Why are we not reaching more people with the gospel? One thought

This question has many aspects and I do not claim to have all the answers.  I have one thought, though, which I am convinced should not be overlooked as we explore the reasons.  I am convinced that one of the main issues is our unwillingness to pay the cost for reaching more souls.  Our spiritual forefathers believed the gospel could spread only with the reality that lives would be lost and blood might be shed.  Too many of us today think that this kind of commitment and sacrifice as just "a bit over the top."  When Jesus called his disciples, he always let them know that they were going to have to pay a high price.  Jesus told Paul (though Ananias) how much he would suffer for the name of Jesus for the sake of the gospel.  It appears today that we do everything we can to convince people to go out and share the gospel, without expecting them to pay the ultimate price.  Not surprisingly, then, we inspire very few and many who go think of it as a really "cool" way to spend our time, that is if they have nothing else "cooler" to do at the time.  I doubt seriously that the early disciples would have thought of their ministry and the price they paid as "cool."  It might just be that if we were to hold ourselves to same expectations of the early disciples, and call others to the same, we just might see the kind of results which they saw.   May God guide us to become faithful followers willing to pay any cost for the sake of the gospel.

So much to do, so little time

This past week we entered our last two months of our time in Beijing.  The question weighing heavy on my mind is how to leave the brothers affirmed, encouraged and empowered.  We met today after the morning assembly for lunch and a two-hour meeting.  We will continue this format every Sunday we can until we leave so that we can have the maximum time together.  Today, though the circumstances differ greatly,  I understand a little bit more what Jesus felt when he was trying to prepare the disciples for his departure.

Besides the dozen or so brothers in the Wangjing church where we have served for 7 1/2 years, there is the fledging church in Wukesong which only started last year.  How is it going to survive?  Will someone be raised up to nurture and lead that small flock?

I am comforted by the truth that Jesus is the head of the church and he loves her more than I ever could.

For wisdom we pray.

Not my will but yours be done

Jesus is certainly the greatest example on the earth of anyone that even comes close to fulfilling God's will on the earth as it is in heaven.  In preparing Sunday's lesson for the church in Belgrade and Moscow on this topic, a stark contrast between Jesus' heart and mine was revealed to me.

Jesus' mindset: "I have come to do the Father's will so that it might be better for others."
My mindset: "I want you to do my will, Father, so it will be better for me."

Forgive me, Father, for my self-centered way of thinking.  Please make me more like Jesus.

Men and the church

Just yesterday I had yet another conversation with a missionary about how to get more men involved in the leading of the church.  What a great need there is for godly men who will lead.  I am convinced more and more that many times the problem is that we are not pursuing our men.  If you look at Jesus' ministry, many wonderful and godly women were involved in his ministry.  He didn't have to go out and pursue them, but they seemingly came "naturally" when they realized who Jesus was.  The men, though, his apostles, he pursued and called.  There is something empowering for men when they have been sought out and chosen.  I used to believe that many of the declarations in the scriptures about what is commonly called "The Woman's Role" were theological.  I am increasingly convinced that this is just as much a physiological question as it is a theological one.  Men, by design, need to lead and be reaffirmed as leaders.  If we don't do a good job of that in our churches, we will have lots of wonderful sisters but very few men and, consequently, very few families.  May God help us in following Christ's example in our pursuing, calling and empowering godly men to lead God's church.

Welcome to my blog

This is my first attempt at blogging.  Surprisingly, my inspiration for this came from a believer from Montenegro whose book presentation Danita and I attended a couple of nights ago in Belgrade.  My prayer is that God will use this medium to help me (and maybe others) to clarify my thoughts on missions.  The Mission of God (Missio Dei) is something I have dedicated my life to because of the love that I have for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and gratitude for all that he has done for me.  May this blog lift Him up and be used by Him.