Remembering . . . the way to the future
I just finished reading the book of Deuteronomy. As you know Moses wrote Deuteronomy. The setting for the book takes place at the end of the Israelites period of wandering in the desert. For 40 years they were nomads eating manna, wearing the same clothes, picking up their belongings and moving on a regular (even daily) basis. They had no place to call their own. According to Numbers 26:51 we’re talking about 600,000 men over the age of 20, who were ready to go to war. That number excluded any disabled, the Levites, and of course the women, children and older men. Historians say the total number was close to two million people. Two million people whose lives had been on-hold as they waited for all but two guys from their parent’s generation to die off due to their refusal to obey God. As Deuteronomy begins the Israelites are finally ready to move into the land God had promised to their ancestors. They are standing on the precipice of Canaan, rocking on ready, waiting to move into the promise land; the land they had dreamed about and talked about for 40 years, a land flowing with milk and honey!
Before they enter the land, however, their leader had a few words for them. Because of his own disobedience Moses was not allowed to enter Canaan and so the book of Deuteronomy consists of his farewell speech to the people. As I read Moses’ words to the people of Israel a theme emerged for me. REMEMBER!! Throughout the book Moses tells the children of Israel to remember 3 major things:
1. Remember the promises God had made to their forefathers. Remember how God promised to be their God and to make them into a great nation that would bless all the nations of the world.
2. Remember what God had already accomplished to bring them out of Egypt and sustain them for 40 years in the desert. Moses reminded them of how God brought them victory in battles, how He created a new food group and dietary order for them, how He met their clothing needs – their sandals and cloaks didn’t wear out (they wore the same thing for 40 years!), and how He gave them a structure to live by . . . He provided medical, cultural, governmental, celebratory, and religious guidelines.
3. Finally, Moses tells them to remember their disobedience. Remember their parents’ refusal to believe God and conquer the promised land. He tells them not to forget the building of the golden calf, and to remember how God was gracious even with all of their constant whining and complaining. And, remember how their hearts’ were bent to disobedience.
In Chapter 7 verse 14, Moses said to the people if you remember these things, “You shall be blessed above all peoples.”
We, too, are on the precipice of a move. Just like the Israelites we have been tearing down and setting up on a weekly basis. We have had no place to call our own. Before you know it, however, we will be on the move to Fayette County. We will be entering a new land; a land flowing with permanent children’s classrooms, a large resource room, and a copier available each and every Sunday! A land where chairs remain in place and the stage is bolted to the floor. A land with a permanent address that can be located on Google maps (345 Keough Drive)! I can hardly wait!
As we prepare to move I thought it would be good for us to remember as well! While we have not been wandering for 40 years we have had our times of wandering. The Taylor’s Home, Studdard’s clubhouse, ECS, Germantown Performing Arts Center, the Agri-Center, Collierville Y, and now BCHS. I am reminded that God has been faithful the past 5 years to provide a location for us each Sunday. A Sunday did not pass where we did not gather to worship. I remember several of our current LHC children’s leaders teaching the kids in itty-bitty dressing room at GPAC. At the Collierville Y our two and three year olds met in racketball courts where the sound reverberated off the walls! When we torn down in each of those locations we used children’s wagons and our arms to remove the items from rooms. Even though we have not had a permanent home for five years God has been faithful to give us the money to buy a very effective portable system to help with our weekly set-up and tear down. And while the rooms we have had children’s classes in are far from model classrooms, God has been faithful in using the truths taught each Sunday to bring Kingdom results. The very first baptisms at LHC were children who came to Jesus! Kids who were in first grade and up when Living Hope began are now impacting the city of Memphis through weekly Bible studies with children from Vollentine Elementary, and the world through overseas mission trips. Remember that! We now have a generation of kids entering school who have spent their entire lives being taught about God’s great story and His plan for them their entire lives at LHC. Remember that!
Moses asked the people of Israel to remember so they would not repeat the sins of the past. We remember the past five years to dream a new dream for the future.
What’s that dream? More on that later . . . In the meantime, take the opportunity to remember God’s faithfulness in your life over the past five years and give Him praise for His goodness and grace! Anita
Sermon Outline
Some have asked me for the outline from the sermon on 9/11. Here it is…
The Path to Unbelief
1. Focusing on you, rather than Jesus. (6:27-29)
2. Demanding a sign. (6:30-32)
3. Limiting God to your experience (6:41-42)
4. Refusing to trust when you do not understand (6:52)
5. Operating in the flesh, rather than the Spirit (6:60-65)
The Path to Faith
1. Receiving the gift of faith (6:27)
2. Trusting in the midst of uncertainty and confusion (6:16-21, 53-58)
3. Listening, Eating, Drinking (6:35, 56, 68)
Ramadan Prayers ~ Part 8
This is our final post in the Ramadan series. Its been our hope that these articles, written by Living Hope supported ministry partners, has helped to inform your prayers and deepened your understanding of the work among Muslims around the world and at home. We conclude with a piece from Mike. In this article he shares a more personal journey of his unwillingness to reach out to Muslims. And then what changed.
The Heart that changed was my own
My ministry began 35 years ago with a focus on International college students. Learning how to relate to different cultures, food, and religious beliefs was an adventure. People from all over the world were spiritually responsive, except one group—the Islamic students.
They were open to friendship, but could not seem to grasp the ideas concerning our Message. Several weeks were often invested in sharing the same concepts over and over again. But no matter how skilled at explaining the Good News I became, I seemed to always have to start back at the beginning.
In frustration, I wrote them off. I was unwilling to invest any more time or effort with these people.
Now, I find myself drawn to this part of the world more than any other. What has changed? Let me share some things that have made a difference:
1. See. I see them as people who have the same needs, cares and desires as me. My heart breaks for how much suffering they have endured. Many have given up hope. When I see their children suffering, I see my grandchildren. When I hear their stories, I wonder how I would respond if I had the same experiences. Also, I know this is only the beginning of suffering if they die without being justified by faith, they will spend an eternity in far worse conditions.
2. Patience. Instead of trying to “get-r-done” in one explosive exchange of ideas, take time. If I am talking to someone who has never had contact with a “likeminded” person, I remind myself that I am in the first 5 minutes of a 5 year conversation. Relax, the pressure’s off.
3. Ask Questions. I don’t assume that I know what they believe because I went to some class or read a book. They are individual’s and God has each one in a different place on their journey to Him. They will often ask what I believe in return. They are genuinely interested and often surprised by what they hear.
4. Listen to the “still small voice.” Instead of having a prepared speech, I try to listen to the Holy Spirit. Sometimes He doesn’t lead me to say a thing. Sometimes ideas pour into my mind. And then sometimes I sense Him saying, “Stop.”
5. Believe. All, and I mean all, who turn to Him experience an encounter with the Lord that requires the same power that raised Jesus from the dead to raise their dead, lifeless souls to eternal life and a willingness to lose all for the sake of knowing Him. This is true of westerners who have heard many times and Islamic people who are hearing for the first time. God is able to raise the dead, and He does not limit Himself to one pattern for accomplishing His work.
Mike S.
Ramadan Prayers ~ Part 7
As we conclude our series of articles during Ramadan, we turn our attention to local ways we can learn about Islam and serve Muslims in our community. This article comes from Living Hope elder, Alan May and his work with Muslim refugees in Memphis.
“Cousins” at Home
One of the great joys of my life is to know and serve “cousins” from various African countries that are refugees in the U.S. I enjoy teaching English to adults from places such as Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, Congo, Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, and many other countries. Over the last school year, about three fourths of the adult students in my English class at Refugee Empowerment Program are Muslims, and most of them are women.
I cannot imagine that there would be much opportunity for me, as a Caucasian male, to establish rapport and relationship with these Muslim women in their home countries. God has made a way, however, for these ladies and their families to take refuge in Memphis, TN. Likewise, He has made a way for me, and others, to get to know them, to meet a very practical need of providing English instruction, to pray with them and for them in the mighty name of Jesus, and to have a coveted opportunity to speak truth into their lives.
English classes will resume at REP during Ramadan, and many of our “cousins” will not come to class until Ramadan concludes. I will have opportunity to ask them about their celebrations and to express to them that they were missed in class. It is my sincere prayer that God will work in the hearts and lives of these students and draw them to Himself. I learn so much from them, and I pray God will likewise use me to impart to them knowledge of English but more importantly the truth about Himself.
As Muslims around the world observe Ramadan, don’t forget that there are many in our own city doing the same. When you see women covered from head to toe in the heat of our summer, what thoughts cross your mind? It is my hope and prayer that you consider that many of these folks would never have had the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ in their home countries. It is also my hope and prayer that you would consider it a disgrace if they live and die in Memphis, TN and no one here befriends them and shows them the love of Jesus.
During Ramadan, most of us will be preparing for back-to-school, looking for one last opportunity for a trip to the lake, or simply taking refuge from the heat and humidity within the confines of our air-conditioned homes, SUVs, offices, schools, and shopping centers. I challenge you to consider those who have taken refuge in our country from much more than extreme weather. How much easier could it be for us to meet the challenge of the Great Commission to go to the nations, when in fact the nations have come to us!
- Alan May
Ramadan Prayers ~ Part 6
As we come to the conclusion of the Ramadan season, we want to continue to pray for our Muslim friends and neighbors and those that are serving in Muslim contexts. This post comes from Living Hope’s partners in Central Asia.
Muslim Women in Central Asia
The world’s perspective on women is vastly different from country to country largely depending on a country’s religious beliefs and traditions. In predominantly Muslim nations, women are many times treated as objects and possessions; something to do the work, a machine to crank out the babies under traumatic and life threatening conditions, and something to discard when no longer useful. In our American eyes this appears evil, tragic and inhuman but in other countries, it is simply a different way of life.
In speaking to Muslim women and hearing stories of their lives, one’s heart can become callous toward Islam and it’s followers whereas in reality, the LORD has called us to love our neighbors. What does that mean especially during their holy month of Ramadan? It means that the LORD is drawing us to pray as well. During this particular time, thousands of Muslim women are bowing their knee and seeking mercy from Allah to free them from the life that now entraps them:
- A slave to a cruel mother-in-law who’s home she was destined to live in after marrying the woman’s son.
- A “used up” wife whose husband who took a second wife because she was younger, prettier and able to still conceive children.
- A school age girl longing to gain an education but is not able to go attend school since her school was burned down because it was a school for “girls.”
- A mother who had 2 sick children die in her arms because they were girls and girls were not wanted or seen as worthy to save.
- An outspoken woman for women’s rights who got acid thrown in her face for standing up for what she believes. She now suffers with painful scars and rejection.
- A young woman who was sent to prison on trumped up charges when in reality her family was shamed because the girl refused to marry the man her family had chosen for her to marry.
As you remember our Muslim neighbors, pray for the women in these difficult situations to encounter Jesus during their holy season of Ramadan. Jesus appears many times in visions and dreams to those He chooses. Pray for women’s hearts to be softened as they see and hear the Holy Spirit’s invitation to shed their heavy burden and rest in Jesus’ tender arms. Pray for immediate obedience to this invitation and a complete acceptance of a new life in Him. Pray for true Peace and rest to enter these ladies and change their lives forever.