Lynn Green

Author: Lynn Green

  • The Sons of Issachar

    The Sons of Issachar

    (The Bible describes one of the tribes, Issachar, as people who”understood the times”. Loren Cunningham is a man who understands our times. I wrote this after a conversation with him; he has read it and is happy for it to be posted as an accurate account of the thoughts he expressed in that conversation.)

    I was on a Zoom call with Loren Cunningham and several others recently.  When it was over Marti, who could hear part of it, remarked, “I have rarely heard Loren speak so forcefully; did you get what he was saying?  I think it is VERY important.”  I agreed that there was an unusual sense of urgency and significance to what he said, so in the next session, I asked if he could write up what he said, or work with someone else to do that.  His rejoinder was to say I should write up what he said from the notes being taken.  Here it is:

    THE TIME OF OPPORTUNITY IS GETTING SHORTER

    We must be more diligent and work faster because the time of opportunity is being shortened.  Many of the nations, known for their freedoms, are seeing those freedoms limited in ways we could not have imagined, even just a year ago.

    The eroding of freedom of speech and freedom of movement over recent years has been obvious and have been written about and broadcast extensively, but the trend continues.  Soon, it will enter a new phase.

    There will be a worldwide vocal attack on the Bible.  This will be an effort to stop our God-given mandate to make the Bible available to everyone in their mother tongue.

    OUR BELIEFS, OUR CULTURE, AND OUR HISTORY – UNDER ATTACK

    The Bible is being targeted because it gives us our beliefs and from our beliefs, we get our culture.  Those who are determined to change our culture are working hard to banish any record of Biblical influence from our history.  (I, Lynn, might add that, on the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible in 2011, the renowned broadcaster, author and Parliamentarian, Melvyn Bragg, produced and presented “The Legacy of the King James Bible”.  He said, “It was in fact the King James Bible that had the greatest impact on everything from English language and literature to Western democracy.”  Then, it was broadcast by the BBC, but I am certain they would not allow it today.)

    With the Bible guiding our beliefs and lying at the centre of Western democracy, as Bragg stated, we have had a standard by which we could say what was good and what was evil in our history.  There was, of course, a lot of both because those are always the results of human activity.  But with extensive Biblical influence, the United States of America became a nation with a common culture in which people gained more freedom and prosperity than had ever been known on earth. Many other western nations also had extensive influence from the Bible, and the “American experiment” was an inspiration to other nations and cultures.  (If You Can Keep It, by Eric Metaxas, is a spell-binding account of Biblical Christian influence on the American Constitution.)   

    If anyone sets out to change a nation, they must first rewrite the history.  The more extreme left-wing movement in America and much of Europe has been determined to do exactly that. First, they write their own version of history and then they teach it in our schools and colleges, with no other versions permitted.  They know that no one will work hard to overthrow the current social order unless they believe it is irredeemably bad.  One well known socialist Ivy League professor stated that socialism cannot work until everyone thinks the same.  The extreme left has set out to get everyone to think alike.  The New York Times 1619 Project is an example of how young people are being taught that the history of the USA and Western Culture is predominantly evil. 

    WE MUST “WORK WHILE IT IS DAYTIME”

    What once seemed impossible, or at least very unlikely, is now a strong probability.  The Bible could be labelled hate-speech and then be banned.  We must redouble our efforts to get it out more and more widely.  That is clearly the will of God and when we do exactly what he wants, he will work with us and we will be able to do more than we ever thought possible.

    WE HAVE A PANDEMIC, BUT NOT THE ONE YOU THINK

    There is a pandemic among missionaries.  Over 5% of them have recently had to leave the place of their calling.  This is the beginning of a revolution, a dramatic change in the strength of missions sent out from America and other Western democracies.  Because of the other pandemic, Covid-19, millions of people have become more and more dependent on government to tell them what they can and cannot do.  Millions have also become dependent on the money governments are printing.  These factors and others have led to a drop in money given to missions.

    Some mission boards have looked at the drop in income and have let the accounts tell them what to do.  For many boards, the decision was just a sad, but necessary, business decision:  when the revenue drops, cut your costs!  20% loss in income means 20% of our missionaries must be fired. 

    This is not the way the economy of the Kingdom of God works.  He will always provide sufficiently for His people to go where he calls them and live there.  May the Lord grant a new measure of faith to those whose support has been cut! 

    As you probably know, this is not the whole picture.  About the time YWAM began, the mission force also began to change dramatically.  It is no longer comprised of missionaries from Western nations going to the rest of the world.  Now the mission force comes from all over the world and goes all over the world.  It is so much more resilient than it was.  Thank God for that!

    WILL THE VACCINE SAVE US?

    At the time of this conversation, three potentially effective vaccinations have been announced, but none has been made widely available yet.  But the CEO of Qantas Airlines has already announced that a certificate of vaccination will be “a necessity for every passenger who wishes to travel internationally”.

    That’s another level of control and we are expected to get used to it, just as most of us have adjusted to churches being closed or so heavily restricted that we cannot worship in song or host full congregations.  When governmental authorities can decide who can or cannot travel, it would be a small step to prevent missionaries from reaching the place of their calling.

    A NEW WORLD ORDER

    Meanwhile many world leaders are calling for more global control to address this pandemic and the crises of climate change and the world economy.  In his September 2020 address to the United Nations General Assembly, Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, said the Covid-19 pandemic was our “wakeup call”.  He pointed out that the UN was based upon multinational cooperation, but that is not working.  He said we need a new way of thinking, that “we must work together regardless of how the lines are drawn on our maps.” 

    Admittedly, Trudeau is one of the more extreme liberal voices and there is little chance that the squabbling member nations of the UN will suddenly start to work together in harmony.  But the call for a “new global authority” with teeth is now widespread.

    THE MOST THREATENING PANDEMIC

    During 1918 and 1919, the Spanish Flu resulted in up to 50 million deaths.  The 1968 and 69 Hong Kong Flu, originating in China like Covid-19, killed up to 4 million people globally.  Covid-19 has, thus far, resulted in 1.4 million deaths.  That is about 2% of the total global deaths in the past 12 months.  The average age of deaths due to Covid in the United Kingdom is 82 and the median age across all nations is 79.5.  Those younger people who die of Covid-19 almost always have other serious diseases.  These historical facts should lead us to stop and think.  Why is this pandemic being presented to us by governments and the media as if it is killing, or will kill, more people than anything in living memory?  Why is there so much panic when a flu pandemic killed two or three times as many people when I was a young adult?

    The most threatening pandemic is the pandemic of fear and the consequences we are reaping.  Because of fear, we are giving up our civil liberties at a rate we could not have imagined just one year ago.  Who would have thought that the government could close down churches, forbid congregational singing in any circumstances, prevent us from seeing family members, stop us eating in restaurants—as you know, the list goes on and on!

    WE HAVE AN UNCONDITIONAL MANDATE—LET’S GET ON WITH IT!

    Jesus gave us a commandment to go into all the world and preach the gospel.   Matthew 28:18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth, he said, “has been given to me!  So you must go and make all the nations into disciples.  Baptize them in the name of the father and of the son, and of the holy spirit.  Teach them to observe everything I have commanded you.  And look: I am with you, every single day, to the very end of the age.” 

    We are not yet at the end of the age, so he is still with us!  And his command was not conditional.  The first few generations of disciples who followed Jesus had many more disadvantages than we have.  Their lives were much more difficult, and opposition greeted them everywhere they turned.  But they changed their world!  With Jesus working in us and through us, we can make all the nations into disciples.  Just don’t be afraid to obey him!

  • The Marshmallow Experiment

    The Marshmallow Experiment

    The Marshmallow Experiment

    (Can You Wait?)

    The marshmallow experiment was conducted in the late 1960s by Professor Walter Mischel at Stanford University.  He would give a child a marshmallow or cookie, then tell them that he was leaving and would be back in 15 minutes.  Then he made a promise that, though they were free to eat it, if they kept it until he got back, he would give them a second marshmallow or cookie.  This was a simple way to measure what economist call time preference.  That is the ability to apply self-restraint now for a better outcome later.

    The professor then followed the children up decades later and there was a clear correlation between those who could wait and their tendency to do well in school, have a lower body mass index and be free from addictions.

    I was fascinated by the outcome of this simple experiment, which I learned about from a book I am currently reading.  The author then went on to write a remarkable passage on the essence of prosperous societies.  

    This ability to restrain immediate wants/desires for long-term benefit means that…” individuals begin to appreciate investing in the long run and start prioritizing future outcomes.  A society in which individuals bequeath their children more than what they received from their parents is a civilized society: it is a place where life is improving, and people live with a purpose of making the next generation’s lives better.  As society’s capital levels continue to increase, productivity increases, and along with it, quality of life. With the security of their basic needs assured, and the dangers of the environment averted, people turn their attention to more profound aspects of life than material well-being and the drudgery of work.  They cultivate families and social ties, undertake cultural, artistic and literary projects; and seek to offer lasting contributions to their community and the world. Civilization is not about capital accumulation per se; rather it is about what capital accumulation allows humans to achieve, the flourishing and freedom to seek higher meaning in life when their base needs are met, and most pressing dangers averted.” (From The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous)

    I am so grateful to my parents and their generation!  They suffered through the great depression, fought or supported the war effort in WWII, then went on to serve subsequent generations by building the complex physical and economic infrastructures of the Western nations, so that many of us might pursue courses of “higher meaning in life”.  

    My parents were not able to leave a material legacy to my siblings and me; their estate was consumed by the cost of their medical care in their last several years—but that is another important story.  But they still left us so much, including materially, because their life’s work contributed to the development of broad-based wealth in our society.  They also left us their outstanding example of lives lived virtuously.

    Their example equipped my siblings and me to live prosperous lives, even though we often chose to live for higher meaning.  Our children are now old enough for us to see that they are effectively standing on our shoulders, as we stood on our parent’s shoulders.  But will this virtuous cycle continue from one generation to the next?  Right now, that seems doubtful.

    The virtuous cycle gradually produces more and more opportunity for all, hence the ongoing flood of people wanting to immigrate to the prosperous and relatively free societies of Western nations.  It does not, however, produce equality.  Reliable, honest and hard-working people normally reap rewards and if their children are the same, they pile up more rewards—and on it goes.  However, those who are not industrious, honest and reliable do not fare as well.  So, their children start off with less advantage than others.

    Let’s say for a moment that I am one of the least advantaged people; I have some choices to make. I can determine to be a hard-working person of good character, or I can blame society for my lack of advantage and demand that I should be given what I want.  

    My father was a great example of the former.  He was “dealt a bad hand.”  His father lost everything in the double-whammy of the dustbowl and the great depression.  He was a farmer in Kansas, where once-prosperous farms were reduced to desert.  That family of 11 had to move west to a small house on a poor, but irrigated farm of only 27 acres. That experience pushed my grandfather over the edge and his anger turned to uncontrollable, murderous rages.  When he went into a rage, my dad and his siblings would clear out for several days, knowing that their lives were in danger if they stayed at home.  One of my early memories is of my Dad driving to my grandparents’ home to rescue my grandmother, who was being threatened with a shotgun.  She stayed with us for several days before it was safe to go back.

    Later in life, I asked my dad how he turned out to be such a good father and he said that even at a very young age, he worked out that he could learn from good examples and bad.  That is exactly what he did, and he determined to be a good example to us.  He and my mother worked tirelessly at several jobs to provide for us and gradually our family became more secure and prosperous.

    Recently I watched a news cast which was covering a demonstration in an American city.  The man with the microphone shouted, “If society does not give us what we demand, we will burn it down!”  I had previously read some of the manifesto of his protest movement and understood the wider context of that statement.  His group sees the accumulation of capital not as beneficial, but as evil.  He wants a government with the power to seize the wealth of successful individuals and families and distribute it to those who have less. 

    It seems to me that most wealthy individuals, companies and families recognize the need to pay reasonable taxes for the benefit of society as a whole and for the benefit of those who need more opportunity.  But none will be happy to pay for those who have opportunity, but do not pursue it.  (Of course, the perpetual debate is about what constitutes “reasonable” taxes.)

    These are ideas that need ongoing debate, even passionate disagreement.  We need to debate and argue about levels of taxation, what should be left to private enterprise, and what works best when enterprises are run by government.  We must debate the pros and cons of local charities as social agencies, compared government-run social projects.  We must be aware of the history of tyranny resulting from over-empowering of government but also the chaos of too little government.

    In a healthy nation, these things are debated, argued about, even shouted about, but no-one is “de-platformed”, speech is free, even when disagreeable, or disagreeably presented.

    But I want to wrap up this article by returning to the Marshmallow Experiment: the ability to delay gratification for a greater, but delayed, reward.  Jesus was the perfect example of this characteristic.  Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

    The New Testament has scores of statements about suffering now, but glory later, about “laying up for ourselves treasure in heaven.”  As committed Christians, we are firstly citizens of “the age to come”. (As NT Wright translates it in the New Testament for Everyone.)   The Apostle Paul puts it this way, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”  2 Cor. 4:17. Later in the same letter he describes what he means by “light and momentary troubles”:  

    For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.  2 Cor 11:26-28

    What an unsurpassed example of a man who could endure sacrifice now, for the sake of the rewards to come.  He endured, often joyfully, the pain, danger and hardship because he was certain—by faith—the he was investing in the age to come.  He knew what I want to know more, that he was putting savings into the bank of eternity.

    Given that we are citizens of the Kingdom of God first, should we just forget about investing into tomorrow in this life on earth?  Some would think so, but I think we can and should do both.  I am convinced that we can do both—invest for our future, and that of our children—and invest in eternity.  We do that by consciously saying no to many of our immediate appetites for “things” but accepting any hardship that comes our way as we seek to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit.  

    Abraham is the “father of faith” and serves as a great example of a man who embraced sacrifice for a better future.  In the faith chapter, Hebrews 11, it reminds us that Abraham lived for the generations to come after him, that he “was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.”  At the same time, this is how he was described by his senior household servant, “The Lord has greatly blessed my master; he has become a wealthy man.”

    Let’s imitate him!

     

    Lynn Green.

     

  • Reflections on the passing of my mother, the last of the “Great Generation” in our family.

    Reflections on the passing of my mother, the last of the “Great Generation” in our family.

    Reflections on the passing of my mother, the last of the “Great Generation” in our family.

    My mother, Janice Green, passed away at about 7 p.m. on October 30th, 2020.  She was 94.  The “cause of death” will be recorded as Alzheimer’s, with Covid as a contributing factor, but the real cause is that she felt free to go.

    A few weeks ago Marti and I began to feel that we should plan a trip back to Colorado, even though it was not clear if freedom to travel for “non-essential” purposes would continue.  We booked the flights and just before we left home, we learned that Mom had tested positive for Covid.  Although our family home in Mesa County Colorado has been almost Covid free, somehow the virus got into the very careful and caring nursing home where she and Dad have lived for a few years.  Dad passed away about 13 months before Mom.

    I have a younger sister and younger brother in Mesa County. My sister Charlotte has been visiting Mom daily, encouraging her, buying the things she needed (she regularly “needed” new clothes, even though she wasn’t able to go anywhere) and liaising with the nursing home.

    The day after we arrived, my older sister, Deyon, arrived from Texas.  Although we could not visit Mom because of Covid, Deyon did stop by the nursing home to look through the window, but Mom was not visible.  She had been unresponsive for several days. Over the previous five or six years, dementia had taken her ability to communicate and finally her comprehension.

    The next day we had a wonderful, warm time of fellowship with my brother, Greg and his wife, Debbie.  As we were leaving, Debbie, who has some expertise in neural science, explained that often the ability to hear remains even after other abilities have gone.  She suggested perhaps we should consider trying to communicate with her one more time to say what we thought was important.

    Greg and Debbie had appointments that afternoon, but Deyon, Charlotte, Marti and I all felt that Debbie had shared an important insight, so we went back to the nursing home.  This time, Mom was clearly visible from the window and one of the many excellent staff put a phone on speaker mode and held it close to Mom.

    Each of us had a turn telling her that we loved her very much, were so grateful for such an exemplary mother, letting her know that we were in warm family unity and that she should feel free to go be with Dad and all her loved ones in the place Jesus has prepared for us. It was one of those moments when we all thought, “God is so IN this act!”

    About three hours later we got the phone call saying she had taken her last breath at about 7 p.m. on the 30th of October.

     

    This is the obituary we prepared for Janice Green.

     

    Janice Green passed away October 30th in her 95th year, following her husband, Charlie, who died last year at the age of 96.  They enjoyed a full and fruitful life together, having four children, 15 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and one great, great grandchild.  She left a family deeply grateful for her legacy of love, integrity, hardworking faithfulness and creativity.  For those familiar with the description, she was the incarnation of the Proverbs 31 woman.

    Janice was born July 14, 1926 in Logan, New Mexico to Arbie and Tuck Meeks, the fifth of six children.  Arbie had brought 2 children to the marriage and Tuck had brought four, so the total was twelve.  Janice attended schools in New Mexico, obtained a ministerial license, travelled as an evangelist and went on to Southwestern Bible College in Waxahachie, Texas, graduating with honours in 1944.

    She married Charles Green in June of 1944. Together they pastored in Texas, before moving to Colorado in 1946.  Four children were born to Charlie and Janice in Grand Junction: Deyon Stephens (Don), Lynn Green (Martha), Charlotte Pollard (Ron), and Greg Green (Debbie).

    Janice served as PTA president of Orchard Mesa Junior High; she taught Sunday School for many years; She was a talented musician in piano, organ, banjo, and guitar.  She contributed to the family income and taught her children well through her efforts in many projects like baking, raising chickens, turkeys, milk cows and sheep, growing fruit and vegetables, and sewing.

    Despite her initial fear of flying, she obtained her pilot’s license after her children were grown.  She learned general administration and bookkeeping skills, making payroll for Valley Construction, one of the businesses she and her husband ran together.  She occasionally flew supplies and payroll to outlying jobs in Farmington, New Mexico; Kemmerer, Wyoming and Cortez, Colorado.

    In 1975 Charlie and Janice completed the entry level training for Youth With A Mission in Lausanne, Switzerland. They returned to close their business and pioneer a Youth With A Mission training center in the Big Cimarron Valley, training scores of young people in Christian faith and life skills. They directed that ministry for 20 years, and then purchased El Rancho Cimarron,  a small family resort, which they operated for seven years. 

    In their late 70s, Charlie and Janice built a house on the Redlands of Grand Junction and returned to live there in 2003.  In 2012 they moved to the Atrium (assisted living).  As their health and strength declined they moved on to Larchwood Nursing Home, where they were well-cared for and loved by the excellent staff.

  • LIVE – The Power of Forgiveness

    LIVE – The Power of Forgiveness