One person who we interact with here in Manila has been so devastated by the Ondoy Flood earlier this year that she is in a mode of hinting to us and to everyone we and she knows that she could use some extra help. We have already helped her and we are continuing to help her which will include a Christmas blessing that she and her family will receive on New Years Eve.
In the meanwhile, we have to watch our attitudes so that we don’t get annoyed at all of the hinting, remembering that she is in a desperate situation. She has a decent home but they don’t have a stitch of furniture anymore, barely were able to afford to re-outfit their kids for school and she does laundry every night because her family members only have a few items of clothing. As with most of the victims of the flood, it will take more then a year to recover.
This constant hinting has gone to a new intensity the closer we get to Christmas because of the expectation that most of us have that we should be able to do special things such as exchange gifts and share special meals (multiple times) in order to... celebrate the birth of Jesus?
This last Sunday, I delivered a sermon entitled “Egyptian Escape” which is about the account in Matthew 2:13-15 where we read that Joseph was instructed by an angel to escape with Jesus and Mary to Egypt until Herod died. This was to avoid Jesus being killed after the Magi foiled his plot.
One of the main points we can understand from this account is that after a great victory will often come a brutal attack. Sometimes, God will direct us to escape to a foreign place that we don’t want to go for a season. Jesus was not a slave in Egypt as the Children of Israel had been at one time, but it was definitely uncomfortable. If living in a foreign place was not uncomfortable at some level, don’t you think there would be more missionaries to hard places?! :-) I don’t imagine that Mary felt that abandoning their home, business & disappearing from their family was any small thing! It’s good that the Magi had endowed them with riches enough to sustain them for this season... God’s provision for sure!
To give a summery of this teaching, it is important that we come back and don’t get stuck in our Egypt. You can delve further into this by reading the original prophesy quoted by Matthew in Hosea 11. A breakthrough point from this prophesy is that Jesus went to Egypt and was then called out of Egypt and we can follow Him by following His roar. In my opinion, the Roar of His Word! Amen! Don’t get me started...
Back on track, I shared about one of my Egypt experiences which has stayed with me to become what I consider my best Christmas ever.
This is more then 15 years ago now. I had experienced a severe business failure. What this meant is that we moved from a large and comfortable home to a small and cold apartment. We called it “cozy” but that was to throw anyone off the scent who might have discovered we had been forced to downsize. Even worse, we went from driving beautiful cars to driving a car that I could not determine the color of. It was so oxidized that I could not tell if it had originally been green, or brown, or...?? My two kids were so horrified that they no longer wanted me to drop them off at school. They instructed me to drop them off a block and a half away and they walked the rest of the way. EGYPT!!!
I went into a depression that I almost didn’t make it out of which lasted nearly two years. My wife HAD to work for the first time during our marriage... I had previously always brought home more then enough bread.
We didn’t have a Christmas tree for the first time ever, not even one present for anyone in the house and we were anticipating not tasting turkey, ham or any other holiday food. We were eating toast with small amounts of melted cheese (sometimes) and top ramen (all the time).
It was a few days before Christmas and it was cold. My oldest son discovered a notice on the door informing us that our power was going to be shut off due to non-payment of our electric bill. I didn’t have it. EGYPT!!!
I heard that the Salvation Army was paying power bills as their primary form of charity at the time. I swallowed my pride and went to their office. I sat in the car for what seemed like an eternity as I built up the courage to go in... Or was it as I killed my nasty pride. I was an arrogant, a self made person who had never received charity before in my life. And that was the problem. I wanted to be self made. And this was what I believe God wanted to deal with. My attitude, my pride, my arrogance. I told the congregation yesterday that they wouldn’t have wanted to know me back then... and that I wouldn’t have wanted to know them either!
I went in. Nobody else was there except for one secretary. I took that as an answer to prayer that God was allowing me to remain mostly anonymous! The young Jamaican woman took my disconnection notice, called the power company and handled it in about 3 minutes. She then asked me some details about my family.
When I walked in the door of the house, my wife anxiously asked if it had been handled. I gave her the good news, but I was still rocked by the ordeal of killing my pride. I was grateful but embarrassed.
Not long after I arrived home, a van pulled up from Saint Vincent De Paul, the Catholic Charity. That Jamaican secretary had called them! They put a tree in our place and filled the space under it with presents for Chad and Devin with their names on them. Then they brought bags of groceries in! Unbelievable!
To this day, I am thankful for and occasionally support the Salvation Army. I was thrilled when they received the 1 billion dollar donation from Mrs. Croc, the wife of the founder of McDonald’s a few years ago. Praise God!
I firmly believe that God changed me on that day and in that season of my life. I would not be where I am today if it had not been for being forced to overcome my pride while living in Egypt.
I know that I need more Egypt experiences in order to continue to become the person that God wants me to be. I’m in EGYPT now in some ways. How about you? This is sure to be another stellar Christmas filled with anticipation, hope and adoration of Jesus. It will be a great year for you too, no matter your economic condition... as long as you follow the roar of Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah out of Egypt as well! Let us not turn the 11 day journey into a 40 year journey as the children of Israel did long ago...
Let us stand on His Word and on His promises! The best is yet to come, partly because He will bless us more and more, but more importantly, we will be more and more ready to receive His blessings! For we are stewards of God and “it is required of stewards that we be found faithful!”
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Great Service with 2 Saved Today!
At the Church I spoke for in Shah Alam, Malaysia this morning, we had an incredible experience. The worship was over the top, the message was clear & strong and the response time at the altar was like it was out of a dream! The prophetic ministry was razer sharp and the Lord touched so many in an awesome way! But my favorite part was when two Tamil, Hindu guys came to the alter and I was honored to lead them in the prayer of salvation! Hearing them reject all other beliefs and put their trust in Jesus was awesome! As soon as they said "amen," the power of God hit them like a tsunami and they went down in the power of God and experienced His presence as they lay there side by side, spending precious "carpet time" with Jesus! This is what it's all about!!!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Group Foto from Youth Camp in Port Dickson, Malaysia
We had a great time at Youth Camp at Port Dickson in Malaysia! We're posing in front of an amazing climbing wall. The activities that the campers enjoyed between the sessions were team building, survival type. This rustic site is used by businesses and organizations but it worked great for our group as well. Fantastic! We were in the midst of palm tree groves (the kind that they harvest palm oil from) and the campers stayed in permanant tents. For those of you wondering, the other white guy in the picture is my friend Pastor Steffen from Germany, a committed servant of God who lives in Malaysia. 
Friday, November 20, 2009
"Overwhelmed"
The dictionary describes the word “overwhelm” as being upset, submerged or overthrown. You could say that to be overwhelmed means you have lost or been buried.
The Apostle Paul said that he was: (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)
hard pressed on every side – but not crushed
perplexed – but not in despair
persecuted – but not abandoned
struck down – but not destroyed
Often when I think I’m going under or when I have suffered a set back of some kind, the feeling that I have is that I am overwhelmed. When this happens, I just want to sit down right where I am even if it’s on the floor and just give up. I imagine it would be like that last moment just before you drown or when you are about to lose your grip while dangling high in the air just before plummeting to the ground.
I believe that though Paul FELT perplexed, his experience with God and more importantly, the Word of God told him different: that he should not despair. That when he was perplexed (didn’t understand why he was going through his challenges), that “God’s ways are higher then our ways.” When persecuted, he undoubtedly remembered that God’s Word promises persecutions but that God never abandons us while we are suffering through them. And that when he was struck down, knocked to his knees, that he was not destroyed and that he could by God’s power, get up again.
I want to turn the word “overwhelmed” into a SIGNAL. When we begin to feel overwhelmed, that is the time to turn the tide and overwhelm the enemy, overwhelm our circumstances, conducting spiritual warfare by using the Word of God! And if we are having difficulty releasing scripture from our mouths or going into effective prayer, then let’s get some music going to overwhelm our negative, depressive and defeated thoughts or maybe some group prayer.
One of the most important things that we must do in order to be able to speak up and rise up the way Paul did, is that we must overwhelm our own feelings, emotions and human understanding with the reality of God’s Kingdom in the light of His Word.
Another more common word in the Bible which is similar to “overwhelm” is “overcome.” Here are some scriptures to start overwhelming our emotions and circumstances with (all in NIV):
John 16:33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
· What did Jesus say to do? “Take Heart!” That means BE ENCOURAGED!
1 John 4:4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 5:4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
· A hint on this one. You can’t overwhelm the world without FAITH
1 John 5:5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
· Come on! You gotta believe it right NOW. It will be easier to believe it if you will start confessing these scriptures.
Another word that I associate with “overwhelmed” is “HELPLESS.” Helpless is how I feel when I’m overwhelmed. I get to a point that I realize that there is literally nothing else that I can do to affect or change a circumstance. This is how the flood victims here in Manila felt while they were watching their possessions destroyed or when a mother held the lifeless body of her drowned child. It is how the Father of a household feels who has lost his job and comes home after spending the day looking for a job with no good news and with no groceries and the family is going to go to bed hungry. This of course is more severe in the nations of the world with no welfare system. If they don’t have relatives with resources, they will eventually die of sickness or starvation.
Here’s the one I personally don’t love to experience: You have a deadline... maybe to pay something. You have been praying and praying and have truly done your best. You have believed that God would not allow His name to be tarnished by you being late. (Have you ever tried to use that one on the Lord? I have!) “God, you said that I am the head and not the tail, the lender and not the borrower!” And you really “felt it” while you were praying it!
Then the call comes from the landlord or the finance company and you find yourself saying these words. “I’m sorry but I simply don’t have it. I promise to pay as soon as I can. Thank you for your patience.” Then you hang up the phone (or worse, close the door) and that flood of despair comes. That unmistakeable disappointment that comes even causing you to question yourself. “God? Whatever it is, I’m sorry. Show me where my mistake was... I repent... Please help me to pay these bills, to find a good job, to manage my resources better.”
Some of you are probably wondering what it is that prompted me to write this. Well you are right that normally when a minister touches a subject, they have recently had dealings within the range of that subject in recent times whether they are willing to admit or not. OK... I’ll share :-)
I have a wonderful guy in my life who is a prayer partner and he has been used by God at times to supply our financial needs. He sent me a message several weeks ago saying that he was sending a donation of $300. Awesome! But it never arrived. He then sent me another message asking if I had received the $3,000. One zero makes a huge difference. I of course worked it out with him so that he was able to re-send the donation in a more reliable way. I was ecstatic that the $300 was a typo and that it was going to be 3K because that is really what we needed. We had recently come to the end of our financial rope having run out of funds and having only 30% of the support we need to survive. This large donation meant that we could go for probably three more months, a cause for many shouts of praise at our house!
When the funds arrived this morning, I found out that the typo was reversed from what I thought. The $3,000 was wrong and it really was $300. I immediately started thanking God for the $300 which is an amazing blessing. But at the same time, I started to wonder where the other $700 I have to have by tomorrow and the many hundreds more I will soon need will come from. It seems too late because international miracles take time... There went my human thinking again and I successfully turned a blessing into a mental struggle. I spent the next couple of hours battling that defeated feeling. I felt overwhelmed, helpless. I started wondering if maybe God isn’t with us here. If we need to go Stateside and hang up the ministry hat until this terrible economy gets better, if it ever gets better. I started to feel sorry for myself and started counting the number of letters, E-mails and messages I have sent to friends and people close to us asking for help that have not been answered. Not even a “no” or an “I’m sorry but we just don’t have it Pst Steve...” Ignored. Helpless. Overwhelmed.
I started crying in the car during the commute on the way to school with Ethan sitting beside me asking me, “Daddy, what’s wrong?!? Did someone hurt you? Tell me who it is and I’ll beat them up!” He is in that phase right now and it actually made me feel better.
But it’s not about feelings is it... I wrote this post and now I have read it for myself. I needed this! I hope you get something out of it too, but even if nobody ever reads it... it has already done me a world of good! I have been confessing and proclaiming these scriptures and I have been overwhelming my emotions and the devil himself! Then I received another green shoot in my wilderness. An SMS (text message) arrived at just the right time. Someone who I haven’t heard from in a long time said that even though he is going through a difficult time right now and just had his first baby, that God has told him to support our ministry $100 a month! My God! I needed that encouragement at just that moment! My little tears of depression turned into huge tears of joy and gratitude!! With that, we reached 40% of the support we need. Only 60% to go!
Just a few hours ago, the 70% seemed impossible but now 60% seems so within reach! What a difference FAITH makes!
I still need that miracle, but I know that it is en route and that though God seldom is early, He is never late! His timing and his method of distribution is perfect! I’m so encouraged right now that I want to run around the block several times and I probably will just as soon as I finish writing!
For those of you who have prayed for us, who are partnered with us and for those who have communicated, even saying “no” or “not at this time,” I want to say thank you so so much! You are awesome! For those of you have happened upon this post, please consider becoming a part of a mutual miracle and supporting our ministry. We need some pretty fast help. Thank you for your kind consideration my friend.
For more information about our ministry and the breakdown of our financial needs, please visit www.pastorstevemckinney.com . Details on how to send a donation are also listed at the top right hand side of this blog.
The Apostle Paul said that he was: (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)
hard pressed on every side – but not crushed
perplexed – but not in despair
persecuted – but not abandoned
struck down – but not destroyed
Often when I think I’m going under or when I have suffered a set back of some kind, the feeling that I have is that I am overwhelmed. When this happens, I just want to sit down right where I am even if it’s on the floor and just give up. I imagine it would be like that last moment just before you drown or when you are about to lose your grip while dangling high in the air just before plummeting to the ground.
I believe that though Paul FELT perplexed, his experience with God and more importantly, the Word of God told him different: that he should not despair. That when he was perplexed (didn’t understand why he was going through his challenges), that “God’s ways are higher then our ways.” When persecuted, he undoubtedly remembered that God’s Word promises persecutions but that God never abandons us while we are suffering through them. And that when he was struck down, knocked to his knees, that he was not destroyed and that he could by God’s power, get up again.
I want to turn the word “overwhelmed” into a SIGNAL. When we begin to feel overwhelmed, that is the time to turn the tide and overwhelm the enemy, overwhelm our circumstances, conducting spiritual warfare by using the Word of God! And if we are having difficulty releasing scripture from our mouths or going into effective prayer, then let’s get some music going to overwhelm our negative, depressive and defeated thoughts or maybe some group prayer.
One of the most important things that we must do in order to be able to speak up and rise up the way Paul did, is that we must overwhelm our own feelings, emotions and human understanding with the reality of God’s Kingdom in the light of His Word.
Another more common word in the Bible which is similar to “overwhelm” is “overcome.” Here are some scriptures to start overwhelming our emotions and circumstances with (all in NIV):
John 16:33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
· What did Jesus say to do? “Take Heart!” That means BE ENCOURAGED!
1 John 4:4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 5:4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
· A hint on this one. You can’t overwhelm the world without FAITH
1 John 5:5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
· Come on! You gotta believe it right NOW. It will be easier to believe it if you will start confessing these scriptures.
Another word that I associate with “overwhelmed” is “HELPLESS.” Helpless is how I feel when I’m overwhelmed. I get to a point that I realize that there is literally nothing else that I can do to affect or change a circumstance. This is how the flood victims here in Manila felt while they were watching their possessions destroyed or when a mother held the lifeless body of her drowned child. It is how the Father of a household feels who has lost his job and comes home after spending the day looking for a job with no good news and with no groceries and the family is going to go to bed hungry. This of course is more severe in the nations of the world with no welfare system. If they don’t have relatives with resources, they will eventually die of sickness or starvation.
Here’s the one I personally don’t love to experience: You have a deadline... maybe to pay something. You have been praying and praying and have truly done your best. You have believed that God would not allow His name to be tarnished by you being late. (Have you ever tried to use that one on the Lord? I have!) “God, you said that I am the head and not the tail, the lender and not the borrower!” And you really “felt it” while you were praying it!
Then the call comes from the landlord or the finance company and you find yourself saying these words. “I’m sorry but I simply don’t have it. I promise to pay as soon as I can. Thank you for your patience.” Then you hang up the phone (or worse, close the door) and that flood of despair comes. That unmistakeable disappointment that comes even causing you to question yourself. “God? Whatever it is, I’m sorry. Show me where my mistake was... I repent... Please help me to pay these bills, to find a good job, to manage my resources better.”
Some of you are probably wondering what it is that prompted me to write this. Well you are right that normally when a minister touches a subject, they have recently had dealings within the range of that subject in recent times whether they are willing to admit or not. OK... I’ll share :-)
I have a wonderful guy in my life who is a prayer partner and he has been used by God at times to supply our financial needs. He sent me a message several weeks ago saying that he was sending a donation of $300. Awesome! But it never arrived. He then sent me another message asking if I had received the $3,000. One zero makes a huge difference. I of course worked it out with him so that he was able to re-send the donation in a more reliable way. I was ecstatic that the $300 was a typo and that it was going to be 3K because that is really what we needed. We had recently come to the end of our financial rope having run out of funds and having only 30% of the support we need to survive. This large donation meant that we could go for probably three more months, a cause for many shouts of praise at our house!
When the funds arrived this morning, I found out that the typo was reversed from what I thought. The $3,000 was wrong and it really was $300. I immediately started thanking God for the $300 which is an amazing blessing. But at the same time, I started to wonder where the other $700 I have to have by tomorrow and the many hundreds more I will soon need will come from. It seems too late because international miracles take time... There went my human thinking again and I successfully turned a blessing into a mental struggle. I spent the next couple of hours battling that defeated feeling. I felt overwhelmed, helpless. I started wondering if maybe God isn’t with us here. If we need to go Stateside and hang up the ministry hat until this terrible economy gets better, if it ever gets better. I started to feel sorry for myself and started counting the number of letters, E-mails and messages I have sent to friends and people close to us asking for help that have not been answered. Not even a “no” or an “I’m sorry but we just don’t have it Pst Steve...” Ignored. Helpless. Overwhelmed.
I started crying in the car during the commute on the way to school with Ethan sitting beside me asking me, “Daddy, what’s wrong?!? Did someone hurt you? Tell me who it is and I’ll beat them up!” He is in that phase right now and it actually made me feel better.
But it’s not about feelings is it... I wrote this post and now I have read it for myself. I needed this! I hope you get something out of it too, but even if nobody ever reads it... it has already done me a world of good! I have been confessing and proclaiming these scriptures and I have been overwhelming my emotions and the devil himself! Then I received another green shoot in my wilderness. An SMS (text message) arrived at just the right time. Someone who I haven’t heard from in a long time said that even though he is going through a difficult time right now and just had his first baby, that God has told him to support our ministry $100 a month! My God! I needed that encouragement at just that moment! My little tears of depression turned into huge tears of joy and gratitude!! With that, we reached 40% of the support we need. Only 60% to go!
Just a few hours ago, the 70% seemed impossible but now 60% seems so within reach! What a difference FAITH makes!
I still need that miracle, but I know that it is en route and that though God seldom is early, He is never late! His timing and his method of distribution is perfect! I’m so encouraged right now that I want to run around the block several times and I probably will just as soon as I finish writing!
For those of you who have prayed for us, who are partnered with us and for those who have communicated, even saying “no” or “not at this time,” I want to say thank you so so much! You are awesome! For those of you have happened upon this post, please consider becoming a part of a mutual miracle and supporting our ministry. We need some pretty fast help. Thank you for your kind consideration my friend.
For more information about our ministry and the breakdown of our financial needs, please visit www.pastorstevemckinney.com . Details on how to send a donation are also listed at the top right hand side of this blog.
Monday, November 16, 2009
An Open Door
Joy and I spent an afternoon at the home of an influential retired Judge on Saturday. He is a passionate man who is heavily involved in politics. His wife is facing her 5th major surgery and we had opportunity to pray with her and we are believing God for a mighty miracle in her life! After that wonderful time with them, we then went to a political rally where I spoke to a group of business owners, politicians and community leaders, delivering a message from the Word of God which was relevant to them. It was a powerful time and gave us more exposure to the community in Marikina as we continue the post Ondoy flood relief work. God is good and we thank you for your continued prayers and support! This would not have been possible if it had not been for your generosity!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Choices and the Car Window
Most everyone would agree that life is about choices. Probably the greatest recurring theme that I have seen in the word of God in recent years would be about making good decisions. I believe that the greatest indicator that someone is “on track” with God is that they make better and better choices.
This in theory brings big “amen’s” but life puts it to the test...
Devin and I ran out to the car the other day to get to an appointment. It was parked just outside our house and when I opened the door, the window crumpled down. It had been shattered but the tint had held it together and it looked like a collage. I looked around and I saw a weed-wacker and other landscaping tools laying nearby and I remembered that a maintenance crew had been working near the car. I looked at the pattern on the broken glass and saw that a rock had probably hit the window. Though the equipment was there, the workers had all run off for a “break.”
I went to our housing association and they assured me that it is in the contract with the landscaping company that they must pay for any damage of this sort. I was relieved since we don’t exactly have a few hundred dollars extra in the cookie jar.
As it turns out, because our car is a year 2000 and an unusual model, the glass is not easy to find. The estimate that we got was from the Toyota dealer and was $225. This is much more expensive then most car windows could be repaired for but I was determined to hold the company to it.
When I talked to the association a few days later to follow up, I found out that the landscaping company wanted time to get new estimates from glass shops for non-original glass.
I was getting tired of driving with a shattered and taped window which not only looked terrible but was dangerous because I could not see to the left clearly. Every time I turned was a major event.
I explained that I did not want to wait any longer and that I expected the repairs to begin immediately. And I further explained that I did not want non-original glass. I envisioned something inferior that might not be a very good fit...
The guy at our association said that he would be happy to enforce my wishes if I demand it, but he explained to me that even though the landscaping company was paying for it, that the crew of 4 guys would be docked for the repair from their paychecks. They had already found a shop that would do the entire repair including the glass, labor and tint for $55. Quite a difference from the $225.
I started to think about those guys and the fact that it was an accident. I also thought about the fact that I really wanted original Toyota glass and that it is my right to demand it. I then swung back and thought about the fact that those guys make about $100 a month each and that I would be causing them each to lose almost a half months income just because I want original glass...
I wanted to take the high road and get the good glass by paying for it myself. A year ago when I was Pastoring a Church where I received a salary, I could have done that and would have done that. But the reality is that I simply cannot do that at this time. Bummer!
And so I decided to go with the cheaper customized glass in order to help these guys out who accidentally trashed my car. If I had insisted on the more expensive glass, I imagine that would have taken some or all of their kids Christmas gifts away. I must admit that when I’m driving down the street in the future, the thought that my window is “inferior” will bother me at times. I suppose that we all need experiences like this in order to get over ourselves... Good choices are hard to make because they prune us, but it is definitely for the better!
They pick my car up to take it for the repair tomorrow at 10am.
This in theory brings big “amen’s” but life puts it to the test...
Devin and I ran out to the car the other day to get to an appointment. It was parked just outside our house and when I opened the door, the window crumpled down. It had been shattered but the tint had held it together and it looked like a collage. I looked around and I saw a weed-wacker and other landscaping tools laying nearby and I remembered that a maintenance crew had been working near the car. I looked at the pattern on the broken glass and saw that a rock had probably hit the window. Though the equipment was there, the workers had all run off for a “break.”
I went to our housing association and they assured me that it is in the contract with the landscaping company that they must pay for any damage of this sort. I was relieved since we don’t exactly have a few hundred dollars extra in the cookie jar.
As it turns out, because our car is a year 2000 and an unusual model, the glass is not easy to find. The estimate that we got was from the Toyota dealer and was $225. This is much more expensive then most car windows could be repaired for but I was determined to hold the company to it.
When I talked to the association a few days later to follow up, I found out that the landscaping company wanted time to get new estimates from glass shops for non-original glass.
I was getting tired of driving with a shattered and taped window which not only looked terrible but was dangerous because I could not see to the left clearly. Every time I turned was a major event.
I explained that I did not want to wait any longer and that I expected the repairs to begin immediately. And I further explained that I did not want non-original glass. I envisioned something inferior that might not be a very good fit...
The guy at our association said that he would be happy to enforce my wishes if I demand it, but he explained to me that even though the landscaping company was paying for it, that the crew of 4 guys would be docked for the repair from their paychecks. They had already found a shop that would do the entire repair including the glass, labor and tint for $55. Quite a difference from the $225.
I started to think about those guys and the fact that it was an accident. I also thought about the fact that I really wanted original Toyota glass and that it is my right to demand it. I then swung back and thought about the fact that those guys make about $100 a month each and that I would be causing them each to lose almost a half months income just because I want original glass...
I wanted to take the high road and get the good glass by paying for it myself. A year ago when I was Pastoring a Church where I received a salary, I could have done that and would have done that. But the reality is that I simply cannot do that at this time. Bummer!
And so I decided to go with the cheaper customized glass in order to help these guys out who accidentally trashed my car. If I had insisted on the more expensive glass, I imagine that would have taken some or all of their kids Christmas gifts away. I must admit that when I’m driving down the street in the future, the thought that my window is “inferior” will bother me at times. I suppose that we all need experiences like this in order to get over ourselves... Good choices are hard to make because they prune us, but it is definitely for the better!
They pick my car up to take it for the repair tomorrow at 10am.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Jonah & his 120,000 Converts
We studied the book of Jonah in our Pastoral Staff meeting today. This just as we have been evaluating the effectiveness of our follow up processes in TFI Gateway Mall Cubao.
If you take a look at it, you will see that after being spit out of the big fish, the man of God finally obeyed and actually went to Nineveh, preached repentance and the entire city including the King repented. Amazing!
I have met people who were able to convert entire villages and even towns, but never a community of 120,000. I once met a man who had 10% of his city of 80,000 attending his Church and that was incredible!
This guy Jonah was handed an opportunity to establish what would have been the largest Church in the World, but he developed an attitude. He wasn’t happy that the evil people of Nineveh had received mercy from God. He was disgusted with God, complained to God and left the city, praying that God would just let him die. This is where the story gets more interesting...
God makes a vine grow over Jonah which provides him with shade to ease his discomfort and this makes him happy. But then God, the same God who sent the nice vine sent a worm which made the vine die, the shade go away and made Jonah to want to die again.
God then tells Jonah that he should have tended the vine and defended it from the worm and makes him understand that it was his job to keep that vine, that blessing alive. Do you know the test that we often use on people, seeing if they are able to care for a plant first before having kids to prove they are ready to be parents? This was like that. God might as well have said, “If you can’t take care of a vine, then how can you take care of a Church?” Then God uses this example to describe how He felt about the new harvest of 120,000 souls in Nineveh which Jonah had basically just abandoned.
God showed Jonah that the new worshippers of God did not know their left from their right and that they would need guidance. They would need mentorship or they would die just like the vine.
Ultimately, we do not know if Jonah responded well to God’s message and returned to the city to tend this new flock. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. I hope he did!
The lesson for us is that follow up, care for those that the Lord gives us in the harvest truly depends on our attitude today just as much as it did Jonah’s attitude in that day. The Lord gave me a prophetic word at another Church in which I was serving and He told me that unless we care for the souls being saved in our Church, that He would stop sending visitors who would turn into converts. I investigated and found out that we in that Church were not effectively following up and those in the ministry which had the charge to do so were even being “selective,” only making those feel welcome who they liked. It was a wake up call for me then and I remember it now.
We at TFI Gateway are doing a good job following up, but we did discover a weakness. We have been relying on the people who bring the visitors to do the major part of the work of following up and it hasn’t been getting done in a timely manner and with lots of gaps. We have decided to step up our efforts and that our team of follow up ministry folks will become much more aggressive in personally following up with each visitor. And if the person who brought them does so as well, double effort is wonderful!
TFI Gateway people who are reading this??? We need your help and we need some new dedicated, responsible and friendly people to join our consolidation team led by Sister Mina. Please contact us?
I wish I could be Jonah right now and preach a message to 120,000 and they would all get saved. But he was raised up with a very specific message for a very specific time. It was something like this: “You are all going to die 40 days from now because of your sin and God’s anger unless you repent.” God has not told me that about Manila in 2009. But I am challenged... our entire staff is challenged to find out what the exact message for November of 2009 is so that we can be as effective as Jonah was in his day. But then we want to go a step further then he did and heed the command of Jesus, not to go make converts, but to make disciples of all nations!
If you take a look at it, you will see that after being spit out of the big fish, the man of God finally obeyed and actually went to Nineveh, preached repentance and the entire city including the King repented. Amazing!
I have met people who were able to convert entire villages and even towns, but never a community of 120,000. I once met a man who had 10% of his city of 80,000 attending his Church and that was incredible!
This guy Jonah was handed an opportunity to establish what would have been the largest Church in the World, but he developed an attitude. He wasn’t happy that the evil people of Nineveh had received mercy from God. He was disgusted with God, complained to God and left the city, praying that God would just let him die. This is where the story gets more interesting...
God makes a vine grow over Jonah which provides him with shade to ease his discomfort and this makes him happy. But then God, the same God who sent the nice vine sent a worm which made the vine die, the shade go away and made Jonah to want to die again.
God then tells Jonah that he should have tended the vine and defended it from the worm and makes him understand that it was his job to keep that vine, that blessing alive. Do you know the test that we often use on people, seeing if they are able to care for a plant first before having kids to prove they are ready to be parents? This was like that. God might as well have said, “If you can’t take care of a vine, then how can you take care of a Church?” Then God uses this example to describe how He felt about the new harvest of 120,000 souls in Nineveh which Jonah had basically just abandoned.
God showed Jonah that the new worshippers of God did not know their left from their right and that they would need guidance. They would need mentorship or they would die just like the vine.
Ultimately, we do not know if Jonah responded well to God’s message and returned to the city to tend this new flock. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. I hope he did!
The lesson for us is that follow up, care for those that the Lord gives us in the harvest truly depends on our attitude today just as much as it did Jonah’s attitude in that day. The Lord gave me a prophetic word at another Church in which I was serving and He told me that unless we care for the souls being saved in our Church, that He would stop sending visitors who would turn into converts. I investigated and found out that we in that Church were not effectively following up and those in the ministry which had the charge to do so were even being “selective,” only making those feel welcome who they liked. It was a wake up call for me then and I remember it now.
We at TFI Gateway are doing a good job following up, but we did discover a weakness. We have been relying on the people who bring the visitors to do the major part of the work of following up and it hasn’t been getting done in a timely manner and with lots of gaps. We have decided to step up our efforts and that our team of follow up ministry folks will become much more aggressive in personally following up with each visitor. And if the person who brought them does so as well, double effort is wonderful!
TFI Gateway people who are reading this??? We need your help and we need some new dedicated, responsible and friendly people to join our consolidation team led by Sister Mina. Please contact us?
I wish I could be Jonah right now and preach a message to 120,000 and they would all get saved. But he was raised up with a very specific message for a very specific time. It was something like this: “You are all going to die 40 days from now because of your sin and God’s anger unless you repent.” God has not told me that about Manila in 2009. But I am challenged... our entire staff is challenged to find out what the exact message for November of 2009 is so that we can be as effective as Jonah was in his day. But then we want to go a step further then he did and heed the command of Jesus, not to go make converts, but to make disciples of all nations!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
800 Kids update...
There are pictures to the right of this post you can click to see from a feeding session conducted in Marikina on October 10.
Though we have received no long term financial commitments to continue the work helping 800 kids in Marikina who were victims of typhoon Ondoy, we continue with the work because God is faithful and He is the source. I know that many of you are praying and I want you to know that prayer works! Thank you!
We continue to feed and run programs in this community weekly. Many have trusted Jesus to be their Lord and Savior and He is changing lives by the power of His love shown through volunteers. We are working and praying towards this work becoming a Church in the next few months. Amen!
Though we have received no long term financial commitments to continue the work helping 800 kids in Marikina who were victims of typhoon Ondoy, we continue with the work because God is faithful and He is the source. I know that many of you are praying and I want you to know that prayer works! Thank you!
We continue to feed and run programs in this community weekly. Many have trusted Jesus to be their Lord and Savior and He is changing lives by the power of His love shown through volunteers. We are working and praying towards this work becoming a Church in the next few months. Amen!
If "It" has already been given, why do you have to find "it?"
Luke 11:8-10 (NIV)
8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
One of the two famous “ask, seek and knock” scriptures found in Luke 11 was part of our text in our staff meeting at TFI San Juan this last Tuesday morning (the other one is in Matthew 7). A point that Jesus made in this scripture is that it is persistance (boldness), not friendship which opens the door so that the one in need may receive help.
Pastor Boni, our Pastor who was leading the devotion made a good point in that regarding the culture of the time and place in which Jesus was speaking, there would have been a compulsion on the part of the townspeople to help because the purpose for the bread was to feed an out of town guest and a community does not collectively want to lose face. This applies to the Church in all cultures because we work together as one body to make certain that we represent our Lord well. This causes us to help at times we might not have otherwise. In Eastern/Asian terms, this means we will often do what it takes for the Church to not “lose face.”
Boy did Jesus nail it though! How many of my readers today I wonder, are glad that God has other ways of providing then through friends?! Friends have often come through, but there have been times when they really didn’t. And even those times that friends did, it was really more the bold persistance which opened the door and then the friendship ended up being weird or strained for awhile. Come on... you know what I’m talkin’ about!
I had a ministry friend and we both had a mutual friend who at the time, had a great deal of money. My ministry friend needed money but the money friend wasn’t moved. Finally, my “money friend” said, “To shut you up, here’s a check for $20,000. I don’t want to hear another word!” And that was that. My ministry friend had enough to get him over the next hurdle. I wish I had been the bold one! :-)
I have at times been caught up in idealism which I spiritualize in order to avoid doing something that I don’t want to do. Early in my ministry, I took to heart a saying by the famous missionary Hudson Taylor. In regards to finances, he told his missionary force to “tell no one but the Lord.” And they always ended up with an abundance of finances which they then funelled even to other ministries in need. Awesome!
I used that as my basis to never ask for financial assistance and to only “pray the resources in.” One month, I ran out of money and was considering leaving Cebu City, Philippines, where we lived at the time, to go back to the USA with my tail between my legs. In prayer, the Lord told me to ask for $1,000 a month from a guy whose business card I had been hanging on to for some time. I was upset and couldn’t believe it was the Lord because I wanted to be like Hudson Taylor! After a couple of weeks and we were down to canned food for groceries, I wrote the letter. When I was about to mail it, the Lord once again prompted me. “FED EX it!” What?!? How presumptuous and desperate would that make me look?!? I spent the extra $35 to do it and wouldn’t you know it?!? Within days, I got a FedEx from the guy back with the first check for $1,000 and a one year commitment letter. The way he wrote it showed me that he was somewhat annoyed but willing... Strange. After a year, he sent me another letter telling me that no way would he support our ministry any longer. But God had provided a different source by then.
Ask...Seek...Knock...
In 1 Kings 17, while in hiding, Elijah was supernaturally provided for by God through ravens and a hidden brook during a famine. After that season was over, God told him to go to a Widow in Zarephath who He had “commanded” to provide the prophet with food. The interesting thing is that when Elijah approached her, it seemed that she knew nothing about it... that she had evidently not heard from the Lord the same way Elijah had. How disappointing!
Even though she claimed that she would be taking her last supply of flour and oil to prepare a final meal for her and her son to eat and then die, the prophet instructed her to not be afraid and insisted that she feed him. She did as the prophet told her and received an incredible miracle of the flour and oil not running out until after the famine was over.
I wonder how Elijah must have felt. Even though God had already given him the miracle, he had to boldly and confidently continue to pursue it. He could have missed the miracle by getting depressed or by simply not being bold enough.
My conclusion is this. If Elijah had to get bold and ask, seek and knock, then who am I to think I am at some higher level then him!?! Of course we must temper all this with seeking and hearing the voice of the Lord for every situation. At times He will tell us to “tell no one but the Lord” and the resources will simply come. But at other times, He might tell us, “I’ve already given it to you, now go and get it!”
I have recently been giving much money to various people at the leading of the Lord. It has been a stretch of faith because we have no salary and we have little support. I have never been in this severe of afinancial position before and it is certainly been keeping me on my knees. Probably God’s main point!
Today I gave 3,000 more peso’s out (about $60). It leaves me with canned food at the house for the family, ¾ of a tank of gas which should last 3 more days and then what... I don’t know. If I had been the Widow, the next thing would be to die. I’m not alone. I know many many people like this, many who are worse off. Real Widow’s and Orphans with no canned goods or rice.
But wait... there are signs of miracles on the way! There is a guy who sent money from another country to our contact in the USA which hasn’t arrived yet. It should have already, I’m a bit worried, but I know it will make it! There are people we don’t even know about who might be stirred by the Lord to provide in some way in the next few hours or days just as He has done countless times before. And then there’s this new miracle for me... check this out!
I was looking at my bank statements on-line just now and I realize that over the course of the past 4 months, there are certain charges which have not passed through my account. I remember specifically handing the cashiers my debit card, signing the slips and receiving the merchandise. I calculate approximately $1,300 in total. It is just plain weird! More like supernatural! I would think that the Lord in His power didn’t rob those merchants to pay me, but that they received payment from some unknown source. I’ll have to look into it when I pass by the accounting office in heaven after I’m done here on earth. Of course those miracles have met needs already passed, but this gives me courage! Now that I think about it, how often has my gas tank hovered at a certain level when I didn’t have the resources and did not go down to empty until one of God’s resource people had come through! God has His ways of providing and we need not be choosy. He is in control!!! Sometimes I can be like the Prophet and at other times like the Widow. Either way, I belong to the Lord and He will take care of me, my family and the ministry which He has entrusted to us!
I don’t know if this post encouraged you, but it certainly encouraged me! Hallelujah!!! Trust Him today my friend! Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. Don’t give in, down get shy and don’t give up! Your Father loves you!!!
8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
One of the two famous “ask, seek and knock” scriptures found in Luke 11 was part of our text in our staff meeting at TFI San Juan this last Tuesday morning (the other one is in Matthew 7). A point that Jesus made in this scripture is that it is persistance (boldness), not friendship which opens the door so that the one in need may receive help.
Pastor Boni, our Pastor who was leading the devotion made a good point in that regarding the culture of the time and place in which Jesus was speaking, there would have been a compulsion on the part of the townspeople to help because the purpose for the bread was to feed an out of town guest and a community does not collectively want to lose face. This applies to the Church in all cultures because we work together as one body to make certain that we represent our Lord well. This causes us to help at times we might not have otherwise. In Eastern/Asian terms, this means we will often do what it takes for the Church to not “lose face.”
Boy did Jesus nail it though! How many of my readers today I wonder, are glad that God has other ways of providing then through friends?! Friends have often come through, but there have been times when they really didn’t. And even those times that friends did, it was really more the bold persistance which opened the door and then the friendship ended up being weird or strained for awhile. Come on... you know what I’m talkin’ about!
I had a ministry friend and we both had a mutual friend who at the time, had a great deal of money. My ministry friend needed money but the money friend wasn’t moved. Finally, my “money friend” said, “To shut you up, here’s a check for $20,000. I don’t want to hear another word!” And that was that. My ministry friend had enough to get him over the next hurdle. I wish I had been the bold one! :-)
I have at times been caught up in idealism which I spiritualize in order to avoid doing something that I don’t want to do. Early in my ministry, I took to heart a saying by the famous missionary Hudson Taylor. In regards to finances, he told his missionary force to “tell no one but the Lord.” And they always ended up with an abundance of finances which they then funelled even to other ministries in need. Awesome!
I used that as my basis to never ask for financial assistance and to only “pray the resources in.” One month, I ran out of money and was considering leaving Cebu City, Philippines, where we lived at the time, to go back to the USA with my tail between my legs. In prayer, the Lord told me to ask for $1,000 a month from a guy whose business card I had been hanging on to for some time. I was upset and couldn’t believe it was the Lord because I wanted to be like Hudson Taylor! After a couple of weeks and we were down to canned food for groceries, I wrote the letter. When I was about to mail it, the Lord once again prompted me. “FED EX it!” What?!? How presumptuous and desperate would that make me look?!? I spent the extra $35 to do it and wouldn’t you know it?!? Within days, I got a FedEx from the guy back with the first check for $1,000 and a one year commitment letter. The way he wrote it showed me that he was somewhat annoyed but willing... Strange. After a year, he sent me another letter telling me that no way would he support our ministry any longer. But God had provided a different source by then.
Ask...Seek...Knock...
In 1 Kings 17, while in hiding, Elijah was supernaturally provided for by God through ravens and a hidden brook during a famine. After that season was over, God told him to go to a Widow in Zarephath who He had “commanded” to provide the prophet with food. The interesting thing is that when Elijah approached her, it seemed that she knew nothing about it... that she had evidently not heard from the Lord the same way Elijah had. How disappointing!
Even though she claimed that she would be taking her last supply of flour and oil to prepare a final meal for her and her son to eat and then die, the prophet instructed her to not be afraid and insisted that she feed him. She did as the prophet told her and received an incredible miracle of the flour and oil not running out until after the famine was over.
I wonder how Elijah must have felt. Even though God had already given him the miracle, he had to boldly and confidently continue to pursue it. He could have missed the miracle by getting depressed or by simply not being bold enough.
My conclusion is this. If Elijah had to get bold and ask, seek and knock, then who am I to think I am at some higher level then him!?! Of course we must temper all this with seeking and hearing the voice of the Lord for every situation. At times He will tell us to “tell no one but the Lord” and the resources will simply come. But at other times, He might tell us, “I’ve already given it to you, now go and get it!”
I have recently been giving much money to various people at the leading of the Lord. It has been a stretch of faith because we have no salary and we have little support. I have never been in this severe of afinancial position before and it is certainly been keeping me on my knees. Probably God’s main point!
Today I gave 3,000 more peso’s out (about $60). It leaves me with canned food at the house for the family, ¾ of a tank of gas which should last 3 more days and then what... I don’t know. If I had been the Widow, the next thing would be to die. I’m not alone. I know many many people like this, many who are worse off. Real Widow’s and Orphans with no canned goods or rice.
But wait... there are signs of miracles on the way! There is a guy who sent money from another country to our contact in the USA which hasn’t arrived yet. It should have already, I’m a bit worried, but I know it will make it! There are people we don’t even know about who might be stirred by the Lord to provide in some way in the next few hours or days just as He has done countless times before. And then there’s this new miracle for me... check this out!
I was looking at my bank statements on-line just now and I realize that over the course of the past 4 months, there are certain charges which have not passed through my account. I remember specifically handing the cashiers my debit card, signing the slips and receiving the merchandise. I calculate approximately $1,300 in total. It is just plain weird! More like supernatural! I would think that the Lord in His power didn’t rob those merchants to pay me, but that they received payment from some unknown source. I’ll have to look into it when I pass by the accounting office in heaven after I’m done here on earth. Of course those miracles have met needs already passed, but this gives me courage! Now that I think about it, how often has my gas tank hovered at a certain level when I didn’t have the resources and did not go down to empty until one of God’s resource people had come through! God has His ways of providing and we need not be choosy. He is in control!!! Sometimes I can be like the Prophet and at other times like the Widow. Either way, I belong to the Lord and He will take care of me, my family and the ministry which He has entrusted to us!
I don’t know if this post encouraged you, but it certainly encouraged me! Hallelujah!!! Trust Him today my friend! Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. Don’t give in, down get shy and don’t give up! Your Father loves you!!!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Hair & Waist
I was in Cebu City, Philippines a couple of weeks ago and had a wonderful time connecting and re-connecting with Pastors during a seminar and renewal set. But two different people back to back commented that my hair is not what it used to be????? What????? The implication is that I am receding. Joy and the rest of my family don't see it, but maybe that is because they are too close to me. For my whole life I had always been told I look like a particular uncle... a bald uncle. I'm going to be praying against this balding threat for sure!
But I can't be too depressed by that because just yesterday, I tried on some pants in my now normal size 36. I had been a 38 for years (and even a 40, ouch!) but have been happy about the 36 for well over a year now. They were too big! Yes!!! I tried the 34 and they were a perfect fit. Thinking that this item might be running big, I tried others on as well and even went to another store. 34 is my new size! Now if I can just keep it that way (more exercise and less rice). I was a 32 when Joy and I married.
If I had to choose between less hair or a big waist, what would it be... hmmmm. Joy, honey, what do you think? :-)
But I can't be too depressed by that because just yesterday, I tried on some pants in my now normal size 36. I had been a 38 for years (and even a 40, ouch!) but have been happy about the 36 for well over a year now. They were too big! Yes!!! I tried the 34 and they were a perfect fit. Thinking that this item might be running big, I tried others on as well and even went to another store. 34 is my new size! Now if I can just keep it that way (more exercise and less rice). I was a 32 when Joy and I married.
If I had to choose between less hair or a big waist, what would it be... hmmmm. Joy, honey, what do you think? :-)
$181.30
I’m not sure what the Widow’s Mites (small copper coins) from the Bible would be worth today, but seeing her place them in the offering touched the heart of Jesus the same way sacrificial gifts no matter what their size still do today. He taught us that it meant more then the lavish gifts the other people were giving with tremendous fanfare because it was both sacrificial and done with humility. (Luke 21) He said that what is given out of lack is more precious then what is given out of abundance.
A public elementary school in San Diego recently held a bake sale organized by a child-hood friend of Pst Joy’s. It was for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. When I received the proceeds in zip-lock bags, the biggest denomination given was worn $1 bills, there were a few larger bills there too, but the bag weighed well over a pound because of all the nickels(5c), dimes(10c), quarters(25c) and even pennies(1c). I was told that one lady paid $60 for a brownie!
$181.30 in mighty mites!!!
For those of us who have been given an assignment by God which includes raising funds, we sometimes feel disheartened by the sheer number of doors we have to knock on in order to finally see one open. If the human reasoning takes over amidst disappointment, it is very easy to begin to think that few of God’s Church people either care or follow His promptings to participate.
I for one have been mightily encouraged by the response of God’s people in the last few weeks. From the bake sale to the donations of $10, to the donations over $1.000, all sacrificial, Spirit led and pleasing to God! Three churches, eight individuals and one public school responded. Praise God!!!
We continue to work in Barangay Sto. Nino in efforts to help the victim children of Typhoon Ondoy. We aren’t calling it disaster relief anymore but it is a Church planting ministry. Mostly what we are conducting now are Bible studies and feeding programs along with other activities as the Lord leads us to touch individual families. We are believing God for US$300 per month specifically designated for this ministry.
For those of you out there like that widow who are limited in resources (that means most of us), all that I ever ask is that you help us by praying and if the Lord asks you to give just pennies or dollars, do that and He will be faithful to do the rest. His accounting is perfect and His network of awesome people is never ending!
A public elementary school in San Diego recently held a bake sale organized by a child-hood friend of Pst Joy’s. It was for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. When I received the proceeds in zip-lock bags, the biggest denomination given was worn $1 bills, there were a few larger bills there too, but the bag weighed well over a pound because of all the nickels(5c), dimes(10c), quarters(25c) and even pennies(1c). I was told that one lady paid $60 for a brownie!
$181.30 in mighty mites!!!
For those of us who have been given an assignment by God which includes raising funds, we sometimes feel disheartened by the sheer number of doors we have to knock on in order to finally see one open. If the human reasoning takes over amidst disappointment, it is very easy to begin to think that few of God’s Church people either care or follow His promptings to participate.
I for one have been mightily encouraged by the response of God’s people in the last few weeks. From the bake sale to the donations of $10, to the donations over $1.000, all sacrificial, Spirit led and pleasing to God! Three churches, eight individuals and one public school responded. Praise God!!!
We continue to work in Barangay Sto. Nino in efforts to help the victim children of Typhoon Ondoy. We aren’t calling it disaster relief anymore but it is a Church planting ministry. Mostly what we are conducting now are Bible studies and feeding programs along with other activities as the Lord leads us to touch individual families. We are believing God for US$300 per month specifically designated for this ministry.
For those of you out there like that widow who are limited in resources (that means most of us), all that I ever ask is that you help us by praying and if the Lord asks you to give just pennies or dollars, do that and He will be faithful to do the rest. His accounting is perfect and His network of awesome people is never ending!
Friday, October 23, 2009
A Chosen One...
Ethan was riding in the back seat of the car again, his favorite place as we were going home from school. I'm certain he is the only Asian looking kid with a white driver in Manila...
He took up position where he could look me eye to eye in the rear view mirror and said, "Dad, I have something to tell you. I am the chosen one." I was so surprised, more by the serious look on his face then by his statement. I was trying to figure out what movie he got it from when he spoke again. "Dad, Jesus has chosen me to do things. He has given me power." I began to realize that the part about Jesus probably didn't come from a movie. The rest of the conversation was spent probing him about where he got that idea from. It turns out that he doesn't think he is the only chosen one, but he also doesn't think that there are many others.
Ethans words remind me of a scripture that is often quoted but hard to understand. Matthew 22:14 (NIV) "For many are invited, but few are chosen." This comes from the parable which Jesus shared about a King who prepared a banquet and those who were invited did not come. The King told His servants to then go out and invite just about anyone they could find. The parable further states that one of those who were brought in from off the street got in without wearing the proper clothing and was cast out. He then ends with this statement that many are invited but few are chosen. For my purpose in this post, allow me to simplify...
God has prepared His Kingdom for us and we have been invited to partake both in this lifetime and more importantly, eternally. He has given us His word which gives us clear direction and provision to join. Many have received the invitation but few have taken the necessary steps to be chosen participants. They either don't show up or show up not properly prepared.
It is important in order to gain the favor, blessing and even the salvation that God has provided for us to not only be invited but also to be chosen.
There is a different element to this that I want to explore and it pertains to those who already have assurance that they are saved... heaven bound through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
In the book of Haggai, the prophet made it clear through it's first 3 prophecies that all of God's children are blessed to some degree. I completely agree that anyone who has asked Jesus Christ to be their King is blessed. However, Haggai also makes it clear that it is possible to be "more" blessed then what you are. He explains that if we will build God's house, that we will receive increased blessings mostly in the form of our work being more productive. In today's terms, our businesses, jobs and investments will be more fruitful when we dedicate ourselves to building the Church. Haggai's audience were the people who under Nehimiah's earlier leadership had built the wall of the city after returning from the 70 year captivity in Babylon. They had acheived success in this and were enjoying living in nice houses but had neglected the Temple. In the 3 prophecies, Haggai addressed specifically, Zerubbabel the Governer, Joshua the High Priest and the people. God said among other things based on their obedience to the call to build the temple, "I am with you," "My Spirit remains among you," and "I will bless you."
But when the 4th and final prophecy in the book is given, it is specifically only for Zerubbabel. The nature of the message is completely different. Rather then talking about local issues, the Lord speaks of international issues. Nations fighting and falling and the hand of the Lord protecting Israel. And then God says, "I HAVE CHOSEN YOU." He further says that Zerubbabel will be like a signet ring on God's finger.
Out of all those people, God only chose the governer. Why? I believe that it is because the governer had concern beyond himself. He was not bound by his own selfish ambition to increase his personal family blessings, but he was concerned about the blessings for every family. God blessed everyone who would build His house, but God only Chose the one whose perspective was wide. Why not the Priest? I believe that it is because the Priest's concern was limited to the Temple. Can I say this? The same way most Pastors today are limited in their concern only to the Church they serve.
Pastors, Politicians, Business Owners, Employees, Church Members... If you want to be Chosen by God to have the authority and favor that being like a signet ring on God's finger would represent, you will have to look beyond the walls of your Church and start to care for, pastor an entire neighborhood, a city, a state, a nation and the nations of the world! Many are invited but few are chosen. It is time that we care about the prosperity and well being of everyone within our sphere of influence and not just our own family and fellow Church members. The level of influence God will entrust to you depends on your posture according to example of Zerubbabel. This is a man who ended up in the lineage of Jesus Christ because he was incredibly blessed!
It is good enough if you have normal aspirations to simply be a normal person or a normal pastor. But I hope this is not good enough for you! I pray that you will reach for influence, reach for the finger of God, reach to touch humankind and make a difference in this life for as many people as you possibly can! Then you will be able to say the same thing that Ethan is believing for his own young life with a slight adjustment: "I am a chosen one of God!"
He took up position where he could look me eye to eye in the rear view mirror and said, "Dad, I have something to tell you. I am the chosen one." I was so surprised, more by the serious look on his face then by his statement. I was trying to figure out what movie he got it from when he spoke again. "Dad, Jesus has chosen me to do things. He has given me power." I began to realize that the part about Jesus probably didn't come from a movie. The rest of the conversation was spent probing him about where he got that idea from. It turns out that he doesn't think he is the only chosen one, but he also doesn't think that there are many others.
Ethans words remind me of a scripture that is often quoted but hard to understand. Matthew 22:14 (NIV) "For many are invited, but few are chosen." This comes from the parable which Jesus shared about a King who prepared a banquet and those who were invited did not come. The King told His servants to then go out and invite just about anyone they could find. The parable further states that one of those who were brought in from off the street got in without wearing the proper clothing and was cast out. He then ends with this statement that many are invited but few are chosen. For my purpose in this post, allow me to simplify...
God has prepared His Kingdom for us and we have been invited to partake both in this lifetime and more importantly, eternally. He has given us His word which gives us clear direction and provision to join. Many have received the invitation but few have taken the necessary steps to be chosen participants. They either don't show up or show up not properly prepared.
It is important in order to gain the favor, blessing and even the salvation that God has provided for us to not only be invited but also to be chosen.
There is a different element to this that I want to explore and it pertains to those who already have assurance that they are saved... heaven bound through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
In the book of Haggai, the prophet made it clear through it's first 3 prophecies that all of God's children are blessed to some degree. I completely agree that anyone who has asked Jesus Christ to be their King is blessed. However, Haggai also makes it clear that it is possible to be "more" blessed then what you are. He explains that if we will build God's house, that we will receive increased blessings mostly in the form of our work being more productive. In today's terms, our businesses, jobs and investments will be more fruitful when we dedicate ourselves to building the Church. Haggai's audience were the people who under Nehimiah's earlier leadership had built the wall of the city after returning from the 70 year captivity in Babylon. They had acheived success in this and were enjoying living in nice houses but had neglected the Temple. In the 3 prophecies, Haggai addressed specifically, Zerubbabel the Governer, Joshua the High Priest and the people. God said among other things based on their obedience to the call to build the temple, "I am with you," "My Spirit remains among you," and "I will bless you."
But when the 4th and final prophecy in the book is given, it is specifically only for Zerubbabel. The nature of the message is completely different. Rather then talking about local issues, the Lord speaks of international issues. Nations fighting and falling and the hand of the Lord protecting Israel. And then God says, "I HAVE CHOSEN YOU." He further says that Zerubbabel will be like a signet ring on God's finger.
Out of all those people, God only chose the governer. Why? I believe that it is because the governer had concern beyond himself. He was not bound by his own selfish ambition to increase his personal family blessings, but he was concerned about the blessings for every family. God blessed everyone who would build His house, but God only Chose the one whose perspective was wide. Why not the Priest? I believe that it is because the Priest's concern was limited to the Temple. Can I say this? The same way most Pastors today are limited in their concern only to the Church they serve.
Pastors, Politicians, Business Owners, Employees, Church Members... If you want to be Chosen by God to have the authority and favor that being like a signet ring on God's finger would represent, you will have to look beyond the walls of your Church and start to care for, pastor an entire neighborhood, a city, a state, a nation and the nations of the world! Many are invited but few are chosen. It is time that we care about the prosperity and well being of everyone within our sphere of influence and not just our own family and fellow Church members. The level of influence God will entrust to you depends on your posture according to example of Zerubbabel. This is a man who ended up in the lineage of Jesus Christ because he was incredibly blessed!
It is good enough if you have normal aspirations to simply be a normal person or a normal pastor. But I hope this is not good enough for you! I pray that you will reach for influence, reach for the finger of God, reach to touch humankind and make a difference in this life for as many people as you possibly can! Then you will be able to say the same thing that Ethan is believing for his own young life with a slight adjustment: "I am a chosen one of God!"
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Help = Harvest
It's Help time and it's Harvest time!
We praise God for the help that we have been able to provide and continue to provide to flood relief victims in the Philippines! We are grateful that God allowed us to be here and be a part of it. We are equally thankful that the Lord allowed dozens of those overseas who we are connected with to share in this victory by participating in prayer and in the sacrificial giving of precious resources and many are continuing in this effort! Generous donations have come from the USA, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia and even from Indonesia which has also experienced tremendous crisis. The people of God are awesome!
This mission is yet another confirmation that the Harvest comes as the Church Helps people. Not only in times of catastophe but in all seasons. It is true, however that crisis blows open doors that previously were not fully open.
A friend of mine recently sent me a message saying that "just because doors are closed, that does not always mean that they are locked." He challenged my perception with that message and I began to check the closed doors in my life. I am reporting to you that I am amazed at connections, fruitfulness, blessing, increase and opportunity which we have experienced in the last few weeks simply because I believed that word from God through my friend and decided to actually check those doors rather then giving up when I saw a closed door. Thank you Stan! God used you Brother!
Let me encourage you today to not shy away from closed doors using the "open and closed door" scriptures as excuses to be lax or shy. We are surrounded with opportunities and we must lay hold of them. A door which is truly closed is locked. When it won't open, move on. There are plenty of other unlocked and therefore open doors.
One of the outreach efforts that Tabernacle of Faith Churches conducted this week-end was a medical mission on Saturday specifically at the San Juan facility. Hundreds were treated by medical, dental and eye doctors. In the waiting times, every patient was presented with the gospel message and every person was told of the love that we the body of Christ have for them. At the San Juan 8:30am service yesterday, attendance was up and more then 30 people publicly dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ! Awesome!
We praise God for the help that we have been able to provide and continue to provide to flood relief victims in the Philippines! We are grateful that God allowed us to be here and be a part of it. We are equally thankful that the Lord allowed dozens of those overseas who we are connected with to share in this victory by participating in prayer and in the sacrificial giving of precious resources and many are continuing in this effort! Generous donations have come from the USA, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia and even from Indonesia which has also experienced tremendous crisis. The people of God are awesome!
This mission is yet another confirmation that the Harvest comes as the Church Helps people. Not only in times of catastophe but in all seasons. It is true, however that crisis blows open doors that previously were not fully open.
A friend of mine recently sent me a message saying that "just because doors are closed, that does not always mean that they are locked." He challenged my perception with that message and I began to check the closed doors in my life. I am reporting to you that I am amazed at connections, fruitfulness, blessing, increase and opportunity which we have experienced in the last few weeks simply because I believed that word from God through my friend and decided to actually check those doors rather then giving up when I saw a closed door. Thank you Stan! God used you Brother!
Let me encourage you today to not shy away from closed doors using the "open and closed door" scriptures as excuses to be lax or shy. We are surrounded with opportunities and we must lay hold of them. A door which is truly closed is locked. When it won't open, move on. There are plenty of other unlocked and therefore open doors.
One of the outreach efforts that Tabernacle of Faith Churches conducted this week-end was a medical mission on Saturday specifically at the San Juan facility. Hundreds were treated by medical, dental and eye doctors. In the waiting times, every patient was presented with the gospel message and every person was told of the love that we the body of Christ have for them. At the San Juan 8:30am service yesterday, attendance was up and more then 30 people publicly dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ! Awesome!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Relief and School Supplies
During the storms when we couldn't safely go out, one of our main prayers was "Lord, open doors permanently." Another prayer was "Show us how to help in deeper ways... not just surface level."
My conviction is that "disaster relief" ministry should always lead to long term relationships and result in touching the lives of people. My experience in the Philippines and in Indonesia however, is that longevity of ministry which starts with disaster relief, often does not occur. Usually, the resources that are supernatural and precious are scattered all over the place but intentional and consistant placement of resources would yield much greater results.
That door that we prayed about indeed opened. It is near two of our facilities and in a neighborhood with leadership who are open to our help. This means that they are open to us becoming involved in the lives of the people on an on-going basis. We are already experiencing great results from a spiritual as well as a physical perspective.
Sto. Nino is a Barangay of Marikina. A Barangay is a village type of suburb of a city. The city of Marikina is a part of Metro Manila. A Barangay has a governing "Barangay Captain," several Barangay's would then come under the leadership of other Council people who then come under the Mayor, etc.
This flood has revealed much trash. Not only physical but also political. I won't go into too much detail so that I don't cause unnecessary offence to any potential readers of this post, but I will try to explain.
The political leaders who are responsible for Sto. Nino, Marikina are a part of the opposing political party which is in current control of the nation and we are approaching an election time. If your politicians are in favor with the administration, you will receive quick and ample aid. If they are not in favor, if you receive any aid at all, it will be slow and not enough. SAD!!!
This not only affects direct government aid but it also affects the aid which potentially comes from NGO's. The caravan's that we have seen from organizations such as Unicef, the US Military, World Vision and others have been accompanied not only by local security forces but also by political aides. In other words, these organizations are sending relief to the places that the high up politicians want the aid to go. I am sure that the NGO's are aware of this and are not trying to be a part of this kind of thing and it is understandable that they must work with the system for the sake of maximum effectiveness of a large organization. But when we work through the local Church, we don't have to deal so much with the politics and we can simply identify where and how we can best work and just do it. Awesome!
On one additional side note for those of you interested in this background information: One Mayor from another City in Metro Manila cannot get the help he needs to remove trash. One load of trash using official garbage trucks costs the city about $150. Because he is a part of the "opposition", he is having to find this money to clean up his city. Trash left causes more then smell... it causes disease. People will get sick and some will die as a result of these politics.
We have been giving the same kind of relief as otherorganizations. Mostly canned goods, distilled water, noodles and rice. In Sto. Nino, they now have a pretty good supply of all of these things coming in from a variety of sources. But what they are literally crying out for that they are not getting and likely will never get at least from government agencies is school supplies. Schooling is one of the largest expenses that a Filipino family has, not just college, but even grade school and up.
The 14 area schools in Marikina will not re-open for another week or two because they need clean up and they are still being used to house dis-placed families. By the time the schools re-open, the 800 kids from Barangay Sto. Nino will need notebooks, pencils, back-packs, rulers and any other supplies they can get. Many will need uniforms and shoes as well. It just depends if their families clothes were swept away or not. Anything paper was completely ruined where
as clothes can be washed.
We are continuing the flow of food, water and medicine but are wanting to emphasize getting these supplies to these precious kids asap.
We are looking for corporations who will donate or help, one school in San Diego is preparing to conduct a back sale even right now. Even if you cannot personally do much, maybe you work for a company that might be able to provide some assistance.
We have people in place who are working for this relief work to become a Church. A permanent light to this community. I'll be telling you more about that in the coming weeks, months, and yes, years. We want to produce fruit, as the scriptures say, which remains.
Thank you for your prayers, for your help and for your consideration!
My conviction is that "disaster relief" ministry should always lead to long term relationships and result in touching the lives of people. My experience in the Philippines and in Indonesia however, is that longevity of ministry which starts with disaster relief, often does not occur. Usually, the resources that are supernatural and precious are scattered all over the place but intentional and consistant placement of resources would yield much greater results.
That door that we prayed about indeed opened. It is near two of our facilities and in a neighborhood with leadership who are open to our help. This means that they are open to us becoming involved in the lives of the people on an on-going basis. We are already experiencing great results from a spiritual as well as a physical perspective.
Sto. Nino is a Barangay of Marikina. A Barangay is a village type of suburb of a city. The city of Marikina is a part of Metro Manila. A Barangay has a governing "Barangay Captain," several Barangay's would then come under the leadership of other Council people who then come under the Mayor, etc.
This flood has revealed much trash. Not only physical but also political. I won't go into too much detail so that I don't cause unnecessary offence to any potential readers of this post, but I will try to explain.
The political leaders who are responsible for Sto. Nino, Marikina are a part of the opposing political party which is in current control of the nation and we are approaching an election time. If your politicians are in favor with the administration, you will receive quick and ample aid. If they are not in favor, if you receive any aid at all, it will be slow and not enough. SAD!!!
This not only affects direct government aid but it also affects the aid which potentially comes from NGO's. The caravan's that we have seen from organizations such as Unicef, the US Military, World Vision and others have been accompanied not only by local security forces but also by political aides. In other words, these organizations are sending relief to the places that the high up politicians want the aid to go. I am sure that the NGO's are aware of this and are not trying to be a part of this kind of thing and it is understandable that they must work with the system for the sake of maximum effectiveness of a large organization. But when we work through the local Church, we don't have to deal so much with the politics and we can simply identify where and how we can best work and just do it. Awesome!
On one additional side note for those of you interested in this background information: One Mayor from another City in Metro Manila cannot get the help he needs to remove trash. One load of trash using official garbage trucks costs the city about $150. Because he is a part of the "opposition", he is having to find this money to clean up his city. Trash left causes more then smell... it causes disease. People will get sick and some will die as a result of these politics.
We have been giving the same kind of relief as otherorganizations. Mostly canned goods, distilled water, noodles and rice. In Sto. Nino, they now have a pretty good supply of all of these things coming in from a variety of sources. But what they are literally crying out for that they are not getting and likely will never get at least from government agencies is school supplies. Schooling is one of the largest expenses that a Filipino family has, not just college, but even grade school and up.
The 14 area schools in Marikina will not re-open for another week or two because they need clean up and they are still being used to house dis-placed families. By the time the schools re-open, the 800 kids from Barangay Sto. Nino will need notebooks, pencils, back-packs, rulers and any other supplies they can get. Many will need uniforms and shoes as well. It just depends if their families clothes were swept away or not. Anything paper was completely ruined where
as clothes can be washed.
We are continuing the flow of food, water and medicine but are wanting to emphasize getting these supplies to these precious kids asap.
We are looking for corporations who will donate or help, one school in San Diego is preparing to conduct a back sale even right now. Even if you cannot personally do much, maybe you work for a company that might be able to provide some assistance.
We have people in place who are working for this relief work to become a Church. A permanent light to this community. I'll be telling you more about that in the coming weeks, months, and yes, years. We want to produce fruit, as the scriptures say, which remains.
Thank you for your prayers, for your help and for your consideration!
After the Flood --- Pictures of Sto. Nino, Marikina
Hi Everyone! Here is a link to pictures of Sto. Nino where we are beginning to ramp up efforts to help 800 kids and their families. I have put captions on many of the pictures which will explain much! I will be posting some videos and further explanations in the next few hours as we go but I wanted to get these to you right away!
http://picasaweb.google.com/stevem.iccj/OndoyMarikinaStoNino?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/stevem.iccj/OndoyMarikinaStoNino?feat=directlink
Friday, October 2, 2009
800 Kids
Hi guys! I know I just posted a few minutes ago, but I am getting more information on the kids in the community in Marikina God has opened a door for us to reach. There are 800 of them. We need medicines, food, clothing and school supplies for 800 kids.
My mind is reeling right now because we don't have the kind of resources to provide all that for all of them... But God is giving me a confidence and a peace that He is not only able, but He will do it. This opportunity has been opened because of relationship with local officials who are open to the Gospel.
Thanks for your continued prayers and generousity!!! Miracles are en route! I believe it!
My mind is reeling right now because we don't have the kind of resources to provide all that for all of them... But God is giving me a confidence and a peace that He is not only able, but He will do it. This opportunity has been opened because of relationship with local officials who are open to the Gospel.
Thanks for your continued prayers and generousity!!! Miracles are en route! I believe it!
No New Heavy Flooding Reported
We have no new reports of heavy flooding in the communities we are working in and we are not seeing it on the local news either. God answers prayer! If the storm had dumped heavy rain on us in the night and today, we would have had a much worse disaster! Through the drizzle and wind which isn't too heavy, we are able to continue the flood relief efforts! Praise God!
At a new Bible Study group which is a direct result of flood relief in Marikina last night, 3 men received Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior. Heads of households! Amazing! Also in Marikina, we are now responsible for a Childrens program run in conjunction with local government officials which involves feeding and caring for the basic medical needs of an entire community. We will be focusing on this and other such opportunities to care for the people and enlarge God's Kingdom!
We would not be able to do this if it wasn't for your powerful prayers and for your generous support! Thank you so very much!!! May God continue to bless you with the same measure you have blessed others with in Jesus name! Amen!
For those of you in Manila, we are anticipating a powerful service at Gateway Mall Cinema 2 at 11am tomorrow! Please come and join us if you can safely get there.
At a new Bible Study group which is a direct result of flood relief in Marikina last night, 3 men received Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior. Heads of households! Amazing! Also in Marikina, we are now responsible for a Childrens program run in conjunction with local government officials which involves feeding and caring for the basic medical needs of an entire community. We will be focusing on this and other such opportunities to care for the people and enlarge God's Kingdom!
We would not be able to do this if it wasn't for your powerful prayers and for your generous support! Thank you so very much!!! May God continue to bless you with the same measure you have blessed others with in Jesus name! Amen!
For those of you in Manila, we are anticipating a powerful service at Gateway Mall Cinema 2 at 11am tomorrow! Please come and join us if you can safely get there.
What We've Seen Today...
While making our way through Cainta, we saw people shoveling mud out of their second story windows...
We saw that a Shell gasoline station's convenience mart was completely covered with mud to the top of its roof. You would not have been able to perch there to avoid the water although all ground around it is now dry...
Lines of 50+ cars at dozens of car dealers along our route trying to get needed repairs... most of them looking like they were pulled from mud pits...
A large convoy of US military vehicles were making their way out of a hard hit area, undoubtedly on their way to get more supplies. It was just different to see all the blond haired soldiers...
Another funeral procession with a little casket and a weeping family including mom, brothers and sisters...
While standing in line at a grocery store to buy more supplies, watching people buy whatever they can afford, some using cans and jars of coins as they prepare for the possible 6 days of storms and rain that are en route...
It is now 5:07pm on October 2. Reports say that the power company will start turning off power in the riskier areas of Manila starting at 7pm. The media is encouraging everyone to get to their safe homes and evacuate their unsafe homes NOW.
A few of our volunteers are still helping people from the current flood but they are now staying close to where they need to be... We need to live and be healthy for the next round.
Thank you for your prayers!!! This new storm is no longer considered a Super Typhoon but it is considered a Slow Mover... slow movers deposit more rain then fast movers... Please pray for light rain and for the storm to move fast! God answers prayer!!!
We saw that a Shell gasoline station's convenience mart was completely covered with mud to the top of its roof. You would not have been able to perch there to avoid the water although all ground around it is now dry...
Lines of 50+ cars at dozens of car dealers along our route trying to get needed repairs... most of them looking like they were pulled from mud pits...
A large convoy of US military vehicles were making their way out of a hard hit area, undoubtedly on their way to get more supplies. It was just different to see all the blond haired soldiers...
Another funeral procession with a little casket and a weeping family including mom, brothers and sisters...
While standing in line at a grocery store to buy more supplies, watching people buy whatever they can afford, some using cans and jars of coins as they prepare for the possible 6 days of storms and rain that are en route...
It is now 5:07pm on October 2. Reports say that the power company will start turning off power in the riskier areas of Manila starting at 7pm. The media is encouraging everyone to get to their safe homes and evacuate their unsafe homes NOW.
A few of our volunteers are still helping people from the current flood but they are now staying close to where they need to be... We need to live and be healthy for the next round.
Thank you for your prayers!!! This new storm is no longer considered a Super Typhoon but it is considered a Slow Mover... slow movers deposit more rain then fast movers... Please pray for light rain and for the storm to move fast! God answers prayer!!!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Onward Christian Soldier
I was again at the store for relief supplies to distribute and was shopping with the Philippine Army... about 100 soldiers. By the time I reached check out they were ringing up at least 300 carts worth of noodles, rice, canned goods, coffee and more. Outside they had trucks waiting. I asked and they are making another run into Pasig Pateros just down the street from our house. They were covered in dried mud and looked worn but had purpose in their eyes with their mission. There is nothing like it in human terms, but definitely there is nothing like it when accompanied with power and the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I have a new song playing in my head from Sunday School days but with more meaning now. “Onward Christian Soldier...”
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Blocked by Hills of Garbage
One of our teams was finally able to reach a particular neighborhood in Pasig City last night which we have not been able to get to because of the water levels and also because the streets there are very narrow with deep open sewer drainage. For those of you familiar with Manila, it is a stones throw from the Pasig River. Our family knows the neighborhood well because we have close to 100 relatives who live there, mostly on the same street. Many of these relatives attend our TFI Pasig Church which is currently being cleaned up. All of the chairs are covered in oil, mud and well, poop. But most everything in the building is salvageable.
When the vehicles got near, they could not make it all the way through... not because of water, but because of hills and hills of garbage. We had to switch to using motorcycles with small side-cars which could make it through with all the goods. When the places which the water lingers get cleared out, that is where we find the waters deposited the most debris. The smell is enough to knock you off of your feet and it is wise to wear a mask mostly to keep the flies off of your lips.
Almost every child is sick, but that isn't keeping the kids and the teenagers from going through the trash looking for whatever useful they can find. We were the first to go there. No agency or government worker has been there yet. It has been a long time for them, wondering if anyone cares, not knowing even what has happened because they don't have access to news.
Thank you people of God, for sending the funds so that we could go there and to the dozens of other locations we are supplying.
We continue to reach into the neighborhoods where our Church members are, giving them the supplies which they distribute to their neighbors all in the name of Jesus Christ. God is doing amazing things!
The rains did not come as predicted yesterday. We believe that prayer is holding them back! It did just start to shower minutes ago, but it is nothing compared to what came down which caused these floods. Let us continue to enforce God's victory in prayer!
It is hard to believe that there are 3 tragedies going on in the world right now at the same time, 2 in countries Joy and I have lived and minister and 1 in a country we have spent much time. We cannot get hold of our friends in Samoa but we are praying for them! We know that many Churches are mobilized to assist the earthquake victims in Indonesia and we are also praying for them! Oddly enough, our former home Church in Washington State got flooded this past week and experienced tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage and even made the news! http://www.seattlepi.com/local/410654_flood30.html We're praying for Cedar Park Church as well!
On a personal note, would you pray for me as I prepare to deliver a message of healing and hope this week-end? And not only me but every Pastor of every Church who will stand in front of seas of faces asking the question, "why do bad things happen to good people?" Or the reverse, "why do good things happen to bad people?" I will stand at the front of a Cinema which was not flooded. Others of my colleagues will stand at the front of buildings which are damaged and in need of serious repairs.
May Jesus bless you greatly as you continue to stand in the gap for others!
When the vehicles got near, they could not make it all the way through... not because of water, but because of hills and hills of garbage. We had to switch to using motorcycles with small side-cars which could make it through with all the goods. When the places which the water lingers get cleared out, that is where we find the waters deposited the most debris. The smell is enough to knock you off of your feet and it is wise to wear a mask mostly to keep the flies off of your lips.
Almost every child is sick, but that isn't keeping the kids and the teenagers from going through the trash looking for whatever useful they can find. We were the first to go there. No agency or government worker has been there yet. It has been a long time for them, wondering if anyone cares, not knowing even what has happened because they don't have access to news.
Thank you people of God, for sending the funds so that we could go there and to the dozens of other locations we are supplying.
We continue to reach into the neighborhoods where our Church members are, giving them the supplies which they distribute to their neighbors all in the name of Jesus Christ. God is doing amazing things!
The rains did not come as predicted yesterday. We believe that prayer is holding them back! It did just start to shower minutes ago, but it is nothing compared to what came down which caused these floods. Let us continue to enforce God's victory in prayer!
It is hard to believe that there are 3 tragedies going on in the world right now at the same time, 2 in countries Joy and I have lived and minister and 1 in a country we have spent much time. We cannot get hold of our friends in Samoa but we are praying for them! We know that many Churches are mobilized to assist the earthquake victims in Indonesia and we are also praying for them! Oddly enough, our former home Church in Washington State got flooded this past week and experienced tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage and even made the news! http://www.seattlepi.com/local/410654_flood30.html We're praying for Cedar Park Church as well!
On a personal note, would you pray for me as I prepare to deliver a message of healing and hope this week-end? And not only me but every Pastor of every Church who will stand in front of seas of faces asking the question, "why do bad things happen to good people?" Or the reverse, "why do good things happen to bad people?" I will stand at the front of a Cinema which was not flooded. Others of my colleagues will stand at the front of buildings which are damaged and in need of serious repairs.
May Jesus bless you greatly as you continue to stand in the gap for others!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A Funeral Procession
From just a few minutes ago and near our housing subdivision in Pasig City, Steve followed a small funeral procession through streets that just a couple of days ago were waist deep but are now ankle deep. Normally, people like these who are following the funeral car would be dressed up. Either these folks have lost most of their clothes or they are simply dressed in shorts in preparation for more possible flooding as the next storm hits in the next few hours or they may be taking a route where they will wade even deeper. Passing me on the other side of the street at around the same time was a Unicef and Military convoy heading into the area this funeral procession just left.I bought more supplies to send in to harder hit areas of Pasig because we received some more funds, but about half of what I was going for was sold out. No candles, no flash lights or batteries, no sardines... etc. But I was able to get some medicine and other non-perishable canned meats and vegetables.
The people of our Churches, Tabernacle of Faith International are on missions all over the city as you are reading. Mostly during the day but even at night because believe it or not, traffic is an issue getting to some areas and they are more accessable at night. We are praying with hurting people, nursing wounds and providing food and medicine. Thank you so much for your prayers and help!
You Can Send Boxes to Manila
Hi Everyone! Many stores are running out of supplies. Especially medicine. We need any kind of antibiotic cream or ointment we can get. We need Lysol. We need cleaning products of any and all kinds... especially anitibacterial ones. We can use canned foods, and any kind of instant nutritional food. Then wrap it all in blankets or childrens clothing which we can also distribute.
In most major cities in America, you can find a service that sends boxes to the Philippines either by air or by sea, but by air would be the best right now because the clock is ticking. We have many cases of sick people that we are having a hard time keeping up with right now. The key words to look for on the internet or in your phone book are "door-to-door." What this means is that the shipper picks up from your door and sends to our door and they take care of all the formalities. If you only send as far as the airport here, then it will take someone basically a whole day and dealing with possible corruption (bribes) to try and get the package out.
If you want to help us in that way, please send to the following address:
Tabernacle of Faith International
Attention: Leah Llarena
Directions: Leave with Security Guards 24 Hours
151 J. Ruiz St.
San Juan, Metro Manila
1500 Philippines
+6327237761 office
+639209203305 cellular
A local shipper is best, but if you cannot find one, you can go to this web-site which is an option that I know for a fact is tried, tested and good: http://www.manilaforwarder.com/
It is important when you send a box that you inform us of it with the numbers and particulars for the sake of verification and accountability. This is also true with donations.
Funds. We could use about $50,000 in order to effectively finish this particular race with our size of volunteer force and at our three Metro Manila Church locations. But don't let this size hinder you because even a $50 donation accomplishes much. This is not a 3 day mission, but about a 3 month mission. It is going to take this amount of time in order to see this through. It is likely that the larger death toll from this crisis will come from people who get sick and don't get a chance to recover because they don't have access to simple Over the Counter medication. Those numbers will not be reported by the media.
Our families new mission right now is that we are desperately trying to reach a neighborhood near our house where we have just learned that kids and babies are rapidly becoming sick and the Red Cross and Government agencies have not yet "gotten to." The water is still waist and neck deep there and so we are either going to find a boat or will wade in. Please pray as we continue to make every possible effort to make a difference in this hour.
I am re-posting our funding options for your information:
--- our normal way of funding
Global Evangelistic Ministries
2319 Westview Drive
Des Plaines IL 60018
USA
(checks only, made out to “GEM”)
--- for speedy transactions:
deposit or wire to...
Steven J. McKinney
2319 Westview Drive
Des Plaines IL 60018
USA
JPMorgan Chase Bank
Chicago, Illinois 60670
routing number: 071000013
account number: 1110030802156
Western Union
Steven McKinney
Pasig City, Philippines
payout in US$’s (because we get a more favorable exchange rate)
provide MTCN number
provide amount sent
--- another for folks who want an A/G option:
Harvest Christian Center Chicago (Assemblies of God)
contact: Valerie Davis
(773) 878-7104
4554 N. Broadway St.
Chicago IL 60640
- Please specify that this is for TFI for Flood Relief. They can quickly get it to us...
One final note for those who don't know us and are just browsing the internet. If you are a Great Commission Disciple of Jesus Christ, then please do not give directly to government agencies or to a non-Gospel oriented NGO's. If you want to give only through a major organization, I would suggest Convoy of Hope. They are great! http://www.convoyofhope.org/ You can "earmark" your donation specifically for flood relief in the Philippines. It is important that we conduct charity only through agencies who are committed to enlarge the Kingdom of God and provide the opportunity for recipients to receive everlasting help... everlasting life. Thanks for your consideration on this topic.
In most major cities in America, you can find a service that sends boxes to the Philippines either by air or by sea, but by air would be the best right now because the clock is ticking. We have many cases of sick people that we are having a hard time keeping up with right now. The key words to look for on the internet or in your phone book are "door-to-door." What this means is that the shipper picks up from your door and sends to our door and they take care of all the formalities. If you only send as far as the airport here, then it will take someone basically a whole day and dealing with possible corruption (bribes) to try and get the package out.
If you want to help us in that way, please send to the following address:
Tabernacle of Faith International
Attention: Leah Llarena
Directions: Leave with Security Guards 24 Hours
151 J. Ruiz St.
San Juan, Metro Manila
1500 Philippines
+6327237761 office
+639209203305 cellular
A local shipper is best, but if you cannot find one, you can go to this web-site which is an option that I know for a fact is tried, tested and good: http://www.manilaforwarder.com/
It is important when you send a box that you inform us of it with the numbers and particulars for the sake of verification and accountability. This is also true with donations.
Funds. We could use about $50,000 in order to effectively finish this particular race with our size of volunteer force and at our three Metro Manila Church locations. But don't let this size hinder you because even a $50 donation accomplishes much. This is not a 3 day mission, but about a 3 month mission. It is going to take this amount of time in order to see this through. It is likely that the larger death toll from this crisis will come from people who get sick and don't get a chance to recover because they don't have access to simple Over the Counter medication. Those numbers will not be reported by the media.
Our families new mission right now is that we are desperately trying to reach a neighborhood near our house where we have just learned that kids and babies are rapidly becoming sick and the Red Cross and Government agencies have not yet "gotten to." The water is still waist and neck deep there and so we are either going to find a boat or will wade in. Please pray as we continue to make every possible effort to make a difference in this hour.
I am re-posting our funding options for your information:
--- our normal way of funding
Global Evangelistic Ministries
2319 Westview Drive
Des Plaines IL 60018
USA
(checks only, made out to “GEM”)
--- for speedy transactions:
deposit or wire to...
Steven J. McKinney
2319 Westview Drive
Des Plaines IL 60018
USA
JPMorgan Chase Bank
Chicago, Illinois 60670
routing number: 071000013
account number: 1110030802156
Western Union
Steven McKinney
Pasig City, Philippines
payout in US$’s (because we get a more favorable exchange rate)
provide MTCN number
provide amount sent
--- another for folks who want an A/G option:
Harvest Christian Center Chicago (Assemblies of God)
contact: Valerie Davis
(773) 878-7104
4554 N. Broadway St.
Chicago IL 60640
- Please specify that this is for TFI for Flood Relief. They can quickly get it to us...
One final note for those who don't know us and are just browsing the internet. If you are a Great Commission Disciple of Jesus Christ, then please do not give directly to government agencies or to a non-Gospel oriented NGO's. If you want to give only through a major organization, I would suggest Convoy of Hope. They are great! http://www.convoyofhope.org/ You can "earmark" your donation specifically for flood relief in the Philippines. It is important that we conduct charity only through agencies who are committed to enlarge the Kingdom of God and provide the opportunity for recipients to receive everlasting help... everlasting life. Thanks for your consideration on this topic.
Youth Mobilized --- Pray! Possible New Storm Coming.
It has been another amazing day of seeing volunteers come out mostly from our youth who have no school until next Monday! The majority of the workers are victims themselves who are focused on helping others! Our Church building in San Juan, a section of Metro Manila is now a center for assimilating food, clothes and other items for distribution to flood victims. Our members then make deliveries into the neighborhoods either by car, morcycle, bicycle or wading into some of the areas still dealing with stubborn water. There are no more refugees at our buildings because people have gone back to their homes to clean while protecting from possible looters... it's amazing that even damaged things can be stolen in this kind of environment. When I say clean, in many cases I mean shovel dirt mixed with "you know what" from the sewers out of their homes.
Stores have tripled up on security. When I left one grocery store yesterday, they checked every item in my bags against the receipt and asked to see my ID for my credit card purchase. They had never done that before in this particular store. You can imagine the number of lost wallets and purses in the city and how this has spiked credit card fraud.
All of our people are experiencing fantastic results as those they have been witnessing to for years are responding with grateful attitudes for the help. I can't even keep up with all of the powerful praise reports but I can report that the Kingdom of Light is enlarging by the minute! Praise God!
I want to thank all of you who have been sending the Western Union and bank transfers. I keep getting messages from people apologizing that "it's not much" or "we wish we could do more." Guys, even the $40 amounts are of great help and are being used mightily to touch lives! May God bless you amazingly as you are making these enormous sacrifices and contributions!
If you look up the 10 day weather forecast on line for Manila, you will see that starting now, the prediction is for scattered thunder storms all the way through. The local weather stations are saying that it could be another tropical storm. Have you ever tried to pour water into a full sponge? That is what would happen right now if the skies were to burst open. This city is a full sponge with much of it below sea level. For those of you who remember your science classes on the matter, that means that excess water has no natural place to go. It wouldn't take rains as bad as we had to make things worse then they were.
Prayer changes weather and prayer saves lives! Please pray and if you have been praying, please pray some more! Thank you for your tireless effort!
Stores have tripled up on security. When I left one grocery store yesterday, they checked every item in my bags against the receipt and asked to see my ID for my credit card purchase. They had never done that before in this particular store. You can imagine the number of lost wallets and purses in the city and how this has spiked credit card fraud.
All of our people are experiencing fantastic results as those they have been witnessing to for years are responding with grateful attitudes for the help. I can't even keep up with all of the powerful praise reports but I can report that the Kingdom of Light is enlarging by the minute! Praise God!
I want to thank all of you who have been sending the Western Union and bank transfers. I keep getting messages from people apologizing that "it's not much" or "we wish we could do more." Guys, even the $40 amounts are of great help and are being used mightily to touch lives! May God bless you amazingly as you are making these enormous sacrifices and contributions!
If you look up the 10 day weather forecast on line for Manila, you will see that starting now, the prediction is for scattered thunder storms all the way through. The local weather stations are saying that it could be another tropical storm. Have you ever tried to pour water into a full sponge? That is what would happen right now if the skies were to burst open. This city is a full sponge with much of it below sea level. For those of you who remember your science classes on the matter, that means that excess water has no natural place to go. It wouldn't take rains as bad as we had to make things worse then they were.
Prayer changes weather and prayer saves lives! Please pray and if you have been praying, please pray some more! Thank you for your tireless effort!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Donation Information for the Flood
In this flood crisis, the harder work is happening now that the waters have receded and we can access the worst hit communities. Our Church buildings in the Metro Manila have been refugee and feeding centers. What is happening now is that as we get relief supplies to our members, they’re individual homes are now becoming the help centers. They are now able to help people as we help them, people who they have been witnessing to for years. It is harvest time! I was in a home last night where we delivered a car load of food that is now conducting Bible studies by candle light. The neighbors come now who have never come before.
For about $70 dollars per delivery, we can load up a vehicle and feed a small community with non-perishable staples. If you want to help us to keep this going, the fastest way to donate is to send directly via Western Union or to our personal Bank Account which both give us instant access. For our American donors, we can provide you with a tax deductible receipt from Global Evangelistic Ministries.
We and our Church members are all spending money that we don’t have, i.e. next months household expenses, to capitalize on this evangelistic opportunity. I don’t normally share things like this, but this is a time I will. We are here on missions support of $200 US$’s per month and no salary. God is providing for us in miraculous ways. Every day is a miracle. I say this to say that we need more miracles, like I said to keep this going. Thank you for your interest and your help!
The following is our information:
Global Evangelistic Ministries
2319 Westview Drive
Des Plaines IL 60018
USA
(checks only, made out to “GEM”)
For speedy transactions:
deposit or wire to...
Steven J. McKinney
2319 Westview Drive
Des Plaines IL 60018
USA
JPMorgan Chase Bank
Chicago, Illinois 60670
routing number: 071000013
account number: 1110030802156
Western Union
Steven McKinney
Pasig City, Philippines
payout in US$’s (because we get a more favorable exchange rate)
provide MTCN number
provide amount sent
For about $70 dollars per delivery, we can load up a vehicle and feed a small community with non-perishable staples. If you want to help us to keep this going, the fastest way to donate is to send directly via Western Union or to our personal Bank Account which both give us instant access. For our American donors, we can provide you with a tax deductible receipt from Global Evangelistic Ministries.
We and our Church members are all spending money that we don’t have, i.e. next months household expenses, to capitalize on this evangelistic opportunity. I don’t normally share things like this, but this is a time I will. We are here on missions support of $200 US$’s per month and no salary. God is providing for us in miraculous ways. Every day is a miracle. I say this to say that we need more miracles, like I said to keep this going. Thank you for your interest and your help!
The following is our information:
Global Evangelistic Ministries
2319 Westview Drive
Des Plaines IL 60018
USA
(checks only, made out to “GEM”)
For speedy transactions:
deposit or wire to...
Steven J. McKinney
2319 Westview Drive
Des Plaines IL 60018
USA
JPMorgan Chase Bank
Chicago, Illinois 60670
routing number: 071000013
account number: 1110030802156
Western Union
Steven McKinney
Pasig City, Philippines
payout in US$’s (because we get a more favorable exchange rate)
provide MTCN number
provide amount sent
Flood Update
Cellular is difficult to work with as of yet as you can imagine the sheer number of calls being made as people try to locate one another who have been separated by the waters in the neighborhoods of Manila. It is the only hope we have of getting on-line and we will keep trying until I get this post and a bunch of E-mails waiting in my outbox through.
If you have been watching the worldwide news, you have seen some glimpses of what the people of Manila have been living with. Some of the more unusual images include rivers in the streets filled with cars literally floating along like logs. Sometimes you could see people on the cars riding them, holding on for dear life trying not to fall off when they would collide with buildings and other cars. Now that the waters are receding, cars are piled on top of one another sometimes three deep as they have landed.
We have found that the floods are “no respecter of persons” this time. Normally in a city like Manila, the mid and upper class are not affected as much by the floods as the poor are who cannot afford homes on high ground. Generally speaking, higher ground means higher price. This time, the limits were tested and we have seen beautiful, expensive homes destroyed along with BMW’s and Mercedes Benz vehicles trapped in the driveways. One house we know about had a 20 seat private movie theater filled with water and mud. That family stayed in their attic as literally 100’s of thousands of dollars worth of equipment was destroyed below them. God protected them and the waters did not reach the attic. If they had, they would not have been able to swim out in mud and debris filled water. Many attic type spaces became watery graves.
But of course for every one family like that, there are literally hundreds of poor who don’t have money in the bank. They don’t even have bank accounts. Everything they own has been swept away and all they have left is what is on their person. Many were like me when I had to wade to get home at the beginning of this. Wallets and cell phones wrapped in plastic in our pockets.
The body count isn’t quite at 100 yet, but they haven’t even yet reached the worst parts of the city which are full of collapsed houses filled with mud. One man this morning watched as crews uncovered the bodies of his wife and kids. They were clinging to each other with their arms and legs intertwined. Joy and I were wondering what they must have said to each other in those final seconds. We maintain hope that they had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and entered into eternal life together.
Our house though it is not in an upper scale area is in a subdivision that the flood waters did not enter. The waves lapped at the gate and came within ½ of a foot of coming in. But just meters away, we could see neighborhoods that were waist deep. Some of our friends, many of them Pastors, wept inside of their homes as they could hear cries of help from neighboring roof tops... helpless.
We received messages non-stop from Church members who were stranded either at home or at some public location, trying to get home... wondering what they would find when they could get home later. Many of the refugees in our Church buildings in the Metro Manila area could not sleep and wept through the night wondering if their babies and elderly family members would survive. The kitchens in our Churches that weren’t submerged cooked non-stop, whatever food we could find. Mostly rice and sardines. Even though we have no power, stoves here are run by gas tank.
I talked to one Church member who had lost all of his computer equipment, his livelihood. He was at home trying to stay ahead of the rising waters, standing on a table on the second story of the house as he spoke to me on his cellular phone. His wife had made her way to the Church in order to cook and help people in more need then herself. These are amazing people of God!
As we would hear from our members who ware needing rescue or provision, we would alert the authorities and organizations like the red cross who were running boats through the streets and using helicopters to reach roof tops with lines and rope ladders. But the number of people needing help were too many and we would only hear of a few cases here and there who actually received the help. Most of those wading out of those hard hit areas are now buying food and going back in to feed those left behind who haven’t eaten in two days. There was one diabetic girl they were trying to get to who had run out of insulin and was in a desperate state. I don’t know if she made it.
Close to our main Church locations, we got our own rafts and boats out, mostly improvised to reach the people in the neighborhoods that we could get to. Many dozens were reached from their roof-tops. Some made it to safety by pulling themselves along on power wires through the swirls of water which were as high as 11 feet. One of our elderly members made it through by sitting in a laundry tub, paddling with her hands. It has been much like that movie, “Saving Private Ryan.” Even though we were on specific missions to reach certain people, we saved many others along the way.
One of the main prayer points is that there are many now who have weakened immune systems and people could potentially die for weeks from pneumonia or severe flu’s.
We are praying for resources so that as a Church group, we can not only take care of our members but also take care of those who our members know... the ones we have been witnessing to over the years and now have an opportunity to help.
This morning, we sent bags of clothes and food out of our house to a Church where many young families are holed up... But it wasn’t nearly enough. We can clothe a child for just a little more then $5. We can put enough food on a families table to get them through this week for $10. Every $50 or $100 makes a huge difference.
You could give to an NGO, the Red Cross or to the Philippine government. Even to the TV stations and all of them are doing a good job. But I am asking those who know us to please give through our Church group, Tabernacle of Faith International. The reason for this is to not only save and touch lives, but to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ. Charity plus the gospel will accomplish so much more.
For those of you are in the United States, we can get you tax deductible receipts, but we are asking for funds to come very quickly. Western Union is very effective or funds sent to our Chicago based Chase Bank account which we can access immediately.
Please contact me at pastorstevemckinney@gmail.com for details on how to get funds to us through bank transfer. For Western Union, just place the name Steven J. McKinney, Pasig City, Philippines and then E-mail me the MTCN number. It is instant.
But more then funds, please pray! The reports say there is another storm on the way. There is nothing quite as bad as being hit again when you are already down. Pray for God’s mercy to avert another disaster and for God’s favor as we minister His love.
Thank you so much!
If you have been watching the worldwide news, you have seen some glimpses of what the people of Manila have been living with. Some of the more unusual images include rivers in the streets filled with cars literally floating along like logs. Sometimes you could see people on the cars riding them, holding on for dear life trying not to fall off when they would collide with buildings and other cars. Now that the waters are receding, cars are piled on top of one another sometimes three deep as they have landed.
We have found that the floods are “no respecter of persons” this time. Normally in a city like Manila, the mid and upper class are not affected as much by the floods as the poor are who cannot afford homes on high ground. Generally speaking, higher ground means higher price. This time, the limits were tested and we have seen beautiful, expensive homes destroyed along with BMW’s and Mercedes Benz vehicles trapped in the driveways. One house we know about had a 20 seat private movie theater filled with water and mud. That family stayed in their attic as literally 100’s of thousands of dollars worth of equipment was destroyed below them. God protected them and the waters did not reach the attic. If they had, they would not have been able to swim out in mud and debris filled water. Many attic type spaces became watery graves.
But of course for every one family like that, there are literally hundreds of poor who don’t have money in the bank. They don’t even have bank accounts. Everything they own has been swept away and all they have left is what is on their person. Many were like me when I had to wade to get home at the beginning of this. Wallets and cell phones wrapped in plastic in our pockets.
The body count isn’t quite at 100 yet, but they haven’t even yet reached the worst parts of the city which are full of collapsed houses filled with mud. One man this morning watched as crews uncovered the bodies of his wife and kids. They were clinging to each other with their arms and legs intertwined. Joy and I were wondering what they must have said to each other in those final seconds. We maintain hope that they had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and entered into eternal life together.
Our house though it is not in an upper scale area is in a subdivision that the flood waters did not enter. The waves lapped at the gate and came within ½ of a foot of coming in. But just meters away, we could see neighborhoods that were waist deep. Some of our friends, many of them Pastors, wept inside of their homes as they could hear cries of help from neighboring roof tops... helpless.
We received messages non-stop from Church members who were stranded either at home or at some public location, trying to get home... wondering what they would find when they could get home later. Many of the refugees in our Church buildings in the Metro Manila area could not sleep and wept through the night wondering if their babies and elderly family members would survive. The kitchens in our Churches that weren’t submerged cooked non-stop, whatever food we could find. Mostly rice and sardines. Even though we have no power, stoves here are run by gas tank.
I talked to one Church member who had lost all of his computer equipment, his livelihood. He was at home trying to stay ahead of the rising waters, standing on a table on the second story of the house as he spoke to me on his cellular phone. His wife had made her way to the Church in order to cook and help people in more need then herself. These are amazing people of God!
As we would hear from our members who ware needing rescue or provision, we would alert the authorities and organizations like the red cross who were running boats through the streets and using helicopters to reach roof tops with lines and rope ladders. But the number of people needing help were too many and we would only hear of a few cases here and there who actually received the help. Most of those wading out of those hard hit areas are now buying food and going back in to feed those left behind who haven’t eaten in two days. There was one diabetic girl they were trying to get to who had run out of insulin and was in a desperate state. I don’t know if she made it.
Close to our main Church locations, we got our own rafts and boats out, mostly improvised to reach the people in the neighborhoods that we could get to. Many dozens were reached from their roof-tops. Some made it to safety by pulling themselves along on power wires through the swirls of water which were as high as 11 feet. One of our elderly members made it through by sitting in a laundry tub, paddling with her hands. It has been much like that movie, “Saving Private Ryan.” Even though we were on specific missions to reach certain people, we saved many others along the way.
One of the main prayer points is that there are many now who have weakened immune systems and people could potentially die for weeks from pneumonia or severe flu’s.
We are praying for resources so that as a Church group, we can not only take care of our members but also take care of those who our members know... the ones we have been witnessing to over the years and now have an opportunity to help.
This morning, we sent bags of clothes and food out of our house to a Church where many young families are holed up... But it wasn’t nearly enough. We can clothe a child for just a little more then $5. We can put enough food on a families table to get them through this week for $10. Every $50 or $100 makes a huge difference.
You could give to an NGO, the Red Cross or to the Philippine government. Even to the TV stations and all of them are doing a good job. But I am asking those who know us to please give through our Church group, Tabernacle of Faith International. The reason for this is to not only save and touch lives, but to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ. Charity plus the gospel will accomplish so much more.
For those of you are in the United States, we can get you tax deductible receipts, but we are asking for funds to come very quickly. Western Union is very effective or funds sent to our Chicago based Chase Bank account which we can access immediately.
Please contact me at pastorstevemckinney@gmail.com for details on how to get funds to us through bank transfer. For Western Union, just place the name Steven J. McKinney, Pasig City, Philippines and then E-mail me the MTCN number. It is instant.
But more then funds, please pray! The reports say there is another storm on the way. There is nothing quite as bad as being hit again when you are already down. Pray for God’s mercy to avert another disaster and for God’s favor as we minister His love.
Thank you so much!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
This Rain is No Joke --- Please Pray
It has been raining non-stop in Manila for almost 24 hours now... It is not a typhoon and the storm signal has still not come to a level that would normally close businesses and schools... but they are all closed now anyway. Just the sheer amount of rain has devastated the city. If people left this morning for school or work, most of them are now stuck and cannot get home.
I went to the grocery store down the street this morning, staying in the store for about 45 minutes. When I left the parking garage, I realized that the tail-pipe of my car would be under water and I turned around and re-parked. The only vehicles going down that street by this time were trucks and large SUV’s. After waiting for an hour, I took the essential groceries and walked. The water came up to well over my knee’s as I made sure to walk in the more shallow areas... down the middle of the street unless a vehicle was coming. The waves from the vehicles would about knock us over as the water was violently swirling anyway.
Plastic bags and debris wrapped around my legs and I would shake free. I was watching out for potholes which might cause a sprained ankle or worse yet, for open sewerage holes or drains in which if you dropped into you would likely be killed by drowning. A father and his 4 year old were on the opposite side of the street of me making their way through the water. The kid slipped and the father lost his grip and the kid got caught in the current and went down the river in the street faster then his father could catch up to. Two men were able to catch him and return him to his father before he was lost him the drainage system of the city forever.
I made it home with only a scratch on my leg from floating debris but of course I smelled like “you know what...” I showered for 30 minutes carefully disinfecting every inch of my legs including my toe nails. You don’t want that kind of an infection.
Word is coming in now. Our Church building has turned into a mini refugee center. Many families have been rescued by raft. Some of our Church members have had to move from 2nd floor to roof top. Their belongings are destroyed and they are just happy to make it out with their lives by this point.
We don’t know what he death toll is in Manila yet but the news said at least 10 kids have been killed so far that we know about. There is great concern for the elderly as well who may not be able to make it to high ground.
In the province, people are calling in to the government who in turn are alerting the media that they are the lone survivors from their families. The story usually goes that they return home from work and find their house and family gone or maybe a body.
Imagine the “latch-key kids” whose Mom’s went to work this morning and can’t get home... The little 7 year old girl taking care of her 3 year old brother and they are scared and don’t know what to do. And since they don’t want the neighbors to know what they are doing that, the neighbors may not know to rescue them.
I’m asking for prayer! Our family is safe and we only lost our electricity 20 minutes ago. We have been fortunate. Our housing division is on high ground and we are in no danger now that we are all home. I’m using a cell phone and battery power to get on line right now. I don’t know how long before power will come back on. I am asking for prayer for those we don’t know about, can’t get a hold of and even for those we will never meet. Please pray that God will save, protect and make Himself known through this rain storm.
I went to the grocery store down the street this morning, staying in the store for about 45 minutes. When I left the parking garage, I realized that the tail-pipe of my car would be under water and I turned around and re-parked. The only vehicles going down that street by this time were trucks and large SUV’s. After waiting for an hour, I took the essential groceries and walked. The water came up to well over my knee’s as I made sure to walk in the more shallow areas... down the middle of the street unless a vehicle was coming. The waves from the vehicles would about knock us over as the water was violently swirling anyway.
Plastic bags and debris wrapped around my legs and I would shake free. I was watching out for potholes which might cause a sprained ankle or worse yet, for open sewerage holes or drains in which if you dropped into you would likely be killed by drowning. A father and his 4 year old were on the opposite side of the street of me making their way through the water. The kid slipped and the father lost his grip and the kid got caught in the current and went down the river in the street faster then his father could catch up to. Two men were able to catch him and return him to his father before he was lost him the drainage system of the city forever.
I made it home with only a scratch on my leg from floating debris but of course I smelled like “you know what...” I showered for 30 minutes carefully disinfecting every inch of my legs including my toe nails. You don’t want that kind of an infection.
Word is coming in now. Our Church building has turned into a mini refugee center. Many families have been rescued by raft. Some of our Church members have had to move from 2nd floor to roof top. Their belongings are destroyed and they are just happy to make it out with their lives by this point.
We don’t know what he death toll is in Manila yet but the news said at least 10 kids have been killed so far that we know about. There is great concern for the elderly as well who may not be able to make it to high ground.
In the province, people are calling in to the government who in turn are alerting the media that they are the lone survivors from their families. The story usually goes that they return home from work and find their house and family gone or maybe a body.
Imagine the “latch-key kids” whose Mom’s went to work this morning and can’t get home... The little 7 year old girl taking care of her 3 year old brother and they are scared and don’t know what to do. And since they don’t want the neighbors to know what they are doing that, the neighbors may not know to rescue them.
I’m asking for prayer! Our family is safe and we only lost our electricity 20 minutes ago. We have been fortunate. Our housing division is on high ground and we are in no danger now that we are all home. I’m using a cell phone and battery power to get on line right now. I don’t know how long before power will come back on. I am asking for prayer for those we don’t know about, can’t get a hold of and even for those we will never meet. Please pray that God will save, protect and make Himself known through this rain storm.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Kingdom Expansion in this Season
Some of the more popular scriptures which we use to describe the building of the worldwide Church include Nehemiah's rebuilding of the wall, anything pertaining to Joshua and the advancement into the promised land and of course references to Gideon the Judge. To post something fresh from any of these examples would likely be impossible since it has all been taught and re-taught before, but they do continue to be great, timely and good constant reminders.
In our study as a Pastoral Staff at TFI this week, there were a couple of points which caught my eye that I wan to share from Gideon. This scripture comes as the 300 "finalists" make their move on the enemy...
Judges 7: 22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. 23 Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites. 24 Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah." So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they took the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah. 25 They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan. (NIV)
The two significant enemy leaders who they were able to capture and kill, they executed in their own places, places that were named after them. The rock of Oreb and the winepress of Zeeb. There is much that could be said and everything can be symbolized, but without getting too far down the road, let me just share the one big thing about it for me at this time.
13 years ago, Tabernacle of Faith International moved into a beautiful new building in San Juan, a major section of Metro Manila. There is no doubt that it was a blessing from the Lord. Literally, generations of people have been saved, delivered, taught, married and spent much of their lives together in the school and the Church. Hundreds of people who have been transformed on the premises are now influencers in society.
BUT, the Church has not increased in numbers or in influence in that 13 years. It has not fulfilled the command of the Lord found in scripture to "Increase and do not diminish." We have all watched the Church diminish like a withering tree even though there has been real success and fruitfulness all along. If you looked at it as a 13 year graph, even though there have been times when there are rises, the overall picture is a dramatic and consistent drop. Now we find ourselves having to "Strengthen that which remains." Thankfully, there are many hundreds of faithful who remain and are eager to Increase in this new season.
BTW, I know that there are those who will be offended when they read this, but that is not my intention. I simply want to be real...
It was because of this that Pastor Ray Llarena answered the call of God to come back after a 13 year absence Pastoring in Chicago and others are currently flocking to TFI as well. Many new and many returning. Joy and I are among them. And there is an awareness, an urgency that things must be done differently. One of the biggest changes is a realization that a Church building is a tool and nothing more. It cannot and should not be a monument or an indicator of success. This is why we decided to launch our new services into a shopping mall and why we are targeting other malls in the near future. My personal take on it is that we should not even consider a location that Starbucks would not consider...
We have scattered the enemy, we have initiated changes, we have blown the trumpets and the enemy is on the run. Now we must put the enemy to death on his own territory, taking the Church out from our own territory into their territory where we will send a clear message. The city belongs to God and the enemies of God are going down. I launched a new Life group just last night at the Eastwood City McDonald's, another local shopping mall. We could have done it in somebodies home or at the Church facility, but we did it out in the open, in territory that we have marked for expansion. There were many people at tables around us who knew what we were doing and when we closed our session in prayer, I saw out of the corner of my eye that one particular person prayed with us. Of course this can be done in a predominantly Catholic nation where you might not be able to do such a thing for instance in a Muslim or Hindu nation. But there are other ways in those places which apply...
We will continue to have services at our San Juan building, but they will be catering more towards the immediate community. But where we are going for the boat load of fish is at our events in the shopping malls, restaurants and other public venues. Going fishing in a Church building is kind of like going fishing in an aquarium. Why would we want to do that?
There is one more item that hit me from the passage listed above. Gideon commanded that the enemy be cut off from the waters of the Jordan. Those familiar with war strategy know that whoever controls the water supply controls the battle. I wish I could say that there was some deeply spiritual meaning here... Well I can and there is. But the water does not represent the Holy Spirit or the Presence of God... It represents resources. Money. Hello?
And this is the battle that is raging around the world right now in these times economically speaking. I receive correspondence from Missionaries and Pastors that I know on a weekly basis who have initiated strategies and have scattered the enemy but they are not able to sustain the victory because they are running low on resources. I'm telling you that the enemy is after the water and he is trying to get there and it is our responsibility if we are going to win in this season, to cut him off!
I think the application is a simple one on a personal level and even on a Church/Ministry level. Don't stop spending on the things which enlarge the Kingdom. Keep planting Churches, keep missionaries on the field, keep the funds flowing to outreach programs, keep Christian multi-media well funded, etc. It's time to tighten the belt on everything else in the Church except the war. Just as in the days of WWI and WWII when America's factories were converted into bomb and munitions making operations, the time is now that America's (and the world's) Churches change their production lines over to exclusively and intentionally become operations which fund expansion and route the enemy from the water. We have the power to control this battle and we must sound the call to take the appropriate measures to enforce the victory!
I spoke for a large Church not long ago which was becoming serious about their outreach commitment. The leadership had a vision to raise US$100,000 for their missions budget. I prayed and I prayed for the Lord's guidance on how to preach in a way that would yield the offerings and the faith pledges which would accomplish this seemingly impossible amount. When the moment came, I remembered eating at the Pizza Hut across the street and seeing the crowds of familiar faces from that Church in that Pizza Hut. I challenged the people on that day that when they get to heaven and God opens the accounts of our lives, that each and every person will be able to say that they gave more to God's work, above and beyond the basic tithes, then they spent on Sunday lunches at Pizza Hut and other places. We not only got the budget in those 4 services, but we doubled it. The analogy had evidently hit a nerve?? We cut off the water from the enemy on that day.
On a side note, I can tell you that as a Missionary guest speaker at Churches in America, that a good offering runs about $3 per person in attendance and that a weak offering runs between $1-2. You could argue a good job on the part of the speaker or good generosity on the part of the congregation depending on who you wanted to win the argument... It is seldom that we see miracle offerings of more then $10 per person. How much is lunch after Church per person? Could it be that even a miracle offering runs less then what is being spent on lunch? Are we tipping God?
"Pastor Steve, are you saying that spiritual warfare involves pushing back the plate at a restaurant so that you can put more in the offering plate?" Yes! That is exactly what I am saying!
I mentioned earlier in this long post, that I don't want to consider a location to hold Church services that Starbucks wouldn't consider putting an outlet in. I will mention Starbucks one more time. In years past, I have been a good Starbucks customer. Not only them but other coffee chains as well. I have become accustomed to paying as much for a designer beverage as what we can pay for a full meal at a fast food restaurant. In recent months, I have had to personally come up with the funds to pay for our meetings outside of the Church. Hundreds of dollars every week. Let me just say that I walk past Starbucks now and I don't go in anymore unless it is to meet with someone for ministry. And even then, I now partake of the lesser beverages in price. We are at war! And I don't want the Lord to say on that day, you spent more on Starbucks, pizza and restaurants then you did on My Church! No way no how!!! I'm living for that day! And I know that God's accounts are perfect and I'm not going to be able to "fudge" my way out of that... which BTW, I don't buy fudge right now either...
Does this mean that I am against spending in restaurants, coffee joints and candy shops? Of course not! I'm only saying that we need to recognize the times and the seasons that we find ourselves in and adjust appropriately.
My encouragement to you from this timely word about Gideon is this. Let us spend the money to get the gospel out of the Church and into the mainstream. It will require an assessment of finances and an increased allotment of resources. Warfare sometimes requires a re-prioritization of spending. Increased blessing comes with increased sacrifice.
I am praying to hear good reports from all of my ministerial friends in the coming weeks and months that no longer are resources drying up, but there has been an increase from God's people who have made sacrifices to advance the Kingdom in this prime season!
In our study as a Pastoral Staff at TFI this week, there were a couple of points which caught my eye that I wan to share from Gideon. This scripture comes as the 300 "finalists" make their move on the enemy...
Judges 7: 22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. 23 Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites. 24 Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah." So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they took the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah. 25 They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan. (NIV)
The two significant enemy leaders who they were able to capture and kill, they executed in their own places, places that were named after them. The rock of Oreb and the winepress of Zeeb. There is much that could be said and everything can be symbolized, but without getting too far down the road, let me just share the one big thing about it for me at this time.
13 years ago, Tabernacle of Faith International moved into a beautiful new building in San Juan, a major section of Metro Manila. There is no doubt that it was a blessing from the Lord. Literally, generations of people have been saved, delivered, taught, married and spent much of their lives together in the school and the Church. Hundreds of people who have been transformed on the premises are now influencers in society.
BUT, the Church has not increased in numbers or in influence in that 13 years. It has not fulfilled the command of the Lord found in scripture to "Increase and do not diminish." We have all watched the Church diminish like a withering tree even though there has been real success and fruitfulness all along. If you looked at it as a 13 year graph, even though there have been times when there are rises, the overall picture is a dramatic and consistent drop. Now we find ourselves having to "Strengthen that which remains." Thankfully, there are many hundreds of faithful who remain and are eager to Increase in this new season.
BTW, I know that there are those who will be offended when they read this, but that is not my intention. I simply want to be real...
It was because of this that Pastor Ray Llarena answered the call of God to come back after a 13 year absence Pastoring in Chicago and others are currently flocking to TFI as well. Many new and many returning. Joy and I are among them. And there is an awareness, an urgency that things must be done differently. One of the biggest changes is a realization that a Church building is a tool and nothing more. It cannot and should not be a monument or an indicator of success. This is why we decided to launch our new services into a shopping mall and why we are targeting other malls in the near future. My personal take on it is that we should not even consider a location that Starbucks would not consider...
We have scattered the enemy, we have initiated changes, we have blown the trumpets and the enemy is on the run. Now we must put the enemy to death on his own territory, taking the Church out from our own territory into their territory where we will send a clear message. The city belongs to God and the enemies of God are going down. I launched a new Life group just last night at the Eastwood City McDonald's, another local shopping mall. We could have done it in somebodies home or at the Church facility, but we did it out in the open, in territory that we have marked for expansion. There were many people at tables around us who knew what we were doing and when we closed our session in prayer, I saw out of the corner of my eye that one particular person prayed with us. Of course this can be done in a predominantly Catholic nation where you might not be able to do such a thing for instance in a Muslim or Hindu nation. But there are other ways in those places which apply...
We will continue to have services at our San Juan building, but they will be catering more towards the immediate community. But where we are going for the boat load of fish is at our events in the shopping malls, restaurants and other public venues. Going fishing in a Church building is kind of like going fishing in an aquarium. Why would we want to do that?
There is one more item that hit me from the passage listed above. Gideon commanded that the enemy be cut off from the waters of the Jordan. Those familiar with war strategy know that whoever controls the water supply controls the battle. I wish I could say that there was some deeply spiritual meaning here... Well I can and there is. But the water does not represent the Holy Spirit or the Presence of God... It represents resources. Money. Hello?
And this is the battle that is raging around the world right now in these times economically speaking. I receive correspondence from Missionaries and Pastors that I know on a weekly basis who have initiated strategies and have scattered the enemy but they are not able to sustain the victory because they are running low on resources. I'm telling you that the enemy is after the water and he is trying to get there and it is our responsibility if we are going to win in this season, to cut him off!
I think the application is a simple one on a personal level and even on a Church/Ministry level. Don't stop spending on the things which enlarge the Kingdom. Keep planting Churches, keep missionaries on the field, keep the funds flowing to outreach programs, keep Christian multi-media well funded, etc. It's time to tighten the belt on everything else in the Church except the war. Just as in the days of WWI and WWII when America's factories were converted into bomb and munitions making operations, the time is now that America's (and the world's) Churches change their production lines over to exclusively and intentionally become operations which fund expansion and route the enemy from the water. We have the power to control this battle and we must sound the call to take the appropriate measures to enforce the victory!
I spoke for a large Church not long ago which was becoming serious about their outreach commitment. The leadership had a vision to raise US$100,000 for their missions budget. I prayed and I prayed for the Lord's guidance on how to preach in a way that would yield the offerings and the faith pledges which would accomplish this seemingly impossible amount. When the moment came, I remembered eating at the Pizza Hut across the street and seeing the crowds of familiar faces from that Church in that Pizza Hut. I challenged the people on that day that when they get to heaven and God opens the accounts of our lives, that each and every person will be able to say that they gave more to God's work, above and beyond the basic tithes, then they spent on Sunday lunches at Pizza Hut and other places. We not only got the budget in those 4 services, but we doubled it. The analogy had evidently hit a nerve?? We cut off the water from the enemy on that day.
On a side note, I can tell you that as a Missionary guest speaker at Churches in America, that a good offering runs about $3 per person in attendance and that a weak offering runs between $1-2. You could argue a good job on the part of the speaker or good generosity on the part of the congregation depending on who you wanted to win the argument... It is seldom that we see miracle offerings of more then $10 per person. How much is lunch after Church per person? Could it be that even a miracle offering runs less then what is being spent on lunch? Are we tipping God?
"Pastor Steve, are you saying that spiritual warfare involves pushing back the plate at a restaurant so that you can put more in the offering plate?" Yes! That is exactly what I am saying!
I mentioned earlier in this long post, that I don't want to consider a location to hold Church services that Starbucks wouldn't consider putting an outlet in. I will mention Starbucks one more time. In years past, I have been a good Starbucks customer. Not only them but other coffee chains as well. I have become accustomed to paying as much for a designer beverage as what we can pay for a full meal at a fast food restaurant. In recent months, I have had to personally come up with the funds to pay for our meetings outside of the Church. Hundreds of dollars every week. Let me just say that I walk past Starbucks now and I don't go in anymore unless it is to meet with someone for ministry. And even then, I now partake of the lesser beverages in price. We are at war! And I don't want the Lord to say on that day, you spent more on Starbucks, pizza and restaurants then you did on My Church! No way no how!!! I'm living for that day! And I know that God's accounts are perfect and I'm not going to be able to "fudge" my way out of that... which BTW, I don't buy fudge right now either...
Does this mean that I am against spending in restaurants, coffee joints and candy shops? Of course not! I'm only saying that we need to recognize the times and the seasons that we find ourselves in and adjust appropriately.
My encouragement to you from this timely word about Gideon is this. Let us spend the money to get the gospel out of the Church and into the mainstream. It will require an assessment of finances and an increased allotment of resources. Warfare sometimes requires a re-prioritization of spending. Increased blessing comes with increased sacrifice.
I am praying to hear good reports from all of my ministerial friends in the coming weeks and months that no longer are resources drying up, but there has been an increase from God's people who have made sacrifices to advance the Kingdom in this prime season!
Monday, September 7, 2009
"You killed her!"
So I was driving along the other day, taking Ethan home from school. He was settled in the back seat (he likes to be chauffeured) watching Ice Age 3 on his portable DVD player, completely absorbed. I saw a bit of a commotion up ahead where a car had stopped and the female driver had come out and was yelling at 3 little girls. They must have done something terrible to get this reaction. The lady got back in her car and sped off and the girls laughed. As I approached the same spot, I noticed that these same little girls were hiding behind a parked car at the place I was going to pass them. I slowed and went carefully, not knowing what to expect. As I passed that parked car, I watched my side view mirror and saw a little girls hand slap my car making a loud "thud." She then flung her body down in the road making it appear that I had hit her and her 2 little friends, on their knees started holding their heads and screaming bloody murder. I of course, knowing that it was a prank kept driving slowly, but Ethan sat up and turned around, not being aware of the situation and started screaming, "you killed her! you killed that little girl!"
Even after I explained it to him, he wasn't believing me until a moment later when he could see that she had gotten up and the 3 of them were laughing. If he had not have seen that, he probably would have gone through life thinking that his Dad had killed some little girl. I am glad he saw the truth before we turned the corner.
On the road of life, we encounter those who love to play games... dangerous games. They are pretty good at catching those in the back seat unaware and twisting reality. There is always an end-game that they have in mind which requires capturing the attention and the hearts of those who did not see it coming. They blame, divide, dishearten, accuse, slander and they are very committed and patient in excecuting their plan.
The motive often involves trying to gain power or resources, not just after school fun as was the case with these little girls. Many years ago, I did hit a man with my car who purposefully put himself in my path while I was going slow because he was positioning himself to somehow exact money from me, either with a cash settlement on the spot or through the legal system later.
For me, the case of the 3 school girls are just another reminder to watch out and to be alert at all times. Often, the Lord will bring little funny events into life like this to remind us of what is lurking up ahead in the more serious issues. And He of course also allows these funny but serious events to occur to shed light on situations which have occured in the past.
Proberbs 18:17 (TNIV) "In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines. "
This scripture is specifically about lawsuits but it applies in other cases as well. The point? Be careful when you have only heard one side of a matter. The Church is a breeding ground for slander and malice because instead of there being a legal system of governance, friends usually side with friends which makes it more like a school yard setting. Let's be more careful shall we? My experience tells me that usually after I've heard both sides, that I really can't be the judge and I need to leave it to the Lord without taking sides.
Even after I explained it to him, he wasn't believing me until a moment later when he could see that she had gotten up and the 3 of them were laughing. If he had not have seen that, he probably would have gone through life thinking that his Dad had killed some little girl. I am glad he saw the truth before we turned the corner.
On the road of life, we encounter those who love to play games... dangerous games. They are pretty good at catching those in the back seat unaware and twisting reality. There is always an end-game that they have in mind which requires capturing the attention and the hearts of those who did not see it coming. They blame, divide, dishearten, accuse, slander and they are very committed and patient in excecuting their plan.
The motive often involves trying to gain power or resources, not just after school fun as was the case with these little girls. Many years ago, I did hit a man with my car who purposefully put himself in my path while I was going slow because he was positioning himself to somehow exact money from me, either with a cash settlement on the spot or through the legal system later.
For me, the case of the 3 school girls are just another reminder to watch out and to be alert at all times. Often, the Lord will bring little funny events into life like this to remind us of what is lurking up ahead in the more serious issues. And He of course also allows these funny but serious events to occur to shed light on situations which have occured in the past.
Proberbs 18:17 (TNIV) "In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines. "
This scripture is specifically about lawsuits but it applies in other cases as well. The point? Be careful when you have only heard one side of a matter. The Church is a breeding ground for slander and malice because instead of there being a legal system of governance, friends usually side with friends which makes it more like a school yard setting. Let's be more careful shall we? My experience tells me that usually after I've heard both sides, that I really can't be the judge and I need to leave it to the Lord without taking sides.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
