A Christlike Attitude

Continuing his series of worship talks based in Philippians, Pastor Jay focused on Philippians 2:5 for his Wednesday morning meditation.  The King James Version reads, “Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus.  The New Century Version says, ^5 “In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.”  In Spanish it says “let your attitude be like Christ's.”

“What does this mean? Pastor Jay asked.  “It basically means you need to think in the way that Christ thinks. What does a Christian look like?  Should you be able to see a Christian?  When it says “let this mind be in you,” Paul is trying to help us understand what a Christian looks like, what he does, how he acts.  In your lives you must think and act like Jesus--

So, how does Jesus think and act?  Don't be interested in your own life, look out for the good of others.  A Christian is someone who looks out for the good of others—one who serves others not just themselves.

“When you get back to the states, it's going to be a shock.  You're going to walk in and the music and the media and the materialism is going to be shocking.  We've lived kind of simply here.  We have enough.  We've not gone hungry.   We’ve had a little more PBJ than we'd like, but we are eating.  In the US it's all about serving ourselves.  But a Chrisian is thinking and acting like Christ, and that is all about serving others.  In His very nature, He was equal with God, but He did not think that was something to use for His own benefit.  He gave that all up to serve man.

“Selfishness takes, love gives.

“What does a disciple of Christ look like?  A disciple of Christ gives.  You are giving.  You could be surfing the ocean for your spring break, but you're laying brick in the hot African sun.  You're doing VBS and playing with kids.  You're giving medical care.  These are all acts of service, doing for others.

“Jesus said whatsoever you've done to the least of these, you've done it unto me.  Whatever we do for somebody, the lowest of the low, the smallest, sickest, grossest person who has yet to understand what we're doing for them...they are the “least.”  We are serving them for now and for eternity.  

“A Christian does things with an unselfish motive.  That's what a Christian looks like.  That's what I hope we'll look like when we return to Thunderbird.  Choose to serve today.”

Constructing Joy in Zambia

The construction site--a multi-purpose building
for school and church

Pastor Jay continued his thoughts on Philippians for Tuesday morning's worship.  We started by singing an old "retro" song --Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.  "That's a command," Pastor Jay said.  “It was written in the imperative in the Greek:  Rejoice!  You will rejoice!"  He went on to say “Rejoicing is something that is a challenge for me.  I lean towards being a pessimist and have struggled with depression most of my life.  So when I read this, I say to myself "I don't feel like rejoicing!"

Jessica gets things into perspective

"Philippians has about 25-30 references to joy and joyful and having the joy of the Lord.  I want to look at Philippians 1:3, 4 today.  ^3 ‘I thank my God every time I remember you, ⁴ always praying with joy for all of you.’

Working with the rebar

“Why was Paul so joyful about these people?  He wasn't about the Corinthians (shall I bring a stick and beat you with it)!  But there is in this book.  What made him so joyful about this city?  Because of the thoughts he had about the people that were there.

Lunch break!

“All my family lives in Texas.  I hate Texas.  Everything in Texas will either bite you, sting you, scratch you, or give you are rash.  And yet, when I think about Texas, I think about my family--4 brothers, 2 sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles...and it makes me feel good about Texas.

“So when Paul thought about the Philippians, who did he think about?  Lydia, the little slave girl, and many others.  Paul and Silas were in jail there.  You probably remember how they were singing, staying in jail even when the doors opened during the earthquake.  Because of their witness to the jailer, he asked to be baptized that night.

Johann gave his personal Bible to this man.

“When Paul wrote Philippians, he was in Rome, in jail, shackled to two soldiers.  In a few months, he would be let out and put on the executioner's block.  So there he is, thinking about Philippians.  I hope that when you get back to TAA and you look back on Zambia, you will look back with joy, think about the people you have met and pray for them.  They are joyful in doing the work despite the horrible conditions.  Be their joyful memory of your time here.”

[Photos for this entry are c/o Mr. Maloon]

A treat for lunch today:  soda!

Jacob climbs the scaffold for
a time-lapse series of photos

This man shared his shaman beans
with Mr. Maloon