Report from Africa #3 This week will be a transition for us to the South African city of Knysna. We will be spending two weeks pouring into the lives of missionaries who we have a deep admiration and respect for their work. Pictured above is Cathy with one of the staff we met several years ago. This is an opportunity to go deeper still into their walk with Christ and their growth as leaders. They provide hope on multiple levels to the parched hearts of people who struggle to make ends meet in this beautiful city on the Indian Ocean. Led by veteran missionary Philip Schroder, he guides Hope HQ among needy families in the area. I think of it as the hope headquarters. It is a place where confidence grows, and people experience what it feels like to be loved and appreciated. My heart warms at the programs they conduct. They have Hands and Hearts workshop that is a trainee carpenter school. My father and grandfather were both carpenters. When I first walked into the building it reminded me of shop at school back in Jackson. They are learning practical skills that will support them and grow them for the future. They also have the Ithemba Skills Center for ladies. They design and make clothes using sewing machines that are provided. Both programs touch real life issues like dagga (a local issue) and drugs. They learn the foundations of faith in Jesus Christ and develop hope for the future. The flip side of Hope HQ is the local Youth for Christ Center. They run the Options Care Center for pregnant girls in the area. They have Team Khanya to minister in the schools and neighborhoods. Volunteers from Germany come and give a year of service to serve these kids. They have study clubs to help students with their schoolwork. Pray for us as we pour ourselves into these leaders for the next two weeks. Pray as our hearts listen carefully and our mind is laser focused on each person. May they go deeper still in their walk with Christ. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com. _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. This on the field report is written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and our goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.
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Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things . . .
Psalm 119:18 (ESV) Boastful in the last days. 1–5 This be constantly knowing, that in the last days difficult times will set in, for men shall be fond of themselves, fond of money, swaggerers, haughty, revilers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, lacking self-control, savage, haters of that which is good, betrayers, headstrong, besotted with pride, fond of pleasure rather than having an affection for God, having a mere outward semblance of piety toward God but denying the power of the same. And these be constantly shunning. Wuest, K. S. (1961). The New Testament: an expanded translation (2 Ti 3:1–5). Eerdmans. People like to know the signs of the last days. Paul gives a powerful picture of godlessness in the last days. From The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text. The next layer of terms, working from both the beginning and the end of the list, focuses on pride and hostility toward others. Associated, therefore, with self-love is an attitude of arrogant pride and disdain for others. In the first two words of this layer, joined here as in Rom. 1:30, Paul describes these people as “boasters” (ἀλαζόνες, notice Pr. 21:24 LXX and the associated concepts there) and as “arrogant” or “haughty” (ὑπερήφανοι,** Lk. 1:51; Rom. 1:30; Jas. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5), i.e., as those who express their pride in both talk and attitude. Here again Paul mentions characteristics of the false teachers (cf. 1 Tim. 1:7; 6:4; see Trench, Synonyms, 98–102 on both words; Barclay, More NT Words, 85–89 on the second). The third word of this group, βλάσφημοι** (Acts 6:11; 1 Tim. 1:13; here; 2 Pet. 2:11), “evil speakers,” “slanderers,” is most likely used here of “abusive” speech against other people, just as the related verb and abstract noun are used elsewhere in the PE of an evil that Christians must avoid in their dealings with non-Christians (βλασφημέω in Tit. 3:2) and that is associated with the false teachers (βλασφημία in 1 Tim. 6:4). From the Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 88.220 ἀλαζών, όνος m: (derivative of ἀλαζονεία ‘pretentious pride,’ 88.219) one who is pretentiously proud and given to bragging about it—‘braggart, arrogant person.’ ἔσονται γὰρ οἱ ἄνθρωποι φίλαυτοι, φιλάργυροι, ἀλαζόνες ‘for there will be people who are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, braggarts’ 2 Tm 3:2. In a number of languages an arrogant person is described figuratively as ‘one who speaks big words about himself’ or ‘one whose mouth is too big for his body.’). From the Theological lexicon of the New Testament ἀλαζονεία, ἀλαζών alazoneia, boastful arrogance; alazōn, boaster mention as a third epithymia “the lust for riches or money,” it is precisely because he had his sights set on a more serious vice than the ostentation of the wealthy or their arrogance toward the poor. He contrasts with God the creaturely pride, the mastery of one’s own existence, of the person who decides and directs the course of his life without taking God into account.11 This “sufficiency” is the exact opposite of the absolute duty of worshiping God and serving God devoutly; it follows that this is something altogether different from the classical and profane alazoneia. This one word easily describes the attitudes we see in our world today. Go before our Lord in humility and worship. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ Wuest, K. S. (1961). The New Testament: an expanded translation (2 Ti 3:1–5). Eerdmans. LXX Septuagint ** all occurrences of the word or phrase in the New Testament are listed or it is identified as a New Testament hapax legomenon ** all occurrences of the word or phrase in the New Testament are listed or it is identified as a New Testament hapax legomenon PE Pastoral Epistles Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 431). W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press. m masculine Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 764). United Bible Societies. 11 This is the interpretation of J. Chaine, Les Epîtres catholiques, Paris, 1939, p. 164; R. Schnackenburg, Die Johannesbriefe, Freiburg, 1953, p. 114. Ἀλαζών does not occur in the papyri, but cf. P.Lond. 1927, 32 (Christian, mid-fourth century, H. I. Bell, Jews and Christians in Egypt, p. 111): τὴν τοῦ κόσμου ἀλαζονίαν ἀπεκήρυξας καὶ τὴν τῶν κενοδόξων μεγαλαυχίαν ἐβδέλυξας. Spicq, C., & Ernest, J. D. (1994). In Theological lexicon of the New Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 63–65). Hendrickson Publishers. Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved.Bible Nuggets are written for pastors, youth leaders and missionaries who desire to go deeper still in God’s Word. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. Report from the field!Each day presents new circumstances and issues to work past. Yesterday started with a break down of a volunteer baakie (pickup truck in America). Cathy and I and two volunteers broke down beside the city dump coming out of Robertson, South Africa. We were twenty kilometers away from our farm. It is not the best place to be stranded on the road in Africa. One of the highlights of our time has been the Bible studies with the ministry volunteers. Pictured above is the current group who are completing a year of service among the farm children. My . . . are they a joy to work with! But they are also a delight to guide through God’s Word. Their questions are spot on. Their observations are sometimes a surprise to them. The basics of following Christ become alive, rich, and wonderful for application. After one study a visitor who claimed to not be religious said, if this is how your study the Bible then I am here! Their smiles say it all. We share the Bible, but we also share our lives with one another. Little by little we share a fresh layer of experiences with one another. They drop by our cottage and ask questions and seek to know Cathy and I as a couple. A couple of Germans wanted to see an American western movie from our collection we carry with us. Laughter and togetherness have led to deep discussions on faith and life. We are deeply grateful that God allows us to support this missionary family in Africa. It is with gratitude that we say thanks to everyone who made this possible. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com. _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. This on the field report is written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and our goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. A Kingdom Leader is highly sensitive to the impression he leaves on others. He needs to show, with his behavior, that he is dependable and disciplined. You are to teach in such a way that it molds the character of other ministry partners. You want to enforce correct behavior. They learn by watching you! Are you positively influencing other staff members? Do you instruct younger staff on how to accomplish goals that are mutually agreed upon? Do they see you making mistakes and view your corrective steps? Do you reinforce good behavior with compliments and encouragement? There are two sides to a coin as there are two sides to discipline. One side is chastisement, correction, warning or rebuke. The other is instruction, training, upbringing or education. The most effective mentors in my life used the more positive synonyms. They impressed my heart, mind and soul to be the best that I can be. They were like a loving father to me! Ephesians 6:4 (NIV84) 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. I was deeply blessed by so many leaders in my lifetime. They invited me into their world and let me patiently ask questions. They treated me like I was a son. They allowed me to fail! Then they left a strong impression when they gave me guidance on how to improve. Today you have the opportunity to leave a loving impression on the hearts of ministry partners. Give them focused attention and loving discipline. Allow them to see some of your world. Invite them in. The fingerprint of your heart leaves a forever impression. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com ________________________ The Holy Bible: New International Version (Eph 6:4). (1984). Zondervan. Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Photos taken by Cathy and Danny Sartin in Africa. Kingdom Leadership is written for missionaries and ministers serving our Lord in various parts of the world. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. Home Again! We flew into Cape Town and a section of South Africa that is very familiar. It feels like a second home. It has been a long three years of Covid that has kept us away! We felt a strong sense of belonging and cherished the fresh chill that blows through this area of Africa. This part of the world is known as the sea of storms coming off of the Antarctic. So the temperature goes into the 30"s at night and back to the 50's during the day. But most importantly Lizzie Weichardt greeted us with a warm hug and all of the dogs barked a welcome song for us! This photo was taken just outside our cottage on the Roux family farm located in the wine lands of Robertson Valley. You see some of the vines that have already been cleaned and prepared to produce next spring. It is a real reminder of Jesus and the vines. It is winter here in South Africa and this first week has been cold, wet and stormy. Gale force winds whipped the trees while a leak appeared in the ceiling as the storm raged all day on Thursday. Load sharing of electricity has been a staple of our experience in Africa. The power goes off so the production of electricity is shared from area to area. Our electricity has gone off twice a day this first week. There is little heat and dressing requires multiple layers. We are settled in for the first few weeks at Khanyisa Mountain Lodge and Bible studies have begun as we are building a relationship with young volunteer missionaries. Pray with us as we serve, care and love those who God brings in our path. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com. _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. This on the field report is written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and our goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. Water-buck Passenger on the Ark We came over a rise at Kruger National Park and saw a beautiful group of Water-bucks. Cathy remarked about this female and her unique markings, gorgeous neck mane, and ruff. What a beauty she was! This is one of the heaviest antelopes to be found in Africa. We were being treated to a safari by a former national park guide and current missionary. It was so nice to have someone along who spoke English and could converse with other guides who spoke the native languages. Then our driver said, did you know this antelope was on the ark with Noah? Certainly I was intrigued and questioned the story. He said, do you see the white ring on its backside? We say here in Africa that the water-buck was one of the first animals on the ark because he backed into the wet white paint. That created the circle you see on the rump. All of us laughed but at the same time it endeared this antelope to us. Each time we see one we think of the ark where God saved mankind from the world wide flood. We are always amazed when we are confronted with the creativity of God's designs. This beautiful animal left an impression on our hearts and minds. It made a special memory that points directly at our God. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com __________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Spiritual Safaris are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. Kingdom Leadership requires that you keep a clear head and an anchored connection to God and His Word. There is a pestilence moving among us that seeks to remove the anchor of thought and belief. Not only do we need to know what we believe but why we believe it! There is a leprosy of thought that is eating at common sense and truth as declared by God himself. Have you recently heard the words. . . did God really say? Are you comfortable teaching the Word of God? Do you seek to twist the Word so it matches popular thought and behavior? Before attending seminary my pastor told me to be very careful. There are people who love to twist the Word of God because they want to alter what God has said. They will tell you that the Bible can not be trusted! I say to you, Lean on God's Word and His truth! 2 Timothy 4:2–3 (NIV84) 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. Know that God is faithful to us. The Lord abides and his truth will endure for all generations. We take great comfort in knowing the creator and listening to His Word. Don't let the prowling lion catch you unaware. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ The Holy Bible: New International Version (2 Ti 4:2–3). (1984). Zondervan. Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Photos taken by Cathy and Danny Sartin in Africa.Kingdom Leadership is written for missionaries and ministers serving our Lord in various parts of the world. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things . . . Psalm 119:18 (ESV)
Some have continued to ask about the rapture of the church and the end times. Below is the fourth reason I believe Christ will return for His Church before the onset of the Great Tribulation. Consider these thoughts: Time gap between the rapture and second coming of Christ.
5:10 This describes the believer’s deepest motivation and highest aim in pleasing God—the realization that every Christian is inevitably and ultimately accountable to Him. the judgment seat of Christ. “Judgment seat” metaphorically refers to the place where the Lord will sit to evaluate believers’ lives for the purpose of giving them eternal rewards. It is translated from the Gr. word bēma, which was an elevated platform where victorious athletes (e.g., during the Olympics) went to receive their crowns. The term is also used in the NT to refer to the place of judging, as when Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate (Mt 27:19; Jn 19:13), but here the reference is definitely from the athletic analogy. Corinth had such a platform where both athletic rewards and legal justice were dispensed (Ac 18:12–16), so the Corinthians understood Paul’s reference. deeds in the body. Actions which happened during the believer’s time of earthly ministry. This does not include sins, since their judgment took place at the cross (Eph 1:7). Paul was referring to all those activities believers do during their lifetimes, which relate to their eternal reward and praise from God. What Christians do in their temporal bodies will, in His eyes, have an impact for eternity (see notes on 1Co 4:3–5; cf. Ro 12:1, 2: Rev 22:12). whether good or bad. These Gr. terms do not refer to moral good and moral evil. Matters of sin have been completely dealt with by the death of the Savior. Rather, Paul was comparing worthwhile, eternally valuable activities with useless ones. His point was not that believers should not enjoy certain wholesome, earthly things, but that they should glorify God in them and spend most of their energy and time with what has eternal value (see notes on 1Co 3:8–14). MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Co 5:9–10). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers. Consider two events that seem to fall before the second coming of Jesus. The judgement seat of Christ is one and the marriage supper of the Lord is a second. We recognize that many faithful Christians have different perceptions about these end time events. But a time is coming when it will be clear to us all. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 119:18; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 19:7-9). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Bible Nuggets are written for pastors, youth leaders and missionaries who desire to go deeper still in God’s Word. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. Kingdom Leadership goes through phases over the years. You remember the stalwarts of the faith when you first came into ministry. They were the oaks that gave you shade, protection, shelter, and stability during those young years. But a day comes when God visits the oak and removes him from the forest. Then you recognize that your protection has been removed and the elements are directly shining on you. You must grow and secure your roots in the forest. Who has been your shade in the blistering heat of ministry? Who kept the winds of criticism from uprooting God's call on your life? Have the storms of life put you in peril of drowning? When did you first feel the fresh sunshine of God on your face? Have you seen flowers blossom in ministry that were a surprise to you? There are seeds which developed and sprouted in the hearts of others. God removed the protection so you could fully grow and give a clear gift to the Kingdom of God. All of us have experienced this during the worldwide pandemic. 2 Chronicles 20:9 (NIV84) ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’ God is our refuge when the oaks in our life are stripped away. Do all that you can to comfort one another and give shade to the younger leaders. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmission.com _______________________ The Holy Bible: New International Version (2 Ch 20:9). (1984). Zondervan.2 Chronicles 20:9 (NIV84) Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Photos taken by Cathy and Danny Sartin in Africa. Kingdom Leadership is written for missionaries and ministers serving our Lord in various parts of the world. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. Fresh Smell the fragrance of God's Word! Back in 2014 we visited Amsterdam, Netherlands. The first place Cathy wanted to visit was Keukenhof. It is known as the Garden of Europe. They have approximately 7 million flower bulbs that are planted in the gardens every year. There is a six-week window when all the tulips bloom and paint the countryside in vivid brilliance. Cathy is pictured in several of the beds of the gardens. You can see the beautiful varieties in just a small section of the massive grounds. We spent an entire day walking among the beds and taking in the wonderful fragrance. Constantly Cathy would sit on her knees and reach out and hold a flower in her hand as she took a sniff of the powerful scent. The Word of God has the same appeal and freshness of walking in Keukenhof. When you open the bible there can be a feeling that you have already been exposed to this. But the bible can be a new book every day. Get on your knees and get close to the story. Ask questions and patiently seek answers. The freshness will excite your heart. It is just as fresh as though the ink was never dry. You can find fresh discoveries at every step! We know that flowers are blooming in the northern hemisphere. It is spring. Many of you can walk out to your yard and have the same experience. Open the bible and smell the fragrance of God. Look for a new thought while it shapes your heart, mind, and soul. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions@gmail.com _______________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. Life Nuggets are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. |
Danny SartinFour decade veteran of youth ministry in churches, Youth For Christ and now is the Founder and Executive Director of Deeper Still Missions. Danny and his wife Cathy spend most of their time mentoring missionaries in Africa, Europe, Central America and North America. Future opportunities include South America and the Asia Pacific area. Archives
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