Missionary Or Imposter

Charles Spurgeon, "The Prince of Preachers", once remarked, "Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter."

Which one are you?

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Cherries

Steve Brown is a pastor, seminary professor, and radio commentator here in the Orlando area. Recently on the radio he shared the story of a young boy who was visiting a farm. On the farm was a huge cherry orchard. The owner of the farm, a generous man, told the young boy to pick as many cherries as he'd like, and to eat them all!

The timid young boy picked one little cherry and popped it in his mouth.

The farmer laughed and then gathered up an enormous bunch of cherries and plopped them all in the young boy's hands. The boy was stunned at the farmer's generosity. There were more cherries than the boy could even handle. But then he enjoyed his cherry feast, despite his initial timidity, all because of a generous farmer.

God is like the farmer.

And frequently we are like the young boy.

Many times we underestimate God and the vastness of the blessings that He has in store for us. Many times we are satisfied with just one cherry from the orchard, when God wants to fill up both of our hands until they are overflowing with cherries!

In Malachi 3:10 (TNIV), God talks about how He will "throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enoug to store it."

Can you handle that much blessing?

Can you handle that many cherries?

God's waiting to give it all to you.

And He's waiting for you to accept it.

With two hands. Not just one.

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Night Of Joy

Dorcas and I had an incredible day on Monday at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando, as we had the privilege to attend a CD Release Party featuring the world-famous contemporary Christian band, MercyMe.

MercyMe has a new CD coming out soon, and they performed a few songs from the new CD at the Hollywood Studios on Monday, along with a few of their older, well-known hits, including "I Can Only Imagine."

Sidewalk Prophets and Francesca Battistelli also performed on Monday. They both recently won 2010 Dove Awards.

The Monday event also was used to promote Walt Disney World's Night of Joy, an annual 2-day concert at the Magic Kingdom featuring some of the biggest names in contemporary Christian music. This year's Night of Joy will be held at the Magic Kingdom on September 10-11. Performers will include Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Third Day, Family Force 5, Red, Sidewalk Prophets, Francesca Battistelli, and Barlow Girl. For more information, go to www.nightofjoy.com.

We'll see you there!

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Happy Birthday, Dorcas!

Today I want to wish a very happy birthday to my beautiful wife, Dorcas!

We will celebrate this happy occasion somewhere at Walt Disney World.

Proverbs 18:22 (NKJV) - "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord."

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JFK & Dealey Plaza

My wife, Dorcas, and I were in Dallas, Texas, USA, today, and we had the opportunity to visit Dealey Plaza, the former Texas School Book Depository building, and the 6th Floor Museum, all located on the site where former US President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963.

I grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, surrounded by the Kennedy family and their legacy, and so to visit Dallas and to see the site where JFK was assassinated was especially poignant and impactful. We saw the exact spots on the street where JFK was shot while seated in his open-air presidential limousine (the spots are marked with an "X" on the Dallas street) and we saw the window on the 6th floor of the former Texas School Book Depository building where Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired on JFK (although the vast majority of Americans now believe that Oswald was part of a larger conspiracy with - choose your pick - the Mafia, the CIA, Castro loyalists, Castro opponents, Texas oilmen, and/or right-wing extremeists, or any combination of the above).

JFK was just 46 years old when he was killed (the youngest elected president in US history), and as we looked at the site on the street where he was struck down, and at the site on the 6th floor of the former school book depository building where the assassin allegedly fired the fatal shots, I was reminded of the words found in James 4:14 (TNIV), "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

Among the items of JFK memorabilia which we viewed in the 6th Floor Museum were invitations to a luncheon which was to be held to honor JFK in Dallas on the afternoon of November 22, 1963. Needless to say, JFK never made it. JFK surely never thought that his life was about to end in such a violent manner as his limousine turned the corner and passed in front of the school book depository building. But then several shots shattered the crisp Dallas afternoon, and JFK's young life was snuffed out. There was no November 23, 1963, for JFK. There was no tomorrow. His mist-like life had vanished in a very quick and very violent manner.

The lesson is one which we all must learn. Not all of us will be presidents or prime ministers, but all of us are living lives that hold no guarantee of a tomorrow. 9/11/01 taught us the same lesson as 11/22/63. For JFK, for you, and for me, life is but a mist. We are on this planet for a little while, and then we all will vanish into eternity.

Make the most of your time. You never know when your own 11/22/63 will come.

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Las Vegas

My wife, Dorcas, and I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Las Vegas earlier this week. It was a fascinating time.

Las Vegas is best known as the gambling capital of the USA. Las Vegas' touristic slogan is, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." Las Vegas is a city of extremes. On one hand, there is extreme beauty, luxury, and opulence, as seen in the dazzling 5-star hotels such as the Bellagio, Caesar's Palace, the Venetian, the Paris, and the Wynn.

Only in Las Vegas can one see an Egyptian pyramid, the MGM lion, the Statue of Liberty, dancing fountains, the Eiffel Tower, pirate ships, and a Venetian canal complete with gondolas, and all within walking distance of each other.

Yet despite its very impressive beauty and opulence and luxury, Las Vegas also has its dark side. Many people suffer from gambling addiction there and lose their family's savings at the casino tables. Advertisements for escort services - thinly-veiled prostitution - are everywhere. The suicide rate in Las Vegas is one of the highest of any city in the USA.

Las Vegas is a truly fascinating place to visit. It would also be a truly fascinating place to do ministry. There is a great need there. There are many hurting people in the midst of all of the city's glamor and glitz. Pray for those who already are ministering in Las Vegas. Think about how you, too, can help.

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Weave

There's an old German proverb that says, "Grow where you are planted. Begin to weave, and God will give the thread."

God has you where you are for a reason and a purpose. You may find life and ministry very difficult right now, and you may wish that you were elsewhere right now, or doing something different, but you need to persevere. Keep moving forward. God will use you mightily in His time and in His way and for His purpose.

God has planted you where you are. Keep growing there until He decides to transplant you elsewhere. Keep weaving where you are right now, and have the faith to believe that God will supply all of the thread that you need to create a masterpiece for Him and His kingdom and His glory.

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Too Big

David's brothers all thought that Goliath was too big to hit.

David thought that Goliath was too big to miss.

What would have been your take on the situation that day?

Your degree of success in life and ministry depends on your answer.

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Radar

Dutch Christian Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom once said, "Faith is like a radar that sees through the fog the reality of things at a distance that a human eye cannot see."

Do you live by faith or by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)?

Is your faith like a radar? Are you able to see - and live and minister - through the fog?

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Lakewood Church

This past weekend my wife, Dorcas, and I were in Houston, Texas, USA, and we had the opportunity to visit Lakewood Church, the largest church in the USA, where Joel Osteen is the pastor.

It was an amazing experience.

Lakewood Church is located is the former basketball arena used by the NBA's Houston Rockets. The interior of the building, of course, has been converted to look more like a church than a basketball arena, and is complete with ample space for a bookstore, nurseries, infant care, Sunday School classes, and adult Bible studies, but the sheer size of it all is still mind-boggling and jaw-dropping to see. There must be seating for about 15,000 people for any service. Lakewood averages about 45,000 attendees each weekend over the course of multiple English and Spanish services.

We attended English services on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Joel Osteen spoke at both services. He preached about 1 Peter 5:6, and how we need to be humble and give God all the glory. The worship music was uplifting and energetic. The ushers and greeters were very friendly and helpful, and in a very authentic way.

We also attended the Spanish service on Sunday afternoon. Marcos Witt preached about Psalm 121, and how our help always comes from the Lord. The worship music was off the chain. Hundreds of children were dedicated to God as part of the service, and hundreds of people responded to the salvation invitation at the end of the service.

We had the privilege of meeting Joel Osteen and his brother, Paul Osteen, who is also a pastor and missionary at Lakewood, after the services.

Lakewood Church is an enormous place, yet it has the feel of a small church. Everyone - staff, volunteers, and members - were friendly and welcoming. For a church of some 45,000 people, it also felt like a place where it would be very easy to fit in and serve there right away.

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Cash

Bono, the lead singer of U2, once said, "The God I believe in isn't short of cash, mister."

Bono's right, of course, but it's easy for us to think otherwise during difficult economic times.

Has your wallet gotten thinner, as if it was on a diet, during the current worldwide economic crisis? Is the amount in your bank account melting faster than a snowball in the Judean desert?

Remember that God is the creator and owner of "every animal in the forest ... and the cattle on a thousand hills" (Psalm 50:10), and He also declares that all of the world's "silver is mine and the gold is mine" (Haggai 2:8).

It's easy to become discouraged when this worldwide economic crisis keeps knocking you down. But remember that God isn't short of cash, cattle, gold, or silver, and He will meet your every need.

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Dare

Former US President Theodore Roosevelt: "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the great twilight that knows not victory or defeat."

What mighty things are you daring today?

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Courage

Being here in Orlando, Florida, USA, right next to Walt Disney World, I've been learning a lot about Walt Disney, the man himself.

Walt Disney once said, "Courage is the main quality of leadership, in my opinion, no matter where it is exercised. Usually it implies some risk - especially in new undertakings."

Walt Disney was right on target.

In Joshua 1:6 (TNIV), after the death of Moses, God told Joshua to "be strong and courageous" as he began to lead the Israelites. In Joshua 1:9 (TNIV), the Lord reiterated to Joshua to "be strong and couageous", and also not to be afraid or discouraged.

In 1 Corinthians 16:13 (TNIV), Paul told the church in Corinth to "be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong."

Are you lacking courage these days? Is God nudging your heart to take a bold step out in faith in a certain area, but you're still afraid to do so?

Remember God's words to Joshua, and Paul's words to the church in Corinth ... and even Walt Disney's words about courage, leadership, risk, and new undertakings.

God's got your back. Be bold, be courageous, and step out in faith.

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Preach

St. Francis of Assisi once said, "Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words."

Can you preach the Gospel without using words?

Are you capable of that?

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Full & Empty Tombs

I've seen Elvis Presley's tomb at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.

Elvis' body is still there. His tomb is full.

I've seen President John F. Kennedy's tomb at Arlington National Cemetery, outside of Washington, DC.

JFK's body is still there. His tomb is full.

I've seen President Abraham Lincoln's tomb in Springfield, Illinois.

Lincoln's body is still there. His tomb is full.

I've seen Jim Morrison's graffiti-decorated tomb in Paris, France.

The Doors' star's body is still there. His tomb is full.

I've seen President George Washington's tomb at his Mount Vernon mansion outside of Washington, DC.

Washington's body is still there. His tomb is full.

I've seen Jesus' tomb in Jerusalem, Israel.

Jesus' body isn't there.

His tomb is empty.

Which means our eternity is full.

Read more at www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov.

Used Vehicle

Please e-mail me if you know of anyone selling a good, inexpensive used vehicle in the Orlando/Celebration, Florida area. It's next on our to-do list here. If you know of anyone, then please e-mail me at stephenguschov@peoplepc.com with the contact information. Thanks!

The Folded Cloth

2,000 years ago, when Jesus walked the earth, there was an interesting dinner custom. If you were finished with your dinner, and weren't going to eat anything more, you would leave your cloth napkin in a rumpled ball on the table and walk away.

If you had to leave the table for a moment during dinner, however, but were going to return to eat more, then you carefully folded your napkin and left it neatly placed on the table.

This folded cloth meant that you were coming back.

According to John 20:6-7, on Easter Sunday morning, when Peter entered the empty tomb, the first things he saw were the linen strips and the cloth that had been separately wrapped around Jesus' body and head.

The cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head after the crucifixion now was neatly folded and placed separately and away from Jesus' burial shroud.

This folded cloth, in the empty tomb, meant that Jesus was coming back.

And He is.

And that's what we celebrate on this Easter weekend.

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Fear

The famous evangelist and former Chicago White Sox baseball player Billy Sunday once said, "Fear knocked at my door. Faith answered ... and there was no one there."

Former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once observed, "Nothing in life is more remarkable than the unnecessary anxiety which we endure, and generally create ourselves."

Former US President Franklin Roosevelt, upon announcing the country's entry into World War II, declared, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

William Shakespeare penned, "Our doubts are traitors, and they make us lose what we oft might win, by fearing to attempt."

Corrie ten Boom, Dutch Christian Holocaust survivor, once counseled, "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

King David, the famous slingshot artist of Old Testament fame, sang in Psalm 27:1, "The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

God crushes fear.

Read more at www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov