Work or Starve

I hope that you are liking the material from Orisen Swett Marden. He is a wealth of good advice and common sense. I have rarely found character so presented. Buckle up! More to come.

“Work or starve, is nature’s motto, and it is written on the stars and the sod alike. Starve mentally, starve morally, starve physically. It is an inexorable law of nature that whatever is not used, dies. Nothing for nothing, is her maxim. If we are idle and shiftless by choice, we shall be nerveless and powerless by necessity.”

“We are the sum of our endeavors. Our reward is the race we run, not the prize.”

O.S.M Pushing to the Front – the world makes way for the diligent man.

Money and Character

These are quotes from Orisen Swett Marden’s book “Pushing to the Front” regarding money and character.

“There is a burden of care in getting riches. Fear in keeping them, temptation in using them, guilt in abusing them. Sorrow in losing them, and a burden of account at least to be given up concerning them.” Matthew Henry

He is the richest man who enriches his country most in whom the people feel richest and proudest; who lives himself with his money; who opens the doors of opportunity widest to those about him; who is ears to the deaf, eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. Such man makes every acre of land in his community worth more , and makes richer every man who lives near him. On the other hand, many a millionaire has impoverished the town in which he lived, and lessened the value of every foot of land.

Do you call him a slef-made man who has unmade others to make himself, who tears others down to build himself up? Can a man be really rich who makes others poorer? Can he be happy in hose every lineament choric avarice is seen as plainly as hunger in the countenance of a wolf? How seldom sweet, serene, beautiful faces are seen on men who have been very successful as the world rates success! Nature expresses in the face and manner the sentiment which rules the heart.

Wealth is demoralizing when obtained at the sacrifice of character. The more money a man oar nation ahs, the more moral strength is needed to protect form its demoralizing influence.

Response and Reaction

This is key to understanding why we say and do what we say and do. This is at the heart of all of our human, personal realtionships. This is the Bible basic of carnal or spiritual reacting and responding.

Stimulus and response – Why we say and do, what we say and do. In the medical world, the doctors attempt to diagnose a problem through testing. They are looking for a response or a reaction to different medications. If they say the patient is responding, that means that his action that is brought on by their action is favorable. If he is having a reaction to their action, then the doctors do not administer any more of that type medication or testing because the response is not favorable.

Reaction is rejection: Protesting the action of the other and being contentious.
Response is positive action: Using the action of another to multiply our action.

1. Identifying the reacting man, and the responding man:

a. Carnal (reacting): The physical the emotional and the sensual. If you sometimes feel like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, its because you are: 2 Corinthians 4:16
1. The outward man is perishing but fights death daily. He seeks to preserve himself and stay intact. He will not be bothered, hindered or interrupted:
2. The inward man is renewed day by day by the power of the Holy Spirit.
b. Spiritual (responding): Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
i. A spiritual man and a carnal man are at work within you.
ii. A spiritual law and a carnal law are also at work on you. Romans 8:1-4
c. The carnal and spiritual responses contrasted.
i. Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:27-36:
1. Loving thy neighbor and hating thy enemy are the universal laws of the carnal man. I will love those who can do something for me or are nice to me, and will try to destroy my enemies: These are the natural reactions:
2. The natural spiritual responses are:
a. Love your enemies.
b. Bless those that curse you.
c. Do good to those that hate you.
d. Pray for them that despitefully use you.
e. In doing this we prove that we are God’s children, for sinners and common unsaved men obey the natural reactions. We are given the power to obey the spiritual responses.
f.
Can you identify the difference in your life between natural reactions (carnal) and spiritual responses (godliness).

2. Reactions are a spiritual diagnosis – Can you face what you are?
a. Root Problems. The root causes of problems are: I John 2:16
i. Lust is an eagerness or an intense desire. It is an over-mastering desire or craving.
b. Note the root character problems in the three lusts described in the Bible:
i. Lust of the eyes: Greed (manifest as Jealousy, Insecurity, discontentment) When we covet something someone else has we will react to it in a negative way. We diminish its value if we don’t or cannot have it.
ii. Lust of the flesh: Moral Impurity (manifest as guilt or fear, lust and passions or pride)
iii. Pride of life: Bitterness (Frustration or anger)
c. Our reactions are the diagnosis of the sin in our lives. We must understand that sins are the manifestation of these things in our life.
d. The Danger of reacting and how it hurts your family.
i. Achan reacted to the riches of Jericho and jeopardized his entire family.
1. Joshua 7:21-26:
ii. Elimelech reacted to the famine and went to Moab. He and his two sons died there leaving his wife and two daughters alone in a strange land.
1. Ruth 1:1-4:

Think of the things that set you off and the frequency in which you face them. This is an indication of their affect on you.

3. Response Conditioning – Taking Control
a. Have the right understanding of circumstances in your life.
i. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
1. Understand that the way God will work these areas out in your life is through testing.
2. The cure always contains the virus.
3. We must face these things to overcome them.

b. Since reactions happen swiftly while responses take time, practice James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”
i. Master the silent response:
ii. Take notice of your reaction and understand it is diagnosing you.
iii. Peter was the master of the absolute reaction:
1. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.”
2. Matthew 26:31-34: Peter’s absolute statements
3. John 13:8 “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”
4. Peter would have been better off not to say anything at all.

c. Learn the right way to think of yourself:
i. Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

d. Transform you mind with truth:
i. Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

e. Forgive Offenders:
i. Matthew 10:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

 Can you identify the difference in your life between natural reactions (carnal) and spiritual responses (godliness).

 Think of the things that set you off and the frequency in which you face them. This is an indication of their affect on you.

 Commit to identify these things with your accountability partner and to begin steps to take control.

James 3:5 “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”

Called to Stay Home

This quote came out on the World Evangelism Quote of the Day

“It will not do to say that you have no special call to go to China. With these facts before you and with the command of the Lord Jesus to go and preach the Gospel to every creature, you need rather to ascertain whether you have a special call to stay at home.”- James Hudson Taylor (Missionary to China and founder of the China Inland Mission, now called Overseas Missionary Fellowship – OMF)

It testifies to the fact that just as there are no goers by default there are no senders by default. This idea that the goers are those with a prayer card and a country and that the senders are just everyone else is silly. Each person’s position in world evangelism is designed and designated by God. Its as much a decision to stay home as it is to go. Sometimes a more difficult decision to stay home. Sending has to rise to the level of going and going needs to rise to the level of sending. Nothing happens without monumental effort on either side.

Can you answer this question. In what situation can you do the most to get the gospel to the world? In what role can you excel past the majority of the pack? That is probably your calling.

Strike Doesn’t Stop Construction

If you have been reading about the strike in Arequipa Peru, you may have thought that everything in the city has come to a halt. I was discussing this with Julio Soncco today and he said that the construction at the Bible College has proceeded even more rapidly since the strike began. He said they would be buying steel and concrete at midnight tonight and hauling it out to the Bible College in the dark if necessary. Julio says “Hemos tenido paro ya casi una semana y la construccion no ha parado ni un dia.” Translated, We have had “paro” (strike or halt) for almost a week and the construction has not stopped one day.

Potatoes and rice may not be moving but the bricks and mortar are. God is good. No weapon formed against Him can prosper.

Honorary Member of the Family

We were introduced to him as “uncle Sam” the uncle of two young ladies that are members at Vision Baptist church. A real gentleman and one of those people with a perpetual and infectious smile. Back in April, we received a letter in the mail inviting us to their family reunion. In its third year, this particular family reunion has spanned the US and we were fortunate enough to be 10 minutes from uncle Sam’s house and new friends. Sandy and I could not have been made more welcome. We are now honorary members of the family. Next year’s location has been set and I have already shamelessly invited myself. I would tell you where, but that is a family secret.

We were blessed with a visit from several family members at church tonight. What a great family.

Heading Home

Well the Davids and heading home. I know that Keith is sad to see them go. They had 380 turn out for VBS today and one made a decision to accept Christ. This is what its all about. This is a picture of the work in Roungo on the building. There will be another $40,000.00 required to finish stage one of the construction. David will have his work cut out for him, but will also have a constant remembrance of his visit.

As for David Velke, I reviewed the prospects list and I must say that the field is ripe. (David you must read this blog to keep us up to date)

Inspired

vbs-john.jpg
Inspired by David and all his construction and VBS work this week, i took my saw in hand and with actual witnesses began to build part of the theatre for Vacation Bible School this week. This is not delegation. It is a real privilege to be involved in vacation Bible school. It is crucial to reach young people and VBS is one of the best ways to do so. Believe it or not, after David gets back this week, he will start right in on the final preparations for VBS at Vision next week. Pray for David and Anne and their family. You can also check out the picture by clicking the vbs-john.jpg at the top.

This post will shock those who think I am serious all the time.

VBS Goes to West Africa

I just heard from Anne Lundy. David will be leading a Vacation Bible School with missionary Keith Shumaker in Burkina Faso on Wednesday and Thursday. They expect around 300. It will probably look something like this. Be praying for them.

His Business is Missions

David Lundy has been working with me in BCWE since we started the ministry three years ago. He is a professional commercial builder and has constructed millions of feet of interiors for all types of projects. He is a dedicated Christian, husband, father and businessman, and my friend. This picture captures the missionary spirit that motivates him to travel to Burkina Faso. In the list of things we say we produce in our churches, you can expect to find pastors, missionaries and preachers, but I will have you adding something to that list if you will keep up with this blog. How about, missionaries, pastors, preachers and businessmen. Sit down and talk with Keith Shumaker after this week and ask him what he thinks of businessmen in missions. I have watched as David and Keith and their families have molded a freindship that makes them true partners, yokefellows in ministry.

Hit the field, every day, with your profession.