MISSIONS: They don't know they've been set free!

"How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?"

Romans 10:14

Unfortunately, modern man is much like the people of India following British rule for 300 years. Subsequent to independence, a group of sociologists entered India to determine the effect foreign domination had had on the people.

Village after village was studied, month upon month went by, and the results were startling. The "people" of India were not only unaware the British had departed … they were unaware the British had been there in the first place.

Indians were born, lived, and died without ever knowing their sovereign lived in London, thousands of miles away.

People today are born, live out their lives, and die … not ever knowing their Sovereign lives in heaven across an infinite divide. How will they know their sovereign has provided a Deliverer unless someone is sent to tell them?

Christianity, Illustrations,
Missions, Religion

TRADITIONS: The Old Rutted Road -- Part II!

And now, the twist to the story ... there's an interesting extension to the story about railroad gauges and horses' behinds. When we see a Space Shuttle sitting on the launch pad, we see two huge booster rockets saddled to either side of the rocket’s main fuel tank. These are solid rocket boosters, or SRBs. Thiokol Corporation makes the SRBs at their factory at Utah.

The Thiokol SRB design engineers might have preferred to make them a bit bigger … wider not taller, but 1.) the SRBs had to ship by train from the factory to the launch site; 2.) the railroad line from the factory had to run through a tunnel in the mountains; 3.) the SRBs had to fit through a tunnel which is only slightly wider than the railroad track; and 4.) the railroad track is about as wide as two Imperial Roman war-horses.

So, the major design feature of what is arguably the world's most advanced transportation system was determined by the width of a horse's behind! Think about that!

Not only do unreasonable or irrational traditions ruin the vision of the church but they are the cause of some baggage that prevents it from being bigger and going higher and farther.

Ed. Note: Don't think that I'm anti-tradition; I am simply pro-church … the one that is made up of real, live, redeemed children of God.

[The Good, Clean Funnies List], Box 476, Harvest, AL 35749-0476; USA; “The Impact of the Roman Empire on Space Shuttle Design,” 20 October 1999, “ Received from L. Rodney Ford via Doug Taylor.”]

Christianity, Illustrations,
Religion, Traditions

TRADITIONS: The Old Rutted Road -- Part I!

Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

Mark 2:27-28

The US standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet 8.5 inches. Why? Because that’s the gauge used in England; English expatriates built our first railroads.

Why that spacing? Because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built pre-railroad tramways, and that's the gauge they used. Again, why? Because the people who built the tramways were wagon builders, and they used their wagon wheel spacing jigs and fixtures to set the tram wheels.

Okay! One more time! Why that odd spacing? Because, if any other spacing was used the wagon wheels would break on most of the old, cross country roads? Okay, why? Because the road ruts were that spacing.

So who built those old rutted roads? The first in Europe (and England) were built by Romans for their legions. The roads have been used ever since. And the ruts? Roman chariots made the original ruts (which everyone else used for fear of destroying their wagons and wagon wheels). The wheel spacing of all Roman chariots was exactly alike.

Thus, we have the answer to the original question. The United States standard railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches derives from the original specification for an Imperial Roman war chariot.

It seems specs and bureaucracies are eternal. So, when you’re handed a specification and wonder which horse's behind came up with it, you may be more right than you know. Because Imperial Roman war chariots were made just wide enough to accommodate the behinds of two Imperial Roman war-horses.

Beloved, much exists in the church today that’s tied to an ages old tradition without much adjustment for the people who have to live with them.

Jesus taught us, "the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath”; since redeemed man is the Church, and the Church is to keep the Sabbath holy, we must likewise conclude the church was made for man, and not man for the church.

Traditions give flavor and honor to the blood, sweat, and tears of those who’ve gone on before us. But people use the traditions to provide the flavor and to give the honor, not the other way around. If the people of God decide to hold onto a tradition for a couple of centuries, or even a couple of millennia, that’s fine. But if the traditions are in place because of T’TW’ADTH (That’s the way we’ve always done things here), well then, the traditions are running us not the other way around.

[The Good, Clean Funnies List, Box 476, Harvest, AL 35749-0476; USA; “The Impact of the Roman Empire on Space Shuttle Design,” 20 October 1999; “ received from L. Rodney Ford via Doug Taylor.”]

Christianity, Illustrations,
Religion, Traditions

EVANGELISM: Forewarned is forearmed!

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."

Matthew 24:36

The TV reporter was speaking in an excited, animated tone, obviously caught up in the unfolding catastrophe; smoke was drifting across the neighbors’ yards, as an orange glow shimmered on the advancing firefighters.

On the screen, to the right, a woman struggle fiercely with a policeman and a neighbor. She was trying with all of her might to free herself; to the left, several people were visibly shaken and grief stricken.

Why? Because all of the woman’s children were trapped inside the burning home. The mourners were the woman’s friends and neighbors. The commentator understood the gravity of the scene and was affected by it.

What is wrong with this picture? No one knew the fire would start in that house, on that night, at that time! The fire had progressed too far to expect anyone to save the children. And, besides, the children didn’t know what was happening; they most likely would sleep right to the end. But still, what’s wrong with this picture?

Could it be that we’ve been warned of a fire to come? [Matthew 3:7] We don’t know which house the fire will pass by or which it won’t, but we know it will affect every unprotected house, don’t we? [Exodus 12:27]

Oh, we don’t know of the day or the hour [Mark 13:32], but we know with certainty it’s coming, don’t we? [Revelation 22:20] Haven’t we been warned?

So why aren’t we grieving before our neighbors’ homes? Why aren’t we on their front lawns, mourning the soon coming calamity? Why aren’t we earnestly contending with those who would prevent us from reaching our neighbors? [Jude 1:3]

Isn’t the smoke of Hell’s fire drifting across the green lawns of our communities? Isn’t the glow of Hades seen on the faces of all too many people we know? Once the fire starts, won’t it also be too late to save them?

Or could it be that we’re ignoring the smoke, don’t see the glow, and don’t care about the kids?

Christianity, Evangelism,
Illustrations, Religion

MISSIONS: The reality of God's will!

Years ago a young man and his bride wanted to make a difference for God in this world; they applied and were accepted as missionaries to Africa.

Following their arrival in New York to prepare for oversees service, mission officials determined the rigors of Africa would put the wife at risk. The agency revoked their deputation.

The couple returned home, brokenhearted, wondering how to rebuild their shattered dream. They decided to make money – lots of money – to support missions. They figured they could make it possible to send others to share the gospel of Christ even though they could not go themselves.

The young man's father had been making unfermented wine for their church’s communion services. His son soon became involved with him. Their name was Welch. They manufacture Welch’s grape juice to this day. The company has given millions to spread the gospel through missions. Did they rebuild their dream?

Despite our human frailty - God wants to use us in a positive way in negative world. Remember who we are; we are a people of God’s own choosing, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.

It only takes a grain of salt in a substance to know it’s there. Even though you may feel small, weak or insignificant - you're not! We are “the salt of the earth, the light of the world.”

Christianity, Illustrations,
Missions, Religion

CALL: Run If You Want!

Southern California is earning a well-deserved reputation as the “freeway-chase capitol” of the world … and rightly so. At least once or twice a week now, the evening news reports on another semi-brain dead simpleton who apparently believes he can outrun the police.

Recently, however, one chase was especially interesting. The suspect speed off like all the other car-chase celebrities but then added an extra component … running out of gas, he jumped from his vehicle and fled on foot; then, jumping a guardrail, he inadvertently leaped over the edge of a 400 foot embankment … the final section of which was a vertical, 75 foot drop to the canyon floor.

The suspect broke his pelvis, both shoulders, and suffered multiple head and body lacerations and scrapes. He was arrested in the hospital after being treated for his injuries. Local authorities expect a lawsuit to follow.

I recall another man who tried to run from a higher authority: the prophet Jonah. He tried to flee from God when called upon to preach to Nineveh. In the case of the prophet his leap was aided by fellow travelers and ended in the gut of a great fish.

In the end his injuries were more emotional than physical … and of course the cliff-jumper will end up in prison, while the prophet ended up in the gospels, being cited by the Lord Jesus Christ as the only sign this adulterous generation will ever receive. But the lesson is the same: run, but don’t expect to hide when God is calling!

Christianity, Illustrations,
Religion, Calling

GOSPEL: Freedom Awards!

"Just as it is written, 'HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!'"

Romans 10:15b

The news report read: “The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) presented its 1999 International Press Freedom Awards last night to four journalists — from Columbia, Kosovo and Pakistan — at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.”

The report told of the heroic exploits of four journalists who kept on reporting the news in spite of beatings, imprisonments, and death threats. A fifth reporter would have been recognized expect he’s in a Cuban jail for proclaiming the truth.

Founded in 1981, CPJ focuses attention on free press abuses all over the world. The awards are to honor newsmen and women who’ve put themselves in harm’s way to deliver the news and to preserve freedom of the press worldwide.

[“CPJ Holds Its Ninth Annual Awards in NYC,” by Tracey Middlekauff; November 24, 1999; © 1999, News America Digital Publishing, Inc., d/b/a Fox News Online.]

Two thousand years ago, and again and again since, men and women have put themselves on the line to bring the Good News of a great joy to mankind. They too have been beaten, imprisoned, and threatened; in fact for many it has cost them their lives.

I think of Paul in his report to the Corinthians [2 Corinthians 6:4-5]. I recall the accounts preserved for believers in the “Hall of Faith” [Hebrews 11:32-38]. My mind reflects on the lives of the Apostles; men who where reportedly skinned alive, torn asunder, crucified upside down, and decapitated … all after torture and great hardship. Fox’s Book of Martyrs annoys my mind for those who’ve served and suffered and been slain.

But most of all I think on the Son of God who, for the love of God, came bearing Good News … only to be trodden upon, beaten, and crucified for telling the truth: All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God [Romans 3:23]; you must be born again [John 3:3]; and no one comes to the Father but through Me [John 14:6b]. It is a gift of God [Ephesians 2:8].

Christianity, Gospel,
Illustrations, Religion

EVANGELISM: Of Cowardice and Courage!

During our great Civil War (a.k.a. The War Between the States) those who had the money or the influence could hire surrogates to go to war in their place. It was one of the vilest corruptions of patriotism ever committed by American men during a time of national crisis.

No one knows how many lost their lives as the result of this form of cowardice.

Paul speaks of the church being at war; in a variety of places he makes the point that we are in the Lord’s army. Christ on the other hand emphasized the need for soul-winning.

The surrogate and cowardly mentality that existed among men during The War Between the States exists today in the war between good and evil. Men and women alike send surrogates, using money and influence to avoid their own personal responsibility. The practice remains one of mankind’s vilest inventions.

No one knows how many have lost their lives as the result of this form of cowardice.

Christianity, Illustrations, Religion

SOWING: We're the field hands in the Harvest field of eternity.

FIRST SOW, THEN REAP [Galatians 6:6, 7]

A Wycliffe Bible Translators radio program in Peru is now supported by the tribe it sought to reach, the Huntington Beach, California-based ministry said.

A few years ago a U.S. visitor gave co-translators Pushpi and Yepo, members of the Huaylas Quechua tribe, money to use however they saw fit. They used it to air a weekly radio program in their native language, Quechua. The program, “Alli wallaqu i,” means “good news” and features Scripture reading. After airing the show for two months, Pushpi and Yepo began to say their good-byes to their audience because funding had nearly run out.

Letters, many containing contributions, began to pour in. One girl sold a sheep she had raised and donated the money. Other offerings and letters of appreciation continued to arrive. “This isn’t a program just for Catholics or just evangelicals,” one Quechua man wrote. “It teaches us God’s Word. It’s for everyone.”

A 10-year-old boy said his whole neighborhood listens because it helps them reflect on their lives and “re-teaches us according to God’s Word.” The program is fully supported by the Quechua people.

NOT BEFORE THEIR TIME: [Luke 8:4-8]

You ever garden? I love growing tomatoes - store tomatoes are just awful things, barely suitable for human consumption. I usually grow tomatoes from sprouts I buy at the nursery. Growing tomatoes from seed is a lot of hard work, particularly heirloom varieties, and unless you nurse them like your firstborn, most of your sprouts just won't survive. Often by the time you get good sprouts its too late in the season to get a good crop.

I think that is instructive about how we do church these days. We work so very hard to sprout 'em - but we lose so many of them. And those that try so desparately to grow never seem to find the soil to do it in, good sprouts often die for lack of being transplanted at the proper time. (added 30 March 2006)

HT: Blogotional