"I will do as much as I can,' says one. Any fool can do that. He that believes in Christ does what he can not do, attempts the impossible and performs it........The unoccupied fields of the world await those who are willing to be lonely for the sake of Christ."
Samuel Zwemer
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Nails & Ear Plugs
Was reading an interesting Passage in the NT this week. The Transfiguration of Jesus in Luke 9:28-36
As I read along, we see Jesus praying, the three men sleeping, and Jesus begins to glow in bright white light. Then two ancient men appear with Jesus, Moses & Elijah, and they begin a conversation.
Peter and the others wake up to this scene. As the Men were leaving Peter shouts out, "Master, it's wonderful for us to be here! Let's make three Shelters (other trans- Alters or Tabernacles) as memorials."
Is that not the OT way? Set up a memorial, set up and alter, set up a tabernacle dwelling. Peter has a long history of such things in his Jewish history.Or modern church goes right back into the OT for our church building vocabulary. It is there we find, sanctuaries, alters, clergy, and of course the Tithes to support all of this. None of which we see in the New Testament. In the NT we see the people of God as the building, and the Alter as our hearts and mind, and priestly duty open to all, as we minister by loving God and loving our Neighbor.
Build a Tabernacle is what the Greeks says Peter said.
However, God breaks in. God speaks, saying, "This is my son, my chosen one. Listen to him."
Building alters, and tabernacles is not the main thing. Listening to Him is the thing. Could it be that God is starting to have Peter and the boys realize the temple days are over, the sanctuaries and dwellings are no longer needed to be built by human hands. The simple, but amazing truth is that the church stands where there are people who "Listen to Him". There the kingdom has been born.
Build church buildings if you like. I'm not into Right and wrong language on this stuff. It can all be good. My energy will be precisely directed to serve and influence people who "Listen to Him".
The Statistics, if they are correct, show me that my church, the ones I've lead and been apart of, unfortunately, at times, are not doing much of that.
As I read along, we see Jesus praying, the three men sleeping, and Jesus begins to glow in bright white light. Then two ancient men appear with Jesus, Moses & Elijah, and they begin a conversation.
Peter and the others wake up to this scene. As the Men were leaving Peter shouts out, "Master, it's wonderful for us to be here! Let's make three Shelters (other trans- Alters or Tabernacles) as memorials."
Is that not the OT way? Set up a memorial, set up and alter, set up a tabernacle dwelling. Peter has a long history of such things in his Jewish history.Or modern church goes right back into the OT for our church building vocabulary. It is there we find, sanctuaries, alters, clergy, and of course the Tithes to support all of this. None of which we see in the New Testament. In the NT we see the people of God as the building, and the Alter as our hearts and mind, and priestly duty open to all, as we minister by loving God and loving our Neighbor.
Build a Tabernacle is what the Greeks says Peter said.
However, God breaks in. God speaks, saying, "This is my son, my chosen one. Listen to him."
Building alters, and tabernacles is not the main thing. Listening to Him is the thing. Could it be that God is starting to have Peter and the boys realize the temple days are over, the sanctuaries and dwellings are no longer needed to be built by human hands. The simple, but amazing truth is that the church stands where there are people who "Listen to Him". There the kingdom has been born.
Build church buildings if you like. I'm not into Right and wrong language on this stuff. It can all be good. My energy will be precisely directed to serve and influence people who "Listen to Him".
The Statistics, if they are correct, show me that my church, the ones I've lead and been apart of, unfortunately, at times, are not doing much of that.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Placating the Lukewarm??????
"...when i looked at how church ministry operated, i saw how high a priority it places on safety and routine. At the cost of distracting people from personal intimacy with Jesus, it clings to the status quo.
it placates the lukewarm and cools the zealous."
(The Naked Church. Wayne Jacobsen. Life stream, 1998, pg 12)
Friday, October 21, 2011
Where War and Peace Begin.
"Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed."
UNESCO Motto
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Why We Will Not Move?
"Selfishness is the enemy of 'Leaving'.
Fear is the enemy of 'Living Among'.
Arrogance is the enemy of 'Listening'.
Expectations are the enemy of 'Loving'."
Hugh Halter Tangible Kingdom
AJR The Roaming Nomad
Monday, October 17, 2011
Stripping Away The Fluff!
Quote by a fellow international worker who like us, work where no one else will. This really resonated today.
"The further you go into the devils territory, the more radical you become, because all the fluff is stripped away.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
We Want Mercy, But No Mission!
"In the process we have unnecessarily (and unbiblically) drawn a line of distinction, assigning the obligations of Christianity to a few while keeping the privileges of Christianity for us all. In this way we choose to send off other people to carry out the global purpose of Christianity while the rest of us sit back because we're "just not called to that."
(Radical, David Platt, kindle line 1036)
(Radical, David Platt, kindle line 1036)
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Why, How To Do Mission
"There is not only a Spirit of truth but also a spirit of falsehood, who is able to delude, drug, bewitch & Even blind people" John Stott
"Misssional at its essence means sent. It's the antithesis of trying to attract them to us, our programs, our buildings.." Hugh Halter in Tangible Kingdom
"Risk more than others think is safe.
Care more than others think is wise.
Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible "
Cadet Maxim West Point Military Academy
"Misssional at its essence means sent. It's the antithesis of trying to attract them to us, our programs, our buildings.." Hugh Halter in Tangible Kingdom
"Risk more than others think is safe.
Care more than others think is wise.
Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible "
Cadet Maxim West Point Military Academy
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