2017 SENT ONES

Tanzania mission trip update: I now know and am preparing to co-teach Biblical Theology to a certificate level class at the newly established East Africa Christian College. I also hope to take along a suitcase of reference books to donate toward building up their new library. Thank you for praying and continue to pray for this trip. Pray for safety and health, flying and connections, class preparations, and finances. Please pray for Malaki, a Tanzanian pastor who is translating the course material into Swahili. For donation information for this trip see <http://ron-east-west.blogspot.ca/2016/12/trip-to-tanzania.html>

Earlier this week I finished reading the Gospel of John. Toward the end of my reading I started to notice three things: 1) how the Jews are ready to stone Jesus for making himself equal with God 2) how Jesus often says the he is only saying and doing what God has told to him to say and do 3) And how often Jesus says that he is sent from God. So I am reading John again with pen in hand, underlining in different formats these three items as they repeatedly come up in John.

In John 20.21-22 Jesus says, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.^" And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." 
Let us see ourselves in 2017 as sent ones, sent by Jesus to bring the glory of God to this world.
As sent ones we need to daily maintain fellowship with our Father in heaven so that we might know God's will and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Daily prayer and meditation on God's Word is an important part of maintaining fellowship with the Father who sent us, so we can be conscious and aware of those he is sending us to. Read John 17 to see why Jesus was sent by God and what he desired to leave behind upon his return to the Father.
As sent ones we need to know God's message that offers salvation to sinners who repent and trust Christ to save them, and God's message that can sanctify the saints and conform them to Christ the firstborn son.
As sent ones we need to live loving and holy lives and live out a biblical worldview.
As sent ones we need to be familiar with the ways of our enemy the devil, to know how to rule over our flesh, and learn to live as dead to the world.
As sent ones we have received the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can be witnesses to Jesus but we are to make sure we are filled with the Spirit and walk in the Spirit.
Yes, we have a great calling upon us for 2017 as Jesus' sent ones but we are sent by the Father fully equipped and supported so let us take every opportunity as we follow the leading of God.

May 2017 be a year of deeper intimacy with the Father, of knowing a fuller love from the Father, of deeper insight into the Father's Word, of increasing faith in the Father's promises, and of bearing more abundant fruit through abiding in Jesus. As the world collapses around us let us bring glory to God in word and action.

MONEY MATTERS

 It is not very difficult in our materialistic culture to defend how we spend our money. As Christians we seldom directly connect our spending to the state of our hearts and are often oblivious to how our heart should effect our spending. Should we allow spending and the state of our hearts to harmonize we would be surprised on both fronts. We would find our spending to be more in line with the world's values than God's values, and we would sadly discover that our hearts harbor more of the love of this world than we imagined or would like to admit. Jesus said that we cannot, try as we will, serve God and money. But we still try to serve both God and money, and think we are accomplishing the impossible. To the Pharisees who served money while claiming to serve God, Jesus said "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." Luke 16.15 esv

How to use "unrighteous wealth" (v9,10) in the service of God is not easy and straight forward. We do not have a legal list of buys and don't buys, of amounts and percentages, of ethics to guide our spending, but we do have a few guidelines given to us.
1) Acknowledge that all you have comes from God and give yourself with a grateful attitude to God. "For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us." (2 Corinthians 2.3-5)

2) Give to God  the first portion. "Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come." (1 Corinthians 16.1-2) "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.^" (2 Corinthians 9.6-8)

3) Strive to be content with what God has given you and be grateful for it. We don't need all that the world says we need. "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." (Philippians 4.11) "But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." (1 Timothy 6.8) "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13.5)
4) Seek to fulfill God's purpose for you as you walk filled with hope for the present and God's promised future. "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6.33 [Read 26-34, a wonderful passage]). "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2.10).

Have a Merry Christmas and may God help us to increase in the understanding of our spiritual richness in Christ. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8.9)

TRIP TO TANZANIA

On Wednesday I was approved for a mission trip to Tanzania from February 3-12 2017, with Training Leaders International <http://trainingleadersinternational.org> the same group I worked with in the Philippines in May. Have a look at the website. Here are the trip details ---

Tanzania Feb 2017  –  February 3-12, 2017

Location:  Mwanza, Tanzania
Trip Leader:  Steve Krogh
Synopsis:  We are partnering with East Africa Christian College (EACC) in providing theological training for pastors in the Tarime region along the Tanzania-Kenya border. This newly opened school is strategically located in an area underserved by pastoral training ministries. Recent gospel advances make the need for equipping pastors especially urgent. We currently teach Swahili-speaking pastors (via interpreters) in a Certificate Program and in 2017 we anticipate teaching English-speaking pastors in the new Diploma Program. TLI has also been asked to teach a bi-annual conference for regional church leaders, which has been well-attended. Tanzania is a beautiful country, home of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti National Park, which is located a few hours drive from EACC.
Courses to be taught: Biblical Theology & Attributes of God

Mwanza is circled in red

 Preparation time for this trip is quite short so please pray as I prepare my lessons. It is not too early to pray about good flying weather (leaving from Buffalo), making connections, health and safety before, during and after the trip, the long flight, the preparation of the students, working in Swahili through a translator, the other teachers on the team and the establishment of this new Bible College. I look forward to this trip.

If you would like to support this trip you can donate:
1) By mailing a check to Reach Beyond Canada, Unit 3- 44 Saltsman Dr, Cambridge, ON, N3H 4R7 or online at <http://reachbeyond.ca/> then clicking DONATE button, and then from the drop down menu select - "Donate to a missionary and indicate name below in message", then enter Ron Latulippe in the "Message for Reach Beyond" box below, then fill out remaining information.
3) US citizens can donate directly to TLI at PO Box 310 / Wheaton, IL 60187 and specify that your donation is for Ron Latulippe for the Tanzania trip or through this link <https://trainingleadersinternational.org/support/give?tbl=teams&id=260> select "short term team members" and in step two select "enter unlisted team member" which is at the bottom of the drop down menu and add my name and trip "Ron Latulippe Tanzania Feb" to blank space, then proceed with donor information. Please let me know if donate directly to TLI so I can make sure it gets to my account.

Thank you for your patience.

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ALL WEATHER CONFESSORS

How easy it is to confess Jesus as Lord when the sun is warming your face and a slight  breeze makes you feel just right, and the bright blue sky is inviting you to a picnic or a walk or to read your favorite book in the shade of the back porch. What joy there is in being a fair weather confessor. But those days are not common days but special days, days to be enjoyed and remembered and hoped for. These are days which point to our eternal hope and destiny in the presence of Jesus. Eternal days that are yet ahead of us. For now we live in this present evil world, in these mortal bodies of sin, in the consequences of our own sin and the sin of others around us compounded into an anti-Jesus world atmosphere. And in this unholy atmosphere we are called to confess Jesus as Lord by deed and word and attitude not by compulsion but in love that we are to renew in the presence of our beloved Jesus each day. And this we must do on the peril of not being an all weather confessor of Jesus our Lord.
Peter is an example to us in this respect. "Peter answered him, 'Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away'". (Matthew 26.32) Peter had just shared in a wonderful communion with Jesus and the disciples. The future looked bright and promising. The weather was fair for confessing allegiance to Jesus. But that soon changed with the happenings in Gethsemane, the betrayal of Jesus, his arrest, and the trial before Caiaphas and the Council. A servant girl came up to Peter and said to him, "You were with Jesus the Galilean". And Peter denied it before them all saying, "I do not know what you mean". And then a second time, "I do not know the man". And then finally invoking a curse on himself and swearing, "I do not know the man". (Matthew 26.69-75)

Before we condemn Peter too harshly we need to see that we too can easily be fair weather confessors, not so much by deliberate denial but by convenient conformity to our circumstances. Peter would have been happy to sit and watch the proceedings on the trial of Jesus but when called out, deliberately denied his Lord. We too are too often content to watch and hope we are not challenged to confess, content to live in avoidance in our workplaces and playplaces and errandplaces. God calls us to be witnesses of Christ in deed, attitude, and word like lights shining in a dark world. (Philippians 2.14-16) Choose to be an all weather confessor of Jesus as Lord.

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BRUCE MOWAT

I went to Bruce's funeral on Saturday. Bruce was diagnosed with ALS a few months ago. He took his illness in stride and died glorifying God. When first diagnosed with ALS Bruce wrote in the front of his Bible,"I must accept God's view of my circumstances and rest in His love and power to see me through".
Bruce was an easy man to love. Bruce had a booming loud voice, a captivating smile, and a warm handshake, he was tall and carried an authority about him. Bruce was also very opinionated. But Bruce was easy guy to love because two particular characteristics came through very quickly. Bruce was humble and teachable and willing to learn, and Bruce was compassionate. Bruce often said he was a young, learning and growing Christian. I was surprised to learn at the funeral that Bruce came to know Christ 25 years ago. But that is how Bruce saw himself, a babe in Christ, a learner, a growing follower. That should be true about all of us. Bruce could easily have been in a higher social circle than most of us at Rosedale but was humbly and lovingly one of us.
I loved Bruce. Bruce made a great impact on me and on others during his short stay with us at Rosedale Baptist Church. Bruce also loved us and loved Rosedale. He looked forward to the Tuesday morning men's Bible study and the men loved him in spite of his strong opinions. I remember one day Bruce saying to me, "I love this place because there is no ego here" and he was right. We are glad that Gail, his wife, will continue with us, we hope she will be with us for many years to come.
I will miss Bruce's big smile and warm handshake and humble spirit, and look forward to meeting him in heaven. Oh! what a day that will be, a day made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for those who like Bruce have bowed and will bow their minds and hearts to God in Jesus Christ. Glory to God.

WEEK 4 UPDATE

I am heading home Monday, leaving from here by taxi at 2:30 am so please pray for my trip home. And please pray for a busy week when I get home preparing for my mom's funeral on Saturday as I recover from jet lag.
It is time to head for home. My shoes tell the story of a great month of work, reading, prayer, and personal and public ministry. I am returning home spiritually renewed, more appreciative of the Master's dedicated workers in the field, and wanting to do more for and in the needy and neglected fields of our Lord.

Time to say goodbye to these faithful soles

One of my jobs this week was to paint the large concrete overhang of the main lobby of the hospital, first with a sponge roller and paint that leaves a textured surface and then the next day with a final coat of white paint. This work was done from the existing flat roof surrounding this overhang. The painting required that for about 1/3 of the job I be on my knees or sitting with my legs stretched out in a four foot space between the overhang and lower flat roof of the hospital. The point here is that it was in direct sunlight and movement was  limited. Enter the pesky Jordanian fly.

This fly taught me a lot about our enemy the Devil. In the Bible one of the many names for the Devil is Beelzebul which means "Lord of the flies". What an appropriate dishonoring name for the Devil. To me flies are useless annoying pests who love to hang out around garbage and waste. Here I was at my most vulnerable, crouched in the hot sun, working with this sloppy textured paint dripping all over my skin and clothes, using both hands, and along comes this useless annoying pest to bother me. Isn't that like our enemy the Devil who has no useful purpose in himself, (Praise God by His Grace even the Devil is used to make us like Christ), and comes around when we are most vulnerable and are hands are tied to annoy us and to tempt us to anger, and frustration, and criticism and bitterness and complaining, and quitting. But I have to admit the Devil is persistent in his attacks. Mr pesky Jordanian fly showed up on the second day to continue his ministry of spoiling the day. The Devil is also territorial. This fly was claiming this rooftop as his territory not realizing that it already belonged to someone else who bought it and built it. This fly, did not realize his days were numbered as cold and rain are on the near horizon. Jesus thank you for reminding me again this week that I live in a fallen world and for a time the Devil and his fallen angels have been allowed to cause much unneeded evil and suffering and pain in this world with persistence for a short time until you bring to pass the full victory you won at the cross and in the resurrection. Beelzebul's time is short. Help us as your people to work with greater praise and thanksgiving and to give all that we have to the building of your kingdom with this bright future in sight. Beelzebul is the lord of lies and deceit and waste and death but YOU are lord of all creation and all humanity, YOU give life and love and hope, and one day every knee will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord while the Devil suffers in pain and shame for ever in the Lake of fire. YOU are Lord.
Had a great day on Saturday with my friend as he took me to visit some old church ruins in Al-Jimal (click for link to Wikipedia).

I am looking forward to getting home and seeing all of you again. ron 

WEEK 3 UPDATE

Someone has to do it! At this non-smoking facility cigarette butts multiply rather quickly and someone has to pick them up to keep the property looking clean to the glory of God. I spent a day and a half doing that. Also scraped a flat roof for re-taring and some plumbing work. It was a great week.

I love the guys I am working with here. My boss is Swiss and married to a local and has been here for many years, two other Swiss volunteers (a painter who has been here for many years who originally worked in Yemen and a carpenter who is fulfilling his military service through charitable work). Then the regular work crew who are Egyptian mostly Orthodox Christians from Upper Egypt. They are hard workers. The work day for them starts early, sometimes at 6 depending on what needs to be done. Then at 7:45 we meet with all other staff and workers in the main lobby of the hospital for a song, reading of the Daily Light, and a prayer, so my work day starts around 8. At 10 the maintenance staff meet for breakfast break and in the afternoon for a Pepsi break, finishing the day around 4. No lunch is needed with a fine morning break/breakfast.

 Most evenings at 5 there is a good news meeting for the patients, one for the men and one for the women, which is well attended and sometimes features passionate debate between religious beliefs. We sing a few songs in Arabic and then a study is given by different staff members and workers. I love the direct words to their rather unmelodious songs. Here is a sample. We also were accompanied one evening by this odd 12 string instrument.

Last night I was invited out to a local Yemeni restaurant. What a feast. I did not enjoy eating while sitting on the floor but the food was delicious. Three bowls of different meat served boiling hot, another meat dish served cold, a plate of rice with two half chickens on top, eggs with cream on top, yogurt, various dipping sauces, a large pita for the four of us to rip apart, and two delicious bread pudding type desserts, one with white bread, dates and honey and the other with brown bread, banana and honey, water, pop, and finishing off the meal with a hot Indian style chai tea. The foot in the picture is not part of the meal.

I has been spiritually refreshing to meet with my friend and talk, pray and share scripture together. I am glad to be part of the great work of God here.
Well I hope to see you all soon. Remember Jesus is Lord and you are called to serve him with a loving, godly attitude, in good works and words, to the glory of God the Father.

WEEK 2 UPDATE

Last Saturday I went to the local city which is supposed to be about 60,000 population but has doubled with Syrian refugees coming in. My friend took me to see his barber which came from Syria four years ago as a refugee but now owns his own barber shop and has one employee. As we talked he noticed that I needed a beard trim and so I put myself under the hands of a Syrian Muslim refugee who held a straight razor to my throat. He asked my friend if I was afraid that I would have my throat cut? I thought about it but rested in my Lord for whatever outcome and the outcome was refreshing.

I was satisfactorily trimmed and shaved and pampered and cologned and dusted and blown. I hope to head back for a visit before returning home.

Also went shopping for fruits, and nuts, canned goods and chicken and fries. To pack the chicken the plate is placed on a giant single walled pita at least two feet in diameter, then the chicken (not shown here), then fries poured on top, then a couple of toppings in small plastic cups and then the whole thing is wrapped up in the super-pita and put in a bag. Chicken and fries with bread.

On Sunday we went to the Alliance church and the service was in Arabic and English. I was asked by the Pastor to preach there next Sunday or the following Sunday. So pray for that. The church is building a new sanctuary. Here are some pictures.

Sanctuary under construction

New baptistry

Wednesday I went to the capital city of Amman. We were trying to get a vehicle out of customs which was an adventure and was not accomplished on this second day of working on it. Yesterday (Thursday) paperwork and permission were finally given. I will tell you that story later on. We enjoyed a coffee at the Caribou Cafe and picked up a medical student at the airport who will be here for a month of training.

Love the amazing construction of this city.

Build out of the rocks

SETTLING IN

When I went through customs at the airport I purchased a visa and then was questioned by passport control and had my picture taken as part of the process. Just ahead of me was a woman dressed in a burka with only her eyes showing. As passport control questioned her she lifted her face veil to get her picture taken. No questions, no hassles, no problem. It was all part of the identification process required to get into this country. I think we in Canada can learn something from this incident.

My friend picked me up at the airport and we drove North 1 1/2 hours to the where my friend lives. After supper with him and his wife I settled into the bomb shelter. When this property was first purchased in the early 70's the first building the government required them to build was a bomb shelter. Now the bomb shelter has been renovated and built on and turned into a 3 bed residence for volunteers. I am not suffering regarding accommodations.

Full kitchen with propane stove, fridge, microwave, and washing machine

Three beds in former under grond bomb shelter, desk, and closet not shown

Living room area

A typical work day begins with devotions at 7:45 in the main lobby of the hospital, then work. At 10:30 is a breakfast/lunch break with all the workmen. One day we had a sub filled with olives, and veggies and a kind of paste. The next day Pita bread which we use to scoop up feta cheese, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and tuna.
So far I changed a tire on an SUV, welded the hinges on a broken fence, fixed a toilet, but mostly have been masking and painting two women's wards which sure needed a face lift. They are looking great now.

Each window has a bed under it to provide ventilation. Each ward holds 6 women. The table against the opposite wall is for a hot plate for cooking. Each woman has a locker (at the end of the room not shown).

The first night I was exhausted from jet lag and working but had 12 hours of sleep and though a little tired and I am doing well.
Each night there is a segragated gospel meeting for men and women patients. Almost all the men attended. I was there early and noticed that as the men came in they were handed a kleenex tissue. I thought, "this is going to be an emotional meeting". It did not occur to me until a bit later that these are TB patients and the Kleenex was for coughing. Sometimes it takes time for me to "get it".

Friday, I enjoyed an orientation of this work and was able to spend some time with my friend learning about his important work here. It was a great joy to fellowship with him.

*name of country, city and ministry deliberately left unmentioned

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

 Thank you for praying. Apart from a little turbulence to rock me to sleep, the flights were enjoyable and on time. I am settled into my little guest house (the old bomb shelter) and have done a few days work, but more about that in a latter blog. For now some first impressions of Jordan.
Rock, and rocks and more rocks. The whole capital city seems to be built on rock with rocks everywhere. Big rocks and small rocks but few standing on the Rock. This city of over 1 million people is surrounded by parched desert with the odd shrub and a few small trees, but very barren. So rock and sand are my first impression.
Then the buildings are all beige cement blocks which do not offer much contrast to the rock they are built on. These buildings along with the rock and rocks, and continuous desert, seem to amplify the dry heat, as if they have been blanched by the sun with no relief in sight. They look like they have been sapped of life as they crowd together on their rocky perches. That is my second impression.

My third impression as we drove out of the city and into the villages on our way to the clinic was of children playing in the street. This is a rare Canadian sighting but seems very natural here in Jordan. In the evening I noticed many adults as well as children walking and talking and sitting outside as if that was what the evening was for. This is obviously a more social culture than we have. It was interesting when we arrived at my friend's house how he received a couple of calls from the locals to find out if his friend from Canada had arrived and could he bring me over to visit them.

 The people here are friendly, hospitable, and seem happy. The country is stable and there are signs of continued building and growth. Along the street small shops of all kinds abound with people and more people. Then there is the traffic and the erratic driving habits of third world countries which is normal once you have seen it a few times.

Well this is Abu-Ben saying massalaama for now.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

 Thank you for praying. Apart from a little turbulence to rock me to sleep, the flights were enjoyable and on time. I am settled into my little guest house (the old bomb shelter) and have done a few days work, but more about that in a latter blog. For now some first impressions of Jordan.
Rock, and rocks and more rocks. The whole capital city seems to be built on rock with rocks everywhere. Big rocks and small rocks but few standing on the Rock. This city of over 1 million people is surrounded by parched desert with the odd shrub and a few small trees, but very barren. So rock and sand are my first impression.
Then the buildings are all beige cement blocks which do not offer much contrast to the rock they are built on. These buildings along with the rock and rocks, and continuous desert, seem to amplify the dry heat, as if they have been blanched by the sun with no relief in sight. They look like they have been sapped of life as they crowd together on their rocky perches. That is my second impression.

My third impression as we drove out of the city and into the villages on our way to the clinic was of children playing in the street. This is a rare Canadian sighting but seems very natural here in Jordan. In the evening I noticed many adults as well as children walking and talking and sitting outside as if that was what the evening was for. This is obviously a more social culture than we have. It was interesting when we arrived at my friend's house how he received a couple of calls from the locals to find out if his friend from Canada had arrived and could he bring me over to visit them.

 The people here are friendly, hospitable, and seem happy. The country is stable and there are signs of continued building and growth. Along the street small shops of all kinds abound with people and more people. Then there is the traffic and the erratic driving habits of third world countries which is normal once you have seen it a few times.

Well this is Abu-Ben saying massalaama for now.

JORDAN OVERVIEW

Today I would like to present to you an overview of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. My destination is Al Mafraq. Most of this information is from Operation World which I would recommend as a valuable prayer guide for the world. A copy can be found in our church library.
Jordan is at the center of a very conflicted area of the world, with Israel on the West and Syria in the North, with Iraq to the East and Saudi Arabia to the East and South. Its population is about 7 million but this total is swelled by mass refugee populations from Syria and Iraq which burdens its economy and limited resources.
Jordan's main sources of income are tourism, phosphates and agricultural products. Jordan has no oil and very limited water resources. Jordan is politically moderate and an ally of the West providing somewhat of a buffer for Israel against more fundamentalist regimes.
Jordan is 97% Muslim (Sunni), about 2% Christian and of these about .025% are protestant. The constitution of Jordan prohibits religious discrimination and promotes free exercise of religious beliefs and worship. The Church has a visible public presence and relative freedom, but there is some pressure on evangelical churches. Many Christians have left the country. Since 1980 the Christian population has dropped from 6.5% to 2.2%. This emigration has brought a need for more leadership in the churches. The evangelical church has doubled from 1995 to 2010, most converts coming from nominal Christian churches but some are from Muslim backgrounds.

Al Mafraq is North of Amman

 Christian ministries such as an Arabic language school and medical work such as Annoor Sanatorium are always under pressure so continue to pray for these ministries in Jordan. As one leader commented, "every day we offer praise to God for another day of possible ministry in Jordan by the grace of God".

Millions in Jordan need to hear about Jesus Christ through medical initiatives such as Annoor, through cell phone downloads, via TV and radio programs, through internet websites, and written materials. Please pray for God's work in Jordan.

I leave on Monday morning and will be in touch as best I can over the next month. Here are some prayer requests: 
1) Good health and stamina (I am an old man now) 
2) Travel connections and safety on the roads 
3) Financial provision for the cost of the trip 
4) That I can be a fruitful helper to those I meet
5) That I will be a faithful witness as opportunity arises

JESUS PEOPLE. IS IT HAPPENING AGAIN?

How many of you remember the Jesus People movement which took place in the 70's and 80's. Here is what the web has to say about it, "The Jesus movement was a movement in Christianity beginning on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s and spreading primarily throughout North America, Europe, and Central America, before subsiding by the late 1980s. Members of the movement were called Jesus people, or Jesus freaks." I was one of those Jesus freaks. I was born again in 1971. Many of today's older Christians came to know Christ during that time of revival over many continents. It was a worldwide phenomenon. A number of hippies traveled to India and Afghanistan and found Christ at the end of their trek to find themselves. I was hitch hiking through Europe when Christ found me in Holland. That Jesus movement took place 40 years ago.
What were some of the events taking place at that time? First there was a sexual revolution taking place which was the precedent of much of what is now taking place today. Then there was a movement of young people revolting against the status quo of the material pursuits of their parents. There was a revolt against government authority and all that represented authority; Black Panthers, draft dodgers, burning of university facilities, sit-ins and protests and demonstrations. Music expressed the desire for love and freedom and hope for a new kind of future. Our heroes were Che Guevara and Frodo. Youth pursued an unprecedented search for truth, and justice, and the meaning of life. Out of that confusion and chaos Jesus introduced himself to millions.

1971 passport photo, 5 months before becoming a Jesus Freak

Today I see the same confusion and chaos happening all over again with our youth and in our culture. There is a sexual revolution taking place that has never been seen before in history. Not just a growth in immoral sin but a total abandonment of gender and identity. Our youth is begining to rebel against materialism and government authority and big government that has lost touch with the people; the occupy movement, the growing gap between the rich and the middle class, the call for justice for blacks. The rise of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders shows that a ferment is beginning to take place. The big question is, "Will this lead to a new spiritual seeking after Jesus as it did in the last generation?" Will God once again bring the message of His Son into the chaos and the confusion that sin of every kind is producing. Will youth be honest enough with themselves to acknowledge God, their sin, and Jesus the Savior? Is this the beginning of another generational visitation of God upon the modern world?

It is evident to those who can see that we are bankrupt and no answers are forthcoming from government and education and reform programs. Man is more than ever corrupt in his heart. Is there enough Jesus seed left in our culture to bring in another harvest like God did 40 years ago? I am reminded of the verse from the old King James, "So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." (Isaiah 59.19). Let's pray for a new Jesus People movement.

Jordan update: Just over a week before departure. Passport is in, praise God. Funds are beginning to come in. Ride to the airport is confirmed. Thank you for praying and giving. See last blog for donation information. ron 

A VAST TREASURE

Dear prayer partners and friends, here is an update on my trip to Jordan. My new passport has not yet arrived but is expected by August 17th so continue to pray that all will work out as scheduled. I have set up an account with Reach Beyond Canada for those who want to donate to this trip. You can send in a donation by mail to <Reach Beyond Canada, Unit 3- 44 Saltsman Dr, Cambridge, ON, N3H 4R7> with a note that this is for Ron Latulippe's trip to Jordan, or go to the website <http://reachbeyond.ca/donate> and under the heading <SELECT FUND YOUR DONATION WILL SUPPORT> select <Donate to a missionary-indicate name below in message> and then fill out the credit card information and put my name in the message box and then select <complete donation now>. Thank you in advance for your support and taking the time to write a check, mail an envelope or fill in the donation information online.

Christians have Christ as their possession (Christ in you the hope of glory). We belong to Christ and he belongs to us. In Christ we have a vast treasure that will never be depleted, never come to an end, never be exhausted, never lose its luster, never be eroded by inflation, can be taken into eternity, and is more valuable than any other treasure this world can offer. Colossians 2.3 tells us that "in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge". Later in 2.9-10 we read, "In him (Christ) the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have all been filled in him". In Christ we have the wisdom of salvation in Christ and all of its benefits and the knowledge of God's truth and all the joy and freedom that truth brings. It is our privilege to dig for and enjoy this treasure in Christ each day of this life and for all eternity. Why chase a Pokeman when you can go chase Christ and rejoice in his treasures of wisdom and knowledge. May we all increase in our desire for Christ by spending time in his presence in worship and prayer and in reading his Word.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Since my time in the Philippines a desire has been growing in my heart to visit and volunteer at the Annoor Sanatorium for Chest Diseases <http://www.msa-annoor.org/> in Jordan and to visit my long time friends who work there. I actually looked into a visit to this TB hospital a couple of years back but that did not happen. But now plans have fallen into place to visit Jordan and the Annoor Sanatorium and my friends there.
This morning I booked my tickets so I am leaving from Toronto to Amman Jordan on August 29th and returning to Canada on September 26th. Annoor Sanatorium is in Mafraq about one hour North of Amman toward the Syrian border.
I will be working with the maintenance crew most of time and also doing some pastoral ministry as well. I hope to make a visit to the city of Petra in Southern Jordan one weekend and also visit the clinic work in Ras An Naqab which is part of the Annoor work in Jordan.
Please take time to view the Annoor website. God may want to use your skills there in the future.

I ask for your prayers for this trip:
1) Preparations for the trip. New passport to arrive on time.
2) Good health and stamina (I am an old man now)
3) Travel connections and safety on the roads
4) Financial provision for the cost of the trip
5) That I can be a fruitful helper to those I meet

Thank you in advance for your prayers, encouragement and help along the way. Ron

GOOD ON THE INSIDE

I found this helpful and encouraging statement in a book I am reading, "Unshakable Foundations by Norman Geisler and Peter Bocchino", in their chapter on ethics and morals (p326). Here is the statement, "According to Jesus, God is ultimately interested in developing our character and seeks for us to internalize moral principles so that the true measure of moral goodness is based upon who we are (personal integrity) and not just what we do (controlling our public actions)".
If this statement was a reality in every professing Christian the world would experience a cultural revolution. The world would see a genuine Christianity driven by love and grace and not by law, rules and legalism. They would see transformed lives of honesty and plain truth.
In this statement is the essence of the call in the New Testament to be conformed to Jesus Christ, to put on Christ, and the command in Romans 12.1-2 to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. This statement also implies the need for a daily renewal of our fellowship of union with Christ, the examination of the heart and repentance, and refilling of the Holy Spirit, for our goodness must ultimately come from Christ in us.
This call to personal integrity in relationship with Jesus Christ requires a dependence on God that checklist Christianity does not require. It is dynamic, not static. Response to circumstances is Holy Spirit led not scripted. It is costly and sacrificial and personal. But it also shows the reality of God in our lives that goes far beyond religion. Goodness that comes from inside manifests Jesus our Lord.

If you sense today that you have drifted away from walking in the Spirit and defaulted to living out the rules of your brand of Christianity then take some quiet alone time in the presence of God. Confess the need for renewal in your heart, confess your sins, ask God to fill you afresh, and come back to His presence often. You do not even have to say much while in the presence of God, just spend time there.
May God be the blessing of your week.

SUMMER READING

I have enjoyed many pleasurable hours on the back deck, under the gazebo, reading great books. Let me recommend two to you today for your Summer reading. These books are not murder mysteries or romance fictions but faith challenging, practical, insightful helps to our christian lives. We need to read more of these kinds of books along with biographies and autobiographies of past missionaries and christian leaders. I thank God for books that analyze our present culture with biblical standards and expose the erring trends in our christian lives and churches and call us to a biblical worldview.

The first book is "We Cannot Be Silent" by R. Albert Mohler who is president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The sub-title is "Speaking truth to a culture redefining sex, marriage, and the very meaning of right and wrong". Dr. Mohler believes, and I agree with him, that with the redefinition of marriage our culture has stepped over a line that will completely change the fabric of society. He says, "We are facing nothing less than a comprehensive redefinition of life, love, liberty, and the very meaning of right and wrong".
Mohler will help you to understand how we got where we are today in the sexual revolution, the successful strategy that was used by the LGBTQQIA movement, how christian rights are now being violated and how we as believers are to respond to all that is taking place. The last chapter is 30 relevant questions and answers which I found particularly helpful.
If you want to further educate yourself on the gay/lesbian/transgender movement and its growing influence and acceptance by our present culture and how you can respond as a believer in Jesus Christ, this book is a great place to begin.

The second book is called "Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers" by Christian Smith. I have not read this book yet but have heard about it a number of times and Mohler mentions it as well with regard to the next generation of christian teenagers. I see the evidence of what this book says in our church youth today. Smith defines the Christianity of our youth as Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. This is their moralistic therapeutic deistic creed.
1) A God exists who created and orders the world and watches over human life on earth.
2) God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions.
3) The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.
4) God does not need to be particularly involved in one's life except when God is needed to resolve a problem.
5) Good people go to heaven when they die.
Mohler says of these youth which have now grown up, "what they received (with regard to biblical teaching on sexuality and morality) was so insubstantial, so disconnected from the metanarrative of Scripture, and so devoid of serious moral and intellectual content, that it evaporated as soon as they encountered a peer culture more committed to tolerance than any other moral principle". Tolerance (meaning today full acceptance) is a key functional moral principle. This explains the acceptance of gay marriage and lifestyles in the church today and this tolerance will continue to grow as our youth grow up.
Finally, Mohler writes, "with the Moralistic Therapeutic Deistic worldview (what is perceived as) the judgmental attitude of Christians is causing the youth to leave the church and orthodox beliefs".

So here we have in these two books a view of the future of our culture, Christianity and the church in North America. What a challenge lies before us as believers in Christ. As we trust in God we will see truth shine and God glorified as darkness grows in the culture and in the church.