Sabtu, 27 Mei 2017

Hi Ho Silver or Let Us Bow Down in Worship?

Which will it be?

By Kenneth D. MacHarg, Missionary Journalist, Special to ASSIST News Service (Writer’s Opinion)

CARROLLTON, GA (ANS – May 27, 2017) -- An article in the local newspaper highlights a new church forming in our town. It’s a “Cowboy Church” which caters to those who either are or dream of becoming a cowboy or cowgirl.

Nothing wrong with that. Churches are finding great success in leading people to the Lord by targeting specific interests and serving a niche clientele. After all, the majority of churches that Polly and I have served have focused primarily on expatriates and third-culture people.

And this one does just that. “You have people that have never owned a horse or gun but they sit and grew up watching Bonanza and the Lone Ranger,” the paper quoted the new pastor as saying. “If you’ve got a Western or country heart, then the…Cowboy Church is the place for you.”

That sounds fine, as far as it goes. But what really got my attention was the statement that the service “will end with a gunfight reenactment.”

Wait a minute. A gunfight reenactment? I’m sure the folks at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina would want to see that. Or, perhaps not. One of their services ended with a gunfight a few years ago that left nine people dead.

Now, this isn’t a launch into the gun-rights debate, though there may be some hints here and there.

It’s more a concern about what worship is all about and the blatant misuse of entertainment in what should be a God-focused experience, not people-focused.

(I have written about this topic before. See here (https://kensintrospect.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/another-opening-another-show/), here (https://kensintrospect.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/the-real-reason-for-evangelical-growth/) and here (http://christforthecity.blogspot.com/2015/01/).

For the life of me, I cannot understand how a reenactment of a gunfight has any place in a service of worship.

Lest we forget, the audience in our worship is the Lord, not the congregation. The actors (worshippers) consist of the people in attendance, and the direction of the action is Godward, not human oriented.

From the opening prayer to the Bible readings, the praise music, hymns, readings, the preaching of the word, the time of commitment, the baptism, the sharing of communion, the closing prayer and benediction, all are elements of worship that are directed toward God and designed to please Him and only Him.

When we dilute what we do with distractions, interruptions, and, yes, entertainment, when we finish the service with something other than a focus on God and his saving power through Jesus Christ, we are missing the whole point and are attempting to please ourselves rather than worship our powerful and almighty Lord.

From Psalm 96:1 we read: Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

That does it, powerfully, honestly, and completely. We don’t need anything else than that.

Photo captions: 1) Skipper Calder mixes horse training and Bible readings to deliver his message at Cowboy-Up Ministry. This is its old site in Lithia. (Photo: http://www.tbo.com). 2) Re-enactment recreation of classic Old West, 1800s Western gunfight 3) Baptism at a Cowboy Church. 4) Not too many Cowboys in Hong Kong where Kenneth D. MacHarg is pictured here.

About the writer: Kenneth D. MacHarg has served as the pastor or interim pastor of nine International Congregations in seven countries outside of the United States. He can be contacted by e-mail at: missionaryjournalist@gmail.com

** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net). Please tell your friends that they can receive a complimentary subscription to ANS by going to the above website and signing up there.

Benghazi Battle Vet Helps the Forgotten Soldiers

By Alex Murashko, Special to ASSIST News Service

ORANGE COUNTY, CA (ANS – May 27, 2017) -- After recovering from severe wounds while defending lives at the Battle of Benghazi, former special operative contractor Mark “Oz” Geist, chose to serve his country in a different way by establishing the Shadow Warriors Project (https://shadowwarriorsproject.org/).

Geist, who also co-authored the book “13 Hours: The Inside Account Of What Really Happened In Benghazi”, which later became the premise of a movie, recently had the opportunity to talk about the project with Every Man Show radio hosts Kenny Luck and Anthony Dever.

Leading into Memorial Day Weekend

Geist, whose interview on the show aired in three parts this week beginning Wednesday (May 24, 2017) on KKLA 99.5 FM in Los Angeles, said the project is his “way of continuing service” to Americans.

“Ninety percent of us in the military are there because it’s our sense of service, and that service can continue,” said Geist, who also served in the Marine Corp for 12 years. Private security contractors, unlike military personnel, do not have a workman’s comp policy. “The day I left Benghazi, which was the morning of the 12th, my pay stops. It’s not like in the service where if I get injured I still get paid, get benefits and all that. I get nothing.”

He explained that there are 270 U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world. “There’s contractors at every one of them,” he said. “Since 2001, we’ve lost almost 5,000 contractors killed and almost 30,000 injured. That’s a lot of people who have sacrificed for this country and they need to be taken care of.”

Shadow Warriors Project founders, Geist and his wife, Krystal, said the foundation is dedicated to the support of private military security contractors, conducting paramilitary security operations in some of the world’s most dangerous areas. “It is the only charity of its kind,” they said. “Although the private security contractor has served in the military he is considered a civilian and does not receive the same support offered to injured active military or veterans.

“We want to take care of the families,” said Geist during the Every Man Show interview. “We want to help the wives because in many cases they become the primary caregiver. We also do college funds for the children.”

The founders add, “We are a foundation that has been formed because of events that have taken place throughout the world where men have so bravely and anonymously offered their own life for the lives and safety of others.”

Geist, who was contracted by the U.S. to help protect diplomatic personnel inside Libya, not only gave the show hosts a detailed account of the Battle of Benghazi in which he was hit and wounded by three different IEDs landing within 15 feet of him, but shares how his survival and that of others could only be described as divine intervention by God.

Geist, known by his fellow warriors as “Oz,” gave remarkable details of the battle from his perspective, one that includes being part of the Global Response Staff (GRS) that was told to “stand down.” While Oz and the team were unable to save the lives of U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and three others, many lives were saved on the night members of Ansar al-Sharia attacked the American diplomatic compound and CIA annex in Benghazi.

Untold Benghazi story: Something more than sound bites

Every Man Show host, Kenny Luck, said he was excited for listeners to hear from Geist, firsthand, something more meaningful than sound bites often driven by political spin.

“What differentiates this interview from most coverage the public has seen or heard reported about The Battle of Benghazi is the discussion of the transcendent ‘meta-themes’ of freedom, sacrifice, and the high cost of liberty in any form,” Luck said. “In today’s culture, events such as Benghazi get chopped up and parsed out to the media hyenas which, in turn, gets over-politicized and sound-bited.

“The book and the film go a long way to uncover and reveal what happened but this interview affords listeners many moments where the transcendent philosophical and spiritual themes are allowed to burst through in a truthful and refreshing way,” he said. “When you watch the mainstream media there is a little voice inside that is dying to be heard—that voice is saying ‘You are missing the big ideas!’ This interview satisfies at that level.”

The Every Man Show, produced by One Ten Pictures (http://www.onetenpictures.com/), airs on KKLA 99.5 Los Angeles on radio and through its website (http://kkla.com/) Monday-Friday 10:30 to 11 pm. The interview with Mark “Oz” Geist aired Wed-Fri, May 24-26.

To watch a video about what happened in Benghazi, go to https://shadowwarriorsproject.org/the-story

Photo captions: 1) Mark “Oz” Geist. 2) Max Martini plays Mark “Oz” Geist in “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.” 3) Book cover. 4) Kenny Luck, co-host of the Every Man Show. 5) Alex Murashko.

About the writer: Alex Murashko is currently working with One Ten Pictures as its Story Producer, developing and working on projects that include stories about people and organizations making a difference in this world. He previously was a Church & Ministry Editor/Reporter for The Christian Post. He also worked at the Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition and at the Press Enterprise in its Southwest Riverside County bureau. He can be contacted by e-mail at: alex@alexmurashko.com.

** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net). Please also tell your friends that they can receive a complimentary subscription to our news service by going to the above website and signing up there.

Kicking the Can Down the Road or Working Toward a Solution?

By Jeremy Reynalds, Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service (jeremyreynalds@gmail.com )

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (ANS-May 27, 2017) -- A homeless encampment in Downtown Albuquerque is drawing concern. Starting with tents, it appears to now be primarily individuals gathering after about 9 p.m. daily to “crash” for the night.

A piece aired by KOB TV 4 on the issue drew this response from mayor’s chief of staff Gilbert Montoya.

“What we do provide and the services, they're not handouts, where you can just go in and continue this lifestyle with free room and board. You have to actually change your lifestyle and work toward what you want to overcome.”

Writing on Facebook, Jackie wasn’t impressed.

“Mayor Berry's solution every time.. Give them a week to find a job, that no one will hire (them for) because they have no identification, address (and some have records and mental illness) overcome their addiction in one week, find a place to live with no job to pay for it and if they don't, then he makes the city throw away the little belongings that these people have.”

There’s also concern about the homeless gathering at the New Kimo Park near I-40 and San Mateo in Albuquerque.

It’s filled with trash, shopping carts and drug paraphernalia. One local news affiliate said it also provides a haven for the homeless.

A property owner behind the park is at the end of his wits, telling KOB TV, “I think closing down the park permanently would be great. But on a temporary basis at least for a year or so, fence it off, get it cleaned up (and) get this area cleaned up a little.”

I have sympathy for the property owner and his tenants. It's not a good position to be in. However, the solution apparently being proposed is to kick the proverbial can down the road. These folk will go somewhere, but the question is where?

The ultimate answer may be outside the ability of City Hall to solve. One thing for sure: NIMBY, or not in my back yard, is not a solution.

When I posted the KOB piece on the Downtown camp on Joy Junction's Facebook page, and my own personal profile, I asked for comments. A number of people responded. Most were very kind and thoughtful, but there were also a number of unbelievably cruel and callous ones.

Here’s an example. Clifford said, “What about Darwinism? The antithesis to organized religion? Shouldn't they just die? Their genes eradicated? Now I know that is extreme and I know I don't want people to suffer, but ... ”

Brad commented, “So scripturally speaking, all of Solomon’s wisdom about idle hands is just gibberish? If you are able bodied, it is YOUR responsibility to provide for yourself and those entrusted to you. And that doesn't mean panhandling and begging or mooching off of others good will.”

Dan’s post was shocking. He said, “I'm a very strong believer of only helping those who are willing to help themselves. It's all about who and what we choose to serve. Either a higher or a lower vibrational frequency. What Joy Junction is doing is good charity work, but it's not the highest level of work because you are helping out so many who don't even care about helping themselves.”

He continued, “Because if they don't value life this time around, then they will be given the opportunity once again in their next lifetimes. It's just not guaranteed (the homeless) will come back as humans, and will more than likely come back as worms or cockroaches since that is the appetites they are choosing to serve this lifetime around.”

Here are some more encouraging (and reasonable) responses.

Samee said if we want to see a decrease in the homeless population, then we must change healthcare policies and provide long term inpatient mental health services. “A huge portion of these people are simply unable to care for themselves.”

Joanna said desperate people needing help can’t be left out on the streets.

Gina commented that many homeless people have mental health issues. Asking them to change is just not realistic, given everything else with which they have to contend.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson quite shockingly said that poverty is a state of mind.

“You take somebody that has the right mindset, you can take everything from them and put them on the street, and I guarantee in a little while they'll be right back up there. And you take somebody with the wrong mindset, you can give them everything in the world, they'll work their way right back down to the bottom.”

And back on Facebook, Connie had a more reasonable answer. She said, “Some people will always need help. We cannot leave those people. It could be me.”

So will you be a person who keep kicking the homeless issue down the road, or someone who wants to make a lasting difference? We would love to hear from you if you fall into the latter group.

Photo captions: 1) Joy Junction illustration. 2) Ben Carson. 3) Jeremy and Elma Reynalds.

About the writer: Jeremy Reynalds, who was born in Bournemouth, UK, is a Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, www.joyjunction.org. He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. One of his more recent books is “From Destitute to Ph.D.” Additional details on the book are available at www.myhomelessjourney.com. His latest book, “Two Hearts One Vision,” is available at www.twoheartsonevisionthebook.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his wife, Elma. For more information, please contact Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@gmail.com.

** You may republish this and any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net). Please also tell your friends and colleagues that they can receive a complimentary subscription to the ASSIST News Service by going to the ANS website (see above) and signing up there.a

Kamis, 09 Februari 2017

Sex Education Should Start in the Christian Home

Melissa Edgington

January 31, 2017

When I was a sophomore in high school, a senior girl took it upon herself to tell me about her sexual experience. She knew that she was speaking to someone who was notoriously naive and inexperienced, and I could tell that she relished the opportunity to educate me in these few minutes at the end of a study hall. I’ll never forget her telling me:
Of course, we don’t have sex when I’m on my period, because I don’t want to get pregnant!
I smiled and nodded, wondering how a girl could get to be 18 years old and sexually active with so little understanding of how procreation actually works. She honestly thought that the week of her period was her most fertile week of the month. By some miracle, she made it out of high school without getting pregnant, but it wasn’t because she was being smart about it. She had obviously been misinformed, probably by another girl or her boyfriend, all because their parents assumed that kids find out how this stuff works SOMEWHERE, and they were personally far too embarrassed to bring up the subject with their kids.
To top it off, this girl had no notion at all that what she was doing might be the wrong thing. She certainly didn’t seem to think having sex with her boyfriend was something to keep quiet about. She was proud of what she was doing.
That was back in the early ’90s, which were utterly wholesome times compared to the world that our kids are now growing up in. Internet pornography has changed everything about our culture, and our children are more vulnerable than ever before to experience abuse, unexpected pregnancy, sexual addiction, and unhealthy and damaging views of sex.
Christian homes should be the most open, honest and comfortable places for kids and teens to learn and ask questions about sex. Let me make my case, Christian parents. If you are embarrassed to talk to your kids about sex, get over it. Here’s why.
The world is already teaching our kids about sex.
It’s teaching them that sex is casual. Selfish. It says that sex is purely physical. That it means nothing. That it is about feeling good and getting what you want and nothing more. The world tells our kids that they are sexual objects. That they are only worth as much as another person’s level of sexual desire for them. It says that if they aren’t having sex they’re worthless, and that if they are having sex, they’re sluts. This world tells even our youngest little ones that they are defined by their physical attributes. It tells them that they exist for sexual pleasure and that they are even identified by what kind of sexual desires that they have.
As Christian parents we MUST be the very first people in our kids’ lives to educate them about sex. We need to explain from the beginning what God created it to be. About the sacred beauty of marriage. And, we need to work to de-emphasize the all-encompassing sexual obsession of our culture. The only way we can do that is by talking honestly about sex with our kids, from younger-than-you-think ages. It’s our job to place sex in the proper context, to provide our kids with a God-centered view of themselves and what sex was created to be. If we don’t teach our kids about sex, plenty of other people with a completely different set of values and an opposite worldview will gladly step up to do the job.
Pornography is coming for our kids.
The pornography industry wants to get our kids hooked, like it got so many boys in my generation hooked. It is a huge, insidious machine that wants nothing more than to continue raking in billions of dollars at the expense of families everywhere. If you think your kids are immune, that they “would never look at that,” then you are sadly mistaken. As Christian parents, we should already be talking about pornography before our kids are ever exposed. We should be warning about the dangers of the Internet, and we MUST install Internet filters on ALL devices that our families own. If we aren’t doing this, we’re throwing our kids straight into the waiting jaws of the pornographers.
We are pro-life.
We may sign every pro-life petition that comes our way. We may constantly preach about the sanctity of life. We may donate money to a crisis pregnancy center. But, if we aren’t talking to our kids about sex (not just once, but throughout their childhood and teen years), then we are truly failing to live out our pro-life views within our own family. We can’t send our children out there with no sense of what sex was designed to be and with no real knowledge of how their bodies work or how reproduction happens. We MUST be open with our kids and acknowledge how strong sexual desire is and how hard it can be to wait until marriage. We need to instill in our kids a reverence for marriage and for their future spouse, and above all, we must show our kids that holiness is a life-long pursuit that includes the difficulty of denying ourselves sexual pleasure until marriage. A huge part of the pro-life movement is and should be sex education. It starts with us.
Sexual orientation isn’t a given.
In this strange culture that our kids are growing up in, many will begin to question their sexual orientation or even be told by others that they are gay. They need to be able to talk to us when these questions come up. We should be there to reassure them, to guide them in working through their fears, and to constantly be streaming the word of God in their ear, always leading them back to the holiness and goodness of God. The last thing I want is for my children to feel like I am not where they can turn if these feelings come up. I want to be the first place they run to, and I will be if we have a long history of talking openly about sex.
If we start young, we can easily keep the conversation going.
If your child is a teenager and you haven’t opened up a conversation about sex, just do it. It will be awkward and weird, but don’t miss your opportunity to influence him, here and now, while you have him in your house. Invite him to share his struggles with you, and give him godly guidance, even if he doesn’t act like he wants to hear it. He needs to hear it.
But, if you have younger kids, you have a golden opportunity to open this conversation during a phase of life when they aren’t self-conscious and embarrassed. Start small in age-appropriate ways, and begin an open-ended, ongoing discussion that leaves plenty of room for questions and honest talk. And, don’t stop talking. Just keep it going. Check in every once in awhile. Ask questions about what she has heard. Find out if she has questions to ask you. If you are especially feeling awkward about it, talk in the car so that you don’t have to look each other in the face. You may both talk more easily that way.
As Christian parents, we want to disciple our kids and lead them in the ways of God. We can’t fool ourselves into thinking that sex education isn’t a huge part of discipleship. Sexual sin is dangerous and rampant, and it always has been. We can’t help our kids deal with the incredible pull of sexual desire unless we talk about it. Will it feel awkward? Maybe, at first. But, it’s nothing we can’t handle. Sex shouldn’t be a dirty word in Christian homes. If we want our kids to think biblically about sex and about their own worth, then we have to teach them what the Bible says about it, one conversation at a time.

10 Ways to Get Teens to Own the Youth Ministry

Terrace Crawford

January 29, 2017

One of the most amazing things you’ll ever do in youth ministry is empower your students to take ownership of the youth ministry. After all, it’s their ministry (or should be, if it’s not).
I’ll certainly never forget my youth pastor allowing me to serve and empowering me to do so. It all started with just letting me make the announcements and emcee youth group…and 18 years later I’m a youth worker myself and I’m not only empowering teens to take ownership of the ministry but I’m coaching other youth workers to follow some of the same steps I learned from my youth pastor!
I want to share with you 10 ways you can get teens to own the youth ministry:
1. Announcements! – I couldn’t help but put this one on the list since it was my first role in youth group. Give up the mic to a teenager!
2. Games – If you plan to do a game (or two) during the course of your meeting together, have one of your students plan for the game and then allow them to run it!
3. Greeting – Have students be the first contact when someone walks through the doors of your facility. Prepare a welcome table and get a few students to welcome guests.
4. Snacks – I don’t know about students in your ministry, but we have a few students who are really great bakers! They can whip up a batch of cookies in no time, too. Get a few teens who like baking (or maybe like eating?) to prepare the snacks for your youth group!
5. Photographer – We’ve got a few students who are amazing photographers. Because of their heart for ministry and their creative eye, we’ve made them our resident photographers! It may be easy to find out who these folks are…just check out their Facebook photos or notice the camera in their hand!
6. Prayer – I love when students lead our meetings in prayer. Solicit teens (ahead of time) who feel comfortable praying in front of your group and give them the mic!
7. Social media – Encourage your teens to take ownership of your youth group’s Facebook page, Twitter or whatever social medium you use. Have students update your social media platforms (under your direction) and share your ministry with the world!
8. Connecting with other teens – Teens can come up with great ways to reach out to their peers. Allow your students to lead your group in connecting with new students and with those who might be missing in action too.
9. Lead mission & service projects – Pull together students who are excited about missions or serving and empower them to lead a project for your youth ministry. Help coach them through all the logistics, but let them coordinate the projects!
10. Sharing – One of the best decisions I ever made was giving up the mic to allow teens to share talks or stories with the group. You should coach teens who plan to share ahead of time, but empower them to teach or preach.
Encouraging and empowering your students to do the work of the ministry will go a long way in helping steer them away from being consumers and help them become life-long participants in the Kingdom.

Free Youth Series: “Represent”

Daniel So

November 10, 2016

Free Youth Series

Download this 2-week series to share with your youth ministry.
From Open Network, “Evangelism should be central to a Christian’s life, and in this series, we’ll look at how older kids can bring share Jesus with their spheres of influence. Help students discover that it’s how they live—not what they say—that helps Jesus to others.”
This kids series package includes:

Promo video
Intro/close
Leader guides
Message videos

Get Download Now

Resource provided by Open Network

5 Qualities to Look for in a Youth Pastor

5 Qualities to Look for in a Youth Pastor.

by Charles Stone

Occasionally I offer a blog by a guest blogger. Today’s post comes from my friend and youth pastor expert Jeremy Best. Jeremy has served in student ministry for many years and is one of the most knowledgable guys around on the subject. He speaks with wisdom on the qualities to look for in a youth pastor.

You’re looking for the wrong qualities in your youth pastor.
I’ve been through the hiring and interview process a few times, have helped churches design job descriptions, and I’ve walked with other youth pastors as they’ve gone through the job hunt. Through all of this a few trends have emerged, but one stands out clearly – churches don’t have a grasp on the type of person their youth pastor needs to be. They get caught up looking for someone who checks off the boxes in the usually unrealistic job description and who seems to have that classic youth pastor look and feel (which is entirely subjective and typically based on the past experience – good or bad – of the people conducting the search). Because of this, churches often either hire the wrong person or miss out on great candidates that didn’t happen to meet their criteria.
So, let me submit 5 qualities to look for in your next youth pastor.
1. Horses over Cattle.
What does it take to get a horse to run? Not a whole lot. It’s in their nature. In fact, if you’re riding a horse you’ll hold on to the reins to slow the horse down or change its direction. But, what does it take to get cattle to move? A prod, an electric stick that shocks the cow to get them to move. Sure, cows are easier to control, but you’re much better off hiring a horse that you have to rein in from time to time than a cow that you’re constantly prodding just to get them moving.
2. Character over Charisma.
Charisma is by definition, attractive. People are drawn to charismatic leaders. Churches will often look for a charismatic leader whom people will be drawn to. Charisma isn’t a bad thing to have in a youth pastor, but it shouldn’t be a priority. What you need in a youth pastor is someone who will draw students to Jesus, not to themselves. Hire character. Look for a person who is deeply respected by those that know them and that is deeply in love with Jesus. This person will lead students to Jesus. If they happen to have charisma too, bonus!
3. Potential over Pedigree.
It seems every church is looking for someone with a master’s degree and 5-10 years experience. They want someone with a good pedigree, and for good reason. Experience is extremely valuable. But, don’t limit your search based on how many years someone has been working. Look for potential. Look for someone who wants to prove they can do the job and is willing to work their butt off to do it. That person could be someone who has the education and the experience, but it could also be someone who’s still looking for their first shot.
4. Relational over Relevant.
Relevance is likely the most overrated quality churches look for in youth pastors. The idea that typically lies behind it is a good one – hire someone who the teens can relate to. Yes, do that. But that doesn’t mean a youth pastor needs to dress like, talk like, or act like a teenager. What a youth pastor needs to be is relational. Find someone who cares deeply about teens and legitimately enjoys spending time with them, and that person will become relevant to your teens because he cares about them.
5. Curator over Custodian.
A custodian’s task is important, but limited. They are hired to care for a space, to keep it clean, tidy, and in good working order. However, a curator is a specialist in their area and are hired, typically by museums and art galleries, to design exhibitions. Curators determine what pieces are important and how they should be displayed. Many churches are looking to hire custodians for their youth ministry. They want someone to make sure the program runs well and to keep the kids out of trouble. Aim higher for your church, hire a curator. Hire someone who will specialize in youth ministry and youth culture. Then trust and empower them to create a program that meets the unique needs of your church and community.
What quality would you add to this list?
Jeremy blogs at jeremyjbest.com.
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