Tongues = Languages

Written by Pastor McCarty on May 6, 2015. Posted in Pastors Pen

How do you like that!?  A tongue is an interesting topic.  It is the part of our body that helps us taste good things and not so good things.  Our tongues can reveal if we are sick.  When we were children we would stick out our tongue as a sign of displeasure.  Of course, all good moms  scolded us as well.  And, if we "speak with forked-tongue" it means we are lying.  Tongues are used for many purposes.

But, the word, "tongue," relates to other things as well.  When we want to talk about other languages we can say that it is their "tongue."  In the Book of Acts we read that God gave the early church a special gift to be able to speak in a language they had not previously known to be able to get the gospel out.  Languages are ways we use our tongue to communicate.  But, if I don't know a person's language I can not communicate with them.

Next week I will participate in another LIFE camp in Thailand.  From May 11-14 over 550 people will gather at the Wangree Resort for a special time of evangelism.  Most of the churches we partner with in Thailand use learning English as a way to get the gospel into people's hearts.  What they do locally is done nationally once a year.  Many in Thailand desire to be able to speak English so they can get a good job.  So, we can use that desire to speak English as an opportunity to share the gospel.

Please  be praying for me as I leave tonight.  Please ask the Lord to give me the right words to be able to bring people to an understanding of their need for Jesus Christ.  Please pray for my translator who will take my words and put them into Thai.  I need to be able to speak slowly and simply for this to be effective.   

Ance LIFE camp is over I will travel to Chiang Rai with Charlie and Lourdes to present a pastor's seminar for some of teh Ahka pastors.  I am looking forward to reunion with the Ahka brethren.  What a blessing they are to my heart.

Language Barrier?

Written by Pastor McCarty on October 9, 2014. Posted in Pastors Pen

Have you ever traveled to a different country where English isn’t spoken?  Can you remember how frustrating it was to not be able to even say hello?  You couldn’t order McDonalds or Starbucks without pointing!  Then, when you found a person who spoke some English it was hard to communicate because of their limited vocabulary of English and your lack of any vocabulary if their language.  What a hassle.  Well, you can blame the folks at Babel!

When God created mankind we all spoke the same language; of course it was English!  Whatever language  it was, everyone on the planet spoke the same language.  No language barrier existed between anyone.  Then, the fateful decision by the populace to build a large tower “to the heavens.”  In making this decision, God decided to confuse the languages so people would have a hard time joining forces.  Can you imagine waking up one day and not being able to understand others?  This would have caused great fear and suspicion.  Because of this, people of the same language groups huddled together and went their own way.  From then until now we have had difficulty understanding different languages.

Because English has become the trade language around the world many people want to learn to speak it.  They desire to be trained in English so they can get better jobs and have a better life.  So, many ministries around the world have offered English classes as a way to get the gospel into the hearts of people who might otherwise be closed to the Word of God.  Each year for over 20 years some of the churches in Thailand join forces for a concentrated outreach using English learning.  Again this year a team from our church are traveling to Thailand to conduct English camps.  While you’re reading this our team is in Northern Thailand doing this very thing.

October 17-20 will be a large gathering for LIFE Camp.  LIFE Camp stands for Learning, Intensive, Free, English.  For three days folks gather to teach English, learn English, share the gospel, hear the gospel, and reach out.  I know our team would appreciate your prayers on our behalf.  Without YOU praying, our efforts will not be as effective.  Pray for clarity as we teach English and for the translator to be clear as he makes Pastor’s messages understandable to the campers.

Acts 8:30 records a question Philipp asked a man on his way home who was reading the Book of Isaiah.  He asked this question, “Do you understand what you are reading?”  The man could understand words on a page, but he couldn’t understand the meaning of what he was reading.  It took Philipp getting into his chariot and explaining the Word of God to him so the Holy Spirit could open his heart to the Gospel.  Our prayer is that as we teach the Holy Spirit will open hearts to the true meaning of the Word.  Please be praying for this on our behalf.

Language is powerful tool.  But, we must be able to use it properly if we are to be understood.  May each of us pray for God to powerfully bring His Word into the ears and hearts of people around the world.