Bitterness

I think Francis Frangipane is an outstanding teacher. I found another good article by him, addressing bitterness:

How is it that bitterness can exist in us? Bitterness is a demonic manipulation of a wound or injustice we suffer in our soul. Jesus, however, said that the only way to save our souls is to lose them to Him (John 12:25). Beloved, I am telling you how I have passed through some of the most difficult battles I faced: I carried the cross.

I believe that my steps are ordered of God. Therefore, if I have faced an injustice, He must have either allowed it or ordered it. In His great omniscience, He knew I would need more love or faith or dependency upon Him, so He arranged my steps so He could work in me His overcoming nature. My battles are not about me and someone else, or even me coming against the devil; ultimately, in every conflict, God is seeking to create Christlikeness in me. As the character, authority and love of Christ become functional in my life, my enemies are subdued and Christ is triumphant through me.

We must, therefore, get over the idea that there is a painless place of existence on earth, and we must learn how to carry the cross of Christ. The cross puts to death our unbelieving, fearful, selfish nature and allows the character of Christ to emerge in our spirits. The cross is the cost we pay so that redemption prevails.

Read the entire article here.

Paul Hiebert not well

I read on the TallSkinnyKiwi's blog that Paul Hiebert's health is not well. This is sober to hear; Caryn and I were in his Cultural Antropology class at Fuller Seminary in the summer of 1986. It was outstanding. I still offer counsel to ministry leaders based upon what we learned in his class, especially the realities of bi- or multi-cultural worldviews that missionaries (and their children) have to live with. We used his book Anthropological Insights for Missionaries, which we still have in the Burnett library. There are stages to multi-cultural adaptation, just like there are stages to other emotional charges in life (e.g. grief). Pray for Paul, that he finish his race well.

What kind of joy is this?

When our family left the 8-to-5 work world in the early 90s to follow God's leading into missions there was a Steven Curtis Chapman song that became kind of a theme song to me when I got weary of the struggle, which at times is in the world or in the church at large or in my mind. I always thought this whole album For The Sake of the Call (An album? hey, early 90s, remember?) was a word in season to what God was releasing on the earth in those days, it was remarkably deep and to me was marked by the Lord to encourage the Body of Christ to step out in faith when God was leading us "out of the boat". Here we are, 12 years after our first whole-city evangelization effort, and God is saying again: "Believe Me. Follow Me."

Three years ago I had a significant dream where I found myself sitting in a boat. It was a small, 2-person kind of rowboat/dinghy. (FYI: The details in this experience were so crystal-stinkin-clear that it was breath taking.) As the dream began, I was looking down at the boat. I realized someOne was in the boat with me, and when I looked up I found Jesus sitting there. He was facing me, smiling at me. I immediately had an inner reaction of a near heart attack - I wanted to fall on my face but there wasn't enough room in the boat. I also could not take my eyes off of Him, I could not look away. He was very happy, in an obvious kind of way. He radiated joy; I felt like He considered me a friend. As I watch Him, Jesus made a very simple gesture and command. He said: "Let your net down here." He took His hand and pointed down to His right, outside of the boat over the water. The instant He said the word 'here' I immediately woke up. In my inner man it has fueled many hours of prayer in these 3 years: where, Lord? How? With whom? I have understood that without night and day prayer such initiatives will be largely impotent, however sincere and well-funded they are. We need Jesus's promise of SPEEDY JUSTICE, which He offers in Luke chapter 18 to a people praying night and day. SPEEDY JUSTICE: God asserting the reality of the resurrection of His Son as the Body of Christ advances with faith and hope and love among the lost.

Back to the song: I see the 12 simple fishermen and tax collectors and the like leaving everything when Jesus said: "Come, follow Me." There are many volunteers who offer to drop their nets. But there are also those who really don't have a choice. Let the reader understand: Jesus reserves the right to require everything of those who call upon His Name. Paul's commendation to the Corinthian church in 2 Cor. chapter 11 included this resume:

24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

And now, the lyrics to Steven Curtis Chapman's song, What Kind of Joy is This?:


Anybody in their right mind
Would've given up their preaching and headed for home
They've been warned a hundred times
But something inside them keeps giving them hope
And just when you think they'd be crying
Instead of the tears, there's joy in their eyes

CHORUS
What kind of joy is this
That counts it a blessing to suffer?
What kind of joy is this
That gives the prisoner his song?
What kind of joy could stare death in the face
And see it as sweet victory?
This is the joy of a soul that's forgiven and free

Anybody else with his pain
Would want to shake their fist at heaven
And give up the fight
'Cause trouble had been Paul's middle name
Ever since he'd been captured by God's blinding light
But just when his hope should be dying
If you listen you'll hear him singing a song

CHORUS

What kind of joy is this
The Father has promised his children?
What kind of joy is this
That Jesus has come to reveal?
What kind of joy could give hope in this world
To someone just like you and me?
This is the joy of a soul that's forgiven and free
I've found this joy for my soul is forgiven and free

Voice of the Martyrs

VOM News and Prayer Update: February 20, 2007

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'"(Romans 1:16-17)

ERITREA
Pastor Arrested – VOM Sources
Pastor Habtom Tesfamikael, one of the last remaining free Christian leaders in Eritrea, was recently arrested and imprisoned. He was a pastor of one of the largest Pentecostal churches in Eritrea, the Asmara Full Gospel Church. Pastor Habtom is married and has been serving the Lord for more than 30 years. Pray God will protect Pastor Habtom while in prison and comfort his wife. Ask God to use his experience to bring others to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Romans 12:14, 21

CHINA
House-Church Leader and Elderly Mother Formally Charged/Pray for Pastor Fenggang – China Aid Association

• On February 8, Beijing house-church leader Hua Huiqi was formally arrested by Beijing Public Security Bureau Chaoyang Branch and his 76-year-old mother was arrested for the second time by Beijing Security Bureau Chongwen Branch. In January, Hua Huiqi and his elderly mother were attacked and wounded by seven police officers while walking near a 2008 Olympic hotel site in Beijing, China. His family later learned he was sentenced to one month of criminal detention. Pray God protects Hua and touches the body of his ill mother. Pray the Holy Spirit encourages and comforts their family. Hebrews 10:23
• Pastor Liu Fenggang, who was recently released from prison, is in the hospital with heart problems. Pray God heals his body and comforts his family. Isaiah 53: 4, 5

LAOS
Muslim Mob Attack House Church – VOM Sources

• In Southern Laos, two Christian men have been taken from their farms and put in prison. No charges have been filed and no news is forthcoming about their current situation. Pray God protects and encourages these men and their families in this difficult time.
• In North Central Laos, on January 18, five police officers showed up at a Christian brother's home and arrested him. VOM sources have known him and his family for 20 years. His wife and 12-year-old son did not get an opportunity to speak to him before he was taken away. All efforts to locate him or allow his wife to know where he is being detained have been unsuccessful. According to VOM contacts, in several similar incidents, the people taken by police were never found alive. Pray for this family, that has led more than 500 people to Christ in the past two years. Ask God to protect this brother and comfort his wife and child. Psalm 119: 49-56

UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan Authorities Admit Arrest of Protestant Pastor – Compass Direct News
Uzbekistan's religious authorities admitted for the first time this week that an Uzbek pastor was arrested last month in the Eastern city of Andijan and now faces criminal charges. Dmitry Shestakov was arrested in a raid on his registered Full Gospel Church during Sunday worship services on January 21. The pastor was charged with operating an illegal religious organization, inciting religious hatred and distributing materials promoting religious extremism. If convicted on these charges, he faces maximum sentences from five to ten years in prison for each separate offense. Matthew 5: 43-48

Update on the Heritage tower

Article from the weekend Charlotte newspaper:

MorningStar Ministries says it will spend $50 million to renovate the old PTL tower in Fort Mill, S.C., to ready it for apartments and shops.

Rick Joyner, founder of MorningStar, made the announcement Saturday in a meeting with area residents, many of whom had lobbied for the demolition of the tower in recent months.

Read the article here.

Bowling without a harp

Last night we took the internship out bowling. There were about 20 in the crew, what a fun bunch we have. I know prayer changes things, I know it helped me to bowl a 124. The interns did not know it was coming and their expressions when I announced to the class we were all caravaning over to a bowling alley was priceless. Priceless I tell ya!

Congratulations to Gina on the class high score. She snuck up on us all.

Vision that changed a nation

My friend John Hansen has published a book with MorningStar titled The Vision that Changed a Nation: The Legacy of William Tennent. The description is as follows:

The story of William Tennent and his Log College is one of the remarkable stories of both church and American history. Through Tennent's controversial school, sixty colleges and universities were born. Through his school, a great series of spiritual revivals was advanced. However, few understand the price he paid to see all these things come to pass.

This story is one of the great testimonies of how even the smallest seed of vision can grow up to bear unimaginable fruit when coupled with courage and endurance. The lessons here, if learned, can still change the course of families, churches, schools, and nations.

Order the book here.