~A Land of the Lost~ ~ A Gospel of Hope~

 The other day I received an email about a family that still needs help that moved away from our city. Last night I received another phone call from someone I did not know from out of state in need of help for relatives who live in my town. Between these two completely different needs & stories it made me think again how lost our culture is and has become from when I first came to Christ in the early 80's. 

            As I look around our culture I see trends that cause me to rethink how followers of Christ look and act in respect to our culture. When I first became a Christian in the early 80’s I was discipled and taught some basic principles I have lived by for the past 20 plus years.

 

1.     Abstain or avoid from all appearance of evil  I Thessalonians 5:22

2.     Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.    Ephesians 4:29

3.     Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Corinthians 6:19

1.    Abstain or avoid from all appearance of evil: These simple principals and rules of living holy are harder to perceive, define and apply when the culture is more backward away from godliness then forward toward a gospel conformity. For instance, when I first got saved I lived with a guy who was a few years older than me and we shared an apartment and a partying lifestyle. Since I got saved I have only lived with male roommates  and my family and now my wife. When I first got saved if a man lived with a woman who was not their spouse it was considered the appearance of a sinful relationship (unless the age difference by decades was obvious). If two men lived with each other rarely was it considered a homosexual relationship?  Now it is a different day! With decades of entertainment breaking down our moral compasses even in our public schools there are subculture gay groups. In some areas in society sodomy dips into Junior high school as well. With multiple sitcoms and movies supporting and making this sinful behavior common place those social rules from decades ago have changed. Depending on where you live you might have to adjust your perspective. Matter of fact with the way the government welfare system it is structured, marriage can often undo financial stability for many people today including our senior citizens.  In a post Christian culture the appearance of evil is a more difficult thing to define then it was even a decade ago. Many people live with whomever they know or can, just to survive verses out of sexual encounters. The family structure has crumbled and it is not the majority percentage of the culture any longer either. Half of all American children will witness the breakup of a parent’s marriage. Of these, close to half will also see the breakup of a parent’s second marriage.” (Furstenberg, Peterson, Nord, and Zill, “Life Course”)  Among the millions of children who have seen their parents divorce, one of every 10 will also live through three or more parental marriage breakups. (The Abolition of Marriage, Gallagher)  Forty percent of children growing up in America today are being raised without their fathers. (Wade, Horn and Busy, “Fathers, Marriage and Welfare Reform” Hudson Institute Executive Briefing, 1997)  Of all children born to married parents this year, fifty percent will experience the divorce of their parents before they reach their 18th birthday. (Fagan, Fitzgerald, Rector, “The Effects of Divorce On America)

Can America be restored? Maybe, but as long as the vast majority of entertainment keeps producing and promoting immorality on the scale it has done for the last several decades it’s not likely in my opinion.But don't despair for there is hope.

2. When I first came to faith in Christ I had a foul mouth. Jesus Christ was a name I used to curse by. Without anyone telling me I knew I had to change my verbal behavior. Within weeks I dropped the 4 letter words and became highly conscious of the words I said in common speech as well as in anger or pain. Back then, those same words were never heard anywhere but on the streets and among my rough peers. Today is a different day. Some of the 3 and 4 letter foul and course expletive words are common place among people in authority as well as throughout the entertainment world. This rude vocaeven includes many children programming and cartoon shows. Normal communication speech has become just plan rude. 1 Timothy 3:1-5  But realize this,  in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

When I first became a Christian, if the word “ass” or “damn” were used on a show or program I was taught to change the channel or not watch it. ( that was before remote controls too) It is still a good rule of thumb to live by, but rarely does this happen anymore by just observing the favorite TV shows listed on many believers Facebook pages. The reason is often justified because it is only used a couple of times or we just do not define language usage as conservative as we once did as a culture.  Can our tongues learn again to speak with only a God honoring vocabulary in a culture where even those in authority use vulgarity as the common man lingo? Can our common acceptable language be restored to a place of dignity, honor and polite verbiage? I truly doubt it and especially so with text messaging becoming a new language of the day where even the letters “LMAO” are common place among an entire generation. People do not even need to say a foul words out loud to be heard, but just think it and abbreviate it and those on the other end get it, without a single vulgar word technically spelled out in full or spoken. But don't despair for there is hope.

3. When I first came to Christ I had 3 main bad habits that polluted by body. I smoked, I drank alcohol and I smoked marijuana. As soon as I received Christ as Savior I knew that marijuana was wrong and had to go and I wanted it to go as well. I was ready to think straight and have a fresh start in life. Alcohol being legal was a different story. I thought as long as I do not get drunk I am within the biblical boundaries. Within a short time I realized that just because it was legal and acceptable in the culture did not mean it was with God and me. So that left my life within 3 months. Smoking was the last of my big three bad habits.  Since so many of the new friends I had in Christ did not smoke I became more aware of how stupid of an addiction and habit it was and by God’s grace gave it up so I could be a stronger testimony for God and live a healthier and longer biblical life.  Well those three things are still in our culture, but now they are replaced or minimized by even more life wrecking drugs. However, these new drugs are prescribed to people by those in authority that had been trusted for decades. The medical profession and professional is now writing solutions to problems that can often be made up to get the drug. Many get drugs only to sell them like a business. Is there hope to change this addictive culture? I seriously doubt it now as there is an entire multi-billion dollar industry locked into the medical field on these life destroying drugs. ADHD is another supposed problem that kids gets prescriptions for these days. A few decades ago a child would rarely be prescribed a drug. Now a generation of children have become adults who are used to taking drugs for problems since childhood.

Is the Land of the Lost without hope? NO…. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. Hebrews 13:8.  Jesus can and still does forgive sin, break the bondage's and sets the drug addict free. The difference between a few decades ago and now is the higher cost to becoming a follower then it was before. To truly follow Christ ones steps will stand out in the crowd more obvious than even a few decades ago.

Can two senior citizens marry and lose one income and still trust God? Absolutely! Will they count the cost and still do it?  I wonder.

Can someone go to the doctor and ask a zillion questions and decide against taking a prescription that tends to addict and request something different or find alternative answers to pain. Absolutely! Will They? I wonder.

Can someone speak and be entertained without compromising a godly vocabulary that is not as common place as it once was? Absolutely! Will they? I Wonder

Can someone find a place to live without living in sin and honor the God of the universe and avoid appearances of evil? Absolutely! Will they? Time will tell.

These are hard days in America. We are truly a lost culture and desperately need a Savior. We need Him as much culturally  as we do individually. American needs a Savior !  My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ Righteousness! Share him with your culture and see what the Lord will do.We might not be able to change the culture all at once, but we can one lost soul at a time.

A BaaB of a Faith Journey

 

Missions is always about a leap of faith, at least it has been for me. My very first mission trip was in 1989 going to Kenya Africa. Since then and including that first trip I have never had the total resources available to just pay and go. I've always had to step out with desire and faith first and begin to trust, wait and lean on God's timing and provisions.

         I've now gone on 6 mission trips since that first one. The most recent one I am in the process of headed toward is by far the most adventuresome and challenging of all. It is also the most exciting one and most expensive in the hardest of economic times. Biker and a Backpack ( BaaB ) grabbed my hearts attention from day one back in February 2011.

   Since that date almost every dollar saved seemed to slip from my hands to a more immediate and pressing need in my family and ministry until the first deadline arrived in August. On that day I was able to put down 250.00 toward a roughly  $3,000 West African Ghana trip. I was one of first two people who signed up on time. The trip was delayed for lack of enough people until finally it was approved with 12 days before the deadline for balance due.

   It was within a few days of that deadline that God's provisions started to open. An unexpected 500.00 found me and I was shocked. As well, there were the kids In our church doing a “penny drive”. Yes a "penny drive "!  I did not have much hope of pennies providing the final breakthrough, but it was very emotional to think about canceling out on the kids “penny drive fund raiser” because the pastor could not “afford it” or “faith it” all the way through.  

       I was in a true dilemma and what was I going to do? Then a friend I was going to fly to Africa with backed out for reasons unrelated to my situation. This started making me wonder if my timing was wrong on the trip. I finally emailed a missionary friend about my situation (the lack of funds and my desire).  I ended my email with this exact P.S. sentence (I told the Lord I would be willing to sell my motorcycle to go, but the best price in its condition presently would be about 1500.00 and it breaks my heart to sell my only transportation joy and toy and stress reliever, but if God leads I will do it for souls in Africa without questioning Him.)

          The next day a gentleman from my church and I were eating lunch.
      During our conversation he asked me how much I would sell my motorcycle for. Needless to say I was stunned at the timing of his question, knowing he did not know what I had just written a missionary a few days before. I wondered if this was God leading the way to provide or was it just God confirming He heard me and revealing he was indeed my provider.

     It seemed weird that a pastor who likes to ride motorcycles would sell his bike to go on the first biker Jesus film trip and have to sell his to do it, but God knows what he is doing as I remained excited. After lunch I sent him away for the weekend with the keys to my bike and he was to let me know later. I was feeling pretty good that we both would end up pretty happy on this God ordained deal as odd as it seemed.

     That Sunday night he showed up at church with the bike and said , " sorry pastor my bike days are over and I can't do it with your bike or any bike." I said ok and went on my way wondering and still trusting God. I was also beginning to question and doubt a little as well. The next day my friend officially backed out of going on the trip that we had planned for several months to do together.  

      Monday was a hard day and everywhere I turned it seemed like canceling my trip made the most reasonable decision to make. Perhaps I could go another time to do a Jesus Film BaaB mission trip. When I looked up the prices again on flights to West Africa I was overwhelmed as I could not see a way to raise or get the needed $ 1500.00 for a ticket. On top of this my wife reminded me I needed to buy a ticket for my college daughter soon to get her home and back for Thanksgiving.

The next day I shared my dilemma with my volunteer church secretary who is also our mission president in our church. Even her comments were inclined that I might wait and maybe it just was not God's perfect timing yet. Then I glanced down and saw the two jars of pennies on the floor of my office that the kids had been saving. Yeah right I thought!

That same day my wife was not feeling well so I took my youngest daughter to the dentist. Along the way I learned that my associate pastor had given his motorcycle away that day, when I knew the night before it was for sale.  He ended up blessing a young man he hardly knew who had a need. That was so amazing to me and revealing the heart of a great man meeting a Spirit led need. I was so excited for both of them as I drove down the road. That alone was another entire story, but it was another story involving a motorcycle and provision happening around me.  Huum!

I decided to email the Executive Director of JFHP named Brian Helstrom and ask him to call me about Ghana. Not knowing when he would call me or what I was really going to ask him or even what to expect him to say,  but just wanting to get his opinion about flying alone to Africa and my dilemma.

     It was about 1:30 and we were eating at McDonald's after the dental appointment when one of my best friends who is also a pastor called me. We just started talking when I got another call and told him I was expecting a call from
 Kansas City and would he mind if I took the call and got back to him.  I took the call from Brian and he nailed me on my issues and boiled it down to, " Peter, either God wants you on this trip or He doesn't and we need people to get this equipment to Ghana or some people will die without a Savior before they see the film".
After that call I prayed and said to myself,” well I'm going to put action to my  willingness in faith and sell bike again”. I sent Brian a text that read [I will sell "my Bike" for "His souls" and put faith to this idea and list the bike on Craigslist when I get home. Thanks Brian]

     On the way home I remembered that I needed to call my pastor friend back. We both kept getting our calls dropped and finally he got me back and said, “so who called you from Kansas City anyway?" I proceeded to tell him who I called and about my situation and how I did not know what or how I was going to get the money for a plane ticket to Africa. Had he not asked me about the call I had no plan to discuss it with him.

  My friend said, “Peter that's a done deal. We got extra missions money that we can help by purchasing this ticket as this is so missions. Just give us a report after the trip so we know what happened with our investment in missions. Needless to say I was overwhelmed, shocked and extremely blessed.

     It was timing of so many interesting factors and calls that only God could have worked out so many details like this. On the way home I texted my NMI president the news and she was excited too. That same evening we had a local Missions council meeting and the last part of the agenda they voted to cover my Visa expenses. It was the icing on the Mission cake for sure.

What started out as an over $3000.00 trip has turned into an amazing story of grace for me, my family and our church. Granted, I have not even gone yet and more adventure is bound to happen, but truly God leads, delays and provides according to His plan. I wonder how many of His children never experience his amazing ways as I have time and time again because so many do not struggle through in faith up to the last hour. It was only when the Israelite priests actually stepped into the flood stage river waters of the Jordon headed to the promise land before the water parted. It was only when Abraham picked up the knife in willingness to slay his only son as a sacrifice, before God provided another means. It was only as those with leprosy went in obedience before they were healed on the way and it was only when Peter got out the boat before he would walk on water.

    Like Peter I started to tread water on this trip and when the waves of doubt hit me a few times I started to sink, but praise be to God I looked back up to Jesus and waited as He provided the rest of the means through his people and methods for one amazing journey even before leaving for Africa.

Be encouraged, walk in faith and find His heart and follow Him and see what the Master can do in your journey.

What Does A Pastor Do?

The pastor teaches, though he must solicit his own classes. He heals, though without pills or knife. He is sometimes a lawyer, often a social worker, something of an editor, a bit of a philosopher and entertainer; A salesman, a decorative piece for public functions, and he is suppose to be a scholar. He visits the sick, marries people, buries the dead, labors to console those who sorrow and to admonish those who sin, and tries to stay sweet when chided for not doing his duty. He plans programs, appoints committees when he can get them; spends considerable time in keeping people out of each other's hair; between times he prepares a sermon and preaches it on Sunday to those who don't happen to have any other engagement. Then on Monday he smiles when some jovial chap roars, "what a job- one a week!"

Author unknown 

911 & It's Subtle Effects in a Decade

How 9/11 changed me and challenges me to be a better witness for Christ.
I remember that day clearly as most do. I was in my church office and my wife called me after the first plane crashed into a tower. I came home for a few minutes to watch it on the TV. I really did not grasp the impact of it right then cause I did not know as much as I know now. I later left to go downtown that morning and being that we only lived 4 hours south of DC at the time the news was spreading fear and worry everywhere I went that morning.
I do recall how nice of a day it was and the strange calm i felt as I noticed no planes flying over ahead the remainder of that day.

Since then the security at out airports has changed drastically. I have also witnessed numerous times how TSA agents have lost their common sense and discernment with the American people in the name of security.
The biggest change I've noticed however is in me. Since that day I often find myself frozen when I see someone who appears to be Muslim and I get sort of spooked internally. This was never the case before 9/11.
In 1998 I witnessed to a Muslim in Africa for an hour and now I realize that I must look past 9-11 and share Christ again with the same pre 9/11 passion as a growing population of Muslims continue to grow around us. I know without Jesus all men are hopelessly and eternally lost.
I must admit the fear of men and the propaganda about Muslims effected me without truly realizing it until this past year.

In 2012 I have a missions trip planned to West Africa among Muslim people. I truly am looking forward to sharing Christ without fear and with His favor. I also know if I can feel that about them living there I can and need to be this way here at home.
What if the tragedy of 9/11 had been done by radical Catholics or Evangelicals or Jews or Hindu's ? Or radical democrats, republicans or socialist. I've learned over these past 10 years that I must love His way regardless of who does something wicked. I have to look to God to be filled with his power to be a witness to all men everywhere regardless of religion or creed.
Our hearts still go out to those who lost loved ones on that day, but may we learn to love more in the name of Jesus verses fear more.