From My Heart to Yours - Part 2

Part 2 of this two-part set is a continuation of this author's journey with Christ. This document was started with no thought of publishing or making it public. It was a joy to sit during the morning quiet time and write some thoughts which seem at times fairly unrelated to one another. However, the thoughts reflected a discovery of the kaleidoscopic relation with, and discovery of the matchless character of our risen Lord and Savior. Very quickly, this exercise turned into soul-searching and, through various life experiences, became an examination of heart and soul in light of the Word of the Living God. Major themes within the meditations of this book became anchors for the writer's flow of thoughts, such as, the Centrality of the Person of Jesus Christ; The Person, Work, Presence, and Power of the Holy Spirit; as well as other themes that form the core of the Christian life, such as forgiveness, faith, obedience, practical and organic nature of church life, application of God's love, and what makes the believer's walk challenging and sometimes blurred. The reason behind this thematic approach is to see the relevance and application of God's principles expressed in daily life. Much is written today about sound doctrine. However, to this author, one of the nagging issues in Christendom today is the soundness of doctrine but dead reflection of the life of Christ in everyday life. Surely, there is a bridge that is solidly founded in God's Word. Discovering aspects of that bridge is one of the objectives of this writing. This author's premise is that doctrines are wonderful and easy to identify, and ascertain their veracity through the objective study of God's Word, but without the indwelling Holy Spirit and daily obedience, discipline, and application, such life is purely pharisaic and counter-productive in personal, family, church, and social life. It grieves the Spirit and produces no fruit. The fact remains that unless the grain goes into the ground and dies; it will remain alone and will bear no fruit. Rightness of doctrine is no guarantee of righteousness that's Christ born and Spirit-implemented. Beginning in faith requires faith for the rest of the journey. Only the Holy Spirit can sustain such lifestyle, filled with the variegated beauty of Christ's character. Then I can worship in Spirit/spirit and truth. And then I can enjoy Him forever. The rest of the journey is simply diverse details making each one of us unique and rich.

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Notă biografică

John was born in the war-torn country of Lebanon and migrated in 1970 to the United States to obtain college education. He finished his undergraduate degree majoring in Biology and psychology. He received his Master's degree in educational psychology, ESL, biblical languages, divinity, foreign languages, counseling; the ABD in foreign language education, and completed the PhD in higher education administration. John worked widely in the fields of education, psychology, translation, language and academic administration. He taught in several fields of study until he felt the compelling and call of God on his life to be dedicated to the ministry. He has been in the pastorate since the late 70's, and on the mission field frequently until the present, speaking in church and denominational conferences. He has been involved in church planting and discipleship, training of church leaders, mentoring, and coaching pastors in Arabic churches in North America and the Middle East. One of John's passions is to travel and work with pastors in their contexts, listening and supporting them as they face their challenges and sometimes unhappy trials. Since the early years of study, John learned of the constant challenge to transform theory into practice regardless of the field of study. Acquisition of knowledge is one thing, but its conversion to practical reality is where the rubber hits the road. Failure awaits the one who doesn't master the skill of transitioning from theory to practice. Of all the fields of study, none has seen this to be true more than the ministry. The demands of people and pulpit, and living in the proverbial "glass house" of ministry, is reflected in one pastor's broken heart response when he said, "If the people come to the pastor when they have a problem, to whom does the pastor go when he is surrounded with problems that sometimes come down hard on him and his family?" Some of the themes John loves to speak on include the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit, Prayer, complete surrender to the lordship of Christ, forgiveness, confession, Bible study and presentation of God's truth, spiritual warfare, practical ministry. His heart's desire is to see reawakening of the church in general and the Arabic church in particular. John is married to Amaui (Amaya), and they have one son, Jonathan. After traveling between several states for education and work/ministry, they made their home in Birmingham, AL for the last twenty five years.