It hasn’t escaped me that following a devastating earthquake in Haiti, that Chile and Turkey have been hit by quakes too. We live in interesting times of biblical importance which means that these events should not surprise us.

Here on WordJourney, I could cover every quake, tsunami, fire, flood or other natural disaster and still miss out on some event that took place recently on the other side of the world. When disaster hits Christians are often among the first to respond, bringing disaster relief and the message of salvation of Jesus Christ with them.

Proclaiming the Gospel

Never do I want to underestimate the importance of sharing the truth with people even during their grimmest hour. It is often during those times when we’ve lost much that our worldly perspective changes. Suddenly all other pursuits in life don’t really matter–but our relationship with our Creator, God, always does.

There are a number of ministries whose work is to proclaim the gospel and help people out during their time of need. Large or small, each of the following organizations is active in their own area as well as overseas. I come up with a list of several for your review, good ministries worth considering for your support:

Christian Blind Mission (CBM)
450 East Park Avenue
Greenville, SC 29602-9602
864-239-0065
cbmus.org

Compassion International
12290 Voyager Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
800-336-7676
compassion.com

Food For The Hungry, Inc.
1224 E. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85034-1102
480-998-3100
fh.org

Food For The Poor, Inc.
6401 Lyons Road
Coconut Creek, FL 33073-3073
954-427-2222
foodforthepoor.org

Lutheran World Relief
700 Light St
Baltimore, MD 21230-3850
410-230-2700
lwr.org

Medical Teams International
P.O. Box 10
Portland, OR 97207
800-959-4325
medicalteams.org

Mercy Medical Airlift
4620 Haygood Road, Ste. 1
Virginia Beach, VA 23455-3455
757-318-9174
mercymedical.org

Mercy Ships
P.O. Box 2020
Garden Valley, Texas 75771-2020
903-939-7000
mercyships.org

Samaritan’s Purse
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607-8721
828-262-1980
samaritanspurse.org

World Vision
P.O. Box 9716, Dept. W
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716
888-511-6548
worldvision.org

Always acquaint yourself with ministry first before sending a donation.  Specifically, pray how God would direct your giving–He may use you to meet an unmet need through one of these organizations.

But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised (Luke 11:38 | NIV).

Inviting Jesus to dinner was never so dangerous. At least that is one impression you may get from text found in Luke (11:37-54) where Jesus turned religious convention on its head to pronounce six woes on his host and his guests.

Jesus was invited by a “certain” Pharisee to dinner, but that Pharisee should have considered what he was doing before extending his invitation. You kind of get the impression that the Pharisee wanted to put Jesus on the menu, by roasting Him, as immediately he marveled that Jesus did not wash up before dinner.

During those days religious Jews had a certain way of ceremonially cleaning themselves, but that observance was based on personal piety, not cleanliness. Most telling it was one of the laws the Jewish leaders established which ended up being a burden for the people.

In response to the marveling Jesus offered a lesson that would not soon be forgotten culminating in six woes. In verses 39 and 40 Jesus said, “…Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?”

Jesus then proceeded to talk about giving as unto God, pronouncing each woe to all within earshot. I’ll add some of my comments to make these woes relevant to today’s religious folk:

1. Woe to the Pharisees for wrong priorities (v 42) – The Pharisees had their tithing down pat, but they were lacking in justice and love for God. Are you diligently serving God by bringing forward your offering and doing the work of the ministry? None of this matters if you don’t care for God’s people or if you have lost your first love.

2. Woe for putting personal reputation above godly character (v 43) – Position was of utmost importance to the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. Today, we still see that in the church: people striving to be known and oftentimes taking short cuts instead of upholding godliness.

3. Woe for being defiled by religion (v 44) – The Pharisees not only practiced a dead religion, but they seemed unaware of their spiritual condition. Lots of people in the church today are operating similarly: their hearts are dead while their religious observations continue.

4. Woe for putting heavy burdens upon people without offering to lift them (v 46) – The law was a heavy burden, an extension of the ten commandments that went beyond the Torah (instructions) to include the Talmud and other Jewish writings. Indeed, there were 613 commandments for people to keep and although all were based on scripture, problems arose in their rigid enforcement. Worse, if you had a burden you had to bear it yourself. There are churches today who have come up with their own set of rules and commandments. Some have absolutely nothing to do with biblical teaching.

5. Woe for killing God’s messengers (v 47) – The prophets brought messages from God to the religious leaders but they were killed because their message was unpalatable, though true. Today, people who have itching ears do not want to hear the truth. Instead, they heap upon themselves false teachers who push whatever manner of doctrine that suits them.

6. Woe to the scribes for not entering into truth while also forbidding others from doing the same (v 52) – Some believe that the Pharisees did not know better. On the contrary they did and made sure that others did not hear or follow the truth. I see this playing out in some churches today: preachers know the truth, but they are in it for financial gain and want to keep their flock from coming to the truth.

Friends, we can look at what Jesus had to say to the Pharisees and miss out on what He may be saying to us. If you are walking apart from the Lord but playing “church” most certainly one or more of these woes may apply to you.

Return to your first love now and put aside anything that will hinder you or others from serving God faithfully. Don’t be counted among the hypocrites who will be found wanting on the judgment day.

Photo Credit: Lionel Titu

Special thanks to Pastor Rodney Finch whose recent two-part message on this topic inspired my article.

Music never sounded so sweet. At least music belonging to a collection of songs found on a CD put together to benefit Haiti.

Healing 4 Haiti

Healing 4 Haiti is a “CD” featuring 13 Christian recording artists who performed 15 songs, music that will be released via iTunes on March 2 by Integrity Music. Net proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit the relief work going on in Haiti following a devastating earthquake on January 12.

Healing 4 Haiti Music Compilation

Samaritan’s Purse, who has been providing clean water, shelter, medical care and other critical aid in Haiti will benefit as will the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Rapid Response Team, who had chaplains on the ground within 24 hours of the earthquake providing emotional and spiritual comfort to survivors. Both organizations are headed up by Franklin Graham, son of the evangelist.

“What I saw while in Haiti is something we must keep in front of the minds and hearts of Americans,” said GRAMMY Award-winning artist Michael W. Smith. “The recovery efforts are going to take a long, long time so we want to do anything we can to raise awareness and to continue to support organizations doing good work in Haiti.”

Haiti Visit

Several of the artists featured on Healing 4 Haiti have traveled to the Caribbean nation located on the island of Hispaniola to witness first hand the work of the Billy Graham Association and Samaritan’s Purse teams.

The benefit compilation includes music from:

• Flyleaf – Break Your Knees
• Michael W. Smith – Come Together Now featuring 100 artists NEW
• Jared Anderson – Carry Me NEW
• Israel Houghton – The Power of One (Change the World)
• Mary Mary – I Worship You
• DecembeRadio – Love Can
• Hawk Nelson – Shaken
• The Afters – Falling Into Place
• Canton Jones – Hello Sunshine
• Lecrae – Beautiful Feet featuring Dawntoya
• Kari Jobe – Healer
• Carlos Whittaker – God of Second Chances
• Lincoln Brewster – Everlasting God

Complex Work

Recognizing the complexity of the work needing to be done in Haiti Franklin Graham said, “The situation in Haiti will be dreadful for a long time and we intend to be there. This is one of the largest disaster responses in the history of Samaritan’s Purse.”

At this time it doesn’t look as if the music collection will be made available in stores, but that may change. Music can be uploaded to iTunes quicker than it can be placed in a physical CD, thus the iTunes route. Visit apple.com/itunes/download/ beginning this Tuesday for details.

Source: Samaritan’s Purse

Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7)

I must confess that I really do not like fasting. At least in the traditional sense of the term.

No food. Growling stomach. Dizziness. Lack of concentration. All of these things and more can make it difficult to go without.

Yet I also know that millions of people around the world do without one or more meals daily, not by choice but by happenstance. If it were up to them, they would never want nor would they need to see their children suffer. It is difficult enough to go without food yourself, but when your children are starving nothing else matters.

Isaiah 58 should be read by everyone before they decide to abstain from food. When the chapter was written, people were fasting but doing so for all of the wrong reasons. In fact, God rebuked the Israelites who were more concerned with outward appearances than they were with the things of God. Those “things” included helping the oppressed, removing burdens and caring for the poor. In God’s perspective abstaining from food wasn’t His chosen fast, rather helping others was.

So does Isaiah tell us not to fast from food? No. But it does tell us to have our priorities straight before we fast.

Recently I completed a one-day fast, the first “food free” fast I’ve done in years. For several days prior to my fast, I felt God leading me to abstain from eating, something I wouldn’t have done on my own. I’ve fasted from food many times over the years, but not recently. Instead, I’ve attempted to live out Isaiah 58 particularly the two verses I have included here.

In my case fasting was purely for personal enrichment. And it wasn’t on a day when I was able to get away and pray for hours or read the Bible. Instead, I had to spend that day working on my taxes while offering up a prayer here and there. I also read one Psalm during the middle of a much too busy day.

Why did I fast? To draw closer to God. Specifically, I was looking for clarity from God regarding my business and direction for my life. Maybe not reason enough for some people to fast, but something I needed to discover.

I won’t go into detail, but I have seen God’s hand move since my fast ended. No Red Sea was parted nor did I see a sign in the heavens. Instead, God opened up an opportunity that may very well lead to something beyond my personal expectations. Importantly, He worked through my personal circumstances—I would have preferred solitude, but God faithfully touched me where I was at.

I can’t wait for the next time God calls me to fast and pray!

After becoming a Christian my snowboarding was no longer something I had to do, it was something I was made to do and could actually have fun.  (Kelly Clark, Pro Snowboarder and Olympic Gold Medalist)

Lasting Riches

Precious gold is the ultimate objective for a large number of the world’s top athletes who are currently competing at the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver.

However, for one group of Olympians someone more precious than gold medals has taken hold of their lives and they are sharing their personal testimonies with fans throughout the world via BeyondTheUltimate.org.

BeyondTheUltimate.org features stories and videos of current and past Winter Olympic athletes, such as:

• Kelly Clark, Pro Snowboarder and Olympic Gold Medalist

• Chad Hedrick, Speed Skater and Olympic Gold Medalist

• Cindy Klassen, Speed Skater and Olympic Gold Medalist (Canada)

• Brock Kreitzburg, Former Olympic Bobsledder and World Cup Gold Medalist

• Jilleanne Rookard, Olympic Speed Skater

• Curt Tomasevicz, Olympic Bobsledder and World Cup Gold Medalist

Symbolizing the highest in personal accomplishment, these sports athletes talk about not just their passion for sport but also devoted interest from which they are able to gain strength for competition – and for life.

“From the outside perspective it looked as though I had too many things working against me. People expected failure. But I had one thing going for me: God,” said Olympic Sprint Skater Jilleanne Rookard. “I’ve learned that success is not defined by the outcome, but by the courage it takes to chase God-sized dreams.”

Athletes In Action

BeyondTheUltimate.org was originally developed together with Athletes in Action, the sports ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, as a manifesto for Super Bowl coaches Tony Dungy, Lovie Smith and their players to share the important role that faith in Jesus Christ has played in their own lives. BeyondTheUltimate.org has since expanded to reach fans of a variety of sports.

“Even though you are on the wrong path at one point in your life, it’s always possible to get going in the right direction. Life without Jesus is tough….” (Chad Hedrick, Speed Skater and Olympic Medalist)

Ultimate Prize

So, when you are watching your favorite athletes compete on the slopes, rinks, and other venues around Vancouver, some of these people with extraordinary physical talents are your brothers and sisters in Christ, athletes who have found that pursuing the ultimate prize puts everything else into its proper perspective.

Source: BeyondtheUltimate.org

“Reaching the Most Unreached”

K.P. Yohannan, a native of India, was called to win souls at the age of 16 due to the fervent and ongoing prayers of his mother. Since responding to that call, Yohannan has tirelessly labored during a transformative time in soul winning, one that seems likely to fulfill what Christians call the Great Commission.

Revolution in World Missions was first published in 1986 and has been updated several times since to reflect what the Holy Spirit has been doing in the hearts and minds of people in India and around the world. Yohannan’s message is clear: followers of Jesus Christ are in a battle to win souls, but soul-winning is coming primarily through the work of native believers who are visiting remote Asian villages where the name of Jesus is unknown.

Missionary Waves

Importantly, unlike the first wave of world missions where the apostles were sent out, or in the more recent second wave where people like Hudson Taylor brought the gospel to the Chinese, this third wave shows a growing partnership between the poor churches of the East and the wealthy churches of the west.

But that transformation is not happening without conflict. As Yohannan describes it, the mind-set of many Western missionary groups remains stuck in the past, and has proven fruitless since World War II ended and with it the age of neo-colonialism. Indeed, most people in what Yohannan repeatedly calls the “two-thirds world” will not listen to light-skinned westerners, eying them with mistrust.

As a result, most of these countries no longer permit new missionary groups while those who remain are largely providing social services and are not directly involved in soul-winning.

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality. (2 Corinthians 8:13-14 | NIV)

Native Missionaries

Yohannan outlines what he believes to be the best method for reaching the lost and that is through native missionaries, but with the western church providing critically-needed financial backing. Strong cultural and historical differences prevail so that when evangelizing the words of a native evangelist are fruitful while the words of the western missionary largely falls to the ground.

And, the native missionary has an advantage in another area too: cost. Whereas it can cost at least $60,000 or more annually to support a Western missionary and his family overseas, natives continue to live the life of poverty and are able to live amongst their own people. That means a fully funded native family can be supported for just two or three thousand dollars annually, allowing more people to reach tens of thousands of unreached villages through the Indian subcontinent and beyond.

Western Thinking

Sadly, a number of influential missionary organizations have not been supportive of native-led missions, or they have sought to exert control over these activities. Yohannan shared one account where a well financed evangelist proposed partnering with his organization, Gospel for Asia (GCF), but they wanted their materials translated into native languages and propagated among the people.

However,  some of the materials to be translated addressed an unidentified western problem, one that India was not experiencing. Because that evangelist was rigid in his thinking and not in touch with what the people of India needed, no place could be found for the two organizations to work together.

Sometimes missionary boards have adjusted their missionary thrust to support native evangelists, but as pointed out by Yohannan many seemed determined to continue supporting activities that met many of the social needs of people while failing to win converts. Yohannan stressed that people’s spiritual condition takes precedence over their needs, reputing the idea advocated by some that a sinner’s physical needs have to be met first before they can hear the gospel.

He went on to explain that in India many people come to know the Lord without promise of having their needs met. Not that Yohannan is against helping people socially, but he does believe that doing that first is putting “the cart before the horse.”

Personal Life

Yohannan has seen the providential hand of the Lord move in his own life from the moment he responded to God’s call. In the early 1970s he met a German woman whose heart was for the Indian people. That woman, Gisela, was not like many of the other western missionaries, as she wore a sari and worked among the people of the nation. Eventually, Yohannan married Gisela with the couple soon relocating to the US so that he could finish his Biblical training. The couple’s two children, Daniel and Sarah, are now active in missions following their training through GFA’s seminary.

By 1981, GFA was launched, one of the charter members of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). GFA is unusual in that monies donated to support missionaries goes 100 percent to that missionary. Other funds are tapped to pay for ministry expenses, but your designated donation will not be diluted by overhead.

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (James 2:14-17 | NASB)

The Call

Is there a place for westerners to work in closed countries if they are able to get in? Yohannan says yes as God will sometimes call someone to work with cross-culturally adding, “This is what is important—each one of us is responsible for how we obey what He has said and follow Him alone.” Very few of us are called to the mission fields of the two-thirds world, but through intercessory prayer and financial giving, we can support the work that needs to be done, fulfilling the Great Commission as the return of Jesus Christ nears.

Revolution in World Missions is a clarion call to the church, particularly those of us who live in the affluent west. Most certainly, times have been difficult of late, but God’s work remains urgent and His resources have not been diminished.

Millions are going to hell daily because no one is bringing the gospel message to them. If the Holy Spirit has given you a burden for the lost, GCF could be the partnership opportunity allowing you to help reach many through the work of native missions in India and beyond. Please visit the Gospel for Asia website for more information or click here to order your copy of the book.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Go you 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 commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew 28:18-20 | AKJV)

Super Bowl XLIV is in the history books, with the New Orleans Saints vanquishing the Indianapolis Colts, 31 to 17.

As with every Super Bowl the commercials are nearly as entertaining as the game itself as marketing professionals seek to outdo one another by offering what they hope is a memorable clip for their product. Indeed, with more than 90 million US viewers tuned in, paying 2.5 million for a thirty-second spot is not as terrible as it sounds.

Today, a lot of people who came out against sponsor Focus on the Family (FOTF) and the Tebow ad have egg on their faces. I am showing a lot of restraint as I write this, but the hype from Planned Parenthood and their ilk proves that some people love to jump to conclusions.

In case you missed the ad, I have included it here for your review. Controversial? Hardly. Inspiring, cute, and fun? Yes, absolutely.

My thoughts? Some people have an ax to grind. Pam and Tim Tebow are certainly not named among them.

A public interest law firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan is representing four Christian leaders who filed a federal lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr., challenging the constitutionality of the recently-enacted federal Hate Crimes Act. Under the act anyone who preaches against behaviors involving sexual orientation or gender identity could be charged with a crime. Federal law now protects people who practice these behaviors, identifying them as a protected class of people.

Four Christians

The Thomas More Law Center (TMLC) filed a lawsuit on behalf of Pastor Levon Yuille, Pastor Rene Ouellette, Pastor James Combs, and Gary Glenn, who is the president of the American Family Association of Michigan (AFA-Michigan). The suit was filed on Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

TMLC President and Chief Counsel Richard Thompson remarked, “There is no legitimate law enforcement need for this federal law. Of the 1.38 million violent crimes reported in the U.S. by the FBI in 2008, only 243 were considered as motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation. Moreover, Eric Holder himself testified at a Senate hearing that the states are doing a fine job in this area.”

Political Payoffs

In his statement on behalf of the pastors, Thompson noted that Holder was offering “…political payoffs to homosexual advocacy groups for support of Barack Obama in the last presidential election.”

He went on to say that the purpose of the law is to criminalize the Bible and threaten prosecution in order to muzzle Christians. Thompson concluded by stressing that Christians hate sin, but love the sinner and that the greatest threats of violence to homosexuals comes from other homosexuals, not Christians.

Commerce Clause

According to the lawsuit, the federal hate crimes law provision violates the plaintiffs’ rights to freedom of speech, expressive association, and free exercise of religion as protected by the First Amendment, and it violates the equal protection guarantee of the Fifth Amendment. The lawsuit also alleges that Congress lacked authority to enact the legislation under the Tenth Amendment and the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution.

By filing suit, the Christian leaders are seeking judicial protection by way of declaratory and injunctive relief so that they can freely engage in their speech and associated religious activities without being investigated or prosecuted by the government or becoming part of official records because of their Christian beliefs.

TMLC Advocacy

The Thomas More Law Center describes its work as defending and promoting “America’s Christian heritage and moral values, including the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life.”

I have yet to see it because previews are not being shown, but the Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad inspires. It inspires controversy, that is.

Not that controversy is a bad thing even when it is misplaced or wrong headed. Sometimes that special added attention can help people focus with laser-like precision on the topic at hand, allowing what is being said to penetrate their hearts.

The Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad is amazing for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it is being brought to the airwaves by Focus on the Family, a well known Christian family values organization. Focus, as many of us like to call it, is headed by James Dobson, a licensed psychologist. Dobson’s radio show and related media ministry works to build up families on biblical grounds though I won’t argue the fact that some psychology is brought in. Focus is a non-profit organization and they are strongly pro-life.

Secondly, the way that the ad came about is amazing. Focus would never had considered purchasing such an ad which costs $2 million to air the 30-second spot. But, anonymous donors have funded the entire cost of producing and running the commercial, which means no ministry funds were tapped.

Thirdly, Tim Tebow is a remarkable young man. You likely know him as the Heisman award-winning quarterback who recently finished up his college years with the Florida Gators and will be playing in the NFL next fall. But he is also a Christian, something he proudly and actively shares with all. Take a look at the black outs (smudges) under his eyes when he is playing and you will see a bible chapter and verse featured. Talk about being bold!

Fourthly, Tim’s mother, Pam, is quite a woman. When she was pregnant with him, her doctor advised to abort her child because of possible complications with the birth. She was told that she might die in delivery, but chose life instead. Of course, that decision has certain wrongly named pro-choice people rankled who fear that Tebow’s message might convince people not to abort. Oddly, if you call yourself pro-choice, then what is wrong with choosing life?

Partnership Praised

Jim Daly, president and CEO of Focus on the Family, said the chance to partner with the Tebows and lift up a meaningful message about family and life comes at the right moment in the culture, because “families need to be inspired.”

“Tim and Pam share our respect for life and our passion for helping families thrive,” Daly said. “They live what we see every day – that the desire for family closeness is written on the hearts of every generation. Focus on the Family is about nurturing that desire and strengthening families by empowering them with the tools they need to live lives rooted in morals and values.”

If you are planning to watch the New Orleans Saints take on the Indianapolis Colts in South Florida this Sunday, keep your eyes peeled for the ad. It will be run once, I am not sure when, but let’s pray that it has the intended effect of touching lives for Jesus Christ.

Source: Focus on the Family

Are You Listening?

A number of Christian music artists have also been doing their part to help Haiti, coming together recently to record a song, Are You Listening? The song, written by Kirk Franklin as a tribute to Haiti eight years ago, but only recorded just this past week is a moving plea for help. “Artists United For Haiti” is itself packed with stars with BeBe and CeCe Winans lending their voices along with Shirley Caesar, Natalie Grant, Fred Hammond, Mary Mary, Jeremy Camp, Stephen Hurd, and so many others joining in.

The Gospel Music Channel (GMC) played the song over and over again on Friday evening just before the Hope For Haiti Now event started. “Are You Listening?” is available for download through Verity Records for just $1.29 with the proceeds going toward assisting organizations at work in Haiti including the Red Cross. You can also find the single through iTunes with major retailers such as Wal-Mart carrying the song after January 30.

Kirk Franklin Shares

Speaking about the song Kirk Franklin shared, “This initiative is so important because while we are asking America to give we know that many are giving sacrificially. The people of Haiti are very spiritual people with an unwavering faith and belief in God and still count The Lord as the main source and provider. We will continue to pray and stand with them. We hope this song will bring much needed support and awareness in an effort to raise funds in the near and long-term future.”

Click on the logo for more information or head over to Verity Records to purchase your copy.