Update on our Brother Zhang in China
Pastor Zhang Rongliang has spent more than a fourth of his life in prison. He has been imprisoned 5 times, for a total of 19 years, over the span of his career as leader of one of China’s largest house church networks. Before his most recent arrest, in 2004, Pastor Zhang led a network estimated at 10 million believers. Yet the pastor refuses... [Read more]
Jonah, Capt. Schettino … you & me
SCENE ONE: In the midst of a killer storm, 4000 years ago Pagan sailers: “What are you doing sleeping!?! Get up and help us! We’re throwing everything overboard! We’re trying to throw out the water that’s coming into the ship! Who are you, anyway?” Jonah: “I’m a prophet. I believe in the one true... [Read more]
Storm Protection Plan
A few months ago a 13-story building in China fell over. It had been built without adequate foundation….only a few hollow concrete tubes, with no rebar reinforcement. Cost savings and speed were paramount in the construction plans. Tenants moved in and life moved on. Then they decided to build an underground garage next to the building. Excavation... [Read more]
Hidden in His Face
I’m not sure of the story behind this picture. It came to me in an email long ago. Do you see the story of Jesus’ life in this drawing of His face? And do you see in His face a connection to your life? Do you have a new appreciation... [Read more]
Being Content is Enough.
We don’t have to be enthusiastic about Life’s circumstances. We do not have to be striving for this or that. There are times in life when to practice contentment is enough. I was impressed this week with Paul’s counsel to young Timothy. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world,... [Read more]
Are you sure you are saved??
In the various specialties of science, there are tests. Things are classified according to their characteristics. Tests are run, questions are asked, and the results produce classifications. In the Scriptures, the world of mankind is divided into 2 broad categories: the saved and the unsaved….those bound for Hell and those bound for Heaven….those... [Read more]
Two weeks into 2012
Well, we’re only 14 days past the birth of the year 2012. Have you already lost the enthusiasm? Has the Mundane flowed into your hours and robbed your energy? Do the next 11 months seem like a desert, dry, lifeless, unsatisfying? Do the memories of failures in years past haunt you & steal your joy? Do the burdens weigh heavy on your heart? Then,... [Read more]
Creditor or Debtor?
In Romans 1:14-15 Paul writes: For I am debtor to all people, to the civilized and to the savage, to the educated and to the ignorant. So then, I am eager to preach the Gospel to you also who live in Rome. Wise words from a wise man, written especially to those of us who may be tempted to see ourselves as creditors instead of as debtors. At my... [Read more]
The Hope of Birth
We’ve had the birth of a new year. 2012 is a Newborn. It’s the season for hope and anticipation of good things. The opportunity for a new start is invigorating. The joy of a birth is in the expectation of the life to follow. Read that again: The joy of a birth is in the expectation of the life to follow. ... [Read more]
Christmas Flash Mob
I wonder….
I wonder…..”Mary, Did You Know?” [Originally written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene] Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new? ... [Read more]
A Love Song
Your Throne, O God, Is Forever A love song of the believer to the Savior My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore, God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty... [Read more]
The Wrath of God in the Church
In Romans 1:18-23, the Apostle Paul is writing to believers about the guaranteed wrath of God. Why would he feel it is important to discuss this wrath with folk who have been excused from wrath?? These believers had escaped God’s wrath against unrighteousness; they had escaped by the blood of Jesus Christ. So why does Paul spend 3 whole chapters... [Read more]
Ethiopia Trip Report
The 2011 Ethiopia Team was composed of 7 individuals from 2 churches here in North Carolina. Four individuals from Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church joined with three Hillions for a 16-day trip to central Ethiopia. Last Sunday, Jason Hatley and cindi Jacobs gave their report to the congregation. Such reports are biblical. When we read in the book... [Read more]
Family News, Dec, 2011
One of the highlights of this past quarter has been the active outreach by folk on the Hill. Family Ministry was launched, spearheaded by Stevie Melton. About 70 folk came out on a Sunday afternoon to serve 4 families. The work involved mostly outside winter-izing stuff like racking leaves, cleaning out gutters, cutting away dead trees, repairing... [Read more]
Zechariah & Mary
Lately I’ve been reading a book called “Life of Christ in Stereo” by Johnston Cheney. It’s the life of Christ that reads like a novel. Cheney has taken all of the gospels and molded them into one account…a sort of comprehensive biography of Jesus Christ. Anyway, as I was reading the first part something struck me. There... [Read more]
“Bait is worthless without a Fisherman”
This is such a simple statement, yet how often have we used the “bait” of humanitarian work without a fisherman to reel in the catch? There are different kinds of bait. And a good fisherman will use the bait that suits the fish he wants to catch. In the area of catching “fish” for the Kingdom, we must tailor our bait to our... [Read more]
How do you Know….?
….you are going? When Jesus said “go”, what did He mean? So often we limit our thinking on this to mean only the actual physical process of moving from one place to another place. But let me suggest to you different ways of going, as I see them demonstrated in Scripture. We use these ways in other aspects of life….why not... [Read more]
How do you Know…..?
….that you are obeying His commands, if you place restrictions on the command? You don’t. You can’t. This week I was talking with someone about the joy of the Team in Ethiopia. God has blessed them and their ministries beyond imagination. My report fell on deaf ears and a cold heart. “But people here need the Gospel. We need... [Read more]
God’s Idea of Black Friday
The day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday. It is the largest shopping day in the marketplace of the USA. This day is characterized by stores competing with stores for the shopping dollars. “70% off!” “80% off!” “98% off!” Each stores knows that their economic future rests in the amount of shopping dollars... [Read more]