What's that to you?

Paul Fleming, one of the founders of New Tribes Mission, has always been my hero and a man I looked up to as Janie and I stepped out into missions. I always wanted that heart beat for missions that drove this man always to the regions beyond. Paul died November 21, 1950 in the mountains of Wyoming in a plane crash as he was on his way to the mission field with several other missionaries. 

The plane, Tribesman II, along with all on board, went down near the top of Mount Moran, a beautiful mountain near the Grand Teton National Park, and they say even today one can at times see the tail section of the old DC3 when the weather is right. What better place to be buried for a man that was always looking out into the regions beyond?

Several years ago while on a trip out West to Jackson Hole Wyoming I knew I had to get near this mountain that holds the body of the man that moved me so much for world missions. Renting a canoe my son Jack Jr and I made our way, after a few hours paddling, to the base of Mount Moran. Pulling the canoe out of the water onto shore I asked Jack Jr and the other friend with us to wait while I climbed up the mountain for just a time to reflect what was going on in my mind.

What was I searching for on this mountain? A voice, a feeling or was it just my question of why God would take a man so full of the love for people groups around the world that have not heard the good news that Jesus Christ the Son of God died for them. Paul was yet a young man and left behind a wife and three young children.

A few hundred feet up on the side of the mountain I sat down on a small flat rock and let the warm noonday sun warm me from the chill I felt from the breeze blowing on the lake below. No still small voice come blowing in the wind but John 21:21-22 came to my mind so clear. Peter saw John and said, “Lord what about this man?” Jesus said, “What is that to you, you follow me.” Then it came to me, this is Paul’s mountain not mine.  I have nothing here but a memory of a man that loved God and did what He said.

Paul Fleming had written these words and I took them to heart that day. “When a man is abandoned to the Lord Jesus and not a cause or program but simply to the Lord Himself then to that individual, it matters not whether he be placed in a wheel chair, hospital bed, a prison cell, in a darkened corner where men never see him….”  Or even on the side of Mount Moran I added as I prayed and thanked the Lord for this great man that has encouraged me so.

Remember the Loaves

Jesus was praying, Luke 9:18, on the road, Mark 8:27, in the region of Caesarea Philippi, Matthew 16:13, when his disciples joined Him and He asked this question. “Who do the crowds say that I am? So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”
Today we would hear some of the crowds singing the little song, “Jesus loves me this I know because the Bible tells me so,” for lack of anything else to say. Jesus was taking them deeper and more personal building a foundation to send them into all the world with the gospel so He asked, “But, who do you say that I am?”
In John 14:9, Jesus asked this question of a disciple, “Have I been with you so long and yet you have not known me, Philip?” Jesus wants us to know who He is and what He is to all those that trust Him for salvation and dependence on Him.
This question, “Who do men say that I am” comes in the context of Matthew 16 where Jesus is dealing with the Pharisees and Sadducees ideas about trusting God and not man. In verse 5 we see the disciples were worried about not having bread with them and in verse 6 we hear Jesus say, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And the disciples reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.” What in the world were they thinking?
Then Jesus laid into His future missionaries with these words, “Oh you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?” The Pharisees trust in works and doing all the right things man’s way, but Jesus wants them to understand the bread is no big deal with Him.
If we can just remember as missionaries all the great things He has done in the past and keep our eyes on Him, He will supply the bread, wheat or the green stuff we call money to meet our needs. Question, who do you say Jesus is, could it be that we have been with Jesus so long and yet do not know who He is?
As missionaries we need to remember and understand the loaves. When we do not understand the loaves we can become fearful in times of trouble, Mark 6:52 and begin to reason among ourselves and with ourselves things that are not true about Jesus and His word, Matthew 16:7.
Remembrance is the fuel that powers faith from the past to the heights of the future and things hoped for and not seen. Remember Jesus, the same yesterday, today and forever and the Savior of all those that believe the gospel message. Jack Housley

The old Lamp Came Alive

I sat on my bed roll and watched as Lawaibe spent time fooling around with the old hurricane lamp. How in the world do these men and women do it I thought as fire was put to the wick and the old lamp came alive with light that penetrated the darkness? Then when he was satisfied with the light Lawaibe reached for his old bag and started digging around looking for his Bible.
As he opened the Bible to the book of Luke, the picture you see just came naturally; it was just too good to leave to wonder in my memory and to be forgotten in time. What a rush that came over me as I pondered the setting. Twenty-five years ago this was what we had in mind as we preached the gospel to our Bisorio brothers. I was a bit set back thinking here is a bush man that more than likely spends more time in God’s Word than I do.
Lawaibe was still reading when my weary mind drifted off to sleep. The next morning before day light I heard a man break the silence of the morning praying, thanking God for sending the missionaries to tell them the story of Jesus and His salvation. Yes you are right, it was Lawaibe. After maybe five or ten minutes another man began praying. How delightful to know the Holy Spirit has taught these men this faithfulness to pray and thank God for His goodness to them.
Listening to them pray I began to quietly pray with them thanking God for allowing me to witness these bush Christians worshiping God in this way. I also prayed for you that have been so faithful to pray for this work over the years, God bless you all. Jack Housley

Muruk, Boat and Paddle

Muruk, Boat and Paddle
Thanksgiving Day – what do you think about as you look on the wonderfully spread table, the turkey, and all of the other nice trimmings that go with this special day? I myself can never look upon the turkey without this thought in mind, "What does the turkey think about all of this?" What was on his mind as he walked to the axe that day to become your Thanksgiving Day dinner?
Well, I think I know a bit how the turkey felt. I remember the day along a jungle river in Papua New Guinea that I thought a bird was going to have me for dinner. The Muruk or Cassowary, for all of you who have never seen one, is a smaller supped up version of an ostrich. With huge legs, somewhat like kangaroos, and three dagger-like toes that are four to six inches long, the Muruk is a bad dude to mess with anytime. It is reported to be one of the most dangerous birds alive and also one of the largest, weighing in at 120 to 130 pounds.
The fateful day was in 1978. Janie and I, with our two younger boys Wes and Darren, were traveling up the river with a load of cargo for Bob Kennel and George Walker. Now, when you are in a location like we were at that time, fresh meat can be hard to find. With this in mind, you can imagine how excited my wife was when she saw a Muruk swimming in the water ahead of our boat. "Fresh meat," she cried with excitement in her voice. "Get her Jack, and we’ll have her for supper!" Slowly we made our way alongside the Muruk, and I hit her on the head with my boat paddle. Not knowing that a Muruk has built-in head armor, I thought that would finish the job. The Muruk went under the water and swam to shore, jumped a high bank and disappeared into the jungle. Edging the boat to shore, I stepped out with the paddle in hand and pondered the fact our fresh meal was gone.
I realize from here on this story may be hard for you to believe, and if my wife hadn’t been there, the story would never have been told. Believe it or not, here goes. All of a sudden I heard the movement of the Muruk coming back through the jungle towards the river bank. "What is this?" I thought, as I watched the huge bird jump down the bank and stand before me eye to eye. New Tribes Mission didn’t mention this kind of situation during my training days so I thought I’d best back off as she came at me with her spear-like feet. For the next five or ten minutes I began to wonder if I was going make it out of this battle that must be fought. One of us would die before this day was finished. I remember hearing the two younger boys asking their mom, "Does he eats mans?" and the same question was running through my mind as well.
The first few minutes we just sized each other up as we made a circle on the river’s edge. Each time the big Muruk kicked out with those deadly claws, my heart would beat a bit faster. I knew that I wasn’t sufficient for this battle – but God was. I was so happy when He took control of the boat paddle and after a few terrifying moments, the Muruk lay dying at the edge of the water. I realized just how helpless I am without God. Friends, always pray for us, for one never knows what he will face before the day ends. Now I know what Paul felt like when he said he fought wild beasts at Ephesus, I fought my wild beast along the banks of a jungle river. King David mentioned that he was just a step from death. I realized that day, that I too, was just one step from death.

I am here the place of my dreams

I am here after all the years of dreaming about the Green Hell of South America. I pushed the bush away and walked to the river edge and stepped into the canoe that would take me down river winding through the lush thick jungle of Venezuela.

My life had been changed a few years back by the five men that had given their lives in this jungle of South America reaching out to men that needed to hear the gospel . As we moved out into the current I once again counted the cost of serving Jesus Christ in the regions beyond.

When the news finally broke that our missionaries had been killed our leaders at that time were asked, "what will you do now?' In life or death God’s Word reminds the same…..”Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.” Paul Fleming said it so plainly.

“When one is abandoned to the Lord Jesus- not to a cause or program, but simply to the Lord Himself- then to that individual, it matters not whether he be placed in a wheel chair, a hospital bed, a prison cell, in a darkened corner where men never see him, or whether he be set on a pedestal where he may preach Christ before the multitudes. It becomes simply a matter of being a bond slave to the Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever may bring the most glory to Him becomes the consuming passion of his life.”

We the body of Christ must go, that was the last words off the lips of Jesus Christ out Lord, it was true then and it is true today nothing has change, if you love me you will do what I say. And He reminds us with these words, “Why do you call me Lord and do not the things I say?”

People have said we do not have to live but I say if we do live we must go with this good news to the ends of the earth starting right where we find our selves today. As a Christian who do we love most? Start there and God will guide us into many tomorrows to come.

Patterns

I believe most people’s eyes are open to the fact that we are living in the last days or at least over 2000 years closer to the day our Lord will say “enough, it is time”. I realize too there is still so much that needs to be done. The Word of God says we will be witnesses unto all the world before this will take place. It shall be done and I think from here on out it will be quickly getting done. I believe a different type of missionary will come back on the scene, you know like the ones in the beginning that was said to have turned the world upside down. We will need more “Paul like” missionaries and in fact he has said that we need to follow his example. “Be imitators of me, just as I am of Christ.” “Join in following my example and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me practice these things and the God of peace will be with you.” This can sound like all fun and games on the surface then we come face to face with the pattern laid out that Paul says we need to follow if we want the peace of God, knowing we are doing God’s work God’s way. I do not want to discourage you from following Paul in these last days but it will cost and I for one want you to count the cost before you get in line for missions in these last days. A servant of God following Paul’s example must be more than the norm. The norm will not do. II Corinthian 11 lays it out for us to think about. Carefully look and let your heart wrap around these truths and wonder just where we stand today in this context. Verse 23, are they servants of Christ, I more so; far more labours, far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned; three times I was shipped wrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brethren: I have been in labour and hardship, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Then to top it off we might just stand alone in our last days. Paul said at his last defence before he died no one stood with him, but he said the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished and the Gentiles might hear. This is what the modern Last Day Missionary will need to be for the great task that is still before us. This is much more than a prayer walk or a short term mission trip. This is men and women saying with Paul, “I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself so that I might finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” Jesus said, “Pray for labourers.” Really, this is what He wants? Paul is the pattern, I know this sounds hard and Jack Housley struggles with all that has to take place to walk this kind of life. Paul’s pattern we are to follow says, “We can do all things in Christ who strengthens us”. Now may you and I go, starting right where we are, with those nearest and preach Jesus then work our way to the ends of the earth by going, giving or praying.

Building on the Plain of Shinar

God’s mission call to go into all the world has never changed, the first call was go to the whole world and the last was the same, from start to finish it is go. Please bear with me as a recruiter for the Kingdom of God and not a Mission Rep. as we look into this call. God’s first call was to Noah and his three sons. Go and multiply, so God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them,” be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.” In Genesis chapter 11 we read these words, “Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. And it came to pass as they journeyed from the East, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and dwelt there. Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had bricks for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. Genesis 11:1-3, God said go but they said come. “They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered aboard over the face of the whole world.” Jesus gave us the Church the body of Christ the same instructions, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the ends of the earth.” I pray that we the Church do not find ourselves settled down on the plain of Shinar making a name for ourselves, building a tower, one building program after another, staying busy unless we would be scattered over the face of the earth. God’s plan is go but we say come let us….. Now a question that deserves to be answered, “Who wants to be scattered over the face of the earth.” Jesus Christ wants His name preached and He has said, “go and I will go with you”, it does not get any better than that. Your friends, family, church and even your mission board might leave you high and dry but Jesus said, “I will be with you always.” It is not a job but it is a mission as you work at your job where ever the Lord of the harvest wants to send you.