Getting in Tune Requires the Right Standard

      My ten year old grandson, Judah, started taking guitar lessons this year.  His teacher is the nationally known Cherryville resident, Darin Aldridge.  He and his wife, Brooke, have played in Nashville's Grand Ole Opry more than once.  So we are hopeful that if Judah's passion to learn how to play stays hot, and he disciplines himself to practice, he might just learn how to play well.

     However, no matter how great the teacher is, or how hard the student practices, if the strings of the guitar are old and frayed, or if they are out of tune, the sound produced by it will please no one.

     Recently I took Judah to the house of his Uncle Eric, so that he could change the strings of Judah's guitar.  Eric took the time to show Judah how to properly change the strings, so that he can do it for himself in the future.

     While Eric was changing the strings, he told us a story about his brother, Scott, who was an avid and talented guitar player.  Apparently when Eric's parents bought Scott's first guitar, they also bought a cheap record player and a 45 speed record to use for tuning the guitar.  So, because the standard Scott utilized when tuning his guitar was subpar, each string was actually just a bit out of tune.  Scott, however, was oblivious to that fact for several years, and practiced and played to the best of his ability with that out of tune instrument.

     It was not until some time later that a friend of his perceived that Scott's guitar was tuned too high.  The strings were higher off the frets than they should have been.  As Jimmy helped Scott correct the situation, Scott realized that the standard he used for tuning was out of whack, and thus his best performance with that guitar would always be a bit off to the trained ear. 

     As I heard that real life story about the importance of having a good standard, I thought of a spiritual application.  You see, many people around the world are trying their best to please their Creator, but because they are following the wrong standard for knowing and serving God, their lives are out of tune with His will and good pleasure.  For a majority of such folks, it's not that they are not passionate, or are undisciplined.  Listening to the testimony of people like Nabeel Qureshi reminded me of this fact.  I highly recommend listening to Nabeel.  See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bjv2t7PC7E

     Calvary Road Ministries (CRM) exists to "empower Gospel movements among least reached people."  The most important thing our ministry does is enable those who are out of tune with their Creator to have access to the Bible in their heart language, or a trade language they already speak.   Generally CRM does this by supplying them with an audio NT loaded on to a micro SD card or solar powered MP3 player.  We also share God's standard with them by telling them the 42 Bible stories found on the first CRM produced Story Cloth.  Whatever the means used, the goal is to provide people with the proper standard for getting in tune with God's will.  That worthy goal requires they understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ who is "the only mediator between God and men."  

     Psalm 1 states that the people blessed of God  are those who "delight in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.  They will be like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that they do, they prosper."  What a beautiful image of being in tune with the will and purposes of the Creator!

David

    

 

The First Christmas Was Not Easy for Its Actors

It is Christmas Eve 2020, and while my wife and I were preparing for our family gathering, we listened to an interview of Ravi Zacharias. It can be found at this link: https://youtu.be/j0eR1O2EAf0. During the course of the interview, Ravi gave a quote by G.K. Chesterton which made me think about the first Christmas. The quote is "The problem with the Christian life is not that it has been tried and found wanting. Rather it is that it has been found difficult and left untried." As I pondered on that statement, I thought about all the difficulties which were encountered by those whom God chose to involve in the events which took place in Israel in connection with the birth of Jesus. Zechariah and Elizabeth, though elderly, were asked to bring into the world the forerunner of the Messiah, John the Baptist. Mary was asked by the Lord to undergo the shame sure to be heaped upon her by the people of her village when she relayed to them that her pregnancy was caused by the Holy Spirit, and not by an act of adultery. Joseph was asked to marry his betrothed knowing that she was not pregnant with a child of his creation. The Magi had to make a perilous journey to reach Bethlehem from whence they saw the star announcing the birth of the King of the Jews. Many citizens of the region of Bethlehem lost male children age 2 or younger to the soldiers of ruthless King Herod the Great. Joseph and Mary subsequently had to flee to Egypt with the baby to avoid Herod's attempts to find and destroy this new King whose birth was announced by angels. Yes, if during this Christmas season we read the scriptures associated with the entrance of the Messiah into the world with a view to seeing afresh all its associated difficulties, we will be forced to agree that, as Chesterton said, "the Christian life is difficult." So,why should any of us complain this Christmas season,knowing what the coming of Christ cost the actual actors who lived out the events. Are you tired of being told to isolate? Think afresh on how Mary and Elizabeth had to isolate themselves during their pregnancies. Do you find yourself unable to buy as many presents this year because the pandemic has reduced your income? Then think of Joseph and Mary arriving in Bethlehem and discovering their was no room for them in an inn, resulting in their baby being born in a stable. Are you tired of your freedoms being restricted to celebrate as your heart desires? Then think on Joseph being told he must flee Israel for Egypt until such a time as he is told it is safe to return home. Certainly more examples could be given, but these suffice to drive home the point that following and serving Jesus with whole-hearted devotion was never, and never will be, easy. As the Apostle Paul told the new believers in the Region of Galatia,"... through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). So, this Christmas Season, let us dwell not on any particular difficulty which may currently be affecting our lives, but rather on the worthiness of Him who "though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himeself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." David

The Gospel Cannot Be Quarantined

 The Gospel Cannot Be Quarantined

       Revelation 3:7-8 read "There are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.  What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.  I know your deeds.  See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut..."

         By now we are all too familiar with the myriad of changes brought into our lives here in the USA, and around the world, due to government imposed restrictions meant to prevent, or at least slow down, the spread of the Covid-19 Virus.  The impact or effects of these restrictions have differed according to one's age, geographic location and type of work.  However, no matter who you are, your world has changed since last March.

     Local churches certainly have been impacted.  Many are still only offering a "corporate" worship service online; making use of means such as Face Book Live or YouTube.  Others are opening their doors, but limiting the number of those in attendance, requiring social distancing and the wearing of masks.  Some large, well known churches have chosen not to gather for worship as in the past until 2021.  Some continue to gather as always, and have initiated lawsuits against their state governments because they strongly believe the state has overstepped authority granted to them by the US Bill of Rights.

     Closed borders, combined with very strict pandemic restrictions, have forced many long term missionaries to leave the country where they normally live.  They are either now back in their home country or in another country where conditions are less harsh and restrictive.  Others have stayed put but been forced to stay very close to home.

     As serious followers of Jesus walk through this particular "valley of shadows," it is extremely comforting to read again the promise of our Lord Jesus that "what he opens, no man can shut."  This means even during this trying period, we can trust that He continues to work through His disciples who have "ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches."  

     I have been impressed while watching young believers in my area rise to the occasion by starting Bible studies in their homes.  Others have become foster parents.  Some have seized on the opportunity to mentor and disciple teenagers who have more time on their hands due to the cancellation of sports, and schools opting to provide education by remote learning.  Their actions speak volumes about their commitment to obey, conquer, patiently endure, and cling to the promises Jesus makes to those who overcome.

     CRM partners with Sudanese believers who have returned home, specifically Darfur, from refugee camps in Uganda.  The Corona Virus restrictions of their country have just piled one more obstacle on top of an already existing plethora of them, i.e. resistance from religious leaders, violence caused  by militias, persecution of new believers, etc.  However, despite such conditions, they continue to report that Mus**ms are receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior in unprecedented numbers.  Their reports have been a constant source of joy to us and helped enable us to remain extremely upbeat.

     Thanks be to our sovereign God who is greater than any pandemic, and able to open doors for His children who have ears to hear and are committed to conquer until He returns, or calls them home. 

 David Crane

Martin Luther the Latest Technology and God's Word

 November 9, 2020

     Reformation Day was celebrated just a few days ago on October 31. Most Americans may have let this slip by due to focusing on Halloween. Over 9 billion US Dollars were spent on Halloween in 2019, so that speaks the attention Halloween receives. 

     Nevertheless, for those who love God's Word and understand the significance of Martin Luther posting his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg church door, the day cannot pass without them thanking God for Luther and the early Reformers. 

     Historians inform us that Luther wrote his theses in Latin because his intended audience was other scholars who taught at the nearby university. His intent at that point was not to break off from the Roman Catholic Church, but to instigate debate and discussion among teachers with a view to bringing needed changes to a church which had become very corrupt

. Most ordinary Germans of his day could not read Latin.  So some of Luther's enterprising students took the theses, translated them in the vernacular German, and then took their translation to a printer. 

     Scholars date the invention of Gutenberg's printing press to 1450. By 1517 there were said to be 200 printing centers in Europe. Luther's students saw the advantage this new technology offered for spreading Luther's writings among ordinary Germans. Thus it is believed that within a matter of weeks, the 95 theses were read by Germans all over the country. 

     Both before and after the Diet of Worms, Luther continued to have his theological treatises published in pamphlet form, and they were quickly disseminated and eagerly read. They became the fuel of the Protestant Reformation. 

     After Luther translated the Bible into German, it was printed immediately and received a wide distribution. This enabled the common person to read, or hear read, the Word, and thus enabled them to interpret Scripture apart from a priest's help or distorted interpretation. 

     Why tell this story? Because we at Calvary Road Ministries like to believe we are today following in the footsteps of the Reformers by making effective use of the latest technology to place God's Word and biblical teaching into the hands of ordinary people. When possible, we do so with a NT translated into their mother tongue. If such does not exist, we use a widely accepted national language, i.e. Sudanese Arabic. The technologies we utilize are in  digital form. We load the scripture resources onto hardware like micro SD cards and MP3 players. The former are tiny and only cost $7 when fully loaded with Gospel films and audio NTs. Two thousand of them would take up less space in a suitcase than one of the large Bibles produced by the printing press of the age of Luther and Tyndale. 

Hundreds of millions in our world still lack access to the Bible. If the $9 billion spent on Halloween were diverted to purchasing scripture resources, the evangelical Protestant Church of the USA could supply a copy to all those now walking in utter darkness

     We invite you to support us in this effort by making a donation via our website, www.calvaryroadministries.com 

David Crane

Haman Hung on His Own Gallows

     Esther 7:9-10 "Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, 'Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high.'  So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.  Then the wrath of the king was abated."
     Those familiar with the Old Testament book of Esther will know that God is not directly mentioned in the book.  Yet the book's ironic events imply God's sovereign activity.  Those actions are clear examples of the truth the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote in I Corinthians 1:25 "The weakness of God is stronger than men." 
     As Jon Bloom wrote in an article found on desiringGod.org, "Woven through Scripture and church history is a consistent and counterintuitive pattern: God cedes the positions of greatest worldly power and influence and wealth to His enemies--those who 'take their stand....against the Lord and against His Anointed' (Psalm 2:2 NASB)--and then, through the most improbable, unexpected means, overthrows His enemies and redeems His people.  He lets Haman build the gallows, and then hangs him on it."
     Craig Keener has summarized well the ironic actions found in Esther.

      Vashti's misfortune underlines Esther's favor. Queen Vashti loses her crown by refusing to come before King Ahasuerus (NIV, Xerxes) despite his order (1:12,19).  Esther comes before the king despite this action being prohibited, and receives royal favor (5:2).  Vashti loses her position in the context of the king's banquet (1:3,12); Esther is crowned at a banquet (2:17-18) and receives extravagant favor at two more banquets (5:6; 7:2).
     The wicked Haman brings about his own destruction (Prov. 1:8). Haman plots against the Jews, unaware that the queen is Jewish.  Indeed, as queen of Persia, Esther is still obeying her Jewish relative, Mordecai, who raised her (2:20).  What Haman seeks for his own honor instead honors Mordecai (6:6-10); what Haman plots as Mordecai's public execution becomes his own (7:10; 8:7); what Haman plots against the Jews comes on their enemies (9:1-5).  Esther ends up with Haman's property (8:7); Mordecai ends up with Haman's position as vizier to the king (8:2,7,15; 9:4).

     Recently we received news from brethren who are living and ministering in Darfur, and the events relayed in their report made me think of Esther and Haman.  Some background in required.  Omar Bashir, the recently deposed president of Sudan, conspired in 2003 with various parties to start a war in Darfur.  He recruited extremists from surrounding countries for the militia he created for his personal war.  That fighting came to be labeled a genocide by the international community; the first of the 21st century.  It resulted in over 300,000 deaths and the displacement of over 2 million of Darfur's citizens.  He had personal wealth and power in mind.  Bashir now sits in prison, and the new government is dismantling his personal empire.
     Since 2003, many of those hundreds of thousands of Darfurians who fled to other countries have received Jesus as Lord.  While in those countries, a large number of them seized the opportunity to attend a Bible school, and some even qualified for a seminary education.  They also began to partner with Christian organizations which supplied them with leadership development, scriptural resources, and financial assistance, which in turn enabled them to reach many other Sudanese who are also refugees.  Being forced into exile ended up affording them opportunities which would have been denied them had they never left Darfur. 
     Some have already returned to Darfur and have used their training and the resources given them to do widespread sowing of the Gospel.  Only God knows how many residents of Darfur have received Christ since their return, but the opinion of those on the ground is that the number is large.  The actions of Bashir and his minions have created a hunger in the hearts of many and when they hear the Gospel of Jesus, they realize it is the message for which they have been longing.
     Recently, our friends in Darfur told us that a group of local religious leaders (Imams) had incited their maternal uncles to meet with them and warn them to walk away from the Gospel and return to their traditional religion.  They reported that the meeting started out hostile, but ended up well after those men heard their testimonies.
     After those Imams returned home, they soon discovered that many of their own family members had already received Jesus as Lord because those very people went to them and boldly told them of their new found faith and of their commitment to stand firm, no matter the cost.
     So as our friends put it "the plans of those men have backfired on them.  Their opposition to us has created fires within their own homes."  
     Those who rely on violence and deceit to achieve their desired ends will sooner or later hang on the gallows of their own creation.  Human history is "His Story," and the Lord's purposes will stand.

David 

     
     
     
     
     
     

Romans 8:28 and the Covid-19 Pandemic

Romans 8:28 is an oft memorized verse of holy Scripture because of the precious promise it contains for God's people.  It also reminds believers that our Lord is sovereign over human history, which is an extremely encouraging thought in the kind of hard times now facing many people around the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The chief purpose of our Lord for His adopted children is mentioned in verse 29, and it is "that we might be conformed to the image of His Son..." This means when our heavenly Father does allow hard times into our lives, their intent is not merely to depress, physically harm, or disillusion us.  Rather such things are meant to shape us more into Christ-likeness.  There is a ministry called "The Chisel Guys" and they have posted on You Tube a short skit which deals with this issue of God using all sorts of events to chisel away from us all that prevents us from growing more like Christ.  Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QCkBL2DfVg

Without a doubt, the current pandemic has brought a lot of struggles to many people, both in the USA and in the world at large.  In Africa, more people may die from the effects of pandemic related shut downs than will ever die from the virus.  However, one form of the proverbial "silver lining" which attends this pandemic has been made known to us by fellow Christ followers who live in Sudan. 

They live in an area of the country where over the last 11 months, thousands of locals have heard the Gospel for the first time, and many have responded to the its message of salvation by grace.  Since the season of Ramadan and the pandemic travel restrictions overlapped this year, it has been reported that many of the new believers were more bold in sharing their new found faith with their families.  The restrictions kept them at home, so they realized they needed to seize the moment to explain to their families why they would not be observing the annual fast. 

As a result of their increased boldness in sharing the Gospel with their loved ones and friends, it is believed that people may have entered the Kingdom during this past Ramadan season.  That is certainly a "silver lining," and serves as a reminder to God's people that He is at work for good in all things.  His people just need to listen for His voice each day; and see how He can use even tough circumstances for Kingdom purposes.

May the example of brethren living in an environment of persecution embolden us who live in the West.  May we rise above dwelling only on what this pandemic has caused us to lose, and instead begin to pray about what God is saying to us personally.  Perhaps His intent is to "chisel" on us individually, and on our local church bodies. 

David

Crises Require Innovation

 Crises Require Innovation

 https://www.facebook.com/kelly.e.allen.3

When severe crises appear, such as we are now experiencing due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the resulting impact will produce various reactions in people's personal lives, and in the way businesses and ministries continue to function.

Baptist Press has published several articles reporting how local churches are using innovative ways to continue to minister to their people, http://www.bpnews.net/54511/drivein-worship-services-lead-to-new-opportunities.  I encountered just yesterday some guys who are doing an evangelistic crusade in western NC by utilizing an old drive-in movie theatre and a FM transmittor.  This resulted from the fact that one of the pastors was supposed to preach a series of revival services in a local church.  When that plan had to be cancelled, they innovated.  They reported that the response has been greater than they anticipated.  As the people sit in their cars and listen to the sermon, they have come up with new ways to say "Amen;" they blink the headlights of their car or honk their car horn.  You have to love "down home, country folks."

A family member of mine works for a local business which has been forced to change how they normally do business.  As of last week, they have over %60 of their workforce working from home.  After critiquing the effectiveness of this new setup, the leadership have come to realize that the efficiency of their employee's work has actually improved.  So one takeaway for them may prove to be that they no longer must depend on hiring only people who live locally.

For me this situation serves as a prime example of the fact that being forced to innovate in a response mode can actually lead to positive new developments.  However, those organizations which will ultimately benefit from forced innovation are those which have leaders who are open minded to change, and who seek to be the best prepared to respond to the needs of their customers/constituents in "normal" times.

One innovation CRM made prior to this Covid-19 crisis is supplying scripture in digital format, i.e. micro-SD cards load with audio New Testaments, projectors which are used to show the Jesus Film Project videos, and solar powered MP3 players.  All CRM short term teams have been forced to cancel or postpone their trips to work alongside CRM's field partners.  However, because past teams have carried out literally tens of thousands of dollars worth of digital resources, our field partner's work of widespread seed sowing, evangelism and discipleship is continuing on unabated.  So while we are stuck in the USA, we are being encouraged by the reports of partners who are seeing great results from the use of CRM supplied materials.

I placed just under the title of this blog post the link to Kelly Eaker Allen's Face Book page.  Kelly has made many trips to Uganda and Kenya with CRM.  She has become expert in telling all 42 stories of the first Story Cloth.  Kelly, Renee and other ladies of our home town have been leading Story Cloth seminars for local churches.  However, their most recent plan has been interrupted by the current crisis.  So Kelly has innovated.  Her children are helping her tell the stories from home, utilizing the Face Book Live feature.  Other folks will be involved in telling stories as well.  Thus, everyone who would have heard the stories told at the local Presbyterian Church can now view them via Kelly's page.  A big knock-on effect will be that even field partners living in places like Uganda and Sudan will be able to watch these FB Live feeds at their convenience.  So while her innovation was undertaken primarily for the benefit of one local church, the result may prove a blessing to people who live all around the world.

Go to Kelly's page when you have opportunity, and look for the posts containing the links to each day's story cloth performance.  The latest one was done by Jack Cox, the 15 year old son of Travis and Betsy Cox.  Just copy and paste the link provided at the top of this page into your browser.

David