The Heavens Declare

And all I can say is Amen...

Psalm 19:1-14 ESV
(1) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
(2) Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
(3) There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
(4) Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
(5) which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
(6) Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
(7) The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
(8) the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
(9) the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
(10) More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
(11) Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
(12) Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
(13) Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
(14) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

LORD: I thank you for a refreshing time away these last two weeks. I praise you for your lovingkindness to me and how you've revealed yourself in creation and your written Word. Amen.

US-minted Missionary Coin: Head’s we’re Wretched, Tails we’re Dead

American Evangelicals have a proud history of sending missionaries to reach the lost with the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These missionaries have seen a lost world that needs the Lord and have dedicated their life’s work to proclaiming God’s love throughout the world. Those who have responded to this call have usually been gifted, trained, and sent by and through American churches and American mission agencies.

Very often mission agencies have identified target areas are in the greatest need for the good news. Mission agencies have developed statistical analysis to assist in this process. This has recently been demonstrated by what is known as the 10/40 window.

“The 10/40 window is an area of the world that contains the largest population of non-Christians in the world. The area extends from 10 degrees to 40 degrees North of the equator, and stretches from North Africa across to China” http://1040window.org/what_is.htm).

Many mission agencies have set the 10/40 window as their highest priority, and with good reason: “95% of the people living in the 10/40 Window are un-evangelized. Many have never heard the Gospel message even once” http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/1040.htm#facts. And with two-thirds of the world’s population living in this window, that 95% represents a statistical cry for a new wave of Christian missionaries.

But are we equipped to go? While most would argue that the West and the United States in particular has an abundance of churches and many have heard the gospel, we live in an age of increasingly skeptical, secular people in these very churches.

Many churches are closing: my understanding is that everyday nine churches close their doors in the United States. Of the churches that aren’t necessarily struggling to stay solvent, how many are spiritually alive? While the 10/40 window is clearly in need of the gospel of Jesus, America is showing itself to be spiritually impoverished. Like the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-20), we say we “are rich…and have need of nothing” yet we are “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” (verse 17 NASB).

Jesus’ next words in verse 18 are poignant: “I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.” It is difficult to avoid seeing the parallel between Laodicea and America. Before we can toss in another mission coin into the 10/4o window, American Christians need to take a hard look and see if we ourselves are not wretched and poor and naked.

From what I’ve seen, the people of 10/40 don’t need our brand of materialistic Christianity—they need Jesus the Messiah, the One who died for them, whom God raised from the dead, the One who transforms them into the image of Christ—and I am increasingly convinced that America does as well (again).

Real Friend

There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24 NLT). As most people know, finding a real friend is not easy. It takes effort on our part to be vulnerable to another human being. Every time we attempt that we run the risk of being hurt. Yet when we do find that friend there is great joy.

I have had the joy of such friendships only rarely. It seems God has brought people into my life only to have them move on to a new life somewhere else in the world. I suppose as I've made friends with people who have dedicated their life to God's service I should not be surprised. Yet the pain of their departure is not easily tempered with this understanding. It takes faith for me to let them go; faith to realise that God brought them into my life and that both of us were enriched in such a way as to be useful to God.

"Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God (James 2:23b ESV). Abraham is one of my Bible heroes. He, too, left everything on the word from God to leave his home to a land he didn't know. He left everyone behind except his wife. Abraham's belief and trust in God's word allowed God to act in Abraham's life: to establish a covenant promise, and to enable Abraham to become a friend of God.

If a real friend sticks closer than a brother, then friendship with God is beyond description. He is ever faithful, ever loving, and He becomes our Father when we're adopted into His family. What joy can be found to match His love? I know of nothing in this world.