Marketplace Discipleship

Ted and I served the Lord in many denominations, non denominations and several mission organizations. The most graphic way I can image the doctrinal challenges these varied ministries required of us is to pull up (of course) something I learned as a farmer's daughter. In the evenings, as I headed down the path to fetch the milking cows I whistled for my shepherd/collie dog, and grabbed my single-shot rifle. ...but there was one path-hazard no dog or rifle could guard against: cow patties. It was up to me to spot 'em and step off the path, running the risk of encountering a rattle, bull, black or non-poisonous snake-in-the-bluegrass.  My Ted was a courageous risk-taker, but he wasn't so good at spotting cow-patties. ...but then what can you expect of a city feller?

Many years ago our church in Bakersfield launched six young people to live for a year on a kibbutz in Israel. After returning,  marrying and finishing their college one couple returned to Israel for a time, then moved on to Kitali, East Africa to start a seminary. Decades later, thousands of Africans have been trained for ministry. At 3:30 A.M. yesterday morning my cell phone dinged.  From Cairo, Egypt,  it was this spiritual son's reponse to last week's blog: "Pick Your Battles".  Now in his 60's, from the beginning of his new life in Christ during our first pastorate in Bakersfield, California, he understood that we are to let a newborn nurse for a time, wean him or her when ready and entrust them to God as they move on out to bring LIFE-IN-CHRIST to others. By his permission, I am quoting this spiritual son's Email to me:

"Another winner, Jo. One of the things we do is interview business men and women (O.K., men...as it is not so accepted for women to be business owners in this culture.) One of the things we ask is 'What does the church think about your business?' They usually smile and think the question is some kind of trick. The pastor and elders have never asked them about their business nor have they ever visited them. Then they get a little frustrated and say they think the church only cares about the money they are able to give to the church. ... Discipleship must leave the four walls of the church and enter into the four corners of the marketplace. Until that happens most discipleship, if it takes place at all, dead ends at the church. To live by faith is to step outside what is comfortable, and like Paul, step into the lion's den of every community where you must get down and dirty to see the cleansing blood of Jesus flow into the lives of real people doing real things in the real world. In a meeting today with a successful business man he repeated over and over how no one really cares about him. They come when there is a financial need."

The Thursday Women just left my living room. Some are new and are increasingly serious about learning God's Word. Some who have been part of this group have ministries of their own now and I am so proud of them. Others have faded into the system,  dependent upon their leaders to continue nursing them. I admit that my favorite mothering days were when I was nursing my three; I knew where they were, and for a few years they would show up at feeding time.  In 1978,   in Houston, Texas when the Lord removed us from what we thought would be a long pastorate to "Go and make disciples",  Gerry Shaefer, the wife of the chairman of our church board said to me: "Jo, the life of a discipler is lonely. You're always working yourself out of a job. You are called to it."  She was right. Tomorrow, from a city below three working women are coming. ...one, needing help in her desperate situation. The other two, helping her dig out of her pit. Now it is the next morning. The Lord met us in my living room. The lady quietly said: "Now I feel so LIGHT!"  ... and the girls and I erupted in a shout-out:  "Praise the Lord"! God's Word is quick...and powerful....sharper than any two-edged sword...

Question: When and if the visible church is forced underground, are you prepared to stand alone on the promises of God? ... and feed others? ...no blog next week. Snuggle your family and friends and praise the Lord that nobody is at our door with a bomb in hand or a knife raised to chop off our heads. ...yet.

                            OLD HYMN BY BLIND, BED-RIDDEN ANNIE JOHNSON FLINT
                                                     HE GIVETH MORE GRACE

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater;
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance;
When our strength has failed 'ere the day is half done.
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

HIS LOVE HAS NO LIMIT, HIS GRACE HAS NO MEASURE
HIS POWER HAS NO BOUNDARY KNOWN UNTO MEN
FOR OUT OF HIS INFINITE RICHES IN JESUS,
HE GIVETH AND GIVETH AND GIVETH AGAIN.

Love, Jo