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!
Monday, September 28, 2009
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.
Friday, August 14, 2009
ready to launch IDEAchurch in manila in 2 days
I apologize for the length of time between posts this month? It has been a busy move to Manila from Jakarta by way of Chicago!
We are launching the first service of a new gathering which we are calling IDEAchurch this coming Sunday evening, August 16 at 6pm! For those of you in the Philippines, we are at the Mandarin Oriental Suites in Gateway Mall Cubao. An awesome location that many can get to even by train! The service will go 90 minutes and feature artistic expression and multi-media and is definitely an event you will want to bring your pre-believer friends to. They will be touched for sure!
Our initial web-site has more information. I'm a writer and not an artist and am looking forward to handing over the web-site to our newly formed team in the next couple of weeks, but what is there will work for now... :-)
www.IDEAchurch.org
For those of you who don't have the time to go to the web-site and are curious, IDEA stands for Intentional, Discipleship, Evangelism and Arts. We will be Intentionally making Disciples and Evangelizing in creative ways, expressing who we are in Christ with heavy emphasis on the Arts. What are Arts? Most of you have a Bachelor of Arts degree yes? Arts are basically anything that you do in life which require you to perfect a talent or a skill.
For Pastor Joy, it's mostly musical. For me, it is the communication arts. Frankly, I would personally not want to even listen to a sermon that is not being delivered by a serious person who understands that they need to be an anointed artist to turn hearts to God. But that's my opinion... What is your art and how are you using it for God to go and make disciples??? You get the IDEA.
But it's not just a Church for artists who already have an IDEA of what they can do with God... It's also a Church for those who have NO IDEA... to come and be inspired and to experience the beauty and the presence of Jesus as we facilitate holy moments that He will use.
Some have asked who our target audience is. After quite a bit of thought, I'll put it this way... IDEAchurch is for people who are BORED with church as usual. Or even for people who have been burned in church. We want to raise up a Church that this new generation would be enthusiastic about bringing their friends to. You know, the ones that they brought to other churches stuck in the past that they never came a second time to?
Based on what I just wrote, you can tell that the warfare is going to be intense and we need your prayers! Thanks in advance and may God bless you in amazing ways!!!
We are launching the first service of a new gathering which we are calling IDEAchurch this coming Sunday evening, August 16 at 6pm! For those of you in the Philippines, we are at the Mandarin Oriental Suites in Gateway Mall Cubao. An awesome location that many can get to even by train! The service will go 90 minutes and feature artistic expression and multi-media and is definitely an event you will want to bring your pre-believer friends to. They will be touched for sure!
Our initial web-site has more information. I'm a writer and not an artist and am looking forward to handing over the web-site to our newly formed team in the next couple of weeks, but what is there will work for now... :-)
www.IDEAchurch.org
For those of you who don't have the time to go to the web-site and are curious, IDEA stands for Intentional, Discipleship, Evangelism and Arts. We will be Intentionally making Disciples and Evangelizing in creative ways, expressing who we are in Christ with heavy emphasis on the Arts. What are Arts? Most of you have a Bachelor of Arts degree yes? Arts are basically anything that you do in life which require you to perfect a talent or a skill.
For Pastor Joy, it's mostly musical. For me, it is the communication arts. Frankly, I would personally not want to even listen to a sermon that is not being delivered by a serious person who understands that they need to be an anointed artist to turn hearts to God. But that's my opinion... What is your art and how are you using it for God to go and make disciples??? You get the IDEA.
But it's not just a Church for artists who already have an IDEA of what they can do with God... It's also a Church for those who have NO IDEA... to come and be inspired and to experience the beauty and the presence of Jesus as we facilitate holy moments that He will use.
Some have asked who our target audience is. After quite a bit of thought, I'll put it this way... IDEAchurch is for people who are BORED with church as usual. Or even for people who have been burned in church. We want to raise up a Church that this new generation would be enthusiastic about bringing their friends to. You know, the ones that they brought to other churches stuck in the past that they never came a second time to?
Based on what I just wrote, you can tell that the warfare is going to be intense and we need your prayers! Thanks in advance and may God bless you in amazing ways!!!
Friday, July 24, 2009
At the BBQ
I was at a family barbeque not long ago... we had gone up to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and the town was packed with people. While tending to the grill, I was also watching our 7 year old Ethan out of the corner of my eye while the rest of our group went down to the lake. With well over 100 children playing on the jungle gym and the surrounding equipment, I lost sight of him in the crowd. I was about to panic because I didn’t want to ruin the steaks and sausages by leaving them unattended but I also couldn’t risk my son being kidnapped or wandering off! I was about to pull the feast off of the grill when I remembered that I can use my senses. You know, my “supernatural parental senses.” I immediately remembered the color of his shoes and of his shirt. As I looked into the collage of colors swirling in front of me, I saw his color combination moving within the mix. Then I listened for his voice within the loudness of a multitude of voices and I heard him excitedly talking to another kid as they played. I spent the rest of the next 30 minutes calmly watching him and listening to him from a distance even though I rarely actually saw him fully.
Sometimes we get so BUSY! And we feel guilty for our busy-ness because we have all heard (and preached) 100+ sermons on how we should not be so busy and spend more time with family and with God. I believe that. But what if our busy-ness is with family and with God? I have often thought that I need to take time out of my schedule for God and have come to realize that this is totally crazy. I need to include God in my life, every moment of every day. God doesn’t want us to visit him like we visit Grandpa, but He wants to live with us in the moment!
As Joy and I are busy settling in to our new life and ministry in Manila, in the craziness of it all, we know what our God looks like and we know His voice. We don’t want to lose sight or sound of Him at all as we get cooking’!
How about you??? I don’t have too many monks in my readership that I know of. Most of you are busy family people or busy career, ministry or school people. Let me encourage you that you don’t have to live in a Monastery to spend every second with Him. Go for it today and always! Live in His presence and let Him live in every one of your moments!
Sometimes we get so BUSY! And we feel guilty for our busy-ness because we have all heard (and preached) 100+ sermons on how we should not be so busy and spend more time with family and with God. I believe that. But what if our busy-ness is with family and with God? I have often thought that I need to take time out of my schedule for God and have come to realize that this is totally crazy. I need to include God in my life, every moment of every day. God doesn’t want us to visit him like we visit Grandpa, but He wants to live with us in the moment!
As Joy and I are busy settling in to our new life and ministry in Manila, in the craziness of it all, we know what our God looks like and we know His voice. We don’t want to lose sight or sound of Him at all as we get cooking’!
How about you??? I don’t have too many monks in my readership that I know of. Most of you are busy family people or busy career, ministry or school people. Let me encourage you that you don’t have to live in a Monastery to spend every second with Him. Go for it today and always! Live in His presence and let Him live in every one of your moments!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Lord Has Spoken... Your Mail Has Arrived
Our son Devin wanted to get his USA Drivers License while in Chicago this summer. One of the requirements is to show a letter delivered to our address in his name. I had sent for an information packet in his name a few weeks earlier in order to have a letter ready to go. When the letter arrived, we placed it safely where Devin and I both knew where it was.
The day arrived when it was time to head to the office and Devin couldn’t find the letter. We searched all of the possible places in the house and it simply was not there. Somebody must have thrown it away! This was disheartening to Devin because it would delay his getting the license another 3 days or more. The look on his face was like he was being crushed.
Then I caught a glimpse of Devin’s name on a different letter in a completely different kind of envelope from the original. We could use it! He rarely gets mail at this address but something unexpected had come! The color came back to his face, we grabbed it and we went!
Minutes later in the car, the Lord began to speak to me through this experience. According to His Word, I have consistently known that He has ALWAYS provided before I need something. Using the example I just shared, you could say that the Mail Has Already Arrived! The problem is not whether or not God has provided, because He HAS. The problem is that often times it is in different packaging then what I expect and so I hurriedly sort through the stacks without reading the labels, making assumptions.
Even though the answer or the resource that I need is within reach, it requires a search on my part. I don’t know about you, but my natural inclination is that I dislike searching for things. I dislike searching almost as much as waiting, especially at a government office or bank!
Many people don’t find the direction, purpose or fulfillment available to them from the Lord simply because they aren’t looking for it or it doesn’t look the way they thought it would. For we Pentecostals, we want things to prophetically or miraculously pop up at just the right time. Although that does happen from time to time, scriptures in the Bible show us that the greatest people of God in the history of the world, though they were people who had ears perked to hear from God, diligently searched for His timely Word in Due Season to inject into their messages.
1 Peter 1 (NIV)
9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Peter explains that not only did the prophets “search”, but that even angels would long to join the search. We have the privilege to join the great search! The search which reveals God’s plan for our lives individually and for this generation. The mailman has already come, the letter has arrived, now we just need to find The Word for this season!
Let me put it one more way... The answer that you are seeking has already been spoken. It is in written in God’s Word! If that doesn’t motivate us to get into the Word everyday, what else will?
The day arrived when it was time to head to the office and Devin couldn’t find the letter. We searched all of the possible places in the house and it simply was not there. Somebody must have thrown it away! This was disheartening to Devin because it would delay his getting the license another 3 days or more. The look on his face was like he was being crushed.
Then I caught a glimpse of Devin’s name on a different letter in a completely different kind of envelope from the original. We could use it! He rarely gets mail at this address but something unexpected had come! The color came back to his face, we grabbed it and we went!
Minutes later in the car, the Lord began to speak to me through this experience. According to His Word, I have consistently known that He has ALWAYS provided before I need something. Using the example I just shared, you could say that the Mail Has Already Arrived! The problem is not whether or not God has provided, because He HAS. The problem is that often times it is in different packaging then what I expect and so I hurriedly sort through the stacks without reading the labels, making assumptions.
Even though the answer or the resource that I need is within reach, it requires a search on my part. I don’t know about you, but my natural inclination is that I dislike searching for things. I dislike searching almost as much as waiting, especially at a government office or bank!
Many people don’t find the direction, purpose or fulfillment available to them from the Lord simply because they aren’t looking for it or it doesn’t look the way they thought it would. For we Pentecostals, we want things to prophetically or miraculously pop up at just the right time. Although that does happen from time to time, scriptures in the Bible show us that the greatest people of God in the history of the world, though they were people who had ears perked to hear from God, diligently searched for His timely Word in Due Season to inject into their messages.
1 Peter 1 (NIV)
9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Peter explains that not only did the prophets “search”, but that even angels would long to join the search. We have the privilege to join the great search! The search which reveals God’s plan for our lives individually and for this generation. The mailman has already come, the letter has arrived, now we just need to find The Word for this season!
Let me put it one more way... The answer that you are seeking has already been spoken. It is in written in God’s Word! If that doesn’t motivate us to get into the Word everyday, what else will?
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