The day is almost here. In a few short hours, I’ll be leaving for a mission trip to South Africa. It is amazing that the trip has finally arrived. I will have an opportunity to preach and teach. I am really looking forward to these opportunities. I will also do a lot of prayer walking and personal evangelism. I am very excited with this opportunity. I will be leaving Friday with Keith Bryant and Jason Winget. It is going to be a wonderful trip.
God has done many things to help confirm this trip. For me the biggest obstacle to be going has been the money. The cost of the trip is around $3000. It might as well be three million dollars. Heidi and I began praying about this trip and began to seek the will of God. We decided we would simply put out the word of my need and see what God would do. I talked with our church and told them I would love to go but know the money would be an issue. We agreed I would plan to go if the money came in. Shortly thereafter, I sent out letters to family and friends. Heidi and I have been truly overwhelmed with the response. To date, from family and friend, over $4000 has come in. We are truly grateful to this response. My son, Brennan, is planning on going on a mission trip to Japan in the summer of 2008. This will cover most of his trip too. My church has been equally generous. Through the church I have received almost $2000. With the generosity of God’s people, I will be able to go to South Africa, send Brennan to Japan, and begin a “Missionary Sending” fund in our church. Praise God! I always wonder why I am so surprised at God’s working.
Probably my biggest concern with leaving for South Africa is simply leaving the church. We have two very big events coming up while I am gone. On October 31st, we have a safe Halloween alternative called, Heroes Unmasked. On November 4, our four day revival begins with Andy Addis preaching. I am very apprehensive about leaving during this period. However, I have some amazing people at our church that will do very well without me. Halloween will be a huge success and the revival will be ready and going great on my return. Just like I trusted God for the money, I must also trust God to work in the people to get done the jobs that must get done for the success of these two events. I have no doubt it will go very well.
Last night we have another affirming event happen. At our Financial Peace seminar I was talking about my trip to South Africa. As we talked, one of the ladies said her son is a pilot on Delta and will be flying to South Africa Friday. Isn’t it a small world? There is a very good chance that the pilot for my trip will be someone from Dodge City. I’m not sure if that is a miracle or not. Nonetheless, for Heidi and I it really breathed comfort into our hearts. It is as if God has carefully put His hand on every aspect of this trip. We serve a great and mighty God.
Finally, if you have given to support my trip, I would like to say thank you. I would ask everyone to begin praying for my trip. I will be leaving Friday morning October 26th and returning November 4th. Please pray in the following areas:
1. Safety in travel
2. Safety from crime while in South Africa
3. An open door for the Gospel
4. My preaching and teaching may be in the power and anointing of the Spirit
5. A sensitive heart for the people
6. Homes of peace for future Bible Studies
7. My health in general
8. Heidi and the kids while I am gone
9. The preparations for Heroes Unmasked and the revival
10. For the continued work of the gospel in South Africa
I am going to try and update my trip on regular basis. I will be sending new updates and prayer needs. I’m looking forward in being used by God. Please keep my family and I in your prayers. Thank you again for your love, prayers, and support.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
How Can I Be Sure
The question is rather simple: Can a person really know if they have eternal life? In other words, can we know if we will spend eternity with God in heaven? I have heard it said that no one can truly know. We do our best on this earth and pray it has been good enough to grant us entrance into the Kingdom. If our good outweighs the bad we are in. If our bad outweigh the good, well, it is going to be a very long and hot eternity. I strongly disagree with that viewpoint. In fact, I believe that a person can know they have eternal life and should know they have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.” The apostle plainly states that he wrote this book to give us the assurance we need in this life. The following are a few tests that John lays forth so we might know we have eternal life.
1. Are you convicted of sin? (1:6)
2. Do you confess sin? (1:8, 10)
3. Do you keep His commands? (2:4) See 3:23 for His command.
4. Do you walk like Jesus? (2:6)
5. Do you love the brethren? (2:10-11)
6. Do you sin less? (3:6,9)
7. Are you more loving? (4:7)
8. Do you acknowledge Jesus is the Son of God? (4:15)
9. Do you believe Jesus is the Christ? (5:1)
10. Do you overcome? (5:4)
Assurance breeds confidence. Confidence brings about spiritual victories. Spiritual victories bring glory to God. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to life a life that continually brings glory to God? Do you know you are saved? Is your assurance based upon an event that happened many years ago? Are you seeing evidence of Jesus in your life today? You can know if you are saved and secure in Christ. Look at your walk objectively. If you have any questions, drop me an email. I would love to walk you through the process of being certain of your eternal state.
1. Are you convicted of sin? (1:6)
2. Do you confess sin? (1:8, 10)
3. Do you keep His commands? (2:4) See 3:23 for His command.
4. Do you walk like Jesus? (2:6)
5. Do you love the brethren? (2:10-11)
6. Do you sin less? (3:6,9)
7. Are you more loving? (4:7)
8. Do you acknowledge Jesus is the Son of God? (4:15)
9. Do you believe Jesus is the Christ? (5:1)
10. Do you overcome? (5:4)
Assurance breeds confidence. Confidence brings about spiritual victories. Spiritual victories bring glory to God. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to life a life that continually brings glory to God? Do you know you are saved? Is your assurance based upon an event that happened many years ago? Are you seeing evidence of Jesus in your life today? You can know if you are saved and secure in Christ. Look at your walk objectively. If you have any questions, drop me an email. I would love to walk you through the process of being certain of your eternal state.
Does Character Count?
What is the most important quality one should look for in a Christian? I believe it would have to be character. Is this a person of character? Would you agree that a person’s character is the most important quality there is? It the person real or is he a phony? How can we become people of character? It does not mean they do not have personal struggles and defeats. But are they real? Can you trust this person?
As a Christian, a great way to look at character is to look at the Character Star. I first saw this star in “Leaderlife.” It has made me step back and think a little bit. In the middle is our relationship with God. This is the most important aspect of character. Then coming off of the center are five important aspects of character: Integrity, Financial Responsibility, Marriage and Family, Physical Health, and Emotional Health. Each aspect of character is important and must be looked at. To help us evaluate our character, take time to look at each question and allow the Holy Spirit to work in you.
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:
1. Am I closer to God today than I was a year ago? Why or Why not?
2. What are the evidences I have an intense thirst for a relationship with God?
3. What are some specific steps I can take to foster my spiritual health?
INTEGRITY: (Purity of Heart)
1. Are there secret sins in my life? (sexual, money, power etc.)
2. Do I have an accountability partner?
3. Do I make promises I can’t or won’t keep?
4. Do I want to succeed or to please people so much that I will say or do anything to achieve these goals.
5. Do people around me see me as a person who keeps my word?
6. If Jesus were to sit down and talk with me, what sins would he condemn in me? In my church?
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
1. How do I balance my family relationship and my work responsibilities?
2. How can I make my spouse feel like she is my top priority?
3. What am I doing to raise my children to be future “Champions of Christ.”
4. Would my children call me a person of character?
PHYSICAL
1. Is my weight within proper balance?
2. Is my blood pressure and cholesterol within acceptable limits?
3. Do I have periodic physical checkups?
4. Do I smoke or drink excessively?
5. Do I work out at least 3 times per week?
EMOTIONAL HEALTH
1. How many close friends do I have other than my spouse?
2. Have I embraced the hurts of my past?
3. Am I able to be responsive rather than reactive to difficult people?
4. Am I able to laugh comfortably and appropriately? Does it take “sorted” things to make me laugh?
FINANCIAL HEALTH
1. Does money occupy too large a part of my everyday thought process? What worries me?
2. How am I controlling my debt so I am not under bondage to debt?
3. How am I practicing biblical Christian stewardship? Am I tithing and giving above my tithes to ongoing ministries of the Church?
4. Do I have a budget, a will, an emergency fund, retirement, and insurance?
Those are really thought provoking questions. I have cut out the start and have it within my sight everyday. It keeps me thinking of every aspect of my character. By the way, I could have done with out the physical portion of the questions. God is really working on the physical aspect of my life. Where is He working in your life? Allow yourself to be transparent. Allow God to mold you and allow yourself to become everything God has created you to be. Remember, as far as it is up to you, live at peace will all people. The best way to live in peace is to be a genuine person of character. .
What is the most important quality one should look for in a Christian? I believe it would have to be character. Is this a person of character? Would you agree that a person’s character is the most important quality there is? It the person real or is he a phony? How can we become people of character? It does not mean they do not have personal struggles and defeats. But are they real? Can you trust this person?
As a Christian, a great way to look at character is to look at the Character Star. I first saw this star in “Leaderlife.” It has made me step back and think a little bit. In the middle is our relationship with God. This is the most important aspect of character. Then coming off of the center are five important aspects of character: Integrity, Financial Responsibility, Marriage and Family, Physical Health, and Emotional Health. Each aspect of character is important and must be looked at. To help us evaluate our character, take time to look at each question and allow the Holy Spirit to work in you.
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:
1. Am I closer to God today than I was a year ago? Why or Why not?
2. What are the evidences I have an intense thirst for a relationship with God?
3. What are some specific steps I can take to foster my spiritual health?
INTEGRITY: (Purity of Heart)
1. Are there secret sins in my life? (sexual, money, power etc.)
2. Do I have an accountability partner?
3. Do I make promises I can’t or won’t keep?
4. Do I want to succeed or to please people so much that I will say or do anything to achieve these goals.
5. Do people around me see me as a person who keeps my word?
6. If Jesus were to sit down and talk with me, what sins would he condemn in me? In my church?
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
1. How do I balance my family relationship and my work responsibilities?
2. How can I make my spouse feel like she is my top priority?
3. What am I doing to raise my children to be future “Champions of Christ.”
4. Would my children call me a person of character?
PHYSICAL
1. Is my weight within proper balance?
2. Is my blood pressure and cholesterol within acceptable limits?
3. Do I have periodic physical checkups?
4. Do I smoke or drink excessively?
5. Do I work out at least 3 times per week?
EMOTIONAL HEALTH
1. How many close friends do I have other than my spouse?
2. Have I embraced the hurts of my past?
3. Am I able to be responsive rather than reactive to difficult people?
4. Am I able to laugh comfortably and appropriately? Does it take “sorted” things to make me laugh?
FINANCIAL HEALTH
1. Does money occupy too large a part of my everyday thought process? What worries me?
2. How am I controlling my debt so I am not under bondage to debt?
3. How am I practicing biblical Christian stewardship? Am I tithing and giving above my tithes to ongoing ministries of the Church?
4. Do I have a budget, a will, an emergency fund, retirement, and insurance?
Those are really thought provoking questions. I have cut out the start and have it within my sight everyday. It keeps me thinking of every aspect of my character. By the way, I could have done with out the physical portion of the questions. God is really working on the physical aspect of my life. Where is He working in your life? Allow yourself to be transparent. Allow God to mold you and allow yourself to become everything God has created you to be. Remember, as far as it is up to you, live at peace will all people. The best way to live in peace is to be a genuine person of character. .
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