International Justice Mission (IJM)

International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local governments to ensure victim rescue, to prosecute perpetrators and to strengthen the community and civic factors that promote functioning public justice systems.

IJM's justice professionals work in their communities in 12 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to secure tangible and sustainable protection of national laws through local court systems.

International Justice Mission, reporting on their work in Cambodia on NPR
(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10283512)
6 minutes


Christianity Today Story on IJM

Jan 2009 article on IJM in New Yorker Magazine

Psalm 72 says of our King Jesus
May He defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the children of the needy;
and crush the oppressor!

and
He delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.

1st let me marvel at 2 wonders of God: 1.) The human mind and 2.) The internet

When reading Psalm 72 verse 4 about Jesus
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people...

and because I'm preaching during our Global Outreach emphasis.... I remember that William Carey, in bringing Jesus and His gospel to India, also brought relief to widows. My mind says, though I haven't thought of it in years: "Dude, the reference if you need it is in a World Mag article by Andree Seu several years ago.

I go to world magazine archives, look at all her articles and zing! I have the article... and i share it with you now.

Amazing

Excerpt:
(sometimes)... the modern feminists forget, as they decry Christianity while standing on its shoulders, impugning its record on the status of women while reaping its benefits. They would borrow its capital to discredit it; they would slay it with the very sword that it has tendered them. And such were many of us, who in our '60s journeys looked for light and liberation in all the wrong places. (My own brother, now a missionary himself, found Christ on the River Ganges where he sat reading the Baghavad-Gita, when an Indian man sidled up and handed him the Gospel of John. Ah! The depths of the riches of the mercy and humor of God!)

As long as our colleges today are crowding out the traditional humanities curriculum with such offerings as "Fetishim," "Queer Theory," and "Third Wave Feminism and Girl Culture" (actual titles), maybe we could sneak in one of our own and call it "Widowhood Through Two Millennia: The Difference Christ Has Made." We might even learn that wisdom did not spring fully formed in this generation, and we might see how much better off we are to be married, or single, or even widowed, in a culture sweetened by the gospel.

See to it that sitting at the Saviour's feet is not neglected, even
though it be under the specious pretext of doing him service.
The first thing for our soul's health, the first thing for his glory, and
the first thing for our own usefulness, is to keep ourselves in perpetual
communion with the Lord Jesus, and to see that the vital spirituality of
our religion is maintained over and above everything else in the world.

--spurgeon PM today

Would you pray?

Think for a moment... how wonderful is it to be made to feel welcome in a strange environment?

Tonight Christ Community has 2 dessert meetings:

1.) Christianity Explored Interest Meeting

2.) Newcomers

Would you join me in praying that people would be welcomed and encouraged by both?

Inaugural Reflections

tons of ink already spilled... i'll be brief

#1.) Did you catch the quartet of Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Itzhak Perlman (violin), Anthony McGill (clarinet), and Gabriela Monteroat (piano) performing “Air and Simple Gifts” by John Williams. Appropriately sobering and uplifting:


2.) Praying for Barack Obama... wise words from Lig Duncan of 1st Presbyterian Jackson, MISS:
For those Christians who are more concerned than overjoyed about the prospects of an Obama presidency, there should be a remembrance that as our President, Barack Obama will have God-given authority to govern us, and that we should view him as a servant of God (Rom. 13:1, 4) to whom we should be subject (Rom. 13:1, 5; 1 Pet. 2:13-14). Thus, again, we are to pray for Barack Obama (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We are to thank God for Barack Obama (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We are to respect Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7). We are to honor Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7; 1 Pet. 2:17).

For those Christians who are more overjoyed than concerned about the prospects of an Obama presidency, there should be a remembrance of our ultimate allegiance: Jesus is Lord (and thus, He, not we, decides what is right and wrong), we serve God not man, and the Lord himself has promised to establish "the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him" (Malachi 3:18). Thus, where our new president opposes or undermines biblical moral standards in our society, fails to uphold justice for the unborn, undermines religious liberties or condones an ethos that is hostile to the Gospel, we will pray for God's purposes to triumph over our President's plans and policies. --want more?

Fasting & Longing

Fasting is a lesson in “intensifying longing or desire”. Living in a culture of instant gratification means we know next to nothing about longing for anything at all, and therefore have a paucity of experience when it comes to longing for God. When a feast comes our way we therefore accept it as our normal expectation rather than with special delight. And our expectation for anything more is dulled. We cease to long because we feel full all the time, even if the reality is that we are full with things that are not delightful but mediocre or even toxic.

I think one of the devil’s most cunning strategies in the West is to give people everything they think they need, thereby making us think that there is nothing better to have and no reason to desire God. Which is the heart of the way Jesus was tempted: have all the kingdoms of the earth, and let them substitute for Yahweh. Fasting takes away the kingdom of the earth and retrains our spiritual desires towards God rather than his providential gifts.

--Marcus Honeysett

RP adds: if you aren't "up" for fasting... i bet you can get a small % of the power of fasting by intensely simplifying your diet for a few days each month... anything to keep "feasting" from being normal

Being made in God's image brings humility, purpose, and accountability

Nothing exists apart from the creative and sustaining power of God, and all things owe honor and submission to him. This dependence should lead to deep humility and accountability before the God who made us (Rom. 9:20–21). God's personal creation of all humans (Ps. 139:13–16) is the basis for human purpose and meaning. --esv study bible

The fall and curse of humanity distorts the image of God in man but does not remove it from him. After the fall, the image of God remains the basis for human dignity and biblical ethics (Gen. 9:6; James 3:8–9).

The image of God is evident in our unique spiritual, moral, mental, relational, and physical capacities. Humans reflect the image of God in varying degrees and ways, but no one is made in more of God's image or less of God's image. The foundation of Christian ethics is the assumption that all humans are made in God's image regardless of the presence or absence of certain abilities. From conception to death all human beings are God's image-bearers, and all are creatures of profound dignity and value, equally worthy of protection and respect. The value of human life is not affected or determined by age, disability, race, intellectual ability, emotional or mental state, relational powers, or gender. --ESV Study Bible

the end of Lewis' Weight of Glory sermon

it is hardly
possible for him to think too often or too
deeply about that of his neighbour. The
load, or weight, or burden of my
neighbour’s glory should be laid daily on
my back, a load so heavy that only
humility can carry it, and the backs of the
proud will be broken. It is a serious thing
to live in a society of possible gods and
goddesses, to remember that the dullest
and most uninteresting person you talk to
may one day be a creature which, if you
saw it now, you would be strongly tempted
to worship, or else a horror and a
corruption such as you now meet, if at all,
only in a nightmare. All day long we are,
in some degree, helping each other to one
or other of these destinations. It is in the
light of these overwhelming possibilities, it
is with the awe and the circumspection
proper to them, that we should conduct all
our dealings with one another, all
friendships, all loves, all play, all politics.
There are no ordinary people. You have
never talked to a mere mortal. Nations,
cultures, arts, civilization—these are
mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of
a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke
with, work with, marry, snub, and
exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting
splendours. This does not mean that we
are to be perpetually solemn. We must
play. But our merriment must be of that
kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind)
which exists between people who have,
from the outset, taken each other
seriously—no flippancy, no superiority, no
presumption. And our charity must be a
real and costly love, with deep feeling for
the sins in spite of which we love the
sinner—no mere tolerance or indulgence
which parodies love as flippancy parodies
merriment. Next to the Blessed Sacrament
itself, your neighbour is the holiest object
presented to your senses. If he is your
Christian neighbour he is holy in almost
the same way, for in him also Christ vere
latitat—the glorifier and the glorified,
Glory Himself, is truly hidden.

People as pinnacle of creation

JI Packer: being human is a "special dignity"
ESV study bible notes: "People are more like God than anything else in all creation."

also from ESV notes:
While everything in creation to some degree reflects something of who God is (Ps. 19:1–6), humans stand alone as made in the image and likeness of God. People are intended to live as God's created analogies, showing his character more clearly than anything else can show it. Being made in the image of God distinguishes mankind from all other living things.
While humans are the pinnacle of creation, to say we are like God also means that we are not and will never be God. We have great dignity because we are made in God's image, but our worth is not autonomous. God is the source of all human value.

The body belongs to the image, not directly, since God, as we noted earlier, does not have one, but indirectly, inasmuch as the God-like activities of exercising dominion over the material creation and demonstrating affection to other rational beings make our embodiment necessary. --JI Packer

typical.... his little article from his book CONCISE THEOLOGY contains a very helpful summary of this teaching and is chock-full of scripture to look up and read

If we are to stand as a distinctive community, Christians must regain a full-orbed biblical understanding of embodiment and vehemently reject the objectification of the body and the devaluing of its meaning. The biblical worldview challenges the utilitarian view in which the body is at our disposal to do what we will. Our biblical basis is rooted in creation, the incarnation of God in Jesus, and the promise of the resurrection. Creation teaches that we are an intimate unity of body and soul and that our bodies are good (Genesis 2:7). Created by God, we use our bodies to work the earth, build relationships, and multiply (Genesis 1:28). In this task, the man's and woman's bodies are seen as "one flesh" (Genesis 2:23). Therefore, what is done to women's bodies, and how they are viewed, affects the whole community. The incarnation further affirms the goodness of the body, and that woman is also a means by which God brings redemption into the world. The resurrection teaches us that God's plan includes the redemption of our bodies from decay and death (Romans 8:23). These spiritual and historic truths provide a paradigm by which we can build body-affirming churches that serve as a refuge from cultural assault.

-- Lilian Calles Barger; read the whole article here

"Does Thin Equal Beautiful?"

Eating, thinness, and beauty are pressing issues for women. Bombarded by our culture's image of the beautiful women, we can be obsessed with our appearance and preoccupied with food. Countless women struggle with eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia.

As a Christian counselor, and the author of When People Are Big and God Is Small, Dr. Ed Welch has counseled many women in bondage to these sins. And in a recent message at Capitol Hill Baptist Church entitled "Does Thin Equal Beautiful?" Dr. Welch describes the truth from Scripture, which provides lasting freedom and hope.

Whether you are obsessed with your appearance, or discouraged by constant dieting, or trapped in a cycle of bulimia or anorexia (or know someone who is)—this message contains vital truth for you! In fact, Dr. Welch's wise, gentle, and prescient counsel is for all of us, regardless of our temptations. As we look to Christ, we shall be truly changed.

"Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed." Psalm 35:4

Imago Dei ramifications

There are about 3,546 ramifications that flow from the truth that human beings are created in the likeness of the eternal Triune God.

Because I don't plan to preach a 20 hour sermon... i'll need to point to some good resources on some of the ramifications. My list won't be exhaustive or perfect... i'm simply hoping it will be faithful and helpful.

Examples:
Euthanasia
Heroic measures in medical treatment
Abortion
Racism
Thou shalt not kill.... death penalty, war
body image
human trafficking
Gender issues
Taking dominion of earth.... global warming issue, recycling
use of tongue regarding other image bearers (James)
et al ad nauseum

What is a person?

So... this Sunday is a "gap" sunday... meaning that we aren't ready to jump back into Mark's gospel and we're starting a new series on Global Outreach soon... so this Sunday is "take your pick preacher!".

And, after discussion with others, I'm doing
IMAGO DEI

or Human Beings as the Image of God

well... there are about 2,000 things I cannot even begin to bring up... so i'll try to post those for people who want to think thru that particular aspect of Imago Dei.

One point of humans as image bearers is that dogs are not. Nor are cats, cheetahs, or chimps. So, how do we think about--and care for--our pets if they are not, quite frankly, as special as we are.

Here's help:

byFaith Magazine - In the World - The Chief End of Animals, Part 1

byFaith Magazine - In the World - The Chief End of Animals Part 2

The Aroma of Prayer

Something happens to believers’ prayers when we pray to the Father in Jesus’ name. As our prayers reach heaven, it is as though angels sprinkle perfume on our prayers, making them smell good. They become delectable, delightful things which our heavenly Father is thrilled to receive.

But what is this incense? The incense, the perfume, the fragrance put onto our prayers is actually the merits, the worthiness of life and particularly the atoning death of Jesus in our place.

When we pray it is as though our prayers are taken through the wounds of Christ’s body. They are made acceptable, they are made beautiful, they are made fragrant, they are incensed, they are made things of power. This is what it means to pray in Jesus’ name. It is not just a ritual, not merely a form. It is more than that.

It is a way of saying, "Lord, hear me through the merits, through the worthiness, through the death, through the wounds of Your Son. Perfume my prayers as they pass through the holes in His hands and feet. Make them worthy. Cause all my worship and all my desires to serve Thee worthy through what He has done in my place."

- Doug Kelly

Calvin images prayer as drawing on a treasure that we've been given...

Book III, chapter 20, section 1,

“To know God as the Master and Bestower of all good things and not to go to Him
and ask of Him,
this would be of as little profit as for a man to neglect a treasure buried and hidden in the earth after it had been pointed out to him.”

Unless we establish our complete happiness in God, we will never give ourselves truly and sincerely to Him.

John Calvin, pg 41 Institutes

Spurgeon on January 2

"Continue in prayer."
- Colossians 4:2



It is interesting to remark how large a portion of Sacred Writ is occupied
with the subject of prayer, either in furnishing examples, enforcing
precepts, or pronouncing promises. We scarcely open the Bible before we
read, "Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord;" and just as we
are about to close the volume, the "Amen" of an earnest supplication meets
our ear. Instances are plentiful. Here we find a wrestling Jacob-there a
Daniel who prayed three times a day-and a David who with all his heart
called upon his God. On the mountain we see Elias; in the dungeon Paul and
Silas. We have multitudes of commands, and myriads of promises. What does
this teach us, but the sacred importance and necessity of prayer? We may
be certain that whatever God has made prominent in his Word, he intended
to be conspicuous in our lives. If he has said much about prayer, it is
because he knows we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities,
that until we are in heaven we must not cease to pray. Dost thou want
nothing? Then, I fear thou dost not know thy poverty. Hast thou no mercy
to ask of God? Then, may the Lord's mercy show thee thy misery! A
prayerless soul is a Christless soul. Prayer is the lisping of the
believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the
dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the
comfort, the strength, the honour of a Christian. If thou be a child of
God, thou wilt seek thy Father's face, and live in thy Father's love. Pray
that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have
closer communion with Christ, and enter oftener into the banqueting-house
of his love.
Pray that thou mayst be an example and a blessing unto others, and that
thou mayst live more to the glory of thy Master.
The motto for this year must be, "Continue in prayer."