Home Missions

Our missions team returned this past week from their trip to Kenya and in particular to a town in northern Kenya called Garissa. From what I understand the work that the team did was hot, dusty and very hard. One of the team members caught on fire (literally) and some of the guys suffered from a severe rash from some of the wood they were cutting for use at the project This Sunday some of the team members will be sharing their experiences in our Sunday morning service.

I am reminded that most of what we call "missions" is really done right in our own backyard, so to speak. Every Christian is called to the mission field of their family, their workplace, their school, their neighborhood and their church. Which is more difficult -- to share Christ with someone in a foreign country or someone you work with, go to school with or someone in your own family. Probably the physical demands would say that foreign missions is more difficult and I wouldn't disagree with that. And there are some heavy spiritual opposition forces at work that require being armored up with the spiritual weapons of warfare when traveling to a foreign country where spiritual darkness has ruled for centuries. Thank God for the power of the Holy Spirit!

But witnessing in your own backyard so-to-speak requires something even more. It requires a life style to back up our testimony. It is not enough to have the right talk (words); we must have the walk to back it up. Speaking the truth and not living the truth is called being a hypocrite. I am glad that God holds us to a high standard. Why shouldn't He? He paid a high price for our salvation and has given us a mission to win the world for Him. The Word is very clear that our faith must be backed up with our works if anything of value is going to be accomplished for the Kingdom of God.

I think it is important that our family and friends and brothers and sisters in Christ hold us accountable for our lives. Iron should sharpen iron and sometimes the process is painful. Are you willing to be sharpened for effectiveness for Kingdom work? I hope so. Jesus said the fields are white for harvest but the laborers are few. God help us to see the urgency of our time and be ready always with an answer of the hope (Living Hope) that is in us when we have the opportunity. And always with gentleness and patience.

Up North Wisdom says look to the Word of God and ask like the psalmist for God to "search me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You Lord, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." (Psalm 139:23-24) AMEN! The Best Is Yet To Come!! Have a great summer and keep a watchful eye for those God-moments.

Be Ready

This past Sunday morning, Living Hope Church commissioned our mission team as they prepare to leave on Thursday for Kenya. Please continue to pray each day for the team as they lay plans to help build a school for girls in Northern Kenya. I've said this before, I think there is going to be so much more happen for God's Kingdom as the team focuses on this project. Please pray each day for the team members ( a list is available in the church office). They will be in an area where the gospel is not welcome by most and yet needed by all. Your prayers are welcome and much needed. If we don't, who will? Satan hates that this trip is taking place and we need to be in prayer against any of his devices. I want the team to sense and feel the powerful prayers of their church family each day.

During the message Sunday morning, I felt led to stop in the middle and ask if there were any people who needed and wanted to give their lives to Christ. What a blessing to see people respond and ask Christ into their lives. It reminded me that God will provide many opportunities to give our answer of hope if we are just alert and available. I am praying that each step of the trip provides just such opportunities for the team members. Maybe there will be people in the three airports who will open to the Gospel. Maybe people in the airplanes will be curious enough to ask who these people are and that will lead to an open door for the Gospel. In restaurants, on the streets, and wherever the Spirit of God opens a door, I pray each team member will be ready with a word of testimony and encouragement.

Team members, I know that a direct presentation of the Gospel is not possible where you are going but God is big and awesome so don't discount Him opening doors that normally would be closed. Be ready with an answer to anyone who is open for your word of encouragement and hope. I am praying for miraculous things to be accomplished that can't be done any other way except by God Himself. Watch and pray! We will all look forward to regular reports on the missions blog on our church website.

Team members, your church loves and appreciates you and is rightly proud of your willingness to give up time and money to do His work. I believe He will bless you many times over for your commitment. Go in the spirit and power of God. Be bold, be strong, for the Lord your God is with you. Up North Wisdom says to remember to "not be afraid or discouraged because the battle is not yours, but Gods." (2 Cron. 20:15) The Best Is Yet To Come!!!

Enlarged Territory

We are going through the Prayer of Jabez study on Wednesday evenings and have just completed the section where Jabez asked God to expand (enlarge) his territory. As I listened and studied, I began to think about the mission trip to Kenya that our church is sponsoring in June. The main idea of the trip, as I believe, is to help build a school for girls in northern Kenya -- A great task and a difficult one as well. I began to think that as Jabez asked for expanded territory (influence), that maybe God has something even bigger for the participants in this trip.

There is an obvious passion that our people have for the nation of Kenya. God, through Ezekiel, said, "I searched for someone that they should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land (Kenya), that I should not destroy it: but I found none." Ezk. 22:30. God loves the nation of Kenya but it is a nation on the brink. I don't think there is a big window of time for the Gospel to be brought to this nation. I want God to do something way beyond what our team expects Him to do -- something only He can do.

"Lord, expand the territory (the mission) of this trip. Do something even bigger than has been asked for to this point. As you heard the prayer of Jabez and answered, so hear and answer this prayer. Let everything about this trip be supernatural. Let the "expansion," the "enlarging" of territory begin right now. Let the salvation of souls begin now. Let the witness of the mission team be given now. Let people be saved even now all the way through the completion of the mission and even beyond. Let those flying on the same plane be open to the Gospel. Let people in the airports be open to the Gospel. Let neighbors and friends of the mission trip participants be open to the Gospel. Let every mission trip participant be fully expectant NOW for the giving out of the Gospel. Before the trip, during the trip, during the time in Kenya, the trip back, and after each one returns, Lord, let the Gospel be given powerfully for your Kingdom's sake. Amen!"

Just as important as the trip members are the intercessors who will cover everything about the mission with prayer. The attack of the enemy really begins now in earnest if we pray for expanded territory now. We must fight the good fight of faith. The prayers of God's people are powerful. Be a part of this trip with yours. Assist those going on the trip not only with prayers but with your financial support. Many of you have already. Many of you still can. When Paul writes of his journeys, he mentions not only Timothy and Titus as his helpers, but also Lydia and the other precious women who aided him. They were all devoted servants whose assistance helped touch entire nations with the Gospel.

Soooooo, let's pray the prayer of Jabez for this trip. "Lord, bless indeed, each mission trip participant. Expand their territories way beyond their present thinking and believing. Put your hand upon each one and keep them from any evil that the enemy would bring upon them. For Your Glory, and Honor, and for Your Kingdom's sake. AMEN!!!!

One More Year

Little Tony gave a good tribute to his father on his 70th birthday. He talked about the influence his dad has on him. So I am turning 64 today. Happy Birthday to me, right. Let me share some things that I have learned from the founding pastor of Living Hope Church: Jim Erickson. Another way to put this is: what are some things I have learned in 64 years of life? By the way, Tony, Jim loved to preach on the balanced life which you said your dad was a good example of.

A couple of verses from Proverbs about anger were often quoted by Jim. One was "A soft answer turns away anger." Another was like that: "A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when hurt." Wow! Those two keep resonating in my mind often. Anger can be a killer of relationships and a killer of testimonies. I want to keep growing in the truth of these wise scriptures. I don't want to be controlled by anger, do you? We are told by the Apostle James to be quick to listen, slow to speak and SLOW to become angry because anger brings the opposite of righteousness. Where are you in these verses, friend?

Jim used to say to me that if a lesson only costs me money, it is a cheap lesson. And I used to think, "Ya, that's easy for you to say." But how right he was and how true that is. I needed to take ownership of my mistakes. I have made some decisions in the past that were costly in dollars but how I responded to the results were the real test. Sometimes anger, sometimes discouragement, sometimes putting myself down. But I have and still continue to learn that God will use those times to teach me things that will save me in the long run, both in dollars and in the things that really count.

Another Jimism: Just because I call myself a pastor/leader doesn't mean that it is true. If no one follows my leadership than I am a leader/pastor in name only. Every morning when I get into my car and drive to the office, I wonder what I am doing. I feel often that I am not qualified to be a pastor. I think that I am in way over my head and my abilities fall so far short. And it is then God reminds that I am right. I don't have it in me but God does and since He has called me, He equips me and empowers me to do the ministry of a pastor. His strength is made perfect in my weakness. He just calls for my availability and faithfulness. So it is always "To God Be The Glory, Great Things He Hath Done". Amen.

Another (and I could probably write a short book) one of the biggest and best is this: "Circumstances will make me a bitter or better person; it's my choice." Not much of a choice, right? And yet so many chose bitterness and thereby bring hurt and defilement upon themselves and others around them. I have to chose often not to let even a tiny root of bitterness get a foothold in my life. Those tiny roots can grow quickly into something very ugly. And it will ruin my witness and testimony. How can we do this? As the scripture says, it is not by might or by power but by God's Spirit. We (I) are without excuse. We must let the past things go and look forward to what God has for us. Truly the best is yet to come if we do it God's way.

Finally, how about this truth: If I fail at home and in my relationships with my family and others, then I fail no matter how much "success" I seem to enjoy in my work or other pursuits. I am not going to elaborate on this too much except to say this: Can the people around you (me) really be honest with you? Are you (am I) really open to honest criticism? If you are, then ask them to be honest with you in how you are doing in your relationship with them. If I don't let those who know me and love me be honest with me without getting defensive, then I will never grow in many critical areas that God wants me to grow in. How's that for meddling?

So Up North Wisdom says, Thank you, Pastor Jim for your wise counsel over the years. You are now enjoying your Heavenly reward and we will see each other again. I will by the Grace of God continue to try to stay true to your great legacy. Your example is the best birthday gift a person could receive.

Tear Soup

Some cooking requires that you measure ingredients exactly (or so I am told) but making soup is different. Soup making is an art, and you are the artist. Improvising as you go, your only goal is that the blended creation will both satisfy your hunger and soothe what hurts you.

What's true about soup making is also true about grieving. And who of us hasn't experienced some loss in our lives that has confronted us with this unsettled and somewhat undefined process. Tear Soup is a richly illustrated book where Grandy, the main character has just suffered a big loss in her life, and so she is cooking up her own unique batch of "tear soup." Tear Soup gives you a glimpse into Grandy's life as she blends different ingredients into her own grief process. Her tear soup will help to fill the void in her life that was created by her loss.

Up North Wisdom recommends this book to you. Whether you are the "cook", a friend of the "cook", a child of the "cook", a male "cook", or if there are two of you "cooking", Tear Soup will affirm the bereaved, educate the unbereaved and will be a building block for children. You can get information about the book and how to order it by logging on to www.tearsoup.com. Let me know what you think.

Exhausted Resources

I love the story from Luke chapter 5 where Jesus is preaching and the crowds were so large that Jesus hops into Peter's boat and says, "push out from the land." He uses that boat as His pulpit and begins to preach the word. Then when He's finished, He surprises the men by saying, "Go fishing, Launch out into the deep and let down your nets." These disciples had toiled all night. These expert fishermen had done everything that they could but their training and their experience were not enough. They were trying to do what they had done so many times before but now it was only tired bodies and empty nets and discouraged spirits. They had exhausted their resources.

Jesus always used real life situations to make His points and the point was this -- if you try to live your life without Jesus Christ as the head of your life, you will always come up empty. How many times do we work and toil only to feel that all has been in vain? We try with all of our might to be good parents, good workers, good students, good husbands or wives, good Christians, -- only to end up with tired bodies and discouraged spirits. And that will always be the outcome when we operate without Jesus Christ as our source.

Peter, the disciples, and we are always having to learn that there is only one way to do the work of the Lord and that is HIS way. There is only one power that can enable us to live the life that He wants us to live and that is the power of the Holy Spirit. It look Peter a long time to learn that lesson but he did. In Acts 3 Peter tells the beggar that he didn't have any silver or gold to give him but he would give him the greatest discover of his life. In Jesus name, be made whole. Peter had made the discovery that life is more than physical strength, human wisdom and financial security. He discovered that life comes to those who believe in Jesus Christ, body, soul and spirit and give themselves unreservedly and completely to Him. God help us to make that discovery.

Christ calls you and I today to launch out into the deep of His grace, of His love and of His forgiveness and faith. You might respond like Peter, "But Lord, I've tried and I've tried and I really haven't gotten anywhere. Mostly Lord, I've make a mess of my life. I just seem to go a different direction but nothing seems to fall into place. I've worked so hard at it but It doesn't seem to happen. And I'm just afraid to try anymore."

Up North Wisdom says maybe you can say like Peter, "nevertheless Lord". Nevertheless because you call me to come to you with my burdens and my cares and my pain and my sin, because YOU ask me to do it. I will. I'll try again. And as God blesses you and strengthens you and touches your life, you can, like Peter, reach out and give people what they really need -- that same grace and love that has turned your life around and has given you meaning in life. THE BEST IS YET TO COME! Believe it.

Why Is Sin Called Sin?

We don't hear much about the word sin these days. People, Christians included, prefer words that aren't so "negative" -- words like failures, weaknesses, mistakes, etc. Why do you think that the Bible calls sin sin. It does because sin kills and destroys. "The soul that sins will die" is God's Word. God wasn't judging when He said this; He was simply revealing truth. If sin didn't destroy, He would have called it something else. But it does, so it is called sin.

I read that Planned Parenthood of Ashland, Oregon plans to offer medication-induced abortions at its clinics in Ashland and Eugene in March. The executive director said the service will "provide women with an option for (terminating a pregnancy) in the comfort and privacy of home." These home-used drugs will (expel a fetus). They want to make sure women have adequate access to a full range of health care, including terminating a pregnancy.

Ah, those innovative folks from mass murder central as one person called Planned Parenthood who use such medical sounding words for killing a baby. Can you think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than to kill a baby at home -- the place where the mother will have months and years to meditate over the life she took. Maybe to dream (or nightmare) over what this child may have turned out to be. The love, the life, and the laughter.

Make no mistake about it, friend. We live in a culture of death where government wants to decide who lives or dies and make it convenient to murder (help terminate) those who society deems unfit for life -- the old, the infirm, the disabled. We see whole countries where no Downs Syndrome babies are born anymore because of the technology to determine beforehand which unborn babies have DS and then the legal right to terminate (kill) that child.

Do you see why God calls sin sin? It kills and destroys both spirit, soul and body. It kills and destroys the very awesome creation of God. That's why God hates sin and so should we. Love what God loves and hate what God hates. Keep alert, pray often and make sure you make your voice heard when it comes to the issues of life. Make sure you know where the candidates for public office stand on these issues and then vote for life.

Up North Wisdom says we know that ultimately God is in control of this old world but while we are living here as pilgrims, we have a responsibility to stand and speak for truth -- for life. If we don't, we will fall for anything. This is the day for faith and fearlessness. Put on your spiritual armor (Eph. 6) and nothing will ever be able to bring you down. You are on the winning side. I know because I just finished reading Revelation. The Best Is Yet To Come! Believe it!