Think of all the people who have been in your life?
Who has hung in there with you for the long haul?
Some are with you when "things" are going well but fade when "things" turn bad.
Some are close when you live close but they disappear when you move away.
Some are your friend while it is useful for them but the friendship fades as they don't need you much any more.
After all the "fade outs", and moves who is left by your side? These are special people. They are truly friends. They choose to be with you (even if it is only Facebook from the other side of the world) despite your failures, mistakes and even successes. The wise one puts it this way. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17.
I find ministry in the church is also a good place to ask this question. Who is left?
Some shine brightly for a little time. They are the focus of excitement but just a few years later they are gone. There are the really clever ones who make a lot of sense with their strategy for change but after a while they are gone. If you have been around in churches for a few years you know what I am talking about.
Who is left? Who has given up or found it more convenient to (or even called to) move on. People may be gone for perfectly godly reasons. I am not questioning their motivations. I just have found it so sobering and encouraging to focus on the ones who stay for whole game and don't leave at half time.
Thank God for the ones who hang in there. They are here for you and your church. They may have been around so long that they blend into the background but don't let them. Praise them. Seek them. Allow God to use them. God has put them in your life for a reason. Love them. Above all, love them.
Reminds me of Paul's comment about Timothy, his long time partner in ministry. “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no-one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.”Philippians 2:19-22.
Reach out the ones who are left with you.
Reflections on a Weekend
Recently I participated in the Australia Christian Convention hosted by WestChurch in Sydney and it included believers from all over the Restoration Movement but mainly the Acapella Churches of Christ, Independent Christian Churches and Former International Churches of Christ.
What hit me the most was not our differences but the immensity of the similarities of our journeys. Certainly our journeys had been different but here we were standing up for the gospel of Jesus and striving to learn how better to proclaim that gospel. There were representatives from 7 church plantings currently active in the South Pacific. All quite unique in their approaches and contexts but all united in their love for Jesus and their love for people and their unswerving commitment to the truth that only Jesus provides the complete solution to the paradox of live in the 21st century. I love these brothers and sisters.
Another thing that hit me is a little bit harder to express. I know this can sound a little judgmental, so please, while reading these words, give me the benefit of the doubt. I have been working in church context for 32 years and I have noticed that there are two sorts of approaches to the work of the kingdom. There are those who seem to endlessly talk about our mission. And then there are those who not only talk about it, but actually get out there and get busy doing something about it. A lot of them fall flat on their faces but they do so while putting their lives where their mouths are. The brothers and sisters that characterized this weekend were doers. They have left family, financial security and lucrative secular careers to do what Jesus has called them to do and my admiration for them is unbounded.
I was touched deeply to an old Dire Straits song and I think it applies here.
"Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I've witnessed all your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms"
Ahh. Brothers in arms. Our brotherhood is not just built on the God who died for us but in our dedication to the mission he gave us from the foot of the cross. I so glad I have brothers in arms. They lift me up. They keep me humble. They inspire me. They stand up for me. Thank God that He gave us brothers in arms.
http://georgelittlejourney.blogspot.com/
What hit me the most was not our differences but the immensity of the similarities of our journeys. Certainly our journeys had been different but here we were standing up for the gospel of Jesus and striving to learn how better to proclaim that gospel. There were representatives from 7 church plantings currently active in the South Pacific. All quite unique in their approaches and contexts but all united in their love for Jesus and their love for people and their unswerving commitment to the truth that only Jesus provides the complete solution to the paradox of live in the 21st century. I love these brothers and sisters.
Another thing that hit me is a little bit harder to express. I know this can sound a little judgmental, so please, while reading these words, give me the benefit of the doubt. I have been working in church context for 32 years and I have noticed that there are two sorts of approaches to the work of the kingdom. There are those who seem to endlessly talk about our mission. And then there are those who not only talk about it, but actually get out there and get busy doing something about it. A lot of them fall flat on their faces but they do so while putting their lives where their mouths are. The brothers and sisters that characterized this weekend were doers. They have left family, financial security and lucrative secular careers to do what Jesus has called them to do and my admiration for them is unbounded.
I was touched deeply to an old Dire Straits song and I think it applies here.
"Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I've witnessed all your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms"
Ahh. Brothers in arms. Our brotherhood is not just built on the God who died for us but in our dedication to the mission he gave us from the foot of the cross. I so glad I have brothers in arms. They lift me up. They keep me humble. They inspire me. They stand up for me. Thank God that He gave us brothers in arms.
http://georgelittlejourney.blogspot.com/
Techno Jesus
I work for a high technology company. I work for Jesus. I use technology a lot in both of my jobs as well as in my personal life.
While I am in awe (most of the time) of the monthly advances in technology, I also am convinced that this technology is more than just ornamental gadgetry which the middle class get to play with.
On the other hand, technology is not the solution to what ails this world. The greatest lie of the past two centuries is that science will solve the world's problems. It certainly has improved the standard of living of many but people still die from starvation, wars still kill countless innocents, people still kill people, women still get raped. The list of atrocities that have been endemic in human life since there has been human life has not changed.
This doesn't mean that technology hasn't helped. I am constantly amazed at how technology has helped in patching up the human body. However, as good as it is, we still all die. It may be at an older age but are all terminal.
Yet in all this, technology can help us in the ministry of helping people. It helps particularly in the area of staying in touch. I know that in my ministry I can, and so still do, stay in touch with hundreds of people that previously I would have rarely communicated with. Email, Facebook, Twitter, Websites have all helped in this. While this is not a replacement for sitting next to someone and speaking to them and giving them a hug of encouragement, it certainly does help when either geography or time constraints prevent us from being with each other.
However, these tools of communication are only has helpful as the content that we put into them.
I can't help but feel that if Jesus were with us today He would have a Facebook page and would occasionally twitter from the mount.
Sure there are limitations with technology and there are dangers and abuses, but we have got to realize that such things are common to any attempt at communication or fellowship, even church gatherings. We just have learn how to deal with the negative side.
Paul did say, “... I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22. Let's use "all possible means".
http://www.preachergeorge.com
While I am in awe (most of the time) of the monthly advances in technology, I also am convinced that this technology is more than just ornamental gadgetry which the middle class get to play with.
On the other hand, technology is not the solution to what ails this world. The greatest lie of the past two centuries is that science will solve the world's problems. It certainly has improved the standard of living of many but people still die from starvation, wars still kill countless innocents, people still kill people, women still get raped. The list of atrocities that have been endemic in human life since there has been human life has not changed.
This doesn't mean that technology hasn't helped. I am constantly amazed at how technology has helped in patching up the human body. However, as good as it is, we still all die. It may be at an older age but are all terminal.
Yet in all this, technology can help us in the ministry of helping people. It helps particularly in the area of staying in touch. I know that in my ministry I can, and so still do, stay in touch with hundreds of people that previously I would have rarely communicated with. Email, Facebook, Twitter, Websites have all helped in this. While this is not a replacement for sitting next to someone and speaking to them and giving them a hug of encouragement, it certainly does help when either geography or time constraints prevent us from being with each other.
However, these tools of communication are only has helpful as the content that we put into them.
I can't help but feel that if Jesus were with us today He would have a Facebook page and would occasionally twitter from the mount.
Sure there are limitations with technology and there are dangers and abuses, but we have got to realize that such things are common to any attempt at communication or fellowship, even church gatherings. We just have learn how to deal with the negative side.
Paul did say, “... I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22. Let's use "all possible means".
http://www.preachergeorge.com
The Lull
Don't you just love that word, "lull"? Well, I don't. I have several character flaws but one of the more obvious ones is impatience. I don't like waiting. There I said it. I know I seem like an arrogant self important man but I really don't think I am. I hope I'm not because then this character flaw will have far too much depth.
Not being willing to waiting in line at a restaurant or a shop or at the bank is a problem but not as big a problem as not being willing to wait on God. I must admit I feel like my life is in a bit of a lull at the moment. There's that word again.
I am working hard and long as an evangelist with Northside and as a computer specialist with the fruit company but there is this deep sense I have that, even though there is a lot of activity in my life, there really isn't a lot of progress. I have never been good at judging situations so I am not confident in my analysis. There may be a lot of progress being made and I am just not aware of it.
Well all this rambling has led me to a question. What do you do in a lull? Here are some thoughts I have as I look at the second half of 2010.
I know I said all those things to the amorphous "you" but I was talking to "me" but I thought I would take it better if I thought this was for someone else first. I'm such a man. And I also write most of my blogs for therapy and this has been good for me.
What do you do in a lull?
http://georgelittlejourney.blogspot.com/
Not being willing to waiting in line at a restaurant or a shop or at the bank is a problem but not as big a problem as not being willing to wait on God. I must admit I feel like my life is in a bit of a lull at the moment. There's that word again.
I am working hard and long as an evangelist with Northside and as a computer specialist with the fruit company but there is this deep sense I have that, even though there is a lot of activity in my life, there really isn't a lot of progress. I have never been good at judging situations so I am not confident in my analysis. There may be a lot of progress being made and I am just not aware of it.
Well all this rambling has led me to a question. What do you do in a lull? Here are some thoughts I have as I look at the second half of 2010.
Accept the times. Be content in the situation has put you in. Didn't God say something about that?
Work hard at what you have before you. Just because you can't see a significant purpose in what is before you doesn't mean that God will not use it (or has already planned to use it) for His will.Love people. Whoever is in your life, love them. Don't look at them as stepping stones to success in ministry or God's purpose for you. Just love them.
Love God. Remember this whole "living on Earth thing" is about God and you. Love Him. He says this is the most important thing so who are you to argue?Pray a lot. Talk to Him who thinks about you more than anyone else.
Read His word. Seems so trite to say this but It is the things that we think are childish that often are the most important. Just read it. Don't study it, analyze it or use it as prep for a lesson. Just read it.Got off your own back. Stop beating yourself up. You can only do what you can do. Take each day one at a time. Enjoy the ride. Otherwise God will never be able to use you as you want Him to.
I know I said all those things to the amorphous "you" but I was talking to "me" but I thought I would take it better if I thought this was for someone else first. I'm such a man. And I also write most of my blogs for therapy and this has been good for me.
What do you do in a lull?
http://georgelittlejourney.blogspot.com/
What does good news look like?
Jesus calls His message for this world, good news.
As Christians we know what good news is. How do we express that? Most of us would use words like “being saved”. Now that is good news. Some would say that being justified, redeemed, added to God’s family, His church is good news. And they would be right. These words mean a lot to us and speak of the amazing gift God has given to us as we responded to His good news message.
However we didn’t always express the good news of Jesus that way. We didn’t even now how to spell “justification”, let alone spell out what it means.
When we first heard the good news we saw it as it related to us at that point in our lives. If you are a baby boomer, then you probably saw the good news in some familiar terms in relation to faith in God and faith in the Bible.
Those days are gone. We live in societies that know little of God or of the Bible. So when we speak of good news to them it looks very different to the images and ideas we have had.
If you are speaking to a person who hasn’t had a decent meal all week and you tell him you have good news, what does that look like to him? He can’t help but think of a good meal. His basic need frames his whole world for that day. Do you think that might have had something to with Jesus feeding great crowds? See Mark 6:34-44 etc.
If you are taking the good news to a person who has been discriminated against all their life, have a guess what good news looks like to them? They imagine a life where they are accepted and loved. Do you think that might have a lot to do with Jesus spending so much time with the disenfranchised of His society? See Matthew 9:10-13
Jesus often presented good news to people in terms of what the people He was speaking thought was good news.
Lost Things. To those who feel like they have lost something, or feel like they are missing something He would frame the good news with a story of someone finding something value in the ordinary run of life. See Luke 15:4-9.
Failed Relationships. For those who had lost a relationship to someone close, even family, He would tell a story of a wasteful and selfish son who returned to his father. See Like 15:11 ff.
You can seeing Jesus thinking, “What would these people think good news is?”. We spend so much time telling people of doctrinal positions and elegant frameworks of truths and what does Jesus do? He tells people stories, but not just entertaining stories. They are stories the have at the core of their message, the good news of Jesus. But why does He speak in stories? Because He doesn’t just want to state the truth, He wants to communicate it. And who determines what communicates? The speaker or the hearer? It is the hearer.
To those used the language and structure of a kingdom He presented the good news as a coming king
To those who were being ruled by an army of occupation he spoke of the kingdom being restored to Israel.
To those who were used to farming He would proclaim good news in terms of planting and harvesting.
To those who were being ruled by an army of occupation he spoke of the kingdom being restored to Israel.
To those who were used to farming He would proclaim good news in terms of planting and harvesting.
What He was actually doing was fulfilling God’s plan to bring everything together under Christ (Ephesians 1:9-10). However when He spoke of this good news He would speak in the language and aspirations of the hearers.
You and I need to look at those people that God is bringing into our lives and ask, “What does good news look like to them?”. Initially it may have nothing to do with Bible study, church or even Jesus. What will it look like?
http://georgelittlejourney.blogspot.com/
Evangelism is a Process
Think about your experience of coming to faith in Christ. If you are like most people, including our friends in the New Testament, I expect it involved a process with the following involved.
- Time
- People
- The Word
Whether you are a government official returning home, a correctional officer whose prisoners have escaped or a young man with godly parents and grandparents, there was a process in you getting saved by the death of Jesus. It may have involved a decision and an immersion into Christ but there was a lot that went on before that public event.
Evangelism isn’t just a big outreach event, or that doorknocking campaign or visitor Sunday at church. It is a process that began when God began pursuing you.
When that process hit our lives it involved a lot of time, people and His Word. Here are some of the ways that God says that this process reveals itself.
SHINING
Ephesians 2:7 “in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
Did you hear what God says His plan for you was? He planned to save you and His plan was then to use YOU (and me) to show this grace to everyone in our world through US. What is the best evidence of a good doctor? Happy healthy patients. It is the same with God. What is the best evidence of God’s grace? Sinners (read in Ephesians 3:1-4 about the true ugliness of that) living forgiven lives based on God’s grace.
God needed a great preacher to take the good news to the rest of the known world (the Gentiles). Notice how that preacher, Paul, describes his qualifications for that task. “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:16. Paul could preach (and God wanted him to preach) but His life as an expression of God’s patience and grace preached even louder and more persuasively.
Here is one of the most powerful examples that God gives of this part of the evangelism process; wives with unbelieving husbands. “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.” . 1 Peter 3:1, 2.
All this is not a reason to not speak. It is a revelation that the process of evangelism involves more than just speaking. It’s called SHINING. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.
Don’t do things to be a good example. That is just fake and unworthy of the gospel. Be a disciple of Jesus and you will shine into people’s lives. You may not have intended to shine. Just as a flower doesn’t decide to shine its beauty. It just does. It is the same with Christians who simply live for Jesus. They shine. They can’t help it. It is in their spiritual DNA
SPEAKING
As we shine we also speak. We can’t help ourselves. We are like a certain grandfather I know who won’t stop talking about (and showing photos of) His grandson. Ok, I confess, I speak of myself. No one forces me to speak. I didn’t take courses in it. I don’t have to psych myself up to do it. Speaking about Jesus is a lot like that. It is not the same, but it is a lot like it. Listen to what God says on this. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20.
You and I are representatives of Jesus. We all wear a T-shirt that says “property of Jesus”. As his ambassadors we speak for Him. Seriously. God knows what He is doing, even if it sounds like a bit of a bad idea. He asks us to speak for Him, to make His appeal through us. Personally, I would have chosen someone else, but despite my misgivings, the truth still stands. He chose us to implore the world to be reconciled to God.
He doesn’t leave us on our own. He empowers and strengthens us (Ephesians 3:16). He walks with us. He brings people into our lives (Acts 18:4).
Speaking involves many things. We, too often, think it only refers to preaching the good news or studying the Bible with someone. Yes each of us can speak the Word. “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” Acts 8:4. But before we can speak the Word we have to have someone to speak that Word to.
That’s where the Andrews of the kingdom come in. I speak of the lesser-known brother of Peter, the extraordinary preacher, who spoke to thousands. We don’t hear of Andrew speaking the Word much but we do have this small sound bite from his life in John 1:41 “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).” Andrew was an inviter. He spoke what He knew (which wasn’t much) but He did introduce Peter (Simon) to Jesus and the rest is history.
You may not be a preacher or teacher but you can be an inviter and an introducer.
BECOMING
In this process of helping others to come to a saving faith in Jesus, there is a method that Paul used that I think has been overlooked by many of us. Maybe it was because in the past our culture wasn’t that different to the kingdom of God.
However, today in the once bastions of faith in Jesus like Europe, the USA and Australia, there is an increasingly secular culture. A generation has grown up that do not value Jesus, the Bible or the God of the Bible. They don’t even understand our language when we speak of the kingdom. Our world has turned into one very similar to the first century world of Paul, Peter and the early church. How did they handle this huge chasm that existed between their culture and kingdom of God? Exactly the same way Jesus did.
Listen to Paul as he explains what He did. “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-22.
Paul, how did you reach the Jews, whose religion you had left (because it was fulfilled in Jesus). You became like a Jew. What did that look like?
Paul, what did you do to reach the Gentiles (those without the Law)? You became like a Gentile? What did that look like?
How about the weak? How did someone so strong as you become like the weak?
Now, we need to understand that Paul wasn’t trying to trick those He was trying to reach. He was seeking to identify with them. Alan Hirsch, an Australian Christian writer I highly recommend, puts it this way. When approaching those who are so different to us we need to ask the question, “What is good news to these people?”
I will write on this more in another note, but I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Keeping on shining, speaking and becoming.
http://georgelittlejourney.blogspot.com/
Taste The Difference
She insists that she can taste the difference. It made me think of that verse in 1 Peter 2:2, 3, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” Ah, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Our journey with Christ is not just one of faith. It is also one of experience. Yes, we must walk by faith, but along the way we experience God in a very real way. We taste Him and He is good.
It may sound a little silly or even a little disrespectful but here it goes. Does the Lord taste good to you? When you look back across the years of your journey with Him do you say, "This has been good. It hasn't always been an easy ride, but it He is good."
If there is an element of doubt in your heart that God is good consider the following universal truths. No interpretation or subjective views here. These are unassailable truths. Don't let Satan let one element of doubt live in the same room with you and these truths.
God loves to the extreme, shown objectively in Jesus' life and death. God has forgiven you of your sins. He has forgotten them. You may remember them but He has permanently erased them from His memo. Have you tasted that? He has added you to His family, His church, His kingdom. Have you tasted that? He has given you of His Spirit who now indwells your body with your spirit. Wow. Have you tasted that the Lord is good?
Back to my wife's original observation about peanut butter. It tastes different here. The more important question is, "Does the Lord taste the same as all the other gods (influences, people or groups) in your life?" If He does, then there is something wrong. Seriously wrong. It's like saying Kobe (LeBron, Steve Nash, etc.) is a good basketball player. Really. More like one of history's best. Jesus isn't just another person in your life. He is the Lord. He better not taste the same.
Now, back to the scripture. Now that we have tasted that He is good, what should be do? We should crave Him still more. We should crave spiritual milk (food). Don't just put in on the shopping list. Crave it. Long for it. Don't go a day without it.
Ahhh. God is so good. He's so good. He's so good to me.
http://georgelittlejourney.blogspot.com/
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