Be Like an Ant

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.  Learn from their ways and become wise!  though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.  But you, lazybones how long will you sleep?  When will you wake up?  A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.  Proverbs 6:6-11 (NLT)

Photo by grytr

This was part of my daily reading plan and it struck me how relevant this passage is to today's current reality.  In the midst of economic hard times, political upheaval and revolutions, this lesson struck a cord with me - be like an ant.

Regardless of who is in power or leadership over me (be it a prime minister, a boss, another authority figure or lack of ), I need to be working hard and doing what I need to do to bring food to the table.   And I can't help wonder if these instructions were followed by the masses - would it solve some of the problems that we are collectively facing?

The problems are multi-faceted and more complex to be solved in any one way, but I think an ant work ethic would do away with an entitlement attitude, excess spending on luxurious items, and a proper focus on human life over materialistic things.  More importantly, the church needs to have an ant work ethic in focusing on what Jesus is all about - His mission to bring that one lost sheep back into the pen.  

Prayer 41

Our prayer is to be at the epicenter of an unprecedented move of God in the city of Halifax marked by glorious conversions and supernatural life transformation. To this end we ask for: faith- to believe it is possible, passion- to care about lost people, and boldness- to play our part.

What I first made as a casual commitment to prayer is quickly becoming something that is forcing me to be more serious in prayer.  I have always prayed, but praying for one thing over a specific period of time in a community of like-minded people via different avenues of praying that prayer is new.  And I am liking it more and more.

Praying for a one hour period is part of this commitment and as I was praying this morning, I wondered why God "waits" for prayer before acting.  This was evident in the Bible when God waited for Elijah to pray for no rain (James 5:17, 1 Kings 17:1), and then for rain (James 5:18, 1 Kings 19:42-44) even though he declared rain was coming (1 Kings 18:1).  

I wondered because I was praying that there would be "an unprecedented move of God" - why do we have to pray it?  God is capable of doing this on his own.  But I realized that even though God can do so on his own it is for our benefit that we are included in God's work.  By praying, we have a whole lot to gain - faith, passion and boldness.  Why do you think God wants us to pray?

2,222 out of 6,838

Recently, I found something out that staggered my mind. 

• There are 6,838 unreached* people groups in the world which represents 2.74 billion people in this world.  
• In one South Asian country alone, there are 2,222 unreached people groups (32% of all unreached people groups) representing 1.1 billion people (40% of all people who are unreached in the world) who don't know the truth about Jesus Christ

Find out more at:

www.joshuaproject.net

*"Unreached" means that the indigenous people do not have enough people or resources to help their own people hear and discover Jesus Christ.

Mobile Jesus

Helping hand by Andrew Dallos

Last night I went out with my church to walk around downtown to pray for, care for, and give sandwiches to those in need or for those who asked us to.  It was an amazing time - here are my thoughts on the night:

• I found it hilarious that people thought we were on a pub crawl because we all wore the same t-shirt that said Deep Water (our church name) on the front and "Ask us how we can pray for you" on the back.  It started up a great conversation.  It was a great way to redeem the we all wear the same t-shirt phenomena.
• Being out there creates opportunities to share Christ.  As we prayed for people, listened to people's stories, they reciprocated by asking questions on why we are doing this.  
• Doing it for one night reminded me that this shouldn't be a once a week thing, but a lifestyle to love and care for people with the love of Christ
• I can't love people without the love of Christ because I know that on my own, it will become a duty and something I may resent to do day in and day out
• The more people, the better!  

Definitely will do it again.  You want to join me?

Church is Not for You

Truth, when heard in clear, biblical context, is beautiful - even when it may be hard to hear. My pastor laid it out to us today - church is not for the saved, the Spirit-filled, the Bible verse memorizer, the ones who know they are going to spend eternity with Jesus in heaven.

No, church is for the lost because "the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." Often times churches are planted, continued, and programed to keep the "flock" happy. As a result, what is bred are self-centered "Christians" who seek out churches who meet their needs. And the church who does that has lost what churches are called to do in the first place - to be seekers and searchers for those who are lost - just like Jesus who sought and found Zacchaeus.

What amazed me was that my pastor then went to challenge those who are not a seeker or a searcher to find another church. I am glad to be part of this community of Christ followers.

Is your church for the lost? Is your church made of seekers and searchers of the lost? Am I/you a seeker and searcher for the lost?