Last 90 Days Most Popular Posts (30 September 2018)
So I guess these would be the most popular posts from over the summer. They’re in chronological order, with the most popular overall in bold:
Jim
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God’s Word (podcast)
This is a sermon that I preached this summer, based on 2 Peter 1:15-21 (although it actually goes from Genesis to Revelation). Several of you wanted a version that you could share with others, so here it is!
This was actually more or less a translation of a sermon I preached in Spanish, so if you’d like to share the Spanish version, it’s here (I’m afraid the quality isn’t as good – it was preached outdoors beside a generator!): La Palabra de Dios (sermón)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
(Just click above to listen or download.)
Not Quite Christian – Leaving A “Christianish” Religion
Leaving a religion that looks very Christian, but isn’t, and then moving into a true balanced faith, has got to be one of the hardest things to do. Humanly speaking, impossible.
I don’t speak from experience, only from what I’ve heard and seen.
Religious groups that use “Christian terminology”, or that claim to be Christian, or that use the Bible (or parts of it), plant so much confusion. That’s aside from spiritual and emotional abuse that may come with it, cultural challenges, controlling leadership. There are so many things that can leave a person hurt, angry, and maybe most of all, confused.
There’s a tendency to say,”Well, obviously none the Bible is true then!” and run far away from anything that looks religious. Or to move to another “Christianish” group, or to try to make up something of your own, with none of the grounding that a good, truly Christian community can provide.
Anyway, why am I talking about this? Well, first, because I’m concerned about many friends in this situation. But it came to mind again because of a book I recently heard about: The Long Way Home: Moving From a Pseudo-Christian Cult Into Genuine Christianity, by Paul T. Trask.
I haven’t read the book, but I have heard a little about it from the author (via a podcast interview). The purpose of the book is just what it sounds like – helping someone who is thinking of leaving – or has left – one of these pseudo-Christian groups – helping them to get started in a true, living faith in Christ. (Some might object to the term “cult” for many of these groups – “cult” has such a wide and varied meaning, I wish it wasn’t in the title.)
Again, I don’t know a lot about the book, but I think books like this are needed. From what I can see, this looks like it would be very helpful. The author was a part of the RLDS church (the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), which is now called the Community of Christ (it has a historical relationship to the LDS church, commonly called the Mormons).
Whatever not-Christian-but-a-little-Christianish group someone may have been a part of, it’s helpful to have help from someone who has been there before you. In fact, it’s helpful to know that someone has been there before you!
The book discusses what these groups tend to be like, and what key doctrines they tend to get wrong, what true salvation is, what the Bible is and why it can be trusted, and so on.
I imagine this would be helpful for a pastor, or anyone helping people in this all too common situation.
Have you read this book? Or is there another you would recommend? Or have you or someone you know struggled in this situation? Feel free to comment.
Jim’s Recent Tweets…
- No, seriously – come to Innisfail for Mexican Independence Day! 🇲🇽 It might be snowing, ðŸŒ¨ï¸ but we'll be cozy inside… https://t.co/RjSd0yq6lk 2018-09-15
- Looking ahead – Canada and Mexico – https://t.co/sFsmdBui7Y 2018-09-15
- Fiesta Mexicana en Didsbury, Alberta https://t.co/zjEVngS4vL 2018-09-15
- More from the Mexican fiesta in Didsbury… https://t.co/8My7hPiYY4 2018-09-15
- Unity … in Christ #philippians #inthebible https://t.co/HxRDgSKKZS 2018-09-17
- Just hanging with friends. https://t.co/VBzBBXhtcx 2018-09-19
- Hogar, Dulce Hogar (Home Sweet Home) – https://t.co/P9Ym51Txtw 2018-09-21
Hogar, Dulce Hogar (Home Sweet Home)
We’re always thankful for smooth border crossings and travel in general, and for luggage that actually arrives. And that’s what happened this time around.
In fact, God even sent us a large taxi that could take all of us and our luggage at the same time back home!
So these things put a bit of a damper on our arrival.
But isn’t it interesting how God has His ways of making you thankful? The next day, the plumber came and fixed the pipe. We got gas. And I sorta had a shower (ok, so water pressure still isn’t a “thing” around here). Then I picked up the van (and something cracked our windshield on the way home — aaack! Enough!) But then we went out for some pozole. So we were very thankful for the simple things, once we got them back!
A few laundry loads and showers (sorta) later, we might even make it to the grocery store today for some actual food to cook. Which we can now cook, because we have gas. But actually, I need some gas in the van. Well, civilization is complicated, isn’t it?
Seriously, though, it’s turning out to be a little more of a challenge than we expected to learn how to live in Mexico again, after 15 weeks away. Even before diving into “official ministry”, we’re finding a plethora of things that we need to deal with, expected and unexpected, while we try to remember how everyday life goes. So the first few days are turning out to be a little tough.
However, it’s still hogar dulce hogar – and we’re so thankful for what God has provided, and we know He’s still here – and in Canada too, with Hannah. And we have been reminded that a shower, even with very little pressure, is still a wonder.
Looking ahead – Canada and Mexico
You see that? That’s snow. In summer. People in Alberta aren’t impressed. The stores don’t have any winter stuff even for sale.
Hannah is trying to find a winter jacket – but it’s not so easy. There are only a few around, and they’re the pricey ones. 💲💲💲 Must be a run on the stores to find something warm!
Just for the record, last Friday it was 28℃. WHAT is up.
Actually, on the bright side, it is an unexpected delight for some of our guests from Mexico to experience snow for the first time (warm jackets needed).
Anyway, I wanted to give a look ahead, that was the original purpose of this post, right?
In the short term, we would appreciate your prayers as we go to Innisfail tomorrow to share at Innisfail Baptist Church. The service is at 10:30am, if you’re in the area.
We’re a little disappointed that we haven’t been able to see more people here, but everyone is pretty busy. But you’re welcome to join us tomorrow!
We will hit the ground running when we get back to Mexico. There’s a conference for missionaries in the country, just a few days after we get back. So we’ll be loading up the suitcases again.
There’s a church in California that is interested in partnering with the ministry in Ixtapaluca, and they’ve invited the church leaders to come join them for the Expositores 2018 conference (Expositors Conference, in Spanish). So Lord willing I’ll be up in the US for a weekend for some teaching and fellowship. It will be a good time to get to know the church, but also a good time to catch up with what’s been going on in Ixtapaluca while we’ve been gone.
A few weeks ago we found out that our coworkers will be in the US until the end of December, so we’ll be under an extra load when we get back. So we would certainly appreciate your prayers as we hear from everyone about how things are going and what new and old needs there are, and as we seek to shine the Lord’s light in Mexico again.
Tomorrow is Independence Day! So enjoy some Mexican food, and – if you want to be involved – pray for the people of Mexico – especially those we will be serving when we return.