A Plethoric Number of Comments

Well, I learned this weekend that my best friend got married before I went to China. I knew he was engaged, but he up and got hitched without even letting me know. Considering the boy was practically a brother, I figured he would've at least called. What bothers me though is that my name is signed to his wedding certificate as a witness even though I was not there. If he asked me, that's one thing, but to sign my name to a document holding me accountable to his marriage without my approval out right ticks me off. I am, right now, flabbergasted at the amount of divorces there are in the church. I am disturbed how many people think divorce is o.k., when God says in Malachi 2:16, "I hate divorce." I just don't get it. Right now, I am leary of his decision. If, and I pray to God that this if never fufills, he gets a divorce, I am held accountable as a witness. My name says that I approved and made sure that the Lord had called them together. But, I haven't done either of the two. So, right now, I'm a little upset with that whole situation for the sake of the gospel.

On the other hand, I was encouraged tremendously by the middle school's report time at Porter last night. They are solid. Wow. They went on a mission trip to share the gospel in 7th and 8th grade. I never did that, well technically I did but not really, until college. I was encouraged by their faith and by their theology. They put on a skit dealing with calvanism as middle schoolers. I was impressed. They are a blessing to Porter, and God allowed me to worship and glorify Him last night even though I didn't get to here a highly anticipated sermon from Hebrews.

Lastly, let's go back to that skit I mentioned. Let me sumarize it. There were 3 characters: an unbeliever and 2 believers. The nonbeliever asked one of the believers why she believed in Jesus. So, that believer went and did research, for 7 months, about her beliefs. She was prepared to defend creationism, calvanism, and other intellectual arguments. Her friend, the other Christian, just answered the unbelievers question, and he became a believer right there. No in depth study, no man-centered argument, no nothing but the Word of God was needed.
That skit hit me like a ton of bricks. I looked at my life and the life of Porter college. When was the last time anyone from Porter led someone to Christ? When was the last time an unbeliever stepped through the doors of our college department? I can't remember it's been so long, and that is pathetic. When was the last time a discussion about calvanism/armenianism was brought up? When was the last time you heard someone argue about the highest form of worship?
When and where did we lose focus? I'm not saying that these "intellectual debates" aren't good, it's just that you will not hear them much out of the U.S. People outside of the U.S. do good to have part of a Bible, much less a chance to argue this stuff. We have let knowledge get in the way of heart. I know I have. I am guiltiest of them all. Two years ago I shared all the time. This past year I barely shared. I read and got smart, but nobody other than me was benefitted. Instead of using what little I knew to make Christ known on campus, I was busy bulding my internal bank of knowledge up so I could argue with someone. I have missed it. God spoke volumes to me last night. I need to stop worrying about books, except the Word, and I need to share. I need to be making disciples for His glory. I need to be about the people and not about myself. Wow. Praise God for opening the eyes of my utterly depraved and sinful heart to the realties of truth I've failed to do.

I'm done.

Above Reproach?

In my studies over the past two years, I have really learned the importance of being above reproach. I have learned that people claiming to be Christians ought to practice holiness every fleeting second we are alive. We should stand up for the gospel we preach by being obedient in every single circumstance. I realize that even in my own life this isn't the case, so I do direct this at myself quite harshly. We need to be uncompromising in every situation for the sole purpose of glorifying Christ, the Savior. We even need to be uncompromising in the small things. With that being said, here is a true story about a pastor who was put into a rough situation. Read the story and tell me if he did the right thing. Knowing that he is a Christian, did his actions glorify God? What would you have done? After I read it, I realized I probably would have done the same thing as he did, but my conscience and heart convict me that it would be compromising to the gospel. How tough it is to be called of God. Here is the story.

Christian See Clemency for Alleged Wrongful Imprisonment of Pastor
Charisma News Service
Thousands of Christians nationwide have written letters expressing support for a Pentecostal pastor serving a 41- year sentence for a crime he said he was coerced into committing. Dino Gentile of Chatsworth, Calif., is seeking clemency from President Bush for his role in a 1998 bank robbery in Pensacola, Fla. The former pastor affiliated with the Apostolic World Christian Fellowship Inc., said he was forced to drive the getaway car at the threat of harm to his wife and two children in California. Gentile, 49, said he became involved in the robbery when Jeffrey Durham, now serving time for the robbery, asked if he could accompany Gentile on a cross-country evangelism and fundraising trip. By the time Durham revealed his plan to rob the Pensacola bank, Gentile trusted him. But as he sat outside in Durham's getaway car with a bomb on the seat behind him and a threat of death if he did not cooperate, Gentile said he was forced to make a decision. Durham was arrested for the robbery in 1998, and FBI agents later linked Gentile to the crime, charging him with aiding and abetting. He received 30 years for his alleged use of an automatic weapon, and 11 years for the abetting charge. Since then, friends, relatives, former parishioners and members of his 3.2 million- member denomination have written some 3,000 letters and faxes requesting clemency

Red Letters?

During my personal Bible study this morning, I came across a question totally unrelated to my study in Romans. Why is it that the words of Christ are in red, if you have a red-lettered Bible, but the words of the Father or of the Spirit are not? Why do we isolate God the Son's words in red but not those of God the Father and God the Spirit when in fact they are all one. What God the Son speaks is the same for the Father and Spirit. What God the Father speaks is the same for the Son and the Spirit, and what God the Spirit speaks is the same for the Father and the Son. So, why aren't all of them in red? Why even have any in red? I know this is a silly question, but I honestly have no clue as to why this is. What do you guys think or, better yet, know?

How Great Is Our God!

How great is our God! Sing with me how great is our God, and all will see how great, how great is our God.

These awesome lines have rang out from every part of my being since I first heard them at the Passion 05 conference back in January, and they just scream ever more from my soul day after day as I truly see the greatness of God.
The past two weeks of my life have been the two best. I have been to China, a place where God is excluded and where persecution follows if you claim to believe in Him. I have been to a place where darkness rules. I have been to the uttermost parts of the earth, and I have seen what it is like to be in a place that Satan could proudly call his sancturary. Still, through all of this, I have been in the presence of the Holy Lord and have seen His hand work miracles.
While in China, nine people professed Jesus as Lord. Praise God!! Nine people that were utterly lost had the Spirit lead them to repentance, and nine more people will join me in Heaven to worship God Almighty forever. But, I still plead for your prayers for these nine. You see, they will face persecution. I don't just mean a few harsh words. I mean physical punishment, even possible death, for calling upon the Lord! Let me give you an example.
I met a young man named Z. Z is a college student at one of the teacher's colleges in southern China and is a very smart young man. A few years ago, he was given permission to join the communist party of China, an opportunity that every poor Chinese person yearns to receive. Joining the communist party gives you prestiege, more money, and a better life. It elevates you to a higher state of life in a place where it is difficult to move up in the world. To turn down the communist party is like turning down a lot of money in America. You just don't do it.
Now Z had been visiting my friend in China, and he had been reading the Bible. Z was searching for truth. It just so happened that he was asked to join the communist party at the same time he was seeking. He went to talk to my friend about his choices. He either became an atheiest by joining the communist party to make his family proud, or he became a Christian. Z had hard choices to make.
My friend didn't see him for a while and was concerned when he missed his appointments. So, my friend sought him and found him. The reason my friend had not seen Z was because Z thought my friend wouldn't want to see him for his ugliness. You see, Z chose Christ over the communist party. He chose eternal life over death. Because he chose Christ, his father severly beat him. He beat him until he was bruised and bloody. He was whipped with a cane until he was senseless. He took more persecution with one whip than I have had my whole life. When he finally met my friend again, he told her, "I didn't think you would like me because I was ugly, but I just wanted to stand for Jesus."
Friends, pray for Z and the other believers. They have been going through severe interrogations, threatenings, and beatings for the cause of Christ for the past two years. Pray that they will be strong. Pray that they will continue to stand. Pray that they will continue to be unashamed of the gospel. Pray that those who have claimed to have entered into an eternal relationship will persevere with the rest no matter what the government does. Pray for their salvation and for their sanctification. Pray for them.
Yes, I saw the Lord. He showed me how easy I have life. He showed me that we don't have a clue about persecution in America, and He showed me that He is still sovreign over Satan and his threats. Oh how I wish I had the faith of Z. God showed me how much I still lack and what I need to do to grow closer to Him. God gave me a heart that yearns for these people and their salvation/sanctification. God showed me a people who truly believe, not because it is what everybody else believes but because Christ has given them hope. Yes, God spoke loudly and with conviction, and my only reply is

How great is our God? Sing with me how great is our God, and all will see how great, how great is our God. Name above all names, You are worthy of all praise. My heart will sing how great is our God!