INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE AND CHURCHES

Our daughter Jeannie taught at an International School in Milan, Italy. We were intrigued by her report that many of her colleagues would teach in one country for several years and then move to another country to teach. They were not temporarily out of their home country. In a sense they were nomads, internationals, or world citizens, enjoying and exploring life in various countries. For those rooted in their home country, it may be surprising to realize how large is this voluntary diaspora (or sometimes not so voluntary if their company insists they move).
I was reminded of this after lunch with a young friend yesterday. She is just finishing 3+1/2 years in Vietnam working in a US government posting. She will soon take up a new position in Central Asia which offers her a significant promotion but also a significant challenge: new country, new climate, new language, new culture. We know with her gifts and personality that she will do well, and that she will enjoy her new locale.
I mentioned that we might be able to give her a Christian contact name or two in her new city. But she had already done her homework and assured us that there is an international church there. This means that when she arrives in her new Central Asia country she will attend an English speaking church on her very first Sunday there.
Yes, it will be a brand new Christian fellowship, but it will be an instant, welcoming Christian fellowship in a city where she knows no one, a long way from home.There are huge adjustments required in a new country. The role played by an International Church can be huge for many people. I am grateful that we can be a part of such a faith community, providing a warm welcome and support for international people here in Hanoi.

PRAYING FOR JUSTICE

Justice is not easily obtained. Humans all struggle with prejudice, with favouritism and with fear. James warns Christians in the church too deal fairly with poor and rich visitors to their churches. He knew and wrote against the natural tendency to favour the wealthy and disdain the poor. (James 2:1 - 13) If it has often been hard for the poor to gain equal treatment in a church, how much more is this true in society.
If only our world responded to the wisdom and truth of God's Word. I thought about justice and the world we live in as I read Deuteronomy this morning. Here is the wise charge given 34 centuries ago by Moses, to the new judges appointed to assist him.
“Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you. Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God." Deut. 1:16 - 17 (See Ex. 18:17 - 27)
How different and better our world would be if these simple words were followed by those in authority in every country. In western countries where the rule of law is strong, we know that it is very difficult for the "small" to be heard in the same way as the "great". The average individual cannot afford the expert legal advice needed to be heard equally if appearing in court against a large company or against a wealthy individual. The "small" is not heard equally in court against the "great" in many family law cases - the one who can afford the best legal advice is the one who usually wins.
Justice, even when there are no bribes, even when everything is done according to the law, is difficult to find in too many cases. And this in countries where normally we enter the courtroom on level impartial ground.
Now imagine what it is like in countries where the rule of law has only begun to take root. In many countries, unlike what Moses instructs, the foreigner is at huge disadvantage against the citizen. In most situations, the poor have little chance to be treated with justice. Sadly, corruption and family or financial connections rule the day. In some countries, judges cannot judge without being "afraid of any man."
We need to pray for officials in these developing countries. We need to pray they will have the desire and the courage to make good laws and to enforce good laws. We need to pray for the development of honest and safe legal systems.
Why? Because our God is a God of justice. Our God cares deeply for the vulnerable and the poor. And we need to thank God for those who are committed to pursuing justice on behalf of those vulnerable ones - so often women and children.

HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME

Moses leads the stubborn people of Israel with such tenacity. He enjoys a personal relationship with God like few others. When we look for biblical material on godly leadership, most of us go to the example of Moses. And yet on one occasion he "loses it". In apparent anger and frustration, he fails to honor God in front of the people of Israel. As a result God tells Moses that he will not be allowed to enter the Promised Land: "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites". Numbers 20:12
A few chapters later, Phinehas, grandson of Aaron, acts decisively and God commends him. "He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God". 25:13
Jesus told us to pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed (honored as holy) be your name". We should pray that the honor of God will be represented by the way Christ's followers talk and live. We should pray for those known as believers in government that they will represent Christ faithfully. We should pray for Christians  who are often in the media - as athletes, entertainers or whatever. Unlike most of us they have the opportunity to "hallow his name" in front of millions by what they do and say. We should pray for the reputation of our churches in the community - that what we do will represent Christ well so that people think more highly of our God.
As we live each day, may we, like Phinehas, be "zealous for the honor of our God." As Christ's ambassador, His honor should help motivate me to reject temptation to sin and lovingly serve others. We live and pray for the honor, the "hallowing" of God's name. 

SPEAKING ABOUT TALKING

I preached yesterday on James 3:1 - 12. In that passage, and in five other verses in the book, James warns against the misuse of our tongue. The pictures and parallels he uses are memorable. Our tongue is like a bit that can control a large horse; like a rudder that controls a large ship; like a small spark that can kindle a roaring forest fire. There is so much power in words and so often that power is used destructively.
Jan is reading a new book on her Kindle about introverts. Talking with an extrovert yesterday, Jan affirmed to the woman that those who are introverts and naturally slower to speak, have a natural advantage. They are far less likely to do damage verbally. Those of us who talk a lot need extra help from God to manage our tongues the way we should.
I shared with the congregation a paragraph I copied from a book (title unknown) many years ago. It provides a significant check up on that state of our tongue control.

"Can you go for twenty-four hours without saying anything unkind about anyone or to anyone?

Most honest people seem sure that they cannot go a whole day without at very least making unkind reference about another person.  “Then you have a serious problem,” I tell them.  “Because if I were to ask you whether you can go twenty-four hours without drinking any alcohol and you said you can’t, it means you are an alcoholic.  If you can’t go twenty –four hours without smoking a cigarette, that means you’re addicted to nicotine. And if you can’t go for twenty-four hours without speaking unkindly about or to another, you’ve lost control over your mouth."

Are you addicted to hurting others by the way you talk?

TOO RELAXED

I have driven by taxi to our office many times. On Tuesdays, Jan normally goes with me. After I get out at my "stop", she continues on to a small NGO, where she does some English tutoring with one of the employees, plus helps in other ways. As the taxe neared the office stop, I was relaxed and thinking of other things.
Suddenly I realized we were about to pass my stop. In my very limited Vietnamese I shouted to the driver: "turn left, turn left, turn left." That would have been very helpful except there was no place to turn left; and I didn't want him to turn left. What I should have shouted, and meant to shout was: "Stop here, stop here!" When I realized and corrected my mistake, the driver stopped, looked back and grinned. "You said "turn left" but I could not!" I said "excuse me" and exited the taxi.
Jan's Vietnamese, like mine, is far too limited to be able to explain to the driver what had just happened. Maybe he guessed: this poor confused foreigner has no idea what he is saying in Vietnamese! That kind of mistake reminds me of the times in Canada when I heard immigrants speaking English, but not making much sense. It is humbling.
Speaking of foreigners: following our Sunday morning service we were invited to join a few of our friends for lunch. It turned out that the "few" were actually over 30 adults and children, all ethnic Chinese from Malaysia and Singapore, plus one family from Hong Kong. We were the only foreigners from the West, and felt very much at home. The food was great at a nice Singapore Chinese restaurant. The fellowship and friendship was even better.

PRAY FOR LEADERS

Do you regularly pray for leaders? We are told to pray for those who lead our country. (I Timothy 2:1 - 3) Surprisingly, the Bible never (to my knowledge) tells us to pray for church leaders. Yet I guarantee they need God's help and thus need you to pray for that help to be extended. (We often read the Apostle Paul asking Christians to pray for him.)
The role of a leader is not easy, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps no one illustrates the challenges and burdens of leadership more than Moses. I was reviewing his painful example today as I read in the book of Numbers.
Many leaders become discouraged, but few have become as discouraged as Moses did. (Of course few ever faced such daunting leadership challenges as Moses did.) After another round of complaining from the nation of Israel, longing for the good (?) old days in Egypt (11:5), Moses has had enough. He says to God: "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? --- If this how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now - if I have found favour in your eyes - and do not let me face my own ruin." (11:11 - 15)
What a painful cry from a frustrated, discouraged, lonely leader! In this case, God provided for Moses some excellent help, and Moses burden of leadership is lightened.
In the next chapter, Moses' is criticized and challenged by his own family, his closest advisors, those who should have been his strongest supporters. Miriam and Aaron evidently are envious of Moses position, and assert that Moses is not so unique! They are equal to him! (Of course they are older; was there something here to do with sibling rivalry?) Are they trying to take his role, or just trying for more power and more prestige? Scripture does not elaborate. It simply records that God steps in and strongly, dramatically rebukes Miriam and Aaron for challenging Moses' leadership.
Right now you may have one or more discouraged leaders in your church. Perhaps not so discouraged that they want to die - but perhaps discouraged enough that they think about quitting. Will you pray for them?
While all leaders make mistakes, and all leaders need to be accountable to someone(s), it is often true that they receive more than their fair share of criticism. It especially hurts when attacks come from those who are close to the leader, from those who should be supporters as co-workers. Please pray that your leaders will stand strong when receiving unjustified criticism. Pray that when it is justified, it will be shared lovingly.
I believe strongly in multiple leadership. The burden of leading any but the smallest group is too large to be borne alone. Wise leaders make sure they are part of a team of leaders. However even when this is the case, some decisions, some roles must be taken by one person. And it is still true, it can be very lonely at the top. So please - pray for your leaders.

NEW IN THE OLD

One way to enjoy reading through the Old Testament is to watch for hints or parallels with the New Testament. There are Christians who mistakenly think that the God of the OT, and the teachings of the OT are in conflict with the NT. However if we pay close attention we see that the OT is preparing us for the NT. God is the same, His truth is the same; He is only gradually revealing Himself and His ultimate design for humans (sometimes called progressive revelation).
If you are a long time church attender, you have probably heard a number of sermons on stewardship. Perhaps I was even the preacher. When we study stewardship we understand that it is more than simply giving money to the church. Rather we are called to be stewards, managers of all God gives to us. All we have belongs to Him, He asks us to manage our abilities, our opportunities, our gifts, our time and our money for Him. We usually teach and preach this from the New Testament.
But look at what God tells His people Israel in the OT as He prepares them for their move into the Promised Land, what we call Palestine.

The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers." Leviticus 25:23 (NIV) Other translations use words like "foreigners and tenants or tenant farmers."

The people of Israel were to remember that the land they farmed was only on loan to them. They were stewards, managers or tenant farmers. God was the owner. This is a forerunner of the NT.  We who follow Christ sometimes mistakenly think we are owners, giving away some of what we own to the work of God, to people in need. Like Israel, we need to live with the perspective, God owns, I manage "my" resources for Him - both those I give and those I spend or use.

In the same chapter we read:
""For the people of Israel belong to me. They are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Lev. 25:55 (see also vs. 42)

In context, God recognizes that some people will be very poor managers of their resources. They may lose all that they own and finally have only themselves to sell so that they can stay alive. God allows them to sell themselves to someone else but puts in some significant safeguards. (Read the chapter to see what these are.) They must be treated well, no matter how deeply in debt, how poor, helpless and vulnerable they become. Why? Because, says God, ultimately these people belong to me.
These passages point toward the clear NT teaching that when we come to faith in Christ, we are owned by Him. All of our resources are really His resources. We are to manage these with care, remembering that all we are and have belongs to the One who Created and Redeemed us.