29January2015 Sarah

This weekend D was showing a team of young ladies how to navigate the city using public transportation.  In a male dominated culture it's an art really for women to be in taxis, often alone, with male drivers. There are many wonderful taxi drivers in this city but there are some not so good ones.  D's routine is normally to inform them where she'd like to go then stare out the window, listen to her iPod or anything else to keep from engaging the driver.  This is how she instructed our young friends and intended to model it in real time. 
So they hailed the first yellow sedan that passed by and climbed in, D sitting in the passenger seat, and the three volunteers sat in the back. She told him where they wanted to go and turned to look out the window.  But their driver didn't want to follow the script.  
He started talking to D, but not in a creepy way.  Their conversation went like this:
Y (In English): My name is Yasser.  Do you speak Arabic?
D In Arabic): Yes, but just a little.
Y (continuing in Arabic): Where are you from?
D:  America but I live here with my husband and family.
Y:  Your Arabic is pretty good. 
D:  Thank you.  I am trying to learn but it's very difficult for me.
Y: You should talk to my daughter.  She's very good with languages.  
D:  I would like that.  What's your daughter's name?
Y:  Sarah
D:  That's a beautiful name.  
Y:   My wife is a Christian and she wanted our daughter to have a Christian name. 
D:  Oh, are you a Christian?
Y:  No, I'm not a Christian or a Muslim but I was taught since I was a boy and believe in the miracles of Jesus.  In my hometown, Nazareth, they march a light through the town at Christmas and talk about Jesus being the Light.  I try to live a good life and do good, not by this religion or that religion but with light in me.
D:  But if you don't have Jesus in your heart, if you don't follow Him then all the good you do in this life means nothing when you die.
Y:  I know this.  I have Christian friends and Muslim friends.  My Muslim friends ask me 'Are you Christian?' because of things I have on my Facebook page.  God says to love all people so that's what I do.
They arrived at their destination and D paid the fare but before she got out of the taxi she made a promise.
D: I will pray for you, Yasser.  I will pray that Jesus will appear to you in your dreams and call you to Himself.  You are a good man but you still need Jesus.
Y: Okay, that will be good.
So, we ask you to join us in praying for Yasser and for others just like him who know about Jesus but don't know Jesus.  And we ask you to pray for more opportunities to share, even outside our comfort zone with our neighbors. 

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 'Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.' Matt5:14-16

27January2015 Quickshot: Chipper

This weekend, two goofy brothers + horseplay = altered smile.  Therefore, Z spent a little time in the dentist's chair today.  20 minutes and $42 later his grin was restored. 

20January2015 Dead

“The man who had died came forth…” When Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” something amazing happened. A very dead Lazarus walked out of the tomb, resurrected.  John’s account of one of Jesus’ most famous miracles. paints in vivid detail Jesus’ supreme authority over both life and death.  You can nearly smell the decay wrapped up in Lazarus’ burial cloths.  You can almost hear Jesus’ declaration of Lazarus’ independence reverberate across the Judean hillside.  The impossible happened.  A dead man was raised.  But this wasn’t the first time dead lungs gasped fresh breath.

In the seventh chapter of Luke, the physician shares another account.  Jesus, while approaching the city gates of Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd of onlookers, came upon a funeral procession.   He was moved with compassion toward the deceased’s mother.  Two commands are given.  “Don’t cry.” and “Get up!”  The pallbearers stopped and the dead man sat up.  We’re not told it the woman stopped weeping but her mourning surely because joy. Death’s sting blunted, life recaptured from the grave. 

As I walk the streets of our neighborhood yesterday it this miracle was on my mind.  You see we….and you…are surrounded by death.  Of course every man and woman is destined to die but I’m not talking about our physical demise.  We’re surrounded by multitudes who have chosen the broad and easy path whose ultimate destination is eternal death.  Sobering isn’t it.  Yet there is a source of encouragement.  Among us there are Lazaruses and widow's sons just waiting for someone to say the words, “Get up!” and “Come forth!”  That’s our job.  May we never refrain from offering the life that comes through Jesus, from beckoning our neighbors enshrouded in death to get up and come forth into Life!

18Jan2015 Does He really mean "everyone"?

"Give to everyone who asks you..." Luke 6:30  Yes, He said "everyone" but did He really mean everyone?  The guy that proclaims he "Will work for food" at the busy intersection every afternoon during rush hour? The television evangelist with a fleet of luxury cars?  The lazy neighbor that refuses to work? Is Jesus calling us to indiscriminate charity?  Shockingly I think He was.  And I think He this command was directed more at the giver than the recipient.  

If we live lives of generosity then we are not held captive by the things we own.  If someone, like the Syrian kid that knocked on our door yesterday, asks for money and we give it what does it cost?  He said he had six small brothers, that his entire family is sick, that their living conditions are squalid.  He might have been lying but we know that these things are true of most refugees here.  Really, what did $10 cost us?  

Jesus' revolutionary words on that mount not too far from here, were meant to be heeded.  If someone asks of you, give.  If someone asks of you, give.  If someone asks of you, give!  He's teaching me that still.  God help us to hold things loosely, to live generously and to give to everyone who asks...uh, except that televangelist with the private jet.

Note: "To every man, whether Jew or Gentile; friend or foe; believer or unbeliever; a good, or a bad man; worthy or unworthy; deserving or not, that asketh alms, whether food or money; give it freely, readily, cheerfully, according to your abilities, and as the necessity of the object requires."1

14January2015 Joyful Noise

M adds another tool to her "make a joyful noise unto the Lord" arsenal.

12January2014 Movie Review: The Good Lie

I've been wanting to see The Good Lie for a while and was surprised it was one of the movie options of our flight yesterday.  How to state this plainly?  It was a two hour kick in the gut.  I watched it unfold and the faces of Sudanese friends who lived this experience washed over my mind  Get past the silly, Oprahesque subtitle, "Miracles are made by people who refuse to stop believing," and watch this movie.  It's a great reminder of the call to love our neighbor, regardless of who they are, where they came from, how consumed we are in our own lives, etc.  

For more on this topic, definitely check out God Grew Tired of Us too. 

9January2015 Citizen Diplomacy

I love this series of pictures so much because it illustrates perfectly our experience in this part of the world.  L was sitting at the beach today and a Pakistani father with his two boys waded nearby.  The father spotted L, how could you not, she's so cute...and very loud, and made his way toward her, offspring in tow.  He walked right up to her, shook her hand and said, "Hello baby!" with the most beautiful, warming smile.

This week I read an article about a subject I've never really heard about, the U.S's citizen-diplomat program.  Never heard of it either?  "Citizen diplomacy is the concept that every global citizen has the right, even the responsibility, to engage across cultures and create shared understanding through meaningful person-to-person interactions." 1  Further its goal is "...to advance a shared vision of person-to-person global engagement." 

Honestly, this sounds an awful lot like what we do.  As citizens we interact with others, proclaiming and exemplifying the goodness of our homeland to others we come into contact with.  Our "homeland" is Heaven and "others" are the nations.  Let's look at this through the eyes of Scripture.  2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "...we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."  I really like this idea!

8January2015 Quickshot: Blankets

As the Middle East is slammed with a winter storm my heart breaks for the millions who live in tents like this...or worse.  How can we complain when we have to put another blanket on the bed?  At least we have blankets...

1Jan2015 Quickshot: Black-eyed Peas, Collards and...the Baconator?

No peas, greens or cornbread for us for New Years but kids were pretty ecstatic to spot a Wendys in the mall.  Their parents opted for less, deep fried options.  Happy New Years y'all!