Facts-N-Stats

Chile
According to the 2002 census, of the 15 million people in Chile “70 percent of the population over age 14 identify as Roman Catholic and 15.1 percent as evangelical. In the census, the term "evangelical" referred to all non-Catholic Christian churches with the exception of the Orthodox Church (Greek, Persian, Serbian, Ukrainian, and Armenian), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Seventh-day Adventists, and Jehovah's Witnesses.Groups that constitute less than 5 percent of the population include Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Jews, Orthodox Christians, Muslims, Baha'is, Buddhists, and members of the Unification Church. Of those surveyed, all other religions total 493,147 persons, or 4.4 percent, and atheists and those "indifferent" regarding religion constitute approximately 8.3 percent.”

Argentina
According to the 2001 census there is a population of 37 million in the country of Argentina. A religious estimate makes the Argentines “Roman Catholics, 76 percent of the population; agnostics or atheists, 12 percent; evangelical Protestants, 6 percent; Jews, 1 percent; Jehovah's Witnesses, 1 percent; other Protestants and Muslims, less than 1 percent; other religious groups (including Seventh-day Adventists, Buddhists, and some African and indigenous religions), 1.5 percent; and no declared religious affiliation, 1.2 percent.”

Uruguay
According to the 2004 census there is a population of 3.24 million in the country of Uruguay. Of the 3.24 million “45.1 percent identify themselves as Roman Catholics, 10.5 percent as Christian but not Catholic, 0.4 percent as Jewish, 0.7 percent as Afro-Umbandistas, and 27.8 percent believe in God but do not claim a religious affiliation. Mainstream Protestants primarily include Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, and Baptists.”

All this information came from the International Religious Freedom Report 2008 issued September 19, 2008, and can be found at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/index.htm.

Another Trip

January 1st I will be leaving for another mission trip but not to just one country but to three: Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile. The trip is to serve the same purpose as my previous trip to Spain. I will be there to look, learn, and listen. God has called me into full time mission, but I have no idea where I will serve Him.
In visiting these three countries I am broadening my view of mission fields and their needs. Please pray for me that I will be discerning and understanding in each of these culture. Pray that I will be discerning of His will. Pray that I will be sensitive to His leading in my life.

"Napoleon's Musings"

This afternoon I was listening to an exerpt on the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, and a short quote of his from "Napoleon's Musings" was read. It is a perspective of his empire in comparison to that of Jesus Christ. I found it to be fascinating coming from such a man!

“Well, then, I will tell you. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I myself have founded great empires; but upon what did these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon love, and to this very day millions would die for Him. . . . I think I understand something of human nature; and I tell you, all these were men, and I am a man: none else is like Him; Jesus Christ was more than man. I have inspired multitudes with such an enthusiastic devotion that they would have died for me, . . but to do this it was necessary that I should be visibly present with the electric influence of my looks, of my words, of my voice. When I saw men and spoke to them, I lighted up the flame of self-devotion in their hearts. . . . Christ alone has succeeded in so raising the mind of man towards the Unseen, that it becomes insensible to the barriers of time and space. Across a chasm of eighteen hundred years, Jesus Christ makes a demand which is beyond all others difficult to satisfy; He asks for that which a philosopher may often seek in vain at the hands of his friends, or a father of his children, or a bride of her spouse, or a man of his brother. He asks for the human heart; He will have it entirely to Himself. He demands it unconditionally; and forthwith His demand is granted. Wonderful! In defiance of time and space, the soul of man, with all its powers and faculties, becomes an annexation to the empire of Christ. All who sincerely believe in Him, experience that remarkable supernatural love towards Him. This phenomenon is unaccountable; it is altogether beyond the scope of man’s creative powers. Time, the great destroyer, is powerless to extinguish this sacred flame; time can neither exhaust its strength nor put a limit to its range. This is it which strikes me most; I have often thought of it. This it is which proves to me quite convincingly the Divinity of Jesus Christ."

Just Outside My Door

Sunrise out my window

To Live Intentional about the Gospel

I am one of those guys that plans way ahead. I try to set goals five years in advance, and if you know me, I'm oftentimes looking way too far ahead. I'm excited about being on a mission field sharing the Gospel with those who are lost. Recently in my personal walk with the Lord, He has impressed on my heart to live intentionally for the Gospel right now...to a life deliberate about the Gospel. As I thought about this specific phrase I began to ask myself certain questions. Questions such as, what motivates me to live deliberately about the Gospel? Or, how do I live deliberately about the Gospel? Or even what is the Gospel said in sixty seconds or less. Part of this deliberate thinking was planted in my mind by an audio book entitled The Deliberate Church by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander. These men particularly challenged me to do just this. If I can not say what the Gospel is in sixty seconds or less, how can I expect live on purpose for the Gospel?
Let me start with a quick reason why to live intentionally for the Gospel. Simply put, because Christ was deliberate about the Gospel in my life. Christ intentionally came to earth to die for me. Mark Driscoll put it this way. "Jesus came to earth to live a life we could not live and to die a death we could we could not die." He was on purpose in His intentions for me. As I thought about this more, I imagined Christ being pushed onto that cross lying on the ground. His bloodied back being slammed against that wooden object. As the eternal God in human flesh lay on that cross, the soldiers grabbed His arms and spread them apart. Christ didn't fight back. As a matter of fact I can imagine Him turning to the soldiers and saying to them as the attempted to force His arms, "There is no need." And He laid His arm down to bed driven through with a spike. There was no need for those men to hold His hand down. Christ intentionally held His hand in place because He deliberately wanted to show His love for me. "For God so loved Jonathan that He gave His unique son." Christ had me in mind as He stayed on that cross. He truly was on purpose about the Gospel. Christ was so deliberate that it should motivate me/us to be deliberate about the Gospel.
So how do we live deliberately about the Gospel now? We don't die on the cross as Christ did, but we do live the Gospel now! I will show you from one chapter in Philippians, but it is strewn throughout the entire Word of God. Philippians 1:5 says, “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." The Philippians were deliberate in their giving to Paul as He shared the Gospel of Christ. They were intentional in their actions to proclaim the name of Christ. Partnership takes time, sacrifice, and risk. They joined Paul and spent themselves for the Gospel's sake.
Philippians 1:7b, 12 says, "For you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, “Paul’s imprisonment wasn't for simply his sake or for the sake of the Philippians, but for the intentional purpose of sharing Christ. Not that he wanted to be in prison, but ultimately his circumstances were simply another tool to confirm, defend, and advance the Gospel.
Philippians 1:27a says, "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ," Here Paul tells the Philippians to live a life that is worthy of the Gospel. The word here for manner of life is literally citizenship. So let your citizenship be exemplary of someone who knows the Gospel. Your citizenship is permanently in heaven but temporally on earth therefore we live with the intention of furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our manner of life, conduct, conversation should be nothing but Gospel centered. We must live our lives intentional about the Gospel.
The intentionality of the Gospel motivates us to live intentional lives for the Gospel! Nothing else will motivate you as much as the Gospel will! In all honesty would could go on and on looking at passage after passage that points out why to live intentionally or how to live intentionally. If you have a few brief minutes look at Paul's example in Romans 15:15-20 and simply note what motivates Paul and how he carries out a life that is intentional about the Gospel.

What Now?

Well, was this the mission field for Jon? How do I know if this is where God would have me to go and serve Him? As I spent time with the missionaries in Spain, I approached them with this question. How did you know Spain was where God wanted you? I found that invariably the answer would always be two things. First lots of prayer, and secondly, just take those "open doors" as they come along the way. So as I journey through seminary and through Fiber-Line somehow God is going to make it clear to me if I continue to do and seek His will.
The picture above was taken in the city of Merida during my stay in Spain. It is of a beautifully preserved Roman road. The day I took this was a particularly hot day, and the mere stepping into the shade was a relief from the beating sun. This road has made me reflect on one main thing...the journey I have ahead. As I pursue God's calling on my life, I must continue to cast the shadow of prayer all along the way. In the picture it is only partially covered by shade, but my goal is to cover every area of my journey with the shadow of prayer. May every step and decision of my life be shadowed in prayer. Phi 4:6 "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

Missionaries

Like any good trip it flies by way to fast. My expectations in learning, looking, and listening were far surpassed. Mr. and Mrs. Albright did so much for me, and their servant/humble spirit was something that stood out to me. I did my best to pick their minds thoroughly in regards to the ministry. In Madrid I spent three hours talking to the missionaries about their ministry. What a blessing! They were all such an encouragement. God is doing a work there despite being such a hard country towards the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Each missionary has been equipped by the Lord in a unique way to serve Him, and they work as a team utilizing these abilities. I can only hope that wherever the Lord would use me, I would be able to work alongside a team like these missionaries. I am so thankful for their investment in my life.

Spain from a window...car, plane, & train

Citizenship...Merida

Thursday and Friday we visited the Roman Capital in Spain...the city of Merida established by Ceaser Augustus for the V and X Legions. This city was filled with ruins from the time before Christ. Most of the ruins were Roman but there were a few Moorish ruins scattered throughout the city. The city reminded me of what Philipi must have looked like. Merida was like Philipi in that it was set up as a replica of Rome. They have the amphitheater, theater, circus, aqueduct, and many more Roman sites. The city reminded me so much of the Philippians that I could get over how Paul tells them about their true citizenship...heaven. Those who lived in these extravagant, pleasure filled cities must have been reminded that they weren't permanently Roman but rather citizens of heaven. "Only let your conversation [citizenship] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:" 1:27 Paul makes reference of the Philippians citizenship. And tells them that essentially their citizenship is actually in heaven. And that they must act as one of such a place. Let your citizenship be representative of the Gospel.

Salamanca, Machacon, & Zamora

The Last Few Days

The last few days have been very busy. We have been traveling to different towns where Kent Albright, the missionary here, has been showing us the need for the Gospel in these towns. The day before yesterday we visited Machacon, a very small town, and had the opportunity to sing a few songs and pass out more tracts. This small town is where a family from the missionaries church lives. It was exciting for us to have the opportunity to share Christ alongside them. As we sany in their small plaza people would literally peak around buildings but would not come and stand to listen. At times we would see windows open but the curtains closed. When the wind blew the curtains moved and we could see people intently listening to the music.
Yesterday we visited city about an hour north from here named Zamora. It contains about 66,000 people and is extremely dark spiritually. It was interesting to note, however that as we walked through the city, there was a Roman Catholic church/chapel every hundred or hundred and fifty yards. All of these were built somewhere during the XI and XIII century. The architecture on them as you will see in the pictures is beautiful. And the fact that they have remained relatively intact is an amazing architectural feat. However once again I cannot help but make the analogy between these cold, stone buildings with the hardened Spaniard. During one of our times out in a plaza singing, a man came out of bar/cafe and began to listen. Being slightly drunk he began to yell out, "There is no God. God does not exist." All the time we continued to sing. This and many other hard reactions to the Gospel can be found here.
Please pray for safety as I have been driving quite a bit in an unfamiliar land. Also continue to pray that as we pass out tracts and sing the Gospel will soften the hearts. I can't help but compare Spain to Peru. In comparison Spain is much harder spiritually than Peru, yet they have had "Religion" for much longer. They have had the Bible, their eyes are so darkened by sin and Satan's grasp on this country.

Day 2

Well, it felt like being right back in Peru. We had a wonderful worship service yesterday. I was surprised to find that the church is filled with immigrants. There were Brazilians, Peruvians, Ecuadorians, Portuguese, , French, and many other nationalities. It was truly an "all-nations" service. What a wonderful time worshiping together.
After the service everyone rushed home to watch the soccer final (Euro Cup) between Spain and Germany. A few of the church members came over to the missionaries home, and we enjoyed yelling at the refs and complaining about missed goals. Spain came out victorious and of course the Spanish people were celebrating like none other. The missionary decided to take us to downtown Salamanca to witness a bit of the celebration. Center city Salamanca was packed with people wearing the red and yellow all over their bodies. Almost every car was honking their horns and the small streets were streaming with people celebrating their country's victory. Let's just say they are crazy about soccer!...and that is probably an understatement.
After two days in Spain I'm not as tired as I expected to be. Either the jet lag has not hit just yet, or I got enough sleep time on the plane ride. People tend to stay up extremely late and get up latter in the morning. It's something I am fairly used to having been working a second shift job. The Spanish tend to go to bed around two in the morning and get up around ten or eleven. I have not gotten used to the eating times just yet: breakfast is at eleven, lunch is around three, and supper is around nine p.m.
Please pray for me as I prepare to speak on Sunday. I will be speaking in all three services. I don't think I have ever done this. Also continue to pray that the Lord would open my eyes to see what I need to see here in Spain. Please pray that the Lord would work in my heart creating a greater passion for Him and a greater passion for lost souls.

Old Spanish Proverb

"Whoever loses the morning loses the afternoon; who loses the afternoon loses life."

Day 1

It seems that without fail there is always some sort of delay or at least a close call when flying internationally. I almost missed my connecting flight in London. Praise the Lord, I made it. I have gotten little sleep, but I think I will soon catch up on this.
On my way to Salamanca, I took a two and half hour train ride through the countryside of Spain. What a beautiful country! Rocky at times, and yet flat at times with many fields. Rome has left it's mark dotted throughout the countryside. As we traveled along I could see remains of ancient Roman walls or fortifications. As I sat there looking out the window, a Spanish gentleman boarded, and we began hitting it off right away. I explained that I was visiting Spain and that I wanted to learn as much as I could while I was here. I asked him everything I could think of...anything from hunting, food, culture and even religion. Catholicism of course is the predominant religion here but only in name only, or as he put it, "it's simply a tradition...something we do only because our fathers taught us, but we really don't believe it." It was interesting to note that as I began to press him about religion, his entire demeanor changed. His attitude changed toward me. He looked at me and said, "Are you a Mormon." Quickly I answered, no, and that I did not intend to offend him. I only intend to learn more about the people of Spain. Then we went back to talking like nothing had happened.
All this to say that it has already become evident to me the hardness of the Spanish people toward the Word of God. Their hearts are as hard as the rocky Spanish terrain but the fields are clearly ripe for the Word to be sown. Maybe I assume too much from one encounter, but as I spoke to the missionary about this he was in complete agreement.
I will be posting some pictures in the next couple days. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Salamanca

As I have been preparing for my journey to Salamanca, I came across these two verses in my personal study of God's Word. The first verse comes from an excerpt from Solomon's prayer regarding his inadequacy in ruling over Israel. This is where he asks from God for wisdom. My prayer is similar in that I ask for understanding of the culture and country of Spain and discernment of God's desire and will for my life. I Kings 3:9"So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"
The second verse I found as I read through Paul's third journey through Greece. As I travel through Spain I desire to minister and testify of the Gospel of grace. I pray if will do so fully and adequately. May God see fit to use me as He so chooses and pleases. Acts 20:24 24"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."

Favorite Quotes of the Week

"The battle ground for consistent change goes on between your ears." ~ unknown
"If you own anything you cannot give away, you do not own it, it owns you. " ~ Augustine

12 days; 12 requests

In three weeks (June 27th) I will be headed to Spain on a personal missions trip. I say personal because it will be simply to survey this mission field with the intent of discerning God's will in my life. I would covet your prayers for me as I will be there for twelve days. These are a few ways that you can pray for me.
1. Safety as I travel.
2. Discernment of God's will.
3. A passion for lost souls.
4. Incite into the Spanish culture.
5. Encouragement to the missionaries.
6. God's Word to be spoken clearly.
7. Spiritual Growth
8. Faithfulness to God's Word in preaching.
9. Encouragement to believers.
10. Boldness in preaching or teaching.
11. Direction as to avenues of ministry.
12. Humility.

Gas being so high...

... I bought this. Ok, it's for fun too, not just to save on gas. God has given me a good job where I am able to save some and able to spend some on a new motorcycle...new to me that is.
It is funny to find out how many people have motorcycles and to see there reaction when they find out you have one. It's like making a connection with someone who plays your particular sport, in this case it's motorcycles. I can strike up a conversation with a totally random person, just to talk about a common topic...motorcycles. I pray God will use this in my life even in a simple way to share Christ with others. I'll admit, that I did not originally purchase it with this intent, but now I see a small opportunity.

Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
Jam 5:11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

"Never shall I forget that smoke"

"Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky. Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever."
Elie Wiesel in his book “Night” gives us a glimpse of the evil he experienced at the concentration camps in Auschwitz and Buchenwald, Germany. This short excerpt from his autobiography is rendered by many as the moment in which Wiesel lost his faith. . In a radio interview Wiesel gave this statement regarding his questioning God during this period in his life. “It is permitted to question God, even to take him to task […or] suing God. I bring him to rabbinic tribunal. I take God's words and say, since You said these words, how is it possible that other things or certain things have happened?”
In essence what Wiesel has asked is a question posed by many in the Bible. "Why do the wicked prosper?" Wiesel saw wickedness at its "finest," and he asked a logical question, but flawed in its understanding. Like Habakkuk (see Habakkuk 1:3,16,17), Wiesel failed to note three principles. First, the unrighteous seemingly prosper. They are judged in God's timing. (Habakkuk 2:9,10) Secondly, we are bound within our state in time and cannot see God's full plan (see Habakkuk's insight into God's plan Habakkuk 3). God uses men to accomplish His purposes. Lastly, there is victory over the wicked in the Gospel. Christ triumphed over evil and therefore the wicked have already been condemned on all accounts (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53:10,12: Romans 7:1-8:11).

Moment by Moment

"One question now to be put to the test is this: Can we have that contact with God all the time? All the time awake, fall asleep in His arms, and awaken in His presence? Can we attain that? Can we do His will all the time? Can we think His thoughts all the time?"
"Or are there periods when business, and pleasures, and crowding companions must necessarily push God out of our thoughts? We cannot keep two things in mind at once. Indeed we cannot keep one thing in mind more than half a second. Our mind is a flowing something. It oscillates. Concentration is merely the continuous return to the same problem from a million angles. We do not think of one thing. We always think of the relationship of at least two things, and more often of three or more things simultaneous. So my problem is this: Can I bring the Lord back in my mind- flow every few seconds so that God shall always be in my mind?" - Frank Laubach "Practicing His Presence"

The Divine Storehouse of Wisdom

“Faith unlocks the divine storehouse, but unbelief bars its doors.” - Lenski.

see James 1:2-8

Just for Fun

I find that one of the most relaxing things to do is draw. Well, playing soccer is a close one too. Drawing is something I haven't had much time to do, but this past Monday I stayed home with Claire and decided to do a little drawing with her since she is into that right now. We had such a good time. I used to do a lot of pencil drawings back when I was in high school. Often times I would draw my teachers...not very good at that. One of the things I enjoyed drawing the most was a rose. I grew up around many roses despite living in a desert. It was my job at home to care for them, and I have grown to appreciate roses not just for their beauty but for ability to graft into each other and slightly change colors. Pencil drawings just don't this justice.

Pieces to the Puzzle

My life can be simply summed up as a puzzle. It's one of those puzzles that takes a long time to put together combined with a great deal of patience.
I grew up in Peru, South America as the son of a missionary couple. Learning two languages at the same time. Adjusting to two cultures at the same time. Was it difficult? Not one bit, but I wouldn't know any different. God has seemed, if you will, to give one piece of the puzzle at a time, and this life in Peru was my first piece.
At a young age, while in Peru, Christ came into my heart. I remember very vaguely my father preaching in our church, and I recall kneeling by my parents bed and turning my life over to Christ. I would call this the "corner" puzzle piece. You know, the one that helps everything get started. Simple faith took place here, but amazing grace reached down upon my life. What an awesome piece. The truth is that this piece is a little fuzzy in my memory, but I know that I have placed my faith and trust in the risen Savior. The One that died on the cross for all of my sins.
Pieces kept coming my way as the years went by. I lived in Ohio, Missouri, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and two cities in Peru. All the while God work sovereignly in my life. Often times choices were made without consideration for what God would have. This is when I would take a piece of the puzzle and try to cram it into another piece even though it didn't really fit. The best example for this occurred when I graduated from high school and moved to the U.S. I was so excited to get away from home and just begin to live the "American dream." Oh, and yes the "American dream" can be desired even if living in a 3rd world country. So I took the first career that came my way, auto mechanics.
Auto mechanics became my life for about a year and half. I spent three semesters studying at a tech school, all the while working at a small transmission shop. Finally I gave into the Lord's persistent conviction. I knew He wanted something different for my life, but like I said, I wanted this piece to work. Funny thing is that God has chosen to use this time in my life. The skills I acquired are still being used today and will probably used again in the future.
My search then began for a good Bible college, and the Lord landed me at Northland Baptist Bible College. Well, that piece of my life took four years, but that piece carries with it many weighty lessons. Mom passed away my very first semester. I call this the make or break section. The pieces were fitting, but I didn't like it. I couldn't figure it out. I wanted to see the whole puzzle, but the section wasn't finished. I expected God to do something awesome through a seeming tragedy, but nothing miraculous happened. No one that I know got saved at her funeral. I flew down to Peru for all of three days, buried my mother, and flew straight back to school to continue as if nothing had occurred. During that semester and the following, God gripped my heart and began to squeeze it until I gave in to Him and recognized His timing, control, love, and many more truths. Simply saying thank you to God for this brought me to my knees in tears. I am truly grateful to God because He has used this piece to shape my life and to make Him more real. It was a make or break for me. I would leave or follow Him. I chose to follow.
The last three years of college led me to love the Gospel more than I ever did before. My cousin summed up those four years by saying, "It's amazing how we have learned to love/cherish the Gospel so much more than when we first started." So true!
Today I'm in seminary and preparing to go to the mission field. Who knows where that mission field will be. That piece has yet to come. Maybe I'll never see that piece. Maybe I'm on my last piece, but I know that while I'm still on earth I am to seek to do God's will. I am to seek to find that next piece of the puzzle no matter what situation I'm in.

Romans 12:2 "...that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Jam 1:3b,5 "for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Everyone has a puzzle to work on! Not all the pieces are easy, but ask Him in faith and He will give you wisdom. Not necessarily answers but wisdom. Just ask!

another one on James

I'll warn you, I'm going to be writing much on the book of James. Partly because I love this book, partly because I'm going through it in my devotions, and partly because I'm taking a Greek book study in James. So it will be no wonder why this book will be on my mind.
Some call this book "The Proverbs of the New Testament." It must have been written by a preacher. James perhaps was just this. If this was the case then it makes sense why it is the book in the New Testament that contains the most commands/imperatives for the believer, and James begins right away giving us a command from verse two. He has the apparent "audacity" to bid suffering believers to count it a joy to suffer. It is at first sight a seeming paradox. How could someone do this? At least I always asked myself this. The answer is simple but easily missed. You see, "God is more concerned with our character than with our comfort, with our transformation than with the trials necessary to get us where he wants us to be," Ware, God's Greater Glory, 173. Each distinct (literally multi-shaded) trial is so designed by God not to bring us suffering but to bring us spiritual gain and "ultimate joy." There is no joy in pain, but there is joy in knowing the purpose of the pain. "We dare not fix our eyes so much on the affliction that we miss its God-designed outcome," Ibid.
As soon as we take our eyes off God's sovereign control on our lives, we begin to focus upon ourselves and our suffering. Thus we miss out on the entire purpose of the trial. It simply produces in us as it says in verses three and four steadfastness, which in turn produces maturity. The problem,trial, difficulty, irritation, call it what you may, is real enough, but it is not reason enough to loose sight of God's sovereign purpose in your life.

"Count it a joy!"

Walther Eichrodt

"'Holy' describes the character of God as it has been made known to this people; and, as understood in the priestly conception of God, this means him who is unapproachable because of his complete 'otherness' and perfection when compared with all created things."

James 1:1-5 "This is only a test"

What a sweet day in the Lord’s house. God used a passage so familiar to me to just soften my heart and bring me to my knees. James 1:1-5

Have you ever been watching tv or even listening to the radio and all of a sudden you hear this beeping sound and then... “this is only a test, this is only a test?” Well, that was the illustration for this passage.

Verse two gives a photograph of what trials or testing look like. First, trials are sure to come. As a matter of fact they will most certainly come. Secondly, you don’t just get one in a life time or even just one at a time. Often times it seems like we get hit with multiple trials at the same time. And lastly, trials are multicolored or multiple shades…various. Some last longer than others. Some affect us emotionally or physically. The simple point is that there are all sorts of them, and God permits them for specific purposes. But remember “this is only a test.”

The purpose of them is verse three. They produce in our faith endurance/steadfastness/patience. Trials reveal what is already inside us or not inside us. Frankly trials can show whether one has genuinely placed their faith in Christ. Did the seed fall on good soil or did it fall on stony soil? Was it choked out by the weeds? Was it simply lying on the path being pecked by the birds? A trial will reveal the faith or lack there of in God. The trial is only a test and it produces endurance in us.

Verse four: This endurance creates maturity. Not moral perfection but rather a sufficiency in God. Contentment in Him, and thus lacking in nothing. However you must allow this to happen. Let/Allow steadfastness to mature you.

Verse five: The sweet thing is that we don’t have to go it alone. As a matter of fact we can ask God for wisdom. He is the Divine, all knowing, never exhausting well of wisdom thatwe can tap right into when we need it. But again remember that this is only a test.

So now that we know what the testing looks like, the purpose for the testing, and the way for dealing with them, we can actually consider it a joy to be in one. Twisted huh? But a proper response and understanding for this will bring you to tears. It did to me this morning. THE TRIALS ARE ONLY A TEST.