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For me, a spiritual book that challenges and gives me, while reading, but also broke down so often that I could pray. A very spiritual book is a manuscript in the belief that the strength to face their sins and mistakes. Book by Gordon MacDonald, "The reconstruction of the broken world" as a book. Although it was published in 1988, still provides rich nuggets of truth and the wonderful words of encouragement.
MacDonald speaks openlybroken people of the world, one for himself. He writes: "After years of dreams, preparing, packaging, and the fight at one point, fell (largely self-initiated). The world they built will be destroyed soon."
I can identify with that, because I was one of the wounded of the world. In 1992, while the highlight of my ministry, I broke the sin of the world. To punish me, I was exiled to remote Cambodia U.S.. YahwehDo not leave me alone. In fact, when I came to earth, I found God waiting for me. When the old friends, do not want my friends and fellow ministers were disappointed by my failure, I found God to be a true friend. On warm nights of Cambodia, when my prayers seem to rise above the ceiling, I realized that God is in my room. He did not need to reach my prayers to heaven, because he brought the case to the sky to illuminate the lives of the poorhumbled sinner.
In exile in Cambodia
In Phnom Penh, was not behind in the first half of 1990, the Chinese had a type-64 loaded pistol in the drawer and an M-16 in the closet. Satan regularly and try to use these weapons to kill me. His voice would be cruel mockery and contempt for my failure. At midnight, I suddenly woke up and look at the dark void. A voice in my head told me that God was with me throughand there was no need for my office anymore.
How can a person in a state of trance, I will sit on my desk, turn on the lamp, open the drawer and looked at the gun. The article then shows that only one bullet in the mouth for my misery to an end. Night after night, the voice of evil is maintained even in the midst of my prayer. The temptation was so great to end the night off, took the gun and put China on the head. A voice says that the bestThe end of everything. I heard not only the whole Christian community condemns me ... and worse than that, I believe that even God does not want me anymore.
I was confused and deserves to die! That voice, still in her ear, harassed and pushed me in the darkness of that terrible night. Before pressing the trigger, another voice suddenly resounded through the sound of my sobs. That voice was strong, but sweet. This article tells us that God is in me, if I abandonGod does not abandon.
For six years, I have a great effort for the development of my supermarket and restaurants. It was not all work for me. Are on the site, I made money and founded an orphanage with my wife and some friends. (Today is one of the largest orphanage in Cambodia. Two different orphanages) will be determined at a later date. I have been a legal resident in Cambodia, and had planned to live my life on earth in Cambodia. Like Moses, he is willing to toil inthis desert. But deep in my heart, still holding closely followed the call of God ministry. Then one day, six years later not only "Cambodia," God, brings me back to "civilization", called to be adopted.
God has sent to Susan Pastor, an American pastor in suburban Pittsburgh, PA, travel around the world to take care of me. Pastor Susan never went before the United States and have no idea where Cambodia. E 'was found on a map. Before his departureCambodia, a word of prophecy was given to her - her mission, which for a man who looked directly into the eyes of the search. When we found her, he returned the call to ministry. He thought it would be an easy task. To keep their surprise, none of these people in Cambodia, which struck the eye. He left Cambodia without completing his mission to find the "rigid" people. Had to return a second time.
To cut the story, if not meet me at my restaurantI just noticed that in the eyes, but the Holy Spirit told him it was the "King-rigid man God wanted. The Lord knew that I doubt that is sent to someone from Asia. He was one who does not know my last post . It 'was the second time I used a person from a foreign country to carry the message to me. The first time was in 1982 when he called to the ministry. At that time, sent to confirm a lady from Australia, Pastoralcall.
Broken World Experience
The heart of my story is that God is a God of second chances. Broken people all over the world to rebuild their shattered world. If we look at our Bible, we are reaching the most using the information of God, has broken the experience of the world.
Jacob deceived his father and brother to get the blessing and birthright. Their peaceful world was interrupted when his brother tried to kill him. He fled the house of his uncle and wasimmediately linked to his uncle. A loss was much more important that their parents would never revive. Struggled with the angel of the Lord had changed his name to "Israel." This encounter left him with a permanent limp. Only when a man much older, was returned to Canaan. In him, God raised him from the twelve tribes of Israel.
Moses broke the world when he killed an Egyptian. She ran and hid for forty years until God called him toEgypt.
David, who had the courage to kill Goliath, he fell into sin at the foot of Bathsheba. It was not adultery, but the murder - who killed the husband of Bathsheba. After he repented, God restored.
Jonah loved the idea of preaching God's message, the Assyrians in Nineveh. Escape the prophetic calling, until God has brought to his ministry in the belly of a whale.
World of Peter was closed when the Lord, not once but three times refused. When Peterrepent, the Lord, who in turn told Peter three times, and he brings a global leader in the early church.
Paul, formerly Saul, was a Pharisee proud. His world ended when religious activities on the road to Damascus, was rejected by Jesus Christ on earth. He rose from the pile of discarded dreams, self-centered and was one of the greatest apostles of his time.
There are two answers
There are two ways to respond to our broken worldExperience. Like Cain, who deny our self and sin, because our world crumble. This is the path of denial. Also, like David, we can face our sin and to take moral responsibility for them. One of the worst things we can do is try to use our own flesh, to atone for our sins. In an attempt to demonstrate that we are truly sorry, we move into work activities for a good job. The crux of the matter is that no amount of work that can be cleanedguilt and frustration of our past.
The only way is to find peace is to recognize our sins and our responsibility for their lives before God as he kneels humbly in repentance on the cross his blood to wash and clean again. It is true that the humiliation that would be terrible, and our reputation to satisfy completely mad! We lose our network of friends and acquaintances, and our ministries. Some of this knowledge, it would be difficult to judge us. We mustBe surprised by this. What we have done wrong and all these judgments, the gossip and beliefs are part of the benefits or consequences. Should not even need the mercy of them, except to make a modest, if any. All these are the punishments for our sins, and that we must accept. No matter how painful, we know that God spoke to our hearts with pain. If there have been restored, we must be careful not to fall into the same trap again.
There are fiveThe things that we see as a life regrets:
1. Our sinful nature
Even if we are saved by God's grace, we are still in this world of sin. Our sinful nature is still affecting us, and no matter how we feel we have conquered sin, we can still be very careful. On October 4, 2003, seven years, attacked a white tiger, apparently domesticated animals artist Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy in Las Vegas. You pay at the horn and the bit inneck. Led the artist surprises as a rag doll in his mouth. Our nature is sin, such as white tigers. It may seem tame, but we should not play with him.
2. The force of the unsupervised
MacDonald warns that the mistake that many of us, who boast of our strength. We believe that Satan can not attack our strength and we were left unattended. Then to our dismay and surprise that the district took place in attack.
During2 Second World War was the allied forces attacked several German positions because they come from areas where the enemies are less than expected. For example, you would simply overload a vertical cliff in a field at night and opponents of the storm, when they were convinced that no attack was possible in this position.
As the Apostle Peter in sin, because he thought it was the bravest and most courageous of all the disciples. Instead, it has a child, and some otherordinary man who seems to deny Christ. Satan is difficult, and our most vulnerable areas, we believe we are the strongest. MacDonald said: "Tell the world broke away from the honest people of the reality of the situation and admit that he did not expect when it happened disarmament, as it happened, and terribly disappointed after s has passed. It is likely that said," When I talk about what happened, I feel like Italk to another person. I think this could be me. "
3. Temptation Zone
One of the most dangerous situations are in the area of temptation. Christians or not Christians should make decisions and choices every day. Definitely, it causes an excuse for the decisions that are sinful actions. MacDonald notes that all decisions in certain situations that will probably never be done in a different compositionLocation.
Business travelers are especially vulnerable to the temptations of solitude and anonymity, perceived abroad. The business apparently trivial an area of temptation. When interacting with our sinful nature, behave and act in a way that contradicts our beliefs and faith. All temptations are so - that focus on the challenge to harm us, our God has given us laws, principles and values. There is absolutely no excuse forChristian the temptation to use this space as a justification for sin. The only way is to take preventive measures, if we can not prevent the entry of a given area. For example, some business people who travel with their spouses. Others traveling with a companion of God if this is not possible, some employers are connected with a church in this area and seek communion with the Christian community.
MacDonald also encourages us to warn our fellow Christiansand sisters in these areas to the temptation to be aware and not fall into the snares of the devil. Invites us to greater compassion for those in the field of temptation so happy that they help, can be restored.
4. The decision of fatigue
Another factor for Christians to make these decisions without that could cause fatigue. MacDonald said: "I spoke of weariness, when I wrote Restoring your spiritual passion, because I know first hand whatwas ready, and I was very sensitive to the amount of people who were signs that had the same problem. I'm in this book what I could understand, toil, which is one of several very poor decisions which led to a precipitous fall into sin and injured many people. The effort is not intended as an excuse. It is proposed that the decisions of a person simply because in an environment that would never do another can do. "
Rick Warren, pastorthe renowned Saddleback Church, says that sometimes, the mind, you have to do is sleep and rest.
5. Travel mirror
Where it is difficult for one to behave in the mirror all the time, it is equally difficult for us to make the right decisions when we are frustrated by the events of the past. MacDonald will be three different influences of our past, our decision making process that could stain.
Firstnegative impacts may result from a background of tragedy. Some people make bad decisions because of back emotionally disadvantaged. Who had experienced a lack of love, security and recognition through her childhood and then they need to make the right decisions to help.
The negative influence of the second final is at the head of the United Nations or a known bug. MacDonald says it is "a person convicted of false reality, cause and reduces people's confidence inTemptations of this session.
The third is the negative impact "the pain is not considered in the past. When people are not difficult to help, have no chance of recovery. The injury will only get worse with time and make wise decisions in life. Therefore, it is important for everyone to look with no treatment to cure the pain, so that the poison of the past will not destroy the potential of its future.
Lifestyle repentant
God becomesthe God of second chances. We must always remember that to justify the repentant sinner, but not the sin. After restoration, follow the instructions of the Lord: 'Go and sin no more. " MacDonald said that the life of repentance is a lifestyle.
A life of regret regret not only for the sins of the past, but sin is afraid of the potential. We must be willing to make changes in behavior that led us first to sin. We must refrain from any thoughts, ideas, habits andAttitudes that have created the world to live broken.
Some reports will be broken and we need some places to stop for us to try to avoid falling into sin. We can not change the past, but we can prevent any event before it happens the world broke in our future.
The grace of God is actually much bigger than all our sins connected. The glimmer of hope is that with the grace of God, we can all be forgiven and restored, and weReconstruction of the destroyed world.
