Inspired it seems by none other than Aristotle, Rachel Melikian wrote in her Op-Ed in the L.A. Times last year: “The Armenian sparrow sings songs of our tales to the world. Our stories had gone with our martyrs, but we cherish the memories of dear truth … We must be ready to become heroes of our nation, for truth will mark the end of the enemy’s lies.”

Though I don’t know entirely or precisely where she’s coming from theologically, politically, or philosophically, I can certainly resonate with at least some of Ms. Melikian’s sentiment. In nearly every category, much has been robbed from Armenia over many centuries. That being validated, it is still a land of promise. I can say that because the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is alive and well here. I have seen it with my own eyes.

I thought I’d send you a few more photos before I fly out early tomorrow. There’s one of me teaching with my translator in Ararat, and a few others with some of my team members. I’ll also throw in a couple from Lake Sevan, and a few from the capital city of Yerevan.

Please pray me home. It’s almost a 24-hour trip, and I’m tired even before I depart. But it’s a “good tired” if you know what I mean.

Thanks for sharing the journey with me. Much love.

Pastor Charles

It’s Ararat Conference Day 3. Good morning!

Thanks for all your prayers, and for blessing people here through your generous giving. In our hermeneutics course, we’ve moved from observation to interpretation to application. We’re emphasizing the importance of sticking with a text of Scripture, and making the most of the text. This morning, specifically, we examined “the Lord’s prayer” as a pattern for prayer.

You would not believe the eagerness and passion with which these students have approached their assignments. We’ve done small-group Bible observation, and then asked some of the students to share their new interpretive skills with the large group. For example, we asked them to resolve what Paul says about Abraham’s salvation and ours (Romans 4) with what James says on the same subject (James 2:14-26). Is there a conflict in God’s Word between faith and works? That was the students’ task, and they completed it with excellence.

Today’s early afternoon lunch will be a special treat which you helped provide. I’ll try to send some photos later.

I have great hope for the body of Christ in this part of God’s world! Even as many believers are driven out of many parts of the Middle East, there is still a bright gospel light shining in the darkness. Some of the Syrians whom I’ve met here are ready to go back to their homeland as evangelists as soon as the political winds change direction just enough to make that possible. Wow!

Paul the Apostle expressed our timeless hope like this (Ephesians 3:20-21): “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Pastor Charles

Warning to Parents: Some contents are PG-13.

I thought you might enjoy some more pics from Armenia. Armenia formally became a Christian nation in 301 A.D., and the uniqueness of the Armenian language (with its 38 letters and sounds, some of which I absolutely cannot pronounce correctly, despite repeated attempts) allowed copies of the Scriptures to fall into the hands of the Armenian people very early in church history.

One of the most fascinating dimensions of ministry here is the awareness of Islam at every border. Armenia is surrounded by Muslim nations, and has struggled to survive numerous foreign invasions over the centuries. I titled this blog post the Armenian equivalent of: “Lord, have mercy on us!” I stole the line from a book on the Armenian genocide which began in 1915.

You’ll see in one of my conference photos that I am standing in the dining room. That breakfast table was a gathering of Syrians. These particular refugees are descendants of Armenians (grandchildren to be precise) who were dragged by the Turks into the desert to die during the genocide. Some of those grandparents survived being thrown into wells and having sand poured down their throats, while most if not all of their family members perished. Horrors in those days included women being raped and impaled on stakes, and other crimes against children too grotesque for me to include here. This is the spirit driving ISIS today. Make no mistake about it.

But the true Church is alive and well in the Middle East! The Christ-followers whom I’ve been privileged to meet here are passionate about our Lord Jesus, and hungry to know how to interpret and apply the Scriptures. One young woman just explained to me how she does her Greek word studies so that she can be a better teacher. Despite limited resources among the people, the Holy Spirit is deploying His unlimited resources to accomplish amazing things for Christ’s kingdom. (We must never forget that Jesus was a refugee.)

To quote the great theologian Julie Farmer: “Wowie! Wow! Wow!” By the way, Julie, I taught the Armenians to say, “Wow!” They love the word, and have adopted it, albeit unofficially.

Pastor Charles

It’s Monday, and we begin Conference #2 today. Thanks for all of your heartfelt prayers, including those offered on my behalf from friends at Grace Baptist Church in Muldova Noua, Romania. I’ll send an update on today’s sessions later.

The conference in Vanadzor went exceedingly well, with several hundred in attendance. I’ll include a picture of some of the folks gathering outside before we got started, as well as a couple of the teaching shots. When I get my hands on one of the inside photos of the participants, I’ll send it. (There isn’t one on my cell phone because I was teaching.)

I’ll also send a photo of our entire team, including the young man who is driving all of these rough roads for us, enjoying an Armenian kebab dinner. Armenians are very hospitable. Meals are an event, and people share with their guests the very best they have to offer.

I also thought I’d share with you a little history. My first introduction to Armenia came through Steve and Rozik Kashian. Dr. Kashian, an internist on Chicago’s North Shore, first came to Armenia in 1992 to help out after a devastating earthquake which took thousands of lives and left many more homeless. Steve and Rozik’s repeated visits to Armenia eventually gave birth to the Armenian Relief Mission, a medical clinic serving anyone and everyone whom they can serve here.

You’ll see the medical staff in one photo, and I asked one of the doctors to hold up a list of all of the people who will benefit from the medicines which we brought with us. ARM takes care of all of the hemophiliacs in Armenia, for example, because no other clinic here can get their hands on Factor VIII.

It has been for me personally such a tremendous blessing to see lives transformed by ARM’s gracious ministry as the hands and feet of Christ for such a time as this. I’m including a picture of a cute little boy whose father told me that ARM saved his life, literally. The boy’s dad, after he was impacted by receiving the treatment which he needed, placed his trust in Jesus Christ! The man is now leading his family to know and serve our Lord.

Similarly, the pastor of a Kurdish church came to Saturday’s conference and expressed his thanks to ARM for his own medical care. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that we’re talking situation after situation of absolutely desperate need. ARM is a huge bright spot in this country.

By later today I’ll have a handle on how many nations will be included among the attendees of this second conference, but we already know that Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey will be in that number. Please join me in praying that the Holy Spirit will light a blazing fire of desire to rightly divide God’s Word (Second Timothy 2:15), and that churches will be strengthened in faith (Acts 16:5; Romans 4:20; Colossians 2:7). That’s what hermeneutics is all about, so this is another exciting day on Christ’s mission field!

Pastor Charles

“Good morning!” I’ll offer you some lavash (Persian bread) with butter and peach jam made from the fruit right off the property here. It’s Friday. Enjoy a few photos. In this region of Armenia, you can see lots of the areni grapes, from which the region produces most of its wine, as well as classic architecture dating back to the New Testament era.

The retreat center where I’m staying was once owned by the Communist government, and frequently visited by party heads including Leonid Brezhnev. Hosts would throw lavish celebrations, and bring in artists to draw caricatures and musicians to provide entertainment for the guests. Yes, everyone was supposed to be “equal” under the Communist regime, but some people were a little more equal than others.

Have any idea what mountain you’re seeing here in this view from my bedroom window? It’s Mount Ararat (see Genesis 8:4). The dormant volcano boasting two peaks is part of the Armenian Highlands, and it’s the principal national symbol of Armenia. The snow-capped peak which you see rises to almost 17,000 feet.

If you were under the impression that Mount Ararat is in Turkey, you are correct. We are that close to the border with Turkey, and the mountain appears close enough to touch. I praise God that a center once used for Soviet purposes is now being utilized for kingdom purposes. Talk about redemption!

Our first conference begins in the morning. Our goal will be to cover the basic principles of hermeneutics during the daytime sessions, and then at night to use devotions from the Scriptures to drive home and make real what we’ve taught. If it works well, we’ll use the same model for the second conference.

Sunday morning I’ll preach in the city of Vanadzor. I send you my love in Christ.

Pastor Charles

My heart was full as I left Paducah, after such a great RISE praise service with you. Sunday really was “a day of triumph and joy” for First Baptist Paducah.

I had an all-day layover in Paris, so I made the most of it. I took the airport train all the way out to Versailles, with stops to see the medieval Notre Dame, the d’Orsay (I only had time for the French impressionists), and the Eiffel Tower. I’m sure I walked at least five miles, but the weather was spectacular and made the trek delightful. I met some fascinating people today, including a six-year-old Bangladeshi boy who speaks five languages.

Paris is a charming and exhilarating city, but it feels very post-Christian. Religious relics line every “rue,” but the cultists seem more visible than the evangelicals, at least in the tourist zones. I greeted a couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses who were telling people on the street “what the Bible really says,” but I did not have the opportunity for any more conversation with them. Strong Islamic influence is also palpable here.

I did, however, try to convince Louis XIV to become a Protestant. But he seemed rather cold and lifeless about the whole thing. Enjoy that pic and the others.

I’ve been thinking about how blessed we are. The Christ who has the authority and power to rule every nation with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15) is full of love toward us. Can you believe that? Our mission in every nation, while there is still time, is to make Christ known.

So I’m off to Yerevan! I’ll meet up with two of my team members on my next flight.

And I’ll talk to you from Armenia.

Pastor Charles

And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that men should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.Revelation 6:4.

I’m no expert on the Book of Revelation. To be quite honest, I’m not sure anyone else is either. But this I know: in the vision of John the Apostle, the drama which unfolds is of eternal significance. God’s plan for the cosmos will be fulfilled, and no detail will be omitted. One day, all of the ramifications of sin on this fallen planet – death, decay, crime, disease, war, and even sadness – will be swept away by a new creation. Christ’s new creation!

But by Revelation 6:4, we’re not there yet. The red horseman is on the loose, ushering in a tidal wave of unmatched violence upon the whole world. This will be the end of any thought that “we can make it just fine on our own, thank you.” This will be the boldface betrayal of the promises of humanism of an advanced civilization where innate human goodness has solved every cultural and societal ill. It will be a moment when – with crystal clarity – the godless will recognize that “peace on earth” is impossible without the Christ whose very birth signaled that message in the first place.

People run from flash-bang grenades in uptown Charlotte during a protest of the police shooting of Keith Scott. REUTERS/Jason Miczek

When I see the reports from uptown Charlotte, I am grieved. My niece, Briana, lives in the Queen City. She moved there to enjoy Charlotte’s robust economy, four distinct seasons, and some of the sweetest sweet-tea drinkers you’ll ever meet. This week hasn’t been all that sweet.

I am not foolish enough to declare this God’s judgment. Nor would I similarly label the murderous violence of Southside Chicago (now statistically off the charts). Nor Detroit with its virtual “no go” zones. Such theological proclamations are beyond me, and I’m forbidden by wisdom and life experience to go there. But I can tell you that – eschatological distinctives set aside – chaos and violence are hallmarks of the epoch of the red horse.

If you’re waiting for America’s golden age or glory years, please don’t. This is not so say that we’ve lost hope – for we still have all the hope we’ll ever need in Christ– but it is to say that we may be nearing the end of the hunt for another Eden which we have made. Truth is, we have monster weeds in this here garden.

Though we should decry racism at every level, one local Nation of Islam leader – solicited to speak at a press conference in Charlotte – praised Allah, lashed out at white America, promised more widespread rioting and looting, and called for a boycott of the city. Sadly, that is also racism.

Please join me in praying against anarchy. Anywhere and everywhere. And this is no call to passive prayer. Now is the time for us to love with great intentionality. By God’s grace and for His glory, we must keep our cool. As I said in Wednesday night’s Bible study: when emotions run high, logic runs low. The best gift you can give to those who are suffering through this turmoil is to deliberately pursue in genuine gospel-centered friendship someone whom the media might provoke you to reject, or even hate.

No matter what goes down on the world stage, you and I know the rest of the story. We know the God who loves to turn bad things around for good. We know the God who shines light into darkness. We know the God who gives amazing grace to people who despise Him.

Utopia here and now? Don’t bet on it. But Jesus came, lived, died, and rose again to give us a world that’s even better (Matthew 6:33).

Pastor Charles

In high school we read Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World from 1932. Among other scary developments, the novel anticipated a time in the distant future when reproductive technology and psychological manipulation would create a “negative utopia” in which the World State would control the mindless masses. As I attempted to sort through the book’s detailed depictions of ritualistic drug consumption, group hypnosis, and caste-based cloning, I thought that I was reading science fiction of some twisted variety. Now I’m not so sure.

So the NCAA will relocate championship sporting events from the state of North Carolina. This is a punitive move, aimed at teaching the Tar Heel State a thing or two. North Carolina’s crime? Attempting to legally protect young girls, using public facilities, from having to shower or change clothes in front of men. Technically speaking, North Carolina’s law is quite similar to laws in other states. It’s just that the timing of North Carolina’s legislation, known as House Bill 2, was just right to set off a political firestorm. So the NCAA buckled under the weight of demands from special interest groups, and lashed out at the citizens of North Carolina.

Who needs reason these days? Twenty-three other states support laws and official policies detailing gender specifics for restrooms and locker rooms, but North Carolina finds its head on the chopping block.

I have a few questions for the NCAA. Do you intend to allow your players to gender self-identify too? Do you intend to merge your men’s and women’s leagues?  Do you intend to seek to punish every state which does not fall lockstep in line with your radical political agenda?

And, NCAA execs, just one more thing. The sixth of your seven “core values” reads like this: “Respect for institutional autonomy and philosophical differences.” Hmmm.

Is it possible that your standards are so high that they’re double standards? You have absolutely ignored the dignity and safety of women everywhere. Furthermore, because you have apparently not analyzed well to the logical end of your political posturing for “gender neutrality,” you have sacrificed all women’s sports on your altar of shame. At this point, it is only a matter of when.

I’d say it’s high time you get back to – your words, not mine – “the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes.” Now that would be refreshing.

Perhaps those sticky Tar Heels will stick to their guns. That would be unusual indeed in this not-so-brave new world. “In those days … everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6).

Pastor Charles

It’s Tuesday night and really early Wednesday morning, and I’m thinking of James 1 and 2 as I prepare to sleep for a few hours before the drive to Timisoara and the long flight home. Today I preached at Logos Baptist Church to the pastors of the Baptist association here (pic included). It was a six-hour drive along two different routes, and many of the rough and winding roads took us through parts of Romania that I had not explored.

That drive and this midnight solitude has prompted me to ponder God’s reminder that we all “like a flower of the grass … will pass away.” Specifically James says that the rich man will “fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” Here’s why those verses are running through my mind. Despite the natural beauty of this country, it’s impossible to drive more than a few kilometers without coming face-to-face with poverty. At the same time, I observe a happiness and a contentment among God’s people here that is nothing short of confounding.

What am I to make of this portion of the Scriptures? For starters, I want an alive and active faith that is more than cheap talk. I hear God’s marching orders to love and serve those who need my help, like the “orphans and widows in their affliction” mentioned in the text. And I know that I’m to treat all people with respect and dignity, whether or not they’re wealthy or able to make my life easier. Those are the parts of James that are easier for me to understand. I get it.

But what I don’t always get is that richness in faith has nothing to do with money. Oh, sure, I get it theoretically. But I often find myself so attached to the comforts of this world that my focus is more on the City of Man than the City of God. If you’re unfamiliar with those terms, they date back to St. Augustine (354 – 430 A.D.), who made the point that we as believers in Christ are living in a place dominated by self-love, while we’re citizens of a kingdom built on love for God.

Though you and I have been called by Christ to die to ourselves (John 12:24), this side of heaven we will always struggle with attractions to power and position. But how marvelous is the kingdom of our Lord! Even when and where there are no earthly resources to speak of, God by His Spirit pours out the fruits of love and joy and peace. Priceless and amazing.

It broke my heart to say good-bye to Julian and his family. Eileen, Joshua, and I have been forever changed by the summer of 2016. We are so grateful to God for lessons learned, and lessons being learned. All of grace. I just wish I weren’t such a slow learner.

The ESV renders 2:2 as “a poor man in shabby clothing.” In the economy of Jesus, he just may be the happiest guy in the room.

Pastor Charles 

Today (Monday) was packed, and I’m still in a church meeting at 11:00 p.m.! This communication will be short and sweet.

Morning coffee with the mayor in his office went great. He is exceptionally grateful for our church’s many contributions to this community over many years, and he’s very hopeful regarding future partnerships. Unique and wonderful how God arranged this. More later.

Thoroughly enjoyed my two hours at the orphanage in Prilipet, and sharing new tennis shoes as gifts from FBC. Kids are loved, healthy, and happy. Loved on Linda Hatcher’s family in her absence. 🙂

Strategized all evening with young adults here. They want to try their own version of our Rock the Block. How cool is that?

I’ll throw in some extra pics. Enjoy! Shortest. Blog. Ever.

Har si Pace (Grace and Peace),

Pastor Charles