Monthly Archives: August 2011

Jim Elliot (1927-1956) has been quoted, admired, and used of God to spur a generation to greater missionary focus.  He and his four friends died at the hands of the Waodani people in Ecuador in 1956.  The following are only a few of many quotes that have been powerful in my own life. If you have never read Through Gates of Splendor and Shadow of the Almighty, do so sooner than later.  Perhaps these quotes will encourage you and convict you as they have so done to me.

 

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”  This most famous quote was first seen in the writing of Puritan Philip Henry centuries before, but is nonetheless the quote used to spur so many to a more radical devotion to Jesus.

“God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, LORD Jesus.”

“Saturate me with the oil of Thy Spirit, that I may be aflame. Make me Thy fuel O flame of God.”

“We are so utterly ordinary, so commonplace, while we profess to know a Power the Twentieth Century does not reckon with. But we are “harmless,” and therefore unharmed. We are spiritual pacifists, non-militants, conscientious objectors in this battle-to-the-death with principalities and powers in high places. Meekness must be had for contact with men, but brass, outspoken boldness is required to take part in the comradeship of the Cross. We are “sideliners” — coaching and criticizing the real wrestlers while content to sit by and leave the enemies of God unchallenged. The world cannot hate us, we are too much like its own. Oh that God would make us dangerous!”

“Rest in this – it is His business to lead, command, impel, send, call, or whatever you want to call it. It is your business to obey, follow, move, respond, or what have you… The sound of ‘gentle stillness’ after all the thunder and wind have passed will be the ultimate Word from God. “

“I may no longer depend on pleasant impulses to bring me before the Lord. I must rather respond to principles I know to be right, whether I feel them to be enjoyable or not.”

“God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.”

“No one warns young people to follow Adam’s example. He waited till God saw his need. Then God made Adam sleep, prepared for his mate, and brought her to him. We need more of this ‘being asleep’ in the will of God. Then we can receive what He brings us in His own time, if at all. Instead we are set as blood-hounds after a partner, considering everyone we see until our minds are so concerned with the sex problem that we can talk of nothing else when bull-session time comes around. It is true that a fellow cannot ignore women—but he can think of them as he ought—as sisters, not as sparring partners.”
“Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”

“I pray that the Lord might crown this year with His goodness and in the coming one give you a hallowed dare-devil spirit in lifting the biting sword of Truth, consuming you with a passion that is called by the cultured citizen of Christendom ‘fanaticism’, but known to God as that saintly madness that led His Son through bloody sweat and hot tears to agony on a rude Cross—and Glory!”

“When it comes time to die, make sure that all you have to do is die.”

“Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”

“Why do you need a voice when you have a verse?”

Did you know? If you read one chapter of the Bible a day, it will take you about 3.25 years to read it all. If you are 25, that means in 50 years you can read it over 15 times.

In 2011—how much of the Bible have you read? More—how much has it changed you?

Physically—diet is two things. NOT eating junk food or processed foods. EATING healthy on the positive side.

This is much more the case spiritually, by not filling our mind excessively with trivial junk (TV, video games, sports, etc), but with the Word.

II Timothy 3:16-17 The WONDER of the WORD.  There is no book like the Bible: It is INERRANT  i.e. trustworthy, INSPIRED i.e. helpful, and INSTRUCTIVE i.e. needed for growth.

How to study the Bible:

1. Devotionally—it is not an academic treatise. It is a Word from God to you.

2. Theologically—its truth affects ALL of life.

3. Communally—with other believers to avoid extremes.

4. Personally—for your own growth.  Couple of ways to do this:

1) Deductively: picking a certain subject as your starting point, then going through the Bible and finding Scriptures that address it. In short, it is a topical approach to studying the Scriptures. (Examples: Word of God, evangelism, prayer)

2) Inductively: means taking a passage of Scripture and reading it, pondering it, and asking questions about it until you are able to draw conclusions about what that text is saying in and of itself. (Example: studying II Timothy 3:16-17 to learn about God’s Word).

II Timothy 3:16-17 Inductively:

• Who wrote it, when did he write it, and to whom did he write it?  Paul, near end of life, to protege Timothy
• Who are the main characters and what are the main events in the text? Focus is on the wonder and importance of the Word.
• How are the people in the text similar or different from me? (better question for narrative passages)
• What is the meaning of the passage? God’s Word is unique and vital for our Christian life
• What is God telling me and how is He encouraging and strengthening me through this passage?

God’s Word is UNIQUE: God-breathed

God’s Word is PROFITABLE for (note different versions to help in understanding)

Teaching—we grow in knowledge by studying the Word.

Reproof/Rebuke—we avoid harm by studying the Word.

Example: relationally—begin with salvation, then go to other relationships, avoid a lot of harm.

Materially—biblical perspective on wealth helps us to avoid the poison of wanting stuff we don’t need.

Emotionally—dealing with worry, fear, etc.

Spiritually—intimacy with God that comes from growing closer daily.

Correction—sometimes we need to be straightened out!

Training in righteousness—avoid license on the one hand and legalism on the other.

That the man (or woman) of God should be competent—do not need to be giving bad counsel!

Equipped for every good work—Our growth in the Scripture should affect ALL of life, not just church life.

For thought: how much of my life (all of life, not just “church” life)  is being changed over time by a Word-focused perspective?

• What promises can I see in this passage? Let class answer
• What changes does this passage show me I need to make in my life and how does God want me to make them?  CLASS
• What sins do I need to be rid of so that I can grow more and enjoy closer fellowship with God? Neglect of Word, failure to obey etc
• What does God want me to share with someone? No greater guide than Scripture….

Who the Word is shaping me to become is more important than the skills I acquire.

 

Since most of us use Facebook more than this webpage we are moving from having a Facebook group to an actual page. That will allow for more correlation between this website, twitter, and Facebook, so the FB page can be a “one stop shop” for most things Young Pros.  Enjoy and add the page!

Hey gang,

I really love hanging out with you. i think my spiritual gift is hanging out, and really loved my time with Team Cape Town. I have some trips coming up, some of which you can go with me on, others involve hanging out with me en route to the airport .

If you are interested and available for any of these please join me and let’s spend some time together! Just email me doc@richlandcreek.com or areid@SEBTS.edu

Road trips are first followed by airport runs.
August 21 Fayetteville, NC leave at 2, return by 9. Can take 5-6.

August 26 Rolesville (nearby, you also get to hear Dr Bruce Little).  630-10 PM can take 5-6

August 29 Tidewater VA this will be a quick but very fun trip. Leave 330ish, back around midnight, a church rally in between! Hope to take a van full.

September 10 Franklin Covey Time Management training at the Creek, all of you join me for this!

September 16-17 Prayer Conference near Charlotte (led by Heidi’s dad Chris Schofield) leave 3 pm Friday return late Saturday. Note, you have to register for and attend this conference.

September 21 Scotts Hills Baptist Wilmington youth event we leave 5 pm return by 1030 can take 5-6.

September 26-27 long trip to Shorter College in Rome, GA where I am speaking in chapel. Leave 4 Monday return Tuesday pm

Flights with me (LH means what time to leave my home and PU means what time to pick me up at the airport if I am returning):

LH 8 AM Wed August 17
PU 315 Thur August 18

LH 430 AM Wed August 24 (not sure I will have a taker here!)
PU 315 PM Fri August 26

LH 5 PM Sat Aug 27
PU 725 PM Sun August 28

The road trips will fill up with my new students but I wanted to give you first chance if you want to hang out!

Sitting beneath the splendor of Table Mountain to one side and the ocean’s shore to another, Cape Town rests in one of the more resplendent sites of any major world city. Our team arrived Friday night after a day and a half of travel, sweet fellowship, and numerous gospel conversations. Settling into our lodging late Friday night, we awoke Saturday for a day of adjustment, orientation to the region, and sightseeing.

We prayed over the city as we drove across her breadth, over 5 million, most of whom do not know Jesus. We stopped at the largest mall in the southern hemisphere, noting how similar this mall is to those in America, or Bangkok for that matter. We also enjoyed the largest penguin colonies outside Antarctica, where Doc took dominion over them (and later, a lizard as well). Taking dominion would become a common theme.

On Sunday we worshiped with two Xhosa churches, one an established cutch and another a new plant. The team sang, and Doc Reid preached. We greatly enjoyed the indigenous worship, marked by exuberance, affection, and passion. Oh, and dancing!

“It felt alive,” team member Jesse Gordon noted. Jonathan Going observed, “It put the American church to shame,” while Jeremy Hyatt added, “It was like what I picture worship will be like in heaven.”. Travis Smith reminded the team that this is what worship will be like in heaven, with people from every tribe and tongue gathered around the throne.

Jon Bell observed, “The dancing was contagious,” volunteering to demonstrate to the young pros at Richland Creek Community Church. “It was beautiful to see people with very little materially able to worship so freely,” Hannah Reid said.

On Monday the team took dominion over a rocky field, clearing it for a high school to use for soccer. We enjoyed lunched with the students, sharing Christ with many. That evening we had our night out on the sea front enjoying a nice meal. Our server, Masimba, when asked how we could ray for him, said he could tell we were believers and was encouraged by our witness. On Tuesday Doc spoke in chapel at the Cape Town Baptist Theological Seminary while the team led with a song. Following chapel, the team spent the day sharing Christ in the area around New Crossroads Baptist Church where they worshiped on Monday. Many came to Christ, and we rejoice in the fruit of gospel witness! One team led five young men to Christ, while one elderly lady upon meeting Christ rejoiced, saying “This is good news!”

We had an amazing time worshiping Jesus and sharing Him. God is at work in Africa.

There is no “I” in team. But there is chemistry.

Chemistry.

No, not the kind involving elements and compounds in a laboratory. I refer instead to the chemistry that grows out of relationships marked not it by uniformity in all things but by unity in the things that matter and respect for one another.

Mission trips have a lot of reasons to struggle: poor planning, insufficient prep, unexpected conditions on the ground, sudden illness or tragedy, or the nasty issue of drama. Flexibility and a servant attitude must be in ample supply in mission teams, but chemistry makes the trip special.

Chemistry takes a good team and makes it great, like the Dallas Mavericks of the past NBA season. It brings ministries together as well. Ministry turns a scheduled discipleship process into a deep mentoring relationships.

Our team that went to Cape Town had a lot of reasons to struggle. We did not know well the people on the ground, (although we do now!) we had never ministered there, and most had never been out of the country on a mission trip. One had never even been on an airplane. Twelve of the fifteen came from Richland Creek Community Church, but three did not, and one of those three was a wife who really did not know anyone on the trip expect her husband.

But I knew him, and knew him well. And I knew all the rest well. Chemistry grows out of relationships, first with Christ and then with each other. It comes when we set aside ourselves for the sake of the mission. We had loud people on this trip and quiet folks; we had those who would do anything you needed, like one guy who slept on the floor all week, and others who needed a little nudging along the way. Like me .

This trip was as diverse a trip as I had ever seen. We ministered to indigenous churches. We served and taught and encouraged seminary students. We labored alongside and encouraged IMB staff. We shared the gospel a lot and saw many come to Christ. We cooked breakfast in the morning and packed pb and j sandwiches day after day after day without complaint. Student took turns leading devotions, leading worship, tracing small groups, and witnessing house to house.

I have never been more proud of a team. I can say that although I have never been the one to put together and lead a trip like this, I cannot wait to do so again. God’s good hand was on us. I am ready to take 30 to Kiev next spring already!

God has been so good to us. Chemistry comes out of relationships. If you want chemistry in ministry, it does not start with geography and logistics. It starts with the gospel and grows through deep relationships.

I love Team Cape Town. I love Southeastern Seminary. And I love the young pros at Richland Creek. God is good to teach us through relationships.