Father, Give Me Bread

During a special afternoon service yesterday at the church I attend, we watched a recent episode of Dispatches from the Front, a ministry of Frontline Missions International (more information on those ministries here and here). This episode, entitled Father, Give Me Bread, focuses on an area known as the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia and the new country of South Sudan), a war-torn and famine-plagued part of the world long caught in the clutches of Islam. The Gospel message is spreading quickly in these countries and God is using believers to care for orphans and others who are in need (praise the Lord!).

Here are some of the highlights from Father, Give Me Bread. 

While the light of the Gospel is illuminating the lives of many in Ethiopia and South Sudan, there is an enormous shortage of Bibles in the native languages of the peoples who live in this part of the world. Most of the churches highlighted in this episode have only 1-2 Bibles for the entire congregation.

The Oromo are the largest group of people living in Ethiopia. Michael Alemu, a native pastor, tells us more about their need for copies of the Scriptures in their language and what we can do to help.

Half of the 70 million people living in Ethiopia are children and adolescents; roughly 5 million of those are orphans. Mr. Alemu heads up Abebech Gobena Orphanage and School, a ministry and education center for street children and orphans, many of whom are affected by AIDS (find out more here). I was deeply touched and inspired to see Mr. Alemu's evident love for the Lord being manifested in his tender compassion for these children in Father, Give Me Bread. Hundreds of children are having their physical and spiritual needs met through the ministry of this orphanage/school. What an incredible work the Lord is doing through Mr. Alemu and the other believers who are serving in Abebech Gobena!

As I mentioned before, the majority of churches in Ethiopia have only 1-2 Bibles per congregation. The enormous outpouring of joy and gratitude these churches showed when Tim Keesee and his team handed out copies of the Scriptures in their own language was extremely moving and rebuking at the same time. These believers have very little. Most of them are without what Western culture would consider "basic necessities," yet they are so full of joy, contentment and genuine reverence for God and His Word.

After an honest look at myself, I have to admit that I don't get as excited over God's Word as those precious Oromo brothers and sisters in Christ. Quite to the contrary, I'm ashamed to say. God has given me so much, including several copies of the Bible in a few different translations in my own language, and I take it all for granted much more often than I'd like to admit. I've become sluggish and lazy in both my physical and spiritual life. I don't view the Scriptures, the precious words of God, with as much reverence or respect as I should. Watching Father, Me Bread gave me the wake-up call I needed.

I want the faith and contentment of my spiritual brothers in sisters in Ethiopia. I want to share their level of excitement over the Word of God. I want to see more of them with a copy of the Scriptures in their language, and I want to help make that happen in any way I can.

Would you join me in praying for Mr. Alemu as he ministers to the street children and orphans through Abebech Gobena, and for the Oromo people in their need for Bibles?

“God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.”

Hudson Taylor

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Themes from Lamentations

The book of Lamentations describes the results of Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem (c. 587 B.C.). It is composed of five interconnected poems which describe a shift from horrible loss and personal shame to restored hope and prayer for God's renewing power.

The central passage in this book is 3:19-26.

Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 

This passage affirms that belief in God's mercy and faithfulness is the key to a restored relationship with God. This is true even for those who deserve (and have perhaps already received) God's judgment. Hope is the byword in Lamentations.

Lamentations seems to have been written to be prayed aloud or sung in worship services in a spirit of repentance, asking God's forgiveness, and seeking restoration with Him.

Sadly, Lamentations is an often-neglected book. It presents several key concepts in a creative way during an important time in Israel's history.

These concepts are still applicable today. They include, but are not limited to:


1. It offers beautiful prayers that confess sin, express renewed hope, and declare total dependence on God's grace.

2. It is the only book of the Bible written by someone who endured a manifestation of "the day of the LORD" (see Joel 2:1-2; Amos 5:18; Zephaniah 1:14-16). This "day" is the day God comes to judge sin. It can occur in historical contexts, such as the fall of Jerusalem, or it can occur at the end of time (the final "day of the LORD"). Regardless, such "days" do occur, and warnings in the Bible about such days need to be taken seriously.

3. The book's authorship, setting, contents, and theology underline its value for understanding the nature of pain, sin, and redemption.

4. It affirms that Jerusalem fell
      a. because of the people's sins (1:18)
      b. because they rejected God's word sent through the prophets (2:8; 14, 17)
      c. because their leaders led them astray (4:13)
      d. because they did not heed God's warning (2:17).

5. It affirms God's faithful, unending mercy. God is not finished with His people, even when they sin greatly.

6. It affirms that prayers of confession, repentance, and petition are the means for restoring a broken relationship with God. Their honest expressions of pain and their dismay over what God has allowed to happen coincide with the prayers found in the Psalms. They also share the Psalms' emphasis on God's sovereignty as King of creation (Psalm 103:19).

Do you have any thoughts or additional themes from Lamentations that you would like to add? Don't hesitate to leave a comment!

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Lessons from Isaiah

I recently did a study of the book of Isaiah. (Yes, I know it's Old Testament Prophecy. Yes, I know it's 66 chapters long. No, it wasn't boring in the least. :) ) I was pleasantly surprised and humbled to find that my skepticism about the modern-day relevance of this book was completely misguided.

Below is a list of some of the truths I learned and/or was reminded of through my study of Isaiah.


1. God is offended by religious ritual, however impressive, if it conceals an empty heart and a careless life (1:10-17; 58:1-12; 66:1-4).

2. God despises all manifestations of human pride (2:10-17; 10:33-34; 13:11; 16:6; 23:9; 28:1-4).

3. The idols that man creates are destined for destruction (2:20-21; 19:1; 31:6-7; 44:9-20; 46:1-7).

4. Though God's judgment will reduce His people to a remnant, His final purpose is the joyful triumph of His grace (1:9; 6:1-12; 35:1-10; 40:1-2; 49:13-16; 51:3; 54:7-8; 55:12-13).

5. God is able to judge people by rendering them deaf and blind to His word (6:9-10; 28:11-13; 29:9-14; 42:18-25).

6. The world's only hope is bound up in one man - the promised Davidic king, the servant of the Lord, the anointed preacher of the Gospel, and the lone victor over evil (4:2; 7:14; 9:2-7; 11:1-10; 42:1-9; 49:1-13; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12; 63:1-6).

7. God is actively using creation and history, even the wrongdoings of man, for His own glory (10:5-19; 13:1-27:13; 36:1-39:8; 40:12-26; 44:24-45:13).

8. With a great and holy God ruling all things, man's duty is a repentant trust in Him alone (7:9; 10:20; 12:2; 26:3-4; 28:12, 16; 30:15-18; 31:1; 32:17-18; 36:1-37:38; 40:31; 42:17; 50:10; 55:1-7; 57:13, 15; 66:2).

9. When God's people feel abandoned by God, they often (foolishly) put their trust in worldly powers (7:1-8:22; 28:14-22; 30:1-17; 31:1-3; 39:1-8; 40:27; 49:14; 51:12-13).

10. God will uphold His own cause with a world-transforming display of His glory (4:2-6; 11:10; 35:1-12; 40:3-5; 52:10; 59:19; 60:1-3; 66:18).

11. God uses predictive prophecy to prove that His hand is guiding human history (41:1-4, 21-29; 44:6-8; 44:24-45:13; 46:8-11; 48:3-11).

12. The wrath of God is to be feared above all else (5:25; 9:12, 17, 19, 21; 10:4-6; 13:9, 13; 30:27; 34:2; 59:18; 63:1-6; 66:15-16, 24).


Do you have any thoughts to add to this? Don't be shy!

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Spiritual Warfare

Exactly 68 years ago, in the early hours of the morning, the Allied Invasion of Normandy ("D-Day") began. The operation was the largest amphibious invasion in world history.

Over 160,000 land troops were involved in this operation: 73,000 American troops, 61,715 British and 21,400 Canadian. 195,700 allied naval and merchant navy personell in over 5,000 ships were involved as well.

 "You will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely....The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking." - General Dwight D. Eisenhower giving the D-Day order on June 6, 1944.
 

As you can see, this was a massive undertaking! 

The landings took place along a 50-mile stretch of the Normany coast. This landing site was divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. The Americans' orders were to take Utah and Omaha beaches while the British were to take Gold and Sword, leaving the Canadians to take Juno Beach.

D-Day was the beginning of the end for not only the German Armed Forces, but Hitler most of all.

In the same way, Satan is constantly plotting to invade and attack the souls of Christians. The Apostle Peter warns us to "[b]e sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" {I Peter 5:8}

 I don't know about you, but the thought of a hungry lion coming after me with the intent to kill is pretty terrifying to me!

How are we to defend ourselves from Satan's bombardments? The Apostle Paul answers that question for us in Ephesians 6:

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" {Ephesians 6:10-17}

Paul uses the picture of a suit of armor to represent the most important doctrines of Christianity.

First, he stresses the necessity of putting on the entire suit of armor. If a knight failed to put on his entire suit of armor, he would leave himself exposed to the weapons of the enemy, resulting in severe injury or death.

The belt of truth ("loins girt about with truth"): The belt joins the suit of armor together and prevents it from sliding off the wearer's body. Truth, in the same way, is the central doctrine that links all the other elements of Christianity.

The footwear of peace ("feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace"): Footwear protects the feet from anything that would hinder the wearer's movement. Peace, then, is the "footwear" that enables the Christian to share the Gospel with those who have not heard the name of Christ.

The shield of faith: Knights used the shield to stop enemy weapons from hitting their target. Faith is the shield the Christian uses to "quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Without faith, the Christian has very little defense against the Devil's onslaughts.

The helmet of salvation: The helmet protects the most vital part of the body: the head, which houses the brain. If the head is damaged, the brain cannot work properly, and the whole body suffers. In the same way, then, salvation is the most essential part of the Christian life. Without it, Satan can eat us for breakfast!

The sword of the Spirit: The sword was the knight's main weapon in combat. The Word of God, the Bible, is the Christian's weapon against the Devil's attacks. Without the Sword, we are merely defensive.

We are in a war, my friends. Let's put on the whole armor of God so that we may be effective soldiers in Christ's army!

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Bible Reading... What Do You Do?

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
{Psalm 119:105}

Christians know the importance of spending time in God's Word on a daily basis. Scores of verses within the pages of the Bible reinforce this vital part of a Christian's relationship with God. Countless men of God have preached countless sermons on this topic. But...how does one go about reading the Bible, exactly? 

I have heard many different "plans" and "schedules" for reading the Bible during personal time alone with God. These include, but are not limited to: reading through the Bible in a year, reading through the Bible in 6 months, reading through the Bible in 3 months, reading through the Bible chronologically, reading one book of the Bible every day for a month, and reading through the Bible by topic, to name a few.

With all these different methods for reading the Bible, how you know which one is the "right" one? 

I do not believe there is one "right" method for reading the Bible. God made us all unique, with unique rates of reading and absorbing information. You might want to try several different plans over a period of time to see which one(s) compliment your unique, God-given abilities. For several years I used a plan to read through the Bible in a year. Starting on January 1st of this year, I decided to challenge myself a bit more and started a 6-month plan for reading through the entire Bible, which (Lordwilling) I will finish at the end of June. I have enjoyed using both of these methods, and hope to try others to enhance my study of the Word.

Whatever plan/method you use, the result is the same: you are drinking in the precious words of our amazing God, and that is truly an awesome gift! 

Please leave a comment below with a response to these questions: What plans and/or methods have you used in your personal study? Which ones did you like and why? 

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