The nations be glad! : the supremacy of God in missions / John Piper.

11- Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. 111- 112 An aging Christian once objected to John G. Paton's plan to go as a missionary to the South Sea Islands with the words, "You'll be eaten by Cannibals!" Paton responded: Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection lady will arise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.21 James Paton, ed., John G. Paton: Missionary to the New Hebrides, An Autobiography (London: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1965, originally 1891), p. 56. the world sees millions of "retired" Christians pouring out the last drops of their lives with joy for the sake of the unreached peoples and with a view toward heaven, then the Spacy of God frill shine. He does not shine as brightly in the posh, leisure-soaked luxury condos on the outer rings of our cities. Let There Be No Talk of Ultimate Self-Denial Christ is calling his church to biblical, wartime engagement in world missions. He is making it plain that it will not happen without pain. But let there be no Christian self-pity, no talk of ultimate self-denial. It is simply 5ing how consistent are the testimonies of missionaries who have suffered for the gospel. Virtually all of them bear witness of abundant joy and overriding compensations. Those who have suffered most speak in the most lavish terms of the supreme blessing joy of giving their lives away for others. Lottie Moon said, "Surely there is no greater joy than saving souls." Sherwood Eddy said of Amy Carmichael, "Her life was the most fragrant, the most joyfully sacrificial, that I ever know." Samuel Zwemer, after fifty years of labor (including the loss of young children], said, "The sheer joy of it all comes back. Gladly would I do it all over again." And both Hudson Taylor and David Livingston, after lives of extraordinary hardship and loss ;aid, ~'I never made a sacrifice." From this discovery I have learned that the way of love is both the way of self-denial and the way of ultimate joy. We deny ourselves the fleeting pleasures of sin and luxury and self absorption order to seek the kingdom above all things. In doing so we bring the greatest good to others, we magnify the worth of Christ as a treasure chest of joy, and we find our greatest satisfaction. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. And the supremacy of that glory shines most brightly when the Satisfaction that we have in him endures in spite of suffering and pain in the mission of love. ISBN 0-8010-7124-0 1993 by John Piper Published by Baker Books

Rethinking the church : a challenge to creative redesign in an age transition / James Emery White.

Rethinking the church : a challenge to creative redesign in an age transition / James Emery White. white, James Emery, 1961- 0-8010-9039-3 (pbk.) Rethinking Structure 93 To make matters worse, a church's structure is often wedded to some of the most deeply rooted customs within the life of a church . 94 As a result, a churches structure can either serve the church it to a standstill. It can energize a community of faith lead it toward ever deepening levels of discouragement. It can enable men and women to use their gifts and abilities for the kingdom of God or tie the hands and frustrate the most ted efforts of God's people. Why? Because the structure of any organization directly affects morale, effectiveness and unity.

Mountain rain / Eileen Crossrnan.

35 I am feeling more and more that it is, after all, just prayers of God's people that call down blessing upon the work, whether they are directly engaged in it or not. Paul may plant and Apollos water, but it is God whogives the increase; and this increase can be brought down from heaven by believing prayer, whether offered in China or in England. We are, as it were, God's agents - used by Him to do His work, ours. We do our part, and then can only look to Him. with orders, Eor His blessing. If this is so, then Christians at home can do as much for foreign missions as those actually on the field. I believe it Will only be known on the last Day how much has been accomplished in missionary work by the prayers earnest believers at home. And athis, surely, is the heart of the problem. Such work does not consist in curio exhibitions, showing slides, interesting reports and so on. Good as they may be. these are only the fringe. not root of the matter. Solid, lasting missionary work is done on our knees. What I covet more than anything else is Earnest believing prayer, and I write to ask you to Continue to put up much prayer for me and the work here in Tengyueh. I should like you continually to pray, not only for the salvation of outsiders but for blessing on those who have

what life is all about

I work hard and party hard; Thats what life is all about RIGHT???