Beware Ministry Machismo

 The following is a quote from a book called "Zeal without Burnout" with the subtitle "Seven Keys to a Lifelong ministry of sustainable sacrifice."

I found myself greatly bothered by others in ministry with long prayer letters which were really bragamonies (Bragging testimonies). Then I discovered I was the worst offender and in my pride I was guilty on all counts. This quote really opened my eyes:

"Until recently, I lived in the centre of London, where, as in many vibrant cities, there is a somewhat cocky workplace machismo. "I'm working harder than you," is the culture, "and therefore I am more important than you. Indeed, it is necessary for me to let you know how hard I work, for only then will you truly appreciate how important I must be."
      It is not surprising that we can detect this culture seeping from the world into the church. We get kudos from how hard we are seen to be working.

Please pray for me. It's been very, very busy for the past few years. I do have to work, long hours, travel a lot, get rather little sleep, and often have to sacrifice my day off.

That is what I say with my lips, but the subtext in my heart may be this:

I want you to realize that I and my ministry are very 
important - and probably more important than you and your ministry. 

Such ministry machismo is proud and dangerous. To neglect sleep, Sabbaths, friendships and inward renewal is not heroism but hubris. It is to claim that I am a level or two above the normal members of the human race. When a fellow-Christian lets slip how very hard they are working, and that they haven't had a proper day off for a while, we need to find a way of saying to them (in love), "You are behaving like an arrogant fool."

     What is more, they will not just harm themselves. A friend in ministry wrote to me that one of the hardest things in his near-breakdown was "feeling like I was being expected to work at least as hard as I was, rather than being encouraged to be realistic and take a rest."

     I am so grateful that when I was an assistant minister, I was under a wise leader who understood this so well. He had a remarkable ability to work very hard. He guarded his days off and was very disciplined, and he certainly could work harder than me.

     But he never put pressure on me to work as hard as he did.

When I needed a break, he actively encouraged me to take as much break as I needed. I knew he thought none the worse of me for that. I thank God for that godly example and oversight. Those of us in leadership should try to emulate with the expectations we lay - or do not lay - on other."''''''
                                                                                                        Christopher Ash

Zeal without burnout by Christopher Ash, The Good Book Company 2016, pages 77 bottom to 79

Mindsets are powerful things but also very dangerous tools of the enemy Satan. If He can get us thinking a certain way he can cause many problems and divisions. He's being doing that for years.

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!...Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”  Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky..." Philippians 2:5-16 NIV

 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:15

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Father forgive me a servant with a prideful heart. I ask of you to change my heart that has wrong motives and false mindsets. Help me to have the mindset of Christ Jesus. Help me to do everything without grumbling and thinking I'm working harder than others and more tired than others. Help me to get my eyes off others and keep them on you. Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Thank you LORD. In Jesus name, Amen.

Watched a documentary of Donald J. Trump. I used to work for a Real Estate Trainer. We used training materials that have roots from a church in New York. It was sales techniques. The Pastor (Reverend Dr. Norman Vincent Peale) was the originator of the Power of Positive Thinking movement. Not all bad stuff but the flesh of man has taken it for greed and power purposes and have built empires. Dale Carnegie, Tony Robins, Mike Ferry, Robert Schuller, John C. Maxwell, Stephan R. Covey, Donald J. Trump and still more have all sat under this mans teaching. Most mega church pastors are loaded with seasoning from this teaching. All have mastered the art of manipulation. The company I worked for taught verbal hypnosis and Neural Linguistic Programming for closing sales (NLP) Its a psychological term that is used in suggestive reprogramming of mental patients usually but it has become a powerful tool in getting people to buy what they don't want. The documentary I watched showed a Democratic Donald J. Trump with the views of a liberal and a master manipulator and negotiator. America is blinded right now. Trump is best friends with the Clintons. Romans 16:17-18 "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and AVOID THEM. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by SMOOTH WORDS and FLATTERING SPEECH deceive the hearts of the simple." Colossians 2:4 and 8 "Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words....8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. I am asking my family and friends to please truly pray about who to support and vote for in this coming election. I have heard many even evangelicals say God is setting up the end times and He'll place into power the guy he wants. That is the enemy talking. We've been in the end times since Christ ascended into heaven. We must remain vigilant and occupy until he comes. Don't give up. prayerfully vote wisely. God bless 

Love Never Fails

Serving the Homeless is sometimes fun, sometimes difficult, and sometimes hard to walk away from. Not all homeless want help. Ministries all want to help those who want help. Here in Japan, I have found three men that are on their own and really like it that way even when the temps dip below freezing. I can see their hands with the borderline frostbite. They say they are fine, They say they don't need anything, They say..."No thank you." So a few months ago I was thinking of cutting my losses and jumping ship. Go and find some new homeless who want help and who need ministering so I began to pray about this. Then in our Wednesday night Bible study we are currently in the book of  Numbers. In Chapter 14: The Israelites were stubborn people and fearful and didn't trust God. They rejected God's plan, God's promise land, God's protection. They wanted to go back to Egypt. Fear blinds us beyond our own ability to reason. So too the homeless fear the future and the discomfort of now is better than facing the unknown. God condemned the 20 somethings and above to 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. It was their choice. They even said in their complaining "If we had only died in the wilderness it would have been better." So God gave them their hearts desire.
     Then we have Chapter 15, the Israelites are down, they are on death row, they are realizing they missed the opportunity.
 But God in his grace says, "I want you to remember when you do come into the Land I am giving you don't forget to offer up sacrifices of thanksgiving. That is God's grace. He is with them for the long run. But they rejected him. God in his grace is still supplying manna and water and meat. Their clothes are not wearing out. The pillar of cloud by day and fire by night is still there. Life will continue. It is amazing how blessed these people were by God. So as a ministry how can I give up on those whom God has called me to serve? They are his and
So as I minister to these men. I am not going to give up on them until 1. The Lord clearly says to. 2. They ask me to leave them alone. or 3. I die. The hard thing that is coming will be when I have different homeless who want help. I'll be tempted to go where the work is. God did not forget the Israelites and may he help me to not give up on these guys. I've shared the gospel we've read the scripture together for two years. They are more educated about the Bible than 98% of the rest of the population of Japan. I'm serious. Most Japanese people have never read the Bible. Most even own one but they have never read it cover to cover. Sad part is many evangelical pastors haven't done it either. Serving the homeless is not a right, or a call, but it is a ministry I am privileged to do. God calls someone to serve Him. I say yes sir how can I serve you? He puts a desire in my heart to go and love on these guys. I bought this man $40.00 boots last year. He hawked them for food. I'm not mad I love him. I can only come one day a week. We offer them winter clothes they take what they need. I don't get upset because they reject what I offer. I offer him help to get out of this situation but he's not ready. He is fearful. The Israelites were fearful. They rejected what God had to offer. He didn't give up but still even to this day pursue them with a love that hasn't changed on iota.  Paul says it is the love of Christ that constrains us. God has given me a heart to stand by and be ready to help when they want it. Love does not: 1Corinthians 13:5-8a "...Love does not behave rudely, love does not seek it's own... Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things. Love never fails."

Easter time exalt the Christ our Savior and King

Anemic Christians are anemic because they are never shown that the preeminence of Christ is the most important aspect of our faith. They don't learn that Christ came to earth as a seed of God placed in the womb of the virgin. They don't learn of "The Word", Christ, became flesh and dwelt among us. They don't learn that Christ purposefully died a brutal death. They don't learn that Christ being God although taking our sin into the death realm He could not stay dead as death has no grip on Him being God. They are not taught Christ rose to ascend to a much higher calling as a co-ruler with God the Father on the throne at the right hand. Christ is our personal advocate. Christ is our personal Savior. Christ is our King. Christ is our Lord and master. Christ justifies us. Christ purifies us. Christ sanctifies us. Christ holds us, He lifts us, He embraces us, He fills us, He overflows us with his love, He gives gifts to us, He has given us of His riches. He loves us, Oh how he loves us. Rise up and stand to applaud this Mighty King who deserves our glory and honor of Him. He deserves our praise. He deserves our attention, He deserves our Face time, He deserves our prayers, He deserves our respect and to stand for him, He deserves our voice to proclaim his truth. He deserves us to shout from the roof tops and mountain tops the glories of his name. Let's forget our troubles for a moment and let's look at the mightiest military commander in all the universe who is suited up and ready to mount to bring his people home. Ride Jesus Ride. YES and AMEN

Shunting away from the Holy Spirit

Mihoko and I came back from a long day in Tokyo. Visiting some great people. So we are on a subway and the young driver was in a hurry. Until he accidentally overshot the safety doors at one station. They have on the subways a double set of doors. I call them the anti-suicide doors. But the train doors must line up with the suicide doors so they will open. The driver had to apologize and back up the train. This reminded me of a quote by Andrew Murray in his book "Absolute Surrender." 
You all know what shunting is on a railway. A locomotive with its train may be run in a certain direction, and the points at some place may not be properly opened or closed, and unobservingly it is shunted off to the right or to the left. And if that takes place, for instance, on a dark night, the train goes in the wrong direction, and the people might never know it until they have gone some distance.
And just so God gives Christians the Holy Spirit with this intention, that every day all their life should be lived in the power of the Spirit. A man cannot live one hour a godly life unless by the power of the Holy Ghost. I may be very diligent and doing a great deal, and yet all the time it is more the work of human flesh than of God’s Spirit. What a solemn thought, that man can, without noticing it, be shunted off from the line of the Holy Ghost on to the line of the flesh; that he can be most diligent and make great sacrifices, and yet it is all in the power of the human will! Andrew Murray "Absolute Surrender"

Maybe your praying for an open door looking too far ahead and the door is right there but you have over shot the door because of speed and prideful expectation. Maybe you need to back up and resynchronize with the Holy Spirit and watch the doors open.   

Books of the Bible in Japanese

 

旧約聖書
kyuu yaku sei sho
The Old Testament

法律 LAW

創世記 sou sei ki - Genesis  
出エジプト記 shutsu ejiputo ki - Exodus  
レビ記 rebi ki - Leviticus  
民数記 min suu ki - Numbers  
申命記 shin mei ki - Deuteronomy 
 

歴史HISTORY 
ヨシュア記 yoshua ki - Joshua  
士師記 shi ji ki - Judges 
ルツ記 rutsu ki - Ruth  
サムエル記第一 samueru ki dai ichi - I Samuel  
サムエル記第二 samueru ki dai ni - II Samuel  
列王記第一 retsu ou ki dai ichi - I Kings 
列王記第二 retsu ou ki dai ni - II Kings 
歴代誌第一 reki dai shi dai ichi - I Chronicles 
歴代誌第二 reki dai shi dai ni - II Chronicles  
エズラ記 ezura ki - Ezra  
ネヘミア記 nehemia ki - Nehemiah  
エステル記 esuteru ki - Esther 
 

詩と知恵POETRY 
ヨブ記 yobu ki - Job 
詩篇 shi hen - Psalms 
箴言 shin gen - Proverbs  
伝道者の書 den dou sha no sho - Ecclesiastes 
雅歌 ga ka - The Song of Solomon 
 

主要な預言者MAJOR PROPHETS 
イザヤ書 izaya sho - Isaiah  
エレミア書 eremia sho - Jeremiah  
哀歌 ai ka - Lamentations  
エゼキエル書 ezekieru sho - Ezekiel  
ダニエル書 danieru sho - Daniel 
 

小預言者MINOR PROPHETS 
ホセア書 hosea sho - Hosea  
ヨエル書 yoeru sho - Joel  
アモス書 amosu sho - Amos  
オバデア書 obadea sho - Obadiah
ヨナ書 yona sho - Jonah  
ミカ書 mika sho - Micah
ナホム書 nahomu sho - Nahum  
ハバクク書 habakuku sho - Habakkuk  
ゼパニア書 zebania sho - Zephaniah  
ハガイ書 hagai sho - Haggai  
ゼカリア書 zekaria sho - Zechariah  
マラキ書 maraki sho - Malachi  

新約聖書
shin yaku sei sho
The New Testament

福音書と使徒 GOSPELS

マタイの福音書 matai no fuku in sho - Matthew  
マルコの福音書 maruko no fuku in sho - Mark 
 ルカの福音書 ruka no fuku in sho - Luke  
ヨハネの福音書 yohane no fuku in sho - John  
使徒の働き shito no hataraki - Acts 

 

行動書簡PAUL'S EPISTLES 
ローマ人への手紙 ro-ma jin e no tegami - Romans  
コリント人への手紙第一 korinto jin e no tegami dai ichi - I Corinthians  
コリント人への手紙第二 korinto jin e no tegami dai ni - II Corinthians  
ガラテア人への手紙 garatea jin e no tegami - Galatians 
エペソ人への手紙 epeso jin e no tegami - Ephesians  
ピリピ人への手紙 piripi jin e no tegami - Philippians  
コロサイ人への手紙 korosai jin e no tegami - Colossians 
テサロニケ人への手紙第一 tesaronike jin e no tegami dai ichi - I Thessalonians  
テサロニケ人への手紙第二 tesaronike jin e no tegami dai ni - II Thessalonians  
テモテへの手紙第一 temote e no tegami dai ichi - I Timothy  
テモテへの手紙第二 temote e no tegami dai ni - II Timothy  
テトスへの手紙 tetosu e no tegami - Titus  
ピレモンへの手紙 piremon e no tegami - Philemon 

 

渤海書簡PASTORALEPISTLES 
ヘブル人への手紙 heburu jin e no tegami - Hebrews  
ヤコブの手紙 yakobu no tegami - James  
ペテロの手紙第一 petero no tegami dai ichi - I Peter 
 ペテロの手紙第二 petero no tegami dai ni - II Peter  
ヨハネの手紙第一 yohane no tegami dai ichi - I John  
ヨハネの手紙第二 yohane no tegami dai ni - II John  
ヨハネの手紙第三 yohane no tegami dai san - III John  
ユダの手紙 yuda no tegami - Jude 
ヨハネの黙示録 yohane no moku shi roku - Revelation 

  

A surrendered heart by a transformed mind

First of all I mean no harm or ill will in this. I am thankful for the Japanese Bible versions we have. I do believe it is the Word of God. I am seeing that the difficulty lies in Culture and etymological nuances that lead to misconceptions. My apologies if offense is taken.

In Romans 12:1&2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 そういうわけですから、兄弟たち。私は、神のあわれみのゆえに、あなたがたにお願いします。あなたがたのからだを、神に受け入れられる、聖い、生きた供え物としてささげなさい。それこそ、あなたがたの霊的な礼拝です。

2 この世と調子を合わせてはいけません。いや、むしろ、神のみこころは何か、すなわち、何が良いことで、神に受け入れられ、完全であるのかをわきまえ知るために、心の一新によって自分を変えなさい。(Shin Kai Yaku)
 
καὶ μὴ συσχηματίζεσθε τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ ἀλλὰ μεταμορφοῦσθε τῇ ἀνακαινώσει τοῦ νοός ὑμῶν, εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ εὐάρεστον καὶ τέλειον (Strongs text on blueletterbible.com)

This is where we were studying on Wednesday night. In verse two the word in the Greek is "Nous": mind. In Greek; heart is kardia.  Now in Japanese culture 心の (Kokoro no) is also mind using the kanji for heart or the center of emotions. But also 気 (Ki) is mind in Japanese. It is not a translation error but as Jonathan said a nuance that fits more culturally. Although, a new Japanese believer didn't think so. As I am pointing to my mind cause the text says mind they are wondering why I am not pointing to my heart?

Now in Japanese Culture, which I am very ignorant of. Yes I admit my faults at least my wife tells me to do that, I have learned through this that the center of thinking is their heart. Japanese are very emotional I have found very passionate but are very good at masking the true heart and rendering a stoic heart. Anyway, I have over spoken already and will not address this anymore.