• Our hope-filled future is bound up in sharing the story of Jesus, in discipling others, in bringing those disciples together into communities of believers, and in developing and releasing those believers to create other communities... till Jesus the King comes again!

Lots of lessons to learn

Posted on March 30, 2022 by wtdavid

All of us are deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.  Several of our teams are actively involved in serving the many who have had to leave their homes and cross borders into other countries.  I would encourage all of us to continue “mightily” (as some saints would put it) in prayer for all those involved in or bearing the repercussions of this conflict. Our God is mighty to save and is able to redeem every situation for His glory.

My thought in this blog post is to reflect on the simple question: what can we learn at this point from all that has happened?

Two answers come quickly to mind, but you should feel free to add others.

One of the first lessons learned from my perspective is the incredible solidarity of the global Church.  The reports I have heard from several of our teams tells us of the amazing financial generosity of believers, but also the willingness to engage in serving others in very practical ways: housing, food, transportation, clothing, logistical and administrative help … to name just a few examples. This is a time when the global Church can stand together and tangibly demonstrate what it means to “love others as oneself”.

A second lesson learned is a bit more difficult.  The human heart is basically ruled by evil and selfishness, not by good.  This is not news to us as the prophets spoke of this at many points (Jeremiah 17:9). From our perspective, we can easily see how the evil heart of men & women is being lived out in this conflict.  However, the problem comes when we see that evil in others, but fail to see the depth of that same deceitfulness in our own hearts.  It’s probably why repentance is not a daily exercise of our hearts.

Yes, there are evil forces in this world; people and leaders who use their authority and influence for their own purposes.  Yet, those same roots of selfishness find root in our hearts and lives.  And that is why the psalmist cries out to God to search his heart and drive him back to the cross which stands his and our only sure hope and assurance of His forgiveness and grace (Psalm 139:23-24).

Filed under: Prayer, Repentance & faith | Leave a comment »

Have you heard the story of Trey?

Posted on February 9, 2021 by wtdavid

Have you heard the story of Trey?  That’s not his real name, but hopefully this story will be a reminder to each of us of the power of the Gospel to change a life. Slowly, deliberately, but surely.

Here’s how my friend shared the story with me.

“I met Trey several years ago on a street in Chiang Mai. The Lord prompted me, for some reason, to speak to him. I invited him to have a coffee and we chatted for a while.  A few weeks later, we met again and at that point I invited Trey to come and visit our church. He wasn’t really interested.  He subsequently ‘dropped off my radar screen’. I prayed for him but didn’t run into him again for several years.

Then one day, there he was, walking down the same street again as I was. We grabbed a coffee together and caught up on what had happened since we last saw each other.  I later asked if he wanted to visit a cultural exposition that was being held in the coming weeks. He agreed to go with me.

As our friendship grew, I asked Trey if he might be interested in reading the Bible together – just reading it and discussing what we thought the Bible was trying to say to us.  He was willing, though it wasn’t an enthusiastic willingness.  And so, we started reading the Bible together.  

Then the pandemic hit, and we were forced to meet virtually on our cellphones.  In one of those virtual meetings, we read the passage from Mark 1:14-15.  As we talked about what it meant, Trey came to understand faith and repentance, and that day he gave his life to Jesus.

As we continued to meet, it was a joy to listen to Trey’s prayers: short but so simple and sincere. Trey started reading the Bible 5 minutes a week and praying for 5 minutes, then it became 15 minutes per day!  God was building into this new disciple!

I introduced Trey one day to another person in our community group. I thought it would help him to get to know other believers, and that he might be encouraged to join our community times.

Recently, Trey told me how he had talked with one of his co-workers about the Bible. They talked about what each thought the Bible passage meant!  I pray that Trey will become a disciple who makes disciples. He is certainly not done with ‘growing in Christ’. So, I (along with others in the community) keep praying and walking alongside him.”

So, have you heard the story of Trey?  Hopefully this story has been be a reminder to each of us of the power of the Gospel to change a life. Slowly, deliberately, but surely.

Filed under: Community, Discipleship, Repentance & faith, Sharing the Gospel story | 4 Comments »

All We Need

Posted on January 4, 2021 by wtdavid

In the last two days, I have both listened to a sermon and then later read an article in the McKinsey online magazine on the topic of: “surviving or thriving”.  I found it a creative way to describe the dilemma, difficulty or struggle in which we find ourselves as we move from 2020 to 2021.

I tried to envision where I would place myself on that spectrum of “surviving or thriving” over the past few months.  Where have I lived more out of a surviving attitude than from a thriving stance?

Now, our fight is not just with pandemics, but with the ongoing struggle of sin – within our hearts and in this world.  And I had to ask myself the same question, just in other words: where have I lived my life and ministry out of a surviving attitude the past few months, rather than out a thriving relationship with my Lord?  It’s the kind of question I know I should ask myself as I reflect on the past year and look to the year ahead.  

This is where John Newton (yes, the John Newton who wrote Amazing Grace), in one of his pastoral letters, was a great help in seeking an answer. 

“As to the remedy, neither our state nor his honour are affected by the workings of indwelling sin, in the hearts of those whom he has taught to wrestle, strive, and mourn, on account of what we feel.  Though sin wars, it shall not reign; and though it breaks our peace, it cannot separate from his love. Nor is it inconsistent with his holiness and perfection, to manifest his favour to such poor defiled creatures, or to admit them to communion with himself; for they are not considered in themselves, but as one with Jesus, with whom they have fled for refuge, and by whom they live a life of faith.

They are accepted in the Beloved, and have an Advocate with the Father, who once made an atonement for their sins, and ever lives to make intercession for their persons.  Though they cannot fulfil the law, he has fulfilled it for them; though the obedience of the members is defiled and imperfect, the obedience of the Head is spotless and complete; and though there is much evil in them, there is something good, the fruit of his own gracious Spirit. They act from a principle of love, they aim at no less than his glory, and their habitual desires are supremely fixed upon himself.”

If I were to summarize Newton’s words, I would simply write: all we need to thrive is Jesus!

As we start a “new year” together, with all the complexities and difficulties of life and ministry in the midst of a pandemic, could we build one another up each day by the reminder that “we are accepted in the Beloved, and have an Advocate with the Father”?  Could we live and minister by faith, believing He will do great things in our hearts and through our lives? May we “aim at no less than his glory” as we serve Him together as a global community of co-laborers in the Gospel.

Filed under: Jesus Christ, Reflection, Repentance & faith | 5 Comments »

The Gospel Responds to ALL our needs

Posted on June 10, 2020 by wtdavid

Day by day, as we listen to the news reports coming from around the world, we are further struck by the injustice, intolerance, hatred and anger that fills the hearts of people today.  Like the psalmist, we cry out: “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?  Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”  (10:1)

The damages caused by pandemic crises, inequality, racism, and a disregard for the lives of others made in the image of God make it hard to know where to begin to respond in the midst of this mess we call our world today.

Our “hope is built on nothing less than Jesus and His righteousness”.  It is the Gospel that responds to ALL our needs.  For we who trust in Jesus, it is self-evident that the only hope for this world is the Gospel of Christ.

Here’s the rub.  First, I misquoted the hymn above by Edward Mote (19th century).  It should read: our “hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness”.  Jesus gave Himself up as a sacrifice for us: His blood was shed for us. He experienced discrimination, prejudice, evil intent, and even an unjust death in order to free us from the power of sin & evil to rule our lives.  Second, for the Gospel to be the answer to ALL the needs of this world, it needs to be the answer to ALL our needs as well.  As a friend once said to me: “If the Gospel is not good news for us each day, it will not be good news for others.” 

That same injustice, intolerance, hatred and anger that we deplore in our world today lurks (lies in wait) in each of our hearts.  The Gospel needs to search our hearts (Psalm 139.23-24) and put its searchlight of truth on those ways where we need repentance and faith.

We are no better than others, but we have a God who is capable of dismantling those ‘hurtful ways’ within us, and a God who continually builds into us the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience ….

I leave us with this prayer:  “We weep. We lament. We mourn. But not as those who have no hope.  May gospel beauty rise from these smoldering, literal ashes. May truth triumph over lies and grace conquer lawlessness. May your people be one as you, O Father, and your Son are one. May the church—the body of Christ, the bride of Christ—rise up as an example of love and with a message of salvation for a weary and war-torn world. Give us grace to serve you, O God, and, if necessary, grace to suffer for what is right. Give us the peace and health and safety we do not deserve. Give us the reformation and revival we need.  Lord have mercy.”

Filed under: Gospel, Repentance & faith, Sacrifice, Sin | Leave a comment »

If I could dream

Posted on April 14, 2017 by wtdavid

Who would have thought that one day, one weekend would change the course of history.  Who would have dreamed of such an impactful shift in our world?

Thinking back on our Lord’s death and resurrection, I often imagine what went on in the minds of the disciples when Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection (Luke 24:36).  I wonder if the presence of the resurrected Christ brought a statement such as this one to their minds: “I would never have dreamed that …”  dream

Have you ever found yourself ‘dreaming’ of how things might go better if even small things changed?  Have you ever ‘dreamed’ about the potential that would be released in the ministry and relationship spheres of a team if solutions were found for certain issues that beleaguered them?

If I could dream, if I could envision how we as a global community of World Team would be different four months from now, I would see a community workers who ‘live out of’ the Gospel, not just ‘talk about’ the Gospel.

We have great resources available to teach us about and train us in the Gospel (for example, the Galatians study or Sonship materials).  Yet, I know of a lack of forgiveness among us.  Issues, situations or hurts from months or years past can be dredged up in our minds and keep us from moving towards others who are our fellow co-laborers to ask for forgiveness or offer forgiveness.  What happened to the Gospel in our hearts (Galatians 3:2)?  The Gospel stands as one of our guiding principles.  It is listed as one of our distinctives.  Nevertheless, our current lives cry out the contrary.

If I could dream, if I could envision how we as a global community of World Team would be different four months from now, we would be characterized by a lot more stories of people repenting, seeking forgiveness, and growing deeper in the knowledge and love of Christ.

Filed under: Forgiveness, Gospel, Repentance & faith | Leave a comment »

Pride is insidious

Posted on March 3, 2017 by wtdavid

Our struggle with pride often happens in the ‘small’ moments of life.  We don’t even see it coming, and then it surfaces to work to convince us how ‘good’ it feels to detour-sign-k-6718be right.

A ‘small’ moment like this one. I arrived in Melbourne last Saturday night around 23h00. I made my way quickly to the rental car place and in a matter of minutes was on my way.  “I’m doing really well.  I’ll get to Mitcham quickly,” I thought.  I got out on the freeway heading into the City and not more than two kilometers down the road, there were signs indicating that the freeway was closed.  “Now what I am going to do?” was my first thought. I decided to follow the detour signs placed ahead.

After more than twenty minutes of following those detour signs, I arrived back at the very place where I started following the signs!  That’s when I said to myself, “I’m never going to make it to Mitcham (where I was staying)!”

So, here it was, 0h30 in the morning, most shops closed, and I wasn’t really sure in what direction was the City. I saw a 7-11 store open.  I pulled in and asked the young man at the counter how to get to the City.  He simply replied, “Just keep following that road.”  Now, I’m convinced this is the first response of many people in many countries at that time of the morning. “Just keep following that road.”

On the way out of the store, I saw an older couple getting out of their car, and I apporached them asked if they could help me.  The man looked right at me and said, “Where are you from?”  No words of help or advice, just ‘where are you from?’  When I told him that was a ‘hard’ question to answer, he laughed and said, “No problem, how can I help you?”  He proceeded to give me very explicit instructions to get the City and thanks to him I was able to get to where I needed to go.

I count at least three strikes of pride in that little event.  There was the ‘timing’ issue.  My efforts had led me to get out of baggage and customs and on my way in good time. I was happy with what I had done.  There was the ‘I’m going to figure this problem out myself’ issue.  Once the detour came up, I figured my sense of direction would get me where I needed to go.  I was confidant in myself.  There was the ‘accent’ issue.  The question of the man at the 7-11 store took me by surprise.  Why couldn’t he just accept me, instead of commenting on my American accent?

All little things you might say, but they all quickly add up to a focus on ME.  Pride is insidious.  Reflecting back on an event, even one seemingly ‘small’ in our minds, can help us to ferret out the work of pride which seeks to damage our heart and soul on a daily basis; and which seeks to keep us from our God.

Filed under: Pride, Reflection, Repentance & faith | 4 Comments »

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