Archive - November, 2008

Missions & The Power of One Person

November 25, 2008 in Buddhism, Missions with 1 Comment

I recently read the story of a young girl who led a man to Jesus in Korea.

She prayed diligently and would not be deterred by this man’s anger and bitterness.  She wept over his soul in secret and spoke to him openly about Jesus Christ.

Eventually the one she was praying for was radically saved and has touched the lives of millions all over the world.

The young Buddhist man who was saved that day was Dr. David Yonggi Cho.

He now pastors the single largest Christian congregation in the world.  It’s membership stands at nearly 1 million people.  He has influenced many more millions for the Gospel over his more than 50 years of ministry

The story of this young girl named speaks to me on so many levels….faithfulness, eternal mindedness, perserverance, brokeness, boldness, true love, and more. 

Continue Reading…

Saying Goodbye To Mexico

November 20, 2008 in Missions with 1 Comment

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In just a couple of days, my family and I will be back on a plane headed to Louisiana.  We have had a rich time here in Mexico and have learned so much that I know we will carry with us for the rest of our careers as missionaries.  I would like to thank our home church, Freedom House, especially Pastors Troy and Penny Maxwell for making this trip happen for us.  Thank you to Victory World Church in Atlanta, Pastors Dennis and Colleen Rouse for having the vision for this type of training program and for all they do for world missions.  Thank you to Andrew and Tiffany Bucksot for the plodding that they have done over the last 13 years here in Mexico that has laid the foundation for a program like this.  Lastly, but most of all, thank you to Mike and Debra Turner who have left a large base project in Nicaragua in order to come and pour their lives and experience into us over these last 10 weeks.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank You! 

It has been said that people teach what they know, but they reproduce who they are.  We are thankful that a little bit of all of you is being reproduced in us.

Praying For Missionaries

November 18, 2008 in Missions with 1 Comment

My wife started a blog dedicated to people who are dedicated to praying for missionaries, specifically us!  But if you are wondering what missionaries may need prayer for, you should check out what she has compiled so far.  Very cool stuff and insightful. See the example below:

CLICK HERE>

“THE MISSIONARY FACES MANY FRUSTRATIONS
There is much to discourage and frustrate the missionary, such as: Continue Reading…

Mexico Outreach Pics

November 11, 2008 in Missions with 1 Comment

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I will try and catch up a little by just posting a few from a recent outreach in the State of Guerro, Mexico.n1347908255_30137892_5961mexico-outreach-08-064mexico-outreach-08-074mexico-outreach-08-057

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Preaching at Centro Christiano in Cuautla, Mexico

November 11, 2008 in Missions with 3 Comments

3019837375_c40ba195fbI had a great time preaching two services at Centro Cristiano in the city of Cuautla, Mexico this past Sunday.  The church is only a few years old, but has grown to over 600 people.  Many of them are young adults and God is moving in their lives and changing their hearts.  We spent a couple days before Sunday painting some of their new class rooms which turned out to be a huge blessing for them.

At the end of both services, their were many new decisions for Jesus and even more rededications.  Pastor Felipe was very pleased with the outcome of the day and was so grateful that we were able to bring our group to his church.  He has served the Lord for many years both in the mountains among the native tribes and in the city working with street children.  He has two sons my age who also pastor with him. 

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He and I spent time between each service talking about all of the great things God had done to make Centro Christiano Cuautla possible.  He had some great stories!  Since he knew that I would be going to Thailand to plant churches, he decided to give me a gift from his heart.  From his shelf, he grabbed two unique rocks from the mountain where he had planted 200 cell groups/ “churches.”  He wanted me to remember him and to remember our connection in church planting.  I once again remembered that God is advancing His kingdom all over the world through people just like Pastor Felipe, unknown to man, but known to God!  What a blessing to be able to preach here.  Thanks FHC for letting me be here in this season of life.  You have come with us!

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Praying For Our New President: Barack Obama

November 5, 2008 in Commentary with 7 Comments

As Christians, despite how we feel, we all have the same responsibility now: to pray for our new President.

Let me leave you with a few quotes to ponder:

Daniel 2:21 “And (God) changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings:…”

1 Timothy 2:1,2 — Prayer and thanksgiving should be made for kings and all in authority.

One of the strongest forces a Christian has for the good of his country is the power of prayer. We should pray that government will not hinder our service to God, but that we may serve God in peace, however and wherever he calls us to serve Him.

I still believe that, though democracy is far from a perfect form of government, it is the better than any other alternatives of man. 

Congrats to Obama even though I don’t agree with alot of what he stands for.  He ran hard fought campaign and won a historic election. 

President Obama, you’ve got your work cut out for you when you take the reigns of power in January.  May God give you wisdom and sound, even Godly, counselors.  And lastly, may people not disrespect you in office in the ungodly ways they disrespected President Bush before you.

13 Year Old Girl Stoned To Death In Somalia

November 2, 2008 in Missions with 1 Comment

Just ran across this article about a 13 year old girl in Somalia who was just recently stoned to death for “adultery.”  The reality is that she was raped by three grown men, but I assume that Islamic militants convinced the 1000 people who watched her execution that she brought it upon herself, thereby becoming an adulteress. 

Every time I read articles like this, and I have casually gathered many over the last two years, it solidifies my world view that that the “faith” involved here is a complete and utter manifestation of wickedness.  When it manifests throughout the world, it is violent to the core. 

It seems to me that if a country like Somalia claims Islam (it is 99.95% Muslim), then whatever comes out of that country would represent, at least in some small measure, the faith that it claims.  Somalia is known as the most “lawless country of the world.”  With horrible events like this happening, then it’s obvious to me that it continues to do itself, and the Islamic “religion”, no favors in the watching eyes of the world.

I leave those reading this with a quote from the book of James, “I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and tremble.”

Read the full article HERE. and HERE.  I chose both Fox News and Aljazeera for Fair and Balanced Reporting, so I don’t have to hear from the Muslims who may dimiss this story as mere Western propaganda against Islam.

For All the Christians: Pray for Somalia that it would no longer be known as a pit of hell and the “most lawless country on Earth” as the Gospel of the Prince of Peace takes hold and prospers there.  Pray for the Christians that have been driven underground by this type of violence that they would shine as lights in this darkness as they hold out the Word of Life for the people of their country.

Cutting Through the “Emergent” Church Fog

November 1, 2008 in Commentary with 3 Comments

Where is this road taking us?

Where is this road taking us?

Some of you out there have been faithfully following the conversation going on for a few years now about Christians who claim to be ”emerging”, “emergent”, or “missional”. Others don’t know what the heck I’m talking about, and still others are just plain ole confused.  If you want in on the “conversation” then feel free to stick around and read on…

Be forewarned: this is a longer post! This vein has been going through my mind for awhile now and I have been trying to find a solid position and understanding on these things.  In the end, you will see how all of this relates to missions in my mind.  

I think I’m getting to understand now thanks to Mark Driscoll’s recent message given at Convergence Conference in Raleigh, NC. If you can, you should listen to the whole “Convergence” message. It brings out more than I can or care to talk about on this post.  LISTEN HERE.  He also talks about it HERE.   Continue Reading…