideas in this book I hope will push the church to not be as "pastor" and "sermon" centric. However, "leaders" and "preaching/teaching" must remain!

Serving As Senders (Neal Pirolo)

2010-07-17T15:01:00.003-04:00

Karen just smiled as I read this book on the beach in Cuba as we relaxed celebrating our one year anniversary. I was excited to join the Missions Committee at our church when we returned and this book provided some great practical advice and questions for we who stay in Canada "Serving as Senders"!

The chapters were broken down into the different ways we can "support" our friends who serve God by telling others about Jesus around the world. Most people think of supporting missionaries as only "financial support" but it's so much more!

MORAL SUPPORT

Being there for them as they prepare to go, are gone and when they come back. Being in their corner and cheering them on!

LOGISTICS SUPPORT

Church leadership must encourage spiritual growth 1) before missionaries go, 2) while they’re on the field and 3) when they return home (pg 57)

Attending to Personal Details (1) Material Goods, (2) Family Matters (3) Ministry needs (pg 65)

How to do it right (1) Sit down with several sessions with the couple you are sending (2) Get a power of attorney for husband and wife separately (3) Set up record-keeping system (4) Make wills complete and save them in a safety deposit box giving you access (5) Pray

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

How to be wise about our giving:
1) Is the money you give going for what they say it is?
2) Is the project really hitting a decision point of battle for souls?
3) What is the administrative/field use ratio of missions funds?

PRAYER SUPPORT

Here is a prayer list for your cross-cultural worker:
- Adjusting to the new language, foods, new customs, hard climate
- Protection in travel, health, accidents, dangerous situations
- Parents’ concern for their children’s health, schooling, friendships. Housing accommodations, lack of privacy, different living standards
- Loneliness, homesickness, lack of accustomed fellowship with others
- Effectiveness in ministry / assignment
- Functioning of the tools of ministry
- Lake of visible results
- The people being ministered to, the national Christians, the leaders of the country
- Need for stability, wisdom, compassion, self-discipline, boldness, love, to be filled with Spirit

RE-ENTRY SUPPORT

Let them share what they have been learning - in your small group or at the church. (pg 177)

SUMMARY

Several key points to [develop a strong missions program] can be derived:
1) The pastor must be on board
2) Short-term teams are vital in the development of church-mission relationships
3) Deep personal relationships must be cultivated with long-term field missionaries
4) Agencies and churches need to work together (pg 166)

Zero in on a few places in the world where the church has long-term missionaries, put resources to bear and get personal. (pg 167)

Prominently display literature and posters that encourage reaching the unreached. On your church’s map of the world, trace the 10/40 window. Highlight any missionaries you have working in that area or training nationals to go to that area. (pg 175)

Desiring God (John Piper)

2010-07-17T14:44:00.004-04:00

I finished this "classic" John Piper book back in March but haven't gotten around to posting this until today. Piper's thesis is stated in the opening pages:

The old tradition says: “The chief end of man is to glorify God AND enjoy Him forever.”... notice they said “chief end” not “chief ends”... This book aims to persuade you that “The chief end of man is to glorify God BY enjoying Him forever”. (pg 18)

There is so much in this book but I'll pull out the parts that I especially enjoyed or found convicting:

In a well-known booklet the slogan appears as a train: The locomotive as “fact”. The coal car is “faith”. The caboose is “feeling”... Therefore, let us affirm the slogan when it means that physical sensations are not essential. But let us also make clear that the locomotive of fact is not headed for heaven if it is not followed by a faith that treasures Christ and if it is not pulling a caboose-load of new, though imperfect, affections. (pg 90)

Well I know which "booklet" that is: Campus Crusade's 4 Spiritual Laws :) This is a very interesting point of clarification that he makes. Piper argues that feelings/affections are a very important part of the Christian life.

Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, sustained himself through incredible hardships by a disciplined meditation on the Bible every day.... “It was not easy for Mr. Taylor in his changeful life, to make time for prayer and Bible study, but he knew that it was vital... Often with only one large room for coolies and travelers alike, they would screen off a corner for their father and another for themselves, with curtains of some sort; and then, after sleep at last had brought a measure of quiet, they would hear a match struck and see the flicker candlelight which told that Mr. Taylor, however weary, was poring over the little Bible in two volumes always at hand. From 2 to 4 a.m. was the time he usually gave to prayer; the time he could be most sure of being undisturbed to wait upon God.”

Wow... God grant me discipline to be a man of Your Word and prayer like Hudson Taylor.

Piper continues on with the topic of prayer...

Where a man belongs is at the bedside of his children, leading in devotion and prayer. Where a man belongs is leading his family to the house of God. Where a man belongs is up early and alone with God seeking vision and direction for his family. (pg 218)

May it be said of me that I was this kind of man.

So what does a pastor say to his people concerning the purchase and ownership of two homes in a world where 35,000 children starve to death every day and mission agencies cannot evangelize more unreached people for lack of funds? First he may quote Amos 3:15: “I will strike the winter house along with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end.” Then he may read Luke 3:11, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none.” (pg 202)

In our hyper-commercialized North American society, Piper boldly affirms that many of purchases are unnecessary and will one day perish. Oh, that we would be people who hold loosely the things of this world.

Then near the end of the book there is a very well-written chapter on missions.

First, evangelism can never be finished, but missions can be finished. The reason is this: Missions has the unique task of crossing language and culture barriers to penetrate a people group and establish a church movement; but evangelism is the ongoing task of sharing the gospel among people within the same culture. (pg 230)

David Bryant defines World Christians as those who say: “We want to accept personal responsibility for reaching some of earth’s unreached, especially from among the billions at the widest end of the Gap who can only be reached through major new efforts by God’s people. Among every people-group where there is no vital, evangelizing Christian community there should be, there must be one, there shall be one. Together we want to help make this happen.” (pg 233)

John 10:16 “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.” Notice 3 powerful encouragements in this text for frontier missionaries:

1. Christ does indeed have other sheep outside the present fold! (“I have other sheep”)

2. Christ is under a divine necessity to gather His own sheep (“I must bring them also”)

3. The sheep He calls will surely come! (“They will listen to my voice”)

Beyond Worship Lite (Laurence Barber)

2010-02-13T12:32:00.007-05:00

While this isn't a "book summary" it's my thoughts on an article my uncle posted on his blog (http://missionalchurch360.blogspot.com).

He titled the article "Beyond Worship Lite" and in it he reflects on the current Sunday morning worship service styles in Canada. Having pastored for many years and now serving as Director of Missional Initiatives with the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec he's a man I deeply respect.

Here's some quotes from his article and my comments:

"Some of the churches that I serve have over 40 nations represented... Many of them, have worshiped in quite different ways, in their country of origin, in ways quite different... Some expect a day-long gathering... others want a one-hour, clearly-defined service that ends promptly (so they can get to the restaurant with their friends before the other denomination is let out and takes all the parking lot and eating spaces)."

I chuckled when I read this quote, all you have to do is insert "Swiss Chalet" as the restaurant. Praise the Lord for the diversity of His people. Now the task for us who have these diverse cultures as part of our communities is to celebrate that diversity in our weekly services. Some things we've done here in Hamilton at Philpott have been to sing the chorus' of How Great Thou Art or Angels We Have Heard On High in Spanish, Finnish, Swahili, French, etc.

He goes on to write some great points about the importance of involving children and the entire family in the service, not just shuffling people off to their own "sector of church".

"Or should we say "grab your coffee; find a seat" (I have seen this too, but it didn't seem to me to be as effective; since that's all we did before the band kicked in and we sang together a kind of 'Jesus is my boyfriend' almost spiritually erotic 'worship song'".

I have seen this too! Drives me nuts! For more on my thoughts on these types of songs see my review of "Why Men Hate Going To Church" (http://heskad.blogspot.com/2009/09/why-men-hate-going-to-church-david.html)

"The English Book of Common Prayer though not set to music, yet has rhythm of thought and word, almost musical in its speech. We could do worse, often are doing worse, than to rediscover it and other worship prompts and conduits like it."

I'm going to take this point to heart since I think I have a copy of it on my bookshelf.

"Media includes such things as the following: overhead projector, pipe-organ, electric-organ, piano, drums, synthesizer, choir, soloist, quartet, trio, cello, violin, guitar, pulpit, lectern, Bible (version, translation, paraphrase), sound system, computer, LCD projector, hymnal, motet, anthem, Communion Table, open Bible, icon, bulletin, stained glass window, candle, sanctuary architecture, art (Jesus pictures, banners, colour, symbols (anchor, shell, cross), flower display (bouquet, lily, poinsettia), overall look of the church building (upkeep, repair, architecture, plainness, austerity, height, steeple, bell), property (cut lawns, snow-shoveled walk, trees, bushes, flowers, ecologically green-friendly, weedy) – well, you get the point... Some we use, and over-use or never use."

For example, at Philpott in the 1st service I'd say we overuse the piano, guitar, NASB translation, and under/never use a paraphrase translation, choir, hymnal, banners, symbols (like an anchor)....

"The goal of worship is not that everyone is happy but that God is pleased."

Great point!!!

"‘My wife and I aren’t happy. The needs of our family are not being met here. We are going to find a church that meets our needs.’ Where does one find that kind of thinking in Scripture other than where it is condemned for the selfish, God-robbing attitude that it is."

AGREED! Church is not all about 'you' its about God. I've known people who'll drive 30 minutes to church, past 15 solid evangelical churches, just to go where there needs are met (that's a pet peeve of mine)

"The best ancient hymns were about 'we' not about 'I'".

AGREED!

One of the last comments I wanted to make was regarding placing our tithes and offering in the offering plate that's passed around. I would LOVE to see offering taken up, even just once, at my church in Hamilton the same way I saw it happen in Tanzania! Why can't each person walk to the front and place coins, bills, or cheques into a basket?! 1) It's more interactive. 2) It involves everyone! Child who gives $1, student who gives $10 or worker who gives $300. It's not a show, but it involves the entire community!

Those are my thoughts...

The Drama of Scripture (Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen)

2010-01-16T14:51:00.003-05:00

Karen and I have been meeting once a month with our pastor and a group of young adults at church discussing servant leadership. One of the books we read was "The Drama of Scripture" by Bartholomew and Goheen. I definitely recommend reading this book. It gives a great overview of the story of the Bible.

Many of us have read the Bible as if it were merely a mosaic of little bits – theological bits, moral bits, historical-critical bits, sermon bits, devotional bits. But when we read the Bible in such a fragmented way, we ignore its divine author’s intention to shape our lives through its story. (pg 12)

This quote about "little bits" captures our society today very well. We'll read a quick "one-minute devotional" or get upset if the preacher goes over 25 minutes... this book helped me to see that similar to a great Shakespeare play, the Bible too has an introduction, climax, and conclusion with different acts and scenes.

The climax, or the point of highest tension, after which that conflict must be resolved, one way or another. (pg 26)

Therefore the climax of the Bible is obviously the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The authors divided the book up into various "Acts":

Act 1 God Establishes His Kingdom: Creation

Act 2 Rebellion in the Kingdom: Fall

Act 3 The King Chooses Israel: Redemption Initiated

Act 4 The Coming of the King: Redemption Accomplished

Act 5 Spreading the News of the King: The Mission of the Church

Act 6 The Return of the King: Redemption Completed

Below I've copied and pasted a quick summary of Acts 1, 2 and 3 (a.k.a. the Old Testament) from sermon notes from my friend Adam:

God created the universe

God created humanity

Humanity fell into sin

God launched a restoration project by giving unconditional promises to Abraham

Abraham had a son in his old age

Isaac had a son named Jacob.

God renamed Jacob, Israel

Jacob’s sons became the 12 tribes of Israel

The 12 tribes of Israel were slaves in Egypt 400 years.

God chose Moses to be Israel’s deliverer.

Moses led Israel out of Egypt and miraculously crossed the Red Sea to safety in the wilderness

Moses and the Israelites went to Mount Sinai, where God gave Moses the law and instructions for building the Tabernacle.

Israel wandered in the wilderness 40 years.

Joshua succeeded Moses and led Israel into the Promise Land.

God gave Israel the land through conquest.

Once settle Israel had no earthly leadership

When in trouble, God would raise up judges deliver them from their enemies

Things went from bad to worse.

Eventually Israel asked for a king.

Irael’s first king, Saul, reigned a very short time before he was removed.

David succeeded him.

God gave David an unconditional promise that his descendents would rule forever.

David wanted to build God a temple but God said no

David’s son, King Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem.

After King Solomon’s reign the kingdom was divided in two.

Both Israel and Judah fell away from the Lord

God rose up prophets to warn both kingdoms of the consequences of their turning away from God, but the kings did not listen

Eventually the northern kingdom was taken into exile by the Assyrians and destroyed.

Not long after, the southern kingdom was defeated and taken into exile by the Babylonians; but a remnant remained.

The Persian Empire defeated the Babylonian Empire and a small remnant from Judah was permitted to return to Jerusalem

This remnant rebuilt the city walls and the Temple.

They were also re-taught the Law of Moses.

This tiny remnant persisted through the rise and fall of the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great, and the rise of the mighty Roman Empire.

From this tiny remnant came a descendant of David according to the flesh, and Son of God according to His divinity: Jesus the Christ and Saviour of the world

Act 4 then describes Jesus' life, ministry, death and resurrection and then some great quotes from Act 5 are below:

Here (Acts 13:2) for the first time we see a planned effort to take the gospel to places where it has not yet been heard. This church still carries out its own mission in the place where it has been set – here, in Antioch. But now it also lifts its gaze to “the ends of the earth” in obedience to God’s calling. (pg 182)

Thus the church was then (and should be now) characterized by its zeal for witness nearby and missions faraway. (pg 201)

May God renew that zeal within our generation to be witnesses in our Jerusalem's, Samaria's and to the ends of the earth.

We currently live within Act 5b of the story (following the Bartholomew and Goheen's breakdown) and we look forward to the Coming of the King!!

Revelation does not give us a picture of Christians suddenly transported out of this world to live a spiritual existence in heaven forever... Instead John is shown (and shows us in turn) that salvation is the restoration of God’s creation on a new earth. In this restored world, the redeemed of God will live in resurrected bodies within a renewed creation, from which sin and its effects have been expunged. (pg 211)

I hope that as you've read this summary of Drama of Scripture you'll be encouraged that:
1) God is in complete control;
2) There is still a mission to be accomplished; and
3) One day soon the King will come!

Why Men Hate Going To Church (David Murrow)

2009-09-13T21:15:00.001-04:00

from an email February 2006

Truth is, the modern church is not designed to do what Jesus did: reach men with the good news. (pg viii)

You cannot have a thriving church without a core of men who are true followers of Christ. (pg 8)

Dream for a moment. What would church be like if the majority of the worshippers were men? Not just males taking up pew space, but strong, earthy men who were truly alive in Christ. Men who were there not just to please their wives, to fulfill religious tradition, or to go on a power trip, but men who were there to rock their world. Can you even imagine what that would feel like? Imagine what such a church could accomplish for the kingdom of God! Impossible you say? Just read the book of Acts. The church was like this once; it can be so again. (pg 9)

This book is not a perfect plan to bring men back. Rather, I hope it is the match that ignites thousands of conversations and millions of prayers about a problem we’ve ignored far too long. (pg 10)

God made men for adventure, achievement, and challenge, and if they can’t find those things in church, they’re going to find them somewhere else. (pg 11)

Women are the target audience of today’s church... culture of today’s churches [is] a culture that values safety over risk, stability over change, preservation over expansion, and predictability over adventure. (pg 14)

Studies show that men and young adults tend to be challenge oriented. (pg 18)

Now try this on: be dangerous. What if that were our message to men? If churchgoing held the prospect of risk, adventure, and daring, you’d have an abundance of men, teenagers, and young adults signing up. That’s precisely what we find in the persecuted church today. It was also the situation in the early church when Christians were routinely stoned, beaten, or fed to hungry lions. When it’s dangerous to be a Christian, men are more likely to count themselves in. (pg 21)

Every congregation needs a generous helping of both the feminine spirit and the masculine spirit. You see this balance in the churches that are growing today. A masculine concern for quality, effectiveness, and achievement pervades everything they do. Yet they are supportive, nurturing, and tender with people. (pg 25)

Challenge can’t come just from the pulpit. (pg 33)

We can preach and teach until we are hoarse, but men will not mature in Christ until we rediscover discipleship...A number of America’s most dynamic churches are discipleship based. Every member is expected to be a part of a discipleship group, and participation runs 70 to 90 percent. Seek out these churches, and observe their model. (pg 35)

So how can we make men feel needed again?
TELL THEM! Do they know how important they are? (pg 40)

The church and the Titanic have something in common: it’s women and children first. The great majority of ministry in Protestant churches is focused on children, next on women, and then, if there are any resources left, on men.
What’s wrong with the women-and-children-first focus of today’s church? After all, men aren’t very interested. Why should Christians knock themselves out to minister to men? Simple. Because Jesus did. Jesus did not focus His ministry on children, or women for that matter. Jesus’ approach was men first.
I know I lost a lot of you with that last sentence. Some of you may have thrown the book across the room. Before World War III breaks out, let me say that Jesus loved women and children. He welcomed women and children. He blessed women and children. He made it clear that they were equal in every way to men – perhaps even greater than men (“whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 18:4]). Women were among His most faithful followers; children were among His greatest joys.
But Jesus did not focus His ministry on women and children. Nor did He command us to. His example is clear; if we want to change the world, we must focus on men. Not to the exclusion of women and children – however, the spiritual development of men must become our top priority. (pg 43)

Here’s an oft-quoted statistic in men’s ministry circles: when a mother comes to faith in Christ, the rest of her family follows 17 percent of the time. But when a father comes to faith in Christ, the rest of the family follows 93 percent of the time. (pg 47)

John Eldredge reminds us, “Christianity isn’t a religion about going to Sunday School, potluck suppers, being nice, holding car washes, sending our secondhand clothes off to Mexico – as good as those things might be. This is a world at war. Something large and immensely dangerous is unfolding all around us.” (pg 48)

Philip Yancey notes, “I have watched a pattern time and again: a church starts off with high ideals, generates aflurry of activity, and then gradually tempers its vision, settling for something far less than ideal.” Women stay loyal because of the relationships they’ve developed, but the less relational men fall away. Men need vision – not just relationships – to stay motivated in church. (pg 56)

Men don’t follow programs; they follow men. The movies men love often feature an inspirational coach, commander, or teacher. Men are dying for a leader. Every man, regardless of his age, needs another man to look up to and say in his heart, “I want to be like him”. (pg 59)

Howard Hendricks of Dallas Theological Seminary sees two kinds of people in the church: the pillars and the caterpillars,. The pillars uphold the church with their prayers, their work, and their donations. They build the kingdom of God by the sweat of their brows. The caterpillars crawl in on Sunday morning, sing a few songs, listen to a sermon, and crawl out again, not to be seen for a week. (pg 64)

In other words, there are between 11 million and 13 million more born again women than there are born again men in the country. (pg 66)

Women are doing the leg work of evangelism today and fulfilling the Great Commission while men sit on the sidelines. (pg 66)

This may be the hidden tragedy of the gender gap: without men shouldering their share of the ministry load, women are feeling trapped, overworked, and underappreciated. (pg 69)

Men want to devote themselves to something that’s effective, not something that’s going to make them busy. Men are achievement oriented and have little tolerance for a team that always plays defence and never plays offense. (pg 72)

So how can a church attract risk takers? By taking risks! Pursue outrageous, God-given visions. Develop ministries that are dangerous. Send people on foreign mission adventures. Tell the stories of men who jeopardized everything for Christ. Start with the stories of the martyrs. Scores die every day for Christ, yet their stories are rarely told in Western churches. (pg 75)

A growing church is a risk-taking church. (pg 76)

Church services aren’t much fun. They’re usually very serious affairs. Laymen who try to liven up the service with humorous announcements or silly skits might draw a stern rebuke or an angry letter from a longtime member. (pg 76)

We need dangerous men in the church. Jesus attracted dangerous men. (pg 77)

Men are not able to check their testosterone at the church door. (pg 82)

How can we help men? Create friendly, physical competition for men and boys. Next time you’re planning a conference or retreat, be sure to include lots of physical movement and activity. Go beyond standing and sitting for singing. Let men move around. They’ll love you for it. (pg 83)

A boy may attend church his entire life and never have a male teacher. (pg 91)

When stressed, women run to community, but men isolate themselves. (pg 92)

A church that wants to involve men will offer more project-based ministry opportunities. Projects have a clear objective and an exit point. They’re exciting to men. They also involve the four elements of male engagement: plan, work, celebrate, rest. (pg 94)

Men have an easier time finding God outdoors. If you want to reach men, move as much of your church’s ministry as possible outdoors. (pg 95)

Warfare is still imprinted on the male psyche. (pg 96)

“The Christian faith is in no way pacifistic. The peace that will be ushered in by our great Prince will be a peace purchased with blood. As our Lord sacrificed Himself in this war, so much His followers learn to do.” Douglas Wilson (pg 96)

Did Christ intend for men to give up their masculinity to follow Him? Is giving up one’s manhood part of the cost of following Jesus Christ? No, and no again! Christ did not come to make men more feminine; He came to restore them to real manhood. (pg 111)

I’m convinced that there are a million unchurched men who would attend a worship service this weekend if they just didn’t have to sing. (pg 116)

Rick Warren points out that visitors actually hate all this attention: “Ironically, the way many churches welcome visitors actually makes them feel more uncomfortable than if they’d just been left alone ... one reason large churches attract so many visitors is because newcomers like being able to hide in a crowd.” (pg 117)

Pastors, Christians teachers, and even Christian books feed this rivalry by inviting women to imagine themselves married to Jesus. Woman readers, if you imagine your relationship with Jesus as a rapturous love affair, I must warn you: you are on dangerous ground for two reason: (1) You are not the bride of Christ. According to the Bible, there is only one bride of Christ: the church (all believers collectively throughout time and throughout the world). Individual believers are not brides of Christ. (2) Your husband will never measure up to your fantasy. He cannot satisfy you if you harbour an image of Christ as your lover or husband. (pg 121)

By keeping out-of-date traditions alive, we may be unintentionally driving men away. (pg 126)

Men love technology.... Why is it important to embrace new technologies in church? George Barna reports that among those under fifty, “Information conveyed through the use of technology often has a higher degree of believability than does information coming directly out of a speaker’s mouth.” Younger men will believe what they see on a screen more readily than what they hear from a live person. Churches that want to reach men are using the Internet. Men want information before they commit to something, and a user-friendly Web site allows visitors to check out a church from a safe distance. Many of these sites offer sermon downloads (text, audio, and streaming video), places for members to connect, contact information, activity calendars, and extensive information on ministry offerings. (pg 127)

Your church doesn’t necessarily need to put a computer in every pew, but it shouldn’t run from technology either. Technology is neither good nor evil; it is merely a tool that can help men (and women) understand the gospel. (pg 128)

When men think of church, excellence and quality are often the last two words that come to mind. (pg 128)

A church that really cares for tone-deaf Tanya will gently direct her away from the choir into an area where she’s more gifted. (pg 129)

Christ has become, as John Eldredge put is, “Mister Rogers with a beard. Telling me to be like him feels like telling me to go limp and passive. Be nice. Be swell. Be like Mother Teresa.” Christians have just accepted the nonmasculine Jesus (pg 133)

Liberal churches have re-created Christ as a benevolent Teacher who is always gentle, tender, and accepting. This Christ would never offend anyone, never judge anyone, and of course, never send anyone to hell. If this Christ were a radio station, His slogan would be “all tenderness, all the time”. There are two problems with this view of Jesus: (1) it’s not accurate, and (2) no man wants to follow a feminized man. Men are looking for a real man to follow: dynamic, outspoken, bold, sharp-edged. They want a leader who is decisive, tough and fair. (pg 134)

Jesus Christ is the most courageous, masculine man ever to walk the earth. But we’ve turned Him into a wimp. (pg 135)

Use term FOLLOW not saved, don’t use “sharing”, use KINGDOM of God not family of God,

Then we have the ever-popular “intimacy with God”. When men hear the word intimacy, the first thing that comes to mind is sex. Those dirty-minded guys! But guess what? Whenever the words passionate and intimate appear in the Bible, they always refer to sex or lust. More than once, I’ve been exhorted by a prominent men’s minister to “have a love affair with Jesus.” Time out! With the spotlight on homosexuality in the church, why do we increase men’s doubts by using the language of romance to describe the Christian walk? (pg 137)

Why are Christians always going on retreats? What kind of army is always retreating? Why don’t we advance now and then? (pg 138)

Compare these 2 hymns:

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, VS
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle, see His banners go!

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He lists other contemporary songs with “Jesus I am so in love with you”, “You’re altogether lovely... altogether wonderful to me”, “Oh Lord, you’re beautiful” etc.

We can’t go back to “Onward Christian Soldiers”. But no one has composed masculine praise songs to take its place. Songwriters, please fashion some songs that speak of battle, strength, and victory. Imagine Christ as our Commander, Coach or Scout, not our Boyfriend. (pg 140)

Men’s ministry so of the falters for this simple reason: its actually women’s ministry for men. (pg 140)

Men are just as emotional as women; they just express themselves differently. So if a church welcomes feminine displays of emotion such as crying, hugging, and hand holding, it’s time to welcome masculine displays such as applause, shouts, fist pumping and high-fives. (pg 141)

Men are also reluctant to volunteer for ministry positions because they can’t act like men. Men take risks in ministry, which can earn them a rebuke. (pg 144)

If you want your church to attract men, you must put a high priority on developing leaders, especially male ones. (pg 151)

Churches need dynamic leaders at every level. The pastor can’t do it all, nor should he. (pg 155)

Whenever possible, put men in leadership positions (pg 156)

The fact is, women will follow a man, but few men will follow a woman unless they are forced. (pg 157)

Many people think the church asks too much of its members. In reality, it asks too little. (pg 161)

“People do not resent being asked for a great commitment if there is a great purpose behind it.” Rick Warren (pg 161)

There is a kind of high-octane man who will not follow unless he sees danger ahead. Jesus knew this. So did Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, who posted this advertisement in 1913:
Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.
More than five thousand men applied for twenty-six slots. Precisely the kind of men who are missing in today’s church! If we want aggressive, bold, greatness-seeking men, we must do what Jesus did and promise suffering, trial, and pain. But today’s Christianity is marketed like Tylenol; it’s the antidote to suffering, trial, and pain. We’ve turned Jesus’ approach on its head! (pg 162)

In a typical year, just one new person comes to faith in Christ for every eighty-five churchgoers. (pg 164)

Men want a pastor who is firm in his convictions (pg 170)

Let men learn through personal discovery (pg 175)

Make men think! (pg 175)

Let men learn by hands-on experience (pg 176)

Let men learn through object lessons (pg 176)

Men need dialogue, give-and-take, a chance to argue (pg 177)
“Men enjoy and value argumentation” (pg 177)

Men need simple, one-point lessons (and sermons) (pg 177)

It’s often more effective with men to make one point thrice than to make three points once. Pastors and teachers, why not break your teaching into smaller bits so men can more easily digest what you’re saying? Break your message into a five-minute Scripture lesson, a five-minute object lesson, and a ten-minute sermon with other elements in between. (pg 177)

Men need great stories (pg 179)

If we want our young men to be courageous followers of Christ, we must tell them stories of people following Christ courageously. We used to tell the stories of martyrs and missionaries to our boys. Now we don’t. Young men see Christianity as a religion, not an adventure. (pg 179)

The words “strong” and “strength” appear 561 times in the NKJV, while “weak” and “weakness” show up just 83 times. (pg 180)

The top 10 questions today’s men are asking:
1. What is true manliness?
2. What is success? The real bottom line of life?
3. How do I deal with guilt feelings?
4. What is male sexuality? Is purity possible for the modern man?
5. How can we nurture family life?
6. What is Christian leadership? How is it developed?
7. What are the basic disciplines of the Christian man?
8. What ministry skills need to be developed? How?
9. What is biblical business conduct?
10. What is integrity? How is it developed? (pg 181)

Man-friendly churches work hard to minimize dead space between proceedings. (pg 186)

It’s no sin to consider people’s feelings, but if you allow feelings to become the primary consideration when making decisions, you are following something other than Christ. (pg 194)

Here’s another example of the damaging [female] velvet veto (based on a true story): Eric planned a night of paintball for the church’s fledgling men’s group. But two prominent women heard about it and complained to the pastor. “How is paintball remotely Christian?” asked one woman. “It shows support for violence” said another. “What message are we sending to our boys?” The pastor knew a time bomb when he saw it. He asked Eric to find something else for the men to do. They met at the church and studied 1 Timothy. (pg 194)

The men who are watching you don’t care how saintly you are. They don’t care about your traditions. Nor do they care how busy for God you are. They want to know two things: (1) Does Christianity really work? And (2) Is it really the power of God unleashed on earth, or is it just religious activity? As men see the power of the Spirit working through your life, they will be drawn. (pg 200)

Pastors, I know you’ve heard it a million times, but here it is again: you are not the minister. Your people are. You are the coach. (pg 205)

Stagnant churches ask, “How can we minister to our people?” Life-giving churches ask, “How can our people change the world?” (pg 206)

Bruce Wilkinson says God’s people “are expected to attempt something large enough that failure is guaranteed ... unless God steps in.” (pg 206)

Nothing brings a man to church or to a ministry event like a personal invitation from a man he respects. (pg 210)

Men’s ministry provides guy-oriented events to which men can invite their unchurched friends (pg 210)

I used to build structures. Now I build men and raise up sons. (pg 218)

The Journey Home (Bill Bright)

2009-09-13T20:54:00.003-04:00

from an email in November 2004

In keeping with my tradition I have compiled some quotes... quite a few actually (sorry its so long).. from the book I have just finished reading. If any of you are not familiar with the life of Dr. Bill Bright after reading this summary I’m sure you will be encouraged and challenged!
Bill Bright was born October 19, 1921 (pretty close to my birthday eh! :) and before he died, at 81 years of age, of pulmonary fibrosis on July 19, 2003 he wrote numerous books, began the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ and wrote this autobiography. I hope his life and testimony encourage you as much as it did me!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“When I asked him how I could pray for him, his unhesitating question would be this, ‘Bob, pray that I will never leave my first love.’ His footprints even to the end lead to his first love. I said, ‘Bill, what’s the best thing that’s happened to you today?’ He said, ‘I had a great phone call.’ I said, ‘Bill, who was it?’ He said it was the President. I said, ‘Bill, that’s incredible.’ With a pause and a slight chuckle he said, ‘It was, it was an honor, but Bob, when you are preparing to meet Who I’m going to meet, even a call from the President fades by comparison.’”
- Dr. Robert E. Reccord (President, North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention)

“I’ll never forget him sitting at that table when all of us were talking with these bright, profound theological thoughts, and Bill Bright was saying, ‘I just want to stand before the Lord someday and not have failed to lead every single person I could to Christ.’ That’s courage. That’s Bill Bright. That’s the essence of the man. He had selflessness, which ought to be emulated by every single Christian servant and worker. He never put himself first.”
- Charles W. Colson (Founder, Prison Fellowship Ministries)

“I think Bill Bright was one of the most focused people I ever knew. He had one goal in life, to share the good news of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible, and by every means possible. His vision, his single-mindedness and his dedication were a constant example to me and to countless others whose lives he touched across the world. He loved everybody, and I learned a great deal from him. Many times Bill would call me on the phone or come to see me just to encourage me in the work of the Lord. He always left me with a Scripture verse, and I knew he was always praying for me... The Great Commission has never been rescinded and the spiritual needs of the world have never been greater. May the memory of Bill’s life challenge each of us to a deeper dedication to Christ and a greater zeal to spread His word to the ends of this earth as long as God gives us life.”
- Billy Graham (World-Renowned Evangelist and Author)

“Bill Bright’s faith and desire to share Christ was so much on the forefront of his mind; he was so captivated by hiss calling to reach others for Christ that it became contagious. You simply couldn’t be around Bill without walking away with a greater desire to share Christ. Many people, including myself, so often think of evangelism as a task to accomplish. But Bill never looked at it that way. To Bill, evangelism was just a way of life.”
- Josh McDowell (Author of the bestseller Evidence That Demands a Verdict)

“Bill Bright believed in a big God, so he had big dreams and took big risks. God honoured that faith over and over again. So much of Saddleback’s ministry was shaped by the personal influence of my dear, dear friend, Bill Bright. Bill taught me that complete obedience, dependent faith, and simple tools can change the world. Millions of people now have faith in Christ because of The Four Spiritual Laws, the Jesus film, and The Spirit-filled Life booklet. In the early years of Saddleback, Bill was one of the few Christian leaders who understood our strategy, and I will always be grateful for his loving support and how he believed in me when I was just a kid. Bill Bright, along with Billy Graham, was one of the two Giants for God who towered over the 20th Century.”
- Rick Warren (Pastor of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Life)

“Although the board of directors of Focus on the Family, to whom I am accountable, established a firm policy many years ago that prohibited my agreeing to write forewords and endorsements, this request had to be seen as an exception. Indeed, Bill’s life was exceptional in every regard. He was giant among men. There is no one I admired and loved more than Dr. Bright, who was perhaps the most influential Christian leader to live since the first century A.D. His passion for worldwide evangelism resulted in literally millions of people coming to personal relationships with Jesus Christ.”
- Dr. James C. Dobson (Founder and Chairman, Focus on the Family)
__________________

God does heal. Physicians and surgeons can help.... Faced with cancer these men sought healing and it came. But not everyone is healed with extended life on this earth. Why is that? Why do some receive healing and others die? Our sovereign God has the answer in His will and His timing, and I trust Him. His ways are perfect.”

George Washington, the victorious general of the American Revolutionary War, the father of our country, and our first president, is my favourite person in all of history apart from biblical characters. He knew our Lord Jesus and always seemed to rise to the call of duty. During my first visit to Mount Vernon, his beautiful home on the Potomac, the guide took me to his bedroom and motioned to a chair at the end of his bed. Washington knelt there for an hour every morning and evening to read his Bible and pray. As he lay dying, he ordered that a tablet over the door of his tomb be inscribed with the promise of Jesus in John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Washington’s last words were to his physician: “Doctor, I have been dying a long time; my breath cannot last long – but I am not afraid to die.”

Some may deride my life as that of “another Bible-thumper”. I do not thump the Bible; I rather let it thump me.

If we do not rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us and also saturate ourselves with God’s truth – His holy, inspired, inerrant truth – then our holy life will not fly.

His holy Word has never failed me and never will.

Abraham Lincoln stated, “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Saviour of the world is communicated to us through this Book.”

God walks with us through pain rather than protects us from it.

We are, after all, Christians, Christ-ones, and if there is not some crisis between us and the anti-God world system, then we really should be surprised.

Most Christians do not know or fully realize that the adversary of our lives is Satan and that his main tool is our flesh, our old nature. Let us name the scoundrel within – it is the self, the ego. The old self rebels against God and will twist and turn anything and anyone to try to preserve itself.

Since I opened my life to the living Lord in 1945, I have been in love with Him. But let there be no mistaking it, I love Him not because I think it is a good idea and the right thing to do. No, my best motives are not worthy of His love. I love Him because He first loved me, and He still does love me, and He will love me forever and ever.

Many people say, “I’ve never heard God speak.” Could it be they are so busy and the world they are in is so loud, they simply cannot hear God? As I write this, I am in a room with a television, a radio, a telephone, a fan, a CD player, and a DVD player. Guess what? None of them is on.

Set goals so big that unless God helps you, you will be a miserable failure.

I am all for being culturally sensitive and doing things wisely, decently, and orderly. But the church can get so caught up in man-centered managing and political correctness that it forgets to envision what God can do. Our main duty as believers is to proclaim the good news of Jesus through evangelism and discipleship.

Whether you have twenty years left, ten years, one year, one month, one day, or just one hour, there is something very important God wants you to do that can add to His kingdom and your blessing. He has called you to this hour. He has prepared you for this task. This is your destiny.

But as long as I am here, as long as I have breath, I will serve the Lord.

There is no such thing as a disobedient, happy Christian; and there is no such thing as an unhappy, obedient Christian.

The empty tomb destroys religions and glorifies Jesus of Nazareth as the Creator-God and Saviour of the world.

After the close of World War II, Konrad Adenauer, the chancellor of a new Germany, was asked the question: “Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ?” Adenauer said, “I believe it is the only hope for mankind.”

I found we need not be timid where the Scripture is bold.

All our journeys here on earth are only trails leading to our real home, heaven. Charles Spurgeon once prayed, “May we live here like strangers and make the world not a house, but an inn, in which we sup and lodge, expecting to be on our journey tomorrow.”

I was never personally motivated by fear of hell, but I came to realize that I had not given hell the proper emphasis, as did our Lord Jesus. He spoke more of hell than of heaven, and that should be reason enough for His followers to be candid about the awful option. I do not believe God sends people to hell. It is a place, Jesus said, that was created for the devil and his angels. The unforgiven sins of people will send them to hell. As theologian Wayne Grudem puts it, “The devil’s characteristic has been to originate sin and tempt others to sin,” and that sin, without Christ’s saving grace, will cause us to be residents of hell.

The Bible refers to hell 167 times. But never forget, there is a cross at the entrance to hell. The only way a person can go there is to push the cross aside and deliberately reject God’s love and forgiveness.

It has been my privilege in these dying days to pray with three nurses, one doctor, and four aides as they prayed receiving Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord.

Enthralled in the presence of the living Lord and Saviour, we can expect to engage in the most glorious worship service of all time. No one has any sense of an “order of service”. No one is conscious of any worship “style”. The Father has set matters in order. The Son is the focus of all eyes. The Spirit prompts the singing of songs. From the lips of sinners saved by amazing grace, from followers of all the ages, come Hosannas to the King of kind and Lord of lords, seated at the right hand of the Father.

The Jesus I Never Knew (Philip Yancey)

2009-09-13T20:49:00.002-04:00

an email from January 2006

Over the Christmas break I was able to finish a couple books I had been reading... this one called “The Jesus I Never Knew” by Philip Yancey and then I finished “Let The Nations Be Glad” by John Piper too. But that little summary of the Piper book I’ll send out sometime later this week.

I really liked “The Jesus I Never Knew”. It showed me a side of Jesus and His life that sometimes I have failed to consider. The chapters were broken down as follows: His Birth, Background (Jewish), Temptation, Sermon on Mount, Miracles, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and Kingdom.

Listen to what these 2 “big-wigs” had to say about the book:

“Yancey’s flair for honest, vivid, well-informed down-to-earthness gives piercing power to these broodings on the gospel facts about Jesus Christ. In a day when novel ideas about Jesus are all the rage, Yancey’s pages offer major help for seeing the Savior as he really was.” – J.I. Packer

“There is no writer in the evangelical world that I admire and appreciate more.” – Billy Graham

Something that was really interesting too was the research he did:

Before beginning the book I spent several months in three seminary libraries – one Catholic, one liberal Protestant, one conservative evangelical – reading about Jesus. (pg 20)

This quote jumped out at me too because the victorious, warrior Jesus is pictured as in Revelation is seldom taught in our upbringing today.

Jesus, I found, bore little resemblance to the Mister Rogers figure I had met in Sunday school, and was remarkably unlike the person I had studied in Bible college....Two words one could never think of applying to the Jesus of the Gospels: boring and predictable. (pg 23)

Does anyone else listen to (or listened to) Audio Adrenaline... I never knew where they got one of their quotes / songs from.. but now I know :)

Underdog. I wince even as I write the word, especially in connection with Jesus. It’s a crude word, probably derived from dogfighting and applied over time to predictable losers and victims of injustice. Yet as I read the birth stories about Jesus I cannot help but conclude that though the world may be tilted toward the rich and powerful, God is tilted toward the underdog. (pg 39)

These next quotes talk about Jesus’ birth and upbringing:

As I got to know Jesus, the realization sank in that he probably did not spend his life among Jews in the first century merely to save Americans in the twentieth. Alone of all people in history, he had the privilege of choosing where and when to be born, and he chose a pious Jewish family living in a backwater protectorate of a pagan empire. (pg 50)

We know that Jesus was raised in poverty: his family could not afford a lamb for the sacrifice at the temple and offered instead a pair of doves or two young pigeons. ~ see Luke 2:24 and Lev 12:6-8 (pg 59)

This one’s pretty blunt too... but needs to be said (I love the hymns :p)

I know that among many Christians an emphasis on future rewards has fallen out of fashion. My former pastor Bill Leslie used to observe, “As churches grow wealthier and more successful, their preference in hymns changes from ‘This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through’ to ‘This is my Father’s world’.” (pg 111)

Something else this book taught me and made me question was this...

Somehow we have created a community of respectability in the church, I told my class. The down-and-out, who flocked to Jesus when he lived on earth, no longer feel welcome. How did Jesus, the only perfect person in history, manage to attract the notoriously imperfect? And what keeps us from following in his steps today? (pg 148)

Jesus was the friend of sinners. They liked being around him and longed for his company. Meanwhile, legalists found him shocking, even revolting. What was Jesus’ secret that we have lost? (pg 149)

How hard it is to remember that the kingdom of God calls me to love the woman who has just emerged from the abortion clinic (and, yes, even her doctor), the promiscuous person who is dying of AIDS, the wealthy landowner who is exploiting God’s creation. If I cannot show love to such people, then I must question whether I have truly understood Jesus’ gospel...From Jesus I learn that, whatever activism I get involved in, it must not drive out love and humility, or otherwise I betray the kingdom of heaven. (pg 245)

Ironically, our respect in the world declines in proportion to how vigorously we attempt to force others to adopt our point of view...For this reason, I must say in an aside, I worry about the recent surge of power among U.S. Christians, who seem to be focusing more and more on political means. (pg 246)

When I ask a stranger, “What is an evangelical Christian?” I get an answer something like this: “Someone who supports family values and opposes homosexual rights and abortion.”... Jesus did not say, “All men will know you are my disciples ... if you just pass laws, suppress immorality, and restore decency to family and government”, but rather “... if you love one another”. (pg 247)

We give lip service to “hate the sin while loving the sinner” but how well do we practice this principle? (pg 259)

As you can probably tell... that chapter and 14 pages on “the Kingdom” caught me and really made me think. What is the proper balance that a Christian is to have between politics and “the Kingdom”... I’m not sure?!?! But I do know that I have a far way to go.
Something else that was interesting that I hadn’t really thought about was...

If Easter Sunday was the most exciting day of the disciples’ lives, for Jesus it was probably the day of Ascension. He the Creator, who had descended so far and given up so much, was now heading home. Like a soldier returning across the ocean from a long and bloody war. Like an astronaut shedding his spacesuit to gulp in the familiar atmosphere of earth. Home at last. (pg 226)

And finally this quote hit me too!

Then out of nowhere this wise woman asked a question that has always stayed with me. “Philip, do you ever just let God love you?” she said. “It’s pretty important, I think.” I realize with a start that she had brought to light a gaping hole in my spiritual life. (pg 269)

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Passion and Purity (Elisabeth Elliot)

2009-09-13T20:45:00.002-04:00

from an email March 11, 2004

Its my tradition after I finish a really good book to summarize its contents and pass it on to some of my Christian friends who i feel would benefit from reading some phrases from the book...

The other weekend I was at home and went to the Christian book store. I was looking for Every Young Man's Battle but it wasn't there so i picked up Passion and Purity... it's a book by Elisabeth Elliot (wife of the late Jim Elliot .. missionary to the Aucan Indians in the 1950's)

I thought it was excellent... 42 short 3-5 page chapters (which I liked because I could pick it up during the day or before bed and just read 1 or 2 at a time quickly)

Now most of you are probably like... Dave you don't have a girlfriend so why are you reading a book about "Learning to Bring Your Love Life Under Christ's Control"... well .. I figure there's always time to learn right!

The book was cool too because it was really honest.. like they struggled with stuff and had to commit it to God's hands but I love the last quote that i put at the bottom of this email... they waited and were given the prize.

~~~~~~~

Pg 21-22
If you were single, you had not been in bed with any man. If you were to be permanently single, you were never going to be in bed with any man.

Even a hundred years ago anybody who quite seriously believed that and acted on it would be seen as an oddity by many people. Perhaps we were in the minority. I can't be sure about that. Certainly the majority professed to believe that sexual activity was best limited to husband and wife whether or not their private lives demonstrated this conviction. Now, however, at the beginning of the 21st century, time have changed, they tell us. For thousands of years society depended on some semblance of order in the matter of sex. A man took a wife in some regularly prescribed manner and lived with her according to recognized rules. He "messed around" with other men's wives only to his peril. A woman knew that she possessed a priceless treasure, her virginity. She guarded it jealously for the man who would pay a price for it - commitment to marriage with her and with her alone.

Somehow we've gotten the idea that we can forget all the regulations and get away with it. Times have changed, we say. We're ''liberated'' at last from our inhibitions. We have "freedom". We can in fact "have it all and not get hooked" Women can be predators if they want to as well as men. Men aren't men unless they've proved it by seducing as many women as possible - or as many men, for we now choose according to "sexual preference". We can go to bed with those of the opposite sex or those of our own. It doesn't matter. A mere question of taste, and we all have a "right" to our tastes. Everybody's equal. Everybody's free. Nobody is hung up anymore or needs to deny himself anything. In fact, nobody ought to deny himself anything he wants badly - it's dangerous. It's unhealthy. It's sick. If it feels good and you don't do it, you're paranoid. If it doesn't feel good and you do do it, you're a masochist.

Pg 45
The speaker was one of the daughter of the famous missionary to Africa C. T. Studd. She told of her father's last hours. He lay on his cot, gazing around the little hut and at his few possessions. "I wish I had something to leave to each of you," he said to the handful of people present, "but I gave it all to Jesus long ago."

Pg 54
The only way to build a house on the rock is to hear the Word (I couldn't have heard it if all I listened to was my feelings)

Pg 160
In one of Jim's letters he wrote .... I am willing that "my house on earth be emptier", but not unless "His house be fuller"

Pg 174
(After becoming engaged and preparing for a small wedding in the fall Jim writes...)

March 22 - "How shall I tell you, darling, after all I've said carelessly about your features, that now I think them all wonderfully framed? I know when it comes time for me to see them all I will remark with Solomon, "Behold, thou art fair, my love." To me it is satisfying already to know that they are promised me, and only wait God's time for unveiling. Do you know how anxious I am?

Pg 178
We were married in Quito on October 8, 1953. The McCullys and Tidmarshes were our witnesses. Others came to see us off at the airport and to throw rice at us. At the El Panama hotel, overlooking the Pacific coast of Panama, I picked up the phone shortly after we arrive. "Mrs. Elliot?" said a polite voice. I was stunned. Mrs. Elliot! It was only the front desk, inquiring if all was satisfactory in our room. We went down to dinner and as we dawdled over coffee and dessert, savoring the luxurious atmosphere and enjoying the music of a dance band, Jim looked across the candles at me. "I can hardly believe we've got a bed waiting for us!" he said.
The verse given to us for that day was Isaiah 25:9, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him." It was unspeakably worth the wait.

Let The Nations Be Glad (John Piper)

2009-09-13T20:42:00.002-04:00

an email from January 2006

Well everyone... just like I promised here’s the second of my book summaries. I figured Sunday afternoon was a good time to sit down and ponder over what this book has been teaching me. I read “Let The Nations Be Glad – The Supremacy of God in Missions” by John Piper in first year too but it was such a good book that we as a Servant Team at Campus Crusade decided to read and discuss it together as a small group.

The book starts off with quite the start! Listen to this...

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. (pg 17)

As Piper continues he makes numerous references to many of the missionaries who have gone on before us.

William Carey, the father of modern missions, who set sail for India from England in 1793, said this: “though I were deserted by all and persecuted by all, yet my faith, fixed on the sure Word, would rise above all obstructions and overcome every trial. God’s cause will triumph.” (pg 20)

Amen!!! God’s cause WILL triumph!!

John Dawson, a leader in Youth With A Mission [has said] “Don’t wait for a feeling of love in order to share Christ with a stranger. You already love your heavenly Father, and you know that this stranger is created by Him, but separated from Him, so take those first steps in evangelism because you love God. It is not primarily out of a compassion for humanity that we share our faith or pray for the lost; it is first of all, love for God.” (pg 42)

There will always be people who argue that the doctrine of election makes missions unnecessary. But they are wrong. It does not make missions unnecessary; it makes missions hopeful. John Alexander, a former president of InterVaristy Christian Fellowship, said in a message at Urbana ’67 (a decisive event in my own life), “At the beginning of my missionary career I said that if predestination were true I could not be a missionary. Now after twenty some years of struggling with the hardness of the human heart, I say I could never be a missionary unless I believe in the doctrine of predestination.” (pg 55)

A couple quotes of John Piper’s that he mentions in most of his books are these:

The chief end of God is to glorify God and enjoy himself forever. (pg 28)

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. (pg 31)

He then moves on to talk about the role of prayer in the life of the Christian saying:

Life is war. That’s not all it is. But it is always that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den... The one who gives the power gets the glory. (pg 45)

Prayer is not a domestic intercom to increase the temporal comforts of the saints. (pg 67)

Then he chooses to turn his attention to the sufferings of the church and the persecution that we will have to endure.

So we must not water down the call to suffer. We must not domesticate the New Testament teaching on affliction and persecution just because our lives are so smooth. (pg 76)

God uses the suffering of his missionaries to awaken others out of their slumbers of indifference and make them bold. (pg 90)

The point is that an $80 000 or a $180 000 salary does not have to be accompanied by an $80 000 or a $180 000 lifestyle. God is calling us to be conduits of his grace, not cul-de-sacs. Our great danger today is thinking that the conduit should be lined with gold. It shouldn’t. Copper will do. No matter how grateful we are, gold will not make the world think that our God is good; it will make people think that our god is gold. That is no honor to the supremacy of his worth. (pg 102)

This next story made me think and really put the New Testament parable about the old widow giving her offering a new perspective.

A church in Haiti was having a Thanksgiving festival, and each Christian was invited to bring a love offering. One envelope from a Haitian man named Edmund held $13. That amount was three months’ income for a working man there. Stanford Kelly was as surprised as those counting a Sunday offering in the United States might be to get a $6 000 cash gift. He looked around for Edmund but could not see him. Later Kelly met him in the village and questioned him. He pressed him for an explanation and found that Edmund had sold his horse in order to give the $13 gift to God. But why hadn’t he come to the festival? He hesitated and didn’t want to answer. Finally, Edmund said, “I had no shirt to wear.” (pg 103)

The next few points were some things that we as a Servant Team with Campus Crusade really liked :)...

It is a stunning New Testament truth, that since the incarnation of the Son of God, all saving faith must henceforth fix on him. (pg 111)

Shouldn’t every denomination and church have some vital group that is recruiting, equipping, sending and supporting Paul-type missionaries to more and more unreached peoples? (pg 196)

Can anyone say “WIN, BUILD, SEND!” :)

Now he is commissioning Spirit-filled messengers to preach to them, and he is speaking through these messengers with power, and calling the lost effectually to faith and keeping them by his almighty power. (pg 153)

And the final comments that John Piper makes were about how the church should operate in regards to missions.

Charles Hodge is right that “the solemn question, implied in the language of the apostle, ‘how can they believe without a preacher?’ should sound day and night in the ears of the churches.” (pg 154)

There are only two ways for us to respond to the truth we have been considering about the supremacy of God in missions. We must either go out for the sake of his name, or we must send and support such people who do. (pg 235)

God is not glorified when our missionaries are simply a name on the back of the church bulletin or a line item in the budget. Sending is something to be done diligently. (pg 236)

If you love what Jesus Christ came to accomplish, you love missions. (pg 208)

I hope that this encouraged and challenged you as much as it did me! Let’s not just be the type of people who see our missionaries as only a name in the bulletin, but let us be zealous senders!!! And may we also consider the role that we play in advancing His kingdom here on earth...

Journey To The Nations

2009-09-13T20:38:00.001-04:00

email from the summer of 2004

Man… I love summers!!! So much more free time to relax and dig into some sweet books. I’d encourage all of you to continue to stay in the Word and to add an extra Christian book or 2 over this summer time. God has blessed many people with many different stories and challenges that each and everyone of us would be better off if we knew their stories and experiences. I actually just finished this “old school” book my mom had sitting on our family bookshelf at home. Its from the 70s or 80s and I guess she picked it up at a missions conference she was at back then. The book is called “Journey to the Nations - A Study for World Christians” and each of the 10 or so chapters was a segment / essay taken from different writers. It was good! It didn’t really matter that the book was from the 80s, the message is still the same! God continues to search this earth for labourers who will stand up and be counted as His… people who will be consumed by the call of the Great Commission and go out and preach it to the ends of the earth!
Well .. enough of me… here are some quotes I thought were good.

~~~~~~~~~

“We desire men who believe in eternity and live for it” – J. Hudson Taylor

“If Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be, then no man has any right to give himself completely to anyone but Christ nor to anything but prayer” – A. W. Tozer

“We need to become global Christians with a global vision for we have a global God” – John Stott

“History is not a random flow of events. For God is working out in time a plan which he conceived in a past eternity and will consummate in a future eternity.” – John Stott

“The saint who advances on his knees never retreats.” – Jim Elliot

“If God calls you to be a missionary. Don’t stoop to be a king.” – Jordan Grooms

“God’s real people have always been called fanatics” – C. T. Studd

“C. H. Spurgeon was converted at the age of 14. When he was 19 they built him a tabernacle seating 5000 which he packed twice a day – that’s 10 000. How? He waited on God. He got alone with God. He studied … and he prayed.” – Leonard Ravenhill

“I can give you one simple reason why we don’t have revival in America. Because we’re content to live without it. We’re not seeking God – we’re seeking miracles, we’re seeking big crusades, we’re seeking blessings.” – Leonard Ravenhill

“Can you imagine … (a) one-third of a university’s student body coming to Christ in a single year? (b) 50% of those new believers going into full-time Christian work following graduation? (c) more than 20 000 students eventually serving Christ overseas due to the influence of a few of these students?
Imagine it, because it all happened! It began in the early 1800s at schools like Amherst, Dartmouth, Princeton, Williams and Yale where up to half the students turned to Christ.” – J. Edwin Orr

“There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer.” – A. T. Pierson

“Our willingness to sacrifice for an enterprise is always in proportion to our faith in that enterprise” – Samuel Zwemer

“Great victory has never been possible without great sacrifice. If the winning of Port Arthur required human bullets, we cannot expect to carry the Port Arthurs of the non-Christian world without loss of life. Does it really matter how many die or how much money we spend in opening closed doors, and in occupying the different fields, if we really believe that missions are warfare and that the King’s glory is at stake? War always means blood and treasure. Our only concern should be to keep the fight aggressive and to win victory regardless of cost or sacrifice. The unoccupied fields of the world must have their Calvary before they can have their Pentecost.” – Samuel Zwemer

“Where are today’s C. T. Studd’s, William Carey’s, Hudson Taylor’s and Livingstone’s? Stand up and be counted.” – Ralph Winter

God's Smuggler (Brother Andrew)

2009-09-13T20:31:00.002-04:00

from an email September 2, 2004

I hope you all had an awesome summer… I think we’re all some what sad and happy to see it over. I’m really pumped about my second year at Mac but I’m also a bit nervous to see how stuff works out and how I’m gonna spend my time.

I was able this past month to get into a classic book written by Brother Andrew that a staff worker from Campus Crusade had given to me. “God’s Smuggler” was originally written in like 1967 but they’ve added a prologue and epilogue about what he’s doing today. Basically ‘Brother Andrew’ is his code name because he was smuggling Bibles into closed countries back in the 50’s and 60’s. The book was awesome… the first few chapters of the book were background and weren’t as interesting but the last 10 chapters I was hooked… the Los Angeles Times were right when the said “Tension builds page by page in this remarkable true document… more thrilling than a spy story with its numerous near escapes and mounting climaxes of danger.”

Listen to part of what the back of the book says!!!

As a boy, Brother Andrew dreamed of being an undercover spy working behind enemy lines. As a man he found himself working undercover for God. His was a mission filled with danger, financed by faith, supported by miracles. Told it was impossible to minister behind the Iron Curtain, Brother Andrew knew that nothing was too hard for God. Crossing “closed” borders, he prayed, “Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture I want to take to Your children. When You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see.” And they never did.

Here’s a few other quotes from the book… it had everything! Adventure, love, excitement, and emotion. Its definitely one of the best biographies I’ve ever read. I guarantee you that the last quote listed below will cut to your heart and stir a thankfulness within you for the freedom we have in Canada and His perfect Word which we possess!

Pg 43 - “The rest of the house was asleep. I lay on my back with my hands under my head staring at the darkened ceiling and all at once, very quietly, I let go of my ego. With a new note in the wind yelling at me not to be a fool, I turned myself over to God – lock, stock and adventure. There wasn’t much faith in my prayer. I just said, “Lord, if You will show me the way, I will follow You. Amen.” I was as simple as that.”

Pg 69 “I turned through the gate at the [Bible college]. Above me was the reminder “Have Faith In God.” That was it! It wasn’t that I needed the security of a certain amount of money, it was that I needed the security of a relationship [with God].”

Pg 114-115
“Hello”, said the driver. “I believer I know who you are. You’re the Dutch missionary who is preaching tonight.”
“That’s right.”
“And this is the Miracle Car?”
“The Miracle Car?”
“I mean the car you pray for each morning.”
I had to laugh. I had mentioned the prayer in a previous meeting; the word had obviously gone on ahead. “Yes”, I admitted, “this is the car.”
“Mind if I take a look at her? I’m a mechanic.”
“I’d appreciate it.” I had put gas in that engine, and that was literally all since I had crossed the border. The mechanic went around to the rear and lifted the hood over the motor. For a long time he stood there, just staring.
“Brother Andrew,” he said at last, “I have just become a believer. It is mechanically impossible for this engine to run. Look. The air filter. The carburetor. The sparks. No, I’m sorry. This car cannot run.”
“And yet it’s taken us thousands of miles.”
The mechanic only shook his head. “Brother,” he said, “would you permit me to clean your engine for you and give you a change of oil? It hurts me to see you abuse a miracle.”
Gratefully we followed the man to his village. We pulled behind him into a little courtyard filled with pigs and geese. That night while we preached he took the engine apart, cleaned it piece by piece, changed the oil and by the time we were ready to leave the next morning, presented us with a grinning new automobile. God had answered our prayer.

Pg 120 – “Lord,” I said one morning, “I’ve got to pray just one more time about this bachelor life You plan for me. Now I know about those children You promise the desolate, but Lord You also promise the desolate a home!” I quickly found the verse in Psalm 68, as though to refresh His memory: “God gives the desolate a home to dwell in.” It isn’t that I don’t thank You for this room above the tool shed, Lord. Just because it’s dark and dank and mildewy and – doesn’t mean I’m not grateful. But, dear God, it is not a home. Not really. A home is where there’s a wife and children – real ones.

Pg 157-158 – Petroff and his wife lived in this single room… “I’ve heard,” I said “ that both Bulgaria and Rumania are desperately in need of Bibles. Is that so?”
In answer, Petroff took me over to his desk. On it was an ancient typewriter with a sheet of paper in it, and next to the typewriter a Bible open to Exodus.
“Three weeks ago I was extremely lucky,” said Petroff. “I managed to find this Bible.” He showed me a second volume on the small dining talbe. “I got it for a good price too. Only a month’s pension. The reason it was so cheap is that the books of Genesis, Exodus and Revelation have been cut out and -”
“Why?” I interrupted.
“Who knows? Perhaps to sell. Or perhaps to make cigarettes with the thin paper. At any rate I was lucky enough to find it and have the money to purchase it. Now all I have to do is fill in the missing parts from my own Bible – and I have another complete book! I ought to be all finished in another four weeks.”
“And what will you do with the second Bible?”
“Oh, give it away.”
“To a little church in Plovtiv,” said his wife, “where there’s no Bible.”
I wasn’t sure that I understood. No Bible in the entire church?
“Certainly,” said Petroff. “And there are many such churches in this country. You’ll find the same in Rumania and in Russia. In the old days only the priests had them; ordinary people couldn’t read. And since communism, it’s been impossible to buy them. It’s not often I have a piece of luck like this.”
My sense of excitement mounted. I could hardly wait to show Petroff the treasure I had waiting for him in my car.
That night I drove up to the apartment, checked the street to make sure it was empty, and then took inside the first of many, many cartons of Bibles I was to deliver to this many over the years. Petroff and his wife watched me put the box on their one table, their eyes wide in frank and open curiosity.
“What’s that?” Petroff asked.
I lifted the top and took out a Bible. I put it in the trembling hands of Petroff and another into the hands of his wife.
“And – and in the box?” Petroff asked.
“More. And still more outside.”
Petroff closed his eyes. His mouth was working hard to control the emotion he was feeling. But two tears rolled slowly out from between his closed lids and fell on the volume in his hands.

Experiencing God (Henry Blackaby)

2009-09-13T20:22:00.002-04:00

I figured I should finish up my book and send out a summary before exams hit...so that’s what I did! I started “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby a while ago and I picked it up off and on. It’s a “National Best-Seller with over 4 000 000 sold” and I thought it was really good, and as you’ll see below it had some great, short, sweet one line Biblical truths!! I trust that each of you are growing to know our Lord and Saviour more and more and experiencing Him in a more intimate way with each passing day! “We love Him, because He first loved us!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here’s a bit of a quote I thought I’d share... Henry Blackaby is a solid man!

He has served as the president of the Canadian Baptist Theological College and Canadian Southern Baptist Conference. – pg 307

Because of the effect of Experiencing God in so many people’s lives, I have regularly been asked to speak to the national and global leadership of Focus on the Family, Campus Crusade, and nearly all of the various national prayer organizations – pg xviii

So here we go:

You cannot depend on human traditions, your experience, or the experience of others to be accurate on God’s will and ways. Experience and traditions must always be examined against the teaching of Scriptures. – pg 6

I said, “Father, don’t ever let me look at circumstances and question Your love for me. Your love for me was settled on the cross. That has never changed and will never change for me.” – pg 16

God Himself pursues a love relationship with you. He is the One who takes the initiative to bring you into this kind of relationship. – pg 79

Jesus said to those who were His disciples: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you... You are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world” (John 15:16,19). Didn’t Peter choose to follow Jesus? No. Jesus chose Peter. Peter responded to the invitation of God. God took the initiative. – pg 87

God did not create you for time; He created you for eternity. – pg 89

You never find God asking persons to dream up what they want to do for Him...The pattern in the Scripture is that we submit ourselves to God and we wait until God shows us what He is about to do, or we watch to see what God is doing around us and join Him. – pg 104

Jesus is the head over the body, the church. Oh, that we would discover the difference when we let God be the Head of that body. He will accomplish more in six months through a people yielded to Him than we could do in sixty years without Him. – pg 105

Understanding what God is about to do where you are is more important than telling God what you want to do for Him. – pg 107

God is far more interested in accomplishing His kingdom purposes than you are. – pg 117

I love that one!!! God is in control!!! He’s got a way bigger and better plan than I could ever dream up or imagine... and its so good to know that its all gonna be accomplished!

If you are not keeping a spiritual journal or diary, you need to. – pg 172

Blackaby just lays this one out!!! Its not really a command from the Bible but its definitely something I’d strongly encourage too!

I never deny any experience that a person has had, but I always reserve the right to interpret it according to what I understand in the Scripture. – pg 187

In making a decision, the greatest difficulty may not be in choosing between good and bad, but in choosing between good and best. – pg 196

Until you are ready to make any adjustment necessary to follow and obey what God has said, you will be of little use to God. – pg 236

Most of our churches have not learned how to pray together. The greatest untapped resource that I know of is the united prayer of God’s people. – pg 259

[In Acts 16:6-10 we see that] God, not Paul, was going to reach the Gentiles. – pg 267

I don’t know why... but when I read this last night I underlined it reminding myself once again that God is the One who was and is reaching the Gentiles! Not me, you or Paul, but God! :)

You are completely dependent on God for the knowledge and the ability to accomplish His purposes. – pg 271

Here’s a few quotes at the end of the book by a couple other godly men:

It’s better to be still and do nothing with God than to be busy and do much without Him. – Max Lucado

Whenever I enter a contract with anyone, they usually ask me to sign on the bottom line. What that usually means is that I have agreed to the terms and conditions of the contract. Like the contractor, we too often give God a full page of activities we are going to do for Him and ask Him to sign off on it. Instead, God gives us a blank sheet of paper for us to sign on the bottom line, demonstrating our trust in Him and His will for our lives. The question is not “Will God sign off on what we want to do?” but rather “Will we trust God to do what He wants done?” – Tony Evans

And I’ll close with this quote... I want to encourage you all, wherever you’re at, to set “faith barriers” (even for this summer). Think of something that you know you can’t accomplish without the intervention of God... write it down, pray about it and watch what God does!

Believers never outgrow the experience of being scared half to death by the assignments God gives them. But that is His loving way of leading you closer to Him – always putting your next assignment just out of reach, requiring a dimension of faith that lies just beyond the last point of your trusting. – pg 300

Case for a Creator (Lee Strobel)

2009-09-13T20:18:00.001-04:00

from an email August 7, 2004

Mass email #90894 (or so it seems)… I use the 15-30 minutes it takes to summarize the book kinda as a recap so I remember what I read.

I was at a Christian bookstore back in July and found this new book by Lee Strobel. He is the author of the famous “Case for Christ” and “Case for Faith” books that I really liked. Sometimes the chapters were a bit long but overall the message and content were awesome! So when I saw “Case for a Creator” I was pumped! As I read through the book in the first few chapters he said something along the lines of “This book is not written to settle the Christian argument about an old or young earth”. So when I saw that I was like “ok.. that’s cool” … but as I kept reading I was kinda disappointed a bit case he definitely took the old earth side of the argument. Other than that I definitely recommend the book though. If you want something scientifically based its good. I’ve never read it but Michael Behe’s “Darwin’s Black Box” is supposedly really good too. My personal favourite about the creation / evolution debate is “The Battle for the Beginning” by John MacArthur. On the back of that book is this quote “Defending the authority of Scripture from the very first verse”

The structure of Lee Strobel’s books and the Case for a Creator is that Lee goes to different scholars and asks them tough questions... here’s my little summary:

I’ve never studied Bio but I do know (as was mentioned in this book) that a 4-cylinder, 2L, block engine maxes out at about 9000 rotations per minute. In Case for a Creator the author interviews a man (Michael Behe) who is a biology big wig and he describes the bacterial flagellum (I have no clue what it does .. lol .. but I do know its impressive) The “flagellum’s propeller can spin at 10000 rpms…not only that the propeller can stop spinning within a quarter turn and instantly start spinning the other way at 10000 rpms.”… “Howard Berg of Harvard University called it the most efficient motor in the universe. It’s way beyond anything we can make, especially when you consider its size.” Get this… this super fast motor is approximately 1/100 000th of an inch!!!
Another of the guys the author interviews said this about the transitional fossils Darwinists have been searching for over the past years… “the intermediates have remained as elusive as ever”… to which I respond… “duh… there aren’t any!!!”

Listen to this argument one of the scholars / philosophers proposed … see if you agree with each of the statements:
#1 Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
-even renowed skeptic David Hume didn’t deny this
#2 The universe had a beginning
-its funny because 50 yrs ago atheists attacked this premise because they didn’t think the universe had a “starting point” but now scientifically its proven there is a start so they have to attack the first premise… lol… embarrassing
Therefore, the logical conclusion is
#3 That the universe has a cause

Another chapter was on “the evidence of astronomy”. Did you know… “it would take a star with the highly unusual properties of our sun – the right mass, the right light, the right distance, the right orbit, the right galaxy, the right location – to nurture living organisms on a circling planet. Numerous factors make our solar system and our location in the universe just right for a habitable environment. What’s more, the exceptional conditions that make life possible also happen to make our planet strangely well-suited for viewing and analyzing the universe and our environment. All of this suggests our planet may be rare, if not unique, and that the Creator wanted us to be able to explore the cosmos. Harvard-educated astrophysicist John A. O’Keefe of NASA said, “It is my view that these circumstances indicate the universe was created for man to live in.”

This email wouldn’t be done without Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

Its definitely cool that tomorrow at church we’re singing “God of Wonders”… when I was up at Fair Havens last week just looking up into the sky at night seeing all the stars reminded me once again of the great God we serve! I’m going to see Niagara Falls again tomorrow with relatives from Norway who are here visiting and just other things that have come up remind me of our Creator and his workmanship! :)

It was super cool at the end of Case for a Creator, cause Lee Strobel writes about a couple (2 doctors) who did an investigation similar to his. They came to the conclusion that there was a Creator and then investigated the Bible and Jesus’ claims. After committing there lives to Christ and becoming Christians they prayed the bold prayer asking God to send them wherever He desired. Viggo and Joan ended up spending 33 yrs in poverty-wracked Bangladesh where they founded Memorial Christian Hospital. From atheist skeptics to missionaries! So good!!!

The little Sunday School song is true:
“My God is so big! So strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do!”

Boundaries (Henry Cloud and John Townsend)

2009-09-13T20:16:00.001-04:00

Part of taking responsibility or ownership, is knowing what is our job and what isn’t. (pg 25)

Just as homeowners set physical property lines around their land, we need to set mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual boundaries for our lives to help us distinguish what is our responsibility and what isn’t. (pg 25)

You need to depend on others to help you set and keep boundaries. (pg 37)

When God said that even in his perfect new universe, it wasn’t “good for the man to be alone” (Gen 2:18), he wasn’t talking about marriage. He was talking about relationship. (pg 64)

This is a crucial point. We all need more than God and a best friend. We need a group of supportive relationships. The reason is simple: having more than one person in our lives allows our friends to be human. To be busy. To be unavailable at times. To hurt and have problems of their own. To have time alone. (pg 111)

For marriage to work, the spouse needs to loosen her ties with her family of origin and forge new ones with the new family she is creating through marriage. This does not mean that husbands and wives shouldn’t have a relationship with their extended families. But they do need to set clear boundaries with their families of origin. Many marriages fail because one partner fails to set clear boundaries with the family of origin, and the spouse and children get leftovers. (pg 125)

The periodic bailouts from his parents cut into Terry’s self-respect. And Sherry felt as if she couldn’t spend any money without consulting her in-laws, since they contributed the funds. (pg 126)

“Children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children” (2 Cor. 12:14) (pg 129)

Indeed the Bible teaches that adult children should take care of their elderly parents. “Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God” (1 Tim. 5:3-4). It is good to feel grateful to our parents and to repay them for what they have done for us. (pg 129)

Let’s define friendship as a non-romantic relationship that is attachment-based rather than function-based. In other words, let’s exclude relationships based on a common task, like work or ministry. Let’s look at friendship as comprising people we want to be around just for their own sake. (pg 137)

The key here is that the other person is not responsible for our limits; we are. Only we know what we can and want to give, and only we can be responsible for drawing that line. If we do not draw it, we can quickly become resentful. (pg 155)

When you need time away, tell your spouse (pg 159)

The Proverbs 31 wife has a life of her own; she is out doing many things. The same is true of her husband. They have their own time for doing what they like and for seeing their own friends. Many couples have trouble with this aspect of marriage. They feel abandoned when their spouse wants time apart. In reality, spouses need time apart, which makes them realize the need to be back together. Spouses in healthy relationships cherish each other’s space and are champions of each other’s causes. (pg 160)

What You Need To Know About Islam and Muslims

2009-09-13T20:14:00.001-04:00

Muhammad:
(570-632)
- claimed to be the last of the prophets
- in one battle lead forces in slaughtering 800 male Jews and took their wives and children
- had 9-13 wives
- favourite wife was Aisha (whom he consummated the marriage with when she was 9 years old)
- mborn in Mecca, escaped to Medina in 622, buried in Medina

Quran has 114 suras (chapters) – collected from 610-622 AD, “visions from Gabriel”
* tradition holds that Muhammad was illiterate – his followers “remembered” his preachings and codified them into the Quran by 652

Islam = “submission to God”
Muslim = “one who submits”

- Muslims think Christians have 3 gods (God, Jesus, Mary)
- Mecca, Saudi Arabia = holiest city in Islam (then Medina and then Jerusalem)
- Muslims believe Ishmael not Isaac was to be sacrificed by Abraham on a mountain in Mecca
- Jews and Christians are called “People of the Book”

“Allah Akbar” = “God is Great” is sounded at worship time

Islam gives high titles to 6 prophets:
- Adam is the Chosen of God
- Noah is the Preacher of God
- Abraham is the Friend of God
- Moses is the Speaker of God
- Jesus is the Word of God
- Muhammad is the Apostle of God

- Jesus is named 96 times in the Quran – called Messiah, Word of God, Spirit of God, son of Mary etc
- they believe he was born of a virgin and performed miracles

FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
1) shadada – “there is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the prophet of God”
2) pray 5 times a day facing Mecca
3) month of fasting (Ramadan) – 9th month of the lunar calendar (sometimes in the winter, sometimes in the summer)
4) haj – pilgrimage to Mecca
5) zakat – tax in some nations

The Crusades (1095-1298)
- wars against Muslim people of Jerusalem and Palestine by the Pope and other European rulers
- 1187 is an important date when Muslims retake Jerusalem (held until 1948 when the nation of Israel is established)

Sunnis vs Shiites

Sunnis: - Muhammad’s successor should be elected by the Muslim community
- 90% of Muslims)

Shiites: - Muhammad’s successor should be a member of the prophet’s family (ie Ali is
the legitimate successor to Muhammad)
- Iran is primary Shiite Muslim state

Muslims deeply appreciate friendships with non Muslims
Muslims do not eat pork

Some passages in the Quran speak good of Christians and Jews (2:62) but then bash Jesus and the trinity (5:116, 4:171, 5:72). They say Jesus only “appeared” to die on the cross.

Christians who reached out:

Francis of Assisi: - Christian man promoting love rather than a crusading spirit
(1181-1226)

Henry Martyn: - entered India from England as a chaplain
(1781-1812)

When sharing with Muslims:

- PRAY
- argue less, share stories, testimony and parables of Jesus more
- discuss similarities first (ie titles of Jesus) the differences will obviously come up later in the conversation
- build relationships
- be hospitable

Too Busy Not To Pray (Bill Hybels)

2009-09-13T19:25:00.001-04:00

from an email February 7, 2005

Well it’s that time again... after a weekend at home I was able to finish off this book by Bill Hybels “Too Busy Not To Pray”. Recently 3 words have been coming to my mind as I examined my personal life... “patience” and “slow down”! This book encouraged and challenged me to spend time with our loving, and powerful heavenly Father. To him be the glory!

When we work, we work; but when we pray, God works – pg 13

I also have a private line that rings right on my desk. I’ve given the number to a few colleagues to use in emergencies, and I’ve given it to my wife and children. I’ve told my kids they can call me anytime for any reason. Believe me, no one’s voice sounds sweeter to me than theirs. When I hear “Hi Dad,” I don’t care what I’m juggling. I can drop it. My children are an absolute priority to me. Now take a father’s feeling for his children and multiply it exponentially, and you’ll know how your heavenly Father feels about you. – pg 28

A “prayer warrior” is a person who is convinced that God is omnipotent – that God has the power to do anything, to change anyone and to intervene in any circumstance. A person who truly believes this refuses to doubt God. – pg 38

In my opinion it is absolutely essential to begin times of prayer with adoration, or worship. Adoration sets the tone for the entire prayer. It reminds us whom we are addressing, whose presence we have entered, whose attention we have gained. – pg 63

Before bringing a request to the Lord, it’s a good idea to ask: If God granted this request: Would it bring glory to Him? Would it advance His kingdom? Would it help people? Would it help me to grow spiritually? – pg 92

The most common cause of unanswered prayer is prayerlessness. – pg 101

(that quote might seem super obvious but its 100% true...)

In 1978 I traveled to Korea to visit the world’s largest church. At that time every Friday night from 8pm to 7am on Saturday morning, 10 000 people gathered in a auditorium and prayed that God would take the church’s ministry by storm. Every Saturday several thousand people went to a mountain they call Prayer Mountain, sat in its many caves and prayed that God would work in a supernatural way. In 1978 the church had 100 000 members. Some people might have thought it was large enough, but its members had a vision. Ten prayer-filled years later, the church membership was up to 450 000. Today there are over one million members! When we work, we work; when we pray, God works! – pg 103

Some years ago we had a baptism Sunday where many people publicly affirmed their decision to follow Christ. I thought my heart would explode for joy. Afterward, in the stairwell, I bumped into a woman who was crying. I couldn’t understand how anyone could weep after such a celebration, so I stopped and asked her if she was all right. “No,” she said, “I’m struggling. My mother was baptized today.” This is a problem? I thought. “I prayed for her every day for 20 years,” the woman said, and then she started crying again. “You’re going to have to help me understand this,” I said. “I’m crying,” the woman replied, “because I came so close – so close – to giving up on her. I mean, after 5 years I said ‘Who needs this? God isn’t listening’ After 10 years I said, ‘Why am I wasting my breath?’ After 15 years I said, ‘This is absurd.’ After 19 years I said, ‘I’m just a fool.’ But I guess I just kept praying, even though my faith was weak. I kept praying, and she gave her life to Christ, and she was baptized today.” The woman paused and looked me in the eye and said “I will never doubt the power of prayer again.” – pg 121

It makes no sense to believe that God lost his voice at the end of the first century. If the essence of Christianity is a personal relationship between the almighty God and individual human beings, it stands to reason that God still speaks to believers today. You can’t build a relationship on one-way speeches. You need frequent, sustained, intimate contact between two persons, both of whom speak and both of whom listen. – pg 136

(I don’t want you guys to get the impression that I think God will appear to me like he did to Paul on the Road to Damascus... but it’s a good point that a relationship always has 2 way communication... when’s the last time you stopped.. slowed down and listened for God’s still small voice?)

People who are really interested in hearing from God must pay a price: they must discipline themselves to be still before God. – pg 145

First, all leadings that come from God are consistent with his word, the Bible. – pg 160

(Mike Lewis: I threw that quote in there for you!!! Sola Scriptura!!!)

Life can’t throw anything at you that you can’t handle with God. – pg 177

Just Like Jesus (Max Lucado)

2009-09-13T19:20:00.002-04:00

from an email July 14, 2005

Well after a 2+ month "leave of absence" ... Dave Heska is back ... and with it comes the "book reports". For everyone who didn't go to Tanzania... for your info... my friends there bugged me about typing these things up ... so Jordi, Melissa, Dawei, Cindy, Heather, Nathalie, Steve and Robyn this one is dedicated to you guys! :)

So ya.. there in Tanzania (on the plane rides and a bit before bed or on Sunday afternoons) I was able to read 4 solid books. A "Just Like Jesus Devotional" (that I'll summarize here by Max Lucado) and then "Don't Waste Your Life" (John Piper), "Courageous Leadership" (Bill Hybels) and "The Pursuit of God" (AW Tozer). Only the first one is included here and the other 3 are on my to do list and will be coming later... for now I hope you enjoy reading these quotes and stories and are challenged by them!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just Like Jesus Devotional (A 30 Day Walk with the Saviour) – by Max Lucado

God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus. (pg 1)

The day Jesus left the carpentry shop of Nazareth he had one ultimate aim: the cross of Calvary. (pg 75)

If God’s goal is the salvation of the world, then my goal should be the same. (pg 79)

My family did something thoughtful for me last night. They had a party in my honor – a surprise birthday party. Early last week I told Denalyn not to plan anything except a nice family evening at a restaurant. She listened only to the restaurant part. I was unaware that half a dozen families were going to join us. In fact, I tried to talk her into staying at home. “Let’s have the dinner on another night,” I volunteered. Andrea had been sick. Jenna had homework, and I’d spent the afternoon watching football games and felt lazy – not really in a mood to get up and clean up and go out. I thought I’d have no problem convincing the girls to postpone the dinner. Boy was I surprised! They wouldn’t think of it. Each of my objections was met with a united front and a unanimous defense. My family made it clear – we were going out to eat. Not only that, we were leaving on time. I consented and set about getting ready. But to their dismay, I moved too slowly. We were a study in contrasts. My attitude was, “Why hurry?” My daughter’s attitude was “Hurry up!” I was ho-hum. They were gung-ho. I was content to stay. They were anxious to leave. To be honest, I was bewildered by their actions. They were being uncharacteristically prompt. Curiously enthused. Why the big deal? I mean, I enjoy a night out as much as the next guy, but Sara giggled all the way to the restaurant. Only when we arrived did their actions make sense. One step inside the door and I understood their enthusiasm. SURPRISE! No wonder they were acting differently. They knew what I didn’t. They had seen what I hadn’t. They’d already seen the table stacked and gifts and smelled the cake. Since they knew about the party, they did everything necessary to see that I didn’t miss it.

Jesus does the same for us. He knows about THE PARTY. In one of the greatest chapters in the Bible, Luke 15, he tells three stories. Each story speaks of something lost and of something found. A lost sheep. A lost coin. And a lost son. And at the end of each one, Jesus describes a party, a celebration. The shepherd throws the party for the lost-now-found sheep. The housewife throws a party because of the lost-now-found coin. And the father throws a party in honor of his lost-now-found son. (pg 126-127)

“There are Christmas days in heaven where Christ’s high mass is kept, and Christ is not glorified because he was born in a manger but because he is born in a broken heart. And these are days when the shepherd brings home the lost sheep upon his shoulders, when the church has swept her house and found the lost piece of money, for then are these friends and neighbors called together, and they rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory over one sinner who repents.” ~ Charles Spurgeon (pg 128)

Let a child call and the ear of the Father inclines. Let a saint die and the gate is opened. And, most importantly, let a sinner repent, and every other activity cease, and every heavenly being celebrates! (pg 129)

“Heaven is a perfect place for people made perfect.” ~ Charles Spurgeon (pg 134)

Let this book be but one of dozens you read about Jesus and this hour be but one of hundreds in which you seek him. Step away from the puny pursuits of possessions and positions, and seek your king. (pg 166)

Courageous Leadership (Bill Hybels)

2009-09-13T19:19:00.002-04:00

from an email July 26, 2005

Let me encourage each and every person who is a leader in any respect in the church or Christian ministry to read this awesome book! I hope these quotes whet you’re appetite :)… here goes:

Vision is at the very core of leadership. Take vision away from a leader and you cut out his or her heart. Vision is the fuel that leaders run on. (pg 31)

Leaders are not the only ones who are energized by the passion of their vision. Followers thrive on it. (pg 35)

How does a leader best communicate vision? By embodying it. By personifying it. By living it out. (pg 38)

Even if no one else joined him, he was going to bring his vision to life. (pg 39)

I love the song, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”. The second verse says, “Though none go with me, still I will follow.” (pg 39)

The “when” also matters. In my experience, there are starting points, midway points, and ending points, in a ministry season that almost demand a vision talk. September, January and the end of June. (pg 43)

#1 VISION INCREASES ENERGY AND MOVES PEOPLE INTO ACTION (pg 45)
#2 VISION INCREASES OWNERSHIP (pg 47)
#3 VISION PROVIDES FOCUS (pg 47)

At a certain point people need more than vision. They need a plan, a step-by-step explanation of how to move from vision to reality. (pg 55)

I did not fully realize how deeply Dr. Billy Graham and his associates valued team until I enjoyed a visit with him at his home in Montreat, North Carolina. He led me down the hill from his home and pointed out the houses being built nearby by some of his team members. Apparently, forty-five years of togetherness was not enough for this tightly knit team. (pg 75)

Parenthetically, I believe that half of the fundraising strategies employed in these churches are unbiblical. I’m sorry, that’s the way I see it. The Bible doesn’t teach that a church ought to be financed by bake sales or bingo. (And I’m not really sorry.) (pg 108)

We want to see churches led by leaders, taught by teachers, and administrated by administrators. (pg 113)

Bless the socks off your key players. (pg 117)

Leaders learn best from other leaders. (pg 134)

(I read this next one on the plane ride from London, England to Tanzania… such “God timing” :)
As a leader it’s your job to keep your passion hot. Do whatever you have to do, read whatever you have to read, go wherever you have to go to stay fired up. And don’t apologize to anybody. (pg 188)

So I decided to make several life-management adjustments during my ministry year in an attempt to keep my heart from shrinking and my spirit from getting callused. I began taking regular days off, scheduled more solitude into my week, and incorporated into my reading diet more books that were challenging on a deeply spiritual level. (pg 196)

God, mold and shape me to my full leadership potential. (pg 199)
Make me like David, so I can be a leader who inspires hope. (pg 201)
God, give me Jonathan’s capacity to love. (pg 201)
God, give me Joseph’s personal holiness. (pg 202)
God, give me Joshua’s decisiveness. (pg 204)
Oh God, give me Esther’s courage (pg 205)
Oh God, if you would just grant me a portion of Solomon’s wisdom. (pg 207)
God, give me the emotional authenticity of Jeremiah. (pg 208)
God, may I never forget how important parties are. Like Nehemiah help me remember to celebrate. (pg 209)
How much better if we would all pray for the initiative-taking boldness of Peter. (pg 210)
God give me Paul’s intensity (pg 210)

Someday we are going to stand face to face with the Son of God who never gave up on His redemptive calling. (pg 252)

(read this last one… it had a big impact on me…)
A few months ago a cruel disease took the life of one of my closest friends. This book is dedicated to him. As I write these words I am fighting to hold back a river of tears. Jon Rasmussen was a brother, a mentor, a sailing partner, a fellow soldier, a servant, a confidante, and truly one of the most remarkable men I’ve ever known.
Two days before his death I knelt by his bedside and told him one last time that I loved him with all my heart and that I would see him on the other side. With labored motions he reached for a present that he had arranged for me. Opening the carefully wrapped box, I discovered a beautiful silver mariner’s compass. Before I could protest his thoughtfulness and generosity, Jon whispered, “Bill, your life gave my life direction. From the day we met, God used you to show me how my life could have purpose and meaning, and I can’t thank you enough.
“Read the backside”, he whispered. I read the three words engraved on the silver surface with tears in my eyes: “Stay the course.” After reading those words I climbed onto the bed and embraced Jon for several moments, then prayed for him.
Two days later Jon died. Doing his funeral was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But I will treasure his final gift to me like few other earthly possessions I own.
Stay the course. Stay the course. Stay the course.
If I do – if all of us leaders do – we will win the day for the glory of the One whose name we bear. (pg 253)

The Pursuit of God (A.W. Tozer)

2009-09-13T19:16:00.002-04:00

from an email August 12, 2005

As I promised last week some time I did get time to summarize and type up some quotes from A.W. Tozer’s “The Pursuit of God” and I also while in Tanzania found some sweet quotes in the “Knowing Jesus Personally” evangelical magazine we handed out. Keep pursuing him!

The Pursuit of God ~ A.W. Tozer

Tozer entered the ministry without either high school or college training. A.W. Tozer came to Christ at the age of 17, after hearing a lay preacher speaking at a street meeting in Akron, Ohio. (pg 3)

Sound Bible exposition is an imperative must in the Church of the Living God. Without it no church can be a New Testament church in any strict meaning of that term. (pg 9)

We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit. (pg 11)

To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love. (pg 14)

Our gifts and talents should also be turned over to Him. They should be recognized for what they are, God’s loan to us, and should never be considered in any sense our own. (pg 28)

“Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” ~ Westminster Shorter Catechism (pg 32)

Our pursuit of God is successful just because He is forever seeking to manifest Himself to us. (pg 61)

We have been trying to apply machine-age methods to our relations with God. We read our chapter, have our short devotions and rush away, hoping to make up for our deep inward bankruptcy by attending another gospel meeting or listening to another thrilling story told by a religious adventurer lately returned from afar. (pg 65)

The whole Bible supports this idea. God is speaking. Not God spoke, but God is speaking. He is, by His nature, continuously articulate. He fills the world with His speaking voice. (pg 69)

Even those persons who have never heard of the Bible have still been preached to with sufficient clarity to remove every excuse from their hearts forever. (pg 72)

It is important that we get still to wait on God. And it is best that we get alone, preferably with our Bible outspread before us. (pg 76)

We are right when, and only when, we stand in a right position relative to God, and we are wrong so far and so long as we stand in any other position. (pg 95)

We must of necessity be servant to someone, either to God or to sin. The sinner prides himself on his independence, completely overlooking the fact that he is the weak slave of the sins that rule his members. (pg 98)

His words are the essence of truth. He is not offering an opinion; Jesus never uttered opinions. He never guessed; He knew, and He knows. (pg 104)

Knowing Jesus Personally Magazine

“Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napolean; without science and learning, He shed more light on things human and divine than all the philosophers and scholars combined” ~ Philip Schaff

“I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.” ~ H.G. Wells

“No other ancient book has anything like such early and plentiful testimony to its text and no unbiased scholar would deny that the text that has come down to us is substantially sound.” ~ Sir Fredick Kenyon (keeper of ancient manuscripts and director of the British Museum, after a lifetime of study of ancient documents)

“As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene... No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life.” ~ Albert Einstein

Don't Waste Your Life (John Piper)

2009-09-13T19:11:00.002-04:00

from an email August 24, 2005

I thought I should send this summary out to everyone around this time of year as we begin another school year or another year of work or ministry. Every person who went on a Campus Crusade missions trip this summer got this great book by John Piper called "Don't Waste Your Life". Its a great book... I hope this whets your appetites!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You are in one of two groups: Either you are a Christian, or God is now calling you to be one. (pg 9)

You now belong doubly to God: He made you, and he bought you. (pg 9)

It is better to lose your life than to waste it. (pg 10)

The modern assault on reality had turned Bible study into a swamp of subjectivity. You could see it in the church as small groups shared their subjective impressions about what Bible texts meant “for me” without an anchor in any original meaning. And you could see it in academic books as creative scholars cut their own heads off by arguing that texts have no objective meaning. (pg 24)

The Bible seemed to me then, and it seems today, inexhaustible. (pg 27)

If you don’t point people to God for everlasting joy, you don’t love. You waste your life. (pg 35)

God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of him in every part of our lives. (pg 37)

God without Christ is no God. (pg 38)

~ this next part is a long paragraph but I included here because it especially spoke and reminded me as I'm talking to Jehovah's Witnesses, Christadelphians and Mormons to speak of the deity of Christ. Piper once again "preaches it!" ~

Jesus is the litmus test of reality for all persons and all religions. He said it clearly: “The one who rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10:16). People and religions who reject Christ, reject God. Do other religions know the true God? Here is the test: Do they reject Jesus as the only Saviour for sinners who was crucified and raise by God from the dead? If they do, they do not know God in a saving way. That is what Jesus meant when he said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Or when he said, “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent me” (John 5:23). Or when he said to the Pharisees, “If God were your Father, you would love me” (John 8:42). It’s what the apostle John meant when he said, “No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also” (1 John 2:23). Or when he said, “Everyone who… does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God” (2 John 9). There is no point in romanticizing other religions that reject the deity and saving work of Christ. They do not know God. And those who follow them tragically waste their lives. (pg 39)

Daily Christian living is daily Christian dying. (pg 71)

Television is one of the greatest life-wasters of the modern age. And, of course, the Internet is running to catch up, and may have caught up. (pg 120)

~ the last 2 chapters of the book were the best! Piper focused on Magnifying Christ in your 9 -5 Job and then on Missions!!! ~

If you are human – your work is to take what God has made and shape it and use it to make Him look great. (pg 139)

The Bible puts a lot of emphasis on adorning the Gospel, not merely saying the Gospel. But now I want to say that speaking the good news of Christ is part of why God put you in your job. (pg 151)

No nice feelings about you as a good employee will save anyone. People must know the Gospel, which is the power of God unto eternal life (Romans 1:16). “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). The early church was a “gospelling” bad of people. They spoke the Gospel. When the believers were driven out of Jerusalem because of persecution after Stephen’s martyrdom, they “went about preaching the word” – literally, “evangelizing or gospelling the word” (Acts 8:4). (pg 152)

Perhaps one other thing should be mentioned in regard to the relationships created by where we live and work. For many of you the move toward missions and deeds of mercy will not be a move away from your work but with your work to another, more needy, less-reached part of the world. (pg 153)

It is crucial that millions of Christians fulfill their life calling in secular jobs, just as it is crucial that during wartime the entire fabric of life and culture not unravel. But during wartime, even the millions of civilians love to get news from the front lines. They love to hear of the triumphs of the troops. They dream about the day when war will be no more. So it is with Christians. All of us should dream about this. We should love to hear how the advance of King Jesus is faring. We should love to hear of gospel triumphs as Christ plants his church among peoples held for centuries by alien powers of darkness. (pg 162)

In 1916, Protestants were giving 2.9% of their incomes to their churches. In 1933, the depth of the Great Depression, it was 3.2%. In 1955, just after affluence began spreading through our culture, it was still 3.2%. By 2000, when Americans were over 450% richer, after taxes and inflation, than in the Great Depression, Protestants were giving 2.6% of their incomes to their churches. (pg 172)

One way to describe the situation is to say that about 1.2-1.4 billion people have never had a change to hear the Gospel. (pg 173)

Pray for harvesters, and you may become one. (pg 176)

Tell It Well, Tell It Often (Mark McCloskey)

2009-09-13T19:09:00.001-04:00

from an email October 23, 2005

I hope you’re having a great weekend. Something that I really enjoy about weekends is the lack of school and the time to relax and sit down and read something other than my Structural Analysis textbook.

I apologize that this book summary has been a long time coming... people have been bugging me and asking “when’s the next one coming?” ... well here it is.

The book is called “Tell It Well, Tell It Often!” by Mark McCloskey. A book all about evangelism, its different forms, Biblical examples... its good! Really good!

Enough of me... here’s some quotes. :) I hope these encourage and challenge you to Tell It Well and Tell It Often!

(pg 171) This is why many groups practice initiative evangelism and employ strategies that encompass masses of people. It is not that they are against the relational element in evangelism, but they do not allow it to determine the scope of their outreach. Let’s reach our friends. Let’s do whatever it takes to communicate authentically to them. But let’s not forget that others also need to hear the gospel.

(pg 190) The evangelist is confident that he delivers the gospel, not as a mere competitor in the marketplace of ideas, but as an ambassador entrusted with the most powerful message ever unleashed on mankind.

AMEN!!!!!!!!

(pg 191) Christianity is a missionary religion. It asks not why men are not coming to us, but why we are not going to men.

(pg 191) The faithful execution of my role as an ambassador for Christ requires that I take the initiative to ensure that the good news is communicated to all who will listen, as soon as possible, so that they might comprehend the gospel as clearly as possible.

ALL WHO WILL LISTEN, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE!

(pg 192) The issue is never whether or not to go. The command to go has already been given. The only issue is whether I will obey.

Bam!! SO GOOD!

(pg 197) Let us pray as Jim Elliot prayed, “Lord, give me firmness without hardness; steadfastness without dogmatism; love without weakness.”

(pg 229) God is more concerned with our availability than our ability.

(pg 242) We are just one beggar telling another where the bread line begins.

(pg 251) As John Stott put it, “Evangelism is a responsibility laid by Christ upon His whole church and every member of it. So the people of God must be both mobilized and trained.”

(pg 252) After all is said and done, there is usually more said than done. Evangelism is much discussed, encouraged and “taught”, but seldom demonstrated. Evangelism is nothing if it is not done.

When was the last time you told someone about Christ?

(pg 253) Hudson Taylor reasoned, “I would never have thought of going out to China had I not believed that the Chinese were lost and needed Christ.”

(pg 255) The Spirit is not a guide and helper for those on a straight way perfectly able to manage on their own. He comes to assist men caught up in the thick of battle, and tried beyond their strength.

(pg 270) We must not forget our Jerusalem on the way to the uttermost parts of the world.

(pg 270) Ideally, every Christian would have both a circle of friends for whom he prays daily and to whom he seeks an opportunity to present the gospel, and a strategy that offers ongoing training and holds him accountable to share the gospel. Beware of any imbalance that finds you sharing with strangers but not with your friends and those in your natural sphere of influence. Beware also of an approach to evangelism that has you building relationships as a bridge to the few, resulting in a barrier between you and the rest of the nonbelieving world.

It’s not an EITHER/OR it’s a BOTH/AND! :) I pray that each and every friend we know would hear about Christ AND ALSO that the name of Christ may be preached around the entire world!

Servant Leadership for Slow Learners (J. David Lundy)

2009-09-13T19:07:00.003-04:00

from an email December 9, 2005

I’ve been able over the past few weeks to carve out some time and read this great book on servant leadership. The author J. David Lundy was the pastor at my church for around 5 years, (he’s actually the man who baptized me), he’s served as a missionary to India with Operation Mobilization and now he’s the International Director of another missions organization called Arab World Ministries. So ya... he’s a good guy... and a great author. Here’s some quotes to wet your appetite. If you want to borrow this or any other book I have over the Christmas break just let me know, and I’ll be more than happen to lend it to you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The spiritual leader instinctively knows what things to be dogmatic about and what things to be pliable about. (pg 32)

The good leader recognizes that only to some extent can he or she be all things to all people and so must learn to ‘lead to his strength and staff to his weakness’. (pg 37)

What you are signalling to your people when you allow them to interrupt you is that you are not in the business of controlling them but, if anything, of being controlled by them. (pg 50)

John Wesley knew the wisdom of this approach to leadership training. Seldom travelling by horseback alone, he deliberately took preachers along so they could observe him up close, thus learning from him. He also listened to these companions preach and critiqued their messages for them. Effective leaders are trained when this kind of exposure to a veteran leader is forthcoming. (pg 53)

Discipleship in action!

Since readers make leaders there are few more influential ways to impact young lives than to get them reading the books and articles that have changed your life! (pg 59)

One of the best ways that people can learn from you as a leader is to invite them into your home to spend time with them over a meal. Hospitality is an increasingly missing virtue in the evangelical church in the west; we have opted for making our homes virtual fortresses, cocooning ourselves so as to escape the pressures of contemporary life. (pg 60)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated ‘The prayer of the morning will determine the day. Wasted time, which we are ashamed of, temptations that beset us, weakness and listlessness in our work, disorder and indiscipline in our thinking and our relations with other people very frequently have their cause in the neglect of our morning prayer.’ (pg 123)

The person who doesn’t read is not better than the person who can’t read. (pg 134)

Even though they may be action-oriented, as indeed I am, they creatively make time to read in their busy schedule. (pg 136)

Strategic thinking is one of the most critical skills a leader must have. You must view every problem from 360 degrees. You must know your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of your organization, your antagonists, and your supporters. (pg 171)

Harry Truman, American president following the Second World War, perceptively observed that ‘not all readers can be leaders. But all leaders must be readers.” (pg 222)

Let us be then like John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania, who represented his country in the 1968 marathon. Along the way in this final event of the Olympics, he fell hard and injured both his ankle and his knee. Undeterred, he got his leg wrapped in a bandage that soon became bloody. Nevertheless, he continued the race. Long after an Ethiopian had won, limping into the entrance of the stadium to run the final lap of the 26 mile race, Akhwari completed the race. Asked later by a reporter why he had bothered to finish a race he could neither win nor finish well in, the Tanzanian said: ‘My country did not send me seven thousand miles to being a race; they sent me to finish the race.’ (pg 232)

Good old Tanzania!!!! May we all be like Akhwari and finish well the race set before us!

The Myth of the 200 Barrier (Kevin Martin)

2009-09-13T19:02:00.002-04:00

from an email January 9, 2006

Some of you have known that I've been reading through this book called "The Myth of the 200 Barrier". Its geared towards pastors looking to take their church through transitional growth and beyond the "barrier of 200" members. When I saw the book in the bookstore over Christmas I knew I had to pick it up. I hope these thoughts help you guys brainstorm more with me and pray that God will do immeasurably more than we can imagine.... not because we want more numbers... but because we want to see this world reached! We want to see lives changed for eternity and we want to give every student every year the opportunity to hear the gospel.

- a 150-300 people congregation is in transitional growth
- people are now more visually oriented and are custom to receiving info at a faster pace (ie videos, screen, not slowly delivered oral communication)
- people want participation
- we need to involve people in the decision making process (ie comment cards)
- we grow up listing to digitally enhanced CDs! We expect good music
- specialize as a pastor! Don’t generalize and try to do everything
- are you a “shepherd of the sheep” or a “rancher of a larger organization”?
- a shepherd wants to know all of the sheep by name
- as a leader leading through transitional growth you need to ask:
o Q1) What has made this a successful growing movement?
o Q2) How will I need to transform the current culture to allow growth to a larger size?
- at Mac we need to provide training for leaders through CCC
- we also need to support leaders being fed by other events too (other Leadership Summits etc)
- ensure that you have a list of present goals that everyone knows
- stress the importance of DGs
- tell people not to get comfortable with where we’re at! (vision .. TSH, then HSC 1A6, then to HSC 1A1, someday to MDCL 1105
- developing 12 deep relationships with people is maximum (ie 12 max on ST, 12 max in DG)
- people can only get to know / recognize 150 people (in large churches there need to be smaller “congregations” of 150 people each)
- larger congregations are about EXCELLENCE! (not necessarily about relationships)
- in large churches people expect excellence and a program / new initiative isn’t launched until it’s excellent; whereas in a smaller church its about relationships so even if Suzzie on the organ isn’t the best organist, she’s your friends grandma so is ok
- treat all people equal and hold them all to their responsibilities in the same way (ie if you were to ask a staff for doing something, or not doing something, then ask the volunteer to do the same... so for me, treat ST, DGLs all the same)
- as a preacher be a storyteller
- start with a great story
- use illustrations from your own personal life
- only add one or two new committees or ministries at a time (not 9 new things all BANG at once)
- in the church diagram or ministry diagram all of the “reporting to” arrows should not be drawn back to the pastor
- staff for the future! (ie we need to pick the Servant Team and DGLs with the future growth in mind)
- ask the question “What is out there in society (or at Mac) that McMaster Campus Crusade for Christ can touch?” (ie Christmas outreach?)
- at leadership meetings (ST meetings) clearly distinguish between the maintenance items of the agenda and those that involve oversight, vision and policy

Master Plan of Evangelism (Robert Coleman)

2009-09-13T18:57:00.003-04:00

from an email April 17, 2006

What would exams be without procrastination right?! Over this past semester I've been reading through a book by Robert Coleman called "The Master Plan of Evangelism". I've got 2 of the books he's written, this one and the other is called "The Master Plan of Discipleship". Basically what he says in "The Master Plan of Evangelism" is that in order for the ends of the earth to hear the gospel we must disciple as Jesus did. Then in "The Master Plan of Discipleship" he says in order to effectively disciple someone we must take them out sharing their faith. So the evangelism one is about discipleship and the discipleship one is about evangelism :) Confused?

If you're looking for a book on "ministry philosophy" or "how to lead effective small groups" or something like that, this would be a good one.

Here's some quotes...

Words of Commendation by:

Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ) ~ The Master Plan of Evangelism is already a classic and Robert Coleman is a legend in our time. This book is must reading for everyone who desires to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Stephen Hayner (president of Inter Varisty Christian Fellowship) ~ I have used The Master Plan of Evangelism in training student leaders and student workers for 25 years, and it remains a ‘must read’ on my list of recommendations for everyone engaged in discipleship.

Jerry White (president of The Navigators) ~ The essence of the historic Navigator hallmark of multiplication is clearly taught in The Master Plan of Evangelism. It is a must reading for every serious believer.

~~~~~~~~~~

The scriptural accounts of Jesus constitute our best, and only inerrant, Textbook on Evangelism. (pg 22)

We must decide where we want our ministry to count – in the momentary applause of popular recognition or in the reproduction of our lives in a few chosen people who will carry on our work after we have gone (pg 39)

One living sermon is worth a hundred explanations. (pg 42)

No one can ever be a leader until first he has learned to follow a leader. (pg 58)

The superhuman work to which they were called demanded supernatural help. (pg 67)

It is not who we are, but who He is that makes the difference (pg 67)

Clearly Jesus did not leave the work of evangelism subject to human impression or convenience. (pg 87)

Similarly the criteria on which a church should measure its success is not how many new names are added to the roll nor how much the budget is increased, but rather how many Christians are actively winning souls and training them to win the multitudes. (pg 103)

Here's the best three I liked from this book:

Evangelism is not an optional accessory to our life. It is the heartbeat of all that we are called to be and do. (pg 88)

We have not been called to hold the fort, but to storm the heights. (pg 95)

Through the proclamation of the gospel, the church militant would someday be the church universal even as it would become the church triumphant. (pg 98)

Through Gates of Splendor (Elisabeth Elliot)

2009-09-13T18:41:00.002-04:00

from an email October 27, 2008

The complimentary book to this "Shadow of the Almighty" has deeply impacted my life . As I read more about the lives of the five men who were martyred missionaries (Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming and Roger Youderian) I was challenged to live fully for Christ.

In the book Jim Elliot says

"Wherever you are be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be in the will of God" (pg 20)

I continue to make this one of my mottos. "Wherever you are, be all there" :)

And as you read these 3 quotes below from the men, you can feel the pulse of their hearts. These guys were warriors for Christ.

"I am longing now to reach the Aucas if God gives me the honor of proclaiming the Name among them... I would gladly give my life for that tribe if only to see an assembly of those proud, clever, smart people gathering around to honor the Son" – Pete Fleming (pg 26)

"I have one desire now – to live a life of reckless abandon for the Lord, putting all my energy and strength into it." - Ed McCully (pg 51)

"May the praise be His, and may it be that some Auca, clothed in righteousness of Jesus Christ, will be with us as we lift our voices in praise before His throne" – Nate Saint (pg 145)

They definately had a proper view of Heaven. As the place where one day, men, women, and children, from EVERY tribe, tongue and nation will bow before the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Heaven (Randy Alcorn)

2009-09-13T18:39:00.001-04:00

from an email October 28, 2007

Let me tell you this... if you have a loved one who you know is going to meet the Lord soon start reading this book now. I was so encouraged as I read this book. It's thick (like 516 pages thick), basically its like a seminary course on Heaven. But wow... it's good!

A couple quotes I want to share:

"Soon you will read in the newspaper that I am dead. Don't believe it for a moment. I will be more alive than ever before." ~ D.L. Moody (pg 31)

SO GOOD. So true! When the day came that I saw the newspaper article for my Grandpa, I thought of this and smiled as I was reminded, "Don't believe this for a moment. I will be more alive than ever before"

Don't let a day go by without anticipating the new world that Christ is preparing for us. (pg 452)

This is something I need to be daily reminded of. How would I live differently if I fully realized Heaven and Hell are two very real places.

(I've only very very briefly touched on the content of the book "Heaven". In it he talks about the Biblical truth that we will work in Heaven, that there will be sports in Heaven, that we won't be married but we will know and recognize each other in Heaven... so many different things. It's a great book.)

Rethinking the Church (James White)

2009-09-13T18:37:00.001-04:00

from an email October 28, 2007

Just to clarify... I'm not going all postmodern and "emergent church" by summarizing this book. James White makes some great points in the book that I continue to ponder and think over... First of all he clearly states that,

Rethinking the church has nothing to do with compromising the church's message. (pg 21)

The life saving gospel message will always be the unchangeable truth. But the way in which we as the church present it and the way in which we gather together may change as the years pass. For instance, did you know

Many churches meet for worship on Sundays at 11:00am. The eleven o'clock hour was originally chosen to accommodate the milking schedule of dairy farmers. Yet long after the end of a predominantly agricultural society, many churches continue to meet at that hour. (pg 88)

It's kind of a stupid point, but it made me think... (Q) where in the Bible does it say church is at 11am? (A) No where. So why am I so stuck on the fact that church is in the morning on Sunday... If you want it to be at 1pm why can't it be at 1pm? :)

This one is something I've been pondering over recently with the Campus for Christ Staff and Servant Team here at McMaster as we lead together.

"Most churches take their brightest and best people and turn them into bureaucrats" – Rick Warren (pg 98)

White steals this quote was from Rick Warren's "Purpose Driven Church" book and I'm continuing to wonder... What am I called to do? What am I not called to do? How can I avoid become just another "bureaucrat".

Your God Is Too Safe (Marc Buchanan)

2009-09-13T18:35:00.001-04:00

from an email October 28, 2007

God is not safe. God is not a household deity, kept in our safekeeping. And – be warned – God's safety is not our business. Our role on this earth, be it prophet, king, priest, or bank teller, is not to keep the Almighty from mishap or embarrassment. He takes care of Himself. (pg 30)

When I read this I was like... "That's right!" Such a good start to the book. God is God :)

I have a proposal: that we start taking our Bible raw and uncut... I propose, that we eat the entire thing, stringy bits, gristle, bones and all. I propose we practice the holy habit of reading the Holy Bible whole (pg 204)

This was a "bang on" quote too. :) How many times have you guys been in church and the person reading the Bible will skip parts that are too graphic or too hard to explain (for instance Psalm 139:19-22) 2 Timothy 3:16 says that "ALL Scripture is God-breathed", not just the nice loving parts.

God Is The Gospel (John Piper)

2009-09-13T18:31:00.002-04:00

from an email March 18, 2007

On this wonderful Sunday afternoon I wanted to summarize a book by John Piper I was able to finish on Reading Week called "God is the Gospel". Procrastination has caused me to postpone writing this email up until now, but after heaing a great talk on this same topic on Friday night at Campus for Christ here at Mac I thought there's no time like today to reflect on it.

To start off, here's one of the main verses Piper referred to over and over again...

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

He made sure to point out the parallels between the "light of the gospel" & "light of the knowledge" and "glory of Christ" & "glory of God" and "image of God" & "face of Christ". He highlighted the importance of the deity of Christ as central to the gospel and then emphasized his point with this verse:

Titus 2:13

While we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ

Pretty sweet verse eh? "Our GREAT GOD and Saviour, Jesus Christ!!"

So what is the gospel?

This is how Paul defined the center of the gospel: "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriputures...he was buried...he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). These are the indispensable deeds of the gospel. (pg 67)

We will tell it often and tell it well. The center of the gospel is the narration of the events of Christ's death and resurrection. It is news! (pg 89)

Not just "news" I would add... GOOD NEWS! GREAT NEWS!! The most wonderful, historical, factual story ever told of God redeeming a people for Himself.

However the events of Good Friday and Easter are not the thesis of "God is the Gospel".

The point of this book is that the Christian gospel is not merely that Jesus died and rose again; and not merely that these events appease God's wrath, forgive sin, and justify sinners; and not merely that this redemption gets us out of hell and into heaven; but that they bring us to the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ as our supreme, all-satisfying and everlasting treasure. (pg 167)

One of the many heart searching statements in Piper's book was this:

Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God. And people who would be happy in heaven if Christ were not there, will not be there. The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven; it is a way to get people to God. (pg 47)

The gospel is not "a ticket". As the title declares... "GOD is the Gospel".

When we think of heaven... what do we think of? Eternal happiness? Being reunited with lost loved ones who believed? The absence of pain and suffering? Or do we think primarily of God and cherish the truth as declared in Revelation 21:3 that "the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God."

Just one more quote to close off... I remember the first time I went through a follow up Bible study with one of the guys I met in Tanzania. The study pointed out this same truth described here:

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life" (John 3:36). Notice the present tense. We have, not just will have, eternal life. This is real and precious and permanent. "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:28) (pg 123)

SO GOOD! Praise God that he has given us eternal life, something that starts the moment we believe.

I've been blessed as I've read "God is the Gospel". It's led me to the Word and reminded me that

"Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18)

Reversed Thunder (Eugene Peterson)

2009-09-13T18:27:00.003-04:00

from an email January 28, 2007

I finished reading a book that my uncle recommended to me a couple years ago. I finally got around to reading it. :) For those who want a good "out of the box" type book on the book of Revelation I'd recommend it. It's called "Reversed Thunder" and it's written by Eugene Peterson (the same guy who did the Message translation of the Bible).

In the book Peterson encourages the reader to study Revelation understanding that the author John is not only a pastor and theologian, but also a poet. For me, as an analytical engineering guy, it was different... but really good.

It's definately broadened my understanding of the Revelation and whet my appetite for the day we see our Saviour face to face!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"A pastor takes actual persons seriously as children of God and faithfully listens to and speaks with them in the conviction that their life of faith in God is the centrality to which all else is peripheral." (pg 3)

God bless our pastors, elders and leaders! May we all listen and speak to others in the same way. Understanding that their life of faith is of primary importance!

"The Christian community needs theologians to keep us thinking about God and not just making random guesses." (pg 5)

And MAN do I love reading and studying the stuff the theologians come up with :)

"Scripture is God's Word to us, not human words about God. Reading Scripture as if it were the writings of various persons throughout history giving their ideas or experiences of God, is perhaps the commonest mistake that is made in reading Scripture." (pg 18)

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (2 Tim 3:16)

"The Revelation has 404 verses. In those 404 verses, there are 518 references to earlier scripture. If we are not familiar with the preceding writings, quite obviously we are not going to understand the Revelation. John has his favourite books of Scripture: Ezekiel, Daniel, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Isaiah, Exodus. But there is probably not a single canonical Old Testament book to which he doesn't make at least some allusion ." (pg 23)

Pretty sweet eh? So many references to the nation of Israel, the 12 tribes, the beasts, the tribulation and everything else that is also mentioned in the 39 books of the Old Testament.

"Prayer is the most practical thing anyone can do. It is not mystical escape, it is historical engagement. Prayer participates in God's action. God gathers our cries and our praises, our petitions and intercessions, and uses them." (pg 95)

Peterson spends a whole chapter on prayer focusing on Rev 8:3. I'll join him in saying it... Pray! Participate in God's action!

"Difficult or not, [witnessing] must be done. Successful or not, it must be done. God wills that his redemptive activity in history and among persons be known." (pg 110)

It's true! Like I've been taught: "Successful witnessing is taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God".

"And so there is a command: "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings" ( Rev 10:11). Witnessing is not an option. It is not a special assignment given to the especially articulate ." (pg 110)

Can I get an "Amen"?! As the pastor said at church this morning "All of us must preach the Word!" Each of us are ambassadors of Christ, sent into the world on his behalf to declare the truth of what He has done. May we be faithful to the calling we have received!

Why I Still Believe (Joe Boot)

2009-09-13T18:25:00.004-04:00

from an email January 7, 2007

After a couple days back at McMaster even though the school term has begun there's not much work to be done yet (although I'm probably behind in something already but such is life). I thought on this Sunday afternoon I would summarize a book I finished over the Christmas break. Probably not on my top 5 all-time list, but good none the less. It's kind of funny that the two quotes I use from Joe Boot's book aren't even quotes from him. But Joe Boot is a great man who we had come to McMaster in October and debate on the topic "Does God Exist". I really respect him and am thankful God has gifted men like him with such inquistive, theology, sound reasoning minds.

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"Shall we say then that in my early life I was conditioned to believe in God, while you were left free to your own judgment as you pleased? But this will hardly do. You know as well as I that every child is conditioned by its environment. You were as thoroughly conditioned not to believe in God as I was to believe in God. So let us not call each other names. If you want to say that belief was poured down my throat, I shall retort by saying that unbelief was poured down your throat." – Cornelius Van Til

"I will presently condemn and quit any opinion of mine, as soon as I am shown that it is contrary to any revelation of the Holy Scripture." – John Locke

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (Jim Cymbala)

2009-09-13T18:21:00.002-04:00

from an email December 12, 2006

After finishing three of my five final exams, today I decided to take a bit of a break. So I finished reading this great book by Jim Cymbala entitled "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire". (I encourage you to read it too!!!) Thank you very much Anton, Bahy and Mark for recommending it to me.

I've been convicted in recent days that I need to be praying more, and that all of us as Christians need to be more faithful in calling upon Him who is able to do abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. May we be a people devoted to prayer as we make proclaim Christ Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

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From this day on, the prayer meeting will be the barometer of our church. What happens on Tuesday night will be the gauge by which we will judge success or failure because that will be the measure by which God blesses us. (pg 27)

If we call upon the Lord, he has promised in his Word to answer, to bring the unsaved to himself, to pour out his Spirit among us. If we don't call upon the Lord, he has promised nothing – nothing at all. It's as simple as that. (pg 27)

James 4:2
You do not have, because you do not ask God.

You can tell how popular a church is by who comes on Sunday morning. You can tell how popular a pastor is by who comes on Sunday night. But you can tell how popular Jesus is by who comes to the prayer meeting. (pg 28)

If my church or your church isn't praying, we shouldn't be boasting in our orthodoxy or our Sunday morning attendance figures. (pg 51)

Does the Bible ever say anywhere from Genesis to Revelation, "My house shall be called a house of preaching"? Does it ever say "My house shall be called a house of music"? Of course not. The Bible does say, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." (Mark 11:17 )

With some exceptions we are like the church at Laodicea. In fact we have so institutionalized Laodiceanism that we think lukewarm is normal. Any church winning more than a few people to Christ is considered "outstanding". (pg 91)

Can you imagine someone handing Peter a microphone on Sunday morning and whispering, "Okay now, you've got twenty minutes. We have to get the people out of here promptly because the chariot races start at one o'clock"? Of course not!.... The same people who want sixty minute worship services rent two-hour videos and watch NFL and NHL games that run even longer. The issue is not length, but appetite. (pg 133)

Acts 1:14
These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 2:42
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 6:4
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

Romans 12:12
Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer.

Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.

Gripped by the Greatness of God (James MacDonald)

2009-09-13T18:16:00.003-04:00

from an email November 19, 2006

In "Gripped by the Greatness of God", James MacDonald summarizes his sermon series highlighting six passages in the Old Testament book of Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-7, Isaiah 40:10-26, Isaiah 43:1-21, Isaiah 45:1-13, Isaiah 55:1-13, Isaiah 58:1-11).

Here goes:

Most of all, thanks are due to our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gripped this lost soul so long ago and by His grace has never let go. (pg 9)

SO GOOD! This was how the intro ended and I knew the book was gonna be good!

God is not safe, and He will not be squeezed into some neat, respectable Sunday discussion. God in a box – with a little package of hot sauce and a toy surprise. No! To know God at all is to watch Him explode any box we put Him in with His terror, majesty, and indescribable wonder. (pg 13)

Get rid of the twisted thinking that God loves you because He saw something in you that attracted Him. That may be the way human relationships work. "God cares for me because I am a hard worker or a caring neighbour or a faithful parent." Wrong! He loves you because He chooses to. (pg 53)

It's true. What else can I say.

Man's free will and God's sovereignty are two parallel lines that meet only in the mind of our Creator, a paradox we will never fully comprehend in this life.

I liked this one too. It talks about two things I like: mathematic "parallel line" type stuff and theology :)

Isaiah 55:10-11

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

As I said one of the chapters in the book focused on Isaiah 55 and one of the quotes made on this passage was this...

God says, "Every time you open the pages of My Word and you speak My truth, I'm going to make sure it bears fruit."

James MacDonald then continued and wrote… "That's the only confidence that keeps me preaching every single week." (pg 108)

I'm going to add: "That's the only confidence that keeps me preaching it too! This promise keeps me handing out Real Life Kits Bible packages at McMaster, sharing the gospel with people (using His Word and memory verses, as much if not more than my own words), and leading Bible studies as we dig, week after week, into the unchanging truths found in the Scriptures!"

And now, the way I want to conclude this email is with one of the passages that gripped me as I read this book. May you be blessed by it as well.

Isaiah 40:10-26

10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,

and his arm rules for him.

See, his reward is with him,

and his recompense accompanies him.

11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:

He gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart;

he gently leads those that have young.

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,

or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,

or weighed the mountains on the scales

and the hills in a balance?

13 Who has understood the mind of the LORD,

or instructed him as his counselor?

14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him,

and who taught him the right way?

Who was it that taught him knowledge

or showed him the path of understanding?

15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;

they are regarded as dust on the scales;

he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,

nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.

17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;

they are regarded by him as worthless

and less than nothing.

18 To whom, then, will you compare God?

What image will you compare him to?

19 As for an idol, a craftsman casts it,

and a goldsmith overlays it with gold

and fashions silver chains for it.

20 A man too poor to present such an offering

selects wood that will not rot.

He looks for a skilled craftsman

to set up an idol that will not topple.

21 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Has it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,

and its people are like grasshoppers.

He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,

and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

23 He brings princes to naught

and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.

24 No sooner are they planted,

no sooner are they sown,

no sooner do they take root in the ground,

than he blows on them and they wither,

and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

25 "To whom will you compare me?

Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.

26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:

Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host one by one,

and calls them each by name.

Because of his great power and mighty strength,

not one of them is missing.

Blue Like Jazz (Donald Miller)

2009-09-13T18:09:00.003-04:00

from an email November 19, 2006

It's a been a while since I've sat down and typed one of these up. But a good relaxing Sunday afternoon at home is always a great opportunity to reflect on two books I've recently finished reading. One of the books I read [Blue Like Jazz] was out of curiousity (because I'd heard lots of people talk about it when it was "big" back last year). The other one [Gripped by the Greatness of God] I read as a supplement to a brief study I did through the book of Isaiah.

Here are my thoughts on Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller.

On the cover it says:

Nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality

And that's what he tries to do. It was an "interesting" book I'll say. He said some Biblically sound stuff but he said some Biblically unsound stuff too. Here's just a couple I thought I'd point out.

I started to sin about the time I turned ten. (pg 5)

No you didn't. You were sinful from the time you were conceived (Psalm 51:5)

[My friend] Andrew is the one who taught me that what I believe is not what I say I believe; what I believe is what I do. I used to say that I believe it is important to tell people about Jesus, but I never did. Andrew very kindly explained that if I do not introduce people to Jesus, then I don't believe Jesus is an important person. It doesn't matter what I say. (pg 110)

Good point eh? What we believe is really what we do. We can say we "believe in evangelism" but unless we really do it, does it matter what we believe we "should" do?

Then Donald Miller explained one of the "outreach events" he was a part of... I'll say this... it's interesting....

"We are going to confess to them. We are going to confess that, as followers of Jesus, we have not been very loving; we have been bitter, and for that we are sorry. We will apologize for the Crusades, we will apologize for televangelists, we will apologize for neglecting the poor and the lonely, we will ask them to forgive us, and we will tell them that in our selfishness, we have misrepresented Jesus on this campus. We will tell people who come into the booth that Jesus loves them." (pg 118)

Miller also mentioned some interesting things about how welcoming different churches and communities can be....

I began to attend a Unitarian church. All Souls Unitarian Church in Colorado Springs was wonderful. The people were wonderful. They freely and openly accepted everybody the church didn't seem to accept. I don't suppose they accepted fundamentalists, but neither did I at that time. I was comfortable there. Everybody was comfortable there. I did not like their flaky theology though. I did not like the way they changed words in the hymns, and I did not like the fact they ignored the Bible, but I loved them, and they really liked me. (pg 215)

Then he asks a good question...

How could I merge the culture of the Unitarian church with Christian culture and yet not abandon the truth of Scripture?

He also said this:

I wondered whether any human being could be an enemy of God. (pg 216)

To which I will reply with Romans 5:10 which says "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son" and with Philippians 3:18 "Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ." Um... so ya... unsaved human beings are enemies of God.

The last quote I'll mention leads nicely into the topic of the second book I read... I like to figure stuff out and know the answers, but this quote says it pretty plain and simple! SO GOOD!

I can no more understand the totality of God than the pancake I made for breakfast understands the complexity of me. (pg 202)

Just As I Am (Billy Graham)

2009-09-13T18:01:00.002-04:00

from an email August 31, 2006

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

I write this to you after being inspired by the life of probably the world's most well known evangelical Christian. Dr. Billy Graham's autobiography "Just As I Am", even though it may be long (weighing in at a solid 700+ pages)... it is a really good book! He explicitly says the goal in him writing it in the preface by saying:

At my age, I thought of the next generation, who might be encouraged by such a book to believe that God can do in their generation what He did in ours. (pg xiv)

May we all have faith in our unchanging God, that what He accomplished back in the past generations, He is still more than able to accomplish this year at McMaster University, across Canada and around the world!

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Something that really inspired me about Billy Graham was that from U.S. President Harry Truman in 1950 to Bill Clinton in 1997 (when the book was written) Billy Graham knew them all and was pretty much each and every president's personal pastor and spiritual guide. It challenged me to think about the ways that I (and other Christian leaders) are impacting the leaders and superiors in our lives (whether that be the McMaster Students Union Executive, the President of our university, the mayor in our city, the politicians, and even the Prime Minister).

Something else that was cool was Billy Graham's "Team". Pretty much every chapter he refers to this "Team" of 10 close people. These were men he went to for advice, who were the key leaders in all of his Crusades etc. Get this... from like 1946 til even now, this Team of his, has stuck together! Pretty cool eh?

Here's some quotes :)

Quotes on EVANGELISM:

Florida Bible Institute [where Billy Graham attended Bible College] was committed to equipping all of us for Christian witness in the world, even if not as preachers. So students were sent out regularly, both as individuals and in teams, to churches, missions, trailer parks, jails, street corners, and just about any other place that would have them. (pg 47)

The sort of school I envisioned was one from which we might send young people on fire with Jesus Christ and evangelism to the ends of the world. (pg 114)

That's the sort of school I envision too!

Quotes on PREACHING:

I knew that I loved to tell people the good news of God's salvation in Jesus Christ. On Sundays I often preached on the streets of Tampa , sometimes as many as five or six times a day.... But did I want to preach for a lifetime? I asked myself that question for the umpteenth time on one of my night time walks around the golf course. (pg 53)

And I preached. And preached. Every Saturday I went into the empty sanctuary and rehearsed aloud the sermon I would preach the next day. (pg 58)

Practice makes perfect!

Quotes on UNIVERSITIES:

It was the opportunities in 1950 at New England universities – among them, MIT, Brown, Harvard, Yale, Amherst – that touched me most deeply.... I had come to realize that there was absolutely no need to apologize for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in academic settings. The Gospel could more than hold its own. (pg 166)

AMEN!

In 1953 we received and invitation to hold an eight-day mission at Cambridge University under the auspices of the student-led Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union; it had 800 members out of the university student body of 8,000... We accepted the invitation for November 1955...One-fourth of the student body attended each evening! (pg 256, 259)

I couldn't help but thinking about this at McMaster. The Christian group had 10% of the student population (at Mac that'd be 1800 students!) and imagine one-fourth of the campus coming to an outreach event (that'd be 5000 students!)

On some campuses, we joined with Campus Crusade for Christ, which Bill and Vonette Bright founded (partly at my urging) years before.
"Billy", he told me one night in Hollywood , where he lived, "I don't know what to do with my life."
"What's your interest?" I asked him.
"Well, I'm really interested in students, and Vonette is as well."
"Well, I'd give my life to the students", I suggested.
Bill has often said that I wrote him a check for $1000 to help him and his wife get their program started. I don't remember ever having $1000 during those early years, but I will take his word for it.
In 1967 he and I spoke at UCLA and at the Berkeley campus of the University of California . With IVCF and CCC staff and students saturating the campuses, interest was high. When I spoke at UCLA, 6000 students came to one meeting, the largest gathering to hear a speaker in the school's history up to that point. Some 8000 showed up for one outdoor meeting at the Greek Theater at Berkeley. (pg 423)

Quotes about how Billy Graham KNEW WHAT HE WAS CALLED TO DO!

"I'd like to ask you, Billy, to consider acting in a film with us." I looked him straight in the eye and told him that God had called me to preach the Gospel and that I would never do anything else as long as I lived. (pg 175)

Under no circumstances am I going to run for president. A number of groups have promised support it I would run, but no amount of pressure can make me yield at any point. I've never hinted to anybody that I would run for president. If nominated I will not run; if elected I will not serve. God called me to preach. (pg 411)

This next one was just a fun quote that I thought was cool. This is how he started the chapter on his relationship with his wife, Ruth.

"Saturday nights I dedicate to prayer and study, in preparation for the Lord's day." What kind of a romance could a college man have with a woman who said a thing like that? Dating Ruth had to be creative. (pg 71)

And finally these two quotes. This first one is a challenge...

We are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear full responsibility for the next one. However, we do have our generation! God will hold us responsible at the Judgment Seat of Christ for how well we fulfilled our responsibilities and took advantage of our opportunities. (pg 565)

And this last one is a cool story about our Sovereign God who works all things according to His will, and He is patient, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance!

One night a plainly dressed woman stood in the inquiry room with tears running down her cheeks as she asked Christ to come into her life. When her counsellor asked if there was anything else she wanted to share, she replied that she was very afraid of her son. "He drinks a lot," she said, "and I'm afraid he may beat me when he finds out I've become a Christian." Before the counsellor could speak, a voice nearby called out, "It's okay, Mom. I'm here too." (pg 321)