MIKE MISLAN in the Philippines!

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. (Psa.25:21)

We've all had a bad day before.  Maybe even an entire week.  But what about three L O N G months?

These past few months - have been a time of testing for me. First, we had a decline in attendance and giving. Several members left us on bad terms, a few others backslid, our main deacon fractured his ribs while operating some rice field equipment, and he now has an UTI. One of our members was bitten by a snake (twice in two weeks), another missed church because of another snake (found in her son's bedroom), a mom and son member were in an motorcycle accident, and a few more are sick. I was also betrayed by a pastor friend I had helped, one of our teens tried to commit suicide and is seeking medical help, my mother in law died in Costa Rica, we may soon expel two seminary students for sexual immorality, and may have to break fellowship with a church we loved. I also had to have our car's engine over-hauled (and it's still burning oil and smoke), went without electric for three days, haven't had any baptisms, our largest parrot was attacked by a cat and can't be found, and I found a dried fish that had jumped out of my fish tank. 

But yesterday was Sunday. And God gave us 65, with several visitors, sweet testimonies, and people responding to the public invitation. And the SS Teachers, MC, Song Leader, and Preacher were saved, discipled, trained and matured here.  And last night, many returned and were blessed by my topic. And today our church planter in Iba will be dropping by.  And while our seminary may expel two students, we gained another five from a neighboring pastor friend. And our new Police Inspector is eager for me to continue my Bible studies with his troops. And the HS Principal where I teach Values Ed. said he liked my teachings and gave me three more classes to teach. And a member texted me: "Gud AM po. Tnk U 4 being our Pas2r. I admire Ur courage N taking such responsibility and how I've cum 2 respect u thru tym." And a teen gave me. . . CHOCOLATE!

So how did I survive this three month long wait? The answer is found in our text: "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me.." Like Job, I was determined not to let circumstances cause me to do anything that I knew was wrong. But you ask, "Why does God make us suffer and wait?"  Probably, because it's His way of strengthening our integrity and getting the glory. If He rescued us prematurely, we would not give Him the glory, or develop our integrity thru trials. 

So, are YOU going through trials? Trials that seem to never end? Wait, trust, keep your integrity, and do what is right. And in time, you'll realize that these were the very things that had 'preserved" you until Divine Help arrived.  Oh, and it's not over yet. I still have some unsolved problems.  But I'm being careful to respond the right way. How about you?

"And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the Word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel." (1 Sam.15:26)

King Saul had a good start, but because of compromises, he paid a very big price, and lost God's favor upon his life.  He probably asked himself, "Was it really worth it?"

Recently I learned that one of my pastor friends was permitting and adult couple to live togther, without being married to each other.  The woman left her husband and moved in with this man, both are Christian workers of the church, they live on the church property, and are attending seminary.

How does this happen and how is it justified?  Was it a compromise for increased attendance?  Did he need Christian workers?  Or, was it money?  Perhaps I'll never really know.   But the real question is....

Was this compromise really worth it?  Well, I don't think so. First, my pastor friend lost his good name with those who know the truth, and also hurt the testimony of his church.  Secondly, he limits his ministry.  He can no longer preach against premarital sex, infidelity, adultry, fornication nor challenge his youth department to wait until marriage.  He also a FAILED this couple as their pastor. Now they must live a lie that they are married, they will be a bad example to her previous children, and will be expelled from my seminary (I'm trying to work with them).  He also violated his own ordination to uphold the Word of God.  But the worst, is that like King Saul, he could lose God's favor.  While I cannot make this judgment, I have noticed that he and his wife are always in poor health, his church is always financially struggling, several had left, and those who stay are not happy with this tollerated sin.  To me, if I have to pay a big price, I'd rather pay it for obedience, not disobedience.

Pastor, missionary, ministry leader and Christian worker . . let's learn the lesson from Adam and Eve. It's just not worth it. And please pray for my pastor friend. I'm obviously very concerned for him.

"Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." (Psa.41:9)"Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said" (Mat.26:25)  

Being betrayed is not easy and can leave you stunned as you rehearse how it could have happened.  This just happened to me about an hour ago.  He was a new pastor starting a church.  I befiended him, led our church to take him on as a missions project, helped him financially with various needs, swapped pulpits, taught his members in our Seminary, and organized joint camps and sportsfests together.  If there was one pastor I could trust, surely it was him. Yet . . he betrayed me. 

But when I look at Christ I can't complain. Christ was betrayed by His own trusted  treasurer (Mat.26:16)!  And for money too!  Even Peter, a trusted disciple in His inner circle, also denied Him three times (Mat 26:74-75).  And many others deserted Him during His teachings (Jn.6:66), and when He was arrested (Mk.14:50).   Paul also was forsaken by his friends when he was arrested (2 Tim.4:16). The fact is, being betrayed, denied, deserted or abandoned, is part of the price we pay for standing for the Truth.  And while we feel stunned, shocked, or used, we have a Companion Who says "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me (Heb.13:5-6)."

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink (Acts 9:9).

After Paul's encounter with Christ, for the next three days, his life changed drastically. He could not see, go where he wanted to go, or do what he wanted to do. 

In the same way, we also had our lives drastically changed as the towns of San Marcelino, Castillejos and Subic lost their electricity.  For  three days and two nights, we could not use our refrigerator, toaster, PC, radio, TV, electric shaver, copy machine, microwave, hair dryer...  Our cell phones could not be recharged... I could not call or e-mail anyone of our situation... Our food was spoiling... We had no running water and manually pumped all our water for laundry, cooking, drinking, showers, toilet flushing, watering plants and grass...   With no fans at night (it get 85 F in our room), insects would bite us and we would toss and turn, get up, grab a bucket of water and pour it over our heads to cool off.  Sleep was deprived, work was hard, and our schedule changed.

Yet, on Sunday morning, our people still came to our cooler pavillion where we decided to hold our AM service.  The attendance was better than we expected, the testimonies were sweet, and several responded to the public invitation.  Like the "Grinch that stoled Christmas" we had our Christmas anyway, circled around our Lord and worshiped Him.  No, I still don't like being without electric. But sometimes having a radical change in our plans, crutches, routines and dependencies, force us to see things we haven't seen before, to appreciate things more, and best of all, to see and depend on Him more.  While Jonah didn't like having his schedule changed while inside the "belly of the fish three days and three nights (Jon 1:17), it is usually when everything is taken away, that we can finally see WHO is really important!

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:41-42)."

Well, nothing much eventful has happened since my last entry.  I cut all the grass, had a farmer thank me for letting his son enroll in a PC course - but then they never returned, a Christian friend visited asking for anti-alergy cream which I didn't have, a teen in our youth group gave me a gift of chocolates, I nearly completed my sermon and lessons for this Sunday, our seminary and prayer meeting went well, and soon I'll be heading to the PNP for a Bible study while my wife goes into Olongapo to run some errands and help at a Christian school there.  Our car's engine is being overhauled (yes we will take jeepneys today), and when I get back from the PNP I'll probably finalize my messages and lessons. Oh, and I'm still thinking about that key member who left in stubberness.  So that's about it.  Uneventful, boring and routine.

But then I think, I have been serving God since 1977 and am still in the ministry.  And that's when "And they continued steadfastly" hit me.  Like the wise fable of the "Tortoise and the Hare" it is not always the swift, smart, gifted or those who brag about themselves who win the race.  It is won my the many small (seemingly) insignificant decisions we make each day, which collectively, builds character, direction, and discipline, keeing us on the right track. If your life feels uneventful, it's NOT.  Each day that you remain faithful to Him, is a test you passed and you should thank Him for it. Why? Because we usually do not move away from God by taking giant jumps.  We usually take little steps each day, until a few years later, we are so far from Him!

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (Dan.3:16-18)

Sometimes when you stand on principle, you are unpopular, out numbered, misunderstood, and pay a price in the fiery furnance.   But. . . like the three Hebrews, I saw Christ in the furnace and blessings came instead!  On Friday, my PNP Bible study went really well.  On Saturday morning I visited a Third Year seminary student who as a Pastor was doing a good work in Subic. On Saturday afternoon we had a good number show up for visitation, and started a new kids outreach with 14 kids!  Even some parents joined in.  Sunday morning, we had around 67 in attendance (I was thinking around 55 after our problem), had two first time visitors from a new Bible study, and a new convert came asking about baptism.  Our church also voted to help a flooded church with an upright piano and P10,000.00 cash gift.  Things are looking good, and He delivered us out of the fiery furnace. Yes, I was in the firey furnace for taking a stand.  But if that's were Christ will meet me, I'll glady walk in.

"And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me." (Judges 7:2)

Last night we held a men's meeting, and it finally happened.  After six years of tugging and pulling, we finally had to let him go.  He was a transfer who brought some baggage with him, and after patiently working with him, he still refused to let go.  Yes, he'll take around seven with him, and our finances, attendance and man power will suffer.  But I have been through this before, and know we will recover like we always do.  While I know we will be stregnthened, it still hurts because I emotionally invested in this man and cared for him.  But that's how pruning works and God accomplished more with only twelve disciples who dropped their nets, than with the millions in the wilderness who continued to carry their baggage with them.  That's why God told Gideon that there were too many in his army!   While it doesn't look good on missionary reports, spiritual strength is not recorded in numbers!  But pray for me. It still hurts. CLICK HERE to visit my website.