“Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:38 NASB)

An old Scotsman

As a new Christian I attended my first missions conference. The speaker was an old Scotsman, William McElwee Miller. His accent and stories were fascinating to this pre-teen boy from Oklahoma. I was captivated by his accounts of life in the Middle East, sharing the love and good news of Jesus Christ with Muslims.

As I reflect on that first missions encounter, it’s remarkable that I have myself taught in many of the places of which Dr. Miller spoke. I have even met people who came to Jesus through the work of his mission. And at least part of what God used to engage me in that wonderful work was the little missions festival at our little church in Nichols Hills, OK.

Missions Festival

This weekend, I will stand up front at our church in Frisco, Texas, and pray over the launch of the 2013 missions festival. Admittedly, it will be a much larger affair than the one of my childhood. There will be dozens of supported missionaries…multiplied amazing stories of God’s great work…tons of great food…many hundreds of people…

And yet the main issues haven’t changed. In fact, they are the same heady blend that has excited God’s people since the church in Antioch sent out Paul & Barnabas:

–        People will learn about the amazing things God is doing all around the world.

–        Love will be rekindled as Christians remember that our community includes a commission.

–        Prayer will again be employed in the cause of the gospel.

–        And some boy or girl will develop a lifelong heart for the harvest.

Ya’ll come!

If you are anywhere near Frisco, Texas this Sunday 17 February, I personally invite and encourage you to come to the party. For you – and untold others – it can make all the difference.

God bless,

Wayne

Rev. Dr. Michael Wayne Braudrick | Senior Pastor | Frisco Bible Church | 972.335.8150 | www.friscobible.com
“The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” I Timothy 1:5
All The Difference TM

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge…How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver…An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. (Proverbs 15:14; 16:16; 18:15 ESV)

God expects His people to keep learning. In fact, they are intended to always be up on the world so that they can shape it according to God’s desires. It’s been that way since the very beginning! Look at Genesis 2:15 – Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. (NASB)

That was the point all along – that humans would rule as vice-regents, understanding & caring for God’s world. Now, I know what you’re thinking. In that Hungarian accent in your mind, you are saying, “So, what is this thing you are sayink? Zat was before zee fall of mankind. How does you know this still applies to today people?” (Yes I have Hungarian friends and they will remind me that their English far surpasses my Hungarian. And they’re correct.)

And the Hungarian voice is right to ask the question. That command to know and shape God’s world did come pre-sin. However, we know that God still expects us to understand & shape His world today because God repeats the command even after sin entered the world. In fact, He spoke it a third time after the flood restarted everything. Consider Genesis 9:1 – And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.” (NASB)

Got it? The command to shape the earth continues throughout the Bible. God repeats it repeatedly. And one cannot serve as a good vice-regent, one cannot fill and subdue, unless one is continually learning about the world. But sadly, this message has become starkly counter-culture of late.

God’s plan: Humans are to learn. The polymath or Renaissance man is the ideal model.

Mainstream worldview: Humans are to study only within the bounds of political correctness. As a professor, I see committed close-mindedness on the increase.

God’s plan: Humans are to use learning as a means to take care of the earth and all inhabitants. Though unintended consequences and outright evil make this difficult, the calling is unrevoked.

Mainstream worldview: People are always the problem. The answers that will “save” the world are anti-human – preservation, not conservation; abortion, not adoption; restriction, not freedom.

God’s plan: All truth is exciting and useful for both understanding God’s world and shaping it. God’s very Word commands people to seek knowledge, debate the nature of truth, and re-examine the accepted status quo.

Mainstream worldview: Only those who hold to certain tenets are allowed a voice or place in the arena of ideas. Albert Mohler has written extensively on this, calling it the “New McCarthyism.”

Do not be defeated! Era after era has labored under some version of this mainstream view. Such nonsense inevitably implodes, brought down by the weight of its own regulation. You & I, dear brethren, will survive. We will even thrive, as will real learning – especially if we press on and seek knowledge no matter what.

God bless,

Wayne

Rev. Dr. Michael Wayne Braudrick | Senior Pastor | Frisco Bible Church | 972.335.8150 | www.friscobible.com
“The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” I Timothy 1:5
All The Difference TM

A cheerful heart is a good medicine (Proverbs 17:22 RSV)

Response to God the Provider

Last week we discussed the danger in considering anyone but God to be the real provider. In response, a pastor friend in Arizona sent me the following joke:

A young woman brings home her fiancé to meet her parents. After dinner, her mother tells her father to find out about the young man. The father invites the fiancé to his study for a cup of coffee and a man-to-man chat.

“So what are your plans?” the father asks the young man.

“I am a Torah scholar.” he replies.

“A Torah scholar? Hmmm,” the father says. “Admirable, but how will you pay for a nice place for my daughter to live in?”

“I will study,” the young man replies, “and God will provide for us.”

“And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, such as she deserves?” asks the father.

“I will concentrate on my studies,” the young man replies, “God will provide for us.”

“And children?” asks the father. “How will you support children?”

“Don’t worry, sir, God will provide,” replies the fiancé.

The conversation proceeds like this – each time the father questions him, the young idealist insists that God will provide.

Later, the mother asks, “How did it go, honey?”

The father answers, “The bad news is, he has no job and no prospects, but the good news is he thinks I’m God.”

God bless,

Wayne

Rev. Dr. Michael Wayne Braudrick | Senior Pastor | Frisco Bible Church | 972.335.8150 | www.friscobible.com
“The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” I Timothy 1:5
All The Difference TM