October 28, 2009
The World Series begins this evening.
The reigning World Series champs, Philadelphia Phillies (National League, 93-69), take on the American League champs, New York Yankees (103-59).
The Series opens in New York.
To follow the action and your team of preference, click onto World Series.com.
Go Phillies!
October 26, 2009
Well, the stage is set for this year’s World Series. It will be last year’s winners, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the New York Yankees who won their series against the Angels last night.
The Series begins Wednesday night.
Can the Phillies do it again?
See a picture of the Phillie’s after last year’s victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays here.
October 25, 2009
Check out my post on Unreached People Groups at my other blog, taethnenetwork.
October 15, 2009
Hebrews 11 has often been referred to as the “Hall of Faith.”
The chapter begins in verse 1 with a definition of biblical faith:
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
We are told that it was by faith that the men of old gained the approval of God (v.2) and that “without faith it is impossible to please” God (v.6).
The author of Hebrews then proceeds to list by name many of the Old Testament saints who gained the Lord’s approval and brought Him glory by virtue of their faith-filled lives and actions. Among those named are Enoch, Noah (for whom one of my sons is named), Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab, and the prophets. All individuals worthy of their inclusion in this list.
There are un-named others who are included in this “Hall of Faith” as well. They were men and women of faith who received back their dead by resurrection, were subject to mockings, scourging, and torture, stoned, tempted, and put to death, all because of their faith in God and their lives of faith.
The Bible says that these people ”gained approval through their faith,” even though they “did not receive what was promised.”
What a list, and what a witness these men and woman of old are to us today.
But, I can’t help but believe that the list of those who have lived, and do live, with an “other worldly faith” in God continues to be added to.
I’d like to briefly share about three men and women that I know and/or have recently learned about that I believe have that “other worldly” kind of faith that pursues God and His will and purposes on this earth and thusly, gain His approval.
The first is a Chinese pastor who started the church that I attend on Sunday evenings. This man obviously has the spiritual gift of “apostle” or church planter. He is an itinerant missionary who lives and operates out of a nearby major city and has started at least four Mandarin congregations in university cities in our state. I know that his ministry extends beyond the borders of our state; he has traveled as far as Canada to be involved in the start of Mandarin congregations there. What amazes me is that this pastor has an earned PhD in an engineering field and could be comfortably employed by an engineering company for the support of his wife and children. Yet, he has responded to the Lord’s call on his life to evangelize and disciple international students and start churches. I recently asked a fellow church attendee if the pastor has a ministry organization through which I could contribute to his support. I was staggered to learn that he does not have a ministry organization and he does not conduct fund raising campaigns. He and his family are supported by the Lord through the free-will offerings received from the churches he starts and other churches and individuals who know him and share the vision the Lord has placed within his heart. He is a man with an “other worldly” faith.
The second man is one that I only know about through the newsletter of friends who serve in a “closed access” nation. This man was prayerfully considering leaving his place of service in another part of the country to join my friends in their work. He eventually informed them that he has decided to stay where he lives and continue his service as the pastor of a house church network. The church he personally serves has been visited several times by government representatives and there have been threats of arrests. This man said that if anyone was to be arrested, it needed to be him rather his young associate who is married with young children. Thus, his decision to remain where he is. This man has an “other worldly” faith and confidence in God and a self-sacrificing love for his fellow believers.
The third person that I would share with you about is a young lady who lives in our community. I do not know her or her name but was told about her by two leaders in the church where she is a member. This young lady has long had a burden for the low-come families who reside in a Section 8 housing community in our city. She became involved in ministry to the children and families who live on the “Loop” while still a university student. Her ministry is that of evangelism through word and deed. Her compassion for the people on the “Loop” was so great that she was not content to minister to the people as an “outsider.” She sensed the Lord’s call on her life to minister to the people from the “inside,” as one of the people, a resident of the housing community. So, when she recently graduated from the university with a degree, rather than seeking employment in her field that would guarantee her a comfortable career and income (an income that would have disqualified her from housing in a low-income area), she chose rather to work for the local school district as a teacher’s assistant. As a T.A., with the low-income that T.A.s make, the young lady has qualified for an apartment on the “Loop” and is now ministering there as a resident. This un-named young woman, compelled by the love of Christ has chosen to live a life of poverty and simplicity and serve others, exemplifying an “other worldly’ faith that gains the approval of the Lord.
I am inspired by the men and women who are referred to in Hebrews chapter 11 to live a life of faith that pleases the Lord. I am just as inspired by the two men and one woman that I have shared with you above in this post.
To live by faith and pursue the Lord and His purposes and glory on this earth. To look past and to forsake the pleasures and comforts of this life for the sake of the Gospel. To trust, for the care and provision of my family and ministry, the One who has called me into His family and Kingdom service.
August 5, 2009
My posting has been sparse over the last number of weeks due to my work schedule on the construction site this summer. Working 8 1/2 to 10 hours a day, six days a week, on the clean-up crew leaves me pretty fatigued by the end of the day. After I get home, take a shower and eat, I have about enough energy to check my emails before I’m ready to get into bed and read myself to sleep.
I am planning to make my last day on the job August 13. After that I plan to catch up on my reading and posting on Missional Renaissance by McNeal and Back to Jerusalem (a book about Chinese Christians and their missionary zeal to reach the 10/40 Window nations and peoples with the Gospel of Christ) by Paul Hattaway.
I’m scheduled to volunteer at new international student check-in at Texas A&M University later in the month. Volunteering at check-in has always allowed me the opportunity to meet alot of new, incoming students from around the world. It’s a great place to begin a relationship with students. Many, if not most, of those relationships will include the sharing of Christ. I’ll be posting on that event and relationships made.
Public school starts its fall semester on August 24. I will then return to my school year job as a long-term substitute teacher and detention hall overseer.
Other posts will come, I am sure. But for now I just wanted to touch base with you.
~ Blessings ~
July 17, 2009
I look at my Cluster Map every day to see where my visitors are from. Most are from the Northern Hemisphere. I have a few from the Southern but have wondered why not more.
One reason I suspect might be that fewer people in the Southern Hemisphere have computers, or at least the internet.
A second reason might be that the subjects of my posts are of no interest to the people south of the Equator.
Any thoughts?
July 17, 2009
I started working for a construction company the other day. Between school semesters I look for work to carry us through the summer. I had been looking for work and was getting some yards to mow, then this job on the clean-up crew came up.
The project is a ten-story building in our area. I clean up debris, trash and litter, sweep halls and rooms and clean the bathroom. It’s hot and dirty but it is a job. I work from 7am to 5pm, four days a week and 7am to 3:30pm two days a week.
This is the first time I have ever worked construction. The work is not terribly hard but we stay busy and it is incredibly hot.
I have driven past this construction site a hundred times. I have thought about the building but have never given a thought to the men who are building the building.
There are opportunities to talk with men on the job throughout the course of the day, but it’s during breaks and at lunch that I am really getting to know a number of the workers.
The men come from a variety of backgrounds. I hear them talking about their wives, girlfriends, children, and for some, their prison experiences. The men are friendly, they share their food around the table, they are funny and they give me safety tips and advice on how to do my job better.
My summer labor experience is giving me a greater appreciation for working men and their often un-noticed, and most times, unappreciated work.
After this summer on a construction site, I hope to be much more sensitive to and supportive of America’s working men, men who work long and hard to support the people they love, pave the roads that we drive on to get to our meetings, and build the buildings in which we conduct our business once we have arrived at our destination.
Working among working men, being “one of them,” is proving to be good for me.
July 9, 2009
Western society, especially in the United States, can be characterized in large measure by three approaches or attitudes toward life, living and relationships:
The way we live our lives as Christians and pursue the missional life and incarnational community are also affected by these approaches to life. They influence the way we relate to people, our attitudes about church and what church is to “be” or “do”, and what we do with our possessions and money.
Halter and Smay, in their book The Tangible Kingdom (pp.147-155), address these issues and offer a simple statement as to how we, as Christ-followers, can live so as to tear down these “walls” that hinder missional-incarnational living.
The more we do “together,” the less individualistic we”ll be. The more we become “one” with Christ, the less consumer oriented we’ll be. The more we do for “others,” the less materialistic we’ll be.” (p.154)
In other words, we need to open ourselves more to others and community, focus more on becoming more like Christ, and be more giving of what the Lord has made us stewards of.
I can take a look at my life and see how each of these attitudes affects my life as a believer and church member. The affects are not always positive. But I do desire to be much more open with my life – in one-on-one relationships and in community, to be more Christ-like in all areas of my life, and to be much more benevolent and giving of what the Lord has entrusted to me for service in His kingdom.
As a citizen in a Western-Modern context, individualism-consumerism-materialism are ingrained in my life. To make the shift in each of the three areas will “go against the grain” in my life, but it is a shift that is necessary if I am going to live a more missional and incarnational life.
On my own this will be impossible. But, with God, all things are possible.
July 8, 2009
Please pray a tragic situation that is unfolding in China.
Over the past several days there has been rioting and violence in Urumqi, Xinjiang Autonomous Region. Xinjiang is located in the far-northwestern reaches of China. This region has a tremendous Muslim poplulation called the Uyghurs.
The Uyghur’s have long since felt that they have been descriminated against by the majority ethnic group in China, the Han. The current situation began when Uyghurs took to the streets in large numbers to protest against the descrimination.
Thus far, 156 people have been killed, 800 injured and 1,434 people detained by police and security forces.
Please pray for an end to the violence, loss of life, destruction, and for resolution to this tragic social and political situation.
Please also pray for believers in the city and region, for their strength and faith. May they be used of the Lord to comfort those who are bereaved, suffering, and fearful.
And, in the midst of a terrible situation, may the Gospel be shared and many come to faith in Christ as Savior.
You can read about what is happening in Urumqi at BBC and CNN.
July 5, 2009
Help feed the world’s hungry and your mind at the same time.
Go to Free Rice and test your knowledge about words, geography and math, among other subjects. Your time and involvement helps earn free rice that is distributed to the world’s hungry through the United Nations World Food Program.
It’s fun, exercises your mind and benefits a great, very needy, cause.
