Book Review: God's Smuggler - Highly Recommend

This was another book I chose from our shelves to supplement my devotional reading. My husband has been a long-time contributor to the ministry of Open Doors with Brother Andrew. What an inspiration for prayer and faith! Brother Andrew's book, God's Smuggler, was published in 1967. Our copy is a beautifully bound book from The Christian Library published by Barbour and Company, however I do love this cover shown at left.

Brother Andrew was an advocate for persecuted Christians and an intent missionary whose main goal was to smuggle Bibles into countries hostile to faith in God. He is best known for his singular prayer, "Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture that I want to take to Your children across this border. When You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see." Time after time, he tested and proved God's faithfulness. Oh, that I had faith like that!

The other day I was pondering this book and thought to myself, "How I want the faith of Brother Andrew (for provision of open doors for ministry) and George Muller (for provision of financial needs for ministry and daily life). These two relied entirely on the supply of God. Instead, so often, I want the life of Dave Ramsey. I want to figure out how to eliminate my debts and live such a lifestyle that I can have what I want and need, while still meeting the needs of others. 

This test of faith is pressing at the moment. My husband and I have a tendency to take on the consequences of irresponsible people (including our prodigal son). While I argue we should let true consequences fall and step out of the way of enabling, he fears the results of that and argues God will always meet our needs, even if we give away what little we have left to live on for our remaining years. Internally, I struggle. I see the verses commanding provision for the poor. Yet, I also see the truth that enabling does not help irresponsible people, it only encourages them to push their responsibilites onto anyone who will provide. It is the whole give a man a fish vs. teaching a man to fish illustration!

Thus, this book bolstered my weary faith. So, what lessons stood out? Apart from utter dependency on God, I was convicted by the author's statements about not labeling churches. So often, in his missionary trips, he saw the emasculated church (defused by government dictates) as a "puppet church." Yet, he wrote on page 156, "It is never safe to call a church a puppet--no matter how dead, no matter how subservient and temporizing it may appear on the surface. It is called by God's name, it has God's eye upon it, at any moment He may sweep the surface away with the purifying wind of His Spirit." From this, I took encouragement that God can work and win others, even in churches that put God in a box, even in churches where I don't necessarily fit.

I loved a challenging story on pages 165-166. Brother Andrew encountered a problem because of the language gap (neither spoke the other's language). To remedy this, he picked up a Bible and began having a conversation using various scripture verses, going from 1 Cor. 16:20 and Prov. 25:25 to Philemon. Oh, that I knew my Bible well enough to converse with foreigners simply by pointing to a passage. I long to be so Biblically fluent!

I took heart from the many examples of God's perfectly timed provision. Brother Andrew needed a car. God provided a VW. I loved his story (page 108) about that "Miracle Car." The roads of Yugoslavia kicked up tremendous dust and every morning they prayed, "Lord, we don't have either the time or the money for repairs on the car, so will You please keep it running?" Not long after, they encountered another driver who stopped and said, "I know who you are.. and this is the Miracle Car?" He had heard about this car maintained through prayer and asked if he could take a look at it. After looking over the engine, this man declared, "I have just become a believer. It is mechanically impossible for this engine to run." He was a mechanic and offered to take the car to his shop and cleaned every part of the engine for them. When, after driving it for almost 200k kilometers, it required a new engine, they found themselves 50 marks shy of the cost. Just then, they received a gift from a random stranger of 50 marks God wanted them to have.

When Brother Andrew's growing family needed a house, God led him to someone just convicted to sell and God provided the funds to cover the purchase. He writes on page 173, "Immediately, mysteriously, as soon as the house was paid for, the flow of excess funds stopped--and it remained dried up until there was a need for it again. In the years of living this life of faith, I have never known God's care to fail."

Later, Brother Andrew was convicted to purchase a large supply of pocket Bibles. He and his wife talked about selling their house. They prayed, expressing to God that the house belonged to Him but admitting their private struggle with the idea. "Lord, if You want us to sell the house for the Bibles, You will have to work a small miracle in our hearts to make us willing." I was moved by this example of faith, as well. I often don't want to give what God wants me to release.

When they got an appraisal on the house, it came to the very amount needed for the pocket Bibles. He writes on page 206, "How faithful God is, how utterly trustworthy, how good beyond imagining! He asks for so little in order to give us so much." Then, the Dutch Bible Society arranged to pay for the printing, only charging Brother Andrew for the supplies on an as-needed basis. His response is inspiring, "I could hardly wait to tell Corrie what God had done with the thimbleful of willingness we had offered Him."

Another story told of a time Brother Andrew accidentally changed more currency than he should have. He and his partner ended up having a car accident. The other driver agreed to let the incident go, and let them head off on their way, if they provided him with cash to cover the repairs. That amount was the exact amount they had!

If you are low on faith, if your trust in God needs bolstering, you will find inspiration and encouragement aplenty in Brother Andrew's life and testimony. God shows up with the exact provision at the exact moment in the exact power needed! Brother Andrew concludes, "God is never defeated. Though He may be opposed, attacked, resisted, still the ultimate outcome can never be in doubt. Every day we see fresh proof that indeed all things--even evil ones--work together for those who are called by His name."

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" - Isaiah 52:7 (KJV)

Book Review: When Life Feels Empty - Highly Recommend

I can't remember who recommended Isaac Serrano's book, When Life Feels Empty. Perhaps it was someone in the Rabbit Room Chinwag group on Facebook. They recommend excellent books. I needed the content of this book to remind me where to plug into the source of power and hope. This was another book I listened to in audio form and then accessed in ebook form, so I could take notes.

We live in a world ruled by a materialistic worldview. As such, we are influenced by that mindset. We cannot get away from this lens that assumes the physical is all that exists. Without telos (life purpose and meaning), we feel empty. With excellent structure, Serrano outlines why we feel empty, 7 practices to address this, and why those practices work to shape us into who we were meant to be.

From the book of Ecclesiastes, we explore the idea that "everything is vanity (hevel)." If our gaze is horizontal, we will feel that way. Only when we fix our gaze vertically, do we grasp the telos necessary for enduring this life. We were meant to be trees, growing vertically. Instead, we waste time in emptiness and addictions. Serrano emphasizes that "belief must be embodied." The seven practices he outlines seek to help us do just that.

The first practice stunned me. I realized if I had incorporated this practice into my weekly fasting, I would have left my prayer times impressed instead of distressed. The first of seven beneficial practices is song. Singing releases oxytocin. Even heartbeats sync when singing together. Singing of God's mercy and love roots us in those promises. I intend to pursue this practice far more.

Serrano explains the next two practices. Baptism is storytelling with our body, a physical manifestation of the new life we receive in Christ. Communion roots us in time. We celebrate the past (Christ's body broken), the present (the new covenant through His blood), and the future (His return). Another way he puts it: baptism is the wedding and communion is the wedding ring.

The fourth practice is another one I intend to hone in on more. Serrano demonstrates that God's will is for us to express thanksgiving. He recommends we even face the east (the position of Christ's return) while we do so. I have implemented prayer far more in the past several years, but have I sufficiently incorporated thanksgiving in those prayer times?

The final three practices? Read the Bible (so essential for fixing our gaze vertically instead of horizontally). Attend church (we were meant for community - indeed, isolation destroys health and longevity and even breeds addiction). Pray the Lord's Prayer (there is a reason Christ gave this as an example. Why don't we use it more regularly?). 

The last section is equally instructive as he outlines why we should not be "conformed to the spirit of the age." God is a sculptor, forming us into a masterpiece. Following these ancient spiritual practices lends meaning to our lives and works with God instead of against Him. I highly recommend this deeper consideration of well-known practices that are proven essential. What a great book! I intend to visit this one again in the future.

Mid-month Mention: Powerful Preaching in Dallas

 (Image from Eastside Community Church sermon menu)

I must admit, I'm jealous of my son Bryce. He has joined a wonderful church. In all the years we have lived near Indianapolis, I've never found a church home I would enthusiastically wish to join. You'd think living near a large metropolis would solve this dilemma. Alas, despite many spells and stretches of attending various churches near and distant from our home, the pickings still feel slim. 

In the beginning, when my husband was not attending church and my youngest was an infant, I took my boys to The Salvation Army. This was the church of my childhood. I will forever be tied to the music of the Army. In Indianapolis, I expected a vibrant congregation with a band I could join. Of course, if they had a band, I would not have been able to join because there was no child care. This was part of the attraction, though. I would always sit at the back because the service often coincided with my son's feeding schedule. Nobody there minded if I donned a blanket and discreetly fed my infant. There was some comfort and familiarity, and I felt less guilty for our inclusion at the Army's Central Bible & Leadership Institute (CBLI) every July. (I attended this family camp with my sons for two solid decades, even in times when we weren't attending The Salvation Army.)

Over time, it became less of a good fit. They aligned with some beliefs I could not espouse. I tried several others closer to home (the Army was a good 20-25 minute drive on Sunday mornings). Oh, the interesting scenarios! In one church, someone accosted us because we took their weekly established seat in the sanctuary. In another, they would not release my pre-teen from the classroom because I didn't know the requirement of picking him up. His pleas fell on deaf ears for a half hour. We never attended that church again. In yet another, the sermons invariably veered political with great vehemence about how one should be voting. I don't go to church to learn how I should vote. Moreover, God deserves more attention on praising Him for releasing us from the troubles of the world than on trying to find a human solution for the troubles in our world. There will never be a human solution! Christ is the only answer!

On Mother's Day, I relished the blessing of attending church with my son Bryce and his fiancée at Eastside Community Church in Dallas. While I prefer smaller churches, with a more intimate and connected feel, I am intensely grateful for the preaching we heard that Sunday. So, for my Mid-month Mention in June, I am highlighting this church and especially the sermons accessible on-line. The sermon we heard on Mother's Day exemplified their commitment to God and His Word! (They express this in their story of how the church came to be.)

One sermon wasn't enough, so I located the sermon library on their website. The sermons I have listened to are all from the Help Us sermon series they were in during our visit. This series focuses on the lines of the doxology they sing at the end of every service. I outlined the sermon we heard in-person in a previous blog post. 

Because of Pastor Adam Griffin's powerful illustrations, his emphasis on the gospel and the gift of grace, together with his reliance on God's Word, I was eager to hear the entire series. Every sermon encouraged and fed my soul. I so needed to hear that God is always with us. I needed the pastor's emphasis on the dynamics of that. He used Joseph's life and trials as an illustration. How encouraging that although my trials mount, and the prison doors seem to hold fast, God is with me, has aligned Himself with me, despite my sin and undeserving standing.

I also desperately needed the reminder to be steadfast. I don't want to have, like Peter's walk on the water, a "brief belief." My soul needs to cling to my Papa God, just as children entirely trust their parents to help them. In another sermon by Adam Griffin, he talked about our need to direct our worship to the proper place, God alone. How easy it is to turn God's good gifts into idols when we put work, wealth, recreation, or relationships above God or in the place of God within our lives.

Perhaps you, too, need a good dose of encouragement and a spotlight on God's Word. Some preach God's Word, but it comes off condemning, always leaving one feeling like they are not all they should be and will never be close enough to the Lord. My soul is weary. I need inspiration. My soul longs to be drawn compassionately in focus on the Lord. This sermon series has met some of my needs and pointed me to the source of all help. If you have extra time, take a listen to Pastor Griffin's fine teaching. 

Book Review: Romans 13 and Covid 19 - Highly Recommend

If you are a believer, a child of the one true King, you must ask yourself: Is this a spiritual war we are in, or a health war? What is the true nature of the battle? And what would God have me do in response to the developments in our world at the present time? Don't be one of the wedding guests who failed to bring enough oil for their lantern (Matthew 25). 

Some guests use the argument, "God's got it all under control. I'm just going to leave it in His capable hands." Is that a cop-out for actively looking for His coming and doing His will? God is very clear in his instruction to be alert, to stay awake and ready for the return of Christ. I want to be ready at the trumpet call. Will you be?

Now is the time to be seeking His will in His Word. Guidance is available if you will avail yourself of it! Don't leave it on the shelf gathering dust. The day is nigh and you will not want to be left behind.

Now is the time to be in prayer. Seek His covering for you and your family. Seek His wisdom for how to respond to every ratcheting development. Seek His inspiration to remain courageous in the face of those who perpetuate fear.

Now is the time to be fasting. Set aside what hinders and holds you back. Set yourself apart for God's use. Set your mind on things above.

If you are busy with those things, you could not do better than to read this book. It is full of truth and light. I fully intend to go back through it again and watch/listen/read the many footnoted supports given for his perspective. Moreover, if you read this timely treatise, you will gain even more motivation to be in His Word, in prayer, and in fasting. The King is coming! Will He find you sleeping?

Are Indiana Churches The Proverbial Canary?

Photo by Kaikara Dharma on Unsplash

Desperate to ease the financial pressures of lock-down, the country is beginning disparate re-opening phases. Although the White House issued criteria, many states are ignoring those guidelines. The most significant benchmark calls for a two-week decline in documented cases. In Indiana, from April 27th through May 3rd, they documented an average of 700 additional cases per day on the ISDH website, with no decline in sight. My own rural county has 883 documented cases and 46 deaths. Yet, Indiana is re-opening.

While most businesses will be held to stringent occupancy percentages, Governor Holcomb has given a green light to churches to re-open with no attendance cap. His words, as he described his reasoning, brought to mind the canaries miners often used to alert them to dangerous gases. Holcomb explained, "What we're going to do is learn from these steps that we're taking....  We just thought a good place to start or have a control group, would be places of worship." Control group ... canary ... call it what you will. It appears church-goers will reveal the ramifications of re-opening.

Of course, Governor Holcomb encouraged pastors to follow social distancing guidelines and take adequate cleaning measures. But it raises many questions I fear churches will not take sufficient time to consider and address. Ken Braddy, of Lifeway Christian Resources, attempted to pose many of these questions in his blog article, "Twenty Questions Your Church Should Answer Before People Return." As comments poured in, the twenty questions proved insufficient. He re-titled that blog post and wrote another, "Twenty-Four More Questions the Church Should Ask Before People Return." He mentions many concerns I expected: communion, offering, and especially, enforcing social distancing and cleaning. Will the church turn people away? Will believers eager to see their brothers and sisters in Christ maintain the recommended distance and fight the urge to greet and converse in the hallways? Not to mention the many differing perspectives on the threat. Whose perspective is right?

Is it best to wear a mask and reduce transmission, or is it best to shun masks and increase your body's immune defenses? Will all people eventually encounter this virus or are we actually flattening the curve by sheltering-in-place? Things get even murkier when you address the spiritual dimension. Some assert their faith is proved in their eagerness to resume regular worship (can we truly go back to normal?). Fight fear with faith. Others argue that, while we shouldn't give way to fear (God is the source of our ultimate satisfaction in life or in death), we should also practice the discretion and wisdom He's given to avoid danger. It's like the story of the drowning man who ignores three heavenly-orchestrated opportunities for rescue while praying and asserting his faith in God.

The church we currently attend, in normal circumstances, has barely an open seat for a newcomer. With Governor Holcomb's blessing, they are resuming with a Mother's Day service. Most years, on Mother's Day, it is my greatest desire to worship with my husband and children beside me. This year, I'm conflicted. Indeed, they intend to resume our small group Bible study, held in someone's home. I'm not on board for that either. I don't wish to play the role of canary.

In some ways, this pandemic has encouraged the church to go out into the highways and byways with the gospel. I have invited non-believing friends to watch uplifting and encouraging worship services. David Jeremiah aired an outstanding sermon addressing the corona-virus. On-line viewing eliminates the awkward threat of entering an unfamiliar sanctuary. At other times, I've shared a multitude of virtual worship experiences (I just found this excellent one for "Be Thou My Vision" and one from my friend, Randy Bonifield, "Christ Be All Around Me"). The Salvation Army seldom holds open-air services as they used to, but one Chicago corps took small ensembles out into the communities to share hymns. They reasoned if the people can't go to the church, bring the church to the people. It no doubt blessed those neighbors as they stood at safe distances listening to hymns of the faith.

I'd be the first to declare how much I love singing praise and worship to God among friends and fellow believers. I know how important it is to break the bread of His Word together. Yet, while I understand the intense blessing of corporate worship, I worry we are rushing back into the sanctuary out of eagerness to return to normalcy. And if we let our guard down, telling ourselves the danger is behind us (ignoring the continuing escalation of numbers), will we live to regret it? Or rather, will we die as we regret it? Will our control group experiment prove to Indiana that it is unsafe to return to the mine, singing blithely "Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's back to church we go?"

NOTE: While I oppose the idea of "no attendance caps" and using the church as "a control group," I am not wishing to express any criticism of others who feel safe and comfortable returning to their places of worship. My husband will attend our church's socially-distanced service, where I will not. Each individual must do as his conscience and soul directs. I bristle at the expression of worshipers as an expendable commodity to practice on and glean information from as a result of their open attendance together in worship. My heartfelt plea is for caution. Churches must carefully think through each aspect of their worship together. I pray readers will not take offense, but will take every precaution to stay safe.