The music that others have created for us is a gift, but if we are not mindful, we could forget how to make our own music to the Lord. If we are reliant on iTunes, CDs, or the radio for our praise, what will we do if those things are taken away? This fast brings us into […]
We recently passed along a list of do’s and don’ts for sharing with our Muslim neighbors with our team members. This list does not just apply to the Arab world, but to wherever followers of Jesus among Muslim neighbors. DO: Approach your Muslim neighbor right away and initiate contact with him/her (men with men, women with women). […]
Fasting from shopping gives up buying personal items that we can live without. It does not mean you stop purchasing food, gasoline, and daily consumables or stop paying your monthly bills. By limiting ourselves to only the essentials we realize how much we can live without, and this brings us into solidarity with the poor […]
Arabic is a difficult language to learn, but fluency is critical to God-glorifying church planting. Dick Brogden recently encouraged team members about the importance of language learning in church planting. ***** Hello, Live Dead Arab World Family, I wanted to send a short exhortation to those of you who are new to the field and still in […]
One day while Jesus was in the middle of instructing His disciples on principles of church planting, a preacher came up to Him to make sure of his salvation. Jesus told him simply to love God and love his neighbor. Breathing a sigh of relief, for Jesus’ requirements seem simple, he confidently inquires: “Who is my neighbor?” Once […]
A caffeine fast helps us humbly realize how dependent we are on stimulants other than prayer and the presence of Jesus. This month some will choose to abstain sodas, coffee, tea or other caffeinated drinks. The intention of this fast is to help us realize our propensity to addiction and make us slower to criticize the addictions […]
A Daniel-like fast (eating only fruits, vegetables and grains) at the beginning of the year is a great way to refocus your body and soul on Jesus. All fasts should be linked to prayer, and by simplifying our diet, we seek to simplify our life, slow down, listen to the Holy Spirit and obey His directions for the […]
As we wrestle with holism, let us avoid the unhelpful generalizations which posit that those who are engaged in compassionate ministries do not proclaim, that those who evangelize do not touch with compassion, and that compassion or evangelism are best done through programs rather than interpersonal reach. Arguing against straw men generates heat but not […]
Ask a child in December if he or she is excited about Christmas and you’ll often be met with eyes displaying anticipation and expectation. (Then ask me! I’ve been playing Christmas music for months!) Anticipation is a beautiful thing. Expectation, though, is a weightier word; it contains that word “expect” in it, which means we […]
Andrew Murray in his book Abide in Christ says this: The Love that fills heaven and eternity is to be seen here daily in the life of earth and of time. The life of love is the chief evidence of Christianity, the proof to the world that God sent Christ and that He has shed abroad in them […]
