Friday, November 15, 2013

Am I An Old Wine Skin?

I'm looking for that new wine but wondering if I'm not getting filled with the new wine because I'm an old wineskin.
Perhaps I should have entitled this Looking For the New Wine.

Now, I know some of you are thinking, 'well at your age, of course you're an old wineskin.  You're an old everything.'

That's your opinion.

I don't perceive this as having anything to do with the physical.  It is the nature of my spirit being and where I am in my relationship with the Holy Spirit.
I do believe that the Holy Spirit can and will fill me with new wine when I have a new wineskin.
The question that needs answering is 'How do I become a new wineskin?'

Again I think it is all wrapped up in my relationship with the Holy Spirit. He makes me into a new wineskin and He then fills me with the new wine.  Had he poured the new wine into the present wineskin, that is not ready to receive new wine, it would cause me to burst wide open.  Not sure what that means in the spiritual realm but it can't be a good thing.

In order to become a new wineskin I have to move beyond where I am at present. I feel like I may have developed patterns that are bordering on 'being religious'.  And you all know how Jesus felt about the religious types.  I don't want to fall into that category.






Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Walking With Jesus

WALKING WITH JESUS

His arm is across my shoulder with his hand on my shoulder to help keep me in step with Him. Jesus is a little taller than me. His head inclines toward me as if He’s listening intently to everything I say. I am very comfortable in that place. It is easy to walk like that.

As temptations, lies, things that try to pull me away, as they come, Jesus gives me a gentle tap on my shoulder to remind me that He is here with me and that together we can overcome our enemy. It is just a gentle pull – back toward Him – nothing forceful as I must make my own decision – just that gentle reminder that He is here.

Yet, yet, I find myself leaning away from Jesus, taking His hand and removing it from around my shoulder and walking toward that thing that is pulling me away from Jesus.

When I glance back I see that His hand is still stretched out to me and the look on His face is one of compassion and understanding. It is as if He is saying to me – though He doesn’t speak – ‘I know how that pulls at you. I understand that it is enticing, that it looks pretty, but please do not go there. You will be hurt – badly hurt.’ And His hand is still extended to me – an invitation to come back under His arm of love, and to continue our walk together. And, even when I stupidly turn from Him and go to that thing that draws me – when I finally come to my senses, I look back and see His hand still stretched out to me and with tears in His eyes, He says, ‘Come to Me.’ He weeps for me, for the pain I have brought on myself and He weeps for what has been lost between us.

Yet, His hand is stretched out still and He says, ‘Come to Me, let us walk together.’
I timidly turn, not knowing if I am really welcome, for I shunned Him before. I chose to walk away from Him.

As I take halting steps back to Jesus, with my head hanging in shame, I feel His eyes on me and I look up. I look up to see Jesus with both hands extended toward me and His arms open wide and a huge smile on His face., and I run – I run into His welcoming arms. He hugs me to Him and I know I am home again.

He holds me for awhile, then gently turns me and we begin our walk again, as best friends, with His arm draped gently, lovingly over my shoulder.

Walking with Jesus.

When you walk with the Lord
In the light of his Word
What a glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will
He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus

But to trust and obey

Monday, October 14, 2013

Run Unleashed

A Few More Things I've Learned From A Two-Year-Old

Kyra knows how to run. 
She runs just to run, not worrying about the consequences. She sees a place to run and she runs, not necessarily with any goal in sight. She runs for the joy of running. She runs with joy overflowing. 













Like Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire, “When I run I feel God’s pleasure.” I think Kyra feels the pleasure of God when she runs. She may not be aware of it, but she enjoys running. 
Hebrews 12:1-2
You don’t even have to say ‘run’ to Kyra; just give her a little open space and she is into the wind, grinning and enjoying the thrill of feeling the wind blowing through her hair. This picture is an excellent example of what it means for Kyra to Run Unleashed.

I do believe that God wants us to Run Unleashed in this world. We let so many things pull us down, slow us down, thwart the joy of being alive in the world.
God created us to enjoy this world.

I encountered ‘Run Unleashed’ as I was on my way to a mountain top in Hong Kong to seek The Lord. 
It’s not unusual to have to go through a shopping mall to get somewhere in Hong Kong. And that is what I was doing on my way to the mountain. As I passed through I saw these words painted across the window of a sporting goods store - Run Unleashed.
It was in big, bold letters and almost as if the words were forcing themselves into my range, as if to say ‘Don’t miss this.’
I was going to the mountain top to meet with God and He sent me a very clear message on the way.

Just a quick aside here - Don’t miss something of The Lord because it appears in a place where you weren’t looking for it, or where you’d never expect to find it.  Stay in tune with the Holy Spirit and He will show you great and mighty things.

So, one very clear message that I received that day was to go all out. Run the race expecting to win the crown.  No one ever enters a race to finish last; or even second for that matter. Every runner wants to take home the gold medal.
That is the way it should be in life for us. We should strive to go for the gold in God’s Kingdom.  That is the race that matters the most.
So, like my sweet Kyra, run for the joy of it all. 
Run Unleashed.









Thursday, October 3, 2013

Go To the People

Go to the people, live among them.
Learn from them. Love them.
Start with what they know; build on what they have .
But [for] the best leaders, when their task is accomplished, their work is done, the people will remark, 'We have done it ourselves.'
Lao Shi, Chinese philosopher. 
From the book, Biting the Bamboo by Dr. Tan Lai Yong

Friday, September 13, 2013

Martin Luther on the Bible

The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.

Friday, August 30, 2013

One Small Gift:  A Ministry 20 Years Later

Who would think that a Mother's Day gift of earrings would many years later help a new ministry in China. Shelly Dettmer Schaller  was our ELIC teammate for two years in Nanchang, China.
She gave me a pair of earrings she had bought in Hong Kong. Every time I wore the Chinese coin earrings, women would admire them and want a pair. I started making them because I never saw them for sale in Hong Kong or China.

After moving to Kunming in 2004, I thought about adding them to the Hearts & Hands product inventory. My neighbor, Wendy Eldridge, was looking for a product that was attractive and popular for the former prostitutes at Eden Ministry to make.  I suggested using the earring design and that proved to be a very good idea. The first design was the beginning of the jewelry-making enterprise that provides employment for former prostitutes.

Eden Ministry produces beautiful jewelry but more importantly provides a safe haven for women forced into prostitution. Check out their website: www.edenministry.org

Thanks to Shelly's gift to me on Mother's Day, Chinese women are able to escape a life of bondage and have a means to support themselves through the help Eden Ministry provides.

Monday, August 19, 2013

My Favorite Goddaughter

I have been blessed with one Goddaughter.  Kali Jane is such a blessing.  Last time I saw her was at Bethany on Cheung Chau.  Here we are on the beach on Cheung Chau.  She is working in Denver now. Denver is blessed.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

John G Lake - Lousy Christians

A low standard of Christianity is responsible for all the shame and sin and wickedness in the world.
Many Christians think it is all right if they pattern after Jesus in a sort of way. They imitate Him and they do the things which He did; that is they outwardly do them. They perform kind acts and they do other things which Jesus did.  But the secret of Christianity is not in doing. The secret is in being. Real Christianity is in being a possessor of the nature of Jesus Christ. In other words it is in being Christ in character, Christ in demonstration, Christ in agency of transmission.     John G Lake

Thursday, August 8, 2013

God Says What's Right

Governments just say what's legal.
God says what is right.
Laws change.
Truth Does not change.

Rick Warren

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Draw The Circle of Prayer

There comes a moment  when you must quit talking to God about the mountain in your life and start talking to the mountain about your God. You proclaim His power. You declare His sovereignty. You affirm His faithfulness. You stand on His Word. You cling to His promises.
Mark Batterson

Monday, August 5, 2013

Duct Tape or a Nail

A man dies and goes to heaven.  St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates and
says, 'Here's how it works.  You need 100 points to make it into heaven.
You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number
of points for each item, depending on how good it was.  When you reach 100
points, you get in.'

'Okay,' the man says, 'I was married to the same woman for 50 years and
never cheated on her, even in my heart.'

'That's wonderful,' says St. Peter, 'that's worth two points!'

'Two points?!' he says.
'Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my
tithe and service.'

'Terrific!' says St. Peter..  'That's certainly worth a point.'

'One point!?!!'
'I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless
veterans.'

'Fantastic, that's good for two more points,' he says.

'Two points!?!!
'Exasperated, the man cries.  'At this rate the only way I'll get into
heaven is by the grace of God.'

'Bingo!  100 points!  Come on in!'

We often try to fix problems with WD-40 and duct tape.

. . . God did it with a nail.

From my long time friend Martin Haskett





Saturday, July 27, 2013

I Am Free


Oswald Chambers - June 11 - My Utmost for His Highest

‘Our Lord’s words are not, ‘Do this, or don’t do that,’ but - ‘Come to me.’ 
If I will simply come to Jesus, my real life will be brought into harmony with my real desires. I will actually cease from sin, and will find the song of the Lord beginning in my life.


‘Personal contact with Jesus changes everything. Be ‘foolish’ enough to come and commit yourself to what He says. 

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Hair - What's It Doing There!?


Somewhere, in the recesses of my scalp, hair grows.  I don’t understand it; I can’t explain it and I rarely think about it; but I am grateful for my crown.

Hair is an interesting topic and actually requires more of our attention than many things that we would certainly deem more important than hair. Ask anyone, “What’s important in your life right now?” and not one of them will respond, “Hair.” You’ll probably get answers like the economy, some pro football team, a good soap opera or a juicy steak. Some folks might say, “God, country and family,” but no one would answer “hair.”

But, ask anyone, “Is hair important to you?” and you’ll probably get answers like, “My hair certainly is” or simply, “Yeah, of course.” Others might respond, “What hair?”

We do think about our hair and we even make comments about the hair of others. If you were a mirror, you would testify to the importance human beings place on hair. Surely you have noticed people fluffing and poofing and combing and brushing and teasing and training their hair while patiently waiting at a stop light. And that’s just the men. Follow them from one stop light to the next and the routine remains the same.  A Broadway play glorified “Hair”. Hair became a statement in the 1960s. We really do like hair.

I have had hair on various parts of my body for over half a century. I know that doesn’t make me a hair expert, but I do know about my hair and I know what I like about hair.  If you’re having hair problems, perhaps a testimonial will help you out.

I didn’t care much about hair as a baby. I didn’t care much about anything as a baby; but my parents and various friends and relatives did care. When you’re under two foot long and weigh less than a bowling ball, there’s not much there to make comments about, so hair, or lack of, is always noticed and duly commented upon.

Hair still held little interest for me as I approached the teen years. Various friends and relatives also lost interest in it and parents only noted it enough to take me to the barber shop every other week. Our friendly, local barber didn’t even ask; he just got his faithful shears, lined my hair up on end, and cut it within half an inch of my scalp. We were all satisfied. Then, my hormones kicked in and my mind started taking notice of my body, which was running amuck, or was supposed to be going through some type of muck. My body was limping into puberty, while others my age charged on with pimples bursting in air, I was just beginning to feel strange and have strange dreams.

My elder brother, noted sage of the high school with his C-- average, made all this abundantly clear to me one day in the small bathroom of our wood-frame house. He even had the audacity to point it out to our mother. Big brothers lose their sensitivity mode when they are proclaimed big brother and admonished to love and care for their sibling. They didn’t like it at the time of said sibling’s birth and they were still fighting it 13 years later.

I have yet to figure out this march of hair across the body. It is a strange and not too wondrous thing to behold. Actually, most babies start out with some type of fuzz over most of the body. Look real close the next  time you’re near a baby and see if I’m correct. You’ll be astounded. But, that usually fades away. So, in a short time we are left with only the hair on our heads making any signifiant contribution of hirsuteness.  And, what is it doing there?

I have seen perfectly sane men with little or no hair on their heads. They like to make comments like, “I don’t waste my quota of hormones on hair.” Of course, these guys also wear hats a lot or part their hair within a quarter inch of their left ear. I understand that. I’m happy to report that hair still grows in most hair-growing slots on my head. That’s not a problem. The problem is that hair is now growing in places for which it was never intended to grow.  I know I didn’t invite it and I haven’t used any hair-growing whiz-bang tonics, so what’s it doing coming out of these strange cracks and crevices anyway?

As I slipped over into my 40s, I began to notice that hair was making its presence known in places that do not impress.  It had been sneaking out of my nose for some time now. I could accept that, having always known that hair was there, but it was sneaking out of other very visible places and I wanted it stopped.

Hair was now climbing out of my ears. I can not imagine how it ever got there. Does it fall in the ear canal during hair-cutting sessions and gradually germinate until it springs forth a full-fledged crop or what? I know I never planted it there.

And, there is another problem. I used to watch some of our honorable congressmen on television and wonder how they could grow such eyebrows - now I know. It has to do with being over 50. I now have eyebrows that are making their own ways in the world, again, uninvited by me; actually against my will. As my hairline recedes, my eyebrows are inching upwards, making me look like I’ve had an eyebrow lift.  I have trained my nose hairs to flow majestically into my mustache, giving me a fuller, more manly upper lip adornment.  I like that part, but now, past 40, into the 50s and dancing around 60s, I find hair marching up over my shoulders - both sides. Now, how in Samson’s wildest imagination, did that happen?  Will I need to start shaving my shoulders before long?  Is that manly or just gross?  Unchartered territory for me and I don’t know what to do with all this hair.

This tonsorial journey actually began with that frightful experience in our family bathroom after my entry into the teen years.

I was there one beautiful spring morning, enjoying myself before the bright yellow school bus came to whisk me away. I believe I was admiring what I considered to be my pecs at the time. My brother, the sage, entered the picture. Now it seems that I had been a bigger embarrassment to him than I had known for some time. And, apparently, his embarrassment had to do with my late blooming. So, he decided to unleash his fury upon me that morning. He has never enjoyed mornings anyway, so he decided to ruin mine.

He looked at my meager body, smirked and said, “Are you ever going to start shaving?” It was then that I made a fatal mistake. I reached for something above my head, leaving my underarm exposed.  His smirk went to a disdainful cry of anguish for what my body was doing to him. “You don’t even have any hair under your arm,” he agonized. “What is wrong with you? Mother, come look at this.”

I have yet to figure out why he had to involve my mother in this, but I had already reflexed my arm and cemented it to my side by the time she arrived. After relating to her the problem, she looked at him kind of strange and went back to the kitchen. But he wasn’t through pointing out my deficiencies.

“Are you a girl, or what? Why don’t you grow hair?”

Now, that may sound cruel, and I took it as such, but that last question was one  that I had been asking myself for some time now. “Where is the hair? What brings it forth? And, why is it not visible?” I didn’t have the answers to any of those questions and it bothered me. There I was with schoolmates who had been shaving for two years already and the girls were admiring their hair. I had nice hair on my head, but what does that matter when you’re 15 and it’s difficult, if not down right impossible, to find follicles elsewhere?

Eventually hair did spring forth from my armpits and I squelched the thought of going around with my hands in the air all the time; but still, about the only facial hair I could muster was the sprinkling found on my eyelids, eyebrows and nose hair. That was it for a long while. I shaved my face because I had heard that hair grows faster when it’s cut; but what happens when there’s none to cut. It didn’t seem to help any.

As a result I entered college as one of the very few freshman of the male variety, except for American Indians and Chinese, with peach fuzz. That’s one reason I had to extend my college career an extra two years. Well, that and the fact that Uncle Sam was awaiting my arrival into his army with open arms.  I just could not get a degree and go out into the world with peach fuzz.  Bad image.

Finally, facial follicles arrived and I determined that I had enough to grow a mustache - the mark of a true man. However, in order to make that manly mark, the mustache must be visible. Mine was, if you got up real close - like right under my nose. A friend, who had hair growing from all kinds of strange places by his early 20s, decided to grow a mustache at the same time I did. As we went places together, he received several comments about his new addition. They didn’t notice mine. I finally gave up and shaved it off - one smooth whack did the job.

As the years progressed, I got to the point in my pursuit of hair where I could actually grow a full-fledged beard and people could actually see it. Hair grew out of my face in a visible way. I had become a man. I was at the mid-20s mark, but I finally felt like a real man. It was then I received my draft notice and decided what I really wanted was to revert back to childhood and have my mother nearby to defend me.




The Truth About Nutrition



Here is the final word on nutrition and health. It's a
relief to know the truth after all those conflicting medical
studies.

The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart
attacks than do the British or Americans.

The French eat a lot of fat and also suffer fewer heart
attacks than the British or Americans.

The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer
heart attacks than the British or Americans.

The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and also
suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and
fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or
Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently
what kills you.

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

--
Rate, print or email this funny at

Monday, July 8, 2013

On Being A Missionary

You don't have to cross the sea 
to be a missionary
You just have to see the cross

[anonymous]

Friday, July 5, 2013

Walking The Plowed Land


I just can’t forget those
days when the sun cut paths
through the corn stalks and
fell gingerly on the best
watermelon in the county

The Fourth of July, with home-made ice cream dripping between my bare feet and the hot summer grass practically steaming with each snow white drop that dribbled past my toes. Now those were the days.
The big day for eating home-made ice cream in our family was always the Fourth of July. It seems that it was a big day for my parents. They always made ice cream when they were busy growing up and because that’s just about the only way you could get it, was to make it yourself.
And those days didn’t roll around too often, for they used to have to chase down what money they could find running around and while everything was relatively cheap, it really didn’t matter how cheap it was, because there just wasn’t any money to buy it with.
Now we’ve got the money coming out of our ears, well some of you do anyway.  I’m still doing the begging and borrowing bit and looking for the rainbow’s end. But there is a lot of money floating around and somebody out there noticed it and started jacking up the prices so he could get more than his share, and more and more people are turning to home grown and home made variety of produce.
Even super suburbia where all of American is looking for a home has turned on to the garden grown.  People with just two little rows to plant managed to squeeze squash, tomatoes, and some sort of beans and peas in that mini-acreage.
And from those few handfuls of produce, the city slicker suddenly discovered that it wasn’t just those good looking farm girls that kept some men on the farm, but those home grown victuals that tasted better than Snuffy Smith’s corn squeezens.
My parents were raised on farms and they are presently doing their best to leave the big city behind and head back to that same area of the country where the black-eyed peas taste best and the biscuits rise faster on a cold morning.
They raised me in a small town where I was properly shielded from most of the horrors of life. I thought hard times was being sent to the principal’s office six times in one month.
What little they tried to instill in me about the farmer’s ways I let slip right out of my mind for I was too busy chasing butterflies. The only thing I was very good at growing was watermelons and I hatched up one I’ll never forget right there in our back yard one time.

WATERMELON HEAVEN

It must have weighed close to 50 pounds, of course I’ve probably added poundage to it as the years rolled around.  But is was a nice size one and the biggest I’d ever grown. Each day after school I’d head out there and check on it and drop a little water its way if it was a dry month.
I could tell from the start that it was going to be a biggie. It jumped out of the starting blocks and never slowed down. That melon was my pride and joy and I nursed it along and properly thumped it when it started looking like it might be ripe.
Finally the magic day arrived when my Dad walked out to it, gave it one good solid ripe sounding thump, said, “pull her” and walked off.
But how could he be so sure, why he’d just given it that one little old thump and I’d been thumping it for weeks and months. but I knew he was right and then it dawned on me that I was about to destroy what I had worked so hard to build.
With one quick jerk off the vine, it would be through with its growing. It would be just another watermelon, cooled, sliced and eaten. No longer would I be able to nurse it and encourage it to grow with all the care I’d given any pet.
But I pulled it and we ate it and it was one fine tasting watermelon. But I never really got too interested in growing things again.
Perhaps my hands just weren’t meant to dig deep into the dirt and look for the hidden meanings of how to make plants yield their life-giving products.
I do know that I love the smell of freshly plowed earth.
There probably aren’t too many people left running around this earth, who have followed behind their Dad, as he plowed up the land for the first time in the spring and let the earth breathe life into it.
Well I’ve done it and I dug my bare feet deep into the earth to feel the coolness of the land that has give us so much.
Well, I haven’t even run around barefooted for so many years now that I’ve about forgotten what it’s like and I haven’t had any home-made ice cream slipping cooly down my throat for far too many years.
Everyone tends to forget how good the simple things of life can be when we get caught up in the complexities of trying to be someone, when in the end, we all, eventually, find the earth again.
Hopefully, I’ll get some of that ice cream dripping on my dust-covered toes this holiday.






Friday, June 21, 2013

Facts- Not Feelings - The Bible

Our knowledge of God is based on the promises in the Bible. 
It is based on facts, not feelings. 
If we were to rely only on our feelings we could never be sure about anything. Our feelings go up and down depending on all sorts of factors, such as the weather or what we've had for breakfast. They can be changeable and even deceptive. The promises in the Bible, which is the word of God, do not change and are totally reliable.
From Questions of Life by Nicky Gumbel

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Is God Speaking to Me?

Do you ever wonder if God is trying to get through to you?

"Is God speaking to me?"

Well, follow this and let me know what you think. 

There are times when I wonder, "Am I hearing God's voice? Are those God's Words that come to mind as I pray and ask questions?"

How does God speak to you?

Follow this and then you can tell me what you think:

Years ago I felt impressed that The Lord was trying to get Psalm 46:10 into my head. [More on that later.]

In the last few months there seems to be an intense effort by the God of the Universe to point me in one, very clear, direction.

While in Hong Kong I was attending a men's study on Thursday evening.  The study: a book by Bob Sorge entitled Secrets of the Secret Place.
What's it about?  Getting close to God; forsaking all others [people, jobs,activities, anything] and snuggling up next to Father God

While at Bethany I started reading a book by Dutch Sheets entitled 
Intercessory Prayer: How God Can use your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth

When I returned to Spokane in mid-May back to attending Spokane Deaf Church. We have an intern Kinna Franklin, teaching Sunday School and Wednesday Bible study.  Title of the study: Journey Into Intimacy With God


Do you think the Holy Spirit is pointing me in one specific direction?

Be still and know that I AM God  Ps 46:10
Secrets of the Secret Place    Ps 91
Intercessory Prayer
Journey Into Intimacy With God

Now, I must apply myself and do this.

Would you like to join me on a quest to truly ABIDE in God?  [John 15]

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Who's Knocking At Your Door?

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Rev 3:20


Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Jesus is the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords

We sing praises to His name.


Monday, May 6, 2013

Oswald Chambers quote


Seeing is never believing: we interpret what we see in the light of what we believe. Faith is confidence in God before you see God emerging; therefore the nature of faith is that it must be tried.  
He Shall Glorify Me, 494 R

In Christ Alone - The Solid Rock


Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Fail not to assemble yourselves together

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:25 (New International Version)

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Old Students Following Jesus


I was blessed to have a visit with one of our Qingdao students from late 1980s. It is amazing that The Lord would not quit on him. He and his wife are serving God in Botswana. He diverted his trip to Hong Kong just so he could spend a few hours with me. I was greatly blessed.
The following is his letter afterwards.



Dear Mr. Ramsey,


Your sharing, your encouragement and your prayer are great blessings for me, I had a real feast yesterday!
I finished reading your “Go” book before I even reached Shenzhen border, I will share with you my thoughts after I finish the other book.
Please receive the photos taken yesterday.
I will write to you soon, and once again a big THANK YOU!

Love


 Joe

Monday, April 15, 2013

"Snakes Alive"


Below is today's message from LeRoy:

"Guess we need to get our 'drive the snake back' pray-ers going.  I encountered a cobra on the steps leading up to the cottage. Thankfully I had a torch or I might not have seen it. I quickly got Ding. Nezzar was there too. They both came out with sticks. It was still there. They did it in quickly.  Then he called the dogs. Not too thrilled to be finding snakes around." 

Fall of 2011, we served as relief staff at Bethany Ministries, Ltd. <www.bethanyhk.org> for almost 3 months. Hong Kong had been experiencing drought conditions and snakes were almost a daily occurrence on Cheung Chau Island. Both the Bamboo Viper and China Cobra are highly poisonous and native to Hong Kong. The one that scared me the most was a harmless one that was about 6 ft. long and decided to cross my path. Took forever for my heart rate to return normal.

Just last week I asked LeRoy if he had seen any snakes on Cheung Chau and he said no. I leave for Hong Kong next Monday and am not looking forward to the daily treks up and down the hills of the island.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Getting Right With God

Don't work to get right with God, just GET WITH God 
and allow Him to take care of the rest.

From The Long Way Home by Laura Mullenix

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Snickers in Qingdao



Today on Facebook a friend, Elizabeth Braze, posted the following:

I have to admit I let out a little scream when I saw Almond Joys at the Kunming Wal-Mart.

Oh, how that brought back a great memory. Way back in 1988, we were teaching at Qingdao University. City teammates called to say they had found Snickers, my favorite candy bar, at the little Friendship Store downtown. Oh what joy! That was unheard of back in the late 80s in China. We left immediately to head downtown.

When we arrived, our friends were there! Their teenage son said, "I told you not to call the Ramseys!"
We bought all that were left of the one box available and saved them for Christmas gifts. Back then there were slim pickings for gift items. As you can tell in the photo above, the women got aprons and Snickers. What a treat! 

We may not have had much but we had a great time rejoicing in the little things that came our way. Made me realize that it was the little things that made our early years in China bearable. Small gifts and great friendships!

Qingdao Christmas 1988: Florence Riesen, Kristen Kenagy Zetzsche, Ginni (American student), Becky Neufeld, Jane Ramsey, Sandy Harrison, Teri Woodland and Ruth Wolters.



Saturday, March 2, 2013

That's My King - Take At Least Once A Week













From Bonhoeffer's book Ethics, as quoted in the book Bonhoeffer, by Eric Metaxas

"Those who wish even to focus on the problem of Christian ethic are faced with an outrageous demand - from the outset they must give up, as inappropriate to this topic, the very two questions that led them to deal with the ethical problem: 'How can I be good?' and 'How can I do something good?' Instead they must ask the wholly other, completely different question: 'What is the will of God?'
pg 468 of Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas


"All things appear as in a distorted mirror if they are not seen and recognized in God."  Dietrich Bonhoeffer
pg 469 of Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas

Friday, March 1, 2013

Bonhoeffer Quotes

A state which includes within itself a terrorized church has lost its most faithful servant. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
pg 154  Bonhoeffer

Bonhoeffer's three conclusions - that the church must question the state, help the state's victims and work against the state, if necessary - were too much for almost everyone. But for him they were inescapable. In time he would do all three.
pg 155 Bonhoeffer

German Christians were convinced that if they bent their theology a bit, it wouldn't matter - the results would be all right in the end.  Many of them honestly believed that under Hitler the opportunities for evangelism would increase.
pg 155-156 Bonhoeffer


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Where Is Your Faith?



Let’s begin at the beginning.

In the beginning God

God made .....

God said ‘this is very good’


God created. He made it perfect. And then, then......
God gave it all to the creme de le creme of His creation - man.  Made in the image of God. Little gods actually.  Not God, but so similar in so many ways.

He gave it [His beautiful creation] to man to enjoy.  
We are supposed to enjoy this life.
It was created for us.  It was created for us to enjoy.
Adam and Eve were enjoying it.

You look there in Genesis and you’ll find that they spent a good portion of  their time walking around in this awesome garden visiting with God - the one who made them.  
But then something happened. Something came along that destroyed paradise. What was it?


Before all of this there had been a war in Heaven.  Lucifer - had a very high position in The Kingdom. He rebelled. He and 1/3 of the angels roared against God.  Who won?

God won. He threw satan out of The Kingdom of Heaven.

Satan watched all going on during creation.  He saw the crown of God’s creation.  Decided to strike.

He used what caused His downfall - 
What caused Lucifer’s downfall? What happened in him so that  he chose to fight against God?


Stinking Pride 
Any of you have a problem with Stinking Pride?  Just feel the hairs on the back of your neck if someone says something negative about you.  Oh yes, Stinking Pride is still a problem.

He lured Eve into being disobedient.  There was just one thing - one thing - that God told Adam and Eve to not do.  There were thousands, millions of ‘do’s’.  There was only one thing that was a ‘do not’.  And they both did it.

Satan hit the Pride button and they succumb. 

Kicked out of Paradise.  Things got hard. Generations of sinners followed. So few people wanted to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the evening.  That was still the desire of God’s heart. How can you hold the hand of God if you are covered with the filth of sin?  

Holy God - Sinful Man      Sorry that does not work.

Relationship broken.  Paradise gone. Sin ruling in the earth. What to do?


Okay, you know most of the Bible stories of how God reached out to the people; how He basically started over - Noah - Then Took one man - Abraham - to start again. Took one people - Israel - to reveal Himself to the rest of the world.  

Time and time again you will find in the OT that God did or did not do things so that His name would be exalted/honored/hallowed or that His name would not be defamed.

Ps 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want

He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.



People continued to fail - they just could not do it.

God clearly told the Israelites   I have chosen to bless you that others might see/know/ believe that I AM God and there is no other.
IF you obey me I will bless you and bless you and bless you. Other nations will come begging you to let them in on the secret.

IF you disobey I will bring sickness/disease/curses upon you.

You choose - it’s your choice - who will you serve? 

I put before you blessings and cursings - it’s your choice.

They made their choice - Stinking Pride won the day.  “I’ll do it my way.”
><<<<<><><<>><><>><<><><><><>><><>>><><>><


Sooooo   God says I’ll have to go down there and do it myself.

Jesus takes off His Kingly robes, removes the crown upon His head, sets aside all the power that created the universe, and humbled [opposite of pride] Himself [the King of Glory - The Mighty God] doing just the opposite of Lucifer.  


In total humility - the Almighty omnipotent, all-knowing  all-powerful God stepped out of His Heavenly Kingdom and entered our physical world as a helpless, vulnerable, baby - the same way you entered this earth.

I believe you know that story fairly well, so we’ll move on into Jesus' time on earth.

What did He do while He was physically on the earth?

He called a bunch of guys who were hanging out to come follow Him.  He walked by, said, ‘Come follow Me.’  And they got up and followed.  Pretty amazing when you think about that.  Would you have followed?  What if He had told you I’m going to the cross. I’ll be brutally beaten before that and then I’ll die on the cross?
Do you think they would have followed then?
Would you have followed Him then?     Mark 1:16-20

Will you follow Him now?  
I’m not talking about getting saved.  Will you truly follow Jesus - even when it’s hard?

Wherever He leads I’ll go

We have established that The Bible is True - right.
Okay, so when you read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, you learn from eye witness accounts what Jesus did on the earth.  This is basically Jesus life story being told 4 different times, by 4 different people, in 4 different ways, yet it all lines up.


So, what do we learn from those gospels?
Jesus taught people about the Kingdom of God. He mainly taught 12 guys, but there were thousands who heard his teachings at different times.  But, these 12 guys got it again and again and again.

Jesus did miracles. He did miracles to a variety of people in a variety of places. Different people saw different miracles. Who was there watching for everyone of those miracles?
Those same 12 guys. There were others who saw more than one or two but most likely those 12 men saw every one. Or, they at least knew about them from one of the other 12.


They heard Jesus teach and preach. They watched Jesus do miracles. He told them over and over about the Kingdom of Heaven.


Then He said, “Now you go and do what you have seen me doing.”   He gave them the power to do it.

And they did it.   Luke 9. Then in Luke 10 He sent out 70 more to do the same thing.   And they came back rejoicing. Why? They did the work that they had seen Jesus do. They were being like Jesus.  They were Jesus to a suffering world.  Not Jesus, but very much like Jesus.  Made in the image of God.  For what?  For His plans and His purposes to cast out demons, to heal the sick, to proclaim the Good News.  Yes, that is what is written in the Book of Truth that you say you believe.  You are to do these things.

Is it just the pastor who is to do these things?
Is it just the elders who are to do these things?
Is it just the deacons who are to do these things?
You are to do these things


Disciples struggled with this power
They struggled with this power.  At times they would not step up and act.  
The storm that was about the sink them.  [Matt 8:23-27]

A father bringing his son with epilepsy.  Son convulsed and throwing himself into the fire.  “I asked your disciples, they couldn’t do it.”[ Matt 17:14-21]

The feeding of 5,000 people with no food.    [Matt 14:13]
Jesus told his disciples ‘You do it.” 

What did Jesus say to His disciples, 
“What is it with you guys?  Are you ever going to get it?  Don’t you understand that you have the same power in you.  I have given it to you.” 

And there was at least one time they wanted to use their power to call down fire from Heaven to blitzkrieg a city that had rebuffed them.


Matt 17:14  Jesus critized disciples for lack of faith

So, that is what happened the whole time Jesus was on the earth.

He was teaching/training/showing disciples how to live on this earth.  He wanted them to pick up the ball and run with it.

They kept looking to him to do it.  Sort of like today.  The people sit and wait and expect the pastor to do it.  “You are the ‘called one’ - you do it.”  That’s the thinking in most churches. Is that the thinking here?

He taught them [specifically the 12, but also many more] through His words.
He taught them by example.
He told them to go and do it.

They did it  some times

Jesus became upset with them and called them ‘little faiths’.  
He wanted them to take what he had taught them and run with it.
They limped along and wanted to use it incorrectly at times.
They seemed to be getting it - sometimes

And then


Crucifixion


Jesus left


And then He rose again
Conquered death
Jesus was back - from the dead - 
WOW

But then He said, “I’m going away.  I have a lot of work for you to do. but wait.”

Then right before He ascended into Heaven, He said ‘wait’


What for?

Disciples were fired up now.  They are stoked. They are ready to go slay some giants.
They are gonna do some Heavenly stomping on some Hellish demons.

Jesus said   ‘Wait’
You need to ‘wait’ or you will abuse the power.  You will fail and falter and stumble and not get up unless you ‘wait’

Waiting for what?


Holy Spirit came


Are you ready to go fight some demons?
You can’t just go do some demon stomping.  You try that and you’ll get the same thing the seven sons of Sceva got.  They got their clothes ripped off and the demons rode them out of town.
You can not - CAN NOT - CAN NOT do this in your power.

And please don’t try it if you have unforgiveness in your heart.

Time and Time again we are told ‘forgive’ “I have forgiven you. You forgive”

You must forgive

Then you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit

What happened at Pentecost?
The fire came down. They were rejoicing. 120 of them came tumbling out of the upper room.  People heard this commotion, came running.  Watched these folks so full of excitement  - they proclaimed they were drunk.  They were - they were drunk on the Holy Spirit
Read Acts 2, then read it again.

So, then what happened.  They then went out.  Keep reading.  You’ll see Paul [satan’s man - killing people who walked in The Way] turned on his head.
 Paul became a follower of Jesus.
God worked through these people to proclaim the gospel

Paul was the ace but there were many others that we read about who were used to do the mighty works of God.  There are many, many, many more that we never read about who were also doing the mighty works of God.

But look at what Paul says about the ministry God gave to him:
I don’t do this in my power. I don’t do this with my eloquant words.  It is done in and through me because of the mighty power of God dwelling in me. [I Corin 2:4-5]
People see God’s power and they come to Jesus.

Where is that power today?  Where is the faith of Christians to see that power in their lives today?
Do you think God can do mighty works through you?
Do you think you can place your hands upon people, pray for them to be healed, and God will heal them.

It is a simple act of obedience.   
Theme of our church this year:
it is better to obey

How do you feel about obeying God?  

Is there anyone today who needs healing?

[Yes]

Is there anyone who needs to be delivered?

Is there anyone who has not forgiven someone? 
Forgive, be filled with the Holy Spirit and go forth into battle with the full armor of God. Know that you have been given authority by the One who has all authority - King Jesus.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Home is Where The Heart Is?

If it is true that home is where the heart is, 
what do you do when your heart is in 3 different places?


Spokane                                 Texas                          China


Ah, wait, I see the answer on the horizon.  There is a melody arising; their is a tune I'm a humming. I'm beginning to catch the drift and know the Truth of what is coming.
Wherever He leads I'll go.  

My heart is home in Jesus. That's where I must stay for the victory today. . . and the next . . . and the next.

Wherever He leads I'll go.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Bonhoeffer quote

'If you board the wrong train it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction.'  
 Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Lord's Prayer


     “Our Father Who Art In Heaven.”

    “ Yes?”
     
     “Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.”

     “But -- YOU called ME!”

     “Called you? No, I didn't call you. I'm praying. Our Father who art in Heaven.” 
    
      “There -- you did it again!”

     “Did what?”

     “Called ME. You said,"Our Father who art in Heaven." Well, here I am. What's on your mind?”

     “But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like fulfilling a duty.”

     “Well, all right. Go on.”

     “Okay, Hallowed be thy name.”

     “Hold it right there. What do you mean by that?”

     “By what?”

     “By "Hallowed be thy name?”

     “It means, it means . . good grief, I don't know what it means. How in the world should I know?  It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?”

     “It means honored, holy, wonderful.”

     “Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before. Thanks.
     “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

     “Do you really mean that?”

     “Sure, why not?”

     “What are you doing about it?”

     “Doing? Why, nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control of everything down here like you have up there. We're kinda in a mess down here you know.”
    
    “Yes, I know; but, have I got control of you?”

     “Well, I go to church.”

     “That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money --all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read?”

     “Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at church!”

     “Excuse ME. I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it. Like you -- for example.”

     “Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.”

     “So could I.”

     “I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free.”

     “Good. Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together -- You and ME. I'm proud of You.”

     “Look, Lord, if you don't mind, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.   Give us this day, our daily bread.”

     “You need to cut out the bread. You’re in China - enjoy the rice and noodles.

     “Hey, wait a minute! What is this? Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.”

     “Praying is a dangerous thing. You just might get what you ask for. Remember, you called ME -- and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep praying. ( . . pause . . ) Well, go on.”

     “I'm scared to.”

     “Scared? Of what?”

     “I know what you'll say.”

     “Try ME.”

     “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.”

     “What about Ann?”

     “See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories. She never paid back the money she owes me. I've sworn to get even with her!”

     “But -- your prayer -- What about your prayer?”

     “I didn't -- mean it.”

     “Well, at least you're honest. But, it's quite a load carrying around all that bitterness and resentment isn't it?”

     “Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her. Boy, have I got some plans for her. She'll wish she had never been born.”

     “No, you won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. You know how unhappy you are -- Well, I can change that.”

     “You can? How?”

     “Forgive Ann. Then, I'll forgive you; And the hate and the sin, will be Ann's problem -- not yours. You will have settled the problem as far as you are concerned.”

     “Oh, you know, you're right. You always are. And more than I want revenge, I want to be right with You . . (sigh). All right . all right . . I forgive her.”

     “There now! Wonderful! How do you feel?”

     “Hmmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all! In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight. I haven't been getting much rest, you know.”

     “Yeah, I know. But, you're not through with your prayer are you? Go on. 

Oh, all right.”
     “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

     “Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.”

     “What do you mean by that?”

     “You know what I mean.”
    
“Yeah. I know.”

     “Okay. Go ahead. Finish your prayer.”

     “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”

     “Do you know what would bring me glory -- What would really make me happy?”

     “No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you now. I've really made a mess of things. I want to truly follow you. I can see now how great that would be. So, tell me . . . How do I make you happy?”

     “YOU just did.”