I was asked by a dear friend recently about the topic of the Sovereignty of God. Light conversation, I know. Just to be clear, the doctrine of sovereignty has to do with God foreordaining whatsoever comes to pass...yet in such a way that He is never the Author of Evil...This is a profound mystery...a mystery beyond our ability to figure out...how's that for just throwing a grenade into the room and running?
I think when it comes to thinking about the sovereignty of God we need to keep in mind the "wills" of God. First, there is the REVEALED will of God...Scripture...and we are called to respond to that Word in obedience out of gratitude for God's love for us in Christ. We are to obey God's Word out of a love response toward Him because He first loved us.
Second, there is what we call God's sovereign or mysterious will that we don't DISCOVER through investigation...it is simply what happens...whatsoever comes to pass. However, we can never, obviously, excuse our disobedience to God's REVEALED will, His Scripture, and just say, "Oh well, its obviously God's sovereign will, since I did it..."
There is a mystery here that is WAAAAY beyond our comprehension because we are first, finite, and second, fallen. What we DO matters and what we CHOOSE to do matters, and sovereignty can never be an excuse to minimize the enormous importance of our choices, actions...or even inactions. One of the temptations of Jesus by the devil was exactly this: IF You ARE the Son of God, throw Yourself down from the Temple and He will send His angels to protect you...and Christ responded, Do not put the Lord to the test. God is absolutely sovereign and mankind is completely responsible. Hmmmmm. Brain freeze!
However, and this is REALLY important, God teaches us about His absolute sovereignty in Scripture in order to lead us to freedom (as well as submission, but I'm going to focus on the freedom part here)! Because of the fall of humanity into sin, we all have a tendency to be control freaks...just ask my wife and kids about my idol of control...but it's all an illusion...we are NOT in control...even though we are absolutely responsible! Think of all the ways people seek to protect their jobs, work hard, only to have some unforseen lay-offs occur. Think about people who are obsessive hand-washers, only to get sick from a bad hamburger...
If we don't learn to live with this tension that no matter how responsible we try to be, we're still not really in control, trust me, we'll end up in a rubber room surrounded by nice people in white jackets. This tendency to seek to control every detail of our lives is what leads people to be neurotic!
We spend WAAAAY too much emotional and intellectual energy trying to FIGURE out God's will...God's will is not some needle in a haystack that we need to find...the best way to be "in God's will" 5 years from now is to respond in faith and obedience to the REVEALED will of God that we are aware of over the next 5 minutes! The real issue is seeking Christ and His wisdom, not investigating "chicken guts" seeking to divine our way to a decision.
So, as my basketball coaches used to tell me: Play loose. Enjoy the game. Use your gifts. Play smart...and Play to win!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
10 Books That Have Screwed Up the World
One of my elders told me he was listening to a book on CD that caught my attention by the title alone: "10 Books that Screwed Up the World (And 5 Others That Didn't Help)" by Benjamin Wiker, Ph.D.
By the way...the solution is NOT to burn these books (as many, in my humble opinion, "whacko" Christians have done over the years)...but for intelligent, articulate, mature Christ-followers to READ them (or, as in my case, at least become familiar with them...though I'm not sure I fit the "intelligent, articulate, mature" description!), critique them, discover how the very falsehoods contained in them reside in our own hearts and seek to restore our broken world to wholeness and truth...The point is not censorship of bad books as much as striving to make the truth more attractive and more winsome and to gently point out the internal inconsistencies of error.
Here are the books he covers:
Preliminary Screw Ups
--The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli (1513)
--Discourse on Method by Rene Descartes (1637)
--Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes (1651)
--Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality Among Men by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1755)
10 Big Screw Ups
1. The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels (1848)
2. Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill (1863)
3. The Descent of Man by Charles Darwin (1871)
4. Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche ((1886)
5. The State and Revolution by Vladimir Lenin (1917)
6. The Pivot of Civilization by Margaret Sanger (1922)
7. Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler (1925)
8. The Future of an Illusion by Sigmund Freud (1927)
9. Coming of Age in Samoa by Margaret Mead (1928)
10.Sexual Behavior in the Human Male by Alfred Kinsey ((1948)
And finally, one Dishonorable Mention
--The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan (1963)
I hope to blog briefly on each of these over the next several weeks.
By the way...the solution is NOT to burn these books (as many, in my humble opinion, "whacko" Christians have done over the years)...but for intelligent, articulate, mature Christ-followers to READ them (or, as in my case, at least become familiar with them...though I'm not sure I fit the "intelligent, articulate, mature" description!), critique them, discover how the very falsehoods contained in them reside in our own hearts and seek to restore our broken world to wholeness and truth...The point is not censorship of bad books as much as striving to make the truth more attractive and more winsome and to gently point out the internal inconsistencies of error.
Here are the books he covers:
Preliminary Screw Ups
--The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli (1513)
--Discourse on Method by Rene Descartes (1637)
--Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes (1651)
--Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality Among Men by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1755)
10 Big Screw Ups
1. The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels (1848)
2. Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill (1863)
3. The Descent of Man by Charles Darwin (1871)
4. Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche ((1886)
5. The State and Revolution by Vladimir Lenin (1917)
6. The Pivot of Civilization by Margaret Sanger (1922)
7. Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler (1925)
8. The Future of an Illusion by Sigmund Freud (1927)
9. Coming of Age in Samoa by Margaret Mead (1928)
10.Sexual Behavior in the Human Male by Alfred Kinsey ((1948)
And finally, one Dishonorable Mention
--The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan (1963)
I hope to blog briefly on each of these over the next several weeks.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Gospel Armor Against Temptation
Just before celebrating the Lord's Supper last month I shared some words that others have asked me to post. The words were these: Those Christ-followers who are covered up with guilt and shame and self-condemnation are most open to giving in to temptation. Conversely, those Christ-followers who are most willing to receive and hope in the wondrous grace of God are most strengthened against temptation.
When we are wrestling with shame and guilt, the pain of the defeat and condemnation is so intense that we'll look for anything that will numb the pain...the narcotics of choice, then, are often the pleasures of the world that we are deceived into believing will get rid of the pain. But that just creates a downward spiral of more guilt and shame and the pain multiplies. Guilty and condemned Christians will always be desperately looking for relief from their pain...and temptation to seek that relief in sin is very alluring.
However, Christians who are convinced of the hope of forgiveness and live in the grace of God are less trapped by feelings of shame and guilt, experience more joy, and are therefore more strengthened in the battle against sin...we still will be tempted by the so-called "pleasures" of the world, but equipped with the peace of forgiveness and the joy of grace, even when we blow it, we will be quick to repent and experience afresh the wonders of God's love...thus entering into the Spirit-filled upward cycle of forgiveness and joy and strength.
There is no one who does not sin...daily...it's what we choose to do with that sin that makes all the difference. If we beat ourselves up and live in self-condemnation...we will be more open to looking for relief from the pain and will be less equipped to fight against temptation. If we acknowledge afresh our need for amazing grace, we'll experience forgiveness and will be gripped again by the love of the Father...and we'll be more equipped to say no to sin and yes to righteousness.
This is why the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is so vital to Christian health...there's no need to beat ourselves up over sin because Christ's Body was broken for us; and there's no need to live with guilt and shame because His blood was shed to grant us full and total forgiveness.
When we are wrestling with shame and guilt, the pain of the defeat and condemnation is so intense that we'll look for anything that will numb the pain...the narcotics of choice, then, are often the pleasures of the world that we are deceived into believing will get rid of the pain. But that just creates a downward spiral of more guilt and shame and the pain multiplies. Guilty and condemned Christians will always be desperately looking for relief from their pain...and temptation to seek that relief in sin is very alluring.
However, Christians who are convinced of the hope of forgiveness and live in the grace of God are less trapped by feelings of shame and guilt, experience more joy, and are therefore more strengthened in the battle against sin...we still will be tempted by the so-called "pleasures" of the world, but equipped with the peace of forgiveness and the joy of grace, even when we blow it, we will be quick to repent and experience afresh the wonders of God's love...thus entering into the Spirit-filled upward cycle of forgiveness and joy and strength.
There is no one who does not sin...daily...it's what we choose to do with that sin that makes all the difference. If we beat ourselves up and live in self-condemnation...we will be more open to looking for relief from the pain and will be less equipped to fight against temptation. If we acknowledge afresh our need for amazing grace, we'll experience forgiveness and will be gripped again by the love of the Father...and we'll be more equipped to say no to sin and yes to righteousness.
This is why the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is so vital to Christian health...there's no need to beat ourselves up over sin because Christ's Body was broken for us; and there's no need to live with guilt and shame because His blood was shed to grant us full and total forgiveness.
Monday, February 1, 2010
How BIG is Your World?
Yesterday during worship we sang Matt Redman's popular and powerful song, You Never Let Go. It was Global Mission's Sunday at Oak Mountain Church, and before the Pastoral Prayer I commented that Redman's song really does have a strong tie to Global Missions. The point of the song is that we, as Christ-followers, no matter where we go or what we face, we need not fear any evil because our God is near us, He is for us and He will never let us go. If we fail to believe those great truths however, we will end up living like orphans in this life...
Think about how an orphan lives...as if there is no one to depend upon except themselves...self-protective mechanisms shift into high gear...the size of the world shrinks so that the only world that matters is the world of self...it becomes a dog-eat-dog world...get all you can for yourself because no one else cares about you.
When I fail to believe that the God of Heaven is favorably disposed toward me and pours forth all of His goodness and power toward me even when I am in difficulty, then I don't really have the energy to care about the rest of the world...the fate of the nations isn't really on my radar screen.
However, as I rest in the Father's love and care for me as an adopted child in His family, I can become progressively freed from my orphan mentality and not be so self-absorbed or self-consumed. I can become freed from self-concern and begin to be concerned about others...my world grows...my soul's "radio station" is no longer tuned to "WBOB...All Bob ALL the Time!" but instead I can actually begin to care about the nations.
So...sometime today, listen to Matt Redman's song...let the truths wash over your orphan soul...and ask God to increase the size of the world you live in...a world bigger than my 6 foot 1 inch frame...a world that encompasses all the nations of the earth! Because the fact is, there are billions who long to know the promises rehearsed in the song, "You Never Let Go!"
Think about how an orphan lives...as if there is no one to depend upon except themselves...self-protective mechanisms shift into high gear...the size of the world shrinks so that the only world that matters is the world of self...it becomes a dog-eat-dog world...get all you can for yourself because no one else cares about you.
When I fail to believe that the God of Heaven is favorably disposed toward me and pours forth all of His goodness and power toward me even when I am in difficulty, then I don't really have the energy to care about the rest of the world...the fate of the nations isn't really on my radar screen.
However, as I rest in the Father's love and care for me as an adopted child in His family, I can become progressively freed from my orphan mentality and not be so self-absorbed or self-consumed. I can become freed from self-concern and begin to be concerned about others...my world grows...my soul's "radio station" is no longer tuned to "WBOB...All Bob ALL the Time!" but instead I can actually begin to care about the nations.
So...sometime today, listen to Matt Redman's song...let the truths wash over your orphan soul...and ask God to increase the size of the world you live in...a world bigger than my 6 foot 1 inch frame...a world that encompasses all the nations of the earth! Because the fact is, there are billions who long to know the promises rehearsed in the song, "You Never Let Go!"
Friday, January 22, 2010
Latest News from Oak Mtn Church Missionary in Haiti
This is the latest update from PMH (Presbyterian Mission in Haiti) and our missionary, Charles Amicy...
Dear Presbyterian Mission in Haiti (PMH) Friends,
Forgive me for the delay in getting a new update to you.
It has been 9 intense days since the earthquake for our brothers and sisters at PMH and for the people of Haiti. While Pastor Amicy and Dr. Gathercoal's team of Flying Doctors of America are putting in 20-hour days amidst unspeakable physical and psychological trauma, those of us on the PMH Board, the Lespwa Worldwide team, the Flying Doctors team and many of our close advisors have been working intensely to re-supply our friends at PMH with the people and the tools they need to continue ministering in the name of Christ.
Our brothers and sisters at PMH are truly exhausted. They have seen patients die, lose limbs, and cry out in despair. They have prepared meals for 150 or more people a day. They have courageously gone into P-a-P to find more patients that are not receiving care by anyone. They have had to scramble for food and fuel and medical supplies while tons of supplies merely sit on pallets waiting to be distributed. They are tired and exhausted.
And yet when I talk to Pastor Amicy and Dr. Gathercoal, I do not hear despair or cynicism. I do not hear any anger or fear. Rather, I hear determination and commitment. I hear hope and compassion. I hear their sense of humor and laughter. But mostly, I hear love and joy. Love for the people of Haiti. Joy in serving the Lord Jesus Christ. And finally, a desire to keep pressing on with the Lord's work in Haiti. Through it all, we are seeing the sovereign power, wisdom, and love of the Living and True God at work through our feeble and exhausting efforts. To Him be the glory! Amen!
Carlens Delfils
The surgery on his right hand went very well. Please check out the links to the Wilmington, NC newspapers and TV station. What a great testimony! In addition, Mrs. Mary Delfils found her passport/visa in the rubble of their house and will soon join Octavius, Carlens, and Farah in Wilmington.
Food, Fuel, and Supplies for PMH
The Lord had some suprises for us the last two days. Mission of Hope Haiti (www.missionofhopehaiti.org) donated some food to PMH. We don't know yet how much, but it should get PMH by for a few more days. We thank the Lespwa team and Jeff Hulbert for making requests for us. Charles and Dr. Gathercoal met someone at the P-a-P airport with a relief agency that was leaving the country. They had a few supplies and a bit food left over and so they gave it to PMH. Every little bit counts. Thank you Lord!
Don't ask me how, but Charles and Dr. Gathercoal also managed to get about 60 gallons of diesel fuel which was badly needed for the truck, bus, and generator. Of all places, they received some from the US Army. But more than that, we thank God that the local Cabaret Police Department donated the lion's share to PMH. They are so grateful for what Pastor Amicy is doing at PMH for the community.
Medical supplies such as guaze, pediatric medicines, and surgical drapes/sheets have been running low. However, they are in decent shape for adult pain meds and antibiotics for now. Dr. Gathercoal told me that John Garvin with Medical Assistance Programs Int'l visited PMH yesterday to see what was needed. He was out of most everything except a little guaze, and was still waiting on MAP's shipment to arrive in Haiti. It arrived today, and I got an email saying Mr. Garvin was heading to PMH with supplies. Don't know the details of what Mr. Garvin brought, but we praise the Lord for his kindness!
Two more doctors and two more nurses arrived yesterday (Wednesday, 20th). That provided some relief to the first FDOA team that has been there since Sunday, 17th. Another team is arriving this Saturday, 23rd, and then more teams next Wednesday, 27th and Saturday, 30th. Many of our PMH friends in the medical profession are coming on these teams. Dr. Billy Alexander's team is coming on Wed, 27th. Praise the Lord! Continue to contact Allen Hord with Flying Doctors of America (www.fdoamerica.org) to get on a team if you are interested.
Campus Pastor to the Aid-Givers and All-Around Administrative Assistant
Due to the overwhelming nature of the work at PMH, Charles, the PMH staff, and the FDOA medical teams are close to hitting the wall. The PMH Board agreed to send PMH Board member, Bob Bradbury to comfort and encourage the aid-givers at PMH. He has been to PMH many times, is a life-long pastor, and well-trained and experienced as a disaster response team member through MTW's program (www.mtw.org). He will arrive next Tuesday on an MFI flight accompanied by Allison Davis, a "tough cookie" according to Ann Klein, who is a business owner and more than capable to become an all-around administrative assistant to Charles by keeping track of the busy schedule, answering the phones, checking emails, and probably much, much more. We intend to send more PMH friends to help in these roles in the weeks ahead, so please contact me if you are interested in a rotation. Bob and Allison can only stay a week or so. Again, praise the Lord for this!
Operation RE-SUPPLY
As you know by now, it is critical that we re-supply the PMH campus with provisions that will be scarce in Haiti until the constipated UN, US Military, and other large relief agencies get their systems flowing into the NGO's all over Haiti. Until then, we do what we must to take care of our own and to serve those we can serve. We are encouraged by reports that commercial airlines such as Spirit Air and American Airlines will resume flights into P-a-P as early as next Wednesday, and that the port of P-a-P may be reopening tomorrow. Short-term teams here we come! Containers of supplies here we come! Praise the Lord!
Meanwhile, to address the current and pressing needs of PMH, the Lespwa Worldwide team (www.lespwaworldwide.com) and the Mission to Haiti Canada team (www.mthcanada.org) are on the ground in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Lord willing they will be sending enough supplies over to PMH by Saturday morning, 23rd. Please pray for the success of this effort. The Lord has already proved Himself faithful and wise since they arrived there on Wednesday. They have made good contacts at the UN and the US Embassy / USAID, which, I know is hard to believe, but it is true. There are people there that really want to help us. Praise the Lord! In addition, our teams met some Baptist brothers in the Lord that have experience with convoys to Haiti. They are surrounding our teams with incredible love and helpfulness, running around gathering provisions to fill up the trucks, etc. Amazing! In addition to that, Bernie van Eyk (PMH Board member) and I were talking late last night and decided to ask a man in Bernie's church who is bi-lingual and from the D.R. to fly down to meet our teams today and help them out. We conferenced him in and he said "Sure!" His name is Emanuel, or Mannie for short, and he has many Christian family members and friends in Santo Domingo. Mannie is there with Jay and Bill's team, serving as a translator, and surrounding our guys with the Body of Christ.
So, Lord willing, these provisions will arrive at PMH by Saturday morning. Please pray for this effort! We know you already are. We see the Lord's hand in our efforts. We feel like we are groping in the dark at times (a lot of times), but we know and we see that He is sovereignly orchestrating every detail according to His good wisdom and purpose.
Outpouring of Support
So many of our PMH friends have contacted me over the last 9 days. It is so encouraging to us. Thank you for your generous outpouring of support - prayers, financial contributions, volunteering to go to PMH when it is possible. All of this is tremendously encouraging. We thank you for helping us to press on.
Is it Safe to be in Haiti?
While we do seriously ponder the news stories about gangs running the streets of P-a-P, the government and police force of P-a-P disappearing, the chances of conditions deteriorating in Haiti such that the people get desperate and violent, and so forth, we are very positive about the general stability of the country. There is an ever growing presence of the international community in Haiti. The airlines and ports are beginning to function again. Supplies and basic necessities will start flowing again soon. Furthermore, PMH has the benefit of a friendly local police department and a secure campus. These are good signs and we are thankful.
In addition, we feel strongly about supporting Pastor Charles, Leon, and Octavius, their families, the orphans at PMH, the medical team, and the survivors of this devastating earthquake. We cannot abandon them. We must do what we can to re-supply them, to send in more medical teams, and to send in other PMH friends to encourage them and relieve them of their heavy burdens.
One might say that Haiti is never particularly safe. It is Haiti. But we love the people there, and we see no compelling, seriously life-threatening reasons to stay away. So, lets press on together with the courage God supplies us.
In the Lord,
Scott Clark
Secretary of the PMH Board
Missions Committee member of WRPC
864-335-9640 (home)
864-483-1512 (cell)
tscottclark2000@yahoo.com
www.presbyterianmissioninhaiti.org
www.woodruffroad.com
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. --Ephesians 6:10
Dear Presbyterian Mission in Haiti (PMH) Friends,
Forgive me for the delay in getting a new update to you.
It has been 9 intense days since the earthquake for our brothers and sisters at PMH and for the people of Haiti. While Pastor Amicy and Dr. Gathercoal's team of Flying Doctors of America are putting in 20-hour days amidst unspeakable physical and psychological trauma, those of us on the PMH Board, the Lespwa Worldwide team, the Flying Doctors team and many of our close advisors have been working intensely to re-supply our friends at PMH with the people and the tools they need to continue ministering in the name of Christ.
Our brothers and sisters at PMH are truly exhausted. They have seen patients die, lose limbs, and cry out in despair. They have prepared meals for 150 or more people a day. They have courageously gone into P-a-P to find more patients that are not receiving care by anyone. They have had to scramble for food and fuel and medical supplies while tons of supplies merely sit on pallets waiting to be distributed. They are tired and exhausted.
And yet when I talk to Pastor Amicy and Dr. Gathercoal, I do not hear despair or cynicism. I do not hear any anger or fear. Rather, I hear determination and commitment. I hear hope and compassion. I hear their sense of humor and laughter. But mostly, I hear love and joy. Love for the people of Haiti. Joy in serving the Lord Jesus Christ. And finally, a desire to keep pressing on with the Lord's work in Haiti. Through it all, we are seeing the sovereign power, wisdom, and love of the Living and True God at work through our feeble and exhausting efforts. To Him be the glory! Amen!
Carlens Delfils
The surgery on his right hand went very well. Please check out the links to the Wilmington, NC newspapers and TV station. What a great testimony! In addition, Mrs. Mary Delfils found her passport/visa in the rubble of their house and will soon join Octavius, Carlens, and Farah in Wilmington.
Food, Fuel, and Supplies for PMH
The Lord had some suprises for us the last two days. Mission of Hope Haiti (www.missionofhopehaiti.org) donated some food to PMH. We don't know yet how much, but it should get PMH by for a few more days. We thank the Lespwa team and Jeff Hulbert for making requests for us. Charles and Dr. Gathercoal met someone at the P-a-P airport with a relief agency that was leaving the country. They had a few supplies and a bit food left over and so they gave it to PMH. Every little bit counts. Thank you Lord!
Don't ask me how, but Charles and Dr. Gathercoal also managed to get about 60 gallons of diesel fuel which was badly needed for the truck, bus, and generator. Of all places, they received some from the US Army. But more than that, we thank God that the local Cabaret Police Department donated the lion's share to PMH. They are so grateful for what Pastor Amicy is doing at PMH for the community.
Medical supplies such as guaze, pediatric medicines, and surgical drapes/sheets have been running low. However, they are in decent shape for adult pain meds and antibiotics for now. Dr. Gathercoal told me that John Garvin with Medical Assistance Programs Int'l visited PMH yesterday to see what was needed. He was out of most everything except a little guaze, and was still waiting on MAP's shipment to arrive in Haiti. It arrived today, and I got an email saying Mr. Garvin was heading to PMH with supplies. Don't know the details of what Mr. Garvin brought, but we praise the Lord for his kindness!
Two more doctors and two more nurses arrived yesterday (Wednesday, 20th). That provided some relief to the first FDOA team that has been there since Sunday, 17th. Another team is arriving this Saturday, 23rd, and then more teams next Wednesday, 27th and Saturday, 30th. Many of our PMH friends in the medical profession are coming on these teams. Dr. Billy Alexander's team is coming on Wed, 27th. Praise the Lord! Continue to contact Allen Hord with Flying Doctors of America (www.fdoamerica.org) to get on a team if you are interested.
Campus Pastor to the Aid-Givers and All-Around Administrative Assistant
Due to the overwhelming nature of the work at PMH, Charles, the PMH staff, and the FDOA medical teams are close to hitting the wall. The PMH Board agreed to send PMH Board member, Bob Bradbury to comfort and encourage the aid-givers at PMH. He has been to PMH many times, is a life-long pastor, and well-trained and experienced as a disaster response team member through MTW's program (www.mtw.org). He will arrive next Tuesday on an MFI flight accompanied by Allison Davis, a "tough cookie" according to Ann Klein, who is a business owner and more than capable to become an all-around administrative assistant to Charles by keeping track of the busy schedule, answering the phones, checking emails, and probably much, much more. We intend to send more PMH friends to help in these roles in the weeks ahead, so please contact me if you are interested in a rotation. Bob and Allison can only stay a week or so. Again, praise the Lord for this!
Operation RE-SUPPLY
As you know by now, it is critical that we re-supply the PMH campus with provisions that will be scarce in Haiti until the constipated UN, US Military, and other large relief agencies get their systems flowing into the NGO's all over Haiti. Until then, we do what we must to take care of our own and to serve those we can serve. We are encouraged by reports that commercial airlines such as Spirit Air and American Airlines will resume flights into P-a-P as early as next Wednesday, and that the port of P-a-P may be reopening tomorrow. Short-term teams here we come! Containers of supplies here we come! Praise the Lord!
Meanwhile, to address the current and pressing needs of PMH, the Lespwa Worldwide team (www.lespwaworldwide.com) and the Mission to Haiti Canada team (www.mthcanada.org) are on the ground in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Lord willing they will be sending enough supplies over to PMH by Saturday morning, 23rd. Please pray for the success of this effort. The Lord has already proved Himself faithful and wise since they arrived there on Wednesday. They have made good contacts at the UN and the US Embassy / USAID, which, I know is hard to believe, but it is true. There are people there that really want to help us. Praise the Lord! In addition, our teams met some Baptist brothers in the Lord that have experience with convoys to Haiti. They are surrounding our teams with incredible love and helpfulness, running around gathering provisions to fill up the trucks, etc. Amazing! In addition to that, Bernie van Eyk (PMH Board member) and I were talking late last night and decided to ask a man in Bernie's church who is bi-lingual and from the D.R. to fly down to meet our teams today and help them out. We conferenced him in and he said "Sure!" His name is Emanuel, or Mannie for short, and he has many Christian family members and friends in Santo Domingo. Mannie is there with Jay and Bill's team, serving as a translator, and surrounding our guys with the Body of Christ.
So, Lord willing, these provisions will arrive at PMH by Saturday morning. Please pray for this effort! We know you already are. We see the Lord's hand in our efforts. We feel like we are groping in the dark at times (a lot of times), but we know and we see that He is sovereignly orchestrating every detail according to His good wisdom and purpose.
Outpouring of Support
So many of our PMH friends have contacted me over the last 9 days. It is so encouraging to us. Thank you for your generous outpouring of support - prayers, financial contributions, volunteering to go to PMH when it is possible. All of this is tremendously encouraging. We thank you for helping us to press on.
Is it Safe to be in Haiti?
While we do seriously ponder the news stories about gangs running the streets of P-a-P, the government and police force of P-a-P disappearing, the chances of conditions deteriorating in Haiti such that the people get desperate and violent, and so forth, we are very positive about the general stability of the country. There is an ever growing presence of the international community in Haiti. The airlines and ports are beginning to function again. Supplies and basic necessities will start flowing again soon. Furthermore, PMH has the benefit of a friendly local police department and a secure campus. These are good signs and we are thankful.
In addition, we feel strongly about supporting Pastor Charles, Leon, and Octavius, their families, the orphans at PMH, the medical team, and the survivors of this devastating earthquake. We cannot abandon them. We must do what we can to re-supply them, to send in more medical teams, and to send in other PMH friends to encourage them and relieve them of their heavy burdens.
One might say that Haiti is never particularly safe. It is Haiti. But we love the people there, and we see no compelling, seriously life-threatening reasons to stay away. So, lets press on together with the courage God supplies us.
In the Lord,
Scott Clark
Secretary of the PMH Board
Missions Committee member of WRPC
864-335-9640 (home)
864-483-1512 (cell)
tscottclark2000@yahoo.com
www.presbyterianmissioninhaiti.org
www.woodruffroad.com
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. --Ephesians 6:10
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Are you ready for some...thing more than football?
If you're a football fan at all, you know the theme song of Monday Night Football that Hank William, Jr sings...Are you ready for some football?!! I'm a football fan...love it as a matter of fact. But there are lots of things we should be longing for and preparing for ahead of some football...like the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
We are celebrating the sacrament of Communion this week in church. We have, on our web site, a tab you can click that takes you from the Home page to Resource...one of the Resources we offer are Communion questions. Unfortunately, very few know that we offer these questions, so I thought I'd offer them on my blog today...
First, take time in advance to prepare by reading 1 Corinthians 10:16-17: What are some things we need to prepare for? “Is my heart prepared as far as faith in the promises related to the sacrament? Am I really understanding that Christ is offered to me—His body, His blood, His life—that my organic union is strengthened through the sacrament? Am I prepared to believe that as I eat and as I drink? Am I acknowledging my need for the life of Christ to flow into me in deeper measure? Am I guilty of not preparing adequately for the sacrament?” Do I come to the Table believing I participate in the Supernatural? After all, if, as we learn in 1 Corinthians 11:29-30, coming in an unbelieving, unrepentant manner to the Table can cause sickness or worse, how much more are we to expect that if we come humbly, confessing our need and believing in God's goodness shall we we expect supernatural help for life and Spirit-empowered transformation?!
Second category of questions: “Am I believing the Gospel promises and living in light of them daily?” In other words, “Am I truly understanding the wonder of my justification? Do I really have an illumined heart that understands what it means to be treated just as if I’d never sinned, and just as if I’d done everything right? The promise of the life of Christ is offered in the sacrament to enliven that grace and to illumine my mind and heart to that doctrine. Am I believing that through union with Christ, I’m dead to sin, but alive to righteousness?” Another way to look at it, “Where am I living in self-reliance? Where am I using the sacrament as an opportunity for self-reformation rather than trusting the life of Christ to transform me?”
Third group of questions: “Am I ready to receive the life of Christ specifically, according to particular needs in my life?” In other words, “Where do I perceive in my life the beginning of hardness of heart? What areas of a sin am I giving in to more and more, and not really that repentant over? That is where I need the life of Christ to be strengthened in me. Where do I perceive that I’m sorely tempted, that I’m particularly tempted, and I need the life and blood of Christ to enliven me against that temptation? Where is my repentance shallow? Where am I sorry because I feel guilty and not sorry because I offended God’s holiness? Where am I not truly hating and despising my sinfulness?”
Fourth category: “What particular sins have I committed this past week that need repenting of? What sins of omission? What have I not done that I was supposed to do? What sins of commission? What have I done that I wasn’t supposed to do? What needs to be repented of that needs the life of Christ to transform me over? What idols are thee in my life that I’m trying to suck life and joy from, rather than getting life from the life of Christ Himself?”
Fifth category: With respect to the communion of the saints, “Am I living in light of my communion with others? See, if I’m organically united with Christ, and you’re organically united with Christ, then we’re united to each other. Am I living in light of that? Am I deeply concerned for the spiritual well being of Christians around me? Am I willing to forgive those Christians who have wronged me in any way? Am I concerned for those yet to be converted, that they would become converted? Looking at the Supper as an installment of the final supper, am I desiring the return of Christ, or am I too at home in this life?
Then lastly, am I willing to rest in the work of Christ, in the work of the Holy Spirit, even if I don’t experience anything? Am I willing to wait on the experience of the power of Christ, even though I may not feel it?”
One of the great tragedies of the contemporary church is that we have a tendency to de-supernaturalize the Christian life. We tend to deny the power of the Risen Christ in our midst when Paul reminds us clearly in 1 Corinthians 5:4, that as we assemble in the Name of the Lord Jesus that the Power of our Lord Jesus is present! Christ is spiritually and supernaturally present with the Church, especially in the Sacrament of Communion...are you ready?!
We are celebrating the sacrament of Communion this week in church. We have, on our web site, a tab you can click that takes you from the Home page to Resource...one of the Resources we offer are Communion questions. Unfortunately, very few know that we offer these questions, so I thought I'd offer them on my blog today...
First, take time in advance to prepare by reading 1 Corinthians 10:16-17: What are some things we need to prepare for? “Is my heart prepared as far as faith in the promises related to the sacrament? Am I really understanding that Christ is offered to me—His body, His blood, His life—that my organic union is strengthened through the sacrament? Am I prepared to believe that as I eat and as I drink? Am I acknowledging my need for the life of Christ to flow into me in deeper measure? Am I guilty of not preparing adequately for the sacrament?” Do I come to the Table believing I participate in the Supernatural? After all, if, as we learn in 1 Corinthians 11:29-30, coming in an unbelieving, unrepentant manner to the Table can cause sickness or worse, how much more are we to expect that if we come humbly, confessing our need and believing in God's goodness shall we we expect supernatural help for life and Spirit-empowered transformation?!
Second category of questions: “Am I believing the Gospel promises and living in light of them daily?” In other words, “Am I truly understanding the wonder of my justification? Do I really have an illumined heart that understands what it means to be treated just as if I’d never sinned, and just as if I’d done everything right? The promise of the life of Christ is offered in the sacrament to enliven that grace and to illumine my mind and heart to that doctrine. Am I believing that through union with Christ, I’m dead to sin, but alive to righteousness?” Another way to look at it, “Where am I living in self-reliance? Where am I using the sacrament as an opportunity for self-reformation rather than trusting the life of Christ to transform me?”
Third group of questions: “Am I ready to receive the life of Christ specifically, according to particular needs in my life?” In other words, “Where do I perceive in my life the beginning of hardness of heart? What areas of a sin am I giving in to more and more, and not really that repentant over? That is where I need the life of Christ to be strengthened in me. Where do I perceive that I’m sorely tempted, that I’m particularly tempted, and I need the life and blood of Christ to enliven me against that temptation? Where is my repentance shallow? Where am I sorry because I feel guilty and not sorry because I offended God’s holiness? Where am I not truly hating and despising my sinfulness?”
Fourth category: “What particular sins have I committed this past week that need repenting of? What sins of omission? What have I not done that I was supposed to do? What sins of commission? What have I done that I wasn’t supposed to do? What needs to be repented of that needs the life of Christ to transform me over? What idols are thee in my life that I’m trying to suck life and joy from, rather than getting life from the life of Christ Himself?”
Fifth category: With respect to the communion of the saints, “Am I living in light of my communion with others? See, if I’m organically united with Christ, and you’re organically united with Christ, then we’re united to each other. Am I living in light of that? Am I deeply concerned for the spiritual well being of Christians around me? Am I willing to forgive those Christians who have wronged me in any way? Am I concerned for those yet to be converted, that they would become converted? Looking at the Supper as an installment of the final supper, am I desiring the return of Christ, or am I too at home in this life?
Then lastly, am I willing to rest in the work of Christ, in the work of the Holy Spirit, even if I don’t experience anything? Am I willing to wait on the experience of the power of Christ, even though I may not feel it?”
One of the great tragedies of the contemporary church is that we have a tendency to de-supernaturalize the Christian life. We tend to deny the power of the Risen Christ in our midst when Paul reminds us clearly in 1 Corinthians 5:4, that as we assemble in the Name of the Lord Jesus that the Power of our Lord Jesus is present! Christ is spiritually and supernaturally present with the Church, especially in the Sacrament of Communion...are you ready?!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Henri Nouwen and the Mission of Oak Mountain
I posted a link of an article by Henri Nouwen the other day entitled “Moving from Solitude to Community to Ministry.” It is a fantastic article…but it was also very encouraging to me with regard to the ministry of our church.
Read the article by clicking here.
Our Mission Statement reads as follows: “To glorify Jesus Christ by equipping every member to:
Seek Grace from God
Share Grace in Community
Show Grace to All.
What excited me is that our Mission Statement and Nouwen’s article fit “hand-in-glove!” Seeking Grace from God involves us seeking transforming grace from God through public and private worship…and parallels Nouwen’s emphasis on hearing the Father’s rejoicing over us (Zeph 3:17) through Solitude. Before we will move out in strength and love toward others, we need to be confident that we are loved and cared for—that we are NOT orphans! Apart from this element of “Seeking Grace from God” we will be trying to prove ourselves worthy or giving in to the lies of the world, the flesh and the devil that we don’t have what it takes to move out in strength and love toward others.
Sharing Grace in Community is parallel to Nouwen’s emphasis on Community where we experience “forgiveness and celebration.” Community is the place where the truth of God’s love for us and the hope of His transforming grace in us is spoken to us with strength. The Christian life involves solitude and Seeking Grace from God, but the Christian life, contrary to much popular opinion is NOT primarily about “privatized spirituality!” In the context of community we are affirmed as children of God, created by Him and re-created in Christ to represent and reflect God to others. The Community of the Church is where we experience the tangible expressions of the Father’s love…we are healed and restored to wholeness in the context of community.
Finally, as we experience the Father’s love through Solitude and Seeking Grace from God in public and private worship; and as we experience restoration through Community (and also contribute to other peoples’ restoration), it leads us outside ourselves in ever greater measure and we are propelled into ministry. In order for us to engage in ministry, we are called to exercise a radical trust in God, that He will, by the Holy Spirit, powerfully minister to others through our feeble attempts at service. We are to “weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice.” We are not to give in to the lies that we don’t have what it takes to bring restoration and wholeness to others…rather we are to believe that God can use “cracked pots” (or “crackpots”…whichever you prefer), to transform lives.
I’m so thankful that God has affirmed our Mission Statement through such a fantastic article. Let’s trust God for the grace to go from theory to implementation!
Read the article by clicking here.
Our Mission Statement reads as follows: “To glorify Jesus Christ by equipping every member to:
Seek Grace from God
Share Grace in Community
Show Grace to All.
What excited me is that our Mission Statement and Nouwen’s article fit “hand-in-glove!” Seeking Grace from God involves us seeking transforming grace from God through public and private worship…and parallels Nouwen’s emphasis on hearing the Father’s rejoicing over us (Zeph 3:17) through Solitude. Before we will move out in strength and love toward others, we need to be confident that we are loved and cared for—that we are NOT orphans! Apart from this element of “Seeking Grace from God” we will be trying to prove ourselves worthy or giving in to the lies of the world, the flesh and the devil that we don’t have what it takes to move out in strength and love toward others.
Sharing Grace in Community is parallel to Nouwen’s emphasis on Community where we experience “forgiveness and celebration.” Community is the place where the truth of God’s love for us and the hope of His transforming grace in us is spoken to us with strength. The Christian life involves solitude and Seeking Grace from God, but the Christian life, contrary to much popular opinion is NOT primarily about “privatized spirituality!” In the context of community we are affirmed as children of God, created by Him and re-created in Christ to represent and reflect God to others. The Community of the Church is where we experience the tangible expressions of the Father’s love…we are healed and restored to wholeness in the context of community.
Finally, as we experience the Father’s love through Solitude and Seeking Grace from God in public and private worship; and as we experience restoration through Community (and also contribute to other peoples’ restoration), it leads us outside ourselves in ever greater measure and we are propelled into ministry. In order for us to engage in ministry, we are called to exercise a radical trust in God, that He will, by the Holy Spirit, powerfully minister to others through our feeble attempts at service. We are to “weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice.” We are not to give in to the lies that we don’t have what it takes to bring restoration and wholeness to others…rather we are to believe that God can use “cracked pots” (or “crackpots”…whichever you prefer), to transform lives.
I’m so thankful that God has affirmed our Mission Statement through such a fantastic article. Let’s trust God for the grace to go from theory to implementation!
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