In my post earlier today, I mentioned that we have been attending the International Soul Winning Workshop. In addition to the session about mission work in Rwanda, we attended the Thursday evening session featuring Bruce Marchiano, the actor who played the role of Jesus in The Gospel of Matthew video series. However, we did not spend any more time listening to preachers. I'm sure that there were some good speakers, but most of our time was spent talking to old friends and buying books and music CDs.
I don't know what Janet bought, except for a couple of Watershed CDs. I bought Little Boys Bible Storybook for Fathers and Sons to read to Christopher before bedtime. I also purchased the New American Standard Bible/New International Version Parallel Bible, The College Press NIV Commentary Minor Prophets Volume 2, Igniting the Moral Courage of America by Dean Kilmer, and Sundays with Scottie by Milton Jones. I'm looking forward to reading all of them.
We were able to talk to several old friends who were members of Jenks Church with us a number of years ago. In addition, we saw many members of the Contact Church of Christ at the church's booth.
We also talked to some people from Cookson Hills Christian Ministries, Pioneer Bible Translators, and a few other ministries. For a few minutes this morning, we talked with Colleen Deloach (who serves as a missionary with her husband Steve in Guyana). Their son, Isaiah (whom they adopted in Guyana) is still doing well. The medication continues to keep his HIV undetectable. (I have always admired how they adopted a baby with HIV from Guyana. I believe Isaiah is 10 years old now.) I asked Colleen how old a child should be before taking him on a mission trip to Guyana, because I want to take Christopher some day. Although her children were about 5 when they first went, she suggested about 10 years old would be appropriate. So we have something to look forward to in a few more years.
Finally, we appreciated Sarah Logsdon watching Christopher at her house for a few hours on Friday. He loved taking care of Bob and Sarah's baby, Miriam. If you are reading this Sarah, thanks again!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Christ's Church in Rwanda
We have been attending the International Soul Winning Workshop at the Fairgrounds in Tulsa for the last few days. The ISWW is an annual conference of the Churches of Christ and Christian Churches.
Yesterday, I attended a session in which participants were informed about new mission work in Rwanda, the African country that was torn apart by genocide in 1994. During 100 days in the spring and early summer of that year, at least 800,000 people were murdered because of "ethnic" hatred.
Oklahoma Christian University President Mike O'Neal and faculty member Brian Hickson presented the following information about the new mission work:
The Challenge:
1. Poverty---Rwandans earn less than $1 a day, but gasoline costs more than $6 per gallon. The nation has a 40% unemployment rate.
2. HIV/AIDS---250,000 people are infected.
3. Orphans---Genocide and AIDS have left 500,000 orphans. Twenty-six percent of the children are orphans.
4. Education---Only 7.5% of Rwandans have completed secondary school.
5. Loss of Faith---Public institutions, governments, families, churches, and neighbors have failed the people.
When Rwandan President Paul Kagame visited Minneapolis in 2003, he met the Lawson family, a Christian family with ties to Oklahoma Christian University. They invited Mike O'Neal and Uganda missionary Dave Jenkins with them on a trip to Rwanda as guests of President Kagame.
Because of the friendship formed with President Kagame during that trip, the Churches of Christ have been allowed to enter Rwanda. In fact, the government has allowed a church to purchase some nice property in the capitol city. So, three weeks ago, Christ's Church in Rwanda had its first worship assembly. (The church is called "Christ's Church" in Rwanda, because "Church of Christ" had been registered with the government by a group without theological ties to the Churches of Christ and Christian Churches in America.)
Christ's Church in Rwanda has a great opportunity to help many people who have been turned off by the "Christianity" in their country that either condoned or encouraged the ethnic murders of a few years ago. Christ's Church has a opportunity to practice and promote genuine faith in Jesus Christ. "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world" (James 1:27, NASB). I hope that the new church makes a great difference for good in an area that has experienced so much evil.
More information about the mission in Rwanda can be found at http://www.rocfoundation.org.
Yesterday, I attended a session in which participants were informed about new mission work in Rwanda, the African country that was torn apart by genocide in 1994. During 100 days in the spring and early summer of that year, at least 800,000 people were murdered because of "ethnic" hatred.
Oklahoma Christian University President Mike O'Neal and faculty member Brian Hickson presented the following information about the new mission work:
The Challenge:
1. Poverty---Rwandans earn less than $1 a day, but gasoline costs more than $6 per gallon. The nation has a 40% unemployment rate.
2. HIV/AIDS---250,000 people are infected.
3. Orphans---Genocide and AIDS have left 500,000 orphans. Twenty-six percent of the children are orphans.
4. Education---Only 7.5% of Rwandans have completed secondary school.
5. Loss of Faith---Public institutions, governments, families, churches, and neighbors have failed the people.
When Rwandan President Paul Kagame visited Minneapolis in 2003, he met the Lawson family, a Christian family with ties to Oklahoma Christian University. They invited Mike O'Neal and Uganda missionary Dave Jenkins with them on a trip to Rwanda as guests of President Kagame.
Because of the friendship formed with President Kagame during that trip, the Churches of Christ have been allowed to enter Rwanda. In fact, the government has allowed a church to purchase some nice property in the capitol city. So, three weeks ago, Christ's Church in Rwanda had its first worship assembly. (The church is called "Christ's Church" in Rwanda, because "Church of Christ" had been registered with the government by a group without theological ties to the Churches of Christ and Christian Churches in America.)
Christ's Church in Rwanda has a great opportunity to help many people who have been turned off by the "Christianity" in their country that either condoned or encouraged the ethnic murders of a few years ago. Christ's Church has a opportunity to practice and promote genuine faith in Jesus Christ. "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world" (James 1:27, NASB). I hope that the new church makes a great difference for good in an area that has experienced so much evil.
More information about the mission in Rwanda can be found at http://www.rocfoundation.org.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
The Kindness of Prayer
"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16, NIV).
In October, I started to appreciate the kindness of prayer more than ever before. During that time, I had hernia surgery. I was away from work for most of the month, and I was hurting (especially after the surgery, because I could not keep the pain medication down).
During those days, many people were praying for me...Janet, Christopher, extended family, Contact church members, Jenks church members, co-workers, and others. Those prayers meant a lot to me. I appreciated that people cared enough about me to talk to God on my behalf.
Since then, I have been more serious about extending that kindness to others. I realize that God cares about people, and that he wants me to share that concern when I talk with him.
In October, I started to appreciate the kindness of prayer more than ever before. During that time, I had hernia surgery. I was away from work for most of the month, and I was hurting (especially after the surgery, because I could not keep the pain medication down).
During those days, many people were praying for me...Janet, Christopher, extended family, Contact church members, Jenks church members, co-workers, and others. Those prayers meant a lot to me. I appreciated that people cared enough about me to talk to God on my behalf.
Since then, I have been more serious about extending that kindness to others. I realize that God cares about people, and that he wants me to share that concern when I talk with him.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Hope for a Dying Church
Bobby Ross Jr. has written an inspiring article for the Christian Chronicle about a once-dying Church of Christ in rural Arkansas (see http://www.christianchronicle.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=649). The congregation began to experience a revival when it started to focus on serving its neighbors, spreading the good news of Christ, praying for people, and showing concern for people in its area. If you are in a stagnant or dying church, this article should give you hope that things can change.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Real and Impersonal Love
"As it is written: 'He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever'"(2 Corinthians 9:9, NIV).
Yesterday, I wrote, "Following Jesus means learning to love people, not just good causes." While that is true, it may be misleading. After all, I have rarely met people who support good causes who did not love people also.
In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul was writing to a church that had committed itself to the cause of supporting a church hundreds of miles away, a poor church with members that most of them did not know and would never meet personally. The Corinth church supported the cause of aiding the Jerusalem church because the Corinth church was motivated by a love for fellow Christians, not because they knew each other well.
I have been thinking about the good and generous people who never knew me, but who have supported a cause that has helped me. Because they loved someone that they did not know, I benefited from scholarship funds to attend Oklahoma Christian University. Because they supported Christian Services of Oklahoma, Janet and I were able to adopt Christopher. Because they supported the cause of translating the Bible into modern English, I can read from the New American Standard Bible, the New International Version, and many other fine translations of God's word. I am thankful that God has used people to bless my life in numerous ways.
I want to help people in similar ways. I want to care about people personally, and I want to support good causes that help people impersonally. I may never know who has benefited from my support of Christian Services of Oklahoma, the Christian Relief Fund, Oklahoma Christian University, Pioneer Bible Translators, or other causes. However, if people are helped by my support, then it is worth it.
Yesterday, I wrote, "Following Jesus means learning to love people, not just good causes." While that is true, it may be misleading. After all, I have rarely met people who support good causes who did not love people also.
In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul was writing to a church that had committed itself to the cause of supporting a church hundreds of miles away, a poor church with members that most of them did not know and would never meet personally. The Corinth church supported the cause of aiding the Jerusalem church because the Corinth church was motivated by a love for fellow Christians, not because they knew each other well.
I have been thinking about the good and generous people who never knew me, but who have supported a cause that has helped me. Because they loved someone that they did not know, I benefited from scholarship funds to attend Oklahoma Christian University. Because they supported Christian Services of Oklahoma, Janet and I were able to adopt Christopher. Because they supported the cause of translating the Bible into modern English, I can read from the New American Standard Bible, the New International Version, and many other fine translations of God's word. I am thankful that God has used people to bless my life in numerous ways.
I want to help people in similar ways. I want to care about people personally, and I want to support good causes that help people impersonally. I may never know who has benefited from my support of Christian Services of Oklahoma, the Christian Relief Fund, Oklahoma Christian University, Pioneer Bible Translators, or other causes. However, if people are helped by my support, then it is worth it.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Real and Personal Love
"If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:3, NIV).
In an article on the Heartlight website, Rubel Shelly wrote,
"Jack (a homeless man) was open to questions. So Josh (a follower of Christ who wanted to help Jack) dared to ask him what good-intentioned people with charitable hearts could do that would make a difference for the poor and homeless. 'Make us feel real,' he said. 'We want to feel like we are real people. See us. Talk to us. Be with us. Help us feel. It isn't just about feeding us or giving us clothes. It's about seeing us.'
"Now there's a lesson that do-gooders like me need to learn! We know what Jesus taught about visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked. And we know that faith without works is dead. So we send get-well cards or visit hospitals. We donate money and build soup kitchens. We drop off used clothing. All those are good things.
"But what about personal awareness? What about communicating a person's worth? What about making her feel valued rather than pitied? And how do I let someone know he is a human being to me, not a project?"
The entire article may be found at http://www.heartlight.org/articles/20070315_seeingus.html.
Mr. Shelly asked the right questions. Following Jesus means learning how to love people, not just good causes.
In an article on the Heartlight website, Rubel Shelly wrote,
"Jack (a homeless man) was open to questions. So Josh (a follower of Christ who wanted to help Jack) dared to ask him what good-intentioned people with charitable hearts could do that would make a difference for the poor and homeless. 'Make us feel real,' he said. 'We want to feel like we are real people. See us. Talk to us. Be with us. Help us feel. It isn't just about feeding us or giving us clothes. It's about seeing us.'
"Now there's a lesson that do-gooders like me need to learn! We know what Jesus taught about visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked. And we know that faith without works is dead. So we send get-well cards or visit hospitals. We donate money and build soup kitchens. We drop off used clothing. All those are good things.
"But what about personal awareness? What about communicating a person's worth? What about making her feel valued rather than pitied? And how do I let someone know he is a human being to me, not a project?"
The entire article may be found at http://www.heartlight.org/articles/20070315_seeingus.html.
Mr. Shelly asked the right questions. Following Jesus means learning how to love people, not just good causes.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Transracial Adoption
"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live" (Acts 17:26, NIV).
On most mornings, I listen to the radio program FamilyLife Today as I am preparing the mail for delivery. For the past two days, Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine have been interviewing a couple of guests about the subject of adoption. During the program, one of the guests, author Sara Dorman said, "You know---culturally, sometimes people do not want to adopt internationally---or adopt a biracial child or a mixed-race child because they feel like, 'Well, I can't raise a black child because I'm white.' They cry the same color tears; they really do."
Amen! Amen! Amen!
I am thankful that FamilyLife is promoting Christian adoption across cultural and racial barriers.
You may look at http://www.familylife.com for more information about the radio program. You will be able to listen online or read a transcript of each day's program:
"Who Will Care for the Children?" 3/14/2007
"So How Do I Adopt?" 3/15/2007
Any Christian who is interested in adopting a child should listen to the programs or read the transcripts. It's worth the time and effort.
On most mornings, I listen to the radio program FamilyLife Today as I am preparing the mail for delivery. For the past two days, Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine have been interviewing a couple of guests about the subject of adoption. During the program, one of the guests, author Sara Dorman said, "You know---culturally, sometimes people do not want to adopt internationally---or adopt a biracial child or a mixed-race child because they feel like, 'Well, I can't raise a black child because I'm white.' They cry the same color tears; they really do."
Amen! Amen! Amen!
I am thankful that FamilyLife is promoting Christian adoption across cultural and racial barriers.
You may look at http://www.familylife.com for more information about the radio program. You will be able to listen online or read a transcript of each day's program:
"Who Will Care for the Children?" 3/14/2007
"So How Do I Adopt?" 3/15/2007
Any Christian who is interested in adopting a child should listen to the programs or read the transcripts. It's worth the time and effort.
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