Introducing....The Cross and Anchor

As some of you may know, my wife and I have recently taken a step of faith in following God's call and I have become a chaplain in the United States Navy. We see this as a both an amazing opportunity to engage in a unique ministry and also great training for future mission work. To document this journey I have started another blog, The Cross and Anchor.
I will continue to post here from time to time and keep posts at The Cross and Anchor solely focused on issues related to the Chaplaincy. At least that's the plan. So stop on by and journey on this new adventure with us!

by His grace
for His glory
jrf

Prosperity Videos

Here are two videos I came across recently speaking to the issue of the prosperity "gospel". This false gospel is something that is very prevalent especially in areas of poverty, including the neighborhood I live and work in.

The first video is John Piper explaining some of the many reasons he "abominates" this perversion of the Truth.



The second is a short documentary about how the teaching has taken deep roots in Africa.

The Prosperity Gospel from The Global Conversation on Vimeo.

Litmus test for Great Commission faithfulness

Just wanted to share something that I heard listening to Al Mohler's podcast this morning.

In response to a caller's question he stated that a good test of whether or not the American church is faithfully fulfilling it's Great Commission mandate is not so much by looking at whether there are those who are ready to go as missionaries (which there are) but whether or not our churches are eager and mobilized to send those missionaries.

What do you think? Is the American church taking their mandate seriously? Are we spending as much time, money, and effort in seeking the salvation of souls, the healing of bodies, and the glory of Christ among the nations as our unbelieving counterparts are in seeking a profit in the Global community?

Did you know that more people know the name of Coca-Cola than they do the name of Jesus? Just sayin.

Evangelistic Methodology Gum

Chew on this question posed by Will Metzger in his book, Tell the Truth
"Instead sending His Son, why didn't God just send a tract?"

Ralph Winter pt II

In my previous post I shared some quotes from one of Ralph Winter's many monumental articles. Sadly for us, two days ago, Ralph Winter passed into eternity.
It blows my mind to think about what he is now experiencing, being in the presence of his King and seeing the fruit of his long years of missionary service and mobilization. I can imagine he is meeting many families of the earth that he never met while here but who came to know Christ as a result of his work and voice.

here is a link to John Piper's Personal Tribute to Ralph Winter.



for the King
jrf

Reconsecration to a Wartime, Not a Peacetime, Lifestyle - by Ralph Winter

Below are some quotes from Ralph Winter's classic article:

Obedience to the Great Commission has more consistently been poisoned by affluence than by anything else. The antidote for affluence is reconsecration.

There will only be a way if there is a will. But we will find there is no will:
- so long as the Great Commission is thought impossible to fulfill
- so long as anyone thinks that the problems of the world are hopeless or that, conversely, they can be solved merely by politics or technology
- so long as our home problems loom larger to us than anyone else's
- so long as people enamored of Eastern culture do not understand that Chinese and Muslims can and must as easily become evangelical Christians without abandoning their cultural systems as did the Greeks in Paul's day
- so long as modern believers, like the ancient Hebrews, get to thinking that God's sole concern is the blessing of our nation
- so long as well paid evangelicals, both pastors and people, consider their money a gift from God to spend however they wish on themselves rather than a responsibility from God to help others in spiritual and economic need
- so long as we do not understand that he who would seek to save his life shall lose it


When will we recognize the fact that the wrath of God spoken of in the Bible is far less directed at those who sit in darkness than it is against those who refuse to share what they have?

If the the average mission supporter is only five pounds overweight, it means he spends [on food], to his own hurt, at least five times as much as he gives for missions. If he were to choose simple food (as well as not overeat) he could give ten times as much as he does to mission and not modify his standard of living in any other way!...the overall lifestyle to which Americans have acquiesced has led us to a place where we are hardening our hearts and our arteries simultaneously.

I believe that God cannot expect less from us as our Christian duty to save other nations than our own nation has required of us in times of war in order to save our own nation

Mercy vs. Evangelism = false dichotomy?

Below is a great conversation between D.A. Carson, John Piper, and Tim Keller about how ministries of the Word and ministries of mercy need not be at odds, but rather natural, necessary outflows of keeping the Gospel at the core of what the church is and is for.

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement - #`1 The Living God is a Missionary God

A few weeks ago I began taking the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class offered through the U.S. Center for World Mission. So far the class has been mind and heart blowing. It is so encouraging, convicting and motivating to be in a theology class and actually get excited about God! I also am enjoying this class because of all the connections it has been making for me. I came out of seminary knowing how to exegete, exposit and preach a passage, but this class is helping me see the big picture of how God is working in the world to bring people to Him. I can now say without hesitation that God is a missionary God and that everything He has revealed about Himself is connect to that purpose.
I hope to post some thoughts from time to time about what I am learning in this class.
To get us started let's look at the Abrahamic Covenant in Gen 12:1-3:

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.
“I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

Previously when I thought of missions the texts that would first come to my mind were the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 and Acts 1:7-8. I thought of mission almost exclusively as a New Testament phenomenon. Studying this passage changed that. I saw that missions is not something that Jesus made up but that Jesus fulfilled and enabled. I was profoundly impacted by the statement, coming from the Abrahamic Covenent, “Missions is not a duty or a task, it is a promise”. God promises that He will use His people to bless the world and through Jesus (the seed of Abraham) not only does the world receive that blessing but Gentiles like us are able to be included in that blessing (Gen 3:14), which in turns enables us to be bearers of that blessing to the rest of the unreached world.

God will keep His promise to bless all the nations through the seed of Abraham, the question is will we surrender ourselves to be used to fulfill that promise, or will we choose to miss out on God's exhilirating work of redemption in this world.

blessed to be a blessing,
jrf

Son of Hamas Leader now My Brother

This report by Fox (Ya I know...Fox) gives a breath of true hope to the ongoing Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Bottom line: horrible suffering on both sides, deep seeded idealogies, Satanic religions, and ceaseless cycles of hatred and violence, are no match for the power of the Gospel of Christ.
It is also a powerful reminder that we need to be praying for the souls of both Palestinians and Israeli's, that although they are at war with each other, in their sins both groups are at war with God. Peace with God is their greatest need.

(props to VOM Blog for pointing me to this story)

New Newsletter out!

Just in case you are not on our newsletter mailing list, our June-November Newsletter is out. If you would like to receive our newsletters (sent every few months), just put your email into the subscription bar on the left. Thanks!

Congo in Crisis

Pray for the DRC - UPDATED

As some of you know, an African church meets in our church building. The majority of the church members are refugees from the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), a place which God has put on our hearts. Through this church Sarah and I have gotten to know some of the wonderful people from The Light of Africa missionary organization. Two of their primary missionaries, Esther and Camille Ntoto, are strongly connected with the African Church. They minister in Goma, a region of DRC which has seen some of the worst fighting over the years. In the last few years of relative peace, the Ntoto's have had a very fruitful ministry working with churches, victims of violence and rape, AIDS patients, and starting a radio ministry amongst a myriad of other things. However, recently the rebel activity has surged dramatically. I recieved this email today, and share it with you to inform and challenge you to be praying and supporting our brothers and sisters in the DRC.

Subject: Urgent from Camille FW: GOMA WARDEN MESSAGE
> Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:12:02 -0700
>
> Camille has sent this response saying that Goma is in trouble (see below).
> Sam and I just got off the phone with Esther and Camille (two calls).
> Apparently, they received word that Goma was safe to return to earlier today
> and Camille headed towards Goma to catch the boat. They thought that would
> be the best and safest way to get to Bukavu. However, he met a friend in
> Gisenyi that told him his information was incorrect and to turn around. He
> did. Within 30 minutes, they heard heavy gunshots and realized that Goma
> was taken.
>
> Camille is in an expensive motel but safe and he has shelter. He is no
> longer trying to get to Esther. With Goma falling, Camille says that Bukavu
> will most likely be next but not imminent. He has to get Esther out of
> there. Bukavu isn't safe. He has her passport. Please pray that God will
> help us find a way to get her passport to her and get Esther to Camille.
> Camille even stated that he may consider going back into Goma/Gisenyi area
> to use the boat option to get her out.
>
> The bus trip is no longer a safe option. People, rebels and looters are
> everywhere.
>
> They are undecided on how to spend their time before their planned
> departure. Camille says it is very confusing to say the least. He thinks
> UNICEF may have an obligation to help take care of the women in Bukavu that
> are there with Esther.
>
> PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!
> Cindy and Sam




HERE IS AN UPDATE I RECIEVED TODAY FROM AMY FROM LIGHT OF AFRICA

Thank you for prayiing! God has protected Esther in many ways already. Your prayers were heard yesterday as Esther was in danger. People thought she was a Tutsi. She had gone up to her room and was getting ready to take a shower. She heard the noise of voices, turned off the water, opened the bathroom window. People were talking about getting to her room from the balcony. Statements were made about wanting to see her passport. She made sure all doors were locked, curtains closed and lights off. Right then a group of us here in the states were meeting about congo and decided to call her. We were able to pray for her, be there with her. By the time we called her back the she was able to reach the UN police were able to pick her up and take her to safety..

Esther is now getting her passport through the US Embassy and will be taken by UN protection to Rwanda to meet up with Camille. She leaves Saturday morning. Please pray for her safety on Saturday morning.

Camille has spent the last several nights at a hotel just across the border. Today he walked back into Congo, went to his house, paid workers. They hadn't been able to leave the premises for several days. He is doing what he can in the city during the "cease fire."

Pray for Camille's safety on the road.

Please pray that every voice will be used to stop a blood bath from happening in Eastern Congo once again.

If you would like to read more I've included accounts from Goma, from Heal Africa who Esther is very involved with. They provide physical, emotional and spiritual healing for the women who have been raped.

Call+Response

Just wanted to do my part in letting you know about the film "Call+Response", a film about the modern sex slave trade. Looks to have some pretty sweet music as well. A few quick facts:
- there are more slaves today than ever in the history of the world
- the sex slave trade made more money last year than Google, Nike, and Starbucks combined

May this film be used to convict, expose, awaken, and mobilize a generation of slaves of Christ to give their lives in bringing freedom, both spiritual and physical to the millions of slaves in this world we are passing through.

Check out the trailer here:



To find showtimes near you go HERE
If you are in L.A., leave a comment and we can find a time to all go together.

James 3: a story

Here is a great short film by Desiring God. If you don't get it, read James chapter 3:1-12

On Skid Row

I want to point your attention to a documentary series on YouTube called "On Skid Row". We are showing this 5 part documentary to our youth, challenging them to think about what it means to be believers in Christ when Skid Row is only a few blocks away. I would put the same question to all of us, no matter how close you live to Skid Row. I would encourage you to watch the first segment and then follow the links to find the remaining four. It was not done by a believer, but is the best, and most up-to-date synopsis of the most concentrated area of desperation and depravity in our nation that I have seen. Keep in mind this documentary only scratches the surface. I could tell you stories that would make you sick, and my exposure to the area has been minimal.

Photos from our Roadtrip

For anyone interested, you can view photos from our road trip (as the title so creatively states), to Vancouver and back and a little bit of everything in between HERE.

The Cultural Argument Against Gay Marriage

Here is a link to a great article to educate you and help you speak about the issue of God marriage with intelligence and compassion.

The Cultural Argument Against Gay Marriage

"Why I Would Die for South Africa"

Below is a link to an article written by Michelle Cantrell, wife of Tim Cantrell, missionaries through Bethlehem Baptist Church (John Piper's Church) to South Africa. It is one of the most Biblical and moving calls to missions I have read in a long time. I highly encourage you to read it and respond to it.

Why I Would Die for South Africa

Thoughts From the Old World

Stop by my other blog This is my Father's world and check out the some of my travel musings. Right now there is a post that is part of a 3 part series comparing and contrasting America with Europe. Stop by and leave a comment. I would love some feed back!

Planned Parenthood Accepts Money to Abort African American Babies