Feeling Spiritually Superior Because Your Mission Trip Was More Exotic

I have been reading Stuff Christians Like by Jon Acuff.  After coming back from Japan I thought, here is something Christians like:

Feeling Spiritually Superior Because Your Mission Trip Was More Exotic

I just got back from Japan where we told people about Jesus.  When I logged on to a social networking site, I saw that a friend loaded pictures of their trip to Mexico.  It made me sad for them.  I thought they were a godly person, but evidently they aren’t as godly as me.  I love Jesus this much <<<JAPAN>>> , but they only love Jesus this much <<mexico>>.  Even in print a trip to Mexico pales in comparison to Japan.  Think about it.  They only crossed two time zones to share Jesus.  I crossed something like 15 time zones, an ocean, and an international date line for Jesus.  And let’s not even talk about the cultural barriers.  Mexico, please?  There are people from that country in my neighborhood.  How can you call it a real mission trip when you can go to Taco Bell and eat the indigenous food of the people  group where you went to witness.

I know that Jesus said in Mark 15:16 (see, I just dropped a Bible reference to prove my point) to go into all the world, but I am sure that He meant “all the world that is exotic, exciting, and serves raw fish wrapped in yummie rice and dried seaweed.”

That may be stretch, but if I am honest, I did have a slight superiority complex at first.  Then I realized that the cost, time, and effort into going to Japan is not that much different than going anywhere else.  It is still Jesus who paid the price by laying down His life, rose again after three days, and sent His Helper so that all people who come to Him could be saved.  All I did was be obedient to God’s call, and for that I get and deserve no kudos.  I am just a servant doing what he is told to do.

Now I am off on another mission trip.  This time it is to Wisconsin.  Before you begin to feel superior because you just got back from a remote village in a rainforest that isn’t even on a map, let me play my “Don’t judge, lest you be judged” card.  Besides, Wisconsinites….er…Wisconsinonians…whatever they are called, need to know that Jesus loves them, too.

I am going to Make Him Famous, even if I have to go to the outer regions of Wisconsin to do it.

Look Who’s Talking

I am blessed to have the privilege to speak for and about Jesus.  I have some opportunities coming up and would feel even more blessed if I knew you were praying for me. Below are the dates and places I will be speaking.

5/18/10 – Trimble Baptist Church (Youth Group)
5/19/10 – Funeral for Max Sutton
5/20/10 – Trimble Baptist Church (Summer Celebration)

5/26/10 – Haven Baptist Church EPIC Student Night

6/12 – 6/15 – Concord Baptist Association Children’s Camp (Camp Pastor)

6/18 – Kansas City T-Bones (filling in as guest Chaplain for my good friend Kevin Chambers)

Here is what you can pray for if you choose:

• God will continually remind me that I should desire to be heard and not seen.
• The words I speak draw people into a closer relationship with Jesus
• First and foremost I engage God’s word and then engage my audience
• God gets the glory
• God gives me more opportunities and more venues to speak about His Son.

Thanks in advance for your prayers!

Don’t Waste Money On Teenagers

If you are like me, the title of this post probably would tick you off a little bit if someone said that to you.  I know it did when someone essentially said that to me several years ago.  Actually what was said to me by a church member was, “Why do we waste money on teenagers?  They don’t tithe.”

The Bible tells us to be slow to speak, I guess holding my tongue for three years counts, right?

A couple of weeks ago I thought about the statement made years ago by someone of the OBC persuasion (an OBC is a term I would use for someone not quite on board with God moving forward in a church.  I’ll write about that some other day but if you are dying to know what an OBC is let me know.  I hate to ruin your day.)  Why did I think about it?  Bear with me as I explain why and explain why the OBC was wrong.

The Setting:
We were in a worship service a couple of weeks ago as music was being played during the offering while the congregation was seated.  Side note: Baptists cannot give money while standing or if music is not playing.  After the plates were passed the music continued.  It was sweet, beautiful music that truly glorified God.  The Spirit began to move and all of a suddenly two high school students stood up to worship.  Then, another student got up.  Then a couple of adults got up.  Steadily the congregation began to rise, following the lead of the first two “non-tithing” students.  It was a great time of singing to God in unity as His Spirit moved.  I am thankful for those two students who had the initiative to get up.

Now, here is my response to the statement that “Teenagers don’t tithe”.

1. You don’t really know if they tithe or not.
Since most students don’t have checkbooks and no need for the “reward” of a tax deduction for doing what we are commanded to do they just drop cash in the plate. Unless you are watching the plate like a hawk and taking notes and/or possess omniscience, then you really don’t know if they tithe or not.

2. They may not tithe but they do give in tangible ways.
We used the students at the church mentioned above to do all sorts of ministry.  From flyer distribution to church cleanup, they were often the first to show up and the last to leave.  They literally (not figuratively) saved the church thousands of dollars in postage and labor.  It was much more than was squeezed out of the budget for them.

3. They give in non-tangible ways.
I don’t know how much you would pay to have your heart filled with gladness, to be inspired, and to be given hope for the next generation, but I would place the price of that second only to knowing Jesus Christ has secured my place in heaven.  The worship service a couple of weeks ago was not the first time students reminded me that though I must grow old, I need not grow up.  Maturity does not equal melancholy.  Students get this.  They remind us, through their often unhindered and unconcerned displays of worship, service, and vitality that life with Christ, though hard, is supposed to be enjoyable.

If you are a student or work with students, what would you add?  What other ways have you observed that student give to the Kingdom?

[Un]Forgiveness – By Bri Hand

This is a note from my daughter’s facebook page.  I think she has a point.

[Un]Forgiveness – By Bri Hand

First pain…

Be a knee-jerk forgiver.

It makes me think about the fact that unforgiveness hurts me more than any person I could be mad at.

Make Him Famous

Some you know that Erlinda, Brianna, and I are going to Japan this summer. We are going on an evangelistic mission trip, sort of. Bri, and a few dozen other students are going as the missionaries. Erlinda and I, as well as a handful of other adults are going as chaperones. We are going with http://igoglobal.com whose catch phrase is Make Him Famous.

To help raise the required $9000 for all three of us to go, and having an aversion to selling my kidneys, I am selling Make Him Famous shirts that I have made. The shirts are $15 each and are shown below.

I hope each of you will support this mission to celebrate Jesus throughout the world by ordering some shirts.

If you want to order a shirt, you can stop reading here, and send me a message or email me at robb@handfamily.us.

If you have questions, keep reading.

Q: How are the shirts made?
The shirts are made by Hand ( ) using a fancy schmancy Heat Press that moves ink into the fiber of the shirts, thus making them long lasting.

Q: What quality are the shirts?
The are 100% Preshrunk Heavy Cotton.

Q: How much more money do you need for the trip?
We still need $5400 (That is Five Thousand Four Hundred and O-OH My Goodness That is a lot of money)

Q: Do you think you will raise $5400 by selling shirts?
Probably not. We are also having a dessert buffet, a missions offering at church, and other fundraising. We are also hoping that people will give above the cost of the shirts, whether its, an extra $5 or $500 it is appreciated.

Q: Where did the shirt design come from?
I was inspired to draw it when we were at our winter retreat called InDepth. I took my scribblings to one of the students going on the trip, Skylar Clingan, and she did the artwork.

Q: Is that a mannequin wearing a shirt?
Yes. His name is Mannie.

Q: Is that your mannequin? And why do you have it?
Yes, it is the Hand Family Mannequin. He has been a part of the family for a couple of years. I don’t think its odd that we have our own mannequin. In fact, I question why you don’t have one.

Q: Can I buy Mannie?
Yes! Oddly enough, he sells for $5400

Q: Where can I send a donation or money for a shirt?
Shoot me a message or email me and I will give the address.

Q: When will I get my shirt!?!
In about 10 days depending on if I am mailing it to you.

Q: May I buy more than one?
Yes, please!

Q: Can you make other shirts?
Yep. In fact I have several others. The link to other shirts is: http://www.RestoredHandPrints.com

Q: What does Make Him Famous mean?
It means to tell the world about Jesus’ great accomplishment. Namely, His love for us, expressed through a sinless life, a substitutionary death, and miraculous resurrection.

Q: Why go to Japan?  Aren’t there people in our country that need love too?
Our country is blessed with an abundant knowledge of Jesus.  Japan, however prosperous, is spiritual deprived in many ways.  Less than  .5% (that is half of a percent) of the population know Jesus.  Think about your workplace.  If it were Japan, for every 400 people in your building, 2 of them would be a Christian.  The remaining 398 have probably never heard the name of Jesus.

Latest Lessons

I got a head of myself and put a link to my blog in a Twitter auto reply.  If you don’t know what Twitter is, its basically your life in 140 characters or less. You can find my account at Twitter.com/Robb_H.  At any rate, it reminded me that I haven’t added the updates I had planned on.  One thing I wanted to write about was what I was learning in Seminary.

I won’t go into much detail because most of it is a “had to be there” thing, but here are some things that God has been showing me either through assignments, lectures, or just life. In no particular order:

• God is an amazingly powerful Being who, though He could destroy you in an instant has chosen to instantly love you.
• You attitude is much more important than you aptitude or academic achievement.
• One of the adversary’s greatest weapons is fear, God’s greatest tool is faith.
• Seminary has cost me a lot in the way of time, money, etc, but having even an elementary ability to understand and apply God’s word is priceless
• God is not limited in how He can and will use people.

Has God been teaching you anything lately or do you want to elaborate on what he has been teaching me?  If so I would love to read your comments.