Extreme Faith in a Time of Extreme Persecution:
Last night I was reading through my The Voice of the Martyrs magazine. This issue was all about the ministers of the gospel in Vietnam. It was entitled "Pastors on the Run". If you don't read Voice of the Martyrs trust me it's worth picking up. So, this article was all about the different people who are sharing the gospel message with the Vietnamese people even though the police continue to arrest them, fine them, and beat them. One article that really caught my eye was about a minister and his wife who were conducting a church service in a ladies home when the police came in arrest them and continued to beat them. At one point the article mentioned that they beat the ministers wife so bad that she was unconscious for quite a while.
Then this morning I get to the office and read Ester chapter 3 and was reminded of how Modecai stood up to Haman and would not bow down to him. Haman goes out and get's the king to issue a decree that Haman and his mob would go out and kill all the Jewish people and take their land. In the face of what Mordecai knew could happen for not obeying one of the kings top officials he remained faithful to his God and refused to bow down to Haman.
Maybe this is the Old Testament picture of what we see happening in so many different countries where people are not free to worship and to hear the gospel message. As I looked through picture after picture of different people being beaten and arrested in Vietnam I couldn't help but wonder and pray that God would give me that much faith. Maybe today you and I need to take a hard look at our faith and who we are and ask ourselves if we are willing to be faithful unto death so we might receive the crown of life?
As I finish I thought of this old hymn and I know we don't use hymnals that much if any anymore but I believe that there are some very powerful hymns with great meaning as well as some of the praise choruses that we sing today.
"Stand up, stand up for Jesus, The strife will not be long; This day the noise of battle, The next, the victor's song: To Him that overcometh, A crown of life shall be: He with the King of glory shall reign eternally."
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Where Your Money is ther your heart will be also.
Let me first say that I am no expert on money, as you will see very shortly. Money is a very tricky thing, it seems as if the more money that you have the more money that you want. I really don't understand this concept which is maybe why I can never save any money. As a leader in the Church I don't look at this as a good trait to have, Lord knows if I could figure out how to get my finances on track I believe that my life would be a lot less stressful.
Why is it that we feel that we must get up in the morning and put on expensive clothing, to walk out of our huge homes, to get in our fancy car, to drive to Starbucks and pay five dollars for a ten-cent cup of coffee, to work at who knows what job, to get back into our fancy car and stop by Starbucks to have something to drink on the way home, to come home and relax in front of our 52" flat screen LCD TV, which is hooked up to the cable with every channel imaginable, and even if we missed something during the day we could probably find it on our DVR. If that was not enough entertainment then we could listen to our XM radio, or play Xbox Live because we all know that we can't have a home that does not have high speed internet access. Oh, did I mention that if one person in the family is doing this in the living room that I'm sure everyone else could probably just go to another room in the house and do those same things if not more.
Please do not take this the wrong way, most of what was mentioned above is from my very own home. The point is this, that with all that we have sometimes we feel as if we are poorest people on the planet because we don't have some of the same things that other people have. At no point did God say that the things listed above were necessary for life. I read the first two chapters of Esther this morning and couldn't help but to see how the Queen at first had it all they had this huge celebration going on and people were eating and drinking and have a great time. But if you will remember it wasn't but a couple of days from which the queen was gone and Esther was in enjoying that lifestyle. I've seen this exact same thing happen in my life over and over again. Just when I believe that I have arrived and have everything that I could ask for or imagine it gets taken away because God is keeping my humble, and due to poor choices I have made in the past. This also goes the other way thankfully, that when I believe that I can't make another payment or pay for anything else, God provides just what I need and often times a little extra.
My advice for today keep your head up and keep working hard, because who knows you may just be sitting and eating with the KING tomorrow.
Why is it that we feel that we must get up in the morning and put on expensive clothing, to walk out of our huge homes, to get in our fancy car, to drive to Starbucks and pay five dollars for a ten-cent cup of coffee, to work at who knows what job, to get back into our fancy car and stop by Starbucks to have something to drink on the way home, to come home and relax in front of our 52" flat screen LCD TV, which is hooked up to the cable with every channel imaginable, and even if we missed something during the day we could probably find it on our DVR. If that was not enough entertainment then we could listen to our XM radio, or play Xbox Live because we all know that we can't have a home that does not have high speed internet access. Oh, did I mention that if one person in the family is doing this in the living room that I'm sure everyone else could probably just go to another room in the house and do those same things if not more.
Please do not take this the wrong way, most of what was mentioned above is from my very own home. The point is this, that with all that we have sometimes we feel as if we are poorest people on the planet because we don't have some of the same things that other people have. At no point did God say that the things listed above were necessary for life. I read the first two chapters of Esther this morning and couldn't help but to see how the Queen at first had it all they had this huge celebration going on and people were eating and drinking and have a great time. But if you will remember it wasn't but a couple of days from which the queen was gone and Esther was in enjoying that lifestyle. I've seen this exact same thing happen in my life over and over again. Just when I believe that I have arrived and have everything that I could ask for or imagine it gets taken away because God is keeping my humble, and due to poor choices I have made in the past. This also goes the other way thankfully, that when I believe that I can't make another payment or pay for anything else, God provides just what I need and often times a little extra.
My advice for today keep your head up and keep working hard, because who knows you may just be sitting and eating with the KING tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Right or Wrong??????
1 John 1:5-2:2
Over the next several days I'm going to read through first, second, and third John.
What an amazing passage today. John gives us this picture that says that if you are affiliated with the light how can we continue to practice in spiritual darkness.
1 John 1:6&7(NLT)--"So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin."
It's very funny that in a world where we continue to push the limits on everything, John is very clear on his message that there is definitely a right and a wrong. John says that we cannot continue to practice spiritual darkness and claim to walk in the light it just cannot be. The disheartening part of this passage is verse 10--"If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." You and I already knew that we were guilty of sin or at least I hope that you did. John makes it very clear that (Romans 3:23 "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.") The great part is 1 John 2:2--"He himself (Jesus) is the sacrifice that atones for our sins--and not only our sins but the sins of all the world." What a powerful message to realize that we have fallen short of God but that because of Jesus you and I are able to walk into the light with confidence. I'm joyful because I can read this next verse that I'm going to share with you but that this is also my thankful prayer to God today.
Romans 5:21--"So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Over the next several days I'm going to read through first, second, and third John.
What an amazing passage today. John gives us this picture that says that if you are affiliated with the light how can we continue to practice in spiritual darkness.
1 John 1:6&7(NLT)--"So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin."
It's very funny that in a world where we continue to push the limits on everything, John is very clear on his message that there is definitely a right and a wrong. John says that we cannot continue to practice spiritual darkness and claim to walk in the light it just cannot be. The disheartening part of this passage is verse 10--"If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." You and I already knew that we were guilty of sin or at least I hope that you did. John makes it very clear that (Romans 3:23 "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.") The great part is 1 John 2:2--"He himself (Jesus) is the sacrifice that atones for our sins--and not only our sins but the sins of all the world." What a powerful message to realize that we have fallen short of God but that because of Jesus you and I are able to walk into the light with confidence. I'm joyful because I can read this next verse that I'm going to share with you but that this is also my thankful prayer to God today.
Romans 5:21--"So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Freedom to Worship
Okay, I know it's been a long time since I was able to update this but I sent the kids back to school today and have a little extra free time to keep up with this, so I hope that you will begin to read, enjoy, and be challenged. I will start making videos again tomorrow but today you will actually have to read, I know this is disappointing but stick with me I will make it easier.
I have been reading a lot of stuff from "The Voice of the Martyrs" website and their magazine. I must say that it has had a tremendous impact on me to this point. This month they are featuring an article "CHINA: Can't Block the TRUTH" by Dr. Tom White. He goes through to explain how some of the Christians were meeting in homes and the Public Security Bureau (who is in charge of making sure there is no christian worship) found a home where Christians were gathered and worshiping. Dr. Tom White notes that usually they are not able to report stuff like this but the Chinese government was more than happy to post on their government website that they had found these worshipers and arrested the two people who lived at the house along with destroying all of the literature that had to do with Christ.
I wish that I could post the picture that was in the magazine but it is not online and I don't have a scanner, but let me try to explain it for you. Five Chinese people have escaped away into the country side dug a pit that is ankle deep and brought water in to fill the trench in order to baptize a young lady.
My first thought is it's amazing to see the lengths people go to in oppressed nation to be baptized, and in America? People will argue about the necessity of baptism.
My second thought is we Americans take our freedom way to lightly. We don't have to sneak around from house to house to worship, we have the freedom to worship any day and any time we want to, without the fear of being arrested and killed for our faith. Yet on any given Sunday there are always seats empty while others are literally dieing to hear the same message that some of us decided that we didn't need to hear this week because something more important was going on.
Sorry, I will get off my soap box. Reading some of this stuff has really given me a whole new perspective. Maybe today thank God for the freedom you have to worship and ask forgiveness for the wasted opportunities that you have let pass by, it was a huge eye opener to ME!!
I have been reading a lot of stuff from "The Voice of the Martyrs" website and their magazine. I must say that it has had a tremendous impact on me to this point. This month they are featuring an article "CHINA: Can't Block the TRUTH" by Dr. Tom White. He goes through to explain how some of the Christians were meeting in homes and the Public Security Bureau (who is in charge of making sure there is no christian worship) found a home where Christians were gathered and worshiping. Dr. Tom White notes that usually they are not able to report stuff like this but the Chinese government was more than happy to post on their government website that they had found these worshipers and arrested the two people who lived at the house along with destroying all of the literature that had to do with Christ.
I wish that I could post the picture that was in the magazine but it is not online and I don't have a scanner, but let me try to explain it for you. Five Chinese people have escaped away into the country side dug a pit that is ankle deep and brought water in to fill the trench in order to baptize a young lady.
My first thought is it's amazing to see the lengths people go to in oppressed nation to be baptized, and in America? People will argue about the necessity of baptism.
My second thought is we Americans take our freedom way to lightly. We don't have to sneak around from house to house to worship, we have the freedom to worship any day and any time we want to, without the fear of being arrested and killed for our faith. Yet on any given Sunday there are always seats empty while others are literally dieing to hear the same message that some of us decided that we didn't need to hear this week because something more important was going on.
Sorry, I will get off my soap box. Reading some of this stuff has really given me a whole new perspective. Maybe today thank God for the freedom you have to worship and ask forgiveness for the wasted opportunities that you have let pass by, it was a huge eye opener to ME!!
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