Kamis, 29 Januari 2015

SEPULUH CARA INTERNET MENGUBAH PENGINJILAN DAN PELAYANAN MISI

 
SEPULUH CARA INTERNET MENGUBAH PENGINJILAN DAN PELAYANAN MISI

Saat ini, ada kira-kira 1,7 juta pengguna internet yang aktif, dan 3 juta lainnya diharapkan akan ditambahkan dalam nominal itu dalam lima tahun ke depan. Dunia yang semakin berkembang ini akan segera terhubung secara online ketika telepon genggam berubah menjadi telepon pintar (smartphone) dan barang-barang elektronik yang murah seperti netbook dan e-reader semakin tersebar di masyarakat. Peluncuran kabel serat optik di Afrika dan proyek-proyek komunikasi satelit dalam jumlah besar juga akan meningkatkan ketersediaan "bandwidth" dan capaian yang lebih besar.

Dalam kurun waktu lima tahun, paling tidak setengah dari seluruh penduduk dunia ini akan terhubung secara online; dan dalam lima belas tahun kemudian, jangkauan internet akan semakin universal. Penginjilan global akan segera berada di dalam jangkauan setiap orang Kristen yang memiliki komputer.

Perubahan ini tidak hanya terjadi secara kuantitatif, tetapi juga kualitatif. Sifat dan dinamika pelayanan Kristen akan berubah secara fundamental karena adanya berbagai kemungkinan baru dalam berelasi, berjejaring, dan menyebarkan informasi. Dengan demikian, cara-cara pelayanan kita juga akan berubah selamanya, paling tidak dalam sepuluh aspek berikut ini:

1. Informasi:

Teknologi internet membawa informasi strategis yang sangat besar, bahkan kepada gereja ataupun lembaga misi yang terkecil sekalipun. Informasi itu termasuk statistik mengenai sosioreligius, demografi, bahkan kompilasi dari berbagai jenis informasi semacam itu seperti yang ditawarkan oleh Operation World serta situs-situs penelitian lainnya seperti Joshua Project, Caleb Project, dan StrategicNetwork. Dengan adanya informasi-informasi ini, kita dimungkinkan untuk melihat gambaran besar pelayanan kita dengan lebih jelas, sekaligus mendalami detail-detail kecil yang akan memengaruhi cara kita menggunakan informasi itu dalam strategi penginjilan kita.

2. Cara belajar:

Orang-orang mengemukakan pikirannya dengan sangat jelas dalam dunia siber sehingga konsep teologia serta praktik-praktik kekristenan (termasuk pengertian eklesiologi dan misiologi) dari kebanyakan orang Kristen sekarang ini dibentuk dalam proses belajar antarteman, sementara masukan dari orang-orang yang ahli dalam bidang itu tidak terlalu tampak dalam proses pembelajaran itu.

Dalam dunia siber, rujukan-rujukan terhadap keputusan yang dibuat oleh badan-badan gereja atau religius akan semakin tidak berarti karena orang-orang hanya akan mengikuti pikiran mereka sendiri dengan mencari informasi dari Wikipedia dan dari informasi yang mereka dapatkan dari berbagai situs, forum diskusi, dan bahan-bahan yang di-posting di jejaring sosial. Pelayanan yang ingin memengaruhi opini orang banyak harus memulai pelayanan mereka dari dunia siber karena di sanalah opini dari kebanyakan orang Kristen terbentuk.

3. Eksplorasi:

Ada banyak orang menunjukkan pikiran-pikiran mereka yang tersembunyi, pribadi, bahkan kontroversial di dunia online. Jika seseorang ingin mencari tentang hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan dunia medis atau mendalami aliran politik yang terlarang, pertama-tama mereka akan mencarinya di internet. Begitu pula, orang yang beragama lain tidak akan bertanya kepada pemuka agama mereka jika mereka ingin mengetahui lebih dalam tentang kekristenan; mereka akan mencarinya di situs-situs Kristen. Setiap hari, seperempat dari seluruh pengguna internet mengajukan pertanyaan-pertanyaan tentang agama, mereka menjelajah untuk mengetahui lebih dalam lagi tentang agama yang mereka yakini atau agama yang lain. Gereja harus menghadirkan sosok yang injili, apologetik, dan misioner di tengah-tengah ajang pertukaran ide yang mendunia ini.

4. Berkolaborasi:

Teknologi internet memfasilitasi kolaborasi lintas denominasi dan lintas negara. Para ahli yang berkecimpung dalam bidang-bidang seperti perintisan jemaat dan pendidikan teologi, kini dapat terhubung dengan para ahli lainnya. Kolaborasi ini semakin membuat batas-batas denominasi menjadi tidak berarti. Para pengerja Kristen kini beroperasi dalam jejaring yang mereka bangun dengan sesama pengerja lain di luar denominasi mereka daripada berkutat dalam benteng denominasi mereka sendiri. Orang-orang bekerja sama dengan para spesialis yang memiliki pemikiran sama dalam wilayah yang mereka sukai, dibanding dengan orang-orang yang memiliki pemahaman yang sama dalam sistem kepercayaan formal mereka.

5. Validasi:

Orang memakai internet untuk mengecek kebenaran mengenai banyak hal. Hal ini berlaku untuk semua hal, mulai dari kepentingan untuk mengecek tawaran bisnis yang menggiurkan sampai mengecek latar belakang gereja yang akan mereka hadiri jika mereka baru pindah ke kota tertentu. Statistik menyebutkan bahwa 85% orang muda selalu mengecek situs milik gereja sebelum memutuskan untuk datang dalam ibadahnya. Gereja dan organisasi yang dapat diketahui validitasnya melalui internet memiliki keuntungan dalam pelayanannya. Hal-hal mengenai gereja atau organisasi Kristen yang biasanya diselidiki oleh pengguna internet adalah tentang pernyataan iman, etos pelayanan, program-program, waktu pertemuan, alamat, informasi mengenai kontak, prinsip-prinsip pelayanan, keuangan yang bersih, serta keterbukaan dan kejujuran terhadap orang-orang yang bertanya melalui internet.

6. Pengalokasian sumber daya:

Teknologi internet memungkinkan para donor, yayasan, dan gereja-gereja untuk menilai program-program secara efisien dan juga untuk menerima proposal sumbangan bagi pelayanan yang berada di luar negeri. Kelompok-kelompok seperti JIMI (the Joint Information Management Initiative of the WEA-MC; departemen pelayanan misi yang didirikan oleh badan penginjilan World Evangelical Alliance, - Red.) dan Global Missions Fund (Departemen pelayanan misi yang didirikan oleh Gereja Lutheran di Missouri, - Red.) menyempurnakan proses pengalokasian dana sehingga program pelayanan yang paling pentinglah yang akan mendapat sumber daya paling besar. Bagian penting dari struktur semacam ini adalah para pemberi informasi yang secara rutin memberikan informasi-informasi yang berkualitas dalam format yang "aman" sehingga dapat digunakan sebagai bahan pertimbangan dalam pengalokasian sumber daya.

7. Pekabaran Injil:

Injil diberitakan melalui situs-situs, "chat room", YouTube, telepon genggam, dan perangkat online lain yang tak terhitung jumlahnya. Para pembawa Injil menggunakan internet sebagai mekanisme pengambilan keputusan dan mekanisme "follow-up". Organisasi-organisasi seperti Global Media Outreach, Jesus Central, TopChretien, dan GodRev memiliki spesialisasi untuk melakukan penjangkauan melalui media online; berbeda dengan gereja-gereja maupun organisasi yang menggunakan internet hanya sebagai "tambahan" bagi strategi pelayanan misi yang sudah mereka lakukan. Internet merupakan sarana yang murah untuk pekabaran Injil, terlebih lagi keuntungan bahwa para misionaris internet tidak membutuhkan visa untuk melakukan pelayanan mereka!

8. Pendidikan:

Pendidikan online telah menunjukkan keberhasilan yang besar dan telah merevitalisasi pendidikan teologia jarak jauh. Badan misi seperti MAF Learning Technologies bekerja keras untuk mengembangkan pedagogi efektif yang berbasis internet. Ada banyak pemegang gelar Master maupun Ph. D. yang sekarang ini merupakan hasil dari pendidikan berbasis internet.

9. Mobilisasi:

Fasilitas yang dibawa oleh teknologi internet memungkinkan kita untuk berjejaring, berbagi informasi, dan menyalurkan motivasi yang diperlukan untuk memobilisasi para pendeta, penginjil, dan misionaris ke dalam ladang pelayanan secara efektif. Situs-situs seperti ChristianVolunteering.org menjadi jembatan antara puluhan ribu sukarelawan dengan berbagai badan misi. Badan-badan pelayanan yang tidak hadir dalam dunia internet, pada akhirnya akan kesulitan untuk mendapatkan sukarelawan baru karena bagi banyak orang, badan pelayanan tersebut adalah lembaga yang "tidak tampak".

10. Multiplikasi:

Teknologi internet membawa manfaat yang besar bagi jejaring orang-orang percaya dan memungkinkan mereka untuk membuat kontak-kontak baru demi penggandaan kelompok sel gereja, gerakan perintisan gereja, dan pendidikan Alkitab yang mengambil sumber dari kurikulum berbasis internet.

Banyak orang mulai mencari gereja, mencari informasi mengenai Tuhan, dan membentuk pemahaman teologi mereka melalui internet. Melalui internet pula, para misionaris dapat menentukan organisasi mana yang akan menjadi basis pelayanan mereka, dan para siswa dapat memutuskan pendidikan Alkitab mana yang akan mereka ikuti; mereka dapat mencari informasi yang mereka butuhkan dan menyeleksi pilihan mereka. Pelayanan internet bukanlah pelayanan yang akan mengakhiri strategi pelayanan yang lain, melainkan akan menjadi titik tolok bagi berbagai pelayanan lainnya. Saya dulu mengira bahwa internet hanyalah alat untuk mengadakan penjangkauan, seperti memiliki program radio Anda sendiri pada zamannya. Akan tetapi, sekarang, saya melihat internet seperti samudra yang di dalamnya kita dapat memilih: berenang atau tenggelam. (t/Yudo)

Diterjemahkan dari:
Nama situs: Laussane World Pulse
Alamat URL: http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/1296?pg=all
Judul asli artikel: Ten Ways the Internet Is Changing Evangelism and Missions
Penulis artikel: John Edmiston
Tanggal akses: 15 Oktober 2014

MENJADI SAKSI

 
RENUNGAN MISI: MENJADI SAKSI

Bacaan: Yohanes 15:18-16:3

"Jikalau dunia membenci kamu, ingatlah bahwa ia telah lebih dahulu membenci Aku dari pada kamu. Jikalau Penghibur yang akan Kuutus dari Bapa datang, yaitu Roh Kebenaran yang keluar dari Bapa, Ia akan bersaksi tentang Aku. Tetapi kamu juga harus bersaksi, karena kamu dari semula bersama-sama dengan Aku." (Yohanes 15:18, 26-27)

Dalam perkataan-Nya yang begitu dalam ini, topik yang diangkat Tuhan kita dengan cepat beralih dari pembicaraan tentang kasih antarmurid-Nya kepada kebencian dunia terhadap orang-orang Kristen. Kata "dunia" yang terdapat dalam perkataan-Nya itu merujuk pada keadaan masyarakat sekuler, bukan umat manusia. Umat manusia tidak membenci gereja; dunialah yang membenci gereja dan Tuhan atas gereja. Dunia adalah sistem masyarakat yang tidak menghadirkan Tuhan, tetapi menghadirkan sistem moral, standar, dan nilai-nilainya sendiri. Inilah yang biasanya kita sebut sebagai "sistem/tatanan" dunia, dan sistem inilah yang membenci orang-orang percaya.

Jadi, bagaimana seharusnya sikap orang-orang Kristen terhadap dunia yang kita tinggali ini? Jawaban atas pertanyaan itu diberikan Tuhan dalam ayat 26-27, "Jikalau Penghibur yang akan Kuutus dari Bapa datang, kamu akan menjadi saksi bagi-Ku." Dunia tidak ditinggalkan dalam penolakan mereka yang sia-sia terhadap Kristus -- walau mereka menolak kebenaran itu meskipun mereka tahu bahwa yang mereka tolak itu adalah kebenaran.

Setiap dari kita pun pernah melakukan hal ini. Akan tetapi, Tuhan tidak meninggalkan kita. Sebenarnya, Ia berhak meninggalkan kita untuk menanggung akibat dari kesalahan kita, tetapi Ia tidak melakukannya. Ia tetap memberikan kesaksian-Nya kepada dunia.

Dengan demikian, sikap orang Kristen seharusnya bukanlah membalas, menolak kebencian dan penganiayaan dunia, atau menyimpan dendam. Sebaliknya, kita didorong untuk membalas kejahatan dengan kebaikan. Ini tidak berarti kita mengundurkan diri dari dunia, dan membangun tempat-tempat persembunyian yang memberi kita rasa aman untuk dapat melemparkan traktat-traktat ke tempat yang tidak kita kenal. Kita harus hidup dan bergerak di dalam dunia, hidup di tengah-tengahnya seperti Yesus, dan memberi kesaksian tentang kebenaran meskipun mengalami penolakan. Kita melakukan semua ini demi mereka yang akan menerima, percaya, dan membuka hatinya bagi Sang Firman.

Ada dua pribadi yang terlibat ketika kita memberi kesaksian tentang kebenaran Kristus. Pribadi pertama adalah Roh Kudus. Ia melakukan apa yang tidak dapat dilakukan oleh manusia. Roh Allah inilah yang membuka hati, mencelikkan mata, dan memberikan pemahaman tentang firman Tuhan. Roh ini memberikan kesaksian bahwa firman Tuhan itu benar dan otentik. Inilah sebabnya kuasa dari sebuah kesaksian berasal dari Roh, bukan dari manusia. Akan tetapi, dalam perkataan Tuhan Yesus, Ia mengatakan bahwa kita juga akan memberi kesaksian seperti yang dilakukan oleh para rasul -- yaitu mengenai apa yang telah mereka dengar, lihat, dan alami. Inilah dasar dari setiap kesaksian orang Kristen. Sebelum Tuhan Yesus terangkat ke surga, Ia berkata, "Tetapi kamu akan menerima kuasa, kalau Roh Kudus turun ke atas kamu, dan kamu akan menjadi saksi-Ku ...." (Kisah Para Rasul 1:8a) Kita semua dipanggil untuk menjadi saksi mengenai arti Yesus bagi kita, apa yang kita alami bersama-Nya, dan apa yang telah Ia lakukan bagi kita.

Roh Kudus bersaksi bersama-sama kita. Ia menggunakan perkataan kita, sesederhana apa pun, untuk membuka pikiran dan melembutkan hati yang keras, untuk menghancurkan penghalang, serta membuka hati manusia bagi Firman. Jadi, jelaslah bahwa gereja dipanggil untuk bersaksi di hadapan dunia yang membencinya.

Doa: Tuhan, Engkaulah yang menempatkan aku di dunia ini. Sekarang, kiranya aku menjadi saksi bagi-Mu hari ini, melalui setiap perkataan dan perbuatanku. Amin.

Pertanyaan aplikasi: Apakah tanggapan kita ketika kita melihat atau mengalami dampak kebencian dunia? Apa cara terbaik untuk menjadi saksi yang berdaya guna? (t/Yudo)

Diterjemahkan dari:
Nama situs: Ray Stedman.org
Alamat URL: http://www.raystedman.org/daily-devotions/john-13to17/the-witness
Judul asli artikel: The Witness
Penulis artikel: Ray Stedman
Tanggal akses: 16 Oktober 2014

Rabu, 28 Januari 2015

Jesus Loves Doubters


Jesus Loves Doubters
By Brian Nixon, Special to ASSIST News Service
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO (ANS – January 27, 2015) -- In her book Doubt: A History, Jennifer Michael Hecht wrote, “Socrates counts among those great minds who actually cultivated doubt in the name of truth.”[1]
This seems like a contradiction: doubt in the name of truth? If something is true, it is beyond doubt; facts are facts, right? And yet, everyone doubts at some point. But what if that doubt could lead you to discover a greater truth about God? Could doubt and truth have something in common?
Believe it or not, doubt really can lead to truth.[2] A quick look at some of the great lives in history reveals this:
· The apostle Thomas: Nicknamed “doubting Thomas,” this disciple of Jesus is known for seeking proof of Christ's resurrection (see John 20:24-29). When Jesus showed Thomas His scars, Thomas was changed forever. He went from distrust to trust, from folly to faith.
· Augustine of Hippo (354-430) was a leading voice in the early church. Before coming to Christ, he led a life dedicated to intellectual pursuits and worldly desires. Augustine reflected on the close relationship between doubt and faith when he said, “Doubt is but another element of faith.”
· Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) was a mathematician, inventor, and devotional writer. One of the great thinkers regarding geometry, Pascal was well acquainted with numbers and objective truth. He was also a committed Christian, writing classic works of devotional thought. Pascal understood that doubt and truth were sometimes associated: “To deny, to believe, and to doubt absolutely—this is for man what running is for a horse.”
· C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) was an Oxford professor, author, and Christian apologist. Yet prior to becoming a Christian, Lewis was an atheist. He later wrote, “I came into Christianity kicking and screaming.”
· Philip Yancey (b. 1949): One of contemporary Christianity's most popular authors, Yancey wrote, “Doubt is something almost every person experiences at some point, yet something that the church does not always handle well. I'm an advocate of doubt, because that's why I became a Christian in the first place.”[3]
God has used doubt in the lives of Christians throughout the ages to reveal His truth. He uses doubt to create dependency on Christ, turning intellectual turmoil to trust in God. The Bible calls this faith.
Define
Derived from the Latin word dubius, doubt means a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary adds greater clarity by stating that doubt is “to believe that something may not be true or is unlikely.”[4]
Discover
Though doubt is part of the Christian experience, the Bible places greater emphasis on trust and belief. So, doubt in this sense doesn't mean doubting doctrinal truth—that is, what the Bible clearly teaches to be true. Rather, doubt can lead to truth about how you live out your faith. In fact, finding God's greater purposes is what life is about. As noted above, this ascent to God's truth is deemed faith (pistis in Greek, meaning belief or trust). Here are a few Bible verses to help you discover what God has to say concerning doubt and faith:
· “So He said, 'Come.' And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!' And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'“ (Matthew 14:29-31).
· “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1).
· “Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed'“ (John 20:29).
· “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
· “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:5-8).
Develop
Atheist-turned-Christian Alister McGrath understood the correlation between doubt and faith. Doubt is based on uncertainty, but certainty isn't the heart of faith—trust is. McGrath wrote:
“To believe in God demands an act of faith—as does the decision not to believe in him. Neither is based upon absolute certainty, nor can they be. To accept Jesus demands a leap of faith—but so does the decision to reject him. To accept Christianity demands faith—and so does the decision to reject it. Both rest upon faith, in that nobody can prove with absolute certainty that Jesus is the Son of God, the risen savior of humanity—just as nobody can prove with absolute certainty that he is not. The decision, whatever it may be, rests upon faith. There is an element of doubt in each case. Every attitude to Jesus—except the decision not to have any attitude at all!—rests upon faith, not certainty. Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservations—a trust in a God who has shown himself worthy of that trust.” [5]
Doubts will come in life—it's part of our human fabric. It straddles a line between fear and trust. But rather than dwelling on doubt, turn to trust—a “trust in a God who has shown himself worthy.”
When developing a plan to help those dealing with doubt, the Billy Graham Association's Christian Worker's Handbook gives some valuable advice:
· Offer a word of encouragement.
· Help identify the source of the doubts, emphasizing that it is not wrong to ask why in life.
· Give a reminder that God has never promised freedom from adversity in life.
· Reflect on God's goodness demonstrated in the past to remember evidences of God's faithfulness.
· Pray for renewal.
· Encourage faithfulness in worshiping with God's people.[6]
Also, as we have encouraged throughout this series, love the doubter. Why? Because Jesus loves doubters!
L—Listen to people. Make a sincere effort to get to know them and their situation.
O—Observe their life. Where are they coming from—emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually? What is the root of their doubt? Ask yourself, How can I assist them?
V—Voice God's truth. What does the Bible teach concerning doubt? What does it say about trust and faith?
E—Embrace them with the love of God in Christ. Empathize over shared experiences, but keep Jesus the focus of your conversation and outreach.
To learn more about the series, Jesus Loves People, click here: www.jesuslovespeople.com
[1] Jennifer Michael Hecht, Doubt: A History, 2003, http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/810463-doubt-a-history.
[2] Hecht is not implying that all doubt leads to truth.
[3] Philip Yancey, “Faith and Doubt,” 2009, http://philipyancey.com/q-and-a-topics/faith-and-doubt.
[4] Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “Doubt,” 2014, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doubt.
[5] Alister McGrath, Doubting: Growing Through the Uncertainties of Faith, Intervarsity Press, 1996.
[6] Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Christian Worker's Handbook, 1996, p. 93.

Kristen Feola’s Online Daniel Fast Participation Growing

Kristen Feola’s Online Daniel Fast Participation Growing
By Les Stobbe, Special to ASSIST News Service
TRYON, NC (ANS – January 28, 2015) -- The fourth 21-day online January Daniel Fast led by Kristen Feola set new records for participation, with 5,467 newsletter subscribers, 211 team leaders, and website traffic so strong it overloaded her server, with 153,000 visitors on the second day of the fast.
Daniel Fast front cover Les Stobbie storyAuthor of The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast and Spiritually Strong, Feola’s nearly 5500 newsletter subscribers every day received a short video message from her, a daily devotion, three recipes, and other helpful resources.
Feola’s newest tactic was to enlist team leaders, with 212 representing groups from all over the world agreeing to encourage members of their group to buy The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast and use Spiritually Strong for follow-up. Amazingly, one of the largest groups, with 42 participants, was in Saudi Arabia.
Feola says, “I'm always so encouraged by the number of believers who join in prayer and fasting every January. Our theme for this year's online Daniel Fast was, ‘Spiritually Strong,’ because our desire for 2015 is to, ‘Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power’ (Eph. 6:10). The fast ended Saturday, January 24th, and already I've received many testimonies about God's faithfulness. The Lord has given victory over sin, strength during weakness, wisdom in job situations, and salvation of loved ones!”
One fast participant emailed to share the miracle God did in the life of her Buddhist father. Her dad, who lives in Singapore, has never been interested in the things of God. But in the last two weeks he began attending a Chinese church with a friend. On day 20 of her fast, the woman received word that her dad gave his life to the Lord! She wrote, “I’m overjoyed! I have been praying for his salvation for 28 years.”
Feola comments, “This woman's story is a perfect example why we must continue to pray fervently, not just in January but throughout the year.”
Kristen Feola's websites are: www.kristenfeola.com and www.ultimatedanielfast.com
Photo caption: Book cover

Driver crunched between two semis believes God saved his life


Driver crunched between two semis believes God saved his life
By Mark Ellis and Michael Ashcraft, Special to ASSIST News Service
(ANS -- January 27, 2015) Every side of his pickup truck was completely smashed and compacted after Kaleb Whitby struck a semi from behind and was then hit by another semi in a highway pileup caused by morning fog and black ice.
Whitby literally walked away unscathed – with just two Band-Aids – after his Chevy Silverado was banged, spun, and ultimately came to rest in the vice-grip of parallel semi trucks. By God’s protective hand, he narrowly escaped death.
“I do believe in God. I do believe He protected me,” Kaleb told GodReports.com. “I don’t know if it was an army of angels that held those trucks apart, but I know it wasn’t my strength. I have faith that somebody was there to protect me.”
The 27-year-old Mesa, Washington, resident left Baker at 5:30 a.m. on January 17th headed for Council, Idaho to pick up goods for his farm. It was cold and driving conditions were dicey, but he hoped for incident-free travel.
Out of the fog emerged a semi jack-knifed across the lanes of I-84. Kaleb down-shifted and braked as he headed downhill, but it was to no avail. His front bumper clipped the back of the semi, and he swirled around so that his passenger side faced oncoming traffic.
Then he was startled by the headlights of another semi that emerged from the fog.
“I closed my eyes and said a prayer,” Kaleb said. Glass shattered and metal crunched like a soda can as every part of his pickup compacted between the two trucks.

Jumat, 23 Januari 2015

The Pregnant Teen's Dilemma

The Pregnant Teen's Dilemma






Email

Before considering how you might respond to the news that your unmarried teenager is pregnant, take a brief tour of the emotions and thought processes that are likely to be swirling through her mind and heart.
Fear is an overriding emotion in nearly every teen pregnancy.
"I can't tell my parents. They'll kill me!"
"How can I finish school when I'm pregnant?"
"My boyfriend will take off if I don't have an abortion."
The adolescent with a crisis pregnancy probably sees nothing but loss on the horizon — loss of love, time, education and physical health. Fear of one or more of these losses propels most of her other responses. Remember that the average age difference between the father of the baby and the teenage mother is 6.4 years.
Denial is common, especially during the early weeks of pregnancy when the only indication might be one or more missed periods, a little fatigue, possibly some nausea or even a positive pregnancy test. The longing for things to be "the way they were" may delay acknowledging the problem and seeking appropriate help for weeks or even months.
Ambivalence about being pregnant may cause fluctuating emotions. One day the only solution may appear to be an abortion, while the next the prospect of a cuddly baby may seem appealing. Time spent with a friend's crying newborn may jolt the emotions in yet another direction. Indecision and apparent lack of direction in such an overwhelming situation are common.
Guilt. When a pregnancy results from the violation of moral values held since childhood, an adolescent will usually feel ashamed and worthless. Her growing abdomen becomes a constant reminder of her failure. This is a time when you can come alongside your child and cement a lasting relationship with her.
Pressure to have an abortion. This may come from several directions. A teenager may be weighing what appears to be a dismal future of hardship and remorse against a quick and relatively inexpensive procedure. "No one needs to know, and I can get on with my life."
A boyfriend (who may be dealing with his own fear and guilt, along with concerns about future financial responsibilities) may exert considerable pressure to abort, even offering to pay the bill. He may also threaten to bail out of the relationship if the pregnancy continues. Some parents, worried about their daughter's future or perhaps their own reputation in the community (or even the prospect of being responsible for the actual child-rearing), may also find abortion attractive.
The "cuddly doll" mentality. Some unmarried teenage girls see their pregnancy unrealistically as an escape from a difficult and unpleasant home situation. They may envision a baby as a snuggly companion who will require roughly the same amount of care as a new puppy, not realizing the amount of energy a newborn will take without giving much in return (especially during the first few weeks). Teens with this mindset need to adjust their expectations of child-rearing — not to drive them to abort, but to help them make more appropriate plans. If adoption is not chosen as a solution, some careful groundwork should be laid to prevent serious disappointment and even the mother's abuse of the baby.
Every 60 seconds of every day, we help another family work through a crisis involving their children.

 Excerpted from Let's Talk About Sex, Copyright 1998 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved. International Copyright secured.

Kamis, 22 Januari 2015

Sex trafficking in America: one woman's story


Sex trafficking in America: one woman's story
By Mark Ellis, Special to ASSIST News Service
(ANS) -- She grew up poor, in one of the decaying mill towns of Massachusetts. After she ran away from home, she was groomed and finally drawn into the dark world of sex trafficking, a virtual prisoner in one of the most free and prosperous countries in the world.
“I was conceived in a violent rape, so I always felt like I was worth less than other people,” says Darlene Pawlik, author of “Testimony: the dark side of Christianity.” The rape was so brutal her mother didn’t talk about it for two years. She actually married the perpetrator, who continued to brutalize her mother.
Sexual violence seemed to follow Darlene. “From toddlerhood I was physically and sexually abused by my biological father,” she recounts. “He used drugs and he used repressive techniques, teaching us to lie about what was going on.”
Her mother’s second husband took them to church occasionally, but it was more for a social connection. “At six or seven I accepted the Lord, but there was no discipleship going on. I didn’t know how to follow Him.”
Darlene ran away from home after her mother’s second divorce. “I quit school at the end of the 6th grade,” she says. “I lived as a transient in the streets, stayed in basements, or slept in cars. I slept in the store ‘24’ for a number of months.” A world almanac was her only pillow at times.
She says her mother looked for her, but didn’t get much help from the local police in Haverhill, Massachusetts. “Some of the police were using my runaway friends,” she alleges.
When Darlene was 13, a “handsome” man calling himself ‘Ace’ showed up in town, driving a black Cadillac with a crimson interior. He struck up conversations with Darlene and her runaway friends, slowly building their trust. “When the weather got cold we would get in his car and we would talk and joke around,” she recalls.

Rabu, 21 Januari 2015

Jesus Loves Atheists


Jesus Loves Atheists
By Brian Nixon, Special to ASSIST News Service
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO (ANS – January 18, 2015) -- "We cannot, of course, disprove God, just as we can't disprove Thor, fairies, leprechauns and the Flying Spaghetti Monster." This statement by Dr. Richard Dawkins is often quoted in arguments against God's existence. Dawkins, an evolutionary biologist, is one of the leading figures of what has been termed New Atheism.[1]
The quote is interesting on two fronts.
One, it owns up to the fact that people (the "we" in the quote) cannot disprove God's existence.
And two, the quote seems to equate God to mythical lore and human fabrication—exactly Dawkins's intention.
Dawkins is correct in his understanding of the first statement—"we cannot...disprove God"—and misinformed on the second: most of the world's notion of God far transcends such an obvious and silly fabrication like
a "Flying Spaghetti Monster."
But Dawkins, like other people, is vigorously opposed to the idea that there is a God or a supreme being. Their belief system leads them to a position called atheism. According to the Pew Research Center, 2.4% of the population consider themselves atheist.[2]
The Pew study also reveals that most atheists tend to be men (67%) and a significant portion are young (38% are between the ages of 18-29).
The position of atheism is not new. The Sophists in ancient Greece questioned whether the gods were real, [3] as did many in the Roman Empire, including the philosopher Lucretius.[4] Even biblical writers recognized that there were atheists. King David wrote in Psalm 14:1, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'"
The amazing truth taught in the Bible is that regardless of our opinions of Him—whether we come to belief in God or have always done so or arrive at a position of no belief—God's attitude towards humanity is unwavering: God loves the world (see John 3:16). And by extension of this truth (God's incarnation through Jesus, the second person of the godhead), Jesus loves atheists.[5]
Definition: The word atheism is derived from two Greek words: a, meaning without; and theism, meaning god: atheism, then, literally means without-god.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary rightly defines atheism as both disbelief and a "doctrine" (meaning code, creed, and dogma).[6]
The atheist is one who feels that there are empirical reasons to believe that God does not exist (usually through the sciences). This definition is different from a similar belief, agnosticism (Greek: no knowledge), which teaches that God—if there is one—is unknowable and undiscoverable. Theoretically, the agnostic is unsure about God's existence, whereas the atheist believes that there is no God.
Discover: As you would expect, the Bible does not adhere to an atheistic view (or even an agnostic) view of the world. The biblical writers demonstrated—and were proof themselves—that God is involved in all of history and with all of humanity, from creation to consummation. Furthermore, the Bible teaches that God is personal and desires a relationship with His creation.[7]
However, the Bible does have texts that recognize the viewpoint of atheism.
Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1:  "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'" The literal translation of that last phrase is simply "No God," with the implication that the person is saying, "No God for me"—an outright, personal rejection of God Himself.
Romans 1:20: "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."
1 Corinthians 2:14: "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are
foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Develop: Like many thinking people, atheists are given to intellectual ideas and what they deem rational arguments.  But atheism does not corner the market on intellectual inquiry.  Many former atheists have become believers in Christ, driven primarily by an honest response to the evidence. Contrary to
many atheistic claims against a theistic (belief in God) worldview, there are logical arguments for God's existence. Dr. William Lane Craig presented one such approach in Philosophy Now magazine.[8] His
approach covered eight points:
1.  God is the best explanation why anything at all exists. This can be seen in the syllogism (a formal logical system): Every contingent thing has an explanation of its existence.
If the universe has an explanation of its existence, that explanation is a transcendent, personal being.
The universe is a contingent thing. Therefore, the universe has an explanation of its existence.
Therefore, the explanation of the universe is a transcendent, personal being– which is
what everybody means by 'God.'
2.  God is the best explanation of the origin of the universe.
3.  God is the best explanation of the applicability of mathematics to the physical world.
4.  God is the best explanation of the fine-tuning of the universe for intelligent life.
5.  God is the best explanation of intentional states of consciousness.
6.  God is the best explanation of objective moral values and duties.
7.  The very possibility of God's existence implies that God exists.
8.  God can be personally known and experienced.
Some of this is heady material—and requires attention, study, and thought. The point in listing it is to afford you a plan in reaching atheists.
If rational arguments are not your cup of tea, an atheist can be reached, like all people, by the basic principles all Christians can engage in: prayer, love, service, and compassion.  These characterizes are summarized in the acronym LOVE.
L—listen to people. Get to know them and their situation and their viewpoint. It's been said that people listen to only ten to thirty percent of what someone says to them. Don't be that person. Listen with generosity and a genuine interest in the person.
O—observe their life. Where are they coming from—emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually? What is it they're really saying through their actions and words? In other words, try to assess their worldview. What is the root of their beliefs? The worldview will help you develop a plan in answering the questions they may
have. One researcher said that observation is a fine art. If this is the case, become a fine artist.
V—voice God's truth. Here you'll need to do some homework. You'll need to define and discover what God has to say through the Bible concerning atheism. Then, get some good books and commentaries to assist you. Develop a plan of outreach, revealing what the Bible has to say about atheism. But know this: don't just heap Bible verses upon them.  You'll need to go the extra mile to really minister to and discuss important topics with them.
E—embrace them with the love of God in Christ. Notice I don't say agree with them or side withthem on a particular subject, but to embrace them as God would you. One of the meanings of embrace is "support." Don't support the sin but do support the sinner. Keep Jesus the focus of your conversation and outreach.
To learn more about the Jesus Loves People series at Calvary Albuquerque, click here: www.jesuslovespeople.com
[1] Google defines New Atheism as follows: "A social and political movement in favor of atheism and secularism promoted by a collection of modern atheist writers who have advocated the view that 'religion
should not simply be tolerated but should be countered, criticized, and exposed by rational argument wherever its influence arises.'"
[4] http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/atheism/history/ancient.shtml, (12/19/14)  Lucretius (99-55BC) was a materialist, meaning that he believed only in what could be sensed in the physical world. That led him to discredit the gods or any other supernatural source of creation.
[5] This does not mean that God approves of their viewpoint. Just as God loves a sinner yet despises the sin,
God loves an atheist but not his or her worldview.
[7] There are many text that support this, for example: Jeremiah 29:1; John 1:10-14.