July 30, 2008
Over the past few days, I have been concerned about two things. First, am I teaching at a level appropriate to these people? Should it be deeper or not? John and I spoke this morning and assured me that my teaching level is correct. Second, will the knowledge we are imparting result in pride? I fall into this trap too. I will address it at the end of Romans 11 where Paul just starts praising God from all the heavy doctrine he has just taught. Since Paul said he has not arrived, neither should we.
Yesterday, I received a couple of interesting questions. One was, if we are to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, why did Peter say in the “name of Jesus” in Acts 2:38? I think the reason is that there were other baptisms done at that time (like John’s in Acts 18). This baptism may be referred to as “Jesus’ baptism” opposed to other baptisms. The second question is why did Jesus say he had no place to lay his head but in John 1:38-39 he had a place to stay? I’ve never heard this question before! The answer is that Jesus said he had no place to lay his head to mean he did not own anything. He often stayed with friends, so he had a place to sleep. But, he did not own it.
The Romans section today covered the idea of sanctification (growing in our relationship with Christ). Paul starts off explaining that we do not need to serve the old master; we can say “No!” to sin. So, why give in to it? He then practically explains that there is a struggle the believer experiences between our internal desire to do right but the other desire is to do wrong. He wants to know who will set him free from this conflict. He answers his own question with Jesus Christ. The Spirit then provides us the power to live as we should. He reminds us that there is no condemnation in Christ and that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Frankly, while this material is very good, I had trouble keeping focus, and I’m not sure why.
I’ve been thinking and praying about Zion of Petroleum Valley today. As I write, one of the men covering for me is meeting right now with the group. I’m confident he will do well, but I’m also asking God to help him.
In the second session today, we flew through theology. In fact, I’m way behind where I should be. I am going to fly through the rest as much as possible without sacrificing content. I covered the rest of bibliology, Christology, and started the Holy Spirit. Not bad for ninety minutes. And while it was right after lunch, the students were much more engaged, and I felt better too. We all really enjoyed the lesson, and I had several come up with good questions later.
The worship is fantastic. Their zeal would put most of the US churches to shame. Dancing in the aisles is just fine!
Pastor Joe
July 31, 2008
People are usually curious about the living conditions in other nations. So, let me tell you about Zambian food and shelter. The food, pleasantly, has been ok. There are times when the meat would be better suited as shoe leather, but it has been good. Other food is standard rice, meat, and vegetables. There is a starch dish that is very popular called mnshea (sp?). It has the consistency of dense mash potatoes. It has virtually no taste. Our hotel is ok. It seems a little expensive for what we get, but it is far cheaper than other places. It is clean, but the hot water and electricity are sporadic. The staff is very polite and friendly. One of the guards escorted us a few blocks down the street to the internet café. He stayed with us the whole time. We draw too much attention on the street, so it’s nice to have a local keep the unscrupulous at bay.
I’ve told you about my courses, but these are not the only ones we are teaching. The students come for the entire day. Our missionary, John, works with TPI, Training Pastors International. He is teaching some courses on preaching style to make our messages more interesting and biblical. He is also teaching them a Walk Thru the Bible seminar on the New Testament. His wife, Jennifer, is teaching a course on Church Administration. The pastors really appreciate this. She is covering organization, planning, budgets, buildings, scheduling, and resources.
Today in Romans, we covered chapters 9-11. These explain Paul’s heart for his countrymen, the Israelites. It seemed to make an impact on the students to see that he would be willing to give up his salvation for their salvation. He then explains the plan God has for his people of the Old Testament (Israel) and his people of the New Testament (Church). We discussed his example of a grafted olive tree and our responsibility to spread the news about Christ.
In Theology, we finished the Holy Spirit, ran through angels & Satan, and started anthropology. Yes, we are moving fast and there is not enough time. Even though it was fast, we covered the spiritual warfare that all believers face. I wanted to assure them that while Satan is not one to take lightly, we have great victory available to us. When I finished, the pastor acting as MC, asked if I can stay a month to cover the material more completely. I don’t think I will have permission to do that.
One more day to go on this institute. We will finish with a graduation for the students as we hand out their certificates. They have been so thirsty, cooperative, inquisitive, and responsive. I gained far more than they have.
Pastor Joe
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The latest from Zambia
Hi, Sorry I've not posted sooner. It's tough to find the net around here.
July 26, 2008
As of this writing, I am sitting in the Johannesburg airport waiting for my final leg on the way in. I will be in Lusaka, Zambia for the first week. I will have been in a plane or in an airport for 24 hours by the time I get there. So far, it has been uneventful except that I did not know I would have a stop over in Darkar; we did not even de-plane though. All appears to be in order for my luggage to arrive with me in Lusaka. I figured out that this trip will take me to seven countries and three continents (ok, some are just lay overs).
Well, airports don’t make for exciting reports. Just keep praying. I start teaching on Monday, July 28. The only anxiety is not knowing what to expect in the teaching setting.
Pastor Joe
July 27, 2008 (Lusaka, Zambia)
It’s not even noon yet, and I’ve had a great Sunday. We visited Pastor Kenneth’s church for service. Services started at 6:00AM, but we did not have to be there until the 8:00AM service. John, the TPI leader, preached. I spoke just to give greetings from the church in the US and from Zion. They return greetings to you. (I should be able to preach next week). Lot’s of life and great music. Despite the jet lag, I had a wonderful time. We will take care of logistical needs today and then start teaching on Monday.
We drove through the street market which was full of people, but Pastor Kenneth said it was not crowded at all. He told us about the crime and poverty issues in the area. We had to make sure we did not hold our cameras out of the car window as they could easily be grabbed. The area was filled with squatters: people who would just build on a stake of land. That was home – no plumbing or electricity. There is a ditch in front of the house to dump waste. They just make do. The children, of course, are very cute and play with whatever they can find. At church, a group of kids wanted just to come over and shake hands.
All luggage and supplies have arrived with me!
Pastor Joe
July 28, 2008
I taught for the first day today. We had about 176 pastors and other visitors. We got a late start with registrations and setup and our lunch plans hit a snag. But, we made through our day well. The students are very responsive, appreciative, and interested.
My first teaching session is in Romans (1:1-3:20). I covered introductory material on the book, and then we dove right in. We examined Paul’s three purposes for his letter: Announce his visit, present the complete Gospel message, and address the Jew/Gentile conflict. He then states his thesis that we need God’s righteousness and can only access it by faith. We start with the bad news: we are horribly in need of a savior. Not only are people sinful, we revel in it. We would rather look to idols rather than our Creator. There is no excuse, and there is no hope for us on our own. Indeed, our situation is dire. I left them with the “bad news” of Romans (up to chapter 3). Tomorrow, we start the “Good News” of the rest of the book. I’m looking forward to it.
The second teaching session is in theology. Due to scheduling issues, I did not have a whole ninety minutes. As with Romans, we started with introductory material including various theological points of view and various types of theological study. Continuing, we discuss bias and interpretation/linguistic issues. Time ran out! I should have opportunity to catch up.
Keep praying!
Pastor Joe
July 29, 2008
Perspective is everything. I woke up this morning to find I had no hot water. It’s not that the water was not hot, no water came out. The frustration is not the water but the cost of the hotel does not match the level we should get. And, this place is considered a bargain. Then, later on, we were reminded that many of the pastors left for the training institute today at 5:00AM so they can get there by 8:30AM. It took so long because they had to walk. It’s hard to gripe about cold water now!
We received a great letter today from one of our attendees. He mentioned that he has attended other Bible conferences. He complained that they are more about the accomplishments or testimony of the speaker or that many go just to get a gift at the end or a free Bible. He appreciated that they are getting actual help for their ministries. Cool.
In Romans today, we covered 3:21 to 5:21. I was glad to leave the bad news section and give them the good news. We discussed how we are justified by the work of Christ. He has paid for our sins. Our original state is utterly hopeless by ourselves. Because of all this, we have reason to rejoice even in hard times. We discussed the terms justification, redemption, atonement, propitiation, and reconciliation. After the session, one of the men asked me about when a believer sins and confession. He also asked about this in relation to Romans 8:1, “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” It seems to be a hot issue here. I discussed it individually, but I will cover it when we get to that passage (Wednesday).
For the Theology class, we finished some preliminary thoughts and then moved to Theology Proper, the study of God. We discussed his attributes and how they relate to our lives. With that, I like to tell people about the infiniteness of God. It applies to all the attributes. While we say that God is loving, he is infinitely loving. While he is wise, he is infinitely wise. He is not just powerful, but infinitely powerful. We also tackled the Trinity. It’s a difficult subject, but we made it through. And, since we are behind a bit, we were able to catch up a bit and get to the Bible. We started with inspiration and how that works.
I am very blessed by the influence of these people. It’s true that we get more from those we serve than we give to them.
Pastor Joe
July 26, 2008
As of this writing, I am sitting in the Johannesburg airport waiting for my final leg on the way in. I will be in Lusaka, Zambia for the first week. I will have been in a plane or in an airport for 24 hours by the time I get there. So far, it has been uneventful except that I did not know I would have a stop over in Darkar; we did not even de-plane though. All appears to be in order for my luggage to arrive with me in Lusaka. I figured out that this trip will take me to seven countries and three continents (ok, some are just lay overs).
Well, airports don’t make for exciting reports. Just keep praying. I start teaching on Monday, July 28. The only anxiety is not knowing what to expect in the teaching setting.
Pastor Joe
July 27, 2008 (Lusaka, Zambia)
It’s not even noon yet, and I’ve had a great Sunday. We visited Pastor Kenneth’s church for service. Services started at 6:00AM, but we did not have to be there until the 8:00AM service. John, the TPI leader, preached. I spoke just to give greetings from the church in the US and from Zion. They return greetings to you. (I should be able to preach next week). Lot’s of life and great music. Despite the jet lag, I had a wonderful time. We will take care of logistical needs today and then start teaching on Monday.
We drove through the street market which was full of people, but Pastor Kenneth said it was not crowded at all. He told us about the crime and poverty issues in the area. We had to make sure we did not hold our cameras out of the car window as they could easily be grabbed. The area was filled with squatters: people who would just build on a stake of land. That was home – no plumbing or electricity. There is a ditch in front of the house to dump waste. They just make do. The children, of course, are very cute and play with whatever they can find. At church, a group of kids wanted just to come over and shake hands.
All luggage and supplies have arrived with me!
Pastor Joe
July 28, 2008
I taught for the first day today. We had about 176 pastors and other visitors. We got a late start with registrations and setup and our lunch plans hit a snag. But, we made through our day well. The students are very responsive, appreciative, and interested.
My first teaching session is in Romans (1:1-3:20). I covered introductory material on the book, and then we dove right in. We examined Paul’s three purposes for his letter: Announce his visit, present the complete Gospel message, and address the Jew/Gentile conflict. He then states his thesis that we need God’s righteousness and can only access it by faith. We start with the bad news: we are horribly in need of a savior. Not only are people sinful, we revel in it. We would rather look to idols rather than our Creator. There is no excuse, and there is no hope for us on our own. Indeed, our situation is dire. I left them with the “bad news” of Romans (up to chapter 3). Tomorrow, we start the “Good News” of the rest of the book. I’m looking forward to it.
The second teaching session is in theology. Due to scheduling issues, I did not have a whole ninety minutes. As with Romans, we started with introductory material including various theological points of view and various types of theological study. Continuing, we discuss bias and interpretation/linguistic issues. Time ran out! I should have opportunity to catch up.
Keep praying!
Pastor Joe
July 29, 2008
Perspective is everything. I woke up this morning to find I had no hot water. It’s not that the water was not hot, no water came out. The frustration is not the water but the cost of the hotel does not match the level we should get. And, this place is considered a bargain. Then, later on, we were reminded that many of the pastors left for the training institute today at 5:00AM so they can get there by 8:30AM. It took so long because they had to walk. It’s hard to gripe about cold water now!
We received a great letter today from one of our attendees. He mentioned that he has attended other Bible conferences. He complained that they are more about the accomplishments or testimony of the speaker or that many go just to get a gift at the end or a free Bible. He appreciated that they are getting actual help for their ministries. Cool.
In Romans today, we covered 3:21 to 5:21. I was glad to leave the bad news section and give them the good news. We discussed how we are justified by the work of Christ. He has paid for our sins. Our original state is utterly hopeless by ourselves. Because of all this, we have reason to rejoice even in hard times. We discussed the terms justification, redemption, atonement, propitiation, and reconciliation. After the session, one of the men asked me about when a believer sins and confession. He also asked about this in relation to Romans 8:1, “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” It seems to be a hot issue here. I discussed it individually, but I will cover it when we get to that passage (Wednesday).
For the Theology class, we finished some preliminary thoughts and then moved to Theology Proper, the study of God. We discussed his attributes and how they relate to our lives. With that, I like to tell people about the infiniteness of God. It applies to all the attributes. While we say that God is loving, he is infinitely loving. While he is wise, he is infinitely wise. He is not just powerful, but infinitely powerful. We also tackled the Trinity. It’s a difficult subject, but we made it through. And, since we are behind a bit, we were able to catch up a bit and get to the Bible. We started with inspiration and how that works.
I am very blessed by the influence of these people. It’s true that we get more from those we serve than we give to them.
Pastor Joe
Thursday, July 24, 2008
The day before departure
Dear Friends,
I think everything is set. I have my passport, tickets, visas, etc. I just need to pack up today. Once in a while, I think, "What do I have to say to these pastors?" God reminds me: Just stick with My Word. So, as you pray, please remember 1 Cor. 2:4-5, "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
I will keep you posted...keep checking back or subscribe.
Pastor Joe
I think everything is set. I have my passport, tickets, visas, etc. I just need to pack up today. Once in a while, I think, "What do I have to say to these pastors?" God reminds me: Just stick with My Word. So, as you pray, please remember 1 Cor. 2:4-5, "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
I will keep you posted...keep checking back or subscribe.
Pastor Joe
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Just Preparing
Dear Friends,
It is odd to realize that I will be getting on a plane this month for Africa. I will leave on July 25th and be gone until August 13. Until I leave, I am preparing for my lessons in theology and the book of Romans. I continue to build a prayer and support base. There is much to do.
If you are not familiar with the details, I will be teaching both classes in one week sessions. My students will have a curriculum to follow. Due to the concentrated nature of the courses, the format will be lecture.
Please drop me an email if you have any questions or want to let me know you'll be praying. I will try to make entries while in country, so you can keep track.
Thanks.
Pastor Joe
It is odd to realize that I will be getting on a plane this month for Africa. I will leave on July 25th and be gone until August 13. Until I leave, I am preparing for my lessons in theology and the book of Romans. I continue to build a prayer and support base. There is much to do.
If you are not familiar with the details, I will be teaching both classes in one week sessions. My students will have a curriculum to follow. Due to the concentrated nature of the courses, the format will be lecture.
Please drop me an email if you have any questions or want to let me know you'll be praying. I will try to make entries while in country, so you can keep track.
Thanks.
Pastor Joe
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