Squirrels that got my goat!

I sometimes think that it would be a whole lot easier to outsmart the Devil than to outfox squirrels. I suckered my brother-in-law (bless his heart, as we say in Texas) to plug up the holes they have chewed in the soffits under the eaves of my house. I have tried almost everything. Moth balls. WD 40. A sling shot. Cussing at them. (No, not really. I did say dat nabit, though.) Yes, I even prayed, and that didn’t work, either.

So, my brother-in-law (bless his heart) is out there bent over backwards in the most awful position screwing in some decorative vents to hide the nasty looking holes.

It really looks pretty now, I must say. However, I must remind myself that those rascals are still out there, just itching to chew up the roof and any other thing that gets in their way to bedding up for the winter in the cozy little wall space between the walls and the outside structure.

Dat nabit. Woops, there I go again!

Surely, I thought, there must be something good in all of this. At least, I should be able to get a good sermon illustration out of all this trouble. But . . . nothing!

I will say this, however, while I am worried about the mischievous squirrels and puttering around trying to figure out a way to make life as miserable for them as they have for me, there are untold millions around the world without even a roof over their heads. Unfortunately, some of them are right here in America, too.

My desire before I check out on life altogether, probably in the next 10 to 20 years (after all, I am 73), I want to continue to try as long as there is breath left in me to make a permanent contribution to the homeless and destitute and to introduce as many as I can to Jesus Christ. For, truly, Jesus is the answer to all that ills us in this life and the life to come.

Please join me in this effort, if have not already. I can not do it alone. Others depend on us to know the love of Christ.

Thanks so much for your prayers and financial support.

Yours for a Greater Harvest,

Jim

P.S. Dat nabit, I hear more scratcing. I think we shut one up in the attic. Gotta go. Talk to you later.

Islam is not an easy push over. Keep up on your apologetics!

Brief on-line seminars by Dr. Harvey Skinner that will prepare you for a thoughtful dialogue or in sermon preparation on the subject of Islam. For access, click on mosque (above)

Playing it smart when it comes to missions . . .

The 10/40 Window is a term coined by Christian missionary strategist Luis Bush in 1990 to refer those regions of the eastern hemisphere located between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator, a general area that in 1990 was purported to have the highest level of socioeconomic challenges and least access to the Christian message and Christian resources on the planet. Please pray for these 10/40 Window countries. They are:

Afghanistan Algeria Bahrain Bangladesh Benin Bhutan Burkina Faso Cambodia Chad China Cyprus Djibouti

Egypt Eritrea Ethiopia Gambia Gibraltar Greece Guinea Guinea-Bissau India Iran Iraq Israel

Japan Jordan Korea, North Korea, South Kuwait Laos Lebanon Libya Macau Mali Malta Mauritania

Morocco Myanmar (Burma) Nepal Niger Oman Pakistan Philippines Portugal Qatar Saudi Arabia Senegal Sudan

Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Thailand Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Vietnam Western Sahara Yemen

Bumps in the road

How true this is. Life does have ups and downs. And, if you are fortune enough to live long enough you will find that it also has seasons. Sadly, however, a bad case of cancer or a car accident can cut you down in the autumn of life just when the trees began to shed their leaves in a serendipity of bright hues cast against a wonderful golden sunset.

Suddenly, a huge axe out of nowhere cuts through all your plans, ambitions, hopes and dreams. In a moment—most times without warning—a dark and foreboding winter sets in, blasting you with blizzards of hurt, despair, and, yes, even doubt. Doubting that you will make it through to the other side, knowing that some don’t. And, even at its best, it’s a bad winter.


Such is life, and death. We assume that we have a choice in how things will turn out, but we really don’t. Our choice is to simply to say, "Yes." Only God knows the outcome. The end is in His hands.

It is, however, at moments like these that we have our greatest opportunities for change. Attitudes can be reevaluated and improved. Forgiveness can be sought or offered. It’s all there—a chance to change, even in times of stress and uncertainty.

For me, it’s early to middle fall, winter is pushing its way hard out of the north, across the barren arctic landscape. But, it is still yet autumn. The leaves are slowly changing colors, then twisting and turning as they fall onto the dry ground below. It’s autumn, that’s for sure. So, I’m preparing for the winter. For as with the Master,

"I [too] must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work" (John 9:4).


For, as my Heavenly Father sent Him, so have I also been sent. (John 20:21) And, there is still work to do!

This not only motivates me, but it is also my obligation. My task as a missionary (literally: one who is sent) is to help the Good Shepherd find the stray.

I can’t do it alone, however. I need you to assist me. The work requires all the organization, team work and skills of a rescue party searching for someone lost in the wilderness.

If you wish to invest in the future and contribute towards our overseas ministry to educate, mentor, and train leaders overseas, please click onto the "Contribute" button below.

Please include in the comment section your preference:

√ Class (40) Ministry Trip.
√ Class (09) Personal Expenses.

Otherwise, If you are not online and wish to mail your contributions in, send them to that address below and I will see that you get AGWM and IRS credit:

Missionaries Jim & Bonnie Roane (AGWM/Retired)
1013 Madera Court
Allen, TX 75013-3639

Thank you for your consideration

Why some missions programs are doomed to fail

Churches missions programs usually fall into two categories; namely, policy or purpose. There is generally speaking no middle ground. Let me explain.

A policy driven missions program is like the proverbial tail wagging the dog. Policy dictates all. Usually these programs are easily identified by the standard pledge amount proudly displayed with the name and picture of the missionary and the country on the little certificated mailed out from headquarters.
Never mind the 10/40 Window of opportunity. They never heard of it. Their concept is a flat earth graphically charted on a foldout map with little pins stuck in it with a string attached to a line of pictures of smiling missionaries.

Most times, the pastor is too busy to take missionary calls. That’s the secretaries job. And, she does a good job too. Wish I could play you the hundreds of monotone responses that I have heard down through the years. Blunt, but true.

These congregations are generally dead and haven’t the foggiest clue as to why. Well, if they would listen—which they usually don’t—the answer is a very simple one: they are victims of a convenient policy.

Even in good times, these policy churches whine over the bad economy. I pray for and respect these congregations and pastors; however, I can not allow them to discourage or hinder me from advocating a better way.

Now, on the other hand, churches with purpose find a way to make a difference where there is conceivably no way. Not surprisingly, some of these churches are mega-churches, but certainly no all. You can usually pick their pastor out in a crowd, too. He’s vibrant. Full of life. Not always necessarily young, but always young in spirit. Make it a point to talk to these men, or women. Get to know them. Not for what you can get out of them financially, but to find out what makes them tick.

The answer is, they have responded to a call, they have a purpose, and most of all their enthusiasm is contagious. It effects their congregations. Cranky board members are a thing of the past. Why? Because, they either got with the program or moved on.

What motivates these pastors is not a program but a person. That person is Jesus Christ. He is their focus. He is their purpose. He drives them and their church. And, they listen to Him to establish His purposes, using His plan, and His priorities. Therefore, for them one size does not fit all. Policy takes a backseat to the priorities of His purpose.
Policy would have sent Paul to Asia. Instead purpose sent him to Macedonia. Policy would have sent the 5 thousand home. Instead Christ purposed to feed them. Policy would have kept Philip in Samaria where there was revival; instead purpose sent him to the desert in Gaza to share the love of Christ with, of all persons, a eunuch! And, (I can't resist this dig!) policy would have retired John The Revelator on the Isle of Patmos; but God had something else in mind.

Such are the purposes and plans of God. May His purposes motivate and drive us into a brighter future not only as missionaries, but as a body of purpose driven believers.

Friends, let’s face it. We put our money and energy where our heart is. Any old tag along can write out a policy, get it voted on and use it as a hammer to knock missions in the head.

Hope as a catalysis for change . . .

American businesses are not obstructed by excessive taxes, I am told. They are stymied by a lack of confidence in the economy. People are just not buying, so businesses are simply keeping what cash they have on their balance sheets for a rainy day.

In a word, people lack hope in the future. Would be customers are afraid to spend what little money they have, and businesses are reluctant to expand. Joseph Heller could not have written a better Catch-22 scenario.

Every economy, including the American one, has its limits, however. So, people have good cause for their apprehension. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that funding a war of attrition that grinds away at our national solvency and a congress that will not act is slowly bankrupting our country.

So, it is easy to understand why there is such poverty of hope.

Yet, through it all, there are still millions of impoverished souls that are perishing not for the lack of sustenance but for the lack of spiritual nourishment. For, truly, as our Master said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4)

On the whole, America may not believe that, but it does not alter the fact that it is true.

The economy may run its cycles, have ups and downs, but God’s promises remain steady and true. So as for me, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.” For “On Christ the solid rock I stand, [even though] all other ground is sinking sand.”

And, because of that resolve, I have a firmness of hope that circumstances can not shake.

Yet, many are without that hope simply because they have not had the opportunity to hear about the hope that only Jesus can bring.

Will you continue to pray with us about our upcoming ministry trip to teach pastors overseas? They, too, must be prepared to reach their generation.
Thank you so much for making this possible.

Caught in the Middle

Anarchism as a political philosophy never made much sense to me until now. I think I finally get it. Anarchist must have a strong faith in fate in a deity or social evolutionary force that directs purpose through chaos. The role of the anarchist is to ferment the chaos. Fate will take care of the rest.

Take the case of the late Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the number two man in Al-Qaeda and self appointed "Emir of Al Qaeda in the Country of Two Rivers," i.e. Iraq. Fancy title, I must say. However, be that as it may, why this megalomaniac ever retained a following or gained so much notoriety is beyond a civilized mind to comprehend, unless one understands anarchy as a political philosophy.

And, to understand anarchy as a political philosophy one must enter the spiritual realm, really of the underworld. The Prince of Chaos is, of course, Satan, himself. He is also the anonymously sinister force that encourages and orchestrates these evil agents of death and destruction. In hopes, I believe that eventually his plan will prevail, and he will be able to rule his evil empire.

Unfortunately, America has been caught up in the struggle, and can not see its way clear because of egalitarian principles that refuses to allow evil to be designated as evil, or in simpler terms, sin designated as sin.

It is strange to me why sinister organizations like the Aryan Brotherhood and the Klu Klux Klan can be infiltrated and shut down by Homeland Security, and Islamic extremist are allow free range, as long as they don’t discretely break the letter of the law. My suggestion is that we lock the whole shooting caboodle up, and throw away the keys!

Tough times, call for tough measures. You can not reason with insanity, or tidy up terrorism through political summitry.

Long ago Paul asked “if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for war?” [1 Corinthians 14:8] I think that in the context of the apocalyptic struggle that has gripped the entire world today, that is high time that we as a body of believers sound a clear alarm that calls the church to spiritual warfare against the evil of jihadism and any and all of their silent or vocal sympathizers.

Otherwise, if we do not, chaos and political turmoil will continue. Because if history has taught us anything, it has taught us that evil knows no compromise, whether we are talking about the Klu Klux Klan, the Emporer of Japan, or Islamic extremist, it’s all the same. We must meet determined force with determined force. Otherwise, all that evil needs to survive is for complacent, yet good men to do nothing.

Missionaries: "Does one size fit all?"

Missionaries, contrary to conventional wisdom, do not come in one size fits all. The sooner that concept is thrown out the window, the better.

Once a country preacher was taking me out to lunch after a Sunday morning missionary service (and imagine my surprise) when he turned to me and said, "You know, Jim, my experience has been ..." [he paused and reflected] "that with very few exceptions, the average missionary could not cut it in the real world."

Naturally, I asked him what he meant by that. He continued to explain, "Well, they just don't have what it takes for success here in the States so they go overseas."

I thought for a moment and said, "Really?" (I have found that when someone says something really dumb it is always helpful to say, "Really?")

Obviously that poor pastor needed to expand his horizon beyond Podunk Hollow and get acquainted with the real world.

He, however, is no different than the rest of us, sometimes. We like to pigeon hole people and put them in neat little slots. Jesus, however, does just the opposite. Think, for instance, of the diversity of men that he picked as his closest ministry partners. He picked dirty, smelly fishermen. He choose a slick tax collector. A scholar like Paul. A political activist like Simon the Zealot. His own brothers. And, of course, his director of publicity was an eccentric thundering prophet who ate bugs and honey and wore a rough camel hair tunic. What a bunch!

Yet, they got the job done.

The truth is, God picks us in all shapes and sizes. The only litmus test is are we willing? If so, he takes care of the rest. After all, he does the calling. And, even if my pastor friend from Podunk Hollow were right, God knows what he is doing, for Scripture says that,

God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;. 1 Corinthians 1:25-27

And, I can safely say that even though I have seen a lot of dumb people do a lot of dumb things, however preaching the Gospel was not one of them.

The Old Time Gospel . . . slightly updated

Some days I just like to let off a little steam. This is one of them.

So, let me begin with: Imagine, you go to church for the first time and the pastor announces that his subject for today is to discuss the parallels between Steven Spielberg's film "Saving Private Ryan” and God’s relentless search for the wayward soul?

Farfetched? I think not. It happens almost every Sunday, or at least something similar or just as irrelevant. Some have built ministry empires on a big smile and a good pep talk with a little Christianeze thrown in for effect.

Amazing, isn’t it? Amazing that triviality can pass itself off as the gospel. And, of course, our self-indulgent society laps it up like a hungry dog laps up clabber, as my mother used to say.

The Scripture says in Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." And, if there were ever a day that this is true it is this day.

The world is hungry for God. For truth. People need something more than a pop psychology sermon on how to feel better, or financial advice on how to become a multimillionaire by using 5 simple steps found right there in the good old King James Bible.

And, oh, yeah, I almost forgot: "Hummmmm . . . Don't forget to send in your tithe and offerings to the address right there on your television screen."

Missions: "The Charge of the Light Brigade"

In December 1854, Alfred Lloyd Tennyson wrote the poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade," in just a few minutes after having read the account of the terrible slaughter of British troops during the Crimean War in the Valley of Balaklava, now located in the Ukraine.

Some of the familiar verses are:

Half a league, half a league,

Half a league  onward,

All in the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred. 

'Forward, the Light Brigade!

Charge for the guns' he said:

Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred. 

'Forward, the Light Brigade!'

Was there a man dismay'd?

Not tho' the soldiers knew

Some one had blunder'd: 

Their's not to make reply,

Their's not to reason why,

Their's but to do and die:

Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred. 

Over a million soldiers died if you count all the British allies and the Russians. Yet, not once do I recall reading that anyone of any prominence suggested cutting off the funds to these troops. Granted, it was a senseless war, and as far as I know it accomplished very little except to strengthen the power of the British and the Ottoman Empire. Yes, the Ottoman Empire. The Muslims had been killing and persecuting Orthodox Christians and Russia wanted to put a stop to it. Britain adamantly opposed Russian interference and laid down 4 conditions; namely:

1. Russia was to give up its protectorate over the Danubian Principalities;

2. It was to abandon any claim granting it the right to interfere in Ottoman affairs on the behalf of the Orthodox Christians;

3. The Straits Convention of 1841 was to be revised;

4. All nations were to be granted access to the River Danube.

Amazing, isn't it? Naturally, the Russians refused, so war was inevitable.

Why do I write this? Simply to illustrate that in every generation there has been senseless and unnecessary wars. Yet, even in the face of senselessness, the soilder was not abandoned on the field of battle.

Contrast this with the soldiers of the Cross. How many times have you heard of missionaries giving up and returning home because of the lack of finance? Or old soldiers of the Cross leaving a widow behind to fend for herself with just half of his social security check? It seems to me that we should reconsider our priorities and care for our soldiers. Is it right for mission organizations to cloth and feed enemies of the Cross and neglect our own? I think not.

Humanitarian work is noble. I've feed thousands, built hundreds of homes, ran a hospital that had over 80,000 appointments annually, ran an orphanage . . . but, all of this is somehow out of synch if we neglect to finance the true warriors of the Cross. Spiritual warfare however is seldom prioritized. No, our mission programs across most denominations are run on the fuel of emotional appeal to some humanitarian need. If it weren't so sacrilegious, I would like to stage a contest, pitting 2 fund raises against each other. One could talk only of feeding, or clothing the destitute; and, the other could only talk about winning souls.

Who do you think would win?

Oh, I know the argument. It goes something like this, "Jim, we should do both. They are not mutually exclusive. Once creates goodwill; the other reaps the harvest." I agree. So, then why are missions organizations so eager to go about spreading goodwill, but allowing the reapers to flounder around in a quagmire of financial uncertainty?

Oh, well, I've said it. Got it off my chest.

In any event it is just one man's opinion.

AAA Credit Rating Not All That Critical

Standard & Poor's is a significant (but not infallible) credit rating agency designated as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company traces its history back to 1860; however, it should be noted that it really did not become a comprehensive rating agency until much later. Although purported to be politically and fiscally neutral it is not without critics. Several antitrust lawsuits have resulted, the results of which are far too complicated for such a short newsletter; nevertheless, it is appropriate to mention that many of its best clients are banks which in the long run profit from higher interest rates brought on by a revised S&P rating.

Congress and the Obama Administration, I feel missed the mark by setting a lower debt ceiling limit. Balancing the budget is one thing, drying up stimulus money, even fiat money, is precisely what we should not be doing at this time. (That may come as a shock to some of my fellow Republicans)

Once the gold and silver standards were trounced out in our political system, the decision was make during the Nixon administration to consider the worth of our money to be based on our own capacity as a nation to produce and exert national and international power. This so-called fiat money is now our standard for currency value. Since then all reserve currencies have been fiat currencies, including the dollar and the euro.

For example, if America were made out of cheese, then the availability of cheese would be the basis for the worth of our currency. America is not make of cheese, however, so we base our currency worth on our national strength to exert power economically and politically, including physically if necessary. Those are the hard facts of reality. Color our national and international policies any color you wish, but the oil fields of Iraq and Libya are prime examples of where we feel our national interest lies—as opposed to the economically insignificant Assad régime in Syria.

Now, what is a stake in all of this political and economic uncertainty? Well, need I say, ‘our entire economic and political structure’? So, the question arises, do we not place ourselves at risk by funneling more fiat money into the economy as a stimulus? Yes, if we exceed the worth of labor and material that goes into the projects. That then become a real problem. Some of the things that we should be concerned about that will definitely deflate the worth of stimulus activity is graft, over pricing, non-revenue producing projects like bridges to nowhere, or subsidized airports out in the middle of Podunk Hollow. Those things are a waste of money, even fiat money. However, if stimulus projects are sound and add to our national worth then I say, ‘Go for it!’

And, by-the-way, it would not hurt to tax and circulate some of the untaxed profits of such billionaire corporations as Amazon.com which reportedly has more cash reserves than the US Government, in my opinion. They don't seem to be willing to put these liquid assets into the job market, so perhaps we should exercise our rights as a government of the people and by the people to do just that. To allow avarice and greed to deny the poor and needy who are willing to work (we are not talking about a hand out here) seem to me to be unconscionable as a Christian. The book of James has a few words for a policy like that.

Now, if by chance anyone is having trouble wrapping their mind around what I have just said (I am not always the clearest writer) allow me to illustrate with the following story from one of the editors at the Campaign for Liberty blogsite:

My nephew, while serving in Iraq, came upon a warehouse of Iraqi Currency with Saddam’s face all over it. He contacted me to find out what it was worth. I called several professional currency traders who confirmed my opinion that since Saddam’s Iraq was no more, neither was his fiat money. It was only worth the paper itself.

In essence fiat money is just as strong as America-no more and no less. Need I say more?

Well, 'yes' and 'no'. 'No' on the business of fiat money, but 'yes' on how this will all effect missions.

To be perfectly honest, long-term I do not know. Short-term it will continue to challenge our monetary priorities, but hopefully not our hearts. For where our money is there lies our heart.

Here's a quick and fascinating breakdown by total amount held and percentage of total U.S. debt, according to Business Insider:

Hong Kong: $121.9 billion (0.9 percent)
Caribbean banking centers: $148.3 (1 percent)
Taiwan: $153.4 billion (1.1 percent)
Brazil: $211.4 billion (1.5 percent)
Oil exporting countries: $229.8 billion (1.6 percent)
Mutual funds: $300.5 billion (2 percent)
Commercial banks: $301.8 billion (2.1 percent)
State, local and federal retirement funds: $320.9 billion (2.2 percent)
Money market mutual funds: $337.7 billion (2.4 percent)
United Kingdom: $346.5 billion (2.4 percent)
Private pension funds: $504.7 billion (3.5 percent)
State and local governments: $506.1 billion (3.5 percent)
Japan: $912.4 billion (6.4 percent)
U.S. households: $959.4 billion (6.6 percent)
China: $1.16 trillion (8 percent)
The U.S. Treasury: $1.63 trillion (11.3 percent)
Social Security trust fund: $2.67 trillion (19 percent)

So America owes foreigners about $4.5 trillion in debt. But America owes America $9.8 trillion.

My prayer is that we remain stable and steadfast in our commitment to missions and the work of the Kingdom.

Our mandate remains the same . . . The Great Commission has not expired!

Every export is someone else’s import. Think of it. Whatever we send abroad stays abroad. Shoddy exports make shoddy imports. That’s not a hard concept to grasp is it? Certainly not.

The same principle applies to missions. Export trash or heresy and for sure someone is going to fall for it. Why is that? Well, primarily because people are hungry for truth. And, hungry people will generally consume almost anything that promises sustenance.

Somalia is a case in point.

Mothers are forced to abandon children along the long bleak route from their homeland to the foreign refugee camps set up in Kenya simple to assure themselves that at least part of the family will survive. It’s a tough choice.

Some are reported to have boiled tree bark and sipped on the juice for what little nutrition there is in that. Others have eaten dung. My what a terrible choice to have to make. But hungry people will do some pretty awful things just to survive.

We need to pray for these poor people and give as much as we are able to give.

Now, I know that it is hard for the average nominal Christian to wrap their mind around the concept that there is a fate much more worse than these refugees are facing that countless others are facing on a daily basis, spiritually.

Speaking of Jesus, the unequivocal statement of Scripture is simply this:

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Therefore, our mandate remains the same. We must take those without the truth the message of love and peace through Christ Jesus. Because we are convinced—

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Rom. 10: 9-15)

Does The Average Missionary Just Kind Of Taste Funny?

Missionaries strive for relevance—at least they should!

Smart ones learn the language, or attempt to at least. Most take on some of the culture of the land. They eat the food, and most enjoy the cuisine—unless it is cow’s blood mixed with urine

Few, however, live in mud huts any more—but neither do the nationals. Some even adopt the national dress. But, for the most part that’s not all that hard since Western styles are pretty much the norm for most of the people.

The music barrier is seldom breached; and for the most part, the nationals don’t push the issue, as they have grown accustom down though the years to hearing the Beetles and Rap and Hip Hop, and all the rest. But slice the cultural equation anyway possible and you still come up with 2+2=3 and the foreigner is kind of an odd ball third. Neither fish nor fowl.

Now, I am not against enculturation. I think it is a good idea. But, generally speaking it is never fully accomplished, and the missionary ends up being ‘different’.

So, what’s the point of even trying to adapt to the culture, or to become relevant? Well, I would say none, if you are depending on your adaptation to get you through the cultural barrier. However, our goal as missionaries has never been to become Parthians when we are Medes. Or Elamites when we are residents of Mesopotamia. Or Cretans when we are Arabs. For after all—when it is all said and done, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28)

There is, however, one language that all understand, and one sentiment to which all can identify. And, that is the language of love. Godly love. John 3:16 love. Every culture relates to that. And, love is effective, too.
I think of Mark Buntain—who incidentally, never really mastered the language, but who’s life spoke volumes of love. I think of Mama Lillian who spoke Arabic with grammar almost like a kid—I am told. Yet, Egypt still remembers her message of love, and still calls her blessed. I could mention others, but won’t because I think you get the point.

If we haven’t got the point by now, most probably we never will, and like the clown in the cartoon we will just taste funny; and, need I mention, look funny, too?

Is Christianity on the verge of extinction?

Christianity is only one generation away from extinction. Is it possible that will ever happen? I think not. However, I have been troubled down through the years by one verse of Scripture in particular.

Jesus once asked his disciples, "When the Son of Man returns, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)

There is no easy answer. The Mormons of course say that they have restored the faith or true religion that he was talking about. So, do such restorative denominations like the Church of Christ. The Roman Catholics and Orthodox churches all have their position on the subject, too.

But, what is the answer?

Is it possible to imagine a world without Christianity? To answer that question, let's travel back to an earlier time. The Zoroastrians developed a beautiful religion, similar in many aspects to our Christian faith. They believed in Good and Evil. Heaven (Paradise) and Hell. They had a prophet called Zarathustra who taught them that a Savior would come and set things straight, eventually. Much like the Christian faith the world as we know it would culminate with a final judgment after which the earth would be destroyed by molten lava. Hummm. Interesting to say the least.

However, before we get all tied up in knots and fret over the similarities it must be noted that according to reputable scholarship the Zoroastrians began to incorporate some of their beliefs into their system after they were introduced to Christianity. How much. We don't know.

So, this brings up the question of whether the Zoroastrians like Melchisedec had a kernel of the truth in their religion that only came to fruition at the birth of Christ.

For what it is worth, this is a position that I take.

However, the question is Christianity as we know it on the verge of extinction? Is it possible that like Zoroastrianism we too may suffer a similar fate. After all, there are less that 100,000 Zoroastrians left on the entire planet while at one time all of Iran and much of the Middle East, including parts of India, were populated with the religion.

What’s the answer? And, why did Jesus ask the question?

Personally, the answer I believe is that only a remnant of true believers will be left, and there are signs that that time is not too far off. Think of the mainline churches that has surrendered to liberalism and modernism in which the morals of both Old and New Testaments are disregarded as out-of-date and archaic to make the church more palliative to political correctness. Now, ask yourself, ‘Shall the Son of Man find faith when He returns?”

The answer is ‘Yes,’ but very few New Testament Christians will be left.

Now, the sad part is there will be even less if you and I don’t do something about it. This is why I am struggling well past retirement age and with very few resources to make a difference. Pray with Bonnie and me as we prepare to travel overseas once again to teach others so that they in turn can reach their generation for Christ. Because if we do not there is a good chance that many will be left unreached.

Help us make a difference where a difference counts!

"Should we allow false teachers into our home?"

Just this past week I was asked: "Should we allow false teachers into our home?"

Here's a good brief answer: The short letter of 2 John is written in part to warn believers against the influence of false teachers. John identifies them as those “who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” and describes them as deceivers and antichrists (2 John 7). He goes on to prohibit receiving them into our homes or wishing them well. The question is whether this prohibition refers to those who knock on our doors today, such as Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Are we to deny members of these sects access to our homes?

It is important to understand exactly what it means that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. Many cultists will agree that Jesus was a man of flesh and bone who walked the earth around 2000 years ago. But that is not what John means here. He first addressed this issue in 1 John 4:2, telling us how to identify false teachers and the spirits who drive them. The first test of a true teacher/prophet of God is that they proclaim that Jesus is God incarnate in human flesh (John 1:14). Both the full deity and full humanity of Christ will be asserted by any teacher who truly comes from God. The Holy Spirit testifies to the true nature of Christ, while Satan and his demonic host deny that true nature. That is why John identifies anyone who denies the deity of Christ—which both the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses do—as deceivers and antichrists.

What should be our response, then, when cultists come knocking at the door? John, writing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives a clear answer: we are not to receive them into our homes. While John was likely more commanding against allowing false teachers to stay in your home than just allowing them in the door, the principle is the same. We are not to do anything that would give the appearance we approve of their message. Many people feel “called” to debate endlessly with cultists, bringing them into their homes for Bible studies or witnessing to them in chat rooms and forums. But God does not call us to do these things; He commands us to avoid false teachers. Cultists are master deceivers who are well-trained in techniques that will confuse those whose knowledge of Scripture is limited—the very ones cultists most often seek out. It is invariably these well-meaning and compassionate souls who dialog with cultists. But God’s desire is to protect the weak among His people and John’s prohibition reflects that desire.

John’s final warning regards “greeting” cultists, which the King James Version translates as bidding them “God speed.” This phrase in the Greek means to cheerfully or joyfully hail or salute someone. In other words, we are not to give cultists or anyone else the impression that we see them as having legitimate claims, doctrines, or opinions. We are not to bless them or wish them well. John tells us that to do so is to share in their wicked work. Christians are of Christ; cultists are anti-Christ, no matter how kind, sincere, and charming they may appear. We can have no fellowship with darkness or those who spread falsehood; rather, we are to separate ourselves from them.

But aren’t we to witness to them about Christ? Aren’t they the mission field? Interestingly, nowhere in the Bible are we called to witness to false teachers. Jesus tells us to “watch out” for them (Matthew 7:15) and Paul tells us to “avoid them” (Romans 16:17) and declares them to be “accursed” (Galatians 1:8). We are, of course, to be always ready with an answer for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15), but that presupposes the cultist is actually interested in the true hope of salvation through Christ, something that is rarely, if ever, the case. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), but we are not to cast our pearls before pigs (Matthew 7:6). In regards to cultists, it is especially important to rely on the Lord’s wisdom (James 1:5) in discerning the difference between an opportunity and a distraction.

Why I Am Not A Muslim

A friend took me aside recently and mentioned that her daughter was interested Islam.

She went on to say that the girl had been brought up in a solid Evangelical church, and showed every sign of continuing with her commitment to Christ when she left for college. However, my friend continued, see seems confused now  and wants to investigate other religious possibilities.

Of course, I asked, What happed?

She said, “Well, she met some really nice classmates who are Muslims and who seemed really committed to their faith and they seemed to have persuaded her that most Christians really don’t understand Islam. So, she wants me to buy her a Qur’an, now.”

I thought, but did not mention it, that this is typical for many young people in our secular universities today. Above all, they want to be fair and politically correct. So, as far as they are concerned they are willing to put their Christian faith on hold while they check out the claims of other religions, including Islam.

I suppose that approach is okay if one considers Christianity a buyers choice.

Christianity, however, is not a commodity for sale in a religious flea market. Jesus unequivocally said,

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

That, to me, rules out approaching God through any route other than through Jesus.

So, on the basis of that exclusivity and other considerations I would like to boldly declare why I am not a Muslim.

I do this in hopes that others may find comfort and reassurance in what I write.

The Historical Jesus

Any reputable historian I know of, past or present, believes that Jesus was a real man, who was born in Bethlehem, lived in Nazareth, and died when crucified in Jerusalem.

The earliest records that we have outside of the New Testament documents come from the writings of Flavius Josephus (37 – c.100 AD) who purportedly wrote:

"About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed it is lawful to call him a man, for he was a performer of wonderful deeds, a teacher of such men as are happy to accept the truth. He won over many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the leading men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those who had loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again on the third day, as the prophets of God had foretold these and ten thousand other wonders about him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day.”

Flavius Josephus, however, remained an orthodox Jew throughout his life, so it is believed that the statement that “He was the Christ” was in all likelihood was inserted into the text at a later date by an early Christian copyist. So, as David Couchman points out, it seems more likely that Josephus originally wrote something like this:

“About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, for he was a performer of wonderful deeds, a teacher of such men as are happy to accept the truth. He won over many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. When Pilate, at the suggestion of the leading men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those who had loved him at the first did not forsake him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day.” [i]

Yet, even without these dubious embellishments the passage is clear in confirming that Jesus was person of historical vintage and, therefore, a real person who was a teacher and reportedly performed miracles; and that further, a large body of His disciples remained faithful following His.

This tradition continues, needless to say,  to this day.

So, his existence has never been in serious doubt by the vast majority of his followers or critics.

This goes for Muslims, also. They readily agree that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life and did many mighty miracles; but adamantly deny that He was Divine or that He died on the Cross.

So, it is apparent from the upstart that Christians and Muslim have points of agreement, as well as points of disagreement.

Now, let us look at some of these differences vis-à-vis with Islam to explore any possible ground of reconciliation between Christianity and Islam.

For the sake of expediency I have broken these difference down into the following categories: 1.) God;

This desire, however, does bring up a central question. That is, do we as Christians worship the same God as Muslims do? The answer is an unequivocal no, we do not. And, for anyone to insist differently simply is a sign of either rank ignorance or willful compromise.

As a matter of fact, this is the point of the whole debate. That is, we do not worship the same God.

How can we? We believe in the Trinity, the Cross and Resurrection, in the inerrancy and authenticity of our canon of Scripture, and the Muslim believes the complete opposite. So, we need to lay at rest once and of all that Christians and Muslims worship the same God.

Historically, we believe that God came down to earth in the form of a man. Muslims believe that is blasphemy. So, how then can we say we worship the same God? We can not!

Ontologically, God is a trinity—at least for the Christian. For the Muslim, God is an impenetrable unity known only in and through His expressed purposes.   It is totally impossible in Islam to know God. The best you can do is to know about Him. In Islam God is a friend to none, but an enemy to those that reject Muhammad and his Qur’an—that is the book that the prophet of Islam said God dictated to him through the agency of an angel.

No one, as far as I know ever saw this angel. So, believers must accept Muhammad’s word on this. That in itself does not disqualify the book, but when we contrast this with the heavenly visitation to the shepherds at Christ birth; or an angel no only appearing to Mary, but to Zechariah and others throughout Scripture to confirm God’s message, then Muhammad claims loose much of the force of his claims.

As the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Galatia, hundreds of years before Muhammad,

"But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!" — Holy Bible, Galatians 1:8 (NASB)

And again, centuries before the Qur’an was ever written, Paul affirmed that—

"Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds." —Holy Bible, 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (NASB)

Here is what one blogger[ii] wrote:

“Historians tell us Muhammad used to withdraw to a cave, spending days wrapped in his thoughts. He heard bells ringing and had ghostly visions. He thought he was demon possessed, until his wife reassured him he had become a prophet. Convinced of his status, he was intolerant of those who rejected him, assassinated those who criticized him, raided, looted, and massacred entire populations. He reduced thousands to slavery, raped, and allowed his men to rape female captives. All of this, he did with a clear conscience and a sense of entitlement.

“Muhammad believed in his own cause. He was so certain of the reality of his hallucinations that he expected everyone to believe too. He would make his Allah indignantly ask “What! Do you then dispute with him [Muhammad] as to what he saw?” (Q.53:12) This is psychopathology. Why should others believe in what he saw? Wasn't it up to him to prove what he saw was real? Only a narcissist expects others to believe in his claims without asking for evidence.

“Muhammad was an orphan. Spurned by his mother in his infancy and left in the care of a Bedouin couple, he had a loveless childhood. He then passed to the care of his grandfather and uncle who took pity on him and spoiled him. Not receiving love at a time he needed unconditional love and not receiving discipline when he needed to learn about boundaries, he developed narcissistic personality disorder, a trait that made him a megalomaniac bereft of conscience. He fantasized about unlimited power, expected praise and admiration, believed he was special, and expected others to believe him and go along with his ideas and plans. He took advantage of others, was jealous, yet believed others were jealous of him, and was extremely hurt when rejected, even killing those who deserted him. He lied and deceived, feeling entitled and justified in doing so. All these are traits of narcissistic personality disorder.”

Now, unfortunately for the Muslim the blogger is not too far off base, if any. Any competent psychiatrist would come to the same conclusion.

These are just some of the reasons that I am not a Muslim.

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[i] http://www.facingthechallenge.org/josephus.php

[ii] http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081217122635AAs4Ee7

Sri Lanka 5 Years Later

What a joy it is to minister once again in Sri Lanka. When we left in 2005, the country was reeling from the staggering effects of a tsunami that had killed over 40,000, and was still in a very costly civil war that decimated an estimated 80,000-100,000 people. The deaths include 27,639 Tamil fighters, more than 21,066 Sri Lankan soldiers, 1000 Sri Lankan police, 1500 Indian soldiers, and tens of thousands of civilians.

So, when you combine the two factors for a country the size of West Virginia with the population of Texas, you can well imagine the devastation.

Yet, out of tragedy, the Lord has brought victory. Today the country is no longer in war, and the churches are expanding faster than ever in the history of missions for this Buddhist country. Because of your generosity in helping us help them during the tsunami we were able to leave a permanent impression of good will that has opened doors that we never in our wildest dreams imagined possible.

Christianity is enjoying a new freedom, and we see many visible results. For example, just recently one of our fine Assemblies of God pastors, Pastor Iran Wickramaratne took his seat in the national assembly to become the first Assemblies of God pastor to serve in that capacity. Naturally, politics is politics, so he has already experienced some hard knocks, but none of it directed towards him, as far as I know just because he is a Christian. Friends, that is a major plus for us.

Churches throughout the country are flourishing with increased membership, and new structures are being constructed on a daily basis. Just this past Sunday I had the privilege of attending the church of the General Superintend of Sri Lanka, the Reverend Michael Dissanayeke, and boy was I in for a surprise. They now have a new structure 7 stories high and a burgeoning congregation. It will be my privilege to speak there on February 6th.

Right now, pastors are flooding the college campus for an intensive two week study course to equip them for better pastoral leadership. I am putting the finishing touches on a two week course that I have just taught on Apologetics teaching them how to minister to the non Christian-the Buddhist, Muslim, atheist and so-forth. My next intensive course is on Pentecostalism, and I can hardly wait to share this great topic with them. Pray for me that God will give me wisdom and insight to meet the task before me.

During all of this, I must find time to help the President of the Bible College, Dr. Willie Chelliah-at his request, to write the outline for the curriculum for a new Masters of Arts degree in Christian Ministries. Education is a vital resource particularly in third-world countries, and Sri Lanka is no exception.

Our chapel services at the Bible college remind me of old-time Pentecost, and what a blessing it is to see God move among the youth of this once hostile country that has for centuries rejected Christ and persecuted what few Christians there were. I am optimistic. That's for sure.

My desire is to continue ministering when and where we are needed, regardless of the fact that we have been retired and must take each step along the way with a cautious but firm determination to continue ministering by faith until Jesus calls us home. Retirement or not. Money or not. His call is without repentance (Romans 11:29), and we are called; therefore, we shall not quit just because of policy or the fact that we have reached mandatory retirement. Try looking that up in the Bible and see how far you get.

Excuse me for getting in the flesh there a little bit, but I could not resist getting a good punch in for us 'old-folks'!

Well, until we meet again-whether by email or in person-may God continue to bless and keep you safe and secure in His presence.

Yours for a greater end-time harvest,

Jim

P.S. Click here to contribute and when prompted clearly designate all gifts for Account #2868180 Class (09); Personal expenses; or Class (40). Thanks for your prayerful consideration.

Missionaries Jim & Bonnie Roane | Beyond The Upper Room 1013 Madera Court | Allen | TX | 75013-3639
roane.jim@gmail.com | http://beyondtheupperroom.blogspot.com/
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Fair Trade or Stupidity At Its Best?

At times I am tempted to write a new book entitled — "The American Fair Treaty Agreements” with a subtitle that reads: “Stupidity At Its Best!"  

Why do I say this?

Well, mainly because America is so gullible. Read the news papers. Or listen to the news. It's all over the place. We dare not offend the South Koreans by insisting that they allow more imports of cars and beef from America—after all, they only export around 775,000 vehicles to the USA; while we export a whopping 2,100 to their country — to insist otherwise just might offend them; and we mus'nt do that.   

Excuse me. Did I miss something there? 775 thousand to 21 hundred. Yeah, that's right. Not to mention other things, such as a 40% surcharge tariff on all US beef imports, plus a whole lot of other unfavorable restrictions.

Now, do you want the results of the so-called FTA (Fair Trade Agreement)? Well, want it or not, here it is: 

The U.S. International Trade Commission has projected that the Korea FTA will increase the U.S. global trade deficit, while the U.S. think-tank Economic Policy Institute has projected that it will lead to considerable U.S. job losses. 

And, who championed this lopsided fiasco? You guessed it—the same bunch that the America tax payers just bailed out.  

U.S. financial services firms such as Citigroup have pushed for the Korea FTA. Citigroup’s Laura Lane, corporate co-chair of the U.S.-Korea FTA Business Coalition, stated that “it is the best financial services chapter negotiated in a free trade agreement to date.”  

Really? 

I’m tempted to ask, “Laura what planet did you step off of?” but I won’t, since that would be beneath my dignity. 

All right, enough of this. The bottom line is, “What does this have to do with world evangelism?” 

The quick answer is, “A lot! Primarily because South Korea is only a tip of the iceberg. Take a look at the trade deficits between us and some of our other trade partners: China, Pakistan, all of Latin America, and the list goes on and on.” 

Ask any pastor if the poor economy brought on in large part because of such unfair practices has affected missions giving, and the majority will have to answer with a resounding “Yes!”

Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac were a cause, but not the root cause. The American job market was, however. And, we do not create jobs by shipping them all abroad, and then buying their products. That's not the way it works. Pure and simple.   

So, what should we Christians do? Well, first of all, we should commit the whole misfortune to God in prayer. And, that’s not a cop-out either. Prayer does change things. The Scripture says in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that— 

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 

Then, secondly, we should actively pursue avenues of expression to get the message out and do our dead-level best to see that this deficit is changed.  

Otherwise, if we don’t do something positive, we can kiss the era of modern missions good bye because we will simply not have an economy that will sustain it. 

Well, this is just one man’s opinion; but I don’t think I’m too far off base.