Where am I and who are these people?

This morning I woke up when the alarm went off, and laid in bed for 5 minutes trying to think of why the alarm went off, what day is it, and who's house am I in? Then to top it off, who am I? Sounds crazy right, but I bet if you were honest you've had mornings like too. I knew there was something that I was suppose to do, but because my week has been so busy it all seems to run together. Then I remembered today is Angel Food day at our church and a day to help a brother in need move, also a day to complete the sermon for Sunday. Then I became stressed with the thought of how I might get all this done. Isn't it amazing how much stress we put ourselves under. We think that we are able to go wide open and do all the things we use to do when we were in our early 20s'. My son Cody came home Thursday night and shared with me and Cindy that his boss collapsed at work. He works at a new grocery store and I have commented many times that the three guys that opened that store along with their other three stores are pushing themselves to the breaking point. Something we all do and don't even realize it. About three years ago I did a sermon series on the stress within us and how dangerous it can be. I referred to statistics that even back this up that our work is the major killer in America, causing a great deal of stress. Our life is like a rubber band and we are about ready to break. We all need to take time to slow down and take some down time and just watch a sunset, or go to a park and take a walk in God's creation. I guess what I am saying is don't let life take you out of the game. Take time to refresh so that you can be your best for God. I know I am!

Just thoughts from a sinner, on his way home.

peace byron

Post from my mentor.

Hey Guys, I wanted to post a post from my mentor from Texas. He is in Jerusalem right now and he gives some very encouraging words of what is taking place there; and some very challenging words for us to reach the world with the Love of Jesus Christ. I love and am challenged by his closing statement especially during a political year.

Evangelical American Pastors - Meet Evangelical Palestinian Pastors!

posted January 10, 2008 by Bob Roberts Jr.

Yes, they really exist! I wanted to post a picture, but didn’t want to make their life anymore difficult than it is, already. They love God, they are evangelical, they were born in different parts of Israel and the West Bank, their families have been there for centuries and millenias and they are the most effective representation and the best hope of Jesus Christ in that part of the world today. My meetings with them were beyond incredible. They have suffered rejection, abandonment, and isolation for one simple reason–they were born Palestinians. One leading evangelical who met with them a couple of years back was happy they were Christians but at the conclusion of the meeting told them they needed to move to Jordan or somewhere else. How absurd and utterly ignorant of the Great Commission and God’s call for all peoples.

One of the pastors told me, “We are the only nationality in the history of Christianity where other Christians have told us we should leave and are the obstacle to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Instead, they would rather work with non-believers who have rejected Christ who are not involved in the Great Commission instead of working with us.”

There are some Muslims that have made life difficult for them and there are some Israeli’s that have made life difficult for them. But, the greatest rejection, and most painful of all, has been that of their Christian brothers from the church in the West. It’s not just rejection though, it’s oblivion. Most, in the West, do not realize that there is a growing and emerging church in the West Bank, despite all the thousands of Palestinian Christians that have come West. There are about 3,000 Christians that live in Gaza. Many of them could leave and live here, but they feel called to stay to be witnesses to Christ. Their life is very difficult, but if they leave who will share the light and love of Jesus? I met 8 pastors in Bethlehem. I was impressed with every single one of them. They are educated, effective, and passionate. They are closer to the culture than anyone else. Does Jesus love Palestinians and Jews? Does He want there to be a light and witness whether men accept Him or reject Him? Were there conditions to who could fulfill the Great Commission or was it really the call of all believers?

In Nazareth, I visited with one Palestinian Christian leader who feels God has called the Palestinian Christians to fulfill the Great Commission in the whole of the Middle-East. He told me, who is better situated, connected, and able to speak the Good News of Christ than they are. He’s not just mouthing. He has actions to back up his talk–and more to come. Wouldn’t it be just like God to use the “least” of the Palestinian Christians to bring peace to the Holy Land with the Messianic Jews!!!!!!!! WOW, these are all the sons of Abraham! Wouldn’t it be just like Jesus to heal a rift and use the least likely to see the transformation of a nation and part of the world?

These are courageous men of vision who are giving their entire lives that make all our little “missional” discussions look little and goofy. One of the most exciting things of all I saw was a Palestinian pastor speaking at a Messianic congregation. The two pastors embraced and have become very close friends. They don’t agree on everything–BUT, they do agree that they are brothers in Christ and must respect each other–enough that they share pulpits and work together. I’m convinced the greatest hope for Peace in Jerusalem and Israel and the West Bank is going to come from Christians who live there, who are reconciled to each other and are providing an example and model of how they live together. If Christian brothers from both sides are willing to work together there why shouldn’t we?

Bethlehem Bible College also blew me away. I saw the future church of the Holy Land and the Middle East and was excited. These young men and women love God, are filled with passion, and are smart and gifted. Of all the church planters and young leaders I know in the US, they stand head-to-head and shoulder-to-shoulder to the very best here in the West–if not even taller! The reason is, not only are they smart and gifted, but they choose to stay and live in difficult circumstances which has a massive impact on character and maturity. This is why Jesus says the first will be last and the last first. Their names will not be as well known as some here in the West, but the sacrifice and effectiveness goes beyond anything we know here. You can legally start churches in the Palestinian territories, which has been done, and many of these are being trained to do just that. They also get engagement, whether it’s reconciliation exercises they are involved in, or serving the poor–you name it. Here in the US, I’m always told, “when our church gets bigger and we have more money then we’ll start churches and start engaging.” I’m glad they don’t talk that way or believe that–they wouldn’t be doing all the things they’re doing now. BTW one of the churches has sent a “missionary” to America!!!!!! He happened to be “home” the Sunday I spoke at one of the churches and he was there.

I always talk about lessons from the church in the East–this is where we, in the West, have it really wrong–our failure to recognize and connect deeply with believers in the West Bank. We’re still trying to drive foreign policy through speculative theology. I don’t know how Jesus will return; I do know He’s called all of us to share the good news of who He is and to serve others. I don’t know when He will return; I do know what He’s called all of us to do until He comes. We have traded the Great Commission for the sake of an eschatological foreign policy. Jesus told Peter to put down his sword–He put the ear back on the soldier. He is about an eternal kingdom. He will come at the behest of the father, not the contrivings of religious power brokers trying to play global politics.

We must support Israel. They are a nation of people that will be represented in eternity for whom Christ died. But we must also support the Palestinians, a nation of people that will be represented in eternity for whom Christ died. Anything less is a rejection of what God has called all believers to do. They want reconciliation–shouldn’t we? Does the Kingdom of God flourish and transform the world by love and reconciliation, or by hatred and power politics? Easy answer–look at the cross . . .

Part 2 - Palestinian & Messianic & American Evangelicals

posted January 14, 2008 by Bob Roberts Jr.

Can the seed of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God work in Jerusalem? It must. If it can’t work there it can’t work anywhere. E. Stanley Jones wrote that the reason the Gospel of the Kingdom spread like it did was because it started in Jerusalem. Had it started in Galilee it may have only been viewed as a cult or another would be messiah, but the fact that it took root in Jerusalem–the hardest place for it to take root–meant that it could and would work anywhere. If the Gospel only works in the easy places, then how strong is the Gospel. But if the Gospel is the Gospel, then difficulty is no issue.

Where in the world is there anymore conflict? Where would more glory to God be brought than if Jesus were to be the determining factor of peace in Israel? In terms of war, conflict, destabilization, there is no place on the face of the earth more important than Jerusalem and Israel. If you solve that problem, you solve much of the problems of the Middle-East. I know, many middle-eastern nations use that just as an excuse. Well, let’s take that excuse off the table.

Jesus was about reconciliation–not war. Not saying there are not just wars. I am saying when I read or hear leading “evangelical” TV personalities, pastors, and evangelist and others calling for unilateral strikes on nations “in the name of God,” I shake my head. I have a hard time picturing Jesus sitting behind the control panel of a missile launching site! Our first response must be reconciliation. Isn’t this what we’ve been called to do?

I was visiting with a Congressman and he was in a prayer meeting of believers in government praying for the peace process, and one intercessor literally began to pray against it! How can that be? What Christian religious insanity would pray against peace. That goes against everything Christ taught and practiced.

2Cor. 5:18 Now all these things are from God who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Another question. Are we one body or two? Read this passage–look:
1. It’s always been about Faith–OT and NT
2. Sons of Abraham of those who put their faith in God regardless of race.
3. Abraham was a promise to all nations, not just one.
4. Jew and Greek, Male and Female, all the same now.
5. We are all heirs of Abraham!

Gal. 3:6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. 10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.” 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” 12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. 19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Paul wrote the church at Galatia because it tried to go back to the past, and he said no–the Kingdom of God is more than a physical place, the temple is now in our hearts. Jesus didn’t do away with the Old Testament or law, he merely fulfilled it.

When I was in the old city–Jerusalem, I bought a ceramic tile that is framed. it’s an Armenian Christian’s rendering of the old city and Bethlehem divided by a wall and written on the wall is Eph. 2:14 “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall. . . ”

Neither suicide bombers or 30 foot tall walls turning communities into virtual prisons and ghettos will solve the problem–only make it worse. SO HOW CAN WE AS BELIEVERS BE A PART OF THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS . . . I HAVE SOME IDEAS - I’LL TELL YOU MINE IN MY NEXT BLOG - TELL ME YOURS TODAY!!!!!

New Birth!

One of my best friends is launching a new church today. I am so excited as if I am launching a new church. Cindy and I and some of the people from Hope are going down to Amory Mississippi to be with this great day for Life Pointe Church. Rob Westbrook is the planting pastor and he is also a world missionary, and a great friend. He and I grew each other in the faith, working together at tire factory we challenged and keep each other accountable for what God wanted to do with our lives. Rob and I even left Cooper Tire at the same time to pursue Seminary. He is New Orleans and I in Fort Worth Texas. Robs Blog is part of my favorites, check out what they are doing when you get the chance. Please keep this new church in your prayers as they advance the Kingdom of God in Amory Mississippi and also in the World. Life Pointe I love you Guys and I am praying for the great work God is going to do through all of you.


Just thoughts from a sinner on his way home,

Peace, byron