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Logos Ministries Incorporated
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Volume 2, Number 4 -- December 1994 IT’S THE PRINCIPLE OF THE THING! As you study the Scriptures, you sense that there are principles by which God deals with people. This can be found in both the Old and New Testaments. One of the principles has to do with values. Most non Christians and many Christians have similar ideas about the kind of person they would choose to do an important task. Corporate America, and often the church, would have a list of characteristics they would look for in a leader. They want an articulate, intelligent person who gives the appearance of success. It should be a young person who is very popular. In the church, people's heads turn when they learn that the president of a very prosperous corporation is visiting in the church this morning. Somehow, there is not the same kind of enthusiasm when a working mom or an assembly line worker visits the church. When looking through the membership list for perspective financial chairpersons, the attention often focuses on a person who is the president of a bank. The chairperson of the Board should really be a person of power; a leader in the community. The apostle Paul understood the principle very well. He said,
The Old and New Testaments are full of examples of this principle. In a culture where the oldest son was the leader of the family, God chose to save Israel, not through Reuben, Jacob's first-born, but through Joseph, Jacob's eleventh son. Again, Moses was not an articulate man, but Aaron, his older brother, was. Nevertheless, God chose Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt to the land of promise. David was not old enough to be a soldier. Saul was the tallest man in Israel, a great warrior and king of Israel. Still, God used David to kill Goliath and rout the Philistines and not King Saul. David was also the youngest son of an insignificant family. God still chose him to be Israel's greatest king. When Israel was suffering under the oppression of the Midianites, God called Gideon to ransom His people. When God called him, Gideon was hiding, trying to thresh enough grain to feed the family. Gideon was so insecure he used the fleece twice to make sure he knew what God wanted him to do. He would have been the last one we would choose to lead an army. He was just the man God chose to deliver Israel. God called Gideon, "Thou mighty man of valor." God could see what he could become, rather than what he was. Gideon was the only general in history whose army was too large, 32,000. It was the right size when only 300 men remained. God knew that with more men, they would have believed it was because of their ability, not because of the help of God. God chose Mary to be the mother of the Messiah. She was not from a high priestly family. She rather came from an insignificant family in the tribe of Judah. Nevertheless, God chose her to share the ignominious task of bearing the Messiah when she was not married. It was not the High Priest or a saintly prophet who brought the news that the Messiah was born. God entrusted that privilege to a group of shepherds, the social outcasts of society. In the same vein, it was not to the Scribes that the announcement of the resurrection came, but to three women who could not speak a word of testimony in court, but were chosen of God to make the first announcement, "He is risen!" The Old Testament made it clear that one like Elijah would be the forerunner of the Messiah. Again, this great honor was not entrusted to a high priest or to the great students of the law. It was rather granted to the son of a priest from one of the lowliest families of his tribe, a man who did not have an opportunity to serve at the altar until he was near retirement, a man who was humiliated and abused because for years he had no sons. Jesus did not choose great scholars to be His disciples. He chose a group of most unlikely men to carry on the work he had started - fishermen, tax collectors, hot-headed zealots. The least likely group one could imagine. There is a purpose in God's choosing. It is found in Judges:
God knew that if He gave Gideon victory with 32,000 men, it would appear that they were valiant warriors and they would become proud. With only 300 men, it was very clear that only God could give them victory. With the 12 unlikely apostles, only God could be seen as the reason for the flourishing church. God spoke words of wisdom to Isaiah:
We need to learn that God looks at our lives and ministries quite differently than we do. His thoughts are as far superior to ours as the heavens are higher than the earth. When we say, "I can't teach," or "I can't lead," we may not mean to do so, but that is our greatest possible recommendation for the job. If our view of ourselves is true, then when God blesses our feeble efforts with astounding success, it will be clear to everyone that it is only the power of God that did it. It is a sure-fire way to bring glory to God and not to ourselves. We should understand that this takes nothing away from the talents that God has given us. This is not a plea for inept performance, incompetence or incorrect actions. It is a strong awareness that it is a divine pattern to choose people who couldn't possibly do a task without placing their full trust in Him. Only then will God receive the glory. David understood the principle well when he cried out to God.
We need to understand God's ways, so that we can bring our thinking in line with His. Imagine what God could do through us, what praise could be given to God if we could see our service from God's prospective. "Not many wise, not many mighty... God chose the foolish things..." Bill Cooper THE TIME HAS COME It has been some time in coming, but it is here. The writing of Glimpses of God-II is climaxing. The proofreading is done and the formatting is underway. It is a joy to see this work come to fruition. The completion of this work has been delayed by additional teaching and writing responsibilities. Though I regret the delay, I nevertheless feel that it was proper to invest my energies in the teaching at the seminary at Donetsk. It has been very important to finish the writing of this and another book. Some of you have been waiting patiently for this book. Thank you for your patience. LOOKING AHEAD With Glimpses of God - II wrapped up, we are already looking ahead to the next writing project. The next book will be a step-by-step description of how to do Inductive Bible Study. In this volume, we will also show you how to use the Greek New Testament when you do not know the language. Also in this volume, my son, Kiel, joins me and describes, step-by-step how to use the Hebrew Old Testament when you do not know that language. Most of the writing for this book has been completed. We hope to have it ready by Easter. It will be a bound book. We will let you know when it is available. TWO BEAUTIFUL LADIES We have been planning ahead. When the book on Inductive Bible Study goes to the printer, we want to start the proof-reading and editing process on a study book covering the books of Ruth and Esther. The study of Ruth is complete and has been tested in two study groups. The study of Esther is being tested in two study groups at the present time and should be available for proofreading and editing by Easter. These have been exciting studies and I look forward to sharing them with you. Again, we will let you know when these studies are available. THE TEACHING TRAIL In July-August, this year, I taught in the Course of Study School which meets at Garrett Seminary, Evanston, Illinois. This was the 15th. year that I taught there. Again this year, I taught the course in Bible twice as I have the past two years. As far as I know I am scheduled to teach there again in July-August, 1995. After teaching at Garrett, I returned to Loveland and had just 10 days to pack my suitcases and 800 pounds of reference books and medication before leaving for Europe. I flew to Switzerland and taught and preached there for a week. They asked for a copy of Did You Know This?! and Behold The Brightness. The Evangelical churches in Europe have a printing ministry. These pastors want to present these two books for consideration for publication in German. After a week of teaching in Switzerland, I flew to Kiev and then overnight by train to Donetsk. I taught a course in the Synoptic Gospels and concluded with a study of the Gospel of Luke. My book , A Physician's Perspective, was the text for this study. As you may know, there are three different courses being taught at this seminary. The pastors class (three years), The missionary course (one year), and the Radio course (one and one half years). On this trip, I taught the second year of the pastors class. While teaching there, I usually have some time to write. That did not happen this year. I got to know the students better this time. This resulted in much more time discussing Biblical passages and problems outside the class time. I met with a group of students for discussion almost every evening I was there. Conditions in the Ukraine continue to deteriorate. When I first went to the Ukraine, two years ago, the exchange rate was 460 coupons to the dollar. When I arrived this August, the exchange rate was 51,000 coupons to the dollar. When I left at the end of September, it was 71,000. The infrastructure of the country also declines. While I was in Donetsk, an area of 2.5 million people, there was an epidemic of both diphtheria and typhoid. Many cities are experiencing similar epidemics. We do not know how much longer we will be allowed to go there to teach. Each time I leave the seminary, I say good-bye to my friends there. We do not know if we will be allowed to return or not. In the meantime, we will go as often as we can. While I was there, I spent an evening talking with the wives of the students. The role of the minister's wife is not defined in the Ukrainian church. They therefore struggle with this. Also the wives usually have only basic schooling and are not prepared for the opportunities to serve that they could have. Thus, the opportunities are lost. The wives know this, but do not know how to deal with it. They asked if my wife could come and teach them. They went to the Dean of the school and made an official request. We are happy to announce that from mid August to mid September, 1995, Ruth will go with me to teach in Donetsk. She will teach a course in Christian Education as well as conduct classes for the minister's wives. I am scheduled to teach a course in Bible as I do each time I go. This is a very exciting opportunity for us and we look forward to it with great anticipation. The presence of demonic forces is rampant in the former Soviet Union. Some of the seminary students were involved in Satan worship and drugs (which often go together) before becoming Christians. During the latest trip we had to deal extensively with this problem with one of the students. Pray that God will deliver the people of this land from this evil bondage. Pray that God will give these missionaries and pastors the faith to trust Him and denounce the forces of evil. God will be the victor over all satanic forces even in these lands so long under his control. Bill Cooper YE OLDE EDITORS The editors would like to thank each person who submitted names for this newsletter. The Board selected the name Logos Moments. We want to especially thank the persons who submitted the names Illuminator and Memna. Each of these names indicated a real feeling for the work of Logos Ministries and Dr. Cooper as they have felt it. Are you in the midst of your Christmas shopping looking for a special gift that reflects the reason for the season? Consider a book that Dr. Cooper has written for that special pastor, District Superintendent, or Christian friend. Your editors would like to recommend Behold the Brightness because there is much discussion within the Christian Church as names that are appropriate for God. God does reveal Himself through names as revealed in the Scripture. Perhaps you are looking for study books to start the new year. Consider any of the study books that are available. The questions that precede each chapter help the student to develop personal study skills and then to see how Dr. Cooper answers each of the questions. Of course, if a group wants only the questions for members of the class those are available too, Contributors to the work of Logos Ministries will receive a receipt for your 1994 contributions. The new IRS regulations make it important that you have both a canceled check and a receipt for any contribution of $250 or more at one time. We will mail a receipt indicating amounts and dates received. The Board does want to thank each of you who have made it possible for Dr. Cooper to teach in the Ukraine and for us to send books to Africa and to Colorado prisons. We wish that you could see how excited he is each time he returns from the Ukraine. The teaching that he is able to do because of you will make a lasting difference. He has been able to take books, clothing, medicine, and student supplies each time he went because you have helped. The other day I made an interesting calculation relative to a $2.95 bottle of aspirin. That was worth $750 to them since aspirin sells for $1.50 per aspirin if they can get it and if they feel they can use their limited funds. We are hoping to have available medicine for the August 1995 trip. That medicine makes possible care for the physical body just as the books and Dr. Cooper’s teaching provide care for the spiritual body. As Dr. Cooper has indicated his wife, Ruth will go with him to teach Christian education and to work with the wives of the students. This is a special joy because it is at the request of the students and their families
Are you looking for a special program to help the laity grow in their ability to understand the Bible? Now is the time to plan for a special Lenten time of growth. Dr. Cooper teaches two excellent seminars on Scripture study. The first one is Inductive Bible Study and the second is Using the Greek New Testament when you cannot read Greek. Both seminars have been developed for a Friday evening-all day Saturday format. For those of you within commuting distance of Loveland, he can teach either seminar in once-a-week sessions over a period of weeks. Call Dr. Cooper at 303-669 8775 to make arrangements as to time and financial arrangements.. |
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