Consider the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt.  God’s people coming out of Egypt had more to do with deliverance from bondage.  The draws us into a bigger picture of transforming slaves into a nation, a people with whom His glory rests so that all nations through them will be blessed.

The same is true of the disciples (and you) as Jesus calls them to follow.  He does not call them to a particular destination but into a journey with Him and a similar agenda as the children of Israel upon leaving Egypt.

So, what does this journey look like on you?

In the mean time, thanks for joining us.  We are grateful for your participation.

Because He Is Near,

President

On the days you are tempted to exchange mystery for certainty and wonder for dogma, Paul reminds us of a bigger picture.  We carry the wonder of God around in earthen vessels.  And while we may groan under the strain of being knocked down and battered by troubles, God is still up to something good within us.  My experience of the situation may say otherwise but there is a deeper reality at work… not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.

I can’t often see it and I sin by doubting its reality.  That’s why I need community-to help me see God at work… in me.  And I suspect you do too.

May God grant us the eyes and ears of faithful friends who join us in this wonderful journey of faith.

Because He Is Near,

President

I want to thank you, on behalf of the entire Ministry Essentials family, for your continued and faithful support.  You encourage and strengthen us for the task at hand.  Your belief in us and friendship challenges us when loneliness sets in with a vengeance.  And your pursuit of God inspires a deeper love of Him in us.

We taste His goodness in you over and over.  And we are grateful.

Because He Is Near,

We were privileged to have Dr. Larry Crabb pour into us during our recent all staff retreat.  Our discussions revolved around relational holiness; i.e. In our desire to become more like Jesus we repent of known sin and seek to live in the Spirit (personal holiness) – that’s good.  Relational holiness ups the ante by looking at our “in Christ-ness” through the eyes of those around us.

I don’t know about you, but that scares me a bit.  Thinking I’m doing well because I have a quiet time and truly attempt to confess known sin, I must still ask my wife and friends how I may be blind to sin toward them.  Tempted to congratulate myself for my personal holiness (in a humble sort of way), the way I relate to others may well tell the real story of my holiness.  In other words, I’m in danger of self-deception (see Heb. 3:13).

So, if I can deceive myself, I really do need my wife, friends and you to help me see where I fall short of God’s glory.  And now we are faced with a far deeper question…  But that’s for a different discussion.  In the mean time, I pray for you as well as myself as we engage the process of becoming holy… relationally.

Thank you for joining us in this journey.

Because He Is Near,

Preparing for a few speaking engagements, I’ve been thinking through the “come to me” passages in the Gospels.  The three categories of people Jesus invites to come are–the children (needy) (Mt. 18:3, 19:14; Mk. 10:14; Lk. 18:16) the thirsty (Jn. 7:37) and the weary (Mt. 11:28).

Each, though unique, flesh out more of God’s New Covenant with man first mentioned in Jeremiah and Ezekiel.  Each also stands in contrast to a way of life that does not need God.  The child (or needy) stands in contrast to the wise – those who think they have life figured out.  The thirsty stands in contrast to those running to muddy water (see Jer. 2:13) for satisfaction.  And the weary stand in contrast to the religious who think they can do what it takes to please God.

To the needy, Jesus says, I will meet you in your emptiness.  To the thirsty, Jesus says, I will be in you an over flowing fountain of living water.  To the weary, Jesus says, I will give you rest – the pressure is off.

As a way of saying thank you for your prayer and support, I invite you to come to Jesus and find what your soul really only needs…

Because He Is Near,

]]> http://meintl.org/general/june-2010/feed/ 0 http://meintl.org/general/may-2010/ http://meintl.org/general/may-2010/#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 22:21:55 +0000 Ministry Essentials http://meintl.org/?p=687 May 2010

“Our hope of  satisfaction later in an eternal experience of God is a more reliable foundation for following Jesus in this life than a satisfying experience of God now.”

Larry Crabb, Real Church

I know I pray it often enough.  We want to see Jesus.  And we should want to.  But too often that prayer leads us to believe we should see Him.  And when we don’t, something must be missing from our spiritual life; something that must be fixed.  So we read another book, go to another seminar or maybe even change churches, just to relieve a poorly defined ache within.

What would it be like for us to embrace the ache as an indication that not only do we want more of Jesus (a good thing), but that possibly the ache itself is what spiritually forms us?  Could it be that some of what we experience as soul pain can be “transformed by the Spirit into a desperately compelling hunger for God that will keep us seeking Him with all our heart for the rest of our lives”?

“We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Rms. 5:3-4)

May you discover joy in troubles, a spiritual stamina your never thought you had, a deeper character than you ever thought possible and a fuller hope that He truly is up to something good… in you.

Because He Is Near,

President

NOTE:  This is the month we begin gearing up for our staff training early next month.  The Lord has graciously provided much of the cost for this event as well as bringing Dr. Larry Crabb to provide the training.  Please be in prayer regarding our final preparation both in the details and final fund raising for it.

Jean Vanier

“To wait for the Lord is not to stand around lazily, wondering what will turn up next.  It is an intense seeking after God and a devout believing in his goodness.  He is worth waiting for!

Eugene Peterson

Sailors call it the ‘doldrums’ when they lack sufficient wind to fill the sails.  No wind, no movement.  Now what do we do?   According to my Dad, who was in the navy, we clean the decks, scrape barnacles, repair nets and sails and paint. NOTE:  He’s not as old as I’m implying but even in the Korean war, they still scraped, painted and repaired.

This applies to our life in Christ.  Whether in some kind of transition or just ‘in between’, that is not a time to be idle.  Rather, we engage the process of knowing Him more intimately.  While He may not apparently be saying much, that does not preclude seeking Him, learning to listen and trusting His character.

Many of us with Ministry Essentials are seeking further funding either to get to the field or even remain on the field.  We are waiting on God by spending time with Him, telling others of the need and trusting the Lord will bring in the funding in good time.  Right now, that is our reasonable service of worship.

Thank you for joining us in the journey.

Because He Is Near,

President

NOTE:  This month, much like the last, sees the Stirling’s and Gibson’s hosting folks for mentoring and soul care.  They will also be representing Ministry Essentials at this year’s Member Care Conference in Spain.  The Hall’s continue building their discipleship groups and the Moore’s continue teaching and providing soul care for their congregation in Wavre.  Lu is settling into her life in Thailand while Wendy transitions to the states for some additional fund development before heading back to Bosnia.  The Blackwell’s and Diana are seeing encouraging responses to their deputation and we hope to see them settled into their lives overseas soon.  The Shepherd’s just returned from offering a spiritual retreat to a team from China and continue their fund development calls in order to remain on the field.

Thanks for praying and for your kind support.

Larry Crabb

For some time now I’ve felt that I’m not the lead character of my own story.  My formation in Christ is really about Christ being formed in me.  My spiritual growth is best reflected in looking more and more like Him.  When I act in a godly manner, it’s because of His story getting worked out within me and through me.  I’m just a conduit.

Yet, the curious thing about all this is that I never cease to be me in the process.  Through His transforming presence, I still have a dry sense of humor – it’s just getting cleaner.  I still enjoy adventure movies, reading, exercise and time with my family.  I’m still an introvert.  I am still ‘me’ but in reality I am becoming the real me He always intended.

And so it is with everyone ‘in Christ’.  Our story, if properly (can I say, Biblically?) understood is really about Him; His salvation, His grace, His love worked out within each of us.  Thank you for giving us a glimpse of Him.

Because He Is Near,

President

NOTE:  Lu Hawley begins her ‘new life’ in Chiang Mai, Thailand this month while Wendy finalizes her move from Chiang Mai back to Sarajevo, Bosnia (Wendy and Diana plan to move into Bosnia sometime early fall).  The Stirling’s and Gibson’s are keeping busy with many out of town guests asking for soul care as well as their regular meetings with folks in town.  The Hall’s, as well, continue to share the gospel with all they meet forming new believers into discipleship and Bible study groups.  The Moore’s have been assisting at a Willow Creek conference in Germany and are gearing up for a new year.  The Blackwells‘ are in full swing with their fund development (as is Diana) in hopes of arriving in Chiang Mai before school starts this fall.  The Shepherd’s have had to set aside some ministry opportunities until their support strengthens.