I was walking down a narrow but busy street to drop off an item for a Church member the other day. I had to park about a half a kilometer away. All of a sudden this little girl ran out of her house screaming "mama" with tears bursting from her eyes. She couldn't have been two years old and she was wearing nothing but slippers. She ran into the street and without scarcely thinking, I grabbed her arm and pulled her back just as a vehicle almost clipped her. She freaked out even more because I'm pretty sure a big white guy had never grabbed her arm before, but I needed to hold her so that she wouldn't get killed in her confusion and emotion. She was lost... or rather, she probably woke up in her house alone and was so startled and upset, that she went out to try and find her mother. The mom did show up a few long minutes later. She was carrying a bag of groceries. It appeared to me that she had left her daughter sleeping for just a few minutes and didn't anticipate what would happen.
To me, this represented the lost of the world. Those who don't know Jesus Christ. They pass us in the street all of the time, lost, dazed and confused, but we don't have the urgency to reach them, to care for them, to comfort them or to protect them. Maybe we forget the danger that they are in, the danger of becoming eternally lost.
My prayer for my own life and I hope will be your prayer too, is that we will become more sensitive to those who are lost... who need a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
As with this little girl, I believe that we arrive at just the right place at the right time on a regular basis even though we may not know it. May the Lord open our eyes to see every opportunity to save the lives we come accross in this journey. In the end, our lifes work will be calculated by how many of the lost we saved before going to our eternal reward.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Floods and Ministry in Mindanao
It is December 20, just days before Christmas of 2011. Ethan and I have accompanied my parents to Iligan City, Mindanao, Philippines. We flew into Cagayan De Oro yesterday and then took a van the rest of the way. We are here to spend precious time with them while they are near. My Mom is now 74 and my Dad 72 and they are still going strong, full time in ministry. My Father was invited to preach the special sessions for the Lanao District Council Convention for the Philippine Assemblies of God.
This trip has been planned for many months but as of this past week-end, we weren’t sure if the ministry would continue due to the typhoon, heavy rains and the flash floods we were hearing about on the news Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Manila. The coordinator didn’t contact us and so we boarded the flight, not being certain that they would meet us at the airport, because all that we had was an E-mail address and no phone number.
In the newspaper on the flight, I saw that the number of confirmed dead in this area has now reached over 600 and the death toll is expected to exceed 1,000 because hundreds are yet missing. It was the wife of the District Superintendant who picked us up. We found that from their Church alone, 12 people are confirmed dead. The flash flood which took the lives hit at around 1am and swept entire homes and families away. We crossed the river on the way to Iligan, one which had swelled and overflowed to deadly levels. We saw flattened foliage, cars and trucks bashed, turned sideways and even upside down. Houses and business establishments were crumbled and destroyed for several kilometres. Mud is everywhere even on the highway miles away from the disaster zone. So much mud that vehicles are literally stuck like they have been cemented and doors of houses cannot be opened because the mud is more than half way up.
Many of the funeral homes and hospitals have stopped receiving bodies because they have no more facility or materials to treat the bodies. They have run out of chemicals. The bodies, since they are filled with muddy water are decaying so quickly that there is a fear that identification in many cases will be impossible. It’s sad, friends. Very very sad...
There were water trucks in Cagayan De Oro stopping in neighborhoods to provide fresh water to people waiting with plastic containers. Relief workers are arriving in groups of dozens and hundreds from all over the Philippines. The trip from Cagayan to Iligan which normally would take maybe 1 ½ hours took almost 4 hours because of the incredible amount of traffic.
But there are miracles! God is sovereign and He chooses what to do when people pray based on what is best according to the “big picture” that only He knows. One Church member had only ankle deep water in their home, but the rest of the homes around them had water beyond the first floor. It just doesn’t make sense! A Church which is in a low lying area and has been flooded repeatedly through the years is bone dry! Amazing! My favorite miracle I have heard so far saved the life of an 80+ year old woman.
She was on the roof of a neighbors 3 story house in one of the worst hit areas with many other people when the house was struck by a large tree in the flood. The house was in her words, “broken” and everyone was swept off into the mud and debris filled water... except for her. She called on the name of Jesus and as she spoke His name, her dress caught on something which held her in place until the flood waters subsided and she was safe. Awesome God!!!
The Philippine authorities have actually picked people up at sea who were swept out from rivers of flood waters. But for every one that survives, multiple dozens didn’t survive.
I am watching God move in these meetings in a spectacular way! We know that God moves when hearts are broken, open and hungry. Please pray not only for this current ministry, but for the Church in Iligan, Cagayan, Dumaguete and the other affected cities in Mindanao, Philippines. Rebuilding these lives is going to take much hard work, sacrifice, outside help and supernatural intervention. Our greatest prayer is towards the harvest! May God use this catastrophe in order to save lives for eternity! May His Church be mobilised in power, strength, determination and with compassion!
If you are led to donate to the victims of this catastrophe, we will funnel the funds directly and in full to the Churches that we personally know and work with in Iligan City. Please E-mail me for instructions on how to deliver the funds most rapidly depending on where you are. pastorstevemckinney@gmail.com
This trip has been planned for many months but as of this past week-end, we weren’t sure if the ministry would continue due to the typhoon, heavy rains and the flash floods we were hearing about on the news Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Manila. The coordinator didn’t contact us and so we boarded the flight, not being certain that they would meet us at the airport, because all that we had was an E-mail address and no phone number.
In the newspaper on the flight, I saw that the number of confirmed dead in this area has now reached over 600 and the death toll is expected to exceed 1,000 because hundreds are yet missing. It was the wife of the District Superintendant who picked us up. We found that from their Church alone, 12 people are confirmed dead. The flash flood which took the lives hit at around 1am and swept entire homes and families away. We crossed the river on the way to Iligan, one which had swelled and overflowed to deadly levels. We saw flattened foliage, cars and trucks bashed, turned sideways and even upside down. Houses and business establishments were crumbled and destroyed for several kilometres. Mud is everywhere even on the highway miles away from the disaster zone. So much mud that vehicles are literally stuck like they have been cemented and doors of houses cannot be opened because the mud is more than half way up.
Many of the funeral homes and hospitals have stopped receiving bodies because they have no more facility or materials to treat the bodies. They have run out of chemicals. The bodies, since they are filled with muddy water are decaying so quickly that there is a fear that identification in many cases will be impossible. It’s sad, friends. Very very sad...
There were water trucks in Cagayan De Oro stopping in neighborhoods to provide fresh water to people waiting with plastic containers. Relief workers are arriving in groups of dozens and hundreds from all over the Philippines. The trip from Cagayan to Iligan which normally would take maybe 1 ½ hours took almost 4 hours because of the incredible amount of traffic.
But there are miracles! God is sovereign and He chooses what to do when people pray based on what is best according to the “big picture” that only He knows. One Church member had only ankle deep water in their home, but the rest of the homes around them had water beyond the first floor. It just doesn’t make sense! A Church which is in a low lying area and has been flooded repeatedly through the years is bone dry! Amazing! My favorite miracle I have heard so far saved the life of an 80+ year old woman.
She was on the roof of a neighbors 3 story house in one of the worst hit areas with many other people when the house was struck by a large tree in the flood. The house was in her words, “broken” and everyone was swept off into the mud and debris filled water... except for her. She called on the name of Jesus and as she spoke His name, her dress caught on something which held her in place until the flood waters subsided and she was safe. Awesome God!!!
The Philippine authorities have actually picked people up at sea who were swept out from rivers of flood waters. But for every one that survives, multiple dozens didn’t survive.
I am watching God move in these meetings in a spectacular way! We know that God moves when hearts are broken, open and hungry. Please pray not only for this current ministry, but for the Church in Iligan, Cagayan, Dumaguete and the other affected cities in Mindanao, Philippines. Rebuilding these lives is going to take much hard work, sacrifice, outside help and supernatural intervention. Our greatest prayer is towards the harvest! May God use this catastrophe in order to save lives for eternity! May His Church be mobilised in power, strength, determination and with compassion!
If you are led to donate to the victims of this catastrophe, we will funnel the funds directly and in full to the Churches that we personally know and work with in Iligan City. Please E-mail me for instructions on how to deliver the funds most rapidly depending on where you are. pastorstevemckinney@gmail.com
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
A Consolation Prize?
Jesus looked at His disciples and told them in front of a large crowd that they are blessed because they have made big sacrifices and that these sacrifices which are investments in God's Kingdom, cause them to inherit the blessings of God's Kingdom. Here is the scripture:
Luke 6:20b (NKJV) Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Jesus then addresses the crowd and tells them that if they haven't made sacrifices for God's Kingdom, then they have already received their blessing. In the New King James Version, we translate the word to "consolation" and in the NIV the same word is translated to "comfort." Here is the verse:
Luke 6:24 (NKJV) But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
We of course understand that when you receive your reward here on earth, that you cannot take it with you to heaven and it is temporary where as if you live your life to build rewards in heaven, that those rewards last forever. That is why Jesus said it is a "woe" if you get your comfort/consolation now. Because it is nothing compared to an eternal reward.
Have you ever received a "consolation prize?" Someone got a really cool prize and the 2nd and 3rd runners up got something made out of plastic? The root word of consolation is console. It means to comfort someone who has experienced loss. In terms of a prize, the lesser prize is purposed to comfort the ones who didn't get the major prize.
That is what earthly riches are likened to by Jesus. You could have had Kingdom prizes. You could have had eternal rewards. But because you chose to invest only in yourself and not in God's Kingdom, because you chose your own comfort and lived without sacrifice, you have settled for the consolation riches. Jesus said, woe to you.
Let us live our lives going for Kingdom prizes and not settle for woe-full consolation gifts. Enough said!
Luke 6:20b (NKJV) Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Jesus then addresses the crowd and tells them that if they haven't made sacrifices for God's Kingdom, then they have already received their blessing. In the New King James Version, we translate the word to "consolation" and in the NIV the same word is translated to "comfort." Here is the verse:
Luke 6:24 (NKJV) But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
We of course understand that when you receive your reward here on earth, that you cannot take it with you to heaven and it is temporary where as if you live your life to build rewards in heaven, that those rewards last forever. That is why Jesus said it is a "woe" if you get your comfort/consolation now. Because it is nothing compared to an eternal reward.
Have you ever received a "consolation prize?" Someone got a really cool prize and the 2nd and 3rd runners up got something made out of plastic? The root word of consolation is console. It means to comfort someone who has experienced loss. In terms of a prize, the lesser prize is purposed to comfort the ones who didn't get the major prize.
That is what earthly riches are likened to by Jesus. You could have had Kingdom prizes. You could have had eternal rewards. But because you chose to invest only in yourself and not in God's Kingdom, because you chose your own comfort and lived without sacrifice, you have settled for the consolation riches. Jesus said, woe to you.
Let us live our lives going for Kingdom prizes and not settle for woe-full consolation gifts. Enough said!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Worship at TFI Gateway Mall Cinema 2
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thanksgiving Dinner at Johnny Rockets - And Camp!
Ethan and I had dinner at Johnny Rockets for Thanksgiving (USA) on Friday because we missed celebrating on Thursday because we were at the Tabernacle of Faith Christian Academy Grade School Camp in a rural locale. We would have cooked a turkey, but we have no oven in our apartment :-). We would have gone to the home of any number of American Missionary Friends, but we were a day late. So we had chili burgers, chili dogs and milk shakes at a nostolgic American diner instead. It was great! Ethan had a blast putting 1 peso coins into the juke box and watching the wait staff occassionaly perform dance numbers to 50's/60's music.
Ethan was so happy after the camp. It was his first ever as he is now in grade 4 and the camp is for grades 4-6. We had wonderful guest speakers, Assembly of God missionaries Mark and Sarah Brown who along with their team shared in the first two sessions. They used props such as a parachute and a robot and even did a "shadow surgery" in which they removed "sinful" items from a patient behind a back-lit sheet. The kids not only loved it, but the illustrations are memorable. Then in the third session (Thursday night), I did not share my prepared message as worship (led by Leyl Bartoleme and Jay Aquino) took off in an amazing way. By the 4th song, kids were weeping before the Lord and by the 6th song we were in a full revival. It all started because there were songs about the Father and the kids who miss their earthly fathers due to seperation (there is no divorce in the Philippines), being work-a-holics, not showing them love, etc., began to forgive them and allow God to heal them of their pain. But it didn't stop there. Mothers, uncles, siblings, teachers, friends, enemies, they were forgiving them all and forgiving each other. The tears turned to joy and there was allot of hugging going on and then the worship flew because of high praise and a victorious celebration! So great and amazing!!
I didn't get a chance to write about the High School Camp a couple of weeks ago but it was equally amazing!! God moved as our guest, Carlo Victa (from San Diego and Baguio City) taught us God's Word and as worship (led by Leyl and Yash Bartolome) took off as well! The High School students are transformed and the difference is still obvious as I walk the hallways of the school even today. God is sooooo good!!!
We have much to be Thankful for. I am thankful for God's faithfulness not only in my life and in the lives of my family members, but also in the lives of my TFCA Family. The Students, the Teachers and the Staff. God is working guys and let us continue to keep our hearts sensitive before Him daily. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Ethan was so happy after the camp. It was his first ever as he is now in grade 4 and the camp is for grades 4-6. We had wonderful guest speakers, Assembly of God missionaries Mark and Sarah Brown who along with their team shared in the first two sessions. They used props such as a parachute and a robot and even did a "shadow surgery" in which they removed "sinful" items from a patient behind a back-lit sheet. The kids not only loved it, but the illustrations are memorable. Then in the third session (Thursday night), I did not share my prepared message as worship (led by Leyl Bartoleme and Jay Aquino) took off in an amazing way. By the 4th song, kids were weeping before the Lord and by the 6th song we were in a full revival. It all started because there were songs about the Father and the kids who miss their earthly fathers due to seperation (there is no divorce in the Philippines), being work-a-holics, not showing them love, etc., began to forgive them and allow God to heal them of their pain. But it didn't stop there. Mothers, uncles, siblings, teachers, friends, enemies, they were forgiving them all and forgiving each other. The tears turned to joy and there was allot of hugging going on and then the worship flew because of high praise and a victorious celebration! So great and amazing!!
I didn't get a chance to write about the High School Camp a couple of weeks ago but it was equally amazing!! God moved as our guest, Carlo Victa (from San Diego and Baguio City) taught us God's Word and as worship (led by Leyl and Yash Bartolome) took off as well! The High School students are transformed and the difference is still obvious as I walk the hallways of the school even today. God is sooooo good!!!
We have much to be Thankful for. I am thankful for God's faithfulness not only in my life and in the lives of my family members, but also in the lives of my TFCA Family. The Students, the Teachers and the Staff. God is working guys and let us continue to keep our hearts sensitive before Him daily. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Hunger NOW, Cry NOW, Be FILLED
In the Beatitudes (Luke 6:20-23), Jesus twice says "now."
"Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh." (NKJV) - verse 21
So if you want to be filled with food and filled with laughter, it's not enough to have hungered and cried previously and it won't do you current good to plan on hungering or crying tomorrow or later today. You need to do it NOW.
I have been instructed by my doctor and dietitian to eat 6 small meals a day in order to keep my blood sugar levels more stable. This has changed my life drastically in many ways. Firstly, my metabolism has increased which has caused me to lose weight (in a good way) and my energy has increased. Secondly, if I eat too much at any given meal, I won't be hungry in time to eat again. Then I have to eat when I'm not hungry.
Eating when I'm not hungry is one of the least satisfying things that I do. I really don't like to do it but I have to do it. And so I have become good at not eating too much and I seldom eat junk food anymore. That way when it is time to eat, I have a hunger to satisfy which makes ingesting that food all the more pleasurable to me. Much more satisfying!
Sometimes we eat the Word of God out of habit, out of discipline, out of obligation even when we are not hungry and it isn't nearly as satisfying. I do believe that you should read God's Word every day no matter how you feel, but I also do believe that we are responsible for our own level of hunger by being purposeful about not filling our lives with "junk food"... the junk food of busy-ness, meaningless entertainment, so on and so forth.
I need to come to God hungry. I need to open God's Word hungry and eager to eat! And when I do that, His Word promises that I will be filled!
The greatest times of weeping that I have experienced have been when I become aware of my own sin, failures and weaknesses. My mistakes and my disobedience towards my God. The conviction which the Holy Spirit brings upon us is necessary and the results are beautiful. I pour my heart out to God, I come to Him appealing for mercy and He grants it and I end up feeling so great and filled with joy! It is awesome to be cleansed from my sins and cleared of all unrighteousness. There is nothing else like that!
So the question that I am posing today is this. Are you hungry NOW? Are you crying NOW? When you hunger, wait to eat from the table of the Lord and don't accept inferior food. When you cry, direct your tears towards the feet of Jesus the same way the sinful woman with the alabaster jar did when she washed His feet and ask Him to cleanse you of your sins. If you hunger NOW and weep NOW, you WILL be filled! You will be satisfied!
"Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh." (NKJV) - verse 21
So if you want to be filled with food and filled with laughter, it's not enough to have hungered and cried previously and it won't do you current good to plan on hungering or crying tomorrow or later today. You need to do it NOW.
I have been instructed by my doctor and dietitian to eat 6 small meals a day in order to keep my blood sugar levels more stable. This has changed my life drastically in many ways. Firstly, my metabolism has increased which has caused me to lose weight (in a good way) and my energy has increased. Secondly, if I eat too much at any given meal, I won't be hungry in time to eat again. Then I have to eat when I'm not hungry.
Eating when I'm not hungry is one of the least satisfying things that I do. I really don't like to do it but I have to do it. And so I have become good at not eating too much and I seldom eat junk food anymore. That way when it is time to eat, I have a hunger to satisfy which makes ingesting that food all the more pleasurable to me. Much more satisfying!
Sometimes we eat the Word of God out of habit, out of discipline, out of obligation even when we are not hungry and it isn't nearly as satisfying. I do believe that you should read God's Word every day no matter how you feel, but I also do believe that we are responsible for our own level of hunger by being purposeful about not filling our lives with "junk food"... the junk food of busy-ness, meaningless entertainment, so on and so forth.
I need to come to God hungry. I need to open God's Word hungry and eager to eat! And when I do that, His Word promises that I will be filled!
The greatest times of weeping that I have experienced have been when I become aware of my own sin, failures and weaknesses. My mistakes and my disobedience towards my God. The conviction which the Holy Spirit brings upon us is necessary and the results are beautiful. I pour my heart out to God, I come to Him appealing for mercy and He grants it and I end up feeling so great and filled with joy! It is awesome to be cleansed from my sins and cleared of all unrighteousness. There is nothing else like that!
So the question that I am posing today is this. Are you hungry NOW? Are you crying NOW? When you hunger, wait to eat from the table of the Lord and don't accept inferior food. When you cry, direct your tears towards the feet of Jesus the same way the sinful woman with the alabaster jar did when she washed His feet and ask Him to cleanse you of your sins. If you hunger NOW and weep NOW, you WILL be filled! You will be satisfied!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Faithful is My God!
I can't help but singing the old song "Great is Thy Faithfulness" right now!
I'm in the Pastoral office alone because it is Monday. Most Pastors take the day off but I am the Pastor on Call on Mondays for Tabernacle of Faith International's Gateway and San Juan locations and I also conduct the 6:30am Staff Devotions for the Tabernacle of Faith Christian Academy.
This week-end was marvelous ministry-wise, but it was desperate financially. I had loaned a person close to me everything that I had except for about $10 in my pocket on Thursday with the promise of repayment on Friday. He only needed it for one day. But Friday came, then Saturday came, then Sunday came and now Monday is here and not a peep, not a call back, not an email,,,, nothing. We have been eating creatively all week-end now... :-) I know some of you know what I'm talking about.
I did have a miracle of Friday, an amount deposited in my bank in Chicago and so I went to the ATM on Saturday morning to withdraw. But I couldn't get it. I went to the bank web site on my tablet and found that there is a 3 business day hold on the deposit. Okey... I call that a delayed miracle. But still no money. I couldn't even drive my car because the empty light is already on.
But then just today I find out that a former member of my Church who has moved overseas has "thought" (the Holy Spirit did that!) about me and sent me more than enough to get me through the week. At least until the other check clears and hopefully my good friend pays me back the one day loan!
I can't tell you how disappointed I was when I went to the ATM and found out the first miracle was delayed. I had to overcome my negative emotions and thoughts with radical praise and machine gun scripture quotation. But because the second miracle has arrived, it feels good knowing that the first miracle is still in the pipeline, right on God's perfect schedule! Great Is His Faithfulness!!!
Oh another song is coming now... "Why should I feel discouraged.... why should the shadows come... why should my heart feel lonely and long for heaven and home... when Jesus is my portion... a constant Friend is He... His eye is on the sparrow... and I know He watches me...
God gives us a steady supply of miracles. I call them sustaining miracles. I am so happy to be a part of God's Kingdom. His Kingdom has incredible benefits!
Let us continue to believe God even in our times of need.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV) "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
I'm in the Pastoral office alone because it is Monday. Most Pastors take the day off but I am the Pastor on Call on Mondays for Tabernacle of Faith International's Gateway and San Juan locations and I also conduct the 6:30am Staff Devotions for the Tabernacle of Faith Christian Academy.
This week-end was marvelous ministry-wise, but it was desperate financially. I had loaned a person close to me everything that I had except for about $10 in my pocket on Thursday with the promise of repayment on Friday. He only needed it for one day. But Friday came, then Saturday came, then Sunday came and now Monday is here and not a peep, not a call back, not an email,,,, nothing. We have been eating creatively all week-end now... :-) I know some of you know what I'm talking about.
I did have a miracle of Friday, an amount deposited in my bank in Chicago and so I went to the ATM on Saturday morning to withdraw. But I couldn't get it. I went to the bank web site on my tablet and found that there is a 3 business day hold on the deposit. Okey... I call that a delayed miracle. But still no money. I couldn't even drive my car because the empty light is already on.
But then just today I find out that a former member of my Church who has moved overseas has "thought" (the Holy Spirit did that!) about me and sent me more than enough to get me through the week. At least until the other check clears and hopefully my good friend pays me back the one day loan!
I can't tell you how disappointed I was when I went to the ATM and found out the first miracle was delayed. I had to overcome my negative emotions and thoughts with radical praise and machine gun scripture quotation. But because the second miracle has arrived, it feels good knowing that the first miracle is still in the pipeline, right on God's perfect schedule! Great Is His Faithfulness!!!
Oh another song is coming now... "Why should I feel discouraged.... why should the shadows come... why should my heart feel lonely and long for heaven and home... when Jesus is my portion... a constant Friend is He... His eye is on the sparrow... and I know He watches me...
God gives us a steady supply of miracles. I call them sustaining miracles. I am so happy to be a part of God's Kingdom. His Kingdom has incredible benefits!
Let us continue to believe God even in our times of need.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV) "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
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