Seasons & Places

As Dorcas & I prepare to head to Orlando, Florida, USA, on sabbatical, two verses keep guiding us all along the way:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) - "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."

Dorcas and I believe that our season in Lima, Peru, has ended, at least for now, and perhaps only temporarily, for a few months, depending on how God guides us, and depending on what God tells us to do while we are on sabbatical in Orlando.

Joshua 1:3 (NIV) - "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses."

Dorcas and I claim the same promise that God made to Moses and to Joshua, whether our feet are in Orlando, or back in Lima, or anywhere else in this big world!

Keep checking back here for new blog posts and tweets from Orlando starting this week!

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Earthquake In Chile

Please pray for our friends and neighbors just to the south of Peru, in Chile, where early this morning they suffered a devastating earthquake that measured 8.8 on the Richter Scale. At least 147 people are already reported dead in the first few hours after the killer quake.

We will be doing all that we can do to help out our friends in Chile before we travel to Orlando.

Isaiah 49:13 (NIV) - "For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones."

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Be You

When I attended Boston Univeristy in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, about a quarter of a century ago (yikes!), you could go to the bookstore and buy a red button to show your school pride and to make both a fashion and a personal statement at Boston University (BU). The button read, "Be You."

BU.

Be You.

It's really good advice in both life and in ministry.

Be you. Don't try to imitate anyone else. Don't try to imitate another pastor or ministry leader. If you do, you'll only wind up being a cheap copy of the original.

Be You.

That's who God wants You to Be.

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Lima & Orlando

My wife, Dorcas, and I are going to Orlando, Florida, USA, for a few months on sabbatical, as well as to evaluate some new church planting opportunities. We may plant a new church in the Orlando area, very close to Walt Disney World, or we may return to Lima, Peru, to plant a new church in Lima, or we may plant both churches at the same time, all depending on God´s will for us.

We have never taken a sabbatical in 7 years of ministry, and so we are looking forward to our time in Orlando, where we will rest, recharge our batteries, pray a lot, and seek God´s wisdom, discernment, and guidance about where and when He would like us to plant more churches. Please pray for us. It should be an exciting time, and of course I will be blogging and "tweeting" all about Orlando in the upcoming days and weeks.

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African Proverb

An African proverb:

"Man plans. God laughs."

Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) - "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

Always remember that your plans must be in accord with His purpose. When your plans line up with the Lord's purpose, the world can be changed.

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Hitchhikers

George Foreman, the former heavyweight champion of the world and also the pastor of a church in Houston, Texas, USA, once wrote, "Fear always hitchhikes along with opportunity, trying to keep people from reaching their destinies."

That's why you should never pick up hitchhikers.

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6 Losses, 1 Victory

Today is the 201st birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States (1861-1865) and the man who led the country through its blood-drenched Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln lost 6 political elections before he was elected President. Lincoln ran and lost as a candidate for State Legislator, US Congress (2 times), US Senate (2 times), and Vice President.

But Lincoln persevered, even after 6 political losses.

And in 1860 he was elected President of the United States. God clearly ordained this simple country lawyer to lead the nation through some of its darkest days.

James 1:2-4 (NIV) says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Is God testing your perseverance right now?

Remember the example of Abraham Lincoln.

He lost 6 elections, but then he won. Big time.

So will you.

But only if you persevere.

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It Might Have Been

John Greenleaf Whittier was a famous poet in the USA in the 19th century. One of the most famous lines that Whittier ever wrote was this:

"For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been.'"

Remember, Whittier was a poet, not a pastor, but his words have great spiritual significance.

Our God is a big God, and He formed you to do big things for Him and His kingdom. He didn't form you to do small things or medium-sized things for Him & His kingdom. He formed you to do big things.

So ... are you doing big things for Him?

Are you taking big risks for Him?

Are you chasing lions for Him?

Are you getting outside of your comfort zone for Him?

Are you letting Him stretch your faith?

In Romans 14:12 (NIV), the apostle Paul tells us that one day "each of us will give an account of himself to God."

What will you say?

Will your words to God on that day be sad ones, full of lament and regret over risks not taken and lions not chased? Will your words to God on that day be nothing more than "It might have been" over and over again to Him?

The time has come to make a big change in your church or ministry.

Change "It might have been" to "It was!"

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Preach

Always preach as if it was your last time.

One day ... it will be.

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My Kingdom & Thy Kingdom

Pastor Mark Batterson of Washington, DC, USA, recently wrote, "There is a fine line between 'MY Kingdom Come' and 'THY Kingdom Come.'"

Batterson continued, "Is your vision YOUR agenda for God, or is it HIS agenda for you? There's a big difference. If it's not crazy and scary, then it's probably not God."

Are you working to build up God's kingdom - or your own?

Are you trying to steer God toward your own, personal agenda, or are you seeking His?

In Matthew 26:39-42 (NIV), in the Garden of Gethsemane just before he was arrested, Jesus said, "Yet not as I will, but as you will." He later added, "May your will be done."

Are you praying and saying the same thing? Are you truly seeking God's will and God's agenda and God's kingdom - or your own?

Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) says, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

Are you seeking the Lord's purpose today in your church or ministry - or only your own?

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5 Stages

There were 5 stages in the life of Jesus:

1. Birth

2. Preparation

3. Popularity

4. Passion

5. Resurrection

Churches and ministries can have the same 5 stages in their lives as well.

What stage of life is your church or ministry in right now?

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45

I'm 45 today!

I have two thoughts:

1. I think of the words found in Acts 13:36 (NIV), about how " ... David had served God's purpose in his own generation ...." I pray that I do the same.

2. At age 45, pastor/boxer George Foreman regained the heavyweight championship of the world. Pastor George, who has a church in Houston, Texas, USA, became the oldest man ever to win the world heavyweight championship. Pastor George is a modern-day personification of the words found in Luke 1:37 (NIV), about how "nothing is impossible with God." Given that, I believe that 45 is going to be a knock-out of a year!

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