True Needs - Earthly Poverty vs. Eternal Death

The extreme poverty I witnessed this past week was not a new experience for me. It was a reminder however that the greatest need in our lives is not for physical comfort, but for spiritual salvation and hope provided through a saving faith in Christ alone.

As Americans, our initial response to witnessing poverty is a conviction of how well we live and (hopefully) a compassionate response to meet those needs in a real and loving way.

When I returned home Sunday evening I was flipping TV stations and saw our version of a compassionate response to physical needs...Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. As wonderful as the things are that happen on this show, when you think about it, the efforts and money could be much better applied and distributed. The end result of every show is often a 2,000-4,000 sq.ft. palatial home that is overdone to every detail and luxury. Although the families are often needy and hurting, the excesses done to meet the "perceived need" in a home is indicant of a cultural problem in America and many other nations.

Many Americans contribute some portion of their incomes to charitable causes and to churches. As good as we feel about these contributions, the statistics bely that only about 2% of household incomes are given to charity (http://www.generousgiving.org/page.asp?sec=4&page=161)

Although an increase in financial giving and donation of time in service would be a helpful response, we must understand that humanity's true needs are not met in physical comfort. Humanity's true need is salvation from sin and is found in Christ alone. This need can be met by Christians sharing their faith boldly, courageously, and regularly. It is a free gift, but also the most-neglected in being shared.

If we begin to have an eternal perspective when looking at those around us (a perspective provided through the reading and studying of God's Word)...whether rich or poor... we will begin to have a passion for sharing Christ, the gift that can truly makeover people's lives in an extreme way that lasts for eternity.

Prosperity & Gospel Receptivity

Salvation is impossible apart from the grace (unmerited favor) of God through the provision of His Son Jesus Christ . It cannot be earned by good deeds, purchased through riches, or merited through any religion. It is possible only through true faith and belief in Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, demonstrated in a love for others, perseverance in the faith, and obedience to His Word.


As I had the privilege of helping distribute Gospels and share my faith with hundreds of Mexicans this past week, I was amazed at their overwhelming reaction and response to this simple yet important gift. They were excited!


Very few of those we met as we went door to door were negative, confrontational, or hostile. There were some who were somewhat disinterested, but the vast majority were filled with joy at the simple gift of a book of the Bible.


The adults and children that I was blessed to speak with had great interest in discussing and reading the Bible with me. They recognized it source (God) and its importance and applicability to their life. Although there was much confusion with what they were exposed to (heavy exposure to Catholic doctrines along with cults such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons), they clearly understood the difference of how salvation is provided by grace & faith alone and not by works, good deeds, etc.


The Jews of Jesus' day lived in a culture and religion that similarly supported the necessity of doing good things and obeying rules to be saved. Matthew 19, Mark 10. & Luke 18 all recount a discussion Jesus has with the rich young ruler. It is then he uses the oft-remembered phrase, "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."(Matthew 19:24) This passage points not to the fact that rich man cannot go to heaven, but rather that salvation does not come from mankind, good deeds, or human riches, but rather from God alone through His grace. Salvation is possible only through God.

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26)

It saddens me to think about the responses I get in my own country when I share my faith, even with a simple invitation to church. The responses are more hostile, negative, confrontational, and plain rude. Our country is so blinded by our wealth, busyness, success, entertainment, and our self-worship that we are far-less receptive to the amazing gift of salvation in Jesus Christ.


It is my hope and prayer that our nation, and all the nations of the world, are broken and brought down to the point that they seek salvation not in themselves (good deeds, riches, religion, self-worship, etc.) but in God alone through His gift in Jesus Christ.

Why International short-term Missions Trips?

I just returned from a week-long missions trip to Mazatlan, Mexico with 13 others (including my wife!). It was an incredible experience. It is described and shown (photos) in greater depth @ http://severnsvalleystudents.blogspot.com/. Over the past few months I have heard people mention some downsides to short-term international mission trips:

• High cost (travel) & thus lower participation
• Impact limited by there being no long-term relationship
• Language & cultural barriers
• Need is great back home

I am a HUGE fan of short-term missions trips and here are some responses to some of these common objections:

• Cost: although international missions trips do often cost in the $1,000+ range for many trips, can you put a price on the salavation of those who might otherwise not come to know Christ? When you compare the money we spend on international missions and evangelism with other areas in our lives that are not necessities...vacations, entertainment, hobbies, leisure, excessive living, living beyond our means, wasted money due to poor financial management, etc....for most of us it is easy to find money in our budgets if we simply start living more practically and sacraficially. We cannot let cost be the driving factor preventing us from doing some of the primary tasks we are charged with...making disciples and being witnesses!
• No long term relationships: It is true that most international missions trips do not result in long-term relationships between the missions participants and the local people. However, the power in the missions trip is not in the personal impact, but rather in the work of the Holy Spirit in the demonstration of His love through service-related projects and through the sharing of His Word through more evangelistic projects (Gospel sharing, VBS camps, etc.). An additional strength of short-term missions trips results through the connection with local churches that can be strengthened and encouraged by foreigners in a way that may not happen within their own nation or people group. These trips also greatly help support the work of international missionaries in a way that they cannot accomplish on their own.
• Language & Cultural Barriers: In many ways this is not a weakness, but a strength of international short-term missions trips as many of the missions participants are able to share the Gospel more confidently and boldly in the midst of strangers than they are at home with friends and families. Oftentimes, the cultural differences in other countries makes them much more receptive to the Gospel then you would find most Americans. I was reminded of my weak language and cultural skills this past week in Mexico but remain amazed at how God chose to work powerfully through me depsite my weaknesses.
• What about back home? I do not deny the need is great back home. At the same time so many hearts and minds are already hardened to the Gospel truth. Have you considered the fact that 1.6 Billion people overseas have never even heard about Jesus Christ? At the same time most Americans have heard the Gospel many times, have access to the Bible, and yet reject Him over and over by instead chosing to worship themselves instead of the Creator? Short-term international missions trips often open up the eyes of participants to missions and international needs in a way that can only happen first hand.

It is my hope and prayer that every Christian can find a way to make the time and save the money to go on an international short-terms missions trip. You may not find yourself called to international missions, but I guarentee that if you are God-focused in your motives and efforts He will use it as a life-changing experience in your own life as well as making an eternal difference in the lives of many through your sacrafice.

God Speaks - GREAT Screensaver!

Based on the "God Speaks" billboards across the country...a very cool screensaver!

Parent Resources

Robert Smith, a youth culture specialist and evangelist shared some great resources for parents the other day. Check out his website (http://www.ud4christ.com/) and recommended resources below... Video Games http://www.esrb.org/ (ratings board system) http://www.whattheyplay.com/ (Robert’s favorite) http://www.commonsensemedia.org/ (games, movies, books, websites…there’s a blog) Cell Phones http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/ (spy data extractor) http://www.guardianangeltech.com/ (pre-paid and tracker) Movies http://www.kids-in-mind.com/ http://www.screenit.com/ (requires subscription for just released movies) http://www.pluggedinonline.com/ http://www.movieguide.org/ www.crosswalk.com/movies http://www.goodmoviesonline.com/ (edited movies) http://www.cleanflicks.com/ (netflix with clean content) http://www.clearplay.com/ (DVD player with filter, filters have subscription fees) http://www.christianitytoday.com/ Addiction http://www.teendrugabuse.us/ http://www.drugtestyourteen.com/ http://www.recoveryconnection.org/ 1-800-99-detox Addict in the Family: Stories of Loss, Hope, and Recovery by Beverly Conyers Loving an Addict, Hating the Addiction by Kecia C. Sims Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Together Again by Drew Pinsky (secular author from Celebrity Rehab) Pornography http://www.xxxchurch.com/ http://www.x3watch.com/ (X3 watch monitors web site visits) http://www.safeeyes.com/ (prohibits accidental or deliberate page viewing) Not Even a Hint by Joshua Harris Every Young Man’s Battle Every Young Woman’s Battle Song of Solomon by Tommy Nelson (curriculum made esp for student ministry) Cutting Learning to Understand and Help Those Who Self-Injure by Marv Penner

Easy Believism vs. Perseverance & Obedience

We live in a generation of "easy-believism Christianity" where intellectual assent to the Gospel message is highlighted and often separated from a need for obedient living and a perseverance in the faith.

The book of James is such a great summation of what genuine faith in Christ looks like. John MacArthur states that "James' point is not that a person is saved by works, but that there is a kind of apparent faith that is dead and does not save."

Here are some great verses from James...

James 1:6b "he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

James 2:14 "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?"

James 2:17 "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Saving faith is also described clearly throughout Scripture as a persevering faith.

Colossians 1:23a "if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel"

1 John 2:3-6 "3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."

Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel to the Whole Person by Whole People by Will Metzger is an excellent resource for Gospel-sharing and a proper understanding of what true saving faith is and "God-centered evangelism." Another book I suggest (b/c of the author) is How Can I Be Sure I'm a Christian by Donald Whitney. Dr.Whitney has a LOT of great books on the Christian life.

Are you a victim of "easy-believism"? Are good works, obedience, and perseverance characteristics of your faith? Try reading 1 John & James...see what they have to say about faith.

God - The Greatest Father Ever!

Psalm 139:5 "You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me." God is such the epitomy of Fatherhood. His loving correction, stern rebuke, imparting of wisdom, loving punishment, and caring embrace show throughout Scripture in how He deals with Israel and His church. It is so encouraging to know that God fills the gap in our own fatherhood failures or those of our own fathers. Read a great article regarding the analogy of God as the Father who lovingly chases us down...when we run away from Him, just like children run away from or resist their earthly parents. http://www.crosswalk.com/parenting/11577135/ The author (Whitney Von Lake Hopler) lists several reasons we tend to run away from God:

• We think something else seems more exciting
• We’re afraid of what He may ask us to do
• We think we’ll experience more freedom on our own
• We don’t believe He’ll really love us as we are
• We want others to think we’re independent