Texas Update

I've been in Texas since the 15th. My first stop was Calvary Baptist Church in Andrews. They are such a wonderful fellowship who have been involved in our ministry in Peru since day one. As a matter of fact, they were to first ones to come along beside of us. I really do love and appreciate them. I got to share on the Eternal Reality of the Rapture.

My second stop was at Calvary Christian Fellowship in Midland. They too have been really involved in our ministry in Peru. I got to share with them from 1 Timothy 2. Great group.

Tomorrow morning, Aaron and I are headed down to Corpus Christi. It's going to be about an eight hour drive, but we'll head out early so that we can make the evening service. Please keep us in prayer as we travel.

Speaking Schedule

I just added a calendar to my blog that contains my speaking schedule.

Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

Just something to think about. Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? I never noticed this.... The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!' Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stopped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side. Was that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.. Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm finished.." But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the folded napkin meant, "I'll be back!"

The Fault Box

A couple married for 15 years began having more than usual disagreements. They wanted to make their marriage work and agreed on an idea the wife had. For one month they planned to drop a slip in a "Fault" box. The boxes would provide a place to let the other know about daily irritations. The wife was diligent in her efforts and approach: "leaving the jelly top off the jar," "wet towels on the shower floor," "dirty socks not in hamper," on and on until the end of the month. After dinner, at the end of the month, they exchanged boxes. The husband reflected on what he had done wrong. Then the wife opened her box and began reading. They were all the same, the message on each slip was, "I love you!"

The Christian Missionary

A Brahmin compared the Christian missionary to the mango tree. "All its branches hang with fruit. It is then assailed with stones and clubs by passersby. How does it respond-by dropping fruit at every blow at the feet of those who assail it. At the close of the season, it stands scarred and battered, its leaves torn off, its branches broken. But the next year it bears more fruit than the previous year."

That is what our meekness should do in the world-not try to conserve its self-esteem but bear fruit, fruit that descends low at the attack of cruel words and actions. Christian meekness cannot be exercised in isolation. It must be manifested within the framework of society, a society that hates the Lord Jesus Christ, openly or subtly, and all who stand for Him.

Three Monkeys in a Tree

Three monkeys sat in a coconut tree
Discussing the things that are said to be--
Said one to another: "Now listen you two
There's a certain rumor, but it can't be true'
That man descended from our noble race-
Why, the very idea; it's a disgrace.

No monkey ever deserted his wife,
Starved her babies and ruined her life.
Nor did ever a mother-monkey
Leave her babies with others to bunk,
Or pass them on from one to another
'Till they scarcely knew who was their mother.

And another thing you'll never see
A monkey building a nest around a coconut tree,
And let the coconuts go to waste,
Forbidding all other monkeys to have a taste.
Why, if I build a fence around a coconut tree,
Starvation would cause me to distribute to you.

Here's another thing that a monkey won't do:
Go out at night and get on a stew;
Or use a gun, a club, or a knife
To take another monkey's life.
Yes, Man descended the ornery cuss!
But Brother, he didn't descend from us."

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

This was written by a young pastor in Africa who was martyred for his faith and was found after his death.

“I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer and I labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go until He comes, give until I drop, preach until all know and work until He stops me. And, when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear!”

Dressing-Down God

I made the comment on my Facebook that in our effort to dress-down the church , we have dressed down God. That means that in our attempt to make God more approachable, we have in some ways brought him down to our own level. The old adage, "God created man in His own image and man returned the favor" can hold true here. I believe we as a church forget sometimes who He is and who we are not. Just as an example, most of us would dress better to stand in front of President Obama than we would in front of God. By the way, it wasn't that long ago that America was shocked that a women's lacrosse team would feel so comfortable as to walk into the White House to meet then President Bush adorning flip flops.

Unfortunately, this carries over into every part of our Christian experience. I saw a young man a while back with a T-Shirt that said, "Jesus is my Homeboy." I see that as very disrespectful and I don't think on the day of judgment that he or anyone for that matter will feel comfortable referring to God as their "homeboy".

Great book on the subject of Calvinism.

http://evangelicalarminians.org/files/Bryson.%20THE%20FIVE%20POINTS%20OF%20CALVINISM_%20WEIGHED%20AND%20FOUND%20WANTING.pdf

Given to Change, Part 3

I don't want to start an argument over Bible translations. I have my convictions and they are quite strong. However, at the moment, I'm just trying to make a point. It seems like we change Bible translations about as often as we change our socks. Why? - So that we can keep up with our ever deteriorating English language? The sad truth today is that most people can't speak proper English anymore; let alone read it. So we come up with a new translation every couple of years to respond to that felt need. Again I say, "Where is the fruit?" Are people reading their Bibles more today than they were yesterday now that their Bibles are "easier to read"? No, they’re not. Do the people know their Bibles better today than they did yesterday because of their "easier to read" versions? Again, the answer is an emphatic no they don't.

As a matter of fact, with the introduction of Power Point, people don't need to carry Bibles at all anymore. After all, someone is going to spoon-feed it to them anyway. There is nothing more discouraging than to stand up in front of a congregation of people who don't have Bibles in their hands. I'm not so sure we are doing them any favors by not expecting and waiting for them to turn in their Bibles to a portion of Scripture and read it along with us. In the end, that slick Power Point presentation isn’t going to be there when the dark clouds roll in and life becomes too much to bear alone? They need to know their Bibles.

Of course, I realize that the proliferation of modern translations has in many respects made Power Point a better option because at least the preacher can get the entire congregation reading the same words. I don’t know about you, but I find it discouraging to stand up in front of a congregation to read from a portion of Scripture knowing full well that "their Bible” doesn't say it that way. The newer translations are supposed to bring clarity, but all I see them creating is confusion and doubt. Sadly, in the end, congregational reading is really no longer possible unless it is with a Power Point and Scripture memory is a thing of the past because every time they hear the verse, it’s a different version. I can tell you from experience that most of my Scripture memory was not deliberate, but just came as the result of hearing the same verses over and over again throughout childhood. Sadly, that simply does not happen anymore.