Recently we have had a flood of requests from all parts of the globe to come and train pastors and other Christian leaders. Those requests have come from Central Asia, Southeast Asia, South America and other parts of the USA. Right now there are too many needs for us to meet at our current funding level. Will you be in prayer that God raises up some monthly donors to help us? Now through the end of February we will try a campaign to find new donors. For every person who gives a $5 donation or more, we will send a copy of our book, Is Jesus Enough to them. Just click on the donate button and securely donate through paypal. If this seems to go well, we will try and do a monthly giveaway of books or other resources to those who donate. Would you pass the word along to those who may benefit from our website? Would you pray about partnering with us to help train Christian leaders and pastors? Thank you, in advance, from Ta Ethne.
religion
Jude Commentary Chapter 2 Available
The next chapter of the resource Dominoes: A Dynamic Commentary on the Epistle of Jude with Study Guide is now available. Simply click on the Bible study tabs to the right or jump to this link: https://taethne.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/jude-chapter-2.pdf
As always, feel free to use these resources as you see fit. Leave comments or suggestions. When finished, it will collected and put into paperback, Kindle and audio formats
The Celebrity Pastor
Here is a link to a very thought provoking article on celebrity pastors. Please, read this and contemplate on how your pastor could use some support and encouragement
http://defendingcontending.com/2013/01/11/do-you-follow-a-celebrity-pastor/
Persian Proverb
He who knows not – and knows not that he knows not
Is a fool — shun him
He who knows not – and knows that he knows not
Is a child — teach him
He who knows – and knows not that he knows
Is asleep — wake him
He who knows – and knows that he knows
Is wise — follow him
Modern Slavery
Human trafficking is one of our generations greatest evils. There are a lot of good organizations out there (such as the A21 campaign) who are bringing attention to this problem and working on solutions. The church is beginning to add her voice to the effort to stop modern slavery as well. While doing research on this issue (which will be the subject of a future blog) Ta Ethne came across the following article which helps define the problem we are facing.
http://www.decodedscience.com/human-trafficking-worldwide-social-problem/21364
Take some time to read this and also check out such the A21 campaign — http://www.thea21campaign.org/
Good theology leads to social justice as beliefs are put into action. We must help where we can. Pray about how you and your church can make a difference.
Good Article You Need To Read
Below is a link to a great article written by Randy Alcorn entitled, “How Great Evil Confirms the Biblical Teaching about Demons”. This is a well written article that is both timely and heartfelt. Please take the time to read and ponder it.
Weekly Photo Challenge – Reflections
The polished floor of this mosque in Malaysia gives the appearance that the people are walking on glass
Hymn Devotions Day 23 – From Greenland’s Icy Mountans
DAY 23 – FROM GREENLAND’S ICY MOUNTAINS
From out of the days of great missionary endeavors comes this hymn, which captures the spirit that moved so many to proclaim the gospel across the globe. It is our duty to bring the gospel to those who have never heard its story. It is our privilege to show all people the correct God to worship as well as the correct way to worship Him.
Paul told the Greeks in Acts 17, “You worship what you do not know, in ignorance “(my paraphrase) and then proceeded to enlighten them with the truth. In the same manner, those in places without a gospel witness worship in vain: idols made by hand, false gods, political systems, etc..
One of the charges against Christianity is that we destroyed people’s religion and culture with our missionaries. Yes, we did. We sought to destroy false worship and replace it with the knowledge of the True God. Social customs, as long as they do not violate Scripture, are to be left alone. Religious and moral deficiencies are to be exposed to the gospel light so that its transforming power can set the spiritual captives free. May we never shirk from seeking to transform every culture, including ours, and having them conform to God’s laws.
May we never be ashamed of the gospel’s power. May we never apologize for loving people so much that we are diligent in showing them how God requires them to worship.
Lord, move on me to be unashamed that You have set up a narrow way, an exclusive way to salvation – through Jesus Christ. Help me to never apologize for holding fast to the truth that through Him alone salvation is found. Help me to proclaim salvation to those who have never heard as well as those who have never responded.
FROM GREENLANDS ICY MOUNTAINS – Reginald Heber
From Greenland’s icy mountains,
From India’s coral strand,
Where Africa’s sunny fountains
Roll down their golden sand,
From many an ancient river,
From many a palmy plain,
They call us to deliver their land from error’s chain.
What though the spicy breezes
Blow soft o’er Ceylon’s isle;
Though every prospect pleases,
And only man is vile:
In vain with lavish kindness
The gifts of God are strown;
The heathen in his blindness bows down to wood and stone.
Can we, whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high,
Can we to men benighted
The lamp of life deny?
Salvation! O salvation!
The joyful sound proclaim,
Till each remotest nation has learned Messiah’s Name.
Waft, waft, ye winds, His story,
And you, ye waters, roll,
Till like a sea of glory
It spreads from pole to pole;
Till o’er our ransomed nature the Lamb for sinners slain,
Redeemer, King, Creator, in bliss returns to reign.
Great Quotes From Ages Past #9
Here is a great quote from the “Prince of Preachers”
If you have been truly born again you have a new and holy nature, and you are no longer moved towards sinful objects as you were before. The things that you once loved you now hate, and therefore you will not run after them. You can hardly understand it but so it is that your thoughts and tastes are radically changed. You long for that very holiness which once it was irksome to hear of; and you loathe those vain pursuits which were once your delights. The man who puts his trust in the Lord sees the pleasures of sin in a new light. For he sees the evil which follows them by noting the agonies which they brought upon our Lord when He bore our sins in His own body on the tree. Without faith a man says to himself, “This sin is a very pleasant thing, why should I not enjoy it? Surely I may eat this fruit, which looks so charming and is so much to be desired.” The flesh sees honey in the drink, but faith at once perceives that there is poison in the cup. Faith spies the snake in the grass and gives warning of it. Faith remembers death, judgment, the great reward, the just punishment and that dread word, eternity.
C.H. Spurgeon
Numbers
I wanted to share some numbers this morning that has me thinking. According to Christianity Today, the United States sent 127,000 missionaries to other countries (making us the largest sending nation) while receiving over 32,400 missionaries from other countries (making us the largest receiving country). On February 29th of this year, USA Today reported that during the last ten years (2000-2010) Islam increased 74% and Time reported on March 12th that 16% of the US population consider themselves unattached to any religion.
While many conclusions from these numbers can be drawn, here is my take. America is definitely a post-Christian nation where the churches have failed to even keep up with the population growth. While we have championed going out into the “lost world”, we have lost our own country. Perhaps we should treat the US as a foreign country and adopt the same strategies here to reach our own lost. We also must repent of the arrogance of believing that we have the answers for everyone else when we are losing our own people. Maybe, just maybe, we need to look at other countries where Christianity is growing, not shrinking, and ask them to teach us how to reach our own people. While I am grateful for those 32,400 missionaries coming here to help us, I am ashamed that we are losing so much ground.
Perhaps its time to admit that Christianity in America is cultural and not transformational. Until we repent of that and the churches get busy making disciples, we will continue to see us losing ground. We have the truth, the training, the resources – what I question is if we have the commitment, the desire, the love for Christ that will compel us to reaching the lost for Him.
What about you? When is the last time you were involved in bringing a person to faith in Jesus Christ and discipling them in the faith?
ta ethne 