This is one of my favorite pictures for a variety of reasons. Over the years I have viewed more picturesque, moving photos of ministry throughout the globe; however, this simple image of me, as an Empowering Action Team member, walking alongside Pastor Salvador through his community of Los Brujanes, has a special place in my heart for two reasons. First, it is a visual representation of the mission of Empowering Action to walk alongside local pastors in order to encourage them in ministry to their communities.

Paul writes to Timothy,

“Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”
– 2 Timothy 4:11

Our ambition as Empowering Action is that the pastors we serve in our networks might say the same thing: We are helpful to them in their ministry.

The second reason I love this photo is that it inspires me with the faithfulness of Salvador to shepherd his flock, having left Santo Domingo, with its comforts and conveniences, to live amongst the people he feels compelled to reach, love and serve for Christ.

Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica,

“…You know how we lived among you for your sake.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:5

Thabiti Anyabwile writes in Desiring God’s Still Not Professionals,

“Shepherds should smell like sheep. The sheep’s wool should be lint on our clothes. Our boots should be caked with their mud and their mess. Our skin ought to bear teeth marks and the weather-beaten look of exposure to wind, sun, and rain in the fields. We belong among the people to such an extent that they can be called on to honestly testify that our lives as messengers commend the message. We should be so frequently among them that we smell like them, that we smell like their real lives, sometimes fragrant but more often sweaty, musty, offensive, begrimed from battle with the world, the flesh, and the devil.”

 

The story goes that President Abraham Lincoln, a great communicator, was known during the Civil War to attend a church not far from the White House on Wednesday nights. The preacher allowed the president to sit in an adjacent room with the door open to the chapel, so he could listen to the sermon without having his presence disturb the crowd.

One Wednesday evening as Lincoln and a companion walked back to the White House after the sermon, the president’s companion asked, “What did you think of tonight’s sermon?”
“Well,” Lincoln responded, “it was brilliantly conceived, biblical, relevant, and well presented.”
“So, it was a great sermon?”
“No,” Lincoln replied. “It failed. It failed because he did not ask us to do something great.”

What are you aspiring to do great for the Lord? It’s easy to be lulled into a mediocre version of Christianity.

A.W. Tozer said,

“You’ll never be more than the common Christian until you give up your own interests and cease to defend yourself and put yourself in the hands of God.”

The Apostle Paul aspired to do something great for the Lord, stating,

“It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.” (Romans 15:20)

Paul purposed in his heart to do something great for the Lord, by opening new territory to the good news of Jesus Christ. Is it any wonder that it was he, the Apostle Paul, that said,

“And [Christ] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Cor. 5:15)

So avoid the allure of mediocrity, and aspire, as the Apostle Paul, to do something great FOR Christ…motivated BY Christ.

I’ve been reading a great book by R.C. Sproul, The Prayer of the Lord, and this morning’s section was on the phrase “Give us this day our daily bread.” The section was even more powerful, given a recent visit to an EA ministry partner in the impoverished village of Los Brujanes. I recalled the scene pictured above of children passionately thanking God for the provision of food, as part of the Sunday ministry program.

Sproul writes,

 “After the Korean War ended, South Korea was left with a large number of children who had been orphaned by the war. We’ve seen the same thing in the Vietnam conflict, in Bosnia, and in other places. In the case of Korea, relief agencies came in to deal with all the problems that arose in connection with having so many orphan children. One of the people involved in this relief effort told me about a problem they encountered with the children who were in the orphanages. Even though the children had three meals a day provided for them, they were restless and anxious at night and had difficulty sleeping. As they talked to the children, they soon discovered that the children had great anxiety about whether they would have food the next day. To help resolve this problem, the relief workers in one particular orphanage decided that each night when the children were put to bed, the nurses there would place a single piece of bed in each child’s hand. The bread wasn’t intended to be eaten; it was simply intended to be held by the children as they went to sleep. It was a ‘security blanket’ for them, reminding them that there would be provision for their daily needs. Likewise, we take comfort in knowing that our physical needs are met, that we have food, or ‘bread,’ for our needs.”

Let our prayer today, and everyday, reflect the gratitude of the children for the Lord’s daily provision, and echo Proverbs 30:8-9,

Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,

That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?”
Or that I not be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God.

I enjoy watching the Olympic games, as much as the next guy. But I also enjoy the interesting, lesser-known facts of Olympic History.

For instance, did you know?

• The United States is on pace for its worst Winter Olympics since 1988.
• Poland won as many gold medals on Saturday (2) as it had in every previous Winter Olympics combined.
• Norway has more gold medals than 100 countries have total medals.
• Biathlon is the only sport in which an American athlete has never medaled.
• Athletes from New York have won 23 gold medals overall, the most for any state. Minnesota (22) and Massachusetts (16) round out the top three.

Additionally, at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, China received it’s first ever gold in figure skating. They did it under the direction of Yao Bin. He experienced disgrace as a figure skater back in 1980. The Chinese were infants in the sport at that time and his first pair performance resulted in laughter from the crowd and a last place finish. After that humiliating episode, Yao determined to transform Chinese pairs figure skating into the best in the world. In 2010, he fulfilled his dream when they won gold.

Unfortunately, that accomplishment included a high cost, as his commitment to transforming Chinese figure skating kept him away from home for years at a time. Yao even admitted that he didn’t even recognize his son when he saw him, because he had been gone so long. Yet, Yao persisted in such long absences in order to accomplish his goal.  The world will remember Yao as the man who transformed Chinese figure skating into a world-class power. Chinese skaters will remember him as the icon of pair’s figure skating. Olympic history will remember him as the first Chinese coach to win Olympic gold in the sport.

But what will his son remember of him?

God’s Word assures us that our Heavenly Father will remember what His children do for His glory stating,

 “For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.”(Hebrews 6:10)

And so, in light of that fact, it was particularly enjoyable this past week, as we held our in-country meeting with the members of Empowering Action’s board in Santo Domingo, surrounded by men and women compelled by Christ’s love and obedience to God’s Word to spread His light and proclaim His glory, by addressing spiritual and physical poverty among the world’s ultra-poor.

Recently I was reading a Fortune Magazine article about the San Francisco 49ers new $1.3 billion high-tech stadium, set to open in 2014.  The new Levi’s Stadium, which has already been selected to host the 50th Anniversary Super Bowl in 2016, has stated that its goal is to “reinvent the sports fan’s experience.”  Much of this enhanced experience involves utilizing technology to have needs met without even having to leave your seat.

“To hardcore fans, the picture the 49ers paint of the tech-enabled game day is tantalizing. To begin with, everyone in the stadium will be able to order food from smartphones or tablets for pickup or in-seat delivery. If you’re feeling the need for a pit stop, you can check the wait times at the closest restroom…If your daughter wears you down and persuades you to buy her a Kaepernick jersey, you can order it from your seat, and have it waiting at the team store for you to pick up on the way out.”*

Tantalizing, indeed. For if the stadium delivers on its promise, pointing out needs electronically will result in needs being met quickly and thoroughly, because the stadium management realizes every need is an opportunity.

Empowering Action, at its core, is about pointing out needs that exist in impoverished areas around the globe and encouraging believers to seize the opportunity to contribute, because every need represents an opportunity to “let our light shine before others, that they may see our good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5:16)

In doing so, Empowering Action is in good company for the Apostle Paul himself had no problem pointing out needs and urging believers to respond.  While ministering among the Gentiles in Greece, Paul made them aware of needs within the suffering church in Jerusalem.

“Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.” (Romans 15:25-27)

 In fact, Paul assumes that financial aid for the needy is a normal part of the Christian life.  He is correct in doing so, for unlike the cutting edge technology of the new 49ers stadium, which over time will eventually become obsolete, the call for Christians to “open their arms to the poor and extend their hands to the needy” (Prov. 31:20) will never be outdated.

* Source: http://levisstadium.com/headlines/reinventing-football-fortune-magazine

A few weeks back I stood on the edge of an immense dump in the village of Duquesa, watching men of all ages search for hours through the sea of trash from Santo Domingo, for recyclable metal that they could bring to have weighed for payment. Seeing these impoverished individuals labor endlessly in extremely dangerous and difficult situations was a heartbreaking experience that became jaw dropping, as we watched what accounted for hours of effort produce minimal financially when placed on the scale.

As Empowering Action daily continues efforts to empower and equip Christ-honoring organizations and ministries serving the poor and spreading the gospel, we, as staff, are motivated to weigh our efforts with an eye towards eternity.

Pastor John Piper has rightly stated,

“Jesus says the mark of a Christian is that his eyes are on heaven and he measures all his behavior by what effect it will have on heaven.”

And the Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to…

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Tim. 6:17-20)

It would be easy to assume that this command to “do good, be rich in good deeds and be generous and willing to share” does not apply to you and I, but the Bill Gates’ and Warren Buffett’s of the word, when, in fact, most reading this are “rich in this present world” when compared with the rest of the world’s population.

The facts are:

• If you have assets of $2,200, this places you in the top 50% of the world’s wealthiest.
• If you made $1,500 last year, you are in the top 20% of the world’s income earners.
• If you have sufficient food, decent clothes, live in a house or apartment, and have a reasonably reliable means of transportation, you are among the top 15% of the world’s wealthy.
• If you have $61,000 in assets? You’re among the richest 10% of the adults in the world.
• If you earn $25,000 or more annually, you are in the top 10% of the world’s income-earners.
• If you have any money saved, a hobby that requires some equipment or supplies, a variety of clothes in your closet, two cars (in any condition), and live in your own home, you are in the top 5% of the world’s wealthy.
• If you earn more than $50,000 annually, you are in the top 1% of the world’s income earners.
• If you have more than $500,000 in assets, you are part of the richest 1% of the world. *

In his book The Treasure Principle Randy Alcorn states,

“I’m convinced that the greatest deterrent to giving is this: the illusion that earth is our home.”

Followers of Christ are, in essence, on a temporary work Visa on earth, for “our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20) and therefore we need to:

• “Measure all our behavior by what effect it will have on heaven.”
• “Set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Col. 3:2)
• “Store up treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:19)
• and “be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” (1 Tim. 6:18)

Please continue to pray for Empowering Action, as we seek to foster such thinking and facilitate such actions for the glory of God.

* ( Source: http://irememberthepoor.org/3/)

In August 2013, we received a container of 15,372 Sketchers “crocs” style sandals, with the goal of distributing this resource through our local DR partners to meet physical needs while using the sandals as a tool to share the gospel. Recently, pastor Alexis Remigio leveraged the sandals in an outreach event from his local church in Santo Domingo Este. The church was able to give away 140 sandals to those in need, while reaching 140 adults, youth and children with the gospel—resulting in 32 professions of faith in Christ!

In Ephesians 1:4, Paul describes God’s intentionality and eternal plan in salvation: “…he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Before the foundation of the world, in love God selected those 32 individuals to fall at the foot of the cross and profess Christ as Savior. How humbling to think that in eternity past, God chose to use a pair of plastic Sketchers sandals as a tool to bring His fallen children from death to eternal life. Thanks for your donations and continued partnership as Empowering Action seeks to leverage temporal resources to create eternal change.

-Andy Manfredi, Director of Operations

On a recent trip to Williamsburg, my family and I enjoyed spending an afternoon strolling through the revolutionary city, observing many skills that, in hindsight, I recognized have become obsolete as a result of technology. Those who practice the art of shoemaker, silversmith, blacksmith, brickmaker and wheelwright are all under siege from technology’s automation.  In the same way, those who seek to emulate Christ and practice the increasingly lost spiritual discipline of solitude are besieged by technology, which can easily intrude into any moment of quiet contemplation. Jesus himself fell victim to interruption, apart from technology, when seeking solitude with His Father in the passage below,

 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for you!’ Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.’ So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.” (Mark 1:35-39)

It’s important to understand that when it says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark,” it was possibly as early as 3-4am when Jesus left Simon’s house in the city, and went out of town to a garden or remote building.  I envision Jesus seeking solace in the darkness in an isolated place, much like the picture above of a remote village in the Dominican Republic we recently visited.

Paul Miller notes in his book A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World,

“Jesus loved people and had the power to help so he had one interruption after another. If Jesus lived today, his cell phone would be ringing constantly…By spending time with our Father in prayer we integrate our lives with his, with what he is doing in us. Our lives become more coherent. They feel calmer, more ordered, even in the midst of confusion and pressure.” 

 A few points to consider from Jesus’ example above:

1.  Solitude is costly.

Jesus prayed when it cost him something; he rose and went out a long while before daylight.  In the same manner, if we desire solitude, it may cost us sleep in order to spend time with our Heavenly Father, either rising early or remaining up late into the quite hours of the night.

2.  Solitude provides focus.

Jesus knew he needed time with His Heavenly Father in order to prepare him for the day ahead.  The distraction found him out, but not before he had been prepared for ministry, and aligned his priorities with His Father’s priorities.  Every follower of Christ needs that same daily alignment of priorities and commitment to character.

3.  Solitude produces an attitude of awe and dependence.

When we “unplug” long enough to contemplate the magnificence of God, we destroy an elevated sense of self.  I witnessed this on a recent camping trip, as I watched a fellow camper miss a unique moment to grasp the wonder of God and his creation, because his eyes were locked on his smart phone.  His heightened sense of self squelched an opportunity for awe.

In short, determination to live FOR CHRIST must be combined with a daily isolation to be WITH CHRIST.

One such man who combined a determination to live for Christ with the discipline to daily isolate himself from distraction to be with Christ was Robert C. Chapman, who lived in the 1800’s in England.  He was referred to as “the saintliest man I ever knew” by Charles Spurgeon – high praise from the man known as the Prince of Preachers. On one occasion, Chapman expressed his life’s goal in these words:

“Seeing that so many preach Christ and so few live Christ, I will aim to live Him.”

 It’s been over 100 years since Robert Chapman has died, but today, like then, many preach Christ, but few live him.  Determine today to life FOR CHRIST by isolating time to be WITH CHRIST, free from all distractions, most notably those with an ON/OFF switch.

Last week, while out on my normal run, I encountered the usual faces, acknowledging them with a nod and smile or a quick wave, as is my conventional response. However, it occurred to me, on that particular day, that the same gesture of encouragement typically occurs between anyone I encounter while exercising, not merely those I know personally or see regularly. Whether I cross paths with someone running a seemingly Olympic record-setting pace or someone barely putting one foot in front of the other, typically there is an unspoken camaraderie between those “pounding the pavement” that produces an urge to give a word or gesture of encouragement.

The apostle Paul spoke about this desire to encouragement and strengthen, face to face, when he wrote to the church in Rome,

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.  For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (Romans 1:8-12)

This upcoming week is a particularly exciting time, as 240 students and adults from McLean Bible Church, my home for the past eight years prior to launching Empowering Action in January with Andy Manfredi, will be arriving in the Dominican Republic for their annual trip.  And while I know first hand that throughout the year MBC’s ministry partners in the Dominican Republic and around the globe are routinely lifted up in prayer by the student ministry, there is an excitement the begins to build in both locations as the trip dates approach.  Historically, the week has been used of the Lord to be mutually encouraging and beneficial to all involved, and we pray this year will be no different, with many coming to salvation, many strengthened in their walk with the Lord, and our Dominican ministry partners encouraged to “run with endurance the race that is set before them.”  (Hebrews 12:1)