Friday, December 17, 2010
Consider Giving A Special Gift This Season
CHECK OUT HARVEST INDIA'S CHRSITMAS WISH http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Harvest-India-s-Christmas-Wish.html?soid=1102213336805&aid=NyAd2tzvjjk
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Spending time with Dad
Before I left for India in October I spent quite a bit of time in bookstores and in prayer, scouring the right reading material to bring with me on my trip. I knew that I would have far less distractions here and would be open and available to spend much more time in the Word and in the works of great authors who have learned much from their time in Scripture. And so I have spent much time in the both the Word of God and thoroughly invested in the publications of great authors like N.T. Wright, Francis Chan and Don Williams. I realize that my knowledge and understand of Gods ways and His teachings are permeating my daily life. Reading, journaling and sharing what I’m learning, has been a truly life giving time in my ministry and a crucial part of what keeps me grounded, composed, and focused amongst the relentless assaults that are made against the Gospel every day in India.
I’ve learned that like the people here who worship 330 million gods, I live in a culture that is far from a perfectly surrendered life of serving just one God. As I’ve grown I’ve become less and less enchanted by the lie of the enemy, who worked diligently to get me to believe that my identity could be found in the world. And I move forward in the truth that in Christ there is no condemnation. He has become the solid rock in which I stand. There is freedom in the journey. Undoubtedly, I am a different man today than I was a year ago. In profound ways God has radically changed the way I see myself in the day to day, moment to moment ways I try to live for others, for God. I’m not there yet. Even in India, living as a missionary, serving the poor, caring for the widows and loving the orphaned, I’m still selfish, self absorbed, ego driven, me. But, I’m on the right path. I’m less selfish in the moments I’m serving God’s Kingdom rather that my own. I’m crucifying my flesh and surrendering my self-imposed, self righteous “rights,” that over time, I’ve appointed to myself as an honest, hard working, young man with the world at his finger tips. I’m reminded in scripture that the world hasn’t been put at my fingertips for my benefit. The opportunities that are within my grasp are designed to bless God’s Kingdom and come alongside His plans and purposes. I recently received an e-mail from a dear friend that quoted Jim Eliot, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” This quote points towards the mission of Jesus Christ and the message of His life, death and resurrection. In it we find the path to righteousness for our American society. To whom much has been given much is made available to be given back; for the Glory of God, for his Kingdom’s advancement. But that message has been covered up and blurred by the media, politics and even the Church. There are amazing technological advances, gadgets, vacations, cars, homes, and countless other worldly possessions that vie for our monetary resources. Most of which are reasonably permissible and the rest we are clever enough to justify off of the want columns in our lives and over our lists of necessities. We say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. (1 Cor 10:23-24)When we trick ourselves into justifying our unbiblical behavior we miss out on the Kingdom. When we limit our possessions to belonging, directed at our own personal benefit, we miss out on the great freedom that was experienced in the early Church of Acts; “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity- all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” We are making choices that prevent us from this type of community in today’s Church; so driven by God’s purposes they lived together, using one shared financial resource to sustain everyone. These were people who were in true community, withholding nothing from one another.
Please continue to pray for my time in India. That I would live a life“… not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” 1 Cor 10:32
I’ve learned that like the people here who worship 330 million gods, I live in a culture that is far from a perfectly surrendered life of serving just one God. As I’ve grown I’ve become less and less enchanted by the lie of the enemy, who worked diligently to get me to believe that my identity could be found in the world. And I move forward in the truth that in Christ there is no condemnation. He has become the solid rock in which I stand. There is freedom in the journey. Undoubtedly, I am a different man today than I was a year ago. In profound ways God has radically changed the way I see myself in the day to day, moment to moment ways I try to live for others, for God. I’m not there yet. Even in India, living as a missionary, serving the poor, caring for the widows and loving the orphaned, I’m still selfish, self absorbed, ego driven, me. But, I’m on the right path. I’m less selfish in the moments I’m serving God’s Kingdom rather that my own. I’m crucifying my flesh and surrendering my self-imposed, self righteous “rights,” that over time, I’ve appointed to myself as an honest, hard working, young man with the world at his finger tips. I’m reminded in scripture that the world hasn’t been put at my fingertips for my benefit. The opportunities that are within my grasp are designed to bless God’s Kingdom and come alongside His plans and purposes. I recently received an e-mail from a dear friend that quoted Jim Eliot, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” This quote points towards the mission of Jesus Christ and the message of His life, death and resurrection. In it we find the path to righteousness for our American society. To whom much has been given much is made available to be given back; for the Glory of God, for his Kingdom’s advancement. But that message has been covered up and blurred by the media, politics and even the Church. There are amazing technological advances, gadgets, vacations, cars, homes, and countless other worldly possessions that vie for our monetary resources. Most of which are reasonably permissible and the rest we are clever enough to justify off of the want columns in our lives and over our lists of necessities. We say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. (1 Cor 10:23-24)When we trick ourselves into justifying our unbiblical behavior we miss out on the Kingdom. When we limit our possessions to belonging, directed at our own personal benefit, we miss out on the great freedom that was experienced in the early Church of Acts; “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity- all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” We are making choices that prevent us from this type of community in today’s Church; so driven by God’s purposes they lived together, using one shared financial resource to sustain everyone. These were people who were in true community, withholding nothing from one another.
Please continue to pray for my time in India. That I would live a life“… not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” 1 Cor 10:32
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