I disagree. While almost all religions have a version of the so called “golden rule”, Jesus is uniquely different. The golden rule is sometimes called “the ethics of reciprocity”, and you’ll find it in the Bahai faith, Confucianism, ancient Egyptian religion, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, native American spirituality even ancient Roman religion. From Zoroastrianism to Taoism, from Sikhism to Shintoism, yes, my friend had a point; all religion contains some version of the golden rule, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ – that’s a whole other matter. 

The Gospel proposes it is humanly impossible to live up to the golden rule – no one can consistently and from the heart do unto others as they would want to be done to themselves. Jesus spoke the golden rule, but He did it in the context of a sermon for self-righteous religious leaders, who thought they were able to live up to God’s holy and righteous standard. Anyone scrutinizing the golden rule will recognize that we fall short, it is humanly impossible to attain. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not about a doomed human effort to live up to the golden rule. Rather it is the Good News that one person has been able to keep the golden rule and live up to its demand, Jesus Himself. He fulfilled the requirements of his own admonition and having done so, He absorbed the failures and sins of those (the rest of us), who are not able to live up to the golden rule.

Every religion can be boiled down to the golden rule except the Gospel. Religion is man’s attempt to bridge the chasm between God and man. While man is the highest of God’s creation, God, who is eternal, is in a separate category from His creation. Many make attempts to bridge that gap from the created to the Creator, but the only way that bridge can be built is in the opposite direction. That’s the Gospel message – the bridge from the Creator to His creation has been built, God did it without human help for our benefit.

What about the golden rule? It is certainly an ideal statement. If we could live up to its requirements it would be wonderful. Have you tried? Do you like to be slandered, lied about, or be the object of gossip? Of course not. Let’s turn that around. Have we ever gossiped, slandered or lied about another person? Have we ever attempted to make ourselves look better at someone else’s expense? Of course we have. The problem with the golden rule is the mere statement of the rule, or the noble intention to follow the rule, does not have within itself the power to make one actually do it. The Gospel promises an inward miracle; when we believe in Christ, His life comes into us. It is only by drawing on that inner spiritual life that we will have any success in living righteous. The Apostle Paul put it this way, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live I live by the faith of the Son of God.” Living by a rule is difficult; living by who you are on the inside, now that’s possible.

View on Website

That criticism has also been pointed closer to home, within the ranks of our “Christian” community. How about the fact that we kill our own? No, maybe not physically, but in every other way. When a believer sins, or God forbid a minister, they are publicly humiliated in the name of Christianity. Often the hands of those who do this sacred spiritual exercise are more soiled than the hands of those they are “purifying” to ease their self righteous piety.

Giving any amount of thought to these troublesome, yet true realities, causes ones mind to trend towards unbelief. The facts are real. This goes on every day. So what is the point of religion? Is God a fairy tale as those looking in would have us believe? How does one explain these two very disturbing realities? Is this the kind of God one would want to serve, let alone give their life to?

While pondering this very query, it suddenly dawned on me. Satan has been defeated. I think we can all agree on that, at least in principle from what we read in the Bible. Ok, and the only weapon he has left is deception. Are we together so far? Also, we can all agree that Satan is not more powerful or creative than God, right?

We see that Satan is merely a shadow of what God is. He does not create, he imitates. What God does for good, the devil does for evil. Jesus brings life, the devil death. Jesus heals, Satan destroys. The list could go on.

May I ask what the greatest gift to mankind from God is? Isn’t it forgiveness of sin, new life, and subsequent personal fellowship with Him through the Holy Spirit? I know that is the one thread that makes it next to impossible to ever reject my faith in Jesus. There is no greater fellowship and love than that of the Father through the Holy Spirit. It is so sweet, so kind, so accepting, so loving, so motivating; should I go on?

Doesn’t it make sense that the greatest gift, forgiveness of sin, new life and fellowship with the Father, would be perverted by the devil into perhaps the greatest evil known to mankind, RELIGION… THE GREATEST PERVERSION.

David described one day in right standing and fellowship with the Father as a far better experience than 1,000 days in the courts of a king. What God intended to be sweeter than life itself, Satan has perverted through deception into perhaps the most destructive force on earth.

Sadly, many non-believers site religion as the very reason why they want nothing to do with God. So much hurt, death and rejection has been caused in the name of religion. I have experienced this both personally and seen it in so many others. I know a wonderfully kind lady who made a bad decision as a young girl. She was so belittled and derided by the church for her wrong choice. She has since hardened her heart to God. As an adult, she fortifies her claims of God’s uselessness by citing further examples of friends and ministers she knows who were also mercilessly thrown to the curb as useless garbage.

I cannot believe religion or it’s adherents represent God. Not from my own personal experience with God, and not from reading the pages of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Jesus was nothing like religion. He was a friend of sinners, and told the least likely, a prostitute, “I do not condemn you, go and sin no more.” Those are not the words of a murderer; not in word or in action.

Perhaps you have given this subject some thought?

-Nathan Thurber

View on Website

Experience is based on our five senses; we see, hear, smell, taste and feel. Empiricism, however, is insufficient, because it is limited, and in fact little of what we know comes by personal experience. You know that Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, but likely not by experience. You may have seen a picture of Mt. Everest or watched documentaries about mountain climbing expeditions, but that doesn’t qualify as a personal experience. I flew over it once and the pilot asked us to look out the window, claiming we could see Mount Everest. I took his word for it. Sometimes our senses deceive us. When a straight stick extends under water it looks bent at the surface, but it isn’t. Empiricism without other sources is not enough.

Descartes used reason when he stated, “I think, therefore I am”. Our capacity to think proves our existence. Reason certainly gives us truth about many things, such as 5 + 5 = 10. Yet reason is also limited because some things seem logical, but turn out to not to be true.

What about authority? Is there a credible authority that deserves our trust? Life wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t trust authority. Think of our banking or postal systems, all run on our trust in an authoritative system. Yet, our experience must also confirm the claims of those systems. All knowledge is a combination of experience, reason and authority.

Take riding an elevator for example. The authority, which is the company who services the elevator, claims that the elevator is safe. Your experiences may have also taught you that riding in the elevator is safe, yet reason tells you that something could go wrong because there’s a button that says “alarm”. Nevertheless, you go ahead, though you’re not 100 per cent sure that you will arrive safely. Now change the scenario. What if that elevator was shaking, or looked otherwise unsafe, suddenly you wouldn’t trust the affixed paper that states it was serviced properly, and you wouldn’t rely on the fact that you had been on an elevator a thousand times before and it worked every time. We all reach conclusions based on a combination of experience, reason and authority, and if either one of these is not in sync with the other, we reassess what we thought we knew.

Now back to our original questions. What about Jesus? Let’s use the same criteria. I claim to have good reason to believe that God was in Christ, absorbing the world’s sins, bringing about a cure for the human condition through His death and resurrection. It makes sense that a loving Creator would have foreknowledge that His creatures would mess up, and that the divine would need to enter into His creation with a corrective love plan. Add to this the authority of those who were eyewitnesses of Christ’s work and resurrection. They were so convinced of the reality, not only of the Galilean Jesus, but also of the cosmic Christ who is alive forever, that they were willing to give their lives for the proclamation of this message. On top of that, I have experience, not only my own, but also the testimonies of millions of people, who would rather give their lives than deny the reality of Jesus Christ.

View on Website

Our campaign is in full swing, and every day has been filled from morning until evening. First we held a press conference to get word out through the media. I particularly stressed that we have peaceful intentions towards the large muslim population. My mission is to reveal Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, and now the Living Savior. Beyond this I don’t discuss religions - Jesus is our message.

Later on the first day we held a dinner meeting with many of the pastors, politicians and sheiks (muslim priests) present. The chief of sheiks was also present. Tanzania is about half and half, muslim and Christian. It is a country at a crossroad of religious influences. Here in the capital, Dar es Salaam, the muslims are in majority. I preached to the guests about Jesus as the Lamb of God who has taken the world’s sins. Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation reported extensively on this event, as well as newspapers.

In my last blog, Nathan Thurber shared one of the many heart-gripping testimonies of God’s grace that we have seen, and in my next blog I will share some more. But let me highlight one other aspect, the Pastors’ seminar.

All across Africa, the Christian religion is full of legalism, especially among pentecostals. The preaching commonly heard is about our efforts, prayers, fasting, and consecrations to defeat the devil, bring revival, and save the nation. Christians are engaged in an endless battle with the devil. Mary Felde, who is the Director of WIM’s Bible college in Nairobi, and Pastor Mike Walker from Idaho shared with me in teaching the 1400 pastors who had registered. We all spoke as one united voice about the finished work of Jesus Christ, and how to walk in the truths of the New Covenant. Well, session by session, you could literally see how the heavy chains of self-effort religion were falling off. Joy, peace and rest in Jesus was restored. Pastors discovered that they are not called to enumerate the sins of Tanzania, but like Paul, Peter and Philip in the book of Acts they are to preach HIM, who has remitted the world’s sins.

The long-range effects of these seminars are amazing. On the last day, we enroll the pastors in the Global Grace News monthly teaching forum for ongoing training. Check it out at globalgracenews.org.

Thank you partners. You make it possible. More from Tanzania in a couple of days. -Peter

View on Website

Nathan: From 2002 to 2009, I was involved in Gospel Festival set up and preparation for World Impact Ministries (WIM). For the past year my role has changed with WIM’s purchase of Grace TV. However, I had the opportunity to return to a Gospel Festival in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, this week in the role of a journalist interviewing those whom are healed each day at the Festival. Along with Kyle Sweitzer, another member of our media team at Grace TV, we visit the homes of those who were healed the previous day.

Today we were privileged to visit the “home” of Franky, a young boy healed of paralysis yesterday at the Festival. Franky is an energetic 11 year old, who hadn’t walked for the past 2 years. For no apparent reason he developed a debilitating sickness that did not permit him to place his feet flat on the ground. Attempting to do so brought tremendous pain.

The paralysis was progressive, and as he lost control of his legs he became quite clumsy and would fall often, attracting mockery from school mates. Franky was forced to drop out of school and pass his time from day to day in his mom’s one room apartment where he would play with about 50 cola bottle caps. Why 50 caps? When you don’t have any money, bottle caps can be an imagination’s best friend. 

Franky, his mom and two other siblings live in one small room, about 20 feet by 10 feet. They share a common washroom somewhere in the complex they live. I never saw it. They have one couch, one chair and a small bed all jammed into this room. They store their toothbrushes hanging in the wire mess of the only window in their small room. When you have only one room for 4 people, you have to be creative. We conducted the interview just outside of the room as space did not allow everyone and our camera in the room. I didn’t mind. It was very hot in that small room.

I asked Franky’s mom what the medical reason for Franky’s paralysis was. She didn’t know. They didn’t have money for a proper medical diagnosis or treatment. Her husband left her and her children years before. She now makes some money making small cakes in a pan over coals at the side of the road. Trust me those small cakes do not bring in much money, but she was able to make/sell them just outside the complex they live, keeping her close to Franky. 

Yesterday, Franky was carried on his mother’s back from this small apartment to the Festival grounds. She had seen posters on the street advertising the Festival and healings.

That was where I first met Franky, walking hand in hand with his mother across the Festival platform to testify of his healing. Not even a limp was evident in his stride.

Today, that confident stride was on full display at their home. I asked Franky what he missed most the past two years being confined to the couch in their room. He replied, “swinging in the trees with his friends”. Makes sense for a young boy. His mom was enthused he would now be able to return to school, and have a future.

I asked Franky who had healed him, and with a boyish grin he replied, “Jesus”. His mom cut in to thank Pastor Peter for coming to Dar es Salaam. She said, “Please tell him to keep sharing the message of Jesus and His healing power everywhere”.
 
Of course, without prayers and support from partners, YOU, that is not possible. So from Franky and his mom in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania… THANK YOU!

View on Website

If you tuned in to the news this week you probably know that yesterday Elvis would have been 75 years old had he lived. I was never a devoted Elvis fan, though like most people I enjoyed his music from time to time. Whether a fan or not, no one can deny the impact Elvis continues to have on the American psyche.

A few years ago, while pastoring at Niagara Celebration Church, we did an illustrated sermon, “Crying in the Chapel”, telling some of Elvis’ story. To prepare myself, I read Elvis’ life story, “Down at the End of Lonely Street”, by Peter Harry Brown and Pat H. Broeske. Here are some facts about Elvis that may have been missed in this week’s commemorations.

He came from a Pentecostal background with several preachers in the family. Elvis’ mother Gladys, would sometimes take her son “church-hopping” to sample some of the different styles of music, “especially those of the holy-rolling Assembly of God”. One of the relatives recalls, “they had services in the morning as well as the evening, if you got home by midnight you did good.”

The American church environment has produced a lot of great musicians and singers. Many of today’s top stars have a similar story, also being raised in an environment where gospel music was a part of daily life.
Elvis definitely had a spiritual side. Actress Natalie Wood claimed that she never met anybody so serious about God and the Bible. Later, about the time Elvis joined the U.S. Army, when success had crowded out almost every other interest, Elvis reportedly said “I can have anything I want, but I’m not as near God as I used to be.”

Becky Martin, a childhood friend, who stayed in touch with Elvis throughout the 1970s, said he used to reiterate “Becky, just think what I could have done if I’d become a preacher, think of the good I could have done if I’d lived my life spreading the Word of the Lord.”

One of the reasons for Elvis’ fascination with the Bible, Jesus, as well as religions other than Christianity, was fears about his own mortality. He thought he wouldn’t live past forty-two, especially in view of the fact that his mother had died at an early age.
Well, most people know how the story ended. Elvis realized his life was out of control and became so depressed that he kept taking ever larger doses of pills to make himself feel better. By the time he died he had become grossly obese, and one of his close friends reports Elvis saying “I know I look fat now, but I’ll tell you this, I’m gonna look good in my casket.”

At the funeral, noted evangelist Rex Humbard claimed to have prayed with Elvis to receive Jesus and that Elvis was in heaven. A lot of Christians didn’t like Rex Humbard’s proclamation, and thought it awful that someone should think a man who died of a drug overdose would be in the presence of Jesus. I don’t make it my business to decide who goes to heaven and who doesn’t. God is the final judge. However, if Elvis Presley trusted in Jesus’ death and resurrection, I have no trouble believing that I will meet Elvis in heaven. Better a “druggie” trusting in Jesus, than a self-righteous, “holier than thou” church goer trusting in his own good deeds.

Elvis called his home “Graceland”. Grace means unmerited, undeserved, unearned favor of God through Jesus Christ. If the thief on the cross went to paradise with Jesus 2000 years ago, why not Elvis? More importantly, why not you? Jesus is available to all, who feel their own righteousness is insufficient. Maybe Elvis will be right there singing in the celestial choir.

View on Website

Our start was dismally small after the government had rumored the Gospel Festival was cancelled, and the muslim leaders had warned their people not to attend. Then night after night the crowd multiplied and thousands of muslims heard and received the Gospel. Pastor Oddleif Wahl from Norway shared in the Pastors Seminar. He has the same passion as our team - the Gospel.

Our goal is clear; further north to the most muslim areas in Nigeria. I met the the Emir (king) of Kaduna state earlier today to secure his support as we aim for the huge muslim city of Kano. From the Emir’s 600 year old palace we continued to a meeting with Governor Mohammed Nabadi Sambo, and again we were warmly received. I will be airing a special telecast on these visits in the new year. My purpose was to secure his support for our goal of reaching Kano. Governor Mohammed promised to brief the Governor of Kano on our ministry.

Let me give you a brief background on the city of Kano, one of Africa’s largest. 15 years ago Reinhard Bonnke tried to hold a crusade in Kano, but had to flee the city. Several hundred, muslims and Christians died in the riots that ensued. This effectively put an end to Gospel advancement in northern Nigeria. Nigeria is well known for awesome revivals with huge crowds, but almost all of these are in the southern half. No one has been more used by God than Brother Bonnke, and I admire him a lot. Yet the northern frontier remains to be taken for the Gospel. The campaign we just concluded was only one hour from Kano. Once we are
successful there, there are still further northern states that also must hear the Gospel.

Well so much for the big picture. Otherwise, we lived quite simple. I had no running water for three days, but there is nothing wrong with carrying buckets of waters, most of the world does. We had the same meal every day, spicy spaghetti with a scrawny piece of chicken.

Our Campaign team led by Marius Nikolaijsen, Ivan Schultz from Calgary and Kyle Sweitzer from Ohio narrowly escaped a robbery, as the road was blocked and men with faces masked with a grey-white clay attacked their
car. Somehow our driver was able to get away with the perpetrators only feet away.  God has given us wonderful Nigerian co-workers, whose hearts are on fire, none more valuable than Rev. Samuel Kuijiyat and Rev. Hayab. We are all committed to the same task - Jesus to everyone.

-Peter

View on Website

When I blogged two days ago I left you at the conclusion of the second evening service. As you recall we started with a very small attendance, 2-3000 only. The muslim authorities had spread the word that our Campaign was cancelled, and the leaders of the mosque had warned their people not to attend. By the second service the attendance had tripled. In each service, virtually 100% wanted to receive the new birth, provided by Jesus’ death and resurrection. The turning point that saved our Gospel Festival occurred one hour before the first service when I met with 31 imams, Islamic scholars and politicians. The agreed to the Festival, and we agreed to not have service on Friday, the muslim day or worship. It was felt our Gospel Campaign would disrupt and distract the meetings in the mosque.

By now we are in the fifth day, and the area is being shaken. Islam has been here for 1000 years, and no Gospel outreach like this has ever been held in the Ikara region. The attendance has multiplied several times again, and many outstanding healings are happening. No one, not the politicians, or the few Christians, expected a response like this. When I lead in the prayer of repentance and faith in Christ it sounds like a mighty thunder of many thousands of voices. I can’t wait for our meeting tonight.

Two days ago I visited some local villages. The people live in mud huts with grass roof. Even in the town most houses are built with mud, but they have metal roofs. The villagers received us warmly, and I think you will enjoy the documentary I produced there(to be shown in January). The people, especially in the villages, practice a form of Islam mixed with spirit and ancestral worship.

Africa has large cities, but the majority still live in small villages. That’s why our Pastors Seminars are so important, as we mobilize believers to reach everyone. Thanks for your participation in prayer and giving.

View on Website

With six hours to go until the first meeting would start, we were in trouble. Muslim leaders had been complaining for several days that our Gospel Campaign was held on a field less than 200 meters from the cities largest mosque. The city offered us another stadium, however, that in effect cancelled our Gospel Festival, and everyone knew it. It was a tactical move to shut us down.

You see, to change venue with just a few hours to go is easier said than done. A big crane would have to be brought in from another city to hoist our generators. Dismantling the platform and loudspeakers, moving lights, and digging up cables that had been laid underground would take at least two days.

Some muslim leaders suggested violence will break out if we didn’t concede. This was not a vain threat. Fifteen years ago a Gospel Crusade one hour away was cancelled and the ensuing violence killed five hundred. The evangelist at that time had made an unwise statement that “God is going to tear down Islam”, and the local muslims did not respond well. Since that time there have been no large Gospel events in this area.

As recent as last year in another region two hours away, three hundred were killed in clashes between Christians and Muslims. Well, welcome to campaigning on the front-line. We are in northern Nigeria, this is area has been muslim for a thousand years.

With just one hour to go, God had given us favor with the Regional Chairman of Ikara, and he arranged a meeting between myself and 31 imams, muslim scholars and some politicians. Again God gave us favor, and the meeting ended with an official welcome to myself and our team. Once they understood my approach of an uncompromising Gospel, but with friendship and respect their attitude change.

Then it was off to the first meeting. Only a few thousand were present, as word had spread that our Gospel Campaign was cancelled. But at the time of the salvation call, virtually everyone responded.. By the second night the attendance had at least tripled. When I prayed for the blind it was almost chaotic, as the platform filled with people who had been healed, and most had been blind from between one to twenty years. It was quite spectacular. Jesus is awesome! Well, that’s all for now. More in my next blog, Let me hear from you.

-Peter

View on Website

One of the unique aspects of the Christian Gospel story is the humility of God. Religion normally allows for a distant deity, not a god who stoops, who comes down, entering human history to be a part of the human situation.  No, deities are described as remote, somewhat out of touch for mere humans. In the Gospel story, the divine incarnation happens in the most unpretentious place, in a stable. Christmas is a story of the creator God, who wants to be united with His creation. Yet, it is more than a desire. God is willing to humble Himself, and to endure enormous suffering to accomplish this union with humanity.                                                                

A common picture of God or gods is, that of a towering omnipotent, unapproachable presence, indifferent towards human suffering, and in constant need of appeasement. Such gods usually exist in a different sphere, separated from us, preoccupied with themselves and with limited interest in human affairs, unless there is something to be gained for the deity itself. The Christmas story stands in stark contrast to the gods that the human mind has imagined. This God is not a taker, but a giver; there is no self-centeredness. In fact, the concept of an untouchable deity is anathema to the Gospel. Instead, we see God, preoccupied with love for us, moved by concern for our welfare, determined to bless us with abundant life, wanting no separation between the mortal and the divine. 

The human mind does not seem to create deities of such compassion and selflessness. Christmas shows that God is relational, enjoying fellowship with His creation, and totally giving of Himself for our well-being.

When I grew up my family used to read the Christmas story from Luke chapter two. That is the classic account with the shepherds, Mary, Joseph, and the innkeeper. I still enjoy that story, but John’s gospel has grown on me over the years. He simply writes, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1), and “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). This casts a vision that is far greater in scope, showing that Christ is the everlasting God, incarnated in the person of Jesus, as God’s eternal plan for His creation.

Jesus’ coming in Bethlehem was not an afterthought, but something purposed from the beginning. Nothing, not even the universe, our solar system, or the human race itself is eternal. There was a time, when all of these were “not”. What was then? There was God, “the word” that “in the fullness of time” became flesh in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. Now this unlimited, eternal God, who has always loved us, came to be with us – the unlimited revealed in limited human flesh. The shepherds received the message of joy to the world; we hear the song played in malls and on the radio.  It is a fantastic story, and somewhere in the Holy Book, we read; “the humble will hear of it and be glad”. May the joy be yours this Christmas!

View on Website

“Look at the mess the world is in. If there is a God of love he sure didn’t do a very good job”, is a frequent comment. Believers may respond, “Well God gave us a free will, we make our own choices”, and from there the discussion goes back and forth. Consider for a moment, what the world and we, the humans, who inhabit this planet, might be like if we were created without the ability to cause harm, evil and destruction. Who would we be? Would such a world even be possible? Are there limits to the power of an Omnipotent God?

Even God can only do that which is logically possible. The Almighty could not create rectangular circles, make two parallel lines meet, cause one plus one to equal three, or make a person whole-heartedly receive Christ’s salvation against his own will.  What if God had created a world where the human family would not have regressed into a fallen state?

Imagine a world without human potential to cause harm, hurt, to feel hatred, or to cause war or devastation. This would by necessity also be a world without courage or love, and no one would ever need to overcome personal obstacles. There would be no comeback stories, no accounts of people, who conquered in spite of incredible odds, since no one would have ever experienced any setbacks or hurts. This state of “bliss” would remove the need for humility and forgiveness, either received or given, because we would not have the ability to make any mistakes in our relationship with fellow humans. Or at least our mistakes would not hurt others.

There would be no Terry Fox, because there would be no cancer, no Mother Theresa, because the slums of Calcutta would not exist, no Nelson Mandela, because the very idea of separation of the races would never have entered into the human mind. No one would need to lend a helping hand to his neighbor, because no needy neighbor would exist. If God had created a world the evil was not an option, who would we be? It’s hard to answer these and a thousand other follow up questions that could be asked, because we can only think in terms of who we are in the flawed world in which we now live. It hurts our brain to try to think of a world where only bliss and perfection is possible. It would be a world without love, since no one would need to love or be loved – it would all have been pre-arranged.

God could have easily eliminated all pain and suffering, by simply removing our five senses. But what would we be like without those? What about a universe where we would never meet anyone else? That would do it. If the potential for human relationship was removed, we could never harm or be harmed by anyone. Who would we be in such a world?

Could it be that God actually created the most awesome world logically possible, full of His glory, full of positive hope and redemption? Though we start with a fallen imperfect condition where humans have an inherited propensity towards sin, our loving God, who always looks out for the best for His creation, has provided a remedy. God’s plan of redemption puts away the sins of fallen mankind and creates the possibility for everyone to receive new life through the redeemer Jesus Christ.

It makes sense that the potential for both good and evil must exist, especially as none of us would be willing to give up even five percent of our freedom to choose. Since our inherited propensity is to make wrong choices, God’s plan of redemption becomes a sign of a truly loving God.

View on Website

One of the most inspiring I’ve come across is the Tiberias Church, which conducts 178 services per Sunday across various locations in Jakarta. Total membership across Indonesia is 500,000, with most of these in Jakarta. According to church growth experts, it’s the 9th largest church in the world.

The pastor, Yesaya Pariadji was a muslim to whom Jesus revealed himself in 1986. He became acquainted with the Full-Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship and visited a number of conventions across America with its founder Demos Shakarian. Jesus appeared to Pastor Pariadji after healing his wife out of a debilitating disease, commissioning Pastor Pariadji to bring a deeper understanding of the Holy Communion and anointing with oil in the name of Jesus Christ. Last Sunday, after our Gospel Festival in Kupang, I flew to Jakarta, to speak in a couple of the services at the Tiberias church. I had met Pastor Pariadji a year ago and was deeply impressed with how Jesus is shining through his life. This time I gained a greater understanding of the church. The message of God’s grace permeated the praise and worship. Every song, many of them written by Pastor Pariadji’s son, Argo Pariadji, really lifted up Jesus and the Father’s love. The people received my teaching with great joy. I hope to be able to show it on one of our telecasts. You could tell the message of grace had already penetrated the congregation and they were ready to receive. Though we were on a tight schedule, I was anxious to stay to the end of the service when Pastor Pariadji would give out the Holy Communion and anointing oil. I have never witnessed people so eager to receive the bread and the wine; such energy of faith. The church bulletin featured testimonies of people who have been healed simply by trusting in Jesus and receiving the Holy Communion and the anointing with oil.

Pastor Pariadji’s teaching on the anointing oil from the olive tree as symbolic of the redemptive work of Jesus is profound. I felt that what I saw and heard would have been just like when disciples in the first century received the bread and the wine. I went home with a determination to not only take the Holy Communion in Sunday services, but at our Grace TV headquarters.

Well my last two days in Indonesia were intense. First the closing service in the Kupang Gospel Festival with a huge crowd [see photo report], then the flight to Jakarta and the services there, and after the final meeting in Jakarta I took the last flight to Medan, the largest city in Sumatra (the area of recent earthquakes), in order to spend almost a day with the Gospel Revolution Bible College headed by Susan Hoover. The students were ready and receptive. It was exciting to see growth in the school, and I also met many of the missionaries that have come out of our Bible College; Sarah DeRidder, Kyle Laviolette, Gola Tiruneh, and John & Lasmian Kingma. Do you have a testimony of Jesus revealing Himself to you through the Holy Communion? Let me know. -Peter

Hyderabad, Pakistan Festival (above)

Kupang, Indonesia Festival (above)

See Photo Diary

View on Website

In any business, you need a customer, and a product that meets the actual or imagined need of that customer. The business of religion is not all that different. The need of the adherent to a religion is fueled by two vital ingredients; a guilty conscience and a displeased deity. Skilled practitioners of religion, any religion, know how to nourish both concepts, on a weekly, or at times even daily basis.

The idea of a guilty conscience is perpetuated by a continual focus on how we must do better; pray more, study harder and be more active in our religion. God may be described as loving, merciful, almighty, and all-knowing, but he (or she) must always be at least slightly displeased. There must be the sense that we are not quite measuring up to the standards set by the Divine.

These concepts feed off of one another. If God is displeased, who would have caused His displeasure, but us? We’re obviously not living, praying, believing or thinking as we should, and this lack perpetually condemns us to inadequacy. The Apostle Paul called our inability to do everything our religion requires a “curse”. Honest people will agree to their shortcomings, because no religion has the power to cause its adherents to perfectly live up to the laws, rituals, liturgies and ceremonies required. This puts us in a position of debt to God, but one that we are incapable of paying. Do you see how guilt works? We try as hard as we can, but always find ourselves coming up short. When the right dosage of a guilty conscience and a displeased deity is present, people will go to great lengths to deal with their perceived problem. Prayers will be offered, pilgrimages undertaken, and some will sign over all earthly possessions to their religion in an effort to successfully cross into the afterlife. Since a guilty conscience seems inherent to the human psyche, no wonder religion has thrived and continues to thrive in every culture.

Jesus blew the business of religion to bits. With one fell swoop, He put an end to it, forever freeing humans from the burden of guilt and a displeased deity. Christ put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and He did it “once for all”. His death was on behalf of every person, forever eliminating God’s displeasure and the need for a guilty conscience. No exceptions! No exclusions! What Jesus did is not a mere idea, but an objective reality, that can be known subjectively by those who choose to believe it.

This message, called the Gospel of the Grace of Jesus Christ, is dangerous, because when it is believed, religion and its practitioners lose their grip over people. No more intimidation or coercion.

The Gospel swept the world 2000 years ago, as masses were liberated from the yoke of their own inadequacies. Those tired and wearied by their own efforts and shortcomings found rest for their soul. Religious practitioners lost control once the common people could no longer be subjugated by intimidation and condemnation. People were free to live through the inner compass called the new life in Christ.

Naturally, religion has to fight back, and for centuries, it has done a pretty good job of it. Religion implicitly mistrusts the power of this new life in Christ. Instead it continually returns to edicts and rules, no matter how inefficient they are to make people righteous. Layer upon layer of guilt-inducing rituals and requirements have been added. In fact, when looking at the religion of Christianity, it is sometimes hard to detect the Gospel at all. The add-ons of tradition are subtle but, oh, so deceptive, and they choke the very life out of the Gospel message.

Think about it! God is not displeased, and you need not feel guilty. Who made this arrangement? Jesus. If you believe it, you will want to turn from all your efforts to rid yourself of guilt, and turn to Him, who has already accomplished what was impossible for us to do.

View on Website

So many people had received Jesus as their Savior during the preceding nights that the follow-up began even before the service started. We didn’t have an adequate number of counselors, and so to make sure that everybody had received their copy of my book “Salvation – God’s Gift to You”, we were checking with people as they entered the field. Tens of thousands were rejoicing in their new life with Christ.

Our television crew led by Kyle Sweitzer has been working and investigating some of the miracle stories. Early in the morning they went to the harbor to say goodbye to a boy, who had been healed from 5 years of blindness. His older brother had brought him on a ferry form an island 2.5 hours away, and now they headed home to tell the story about what Christ has done. When I say “out of control”, I really mean that in God’s control. It happens when faith becomes tangible, almost as if you could touch it. It’s not the preacher’s prayers or words that are directing how the service is going. The people have caught a glimpse of the greatness of Jesus, faith has risen in their hearts, and now they take from God that which Christ has already provided.

It’s the same for you and I. Maybe you are sitting by your computer reading this blog, or receiving it on your phone. Everything God is and has, has already been provided through Jesus. All the promises of God are in Him. That’s it! Everything is in Jesus, and our job is simply to look to Him. That’s the key to our success. We are just helping people to discover Jesus! I will send you another blog from Indonesia, because though the Gospel Festival is over, there are two more very exciting days to come. - Peter

View on Website

Of course some of the team had already been here for a while preparing. Later that evening the Governor of the province came to our hotel and spoke words of welcome.

Our Festival Director, Marius Nikolajsen and Kyle Sweitzer, who is doing TV work, came here directly from the dramatic campaign in Pakistan. Look at some of the enclosed photos. Gods love has once again been revealed to the people. Due to security reasons our TV crew could not visit in homes to interview people, who had been healed in Pakistan. Here in Indonesia, there is an added sense of peace after the recent national elections. Our TV crew led by Kyle Sweitzer has recorded many beautiful wonders of God. You will enjoy seeing these in the months to come on Grace TV. One of the typical heart-touching stories is from blind people, who was offered a surgery, but could not afford it. When Jesus heals them, it is such a beautiful testimony, as they rejoice in how Jesus did “the surgery for free”.

Nothing however beats the nightly sound of thousands of voices responding to the salvation call. Joy in heaven and joy here on earth. Thank you partners! Let me hear from you! -Peter
 
View Photo Diary

View on Website

Here are the four facts:

We had bomb threats earlier in the week but were able to get the police to guarantee the continuation of the Gospel Festival.
Saturday night there were further credible threats and intelligence information of a planned suicide bombing against our meeting.
Our campaign committee, together with several leading moderate Muslim clerics and politicians, lobbied the police chief’s office on our behalf late yesterday but to no avail. The Chief of Police claims to have received a directive from the Secretary of Homeland Security to cancel us due to suicide bomb threats.
This weekend has been a bloody one in Pakistan, with suicide bombers attacking in three other locations. Currently the injury list is at 139 with 23 dead.

Personally, I feel we could have continued the Gospel Festival without an incident, but of course one never knows. I would rather err on the side of boldness than on the side of caution. These are difficult times because I want to take every opportunity to preach the Gospel. Ultimately, our life is in the hand of Jesus and He knows what is best. 80% of our mission to Hyderabad has been completed. Our seminars made a tremendous impact and the Gospel and the reality of Jesus have echoed throughout the entire province. Many thousands who have never heard the Gospel or had any exposure to Jesus Christ have been saved, healed and touched. It would be easy to hold crusades and events in areas where safety is always guaranteed. How we would do that? By staying in the “Christian” areas, which includes South and North America, Europe and Sub-Sahara Africa. Our mission is the un-reached, and so we do step onto dangerous territory from time to time.

Our local co-ordinators are awesome people, dedicated to Jesus, and they have asked me to come back. Next time in Pakistan we will go to the province of Punjab, possibly to the capital of Islamabad itself. For the last 24 hours muslims have been waiting almost non-stop in the lobby to receive ministry and prayer. There is a huge disappointment and backlash against the police as the people feel deprived because the final meeting didn’t go on as scheduled. That backlash in itself is a good thing. It means Jesus is very desirable to the people; they want to hear more about Jesus, not less.
Partner, I appreciate and love you. Thank you for standing with us in these historical outreaches. What we have seen this week in Hyderabad, Pakistan has never been witnessed before. This was the first ever Gospel Campaign in an area where the Gospel light has been desperately needed for a long time.

Seven days from now we start our campaign in Kupang, Indonesia. I still need help. When I headed to Pakistan all the necessary money had been received. Now we believe Jesus will speak to people this week so that the same may happen for the Indonesia outreach. Thank you. Keep blogging. -Peter

View on Website

After showing the fruitlessness of a performance based religious message, I went on to ask “How are you treating your Muslim neighbours?” and “Do you consider Muslims enemies and sinners?”  Remember, God loved us when we were “enemies”, and Jesus was a special friend of sinners.  In the end, I think it was clear to the pastors that we were here to change history.  I taught the revelation of the New Covenant, but I also spoke prophetically into the local situation.  Pastors from 26 cities across Pakistan were represented.

One of the revealing moments of the seminar was when I asked for the ethnicity of the pastors.  Since the seminar was held in the Sindh province, I first asked how many delegates were Sindhi by nationality.  One hand was raised.  Then I asked how many were Pashtun, Baluch, or Farsi, other major people groups of Pakistan.  Not one hand was raised.  Finally, “how many are from Punjabi ethnicity?” and every hand went up.  I was illustrating that whatever little gospel there is in Pakistan has been confined to one people group.  Many wept as God touched their hearts and as the Holy Spirit imparted vision to take the Gospel beyond its current confinement.
Daily we hear reports of car bombings and suicide bombings.  It was really a miracle that our meeting could proceed on Thursday night, the second day of our Festival.  I still have not completely figured out how it happened, except that the Lord did it.  One 85year old lady called the advisor to Pakistan’s President and pleaded with him, maybe this made a difference.  I don’t know, just that the Lord overturned our cancellation.

Right now, I am on my way to a ‘friendship dinner’.  The room will be full of Muslim Leaders, scholars, politicians and professors.  Several of them will speak for 5 minutes, and then I present Jesus Christ- we don’t want to leave one stone unturned but get the seed of Jesus into as many hearts as possible.  More tomorrow.

-Peter

View on Website

The first testimony was a Muslim boy born blind, closely followed by a Hindu girl also born blind. Many Muslims followed, some born blind, some blind ranging from 2-20 years. There were so many I lost count. One blind lady had traveled for ten hours and she too was healed. The security detail [remember yesterday’s blog; the men surrounding me with their pistols drawn while I preached] looked nervous when a Muslim man in devout dress tried to get up on the platform. They scanned him again and again for bombs; even though every person had already been scanned before coming onto the field. No problem, it was a young Muslim man who had brought his blind brother, now also healed.

Oh yes, there was a bomb threat received by the police just before tonight’s service started. I still haven’t quite figured out how God saved us from being cancelled last night; I will get back to you about that. I thank God for our team. Marius Nicolaisen is relatively new as Gospel Campaign Director. He took over just a year and a half ago after Nathan Thurber, who had been with me on more than 40 campaigns (Nathan is now the COO for Grace Television Network). Marius stood with me last night, thinking of every excuse not to cancel this Gospel Festival. We were under great pressure because of the orders from high officials in the President’s office, due to security risks. In fact, we were minutes away from having to announce a cancellation when the Lord turned it around. Marius stood with great strength, as did our whole team: Don Sparman, Markus Kotisaari, Kyle Sweitzer, David Sterling and Mike Wallace. A special thanks to our local coordinator Nazir, who withstood personal threats. He and his assistant William are hard-core believers, ready to stand for Jesus. My interpreter is also a wonderful man, who was disowned by his family and threatened with death when he came to Christ in 1984. A big thank you to all our partners, but the biggest thanks to Jesus Christ. More tomorrow. All our expenses are paid here in Pakistan, but within a week I’m on to Indonesia. Please do what you can to help.
-Peter

See Photo Diary

View on Website

Received news that the Festival is shut down.

6:15 PM. Marius, Nazir (our local co-coordinator), and two other key workers come to my room. The mood is grim. These brothers have worked with me tirelessly for seven months to impact Hyderabad with the Gospel. I am thinking of my partners, who have sacrificed for this historical outreach in the Sindh province of Pakistan where the Gospel is virtually unknown. We all want the impact of a full 5-day event. The Gospel advancement, we all believe in, is at stake. After half an hour of more phone calls, we feel the situation is hopeless. Meanwhile we are receiving messages from the Gospel festival ground. The service has not started, and while people are pouring in through the metal detectors there is a sense of chaos. Fear is spreading; some are leaving while thousands of Muslims are waiting, hoping that there will be a meeting.

6:55 PM. Once again, I'm alone in my room. I've asked the team to head to the field to love the people and let them know that I'm ready to come and minister. The people, especially the thousands of Muslims, need to know that we will only give up if we are forced; we will never quit voluntarily. This is not my work. It is Jesus' Gospel and Jesus' ministry, so I'm practicing resting in Jesus. I have been in many of these battles through the years. Sometimes there is a seeming chance, but I don't see one this time.

7-8 PM. Marius and I are text messaging back and forth. He is on the grounds while I'm sitting with my Bible open, just softly praying. No hope it seems. Some officials have taken Mr. Nazir from the grounds in a car, and I'm a little concerned. Other officials are checking all our permits from the police, mayor's office, Homeland Security, etc

Marius and William at the Festival ground to watch developments.

8:05 PM. I go down to the hotel lobby with my Bible [just in case]. I want to be with our team when they return from the field to encourage everyone. I'm reminded that the apostle Paul suffered setbacks; just read the book of Acts. Once he had to escape from a city in a basket.

8:10 PM. Suddenly I receive word that an inexplicable reversal has occurred. Singing has started. Within minutes I'm in the car sending text-messages so the translator will have my scripture verses in hand. We don't have a minute's time to waste.

Crowd gathered at Festival

8:30 PM. I'm on the platform and the people are excited. Time to get right to the task at hand, giving the people the Gospel. Guards with drawn pistols are all around me. I try not to notice. My text is Acts 14:7-9, about the lame man who heard the Gospel in Lystra. Well, the people are about to hear it tonight. I know my preaching time is limited. The police have told us we must be done by 9:30 PM so I give four simple Gospel points: God made a perfect world, Sin destroyed it, Jesus fixed it, You can receive it. At 8:55 PM. thousands join in a prayer of salvation, receiving the free gift of the forgiveness of sin. Then 35 minutes of healing testimonies for a wrap up at 9:35 PM, five minutes after the police told us. I can't explain the reversal that happened tonight. More tomorrow. I will try to find out how God turned this around for us.

-Peter

People packed out Seminar Venue on the First Day

High level of security as people made their way through metal detectors when entering the Festival Grounds

Blind woman received sight!

Empty wheel chairs lined the stage.

Deaf man completely healed.

Crowd goes crazy when people started receiving healing.

Hindu woman was paralized in her hands and now has full mobility.

See Photos in Photo Diary

View on Website

It was clear from the first service that God loves without discrimination. Immediately the platform filled with people eager to testify. A Muslim lady, her face covered by a black chadar, radiantly described how Jesus had healed her daughter who had been deaf for the past 10 years. Another dozen cases of deafness were healed. The night finished with a boy blind since early childhood, demonstrating how he could see everything. The crowd roared and praised God. More importantly thousands, mostly Muslims, eagerly responded to the salvation call.

I told the people I had come to be a witness in four areas. First, I want give my witness to the reality of Jesus Christ. Secondly to God’s love remitting our sins. Thirdly to the power in the name of Jesus, and fourthly to that fact that Jesus does today what He did 2000 years ago.

Yes Hyderabad, Pakistan’s sixth largest city is buzzing. Muslims are calling our Campaign office non-stop giving thanks for what is happening. The only ones nervous are the police, who erected sniper towers near our grounds to give careful surveillance in case of any troublemakers. So far, there has been no sign of anyone wanting to cause trouble. Tomorrow morning, we begin the Pastors’ seminar, with just over 1100 registered delegates from 26 cities across Pakistan. Thank you partners. The Gospel is the power of God!

See Photos in Photo Diary

View on Website

Another one of the “joys” of air travel is layovers, and I’m having a seven hour layover in Bahrain right now.  This is a fascinating tiny country, know for liberal Islamic laws, unlike its neighbor Saudi Arabia. Traveling in this part of the world makes you realize how big Islam really is, and how little is done to present the Gospel. I really appreciate our partners, who see the value in what our ministry is doing. Jesus is for everyone, and everyone has the right to hear the Gospel. You wonder what the church has been doing for the past 2000 years.

Jesus promised he’d never forsake us. He said this in connection with the Great Commission recorded in Matthew 28:18-20. Gospel Advancement is how I describe everything we are involved with; Gospel campaign, Bible schools, Grace Tv and sending out missionaries. Some “go”, but all of us are “senders”. We send the Gospel through prayers and giving. Then each day we all have opportunity to share what Jesus did at the cross for the whole world. Let’s all be Gospel Advancers.

My flight leaves at 1.20 AM, so I’m heading for another night without sleep. Not good for those bags under the eyes. Marius, our Crusade Director, just emailed me that all is well. We have fought hard to get the permits for this upcoming campaign. It is really GOD’S FAVOR!!! 24 hours to go and the Hyderabad, Pakistan Gospel Festival is in full.
swing. Thanks for your support!-Peter

View on Website

On my way to Pakistan I took a detour, to visit Oulu in Finland, close to the Arctic circle. This is a thriving university city with a growing population. The Evangelical Free Church was celebrating its 125th anniversary, and had asked me to speak in four outreach services. The people were not focused on reminiscing about long ago “when God moved”, but keen on presenting Jesus to new people. The Saturday services were held in a concert hall to accommodate more people. I was amazed when I gave the invitation to receive Christ in the first service, it looked like about 25% of the people responded, and it continued like that meeting after meeting. When I gave the people opportunity to come to the microphone and honor Jesus for healings that had happened, many gave praise to God. It was quite a display of joy in conservative Finland, The second day he services were held in the church, and I’m happy the fire department didn’t check on us, because we were filled to way beyond the allowable capacity, including the church foyer.

I hope you have a chance to watch Grace TV by cable or satellite in Canada, and streaming in the rest of the world, http://www.gracetelevision.net. While I’m away we have special guest hosts, Mike Zanker, Randy Srochenski and Megen Thurber. Well, I’m on to Pakistan. Let me hear from you. -Peter

View on Website

The other day I stepped out of Coffee Culture on St. Paul Street. The rain was coming down heavily, so I lingered on the steps hoping for a quick improvement. Suddenly, a lady appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, shouting, “You people – why do you support the Jews over the Palestinians? That land belongs to the Palestinians, you know!” I have no idea who the person was, but she must have recognized me as an “evangelical Christian”, thus the “you people”. I hurried to explain that our organization works in Israel; six of our projects are with Jews and six with Palestinians. My response seemed to bring some calm.

The encounter on St. Paul Street reminded me of last month’s news that Israel played a big part in the discussions at the United Church of Canada (UCC) General Council in Kelowna. The UCC has a history of making political statements, and this convention was not to be an exception. In the final statement the UCC delegates backed away from calling for a national boycott of Israel, although groups within the church were encouraged to consider boycotting Israeli products. Some delegates referred to Israel as an “apartheid state”, and in general the accusations against the small, thriving nation in the Middle-East were fast and furious.

Why does Israel get so much attention? It is a fairly regular occurrence that churches, unions and various academic groups release anti-Israel statements. Of course, any nation has its faults, flaws and botched policies. I have sat in Bethlehem with Palestinians, who lost a relative due to a stray Israeli bullet, and in the same day spent time with a Jewish family, who lost a child due to a suicide bomber. There is deep pain on both sides, and unlike some, I’m not declaring sainthood and infallibility on Israel, but let’s get real. Why is the UCC picking on Israel of all nations?

Why not issuing a statement about Myanmar’s oppressive military junta, that has once again sentenced Aung Sun Ky to further imprisonment? When I visited this nation a few years ago the largest newspaper in the country consisted of four pages of meaningless propaganda and photos of the dictator meeting school classes. No discussion, no real news, a country forced into blind obedience. What about eastern Congo where tens of thousands have been raped and millions have been killed? Or Iran, where the government has suppressed peaceful demonstrators? Why were these countries not on the radar of the United Church? No, it’s all about Israel.

Unlike what many commentators claim, the Israeli-Arab conflict is not based in racism or “apartheid”. The Bible reports that Jews and Arabs journeyed together out of Egypt into the Promised Land, some 3,400 years ago. Any tourist to Israel has seen Jews and Arabs work side by side in a hotel in Jerusalem. Co-existence has a long history in the Middle-East. The Middle-East battle is for land – a battle that has gone on and goes on today in many nations. No, I’m not an apologist for every Israeli policy, but when current Israel is labeled racist and compared to apartheid in South Africa, or even worse to Nazi-Germany, I think enough is enough. Canada has its own history of racism; native residential schools, and sending Jews to death by refusing the ship St. Louis in 1938, just to mention two dark blots in our past.

Modern day Israel is a democracy, made up to 20 % of Arabs, and surrounded by dictatorships, which often thrive on hateful anti-Israel propaganda. The UCC didn’t seem to notice that Israel is the only country in the Middle-East that gives civil rights to homosexuals, an issue that has been of interest to the UCC. Gratefully, the call for a boycott of Israeli products wasn’t approved. Where would seniors get generic drugs from without Israel?

As for me I’m ready to take another tour to the tiny, but amazing country in the Middle-East. Israel is a modern day miracle. When it comes to the current conflict, I learn from Jesus, who set the ultimate example for how to deal with the Middle-East situation. He served Jews, Samaritans and Romans equally and without discrimination. Jews, Samaritans and Romans all jockeyed for a superior position, but Jesus always provided an equal playing field. That’s what I told the lady on St. Paul Street. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt the UCC to spend less time on political declaration, and a bit more on who Jesus is and what He has done for the world.

View on Website

Believers in Christ accept that something utterly amazing happened at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Once and for all, God put the punishment for the world’s sins on Jesus. The phrase “the world’s sins” is all inclusive from Hitler’s murders to a gossiping church member; all was put on Christ. To millions this carries a profound meaning for their daily life, and they believe that what happened at the cross has power to transform people from the inside out. The message of what Christ did is commonly called “Gospel”, which means “Good News”.

Here is where it gets fuzzy. What is the good news all about? Is it good news that if you do your best, God will do the rest? Or is the good news that God gave Jesus as an example of good living, and those who follow Him will be saved? Surprisingly the answer is no on both counts! The most famous verse in the entire Bible simply says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”, (John 3:16). There is only one condition, “believe”, nothing about us doing our best, or our attempts to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

“Believe” is a verb and “faith” is a noun, two sides of the same coin, and two words that to some seem weak and to others even frightening. Why? Because believing puts the focus away from our performance; faith has nothing to do with our effort, our good attitude, diligent studies, or our attempt at impressing God with our humility. Faith is not about what we need to do, but it is simply to put our trust in what God has done for us. We are relying on someone else for the payment of our debt and that can be nerve-wracking. I’m relaxed when I drive my car, but let someone else take the wheels and suddenly my anxiety level rises. Faith frightens some, because it means to rely on another.

Faith is to trust in God’s grace. Grace can have no strings attached to it, it must be free; it has nothing to do with bargains, or the idea of “you do your part and God will do His”. Grace is not a contract, or a negotiated settlement between God and man. If it was, it would depend on each of the contractually bound parties to fulfill their respective obligations. A contract is not rooted in love, but in the performance of those who are party to it. God’s idea is not to transform the world or an individual through a contractual obligation, but through unconditional love. There is no tit for tat, grace is a free gift, and yet it empowers. The unconditional grace and love of God gives us the capacity for genuine moral improvement; without it, all we can muster is polishing the outside. Grace makes us honest, vulnerable, transparent and open to change because of the good God has done for us through Jesus. No need for cover-ups or pretense. After all, we are not trying to prove our own ability; we are trusting in God’s unconditional love. This removes the idea of us earning credits with God. We simply surrender to another, and the good another has done is credited to us. Frightening? Maybe, but also totally liberating. Best of all, faith itself is a gift, not the result of our effort, that way we can’t even take credit for believing. Since it’s all free, why not ask for it? You can, if you want to.

View on Website

Ouch!

Evidently Mr. Buechner has a problem with television preachers, and since I am one of them, I better pay attention. Is Christian television really that bad? I believe in listening to critics, including those who never attend church. You don’t have to agree with your critics, but you can learn something of value from almost anyone. When it comes to the quote from Buechner, I tend to agree—at least in part. Many Christian programs portray God as narrow minded, petulant, condemning and angry. A few weeks ago the organization I founded, World Impact Ministries, purchased The Christian Channel [Cogeco 186], so now I have the opportunity to do something about Christian television. Well, don’t expect wonders overnight, but I am keeping several common criticisms in mind, among them that Christian television is judgmental, boring and phony.

Christians in general and Christian television in particular are often accused of being “judgmental.” It baffles the imagination how Christians could become such champions of condemnation when their Savior is a non-condemner. It seems many lack understanding that God’s justified wrath over human sin fell on Jesus. Therein lies the “Good News”: God is not angry with people, but His love is available to all. Why then do preachers attribute misfortunes—whether strokes, heart attacks, tsunamis, cyclones or hurricanes— to God’s supposed anger with the particular sins of an individual or a whole nation? We live under a covenant of the grace of Jesus Christ who said, “For the Son of Man did not come into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.”

What about “boring”? Conflict and competition make television and movies exciting. There is a hero and a villain. If the outcome of the story is uncertain, so much more reason for the audience to stay riveted. Even political talkshows have representatives of different sides of the issues duking it out. Meanwhile, Christian television usually consists of a few people sitting around a table agreeing with one another—not much conflict there. On Encounter, our nightly show, you often hear opinions from Atheists, Wiccans, Hindus, Moslems, or just plain non-religious Canadians, especially on the Street Talk and Viewer Comments segments. I like to mix it up, because it keeps us from merely “preaching to the choir.”

The “phony” accusation usually has to do with money. The appeal goes something like this: “God showed me that if you will give a certain amount of money, God will do “X” for you.” The “X”, of course, stands for any divine blessing that is promised on a particular program.  Make no mistake about it, most Christian television is viewer supported. I boldly ask for people’s support because without that we can’t operate. I think it’s the “put your coins in the divine slot-machine and you will win” approach that draws criticism. It certainly turns me off.  The Jesus approach is a little different. We love and give because we have received God’s love as a gift. Our giving is not to manipulate the Almighty, but to express our love for His kindness to us.

Do I think that Buechner’s sentiments have some validity? Certainly! Do I believe in Christian television? I sure do! We have the greatest message of hope and love in the world. There is nothing judgmental, boring or phony about that.

-Peter

View on Website

The Canadian debate unfortunately became all too infected by theology. The pro-life proponents argued from the Bible that life begins at conception, precisely my conviction, one that I would put forth in teaching and personal counseling. What we evangelicals didn’t recognize was that Canada is a secular society, not a Christian country. Maybe we never were. I’m deeply committed to the Bible as the word of God, but in a multi-cultural society, which gratefully ours is, theology is not the means of persuasion in the political arena. The pro-choice forces were equally entrenched, unwilling to listen to reason, writing off any pro-life argument as conservative Christians trying to ram their morality down the throat of everyone; atheist, agnostic or believer. What was the result? The mother’s womb has remained the most dangerous place in Canada.

I visited Scandinavia last month and noticed that laws are being enacted that could charge a woman, who smokes excessively during the last trimester because of the damaging effects smoking can have on an unborn. The proponents of such legislation are not born-again believers motivated by theology, but legislators driven by science, which is aware of the potential viability of human life outside the womb after the 20th week of gestation.

Maybe it is time to look at abortion again. It has been in the news lately. When abortion doctor Henry Morgentaler received the Order of Canada, there was the expectation of a flood of previous recipients that would resign from what they might now consider a tainted award. The flood didn’t happen, but five prominent Canadians recently resigned or mailed back their medallions. One of those, Roman Catholic Cardinal Jean Claude Turcotte, argued that Dr. Morgentaler is a “questionable” person, who cheapens the order.

The killing of a renowned Kansas abortion doctor, George Tiller, while he was ushering during a Sunday morning service in his Reformation Lutheran Church has also received considerable Canadian press coverage. Dr. Tiller had drawn ire from pro-life groups because of his work in one of only three abortion clinics in the United States that perform late term abortions. Dr. Tiller’s murder is deplored by followers of Christ, no matter how staunchly pro-life we are. It also serves as a reminder that for all the reasonable born-again Christians with strong convictions, there is the occasional loner, who will act in a deceptive religious fervor. Our activism must always be tempered by emphasizing God’s love for all people, even those whose actions we deplore.

Do Canadians on both sides of the issue dare to take another look? Politics is the art of compromise. Conservative Christians will not get everything we want, while those who favor the status quo are being over-run by scientific knowledge. Let’s not wait for a “born again” or committed Roman Catholic member of parliament to raise the issue. How about a politician from one of the traditionally pro-choice political parties tabling a motion that recognizes both the scientific realities of human life in the womb and the need for assistance to women with unwanted pregnancies?

- Peter

View on Website

It really did my heart good to meet so many people sharing these and similar sentiments, and seeing that the work we do in the name of the Lord brings lasting results. It reminded me of the admonition to not become weary in doing good. Two of the cities we visited were Moncton, New Brunswick and Truro, Nova Scotia. Both of these were breakthrough places for me. A pastor had booked me for five days of meetings in Moncton, New Brunswick. It was a rather large church at that time and here I was barely out of teens, so I don’t think anyone expected too much. From the first night people were being saved and the building was filled and I ended up preaching for five weeks straight. I went on to Truro, Nova Scotia and the same thing was repeated there. As a young preacher, I only had a few sermons and now suddenly the Lord was moving in such a way that I really had to rely on Him for fresh material every night. I learned so much by looking to Jesus and trusting in Him. These lessons have served me well in the years that followed. It is good to know where we have come from, where we have been and that the power that sustained us in the past is with us now for the challenges that lay just ahead. Your thoughts? - Peter  

View on Website

Often a preacher does not explain or declare what Jesus did on the cross, putting away our sins, but simply finishes his sermon with this line – “if you need peace in your heart, and you want a better life just repeat these words after me”. and then he goes right into the sinner’s prayer. Surveys by the Barna Group, another reputable organizations indicate that a significant percentage of the population in the United States and also in Canada have at some point accepted Jesus by “saying a prayer” and a significant part of those, who did so feel it didn’t work for them. Now the idea of receiving Jesus no longer excites them, “been there, done that.”

How were people born again before the concept of the sinner’s prayer. By believing in Jesus, followed by water baptism, often immediately upon declaring their faith. No prayer saves, although a sinner certainly can pray because “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”,. Believing what Jesus did and confessing Him as Lord is the way of salvation. If you believe in your heart that God put your sins on Jesus and that Jesus rose again from the dead and is Lord than you are saved whether you repeated a prayer or not. Let’s de-mystify this sinner’s prayer. If we preach sermons that reveal next to nothing about Jesus Christ and Him crucified and then finish off with a sinner’s prayer, we may cause collateral damage. People mistake the whole idea of receiving Jesus for a formula of prayer of accurate words when it has all to do with the heart’s believing.
All that to say; don’t hurry people into a prayer. Instead spend much time revealing what Jesus did on the cross.
-Peter

View on Website

With the beauty pageant controversy as a backdrop, CNN’s host let Mr. Reagan and Ms. Miller go at it. My sympathies were with Mr. Reagan, who articulated that marriage is one man-one woman. If that was all, I probably wouldn’t have written this blog. However, as the discussion was winding down Ms. Miller commented that a recent law had been passed in New Hampshire that allows homosexual marriages. Mr. Reagan was given the opportunity for a closing remark, and he finished with; “you stay with New Hampshire and I’ll stay with God”. That’s where Mr. Reagan lost me. I’m not saying that God is for homosexual marriages, but I’m saying God is for people, whether homosexual or heterosexual.

People have flaws and failures, some are exposed to the world, while some hidden until after person’s death, and some are never revealed. The Bible makes it clear that all have sinned, and if we are guilty in one area, we are guilty in it all. Sin is a level playing field. As far as God is concerned, no one has a right to judge others, because judgment belongs to God. Wasn’t that the point of Jesus death on the cross, that the judgment for our sins would fall on him? Paul, the apostle, states that God punished sin in the flesh, not the flesh of the guilty and deserving, but the flesh of the innocent and undeserving Son of God. If Christians don’t believe that, we really don’t have a message to the world. There are sins of commission and sins of omission, and no one has a reason to brag or put others down, we are all guilty. If God is for us on the basis of our perfection, then God wouldn’t be for any of us. If Jesus died on the cross so that we would never have a struggle with sin or failure, then Jesus’ death was a failure. However, if Jesus died so that our sins would not be imputed to us, but that Christ’s righteousness by faith would be ours, then His death and resurrection was a success.

Yes, I agree with many Christians around the world that marriage is between one man and one woman, but God is not against those who differ with this view. If God is against homosexuals, He is against all of us, for all have sinned. Mr. Reagan compared the state of California voting to uphold the traditional view of marriage, while New Hampshire did not. Is God for California and against New Hampshire [or Ontario]? I think not. Your thoughts? - Peter    

View on Website

There is only one problem with all of this. Can you think of a single time in scripture when Jesus was offended by the sins of unbelievers? The only time you could find something akin to offense in Jesus was when he spoke forthrightly to the self-righteous, hypocritical religious leaders. In fact, Jesus forewarned us that if we are persecuted for our beliefs we should not be surprised or offended. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”, (John 16:33).

Here is the catch. If we are easily offended or shocked, we become either isolationists or attackers of the very society, which we are supposed to reach. Isolationists live in a cloistered environment with little or no influence on those on the outside. Attackers are resisted, much like we would react on a lovely summer night when hornets start buzzing around our picnic table. We find no example in scripture that Philip was offended at the witchcraft in Samaria. What about Paul’s reaction in godless, sinful, Corinth or idolatrous Athens? In neither instance do we find offense or rebuke of pagan behavior, but rather a focused pointing towards Jesus Christ as the only hope.

Everyone of the individuals who carry out what you and I may deem as offensive acts, are included in the reconciliation that Jesus provided by His death on the cross. Easter reminds us that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. The message of the Cross is the only power able to transform human behavior. Let’s not be shocked by the world around us, but let’s look for opportunities to get to know people, to share their lives and to tell them what Jesus has done for us. Happy Easter!

Peter

View on Website

Earlier I had noticed that there was one area where the stage was weak. We had tried to keep the line of people wanting to testify away from this spot and I had avoided it as I preached. I didn’t realize that the Mayor and I were now standing on this very soft spot. We were looking into the camera when one of the bishops stepped into the same weak spot. Well, in one instant we all disappeared below the stage as it gave way (see video—I laugh now, but it was painful).

Almost six feet below were boards and steel pipes, all part of the stage structure, and my foot got caught as I found myself with a mother and child across my legs, the Mayor resting on my right shoulder, and other bodies on top of me. I rolled my ankle pretty good, and when they lifted me out of the hole I was a bit shaken. The people, of course, were looking at this in wonderment as the service was winding down.

Well, it’s not the end of the world that the Mayor of Kisumu and I are both limping a bit. If that’s all there was to it I wouldn’t even bother telling the story except, of course, that you may find it peculiar to see me vanish and my shocked expression afterwards.

What resulted was predictable: Christians started to say that the devil had done it. You know this strange idea in Charismatic religion that when we are anointed by God and seeing signs, wonders and miracles, then the devil has power to get back at us. Of course, this is a ridiculous idea, but it is not one unique to Africa. I hear it in America, Canada and Europe all the time. If the sound system is shrieking it’s the devil, if someone backs their car into a telephone pole it’s the devil, etc. etc. I get tired of even repeating these weird notions.

Here is how I started my sermon the next night: “You all saw the mayor of the city and myself disappear under the stage last night. I’ve heard the statements that the devil made this happen. But I can assure you he didn’t. The devil doesn’t have the power to make a stage collapse. If he worked on it for 1000 years he couldn’t do it. That kind of power is completely out of his reach. No, the devil didn’t do it. What did it was poor construction.” Well, the people erupted in applause and laughter. It’s amazing how merely stating the obvious brings such joy. The spell cast by the idea that the devil somehow mystically could orchestrate the collapse of our platform had been dispelled, and the people were free just to enjoy and laugh. The contractor who had built the stage was nowhere to be seen. I think he was afraid of the Mayor. We still love him, so he need not to worry about us.

That night leaving the Gospel Festival grounds, there was a real traffic jam. Bicycles, cars and, most of all, thousands of people tried to exit at the same time. I turned to my friend Bishop Jefferson who was riding with me in our car, “let’s talk to some people.” Coincidently, the moment I rolled down my window I saw a smiling man with his family. “I’m so happy,” he said. I asked him what happened. He said, “My daughter has been a deaf mute and last night Jesus healed her.” I called the girl over and, sure enough, she could hear everything and articulate words so well. He said, “We came back tonight just to praise God for what happened.” Here was a family and the daughter had never made her way to the platform to testify; one of many who I would never have heard of unless the traffic jam had slowed us down. You’ve heard the phrase, “only eternity will reveal all that happened.” I don’t know how many other families are just like this one—people to whom God’s love has been revealed, but we may never know about it until eternity. Thanks for your partnership! Let me hear your thoughts.

Peter

View on Website

Jesus really showed His love for the city of Kisumu. The third night there were so many miracles I don’t know where to start: blind, deaf and mute were healed, tumors vanished and paralysis was healed. There was one story after the other, and there was no end of the celebration. Each evening as I gave the salvation call the entire crowd responded. The counselors were working overtime to get the follow-up material to each one. One night I asked the people, “what is your worth?” In answering my own question I shared, “you are only worth what someone is willing to pay for you.” Then I spoke about the great price God paid for every soul. As I looked across the vast audience, I saw people convulsing in tears as God’s love was revealed to them; this is the work of the Holy Spirit. On the biggest night people were packed for a 100 meters in each direction. As soon as I get home, I will send you a nice photo so you can rejoice in what happened.

Our TV team has been working hard to capture some of the individual stories. Led by our producer, Megen Thurber, they visit in the homes of some of the people touched by God. In the weeks to come those documentaries will be ready.

Wherever we go there is a clash between the message of God’s grace (the unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor of God through Christ), and a host of legalistic mindsets. There are so many prayer techniques and revival and breakthrough paths that I get tired just thinking about them all. One preacher is worse than the other in cooking up complicated systems of blessing. When the people hear the simple but incredibly profound proclamation of JESUS as the one who has done it all and our job is simply to receive from HIM, they can at first hardly believe it. Then the truth sinks in and joy takes over. We are not trying to get God to do anything: we are receiving what He has done. God is not angry with the world because He already punished the world’s sins in the flesh of Jesus. Now it’s time to repent (turn around) from self-reliance and self-righteousness to HIM, who has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. Let me hear from you! -Peter
 

View on Website

The days go by quickly, and much happens in a short time. Here is a 20 hour segment that I just got to enjoy.
11 AM: After a five hour journey by car we arrive at the outskirts of Kisumu. About 20 bishops and pastors are waiting to greet us; Pentecostals, Anglicans, Baptists and others. There is palpable joy and expectancy. Our Festival Director, Marius Nikolaisen, and several of our missionaries are also present. Mark Enos, one of our recent Bible College graduates, is running by, so busy in keeping everything running smoothly that he doesn’t see my wave. I love our missionaries.
11.15 AM: Now we are entering the city itself in a parade arranged to notify the city that the Gospel Festival is about to begin; singers, cars, and excited believers are in our parade route. People along the roadside are waving and greeting us. We go by the beautiful Hindu temple and large mosque in the center of the city, while announcements of the Gospel Festival are being read from loudspeakers. There is no hostility, just friendly faces everywhere.
12.10 PM: Finally, we get to the guest-house where we are staying for the week and I have a few minutes to unpack and freshen up.
12.35 PM: It’s off to the press-conference. The room is packed with journalists, including a secular film production team doing a documentary. I also see some of our missionaries in the room, including Serge and Beth Leger. I make a 20 minute statement about our purpose in Kenya, emphasizing two areas. One is our friendship approach to Muslims and Hindus; they are warmly invited to receive Jesus without discrimination! Then I spend considerable time talking about the post-election killings that swept Kenya last year, with Christians killing Christians along tribal lines, emphasizing that the cross of Jesus Christ is the answer; His death has torn down the walls that divide people. Of course, if we who are the carriers of this message don’t preach it, how will the broad masses know and believe?  I really enjoy press-conferences and the give and take of the journalists’ questions. Again, they have lots of questions and try to trip me up by getting me to take sides among the political parties, but Jesus always lets His wisdom come through. I stick to my theme. I think they are all a bit shocked at my insistence that the killings prove that Kenya has not heard the Gospel, even with all the churches around. Many use the word Gospel as a “code-word” for whatever they want to say, instead of presenting the taking away of sins by Jesus at the cross.
2 PM: We head back to the guest-house. The afternoon hours before the Gospel Festival starts are precious to me. I spend that time meditating and thanking God for the meeting tonight, and the team knows not to disturb me.
5.30 PM: I leave for the Gospel Festival held on the enormous Hospital Grounds. The meeting has been in full swing for over an hour and a great crowd has gathered.
6 PM: My preaching starts exactly at 6, because we want to use the day-light hours as much as possible. The sun is still shining as I tell the people that we have come to give witness that the unlimited God has come in limited human flesh in the person of Jesus. By His death He “once for all” put away our sins, giving us the opportunity to repent of our self-reliance and self-righteousness and receive the free gift of Jesus’ righteousness. I ask the people, “how much are you worth?” and state: “Your value is whatever someone is willing to pay for you, and God paid the ultimate price for you by the sacrifice of Jesus.” People are openly weeping; God’s love is melting hearts.
6.40 PM: The entire audience responds to the salvation call, followed by a parade of healing testimonies. Already the first night, blind, deaf and many others are healed.
7.40 PM: Our testimony service is over and counselors are distributing follow-up material as I head back to the guest-house for a quick shower; our next meeting is in 20 minutes.
8 PM: Time for our “Friendship Dinner,” where I get to teach the Gospel to politicians and Hindu and Muslim leaders in the city. A number of pastors are present and are surprised; they have never seen anything like this. I use traditions within the various cultures, and when I get to the point that Jesus took away the world’s sins and that all can receive Him, the head of the Hindu temple leads in applause. The message is hitting home loud and clear.
11 PM: Finally, the dinner is over and I get to go to my room. I’m exhausted but rejoicing at all that happened. We’ve got an early morning appointment.
5.30 AM: Time to get up. I have a 7AM breakfast at the private home of the Prime Minister of Kenya, Mr. Raila Odinga, who is the man believed to have been cheated out of the Presidency, and Nathan Thurber is accompanying me. The election fraud triggered the wave of killing and looting last year, leaving 1300 dead. The prime minister’s home is very nice but humble; the calendar on the wall features a photo of Mr. Odinga and British PM, Gordon Brown. We hit it off very well. I’m told he is very selective about who he meets, but the message of the cross of Jesus also touches the heart of the PM. I liked him instantly, and I’m impressed that he forfeited the Presidency of Kenya to stop the violence. We decide to try to meet again so I can interview him for our television program.
Every step of the way the focus is on Jesus, His cross, His resurrection and what it means in the current situation; politically, personally and for society at large. I don’t have several messages, but one: “we preach Christ crucified”. Those who think that we need to look beyond this message have not understood the depth and width of what happened at the “once for all” sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Once understood, the message of the cross affects every area; spiritual, financial, relational, and even the way we conduct business affairs of a nation. Let me hear from you. -Peter  

View on Website

The two issues that presently consume Kenya are corruption and tribalism. A pastor from one tribe will not darken the door of a church where the pastor is of another tribe, even if the pastors are from the same denomination. This attitude was a major contributing factor in the killings last year. Those who are supposed to carry the message of God’s love have obviously drifted far from Him, who came “not to condemn”. What’s the answer?

Not only in Kenya but everywhere, we see Christians calling for transformation, churches are praying for “a move of God” and pastors are teaching secrets of revival. Yet this “revival” remains oh so elusive. Prophetic declarations of “a greater anointing” or ” a new day of victory” seem ineffective. Here in Kenya Christians have been killing Christians. You can imagine the reaction among Hindus and Muslims; the credibility of Christianity has really taken a beating.  These are the real issues we have addressed in our seminar and the answers from God’s Word have brought joy to the pastors.

Does prayer change a nation? What about prophecy? Worship? Fasting? Cell groups? The agent for change in the Book of Acts was always the proclamation of the Gospel. As the masses grasped the Good News that God in Christ has paid for their sins “once for all”, joy swept cities, many were born again and the quality of life was drastically affected. Prayer, prophecy and worship are all crucially important, but none of those things will in themselves change a nation; only the Gospel can do that.

What changed the cities such as Samaria, Antioch, Lystra, Corinth, Thessalonica or Ephesus in the book of Acts? In each case, it was the Gospel. We don’t create good morals by preaching good morals, but once the Gospel of God’s love is believed it transforms the worst sinner. Good morals are the result of believing the Gospel. Heart transformation comes first, and it leads to good morals.

This weekend we start the Festival in Kisumu, a city torn by last year’s violence. I’d love to hear from you so post your thoughts! -Peter

View on Website

On the opening day of any seminar the focus is on helping the pastors discover the New Covenant of God’s grace and who Jesus is in them. So many have tried every revival and breakthrough technique, and are discouraged. When we reveal Jesus in His fullness they experience great freedom. I don’t even talk about reaching their nation for Christ until I see the pastors really enjoying Jesus on a personal level. I’m sure it works the same way for you. We have to first taste and see how good Jesus is.

Every Gospel outreach is full of surprises and today has been no exception. When we landed, the local newspapers were filled with reports of a disastrous famine in the northeastern part of the country. I took the initiative of purchasing several tons of flour in 2 kilo bags, filling a whole truck and sending it to those worst hit. This was completely outside our budget, but I felt we were to do this. Well the media heard of it and met me at the conference center before I started to teach. Then, while I was teaching, a delegation arrived from the members of parliament representing the famine area. They wanted to thank World Impact Ministries for our help, so here we had another press-conference with a lot of media present. I’m sure our loaded-down truck with food will be in every newspaper tomorrow, together with the message about the cross of Jesus, which I gave to the media. I take every opportunity to share God’s love through Jesus (Thanks partners!).

One of the journalists asked me if I could help the country with the problem of tribalism, which has led to Christians killing other Christians of a different tribe. I explained how the cross of Jesus tore down every wall of separation between people groups. Of course for the cross to take its effect we have to preach it, and that is what we are stirring the pastors to do.

Megen Thurber, our tv producer, just sent me a message, while I have been writing this blog. A muslim priest was in the seminar this morning and got saved. He is now telling the pastors, “I want to preach Jesus like I heard so beautiful today”. Megen said she interviewed him and it’s really fantastic. Well, I will find out more. It’s just mid-afternoon in Nairobi, and a lot can happen yet today. Thanks for your prayers and support.  -Peter

View on Website

What keeps me going is our purpose. At last check (late last week) 7000 pastors were pre-registered for the Gospel Revolution seminar in Nairobi. Well, our goal is nothing short of turning a whole country away from performance, merit-based religion to the Gospel of the Grace of God, the only message that can produce righteousness and true holiness. These will be intense days. Thanks for your prayers.

While here in London, I picked up a newspaper with reports of increased political tension in Pakistan: our next Gospel Festival destination. It seems we get to preach in the “hot spots”. The Gospel is the hope of the world, and from all my previous campaigns in Pakistan, I think the majority of Muslims there are wide open to the Good News of Jesus. We got terrific co-workers in Pakistan; they really give of themselves.

I have been thinking how the real answer to a troubled world lies in the knowledge of Jesus. Our mission is to turn on the light and increase the light of the knowledge of Jesus. That principle holds true no matter where you are. Sadly, the Church seems to be swimming in an ocean of strange ideas, legalistic influences and lots-–lots—of human wisdom ideas, while so little attention is given to the power of the cross of Christ. The Bible is pretty clear that one thing that will make the cross of Jesus of no effect is to preach it with words of human wisdom. What’s the situation where you live? What do you think is the focus of the Church?

Well, my flight leaves soon. I get in to Nairobi at 6:30 am tomorrow, then it’s off to our hotel, and at 10 am I will hold a press-conference for Kenya’s media. I want Jesus to shine brightly.
-Peter

View on Website

If Christianity is about traditions and a heritage built on certain biblical principles, then there is a cause for concern. Will we survive? This line of reasoning leaves little room for the power of the Gospel. If Christianity is all about us, and our efforts to fight evil, what kind of Christianity are we actually defending? The very question itself about Christianity’s survival shows what we trust in, because for the one who believes the Gospel, this question doesn’t even exist; we know that the Gospel is God’s power and that it will be preached to all people (Matthew 24:14).

Christianity without the Gospel is not Christianity at all. It is certainly not worth fighting for. The Greek word “evaggelio” means “good news” or “glad tidings”. What is this glad message? That God was in Christ, and put the world’s sins on Christ that the world was reconciled to God through what Jesus did at the cross (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Jesus solved the world’s sin problem once for all, died and rose again. This Jesus is now alive, and all who receive Him receive power to become the children of God. We repent of self-reliance and believe the good news, and at that point we become born-again; God’s own nature of righteousness and love takes residence in us. The gospel has power in itself to transform both the individual and society. The great question then becomes if we are born-again or not.

World Impact Ministries’ work around the world is about inviting people to be born-again. Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Shintoists, Atheists and especially “Christians” need to be born-again. We are not fighting to defend a heritage or tradition but we are concerned that the Gospel will remain. I hope many will rise up around the world and take up the battle against religion built on tradition and merits and for the Good News Gospel.

The word “Gospel” is important. As far as we know, Jesus never used the word “Christian” or “Christiandom”. But He spoke much of the Gospel. Paul and Peter continued in the same style. Today we hear little about the Gospel, but much about Christianity. Getting back to the Gospel is the key, not only for the survival of Christianity, but also for the victory of the believer and the salvation of the world. Your thoughts?

View on Website

Urban promised, “All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am invested.” We do well to remember that the exhibition of religious fervor does not necessarily mean that God is involved, or that we are involved in a holy cause. Just because people are willing to lay down their lives does not mean they are responding to a holy stirring by Jesus Christ.

Today the “Christian” right battles the “Christian” left and vice versa. Everywhere we look there is conflict: Muslims and Christians, Russians and Chechnyans, India and Pakistan, Jews and Palestinians, Christians against the world, and Christians against one another. And everyone believes God is on their side. In fact, almost every warring faction invokes the name of God.

Do you have religious fervor? Does God agree with you? Is He against those who differ with you? I don’t care to comment on the inner workings of various religions, but as far as the Christian faith is concerned, it seems we have forgotten that the one thing we are to be zealous about, and even fight for is the Gospel. Paul battled to the point of openly rebuking his fellow apostle, Simon Peter, when the truth of the gospel was threatened (Gal. 2). Legalism was making inroads in Galatia and taking away the freedom that people had experienced through the grace of Jesus. To Paul this was cause for a battle.

I’ve noticed a lot of misdirected religious fervor. Christians are urged to take political stands. In fact, according to some, it seems political change has become the savior. If we could only make our country “Christian” and adopt a “Christian” morality then everything would be alright. Whenever a new moral low is reached, we are told that this, if anything is going to rally Christians.  My friend Dr. T.L. Osborn visited our church a few years ago and said, “moral teaching can at best make you a Pharisee, and Pharisee is a self-righteous hypocrite.” I agree. Morality doesn’t save; Jesus saves. Paul had religious fervor to the point of being willing to give up his own salvation if only his countrymen could understand that righteousness comes not by self-effort but by the grace of Jesus. His passion was the word of reconciliation. It should be ours.

Urban II rallied people to murder and slaughter in the name of Christ, saying, “God wills it.” If the cause that stirs you is not to give the word of reconciliation of what Christ has done, ask yourself if it’s worth your fervor. Save your passion for the only cause that is worth being passionate about.
Your thoughts? -Peter

View on Website

“Do you remember the Scripture in which Jesus cursed the fig tree and it withered and died the next day? (Mark 11:13 – 21). Ever wonder why He did that? Could it be (and this is just conjecture) that when Jesus saw the fig leaves on the tree, He was reminded of what took place in the Garden of Eden? In Genesis 3:7, the Bible says that Adam and Eve used fig leaves in an attempt to cover their nakedness (wrongdoing). Their self effort (legalism) to make themselves presentable to God could be signified by the fig leaf, and I believe that it (self effort) is what truly separated them from their Father. God went looking for them in the Garden after they screwed up, but Adam and Eve hid from Him for fear of being exposed. When God asked them what they had done, neither one of them asked for forgiveness; instead, they either blamed God or made excuses—more cover up. Had they only responded appropriately to the Father’s call, then who knows what would have happened? Adam and Eve simply chose to trust in themselves and their silly fig leaves and excuses, rather than in the love of the Father.”

“Jesus cursing the fig leaf could very well be a picture of the end of the dispensation of the Law (self effort) and the ushering in of the dispensation of God’s grace. Mark 11:13 says; “And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, ‘Let no one eat fruit from you ever again’.” Do you see that? The season of the fig had passed! Likewise, the season of self effort—of trying to make yourself presentable to God by your own works—has ended: It ended at the hands of Jesus and He has the nail scars to prove it.”

“What about you and me? Are we still relying on fig leaves to make ourselves presentable to God? Are we hiding behind excuses or good works to conceal our shortcomings? Or are we relying on what Jesus has provided and on the kindness of our Father? The fruit of leaning on our own understanding and our own efforts is separation from God—the occurrences in Eden proved this beyond any shadow of doubt. Leaning on Jesus and what He has done for us and relying on the kindness of God brings righteousness, peace and joy to our lives. It’s our choice to make and when you really think about it, it’s a no-brainer.”

“As far as God is concerned, there is nothing between us and Him—let’s make sure that the same can be said as far as we are concerned. Just say “no” to figs J.”

Let me know your thoughts. Have you ever used a “fig leaf”? Or, have you experienced the freedom of knowing that you are OK because of Jesus? -Peter

View on Website

The offensive part of the gospel is when we suggest that God put the world’s sins – past, present and future – “once for all” on Jesus at the cross. In one swoop Jesus became the solution to the world’s sin problem, and the only option we have is whether to believe in what Jesus did or reject it. This substitutionary death of Jesus is offensive because it seems so simple, so all-encompassing. Jesus definitely is a point of contention.

I listened attentively as California pastor, Rick Warren led in the Invocation prayer at President Obama’s recent inaugural. Pastor Warren’s inclusion in the program had caused no small debate as many in the media derided him as “Jerry Falwell in a Hawaiian shirt.”  Of special concern were his statements on homosexuality and abortion. As Senator Feinstein introduced Pastor Warren his approach to the microphone was met with a muted enthusiasm. I listened as Pastor Warren prayed, invoking God, “The Almighty” and the “Lord.” Then he came to a point in the prayer saying, “I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life, Yeshua, Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus, who taught us to pray…”

Thank you Pastor Warren. I’m glad you didn’t give in to the pressure that many preachers in the public eye have succumbed to, to exclude Jesus Christ. We can learn from Pastor Warren’s prayer. The phrase, “In the name of the one who changed my life” is powerful because it puts the focus on our personal testimony. Whenever we represent Jesus we don’t primarily represent a theology, a denomination or a religion – we’re speaking about someone who has transformed our own lives. Tell people what Jesus has done for you.

The inclusion of Jesus, with His name is spoken in different languages, including the Arabic – Isa – was brilliant. There is too much narrow-minded bigotry within our ranks, excluding the Arab world in particular. In our Gospel Festivals I often explain to our audience of mixed religion that Jesus’ name is pronounced various ways in various religions, but that regardless of pronunciation, we are speaking of the same One. God revealed in the flesh, the One who became our substitute, the unlimited God revealed in a limited human body.

Pastor Warren’s prayer was inclusive. Sometimes because universalists have used the phrase, “the gospel of inclusion” we have become exclusive towards the world to a degree that Jesus or Paul never exemplified. Yes, the universalist says that all are saved, which is an inclusion that the bible does not allow for.

However, never forget that what Jesus did includes everyone. His death and resurrection in no way is limited to only those who received Him, no, “God so loved the world.” Words and phrases like “everyone”, “to all people” and “light of the world” allows for no exclusivity. No one has monopoly on Jesus – He is the Saviour of all.

It’s easy to talk and sing about God the Almighty, the Lord, the Eternal One, the Creator. But I’m a little cautious when Jesus seems to be excluded. Whether you’re called to pray at a family gathering, a meeting of your local club, or at an office function, put Jesus out there front and center.
There is power in His Name!

View on Website

The election of Barack Obama in no way signals the end of racism, but it shows unique greatness in America. The majority of the population rose above racism to elect the best person, regardless of race or gender. Being raised in Europe I often heard condescending criticism of the United States of America, particularly because of racism. Europeans would often speak in tones that hinted at moral superiority. Yet until now, it has been inconceivable that any European powers would elect a non-white to the highest office. In France, which arguably has as many or more immigrants than any other country, you hardly have anyone from an immigrant background in public office, whether municipal, provincial or federal.

When I see the joys and hear the stories of people visiting today’s inaugural, I rejoice with them. Sadly over the last month the only dissenting voices I have heard are from born-again Christians, which somehow had their mind set that senator McCain was “God’s choice”. I have been criticized for de-emphasizing the importance of politicians in the spiritual development of country. The role of politicians is enormous in military, economical and social issues. However I have never put my hope and spiritual revival on one political party or another. Nor do I find any supporting Scripture that God would be more inclined to bless a country because of one government rather than another. Instead all the blessings of God are available only in and through Jesus Christ, and Him alone, across all cultural, political and party lines. My branch of Christendom, the evangelical charismatic church is often associated with the Christian right. Looking over the past years we have no right to wag our finger in the face of anyone, as though our particular branch of politics was holier or more moral. Abortion is a terrible sin, but this will not be dealt with through a political decision, but through a groundswell of people who experience God’s love for themselves.

Every human leader, whether spiritual or political will disappoint, so will America’s current president. Yet I pray that these next few years will be a time of grace, openness and acceptance, that people will be willing to listen to views and ideas different than their own. When such a dialog occurs I have no doubt that the message of Jesus will shine the brightest. This could be the best of times for the Gospel to flourish across America and the world.

View on Website

My concern is for the eternal souls of people. Every human being on earth has the potential of being stirred with the humanitarian needs of others. Who among us does not feel a mixture of anger and love raise up, as we see starving children? But here is my point: The only ones with a potential to care for the salvation of souls are those, who have already experienced the salvation of Jesus Christ. If, as is the case now, born again Christians devote more than 95 % of their resources to only meet physical and humanitarian needs, then very little resources are left to care for the souls of people. That was my point in last week’s blog, “Who cares for my soul?” I’m not speaking to the population at large. I know that they will not understand this concern to get the Gospel to everyone. I’m speaking to those who have already benefitted from the salvation that Jesus Christ provided at the cross of Calvary 2000 years ago.

Has Jesus been a benefit to you? Do you have assurance that your sins are forgiven? Has this improved your life? Have you had a taste of what it means that Christ lives in you? Do you feel that your salvation is valuable? Is it worth giving to others? The apostles 2000 years ago felt that what they had received from Jesus was so valuable, that they were willing to give their lives for its propagation.

Those who work for the humanitarian needs of people have access to billions of dollars, and over a decade trillions of dollars, while those who deal with souls for people deal with tens, hundreds or maybe a thousand dollar gift, now and then. I’m calling for the passion for souls to return to the church. Jesus said: “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul”. Do you agree with Jesus? Is a soul worth as much as the wealth of the whole world?

If a person is starving, giving him a bowl of rice is certainly of value, though that bowl will be gone tomorrow. Even better, give someone an education, whereby they can get a job and support themselves. Great! But what’s the point of giving someone a bowl of rice or education, roof over their head and a good family life without their souls being saved?

The soul is eternal. Our money reaches far. With 10 000 monthly partner sharing $ 30 or more each month I can promise you that 2 – 3 million souls would receive Jesus each year. Our track record for decades has been that for not much more than a dollar we can reach someone who doesn’t know Jesus. And not only reach them but also give them follow up material. World Impact Ministries still has a long way to go to 10 000 monthly committed partners. Will you be one of them? How do you see the value of a soul? Do you think it matters whether the people hear the Good News of Jesus or not? Let me know.

Peter

View on Website

Believers are irresistibly drawn to pictures of starving children, wounded bodies and victims of natural disasters. Meanwhile the Psalmist’s cry “who cares for my soul” (Psalm 142:4) remains unnoticed and unanswered. Easily 95 % of today’s missions work is exclusively humanitarian and social. If Jesus’ perspective, that a soul is worth more than the whole world means anything, we have put the cart before the horse. Our programs call for distribution of bread first, and only then, maybe the Bread of Life. Jesus and the Apostles pursued a different pattern; giving the Bread of Life first, and then address the concern for material needs.

Merely meeting people’s physical needs do not solve the problem. Look at Africa! Not only billions, but possibly trillions of dollars have been given in the last few decades to solve the AIDS –problem, starvation etc. Has it brought a solution? No, in fact, in many areas the problems seem to be increasing. Outward solutions without inward change bring little or no result.

The Gospels tell us that Jesus fed the hungry on two occasions. Meanwhile He continually told people in every town and village to “believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). Just before the feeding the 5000 Jesus sent His disciples to preach the Gospel and heal the sick. Notice, He gave the Gospel first and then He fed the hungry. Paul followed the same pattern. He first preached the Gospel and then later, in a situation of special need, Paul collected finances for the social needs of the churches that were living in famine. Once local churches were established those churches exhibited a concern for people’s physical needs. As the Word of God was taught, people learned to look to God as their source and special needs were met. The inevitable result of the proclaimed Gospel was that the social standard was raised.

United Nations, the governments of United States, Canada and European nations spend billions annually on meeting social needs but they do nothing to share the Gospel. Huge secular NGOs (non-governmental organization) such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation spend additional billions of dollars. On top of these there are numerous NGOs that operate under the banner of Christianity, but their focus is also on the social and material needs of people. There is a flurry of multi-billion dollar activities to relieve poverty and feed the hungry, while 7000 people groups remain without any witness of the Gospel, and their cry “who cares for my soul” goes unnoticed. The term “outreach” has become associated with feedings, car-washes, and events where the Gospel presentation is minimal at best. Who cares for the soul? Who cares that some are born, live and die without a single opportunity to hear the Gospel? Untouched! Unreached! Forgotten!

I feel this is a personal failure of myself and others who have a similar conviction. Yes, we have many wonderful, caring, loving partners. Thank God for each one! Yes, we have obviously failed to convince millions of fellow believers of the importance of a soul. In the 1920’s the average evangelical church in the western world committed 20 % of its income to world missions. That was at a time when missions were about winning people to Christ. The value of the soul was in focus. Today the average church allows just over 1 % to missions, and most of that money has little to do with winning people to Christ. It seems when the concern for souls is reduced, the entire focus of mission also goes downhill. There is much more to be said. I’ll make additional comments over the next few weeks. How do you see it?

Peter. 

View on Website

Why does the media report the activities of these extremists? Is it an effort to make born-again evangelicals look bad? I hope not. As the Topeka group operates under the guise of being born-again Christians, the public is maybe led to believe that this is a true representation of born-again Christianity. It’s time we get our message across to people. Jesus did not come to condemn but to save (John 3:17). We can’t let media get by with charactering what we are all about. So is it the media’s fault, or do we have ourselves to blame? The truth is probably somewhere in between. All too many born-again Christians equate the Phelps family’s activities with standing up for truth and righteousness. The only righteousness worth standing up for is Jesus’ righteousness, and He gives it freely to everyone who believes. Possibly there are journalists who like to portray evangelicals in a negative light. Uxbridge has a population of some 19,000 people. Hopefully there are Jesus followers who might reach out to the Phelps family, preach the Gospel to them and they, too, can receive the Good News that makes us love, not hate other people. Sadly I can visualize the news clips, showing Fred Phelps and his family up to their antics. It is sad that the media can’t get away with a negative characterization, because the real Gospel is the greatest message of hope and love the world has ever heard. If we were maybe a little bit more focused on the Good News of Jesus, we wouldn’t be such an inviting target for the media. Your thoughts? - Peter Youngren  

View on Website

While economists emphasize different aspects of the crisis, I don’t think anyone would dispute that greed run amuck is an underlying cause. Basically everyone willing and qualified to buy a house (based on financial abilities) already had one. In fact, some bought more than one. Yet, in a drive to show ever increasing quarterly profits, CEOs came up with new and inventive ways to offer irresponsible mortgages to unsuspecting and ill-advised customers.

Remember the advertisement; “no job, no credit, no money, no problem”. In fact, if someone does not have a job, or money or credit, there is a problem. Where does greed come in to it? Well, the annual bonuses of CEO’s depend on the ever increasing sale of mortgages. So ultimately it was, like so many human issues, all about selfishness, looking out for number one. Well, the bubble burst and now we are in the damage control throwing money at the problem; close to three trillion dollars by one recent report. The ripple effects are everywhere, and now the North American automobile industry is on the verge of collapse

Here is the good news. With God, the worst of times can become the best. When believers discover the limitation of human wisdom, we become more willing to tap into Christ’s wisdom. He, who was rich, became very poor that we through His poverty might be rich [2 Corinthians 8:9]. Jesus Christ is the foundation of our prosperity. We prosper by grace. Once we understand that all things are ours because of Christ are ready to enter God’s prosperity zone.

I know that there has been much teaching on prosperity and Biblical economics. Frankly, some are excited about it, while others are turned off. I wouldn’t be promoting any teaching package, let alone on the topic of prosperity, if I didn’t know that I’m saying something unique and genuinely helpful. I don’t normally blog and promote a teaching album at the same time. “Prosperity in Tough Times” is simply a package that will help people practically to see the worst of times become the best of time.

The following is included:  Click Here To Order

“God, You and Money” (4 CDs)- This teaching gives unusual insights, especially for people who have been sowing gifts into the kingdom of God, but have not been reaping to the extent that they should have.

“Practical Prosperity” (4 CDs) – This teaching series gives real practical and well proven instruction. I recorded this before the current financial crisis, and I now see the tremendous significance of these principals.

“God’s Mind in Tough Times” - This is a single teaching showing how Joseph enjoyed the mind of Christ during seven years of financial hardship in Egypt.

You will find these nine CDs an invaluable resource in these difficult times. The regular value including shipping and handling is $72, but through our website you can order the entire package for only $49, S/H included. 

History proves again and again that times of financial adversity have often been the greatest times for God’s people to prosper! Has the financial crisis affected you?  ~Peter.

View on Website

First of all, let me state that I do not deny there are battles facing every born again believer.  From grizzled veterans of the 5-fold ministry to the average guy putting in 40hrs a week at the local factory – we all wage these battles.  However, for born again believers this battle is not waged in the “spiritual” realm – this battle is waged between our ears.  It is against principalities and powers that exalt themselves above the ‘knowledge’ of Christ.  I am sure the devil wants every Christian to believe he (satan) still has something he can use against us in the heavenlies when in reality our true selves are already perfect and seated in the heavenlies with Christ.  Satan cannot touch born again believers as we are “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3).  This being said; if the devil can get us thinking, praying and battling against spiritual enemies we feel ‘we’ need to defeat or generation curses we think ‘we’ need to break, then he has won that battle no matter how much we pray or fight because even addressing the issue on those terms exalts them above the knowledge of Christ.  The fact is this: Jesus utterly defeated and disarmed satan and his cohorts at Calvary.  Believing anything less is to deny the Gospel it’s true power.
One thing I do refute is the existence of spiritual generational curses over those who have been saved.  The only way a “generational curse” can possibly have any effect on a born again person is if this person is taught that a curse is on them and they end up believing it.  How can a generational curse apply to someone who has never existed before?  When we are born again we become “new creations” - that word “new” means “out of nothing”.  God doesn’t just change us - He recreates us!  Also, how can something that God has blessed be cursed?  To say that a born again believer needs to break generational curses over them is to say that the work of the cross wasn’t enough and that we have to put the finishing touches on what Christ wasn’t able to complete.  What people really struggle with here is ways of thinking and behaving that get passed down from generation to generation.  In some religious circles this event gets misdiagnosed as a “generational curse” and people get all weird about it. 
I also don’t for one second believe that there can be some demon with ‘legal’ access to you because of what great, great, great grandmother Matilda did with a Ouija board or what Uncle Henry performed in a ritual ceremony 100 years ago.  ‘Legally’ speaking we have an advocate that stands before God 24/7 on our behalf - His name is Jesus - so it’s not up to us to defend ourselves even if we do screw up or if something bad happened in our past.  “What about sin?  Doesn’t that give satan the legal right to accuse us?”  No.  Committing actions that don’t line up with who we are merely gives the devil the ability to whisper thoughts of condemnation in our ears in an effort to make us feel unworthy of God’s love.  This can be a powerful weapon; however, even if it is only in our minds and that is why we must keep in the forefront of our thoughts who Christ is in us, who we are in Him and what that truly means.  Satan cannot accuse us before our Father anymore because In Christ the issue of sin has been dealt with and the devil has no argument.
The primary struggle we have, as Paul states, is to enter into the rest God has provided for us in Christ.  I guess that will always be a struggle until That day comes.  Nobody will achieve perfection of thought or action until we see Him (Jesus) as He is but in the meantime we can rest safely in the fact that, as far as God is concerned and according to Christ in us, we are perfect in His eyes. 

View on Website

Where does greed come in? Well, it all had to do with showing an ever increasing profit on paper, driving stock prices and managers’ bonuses ever higher. Finally the system broke. Unlike the familiar sign in the knick-knack shop, “You Break It – You Own It”, our current motto is: They Break It - We (the tax payers) Own It. It has already happened in the U.S., Europe is next and Canada may not be far behind.

So will a new president make a difference? What about a new Prime Minister in Canada?
One of the lessons from the recent crisis is that when push comes to shove it is the unelected leaders who make the difference. In the financial crisis it is the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke and the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson. The trillion dollar bailout (700 billion plus the previous bailouts last month) that effects, not only the US economy, but the whole world is their brainchild. Meanwhile President Bush, Congress and the presidential nominees were virtual by-standers as the bailout was introduced. It appeared the politicians were as much at a loss to what was coming next as the rest of us. Whatever the recommendations from the financial experts (the ones who got us into this mess) left the lawmakers with little to add. After all, this was a crisis. Immediate action was needed. Politicians pretended to have the answer, but they were basically left waiting for Paulson and Bernanke to call for the next move.

All this leads me to another thought. How much power does a President or prime minister really yield? For a number of elections now we evangelicals have been told that if we just voted for the right party our votes would have an influence on the moral issues of the day, most notably the reduction in abortions and gay “marriages”.

I was a great admirer of pro-life President Ronald Reagan. But sad to say, neither Reagan nor the current pro-life occupant of the White House, have had any measurable influence on these issues. Arguably there hasn’t been one less abortion, regardless of who occupies the White House. Currently we hear the same posturing, talk of the critical need to appoint Supreme Court Justices to overturn Roe v. Wade in the United States. In Canada similar thoughts are expressed, though the Canadian family values agenda is less in the news. The Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, is pro-life, but will that make any difference? How much power do politician really have? When it comes to issues of war, the power is obvious as we have seen in the United States and in Canada. But on the moral and social issues the influence of elected politicians is rather small.

The Scripture declares, some trust in horses and chariots but we trust in the name of the Lord. We could paraphrase, some trust in politicians and economists but we trust in the Jesus as our source, provider and guide for morality. Yes, a new president and a new prime minister will make some difference, but don’t look to politicians for moral and social guidance. Arguably the church´s best days were under Roman authority in the 1st century. No help from politicians back then, just believers “turning the world upside down” by preaching “Jesus Christ and Him crucified”.

Love to hear your thoughts whether you agree or disagree. Keep blogging.

View on Website

Now let me get this straight. A large number of born-again people are to let God know that He is supposed to send rain at a specific time in Denver, CO. And not just rain, but a storm of such devastating proportions that all would know, “this was God.”

Was the person behind this prayer call an extremist? Yes, but regrettably he represents an all to common extremism. Sending torrential rains on a political candidate? What about tsunamis, earthquakes, or assassinations? Are these divine activities?

A few months ago a video was on the news where Pastor John Hagee suggested that God was behind Hitler and the holocaust in order to accomplish His prophetic purposes. These are flimsy, twisted, grotesque and embarrassing interpretations of Scripture (more about this another time).

It is time for the evangelical community to draw a line in the sand and totally reject this kind of reasoning. This is an awful and derogatory representation of Christianity and the Gospel. Is this what we are about? Requesting that God cause misfortune to those who we may not agree with?

One pentecostal Christian in Florida told me God was allowing McCain to win the U.S. Election and that the Baptist preacher, Mike Huckabee, would be the Vice President. God would then orchestrate the quick death of McCain in order that the born-again Huckabee might ascend to the presidency. Where does this line of thinking come from? Who comes up with such ideas? What are people hearing from the pulpits, week after week?

Sadly, the evangelical church has lost awareness of what the Gospel is all about. God is not in the business of punishing whatever person or idea he might be displeased with. God sent His judgment for human sin on Jesus Christ, releasing us to preach “Good News” to the world. Unfortunately, bad news religion seems to be everywhere. Now and then you see a ray of light as someone presents what God has really done for world.

By the way, the sun shone brightly on Obama’s rally.

What if it had rained on Obama? Would that have been indication that the prayer call would have been answered by God? Certainly not! With that logic we would have to assume that the churches that were damaged as a result of hurricane Katrina were also punished by God. The fact is that believers as well as nonbelievers died on 9/11, in Hurricane Katrina and in the tsunami that wreaked devastation in South East Asia. We live in an imperfect world. Bad news is everywhere but our job is to preach the Good News. When we drift from the Gospel we look ridiculous. One more thought. I’m not advocating McCain or Obama; I’m bringing correction to a church that forgot the Gospel. Your thoughts? -Peter      

View on Website

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was sentenced to eight years in prison and internal exile for life for merely describing Stalin as a tyrant using the metaphor “the whiskered one.” It seems laughable from a western perspective but it was deadly in the totalitarian Soviet Union. Solzhenitsyn’s most famous work, the Gulag Archipelago, reads like an encyclopedia of the monstrosity of Communism under Stalin. Solzhenitsyn made a choice to express himself and take a stand no matter what the cost. He wrote in order to give a voice to those who suffered and expose the lies of a cruel regime. When he first came to America he was applauded and became a media darling. That all changed when his voice became critical of western decadence. Eventually he moved back to his motherland Russia.
Solzhenitsyn’s passing causes me to reflect: what things am I willing to stand up for no matter the consequences? What are the causes for which I am able to risk my life? Do I take a stand when I see deception? You’ve heard the saying, “if you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything.” What do I stand for? How about you?
It’s hard to judge ourselves, others may judge us better, and certainly God knows us perfectly. From where I sit it seems that the revelation of the Gospel of the grace of Jesus has made me less tolerant of mystical religion and foolish legalism. It has made me more adamant that the whole world has a right to hear the Gospel. Now that is something worth standing for, worth my interest, my finances and my commitment. Your thoughts?

View on Website

Recently I have made a conscious endeavor to see Christ in myself when I look in the mirror - sometimes it can be hard to do when you see all your faults and shortcomings at the same time; however, over the last few weeks it has begun to sink in more and more.  What a difference it has made in day-to-day life!  I have noticed that as I focus on the fact that Christ is in me and that He is part of every aspect of my day-to-day life, that day-to-day life becomes more enjoyable and less stressful.  CHRIST IN ME is my hope of glory; not Christ on the throne of Heaven, not Christ on the cross, not Christ healing the multitudes or feeding the 5 thousand, but Christ in ME -that must be my perspective. He is my ever PRESENT help in time of need.  Christ is, of course, those other things and more, but I, and all believers, need to keep the fact that His life is in us at the forefront of our thinking.  In reality we are more than conquerors, we are already blessed and God is already happy with us; however, if we lose sight of the fact that Christ is IN us—not just FOR us—we run the risk of losing our grasp on that reality.
When you look in the mirror do you see Jesus looking back? That is the question I have been asking myself and that is the question believers needs to honestly ask themselves.  We all need to see Him in our own eyes.
I sure would love to hear your comments on the issues Phil is dealing with. Now, I think Dr. Phil makes a lot of sense, but if you have discovered that self-improvement has its limitations, you may find Phil’s comments even more helpful. There is only so much change available through self-discipline, willpower and good intentions. Jesus in YOU can really bring about transformation. It seems Phil is discovering that. If anyone else feels the same way, or for that matter, if anyone disagrees, let me know your thoughts.
-Peter

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

Maybe more than any African country, Kenya has been open to missionaries. Almost every mission in the world is represented in this East African country. The 70’s and 80’s were a time of genuine spiritual revival, when tens of thousands of Kenyans came to Christ. Our ministry has conducted large Gospel Festivals in nine cities with amazing results.

During my visits to Africa over the last five years I have been particularly concerned about a “drift” I have noticed; a drift away from the simple, Jesus focused Gospel to more mystical forms of Pentecostalism with emphasis on holy oil, strange manifestations, spiritual mapping, self centered prosperity teaching etc. There seems to be a lessening focus on what Christ accomplished at the cross. I just visited another African country, much similar as far as the potential for tribal infighting. One pastor told me that Charismatic pastors had invited church members to bring their AK47 machine guns to the service so they could anoint them with oil to evoke a divine blessing for greater accuracy as bullets were fired. That is extreme, but I must admit that I was not surprised. It seems at times the lines between spiritual warfare and using bullets has become fuzzy. I have mentioned before about a highly acclaimed pastor who publicly prays that God will cause Palestinians and Arabs to turn on one another in mutual destruction hardly the Spirit of Jesus, who came not to destroy but to save (Luke 9:56). This week I put plans into action to go to Eldoret, the city where this horrible crime was committed, to conduct a Festival focusing on redemptive truth. What is the hope for Africa, or any nation?

1) A revelation that Jesus’ death on the cross tore down divisive barriers between tribes and nations. We who were not a people have become a people. The idea of the old covenant was separation between the High Priest and the regular priests, the priests and the people, men and women, Jews and Gentiles. Whenever old covenant thinking takes root in the church, we go back to this theology of separation. The Gospel liberates so that we discover that no group has the advantage over the other, but that we are all one in and through Jesus Christ.

2) Let’s get back to Gospelization instead of Christianization. So much of mission effort has been to install western Christian values and traditions rather than the liberating Good News of Jesus.

Faith comes by hearing, and as the truth of Jesus’ finished work on the cross is proclaimed, it effects human behavior. Pray with me for our plans to start a Bible College in Kenya. The idea is for a school that will touch the Swahili speaking world, which includes not only Kenya, but Uganda, Tanzania, parts of Congo and Rwanda.
Let me hear from you - Peter

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

Let me highlight three statements that are often made to support the idea that God has a separate way of salvation for Israel.
1. God promises to bless the man or nation that blesses Israel. The basis for this statement is Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you and I curse him who curses you and in you all families of the earth shall be blessed.” (NKJ) This is a promise given to Abraham, with a direct reference to the salvation of Jesus that would be to “all families of the earth.”
According to the Bible, Abraham had at least eight sons; Ishmael, Isaac, and six other sons by Ketura, his wife after Sarah died. God promised blessing and salvation to all of Abraham’s descendents. More importantly, in Christ all of Abraham’s blessings are ours. In fact, this verse is a clear reference that those who bless believers, which are Abraham’s descendents by faith in Jesus Christ, will be blessed.
2. Some claim a principle of prosperity tied to blessing Israel and the city of Jerusalem. The Scripture used to support this is Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who love you.”  We need to ask what is the peace of Jerusalem? Can Jerusalem have peace without the Prince of Peace? What does it mean to pray for the peace of Jerusalem? Is it not to pray that the Prince of Peace will be revealed to the Jewish people? In fact, Jesus is the Peace of Jerusalem and those who love Him prosper.
3. “Israel is the fifth Gospel”. This is a phrase I keep hearing, often from people who indicate a virtual unconditional support for the state of Israel. I have visited Israel many times, and sometimes I wonder which Israel these right-winged Christian extremists are really supporting? In fact, the mainstream Jewish people living in Israel today are often not politically aligned with these views. Most Jewish people are like people of all countries; they want peace, to be able to work, raise their families and are not deeply entrenched in theological disputes. Their concern is not primarily about Gaza or another small piece of the land, but they are troubled at the deaths of many Jewish young men and women.
We need to be careful that our support of Israel does not alienate us from the Jews in Israel. It’s easy for us, who don’t have to send our sons and daughters to the front-line, to support a militaristic stance in Israel.
Much could be said. Bottom line is that the land of Israel is God’s business. Jesus said the Father would look after the land issue (Acts 1:5-8), regardless of the politics of Europe and America. Our task is to bring Him, Who is the PEACE OF JERUSALAEM, to everyone. If you want to know more about this task, check out Way of Peace http://www.wayofpeace.net/. Yes, the Jews are coming home to their land, that’s great, but not as great as when they come to their Savior, Yeshua. Your thought?  - Peter

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

Your thoughts?

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

When you read my new book, “My Muslim Friends” (yes it arrived from the printer this week), you’ll see another side in the current debate about Islam and Christianity. Here is an excerpt from page 62.

“When I share the Gospel with my Muslim friends, I often remind them that tradition within Islamic culture testifies of the amazing sacrifice Jesus made. Devout Muslims sacrifice a lamb annually in commemoration of the great prophet Abraham. The Muslim holiday Idul Adha comes at the end of the Islamic year, and is known as a time of sacrifice. Though most families offer a lamb or a goat, wealthier families may sacrifice a cow.
When Abraham’s son was placed on the altar of sacrifice, he should have died, but God provided a lamb to take his place. I never argue about whether it was Isaac or Ishmael on the altar, because on this point Muslims and Christians differ. Muslims believe it was Ishmael, while Christians believe it was Isaac. My objective is to get to the main point of the Gospel message, which is what Jesus has done for us. We can discuss Ishmael versus Isaac at another time.
The point is straightforward. Abraham’s son should have died. He represents us because we should die because of our sin. God in His great love told Abraham not to kill his son. Instead, God provided a lamb to take the place of Abraham’s son. John the Baptist, who is the prophet Yehya in the Koran, pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) The lamb became the substitute for Abraham’s son just like Jesus became our substitute. We should have been killed and judged for our sins but God provided the Lamb of God to take our place. “
There is no off-limit place as far as Jesus is concerned. We must help our Muslim friends discuss Jesus.
What helps the course of the Gospel the most? Denigrating Islam and its founder Muhammad or inviting Muslims to discover Jesus?
“My Muslim Friends” will be a valuable tool in witnessing to Muslims. You may want to buy an extra copy for a Muslim friend.
If you order now, I will include shipping and handling. Please click here and you will have this valuable resource in your hands within days.
Do you have any stories to share about interaction with Muslims?
Blog on!
Peter

View on Website

View on Website

View on Website

It is not all that often that exorcism, demons, ghosts and spirits make the news. Seeing this story made me think about how out of vogue it is currently to even bring up the topic of demons. Charismatic Christians of a little older generation may remember in the 70’s when teachers like Derek Prince, Don Basham, and Bob Mumford made the topic of demons and deliverance popular. Let me throw out a few statements that might peek your interest. I like to hear what you think.

The demonic world is real, but it only operates with one weapon - deception. Satan and all his cohorts has been completely defeated by Jesus’ death and resurrection. In fact according to the apostle Peter’s writing, Satan is only “like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour”. No lion is as harmless as a roaring one. Such a lion has never caught a zebra or an antelope because the roar gives away the lion’s location long before the beast can ever pounce on his victim, an apt description of the devil and satanic powers; all they have is a roar of deception.

How powerful is Satan? To those who have the indwelling Jesus Christ Satan’s deception is null and void, of no effect, unless we give room to the devil. For those who are ignorant of what Jesus has accomplished, Satan’s one weapon of deception can be wielded with quite the effects, causing a range of strange behaviors. In every religion you find that people have problems with the devil. In the case at the Bangkok airport the ones affected are Buddhists. Sadly many Christians claim to have devil problems. I don’t, not as long as I remember the finished work of Calvary where Jesus fully defeated the devil, By walking in the new creation reality of Christ in me, I recognize the devil has been brought to zero (Hebrews 2:14).

I have had the privilege of using the all-powerful name of Jesus on many occasions to cast out evil spirits. Regardless how demonstrative the demonic activity was, it was only a “show”, for the prince of darkness is defeated, and that defeat is enforced in Jesus’ name.

One of the students at World Impact Bible Institute (soon to be re-named Celebration Bible College) told me that she had been attending a church where people so-to-speak saw “a demon behind every bush”. Gradually she described how she lost her joy and confidence and become increasingly devil conscious. Sitting under the teaching at the Bible College, the tables are turning. Once again the devil and his power is shrinking as Jesus is being magnified in her life.

If you are a born again believer you have nothing to fear. In fact one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of the reality that the ruler of this world (the devil) has been judged. We have a Bible College in Thailand, WIBI-Thailand. Pray for the leaders and students. May Thailand and the world, including the church in America discover Jesus’ victory.

Have you encountered exorcisms? Ghosts? Demon-phobia? Keep blogging

- Peter Youngren
Last Updated ( Friday, 23 March 2007 )

View on Website

Jesus responds with a question for Pilate, “Are you asking or have others told you.” Jesus knows that a politician’s number one concern is what people think about him/her. A politician isn’t for example that worried about truth. It’s almost as if Jesus is calling Pilate on his powerlessness. A politician needs to listen to polls and advisors to make the right political move. We can easily tell that Pilate is annoyed by such a question because of his quick response in verse 35, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation delivered you to me. What have you done?” And here’s where Jesus drops the revelation on Pilate and on everyone throughout the centuries, “My kingdom is not of this world…” Don’t put Jesus teachings, instruction, miracles and life into a worldly system. Jesus didn’t come to overthrow the government, He came to transform the human heart.

Pilate is intrigued. You can tell with his next question, “So you are a King then?” Jesus confirms to Pilate that He is. Jesus came to speak truth. Jesus is truth. Everyone who belongs to Jesus hears His truth and accepts it. Jesus is the King of Kings but not in the way that Pilate imagined, nor in the way the disciples originally thought, nor in the way that some Christians portray Him today.

In a classic parting question Pilate asks Jesus, “What is truth?” He doesn’t understand. He’s not one of those who can hear. In the end we know that in fact Pilate was impotent; he couldn’t stop Jesus execution even though he desperately tried. It makes me wonder just how powerful politicians truly are?

Let’s all make sure that our priorities are Jesus priorities!

View on Website

I am sure we have not seen all the reactions yet. So far Pakistan’s Parliament has passed a resolution condemning the Pope’s words, while other Muslim voices in Syria, Gaza and Turkey have expressed similar concerns.

The issue is rather simple; why argue whether extreme representatives of Islam have used violence to convert? The answer is an obvious “yes”, but then we must quickly add that so have representatives of Christianity and other religions. Just a couple hundred years before the rule of Manuel II Paleologis, the a^?oeChristiana^?? Crusades in the Middle East were in full swing with the popes of that day promising instant entrance to Paradise for any a^?oeChristian: knight who killed an infidel (Muslim) in battle.

Why are we so anxious to attack other religions while defending our own? All religions that do not include the experience of being born again and having Jesus impart His righteousness into people is just that a religion.

What do all religions have in common? Human performances aimed at pleasing a supposedly displeased deity. In one word LEGALISM. One of the “good deeds” that a young “Christiana^?? man could do in the 11th-13th century was to go to war. Today a small, though vocal, group of Islamic extremists advocate a similar path to please God.

What is the solution? Get back to unveiling Jesus to the world. Jesus is the answer. He is full of grace and truth. Christians, Muslims and the whole world need to discover Jesus. STOP DEFENDING CHRISTIANITY! STOP ATTACKING OTHER RELGIONS! It is not Jesus’ style.

My new book a^?oeMy Muslim Friendsa^?? ($15) has gone to print. It will be on sale in two weeks. The subtitle is a^?oeAn invitation to Muslims and Christians to take another look at Jesusa^??. As an introductory offer we will include shipping and handling in the price.

Give me your thoughts. Keep blogging.

Peter Youngren

View on Website

“Those who know don’t speak. Those who don’t know speak.”

I don’t know how true these quotes are, but I like them nonetheless. One of the “read between the lines” doctrines in the Bible is that of Friendship(s). This sounds like a bit of shallow discussion but I have seen over the years numerous relationships based on numerous things: work, next door neighbor, family etc. However, how many sincere friendships do you have? How many people are in your life that truly know you and genuinely care about you? The days of David and Jonathan, Paul and Luke seem to be nothing but a distant memory in this day and age. Instead many times we surround ourselves with people that we waste time with. For whatever reason we feel a sense of obligation to be around them because our wives/husbands told us to or because of work or ….. well for any variety of reasons? The question this week is – who do you hang around and why?

The Apostle Paul is extremely clear about believers not hanging around “busybodies”. While speaking about them he states:

“Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.” 1 TIMOTHY 5:13

I have found that busybodies are as active today as they have ever been; believers with too much time on their hands. It is tempting for some to want to “befriend” these people. After all they have the latest gossip from the Christian world and secular world. They have no problem spiritually and tactfully “shredding” others while their back is turned. It is sad, but some times when “friendships” are examined it turns out that we can have one or two or ten busybodies in our lives. People who always want to discuss other people. People who want to discuss you and your family. While it may be pleasing to our flesh to listen to these “ear ticklers” I assure you of one guaranteed thing – they’re saying the same things about you when your back is turned.

God has AWESOME, new covenant, spirit-led, grace filled friendships in this life for you and me. Our time shouldn’t be spent with negative, condemning and corrupting people. Why not take some time this week and allow the Holy Spirit in you to strip away some of those busybodies you’ve been hanging around!

What do you think?

View on Website

Or are preachers merely feeling a false emotion-based feeling of need? I shudder to think where the rest of the world (the non-believers) are if we who are born of the Spirit with Christ indwelling us are in such dire straits. Every time a preacher tells you what you need that statement pre-supposes you dont have it.

Doesnt anyone believe in Ephesians 1:3, that we already have been blessed with every blessing? Is the Christian life really a journey towards our higher levels of anointing and victory? Sounds more like Buddhism to me. What about Pauls prayer that we would see what our inheritance in Christ is (Ephesians 1:17-18)?

Pauls teaching stands in stark contrast to what I saw on Christian television. The apostle never suggested to anyone that they needed victory, breakthrough or the next level. Instead he continually reinforced the truth that we have everything in Christ. Our need is not to obtain everything, but to see what is already ours. Thats why we are on television in the United States and Canada to preach Pauls gospel of what Jesus has done. We are not a religion of people looking for elusive blessings and victories - WE HAVE IT NOW, SO MAY OUR EYES BE OPENED TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE!

Let me hear from you.- Peter Youngren

View on Website

So! How is it that people begin to spend more time with the Lord? Let me make a statement and you can go and research it after. The Bible never says that you have to love God to go to Heaven. What? Yes! I have felt love in my life and it was never forced, nor coerced. In fact by its very nature love can never be under those circumstances.

Here’s a test. Husbands go to your wives and tell them that you’ll be spending a mandatory one hour per day with them. Then keep track of that time meticulously; one hour to the minute. Bring a list of things you want to talk about and stick to it. Never let your wife talk. Then go to all your friends and brag about what a good husband you are for spending quality time with the love of your life. Hopefully you’ll never take this advice – never! Yet each Sunday that was the advice I was giving my congregants about how to advance their relationship with God.

Our relationship with the Lord is based on love and love only grows in one way. Look closely at how Paul writes “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:9). Paul tells us two very important things. Firstly, that our love abounds (grows). I can safely say that I have a greater revelation of God’s love for me today than I did before and THAT makes me love Him even more. God has always loved me with His divine and unshakeable love, but only now am I learning to walk in that love every day. And that is Paul’s second point – love abounds in knowledge. If there is no knowledge then you’re claiming to love a stranger. Love doesn’t grow without knowledge. You can’t find a scripture verse in which Paul tells the various local Church bodies to spend more time with God. Why? What is the quota? When have you spent enough time with the Lord? What does that mean?

Our relationship with Christ who lives in us and through us is a wonderful twenty-four hour a day event. Don’t segment in people’s minds one time with Christ over another. There is no such thing. Time spent in prayer is no better than time spent in fellowship with the other saints of God for example. In fact there are times I learn a great deal about God while talking with my friends about His Word. I learn about the Lord when I give my testimony to a co-worker or study the scriptures or go to Church. The Christian life is for living and no one part is better than another. All of these events produce knowledge about the Lord inside of me and that divine knowledge causes my love for Him to abound!

Spending time with the love of my life (Jesus) is not a problem anymore. How much time do I spend in prayer and fellowship with God; I really couldn’t tell you because I don’t keep track. But I can honestly say that I understand Paul better now when he said “I pray without ceasing”. J

There’s MUCH more to say, but what do you think?

View on Website

I remember going to youth group when I was fourteen and the dreaded subject of witnessing would come up. The announcement was made that after the meeting we’d be heading down town to “witness”. I would rummage through my thoughts, pretending not to be scared out of my wits that I might run in to someone that I knew; trying to figure out how to look cool while doing it. To make matters worse, the pastor told us that we would be taking a coffin out in to the streets and someone would jump out and start preaching. The logic was that this would draw attention to our group so that we could get the message out there en masse!

Is this the type of activity that Jesus had in mind when he said that we would be witnesses unto the “ends of the earth”? I think not! In light of the scriptures, how are we to be witnesses? Peter exhorts us to be prepared to give an answer to “everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Here he makes it quite clear that our responsibility as followers of Christ is to give a reason when people ask us. Does that mean no other time – no! But it is an excellent notion.

I have found that there are two categories of people in the Church and neither one is right. The first category is made up of those who “witness” all the time. Sometimes some could even say that they brag about how much they witness. Yet it has been my experience that many times the “fruit” of their labors is hard to find. They don’t bring an abundance of people to Church and you don’t really meet any of the people that they have ‘prayed’ with. The second category is those who never “witness”. It scares them. And surely this can’t be right either.

Yet perhaps there is a third category – the one that Paul surely fit in to and that we can take rest in. That is the category of “yielding to Jesus”. The Holy Spirit lives inside of you and because of that you’ll surely know when He desires you to speak. I have found that sometimes we spend a great deal of time witnessing to people who have no desire whatsoever to find out about the hope that we have. And then at the same time there are friends, family members and co-workers who would love to know about the hope that is found in Jesus Christ, but no one has shared it with them.

My advice – focus on the ones who the Apostle Peter told us to focus on. You’ll see great fruit in your life and it is in keeping with this “stress free, new covenant” life!

View on Website

Last weeks blog brought a lot of reaction. Thank you for responding whether you agree with my sentiments or not.

End-time prophecy predictions are a tricky business. Anyone remember Salem Kirban prediction books in the 70’s? What about a host of other prophecy teachers who foretold Jesus’ return in 1982, 1987, 1988, 1992, 2000 etc. All through these emotionally charged predictions I have been saying that Jesus’ return is not tied to a date on the calendar, but to a fulfillment of a condition the Gospel must first be preached. Hundreds are dead in Israel and Lebanon. Death does not discriminate. It comes to Jews, Arabs and Christians. When a baby with burnt flesh is left dead on the street corner it is just as painful whether it is a Jewish baby in Haifa, or an Arab child in south Beirut. All religions believe God is important, and He is. All religions believe prayer, Scriptures and doctrines are important, and they are. Jesus shows us the importance of people; little people, innocent people, victims are all important to God. Jesus picked up the little children and cradled them in His arms. The Pharisees called Him a friend of sinners. This was an accusatory phrase. According to the Pharisees the idea of prophet plus friend of sinners? made no sense.

Precisely my point. Our main interest is not land deals or political movements; our focus is people. End-time prophecy will be wrapped up when the Gospel has been preached and the fullness of the Gentiles has come in [Rom 11:25, Mt 24:14]. The land issues of the Middle East will be worked out by the Heavenly Father who has it in His authority (Acts 1:4-8). God doesn’t need Christian protestors and activists to help Him with the land distribution. Our job is to focus on the issue that Jesus specifically commissioned us to deal with, the people issue. This is the day of grace and people are more important than square inches of land, whether in Gaza, Lebanon or Israel. Not one of us is more concerned about the Middle East situation than Jesus. Not one of us loves Jews or Arabs more than Jesus does. And Jesus refused to get involved in the issue of the land. He had plenty of opportunities, among them being when the people tried to make Him king and when the disciples questioned Him before His ascension. Instead of micro-analyzing every political decision and arguing potential end-time prophecy significances in the current situation, why don’t we like Jesus get on with the task that we have been called to deal with giving the Gospel to every Jew and Arab in the world.

In March of 2005 our ministry started a new branch, Way of Peace. We currently work in ten cities across Israel, equally dividing our support between Jews and Arabs.

Our involvement in Israel is discriminating. We discriminate not between ethnicities, but on the basis of who works for the spreading of the Gospel and who doesn’t. We support only those who advance the Good News of what God has done for the world through Jesus Christ. There are many other causes, and we don’t criticize them. Our task however is to get the Gospel to as many people as we possibly can. That is true in our ministry around the world and it is true in Israel. If you want to know more about the “Way of Peace” outreach you can contact Racheal at: .

Closing thoughts: Jesus dealt with three groups of people: Jews, Samaritans and Romans. Today’s Middle East situation has Jews, Palestinians, and the rest of the world. Two thousand years ago each group tried in their own way to get Jesus to side with them politically. Jesus didn’t take the bait; He kept focusing on His task. He didn’t come to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17). Let me know what you think.

Keep blogging. Peter Youngren

View on Website

In his book “Terrorism, Jihad, and the Bible”, John McArthur claims that Muslim suicide bombers are merely expressing “pent up sexual desires” resembling the attitude of their founder. He is historically incorrect and there is no basis for his statement. Is this the way Jesus speaks to unbelievers? McArthur also exaggerates, claiming that the Turks in the late 1800’s killed several million Armenians, when the actual figure is 1.5 million. I guess a million here or there doesn’t matter? Is this the kind of message that Jesus would preach? He loved the Jews, the Samaritans and the Romans. Jesus saved, healed and touched without discrimination. He told His followers to go into the entire world to preach the gospel.
How are we to affect the 1.4 billion Muslims? By demonizing them, or by sharing God’s love revealed in Christ? I for one believe in the power of love. Jesus is the answer. When people of any religion, including Muslims, open their heart to receive His imputed righteousness they become new creations in Christ. Once the new life has come into a person Jesus makes Himself known.
This is the best cure for terrorism and hatred in any culture. Get Jesus to live inside of people. That is why I am writing a book entitled “My Muslim Friends”. I want to build bridges, reach out to people, and have a positive effect instead of creating rage and bigotry. I believe in salvation for the Muslim world. They are Abraham’s descendants and God has promised to bless them. There is no blessing outside of Jesus; this means we must give the message of Jesus Christ to all of Abraham’s descendants.
Let me know what you think. Are you biased against Muslims? Have you shared the gospel of Jesus with Muslims?

View on Website

Bewitching has to do with a core teaching of the basis of our salvation.  The Galatians had been seduced by Legalism thinking that they could obtain God’s favor by their own performance.  Paul asked them, “Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law by believing what you heard? (Gal. 3:2)

A few verses later, “Does God give you his Spirit to work miracles among you because you observe the law or because you believe what you heard?  (Gal. 3:5)

The apostle Paul doesn’t allow for a middle of the road approach.  Either you’re saved by grace – what God has already done for you in Christ, or by law - by what you can do to impress God by your behavior.  Paul says “no” to law and “yes” to grace.

The bewitching of legalism comes in many forms.  Every religion has it.  There is a charismatic bewitching in which we are told that we must pray so much, give so much, or study so much in order to obtain a new level of anointing to break through to a miracle.

Studying, praying, and giving are all good, when those activities are carried out because of what Jesus has done. When they are carried out in order to get God to do something, they become legalistic effort.  The whole focus becomes an error, when we try to produce enough good to impress God.  Bottom line, God is already impressed by what Jesus is done.  Rest in him.  God’s grace is the only way. 

Have you ever been effected by legalism? Are you enjoying God’s grace? What effects have you witnessed in your own life of grace or of legalism? Let me hear from you!

All by grace,

PJY

View on Website

Have people told you that you did not have enough faith to receive the blessing or miracle you desire? Has faith become an area where you feel put down, second-class, and inadequate? Take courage, I have never met a person whose faith is good enough, or a preacher of faith who him or herself could produce the faith that according to Jesus would move mountains. There is only once source for that kind of faith - it is Jesus Himself. If you struggle with faith I want to hear from you. If you read my book and it helped you, send me a testimony.

The key to the miracles we see in Gospel Festivals around the world is not our ability to manufacture faith; it is the faith of Jesus. We operate just like Simon Peter who attributed the miracle of the lame man walking as ‘faith that works through Him’. Like Paul we recognize that we are dead from our self and alive unto Christ, and the life we now live ‘we live by the faith of the Son of God.’ Jesus is the source of all the faith you need.

Let me know your thoughts.
Keep blogging,

Peter

View on Website

I compare it to a Master Painter who completes His portrait and leaves it hanging in His house for all to see.  However, the Master Painter leaves His painting in the care of others. And slowly but surely the others see things in the painting, which they believe need ‘clarification’. Almost inevitably each caretaker, like their predecessor before, takes the liberty to ‘touch up’ small parts of the already perfect painting.  Until after almost 2000 years of touch ups we have a painting which is not at all like the original.

However, the Lord has brought out His brush again and restored His original masterpiece to its previous glory. God does this by illuminating the minds of His body with revelation. And the revelation is not new; it’s His original Masterpiece. The Masterpiece is the message. And the message is Christ in You! God’s Grace is sufficient! And the sins of all mankind have been put away forever, not by works, but by The Work of the Lord Jesus.

What do you think?

View on Website