brethren, let us love...

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
1 John 3: 16-19

This particular verse was a great matter of thought during a long, busy day at work today. For I encountered several believers and countless [likely] nonbelievers, and in several cases the latter "loved in deed" much better than the former. One particular group of older people came in, were very friendly [albeit rather needy in terms of service], and took an interest in my current situation. They asked if I was full-time at the restaurant, and I told them I was working for a couple months before heading back to Germany to finish my Bible College internship. At this they all smiled and proudly declared their accurate guess at my soul's position and Christian lifestyle. I thanked them for their business and well-wishes, and kept on working. Now, throughout my hard day's work, I received many very generous tips from my customers. Unfortunately, these rather vocal Christians ended up being a little less generous in deed than in word. Oh, I didn't mind so much about the sub-average tip; in fact, I expected that as much as they expected I was a Christian. But it spoke volumes to my heart; namely, this verse: "Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."

I think no less of my believing customers; however, I pity them for the reward they've chosen to opt out of. I am one of several believers at work, but there are plenty of nonbelieving, rough-around-the-edges kind of people with whom I work. There are also a few believers in name who are often spoken of in a negative light, particularly concerning their work ethic [often low] and overall likeability [not high]. Brethren, if we are going to "love" in word and in tongue, we had better be ready to "love in deed and in truth" before and after our self-assertion. Actions really do speak louder than words.

If they don't see Christ in us, they may never see Him at all.

sometimes..

we really need to quit fighting. we come to the point where we're all-consumed by seeking for one particular answer that we can't sit still for two seconds together, and we can receive nothing but the answer we think we want. it is at that point when realization dawns upon our stubborn minds and we perceive that perhaps our All-Consuming Thought is not truly the main point. and so, by surrendering our hearts and minds to the Lord [which consists largely of flesh-mortification], we humbly ask that something, anything, be spoken to us- for without vision, the people perish.

and speak He does.

the simple Word refreshes us, washes us. and in it He confirms the things we tended to doubt when first spoken; He speaks new life into our bones and says, "Live!"; He gives us vision for the future; He gives us strength for the day. and in His simple, wonderful way that far exceeds our human ways or comprehension, He brings it to pass.

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble. 2 Peter 1:10

let us press on to completion, and be found walking worthy of His calling.

oh saints, He is so good! let us throw ourselves upon His grace, and walk, not by sight, but by faith.

amazon..

is normally a friend. but today it's made itself a foe.

so i was doing a little christmas shopping online last night, and found a fun gift for my nephew. put it in my amazon cart [at least i thought], but ended up deciding on something else instead, on a different site.

lo and behold, this morning there's a receipt from amazon in my email inbox, saying i purchased the rejected gift, and they were charging me more in shipping than the product itself cost.

pretty much not fun. orders like that can only be cancelled up to 90 minutes after they've been placed.. and i didn't even know my computer had purchased it until 12 hours later. amazon gave me no inclination that i had placed the order, no 'purchase complete' page, no shipping rate options, nothing.

so the moral of the story is: live somewhere with shopping nearby so you don't have to shop online.

guess my nephew gets two presents instead of one!

lassen uns beten!

in the past week i've visited with or heard from many different people, ministering all over the state, country, and world. pastors wives from the midwest, bible college students in several continents, pastors' kids and interns in europe, christians being light in their hometowns and to the uttermost parts of the earth. on my 8-hour drive to and from wisconsin, i spent several hours listening to recordings from past missions conferences. i was so blessed to hear the testimonies of people who have surrendered their lives to the Lord and have been used by Him so immensely. may He see fit to use me as such a vessel.

it is so amazing to see the work that God is doing all over the world. what a privilege we have to be able to intercede for our brothers and sisters spread abroad. i'm reminded of one of our memory verses from wolfgang's missions class:

I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!'
Bring My sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth-
Everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.
-Isaiah 43:6-7

remember to pray for the outreach teams from the ccbc campuses in peru and germany- they're ministering all around the world this week!

emerging church.

this link is for a message my dad taught at church 2 weeks ago, on 1 john 3:19-4:6. i had not heard much explanation for the term "emerging/emergent church" but this really gave a good explanation, and also a timely warning to us as believers- there are many false prophets out there! we must hold fast to the Truth of God's Word.
the message is probably 40-45 minutes long, but if you have time to listen, it's really good. just click the little question mark.
God bless!

roots.

last night our family went out to our country garden and picked the last of the summer harvest.
part of that harvest was a bumper crop of carrots, and several bucketsfull of potatoes.
but in order to remove those root vegetables, you have to dig- it's hard, dirty, work.
yet it wasn't without reward- we'll be eating carrots and potatoes until they come out our ears. [which would definitely incur more digging]

in the past days the Lord has been doing an awful lot of digging in my own heart. there's been bitterness left unheeded in the deep recesses of my heart. did i like to admit it? of course not. but in praying and preparing my heart for future ministry, the Lord has placed His finger upon that root, and has revealed the ugliness of it. it is not a pleasant experience to be dug into, but it is a necessary one if we are to be Useful For Every Good Work.

my friends, having learned this lesson the hard way, i humbly ask you to not let the root of bitterness go unchecked in your heart. may the God who dwells in unapproachable light shine into our hearts and cleanse us, that He may receive all the glory.

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. Heb. 12:14-15.

sacrifice.

"Night after night the Bishop and Dr. Bruce with their helpers went out and helped save men and women and children from the torture of physical privation. Vast quantities of food and clothing and large sums of money were donated by the churches, the charitable societies, the civic authorities and the benevolent associations.
But the personal touch of the Christian disciple was very hard to secure for personal work.
Where was the discipleship that was obeying the Master's command to go itself to the suffering and give itself with its gift in order to make the gift of value in time to come?
The Bishop found his heart sink within him as he faced this fact more than any other.

Men would give money who would not think of giving themselves.

And the money they gave did not represent any real sacrifice because they did not miss it. They gave what was the easiest to give, what hurt them the least.
Where did the sacrifice come in? Was this following Jesus? Was this going with Him all the way? He had been to members of his own aristocratic, splendidly wealthy congregations, and was appalled to find how few men and women of that luxurious class in the churches would really suffer any genuine inconvenience for the sake of suffering humanity.
Is charity the giving of worn-out garments? Is it a ten-dollar bill given to a paid visitor or secretary of some benevolent organization in the church? Shall the man never go and give his gift himself? Shall the woman never deny herself her reception or her party or her musicale, and go and actually touch, herself, the foul, sinful sore of diseased humanity as it festers in the great metropolis? Shall charity be conveniently and easily done through some organization? Is it possible to organize the affections so that love shall work disagreeable things by proxy?"
[Excerpt taken from Charles Sheldon, "In His Steps," pp. 211-212.]

For hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow His steps.
1 Peter 2:21