Life As A Vapor

Thank You, Lord, for the lives of flawed

and faith-filled saints!

Thank You for grace, amazing grace,

that saves and uses sinners!

Lord, don’t let us dream too small about our lives.

Don’t let us limit Your power

to what we see in the mirror.

Help us to trust You. 

Help us as William Carey said,

to expect great things from God

and attempt great things for God.

We are not great. But You are great.

Your power is made perfect in our weakness.

We surrender all claims on our lives.

Come. Make us useful for the glory of Christ.

In His great name, we pray, Amen.

-- John Piper

Are you frustrated with your church?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes:

If we do not give thanks daily for the Christian fellowship in which we have been placed, even where there is no great experience, no discoverable riches, but much weakness, small faith, and difficulty; if on the contrary, we only keep complaining to God that everything is so paltry and petty, so far from what we expected, then we hinder God from letting our fellowship grow according to the measure and riches which are there for us all in Jesus Christ.

This applies in a special way to the complaints often heard from pastors and zealous members about their congregations. A pastor should never complain about his congregation, certainly never to other people, but also not to God. A congregation has not been entrusted to him in order that he should become its accuser before God and men.

. . . let [the pastor or zealous member] nevertheless guard against ever becoming an accuser of the congregation before God. Let him rather accuse himself for his unbelief. Let him pray God for an understanding of his own failure and his particular sin, and pray that he may not wrong his brethren. Let him, in the consciousness of his own guilt, make intercession for his brethren. Let him do what he is committed to do, and thank God.

From Life Together, trans. John W. Doberstein, (New York: HarperOne, 1954), 29, paragraphing mine.

Christianity: The Greatest of All Levelers

I don't know its origin but when a friend quoted this I asked him to write it down for me. And now I come back to it a lot; more often in recent days when I note the borrowed glory of those parading themselves, especially in politics, but also in sports (an Olympian proclaims himself to be "The Greatest . . ."), business and industry, and the like. Wherever there is authority, ability, supremacy or influence that pronounces high words of promise and prophecy, this truth remains: 

Christianity is, in one sense, the greatest of all levelers.

It looks to the elements, and not to the circumstantials of humanity; and regarding as altogether superficial and temporary the distinctions of this fleeting pilgrimage, it fastens on those points of assimilation which liken the king upon the throne to the very humblest of his subject population. 

They are alike in the nakedness of their birth. They are alike in the sureness of their decay. They are alike in the agonies of their dissolution. And after the one is tombed in sepulchral magnificence, and the other is laid in his sod-wrapt grave, are they most fearfully alike in the corruption to which they moulder. 

But it is with the immortal nature of each that Christianity has to do; and, in both the one and the other, does it behold a nature alike forfeited by guilt, and alike capable of being restored by the grace of an offered salvation. And never do the pomp and the circumstance of externals appear more humiliating, than when, looking onwards to the day of resurrection, we behold the sovereign standing without his crown, and trembling, with the subject by his side, at the bar of heaven’s majesty. 

There the master and the servant will be brought to their reckoning together; and when the one is tried upon the guilt and the malignant influence of his [life] . . . —O! how tremendously will the little brief authority in which he now plays his fantastic tricks, turn to his own condemnation; for, than thus abuse his authority, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

Take some time with these words. Understand them. Be sobered. But also be encouraged.

Ya gotta be kiddin me!

It's starting to look like this blog is riding on my brother Dave's reports from Europe. It sure has been true the last few days. But this Playful Puppies Bible posting (written last month before his trip) perfectly reflects some very important ReceiveTheWORD concerns. This is one time that you really might actually "read it and weep". Dave writes . . . 

You may think I’m making this up. You could be confused and think I’m writing for “The Onion” and that this is a cleverly-disguised spoof to trick my readers (if I have any). But no, this is for real.

Zondervan Publishing has just announced the release this summer of “Playful Puppies Bible.” The hype goes like this:

If you love puppies, you will love this Bible. Inside you will find 12 color pages of adorable puppy photos with inspirational thoughts that will encourage you day after day. The Playful Puppies Bible is just the right size to take along wherever you go. Features include: * Presentation page for gift giving * Ribbon marker * Words of Christ in red * 12 pages of adorable puppy photos, Scripture references, and inspirational thoughts *

When I first came across this, I thought someone was playing a joke on me. But then it became all-too apparent that this is for real. And so, being the practical guy that I am, I began to dream of ways to make this tool more effective for users.

My fertile mind quickly realized that the usefulness of the “Playful Puppies Bible” could be enhanced if there were various response sections after each reading – here are some examples -

• BOWL OF FOOD (feed on God’s Word)
• PAWS to reflect (meditations)
• SCRATCHING AT THE FRONT DOOR (journal thoughts)
• BARKING AND YIPPING (prayer)
• FIERCE GROWLING (spiritual warfare)
• WAGGING YOUR TAIL (having fellowship with other believers)
• TUMMY SCRATCHINGS (allowing others to minister to you)
• POOPING ON PAPER (giving back to others what you learned)
• ON THE LEASH (daily walk of obedience)

And I wondered how the Bible would be different if the saints of old could have read a version like this. Jeremiah could have written, “Your Word is like a tummy rub,” instead of “Your Word is like a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces.”

The Psalmist could have written, “It is good that I was scratched behind the ears, that I might learn Your Word,” instead of “It is good that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.”

Or “Your Word is like a bowl of Ken’l Rations and an dirty sock to gnaw on,” instead of “Your Word is like a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

Jesus could have said, “If you retrieve that stick and bring it back to me, then are you my disciples indeed,” instead of “If you remain in my Word, then you are my disciples indeed.”

All of this is a bit mystifying, I think. If there is a Kingdom-advancing advantage to having a Bible with adorable puppy photos, it eludes me. In fact, it seems like one more of those things that American Christianity does that sabotages the hard-edged Great Commission, wartime lifestyle mentality so essential for the advance of the Gospel.

Somehow “The devil roams around like a junkyard dog wanting to be the alpha male. But you resist him by licking him all over and rolling on your back to bare your throat in submission…” doesn’t pack the wallop that Peter’s advice does: “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith…”

I wonder if people who spend time in the “Playful Puppies Bible” will gain the fortitude to follow Jesus in the hard times, will be willing to forsake all to follow him, and will acquire the resolve to lay down their lives for the sake of the Gospel.

– Dave Shive, June 2012

God's Word - Radical and Scandalously Demanding

I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me (Psalm 101:3).

In the culture wars—I mean within the Church, not outside the Church—there are heated opinions about what we should and should not expose ourselves to in the marketplace of ideas. Here are some familiar opinions from one side:

• We must study and talk about the things the world is doing in order to be relevant to our world and to have a point of contact from which to speak to them. We must reject the legalism of those who say, “Do not handle, do not touch.”
• We must reject all moralistic approaches and remember grace.
• We must be in the world (though not of it) in order to save the world.
• We must know ourselves and our own level of maturity, and whether certain visuals or entertainments would damage our souls.
• We must remember that the Bible itself is full of stories of murder, rape, immorality, and treachery. Therefore, if we think we should eschew these in our culture, then we would have to reject the Bible too.
• We must remember that Paul himself knew Greek and made a reference to their poets at the Areopagus.

I have heard and believed all these arguments in my lifetime. I have seen plenty of movies and plays. (And, to tell the truth, I cannot think of a single thing I learned there about culture that I didn’t know or that turned out to be essential for “point of contact.”)

But when all is said and done, and as the shadows of my own life lengthen, and I tally up all my reasons in Column A, I still have this one nagging item in Column B:

“I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.”

This is how radically and scandalously demanding the Word of God has become in my life.

- Andree Seu Peterson

We are cursed, we are cursed.

My mission mobilizer brother, Dave, is coming to the end of his European journey. He is currently spending a few days with Bob and Nancy Hitching, missionaries to the Roma Bayash Gypsies of Croatia. The following is an unedited copy of an email received this morning. The theme of this ReceiveTheWORD blog focuses on the power of the Truth to shatter darkness and break down walls. It is happening in Croatia.

Day 8, July 24. Slavonski Brod, Croatia

The American national anthem is often sung at sporting events and our hearts are filled with pride and gratitude at the greatness of our country as we sing this song together. "...And the star-spangled banner forever shall wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." Or our throats may choke up a little as we sing "My country, 'tis of thee! Sweet land of liberty! Of thee I sing!"

Now imagine being a part of a culture where the national anthem goes like this: "We are cursed. We are cursed because one of our ancestors stole a nail from the cross of Jesus. No wonder we are cursed." It's difficult to comprehend the national psyche of a people whose identity is captured with such words, whose lore is rooted in the idea that one of your ancestors stole a nail from Jesus' cross and that this loathsome act has forever blighted your ethnic identity.

If you were to overhear a group of people singing lyrics like these, you would undoubtedly be in a Bayash gypsy village, for these are lines taken directly from the Bayash "national anthem" .

Here is the Roma gypsy logic: "We have 90% unemployment. Alcoholism, poverty, and sadness prevail over our communities. No wonder others despise us. Of course we are cursed. Of course God is against us. God is not for us and he will use every opportunity to punish us."

Bob and Nancy Hitching

The Roma Bible Union (RBU), founded by Bob and Nancy Hitching, is coming into Bayash communities with a different message, the message of "Good News". The RBU has created a ministry called "UNA", an acronym that speaks of the positive qualities of oneness, unity, fellowship. The UNA symbol is the bee - the industrious insect that brings sweetness.

The Bayash people are characterized by three oppressive qualities: (1) Insecurity driven by fear. Fear & insecurity are everywhere. Everyone is afraid of the dark. Children are afraid of their parents, wives of their husbands, husbands fear people to whom they owe money. (2) Hopelessness. We have nothing to look forward to so we live "in the moment." (3) Inevitability. Things will never change.

To counteract the "bad news" of this false national image, Bob and Nancy Hitching have created a UNA theme that runs through the ministry of the RBU. They are training UNA children to not believe the words of the anthem. A theme song has been written specifically for the UNA ministry. Here is the core of the UNA anthem written specifically for the Bayash: "God is for us, God is not against us."

One facet of the UNA ministry is the UNA club. These clubs meet regularly in the villages and are for the children. UNA clubs are built on nine major activities:

(1) the banner under which the children run as their name is called out - for some, this may be the first time they have heard their name used in a positive context;

(2) music culturally appropriate to the Bayash with stirring lyrics;

(3) chanting of positive themes, like a pep rally. Imagine scores of little Bayash children animatedly shouting together, "God is for us, God is not against us!"

(4) a coloring book produced specifically for the Bayash - many gypsy children have never even held a crayon in their hands;

(5) a Bible story big book - the typical Bayash home has no books. The average Croatian child upon entering public school has had 800 "read-to" experiences, while most Bayash children have never had anyone ever read a story to them;

(6) a name tag to make them feel special and give them pride in who they are; 

(7) a bright yellow T-shirt with the UNA name on it and a bumblebee image;

(8) fun games will be played;

(9) a prayer of blessing will be prayed over the children.

Yesterday we took a leisurely stroll through a Bayash village. Today we will participate in a UNA festival in that same village. Hordes of children, many of whom have been attending UNA clubs, will descend upon us in an open field. The atmosphere will be joyful, chaotic, frenetic, loud, sweaty, and redemptive. Bob describes this as "not trying to get everybody out of the village into heaven, but getting heaven into the village."

To counteract the three negative themes of the Bayash culture (that I mentioned above), the UNA clubs and festivals are designed to clearly communicate three affirming messages: (1) That in knowing God and being reconciled to God through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is safety and security; (2) That in a world of hopelessness, the Gospel of Jesus is a message of optimism; (3) The Gospel can change the world because God can change (a) our hearts, (b) our families, and (c) our villages.

Lives are slowly being transformed throughout Bayash villages in Croatia, Serbia, and Hungary. It is hard work and slow, but an RBU team is coming together and growing in numbers. Breakthroughs are occurring and momentum is picking up. Where once the spiritual darkness was impenetrable, now "the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is God's image" is shining (II Cor. 4:4). Now "the glorious gospel about a happy God" (I Tim. 1:11) is bringing joy, purity, brightness, and expectation to impoverished, despised Roma gypsy villages.

Dave

Wash dishes . . . to the glory of God

In his role as a missions mobilizer, my brother Dave has been in Germany and is now on his way to Croatia. This that follows is his update for day six of his journey. - Ray

Day 6 - July 22, 2012

Worms, Germany

As I write these updates, I find my mind turning to you, the reader especially because of the varied responses I get back from people like you. Some are mothers and homemakers, others are government employees, one is a flight attendant, a few are retired, some are in full time ministry, while others work in IT, the medical field, or radio. A true cross-section!

Two things tend to characterize these individuals: (1) a passion for Christ to be made known in all places at all times to all peoples; (2) frequent uncertainty that the daily tasks assigned to me have anything to do with fulfilling the Great Commission. And lest I appear to be exalting "the missionary" and the missionary role unduly, I want to say that I am aware of the crucial part each person plays in the big mosaic of world evangelism.

A young mother wrote me today in response to these updates. She said: "I am blessed to have this reminder as I wipe and spank butts, that our gracious God is at work in my little world and also among the nations."

That is reality. How easy it is to forget that the changing of that diaper, the cooking of a meal, speaking to a customer or making a delivery or chatting with our neighbor is the vital role we are called to play in God's cosmic plan.

When we are involved in the "dailyness" of life and going about the tasks God has called us to, some things just seem mundane, even meaningless.

Elisabeth Elliot had a way of putting the "menial" tasks in context: "This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness." What a great perspective!

Do you believe today that the things on your agenda are the work of mission? That you have been called to do the tasks assigned to you today? Are you convinced that not even illness or affliction can prove to be an impediment to God carrying out his work through you?

I will close with the profound thought of John Henry Newman: "God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. Therefore, I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain."

Go wash dishes and change diapers and fix computers to the glory of God!

Dave