6 steps forward, 3 steps back!

It’s a good thing I didn’t write this yesterday. I would have been very depressing in sound and “flavor.” Let me explain why.

When we returned from Slovakia, we had a goal of raising a certain amount of monthly support. This amount would cover the normal attrition of support over the past 4 years, voluntary salary cuts, loss of buying power due to a weakened dollar and the weakening exchange rates from the dollar to Slovak crown. (That has been figured to come out to a 70% loss in buying power over those 4 years!!!)

As of this date, we had raised almost 60% of that monthly amount in pledges. These pledges have come from adding new churches to our financial support list and adding new individual supporters as well as receiving increases from current (and very faithful) supporters.

Greater Europe Mission reviews the support needs of their missionaries annually. That was completed recently and they informed us that, due to a number of factors, we (my family and I) need to raise another chunk of monthly support. That support equals 75% of the amount that we have already raised since our return from Slovakia last summer.

All told, the final number that we need to raise is 70% of the new support amount. That means that what we have raised to date is not 60% towards our goal, but 30%.

Well, if it were not for my relationship with the Lord Jesus and the calling to missions and ministry, I would give up! However, I am as committed to this now as I was when we were appointed by Greater Europe Mission in 1992 to go to Eastern Europe.

So, join with us as we attack the goal of raising over $1000/month in just over 3 months! It’s an incredible goal, but God is faithful, gracious and generous. Stay tuned for updates!

Are we too near-sighted?

David, the psalmist, writes in Psalm 63, “I have seen You in Your sanctuary and gazed upon Your power and glory.”

I wonder if we, today, as followers/disciples of Jesus Christ, aren’t near-sighted in our approach to God.

Let me ask you a question: When you go to a church service, what do you see?

Perhaps you see the sparkling new automobiles & SUVs in the parking lot brimming over with confidence and success, declaring the abilities, talents and sufficiencies of their owners.

Do you see a building with high-tech equipment (multi-media projectors, screens, climate-controlled room temperature, computer-programmable lighting & sound, wireless head mikes, etc.)? An incredibly talented band with all the “trimmings”?

Maybe it’s the full-color bulletin/program smartly laid out with the latest marketing techniques applied to draw your eye to the plethora of meetings, activities and programs held throughout the church body’s typical week.

Do you see the video clips illustrating the eloquent preacher’s points as he pulls you into the context of God’s Word to encourage, exhort and equip you in your daily walk.

Or do you see God?

Through it all or without any of this, do you see God? What do we really see when we go to a church service? The talents of a North-American-corporation-obsessed staff that is more concerned with the impression of the colors of the room, temperature, bulletin, music, message, etc?

Or do we see the results of a man or staff of men & women striving to peel back the blinders from our eyes so that we may see GOD?

Do you see God?

Think back to your most recently-attended church service? How much of that service scraped off the calluses of your spiritual eyes? What took place in that service to pick the sleep out of your spiritual eyes and helped you see God?

Did you even go with the intention of seeing God? Or just His people? The preacher? The band? or something else?

Do you see God in His sanctuary? Do you see GOD?

Need your feedback on doctrine of forgiveness

This will be quite short today.

I’m wrestling with the topic/doctrine of forgiveness and need your help.

Can you tell me any Biblical incident/story/situation where forgiveness was requested by one party and refused by the second party?

Let me hear from you! Thanks.