3July2014 Quickshot: Walkabout

P&M enjoyed a brief hike through the woods today. How wonderful to commune with the Creator while enjoying His creation!  

29June2014 Quickshot: Camp Life

D had a great time leading a Google Camp Invention this week.

28June2014 رمَضَان كريم‎.

It's that time of year.  Ramadan falls on the 9th month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar. Muslims across the globe will fast from dawn to sunset for a month, starting this evening (in America).  We greet our friends with the phrase "Ramadan Kareem" meaning "generous Ramadan."  As we say this we are praying that God would generously pour out His mercy and grace on this beloved people.  May ears hear, eyes see, minds understand and hearts be open.  One, we encourage you to research this celebration.  And, two, please join us in lifting up our neighbors and friends over the next 30 days.


Addendum:  Check out this interesting article and pretty funny perspective on Ramadan. "If you walk into the office restroom and catch your colleague with his foot in the sink (awkward!) and his shoes lying on the floor don’t run. The guy is performing ablution, a necessary ritual to wash your hands, nose, face, forearms and feet before offering the five daily prayers."

24June2014 Lullabies & Preaching

It started out as a discussion about the World Cup.  Many great conversations start out about futbol/soccer.  Somehow we went from Ronaldo to religion.   One of my friends is a recent arrival from Darfour.  The other came several years ago from South Sudan (before there was a South Sudan).  One follows Islam, the other a Christian.  They are a study in opposites except for very dark complexions and a love for soccer....and a friendship born of shared struggles and shared experience.

I was asked, "Are you Muslim?"  I get that alot.  Maybe because I speak some Arabic or because of the beard or because of the five children (apparently there's a rule somewhere against Americans having a bunch of youngins').  My standard rely is, "No, but I love Muslims."  This provoked the usual smile and nod.  Although I knew the answer I followed up, "Are you two?"  One responded in the affirmative, the other emphatically said, "No, I'm a Christian!"  "Where do you pray?" I asked.  He shook his head, "I don't pray, I don't go to Church but I am a Christian.  Before I could say anything his buddy put his hand on his hand and said, "If you say you are a Christian, you should live like a Christian!  You party and chase the girls but you don't live right."  Bam!  Right in the kisser. 

There's a Persian proverb that translates roughly, "If you can sing a lullaby, why can't you put yourself to sleep?  Basically it means, "Practice what you preach, dude!"  That's precisely what my friend was telling his cohort.  If you claim to be a believer then live it.  Oh how that smacks me square in the face!  How often do I profess something with my mouth that's in stark contrast to my actions?  How often do the scores of people from around the globe that I interact with see Jesus through me?  I know how to lullaby but I have a tough time sleeping.  

God help me to practice what I preach.  May the Muslims and Hindus and Buddhists and Methodists and atheists I talk to daily see You in me. Please forgive my failures.  You know me.  Even on my best of days I am bankrupt without Your Spirit.  Create a clean heart in me, renew a right spirit in me and help me to live that's changed!

21June2014 Finders Keepers

Maybe you've seen this sign on Facebook?  It's hilarious but only because of its accuracy, at least in this household.  On nearly a daily basis someone is unable to find something and after a brief, albeit halfhearted attempt, the cavalry, aka mommy, is called in.  It's not just the kids that do this either.  Even the father is guilty of it.  Car keys, mobile phone, a pair of socks, peanut butter, you never know what he's going to be on the hunt for.  But rest assured, mom knows exactly where it can be found.

In truth, although she is an extraordinary woman, D doesn't memorize where everything in the house is located.  She just doesn't give up when it's time to search.  P and the kids search with little enthusiasm, D is tenacious. 

Jeremiah 29:13 states, "If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me.  I will be found by you,' says the Lord..." First, what a wonderful promise!  Let those words sink in.  The world around us is looking, searching, seeking something, anything, to fill a God-sized hole in their hearts.  No matter how diligently we look there is nothing that satisfies

Second, notice how this is not a lackadaisical.  The searching must be done "wholeheartedly.  The search"...as Calvin rightly observes, does not design perfection, but integrity and sincerity; when they draw nigh with a true heart, and call upon him in truth, and search for him with eagerness, with a hearty desire to find him, as men search for gold, and silver, and hid treasure." Gill's Exposition

 And again, "In seeking God we must search for him, accomplish a diligent search, search for directions in seeking him and encouragements to our faith and hope. We must continue seeking, and take pains in seeking, as those that search; and this we must do with our heart (that is, in sincerity and uprightness), and with our whole heart (that is, with vigour and fervency, putting forth all that is within us in prayer), and those who thus seek God shall find him, and shall find him their bountiful rewarder..." Matthew Henry

We're praying for you and for our neighbors and for the world.  One, stop searching in the wrong places. Two, stop kindof searching.  Search for Him with all of your heart! He will be found!

18June2014 Bunny Logic

I love early morning walks!  It's cooler, there is less traffic and usually there is no one out, except for birds, squirrels and rabbits.  Lately there have been lots of rabbits.

This morning, as I was trudging around the circle something interesting occurred.  I happened upon one of my little bunny buddies.  He was so intently munching clover in a neighbor's yard that he didn't notice me approaching...until I got within 15 feet of him.    Apparently the sight of a bearded, sweating, huffing barbarian lumbering toward him was more than he could bear.  He took off, zigging and zagging down the road, stopping 75 yards away on a grass island, surrounded by pavement, with a huge magnolia tree directly behind him.  Mr. Rabbit crouched down in tall grass, apparently hoping that I wouldn't notice him.  He was completely unaware that directly behind him, maybe 10 feet away, under the branches of that magnolia tree, was a cat.  As the bunny was staring at me the cat was staring at him...and he was thinking "Breakfast is served!"  I just knew at any second the cat was going to pounce, so as I got closer I walked off the road and toward Mr. Rabbit.  As if on cue he bounded in the opposite direction, into the woods, and out of the range of the cat.  If looks could kill that cat's icy gtare would've sent me straight to the morgue.  I chuckled and returned to me walk.

The bunny's behavior got me thinking about worrying.  He was so worried about me, a complete non issue that he didn't realize true danger, imminent death was right behind him.  That's precisely how worry is.  We spent sleepless nights, countless hours thinking about something that we think it going to hurt us.  In reality, the most harmful things come either completely unannounced or never at all.  In Luke chapter twenty-six, Jesus deals with the topic of worry.  He states, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?  Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well."

So the key to worry is adjusting our focus.  Not dwelling on the temporary things but on His Kingdom.  Don't waste your life, and gain an ulcer, by fretting over things that either don't matter or are temporary.   God's got it under control.  He can handle it.

Some great quotes on worry:

• "My life has been filled with calamities, some of which actually happened."  Mark Twain
• "Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." Charles Schultz."
• "Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due." William R Inge
• "If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you." Calvin Coolidge

 

15June2014 Too good not to share

Great words from the Our Daily Bread devotion this morning.  On Father's Day this is simply too good not to share:

While waiting for an eye examination, I was struck by a statement I saw in the optometrist’s office: “Eighty percent of everything children learn in their first 12 years is through their eyes.” I began thinking of all that children visually process through reading, television, film, events, surroundings, and observing the behavior of others, especially their families. On this Father’s Day, we often think about the powerful influence of a dad.

Paul urged fathers not to frustrate their children to the point of anger, but to “bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Think of the powerful example of a dad whose behavior and consistency inspire admiration from his children. He’s not perfect, but he’s moving in the right direction. A great power for good is at work when our actions reflect the character of God, rather than distort it.

That’s challenging for any parent, so it’s no coincidence that Paul urges us to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (v.10). Only through His strength can we reflect the love and patience of our heavenly Father.

We teach our children far more from how we live than by what we say.

Heavenly Father, I need to know Your love
in order to love others. I want to experience
and share Your patience and kindness with
those I care about. Fill me and use me.

Please pray for me (P) as I lead this family.  May each of our children see the character of the Father reflected in the character of their father. 

7June2014 Here we go again

Our apologies for the brevity and ambiguity of this update but we wanted to make sure we posted something so our friends and supporters could be praying.  We are very excited to share that the beautiful feet are headed back overseas!  Completely out of the blue an opportunity has come up that will position us back in the Middle East, engaging the most vulnerable of peoples and doing our best to love them in His Name.  Please remember us as we prepare to make another transition.  It looks like our target date is mid-August.  Stay tuned for more details...

6June2014 That One Thing

What is that one thing?  Maybe there are multiple things but what's the one, primary, encompassing thing?  As you think about the calling on your life, as you dream about what the next step is in your faith journey, as your pray through the Father's will for your life, what's that one thing that comes to mind keeping you from going All In?  

This morning, as I was on my daily walk, earbuds in place, ipod on play, podcast in progress, I heard some words that reverberated across my conscience, pricking my rather short attention.  Chuck Swindol was speaking about a passage in Isaiah, chapter 6 to be more precise, and he drew his bead on the prophet's commissioning.

Isaiah is in the middle of grieving the loss of his friend, Uzziah, and the LORD opens heaven allowing him a peek into the throne room of God.  As he looks and hears and experiences the awesomeness that's taking place, Isaiah is wholly impacted.  But he doesn't join in with "Holy, Holy Holy!" You know what he did?  He remembers his inadequacy.  He remembers his deficiency.  Isaiah points to the one thing that will, in his mind, keep him from accepting the challenge God is preparing to give him.  "Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips..." (Isa.6:5) Isn't that exactly what we do?  The King of the universe charges us with a task and we look at the very One who created us and say, "Hey, don't forget I have this issue!  I'm ineligible."  How completely ludicrous!  

I love what happens next.  "Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (Isa.6:6-7) God touches that one thing that Isaiah is worried about and says, "Taken care of.  Now get to work."

So what is that one thing?  When you sense His calling, what's the one thing the enemy points to?  What's that past mistake or that personality trait or that physical characteristic or that bondage you can't shake.  Listen to me!  Our Father is able to purify you.  He is fully aware of your shortcomings well before He calls you.  Don't allow that one thing to keep you from embracing the call.  Look past the one thing and scream, "Here am I. Send me!!!"  and then get to work.  I am praying for you!

2June2014 Seven Decades

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children."

I love this word from Deuteronomy so much!  The imagery it creates of a passel of children, gathered around their grandparent, listening in rapt attention to the stories and tales of the past is wonderful.  Sadly this is something we seem to be missing today.  Our culture puts little value in the seasoned wisdom of previous generations and we are losing the stories of days gone by and subsequently the sagacity they so richly contain.  There is no arena more poignantly affected than that of faith.  Records of God's rich and abundant work in previous generations has departed from our hearts.  Truly a travesty!

Yesterday we celebrated mom's 70th birthday.  Sorry, Mom! Your age is a matter of public record anyway... :) Imagine that!  Seven decades of walking on this planet.  However the length of her days thus far does little to reflect the richness or breadth of her life.  She lives quietly, unassuming even, but what a huge impact Gma has had on those fortunate enough to know her.  This is especially true in the lives of her grandchildren, our kids.  What a remarkable inheritance to hear your grandmother pray, or watch her study Scripture or witness her attempt to apply Truth to every day decisions.  For the last two, nearly three years, our five had been blessed to experience that on a firsthand, daily level.  G'ma has made the things her eyes have seen known to her children and her children's children.   What a heritage!

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