MINIMUM WAGE

Vietnam is trying hard to strengthen its economy and increase the standard of living for all Vietnamese. As in any developing country there is a growing middle class and small upper class who have money to spend. All of the high end consumer products are available to the small percentage who can afford them.
Thankfully at the same time, the number of people considered to be below the poverty line is decreasing and is now estimated at about 10% of the population. However many people must manage on very low incomes.
Vietnam is considering raising its minimum wage standard which varies from region to region. (In a country like this, the cost of living in cities is much higher than in the countryside.) You may wonder what minimum wage might be in Vietnam. Presently it varies from $40 to $65 per month (not a typo) depending on the region. It may soon be raised to from $67 - $96 per month.
This is why in many stores there are four times as many clerks as in a Canadian store; why at our apartment building they can afford to have six or eight security guards and many women employed to sweep, mop and clean the public areas. This is why things made in Vietnam (as in other developing countries) are so inexpensive in your local Walmart.
Living among so many who have so little, it is why we always tip those who deliver water or groceries to us; why we tip in low end restaurants where it is not expected; and rarely bargain hard for the very lowest price (we do still bargain - we aren't naive). Our perspective is that without debate the person we are dealing with needs that extra dollar much more than we do.
I loved what happened a while ago when a Canadian friend visited. We took her to a small shop owned by a Vietnamese Christian couple we know. After purchasing a few things, the owner offered her a discount because she was a Christian. Our friend refused to accept the discount. Christian generosity was demonstrated both by the Vietnamese owner and demonstrated by the Canadian customer.
What great Good News the Bible offers: that every person is created in the image of God; that every person we meet is one for whom Christ died; that in God's eyes there is no lower, middle or upper class; that God has special concern for those who are poor and vulnerable. May each of us always see people the way God views them.

NUMBERS MATTER

One day I was meeting a friend for lunch at a restaurant new to me. I got out of the taxi at the correct street, thinking I needed to walk only one block. He called me to ask if I was almost there. I said yes I must be very close and gave him the number of the building. Then I looked across the street and realized I was not as close as I thought.
Here in Saigon, for whatever reason, street numbers are not kept parallel. If you are on the even side of the street, the building number might be 322. If you look directly across the street however, the number may be only 185. So when looking for a specific number, you pay attention only to the numbers on "your" side of the street.
Some people feel it is unspiritual to pay attention to numbers in the church. They feel rightly, that God cares about each individual and wants his servants to be faithful. Unfortunately, they then conclude wrongly that therefore it is not important whether 5 new people or 25 new people come to faith or join their Bible study or their church.
Maybe you have heard me teach on the subject that God cares about numbers. In Luke 15 Jesus tells three stories: 99 was not enough, the shepherd wanted 100 sheep; nine coins were not enough, the woman wanted all ten; one son was not enough, the father wanted both sons. When Jesus healed ten lepers, one returning was not enough, he asked "Where are the nine?". In the story Jesus tells of the talents, the good stewards didn't just add one talent to the five or the ten they had been given, they doubled the money.
As the story of the church begins in Acts, Luke notes that "3,000 thousand were added to their number that day"(2:41); "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (2:47); "the number of men grew to about five thousand."(4:4)
Imagine a man whose five children are in a boat when they are caught in a bad storm and the boat capsizes. As he waits with anxiety to hear that his children are safe, a woman tells him that some of his children have been saved. When the father hears this he is relieved and doesn't care about the number - 2, 3 or 5, all that matters is the quality of the children who are saved. How foolish. Of course he cares about the number. And of course God cares about numbers when it comes to people.
God is concerned about faithfulness and also productivity. He cares about the church growing in quality and he cares about growth in quantity. He cares about us making disciples not just more church attenders. But He also wants us to make more and more disciples. Jesus does care about numbers. He wants us to reach more and more people so that His Kingdom, His rule will spread.
There is of course, a danger that if we pay attention to the growth in numbers of people in our group or in our church, we may start to feel competitive when we talk to people from other groups. If this happens, we will either grow discouraged because they are doing better or feel proud because our numbers are growing faster than others.
To prevent this, as when walking or driving in Saigon, just pay attention to the numbers on your side of the street. :) 

WITHOUT FAULT

I have been thinking a lot about two NT passages lately. The first is Romans 1:18 - 3:20 which I have taught many times and will soon teach again. The second is a benediction often used at the end of church services, found in Jude 24, 25. I've just been enjoying Jude's words recently as a personal meditation.
The Romans passage is the strongest passage I know in the Bible that emphatically and at length describes the rebellion, failure, disobedience, corruption and sinfulness of all humans. The description is accurate and devastating both of those who had the OT and those who had no Sciptures. We are all so strongly inclined to be "like sheep (who) have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way". We are guilty and desperately need the forgiveness found only through faith in Christ; and the righteousness that only God can give us.
How great is the righteousness, the justification that God provides? Jude tells us. It is possible in spite of the catalogue of sin in Romans; more than possible it is certain for all who truly believe, that one day we will be presented "before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy"! Amazing! Impossible, except that God can do what appears to be impossible.
Imagine: all the things from all my years which cause me shame - evil thoughts, wounding words, selfish actions, failure to act in love, were dealt with and are forgiven because of the Cross of Christ. Almost beyond belief that one day because I have received God's righteousness I will be presented without fault in God's pure, holy, righteous presence! And in place of any feeling of guilt and shame, Jude writes that I will feel great joy. Amazing! Whew, I hope you will let that truth grip you anew as it has gripped me.
Jude also reminds us in those two brief verses that our God "is able to keep you from falling". I hope you will live in the strength and joy of these inspired biblical truths today.

WHAT IF?

Do you ever play the game, "what if" in your quiet moments? It can be fun when you think of the right decisions, choices, moves you made. You realize the good things and good people you would have missed "if" you had taken a different road. On the other hand it can be a depressing "game" to look back and realize what pain, mistakes, messes you would have avoided "if" you had chosen differently.
I wonder if the Apostle Paul ever played the mind game "what if" while he spent years in prison, first in Caesarea, later in Rome. I thought of this as I read Acts 21 - 26 today.  Did he ever wonder:"What if I had cancelled my trip to Jerusalem after being warned about what lay ahead." (21:11) Did he ever think that instead of prison he could have been revisiting the churches he had started or evangelizing in cities he had not yet visited?
Did he ever wonder: "What if when I thought Jewish opponents might murder me, I had not appealed to Caesar?" (26:32) That appeal, which was his right as a Roman citizen, resulted in years apparently "wasted" in prison. "If" he had not appealed to Caesar he might have been murdered. On the other hand, the murder attempt might have been foiled and he would have spent the prison years travelling freely in the Empire, preaching and evangelizing. Did Paul ever wonder "what if"?
Paul never knew what we know. He did not know that we, and millions of others would be very  grateful for his time in that Roman prison. From a human perspective, we would have suffered a huge spiritual loss had he not written those three powerful "Prison Epistles", Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. "What if" he had been busy evangelizing 1st Century people and had failed to write three inspired letters that have ministered to hundreds of millions over 20 centuries? But of course Paul could not know, could not guess the results of what he did then.
And that is why the "what if" game is to be avoided, except for the positives that cause you to smile and/or praise God. When we are tempted to be depressed by "what ifs", we need to remember that only the Sovereign God can see the whole picture of our lives. Only He knows how He is weaving your life to influence others; what he has used to grow your character; how things that look so bad (like being stuck in prison) may be part of His larger very good plan.
Occasionally I have fun with the "what if" game. Like asking Jan how boring her life might have been "if" she had not married me. I give thanks to Jan and to God when I consider "what if" I had missed the opportunity to court and marry her. But I am refusing to play the "what if" game that can drag me down as I remember opportunities I think I wasted and wrong decisions I know I made.
We cannot go back. Once sin has been confessed God promises that it is forgiven and forgotten. With Paul we must choose to forget the things that are past. (Phil. 3:13) Maybe unwise decisions, or choices made out of ignorance, have been or will be used by God in ways we couldn't imagine.
This I do know. You and I are way too small to hinder the master plan, the sovereign plan of God. And this we know and believe: His wonderful promise in Romans 8:28 is eternally true.
(Note: I realize that there is critical debate about the prison epistles origin and authorship. I choose to take the conservative view that they were written by Paul while in prison.) 

PRESS ON

How much more, Lord? How much longer, Lord? Most of us go through periods when we feel that we have almost reached our limit. We cannot handle much more pressure; much more pain; much more loneliness or disappointment. We feel we cannot wait much longer; we cannot press on much longer. (Listen on YouTube to Selah singing "Press On" - an encouraging song.)
I think the Apostle Paul reached that point when God spoke to him. (Acts 18:9 - 11) He was on a difficult assignment - the second missionary journey. Sure he enjoyed some wonderful spiritual fruit, but he also faced terrific opposition. I list the events briefly, but to empathize you have to pause and think about the experiences he endured. (Acts 16:11 - 18:8)
1. Philippi - Attacked by a crowd, stripped and beaten. Thrown in prison; then asked to leave the city.
2. Thessalonica - Paul's preaching caused a riot; so the new Christian converts helped Paul and Silas sneak out of town at night.
3. Berea - Paul was not there long before he had strong opposition. He was escorted out of town again.
4. Athens - Paul witnessed, preached and a few became believers. Apparently he did not find spiritual openness; all we read is that Paul left Athens no escort this time.
5. Corinth - He joined up with Priscilla and Aquila; his teammates Silas and Timothy caught up with him. However after several weeks of preaching in the synagogue, he again met with strong opposition.
I am guessing by this time he was deeply discouraged by so much opposition, in spite of the fact that people were coming to faith. Emotionally, spiritually and physically he was likely feeling that "enough is enough"; in fact it was almost too much. At that point God lovingly came to Paul and spoke directly to him one night.
"Do not be afraid. Keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." Acts 18:9 - 11.
Paul in Acts and in his writings often seems fearless. But he was just as human as you and me. God knew that he was struggling and needy, so at just the right time (why not three cities before??) God provided the supernatural encouragement that Paul needed.
God's timing is not ours. His thoughts and ways are not like ours. But He knows you and loves you. God knows your circumstances and knows better than you exactly how much you can bear.
Right now, I would love to have a direct word from God telling me about the future. A word just like  Paul received. Yet God rarely speaks a special, audible, direct word to us as he did that night to Paul in Corinth. In fact God has never spoken an audible word directly to me.
However He has given to you and me, 27 books of truth and encouragement in the NT - very special words from God - that Paul did not have. Those inspired words assure us that we can press on; that God does provide all we need; that we can and must be patient; that we must keep our eternal perspective.
"Thank you God for your sensitive, loving words to Paul that must have come at just the right time. Thank you for all of the wonderful, wise, encouraging words available to us through Paul and other authors of Scripture. We will press on."

DOORS CLOSE, DOORS OPEN

There are many theories and views regarding perceiving and knowing the will of God as we make life decisions. (I have a great 250 page book devoted almost entirely to that one subject). Some are well grounded in Scripture, others not so much. Some are totally based on one story in Scripture others are based on a more theological approach based on principles taught in Scripture. I highly recommend the latter approach.
Examples of a one story approach: Gideon asked God for a sign and God used a fleece. Therefore to know God's direction, put out a fleece. But Scripture doesn't tell us we should do this any more than telling us that because the early church "cast lots" (probably like drawing straws) we should cast lots. Why ask God for a sign rather than draw straws when making a decision? There is no biblical authority for either.
Examples of Scripture principles regarding the will of God: it is good to seek counsel from more than one person (Proverbs 15:22; 24:6); make sure you have offered yourself as a living sacrifice and that you are being transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:1, 2)
Having written the above, I do however think we can take great comfort and gain wisdom from Paul's experience recorded in Acts 16:6 - 10. He has started on his second missionary journey and covered some familiar territory. However he is eager to evangelize where no one has yet gone. So after he and his team have visited some of the churches he and Barnabas had planted on the first trip, he is ready to go into the nearby province of Asia and preach the Gospel.
It seemed an obvious next step to Paul and his companions. However they "were kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia." (16:6) Door closed; we are not told how.
OK, they decide they should next preach in the district of Bithynia: "they tried to enter Bithynia but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to." Door closed: we are not told how.
Was Paul puzzled by this? I am only guessing, but I think he was. What should they do? Turn around and return home? No. Stop and do nothing? No. They keep moving and arrive in Troas. There Paul receives a "night vision" of a man of Macedonia "standing and begging him, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.'" Paul and the others decided that this was God's direction and so they caught a boat and crossed the water from what we know as Asia to Europe. That door is open, and we all know the rest of the story.
Paul is doing what he is called to do. So when one door closes, he moves on; the second door closes, and he moves on. When another door opens, he walks through and serves God there. He saw great blessing and experienced some serious and painful opposition. But he followed God's leading.
What do we learn from this? One way God directs is by taking or keeping opportunities from us (door closed) and providing others (door open). Like Paul we should not quit after one door closes but rather recognize the sovereignty of God. And we should keep moving as long as we believe God is directing us. (I could list some verses for these three applications, but this blog is now long enough.
May you discern and follow God's leading. And never forget: God is much more interested in who you are becoming (holy character) than in what you are doing (His specific will for your life.)

GOD AT WORK

We old folks were invited to visit a Bible study group where no one is over 40. For a couple of weeks the study is meeting near where we live. Yesterday morning during devotions (my mind wanders a lot - sometimes prompted by God) I thought that I should invite a young man I know to come to the study with us. He has Christian "leanings" but is not yet a follower of Christ. So I sent him a text invitation at 8:30 am.
We invited him to come for supper and then the Bible study. To our delight he accepted the last minute invitation and asked to bring his girlfriend who has no Christian background. We four enjoyed dinner together and then went to the study.
This group regularly listens to a sermon podcast by a well known American preacher and author, then discusses the sermon. Last night the sermon was good but the topic was "The wrath of God"! Throughout the sermon I was praying that in spite of the topic not being "seeker friendly", God would use it in our friend's life. And God did!
During the discussion, to our great delight and surprise, our friend commented: "How come I have often heard about God's love but never about His wrath? I was glad to hear about this and that His wrath is a controlled wrath. I think our society is too soft and undisciplined." (paraphrased) Obviously God spoke to our friend through this sermon.
After a lot of fast moving discussion, I wanted our friend's girlfriend to hear some of God's truth in her own language since her English is very limited. At my suggestion, someone in the group, fluent in the other language, shared her testimony for a few minutes.  I don't know exactly what was said, but I think it may have been the first time this young woman has ever heard the Christian message.
During the sermon the preacher shared an illustration from the movie Amadeus. Do you remember that movie about Mozart? The movie is over 25 years old! Poor choice of an illustration, especially for a group most of whom were in elementary school 25 years ago - except. Except that one of the woman in the group had been struggling spiritually and really wanted a special word from God.  During the discussion she shared how recently she bought a bunch of old movies. Guess what movie she had watched just two nights before the study!?
She was sure this reference to Amadeus was not a coincidence, it was a word from God for her. She asked me after the discussion broke up, what exactly God was saying to her through the Amadeus illustration. Since we know her well, I was able to tell her what I felt God was saying to her - and that it was very relevant to her struggle.
Jan and I came home last night rejoicing at the evidence of God at work. Who would have thought that a sermon on the anger of God preached in the USA a few months ago; and an illustration from an old movie, would be just what was needed by at least two people last night! Isn't it fun to watch God at work?

DRAMATIC CHANGES

My reading this morning was in Acts 9 - 11. The story of Paul's conversion is followed by the story of Peter and Cornelius. These chapters provide a great deal of life changing drama - heavenly voice, visit from an angel, divine trance, etc. I smiled as I wondered who handled their dramatic life change the best. Each of these men, plus some other Jewish believers experienced things that were far removed from their comfort zones.
I suppose in one sense nothing was as dramatic as Paul's Damascus story. Suddenly, abruptly, his trip of terrible persecution turns into a startling conversion trip. Confronted by Jesus himself; three days of blindness; healed and baptized; told by the Lord that he was to preach to Gentiles, kings, Jews and would himself be persecuted. Amazing!
On the other hand, unlike the well educated, well travelled Paul, Peter was an uneducated Galilean Jew who would have had little - almost no contact with Gentiles. Suddenly while he is waiting for lunch (and praying) he falls into a trance. Food that he has avoided all his life as an observant Jew is presented as declared clean by God. Three times - so that he does not miss the point! Puzzled as to why the vision and (I am guessing) wondering if the OT law has been changed, he is told there are three men (Gentiles!) at the door. He is about to learn the shocking news (to a first century Palestine Jew) that God's Good News and God's Holy Spirit are available directly for Gentiles just as much as for God's OT people, the Jews.
And then there is Gentile Cornelius, friend of Jews; worshipping the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; righteous and devout. Visited by an angel! Commended by an angel! Told that his prayers and gifts to the poor have been noted and appreciated like a sacrifice offering to God! Then visited by the Jewish preacher Peter (with six other Jews) - and amazingly, miraculously, visited by the Holy Spirit with the experience of tongues. How dramatic was his life change!?
I recall one teacher of preachers saying that the worst thing a preacher could do was to make the Bible boring! That must go for all of us who are readers of Scripture as well. If we pay attention - if we stop and identify with Scripture - we will not find it boring! God's Word is alive with dramatic stories and life changing, mind altering truth. God is still changing countless lives by His Spirit through the Word. I hope your life is one of those.

SPOTLIGHT ON STEPHEN

Stephen is featured in only two chapters of the book of Acts and then referenced a couple of other times. However he bears the honour of being the first Christian martyr and is well worth our attention. Though his appearance in the Acts record is brief he is a Christian worth emulating.
Here are the phrases used to describe Stephen. The first occurs when the apostles ask the early Christian congregation to choose seven men (often referenced as possibly the first church deacons). These men would take care of the compassion ministry of the church and make sure it was administered well. These men should be known "to be full of the Spirit and wisdom." (Acts 6:3) And Stephen was one.
When there names are listed, he is the only one with any descriptive phrase: "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit." (6:5) Then as Luke begins to tell of Stephen's ministry and martyrdom he is described as "full of God's grace and power". (6:8) When opponents argued with him, none could stand up against "his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke."
I would love to have some of those terms describe my Christian life, wouldn't you? "Full of the Spirit and wisdom; of faith; of God's grace and power." Wow! Was he a spiritual superstar? Well, that is a foolish term, but Stephen did stand out in the Christian church.
One result of his effective ministry was anger, opposition, and a rigged trial with false testimony as bad as what had happened to Stephen's Lord. Do you remember that while he was on trial, Luke writes "his face was like the face of an angel."?(6:15) And as he was about to be killed, stoned to death, he was given a vision of heaven and of Christ waiting to welcome him home.
Finally as he was dying he prayed much like Jesus had prayed: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And again: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." (7:59, 60)
The book of Acts rightly has its focus on the major church leaders, Peter and Paul. Both men served Christ faithfully for many decades. Not so Stephen. Like a comet in the night sky, he flashes briefly across the pages of the NT. But unlike the comet, he leaves an enduring mark. May more of us be more like Stephen. Experiencing more of the Spirit's filling; growing in faith, wisdom and God's grace and power.

THE SPIRIT AND POWER

I had lunch today with a Christian business man who is a godly church leader. My devotional reading this morning was in Acts 3 - 5. In those chapters the power of the Spirit is very evident: Peter and John heal the crippled man by the power of the Spirit; Peter and John preach and are arrested - but thousands believe; Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit as he speaks in front of the religious leaders and when they see the courage of Peter and John, they "took note that these men had been with Jesus."
What exciting days as the 1st century church in Palestine moved ahead in the power of the Spirit. Great miracles of healing; thousands coming to faith; great boldness in witness; sacrificial giving. Indeed even in the terrifying discipline of God upon Ananias and Sapphira, the power of God is very evident.
I shared with Steve how in my reading of Vietnam's history, I have been impressed by the miracles experienced and the bold evangelism within Vietnam during recent decades. God has moved through this country in powerful ways. How but for the power of God could we explain the estimated 900% growth in the number of Protestant believers in 35 years - from 160,00 to 1.4 million! And this all happened after the missionaries had left the country!
Steve and I agreed that we desire to see God's Spirit poured out where we live and work; to see lives powerfully changed and our lives and witness empowered. We agreed that we must pray for ourselves and for each other that God will display His power for His glory. May that be what all of us pray here in Vietnam and wherever you are today. 

AND THOUSANDS RESPOND

Many of us are praying more than usual this month for the hundreds of millions of Muslims who are celebrating Ramadan. According to the Koran, Jesus did not die on the cross but went straight to heaven. Therefore Jesus is not the Risen Saviour who died for the sins of the world; the One we Christians worship. We are praying that their hearts and minds will be opened by the Spirit of God especially during these days.
The first Christians sermon preached by Peter was powerful and very direct. It was to Jewish people who believed in God; who knew Jesus had been killed in their city; but did not know He was risen with power! Peter in this message several times affirms both the crucifixion and the resurrection. Peter said "you with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead ---." Again Peter says "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact." Acts 2:22 - 35
Do you remember that in response to this Spirit empowered sermon, Jewish people believed and were baptized - 3000 were added to that group of 120 believers! (2:41) Then again it is recorded that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."(2:47)
May the same thing happen for thousands of Muslims during Ramadan.  May God move in such a powerful way that many will come to understand as did those early Jewish believers. The Holy Spirit is powerfully at work in various places around our world. May He convict, convince and draw thousands of Muslims to accept and believe in our crucified and risen Saviour. Let us pray!

INTO THE LAKE

Before any of you Canadians had gone to bed on Saturday night, we were arriving for the 8:30 am service here at the Saigon congregation. The service started sharp at 8:30 and ended at about 10:40 am. Normally any service over 90 minutes begins to be a little painful for me.  But not today.
At about 10:00 am when the sermon ended, we began to prepare for the baptisms. The 31 candidates (17 women, 14 men of all ages) first came to the front and sang a hymn for us. They had attended a baptism and membership class for three months. After they sang, they all repeated from memory the Apostles Creed which is repeated each Sunday in this church. After that, one of the pastors asked them to affirm their belief in several statements of faith.
They then returned to their seats in the front three rows. First to be baptized were three who because of age or illness would not be immersed. In their baptismal robes, one at a time they stood in a large basin and the pastor poured about a third of a large pitcher of water over their heads. More than sprinkling, not nearly immersion. :)
Then one at a time, the other 28 candidates entered the baptismal tank - referred to by our generally excellent translator as "the lake". Several deacons and deaconesses are involved making sure that all is well organized and moves very efficiently. Jan and I affirm that witnessing baptisms in any country, any church still thrills us.
Since there were so many, we did not hear any testimonies. However as I looked into the faces of several of the older candidates, I thought of the difficult decades they have endured here. Some of the pain seemed to be etched on their faces. How wonderful to know they have peace with God and have begun to enjoy the peace of God.
What a joy it was for us to witness our second baptismal service in Ho Chi Minh City. In spite of the competing ideologies, religions and materialism, we rejoice to know that many are coming to faith in Christ here in Vietnam. The church is alive and well - and growing.

THE WORLD AND YOU

In the John 17 prayer of our Lord Jesus, I count the word "world" at least 18 times in just 26 verses. Jesus uses the word "world" to mean this created planet ((5, 24); the world system (powers, culture) that is opposed to Christ and His Good News (14,16) and the world of people (18, 23).
Christ loves the world of people and died for the sins of all people (I John 2:2). He calls us to love the people for whom He died; to live out His love to them and to tell them of His love. He could remove us from the world as soon as we believe, but He wants us living in the midst of the people for whom He died. (15)
What is most clear in this prayer is the clear distinction that Jesus makes between His followers and "the world". I think we all need to be reminded of this distinction for several reasons. If I am conscious of not being part of this world, I will expect to be different in my world view, my values and my goals. I will not be surprised when I confront antagonism or when I hear of Christians and their beliefs being opposed with anger and hatred. I will remember my (our) responsibility to be a witness to the world of people around me.
Aren't you encouraged to know that when Jesus prayed this prayer for his disciples, he included all of us who in the future would believe in Him? (20) Aren't you glad that our Great High Priest knows what it is like to live in a world that offers us alternately great temptations and great opposition!?
One last thing (there is so much more in this passage). Christians, it seems, are so easily divided; Within churches and within denominations. It is tragic that there are countless thousands of denominations spread around the world. Churches and denominations often act like competitors or critics rather than part of God's family. Thank God for all those who work toward breaking down barriers and bring peace where there has been division.
We are all responsible to work toward unity with our Christian sisters and brothers, whatever their church or denomination. If they confess the same Saviour and Lord, then He wants us to present a unity with them to the world. This was our Lord's solemn prayer and desire (20 - 23). Surely it has not changed.
Each of us should do what we can to demonstrate that unity. There is power in your personal witness. There is greater power when the body of Christ made up of disparate ages, cultures, languages, income, education, etc. stands together to witness to His power and love. We don't belong to this world. We belong to each other because we all belong to Christ the Lord.

ALONE YET NOT ALONE

Perhaps all humans at some point, experience the feeling of being "alone". Maybe the exception is those who are surrounded by a large extended family in a poor village where survival is each day's challenge. They are never physically alone and perhaps never have enough energy to consider their interior loneliness. But most of us have experienced aloneness and have felt occasionally or extensively the pangs of deep loneliness.
Jesus did.
As his hour of arrest approached, He told his disciples that they were all going to desert Him and leave Him alone. Then He added, "Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me." (John 16:32)  Jesus knew the frailty of those called to be his apostles; He knew at the critical moment they would run. Peter denied it yet would soon painfully confront his own personal frailty and failure.
But Jesus as Second Person of the Trinity had never been alone. Scripture presents our eternal God as having always existed in perfect fellowship: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. On earth, as God incarnate, Jesus lived daily in perfect communion with the Father. He affirmed in numerous statements that He always did the Father's will; that to see Him was to see the Father; that He and the Father were one; that He was in the Father and the Father in Him.
In his humanity, He knew that He was about to be betrayed by one close friend and deserted by the other eleven. Yet He also knew that His eternal fellowship with the Father would continue. Until the Cross!
It is this that makes His statement in John 16:33 so poignant. From the Cross we hear His seven statements/cries/prayers. The most dramatic of all, the most shattering of all: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?" Theologians and Christian philosophers try their best to understand and explain what happened. Christian poets and hymn writers use their most dramatic phrases and imagery to describe what happened. Yet it remains a mystery.
What we do know is that the One who was never alone, even when deserted by His closest friends experienced a unique, devastating aloneness on the Cross. He was forsaken so that we might never be. God the Father somehow turned His back on Jesus so that we might eternally remain in His presence.
We thank you Loving Father; we praise you Loving Saviour; because of what happened on the Cross, we are never, and will never be - alone!

WE NEED THE CHURCH

In Canada and the USA it is not unusual to meet people who claim commitment to Christ but have no commitment to a local church. Some have had a painful church experience; some have found church services too boring and/or irrelevant; some simply don't see the point of spoiling Sundays by taking the time and effort to meet with other believers.
We who are pastors too often find ourselves reminding the church that "the church needs you." In an era of declining volunteers, pastoral staff and lay leaders spend a lot of time and effort recruiting because there rarely is an abundance of people who take the initiative to volunteer to serve. I've always appreciated the Ohio pastor who told me they stopped referring to their people as volunteers and used the more biblical term of servants. The church does need volunteer/servants to function well.
However today I am thinking of the millions in North America who claim to follow Jesus, but have no time for "the church." We need to help them understand that they "need the church" as much or more than the "church needs them."
Like most students of the NT, I would affirm there is no NT concept of believers living the life of a disciple on their own. For example, after teaching the disciples about servanthood by washing their feet, Jesus then tells them how they will be identified as his disciples. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35) The community of Christ followers is to be identified by their loving commitment to each other. Its not the church building, the services or the activities that should be the identification mark - it is the loving Christian community that is the witness to Christ. We are the church.
Most of the NT letters are addressed to a church community, not to individuals. We usually read them as though they are addressed to "me" but most often they are addressed to "we". They teach that the church is a body made up of many parts, each doing what he/she has been gifted by Christ to do. This can only happen in community - it can't happen when body parts are not connecting with each other.
Of course church communities fail to be all that Christ, the Head of the body has equipped and called them to be. It was true in Corinth, it was true in six of the seven churches of Revelation 2 & 3, it is true wherever we live now. But this does not lessen the consistent emphasis on Christians in community found throughout the New Testament.
I am like most Christians who have lived for very long in Christian churches. I have had mixed experiences. My family and I have been loved and received generous displays of love from many believers. I have also been hurt and mistreated by believers in those same churches. The church family, like every human family, is never perfect and some times terribly painful.
But it is where we are placed when we come to faith in Christ. We enter an eternal family: a Great Perfect Father; a Perfect Elder Brother (Romans 8:29; Hebrews 2:11) and a huge number of imperfect human brothers and sisters. Our Father and Elder Brother expect us to grow relationships with the rest of the family. We can't know them all but we can build community/family with some of them and we do this by meeting regularly. We all belong to the church universal and we all need the church local.
Presently I live in a country where over many years, thousands of believers have suffered because they were convinced that it was worth the risk of beatings and imprisonment to risk meeting together with other Christians to worship, fellowship, pray and learn. It would be impossible to explain to them why in Western countries there are many Christians who feel they don't need the church. And of course it would be impossible to point them to any Scripture that justifies this lack of involvement in a local church.

WHAT CHOICE DO WE HAVE?

"Many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed Him." There is no indication that Jesus tried to stop them, or to soften the challenge of his teaching that day. Unlike what we might have done, there is no evidence that Jesus pursued those who left. However there is a sense of pathos when Jesus asks the twelve, "You do not want to leave also, do you?" Jesus was human and it must have been disheartening to see so many turn away.
Peter's response is brilliant and through the years has often been helpful to me when I've felt momentary doubts. "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:66 - 69
Like most people, I sometimes entertain doubts. Occasionally they have wandered into my mind even as I was preparing a sermon. "What if this is false? What if the commitment I've had to Jesus these many decades is to One who was not who I believe Him to be? What if the Christian faith I preach and teach is not the one eternal Way on which all of us should build our lives?"
When that happens - for those kind of thoughts are not unfamiliar - I pause and ask the question. It is usually a paraphrase of Peter's question. "What choice do I have? If Jesus is not the Way, Truth and Life - what will I choose?" No other world religion comes close to offering what is found in the true Christian faith. A life of agnosticism or atheism provides no comfort, no ultimate purpose and no meaning in the universe. Our world offers a great deal of evidence that living for your own selfish pleasure or ego attainment always ends in dust. Yet each of us must choose: as long as we are alive we are living with some world view, some lifestyle, even if not consciously chosen. We cannot not choose.
And when once again I face this reality, I recognize that all other world views, all other belief systems, all other lifestyles seem to pale and seem empty compared to life with and for Jesus.
I conclude, if not a life offered daily to Christ, to whom shall we go? The answer always seems pretty obvious: I see no comparable option. As a result, over the years, my misgivings and doubts normally have lasted for only a few moments at most. My conclusion is always the same.
 If this is not the Truth, then there is none. If this is not the Way, if this is not the Life, then there evidently is none. No one and nothing comes close to making sense of the world, of life and of death like what we have found in Jesus.
So I stand confidently (except for those passing moments of doubt) alongside the early apostles and the historic church and gladly confess Christ as Lord of the Universe and Christ as my Lord.

JESUS BRINGS DIVISION

As followers of Jesus, we are called to love others including our enemies. We are to seek peace both as fellow humans and as citizens. Within the church we are to do all we can to keep the Body of Christ united in relationships even as we are united by the Spirit.

Nonetheless, we follow One whose coming brought and still brings unavoidable division. Jesus himself put it this way:

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, 
a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household." (Matt. 10:34 - 36)
Jesus uses the example of our closest relationships to reveal the reality that commitment to Christ will bring division. Understood correctly, the person and claims of Christ should bring either deep loyalty or strong opposition.
This is very clearly illustrated in John 7 and 8. Jesus was doing miracles and teaching in Jerusalem. Twice John notes that many people believed in Him. (7:31, 8:30). Some were saying "He is the prophet" while others were saying "He is the Christ." (7:40, 41)
In contrast, others saw the same miracles and heard the same teaching; Yet they "tried to seize him" (7:30); sent temple guards to arrest Him (7:32); and tried to kill Him (8:59). The religious leaders wanted to arrest and kill Jesus. The guards they sent to arrest Him returned without Him, saying "No one ever spoke the way this man does." (7:46)
Jesus provoked strong reactions and did not try to avoid this. He was challenging people, calling people out of darkness into God's Light (8:12). He was pleading with them not to follow the lies from the father of lies, but rather believe the truth He was teaching (8:42 - 47).
So it should not surprise us when in our Western culture, things can be written or said against Christ followers that would be deemed very unacceptable if said about Jews, Muslims or homosexuals. It should not surprise us that where academic freedom is fiercely defended, open angry prejudice against evangelical Christians often goes unchallenged. It should sadden but not surprise us that in many countries today, if a person chooses to follow Christ they will be excluded from their family - and may even be killed by their family.
It is not much fun to be unpopular or to be angrily opposed with prejudice. It is far worse to realize that declared loyalty to Jesus will likely cause you to lose your job, your family and perhaps your life. And still every day, thousands choose to believe in the One who is the Light of the World; who came to planet earth to show us the Father. 
Opposition, persecution and rejection happened to our Lord Jesus and He made it very clear that His followers should expect to be treated as He was treated.

BELIEF AND BELIEF

^"Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people." John 2:23


This passage is very helpful in recognizing there is a kind of believing in Jesus that is not "saving faith." The exact phrase in Greek and in most translations is found in John 1:12 and in John 2:23. In 1:12 we are told that those "who believe in His name" receive the right, the authority to become children of God.
In 2:23 we are told that there were those in Jerusalem "who believed in his name". But Jesus response to them was that he did not trust them, because He knew people. 
John uses an interesting parallel of Greek words here, which we see in English if we translate that they "trusted in his name" but Jesus would not "entrust himself to them." The same Greek verb is used: they "believed" but He would not "believe" himself to them.
Evidently the faith referenced in John 1:12 is very different from the faith of the people described in John 2:23. Why did Jesus not trust their kind of trust in Him? Was this deficient faith only superficial? Was it a faith in Jesus as a miracle worker but with no desire to become His disciple? Was it a case of attraction to what He might give but with no desire for a relationship with the Giver?
The other passage in the Gospels in which Jesus clearly distinguishes between some faith and real faith, is found in the story of the Sower and the four kinds of seeds. Remember that only the third and fourth seeds really grew, and only the fourth produced fruit.
I think many Scriptures (such as John 1:12) provide assurances to "real" believers that we are eternally secure in our relationship with God through faith in Christ. But the two passages I've referenced, along with others, provide strong warning signals for those who may be only "superficial" believers.
Jesus does not "entrust" Himself to just anyone. It is possible for people to make professions of faith in Christ and yet never to have entered the relationship that produces eternal life; life with God that is enjoyed now and forever. (John 17:3)
We need to be certain our faith is the kind that is life changing and relationship building. As we help others to believe, we need to help them understand the implications of true faith. We know that Jesus was always looking for true followers, real disciples; not those who only gave mental assent to who He was or simply responded with passing enthusiasm.
I love the wonderful assurance found in I John 5:13. But may we not unwisely or incorrectly offer this biblical assurance to those who don't truly believe.

INCOGNITO STILL

My friend was CEO of a company with many locations and hundreds of employees. I had the opportunity to visit some of their locations while visiting with him. Due to the size of the company not all employees knew him or would even recognize him. Normally he did not bother to introduce himself but simply politely interacted with them. I enjoyed observing the conversations when the employees were unaware that he was their ultimate boss. He was treated well like they treated other customers. But not quite the same as if they had really known who he was.
I thought of this today as I read the familiar words of John's Gospel: "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive Him." (1:10, 11)
What amazing humility. Lord of the Universe! With the Father and the Spirit, Creator of all, including all humans! He lived on planet earth and mingled with humans for 33 years and yet went largely unnoticed; or when somewhat recognized, not truly appreciated as He deserved. What an immense tragedy, that the Creator received such a response.
As I was reading the first words of John's Gospel, I heard another funeral procession passing by our apartment building. Led by Buddhist monks and followed by the typical (although so strange to us) four piece band, the mourners  moved down the street with the body. I wondered if he/she ever knew that the Creator had visited our planet? Did he/she even have a chance before death to know that "The Light" had shone in this world's darkness?
In His resurrection power, Jesus was fully revealed, no longer incognito. Yet so many in our world have no knowledge that the Creator has visited planet earth. Such a huge percentage of Vietnam's population has no knowledge of Christ. This in spite of Portugese Catholic missionaries coming 500 years ago; French Catholic missionaries coming 150 years ago and Protestant missionaries coming 100 years ago. Although some of the tribal groups have a high proportion of Christian believers, the numbers of believing ethnic Vietnamese (85% of the population) remains extremely low.
Please pray for Vietnamese Christians, that Christ's light and life will shine through them to the millions around them.

FATHER FORGIVE THEM

Jesus taught His followers that we are to "turn the other cheek" and to pray for those who abuse and oppose us. In Luke 23:34 He provides our example. Jesus had been mocked, abused, beaten, and cruelly nailed to the cross. His pain might have been all consuming. Yet as He lived, so He died, thinking of others. "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."
If ever people were ignorant of the significance of their actions, it was surely during the hours of Jesus arrest and crucifixion. They did not know. They did not understand that they were killing "the author of life". (Acts 3:15)
Many of us are praying for the Muslim world, especially during these days of Ramadan. This provides us direct opportunity to love and pray as Jesus taught and as He provided the model. "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:44, 45)
Saudi Arabia recently released two Indian Christians who they had arrested, beaten and jailed for six months because these men shared the Good News of Jesus. The new freedom in Tunisia seems to have resulted in more persecution of believers. In Algeria in recent months, 8 churches have been forcibly closed. In Egypt the strong Islamists are pressuring the moderate Muslims and secular Egyptians to make Egypt an Islamist country with Sharia law.
In these and other Middle East countries, there seems to be an increasing opposition to and persecution of Christians. Many believers are trying to leave their home country in fear for their lives. What would Jesus do in this situation? I believe He would have us join Him in prayer for our fellow believers but also for those who oppose and persecute.
These modern enemies of Christ and the Gospel are very much like those who surrounded Jesus in His last hours on earth. They are spiritually blind and spiritually unaware that their opposition to Christ followers is opposition to the very God they seek to worship. So we pray:
"Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." 

TO OLDER SINGLE WOMEN

Jesus tells us in Luke 21 that the very small gift from a very poor widow was far greater than any of the large gifts given by wealthy people at the Temple treasury. (21:1 - 4) I recall the slogan used by some churches "Not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice." In my opinion (and of course I have never tracked anyone's giving) rarely can wealthy Christians match the sacrificial generosity often found among impoverished Christians. It is almost impossible for them to do so unless they give almost everything away.
However after reading this familiar passage today, I did not spend time meditating on giving. Instead I paused to thank God for the various godly widows (and some never married and some divorced women) Jan and I have known over the years. I am thinking especially of those who were 60 or over when we knew them.
In each of the four Christian communities where we spent most of our ministry years - Edmonton, North Palm Beach, Toronto and Calgary - I can picture women who in my eyes are great examples of active faith. I think of one who hosted Jan and I, a young couple new to the West and new to ministry, on our first nights in Edmonton. She was a quiet woman who raised godly children and faithfully served God's people.
I picture a feisty lady in Florida (originally from New Jersey) who had come to faith later in life. She was separated and later divorced by her unbelieving husband. He was wealthy and let her struggle financially. Yet in the church she was known for her energy, her quick wit and her deep love for the Word and the Lord. In later years when visiting Florida, she told Jan and I her reaction when her church announced the beginning of a Saturday night service. "I thought it was a crazy idea. I was against it. Then I repented. So now I go on Saturday nights and serve as a greeter. Then I go back on Sunday for my own worship."
I picture a well known woman in our Toronto church who served actively for many years. By the time we came to the church, she was not as active, but her service was just as effective.  She always sat at the back of the sanctuary. People knew where to find her and they did; going for a word of encouragement or counsel, or for prayer. Throughout the week by phone or as they came to her apartment, she offered wise counsel and prayer. She was an amazing support to this pastor and his wife.
I picture two widows in Calgary. Both widowed at a young age, left alone to raise young children. Both so positive in their attitudes, joyful in their faith, still active in leading Bible studies and serving people.
Those are just a few among many who walked through my mind today. As I thank God for that widow in Luke 21 who provided a fine example of sacrificial giving, I thank God for older single women I have known who have provided godly, encouraging examples for me and many others.

RAMADAN

Yesterday I wrote about the joy we should experience and the joy in heaven when lost people are found; when wandering people come home to the Father who loved them enough to send Jesus.
The month of August this year coincides with the Muslim month of Ramadan. For twenty years there has been a growing movement among believers to focus special prayer for Muslims during their holy month of Ramadan. I am so glad that a Jan and I were introduced to this prayer effort many years ago.
Each year when in Canada we ordered a number of prayer booklets for people in our church which provide guidelines for daily prayer during Ramadan. However being in Vietnam we did not get one for ourselves this year. Thankfully, I received an e copy through friends who work in the Muslim world.

If you don't have this Prayer Guide, and if you are willing to pray daily for the next four weeks for Muslims, than quick, do something! :) Write to me at nelsonjannan@gmail.com and I will send you an e copy.
I recommend this as perhaps the best thing you could add to your Christian life for the next four weeks. Some people hate Muslims. Some people fear Muslims. We should be those who love and pray for Muslims.

Remember, we want to join with heaven in celebrating those who are finding new life in Christ. More Muslims are coming to faith in Jesus than ever before. So come on, get in on the rejoicing by praying with all of us during Ramadan. 

CELEBRATE!

In reference to my last blog: as a nice wrap up of my weekend in Hanoi; following my confused airplane and hotel arrangement Friday, I arrived at the airport on Sunday evening to find my 9:20 pm flight had been cancelled due to bad weather. This was the last direct flight home. They bumped me to a later flight that had one stop. we landed at 12:50 am and I arrived at my apartment at 1:30 am Monday morning.

On to eternally important subjects. While in Hanoi I met a student from Laos studying in a Hanoi university, who came to faith through an expat English teacher last year. I congratulated him and rejoiced with him over his new life in Christ. He told me it will be difficult for him when he returns because he is from an important family and there are Buddhist priests among his extended family.

Today my Scripture reading was in Luke 15. I so enjoy the three "lost" stories that Jesus tells, don't you. There is so much joy and rejoicing in these stories. The Pharisees and religious teachers were so frustrated/angry that Jesus enjoyed and spent time with people who were "unclean". They were into religious purity and legalism. Jesus was into love and life change.
Do you remember the emphasis on joy in these three stories? The shepherd is joyful when he finds the lost sheep and tells his friends to rejoice with him. Jesus says there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people (Pharisees and teachers?).
The woman calls to friends and neighbours when she finds her lost coin, "Rejoice with me." Jesus again says "there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Then of course the lost son returns from his rebellious sinful wanderings. His father says "Lets have a feast and celebrate (the Greek word could just as properly be translated "rejoice"). So they began to celebrate (rejoice).
The angry older son won't join the party. His father tries hard to explain why his brother's return is so important. And he says "But we had to celebrate (rejoice) and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."
Nine times Greek words for rejoicing are used. And the whole chapter is all about spiritually dead, spiritually lost people coming home to their Heavenly Father. Heaven rejoices when this happens on earth.
I often am close to tears of joy when I hear a story of another life changed by Christ. Those stories never grow old. And I count it one of life's greatest joys to be present when someone prays with heartfelt sincerity, asking for forgiveness and trusting in the great work of Christ. I don't know many things that bring greater joy than that - if we are in tune with Jesus and heaven.
Of course the "religious people" of Jesus day were not. So they missed the joy. And I know too many Christians who seem to focus all there attention and try to get all their joy from good but secondary things. If bringing lost people to their waiting Father is what causes joy in heaven for Jesus and angels, shouldn't it be more important to us? And when it happens, shouldn't it cause us to really celebrate?