FOR HIS GLORY

I know, I know. I promised a report and it hasn’t come yet, nearly a week after we’ve returned. Sorry, but ministry and life tend to get in the way. Nevertheless, here is a brief report on our Alaska Mission trip.

We flew to Anchorage, Alaska on July 8, landing at around 6:00 pm. Our missionary contact picked us up at the airport. Her name is Brenda Crim. Brenda took us out for dinner and briefed us on our week’s activities. After a quick trip to her home, we headed down the Kenai Peninsula with Nathan, a summer missionary from Longview, Tx. We arrived in Kenai, Alaska late that evening. The strange thing, it was 11:30 pm and still daylight! Right now, Alaska is receiving almost 24 hours of sunlight! After day one, however, sleeping wasn’t really a problem.

We rose on Wednesday and after breakfast, had a lesson on tying egg knots on a Russian river fly.

We then left the house in Kenai and headed to Soldotna to get our licenses and equipment. Then, we went up the road to Cooper Landing where the Russian River empties into the Kenai. Our mission? Reaching salmon fishermen (and women) fishing the salmon runs on the Lower Kenai Peninsula. We had opportunities to do one on one outreach on the Kenai, Russian, Anchor, and Kasilof Rivers. We handed out New Testaments, the Gospel of John, Russian River flies (the only thing you can fish with on the Russian) on cards with scripture and tracts. The evangelistic DVD, Life Alaska, didn’t make it to us in time, so we couldn’t pass those out. We also took part in a small project, doing some painting and work with another group at College Heights Baptist Church in Soldotna.

The highlight of the week came on Sunday evening as we ministered to fishermen on the Kasilof at Crooked Creek Campground. David Jacks cooked up a BIG pot of gumbo and we set up and fed folks and talked to them about Christ. We estimate 40-50 ate with us and received bibles and other materials.

Observations:

It was a great trip simply from the standpoint that 3 of the 5 of us had never been on a misson trip before. Also, these guys had probably never shared their faith. Yet, here they were, among fellow outdoorsmen, talking about Jesus. We didn’t see any professions of faith. Nevertheless, we count it a success when we can sow gospel seeds in people’s lives.

Salmon fishing is hard when the fish aren’t running! We were between runs. In fact, I checked the numbers after we left, and the three days after we left, over 170,000 red salmon ran the Kenai. When we were there, daily numbers were in the 100s! Salmon don’t bite bait. They are running the rivers to spawn and ultimately die. Catching them is a matter of “flossing.” That is, you flip your line out and try to run it through his mouth and snag him. Not so hard if 170,000 are swimming by. Tough if a fish comes by you once every half hour! Slow runs meant less people on the rivers, but it also means people are more willing to stop and talk.

Alaska is beautiful! But you knew that already, didn’t you!

It never got above 60 degrees while there! We saw moose, bears, caribou, dall sheep, and more bald eagles than you could imagine! Romans 1:20 is certainly proved to be true in this place! We had many who doubted the validity of Jesus. We had no one who denied the existence of God!

This is a great opportunity for outdoorsmen. Alaska is like everywhere else. You can’t expect the lost to come to church. Most of them don’t even know where your church is. If you are going to tell them about Jesus you have to go where the people are. In Alaska, that means picking up a rod and reel and going fishing. To my knowledge, nobody else is doing missions this way there. I pray that God will continue to allow men and women from Calvary the opportunity to go reach outdoorsmen in Alaska and other places for Jesus Christ.

Well, we returned from Alaska late last night (15th). Sorry I wasn’t able to post while we were gone. I didn’t have any internet access where we were staying and didn’t have time to go to a wifi location while we were there. We were pretty busy most of the time as you can imagine. Anyway, I’ll try and post a report in the next day or two.

Tuesday, four men and I will travel to Cooper’s Landing, Alaska via Anchorage for a mission trip. This trip is being sponsored by the Alaska Baptist Convention and the North American Mission board. It has been described to us in this way through the Outdoor Ministry Network.

Your church now has the opportunity to take your outdoorsmen on a trip to wild Alaska and share Christ during the summer Salmon runs.  Literally, people from all over the world will descend on Alaska in a very short period of time trying to hook up with the Salmon that run upstream to spawn.  Alaskans live for this short window of time where they can get up to 22 hours of daylight … and they pretty much live it out on the rivers!   The locals actually call it “combat fishing” because you have to work your way into a spot to fish!
Your main mission … to pass out a DVD OMN produced specifically for these type efforts.  The DVD uses Alaskans, who hunt and fish, to share the gospel.  You’ll go up and down the rivers simply handing out a DVD in order to sow seeds for the harvest.

 

Actually, we will be doing several types of activities to engage the outdoorsmen for Christ. This is a new kind of mission trip and we are the first to do it. Pray for our effectiveness in meeting and engaging people. Pray, as God sees fit, that His gospel will go forth from us. Pray for our safety and our families as we are gone.

I don’t know what kind, if any, internet service we will have. If possible, I will post updates daily.

How about four?

One of the theme verses of my life is Romans 8:29. It says, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (ESV) Among other things, this tells us that God’s purpose for all believers was that each one be like Jesus. We know that when we are finally glorified in heaven, that purpose will be completely fulfilled. But, until that time, what? Until that time, believers should be ever moving toward that goal, becoming more like Jesus every day. The problem with most churches, mine included, is that we have historically focused on numerical rather than spiritual growth. If we could show an increase from year to year, we were happy. Sadly, the church has suffered with “believers” whose lives never reflected the change that God says should be happening.

Let’s pray that churches in general and Calvary Baptist Church in particular will take this task seriously. It is our mandate. The Great Commission has only one imperative verb, to make disciples. That is our command. It is God’s purpose. Christ follower, are you taking this task seriously in your church and in your own life?

I found this powerful video on another blog. Though I’d share it with you to illustrate the difference Christ makes in the lives of others. Enjoy.

Well, another convention goes down in history. Sorry, but I have to hold back a yawn. I stopped going to conventions years ago when I discovered that much of the business, especially elections, were foregone conclusions. I have never really been a poster boy for the SBC. I am baptist through and through, but I hate the politics, which I believe were at the center of the so called “conservative resurgence,” 30 years ago. Those of you who know me know that I am fiercely conservative. I am not, however, a fundamentalist. Fundamentalism for me is more of a political designation than theological. However, I digress. Two years ago, something happened. A relative unknown became SBC president. It wasn’t the “chosen” one! Maybe the tides were shifting! Many SBC pastors, particularly those under 40 had become disillusioned about the direction of the convention. Many of the “old guard” were being challenged. History will have to determine whether or not Frank Page’s election was indeed the beginning of  change, or rather a blip on the screen of SBC history.

While I haven’t followed SBC 08 events closely, one decision has given me hope that change really may be coming and that the “old guard” is losing their grip on the reigns of the convention. On Tuesday, the convention passed a resolution “On regenerate church membership.” Why? For one, our convention leadership has, for years, touted the fact that we are 16 million strong. However, on any given Sunday, only 6 million or so show up for church. Where are the other ten? Are they wandering with the lost tribes? Who knows. The thing is, more than reflecting numbers of a convention, they reflect the state of churches, like my own, who have scores (sometimes hundreds) of names on a roll and we can’t even find them. My church calls them non-resident. What we are actually saying is that we don’t really care enough to try and find and encourage these “believers” to come back or find another place of worship. Several in the convention have brought this problem to light and offered a resolution about it. Note that resolutions are non-binding. Nevertheless, it is a way that we as a convention can declare what we believe to be important and, if necessary, to draw a line in the sand. In fact, this is how some of the issues that became part of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 should have been dealt with, in my opinion.

Here is the text of the resolution in full. The bold print indicates amendments to the original resolution made from the floor.

WHEREAS, The ideal of a regenerate church membership has long been and remains a cherished Baptist principle, with Article VI of the Baptist Faith and Message describing the church as a “local congregation of baptized believers”; and

WHEREAS, A New Testament church is composed only of those who have been born again by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word, becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, the local church’s only Lord, by grace through faith (John 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9), which church practices believers’ only baptism by immersion (Matthew 28:16-20), and the Lord’s supper (Matthew 26:26-30); and

WHEREAS, Local associations, state conventions, and the Southern Baptist Convention compile statistics reported by the churches to make decisions for the future; and

WHEREAS, the 2007 Southern Baptist Convention annual Church Profiles indicate that there are 16,266,920 members in Southern Baptist churches; and

WHEREAS, Those same profiles indicate that only 6,148,868 of those members attend a primary worship service of their church in a typical week; and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures admonish us to exercise church discipline as we seek to restore any professed brother or sister in Christ who has strayed from the truth and is in sin (Matthew 18:15-35; Galatians 6:1); and now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 10-11, 2008, urge churches to maintain a regenerate membership by acknowledging the necessity of spiritual regeneration and Christ’s lordship for all members; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we humbly urge our churches to maintain accurate membership rolls for the purpose of fostering ministry and accountability among all members of the congregation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to repent of the failure among us to live up to our professed commitment to regenerate church membership and any failure to obey Jesus Christ in the practice of lovingly correcting wayward church members (Matthew 18:15-18); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we humbly encourage denominational servants to support and encourage churches that seek to recover and implement our Savior’s teachings on church discipline, even if such efforts result in the reduction in the number of members that are reported in those churches, and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we humbly urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention and their pastors to implement a plan to minister to, counsel, and restore wayward church members based upon the commands and principles given in Scripture (Matthew 18:15-35; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20).

I think this is extremely significant. But only if churches in general and pastors specifically take this problem seriously. I am certainly praying about how I as a shepherd can do a better job than I have in keeping track of the sheep. Pray for me as I do.

Oh, and don’t be concerned about my take on convention politics. I’m still the same. And, as much as I have disagreed with some of the things that have happened in the SBC over the years, I’m still here.

I ran across a very interesting story this morning. I’ll be watching  to see whether the evidence truly points to this site in Jordan being a place of worship dating to just after the death of Jesus.

Ancient cave found under church

AMMAN, Jordan - Archaeologists in Jordan said Monday they have discovered a cave underneath one of the world’s oldest churches that may have once been an even more ancient site of Christian worship.

Archaeologist Abdel-Qader Hussein, head of the Rihab Center for Archaeological Studies, says the cave was unearthed in the northern Jordanian city of Rihab after three months of excavation and shows evidence of early Christian rituals.

The cave lies under St. Georgeous church, built in 230 A.D., making it one of the oldest churches in the world, along with one unearthed in the Jordanian southern port of Aqaba in 1998 and another in Israel discovered in 2005.

Hussein said there was evidence that the underground cave was used as a church by 70 disciples of Jesus in the first century after Christ’s death, which would make it the oldest Christian site of worship in the world.

He described a circular worship area with stone seats separated from a living area that had a long tunnel leading to a source of water. He said the early Christians hid there from persecution.

A mosaic inscription on the floor of the later church of St. Georgeous above refers to “the 70 beloved by God and the divine” who founded the worship there.

Thomas Parker, a historian at the University of North Carolina-Raleigh, who led the discovery of the church in Aqaba, said that while he hadn’t seen the Rihab site, any such claim should be taken with a degree of caution.

“An extraordinary claim like this requires extraordinary evidence,” he said. “We need to see the artifacts and dating evidence to suggest such an occupation in the 1st century A.D.”

Parker asked how archeologists could be certain whether the “cave was actually a center of Christian worship.”

The archeologist also noted that mosaics are difficult to date unless there is a precise date in the text of the mosaic inscriptions themselves and typical mosaic inscriptions with Christian themes are from the 5th to 6th century.

“It’s quite possible that there was a cave with earlier occupation which was later converted to Christian use. But to make the jump that this was actually used by Christians fleeing Jerusalem in the 1st century A.D. seems like a stretch to me,” Parker said.

Archimandrite Nektarious, Bishop Deputy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Amman hailed the discovery, calling it an “important milestone for Christians all around the world and right here at home.”

“It confirms that Christians in this region are not strangers,” he said. “They are real citizens who have always had roots in this region from those days until the present.”

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25061134/

VBS starts Monday at Calvary. Georganna and the crew have done an excellent job of getting things ready for a great week. We are anticipating a huge turnout from the community. We are looking for kids age 4- 6th grade. If you have a chance, come on out. By the way, our Kickoff Luau will be Saturday at 4:00 at the activity center. I’m looking forward to a great week. Hopefully I’ll post updates each day.

I’ve known Steve Camp for many years. No, not personally, but through his music. He’s been a contemporary Christian musician for as long as I can remember. One thing about Steve is that he doesn’t pull any punches. The message in his music hits you square in the gut. If you remember the late Keith Green, another Christian artist, you will see many similarities. I was introduced to Steve’s blog through the blog of a friend. In fact, that friend posted what I am posting below. It came from this post on Steve’s blog. To that end, I don’t have a word to add except to say, “Would that, Lord Jesus, your followers live in such a way!”

The Christian’s Bill of Rights
1. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we have only one right: and that is to give up all rights to ourselves (2 Cor. 5:14-16; Romans 14:7-9).
2. We have the right to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him (Mt. 16:24-26).
3. We have the right to esteem others more highly than ourselves; and love our neighbor as ourselves (Mt. 22:39;
Phil. 2:1-5).
4.We have the right to fulfill the law of Christ in bearing one another’s burdens of sin (Gal. 6:1-3).
5. We have the right to be wronged and to maintain a faithful testimony (1 Cor. 6:1-8).
6.We have the right to live in unreciprocated self-sacrificial love (Eph. 5:1-2).
7. We have the right to forgive others the smaller debt, as God in Christ has forgiven us the larger debt (Eph. 4:31-32; Matthew 18:12-35).
8. We have the right to suffer for the gospel and to take the blows for the One who took the blows for us (1 Peter 2:21-24)
9. We have the right to be “subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men” (Titus 3:1-2).
10. We have the right to not be political agitators trading the truth of His Word to play politics with men’s souls; thinking that true spiritual change occurs through legislation rather than the transforming power of the gospel of grace. (1 Peter 4:10-16).
11. We have the right to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39).
12. We have the right to be stripped of all earthly things (Matthew 5:40-42).
13. We have the right to not repay evil for evil and to be at peace with all men as much as it depends on you (Romans 12:17-18).
14.We have the right to love our enemies, do good to them that hate us, bless those who curse us and pray for those that despitefully use us (Matthew 5:44-45).
15. We have the right to pursue holiness-not personal happiness (1 Peter 1:13-16).
16. We have the right not to be ashamed of the gospel (2 Tim. 1:6-18).
17. We have the right not to harbor revenge, anger, bitterness, clamoring, wrath, malice and slander (Ephesians 4:31).
18. We have the right not to quench or grieve the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19).
19. We have the right to repent of and not cherish our sins (Psalm 66:18).
20. We have the right to guard the trust; and to contend for the once for all delivered to the saints faith (1 Timothy 6:20; Jude 1:3).
21. We have the right to train our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:1-3).
22.We have the right to reflect God’s covenantal relationship with us by honoring our vows in the covenant of marriage with our spouse Mt. 19:6).
23. We have the right to worship Christ Jesus as God of very God; Creator; Redeemer; Sovereign Lord and Ruler of all (Col. 1:15-19; Hebrews 1:8; Phil. 2:5-11).
24. We have the right to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable pleasing unto God (Roms. 12:1-2).
25. We have the right to live in the expectancy and hope of the Lord’s return by which we purify ourselves (Roms. 12:1-2).
26. We have the right to march daily on our knees in prayer; praying for our leaders in government; our church leaders; our fellow believers; our families; and the lost (1 Timothy 2:1-3; Ephesians 6:18-21).
27. We have the right to praise and glorify God according to how He has revealed Himself through the pages of His Word (Col. 3:16-17).
28. We have the right to the accountability of the local church; to obey our leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over our souls, as those who will give an account (Hebrews 13:17).
29. We have the right to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20).
30. We have the right to have no rights apart from Christ Himself; “for whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it” (Matt. 16:25: John 15:5).

A Puritan Prayer for Those Who Have Surrendered Their Rights in this Life
“Accept His worthiness for my unworthiness, His sinlessness for my transgressions, His purity for my uncleanness, His sincerity for my guile, His truth for my deceits, His meekness for my pride, His constancy for my backslidings, His love for my enmity, His fullness for my emptiness, His faithfulness for my treachery, His obedience for my lawlessness, His glory for my shame, His devotedness for my waywardness, His holy life for my unchaste ways, His righteousness for my dead works, His death for my life!”

The paradox called life continues. On one hand, we celebrate children, graduates, and motherhood. On the other hand, we grieve the loss of loved ones. Within a week, 4 families within our church have lost loved ones. I just received the word about number four a little while ago. It just goes to show you that you never know what a day might bring. What do you do? Proactively, you prepare. How? You prepare by daily laying your life in His hands. Jesus said we should pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Simply put, we continuously submit to His authority. We know we aren’t in control. We believe He is. And we let Him lead. To some, that may seem over simplistic. It certainly doesn’t provide answers to the myriad of questions that come when trouble raises it’s head. Nevertheless, that attitude puts us in the place where we are assured of God’s control and care. That assurance helps us keep on going even when things are at their worst. It’s been a tough week, but God’s still in control.

Oh yeah, praise God that everyone who died was a child of God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ!