What Will Your Retirement Look Like?
February 10th, 2010
Crisis in Haiti
January 18th, 2010
Shot by Catherine Lainé of AIDG (flickr)
If you haven’t been in a cave, then you know of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti six days ago, and the ensuing humanitarian crisis that’s developing now. Over 200,000 are now estimated dead with many of the living in desperate need of food, water and medical care. Christian and non-Christian alike are working hard to help mitigate and relieve some of the incredible suffering that’s now taking place.
For believers, we are called to be faithful stewards of God’s resources. That means that we should be saving up funds to spend on others, and not just ourselves. Jesus tells the story in Luke 16 of an unrighteous, worldly steward who knew enough to spend his master’s money in a way that would benefit his future. And Jesus argues that if an unbeliever knows enough to do this, how much more should Christians be investing God’s money into things of eternal consequence!
With that in mind, I wanted to make you aware of a variety of solid, trustworthy and less-heard-of relief organizations that are now hard at work in Haiti:
- Churches Helping Churches – an effort launched by James MacDonald and Mark Driscoll to specifically help solid Haitian churches that have been flattened or otherwise destroyed by the earthquake. Hospitals, schools and other major buildings get all the attention, but biblically solid churches need to exist in Haiti for them to truly thrive.
- Childrens’ Hunger Fund – this organization is primarily focused on bringing food and the hope of the gospel to kids. Francis Chan (pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley) sits on the board and they have been operating in Haiti since before the earthquake.
- Missionary Flights International – they provide air support to missionaries working in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Since the earthquake, they have been shutting supplies there as often as the airport will let them land. Here’s a report on MFI from our own Eric Verkouteren…
As the Lord would providentially have it, I’m sitting in the parking lot of Missionary Flights International in Fort Pierce Florida, awe struck of the mercy god supplies. As an established organization, MFI organizes and partnerships with missionaries in Haiti to be a support chain in the supply of personel and goods. In response to the recent earthquake, this operation has expanded it’s daily flights and services beyond what it can withhold. As I walk around the hanger I see over 200 volunteers packing and sorting supplies. In talking with the Vice President Larry Cambell, he acknowledges the donations of some 100,000 lbs of supplies just today! MFI normally operates three restored DC-3 aircraft, but the demand has quickly exceeded the capacity of the organization.
Supplies being loaded at MFI (by Eric V)
In talking with Mr. Campbell he explained, ” The need is beyond our limit. With the generous support of Hendrix Motorsports we have two corporate jets shuttling workers and personnel. But we are still overwhelmed. We have 100,000 lbs of supplies sitting on the hanger floor with no way to get it down to Haiti. We need a C-130 or other aircraft to acomplish the task.”
Surely the need will continue for the next few months. Acording to Mr. Campbell, the US military has taken over the airport in Haiti, the flights are leaving several times a day. As I write I’m watching the supplies be loaded, personnel making their last phone calls, and more supplies arriving by the pallet. I’m stirred and I hope you are too to seek the lords hand, and to reach out how He may lead. More than just a temperal need, there is a spiritual need beyond what we can imagine.
Let’s rally in Christ…
In Him,
Eric
Prayer Cards as a Means to Persevere in Prayer
November 18th, 2009
On Sunday at Kaleo, as we looked at Jesus’ teaching on persevering in prayer, and I mentioned my use of prayer cards. I started using them this year after reading about them in Paul Miller’s excellent book A Praying Life (BTW: get and read this book!). John asked me to post this here to share it with the rest of the church as well.
I became convinced that I needed some sort of lists if I was really going to persevere in bringing the same requests before God long term. A small stack of 3×5 cards has many advantages over a big sheet of requests. I find it less overwhelming to look at just one category at a time. A stack of 3×5 cards with a clip also travels well in a pocket.
Some people asked on Sunday night for some sample categories. Mine are:
Spiritual Formation – These are areas in my own life where I want God to change my heart. I pray over specific verses that describe what I’m after
- Areas of Surrender -On this card I put all the areas of my life that tend to cause me anxiety. When I pray over this card I am surrendering these areas over to God’s care. I will sometimes do this flat on my back, arms stretched out with palms up as a physical display of my surrender. TMI?
- Weekly Goals – These are specific things I want the Spirit-empowered discipline to accomplish every week, including: reading, praying through the cards, time with each kid, exercise, etc.
- My Wife and Kids – each has a separate card with specific requests for each
- My Parents, Brothers, In-Laws, Nieces and Nephews – listed with specific requests
- Extended Family – listed with specific request
- A Few Close Friends – each have their own card
- Kaleo People - if you ask me to pray for you, you’re on it
- People I’m Currently Discipling/Counseling – each has their own card
- Our Church Elders/Pastors – listed with specific needs next to their names
- Pastors/Writers – listed on one card – some I know personally, others are big names I don’t know personally – if they have had an impact on me they are on here
- Kaleo Leadership - listed on one card with specific needs next to their names
- Kaleo – specific things we would like to see God do with us
- Work – for patients, clients, office staff and colleagues
- Kingdom – persecuted church, revival, the poor, human trafficking, church planting, stewardship of the environment, unreached peoples, end to abortion
- President Obama - for him personally, his family, for wisdom and protection
- Salvation – a list of people that don’t know Jesus but I’m praying God will save
- Missions – a list of specific missionaries and missions agencies that God has put on my heart
- Our Neighbors – listed on one card with specific needs next to their names
Here are Paul Miller’s general guidelines for using his prayer cards (pp. 225-226, A Praying Life):
- The card functions as a snapshot of the person’s life, so use short phrases to describe what you want.
- When praying, I usually don’t linger over a card for more than a few seconds. I just pick one or two key areas and pray for them.
- I put the Word to work by writing a Scripture verse on the card that expresses my desire for that particular person or situation.
- The card doesn’t change much. Maybe once a year I will add another line. These are just the ongoing areas of a person’s life that I am praying for.
- I usually don’t write down answers. They are obvious to me since I see the card almost every day.
- I will sometimes date a prayer request with the month and year.
Erick
Using cards has really helped me a lot. The goal is to become the kind of people that keep bringing the same requests before God like Jesus taught us to. And I majorly stink at this naturally.
It has also been awesome to see how many things God has already done in response to prayer – something I would not have noticed without these cards.
Hope this helps you to pray more each day
The Greatest Story Ever Told…
November 16th, 2009
Shai Linne raps the story of the Bible. Not only is it excellent, but you just have to give props to a guy who can fit “mosaic covenant” into a song that demands rhythm and meter!!
Filmed at the Worship God ‘09 Conference.
Happy Reformation Day
October 31st, 2009
Erick
Aside for being Halloween, October 31st is also the anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. On that day in 1517, Martin Luther nailed a list of 95 issues he had with the Catholic Church thus sparking the reformation. So, here’s a little Reformation Day Polka.
If you want to enjoy the story in a fuller form check out the very accurate movie Luther, or the book, The Reformation: How a Monk with a Mallet Changed the World.
Greetings from the Hurleys – UGANDA
October 18th, 2009
Shannon & Danielle Hurley and their kids are serving in Uganda. FBC supports the Hurley’s ministry and sends teams there occasionally to help out. At church this Sunday, we mentioned the longer update from the Hurleys. See below:
If you’d like to personally support what the Hurleys are doing in Uganda, visit SOS Ministries and make a donation.
Sunday Videos are now online!
October 16th, 2009
After a brief delay, the video testimonies you see on Sunday mornings – stories of lives changed by the Gospel – are now online. Go to media.faith-bible.net and you can watch them again, or catch the ones you missed.
TXT: A future temple in Jersualem?
October 12th, 2009
Question: Why will there be a temple during the millennium? Will there be sacrifices and if so, why?
Answer:
Peter
Biblical theologians have grappled with this interesting question over the centuries. But all are left with the same dilemma… Scripture seems to indicate that, in fact, there will be a renewed physical temple and a system for worship practiced in the millennial kingdom! Read more…
TXT: How old is premillenialism?
September 10th, 2009
Question:The premillennial position was not held by early church fathers, reformers and some great scholars today. Why?
Answer:
Peter
Why? First off, because that was the singular view taught by the apostles. :-) Secondly, these early church fathers were faithful to pass on the teaching of the apostles. They fought hard to “defend the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
Many of them died as a result of the apostolic faith they proclaimed! Church historians have established that Polycarp was personally discipled by the apostle John – the Spirit-led, human writer of the book of the Revelation (who, we can rest assured, knew a few things about the end of the age and God’s plan for the future!). Polycarp was later marytred for his faith.
So, that begs the question… When did premillenialism start? When and why did the church develop differing views regarding end-times? Let’s look at it… Read more…
TXT: When was Daniel written?
September 8th, 2009
Question: How can we show non-believers that Daniel was written before the predicted events and not after?
Answer:
Peter
Therefore, it is important to appreciate this principle for a couple of reasons. Namely, to provide context and clarity because 1) a portion of the predictions are yet future (Dan 7:1-8 and Dan 11:36-45) . And 2) to accurately understand “when” and “how” these events happened vs. those yet future we must use other validation methods like archaeology and recorded human history as well as the Bible. This is where most of the confusion lies for believers (e.g., Dan 11:36-12:13).
To use Daniel as a means to demonstrate the supernatural nature of the Bible to unbelievers can be a good tool. It can be a useful means or segue to sharing the gospel because many today are troubled by the state of the world and mankind’s future on earth. So… Getting to the gospel is the key!
