ECLEA listing

I am happy to say that ECLEA is listed on the Converge Great Lakes, Short Term Ministries Initiative's "Opportunities" web page: http://www.convergegreatlakes.org/reach-nations/opportunites/converge-great-lakes.

Sermon series on Revelation

Community Church's pastor, Wade Hetrick, has just started a sabbatical that will last until the end of January. Beginning last Sunday, November 30, and continuing each Sunday thereafter through January 18, I will be preaching at Community Church, 3701 N. Gillett St., Appleton. Each of the 8 sermons will be from the book of Revelation.

I have chosen Revelation because many churches ignore the book and some others abuse it. Over the last year or two, I have preached six sermons from various passages in Revelation. The eight I will be doing will fill in most of the gaps. The schedule is as follows: 

Nov 30--Rev 1:1-8--"God is at the center"

Dec 7--Rev 1:9-20--"The real Jesus"

Dec 14--Rev 2:1-3:22--"Jesus' promises to overcomers"

Dec 21--Rev 5:1-14--"Worthy is the Lamb" (which, serendipitously, ties right in with Christmas)

Dec 28--Rev 7:1-17--"God cherishes His people"

Jan 4--Rev 13:11-14:20--"The Church, the World, and the Judgment"

Jan 11--Rev 20:1-6--"Behind the scenes"

Jan 18--Rev 20:7-15--"The final judgment"

The services start at 9:00AM and end about 10:15AM, followed by snacks and then an optional small group discussion time (based on the sermon) that lasts until 11:00AM. I have found the small group discussion time to be a very worthwhile time of fellowship and insight.

After a day or so, the sermon (both audio and written) will be posted on the "sermons" page of  ECLEA's website (http://www.eclea.net/sermons.html). Last Sunday's sermon has already been posted.

I think you will find these sermons interesting, informative, and, at minimum, thought-provoking. Enjoy.

ECLEA 2014 Year-End Report

To see ECLEA's 2014 year-end report, together with a photo of the main ECLEA East African leaders, please go to the "News" page of the ECLEA website: http://www.eclea.net/news.html. Enjoy!

Terror attack in Kenya

This just received from one of the good pastors I work with in Kenya:

"Yesterday morning the Nation woke up to 28 deaths caused by Al Shabab [Islamic terrorist group based in Somalia]. This happened near Mandera, a border town to Somalia, 6 hours away from where I preached last.

The bus was coming from Mandera to Nairobi. One hour away they were hijacked and led into Somalia. It had rained and the bus got stuck. They forced all the 60 passengers to recite Koran. Those who could not (Christians) were separated and made to lie down and they shot them all: 19 men; 9 women."

Words cannot express one's sorrow (and anger) at the brutal, violent, and cowardly act of these murderers.

Recommendation of Biblical Eschatology

I am happy to say that Sam Storms, Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a member of the Board of Directors of both Desiring God and Bethlehem College & Seminary, and who also serves as a member of the Council of The Gospel Coalition, recommended my book, Biblical Eschatology, in his blog ("Enjoying God") post of October 16.

The title of his blog article is "What is the Second Coming of Christ?" It consists of a number of questions and answers concerning the Second Coming. The last Q&A are as follows:

Can you recommend any resources for further studying Christ's second coming?

Without wanting to appear self-serving, I should probably recommend my own book, Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative. Anthony Hoekema’s excellent treatment of eschatology, The Bible and the Future, should also be consulted. And Biblical Eschatology, by Jonathan Menn, is a comprehensive survey of all the options.

The entire blog entry is located here: 

http://samstorms.com/enjoying-god-blog/post/what-is-the-second-coming-of-christ

The least of these

Have we willingly chosen to forget about "the least of these"? https://www.facebook.com/ProLifeAlliance/photos/a.153781571335145.28267.145170355529600/730526966993933/?type=1

A sight you won't see in the USA

I have been in East Africa since the last part of October and just returned. While there I was not able to update this blog.

While I was in Arusha, Tanzania, we got behind a taxi (or matatu as they are called), a 14- or 17-passenger Toyota van. Look at the picture on the rear window. We would not see that in the US, but Islam is a growing force around the world, including in East Africa. The more power it gets, the more intolerant and violent it also becomes (that has been true since its founding in the early 7th century).

I hope that what we are doing with ECLEA can help to diffuse the violence and lead to greater reconciliation (one of ECLEA's courses is Forgiveness & Reconciliation) and better lives for all.