John Stott is known and loved for his service to the Kingdom of God.  Chief among his God-blessed accomplishments were the many times he was the Bible expositor at Urbana.

His first love was and is being a pastor, in particular All Souls in London.  He has written a book entitled "The Living Church:  Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor."

Stott has encouraged pastors (including me!)around the world.  He has helped provide training for majority world pastors, as well as provide basic books for majority world pastors.

In his book, he writes about the following categories:  Essentials:  God's Vision for His Church; Worship:  Glorying in God's Holy Name; Evangelism:  Mission Through the Local Church; Ministry:  The Twelve and the Seven; Fellowship:  The Implications of Koinonia; Preaching:  Five Paradoxes; Giving:  Ten Principles; and Impact:  Salt and Light.

At the beginning of his book Stott address "Emerging Churches" and the Postmodern World.  He concludes with Looking for Timothys in the Twenty-First Century.

I hope to blog more on John Stott in upcoming posts, including how he has personally encouraged me through his books, a few letters, a personal meeting, and more!

Knowing God’s will has been likened to a pilot landing a plane at night. When the lights on either side of the runway are lined up, then it is safe to land. God has provided lights for us to know His will as well.

Before sharing each “light,” I want to point out that approximately 70% of God’s will is already clearly found in the Bible, God’s “Owner’s Manual” for you. As you obey these commands (and remember that Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.) the possibly less clear decisions (such as college, career, spouse, purchase of a home) usually fall into place.

The first “light” is God’s inspired written Word, the Bible. As you seek guidance in the Bible, you will receive a light for your feet as you move forward in following God’s will.

The ties in with the second light, which (I should say, Whom) is the Holy Spirit. As you read the Bible, pray, and move forward in obeying the clear commands of Scripture, God’s Holy Spirit will guide you in all areas of your life. Just be sure that it is the Holy Spirit you’re listening to and not indigestion from the lasagna you just ate!

And that is where the third kind of light comes in--godly counselors. Seek out the wisdom of trusted Christian friends who know you well and, more importantly, are walking close with Christ themselves.

When the first three lights have lined up, then you can pay attention to the final light: circumstances. It is all too easy to “read in” your desired outcome with many situations that arise in life. As long as you are careful to not make them fit a pre-determined outcome, then circumstances can be helpful as they line up with the first four lights.

As you do all of the above, may you experience a safe landing as you come to know and do the Lord’s will!

This evening I heard Pastor David Jeremiah share on the radio about the preparation of Gideon.  He said that Gideon needed to worship God privately before he could be a warrior publically.

That is the case for all Christians, especially Christian leaders.  Paul writes in Romans 12:1 that we are to give God our all, to be "living sacrifices."  In Ephesians 6 he writes about putting on the whole armor of God in order to engage in spiritual warfare.

How about you?  Are you privately worshiping God before engaging in God-guided spiritual warfare?

In a post some time ago I wrote about the Pradise 08 gathering to take place in Kansas.  Below is a post about that event by one who was there:

The following is a summary (without much in the way of identification) drawn from a recent mission magazine.

Forty young pastors from a particular people group in a particular country recently received training.  A 60 year old pastor passed on what a missionary had given to him.  "While searching for a good training program in 2006, he joined our 'mobile seminary' class for his personal training.  Now he is training his tribal young pastors with what he learned from the 'mobile seminary.'"

The following is from a friend of mine and is used with permission.

Dear friends,

I know many of you have been praying about the impact of the
cyclone, and now the earthquake. As always when there is a
disaster of this magnitude, please pray fervently, and I would ask
you to add some items to your list besides the obvious.

Of course first of all:

  -  for smooth delivery of relief efforts to the areas that need it
most.
  - for those searching through rubble for survivors or bodies.
  - for the survivors, that they would find help for their injuries,
and
protection from disease and further injury.
  - for survivors as they grieve the loss of huge numbers of their
community, or are still uncertain about community members who are
missing.
  -  for many who are uncertain about whether their homes are safe to
go
back into.
  - for those camping outside in the rain,  and especially for
children.
  - for the government, that they would be wise and just in how they
manage the aid effort.

Often they are in the areas hardest hit, or
live in the kinds of buildings that suffer the worst damage. They
are the ones who may have lost everything in these disasters.

Remember that many of these languages may not have a written
form yet, or may have only recently begun to receive and develop
literature. (You could choose one of these languages to remember on an
ongoing basis!)

  - for any who may have been working in these language areas, in
whatever ways they are trying to serve in this crisis.
  - for foreign workers who have relationships in these communities,
for
their own protection,  for their efforts to help, and pour out your
heart for the peoples that they have given their lives to serve.
  -  for workers who have longed to work among these language groups,
but haven't been able to go to the areas where the languages are
spoken.

Often these disasters hit our news for a brief time and then disappear.
I would ask you to remember these disasters long after they leave the
front pages.  Watch for news of the situation, lift it up.  And then
continue to remember foreign workers in these areas long after that,
and
ask that more would be able to go there in the future.

While China's government is doing a far better job than the ruling government in Burma (and another cyclone is aiming for that already devastated country), great challenges still remain to help rescue and recovery in the affected areas.

Troops have just made it (by foot) to the destroyed epicenter area.  Thousands of other troops are seeking to keep a dam from bursting and flooding a community down stream.

And then there are the most vulnerable people, including orphans.  You are encouraged to visit the web site of "Caring for China" and see what you can do.

So, pray for China (and Burma!.  Remember that prayer transcends political borders and can turn people's hearts to the true and living God.

In the most recent Wycliffe Associates newsletter, Bruce Smith writes the introductory letter.  Here is what the head of that organization has to say, in part:

"Although few of us spend our days thinking about the technical nuances of linguistics, most of us intuitively understand the importance of language.  We all know personally what it feels like to be misunderstood.  We feel separated and isolated from others by misunderstandings.  Understanding builds and strengthens our relationships.

"Do you think that God sometimes feels misunderstood?  His Word tells us that He has bridged the separation created by sin and cleared the way for a relationship with Him.  But people still misunderstand Him.  Many people simply don't understand His message, because He doesn't 'speak their language.'

"Bible translation is all about God's voice in a new language. It is about building understanding and relationships.   We know what it is like when God speaks our language, when His words move our hearts.  In this issue... you'll read how Jesus' voice in their language moved over 50 people to repentance in one village.  You'll also read how God's voice is moving Christians into new roles of service and witness for Him."

You might have heard about the cyclone-caused catastrophe in Burma (called "Myanmar" by the present ruling government, or RG).  There are reports of anywhere from 60,000 to 500,000 dead, as well as up to 1.9 Million homeless.

Other governments and private organizations are experiencing frustration with the RG.  For a while all items that had arrived in the country--including 38 tons of high energy biscuits--were embargoed by the RG, while it showed video of their (the RG) handing out dvd players and T. V. sets!

In addition to the deaths that have already occurred there is the very real threat of a second disaster--people dying from contaminated water, etc.  Aid is needed NOW for the people of that country that God loves so much.

I am sure that organizations such as World Vision and Samaritan's Purse are--and will--make every effort to assist the people of Burma in the name of Christ.  They will probably partner with churches in near by countries to bring food, water, shelter, and other necessities to these dear people.

Please pray that God will open the hearts of the RG that they would allow people in to help administer the vitally needed aid.  And, rest in the fact that nothing and no one can keep prayer (and God's answers) from crossing any border!