Finally, AGAPE relationships are founded in “Hope.” There is an innate optimism at the heart of the Christian faith, rooted not in our high view of man or in a naïve confidence in human progress but in a deep trust that God has his purposes and is working “for the good of those who love [...]
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New Zealand IV
Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 | No CommentsThe 2011 Men’s Challenge is officially over. 25,000 miles traveled. One day officially lost. Nine presentations in four days. Seventy men met, encouraged, and challenged. I even watched a rugby game (now that’s above and beyond the call of duty!–New Zealand lost to Australia. Devastating.) It’s a lot of time, effort, and money to make [...]
New Zealand 2011 III
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011 | No CommentsThe Tree Falls Move One: In the fall of 1993, James Lane was driving his Volkswagen on the backroads of the Oregon coast. It was a sunny day, warm and aglow—a last taste of summer before the long grey winter set in. He was 41, born in the year-of-our-Lord 1952. That same year, a seed [...]
New Zealand 2011 II
Sunday, August 28th, 2011 | No CommentsYesterday, Steve Raines (principle of the South Pacific Bible College and an old friend) showed me some of the highlights of Rotorua. For those of you who don’t know much about New Zealand, Rototura features hot pools, boiling mud baths, and geysers. Ancient Maori settlements nestle close by smoking vents and bubbling crevices. The whole [...]
New Zealand 2011
Saturday, August 27th, 2011 | No CommentsEight months ago, Geoffrey Fairest invited me to the annual “Men’s Challenge”–a nation-wide men’s retreat held in Rotorua, New Zealand (that’s on the North Island for you geography nuts!). Last Tuesday, August 23, I departed for the “land of the long white cloud.” It’s a long arduous trip to New Zealand. Not as long or [...]
Compassion
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 | No CommentsAGAPE relationships are “Compassionate” relationships. Compassion: to feel with and for another; empathy; to be aware of and want to alleviate the sufferings of another; to identify closely with another’s condition; a concern for others’ needs without regard to merit. The willingness to “put yourself in another’s shoes,” to “see from their perspective,” and to [...]
Peace
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 | No CommentsA third aspect of AGAPE relationships involves “Peace.” One of the principle marks of fallen relationships is a lack of peace. Alienation, separation, hatred, conflict, anger, lies, malice, and disrespect are characteristic of relationships where AGAPE does not reign. On the other hand, relationships that have been transformed by AGAPE are characterized by peace, harmony, [...]
Meekness
Wednesday, August 10th, 2011 | No CommentsThe second characteristic of AGAPE love involves “Meekness.” The word “Meek” is a difficult one for us. We don’t admire the meek, we feel sorry for them. But “meekness”—properly understood—is an essential Christian virtue and an important component of AGAPE love. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Mt 5:5) Clothe yourselves [...]
Chiang Mai, Thailand IV
Friday, August 5th, 2011 | No CommentsThere are so many stories to tell about people I’ve met here at the Asian Mission Forum … the churches that are thriving in this part of the world … the opportunities for the gospel in Asia. I heard a story last night about a Chinese man who was raised by a father devoted to [...]
Chiang Mai, Thailand III
Thursday, August 4th, 2011 | No CommentsThe theme for this years Asian Mission Forum is “Faithful for Fifty.” It is the 50th anniversary of this event, so the theme is appropriate. My four presentations were: Stay Faithful to the Finish Stay Faithful in your Message Stay Faithful in your Ministry Stay Faithful in your Mission You can actually go to the [...]
