 In his book, "Dwell: Life with God for the World," Barry D. Jones writes, "Jesus was the incarnate one who dwelt among us to accomplish the mission of God. If we want to become like him, then we too must learn what it means to live a missional life by the power of the Spirit in the places we dwell."
Analysis paralysis. That’s what they say about my generation. We live in a world of so many choices it can sometimes be hard to know what to do. Fifty years ago, so many people, I realize not all, lived in the quintessential small town with a courthouse in the middle of the town square surrounded by all the entertainment, shopping, or whatever one would need. Even growing up in my day, I remember the exhilarating feeling of going to Blockbuster on a Friday night and picking out a movie or two for the weekend. Even those choices could be overwhelming sometimes. Now we have an overabundance of everything and more choices than we know what to do with. How many hours have we spent not watching something on Netflix or Amazon Prime, but just scrolling through trying to find something to watch? We are blessed and cursed with great abundance. It’s hard not to be a glutton these days. Not just for food, although, let’s be honest, that’s a problem, but for consumption of any kind. We can see it every day in the wealthy and famous people of our day. It’s not enough to have more than enough, but we must have more than someone else. Maybe we don’t consciously wish ill will upon someone, but we compare. And don’t think this is just a problem relegated to the likes of the worldly and unchurched. Comparison is poison to contentment. There is a temptation and struggle to always want more. As some of you may know, I’ve been an actor for many years. I started out doing community theatre, and then have done a few TV shows and commercials along the way. I just recently did a commercial, that fifteen years ago, would have been a major dream come true for me. And it absolutely was. But it’s funny how once you reach a goal, five more goals that you haven’t reached yet seem to overshadow the others. Timothy said that, “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6). Are you Godly? Are you content? We are called to be like Jesus where we are, right now, in the place God has planted us, right now. Goals and accomplishments are great, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking you will reach people for Jesus once this thing or that has been done. There will always be something else. “If we want to become like [Jesus], then we too must learn what it means to live a missional life by the power of the Spirit in the places we dwell [right now].”
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 I have a confession to make. I had my first class of the semester at seminary a few weeks ago. It turns out, that one of the requirements of the class, is to have six conversations of a spiritual nature (with an eye toward evangelism) with unbelievers. While I can’t say that my palms started getting sweaty, my mind began to wonder. How am I going to do that?
Sure, I’m bold about my faith. I’m happy to post stuff on social media declaring my love for Jesus. I love to write out my thoughts about life and spirituality and put it out in public in hopes it can be an encouragement to someone. And of course, I have personally witnessed to people over the years as opportunities present themselves. If I’m honest, in the busyness of life, I’m not sure how often I go looking for such opportunities. But purposefully, personally, engage with six unbelievers in one semester! That sounds scary. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll let ya’ll know how it goes. How many unbelievers do you know? When was the last time you personally shared your faith with an unbeliever? I can’t remember who said it, but it’s true, you can’t outsource the Great Commission. I was talking to some of our WMA missionaries the other day about prayer. It’s obvious I know, forgive my simplicity of thought, but it’s not the intellectual affirmation of prayer that works, it’s actually praying that works. Sometimes it can be easy to conflate the two. How many times I have deceived myself into thinking that because I mentally affirm that praying and fasting or reading the Bible are good, then, well, that’s it. No it’s the practice of the disciplines. It’s the actual walking the walk, not just talking the talk that works. What if 2025 is the year we actually step out in faith and share our faith? Maybe you already do. That’s great! Then disciple others to do what you have learned to do. Multiply yourself. We are not promised tomorrow. Let us hold our convictions until the end. Run the race. Finish the race. “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end” (Hebrews 3:12-14). "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation'" (Mark 16:15).  The other day, I was lamenting the fact that our society is such that drug commercials have to warn people not to take something if they are allergic to that something. “I’m so smart,” I thought. “Who could be dumb enough to do such a thing?” These thoughts, as I drift quicker and quicker to the proverbial old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn. Good thing I don’t have a lawn.
Anyway, the red light on my air purifier came on the other day so we ordered some replacement filters. I did a quick search online to see if I really needed to change the air filter or how long I could wait, etc., etc. and I found a picture of what a dirty air filter looks like. When I opened up my air purifier, to my amazement, I discovered that my air filter was spotless, like new! But we’ve been running it 24/7 for months. In my ignorance or just plain stupidity, I had installed the first air filter without taking off the plastic wrapping (I have included a photo below just in case you think it’s impossible for a married man with three kids to do something so dumb). So, for months, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, our air purifier has been giving all indications that it was running and purifying the air. The light was on, it sounded like it was working, and yet, I had been wasting electricity and deceiving myself into thinking the air I was breathing was pure. Sometimes, in our walk with the Lord, we think that there is some secret out there. We think that if we had just the right knowledge then our lives would fall right into place. We order the hottest new Christian Living book that’s on Amazon’s bestseller list. We are sure that the secret must be in there somewhere. Look at the success of the preacher. He must be doing something right. And maybe he is. In this world of transformative technology and AI and all the rest, it can sometimes seem like the newest thing is the best thing. But in the world of theology and our walk with the Lord, it is the old knowledge that we most need to be reminded of. The instruction to read your Bible and pray every day is just as much relevant now as it was when you first believed. The secret to Christian living is that there is no secret. Maybe you’re thinking you need a new filter and that will really fix the problems you are experiencing. But the truth is, you might just need to take the wrapper off the old one. Let us then, “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).  Early one morning, right before I woke up, I had a dream. Now I’m not usually given to any kind of meaningful dreams but this one I knew was different. In this dream I remember frantically trying to adjust my eyes to try to see what time it was from the clock on my nightstand. In this dream I held the clock close to my eyes and also tried to read my watch but I just could not see the time…so frustrating.
Later that morning as I was pouring my coffee and pondering that frustrating dream, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit. I was reminded of the scripture in Ephesians regarding “…redeeming the time…” I sensed the question, “Do you know what time it is?” I remember feeling a sense of urgency that morning as I kept reflecting on that phrase, “redeeming the time.” Ephesians 5:15-16: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Another translation says it this way. “Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” You may be thinking, ‘there have always been evil days,’ and you are correct, but our responsibility is to be the light in the midst of our evil days. We must, once again, embrace the challenge and responsibility of passionately proclaiming the message of salvation and hope in this tumultuous time in our history. When the founding fathers of the United States of America made their historic decision to sign The Declaration of Independence in 1776, they pledged: “[Their] lives, [their] fortunes, and [their] sacred honor.” Someone once said, “Beliefs deeply held turn into commitments fiercely defended.” That’s truth! I may get discouraged when I observe the condition of this world, but I am not hopeless. Each of us, day to day, must make the most of our time here on earth. You may be asking; ‘can we really change or influence anything?’ My response is a resounding, yes! One great missionary said, “If you fill a swamp with stones, a hundred loads may disappear under the water before a stone appears on the surface…but all of the stones were necessary.” We all have different responsibilities and opportunities but every prayer and action count and we ARE making a difference… even if it is one stone at a time. Redeem the time, because the days are evil.  Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Paul was writing from prison, not because he had done anything wrong, but because he had done what was right. Namely, preaching the Gospel. You would think a man of faith like Paul might be embarrassed to write a letter from prison. Doesn't that show weakness? Doesn’t that show a lack of faith? Doesn’t that paint God in a bad light? We love the stories of God’s deliverance, but maybe we would rather avoid the stories of struggle. If your favorite preacher only talks about faith as a means to escape the prison and not as a means to endure the prison then Paul might like to have a few words. God is the God of the Exodus, but he is also the God of John the Baptist, a prophet like no other who eventually lost his life because of his commitment to preaching the truth.
Faith in God does not mean that if you just believe enough He will be your personal genie and make your every wish His command. No, Biblical faith is the faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. A faith that says that the, “God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. ‘But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up’” (Daniel 3:17-18). Paul recognized that believers were gaining more courage when they saw his courage in spite of his circumstances. Sometimes your trial preaches louder than your triumph. We do not have some weak Christianity dependent on circumstances. No, whatever the case may be, we will thank God. Can we say like Job, "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21)? Paul didn’t know if he was getting out or not. He goes on to write, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). Faith doesn’t mean things will end like you want them to if you just rev up your spiritual self enough and grit your teeth until reality somehow conforms to what is in your mind. No, our faith is not in our faith, it is in the One who holds the world in His hands. The One who knows the end from the beginning. And the one who, “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).  I like to see results. More specifically, I like to see the direct outputs of my specific inputs. I like to do things like mowing and vacuuming. It’s nice to see how something was before you worked on it and how it is after. It’s nice to feel a sense of accomplishment. But life isn’t always like that. Ministry isn’t always like that. You can work hard for years, thinking you are doing something, but not so sure of what results you are actually getting. In business, if at some point you’re not “seeing” results in the form of customers and revenue, then at some point your business will fail. But ministry isn’t business. And what you think is a “failed” ministry might be a great success in the eyes of God.
The other day we heard from some missionaries who serve in the Middle East. They talked about people being on a kind of spectrum. Some are closer in their journey to God and some are further away. In our interactions with people, we ought to do our best to nudge them a little further in the right direction. For those of us who have grown up around altar calls and the visual of people getting out of their seats to make a decision for Christ, the concept of presenting the Gospel without seeing some immediate response might be a bit difficult. We love the radical conversion stories. But if we’re honest, we know that some conversions happen after years of crying and praying and hoping and hurting. We might understand this intellectually, but still, who doesn’t want to see immediate fruit? And yet, no tree grows overnight. Who knows what great fruit will come in the generations to follow simply because you obeyed and planted seeds in the field to which you were called? I think maybe C. S. Lewis has a similar concept in mind when he writes, “All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations.” The Corinthians of Paul’s day wanted to associate themselves with this teacher or that, but Paul tells them not to concern themselves with such things. Those things are fleshly and bound up in jealousy and strife (1 Cor. 3:3). Paul continues, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor” (1 Cor. 3:6–8). Some preachers, teachers, evangelists, writers, and others may think they are a bit more special than they really are. If you puff yourself up you will just be contributing to the fleshly jealousy and strife Paul was talking about. We are laborers in God’s vineyard and the results are up to Him. Don’t think too highly of yourself if you seem to be getting a lot of good results. And don’t think too lowly of yourself if things seem to be moving slow. Do what God has called you to do and leave the results to Him. Be encouraged today.  Brenna, Brian, & Melody Downey We had such an amazing mission trip to Europe! We had the privilege of spending time with several WMA Associate Missionaries in Poland and Austria. We were welcomed so lovingly by them all and had a wonderful experience with each one.
In Poland, we were hosted and spoiled by Pastor Marek and Marysia Kiewra with wonderful meals. They immersed us in Polish culture and history, and most importantly, sweet fellowship with them. We stayed at the Mission Conference Center that God gave Pastor Marek a vision to build, where groups of pastors and leaders, from the region and beyond, come for retreats, develop spiritually, deepen their knowledge of God, build relationships, and rest. When we were there, a pastor was having a retreat for his lay leaders, and it was wonderful to see Pastor Marek’s vision being fulfilled. We also had a wonderful dinner with Peter and Anya. They hosted us in a beautiful entertainment space at their home in a transformed barn. They also transformed their land into beautiful gardens for people in the area to come and enjoy. In this setting, they can share God’s love with many from the community. In Austria, we had the pleasure of spending quality time with Cesar and Simone Sotomayor and their family. They lead a beautiful church of Afghan and Iranian refugees, as well as Austrians, in Graz, Austria. They hosted us so well and showed us much love and a lot of fun! One of the highlights was getting to support and celebrate a beautiful Iranian family as they were baptized and declared that they are now followers of Christ. We also had a great time of fellowship with Bill and Ada Wiisanen in Vienna, Austria. They serve at a refugee church in Vienna in addition to helping at the church in Graz. It was wonderful to see them in person as well. A highlight of our time with them was meeting Maria, a Ukrainian refugee whom WMA supported and prayed for as she led 26 Ukrainians to Austria when Russia invaded their city. Bill and Ada hosted them all and eventually found homes for each one. This mission trip was truly a highlight of our lives! We could write a book on all we saw and experienced and we are so thankful for the opportunity to go and represent WMA! Our daughter, Brenna, is still in Austria and serving at the churches in Graz and Vienna this summer. Melody Downey WMA Missions Coordinator  A. W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” If you grew up in a Christian household there’s a good chance you had a picture of Jesus hanging up somewhere. I bet you didn’t even have to see the whole picture above to know exactly what painting it is. We know intellectually that Jesus probably didn’t look like the guy who is portrayed on these paintings, but the image is seared into us nevertheless. So much so, we only need a glimpse and our brains fill in the gaps. Filling in gaps can be a dangerous thing. Is the Jesus we worship an image of our own creation or the Jesus of the Bible?
Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Sometimes we treat the Bible like a faith fortune cookie. We have our favorite verses that we love to quote, and maybe we don’t care too much about the context. The Bible says it, I believe it, and that’s that. But as someone once said, “a text without a context is a pretext.” We must be careful to handle God’s Word with care otherwise it can turn into our word with a Biblical veneer. Hebrews was written to Jewish believers that were facing persecution because of their faith in Jesus. Some of them were being tempted to mix adherence to the Mosaic Law, like making sacrifices in the temple, with faith in Jesus. But the writer of Hebrews says that Jesus made a perfect sacrifice once and for all and sat down at the right hand of God (10:11-14). His sacrifice is not like the sacrifices that were made before His. His was the perfect, once for all sacrifice. It’s not Jesus’ sacrifice plus temple sacrifices. It’s not Jesus plus anything else; No, it’s faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross alone. Back to Hebrews 13. Verse 9 says, “Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.” Strange and diverse teachings are nothing new. They were prevalent in the world of the early believers and it’s clear they are prevalent today. Who is the Jesus we serve? He is the One who once and for all offered a sacrifice for sins. It is accepted by faith alone. Beware of adding anything to the Gospel. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings. We can’t add anything to the equation of our salvation. It’s all or nothing. Rest in Him.  Viktor Frankl, the famed Austrian psychiatrist and Nazi concentration camp survivor, in his book, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” writes, “One should not search for an abstract meaning of life. Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment.”
In the Apostle Paul’s final letter to Timothy he writes, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim. 1:5-7). We love to quote that last bit, but sometimes I wonder if we pass over Lois and Eunice too much? We love the power of Paul. We love his words. He is one of the great heroes of our faith. And rightly so. But we ought not forget about Lois and Eunice. God works through generations. In our day and age of quick dopamine hits from funny Instagram or TikTok videos and our admiration of the good looking, well-spoken, men and women we look up to, it can be easy to forget about the importance of the day to day faithfulness that no one sees, and perhaps maybe won’t ever even know about. But oh, what a difference it makes. I think a lot of people in ministry, whether they admit it or not, like to think of themselves as if they were a modern day Paul or some other hero of the faith. But maybe God has called you to be a Lois or a Eunice. Don’t miss the quiet mission in pursuit of being or doing something you’re not called to be or do. Perhaps God has called you to sow seeds in the lives of people that will not be seen until future generations. Are you willing to sow in a field where someone else will reap the harvest? Where would Timothy have been without Lois and Eunice? Who's your Lois? Who's your Eunice? Who's your Timothy? Thank God for Lois and Eunice. I imagine we will meet many a Lois and Eunice in heaven who sowed seeds of faithfulness, the fruit of which, they couldn’t even imagine. God bless the praying grandmothers and the faithful mothers.  I was driving my family down the road the other day in our family SUV that is less than a year old. I really like this vehicle. We were driving down to Waco to celebrate my uncle’s 80th birthday. I count it a blessing to have so many aunts, uncles and cousins who are serving the Lord and have done so for many years. Anyway, on the road to this epic celebration, the windshield of my ‘newish’ vehicle was assaulted by rock debris from a big truck in front of me. The first ding wasn’t too bad, but as I drove up in anger to pass him, I was dinged with a bigger star. Let’s just say I didn’t handle the situation great. I’m just glad no one was watching me. Well, actually, my wife, my daughter, my mom, and well, God was watching me. It wasn’t my finest hour.
It’s interesting how the smallest things can reveal the true state of our hearts. I was talking to a friend last night at an event about how sanctifying children can be in one’s life. When things are going smoothly we can think we have a wonderful disposition and are filled with all the fruit of the Spirit and even a refreshing smoothie on the side. It often doesn’t take much to awaken ourselves from the imaginary fiction we have created in our own minds about how good we are. I love what C.S. Lewis writes about the interruptions of life. We think our big dreams and great plans are life, but the truth is, real life is the 'day-to-day.' Real life is how we treat our family and our friends, maybe, cringe, even our enemies. Cracked windshields aren’t interruptions. They are real life. May Christ continue to make us more like Him. “The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's 'own' or one's 'real' life. The truth is of course that what one calls interruptions are precisely one's real life - the life God is sending one day by day; what one calls one's real life is a phantom of one's imagination.” (C.S. Lewis) |
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