Goodbye

"There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven"  Ecclesiastes 3:1
2 
After numerous mission outings, a handful of sermons, some really awful golf,  and not a few Spanish mistakes, my time in Texas has come to a close.  It is bittersweet, but the time was right for us to move on.  It was a truly wonderful 4 years; I wouldn't undo it for anything.  FBC is a wonderful fellowship, with some of the finest people to be found anywhere.  

"Change in all things is sweet", said Aristotle.  I'm not sure that I'd go that far, but I get the idea.  So to those who dropped by here from time to time, I say "thanks", and may God bless us everyone.

If Christ Be Not Risen

We're still about 6 weeks out from Easter, but it's never the wrong time to anticipate it, or to reflect on it.  Paul says, in no uncertain terms, that our faith is useless if the resurrection of Jesus didn't really happen.  So today I encourage you to visit this link.  You'll find a video, about 30 minutes long, that gives solid, historical evidence that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead.  Happy learning!

Narrowing The Field

Most people who get seriously involved in world missions will end up considering a partnership of some sort.  There's no reason to reinvent the wheel, right? But where to begin?  The possibilities fairly overwhelm us, and it's not easy to narrow the search.

Well, if that is your plight, here is a helpful article that will get you started.

Unintended Consequences

I finished my last blog post saying that we change the definition of marriage at our peril.  Ideas have consequences, and once a thing is done it is impossible to undo it.  That is certainly true here. So, for example, if you'd like to get a look at the inevitable, and completely predictable, consequences of redefining marriage, click here.

On Fairness

Logic: a proper or reasonable way of thinking about or understanding something --- Merriam-Webster Dictionary

It has become an almost daily occurrence: I log on to my computer, only to come across a headlline that leaves me bewildered and a little sad.  The latest entry?  "How Christianity Gave Us Gay Marriage".

Now if the connection hasn't lept to your mind yet, here is how the thinking goes: Christianity is based on an ethic of fairness, and since it would be unfair if gays couldn't marry, a real Christian will embrace gay marriage.

Are we really so intellectually bankrupt?  Does a Christian worldview, concerned as it is with matters of justice, lead us to "marriage equality"? 

By no means.  The question is not are gays being treated unfairly (they are not; gays can already marry in all 50 states).  The question is, rather, is the union of 2 (or more) homosexuals a "marriage"? 

If the Bible is our guide, it's not even a close call.  Marriage is the union of a man and a woman.  It was, and still is, God's idea, and we tinker with it at our peril.

Training Resource

If you are reading this blog you probably have at least a passing interest in Christian missions.  With that in mind, I'd like to recommend a good resource to you, especially if you are the kind that likes to dig deep.  The folks at Global Frontier Missions have put together an online missionary training program for those who can't drop everything and go off to college.  It covers lots of ground, and you won't go bankrupt by doing it.  You can even get college credit for it if you like.  So if you're passionate for God's glory and want Him to be known among the nations, you should check it out.

Recommended Resource

I've met lots of good people while living in Texas, and one such good person is Dr. Terry Coy.  Terry works for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (official title: Director of Missions), so we've crossed paths several times at this meeting or that.  Terry has recently released a new book about the challenges we all face in reaching the mission field that is the United States.  I admit I haven't read it, but I do know the author, and can guarantee that it will be worth your while.

For more information about "Facing the Change", click here.  You can also buy it here.

Back At It

I have been seriously derelict in my blog posting of late.  I'm trying to resist the urge to defend myself ("I've been SUPER busy!").  After all, almost anything would be better than "I just didn't get around to it".  But I won't, choosing instead to cast myself on the mercy of my long-suffering readers.

I will mention just 2 things today.  First, I'm happy to say that we will be taking a group of about 17 folks from FBC over to Matamoros Saturday morning to help a dear brother with a painting project.  I've long fretted over the fact that, with all the reports of violence near the border, a lot of ministry just isn't getting done, because few people are going over to do it.  But the needs persist.  So even though our work will be but a small contribution, it is a contribution still, and one that I am pleased to make.

I brought the morning message at FBC Sunday morning.  I've had a theme percolating in my head for months now, and Sunday I finally let it out.  I called it "The Coming Persecution".  I tried to sound the alarm without being shrill: persecution of Christians in the US is only going to get worse, and we had best prepare for it.  But God works all things for good, including this.  Besides, many have paid a steep price to follow Jesus, and if we are called upon to join them, it will be an honor to bear the shame for His name's sake.  

A Good Report

Here is an update from a missionary couple that we support here at FBC.

Christmas Changes Everything

What if Jesus had never been born?  What difference would it make in your life?  Plenty.  As D. James Kennedy points out, it would be a very different world indeed if Christ had not come.  But He did come, and this coming Sunday we will celebrate it.  It's called "Christmas Changes Everything".  It begins at 10:45 and all are welcome.

China

Had an enjoyable, quiet Thanksgiving with my wife last week.  This week I've been working on promotional materials for the upcoming missions camp, and preparing for this weekend's Christmas musical.

Today I came across this bit of news about the Perspectives course.  It seems that materials are being translated into Chinese, with leader training sessions already in the works.  It is obvious that China will be a major player on the world scene for many years to come, so any advances made in that country would be most significant.  We've long heard that there are many believers there (largely underground), and this represents a major step forward.

Big News

Today I am happy -- no, make that thrilled -- to announce our 2014 World Missions Camp.  We did one this year and it was just wonderful.  Next year's promises to be even bigger and better.

This would make a great youth group trip, college trip, or family vacation.  Or perhaps you've always wanted to go on a missions trip, but haven't found a "group" to go with.  This would be a great way to get plugged in.

All the whos, whats, wheres, and whys of the camp can be found at www.rgvmissions.com.  If you need to talk to a live person about it, call me at (956) 542-5334.

Free Book

If you'd like a free e-book on how to best pray for missionaries, you can get it here.

Looking Ahead

Not having anything urgent to write about, I've been a little slow in updating this blog of late.  Suffice it to say that autumn is the time to make plans for the following summer.  I can report that we've make some progress on our Unreached People Group search, but I can't say much here due to the nature of what we are doing.  I also am putting the finishing touches on next year's missions camp.  I hope to have final details very soon.

Last week our staff was away (from the office, at least) for our annual retreat.  I work with a great group of guys.  The chemistry is good, and we enjoy chewing the fat and generally being obnoxious to each other.  Occasionally we talk about church business.  (OK, I'm exaggerating, but you get the idea).  Unfortunately we also played golf.  I'm terrible at it, but it does wonders for my humility.  

On another note, I was asked to write the narration for this year's Christmas musical. Our worship pastor is cobbling together his own musical from various sources, so he asked me to fill in the blanks.  I tell you, it's harder than it looks.  What do you say that hasn't been said a million times before?  Or should we try?  Anyway, I'd appreciate your prayers.

Thank Goodness

Thank goodness for this bit of news from across the pond.

But Then We Already Knew This

Some interesting, if not surprising, results from a recent survey about poverty in America.

Facing Off

As I've noted more than once, I started this blog so that my friends and family could stay informed about my mission work through FBC Brownsville.  But occasionally I feel the need to hold forth on some other matter or another and, well, now is one of those times.

On September 26, 1960 the first of 4 debates was held between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy.  It was the first time a presidential debate was shown on television.  Kennedy, according to reports at the time, was tanned, rested, and fit.  Nixon, on the other hand, had recently been released from the hospital, and looked unwell.  He also refused to wear makeup, his beard stubble showing prominently.  You can probably guess the rest. Nixon was easily "out-glamoured" by the charismatic Kennedy.  And though there would be 3 more debates to follow (in which Nixon performed well), there was no undoing the impression made that night.

It's probably a stretch to say that Richard Nixon lost the election because of that one debate, but it certainly changed forever the way presidential campaigns would be run. With new technologies came new ways to influence behavior, and successful politicians would have to learn to craft their messages (and images) accordingly.

Think of it this way: can you imagine the solid but colorless Calvin Coolidge as President today?  How about a portly John Adams?  Or even the homely Abraham Lincoln?  No, modern-day campaigns are witnessed, not just written about, and this way of doing things comes with a cost.  Consciously or not, voters are constantly awarding "style points" to candidates, and the slightest of perceived errors on the campaign trail can be fatal.

There are many more things that could be said (and have been said) about this.  But let me leave it at this: when I read about this debate anniversary, I found myself thinking of the American church.  We are shameless imitators of our culture, and this triumph of style over substance has most certainly afflicted us.  But there remains a remnant that wants to go deeper with God.  So to those I say press on, stay in the Word, live faithfully, serve as Jesus would, thus honoring Him who infuses all our moments with eternity.

(many have addressed the phenomenon that I have written about here.  A good place to start is Neil Postman's "Amusing Ourselves To Death".)  

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Trends

Here is an interesting article about Hispanics in the US and their religious preferences.

What Women Want

I just read an interesting article about "what women want", and the implications of this to how we do church.  Thought-provoking stuff.  And even though it's not specifically about missions (like most of the stuff on this blog), it's certainly worth a look.

Check it out here. 

Update.....San Antonio

I wrote to Kevin, our contact in San Antonio, about the new Spanish-language service that we helped to promote for his church.  The first service was held Sunday, so I asked for an update.  Here is what he wrote:

"Things went pretty well. We had nineteen people show up to our service. Two families have leadership roles in other Hispanic churches in the area. One of them will come as often as possible! What I saw yesterday with those who will consistently be here is a foundation for doing outreach/door-to-door evangelism, etc. I am very excited to see where the Lord will take this...............We are very grateful for your willingness to come to SA and be a part of God’s work in our city. The Lord bless you all of you and your families, and the church for allowing/enabling you guys to minister with us."