Aging with Grace

 

Everybody wants to live longer, healthier and more meaningful lives. But like everything else, the good life does not just come knocking on your door automatically. We have to be proactive if we want to age with grace.

 

Recently I spoke to a group of men that I meet with regularly. One of them said, “When you cross fifty, you should accept that things are going to start falling apart. Aches and pains are the new norm.” I was disturbed by his comment and quickly answered, “Yeah, everybody except me! I’ll age well and live in divine health as long as I can because the Bible has promised me that.” My dear friend replied, “Well, you’re in denial!”

 

So what does the Bible teach about getting old? The Bible says, “Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years" (Genesis 6:3 NIV). There are many people in the Bible who lived much longer. Noah lived to be 600 years old even after God's declaration, and his sons lived hundreds of years as well. Generations later, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived well past the age of 120 years. “Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished” (Deuteronomy 34:7 NKJV). Moreover, people today are reported to live longer than 120 years old on some occasions. 

 

You may say, “Brother Sandy, are you serious about living 120 years?” The truth is that I used to scoff at this notion but after researching the Bible, I started to believe it. Now I thank God every day for giving me 120 good years! My attitude is to shoot for the moon and even if I fail, I will fall among the starts, rather than aim low and make it. You do not have to start breaking apart under aches, pains, and chronic illnesses. Nowhere in the Bible God has promised that. That is just not His plan for your life.

                                                                                                                      

So what can we do to live a long, satisfied life, free of sickness, disease, aches, and pains? Let me share four practical things you can do to increase your longevity and natural vigor.

 

1. Grey matters. I am not talking about your hair color. I am talking about your brain cells. Age is a matter of mind. The number one secret to a vigorous life is taking care of your mental health. What you feed your mind will determine the quality of your life. No matter how accomplished you are, focus on personal development and continue to grow. Join a computer, art, or craft class. Attend cultural festivals and events. Learn a language. Travel and go see the world. The Brazilian author Paulo Coelho said, “If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it is lethal.” Keep your mind fresh and occupied with stimulating and wholesome information.

 

2. Build new relationships. People are always cycling out of our lives so you have to make sure to add new people in to your life. This is especially true as you get older. Do not let your world shrink by withdrawing from society. My friend Ron is 83 years old and extremely smart. He has done well in life and has plenty of resources. Nevertheless, he just picked up a job at Lowe’s because he wanted to interact with people and expand his circle of acquaintances!

 

3. Protect your heart. Solomon, the wisest man ever said, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23 NKJV). Keep your heart free from offenses. Forgive in advance and let go of grudges. Give generously—not just your money but also your time, wisdom, gifts, and talents.

 

4. Take care of yourself. Your body is not only where you live but the Holy Spirit lives in you! How you look correlates to how you feel. Remember that you are an Ambassador of Christ. Do not let yourself go! Dress well. Talk well. Eat well. Sleep well. Exercise well regularly. Even fifteen minutes a day will have you feeling invigorated and energize. Make sure to get your heart pumping each day. Hang around young people. Mentor them and pass on your wisdom to them. 

 

Let me give you a few promises that you can declare over your life every day. “With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation” (Psalm 91:16 NKJV). “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV). “Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green” (Psalm 92:14 NLT).

 

Do not fear death! When you are fully satisfied with this life, you will go to sleep and wake up in heaven.  The scripture says, “The memory of the righteous is blessed.”

 

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:16 NLT).

 

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Building People. Spreading Hope.

Be a History Maker

Inside each of us there is a desire to do great things in life. God put that dream in there so that we can change history. Our lives are not to be like a leaves floating through life but to make an eternal impact. We’re born to make history.

We all start off with great dreams and visions in life. Children go around in the capes trying to be a super-hero. Unfortunately negative experiences and words of people convince us that we’re merely ordinary. We give up our dreams and settle for the average life. At best, we’re satisfied with the American dream – big, house, big car and a big bank balance. None of this is wrong in itself but if that is where our dreams end then we’re dreaming too small.

Last week I was attending a funeral of my dear friend Mr. Tim. He was only in his mid-sixties but his life came to an abrupt end. He’s in the loving arms of Jesus now. Please pray for his family. What I liked about his funeral was that people came forward to attribute greatness to his life by the lives he touched. Some flew in from out of town. The room was packed with people. Every person in the hall was touched by Mr. Tim in one way or other. I myself went to the microphone and shared how his life and partnership continues to change lives in Asia. Apart from his sterling character, Mr. Tim was a history maker. He will meet the people he touched and spend eternity with them worshipping our Lord.

It is easy to get so busy and focused on the natural things of the world that sometimes we have no time left to think about eternity. Yet, what is unseen is much more real than what we busy ourselves with every day. When Jesus walked on this earth, he constantly pointed people to heaven and life after death. Our time on earth is short-lived but eternity is forever. We too must spend our time, effort and energy in the light of eternity. God wants us to make our mark in history.

Often we look in the mirror and think, “What difference can I make?” That is one of the biggest lies of the enemy. God has put gifts and talents in each of us to make a difference in our world. Parhald is a young man in the Himalayas who had to quit school in seventh grade. There was very little opportunity in his village so he joined the revolutionary fight for an independent state in his region. He carried weapons and lived the guerilla lifestyle fighting for their cause. During his short visit home, a family member challenged him to serve God and do something great with his life. Shortly after, Prahlad came to our Mission Training Center and received short training in the Bible. Long story short, for the last sixteen years, Pastor Prahlad is serving the Lord full time with our ministry. He has been instrumental to touch hundreds of thousands of lives in the Himalayas. He is a true example of what God can do with an ordinary person. Pastor Prahlad is a history maker!

I meet people every day who are living an ordinary life but deep inside they have an uncanny desire to do something great for God. Lawyers, business persons, housewives, students, professionals want to be part of Build International Ministries because they know we’re touching thousands of lives with the Gospel every month. No matter what you do, always think of yourself as a history maker. There’s more to you than what you think. You are here on earth to make an eternal impact. Nothing is too small when you do it for our great God.

Friend, don’t settle for a mediocre life or even the American dream. I challenge you to find and live God’s dream for your life. He wants to use you to make history. Like my friend Mr. Tim, Pastor Prahlad and Jesus, we too are born to touch lives for our God. Together, we can make our world a better place to live and make an impact in eternity. You are a history maker!

“If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21 NLT).

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For Leaders Only

We all have a God-given nature in us to help others win. The best leaders are those who help other people succeed. Being a leader is not always easy but its rewards are great. The fact that you’re reading this today tells me that you’re a great leader.

Leadership is all about people. Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments into two. We must love God and people. We cannot love one without the other. Today we will talk about how to inspire others to rise to the top.

Affirm the positive in people. Religion has taught us that God is sitting up in heaven waiting for us to make a mistake so He can punish us. This is sad but just the opposite is true. God is looking for us to do one thing right so that He can promote us. We should operate in the same way. Instead of throwing dirt on people, we ought to dig for the gold in others. Most people know when they’re doing wrong and what they need to do to correct it. When we affirm the positive in people, we fuel them to come up higher. I’ve found people do more of what we brag about and less of what we nag about. Let’s maximize the positives and minimize the negative.

Highlight the good. None of us have arrived. We are all work in progress. Whether we’re at work or with our family, we all have goals, standards and expectations. When people are putting their best effort forward, we have to spotlight the growth and not the weakness. Dwell on the good.  When we focus on the strength and growth of others we’re helping them come up higher.

Celebrate the victory. We like to talk about our own success and reminiscence our own victories. When we celebrate the success of others we add value to them. When you hear about someone overcoming a struggle or buying their first new home, or a better car, get excited with them. Don’t dwarf their victory by immediately sharing one of your own. Let the people bask in their glory for a while. It’s healthy for them. Small victories set people up to overcome the big ones. People will make mistake. Minimize the failure and celebrate the victory.

Develop a habit of encouraging others. When we encourage people we give them courage to achieve the impossible. The other day I had a lunch appointment. The restaurant was very busy and waiters were stretched thin. When a young man came to serve us I sincerely said, “I like your tie.” He came by our table multiple times making sure we’re taken care of. I left him a good tip. Encouragement is like a cork floating in a bucket. The more encouragement, love, respect and honor you pour into the bucket the higher the cork will rise. This is especially true in marriage and other close relationships. When you’re close to someone, you not only see all their strength but also their flaws. We have to decide whether we want to add or drain honor to the bucket. Our encouragement helps people rise higher and perform better.

Think the best of people. If there are two ways to think about someone – think the best. Consistent people do inconsistent things. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Develop a negative into a positive picture! Assume the best in people. Give people something to live up to.

Friend, we are to be a light into our world God. We’re preaching a sermon with our lives at all times. When we live and do what’s right, we’re drawing people to Christ. Our action speaks louder than our words. Let’s draw people to Christ and not push them away. When we help others rise to the top, we elevate our own position. Helping others is not an option; it’s mandatory to our own growth. Let’s lead by example and by inspiration. Look for the gold in people. Celebrate people. Encourage others. What we do for others, God will make happen for us. You’re an excellent leader. I believe in you!

“Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26 ISV).

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Don’t Seek the Glory

We live in a culture and society where instant gratification is the code of conduct. Our attention span is getting shorter. We don’t like to wait for anything and certainly if we do an act of service, we want the spotlight.

This is very contradictory to the teachings of Jesus. His life was filled with miracles yet He told people He touched “Don’t tell anybody.” How different it is from the mindset of today. You hardly can do anything without getting acknowledged for it. Not that it is wrong to be recognized and thanked for what we do but when we seek the glory for what we do, we’ve missed the heart of it.

Couple of weeks ago, I was traveling in Oklahoma. We stopped for lunch at a local restaurant because I really wanted to try some country food. While we waited for our order I spotted three young soldiers in their uniform eating and having a good time. The sacrifice of the servicemen always touches my heart. I called the waitress to the side and asked her to put their tab under my name and not to tell them anything. When they came to pay their bill I was sitting right next to the counter. Trying to be anonymous I kept talking to my kids. I thought they’d just leave but the waitress had told them. They came by our table to thank me for buying them lunch. I didn’t want to be recognized but it just played out that way. No harm was done that day although I’d have preferred to have been anonymous.

One of the great lessons I learned early in life is to help others without seeking glory for it. There’s nothing wrong when people acknowledge our goodness but when we’re doing something to impress people rather than God then we’re doing it for the wrong motive. A far greater attitude is to help people because it is the right thing to do. What we do for others in secret will be rewarded by God openly.

In December 1938, a 29-year-old London stockbroker by the name of Nicholas Winton was about leave for a Skiing holiday in Switzerland. Just as he was about to leave he got a call from a friend in Prague, Czechoslovakia asking him to come and help him with the most interesting assignment. When Winton got there he found thousands of Jewish refugees living in camps under appalling conditions.

Immediately Winton began a rescue operation for the children. After he returned to England, Winton worked as a stockbroker by the day and labored late into the night to bring Jewish children out of the danger zone. After the war Winton didn’t tell anyone, not even his wife Grete about his wartime heroic effort. Half a century later Grete discovered a scrapbook in their attic with all the children’s photos, a complete list of names, letters from the parents to Winton and other documents. Winton had rescued 669 children from the sure death of the Nazi regime. Half a century later Winton was recognized by various groups, and the nation of Israel. Today Sir Nicholas Winton is 104 years old. He still wears the ring given to him by some of the children he saved. On the ring is inscribed: “Save one life, save the world.”

 

Friend, very few of us can do great things but all of us can do a small thing in a great way. You may not be able to save hundreds of lives like Sir Winton but can you buy lunch for a serviceman? Jesus healed people without getting recognition from the religious institution of His days. Can you reach out and touch a broken heart? Modesty is a lost art today. But God never forgets anything we do in His name. When we help others without seeking glory for it, God Himself will pay us back.

Don’t say to yourself I cannot do anything great. Don’t seek greatness; have a heart to help. Don’t focus on what you cannot do. Do what you can. When we save one life with the Gospel of Christ, we give them eternal passage. Save one life, save the world!

His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness” (Matthew 25:21 NIV)!

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7 Secrets of Happiness

I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t want to be happy. Happiness is a basic human need. It’s a feeling that brings us joy, fulfillment and ecstasy. Happiness shouldn’t be our goal but it’s a byproduct of our thoughts, words and action.

Most people make the mistake of thinking that happiness is conditioned to external things. Some people think happiness is found in things and people. But happiness is an internal attitude. Today we’ll discuss seven secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life.

Happiness rule #1. You’re perfect! You’re made in the image of God. You have God’s DNA in you. Your behavior may need to catch up to your God-class status but never forget who you are. If you’re a Christian, you’re a child of God. He never manufactures junk. You’re smart. Good looking. Attractive. Disciplined. Funny. Creative and much more. Accept and embrace who you are.

Happiness rule #2. Dwell on positive thoughts. Your life will follow your thoughts. Bad things happen to good people. You don’t have to psyche yourself up to think negatively. They come automatically. Train yourself to look at the good in everything, and you’ll have a continual feast. A grateful heart does not have room for negative thinking.

Happiness rule #3. Get up quickly. The Bible says, a righteous man may fall seven times but he will rise up again. We all have weaknesses. We all make mistakes. The best thing we can do with our wrongs is to repent and learn from them. When we learn to pick ourselves us quickly after a disappointment, we’ll find happiness again.

Happiness rule #4. Find the best in people. Let’s face it. Most of our disappointment and discouragement come from people letting us down. Sometimes these people are the closest to our hearts. I’ve found that most people have something good in them that deserved to be recognized and celebrated. Let’s focus on the 80% good in people and overlook the 20% not so good. When we focus on the good, we’ll bring out the best in people.

Happiness rule #5. Forgive quickly. Forgiveness is a big idea. God invented it to redeem us from our sins. Without God’s forgiveness we’re all bound for eternal damnation called hell. When we forgive people and let go of the offense, we’re in God-class. When you forgive, you set a prisoner free – that prisoner is you! Let’s learn to forgive quickly because we need to be forgiven every day.

Happiness rule #6. Celebrate today! It took your whole life to get to today. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised. Today is a gift! Don’t live in the regrets of yesterday. The Bible teaches not to be over-ambitious about tomorrow. Celebrate the “small” things in life because one day you’ll realize they were the “big” things. Laugh often, love outrageously and give extravagantly. Every day, tell your loved ones how much they mean to you!

Happiness rule #7. Give more than you receive. The greatest joy in life is in our giving. No man is awarded for what he takes but what he gives. Winston Churhill said, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” When we deliver more than expected we’re setting ourselves up for happiness. Share your time, talent and treasure. For God so loved the world that He gave… If you want to be like God – give!

As you can see, there’s no deep secret to happiness for our lives. It’s you who holds the key to your own happiness. When we surrender ourselves to God’s will and live to bless others we will find the ultimate fulfillment in life.

“How happy is the man who has put his trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:4 Holman).

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Unusual Financial Blessings Are Yours

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t need more money. Money is not everything but money touches everything important in life. Religion has taught us money is evil but that is not how God looks at money. In God’s eyes, money is one the least things in life. Money is neutral. It can be used for good or it can ruin people’s lives.

I believe Christians are the most qualified for handling large sums of money. Knowing that we cannot take it with us, we have an eternal perspective. The Bible says, “Money is the answer for everything” (Ecclesiastes 10:19 NIV). Let’s think about it. You can be a super Christian but without money, you will starve to death. You can be a praying Christian but nobody will give you a free place to live. I’ve been doing missions work for the last 27 years and it always takes money to help people.

What am I saying? If you have more money you can help more people! If you want to have money you have to be “money minded.” Not what you can get but how you can give! The law of attraction suggests that whatever we think about is what we’ll bring about. If we have a mindset of abundance, we will attract more wealth to give away and have plenty left over for ourselves.

Sanju is from India. In the early nineties, he had just been saved from drugs and alcohol in one of our conferences. We brought him to our headquarters in Hong Kong for training. Living by faith was a new concept for Sanju. He was making lots of money in the world but he left all that to serve God by faith. Very soon Sanju found out that it was expensive to live in a big city of Hong Kong. We wanted him to learn how to live by faith so we gave very little money in his hands. Mostly out of desperation, Sanju began to pray to God for his needs. An amazing phenomenon started to happen. Whenever Sanju went out for errands, he would find money along the footpath. First, it was small amounts. But then his faith began to grow. Once he found a whole wallet on the road. If I remember right, there was almost $20,000 in the wallet! Being an honest man, he took it to the police. The cops called the owner using the ID card in the wallet. The owner was so grateful that he gave a large sum of money to Sanju as a reward. Today Sanju is preaching to tens of thousands all over India. His family is more prosperous than most missionaries I know. Our God is an awesome Provider!

Friend, if you’re going through a financial difficulty, don’t look at how little you have. Instead, consider how big your God is. He placed diamonds, gold and precious stones under the ground. You’re more valuable than all the gold in the world! The Bible says, “The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right” (Psalm 84:11 NLT).

Once, Jesus had to pay taxes to the government. He looked at Peter and instructed him to go fishing in the sea! As Jesus had predicted, inside the first fish Peter caught was money to pay their taxes! In the natural, this is an unbelievable. But remember, nothing is impossible for our God. Do not worry about your bills, what to eat and how to provide for your family. Trust in God’s ability to take care of you.

God didn’t put you here to live in lack. Our problem is we’re thinking too small. Ask God to give you wealth so that you can feed and take care of ten, twenty, or a hundred families. Don’t make your job, stocks or business as the source of your income. Make God the source of your living. Live to give. When you give, there will be always more than what you’d need. I challenge you to have more faith for your finances. Let us know how we can pray for you. When you surrender your life to God, He will surrender His wealth to you. Stay calm. Don’t panic. Talk to God! Talk to people. God knows what you need and how to get it to you. If Sanju can find money in the busy streets of Hong Kong and Peter can find money in the mouth of the fish, there’s nothing that God cannot do to provide for you. Thank Him in advance and sow where you want to go! I declare unusual financial blessings to come into your hands. If you believe it, you’ll receive it.

“You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:18 ESV).

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What Makes a Great Father

The role of a Father is extremely vital in our homes, community and country. Strong men build strong family. Strong family builds strong churches and communities. Strong communities build a strong country. This is why the enemy is fighting so hard to remove the fathers from the place of action so that without the head, the family can easily disintegrate.

None of us can claim to be a perfect father. When your child was born, it didn't come with an owner's manual. Even if it did, you're a man - you wouldn't have read it! Role model of a good father is extremely valuable in our society. You may not have had a good earthly father but our Heavenly Father is always poised to show us how to be a good father. If you want to be a good father, you just have to ask God to show you. Today, let me share with you a few principles to be a great father.

A good father loves and respects his children's mother. When we demonstrate our love and commitment to our spouse, our children grow up secure. No relationship is perfect but it can get better. When a father deposits value and honor into his wife, he's positioning himself for greatness. A good father doesn't criticize his spouse or tears her down with his words. Good fathers treat their women as God does.

A good father is a God-loving man. The Scripture says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Fathers need a lot of wisdom to deal with life and protect his family. We're to go to God with our problems and concerns, and not unload on our wives. God has made you to be the head of the family. That means we have to set an example to serve our family. Don't dump your problems on your spouse. Talk to God and other God-fearing men in your community. Get connected with God and you'll stay connected with your family.

A good father is a man of integrity. In Today's society, integrity has lost its value. Just like salt without its saltiness has no value, so is a man without integrity. Integrity simply means doing the right thing consistently. It means, you are at home the way you are in the marketplace and vice verse. Integrity means to do the right thing even when nobody is watching. A man of integrity is marked and rewarded by God Himself.

A good father is an all round provider. Many families nowadays have double incomes. I'm not telling you how to run your family but the Bible is very clear about the man being the provider for the family. Often we're mistaken to think that to provide means only in the area of finances. But that is not true. A true provider will provide for the body, spirit and soul. We all understand providing for the daily necessities such as food, clothes and shelter. But we men are also charged to be the spiritual leaders at our home. We're also entrusted to provide emotional support for our family members. If you don't support your family emotionally, someone else will!

A good father is a communicator. A father's task is to lead his little battalion through the treacherous path of life to safety and victory. Fathers are ordained to be good leaders. Good leaders must be great communicators. "Yes" or "No" answers may be fine but it will not crown you an excellent father. Develop yourself to be a good communicator. Study, learn, and ask other fathers how they communicate with their family. The success of your family depends on your ability to communicate. Become a student of communication. It will save you from troubles and win you victories.

Friend, if you are a father and missed the mark - be encouraged today! This is not the time to cower and sit on the sideline. Today is the perfect time to make that phone call and mend that relationship. Now is a good time to give our hearts to God and say, "Lord, make me the earthly Dad as you are in heaven!" Our God is a great example. We have no excuses. We can learn from our Heavenly Father. You've got what it takes. Old is gone. This is a new day. Fathers, you can do anything. I believe in you!

"May the blessings of your father surpass the blessings of the ancient mountains, reaching to the heights of the eternal hills" (Genesis 49:26 NLT).

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Reaching China with the Gospel

Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” It was His last command before He ascended to heaven with a promise to return and take us home. The first century Church thrived with the vision to spread the Gospel because they’re the first generation carrier of the vision they’d received from the Master first hand.

As time went by Christians began to put the Great Commission in the back burner. Thank God that someone was faithful to keep the message spreading. Aren’t you glad that someone preached the Gospel to you?

No matter where we live it is hard to imagine that there’s a world out there that needs to hear about our Lord. Today, we want to talk about China because on July 18, 2013 we’re launching our next mission trip there. It is my hope and desire to create an interest in you to learn what God is doing in China.

As many of you know, China has the largest population on earth with almost 1.3 billion people. That means one out of every seven people in the world is Chinese! In spite of China’s recent economic success, the people have suffered invasion, injustice and intolerance for centuries. Under Mao’s 1949 Cultural Revolution a staggering 60-80 million Chinese people died. They have suffered long and hard in the hands of their own leaders. The situation is much better now compared to before but still there is human rights violation in every part of China.

China is a great country and her people are even more intriguing. The Chinese people in mainland China is nothing like you’ve experienced anywhere else in the world. They’re extremely hospitable, sincere and kind to the outsiders. Yes, at times they’re suspicious but who wouldn’t be if you’ve been dominated by foreign intruders for centuries. There are many social problems in China today, corruption being one of them. However, when you get to know them personally, you’ll know the beauty in their heart. They’re some of the kindest people you’d ever meet.

Christians around the world know very little about God’s work in China. Because it is a restricted-access nation, not many Christian go to China and not much Christian news come out of the country. I’ve been working there for the last 27 years! The communist tried to kill God in China but He is very much alive in this great nation. Did you know 25,000 people accept Christ every day? Researchers are saying that there are more than 130 million believers in China.

Most of the Chinese believers are first generation Christians. Many of them come from secular or Buddhist background. Like most parts in Asia, when someone accepts Christ in China, they’re often looked down or kicked out of their family. Often they’re harassed at work and denied promotion. Although there is freedom of religion in paper, in application there’s a lot of oppression and even persecution and imprisonment for Christian. China’s Church is a persecuted Church.

We’re going back to China on July 18, 2013 to share the love of Christ with them. One of the greatest needs in China’s Church is encouragement for the leaders. We will conduct leadership training in several locations empowering the pastors and leaders. Another goal we have is to distribute 5,000 Bibles to the poor Christians in China’s country side. They don’t have means or access to a Bible like in the city. A Bible we give away costs only $3 each. Most of all, we will be praying for our brothers and sisters in China. Today, will you please consider reaching China with the Gospel? Please take a moment to click on the link below.

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20 Facebook Etiquettes (Part II)

Yesterday, we started talking about Facebook etiquettes that I shared with my 15-year-old daughter to make her online experience more enjoyable. What we say, how we say, when we say and whom we say what we say are very crucial. We can impact a lot of lives simply by being a little cautious before we bare our minds to the world. Here are a few more tips that might help you…

11. Engage. Be generous with your “likes, comments and share” Just like you, people are looking for approval. When you “like” you’re saying, “I believe in you. I agree with your feelings. I endorse your thoughts, work and hobby.”

12. Talk to the wall! Write on your friends’ wall, simply to check on them or encourage them. My friend Jay is excellent with that. Wish people Happy Birthday and engage with their interests. Post a link on what they’re interested in.

13. Promote a Godly cause to help someone. FB is a powerful platform. People take notice what you say from your “pulpit.” Use your platform to influence and empower others. Yesterday, I put out a request to help a family who lost a young boy in a tragic accident. Only an hour later, a good friend of mine fulfilled that need. You can touch lives simply by sharing a good cause. On that note, please don’t forget to like and endorse Build International Ministries. Thank you!

14. Keep it positive. Criticism doesn’t work. People do more of what we brag about and less of what we nag about. Do not criticize authority, management or the government. One day you and your decedents will be in the position of authority. Don’t sabotage your/their future. You’ll never attain what you criticize others for. If you’re not directly responsible, leave it alone. Prayer will do more than our criticism. Use the same effort and energy to do what God has called you to do. Remember, you have limited resources – especially time.

15. Post pictures. Start with your own profile. You’re on social media! A picture is worth a thousand words! Occasionally post pictures of good times with your friends, family and places you’ve been to. Highlight your friends and their interest. Like their photos – especially their kids. Parents love to show off their kids. When we engage with their posts, we’re empowering the parents.

16. Share a wholesome song or a video that you like. Quote, Bible verses and inspirations are great also but use them sparingly.

17. Set a time limit per day/week to be on social media. Avoid the temptation to mindlessly browse endless hours. Share your thoughts, read what others have to say and get offline and get on with your life. This is a communications tool not a chat room.

18. Learn to ignore. This is difficult with people with strong values. When we engage with comments we don’t agree with we’re wasting our valuable, limited resources on trying to make everyone think like us. They have other things to say where you can make a positive deposit. Don’t get drawn into conflict. Walk away.

19. Do not accept games request. Please don’t send them to others either. You’ll lose friends faster than you think. It’s considered spam. It irritates people.

20. Friend people you know. Accept friend requests from people you know or a trusted source. Don’t get hooked on the numbers game. Most people who have thousands of friends online have very few real life relationships where it counts the most. Get off online and build offline relationships.

Friends, I hope you’ll get at least one thing that might be helpful to you. I appreciate all the “shares” yesterday. Yes, if we like, share, influence and educate others we have a potential to impact a billion people who are on Facebook and other social media. I “like” you!

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4 ESV).

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The Joy of Giving

One of the greatest pleasures in life is in our giving. We resemble God the most when we’re in the posture of giving. Giving is not only for the rich and it is not only about money. Giving is a lifestyle that God wants all of us to experience.

Many people have the idea that we have to be rich before we can give. You don’t give because you’re rich; you’re rich because you give. Giving is so much more than money.

In my early twenties when I was learning the principle of giving I didn’t have a lot of money. I remember how I’d buy packs of chewing gum and share with my friends and even strangers around me. I say this humbly but since then God has made me a conduit to pass millions of dollars and touch countless lives.

We can give people our time. The best example that comes to mind is teachers. They invest their lives to invest in our children. If you’re a mother, you’re a teacher. A teacher’s reward is not always reflected in her salary but the lives she touches that go on to become world changers. When we invest our time in visiting the widow and the elderly, we’re giving them the gift of life. If you volunteer anywhere, you’re an angel to someone! You’re the hands and feet of Jesus. Giving of our time is the best gift we can give because time cannot be replaced.

We can give by sharing our influence. I was meeting with a friend yesterday. He’s a banker. He has shown much interest in our ministry. As we shared our hearts together, he revealed to me how his finances have been stretched recently. He was distraught about not being able to do more. I told him, “I don’t need your money. I need your influence.” Immediately his eyes lit up. We sat there discussing all the different people he can introduce to our ministry. He left feeling like a million dollar man simply because he took time to share his influence.

Another way we can give is by speaking into people’s lives. A college student was drifting along in life when Mrs. Green confronted the young man. His mother owned a beauty parlor where Ruth Green was a regular. The young man came to visit his mother when Mrs. Green looked at him and asked for a piece of paper. On the piece of paper she wrote, “You’re going to travel the world and preach to millions of people.” Son of a Pentecostal preacher, today Denzel Washington is speaking to millions simply because Mrs. Green spoke greatness over his life! Washington says, “I still carry the paper with me today!” Denzel is one of the few Christian men who stand tall in Hollywood. Anyone can complement someone when they’ve made it in life. Let’s speak life into people who are struggling, suffering and in despair. Jesus was a friend of the sinners.

A great way to give is to make people feel better emotionally. I feel reluctant to share this in public but whenever I see a little baby or a toddler I have a habit of stopping look at the child, smile big and say to the parent, “Today, I’ve seen an angel!” I know it doesn’t sound very macho so I never stop long enough to see the expression on the parents’ faces but you can only imagine! We send people in orbit simply by speaking a kind word. Christ speaks when you speak. He touches people when you do.

Friends, the joy of giving is priceless. We all can give in so many ways. Some of you reading this maybe needing to be on the receiving end of giving. The best way you can receive is to give. Write a hand written note to encourage somebody. Make that call. Bake a cake. Mow the lawn of your neighbor. Visit the elderly – your parents! Speak kind words. Give a recommendation. Share your influence. When you do, you’ll be amazed how God will return the favor to you. Let’s change our world by our giving.

Live simply so that other people can simply live!

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it” (Proverbs 3:27 NAS).

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Rewards of Discipline

None of us enjoy doing things we don’t like. Yet life is full of little things we have to do in order to be successful. When we develop a lifestyle of discipline we put a life of reward in motion. The pain of regret is far greater than the pain of discipline.

Discipline is an important character to develop. The good news is we are never too old to be disciplined. When we’re disciplined we invite God’s commanded blessing into our lives. Not only are we blessed but looking at us, our children can also have a head start in life.

Jim Rohn said, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”

Today we want to focus on three important areas of discipline in which we all can come up higher. When you master these you can expect growth and increase in every area of your life.

Discipline in our thinking. This is the most critical area of our life. The Bible says when we don’t have boundaries in our wrong thinking we’re like a city without walls. Every one of us is tempted to think negative, down and defeated thoughts once in a while. If we’re constantly giving in to the negative thoughts about ourselves and others, we will produce a negative life. Our thoughts are like seeds. When we are disciplined in our thinking, we’re panting seed for a beautiful garden. Our thoughts are like seeds. You can plant a flower garden or patches of weeds. Both will grow and produce in abundance depending on the seeds you plant.

Discipline in our speaking will produce a positive life. Words are like watering the seeds we plant. Planting seeds of beautiful flowers is a good start but speaking positive, life-giving words are like watering our seeds. It germinates the seed and creates an environment for life to blossom. Critical spirit stifles life but in the environment of positive words people can thrive.

Another area of discipline is in our action. Many good intentions are buried alive but a smallest act of discipline produces results. When we are disciplined with our action we will reap a good harvest. For example, is better to save fifty dollars a month instead of thinking, “I’ll save big when the bonus check comes in.” It is better to walk around the block of your neighborhood every day than to sit around thinking, “I’ll start my 5K run when a cooler weather comes in.” Start where you are!

People need discipline in different areas. Only you know the area you need to be disciplined. Instead of being scared of the temporary sacrifice, focus on the rewards of discipline. Once we discipline our lives in the ways of God we reap a harvest that is far greater than the pain that comes from lack of discipline.

One way to start a disciplined life is to create accountability. After you’ve identified the area you need to discipline yourself, ask family members and friends to hold you accountable. When we have friends and family backing us up, we’re more likely to develop a life of discipline.

Today my challenge for us is to develop a life of discipline. When we live a disciplined life, we invited God’s blessing into our lives. What we sow we shall also reap. A disciplined life will produce a life of peace, health and prosperity. Don’t just do it in your own strength, ask God for the power of His Holy Spirit. He is our Helper. When we discipline ourselves, we will reap the fruit of its rewards.

“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11 ESV).

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