Coulda, Mighta
Posted on | July 17, 2010 | No Comments
Most of us have said it before after a mishap of some sort: “I coulda broke my leg (or neck).” “I mighta been killed!” Sometimes it’s a sobering thought. Sometimes it can be funny. The sad part comes if we let the “coulda’s and the mighta’s” control our life.
Some of us live in such fear. I was thinking about flying and post 9/11. (Guess it’s because Judy and I are leaving in a few days for Asia.) We have so many checks at airports and government buildings to keep out the terrorists but we all know that attacks still happen in the world. We all know that another one could happen in the U.S. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for having security checks and increased levels of awareness. But the reality is, most of us go about our days living with some level of uncertainty about our “safety”, and even our very life. We know some people are going to die in auto accidents, but we still drive and ride in cars. We know some people are going to get sick from food poisoning, but we still eat food. We can realize the uncertainty of life and learn to trust the Lord with our life and our health. This does not mean we do stupid things but we make the decision not to hold back on “LIFE”. We determine to live “LIFE” to the fullest. We can only do this as we trust HIM for our “LIFE” and with our “LIFE”.
In the midst of our worries about uncertainties of our life we often don’t consider many of the certainties of the world around us:
- 26,000 Children will die from starvation within the next 24 hours.
- About every 15 seconds a child dies from water related illness. That’s 5760 per day.
- 27 million people in the world today are slaves – most of them are women and children in the sex industry.
- 72 million children of primary school age are not enrolled in school – the majority of them are girls.
- Every 2 seconds a child is orphaned.
- 42 million babies are aborted each year – that’s 115,000 every day.
- 1 billion people live on less than $1.00 per day.
- Thousands die every day who have never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel.
- Millions of people still do not have even one verse of the Bible in their language.
- About every 3 minutes a Christian believer is martyred for their faith.
As Americans we live in the richest, “safest”, most advanced nation in the world. There are real solutions to these certainties, but what are we doing? Are we still worrying about the “coulda’s” and the “mighta’s”? Do we really believe the Bible we read, or only when it doesn’t cost us any time, discomfort, money or “safety”?
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…”- Romans 1:16
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Yes!
Posted on | March 30, 2010 | No Comments
“I want to have my keel deep and stable in the once-for-all biblical revelation of God, and I want to have my sails unfurled to every movement of God’s Spirit upon the deeps.” John Piper
The Eyes Are On Us!
Posted on | February 15, 2010 | No Comments
The eyes of the world are upon all of us as the Church of Jesus Christ! We are the ones with the message of life for the 29% of the world’s population without any knowledge of Jesus or salvation. What are we doing? There is more money embezzled by church staff from church budgets than we are spending to get the Gospel to these lost souls. Oh God! Are we about the work of ministry, or are we playing around in our comfort while more than 1 billion persons go to hell without hope and many right around us are in need for daily bread and a warm home or even a warm coat. Oh God!
Hudson Taylor is quoted as saying, “The Great Commission is not an option to be considered. It is a command to be obeyed.” Taylor said this many years ago but the truth is still current and relevant. Do we “get it”? Jesus gave this Commission to his first disciples and to us. Do we take it seriously? Do we even think about it? To be obedient disciples we must lay our “YES” on the altar and then listen for where and what He says to go and do.
Do we sometimes have amnesia and forget who we are as the Church? Or do we know who we are in the first place? Have we really seen that in the first part of the Commission Jesus stated that He is the one that has all authority? Have we been filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit? We go in His authority and empowered by the person of the Holy Spirit. We are to live and walk daily in this knowledge and truth. As we do, then the world will change and people will hear the message of forgiveness and salvation. We can see the completion of the task He left for us and the preparation for His second coming. Yes, Lord!
William Carey was a cobbler in England that became burdened by God for the “heathen” of the world. That is the ones who had never heard the Gospel. God wants to use all of His Church, not just the professional clergy. He wants to use businessmen, professionals and everyone else to be committed to the expansion of His Kingdom in the world. We may not all go, but we can pray and help send others. Carey went as the pioneer of the modern missions era, many have gone since him. Still more than 1 billion haven’t heard! Lord forgive us! We have more than enough personnel and resources. Ninety-six percent of Christian resources are “consumed” by six percent of the world’s population. Is that just? What are we doing?
Let us repent and determine that we will be completely obedient to Christ’s command. No more playing with disobedience. Let us really be the Church while the world watches us burn with the passion of Jesus for those that are hurting all around us and those that have yet to hear the good news of Jesus -especially the 29%.
Danny Armstrong Feb 15, 2010
THIS ADVENTURE WITH JESUS – ARE WE SAFE?
Posted on | January 8, 2010 | No Comments
I’ve been thinking about this for some time – off and on. Often when we talk about going on a mission trip, whether it is to Southeast Asia or North Charleston, someone always ask, “Is it safe?” Is that a valid first question? Look at what Rick Warren says in the first few sentences of Purpose Driven Life:
It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.
So, should we not start with God and His purposes and plans? Paul tells us very clearly, “for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 (ESV) and “For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.” Romans 11:36 (NLT).
We’re called to glorify God through our lives whatever the cost to our safety. God desires that all come to know the truth of Salvation. This is why Jesus came (John 3:16).
We have the awesome privilege to be on this adventure for the glory of God along with God. Adventure involves risk. It’s the very essence of the word as noted below from Webster’s Online Dictionary.
ad·ven·ture – Webster’s Online Dictionary
Pronunciation: \əd-ˈven-chər\
Function: noun
1 a : an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks b : the encountering of risks <the spirit of adventure>
2 : an exciting or remarkable experience <an adventure in exotic dining>
3 : an enterprise involving financial risk.
Notice what Jesus himself says about His purpose on earth. WOW!
Matthew 10:34-39 (English Standard Version)
Not Peace, but a Sword
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
WE’RE CALLED TO THIS!! This Hazardous Love for Jesus and the World!
Luke 17:33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.
This is counter to “The Good Life” “The American Dream”
We have been captivated (some would say we have a love affair) with “convenience” and “safety”.
For many the goal is to get from cradle to grave with the most comfort and least inconvenience. OH GOD, HELP US!
Consider this:
In C. S. Lewis’, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the Beavers are describing the great lion, Aslan, to the children. Mr. Beaver says,
“You’ll understand when you see him.”
“But shall we see him?” asked Susan.
“Why, Daughter of Eve, that’s what I brought you here for. I’m to lead you where you shall meet him,” said Mr. Beaver.
“Is – is he a man?” asked Lucy.
“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King I tell you.”
[C.S. Lewis illustrated by Pauline Baynes.
The Chronicles of Narnia; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
(New York: Harper Trophy) 79-80]
Loving Christ has never been SAFE!! He is not a safe man to follow. He is revolutionary and radical in the best usage of the words!
Erwin McManus, “Christians must die to themselves in order to fear nothing but God.”
We will do things and say things that make people uncomfortable – sometimes they want to kill us. Sometimes they do! – Jesus
Matthew Ellison, “Jesus orchestrated his own death, it’s not safe to follow a man like this.”
Who taught us we would be SAFE?
NOT Jesus and NOT the Bible!
Christian parents can be the greatest block to children getting to the mission field. Christ does not dream the “American Dream”. He said, “you will have trouble.” – REALITY CHECK…
He promises we can have ecstatic joy in the journey. He basically says to his disciples, “Don’t be afraid, you can only be killed.” DON’T REJECT RISK! He removed the eternal risk!!!
Hebrews 2:14-18 (The Message)
Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death.
It’s obvious, of course, that he didn’t go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed.
1 Corinthians 15:55 (The Message)
Death swallowed by triumphant Life!
Who got the last word, oh, Death?
Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?
Paul is saying to be free from the fear of death… It’s an empty threat – we win!
Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. – Paul
“I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” Romans 8:38-39 (The Message)
“Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose. “ Philippians 1:21 (The Message)
We RISK our lives to LOVE not to KILL!
Bonhoeffer said, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”
In AD 111 Ignatius was thrown to the lions as a result of reproving the Emperor openly for his worship of other gods. When he learned of his punishment for confronting the sin of this ruler, Ignatius stated,
“Now and only now do I become a true disciple of Jesus Christ… It is sufficient for me if I but become a partaker of Christ. Let the devil and evil men afflict me with all manner of pain and torment, with fire, with cross, with fighting against wild beast, with scattering of the members and bones of my body; all this I esteem as very little, if I but enjoy Christ.” Martyrs Mirror
John 12:24-36 (English Standard Version)
24Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up
27“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
The Unbelief of the People
When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.
Here Jesus is choosing the cross.
Purpose of Risk è Fruit
The price of being a Christian is rising all over the world. Each day 480 Christians are martyred!
The Great Commission will not be finished without risk takers!
(WIG Take – Whatever it’s gonna take)
It might cost us all we have – our possessions or even our life. But we have joy unspeakable in Christ.
Francis Chan says in Crazy Love, “…by surrendering yourself totally to God’s purposes, He will bring you the most pleasure in this life and the next.”
In the movie Braveheart, Wallace at the great battle rode up and challenged the men, “Fight and you may die, run and you’ll live, at least a while. And dying in your bed many years from now would you be willing to trade all your days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives but they’ll never take our freedom.”
Our enemies may well be our own safety, and our own small dreams. We are challenged to the Great Adventure with Jesus for His glory and our joy in Him.
Is it SAFE? NO – Is there RISK? YES – JESUS SAID “FOLLOW ME” WILL WE?? WILL YOU???
Church Missions Coaching
Posted on | September 25, 2009 | No Comments
Church missions coaching is a process that teams up a coach with a local church to assist the church in developing and implementing its vision for global outreach.
Through a series of workshops the coach walks alongside church leaders to train, enourage, support, and advise the church in the development of a focused missions strategy.
The goal of the coaching process is to help a church design and use its unique gifts in partnership with others to make Christ and his kingdom known among the nations through word and deed ministries.
Our vision is to walk alongside local congregations to see them actively engaged in global ministry and to assist local church leaders in stimulating a deeper vision for and involvment in missions.
Find out more about church missions coaching and how your church can become more focused and have a greater impact on the world for Christ. For more information about the coaching process, contact Danny & Judy at engage@dannyandjudyarmstrong.com or 803-221-9609.
“Human Trafficking” – Another way to say “SLAVERY”!
Posted on | September 20, 2009 | No Comments
“It is widely accepted by all who study human trafficking that there are more slaves today than there were during the three centuries of TransAtlantic slave trade combined. Of today’s slaves, it is believed that approximately 50 percent are children under the age of 18.”
Read more at: http://www.onenewsnow.com/features.aspx?id=687534
Love
Posted on | September 20, 2009 | No Comments
“God is Love”. That’s not an attribute, but His very essence!
International Justice???
Posted on | August 10, 2009 | 2 Comments
“The government of the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo is racking up fines of $20,000 a week in a case brought by a New York-based vulture fund over a debt incurred from Tito’s Yugoslavia in the 1980s.”
“Vulture funds are so called because they prey on the world’s poorest countries, buying up their sovereign debt cheaply on capital markets and then going to courts, often in Britain or the United States, to enforce payment of the full value of the debt.”
“Eight million people have died in the Congo for lack of healthcare… and the last thing they can do is find $100m for a vulture fund”, a lawyer for the Congo was quoted as saying.
There are organizations in the U.S., Britian, and other countries working to put legal controls on these vulture funds. Who is investing in these funds? There certainly needs to be something done to control these “Vultures”. May God give wisdom and boldness!
The full story is on the web at (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/09/congo)
Lion Chaser’s Manifesto
Posted on | August 7, 2009 | No Comments
I wanted to post this from Mark Batterson. This is a challenge to me, I hope to you!
Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.
Chase the lion.
Posted by: Mark Batterson, Risk Taking
Guatemala
Posted on | August 5, 2009 | No Comments
Great time in Guatemala City speaking at a church missions conference! This Guatemalan church has missionaries in India, Spain, Mexico and Guatemala. It has been neat seeing the partnership between this church and TrueNorth Church in South Carolina. They are also sending teams to the US to work with TNC among migrant workers and in other areas. The exchange is going both ways. Fun stuff!