May weather

Yesterday was a hot 88° F. But we were warned that cold weather was coming.

I work up this morning at 5:45 to a beautiful sun. I checked the temperature. It was 54°. But then the cold weather front came in. By 3:30 this afternoon the temperature had fallen to 36°, and by 5:00 it was 32° and snowing!

We can use the precipitation because it has been an unusually dry spring. But snow ... in late May?

Weekly update

Reading my Bible this week, I was reminded that it is not enough simply to be patient and diligent. God commends His church at Ephesus for their works, their labor, their patience, and their doctrinal purity. However, He had one complaint: they had left their first love. We can work hard, we can wait patiently on God's work, and we can carefully maintain our doctrinal purity. But if we do not strive to love God will all our heart, soul, mind, and strength then God has somewhat against us too.

This lesson has been burning in my heart this week: it is not enough to be diligent and patient, God wants our love too. John tells us, "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." Are we keeping His commandments? Second, if we love someone, we want to spend time with them. We enjoy spending time with them. Likewise, if we love God we ought to enjoy spending time with Him, meditating on His Word and praying to Him.

I want this same love for God to be evident on Mongolian believers' hearts! I must model it for them, teach it to them, encourage them not to leave their first love. Pray for us!

Memorial Day

It is all too easy while living in Mongolia to forget the holidays that we celebrate as Americans - as my recent interns Kevin & John will attest to. Even today I was planning to call the U.S. Embassy in Ulan Bator to discuss a few questions when a friend reminded me that they were closed for Memorial Day today.

The sacrifices of our soldiers is something all of us should recognize. Being a missionary has given me a different appreciation for the sacrifices that soldiers and their families make daily. Except our situations are very different because I am not facing death each day and I am not separated from my wife and children.

I will never forget watching a Marine band at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery. I had traveled back to Annapolis to visit the United States Naval Academy. Those of us visiting the Naval Academy traveled down to Arlington to hear a Marine band. As the band played The Star Spangled Banner we all stood and put our hands over our hearts except for the sailors among us. The stood at attention saluting the flag rather than placing their hands over their hearts. You could see simply by the way that they stood that they were more disciplined than the rest of us. For them the Tomb of the Unknowns was not simply a memorial; for them it was a possibility. But they were willing to give their lives in service to their country.

So to commemorate the sacrifices that our soldiers have made and are making today, I offer this poem that I received several years ago.

I watched the flag pass by one day:
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud.
With hair cut square and eyes alert
Distinct in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years?
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were their graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered how many times
That Taps had meant Amen
When the flag had draped the coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons, and others
With interrupted lives.
I thought about the graveyard
At the bottom of the sea,
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.

Weekly update

The sermon on Sunday morning was on patience: like the husbandman who patiently waits for the precious fruit of the earth and for the early and latter rain, we too much wait on God. There are so many circumstances outside of our control. People disappoint us, projects fail to bring the desired result, friends are not there when we think we most desperately need them. However, the quality and quantity of our time spent with God is within our control; and like any good farmer, we continue to do our part as we wait for God's blessing to be poured out like rain.

This week has had its disappointments. Several whom I thought would be baptized this coming Saturday told me that they would not be baptized and did not stay for the baptism lesson. A misunderstanding with a friend brought a painful confrontation. Waiting and waiting and waiting requires patience that we do not have. As I was recently reminded, "Whenever we ask for patience, we can expect that God will send trials to teach us what we requested."

I perceive that unless God intervenes Faith Baptist Church is in for some rough times ahead. Please pray that God would move in hearts and that we would see those saved for whom we are praying and that Christians would confess sin. To God be all glory and honor and praise!

Weekly update

I write to you that pray for us today with a simple thought. Let's consider two kinds of Christians: those who read what is in God's word and try to conform to it and those who read what is in God's word and try to explain it away. Which one are you?

There is a young man who has much Bible knowledge. He has read his Bible several times. However, he has never been challenged to think Biblically. Recently, Bill and I have taught that baptism as recorded in the New Testament was always by immersion. "That is right," he agreed but then added, "but persecution through the centuries has caused some Christians to be sprinkled and call it baptism." He was trying to make the point that sprinkling is a Biblically valid mode of baptism. Then Ganpurev pointed out to him that we face no persecution in Mongolia. So why would sprinkling be necessary? He had no response for that.

Later, the issue of women leading churches as the pastor/overseer/elder came up. Again, he agreed that the Bible teaches that women are not to be in positions of leadership and teaching men in the church. But, he continued, that was for those times. We live in different times today.

So I pointed out to him that it sounded to me as if he were saying, "The Bible clearly teaches this, but today we cannot do it that way." I insisted that if God gives us a pattern for doing something, He will give us the ability to do His will in a Biblical manner without resorting to methods devised by men.

What kind of Christian are you? Are you always saying, "Yes, but" to Biblical truth? Pray for Mongolians that more of them would be like the Berean Christians who searched the Scriptures and then submitted themselves to its teaching.

Would post pictures

Kristie, Emily, and Elsie went out with some other ladies today to enjoy some fellowship. The plan was to spend some time together doing "lady type activities."

Kristie took some pictures which I would post except that her purse was stolen from its spot next to her feet while she was eating lunch. The camera she had been using was in the purse along with a sum of money. Our Mongolian friend, Uganaa, brought the missing purse to the attention of the restaurant staff including a couple of security guards who were there. Although everyone was very sympathetic, no one was able to locate the purse.

Of course, it made the rest of the day much less enjoyable for Kristie. It would be easy and wrong to become cynical about the lack of honesty in this culture. We want to continue to love Mongolians and point them to Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Quote of the week

"I believe that if there is one thing which pierces the Master's heart with unutterable grief, it is not the world's iniquity, but the church's indifference." - D.L. Moody

Weekly update

Last week I mentioned that we would be having a leadership seminar. The seminar was well-attended with several people coming who I hoped would be there but was unsure if they would be able to come. I thought the teaching went well; we spent a significant amount of time dealing with the mode of baptism and speaking in tongues. There were a few people there who have not had Biblical teaching on the subject. I was anticipating doing such a leadership seminar once every two months. However, because I presented less than half the material that I had prepared for this seminar I anticipate having another seminar next month.

We will be having a baptismal service this month. I have had four Mongolians approach me so far desiring to be baptized. Let's pray that these four and several others would follow through with this important decision.

Pray for Togsoo

Togsoo is a young man that came to us after attending another church for some time. He has an interest in studying God's word and a willingness to be taught. He has come to the church services faithfully for many months.

He has one obstacle, however, to becoming a member of our church. He was sprinkled instead of baptized and was told that sprinkling was biblical baptism. He has only recently been exposed to the idea that sprinkling is not biblical. However, it is hard for him to accept that his previous sprinkling was not biblical baptism.

Today he told us that he would pray about it. I encouraged him to pray about it because I want the Holy Spirit through his study of God's word to show him what biblical baptism is. Please pray for Togsoo to came to a proper understanding of baptism and its importance in the Christian's life.

Quote of the week

When statesmen have had their last parley,
And despots have made their last threat;
When prophets are dumb with misgiving,
And forces of conflict are set;
When factions misleading and treacherous
Bring chaos where order prevailed;
When freedom long-cherished is vanquished,
And leaders long trusted have failed,
When God and His Word are derided,
And men call it useless to pray;
Remember that God is still sovereign,
And HE has the last word to say.

In a time when many who are not Christians are wondering what in the world is happening- swine flu in Mexico, an insane dictator in North Korea determined to play with nuclear weapons, the resurgence of an aggressive Russia, and uncertainty in world markets - it is a peace and comfort to know that God has never abdicated His throne. The Creator of the universe is still in control, and there is no lack of power with Him.

While I cannot answer why He allows evil to grow bolder, I do not worry about the future because I know an omnipotent, all-wise God is watching over us all!