Religious versus Mission Giving

Donations is often a hot topic among missionaries. The faith we develop as we see God continually supply is amazing -but we do often find ourselves asking "Where is God's provision?" I think this arises because we see so much need around us and we often give so much of our own money to meet those needs. My observations tell me that mission workers give far more than the average American citizen.

I read a headline today that said that donations in 2008 had declined by 2%. My instincts told me this was true due to the continuing economic situation. However, I was curious. I went the source of the study. Giving USA Foundation conducted the study and commented that the decline was not significant given the severity of the economic downturn. However there was very good news as I read the whole report! The study found that "Religious congregations and other religious organizations received an estimated $106.89 billion . . . This is the second year that giving to religion has exceeded $100 billion. Giving to religion increased an estimated 5.5 percent (1.6 percent adjusted for inflation)." WOW! I was actually shocked! How could this be? Studies have always shown that the vast majority of religious giving comes from the lower 2/3 of the people economically - yet, they had increased their giving when they were hit the hardest by the downturn!

I am still unsure how to interpret this information. I'm sure someone has done a study of where all the religious donations go. I don't see it on the mission field. The missionaries I know have had serious declines in donations and have had to work harder to get what they get which takes them off the field. One missionary I know received nothing one month! Others have had to step up their fund raising activities by making trips to the U.S.

I just know, my faith is in Jehovah-Jireh! He knows my every need. It is my job to adjust my lifestyle and ministry to His provision. Only He can break into people's hearts and help them see what He sees. God is good - all the time!

How "Casual" Can a True Believer Be?

A good friend recently shared an article which helped me to understand the "State of America". I have found myself truly in a fog when it came to trying to comprehend things like election results, Supreme Court decisions, liberal churches, and even the principles espoused by some of my friends. These anomalies have been especially disconcerting when observing "Christians" in church seemingly oppose what is specific in scripture.

The article is an interview with George Barna concerning a recently released book, The Seven Faith Tribes: Who They Are, What They Believe, and Why they Matter. Two of the seven tribes are labeled Captive Christians and Casual Christians. His survey showed that 66% of the adult population in the U.S. are Casual Christians, while 16% are Captive Christians. Casual Christians have a faith that is not demanding but provides comfort. They have a desire for a "pleasant and peaceful existence." Casual Christians have a "desire to please God, family, and other people while extracting as much enjoyment and comfort from the world as possible."

In my title, I asked the question, "How casual can a True Believer be?" Herein lies the problem. Too many of us are asking this question in regards to our own living arrangements when the question we should be asking is, "What does the Father ask of me?" or "How can I better honor my Lord and Savior?" Our failure to impact our world as a Christian community is directly tied to our insatiable desire to be accepted by everyone who might make our lives uncomfortable if we were to live a Biblically principled lifestyle. We often find ourselves hedging on what should be our conviction in the name of "love" or "making peace" etc. I do think it is very important to develop and maintain loving relationships, but these relationships are worthless if we sacrifice our authenticity as followers of Christ.

In Galatians 1:10 Paul states, "Am I now trying to win the approval of people or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ's servant." George Barna puts it this way: "Casuals are about moderation in all things while Captives are about extreme devotion to their God regardless of the worldly consequences." I hope that each of us will choose on a daily basis the 'road less traveled' that Christ walked.

Blessings to all!

My Darkest Days

Worship this morning in our fellowship brought me back to some of the darkest days of my life. I praise my friend Jesus – He brought me out of those days and gave me victory over them several years ago. However, I am occasionally taken back – not to relive them – but to gain new perspectives my Father wants to reveal.

In our spiritual family, we were celebrating the life of a child who died within a few hours of birth. We were recognizing that God has a plan and destiny for everyone, no matter how long or short our earthly experience might be. The parents of this child had chosen to carry Samuel rather than abort him as many suggested when they were told the child would not survive. In worship, we celebrated Samuel’s earthly life with recognition that he is having an eternity with the Father. As worship progressed, our pastor, asked for all who had experienced the loss of a child to come to the altar in celebration of the life God had given.

As some know, Janene experienced a miscarriage between the births of Jill and Jullianne. Janene and I were already having challenges as we had custody of our nephew and were trying to blend him in with our family. The struggles we were having had placed a strain on our relationship with each other. We were visiting our family in Tennessee when the miscarriage occurred. It was an excruciating time for Janene. My responses were often less than sensitive in the days that followed. My response only increased the strain on our relationship. There is much more to the story and God is glorified in the ultimate outcome. I want to share the new insight God gave me today, as He allowed me to revisit those days.

First, my Father showed me that He wanted to create a greater capacity for me to exhibit a father’s heart. I missed the opportunity, during the events surrounding the miscarriage, to be a father to my unborn child. As a result, I was not able to share the same loss as my wife. Today, God is giving me greater revelation of what it means to be a father and the great healing power it brings to families and relationships.

Second, the Lord showed my need to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit as He shows me how I need to respond to the “now”. There is always so much going on around me that I often miss the “now” opportunities to express God’s heart and see the magnificent happenings all around me. Sometimes God speaks through the Holy Spirit and I don’t hear until I slow down – by that time I have missed a “God Moment”.

Lord, show me more of what it means to be a father from your perspective. Give me spiritual eyes to see what You are doing and what You want me to see and respond to. Thank You for the lessons you continue to teach us even through dark times.

Psalms 23:4
Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me.

Standing Against the Darkness

Ever since the elections in Kenya and the ensuing violence, my soul has been increasingly burdened for a people I have never met. However, over the past 2-3 days the burden has been amplified. The feeling in my spirit must be something like a woman feels as the birth of her child grows closer. Janene has shared how the love a mother has for her unborn child is resolute and unfailing. The mother’s concern for the child’s health and well-being begins at conception and never ceases to grow. As the time grows very close, the concern can be almost unbearable when everything is not going as expected. I still remember when she had a miscarriage and I could not even comprehend how she felt. My insensitive comments during that time quickly helped me to see the wonder of a mother's love.

Please take time to read the excerpt below that a friend (Sarah Brickman) sent me. It explains so well why God does not call us to run from His will. It will also give you a glimpse of the need in Kenya and the rest of Africa. God will be victorious. The darkness cannot stand against the light.

I hope that each of you is taking the time to pray – especially for the Kenyan Christians standing strong against the onslaught of evil.

God Bless all of you! We love you.

David, Janene and Jullianne

Sent by Sarah Brickman:

Friends, this is an excerpt from my friend’s newsletter about Kenya. He’s been a missionary in Kenya for 10 years and is home this year on furlough. What he writes I felt compelled to pass on b/c it helps get across the mindset of the people – even Christians – and how we can better pray for them.

“Kenya is in big trouble, to say the least. The area in which I live is not so bad off, although many whose houses have been burned are taking refuge there; and, because of the violence, there has been no transportation of food and supplies to the stores. “Hunger”, “blood”, “fear”, “genocide” and “death” are all very real words of the time. Speaking to my pastor one day, I stated that maybe this is the reason I am in the States at this time; his retort was, “I know it is”. As it is, I am not there helping at this time of trouble. Those in my compound and who work for me are troubled and searching for food. Please, pray that the Kenyans learn that this tribalism/racism must come to an end, and be submitted to the lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The continued responsibility of the long-term, full-time, over-seas and season-trained missionaries continues. As I continued to explain in the past several newsletters, there is a responsibility of the church to send missionaries to help change the anti-biblical culture, customs and traditions that are blended into the Christian church of our day. The present condition in Kenya is a very clear example of such. Because of their previous, pre-Christian religions, there was no belief of a heaven or hell as their ultimate reward for their life’s actions and beliefs; the dead just moved into the spiritual world and became more powerful. So their concept of God can be distorted; maybe not in a conscious manner; and this isn’t true for all. To the many, who hold onto their ancient cultures, customs, traditions and beliefs, God is both good and bad to his people; so it is alright to do whatever to justify the end result. Hence, when someone wins an election there is justification to do what Jesus doesn’t advocate, because “culture”, “customs” and “traditions” are regarded as more important than Jesus’ teachings. One result is that we have the violence in Kenya after the December 27th election. These things necessitate that entire multi-people groups repent of the old to a new mentality of the lordship of Christ, submitting their entire past to the Lord Jesus. We cannot return evil for evil and must love our enemies. What are the American “culture”, “customs” and “traditions” which stop our sensibilities to the wooing of Christ?”