Parlez-vous français ? Sprechen Sie deutsch?

I took one year of French in High School. I barely passed. That was my reason for not taking a second year of French.

Our family moved to Germany in 1974 to be missionaries. Shortly after we were settled into our new home I spent 4 days a week at the Goethe Institute studying German. Within a few short weeks I preached (read by manuscript) my first sermon in German.

As I reflect on those two very different experiences in learning a new language I see a parallel as it pertains to Bible study. Like many of you I grew up going to church and attending Bible classes. We were there every time the doors were open so I heard a lot of Bible being taught. But I can’t tell you that I really knew or understood a lot of what I was taught.

When I got out of the army I worked for an aircraft construction company. I worked closely with two guys who professed to be Christians. Both of them lived like the Devil throughout the week but never missed attending church on Sunday. I began to discuss the scriptures with them. They would make an argument and I would go home and study to prepare to respond the next day at work. I was doing a lot of Bible Study. But I was studying the Bible with a specific purpose. Bible study became an adventure and I could not get enough.

How many of you can relate to sitting on a plane and listening to the instructions from the cabin personnel about the seat belt and the flotation devise under your seat. You “heard” what was said, but did you really pay attention? Why not?  Because you did not expect to be in an emergency landing or crash over water where you would really need this information.

The moral of the story?  We learn more and pay attention to what we hear when there is reason or need to do so.

Can you imagine how exciting it would be for Christians if they understood their vocation as disciples as not that dissimilar from their heroes they read about in the Scriptures. What if they could see themselves as a part of the continuing story being written today? Instead of Biblical truths going in one ear and out the other, Bible Study would be seen as preparation for their mission. What if they saw themselves as a part of an incredible adventure with other Christians and learning was critical to the success of that mission.

If you have ever taught a Bible class you understand that the one who gained the most was you…the teacher. Why? You were learning with a purpose.

Unused truth is often lost truth. How many times have we heard, “Use it or lose it!” So let me encourage you to put yourself in a challenging situation. Deliberately put yourself in a place where you need to know and allow yourself to be motivated to learn with purpose. You will be so glad you did.

The Attractive Jesus

I happened to be channel surfing last evening and happened upon a clip from the independent film, “Bella”. It is being promoted among Christian circles as a “pro-life” movie, though I have not seen it yet, others say that is not its major thrust. The trailer I watched has a scene it which the staring couple happens upon a blind man sitting on the side walk in New York City with a sign beside him that reads, “God closed my eyes…now I see. The sign alone carries a powerful message…but I digress.

 

The blind man senses the couple’s presence and says, “Today is a beautiful day…right”?

Then without hesitation he says, “Describe it to me.” The young lady responded, “Just an ordinary day in New York City…you know. People rushing back and forth, everybody’s got some where to go, somewhere to be. Nobody cares about nothing. Like a human driven clock…never stops”.

 

The blind man answers, “Oh…wish I could see that.”

 

As I reflected a bit on this brief portion of the movie I was struck with the feeling that her description could fit most any city of size anywhere in the world. Cities filled with people with places to go, people to see and deadlines to meet. Jesus came to a world, although separated by centuries from our own, that had pretty much the same mind set. But it was not long until Jesus not only stood out in the crowd, the crowd had assembled because of Him.

 

What was it that made Jesus so attractive? What was it that set Him apart from the” crowd”, so to speak? Some would say His miracles, others His radical teaching. If I had to choose just one it would be His compassion. Jesus was compassionate about people. He was not just conscious of the people; he was compassionate for the people. In Matthew 14 a multitude of people are following Jesus and the disciples tell Him to send them away to find food. Jesus responds by telling the disciples, “You feed them.” The disciples were conscious of people, Jesus was compassionate for people.

 

In Matthew 19 people are bringing children to Jesus to have Him bless them and the disciples told them not to be a bother to the Lord. But Jesus tells them to allow the children to come to Him and He blessed them. The disciples were conscious of people, Jesus was compassionate toward people.

 

When Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan He taught the lesson that often religious people are conscious of others and their needs, but often are not compassionate about those people and their needs.

 

Maybe one of the reasons that people are not interested in hearing us talk about Jesus is that they have not first seen Jesus in us. The problem with using words when talking about Jesus is a problem of communication. There are at least three messages that may be present in our words: (1) what I intend to say, (2) what I actually say and (3) what others hear. When we act with the compassion of Christ toward others they realize that we are more than just conscious that they exist, we are compassionate about them as well.

 

People who go around coercing people into “decisions” for Christ are not only doing a total disservice to Jesus (IMHO), they are presenting a distorted picture of Jesus. The Jesus that was “attractive” was not some “in your face” sort of teacher when talking to the non-religious. He compassionately touched, healed and met the needs of those who came to Him.

 

I am trying to learn to be more compassionate. I don’t want to just be conscious of people I want to be compassionate about people. I think the longer I hang around Jesus the more that will happen in my life.

UNCHRISTIAN…THE BOOK

You may not like the conclusions of this book, but you will have a hard time saying that they are not true. The following is a CNN interview with the book’s author. The interviewer is pretty savvy and I think fair in the questions he asks.

Take a look at this one also.

Final Push For Operation Dad 2008

WKRN Channel 2 in Nashville joined other media outlets in promoting Operation Dad 2008. After listen to the video below please read a personal message from Tom Haddon, our Involvment Minister (featured in the video) whose message is listed below.

5/17/08 Good morning,

We have one week to go – This is sorting and packing week. We have enough money to ship just over 4000 packages! That’s 2/3 of the way there.

Need:
Individuals: We need shipping on 2,000 more packages. Can you go to your friends and neighbors today asking them to contribute $ 5.00 to ship one box. The $ 5.00 covers the cost of the bag (small backpak with nothing in it) and the cost to ship it. For every $ 5.00 that you raise, that’s one more bag going to Afghanistan. Individual donations, for tax purposes, are treated like a donation to any qualified ‘church’.

Business:
If you own a business or know someone who does, can you ask for a corportate donation? Remember – every $ 100.00 sends 20 packages. Remind them that we will be sending out tax receipts to them the first part of June. Corporate donations are tax deductible.

Together, with our community, we can get over the hump. I thank you all for what you have already done. Let’s work together to make this happen for our men and women.

Thank you,

Tom Haddon for Operation Dad 2008

 

Steve Gill Takes His Show On The Road For Operation Dad 2008

Will You Be A Drop of Rain?

Operation Dad needs 25,000 drops of rain. One drop won’t accomplish much, but enough drops can turn a desert into an Oasis. We need 25,000 people to give 1 dollar by May 21st. It will cost a little over 5 dollars to send each package. (Yes we have checked with the Post Office and they won’t, and we have checked with the Military and they don’t have a plane).

Side Note! 500 of the 6000 packages being prepared with be for the ladies in the 506th Combat Brigade.

Here is the Fox Channel 17 report from last night.

 

Local Media Spreading The Word About Operation Dad

Most of the local TV Stations and a few of the radio stations are spreading the word about Operation Dad. Here is just a couple reports. One from local TV Report from WSMV Channel 4. and the other The Steve Gill Radio show with our own Tom Haddon and LaVern Vivio known on many radio stations in Nashville as U-Turn Lavern traffic reporter.

 

The Need For Seed

 

Maiduguri Nigerian is about to enter the rainy season. A period of plenty of water followed by up to nine months of drought. Thanks to the skills of drip irrigation and the new well just drilled at the farm crops can now be grown year round. The skills to do this are being taught to the poorest of this region. This wonderful opportunity to show the Love of Christ to the Islamic population has created a tremendous NEED FOR SEED!

If you would like to help meet this need here are a few ways you can help:

• Set up a seed donation box at your congregation/Bible Class/Place of work/School and start collecting garden seeds of all types.
• Children love a challenge. Let them be creative and allow them to share their ideas about seed collection, and then help them follow through.
• Talk to your local store about a matching gift of seed. For example: for (x) number of seed packs purchased, the store owner would donate a pack of seed. Local stores love these promotions that bring people in and increase their store traffic.
• Don’t forget to spread the word at your office or place of work. Who knows where the domino effect might lead.

If you will ship the seed to us, we will be responsible for shipping it to Nigeria.

So mail your seed to 118 Wessington Place, Hendersonville, TN 37075

Got questions? email me at rabboniblog@yahoo.com

Here is a list of seed that we need:

Sweet Corn
Green Beans
Green Peas
Watermelon
Tomatoes
Zucchini
Squash
Bulb Onions
Spinach
Carrots
Cucumber
Eggplant
Lettuce
Cabbage
Okra
Green Pepper
Red Pepper
Chili Pepper
Pumpkin
Radish
Marigold
Beets
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower
Collard Greens
Turnip Greens
Cantaloupe
Honey Dew Melon
Kohlrabi
Parsnip

Please pray for the Lord of the harvest to be glorified as we plant these seeds of faith.

It Is Official

Arewa Aid Executive Committee Announces Appointment of Development Officer

Lee Hodges to begin work for Arewa Aid starting January 1, 2008

The Executive Committee of Arewa Aid is happy to announce the appointment of Lee Hodges of Hendersonville, Tennessee as Development Officer beginning January 1, 2008. Lee has been a minister for 30 years, and became interested in the mission of Arewa Aid through his meeting with Dr. Bradley Dean Blake, the founder of Arewa Aid.

Mr. Hodges primary responsibility will be to foster the relationship between Arewa Aid and it’s supporters, and create new relationships with interested churches, individuals and businesses that are interested in supporting humanitarian work in Northern Nigeria.

Lee has extensive experience in missions through his work with many churches of Christ in Michigan, Tennessee and Pennsylvania, including developing programs within churches to teach mission preparation.

Board Member John Mark Hicks expressed his gratitude to Mr. Hodges, stating, “I am so pleased that Lee has chosen to work with us. His reputation and work ethic will allow Arewa Aid to continue to grow while Dr. Blake and his wife Jen continue their work in Nigeria. We are truly excited to appoint someone to continue the development of Arewa Aid here in the United States, while the work continues to expand in Maiduguri, Nigeria”.

Different Times Demand Different Approaches

Dan McVey is Missions Coordinator for Africa at the College For Bibilical Studies at Abilene Christian University, in Abilene, TX. He is also a Board Member for Arewa Aid. This is an important essay that calls us to different approaches to missions and our own mission. Hope you enjoy!

Since its birth 2000 years ago, the Way of Jesus Christ has always been a flexible faith, emphasizing allegiance to Jesus Christ as its single most defining characteristic, capable of entering any culture, transforming it and moving in missionary waves to cultures and societies beyond. Christianity always has had shifting centers of influence in its history of expansion. From the Jewish temple and synagogues to the Greek temples and markets, and from the Roman legions and bishops to the Germanic monks and reformers, the Kingdom of Christ has seen gradual shifts in its centers of dynamism, theology and impetus for growth. Another such shift is happening right before our eyes. In shades and hues and now in brilliant flashes of light, the Kingdom of our Lord is expanding into new territories, and our theologies and vocabularies will reflect these changes in years to come.

What we are experiencing has been termed a “New Reformation,” the “Third Church” (Orthodox as the first, Roman Catholic/Protestant as the second, and this emerging World Kingdom as the third), and the “Renewal of Christianity as a Non-western Religion.” We are seeing a changing world, a growing Kingdom and changing expressions of missions. Where is the “mission field?” The word “missionary” has lost most of its traditional meaning (a westerner who travels to foreign fields of service), and is being redefined as cross-cultural servants from anywhere to anywhere under the guidance of the Spirit of God. Migration of believers, vocational missions, and creative access to unreached people are some of the most significant movements in church planting and evangelism.

In this changing world of Kingdom Times, we need new paradigms through which we view the opportunities and calls of God to serve in his world. Questions for the future include: 1) what is our role? 2) what message do we have? 3) what does partnership with God look like in this rapidly changing time? 4) what are our goals in missions? 5) how do we participate in God’s work in reaching the unreached portions of the world? and 6) how is the Spirit of God preparing the coming generations for their roles in these momentous times?

Two observations:

1. We cannot continue to “do missions” as we have for the past 20 years. These are different times with different needs and we are different people with the unchanging message of Jesus.
2. “The church that lives comfortably in the post-Christendom West is unable to respond to the pain and spiritual need of postmodern generations” (Samuel Escobar). We must reflect on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in sincere/authentic expression of faith in growing communities of faith within our own culture. Furthermore, we must cast long vision into the future of what our own churches are going to look like and how they will function in the coming generational, revolutionary shift of religious expression in North America.

God is raising the bar for those who are called to participate in these Kingdom Times. Fresh looks at simple lifestyle approaches, partnership with emerging churches, and laying aside our fixation on personal safety so that we may target the truly unreached places of the world-these are some of the issues we must address if we wish to be strategic co-workers with God. These are exciting times. These are testing times. Church history abounds with examples of fellowships and movements that were marginalized through political compromise, and submission to overwhelming cultural influences and apathetic disconnection from the needs of the world. Our roles, needs and abilities may see change, but the Kingdom marches on. Some day, as a matter of routine rather than the exception, we will be studying Chinese and African theologians, singing African and Polynesian hymns, and imitating Indian and Korean disciplines of faith. And it will be just fine. We are getting closer to the vision of Revelation 7.9-10 all the time, “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'”