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Asia Seminary for Ministry
Reaching Nationals for Nationals
January 29th, 2012
Hi Friend,
Training Nationals for Nationals in integrity and skills (Psalm 78:72)
As I read the story that is at the end of this writing, I am reminded of what our loving Lord God requires:
(Jas 1:27) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
And what KING JESUS is observing in our lives:
(Mt 25:34-40) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.
And our Eternal God will always remember, now and for all eternity:
(Heb 6:10) For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Thank you so much for your prayer and labor of love in so many ways in partnering with us as we train Nationals for Nationals. Jeff Tan and I had the privilege and joy of spending 10 great days in three places in Myanmar in January. We preached in two churches on two Sundays and ministered to four groups of leaders and Seminary students in Yangon, Mandalay and Maymyo. We were blessed to be at a graduation service for 26 at Yangon Seminary. God renews and refreshes our burden and passion for the leaders and people. We are believing God for exciting days ahead.
John Ching and I will be training in Medan, Indonesia, 13-17 February, ending with the First Graduation on Sat. 18 February. It has been a great three over years of training and 49 will graduate. 28 are pastors and preachers, 14 are religious teachers and 7 in full time ministries. Praise the wonderful Lord for this unique privilege and joy.
Two teams will head for Nepal, 16-24 March and 24-30 March. We are entering into our 5th year with the National leaders there. Please pray for God’s direction and blessings.
As I come closer and closer to the BIG 70 (how time flies!), I am reminded that God’s purposes and dreams do not change. HE is in the soul-saving and soul-building ministry for Him and eternity. Praise the Lord for the opportunity and pleasure of co-laboring with Him and one another in investing in God, souls and eternity. I am also reminded of the encouraging devotional thoughts of Dr. A. Rogers. My desire is to finish well and strongly.
Shining Brightly in the Twilight Years
“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” -2 Corinthians 4:16
So many people think that they cannot do much for the Lord as they enter their twilight years. God doesn’t change just because your health may take a turn or you feel weaker. The faith that is inside of you has not weakened, unless you stop feeding it with works of faith. The things that God calls us to do in life do not hinge upon our physical stamina or financial strength.
Do you know where one of the great strengths of a church lies? In its seniors who have walked with God for years. With their reservoir of wisdom and fortress of faith, they get hold of God, and though their bodies are wearing a bit, they are as strong as they ever were—because God is their strength.
Douglas MacArthur once said, “You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubts, as young as your self with confidence, as old as your fears, as young as your hope, as old as your despair.” God gives unfading strength for His undiminishing promises.
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Now, here is the story that will bless your life:
Aren't we always in a hurry? In our busy-ness, do we sometimes brush aside little opportunities to be a vessel of kindness, of love to someone who may be in need?
Here's a sweet story which I hope brings home the point that we never know who or how we're affecting those who cross our paths. Everyone has a story, someone may be coming from a point of hurt or you may be the last vestige of love they will encounter.
Don't let that opportunity pass you by!
This is a lovely story...
TAXI
I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again, nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked.
'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness.
'It's nothing,' I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'..
'Oh, you're such a good boy,' she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'
'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.
'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.
'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'.
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening.
'I don't have any family left,' she continued. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.'
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.
'Nothing,' I said.
'You have to make a living,' she answered.
'There are other passengers,' I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT WE DID, OR WHAT WE SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW WE MADE THEM FEEL. ALSO PEOPLE DO NOT CARE WHAT WE KNOW TILL THEY KNOW THAT WE CARE!
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT WE DID, OR WHAT WE SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW WE MADE THEM FEEL. ALSO PEOPLE DO NOT CARE WHAT WE KNOW TILL THEY KNOW THAT WE CARE!
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| Yangon Seminary |
