June 2006: Not Many Fathers
eTouch is designed to keep in touch with you and to be a blessing to anyone who has ever served in Youth With A Mission - or just likes us. We love to hear from you. . .
1. Matters that Matter - Not many fathers
2. Profound & Pithy
3. A Book to Read - How to avoid getting snagged
4. Bet you didn't know this
5. Donna's Corner - Ouch! That hurts!
6. inTouch Renewal Gatherings coming up
1. Matters that Matter - Not many Fathers
Paul wrote this to his beloved friends in Greece as a father to his children...
"... I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled. There are a lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there aren't many fathers willing to take time and effort to help you grow up."
(1Cor 4:14-15 The Message)
So often in my life as a father I have been quick to jump on my kids when they blew it; and slow to encourage them when they did well. A father's main job is to see that his children surpass him in every way - that should be his greatest legacy. Now that I see that, I'm trying to do a better job with my grandchildren.
Fatherhood, though a gender-specific term, is really incomplete without motherhood ("And God created man in His own image... male and female He created them" Genesis 1:27). 2000 years after Paul, the missing pieces in the church puzzle are still mothers and fathers. A lot of people seem to think that what we need are more apostles... or more prophets... or more 'anointed this or anointed that.'
What the church needs is more fathers (in the generic sense); mothers and fathers who are there for their kids, spurring them on to greater things, offering their wisdom, wanting them to achieve more than they ever did, handing over the baton of ministry. This last one is a tough nut to crack; we watch as leaders (are they being fathers?) are reluctant to give over
what they have started. We seem to forget that we too were once children, wanting to grow up, wanting spiritual fathers, aspiring for more responsibility. Yet how often were we thwarted in those God-given desires?
In May we had our annual Board Meeting; I usually come away from these things with sagging shoulders from the added 'stuff' to do. This time, through the prayers of caring Board members, Donna and I were directed to take on only the mantle of mother and father. Wow! We can live with that.
(Do you know who the members of our Board are? If you do, send me all their names - excluding the ones we just elected last month - and I'll mail you a copy of Re-Entry, or other fine book, if we have it! All the names next time.)
I often say, "If you want to stay young, hang out with young people" (in other words, be available as a father). And then I add, "If you want to die young, try to keep up with them." We fathers and mothers should be pushing from behind, not trying to keep up or keep ahead.
2. Profound & Pithy
The immature mind hops from one thing to another; the mature mind seeks to follow through. Harry A. Overstreet
If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results. Jack Dixon
It's easier to criticize than change
A word from your mouth speaks volumes about your heart
3. A Book to Read - how to avoid getting snagged
The Bait of Satan; by John Bevere (Living free from the deadly trap of offense)
Jesus says, "It is impossible that no offenses should come" (Luke 17:1). It is not a question of whether we will be offended; it is a question about what our response will be when we are offended. Most people, who are ensnared by offense, don't even realize it. Stay free from the trap or it will affect all your relationships. You can get this book at just about any
Christian Book Store.
4. Bet you didn't know this - about Shane
Hands up all who know where Niue is located. Hint: it is a tiny island in the South Pacific and it is pronounced "Knee-you-way" (say it fast). Niue has produced at least one YWAMer, Shane Faitala, who joined the mission in the Cook Islands in 1991; took the School of Biblical Studies in 1993; served with Second Wave in Canada where he met Tamara Reid and where they were married in 1995. Then in 1996 they left YWAM, settling in British Columbia, and until 2004 Shane worked a 'regular' job; their family has been growing and they now have three children, Reid, Shaelyn and Lilliesa. In 2004 Shane received some directions from God... and promptly quit his day job.
After reading Rick Warren's, 'The Purpose-Driven Life,' God spoke to Shane to translate the Bible into Niuean, his mother tongue. With little knowledge of how to do this, he sought the counsel of others, some of whom encouraged him to pursue his vision. Now, after two years Shane has completed the first draft on 12 books in the New Testament... Mark, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Titus, Luke, 1st & 2nd Timothy, and 1st &
2nd Thessalonians.
In Shane's own words, "I felt so unworthy and so fearful because of my limitations in so many things on this higher calling. We know this project is huge and beyond us, but know in our hearts that only God can fulfill this work of His, and we are so honored that He has chosen us to be part of His story. The main focus of the translation work is to make the translation readable, understandable and applicable to this generation and the generations to come. We pray that His Word will bring our people to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ."
Shane and Tamara are still YWAMers at heart. They live by faith, trusting in God for their daily bread as they take on this mammoth mission. A retired 40-year veteran missionary to Papua New Guinea with Wycliffe, offers her counsel and advice by driving five hours twice a month to see Shane.
[If you would like to encourage Shane & Tamara in any way - they are a team - you can reach them at thefaitala4@yahoo.ca ]
And if you know some interesting and out-of-the-box type of things that former YWAMers are doing, let me know. This could be a regular feature for eTouch.
5. Donna's Corner - Ouch! That hurts!
I've heard a lot about 'realignment' lately; some realignment has led to divisions. Realignment can hurt. Realignment needs to be done with the heart of God.
God's greatest treasures are the people whom He Himself created to have relationship with.
Sometimes we are blinded by the brightness of our vision and forget the precious lambs He has given us, and may even let the sheep fend for themselves.
The disciples had just seen a miracle of a great catch of fish, as in obedience to Jesus, they threw their nets on the other side of the boat. (Read John 21)
After Jesus cooked fish on the beach for the disciples, He asked Peter three times...
First, "Do you love Me more than these?" (The fish, the miracle.) "Feed My lambs."
Second time, "Do you truly love me?" "Take care of my sheep."
Third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Feed My sheep.
I've been in several different situations, where there has been division, no understanding, a lot of tears and a lot of pain.
As I was listening and praying in one situation a few weeks ago, I felt severe pain in my heart. This happens to me sometimes, and the Lord had said that when this pain comes, remember it is spiritual and not physical. I said to the group I was with, I can't leave until I know why God has allowed this pain. I went into deep travail and I sensed the Lord say, "My heart too is broken over what is happening." Sometimes we are so concerned about how we feel that we forget how our best friend - our Father- Creator feels.
Like Joshua, sometimes people say, "Are you for them or for us?" The answer is, "Neither."
I want to know what is on God's heart, and if it is broken, then my heart is broken too. He loves His people more than vision, land, buildings and programs. If His own people are fed and taken care of, the lost will be won.
With love from Donna
6. inTouch Renewal Gatherings coming up soon
For Europe's inTouch Renewal Gatherings there are several choices for you - Sweden, Norway, Switzerland & France in July and August. Go to http://intouchcamps.com or contact Roy Jones.
September 6-10, in Batam, Indonesia (near Singapore) with David Demian (Watchmen for the Nations), along with Peter & Donna Jordan; Contact Lin at singaporeintouch@yahoo.com.sg
January 2007 - Summertime Down Under in The Antipodes!
January 14-20 Sydney, Australia with David Demian Info: Peter West westfolk@ozemail.com.au
January 20-27 Orama, Great Barrier Island, New Zealand - a different kind of Gathering with John Dawson and David Demian (planning still in the early stages).
And finally... I'll leave you with four ways of saying the same thing:
A Chinese philosopher riding backward on his donkey was heard to say, "We live life forward, but only understand it backward."
"Keep your eyes and dreams focused on the future, but never forget the
past." DeJuan Hoggard
True visionaries see backward as well as forward.
Or, as an old Maori saying puts it, walk into the future backwards.
Till next time (when we hope to have a prettier format!)
Peter Jordan
