Good and Evil.

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As believers, each and everyday we are faced with situations which test our ability to discern right from wrong.  Sometimes, these decisions rock our foundation of faith and seem to be blurry and gray.  They leave us feeling uncertain, disoriented, and hopefully into a relentless search to find the Father's truth regardless of the mystery we immediately see. However, there are other times when right and wrong, good and bad, holy and evil are far more obvious to us.  They are so clearly black and white, we can only see one answer and there can be no question.

In recent days, these are the situations we are facing in Bible translation. On the front lines, there have been events which have launched Bibles around the world at an unprecedented rate, and events which have proved heartrendingly tragic: good and evil.

In the very last days of February this year, five national translators ("MTTs" as we refer to them) were working diligently on several different translations in a very closed country in the Middle East. Our teammates carried in their possession endless talents and skills, as well as POD (print on demand) equipment provided to them. In the midst of their work and faithfulness, the week ended in tragedy. The first two national believers were shot down by militants during a raid on their translation office.  In addition, two more native translators were bludgeoned to death as the fifth man laid buried beneath them in protection.  The fifth man was spared, but four precious lives were lost that day for the sake of the Word.

These deaths are tragic without question.  Their final moments bring no pleasure or lovely feeling to our souls.  With these men, we lost three years worth of translation work, as well as the POD equipment.  As we recount these men who loved and served God with their entire being until the very end, these faithful saints who died for the cost so that others may hear-- perhaps we walk away wondering, "Where is their justice? Did these men die for nothing?" Every believer who dies in the serving of the Lord brings eternal glory to the Most High.

Amidst a time of such tragedy during the later part of February, Wycliffe Associates released their translation application for computers and Android tablets called "Translation Studio."  It is a self contained mobile application which carries the entire text of the Old and New Testament. Along with the scripture, the app also contains our Open Bible Stories to be used as "source text."  The application has hundreds of languages already built into the software (which correspond to another app called "Translation Keyboard") to be used as "target text." Finally, "Translation Studio" bears four different resources to help translators: Commentary notes, Important terms, Comprehension questions, and a paraphrase we (Wycliffe Associates) created.

This is the very first easily accessible resource my team and I have been working on for the last few years. This is the place where these four lost lives in the Middle East and I converge.  "Translation Studio" will accelerate the rate of Bible translation and communication by believers so that persecutions and deaths of national translators will not be in vain.  If we can minimize breaks in communication and almost instantaneously assist those on the front lines, perhaps less lives will be lost and more hearts will be won.

This painful truth update broke my wife and I within this last month, just as I hope your heart breaks for the families recovering and the persecution of the saints continues.  But our team's faithfulness and hope is unending, perhaps even in hotter pursuit of our mission.  As you process the good and bad from these recent events, may I encourage you to keep this hope that pushes me in mind:

The more time we (my team and I at Wycliffe Associates) can spend on this side of the equation providing resources, the more time our brothers and sisters in volatile places do  not have to risk their lives fulfilling "the mundane", but can participate solely in translating and by being of the utmost effect.  

For more information about the souls lost in the Middle East please read this Fox News article.
"Bible Charity vows to continue translation work after murders of four employees"

Thank for you praying and for supporting the ministry and I the way that you do.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.  May we continue deep in our pursuit of the Lord, individually and as one global body of believers.

In the Lord,
Andrew J. Belcher
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Resolutions

It is January of the New Year 2016. Can you believe that it has already been 2016 years since the birth of our Savior? Doesn't that seem a little bit crazy. If "Behold I am coming soon" meant something then it sure should mean that much more today!

The beginning of the new year is a time when the vast majority of people find themselves creating "New Years Resolutions," or as I like to call them "Things I wish I had the discipline to accomplish" lists. I among these individuals oft make Things I wish I had the discipline to accomplish lists and inevitably fail at them. Slowly one by one as January turns to February which turns to March my list gets crossed off as "It's too late to START this NOW..." so it goes to the wayside and is forgotten about.

This however has not stopped me from making brand new resolutions this year. I want to give you a look into my life at the beginning of this year as I have thought hard about my resolutions and why they mean so much to me.

1. Read this set of Books.

      Theodore Roosevelt has been a historical icon for me for a very long time. Not necessarily because of his politics (even though I do very much enjoy a good political discussion). But he has been a figure head in my life due to his undeniable character and vigor. He was known as a moralist, a right and wrong thinker, a seer of black and white. I resonate with this perspective and want to diligently adopt it into my worldview.
     This set of books sitting on my desk was a Christmas gift to me. It is a 20 volume Library of Congress 1926 Federal editions of all 35 books authored by Roosevelt himself. It spans his Harvard life, his strenuous life in the Dakotas and the Amazon, even into his administrations and afterwards.
     The best way to learn about how a person thinks is to sit down and have a long discussion over good coffee with them. Since TR is no longer with us on this earth I will have to suffice for reading his own words over that cup of coffee. (If you ever want to talk TR I will talk your ear off)

2. Become proficient at making turned wooden pens.
     My whole life I have been creative and I believe with all honesty my body is built for physical labor. I have done metal working, framing, roofing, etc. But fine woodworking always seemed to evade the realm of possibilities. Until now!
     I recently joined the Appleton Makerspace, which is a large 60,000 sq. ft. workshop filled with tools, equipment, and crafty individuals. They have a wood lathe. (well, technically two but I need to fix the larger one before I attempt bowls or plates, etc.)
     It is a joy of my life to be able to take a piece of the Lord's creation and transform it through the talents, skill,s and artistic mind He provided to me to bring forth something beautiful which t least in part reflects the beauty of the creator. It is not easy to turn a pen on the lathe, there is much nitpicking and refining, but in the end is a writing instrument worthy of the finest penmanship.
     This particular pen I turned from a solid piece of Cocobolo. An exotic hardwood with wonderful dark grain patterns.

3. Use those pens to attain better handwriting.

     Growing up I had great penmanship, this isn't a brag my mom said it. However, after high school and into college I "let myself go" and became lazy in my handwriting to the point of it being illegible even to myself. This is not a great way to communicate.
     I work in a ministry with the sole purpose to to communicate effectively and efficiently. How can I say I am truly committed 100% to that cause if no one can read my handwriting? So I have resolved to remedy this.
     Copperplate also known as "English Roundhand" is what the Declaration of Independence was penned in. It was the standard of writing in England and America until the turn of the 20th century.  At such time it was replaced by Spencerian script created and taught by Platt Rodgers Spencer which became known as "American penmanship." Being the basis of handwriting for centuries it makes sense to study the theories and the practices of these two scripts in attempts to beautify my own handwriting. (I have done far more research about penmanship than this, if you would like to known more please let me know)

4. Reach full financial support for the mission I am working in. 
     Since October 2014 I have been working with an organization called Wycliffe Associates participating in the translation of the Word of God into every language around the world. I am a support raising missionary currently living domestically in Wisconsin. Raising support is a wonderful way to live as it causes one to rely wholly on the Lord, it is also terrifying as you are not responsible for your income; other people are.
     My wife and I ( and newborn in June) have been living on just over 35% of our monthly support goal for the last year+. No one expects a missionary to become wealthy, if you want to be wealthy in ministry let's talk about your career choices. That being said it can and should be expected to be able to pay your bills, put food on the table, and MAYBE be able to save something for rainy day. That seems fair right?
     The difficulty is that we (I) have no control over this number. It is entirely up to YOU. I would love you to join my monthly partnership team and use your generosity to further the reach of the Word of God!
CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT NOW

Thank you for taking the time to read about my life today, I would love to hear about your resolutions and how we could partner together to reach more people with the Bible!

In the Lord,
Andrew J. Belcher

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Faithfulness

     Faithfulness is a difficult and interesting idea to grasp, and believe; it is especially complex and difficult when it comes to this faithfulness being in relationship to how the Lord interacts with his chosen people. It is so hard for us, being human beings, to have a "practical doctrine" as opposed to simply a "test doctrine." Something that we actually live rather something we say only.
     The book of James tells us to "be doers of the word not hearers only." This is what we need to do when it comes to the faithfulness of God.
     Let me give you a deep look into the soul of a front line missionary: me. Support raising is a weight. It should not be, as the Lord does not bring you somewhere that he is not willing and able to fund. But that being said, it is a weight on the shoulders of the head of a household. As we have a baby on the way and an imminent maternity leave the number coming "in" is never far from my mind. The idea of not having enough to provide for my family is a terrifying thought that is on my shoulders consistently. Why do I put that on myself? Why is it so important for ME to think about this all the time? The answer: my prideful human nature. I think I am the provider for my household. I think I am the one who "brings home the bacon," if you will. How much more wrong could I be!?
     Do I have a responsibility in this, yes, without a shadow of a doubt. I will push for it, campaign, poll, call, meet, etc. I will present and persuade without question. But at the end of the day, all of my pandering for support has nothing to do with whether support happens or not. The one who provides for my family is the Most High Lord. The only thing that can spur individuals to join my partnership team is the Holy Spirit. The end.

Today

     Matthew 6 tells us to not to be anxious about tomorrow because it already has enough to be concerned about. Temper this idea with Proverbs which tells us repeated to plan, and prepare for tomorrow. We are to save, to store up; but we are not to worry. The Jewish mindset of faith is to think and have faith for today. The Lord Almighty will provide what you need for today, and then tomorrow he will provide what you need then. In the western world we want to "know." Knowing has caused us to think about tomorrow more than we think about today. 

     The Lord is faithful, despite how difficult it is to live as though that is true, it is true. I was recently blessed with a gift of financial support which relieved my mind and took the unnecessary weight off my shoulders. This gift has come right on the wire of time to be counted towards this end of year goal. However, despite this blessing gift from the Lord the responsibility remains on God for the remainder of my support. Faith is a powerful attribute given to us by the Lord. It must be used to release worry and anxiety. Take it from experience anxiety is not worth the energy. 

Bless the Lord for His faithfulness! 

Andrew J. Belcher

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Campaign!

We have just less than 40 days left in the year of 2015. It has been a year of surprises, disappointments, pain, joy, and seeing the Lord’s faithfulness more than ever before. Matthew 6 speaks about the out God taking care of us more than anything else in creation and Kayla and I have seen that to be true without exception and without end especially this year. 

Living the life of a support raising missionary is by no means easy. My work week is divided, in part, by the need to work on the assignments and projects I am presently on; along with the reality that we must raise support in order to live in this world. It is a frustrating place to be, but because of it we are able to rely so fully and completely on the sovereign faithfulness of our precious Lord.

We are currently in an end of year period attempting to raise as much monthly support as possible by the end of the calendar year! 40 days is not a whole lot of time, but it is MORE than enough time for our great God to perform the miracle needed in our support.

Due to this end of year push I have decided to run my own “Kickstarter” type campaign! The reason it is here rather than actually on Kickstarter is so that 1) the support goes through Wycliffe Associates for our benefit. And 2) you can get a tax receipt by donating to a fully recognized Non-Profit!

One time, lump sum gifts are wonderful, spectacular, and fantastic. However, recurring, monthly gifts are of most importance and most benefit. I will never snuff my nose at someone desiring to give once to the cause of Bible translation, but I will always encourage them to split that sum up into monthly installments so that their donation has longevity rather than merely altitude.

We are going to shoot to the moon with this “Kickstarter” campaign and go for full support which we have not had for the last 14 months.

CAMPAIGN: $3200.00 per month.

WHAT DO I DO?:

It would take up far too much room on this post to explain the unique and rather complicated position that I hold at Wycliffe Associates, but you can CLICK HERE to read all about what it is that I do. In a nut shell I work with a team of skilled individuals working from original language texts in order to create a resource, a tool, to make Bible translation easier, faster, and more efficient.

WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING?:

This is somewhat of a complicated question. Kayla and I  (and our baby due in June) live in Appleton, Wisconsin. We are full-time domestic stateside missionaries. That being said we are held to the same type of taxation and IRS requirements as anyone else is that makes income in the US. The money you donate goes directly into my “Ministry account” which in turn goes to 1) my semi-monthly paychecks because we have to be able to live, 2) promotional materials to assist in more effectively spreading the word about Bible translation because the more people that know the more that can happen, and 3) build up in my “ministry account” so at such time as there is enough I can travel internationally and assist with MAST trips.

SIGN UP NUMBERS:

These figures represent MONTHLY RECURRING donations.

$10-$25

• ·         A hand written thank you card from Kayla and me.
• ·         Automatically added to my mailing list for periodic updates throughout the year.

$25-$50

• ·         A hand written thank you card from Kayla and I.
• ·         Automatically added to my mailing list for periodic updates throughout the year.
• ·         A PDF copy of my first book: Renewal. A month long devotional about spiritual restoration.

$50-$100

• ·         A hand written thank you card from Kayla and I.
• ·         Automatically added to my mailing list for periodic updates throughout the year.
• ·         A PDF copy of my first book: Renewal. A month long devotional about spiritual restoration.
• ·         A paper back copy of my new book (which is currently in the editing stage) called “The Two Roads.” It is a partially straightforward, partially allegorical look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

$100-$500

• ·         A hand written thank you card from Kayla and I.
• ·         Automatically added to my mailing list for periodic updates throughout the year.
• ·         A PDF copy of my first book: Renewal. A month long devotional about spiritual restoration.
• ·         A paper back copy of my new book (which is currently in the editing stage) called “The Two Roads.” It is a partially straightforward, partially allegorical look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
• ·         Free promotional material to help you church learn and grow in the ministry of Bible translation.

$1000+

• ·         A hand written thank you card from Kayla and I.
• ·         Automatically added to my mailing list for periodic updates throughout the year.
• ·         A PDF copy of my first book: Renewal. A month long devotional about spiritual restoration.
• ·         A paper back copy of my new book (which is currently in the editing stage) called “The Two Roads.” It is a partially straightforward, partially allegorical look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
• ·         Free promotional material to help you church learn and grow in the ministry of Bible translation.
• ·         I will personally  visit you and/or your church anywhere in the lower 48 states to discuss, present, encourage about Bible translation and international mission.

It may get super annoying, but until the end of the year I am going to keep this website updated about the progress of this campaign so that you, my partners, can see where we on in this miracle of the Lord’s work! It will be an exciting month ahead!

There are two ways to sign up for monthly donations. 

The easiest is to CLICK HERE and use your credit or debit card. It is fast, easy, and painless!

Or send checks with my ministry account number M10826  ON A SEPARATE PAGE ATTACHED TO THE CHECK payable to: 

Wycliffe Associates 
11450 Translation Way
P.O.Box 620143
Orlando, FL 32862

Let's make this happen church! We are all in this together to place the WORD OF GOD into the hands of EVERY person on the planet in EVERY language! 

In Him,

Andrew J. Belcher

Loss. . .

     Last night I was given a call by my mother. There was a solemn, tear-jerked, quiver in her voice. Her words were short, to the point and determined. "She's gone" my mother stated.

     After a stroke three months ago. After going in and out of rehab and the hospital and the assisted living facility. After improving then declining, then improving then declining again. After three months of fighting and trying and pushing. And after over four scores of years lived to the fullest, loving the Lord, loving her family, and giving deeply from her heart; my grandmother passed from her temporary home into her eternal state.

     When God created Adam and his helpmate Eve in the beautiful Garden of Eden the only thing that we can assume they knew was how to say "hello." Not actually, as i'm sure the words were there, but the concept of hello would have been supreme. As humanity, we are not created to say goodbye at all. We are intended for life, and every type of goodbye is, in some way or another, a form of death. This death is what goes against our created nature.

     She will be missed dearly. This goodbye is a hard one. I've been to funerals in the past. I've performed "last rites" if you wanted to use that language. I've preached burial ceremonies and funerals several times in my ministry positions. But, this one. . .this one is different. This funeral will be hard, just plain hard. . .

     My grandmother's journey home was at least expected to some degree. But the expectancy of goodbye does not make it any more customary to a person.

     Having faith in the Lord is the hope of eternity. I believe, and know that she in a perfect state knowing fully, as she once was fully known. The hope we have is a hope in a resurrection just like the resurrection we witness through the Bible that Jesus experienced. It is beautiful, it is glorious, and it is altogether holy.

     Bless the Lord for a life well lived. A family well loved. and a resurrection well-received! Please be in prayer for my family right now as we figure out logistics, and grieve the loss of a dear heart.

Amen,

Andrew J. Belcher
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Fruit?

  

     How do we know that the work we are doing is being beneficial at all? Is "spiritual fruit" the end all be all of the mission field? Why do we press on in this tiresome work looking constantly for some kind of effectiveness? 

     I constantly work 40 hour weeks attempting to accelerate Bible translations around the world. It is a long process, and at times it is a headache looking at all of the coding, screens, emails, etc. Selfishly I look at what I am doing and think "I wish I could see more of what this is accomplishing." Selfishly I lean back in my chair and stare blankly at my computer screen thinking "Man, I wish I could be somewhere like West Africa of Southeast Asia or the Amazonian Basin working hands on with a translation project." 

Then the Lord divinely smacks the back of my head. . . 

     I have been put in the situation I am in because this is where the Lord wants me to be currently. I am not discontent with it, I am only a human being thinking in a very short term way. The only way I am naturally able to think is similar to Plato's cave. I see my reality thinking temporarily that that is all there is; not knowing that what i'm seeing is but shadows or what is real.

     But where is the fruit?! Where is the effectiveness of what I am working on all day every day? What am I doing to effect the world with the Word of God? It's there, it has to be there. I can look through the black hole of my shut off computer and know that on the other side there is another human being working just as hard as I am using what I am working on to bring the Bible to their language group. 

     I know that every time I publish a new resource on the other side of the world someone in West Africa, Southeast Asia, or the Amazonian Basin is looking at that resource and it sheds new light on a passage of Scripture, or a certain word that brings the Bible to life in their language. I know that there is effectiveness. Effectiveness is a subjective word. 

     As a human being believing in the salvific nature of the Lord, and having been adopted by him I am in a constant struggle in my soul between thinking like the spirits in bondage in the cave, and thinking like those outside seeing reality for what it is. I know that what I am doing day in and day out is producing good, solid, healthy spiritual fruit. I see it. I experience it almost on a daily basis. Yet the wrestle is that i'm not doing enough. Jesus says "I am enough, you just need to be faithful." 

     Calming to my soul, Jesus' words enters into my heart and I can once again lean back in my chair and know I am here for such a time as this. I do not produce fruit; Jesus does; that 

Jesus in enough,

Andrew J. Belcher

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Communion of [Persecuted] Saints

     Throughout the world there are Christians following fervently the laws, statutes, and commandments laid out for the church to adhere to in the Bible. These precious individuals exist in the same light of life as Christians stateside. Belief is universal; it is global in scope and global in purpose. Yet, despite the fact that Christianity is designed inherently to change the entire world so often I tend to find myself thinking only about the believers in my church or in my circle of friends. Is it human nature to hold a belief in something in such a heartfelt, deep-seated way yet miss the point through your own two eyes? Maybe it's just my human nature. 

     

     It is problematic for the local American church to see it's church, or the believers in its state as the believers that have value. No one would ever come out an say that, of course; they would just function that way. I go to church every Sunday and the last thing on my mind as I am sitting relatively comfortably in the side-locking seats listening to a dynamic speakers with a fancy headset mic is the persecuted church meeting together in secret out of fear of improvement or death. Should it be on my mind? Yes. It is. No. . .

     The old saying "out of sigh, out of mind," is used frequently in the Victorian era, during the period in history of the "men's parlor" and the "women's parlor." When the pocket doors separating the whiskey sipping, tobacco spitting men from the harpsichord playing, letter writing women, are closed everyone is "out of sigh out of mind." So often do the walls or our churches, the state lines, or on a larger scale so often the Atlantic and Pacific function as spiritual pocket doors separating the most developed world Christians sitting in the A/C from the dirt floors catacomb believers everywhere else---Out of sight, out of mind.

     The church has had periods of persecution from the beginning. The Roman Emperor Nero was probably the worst of all. He was known to hang Christian's heads on stakes to decorate his gardens. Their deaths are recorded to have taken place in the Roman arenas performed by gladiators, or wild predators. Terrible, gruesome, horrendous deaths. Persecution that took place in the history of the church is seldom far from our minds. It is brought up in sermons, and written about in books. It is heard on pop-christian podcasts and used an evangelistic tools to scare people to heaven. The history of persecution is very real, and frequently spoken about.  But friends, the history of persecution has not ended.

     Christian persecution history is being written daily in many countries around the world. These are our brothers and sisters. These are dear persons loved and adopted by the Father. These are people no different that us here in every way save the fact that they remember moment by slow moment the reality of persecution. Let's ban together as a universal church to pray for and try to help these brothers and sisters. One of the way that we are pressing forward as the Universal Body of Christ is to place a heart language Bible into the hands of each one of these believers. We can do something. We can change the world together.

Jesus saves,
Andrew J. Belcher
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Growing Up

    

And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

--Luke 2:52

     Jesus did not begin his life as the wonderful, masterful minister of the Lord we often think of him to be as we read the majority of the gospel books. He was born a lowly birth, to a couple of parents that were not especially affluent of influential in their worlds. Our great Savior was required just as everyone else in the world to grow up both in their physical life, as well as spiritual. Yes, Jesus Christ endured teething, puberty, and moving out of his parents house. His childhood and adolescence was physically alike to any other Jewish boy being raised in Nazareth.

     In addition to his physical maturation a spiritual maturation also took place in the life of Christ. By saying he grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man Luke is telling us that both the physicality of Jesus increased and grew as well as his faith, knowledge of God and spirituality.   

     Scholars will argue backwards and forwards about the "missing years" of Jesus' life because we know about his birth and consecration, a brief look at him in adolescence and the next we know he's approaching middle age and already going out to minister. Regardless of the "missing years" this is such an important bit of information that Luke gives us. It gives us true hope that the writer of Hebrews is accurate when he states "One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." Growing up in this world introduces much to our lives that we are unsure of and can beget much temptation. It is such an encouragement to know that Jesus did not come into this world perfectly mature, and that he grew up in every way as we do. 

     As we go about our lives let us remember that we are in the midst of a process. The Lord is constantly producing in us holiness and spirituality when we walk in his ways. This is a part of growing up. We partake in the same maturation process spiritually as Jesus did which is such a wonderful encouragement!  

In His saving name,

Andrew J. Belcher 

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A Ruler for Us

      But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, "No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.

1 Samuel 8:19-20

The year is 1050 B.C. The nation of Israel had just come through hundreds of year of affliction and oppression. The Bible tells us in the book of Judges that leaders were raised up by God in order to be agents of redemption for the people of Israel, but they were not permanent or in total authority. The judges were kinds of influential spokes people, if you will. The people of Israel saw time and time again the positive affect judges had on the nation after so many times falling into affliction due to their sin; but it simply was not enough for Israel, as the whole Old Testament makes clear nothing ever is.

Israel wanted a permanent, authoritative, powerful, salvific ruler. Israel wanted a king! Why did the people want a king rather than the system of government they have had for the last several generations? For three reasons the desire for a king was too great for the nation to keep quiet any longer. 1) There were a few certain judges who became very corrupted and lived a lifestyle of sinfulness (1 Sam. 8:1-6). 2) Israel wanted to be governed and seen like all of the nations which were surrounding them (1 Sam. 8:19-20). And finally 3) there was an impending oppression from the king Ammon and the nation was afraid which led them to want a strong, powerful ruler to defend them (1 Sam. 12:12).

Not being content, jealousy, and fear. These are the reasons the people wanted a king. Oh, how often can we resonate with these three emotions? It is an interesting thing about the United Kingdom of Israel when you think about its history. It is not as if the nation had never been in this situation prior. They had corrupt judges al l through the book of Judges. There had been impending affliction and oppression, that’s the very reason the judges existed in the first place. In 1 Samuel 8 however, it just became too much for the nation and they gave into their insecurities.

Like Israel we face the same temptations and possible sins day after day, constantly. It’s not like we will experience some temptation and think “Oh my, I’ve never been tempted by this before!” There is nothing new under the sun. It is not a matter of being tempted it a matter of giving in to the temptation and therefore rebelling against the Lord. Rebelling against God? Yes, just like Israel did when they requested a king.

1 Samuel 8:6-7 tell us that whenever Samuel cries to God about this request the Lord responds by saying “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.” The Lord had ordained not a monarchy but a theocracy; a God-governed system.  God wanted to be an integral part of the life of the nation but by having a king God is removed from the governing equation entirely. Moving through the life span of the kingdom in the Old Testament it is apparent that when God is removed from the governing equation, it typically does not go well for the people of Israel.

What happens we allow our lack of contentment with how things are going, our jealousy and envy of what someone else has, or even our fear that we are incomplete or on the verge of a total meltdown control the way we interact with God? Or even further, how often do we let these things affect whether we interact with God at all? When God is removed from our governing equation how can we expect anything to happen differently than what occurred in the book of 1 Samuel with the nation of Israel?

Let us for a moment address the three reasons Israel wanted an authoritative king individually.

1.  They were not content with the governing system they had due to corruption and sinfulness.

We know that the Lord provides all that we need. That can be read in any given passage on the Bible. If the nation of Israel would have remembered the sovereign exodus from Egypt they would have remembered what Moses wrote down in Exodus 15 when God establishes himself as the king over the nation. So when they asked for a king it was a blatant rebellion to God because that title was already assumed by him. Perhaps instead of not feeling content with the situations we face in life we ought to think about all of multitudes of previous situations the Lord has been faithful in. And before we gladly rebel against the sovereign Lord we should take a moment and think about what takes place when we trade the position God holds with man taking over.

     2.   Israel wanted to be like other nations.

It is a fallen human condition to be jealous and envious of people. For this reason we must be ever vigilant to focus on and become more and more like Jesus. James 3:16 says that “where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” This is exactly what took place in 1 Samuel. Leviticus 20:26 is a statement directly to the people of Israel that tells them “You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.” For Israel to want a king like other nations it is taking this statement made by God and throwing it directly back in his face and telling him that you would rather be like others than holy to God. As believers we are also set apart for God. We are made holy with the purpose of becoming more Christ-like. We are not to be like this world, but become more and more different than the world. We should desire to be more like Jesus not more like other people.

     3.   Fear motivated the cry out for a king.

Fears are those emotions that are sudden. Seldom do people grow in fear. You are either afraid of something, or you are not. I can’t think of a time I was not afraid of something and gradually became afraid of it. This is not to say fears cannot increase, but the fear had to previously exist for it to increase. But it is not something that the people are God are supposed to have. By this I do not mean things such as spiders, or heights, or the ocean; I mean fear of life altering oppression or of other people. Isaiah 41:10 tells us “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” The Lord is good and fear is not needed when He is present. We must believe, as the nation of Israel should have, that our God is able and will defend and protect us.

            When the nation of Israel cried to Samuel for a king it was sign of rebellion and disobedience. Much can be gleaned and learned from the failures of others. We have a faithful and patient God that is slow to anger knowing that our sin will cause punishment enough in our lives. Let us learn from Israel and not follow in their footsteps.

In Him,

Andrew J. Belcher

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Monthly Update

 
   Today is an update day. It has been one month since this blog has started, and what a month it has been! I have learned so much about running a blog and about marketing in general. Thank you all very much for reading consistently and praying fervently for the work of Bible translation which has been entrusted to the church.

     I just wanted to give you a bit of an update on what is going on in the world as far as translating the Bible is concerned. Much is happening and much is being accomplished! It is such an exciting time to be a believer in the church. A MAST trip is traveling to Southeast Asia at the end of November in an attempt to draft Open Bible Stories  and certain biblical books.

     In the African country of Cameroon is moving quickly as they overcome physical and spiritual obstacles in press forward in translating their translation of the Word of God.

     At our main offices in Orlando there are constantly week long or two week long workshops diligently taking steps of faith to translate into gateway languages. These, of course, are the languages that make it far easier to move into indigenous languages and dialects around the world. These languages include Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Vietnamese, French, Italian, etc.

     I am personally working to get close to the Hmong community living here in the Fox Valley of Wisconsin. In the 1970's Appleton and the surrounding cities became the worlds foremost locale for Hmong immigrants, specifically Hmong people from Thailand and Vietnam. I am attempting to build relationships and trust with the community leaders here with the intention of drawing them close to assist in translating in to Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Thai depending on where the particular Hmong community originates. It is such a wonderful thing to be able to work as a missionary domestically yet, still be involved absolutely in cross-cultural and international ministry.

     Speaking of being a stateside missionary let me give you an update about my support raising goal for the end of the year. It has been an exciting month and the Lord has shown his faithfulness more and more which pushes me towards him in a ferocious way.

     My end of year support goal is $750.00 of MONTHLY financial support. This is such an attainable goal church! It is 75 people at only $10 per month. Only 38 people at $20 per month. 15 people at $50 per month. it's ONLY 7 and a half people at $100 per month. Do you see how attainable this really is? This could happen instantly is the church would ban around the mission of accelerating Bible translation.

     My goal for the end of the year is $750.00 per month and I have received in the last month already $145 in monthly support!  Praise the Lord for who he is and all that he does for his workers! Bride of Christ, you are doing such a wonderful job of partnering in ministry and pressing forward in this work of placing the Bible into the hands of all people of every tongue! Bless you.

     Let us complete this goal friends. We can all spare $10 per month. That's 30 cents a day. It is SO easy to sign up for monthly commitments. Get together with your spouse, your parents, whomever you make financial decisions with and decide of a 12 month period how much you are willing to donate (and get tax receipts for) divide that by 12 and that's your monthly support! EASY!

Click Here to Sign Up!

Or send checks with my ministry account number M10826  ON A SEPARATE PAGE ATTACHED TO THE CHECK payable to: 

Wycliffe Associates 11450 Translation WayP.O.Box 620143Orlando, FL 32862

Thank you  all so very much for your willingness to be a part of this ministry.  It is vital. It is life giving. It is literally life or death for still over 3000 languages around the world. Let us join together to bring Jesus to them all! 

In His name,

Andrew J. Belcher

Christ at the Center

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Luke 2:29-32, 34-35

            Jesus was born to a good traditional, orthodox Jewish family. They would have observed the Jewish holidays and feasts. They would have upheld the command of atonement and sacrifice. And they would have obeyed the religious rules concerning the Sabbath each week. Because of this it was expected and very natural for his mother Mary and his father Joseph to take him to the temple to be dedicated and consecrated to the Lord (today both Jews and Gentiles do this). If he were any other infant boy this would have been just any other day for the man named Simeon who was performing the dedication. But this was Jesus. Jesus, being the Son of the Most High God cannot enter into seemingly ordinary situations and not make them remarkably different and divine.

            Simeon had been going about his daily life trusting and living in the promises of the Lord as spoken by the Old Testament prophets, namely that the Messiah would come. On this day, when Mary and Joseph came to the temple with the infant God-child, Simeon's life became be complete. This change was a change so dramatic and so integral to the pieces of Simeon’s soul that he was perfectly peaceful about leaving the earth at that moment. Simeon was a just (righteous) and devout (reverent) man. Similar remarks are made of Zachariah in chapter one of Luke (1:6). Both Zachariah and Simeon were working tirelessly in the temple of God (1:8-9). In many ways Simeon and Zachariah were in the same position and in many ways are parallel. Being an orthodox Jewish culture it makes sense that both Simeon and Zachariah would be priests and they would both dedicate infants in the temple; John the prophet of God and Jesus the Messiah.

            Like every other person on earth, Simeon's life was blessed with relationships. Jesus enters in and gives purpose to these relationships. It is quite literally all about the person of Jesus Christ. In verses 29 and 30 Simeon makes one of the most profound statements in the entire Bible. He says, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation."  The life of Simeon, Mary, Joseph, me, you, and every other person on this planet and every relationship that is participated in become markedly changed when the salvation found in the person of Christ becomes central. It cannot happen any other way. What a spectacular and peaceful statement Simeon makes when he lays his old, faithful eyes on the infant Christ.

            In relationships, which are designed to create growth in each other and to build one another up in some way, we must be careful that the center of these relationships is Jesus totally. By doing this, divinity and purpose will enter into and become the forefront of the relationship. If Simeon can make the statement that he is ready to die because he has seen Jesus how much do you think He would affect a relationship intended for to build each other up. Christ has no other option than to change situation for the better. Let him change yours.

            It is so easy to go about our daily lives and interact in our relationships on a moment by moment basis and simply forget to insert Jesus into the relationship. How easy it is to go about our lives and simply hang out with friends, or sit down to dinner with family and don’t even have a passing thought about the divinity of the Lord. How would Simeon respond to this type of lifestyle based on the statement he makes in the book of Luke? I’m sure he would think it utterly ridiculous to have access to the eternal Savior and just . . . not. Simeon quite literally said that he was ready to go into the everlasting sleep and pass away from the world because he witnessed the infant Jesus, prior to any type of salvific events on the cross, the tomb, resurrection, etc. In essence, Simeon’s theology of salvation was not Pauline from Romans or 1 Corinthians; it was entirely and wholly from Isaiah. We today have access to the entirety of the Scriptures which give witness to the whole events of Christ both in prophecy and in earthly ministry. We have more information about the Lord, do we not? So the question is begged here as we think deeply about our relationships does more information equate to more focus towards?

            The answer is logically and biblically a resounding no! Obviously in the case of Simeon there was not a lack of, but only less information about the Messiah yet there was an undying passion which equated to the willingness to die. This being said and clearly heard what is it that affects relationships with the life changing power of the person of Jesus?

            In Luke We see a few things that can lead us to have a renewed focus on the Lord as Simeon did. Though the text does not say it explicitly it according to Jewish tradition Simeon was functioning in a manner reserved for a priest in the temple. This implies that his life was inundated with the Law of the Lord as a basis for holy living. In addition to this, in verse 25 on Luke two, several characteristic of Simeon are listed. He was righteous, devout, waiting, and Spirit filled. Let’s re state these in a different way to shed light on who Simeon was as an individual. He was in a good relationship with the Lord (righteous), passionate about the things of God (devout), hopeful for the things to come (waiting), and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Spirit filled).

            So, the end of the matter for our lives and our relationships is relatively simply by looking at the life of Simeon in Luke two. We must be entirely inundated by the Scriptures of the Lord, we must be a good relationship with God passionately waiting for the future glory living life with the filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is through these character traits that our lives and our relationships are changed for the better through the divine power of the Lord Jesus. Let us always be seeking for these in our relationships with all people, building one another up and encouraging one another to love and good works.

Jesus alone,

Andrew J. Belcher

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Ark

They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. You shall cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it. You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it. You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you

Exodus 25:10-16

     In the English Bible there are two different ways the word “ark” is used. 1) The “ark” of Noah that saved he and his family from the great divine, just deluge that wiped out the disgraceful humanity living in Genesis 6-9; and 2) the “ark” of the covenant which is a very specifically designed and created holding vessel for the laws and commandments of the Lord given to the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai in Exodus 25. Ark is a very interesting word to study. Depending on the context it can be translated “box,” “chest,” or even “large boat.”

     What is even more interesting is that the narrative of Moses being placed in a basket on the Nile River during the great Egyptian infanticide also uses a Hebrew word for “ark” when referring to the vessel Moses was placed in. So in this case “ark” is used as a basket made of bulrushes (Exo. 2:3).

The text is very straight forward in that the term “ark” is a box. We typically associate the ark of Noah with some kind of boat-shaped object with curved bow and stern, perfect for navigating the swells of the flood. However, if we take a very literal approach to the text it was not such in the least. The ark of Noah would have looked very similar in geometry to that of the Ark of the Covenant; more or less a very rigid, 90 degree cornered rectangular box.

     What is placed in an ark? Hebrews 9:4 tell us that the ark of the covenant contained “a golden urn holding the manna, and Arron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.” Genesis 7:13-14 tell us exactly what entered the ark the Noah built. The eight persons God wanted to save, a pair of every unclean animal and seven of every clean animal. And finally, in the case of the ark of bulrushes Moses himself was placed inside. These are all things that reflect the faithfulness of God to his people. Noah and his family was faithfulness to establish a people on this earth. Moses was an answer to take the Hebrews out of Egypt and into the promise land (although Moses was never told he would enter). The tablets of the law, the urn of manna and the rod of Aaron all refer back to the time in the wilderness as the Israelites were wandering to and fro when Yahweh established and revealed his faithfulness to his people through physical intercession for them.

     In the situations in the Bible, namely the Ark of Noah and the Ark of the Covenant, the Lord is very, explicitly clear about the specific geometry of the arks being created. In other words, there were rules and regulations involved in the construction of these objects. There was formality and specifications to not only its appearance but also its function.

     Let us take now what the text says and apply it to our lives and souls. How can the biblical texts of Noah, Moses, and the Ark of the Covenant constructed by the people of Israel affect our spiritual lives in 2015? One common theme traces through the Bible as any type of ark is spoken of; this theme is the faithfulness of God, His promises and fulfillment of those promises. What an incredible thing it would be for the people of Israel in the mighty United Kingdom under Saul, written about in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. They would literally be able to remember where the Lord brought them and the obstacles and trials the Lord brought them through by thinking about the Ark of the Covenant and the objects that lie within it.

     Has the Lord answered any of your prayers? Can you look back in your life and see clearly how the God provided for your needs? I believe there are certain things and certain events that forever mark our souls which are never forgotten. Being careful here not to say our minds and souls are like the Ark written about in the biblical text, I do believe our minds and souls function in a similar way.

     The ark Noah built would forever be a reminder of what the Lord brought him and his family through, almost a year of cramped quarters and animal smells would then sit on the summit of Mount Ararat being a visual reminder to all those who saw it that God was faithful in providing protection.

In like manner the Ark of the Covenant containing its contents of historical and spiritual significance would always be a reminder to the Israelites that their God is altogether unique from the gods of their surrounding nations. They can experience things that immediately bring them back to when God was faithful.

     Our minds, hearts, and souls bear witness to the faithful character of the Lord and forever we will be able to proclaim his goodness in our life as we think back on how his faithfulness was shown to us. 

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