Yesterday I drove back to Missouri from a week long workshop in McKinney, Texas called Simply the Story. I thought the training would be a breeze, but boy was I wrong! It turned out to be one of the most intense spiritual/mental exercises I've done in a long time.
In a nutshell, what I learned is that the vast majority of preaching and teaching in the world (especially in the U.S.) is designed for people that are literate, and yet, a shocking 80% of the world is, in fact, illiterate. Further augmenting the problem is that we in the literate world tend to look down on the illiterate world, thinking that just because someone can't read, that somehow makes them spiritually ignorant. Because we tend to look down on oral learning methods as inferior, not only are the world's illiterate people largely cut off from hearing the gospel in a meaningful way, but also many of the world's literate people are as well. Why? Because when we factor in the fact that a good percentage of literate people prefer to learn through oral communication methods, it becomes clear that most of the world's gospel material is written by people that are not only literate, but by people that prefer to learn by literate means. So that's why you and me find it so difficult to remember the pastor's sermon from week to week. And we all thought we were just dense! (Okay, maybe just me)
Enter Simply the Story. The brilliant strategy that Dorothy Miller from The God's Story Project figured out is that when you take a story from the Bible and focus on just that story (hence the name Simply the Story), without pulling in abstract concepts from here, there, and everywhere (including other passages from the Bible), then the story itself will speak to the people. In the STS strategy, the job of the Christian communicator (aka pastor, evangelist, missionary) is to tell the story accurately, and then facilitate group discussions by formulating questions designed to lead the listeners into discovering the treasures of the stories for themselves.
For five days straight I practiced this method with about 50 other people, mostly missionaries, who were all learning this together. As easy as it might sound, the reality is it can be very difficult for people that have been preaching and teaching one way for so many years to learn a different style of communication, even if it's the mode of communication that Jesus most often used! I found that once I practiced reading stories out loud to myself, I picked up on a lot of details that I'd missed even though I may have read the story a hundred times before. Then once I started asking myself a set of questions about the story, truths started jumping out of the pages of Scripture like never before.
For example: In Luke 18:18-27 there 's the story of the rich young ruler that asked Jesus what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responded with a question (like He almost always did) "Why do you call me good, no one is good but one, and that's God." Jesus proceeded to give a partial list of the 10 commandments (curiously omitting the vertical commandments) and just when the man thought that he was justified, Jesus told him to go and sell all of his possessions to give to the poor--and follow Him--and then he would have treasure in heaven. When the rich man went away sorrowful Jesus dropped a verbal bombshell on the rich by declaring that it's more difficult for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. But at the very end, He throws another curve ball into the equation when the disciples asked Him, "Who then can be saved?" and Jesus answered with, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." I've always found this passage difficult to interpret, but after asking a series of questions about the characters in the story, I think I've discovered the point of the story and it's simply this. There's no goodness or salvation apart from God.
I wonder if this might be one of the reasons why so many of our young people today are being lost to secularism and postmodernism. Perhaps they've never heard the gospel in a way that they can understand. What if instead of trying to saturate our young people with catchy phrases (WWJD?) and slick media campaigns, we started retelling the stories of the Bible and let God's Word speak for itself? You mean God actually knew what He was doing when He put the story of Jonah and the whale in the Bible? Imagine that!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Barack Obama visited my house!
The strangest thing happened the other day. I know this may sound like a stretch, but Barack Obama actually visited my family to personally elicit our support for him. Let me tell you that the experience was otherworldly. The whole time I’m thinking why is Barack Obama visiting us? I live in a middle class neighborhood and don’t have any connections with rich and influential people. What’s Barack Obama doing in my house?
Two days later, another bizarre incident happened. After saying goodbye to an old friend that came to visit my wife and me, I looked outside and saw that our visitor had accidentally totaled my car while backing out of the driveway—and then fled the scene of the crime! The next thing I remember happening is I called the local repair shop and guess who answers the phone? Ron Paul! I actually haggled with Ron Paul on the phone for about five minutes only to find out that my car was irreparable. The whole time I’m thinking is it really that easy to get a hold of Ron Paul?
If you find these two stories unbelievable, you can breathe a sigh of relief. The universe is still shifting on its axis. For the record, the above incidents never happened—except for in my dreams—literally. I’m reasonably sure that the whole Barack Obama dream comes from a CNN episode I watched the night before about John McCain’s first run for congress where he literally knocked on people’s doors to solicit votes. Now as to why Ron Paul is working at a local auto repair shop and living in my aunt’s old house, beats me!
It seems like since the start of the Democratic National convention, and the Republican convention that immediately followed, politics has invaded nearly every area of our lives. No matter how hard we try, we just can’t seem to escape! Watching bits and pieces of the conventions over the past few weeks, I couldn’t help but notice the glitz, the glamour, and the adulation that goes into elevating our political leaders to near godlike status—and how their star-struck fans so easily bask in the glory of their would be saviors.
John McCain’s adoring fans seem to believe that if only they can get their guy elected to the White House, righteousness and morality will be restored to the land, America will be spared the horrors of a left-wing socialist panzie—and how could I forget—evil will be defeated. Barack Obama’s adoring fans seem to think that all they have to do to end poverty, heal the nation’s racial divide, and save the nation from Bible toting war mongers is put a check mark next to a drawing of a donkey in November. Can it really be that simple?
Enter into human history, Jesus of Nazareth. One of the things I love about Jesus is how He refused to be awed by the powers that be of His day. I would love to have been around when Jesus called Herod a fox, or when He referred to the religious leaders—who held a similar position to modern day mullahs in Iran—brood of vipers. Even more, I’d love to have been a peasant in the crowd watching Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. Author Shane Claiborne in His book Jesus for President compares Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to a U.S. president riding into the inauguration ceremony on a bicycle. If Claiborne is right, then Jesus was a lot more of a prankster than I’ve ever imagined Him to be. The question is why would Jesus go out of His way to mock power?
I’m not a psychoanalyst, but I’d be willing to risk a guess. I think that one of the reasons that Jesus came into the world was to crush the all-too-human tendency to look to political rulers for earthly salvation. When Jesus took up a towel to wash His disciples feet, His disciples were offended because they didn’t want their master behaving like a slave, but what they failed to realize is that was exactly Jesus’ point! In Jesus’ value system the powerless is superior to the powerful. Like His mother, Jesus embraced a value system that elevated the poor over the prince, where God puts down the mighty from their seats and elevates the humble (Luke 1:52). Rather than embracing political power to bring about earthly change, which is what Satan tempted Him to do, Jesus put His faith in the upside down Kingdom of God, a Kingdom that puts faith not in the power of the sword, but in the power of self-sacrificial love.
As tempting as it may be to be awed by the power of modern Caesars, followers of Jesus are never to forget that the Word of God tells us not to put our trust in princes (Psalm 146:3). Rather than trusting in the coercive power of the sword to effect moral change in the world, followers of Jesus put their faith in an otherworldly kingdom that rules not with the power of a sword, but with the power of a towel. As eloquent and sincere as they may be, neither McCain nor Obama are going to save the world, let alone America. True power flows from the cross, not from Caesar’s throne.
Two days later, another bizarre incident happened. After saying goodbye to an old friend that came to visit my wife and me, I looked outside and saw that our visitor had accidentally totaled my car while backing out of the driveway—and then fled the scene of the crime! The next thing I remember happening is I called the local repair shop and guess who answers the phone? Ron Paul! I actually haggled with Ron Paul on the phone for about five minutes only to find out that my car was irreparable. The whole time I’m thinking is it really that easy to get a hold of Ron Paul?
If you find these two stories unbelievable, you can breathe a sigh of relief. The universe is still shifting on its axis. For the record, the above incidents never happened—except for in my dreams—literally. I’m reasonably sure that the whole Barack Obama dream comes from a CNN episode I watched the night before about John McCain’s first run for congress where he literally knocked on people’s doors to solicit votes. Now as to why Ron Paul is working at a local auto repair shop and living in my aunt’s old house, beats me!
It seems like since the start of the Democratic National convention, and the Republican convention that immediately followed, politics has invaded nearly every area of our lives. No matter how hard we try, we just can’t seem to escape! Watching bits and pieces of the conventions over the past few weeks, I couldn’t help but notice the glitz, the glamour, and the adulation that goes into elevating our political leaders to near godlike status—and how their star-struck fans so easily bask in the glory of their would be saviors.
John McCain’s adoring fans seem to believe that if only they can get their guy elected to the White House, righteousness and morality will be restored to the land, America will be spared the horrors of a left-wing socialist panzie—and how could I forget—evil will be defeated. Barack Obama’s adoring fans seem to think that all they have to do to end poverty, heal the nation’s racial divide, and save the nation from Bible toting war mongers is put a check mark next to a drawing of a donkey in November. Can it really be that simple?
Enter into human history, Jesus of Nazareth. One of the things I love about Jesus is how He refused to be awed by the powers that be of His day. I would love to have been around when Jesus called Herod a fox, or when He referred to the religious leaders—who held a similar position to modern day mullahs in Iran—brood of vipers. Even more, I’d love to have been a peasant in the crowd watching Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. Author Shane Claiborne in His book Jesus for President compares Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to a U.S. president riding into the inauguration ceremony on a bicycle. If Claiborne is right, then Jesus was a lot more of a prankster than I’ve ever imagined Him to be. The question is why would Jesus go out of His way to mock power?
I’m not a psychoanalyst, but I’d be willing to risk a guess. I think that one of the reasons that Jesus came into the world was to crush the all-too-human tendency to look to political rulers for earthly salvation. When Jesus took up a towel to wash His disciples feet, His disciples were offended because they didn’t want their master behaving like a slave, but what they failed to realize is that was exactly Jesus’ point! In Jesus’ value system the powerless is superior to the powerful. Like His mother, Jesus embraced a value system that elevated the poor over the prince, where God puts down the mighty from their seats and elevates the humble (Luke 1:52). Rather than embracing political power to bring about earthly change, which is what Satan tempted Him to do, Jesus put His faith in the upside down Kingdom of God, a Kingdom that puts faith not in the power of the sword, but in the power of self-sacrificial love.
As tempting as it may be to be awed by the power of modern Caesars, followers of Jesus are never to forget that the Word of God tells us not to put our trust in princes (Psalm 146:3). Rather than trusting in the coercive power of the sword to effect moral change in the world, followers of Jesus put their faith in an otherworldly kingdom that rules not with the power of a sword, but with the power of a towel. As eloquent and sincere as they may be, neither McCain nor Obama are going to save the world, let alone America. True power flows from the cross, not from Caesar’s throne.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Do Christians have a Biblical mandate to outlaw abortion?
My name is Aaron Taylor and I’m a pro-life Christian. What I mean by calling myself pro-life is to say that I believe life begins at conception and no human being has the right to take another life. Period. If you ask me whether I believe abortion is a sin I’ll give you an unequivocal yes, and then I’ll be sure to point you to the cross of Jesus Christ if I sense you’re struggling with guilt over a dark past. On the other hand, if you ask me whether I think Christians should try to outlaw abortion, I’m not going to give you a straight answer. That doesn’t necessarily mean I’m pro-abortion, and neither does it mean I’m pro-choice. It simply means that I can’t give you a straight answer, and the funny thing is, it’s precisely because of my Christian faith that I can’t come right out and say that Christians are obligated to pass laws to declare abortions illegal.
As a Christian and as a citizen I would love to see the abortion rate in the United States of America reduced to zero. But the question is how do we make that happen? Is it simply a matter of passing a law declaring abortion illegal? My conservative Christian background would answer with an immediate yes to this question, but these days my heart is telling me that passing a law outlawing abortion doesn’t quite solve the problem. For starters, we know that before Roe Vs Wade there were countless backyard abortions taking place. And given that little has changed in the past 30 years to address the root causes of systemic poverty in our nation, there’s little reason to believe this would change if abortion would be outlawed tomorrow.
Then there’s the question of rape and abuse. I think female rape victims that choose to keep their babies are saints, but as a man I have to wonder if I really understand the pain female rape victims that choose to deliver their babies full term goes through—even if they give them up for adoption later. And what about women—or young girls—in abusive situations? There’s been a lot of media attention lately about Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s 17 year-old daughter’s unplanned pregnancy and, make no mistake about it, I’m thrilled that Todd and Sarah Palin have chosen to love and support their daughter to guide her in the right direction to keep her baby. But let’s get real for a moment. Does anybody seriously think that every teenage girl has loving parents to come home to that can guide them through an unplanned pregnancy?
What about the girl who’s father molested her when she was young and fears bringing the child up under the same roof? Or what about the girl whose parents would kill them—literally—if they found out she had sex outside of marriage? Or how about the financially struggling woman that fears the father of her baby will abuse both her and the child if she decides to keep her baby? Even in these extreme cases, my Christian ethic on the sanctity of human life still demands that I could never counsel a woman to have an abortion, but the question is: Do I have an obligation as a Christian to take the further step and impose my view of morality on others by forcing them to do so?
The question isn’t just a moral one. It’s also a Biblical one. If the Bible commands Christians to implement God’s law over society through systems of laws and penalties, then by all means, Christians are obligated to declare anything that contradicts God’s law illegal. While we’re at it, if we’re going to be consistent, we might want to consider the death penalty for the 16- year old girl that takes the morning after pill. After all, life begins at conception and murder is murder. If, on the other hand, it can be sufficiently proven that Christians are not obligated to pursue political power to control other people’s behavior, then the question becomes how should followers of Jesus be salt and light in a world that’s gone mad?
I’m going to simplify this by answering my own question with a question. What would the Church look like if there were a universal consensus that our only moral agenda is to imitate Jesus? Throughout the three years of Christ’s ministry on earth, Jesus displayed the sum total of zero interest in pursuing political power to control other people’s behavior. Jesus was offered political power three times—once by Satan—and He turned it down each and every time. In the Roman culture of Jesus’ day, they had something worse than abortion. People could legally kill their children up until age two, but strangely we never see Jesus leading a campaign to outlaw this barbaric practice. Perhaps more surprising is the fact that the Apostle Paul could care less about how people outside the church behaved. His sole concern was for the moral lives of those inside the church. Those inside the church guilty of gross immorality were judged by excommunication, but those outside the Church, Paul made it very clear that Christians are to have nothing to do with judging them (I Corinthians 5:12).
I realize that what I’ve written so far challenges a deeply held notion in many Christian circles that God has called Bible believing Christians to be the moral guardians of society, but frankly, I don’t give a rip about offending religious people. What matters is what the Bible actually says, not the opinions of man. I ask the question again. What would Christianity look like if followers of Jesus decided that their only moral agenda in this life is to imitate Jesus? Would we condemn the sinner with a sword or would we serve the sinner with a towel?
As a Christian and as a citizen I would love to see the abortion rate in the United States of America reduced to zero. But the question is how do we make that happen? Is it simply a matter of passing a law declaring abortion illegal? My conservative Christian background would answer with an immediate yes to this question, but these days my heart is telling me that passing a law outlawing abortion doesn’t quite solve the problem. For starters, we know that before Roe Vs Wade there were countless backyard abortions taking place. And given that little has changed in the past 30 years to address the root causes of systemic poverty in our nation, there’s little reason to believe this would change if abortion would be outlawed tomorrow.
Then there’s the question of rape and abuse. I think female rape victims that choose to keep their babies are saints, but as a man I have to wonder if I really understand the pain female rape victims that choose to deliver their babies full term goes through—even if they give them up for adoption later. And what about women—or young girls—in abusive situations? There’s been a lot of media attention lately about Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s 17 year-old daughter’s unplanned pregnancy and, make no mistake about it, I’m thrilled that Todd and Sarah Palin have chosen to love and support their daughter to guide her in the right direction to keep her baby. But let’s get real for a moment. Does anybody seriously think that every teenage girl has loving parents to come home to that can guide them through an unplanned pregnancy?
What about the girl who’s father molested her when she was young and fears bringing the child up under the same roof? Or what about the girl whose parents would kill them—literally—if they found out she had sex outside of marriage? Or how about the financially struggling woman that fears the father of her baby will abuse both her and the child if she decides to keep her baby? Even in these extreme cases, my Christian ethic on the sanctity of human life still demands that I could never counsel a woman to have an abortion, but the question is: Do I have an obligation as a Christian to take the further step and impose my view of morality on others by forcing them to do so?
The question isn’t just a moral one. It’s also a Biblical one. If the Bible commands Christians to implement God’s law over society through systems of laws and penalties, then by all means, Christians are obligated to declare anything that contradicts God’s law illegal. While we’re at it, if we’re going to be consistent, we might want to consider the death penalty for the 16- year old girl that takes the morning after pill. After all, life begins at conception and murder is murder. If, on the other hand, it can be sufficiently proven that Christians are not obligated to pursue political power to control other people’s behavior, then the question becomes how should followers of Jesus be salt and light in a world that’s gone mad?
I’m going to simplify this by answering my own question with a question. What would the Church look like if there were a universal consensus that our only moral agenda is to imitate Jesus? Throughout the three years of Christ’s ministry on earth, Jesus displayed the sum total of zero interest in pursuing political power to control other people’s behavior. Jesus was offered political power three times—once by Satan—and He turned it down each and every time. In the Roman culture of Jesus’ day, they had something worse than abortion. People could legally kill their children up until age two, but strangely we never see Jesus leading a campaign to outlaw this barbaric practice. Perhaps more surprising is the fact that the Apostle Paul could care less about how people outside the church behaved. His sole concern was for the moral lives of those inside the church. Those inside the church guilty of gross immorality were judged by excommunication, but those outside the Church, Paul made it very clear that Christians are to have nothing to do with judging them (I Corinthians 5:12).
I realize that what I’ve written so far challenges a deeply held notion in many Christian circles that God has called Bible believing Christians to be the moral guardians of society, but frankly, I don’t give a rip about offending religious people. What matters is what the Bible actually says, not the opinions of man. I ask the question again. What would Christianity look like if followers of Jesus decided that their only moral agenda in this life is to imitate Jesus? Would we condemn the sinner with a sword or would we serve the sinner with a towel?
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Is Isaac the father of Christianity?
Question: Aaron, is isaac somehow considered the father of christianity? or at least the head of the lineage? just trying to understand the whole isaac/ishmael xtianity/islam thing. any help would be great. thanks!
Answer: Thank you for the question. I'll try to boil it down the best I can
since this is a very fundamental issue and it's often misunderstood. Unfortunately, the question doesn't lend itself to a short answer.
According to the Bible, God promised Abraham that he would have a son through his wife Sarah and that it would be through Sarah's son that all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Between the time that God made this promise to Abraham and when the promise was actually fulfilled was about 22 years. During this period of waiting, Abraham got impatient and his wife Sarah suggested that he go into their maidservant Hagar. It was the result of Abraham's union with Hagar that Ishmael was born. Ishmael was conceived through Hagar and was the firstborn, but Isaac was conceived through Sarah and became the child of promise.
Unfortunately there was friction between the two women, Sarah and Hagar, so eventually Sarah cast Hagar into the desert at
which point an angel had mercy on her and her son and promised that Ishmael would also father a great nation. Interestingly, Ishmael was actually promised a much larger piece of land than was promised Isaac. According to both Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Scriptures, Ishmael became the father of the Arab people. Isaac is the son of promise in that it was through his lineage that Jesus the Messiah was born, thus fulfilling the promise that it would be through Abraham's seed that
all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
How does this relate to Christianity and Islam? In Galatians 4:21-31, the Apostle Paul allegorizes the story of Isaac and Ishmael to make the point that those who place their faith in Christ for salvation, regardless of their physical lineage, are the true children of promise and are therefore children of Isaac. Jews that don't believe in Jesus, on the other hand, even though they are physical descendants of Isaac, spiritually speaking they are descendants of Hagar because they're trusting in the works of the law to save them. Most Christians scholars, and I agree with this interpretation, would identify Muslims as spiritual children of Ishmael because there's very little theological difference between the path of salvation in Islam
and the path of salvation in Judaism.
Two more points need to be made. In Genesis 22, there's a story where God, in order to test Abraham's faith, asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on an altar. Just as Abraham lifts up the knife to slay his
son, an angel intervenes, commends Abraham's faith and then directs Abraham to a ram caught in a bush to take the place of Isaac. Christians see the ram as a type of Christ in this story. Muslims actually have the same story in the Koran, but according to Islamic tradition, they believe it was Ishmael that Abraham almost sacrificed on the altar, not Isaac, although in the Koran it simply says the firstborn.
Lastly, some say that the story of Isaac and Ishmael means that Jews and Arabs will always be at war with each other. They say that Ishmael was a wild man and persecuted Isaac, therefore the Arab race will always be antagonistic towards the Jews. I strongly disagree with this interpretation. The New Testament makes it clear that Christ has broken down the wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14), and besides, Arabs were present at the day of Pentecost. Whether a person is Arab or Jew, it's faith in Jesus that makes a person a child of Isaac, and Jesus calls His followers to be peacemakers!
I know that's a mouthful, but it's an enormous issue. Hope this helps.
Aaron
Answer: Thank you for the question. I'll try to boil it down the best I can
since this is a very fundamental issue and it's often misunderstood. Unfortunately, the question doesn't lend itself to a short answer.
According to the Bible, God promised Abraham that he would have a son through his wife Sarah and that it would be through Sarah's son that all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Between the time that God made this promise to Abraham and when the promise was actually fulfilled was about 22 years. During this period of waiting, Abraham got impatient and his wife Sarah suggested that he go into their maidservant Hagar. It was the result of Abraham's union with Hagar that Ishmael was born. Ishmael was conceived through Hagar and was the firstborn, but Isaac was conceived through Sarah and became the child of promise.
Unfortunately there was friction between the two women, Sarah and Hagar, so eventually Sarah cast Hagar into the desert at
which point an angel had mercy on her and her son and promised that Ishmael would also father a great nation. Interestingly, Ishmael was actually promised a much larger piece of land than was promised Isaac. According to both Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Scriptures, Ishmael became the father of the Arab people. Isaac is the son of promise in that it was through his lineage that Jesus the Messiah was born, thus fulfilling the promise that it would be through Abraham's seed that
all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
How does this relate to Christianity and Islam? In Galatians 4:21-31, the Apostle Paul allegorizes the story of Isaac and Ishmael to make the point that those who place their faith in Christ for salvation, regardless of their physical lineage, are the true children of promise and are therefore children of Isaac. Jews that don't believe in Jesus, on the other hand, even though they are physical descendants of Isaac, spiritually speaking they are descendants of Hagar because they're trusting in the works of the law to save them. Most Christians scholars, and I agree with this interpretation, would identify Muslims as spiritual children of Ishmael because there's very little theological difference between the path of salvation in Islam
and the path of salvation in Judaism.
Two more points need to be made. In Genesis 22, there's a story where God, in order to test Abraham's faith, asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on an altar. Just as Abraham lifts up the knife to slay his
son, an angel intervenes, commends Abraham's faith and then directs Abraham to a ram caught in a bush to take the place of Isaac. Christians see the ram as a type of Christ in this story. Muslims actually have the same story in the Koran, but according to Islamic tradition, they believe it was Ishmael that Abraham almost sacrificed on the altar, not Isaac, although in the Koran it simply says the firstborn.
Lastly, some say that the story of Isaac and Ishmael means that Jews and Arabs will always be at war with each other. They say that Ishmael was a wild man and persecuted Isaac, therefore the Arab race will always be antagonistic towards the Jews. I strongly disagree with this interpretation. The New Testament makes it clear that Christ has broken down the wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14), and besides, Arabs were present at the day of Pentecost. Whether a person is Arab or Jew, it's faith in Jesus that makes a person a child of Isaac, and Jesus calls His followers to be peacemakers!
I know that's a mouthful, but it's an enormous issue. Hope this helps.
Aaron
Monday, August 18, 2008
Son of Hamas leader is now a follower of Jesus!
Here's a remarkable story I think you'll enjoy.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,402483,00.html
The son of one of Hamas's top leaders is now a follower of Jesus--and he gives Islam only 25 more years to survive as a global ideology. I think he's on to something. The more intolerant Islam becomes, the more it drives away it's own followers. Kind of reminds me of Romans 8:28. God causes all things to serve His purposes!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,402483,00.html
The son of one of Hamas's top leaders is now a follower of Jesus--and he gives Islam only 25 more years to survive as a global ideology. I think he's on to something. The more intolerant Islam becomes, the more it drives away it's own followers. Kind of reminds me of Romans 8:28. God causes all things to serve His purposes!
Monday, August 11, 2008
I've landed a publisher!
Sorry it’s been a while since I’ve posted. Things have been crazy lately. A few weeks back I was in Guatemala with a team of 36 people from my church South County Christian Center. Most of the group was college and career age, but there were a few minors mixed in as well. Because of the size of the group, we divided into two separate groups and I was asked to lead the group of 18 people that went to Joyabaj where we worked with a missionary named Bill Vasey to construct a school. I first met Bill back in April when Pastor Ryan Stoops and I took a survey trip to explore our options for ministry. There was something about Bill that caused us to know right away that he would be a great person to work with. It turns out we were right. Although our group worked hard while in Joyabaj, the experience was a positive one for everyone involved. A big Thank you to all who prayed for us!
Shortly after I returned from Guatemala, Rhiannon and I packed our bags and moved out of our house in Hillsboro and into my parents’ home in Arnold, Mo. The day after our move, a friend of ours from Bethlehem came to St. Louis to visit us. Fadi is a Palestinian Christian that I met in the West Bank last year when I was on a delegation with Christian Peacemaker Teams. Showing Fadi the great cultural sites in St. Louis. We went to the New Cathedral, the Ulysses S. Grant Museum at Grant’s Farm, took him to a Middle Eastern restaurant where he could have a Falafel (a staple dish in the West Bank), and to top it off we took him to a Cardinals game at the new Busch Stadium. All of us got a laugh when we taught Fadi how to yell, “Charge!!!!” after the organ plays duh duh duh dat tada! It was a pleasure sharing our culture with our Middle Eastern friend. We know that his family will also be sharing their culture with us when we make our move to Bethlehem next year.
There’s a lot that Rhiannon and I have to do before our move to Bethlehem next year. The day before I left for Guatemala, I landed a publisher for my new book. We don’t have an official title for it yet, but I think it’s going to be something along the lines of “Stuck in a Room with a Jihadist!” I couldn’t be happier that I’ve finally broken into the publishing world, though I know that this adds to the workload that we have to do before our move next year. As part of the publishing agreement, we had to buy 2,500 copies of the book at a 65% discount, and I’m going to want the vast majority of my personal copies sold before we move next year. Our plan is to hit the road for the first 3-4 months of ’09 to speak at churches, conferences, promote my book, and raise additional support for the ministry. Our plan is to donate as much of the profits as possible from the sale of the book to go towards the radio station project in Guinea Bissau. But before any of that, we have two more trips before the end of the year. In November Rhiannon and I will be going to Brazil for three straight weeks to do nothing but preach the gospel. And then within a week after we get back, we’ll be heading back to Senegal and Guinea Bissau to strengthen the work of the ministry that we started in ’03.
Lastly, I wrote to you several weeks ago about a Pakistani pastor that was being pursued by bad people in his country. Several of you gave toward the purchase of a plane ticket so you deserve to know (without going into too much detail) that there’s been some complications, but the ticket has been purchased and the individual in question will be going out on the next available flight. Thank you so much to those of you who gave. I pray that God will use us many more times in the future to help those in need.
While there is still time,
Aaron Taylor
P.S. Last week our ministry printed hundreds of tracts in Nepal with your help. If you’d like to help our ministry bless native evangelists on the front lines of ministry, you can donate at http://www.greatcommissionsociety.com
Shortly after I returned from Guatemala, Rhiannon and I packed our bags and moved out of our house in Hillsboro and into my parents’ home in Arnold, Mo. The day after our move, a friend of ours from Bethlehem came to St. Louis to visit us. Fadi is a Palestinian Christian that I met in the West Bank last year when I was on a delegation with Christian Peacemaker Teams. Showing Fadi the great cultural sites in St. Louis. We went to the New Cathedral, the Ulysses S. Grant Museum at Grant’s Farm, took him to a Middle Eastern restaurant where he could have a Falafel (a staple dish in the West Bank), and to top it off we took him to a Cardinals game at the new Busch Stadium. All of us got a laugh when we taught Fadi how to yell, “Charge!!!!” after the organ plays duh duh duh dat tada! It was a pleasure sharing our culture with our Middle Eastern friend. We know that his family will also be sharing their culture with us when we make our move to Bethlehem next year.
There’s a lot that Rhiannon and I have to do before our move to Bethlehem next year. The day before I left for Guatemala, I landed a publisher for my new book. We don’t have an official title for it yet, but I think it’s going to be something along the lines of “Stuck in a Room with a Jihadist!” I couldn’t be happier that I’ve finally broken into the publishing world, though I know that this adds to the workload that we have to do before our move next year. As part of the publishing agreement, we had to buy 2,500 copies of the book at a 65% discount, and I’m going to want the vast majority of my personal copies sold before we move next year. Our plan is to hit the road for the first 3-4 months of ’09 to speak at churches, conferences, promote my book, and raise additional support for the ministry. Our plan is to donate as much of the profits as possible from the sale of the book to go towards the radio station project in Guinea Bissau. But before any of that, we have two more trips before the end of the year. In November Rhiannon and I will be going to Brazil for three straight weeks to do nothing but preach the gospel. And then within a week after we get back, we’ll be heading back to Senegal and Guinea Bissau to strengthen the work of the ministry that we started in ’03.
Lastly, I wrote to you several weeks ago about a Pakistani pastor that was being pursued by bad people in his country. Several of you gave toward the purchase of a plane ticket so you deserve to know (without going into too much detail) that there’s been some complications, but the ticket has been purchased and the individual in question will be going out on the next available flight. Thank you so much to those of you who gave. I pray that God will use us many more times in the future to help those in need.
While there is still time,
Aaron Taylor
P.S. Last week our ministry printed hundreds of tracts in Nepal with your help. If you’d like to help our ministry bless native evangelists on the front lines of ministry, you can donate at http://www.greatcommissionsociety.com
Friday, August 08, 2008
Is the Joker Right?
Here's another article by my friend Pastor Tim O Brien. I don't necessarily agree with Pastor Tim's view that seems to suggest that the Church is going to create a utopia before Jesus comes back, but I do appreciate his positive view that the earth will be renewed one day, therefore Christians shouldn't succumb to an escapist mentality. Enjoy!
For an equally stimulating philosophical review of Batman, check out Greg Boyd's article here!
The movie “The Dark Knight” highlights a contest of wills between Batman and the Joker. Both express their worldviews in poignant philosophical lines. The Joker’s worldview is that the world is given to chaos and anarchy with no redeemable value. Batman’s worldview is that the world has redeemable value and is destined for greatness.
What do the ancient Jewish prophets say about the destiny of the earth? What will become of this place? In all instances, the prophecies about the earth throughout the Scriptures point toward a positive ending. Habakkuk says, “the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will fill the earth.” Isaiah says, “over all the glory will be a canopy.” The psalmist says, “I will make the nations your inheritance.”
The Book of Revelation speaks of a new earth and the old earth passing away. This is typical Jewish prophetic language. It does not indicate total destruction of the old. It is about renewal. Jewish prophets prophesied many times about destruction coming to Israel, but renewal was always the end result, not total and complete destruction.
The way some Christians talk, you would think they agreed with the Joker. They have no hope for earth. They only hope to get out of here. But Jesus said to the Father, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world.” If we are supposed to stay here, there must be something worth staying for.
Batman’s worldview fits the declarations of the ancient Jewish prophets. The earth has an ultimate purpose that will be fulfilled. The bringing forth of these purposes ought to be the heartbeat of every believer.
Paul said the creation itself waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. The earth right under our feet is groaning “has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” The Word promises that “the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
You may say that all this is supposed to happen after Jesus comes back. But the Bible is clear that the Church must fulfill all that she has been commanded to do before His return. Jesus also said that it would be better if He left and sent His Spirit. So, you see, it can’t get suddenly better if Jesus returns, because Jesus Himself said it would be better when He was gone. The Church is moving toward the “better” as she fulfills her great commission to make disciples of nations.
Check out how the Amplified Version words Philippians 1:6: “He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” That sounds like the Church is completed and perfected before Christ’s return.
[References: Hab 2:14, Isa 4:5, Ps 2:8, Jn 17:15, Rom 8:19-22, Rev 21:1]
By Pastor Tim O’Brien
Rock of Ages Ministries
For Daily Guide 8 Aug 08 edition
For an equally stimulating philosophical review of Batman, check out Greg Boyd's article here!
The movie “The Dark Knight” highlights a contest of wills between Batman and the Joker. Both express their worldviews in poignant philosophical lines. The Joker’s worldview is that the world is given to chaos and anarchy with no redeemable value. Batman’s worldview is that the world has redeemable value and is destined for greatness.
What do the ancient Jewish prophets say about the destiny of the earth? What will become of this place? In all instances, the prophecies about the earth throughout the Scriptures point toward a positive ending. Habakkuk says, “the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will fill the earth.” Isaiah says, “over all the glory will be a canopy.” The psalmist says, “I will make the nations your inheritance.”
The Book of Revelation speaks of a new earth and the old earth passing away. This is typical Jewish prophetic language. It does not indicate total destruction of the old. It is about renewal. Jewish prophets prophesied many times about destruction coming to Israel, but renewal was always the end result, not total and complete destruction.
The way some Christians talk, you would think they agreed with the Joker. They have no hope for earth. They only hope to get out of here. But Jesus said to the Father, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world.” If we are supposed to stay here, there must be something worth staying for.
Batman’s worldview fits the declarations of the ancient Jewish prophets. The earth has an ultimate purpose that will be fulfilled. The bringing forth of these purposes ought to be the heartbeat of every believer.
Paul said the creation itself waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. The earth right under our feet is groaning “has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” The Word promises that “the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
You may say that all this is supposed to happen after Jesus comes back. But the Bible is clear that the Church must fulfill all that she has been commanded to do before His return. Jesus also said that it would be better if He left and sent His Spirit. So, you see, it can’t get suddenly better if Jesus returns, because Jesus Himself said it would be better when He was gone. The Church is moving toward the “better” as she fulfills her great commission to make disciples of nations.
Check out how the Amplified Version words Philippians 1:6: “He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” That sounds like the Church is completed and perfected before Christ’s return.
[References: Hab 2:14, Isa 4:5, Ps 2:8, Jn 17:15, Rom 8:19-22, Rev 21:1]
By Pastor Tim O’Brien
Rock of Ages Ministries
For Daily Guide 8 Aug 08 edition
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Hiroshima Day
In honor of Hiroshima day, take a look at this 30 second video.
http://www.truemajorityaction.org/postcard/index_patton.php
http://www.truemajorityaction.org/postcard/index_patton.php
Monday, August 04, 2008
Ice Cream man solves world hunger
I found this link on Pentecostal Charismatic Peace Fellowship's website. The founder of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream proposes an interesting solution to feed the world's starving millions.
I thought my readers might find this interesting.
http://www.truemajority.com/oreos/
It's time for the silent majority to speak up!
I thought my readers might find this interesting.
http://www.truemajority.com/oreos/
It's time for the silent majority to speak up!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Note to self--never say yaaaahh!!!!!!
I just got back from Guatemala late on Tuesday night. Had an awesome time. I went with a team of 34 people from my home church South County Christian Center. Out of the 34 people, I led a group of 18 people to the town of Joyabaj. Although my wife and I have traveled all over the world, this was the first time, I've ever led a team that large, much less a team with teenagers in the mix. Thank God for grace, because I'm not sure what I would have done without it.
While we were in Joyabaj we met with a missionary named Bill Vasey who has been working among the Quiche people for 40 years. According to Bill, we were the first team he had ever hosted to come to Joyabaj. All the other teams Bill has hosted over the years have opted to stay in nicer cities. We didn't realize that what we were doing was anything out of the ordinary, but according to Bill, just our being there made a huge impact on the people. We didn't stay in hotels, but we did get to stay with local families. That made the trip all the more authentic for me.
For most of the group, it was the furthest away they've ever been from the modern conveniences of an American lifestyle. For me, Joyabaj was somewhere in between. Rhiannon and I have stayed in towns far less developed. Though I was uncomfortable sleeping on a mattress on the floor, I've been far more uncomfortable in the past sleeping without a mattress on solid wood in places like Pakistan and Cambodia.
The one thing that set this trip apart for me was the manual labor. Every day the team got up and hauled dirt with shovels and wheelbarrows for hours on end. The official reason why we were there was to help construct a Christian school--and that we did--though God allowed us to do much more. On the first day we arrived in Joyabaj a few of us decided to get a head start on the work, so we spent about two hours hauling bricks. We finished at about 5:00 p.m. and about the same time we noticed that the construction crew was putting away their gear and heading to the soccer field. We felt this would be a good way to bond with the locals so we decided to challenge them.
There was only one little problem with this idea. The only shoes I had on were rubber boots. Due to the fact that July is right smack dab in the middle of the rainy season, Bill had recommended that everyone wear rubber boots to the job site. That was a great idea, but it didn't help me at all playing soccer. I hung out in the back most of the game until one of my teammates challenged me to charge one of the opponents and yell yaaahh!!!! at the top of my lungs. To get a good laugh I decided to play along. I charged the opponent--wearing rubber boots and shorts mind you--yelling yaaahh!!! and before I could complete the word, I tripped over a rock and sprained my ankle. Even though I was in pain, the first thoughts that ran through my mind as I was going down were I bet that was hilarious!
It was. I'm okay now. A bit humbled but okay. I'm reminded of a verse found in Ephesians 3:10 where the Apostle Paul says that God's purpose for the Church is to display His glory to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. It's funny that I've never heard a sermon preached on this peculiar detail in Scripture. Have you ever thought about the fact that your life is an open screen in which angels have a front row seat in heaven--and God is teaching them through you? I know it's hard to believe, but every single moment of our lives are loaded with significance, even when it seems like no one is watching. God is actually teaching angels through our broken, wonderful, and sometimes hilarious lives. I wrote a book a few years back on this subject entitled "The Angels are Watching: How God Uses Your Life to Teach the Angels"
Kind of reminds me of the film "It's a Wonderful Life" when the angel Clarence watches a snapshot of George Bailey showing off his dancing while unbeknownst to him a swimming pool opens up and invites him to take an accidental plunge. I'm thinking I got a few heavenly laughs that day--literally.
While we were in Joyabaj we met with a missionary named Bill Vasey who has been working among the Quiche people for 40 years. According to Bill, we were the first team he had ever hosted to come to Joyabaj. All the other teams Bill has hosted over the years have opted to stay in nicer cities. We didn't realize that what we were doing was anything out of the ordinary, but according to Bill, just our being there made a huge impact on the people. We didn't stay in hotels, but we did get to stay with local families. That made the trip all the more authentic for me.
For most of the group, it was the furthest away they've ever been from the modern conveniences of an American lifestyle. For me, Joyabaj was somewhere in between. Rhiannon and I have stayed in towns far less developed. Though I was uncomfortable sleeping on a mattress on the floor, I've been far more uncomfortable in the past sleeping without a mattress on solid wood in places like Pakistan and Cambodia.
The one thing that set this trip apart for me was the manual labor. Every day the team got up and hauled dirt with shovels and wheelbarrows for hours on end. The official reason why we were there was to help construct a Christian school--and that we did--though God allowed us to do much more. On the first day we arrived in Joyabaj a few of us decided to get a head start on the work, so we spent about two hours hauling bricks. We finished at about 5:00 p.m. and about the same time we noticed that the construction crew was putting away their gear and heading to the soccer field. We felt this would be a good way to bond with the locals so we decided to challenge them.
There was only one little problem with this idea. The only shoes I had on were rubber boots. Due to the fact that July is right smack dab in the middle of the rainy season, Bill had recommended that everyone wear rubber boots to the job site. That was a great idea, but it didn't help me at all playing soccer. I hung out in the back most of the game until one of my teammates challenged me to charge one of the opponents and yell yaaahh!!!! at the top of my lungs. To get a good laugh I decided to play along. I charged the opponent--wearing rubber boots and shorts mind you--yelling yaaahh!!! and before I could complete the word, I tripped over a rock and sprained my ankle. Even though I was in pain, the first thoughts that ran through my mind as I was going down were I bet that was hilarious!
It was. I'm okay now. A bit humbled but okay. I'm reminded of a verse found in Ephesians 3:10 where the Apostle Paul says that God's purpose for the Church is to display His glory to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. It's funny that I've never heard a sermon preached on this peculiar detail in Scripture. Have you ever thought about the fact that your life is an open screen in which angels have a front row seat in heaven--and God is teaching them through you? I know it's hard to believe, but every single moment of our lives are loaded with significance, even when it seems like no one is watching. God is actually teaching angels through our broken, wonderful, and sometimes hilarious lives. I wrote a book a few years back on this subject entitled "The Angels are Watching: How God Uses Your Life to Teach the Angels"
Kind of reminds me of the film "It's a Wonderful Life" when the angel Clarence watches a snapshot of George Bailey showing off his dancing while unbeknownst to him a swimming pool opens up and invites him to take an accidental plunge. I'm thinking I got a few heavenly laughs that day--literally.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
G8 Summit backtracks on promises to the world's poor
Below is an e-mail I received from the One campaign today. I urge everyone to sign their petition!
The Financial Times ran an article yesterday with a lead that could hardly be more alarming: “Leaders of the Group of Eight rich nations are set to backtrack on their landmark pledge at the Gleneagles summit in 2005 to increase development aid to Africa to $25bn a year.”
It is astonishing that there is even debate within the G8 as to whether or not they should keep their promises. But the fact that there is a debate adds urgency to our call to the G8 to deliver on their commitments.
So far over 40,000 ONE members have signed our petition to the G8, but with this latest news it is clear we need to step up our efforts.
Please forward this message to a couple friends and ask them to sign the petition to the G8:
http://www.one.org/2008g8/?id=391-3310651-9Zo5GRx&t=1
This potential reversal comes at a time when we are seeing results from investments in development. For example, thanks to distribution of bed nets and increased access to anti-malarial drugs, in Rwanda both deaths and cases of malaria have dropped by two-thirds since mid-2006.
As malaria still kills around one million people a year, it is clear that we must replicate successes like this. But it won’t happen if the G8 backtrack on their commitments.
Please tell the G8 leaders that aid works and is desperately needed:
http://www.one.org/2008g8/?id=391-3310651-9Zo5GRx&t=2
Thank you for your voice,
Josh Peck, ONE.org
The Financial Times ran an article yesterday with a lead that could hardly be more alarming: “Leaders of the Group of Eight rich nations are set to backtrack on their landmark pledge at the Gleneagles summit in 2005 to increase development aid to Africa to $25bn a year.”
It is astonishing that there is even debate within the G8 as to whether or not they should keep their promises. But the fact that there is a debate adds urgency to our call to the G8 to deliver on their commitments.
So far over 40,000 ONE members have signed our petition to the G8, but with this latest news it is clear we need to step up our efforts.
Please forward this message to a couple friends and ask them to sign the petition to the G8:
http://www.one.org/2008g8/?id=391-3310651-9Zo5GRx&t=1
This potential reversal comes at a time when we are seeing results from investments in development. For example, thanks to distribution of bed nets and increased access to anti-malarial drugs, in Rwanda both deaths and cases of malaria have dropped by two-thirds since mid-2006.
As malaria still kills around one million people a year, it is clear that we must replicate successes like this. But it won’t happen if the G8 backtrack on their commitments.
Please tell the G8 leaders that aid works and is desperately needed:
http://www.one.org/2008g8/?id=391-3310651-9Zo5GRx&t=2
Thank you for your voice,
Josh Peck, ONE.org
Friday, June 20, 2008
Prayer update from Nepal
I received this e-mail from a native evangelist in Nepal. Reuben is a mighty man of God who's doing great things in Nepal. If you'd like to learn more about Reuben's ministry, contact me through my website at Great Commission Society.
Let's lift up our brother in prayer!
Brother Aaron
I would like to share some prayer list. Let us pray before or when we do some thing for the Lord.
* Please pray we still need 70000 gospel tracts, bibles and hymn book for our ongoing outreach programs across Nepal.
* We started a new Church this month in just out side the Kathmandu City. Please pray that many soul would come to the Lord and Church would grow. Room Rent is 20 dollar per month.
* We are starting 1st Madhumalla Gospel Cup on 24 June in eastern Nepal. The students who were in training this past April are organizing the gospel cup tournament. Please pray that students and local believers would have courage to speak about Jesus and that there will be sufficient sports equipment.
* We are planning to register Church Boys United Football Club Private Limited in government which will represent Churches of Nepal in the national football league. (Christians could not send their representative in the Constituent Assembly, while Muslims, Buddhists and other already have theirs.)
* Please pray for Purna and team as he is taking the gospel to the remote mountains. They need to cross rivers, Jungles, slippery mountain track. Pray that many would hear the gospel.
* We are trying to launch Micro Loan Program for the Poor. Please pray that there will be seed(fund) to start this.
* Please join with me in prayer for a Motorbike for me. All other leaders have their motorbike which helps them to reach destination on time, I do not have one.
Let's lift up our brother in prayer!
Brother Aaron
I would like to share some prayer list. Let us pray before or when we do some thing for the Lord.
* Please pray we still need 70000 gospel tracts, bibles and hymn book for our ongoing outreach programs across Nepal.
* We started a new Church this month in just out side the Kathmandu City. Please pray that many soul would come to the Lord and Church would grow. Room Rent is 20 dollar per month.
* We are starting 1st Madhumalla Gospel Cup on 24 June in eastern Nepal. The students who were in training this past April are organizing the gospel cup tournament. Please pray that students and local believers would have courage to speak about Jesus and that there will be sufficient sports equipment.
* We are planning to register Church Boys United Football Club Private Limited in government which will represent Churches of Nepal in the national football league. (Christians could not send their representative in the Constituent Assembly, while Muslims, Buddhists and other already have theirs.)
* Please pray for Purna and team as he is taking the gospel to the remote mountains. They need to cross rivers, Jungles, slippery mountain track. Pray that many would hear the gospel.
* We are trying to launch Micro Loan Program for the Poor. Please pray that there will be seed(fund) to start this.
* Please join with me in prayer for a Motorbike for me. All other leaders have their motorbike which helps them to reach destination on time, I do not have one.
One Campaign tracks U.S. aid to Africa
The DATA Report, which ONE launched in Paris on Wednesday, tracks each G8 country’s progress towards delivering its commitments on aid to Africa.
This year’s report found that although U.S. delivery has been slower than hoped, increases in assistance primarily for HIV/AIDS and malaria (areas in which the U.S. is a clear leader) are starting to come. By next year, we predict the increases will double and analysis shows that by 2010 the U.S. is likely to have delivered on its commitment.
To read the rest of the story, click here!
It's nice to hear some good news every now and then. Let's keep our leaders accountable to their promises!
This year’s report found that although U.S. delivery has been slower than hoped, increases in assistance primarily for HIV/AIDS and malaria (areas in which the U.S. is a clear leader) are starting to come. By next year, we predict the increases will double and analysis shows that by 2010 the U.S. is likely to have delivered on its commitment.
To read the rest of the story, click here!
It's nice to hear some good news every now and then. Let's keep our leaders accountable to their promises!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Evangelical organization reaches out to Christians in Bethlehem
As some of you already know, my wife and I are planning to move to Bethlehem next year to serve the Palestinian Christian community living in the West Bank. I found an interesting article the other day about an evangelical organization reaching out to Bethlehem Christians.
You can read the story here.
You can read the story here.
A Christian teacher flees for his life in Pakistan
Pakistan has long been known as a hotbed for religious extremism. In the latest case of intolerance, a Christian teacher has fled for his life due to accusations of tearing up a book about Islamic teachings on the afterlife. Please pray for the persecuted church in Pakistan.
You can read about the story here.
You can read about the story here.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The mystery of the Nephilim
I've read some interesting posts on the web regarding the Nephilim. We know that the Nephilim were a race of giants, but the question is how did they get to be so gigantic? Some say the Nephilim were descendants of women that had sex with fallen angels, others say they were bona fide human beings that migrated to the land of Canaan from elsewhere.
I know it's bizarre, but there really are Biblical reasons for the angels mating with humans theory, and I wouldn't rule it out simply because the idea is offensive to a Western materialist worldview. Truth can be stranger than fiction sometimes. Even Jack Hayford's Spirit-filled Life Bible commentary sees the first view as the most likely.
Still, I'm undecided.
Here's two different authors on two different sides of the question.
First, check out Greg Boyd's commentary here
Then check out Rabbi Stanley's commentary here
Talk amongst yourselves!
I know it's bizarre, but there really are Biblical reasons for the angels mating with humans theory, and I wouldn't rule it out simply because the idea is offensive to a Western materialist worldview. Truth can be stranger than fiction sometimes. Even Jack Hayford's Spirit-filled Life Bible commentary sees the first view as the most likely.
Still, I'm undecided.
Here's two different authors on two different sides of the question.
First, check out Greg Boyd's commentary here
Then check out Rabbi Stanley's commentary here
Talk amongst yourselves!
Monday, June 09, 2008
Driving through Indiana floods
The other day I was in Athens, Ohio hanging with a friend of mine who runs a dynamic ministry to the rural poor near the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. I had just finished playing Frisbee with the staff-members when I got a phone call from my wife telling me that we got an offer on our house and that we had to sign the papers the next day—and not a day later. Selling our house was the one obstacle getting in the way of my wife and I's move to Bethlehem next year, so I was elated. The only dimmer on the evening was it was 9:00 p.m. and I knew that it would take at least 10 hours to drive home. With little time to think, I packed my stuff and headed home. I drove till about 2:30 a.m. and found a Super 8 just outside of Indianapolis.
The next day I got up--after about 4 hours of sleep--and continued on my way. Everything was going well till about 10:00 a.m. I was in McDonalds having breakfast when the windows of heaven started pouring down. The rain reminded me of Noah's flood and for a brief minute I contemplated what it must have felt like standing outside the ark after the doors were shut. Then the lights went completely out. I saw a man standing around that looked like he knew something that I didn't, so I asked if he knew when the storm was going to let up. He proceeded to tell me the bad news that Hwy 70 W was closed down about 20 miles south of where I was and the traffic was backed up for miles.
Knowing I couldn't risk letting more time go by, I decided to head out anyway and sure enough, he was right. Luckily the guy had an atlas in his truck and he helped me work out an alternative route before I left. Just before the traffic build-up I spotted an exit and decided to fuel up. I also had to go to the bathroom, but, unfortunately the bathroom was out of order--and that was the only bathroom around for miles. I had a choice to make at that moment. I could either lose my dignity and go in a bush at the corner of the lawn attached to the station, or I could get back on the road and wait about two hours in the traffic. Like any man would do, I chose option one and silently thanked God that he didn't create me a woman.
Once I finally got to the exit for the alternative route, I pulled over to another gas station only to find out that the road I was traveling on was also closed down further down the way due to an overturned truck. This time, I had to drive about 18 miles to another highway that was supposed to get me back on 70 going west. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the entire area was declared a disaster area due to the flooding--which meant that I was going to have to spend another 3 hours in stand still traffic. To make matters worse, after I got back on the road and spendt another two hours in agony, I pulled over to another gas station only to find out that the station was temporarily closed down. I seriously didn't think I was going to make it back home that day, but thank God I did. The trip took twice as long as it should have, but I made it back just in the nick of time to sign the papers to close the deal.
I'm reminded of 2 Timothy 1:17 where the Apostle Paul describes how a man named Onesimus arrived in Rome and sought for Paul zealously until he found him. Just like the way I was determined to get home to sign the papers on the sale of my home despite the obstacles in my way, Onesimus was a man that didn't allow obstacles to detract him from his destination. Had Onesimus taken the same attitude that many Christians do today, he would have concluded that it simply wasn't God's will for him to find Paul after two or three tries. I think that too often we pacify ourselves for our lack of perseverance by saying, "Oh well, I guess it wasn't God's will for me to finish my education or to go on that missionary trip" when the real reason is we just didn't want it bad enough. So the next time you think about giving up on a dream or a destination, just remember Onesimus, and if that doesn't do anything for you, just picture a frustrated young man sitting in agony through hours of traffic praying for a gas station. Just keep driving!
The next day I got up--after about 4 hours of sleep--and continued on my way. Everything was going well till about 10:00 a.m. I was in McDonalds having breakfast when the windows of heaven started pouring down. The rain reminded me of Noah's flood and for a brief minute I contemplated what it must have felt like standing outside the ark after the doors were shut. Then the lights went completely out. I saw a man standing around that looked like he knew something that I didn't, so I asked if he knew when the storm was going to let up. He proceeded to tell me the bad news that Hwy 70 W was closed down about 20 miles south of where I was and the traffic was backed up for miles.
Knowing I couldn't risk letting more time go by, I decided to head out anyway and sure enough, he was right. Luckily the guy had an atlas in his truck and he helped me work out an alternative route before I left. Just before the traffic build-up I spotted an exit and decided to fuel up. I also had to go to the bathroom, but, unfortunately the bathroom was out of order--and that was the only bathroom around for miles. I had a choice to make at that moment. I could either lose my dignity and go in a bush at the corner of the lawn attached to the station, or I could get back on the road and wait about two hours in the traffic. Like any man would do, I chose option one and silently thanked God that he didn't create me a woman.
Once I finally got to the exit for the alternative route, I pulled over to another gas station only to find out that the road I was traveling on was also closed down further down the way due to an overturned truck. This time, I had to drive about 18 miles to another highway that was supposed to get me back on 70 going west. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the entire area was declared a disaster area due to the flooding--which meant that I was going to have to spend another 3 hours in stand still traffic. To make matters worse, after I got back on the road and spendt another two hours in agony, I pulled over to another gas station only to find out that the station was temporarily closed down. I seriously didn't think I was going to make it back home that day, but thank God I did. The trip took twice as long as it should have, but I made it back just in the nick of time to sign the papers to close the deal.
I'm reminded of 2 Timothy 1:17 where the Apostle Paul describes how a man named Onesimus arrived in Rome and sought for Paul zealously until he found him. Just like the way I was determined to get home to sign the papers on the sale of my home despite the obstacles in my way, Onesimus was a man that didn't allow obstacles to detract him from his destination. Had Onesimus taken the same attitude that many Christians do today, he would have concluded that it simply wasn't God's will for him to find Paul after two or three tries. I think that too often we pacify ourselves for our lack of perseverance by saying, "Oh well, I guess it wasn't God's will for me to finish my education or to go on that missionary trip" when the real reason is we just didn't want it bad enough. So the next time you think about giving up on a dream or a destination, just remember Onesimus, and if that doesn't do anything for you, just picture a frustrated young man sitting in agony through hours of traffic praying for a gas station. Just keep driving!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Website for Muslims
A friend of mine asked me to pass this along. It's a website designed to give Muslims a safe place to explore the Scriptures and answer common objections against faith in Christ. What makes the website unique is the way it makes use of the Koran to point seekers toward a Biblical understanding of who Jesus is. A lot of people don't know this, but the Koran has many positive things to say about Jesus and the Bible. Once I was in a north African country in the middle of the Saharan desert and was meeting with a group of believers. When I asked them how they came to know Jesus they explained that the Koran says that Muhammed was a sinner, but that Jesus (whom they call Isa) never sinned. This is what got them on the road to learning more about Jesus and eventually deciding to follow Him.
Check the website out here!
Check the website out here!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The last day of monarchy for Nepal
Below is an e-mail I received from Reuben Rai, an indigenous church planter in Nepal. I thought my readers might enjoy some news information from around the world.
Today is the last day for Monarchy and tomorrow Nepal shall anounce itself a Republic State. Elected members were sworn today in new assembly. Keep on praying for Nepal.
For more Nepali news click here:
http://www.ekantipur.com/
Lets not forget that we are called to Go into all the World and preach the gospel, no matter what happens in the World, lets continue to serve the Lord and His people.
Pleaes pray, we have street kids feeding program on 30th May in City Ground for the street kids of Kathmandu.
My leaders ask your prayers as they go to villages around Nepal to share the gospel with the countrymen.
Reuben
www.churchesnetwork.com
Today is the last day for Monarchy and tomorrow Nepal shall anounce itself a Republic State. Elected members were sworn today in new assembly. Keep on praying for Nepal.
For more Nepali news click here:
http://www.ekantipur.com/
Lets not forget that we are called to Go into all the World and preach the gospel, no matter what happens in the World, lets continue to serve the Lord and His people.
Pleaes pray, we have street kids feeding program on 30th May in City Ground for the street kids of Kathmandu.
My leaders ask your prayers as they go to villages around Nepal to share the gospel with the countrymen.
Reuben
www.churchesnetwork.com
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Bibles for Pakistan
Below is an e-mail I received from Pastor Rashid in Pakistan. I've been in communication with Pastor Rashid for about a year now. I'm going to start posting some of the letters I receive from pastors around the world to this blog. Sometimes there are direct appeals for funds, other times there are stories about what's happening in their respective countries. I thought my readers might enjoy hearing from some of the people that I'm in weekly communication with around the world. If you'd like to help one of these ministries, you can go to my website and make a donation.
Dear Brother Aaron Taylor,
Greetings in Jesus Name,
I hope you are fine and doing great job for Lord Jesus Christ. I and my team members are continuously praying for your and for your team and for the success of your church. Also we are praying for your mission trip for Pakistan.
Brother I have a request to you as you know we are working in many outreach areas and you have visited on door to door Bible distribution section on United Ministries Pakistan website. Last year we have distributed more then 700 Urdu Bibles free of cost to new believers. Now we again want to start Bible distribution mission. We need more then 2500 Urdu Bibles for our outreach areas. People are waiting for their own Bibles. Urdu is national language of Pakistan and people can easily read Urdu Bible. Brother you have to share this letter with your brothers and sisters in Christ and friends and relative and church members to help us in this mission. Your small help will be very big contribution. We will send you complete Bible distribution report with pictures. We will be very thankful to you for this kindness. Kindly reply me soon.
God bless you and your family richly,
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Rashid Emmanuel
Dear Brother Aaron Taylor,
Greetings in Jesus Name,
I hope you are fine and doing great job for Lord Jesus Christ. I and my team members are continuously praying for your and for your team and for the success of your church. Also we are praying for your mission trip for Pakistan.
Brother I have a request to you as you know we are working in many outreach areas and you have visited on door to door Bible distribution section on United Ministries Pakistan website. Last year we have distributed more then 700 Urdu Bibles free of cost to new believers. Now we again want to start Bible distribution mission. We need more then 2500 Urdu Bibles for our outreach areas. People are waiting for their own Bibles. Urdu is national language of Pakistan and people can easily read Urdu Bible. Brother you have to share this letter with your brothers and sisters in Christ and friends and relative and church members to help us in this mission. Your small help will be very big contribution. We will send you complete Bible distribution report with pictures. We will be very thankful to you for this kindness. Kindly reply me soon.
God bless you and your family richly,
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Rashid Emmanuel
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