NTM

Our house?

This is not a picture of our new home!   It is actually a photo which represents the beginning of another adventure!

As I drove my 4-wheeler down the wooded trail, my mind raced ahead to the project that we were about to undertake. Coming to a stop at the base of the hill, we unloaded the machetes and axes and prepared to hike with the others to the site of our new project.

Forging our way up the hill, I began to think of all the individuals that will hike the same trail next June and of all the missionaries that have welded their machetes and embraced the jungle in search for unreached people groups.

Jena and I pray that they come away challenged to take a serious look at missions instead of it just seeing it as another “cool experience.”

While hacking our way through the last undergrowth, we stepped out into a clearing the length of a football field and half as wide. This field, etched into the side of the hill and hidden from the rest of the world, will be the sight of our new interactive tribal experience at the 320-acre New Tribes Missionary Training Center.   God opened the door for us to host a summer youth festival on campus, allowing thousands to learn about missions.  This tribal setting will also be the location of many other groups catching a glimpse of what missions is all about.

After hiking up to a village, they will experience what tribal life is like, from walking through huts to hearing people actually speaking in a tribal language.  In addition, there will be an interactive course that will share what tribal church planting entails and the need for missionaries in all parts of the world.  All this in hopes of challenging people to be a part of what God is doing worldwide.

What part does God want you to play?

There are so many things happening in our lives. We want to share some stories and snapshots with you.

Shots-Friday, January 30th
Our baby girl, McKenna, turned 5! She is a ball of fun and is so creative and expressive! She memorized two chapters in Psalms these last couple of months – Psalms 23 and Psalms 100. On Tuesday, February 10th, she got her kindergarten shots (all 4 of them!) and cried only on the last one. On Wednesday, February 11th, she went to her first dentist appointment. She did great, but has a few small cavities. I’m going to have to book her an agent to keep her on time to all her appointments! 

Sailing-Thursday, February 5-9th
Carter and I were able to go with my good friend Tina Griffin on a Focus on the Family Mother/Daughter cruise to Mexico! Tina is a speaker on “Lies the Media Presents to our Young People.” She was one of the VIP speakers. She kindly invited Carter and I to join her on board! We had a great time. We got to meet lots of neat people: Candace Cameron(from Full House), Hannah Montana’s sister(real sister), Big Daddy Weave and band, Joel Craig from the Newsboys, Aiysha Woods, and many authors of teenage books from Focus on the Family. If you would like to see cruise pictures check out this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=214802&id=645460122&l=f6398

Salvation-Friday, February 6, 2009
Braden led one of his friends to the Lord, his name is Shane. Braden had a sleepover and they were shooting hoops at the gym. Our neighbor, Levi Richards, who is also Braden’s friend, was there too and he asked out of the blue, “Shane, are you a Christian?” Shane said no and then Braden asked him if he would like to go to heaven. Shane said, “Yes!” Braden then asked him if he wanted to repeat after him or say his own prayer of salvation. Shane said he would repeat after Braden. They knelt under the basketball hoop, bowed their heads, and Shane asked Jesus to be his Savior! I was humbled by my 5th grader as he gave his friend the best gift of all- the invitation to SALVATION! I thank God for the opportunity to continue to serve our precious Jesus and that our 3 kids know Him as their Savior also!

Sharing-Sunday, February 22nd
Adam and I have the opportunity to share at Ridgewood Baptist Church Sunday School. With all the changes in ministry and our move this summer, we want to update our church family. There will be many adventures, challenges and blessings ahead for us. Pray that we recognize each on for what it is!

This week we thought we would let you read the testimony of Silas. He is a young, newly married man with a new baby. He and his wife Rita are a very nice couple. Silas is on fire for the things of the LORD. This is what he shared at our first Sunday evening believer’s worship time.

"Some of you know that my wife was hard in the beginning. Me, I heard this talk and knew right away that this talk was for me. Then when I heard the part about the Redeemer and what He did for me, I knew that He did this for me. But my wife was not like that. She would listen, but her inner being was hard as a stone.

One night our little baby got really sick in the night. He was burning up with a hot fever, and starting to pass out because he was so sick. It was after we had heard the story about a baby in a nearby believing village. In this village, the parents prayed to God because they had no medicine. God chose to heal that little one. We were in the same situation. It was the middle of the night and our house was so full of people that I could not even roll over and pray. It was raining outside and there was a lot of noise in my house.

So I just stood up and pressed my nose against the house post and called out to God. I can do that now and He hears me because I am His kid. So that is what I did. I don’t know why but at that moment I felt like half of my body was getting rained on. I got back under my mosquito net and our little one fell back asleep. In the middle of the night his fever broke. My wife got up in the morning and our baby was still alive and even doing well since the fever broke. My wife turned to me and said, ‘Silas, I believe. This Great Creator Being that you are so excited about – I believe. He is all powerful. We have seen His power this night.’

Now, she is in God’s family as well and I love it that we are walking together in the same family. And when we die, we won’t go to the everlasting big fire.
No, we will go to heaven."

People tend to believe, support, and endorse people they like. If you want to increase your ministry partnerships, you need to increase your likeability factor. Tim Adams defines likeability as “the ability to create positive attitudes in other people through the delivery of emotional and physical benefits.”  Your success in ministry is highly determined by other people’s choices about you. Those choices about you are determined by your relationships, and your relationships are determined by your likeability. People tend to like people like themselves. Learn to practice the following tips. You’ll find that learning how to be more likeable will enhance your ministry.

1. Compliment others frequently. Mark Twain said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” How do you feel when someone pays you a compliment? Good – don’t you? Make people feel good that they are around you. Become an uplifter of people and you will be uplifted.

2. Practice random acts of kindness. It’s the unexpected that makes them great. While a present on your wife’s birthday is nice, a present given randomly “just because” is greater because it’s not expected. These unexpected acts of kindness have a far bigger impact than anything you can imagine.

3. Show an attitude of gratitude. At times missionaries “expect” people to support their ministry. This attitude is detrimental to all ministry in general. Regularly show you appreciate someone by saying “thank you” in multiple ways. How do you feel when you are appreciated? The value you place on others will enhance your relationships.

4. Connect with the eyes. When you make eye contact, you communicate the basic human need: the feeling of importance. People always feel more important when you look at them when they are talking.

5. Try smiling more. Kids have mastered the art of the smile. Adults tend to forget it takes more muscles and energy to frown than it does to smile. When you smile, you show the world around you that you are a friend. Give it a shot. See what happens. I bet you will be smiling!

6. Communicate with powerful words. There is nothing more welcoming than hearing positive and empowering words. Would you rather hear, “How can I help” or “What do you want?” One is empowering. The other is abrasive. Confucius said, “Words are the voice of the heart.” What’s your heart say to those around you?

7. Watch your tone. When you communicate, how you say something carries more weight than what you say. Let your speech be seasoned with salt that it may provide grace to the hearers.

8. Actively listen. Frank Tyger said, “Friendship consists of a willing ear.” Ever finish someone else’s sentences? Or interrupt while another is talking? Or think about what you will say next? All of the above do not endear you to your audience. Listen to others until they stop talking.

9. Show some feeling.  Human beings want to talk with other human beings. Don’t be scared to be vulnerable. Sharing your life experiences – the good, bad, and ugly – enhances your relationships because you become relatable.

10. Be humble.  Humility attracts. Pride repels. No one likes a know-it-all because everyone knows you don’t know it all. When you portray that attitude, you will not be believed when it matters.  Instead, practice the art of learning to say “I don’t know.”

11. Study people.  Learn about others. Ask questions. Express genuine interest in other people’s lives. People have a great time with you when you talk about them more than yourself.

Are you likable? Do you bring joy where ever you go or just when you go? Don’t underestimate the power of change. Be willing to implement these tips into your life and watch your ministry effectiveness increase. What have you got to lose? Nothing…except your influence!

You must understand that your money is not yours – it’s God’s. In fact, your anything is not yours – it’s God’s. It’s a matter of stewardship. God must think money matters are important because He deals with the subject over 800 times in Scripture. God talks about money matters more than faith, hope, and love combined. More than sin and righteousness. More than heaven and hell. In spite of that, many believers view money as a necessary evil. However, that is faulty thinking. Money is a matter of stewardship.

We either have too little or struggle with others that have too much (which is only when you have too little).  We tend to manage it poorly.   We spend it spontaneously.

The following statistics from Dave Ramsey’s website highlight our struggle:

• Marital Problems – 37 percent (the highest rate) of marital problems derive from financial situations
• Cash Flow – 70 percent of all consumers live paycheck to paycheck, meaning they run out of money before they run out of month
• Savings – The average family would have to use a credit card to pay a $1,500 unexpected expense (ex: home or car repair).
• Retirement – Nearly half of all Americans (46%) have less than $10,000 saved for their retirement.

What does all of this mean as a believer?  God says that He’ll take care of me but does that mean I should be financially ignorant?  Am I sharing these stats to frighten you and get you to worry about money?  By no means, but I do believe that as believers we should set the example to the world about money matters.  Money is a matter of stewardship.  But how can I be a good steward?

The Word of God actually teaches believers to be good stewards of their money.  I want to emphasize 5 Biblical principles that show us how to be good stewards.

Principle 1: Be responsible with the little things.
Luke 16:10,11 tells us:  “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?”

You might say “little” is right – I don’t have any money. Do you realize that regardless of how you define “little”, you are still told to be trustworthy with it? Start small. Handle what you’ve got responsibly. Be trustworthy. If you can be trusted with the way you use your money, then you can be trusted with greater things.  If you abuse worldly things, why would things be any different with spiritual gifts? If you can’t handle something that is temporary and transitory, how are you expected to manage true riches?  Being unfaithful in earthly matters is evidence that you would be unfaithful also in much greater affairs. It appears from this verse that God uses money as a test of our management and stewardship skills before entrusting us with spiritual things.

Principle 2:  Keep your priorities straight.
Matt. 6:24 says,  ”No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Many people use this verse to prove that money needs to be despised – that in order to live for God you must be willing to be poor; however, in the proper context, it is emphasizing priorities. If your pursuit of money becomes the highest priority in your life, you need a check up from the neck up. You serve that which you love. Love for money will drive you away from God (1 Tim. 6:10).   However, loving God will cause you to not make money your primary concern in life.  Either God is the object of your trust or something else is.  Spurgeon says that “You can live for this world, or live for the next; but to live equally for both is impossible.”   Jesus tells us in Matt. 6:21: “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

Principle 3:  Become a generous giver.
2 Cor. 9:6-8: “Remember this – a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”

In the temple, the Jews had two chests for giving. One was necessary – what the law required. The other was for the free-will offerings. To escape judgment some would grudgingly give what they were obligated to give; but others would give cheerfully for the love of God and to help a need. Related to what the law required, nothing is said; they simply did it. But related to the free-will offerings, much is said; God loves them. The benefit of giving is lost to the giver when he does it with a grumbling heart.

This is the principle of sowing and reaping. No one expects to reap unless he has sown. Good stewards give and they do so generously with a proper attitude. Good stewards are hilarious givers (the true background of the word used).

Principle 4:  Stay out of debt.
Proverbs 22:7 states “Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.”

Does the Bible really discourage debt?  Does God really want you to pay your debts off and avoid debt?  Romans 13:8 says to  “Owe no man anything, but to love one another.”  When you are in debt, you are at the mercy of another.  You are spending money you have not earned yet.  Matthew Henry said, “Some sell their liberty to gratify their luxury.”  What’s the biggest negative consequence of debt?  Most say “compound interest”.  I believe it is “stress”.   Whatever it is, the bottom line regardless of your income is to earn more than you spend!

Principle 5:  Invest for future needs.
Proverbs 21:20: “The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.”

The question then is: are you living like a fool?  The wise have abundance because of their choices.  It takes diligence and care, but it is good stewardship.  Wisdom teaches you to proportion your expenses to your income.  Too many people spend more than they make. This is foolishness.  God wants you to be wise stewards and save for future needs, to set something back for safekeeping.   In order words, God wants you to use your head when it comes to money.

Proverbs 13:22 tells us: “Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.”  How do you handle your finances?  You may say, “ I’m just trying to get by – I’m not even thinking about my future grandkids!”  When you are foolish and unwise with your resources, you will not leave any lasting inheritance – whether financial or influencial.    The US donated enough beans to a starving country to feed that nation for at least 100 years. The problem was they gave it in the form of seeds.  The crop lasted only one harvest because they ate it all and did not keep some back to plant for a future harvest. God wants us to make a difference, financially, in our families.

To conclude, let’s recap the 5 Biblical principles. Remember, it’s God’s money to start with.  You have to understand that principle. Be responsible with little. Think right about money.  Then follow these principles:

1) Give.
Practice the Biblical principle of giving first back to God what is His (church, missions, a need).

2) Save
Practice the Biblical principle of saving for the future(savings, future needs, retirement).

3) Live
Use the rest to live on (paying bills, clothes, food, entertainment, etc).

That’s wise stewardship!  God’s principles always work.

For more helpful resources, I encourage you to study your Bible and discover what else God says about finances. Then check out www.daveramsey.com and www.crosswalk.com.  Also read these books: Trust God for your Finances by Jack Hartman and Give Yourself a Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.

John Deere got it right:   ‘Plant it and it will grow.’    More importantly, God’s Word, in the book of Galatians, reminds us of this powerful truth:  "Don’t be misled – you cannot mock the justice of God.   You will always harvest what you plant.   Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature.   But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.  So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.   At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.   Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone – especially to those in the family of faith." (Gal. 6:7-10 NLT)

It’s a new year.   We all know that ministry can be tough.  Let’s renew our minds today on some truth about God’s universal law of sowing and reaping.   

First, you need to remember that you reap only if you sow.    In a world that wants instant results, it’s important to remember that you must sow something if you want to reap something.    It means that if you want a harvest, you must sow the seeds.  It means that you must serve others without regard to your own interests.   In this new year, remember God’s promise of a harvest to those that sow the seeds of faithful service. 

Second, you need to remember that you reap what you sow.  Plant an apple seed; harvest an apple, not an orange.  Most of the time I have heard this phrase used in a negative context; however, the positive result is also true.      Sow seeds of faith, hope and love and you will see the fruit of your labor evidenced in your life and ministry.  You will reap what you sow.    In this new year, remember to sow seeds that you will be happy to reap. 

Third, you need to remember that you reap in a different season than you sow.   It would be absurd for a farmer to plant seeds and then dig them up daily to see if they have grown.   In ministry and in life, you rarely see results right away.   Keep plugging away.   Don’t grow weary with doing good.   In this new year, remember simply to plant it and God will do the growing.

Fourth, you need to remember that you reap significantly and proportionately more than you sow.   It’s been said that you can count the seeds in an apple but you can’t count the apples in a seed.   God’s law of sowing and reaping states that you always reap more than you have planted.   The harvest is always bigger than you would naturally expect.   In this new year, remember that your time is coming.   The harvest will be reaped.

Fifth, you need to remember that you reap the full harvest only if you don’t quit.    Too often people quit just before the harvest is reaped.   Remember that God is not mocked.   Someone will reap a harvest, even if it is not you.   Just make sure you are around long enough to see the harvest.  In this new year, remember to stay consistent and steady.   Serving God is always worth it.   He’s always faithful.

Finally, you need to remember that it’s never too soon to sow for a future harvest.   Maybe you have regrets about some choices that you made last year.  It’s time to move on.   Life is too short to miss out on future blessing because of past failure.   In this new year, remember God’s grace and plant a future that you will not regret.

God is not mocked.   His laws remain true.   Sow.   Reap.