tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605871031500893682024-03-05T01:55:34.957-08:00eden's dustreflections of a call to help reconcile people with God and with each other around the corner and around the world.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-38339823338297408162011-08-02T16:16:00.000-07:002011-08-02T16:17:46.434-07:00ramadan- do you hear the call?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's Ramadan.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Most of us have heard this Arabic term, a reference to a special time for the Muslim world. Ramadan is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the month in which the Qur'an was revealed. It </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">is the holiest month in the I<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Islam"></a>slamic calendar, a time for fasting, prayer and devotion to God. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdjXY5G-soap9mrzcIg_hPRz8M4DvrkGHmTSiVelNBWjMLr6qGHw2-mc7-kb2H4jniXwqKWjC0qXLv3EeCjrChZnudRf13dubFXk0vAZLQ7St8UmGIRhwW08q8JWDbyROQuY1FjKhZi0c/s1600/islam3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdjXY5G-soap9mrzcIg_hPRz8M4DvrkGHmTSiVelNBWjMLr6qGHw2-mc7-kb2H4jniXwqKWjC0qXLv3EeCjrChZnudRf13dubFXk0vAZLQ7St8UmGIRhwW08q8JWDbyROQuY1FjKhZi0c/s200/islam3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">Throughout the month (August 1-30 this year), Muslims will refrain from food and drink during the daylight hours, and will attend services in the evenings, along with eating together throughout the nights. Their aim is to draw closer to God, finding favor with him through these disciplines, and using introspection and devotion to become more consecrated. They recognize fasting as a means to develop greater self-control, as well as a way for greater recognition of the needs of the poor throughout the world. Ramadan is a time for the Muslim community to draw closer to God and to each other.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhnINwECU0b9MiJb64Q84u0mqtUjY4CViSlr4NgAQ__HAyhngjncO4ez_3S5f-HV4HGJyZcXa-i6NMgPwRB2HXE4tvMyTb84VcRB_dk7iZ_0hpB6ZmzxS52dA5DR8EMWSzTNNB7Kg_WWw/s1600/prayer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhnINwECU0b9MiJb64Q84u0mqtUjY4CViSlr4NgAQ__HAyhngjncO4ez_3S5f-HV4HGJyZcXa-i6NMgPwRB2HXE4tvMyTb84VcRB_dk7iZ_0hpB6ZmzxS52dA5DR8EMWSzTNNB7Kg_WWw/s200/prayer1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">As the Muslim world prays, what will Christians do in response? My hope is that the community of Christ-followers worldwide will lift their Muslims neighbors before God's throne, asking Him to indeed reveal himself in power and in truth to those who are seeking his face. Unfortunately, the sad reality is that too many Christians find little impetus to pray for Muslims. We too often view them with suspicion, fear, or from a safe distance. After all, it's easy to not really care about those you don't really know. But a recent comment from a friend put it all in perspective. He told me, <i>"I have a friend who's a Muslim and he's a great guy. I sure don't want him to go to hell."</i> That's the key isn't it? To change your heart, your attitude, your outlook, you must enlarge or change your circle of friends. Because you gain a completely different perspective when someone you never knew, maybe never cared to know, becomes connected to your life.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUifDmXtmt3rMvyoYpLM4yCatvBJFUH-1ZWHuY5StqEn5Lbe9pRRU9cWA29NefrhWrPjpzTWU2_qW-_XtjedXVKnrU0R9N3LW_N-5JUdseomiA2z6D1t6b6Pajkmmzh3xgqoJpv7GD33St/s1600/xnity-islam1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" id=":current_picnik_image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNaDW9bXN1OUlmDNr8gE8v2pVSkzJWKMmnA17VEHwtWG-mmVdBcjc9V47jDtbX7uxI8xHqa1p8vjHj6TWP1VvtSAsII9GOQjlo7KRphyphenhyphenh7Bb01dxDO4ZMlKcuvXUNgBlrfKUiu4KpTVBO/s1600/15616051538_cVDxD.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">Why not use the month of August to pray for followers of Islam, to pray that they may find the truth and hope for life in Jesus? Pray that God may reveal himself in dreams and visions to Muslims who are looking for a closer spiritual connection. Pray that walls of separation that exist between Muslims and Christians may begin to crumble. Pray for your own life and your opportunities to share the love of God with Muslims around you, that God will bring you into meaningful contact with someone from Islam, that you will learn to see these people as God does. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Because it's Ramadan...and it's time to pray.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-77252872203435513132011-07-09T07:06:00.000-07:002011-07-09T07:06:05.962-07:00australia's aboriginality<div class="date-posts" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1095468175220415649" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 510px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0da7;">A</span>s we round the final turn and begin our run toward the finish, our Australia team has been blessed and sometimes overwhelmed with all God has shown us here in Queensland. A good portion of our last two days has been spent with the indigenous (aboriginal) community- observing, interacting with and learning from them as they live out lives straining toward a greater recognition and equality in this setting.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGD-XMOZoW2ogpKfqKTpFoBCK57c9noXy-ZimKusJXn6D5q_isGSkiBe7u7eUigyzQibSjpn-MwjgGl6YCZUxVvRWIukgGITSZcf0d1fh9C5Ogr2uJt_Rg4eAp6wXBBN_3r5n2vi1kIQ/s1600/b_d_flag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGD-XMOZoW2ogpKfqKTpFoBCK57c9noXy-ZimKusJXn6D5q_isGSkiBe7u7eUigyzQibSjpn-MwjgGl6YCZUxVvRWIukgGITSZcf0d1fh9C5Ogr2uJt_Rg4eAp6wXBBN_3r5n2vi1kIQ/s200/b_d_flag.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>"Deadly" is a good term here!</i></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> We spent the better part of Friday at NAIDOC<i>(</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">which celebrates the indigenous cultures of the aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is a festive, carnival-like atmosphere with much joy and thankfulness for the heritages presented. We watched dances, heard singers and speakers, and interacted with organizations and vendors providing social services information for those in attendance. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCho0D0VjycK_at1jhiNp4jA9lrNOWFLZzvz8RvneyewYjd0Qt1gYB_18LKgilCvX1tjAeX6R97fAq5LNlZF5Vtx0NzLyu5zM7hRPL8ovx_2itKN2dkieEc0yBVF0ZnrotcJjfXRq1us/s1600/les_boom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCho0D0VjycK_at1jhiNp4jA9lrNOWFLZzvz8RvneyewYjd0Qt1gYB_18LKgilCvX1tjAeX6R97fAq5LNlZF5Vtx0NzLyu5zM7hRPL8ovx_2itKN2dkieEc0yBVF0ZnrotcJjfXRq1us/s200/les_boom.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This afternoon we learned to throw boomerangs (some learned better than others) with Goma Conlon, an indigenous pastor and good friend. He also demonstrated the playing of the didgeridoo (way cool) and talked about what it mans to be a follower of Christ in the aboriginal setting. Following this, we hopped over to the church at which he and another indigenous pastor are working an shared evening service with them. It was a great blessing to gather and worship with them. Josh drummed for their worship team, Don and Alexis shared testimonies and Alexis sang. What a rich history of stories and struggle were present among those members!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I thought you might like to share one more collection of photos of this great team:</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rSaJdA_Vc6ARJ57FVdmvUZMpbWNwsASb5PlmukCBFd4iXEfBHpOYTRreFYuNoW9MJaOJxe2_yrb7dz4kNTC-Ym-Gs9Krm29PAGHWsqAGH4cWvjaYkoFSBxz1RZRMHlQUXBxDN6HX5FM/s1600/naidoc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc2020; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rSaJdA_Vc6ARJ57FVdmvUZMpbWNwsASb5PlmukCBFd4iXEfBHpOYTRreFYuNoW9MJaOJxe2_yrb7dz4kNTC-Ym-Gs9Krm29PAGHWsqAGH4cWvjaYkoFSBxz1RZRMHlQUXBxDN6HX5FM/s320/naidoc.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">NAIDOC festivities in downtown Brisbane</span></i></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06MMJ6GmUmRW91NNpMageb5fpHlKJxsNdOELYebzR3U53E1nCwVBU3ZJ3VMknKbNWfcfBJxHz6nFgVI-KRpX48ft_GfdWhlBp_TsNQf-sVOv5eZChrrZ_GGsbj-gR_CxgoHyLQAHjGHw/s1600/wolfkiss.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06MMJ6GmUmRW91NNpMageb5fpHlKJxsNdOELYebzR3U53E1nCwVBU3ZJ3VMknKbNWfcfBJxHz6nFgVI-KRpX48ft_GfdWhlBp_TsNQf-sVOv5eZChrrZ_GGsbj-gR_CxgoHyLQAHjGHw/s320/wolfkiss.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="239" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Josh and Luke made a new friend</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpWe8jcNvEfO390JGw3ss6TSgAS4kk2pBnqUmmcmjI487TUcNDZwJSHrGOl7JF_XCowOyPKITAVP9qAEMqzHm9-gC6yw9RZ1XLLa4YtysA262yBRg6trGkBzsGleL2HO_4WJrv9EkNEw/s1600/fondue.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpWe8jcNvEfO390JGw3ss6TSgAS4kk2pBnqUmmcmjI487TUcNDZwJSHrGOl7JF_XCowOyPKITAVP9qAEMqzHm9-gC6yw9RZ1XLLa4YtysA262yBRg6trGkBzsGleL2HO_4WJrv9EkNEw/s320/fondue.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="239" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Time for chocolate fondue at Max Brenners</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HGxXrWITCPqSBGV0O4ESO1-EG1y7gqOiaP1D3qX6d6UJMdKJddyLcDprgTXQw6ssxTJ0L50w0GxgIxkFJ7tG9U_rSHsrmkFY7oDwQoj9jMGz7_RF1WKWtcNR9CmyXhTsDVkpSBjS7Ks/s1600/donshare.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HGxXrWITCPqSBGV0O4ESO1-EG1y7gqOiaP1D3qX6d6UJMdKJddyLcDprgTXQw6ssxTJ0L50w0GxgIxkFJ7tG9U_rSHsrmkFY7oDwQoj9jMGz7_RF1WKWtcNR9CmyXhTsDVkpSBjS7Ks/s320/donshare.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Don sharing testimony at Saturday night service<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lR9NPyUU7rhV9SIskuCOKGB5ZQyOCZDxzHzEq2xnISYM8B_GsTYkA_6QTlFx3HDqG2xpLmytlm_QZP-FjYND1p0J5NcirO7EJDkWGY4CJPDrl_8KkcvZFbLypZrC_JlGjHcvfDq2KhA/s1600/b_pj.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lR9NPyUU7rhV9SIskuCOKGB5ZQyOCZDxzHzEq2xnISYM8B_GsTYkA_6QTlFx3HDqG2xpLmytlm_QZP-FjYND1p0J5NcirO7EJDkWGY4CJPDrl_8KkcvZFbLypZrC_JlGjHcvfDq2KhA/s320/b_pj.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Remember these guys?! They were the bomb!</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq9C-1odFfl_tf8g4pa7uaG8peYGbaGjjrrWK-aOJjSHdrVL97XOerwVoxmWx-_3W6QqApZCVdrCM6rt6kN-6TwGiudY9wsXb78LA9vHp7Hpgpqp6-LMJhj1ToQy6pvoxqBjpgL2Jb0E/s1600/worship.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq9C-1odFfl_tf8g4pa7uaG8peYGbaGjjrrWK-aOJjSHdrVL97XOerwVoxmWx-_3W6QqApZCVdrCM6rt6kN-6TwGiudY9wsXb78LA9vHp7Hpgpqp6-LMJhj1ToQy6pvoxqBjpgL2Jb0E/s320/worship.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="239" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Josh and Alexis with Saturday night worship team</i></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Please pray for our last hours here. I'll preach Sunday morning at Ann Street, and Josh will speak for their Youth Church in the evening. We want more chances to share the hope that's within us before we leave these shores. Will you ask God to provide them, and for us to boldly speak of what He's done with our lives and what He wants to do for all who come to Him? Thanks! </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">We'll see youse soon- good on ya!</span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1095468175220415649" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 510px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-26617358532785832532011-07-07T08:38:00.000-07:002011-07-07T08:38:21.272-07:00eidsvold doesn't sound australian<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4742613636468929376" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 510px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisT3D4gsWEOGbl7lmwrC_RZqNgnjldxmauYT2OEncVCUlQo4KsiFzoKZ0Fh4grtSp0nSxyhn1_fUnDY53VU637pbO5w9QLdDN_audO4gMNiQYwLXiap0KhPHLYONErsYFDX3sqA6En7O0/s1600/ozmap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #cc2020; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisT3D4gsWEOGbl7lmwrC_RZqNgnjldxmauYT2OEncVCUlQo4KsiFzoKZ0Fh4grtSp0nSxyhn1_fUnDY53VU637pbO5w9QLdDN_audO4gMNiQYwLXiap0KhPHLYONErsYFDX3sqA6En7O0/s200/ozmap.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our 2011 Australia GO! Team has had an incredible experience so far! We just returned from 4 days in Eidsvold, a small community about six hours from Brisbane. Our goal was to serve the Christian Center there, along with its new pastor, Mark, and his wife, Alex. We had such a great time with kids and adults alike, playing sports, working through Bible lessons and crafts, singing, eating and running around together. We also got better acquainted with different adults in town, learning much about the issues and circumstances surrounding this small community of both white and aboriginal residents.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWXFFjB6MIeGuAladG9BaBXY8Ay8nlBY9WwHV8Pei47Lk9x2v3LvqVBO45xPdaD_d_VOLTQ7_grm1Eyy6_KcMK-iAhhCJXQxmJdyU2Hu3s8lS4BLGFDyp5LfWWIHKocsknQwIy_klpIc/s1600/eidsvold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWXFFjB6MIeGuAladG9BaBXY8Ay8nlBY9WwHV8Pei47Lk9x2v3LvqVBO45xPdaD_d_VOLTQ7_grm1Eyy6_KcMK-iAhhCJXQxmJdyU2Hu3s8lS4BLGFDyp5LfWWIHKocsknQwIy_klpIc/s200/eidsvold.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's tough to quantify our take-aways from this experience, or the impact we were able to have. One local businessman did tell me that he appreciated our group being there, even for a few days each year, because he saw positive influence in kids' lives from our interaction with them. He told me that our presence is a reminder of normality (imagine someone referring to us as normal!), that the world is bigger and more functional than what is seen only through the local lens of the town. He thanked us for coming again, and offered his encouragement for our return next year.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The following are some more snaps of our last couple of days. I'll write more about Eidsvold and other good stuff a bit later:</span></div><div style="color: #0d0da7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #0d0da7; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2ko5-ZhUK2VtmzbXvqOlJO-jFiwKSNrGBjeTZE9X_WPDTpaQB-jqUPty2lDBpdgrfPZ_oAUI4tPUyeA9t1ByESA0Z65sYkrzb6EMaD4Gp7PQdatLO1dHxyf_Bf6BomPN9JKLUKRciNY/s1600/eidspastor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc2020; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2ko5-ZhUK2VtmzbXvqOlJO-jFiwKSNrGBjeTZE9X_WPDTpaQB-jqUPty2lDBpdgrfPZ_oAUI4tPUyeA9t1ByESA0Z65sYkrzb6EMaD4Gp7PQdatLO1dHxyf_Bf6BomPN9JKLUKRciNY/s320/eidspastor.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Pastor Mark and his wife, Alex</span></i></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iVNu3Jj8AHKQnlDAkumeiHtPWNbOmhpFwv_7-2kzD0_AhHiHfDRniTZgkx1XZ35rN4KpxBMlgQPg64-kmQyulIOtfo1f_e5_OlVPts5FcgNQqBHrK9hoGhzk0es-TzzwNyVoXnN8gTo/s1600/grouppray.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc2020; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iVNu3Jj8AHKQnlDAkumeiHtPWNbOmhpFwv_7-2kzD0_AhHiHfDRniTZgkx1XZ35rN4KpxBMlgQPg64-kmQyulIOtfo1f_e5_OlVPts5FcgNQqBHrK9hoGhzk0es-TzzwNyVoXnN8gTo/s320/grouppray.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Prayer circle before leaving Eidsvold</span></i></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #0d0da7; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #0d0da7; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-b9y3vPX5G1elWksm18dDDu3ok_ipmmoECQhIvyLgipv7i9ZL-i8GYjucYERM_s78wy3Vsrw5eaTekuAdzKAWaIq58tREHJNbESOaZcT0pWaYGqMBMwe73qbeinu-gOhoeo3nVaXGa04/s1600/luke%2526crafts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc2020; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-b9y3vPX5G1elWksm18dDDu3ok_ipmmoECQhIvyLgipv7i9ZL-i8GYjucYERM_s78wy3Vsrw5eaTekuAdzKAWaIq58tREHJNbESOaZcT0pWaYGqMBMwe73qbeinu-gOhoeo3nVaXGa04/s320/luke%2526crafts.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Captain Luke, superhero of the crafts debris!</span></i></b></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #0d0da7; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UsemezlBcH1opTNGA38Zw0skTUMOaYdu0lXaE9yih7TUdEwbUtMljbkBhAoVedjo76bveW3yjig8_p2mtVjcJg3ug4QaDAsBpc-tZbWPzftS_clSq8SewWhMHDeLHBZZkFCQ8dNpLDM/s1600/lianna%2526crafts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc2020; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UsemezlBcH1opTNGA38Zw0skTUMOaYdu0lXaE9yih7TUdEwbUtMljbkBhAoVedjo76bveW3yjig8_p2mtVjcJg3ug4QaDAsBpc-tZbWPzftS_clSq8SewWhMHDeLHBZZkFCQ8dNpLDM/s320/lianna%2526crafts.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Lianna mixing it with kids during crafts</span></i></b></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #0d0da7; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoXZFfmUb9PwEZ65NqpwVjVPvSimS9yzdYJoMz6Tb4CJzcRGobm8XPkvT2OMAt4G3XSUXmM_JpiO_ufA_MymD3mbBVBJStzLCGlOXkGUE0R3F3fpdvcSE3yFmazEGyDM35HL7ddWE_UQ/s1600/les%2526monkey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc2020; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoXZFfmUb9PwEZ65NqpwVjVPvSimS9yzdYJoMz6Tb4CJzcRGobm8XPkvT2OMAt4G3XSUXmM_JpiO_ufA_MymD3mbBVBJStzLCGlOXkGUE0R3F3fpdvcSE3yFmazEGyDM35HL7ddWE_UQ/s320/les%2526monkey.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Craft Woman Leslee and her monkey</span></i></b></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #0d0da7; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vPCobpph1cgDE79kWaYIOFI2YNQEfAtE3G6U64vDHVY2x-xnscULRIVshosC2sL9hEDw-pdYrW6aOMqJ4ZpAjNLW4PmrQdIjMajGXKD4lZd43N0o7ZmT6NFPqFW-keBczWJqEzXLJxg/s1600/kidsatplay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc2020; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vPCobpph1cgDE79kWaYIOFI2YNQEfAtE3G6U64vDHVY2x-xnscULRIVshosC2sL9hEDw-pdYrW6aOMqJ4ZpAjNLW4PmrQdIjMajGXKD4lZd43N0o7ZmT6NFPqFW-keBczWJqEzXLJxg/s320/kidsatplay.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Beautiful Eidsvold kids</span></i></b></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #0d0da7; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FfTHujc-pttc-IBs0gZ1wwHH7GY2Na-IMFvujfPtj8EnuYLbyYQbn1iPth6aMK2aP0gQ3Xfw36veL8_t-YJOxFWj0OUHna0pNJ1cVnR8iT_MskrXInt_PUvIMQgA7IOGYOJwNasHGOE/s1600/josh%2526clinton.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc2020; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FfTHujc-pttc-IBs0gZ1wwHH7GY2Na-IMFvujfPtj8EnuYLbyYQbn1iPth6aMK2aP0gQ3Xfw36veL8_t-YJOxFWj0OUHna0pNJ1cVnR8iT_MskrXInt_PUvIMQgA7IOGYOJwNasHGOE/s320/josh%2526clinton.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Josh and Clinton</span></i></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #0d0da7; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PTNQGHuGZhoMSAN3rz-sNUF2hz7PKMf3YeYeUabomeZZQtqlTzToHNyExz09KDwL8TjpMu7vydJL8YrjdJQvY0IgZ-5jaSzx_dVowAdR34LR2LeGFHm2TrUD0whCWNPmc2iQER4Q0-E/s1600/grouprock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc2020; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PTNQGHuGZhoMSAN3rz-sNUF2hz7PKMf3YeYeUabomeZZQtqlTzToHNyExz09KDwL8TjpMu7vydJL8YrjdJQvY0IgZ-5jaSzx_dVowAdR34LR2LeGFHm2TrUD0whCWNPmc2iQER4Q0-E/s320/grouprock.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Which way back to Brisbane?!</span></i></span></b></td></tr>
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</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #0d0da7; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlVcNXD2togAqQ72ZBeGZx5KnCA_3i9AMHg1TztVhdV4PM381duDXQG5T2LZYEJ4ZmvwFHVAZpniwMzcVTDJSoOCYyyHlHnWYBh6qQ7_zg2I7tVLmz2fTALfR3cZcn_PfbbSFddyZYa8/s1600/alexisguitar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc2020; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlVcNXD2togAqQ72ZBeGZx5KnCA_3i9AMHg1TztVhdV4PM381duDXQG5T2LZYEJ4ZmvwFHVAZpniwMzcVTDJSoOCYyyHlHnWYBh6qQ7_zg2I7tVLmz2fTALfR3cZcn_PfbbSFddyZYa8/s320/alexisguitar.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Alexis singing to an appreciative audience</span></i></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bzbYLllKjDr_Bt0YTiJipCjJu9PjES-94-H2qd8-fhHEdhYMf-aGWqjViwWf5h42B5X5GQeptEvnjXV7KgSUqHPuTODES2Ab1n9ke1MujgfHBCPQAhsfxO2ZHZW9fx499Ucjqllx87c/s1600/don%2526girls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc2020; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bzbYLllKjDr_Bt0YTiJipCjJu9PjES-94-H2qd8-fhHEdhYMf-aGWqjViwWf5h42B5X5GQeptEvnjXV7KgSUqHPuTODES2Ab1n9ke1MujgfHBCPQAhsfxO2ZHZW9fx499Ucjqllx87c/s320/don%2526girls.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Don (aka Papa Fresh) and the girls, Leslee and Daun</span></i></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Please keep us in prayers as we head into our final weekend here. Pray that we'll finish well and will take every opportunity to share the most important message on our hearts. Pray that we will remain focused on the task at hand and not too distracted by thoughts of getting back to our "regular" way of life. And pray that God will speak to us, even as He speaks through us, concerning lessons He's been showing us while serving here. We just can't afford to be the same people when we return as we were before we left.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And those around us can't afford that either.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-86300867051271627062011-07-02T06:45:00.000-07:002011-07-02T06:46:35.429-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0da7;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=560587103150089368&postID=8630086705127162706" name="3631487348430972531"></a></span><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; position: relative;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font: normal normal bold 20px/normal 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://kaccgoteams.blogspot.com/2011/07/go-australia-in-fine-fashion.html" style="font: normal normal bold 20px/normal 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">GO! Australia in Fine Fashion</a></span></h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #0d0da7; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3631487348430972531" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 510px;"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w3J11f3Mb4JRQaJT5Y5aCrb3khJbxQlUM_2N7PMD4yb2gWp1MTdN222GzESlB0Xx8LrLVOXwQPZLIAMluCNRAJn4QlHI_ZZuaraKVXOTUS8-J1jBqiTn1Ab_O7_fo43SRSIIIfF2hes/s1600/GO_OZ.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #cc2020; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w3J11f3Mb4JRQaJT5Y5aCrb3khJbxQlUM_2N7PMD4yb2gWp1MTdN222GzESlB0Xx8LrLVOXwQPZLIAMluCNRAJn4QlHI_ZZuaraKVXOTUS8-J1jBqiTn1Ab_O7_fo43SRSIIIfF2hes/s200/GO_OZ.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wow! it's been a whirlwind first week here in Brisbane for our team. We've tried to update our activities via Facebook, but our long days/evening schedule has hindered blogging up to this point.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFV1a_8UgrxO2Cg5VMB6qfbr1l8BDm3t7TNy7t2Adto3x9OcareUTfwH3e-Wyn07poc8PcSX10v4uhN2MxguUb-xJjAXDZfs0ni-dhv7HVdzbK8Ohrk3-XVPUUAMEquS4Yc33KzkTCkk/s1600/ascoc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFV1a_8UgrxO2Cg5VMB6qfbr1l8BDm3t7TNy7t2Adto3x9OcareUTfwH3e-Wyn07poc8PcSX10v4uhN2MxguUb-xJjAXDZfs0ni-dhv7HVdzbK8Ohrk3-XVPUUAMEquS4Yc33KzkTCkk/s200/ascoc.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Ann Street Church</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We made it here with no worries, surprising our missionary (Daun) with her father (Don)! It was great to see her stunned expression at the airport as he came out the ramp! More than anything throughout this week, we've been impressed with the need and opportunity for relationships. The young people of the Ann Street Church are so open for friendships, and those connections matter to them. People with whom we've come into contact are also open to finding more about us and connecting with us on some level. These opportunities are abundant and fairly easy to negotiate- something all of us are able to do!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukwLhbwvPiQ3Bhv0TScIsIHauSRTC_Mz2JYdpUwZOs_5fs9857cI05xglEiqGB8HR0LeyUgGzvj_uPkgvfvHx_atAGxUqZEH8-naK_IFmCZT3q4nobJI5I3gRvDIDUFc6RYFbL8KdedM/s1600/combbq.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukwLhbwvPiQ3Bhv0TScIsIHauSRTC_Mz2JYdpUwZOs_5fs9857cI05xglEiqGB8HR0LeyUgGzvj_uPkgvfvHx_atAGxUqZEH8-naK_IFmCZT3q4nobJI5I3gRvDIDUFc6RYFbL8KdedM/s200/combbq.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Community BBQ</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We've been to an island off Brisbane's shore with the church, visited a zoo, cleaned and begun repainting Ann Street's Fellowship Hall, eaten kangaroo, served a Community BBQ (like our Community Supper), dined at the Pancake House in the city at midnite, attended a farewell service for Ron Tatum (visiting for a month from Southside Christian Church in Inglewood), and prayer walked in the city...just to mention a few things. Tomorrow (Sunday), Mike will preach a combined service (Ann St. regulars and their Korean church), then we'll pack up and head to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eidsvold, a small, predominantly aboriginal community 6 hours from here. Chances are there'll be no way to blog there, so we'll catch you up on our return next Thursday. Meanwhile, thank you for your prayers and love (keep 'em coming!), and enjoy a few recent snaps:</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98DzGXck3mqroq1vfxYyc4qE4G8ANvDNuQZBNAQSWMvhrUgyxOLFWalreHHX_8FjL4bibfPtiGAN9gtilRZuApLLVkH_9cnMZwnPIbprqOeAD8vZE1mtfl_WGECIKjJ81WmTH4aWN6eM/s1600/don.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98DzGXck3mqroq1vfxYyc4qE4G8ANvDNuQZBNAQSWMvhrUgyxOLFWalreHHX_8FjL4bibfPtiGAN9gtilRZuApLLVkH_9cnMZwnPIbprqOeAD8vZE1mtfl_WGECIKjJ81WmTH4aWN6eM/s320/don.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Daddy Don</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIq1YT4BtZappl6Ik2Yg8dPG82yOqJcGOxzPjfnVrdG-MUNprVKsvSn-LuTV3CxwTnCDArl4SjN2SpLRO8o6JJyulOQxRwl4ktoVCGsH2KzisgsMnaK2zUuqsHeJQyJfk_iWyn6cQgTiI/s1600/lukepaint.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIq1YT4BtZappl6Ik2Yg8dPG82yOqJcGOxzPjfnVrdG-MUNprVKsvSn-LuTV3CxwTnCDArl4SjN2SpLRO8o6JJyulOQxRwl4ktoVCGsH2KzisgsMnaK2zUuqsHeJQyJfk_iWyn6cQgTiI/s320/lukepaint.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Luke the artist</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UL33PVJ_zdO_it88EurCeS4IgsDLr9tJ3YWJ_PjKINePx8YiYZUdVTf0GLzaLlUTgIiZOKUYpvU1AFZXsbX-nnivGPjQ1NZwzbndaUsgD6ae5VX-ODn6dybK6m5nsTXHRC3uaXm3AW8/s1600/joshnsj.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UL33PVJ_zdO_it88EurCeS4IgsDLr9tJ3YWJ_PjKINePx8YiYZUdVTf0GLzaLlUTgIiZOKUYpvU1AFZXsbX-nnivGPjQ1NZwzbndaUsgD6ae5VX-ODn6dybK6m5nsTXHRC3uaXm3AW8/s320/joshnsj.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Josh and St. John</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKF869G3N15YbPutKVWDYYavBhCTVvTOsiHGEraWEbQgPqVK1qyuzm1PsjfZDNlc1kgdtdl14YWQ4OBlsEHZzQ3f53FMynNjFanh_h4KlaTZYUIJhUcklmMUiz0h1WuQPYe8fRf0RTHdM/s1600/alexisandmob.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKF869G3N15YbPutKVWDYYavBhCTVvTOsiHGEraWEbQgPqVK1qyuzm1PsjfZDNlc1kgdtdl14YWQ4OBlsEHZzQ3f53FMynNjFanh_h4KlaTZYUIJhUcklmMUiz0h1WuQPYe8fRf0RTHdM/s320/alexisandmob.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Alexis and the Ann St. mob</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YFOXT44M8MH3IlrKP4iW_XukA9Jdd9IEahHqVHx8oyVxJOtp0G36O_LqQUh1bR5bkVe2Kvg9ZJHKr_FShU1ZZeo9V_ujGsKL1dEpsE6h3Oe1ASP6Vhmji1qMnBaz7O0oBbcJqr30-4U/s1600/groupwork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YFOXT44M8MH3IlrKP4iW_XukA9Jdd9IEahHqVHx8oyVxJOtp0G36O_LqQUh1bR5bkVe2Kvg9ZJHKr_FShU1ZZeo9V_ujGsKL1dEpsE6h3Oe1ASP6Vhmji1qMnBaz7O0oBbcJqr30-4U/s320/groupwork.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Work crew gettin' it done</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRb2s2yci9OoSUdeMAmoTrd1xtPgqXsWriFNR19-Xb8PH6cYIZpxrq-nldfylKKpxqCVb7DOYQMkwHwpUUWN2eJ3pPbkzPcTcyvi2aq8T94T6gApg9uB0tVlD1e0-mt260gpc1jK-6Ko/s1600/mike.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRb2s2yci9OoSUdeMAmoTrd1xtPgqXsWriFNR19-Xb8PH6cYIZpxrq-nldfylKKpxqCVb7DOYQMkwHwpUUWN2eJ3pPbkzPcTcyvi2aq8T94T6gApg9uB0tVlD1e0-mt260gpc1jK-6Ko/s320/mike.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Mike keeping an eye out</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We've experienced a lot in a short time, and there's more to come! Pray for opportunity and boldness as we represent our God here. We love you all<br />
!</span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0Brisbane QLD, Australia-27.4709331 153.02350239999998-28.1008231 152.47344189999998 -26.8410431 153.57356289999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-532218373497534952011-06-21T17:02:00.000-07:002011-06-21T17:02:13.328-07:00up close and personal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tL72nEb1uWqZ8yBMGGed-7H88DYASzRGeDN9nEMRaDJY0ejU7Djyq52r_LeYq4LOxjhSvAkFSls8jfpmXYTc3leVHLoNkSp7WcVqddU9X1wC6dpIV1UrVHFFYonAUmiTvgXU3go1ROUl/s1600/japan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tL72nEb1uWqZ8yBMGGed-7H88DYASzRGeDN9nEMRaDJY0ejU7Djyq52r_LeYq4LOxjhSvAkFSls8jfpmXYTc3leVHLoNkSp7WcVqddU9X1wC6dpIV1UrVHFFYonAUmiTvgXU3go1ROUl/s200/japan1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had lunch recently with Mike from Mustard Seed Global Fellowship, a church-planting team working in Japan. We caught up on the progress of the young urban church in Nagoya with which he's working, and the new church project that they're planning for early next year in Osaka. And we talked about what's been going on since the horrific earthquake and tsunami that impacted the country recently.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-RUj9ZmhwDZf58B0d1h2C9lXE9jPC6BI2mKs8nKZaa1dHG33RYV0v1a0sLaESN0D25CNGxhHp-fOD2kc1cSp5er0KTZX0tkwHlR33Kw_YHTWn3AD3GHDIXdOQDP9AXxqayjh4jou2feA/s1600/quake+damage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-RUj9ZmhwDZf58B0d1h2C9lXE9jPC6BI2mKs8nKZaa1dHG33RYV0v1a0sLaESN0D25CNGxhHp-fOD2kc1cSp5er0KTZX0tkwHlR33Kw_YHTWn3AD3GHDIXdOQDP9AXxqayjh4jou2feA/s200/quake+damage.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As he told me about the destruction and its aftermath, of MSGF's relief efforts, and of the feelings that now touch everyone there, I thought of a scene I'd watched on TV following the disaster. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Some international Christian missions organizations whose workers had come to labor alongside the Japanese people and to point them to a greater hope were now being evacuated in this new face of danger. Those who had counted the cost and had heard God's voice to go, now heard a voice telling them to leave. My heart was saddened by the thought that not only had these people relinquished their voice among those they once believed they were called to serve, but they may have actually broadcast a message of discouragement and abandonment.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S7ISXwsgwOWQKo1nsoK8gYCBfHj1Y5R59ShPsN52NTWpkk7HVd1M-1kRo4TKVr0-aQWQvXF_4dV_XmlYfyEk12kB3X5k8UfTu52mk90jvx3sQnVqUWW92lRahYFS7cp5CFQG-Ud7WZcC/s1600/survivor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S7ISXwsgwOWQKo1nsoK8gYCBfHj1Y5R59ShPsN52NTWpkk7HVd1M-1kRo4TKVr0-aQWQvXF_4dV_XmlYfyEk12kB3X5k8UfTu52mk90jvx3sQnVqUWW92lRahYFS7cp5CFQG-Ud7WZcC/s200/survivor.jpg" width="178" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Please understand, I'm not trying to be unfairly critical or judgmental about anyone's decision to remain in a place when circumstances go awry. After many years living with my own family overseas, and surviving a bucketful of issues like disease, military unrest, natural disasters and the like, I know that no one can tell anyone else how long they should stay somewhere. I get that. But I also understand that if we truly believe that we heard God's voice at some point telling us to go, don't we believe that He knew what uncertainties were going to befall us even before they happened...and yet He called us anyway? Are we too quick to assume that if things suddenly go south, it's the cue for us to leave? After all, most of those people to whom we've gone won't board a plane and get out of town. They'll suffer through the aftermath of untoward circumstances. But what about us?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEthNhcr_12nuvvLkjuF73b21FUkz4Lx_qYvV1mjgJDkgB_yr7wAMOhWzVFLBi_BfGqvQJAm5v3O2QOT1pFNGZkY2y_6JuUce1YPDvggl6jEuzv0Z2z0fzM-DwjKApeqqYZeZuFzrXOCY/s1600/japan+pray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEthNhcr_12nuvvLkjuF73b21FUkz4Lx_qYvV1mjgJDkgB_yr7wAMOhWzVFLBi_BfGqvQJAm5v3O2QOT1pFNGZkY2y_6JuUce1YPDvggl6jEuzv0Z2z0fzM-DwjKApeqqYZeZuFzrXOCY/s200/japan+pray.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I thanked Mike and his team for their willingness to remain in Japan and deal with whatever comes, just as those they're serving must do. I thanked him for making the tough decision to stay, when common sense, logic and maybe friends would tell him to go. And I thanked him for being like Jesus to the Japanese people, because it's in John 1 that we read that <i>the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.</i> I appreciate the translation of The Message here, because it phrases these words like this: <i>And the Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. </i>Moved into the neighborhood. When Jesus left the glories of heaven, he chose to hang with us for awhile. He walked with us, lived with us, struggled with us, dealt with our issues, survived the calamities we did...and in so doing showed us the purpose and presence of God's love. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJku2zmQAWQ2zeB7YAjeBGKbfzwxQ3KQUL5d1QOIHpRpuJ-7wrJbmBYYr8DV_M4HbbAum1Mi84vw8fkiP64jMckhyphenhyphen2WnodZEAjPxkgdf1gpacUaNPGYbpLJjzBI5NPqxpMHUrO6OSU9MX/s1600/incarnation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJku2zmQAWQ2zeB7YAjeBGKbfzwxQ3KQUL5d1QOIHpRpuJ-7wrJbmBYYr8DV_M4HbbAum1Mi84vw8fkiP64jMckhyphenhyphen2WnodZEAjPxkgdf1gpacUaNPGYbpLJjzBI5NPqxpMHUrO6OSU9MX/s200/incarnation.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That's the beauty, the power of <i>incarnation</i>. And perhaps more than anything else, I believe that's the message God wants to give through us, as we choose to "move into the neighborhood" of those he calls us to reach. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A friend of mine who, with his wife, has chosen to take up residence for awhile in a local motel so they might more effectively reach out to those living there, put it succinctly: <i>You may impact lives from a distance, but you truly influence them when you are up close.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Up close. Thanks, MSGF, for staying up close with the Japanese people. And thanks, God, for coming up close to us. May we come and remain up close to those around us we're called to serve, regardless of circumstances.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because it's being up close that makes the difference.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-30260923785052300262011-04-08T22:21:00.000-07:002011-04-08T22:22:40.259-07:00what's in a name?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iaDV-0TZ_4jFQMh8q8XM_FwUPWXoJn9I1Im4RInVTqjAby9_cUb-2Ix-5mwi7s8LtgKtSqHWHygP5jn-djXXw0Kf6D5dzuCiNHwNIDndlRLpZJ8R4L0-SE0DuwnT0-kZCx68f7oYwJxV/s1600/compass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
<img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iaDV-0TZ_4jFQMh8q8XM_FwUPWXoJn9I1Im4RInVTqjAby9_cUb-2Ix-5mwi7s8LtgKtSqHWHygP5jn-djXXw0Kf6D5dzuCiNHwNIDndlRLpZJ8R4L0-SE0DuwnT0-kZCx68f7oYwJxV/s200/compass.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I don't know if you heard, but Compass Bible Church in Orange County </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">made the news recently in a special way. They produced a 30-second trailer </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">to run in a local theater. They wanted to advertise upcoming Easter services and paid </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the theater's management $5,000 to show the ad before coming attractions. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Much to their surprise, the corporation informed them that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the spots couldn't run. Told them that the piece was too controversial. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Why? Because it mentioned the name of Jesus!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Really? The church was told that people might be offended at the name of Jesus. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Imagine that! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I bet they didn't fret about being offensive as </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">they raked in money with movies like "The Passion of the Christ." And you know that if </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">certain other groups were denied advertising if they wanted to promote a spot involving </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">their religion's founder, there would be public uproar and cries of discrimination. And </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">come to think of it, most theaters give no thought to showing material that a great many </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">of us find offensive. C'mon, really?</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryPoP5xZx8c8VBR41tGRLJQ4d8kqEXALpgylWIn45rB70GQZsCy1ml91_4ZvePRWIjxesCoMEspKSS6zUEGSzv_VXv7-7H7uwo1oMGH1hi0EyTc3rThh0f8uvT-nIOXMcZc9jLDx9Br3w/s1600/theater1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryPoP5xZx8c8VBR41tGRLJQ4d8kqEXALpgylWIn45rB70GQZsCy1ml91_4ZvePRWIjxesCoMEspKSS6zUEGSzv_VXv7-7H7uwo1oMGH1hi0EyTc3rThh0f8uvT-nIOXMcZc9jLDx9Br3w/s200/theater1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Some are crying foul on behalf of the church, calling the action prejudicial and unfair. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And I think they're right. Some are calling for letters to be written and boycotts to be </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">executed. And I think they should act according to their convictions. But you know </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">what I really think, deep within my heart? <i>That we ought to expect this kind </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>of response</i>. Really. I think we've fooled ourselves into believing that our faith could </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">peacefully co-exist with the attitudes and feelings of the world, assuming that we could </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">live side-by-side with those whose values are (supposed to be) diametrically opposed to ours. We've thought this so long that we've allowed a spirit of détente to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">infiltrate our own lifestyles, hoping that we all might just get along. But </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">really?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Then something happens to jar us out of our little bubble, a reminder that we're </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">actually living in hostile territory and serving a kingdom designed to be at odds with our </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">very culture. Someone takes exception to us and we're taken aback. How dare they? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Don't they know who we are? Sure they do. They absolutely do and that's why they </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">take exception.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMcIuek9aSkezxgTorClRW4FvK5kntElWIN55SVLj3CkZ4ubAQApyV-5_-bpF4SigWUGU9R1l6CMrvrbQpAPyDcX07Zaq6PdDmHE1zIDZfrcoE9qaAhMPF9a40zTaQ-3vNu9HNuRv8hp7/s1600/struggle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMcIuek9aSkezxgTorClRW4FvK5kntElWIN55SVLj3CkZ4ubAQApyV-5_-bpF4SigWUGU9R1l6CMrvrbQpAPyDcX07Zaq6PdDmHE1zIDZfrcoE9qaAhMPF9a40zTaQ-3vNu9HNuRv8hp7/s200/struggle.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> What did we expect? Didn't Jesus tell us that if they hated him, they would hate us as </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">well? That he came not to bring peace, but a sword? And Paul says in 2 Corinthians </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">that we're the aroma of life to some and the stench of death to others.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> So why do we keep trying to cozy up to those </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">who are repelled by the person to whom we claim to pledge our allegiance? Are we trying to have the best of both worlds without </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">really choosing sides?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> It's time, past time, to live what we believe and understand that there's going to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">be pushback. Peter reminds us to not be surprised at the fiery trials we encounter, as </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">if they were something strange. Expect them. Live with a distinctiveness (don't </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">just be weird) that stands out and causes people to choose sides. Decide that you'll </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">never let yourself be squeezed into this world's mold. And if people find you offensive </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">because of the name you wear, well, you can take that as a compliment.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Really.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-285835641320418792011-04-02T19:42:00.000-07:002011-04-02T19:42:22.660-07:00feel the burn (the qur'an aflame)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIDlI6J-O_QS4eoOjAgQAgsIrx9j0UyWmCf4gvLQWDf-yg2Yw6xhwFPdb4XAbjv1T-qI4sNcTZVlEoYHnwv8lVtcwnT6gWXREQr7vZ6Ris5wHyQ7eN1TNwivP5-4oxqG9uQqw7pS0qADU/s1600/book-burning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIDlI6J-O_QS4eoOjAgQAgsIrx9j0UyWmCf4gvLQWDf-yg2Yw6xhwFPdb4XAbjv1T-qI4sNcTZVlEoYHnwv8lVtcwnT6gWXREQr7vZ6Ris5wHyQ7eN1TNwivP5-4oxqG9uQqw7pS0qADU/s200/book-burning.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You've probably heard the news by now. Terry Jones, the Florida pastor who threatened to burn the Qur'an (Islam's holy book) last September but changed his mind (check my previous post, </span><a href="http://edensdust.blogspot.com/2010/09/burn-baby-burn.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://edensdust.blogspot.com/2010/09/burn-baby-burn.htm</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>l</i></span></span></a>), <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">changed his mind again and followed through with his threat earlier this week. Unfortunately, his decision triggered a response from Muslims in Afghanistan. A NATO base was attacked and three rebels were killed. This came after a U.N. compound was besieged by hundreds protesting the burning by Jones. The storming of the facility left at least 11 people, seven of them foreigners, dead. And two of those foreigners were beheaded in the attack.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWqr6GR2uSRDu9JM8ofqG3pu_cIBHDwuWyWmdm71Xao6p2Y2Y6vwlFCz30txfxrNBIPmYmzlu6D55zDLrdO4NohJFhzT1cFD1NbY2JY0xw2Msw_P4NAY1-WnQYsBaeHjavgKQYQLFhnSQ/s1600/jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWqr6GR2uSRDu9JM8ofqG3pu_cIBHDwuWyWmdm71Xao6p2Y2Y6vwlFCz30txfxrNBIPmYmzlu6D55zDLrdO4NohJFhzT1cFD1NbY2JY0xw2Msw_P4NAY1-WnQYsBaeHjavgKQYQLFhnSQ/s1600/jones.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jones says he bears no responsibility for the actions of Muslims on the other side of the world. That he's sorry and he regrets their response, but that he was simply speaking truth as he understands it and was exercising his freedom of speech. And, at least according to many sentiments, there are many who either agree with his actions, or defend what he did in the face of the repressive nature of Islam.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jones, and those like him, have the right to speak as they feel led. That's protected in our country- something not afforded to all people in our world. But just because Jones <i>can </i>do something like he did, <i>should </i>he? </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsENZQdIhpx0AYDDJ91TjJXMGdCCVRKqkTvIBSOnhIFmaLNVzRORKyOqgtPOR3nDZubUyl3yZ9uSjjsWBqJgVfySocDxZ8S8-Co1NSGaj_5wEslkDYoKi-_4Qup0JKlD6g_RWNtAHz8ulv/s1600/global+responsibility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsENZQdIhpx0AYDDJ91TjJXMGdCCVRKqkTvIBSOnhIFmaLNVzRORKyOqgtPOR3nDZubUyl3yZ9uSjjsWBqJgVfySocDxZ8S8-Co1NSGaj_5wEslkDYoKi-_4Qup0JKlD6g_RWNtAHz8ulv/s200/global+responsibility.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jones may not see himself responsible for what overzealous people in another country did, but that doesn't absolve him. He may see himself free to say and do as he pleases, but that doesn't mean he has no boundaries or limits. W</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ith freedom comes responsibility, understanding that our actions have the power to impact people for good or for bad. Therefore, we must weigh carefully what we say and do, because we really do influence those around us (and even those around the world).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The passage of Scripture that kept rolling around in my head last night regarding all this is 1 Corinthians 10:23,24- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>"Everything is permissible"- but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"- but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Paul's words tell us that just because we can does NOT mean we should. That we've got to consider the power of our lives because they really do matter. Jones may not see himself as part of the Afghan situation, but he does share responsibility and culpability in the deaths of those U.N. workers- his actions touched off a firestorm that consumed far more than paper and ink.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOL0PS84Qi9qwJmsfxZ5PRzlfHCfclYdTeZNdbvp94jiLZ_23JmlXJA3JwY7_46wdXSwogJCksM30tCONbtghfe_HVlvYZf_gUqo7noJQ86VSSuTU3J_M7ozXm2rZC_ODuB7vnZszeot8S/s1600/bathroom-relection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOL0PS84Qi9qwJmsfxZ5PRzlfHCfclYdTeZNdbvp94jiLZ_23JmlXJA3JwY7_46wdXSwogJCksM30tCONbtghfe_HVlvYZf_gUqo7noJQ86VSSuTU3J_M7ozXm2rZC_ODuB7vnZszeot8S/s200/bathroom-relection.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As long as we keep acting the way people around us act, they won't see Jesus in us, but only reflection of themselves. And that's just not good enough. As long as we burn books, lash out and condemn, we look remarkably like our adversaries. So why would they join our ranks if there's no measurable difference between our actions and theirs? I'm not saying that we never make a stand for what's right; but that we make sure our words, our attitudes, our actions tell those opposed to us that we're guided and motivated by a God who loved them so much he chose to offer his son as a sacrifice for their sins. That he craves a relationship with them. And that his concern for them can be seen, felt and understood...through us. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's hard to burn someone's holy book if you really care about the people of that book.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hmm, come to think of it, maybe that's why it's so easy for some to strike a match.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-55153535428076843452011-01-19T13:59:00.000-08:002011-01-19T13:59:01.787-08:00the brisbane floods- aftermath <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wanted to provide one more update about the situation in Brisbane following the torrential floods of last week (for some amazing photos, click on </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/infographics/qld-floods/beforeafter.htm">http://www.abc.net.au/news/infographics/qld-floods/beforeafter.htm</a> </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">). The rains have subsided for the moment and the waters have receded, but they've cut a defining swath of calamity and disaster for thousands of people. The following is a post we received Sunday from Daun Slauson, our missionary there:</span><br />
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</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3HBhy7_yprHvRRZNNG_aVZLmjy4lQVS7DHGTio_0af56kIg0FyMTd04pkbZr3vw1iUk-lP6mH2qv-35T7hl0tmoFMAyVyUbb2qCzHihYG7tZmTZ-WARYCY-jrEeV_xiHBwvC4h16boM9/s1600/brizfloods2011%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3HBhy7_yprHvRRZNNG_aVZLmjy4lQVS7DHGTio_0af56kIg0FyMTd04pkbZr3vw1iUk-lP6mH2qv-35T7hl0tmoFMAyVyUbb2qCzHihYG7tZmTZ-WARYCY-jrEeV_xiHBwvC4h16boM9/s320/brizfloods2011%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-style: italic;">...the water is going down...the river is pretty well back to its normal level, though certainly not its normal colour. It is brown and ugly. But what remains is a path of destruction. It is just so sad. The Premiere, Anna Bleigh, referred to Brisbane (what it looks like) as a war zone...and now I understand what she means.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-style: italic;"><br />
</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> On Saturday, a group of us Ann Streeters set out to help with the clean up. We went into to Goodna, an area hit very hard- the Bremmer River that runs through there peaked at 19 meters- so you can imagine the destruction. We went there because that is, of course, where we have families living as well (though they were all untouched by the waters). It was absolutely amazing to see so many people out helping with the clean-up. (Lena told me that she rang Volunteer Queensland yesterday and they said that they have had 60,000 people register in the last week.- Now that is what I call Community Spirit). So on Sat. we drove around Goodna just looking for the right place..we had prayed that God would lead us to a house that there weren't too many people helping. </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> After driving around for some time- seeing the sad, sad result of the flood, we finally ended up at a house of an older (not elderly) woman...she had her son and daughter there helping her, and a few friends, but there was so much work that needed to be done...they excitedly welcomed our help...so into the house we came- 5 guys and 2 girls...with clean rags (which made a huge difference, as all they had were brooms to clean the walls/ceiling- and one high pressure hose running on a generator). Within about 3 hours we had the entire inside of the house clean and mostly mud free. They will still have to do major drying out and disinfecting, but her son told us that earlier in the morning, as he looked around at all that needed to be done, he was sure that he would be there well into this week...but, with our help, it was complete that day, along with some other jobs. It may have only been one house, but the impact that it had on that family was worth the time. Before we left, I asked if we could pray with them, and they willingly took us up on that offer...</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EDedyaOq2X-B0w2sKBrxAs-BLxcXVFR9TV7hPoWRIPQaOyyTtiytd_iMFRMvYP_1WmFpxizDBFo122vVObVvAwwGVsV3xlCdfiqw2hD9WpjaBnD2vpC-1LZjAScOOxrNsiBnT3ZZbUP5/s1600/brizfloods2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EDedyaOq2X-B0w2sKBrxAs-BLxcXVFR9TV7hPoWRIPQaOyyTtiytd_iMFRMvYP_1WmFpxizDBFo122vVObVvAwwGVsV3xlCdfiqw2hD9WpjaBnD2vpC-1LZjAScOOxrNsiBnT3ZZbUP5/s320/brizfloods2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> I am heading out again today with Lena and her sisters to help more with the clean up... it will be an ongoing process for some time... and I hope to do all that I can. Please pray that as we are out there, meeting people and hearing their stories, that we will have and take the opportunities to share Christ in any way that we can. There is so much talk of the 'Aussie Spirit" and it is true- there is a great Aussie Spirit..but I want people to see more than just that in me...I want them to see Christ's Spirit... </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Please continue to pray for Daun and the crew at Ann Street as they seek normalcy even while ministering to the needs of others. Pray that people recognize their need for the Lord, especially at a time like this. Pray that the spirit of Christ would shine through the selflessness of those who serve in his name to so many who need to know him. And that rains of destruction will become rains of mercy and grace as his love floods the lives of those who have been in spiritual drought for far too long. Keep praying.</span></div></span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-3402972536768473302011-01-13T15:17:00.001-08:002011-01-15T09:23:31.780-08:00high tide in brisbane (the floods, part 2)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wrote a couple of days ago, asking you to pray about the massive flooding in Queensland, Australia, and especially as the focus was turning to the city of Brisbane. The Brisbane River was supposed to crest yesterday morning at 10:00 (Anaheim time) at more than 5 meters (that's over 15 feet). It had already breached its banks and was threatening to turn the heart of Brisbane into a complete waterway.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We received the following update yesterday from Daun Slauson, one of our church members working there with the Ann Street Church of Christ:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">well, today we have better news.... the river peaked about 1 metre lower than expected. That may seem like a small amount, but it means that many, many homes were spared. They have now estimated that 'only' 7,500 properties were affected by flooding (others may still have water damage, but not complete flooding). This is a huge answer to prayer!! The waters have already begun to recede, ever so slowly... they say it will be mid week next week before we see the river back to its normal size. As far as I know, no one from Ann St. or the church itself have been hit. But as you can imagine, there is a major clean up that now must begin. </span></i></span><br />
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<div style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">At this point, the Brisbane drinking water supply is still ok, so we pray that it stays that way. As for getting food and other supplies in, it may take some time, as many of the roads are cut out...</span></span></div><div style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks to those of you who have been praying about this matter. Please keep praying for safety, for encouragement in the long rebuilding process, for the Church to be a positive force, and for people to turn their hearts to the Lord.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here are some pictures that tell a grim story:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pray on!</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-3677987365744295662011-01-11T12:00:00.000-08:002011-01-11T12:00:02.241-08:00and the rains came down...(brisbane floods)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>"He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."</i> And oh, the rain is falling. And falling. And falling.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzD3RlwCQeK0UuPiJwX_aJVSh7Bczb1RQFOT5eu0nflGufulqVc5cQOcD57kqNpwDhbl2dYni7PqK9IyyiNM5PXIWYoE6-3x5LpMSVxfjRht3xMWCqed2Gxqmb9PRyoyK3jpCtAoybock/s1600/brisbane+floods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzD3RlwCQeK0UuPiJwX_aJVSh7Bczb1RQFOT5eu0nflGufulqVc5cQOcD57kqNpwDhbl2dYni7PqK9IyyiNM5PXIWYoE6-3x5LpMSVxfjRht3xMWCqed2Gxqmb9PRyoyK3jpCtAoybock/s320/brisbane+floods.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Brisbane area of northeast Australia is currently facing torrential rains and flooding at an unprecedented level. Areas throughout the northeast have been inundated by monsoonal rains that have continued for weeks, and have sent water levels to new highs. Many cities and communities have been ravaged by raging floodwaters, with much loss of life and property. As I write, the waters are now bearing down on the city of Brisbane <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">(<a href="http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8194723/instant-inland-tsunami-kills-four">http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8194723/instant-inland-tsunami-kills-four</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></span></i>. The water catchment dam built outside the city in 1974 (following massive flooding then) is at 140% of capacity, and if rains don't subside quickly, disaster will continue to escalate.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45wcnN1VeXaKmjvNdntsxMYAldp357a9nE0ozTXfzkJMkVIzi2pMuQoY95AEru2cmOR5qPINwoXqsnHleU9NYVh2UAanA9GdhThp2fzE0GiBX8J4S7fqOFz-1DTpLKBGutVCVAhyLrnSJ/s1600/brisbane+floods2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45wcnN1VeXaKmjvNdntsxMYAldp357a9nE0ozTXfzkJMkVIzi2pMuQoY95AEru2cmOR5qPINwoXqsnHleU9NYVh2UAanA9GdhThp2fzE0GiBX8J4S7fqOFz-1DTpLKBGutVCVAhyLrnSJ/s320/brisbane+floods2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the part of Australia with which we have a partnership, both through our missionary (Daun Slauson) and our Global Outreach (GO!) Teams that have been going there since 2003. The Ann Street Church of Christ with whom we work is in the downtown area and may be in the path of the floodwaters, should they come. Many our friends are being directly impacted by these events, and need our prayers. Will you pray for their safety, and for the rains to abate? But will you also pray for a spirit of brokenness to sweep over the Australian people, and that they will turn their hearts to God? This is a country that has been spiritually dry for many years and needs to understand its need for the Lord. Ask God to reveal his mercy and grace in the midst of great suffering and sorrow. And that the rain of his love will fall upon a wonderful people in a fresh way. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u><b>Note: here is part of our latest update from Daun, received 01/11</b></u>:<i> </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>I have spoken to Tim </i>(Ann Street Church elder)<i>...they evacuated everyone out of Brisbane City at about midday today...and told people not to come back unless they absolutely need to. He spoke with his dad re: Ann St (his parents have been around Ann St. for many years) and he feels that we will be safe from the flooding. Though the church is not too far from the river, it is higher up. Let's hope he is right. </i></span><br />
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<div style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> So, the reason for the higher amount of flooding tomorrow is because they have had to open the gates to the Wivenho Dam, and now that water, along with the rain and flood waters from other areas is coming down river... and tomorrow at 3pm there will be a King Tide... so water rising from the sea and coming in mixed with all the water coming down... all suburbs near the river have been warned to evacuate. They are estimating that a minimum of 7,000 properties will be wiped out.. with another 16,000 affected. </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-8572761721640223762011-01-10T22:39:00.000-08:002011-01-11T12:06:43.134-08:00a golden voice, a golden chance<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Last week we heard the story of Ted Williams, the homeless man with the golden voice, "discovered" outside Columbus, Ohio <a href="http://www.blogger.com/(http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40944077/ns/today-today_people/)." style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-style: italic;">(http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40944077/ns/today-today_people/)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">.</span></a><i style="font-size: small;"> </i>It was a great story of redemption. Of second chances. Of extended grace.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8BtV6xajh1ZxjZKaM5zMR5-z_8dTN5eCHVhVBNA4JbChoOWdVCt9TPj50HgZV2NrGDpfjtAR6Os0TsKZP7lCN9OuuPufXo5P9rJ4UZqDn9p7iIhpt_Mfg78nckctkLD8341QmVki-5N4/s1600/ted-williams-homeless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8BtV6xajh1ZxjZKaM5zMR5-z_8dTN5eCHVhVBNA4JbChoOWdVCt9TPj50HgZV2NrGDpfjtAR6Os0TsKZP7lCN9OuuPufXo5P9rJ4UZqDn9p7iIhpt_Mfg78nckctkLD8341QmVki-5N4/s200/ted-williams-homeless.jpg" width="200" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I loved hearing the tale and the way it played out: a local newscaster decided to shoot a video of Williams, a beggar on the side of the road with a sign saying he had a golden voice for radio but needed another chance. The newscaster's hope was that someone would see the video and respond. And respond they did. The vid went viral, being seen by millions, and job offers came pouring in. Overnight Ted went from nothing to over-the-top possibilities...and a new start.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJ4lqs29G9iDpN_GDLjvm0VWEBqras10j0jJb5OfnZ2YHZhGsPStF3gq5u1EsSmUVOmg3syqAxKY3vl55QUHZiUQSnBuo3bApxyV_dx7owBRhkqtq6ybV5G-4KTo6M8hkRPpnzLxUnCsF/s1600/MICROPHONE+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJ4lqs29G9iDpN_GDLjvm0VWEBqras10j0jJb5OfnZ2YHZhGsPStF3gq5u1EsSmUVOmg3syqAxKY3vl55QUHZiUQSnBuo3bApxyV_dx7owBRhkqtq6ybV5G-4KTo6M8hkRPpnzLxUnCsF/s200/MICROPHONE+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There were a few things that stood out to me as I read and watched the stories that unfolded. I was impressed with the motivation of the man who made the video. He had nothing to gain from this act, except the knowledge that he did something good for someone in need. And I thought how much better our world would be if more of us determined to do good to those in need, not for personal profit, but simply because it's the right thing to do.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then there was the remark Williams made to Matt Lauer, when asked what he would tell us about the homeless. He told him that we shouldn't assume the worst about the homeless, but should discover their stories, because everyone has a story and it needs to be told. And we need to listen.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Rr6iQphJ9pMAL69XLCogMZVapHUjQMsRILPt0crIZLatvOEyZS1uAjrjBj451uIqiiqfwqdI5NwOjNxHLrfcnyhq1mIojohulOylykFMNlTlfckOYo4n63JuCgaWnT5usvVw4R727tg1/s1600/homeless2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Rr6iQphJ9pMAL69XLCogMZVapHUjQMsRILPt0crIZLatvOEyZS1uAjrjBj451uIqiiqfwqdI5NwOjNxHLrfcnyhq1mIojohulOylykFMNlTlfckOYo4n63JuCgaWnT5usvVw4R727tg1/s200/homeless2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finally, in the outpouring of support people offered, many claimed that Williams <i>deserved</i> a second chance. Evidently, the fact that he had a gifted voice made people think he was entitled to another shot. Truth is, he <i>deserved</i> to be exactly where he was. Williams was an alcoholic and drug addict, had run afoul of the law, was a public nuisance, and was estranged from his family. His lifestyle and poor choices had run his life aground, and he ended up where he deserved. Did he deserve more than the next guy because he had a great set of pipes? What if he had no special gift, but was simply "ordinary?" Would he deserve less? No, the story isn't about being deserving, but rather about giving grace. And grace is a gift given freely, not to the deserving, but to those who <i>don't</i> deserve. That's life's story for us, as we stand before God, isn't it? What He gives us is a gift- His grace. And that grace- favor granted to those who don't deserve it- is the difference-maker in our lives.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Does Ted Williams <i>deserve </i>another chance? Hardly, since <i>deserving </i>is what you get for what you do. But should he be given the grace to have another opportunity do right, to be right? Absolutely. Our culture is built on that kind of thinking. More importantly, that's the way God chose to deal with us, granting us grace for another chance even though we deserved less. Much, much less. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm happy for Ted. Happy for us. Because with grace, everyone wins. And that sounds great, doesn't it? </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-88249372778548932472010-11-20T19:57:00.000-08:002010-11-20T19:59:37.339-08:00a tank full of thankful<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm reeling today...with thankfulness. Yesterday was filled with events that allowed me to see again the hand of God working through people, touching lives in some special ways.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzj0ONq0C_KqqAIUQDqa8poV3BUgTiWF3P_q_qt8DEWA2WwGpj9btaQDlS43UzT7muhqrQoLXdSQpXUlBqi0gQGS4SQA_Ggq2ZzLwsPNDUhbEMrE5J_OM9zvia-6ZKX_KOIFjqVN7VPE7/s1600/with+ranji.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzj0ONq0C_KqqAIUQDqa8poV3BUgTiWF3P_q_qt8DEWA2WwGpj9btaQDlS43UzT7muhqrQoLXdSQpXUlBqi0gQGS4SQA_Ggq2ZzLwsPNDUhbEMrE5J_OM9zvia-6ZKX_KOIFjqVN7VPE7/s200/with+ranji.jpg" width="149" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The first event took place (actually, it culminated) during the afternoon. The local 7-11 down the street from the church had been conducting a canned food drive for our Pantry ministry the last couple of weeks. It was one of those "Bring a can, get a free hot dog" kind of thing. And they got rid of a lot of dogs! The owner, a gracious man named Ranji <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(on left, wearing turban)</span></i>, asked if I could come to receive the cans and join in the festivities. Ranji is generous and wanted to give back to the community. He decided to hook up with us because he knew that we provide food regularly to people in need.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YrRuBtwgi4_r4014mAqwCINBeM7cg4lgBnFTpDxcwVS4A77Np_U8ZhstxI8PGl8bnjb4KqU3QL19hdo_Hv5LYS1ykXb1fPTnUAM3k02czKQ7OVg6LHkyt3uCFjKjaRQl3HcOHkp_gCLv/s1600/crowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YrRuBtwgi4_r4014mAqwCINBeM7cg4lgBnFTpDxcwVS4A77Np_U8ZhstxI8PGl8bnjb4KqU3QL19hdo_Hv5LYS1ykXb1fPTnUAM3k02czKQ7OVg6LHkyt3uCFjKjaRQl3HcOHkp_gCLv/s200/crowd.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I got to the 7-11 parking lot, people were everywhere, and plastic tubs of food were piled high. A DJ spun music at an extremely high decibel level, a jumper consumed small children, and free food and soft drinks were being devoured everywhere. Ranji hugged me as he excitedly showed me the food that had been collected. Kids kept arriving with more cans, and the inside of the store was as full of people as the outside.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZlOuyPyCgpArV6uR24Ewllci9DUlTn7R8FI-QqufaJOMAWvpWnXv7KzNRT9gCcoeQKVpv3V865lZ3yq3PogTUpHNo6eVx8kUc06QvKGNXSsPbxw_iktdOsdN0SiFoXKXFNLgQbBcAb17/s1600/7-11+food+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZlOuyPyCgpArV6uR24Ewllci9DUlTn7R8FI-QqufaJOMAWvpWnXv7KzNRT9gCcoeQKVpv3V865lZ3yq3PogTUpHNo6eVx8kUc06QvKGNXSsPbxw_iktdOsdN0SiFoXKXFNLgQbBcAb17/s200/7-11+food+2.jpg" width="149" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ranji told me that his dream was to see the community helping its own, and that he wanted to develop an ongoing partnership with us. As I mingled with people, I was reminded that there really is only one race on earth, the <i>human </i>race. That we have the ability to lift each other, strengthen each other and make a difference in each other's lives. And I saw again the great value of a church that is connected with those around it. Our involvement with people at basic life levels helps them understand God's concern for them, and gives us a platform to continue sharing life with them.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3qGAErL-2RLNhXrMRs0OhHfrrP6BIopLdcVblgrgxT5H-3QbiCXSHX_fHBPCSfJJbSJWRK62ciHasFoBjMpfVBU-GcB1g7KAPumdongErAJlQrYXWA0wRbXv9fMCuN7k3m_7awRL4unS/s1600/thanksgiving-dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3qGAErL-2RLNhXrMRs0OhHfrrP6BIopLdcVblgrgxT5H-3QbiCXSHX_fHBPCSfJJbSJWRK62ciHasFoBjMpfVBU-GcB1g7KAPumdongErAJlQrYXWA0wRbXv9fMCuN7k3m_7awRL4unS/s200/thanksgiving-dinner.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A short while later we gathered at the church for our monthly Community Supper. November's Supper is special, as we serve a full Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to the generous donations of our congregation. The evening was outstanding as more than 200 from the community arrived to a special set-up in the main auditorium. Scrumptious dinners were served by almost 100 volunteers from the church. Lots of sharing, lots of interaction, lots of connection. And everyone was thankful. Very thankful. One woman told me upon her arrival that she was so lonely. At the end of the evening she assured me that loneliness was no longer an immediate concern.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My heart's full. People giving their possessions for strangers. People giving their time in service. People giving their lives for others. And I'm thankful as I see so many blessings around me. It's easy to become cynical in my world, and much of what I see and experience has the capability to color it with some pretty ugly hues. But Friday reminded me that good blossoms in even the grayest of situations, and that people have the ability to do good when need presents itself. And why not? It goes back to image in which we were made, doesn't it? That image is a good one, always initiating, always giving, always blessing, always connecting. And that gives me hope.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And it makes me thankful.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-20429020035561274242010-11-13T22:56:00.001-08:002010-11-13T22:56:15.618-08:00the urban jungle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RzidVUnDUOGbP_ahEt6osPOWZ0ETnBJ9C1mfDd6a40k8oy5y5DGfgdVm5-QMc7VR2e-2-QE-vEwRPf8o5Z3bv2bFicCZXNSLR12M56oUgGEmwmazeZjmhFRs2S4B9AHz2kMdp2bRDErE/s1600/city+signs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RzidVUnDUOGbP_ahEt6osPOWZ0ETnBJ9C1mfDd6a40k8oy5y5DGfgdVm5-QMc7VR2e-2-QE-vEwRPf8o5Z3bv2bFicCZXNSLR12M56oUgGEmwmazeZjmhFRs2S4B9AHz2kMdp2bRDErE/s200/city+signs.jpg" width="143" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I visited a neighborhood not long ago where crime is rampant. Several houses in the community were boarded up, some of them burned out, and most tagged with graffiti. No one is on the streets after dark because the possibility of trouble with local gangs is so likely. Tennis shoes and blue or red bandannas adorn telephone wires throughout. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The two primary gangs vying for control? Crips and Bloods, of course. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Alcohol and drugs are a staple for adults and kids alike. Abuse of all kinds is a regular part of life, especially among the youth. Unemployment is far too high, most residents exist in survival mode, and the concept of hope is almost nonexistent. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00XXKcJYsnMhJYcde7tdIDU-FXS_jiqK31B2E7arIoCctqf5iulvxYcKLNNCMbA5ZXfUnjxyi2UjzoVgDLbVtx5xwH9tuE5x7WEqcfIHWoJEPJ1Cl9fQondUPu8qvrofZ3VjurHJRpvtG/s1600/graffiti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00XXKcJYsnMhJYcde7tdIDU-FXS_jiqK31B2E7arIoCctqf5iulvxYcKLNNCMbA5ZXfUnjxyi2UjzoVgDLbVtx5xwH9tuE5x7WEqcfIHWoJEPJ1Cl9fQondUPu8qvrofZ3VjurHJRpvtG/s200/graffiti.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you were to guess where I visited, you might have thought of Detroit, Chicago, or New York. The urban issues I witnessed are common in cities like Atlanta, St. Louis or Dallas. But I was close to home than these places...and not nearly as urban. My destination was the San Carlos Apache Reservation (via Arizona Reservation Ministry) outside the town of Globe in eastern Arizona. I've been to this place many times, and each visit overwhelms my sensibilities. So much despair, so much struggle, and so much destruction of human life and possibility. And the other factor that never ceases to astound me is the existence of the complex urban issues that seem so out of place here. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdZTW1PpccKiwNjGEA31JIYTO5XRcg7m5wfjsiHXNMXODbwdxWFRJI3AIqn471lOdmfbOiYvl_IOy9Pw9b8ktEtI9-DcmfDPN8_QtPvXZ9zV1oPk9FNbu_WLKXIJArT2RXpQzb3IA9NTr/s1600/apache.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdZTW1PpccKiwNjGEA31JIYTO5XRcg7m5wfjsiHXNMXODbwdxWFRJI3AIqn471lOdmfbOiYvl_IOy9Pw9b8ktEtI9-DcmfDPN8_QtPvXZ9zV1oPk9FNbu_WLKXIJArT2RXpQzb3IA9NTr/s200/apache.jpg" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All this makes ministry here doubly difficult. Not only do workers need to understand Native American (and Apache, specifically) culture well, but they must also know how to deal with urban culture, and all the facets associated with it. Either one of these is a full-time undertaking, but this is one place that both must be carefully considered. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrUfINE9sx1Bgdq3CsRz9sNfREEK35Lwf75lz1b8ktZI4T9zCl6EHcKhCr5H6UHDLJdD-HuQi3jxb7rESbX5YRaj1xni9UfEw1NS6A2PbcC-QiTwBR-0uXURFBaDIRwuZ7eSvJa_5AACa/s1600/apache+girl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrUfINE9sx1Bgdq3CsRz9sNfREEK35Lwf75lz1b8ktZI4T9zCl6EHcKhCr5H6UHDLJdD-HuQi3jxb7rESbX5YRaj1xni9UfEw1NS6A2PbcC-QiTwBR-0uXURFBaDIRwuZ7eSvJa_5AACa/s200/apache+girl.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In all this challenge, our team witnessed hope. Many of the kids with whom ARM works were different than they used to be. They were responsive, positive, polite and expressive. They interacted with us more deeply than they would have a couple of years ago. They were smiling, laughing, enjoying. As simple as these things are to us, they can be major accomplishments for those of San Carlos. And we were encouraged.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So the next time you think about urban ministry, see tagging along a wall, or shoes dangling from a wire, remember that urban doesn't just happen in cities anymore. That there are kids struggling to survive mean rural streets that are teeming with urban challenges. And that we need people willing to commit their lives to understanding multiple cultures all wrapped up in the same neighborhood. It's a crazy world.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And it's getting crazier all the time.</span><br />
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-39646553978881501242010-11-02T20:08:00.000-07:002010-11-02T20:09:41.308-07:00mock the vote?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTS4T8tRqqt-GBRRXD_FJc3T-NTATQYUEO4Hb96yzmnVeokG_0lZfUMx1qO-EkpXv1EbGwB16v0a5t5NRE6O8Vl91UtFkSaVBofy-We2_QLGUqvSqcAGA-rsZvZa_VWHXv06Q4nD2u1vl/s1600/vote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTS4T8tRqqt-GBRRXD_FJc3T-NTATQYUEO4Hb96yzmnVeokG_0lZfUMx1qO-EkpXv1EbGwB16v0a5t5NRE6O8Vl91UtFkSaVBofy-We2_QLGUqvSqcAGA-rsZvZa_VWHXv06Q4nD2u1vl/s200/vote.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Early this morning I made my way to the location allocated to receive my vote. I considered it a landmark occasion, not because there are so many important people and issues up for consideration, but because I'm afforded the right, the responsibility of the vote.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I grumbled under my breath at what I considered to be poor marking to find the voting area, thinking how it might have been made better. I then discovered that I was listed as a mail-in ballot person, which would have been fine except that I never received any ballot by mail. There was a provision for that, but it was quickly obvious that the workers were unfamiliar with the process. Heck, it was early and they were volunteers, and I grumbled a little more.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBkcGc7BlgPIF-LSbEZ7uBkllb1pYq8hmZhM7suycMylpXXcFiRMoj_b8z4mdAQSeOSEgAHTheyZvzODFDROfTWxFgO1IPmXlVN3Vm5BjnkyWQh4y78g2D1-JnwNaQYIhppPdW703lMpe/s1600/vote+sticker.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBkcGc7BlgPIF-LSbEZ7uBkllb1pYq8hmZhM7suycMylpXXcFiRMoj_b8z4mdAQSeOSEgAHTheyZvzODFDROfTWxFgO1IPmXlVN3Vm5BjnkyWQh4y78g2D1-JnwNaQYIhppPdW703lMpe/s200/vote+sticker.gif" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I cast my ballot (computerized now- cool), turned in some paperwork (part of that special provision), pasted my sticker proudly on my chest and beat a hasty retreat to the rest of my day. Pretty simple, pretty straightforward, pretty easy. But then I thought of people in countries like the Philippines who are willing to risk their lives for the vote. During our years there, school teachers were usually required to stand guard over local ballot boxes. Often, because of violence and corruption, those teachers gave their lives to protect the votes. In some countries, goons wait outside voting areas, seeking to intimidate, injure or even kill those who come to vote. And in far too many countries voting is not even an option<i>. Hmmm, why had I been grumbling again?</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB62dalpPT-bQ8hx1g-t0MAa7bBbnEXDRnBQdh8E6Rje-1qkgNFVKP4c8z_4q3-9cWwwwd3zniyGQcpGA1gRsEagjyRqGij6OGgGiYC8ozGGrXBbAQWIWc9KlT8qar8SiXDcnOuYai3aNt/s1600/Vote-+sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB62dalpPT-bQ8hx1g-t0MAa7bBbnEXDRnBQdh8E6Rje-1qkgNFVKP4c8z_4q3-9cWwwwd3zniyGQcpGA1gRsEagjyRqGij6OGgGiYC8ozGGrXBbAQWIWc9KlT8qar8SiXDcnOuYai3aNt/s200/Vote-+sam.jpg" width="103" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm concerned that we too easily assume that our vote means nothing, or that the hassle somehow isn't worth our time or effort. I can't believe that those who risk or give their lives for this privilege would find our excuses compelling. I hope you made time to exercise your responsibility. And if you didn't (for whatever reason) that you'll commit now to do it next time. Really. If not for your voice to be heard, then because you'll remember that someone somewhere in this world wishes he had it as good as you when he steps into that voting booth. Or that she's willing to take a chance with her life because the ability to vote is as precious as life itself.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And she probably doesn't even grumble.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-91811395802067577562010-10-29T11:51:00.000-07:002010-10-29T11:51:28.220-07:00what makes a church look good?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KkoHksuOxbL8PvqWThn8SDr03EwCq8sseg_zWz5i0yGl40OygEB6kTF7gXCzOjAjRYAu5r5oFaxjX3PlnLVUV5Co6LTHF2Vf6qq4QJLG_QwdRwUc_Q9-KYnJldLiYYk4KyHofrxAqcUC/s1600/los+angeles+streets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KkoHksuOxbL8PvqWThn8SDr03EwCq8sseg_zWz5i0yGl40OygEB6kTF7gXCzOjAjRYAu5r5oFaxjX3PlnLVUV5Co6LTHF2Vf6qq4QJLG_QwdRwUc_Q9-KYnJldLiYYk4KyHofrxAqcUC/s200/los+angeles+streets.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had lunch yesterday with Kevin Haah, lead pastor of New Life Christian Church <a href="http://newcitychurchla.com/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">(www.newcitychurchla.com)</span></span></i></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> in downtown Los Angeles. Kevin is the church planter of this multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-socio-economic congregation that's grown to about 250 in just a few years. New Life is a breath of fresh air on the streets of LA, and is a significant expression of hope in a culture that is in such great need.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kevin and I talked about a new plan to involve churches in a church planting network (CPN) that would dream, plan, fund and encourage a collection of new church plants in the Los Angeles area. We also talked about the urban church, and God's design and plan for it. We talked about examples from the book of Acts, from Jerusalem to Antioch and beyond. And we marveled at the ability of that first church to transcend class and cultural boundaries to demonstrate a community unlike anything the world had seen.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We talked about Acts 16 and the first "members" of the church in the city of Philippi. The first person mentioned was Lydia, a seller of purple (Kevin called her a <i>fashion executive!</i>) who opened her small group of Jews to Paul in a gathering by the river (there was no synagogue in the city where the Jews could meet). Lydia was a businesswoman, a woman of influence and position and a Jew. And she found new direction and hope in the message Paul offered.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRG4IZx4x0dHYBJJ65HNjQLek1sNe6PIrh4l2DyafwvjFR3ZzXuzS-JjAnzBGh8i1O0VDMoE3YwV4BXyUiTUexrwJlC0AckBvkUQNh0mTOr1OGJECUGZR8MwyvLJfDnEgx64whcxe5D50V/s1600/jailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRG4IZx4x0dHYBJJ65HNjQLek1sNe6PIrh4l2DyafwvjFR3ZzXuzS-JjAnzBGh8i1O0VDMoE3YwV4BXyUiTUexrwJlC0AckBvkUQNh0mTOr1OGJECUGZR8MwyvLJfDnEgx64whcxe5D50V/s200/jailer.jpg" width="166" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The second person impacted was a slave girl with a demonic spirit that allowed her foretell the future. Her owners made their living from her abilities...until Paul cast that evil spirit from her and gave her the chance to be what God had designed her to be. This girl was homeless, bottom-of-the-barrel, even less than human in the eyes of those around her. Yet in Christ she now found her meaning value.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">For all their work with this girl, Paul and Silas got tossed into prison, where their willingness to remain intact following the earthquake that freed all the inmates, gave them opportunity to share good news with their jailer and bring him and his family to salvation in Christ. That man was a blue-collar company man, part of the dominant class, a man who managed the violence of life. But he found his peace through the Prince of Peace.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">A female Jewish entrepreneur. A demonized riff-raff slave. A government enforcer. As different from each other as possible. Yet they were cornerstone pieces of what was to become the Philippian church. God never intended for his people to have to look like each other on the outside. To have life experiences in common. To have to come from the same race, culture, class or life direction. In fact, his power and glory are much more powerfully demonstrated when those of us from vastly varied backgrounds find unity and oneness through what he's done for us. Through his sacrifice. His death. His gift of life for the world that he loves so much.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPG9_R5-b34NRkBa_0YoxUFsFfif-JGILaLEJnyKKepRF-Y6Jd5DBek2LspzbAjuH58DDRVbyjR0Mir03zcE-LXnEbas6cPdwHdVcFMEGlP6l5SWT01UDYizaBhKU8lmMfBYxQbmnCVI_6/s1600/group1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPG9_R5-b34NRkBa_0YoxUFsFfif-JGILaLEJnyKKepRF-Y6Jd5DBek2LspzbAjuH58DDRVbyjR0Mir03zcE-LXnEbas6cPdwHdVcFMEGlP6l5SWT01UDYizaBhKU8lmMfBYxQbmnCVI_6/s200/group1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">And when we gather around what we do have in common- a Savior who has called us, redeemed us and commissioned us- we create a community unlike anything the world understands. A community where "natural" barriers (e.g. race, culture, class, education, income) mean increasingly less and where love, acceptance, partnership and mutual edification take center stage. Urban churches...and maybe more and more churches everywhere...must reflect this kind of look, because in so doing we reflect our immediate community. And in so doing, we also reflect the bigger picture that will one day envelope all those who claim allegiance to Jesus. That's h</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">eaven, of course. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">And if you don't feel comfortable with what I've described now, you're really gonn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">a be disappointed on that Day.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-32519628065269037042010-10-25T18:14:00.000-07:002010-10-25T18:19:47.342-07:00a church without God? (another Kenya update!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_1tfU_c6-N7qqNG3mGFPB11SDpul0CYlI5Dqy5eqo_yMRi4ngRMMu5wXtLZBJ1bhC2t6yNL-sNRgKFDBcfe5nqg9CJJ3Z2sq-iZFrECPdBOVNvaZWE0iI_mitSzu7j2Fh9BIsNlZKAb5/s1600/kids+at+the+bus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_1tfU_c6-N7qqNG3mGFPB11SDpul0CYlI5Dqy5eqo_yMRi4ngRMMu5wXtLZBJ1bhC2t6yNL-sNRgKFDBcfe5nqg9CJJ3Z2sq-iZFrECPdBOVNvaZWE0iI_mitSzu7j2Fh9BIsNlZKAb5/s200/kids+at+the+bus.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Every time we embark on a GO! Team adventure, God provides special people and opportunities for us to find. Our time in Kenya was no exception. While in Masii, we met Laura, a young French woman who was finishing an internship with a local NGO located in the same building where Tumaini had its offices.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Laura became close friends with many Tumaini people including William, the pastor of Masii Christian Chapel. What made the friendship even more interesting was that Laura was a devout atheist. Not only did she not believe in God, it made no logical sense to her how or why others would profess such a belief. Laura was not shy about her views, and she and William had countless conversations about the plausibility of Christianity. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBV-miSQQZa9DUxd2j-i1xBrYRtljESbFHJUP-cUv50KAemM3yXa5xri8q4yDoYjHKRHvn9uxwKXM4tFeTM8vVwBkEy5abwROqce2tfjzMnYI_eWNSBnpL5G3NuxoRoxha2yVr_P87V4_/s1600/fellowship1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBV-miSQQZa9DUxd2j-i1xBrYRtljESbFHJUP-cUv50KAemM3yXa5xri8q4yDoYjHKRHvn9uxwKXM4tFeTM8vVwBkEy5abwROqce2tfjzMnYI_eWNSBnpL5G3NuxoRoxha2yVr_P87V4_/s200/fellowship1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We had the pleasure of meeting Laura shortly before her return to France, and we discovered some impressive dynamics about her relationship with the Christians in Masii. She attended church services regularly, sang, contributed and fellowshiped in a personal and powerful way. The church didn't convince her about the existence of God (yet) but it showed her something she'd never seen before- the unconditional love and caring of community. And though she could deny the reality of God, she couldn't (nor did she want to) deny the reality of the love that a group of people from another culture showered upon her, even though they were on different pages when it came to faith!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrAQpQa4ihr0c0tH9MbamCs6K9-KsJz12InAqfkhLtQJIG2lLI6YfdAgaKkD61xljC_Sb-gvgX4r0fniXVLYYFVa14wUl_OgOp0sgU2EJvh1M1ZGsOz_MxzVPoYqz7yvQ0Jcr9HxG6DGn/s1600/people-holding-hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrAQpQa4ihr0c0tH9MbamCs6K9-KsJz12InAqfkhLtQJIG2lLI6YfdAgaKkD61xljC_Sb-gvgX4r0fniXVLYYFVa14wUl_OgOp0sgU2EJvh1M1ZGsOz_MxzVPoYqz7yvQ0Jcr9HxG6DGn/s200/people-holding-hands.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The one thing Laura told us she wanted to do upon her return to France was to begin a church that had all the same fellowship components as those in Masii, but a church that didn't have to believe in God! We chuckled as we talked about how that would ultimately look, since the love she'd found represented God himself. And though it may sound strange to you that she wanted a church without God, I understood her sentiment as a tribute of the highest order to the believers there. She has perhaps never experienced such community in her life in France. Yet people in another country, because of their faith took her in, accepted her, and by loving her made her hungry for more. She may not understand this as God's love (yet), but I believe she will. And we're praying that this love will cause her to search until she finds it somewhere among God's people in her own culture.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I love the fact that the church in one small town made an international impact on one unbeliever simply by loving her the way Christ told them to. She promised us that she'd keep her mind and heart open to the possibility of God, and we told her that we would pray for her. Even though she's an insistent atheist. Even though she doesn't understand what she can't see. Even though she doesn't believe.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yet.</span><br />
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-90730734958221822022010-10-07T15:19:00.000-07:002010-10-07T15:19:37.413-07:00there's no place like home (kenya update)<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There’s no mistaking being here in Africa. The moment I step off the plane, the sights, the sounds, the smells and the atmosphere bombard my senses and scream to me that I’m not in Kansas anymore. I look around each day and remind myself, “I’m in Africa!”</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-PMobNVN-abVmWm_-em53J1B1nUhspSgqSbKZYFjI1Ur-lgwYPvDEALEjxPKjTTjip_L5l17jjj0YeL7Msp9vB6aZDL_2UK3CeB3bixQl5jiAMKZ8B63iZx0t3QfiEJErQv0ViYlz-CW/s1600/IMG_2224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-PMobNVN-abVmWm_-em53J1B1nUhspSgqSbKZYFjI1Ur-lgwYPvDEALEjxPKjTTjip_L5l17jjj0YeL7Msp9vB6aZDL_2UK3CeB3bixQl5jiAMKZ8B63iZx0t3QfiEJErQv0ViYlz-CW/s320/IMG_2224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There are so much that’s so different from what I’m accustomed to. Of course, Kenya is filled with…well, Kenyans. That’s obviously different. The driving, on the left-hand side of the road and, in Nairobi just about anywhere a driver chooses, is different. The warmth and kindness of friends and strangers here alike is pleasantly different. Foods, sights, conveniences, homes and much more- different.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But let me tell you a bit about last Tuesday. Pastor William of the Masii Christian Chapel, took Pastor Josh and me to make calls around town. We walked a distance from the primary part of town to a community known as “Kosovo.” It’s an alcohol brewing area, and most inhabitants are social outcasts. We got there before 10 a.m. and everyone had already been drinking for some time. We were invited to sit and as we conversed, the elder of the group, Peter, asked us if we believed they were misguided to drink as much as they did. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-Sd-iRb5g3YUxH6PNCwACXR5_txkLqzf-rdCsU1M2JdTB60ppUmex9w3OEQOLJGfWXIzQqRhc_7kAjKBJeEaQn2nRrpFa1AU1f-3xwEk3dLccTiur0SPw-nQESFp7hyt2nBfdIQVgIrT/s1600/IMG_2182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-Sd-iRb5g3YUxH6PNCwACXR5_txkLqzf-rdCsU1M2JdTB60ppUmex9w3OEQOLJGfWXIzQqRhc_7kAjKBJeEaQn2nRrpFa1AU1f-3xwEk3dLccTiur0SPw-nQESFp7hyt2nBfdIQVgIrT/s320/IMG_2182.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A conversation quickly blossomed. A conversation about what ought to control us, and deeper lordship issues. About Jesus making wine (OK, they said it was beer) and about making God happy. About the shame and self- contempt they felt because church people usually preached at and condemned them. About feeling unwelcome, uncomfortable and unloved in church. And about who Jesus might hang out with if he came to Masii. <em>Suddenly, Africa felt a little more like home than it had.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We stood talking with a friend of William’s on a main street. A young man, obviously drunk approached us (is there a sign on me or something?!) and introduced himself as Abdullah. He insisted we buy him lunch, which William declined. He then asked us to follow him- actually, I think he dragged us- into what we thought was a restaurant to pray for him. Sitting with him in a booth of sorts, we realized we were in a bar and the half-empty glass of beer between us all was his. He poured out his heart, lamenting of his addiction to drink and the destruction it had caused. How he spent whatever money he earned on beer, even if it meant he didn’t eat. How he was tired and wanted change. He begged us to pray that he would be delivered. With tears in his eyes we prayed. And then we bought him lunch. Hmm, sure seems a lot like what I do at home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">William took most of our group to a corner of town where 15-20 young men gather daily to sell drugs. As we met these men, I had the opportunity to present the gospel to them. I spoke as William translated, and we found ourselves quickly surrounded by even more men, coming over to see what was happening with the <em>wazungu</em> (whites). A car pulled up behind us, something was removed from the trunk , something from within our midst replaced it, and it sped off with its newfound treasure. As we prayed with these guys, I saw the hollowness, the hopelessness, the longing for something better in their eyes. <em>And somehow, I felt pretty much like I was at home.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I realize again how alike we are. That although customs and externals may not be the same, we’re not so far apart. Our very essence cries out for value, for freedom, for meaning and purpose, for love. From others and from God. We may dress ourselves in contextual uniqueness, but at the heart we’re very much alike. Don’t be fooled by what you see on the outside. It’s about the inside. It’s about people and our need to be right. With others and with God. In Kenya, in Africa, in America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It’s good to be home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-55482289087710440252010-10-06T14:18:00.000-07:002010-10-06T14:18:44.213-07:00a voice in kenya<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I heard God's voice today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Our devotional booklet has focused on learning to hear the voice of God, and I've been working on that during the trip. Before leaving for home visits this morning, I asked God specifically to help me hear his voice today. Our visitations to Tumaini kids and their families took us to a number of homes, some of them with very little. But one was different than the others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Louise is a grandmother raising her two grandchildren, Rachel and Wambua, because their mom died several years ago through HIV AIDS. Dad's still around, but is sickly and probably has the disease as well. In addition to this loss, Louise has lost other children, one who died giving birth and others to AIDS. She is a faithful believer, a widow, and probably more than 70 years old. She struggles just to make sure her family is taken care of. And Tumaini helps. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Her home consists of a few brick and mud structures that appear little more than small storage sheds. But she and the kids have used them for shelter since last April. It was during heavy rains then that another small </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">brick and mud structure in which they were sleeping began to collapse. Some of the walls gave way in the downpour as the children began screaming, "We're dead! We're dead!" Somehow, walls that should have fallen on them didn't and they were spared.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As Louise shared her story and we surveyed the half-collapsed home, Stanley said quietly to me, "Tumaini doesn't typically involve itself in building homes, but I believe God wants us to rebuild this one." It was then God spoke to my heart and said, "You- you and people you know- make sure this home is redone and this family is safe." I stood there quietly considering the situation. How could we not? I acknowledged what I believed I heard, told Stanley what God had laid on my heart, and asked how much it would cost. He said he would have estimates and a man ready to begin in a couple of days, but he thought it should be about $700. I calmly thought, "Our missions budget can probably afford that." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Then I heard God's voice again. "No," he clearly told me, "Not just from your budget. I want greater awareness and ownership from others. I want you to ask and involve people." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Really. That's what he told me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So there it is. I believe with all my heart God heard my prayer this morning and spoke to me. It's not exactly what I was expecting (I'm not sure just what I <em>was</em> expecting), but he spoke. And I'm kinda excited, because he's either spoken, speaking, or going to speak to someone else about his or her part in this. If you think God might be speaking to you, let me know. Soon.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> More rains are on the way and this family needs assistance before something else falls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It's not about the money. It's about listening. And responding. I'm trying to hear him and follow what I believe he's saying to me. It's not always easy. Too many voices, too many distractions, too much talking on my part. But I know something for sure tonight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I heard God's voice today.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-5851374647303516712010-10-04T15:17:00.000-07:002010-10-04T15:22:33.635-07:00a hard road home<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Being back in Kenya brings me back to the face of reality. I mean <i>real </i>reality. As difficult as our lives can be at times (and for some of us, life has slapped us hard in the face. Maybe more than once), when I spend time with people here, I'm reminded of the way the majority of people in the world live each day. Poverty like you may have never witnessed, living conditions that cause you to shake your head, disease and death that are far too familiar, opportunities to "make it out" resting at slim and none, tomorrows that look too much like todays for too many.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yet in the midst of odds that honestly baffle my mind, I find people who are genuinely happy. People who smile each day and press on. People who are not unmindful of their situations but are determined to make the best of them. People who are thankful for what they have and not bitter at what they don't. Our corner on the challenges market, as we serve with Tumaini, is the impact that HIV AIDS has had on more than 2 million children in the country, leaving them without parents. Yet our Tumaini kids demonstrate some of the greatest determination and resilience imaginable. And the guardians who take them in, usually grandparents without adequate finances or health, do so gladly, as they believe (and discover anew) the providing grace of God.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUudUmPixbRFRYvlK6YvJuQaQtH7DM3c2ca7xdu_rvBVfm8hiEkSLXuE5RwX-0LngLwlIzOewd6EQw4_8seanllTFQmzWmVlG_gYothGsypD0qXdQT6wkdn3jMiNSFXZhQWlma8GpjVyj/s1600/IMG_2177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUudUmPixbRFRYvlK6YvJuQaQtH7DM3c2ca7xdu_rvBVfm8hiEkSLXuE5RwX-0LngLwlIzOewd6EQw4_8seanllTFQmzWmVlG_gYothGsypD0qXdQT6wkdn3jMiNSFXZhQWlma8GpjVyj/s320/IMG_2177.JPG" width="248" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't think my life is particularly rough, especially on a global comparison. But I can still find myself whining, venting, seeing what I don't have more quickly than what I possess. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My much needed punch in the gut comes when I sit with my friends here and consider how they live. In spite of circumstances they've made a choice to serve God, to look for his hand and to believe that he's going to see them through their challenges. I heard it from them again this morning as we sat in their homes listening to their stories. No bitterness, no complaining, no resentment. And if anyone could justify such feelings, some of these could.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jesus never said the road would be easy. His yoke may be light but the path we travel is full of struggle, challenge and too often, pain. Yet he did promise to be there with us, to shoulder that yoke with us, to provide rest for us in the journey. Some of my Kenyan friends have learned that. It's why I'm glad I'm back, so I might learn more of it from them.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Again.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-90516594721246215482010-10-02T14:07:00.001-07:002010-10-02T14:07:59.283-07:00first report from kenya...good news!<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I apologize for taking this long to post a blog about the team. The first week here has been extremely eventful in so many ways. Not only did it take us an extra 11 hours and an extra city to reach Nairobi (a saga in itself!), but we lost Stanley Mutunga as we boarded our flight in NYC. Seems someone for Delta decided he needed more pages in his passport and removed him from the flight until he could get more added. We landed Thursday morning instead of Wednesday evening, and Stanley arrived Friday night!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOTCp9_5BhITm_uHjR3XLg_iQyyNzxA9WkSqKqg3_DkbZGcTLvjmn2368sm3pJMNqvXKZOfCZcw3i7iioRk5NDJ2xPgAQreWMDoIACOKrnR1Iccu9gdKUpNvgySYz8ajMkMEA3r_hvQ0/s1600/IMG_2009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOTCp9_5BhITm_uHjR3XLg_iQyyNzxA9WkSqKqg3_DkbZGcTLvjmn2368sm3pJMNqvXKZOfCZcw3i7iioRk5NDJ2xPgAQreWMDoIACOKrnR1Iccu9gdKUpNvgySYz8ajMkMEA3r_hvQ0/s320/IMG_2009.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Nairobi was a quick but eye-opening experience. We journied into Mathare, a slum of about 800,000 (and only the <em>second</em> largest in the city!). There we visited two ministries- WEEP (Women's Equality and Empowerment Project), and Community Transformers. WEEP trains women with HIVAIDS with tailoring skills. These new abilities allow them to provide for their families, and provides value for them in their communities. It gives them a reason to live and a hope for their futures. Community Transformers was started by a group of HIV+ young people who, upon their conversions to Christ, banded together, to remain in Mathare, and now minister to others who may not have the hope of Christ. Both works challenged and encouraged us as we saw the impact of Christ in the most serious of situations.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">We moved on to Masii (a couple hours south) Friday and set up shop at the Tumaini Center. Dr. Ron saw and treated a handful of patients as we settled in. Then today (Saturday) we shared in a program put on by and for our nearby Tumaini children. There were familiar faces throughout the crowd, as Ron briefly examined each child and then took care of a small number of them who needed care.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Today (Saturday) we shared in a program for those Tumaini kids who live close by. There was singing, praying, testimonies food and laughter as we caught up with kids whom some of us have known for years, as well as met new children. Ron examined each child briefly, then treated a small number who needed his help.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyDFfSZ2eeN9xQpyB4P5vKJWxrzAV4e2PmXvEbtvCF6HqiilqNuxG9WF7TGbHpbs1f4t-eQzQ25qfSD5uuEgXHMUWMSmCx_-kWfb1SJyoo81mRWgH3QvWY6Sr6iJj0w3tRVU1I06Bh2k/s1600/IMG_2016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyDFfSZ2eeN9xQpyB4P5vKJWxrzAV4e2PmXvEbtvCF6HqiilqNuxG9WF7TGbHpbs1f4t-eQzQ25qfSD5uuEgXHMUWMSmCx_-kWfb1SJyoo81mRWgH3QvWY6Sr6iJj0w3tRVU1I06Bh2k/s320/IMG_2016.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">We are already sensing God's hand upon us as He opens our eyes to a world so much bigger than what we know. Hearing stories of faith in impossible circumstances, seeing hope in the eyes of those most would have forgotten, discovering our oneness in spite of ovbious differences makes an indelible imprint upon our spirits. The stories and lives they represent remind us of a great and powerful God who is working in the most impossible of situations to show people His great compassion and care. We are blessed to be part of it.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Tomorrow will be worship and celebration together as God's people, and we can hardly wait to experience them with our Kenyan family. One thing's for sure: for all the ways we're different, we sure have a lot of the same needs, hopes and desires. And that common bond in Christ takes us beyond our surface issues and differnces, straight to the heart of God.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Can you think of a better place to be?</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-15709716589805128272010-09-28T03:05:00.000-07:002010-09-28T03:05:10.796-07:00tumaini...it's all about hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWePWH-pmX-sNXx3hevJMYWdm6RHeqmn-uHANXfnYywanFgMmyELsnCp3jX4ewf97IWiyl8hlohKJVtgWyONDlk33hzgGQ0MZeLS54yGJ5jKlk9fdjvzwBv4Q2nfx-CmSQ9vEtPADdQsFI/s1600/africa8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWePWH-pmX-sNXx3hevJMYWdm6RHeqmn-uHANXfnYywanFgMmyELsnCp3jX4ewf97IWiyl8hlohKJVtgWyONDlk33hzgGQ0MZeLS54yGJ5jKlk9fdjvzwBv4Q2nfx-CmSQ9vEtPADdQsFI/s200/africa8.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's 2:30 a.m. and I'm awake. Preparing for our early morning flight that will take us (eventually) to Kenya. That's where we'll spend the next couple of weeks working with Tumaini International Ministries. <i>Tumaini, </i>founded by Stanley and Rose Mutunga,<i> </i>is a Kiswahili word that means <i>hope</i>. Their focus is to come alongside AIDS orphans, through sponsorship, education and encouragement, and walk with them in their journeys toward adulthood. These kids have lost one or both parents to AIDS, and usually live with grandparents, other relatives or friends. Life is hard at best, and sponsorship ($35 monthly) makes the difference between failure and success for hundreds of children, both young and old.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pYrEpY7ODhe1WbcWIrQsMN-6MNhbYVSxMfsT1rJD7NwwdnFArZtzLmly9YOE4RJncCC94WpTbplwg-sfwUNTR5OVm1LMKUuioXiKH2l2EWg0mfyhxc4AeT2ARag1tyB-AzMT_ngBMixj/s1600/DSC02443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pYrEpY7ODhe1WbcWIrQsMN-6MNhbYVSxMfsT1rJD7NwwdnFArZtzLmly9YOE4RJncCC94WpTbplwg-sfwUNTR5OVm1LMKUuioXiKH2l2EWg0mfyhxc4AeT2ARag1tyB-AzMT_ngBMixj/s200/DSC02443.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We'll leave LAX at 8:00 today and touch down in Nairobi about 7:30 Wednesday night (11 hours ahead of LA time). All Thursday and Friday morning will be in this capital city of 4+ million, as we will visit different ministry sites in one of the largest slums in Africa. Then Friday we'll travel 2-3 hours south and east, to the small community of Masii, where Tumaini has its offices. Doctor Ron Jurgensen (my favorite dentist!) is with us again and we'll pull teeth for a week for those who'll walk for hours just to sit in his chair and find the relief his skills can bring. We'll also visit some of the children that our church sponsors, as well as meet with the new church there as they are designing strategies for planting a church in the nearby city of Machakos. It promises to be a great couple of weeks.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGtzmJ89J5Ihg33qUpOs2PzQt0FfSipLZpJAZn7BfrvJ80nku1nA6mNJ-VisR05JsA20cn0hkPNEbonyZBi6a5ezfFKJpnqP4NYJkaPFcINZPiCh9u3c62ExCXAWrBZG4ed04gKwF3J1Z/s1600/Kenya+GO+Team+%2710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGtzmJ89J5Ihg33qUpOs2PzQt0FfSipLZpJAZn7BfrvJ80nku1nA6mNJ-VisR05JsA20cn0hkPNEbonyZBi6a5ezfFKJpnqP4NYJkaPFcINZPiCh9u3c62ExCXAWrBZG4ed04gKwF3J1Z/s200/Kenya+GO+Team+%2710.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our team of seven includes KACC and Parkcrest Christian Church (7th St. campus, Long Beach), and our desire is to continue to partner with Parkcrest in this ministry of compassion and church planting. Please pray for us as we travel, adjust, connect and serve. Pray for divine appointments with those who need to hear good news, and for boldness to share. Pray for unity within our team a life-changing experience...for Kenyans and Americans alike.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I recently read some words in Psalms that spoke to me in a fresh way about Tumaini:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>He [God] raises the poor out of the dust,</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>And lifts the needy out of the ash heap,</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>That He may seat them with princes-</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>With the princes of His people.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i> Psalm 113:7,8</i></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tumaini's work has lifted hundreds of children and adults alike from the dust, from life's ash heap, and is even now preparing a new generation to sit with leaders and movers of their land. Because they're giving an opportunity to those who needed it. Because they're giving compassion and care to many for whom no one else cares. Because they're giving a vision to many who had lost sight of their futures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Because they're giving <i>hope</i>. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-62790429562467618572010-09-17T09:42:00.000-07:002010-09-17T11:42:51.552-07:00bush league (reggie and the heisman)<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's been a tough ride recently for those of us w</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ho count ourselves as</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Univ</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ersity o</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWZN5UXeWurTwKVIWMM9Gx1LneQFQlQTBqSNa29I4xCbsm3RmRvNYJschWGqyRxMteSKSM6CiPWbBWIsr4ArVLIiuwkh_VcmWe8EzR_4ddGdttNjmBWXxJICdqZyczppaGcuBgV2Qz23q/s1600/reggie-bush-scandal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWZN5UXeWurTwKVIWMM9Gx1LneQFQlQTBqSNa29I4xCbsm3RmRvNYJschWGqyRxMteSKSM6CiPWbBWIsr4ArVLIiuwkh_VcmWe8EzR_4ddGdttNjmBWXxJICdqZyczppaGcuBgV2Qz23q/s200/reggie-bush-scandal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517950637473619490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">f Southern California football fans. The team has been penalized because of rules</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> infracti</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">o</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ns dating back t</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">o the 2005 se</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ason,</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> the firestorm centering around star r</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">unning back Reggie </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Bush. Reggie won the Heisman Trophy that year, given to the outstanding </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">college player of the season, but w</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">as recently found guilty of rules infractions, namely accepting money and gifts from potential agents during that season. These violations not only meant he'd been ineligible, but cost the team victories in which he played, their '05 national </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">championship title and now, scholarships and the </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ability to play in post-season games the next two years. As I watched, read and reflected on the debacle this week, I found perspective that I hadn't initially considered.<br /><br />What Reggie did w</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">as </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">wrong. Flat out. But he chose to participate anyway. Maybe he justified it, thought he de</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">s</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">erv</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yXETnhJPIOw4L95rXuKv8YTur2WyDzHcjXUrVEw1IMafvyNp42ORKX33Pk8k36EqF9Uzikq1oDPE3Fc_-TIdZ-TiYITWQgHfoZdt6c1pUAxJx8jVgme1KdF1_rnncdB8yRCv18-dYxcZ/s1600/ReggieBushHeisman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yXETnhJPIOw4L95rXuKv8YTur2WyDzHcjXUrVEw1IMafvyNp42ORKX33Pk8k36EqF9Uzikq1oDPE3Fc_-TIdZ-TiYITWQgHfoZdt6c1pUAxJx8jVgme1KdF1_rnncdB8yRCv18-dYxcZ/s200/ReggieBushHeisman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517951224799147378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ed it.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Maybe he figured that no one would be the wiser, or be hurt by it. Maybe he </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">wa</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">s o</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">verwhelmed with the amounts being flashed before him. Maybe he became so consumed</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> with what was right in front of him that he lost perspective of the bigger </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">picture. No excuses, just maybes.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">nd as much a</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">s this riles me, I realize that my attitudes with sin usually run parallel. When I sin, I typically know that it's wrong but I choose to participate anyway. I can justify my actions, thinking I may even deserve whatever it is before me. Usually I figure no will know or be hurt by what I do. And I usually lose sight of the bigger picture and cost at stake. No excuses, just realizations.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But Reggie is discovering some deeper truths. Choices always have consequences. Always. They may come immediately, they may take awhile, but they will come. And it doesn't matter how you spin it to yourself, how you may convince yourself that it's OK. Wrong will still be wrong. Always. And there really is a bigger picture, along with collateral damage- those (often innocent) who will be impacted by what you choose</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Always.<br /><br />Scripture validates these truths. There's a story in the Old Testament book of 2 </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5Vcr6YPaPnLphWslW5wklQLhaOfYHpslxfBuftY4L2gaG6baU61kNH6urxLfzRIQF3Ol7j8Vu52k5JswRPtQzECiIuQ6Ou7joLzeb16C1xM_S-eXMxGiJ5GOr2X6rEUqhxYHKY-MuZPp/s1600/gehazi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5Vcr6YPaPnLphWslW5wklQLhaOfYHpslxfBuftY4L2gaG6baU61kNH6urxLfzRIQF3Ol7j8Vu52k5JswRPtQzECiIuQ6Ou7joLzeb16C1xM_S-eXMxGiJ5GOr2X6rEUqhxYHKY-MuZPp/s200/gehazi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517950129903133682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Kings about the servant of Elisha named Gehazi. Following the healing of Naaman, a man with leprosy, Gehazi set out to claim material goods that his master had turned down as a thank-you for the healing. Gehazi justified his actions to himself, lied to Naaman, and allowed the bling to distort his perspective. It was all about the moment. He hid his new-found spoil, assuming no one would be the wiser. He even lied to Elisha, who knew what he'd just done (c'mon, man, he was a prophet of God, after all). And when </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Elisha confronted </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">him, Gehazi's punishment was to be Naaman's leprosy upon him for the rest of his life...and upon the lives of his descendants! Talk about your least-favorite relative at a family reunion!<br /><br />Reggie has said that he made mistakes and that he returned the trophy because it was the right thing to do. That's good start. But he's not admitting guilt, not saying that he did wrong. Not apologizing to those he hurt by his actions. Without that kind of admission there is no repentance, no change of heart. And I'm afraid he'll continue to deny, justify and hide. I know, because I know the difference between a mistake and a sin in my own life. Between "oops" and violating a rule of God. And I know the difference in dealing with them...and what happens when I don't.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I want to be </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bOUdhoWxu9NVyIeRhlZKzw_Nxal-s8Zm34gyUaO_yPR7OoUpg5u9N9QpkXQH-zmEc_b2jChZRbwr_vXDry7qIiUn84o8wFeOZU7o8hqOQLLsI8ONxegrFezPPgkF8baEWwcTgWF6xZDh/s1600/trophy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bOUdhoWxu9NVyIeRhlZKzw_Nxal-s8Zm34gyUaO_yPR7OoUpg5u9N9QpkXQH-zmEc_b2jChZRbwr_vXDry7qIiUn84o8wFeOZU7o8hqOQLLsI8ONxegrFezPPgkF8baEWwcTgWF6xZDh/s200/trophy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517950973816848418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">mad at Reggie, and I probably am a little, because what he did tainted a program and damaged</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> possibilities of others. But my anger is tempered when I recognize the same tendencies within myself, and my struggle to do what's right. So for now, I'll keep my throwing stones tucked away until I'm sure I've got it all together. And I'll hope for Reggie, that he'll listen to the right voices, recognize the bigger picture and do, not just what's expected, and not just what's good, but what's best. Who knows? Maybe there will be an award waiting for him...given by the only Judge who's going </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">to matter.<br /><br />Fight on.<br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-75662291127542219312010-09-13T18:30:00.000-07:002010-09-13T19:08:22.969-07:00burn notice<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><em>Some more thoughts from this whole Qur'an-burning fiasco...</em></span><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I noticed an article in today's news<em> </em>about a rally in Amarillo, in which a leader of a group called Repent Amarillo had announced that he was going to burn a copy of the Qur'an. A large group turned out to protest, a mixture of all stripe</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">s and spiritual tenets. They foun</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsQoXEFwvTsRiUj3gMlBlJDC1Tbx1bqpbZR-SpSc_IQEce6kcKggg9Jlu2Jyq-OdR9MXzN8HDzFF6LXdXAVvYXXJQOozmObsW3E-SauckKC5JnSGIQ2UQMjPHRPJfFYccKYFp36GvUeuj/s1600/koran+burning+rescue.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsQoXEFwvTsRiUj3gMlBlJDC1Tbx1bqpbZR-SpSc_IQEce6kcKggg9Jlu2Jyq-OdR9MXzN8HDzFF6LXdXAVvYXXJQOozmObsW3E-SauckKC5JnSGIQ2UQMjPHRPJfFYccKYFp36GvUeuj/s200/koran+burning+rescue.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516578644830453234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">d unity in their protest </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">of destroying anyone's sacred literature, but</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"> it fell on deaf ears of Repent's leadership. The man soaked the book in kerosene a</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">nd was preparing to ignite it. But as something distracted him from his mission, a young man with a skateboard stepped up, snatched the intended kindling and ran off shouting, "Dude, you have NO Qur'an!" He then returned the book to an ima</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">m there in the park while the burner reportedly wandered off.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Now it's enough to know that there are more fire-starters out there besides that Floridian pastor. What's worse (to me, at least) is to see the way this group, Repent Amarillo, is characterized. The NY Daily News describes them as <em>a group that crusades against promiscuity, homosexuality and non-Christians.</em> Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of those first two pr</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktlHjYojRDttyuKrfUeahtHCcg4aTZ6T3ePmTZZZuBuSNKMdSiLn-gaIbLBcPmnyrKmNRMO49KDE39900TrSmnf036OtLD8cuQRvAqPzETvwRsLz9lv-byqNzdRrKueelT0chpel6TLfq/s1600/sour.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktlHjYojRDttyuKrfUeahtHCcg4aTZ6T3ePmTZZZuBuSNKMdSiLn-gaIbLBcPmnyrKmNRMO49KDE39900TrSmnf036OtLD8cuQRvAqPzETvwRsLz9lv-byqNzdRrKueelT0chpel6TLfq/s200/sour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516578860640165058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">actices (although being against non-Christians escapes me), but as someone who wears the name of Christ, I'm so frustrated seeing others who claim the same name being known for what they're they're <em>against</em>, rather than what they're <em>for</em>. Isn't this how the world has categorized us for far too long? People too often stereotype Christians as spoil-sport, lemon-puckered, hypocritical downers, who live almost exclusively by the mantra,<em> thou shalt not. </em>While we know that's not the case (it's not the case, is it?) for most of us, there's just</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"> enough evidence of such thinking to reinforce the perception. And, believe me, in something like this, perceived reality IS reality.</span></div><div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWd2dD7dbIxKH8Px7MpP1CYOExqD_Ni_J3aixm2ZuPDmZiw2akUhpv6Kht9u8Isdiz-tu8bOk606UEea_LyWcdp0KpIhG0UfxuEeJ6SHLZBd7KEkiT0a2ci_ZFVVyNf8_8LH3Gidg6ivL/s1600/accepting.jpg"><br /></a><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">When I read the Gospels, I don't see Jesus as a "thou shalt not" kind of guy...except, maybe, when he engaged self-sufficient, smug religious leaders. Otherwise, Jesus was inclusive- he welcomed people from different backgrounds, activities, philosophies, a</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">nd castes. He never condoned sin, but opened his arms to sinners; never compromised a princip</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj576NtuWLb5sXw6zbhl7VVDXt-AKhV_JtyqxVKhX8yEZJJzQz_8D3SuL13dKIfpSh-78kuYiOkkuvFXNapvwQXASHJNpOwnRkffIgl7G3E1KXM9BhPvsA4Udk_jevNJpvRPSSloFpk58r-/s1600/jesus_washes_feet+%281%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj576NtuWLb5sXw6zbhl7VVDXt-AKhV_JtyqxVKhX8yEZJJzQz_8D3SuL13dKIfpSh-78kuYiOkkuvFXNapvwQXASHJNpOwnRkffIgl7G3E1KXM9BhPvsA4Udk_jevNJpvRPSSloFpk58r-/s200/jesus_washes_feet+%281%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516581824167547298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">l</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">e, but always made room for those trying to figure out the bigger picture. He understood </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">t</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">he value of showing people what he wanted them to be and how he wanted them to li</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">v</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">e, a</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">n</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">d didn't simply scold them about what they shouldn't do or be.</span><!--:ATOMICELEMENT--></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Oh, that people would see us as those who bring good news, </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">whose lives are</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"> like salt, and not pepper in our influence and impact in this world. Those who may take stands unpopular with culture, but who are engaging and inviting toward those who need to understand</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"> <em>why</em> such stands are made. It's not enough for me to want to be disassociated with people like Terry Jones or Repent Amarillo; it's my challenge to interact with my culture in such a way that people will see something- and Someone- different in me.</span><!--:ATOMICELEMENT--></div><div><!--:ATOMICELEMENT--> </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><em>You must be the change you wish to see in the world.</em> </span><!--:ATOMICELEMENT--></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">-Mahatma Ghandi </span></div><div align="right"><!--:ATOMICELEMENT--></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-44838437370111754712010-09-11T09:00:00.000-07:002010-09-11T09:08:50.397-07:00burn, baby, burn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbW3tNiNo4JreUqXO1LuVs2JdaJb0akSjuLme_ZbZ1kiIxGbAKGzfp9bHukJ4SRfTS-ESynJJEnUZrp-J4wn0KPS-BVafBOoIUYt8OC5TEUn2Xucq6vzBIScVbPPVriCBli1cZcXuHz8Tp/s1600/bonfire.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbW3tNiNo4JreUqXO1LuVs2JdaJb0akSjuLme_ZbZ1kiIxGbAKGzfp9bHukJ4SRfTS-ESynJJEnUZrp-J4wn0KPS-BVafBOoIUYt8OC5TEUn2Xucq6vzBIScVbPPVriCBli1cZcXuHz8Tp/s200/bonfire.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515684569928063570" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">One of the mantras I remember from the '60s (besides the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">title of this blog) was the encouragement to "do what comes naturally." That advice seemed to fit the counter-culture revolution of its day. But it also appears to follow us today.Take the situation in Florida, in which a church pastor plan</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">ned to have a Qur'an-burning day on 9/11. By now we've all hear</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">d the story, the debate, the outrage and the ridicule surrounding the event. At this point, the bonfire has been called off. That's good...but I'm bothered by the attitudes connected with the whole thing, especially among those who claim to be Christ-follower</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">s.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">To begin with, I sense an overblown confusion among many betw</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeYg4jqC06Vb4rlMKSg6KT5H2RzQg3ysW6N6CSOoouq9RvKLGA5oUWAC-GVx1xzqfrTIbqJScdQEfNQvbTKyigxFrqijvBx0yDzRqbSGoWeR1HK-b9KaH99EX_WxV42R79_QcNzkznqXV/s1600/koran.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeYg4jqC06Vb4rlMKSg6KT5H2RzQg3ysW6N6CSOoouq9RvKLGA5oUWAC-GVx1xzqfrTIbqJScdQEfNQvbTKyigxFrqijvBx0yDzRqbSGoWeR1HK-b9KaH99EX_WxV42R79_QcNzkznqXV/s200/koran.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515688478767482226" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">een </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">nationalism and faith. Added to that is a "natural" feeling of fairness, justice and rightness. I he</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">ar </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">many (including voices within me) proclaim that Muslims have no compunction over burning our holy book, mistreating our people, or disrespecting our beliefs. Therefore, it's right (natural) to return the same attitude and action to them. I read a story about Bibles belonging to servicemen meant for distribution in Iraq </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">that were confiscated </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">and burned by the US military last year. A representative from a Christian defense organization was quoted as saying that to be fair and just, we should count up the number of Bibles destroyed, collect that many Qur'ans and burn the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">m. Then we'd be even.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Now, <span style="font-style: italic;">that's</span> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEime_wkFAMEl9y-MWxreFdai_kcpt-uA3UGm7CapBp7vMnQHvweJC2j-0iMfL1OPsKMLXeAGDJzVyIzuJsMQolRB4_7hX0miePne48kBBeNJqZEzIULaffJZSq6JVtllmb0oNa7X9JrRvtn/s1600/loveenemy2.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEime_wkFAMEl9y-MWxreFdai_kcpt-uA3UGm7CapBp7vMnQHvweJC2j-0iMfL1OPsKMLXeAGDJzVyIzuJsMQolRB4_7hX0miePne48kBBeNJqZEzIULaffJZSq6JVtllmb0oNa7X9JrRvtn/s200/loveenemy2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515686271755038146" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">a normal response. That's doing what comes naturally. Problem is, those of us who claim to walk</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> the steps of Jesus are NOT called to walk naturally. If we burn Qur'ans for Bibles,</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> we'</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">re living eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Not only would we all end up blind and toothless, but Jesus told us that we're expected to respond differently (M</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">att. 5:39). Not naturally. And if we refuse to love Muslims because we see them as the enemy (here's where being American and being Christian becomes conflicted for some), then we're no different than anyone else acting naturally. Jesus told us that we must <span style="font-style: italic;">love </span>those opposed to us, and pray for them (Matt. 5:44-49).<br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">It's easy (it's natural) to stand against anyone we see as a threat. I understand that. To resist them, to resent them, to oppose them. I get that. But how many Muslims (or any</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXvV8SvlTdjJlUQ5r0gCnj34DSOZC30IwZeumRmrEwJLzGWkkf_PMAjTdKQOMdsNXauYA03DtIOoc35wW8utAF77wL-PwOUnrsgIpR0QnPKHYz4yJnBIYM_ZJgvDd0_zvvQpwywo-qOTT/s1600/loveenemy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 122px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXvV8SvlTdjJlUQ5r0gCnj34DSOZC30IwZeumRmrEwJLzGWkkf_PMAjTdKQOMdsNXauYA03DtIOoc35wW8utAF77wL-PwOUnrsgIpR0QnPKHYz4yJnBIYM_ZJgvDd0_zvvQpwywo-qOTT/s200/loveenemy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515686876946579778" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">one else, for that matter) are we praying for? How many have we made the effort to share w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">ith</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">o get to know, to serve...to love? If that idea grates against you, that's OK- it's </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">natural. To be able to embrace such a concept is something far beyond natural. It's <span style="font-style: italic;">super</span>natural. And it takes to power of One within us to make it happen.<br /><br />I don't expect those not following Christ to walk such a path. It's far too unnatural for most. But those of us who say that our allegiance is beyond this world are bound to back it up by our example. Are we to be concerned for our people? Sure. Stand up for injustice? Absolutely. Protect freedom? In a heartbeat. Love those who don't love us?<br /><br />Only if you want to do what comes <span style="font-style: italic;">super</span>naturally.<br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-560587103150089368.post-62475981367840861482010-09-08T21:49:00.000-07:002010-09-09T07:45:11.345-07:00a time to pray<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">A couple of months ago, we launched an experiment. We set up a <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrfZ4nFsTAfi4w-bxkdZlcm7sWbkmyLrdb-D3Q6DpsDBpDTGYIYDWSLUhRVp42HANQ4uiahrXHk9fwmIj6pxzHTCC5fXSMJCVnoY3iOxRZGvhyphenhyphenhprLYLl_H-ZiXq_vlTbZO7_j65nrqOC/s200/prayer-+small.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 149px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514790691263581490" />place for people to stop and pray with us, in front of the church's property along the busy thoroughfare. One of our men had seen this at another church and he thought it would be worth trying. We set up a tent of sorts, signs, a table and chairs and a few volunteers...and waited. It didn't take long for some to stop to find out what was going on. One woman asked about the cost for the prayers. Another made an illegal u-turn in the middle of the street in order to pull in and talk to us. A gangbanger came down the street to request prayer for the upcoming birth of his son. By the end of that first afternoon, five people sat, shared and prayed with us.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Since that day, each Wednesday afternoon the tent has gone up, signs set in place, and people wait to pray. Some days one or two arrive, some days more. Today, as Robert (my assistant and cohort in mischief) was preparing, we wondered if there was enough value in this experiment to keep it going. Early on, there had been excitement, and several indicated interest in helping. A couple months later, that ex</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; ">pression of involvement had been supplanted with the busyness of life and schedule for many. Was this activity worth the time it took to prepare and operate?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Before today's session was complete, Robert had shared with a man who had been walking down the sidewalk when he saw the signs. He sat and talked about the pain of his current broken marriage, about infidelity and poor choices, and he asked for direction, wisdom and prayer. Robert told him that there were no magic words to change the situation, but that regardless of the outcome he ne</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">eded to make his relationship with Christ. They prayed and he went on, thankful that someone had taken time to listen to his story and pray with him about it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Robert came in to relate </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">this encounter, and as we looked at each other we agreed that even without a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">lot of helpers, this kind of ministry needs to continue. There are far too many around us crying out for someone to care for them, someone to listen to them, someone to share guidance, wisdom and love with them. But they usually don't break down our doors asking for it, do they? That man, in all likelihood, was not going to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">walk into the church and request counsel and prayer. But having someone within his reach made such a connection easier and possible. And we each need to make ourselves available in as many ways as we can so people can make that connection with those who care...and with God Himself.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">So the Prayer Tent will continue to stand on Wednesdays (for now, at least), and people will be able to find someone who cares in a more direct, more accessible way. And why not? Isn't that what God did in sending His Son to connect with us? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02296837515694160059noreply@blogger.com2