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!

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

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?