Notes on Ministry Trip to Philippines October to November 1999

June 17, 2013 in Updates with 0 Comments

Tuesday, October 26, 1999

Overslept; didn’t get up until 5:05 a.m. I rushed, had a cold shower, and shaved. Breakfast was muffins and coffee with Paul Ellis.

Martin Scholz picked me up in his pickup van at 5:45 a.m. We picked up Kathy Lander, who is also on the ACTION Philippine Council (APC). We arrived late for the APC meeting which was supposed to start at 7:00 a.m. We began at 7:30 and finished at 9: 15 a.m. They asked me to begin with devotions and I shared from 2 Peter 1:1-12, mainly emphasizing verse 3 (information given later). The APC meeting was chaired by Forest Holden with members Daryl Germaine, Jeff Anderson, Kathy Lander, Hallie Johnson, and Martin Scholz. Excellent meeting, Di.scu;;sed various matters to be finalized by the APC and to be discussed at the International Council meetings in March. (information given later).

At 9: 15 a.m., we adjourned for special prayer of dedication of the new building. I shared two passages from the Word of God and pr9-yed, especially to thank God for the building that He has given to ACTION Philippines to enable us to assist the team as they work in the Great Harvest of ministry in Manila and throughout the Philippines. The whole ACTION Philippine team meeting nearby at a local church for a team meeting. We had a time of singing, prayer, and testimonies. I shared from the Word, the distinctives of ACTION, and had a time for questions and answers and an update of the ministries of ACTION worldwide.

Most of us then met at a local chicken restaurant where we ate to.-8ether. We went back to the office to meet with the Y2K Committee. We went over contingency plans, financial arrangements, and an update regarding preparation of the Philippine team in caring for all of their missionaries in case there are problems as a result of Y2K or other emergency situations that may arise. We had an excellent time. (I will share these notes with the team worldwide.)

The Logo Committee then met. The consensus is that we request the services of a professional evangelical Christian artist to assist in helping us design a logo. This would be several thousand dollars in other countries, but we trust we will be able to get some good samples of a fee of only $200 to $400. (These funds will come from Doug’s coffee money, Rex’s steamboat ride money, and Ingo’ s tea money!)

I had an excellent meeting with Jeff. Jeff and Mary Ann gave me a ride to the New Tribes guesthouse. I was late for dinner, so I walked down the street for a cup of coffee and some more rice and chicken. I was back at the New Tribes guesthouse at 6: 15 p.m. to fellowship with New Tribes personnel. Made phone calls to Ellises, Reeds, Landrys (I asked Ed to put together one or two boxes of samples from The Village natural paper supplies to send to the USA office with the Westminster team in two weeks).

Dictated letters, read, worked on reports, files, etc., and was in bed by 10:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 27, 1999

Mike Lacanilao, President and Director of Christian Growth Ministries (formerly Christ for Greater Manila) picked me up at 8:30 a.m. It was good to see him again. I delivered the film ordered by CGM and books which we have been given permission to print through CLAIM as a ministry of BookShare.

I gave a devotional message from 2 Peter 1-11 to the CGM team at 9:00 a.m. It was great to be with them again.

I met with Flor Jalotlot, Roseley Fomoles, and Mike Lacanilao for an hour discussing the CLAIM ministry, how BookShare could assist, obtaining permissions for titles, trusting God to purchase CLAIM sets to distribute free to needy pastors, Christian workers, and Bible school students throughout the Philippines.

Committed to trust the Lord for 300 sets of 6 books (Simply Understanding the Bible, Integrity in a World of Pretense, 99 Reasons Why No One Knows When Christ Will Return, Preaching and Preachers, The Minister’s Personal Handbook, and Sermon Outlines on pt and 1st and 2 Corinthians) at $12 per set to distribute to 300 needy pastors, Christian workers, and Bible school students in the Metro Manila area as a Christmas gift.

Pastor Mike then took me to purchase material and to a tailor to have a special Barong Tagalog made for me as a gift from CGM. We had an excellent lunch together and he dropped me off at the ACTION office by 2:45 p.m.

Met with Nelson Reed and Pine Gutierrez. We then went to the Alay Pagasa street children ministry center to meet with Jeff Anderson, Aries Reginio, and about 35 counselors and leaders preparing for the ACTION Street Family Camp next week with the Westminster team. I was asked to give a devotional to the counselors and staff in preparation for their ministry. I spoke from 2 Peter again to encourage them in their walk with God and their service to the Lord Jesus Christ by serving the extreme poor.

Returned to the ACTION office (two blocks away). Met with Jeff Anderson and Nelson Reed for one hour. Jeff and I went by jeepney to the New Tribes guesthouse on Shaw Boulevard. We arrived at about 5:30 p.m. Read and dictated letters until 8:00 p.m. Nelson picked me up for ministry on the street with the Camp Aguinaldo Evangelical Church ministry to street children. This is a ministry with the Urban Street Fellowship.

Nelson and Idrove to Cubao near Ali Mall to meet with street families. This is an area where Ron Homenuke ministered years ago. The ministry is now run by David and Becky Majam of the Camp Aguinaldo Evangelical Church. This young professional couple is in their 30s with two children and have been commissioned by their church to mainly minister to urban poor street children and families. As the group of about 30 mainly consisted of women and children, Becky did the speaking. Afterwards, David and a helper (a former street boy in his 20s and now completing his first year of Bible school) distributed food to everyone in attendance (mainly rice..” vegetables, and meat). Everyone was very attentive and appreciative. I was also asked to give a short gospel message. Something happened that was a first for me in a street meeting. Usually street children and families are quite reluctant to approach strangers. However, during the meeting a little 2~year-old boy crawled from his mother’s arms, walked through the crowd, cameover to me and held his arms up indicating that he wanted to be picked up. He was extremely small and skinny, but surprisingly fairly clean and completely unafraid. I held him for at least an hour throughout the meeting. He was very light and not difficult to hold. Aside from playing with my mustache from time to time, he simply relaxed and almost went to sleep several times even though we were right next to a very busy road.

There are many, many families on the streets of Metro Manila with at least 75,000 children among them. Jeff Anderson (ACTION Street Children Ministry Team Director) asks that we trust the Lord for at least four more couples to come with ACTION to serve in this great, needy ministry of evangelism, discipleship, and development among these needy children and families.

After visiting and ministering to a smaller group of street families mainly consisting of extremely poor and dirty men, a few children, and women. Nelson drove me back to New Tribes by 11:00 p.m. (It was good to discover that Reuben Leuthold, pastor/evangelist/ACTION friend from the USA, arrived safely. He will be here for two weeks of ministry with CGM and ACTION. He will also be speaking in the CGM pastors conference which begins tomorrow, Thursday, October 28.)

 

Unlikely Candidates for Success

June 17, 2013 in Articles with 0 Comments

by Harold Sala

Why God chooses to use some individuals who have few natural qualifications and talents and bypasses others who seem more equipped in terms of aptitude, training, and education has never ceased to amaze me.

 Download Harold Sala’s ebook Unlikely Candidates for Success here.

 

Why Are People Reluctant to Go Into Missions?

June 17, 2013 in Articles, Missions with 0 Comments

by John Piper

When I spoke at Missions in the Main Hall Sunday night, I tried to give a biblical response to possible obstacles that are in the way for some people that may keep them from moving forward toward missions. My prayer is that God would use these responses to call more of you to go. Here are eight objections and a biblical response.

1. “I am not smart enough.”

“Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21)

“Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27)


2. “My body and my personality are not strong enough.”


“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)


“[Christ] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)


3. “I am not a good speaker.”

“Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:17)

“Moses said to the Lord, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Exodus 4:10-12)


4. “I am afraid of the horrors I read about in the newspapers.”


“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore (katartisei—“mend” or “repair” your horribly disfigured body when the lions in the coliseum are through with you), confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)


5. “I am afraid I won’t be fruitful”


Your responsibility is not to be fruitful but to be faithful. “And [Jesus] said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29)

 

 

25 Principles from Mohler’s book “The Conviction to Lead (25 Principles for Leadership that Matters)

June 17, 2013 in Leadership with 0 Comments

The twenty-five principles covered in Albert Mohler’s new book, The Conviction to Lead (25 Principles for Leadership that Matters.

1. The Conviction to Lead (True Leadership Starts With a Purpose, Not a Plan)

2. Leading is Believing (The Leader Is Driven by Beliefs That Lead to Action)

3. Convictional Intelligence (The Leader Develops the Capacity to Think in Convictional Terms and Leads Followers to Do the Same)

4. Leadership is Narrative (The Leader Draws Followers Into a Story That Frames All of Life)

5. Leaders Understand Worldviews (The Leader Shapes the Worldview of Followers)

6. The Passion to Lead (Passionate Leaders Driven by Passionate Beliefs Draw Passionate Followers)

8. Leader Are Teachers (The Effective Leader Is the Master Teach Within a Learning Organization)

9. Leadership Is All About Character (Leaders Are Trusted When Their Lives Are in Alignment With Their Convictions)

10. Leadership and Credibility (Leadership Happens When Character and Competence Are Combined)

11. Leaders Are Communicators (The Leader’s Most Essential Skill Is the Ability to Communicate… Over and Over Again)

12. Leaders and Readers (When You Find a Leader, You Find a Reader, and for Good Reason)

13. The Leader and Power (The Faithful Leader Knows That Power Is Never and End in Itself)

14. Leaders are Managers (Not All Managers Are Leader, but All Leaders Are Managers

15. Leaders are Speakers (Leaders Give Voice to Conviction and Mobilize Hearts and Minds With A Message)l

16. Leadership in Stewardship (Leaders Never Lead for Themselves; They Are Stewards in Service of Another)

17. The Leader as Decision Maker (Organizations Expect Many Things From Leaders, Most of All the Trusted Ability to Decide

18. The Moral Virtues of Leadership (Leadership and Morality Are Inseparable)

19. The Leader and Media (The Medium Is Not the Message, You Are – and the Leader Must Know How to Deliver That Message

20. The Leader as Writer (The Written Word Remains One of the Most Powerful Ways to Lead, so Leaders Write)

21. The Digital Leader (Leaders Understand the Digital World – a World in Which They are Called to Lead)

22. The Leader and Time (Leaders Know That Time Is the Great Equalizer of Humanity)

23. Leadership That Endures (The Leader’s Goal Is Not Only to Last but to Endure)

24. The Leader is Death (Morality Frames the Horizon of Leadership)

25. The Leader’s Legacy (In The End, the Leader’s Goal Is to Leave a Lasting Imprint)

10 Qualities of a Gentleman

June 17, 2013 in Articles with 0 Comments

by Deborah King

“Being male is a matter of birth, being a man is a matter of age, but being a gentleman is a matter of choice.” ~Unknown

 Being male does not guarantee a boy will grow up to be a gentleman and the current self-absorbed culture is not likely to model or promote the qualities of a gentleman. It is a process for a boy to become a man and develop into a gentleman. Parents invest a great deal of time and resources to develop their son’s academic, athletic, or artistic talent, with little or no thought as to what is required for him to mature into a gentleman.

A gentleman understands that his appearance, behavior, and way of communicating provide others with valuable insight into his character. He knows that he did not acquire his true strength at the gym. Rather, he demonstrates true strength through his strong character and integrity.

The traits of a gentleman include:

  1. A gentleman is generous with his time, wisdom, and resources. He willingly serves others and extends a hand to those in need.
  2. A gentleman possesses a positive outlook on life. His humor and consistent encouragement attract others to him.
  3. A gentleman is a lifelong learner. He maintains a teachable posture and embraces change for the better.
  4. A gentleman models civility in how he treats others. He demonstrates respect, restraint, and personal responsibility in all his interactions. He is honorable, and values and respects others.
  5. A gentleman is well-mannered and knows what is appropriate. He is able to navigate various social and professional settings with ease and proficiency. He embraces all people – those from other cultures, as well as individuals from various social and economic backgrounds.
  6. A gentleman possesses a strong work ethic. He takes pride in his labor and strives to give his very best. He is trustworthy, loyal, and people speak well of him.
  7. A gentleman is confident. His posture and body language communicate a strong personal presence.
  8. A gentleman is well-dressed. He knows how to select clothing that is appropriate for any occasion and that will assist him in accomplishing his goals. He is well-groomed and practices good hygiene. He understands that his personal appearance – the way he chooses to dress, groom, and carry himself – opens doors to new opportunities.
  9. A gentleman is well-spoken and a generous listener. He knows how to effectively connect with others and communicate his message.
  10. A gentleman is known for his integrity. He is a man of his word and follows through with his commitments, whatever the cost. His actions reflect who he has chosen to be and are not based upon the opinions of others.

 Our society is a case in point for the need to embrace the understandable and, ultimately, achievable principles of being a gentleman.

The art of being a gentleman is relevant for today, and it is accessible to every man – young and old.

See more at: http://globalpecacademy.com/articles/10-qualities-of-a-gentlemen.php#sthash.GJsTMfCc.dpuf

Pray for Missionaries: Seven Topics (Suggestions, Ideas, Guidelines) for Prayer from the Apostle Paul

June 17, 2013 in Missions with 0 Comments

1.  Pray for Open Doors

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned…” (Colossians 4:2-3, nasb).

Open doors can’t be taken for granted.  Many missionaries work in difficult-access countries or in areas that are resistant to the Gospel.  But “open doors” include more than access to nations and people groups.  Individuals’ hearts also need to be opened and receptive to God’s truth.

·         Pray that God will open doors of ministry, blessing partnerships and friendships.

·         Pray that those who serve will be lead by the Holy Spirit and recognize open-door opportunities.

·         Pray that God will lead His people past the barriers to hearts prepared to receive His Word.

2.  Pray for Boldness in Witness

“…and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel…” (Ephesians 6:19, nasb).

Missionaries are regular people who fear pain and rejection as much as anyone else.  When faced with opposition, they need God’s strength to help them stand firm.

·         Pray that missionaries will have boldness to overcome the fear of embarrassment or failure.

·         Pray that the Spirit will provide them with words that communicate effectively in other cultures and languages.

·         Pray that God will thwart the opposition of evil forces so the mystery of the Gospel can be known.

3.  Pray that God’s Word Will Spread

“Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you…” (2 Thes. 3:1, nasb)

Obstacles must be removed to allow God’s Word to spread rapidly and freely.  Removing obstacles implies resolute resistance in spiritual warfare.  Just as Aaron and Hur supported Moses’ arms in the battle against the Amalekites (Exodus 17:12), you can support the weary arms of missionaries through your prayers.

·         Pray for strength and stamina as missionaries encounter antagonistic spiritual forces. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

·         Pray that Satan, who is determined to obstruct the spread of the Gospel, will be resisted. (James 4:7)

·         Pray that God’s Word will be indeed spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes.

4.  Pray for protection

“…and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith”

(2 Thessalonians 3:2, nasb).

Open doors in difficult-access countries may also open the possibility of danger and personal harm for missionaries who enter those areas.  People resistant to the Gospel sometimes express their resistance in direct and harmful ways.

Pray that God will keep the Christian workers safe from those who might seek to harm them.  

·         Pray that God will change the hearts of those who are resistant to His word and to people who share the Gospel.

5.  Pray for Their Ministry

“…that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints…” (Romans 15:31, nasb).

Cooperation and partnership are essential to ministry and vital to the progress of the work.

·         Pray that the missionary’s ministry and attitude will be worthy of acceptance.

·         Pray that colleagues and fellow believers will be supportive.

6.  Pray for God’s Guidance

“…so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God” (Romans 15:32, nasb).

Many missionaries travel frequently both nationally and internationally.  Their mode of transportation varies from country to country and often involves stressful situations.

·         Pray for clear guidance from God regarding travel decisions.

·         Pray for protection during their travels.

·         Pray for adequate provisions and permission to travel where it’s necessary.

7.  Pray for Refreshment

“…and find refreshing rest in your company” (Romans 15:32, nasb).

Missionaries deal with many of the same stresses you face in life, like overwhelming workloads, conflicts in relationships and financial uncertainties.  Often, however, missionaries struggle with these issues alone, without the fellowship and support of other Christians.  Living and working cross-culturally adds an additional element that can deplete their emotional, spiritual and physical vitality.

·         Pray that God will provide opportunities for missionaries in remote or difficult areas to spend time with other believers.

·         Pray that God will provide times of peace and relaxation to refresh His workers.

·         Pray that God will encourage missionaries with the knowledge that people back home care about them.

Partners in prayer

The apostle Paul was a missionary and a man of prayer.  He prayed for those without Christ, for the believers and for the new churches established under his ministry.

Paul also asked the believers to pray for him:  “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me…” (Romans 15:30, nasb).

 Paul knew prayer would bring results:

“…you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many…”  (2 Corinthians 1:11, nasb).

In his letters, Paul gave specific prayer requests for which believers should pray.  As a prayer partner with those who are called to go, you, too, will have an impact that can reach around the world.  Paul’s prayer requests can serve as a tool for praying with effectiveness and understanding.

King Came Preaching

June 17, 2013 in Book Quotes with 0 Comments

Book by Dr. Mervyn A. Warren, Intervarsity Press

Quotes chosen by Doug Nichols

1.  King Family, Good Family Values

Under the leadership of King the elder, Ebenezer grew from a membership of six hundred to four thousand.  Such phenomenal growth likely indicates good leadership and effective communication—qualities that King Jr. inherited.  Not only were young Martin, his sister Willie Christine (one year older) and his brother Alfred Daniel (year younger) reared in an atmosphere that promoted public speaking but public address seemed destined to become the salient source of the family’s income.

During most of the time that king Jr. led the civil rights movement, Willie Christine taught in Baptist college for girls.  Martin Jr. ministered as associate pastor with their father in Atlanta, and Alfred Daniel also pastured in Atlanta.  That the daughter should follow the occupation of the mother, Alberta King, and the sons that of the father suggests a strong influence exerted by the parents.  In any event, children of the King household were taught “to love and respect parents and elders.  The old fashioned verities of hard work, honesty, thrift, order and courtesy were adhered to faithfully.  Education was looked upon as the path to competence and culture.  The church was the path to morality and immortality.   (Page 20)

2.  King, too Tolerant

In an interview with Wainwright, King confessed to be too tolerant: “It is one of my weaknesses as a leader.  I’m too courteous and I’m not candid enough.  However, I feel that my softness has helped in one respect: People have found it easy to become reconciled around me.”

Wainwright warns, however, against misinterpreting such attitudes in King: “The impression of otherworldliness, or passivity, does not last.  However gentle King’s voice, however soft his mien, these attitudes cannot completely mask the mind behind them.  It is brilliant, one-track and tough, constantly on the move toward its single goal.”(Page 22)

3.  Emotionally Charged Worship, Not Good 

King’s revulsion against the ministry has been evoked, however, not merely by the extrinsic forms of black worship.  He was convinced that emotionally charged worship simply had little, if any, relevance to the real problems and needs of the Negro masses.  (Page 28-29)

4.  King’s Advice to the Up-and Coming Clergyman

Alexander called me yesterday just to tell me about how you swept them at Friendship Sunday.  Every way I turn people are congratulating me for you.  You see, young man, you are becoming popular.  As I told you, you must be much in prayer.  Persons like yourself are the ones the devil turns all of his forces aloes to destroy.   (Page 37)

 5.  King Later Reflected on Those Early Days

The first few weeks in the autumn of 1954 were spent formulating a program that that would be meaningful to this particular congregation.  I was anxious to change the impression in the community that Dexter was a sort of silk stocking catering only to a certain class.  Often it was referred to as the “big folks” church.”  Revolting against this idea, I was convinced that worship at its best is a social experience with people at all levels of life coming together to realize their oneness and unity under God.  Whenever the church, consciously or unconsciously, caters to one class it loses the spiritual force of the “whoever will, let him come” doctrine, and is in danger of becoming little more than a social club with a thin veneer of religiosity.   (Page 37)

6.  The New Man and The New Hour

The pulpit at Dexter will be long remembered for it having been occupied by one who led Montgomery’s monumental bus boycott, the episode that Louis Lomax views as the “first major battle” of the Negro revolt.  Ironically, Dexter is less than one hundred yards from the Alabama State Capitol, near which is 1861 Jefferson Davis, the Confederacy’s new president, was introduced with these words: “The man and the hour have met.”  In mid-1962, Montgomery and the world would witness the converging of a new man and a new hour.  (Page 38)  

 7.  King’s Adders as President of MIA

In putting together his first address as president of the MIA, on December 5, 1955, King noted a problem that would perpetually challenge his public speaking on civil rights: how could he make a presentation that would be militant enough to arouse African Americans to positive action yet moderate enough to keep this fervor within controllable and Christian bounds?  He decided to face the challenge head on by attempting to combine two apparent irreconcilables: the militant and the moderate forces.  (Page 39)

8.  Kings First Mass Meeting at MIA

Our method will be that of persuasion, not correction.  We will only say to the people, “Let your conscience be your guide.” . . . Love must be our regulating ideal.  Once again we must hear the words of Jesus echoing across the centuries: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you.”  If we fail to do this our protest will end up as a meaningless dream on the stage of history, and its memory will be shrouded with the ugly garments of shame.  In spite of the treatment that we have confronted we must not become bitter, and end up hating our white brothers.  As Booker T. Washington said, “Let no man pull so low as to make you to hate him.” . . . If you will protest courageously, and yet with dignity and Christian love, when the history books are written in the future generations, the historians will have to pause and say. “There lived a great people—a black people—who injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization.”  This is our challenge and our overwhelming responsibility.   (Page 39)

 9.  King Had Deep Inner Strength.

King was a man of deep strength.  If any one point marked the moment of conversion from a mere pastor to a minister with illimitable inner resources, it was probably the one night in 1956.  Pressured by the claim of leadership, engulfed by the omnipresent possibility of sudden death, forced to shoulder immense responsibility, King set dejected in his kitchen and told God he could go no further alone.  His heart overflowed: “I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right, but now I am afraid.  The people are looking to me for leadership, and if I stand before them without strength and courage, they too will falter.  I am at the end of my powers.  I have nothing left.  I’ve come to the point where I can’t face it alone.

What resulted from that prayer of relinquishment?  Did God answer the petitioning pastor?  “At that moment I experienced the presence of the Divine as I had never experienced Him before.  It seemed as though I could hear the quiet assurance of an inner voice saying: ‘Stand up for righteousness, stand up for truth, and God will be at your side forever.’  Almost at once my fear began to go.  My uncertainty disappeared.  I was ready to face anything.”

And face almost anything he did, including twenty-four arrests between January 26, 1956, and June 11, 1964, and a near-fatal stabbing by a deranged woman in Harlem on September 20, 1958, while he was autographing his first published book, Stride Toward Freedom.  (Page 40-41)

 10.  Black Preaching Evolved From Spiritual Necessity

History has a plethora of precedents. Take the pilgrims in 1624, fleeing from European oppression in the ardent hope of founding a nation without a king and a church without a pope.  All such remedial movements, of course, find their prototype and draw strength from an enduring spiritual paradigm, the Hebrew exodus from Egyptian bondage.  Later in faith history, hunger and thirst for a spiritual relationship that is both theocentric and anthropocentric (Godward as well as personal, existential and contemporary) was a prime reason for Jesus Christ’s seceding from Judaism and establishing Christianity.

Thus traditional Black preaching evolved from authentic spiritual necessity and justifiably assumes validity.  Given the extent to which the dominate white Christian church in American had endorsed dehumanization and violation of blacks through intrinsic and systemic racism of the “one blood” ethic of Scripture (Acts 17:26), a need for correctives became critically urgent for returning to genuine godliness and meaningful human relations.  In this spirit black preaching has served as a gentle yet stern conscience among Christians, reminding the sacred community of its past wilderness wanderings and better paths that today deserve out travel.   (Page 47)

 

Show Hospitality to Strangers

June 17, 2013 in Articles with 0 Comments

by Margaret Nichols

From Strong’s Concordance and NASB:

 Alien (1616) – stranger, foreigner, alien, pilgrim, sojourner, guest, visitor

 From the root (1481) – basic definition: “to turn aside (from the road)” for the purpose of lodging for the night, to sojourn (as a guest), to dwell (as a stranger). This root essentially means to live among people who are not one’s blood relatives. God directed the Israelites to practice the “Golden Rule” with those non-Israelites who wanted to live among them as proselytes… Because of disobedience, the Jews were exiled in Mesopotamia to sojourn there.

Job 31:32 (Job speaking), “The Alien has not lodged outside, for I have opened my doors to the travelers.”

Romans 12:13, “…contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”

 1 Timothy 3:2, “An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach…” – Qualifications of an elder.

 Hebrews 13:2, “…do not neglect to shoe hospitality to strangers…”

 1 Peter 4:9, “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”

Dear Abused, Remember Jesus …

June 17, 2013 in Articles with 0 Comments

by Paul Tautges

Dear Abused,

In your times of deepest hurt and greatest need, remember Jesus. He understands abuse like no other. He is your soul’s refuge. Remember…

Jesus was verbally abused.
At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. “HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words. – Matthew 27:38-44

Jesus was physically abused.
Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort. They dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; and they began to acclaim Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him. – Mark 15:15-19

They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified Him… – John 19:17-18

Jesus received strength by trusting God to bring justice.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. – 1 Peter 2:21-23

Jesus empathizes with your abuse and is, therefore, the perfect Savior.
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:15-16

Jesus invites you to come to Him.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

What do We Believe about the Bible?

June 17, 2013 in Articles with 0 Comments

by Bill Mounce

There are four things that followers of Jesus believe about the Bible. I don’t have time to cover them in detail, but let me mention them and I’ll give you a website where you can learn more if you want.

This is really important material. The Bible wants to become your guide, and you have to decide whether you will believe it or not.

1. Inspiration

We believe that the Bible is “inspired.” This is not the idea that the Bible is inspiring, like a good novel or comic strip depending on your reading tastes. The Bible is inspiring, but that’s not the point. The doctrine of inspiration has to do with its source. Inspiration is the belief that the Bible came from the very mouth of God, that it contains his very words. Paul is encouraging his friend Timothy to persevere in his preaching, and writes this.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV).

“Breathed out” is a helpful translation. There was not a word in the Greek language to describe what Paul wanted to say, so Paul did what Greek allows him to do — he made up a word. He took the word “God” and the word “breathed” and put them together. Scripture is God-breathed; the words came from his very mouth.

Peter says the same thing using the imagery of being “carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

“No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

2. Authority

We believe in the “authority” of the Bible. Because the words come from God’s very mouth, they carry his authority. That is the flow of logic in Paul’s verse above. Because all of Scripture is breathed out by God, it is therefore profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and for training a person in righteousness. This is how Timothy, the man of God, can be made competent, to be equipped to do his ministry.

3. Canonicity

We believe in the process of “canonicity.” This means we believe God superintended the process of the church deciding what books belong in the Bible. This process took place over 400 years, and we believe God’s Spirit made sure we got it right. The sixty-six books we have are the right ones, and all the other books that were left out deserved to be left out because God did not write them.

4. Trustworthy

We believe the Bible is “trustworthy.” This ultimately is the issue for us. Because we believe God is true, we also believe that his words are true and can be trusted. We believe the Bible we have today accurately records Jesus words and deeds, and that the later writers like Paul, and the earlier writers like Moses, got it right. And so we look to the Bible to hear God’s authoritative word delivered to us.

I am sorry to have covered these points so quickly, but it is important that you as a new follower be aware of them. If you want to learn more them, please visit the “Discipleship” link and then “Track 3,” and attend my “New Testament” class. There are 3-4 hours of my lectures on these four topics.

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