needfaith

Happy birthday, Kate!

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 05:50:16 GMT

Good morning Kate (and the rest of the world),

Today you are ** years old. As we are now six hours ahead of the rest of your friends and family plus I was up late, I am fairly confident that I was the first to express my birthday greetings to you (Sorry, Jessica!). We had get used to this too: Vse najbolšje.

I have no doubt that you are in a very different place today than you thought you would be ten years ago. Of course, the biggest difference might be geographical (Sorry, Bill and Sue!), but no doubt in so many other areas as well. I want you to know that I am so proud of you. One of the very first memories I have of you is when you ignored me at the junior activity we worked together at the Bill Rice Ranch. I had no hope that you would ever pay attention to me. As I became acquainted with you though (you did finally speak to me), I was so impressed with you.

Yet, looking back on the Katie that I met and fell in love with so many years ago, you are not the same person. You are all of that, and yet so much more. You are still quirky at times (yes, I know that I have no to room to speak), but I don't know what I would do if I didn't have to plug in a toaster everytime I needed toast and kajmak. I'm not sure that I wouldn't even recognize the Katie I first met. You have grown so much as a person and a follower of Christ. I know that I wouldn't know the John of a decade ago–thanks to you!

I am grateful that you have never given up on me, even though I am sure you wanted to sometimes. You were supportive early in our marriage when we went through the ordeal at Cove Creek. You have never (ok, rarely) had a problem sharing your advice and concerns. You really don't know how much I value your thoughts! You are a wonderful and loving mother. Andrew and Elijah are blessed to have a mother that is as caring as attentive as mine was (Thanks Mom for showing me what I should look for in a wife). Kate, you have not quit despite it often being the appealing option–tough nursing jobs, tough church situations, stupid husband decisions and actions, travelling the country with a screaming child and repeatedly being put in difficult circumstances, moving away from everything that you have ever known, and being put into language school.

You have continued to follow Christ. You have continued to love me and the boys. You have continued to appropriately "remind" me (I would say nag, but it's not a bad thing if you are supposed to do it!) of things that I need to do to help our marriage, family, boys, and ministry.

I know that at times (OK, much of the time) I can be a control freak and perfectionist. Thank you for helping me begin to break some of those bad habits. Thank you for being gracious and loving but also for not letting me get away with stuff. I trust you. I value you. And I love you. I didn't marry you, because I was lookign for an assistant or secretary. I didn't marry you, so I would have someone to drag around the world. I married you, because you complete me. Don't allow the expectations of others or yourself ever confuse that. While you are talented in ministry and life (piano playing, singing, children's minsitry, organization, nursing…and the list could go on and on), your value to me, your family, and Christ is not from what you do, but who you are. Find what you want to do, and what the Lord wants you to do, and do it.

As you go to another day of learning Slovene half a world away from where you thought you would be today, know that I couldn't imagine my life without you.

Happy birthday, Kate!

To the fringes…

Fri, 06 Mar 2015 10:37:37 GMT

The thrust of seculariztion is not to destroy religion but to make it irrelevant.^[1] The individual's faith is to be a private matter that has no bearing on public actions. This is a shaky position though. In fact, it is impossible to maintain. Once faith, any faith, is purely private, then the implication is that faith is devoid of objective truth and irrelevant. Religious people then are irrelevant as well, because they cling to something that "society" has deemed passe and untrue.

This played out in a startling at a UCLA student government meeting:

It seemed like routine business for the student council at the University of California, Los Angeles: confirming the nomination of Rachel Beyda, a second-year economics major who wants to be a lawyer someday, to the council’s Judicial Board.

Until it came time for questions.

“Given that you are a Jewish student and very active in the Jewish community,” Fabienne Roth, a member of the Undergraduate Students Association Council, began, looking at Ms. Beyda at the other end of the room, “how do you see yourself being able to maintain an unbiased view?”

For the next 40 minutes, after Ms. Beyda was dispatched from the room, the council tangled in a debate about whether her faith and affiliation with Jewish organizations, including her sorority and Hillel, a popular student group, meant she would be biased in dealing with sensitive governance questions that come before the board, which is the campus equivalent of the Supreme Court.^[2]

Unbelievable.

I found D.A. Carson's book The Intolerance of Tolerance to be quite helpful. ↩︎
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/us/debate-on-a-jewish-student-at-ucla.html?_r=0 ↩︎

Midnight Falling

Sat, 15 Nov 2014 05:19:14 GMT

Life is final. There are no do-overs. There are no mulligans. The consequences are real. The stakes are high. When we are young, we don't realize it. Then over the course of our lives, we experience pain and agony. Life becomes real. We make mistakes that cost real money, real friendships, real relationships. We get betrayed. We love and lose. We mourn grandparents, parents, friends, acquantainces, and others.

Then we begin to understand that we are marching toward death. Everyone we know is. Our children are. Our parents are. We get to a point where we know that before too long we will be the one in the wheelchair struggling to remember our own children.

Some people respond by ignoring reality. They choose not to think about what their own thoughts are screaming. Others embrace the pessism that seems built into us. They will resign all life and dignity to hopelessness.

What is the believer in Christ to do?

We must feel deeply.

Hiding from reality is dishonest. It doesn't help. Every generation that has come before has also passed away. We will be no different. Reality is filled with loss and tragedy and pain. We do ourselves no favors by ignoring it. Even, "Jesus wept."

Rather, we must mourn the fleeting days. We must hate the relentless march of Alzheimer's. We despise the blitzkrieg of heart disease. We abhor the cankor of cancer. We view it as the evil enemy that it is.

We do not go silently into the night of death. We hate it, and we fight, because we were made to live. We were made to love. We were made to live in relationships with others. And we will not give up easily.

We must look to Him.

To face our circumstances honestly is honorable. Yet it is also hopeless. I will fight against death. I will fight to live. But I will lose one day. So will you. So will every single person that you have ever known on the face of the earth. We can embrace life (and we should), but we will be in the same plight as the secular individual who also embraces life.

Let us then not just embrace life. Let us embrace the Life---the one who gives life. The One who has promised to defeat death and has already done so.

We need Someone outside of our circumstances.

We need Jesus.

Francis Schaeffer on Heresy and Separation

Thu, 09 Oct 2014 15:31:05 GMT

This, I believe, was spoken at the Berlin Congress:

Let us never forget that we who stand in the historic stream of Christianity really believe that false doctrine, at those critical points where false doctrine is heresy, is not a small thing. If we do not make clear by word and practice our position for truth as truth and against false doctrine, we are building a wall between the next generation and the gospel. And twenty years from now, men will point their finger back at us and say of us, this is the result of the flow of history.

Dark days ahead

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 22:02:38 GMT

Brendan Eich, the CEO of Mozilla–the people who develop the web browser Firefox, was forced to step down today. What did he do? Well, he advocated traditional marriage and gave money to organizations that pushed it in recent California referendums. I don't know his background or spiritual beliefs, but I do know that he paid a high price for sticking with his convictions.

Make no mistake, those holding the position that marriage can only be between one man and one woman are on the outs. We are not only in the minority, but we are becoming a pariah. We will not be tolerated.

What does this mean for us? I don't know, but we must believe the Bible and follow Jesus regardless of the cost.

Update (2014-04-03 6:11pm): I have to include this thought from Andrew Sullivan, a noted writer who is himself homosexual:

If we are about intimidating the free speech of others, we are no better than the anti-gay bullies who came before us.

Sullivan's whole article.

Free doesn't always mean free

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 16:16:38 GMT

Watch this seven minute video explaining the situation that a Christian florist in Washington has found herself in after refusing to provide flowers to a same-sex "marriage" ceremony.

She doesn't not seem to be uncharitable or ungracious–merely principled. I appreciated her attitude and view on the situation.

As gospel-believeing and Bible-believing Christianity becomes a disdained minority, we must learn the proper way to function. It will not be through fighting, anger, and harsh words. By the way, it won't be through compromise either.

The Barronelle Stutzman Story

View original embedded media

Update (2014-03-13 - 12:35 PM): Yikes, I forgot to include my sources. The video was linked to by Denny Burk.

Same-sex Marriage, Young People, and Leaving the Church

Thu, 06 Mar 2014 16:27:28 GMT

Letters from ex-evangelical, ex-fundamentalists, ex-whatever-is-traditional are always popular. In light of the changing culture on marriage, a particularly interesting one was posted on The American Conservative last week. The letter writer begins with a fair statement that sets the tone for the rest of the piece:

My leaving was much more about what the gay rights issues revealed about that faith than it was about the actual issue of gays and their right to marry.

The author then paints a fair representation of a generic, mainstream, Gospel believing church. It was not filled with bitterness like so many other accounts. But that doesn't mean that it was accurate. The writer reveals his opinion about his childhood church with this line:

Instead of an intellectual tradition, it is a church built on emotion. Every sermon is a revival stump speech about the evils of the world and the need for salvation.

I know what some of you are thinking. My church doesn't overemphasize emotion. He couldn't be talking about us. Well, he is. The author goes on clearly to lambast preaching the Bible without the context of 2000 years of church history. He wanted historical theology. He doesn't care how expositional you or your pastor is. He wants more. He wants Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, Pope John Paul II, Bavnick, Kuyper, and Barth.

Next time, we will think about what his church could have done differently in reaching. Then we will look at his comments regarding homosexuality and young people. He has a unique perspective that we must consider. Some accurate; some inaccurate. Before then though, we have to come to terms with this 'ex'-Christian.

Biblical Standard

Let's not mess around here. There are lessons to be learned from the writer's situation, but the Bible is clear here:

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
-1 John 2:19

This isn't an issue of backsliding and returning to the Lord later. This individual has repudiated the Gospel and the Word of God. We will see next time that maybe the writer could have been reached with Gospel in a more effective way than their church tried, but don't forget, they needed and still need to be saved. Leaving gospel-believing churches and embracing a modern worldview shouldn't be surprising when they never were saved to begin with.

Too often we have let those who don't believe the Bible set the agenda for the conversation. The Bible reveals how the world really is. The Bible sets the framework. We let those who reject the grace of God and reject Jesus tell us what is wrong with the truth that God has revealed.

The problem is not that the Bible makes an exclusive claim regarding Jesus being the only way to God. The problem is not that the Bible does not endorse a multiple choice approach to interpretation (though to be fair, some passages are harder than others). The problem is not that the Bible is antiquated and out of touch with modern society.

It has always been out of touch with human society, because we are the problem.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
-Jeremiah 17:9

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
-Romans 3:10-12

Are you from around here?

Tue, 04 Mar 2014 16:55:12 GMT

Churches are communities. At least, they are supposed to be. Every community has a something that ties the members together. In a neighborhood, it is geographical location. Before the internet, that was just about the prerequisite to every community. Relationships could traverse distances through phone calls or letters, but those relationships were always 1-to-1, not a group. The internet has changed this somewhat. Now no matter how obscure your interest you can find people somewhere in the world that share it.

The church is a local community. To be clear, each church is an individual community. Yes, churches of like faith ought cooperate in the work of the ministry. Yes, one day there will be but one church as we are all gathered together in the presence of the Lord (Hebrews 12:22-23). Until that day, our focus is centered on our local congregation.

I fear that we often confuse what draws us together in a church as a community of believers. It ought be Jesus Christ. Yet too often we allow other issues and interests to rise to such a level that we raise the bar of entry. This plays itself out in a hundred different ways from "politely" ignoring to outright disrespect those who don't fit the mold. The country bumpkin may be ostracized for being backwards in an upscale urban or suburban congregation, while city slicker is mocked in the rural church. North and South. Rich and poor. Ethnicity. Education. The list can go on and on.

Christ must be the central focus of our life and our church life. We can have hobbies and interests, but they must pale in comparison to him. We must be willing to be uncomfortable to reach those that need Christ. We must be willing to step out of our comfort zone to help those grow who love Jesus but are different than us.

Tomorrow: how has this cost our churches many of our young people as we live in an increasingly hostile world.

They speak better than they know…

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 14:36:48 GMT

Denny Burk made some excellent points about the situation at the Grammys. What I appreciated most about his approach is that he did not just deal with the surface shock value. That's obvious. Burk centers on the one point that Macklemore got right:

What struck me about the performance, however, was not what Macklemore got wrong but the one thing that he got ironically right. In one line from “same love,” Macklemore says this:

Whatever god you believe in
We come from the same one

This statement is profoundly true, although Macklemore is probably not aware of its true implication. We all really do come from one creator God.

He drives it home in his concluding paragraph:

In the wake of the Grammys, the big question is not what you thought of Macklemore. The big question is which God you will believe in. The false god of “same love,” or the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ? Which one will you choose?

Macklemore acknowledged a fundamental principle that flies in the face of what modern relativism holds. Belief does not change reality. Sincerity is not enough.

Read the whole thing here.

The Pale Blue Dot | Link from HeadHeartHand Blog

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Earth from Space

David Murray writes a short post linking to an incredible video:

For me, the high point of the video occurs around 2.55 where Sagan seems to experience and express Psalm 8 humility: “It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world.”

However, I was especially stunned by his desperate words around the 2.20 mark: ”In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.”

I've rarely read or heard anything more poignant than Sagan's words. The famous astronomer, astrophysicist, and cosmologist understood so well communicated our insignificance in the grand scheme of the universe. Yet, God created man in His image and, though marred by the fall, we all bear that image including Carl Sagan. Sagan knows that there must be purpose. He begs for us to lead lives of significance and concern for one another.

But without a Creator, Redeemer, Savior, his pleas have no foundation. A man of extreme science makes a leap to moralism that has no underpinnings without the God of the Bible. The world needs Jesus. The world cries out for Jesus. Our lives as Christian must be dedicated to telling all we can about Him whom they hope exist. They need to know that He does.

Life hurts - Part 3

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Jesus maintained the tension of present pain and future glory without falling into our trite sayings (see last post). It is humbling to read how Christ approached life. We all err when it comes to the balance between truth and love. My natural state is to emphasize truth and come across as heartless or dispassionate. Others exhibit so much heart that they seem to disregard all truth. Christ did neither.

Jesus, the Word, was and is love. Notice John's phrasing in I John 4:8:

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Again in verse 16 of the same chapter:

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

He does not say that God is loving. He is love. I have not done a thorough study of this yet, but this distinction is significant. The only other case of this usage that I have found is uniquely connected. Christ, the friend of sinners, pulled no punches when it came to truth. He maintained the tension which makes sense considering that the Spirit of God is truth (I John 5:6) and is also the Spirit of Christ. (I Pet. 1:11 and Rom. 8:9)(See #1.)

Jesus not only maintained the tension between truth and love, but He demonstrated the cost of sin in His preaching (and of course supremely on the cross), while reminding us of a brighter day when all things would be made new. It is this unchecked honesty that is so beautiful. He never belittles one who is suffering. He does not cast aside the downtrodden. Nor does He excuse sin. He does not assume a pleasantly perfect Christian life, but He presents one that is difficult, costly, and often filled with pain. Yet He promises to not only be with us in the dark nights, but because of what He did so many years ago, He is going to fix everything.

We must be just as honest about the world and the truth about life as Jesus was.

See part one.
See part two.

I did not include John 14:6, because Christ is speaking about His role and relationship between us and the Father, not His eternal and unchanging nature.

Life hurts - Part 2

Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Most of us fall into a routine of using trite sayings to answer difficult situations. They are often true--at least partly so--, but we miss the pathos of life in recycling something we saw in a church bulletin or heard a special speaker say. We should not be afraid to weep with those who weep. Feel the deep pain and brokenness that has entered the world through sin. Christ was not afraid to when He wept at Lazarus' graveside. He showed a visceral, yet not carnal anger at the high cost of sin and the despair of unbelief.(see #1 below)

It is in that honest acknowledgement of pain that the glory of the Gospel then breaks through as sunrise. Jesus did not die just to get me out of hell–while that is wonderful. His sacrifice was to fix everything. His death, burial, and resurrection secure not just a home in heaven but meaning. The hurt that I go through is not for nothing. Christ will use it for my good and His glory. And He will fix it.

See part one.

John 11 relates the circumstances of Lazarus' death and resurrection. The word groaned directly relates to anger in its 1st century use. I plan some day to look at that passage in more detail.

Already Decided | Link from challies.com

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

This is a brilliant piece that recognizes that life is more complicated than we generally think. We make more excuses for sin than we realize. We compartmentalize our failings into an explainable category while we attack others for the morally equivalent failing.

Read the whole post here, but I couldn't help but post Tim Challies' conclusion:

The second glance logic assumes that we are going through life in a morally-neutral or morally-upright posture so that there is really no connection between the first glance and the second. The reality is, though, that the second glance has often already been decided long before the first.

Life hurts - Part 1

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Life hurts. Yet we try to deny this fact. Not outright denials, but in hushed undertones. Christian art often is rightly panned for being cloy or trite. It is all too commonly a sickeningly sweet look at life the way it never was. We use cute clichés, or even look at someone suffering, and much like the 1st century Jewish culture, wonder what on earth did they do to deserve all that. The secular world is no better. Secular art regularly exceeds all bounds of decency. It looks for answers in all the wrong places. It asks the wrong questions. And often, it just avoids the tough questions that undermine its own position. We can either live in the absurd (we'll look at that in a later post), or we can peer at the world through the Christian worldview that alone can make sense of the suffering and grant hope.

The secular world sees pain. There is no doubt about that. It is a part of the human condition. Politics, art, literature, and popular media all try to answer two questions:

The why--why does it exist?
The how--how do we stop or alleviate it?

In government, those on the left attribute our problems to too little government and too many abuses by the privileged. Those of the right see that there is too much government and not enough freedom for the individual in general and the entrepreneur specifically. Who is right? While I assuredly lean one direction, both misread society. The liberal progressive sees people as children needing a strong state to protect and direct. The libertarian conservative eyes government with deep suspicion and trusts people with responsibility. Both fail to take into account the Christian concepts of individual liberty, total depravity, and common grace.

Streaking Meteors and Faithful Stars

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

I thought this was good and encouraging. First, I didn't know Jim Elliot had a brother. Second, this is a great look at being consistent and letting God handle the results. I thought the conclusion was great:

In the kingdom of God, there is a great need for streaking meteors, but most of us won’t be that. We will instead be faint stars—husbands and fathers, wives and mothers. We will be accountants and teachers, business people, and students. We will go through life, day after day, doing very much the same thing tomorrow that we did today.

The important thing for us to remember is that we are needed. There is a great need for people willing to chase the little donkeys of life, not because it’s exciting but because they believe in the constant presence and purpose of God. There is a great need for people willing to stand in the midst of the boring, convinced that there is no such thing as ordinary when you follow an extraordinary God.

Rise and stand. Then tomorrow, do it again.

Read the whole interview here.

People are people

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

I appreciated seeing two different missionaries write about how they have found people in drastically different cultures to simply be people. Here are two excerpts though both pieces are worth reading.

Jake has been in China for over six years and plans on being there a lot longer. He has learned the language, started churches, and trained pastors from scratch. He concludes his take on East v. West culture clashes with this:

For missionaries, remember that for the most part, people are people are people. You will get much further with cultural adaptation if you assume that Chinese people are mostly like Westerners. Treat them with the same respect and humility you’re used to exercising in your own culture. Focusing on the differences between the cultures is like trying to build a bridge at the widest part of a canyon. It’s very impressive when done well, but it’s the hardest way to accomplish the task. Much wiser to focus on the incredible degree of overlap between two cultures.

Lori Bassham is the wife of a good friend of mine (Phil Bassham). They are just getting settled in Bangkok, Thailand. The Basshams moved in April 2013 and are currently in language school. Lori wisely contends in her post that attitude is everything and not living in America is not awful. She did briefly touch on the theme of people being people:

Thai people aren’t weird. They are people and people are largely the same no matter where you go. I have not found anyone here any more difficult to understand or get along with than anyone in the States! It’s hard for me to hear people talk about Thai people as if for some wacky reason they are impossible to understand. I love these people! The more I get to know them, the more I am blessed.

No one is denying that there are significant differences in cultures. Neither of these missionaries—the veteran or the neophyte—are saying that learning the language and culture are unimportant. Both view it as critical. What they are saying is that humility and thoughtfulness can go a lot farther than most people think.

Maybe we should be practicing this in America too. God has not called you to reach Democrats as a conservative Republican but as a Christian. The country bumpkin may have to give a little to reach the urbanite. And the urbanite that God has called to the middle of nowhere may--no, will--have to adapt. But people are people. Treat them like they are.

Art, Nakedness, and Redemption

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

This is a good look at a disturbing trend within the broader Christian world. William VanDoodewaard carefully examines the New Testament context as well. Thankfully, unlike many others, he uses good, biblical sense. Here's his conclusion:

To reject nudity in art and film is no denial of artistic ability, nor of created beauty. It is a realistic, careful, humble acknowledgment of God’s redemptive work in Christ and His precepts for a grace transformed, holy, happy life in a fallen world. This includes the need for covering nakedness. Real redemptive activity seeks to preserve and rescue from sin by pointing men and women to Christ and His Word. Knowing this redemption, Paul, by the Holy Spirit, declares:

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality… will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God… you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Here's the entire piece.

Missions Strategy

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 16:00:00 GMT

This is adapted from the ministry information packet we send to churches as we seek support. Since few read this, I wanted to share it on a broader stage. It has been compiled and influenced by numerous men, missionaries, and Bible study. Thank you to all those that have helped me develop this.

To be perfectly honest, it is somewhat difficult to outline a specific strategy until we arrive in Ljubljana and are able to learn about the culture and people. Here are some of the things that we will focus on though.

Language and Culture

Our first year to 18 months will be focused on intensive language learning and adapting to the culture. Slovene is a slavic language that has some unique and difficult aspects. We are looking forward to learning it well, so that we can communicate the gospel well. We will never understand the culture until we know the language. We will develop friendships with Slovene “mentors” to teach us their culture and way of life. Slovenians don’t need us to bring America to them; they need the gospel.

Men

The Balkans have never been a particularly stable region of the world. Slovenia is peaceful, modern, and safe, but there is no guarantee how long that will continue. If we don’t train faithful men (2 Tim. 2:2), then our efforts may be short lived if something would require us to leave the field. Even if we can stay our entire lives, we will die eventually. This is true in a broader sense though in any ministry. If we win and train men to plant churches and train other men, then by multiplying the gospel can be spread in a sustainable fashion.

Targeted

There are three significant groups of people that we must target to reach the country with the gospel– Catholics, Moderns, and Post-Moderns. These three view the world in vastly different ways, and each will require a different approach, but the same gospel is able to save “everyone that believeth!”

City

Ljubljana is the influential city for the entire nation. Costs will be higher ministering in Ljubljana, but it is here that we can reach people who can reach the entire country. There are over 60,000 college students who study there and will spread back over the country when they graduate. Paul followed a model of reaching the influential cities of his time, and we pray that the Lord will allow us to do the same.

Rural Areas

Just because we are targeting Ljubljana–a city of 300,000 and 15% of the entire population–that does not mean that we want to neglect those that live in the villages and towns that dot the irenic countryside. We desire to win and train men who study or work in Ljubljana to reach their hometowns or villages. Seventy-five percent(75%!) of Slovenes live in small towns or villages with less than 5,000 people. Media will also be an avenue of reaching the countryside.

Media

We will take advantage of different forms of media (especially internet because of its availability and low cost) to spread the gospel of Christ in a country that has so little gospel witness. Social media has exploded in Slovenia as it has in much of the world.

Pray with us about the gospel penetrating this unknown corner of the world.

Missions Philosophy

Fri, 27 Sep 2013 16:00:00 GMT

This is adapted from the ministry information packet we send to churches as we seek support. Since few read this, I wanted to share it on a broader stage.

We want to have Bible goals, and our goals directly grow out of our philosophy. Here is a summary of our philosophy and strategy for taking the gospel to Slovenia.

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Power

We need the Lord. Without His power and provision, our labor will be in vain in Slovenia. We must commit ourselves to pray and surrender to Him. This does not diminish the need for hard work. The lives of the apostles are testament to that, but our work is only effective if we are going under Christ’s authority and ability.

Gospel

The gospel changes everything. We will seek to evangelize through the clear preaching of the gospel in Slovenia. We reject any contextualization that changes the propositional or narrative truth of the gospel recorded authoritatively in the Bible. Rather the gospel preached in another culture must identify the deeply seated sins of that culture, confront them, and present Christ as the only solution to our ultimate problem–sin deservedly bringing the wrath of God.

Identification

The heart of baptism is our identification with Christ and His people, the local church. Every person who has been saved ought be baptized and become an identifiable member of the local church. The local church is the Christian’s source of accountability, encouragement, exhortation, and true community. This by necessity leads to our next tenet.

Church Planting

What else can we do but plant churches that must become self- propagating, self-supporting, and self- governing? We may accomplish many other things, but if we have not planted churches and trained men to pastor and plant churches (see the next point), then it is likely that we have failed to do anything to make a lasting impact in Slovenia. God loves churches, Christ gave Himself for the church, and we desire to plant vibrant, soul- winning, church-planting churches in this unchurched land.

Discipleship

Strong churches do not come from strong programs–although they certainly do not hurt. Strong churches spring from strong Christians. Strong Christians are built up one at a time through one-on-one discipleship. Discipleship is not easy, but neither is it optional.

Gospel Centered

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 16:00:00 GMT

This is adapted from the ministry information packet we send to churches as we seek support. Since few read this, I wanted to share it on a broader stage.

Gospel-centered is a buzzword that many are throwing around. Often it is used to deemphasize doctrinal differences. Sometimes it is used to create a libertine environment. This is not what I mean at all. The obvious question is why use a phrase that has some less than stellar baggage attached to it.

Well, we are Gospel-centered people though. Being centered on the Gospel does not lessen our need for holy living---it increases it. Paul makes this point in Romans 6. Just because we are under grace does not mean that we sin more. Rather, Paul speaks of the love of Christ constraining him.

How does this play out for our ministry? The Gospel is not the key just to a person's salvation, and then they must try really hard and follow all the rules. This misconception often results in preaching that is simply moralizing. "Do this. Don't do that." The problem is that "without faith it is impossible to please Him [God]." (Hebrews 11:6) The New Testament presents our continual need of Christ, and our acceptance by God is never found in our works but in Christ's finished work on the Cross.

This does not mean that we do not believe in the preaching of "do this, don't do that". It does mean that this preaching is couched in a completely different set of motivations and presuppositions (see the book of Galatians). Furthermore, the ability to perform is also dependent on God giving us a new heart and His indwelling Spirit as part of the New Covenant. Both are made possible by the Gospel.

The Gospel is the heart of the Bible. It is the culmination. It is not a high spot to be hit early on in our Christian life and then only occasionally revisited. No! It is to be the heart of our Christian life. It is not to be moved past but delved into.

And that is what we pray the Lord will enable us to do.

Bible Preaching

Sat, 21 Sep 2013 16:00:00 GMT

This is adapted from the ministry information packet we send to churches as we seek support. Since few read this, I wanted to share it on a broader stage.

Archived image unavailable: The Bible

Those two words have been burned into my heart by the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and many of my elders. The Bible is a living book, the revealing of God. The Bible is able to quicken and transform unlike anything else. Preaching is how the Bible is delivered to the heart and mind. Any other method, ancient or contemporary, misses this non-negotiable biblical theme—the Gospel is not advice to be followed but an announcement to be received.

Many ministries today build with tools other than Bible preaching. Many attract or entertain. Some criticize or create doubt. Others focus on personality. Yet only the Bible is “the incorruptible seed” which “liveth and abideth forever.” It alone “endureth for ever”, and “this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”(1 Peter 1)

We are committed to the Bible. It is the perfect written revelation of God--it is only bettered by the physical revelation of God in Jesus Christ.(Heb. 1) This does not pit Christ against the Bible as some neo-orthodox and emergents would like to try. Rather, they (Christ and the Bible) are perfectly complementary, and it is through the Scriptures that we know of Christ and know Christ..

We affirm the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture. (II Tim. 3:16, II Pet. 1:21, and many others) By necessity, if God speaks (inspires), then He must do so truthfully. (Ps. 119:160) Therefore, we gladly affirm the complete infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture. Finally, if God speaking through Scripture is the only way we may know of Him in particular, then He must preserve Scripture just as He promised. (Ps. 12:6-7, I Pet. 1:24-25) Therefore, we affirm the preservation of Scripture.

If God has spoken (and He has through Scripture), how then should we convey that to others? Preaching! It is the declaration and exposing of Bible truth. God has chosen it as the means by which people hear the Gospel that can save them. (I Cor. 1:21) The Gospel and Scripture are composed of clear propositional truths. These must be declared.

We is committed to evangelizing the lost, planting churches, and growing people through clear, expositional Bible preaching.

One historical reason figuring European cultures is tricky

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 16:00:00 GMT

1000 thousand years of mayhem…

View original embedded media

Via a tweet from @OperationEurope.

The Bruised Generation

Fri, 13 Sep 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Cary Schmidt wrote a wonderful piece about what many younger people have experienced within conservative Christianity:

But this young man’s experiences were the polar opposite. In his approximate 30 years of life, he has yet to see a healthy church with biblical balance and a Christ-like Spirit of grace.

Sadly, I’ve heard this story FAR too often. It may not be common with you… but it is VERY common. There is a generation of Christians that are discouraged. They are bruised. They’ve been handed a warped, man-centered, skewed version of Christianity—and over time, they became beat-up and discouraged by it. The “bruised generation” loves Jesus and believes His Word, but they’ve been disappointed by fleshly models of spiritual leadership.

He does an incredible job of laying out what many have experienced, and then he turns his attention to providing a way forward. I appreciate his honesty in addressing a difficult situation.

Those of us in ministry now need to examine the situation and begin to determine why were some of those issues so prevalent. If we don't learn the root cause, even though we may despise the abuses of the past, we may be doomed to repeat it.

Mission Impossible

Wed, 04 Sep 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:
Except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Psalm 127:1 (KJV 1900)

How do respond when we discover that the bills are too big, the need is too great, and we have neither the resources nor the abilities to finish the task before us? Quit…sometimes it sounds like a great option, especially when we realize that God has called each of us to the impossible. We do not overestimate the task when we conclude that it is too great for us.

This ought do two things for the believer. First, we must work together. The Lone Ranger has no place in Christian ministry. Preaching the Bible is lonely. Following Jesus means sometimes we grow apart from friends and family who do not. But we must have others around us. To encourage us in the dark times. To call us out on our stupidity. To praise Jesus together.

Second and infinitely more vital, this realization of the impossible must drive us to our knees. If the Lord does not do it--whatever it is--, it is not going to happen. The magnitude of the calling plus our limited resources remind us of our inability and His abundance.

You quoted who?!

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Where I'm at and where I'm going

I've been wanting to write this for a while, but I just haven't. I need to though, so we are all on the same page. I'm Baptist. I'm an independent Baptist.(see #1 below) I'm a classic fundamentalist.(see #2 below) I have arrived here through careful consideration and study. I have thought through my convictions and theology. I am friends with those who have left this movement; I am not. We have our share of issues, but that's why I value being independent. I don't have to answer for the wackos, and I can call them out as such when necessary.

With that being said, I want to address the issue of quotes and influences. Often I have witnessed young fundamentalists quote those from outside of our circle and immediately be derided as being "liberal", "unseparated", or headed down a slippery slope to new evangelicalism. It is because of this prevailing practice that I have hesitated in quoting and posting excerpts from helpful works (too far) outside of our circles. This becomes amplified for a missionary (such as myself) who raises support from dozens of individual churches.

Public discourse must always be measured. We ought think before we speak.(James 1:19) Somethings, while true, are better left unsaid. Yet, there can be a chilling effect when we allow external forces to hinder helpful thinking.

So what can you expect of me?

I will post on Twitter, Facebook, and this site things that I find helpful and true. Scripture is my standard. After Scripture, we should use our reason and common sense.
I will note when I am in partial agreement with a quote or excerpt. Sometimes it is helpful to discuss something that is partially right and partially wrong.
I will have a reasonable mix of those within "my circle" and those without. There are good, helpful, Biblical thinkers in both areas--but you can guess who I will most often agree with.
I will discuss and quote unbelievers when they speak truly. "All truth is God's truth." Because of common grace and being created in the image of God, all people can contribute.

So what I am going to expect of you?

Don't assume anything beyond the quote. I'm not a calvinist, but I may quote one past or present (C.H. Spurgeon, anyone). I'm a Baptist, but I may quote a Presbyterian. I am not endorsing anything beyond what I endorse. The association game is a double-edged sword. Many who disagree with this point are also carrying Scofield Reference Bibles.(see #3 below)
Trust me that I am what I say I am. I am not liberal. I'm not becoming a new evangelical. I have read outside of my circle for over a decade, and if anything, I am a stronger independent Baptist today than ever.
If you have a question, email me, tweet me, or post on my Facebook wall. I am more than happy to talk with people who are reasonable with their concerns. I may not enjoy it, but I will even listen to those who aren't reasonable. But I don't do public comments on this site, because:
1. Only a handful read it.
2. I don't have the time or inclination to be a referee for internet arguments.

I am excited about the days ahead serving Christ. It shouldn't be necessary to spend over 700 words laying all of this out, but I want my position to be clear. Who I am. Where I am going. What I am doing.

The first two questions and answers from Lancaster Baptist Church give a good summary statement of what that means.
While not perfect, this section of the wikipedia article is at least a handy historical primer to fundamentalism. **Spoiler Alert ** It's not a dirty word. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_fundamentalism#Origins
The old one too. See page 3, note 3 for one of many notes on the gap theory. See page 1069, note 1 for one of many references endorsing the Critical Text and textual criticism. I could go on.

Wrong when we think we are right

Sat, 31 Aug 2013 16:00:00 GMT

I told you that you should be reading Jake at gospelinchina.com all the time if you are interested in clear, Biblical thinking on missions. Well, here's another great post not so much on missions, but Christian living and worry. Here's how he starts it off:

There’s some Bible passages that make us really uncomfortable. There are verses that instantly strike conviction deep into our heart. We have done what we ought not and not done what we ought. But then, there’s some other passages that seem to be speaking about an area where we sense we’ve been faithful to obey. In those passages, we graciously find comfort and confirmation.

Unfortunately, there are some times where, due to our misunderstanding of the text, we mistakenly believe that we have been faithful to obey! How dangerous to think yourself a doer of the word because you haven’t even heard! I’m afraid that this has been my case in Matthew 6.

Read the whole thing here.

Something's missing

Thu, 29 Aug 2013 16:00:00 GMT

David Murray has put together a great list of reasons to study your Old Testament. Often times in our Bible study, we miss the forest for the trees. We focus so much on the immediate context (which as a firm adherent to dispensationalism, I appreciate) that we neglect the overarching storyline of the Bible.

Being faithful to the Scriptures takes work--hard work. Let's move beyond using the Old Testament as a Christian Aesop's Fables, and remember that the whole book testifies of Christ. If you have left Jesus out, you've missed the point.

7. The Old Testament makes you appreciate the New Testament more.

For all the Old Testament reveals of Jesus, and of Christian doctrine and experience, we must concede that it also conceals, that there’s a lot of frustrating shadow, that there’s unfulfilled longing and desire, that there’s often something—or rather someone—missing. The more we read it, the more we long for and love the incarnate Christ of the New Testament. The dawn is beautiful, but the sunrise is stunning.

40 maps that explain the world

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Just one of many interesting/convicting maps

Phil Bassham, a friend of mine in Thailand, tweeted a link a few days ago to a fascinating article on the Washington Post. It has 40 maps that "explain the world." While that may be a bit overstated, a crucial part of missions is understanding the world that we live in.

View the maps here.

What I want to be or what I am?

Wed, 21 Aug 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Gender is becoming the watershed issue of our time. We are bending the very concepts of reality to create a "brave new world." According to the prevailing (and growing) logic, you are a male or female, not because you are physically male or female, but because you self-identify as such.

This has begin exhibiting itself in more and more bizarre ways. Denny Burke
linked to a rather disturbing article at the Slate which takes a look at a gender camp for nonconforming boys. It would be worth your time. Be warned. I'm not exaggerating when I say that it is disturbing to anyone holding a view of gender that is anywhere near biblical or traditional.

Our society rebels against God at the most basic level, but "be not deceived. God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap." Romans 1 is clear. Man redefining categories does not change reality, nor does it change the consequences of those redefinitions.

Gender is not a multiple choice question.

Via Denny Burk.

Where have we been?

Wed, 14 Aug 2013 16:00:00 GMT

What a 4.5 hour wait looks like.

It's been a few weeks since I have been able to post. We have been on the road for about five weeks covering thousands of miles, but God has been gracious to us. We have seen more accidents on this trip than most. Here is a quick summary:

A pickup in Wisconsin was engulfed in flames after something in the bed ignited.
A SUV rolled off an overpass and landed upside down on the interstate below just outside of Chicago.
A fifth-wheel RV crossed the grassy median and broke in two somewhere outside of Johnson City, TN.
We missed by 90 minutes a 41 car pile up on I-81 in Virginia. Seven semis were involved. We sat at a standstill for over four and a half hours.

Life is fragile. Live for Him.

It's a small world

Thu, 01 Aug 2013 16:00:00 GMT

America is a country of 300,000,000 people; Slovenia has 2,000,000. I guess I shouldn't be surprised when I see small numbers like in this statistic. Yet, I am.

Slovenians adopted 70 children last year, which is a record number since 1994, according to the latest data from the Statistics Office.

Preachers, don't lie! - Part 2

Wed, 24 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Continuing our theme from yesterday, I want to state up front two things. First, I am not perfect in this regard, but I'm working on it. If you here me preach a sermon, and mess it up, call me out! Second, these are things that all people do and do often. Preaching is to important to be left to chance.

Blanket Statements and Generalizations

We love to use words like all, never, always, etc., but we must consider whether or not they are accurate. Please don't misunderstand me--there are absolutes in the Bible. I have not become a relativist. Yet, we have to make sure that the absolutes we preach are found in the Bible. This then directly leads into our carefulness in understanding the Bible. It does not contradict itself (because it is infallible), and yet there are places where it appears to. If for "good preaching", we use a text to say something that it doesn't mean, someone in the congregation may loose confidence in you (he doesn't know what he is talking about) or Bible (it contradicts itself, they think). Should preaching be good? Absolutely, but never at the expense of faithfulness to the text.

So what do we do?

Prepare carefully- Yes, I realize in some circles that it is actually expected that a preacher doesn't prepare, and "the Lord will give them the sermon at the right time." Yet, it is from that world that I have heard preaching that is sloppy at best and heresy at worst--all from a failure to "study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed." We need to understand the text and how it relates to the rest of the Bible. The latter part is usually what causes our generalizations and absolute statements to be less than accurate.
Think critically - Preparing isn't enough. We have to consciously think through what we plan on preaching. Are there exceptions to our points or statements? If so, do we add qualifications or do rework our point so exceptions aren't necessary. It is better that we are hypercritical on ourselves, so others don't have the warrant to be so.
Consider your listeners - Who is hearing your sermon? Acts makes it clear that Paul understood that different audiences had more common ground with what he was preaching. Generally, we can make more presumptions during services when it's just "the regulars" rather than a mixed congregation. It may be wiser though to always assume that there are atheists, agnostics, and teetering teenagers in every service. Doing so will give our congregations a firm footing in understanding how the whole body of Scripture works together, and it will give them confidence that they can bring a lost or unchurched guest or visitor to any service.
Do you mean it? - If you say never, do you really mean never, never ever? If you preach all, are you forgetting something? Unless you are right, these words will make your arguments less persuasive. Those who disagree with in the congregation will spend their time thinking of counter-examples.

There are no easy answers to avoiding generalizations and blanket statements. Preaching a "cleaner" sermon takes hard work and careful thought. Christ is worthy of that.

I don't do blog post comments. Sorry. That doesn't mean that I don't want to hear from you. Feel free to give feedback by Twitter, Facebook, or email

Preachers, don't lie! - Part 1

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Lately, I've been thinking about telling the truth in preaching. In some ways, I guess that sounds a bit crazy to most believers. But I am afraid that there are three or four areas that we preachers can slip into and undermine the truth of the Bible and our own trustworthiness. Over the next few days, I'm briefly going to look at these "threat vectors" one by one.

Unsourced Stories and Anecdotes

While some do, I have no issue with the use of stories and illustrations as teaching to tools to explain the Scriptures. Doing so follows the rich traditions of those like Jesus, Peter, Paul, and John. But their stories were true. I have heard many illustrations and stories that objectively can be proven to be stretched at best and outright fabrications at worst.

Sermons often are worse than the telephone game that first grade teachers use to show how messages can decay. We repeat what some other preacher repeated from his pastor who heard it from his seminary professor. Without a direct source to work from, these often valuable and powerful illustrations end up bearing no resemblance to reality.

We repeat as fact from the pulpit what we would condemn as gossip on the pew. What can we do to prevent this?

Create a file system - Pastors need some place that they can file source materials for illustrations. Recording illustrations from our personal lives wouldn't be a bad idea either to avoid "misremembering" later on. I use Evernote. You may prefer paper. It really doesn't matter, as long as we can find the sources of what we present to our congregations as truth.
Use some common sense - We hear these great illustrations and too often they sound too good to be true. We should trust our instincts and do some research. I will deal this in more detail later, but repeating urban legends does not help our cause.
Consciously consider your standard - What are you comfortable repeating? Are you comfortable answering to God for the truthfulness and accuracy of your preaching? I have concluded that I am going to step up my standards. I would rather leave a great story out, if it seems like it's not true, rather than violate my conscience.

Check back for the other ways preachers lie and how we can fix it.

I don't do blog post comments. Sorry. That doesn't mean that I don't want to hear from you. Feel free to give feedback by Twitter, Facebook, or email

Moral Quagmire

Wed, 17 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

While we were traveling to the Midwest on Friday, I decided to listen to BBC 4 as I can stream it from Birmingham, England straight to my phone. I have found that listening to European radio has helped me begin to notice the ways that Europeans look at the world differently than Americans.

There was a panel of British pundits discussing various issues, and one caught my attention:

Jeremy Bamber wins human rights victory over 'life means life' sentences - Telegraph

So the British wanted to sentence particularly heinous offenders to what Americans call a life sentence without the possibility of parole. They currently have around 49 prisoners serving a "life means life" sentence. The European Court for Human Rights ruled this a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights:

They claimed it represented “inhuman and degrading treatment” under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights to keep them in jail forever with no prospect of release.

In listening to the discussion, I was struck by the difficulties that a secular culture encounters. Those pundits who were more "law and order" rejected the ruling, but they had little framework to establish evilness and the right of government to repay wrongdoers for their crimes.

The more liberal pundits wanted the opportunity for redemption for the inmates. Yet once again the same problem existed. They had no basis. How does one repay for killing a number of people in a brutal way. Is education or psychotherapy enough to rehabilitate one?

It is so cliché, but I can't help but bring up the war criminals of World War II. I have been recently watching a number of documentaries dealing with that era. How does either side handle those evil people without a firm metaphysical (pun intended!) place to stand.

At the end of the segment, I was reminded of one of the strengths of the Christian case. It's true! Though marred by sin, we have a conscience that reflects God's truth. We all know that crimes must be paid for, even if we don't have a framework to prove it. We all know that we need a way for redemption, even if we have no method of giving it. We as Christians must present the truths of the Bible. God has given us that framework. His Spirit will convince hearts of these truths.

Why Travel - Part 5

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

This is the rest of list of practical thoughts from yesterday on who to travel and expand your view of the world:

Eat everything--or at least a lot. Do they eat much meat? What kind of animals? What parts of the animal? Is the food spicy, savory, or bland? What are the desserts like? Plus, I think you should eat at foreign McDonald's once. Maybe I'm odd, but I get a kick out of seeing all of the international variations that McDonald's uses to "contextualize" their food to a culture. In Slovenia, they used to have "America fries" in addition to French fries!
Talk to people. Learn a few phrases. When you find someone who speaks English, ask them to teach you a phrase in the local language. They will laugh when you mess it up. That's ok. Generally people appreciate that you're even trying.
Find a local market. I love visiting outdoor markets and grocery stores. These are fascinating, and often can give you a great look into everyday life.

Keep an open mind

Yes, I know. Being "open-minded" carries a pretty negative connotation in our conservative, Christian vocabulary. I am not talking about compromising biblical truth or accepting cultural sins. I am saying that we need to learn some flexibility. You can travel to New York City or Singapore or wherever, follow good practical advice, and still come back just as jaded and unexposed as before, if you are not willing to accept that other people do things differently than "back home" and that's ok.

Sometimes this is easy. If you are a coffee-drinker and you visit me someday in Slovenia, you will probably love that Ljubljana is littered with cafe shops, and everyone meets their friends for coffee. Sometimes it's not, especially when it's 11:30pm, and you realized you forgot a key toiletry item. "No problem," you think, "I'll just run down to the local Wal-Mart equivalent." Then you realize that everything but bars are closed by then. Nothing is open 24 hours. Frustrating. Then I remember that just five years ago, my Wal-Mart closed at 10pm too.

Cleanliness is a tough one. Some places in the world, open sewers are more common than trashcans. While traveling, we should obviously take precautions to protect our health, but we should not be obnoxious about proclaiming our own cleanliness. America did not get to where it is at overnight; be careful in thinking the rest of the world will either.

One of tough ones that you should be aware of so that you can be flexible is punctuality. Different cultures in the world have different ideas of what "on time" is. Chill out. I know it's tough, but you are in their culture. Don't spend your entire trip complaining that nothing is on time. Many places in Europe (think Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia) value punctuality a great deal, but other aspects of time are very different. Restaurant service can sometimes be excruciatingly slow, but that's the way they like it. Try to find out why. You may not even after trying, but at least you tried (and hopefully with a good attitude).

Conclusion

Use travel as a way to push yourself. Eat foods that you don't like, and find something new that you do. Learn new words in a language that you will never use again. Realize that almost all of the world doesn't live like you do–and by and large, that is okay for them and for you.

I don't do blog post comments. Sorry. That doesn't mean that I don't want to hear from you. Feel free to give feedback by Twitter, Facebook, or email

Why Americans Should Travel Series

Why Travel - Part 4

Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

If you want to push yourself beyond your boundaries, it won't be easy. If you want to expand your view of the world and you find international travel easy (Canada is an exception!), you're doing it wrong, or you are incredibly gifted.

No passport, no problem

First, don't think that you have to have a passport. You don't. America is incredibly diverse. If you are from the country or suburbs, spend a few days in one of our large metropolises. If you are from an urban center, head to the middle of nowhere. Southerns should head to New England. Well, you get the idea.

Live like the locals

One of the worst travel mistakes we make is to isolate ourselves from the host culture. I visited a developing country a number of years ago, and I was hosted by a national pastor and church. They did everything for me. They made the experience very easy. They were doing it out of hospitality and experience in dealing with inflexible Americans, but it really detracted from how much I could learn about them and their culture.

On the other hand, I had an American missionary stick me, a college senior, and a high school senior on a public bus in North Africa. No map. No directions. No cell phone. He said, "Go find some people that speak English, and talk to them about Jesus. Be back by lunch." We ended up riding out of town and needing two taxis to make it back. But that was great. We met people. We tried to communicate. We learned that white Americans will be just fine on public city buses in Muslim African countries. You can't buy an education like that.

Here are some practical tips:

Avoid tour groups. If you are only around other American tourists on a bus, you are going to have less interaction with the host culture. It may be a great trip, but you will experience less. If you are running a short-term missions trip, avoid this mindset.
Play by their rules. As much as possible, I try to defer to the local culture. If you have to say goodbye every time you leave a shop, then do.
Stay where the locals stay. You may have enough money to stay at the Hilton, but you will miss out on the local flavor. On my last trip to Slovenia, I had one transit night in Vienna, Austria. Vienna is expensive--really expensive. But I found a single bed room at a locally run inn located in the city center for $45! Sure, I had to walk down the hall to go to the w.c.[^wc] or take a shower, but it was clean, nice, and breakfast was included. Plus I had a much more Austrian experience. When we have travelled to Slovenia, we have stayed in vacation rentals. We experience residential life in Ljubljana, even if only for a week. We save money, we have more space, and we learn more. (Two straight trips I have managed to lock my clothes in a European washing machine!)
Use local public transit if feasible. This one is tough for many Americans, because we generally use it so little. Often though, it can be more convenient, cheaper, and just as safe as renting a car. I would do some online research (I will post some links in the coming days for reference). For example, I haven't been anywhere in Central and Western Europe (including Croatia) where I wouldn't use public transit. I've told you my N. African story already. I survived just fine. I don't know that I would recommend city buses in Delhi, India. But then again, let me know if you ride one.

Come back tomorrow as we continue the practical tips and finally conclude the series.

Why Americans Should Travel Series

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But then again, he is God...

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Good thoughts from Australia about their first federal cabinet minister to be sworn in using the Qur’an:

When Christianity has ruled in government, both Christianity and the government have been distorted. We win people to Christ not by government fiat but by prayerful persuasion to the truth.

Later on in the piece, Mr. Jensen teases out the implications of "swearing" for atheists or practical atheists:

However, others will only make an affirmation because, as atheists, they refuse to refer to a higher being than themselves. They are like Napoleon placing the crown on his own head for there was nobody greater to crown him. So they are not answerable to anybody or anything other than themselves.

With an affirmation we have to take the word of a politician seeking more power on the basis of their “say so”. Often this doesn’t matter in practice as most of the oath-taking politicians are practical atheists and most of the affirming politicians unconsciously practise Christian values. However, theoretically those who affirm are swearing by themselves for they have no greater source of moral reference to which they can point or to which we can call them to account but themselves. Of such arrogance comes tyranny.

The New Testament understands the problem of the atheist. In Hebrews we read of God swearing by himself:

“For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, … For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath.” (Heb 6:13 ff.)

But then again, he is God.

Read the whole piece here.

Why Travel - Part 3

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Polka in Prešeren Square

Kissing the Ground

Here's what I seem to hear every time a group returns from a short-term missions trip:

"I am so thankful to live in America."

"God has really blessed us."

"I don't know how I would survive in [insert whatever country here]."

After years as a youth worker and youth pastor, I completely identify with our joy in seeing our young people (or anyone else for that matter) being thankful. Few things are more grating than an ungrateful teen or twenty-something with a $200 smartphone in their designer jeans pocket.

Here is what I do not get though. Our common refrain after returning to America indicates that much of our worship and praise of God is being driven by His material blessings on America and our life in America specifically. Then how are those people in the majority world (that's the preferred way to refer to what used to be called the third world) supposed to praise God without those material blessings?

We have been so blinded by our idolatry of stuff that we don't even realize that it has colored our worship. Our vertical (person to God) relationship is hindered. We are more thankful for the stuff than the Stuff-Giver.

These feelings do additional harm horizontally. We condescend and take a paternal pity on those "poor natives." We rob those without our physical blessings of the dignity that being created in the image of God affords them.

Finally, we face the problem of Job. What happens if the Lord takes it all away? Will we curse Him, or will we fall and worship?

The title of this series is Why Americans should travel. It is obvious. If we are able, I believe that we should travel internationally. But if our attitudes, hearts, and minds aren't in the right gear, our travel may serve to further ingrain our prejudices deeper. Our travel can also be used by the Lord to expand our vision and give us humility.

Which do you want?

Next post we will finally examine some ideas that you can actually put into practice.

Why Americans Should Travel Series

I don't do blog post comments. Sorry. That doesn't mean that I don't want to hear from you. Feel free to give feedback by Twitter, Facebook, or email

[^majority world]: That's the preferred way to refer to what used to be called the third world.

Why Travel - Part 2

Fri, 05 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

A crowded gate in the Vienna airport. There were no where near enough seats. We stood.

We get used to what surrounds us. City dwellers accept the din of traffic and the bustle of urban life. Suburbanites thrive with strip malls and shopping centers close at hand. Country folks enjoy being outnumbered by livestock. Yet as Americans, regardless of our setting, we embrace our "Amercanisms".

Unlike many places in the world, we almost always are the home team. Our turf, our rules. Once you leave America, you are no longer playing on the home side. You become the visitor. The problem is that even when we travel, we still think we are the home team. We still think that we set the rules.

Much of the world is not like this. There is a diversity of language, culture, and nationality that breaks down these walls at least a bit. A Slovene can set out in a car and depending on the direction can end up in 20 different countries in only ten hours. Many, if not most, have visited Austria, Italy, Hungary, or Croatia. They have played away. They have seen different food. They have heard conversations that they could not understand. A panacea this is not though. Wars and diplomacy and even television programs demonstrate that prejudices and racism abounds even in these multicultural regions. Man's heart is desperately wicked the world over.

Like all people, we have a smugness that we must actively seek out and destroy. As Christians Americans, we see the need for humility everywhere but in our nationalism. Patriotism is not a sin. But it can be. I have learned that travel–smart, humble travel–can be a tool of grace in smoothing our jaded view of the rest of the world and our inflated view of ourself.

To travel successfully, you have to realize that you're not in charge. Well, you're culture isn't in charge. It is ok for food to be different. It is ok for the language to be different. And so on…

This does not mean that you have to like everything or even most things at your foreign destination of choice. Just don't not like it, because it is not what you are used to.

Don't return home and kiss the ground at the airport and pretend that it is because of freedom or Old Glory or anything like that. You missed McDonald's–your McDonald's, not the one serving McAloo Tikkis, a potato vegetable burger from Indian McDonald's. You missed hearing English that sounds like your English. You and I missed the easy life and American prosperity after seeing how messy life is in most of the world. You and I missed the easy and familiar–even if we did not like it.

Next post we will examine how this plays out in our relationship with God.

Why Americans Should Travel Series

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Why Travel - Part 1

Mon, 01 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Sunset over the Adriatic

Nearly eight years ago I stepped aboard my first international flight. I was excited. I had no idea what to expect. I was convinced of American exceptionalism and the glory of the American South. I was in love with the past--a golden era of American Christianity. A lot has changed since 2005, and that one short trip had a lot to do with it.

It began as a comedy of errors. My first flight was uneventful. The Air France meal was surprisingly good. Resting on a transatlantic 777 was not.

Upon landing, I learned about French efficiency. We disembarked and loaded onto a shuttle bus to take us to the gate. The gate was in sight. It would have been a 30 second walk. But the road was one way only, and our shuttle bus had just edged past the gate. So we able to see a grand tour of Charles de Gaulle Airport…

…and subsequently miss my flight to Ljubljana. I spent the next six hours in CDG with nothing to do and nowhere to go and no one to talk to. Plus, the iPhone was still but a figment in Steve Jobs' mind. Eventually I landed in LJU to discover that the rental car counter where I had a car booked was now closed. I spent $100 extra from the other rental car shop that was open. I was new. I was a rookie. I didn't know that I was supposed to find a phone and call the first place. I didn't know anything.

At this point, I was ready to go home. I was ready to never leave North Carolina again. I don't know if it was the missed flight, or sleep deprivation, or the rental car ordeal, or the unfamiliar smells, or odd language. Who knows? But I did not like it.

The problem? I had nearly two weeks before my flight would leave for home. I went to my guesthouse (think European B&B), checked in, and went to sleep. The next day I discovered things were not so bad after all. I discovered that I loved the food. The people were friendly. The country was beautiful. Life went on even if it smelt and sounded different. Two weeks later…I was ready to be home.

An alley of Piran, Slovenia

Why Americans Should Travel Series

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We won't be in Kansas any more

Sat, 29 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

The Slovenia Times is reporting that Slovenia's first real estate tax is on its way to becoming a reality. Exemptions for non-profits, and specifically churches, are not part of the plan. It's not a big deal when God has all the money in the world, but it is still something to be aware of as we plan for a life of ministry there.

The government also plans to tax sacral buildings, which has taken it on a collision course with religious communities, in particular the Roman Catholic Church, which has thousands of churches scattered around Slovenia.

Not only is it inherently difficult to put a market value on places of worship (GURS decided to value churches at the notional value of construction), actually levying the tax could end up costing the Catholic Church millions each year.

The Slovenian Bishops' Conference has submitted its complaints to the draft bill, though the content has not been disclosed, and media reports suggest the topic had been broached in talks PM Alenka Bratušek has recently held with Pope Francis in the Vatican and Ljubljana Archbishop Anton Stres.

Indicating that the Church plans to fight the plan tooth-and-nail, the Church weekly Družina has recently suggested that the coalition is creating an "anti-religious and anti-Catholic atmosphere" in Slovenia.

Slow to speak

Thu, 27 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 1:19

Some people have a knack for words. Some people have a knack for quick, accurate analysis. I am not sure that most people have both of those traits. I know I don't. For most of human civilization, that wasn't too much of a problem. The ill-formed, premature ruminations of most people would only spread to just a few close associates. Then given time, those thoughts would either become mature, ill-formed thoughts (lots of people have been wrong for a long time) or they would be corrected and become well-formed, mature thoughts.

Then the printing press came along. This lowered the bar a bit, ended up revolutionizing society, but honestly in the days of typesetting by hand, it only did so much at the time.Fast forward past the mimeograph, telegraph, and all sorts of other technology to the year 2000. My wife and I realized yesterday what a foreign world we grew up in. We attended high school and didn't have cell phones! There was no (commonplace) texting!

Now though, we have all sorts of methods to disseminate our thoughts. Facebook. Twitter. Blogs. Self-publishing and e-pub has become quicker, cheaper, and more accessible. Much of this is great. It can be used for a thousand different Christ-honoring purposes. But we can also use it to make a fool of ourselves. Just because you can post your thoughts to Twitter or Facebook in less than fifteen seconds doesn't mean you should. Your thoughts (and mine) may make no sense. Worse though, we may just be flat wrong.

Yesterday was a big day. Historically, it is quite likely that June 26, 2013 will mark the day that opened the door to legal gay "marriage". As Christians, we ought have something to say about it, but let's make sure we are saying the right thing. There are a few people who have written, tweeted, or facebooked helpful, accurate, biblical comments. Some were posted minutes after the decision; some just hours. Those thoughtful people have proven themselves capable of analyzing a difficult and dire situation and responding with Christ's heart, mind, and book.

Unfortunately, I have seen more responses that have been lacking. Some have made factually inaccurate claims. Some have ranged from theologically sloppy to theologically wrong. Some have been offensive in a way that I have no doubt Christ would (and will someday) rebuke. Some have been short-sighted. Just because we can make our initial thoughts know to the world doesn't mean we should.

To be clear, I am not advocating sitting on our hands and keeping our peace for days and months. We must speak to the relevant situations occurring in our world. Let us do it thoughtfully. Retweet, share, quote someone who is gifted at being thoughtful and quick, while we--normal people--take it all in and formulate our thoughts biblically and accurately. In the coming days, I plan to put my thoughts to paper. I want to look at how we are to function as a minority in a society, which is especially relevant to me as we plan a move a country where we will be an extreme minority. But I am not ready to make those public. Yet.

Serious, but not serious enough

Wed, 26 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

"Undercover at Thomas Road: An Interview with Gina Welch" written by Trevis Wax peeks into a crazy situation--a woman fakes being a Christian for two years to get a look into the supposedly crazy world of religious fanatics in America. Oh, and she did all this so she could write a book. I had saved this article from over three years ago and just got around to reading it last week (!). I immediately remembered why I had saved it. There are two things that stood out to me. (All emphasis is mine.)

"It answers our common longings…"

Trevin Wax: What are the aspects of evangelical Christianity at Thomas Road that you found attractive?

Gina Welch: There are plenty of ideas in evangelical Christianity that appeal to me. It would be nice to know that even the most hideous acts of violence and destruction happen for a reason. It would be nice to know that this short life isn’t the end, that there’s something better on the other side, and that when I lose someone it’s only temporary. It would be nice to know what’s expected of me. It would be nice to know when I have dark thoughts or do something I know I shouldn’t it’s because that’s my natural sinful wiring, that I shouldn’t feel guilty about it. I think that’s why evangelical Christianity is such a popular formula–because it answers our common longings.

We must embrace the fact that our faith answers the questions that upper-middle class yuppies in suburbia ask, and those same questions and longings--the same that Ms. Welch intimates--are shared by destitute subsistence farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. They are common not as the product of a socio-evolutionary process but because they were put there by a Creator. And He alone gives the answers. In Christ.

Let's stop being on the defensive when dealing with our pervasively secular society. I am not referring to flippancy and abrasiveness, but like Paul, let us be unashamed of the Gospel of Christ. It and it alone makes sense of the world.[^os-quote]

A bridge too far

Trevin Wax: Have you read any substantive defenses of Christianity besides C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity? (I’m thinking specifically of a book like Tim Keller’s The Reason for God).

Gina Welch: I haven’t read Tim Keller’s The Reason for God, and I’m open to it, but investigating Christianity’s truth is sort of not the project of my book. I leave theological argumentation to other writers.

My interest was in understanding the psychological architecture behind evangelical Christianity in a way that might make it easier to relate to, in order to promote mutual understanding. I think evangelical Christians have got to accept that some people are always going to be nonbelievers and vice versa, and we’ve got to figure out how to coexist and be respect each other’s ideas even while we disagree.

Also, my experience with believers tells me that belief in God isn’t a result of reasoning, that most people come to belief because they inherited it or because they had a profound emotional experience that made God seem real. In the evangelism class I took at Thomas Road, we learned that the precondition for talking to someone about the Gospel was the question, “Do you believe in God and the Bible?” The script assumed the answer would be yes. If the answer was no, you simply walked away. We were armed with arguments for Christianity, but not for God.

How heart-wrenching to hear someone confess that they want to believe that the Christian claims are true (see here answer in the first quote), and yet be unwilling to investigate further. For all of her study, she has neglected the basis of the Christian faith. It is rooted in history. If Christ is who He claims to be, if He did what eyewitnesses (the Gospel writers) claimed that He did, then one must make a decision. Ms. Welch has decided to not seek out those that may answer her objections.

We, though, must willingly address any serious question or objection to our faith. Don't entertain scoffers or engage in endless arguments. But if people have legitimate questions, we ought answer. If we can't answer them with reasonable answers from the Bible, we need to find a pastor, or evangelist, or Christian writer, or Bible-believing book that will help us.

Some like Ms. Welch will stick their heads in the sand to avoid hearing more truth that undermines their world, but some will hear the truth. That truth will break through their blindness, and they will believe. May we always be sowing!

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4

Written by Trevin Wax • (Permalink)
See Udo Middleman's description of the Schaeffer's ministry.

Never here…right?

Tue, 25 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

A French mayor is facing up to five years in prison and fine of up to £63,000 for declining to carry out a same-sex marriage.

Jean-Michel Colo, a mayor in South West France, rejected a wedding application from two men and says he stands by his decision.

But under French law, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation can be punishable by up to half a decade in prison and up to a €75,000 fine. (1)

The "gay marriage" issue has never really been about equality. It is the stifling of anyone who disagrees. The great challenge for Christians in the coming years is not to return to a "Christian America", but to represent Christ faithfully and fruitfully wherever we may find ourselves. We ought pray that God would send a great awakening, but we also must do the work of the ministry now even if He doesn't.

The great push of this era, unlike the last, is not to destroy religion, but to marginalize it. You may believe what you will, but don't bring it into the public square if it crosses the prevailing winds. This operates on one simple assumption. Here are some of the "big questions":

Where did I come from? (Origins)
Why am I hear? (Purpose)
Where am I going? (Eschatology-end times)
What am I supposed to do? (Vocation)
How am I supposed to do it? (Ethics)

Our secular age assumes that your answer to those questions doesn't matter and isn't based in reality. Your religious opinions are a personal faith and have no bearing on anyone else.

Contrast this to how Udo Middleman described the ministry of his in-laws, Francis and Edith Schaeffer :

Together they travelled and taught in churches and university halls from Finland to Portugal, helping people understand Christianity as the truth of the universe, not a personal faith, and pointing out the cultural and philosophical pitfalls in everyone’s way.

If the Bible is true and Christ is who He says He is, then the world must know. Our faith does not run from reality, but it both embraces and explains it.

Update (2013-06-25): I corrected who said the Schaeffer quote. My original notes were wrong. I also included a link to the source.

Via David Murray from The Christian Institute.

Remember your testimony, but forget your image

Tue, 25 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Great advice from Paul Chappell on social media. I love the title of number five. I wish I had come up with the title to point 5. That's just good advice for life. Period.

5. Remember Your Testimony, But Forget Your Image

One of the pitfalls of social media is an increased focus on personal image.

Focus on lifting up Jesus and serving people, not inflating your image. Be fully engaged in ministry—not with what people think about you in ministry.

All five of these tips are covered in one Scripture verse:

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)

Getting it done

Mon, 24 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

I don't think that I had ever heard of Daniel Rowlands before, but what a fascinating look into the world of the 1700's. First, I am always amazed how busy and bold some of those guys were. He went anywhere, preaching to anyone. He did it nonstop, all the while having a deep impact on young preachers:

From then, he also took invitations to preach in chapels or barns or the open air if necessary. He followed up by establishing of methodist societies around much of Wales. Upwards of one hundred ministers in this association regarded him as their spiritual father, a key part of Welsh revival.

Second, the world has always been wicked. There have always been serious problems in churches:

[M]any Welsh clergy were neglectful, or drunkards and gamblers.

Finally, God can use you to make a difference in a dark, unknown corner of the world. Here is how Ryle described Rowlands' ministry (emphasis mine):

Never, perhaps, did any preacher exalt Christ more than Rowlands did, and never did any preacher leave behind such deep and abiding marks in the isolated corner of the world where he laboured.

Read the whole article here.

Archived image unavailable.

Daniel Rowlands - Welsh Preacher of yore

If it's not language…

Sat, 22 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Update (2013-06-25): I failed to mention the two books banned––Ted Tripp's Shepherding a Child's Heart and Michael and Debi Pearl’s To Train up a Child. The wild part is that these books, as of April 2013, "are now banned from being displayed, printed, imported or exported, advertized or mailed within Germany."

You may now return to the regularly scheduled programming.

On Tuesday, I posted a link to Phil Bassham's experience as his family begins to learn Thai. Slovene will be no walk in the park for us either, though at least we don't have the tones to learn! But one missions minefield that you may not have had to think is government interference in parenting. Germany and seventeen other European nations have banned spanking. Thankfully, Slovenia has not yet, but it is coming. In fact a week ago, delegates from Slovenia attended the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child had to "explain why it has not yet banned corporal punishment."

Germany banned spanking thirteen years ago, and now they have turned their gunsights on evangelical books that encourage parents to follow biblical principles. Eowyn Stoddard details the situation (including the book banning) and exposes the hypocrisy:

Whereas up until 2000, spanking was a State-sanctioned and regulated tool for discipline, it is now a criminal offense. Though German parents cannot spank, they certainly do resort to yelling insults, shaming, bribing, and other forms of demeaning behavior. The irony of the matter is that many public school teachers and sport coaches use yelling and shaming as their primary disciplinary method. The emotional harm inflicted on children by government-paid professionals is strictly and explicitly forbidden by the same law that forbids spanking. The old saying “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me” couldn’t be farther from the truth. Demeaning words spoken by parents, teachers or coaches can leave emotional wounds that run far deeper than a smack on the hand or a swat on the bottom administered by a loving parent. And yet, to my knowledge, there are no known cases of someone being arrested for verbally abusing children.

Is Missional Living the ‘New Legalism’?

Fri, 21 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Jake at gospelinchina.com is worth reading all the time. Here in "Is Missional Living the ‘New Legalism’?", he responds to those arguing that Christian commitment need not be so radical:

Christians may certainly live in the suburbs, but they may not live suburban lives. Because, like any other social context, the suburban lifestyle is driven by a mad pantheon of subtle idols. Any suburbanite whose life has been shaped by the Gospel will seem… well… radical! His flourishing does not look like the flourishing of his neighbors. He’s not striving to keep up with the Jones’, but to follow the One who gave all for him. He doesn’t buck suburban ease because he is trying to earn God’s favor, but because God’s unmerited favor has set him free from the idol of ease. While Bradley exhibits a great deal of concern over missional legalism – the idea that Christians are struggling to measure up to a standard of radical living – he seems to ignore the far more evident realities of suburban legalism – the idea that Christians are struggling to measure up to a standard set by the Jones’. Both are wrong; one is endemic.

This is his conclusion. You ought read the whole article.

Slovenia Top in Freedom and Democracy in Transitional Countries

Fri, 21 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Continuing the theme from Wednesday, the Slovenia Times reported Wednesday that:

The New York-based NGO dedicated to the expansion of democracy, Freedom House, has ranked Slovenia the best in democracy and freedom among 29 countries in transition from Central Europe to Eurasia. The report gave Slovenia an overall score of 1.89 on a scale from one to seven, with one being the best.

Slovenia 13th Among 162 countries on the Global Peace Index

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Slovenia took 13th spot among 162 countries on the Global Peace Index unveiled on Wednesday by the Institute for Economics and Peace, an Australian non-profit organisation. Compared to last year, the country lost five spots but still ranks among states with a “very high” level of peace.

- Slovenia Times

I am reminded of the prophet Jeremiah:

They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

Jeremiah 6:14

People can have the whole world, yet still be prevaded by a sense of hopelessness.

So you want to be a missionary…

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

That's great. But be prepared for hard work! This is a tiny glimpse into the early months of cross cultural ministry.

Survey Trip - Part 2

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:00:00 GMT

There is a reason that it has been a few days since my last update. Actually, there are a two. First, it has been very hectic. There has been a lot to do, and we have accomplished our objectives, by and large. That's not the main reason. Really, I am just speechless. Words fail to describe the spiritual bleakness.

I told Ethan on our second or third full day that I needed to go back around to each of the churches where we have presented and present again. While I knew the situation was bad, and I did my best to convey that, I failed to communicate how bad it really is. First, I underestimated the "unreached-ness". Second, now that I have a better understanding, I have absolutely no idea how to communicate that.

A Southern Baptist missionary told us---I've not had time to fact check yet---that Slovenia now ranks as the 14th least evangelized country per capita. By the same metric (ratio rather than raw numbers), there are more born again believers in Iran and Iraq than Slovenia. Once again per capita, there are more believers in Saudi Arabia than our small Central European country.

Many have come to Slovenia to start churches. Few have started churches. It is tough and slow. The few Slovene believers here are under siege by a false prosperity gospel on one side and legalism on the other. By legalism, I am not talking about having standards, but the sort of legalism that in other European countries has led to a false gospel of works salvation. Personality conflicts, decades (if not centuries) of persecution, and cultural strongholds are all rampant.

I have from time to time had pessimists in America joke when I have given them the statistics that their town or city might be just as bad. Can I be frank? That's stupid. At best. There is not a corner of America that is in the shape that Slovenia. There are few places in the world where your chance of hearing and believing the Gospel are less.

Here some perspective for you. Vermont is the least evangelical state in the country. We all agree that it needs church planters. If you are a Vermonter, you are twenty times more likely to be born again than if you were a Slovene. That is not twenty percent; that is twenty times. Let's not even talk the Bible Belt...even with conservative numbers.

So what do we need?

More believers to give their life to take the Gospel to Slovenia.
More churches to decide that praying for Slovenia is not going to be tacked onto their prayer list but a focused, determined, fervent purpose for their life.
More churches to partner with us financially, so we can move there and get started.

Survey Trip 2013 - Part 1

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Why go on a survey trip?

There is a lot of work involved in moving to another country. A survey trip is time that allows one to prepare for some of the living and ministry challenges that await life as an expatriate. Google searches only take one so far.

For this reason, I have returned to Slovenia for a few days. Katie was not able to come, because the baby is too little to stay home and to bring him would hamper getting the work done quickly that needs done. A good and sharp friend of mine was able to come along with me at my request.

We had a great trip over, and I slept more on the plane than I ever had. After an exciting five hour layover in Zurich, we hoped over the Alps to Ljubljana. Dinner was kebabs. Then it was time for a proper night of sleep.

This morning, Wednesday, began with a meeting with a Scottish man who runs a relocations service. We spent nearly an hour learning about their services and the ins-and-outs of moving to Slovenia. He explained the advantages and disadvantages of the Slovene real estate market. There definitely seem to be some common pitfalls that foreigners fall into. He laid out other various services that his companies provides. This entire time, I am thinking that this sounds great, but at what price. I asked him. It wasn't cheap, but it was not unreasonable considering what they are able to accomplish securing visa, rental properties, and a laundry list of other helpful services.

Next, we need to check his references. We have more meetings and more to learn while here on this trip. But if his references check out, meeting Kevin and learning of his company's services will make this entire trip worth it.

Without a doubt.

Francis Schaeffer on T.D. Jakes…err…I mean Karl Barth

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

In recent years it has often been said that Karl Barth changed his views toward the end of his life. If this was so, then all could have been easily cared for by his writing one more book amongst his many books and, while he was yet living, making it known that his views of Scripture, his lack of a space-time Fall, and his implicit universalism had been publicly repudiated. In the light of his crucial influence as the originator of the new theology and his wide publication, it would seem difficult to think that anything less would have met his responsibility before God and men. If he had done this, many of us would have truly rejoiced. Note p. 78 for a consideration of the deficient concept of justification and the place of universalism in the new theology.[^sch1]

Francis Schaeffer

Francis A. Schaeffer, The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer : A Christian Worldview. (Westchester, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1996).

Sad Irony

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Yesterday: I began reading John Piper's Bloodlines which is now available for free in pdf format. While there are many areas of theology and practice where I would disagree with Pastor Piper, I have been encouraged by the first four chapters. Racism is absolutely and unequivocally incompatible with the Gospel.

Today: One of the occupational hazards of being on deputation is discovering disturbing information on church websites. This evening I happened upon the worst type of racism on a Independent Baptist church website–contorting Scripture to attempt to legitimize racism.

We Baptists still have a long way to go on the issue of race, but I thank God that many are moving in the right direction. I thank God that there are some old paths that were not good paths that we are finally moving away from. (Just so you know, Jeremiah 6:16 does not say that all old paths are good paths.) May we by God's grace continue to move closer to Him.

Where you can find the pdf.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, the National Archives, and the US Army.

Hope

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Not the maybe, kinda, sort of, middle school guy hoping the girl he has a crush on will ask him out to the Sadie Hawkins dance (or banquet for us IFBer's) type of hope. Hope in the Bible springs from faith. Hope is not the prospect that something might happen, but rather it is the expectation that whatever has been promised will happen.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:13

Paul couches this talk of hope in the Gospel. The announcement of the Lord and Christ, Jesus, is our hope. He makes the winter of this life bearable, and not only bearable, but full of both joy and peace.

The grandeur of the Gospel is that our hope in Christ is not mere escapism. For many years, that's exactly what I thought though. I had trusted Christ and His finished work on the cross, and someday I would escape all of the messiness of this life in heaven. I had latched onto redemption. Christ did die for my sins, God's wrath was justly out on Him, and by faith, I was given His righteousness (goodness), and justified (that is, declared righteous or good). The Gospel is certainly not less than that. Redemption is a glorious theme, but it is not alone. Redemption has a twin.

What I had missed with another key theme of the Bible–restoration. The Gospel is about my personal redemption, but it is also about my personal restoration, and not just my restoration, but that of everything. Christ will one day set everything right. I will no longer struggle with my old nature in a never-ending battle. The image of God will not always be obscured by my own darkness. I will no longer succumb to the lumbering march towards frailty and fatality. Creation will not just be spared the results of the curse and sin, but it will be fixed.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Our hope is not that through Christ we will escape, but it is that through Christ all things will be made new. Eternity in the presence of God will be all the much sweeter because of, not despite, the winter that we have walked through. Through every disappointment, in the midst of every despair, we eagerly look towards that day with hope. With Christ, we will never feel the sting of: "Always winter, but never Christmas."

Photo Credit: (Pol sifter–Creative Commons) http://www.flickr.com/photos/polsifter/4047982682/

Always Winter, Never Christmas

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"Always winter, but never Christmas." This was the curse upon Narnia in C.S. Lewis' classic. Good writing is amazing. Lewis instantly transports us to a bleak world, but not just a bleak world–a world without hope.

His five simple words capture the timbre of a life without Christ at its center. Tim Keesee applied these words aptly to the world of missions and unevangelized regions in his worthwhile DVD series, Dispatches from the Front. Narnia is not the only place with that curse.

Celebrating Christ's birth in the midst of a bleak, sunless winter brings hope and joy. Many days it can make the unpleasant pleasant. Memories of caroling and freezing till I hurt…and having a great time still warm me many years later. Or bird hunting with my brothers on a blustery, biting Christmas Eve and returning to a cozy house, a warm meal, and the excitement that accompanies that night.

Yet sin has made a mess of everything. Not one corner of our lives is safe from its reach. Misery, sin's offspring, is part of our very existence. Unemployment. Bankruptcy. Cancer. Pain. Betrayal. Heartbreak. Death. Burning tears are no surprise. Instead tears are an expected, albeit unwelcome, visitor. One that visits far more frequently than we care to think about.

Many have cling to a "prosperity gospel" trusting that God will guarantee us a pain-free life with wealth and popularity if they have enough faith. Yet, Christ told us to expect the opposite.

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

John 15:20

The gospel of Christ is much more grand. Our sin has brought misery. Sin has brought has brought winter to our lives. Jesus offers enduring peace and joy in the midst of misery. Greatest of all, He offers hope.

Join us the next few days as we learn how as a Christian we never have to experience "always winter, but never Christmas."