We often think of accomplishments in the positive sense. But, an accomplishment is essentially anything that is fulfilled or achieved. There is a result!
Galatians 5:19-21
"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:
immorality, impurity, sensuality,
idolatry, sorcery,
enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying,
drunkenness, carousing,
and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
The word 'evident' means: plain or clear to the sight or understanding. But, although some things are plain or clear in our lives, how willing are we to completely submit it all to Jesus?
What are some results in your life?
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Long-Term Impact and Short-Term Missions
Following is a write-up that I got from one of my friends in Honduras, Mark Fittz (Missionary with CAM International)...
Do short-term missions make a long-term impact? Because it's what I do, I’ve been thinking and reading about that question lately. Below are just a few of the benefits I can think of for utilizing short-term missions as a strategy for following the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
*A mission team provides new ministry opportunities for the indigenous church leadership. Many times a group of short-term missionaries can open doors for the local church that remain open long after the team has returned.
* A mission team can provide support that the indigenous church leadership through supplies, prayers and even finances.
* Mission team members get a chance to interact with church leaders from other cultures. When they return home these team members often become advocates for these national church leaders. There is nothing like a personal testimony from a team member to help a church get excited about partnering with national church leaders.
*Mission team members gain a bigger vision of what God is doing around the world and how they can be involved. The phrase "seeing is believing" applies here. Whether or not you feel called to missions after you return from a short-term mission trip, you will return with a bigger vision of God's Kingdom.
*Mission team members are stretched by their experiences, grow in their relationship with God and discover God can use them in ways they never imagined. Short-term missions allows people to get out of their comfort zone. When we are out of our comfort zone it causes us to rely on God. That realiance on God allows short-term missionaries to see that God will equip you for whatever task He calls you to in His Kingdom.
*Short-term missionaries often become long-term missionaries. Some studies show that 90% of all long-term missionaries view their short-term experiences as significant to their calling. Not all short-term missionaries become long-term career missionaries . . . not by a long shot. Yet those who go on short-term missions have experienced God in ways they may have never experienced Him at home. This often leads to deeper faith and a greater trust in God's plan.
*Hope can only be Hand-Delivered. You can put medicine, supplies, bibles and all kinds of stuff in boxes and send them across the world. Hope, however, can't be placed in a box. Hope must be hand-delivered. Short-term missions is often an avenue for hand-delivering hope to the world.
BOTTOM LINE: Short-term missions helps fulfill the Great Commission command to “Go and make disciples.” Go, and God will change your heart for the whole world!
Do short-term missions make a long-term impact? Because it's what I do, I’ve been thinking and reading about that question lately. Below are just a few of the benefits I can think of for utilizing short-term missions as a strategy for following the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
*A mission team provides new ministry opportunities for the indigenous church leadership. Many times a group of short-term missionaries can open doors for the local church that remain open long after the team has returned.
* A mission team can provide support that the indigenous church leadership through supplies, prayers and even finances.
* Mission team members get a chance to interact with church leaders from other cultures. When they return home these team members often become advocates for these national church leaders. There is nothing like a personal testimony from a team member to help a church get excited about partnering with national church leaders.
*Mission team members gain a bigger vision of what God is doing around the world and how they can be involved. The phrase "seeing is believing" applies here. Whether or not you feel called to missions after you return from a short-term mission trip, you will return with a bigger vision of God's Kingdom.
*Mission team members are stretched by their experiences, grow in their relationship with God and discover God can use them in ways they never imagined. Short-term missions allows people to get out of their comfort zone. When we are out of our comfort zone it causes us to rely on God. That realiance on God allows short-term missionaries to see that God will equip you for whatever task He calls you to in His Kingdom.
*Short-term missionaries often become long-term missionaries. Some studies show that 90% of all long-term missionaries view their short-term experiences as significant to their calling. Not all short-term missionaries become long-term career missionaries . . . not by a long shot. Yet those who go on short-term missions have experienced God in ways they may have never experienced Him at home. This often leads to deeper faith and a greater trust in God's plan.
*Hope can only be Hand-Delivered. You can put medicine, supplies, bibles and all kinds of stuff in boxes and send them across the world. Hope, however, can't be placed in a box. Hope must be hand-delivered. Short-term missions is often an avenue for hand-delivering hope to the world.
BOTTOM LINE: Short-term missions helps fulfill the Great Commission command to “Go and make disciples.” Go, and God will change your heart for the whole world!
Thursday, November 8, 2007
'Triple A' Service!
Some things that missionaries need to do in the field:
ACQUIRE THE LANGUAGE -- learn how to communicate with the people
ADAPT TO THE CULTURE -- learn the context in which you will communicate
APPLY BIBLICAL TRUTH -- learn what to communicate and teach by example
And one last thing...
If you are a disciple of Christ, you ARE a missionary!
ACQUIRE THE LANGUAGE -- learn how to communicate with the people
ADAPT TO THE CULTURE -- learn the context in which you will communicate
APPLY BIBLICAL TRUTH -- learn what to communicate and teach by example
And one last thing...
If you are a disciple of Christ, you ARE a missionary!
Monday, November 5, 2007
...but be a F.A.T. Christian!
F - FLEXIBLE
"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."
2 John 1:6
A - ADAPTABLE
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness..."
Matthew 6:33a
T - TEACHABLE
"...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Matthew 28:20a
"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."
2 John 1:6
A - ADAPTABLE
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness..."
Matthew 6:33a
T - TEACHABLE
"...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Matthew 28:20a
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Don't Be a Fat Christian!
"But prove yourselves doers of the word,
and not merely hearers who delude themselves."
James 1:22
James 1:22
What happens to your body when you eat a lot of meat, take in all that protein, and don't exercise? You become fat!
Well, we've been getting a lot "meat" lately when it comes to God's Word...
So, let's check our spiritual BMI!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Be a Power-Hungry Christian
(this is an article that I had written for our church bulletin a couple weeks ago)
Have you ever been given a seemingly impossible task and wished that you had any and all resources available at your disposal? What if the one who gave you that task was in control over such resources and made it all available to you? What would you do with it?
When asked to quote the Great Commission, most of us remember,
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
But, in our daily lives, we often need to be reminded of verse 18:
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
The Great Commission, though seemingly impossible at times, is based upon and backed by the authority of the risen and exalted Lord who promises to be ever-present with His people. Even now, as He has taken His place at the right hand of the Father, we have been given the Holy Spirit!
“…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
This month, as we discover how to reach “Our Jerusalem”, “Our Judea & Samaria”, and “The Ends of the Earth”, let us encourage one another to be “power-hungry Christians”! …hungry to be obedient to Christ who is the authority over all things and has given us the power to accomplish His will for His glory!
Have you ever been given a seemingly impossible task and wished that you had any and all resources available at your disposal? What if the one who gave you that task was in control over such resources and made it all available to you? What would you do with it?
When asked to quote the Great Commission, most of us remember,
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
But, in our daily lives, we often need to be reminded of verse 18:
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
The Great Commission, though seemingly impossible at times, is based upon and backed by the authority of the risen and exalted Lord who promises to be ever-present with His people. Even now, as He has taken His place at the right hand of the Father, we have been given the Holy Spirit!
“…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
This month, as we discover how to reach “Our Jerusalem”, “Our Judea & Samaria”, and “The Ends of the Earth”, let us encourage one another to be “power-hungry Christians”! …hungry to be obedient to Christ who is the authority over all things and has given us the power to accomplish His will for His glory!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
A 6,884 Foot Drop
Just got back from Mexico City on Monday night. This city is 7,347 feet above sea level with an approximate population of 25 million people (depending on who you ask). Well, now I'm back in Dallas (elevation = 463 feet). Thus, the "6,884 foot drop" back down from one culture to another.I had a great time meeting with missionaries from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras... together, we prayerfully assessed our short-term mission program (at CAM International) and rejoiced in how God has been working in these various countries! Part of my role this past weekend was to encourage unity, brainstorm ideas for ministry, and begin implementing 'Standards of Excellence' for the mission...
"As short-term mission practitioners we strive to appropriately express God’s redemptive mission throughout his world (missio Dei), and to glorify him — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — in everything we do. We acknowledge that many people are affected by our involvement in short-term mission — some positively, some negatively, some whom we may never meet. We further acknowledge that short-term mission participants include not merely those who go, but those who send (3 John 5-8) and those who receive (Matt. 10:40-42). We also acknowledge that short-term mission is not an isolated event — but rather an integrated process over time affecting all participants. This process consists of pre-field, on-field, and post-field stages. We desire to pursue excellence and to strengthen our overall effectiveness worldwide. We do so not in a legalistic or rigid manner, but in a redemptive manner by voluntarily adopting and committing ourselves to the Standards of Excellence in our short-term mission efforts."
But, in the midst of it all, I was continually thankful that God is the one who truly shows us the way...
"The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps." - Proverbs 16:9
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
What do you believe?
Jesus prayed to his father,
"that the world may believe that You sent Me".
So, what are we doing that makes the world believe
(or not believe) in Jesus?
"that the world may believe that You sent Me".
So, what are we doing that makes the world believe
(or not believe) in Jesus?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)