Marketplace Dkiscipleshp.

Last week's blog title: "Pick Your Battles" calls for an additional phrase: "...and don't intentionally cause 'em." Ted and I served the Lord in many denominations, non denominations and a number of mission organizations. ...here in the United States and in other countries. The most graphic way I can image the 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 find the milking cows I whistled for my shepherd/collie dog, and grabbed my single-shot rifle. ...but there was one road-hazard no dog or rifle could eliminate: cow patties. It was up to me to look ahead, step off into the tall bluegrass and risk coming face to hissing face with a copperhead, rattler, cotton-mouth water moccasin, black snake, bull snake, or some non-venomous slitherer.

Moving in and out of various churches and missions required staying alert for the "cow-patties". Ted was a risk taker; he wasn't so adept at spotting cow patties, but then what can you expect from a city feller?  Two matters were and are deal-breakers for me: 1) disrespect for fellow pilgrims and 2) ignoring the biblical meaning of "discipleship".  With his permission I am going to pull in one of our sons-in-the-faith to write this blog.

Many years ago our church in Bakersfield launched six young people to live for a year on a kibbutz in Israel. After returning and finishing their college Phil and Debbie Walker returned to Israel for a time, then went to Kitali, East Africa to start a seminary. Decades later, thousands of Africans have been trained for ministry by International Christian Ministries, the mission they launched and Phil continues to direct.

At 3:30 A.M. yesterday morning the little dinger on my cell phone went off.  It was an Email from Phil in response to last weekend's blog:  ...from Cairo, Egypt.

"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.

 ...from one of your other sons, Phil."

Four women just left my living room. All are immersed in God's Word. All have networks of lost friends. Tomorrow, from a city below three working women are coming. ...one, needing help in her desperate situation. I will be here in their midst, but the other two women will carry the ball.  The list of faithful disciplers is lengthening.  There is hope for this country yet. ...the ONLY hope. "CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY".

...no blog next week. Try to handle it. Snuggle your family and friends and praise the Lord!

              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