Externally, everything seems right. Here in Butuan City, religion runs rampant. Over 98% of the country is Roman Catholic, and a cross on every corner bears witness to it. As you walk down the road, you can see people going through the rosary, and a devout Catholic will cross himself every time they pass a church. There are trikes with scriptures painted on the sides, and trucks have "Jesus is love" on them. My personal favorite was the semi truck which had "Jehovah Jireh" (The Lord will Provide) painted on the back. So why are we here? What is our purpose? The word of God is inscribed on the public's transportation!
We are here because the word of God is not inscribed on their hearts. Superficially, the Filipinos speak of God, salvation, and being saved from their sins. But if you ask them why they are going to go to heaven, their answer is not Christ alone. Majority will begin to speak about works. I ran into this situation last Sunday, as we did house to house ministry with a local Baptist Church. After presenting the gospel and my testimony to a woman and her family right outside her house on the street, a shop owner next door gave my translator and I free soda and crackers. As we talked to him, he was speaking the right words about salvation. But the more I prodded, the more he spoke of works. He believed if he died with an unconfessed sin, he would not be allowed into heaven. What a fearful life to live.
I felt the story of the Prodigals Son was in order. The parable is a wonderful witness tool in a place where people believe God only loves us for our works. The pastor from the baptist church walked up and proceeded to give the story of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus. We did not see a change in his heart, but this we did; we preached the gospel and planted sees. This is what the Lord would have us to do.
No matter where we go, who we speak to, or what they claim to believe, we preach one message - Christ crucified. From this conviction and commitment, the Lord opened doors for a bible study last night and salvation of two souls! What started as simple questions of faith and religion has led to souls being saved for eternity. We are overjoyed to see the kingdom being built as we labor on houses. Pray for the people of Butuan, the people who know and see scripture everywhere. May they have a true relationship with Jehovah Jierah, the God who will always provide.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
He is Able
It was an average day in the Philippines. My team and I had gone into Butuan City to pick up groceries for the week, and a teammate and I were standing in a hall of the store. Just two normal guys, right? Not here in the Philippines. You see, when girls (and even guys) see us, they may whisper or shout out, "Guwapo!" This means handsome. The Filipinos love white people, and even sell body lotion that will cause you to be lighter. My Scottish/Welsh decent only increases my popularity.
While we were standing in the hall, I noticed two girls who were working in a cellphone shop. They were looking our way, and they wanted each other to go and talk to us. While I attempted to glance around casually, I see one of the girls trying to push the other one out in our direction. I have never received this much attention in my life! People see us as Americans, and they want to be just like us; from the clothes they wear to the American songs they play. To them, we are kings.
Men rising into popularity is no new story at all. In the lifetime of the prophet Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar was such a man. One could say power was his right hand and prestige was his left. His kingdom expanding, his might unequivocal - or so he thought. As he walked on the roof of his palace, these prideful words escaped his mouth. "Is not his the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" Then a voice from heaven spoke the judgment over the King which Daniel had interpreted through a dream. Nebuchadnezzar 's splendor and glory was taken away from him, and he would be driven away from man, eating grass like the ox until seven times pass, and he would acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all the kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.
After all had come to pass, these words came from the most powerful man on earth.
"At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, "What have you done?"
Daniel 3:34-35
How powerful is the Lord! Even the arrogant cannot defy the glory of the Lord. But it is in verse 37 I find a warning. "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble."
Even though I am in a place where I am the popular guy, the rock star, the king, I cannot be prideful. My life has been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives within me. I am nothing more than a bond servant, a slave for the sake of Jesus. As John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." We are here in a foreign land speaking the gospel of Jesus, so His glory may be known among the nations. May I never forget this underlying truth, admits the smiles, stares, and attention. For those who walk in pride, He is able to humble.
While we were standing in the hall, I noticed two girls who were working in a cellphone shop. They were looking our way, and they wanted each other to go and talk to us. While I attempted to glance around casually, I see one of the girls trying to push the other one out in our direction. I have never received this much attention in my life! People see us as Americans, and they want to be just like us; from the clothes they wear to the American songs they play. To them, we are kings.
Men rising into popularity is no new story at all. In the lifetime of the prophet Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar was such a man. One could say power was his right hand and prestige was his left. His kingdom expanding, his might unequivocal - or so he thought. As he walked on the roof of his palace, these prideful words escaped his mouth. "Is not his the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" Then a voice from heaven spoke the judgment over the King which Daniel had interpreted through a dream. Nebuchadnezzar 's splendor and glory was taken away from him, and he would be driven away from man, eating grass like the ox until seven times pass, and he would acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all the kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.
After all had come to pass, these words came from the most powerful man on earth.
"At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, "What have you done?"
Daniel 3:34-35
How powerful is the Lord! Even the arrogant cannot defy the glory of the Lord. But it is in verse 37 I find a warning. "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble."
Even though I am in a place where I am the popular guy, the rock star, the king, I cannot be prideful. My life has been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives within me. I am nothing more than a bond servant, a slave for the sake of Jesus. As John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." We are here in a foreign land speaking the gospel of Jesus, so His glory may be known among the nations. May I never forget this underlying truth, admits the smiles, stares, and attention. For those who walk in pride, He is able to humble.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Fixed Foundation
Rocks, mud, and sand have been our living reality the last 2 weeks. I am leading a Nehemiah construction team through Habitat for Humanity in the Philippines this summer. The work has been constant and challenging, for we build without many luxuries. The bricks we have helped make weigh 40 pounds each, and it takes nearly 800 bricks to build one house - we are building two side by side. The semi-flat bed truck of cement bags we unloaded were 80 pounds each, and the bags of rocks and sand we carry on our back weigh from 100-130 pounds. Half the time we are able to use a medium size concrete mixer, but the rest of the time, we mix by hand. Cutting 1/4 inch rebar and bending to make supports for the house has also been one of our many activities. Moving piles of rocks and sand can wear us out under the sun, but at last, the foundation is fixed.
Our ministry work had seemed to follow a similar course. When we first arrived in Butuan City, we had to buy supplies, adjust to the time change, and figure out what we were doing. Even as the team leader, I was not overly informed about our activities or opportunities for ministry. We would attempt to go into the neighborhood and engage the people, but with no true success. The little children could finish the bible verses we started, and trying to share Christ after a basketball game did not work the way I envisioned it. Our first Bible Study was nothing less than what I would call a train wreck, and it seemed we could do nothing right. All this time I was fighting within my mind, beginning to wonder if I was even capable of leading this team in the ministry.
We continued to fight exhaustion from our long days, and as much as I tried to encourage with God's truth about our purpose here, my stress and anxiety began to rise up again. It was now Sunday night, and I knew we had to try house to house again. Even if we were only going to lead one person to salvation, disciple one Christian, or just sow seeds without seeing the harvest, I knew we had to be faithful in proclaiming the word. My father had sent me a passage from Isiah 40 which I read over our 3 house to house teams before we went out. "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on winds like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. "
The result of our obedience? We were allowed to partake in the harvest! There were 3 salvations that night, and we also found a person of peace of whom we will continue to study the Bible with him and his entire family until God leads him to salvation! We are now moving towards setting up consistent bible studies with people of peace for the hopes of salvation, and discipleship for the new believers in Christ. After we all came back, rejoicing in the Lord and sharing of our different stories, we sang a song, then lifted up our hearts to God in prayer. In 1 John 1, the author writes "We write this to make our joy complete." And that night, our joy was complete and overflowing.
Now when we wake up, we have hope. The Lord has shattered any doubt in my mind, and He has shown his eternal faithfulness, even when my faith is about to run out. Although the beginning labor was strenuous and at times discouraging, the Lord has laid a foundation for the ministry here in this Habitat Community. He is our shelter, our rock, and our firm foundation here in the storm. He is our fixed foundation. In Him, we shall never be moved.
Our ministry work had seemed to follow a similar course. When we first arrived in Butuan City, we had to buy supplies, adjust to the time change, and figure out what we were doing. Even as the team leader, I was not overly informed about our activities or opportunities for ministry. We would attempt to go into the neighborhood and engage the people, but with no true success. The little children could finish the bible verses we started, and trying to share Christ after a basketball game did not work the way I envisioned it. Our first Bible Study was nothing less than what I would call a train wreck, and it seemed we could do nothing right. All this time I was fighting within my mind, beginning to wonder if I was even capable of leading this team in the ministry.
We continued to fight exhaustion from our long days, and as much as I tried to encourage with God's truth about our purpose here, my stress and anxiety began to rise up again. It was now Sunday night, and I knew we had to try house to house again. Even if we were only going to lead one person to salvation, disciple one Christian, or just sow seeds without seeing the harvest, I knew we had to be faithful in proclaiming the word. My father had sent me a passage from Isiah 40 which I read over our 3 house to house teams before we went out. "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on winds like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. "
The result of our obedience? We were allowed to partake in the harvest! There were 3 salvations that night, and we also found a person of peace of whom we will continue to study the Bible with him and his entire family until God leads him to salvation! We are now moving towards setting up consistent bible studies with people of peace for the hopes of salvation, and discipleship for the new believers in Christ. After we all came back, rejoicing in the Lord and sharing of our different stories, we sang a song, then lifted up our hearts to God in prayer. In 1 John 1, the author writes "We write this to make our joy complete." And that night, our joy was complete and overflowing.
Now when we wake up, we have hope. The Lord has shattered any doubt in my mind, and He has shown his eternal faithfulness, even when my faith is about to run out. Although the beginning labor was strenuous and at times discouraging, the Lord has laid a foundation for the ministry here in this Habitat Community. He is our shelter, our rock, and our firm foundation here in the storm. He is our fixed foundation. In Him, we shall never be moved.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Disillusion
Well, my online identity use to be safe. You see, today is our first day to walk around the city of Butuan, getting to know the stores and markets of our area. We are here as part of Nehemiah Teams, serving with Habitat for Humanity, building houses for the poor and impoverished. I am leading four amazing Christian guys, and we are learning how to live and grow in community daily. We are together sending updates and messages to family and friends of our safe arrival.
As I look around the Philippino internet cafe, my faith in cyber security quickly begins to plummet. You see, the name "internet cafe" implies a ground floor store with windows, light, and coffee. I'v never been so wrong in my life. The OS is windows 2000, the CPU is older than my childhood bicycle, and I have to abusively pound the space bar to separate every word I type. How often my expectations and preconceived notions are erroneous. How often I delude myself.
Coming to the Philippines, I thought I knew what poverty was. I thought I had an idea of how other people live in these places in the world, of their struggles and lack of things. In this I was wrong. After having an amazing lunch for mere dollars, we were taken by car to the Habitat House we would live in during our stay. When we got off the "highway", we drove down a dirt road in the rain. One of our supervisors called it "chocolate milk" because of the abundance of potholes filled with mud. Rundown shacks had been turned into small shops, people watched us as we drove in the rain. We were told it cost 6 pesos to travel from our house to the highway, which we gladly agreed to pay in order to bypass the wasteland of dirt and mud. "Why not? Its pocket change," one teammate said.
I looked to my right, seeing a man trying to walk where the water had not yet wasted the road. To my left, a woman walked off the road holding the hand of her small daughter, fighting the rain with nothing more than an umbrella. Then it hit me. Our pocket change is their privilege. When you make less than $2 a day, you learn to go without. And many times, its more than a car ride they go without. Whether food or clean water, people live without the very things we find common. My heart still falls heavy.
How can I live then? I have been blessed beyond reason, because of what, my birth? How do I live responsibly as a rich man? For we all are you see. Do not fool yourself as I had. We have the ability to make change, the ability to show people who Jesus is. But how? If I gave away everything I owned, I would not even be a drop in a bucket. I know I am not the first Christian to ever have these questions, nor am I the last. I know there is no simple answer, and I know each person may have a different answer.
But what I do know is this - God has opened my eyes to show me my previous blindness. This summer, through prayer, the word, and seeking God, I hope to find my role in living faithfully for God in this world, being a rich man. May my eyes not be blind with privilege. May I delude myself no longer.
As I look around the Philippino internet cafe, my faith in cyber security quickly begins to plummet. You see, the name "internet cafe" implies a ground floor store with windows, light, and coffee. I'v never been so wrong in my life. The OS is windows 2000, the CPU is older than my childhood bicycle, and I have to abusively pound the space bar to separate every word I type. How often my expectations and preconceived notions are erroneous. How often I delude myself.
Coming to the Philippines, I thought I knew what poverty was. I thought I had an idea of how other people live in these places in the world, of their struggles and lack of things. In this I was wrong. After having an amazing lunch for mere dollars, we were taken by car to the Habitat House we would live in during our stay. When we got off the "highway", we drove down a dirt road in the rain. One of our supervisors called it "chocolate milk" because of the abundance of potholes filled with mud. Rundown shacks had been turned into small shops, people watched us as we drove in the rain. We were told it cost 6 pesos to travel from our house to the highway, which we gladly agreed to pay in order to bypass the wasteland of dirt and mud. "Why not? Its pocket change," one teammate said.
I looked to my right, seeing a man trying to walk where the water had not yet wasted the road. To my left, a woman walked off the road holding the hand of her small daughter, fighting the rain with nothing more than an umbrella. Then it hit me. Our pocket change is their privilege. When you make less than $2 a day, you learn to go without. And many times, its more than a car ride they go without. Whether food or clean water, people live without the very things we find common. My heart still falls heavy.
How can I live then? I have been blessed beyond reason, because of what, my birth? How do I live responsibly as a rich man? For we all are you see. Do not fool yourself as I had. We have the ability to make change, the ability to show people who Jesus is. But how? If I gave away everything I owned, I would not even be a drop in a bucket. I know I am not the first Christian to ever have these questions, nor am I the last. I know there is no simple answer, and I know each person may have a different answer.
But what I do know is this - God has opened my eyes to show me my previous blindness. This summer, through prayer, the word, and seeking God, I hope to find my role in living faithfully for God in this world, being a rich man. May my eyes not be blind with privilege. May I delude myself no longer.
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