Process – Part 3a

Note: I am traveling; in Houston for my six-month checkup at MD Anderson.  One of the primary markers for Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia (WM) is IgM (Immunoglobulin M); the normal range of IgM is 35 - 242 mg/dL.  When I was first diagnosed with WM, the IgM level was 1220, or 5 times higher than the high end of normal.  I got the results of blood work drawn this morning, and the IgM level was 233.  The first time since they have been measuring that it has been in the normal range.  That does not mean a cure, this is a chronic condition, at least for now, but something I never expected to see.  So, for those of you who have been praying, thank you, and praise to the Lord for gifting doctors and researchers, many of which do not believe in Him, to develop treatments that are effective in dealing with the emperor of all maladies, cancer.  Also, since I am away from my desktop there will not be a picture.

Last post I shared data for a word study I did on the words that were translated Establish.  Looking through the different usages of the words it seems best to understand Establish as laying a strong foundation for a believer’s relationship with our Lord.

In Part 2 I outlined what I shared with the leaders in another country, as the basic elements to which we need to expose new believers.  While these were developed in the midst of a collegiate ministry in the US, in my experience in several countries and in reading through the Bible, they seem to be basic not just for collegiate ministry but for believers in any culture.  We are exhorted in many places in the New Testament to abide in the Word of God.  Jesus, specifically says that if we abide in His Word, we are His disciples John 8:31 – 32 (here at Bible Gateway).  Three of the eight disciplines, Quiet Time, Bible Study, and Scripture Memory, help one abide in the Word.

Jesus when asked by the disciples, taught them how to pray, Matthew 6:9 – 13 (here at Bible Gateway) (I have written about this here as well).  Further if we examine the prayers of Paul, we will find that he follows the outline that Jesus prescribed.  Further, in Philippians 4:6 -7 (here at Bible Gateway), we are exhorted by Paul to not be anxious but to pray, that again is not limited to the college campus.  

Nor is sharing one’s faith, making the most of the Christian meetings we attend, or the reality and impact of the Lordship of Christ on the life of a believer, something that is unique to any culture.  As a matter of truth, the Bible is counter to all cultures, the USA, college campuses, and whatever other culture you would like to suggest.

The point is – well let me emphasize it with something that happened this morning.  

When I come to MDA I typically fly and catch an Uber to the hotel that is connected to the hospital.  Each time I endeavor to engage the driver, many of which are immigrants, in a conversation that I pray to steer toward the gospel.  This morning my driver was from Benin, which is east of Togo, one of the countries the Lord as allowed me to serve.  In fact there were pastors from Benin in the Togo seminar.  

During the conversation the driver, Sam (not his name), indicated that he was a believer.  I asked what he was doing to be in the Word.  He pointed to his phone and told me how he used You Version to focus on one verse a day.  We talked about the importance of doing that and I asked him why he thought that many in churches do not do what he does.  He immediately responded that the leaders of the churches are not telling people to do so and not telling them how.

I am 100% certain that he has not been reading this blog.  Here is a believer from another culture who has come to the conclusion that many leaders of churches are not exposing or establishing those in their care to that which will create a strong foundation in their walks with God.

This stuff is important.  This stuff applies across cultures.  We need to be doing this