“Do you love Me?”

I have heard it said that we take on the characteristics of those we associate (friends) within two years.  Fulton Sheen, in his book, LIFE IS WORTH LIVING, states it a more profoundly: “We become like that which we love.”

If Christ asked me like he did Peter, “Do you love me?” How would I answer?  Even if I responded in the affirmative, would my life confirm this answer or would it indicate betrayal. I must be honest and confess that my life has not radiate God’s love all the time.  How often I have put myself before Him.  Could I put my life on the line and refuse to deny Him.

Recently, a friend who works in Pakistan, told of a couple who refused to deny Him.  The husband was beaten to death by the local police.  The wife was gang raped in front of the children before being killed.  The rich Muslim man who ordered the deaths was not brought to justice.  Again the question arises, “How deep is my love?”

It is easy to stand around pointing our figures at others, proclaiming how shallow the Christians in America have become. Have they lost their first love?  Was Jesus ever their first love?  But this is not about others.  He is asking us individually, “Do you love me?”  The answer to this question is the beginning and end to our life and ministry.

“For my people have done two evil things: They have forsaken me — the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!”  Jeremiah 2:13

It is so easy to be consumed with meaningless things, they take our time and our life yet do not prepare us to answer Christ’s question: “Do you love Me?”

On his eightieth birthday someone asked Karl Barth what he had learned over all those years of theological study. His answer, “Jesus loves me this I know.” I find it interesting that we can understand and know that Jesus loves us without ever loving Him.”

Ken

Published September 3, 2010 – 8:30 am Categories: Christian | Post a comment

TO WALK WHERE JESUS WALKS

The past six or seven months I have been communicating with a man who is homeless. He did web design but suddenly circumstances left him without the means to pay his rent.  Even though he often sleeps where he can, it has been a gift from God. He has learned to trust God for all that he has.  In this materialistic world of ours we so concern ourselves with money – that false security we too often hang on to.  Carlos, has also learned to share what he has.  This includes sharing Christ’s love.

This pushes the question: What is ministry?  Definitions have been established on paper and words yet each person must define this for himself or herself.  There are organizational systems which may or may not fulfill a person’s calling and purpose.  While it may be challenging to think we are influencing many, ministry begins and ends with the love we have and express for others.

Christ so simply stated that we are to love God and love others.  Why then do we muddle his command and challenge?  How often I have seen God answer prayers.  It is this very act of stepping aside and calling upon Him to act that others experience love.  So simple and so easy yet we selfishly covet our time and energy. I have also learned that to love costs.  God designed it this way for a purpose.

There is an expression “to walk where Jesus walked.”  Our desire and goal is to “walk where Jesus walks” (present tense).  This is our goal.  We are planning to go throughout the world, being lead by the Spirit, to simply pray and share Christ’s love.  If I could be anonymous I would.

Jesus said: (Acts 26:18)  “I’m sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I’m sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.”

The name for my new blog is CHRIST’S COMPANY.

May your life be filled to over flowing with God’s Spirit and enable you to an expression of Christ’s love.

Ken

Published August 31, 2010 – 1:07 pm Categories: Christian, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Missions, evangelism, intercessory missionary, intercessory prayer, prayer, travel | Post a comment

SEEING IS BELIEVING OR IS IT?

“What is faith?  It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen.  It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see …By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” Hebrews 11:1,3

How often do we have to be reminded and learn what faith is?  Last night I walked out onto our deck just as a shooting star appeared.  I looked up into the heavens.  How vast, large, and totally incomprehensible to my finite mind.  ”By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we see did not come from anything that can be seen.”  Why then do we lack the confidence to believe that we hope for is NOT going to happen?

However large the mountain standing before you, have the “confident assurance” that He will move it or give you the strength to climb over.  You may shake your head, yet out of what is seemingly impossible (things we can not imagine or see) He makes a way.

Just a little reminder.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, Humanly speaking, it is impossible.  But with God everything is possible.”

Matthew 19:26

Published August 4, 2010 – 10:13 pm Categories: Christian, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Missions, evangelism, intercessory missionary, intercessory prayer, prayer | Post a comment

SOUL WINNERS – WALA ABOLOO (Ghana)

Soul Winners – Wala Aboloo  (Ghana)

Published July 22, 2010 – 9:02 am Categories: Christian, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Missions, evangelism, intercessory prayer, prayer, world | Post a comment

TO OPEN THEIR EYES

“We all are skeptical of Christians with big dreams.  We don’t now why exactly – perhaps we have met too many who pursued visions but whose personal lives were nightmares.”[1]

A Scripture verse  from Acts 26:18.  “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” I like the contemporary way in which the Message states it.  I’m sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I’m sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.’

Wow!  If ever a verse summed up the tug that has been on my heart for years, this is it.  As I stand before God, I cannot help but wonder.  What is a 67 year old man who has had three heart attacks, quadruple bypass surgery, a wife whose has had neurosurgery, no car, and a condominium which has been on the market over four years, plus no money to speak of, going to do.

I cannot help but think of Abraham and Sarah.  Go ahead and ask a ninety something woman what she would think about having a child at her age.

Our God does not shrink from the impossible.  It is out of our weaknesses that He is glorified.

For the skeptics I have written my dream:

  1. As a child I have heard God’s voice say I would be one of the greatest soul winners the world has ever known;
  2. A pressing desire not to be known so His name is exalted;
  3. To travel the world going where the Holy Spirit leads;
  4. Praying and encouraging those whose hearts are prepared by the Holy Spirit;
  5. And, to report what God is doing in the world.

God has given me a spirit of boldness.  Fortunately he also gave me a wife who has a spirit of adventure.  God is calling us at this time to start our million-mile journey.

[1] Revolution in World Missions, K.P.  Yahannan, Foreward, Gospel for Asia.

Published July 21, 2010 – 8:53 pm Categories: Christian, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Missions, evangelism, intercessory prayer, prayer, world | Post a comment

NO ORDINARY LIFE…

NO ORDINARY LIVE …

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

Romans 12:1-2

I was reading parts of John Piper’s writings “Don’t Waste It.”  For years I have struggled with this equation, “What if I come to the end of my years and have nothing to show for it?”  Hidden within all of us is this pressing, sometimes haunting fear, to make our life stand for something.  Maybe it was reading the obituary of an acquaintance.  As I went down the list of his many accomplishments, I recalled asking him one day if he was a Christian.  To my surprise he said, “Yes!”  He said it almost as if apologizing.  Here was a man who was a war hero, successful attorney, superior court judge, etc. yet as the time neared for him to stand before His maker he coward to acknowledge Jesus Christ as his Lord.

The translation above spoke to me as I read it.  “Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering…Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.” What does God want?  “Who cares?” Then we proceed to focus upon our own wants and achievements.

As we stand before God and He asks, “Why should I let you into heaven?” what are you going to say?  Are you going to point to the many things you have accomplished?  A life with Christ is no ordinary life unless we choose to make it that way.

Published July 12, 2010 – 8:25 am Categories: Christian, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Missions, evangelism, prayer, world | Post a comment

HAPPINESS IS NOT LIVING WITHOUT PAIN

I want to tell you about a bird, specifically a crow.   We currently live in a place where we can look out over the water toward islands and mountains in the background.  A crow often sits on a neighbor’s rooftop.  This may not seem peculiar except this particular bird has a broken wing.  How the bird can fly, I have no idea, but I see this same bird in many places, even a mile or so away.  As I write these words, this black-feathered friend flew into view, cocking his head first one way and then another, watching me as I type.

The Scripture tells us that God will take care of our needs.  “But my wing is broken,” you say.  “I am hurt.  I can no longer go on.”  The pain and hurt is overwhelming yet life does go on.  You look around as others fly by.  They cannot be bothered by your problems and you watch as they disappear on their quest for food.  “Why Lord, why am I burden down?” Loneliness, rejection, frustration, and pain take their toll.  You are ready to give up.

It is in these painful and difficult times that we learn: “Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you.  I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered.  Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.” (Psalm 51:17)

Published July 1, 2010 – 7:23 am Categories: Christian, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Missions, evangelism, prayer | Post a comment

“Prisoner of Circumstance” or is he?

Some of you know that I have been corresponding with a homeless man by email.  His change of venue from a “normal” lifestyle to living on the street was not by choice.  The actual reason for his situation does not matter.  He has a strong belief in God and has discovered a special relationship with Jesus Christ.  There have been times when he has turned to Christian brothers, only to be rebuffed and only to be turned away.  While so many have turned their back on someone in need, he has been forced, time and time again to turn to God.  Yes, he has experienced pain but he also has learned to forgive and trust.  There have been many times he has not understood and cried out “why?” The following is my response to him:

“Carlos, as I read your reply I kept thinking of the children of Israel wondering around the desert for forty years. They ran out of food but God supplied them with manna. They had been freed from slavery but still did not trust Him for their daily prevision. Maybe it is human nature or simply our lack of trust and commitment. I cannot say I understand why you have come to this place where you live on the street but there is something very exciting about being placed in such a situation. We all want to be in control of our destinies. As we attempt to establish provisions for the present and our futures we push aside the one who set the stars in place.

You have no idea how rich you are. The times in my own life when human provisions have been stripped away with absolutely no human answers to the problems set before me, these were the times I had to trust God explicitly.

Carlos, you are not a “prisoner of circumstance” but simply in a position to place your life in His hands. There is no other way. Your heart may cry out to accomplish great things for the Lord but all He asks is to bow down and worship Him. I can only think of Enoch, the man who walked with God. He did not conquer armies, build cities, lead masses. His only description, “THE MAN WHO WALKED WITH GOD.”

I wanted an address so I can send you some money. The Holy Spirit placed upon my heart that it is time to help in this small way. Email me and tell me where I can send it.”

Ken & Maggie

SEE:   Carolos’ blog at  His Will – My Life

Published June 28, 2010 – 9:04 am Categories: Christian, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Missions, intercessory prayer, prayer, world | Post a comment

Discontentment undermines God’s promises

The other day I had something go over and over in my mind for a couple days.  It would have been easy to let my imagination run wild.

These things are hidden until acted upon.

Not only do we want what we don’t have, we really don’t know what we want, and we think the things that we want will make us happy, which they tend not to do.

Living the lie.  It sometimes does not take much to fall victim to the lie.  In our mind and heart we believe that if we can obtain certain things it will give us happiness. These things can often be socially accepted.

In pursuit of the lie.  Can we say “the devil made me do it?  Is this why we grasp for money, sex, power, etc. and willingly destroy what God has given us?  This is exactly what the story of the tree of good and evil is all about.  If we can believe there is even a slight chance that we can obtain money, power, pleasure, etc. man will too often reach for it.  There are consequences for such actions.  Too often these consequences are irreversible.  This does not mean that God loves us any less.  We may grieve the Holy Spirit. He is quick to forgive us yet our lives will change.D

Discontentment undermines God’s promise to “provide all that we need” (Phil. 4:19) and to “satisfy the desires of every living thing” (Ps.145:16)

Published June 20, 2010 – 3:37 am Categories: Christian, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Missions, evangelism, prayer | Post a comment

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE WORLD?

A young Methodist minister told how he got the youth in a Washington D.C. church to pass out sandwiches in one of the parks.  After the sandwiches were gone, a homeless man came over to their vehicle with two ministers and asked for food.  The one pastor’s response, “Jesus loves you.”  The man shouted, “I know Jesus loves me but what about you?”  The young pastor missed the point of his own story.  Their response to the homeless man shouting was to drive off.  I told this story to a pastor friend and he asked, “What were they to do? They had no more sandwiches.”

This is the conflict.  What are we to do when we have no more sandwiches?  Is this what we are called to do, pass out sandwiches?  What about feeding the soul?  If we feed the soul and the person starves this is contrary to Scripture.  If we spend all our time making and passing out sandwiches, then what?

What would your response be to the homeless man?   The Scripture says, “Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back”  Luke 6:30  The bigger question is how do your respond to a needy world.  Do you tell those in need “Jesus loves you,” then drive off?  Do you try meeting physical needs and when others come for help tell them “sorry.”  Maybe you intend to help feed a person’s soul and  the fact that he is hungry is a distraction.  Contemporary society often just turns their head because they do not have any concrete answers or even worse, they do not want to become involved.  Too often the Christian responds to deep personal needs by saying “I’ll pray for you” and then promptly puts it out of their mind.

How do you respond to the needs of the world?

Giving costs.  Maybe I should say it again.  Giving costs.

Published June 5, 2010 – 12:43 pm Categories: Christian, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Missions, evangelism, intercessory prayer, prayer, travel | Comments (2)