WIGTAKE

Ask the Right Question!

    When Missionaries would arrive in a new country they would often look around at all the needs and not be sure exactly where to begin. Sometimes they would start a church, a social ministry, or a school. They usually asked the same basic question, “What can I do?”.  However, it all begins with asking the right question. If you ask the wrong question, you get the wrong answer, or start down the wrong road. The question you ask will usually define how you approach the problem or challenge. When a Missionary asks the question, “What can I do?”, they have immediately limited their ministry to what they can do.

    The better question would be “What’s It Gunna Take”(WIGTAKE). What is it going to take to reach this city, community, country, this people. If we ask "What we can do" we have limited our vision to what we can do. We may can start a church or two, start a school, start a ministry. We may can reach 100, 200, 500, over the years. However, the real question is: What is it going to take to reach the entire city of 250,000 , 1 million, 5 Million (Houston, Porto Alegre) 24 million ( Sao Paulo, New York, Mumbi). The entire people groups or segment of 800,000, 13 million, Etc.

   When we ask this question, we begin our strategy at a different level.

Answer the Right Question!

     It is not enough to ask the right question. We have to actually answer the question. How many churches will it take ( 1 per 1000?), How many small groups? ( 1 per 25?), how many leaders, teachers, pastors, workers? ( 1 per 25?). How will these groups reproduce? How often? Where will they meet? How often? Who will lead them? How will they be trained? A Vision with out a plan is only a dream!

Example:

      A few years ago a girl came to me after several Volunteer Mission Trips to Salvador. She said that she wanted to come to Salvador to work with children. I asked her about how many children she thought she could work with.  She explained that she had worked with groups up to 200 and more. She had years of experience.

      I explained that in Salvador we had over 850,000 kids in the public school system. This did not count the thousands that did not attend school or those in private schools. You see we are not just trying to reach 200 kids, we are trying to reach close to a million kids. To reach a million kids you will need to approach this quite differently than if you are trying to reach 200. You will take on a different role. You have to envision a ministry beyond “what you can do”.  Your plan must be God size and not Your size. You must depend on God’s resources not Your abilities. You begin to pray for grace, mobilize heaven and earth, involve any and every legitimate partner, cry out to God to do what God alone can do. When it happens, who get the glory? You guessed it, not you. God gets glory for what only God can do.

      To reach the people God has put on your heart, let me ask you a question. What is it going to take?

DIVERSIFY?!?!

     When we first arrived in Brazil in 1991, the inflation rate was over 35% a month. It made no sense to save you money since it was worth less and less each day. People would spend as quickly as possible investing in anything that would possibly hold it’s value. The banks were still necessary so folks would diversify their deposits  for security. If one bank failed they would have money in another bank. Many had multiple accounts in Bradesco, Banco do Brasil, Itau, Caixa Economica, Etc. Smart, right? Diversify your investments.

       In the area of religion, many do the same think. They “deposit” a little of their faith in the “Bank of Mother Mary”, the “Bank of Good Works”, The “Bank of Multiple Religions”, the “Bank of Self-Improvement”.

      When they hear about Jesus, here is what often happens. They think, sure, why not add Jesus Christ to the group. So in “accepting Christ”, they place Him on the shelf with “Mother Mary”, “Good Works”, and “all the other things they hope will work”. Diversify.  Cover all your bases.

      However, by the very fact that they are depositing in multiple “Banks”, basically they are saying, I really do not trust any of you guys. If I really trusted your “Bank” I would deposit all of my money (Faith) there. They are really not trusting any of the Banks. That is not “trusting”, that is gambling. They are just hoping that al least one of these will work.

    To trust Jesus Christ as your Savior means to “withdraw” all of your faith from the bank of “Mother Mary”, the “Bank of Good Works”, the “Bank of Good Intentions”, or any other “Bank” and deposit all of your faith in Jesus Christ. Anything less than that is a sham, a farce, and that kind of “faith” can’t and won’t save anyone.

John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

SMALL GROUP#3-Accountability

Does the Bible speak of accountability? Oh Yes! In groups of 2/4 mark the verses with a 2 or a 4 to show if the verse says we are accountable 2 someone or 4 someone. Where in your church are people held accountable? Small Groups?

Accountability to God and to/for Others

Job 33:13  "Why do you complain against Him that He does not give an account of all His doings?

Rom 14:12  So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

Heb 13:17  Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

1Pe 4:5  but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Mar 6:30  The apostles *gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.

1Pe 3:15  but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

1Jo 3:16  We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Rom 12:10  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

Rom 15:14  And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another

1Co 11:33  So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

1Co 12:25  so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

Gal 5:13  For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Gal 6:2  Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Eph 4:2  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,

Eph 4:32  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Eph 5:21  and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Phi 2:3  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

Col 3:13  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

1Th 3:12  and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;

1Th 4:9  Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

1Th 4:18  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1Th 5:11  Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

1Th 5:13  and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

1Th 5:15  See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.

Heb 3:13  But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Heb 10:24  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,

Heb 10:25  not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Jam 5:16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

1Pe 1:22  Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

1Pe 4:8  Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

1Pe 4:9  Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

1Pe 4:10  As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1Pe 5:5  You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

1Jo 1:7  but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1Jo 3:11  For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

1Jo 3:23  This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

1Jo 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1Jo 4:11  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1Jo 4:12  No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us

2Jo 1:5  Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.

Act 20:7  On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread,

Rom 1:12  that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine.

2Co 7:3  I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.

Eph 2:22  in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Eph 4:16  from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Phi 1:27  Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Col 2:2  that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself,

EXPERIENCING GOD's WILL

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

  Experience God’s will. Big order. Here are three truths found in Romans 12 that might help.

     First, is the step of Presentation. “Present your bodies a living sacrifice” This is first and not last. Before you “know”, you present. Before you have any details, you present. By faith you sign a “blank check”. You trust God to fill it in. No questions, no boundries, no line in the sand saying..“until here I will follow you.” No! First step, by faith, knowing that his will is best, you present.

   Second, is the step of Transformation. God will change your heart, head, hands, whatever is necessary to do what He says. God does not call the equipped, He equips the called. You Present, God Transforms. It’s simple. It is also a command. “Be transformed!” He begins with your mind, “renewing of your mind”. You must think differently. This is a process, a “transformation”. First presentation, Second transformation…..

   Third, is the step of Experiencing. “that you may prove (experience).” “That” (i.e. ..in order that, ..so that, …so as a result that) you will experience. What do we experience? Exactly what we were seeking ... “that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” God’s will is Good. God’s will is acceptable. God’s will is perfect. I will settle for perfect.

  

  Often we want to know God’s will. Then we will decide if that is what we want to do. That is not how it works. We decide first. Having decided, by faith, we present, He transforms, and we experience. Not that complicated. Just don’t get this out of order, it will be very frustrating, in fact, it won’t work. His will, His word, His way. 

PRISON MINISTRY in BRAZIL

Brazil’s Prison Population in September 2009 was 472,482, making it the fourth highest in the world.. According to the Brazilian Government’s National Penitentiary Department (DEPEN), in June 2008 the number of people being incarcerated exceeded the design capacity of Brazil’s prisons by 40 per cent, and the number of prisoners was increasing by approximately 3,000 per month. Brazilian prisons are notorious for their overcrowding, corruption, violence and torture. For many years Human Rights groups have cited overcrowding as being the cause of many of the brutal riots in Brazilian prisons.

         Of the 17 Prisons in the state of Bahia, 7 are in Salvador.  “S.O.S Prisidio” (SOS Prison Ministry) is our ministry to these prisoners and their families. The team leader, Jesse Jane (real name) has lead hundreds of volunteers to minister, evangelize, disciple, and plant churches in every pavilion in each of these prisons. Churches and ministry centers have been started in the communities near each prison to reach the relocated families in the area.

        

To work in the high security area, each volunteer must have a background check, go through a strip search, and often be humiliated every time we go in. Is it worth it? You bet! The Pastors, deacon, etc of every prison church were justly convicted of serious crimes but Jesus Christ changed everything. These men and women are now ministering and leading other inmates to Christ. It’s a type of “Cell” church.

        Pray for Jesse Jane, The Volunteers, the Christian inmates and those we are trying to reach. Pray for continued access, safety, ministry resources, and that many, many decisions will be made to follow Christ as Lord and Savior.

THE LIFEBOAT

        Imagine you are on a sinking ship 2,000 miles from shore. You are wishing the situation was different, you are wishing for another ship, you wish you knew how to swim! Let’s say you, and the others on the ship decide to swim for shore. You say a prayer and all jump into the water. Some sink immediately, some try to turn back, and some actually start to swim. The group starts out strong. However, with time they begin to grow weary. One by one they begin to sink. Not good. The others swim on with fixed focus. More begin to sink. Not good. There are fewer and fewer. Finally there is one. Only one. He is tired. Let’s say he swims 1,000 miles. Half way. ( beyond a world record). He only lacks 1,000 miles. There is no hope. He did better than everyone imagined… only to drown in a different location.

       This is much like those that try to get to heaven by their own effort. Heroic feats, just not enough. It’s just too far. The Bible says that we have sinned (Romans 3:23), i.e. we have holes in our boat. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), i.e. the boat is going to sink. We can not save ourselves (Romans 5:8) i.e. …too far to swim. We are in a mess!

     Good News! There is a Lifeboat! A Lifeboat can save people that swim and also those that don’t swim. You see, your swimming ability is not a factor. You just have to get in the boat.  You should know however….

     It is not enough to believe that the boat can save you! You have to get into the boat. You can believe with all you heart that the boat can save you and you can drown while believing this. It is not your “faith” that saves you, it’s the “boat” that saves you.  By faith you get into the boat, but it is the boat, not your faith that saves you. This “boat” is Jesus Christ. He lived, died, rose again, and is alive to day.. to pay the price of your failures (sins).  He is your hope. There is no other. None!

    So you have a choice!

      1. Stop swimming. Get into the boat. As you would trust a lifeboat, trust Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and payment in full for your sins. Life is good in the lifeboat. My choice is the lifeboat.

      2. Swim on. Alone, tired, no shore in sight, you are also swimming by faith you know,. ..faith in your swimming. A heroic feat that no one will remember, because it didn’t work.  

     There is room for you in the lifeboat you know. You can see a difference in those in the boat and those in the water. Don’t be an idiot, get in the boat!

Evangelism vs Discipleship

        It is interesting how many Christians think that all we need to do is “gittem saved”.  No thought on “making disciples”. Interesting that we are never told to just “gittem saved”. The Great Commission in Matt 28:18-20 is “make disciples”. Here are the facts.

     Evangelism only . If we could lead 3,000 a day to Jesus Christ, a day of Pentecost every day, how long would to take to win the 6.7 billion people in the world to Christ? Would you believe 6,119 years. That is no day off, no vacation, non-stop, everyday evangelism. And this is if no one else is born during that time. Amazing!

   Multiplying Discipleship is different. If we start with 1 reaching 1 and discipling that person for, say, a year…. that’s 2 (1st year ). If those 2 reach and disciple 2 more… that’s 4 (2nd year). If those 4 reach and disciple 4 others.. that’s 8 (3rd year ). Those 8 reach and disciple 8 others=16 (4th year).  Really slow, right?  Watch this…..

In 33 year is would be possible to Evangelize and Disciple over 8 billion people. The difference is Multiplying Discipleship. That doable! That is the only way it can happen. And, that is how Jesus said to do in the first place. …make disciples!

      2 Timothy 2:2 “and the things you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit these to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. “

   Making disciples is the command of Jesus. Making disciples is the only way this can happen. Making disciples will change the world one person at a time.

     Now the hard question. Who are you discipling?  If you are not discipling you are not obeying. 

FLOODING in RIO-Jan2011

The flooding that occurred last week (Jan 13,2011)in Rio has already claimed the lives of 626 lives. 13,830 were left homeless and this is only the beginning of the rainy season in the sate of Rio in Brazil. With this being the worse event of this type in Brazil in the past 100 years, many are asking what they can do.

 The most appropriate things that Southern Baptist can do now is pray. Continuous rains could result in other flooding and landslides as the ground reaches saturation levels again and again.  Here is a brief summary

1.     There is much good going on at the moment. However, there is probably just as much bad going on also. As always, there is exploitation, looting, and such, this is no exception.

2.     Many of the roads and bridges accessing the areas are gone.   

3.     There are presently multiple groups and organizations that are mobilizing to render aid to the displaced families, provide food and water, and comfort those with missing or deceased loved ones.   

4.     The two Baptist conventions in the state of Rio as well as other denominations , and organizations are mobilizing themselves by collecting food, providing places for displaced families and in general giving what ever aid that appears to be needed at the moment.

5.     The Brazilian army has been called in and is doing a spectacular job of strategically accessing and giving leadership to a situation that could have been utter chaos. Helicopters are reaching areas with medical, food, etc. Teams are organized for reaching those possibly left in dangerous situations.

6.     The media is doing their part in stirring hearts showing the worst of the situation and in general “making  news”

At the moment there is already much being done. This week our Rio missionaries will be able to access the situation and develop a well thought out plan that will not duplicate the work of others and have the greatest impact for the kingdom and real help for the people involved.
      At the present moment the most strategic thing that can be done by Southern Baptists is Prayer for ….
 

1.     The Rescue Teams on site. Pray for their safety, their strength, wisdom as important decisions are being made. Many of these rescuers are fellow believers.

2.     The Victims of this terrible disaster. Many have lost everything, family, homes, jobs, and most of all hope.

3.     The continuous rains to stop. As stated, this is only the beginning of the rainy season in this part of Brazil. Pray for no more further occurrences of flooding in the near future.

4.     The Baptist Convention, other Christian organizations, your IMB team on the ground as they develop important plans for the most important “next step” of meeting real needs when there are no cameras, media, military or government involvement to help folks put their lives back together and make sense of what happened.

People of Brazil come together at times like this. The reporter today spoke of the solidarity of people working together, sharing what they have, giving to meet needs. Many are stirred and want to do something. This often leads to badly planned, poorly executed, and “little result” projects that are more often done more to make the giver “feel good” rather then offer a well thought out help that is really needed. I am thankful for experienced missionaries and BGR (Baptist Global Response) that can see past the immediate crisis and will be on the ground to help when the dust (in this case mud) settles.

 At this moment, the greatest “Mobilization” need for Southern Baptist is Prayer

DEAF of BRAZIL

Approximately 8.6 % of Americans have serious auditory problems. Many suffer from this later in life after a lifetime of hearing. However, approx. 2.2% of Brazilians are born with little or no hearing at all. That is over 4,500,000 people. These people have never heard music, the words, “I love you”, “you are important”, “you matter”, and few will ever “hear” the good news of Jesus Christ.

                Only a small percent of the deaf know LIBRAS, the official Sign Language in Brazil. The new law passed on April 24, 2002 gives great hope that many things will change. However, many live in neighborhoods and communities with no one to work with them. Families mimic to communicate. Many are left alone in their world of silence.

Margo and Marilia

              Marilia with the Brazilian Home Mission Board and Margo our Salvador Deaf Team leader work with volunteers trying to reach this often forgotten group. Conferences, trainings, class, and countless hours of one on one with the deaf often leave Deaf workers exhausted and discouraged. The challenges are enormous. Please pray for more volunteers to reach the deaf. Pray that the volunteers will learn the language and skills needed to reach this group. This is demanding work, it does not suit everyone. Pray for more resources in LIBRAS for reaching and discipling new believers.

             Reaching the “Hidden Peoples” with the Gospel is serious business. Who are the “hidden people” in your community? Who is going to reach them? If not you, who? If not now, when?

SMALL GROUP#2 - Ministry

Where does “Ministry” take place in your church? Not just ministry to those out there… but ministry to those in the church, the body of Christ,.. to “one another”. There are over fifty things that believers are commanded to do “one to another”. These include…Pray for one another, encourage, admonish, accept, serve, teach, greet, honor, bear one another’s burdens, forgive, submit to, be dedicated to, be ready to give your life for, …just to name a few. Question. Where does this happen in your church? If you are not connected to a small group it is likely that it will not happen.

                If a member of your church misses a Sunday, has a crisis, needs encouragement, etc. who will notice? Who will go after him? If a week turns in to a month,  a year, who will notice? Who will go after them? Who’s job is this? The Pastor’s? Sorry buddy, it’s yours! Those “one another” commands are for YOU!

            A small group structure in the church keeps us connected to “one another”.  “Church” happens when God’s people share God’s love in God’s way. If there is no plan, a person can fall through the cracks. That person may be you, your aging parents, your kids, or your dear friend. 

If you are a follower of Jesus that makes you a part of His body, the church. Body parts don’t function well apart from the body. Be actively involved in a small group. We need “one another”!

SMALL GROUPS#1- Relationships

Exponential Relationships Formula: N x (N-1)

Why do churches need small groups? A lot of folks just join a Worship Service but never become a part of the church itself. They know a lot of people superficially, but do not really know anyone very deeply. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are also part of the body of Christ. We are to love one another to the point that we are willing to give our life for them. (I John 3:16). Now that is a serious relationship.

            We can only develop deep relationships with a small number of people. Here is how “group relationships” work. If there are 2 people in a group, there are 2 possible relationships. Simple. If there are 3 people in the groups, this jumps to 6 possible relationships. EXAMPLE: say.. You, Me and Bill..[(1)You to Me, (2)Me to you, (3)You to Bill, (4)Bill to You, (5)Me to Bill, (6)Bill to me]. The formula is simple but the greater the number in the groups the more complicated the group gets.  The Chart shows two columns. The number of People in a groups and the number of possible relationships.  See how the relationships grow as the group grows.

           As you can see, the greater the size of the group, the less “intimacy” the group will experience. Extremes are on both sides. We can have a few deep relationships or many shallow relationships. The key is a balance. We need time in small groups to deepen relationships and also time in a large groups to connect with others.

            Jesus spent time with the masses, but also had a groups of 12 and an even closer group of Peter, James and John. Jesus was a part of a small group.  Get involved in a small group at your church this week. It is the right thing to do.

WHO PACKS YOUR PARACHUTE?

"Insights into Excellence", by Captain J Charles Plump
Recently, I was sitting in a restaurant in Kansas City. A man about two tables away kept looking at me. I didn't recognize him. A few minutes into our meal he stood up and walked over to my table, looked down at me, pointed his finger in my face and said, "You're Captain Plumb."

I looked up and I said, "Yes sir, I'm Captain Plumb."

He said, "You flew jet fighters in Vietnam. You were on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down. You parachuted into enemy hands and spent six years as a prisoner of war."

I said, "How in the world did you know all that?"
He replied, "Because, I packed your parachute."

I was speechless. I staggered to my feet and held out a very grateful hand of thanks. This guy came up with just the proper words. He grabbed my hand, he pumped my arm and said, "I guess it worked."
"Yes sir, indeed it did", I said, "and I must tell you I've said a lot of prayers of thanks for your nimble fingers, but I never thought I'd have the opportunity to express my gratitude in person."

"Let me ask you a question," I said, "do you keep track of all the parachutes you pack?"
"No" he responded, "it's enough gratification for me just to know that I've served."

I didn't get much sleep that night. I kept thinking about that man. I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform - a Dixie cup hat, a bib in the back and bell bottom trousers. I wondered how many times I might have passed him on board the Kitty Hawk. I wondered how many times I might have seen him and not even said "good morning", "how are you", or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor. How many hours did he spend on that long wooden table in the bowels of that ship weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of those chutes? I could have cared less...until one day my parachute came along and he packed it for me.

The question here is this: Who Packs Your Parachute? Who looks out for in times of need? And perhaps, more importantly, who are the special people in your life who provide you the encouragement you need when the chips are down? Perhaps it's time right now to give those people a call and thank them for packing your chute.

BATTLE of NEW ORLEANS

The Famous “Battle of New Orleans” fought on January 8, 1815 is one of the events in American history that helped to make Andrew Jackson famous. “Old Hickory” as he was called, was known for being as hard as old hickory. Jackson was victorious over the British Army when they tried to take New Orleans in the War of 1812.  Unknown to many,… the war was actually over with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent the year before on December 24^th, 1814. The battle was fought after the war had already been won.

              Isn’t that just like so many Christians today that are fighting battles that Christ has already won.  So many things try to separate us from God’s love. Troubles, worries, being harassed, concerns about food and clothing, dangers of every sort, even violent death are some of the things that Paul mentions in Romans chapter 8 (v35). Truly there are challenges in today’s world like never before.

          
However, when a believer is “in Christ”, as the scriptures teach, has already won the war. Romans 8: 37 says “in all these things we are more than Conquerors through him that loved us (Jesus)”.

Here is some of what has already been “won”….

1.    1.  Freedom from Sin – Romans 8:1-2 “therefore now no condemnation”  We are free…

2.     2. Family for Support – Romans 12:5 “one body in Christ, and every one members one of another”  We have a family…

3.     3. Future that’s Secure – 2 Corinthians 5:17-22 “God “made him to be sin for us, who know no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (Jesus). “ We have a future of righteousness…

Stop the fighting. Enjoy the victory. The Battle of a New-Core-Means… that the battle is over. May this truth keeps marching on….

LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING

" And you will love the Lord your God with all your heart , and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength: this is the first commandment" Mark 12:30

   When you love somebody, it changes everything. It affects everything. It touches very area of your life. When we love God, as the verse above says, how will that actually be expressed in our lives? There are obviously three areas that will change. It will change how we THINK, how we FEEL, and how we BEHAVE.

    Several years ago a guy named Benjamin Bloom developed a "taxonomy" for educational systems. It is still used today in most every public and private school system. You may be familiar with the "three domains of learning". Teachers  plan for learning in these areas: the Cognitive, Affective, and the Psycho Motor. It is interesting that when we study the Scriptures, we find that every passage has an application in at least one of these areas. Through the scriptures we learn that loving God affects how we THINK (Cognitive), How we FEEL (Heart and Soul), and how we BEHAVE (Psycho-Motor).
     The more we learn to love God the more He will change how we..

1. THINK - about Ourselves, Others, and Our things... Phil 2:5, Rom 12:1-2, Eph 3:20
2. FEEL - about Ourselves, Others, and Our things...  John 13:34, John 15:12, I John 4:7
3. BEHAVE - towards Ourselves, Others, and Our Things...Rom. 12:21, 
     "He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love" I John 4:8...."Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another" I John 4:11.  It 's really true,  Love really does Change Everything!