by Guest Author | 2 Dec , 2013 | FOCUS, Missional Living
This article appears in the December 2013 Missions Interlink Bulletin.
11/27/2013 — J. Lee Grady
Residents displaced by Typhoon Haiyan still manage to come together to worship the Lordโeven in 16 inches of standing water.
Right after Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines this month, a friend sent me the amazing photo Iโm posting here. Itโs a snap-shot of a church service held a few days after the monster storm displaced 3 million people and killed more than 5,000. Notice that the worshippers are standing in about 16 inches of water. A flooded church did not keep these people from thanking God that they were spared.
If you are reading this online, you are already blessed because 70% of the world has no access to the Internet. Here are 10 more things you should be thankful for:
- Got drinkable water? About 1.1 billion people in the world donโt have access to clean drinking water. Because of that, about 9 million people will die this year because of water-related illnesses. The next time you open a bottle of Dasani or drink from your tap, remember that millions of women around the world spend an average of four hours daily walking to get water.
- Do you eat three meals a day? The World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the worldโs population is overfed, one-third is underfed and one third is starving. Approximately 925 million people in the developing world are chronically undernourished, and 15 million children die annually because of hunger.
- Got electricity? About 1.5 billion people in this world have no access to electrical power. In the nation of Malawi, where I preached two weeks ago, only 9% of the people have electric lights. Do you enjoy that oven in your kitchen? The next time you prepare a meal, remember that 2.5 billion people in the world still use wood or charcoal to cook their food. Do you enjoy your washing machine? Data analyst Hans Rosling recently reported that 5 billion people in the world still wash their clothes by hand.
- Got a roof over your head? The U.N. Commission on Human Rights says there are 100 million homeless people in the world. One in three children in the world live without adequate shelter. And today there are about 42 million people who are living as refugees. Most were displaced by war and live in crude camps.
- Do you own a car? The United States still has the highest number of motor vehicles in the world. Globally, only 1 out of every 8 people has access to a car. Many of the others either walk, take crowded buses or public vans or ride on bicycles, rickshaws or animals. Did you fly somewhere in the past year? You are blessed. Only 5 to 7% of people in the world have ever flown in an airplane.
- Do you have a flushable toilet? The United Nations Development Program reports that 2.6 billion people do not have access to any toilet facilities. India has the largest percentage of people who lack adequate sanitation. About 638 million Indians must go outdoors.
- Can you read? Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names. There are 72 million children who should be in school but are not enrolled. If you have a college degree, you are in a privileged minority; only 6.7% of people in the world have a college diploma.
- Do you have health care? In developing countries, you might wait 8 hours to see a doctor in a clinic where there are no medicines and no electricityโand you might have to bribe the doctor to see him.
- Do you have political freedom? About 1.6 billion people in the world live in repressive societies where they have no say in how they are governed. They face severe consequences if they express their beliefs or assemble peacefully. The most oppressive countries today include North Korea, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Eritrea and Equatorial Guinea.
- Are you free to worship? More than 75% of the worldโs population lives in areas with severe religious restrictions. Christians in more than 60 countries face persecution simply because of their belief in Jesus Christ.
I encourage you to make your own list of blessings. Thanksgiving is not an optional virtue. Without it, our pride swells and our selfishness consumes us. This is why David wrote,
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits
Psalm 103:2, NASB
Thanksgiving is an important exercise because it adjusts our attitude. It calibrates our hearts so we remember again why we are blessed and
who deserves the credit for our blessings.
J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma and the director of the Mordecai Project.
Visit the Missions Interlink website
by Glyn Carpenter | 11 Nov , 2013 | FOCUS, Marriage and Family, Media Releases, Value of Life
MEDIA RELEASE
11 November 2013
Stuff.co.nz reported last week that children as young as 13 are being issued with 12-trip passes to safer sex, in an effort to drive down abortions and teenage pregnancies.
Condom Card Aims To Cut Teen Pregnancy | Stuff.co.nz
The scheme is being trialled in Hawkes Bay but the report says it could be picked up nationwide.
National Director of New Zealand Christian Network is wondering what is it going to take for Kiwis to ‘wake up’ and reverse the sexualisation insanity going on in our country.
“For so long we’ve tolerated an increasing sexualisation in society – in adverts, TV, films, videos, and music – that we’ve become like the frog in boiling water – too stupefied to realise we’re being cooked to death.
The decision over whether to give condoms to an underage person who is sexually active and refuses to stop is actually a very difficult one. Even though it would have been utterly unthinkable 30, even 20, years ago – it’s where we’ve arrived at.
But if the situation is not to deteriorate further, if we are to reduce the negative statistics related to the selfish individualism which exists in our society, we have to make some radical changes, and be prepared to commit to them unto the change has taken hold.
There’s been endless hand-wringing over the group of young boys in Auckland who have posted claims of sexual exploits on social media which amount to drugging and rape of girls.
But there’s been precious little comment about the sexual imagery that is ubiquitous in society, from which soft- and hard-core porn are inevitable transitions for some. And there’s enough consensus among experts establishing the link between porn and the behaviour being condemned that it should have everyone focused on changing the culture of sexualisation.
And just what are we teaching to our young folk regarding sex?
Wherever the bar is set it is the nature of young people to push against it – to test the boundaries. This is what is so great about young people – they push boundaries, try things that older folk have lost the drive or courage to do.
But if the bar in this area is not set at the highest level, that sex has it’s proper place only in a committed faithful relationship, which is what marriage is all about, we share the responsibility when the problems occur.
See also Family First NZ slams free condom schemes | My Christian Daily
[ENDS]
by Glyn Carpenter | 30 Oct , 2013 | FOCUS, Media Releases, Secularism
MEDIA RELEASE
New Zealand Christian Network national director Glyn Carpenter is interested in the study on religious values of Kiwis being undertaken by Professor Joseph Bulbulia, of Victoria University (stuff.co.nz. 30 Oct). But he is surprised at the comment attributed to Mr Bulbulia that ‘census data showed the country had been secular since at least the 1960s’.
“That statement is so imprecise as to be meaningless and certainly not what one would expect to hear from a professional academic’ said Carpenter.
“It is also inaccurate given that even the most recent census data still shows around half of Kiwis still call themselves Christian.
“The constant repetition through the media that New Zealand is a secular might suit some people’s agendas” said Carpenter, “but it is confusing and misleading and just plain wrong”.
It is far better to describe New Zealand as a religiously plural country. It would not be inaccurate to even describe New Zealand as a significantly Christian country because the largest belief group in the country is Christian.
[ENDS]
via Former Priest Gets $760,000 To Study Religious Values… | Stuff.co.nz.
by NZ Christian Network | 18 Oct , 2013 | FOCUS, Marriage and Family, Media Releases
MEDIA RELEASE NZ Christian Network is pleased to announce the launch of the NZ Marriage Week website.
In announcing the launch, NZCN National Director Glyn Carpenter said โItโs good that New Zealand can now join with other countries around the world where groups are working to strengthen marriages and the culture of marriage.
โMarriage Week is a joint initiative of Marriage Week International and the World Evangelical Alliance, of which NZ Christian Network is the New Zealand member.
โThe purpose of this website is to feature articles and resources about strengthening marriage, and events related to Marriage Week which occurs each year from 7-14 February.
โIt is not a website for debating contentious issues relating to marriage. The website is based on the concept of marriage as being between one man and one woman for life.
โMany people these days are simply not aware that when it comes to intimate relationships, marriage offers by far the best chances of a good and successful outcome.
โThis website is intended to help get that message outโ.
People with relevant information to share are invited to comment on this site or send in articles to be posted.
If you would like to register as a contributor to the site please make contact with the NZ Christian Network office.
by NZ Christian Network | 17 Oct , 2013 | FOCUS, Missional Living
I was looking for some inspiration to share on being a witness in the workplace the other day and stumbled upon this list. It was compiled a couple years ago by Josh Reeves, who is the Lead Planting Pastor with Redeemer Church in Round Rock, Texas.
Josh offers some great ideas to bring Jesus into the workplace. His list doesn’t include the stereo-typical leaving a Bible sitting on your desk or a Christian screensaver on your Mac or PC. It doesn’t even include wearing a cool t-shirt on casual Fridays, WWJD bracelets, crosses, jewellery or bumper stickers.
Instead, Josh lists very simple actions. Intentional, kind moments that are breaths of fresh air. Gentle glimpses of life as it was meant to be, even on the job.
It might seem strange that I would think of such things given I am no-longer in secular employment. But the heart behind this advice rings true no matter who you work alongside. Wouldn’t we all prefer to work in an uplifting environment?
Actually… I mostly work from home and I don’t see many people during my day. But I can still make deliberate choices to be salt and light in my encounters with other people and support my husband in being missional at his work.
As you read this list, I challenge you to ponder Josh’s ideas and see if they spark other possibilities. Let the Holy Spirit help you stir up pleasant, Jesus-like experiences for your co-workers and, if you’re in a similar situation to mine, help you support someone else put this into practice.
- Instead of eating lunch alone, intentionally eat with other co-workers and learn their story.
- Get to work early so you can spend some time praying for your co-workers and the day ahead.
- Make it a daily priority to speak or write encouragement when someone does good work.
- Bring extra snacks when you make your lunch to give away to others.
- Bring breakfast (donuts, burritos, cereal, etc.) once a month for everyone in your department.
- Organize a running/walking group in the before or after work.
- Have your missional community/small group bring lunch to your workplace once a month.
- Create a regular time to invite co-workers over or out for drinks.
- Make a list of your co-workers birthdays and find a way to bless everyone on their birthday.
- Organize and throw office parties as appropriate to your job.
- Make every effort to avoid gossip in the office. Be a voice of thanksgiving not complaining.
- Find others that live near you and create a car pool.
- Offer to throw a shower for a co-worker who is having a baby.
- Offer to cover for a co-worker who needs off for something.
- Start a regular lunch out with co-workers (donโt be selective on the invites).
- Organize a weekly/monthly pot luck to make lunch a bit more exciting.
- Ask someone who others typically ignore if you can grab them a soda/coffee while youโre out.
- Be the first person to greet and welcome new people.
- Make every effort to know the names of co-workers and clients along with their families.
- Visit co-workers when they are in the hospital.
- Bring sodas or work appropriate drinks to keep in your break room for co-workers to enjoy. Know what your co-workers like.
- Go out of your way to talk to your janitors and cleaning people who most people overlook.
- Find out your co-workers favourite music and make a playlist that includes as much as you can (if suitable for work).
- Invite your co-workers in to the service projects you are already involved in.
- Start/join a city league team with your co-workers.
- Organize a weekly co-working group for local entrepreneurs at a local coffee shop.
- Start a small business that will bless your community and create space for mission.
- Work hard to reconcile co-workers who are fighting with one another.
- Keep small candy, gum, or little snacks around to offer to others during a long day.
- Lead the charge in organizing others to help co-workers in need.
Now, the challenge. Step out in faith and intentionally give it a go!
We’d love it if you would share some of your ideas here and stories of your experiences.
Blessings,
Gayann
Gayannย and her husband, Stephen, have provided web design and email communication support to NZCN since 2006. She has home schooled their two children for the past nine years, but was โmade redundantโ at the start of 2013. Since then, she has taken a more active role with NZCN.
by Guest Author | 14 Oct , 2013 | Church, FOCUS, Missional Living
by Nigel Dixon
member of NZCN All of Life Faith discussion group
I guess my concern, as I write these words, is to express the essential core of what it means to be Christian in our context. So, in choosing these words, I am seeking words that can define us as a community as well as being missional (there being an integrity between how we live together and how we face/embrace the world).
Living the story
We are called to live in the story that begins with creation and concludes with the completion of the new creation โ in the story of God. This narrative invites us to take part in Godโs unfolding purposes and longings for human life and the care of creation. This story centres on Jesus who incarnated God, who Died and rose again and reigns as King and calls us to live in this kingdom reality and kingdom dream. We invite every person to be participators in this new covenant and new creation.
Living as community
Karl Barth once said; โthere is no such thing as an individual christianโ yet our culture, however, has radcially individualized the way we see our lives and the way we live together. Central to Jesusโ mission (indeed the whole Bible) is the formation of a community that would live in the life of God โ for the sake of the world. This community, the church, to called to live incarnationally (forgiving, serving,โฆ), relationally (committed friendships, healthy marriagesโฆ), missionally, the message they know and believe.
Living vocationally
Every person is God breathed and God called . Our human journey, in part, is a journey of discovering who we are, how we are wired, and how to serve God best in the world. The church, therefore, ought to be deeply committed to helping people discover who they are and supporting them as they navigate their way in the world. This involves valuing the world of work โ that the church is developing leaders and giftedness to bless, and to have influence, in the world.
Living compassionately
The church is a community that lives for the sake of the vulnerable, the disadvantaged, the outsider. Loving our neighbour, whether they are in Christian community or outside it, is the essence of Christlikeness. Jesus always practiced a radical inclusion of the outsider โ this involves seeing people, accepting people and acting with compassion; hospitality, generosity and creativity for the sake of the other.
Nigel Dixon a member of NZCN’s All of Life Faith discussion group. He is a life coach, husband, father, and bible teacher. He completed a post-graduate theological study through Regent College in Vancouver. He loves exploring scripture and culture and the challenge that being Christian poses in a post-Christian world. Nigel is employed part-time by Emmaus to organise the curriculum and lecture. He is the author of Villages Without Walls.
