Blessings from the Body abroad

This weekend was an awesome time to meet fellow Christians from around the world. On Friday I meet a believer from East Africa who is working on his education before returning to Africa to serve in his home country. Then on Saturday I was able to meet and minister to a Pastor from Myanmar (Burma) who has spent the last 5 years I believe in the US preparing to return and teach his people. Finally, on Sunday I heard about what God is doing throughout the world for His Glory. At Heritage Baptist Church we heard from an Indian (India) Bible College President and an Egyptian born Pastor who has ministered from Egypt to the United Arab Emirates. My weekend was a global experience of what God is doing in the lives of the members of His body. God is alive and and working across the globe as I type tonight.

The Pastor and President of Hanson Baptist Bible College of Myanmar has been studying abroad for the last five years in order to return back to his home country so that he can be better equipped to disciple many and to reach millions. Be praying for his family (wife and three kids) as they prepare to go home early this summer and resume their responsibilities back in Myanmar. Also pray that the tools  he developed (a "Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms" and study notes for Acts through Ephesians in the Kachin language) for his Doctor of Ministry degree will be edifying to the people of his home country. They are a part of the KBC (Kachin Baptist Churches) fellowship and have 76 local churches, 45 senior Pastors, and 90 evangelist.

Professor and President Samuel Buraga of Bharat Bible College and Logos Evangelical Seminary of India. Has a growing ministry in India in training young men and women to be servants of the King, Jesus Christ (just in case you thought I was talking about Elvis). For education they have a grammer school, a college, and a seminary. They are currently working on raising the funds for a new priting press to continue printing their own literature and numerous expansions and repairs to their 25 acre campus in India. BBC is a fundemntal work that has been traing men for minstry for over 30 years. Currently they have evangelist, pastors, bible teachers, Christian educators, Sunday School teachers, and youth minsters serving throughout India, Burma, Africa, Middle East and the United States.

The Egyptian born Pastor spent the entire evening service telling of his minstry experience in the Middle East. This included his perspective from being raised in the Middle East in Egypt. He spoke of the persuction and hardships that Christians face from denial of building permits to the out right murder of believers by the governments of Islamic countries. His story seemed to be vary gloomy until he told us the good news. For even in the "10-40 Window" the gospel is going out. Through radio and satilite many Arabs and Muslims are hearing of the Good News of Christ. Many of these are coming to Christ secretively (if they convert from the Islamic faith they can be killed for apostacy). He told of one story of an militant fundamental Iman's (like a pastor for Muslims) son who after two years of listening to Christian radio got saved through a radio he smuggled into his father home. When his father discover that his son was a Christian he had him turned in for stealing and was beaten until his father gave him the choice to deny Christ and follow allah or flee the country. This Chrisitan choose to pick up his and follow Christ.

GOD IS ALIVE and he is working might deeds (Ps 40:5) in His name across the globe as we speak. Take the time to pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world as many are facing persuction unlike any thing some of us can even imagine. The 20th Century has seen more martyrs for Christ than all of the centuries combined.

PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTRED CHRUCH

Godspeed and good night to all believers everywhere.

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The Purpose of Christian Blogging

The Purpose of Christian Blogging
Check out this blog at http://exchanging.blogspot.com/.

Good Human Communication Begins With...

“The beginning of all good human communication is listening. To communicate well is, first of all, to listen intently. If we gab all the time, whether in person or online, we live noisily--and foolishly. Such noise is one of the great setbacks of our age; it leads to greater isolation. The more we talk, without first listening, the more confused and confounded we become. This is partly why our lives today tend to be technologically rich and communication poor.”

I came across this quote as I researched a paper for school. It comes from Schultze, Quentin J. "Questions About Worship and Technology: A Starting Point for a Discussion on Technology." I found his quote to be very profound.

PROCLAMATION - Ps 40:5

"You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told."

Have you ever taken the time to think about what an awesome God we have when it comes to His dealings with us as in creation and redemption? When I was reading through Psalms a year or so ago I came across this verse and it made me think about God's awesomeness. Not because of who He is, but becasue of what He does. He cares about me enough to think and interact with me personally. Think about it. You have an all powerful, mighty God who is holding this universe together that He created and He is concern about me. Me, a little worm who in my original state was in rebellion against God and who currently struggles to live a life that continual brings glory to God. Yet He performed a most wonderful deed by sending His Son to die in my and your place if only we accept His free gift of salvation.

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." - Romasn 5:8
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:16-18

That is most defiantly a wondrous deed. Christ leaves His estate in Heaven to humble Himself to the point of a servant and to offer Himself as the payment for my sins on the cross. I am reminded of Mel Giobson's movie The Passion, and I am brought to my knees in tears as I think of what it physically cost Him to die for me. Then I consider what Mel Gibson and the Prophet Isaiah said about Christ's suffering. Mel said that the suffering of Christ as he protrayed it does not even come close to what the Bible says and Isaiah states that the Messiah would be marred beyond human recognition.

"(13) Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. (14) As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— (15) so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand." Isaiah 52:13-15 (ESV).

And that is only one wondrous deed; this verse talks about the multiplied wonderous deeds and thoughts toward us. For example what about creation, life, your favorite pet, salvation, daily blessings, and ___________ (you fill in the blank). Through all this He thinks about you and me. His thoughts are filled with the conerns and events of our lives. God is truely awesome beyond words and none can compare to Him.

When one thinks of the many false god's of the Psalmist day and even ours none even come close to the loving personal God we have. God is the one and only true God.

How can I tell of all of God's wonderous deeds and thoughts toward me? I cannot, but I can try. I can blog here or I can tell my neighbor or coworker of Christ. When I see this verse I see the calling that every Christian has from God and that is to tell others of Him. Tell others how God has changed your life and what He does through His word in your life. Be a living stone of testimony that proclaims God's greatness to the ends of the world. Define your Jerusalem, Judah, Sameria, and the uttermost parts and find a way to tell others of the great love God has for them and that they can be apart of his family if only the admit their sin, believe in Christ's abilty to pay the penalty for their sin, and to confess the name of Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Take the time to be a witness. Procalim and tell of God's wondrous deeds and thoughs toward us all the time, in every place, and in every media you are in. Proclaim that today is the day to recieve Christ as your Savior. Proclaim that today is the day to live for Christ. For tomorrow may never come if you wait.

Praise God and may His people bring glory to His name whereever they are and in all that they do.

Godspeed you all along your spiritually journey. I just pray that the road you travel is heaven bound and not hell.

Wesley