I’m not a missionary but that won’t stop me from speculating on what they need. And I might be right. After all, I know what most mother’s need– sleep! (Followed by a long nap.)
So, here are 5 things I suspect missionaries need from us. Feel free to suggest others.
1. Encouragement. Discouragement comes easily and sneakily. Being far from family, friends and culture can lend itself to this malady- and the interest rate on that loan is huge. Many Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, missions, Uncategorized
Tagged Blessing, Christian, Christianity, friendship, God, IMB, International Mission Board, Jesus, missions, Religion and Spirituality
Sunday was my birthday. I loved sharing my birthday with hundreds and hundreds of people at church. I love my church despite all the “humaness” that keeps us from being perfect. My church, like yours, is filled with people who have messed up and fallen. It is filled with people like Continue reading
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Tagged birthday, birthday cake, Blessing, blessings, Christian, Christianity, church, faith, family, fellowship, friends, friendship, God, Jesus, joy, local church, Religion and Spirituality
Thoughts on prayer from my praying wife.
HERE IT IS:
Prayer is ESSENTIAL.
HERE’S WHAT IT’S NOT:
A token of appreciation.
A “go-to” when we’re desperate.
A “wish list” of our wants.
A poetic gesture with magical consequences.
IF IT IS ESSENTIAL, then why does it often feel like an anomaly?
It doesn’t have to be. The God of the Bible has given us this supernatural ability to communicate with Him, but unfortunately, it very often is a struggle and doesn’t come natural to us. Because of our human condition we are desperately in need of this intimacy with our Creator, but find it difficult–often because of our own preconceived ideas.
There have been volumes written on this very subject, but I would like to simplify this very complex idea of communicating with God in a way…
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I’m a land lubber. Never sailed, never rowed more than a lap around a (small) lake. But I recently read two books about water so now I’m kind of an expert.
“The Boys in the Boat” is the story of nine American rowers who won gold in the 1936 Olympics. It is a fascinating story of these young men. But the real fascination was the story of one of the men who grew up under extreme difficulties- death of a young mother, unkind stepmother, father without willingness to intercede. His story is worth the read. And this is a very well written book.
The second book is Continue reading
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Tagged book, Christian, Christianity, discipleship, faith, God, perseverance, Religion and Spirituality, spiritual growth
From my wife.
Once a year we give out Bibles to our First Graders. It’s an exciting time for these young readers, and a delight to see their sweet faces as they take ownership of this new, treasured possession. One of the young moms shared that her daughter was so excited that she couldn’t sleep the night before! “Jesus loves me, this I know… for the Bible tells me so.”
My heart was just about to burst as I watched their reactions to this gift of God’s Word–most of them beaming, some of them cradling the book to their chest as though they would never let it go. One little girl immediately opened it to scour the pages, while another held it gingerly as though it might break.
I know for many of them it wasn’t their first Bible, but it took me down memory lane as I thought about my first Bible…
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I love the four seasons. I do get tired of winter and summer, but all four have their charms. (I say that with 7 inches of new snow on the ground which really cut into the attendance at church on Sunday. I really like a big crowd to preach to as do all pastors. I prefer snow to come on Sunday night rather than Saturday night as do all pastors- and school kids.)
But winter serves a really great purpose. (Besides Continue reading
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Tagged Blessing, Christian, Christianity, God, Jesus, Religion and Spirituality
The church where I was saved many years ago just bought 500 copies of my devotional book “Immersed: 40 Days to a Deeper Faith”. They are going to use it for a church wide series beginning the week after Easter. Many churches have used the book that way now, but there is a special connection you have with the church where you gave your life to Christ.
I trusted Christ as my Savior and Lord in the old worship center at Continue reading
Posted in books, Christianity, Church, faith, Uncategorized
Tagged Baptist, bible, bible study, book, Christian, christian book, Christianity, church, devotional, devotional book, discipleship, Evangelism, faith, God, Jesus, local church, Religion and Spirituality, southern baptist convention, spiritual growth
Once in a while, I ask our church to fast. I doubt it is the most popular request I make. But many tell me of the spiritual significance of their fasting. So here is a brief overview of fasting.
What it isn’t-
1. Fasting isn’t a weight loss program. You lose muscle and replace it with fat when the fast is over. There are better ways to lose weight. I have no idea what those ways are, but I’m sure they are out there.
2. Fasting isn’t a hunger strike. It isn’t a way to bully God into Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, fasting, Uncategorized
Tagged bible, Christian, Christianity, deeper faith, discipleship, faith, fasting, God, Jesus, Religion and Spirituality, spiritual disciplines
If you want to grow deeper in your Christian faith I recommend the following.
1. Read big chunks of the bible. Read the entire bible for yourself several times. It will take several times through to really begin to put it all together and see the big picture well- but it will be worth it.
2. Memorize some scripture verses. Be strict about it (best said with a German accent- roll the “r” on “strict”). Get it exactly right, word for word. This will force you to really know the verse.
3. Pray all the time. That is, pray every time you think about it. Have an attitude of prayer.
4. Pray systematically. Pray for specific Continue reading
Posted in bible, Christianity, discipleship, prayer, Uncategorized
Tagged bible, bible study, Christian, Christianity, church, deeper faith, discipleship, Evangelism, faith, God, Jesus, Religion and Spirituality, small groups, spiritual growth, worship, worship attendance
Great thoughts from my wife on her birthday!
I have to be honest. I don’t remember most of my birthdays.
I’ve never been a fan of too much attention, so I like to keep it simple. A nice meal (that I don’t have to cook or clean up), and my family surrounding me.
It’s quite a confession coming from a mom and nana that does everything possible to make sure her kids and grandkids know how special they are on their special day… does that make me an oxyMORON?!
There is one birthday I will never forget, though, and I just happened across a photo of it the other day when I was searching through some old pictures. I thought I would gift it to my readers that have never had the privilege of traveling to the land of the Bible.
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I can easily remember the life-changing phone call that would cause me to look at life very differently. I was young, naive, and had just turned 23 when I heard the voice on the other end of the phone say, “Are you ready to have this baby?!” Without a doubt I was unprepared, unqualified, and […]
Doug Munton 