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The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian church, “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus”. That simple phrase gives a lot of food for thought and study. What exactly WAS the attitude that Christ Jesus had? How can we ourselves have that same attitude?

The passage goes on to say, ” ⁶ who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. ⁷ Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, ⁸ He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-7)

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Since I’m messing around with the blog today I thought I’d take time to say a little something about the voting process. As a US Citizen the privilege of voting is something I take seriously. I know that many of my country men do not. In fact many of them will abstain from participating this year. But I urge any of you who take the time to read my comments to take the time to express your opinion at the voting booth.

Voting is about expressing ourselves and proclaiming who our choice of representative is. It’s not about a contest between the “Two Parties”, because the US was not set up as a two party nation – even though we have mostly had two parties to choose from for the most part throughout our history (although different parties at different times). Do you know who the candidates are? And I mean ALL the candidates. The mass media has forced upon us a false paradigm in that they insist that there are only two candidates. Bob Barr, Cynthia McKinney, Chuck Baldwin and Ralph Nader are all on the ballot in many states across the nation. The media has sold us the idea that “there are only two candidates” – and it’s a lie. Some would say “Yes, but there are only two VIABLE candidates.” – but why would that be? That’s because as a nation we’ve allowed the media to control our way of thinking. I sure wish we’d turn back to the old paths and seek REAL leaders from amongst ourselves, men of character and wisdom. They still exist, but we need to seek them out and encourage them to join in the battle to retake our country from the grip of encroaching enslavement to humanistic socialism.

Dr. Del Tackett has a blog called “Truth Observed” and recently he posted some thought provoking articles on it. It looks like ol’ Noah Webster knew more than just how to write a dictionary…

Political Wisdom From Dr. Noah Webster: How To Vote

Political Wisdom From Dr. Noah Webster: Political Evils

Political Wisdom From Dr. Noah Webster: Remedy For Political Evils

Political Wisdom From Dr. Noah Webster: Defining Politics

Choosing The Lesser Of Two Evils

So now the big question is: “What are we as Christians going to do?” Are we going to give up the battle to those who wish to destroy our nation? Some maintain that they “keep their religion separate from politics” – assuming that the two can be separated. But that is only true if you do not live your faith actively. If you are truly on fire for Christ you can NOT call evil “good” nor can you call good “evil”. If you are TRULY on fire for Christ you can NOT say that those who support the murder of unborn babies or the equating of abnormal, deviant sexual behavior with God ordained marriage are representative of your ideals – IF you are on fire for Christ. We are told that we are not to be conformed to the world – we are called to be transformed. That means that we as christians are neither Democrat nor Republican – that we will vote for those who support Godly ideals rather than those who actively promote submission to the corruption fleshly desire. This doesn’t mean that we seek perfect people to represent us. It means that we seek out those who strive with us to achieve God’s design for man kind.

One of our great failings as a church has been in relinquishing our call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and lift up the fallen to the government. That is not government’s sphere of expertise or duty – it is the church’s. The first hospitals were founded by christians. The first orphanages were too. Hmmm… come to think of it, even education was in the hands of the church for generations prior to government moving in to teach kids that 2+2 does not necessarily equal 4.

It is time for us as a people to take back our land. It is time to say “No more humanism – turn back to God.” Yes, there are great problems in our land and around the world, but no human government has the answer. It’s time for us to say “Quit muddying up the waters, get out of the way and let us show you the way.”

Psalm 81:13-34 says

13 “If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, 14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!

And in 1 Chronicles 7:14 it is written:

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Now although these words were written for the jewish people, they can be applied in principle to christians as well – because like the jews we are too often eager to follow our paths rather than God’s. BUT when we turn away from our stubborn evil ways to follow His paths – He WILL bless us, and also those around us.

So if you are a US Citizen, dig deep in your heart and seek to know the way that God would guide you. Go to the polls on November 4 and choose the options that are most like God’s paths. Do not vote for those who support policies that go against the Holiness of God. Send forth a loud cry “No MORE!” and lets start taking back our nation for the Glory of God.

Yesterday was “Hallowed Evening”, popularly known as “Halloween”. The celebration of this pagan holiday has gotten pretty big down here in Colombia. Last night as I went to pick up my wife from work I was faced with teeming throngs of “trick or treaters” moving through the downtown section. Along with the little kids dressed up as a spiderman or a princess and other such “cute costumes” there were also great numbers of teenagers and adults of varying ages dressed up as everything from “Playboy Bunnies” (better known as shameless hussies) to “cats” (I’m guessing here, a black nose with whiskers painted radially around it with pointy ears on top and often a long tail seemed to be an attempt to be a “cat” and was a very popular costume this year to judge from the sampling on the street) Anyway, I was having “fun” dodging around and trying not to run over any of the revelers, not even the stoned out ones that begged for a trip to the hospital by their imprudent chemically induced behavior. And we managed to make it through with no mishaps and only a slight elevation of the blood pressure.

I’ve long wondered why Christians would celebrate this “holiday”. The themes that prevail are dark, sinister and devoted to death, corruption and decay. Look at the “monster” masks, the one that glorify deformity and decay. What about the skeletons, those that celebrate death. And then there’s the “cute little witches” – what’s cute about the occult? Yes, I’m a “kill joy” – when it comes to getting joy from joining in with the camp of the enemy. Why should the sons of light pretend to be sons of darkness – even for one night?

You see, I serve a RISEN Savior. He did NOT undergo corruption and decay. He rose on the third day and lives today preparing a place for those who also turn from death, corruption and destruction to walk in a new life with Him. He came to defeat death. He came to bring LIGHT. He is calling us to also pass from death to life and to walk in the light even as He walks in the light. So why would we want to celebrate death, corruption, decay and darkness? This is something I do not understand.

And then comes another “holiday”. “Christ’s Mass” – popularly known as “Chrismas” – is a celebration of the coming of the Christ to bring new life and hope to those who walked in darkness. Yes, we KNOW He was not really born on December 25 but we DO celebrate the birth of a Child Who came to give His life for us so that we can walk in God’s light. And since we do not know what day He was born, December 25 works as well as any other date. I’ve no problem with that, just as I have no problem celebrating my wife’s birthday on October 30. As an adopted child she has no idea what day or hour she came into this world. A judge said “Let’s call it October 30″ and they did. So now each year we celebrate her birthday on October 30 – even though the real day could conceivably be much earlier or even later in the year. What matters is that she WAS born and this celebration is a celebration of her coming into this world – and I especially celebrate because the Lord brought her into this world to serve as my life partner, no matter what day she was born.

Now that the darkness and corruption of Halloween are behind us, let us turn our hearts and minds to the coming popular festival of Christmas. Let us prepare ourselves to put Christ back into the celebration. Why use some fat guy dressed in red as a symbol of the Savior’s coming? Why use a tree covered with baubles and lights? Let’s let folks know the REAL “Reason For The Season” this year. Let’s make sure folks KNOW that we’re celebrating the fact that Jesus the Christ came to earth as a baby and that He grew into a Man who was MORE than a man, ultimately giving His life as a ransom for many. The manger or the empty cross can equally symbolize the coming of the Christ. Yes, He came as a baby – but He came on a mission. He came to live and die and rise again to proclaim His authority and power and ability to help us too overcome the death and corruption brought into this world by the evil one.

In a way we too celebrate death. We celebrate that the “baby of Bethlehem” came to die for us, allowing us to escape the trap of the devil and to walk in the Light of our Creator. Now as we head towards “Thanksgiving” and then on to “Christmas” let us take time to encourage each other to truly walk as children of the Light. We have much to be thankful for this year, not the least of which is the opportunity to live as Christ would live in our place. We are not perfect, but we know He Who can help us to throw off the sin that so easily entangles us. We know that He can help us to live according to His will, in spite of our weakness and frailty. He is glorified through our weakness because He uses us for His glory, first by changing our pitiful lives and then by using us to help change others.

Remember during the upcoming holiday season that Christ is not necessarily glorified through the gifts we give, not that giving gifts is wrong. He is not necessarily glorified through the variety and quantity of fine food on our tables, not that preparing feasts and enjoying them with friends and family are wrong. He is not glorified through the parties and the holiday “rush and bustle” as we try to make it to this party or to find that gift. During the upcoming “holiday season” He is glorified when we put off the old man we once were and as we live in the new life to which He has called us. So, let’s not conform ourselves to the image of the worldly season of greed and emptiness, let us be transformed by renewing our minds so that we can live as Christ would live in our place. Let His light shine through us so that those who see us will glorify our Father above.

As the Apostle wrote:

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:1-17

It’s been a while since I’ve taken time to just write “something”… or anything, for that matter. I guess getting old is tough – it took me a whole month + to do it in.

Today the topic is due to thoughts generated by the horrific occurrences of September 11, 2001. It is inevitable that our minds should turn to such thoughts on the anniversary of that event. Many are remembering “where I was” when they heard “the news”. Me? I was visiting Deane and Bijie in NE Colorado, getting ready to head out for a speaking date at a Bible college up in Nebraska. I walked upstairs and found them sitting with coffee cups in hand, watching the news. “One of the Twin Towers was hit by a plane!” they informed me. “One of the WHAT?” is the unspoken question the flashed in my brain. I’ve never held NY to be “the center of the universe” as some do, much less put much importance in most of her “landmarks”, so I’d little idea of what they were talking about.

They handed me a cup of coffee and we sat there watching the news unfold. I’d been there just a bit when we saw the second plane strike the second tower. At that point I knew we were at war and that the world would never be the same as it was before. Later that day as I headed north I stopped in most towns along the way to top off the gas tank and saw the prices steadily climbing into regions that would not be normal for several more years. The news kept drifting in via the radio. The President is somewhere unknown. The vice president is also hidden away. All air traffic is shut down over the entire nation. Another plane has hit the Pentagon. Another plane has crashed. The immensity of the event was slowly increasing in the national awareness – but I knew that our lesson was not learned.

That bit of knowledge was confirmed a few days later as I headed back home to Colombia. As I sat in the airport in Miami talking with an elderly couple I found out that my premonition was right. They had confiscated the EMBROIDERY NEEDLE and the 1/2″ SEWING SCISSORS of a white, protestant, grandmother missionary on her way back to her station on Colombia’s Caribbean coast (but ignored the more potentially lethal sharp steel ink pen in her husband’s shirt pocket) . Not only that, they were wanding women’s brassiers and acting as if EVERYONE was a potential terrorist hijacker – ignoring the commonality of ethnic and religious background of the perpetrators – an ethnicity and religion that is foreign to the typical US citizen and not too hard to spot. But as a nation we put our head in the sand and started to play the “I don’t really know who my enemy is” game.

Prior to September 11, 2001 I regularly carried my usual 3″ bladed pocket knife on board airplanes. At no point did I ever feel the urge to cut throats and crash the plane into a towering building, it was just a tool, an instrument for peeling oranges, opening letters, trimming string, cleaning fingernails and myriad other mundane daily tasks. But there is a mentality, Jeff Cooper – deceased – called it “hoplophobia” (the fear of instruments), that believes that inanimate objects cause violence and mayhem. I saw this yesterday as I read an article in a newspaper from Cali about the sport of Olympic Trap shooting. The “reporter” asked “don’t you ever get the feeling that your ‘wires may cross’ when you pick up a weapon?” (referring to “getting the urge” to simply shoot someone) This is the mentality that refuses to accept that some people have a deeply seated problem called sin – that it is the PERSON who makes the decision to do harm, not the inanimate object. As much as some people claim to be “enlightened” and “educated” and “modern” – they still hold a superstitious fear of “talismans” that supposedly by themselves can cause harm. The calm and rational analysis of this situation reveals that the item itself is incapable of doing ANYTHING without the intervention of some person. A knife or a gun or a baseball bat or a chair leg or any other potential weapon will merely lay there until some PERSON picks it up and uses it – for good or for bad. People are the problem, not objects. And learning to discern WHO is probably going to cause harm would do us a lot more good than a bunch of mindless knee jerk rules to prohibit objects.

It has been shown that the majority of crimes are committed by a minority of the criminals. When a house is burglarized or a woman or child is raped you can lay a fairly safe bet that the perpetrator is a prior offender. They may not have been caught before, but the odds are that they have done this crime before. And when it comes to the type of crime that was committed on September 11, 2001 there is yet another factor – that of religiously inspired hatred. It has been shown that there a number of similar atrocities that have been committed over the decades prior to September 11, 2001 that can be linked to people similar to those who committed the acts of terrorism against the United States on that date. They were all committed by Muslim men between 18 and 40 years of age. By pointing out this fact I’m not attempting to engender racial or religious bigotry or hatred, but rather raising a red flag. When you see bombing after bombing committed by the same demographic – does it make sense to stick your head in the sand and pretend that EVERYONE will do the same type of thing? Think back to 1941 to 1945. Who were the “Kamikaze”? They were not white protestant women. They were not italian catholic men. They were not even German Third Reich soldiers – they were Japanese soldiers trained and prepared for this type of attack. Interesting to note – they too were inspired by their religion to give their lives to take out others.

So, seven years later, we are now treating everyone as an enemy when they go through the airport “security system.” We are pretending that the arthritic grandmother from Racine Wisconsin is at least as big of a threat as the young Arab man with a one way ticket and a tourist visa. In fact, our rules and regulations FORBID screeners from noticing that someone is a muslim male and treating them to well deserved scrutiny. Many occurrences have shown that screeners “randomly” choose an obviously NON muslim to fondle while a group of possibly radical extremist muslims waltz through the “security” checkpoint – just to prove that we aren’t “profiling” and are “being fair”.

Along with the varied thoughts on airway travel and taking down buildings with planes come thoughts about the upcoming election. Many are saying “If so and so becomes president the world will end, our nation will be destroyed and all hope is lost!” (Both sides of the political turmoil claim this) But the truth of the matter is – no matter WHO becomes president they will have arrived at that position with the consent and assistance of the general populace. No matter which way the winds blow they will NOT arrive at the White House “from nowhere” nor from another planet – they will have arisen from amongst the entire nation. The problem is not “who’s President” or “who’s going to be President” but rather “who are the people who are choosing their candidates and ushering them into office?” I’m amazed at the general lack of godly characteristics of the majority of the candidates this time around. Is this really “the best” we can do as a nation? If so, we are indeed in deep trouble – because we have allowed our godly principles to sink into virtual oblivion. This year, once more, we will choose from amongst ourselves the person we feel best represents who we are as a nation. Our choice will reflect what we have become – for good or for ill. Our choice will NOT “signal the end of all we are” – it will merely reflect what we have become.

Our only true hope as a nation is to repent from the sin of turning away from our Creator and to turn back to His Paths and His Will in our daily lives. We can not live for the devil and expect God to bless us when we choose a leader. We can only expect our daily life and our daily choices as a nation to be reflected in the leader who is finally chosen to govern over us.

The big question is – what will this year’s election say about what we have become as a nation?

There’s a group on the social website “Facebook” that is dedicated to “Independant Christian Church Ministers”. The moderator posted this note on “The Wall” this week.

What does it mean to be relevant?
What is your church or ministry doing to stay relevant to it’s people/ community?
How do you balance being relevant without sacrificiing the message?

The space allowed for Wall posts is limited and I hit the end of my short space before I finished typing – so I’ll just post a link to this note there and answer here. Works for me, hopefully it’ll work for the folks in the group as well.

Relevant – having significant and demonstrable bearing on the matter at hand – affording evidence tending to prove or disprove the matter at issue or under discussion, having social relevance

OK, now that we’ve got a definition – how does it apply to me as a christian? It is my belief that through a life devoted to following Christ I can demonstrate relevance to those around me by having the answers to the questions that torment them. And not just a “pat answer” but an answer demonstrated through a life changed by God. When I go through the same trials and temptations that they do – but with demonstrably better results, that affords me the opportunity to show them what Christ could do in THEIR life – if they would but let Him.

So, what do I do to maintain relevance? I do my best Monday through Saturday to put into practice that which I teach on Sunday – so to speak. When the church is so busy with their “worship service” and their “praise service” and their “bring a friend Sunday” and other such programs and activities that they don’t take time to live out the Truth in their lives during the week, they lose relevance. They are no longer able to “have significant and demonstrable bearing on the matter at hand” because they are so wrapped up in themselves and their programs that they forget to whom they were sent to minister in the first place.

Our ministry maintains relevance by “the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ”. I do not believe that the Apostle was referring to “full time Christian service” when he mentioned “work of ministry”, but rather he referred to the Church serving (ministering to) the world around her – thereby maintaining relevance and building up the Body through natural means.

We started holding public meetings in Pereira on the first Sunday of June in 2002.  That first Sunday we had our family (six of us at the time) and one other family – of three at that time.  Since then the Lord has blessed us and many have joined us in worshiping and studying God’s word.  Many of those have moved on to other cities and other congregations, but the Lord has preserved a remnant here and in the past year has blessed and increased the number of His people here.  Lately we’ve been stretching the folks a bit, encouraging them to move past their “comfort zone” to seek what the Lord is wanting to do through their life.  But I digress.  On June 1st, 2008 we had our annual “Anniversary Bash” This year we held it here at the house and were joined by 39 people, including two new families.  For some of them it was the first time they experienced a “party” in which they didn’t have to drink to have “fun”.  What a novelty to wake up the next day and remember what all happened and to not have a hangover…

233 years ago today a group of simple village and farm folk stood up against the forces of an empire which desired to force upon them its ideals and laws. They “fired the shot heard ’round the world” and after several long years of war they attained their goal – a free and sovereign nation that was built upon Biblical principles with freedom for all. May we all be grateful for the legacy passed down to us by those brave men. It is because of their resolve and dedication and sacrifice that we enjoy the freedom that we have a US citizens.

Now we have candidates to the presidency of the US who would take away the very freedom by which our nation was founded. We have a candidate who denigrates “fly over land” as “bitter people clinging to their guns and religion”. I stand amazed at the current crop of candidates and can only wonder what happened to the spirit of the men who stood that April morning against the forces of a far off king and set the stage for a grand new nation’s entrance upon the stage of the world. Oh that their spirit may spring once more to life in the hearts of my fellow citizens.

Concord Hymn
by Ralph Waldo Emerson

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled;
Here once the embattled farmers stood;
And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps,
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream that seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone,
That memory may their deeds redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

O Thou who made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free, –
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raised to them and Thee.

With 2008 being a presidential election year, we are now about past the middle of the active electioneering that’s been going on since last year.  There’s a recurring theme I keep hearing from dyed in the wool members of the supposed “conservative” party and that is “Anyone but a  Democrat!”  It matters not what the so called “Republican” stands for, all they need to do is say “I’m a REPUBLICAN!” and folks will vote for them.  But that’s not what bothers me the most, and is only partially the reason for this post.

What really “gets my goat” is the attitude that “We have to vote for the ‘lesser of two evils’.”   The lesser of two evils – is still evil.  Let’s see.  On one side we have Democrats who are in favor of the sodomite agenda to demean and dishonor marriage by twisting it to include their unholy unions.  And they are also in favor of executing unborn children who have done no harm to anyone.  And they are in favor of prohibiting the free use of weapons by ordinary, upright citizens.  And they are in favor of granting amnesty to the millions of foreign nationals who have violated our laws and invaded our land. On the other hand we have Republican candidates who are in favor of the sodomite agenda to demean and dishonor marriage by twisting it to include their unholy unions.  And they are also in favor of executing unborn children who have done no harm to anyone.  And they are in favor of prohibiting the free use of weapons by ordinary, upright citizens.  And they are in favor of granting amnesty to the millions of foreign nationals who have violated our laws and invaded our land.  So, what’s to choose from?  Does it really matter which party drags the country into the mud?

Now, I know I’m generalizing and not all the candidates openly support the issues outlined above – but they ALL have  abominable track records on one or more of the issues above, issues I’m convinced are of vital importance to the nation.  And yet, when one says “Send me a truly conservative candidate who will obey and enforce the US Constitution, uphold moral values, secure our borders and decrease the interference of the Federal government in individual citizens’ lives” people tell me “If you DON’T vote Republican you’ll be putting a DEMOCRAT in the oval office!”

I’ve got news for the Republican party.  If they want to REALLY do something POSITIVE and garner the support of the sector of the US population that holds onto traditional values -THEN QUIT TREATING US LIKE IDIOTS BY OFFERING UP LIBERALS IN CONSERVATIVE CLOTHING!!!!  If the Republican party endorses a liberal candidate and tries to cram them down the throats of voters with strict conservative beliefs – they are the ones who will be responsible for keeping conservatives away from the polls.  Telling us that WE are responsible for the failure of a liberal Republican to win the presidential race is like telling a woman that she is responsible for the actions of a rapist.

I’ve made it clear that I will not be kidnapped.  I will not go along with evil men merely because they threaten my life.  Nor will I go with them because they threaten the lives of someone else.  I will not go along with them because I do not agree with what they are doing.  If they kill someone else or if they kill me because I refuse to cooperate – THEY ARE THE ONES WHO PULL THE TRIGGER – NOT ME.  In other words, any innocent blood shed is not by my hand but theirs.  In the same way, those who offer up a liberal, pro sodomy, pro abortion, pro amnesty for law breaking aliens, pro higher taxes and anti second amendment (or any combination of the above) candidate and say “Vote for them or else” are giving me the same option as those who would attempt to force me to acquiesce to their demand to accompany them at the point of a gun.  I simply will not be coerced into violating my principles.

To those who are running the supposed “conservative” party I say “Give me a REAL conservative or I’ll seek out my own.  And so will others who are also tired of voting against someone.  Give us a leader who will honor the Constitution and the foundations of our nation, give us someone to vote FOR, who represents our values from the heart – or YOU will be responsible for the continued downward spiral of the nation as we sink lower and lower into the moral abyss – one “lesser evil” at a time.

The following article is one that I received from Frontline Fellowship. It was written by Peter Hammond and is a look at what some of the hazards of missionary work can be. Not all hazards are from “evil pagans” who may wish to end one’s life and service, all too often one’s very “team mates” or folks on a “missions trip” can also distract one from the work to which one has been called. I’m reminded of the Apostle Paul’s litany of things which he had endured for the sake of Christ and the Gospel – not much has changed in 2000 years when it comes to danger for a missionary.

Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the depths of the sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers; labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing. Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches. II Corinthians 11:24-28

Anyway, without further ado – here’s the article – re-”printed” here with permission from www.frontline.org.za

From the very first day that I heard the Gospel of Christ, 4 April 1977, I have been called to missions. For over thirty years The Great Commission has been my supreme ambition. Starting with distributing Gospels of John door-to-door in Pinelands, being a Group Leader in Scripture Union Holiday Missions, teaching Sunday School, running Youth Groups and coffee-bar outreaches, ministering in old-age homes, mass literature distribution at railway stations and bus stops, then working in Hospital Christian Fellowship, starting a Bible Study and Prayer Fellowship in the army which met every night and led many soldiers to Christ, through to the launch of Frontline Fellowship, over 25 years ago, the last command of Christ has been my first concern.

I’ve had the privilege of ministering in 27 countries, on four continents. This has involved well over 11 000 meetings, including many missions camps and conferences, and conducting Great Commission Courses.

There is no doubt that the harvest is very large and the workers are far too few. However, I’ve become increasingly concerned about how ill-prepared most mission volunteers are on entering the field. Also disturbing is how little discernment is evidenced in all too many cases.

Over the years, I have tried to give an honest and balanced report on the problems, frustrations and difficulties of the field, without unduly glamourising missions. Of course one wants to encourage and inspire fellow Believers to wholehearted commitment to world missions, but, even from the earliest years of Frontline Fellowship, I have felt the need to also issue words of warning and caution as to the real dangers and difficulties involved. The Lord warned us to count the cost and much of what I have heard in different missions conferences seem to be setting up well-meaning people for inevitable disappointment, and even disaster.

The recent tragic story of seven international missionaries being robbed and abused in Zimbabwe prompted me to begin thinking about writing this article. Then the report back of one of our co-workers on his three and a half month mission to Congo impressed on me even further the importance of this article. We need mental toughness, emotional strength, spiritual discernment and a resilience to persevere in spite of the many discouragements, dangers and deceptions looming in most fields.

Certainly, in my 25 years experience in foreign missions, I have experienced thefts and threats, not only from the pagans, but from false brethren and false shepherds within the church. Right from my very first mission trip to Mozambique, in 1982, there were the greedy and malicious back stabbers and traitors quick to steal and to report one to the local communist commissar.

The trouble is, the vast majority of missionary volunteers give up before completing their first term in the field. Many short-term missionary volunteers only go once, and, whether because of negative experiences in cross cultural confusion, misunderstandings, sickness or thefts, for one reason or another, fail to return to the field ever again.

Enormous resources are being spent on training, preparing and transporting to the field missionary volunteers who don’t persevere, and return home within weeks or months – never to venture into any mission field again.

In 1989 I led a team of 6 American medical missionary volunteers to Mozambique. Within days we were captured, arrested and imprisoned, mistreated by the SNASP Secret Police and incarcerated in solitary confinement at Machava Security Prison in Maputo. Not surprisingly, none of those volunteers have returned to the field since.

However, one of the members of an Evangelism Explosion team that I took to Sudan in 2000 has continued to return multiple times since, despite us being bombed by the Sudan Air Force on Sunday morning.

Of course, one expects persecution from anti-Christian, Marxist and Muslim, regimes when working in restricted access areas. However, most missionaries are not prepared for the blatant theft from those they have felt called to serve. Yet even missions dedicated to establishing hospitals and schools amongst desperately needy people have been cheated and attacked by the very communities they are seeking to serve, stolen from by staff, and looted by the local community.

We should not be too surprised. Even Jesus had His Judas amongst His twelve hand picked Disciples. Although Judas was entrusted with the finances of the Apostles, he was a thief, not only stealing from the Lord Himself, but even betraying Him for mere money.

I know of all too many cases of missionaries who have faced muggings and manipulation in the field, threats and theft, being used and abused, not only from the local people to whom they were sent, but even by fellow Christians. Not only stolen from by local believers, but by fellow “missionaries” and “co-workers.”

This may be a shock to many people wanting to get involved in missions. When I first became a Christian it never crossed my mind that someone could claim to be a Christian and yet be malicious or devious. Not that we would not only be cheated and abused by local Believers and fellow missionaries, but also by overseas ministries and churches.

All too often there are those who don’t pay their bills, fail to fulfill their promises, never keep up their end of the work load, and happily run up huge expenses which they leave for the local missionary that they are meant to be “supporting”. While they return to engage in brilliant fund raising campaigns entirely built upon deception.

In dealing with guests from other ministries, we have sometimes been horrified by dishonest and unethical practices and claims. Some, who merely participated on one field trip with our mission, have gone on to make incredibly extravagant claims in their fundraising letters and videos. One launched an entire ministry with an impressive marketing campaign based entirely based on false claims and plagiarism. Pretending responsibility for Frontline Fellowship shipments and ministry activities in Sudan, one individual, who was merely a junior guest of a large team with no significant ministry role, later claimed to have been the leader of the entire operation, quoting all of our statistics of Bibles delivered, ministry conducted, flights chartered are his accomplishment.

Another individual, who came in on one Frontline Fellowship mission trip to Sudan and participated in the first few days of our Teacher Training Courses, leaving early, later claimed to have set up a couple of dozen schools in the area, and requested funds for his “staff” there. Needless to say, none of the teachers or pastors in the area were aware of any such activity. On numerous occasions we have been asked to arrange flights for overseas “missionaries” who later have left us to pay all their bills without so much as a contribution.

One needs to be aware of those who will happily send you on a fools errand. The book of Proverbs warns us about fools busy with some fantasy and unworkable project. There are people who want to live on your faith and want you to do their work for them. A mission in the hand is worth dozens of visions and concepts “in the planning stage”. They live by presumption – not by faith.

There is a desperate need for absolute honesty and integrity. We need to be people of our word, say what we mean, and mean what we say. And we need discernment, precautions and a basic understanding of security principles. Otherwise we could be guilty of sending out dedicated missionary volunteers who will fall victim to muggings, theft, rape and murder. All of this has happened to mission volunteers in the field.

Then there are the financial scams from false brethren who pretend to have all kinds of ministries and exploit well-meaning Westerners with their slick fundraising letters and e-mails. As we actually travel to the field, we have been able to expose numerous of these “pastors” as the real pastors in the area have taken us to meet the well supported frauds in the local bar!

Then there are the cross cultural opportunists and exploiters who seek sponsorships to travel the world and attend various missions conferences, only to gather as many names and addresses and e-mails as possible in order to soak well-meaning, but naïve, Westerners with emotive fund raising scams. “Can you just help with some money?”. Others try the politics of pity and guilt manipulation to get an American or European wife (and therefore a passport to the West): “God told me to marry you…!”

You would find it hard to believe how many times we have come across cross cultural opportunists attempting to guilt manipulate some Western girl into marriage. Even “pastors” who are already married. If you ever doubted the Biblical Doctrine of the depravity of man, you will find more than enough examples to verify it in the mission field, and even at missions conferences.

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. We need to seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. The Great Commission must be our supreme ambition. Nothing must be allowed to distract or deviate us from that. We are called to build God’s Kingdom, not to enrich false brethren, false shepherds and false prophets. We are to have faith in God, not in human nature. We are to trust the Lord, not be gullible victims of con artists.

If we want to be effective in the Lord’s service, we need to protect our time and our limited resources from the unscrupulous and manipulative. Because of the abundance of free-loaders, who inevitably are attracted to the rich pickings and targets of opportunity at missions conferences, we now insist on early morning PT and prayer meetings to weed out those who have another agenda. Of course, false brethren are able to put on a good act, but we find that as our Great Commission Courses progress with daily PT and prayer meetings, outreaches and late-night hikes, we begin to see the real person under the veneer.

There is no substitute for track record. We need to test all things. It is remarkable how many “pastors” and “bishops” turn out to be Bible illiterates when you compel them to complete our multiple choice Bible Exam!

There are so many frauds, fools, con artists and opportunists seeking to take advantage of missions. A large percentage of funds earmarked for missions don’t really reach the Lord’s work because of the abundance of dishonest scams and unworkable schemes which manage to intercept and hijack what is meant for God’s service.

This may not be a pleasant message to hear or acknowledge, but it is the truth. The world should have already been evangelised and discipled several times over if everything that is being said to be done, was actually being done. It is time for us to shine the light of God’s Word on some of the shady dealings of professional fund-raisers and con-men who have found an abundance of gullible and naïve Christians to exploit under the guise of “missions”.

We owe it to our Lord Jesus Christ to be watchful and alert, wise and discerning, taking proper precautions to avoid becoming a victim, so that we can be effective in real missions.

God’s work, done God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.

Only one life it will soon be passed, only what’s done for Christ will last.

Dr Peter Hammond

Frontline Fellowship

P.O. Box 74, Newlands, 7725, Cape Town, South Africa

www.frontline.org.za

“Thank you!” – such simple words, and yet so often omitted  from our daily life.  Humans seem to be ungrateful by nature.  Look at the example of the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus.  Only one returned to say “Thank you!” – even though their lives had been changed incalculably.

Well, today marks the official day of thanks in the United States of America.  On this day millions of people will gather with family and friends to eat a hearty meal, watch football and spend time together.  And a few of them will even take time to remember WHY this day was set aside.  Some will take the time to not only be “thankful” but to remember to Whom they should be thankful and WHY they should be thankful.

Unfortunately, many have sought to undermine our nation’s heritage.  Some have built up myths around our heritage – and that’s as bad as the former.  And yet, there is much to be grateful and thankful for in our heritage.   Our nation was indeed founded by men who believed in our God and Creator.  This is particularly shown by the first declaration of a day of thanks as proclaimed by the Continental Congress in 1877.

Thanksgiving Proclamation 1777 by the Continental Congress:

IN CONGRESS
November 1, 1777

FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most signal success:

It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers of these UNITED STATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole: To inspire our Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all human Blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: That it may please him, to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the People, and the Labor of the Husbandman, that our Land may yield its Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means of Religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom, which consisteth “in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.”

And it is further recommended, That servile Labor, and such Recreation, as, though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.

Oh that our leaders and our nation would turn back to He Who gave us our freedom.  Oh that on this day – and always – we would remember to give thanks to Him for the great mercies and blessings He has heaped on us.