Keith Burnett Ministries

Equipping for Evangelism

What’s Your Calling? – Stan Bramlett

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Calling

Stan – What Is Your Calling?

Calling has been the subject of more than one conversation with myself! Others have questioned themselves about the same subject. And I’m rethinking that question.

I’ve been reading about Generation “Y” people (Generation Y Protagonists and Special Yuppies, or GYPSYs), those born between the late 70s and the mid-90s. They are coming up against hard realities of life. These people were raised hearing they can be whatever they want to be, and they should just “follow their passions” when choosing a career. One outcome of that train of thought is a growing sense of entitlement.

Calling & Culture

When reality exceeds expectations, we’re happy. When reality falls short, we’re unhappy, or even depressed. Reality just can’t match the dreams GYPSYs have learned to expect.

So what does that have to do with the Church?  CallingThe Church has often told young Christians to “follow their passions” and they will discover their special “calling”. In fact, it has been said the key to discovering God’s will is just discovering your passions.

Dwelling on the answer to the question of calling is something that seems unique to American Christians.  Many Christians around the world are ahead of us in answering the question.

Calling & History

The Protestant Reformers understood calling to be a commitment to glorify God in whatever station we find ourselves. It may be your calling right now to be a student, parent, or minimum wage employee.  Whether directly connected with our passions or not, God calls us first and foremost to do the next thing well, to His glory, with all of our might.

CallingMaybe the question isn’t, “What does God want me to do one day?” It may be, “What does God want me to do next?” This will propel us past inaction to live engaged lives in this world, regardless of our particular circumstances.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote:

Bravely take hold of the real, not dallying now with what might be. Not in the flight of ideas but only in action is freedom. Make up your mind and come out into the tempest of the living.

These are good words to dwell on. Bonhoeffer did and the world is better for it.

P.S. – KB here…This post was first published in 2013. I saw it as I was doing some work on the website. Stan and I are together this week. We are leading a teaching team for the pastors’ school. It just so happens (?) that part of our material today was on Jesus’ method of engaging disciples.

Jesus’ first words in this process were, Come and see. And that is how we ought to begin our outreach to the unbelieving world. Come and see gives way to, Follow Me. Following grows to, Learn of Me. And that takes the disciple into, Abide in Me. And curiously enough, Jesus ended His process with, Obey Me.

That process worked well for Jesus. The Church often starts with, Obey…, and hasn’t seemed to learn that is not a good starting place. Food for thought…

Favorite Scripture Verses: Misused & Misunderstood

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favorite Scripture verses

Favorite Scripture Verses: Misused & Misunderstood

What are your favorite Scripture verses? Do they mean what you think they mean? A significant part of my ministry has been to help in two areas regarding Scripture:

Seeing what the Bible actually says 

Learning from what the Bible does not say

Those two skills are very valuable and informative. So let me share some thoughts that may help.

Favorite Scripture Verses: Does The Bible Say…

I still run into this misconception: God helps those that help themselves. Some people really do believe that’s a verse of Scripture.

favorite Scripture verses

My favorite Bible cover!

And what about the Book of Hezekiah? That’s usually just done for laughs. Anytime some pastor or teacher asks the group at hand to turn to Hezekiah you will hear pages turning as people look for this imaginary book.

These are lighthearted examples of a serious subject. So it should not surprise you that an article on misused and abused Bible verses caught my eye. I found it in Relevant Magazine. The author only cites 5 misunderstood verses. And I imagine that most of these are on your favorite Scripture verses list! I know I have had discussions with people about each of them!

Part of the Relevant post is below. There is a link to the entire article if you want see it.

Soli Deo Gloria! 

5 Most Misused and Abused Bible Verses – Shane Pruitt

1. “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO STRENGTHENS ME.” – PHILIPPIANS 4:13

Out of Context: This verse has nothing to do with dunking a basketball, hitting a game-winning homerun, bench-pressing a bus, winning the lottery or closing a business deal.

In Context: The Apostle Paul is under house arrest awaiting his trial, where he may possibly be put to death for preaching the resurrection of Jesus.

However, instead of being defeated by unfortunate circumstances, Paul is using this opportunity to teach the young church in Philippi that he can endure any and every circumstance—ups and downs, highs and lows—because he has a strength that only comes from Christ.

This supernatural strength to endure all seasons and situations is always with Paul because the Holy Spirit of Christ is always with him, even in prison.

2. “FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED IN MY NAME, THERE AM I AMONG THEM.” – MATTHEW 18:20

Out of Context: This verse is usually quoted as an encouragement to one another when there is low attendance for a worship service or given as a benediction during a prayer meeting.

In fact, if someone really wants to stretch this verse, they may use it as justification for skipping church to “worship” with their family at home, while the football game is playing in the background.

In Context: This verse falls specifically within the context of church discipline and dealing with wayward believers.

It is meant to be an encouragement to church leaders during tough times of loving confrontation to say that God would be present with the two to three witnesses as they are intentional in correcting and restoring a fallen brother or sister.

3. “FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, DECLARES THE LORD, PLANS FOR WELFARE AND NOT FOR EVIL, TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE.” – JEREMIAH 29:11

Out of Context: This verse is typically given to someone as a sentiment during a difficult time, or on a graduation card after crossing a stage receiving his or her diploma or degree.

As a stand-alone promise, it appears as though God exists to make us all popular, rich, healthy, and powerfully well known! God declares the American Dream over my life!

In Context: This incredible promise is given not to an individual, but to a people group—Hebrews exiled in Babylon. God promised that He had not given up on His people and that even though things looked dire, they still had a future and a hope!

So, the word “prosper” doesn’t refer to money or material blessings; it refers to physical and spiritual salvation. It’s a beautiful promise that God is not done with His people and that their future and hope were only found in Him.

The promise is that He will see His plans through, and His people get to be a part of them.

4. “JUDGE NOT, THAT YOU BE NOT JUDGED.” – MATTHEW 7:1

Out of Context: We’re living in a day that values tolerance above all, unless, of course, someone disagrees with our beliefs, lifestyles, or opinions; then, we’re extremely intolerant. We may even boldly shout, “Only God can judge me!” However, this is Tupac theology, not Biblical theology.

In Context: This verse is not a warning against speaking out against certain actions or behaviors. In fact, in other places of Scripture, we’re told “we’ll know them by their fruit.”

We’re also commanded in the Great Commission to “make disciples,” which includes helping others wage war against sin. However, Matthew 7 is a warning against self-righteousness and hypocrisy.

If we’re going to correct someone, then we must expect to be held to the same standard. If we judge with aggression, then we can expect to be judged with aggression.

Even though we remove the plank in our eye, Jesus still says we must remove the speck in our brother’s.

5. “BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. I WILL BE EXALTED AMONG THE NATIONS, I WILL BE EXALTED IN THE EARTH!” – PSALM 46:10

Out of Context: Honestly, the most common travesty committed toward this verse is that only a piece of this verse is quoted.

On coffee-mugs, desktop screensavers with roses in the background, and paintings with a mountain, you’ll see a section of this verse carved out from the whole thought: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

In Context: The greatest justice we can provide for this verse is to actually quote it in its entirety. What an incredible comfort and reminder to know that we can be still and know that God is in control.

As His people, we can rest in the truth that He will be exalted in the nations across the earth, and there is nothing that can stop God from accomplishing His will.

  • KB: What other verses could have been addressed? Our favorite Scripture verses (and understanding!) are worth sharing. Please share your thoughts in the comments section. LINK

Desire

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DesireHave you ever gotten something you really wanted and experienced excitement and guilt? You are excited that your heart’s desire has been realized. At the same time there is a sense of guilt that getting what you want is a bad thing. Is getting something we desire a ‘bad’ thing?

Desire: A Godly Thingdesire

The Church has sometimes fostered the idea that getting the desire of one’s heart and enjoying life is a bad thing. Yet, Psalm 37:3-4 says,

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Believers are meant to take pleasure in their Heavenly Father. One’s relationshipexcitement with God allows us to enjoy the pleasure of His company. And it is our pleasure to know Him through the grace that makes the relationship possible! All this is cause for delight and joy! When our delight is in God, when our highest desire is to enjoy the pleasure of His company and the mystery of His transforming grace and glory – all the desires of our heart will be for more of the same. We will desire more of His grace, more of His presence, and more of Him in every area of life. That simply means taking more pleasure in His glory.

Desire The Real Deal

Satan tempted Eve in the Garden with instant gratification. He substituted his words for God’s words. Eve was tempted to trust Satan instead of God. Satan is a liar and cannot give anyone lasting joy. The only satisfaction Satan can give is what God’s Word calls, the pleasure of sin for a season. But God promises real joy. And He can deliver! His joy often comes through delayed gratification as we immerse ourselves in Him and His Word. Just like Eve, we must decide if we will listen to, trust, and believe God or Satan.

Faces 17There is nothing wrong pleasure. We’re made for it. But we can have a problem with pleasure. And that is most often related to the pleasure’s source. Does the pleasure come from within myself and my own sinful nature or does it come from God? Desire the Lord. Delight in Him. If you do, the Psalm says He will give you more of what you desire: Him!  —

Stan

 

Editor’s Note: Edited and re-posted. Original post was October, 2013.

Child’s View: Mission Trips

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mission trips

Child’s View: Mission Trips

Mission trips: what does a child think? Do they think about them at all? I have answers to both questions. And it’s insightful! But you should know from the start that you can view this post in one of two ways. First, it is possible for a child to teach us because Isaiah 11 speaks of the leadership of a child. Second, you can dismiss all of this as the musings of a proud father and grandfather. If so, tune in next time! But if you’re still here, take a peek at a post by my latest and youngest guest writer, Aiden.

Mission Trips: I Want To Go

mission tripsI don’t know the exact instructions for the writing assignment. But I can guess from the content that the grade school class was given the option to write about a subject of their choice. And Aiden apparently chose to write about mission trips.

So let’s begin with a question. How far does one have to go to be on a mission trip? I have this discussion often with various church groups. Aiden apparently has the understanding I try to instill in adults. His opening line includes:

I noticed some people in need. I knew I had to help them, but how?

Our mission ‘trip’ is as far as the next person we meet. Does that preclude going far away? No. But going far away shouldn’t exclude the person next door or the one around the corner. Too many adults see these option as either/or instead of both/and. A child’s innocence points the way again.

Mission Trips: Help Is Needed

Can a child pull off a mission trip even if they have an abundant desire to go? You know they can’t. A child readily admits his/her inability to do something. They are not ashamed to ask for help because that is a routine part of a child’s life. And here is how Aiden expressed that idea:

Then I remembered my grandfather was a pastor. I knew he could help.

mission tripsMy thoughts immediately land in two places. Didn’t Jesus say we should all come to Him like children? Yes, He did. But somehow Christians think that is just His initial requirement. They mistakenly think that after they come to Him they can then revert to their independent and/or self-sufficient ways. We can’t. How do I know? Jesus said:

I Am the vine, you are the branches. Apart from Me you can do nothing.

My ‘patented’ Burnett paraphrase is: Apart from Me you can’t do squat! That looks to me like a pretty good reason to always have Lord, help me on the end of my tongue! And a child gets this. We can learn from them.

Mission Trips: Different Things

mission tripsAnd my young guest writer then mentions languages, food, and music. Those are the things of culture. And I often have to instruct mission volunteers about those very things. And these are some of the things that define and characterize the people of missions. Why do I say it that way? People are always the mission. They were always Jesus’ mission. Everything else about Kingdom work is a tool to help or reach people. Our tools are medical teams, construction projects, water purification projects and training pastors just to name a few. But none of those things are the mission. They are tools to reach people in many cultures. And there are adults that need to view these elements of culture with the same eye of excitement that Aiden has exhibited.

Mission Trips: The Real God

Two big things come next. Along with wanting to experience culture, Aiden offered this:

People need to know about the real God…I also need to teach people how to talk to God.

mission tripsWhat do you see there? A child recognizes there are false gods in the world; many of them. But the Living God is the One we proclaim. Now, if that’s true then it is incumbent upon all people everywhere to know this God. How do we get to know someone? We talk to them.

As Aiden’s grandfather I’m awfully proud to see the next statement. But as a pastor and teacher I am even more blessed. Why? Because he recognized his personal responsibility to teach others about the Lord. In this sentence he did not do what many adult church members do: call the pastors and expect them to do the work. Kingdom work is for all of us. Our first thoughts about it ought to begin with the same personal reference Aiden used: I.

My primary job, and your pastor’s job, is to equip saints to do the work of the ministry. If I don’t do that then I am enabling them to be spiritually crippled and ineffective. Furthermore, people who are not equipped to engage for Kingdom causes are robbed of the blessings that could otherwise be theirs! O what can we learn from a child!

Mission Trips: Future Work

mission tripsThis summer we have a mission team that will include Aiden’s oldest brother and one of his cousins. Both of these boys are in their early teens. And in another 3-4 years I expect to be able to help Aiden realize the things he wrote about at school. You please pray we get that opportunity.

There is one more thing not known to anyone but me. I had the privilege of baptizing Aiden and his older brothers. Many people saw that. No one heard the prayers I prayed for them before I baptized them. I don’t intend to reveal it here. And I cannot explain why I remember the prayer for Aiden so vividly other than to say I truly believe it was a God thing. But as soon as I read his note (pictured below) that prayer came flooding back to my mind. mission trips

We know that the One Who began a good work in each of us is faithful to complete it. So would you pray for the Lord to complete the work He began in my youngest guest writer? That’s also a good prayer for every believer you know. And you might do well to ask that the eyes of your heart will be opened for the mission trips that are yours today…

Soli Deo Gloria!

mission trips

When A Question Gives The Answer

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Life Lessons

Life Lessons Series

This Life Lessons post answers two questions. The first question was posed in Who Will Be First? That was the first of two guest posts by Jeff Mann. And this follow-up post deals with what may be the most probing question any of us will have to answer. This simple question is an invaluable diagnostic tool for our lives. And that’s why I’ve included this post in the Life Lessons series.

Soli Deo Gloria! 

Who Will Be First, Part 2, Jeff Mann

During the trial of Jesus, Peter had denied knowing Him three times. And that was exactly what Jesus predicted Peter would do. In Jesus’ third recorded appearance after His resurrection, He  finally addressed this. Jesus confronted Peter’s denial with a simple question and brought it all to the forefront.

Life Lessons: The Revealing Question

Peter…do you love Me more than these? The word translated love here is the verb form of agape, agapao, the divine kind of love. Peter could only answer that he had phileo, or brotherly  love for Jesus. He knew his actions had spoken louder than any words he could have said that morning. He had

Life Lessons

obviously shown his unwillingness, at least in that moment, to die with Jesus.

So who or what were the these that Jesus referred to? The Scripture doesn’t tell us. But we can easily figure it out. On the shore that morning were Jesus and seven disciples. Jesus could very well have been referring to the relationships they had with one another. Certainly, Jesus must have a higher priority in our lives than any other person. But Jesus could have also been referring to the fish, the nets, and/or the boat. Any or all of the above are likely candidates since Peter had been a fisherman by trade. Simply put, however, these are things. Material things often take the preeminent place in our lives.

Life Lessons: First Place Matters

The first chapter of Colossians describes Christ’s position and authority as Head of the Church. It also declares,

…so that He may come to have first place in everything.

When we decide to follow Jesus, we’ll have to get in line behind Him. If my life is the dot or decimal point, then by doing so I’ve ascribed to Him the value He deserves. He is and must always be number One.

Life Lessons: Grace For Incorrect Answers

Jesus gave Peter an opportunity for a fresh start. When Jesus told Peter to feed His lambs and sheep, He was calling Peter to the equipping ministry of pastoral care. After Jesus briefly discussed how Peter would die when old, He then concluded with the same call that started their relationship: Follow Me. The truth is that whatever role we might be called on to play within the body, we can only accomplish it if Jesus Christ has first place in our lives.

How are you doing today? Do you love Him more than these?

Jeff

PS – Click the picture to learn more about bstow.

Click HERE to enroll. 

 

Who Will Be First?

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Who Will Be First?

Who Will Be First?

Who will be first? How important is that? The ‘super saints’ will don their humble hats and say it doesn’t matter at all. In some ways they are correct. But what about:

  • Boarding the plane?
  • The line for Black Friday shopping?
  • To do something no other person has ever done?

That last one brings people like Neil Armstrong to mind. He was the first man to set foot on the Moon. Being first can matter in many ways. And to that end, please take a look at part 1 of this guest post by my friend, Jeff Mann.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Who will be first? – Jeff Mann

I’m sure we’ve all watched a video clip of Abbot and Costello’s, Who’s on first? If you have never seen it, give yourself a treat and look it up on the internet. It’s a great lead-in for asking my question: Who will be first?

Who Will Be First?

Good Question!

I have grandsons who are 4, 6, and 8 years old. Typically when they play together, there is almost always a spirit of competition. Being “first” at anything and everything is a big deal. Offer an ice cream cone to a group of boys and ask, “Who wants to be first?” You’ll see what I mean.

In June, 2013, the Associated Press ran a story about the Spanish submarine, the Isaac Peral. The Isaac Peral was the first of five newly designed diesel-electric submarines commissioned by the Spanish government. Just before completion, someone discovered a serious problem. The Isaac Peral was too heavy to float. Engineers were afraid that the submarine would not be able to resurface. A consulting firm was hired to investigate. And the story included a few details about possible solutions. The problem was, none of them were going to be cheap!

As bizarre as this story is, it gets more interesting. My engineering background caused me to be curious as to how this could happen. I researched the internet until I found a report in a newspaper in another country. The entire problem centered around a tiny dot. During the design phase of construction, someone made a small mathematical error. A dot – a decimal point – was put in the wrong place.

Who Will Be First?A decimal point may only look like a tiny dot. But its placement in a numerical sequence has a tremendous impact. Placing a single little dot on the right side of a number guarantees the number receives its maximum value. And placing the dot on the left side of a number reduces it to a fraction of what it could be. This is how a tiny dot cost the government of Spain millions of dollars.

Who Will Be First?

To become who and what God intends us to be, Jesus must have first place in your life and in His church.

The lesson in all this is that we can’t successfully build our lives, our churches, or even the Kingdom of God if Jesus isn’t in first place. To make and keep Jesus #1 in your life, make sure the dot is in the right place. If we want to be sure about Who Will Be First, the life of every believer should look like this:

Jesus . me

Jeff

 

Bro. Bob: Earaches, Moms and Psalms

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Bro. Bob

Bro. Bob – Earaches, Moms and Psalms

I want to share a word from Bro. Bob. Who is he? We met not long after he and his bride began their ministry journey. Bob came to serve the church where my dad was senior pastor. Bob was a seminary student and I was about to graduate high school. So all that was a year or two ago! There’s more to this story, but I’ll save it for another time. 🙂

Devotions From Bro. Bob come across my Facebook page regularly. They are public, but hitting the Share button wouldn’t let me make a connection. The devotion was posted yesterday. And my first thought after reading it was: This is a great follow-up to Prayer: Facing The Fear. That’s the connection. So to that end, enjoy the thoughts by Bro. Bob. And if you didn’t see the Prayer post, you might want to take a look at it.

Soli Deo Gloria! 

A Devotion From Bro. Bob 
Psalm 139:1-6
A 100% Assumption…He Knows (edited)

Dear Family of God,

When I was a very little boy back in Arkansas, I often had earaches. I remember them even now. I thank the Lord that I eventually grew out of them. But in my younger days, my ears would often ache in the middle of the night. It seemed to coincide with playing outside most of the day.

I well remember lying in my bed wanting to tell Mom that I needed her. But I didn’t want to disturb her and Dad. Their room was just around the corner from mine. When it seemed I could stand it no longer I would simply and quietly call out to Mom or Dad:

My ear hurts

The Mom

Shortly I would feel Mom’s nearness. She would bring a big fluffy towel which she had warmed on our big, living room heater. She would take the towel and lay it on my ear until I would go back to sleep. Oh, how I needed her to know I was in pain. And when I finally cried out, she was there.

The PsalmBro. Bob

The difference between my Mom and our Heavenly Father is He already knows my:

  • Pain
  • Distress
  • Concerns
  • Heart from the inside out

And because He knows all my sorrows, He is already there with me. If I hurt and walk the floor at night in distress or pain, He is with me. If I am concerned and need His presence, He is already with me. Do I need to call out to Him? Yes I do. I need to recognize and realize in my heart: He is my only source of true help…even in the darkest night. His Word tells us:

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.  

This portion of God’s word is teaching me one tremendous fact about our Father God: He does know all about me. Read and study His Word. Then read see the beautiful words found in this song by Jeremy Camp from his I Will Follow album.

The Song

He Knows from I Will Follow

All the bitter weary ways, Endless striving day by day. You barely have the strength to pray in the valley low. And how hard your fight has been, How deep the pain within,
Wounds that no one else has seen, Hurts too much to show, All the doubt you’re standing in between,

And all the weight that brings you to your knees, We may faint and we may sink
Feel the pain and near the brink. But the dark begins to shrink
When you find the one who knows, The chains of doubt that held you in between
One by one are starting to break free, Every time that you feel forsaken
Every time that you feel alone, He is near to the brokenhearted
Every tear He knows, He knows.

Every hurt and every sting, He has walked the suffering. He knows, He knows.
Let your burdens come undone, Lift your eyes up to the one Who knows.
He knows, He knows, He knows.

The first step we must take in our walk with our Heavenly Father, is to know HE knows. Then simply and earnestly cry out to the One who knows all about you!

In Jesus’ Care, Always,

Bro. Bob

 

Jason Allen: A Pastor’s Plea

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Jason Allen

Jason Allen and family

Let me tell you about my friend Jason Allen and why you need to see his letter. One news broadcast this past Monday night was all about the flood in Louisiana. In some ways it was hard to watch. In other ways it was encouraging because I saw many different ministries on hand to help.

When the commentator mentioned the town of Central, LA, my ears perked up a bit. In my last post about Jason Allen I mentioned the church he now serves, First Baptist Church of Belle Chasse, LA. But when I heard about Central, LA, I was almost sure that was where he pastored his first church.

That prompted me to call Jason in order to ask a few questions. Central was in fact the place he served prior to Belle Chasse. I found out the house his family had lived in had five feet of water in it. If he had still been in Central he and his family would have been without a house at this moment.

Jason AllenI asked Jason to send me anything he wanted to send in order to share it with you. What follows is what he sent. Why did I do that? Sometimes we have a sense of detachment with the difficulties others face. I hope his note encourages you to do whatever you can to be part of the solution. Several people who have been ROW mission volunteers are volunteering in LA.

I will be in touch with Jason on a routine basis. He and some of his church members will be staffing a ROW mission team this Fall. Until then, if you want to know how to help, you can send me an email or comment on this post. I’ll have firsthand info from Jason.

Soli Deo Gloria! 

A Pastor’s Plea – Jason Allen

Central City, LA – We help her into the truck and drive to her apartment. As we head down the road, we see the remains of what swept through. Cars are flipped over into ditches due to racing water. Stacks of debris that has been ripped from flooded houses now lines the streets. Then we arrive at what used to be her residence.

Security personnel check her credentials in order to allow us in.  They are there keeping looters away.  We get out of the car and walk up the sidewalk to her apartment. We try to open the door, but it won’t open. As I get a bit more forceful, I see the issue. A closet door inside had come off its hinges and had wedged into the entrance. We finally get it moved.

The scene on the inside is unreal. The house is littered with soaking wet couches, shelves, books, clothes and all the personal belongings that build up over a lifetime. The line of mold on the wall was seven feet high. That’s just one thing the flood waters left behind. The smell of overflowed sewage and rotting food lingered heavily in the air.

This is the mess that was left for Jeanie, an 80-year-old resident of Central, LA. She has lived here all of her life, but has never seen anything like this. As the floodwaters rose rapidly several days ago, she had to be rescued by some Good Samaritans of the Cajun Navy. That’s the unofficial given to neighbors helping rescue neighbors with their own boats. There just wasn’t time to get out of there, and she is lucky to be alive.

Jason Allen: She Cried When She Saw It

As we examine each of her belongings, we find a Bible. It was her husband’s Bible. She cried when she saw it. It carried genealogies, births, deaths, and marriages, and the memory of the godly man she loved who is no longer with her. Thankfully we were able to take pictures of a few important pages before the Bible had to be discarded. The mold had already started to grow. As I took it away, she asked me to be careful with it. With as much dignity as we could, we placed it in a prominent place on a desk in the pile of debris.

Jason Allen: She knew people loved her

The day was hard for our team of 19 that came to help from our church. But by the end of the day, a woman who was overwhelmed with the loss knew there were peopole who loved her. Their acts of love helped turn the tide for her. Her words of appreciation were more than enough payment, and it was a privilege to have walked with her for a day along a very difficult road.

Many folks ask me about what happened in South Louisiana. After all, Central City is my hometown.  Well, South Louisiana was hit with record floods. The amount of rain that fell was between 12-26 inches over a good portion of the state. Areas that have no record of flooding over the past 100 years were covered in several feet of water.  The Amite River hits flood stage at 26 ft. It crested at 46 ft. As meteorologists have said, it is truly a thousand year flood for this area.  But, you have already heard all that on the news. You have seen the pictures and videos. You have watched the disaster unfold, and many of you have sent supplies, money, and prayers in this direction. For that Louisiana is incredibly thankful.

But, the thing you need to hear is the outpouring of the grace of God in the midst of this tragedy. I have watched the hands and feet of Jesus going and giving. I have seen complete strangers invite each other into their homes. I have seen men and women with boats work well into the night to rescue their neighbors. I have seen people take off work to help each other. I have seen people give their money, time, and their hearts to walk through this tragedy with those in need.

Jason Allen: Tensions melt into love and support

I have seen a city that was filled with tension over issues of race melt into love and support of one another. This is the story that needs to be told. The story of Jeanie is one of thousands. The story of what our church is doing to help is also one of thousands.

I want to invite you to be a part of that story. In 1 John 3:18, we are told:

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth.

Come and see what God is doing in this area and join it. Your prayers are needed. If you can send a financial gift it is needed. If you can spare some time to come and help that is also needed. You may can spend a weekend mudding out a house or you may be able to come and help rebuild. In all these things we show God’s love to the world. Thank you for all of your support!

Happy Thanksgiving – Guest Post

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Thanksgiving Psalm 31A

Happy Thanksgiving! 

As with this week’s previous posts, this one is from one of our recent mission volunteers. Jeremy is a friend and fellow laborer in the Gospel. This post will be up for the remainder of the Thanksgiving weekend. Come back when or if you can, contemplate a bit, and share.

We hope and pray you and your family have a very blessed celebration of Thanksgiving – filled with genuine gratitude.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Jeremy Wilson Journey GroupAs I sit scrolling through social media feeds, I see many people giving thanks for things. I think it’s great! I love seeing November dedicated to being thankful.

Do you know how many months are dedicated to something? Obviously, October is breast cancer awareness month. November then swoops in with thankfulness and “No shave”. I believe “No shave November” is meant to remind us of prostate cancer and other men’s issues, not really sure as I make it a habit to only shave once a week whether I need it or not.  January is stalking awareness month (lol), February is Black History and American Heart, June is one of my favorites: PTSD, Caribbean American, Hemiplegic Migraine, and LGBT Pride all get to share awareness (Sarcasm alert!!!).

With so much to be aware of, how does one find the time to be thankful? I am convinced this is why the same social media users, who are thankful in November, spend the rest of the time being spiteful in the other eleven months.

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

I wonder if in Paul’s day they had “Persecuted for the Cause of Christ” awareness month. His words here are a resounding testament to what it is to really be in tune with God’s will for you life.

We spend all month being thankful on social media, only to brawl in out in the aisle of whatever chain store we can hit up first on Black Friday. January through October is spent taking to facebook in order to gripe and say things we’d never have the courage to say out loud. It all boils down to a matter of contentment. When we realize our identity is in Christ then, and only then, will true thanksgiving take place in our lives; furthermore it will become a lifestyle, not a month.

Thanksgiving – Mission Volunteers 3

By

grateful for

Thanksgiving Shared by Mission Volunteers

Monday’s post, as well as yesterday’s post, held some enlightening and encouraging thoughts. I didn’t give anyone a word limit. I just asked them to complete the line:

I am thanful for…

Per my request, they completed the thought with their personal reflections on our recent mission to the Dominican Republic. Today’s Thanksgiving post is a little longer than the others and comes from a young man I have grown to appreciate greatly. After being in the church he and his family attend, and seeing his sensitivity to the Spirit as we worked together, I am excited about his future in Kingdom work. I pray his thoughts of thanksgiving bless you as much as he has blessed me!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Matt Hawes

Thanksgiving Matt Hawes

Matt teaching in Batey 9

I’m thankful for many things from our trip to Barahona, Dominican Republic. God allowed me to get out of my comfort zone during the course of our week. But I knew I would have to at some point on the trip. I even gave myself the whole pep talk about how God would be there to help you through it no matter what the trip held. But when the time came, God’s provision went from a concept in my head to something that I experienced in a new way. Simply knowing that God will provide and experiencing His provision are two completely different things! 

I’m thankful that God’s redeeming grace is powerful enough to transcend any economic, social, or cultural background. I was able to study alongside, share a meal with, and worship God Almighty with brothers and sisters that I had never met. But though we had not met before this trip, these brothers and sisters met me with open arms and open hearts. Although we come from very different cultures and backgrounds, we were able to join together as one to give thanks to our God and Creator simply because of Christ’s redeeming power that is continually at work in our hearts and minds.    

Finally, I’m thankful that God used that week to remind and emphasize to me His desire for discipleship. God has been nudging me continually toward greater discipleship in my life for the last few years. I have tried to take steps of faith but it seems that things have been moving slowly and I was beginning to lose heart. As part of the teaching team, our week was focused on discipleship and throughout the trip God was encouraging me to stay on course! We even got to witness a wonderful example of discipleship in action right there in the Bateys! God reminded me that the mission trip was simply an extension of the mission He has given to each of us to make disciples. What a blessing it is to live with purpose!   

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