Category Archives: SPIRITUAL INTEREST

REVOLUTION IN WORLD MISSIONS, One Man’s Journey to Change a Generation by K. P. Yohannan (Gospel For Asia, 1985, 2009)

Revolution in World Missions is not an easy read nor is it comfortable to read. Yohannan is on a mission and he is not to be deterred. His message hits hard, but it is relevant. That is why I read it cover to cover. In the process of telling his personal story, he unfolds his view on missions. He also shows how organized religion is asleep and has lost its purpose by an over-emphasis on social programs at the expense of having a spiritual mission, actively treating physical needs more than addressing spiritual needs.         ~Yohannan presses the need for evangelism throughout the world to a needy, immense populace in the Two-Thirds World. Areas where the effectiveness of evangelism rests with dedicated indigenous missionaries who live as humbly as those with whom they minister, who travel by foot or bicycle, who know what it is to be hungry, beaten, and ostracized. Some are even martyred. Yohannan doesn’t cut us any slack in reference to the materialistic indulgence of the organized church with its colonialist’ view of missions as seen in many churches and missionary organizations. One cannot read this book without evaluating its content. It will either offend or motivate, maybe both. Quote: “God gives some people more so they can be channels of blessing to others. God desires equity between His people on a worldwide basis. That is why the early Church had no poverty.” p. 87.     ~This book’s secondary message is in the form of a rebuke against the lethargy one finds in the modern church. Yohanna seems somewhat angry. Maybe he has a right to be. His passion is for the lost who have yet to hear the name of Christ. His impatience is with those who are unwilling to open their eyes and those whom have forgotten the words found in Christ’s Great Commission.  I believe the author speaks as to the need (the unreached), the possibility (the lost to be reached), an effective way (indigenous missionaries and pastors) and the part we play (to support the missionaries). His message is about having a vision for the spiritually perishing and then doing something about it.      ~This book’s purpose is to compel us to give liberally to support indigenous missionaries in Asia and India who live and evangelize in areas where there is darkness waiting for light. Gospel For Asia (GFA) is the organization that sponsors and directs the indigenous missionaries. It takes its mission seriously. Although I do not agree with several of Yohanna’s statements, I share this book because I believe it has merit and it sounds a wake-up call.       ~How can they hear without a preacher? They can’t. I received this book in the mail as a free gift. It is my first awareness of GFA and I am unaware of its history otherwise. Those interested in learning about Gospel For Asia may visit WWW.GFA.ORG. Revolution in World Missions

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Thoughts at a Monastery

2013-07-10 14.52.52

I am sitting under a huge tree. It looks like a black walnut. A couple of miniature undeveloped nutlets hit my arms as the wind blew them out of the tree. Other nutlets are littering the ground like little quarter-inch green tear-drops. Stones form a circle around the tree trunk made of smooth flat gray stones in a flat layer.

I am sitting on a stone bench. My legs swing loosely because my feet are unable to touch the ground. The wind is blowing the Japanese maples’ leaves. It is very park-like here. The rain from a week ago refreshened the leaves on all the plants. They look vibrant, brightly colorful. I picked up a green hulled nutlet to smell it. It smells like black walnuts. I should know! I have spent many an hour picking black walnuts to sell for spending money, especially right before Christmas.

A woman came by and picked up some green nuts and swirled them in her hand. She mouthed to me “What are they?” I replied, “Black walnuts.” She held up her hand to stop me from saying more. Then I asked her, “Are you on a silent retreat?” She nodded, yes. What a lovely smile she has. I see the cat from a few weeks ago. She is coming over to me. I speak to her and she meows back. She rubs and arches her back against my pant’s leg.

A red spider mite is running around in frenzied circles on a table top. It is the size of a pin-head. I love listening to the rustle of the wind in the trees. A dove is cooing, I can see it. A sprinkler is spraying, the water is splashing the ground. A motor is in the near distance, and the more I concentrate, I can hear vehicle noise from the highway, quite a distance from here. There is a “caw” of a crow, and an owl hooting several times like in a long paragraph of on-going sound. Other sounds stir and resound in the silence. One sound is missing, I hear no human voices.

I have meandered around the buildings and have entered the small cinder block chapel, the one with only six seats. I am thinking back over several conversations of the past week, praying for loved ones, and pondering truth. My daughter says “You’ve changed so much. I don’t know what you believe anymore.” The topic was the gift of speaking in tongues, is it biblical for today? She is right. I have changed. Although I hold most of the same beliefs and doctrines from a protestant viewpoint and biblical interpretation of scripture. In many ways I have not changed. I believe one must practice truth as it is taught in the Bible, and not add on to its truth.

There is difference though. I have changed in that I don’t believe God operates in only one way. He is not limited to our way of thinking. I have learned that there are some parts of Christianity that need more emphasizing. The Christian walk is a disciplined walk of spiritual disciplines, but energized by God’s power and His grace which comes out of His Divine Love and utterance. If we learn to follow His lead, we are certain to seek the right things. The trick is, we must learn to wait and we must not get ahead of God. Also, we must make ourselves available to him.