12:50 PM Do you remember the words of missionary martyr Jim Elliot? We are “sideliners” — coaching and criticizing the real wrestlers. Oh that God would make us dangerous! I thought of these words today when I read this comparison between being “imprisoned” by church traditions and literal imprisonment for the sake of Christ. As [...]
Tag Archives: mission
On Church Offices
8:03 PM Evening, blog peeps! Here are a few takeaways I had today from our discussion of Phil. 1:1-2: 1) The opening salutation is a window into Paul’s view of leadership in the church. Leadership is always shared. Paul’s ministry was a “co-worker” ministry! Note: “Paul and Timothy”; “overseers and deacons.” Clearly, Paul taught and [...]
6:02 AM Off to “regions beyond” (2 Cor. 10:16). Why? I’ve discovered that upward mobility is a downer. I’m haunted by the idea that God can take average everyday people like me and use them for His purposes. There was nothing special about the 70 whom Jesus sent out two by two. And I imagine [...]
On Social Action and the Gospel
12:16 PM Alan Knox, in an outstanding blog post called There was not a needy person among them, reminds us how important mutual care was in the early church. He writes: When a new brother or sister was in need, someone took care of that need from their own property. When someone was hungry, that [...]
4:40 AM What my trips to Ethiopia have taught me: Practical Christian fellowship calls for help when it is needed and not merely when it is asked for. Believers are, and always will be, saints together, regardless of race, nationality, political affiliation, or denomination. Yes, I said denomination. If I want to serve God I [...]
Pray for Dave and Ethiopia Team
Off to the races early tomorrow morning. I’m flying space available to save money, and the flights from Dulles to Frankfurt are all overbooked. Prayers appreciated! I mean that. We would love to have your prayer support while we’re gone. Not only for the team members but also for the families we leave behind. B [...]
Violating Turf
Think about this. When Jesus went to the Samaritans (John 4) He had no business being there. Becky and I likewise violate turf rules by going to the Gujis. Guji territory is outside the Burji box. But just as Jesus wandered into enemy-controlled territory, so the Christian has the privilege of invading territory controlled by [...]
Dave Black has been Thinking
I’ve been thinking… The most dangerous tool in Satan’s arsenal is distraction. He loves to distract us with things that don’t matter. It won’t matter in the end of time whether or not we had fancy buildings in which to worship God. It won’t matter in the Day of Judgment whether we had impressive programs [...]