Posts Tagged ‘choices’

The Alpha and Omega wants your A through Z

Posted by Ian and Julie Fallis on Sunday, March 13th, 2011

400px-Burg_Hartenfels_Castle_TowerSome things we’ve been learning at church recently about sacrifice and obedience got me thinking about the parable of the tower:

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it —  lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?” (Luke 14:28-30)

This passage is bracketed by Jesus telling us exactly what it means:

Verse 27: And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Verse 33: So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Someone bearing a cross is on the way to death. Jesus is telling us that if we’re going to finish well, we need to understand the cost of discipleship – everything.

I used to think – (more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Ministry | No Comments »

Santa Claus is coming to Christ?

Posted by Ian and Julie Fallis on Friday, May 7th, 2010
Santa Claus

Santa Claus

Santa Claus isn’t a believer. Yet.

Don’t be a doubter – he’s real! At least, the one I’m talking about is real. He’s a 10-year-old Sekadau boy.

And his name is kind of normal. Missionaries Paul and Bella Gervasi have encountered a number of seemingly odd names among the Sekadau people of Indonesia, including Aspirin, Rinso, Spinach and Plastic.

Right now, Santa and his family are hearing evangelistic Bible lessons, and they’re all studying enthusiastically.

So Santa Claus isn’t a believer yet. But due in part to your participation in our ministry – which helps make it possible for other missionaries to serve among unreached people groups in remote areas of the world – he’s getting the opportunity to decide for himself whether to place his faith in Christ.

Thank you for helping expand the reach of the Gospel to every tribe.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Ministry | No Comments »

ECHOs of Christmas

Posted by Ian and Julie Fallis on Monday, December 14th, 2009

I hope you get an ECHO by the end of the year. Perhaps you’ve already had one. I had one Saturday.

ECHO is a term I invented this morning. Yes, I’m breaking new ground in vanity by making up my own terms, and I’d be quite proud of that if not for the fact that pride is a sin. OK, yes, vanity is too, but you’re getting us off topic.

ECHO stands for Extravagant Christmas Opportunity. This weekend I took part in one of those at our church here in Sanford. We held a Christmas store for the families of 101 teens who could not afford to give them Christmas themselves.

And let me tell you, it was extravagant. And that’s a good thing. (more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Ministry | No Comments »

This is a cure?

Posted by Ian and Julie Fallis on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
Guanano children

Guanano children

If the cure is worse than the disease, is it really a cure?

Or let me put it this way …

A Guanano woman wanted an end to the yelling matches she and her husband were having over their finances. So she went to a “chanter.”

Guananos traditionally go to chanters with their problems. The chanters perform an incantation and – the Guananos believe – influence the situation (more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Ministry | No Comments »

Sometimes there’s no good choice

Posted by Ian and Julie Fallis on Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

We face choices every day … but sometimes it seems like you don’t have a good one. Even when things seem obvious at first. And that seems to happen to missionaries overseas a bit more.

For example … (more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Ministry | No Comments »