Retirement

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What a challenge? A person need a perspective that is larger than life. To have such motivation God must be in the picture.

Is there a time limit on losing our lives for the Gospel? I don’t think so. (Luke 9:23, 24; 14:33; 1 John 3:16)

When does one fold up his tent to go and play?

In my weariness, I dreamed of hitting that magical age of retirement and cruising a bit. You know, buy the big sedan, throw in the “sticks,” and meander across the country. Ease up. Back off. Slow down. In a word, “retire.”

Then I read of missions expert, Dr. Ralph Winter, who along with his wife, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. His response? “I can see the finish line, and I‘ve decided to sprint for it.” Retirement? No way.

I thought of Billy Graham, who, in his late-80’s, with Parkinson’s disease, is still holding city-wide crusades and satellite conferences that affect millions… or more. Retirement? No way.

Or Bob Cockerel, who, in his 40’s took time away from business to make trips to Africa to teach in a Bible school. When in his 60’s he was diagnosed with cancer, he bought a one way ticket and disappeared into the bowels of that continent to finish what he had started. Retirement? No way.

Or Mother Teresa, who died at 87, with 3 garments to her name, and $100.00 in the bank. Herself feeble and ill, she continued feeding and loving the disenfranchised to the very end. Retirement? No way.

I am reminded of that farmer who made it big. Or rather God allowed him to make it big by blessing his land. So he dreamed of larger barns and “party time“. Wanted to cruise. And God’s answer? “No way!”

“The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself… ‘I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods… Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.‘ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you… ?‘ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.‘” (Luke 12:13-21)

QUESTION Tell me, is there a fire burning in your soul for the things that break the heart of God? Most everyone in the world knows about Coca Cola, but have yet to once hear the name “Jesus.” Yeah, let’s visit the grandkids, take the cruises, and play golf now and then. But retire? No way! Personally I have made a decision to sprint for the finish line, giving it 110% until I drop. How about you?

John G. Butler
Facts of the Matter: Daily Devotionals.

The Second Reformation

Posted by cafegospel

During this morning reading from R. Dwight Hill, Facts of the Matter: Daily Devotionals.

“The first Reformation put the Bible in the hands of laymen; the second reformation will place the ministry in the hands of laymen.” – John R. Stott

Ever wonder why we are so sluggish in reaching the world for Christ? If so, consider this:

A few years ago I was attending a conference of Christian leaders when a businessman stood up and asked, “How many of you came to Christ through a ‘full-time’ Christian worker?” Out of the 5,000 delegates, (98% of whom were “full-time” Christian workers) about 50 people stood up.

He then asked, “How many of you came to Christ through a layperson?” The rest stood up.

Historian K. S. Latourette observes that throughout the history of the church, whenever the Word of God was put into the hands of laymen, the Gospel tended to spread like a prairie fire. When, the Word of God remained in the hands of the clergy, evangelism ground to a near halt.

It is significant to note that Jesus’ primary approach to world evangelization was to selectively invest His life in 12 laymen for three years. When He had completed His task of discipling, He then commissioned them to go out and repeat the process. The command, of course, applies to all of us:

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you… “(Matthew 28:19-20a)

They obeyed, and that next generation of believers “turned the world upside down.” (Acts 17:6)

So, which method, do you think would prove more effective in impacting the world with the Gospel?

Imagine 20 Billy Grahams daily reaching 20,000 people for Christ, or

(2) One layperson discipling another for a year, after which the two of them would split off and each disciple another, etc.

The answer: In 30 years the Graham method would reach 2.9 billion people with the Gospel, while the one-to-one approach would reach 8.5 billion.

QUESTION: So, tell me, are you, as a lay person taking Christ’s “Great Commission” seriously by investing your life in others with a view toward their salvation and/or spiritual maturity? If not, what explanation do you plan to give your Heavenly Father the day you face Him in eternity?

What is “Café Gospel Ministry”?

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www.Cafégosple.me

What is “Café Gospel Ministry”?

The idea of “Café Gospel” begins during my first mission trip to Costa Rica in 2013. We were living at El Jardin in the beautiful Central Valley. One evening, as I was writing in my daily Journal, the idea crossed my mind to start a Blog relating to this trip. But what name should I give that new blog? Honestly, I had no idea. So I asked God to help me and He did. Right away two words came to mind “Café” and “Gospel”. Let me explain, the main industry in the location where we were living consists in growing coffee, and the main focus of my ministry in Costa Rica was presenting the gospel. That’s how “cafégospel.me” was born.

What is the goal of “Café Gospel ministry?”

The goal of “Café Gospel” ministry is rather simple; it consists of inspiring believers to enjoy God’s presence daily. Like two friends sipping together a coffee appreciating each other.

Description of “Café Gospel Ministry”

The Bible teaches that when a person puts his faith in the person and finished work of Jesus, that individual becomes a new person. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, ⌊he is⌋ a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

But one question is raised: how does a person live that new life in Christ? The new creation is like a new born baby, he has everything to learn. Here’s where “Café Gospel Ministry” comes along to help; it is to encourage the new believer to feed himself daily with the milk of God’s Word. “I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it.” 1 Corinthians 3:2)

As a new born Christian feeds on the milk (basic doctrines) of the Word of God, he learns to cultivate a relationship with God himself. God has the same quality that a human being has; He enjoys having relations with people. Before the fall of Adam and Eve, God delighted in having special time each day with them (Gen 3:8). Likewise, God desires to have special time with each one of His children on a daily basis. We see a great visual picture in Revelation 3:20 of Jesus knocking at the door expecting that someone will hear, open, and invite him to share a meal. God wants to cultivate a relationship with each one of his children, old or new believers. After a meal, friends frequently enjoy a good cup of coffee together. I personally believe that coffee is not meant to drink alone, coffee is a social drink. Friends like to get together at a café to catch up. God also likes to catch up with his children. That’s why we need that time alone. God has ample things to share with us. In John 16:12-13 Jesus foretold what role the Holy Spirit would have, “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now”. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” What takes place during those times alone with God? He uses those precious minutes to guide his children. He helps them understand what the purpose of life is and how to live a life agreeing to His will.

A touching story from the New Testament serves as an illustration. One day Jesus was walking through the town of Jericho. In that town was a man that really wanted to see what Jesus looked like. Because of his small height, he decided to climb up a tree to have a better view. When Jesus walked near the tree, he looked up at the man and called him by his name. “Zacchaeus! Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today.” That man could have given many excuses to decline Jesus’s self-invitation; but instead he rapidly came down the tree and brought Jesus into his house. Rather than half-heartedly obeying, he took Jesus into his house in great excitement and joy (Luke 19:5, 6). In Rev. 3:20, John was writing to a church that had the reputation of being lukewarm. The Laodicea church was a backsliding congregation that in many aspects represent today’s church also. The question is how can a new believer survive and grow in a lukewarm church? The answer is found in that verse. Jesus stands today at the door of an unspiritual church, knocking and hoping that some believers will invite Him for a time of closeness. “If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal (and coffee) as friends” (Re. 3: 20). A lukewarm church is more interested in entertainment than having memorable time with Jesus. He is calling you and me now to enjoy his presence; like friends partaking of a good coffee together, delighting in each other.

“Café Gospel Ministry” is a gift from God to help Christians enjoying God’s presence at a new level of intimacy. As Zacchaeus responded to Jesus invitation by opening his house (heart), in a similar way you are invited to deepen your relationship with Jesus. You will never regret it. At whatever time Jesus comes to the side of your bed, telling you that the coffee is ready, get up and go to Him. Remember, after that initial encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus never was the same man. From being a stingy, he became a generous man. Instead of living a lonely life, he lived a happy one. Why not start tomorrow morning, have coffee time with a True Friend. Let it become your number ONE priority in life. I promise you will never be the same. Jesus will tell you things in your heart that will blow your mind. You will learn to know God like never before. You will learn how God works today! Then you will start focusing your interests in life to match His interests. Things will start to make sense and work.

Risking

Posted by cafegospel

by taking bold decision. Examples from the pass will help reflect on where motivation comes from. Why people avoid as much as possible risk? Because taking some risk imply some exposures. Nobody likes to show their vulnerability. Risk occurs when we put our reputation, beliefs, financial security, personal well-being, or even our lives on the line. Some do so simply for the thrill, or in the hopes of achieving some higher goal.

What motivate two men from the pass to take some great risk? Ezekiel was a prophet that lived about 600 years before Jesus; John was an apostle who lived during Jesus lives. Both of these men saw with greater clarity what was coming, they saw what others could not see.

Without risk takers, life would be even more dangerous. Politicians, doctors, and scientists throughout history who were willing to take well-calculated risks have benefited us all. A medical example will help us to understand how civilization did benefit from a courageous man who risk.

“Smallpox was the menace of mankind in 1717 when Zabdiel Boylston developed an effective but hazardous method of protection. He called it innoculation. He injected a small amount of infected material directly from smallpox patients into uninfected patients.”[1]

Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.–Helen Keller

Because these men saw with greater clarity what was coming, because they saw what others could not see, they took risk because they knew that doing nothing would bring destruction of many lives.

Security is the mother of danger and the grandmother of destruction.–Thomas Fuller

Even though the Bible never uses the word risk, story after story tells of risks taken, risks that end in flaming disasters or inspiring victories. Did the shepherd left the ninety and nine in the safety of the fold and went out to search for the one lost sheep? No, the ninety-nine were left not in the safety of the fold but in the wilderness. “Only God, exhibiting his risky, careless love, would leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness to look for the one who is lost.”

The risks taken with the goal of presenting the gospel to those who have not heard are high-priority risks indeed. Ezekiel, John, Zabdiel are all men who saw what others could not see. They knew that risk was inescapable; they cross the security line and sailed off shore into deep water. They expose themselves for the well-being of others; putting their reputation, financial security, personal well-being, or even our lives on the line. For a Christian there is a risk when confronting a fallen world with the gospel’s radical message. The question a Christian has to answer, are we willing to use our gifts and risk for the kingdom’s greatest advantage? A similar question need to be answer by anyone who see what others cannot see, are you willing to take a risk that will benefit others?

[1] Terry C. Muck, When to Take a risk, vol. 9, Carol Stream, IL; Waco, TX: Christianity Today, Inc.; Word Books, 1987), 32.