Exloring Life Eternal

Try the other side

May 15, 2005

Dear Praying Friends & Family,

Jesus said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. - John 21:6

The disciples caught nothing in the lake of Galilee when they fished all night despite the presence of lots of fish & lots of experience, rather they didn’t see Jesus & forgot who they were supposed to be fishing for. It is for this reason that Jesus stood there in the morning: to set their hearts at ease and direct their nets in the right direction. It is for this same reason that Jesus appeared to them over a period of 40 days. Why? Simply so that they might be persuaded deep within: “I am with you always. I will never leave you nor forsake you.” The miraculous catch of 153 fish from that morning perhaps paid for their trip back to Jerusalem & was able to support them while they waited for Power from on High. He told them to seat the 5,000. The crowd sat. He told the disciples to go to Galilee. They went. He told them to put out the nets on the other side. They put out the nets. He told them to wait. They waited. He also told them to go, and ... eventually they went. God will come along & supply all the real needs we all have, but He is waiting on each of us to do what He has asked us to do. God will not bring in fish if we hold the nets in the boat. We must cast them out.

At the end of this May, we will be heading out of El Dorado to Michigan. I don't know all the details yet, but I know He promised that if we sought first His kingdom (i.e. peace, joy, and righteouness in the Holy Spirit), he would take care of everything else. I have no peace about going anywhere else. The Lord fills my heart with joy as I look forward to living & serving in Jesus' name among the Yemeni. It seems good, and right to do this at this time. So, forward we will go. I have no peace about doing anything else.

<>< WORLD-NEWS:

URGENT NEED, UNDISCLOSED LOCATION: In 1266, the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan requested: “Send me 100 men skilled in your religion ... and so I shall be baptized, and then all my barons and great men, and then their subjects.” In a response that was too little and too late, years later the Pope sent just two priests who never made it to Mongolia. In 1945, Douglas MacArthur said "Japan is a spiritual vacuum.... Send me 1,000 'field laborers.'" Our response was too little and too late, and today Japan remains mainly unresponsive to the gospel. Yesterday we received an amazing request to provide personnel for the leadership team that will be in charge of this new phase of reconstruction. BUT WE MUST ACT VERY QUICKLY! Many people have sacrificed and worked very hard to help in this area. But the question remains – will it be too little and too late? The time is NOW – an literally once in a lifetime opportunity for a previously very closed people who are now wide open and searching for the truth. - Anonymous sender, BUT, I can affirm based on the information that I have: THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT IS UNIQUE ... A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY. PRAY! -- Contact mertaka at
everybody dot org

MINISTRY: Mareth Warren, senior researcher for the USA-based ministry The Sentinel Group, publisher of the popular Transformations video, reports that while six years ago they knew of only eight documented cases of community transformation, there are now 350 such cases worldwide. Especially in Oceania, Africa and Latin America God is moving in an explosion of prayer, unity and societal impact, says Warren. Many people of influence are coming to Christ at the moment. Even ecosystems are being restored as a sign of God's presence. - http://www.sentinelgroup.org

LITHUANIA: "Some time ago, I visited a fascinating place in Lithuania called the Hill of Crosses. For over a hundred years, it has been a site of the people's defiance of oppression. ... The Christian hope gambles totally on the historicity of the death and resurrection of Jesus. That empty cross means he is risen! It is the symbol of hope for all humanity - the hope of resurrection. And the hope of restored relationship, with God and with neighbour." - http://www.ywameurope.org/news/word/readWord.asp?word=162

<>< WAYS to LEARN:

LINKS:
A BIBLICAL ZOO:
http://www.jerusalemzoo.org.il/english/upload/
Learn about all the animals of the Bible via this website. What better place to see the ark of God's chosen critters than in Zion? Okay, while the lion and the lamb may not be caged together, and you may not have a plane ticket, you can learn a little about the "Land of Promise" via the internet.

MULTI-ETHNIC CONGREGATIONS:
The case for the hard work of multi-ethnic congregations based on interviews with pastors of various multi-ethnic churches.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/004/23.36.html

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:
Daniel Hays, _From Every People and Nation: A Biblical Theology of Race_;
IVPress, 2003.

Dr. Hays is a professor that I studied under at Ouachita Baptist University. Here is a summary from www.Christianbook.com: "Much of evangelical theology has been slow to acknowledge the perennial problem of racism present both in America as well as around the world. From Every People and Nation serves as an outstanding contribution to constructing a biblical theology of race, which provides a much needed corrective to the harmful racial preconceptions present within North American and European scholarship, art, and other media. Of particular interest is the role of the Cushites (black Africans), who play a prominent role in the Old Testament, but receive very little scholarly treatment or attention. Hays's analysis insightfully draws attention to the racial make-up of ancient biblical peoples and provides a strong foundation for Christian theology as the Church faces the present challenges of racism as well as ministry within various multi-racial and multi-ethnic environments." Having read most of the work & talked with Dr. Hays over the years as he worked on this book & now reading the final work, I encourage you to read it. It is excellent, addressing the whole person and of particular relevance to the American Church!

Tony Maalouf, _Arabs in the Shadow of Israel_; Kregel, 2003.
Dr. Maalouf is a professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. I believe that this book is a needed corrective for much thinking that currently goes on regarding the Arab peoples. Also available via wwww.Christianbook.com. "As Christians, we can hesitate to deal with the topic of Ishmael because it might be seen as a defense or apologetic for Islam. Muslims are linked to Ishmael mainly through post-Koranic tradition that draws the roots of Mohammed back to Ishmael. The Arab peoples, who are mainly Muslims and some Christians, originated as nomadic tribes in the Arabian peninsula, and can be traced to Ishmael’s descendants. In addition, discussion of Ishmael can be perceived as taking sides in the conversations concerning the theology of the land. Precisely because this topic has implications concerning very sensitive and relevant issues, it is important to carefully examine what the Hebrew text and its context is communicating about Ishmael. In this short article there is not room to address every issue, and there is no intention to take sides on the issue of theology of the land. Because interpretations of Ishmael have implications for Israeli and Palestinian believers and for reconciliation in this land, we would like
to bring up some points and recommend further exploration of the subject." An excellent and detailed study of the issue can be found in Arabs in the Shadow of Israel by Tony Maaluf, graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. - review by: Musalaha musalaha at netvision dot net dot il

Beth Moore, _Voices of the Faithful_. Integrity Publishers, expected 2005.
A devotional book with stories from missionaries around the world. Advanced copies will be available at the SBC in Nashville in June, but the book actually will be released on August 2 to the public. Available most everywhere books are sold. Hardback for $18.99. In paperback, 1 year later. The royalties all go to support Southern Baptist mission work. 60,000 copies will be printed. - Received via: calmack at bellsouth dot net

<>< WITNESS

"Greg" was a man whose wife had run away ... when he welcomed another woman into his home. His kids have had a difficult life. He lived for years in the same small apartment doing what most would call "taking advantage of the system."

Sheila & I heard of the story soon after our marriage & settling down in El Dorado. We talked with his son occassionally, & agreed together that something had to change. We invited his son over once or twice for dinner. Slowly, things were changing. I prayed with him to find the grace to break free from the old patterns. God heard that prayer, just like He hears whenever we pray for salvation for anyone.

Now, "Greg" is faithfully attending church & studying the Bible. He is wanting to get some education and return to the work-force. He is also looking for ways & places day by day when he might share the Word of Christ. "Greg" knows that Jesus saves. Do you? Who have you told lately? Who would you like us to pray with you for?
Let us know: mertaka at everybody dot org .

<>< WORSHIP

FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH ...
We recently got to see some of God's marvelous works:
- High elevation cedar forests: A reminder of the strong presence of God.
- A meteor crator: A reminder of "like mountains of fire" hurled to earth.
- The Grand Canyon: A reminder of the flood which once came to earth.
- A beautiful rainbow: A reminder of the faithfulness of God's promises.
Surely the Lord is marvelous, and worthy of praise!!!

PRAISE REPORTS:
- The progress of the Good News in Arabia.
- The Lord's ongoing provision of our daily needs.
- Special encouragement from the Lord & His Word.
- Sheila's tremendous diligence in packing things.
- God is moving people to order more PTAP materials! => more are praying.
- Divine appointments for workers going into the "ends of the earth."
- God's increasing salvation in the life of a former neighbor.
- A fellow I've shared my life & the Word with is now discipling others in a
church in this community. PTL!
... (I could go on, but space is limited.)

PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Boldness & clarity during scheduled preaching times on May 23-24, 2005.
- For prepared hearts in those we meet & share the truth with.
- God's clear direction about each step as we prepare to go to Michigan.
- A place for the office & a place for us to lay our heads.
- Smooth and stable relations with believers for corporate worship,
uplifting fellowship, and united witness.
- Ever-growing wisdom and love & respect for one another as a couple.
- Good contacts with Arabs, Indonesians, and all folk in Metro Detroit.

WE GIVE THANKS:
- For boxes & a free source of them.
- For rain, for birds, for phone calls, for letters & notes.
- For families that love us and friends that support us.
- For promises we can trust & the God who made them.
- For a car that works & gasoline that fills the tank.
- For gifts to give. (For example, a bunch of Bibles as a surprise in the mail that we were able to pass on to a local ministry!!)

<>< in my own WORDS:

The Earth is His Land.

These ain't just your lands, these ain't just my lands
From tropical forests to the scattered island.
From the snow-capped mountains To deep ocean waters --
This earth was made for God's glory.

Visit http://poeticpreacher.openweblog.com for the full text of my re-writing of Woody Guthrie's famous song.

<><
FACTS in FOCUS = A REGULAR REMINDER:
* If trends continue, the Arab population will soon far surpass the number
of USA residents.
* There are ~25,000,000 Yemeni people around the world.
* The Yemeni & other South Semitic cultures trace their roots back to before
Islam, before Christ, to the time of "Bilqis" whom they believe met Solomon
in Jerusalem as the Queen of Sheba.
* There are 25,000-50,000 Yemeni Arabs in Metro Detroit. (More folks than in
El Dorado / Union County). About the same number of Hadrami are dispersed
throughout Java, Indonesia who retain the Hadrami identity.
* The metro Detroit area has the distinction of being the first area to have
the Islamic call to prayer sounded out in the USA and also having the
largest concentration of Arabs in the USA. (Estimates: from a conservative
200,000+ Arabs and 100,000+ Muslims to one fellow's exhuberant estimate of
800,000.)
* The Yemeni peoples are historically known as among the most zealous for
Islam & the legacy of Mohammed.
* There are more Arab missionaries today than at any other known time in
history.
* There are more Arabs coming to Christ than at any other time in history.
* There are more Arabs reading & hearing the Word of the Lord accurately
than at any other time in history.
* In 2002: 1 known group of believers in 1 country.
In 2005: 1 or more known groups of believers in at least 5 of 7
countries.
* Between 2002 & 2005: The number of known national believers scattered in all of Yemen has roughly doubled.
==> This is a first in 1400 years! ... God is clearly at work!!

... What is the Spirit saying to you?
... Will you be part of the answer to someone's cry for help today?
+ The world, its languages, & its cultures change ... but God's love &
promises do not.


<>< <>< <>< <><
CONCLUSION
Be careful of twisting truth, my friend. Of writing volumes, there is no end, and much research wearies the body. Now that you've read this far ... here is the conclusion of the matter: Revere God & do what He says, this is why we are here! In the end, God will evaluate everything, inside & out: Is it good or is it bad?
- Today's Preacher 12:12-14 (IPV - Internet Paraphrased Version)

If you desire to stop receiving these messages, please send an email to that effect, or log on to http://lists.everybody.org/merts-memo ... or you can also subscribe there.

If you know 5 other people who would like to join in praying for us or otherwise be interested in a ministry of advocacy for the Arab & Muslim Peoples, especially the Yemeni, please pass this email on to them or pray together as a group for us regularly. Also, email me if you would prefer to receive the quarterly print prayer letter.

For tidbits to pray about / be encouraged by between the memos, go to:
http://mertaka.openweblog.com

For poetry, visit:
http://poeticpreacher.openweblog.com

For Biblical commentary / sermons / study outlines visit:
http://abdul_kalimat.openweblog.com

Mert & Sheila Hershberger
mertaka at everybody dot org
1-800-376-5876
www.pray-ap.info

Pursuing God's glory with ...
the whole Church sharing the whole Christ with the whole person
of every person of every people in every language
of all lands for all time with all confidence,
with a focus on the least loved, the least reached, and the least prominent.

<><

If the Spirit leads you to share in our ministry of faith, you may contact:

PTAP
c/o Strategic Resource Group
PO Box 1809
Easton, MD 21601

To learn more about this excellent ministry, please visit
http://www.srginc.org .
Or contact me & I will provide you what information I can.