Life is Interconnected

Ron Rizzi was involved in organized baseball for over fifty years, most of that time as a scout for major league baseball. When asked about the best pitcher he ever saw, Rizzi replied, “Brien Taylor.” Some of you are not baseball fans, so you never heard of Brien Taylor. Some of you are baseball fans and still, you never heard of Brien Taylor. He never made it even to the triple-A level.

The Yankees gave Taylor a $1.55 million dollar signing bonus. You give a kid fresh out of high school $1.55 million, what could possibly go wrong? One “off-field altercation” (a fight, in plain English) and Brien Taylor’s arm and career were ruined.

I see two clear lessons here. They are so clear that I hesitate to state them for fear you will feel that I am insulting your intelligence. But I will risk it.

Lesson one: Do not give a kid too much spending money, too much authority, too much autonomy. There is a reason why God ordained that kids are to have parents. Yes, we can by-pass the need for two parents (one male and one female) with medical technology and wrong-headed adoption laws. We can by-pass the need, but we shouldn’t. Kids need parents until they are really adults. Traditionally, no one was seen as an adult until he was 21 years of age. We changed that in 1971. How is it going? Has the change led to greater maturity and happier homes in our nation?

Lesson two: What happens off the field affects on-field performance. What happens away from work affects on-the-job performance. All of life is interconnected. What we do in private makes us what we are in public. You cannot soar with the eagles in the morning if you hooted with the owls at night. Or, as Jesus put it, “No one can serve two masters.” If we let our eyes dwell on evil, our whole life will be full of darkness (Mt 6:22-24).

Yes, we might get away with living wrong in private while acting right in public. We might get away with it for a time, but it never lasts. Yes, we might do good in private and have it remain unnoticed for a time. But eventually, what we are (good or bad) comes to light (1 Tim 5:24-25). Look at that passage carefully. On the negative side, we can see that Brien Taylor never made it - because all of life is interconnected. On the positive side, we can see that any one of us can make a positive difference in our world - because all of life is interconnected.

Decision Time

For months now, we have been saying that the final decision as to where we will carry on this work would be made in April or May. April has arrived. The leaders of the schools we first considered have urged us to decide, and we have done so.

Before stating the decision, I first want to say that it was not an easy decision. I believe that we could have done good work and honored our Lord in any of the places that were considered. I also want to say that when we first began this process, we perhaps made the issue of housing too much of a consideration. We only looked at places where there were existing schools that could offer us free housing. While there might have been a significant financial advantage at an existing school, there were other considerations that now seem to loom larger.

At any of the existing schools that we considered, it seemed likely that Thayer would have been entangled in administrative work for the school. As time went on, this problem appeared larger and larger to us. Another disadvantage to the existing schools we considered was that they are in areas that are either high crime areas or areas where medical care is poor (even from an African point of view). In some cases, both of these objections applied.

Still, despite those difficulties, we could have done much good at Nigerian Christian Bible College or at Daybreak Bible College. And we would have gone to one of them if something else had not happened. It all came down to dialing a wrong number.

Several people asked us, “why not go back to Swaziland, where you already know people and where the communication infrastructure is so much better? Would it not be easier to do this work there?” Our minds had been on the cost of housing, and we had not considered going there – since doing so would involve renting a house. But we decided to phone a brother in Eswatini (as Swaziland is now known) to ask, “How much would it cost to rent a house?”

I dialed the wrong number; but the right person answered the call. I accidentally dialed the home of Ella Magongo. Her son Jonathan “happened” to be visiting his mother, and he took the call. I had never even considered phoning him. But, as soon as I heard his voice, I realized that the Lord had guided us to the right person. I had been trying to phone a retired plumber, but instead I was talking to brother who has worked in banking and is currently in the insurance business. Jonathan was in a good position to help us find a house and to help get permission from the Eswatini authorities to do this work in their country. The person I was trying to call could have answered my question, but Jonathan has been able to do so much more. And I called him “by accident.”

The Decision
So, as you have surmised by now, we feel led to return to Eswatini. It will cost a bit more per month, but we believe that it will be better in the long-run.

I want to emphasize that this decision does not cast a negative light on either Nigerian Christian Bible College or Daybreak Bible College. Both are very good works and the State-side administration of both schools were very cooperative. But the technical difficulties of working in a place where the electricity is (at best) spotty, where safety is questionable, and where Thayer would likely be sucked into a time-consuming administrative role weighed heavy in our thinking. We want to thank the board of African Christian Schools Foundation and Chad Wagner, their president, for encouraging us to move back to Nigeria. We want to thank David French of Daybreak Bible College for his encouragement to consider that work. We deeply appreciate everything that these brothers did for us.

Flexibility

Working from Eswatini we will not be directly associated with any school, but that may be an advantage. The road system in Eswatini and the Republic of South Africa is good. We will be able to visit several schools in the region. We will be in a better position to get input from a larger number of students. We will be able to be of assistance to a larger number of native teachers.

Leadership Training
Of course, the textbook project will not take up all our time. There is also a tremendous need in this area for programs to develop local leadership in the churches. When we moved to Eswatini in 2000, the Bible school that was there had been in existence since 1965. Many evangelists had been trained and several congregations had been planted. But none of those churches ever appointed elders or deacons. Very few of those churches held Bible classes to train their children (or any of their members) for the work. Unconsciously and unintentionally those who set up the work in Eswatini had created a clergy system. Only the preachers received any training, and so the preacher had to do all the work.

During our three years there, we were able to set two of the congregations on a path that led to the appointment of elders and deacons. We were able to make a start on getting the churches to see that they need to train all their members to take part in the work. In returning to Eswatini, we will not be housed on the campus of a school but will move about among the churches, offering training at night and on weekends so that the entire church (not just the preachers) can be equipped for every good work.
Now that our sons are all raised and on their own, Chery will be able to be even more actively involved in this. Women outnumber men in the church. The ladies need training especially adapted to their needs and their expected roles.

We believe in this work and are willing to accept a sizable reduction in our income to do it. But we cannot do it for free. We are seeking monthly support of at least $3500. It is not a huge figure. This work will make a huge difference.

Monthly support pledged as of 26 March
Since a decision has been made on location, our figures for moving fund and monthly support will need to be revised. We are working with brothers in Eswatini to get a more accurate estimate of cost. That may take some time (especially under the current conditions). But it currently appears that the monthly support figure may need to increase slightly, while the moving cost may come down significantly from what was indicated earlier.

In addition to the monthly commitments, we currently have $5750 of one-time gifts either pledged or in hand.

Any excess in one-time gifts beyond actual moving costs will be used to supplement the monthly support needed. For example, a one-time gift of $4200 could be used at the rate of $50 per month for at least 7 years. Or (to think big) a one-time gift of $120,000 applied toward monthly support could almost eliminate any need for raising more monthly commitments over a 5-year period! I know that $120,000 may sound outlandish, but it is not.

We know of a building and parcel of land that will soon go up for sale. It has been indicated by the brothers and sisters involved in that sale that the African Textbook Ministry will receive at least a large portion of the proceeds. None of us knows what the sale price will be, but this might be how the Lord intends to provide. This land is in an area of low property values, so the sale may not bring in that much. But then again it might bring in more. Real estate auctions often surprise us. Pray about this! And give some thought to assets you might want to dedicate to a good work.


The Effect of the Pandemic on our Plans
You will not be surprised to learn that the current pandemic has forced us to make changes in our plans. We had hoped to have all the funds raised by the end of May and we had hoped to move back to Africa in October. Both target dates are now out of the question.

Once travel and assembly restrictions are lifted, we will set new dates. At this point it would appear that a delay of two months to complete the fundraising will be needed. The actual move is likely to be delayed even further. A two-month delay in moving would mean moving in December, and that is never a good time to move. Our target date for getting moved will now have to be pushed forward into 2021; but how far forward is uncertain.

Keep us in your prayers. We will try to keep you informed.

By the way, for those who really were hoping to get to see us as we raised funds in April and May, check out the Flanders Road Facebook page. I have quite a few videos posted there.
https://www.facebook.com/FlandersCofC

Even during lockdown, we will be very glad to hear from you. Please drop us a word of encouragement – or a major commitment! 😊

Nice People

It is assumed, by some, that wicked people will be wicked in every respect. That faulty assumption has led many to a faulty conclusion. If you meet a really nice person who is polite, friendly, and kind, but who turns out to also be an adulterer, or a homosexual, or a heroin addict, does that prove that adultery, homosexuality or heroin use are no big deal? Some seem to think so.

I took a course in Brazilian history and culture in college. The teacher, Dr. Ellis Long, had lived in Brazil, at Sao Paulo, for about 15 years. Across the hall from the Long family’s apartment there lived a nice old man. He was friendly, generous, and kind to the Long’s children. He was also, it turned out, a Nazi war criminal. Did his kindness to the Longs excuse the gassing of prisoners at concentration camps? If I remember correctly, this “nice neighbour” was convicted of 900,000 counts of murder.

Let’s face it, very few people are completely evil. The fact that someone is nice does not mean that they are right.

People are too easily taken in by style. If a politician or a preacher has a pleasant smile and a smooth presentation, some people will accept what is said, although it may contradict both the constitution and the scriptures. On the other hand, if someone tells it like it is in a stern tone, some folks are ready to reject the truth.

John the Baptist was not soft-spoken (Mt 3:7-10), nor for that matter was the Apostle Paul (Romans 1:18-32; Gal 5:12). Even Jesus spoke very bluntly at times (Mt 23). On the other hand, some whose speech can be as “smooth as butter” are deeply evil (Ps 55:21).

If God says something is evil, it is evil. Sure, some of the people who do things God has forbidden seem to be nice people. Satan is smart enough to disguise himself, and his evil work (1 Cor 11:14). Don’t be fooled by appearances. The fruit looked good to Eve, but it was evil.

Why Send for Peter?

According to the common understanding, good people go to heaven, only very bad people go to hell. According to the common understanding, a person who prays and worships often, and who gives to help the needy is certainly a saved person.

There is a biblical character who prayed and worshipped often. He gave to the needy. His name was Cornelius and his story is told in Acts chapter ten and eleven. He is called a “devout” man and is said to be one who gave to the poor and who worshipped and prayed continually (Acts 10:1-2). According to most people, he must have been a “saved” person. Most modern preachers would welcome him into their churches. But according to the Bible, Cornelius needed to send for Peter so that he could hear “a message by which you will be saved” (Acts 11:14).

So, evidently, being devout did not save him. Evidently, worshipping, praying, and giving alms did not save him. Evidently there was a message he needed to hear and respond to before he could become a saved person.

Do not blame me, I did not write the Bible. If you want to argue, you are arguing with God, not with me.

Unless the gospel message has been heard (Acts 11:14) and obeyed (1 Thess 1:8), even devout people are not saved. Cornelius needed to hear the message. So do we; so do our neighbors.

Word and Worship

"...the word of God is not bound." (2 Timothy 2:9, ESV)

The situation we currently face, not being able to assemble as a church, is unusual for us. Never before in my life have we a faced a situation where assembling for public worship is not possible. But while we have not faced this situation before, many Christians have faced it. In the Soviet Union from 1919 to the 1980s, and in China from 1947 even unto today, the inability to openly gather for worship has been a reality. Other historical examples could be named - going back to the early days of the church. So what we currently face is not really new, although it is new to us.

We are, or should be, better equipped to deal with this situation than our brothers and sisters in other places and in ages past. We have, or ought to have, Bibles and hymnals in our homes. Many of us also have recorded hymn singing available in one form or another. These are all blessings that were not enjoyed by those who resisted Nero, or Stalin, or Mao.

Many of us have extra time available as a result of the current health crisis. How are we using that time? While we cannot assemble for worship, we can worship. While we cannot assemble for Bible study, we actually ought to be able to study the Bible more than ever.

Who knows? Perhaps through this crisis some will learn the joy of household worship and personal Bible study.

Will It Last?

“For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18, ESV)

I used to say that I would never buy a Ford from a Chevy dealer, nor a Chevy from a Ford dealer. I figured that if a person had received good service from a car, he would get another one like it. But, as a coworker pointed out, I was assuming that people look for quality. In truth most are buying style, not quality. That statement holds true for far more than cars.

When it comes to religion, many are more interested in style than in truth.

What are we seeking when we assemble for worship -- a feeling, an emotional experience, or truth?

If you seek experiences – something you can touch, taste, or see, you can get that in lots of places. But, as the above quoted text points out, the empirically tangible is doomed from the start. The great and lasting realities are not the ones we experience with our senses. It is not the message delivered with a pyrotechnic show that lasts. Do not look for the church with music that makes your ears ring. Look for the church that teaches the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

About thirty years ago, the wife of a certain televangelist was quoted as having said, “It feels so good, I don’t care if it is true.” She died about a dozen years ago. Shall I put it plainly? I think I should. Unless she repented of it, she will have an eternity in which to regret that ungodly attitude.

Jesus was about truth, not style. He wants us to feel strongly about the truth, once we know it is truth. He does not want us to believe or to proclaim something because it feels good to us.

The true faith (like many truths) will hurt at first, but feel good, eventually and eternally. A feel-good faith will leave you empty for eternity.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6-8, ESV; see also Rom 1:18-2:8 and 2 Thess 2:1-12)

An Ordinary Day

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much” (Luke 16:10, ESV)

On a day in July of 1985 Sam Shewmaker gathered his family, and those staying in his house, around the dining room table at his home in Lusaka, Zambia. Before beginning the meal, he read from a little book titled My Utmost for His Highest.

I rather suspect that Sam Shewmaker has forgotten all about that day. It was just a normal day in his life. He was just doing what he normally did. But here I am, thirty-five years later, remembering the event. This morning I took the book My Utmost for His Highest off the shelf. As I did so, I remembered the day when I first heard of the book. A year after hearing Sam read from it, I purchased my own copy. I have made use of it many times through the years.

Oswald Chambers, the author of the book, died in Egypt 100 years ago. I am not sure where Sam Shewmaker is now. But Chamber’s book, and Shewmaker’s use of that book, continues to have an influence on me.

This is not meant as an ad for the book. I write this not to promote that book, but to promote the value of the little things we say and do. A man leading his family in a few minutes of worship at his home in 1985 is still having an effect 35 years later. We heard no voice from heaven that day, the angels did not sing, the sky was not opened. It seemed to be just an ordinary day. It was just an ordinary day. But ordinary days make a difference. Little things that we do, or fail to do, may be remembered by someone decades from now – long after we have forgotten them.

We will have seven days this week. The odds are, they will seem to be ordinary ones. But ordinary sometimes turns into extraordinary, often without our even realizing it.

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10, ESV).