Feb 09
Wes GeorgeUncategorized
My wife told me last night here, morning there that Rogers was having an “Epic Snow Storm” according to weather man (i.e. meterologist). While we are a long way away from snow here, I did experience some chilling moments. What a joy to participate in a large baptism event yesterday! I must say that there were many exceptional moments during this public declaration of faith. One of the great moments was when an 82 year old lady was handed down into the water to Ramesh and me and we held her and baptized her. It was a great celebration for these new believers and a great privilege for me to just be there.
I know that you want the deep spiritual truths that’s the only reason that you read this little blog of mine. (I am smiling as I write this.) But if you would permit me to share the humorous along side the spiritual and eternal. Ramesh had secured a church located at the edge of the state that built a baptistry into a concrete floor. There was no steps constructed and this hole was about 8-9 feet deep. The water had been run into this baptistry from a well just before we arrived. No one evidently was keeping up with how deep it was. When we arrived, I noticed that they were dipping water out of this baptistry. Of course, you could not see the bottom so I had no idea how deep it was. A home made bamboo ladder was placed down into the water and Ramesh and I climbed into the water. The water was so cold that we were shivering then entire time. But the humorous part was that I had to stand on my toes to mouth above the water. On my toes it was about shoulder depth on me. Ramesh told me that it was good that I was a good swimmer. We literally had folks floating up. One lady who had asthma just sort of stood on the ladder and leaned forward and put her face in. Ramesh splashed some water on the back and top of her head. . .our Methodist friends will be proud of us.
On a more serious note, many believers made commitments to reach hundreds more with the Gospel this next year. I preached from Romans 1 and communicated that we are set apart by the Gospel and for the Gospel. It is the Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation. Mike did a great job sharing his testimony and singing (that guy has some pipes) and videoing the baptisms. Today, we share with a large group of young people who are interested in the mission field of southeast Asia. I will challenge them to give their lives for the gospel. Pray for them. I believe over the course of their life here, that this group could be used by God to reach literally hundreds of thousands of people for Christ. After that conference, we will share lunch and fellowship with some of the orphans supported by FBC and some other children from the slums. We will then be sharing in a house church tonight. I am praying that this will be the most productive for His kingdom that I have made to this area even though my stay here is the shortest. Better go for now. . .we are about to hit the ground running. Until next time. . .
Feb 08
Wes GeorgeUncategorized
I arrived in Southeast Asia this morning 4:40 am (SE Asia time). I read a great chapter from Piper’s When You Don’t Desire God: Fight for Joy about the five senses and how they contribute to glorifying God. Great discussion for creative teams to undertake in balancing atmosphere with dependence on the Holy Spirit. Creative teams might actuallly be encouraged with what Piper writes. I am chasing a rabbit. My point is that today I will speak to what might be as many as 200 baptismal candidates then participate in baptism service then speak to the first united gathering of UUPG that FBCR adopted four or five years ago. Our national partner expects 1000 people to be there. All that said, to say the potential for me being wiped out physically with my internal time clock saying its time to go to sleep during the time I need to be my best is an understatement. I have discovered that as I get older, stuff like this along with new cuisine has more of an impact than 10 or 15 years ago. I do rejoice in the fact that Paul wrote that he can boast in his infirmities. I am no Paul. My temporary physical challenge of today does not compare with his challenges on every front. But we can glean encouragement from such inspired words from God to us.
Despite the physical challenge, I am truly enthusiastic today about what God has allowed me to be a witness. My prayer is that this will only be the beginning of God doing some “epic” things in this area where over 1.3 billion people live and most have little or no access to the “Epic Story.” I hope to give regular reports provided internet service, schedule, and my human frailties permit. I am thankful that Mike Shively is here also. Sharing and singing as God has gifted him. I have not seen Mike since we prayed together at XNA Monday morning. Ramesh picks us up in about an hour to head to an area outside the main city for security reasons for that large of a number of people to be baptized. I am not excited about a car ride here as some of our friends know, but I am excited to get to share up close how the Epic Story of the gospel has reached the previously unreached. Until next time. . . .
Feb 07
Wes GeorgeUncategorized
I begin this entry sitting in an airport in Northwest Arkansas with plans to go to Southeast Asia and make a relatively quick stop in the Middle East. I am anticipating seeing the impact of the gospel and hopefully having the opportunity to share the gospel in some settings with those who have never heard. The context in which I will preach, story, pray, listen, etc. reinforces to me the importance of the series that we are engaged in at home at FBCR. Understanding the entirety of the gospel message magnifies it in the hearts and minds of those who believe.
What a joy to see the gospel unfold in the Old Testament! What a comfort to know that the gospel was an afterthought after man messed it up in the garden! God was not caught off guard after His initial plan was thwarted by the serpent. We see the grand story of God seeking out His fallen in garden while they were covered and hiding. God’s declaration that has come to be known as the protoeuangelion in Genesis 3:15 looks down the corridor of time although veiled.
In this same way, what a blessing to see the veiled eyes be opened by the Holy Spirit. When darkness has had its way for centuries, it is only the power of the gospel in its entirety that bursts forth in glorious light. As I travel, I will arrive greatly humbled with little to offer and lots to learn. I will share food, time, fellowship, and His Word with people who walk in a much more challenging place and life than I walk. I have much more to learn than I have to offer. While I am scheduled to speak very often these next several days, I believe that I should listen, observe, and learn much more than I should speak. What does exhilarate me though, is the thought of His Epic Story and how it can free those who are in bondage and lift burdens and give hope of a future grace and eternity. They are calling for the passengers of the first leg of this journey. May Christ be made known in his fullness in me and in so many others. Until next time. . . .wg
Jan 28
Wes GeorgeUncategorized
Well, I am back on the blog. It has been awhile, but hopefully will develop some consistency again. I started a new series of messages in January entitled Epic Story which is the story of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. We have had some outstanding studies on the Creation and the Fall. This series has grown out of a conviction over the past few years in particular of so many having no biblical background leading up to the Jesus story of the Gospel. I became convinced that the same methodology used on the mission fields of the world of contextualization and storying are in order in the U. S. today. Instead of jumping in at God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life or in your opinion how do you get to heaven; let’s start at the beginning of creation, the fall, the flood, the promise, the prophets that all lead up to and set the stage for the coming of the Messiah. We also leave out the dramatic and climactic ending that really has no ending of the parousia, the reign of God, eternal kingdom and worship and Christ on the throne and “re-creation” and restoration. This series will serve as training for hopefully a complete presentation of God’s Epic Story.
FBC Rogers is also reading through the Bible together. My game plan is to give some encouragement to our daily Bible Readers and share some insight into where my personal journey and observations about the stuff going on around us.
This is also the beginning of a new decade of ministry at FBC Rogers. We will see where our journey leads us. Hopefully, some theology, some devotional thought, and some practical application along the way. . .I think that leads to discipleship if we involve some body life. Hopefully, we can begin an Epic Journey.
Feb 03
Wes GeorgeUncategorized
Sunday’s message was on Prayer in a series called Impact. While it certainly is not as flashy or maybe as thought provoking as Vision or Leadership, without a doubt, it certainly has the most potential for impact. I read several sermons on prayer preached by men like Spurgeon, G. Campbell Morgan, D. L. Moody, R. A. Torrey, A. W. Tozer to name a few. I was challenged by a question in one of Tozer’s sermons, “Why do our prayers not get answered?” I know the standard answer, sometimes it is yes, sometimes it is no, and sometimes it is not yet. This can be true, but it also can be a cop out!
We attempted to get below the surface and delve into the question of Why is it that Elijah prayed and it stopped raining, started raining, fire fell from heaven, the widow of Zarephath’s child was resurrected and yet when we pray nothing happens? It could be complicated, but it may not be so complicated. Could we consider that we are guilty of the James 4:2 problem of being sinful, prayerless, and praying with the wrong motives.
I have heard recently that the Boomer generation which I am a part of is the most materialistic generation ever. Could it be that the reason that our prayers are not answered is because they sound more like My kingdom come, My will be done on earth and lets forget heaven.
A. W. Tozer recorded in his sermon “Prayer for Revival” most likely preached in the 1950s that the two objectives of our prayer should be 1)A Restoration of the Vision of God 2) The Church delivered from her babylonian captivity. Those who were around in the 1950s might say that would be more appropriate today. My analysis is that this message is relevant every day and to every generation, because we are all bent towards a worldly, selfish drift and away from a proper view of God in His holiness as King over all including our lives.
I closed the message with these words: “The purpose of prayer is to make us like Christ. Move us away from the world, the flesh, and the devil. Eradicate humanism, materialism, pragmatism, and selfishness from our lives. We attempt to do the work of God with the means of the world. We depend on talent, technology, and money. The world offers us fame and fortunes(even in the church and especially in the church). Christ offers a cross and an unseen kingdom. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done. . .until next time.
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