Brown Blog

I’m spent…I am physically exhausted and emotionally drained, and I feel like a useless lump today.  I got to thinking…I know I’m not the only one who goes through times like this.  I know I’m not the only person to ever get tired of going on day to day and to battle the blues.  So, I thought I would write about it today. 

I have found a few key things that help me through these times, and I hope they might help others.  I am doing these things myself right now:

1. If you’re tired, get some rest as soon as you can.  Try to get at least 7-8 hours sleep tonight. When Elijah had finished his work on Mount Carmel where he faced all the false prophets and had a great victory for the Lord, he was spent…he was so tired, he fell into discouragement and just wanted to give up.  A pastor friend once told me sometimes the most Godly thing we can do is rest.

Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
      All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. (1 Kings 19:5-8, NIV)

2. Remember that feelings are unreliable.  Stick with what you know when your feelings contradict that.  For instance, if I feel like God isn’t hearing my prayers and that I’m a failure as a person, remember that God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us and He says He has a plan for our lives, one that is full of hope.

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9, NIV)

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:16, NIV)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

3. Get into the Word.  It is reliable! If you don’t know what to read, or you’re so down emotionally that the words aren’t getting through, read Psalms 1, 23, and 139 and listen to some Christian music.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3, NIV)

4. Get some exercise.  Endorphins are wonderful things.  If you’re feeling exhausted because of stress or down because of struggles with others, getting on the treadmill or taking a long walk or run can help clear away that stress, boost your mood, and help you think more clearly.

I don’t know any scriptures to support this one…we just have to go with knowledge and experience here.  

5. Pray.  Spend some time in prayer where you can pour out your heart to God.  He’s able to handle your emotions and even your irrational accusations.  And in prayer, He can minister to you.  I recommend getting somewhere where you can cry out without concern for others hearing so that you aren’t hindered in this special time.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:11-12, NIV)

6. Talk to a great Christian friend, especially one that makes you laugh a lot.  In some of the worst times, I have found that laughing hysterically is wonderful therapy. Fortunately, I have some crazy friends who are really funny.

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. (Romans 1:11-12, NIV)

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. (Proverbs 12:25, NIV)

These simple things can encourage and lift us up when we’ve been working hard and haven’t been taking care of ourselves physically and spiritually.  We can get so busy doing that we forget about the “being”…being in God’s presence, being still, being patient, being Christlike.  God is not as concerned about our doing as He is about our being.  The relationship is most important.  The doing is an outpouring of gratitude from the “being”…but sometimes life just gets busy and crazy, and we get tired.  It is imperative that we take the time to sit at Jesus’ feet.

Mary and Martha were sisters and good friends of Jesus.  Martha was very busy with all the guests, and Mary took the time to sit and listen to Jesus’ teachings.  Martha was upset.  Jesus said that Mary had made the better choice in the situation.  It wasn’t that what Martha was doing was bad or wrong…let’s face it, the work needs to get done, life goes on, and our families need us.  But we can’t ignore the better choice or we won’t have the strength for the journey ahead.

One of my favorite movies is Princess Bride.  In the marriage scene where the princess is being forced to marry Fezzik, the clergyman says (with his speech impediment), “Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam…And wuv, twu wuv, will fowow you foweva…So tweasure your wuv.”

Marriage is truly a “blessed arrangement” ordained by God from the beginning.  But it isn’t always a “dream within a dream”…marriage, quite frankly, is work, and, at times, can border on a nightmare!  But it is work well worth the effort. 

We’re celebrating our 25^th anniversary this May.  We’ve had 25 wonderful years, and we’ve had 25 years marked by cancer, financial challenges, no babies, miscarriages, and babies with challenges.  We had three years of unemployment, years of uncertainty, years of people trying to hurt our reputations.  Through all the challenges and tough times, we’ve had three things going for us:  we’re best friends, we’re on the same team and are each other’s biggest fans, and we’ve had Jesus walking through everything with us, guiding, encouraging, and strengthening us.  Without those three things, it would have been really hard to get through the hard times, and it could have affected the relationship we now enjoy.  

1. We’re best friends. We were best friends for almost 3 years before we even dated.  That’s a great foundation.  But tonight we were talking with one of our friends here in Taiwan, and she said that most Chinese people don’t have the mindset to be able to build a friendship first.  Even in a culture that doesn’t really allow for friendships between people of the opposite sex, couples can still build a strong friendship after the engagement or marriage.

How do we build a friendship?  Laugh together.  Share your ideas, dreams, and goals with each other.  Spend time together just being together, doing fun things together, and enjoying the activities you have in common.  Teach each other how to do something you’re good at that they aren’t, such as cooking, golf, or tennis. Share your fears and hurts with each other.  Listen, listen, and listen some more.  Your spouse should be your favorite person in the world.

2. Being on the same team and each other’s biggest fans.  This really speaks to something as important as love in a marriage…maybe even more important, and that is RESPECT.  When respect is at the center of the relationship we don’t lose faith in each other when times are tough, we pull together.  When we hurt one another or mess up in some way, respect allows us to reconcile and rebuild.  Respect also protects the reputation of the other person in public and family situations where our faults can be joked about or pointed out.  When we know our spouse is on our side, we can withstand these situations.  Respect also gives us total freedom with each other.  We can be silly, we can risk making a mistake, and we can be completely open with our emotions when we know our spouse respects us.  We can do so much more in this life when we know we have a cheering section.  Our spouse should be the one beaming with pride when we are successful or are attempting something new.  Being on the same team protects you from being on opposite sides attacking each other.  Instead you are on the same team attacking the problem together.

3. We’ve had Jesus walking with us through everything.  Jesus is at the center of our marriage.  Our understanding of love and relationships comes from our love and relationship with Christ.  And we know whatever happens, whatever we face, we face it together with each other and with Christ Jesus.  We are not in this marriage alone.  Jesus is with us always.

People often ask us why we think Christians should only marry Christians.  Our relationship with Christ is our most important relationship, and it affects who we are as a person.  Not being able to share our very hearts with your spouse is a painful thing according to some of our friends who married non-Christians.  Being able to live out your faith is often hindered when your spouse is not a believer, especially when husbands forbid their wives to attend church or church activities.  We find strength as we walk together in Christ.  Our marriage helps us draw closer to God as our relationship grows closer to each other.  We were surprised when we got married how our relationship clarified our relationships with God.  It was as though we could see more clearly the kind of love God has for us as we began our marriage together. 

In addition, when you have a Christian worldview, you think differently than unbelievers and you have a different value base.  Your foundation is different which means you are not building your family on the same foundation.  The Bible says that the unbelievers think the spiritual things of God are foolishness.  It’s not that you can’t have a marriage that survives different faiths, but it does make it very heartbreaking at times.  And raising children becomes even more difficult.

We realize that our common faith, and having Christ at the center of our marriage has helped us stay stronger as a couple.  Having Christ there for us, walking with us, has helped us know how to handle the different challenges of life.  We can pray together and worship together, and we are strengthened together.  It is an amazing gift to walk with Christ together. 

Admittedly, there are many things that help make a marriage strong.  But these three stand out in our lives as the main ones that have kept us strong and together.  One of the other surprises we’ve found in these 25 years is that we really do fall more in love with each other all the time.  We’re not trying to be overly mushy here, just honest.  When we got married with all our high hopes and dreams, we never thought it would be possible, but it is!  Remember the wisdom of Princess Bride… “And wuv, twu wuv, will fowow you foweva…So tweasure your wuv.”

We’ve just started a new campaign at our church called “Building Rock-Solid Relationships”.  We’ve been really excited about starting it, and we’ve made lots of plans to make this an enriching and meaningful series and campaign.  As I was working on the PowerPoint for Sunday today, I got to thinking about why God would want us to do this series…why He put it on our hearts to make it more than just a new sermon series.  The answer is very clear.  Everything about God has to do with relationships.

God desires a relationship with us. He knows each of us by name.  From the beginning, He created people in His image and fellowshipped with them in the Garden before people sinned.  He provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ.  All of scripture is about our relationship with God and each other. 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31, NIV)

When it comes down to it, as people approach the end of their lives, they realize the things they value the most are the relationships.  They don’t value their jobs, their accomplishments, their wealth, or their possessions, but they value their relationships.  Henry Blackaby in his book “Experiencing God” talks about investing in eternal things.  The only eternal things are our relationships, our relationship with God and with each other. 

What do we spend most of our time doing each day?  If relationships are the only eternal things we can invest our time in, shouldn’t that be our priority?  As we go through this campaign, our hearts’ desire is to see more fathers step up and take a stand for Christ, leading their families in worship and commitment; seeing more mothers cherish their role with their children and leading them in developing a biblical worldview; more children honoring their parents and developing their faith and understanding of God; and more young adults building strong fellowship among Christian brothers and sisters.  We want to see Living Springs become a church of fellowship and ministry, people caring for each other and the community.  This has always been our vision and desire, and this series is sparking that even more fervently than before.  We want to change the world as a family of God, and we only do that through relationships. 

God has already been using this in our own family.  It has been wonderful to get back to some principles that we’ve always held dear, but have let get lost in the busy-ness of starting this church.  We’re very excited to see what else God has in store.    

One of the lyrics we sang in worship Sunday sums up our feelings as we continue this campaign.  It is from “Do It, Lord”:

I see the brokenness of families brought to wholeness

I see the prodigals running home to You

Father’s hearts now turning toward their children

And children’s hearts turning toward their fathers

I see the church rising up in power

Laying down their lives in unity and love

I hear the sounds of every tribe and nation

Giving glory to Jesus Christ the Son

Do it, Lord; Do it, Lord

Do it, Lord, we are praying

Do it, Lord, do it, that Your glory may be seen

This is our prayer, O God

This is our desperate cry

In these days that we’re living now

Let Your kingdom come

Let Your will be done

What difference can one person make?  Well, let’s look at a few examples.

Moses was born to a Hebrew slave and was found floating in a basket in the Nile.  Even though his younger years were in the Palace of Egypt, when he murdered an Egyptian guard he became a fugitive roaming the desert.  When God called him to deliver His people, he was shepherding flocks for his father-in-law.  God used him to confront Pharaoh and deliver His people from Egypt leading them to the Promised Land.  He met with God face to face.  He was given the Law and led God’s people to follow God for over 40 years.

What about David? He was the youngest son of a family of shepherds.  He became Israel’s greatest king, wrote most of the Psalms in the Bible inspiring people for centuries in their worship and service to God.

How about Esther?  She was an orphaned Jewish girl in exile in Babylon.  She was forced to join the king’s harem.  God used her to save her nation from a holocaust.

Gideon was the youngest and least among his people.  He was also afraid to do what God called him to do.  But he saved his nation and brought them back to God.

Each of the disciples who followed Jesus was an ordinary man who simply followed God.  Their impact on the world teaches us today.  The Church began because of their witness and obedience to God.  They were poor, some were uneducated, and most never had a home once they began following Christ.    

The Bible is full of examples of God using ordinary people who would simply follow and obey Him.  He used wealthy people and poor people; the educated and the uneducated; farmers, tax collectors, lawyers, fishermen, landowners, business owners, and tentmakers.  In other words, God can use anyone!

In the modern world we see the same thing.  Billy Graham was just a country boy God called to preach.  The Great Awakening began when three students decided to meet and pray.

We can look at people in our churches and see those who have simply obeyed God and see great things done in Jesus’ name.  How many lives does a Sunday School/Bible Study teacher affect?  How many lives do those students touch?  Terrie grew up in a medium-sized church in Oklahoma.  She had pastors who believed in missions and Sunday School teachers who taught the Bible diligently.  Just in her youth group from the years she was in high school, there are at least seven who have gone into full time ministry and many are serving in churches as deacons, teachers, and leaders. 

We were just five college students who felt God leading us on a mission trip 25 years ago.  We saw over 800 people come to Christ in that short time.  In 10 days a couple years before that, our team of five saw over 200 come to Christ.  When we went back in ’84 these people were serving and training others to know Christ.

We are just ordinary people serving an extraordinary God.  Yesterday as we listened to the stories of persecuted Christians, we could see how God used ordinary people willing to give their lives for Him to affect nations with the Gospel.  

Now, we have an opportunity to do something great in Jesus’ name. As we work in our churches and share the Gospel in our workplaces, we can also pray for Christians around the world.  We can give a few dollars to allow people to have clean water, an education, an income, or even a home.  We can send Bibles, write letters, and most of all, pray. 

We never know the impact of a lesson taught, a prayer spoken, or a dollar given.  But we know God, and He is still using ordinary people today to save nations, set the captives free, and to open blind eyes.  It’s His Spirit working through us. We just have to obey.

What is Christ telling you to do today?

Check out these Web sites for more information: 

http://www.christianmonitor.org/ 

http://www.gfa.org/ 

http://www.opendoorsusa.org/ 

http://www.persecution.com/   

http://www.releaseinternational.org/

church web site:  http://livingspringschurchtaipei.webs.com

family web site: http://missions4taiwan.com/default.aspx   

Many people over the years have asked us about Halloween and how they should respond to it.  Some think of it as simply a fun holiday, an opportunity to dress up, good natured pranks, and free candy.  Others see it as a sinister, evil holiday honoring Satan.  Some use it as an opportunity to do outreach to the community.  Over the years, we’ve been in each of these camps.  We’ve struggled with what to tell our children about it and how to allow them to participate if at all.  

We’ve studied the beginnings of Halloween, and every resource we’ve searched online and in other materials over the years points to the beginnings being well-grounded in witchcraft.  The movies and activities that go along with modern-day Halloween almost always center on witchcraft, contacting the dead, and fear.  So, regardless of the origins, modern practices also present a problem for us as Christians. 

Churches offering an alternative to Halloween certainly have a point.  Some provide an experience that scares people by showing them the truth of heaven and hell.  The only fear the Bible says is right is the fear of God.  So, churches are justified in providing such an experience.  We have never felt we should provide these sorts of things, but we understand others choosing to do so. 

Here is what we’ve settled on for our family: 

1. We choose to not observe the holiday.  We don’t celebrate or dress up most of the time.  When in the States, we turn off the porch light and do not participate.
2. We have helped with Harvest Festivals at churches over the years and handed out tracts when giving out candy to neighborhood kids, but we haven’t had peace about even this much participation.
3. Living in a country that observes “hungry ghost month” each year and lives in fear of ghosts, Halloween just doesn’t have much appeal to us at all.

But these are just our feelings.  What do the scriptures say?

Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. (Lev. 19:31, NIV)

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, (Deuteronomy 18:10, NIV)

‘I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people. (Lev. 20:6, NIV)

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (NIV) says, “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”

I guess our exhortation to anyone who wants to know what to do is:

1. Don’t participate in any activities (related to Halloween or otherwise) that has to do with witchcraft.
2. Like the scriptures say, “Avoid every kind of evil.”  Don’t appear to be participating in evil. 
3. If you do participate with or provide a Halloween alternative, pray for wisdom and do it for the right reasons.  We personally don’t think just “providing a reason for kids to dress up and get free candy so they don’t feel deprived” is a good enough reason.   
4. Pray and don’t transgress your conscience.  If you don’t have peace about something, don’t do it.  Even if it isn’t a stumbling block for someone else, it might be a stumbling block for you or your friends/family.
5. The Bible is clear…we are to be set apart, holy, a “peculiar people” – we aren’t always going to fit in our culture because of our faith.  We should accept that some will think we are fanatical or strange for not participating in what the consider innocent fun.

 May you have a blessed week filled with God’s peace and guidance.

 Dave and Terrie

I have to admit, I love my soapboxes.  For those who don’t know what I mean, soapboxes are when you feel passionately about something, and you can’t help but stand up and share. It comes from the past when people would stand on boxes that had held soap in order to be seen over the crowd as they gave a speech.  London’s Hyde Park is known for its soapbox speakers each Sunday as people make impromptu speeches about any subject they choose.  Today, the most common soap box forum is the blog.  So, I suppose it is only appropriate that I share a few of my favorite soapbox topics with you today.  One such soapbox would be the importance of prayer.  Another, the value of mercy and hope.  And third, not putting bondage on people.  I will share others in the future, but these are the ones on my heart today.

Prayer…if you’ve been around us for very long, you know that we believe in prayer…not just as an exercise in Christian duty, but as a dynamic source of life and communication with the Most High God.  It is essential.  It is our main job as Christians, and it is the key that unlocks world change.  I’m not even sure I can adequately express how important prayer is to us and to our world.  If we could just grasp the power of prayer, the kind of prayer that makes our hearts one with God and His purpose and plan, what would we see happen in our families, churches, cities, and countries?  When Jesus looked down at the city of Jerusalem as he prepared for the “Triumphal Entry,” he wept.  He knew that the eyes of the Pharisees had been blinded.  And He knew the amazing spiritual awakening that could have been.  That’s how we need to feel.  I wish we all could just take time this week to go somewhere near our cities to a high point where we could look out over the city and weep and pray as Christ did. One of our mentors, Pastor David Page, was so excited when they bought their first house because he had a room with a window that looked out over the city.  He made this his prayer spot.  That’s what we all need.  If we don’t have that, then we could put up a picture or poster or map of our city where we pray…just as a visual reminder and help.  If we would commit to prayer for our cities and nations, what would we see God do?  If we committed to pray for our businesses and our families, we would open the door wide for God’s will to be done.  Our daily heart-felt cry should be “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  

Mercy and Hope…as we’ve ministered over the years “mercy” and “hope” have become far more than pretty little religious words.  They have become the lifeblood of ministry.  God showed us His wonderful mercy when He saved us and continues day by day to pour that mercy out upon us as we try to walk the Christian life.  It has also been the strength behind ministry.  As we minister to the needs of others mercy and hope is at the center.  It is what keeps us going when we’re tired of ministering.  It is what we offer to those to whom we minister.  It is what we hope they share with others as they in turn minister.  This comes down to the “nitty gritty” of everyday ministry.  For instance, you’re ready for bed, but the phone rings and it is that person calling again…you know, the one you’ve been talking to over and over again about their same old problem.  You really just want to give up on them at times, but you can’t because of mercy and hope.  You know God is ultimately in control, and He hasn’t given up on this person, so what right do we have to give up on them?  If we are truly God’s servants, He chooses when it is time to give up.  I’m reminded of the stories in Daniel of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar.  King Neb (for short) was like a leaf blowing in the wind.  One day he wants to kill everyone for worshipping God and the next he’s worshipping God.  Back and forth he goes between honoring God and honoring himself.  He really thinks he’s hot stuff.  Finally, God says, “Enough!”  Neb winds up living like a wild animal for seven years until he comes to his senses and finally admits that God is God and that he is not!  In God’s mercy, Neb is restored to his sanity and kingdom.  God didn’t give up on him for a very long time.  God knew there was still hope for his repentance.  However, his son was another story.  Belshazzar totally dishonored God and had no respect at all.  He mocked God and paid the price.  His kingdom was taken from him and he died.  No long drawn-out opportunity here.  The point is, God knows when a person’s last opportunity has arrived.  We don’t.  We cannot give up on someone when God hasn’t.  We don’t know what amazing things God is still going to do in their lives.  We don’t know what’s really going on in the heart of a person.  We don’t have the right to stop extending God’s mercy and hope to a person!  Who among us has not gone through a terrible time when God’s mercy and that small glint of hope is all that kept us going?  How can we not extend that same mercy and hope to those around us? 

Bondage…God’s Word is clear.  He has requirements for us to become Christians and to become more Christ-like.  He shows us the way…the “steps” so-to-speak.  But, like the Pharisees, we often require a lot more of people that God does.  And that is just simply WRONG!  Over the years in ministry, we’ve seen people require people to wear their hair a certain way before they were considered truly “Christian” or require that they attend a class before they are “Christian” or be baptized before they are “Christian”…but that is not what Jesus requires.  He requires belief.  We don’t like that because how in the world do we measure belief?  Isn’t that the point?  Salvation begins in the heart between God and man.  The result of that moment of belief and transformation is manifested in several ways…proclamation:  sharing that you’ve made the decision to follow Christ, baptism: an act of obedience professing your belief in Christ and allegiance to Him, and then other changes can be seen over time.  The person should be discipled/taught/mentored in the word of God and the ways of God…so they should be in those classes that so many require.  And their appearance will usually begin to change as well especially if they have identified with groups that dishonor God.  Now they choose to identify with God and dress accordingly.  But we do not force them to change before they can join our Christian “club”!  God works on the human heart.  God brings the changes.  When we put requirements on people that God did not put there, we put them in bondage.  We cause them to become legalistic “works” oriented Christians instead of discipling them to become ministry “grace” oriented Christians.  And this bondage doesn’t just affect them.  It affects the entire life of the Church as we become bound by the expectations of people. “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” (Psalms 119:45, NIV).  “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17, NIV). Christ gives freedom.  The Christian life should be a life of freedom in Christ.  We are free from the bondage of sin.  Why would we want to go from the bondage of sin to a bondage of legalism?  Paul says he is a bond-servant of the Lord.  We live as servants of God and are bound by the word of God and the Spirit of God.  As humans, we are not free to place bondage upon others.  What makes God angry?  I am struck by the realization that the times Jesus showed His anger was when His supposed followers placed requirements on His children…or prevented people from coming to Him because of their own ideas.  We must be careful as we teach and mentor God’s children.

On the side of the legalistic coin is the “loosy goosey” Christian.  Instead of focusing on works, they focus on experience and emotion.  They hold no requirements on people and often believe there are many ways to God.  Most of us know a very public figure who fits this description.  But the Bible talks about this type of follower in the book of Judges when everyone did what seemed right in his own eyes.  Frankly, we don’t want to tip the scales at either end of this spectrum!  As we look at the early church, we see a different picture than either of these extremes.  We see a fellowship of believers full of life and joy even in the midst of persecution.  We see ministry and care for one another.  We see mentoring and those who are saved then becoming ministers to the body of believers and missionaries to the world.  This is what we should look like as the church of Christ.  

Honestly, these three factors seasoned with the love of Christ and the word of God are the key ingredients for healthy church life and Christian growth.  Our world will never be changed for Christ without prayer, our showing God’s love, mercy, grace, and hope to others, and without keeping our foundation in the Word of God, not the ideas of people.