Pure Christianity

Thoughts on Salvation and Giving

Salvation is giving on both parts. 

Have you guys noticed what idea is being portrayed in churches? That salvation is a free gift, and that we don't have to do anything but accept it? Where do we get this concept? Jesus gave His life so we could have eternal life. He died in our place. And when we accept His gift..we are His. But we have to trade our lives. He gives us His life, but we can't just say, okay, I'm cool with that, free ticket into heaven whoo! No. We have to give Him ours right back. It's a trade. We literally become His slaves because we are no longer a slave to sin. And if we're free from Sin..then that must mean we're a slave to God.

Now of course, this sounds really unappealing to the world who is blinded by Satan's lie of what's theirs. Like a little kid...NO, it's Mine! But the thing is..Jesus says take up your cross and die to yourself..every moment of every day. As Christians, we have no rights..because our lives don't belong to us, but our Master, God.

Christianity has become a religion. Let's be followers of Christ. Let's make it a relationship..not a contract. He says in those days we will no longer call Him our Master but my Husband. He rules over us but with love and He wants the best for us. Let's commit everything we have to God, our lives, money, possessions...because as Christians we should be doing that anyway. And when God asks us to give..we can do it willingly and happily, because we already trust Him with everything. So yeah, that's a challenge.

Let's Serve God without reservation and Give.

Rachel

Picture of the Week

It is not always fun and games at A Future and a Hope. Here is Edith standing in time out during Butterfly's birthday celebration.

Diagnosis

I recently posted about Kate being sick, here, and in case you didn't get it that post was done light heartedly. She did not bounce back, you know like you would from a cold or something, so we went back to the doctor, especially after Kate started to turn yellow.

Another test was done, this time for liver function, and more examination. I should note that although she was still sick at this time (yesterday to be exact) she had improved dramatically from the week before.

The liver function test was to take more than an hour, so Kate came home. Naturally she was anxious to get the results, trust me when I say Kate does not like being sick. She seems to really hate an illness when she does not know what it is.

I had to prepare for a team meeting so she went back to the doc's office with Pauline. I get a phone call sometime during my preparation for the meeting (alright alright I admit I had finished setting up and was taking advantage of the big screen to play a video game,) she tells me over our horrible connection that she has hepatitis A.

So now we know, hepatitis A is the culprit. No cure and no treatment. She just has to suffer till it is finished.

Thanks for all the prayers and emails. We have appreciated them, and would love for you to continue praying for Kate. She is improving, and let me reassure you Kate is not so sick that we are fearing for her life, hepatitis A is just something she has not had before and it is not a pleasant thing. This morning she is complaining of being tired, but it seems that Emma, our 1 and a half year old, has a cold and breast fed all night long. Apparently, and I have no experience in breast feeding so this is something I have to be told (it would seem I need to be told over and over again,) when a kid is suckling it is hard to sleep. Hence the tiredness this morning.

 

Johnny Brooks

Missionary to Nakuru, Kenya. Co-founder of A Future and a Hope, a home for girls.

Quote of the Week

"The gospel says 'Go,' but our church buildings say, 'Stay.'" The gospel says, 'Seek the lost,' but our churches say, 'Let the lost seek the church.'"

Howard Snyder (The Problem of Wineskins)

How Much Is Too Much?

I used to attend a church in Texas. It is run by a man that I respect. I respect him, but often times, o.k. most of the time, . find myself on the other side of whatever topic is being discussed.

I was thinking of him lately because he used to say, haven't been to that church in some years so not sure if he still says it or not, anyway he had a phrase that went something like this; "Souls for the buck."

He would measure a mission project's success on how many souls they won compared to how much money the mission cost. So the more money spent the more souls he expected to be lined up in heaven in his corner. (Alright so he most likely is not thinking about stacking up people's souls in his Heavenly corner, but it certainly comes across that way.)

I sometimes will spend huge amounts of money on one person. Recently we paid a hospital bill for someone amounting to around 37,000 Kenyan shillings. I know that in the American context that is not a high hospital bill (should be around $578,) but in our Kenyan context that is a lot of money. One person, 37,000.

I could have fed a lot of people with that money. I could have paid the rent on a lot of houses with that money. I learned something a while back, God does not care about money. He does not need any, and he would spend millions on one person. So why should I be any different? (Come on he paves his streets with gold, not because there is so much but instead because it is so insignificant.)

How much is too much? I think the answer is; there is never a time when we can surpass someone's value as a human being.

I pour money, food, clothes, medicines, and love into people that I know will die. Some of them will die sooner than later. How much is too much? There is no answer. If I have to give my life for them, it is still not too much.

Sounds radical, but I think it is high time we started becoming radical. Radical in our deeds, not our beliefs.

 

Johnny Brooks

Missionary to Nakuru, Kenya. Co-founder of A Future and a Hope, a home for girls.

Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde

Kate, my wonderful wife, has been sick for a week and a half. We took her to the doctor yesterday, and after a battery of tests he ruled out very many illnesses. Unfortunately he never discovered what it is that is ailing her, however we at least know several things that are not ailing her (including anthrax.)

If you know Kate well then you are aware that when she is sick a transformation occurs within her. Healthy Kate is gracious, kind, humble, and all the things one could ask for in a woman. Sick Kate on the other hand is bossy, grouchy, and arrogant. In fact since she is still recovering I will most likely get hell for posting this article, but I do like to live dangerously.

Admittedly I may be exaggerating here. Sometimes when my routine is messed up I tend to become a "the glass is half-empty" kind of guy. Either way everyone in this house will be happy to see Kate fully recovered.

 

Johnny Brooks

Missionary to Nakuru, Kenya. Co-founder of A Future and a Hope, a home for girls.

Things you may not think about...

When living with 17 people it obviously requires a great deal of time, energy, and thought. When trying to relate, there are lots of things that you may think about such as our meal preparations or the amount of laundry we have...

But have you tried to put yourself in our SHOES, literally? We have at least 34 shoes lying around at any given moment. In fact, Emma our 1 year old, loves shoes so much that she is constantly wearing some one's shoes. This is a problem because she carries shoes all over the house! If you need a specific shoe, you may only find ONE of them!

Another issue we have is school supplies. We go through erasers and pencils like sweets! Since I home school Andrew, Makena, and Butterfly, we are ever without the supplies we need because the orphans are constantly taking our pencils to school with them. I have a special 'teacher' drawer that I think they are invading daily. Fortunately, we have a sponsor who has ordered personalized pencils for us! Hopefully that will help solve the problem.

Taps. Water taps. Our water system is different than most of yours. Instead of trying to explain it now, let me just say this:  Our kids never close the taps! (Usually it is because when they opened it no water came out so they just walk away without reversing the action they took upon the faucet.) However, when we pump the water from our storage tanks into the house, if we don't check all 24 taps, water will be pouring down the drain. Since we have to buy our water from a water company because no water comes to our house, it is a very costly waste!

On the lighter side of things, having 17 people around means that there is always someone to play with or talk to. Our kids play outside games because there's always enough for team play. It is great fun. Our kids get along pretty well. I'm so grateful for that!

~Kate Brooks

Missionary to Nakuru, Kenya

Co-founder of A Future and a Hope, home for orphaned girls.

Stay With and In Him

“ By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar

of fire….” Exodus 13:21

Sometimes we get anxious about our futures. What job, where and if to move, what ministry, what church…the list

goes on and on. Our older children wonder who is the “one” God has for them and what is their special calling. We all

have desires and dreams in our heart about our lives and our children’s lives. Some are our own ideas, and some are put

there by God. All of them must be surrendered to His will; sometimes, on a regular basis. It has been my experience

that rather than a direct answer from God about such questions, more often than not he will lead you by His Spirit, His

presence, represented by the cloud and the fire. He will open and shut doors, arrange circumstances, bring agreement

and peace out of confusion. He is training us to TRUST HIM. The Israelites didn’t know three months or even three

days ahead of time when they would be moving. We are not guaranteed that either. God moved - they packed up and

followed. They did not take the most direct route either. What should have been a few weeks journey ended up 40

years. He had to refine them. He had to allow the old generation to die out. It’s the same with us. Our old flesh nature

has to die-God has vowed that it cannot see Him or enter the Promised Land. So how long we stay in the desert is

largely up to us. The key is remaining in His presence and following His lead (submitting willingly) moment by

moment in all the little small things. That is where we are being prepared for the next phase of our lives. Remaining in

Him means obeying Him-and this is His command- that we love one another.( according to what Jesus said in John

15.) The kind of love that sacrifices what we want for the good and blessing of others- IN EVERYTHING. Now that

is much easier said than done, especially in the moment of conflict. Let’s face it our old flesh nature doesn’t want to

remain dead and crucified with/ in Christ. Each time we submit and obey Him, we are following that pillar a little

closer to the Jordan. Eventually He will lead us there as we stay in the center of His will on a daily and even moment

by moment basis. I always have to remind myself of this when I start to wonder and feel anxious about where we are

going. I need only to remember and do one thing-stay with and In Him.

In Him,
Heather

Picture of the Week

Here is Makena with some produce from our small garden at the house. The kids really enjoyed watching things grow. I don't think they enjoyed the work of watering the plants, weeding them, and all the other things associated with gardening. After a while the watering and weeding stopped, and nature just took over. Despite everyone's lack of green thumbs we managed to grow some zucchini. I am not sure that is a good thing, but still they grew.

 

Johnny 

Mike

I have posted once or twice about Mike in the past, sorry don't have the links handy right now. He is a 10 year old H.I.V. positive boy, and a friend of ours. He is sick and in the hospital right now.

I don't have all the details, but will learn more today hopefully. I wanted to post it here so you can pray for Mike and his mom, Ann.

 

Johnny