Iccc newsletter desember 2014

From the desk of National President Shalom,

ICCC (INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) ADALAH MIMBAR DIMANA PESAN KRISTUS BAGI KITA DI ZAMAN INI DIJABARKAN, DIBAGIKAN DAN DINYATAKAN TERHADAP DUNIA BISNIS

NATIONAL BOARD National President Tonny Soetjoadi Vice Presidents:  Admin/Secretary Abraham Setiabudi 

Finance/Treasurer: Johanis S. Najoan

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Membership/Mentoring/ Network Simon Aditan

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Teaching / Training Juwono

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Business Development/ Micro-Enterprise Umbu Pekuwali

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Intercessors Mohan U. Vasandani (Mrs.) Josephine S. Sitorus

BOARD OF ADVISORS  Bunan Djambek  Eliezer H. Hardjo  Manimbul L. Sitorus

Kantor Nasional ICCC Indonesia:

Website: www.iccc-indonesia.com Pertokoan Pulo Mas Blok B I / 8, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan. Jakarta 13260 Telp (021) 4890211, fax: (021) 4722274.

E-mail: iccc.indonesia@yahoo.com

Selamat berjumpa kembali dengan sidang pembaca setia Berita ICCC Indonesia.

Kita memasuki bulan akhir di tahun 2014 ini, waktu tidak terasa berjalan begitu cepat, khususnya bagi kita yang berada di Indonesia dimana tahun 2014 ini menjadi Tahun Pemilu, karena kita telah melalui dalam memilih pertama anggota Legislatif dan kedua Presiden & Wakil Presiden, dan tugas kita sekarang untuk mendoakan Presiden Ir. Joko Widodo dan Wakil Presiden Moh. Yusuf Kala beserta Kabinet Kerja-nya dalam mengikhtiarkan kesejahteraan bagi seluruh rakyat Indonesia dan membawa Indonesia dalam kemakmuran dan kejayaan, di tengah bangsa-bangsa Masyarakat Ekonomi Asean 2015, yang segera kita masuki.

Kita juga beryukur bahwa International Conference (IGC) dan International General Meeting (IGM) ICCC Internasional telah berlangsung dengan baik di Athems, Yunani, pada tanggal 30 Oktober sampai dengan 2 Nopember 2014 yang dihadiri dari Indonesia oleh dua orang National Board: Johanis S. Najoan dan Umbu Pekuwali. Susunan selengkapnya International Board yang dipilih dalam IGM tersebut akan kami sampaikan di edisi berikut.

Kegiatan ICCC Indonesia masih diisi dengan kegiatan dan rapatrapat rutin termasuk juga kegiatan doa dan sharing (refresh) TWL bagi anggota National Board.

Tentunya ini merupakan waktu yang tepat bagi kami National Board untuk menyampaikan terimakasih atas kesetiaan Anda sekalian mengikuti kegiatan ICCC Indonesia melalui laporanlaporan dalam buletin mungil Berita ICCC Indonesia dan juga atas doa-doa dana partisipasi dalam pelayanan kami di marketplace di Indonesia. Doa Anda sekali sangat kami hargai dan hantar kami memasuki tahun 2015 agar dapat meningkatkan aktivitas kami untuk membawa Terang Kristus di dunia marketplace di Indonesia.

Well, as Christmas is coming, on behalf of the ICCC Indonesia we would like to greet and wishing you all and also your beloved family, A Merry Christmas (25-12-2014) and Happy & Blessed New Year (1-1-2015).

Marilah kita masuki Tahun Baru 2015 dengan berpegang pada Firman Tuhan ini: “Sebab Aku ini mengetahui rancangan-rancangan apa yang ada pada-Ku mengenai kamu, demikianlah firman TUHAN, yaitu rancangan damai sejahtera dan bukan rancangan kecelakaan, untuk memberikan kepadamu hari depan yang penuh harapan.”

(Yeremia 29: 11) Sampai jumpa di tahun baru 2015. Tuhan Yesus Memberkati.

Tonny Soetjoadi National President ICCC Indonesia www.iccc-indonesia.com

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FORUM ANGGOTA 

2. PT. Chantique Inti Décor Junias Hidajat – Director

MEMBERSHIP FEE

Bagi anda yang ingin bergabung dan member yang akan memperpanjang kartu keanggotaan anda untuk tahun 2015 agar menghubung Simon Aditan – V.P. Membership Domain (HP: +62816974647 atau email: simonaditan@yahoo.com Annual Membership Fee untuk tahun 2014 kategori Developing Nation menjadi Rp. 700.000 dimana US$ 50 dikirim ke Kantor Pusat di Swedia sebagai syarat dan kewajiban International Membership

Offices: JL. Semarang – Purwodadi Km 17.8 Gudang No. 8 Kalitengah, Mranggen, Demak 59567, Jawa Tengah – Indonesia Phone: +62-24 673 5496 & 673 5498 Fax: +62-24 673 5497 e-mail: chantique@indosat.net.id Website: www.chantique-id.com Line of Business: Manufacture of customize outdoor furniture for hotels and restaurants.

Membership Fee dapat ditransfer ke rekening ICCC Indonesia atau FORUKIN dibawah ini, dan mengirimkan bukti transfernya dengan fax ke alamat yang tercantum paling bawah dari setiap halaman Newsletter ini: Rekening Bank: CIMB NIAGA BANK Cabang Senen - Jakarta No. 200-01-00012-00-0 a/n : Forum Komunikasi Usahawan Kristen Indonesia (FORUKIN).

KONTAK BISNIS

For serious inquiry, please contact: Junias Hidajat E-mail: junias@indosat.net.id Cell: +62 81 2287 1778 3. Surya Delapan Mas Tonny Soetjoadi – Director

GOLDEN MOMENT TOUR AND TRAVEL

Serving : Incentive Tour Ticketing, Holyland Tour, Event Organizer With Ethos “Serving With Love “

PT. Golden Moment Tour Komp. Bukit Gading Indah Blok K no. 1 Phone : (62 21) 4585 2511 / 46394115 Fax : (62 21) 4585 2611

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Offices: 1. HWI Lindeteves 4th Floor, Block B No. 7 Jalan Hayam Wuruk Jak2arta (Barat) 11180 – INDONESIA Phone: 062 (21) 6259625 Fax: 062 (21) 6259561 2. Taman Berdikari Santosa Block M No. 16 Jalan Pemuda Jakarta (Timur) 13220 – INDONESIA Phone: 062 (21) 4712821 & 91282388 Fax: 062 (21) 4718293 Line of Business: Distribution of Chladianplast Corrugated Roof & Flat sheet for Jakarta Metro & Outer Java and International market

A Doubtful Christmas Business Opportunity: Looking for bona-fide Sub-distributors all-over Indonesia as well as outside of Indonesia, preferably having vast networks & experiences in distribution of building materials.

Serious inquiry can be directed to Tonny Soetjoadi, Director (tonnystd@indo.net.id or mobile: +62811193202 4. HeavenSpring Consulting & Agencies Co. Eliezer Hernawan Hardjo Ph.D., CM Jalan Pegangsaan Indah Barat B I / 8 Pondok Gading Utama Jakarta 14250 – INDONESIA Phone: 062 (21) 4521141 Fax: 062 (21) 4533070 Mobile: (062) 815-13203415

The value of hard work, love and commitment

By Doyle Suit During the summer of 1944, my father sold everything we owned, took all the money and disappeared from our lives. My mother suddenly found herself alone to care for five boys. I was the oldest, barely ten years old.

My youngest brother still wore diapers.

My grandparents welcomed us to their place – eighty acres of rocky hill country, twenty miles from the nearest town. They scratched a living out of growing row crops in the thin topsoil, and running beef cattle on open range.

E-mail: eliezer@heavenspring.com, ehardjo@gmail.com

Partners: 1. Institute of Certified Professional Managers – James Madison University, VA, USA 2. American University of London, UK Line of Business: Business & Management Consulting (Seminar, Training & Consulting)

Grandpa butchered an extra hog that year, and we planted a field of turnips to mature in the cool fall weather. We didn’t know a lot of different ways to prepare turnips, but the farm supplied adequate food. My mother worked in the fields and cared for us kids while I started fifth grade at school.

Changes in our lives couldn’t be avoided. My father had been abusive at times, but he’d always provided for us. Now, I worried about what might happen, but my mother stayed positive, and assured us that she would keep us together as a family and safe from harm.

Relatives donated hand-me-down clothes whenever they could, and the farm produced enough food to nourish all of us every day. I milked cows before catching the school bus, and did chores after I got home each day. The younger boys washed dishes, fed chickens and pigs, and carried in firewood. Six-year-old Jerry was paired with me on a crosscut saw, and we regularly cut wood to heat the house during the winter.

Our efforts paled in comparison to what our mother did, however. At one hundred-five pounds, she could swing an axe, manhandle heavy horse-drawn plows, haul hay for the

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cattle, and harvest crops. Still, she found time to help us with homework and say prayers with the younger boys. She also made sure we attended church regularly, and taught us to appreciate music.

As Christmas approached, my mother didn’t seem to smile as much. She hinted that Santa might have trouble bringing us presents this year. I considered myself practically grown, so I hid my disappointment, but when I overheard a conversation between my mother and grandma, I really started to worry.

“I can’t afford to buy Christmas presents for the kids,” my mother said.

“You need to have something for them,” grandma replied. “Maybe you could wrap some of the hand-me-downs.”

“The kids would be terribly disappointed to find old clothes under the tree. I have to do better than that. Maybe I can make toys.”

Homemade toys didn’t excite me, but I realized she had no money to buy presents.

Explaining that to the younger kids might be difficult, though.

One day, my mother took a saw into the forest and returned with a stack of tree limbs. She left them in the harness room in the barn and refused to tell her curious children what they were for.

She worked on her project while I was in school, but I peeked when I had a chance.

Pieces of wood had been cut into different shapes, then planed and sanded smooth.

Later I found a stack of discs cut from a round oak limb. She also had started to carve a long piece of hickory, but I couldn’t figure out its purpose.

She hid everything from us and frustrated my attempts to snoop. But I saw that she had used nails, glue, and paint from grandpa’s workshop. I concluded that she had to be making presents.

By Christmas week, my mother was her normal happy self again. Her project was apparently complete, and she evidently kept it secret because I’d looked everywhere without success.

When school let out for the holiday, my Page 4

brothers and I cut a Christmas tree in the forest and dragged it home through the early snow. The whole family helped decorate it with ornaments, pinecones, and strings of popcorn. We gathered mistletoe and holly boughs and hung them throughout the house.

While my mother and grandma prepared food for Christmas dinner, I helped grandpa with chores. The younger kids kept a diligent watch on pastries in the cupboard.

On Christmas Eve, we sang carols, and grandpa read aloud from his Bible. After my mother shooed us off to bed, I lay awake for a long while, anticipating Christmas morning.

Aunts, uncles, and cousins would come for dinner, and I was curious about what my mother’s project would yield. I doubted that it could be anything elaborate, and homemade toys still didn’t sound exciting, but I couldn’t help noticing that she’d made a huge effort to provide for us.

I was already awake when she tapped on our door. “Merry Christmas, boys.”

We hurried into the living room, and saw that a stack of packages had magically appeared overnight under the tree. But before we were allowed to investigate what Santa had brought, my mother herded us into the kitchen for breakfast.

We gathered around the tree a little later, and my mother handed out the presents. My brothers opened packages stuffed with brightly colored trucks, tractors and trains.

Those odd pieces of wood she had handled in secret were assembled and painted to form toys. The round discs made wheels that rolled, and the trucks and trains carried tiny logs and blocks. A tractor pulled a miniature wagon. The toys were beautifully crafted, and my siblings were thrilled.

When I tore off the newspaper wrapping my present, I found a hand carved bow and a quiver of blunt arrows. Blunt was fine, because I knew how to make them suitable for hunting rabbits by forging steel arrowheads in grandpa’s shop.

Many difficult years would follow that particular Christmas, but I never again doubted my mother’s ability to care for us.

That Christmas would have been bleak without her skill and dedication, and it foretold

her ability to provide for us. We were never hungry, and she made sure we got an education. She taught us faith in God and faith in our own abilities. That faith sustains me still.

authority in the area of money allows you to live a life of peace within your heart and mind as he lovingly will provide everything you need.

Looking back, my mother’s determination and perseverance changed the harsh reality of that time, transforming our poverty into a memorable Christmas filled with delight. And as it tuned out, the craftsmanship in those toys predicted her later accomplishments as an artist and sculptor.

2. Stewardship Accept your role as a manager or steward since it is your responsibility to submit to The Owner as you will be held accountable for your efforts. With time you will learn he wants you to become a conduit so he can utilize all of his resources through your faithfulness.

Sixty-three winters have come and gone since that special holiday – that doubtful Christmas.

I’m quite sure, in fact I have no doubts, that I’ve never had a happier one.

12 Steps to Finding Financial Success

by Guy Hatcher

Often I am asked, how do you achieve success with your finances? I have found it takes vision, discipline and faith to become successful. I am including 12 steps that, if you follow, will help you achieve the results you desire.

1. Ownership Come to a understanding that God has created everything in this world and you must look to him as the source for all your needs. Learning to submit to his Page 5

3. Tithe /Save/Spend The simple principle of tithing 10% first, saving 10% second and living within the remaining 80% should be the starting line. As you begin to accept and implement the concept, I encourage you to increase the tithe and savings as your faith, knowledge and self-control increases.

4. Earning Capacity Everyone has the ability to earn money so let's imagine that you are a money machine that you will deposit money into on a weekly basis. During the remainder of your life you will earn money for the services you provide.

The average adult will earn over one million dollars in their lifetime so you must understand that the management of your money is as important as your earning capacity.

5. Interest Learn the principle of simple and compound interest. Invest the money you save so it can begin producing a harvest for you. The more your money makes the less you have to deposit into your money machine.

6. Debt Minimize or eliminate your debt as you are depositing into someone else's money machine. Remember when you have debt you are controlled by the bank or mortgage company and it is their rules that will be applied in uncontrollable situations.

7. Financial Plan It is imperative to have a written plan with goals, objectives and a budget. The average investor does not and they will not attain what they have not defined.

Review the plan at least annually so you can adjust it as your goals and situation will dictate the need.

8. Understanding Risk Every investment has risk and you must define all your choices into one of three categories minimum, moderate, or aggressive. Utilizing an investor profile will allow you to establish a baseline risk tolerance in which to compare your investment options.

9. Cost Every investment choice has fees and cost to manage the investment.

Management, trading, acquisition, brokerage and governmental fees are the major ones to decipher. It is your responsibility to completely understand and have disclosed to you all fees as they will erode the return on the investment.

10. Tax impact Income tax will effect your return as we must "pay to Caesar what he is due."

Qualified investments like 401k, IRA, and pension defer the principal and interest til they are removed from the account.

They will be taxed as ordinary income and the tax will be calculated based upon Page 6

your income tax bracket for that year. A non- 2qualified investment means the principal has had the income tax paid on the principal from a previous year. When the investment creates interest , dividend or a capitol gain it will have tax due in that year. It is important to have a tax professional to help you navigate the tax impact as the rules are always changing.

11. Diversification Another way to avoid risk is have your investments diversified. Remember Grandpa always said, 'don't have all your eggs in one basket' and that is what diversity means. If you have money in the stock market I would suggest utilizing a index strategy that buys one of every type of investment in its market place and provides you the diversity with low cost and higher tax efficiency.

12. Engaging Professionals For some individuals managing their investments is overwhelming and not their gift. It is totally acceptable to look for a professional that can help but make sure you are aligned with them in investment style, temperament, and faith. As a steward you can delegate responsibility but not accountability so review and ask questions so you are at peace with your investment decisions.

The Bible gives us numerous scriptures on money, as God knew the struggles we would have with our finances. The one that gives me comfort shares his promise,"I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity" (Proverbs 8:17-18).

May God bless you in your journey as he will take care of all your financial needs if you will seek him through his word.

Maka kamu akan melihat kembali perbedaan antara orang benar dan orang fasik, antara orang yang beribadah kepada TUHAN dan orang yang tidak beribadah kepadaNya.” (Maleakhi 3: 17-18)

VISI DAN TUJUAN ICCC

KEYAKINAN IMAN ICCC:

International Christian Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) lahir dari kepatuhan terhadap visi yang diberikan selama kurun waktu enam tahun kepada seorang usahawan Swedia J. Gunnar Olson, yang diteguhkan dengan nubuatan dan terbukanya pintu kesempatan disekitarnya yang sebelumnya tertutup.

ICCC merupakan panggilan yang serius dan menantang bagi pengusaha Kristen untuk mengenali jaman yang sedang kita masuki dan dengan terang dari pengenalan itu memasuki dimensi iman yang baru yang disediakan bagi mereka yang …” takut akan TUHAN … berbicara satu sama lain … dan menghormati namaNya.” (Maleakhi 3: 16)

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Satu-satunya TUHAN pencipta segala sesuatu dalam kesatuan Trinitas: Bapa, Anak, dan Roh Kudus.

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Keilahian TUHAN Yesus Kristus. Kelahiran-Nya dari rahim seorang Perawan. Karya penebusan dosa manusia melalui kematian-Nya diatas kayu salib. Kebangkitan-Nya. Hak otoriatas diri-Nya atas dunia dan Kedatangan-Nya yang kedua kali dalam Kuasa dan Kemuliaan-Nya.

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Alkitab, sepenuhnya sebagai Firman TUHAN yang mem8berikan inspirasi dan berbagai peraturan bagi kehidupan yang dilandasi iman.

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Keselamatan pribadi orang berdosa dan kebutuhannya untuk mengalami proses regenerasi melalui8 karya Roh Kudus dalam menuju menjadikannya sebagai manusia yang dikehendaki oleh TUHAN, seutuhnya.

Visi ini memanggil para pengusaha dan kaum profesi di seluruh dunia yang terbeban untuk saling berhubungan, bertukar pendapat, memperdagang-kan barang dan menyediakan jasa, saling mendukung dan menguatkan secara rohani dan materi. Berdasarkan eksistensi dari visi itu sendiri memproklamirkan otoritas Kristus yang mutlak diseluruh dunia.

Pada intinya ICCC adalah kehendak TUHAN untuk memperluas tali kasih-Nya, melalui gereja-Nya, didalam dunia usaha. Hal ini menuntut para pelaku bisnis mencari terlebih dahulu Kerajaan-Nya dan segala Kebenaran-Nya. Urapan tersedia bagi mereka yang dengan mata melihat dan telinga mendengar panggilan jaman.

Sebagaimana halnya Raja Daud yang menerima urapan untuk menjadi raja, jauh sebelum dia menjadi Raja, yang keadaan pada saat urapan diberikan sama sekali tidak mungkin bagi Daud untuk menjadi Raja, demikianlah ICCC memanggil para pengusaha Kristen sebelum peristiwanya terjadi untuk mengalami kebebasan masuk ke dalam dimensi baru, dimana sasaran, strategi dan perencanaan bersama-sma diwujud-nyatakan sesuai dengan iman di dalam Kristus.

ICCC mencanangkan panggilan itu sejalan dengan rencana TUHAN bagi jaman ini sebagai kunci memperoleh berkat dan pertumbuhan dan agar dapat bangkit berkemenangan diatas gelombang ombak yang mengancam.

Panggilan ICCC: “Mereka akan menjadi milik kesayanganKu sendiri, firman TUHAN semesta Alam pada hari yang Kusiapkan. Aku akan mengasihi mereka sama seperti seseorang menyayangi anaknya yang melayani dia.

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Transformed Working Life (TWL) adalah Pelatihan resmi dari Kantor Internasional bagi anggota ICCC dalam memperlengkapi anggota dengan pengetahuan dan pemahaman latar belakang, tujuan dan penerapan prinsipprinsip Kerajaan TUHAN bagi dunia bisnis dan profesi.

TWL diperuntukkan bagi anggota dan dapat diikuti secara Cuma-Cuma, namun terbuka juga bagi siap2a saja yang berminat untuk mengikutinya.

TWL

diselenggarakan dalam bahasa Indonesia dan dilengkapi dengan buku panduannya, yang telah diterjemahkan kedalam Bahasa Indonesia juga, sehingga para peserta betul-betul akan memperoleh manfa’at yang besar dan mengalami transformasi dalam kehidupan pribadi maupun bisnisnya.

TWL difasilitasi oleh anggota National Board yang terlatih dan dikoordinir oleh V.P. Teaching: Benjamin B. Juwono bersama dengan Teaching Team: Johanis S. Najoan dan Eliezer H. Hardjo Transformed Working Life (TWL) akan ditayangkan dalam salah satu channel di Indonesia agar dapat dimanfaatkan oleh para pebisnis & profesional Kristiani di Indonesia bagaimana menerapkan prinsip-prinsip Kerajaan Tuhan dalam kehidupan berbisnis dan bekerja mereka.

TWL bagi members secara rutin diadakan pada hari Sabtu ke 2 setiap bulan dan terbuka dan dianjurkan bagi semua member untuk mengikutinya sebagai pembekalan wajib.

5 Ways We Could Probably Be “Better Christians” One of the key things I have attempted to do over the past year has been to build bridges with people who are often on the “outs” of Evangelical Christianity (ironically, this placed me on the “outs” as well). I realized over the course of time that there are many people who don’t give this following Jesus thing a full shot, not because of anything Jesus said or did but because of things we say and do. In far too many circumstances, we’ve become the Page 8

barrier instead of the bridge that leads to free flowing “living water”.

This is something I long to change. I believe the life Jesus has to offer—and ONLY Jesus offers—is something that can continue to revolutionize the world, just as it did when the movement was still a cluster of 12 misfits and a radical rabbi.

However, since God’s primary way of working in the world seems to be through the human agency of his followers, we must contend with the fact that our actions can take the movement forward—or even slow it down. In light of this truth, I think it is a wise move to always be analyzing our individual and collective behavior so that we can be in a perpetual process of “refining” ourselves in order to be more effective landmarks that point others to Jesus.

The Apostle Paul recognized this truth when he said “I have become all things to all people that I might win some”. He recognized the need to be always adapting, always improving, and always changing in order to effectively communicate the message of Jesus within various scenarios. We must continue this practice if we honestly desire to effectively invite more and more people to this big party that God is throwing.

In our current culture, I think there is certainly no shortage of ways that we can become “better Christians”, but in considering the many interactions I’ve had with thousands of folks over the past year, here are five that I think are absolutely key to the vitality of Christianity:

1. We might want to dial down the arrogance.

Let’s be honest: arrogance is a turn-off for most people. It’s not attractive, it’s not effective, and it only hinders the movement. I think many people push back against this idea,

instead claiming that we must cling to “absolute truth”. What we often fail to realize however, is that we can cling to what is true

without doing so in an arrogant or obnoxious way.

I’m not sure why arrogance is so prevalent in our movement, but it’s a turn off even to me— and I’m a devoted Jesus follower. If we want to invite more people in, we need to dial this down a notch or two and “clothe ourselves in humility” as scripture commands us to do.

2. We’d do well to start assuming the best in each other.

As I watch so much of Christian infighting, I have come to the conclusion that much of it (not all) is rooted in a failure to assume the best in each other. To be honest, sometimes I’m on the receiving end of that, but I’ve also been on the giving end of it as well— something that I really hope to do better at, even when I profoundly disagree with others.

When we consciously or unconsciously judge the heart and motive of another person, we sin against the God who is the only one able to judge such matters. The far better option when we encounter someone we disagree with or who sees things differently than we do, is to simply assume the best in them. This doesn’t mean we agree with each other all the time, but it does mean our hearts are more humble and tender when we do.

3. We could refrain from attempting to apply scripture to the lives of others we don’t actually know or have relationships with.

I’m all about discussing the truth (as I understand it) and pointing people to the truth (as I understand it) but the application of biblical truth to the life of another is a whole new ballgame. Applying scripture to an individual life is not cut and dried—we all have Page 9

different stories, different struggles, different levels of understanding… we’re different in a lot of ways. A great example was the rich man who went away from Jesus sad, because Jesus told him that he needed to sell everything and give it to the poor. Jesus doesn’t call all of us to do that—but for this man, that extreme example was what applying biblical truth looked like. Application looks different for everyone.

Because God’s path is personalized to the individual in so many ways, it’s not simply possible to walk up to people we don’t know and are not in relationship with, and think that we have a handle on how to best apply scripture to their lives.

We don’t—that understanding only begins to come when relationship and knowledge are both in harmony.

4. We could actively look for ways to reconcile “all things” to God. One of the messages in the New Testament is that Jesus went to the cross in order to reconcile “all things” to God. As a natural outgrowth of that fact, Paul teaches that you and I have been since given the “ministry of reconciliation” as God’s agents here in the world.

This means that the first order of business in the life of a Jesus follower is to answer the question: “What can I help reconcile?”

If you’re a Jesus follower, you’ve been given the task of mending things that are broken— individual relationships, collective relationships, the environment, etc. If it’s broken, our task is to figure out how we can contribute to fixing it. However, these things don’t always fall in our lap, and sometimes we don’t notice them when they do. As such, we must always be on the lookout for ways that we can reconcile the world back to the God who created all of it.

5. We could spend more time getting to know the “other”.

So many of the tasks we’ve been given as Jesus followers hang on this one point. True humility is born out of knowing ourselves and others as we/they truly are in God’s eyes.

Assuming the best in others becomes a critical aspect of removing barriers so that we can actually begin the process of getting to know the other. Learning to help apply scripture at the right time and in the right way means we must first know the “other”. And finally, reconciling all things and all people to God requires that we actively work to know and establish positive relations with all things and all people.

Jesus understood this—which is why he spent so much of his time getting to know people and establishing relationships with them. His followers must trust his example, and come to realize that building relationships and getting to know the “other” is often the very first step that must take place before God is able to use us in full capacity.

Terimakasih anda telah meluangkan waktu membaca Berita ICCC Indonesia ini dan silahkan mem-forwardnya ke rekan bisnis anda agar memperoleh berkat rohani yang sama.

Redaksi

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