Jesus assigned His followers (the Church) to be the incarnated (in flesh) presence of God. Oh my! -That's you and me, believer.
Whether in your Jerusalem (home town), Judea (surrounding region), Samaria (among "unloveables"; aren't we all - I mean unloveable) or in the uttermost parts of the Earth - by the power of the Holy Spirit and through intimate connection with Jesus, let us think, live and speak the Word of God incarnationally / missionally.
Jesus, the consummate missionary, "had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion." (Philippians 2:5-8 MSG) We are to let this mind be in us as it was in Jesus!
19 August 2009
13 August 2009
Protect Your Church and Pastor from Crime & Violence
The news has recently covered several violent incidents against local churches and pastors in the U.S. This escalating trend appears to be forecasting disturbing intentions by growing numbers of militant opponents of Jesus and His Church.
In our changing world it is important in new ways to be wise as serpents while remaining harmless as doves. On way we can accomplish this is to learn practical ways to protect our pastor(s), congregations and church property from crime and violence.
Click on this link for excellent Protect Your Church from Crime and Violence guidelines.
Jesus said, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves". (Matthew 10:16) This principle is true when we go out out amid wolves and when they come in to us. Jesus also said, "When they persecute you in this city, flee to another". (Matthew 10:23) In other words, take practical steps to protect yourself and watch God's purposes unfold along the way. He moves in supernaturally natural ways!
[Incidentally, we have found that a number of pastors are very interested in this article. Please do forward it to them. At the very least they will be grateful for your loving care for them and the Church.]
In our changing world it is important in new ways to be wise as serpents while remaining harmless as doves. On way we can accomplish this is to learn practical ways to protect our pastor(s), congregations and church property from crime and violence.
Click on this link for excellent Protect Your Church from Crime and Violence guidelines.
Jesus said, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves". (Matthew 10:16) This principle is true when we go out out amid wolves and when they come in to us. Jesus also said, "When they persecute you in this city, flee to another". (Matthew 10:23) In other words, take practical steps to protect yourself and watch God's purposes unfold along the way. He moves in supernaturally natural ways!
[Incidentally, we have found that a number of pastors are very interested in this article. Please do forward it to them. At the very least they will be grateful for your loving care for them and the Church.]
13 June 2009
Persecution (Some Graphic Images)
Please view and listen to our short (1 minute) video summarizing the ministry of Frontline Resources. -Simply click on the Title of this blog entry and you're there!
If you have any Christian Radio contacts, please forward this Blog and include a brief note requesting them to air it as a Public Service Announcement. If you take this welcomed supportive action, please let us know by emailing frontlineresources@frontlineresources.org. Thank you!
Also, feel free to forward our Web site (http://www.frontlineresources.org) to your friends and family that may have an interest in helping encourage and equip suffering saints behind the Bamboo Curtain and Beyond.
If you have any Christian Radio contacts, please forward this Blog and include a brief note requesting them to air it as a Public Service Announcement. If you take this welcomed supportive action, please let us know by emailing frontlineresources@frontlineresources.org. Thank you!
Also, feel free to forward our Web site (http://www.frontlineresources.org) to your friends and family that may have an interest in helping encourage and equip suffering saints behind the Bamboo Curtain and Beyond.
08 June 2009
What is the Recession For? By John Piper
What Is the Recession For?
February 2, 2009 | By: David Mathis (Pastor Piper's Executive Assistant)
God is sovereign over all finances. Any economic recession—global or personal—is never less than recession-by-divine-design.
When the economy plummets, God has his purposes—perhaps thousands upon thousands of purposes. Some of these purposes he has made known in his Book.
At least 5 of them are:
1. To expose hidden sin and so bring us to repentance and cleansing.
2. To wake us up to the constant and desperate condition of the developing world where there is always and only recession of the worst kind.
3. To relocate the roots of our joy in his grace rather than in our goods—in his mercy rather than our money, in his worth rather than our wealth.
4. To advance his saving mission in the world—the spread of the gospel and the growth of his church—precisely at a time when human resources are least able to support it. This is how he guards his glory.
5. To bring his church to care for its hurting members and to grow in the gift of love.
2 Corinthians 8:1 2 might be the clearest "recession text" in the Bible. It describes the roots of the joy of the Macedonian believers in their "recession." In their "severe test of affliction" and "extreme poverty, "their abundant joy overflowed in a wealth of generosity."
Their generosity didn't come from prosperity but from God's grace — and this grace rooted in "our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich" (2Corinthians 8:9).
February 2, 2009 | By: David Mathis (Pastor Piper's Executive Assistant)
God is sovereign over all finances. Any economic recession—global or personal—is never less than recession-by-divine-design.
When the economy plummets, God has his purposes—perhaps thousands upon thousands of purposes. Some of these purposes he has made known in his Book.
At least 5 of them are:
1. To expose hidden sin and so bring us to repentance and cleansing.
2. To wake us up to the constant and desperate condition of the developing world where there is always and only recession of the worst kind.
3. To relocate the roots of our joy in his grace rather than in our goods—in his mercy rather than our money, in his worth rather than our wealth.
4. To advance his saving mission in the world—the spread of the gospel and the growth of his church—precisely at a time when human resources are least able to support it. This is how he guards his glory.
5. To bring his church to care for its hurting members and to grow in the gift of love.
2 Corinthians 8:1 2 might be the clearest "recession text" in the Bible. It describes the roots of the joy of the Macedonian believers in their "recession." In their "severe test of affliction" and "extreme poverty, "their abundant joy overflowed in a wealth of generosity."
Their generosity didn't come from prosperity but from God's grace — and this grace rooted in "our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich" (2Corinthians 8:9).
03 June 2009
Are We Next?
Persecution of Christians is a way of life and on the increase in Asia and the world over. Thus, of late, I have been wondering: Are we next?
Let's assume for a moment (or more) that serious - even brutal - persecution may soon be part of our Christendom reality.
This possible (probable?) scenario begs - for starters - the following corollary questions and comments:
Are we ready? Are we preparing?
How truly intimate with Jesus and the Body of Christ are we?
Unengaged, uninvolved, spectator believers are not a threat to godless governments, institutions and individuals that only persecute fruit-bearing Christians.
Is the testimony of my lifestyle worthy of persecution for Christ's sake?
How about yours?
What bodies of believers from around the world will seek God for tangible ways to remind us that we have not been forgotten by our brothers and sisters - if, when, serious persecution is upon us?
Meanwhile, having briefly considered what it would be like for "us" to be "them":
How can you help encourage and equip those that are already suffering persecution or living daily under its threat.
The ministry of Frontline Resources is one way you are able to: Remember them that are in bonds (in ARNA), as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Hebrews 13:3
Frontline Resources
Let's assume for a moment (or more) that serious - even brutal - persecution may soon be part of our Christendom reality.
This possible (probable?) scenario begs - for starters - the following corollary questions and comments:
Are we ready? Are we preparing?
How truly intimate with Jesus and the Body of Christ are we?
Unengaged, uninvolved, spectator believers are not a threat to godless governments, institutions and individuals that only persecute fruit-bearing Christians.
Is the testimony of my lifestyle worthy of persecution for Christ's sake?
How about yours?
What bodies of believers from around the world will seek God for tangible ways to remind us that we have not been forgotten by our brothers and sisters - if, when, serious persecution is upon us?
Meanwhile, having briefly considered what it would be like for "us" to be "them":
How can you help encourage and equip those that are already suffering persecution or living daily under its threat.
The ministry of Frontline Resources is one way you are able to: Remember them that are in bonds (in ARNA), as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Hebrews 13:3
Frontline Resources
What do Waffles and Persecution Have in Common?
We have observed “waffle-like” patterns in China and Southeast Asian nations for over two decades. Here is what we mean: While one square of the waffle (city, province, region) in a given country may be relatively peaceful (syrupy enough to swim in), the square(s) adjacent to it or hundreds of miles away can be full of persecution (dry), Bible shortages, etc. Moreover, present realities - be they characterized by relative “peace” or “persecution” - do not guarantee that circumstances will stay the same. Often a report from one square of the waffletoday will be quite the opposite over the next month, or year, or other seemingly random sequence of time.
"Square(s)” situations can and and often do change. So, please do not rely solely on reports that declare the end of persecution, or that there are plenty of Bibles, or that there is no need for training, or that it is no longer necessary for missionaries / “tentmakers” to guard their identities, etc. These reports typically come from good-willed people whose knowledge is limited to “their square” &/or influenced by Chinese Communist propaganda. Hence, these well-intentioned, but limited-in-scope reports are often errantly presented as representative of the entire waffle. “It’s all good” reports may be true in one, or many waffle’s squares, but they rarely reflect Christendom realities throughout a given province, region or country and they do not guarantee the same will be true next month, or next year, or … tomorrow!
Waffle Concept Credit to Chinese Christians.
Frontline Resources
"Square(s)” situations can and and often do change. So, please do not rely solely on reports that declare the end of persecution, or that there are plenty of Bibles, or that there is no need for training, or that it is no longer necessary for missionaries / “tentmakers” to guard their identities, etc. These reports typically come from good-willed people whose knowledge is limited to “their square” &/or influenced by Chinese Communist propaganda. Hence, these well-intentioned, but limited-in-scope reports are often errantly presented as representative of the entire waffle. “It’s all good” reports may be true in one, or many waffle’s squares, but they rarely reflect Christendom realities throughout a given province, region or country and they do not guarantee the same will be true next month, or next year, or … tomorrow!
Waffle Concept Credit to Chinese Christians.
Frontline Resources
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