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Archive for the ‘Missions’ Category

One Little Candle

Posted in Community, Formation, Hope, Missions on September 6, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 

There are some candles in my study.  Every once in a while, I will be in a more contemplative mood and I’ll light the candles and turn off the overhead light just to create a different environment in which to focus.

Have you ever noticed what happens if you light a candle in a lighted room?  The effect is minimal.  I mean, you notice the candle but as far as it making a difference in the environment, you really can’t see much change.  But, when you turn off the lights, now all of the sudden, even one little candle is a game changer.  It creates much more light than you noticed before.  In fact, while the light may not be as bright, it still illuminates the whole room.

In a very dark world lacking hope and peace and joy – we are called to be that candle.  When we gather our little light in church, we are surrounded by a lot of other lights so the effects, while important, are minimal.  But, when we take our little light into the dark world, we can make a huge difference.

Be that light in someone else’s life today.

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A Challenge From Phil Collins and Genesis

Posted in Hope, Missions on August 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »

I received a letter last week asking me to consider subscribing to satellite radio.  The vehicle came with it but I am too cheap to renew the subscription.  But the letter also said that there would be a free week, beginning August 29, to try and tempt me into renewing.

So this morning I had it programed in to listen to my favorite 80’s channel.  Yes, if you are new to my ramblings, I am a music nut – all kinds of music (OK, maybe not much on the country side).  But my biggest passion in music outside of worship music is classic rock and anything from the 80’s.

At any rate, as I drove to work, I had 80’s on 8 playing loud.  A song came on from Genesis – Land of Confusion.  The lyrics of the song are pretty powerful if you pay attention.  Now I don’t know Phil Collins personally and certainly don’t know his spiritual leanings, but I can tell you that the church could take note of what he sings about in this song.

Here is what the chorus says:

Too many men
There’s too many people
Making too many problems
And not much love to go round
Can’t you see
This is a land of confusion.

Now this is the world we live in
And these are the hands we’re given
Use them and let’s start trying
To make it a place worth fighting for.

That hit home for me.  I believe it is time (past time actually) for Jesus followers to stand up and make a difference in the lives of the people in our communities.

It’s time!

One of the verses in the same song says this:

My generation will put it right
We’re not just making promises
That we know, we’ll never keep.

Is this the generation that will make a difference?  Are we the people that will allow ourselves to be transformed by God and will allow God to use us to transform our world?

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Where Do You Rub Elbows?

Posted in Community, Hope, Missions on July 10, 2012| Leave a Comment »

One my readings today came from the Gospel of Matthew.  It is a story of Jesus healing a man who could not speak.  While this is a moving story of Jesus’ compassion and healing power, what caught my attention even more was what was relayed after the telling of the healing account.

Here is what Matthew says in chapter 9 verses 35 and 36:

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus was among the people and when he saw the crowds he realized they were lost – like sheep wandering around aimlessly without a shepherd.  He had compassion on them and caused his disciples to take notice of just how much work there was to do to show God’s love and hope to all the people.

I would say that the need for God’s hope and love is just as real today.  The problem is, we tend to insulate ourselves from it.  We associate where we are comfortable.  We don’t venture too far off the safe path.  We don’t concern ourselves with the needs of others – not because we are bad people – but because we just don’t see it – or we choose not to see it.

I believe God has called us as followers in The Way to be salt and light to a tasteless and dark world.  But what good is a light if it is not carried into the darkness?

I challenge you today to venture out just a bit into the darkness.  Rub elbows just a little with those who don’t normally fit into your crowd.  And see what God might do – maybe not in the lives of those you meet but rather in your own heart.

Be a blessing today.

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What Do You Say To a Group of Missionaries?

Posted in Community, Missions, Motivational on May 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Tonight I have the opportunity to address the group of students, doctors and nurses and sponsors who are on the mission trip to El Paso.

What do you say to a group of folks who have taken a week of their time to travel hours from their homes in order to minister to people they have never met?  Do you say “thanks?”  Honestly, I don’t think any of them are looking for a thank you for what they are doing – certainly not from me.

Do you tell them that what they are doing is dabbling in the eternal?  That what they are doing will have forever implications and impact?  Yes, I should probably say that.  That sounds good.

But what I am drawn to say is less altruistic – almost selfish and self-serving.  But I have thought and prayed about this for a long time.  What I am compelled to tell them is that what they are doing may just have more impact on them than any impact they may be making in the life of another person.

There is no denying that a result of a trip like this is a renewed passion for Jesus – a boost to our commitment.  Some might even call it a “spiritual high.”  And if the motivation for making a trip like this is all about what you will get out of it – well then, that just seems wrong.

But here is the reality.  Yes, we will meet people and we will impact their lives for a day – and hopefully, that impact will have everlasting results to their reality.  But at the end of the week, we are leaving – heading back to our reality.  We will remember the good things we have done for a time but what difference will it really make?

Here is the difference.  Getting out of our comfort zones and serving is part of disciple making. It plays a huge part in our becoming.  As believers, we are called to be disciples – apprentices.  A large part of that process is selflessly serving others.

So what do I communicate to the group tonight?  I tell them that what they are doing has kingdom impact both in the lives of others and in their own lives.  It is part of what it means to be an authentic Jesus follower.

Yeah, that is what I will tell them.

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God Is Already At Work

Posted in Community, Hope, Missions on May 15, 2012| 1 Comment »

I am always reminded when I have the opportunity to participate in a mission trip, that God is already at work long before we show up.  I remember when I did my first trip like this fifteen years ago or so.  I went with the attitude that I had something to give and the people I would see may not know it yet but they needed what I had to offer.  In many respects, that is not a total fallacy.

I had hope and love that I could offer through my relationship with Jesus that everyone needs.  But the reality was, and is still today, God is at work whether I show up or not.  God did not call us to go and be the salvation to a group of less fortunate people.  But we are instructed to go and share our story.  Go and share God’s love.  Go and offer hope.

You see, when we go and offer our time to minister to others, we are not the salvation they need.  We are simply the messengers of the one who is that salvation and that hope.

God is at work all around us – we just have to see it and plug in.

Be a blessing today.

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Stethoscopes and Roofing Nails

Posted in Church, Community, Missions on May 14, 2012| Leave a Comment »

What do stethoscopes, roofing nails, Bibles, drywall and a dentist chair have in common?

Give up?  The annual Baptist Student Ministry from South Plains College mission trip to El Paso.  This week, about 100 college students, doctors, dentists and others will join forces to offer free clinics, do minor construction and share the love and hope of Jesus to the people of the El Paso area.

I need your help.  I would like you to commit to pray for the folks on this trip.  Petition that God would give us all the energy and passion to be Jesus to each and every person we meet.  Sometimes that is challenging – like when the shingles don’t show up on time and all the students are standing around with nothing to do.  Or like when you come face to face with the horrible conditions some people live in and you realize that what you are doing, while it is meaningful, isn’t really making much of a dent in what is going on.

Pray that God will be obvious and people will see the hope that is offered through a relationship with Jesus.

We may have 100 people here, but we need hundreds more all over the world praying for what God is doing.

Be blessed today!  And thanks for your prayer!

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Go Make a Difference

Posted in Church, Community, Hope, Missions on March 8, 2012| Leave a Comment »

If you read the headlines today, you will see things like “nuclear armament,” “solar storm,” and “severe drought.”  It would be easy to pick up a paper or surf the web this morning and become very overwhelmed with all the problems we face.

Personally you have a lot on your plate – activities with the family, more work than you can do, church activities, civic duties and somewhere in there finding time to take care of yourself.

Then add to that all the need you see around you.  It would be possible to spend every waking minute caring for others who are struggling if that is what we chose to do.  We sit in the midst of one of the worst recessions of our lifetime.  People’s lives have been destroyed as a result.  And people are running scared.

It is easy to become overwhelmed with life.

The typical response when we feel overwhelmed is to retreat.  We desire to get away from the pain.  We resolve that things are just too bad – too hard – there is nothing that can be done.  And so that is what we do – nothing.  We allow ourselves to be pushed into indifference.

But today, I want to remind us that God is still on the throne and still in control.

Today, you might not be able to change the world but you can impact your little corner.  It is a choice.  It is a commitment.  It is what it means to be salt and light.

Go be make a difference today.

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How Will They Know?

Posted in Community, Hope, Missions on February 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »

As believers, we should understand that we have something that others are missing.  That should not make us proud – it doesn’t make us better than anyone else.  In fact, it makes us obligated.

We are obligated to share what we know.  We are mandated to spread love and truth and hope everywhere we go.

Paul wrote to us in Romans about this very fact.  He asked how anyone would know about Jesus unless we tell them.  You can read it here.

The question I have for you today is a little more personal.  Could the person standing behind you at the store today tell that you are a believer?

Something to think about.

Be a blessing today.

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Service in the Midst of Threats

Posted in Leadership, Missions on August 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I had a unique opportunity last night.  As many of you who read my ramblings on a regular basis may know by now, I am involved fairly heavily in mission efforts to the El Paso, Texas area.  In the past, before the violence became so severe in Juarez, Mexico, I led groups into Mexico as well.  So I have a heart for the people of this area.

I traveled to El Paso on Sunday to meet with some area pastors and have the blessing of getting to give the tour to our new area missionary at home.  It was an incredible day of hearing what God is doing in and through several churches here in El Paso and the surrounding area and how, even now, some of these churches are still involved in ministry in Juarez.

Our final meeting of the day was with a pastor named José.  He lives and serves in Juarez, Mexico.  It has been some time since I have actually had the opportunity to sit across the table from someone on the front lines in the way that José is on a daily basis.  Over three thousand people were killed in Juarez last year due to the drug wars.  Pastors and churches are threatened weekly.  The threats normally take the shape of extortion.  Pastors are told that they must pay “security” money or their families will be killed.  Some of these men have left their churches but most have stayed.

I cannot imagine living in that environment.  I would hope that my trust in God would give me strength to carry out my calling, but I have admit that the desire to flee the area would be heavy on my mind most of the time.

José told us stories of how God is at work and that he has chosen to stay and serve in Juarez.  God is at work through José and others who minister to the people of Juarez on a daily basis.

As I have reflected on meeting with José, I have two challenges for you (and me) today.  The first is simple.  Please make it a priority to pray for Mexico and the pastors who are there offering ministry to the people who need it most.  The second challenge is harder.  Take some time today to examine your own walk.  How faithful would you be if your life was threatened simply for following Jesus?  Commit yourself today to living in faith and boldly sharing God’s love with those you meet.

Be a blessing today!

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Make It Count

Posted in Hope, Missions, Motivational on June 20, 2011| Leave a Comment »

It’s Monday and we have the whole week ahead of us!  What will you do with this week?  What will you do with this day?  Everyday is a blessing – a gift from God.  We are not guaranteed a tomorrow but as followers of the Way, we are guaranteed that God will always be with us.  We don’t know if there will be a tomorrow, but there is a now.  As believers we should strive to make the most of the time we have – not for our own satisfaction but for God’s glory.

So ask yourself this question today:  What would I do to make a difference in someone else’s life  if I knew God would be right beside me to help me, to guide me and make my efforts successful?  

Now, put your faith in the Father of all life and go do it!

Be a blessing today and make it count!

 

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