What if God posted His holy status... ?

What if God were on Facebook or Google+, what would be His Holy Status?

"Almighty God enjoying daily indescribable eternal joy of Father, Son, & Holy Ghost with so many believers and the saints in heaven." 

Maybe His post would read like this:

We were so happy that several thousands more came thru the gate today.  What an incredible journey for some!  We had that big party again today as thousands more confessed the name of Jesus today, some in Mali, some in Bali, and even some in Philly!

There's trouble in so many lands and families as Satan tries again and again to thwart my plan.  Why doesn't he just give up?  Can't he realize the final victory was won at the cross n tomb?  Seems some believers are smarter than this pompous dangerous rebel!

My friends Billy, Modibo, John, Bev, and so many more are sick again.  But they keep on running the race n trusting me.  As their bodies give pain and weakness some still struggle to realize I’m in control; I am!

Quite a few of My young believers were put to test again today, some to the point of spilling their blood.  Ugh!  Their faith is a strong testimony of the choice they've made and many more see their character n believe; it is all working out.

So many churches argued again today, even on Sunday, so self-defeating.  Satan deceives so many into pride lust n greed.  I just love those that humbly get along and bear witness of My grace.

That big volcano, that terrible bombing, that devastating storm showed again the continuing powerful effects of sin, so many are deceived and miss this truth.  Yet so many show their great divinely-born-love in the midst of these crises and continue to trust me to intervene for their help and well-being.

I like that, and help comes abundantly when they just ask like so many did just today.  It was so nice just to talk n fellowship with so many simple yet wise folk today.  I never change; how could I?

I'm so glad My Holy Word is being read n broadcast more n more.  They have so many means now in spite of all the confused languages and complex rules of the daily game [culture].  It is hard indeed to get most to simply read n listen to My message, the whole thing is not too much and designed just to bring them along in My ways in all situations n tests.  Why do those who have so many copies rarely sit down with their family and friends to look it over so to teach the new ones, while those who have little means or ability devour it?  Oh Satan loves to lie about even My good book.   He did it with Jesus, we can expect he'll do it again!

Fulani shepherd and his donkey cart in the Sahel of Africa.

Jesus showed himself to so many today with the help of the Spirit.  Many were convinced, many convicted, and many were even persuaded.  How He is so tireless and so loving and inviting after His time on earth - His servant brotherhood shines through.  Alleluia!

His one great sacrifice was just what they needed.  But Satan loves to twist that too & make people believe they can work their way to My Kingdom.  This Kingdom of Heaven is so different from false ones, but Jesus' work n grace will continue to show how My plan is best & triumphant.

Tomorrow's post will be similar.  I could go into details, I know all about everyone, but I think that would overwhelm all the servers of the world combined. Just read My Good Book again.

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I am not trying to presume God's thots, here's just a simple imagination I wrote out while riding a bus across Mali and Burkina Faso recently!  Any misspellings or grammar mistakes are obviously mine.

Jimbo 

I recently read several books for a seminary class on Islam.   I will post these reviews here. 

subject: Notes on reading for CIU course ICS/MIS 6073, “Islam in the 21^st century”

with Dr. Nabeel Jabbour

date:      Tuesday, August 20, 2013

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Burge, Gary. Jesus and the Land: The New Testament Challenge to Holy Land

Theology. Baker Academic, 2010. ISBN 879-0-8010-3898-3 

BOOK Abstract 

Mr. Burge, a professor at Wheaton College, seeks to present a biblical study on the meaning of the Holy Land and to challenge some teachings that retain a territorial facet which then support ongoing problems in practical relations in the volatile Mideast.  Chronologically working through the Bible he discusses the understandings concerning the land by the prophets, the Jews of the Diaspora, Jesus himself, and careful studies of key passages in the rest of the NT, especially Paul’s teachings.  He teaches that all the Old Testament symbols have undergone a profound shift away from a literal item, including the land and the temple, and need to be reinterpreted by Jesus’ work and death on the cross. 

BOOK Comment 

1. Evaluate the book. How do you agree and disagree with the author? 

“Early Christians … would have been astonished if they came upon men and woman who promoted a Christian version of Jewish territorialism” (Burge, 71).  The author is amazed, too, that such thinking continues to this day, and I’m glad he has made the effort to study and teach on this key concept of the Bible.  He began with a quote from W Brueggemann “that the land might be the central theme of biblical faith.” (Burge, 1)  I wouldn't go that far; is not the revelation of God and the work of Jesus’ atonement for mankind really the central theme?  He also claimed on the first page that Ezekiel saw Israel “as the center of the earth” (Burge, 1).  None of the versions, however, that I consulted in several languages translate the Hebrew word thus.  At first I was hesitant to listen, but he grew on me, and I much appreciate the main arguments and especially the concept that Jesus fulfilled or reinterpreted many of the symbols of the NT in himself and in his own work of the cross, including especially the land/Jerusalem/temple set of powerful images..

2. How did this book challenge your prejudices and your assumptions? 

I don’t think I’d realized until now how pervasive is the “holy land” theology of the Zionist, both Jew and Christian, and how much it has seriously influenced politics concerning the Mideast.  In pioneering evangelism to Muslims in West Africa we have often put teaching on the return of Christ on a back burner as it is so complicated and so seemingly unnecessary for the new believer.  This book and its related CIU course have helped me understand the implications of mistakes in this crucial area, and have also helped me see the value again of these studies.  

3. What lessons can be learned from this book? 

Quite a few times in the book the concept, variously called fulfillment, reinterpretation, redefinition, reconfiguration, relocating, overturning, etc., has been advanced.  This doctrine is much beyond simply saying the prophets wonderfully spoke of Christ’s coming and death over and over.  I met this concept recently in another book by Wells and Zaspel concerning the issues of the law being reinterpreted in Christ in the NT.[1]  I think it would be good for the many Christian tourists in the Mideast to learn, for  example, that, “Hebrews writes the heavenly Jerusalem is the destination of people of faith.  …  This holy geography was accessible from any province or city.  Therefore by  relocating the true Jerusalem, Hebrews undercuts any need for literal pilgrimage to Judea.  …  In other words, in order to join the heavenly Jerusalem, something must be left  behind—the old  Jerusalem must be exited—in order to join Jesus who himself had no part in the city itself in  his death” (Burge, 98-99).  AMEN. 

4. How did this book impact your thinking, your convictions, and your life? 

Fallacies in interpretation of the Bible can easily lead to wrong thinking about many issues.  Burge would be better to say that misunderstanding land is a central fallacy of many Christians, and that this mistake contributes to serious social and political errors concerning Israel by all parties!  I would like to help Christians avoid this fallacy and the resulting errors and rather help them see the complete freeing beauty of what Jesus Christ has done for mankind in the gospel. 

END

The teacher requested these two statements, if true:
I have read the whole book from cover to cover. I did not read any of the book reviews on the internet.  My response and book review is based only on my reading of the book.

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[1] Wells, Tom & Fred Zaspel.  New Covenant Theology: Description, Definition, Defense (Frederick, MD: New Covenant Media, 2002).

Recommended book Review: Foster

       Foster, Richard, & JB Smith, ed, Devotional Classics, Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups, A Renovare Resource for Spiritual Renewal, NYC: HarperOne, 1990-2005, pb, ~500 pp, I# 978-0-06-07750-0, LC#  BV4801.D39 1993; 242--dc20. 

       Foster has 52 selections from historical and modern spirituality authors in 6 areas:  Contemplative (the Prayer-filled Life), Holiness Tradition (the Virtuous Life), Charismatic (the Spirit Empowered Life), Social Justice (the Compassionate Life),Evangelical (the Word-Centered Life), & Incarnational (the Sacramental Life). He gives a short bio of each to past them in their setting and value, some questions for reflection, and lists of resources for further reading.  See Renovare.org  on the web.  

      I found this @ G&B Bjorkman’s, July ’12, but Jenn says we have it, too, in MALI!  They graciously gave us a copy that they had used in a small group of their Elmbrook Ch. J  In the past year I've read a number of  the selections, and I have appreciated the passion and seeking after God represented in them, so far.   Foster's questions for reflection are useful.

    L I realized later that many of his selections were Roman Catholics from before & even after the Reformation [Bernard & Francis as well as Ignatius of Loyola, Fenelon, F DeSales, Thr. Avila, John of the Cross, Bro Lawrence, J-P Caussade, GK Chesterton, etc.(some outright against the evangelicals of their time!)] as well as Quakers (his denomination) [G Fox, T Kelly, I Pennington, Jn Woolman, etc.],  and some seeming liberals [Wm Temple, Eliz O’Conner, ES Jones, A Dillard, S Kierkegaard, Dag Hammarskjold, K Norris, etc.].  I’m uncomfortable studying and relying on these to help show me the path to trod in this dark world.  I’ll read them, but it would require more study and reflection than expected if I knew they were all evangelical oriented.  

It is a good resource for finding authors and digging deeper, but I see some yellow flags as well! L  I appreciate their struggles and attempts to seek & serve God; all of us face tough spiritual times, both before and after conversion, but not all solutions are the same.


Cf his Spiritual Classics, Foster and E Griffin, eds. (might be better!).

Recommended Book Review: McConnell

         McConnell, D R, A Different Gospel, A Historical & Biblical Analysis of the Modern Faith Movement, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Pub, 1998, pb 195 pp, I# 0913573-78-7, 10 chapters in 2 sections of Historical Analysis and then Biblical Analysis and a good bibliog.  

             McConnell, an insider Pentecostal writer (ORU, YWAM, BPC), seeks to show the fallacies of the popular teachings of the charismatic faith healers, revelation knowledge, identification, & the popular prosperity gospel, & he strongly critiques the modern Faith Movement of E W Kenyon (d 1948), and Kenneth Hagin (1917- ), & Kenneth Copeland, John Osteen (father of Joel), Robert Schuller, Jimmy Swaggart, & even Oral Roberts, & Pat Robertson, etc.  Classifying the movements as a new Gnosticism, dualistic, & cultic, he also exposes the corruption, plagiarism, and nepotism that such teaching inevitably leads.  Well documented.

Found at UWM-Phare, once Jose Oliveira’s, May ’12.  It was worth reading to get a better distinction of charismatics and faith healing movements and to see the weaknesses of such prevalent ‘Christianity,’ especially the Prosperity Gospel.

a church delegation visits the imams of Kayes Ndi

Yesterday, Nov 19^th, was the 2nd day of the Muslim feast memorializing Abraham's sacrifice known as Tabaski here in West Africa.  So in an effort of fraternity and witness several of us went to a number of different mosques to visit the imams in their homes.  We focused on the Kayes Ndi (small Kayes) side of the river where there is one Bambara speaking church and where I focus my visits to the Fulanis.

As a delegation of two pastors, Pierre and Joshua, and two missionaries, Siegfried and myself, and two other church members, Abel and Benjamin, we visited about ten imams and two town officials: the mayor and the village chief.  (I think this was Siegfried's third time to do such greetings, I went with him once before.)  I knew over half of them; in fact the chief is in a "grin" group where I often drink tea!  We had a great time and were warmly rec'd in every case as we made these short visits of ten to fifteen minutes. We were even giving them a large card with Arabic writing in the round like Muslims do but this time with Bible verses such as the Lord's Prayer or the Beatitudes.  I gave a small tract in Pulaar to the Fulanis, too.   

I heard today that one of the church members really liked this and thot that we should also visit all the mosques in Kayes, too!  I was also able to sort out better who was who and to make a few connections.  It was interesting that our guide, Mr. Ndiaye, was one with whom I had eaten part of the feast the day before via Mr. Diop, too, so I've made a better friend with him, too.  Another was a relative of one family I know very well, so that connection was improved, too.  Because of my work with the Mauritanian refugees several years back and the help of one Kayes Fulani, Mr. Abba Sy, I took his family name, so I'm known by many jokingly as Abba's son, his oldest son even, since Babba is a year younger.  Abba passed away a couple years ago never confessing Jesus, and I don't think he really understood the gospel much in spite of clear witness several times.  As yet we have just one Fulani believer in Kayes, and he's not from here.  Another man form Kayes was saved elsewhere a long time ago, and he's currently in seminary in Cameroon!  Two or three others are very open and close, but stepping over the fence requires a real effort here. 

I have a dream to do more research in Kayes as to what varieties of SLM we have here.  They have many denominations, too, and most of the Christians and missionaries are ignorant of these distinctions among them.  Some have told me that every mosque of Kayes is a different denomination (brotherhood)!  Most West Africans are Sufis of the Moroccan founded Tijaniyya order (and there are now many versions of this), but some are Wahabiyya, some are Quadiriyya, etc.  Such visits as we did yesterday help me in pursuing this dream.

Those met yesterday:

M. War, a Fulani near Thiam’s home, not present, only older lady who blessed us forever!
M. ___, a Fulani behind Peter’s house and friend of Abel, cheap mud house, not present
M. Sow, a young Fulani in new mosque near Nema’s RA housing; M. Dicko was there, too.
M. Souleyman BA, jom woro and member of tea ‘grin’(Oumar Diallo’en outside)
M. Ly, near Ba family but head of grand mosque of Baka Foro (pix)
M. Adama(?) Mariko, Kayes Ndi Mayor (pix), small yard and house, next to Samba Docter (sic) place.
M. Ibrahima Nimaga, past the church in Karankaran, Kadija Diop husband, and Modibo Diop was there, and a griot, too! (pix)     Nimaga is ‘politician’ of Kayes, his bro. a deputé, he selected the mayor, etc., Family from Nioro, a cattle dealer.
M. Sacko, a Soninke, mosque in Karankaran, older house on one side two stories, newer side large and roomy!
M. Sy, older Fulani who knew me as ‘bi Abba’ (!) lives near big mosque but imam of Ba’en mosque!
M. Mogobé Traoré, a Bambara, near market (son a rapper in France!)
M. Ibrahim Ndiaye, a Fulani tailor, was our guide; he lives near Woppa Diop’en;  Joba, an old lady there is also my friend.

odd notes: 
-all named Chiekna are also called Yuba after Alamamy Cheik Hamala of Nioro.
-all named Ibrahima are also called Baya!
-all named Moussa are also called Bala,
-all named Oumar can be called Baril, at least by Fulanis, etc.

-An Oumou as daughter, the brother who follows is always Modibo (works in the Modibo Diop and Vieux Mohammad’s cases!)

politics in the pulpit: NOT a good idea!

Comment to Intercessors for America (IFA) in On Watch in Washington (OWIW) concerning blog on Oct 13^th ‘Talking Politics in the Church ( ifapray.org blog: Talking Politics in the Church )

I thank Mr. Kubal for some clarification of the current reason people think pastors aren't allowed to speak politics in church.  I actually agree with that 1950s rule of Senator Lyndon Johnson, but for entirely different reasons; and I don’t think the government needs to legislate it.  The government has no need to interfere with the free operation of religious institutions; of course taxes are not the only issue; free speech is far more important.

The pulpit, however, of the Lord Jesus Christ is His pulpit; it doesn't belong to any political party.  I was taught in church and in Bible College that preachers don't expound any political view from the pulpit, and that would mean in much of his speech and writing also.  In the pulpit they are to be neutral, period.

I am quite amazed that every election year this is violated, and we see TV clips of political candidates, all stripes, standing in pulpits; to the shame of the preacher who lets them!  By allowing this the preacher has endorsed the candidate; he's telling his people how to vote!  And what is worse, many of the candidates have no intention of really preaching the gospel; they're only there to be seen in public. Most aren't even believing Christians!  How could they explain the grace of God?  Are they there to correctly divide the truth of the Bible?

Whether the current US law accepts or not for preachers to give their political view is not the real issue.  I am very happy that Mr. Witherspoon of NJ spoke out for righteousness and justice and liberty from his pulpit in Revolutionary times, and that he worked in Congress to that end.  But did he endorse candidates from that same pulpit?  Did he denounce the king from it?  Did he tell his folk how to vote?  I see that he said the cause of America to fight revolution is just, but that is not quite the same.  

Written from Kayes, Republic of MALI, by a long serving American Protestant missionary.

United World Mission: Surprising Vision

United World Mission  released a new mission statement in Oct 2010.  It delights and surprises me!  May God enable us to carry it out in each of the more than 30 countries where we work.

Mission:
Serve with Christian leaders globally to plant, nourish, and reproduce churches that delight God and
surprise the world.

Tag-line:
God-delighting, world-surprising churches everywhere.

Core Strategies:
❖Establish ministry training that equips church leaders, church planters, and cross-cultural workers to live in
authentic relationship with God and to form the church for its mission in the world.
❖Collaborate with Christian leaders to identify or establish reproducible models of church, leadership
development, and discipleship for their contexts.
❖Join with Christian leaders to mobilize the church in their nations for church planting and cross-cultural
mission.
❖Facilitate partnerships that advance outreach and church planting initiatives.
❖Integrate mercy and community development with evangelistic initiatives to reproduce churches marked by
compassion.

Core Values:
Church / Facilitation / Interdependence / Field-driven / Adaptability / Spiritual formation / Life-long learning

Anatomy of a Disease

Sat nite: I couldn’t sleep but for ten or fifteen minutes at a time having climbing fever, headaches, and upset stomach.  Jerome and Adriana Fisher has arrived on Friday afternoon and left by early bus for BKO on Monday.  We had dinner at a Kayes Ndi restaurant Sat eve and then enjoyed desert back at the Reach Across guest house catching up with Michelsons and Bridos.  No one else got sick, so we don’t accuse the restaurant.

Sun morn: I skipped church being exhausted still.  Today was to be a special day of prayer after combined service at Djiabougou.  Jenn actually only stayed part of the prayer time which was followed by The Lord’s Supper.  There was also a mis’ry BD swim/meal party for Marion Hagg at the Kamonkolé Palace which I had to skip.   Some pain started in my upper right chest; at first I thot it was muscle pain and put on some back rub, which had no effect.  I didn’t eat anything all day.  Some diarrhea and vomiting.   I started taking extra strength paracetemol, 650mg, every eight hours, all week.  Jenn bought the Chinese 3 day malaria treatment which I started on Sunday afternoon.

Terrible suffering on Sunday night: the chest pain, from bronchitis, was terrible, like a knife stab, and every breath was laborious to find a position of the head and throat that would not take in too much air that pained me.  I sat partially upright on the sofa over half the night.  I prayed much for release of the pain.  I was encouraged by Hezekiah’s payer in Is 38 later on Mon morning.

Finally Monday morning Jenn drove me over to the Clinique, the only 400 m from my door would have been too exhausting to walk, and Dr Soumaré himself saw me and soon wrote a prescription.  We bought it quickly at the new pharmacy across the street, I took it, and threw it all up, along with day two of the malaria treatment, within an hour!   Later I was able to hold down some tomato soup.   On Sun and Mon I couldn’t even read!  I barely read two chapters of devotions each day, that’s it.  No movies, either!  By Monday afternoon the pain had abated, PTL.  A number of friends came to offer prayers: Pierre, Oumar, Issa, Founeké, Kodjos, Djikiné. etc.   Oumar left Early Monday for Nouakchott for a month of learning form the Fulani church leaders over there. 

Tuesday:  oatmeal in the morning was not tolerated, nor anything else until some scrambled eggs and tomato soup in the evening.  Extremely weak and still some fever which lasts until Sat.  Weighing I discovered I had lost 4-5 kilos dropping to 80!  Just walking around the house was exhausting.

Wed: stronger, but not by much, ate a bit and kept it!   I developed a deep chest cough and was wracked by it for days, especially at night.  The cough syrup didn’t seem to do much.  On Thursday we had the Brazilians over for lunch as Vera Lucia was in town, and I surprised myself and ate well, but had a long rest afterwards.

Friday, too!  Rodney arrived Fri afternoon for his Area Director visit and I tolerated desert at the Harris’.  I was able to stay up for the entire morning for the team discussions and then the meal.  Rod moved here Sat and I was fine for evening desert social time.  I drove for the first time all week!   I was fine for the long church / prayer time on Sunday, dinner at Harris’ before Rod left, rest time, then a visit to Sandy J’s (Peter is away in BKO for two weeks).   My cough lingers, strength is up, and I seem to be back in the land of the living, alleluia!

from Jim's Journal on 18th April, 2006 -March for Jesus in Kayes!

We had a great day yesterday marching for Jesus! Well over 100 marched in the heat on Easter Monday singing and dancing and preaching from Diabougou thru Kayes Ndi. We got started about 8:30 am, crossed the bridge about 9:30, paused at the Evangelical Sahel Church around 10:30 and finished near the Deeper Life Church by noon.Our Toyota was the lead car with the speaker system and even a small generator running the whole time for power. Preachers included Josué Komaté, Djikiné, Phillipe Dembelé, Pierre Keita, Oumar Diallo, and David Sogoba. This was great for unity and as a witness to the city. Easter services were long with lots (too much) joyous singing. Mark Harris had a great message on walking with Jesus in holiness, very practical sonship.

I tried to get Idi Thiam to come to a service, but he and his sister were fighting sickness. Yesterday however, he invited Oumar & I over for dinner, so we went in spite of the tiredness after the march. While Oumar dozed I had a great Bible discussion with him concerning such issues as the Son of God and the substitutionary death of Christ. He’s getting closer!