Are you a Blessing?

It blesses God when we yield ourselves to him as vessels for his purposes. For example, in woodworking when you use the right tool for a job it gives you a unique satisfaction in using the tool that does it best. It reminds me of Tim "the tool-man" Taylor grunting in approval over the perfect tool for the job.

Each one of us are tools in God's toolbox. He has tasks he desires to accomplish on earth that are best done through human instruments. Though he has many tools he could use, there are certain tools that are better than others for each job.

God has designed us with a special purpose, as a special tool for a special job. He has uniquely gifted us with talents, passions and spiritual gifts to best fulfill his purpose for our life. No one else has ever been or will be designed and created quite like you! God wants to help us experience the thrill and satisfaction of finding that perfect niche that has been design specifically for each of us.

Colossians 3:23 explains what being faithful means: "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men" (NKJV).

Whether we are caring for our elderly parent, making widgets at the factory, or driving the church van, or spending quality time with our children, we are to do it heartily as we would for the Lord Himself.

Having a "kingdom mindset" will greatly help us in being faithful from day to day. A person with the kingdom mindset sees themselves as God's servant and is aware that they are under his authority at all times. Jesus illustrated the kingdom mindset in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). In the parable, the master entrusted his money to his three servants prior to a journey. Upon return, he rewarded the two servants who had invested the money. He rebuked the third who had not invested, gave his portion to the most profitable servant, and had him punished severely.

The kingdom mindset recognizes that we will give an account to God, just as the servants gave account to the master. God entrusts many such resources to us and expects us to put them to use for his interests. At the end of the age, we'll have to give an account to God for how we lived and what we did with what he gave us. Paul wrote:

"Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 NKJV

Make each day count for Him in everything you do. You only go through life once, so do it right the first time...

Accept No Substitutes

Pick up any paper or read any article...for centuries humanity around the world has been looking for ways to substitute God to justify their actions. Even within our own culture, we have begun to loose our belief in God as a personal force, as the decider of their fate, as the ultimate judge for our actions. We only turn to Him, as our supreme authority, in times of distress, or when we face conditions beyond our ability to solve. The idea that God, the creator of man has become old-fashion. If that is true, we must accept a lower status from being formed in His Image to a product of some warm chemical stew. Many of life's problems have been relegated to chance or luck of the draw; our home environment as a disfunctional family, or forced to accepted a specific political agenda. Within Christ there are no substitutions; there are no means of explaining away or relegating simply social fades with a stroke of a pen in the hall of government offices.

People today are trying all sorts of ineffective and destructive substitutes for God -- Astrology, philosophy, paganism, alcoholism, drugs, science, money, pleasure, etc. -- all will not make life easier, in fact will only confuse their relationship with Christ. People cannot run far enough away from God to turn a life from chaos to final peace through their own power. Families disintegrate, the social order collapses, and people make a mess of their lives! There are no substitutes! The dilemma of modern man is...we still try to control our own lives as if we really had the ability to do so.

In Yamine B. Mermer paper The Ever-Present God of Revelation, he suggests and I quote...

"Man is not mere flesh and blood. He has been endowed with the most comprehensive faculties and senses ever designed. He has such hopes and desires that nothing except eternal happiness can satisfy them. He continuously suffers the pain of separation from his objects of love and attachment. Moreover, he knows he will ultimately leave all of his loved ones and go alone to the darkness of the grave. It is therefore clear that man cannot reach happiness as long as his needs which spread through every part of the world, and his desires, which extend to eternity, are not satisfied. The fleeting pleasures of worldly life cannot bring about this happiness. Modern man lives in a vacuum of meaninglessness. In order to remedy this situation, he attributes to himself and to things around him fictitious meanings. He claims to be his own master although he knows very well that he is not. As a result, he is bound to live in an imaginary world, which is in conflict with reality. This situation is not restricted to personal life; it is characteristic of all areas of modern life, including philosophy and science. Indeed, how can man understand the world without having recourse to knowledge truth -- and it is not possible to escape from this obligation -- main is in need of a permanent historical matrix that will tell min once and for all what norms, what universals ought to govern his understanding of life. Then, from this vantage point that matrix will provide, he will be able to look at the reality of things. In absence of such universal matrix, all claims to understanding are arbitrary fancies."

Certainly, no matter how modern a civilization, it cannot deliver on its promises; material wealth does not yield happiness. Accepting any else but the real thing will not put your life in order. Christ's love cannot be substituted. The sooner we realize it the better off we will be.

Living Sacrifice

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

Being a living sacrifice is often not easy, or pleasant. It represents an attitude of self-denial, self-sacrifice, self-crucifixion of the whole person. But remember the problem with living sacrifices is…they want to crawl off the altar.

The living sacrifice that is acceptable to God is that which is “well approved, eminently satisfactory, or extra-ordinarily pleasing” to Him. The living sacrifice does not consist of outward forms, merely external or material, but a holy, well-pleasing, rational, agreeable to reason, sacred service.

Is the living sacrifice worth the cost? Rev. James Montgomery Boice (Pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church since 1968, when home to be with our Lord on June 16, 2000) observed, “If we determine to walk in God’s way, refusing to be conformed to the world, and being transformed instead by the renewing of our minds we will not have to fear that all the end of our lives we will look back and be dissatisfied or bitter, judging our lives to have been an utter waste. On the contrary we will look back and conclude that our lives were well lived and be satisfied with them.”

As you consider your sacrifice, remember…only spiritual things will last through eternity, everything else will burn up (Matt. 24:35). Whoever “does the will of God will live forever” (1 Jn. 2:17). Jim Elliott (killed in Ecuador) said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim gave his life in reasonable service, to gain a spiritual inheritance that will last forever.

We all need to consider our daily situation in light of this Scripture...

Fork in the Road

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on you own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

We all face decisions each and every day! Some only require a minor course correction and we don't think much about them; for most can only produce a fender-bender if they go wrong. Yet others can influence and transform our very life from that point forward, having major impact on us for years to come. How do we determine which course correction represents a minor (a bump in the road) and which are major (catastrophic) path correction?

Any FORK IN THE ROAD represents some kind of choice: Do we continue on the same path we have been following all along, or do we take a different path? Maybe the new path will lead us somewhere that if not tried, we would not move forward...maybe it won't. It's hard to know before we try, but try we must. There's a risk involved in making a decision, and it can feel scary at times. The problem we face is whether or not we're willing to take a risk to make a difference.

Sometimes, there is an additional problem. It's not just that we are hesitant to follow a new path...we are not even aware that it exists. We do not see any fork in the road, but feel that we need a change. Yet, there is usually a fork, even when we're so blinded by our old ways of thinking that we simply can't see it. Making changes start with seeing the fork (a vision), thus looking outside our own capabilities for some kind of direction. As humans, we can analyze what and how to make a directional change, protect ourselves by putting together a portfolio of stock options as a "golden parachute", purchase land/houses, etc. that give us a sense of security for the future; but when it comes right down to it, a choice still needs to be made which way to go.

God never intended us to move down these paths unaware of the final outcome. Scripture offers us a multitude of road maps to navigate down life's highways. According to Proverbs 3:5-6...He only asks: Trust, Lean, and Acknowledge Him to insure that our paths are straight. O'yes, there will still be bumps in the road or an occasional fender-bender, but He is always there to help us up, to start again, and to keep moving forward.

For most Christian, the primary definition for moving forward, trusting His leading for life is the word FAITH. We don't really know what tomorrow brings, but isn't it conforming to know that our paths remain secure as we follow Him.

Just something to think about the next time your are facing a FORK IN THE ROAD.

Eternal Thinking

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

Colossians 3:12-15a, NIV

If you are a Christian, you have a new perspective on life, because your life is eternal and transcends all the cares of this world. Even if you lose the battle of this life, you are on the winning side of a larger war! If this is true, your values will be governed by the long haul and not by immediate circumstances. You can relax about things in this life; after all, they are passing away, but you aren’t. You don’t need to get all worked up over them. You have the strength to be kind and compassionate in adversity. So if you find yourself living carnally, you need to go back and check your spiritual vision. If you are overly concerned with short-range things, you need to check your long-range vision. We all laugh at the foolish person who in the process of saving a dime squanders a dollar; let’s not be caught doing the same thing with our spirituality. If someone gets very upset in the course of playing Monopoly, we tell them that it is only a game…that life goes on. Likewise, we shouldn’t get worked up about life. Life will end, but eternity will go on! Therefore let us live with eternity in mind, and take the petty troubles of this life in stride.

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No on engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

2 Timothy 2:3-4

Delegation to Others

The road to leadership is paved with action—with doing. Leaders are characterized by doing what other people don’t want to do. They do what needs to be done when it needs to be done, even at the cost of personal accomplishments. While this is an invaluable trait, it can be taken to an extreme and become their biggest liability.

At some point they have to rely on other people to help them do what needs to be done simply because they are approaching “personal burning out”. Delegating is a skill; a skill that can benefit both a leader and those whom he or she leads, but it has to start with the leader.

Remember -- Never keep work simply because you can do it better. By delegating certain tasks to others, it is one of the best ways to develop your people so they can become responsible and produce their own leadership qualifications. Delegating allows people to learn by doing, to take risks, and to build confidence. Only do those tasks that nobody else can do. Determine what needs to be delegated.

A leader must look at what they do and ask themselves…is this really where they need to be spending their time? All routine activities and minor decisions should be delegated to others. Any task that could be performed through someone else in your absence is a good candidate for delegation. Finally, delegating is a means of increasing the effectiveness of your time. It allows you the freedom to focus on the big picture verses the tasks of each day.

Satan's Agenda

How Satan Keeps Christians from Christ

Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his evil angels, he stated...

“We can’t keep Christians from going to church. We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can’t even keep them from conservative values. But we can do something else. We can keep them from forming an intimate, abiding experience in Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to church. Let them have their conservative lifestyles. But steal their time so they can’t gain that experience in Jesus Christ. Here is how I want you to do this. Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day."

But how shall we do this...shouted one of his angels?

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent numerous schemes to occupy their minds, he answered. Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, then borrow, borrow, borrow. Convince the wives to go to work and the husbands to work 6-7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their life-styles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their families fragment, soon their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work. Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive, to keep the TV, the VCR, their CDs going constantly in their homes. And see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ. Fill their coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day and invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, sweepstakes, mail order catalogs, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes. Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from it exhausted, disquieted and unprepared for the coming week. Don’t let them go out in nature. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts, and movies instead. And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotion. Let them be involved in soul-winning. But crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Christ. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family unity for the good of the cause.”

Well, in the end it was quite a convention. The evil angels went eagerly to their assignments, causing the Christians everywhere to get busy, busy, busy, and rush here and there.

Has the devil been successful in his scheme within your life? Only you can answer that question! And now you know the rest of the story...be on guard and know that he is out there working his ways against you. He doesn't want you to have a 24/7 relationship with Jesus Christ.

Dealing with Difficult People

Dealing with Difficult People
Philippians 2:1-4

Some people are and will remain difficult, regardless of the level of your interpersonal skills. Their approach to life and to others is their responsibility and their choice and is not within your control. Nevertheless you do have a choice about your response to them, sometimes you can even choose the extent or nature of your contact with others, and if they are in constant proximity you can also develop a coping strategy.

Some behaviours go beyond the "difficult person" label and are better characterised as workplace bullying or harassment. These behaviours are typically an abrogation of responsibility to others and should be addressed accordingly through the standard chain of command verses you handling it on your own. Under no conditions should you accept verbal harassment, especially those that reflect words that are degrading or outside of your personal standards as a Christian.

The following are some of the tools that you might use in dealing with difficult people:

Assertiveness

Some difficult people will determine how much they can get away with, so it may be important to draw boundaries on unacceptable behaviour. Setting boundaries can also protect you. For example, you may choose not to discuss your private life at work. When you say "no thanks" be consistent and mean it.

Work or task related boundaries may be more difficult to set. Seek advice from an Industrial Officer prior to taking this step to ensure that you are not breaching your employment contract.

You can also attempt to diffuse a difficult relationship by raising the issue of these difficulties with that person, in a constructive and non-accusatory manner. This could vary from "I think we could work more effectively together" to ""I think I could work more effectively for you if I more clearly understood..."

If the other person is a work colleague and the conflict could interrupt work efficiency your supervisor may become involved. It is always better if you have made an effort to discuss and resolve things first. Do not go to a supervisor before raising the issue with the other party as you risk losing their trust.

People can also be influenced by the response they receive. For example, a social worker dealing with unruly teenagers has learnt how to use voice so as to sound authoritative to gain control.

Choosing your reactions

Do you give yourself time to choose your reactions? Consider your standard response when feeling challenged. Is it working? Is it the way you want to be? Would you like to say or do something different?

If you are able to recognise that you are reacting to someone, then you can train yourself to create thinking time. For example, a meaningless sentence like "Now let me consider this" or a simple silence whilst you count to ten, gives you some thinking space. Thinking time will aid a more considered response.

You can also choose to change your responses to regular types of interaction that leave you dissatisfied. For example, if you feel denigrated by a particular statement and how you always react to it, you can rehearse your preferred response for when that type of statement comes again.

Diffusing Angst

Difficult people can be angry people and we can get angry in response. But experience teaches us that permanent damage to any relationship can be done through anger.

To deal with others professionally, anger is inappropriate. When confronted by anger, the alternatives are not simply fight or flight. Here are some other alternative responses to anger:

• Letting the individual get it off their chest by letting them know you have heard their point and their frustration. The majority of people calm down when they feel understood. You can then build on the strength of mutual understanding to ensure that they understand you too.
• A tirade to achieve a particular outcome can be diverted and the issue reapproached and reopened for discussion from another perspective. Diversions can include distractions, breaks and so on.
• Naming the behaviour eg you appear annoyed right now…
• Humour. You have to be confident and get the timing right, but humour dissolves anger. Humour can also build a sense of camaraderie and good will. Once you have succeed with this a few times it becomes easier. The use of humour can vary from looking at the funny or extreme possibilities of the situation which causes the anger or even making fun of the anger itself such as "Well the dummy really flew over that one". The latter approach is really only to be used with people you know can laugh at themselves, otherwise it can backfire.

Understanding

Understanding of yourself and others empowers you, as you regain perspective on a difficult relationship.

Becoming more aware of the fears and frailties of a difficult person may give you a new insight, aid you in your dealings with them and restore your confidence. For example, a person who is afraid of change may actually be in need of retraining or a person who barks instructions may have poor self-esteem and few communication skills. You are less likely to view their behaviours as a personal affront once you have understood their motivation.

Different personalities can also lead to misunderstandings and tension unless we learn to appreciate and respect each other. Some large organisations encourage staff to participate in shared personality profiles so that they learn about their own personality types and those of the other members of their team. This assists staff to become more understanding of each others needs and the strengths that they can contribute.

Understanding the way others operate can also give you some clues on how to work with them. For example, if someone else is impatient with discussion and you embrace discussion as a way of seeking approval, the potential for some unsatisfactory exchanges is created. Once you understand this, you have some options available. For example, you might plan short targeted sessions with them, where the topic and information is provided in advance. Some of the session might be on operational matters, but you might also schedule some on performance or career feedback. Where possible, it is best to have an informed choice about your responses and future interactions.

A greater understanding of others may also make you more aware of and able to diffuse social or cultural differences.

A final note - take heart. No one ever gets relationships right all the time. As long as you don't lose your cool, relationships are ongoing and understanding and improved communication requires ongoing work.

Winning the Race

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus

Philippians 3:14

Goal – this word specifically refers to the marker at the end of a race on which runners intently fix their eyes; the prize, the reward of victory. Paul evidently takes to heart what he teaches in 1 Corinthians 9:24. “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

How are you sitting goals? Many of us set goals for the purpose of obtaining or achieving a specific social status. Unfortunately once there we need to continuously increasing our status to stay ahead. Yet others look to wealth, climbing over everyone and everything that seem to impede our progress.

Running God’s race has only one objective…to live fully for Him. Whether you run a successful race, it doesn’t matter; it only matters that you ran the race according to fulfilling His purpose for your life. Everyone who runs such a race is already a winner. You may never have a dime to your name, but you will still be the riches person in God’s eyes.

Remember “fix you eyes on the true reward of running your race for Him and run the race if your life depended on it.”

Dr. H. A. Ironside wrote: There are five crowns:

1. The incorruptible crown for faithfully running the course;
2. The crown of rejoicing for winning souls;
3. The crown of righteousness for those who love His appearing;
4. The crown of life for those who suffer for Christ;
5. The crown of glory for those who feed the sheep and lambs of Christ’s flock.

I might lose all of those crowns and yet not lose my salvation. The Word says, “If any man’s work shall be burned. . . .he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15) But I do not want to be saved that way. I want to win the crown of life. “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life...”

A Time for Everything

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:

• A time to be born, and a time to die;
• A time to plant, and a time to puck what is planned;
• A time to kill, and a time to heal;
• A time to break down, and a time to build up;
• A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
• A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
• A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;
• A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
• A time to gain, and a time to lose;
• A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
• A time to tear, and a time to sew;
• A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
• A time to love, and a time to hate;
• A time to war, and a time of peace.
  

This poem speaks with eloquence of the role of time in the life of a believer. Some regard the Book of Ecclesiastes as describing life apart from God, but clearly this text describes life that is lived in relationship with God. Though these words, we are taught that everything has an opportune time that each event is in the hand of God, who makes everything happen in the time He judges appropriate.

Many of us face numerous life situations that we cannot fully understand or explain. A sudden illness, the passing of a love one, an unexpected release from our job, or simply things not working out the way we feel they should. In the mist of our situation, we question why they are happening. The answer is…that all of life unfolds according to God’s appointment. All the toiling of man cannot change the times, circumstances, and control of events that God has reserved to Himself.

That may sound somewhat harsh; that we are at the mercy of God to do whatever He wants, when He wants it. I believe the key word here is “mercy.” Only through the mercy of God can we be given the opportunity of life itself.

I have gone back and edited this previous posting for a very special friend. Patty Driggs went home to be with our Savior on January 14, 2005. Patty and Von (her husband) assisted with our application into Mercy Ships. She has served our ministry, both in our corporate office and in Freetown, West Africa (New Steps Program) for numerous years. She will be missed, but we know that she is home. Pray for the Driggs Family as we are, that Christ will be ever closer during this time of season.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-10

Love your Enemies

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy,' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you many be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

Matthew 5:43-44

To most, this commandment is difficult to fully understand, let alone accept. Niebuhr was one of the first modern theologians to recognize what the experiences of this century have revealed about human nature. His Moral Man and Immoral Society, published in 1932, rejected social-gossip liberalism by arguing that the liberals failed to understand the collective pride of groups or nations. Niebuhr believed that liberal "moralists" would never produce lasting reform because they were naive about human nature. They "seemed to believe that the only reason men had not followed the love commandment in the vast collective relations of mankind was because no one had called their attention to the necessity." Individuals may at times yield to moral arguments, but groups (and therefore society as a whole) will not.

Because our world is filled with so many different groups and communities, each pursuing its own interests, a just society is not going to be built by a little more education and a few more sermons on love. Nations sign peace treaties because they believe the terms of the treaty holds a more advantageous future than that of continuation of war. Nations and groups routinely believe their own purposes are just, perhaps even inspired by God, and they see their enemies as evil and demonic. The question a hand is -- where do you draw the line between loving and praying for your enemies and going to war?

Certainly there is no human on the face of our planet that can fully answer this question to the satisfaction of all. Scripture states we should love and pray for our enemy...but if you noticed, it still retains their name "the enemy." They are not consider "friends"...representing a person you should take home to meet Mother. Scripture also justifies going after whole nations...killing off everything - livestock, children, women, etc., just because God said so!

In address any war, we must consider what we are truly going to war for:

• Pride - the essence of sin and the central failing of every individual, but group pride is the most destructive impulse in human history. It starts ware, racial conflicts, and crimes against humanity, and then pins the blame on the other side.
• Envy - individuals fall into envy and conceit because of their pride, and groups follow the same pattern. They believe that others have been more successful than they because privileges have not been fairly distributed. People that retain envy, typically take shots at those that have something they don't have.
• Anger - unstapled envy often leads to anger. Most poorer countries that have been offer direction for building a free-market economy believe that they only achieve wealth through plundering others. They simply don't trust the givers.
• Sloth - groups and communities, like individuals, can easily succumb to the sin of sloth. When they feel trapped by poverty, illiteracy, lawlessness, and unemployment, some populations conclude that no amount of effort will change their circumstances.
• Avarice - gluttony, and lust reveal what some have deceived as an excessive love for things or people. Different from the first three (pride, envy, and anger), which reveals a love so selfish that it results in violence against one's neighbor...sloth - demonstrates the absence of love...avarice or the love of money and maximize of profits is the love of things in a lustful way.
• Lust - an excess passion that is impossible to satisy with externals eventually turns cold after acquiring because of the need for more.

When Scripture expresses "love and pray for your enemies", we must separate the concept of love and prayer from the reality of "who is the real enemy." Certainly, if we consider the source which makes an enemy, the foundation is sin. It is the sin that separates and undermines our relationship with Christ; therefore, loving and praying is directed towards the person, not their sinful acts. It is again interesting that Scripture doesn't change the word enemy to friend...only love and prayer can.

I am certainly not asking to change our present enemies into friends or our nation's direction in the Middle East to combat nations that harm others, or we should stop praying for them...All have come short and all have sinned...thanks to the mercy of God, He has forgiven us for our sins. He can do the same with our enemies, but we need to be involved. That is why Scripture is written this way. Maybe this will help!

God's Plan for Handling Pressure

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

All of us face pressure through life’s short journey. It is how you handle these pressures reflects how you maintain your relationships. I want to look into two very short verses that represent an important concept that has impacted my life and hope yours.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing in everything give thanks;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

These verses reflect Three Primary Commands that can serve to guide us through life’s pressures -- they are:

• Always rejoice – it represents not the circumstances, but a general attitude towards our life. The subject of joy has been discussed several times throughout the Bible. Joy is based not on outward circumstances but your inward relationship with God. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice (Philippians 4:4).] In the midst of difficulties, in the midst of all situations, Christians are to rejoice. The joy of Christians is not based on agreeable circumstances instead it is based on their relationship to God. Christians will face trouble in this world, but they should rejoice in the trials they face because they know God is using those situations to improve their character (James 1:2-4). Thankfulness should characterize the Christian life in every circumstance, no thanks for everything but thanks in everything. Joy is a virtue in the Fruit of the Spirit. Is joy part of your life or has life’s pressures blocked it out?
• Continually pray – this doesn’t mean to close your eyes and pray 24/7; it also doesn’t mean to round over at night and say “dido.” Eph 6:18 suggests that we need to pray in the spirit continually, through all the ups and down of life. If a person is truly in love with some one, you are thinking about them every minute. Your decisions in life are based on and for the well being of the other person. The second thing here that should be considered -- we don’t need service at the church or around the community as a substitute for prayer…prayer and prayer alone is the key to a good relationship. Weneed to believe that everything depends on our prayers and that only through prayer life makes sense. They are also not to be used as a credit card in times of trouble. O'Lord, bail me out of this specific situation that I got myself into; sorry, I should have checked with you first! Prayer, then a general attitude for which life should be center around; continually turning to Him for guidance. Don’t let life’s pressures separate you from a relationship that is so depended on communication with the only One who can make the difference.
• Give thanks in everything – the key here is to give thanks “in everything” not “for everything. Nothing speaks more powerfully of a walk with God that continuous thankfulness. You can always be thankful for something. Paul makes clear – God is working out the purpose for our life through the good and bad times. We may not be able to see what He is doing, but what He is doing is for your best.

How can we cope successfully with the pressures of life…be joyful, pray through everything, and give thanks for all things. God can use your life’s pressures, because through your pressures you can share what God is doing, thus assisting others to get through their situation.

An Old Testament example of this was when Job lost his money, his children, and his health; he blessed the name of God in spite of his personal tragedies, not because of them.

The Calling

Knowing God’s will for your life is not always a simple matter, but it is extremely important. We can somethings live with uncertainty about our vocation, but to not understanding fully your calling can be a miserable existence. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2). People who are confident that they are where God wants them to be and doing what He wants them to do are truly blessed. But how do we get there, to that prefect understandings of where God wants us to serve Him?

Jesus certainly was very specific when He called His first disciples - As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me, " Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him (Matthew 4:18-20).

There is several things that are outlined here in Matthew that will help us determine how to clearly understand God's calling:

1. God gives specific calls that normally offer a directional purpose -- "come follow me" and "I will make you fishers of men." This type of calling is a call to action; a changed of direction within a life. Peter and Andrew, like many others who followed Him, followed Him unconditionally. They did not fully understand their call, but followed Him purely by faith, knowing that whatever He had in store from them was important, life changing, and worth the effort. A directional change that the specifics would be known in time.
   
2. It is interesting that Scripture doesn't suggest or even offer a hint that Peter and Andrew asked questions about what was requested, it only states...They got up from what they where doing and followed Jesus. Whenever God calls, typically there is no time to consider the outcome, only to get up and follow. Like Peter and Andrew, many of us do not fully understand what tomorrow will bring, only that we have been asked to follow Him and that is what we are doing. We are simply allowing God to be God, thus allowing Him to work out the details.
   
3. The other thing that should be noticed here; Jesus many times enlists common men to do uncommon tasks. Why is that? The answer...Only through His empowering can the task be accomplished, thus directing the focus back to the One who has the power, not the person being used. Certainly fishing was a task that Peter and Andrew knew, but fishing for men was different.
   
4. There is always a cost for following Him -- although not outlined within this location, we can pick up the story line from other locations. There is a good example of this in Luke 22 -- Peter just disowned Jesus. Peter, up until this point in time didn't know the true cost of following Him. But even with this situation, Jesus still gave Peter high marks; "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Just receiving the call is not enough. It takes action, an executing of what God has directed you to do to make a difference. Yes your calling is certainly important, but it is more then just getting a call, it acting on it. Is there an element of risk...of course! Risk is involved in every act of commitment, but He promised never to leave us or forsake us, and whatever He started we can be assured He will finish! All we need to do is just follow.

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-3).

Missionary...A misunderstood definition

As a missionary, I often struggle with the task of writing specific prayer requests that creatively communicate the very real needs that my family face. Each time I sit down to write, it is my desire to challenge the reader to participate with us as a partner, especially when it reflects the need for additional support. Building partnerships are difficult to develop many times; churches, as well as many people have a poor definition of the true meaning of the word "missionary." In doing some extensive research into this condition...that of raising support for home base missionaries...I came across the following.

I offer the following documentation written by Allen L. Pelleter, M.D. as food for thought. I take no credit for his ideas, but certainly agree with them. I hope it will open your eyes, as it has mind, to the true definition of the word...missionary.

The Forgotten Missionaries
Allen L. Pelletier, M.D.

We often frame the missionary endeavor in terms of spiritual warfare. In warfare, of course, supplies (and supply lines) are everything. Napoleon was reputed to have said “An army marches on its stomach.” An army may be highly motivated, courageous, well trained, splendidly equipped, and yet still lose battles because of the people behind the lines.

Modern battles are not won by tricks, or by good luck. In the main they are won by supply officers who, thoroughly understanding the operational plan, contrive to have the right ammunition, fuel, and food in the right place at the right time. Approximately 500,000 American soldiers participated in Desert Storm in 1990-1991. It has been said that for every soldier or airman who was at the front line, 10 worked behind the scenes, supplying fuel, ammunition, food, water, and all the other things the combat troops needed. I am not passing judgment on the morality of this, or any other, war; nor am I suggesting that we adopt a ratio of 10 support troops for every combat soldier! I do believe, though, that we can learn from such examples. Churches want to help on the “front lines” of the mission field. This is commendable. There is always a need for more “front line” troops. But along with this goes the obligation to give “front line” missionaries the very best support possible. I am not speaking here of financial support, or even prayer support. My concern is to address the issue of missionaries whose primary role is to support field operations: those involved in administration, maintenance, finance, travel, hospitality, and children’s education. We could expand this definition of “support ministries” to include those who raise support as missionaries, but who work in sending country home offices.

If the role of “support troops” in warfare is central to success, then perhaps we need to pay more attention to our support personnel. We believe that current missions thinking and strategy convey the idea to churches (and missionaries as well) that the only “real” missionaries are pioneer evangelists or church planters targeting an unreached people group in the 10-40 Window. This may seem unfair and overly broad, but there is ample anecdotal evidence to support such a hypothesis. In fact, we see our friends in support roles as “the forgotten missionaries.” Consider several examples that we have seen in our own mission and field.

Our particular SIM field of Nigeria has been without a regular field treasurer since 1993. We thank God for the changing array of temporary helpers in our field office; but it is very difficult to manage money when accounts and financial statements lag behind four or five months! One of the most urgent worldwide needs for our mission, SIM, is for treasurers, accountants, and bookkeepers. As I write this article, SIM has urgent needs in seven countries for people with these skills.

One SIM missionary candidate (headed for South America as a bookkeeper) recently said, “I never thought of my occupation as having missionary potential.” One family we know (with another mission) recently told us that its home church raised its monthly support level from $50 to $700 when the family agreed to go on a one-year overseas assignment, doing exactly the same administrative work they were doing in the mission home office. Some church policies deny support to any missionary candidate whose ministry is not specifically defined as evangelism or church planting among an “unreached people group.” One missionary couple that we know was asked by the field to be dorm parents for a term. They were deeply discouraged to receive (while still on the field) a letter from their home church, stating that their support was being reevaluated.

Nearly every missionary I know who moves into a “home office” role (often due to factors such as illness, family concerns, or educational needs of children) experiences a significant drop in support. In 1996, we returned to Nigeria for a second term. I am a family physician. My wife has been our household manager, educating our three children, and recently teaching English as a second language. Twice during this term (still in progress as I write) we have been moved to help in “support roles.” We spent four months managing a conference center, and two months as hostel parents to MKs attending school in Jos, Nigeria. These experiences opened our eyes to the crucial role of the “forgotten missionaries.” The conference center provides one of the few affordable and convenient places on our field for missionaries who are burned out and need a break. It is one of the only places in northern Nigeria available (and affordable) to national church groups for conferences. It was a rich and rewarding experience for us to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ, missionaries and nationals alike. We helped them have a significant time of rest, retreat, or strategic planning for their ministry.

The hostel where we spent two months included children from a Korean couple teaching at a Bible college; a doctor and his wife doing pioneer outreach in a remote area of northern Nigeria among a nomadic Muslim tribe; and two teachers at a Nigerian church school. We realized that our ministry extended far beyond the walls of a building. We had the chance to love and disciple these children, and we gave their parents the freedom to carry out their significant ministries with the security of knowing that their children were in a secure and loving environment. Perhaps some will criticize our field for calling a doctor away for this task. We never felt this way. Our role allowed four other missionary families to carry on—so that in effect our ministry was multiplied fourfold!

I believe that the “forgotten missionaries” are overlooked and misunderstood. Their contributions are undervalued by most churches, and sometimes even by other missionaries. Here is just a partial list of the services that others do to help keep us on the field: donor support services, and mailing of tax receipts for our ministry; computer advice and expertise, including helping us with e-mail; hostel parents who take wonderful care of our kids while they are away from us in school; field administrators and travel coordinators, who negotiate with the government for work permits, visas, and quota positions; other home office staff who handle the mail, answer the phones, and, above all, pray for our success!

We have estimated it would take at least 20 hours a week to do these administrative tasks ourselves (and this doesn't include the education of our children!). Several factors contribute to the “forgotten missionary” syndrome. Our fallen and sinful natures are not easily clothed in servants’ robes. Churches often struggle to get volunteers for unglamorous tasks like running the nursery, teaching children’s Sunday school, or washing up after the fellowship supper. Such failures extended to a larger scale partially explain why service positions on the mission field are unappreciated and undermanned.

Then, too, many of us (at least we Americans) operate with a dichotomized worldview. We tend to divide the world into the sacred and the secular, and define “work” as what we do to “earn a living” and “ministry” as what we do to please God. This unbiblical mentality probably explains the almost apologetic remark we heard from a missionary candidate: “I never thought of my occupation as having missionary potential.”

We again, broadly generalizing about Americans) tend to be task oriented, and we want quick results from our missionary activity. Support ministries rarely produce the opportunities to give glowing reports to supporters about numbers of indigenous people converted or baptized. Support ministry missionaries may feel that they cannot compete with the dramatic stories told by their “front line” colleagues. Tales of quiet service and dedication behind the scenes aren’t heard often enough. Our missionary theology reinforces our neglect of support roles. The rugged pioneer evangelist types are our heroes. May God bless gifted individuals like this and send more into the mission fields of the world. But that is not the whole story of missions!

Theologian John Frame points out that we often make the mistake of “individualizing” scriptural commands and promises. The Great Commission was given to the church as a whole—not just to isolated individuals. The apostle Paul tells us that all the parts of the body are essential, and that the parts that are considered the least may in fact contribute the most to the body as a whole (see 1 Corinthians 12).

We lack a developed theology of missions that connects us to the rich biblical imagery of the church as the body of Christ. Such a theology will, I believe, unleash the energy and gifts of all parts of the body of Christ. Missionaries in supporting roles, and the churches that support them, need to understand their work in relationship to the whole. When we all do our work to the glory of God, “the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Eph. 4:16).

The Real Meaning of Christmas

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:1-7

Certainly we have all read these verses to our children and grandchilren and have seen it countless times on a stage, in our local church, or within our schools, but do you really understand what it means to you and for the world? Christ's birth was not an accident...it was planned from the very beginnings of time. We seen it throughout Scripture...

"Behold: My Servant who I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, no raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. he will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has establidhed justice in the earht; And the coastlands shall wait for His law."

Isaish 42:1-4

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.

Isaish 7:14-15

The greates gift that you can ever receive is a FREE GIFT of salvation that Jesus Christ has already bought for you and gift wrapped! The True Meaning of Christmas...

• "C" is for the CHRIST CHILD who was born nearly 2,000 years ago in a manger in Bethlehem.

• "H" is for the HOPE that Jesus brings to all who believe in Him and trust Him with their salvation.

• "R" is for RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was both man and God, died on the cross for all of our sins, and then was raised from the dead (resurrected) and is now sitting at the right hand of God in heaven.

• "I" is for ISRAEL who God chose to bring forth the promised saviour of the world.

• "S" is for the salvation that Jesu offers to all who are willing to confess their sins, believe in Him, and confess their belief in Jesus with their mouth.

• "T" is for the empty TOMB on Easter morning.

• "M" is for the MERCY God has shown the world by sending His only Son to suffer for our sins and bridge the gap between man and God.

• "A" is for our AWESOME GOD who loves us all unconditionally.

• "S" is for the SHINING light that Jesus brought to the world!

This year, make your relationship different with the One who did everything for you; come to Him and receive a free gift that was promised from the beginning of time.

Have a Happy Holiday in Him