Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 189

Depositing This Life in Eternity’s Account

When Hudson Taylor opened a bank account for the China Inland Mission, the application form asked for an asset list. Taylor wrote the following as the sum total of his assets: “Ten pounds and all the promises of God.” Our greatest resources are spiritual, not mat­erial. They come from another world, not this one.

One morning I was at a restaurant when a frazzled woman blew through the door and loudly complained to her friend, “The wipers aren’t working again on my Porsche, and the Audi’s in for repairs. I’ve had it!”

I smiled but at the same time was saddened for this poor woman. (Yes, poor woman.) What a contrast to the believer with eternal perspective:

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13)

Paul doesn’t say it is wrong to live in plenty, but that the same secret to contentment applies then as when we’re in poverty. Contentment isn’t the product of material abundance; it results from our invisible resources in Christ. In the third century, Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, wrote this description of the affluent:

Their property held them in chains . . . chains which shackled their courage and choked their faith and hampered their judgment and throttled their souls. . . . If they stored up their treasure in heaven, they would not now have an enemy and a thief within their household. . . . They think of themselves as owners, whereas it is they rather who are owned: enslaved as they are to their own property, they are not the masters of their money but its slaves.

God keeps records of what we do with his money. At the moment we meet Christ—at our death or his return—all accounts will be frozen, all assets and expenditures opened for the Final Audit. And then it’s God himself—the Owner, Manager, and Auditor of the Bank of Eternity—who will make eternal dispersals based on how our account reads after the last deposit has been made and the account finally closed.

C. T. Studd was a rich and famous English athlete who sold his entire estate, gave it away, and went to the mission field to serve Christ. He summed up the perspective that motivated him: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

         

Related Resources

Book: Managing God's Money
Blog: Surviving the Dangers of Prosperity
Article: Eternity Minded Stewardship and Giving

How EPM Is Impacting Eternity, and How You Can Join Us

We don’t share this kind of post very often, but every once in a while it seems appropriate to share a little more about Eternal Perspective Ministries, and the work we’re doing to make an eternal difference around the world for Christ. We invite you to watch this short video to learn more:

Some of you may be aware that this past summer, EPM faced a serious financial shortfall for our third summer in a row. Of the six times in our 23-year history that we’ve had to publicly share our financial needs, three were in the last three years—despite our efforts to avoid this type of situation.

People generously came forward with small and large amounts, and we're grateful for each gift. Our finances have stabilized; God provided wonderfully and deserves the praise for all of this.

However, we’re continuing to 1) carefully analyze expenditures 2) ask the Lord to provide for us over the long-haul, with sufficient finances that we’ll be able to save money to sustain us through summertime when giving is historically at its lowest. 

It is EPM’s conviction never to beg for funds. However, we don't believe it's wrong to share a legitimate need, considering Paul’s example: “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced” (2 Corinthians 1:8). After sharing about our financial status last June, one of the things we heard several times was, “We never knew you had any needs. Thank you for letting us know!” 

If someone were to ask what EPM’s greatest financial need is today, we would say it is new monthly supporters. This would stabilize us long-term, allowing cash flow to continue during the lean months. After your commitment to your local church, if and only if God so leads and you’re willing to consider giving monthly—whatever size the amount—we’d be deeply appreciative. (See below for giving information.)

I want to also say a special thanks for the ongoing support of our current monthly donors. You are the backbone of this ministry. I am profoundly grateful for your kind support, in some cases for the past 23 years!

Above all, we value your prayers. Daily we are humbled and amazed to see remarkable responses from people worldwide who are being touched by this ministry. Thank you for lifting us up before our King.

Profoundly grateful to our God of grace,

From Eternal Perspective Ministries
Convenient Monthly Giving or One-Time Gifts

For those wanting to make a year-end, tax-deductible donation to EPM, please note that donations postmarked no later than December 31, or received online by 11:59 p.m. PT on December 31, will be included on this year’s tax receipts. If God lays it on your heart to give to our ministry, or to pray for us (the greatest gift you can offer), know that we deeply appreciate it. 

We also offer the option of donating by EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer), which allows you to transfer money from your checking or savings account directly to EPM. You can also set up recurring gifts using EFT or a debit/credit card. We hope this will be a convenient option for our donors, with the added benefit of no checks to write and no postage to pay!

You can donate online or call our toll-free line at (877) 376-4567 for assistance. And, of course, you can always send a check to: EPM, 39085 Pioneer Blvd., Suite 206, Sandy, OR 97055.

Our Invaluable Partnership with You

Some readers might wonder, “Why support a ministry associated with a bestselling author? Why doesn't he just use money from the book royalties to fund all of EPM’s expenses?” Randy strongly believes God has directed the Alcorns to give 100% of the book royalties to worthy Christian ministries, including missions, feeding the hungry, prolife and many others. Because Randy and Nanci believe in what EPM is doing, they have recently decided to give 10% of the book royalties to EPM, in light of our ministry needs. God has graciously blessed the sale of Randy’s books, and we believe it’s partly because the royalties are all given to the Lord. We also believe that EPM benefits from having contributors to our general fund because of the partnership through prayer and accountability. 

Rejoicing Despite Circumstances

Have you ever read the classic children’s story Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? When you first read the story, you think Alexander did have an unusual number of negative things happen to him, so no wonder he had a terrible day. But then you realize that Alexander’s day was filled with irritations and stressors typical to us all. They are simply part of being alive in this far-from-perfect world that suffers under the curse.

It should be good news to Alexander and to us that God is going to take away all pain, suffering, death and tears, so we can live forever with Him and His people on the New Earth, in absolute peace, health, beauty, and happiness (Revelation 21-22). Wow! If you remind yourself of this, won’t it put what seems like a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day in perspective?

Ponder that you deserve eternity in Hell, but Jesus went to the cross so you will get what you don’t deserve, eternity with Him in Heaven. You were delivered from a truly horrible eternity and are assured an endlessly happy one. Doesn’t that make a bad day not seem so bad? (Add to that the assurance of Romans 8:28 that even when you can’t see it, God is working all things together for your good. Double wow!)

It’s our loss of perspective that magnifies every little thing that goes wrong. Think about it. If today was difficult because “it wasn’t a normal day,” ask yourself, “When was the last time I had a normal day?” It wasn’t Alexander’s circumstances but his interpretation of and response to those circumstances that caused his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Same with ours.

Circumstances aren’t what makes a day—or a lifetime—good or bad. Why else are many people with beautiful homes, every material possession imaginable, financial security, and perfect health miserable…even suicidal? And how can many others who live in relative poverty and poor health be filled with the joy of life?

Consider Paul and Silas when they were in prison at Philippi. Both men had been flogged, and their feet were fastened in stocks in what in those days was surely a disease-ridden, rat-infested cell. How did they respond? “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25). Keep in mind that Paul and Silas rejoiced and sang with no knowledge of their impending escape through divine intervention.

What would most of us have done in that prison cell? Mope and grouse and weep and kick the walls and cater our own little pity party. It’s when there’s something different about us, when we are filled with “the peace of God which transcends all understanding,” that we draw the attention of discontented, searching people in need of Christ.

Suppose your baby is born with Down syndrome or your family business is lost or your spouse leaves or your house is burned to the ground—are we suggesting these circumstances will not affect you? Of course not. We’re only saying they need not control you. You can rise above them, as Paul and Silas and many others have done. When these things happen to Christians, the world will watch. And if it sees calm in the midst of storms, it will be drawn to Christ.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). The choice to give thanks in all circumstances is both the cause and the effect of a godly perspective—as well as a great reliever of stress.

         

Related Resources

Book: Help for Women Under Stress
Blog: The Power of Perspective

photo credit: Rick Camacho via photopin cc

The Story of Jesus Through the Eyes of Children

God has a special love for children. Christ taught that we need to become like children to enter God’s Kingdom, and He made a point of embracing children when His disciples wanted to exclude them (Matthew 19:13-14). He said “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them” (Luke 18:16). 

God desires for children of all cultures and nationalities to come into a relationship with Him through Christ. What a privilege to share this Good News with them! That’s why I’m excited about “The Story of Jesus Through the Eyes of Children” DVD from my friends at the JESUS Film Project. It offers the film in 24 different languages, so it’s great for family, neighbors and friends from different cultures. All the translations are on a single DVD, which is both cool and amazing! (How often can you give the same gift to people who speak 24 different languages?)

The dialogue of the original "JESUS" film was taken from the Gospel of Luke. It’s been translated into more than 1,100 languages and has had more than 6 billion viewings worldwide since 1979, making "JESUS" the most-watched film in history.

I encourage you to prayerfully consider ways you can use this video to share the gospel with children God has brought into your life. Here’s more about the film:

This video uses 40 minutes of the original "JESUS" film and integrates into the drama 22 minutes of new footage with children who might have lived in A.D. 30. The video allows children to hear and see the whole story at once, answering questions in clear and concrete terms, and providing fast action. It ends with an invitation, by a child to children, to accept Christ into their lives.

Children enjoy this captivating retelling of the true story of Jesus from a child's perspective. If you want to reach a child, English speaker or not, with the message of Jesus in a compelling, understandable, and exciting way, "The Story of Jesus for Children" is the tool you've been looking for!

We’re not selling these DVDs; we’re giving them away with every order from our ministry today.

You can watch the entire video online in English:

         

Related Resources

Book: Tell Me About Heaven
Blog: An Invitation to Join the Giving Tuesday Movement

From Eternal Perspective Ministries

Every order today (Friday, November 29) from our online store will receive a complimentary copy of “The Story of Jesus Through the Eyes of Children” DVD with your shipment, plus a $10 coupon to use on your next order.

Thanksgiving: The Noblest and Most Joy-Giving Sacrifice

I appreciated these thoughts on gratitude from William Law (English cleric and theological writer, 1686 –1761), excerpted from his book A Serious Call To a Devout and Holy Life. May you have a happy, Christ-centered, full-of-gratitude Thanksgiving!

Would you know who is the greatest saint in the world? It is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives most alms or is most eminent for temperance, chastity, or justice; but it is he who is always thankful to God, who wills everything that God willeth, who receives everything as an instance of God’s goodness and has a heart always ready to praise God for it.

…If anyone would tell you the shortest, surest way to all happiness and all perfection, he must tell you to make it a rule to yourself to thank and praise God for everything that happens to you. For it is certain that whatever seeming calamity happens to you, if you thank and praise God for it, you turn it into a blessing. Could you therefore work miracles, you could not do more for yourself than by this thankful spirit, for it heals with a word speaking, and turns all that it touches into happiness.

…though it be the noblest sacrifice that the greatest Saint can offer unto God, yet is it not tied to any time, or place, or great occasion but is always in your power and may be the exercise of every day. For the common events of every day are sufficient to discover and exercise this temper and may plainly show you how far you are governed in all your actions by this thankful spirit.

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you (Jonah 2:9).

         

Related Resources

Book: 90 Days of God's Goodness
Blog: Sustained through Gratitude

An Invitation to Join the Giving Tuesday Movement

Black Friday. Small Business Saturday. Cyber Monday. What’s next?  Fire-sale Sunday? It seems like every year there’s a new “specially designated” day to promote Christmas spending.

I want to say something about the growing “Giving Tuesday” movement (yes, yet another new day, but this one with a higher purpose). It’s the philanthropic community’s response to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday and is designed to provide people with a charitable day to consider giving as they go into the holiday season. (Learn more at www.givingtuesday.org.)

You can give to any ministry you choose. (In fact, we don’t turn down gifts at EPM!) But one of my favorite ministries is the JESUS Film project, which I’ve personally witnessed at work in powerful ways in China, Cambodia and Mexico. They’re one of the charitable partners participating in Giving Tuesday.  If you are led to donate on December 3, then JESUS Film would be a great organization to consider. (In fact, if you wish, you can give through EPM and we’ll pass on 100% of the designated donations. Simply select the special fund “JESUS Film” at www.epm.org/donate.)

The Giving Tuesday project that JESUS Film will feature this year is the Mission 865 Project, which is their effort to translate the “JESUS” film for 865 people groups of 50,000 or more speakers; it will also have a challenge grant that will multiply the impact of the gifts given.

As the Advent Conspiracy movement shows, a growing number of believers are aware of the materialism in our Christmas celebrations and are choosing to celebrate differently. I’d encourage you and your family to consider ways that you can make this Christmas different, even if you still exchange presents, as our family does.

Many years ago when our then-missions-pastor Barry Arnold told our church about enslaved Christians in Sudan, family after family spontaneously decided to give to free the slaves. My family was among them, and it was a wonderful Christmas, made better by the knowledge that we’d given to what matters.

Shortly before he and his four friends were killed by the Auca Indians in their attempts to bring them the gospel, missionary Nate Saint wrote:

As we have a high old time this Christmas, may we who know Christ hear the cry of the damned as they hurtle headlong into the Christless night without ever a chance. May we be moved with compassion as our Lord was. May we shed tears of repentance for these we have failed to bring out of darkness. Beyond the smiling scenes ofBethlehem may we see the crushing agony of Golgotha. May God give us a new vision of His will concerning the lost and our responsibility.

David Bryant, author of In the Gap, asks, “Who wouldn’t like to end each day, putting our heads on our pillows, confidently saying, ‘I know this day my life has counted strategically for Christ’s global cause, especially for those currently beyond the reach of the gospel’?”

Whether or not you participate in “Giving Tuesday,” may this Christmas season focus on the person and work of Christ. One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For we know the grace of Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might become rich.”

Speaking of a gift, imagine one day on the New Earth, the warm voice of someone from a different culture, with a different color of skin, coming up to you, embracing you and whispering, “Thank you—through your giving you helped bring us the good news of Jesus.”

         

Related Resources

Book: The Treasure Principle
Blog: Pondering God's Giving Heart
Article: Investing in Eternity

Don’t Raise Good Kids: Thoughts from Jon Bloom

My friend Jon Bloom, author of Not By Sight: A Fresh Look at Old Stories of Walking by Faith, wrote a great blog for Christian parents and for all those raised in Christian homes. I remember when our daughters were small, the importance of trying to convey even to really good kids that they are sinners, lost without Christ. It’s a delicate balance. On the one hand, when they’re obedient and responsible and kind, you want to affirm them for being good. But at the same time they need to see that just like their parents, they are truly sinners, they fall far short of God’s perfect standard, and they are completely lost apart from a relationship with Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Thanks, Jon for this thoughtful article:

Don’t Raise Good Kids

By Jon Bloom

Parents, don’t raise good kids. I’m a recovering good kid, and I’m here to tell you that the gospel isn’t for good kids.

I was pretty easy for my parents to raise. I was generally compliant, had a buoyant, warm personality, didn’t get into any serious trouble, was liked by my teachers for the most part, usually did respectably in school, was a leader in my church groups, and had plenty of friends. My adolescent, wild-oat sowing would only generate smirks and eye rolls.

My folks and most adults in my life affirmed me as a good kid, and I believed it. Which posed a problem for me: I struggled to grasp the gospel.

Me? Hell?

Though I believe my pre-adolescent conversion was real — God is gracious to produce and honor a small seed of real faith — it was hard to swallow that I was that bad. God showing favor on me in redemption made sense because others had shown favor on me. But it was hard for me to see that this favor was not the approval of a good kid but the pardoning of a condemned sinner. Really? Me deserve hell?

Continue reading

         

Related Resources

Book: Heaven for Kids
Blog: What is a father's primary responsibility?
Resource: Parenting Teens: Leaving a Lasting Spiritual Heritage

Photo credit: hotblack via sxc.hu

Empowered for Holiness

Don’t forget that “the one [Christ] who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). As powerful as the evil one is to tempt us, God is infinitely more powerful to deliver us and has given us in Christ all the resources we need to live godly lives.

“Be holy for I am holy.” God is the reason we should be holy. But He’s also the empowerment for our holiness. Many of us are convinced we should be more holy, but we’ve gone about it wrong. To be holy in our strength, and for our glory, is to be distinctly unholy. To be holy in Christ’s strength and for His glory…that’s our calling, and our joy.

Christ intercedes for us (Romans 8:34) for the same reason we intercede for each other—we need help and we need God’s power to resist temptation and live holy lives. Since the prayers of a righteous man are effective (James 5:16, NIV), what could be more effective than Christ’s prayers for us? What an encouragement to know that even if no one else knows our needs and is praying for us, Christ does and is.

Perspectives from God’s Word

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11–12).

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).

Perspectives from God’s People

“The Spirit’s work is not to make us holy, in order that we may be pardoned; but to show us the cross, where the pardon is to be found by the unholy; so that having found the pardon there, we may begin the life of holiness to which we are called.” —Horatius Bonar

“Lord, make me as holy as it is possible for a saved sinner to be.” —Robert Murray M’Cheyne

         

A "Buy-two-get-one-free" special 

Did you enjoy this excerpt from Randy's new devotional Seeing the Unseen? This affordable gift book is the perfect way to introduce friends and family to Randy's writings on a variety of topics. Place three Seeing the Unseen books in your cart (retail $9.99, EPM price $7.99 per book). During checkout, use the discount code seeingoffer to deduct the full price of one book. Offer ends November 30, 2013. Limit one free book per order.

Photo credit: br8mbill8 via sxc.hu

Beauty from Ashes

Today's guest blog is from Tami Yeager, EPM's bookkeeper. Because of her passion for the persecuted church, she also serves as a volunteer area coordinator for Voice of the Martyrs. Tami and her husband Jeff have five children and seven grandchildren. 

...a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3).

Where we live we are able to burn our yard debris during certain times of the year. Each fall we clean up dead and dying plants and toss them into the burn pile, having deemed each plant as having served its purpose and its season having come to an end. When we do burn the pile, the fire burns extremely hot, and because of its size and intensity, it will often smolder for days. When it does eventually burn out, what remains is a large pile of ash.

This last spring a beautiful squash plant rose from the burn pile. Not a single person in our family planted it or tended it once it sprouted from the ashes. Yet this plant is the healthiest plant on the property. The seed survived the heat of the fire last fall and the freeze of winter, and the plant weathered the 80-degree, sun-filled days of this past summer. Not only did it survive all of those extreme elements, but it has also bore an abundance of fruit—there are over nine squash growing on this healthy plant!

The beauty of the abundant life rising from the ash pile has captivated me. I have found my thoughts consumed with what God is saying through this plant that came to life from the ashes. It comforts me to know that God can bring beauty from ashes, and also reminds me that there is great potential for seeds buried in the soil of disappointment, sorrow, and despair.

Never underestimate the potential of a seed buried deep within the ashes. The fire that seemed to be relentless was in reality creating the perfect soil for new life.

The Power of Perspective

Our perceptions—much more than our circumstances—are the building blocks with which we construct our lives. No matter what the circumstances and stress, our view of life determines our level of joy and contentment.

Having a biblical perspective is seeing life as God sees it. It is the ability to get past the immediate circumstances to see God’s ultimate plan.

Perspective is what Joshua and Caleb had; it’s what the other ten spies lacked (Numbers 13:31). Joshua and Caleb entered Canaan and saw the land, the fruit, the potential for prosperity, and a place for their families to live and worship God. The other ten spies went to the same land and saw giants—great men of war, who made conquering the land seem impossible. Of course Joshua and Caleb saw the same giants. But while the ten saw the giants as bigger than God, the two saw God as bigger than the giants. Because they envisioned God on His throne, Joshua and Caleb could look at the same set of circumstances and see a completely different picture than the others saw—a picture both realistic and optimistic.

Our perspective may not be tested in the same way as theirs, but count on it, it will be tested.

Years ago Nanci and I went on a two-week vacation to California. We left the kids with friends and took off on what was going to be our greatest vacation ever. We had everything planned and just knew it would all go perfectly.

Everything did go perfectly—for the first forty miles. Then our radiator blew up, costing half a day and half our money to get a new one. Twenty-four hours later the rest of our money and our credit cards were stolen—on Friday evening of Memorial Day weekend. We couldn’t wire back for money until the banks opened three days later, when we had reservations in another part of the state. As the saying goes, “But that’s not all.” Not only did we have more car problems, but Nanci developed a severe sun rash and couldn’t expose her skin to direct sunlight until we returned home to Oregon (where direct sunlight is rarely a problem). Long sleeves, high necklines, and floppy hats were the only things that allowed her to escape from the motel.

Now, while it could have been the worst vacation we’ve ever had, it turned out to be one of the best. Why? Perspective.

We cried, we prayed, we laughed, we grew. We counted our blessings and realized how much we had and how little we’d lost. Once we let go of our ideal picture-perfect vacation and determined to enjoy whatever God had for us, He gave back to us a wonderful time and more. The circumstances didn’t improve because our attitudes improved. But, by God’s grace, our attitudes completely overcame the circumstances. With hearts full of gratitude, we enjoyed our time immensely.

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). The fulfilled life largely consists of unclenching our fists, releasing our plans and giving ourselves over to His purpose, whether visible or invisible.

“A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?” (Proverbs 18:14). A right attitude carries us through bad circumstances and poor health. But no matter how strong the body, how positive the circumstances, a crushed spirit will never experience joy. Perspective is what makes the spirit soar like an eagle even when the body is ravaged by accident, disease, or age.

Stress can’t stand in the face of a right perspective.

         

Related Resources

Book: Help for Women Under Stress
Blog: Crisis and Tragedy
Resource: Circumstances or Perspective?

Photo credit: slarge via sxc.hu