the breastplate of Patrick

I know, it's not very upbeat, and it seems I have my holidays mixed up, but I found this today as well. ~~Good Stuff~~

"He [St. Patrick] was ordered to appear before the King, and as he made his way there, began to chant a hymn now known as the breastplate of Patrick, or the lorica or Deer's Cry..."
http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~dvess/ids/medieval/celtic/celtic.shtml

St. Patrick's Breastplate

( the Lorica or Deer's Cry)

For my shield this day I call: A mighty power: The Holy Trinity! Affirming Threeness, Confessing oneness, in the making of all Through love ... For my shield this day I call: Christ's power in his coming and in his baptizing, Christ's power in his dying On the cross, his rising from the tomb, his ascending; Christ's power in his coming for judgement and ending. For my shield this day I call: strong power of the seraphim, with angels obeying, and archangels attending, in the glorious company of the holy and risen ones in the prayers of the fathers in visions prophetic and commands apostolic in the annals if witness ... For my shield this day I call: Heaven's might, sun's brightness, Moon's whiteness, Fire's glory, Lightening's swiftness, Wind's wildness, Ocean's depth Earth's solidity, Rock's immobility. This day I call to me: God's strength to direct me, God's power to sustain me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's vision to light me, God's ear to my hearing, God's word to my speaking, God's hand to uphold me, God's pathway before me, God's shield to protect me ...

From evil enticements, from failings of nature, from one man or many, that seek to destroy me, anear or afar .. Around me I gather these forces to save my soul and my body ... Against knowledge unlawful that injures the body, that injures the spirit. Be Christ this day my strong protector against poison and burning against drowning wounding through reward wide plenty Christ beside me Christ before me Christ behind me Christ within me Christ beneath me Christ above me Christ to the right of me Christ to the left of me Christ in my lying, my sitting, my rising Christ in heart of all who know me Chirst on tongue of all who meet me; Chirst in eye of all who see me; Christ in ear of all who hear me. For my shield this day I call a mighty power: The Holy Trinity! Affirming Threeness, Confessing oneness, in the making of all Through love ...

the journey inward

A friend recently suggested I Google "Celtic Monasticism." I'm glad he did, and though it has put me to sleep several times today, I'm finding the study quite intriguing.

"...the Celtic saints were travelers who journeyed far and wide, leaping into their tiny coracles and setting sail on the sea, often without oars or sails, and often without a specific destination, content to let God take them where God would...

Their love of travel was motivated by their love of God; their journey was undertaken in order to come closer to God. Theirs was a journey in which oars or sails were not necessary, for that for which they were searching was to be found not without, but within: It has been said that, "The longest journey is the journey inward" (Dag Hammarskjold). The peregrinations of the Celtic saints were ways of expressing outwardly a journey which they wanted to undertake inwardly...

This journey was a journey in which one achieved stability of soul, a constant striving after God in which one might remain in a single place while nevertheless being constantly on the move. On the other hand, one might stay in a single place and nevertheless be on a journey of intense transformation. Celtic monasticism is a world in which journey and stability of place are not at odds at all, but expressions of one spiritual ideal...

...the constant peregrinations of the saints were not an effort to find God, as the hymns tells us that if you can't find God where you are, there's no need to go anywhere else looking for him. The Celtic saints were deeply aware of the omnipresence of God, beside us, beneath us, above us, all around us and within us and all creation. Celtic monasticism full of such peregrini who, in their constant wanderings, spread monasticism throughout Ireland, to Scotland, and Northumbria, and later to continental Europe."

http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~dvess/ids/medieval/celtic/celtic.shtml

Update from Ahtapa

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Dec. 17, 2008

Greetings to all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and our eternal King. We are sending you our love and best wishes for the celebration of Christmas and remembrance of our Lord who came to the world and die for us on the Cross. By Him and in Him we have hope for eternal life. We would like to Thank each one of you for praying for us and we especially thank you for praying for our country as we have faced some political conflict in our country. We were concerned that our brothers from Michigan would not make it on time for Northmen meeting, but they made it earlier than the original arrival time. We have been blessed so much with their visit. We had a good Northmen gathering. The messages from all seven speakers were great. There were five American speakers, two Lisu, and one Hmong. We had 50 people all together. Most of them stayed the whole time, some had to leave earlier. We are very thankful to you all for praying for us and God was so good to us in making every possible for His children to live in peace and security. Right after the Northmen, we had a big thanksgiving feast waiting for us. It was so good to have many friends in the village come to participate in this service. The Ahka and the Lisu in the village and a nearby village and some people came up from Chiangmai to celebrate with us. Yabota, Ahlu, Nana, and many other friends from the Night Bazaar came up for thanksgiving. This was very special. We were so happy that they came to hear great sermons and great songs.

We were very busy and the Northmen team worked very hard. We got a new door and stairs to the learning center. Nick and Norm took a special trip up to Ahlemi’s village to see her parents and got the wedding lined up. Many people came to the wedding. Ahlemi was very beautiful and Nick was very handsome. As parents, Leah and I were overwhelmed with joy to see them in their most happy time. Leah worked very hard in the kitchen and make sure everything would turn out perfect. Ahlemi's mother was happy that Leah was there to help her. I could not sleep for many nights. I was so excited for their wedding. We helped the two line-up their honey moon trip to Huahin beach in Southern Thailand. On their way back, they will go to the American embassy to get their marriage certificate so Nick can get a Marital visa. Please pray for them as they travel back to Chiangmai.

We took a quick trip to KhunKlang. Xai Xong called us to come to help him get some warm clothes to Mae Vark village. The Hmong villages were having difficulty with the cold winter. We got several boxes of used clothes. It took us about 3.30 hours for 19 kilometers of road. Scott could not go because he was still sick from the previous village trip when we went to Lishiya's village. The road to Lishiya’s village was much better than the one to this Hmong village. It was good that Scott did not go. Xai Xong's clinic was good place to rest. There were no roosters to bother him. (Mike said that one night at Xai Xong’s he was getting away night from roosters but they ran into scooters running all night.)

Dennis and I took the Northmen team from Michigan to the airport yesterday morning. It was very difficult for us to say good bye. The kids did not want them to leave. We stayed with the team till the last minute before the boarding time. When we came home we felt very strange. Everybody was very silent. When the smaller kids came home they also were quiet. Some came to me and threw their arms around me and told me how much they missed Papa Mike, Papa Norman, and pee Scott. Once again the kids have to adjust their emotional volume.

Dennis is going to leave on December 21. As for now we do not want to think about his leaving. It is hard to handle this. Dennis is working hard to finish the left over project of building the scoring stations. We finished painting the door and the stairs today. They look very good. The color is attractive, a Chinese favorite color (Red). We wanted mahogany but it turned out a little red. This is fine for us.

The kids are practicing songs and dancing for the Christmas gathering. They look forward to this event. We also plan to have a special party for the kids on December 31. Lishiya and the folks will come down to join with us if there is no other problem to interrupt the plan.

The brothers in Myanmar are going to have an all Churches of Christ and Christian Churches convention in Rangoon on December 21. I was invited to come to this gathering but I cannot go due to the work at the hostel and the trip that we have to make to the Lisu Christian Christmas convention at MaeKon village. I was invited to come to this one. The headman and leaders asked me seriously to come because my father and I helped them found the village way back in the 80’s. Saitun from the Golden Triangle also asked us to come to his place to speak. Please pray for us that we will be able to do everything for God's glory.

30 sets of water purifiers are on the border ready to ship to Yangon for the Nargis victims. Please pray that we will be able to send them over to Jay and help install them for the villagers.

Praise the Lord for Vilailuk and Praiwan that they make decision to join with Christ in baptism for the remission of sin. Pray for them as they are growing in Christ. Praiwan is a good boy and very active boy. He loves sports. He will have a contest in track tomorrow. Vilailuk has very good voice and she likes to praise God and lead the singing.

Pray for Nick and Ahlemi as they are travelling back home from their honeymoon.

Pray for Ahtapa and Leah. We plan to take a trip back to USA in May if God provides the funds for us. We would like to be with Christopher for his high school graduation. We also would like to visit our friends and supporters.

Pray for our school and our plan for relocate at Zion hill. Things are looking very positive. Right now the kidney bean is about ready for harvest. We will harvest next week. Brother Norm Miller showed us how to find water. There was water on the property but we did not know how deep and how much water is down there. Please pray that we will have funds for all the transition and for water drilling.

May God richly bless you and grant you joy as we celebrate Christmas and we pray that God will continue to keep your cup overflowing with the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

In Christ,

Ahtapa and Leah

It's not so much a career, as much as an adventure

"So were you born and raised around here?" I asked a new co-worker yesterday.
He promptly replied, "No, I'm from Green County. It's like a hundred miles from here."

With plans of moving in a few months, job hunting is a bit... awkward. Soon after coming to town, I started working for a handyman down the street, but after about a month, he ran out of work. So I quickly landed a job working for another local carpenter, but his work soon dried up after about a month as well. (Don't look at me. I like to think of it as if I just work so hard, I keep working myself out of a job.)

So last Tuesday I headed off to the big city of Lexington to find some temp work. I visited about a half dozen staffing agencies. Two took my resume, and only one had me fill out an application. I was feeling a bit defeated.

Wednesday I decided I might as well get some cash out of the day, so I went into donate plasma. Long story short, I ended up blacking out during the procedure. My pulse dropped down into the forties. I went into convulsions and dry heaves, but you better believe I walked out with my $25.

Thursday about 5:30AM, I found myself at a "work today paid today" labor staffing service, and by 7:30AM I was listening to five of the seven guys on my crew compare notes about their prison experiences. That day we unloaded about 350 pieces of furniture, and I went home with a wapp'n $50.

Friday, I was contract labor for a moving company (Excuse me, we are not "movers." We are "installers"). This company has hired me, and I've been working there this week. It's good work and pay considering my "career goals."

On a serious note, one of my new co-workers took advantage of a moment we were alone today, and he referred to me as "a man of God" and asked a very personal theological question. It made all of last week worth it.

A busy time at for the Asian Gospel Outreach

Here's an update from Mike on the Northmen team.

Hello all from Thailand, Today was a day of travel, preparation, buying, wedding rehearsal and such. All on Thai time of course. Scott is really having trouble with Thai time. He wants to do everything like in America. Now Now Now! That does not work here. Tomorrow is the big wedding (rehearsal tonight and I must remember in Lisu there is no kissing of the bride. Nick when with Norman and Joseph today to complete the marriage deal. He got off with two water buffalo, final cost arrangements yet to be set. I think we are sending the couple south to the beautiful beaches of Thailand for about four days. Then they will come back to work here with Ahtapa and Leah. Nick is ideal for the work. The kids love him. Athapa trusts him and knows him fairly well. Ahlemi is already a part of the family and Nick might as well be.
So tomorrow morning busy, busy. Wedding at 10........ish. But before that all the cooking and final prep. We hauled home enough food for an army from Changmai today. Radishes,
big withe ones for greens and to dice into the stir fry, mustard greens, oranges, squash, onions, garlic, two or three other kinds of greens; Oh yes, another pig is being slaughtered as I write. That makes three since we have been here. Grandpa no longer has this job. Chatchai is now in charge and boys do it all. This piggy will be stir fry for the multitude tomorrow.
Hopefully things will settle down Friday afternoon after all leave. Maybe Saturday we will do a little travel and some evangelism. If we meet here Sunday one of us will preach or maybe two. Dennis has been leading the kids early morning devoitons and he does a great job. (for you early riseers that happens at 4:40 am). Then the kids work on the rosetta stone program (english study) and breakfast before being off to shcool. Of course no one will go to school tomorrow. We need to do some finish up work on our stairway project yet but it will not take long. It is usuable. We have the material in hand to build the learning center score table. Hopefiully we can get that all cut out and maybe even get started putting it together before we leave.

So long for now. I will try to get someting off tomorrow after the wedding. Who knows what is going to happen. I am wearing native Lisu pants and shirt. Nick will be in tux and Ahlemi in a rented gown. Later. Mike"

Update From Ahtapa and Mike

I received two updates today. The first is from Ahtapa (the head of the Asian Gospel Outreach), and the second is from Mike (the director of the Northmen Ministry and leader of the team that is visiting this week). Ahtapa also sent pics. I will try to add them to our flickr site.

"Greetings to you from Thailand. We are all doing fine here in the land of Smile. Thank you very for your prayers. The two major aiports are back to full services now. Yeh, There was time of concern and worry and doubt but now we all got through that moment with God's help. Big thanks for your prayers.

We had wonderful Norhtmen meeting in the jungle. We got home and all the ladies had prepared big Thanksgiving feast for us. The sermons were excellents. The theme for this year is "Content In Christ"

there were 50 people.( Adults and young boys). The weather was nice. Not as cold as last year but cold enought that we had to set big camp fire and got around it.

We will be busy in building more score station for our learning center. We also need to put at least one more stairway up to the building. We have Mike Steere, Norm Miller, Dennis Moss, Scott Davison, and Nick Papi to help us for these projects. By the way Nick Papi will get marry with Ahlemi on this coming Friday. This another main event coming soon.

Well I have to stop for now. I need to take the bath before it get too cold. Have a wonderdul day of worshp and fellowship.

YOur brother Ahtapa and family."

"Hello All, We are home and all went well at the Northmen meeting. Ahtapa has written about that so I will let Terry send it also. I think there were about 50 of us. The fellowship was great and we saw many old friends. Coming back here we shared in the annual Thanksgiving assembly and meal. It was great as usual. We are tired but happy and glad to be here. Tomorrow we will begin work on outside stairway to the learning center and also the
score station for the learning center. This school system is real neat and we will fill you in on it more as we observe and talk with the kids who seem to be very excited about it. The outside stairway is necessary so kids will not have to go up through the boys dorm. In other words the learning center is the upper room of the building we built two years ago. The property Ahtapa is looking at is really interesting and we will be discussing that more through the week. We still need to sell our Northmen property in Ogemaw County to pay for the school property here.
Weather is beautiful with sun and warmth although chilly at night. We will be buying some blankets and a new wash machine (pump gone on the old one). That is the way we use the funds some of you have sent to be used here.
We had no major travel problems and in fact arrived here much sooner than we thought we could. God was at work and we thank all of you who prayed. Tonight we are relaxing a little and a devotional time later. We will be off to bed early because its back to school tomorrow for the kids. Friday they were off due to the King's birthday. Things are ok here in this area but be praying for Thailand in general. Norman and Scott are out checking out the village. If they don't get back by dark we will go find where they are wandering. The kids will find them easy.
I will try to write tomorrow and let know how the stair way is coming. Cost of that will be one of our projects also. As will the cost of the score center. In Him love, Mike"

Update on the Northmen team and our house sell

An update on the team visiting the Asian Gospel Outreach I received today:
"Hi all, just a short note to let you know that the men arrived safely at the hostel on Thurs.morning. Will be leaving Fri for the mountains and the Thai Northmen. Thank you for all your prayers. Terry"

As for the house, the sell fell through. The buyer got cold feet...something about his possible divorce. I don't know. So anyway, we've lowered the asking price from $89,900 to $85K. It showed again today. Please continue to pray.

The loss of George

The study of missions has made me more aware of cultures and cultures within cultures. It's really interesting to watch how people interact. It's particularly eye opening when you step out of your own for a season and then return.
I have recently been amerced in to the Kentucky blue-collar world, and I find it quite amusing. I stopped to listen to a couple of men talking at the job site today. They thought I was interested in the conversation, and I was to a degree. But what really intrigued me was the fact that one of them was speaking English with such a country slur I had to make an effort to follow. It was like another language.

One dear friend invited me to his "place" for lunch. He owns quite a bit of land a long the river with a number of rental properties, but he's living out of several tents and a RV trailer. He's planning on turning his "new" box truck into living space as well. His house burnt down about 5 months ago, and He's working on rebuilding, but the kicker for me was the lumber delivered today, not for the house, but for the new deck he wants me to help him build over the river.
How people determine priorities and lifestyles is fascinating. He loves his simple, debt-free living, and even his wife seems happy.

This Thanksgiving brought a bit of a downer for him though. He had befriended a couple of wild, white geese. They knew his voice. As he would walk down toward the river and call, "George!...Lucy!" And they would start honking.
He went to visit his daughter for Thanksgiving, and when he returned, Lucy was alone and honking inconsolably. These sort of geese mate for life. Someone must have shot George for their family feast. My friend was so angry the next time I saw him, he said, "I hate people." He took time off to make Lucy a home on the bank out of bails of straw.
Today when we went to lunch, he made sure to feed her. "I gotta' keep her eating through her morn'n."
One of his friends was there and asked about her mate. He seemed upset as well to hear of the loss and agreed to help get her a new partner.

Some would argue that these folk have their priorities messed up and need to change their lifestyles, and how this all meshes with my Christian views of priorities and such is up for debate. But I'm gleaning some insight from the riverbank and learning a bit about love from this culture within my culture.

Travel prayers

I got an offer on the house today (Praise the Lord!! It's been on the market for 4 months), but the offer is very low. I'm making a counter offer this afternoon. Please pray that I will have wisdom, and the house will sell soon. The sooner it sells the better we can prepare financially for our move to Thailand.

Here's an update from Mike I received today:
"Hi All, Thanks for your many, many prayers. God indeed answers. We leave tomorrow morning with the same basic schedule. We will not be going anywhere near Bangkok and will arrive in Changmai about the same time we would have the other way. Thanks much. We will let you know when we arrive. Mike"

Travel trouble for Mike

One of my advisers (Mike Steere) for our Thailand move is trying to visit Ahtapa this week, but I got this message from him yesterday:

"Hello All, I know this is earlier than you expected but we have a desperate need. Due to some problems (prostestors) in Bangkok our part of the flight going there is canceled for now. We need you to pray for two options. 1. The airport there will open up before the 2nd of Dec. 2. A flight being altered from Thaipei to Changmai to Amsterdam will have an opening for the four of us when we need it. Pray please. we will have another bulletin for you when we get more info. The situation in Thailand is in Bangkok and so we are in no danger going to Changmai. Our problem is getting there. Thanks Mike"

Heidi's Thoughts About Honor vs. Justice

I personally think that honor is better than justice; because well if you honor someone you usually respect them and put them first. It says in the Bible, put others first; love your enemies ,treat them with love and care just like you would your son, daughter, or even a pet that is very dear to you. It says pray for those who persecute you. It also says commandment num. 5- honor you father and your mother like kings and queens.

So I have to say I respect that command; and I try my best day by day to follow that command. As I was told by my dad, friends, pastor, and many of my grandparents.

Justice I’m not that sure about. Some people say that when someone is about to get someone back for hurting them they sometimes say “justice is served…” or something like that.

Some people are in the army or in the marines; they sometime just do it for the justice of their country or maybe because their close friend is in it; but quite frankly I can’t see God holding a gun and shooting at men, women, and children. The people they are fighting against need to be taught how to love. Not only that but they are very thirsty for the word of God. They may not show it but you should know in your heart that they do. If you don’t know that; that’s fine but don’t point a gun at them.

People have been fighting in Iraq so much that they have killed so many men. So now they are fighting for justice, even though they are running out of men. So they are recruiting children; and women. Soon they won’t have anything to fight for.

So no offence to those who I am talking about; the whole war thing pretty stupid. If you’re fighting for justice of your country, just stop fighting period.

Why not show some honor to them. Like I said in my first paragraph; love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. So if they (the people we are fighting as of now) are considered enemies then don’t kill them, don’t even hold them hostel. Let them live their life how it is; and if you can try to help make their lives better.

Its called changing the world. So if you want to be famous. Love, learn, and live try to change the world. Don’t join the army and the marines because its cool; in fact try not to do it at all. Try to make honoring people your goal in life.

Life with out honor would be a catastrophe. We (us kids) would probably not be here this very day if we didn’t honor the law, our parents, ect. What if we didn’t honor police authority? What if we didn’t follow the lights? This world would be a disaster. When all we have to do is honor authority.

So my vote has to completely go to honor.

We are so there

10/16 Film Fundraiser: "The Ordinary Radicals"

WHAT:

The Ordinary Radicals: A Conspiracy of Faith on the Margins of Empire

a fundraiser for Kentucky Refugee Ministries

WHEN:

7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Thursday

October 16th

WHERE:

Kentucky Theater

214 East Main Street

Lexington

Tickets are $7.50 each. Purchase tickets in advance by calling 859.231.7924 or 859.231.6997

DETAILS:

This full-length documentary film is a fundraiser for Kentucky Refugee Ministries to help with their work settling refugees in central Kentucky. The film's director, Jamie Moffet, will be present for live interview and Q & A after the showing.

Click here to view the film's trailer.

In the margins of the United States, there lives a revolutionary Christianity. One with a quiet disposition that seeks to do 'small things with great love,' and in so doing is breaking 21st Century stereotypes surrounding this 2000 year old faith. 'The Ordinary Radicals' is set against the modern American political and social backdrop of the next Great Awakening. Traveling across the United States on a tour to promote the book 'Jesus for President', Shane Claiborne and a rag-tag group of 'ordinary radicals' interpret Biblical history and its correlation with the current state of American politics. Sharing a relevant outlook for people with all faith perspectives, director Jamie Moffett examines this growing movement.

Featuring Interviews with:

Shane Claiborne - Author, "The Irresistible Revolution" and Co-Author of "Jesus For President"

Chris Haw - Co-Author, "Jesus For President"

Tony Campolo - Author, "Red Letter Christians"

Jim Wallis - Author, "God's Politics" and "The Great Awakening"

Brian McLaren - Author, "Everything Must Change" and "The Secret Message of Jesus"

John Perkins - Author, "Let Justice Roll Down" and "Beyond Charity"

Jonathan Wilson Hartgrove - "New Monasticism" and "Free To Be Bound"

Donald Kraybill - Author, "Amish Grace", "The Upside-Down Kingdom" and "The Riddle of Amish Culture"

Bruce Main - Author, "Spotting the Sacred"

Ron Sider - Author, "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger" and "The Scandal of Evangelical Politics"

Brian Walsh - Author, "Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire"

Zack Exley - Writer, "Revolution in Jesusland" and the pioneering organizer for Moveon.org

Leroy Barber - President of MissionYear and featured in the book "unChristian"

Peter Illyn - Contributor, "The Revolution: A Field Manual for Changing Your World" and featured in: "The New Conspirators"

Becky Garrison - Author, "Red and Blue God" and "The New Atheist Crusaders"

Rick Perlstein - Author, "Nixonland"

Lisa Sharon Harper - Playwright, and Executive Director of NY Faith & Justice

SPONSORS:

Communality

One Horizon Foundation

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bill Kenney
(859) 233-9777

The headlines

I haven't given an update for a few weeks, so here's the news:

• Kendra and Keen have only lost one soccer game.
• Keen fell into some hot ashes at a corn maze and burned his right forearm pretty bad. 1st and 2nd degree burns, but thank the Lord, they are healing well.
• Heidi has been working hard to get us organized and "de-stuffing" our lives for the big move.
• I got all the passports and have sent copies to Ahtapa, so he can work on our visas.

Too true

A treasured friend in Thailand sent this to me today speaking of the urgency of the Gospel.

This is the time, no more delay!
This is the Lord's accepted day.

Come, thou, this moment, at his call,

And live for him Who died for all.

Your grounds forsake, your oxen quit,

Your every earthly thought forget,

Seek not the comforts of this life,

Nor sell your Savior for a wife.

Bench "warming," easy money & red tape

This week Kendra and Keen had their first soccer game. They tied with no scores from either team, but Keen made a lot of good blocks and Kendra was smiling on the field. It was a good game. Kendra admitted that she spent a lot of time on the bench, and she didn't mind. The boys talk on the bench.

Heidi has become quite the entrepreneur. She wrote up fryers and went out yesterday to drum up some dog-walking business. I don't think she walked any dogs, but one lady donated $10 to her effort. Now, the woman across the street has agreed to hire the three girls to walk her dog every week day for $5 a day. Their eyes lit up when they started doing the math.

I went to the Social Security office this week to get cards for the kids, but they would not accept birth certificates as valid id. They will accept daycare records, church records, Passports, etc, but not certified birth certificates (go figure). So I went by the Post Office on the way home to see what I need for the Passports. They just need my photo id and the kids birth certificates, so I use the birth certificates to get the Passport. Then, I can use the Passports to get the Social Security cards. Does this seem kooky to anyone else?

a wide brush for a big project

I feel like I need to follow up on some of my more recent posts. Tact is not always one of my strong points, and it's been pointed out to me that my tone has been self-righteous and ungrateful. For that I am deeply sorry. I by far have no right to claim any kind of "holier than thou" attitude. My partial education, minor investment and little summer trip in no way make me an expert, hero or honored veteran. And I would not be who I am or where I am with out the help of family and friends. I am forever indebted to you in love.

If my tone was judgmental and offensive, it was not directed (by me) at any one person, group or church. I can not speak for churches in other countries, but the Church of America (which includes me) has a problem. It doesn't take much research and insight to see that things are terribly out of balance. No, I don't have a simple solution, but we have an abundance of resources: people, books, money and more. Yet, millions on the other side of the globe are not hearing the Gospel, and it's been this way for generations.

Robert Speer said, "There is nothing in the world or the Church -- except the church's disobedience -- to render the evangelization of the world in this generation an impossibility." That was around 1930, far before the Internet and the current age of communication and other technologies, so it remains true all the more for this generation.

Paul commented to an Aug 10th blog well by saying, "...people here do not see the need; they do not have their eyes open. Most people here are too wrapped up in the 9-5 grind and have numbed themselves with entertainment. And yes, their greatest quest and ambition is more of the same; career ambitions and entertainment..."

The debate about weather or not all are called to go or some are called to stay is not my concern. My concern is the job is not getting done and that more people need to get involved. But the problem is not only lack of funding; it is far more a lack of people going. Again, I'm painting this picture with a wide brush, and I understand that there are needed and productive ways to minister here in the states.

But I tend to share the mind of James Gilmour, who said, "I thought the matter out, and decided for the mission field; even on the low ground of common sense I seemed to be called to be a missionary. Is the kingdom a harvest field? Then I thought it reasonable that I should seek to work where the work was most abundant and the workers fewest. Labourers say they are over-taxed at home; what then must be the case abroad, where there are wide stretching plains already white to harvest, with scarcely here and there a solitary reaper? ...in place of seeking to assign a reason for going abroad, I would prefer to say that I have failed to discover any reason why I should stay at home." --www.wholesomewords.org/missions/msquotes.html

The Irresistible Revolution

If you haven't read The Irresistible Revolution, I highly recommend you do so.
Here's a blurb about it:
"Many of us find ourselves caught somewhere between unbelieving activists and inactive believers. We can write a check to feed starving children or hold signs in the streets and feel like we've made a difference without ever encountering the faces of the suffering masses. In this book, Shane Claiborne describes an authentic faith rooted in belief, action, and love, inviting us into a movement of the Spirit that begins inside each of us and extends into a broken world. Shane's faith led him to dress the wounds of lepers with Mother Teresa, visit families in Iraq amidst bombings, and dump $10,000 in coins and bills on Wall Street to redistribute wealth. Shane lives out this revolution each day in his local neighborhood, an impoverished community in North Philadelphia, by living among the homeless, helping local kids with homework, and "practicing resurrection" in the forgotten places of our world.Shane's message will comfort the disturbed, and disturb the comfortable . . . but will also invite us into an irresistible revolution. His is a vision for ordinary radicals ready to change the world with little acts of love."

You can find more of his stuff at this link.

a few moments of entertainment from the week

Kendra and Keen had their first soccer practice this week. They were really excited about it and had a good time.

Kendra is the only girl on a 15 player team. It's interesting watching how kids react differently to the opposite gender. While Kendra used pink shoe strings, a pony tail and sweaty competition, Heidi, on the other hand, did her hair, put on a cute jean skirt and showed up at the practice with Freddie on a leash.

Keen was having trouble walking, so we prayed for his foot that night. They've been hurting for some time now, and it seemed to be getting worse. I was afraid he might have a bone spur or something serious like that. The next day we went shopping for soccer cleats and I think the Lord answered our prayer. I found that the shoes Keen had been given from his cousin were 2 sizes too big. No wonder his feet were sore; the arch was hitting him in the wrong place. We bought him new shoes that fit.

Heidi made an interesting observation at church this morning. She had put a lot of effort getting ready and perfecting her look, and she did look good, nice hair, cute shoes, fun bag, trendy note book. She was happening. Then she realized that her bag said, "not listening" across the side, and her notebook said, "blah" boldly on the front. She decided that they might not be conveying the best message for church. I was impressed that she reached her realizations without my coaching.

Sunday Stress

I'm so right, and I'm so wrong. I can't sort them out. The church seems so lost, so out of focus, so misguided, so fluffy, so non-threatening,... so my tendency is to be negative, to disconnect, to get cynical and bitter. This is wrong.

My anger comes from the frustration of a problem greater than me, but it threatens to influence me and my children. Sundays stress me for a number of reasons, but I think I'm growing in patience (I hope it's not complacency).

Last Sunday, I stood in the back of the balcony overlooking a beautiful new sanctuary filled with beautiful, well dressed people. My mind and emotions raced, and I felt the Spirit remind me to love them and not be bitter. It was as if God invited me to weep with Him over His dysfunctional family.

One of the themes of my summer has been that the NT stresses unity. The church is the body of Christ, and I want to love, cooperate and support. I don't want to be a trouble-maker and cause more confusion, but I also don't want to be a part of the numbing disease. I want to be an instrument of change, but the monsters of materialism, ritualism, political-correctness, and "me-based-worship" are just so big.

How does one step back and get a clear view of the problem and still stay united?
How does one stay united without getting infected?
How does one develop and maintain a godly anger and disgust with the problems and not attack the people or the ministry?

a bigger picture of reality

Here's a sweet quote the pastor used this morning. I regret that it is so trendy as to come from "The Shack," but regardless of mainstream, consumer-based Christianity, it is a pretty good book.

"There are times when you choose to believe something that would normally be considered absolutely irrational. It doesn't mean that it is actually irrational, but it surely is not rational. Perhaps there is suprarationality: reason beyond the normal definitions of fact or data-based logic; something that only makes sense if you can see a bigger picture of reality. Maybe that is where faith fits in." -William P. Young

a divinely inspired sermon

I've been attending my brother's church lately. It's Assembly of God with an average attendance of 200 (guestimation) on a Sunday morning. It's a modern building, contemporary worship, and a middle-to-upper class congregation. The people seem friendly, warm and welcoming, and the pastor seems humble and down-to-earth.

Let me give a little back ground. Over the past year God has taken me back to the Greatest Commandments (Love God; Love Others) and the Great Commission (Go) as a life theme.

When I was in Asia this summer, I was asked (told / expected) to preach a number of times. Each time I felt that I didn't really have anything to say. I could sum up the Word God had given me in one word, "Love."

There are many many verses to enforce this lesson, but anything I said beyond that just seemed empty and fluffy. My first sermon in Burma quoted a bunch of references to love, and I was almost apologetic to my missionary friends that I had such a "shallow" sermon. One of them spoke up and corrected me, "Preaching Scripture is never shallow." When I tried to explain my problem to the pastor in Thailand he said, "Just read the Scriptures and speak from your heart... The Scriptures don't need a bunch of salt and flowers."

I was inspired and disappointed by last week's sermon. I was back in the states at a new church and the pastor was starting a new sermon series that went back to the basics, the Greatest Commandments and the Great Commission! I was encouraged that a pastor that preaches every Sunday was still able to point to the basics. The foundational truths never get old. And I was encouraged that he had combined the two "Greats." If you love God and love others, go!

I believe this was a divinely inspired sermon (that I expect to preach myself someday), but I'm afraid the man of God cut it short. He stressed the loving God and loving others, but he just spent a few minutes on the go, and his "go" was like, "get involved in the community." What!?

The Great Commission was to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. It wasn't to just become a scout leader or a soccer coach.

Today he spoke about loving God. Next week is about loving others, and the final week of the series is the "Go." I really hope he redeems last week's sermon by not cutting the Great Commission short this time and instead, calling his congregation to a global perspective and ministry.

Final Update From the 2008 Trip

Dear Mother,

Our adventure is nearing an end, and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Saturday was an extreme high for us. We drove to a mountain village where we celebrated with a Christian family whose father had recently become a believer. The family then burned his spirit shelves, cups and tokens that had been made to the spirits (Many of the people live in fear of "the spirits" that they have to keep appeased to avoid misfortune). We made a fire in his yard and watched a lifetime of fear get consumed by the Great Comforter. We took part in the baptism of four people that afternoon! It was a beautiful day in so many ways.

We've been teaching about 8 hours a day. Our good friends Ahtapa and Leah are starting a Christian school and the students are very eager to learn the English language. Once they learn the language, they can begin using a Christian curriculum that they have chosen from the US .

A typical weekday goes something like this:

• Devotions with the kids is at 5:00 AM. This is lead by us (well, I usually get left in a bag or on the table in the hut, but they seem to handle it okay). We've been going through the Fruits of the Spirit.
• Devotions with the team is at 5:30ish. We've read through the book of John, and now we're in Job. This involves (requires) some sweet coffee.
• A wonderful breakfast with eggs, bread and jelly, and/or fresh fruit is usually waiting for us after devotions.
• Classes begin at 7:00. I hadn't realized how easy it is to confuse "R" and "L". And how do you explain the difference between how "chin" and "shin" are pronounced?
• Lunch is 11:00-1:00 and is a much needed break for everyone.
• Afternoon classes are from 1:00-4:00. We've decided that in the game "hang-man," the man never really has to die; you can just keep putting clothes on him, an umbrella in his hand and things in the back ground, like bicycles or trees.
• From 4:00-6:30 we have free-time to play with the kids.
• Supper is served around 6:30 and is always wonderful.
• We lead devotions with the kids at 7:30. This involves songs, Bible reading and a story through an interpreter.
• We usually crash by 10:00 PM (to be ready again by 5:00 AM).

So we've stayed very busy, but we managed a few trips to the market and other adventures.

Tuesday we taught at the public school. The teachers were so happy to have English teachers/speakers they gave us the freedom to teach however we chose, so we taught Christian songs (One song, for example, explained that Jesus is the "King of the Jungle" and he created you and me).

We also visited a ministry called "Partners" that is teaching people how to make soap and grow a fast growing tree called Maringa whose leaves can be eaten as a nutritional supplement, like organic vitamins.

Anyway, your favorite green and yellow dinosaur is having a wonderful time. I've been dropped (or thrown rather) in the dirt a couple times, but all in all I'm better for it.

Blessings to you,

MEBS (Mercedes, Emily, Brian, and Sarah)

Fun and Cool Quotes from the Summer

• Draw out the image of God in others. -PFO
• To be crucified with Christ involves cultural suicide. -concept in handbook
• My life for God's will. -PFO
• We're not manufactured; we're God-uafctured. -PFO
• God does not rent out his attributes. -PFO
• Danger --aah. -Mercedes
• Peace is not the goal, but rather it's a tool for unity. -Brian's understanding of Ephesians 4:3
• You will not have lice at your wedding. -Sarah to Mercedes at PFO
• As long as you don't bite my leg. -Mercedes to Brian
• The fruit of silence is prayer; the fruit of prayer is faith; the fruit of faith is service; the fruit of service is love. -Sarah quoting Mother Teresa
• This shower is like a bad relationship, "I can control you! You're hurting me! I can control you! You're hurting me!" -Josh at PFO
• God didn't just give you this day; He gave you this moment. -Peggy
• Keep waving! They can still see us. -Mercedes as buses left PFO
• You want to barrow some spit? -Mercedes to Brian
• Myanmar is where smiles originate. -James
• Myanmar is the land of laughter...hahahahaa. -James
• Can we barrow the plastic guitar? -Mercedes to James when he told us to sing a special
• That's so eeeevil! -James talking politics
• All our gods have been knocked down. -James quoting people of Yangon
• What does your butt say? -Emily to Sarah
• Check out that monk. He's buff. -Sarah
• Is narcolepsy contagious?
• Tonight we will have a prayer party. -James
• Squaty poos are the best. -Sarah
• 3500?! We've been getting 2 all week. Here, give me the paper; I'll do it. -Mama May
• Keep on chilln'. -James
• Angery Tinkerbell
• I hear your words, and I see your Father. -A man encouraging Brian
• It's never shallow to preach Scripture. -Matt
• When all you see is your pain, perhaps you lose sight of me. -God in the Shack, p.96
• Don't go because you feel obligated...go because it's what you want to do. -Jesus in the Shack, p.89
• Normal is a myth. -Shack, p.170
• I think, when Mercedes talks, she looks like Brittney Spears. -a girl at TCC
• He says it smells like the mites under his bed. -Mary interpreting Zimungs opinion of Brian's Big Red gum.
• Naturally built for your enjoyment. -James opinion of a tourist park
• You realize, you just agreed to marriage? -Sarah to Emily
• The harvest is ready, but the workers are few. -James
• There goes Gimly. -Emily relating Myanmar church leadership to Lord of the Rings
• I couldn't stop starring at his chest hair.
• You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Hayes.
• I'm gonna tell Phil.
• I'm foreinly ignorant.
• Saturday! Saaaturday, Saturday!
• Conversion is not an event but a process, a process of slowly tearing ourselves from the clutches of the culture.
• Massage? -Sarah's friend at the hotel
• I just want to hug them..., but then they would have to cleans themselves or something. -talking about child monks
• Wash your hands and pray, because germs and Jesus are everywhere. -Emily's grandma
• Be caarreful! -Snake farm man
• Just read the Scriptures and speak from your heart... The Scriptures don't need a bunch of salt and flowers. -Ahtapa
• Not only is God our social worker, He is also our Lord and King. -Ahtapa
• Christians have forgotten what it means to live a simple life and the joy of the Lord. -Ahtapa
• We're going to have the real hot dog, some barking dear... -Ahtapa
• I'm going to tell you a story before I show you the goods. -Sarah
• Share all with all. -Note on wall at Partners Ministries
• We're going to evangelize the crap out of this place. -Sarah
• It wasn't my fart. It wasn't your fart. It wasn't any body's fart. -Ahtapa
• Everyone's nice here, even the bugs. -Mercedes
• Saliva makes your hair grow. I spit in my hair everyday. -Sarah comforting Emily
• Fatal Error! -Sarah warning of homesickness
• You little little. -Mercedes' term of endirerment for Meme and others
• A cow that has been attacked by a tiger will jump at the fall of a leaf. -Ahtapa sharing an old Thai proverb
• It's our pressure to serve you. Priest, come again, and bring your whole family. It will be more pressure for us. -Ahtapa playfully confusing his L's with R's and S's.
• The American dollar is like Tinkerbell. When people stop believing, it will die. -One of Sarah's professors
• We need some of da-woman stuff. -what Ahtapa heard when Mercedes asked for de-worming meds
• Job continued his discourse... -devos

Brian: "Mama May, she's picking on me!"

Mercedes: "Better be careful, Emily. She'll lose your ticket."

Emily: "That's the first time I've lost my ticket, dang it."

Mercedes: "That's okay; I've lost mine like 8 times."

Emily: "I am the Key Master."

Sarah: "You're Peter."

Emily: "Yeah, like Ghostbusters."

Sarah: "No, the Apostle."

Mercedes: "Same thing."

People Watching
JACK JOHNSON

Well I'm just people watching
The other people watching me
And we're all people watching
The other people watching we
We're as lonely as we wanted to be
We're all as lonely as we wanted to be
Just as lonely as we wanted to be
I'm just you, you're just me
But it's only true if we believe
Well there really ain't no use in stopping
What nobody never told me not to do
So I'll keep people watching, watching me now
Finding my way back to you
We're as lonely as we wanted to be
We're all as lonely as we wanted to be
I'm just as lonely as I wanted to be
I'm just you, you're just me
But it's only true if we believe
I see so many feet going so many ways
People passing by, they got nothing to say
All on our own, just watching and confused
Nobody told me what to do
I can't stop breaking all the rules
And I'm just people watching
The other people watching me
We're all people watching
The other people watching we
We're as lonely as we wanted to be
We're not so lonely as we wanted to be
I'm just as lonely as I wanted to be
Not so lonely
Lonely, lonely, lonely

God made you special, and He loves you very much.

-The way the Menefees say "Goodnight." Bob the Tomato, Veggie Tales

Update Number 2

The Myanmar/Thailand Team decided it would be fun to have a mascot (a small stuffed dinosaur we bought at an airport) and to give our updates through his eyes as he writes home. His name is MEBS which is the combined first letters of each of our team members (Mercedes, Emily, Brian and Sarah). NMSI seems to love acronyms.

Dear Mother,

Just writing to let you know that your favorite green and yellow dino is well and safe. Oh, yes and the rest of my little herd is fine also.

Emily is picking up the language like a pro. Sarah can hail a taxi better than a New Yorker. Brian is getting better at tying his longie ("skirts" that the men wear), and Mercedes preached a positive sermon on hope last Sunday.

Hope and encouragement is a valuable resource in this area. One of our new friends has made two trips to a village that was destroyed in the cyclone. His first trip was weeks after the storm, and the people were still too overwhelmed by fear to even bury the dead. his visit brought hope and encouragement, so they all went to work. By his second visit the survivors were starting to show life again, and this time he brought seed and tractors. The people that had lost family , friends and hope were now working day and night to restore their farms.

We would love to go and get our hands dirty as well, but because we are foreigners, we are not allowed. But there is a lot of ministry to do in the city as well. The other day we visited a faith-based, non-government agency that is helping to fund and organize trips like our friend has been taking, and today we helped a group package toiletries and food to send to the victims.

So as life happens, even among the tears, there are many things to celebrate. We were honored to be guests at a small Burmese wedding, and we were excited to be a part of five year anniversary party for a growing orphanage.

This little Summer adventure is almost half way over. I look forward to seeing you soon and telling you more.

with love,
MEBS

Update Number 1

The Myanmar/Thailand Team decided it would be fun to have a mascot (a small stuffed dinosaur we bought at an airport) and to give our updates through his eyes as he writes home. His name is MEBS which is the combined first letters of each of our team members (Mercedes, Emily, Brian and Sarah). NMSI seems to love acronyms.

Dear Mother,
I thought I should write to let you know that I'm
doing well. Regretfully, my hopes for a vacation in
Hawaii didn't pan out, but somehow I think I found
something better.
I was purchased from the airport toy-store by three
lovely and cheerful American young ladies. They
seemed to be looking for a mascot for their
adventures, and somehow they decided that a green and
yellow dinosaur fit the need. With giggles and smiles
they brought me to the ruggedly handsome male of their
herd. He was bravely guarding their belongings, as we
fearless males do so well.
We soon boarded our first plane for about 21 hours of
flying (right past Hawaii!!) ending in Yangon,
Myanmar. That's right, Myanmar, where the cyclone hit
about a month ago. Come to find out, these young
people were bringing bags of clothes and shoes and
toiletries and two water filtering systems.
We arrived in Yangon Saturday morning and spent the
remainder of the day settling into our rooms and
getting familiar with the city. We took long walks
down busy streets. One cannot help but to be taken
back by the friendliness and hospitality of these
people in this forgotten land in the heart of
Buddhism.
Sunday morning I think I was mistakenly left behind in
their room, but they won't admit it to me. Anyway, it
seems they had a wonderful time, and they met two
English speaking families that were greatly encouraged
by the visit and have invited them over for dinner and
English conversation.
The team has agreed to act as substitute teachers over
the next two weeks to classes of adult students
learning English as a second language. This will give
some of the American teachers the opportunity to go to
Thailand and renew their visas.
The team was hoping to be able to help more directly
in the cyclone relief efforts, but the rural delta is
still not open to foreigners. It has been encouraging
and interesting to visit with and learn from the
agencies who are helping send and fund nationals to go
and aide the hurting communities.
Through many conversations and stories, we have
learned that the cyclone was a terrible and
devastating tragedy upon an already hurting people.
Their suffering and unheard cries for help were not
just for one night, but have been for more than a life
time. Yet, there is a hope.
Well, my little herd sends you their love. We
treasure your prayers.

Your son,
MEBS (Mercedes, Emily, Brian, Sarah)

The Carpenter by Dorthy Clarke Wilson

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the drama we're doing this weekend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeff: It's a very [strange] sort of key. When you think you've found it, the fact is you've actually lost it.

Lisa: But how---

Jeff: And yet you can't find it unless you lose it.

Lisa: But I don't see-- That doesn't sound sensible!

Jeff: You know I told you it was a magic key.

Lisa: How will I know when I find it?

Jeff: Perhaps you won't, but other people will. They'll see the doors begin to open.

Lisa:Where can we begin? Is it here, in this house?

Jeff: It's everywhere. Anywhere. But that's another [strange] thing about it. You can't find it by looking for it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Homes should have room to breath and stretch and grow, like the people that live in them, like the parts of a human body. In fact, they are the body, the living cells in which dwells the life-spirit of the Beloved Community.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everybody in the world is looking for a magic key, Lisa. and everybody has his own secret door that he wishes to unlock, the door to his own deepest need and heart's desire...Only some people don't even know they have it. It's down so deep in their souls and buried in such a tangle of weeds and refuse that it's completely hidden. But it's there, waiting to be opened.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometimes I think most people would like it better if nobody cared. They'd rather stay the way they are. The person who really cares about other human beings has the hardest job in the world, that of trying to help people who don't want to be helped.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The church I dream about is a Beloved Community made up of millions of tiny, living, breathing cells, each dependent on and ministering to the life of every other. I don't know whether such a community exists, or could exist, but it's going to be the business of my life to find out.

Pillars of salt stop running

I'm in such a fog. I usually have a mental priority list, a plan of action, a reason to stay busy, but lately --I just feel --unmotivated. Should I pack? Should I work on the house? Should I work on homework? Should I visit with friends? Should I go to bed and hope it makes better sense in the morning?

A treasured friend asked me last night what I'm running from. I didn't expect that, and I didn't know how to answer, but nor did I dismiss it. I have some insightful friends, and they often see my shortfalls before I do.

IF I am running, perhaps it's from routine, or from pointlessness, or from materialism, or from conformity, or from temptation, or from worldly responsibilities, or from my heritage, or from the fear of regret.

On the other hand, perhaps, instead of from something, I am running to it. It could be to confront my past, or to find God's will, or to a greater purpose, or to protect my kids, or to help my parents, or to have an adventure, or to prepare for the mission God has for me.

Could it be all the above, and --is that wrong? --Maybe it will make sense in the morning.

Update

It's been a couple weeks since my last post... life's getting a little crazy, so this is going to be brief. I noticed a couple of post back I was thanking God for our many blessings; well, as life goes, it looks like I'm going to have to give most of them back, so to speak.

Yes, the rumors are true (that is, the ones I've heard). The Menefees are planning to move to KY this summer. The Lord is opening opportunities for me to attend Asbury College & Seminary.

Our biggest snags at this point (apart from leaving friends) is finding a home for our dog, Freddy, and selling the house. I thought I had a buyer last week, but that fell through. It looks like I will have a renter until the house sells, so that should help.

By the way, my summer trip to Asia is fully funded! God is so good and faithful; I'm really looking forward to the adventure, this summer and beyond.

I had better get back to the homework. TTFN

Is a portrait still a portrait if you look at it from the backside?

I came home from class yesterday, and Keen was setting at the computer in the living-room. He promptly looked up and excitedly told me about how a complete stranger came up to him after his basketball game and shook his hand. The man highly complemented him and told him that he has what it takes to be in the pros! With that, Keen turned back to the computer and stated, with a hint of remorse, "My life in the NFL is over."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before reading this next story, one should know that we just painted the house a few months ago.

Keen brought in the mail this evening, and as he was announcing each item, he read the bold print on the Sears envelop, "Brian Menefee, never paint your house again!" Kendra spoke up, in a voice of disgust, "How rude! What? Do they think you didn't do a good enough job?"

Perspective

I was late for work this morning, because the silly "foster dog" got loose twice (anybody want a free, golden husky? I'm not joking). Then, we spent most of the work day blowing insulation in an attic. Since I was already filthy, I decided to clean the loft of the barn when I got home. I tried to burn some of our huge brush and lumber pile, but it was too wet. Then, I worked until twilight digging 8 fence-post holes. Of course, a Home Depot trip had to be worked in to the day, so I picked up over 600 pound of concrete. Finally, I got the last load of dirty (and wet, due the the flooded basement) laundry is in the washer. I just realised; I missed supper.

Thank You, Lord, for... the low-stress job, the dirty barn, the rain, the brush pile (for hot dogs and marshmallows), the health to do manual labor, the new fence, a basement, clothes to get dirty (and the kids that dirty them), and... my ice cream :o)

Learning to step into other worlds

Today offered a unique adventure. Tawnya Smith and I visited the Hindu Temple for their Monday morning service. They were very hospitable and encouraged our questions. It was all so strange to us; we didn't know what to ask. The experience alone was educational. It was a hour of foreign chants and rituals that simply fascinated me. I figure, their gods must have short attention spans, because they kept having to repeat themselves so much.

The comic relief came when, in mid-service, a woman scolded what seemed to be the head priest for cutting the chants too short. "This used to take an hour, and that was only 30 minutes. I don't know what you did to it, but you need to keep going." I guess she didn't feel like she was getting her money's worth. Can you imagine someone speaking up in one of our services, "Pastor, your prayer and sermon were too short; keep going." (Ouch! That's not so comical anymore...now I'm convicted.)

The silly, God-like irony though was the obvious, big, red zit that I had between my eyebrows.

Saturday priority problems

I searched all day for my inspiration to clean the house. I never did find it. Perhaps it's under the pile of papers on my desk or in the heap of coats on the chair. It couldn't have possibly found its way into the dishwasher, could it?

I shouldn't say, really, that I searched all day. I gave up rather early on, and the thought of it simply hunted me all day. Instead, I fled to Home Depot and spent more of my tax return. There really ought to be a support group for that, or a 12 step program of some kind. No, better yet, 3 steps (I'm easily lost or distracted).

Stop reading between the lines; I can't think that fast

It seems there are phases of life that have themes. The phase may last a few days, weeks, or even months; it's like God's trying to teach me something specific. The theme for now seems to be worldviews and the art of communicating between them. It's amazing how you can live, work and/or worship with someone and realize you have completely different perspectives on the same issue or situation.

I found myself in a one-on-one conversation with a friend today, and it was as if they where having a completely different conversation (Note: I have learned not to make negative stereotypes of the entire opposite gender, BUT one has to admit that this social anomaly occurs most often when I'm talking to one of them). By the end, she was in tears and I was speechless (or perhaps I should say, I was afraid to open my mouth again).

so many details, so little brain

In planning for this summer, I was well ahead of the game. I got my passport back with a surprisingly good photo (I don't look like I'm on drugs at least). With that, I assumed I was ready to leave the country. Then, I got an email from my coordinator (This used to be Pat Rider's job, but now the poor soul's name is Mike S. You might want to remember him in your prayers.) He needed my passport so that he could get my visas. Oh, yes...of course, so eventually I got it in the mail to him (Thank you, Elaine, for the extra $.17 postage and the extra large envelope).

Well, today I got a large envelope in the mail from NMSI! I was so excited. Is it more info about the trip, the culture, the missionaries? Is it support receipts? No, it's my passport!? "Wow, that was fast and easy," I thought. No, the passport was still blank --with a post-it note, "Hey Brian, We need it signed or it isn't valid. Thanks! Mike"

Back to the basics with new attitude and perspective

I'm sure it's no secret that I'm a slow learner, but I still feel embarrassed (and yet obligated) to make a confession in order to share a "simple" truth that I'm only beginning to comprehend. For years, I have had the heart to serve. I've wanted to be involved in the Lord's work, to help build The Kingdom in whatever way the Lord leads. Here am I; send me. What can I do?

This is all good, but somehow the purpose got lost in the effort. I became so task oriented and more focused on what I was (or could be) doing that I overlooked many of the people God wanted me to touch. At one point, a few of my trusted friends and I were talking, and one of them was comparing me to another and quite frankly said, "[He] is nice. Brian, you fake it." I was rightfully disturbed, but I excused it as though they must be mistaken.

As time went on, people often became an annoyance, so much so that I eventually confessed that I really didn't like people. "Ministry would be a lot easier if it wasn't for the people." That all sounds so shallow and foolish now.

I was thinking recently about how wonderful it would be to do something really great for the Kingdom, to be a missionary and reach lost souls for example. The question that immediately hit me was, "When are you going to start?" And right on top of that one was, "How does that happen?"

My great epiphany was so elementary one would think it goes without saying. My logical answer was, "I must start now --with love." I've tried so hard so many times to teach love to kids, but at times, now, I feel like I'm only beginning to practice it. I claimed to love those around me; I had love for them; I even shared love with them at times, but I feel like I'm now starting to give it, to live it.

It's in the little things, like realizing that that goofy kid who is so hard to communicate with deserves no less of my love and attention than anyone else who happens to be in the same room. It's consistent eye contact. It's noticing hurts and acknowledging them rather than avoiding them. It's giving people time and respect (anyone), expecting nothing in return, despite the tasks that are going undone.

In short, it's liberating to truly, selflessly give your life away everyday to each person with which you come in contact --and looking for ways to make that contact.

God help me.

A house of cards

My theology of holiness instructor explained that the flesh is not sinful. God created the physical world and it was good.

I pointed out that at the fall, sin and death entered the world. Thus, the physical world was changed.

He asked if a gun was sinful, or a knife.

I said, no, but a gun doesn't have a mind that seeks self-gratification.

What's bugging me is that he's telling these young students that, if only they were sanctified soul and body, they would not be bent toward sin. Excuse me, but our bodies are selfish, and no matter what our circumstances, we still have to restrain the flesh. This body is a temporary tent. The real me, the eternal me, is my spirit, that wants to serve and honor God. The body has a chemical make up that is selfish. "Feed me. Scratch me. Satisfy me." Selfishness is self-destructive when it stands alone, so the spirit has to keep it in check. "Yes, I'll feed you, but no, you can't have that extra candy bar." The spirit has to call the shots, stay in charge at all times. As long as we are in these temporary tents, we have to keep pounding the pegs down tight. Just because we are sanctified, does not mean that the body is going to sit back and say, "Don't mind me. I'm fine. I don't need or want anything." I fear we are setting these students up for failure if we lead them to believe that their bodies will be holy, sinless, --sanctified with one more trip to the alter and a sincere heart.

Can the fence be considered a road?

I spent another five hours today reading. This time I finished Defence of Christian Perfection by Daniel Steele (not to be confused with the smut author of a similar name). Steele is another Methodist writer from the 1800's. The man seemed to be quite educated, but he was so much in defence that at times he seemed argumentative, which in my understanding, is not becoming to sanctification or Christian perfection. Perhaps it was a holy anger; I should not judge.

Though I am still unsure in which field of theories I should place my foot, I was impressed by this statement by Steele (page 107):

"Experiences are God's work and are always orthodox; theories are of man's devising and are sometimes erroneous. The doctrine of Christian perfection in this life, 'the formal principle of Wesley's theology and the inmost spirit and essence of Methodism' (Dr. Warren), may be erroneous, and the doctrine of successive partial sanctifications never extinguishing depravity may be true. By their fruits let them be judged. Let the latter theory be substituted for the former when it has raised up more saintly men and women, and has communicated a mightier upward impulse to our common Christianity throughout the whole world."

Phoebe Palmer

I got the flu bug again, so I didn't get out much today. I spent a good bit of the day finishing a book called Entire Devotion to God by Phoebe Palmer. I have been grappling with the doctrine of entire-sanctification for sometime, and some may say, "Just let it go," but I do want to find peace with this. Is it possible to live, as many claim, sinless?

One reason I chose this book to study was that I knew Phoebe was a radical, but isn't that what "entire" sanctification is? I told an inspirational friend, a seminary graduate, about the book I was reading, and she said, "That'll mess you up." Great, so how is one to find truth without wading through the false teachers? And is there any guarantee that you won't be influenced by them?

Another trusted friend, with a doctorate in theology, referred to Phoebe as a mystic. I looked up the term and found: "a person who claims to attain, or believes in the possibility of attaining, insight into mysteries transcending ordinary human knowledge, as by direct communication with the divine or immediate intuition in a state of spiritual ecstasy... a person initiated into religious mysteries." Yes, that about sums her up.

So, Phoebe, if I were entirely-sanctified, body and soul, as you claim I can be, would this flu bug not make me so grouchy and impatient?

The Blessing of Advisers

I'm emerging from a 48 hour hibernation. The flu bug bit me hard, and curiously timed, it came the week of a significant decision. I don't like to think of myself as a candidate for self-absorbed depression or a nervous breakdown, but I think I tasted them this week.

I took the job at the Bible School about a year ago, because a friend asked me help with a major remodel project. Meanwhile, I began taking classes. Well, the project is nearly complete, and my supervisor is leaning on me to take less classes this semester. With the pay and moral on campus so low and the opportunity of taking classes diminished, a part of me just wants to walk out, go back to the normal world and work for money again.

One of my friends said, "Now, Brian, don't make a knee jerk decision." That really hit me. As must as I like to think of myself as level headed and consistent, that is what I tend to do, make knee jerk decisions. Thus, I began to get sick. Wednesday I brought the kids home after school, put my pj's on, went to bed and barely emerged until Friday.

It was so bad I succumbed to a foo-foo bath (some in my world think that a hot foo-foo bath will cure all that ales you). The moisturizing bath beads are fascinating, but I found myself studying the mold in the joints of my new tub surround and wondering how long I had to sit there. The answer came soon, as I discovered the plug has a slow leak, so when the water gets down to an uncomfortable level, then you will emerge --about 20 min.

So with no appetite for days, I would return to my bed and pray, "God, give me an answer when I wake up." One of my advisers said, "You have to do what's best for you." That didn't seem like the voice of God. So I went to another wise set of counselors. One of them asked me, "What do you want me to tell you?" I said, "I want you to tell me what to do."

He did, and a great weight lifted off of me. I'm better now.

Too Hot for a Fourth Grader

We had a PTF meeting tonight, and the kids played in the gym. Heidi was the only one of mine that went, and when I went to pick her up, she was sitting on the stage with a group of boys. As she went to get her coat, two boys came over to me. They stood about ten foot from me. The second grader pinched the fourth grader's ear and said, "Tell him."

The older boy argued, "It's not natural."

"Tell him!"

"Okay..." Then, quick and loud, as if to get it off his chest, he blurted out, "Your daughter's hot!"

How does a father respond to these things? Heidi walked up just in time to hear the proclamation. She tossed her head and laughed. I simply pointed out to the boys, "She knows."

The Value of Middle Schoolers

I love working with tweens. They speak their minds openly, and you always know where you stand with them. I went upstairs at church recently and within 3 minutes I was told that my sweater looked like I was wearing a paper sack and within 5 minutes later another girl told me I looked like I was growing a mullet. One can't take their comments too seriously, but I think, I had my hair cut with in 24 hours, and I haven't worn a sweater since. The truth is, they have more of an eye for these things than I do. So I find it healthy to get exposure to their raw opinions. You win some; you lose more; and you learn a lot.

My daughter is in this tween stage. Some of the outfits she puts on I would not have put together, but before I say too much to her, I try to keep in mind that I may not have a fashion clue.

She still has me dry her hair after her showers. I used to try to convince and teach her to do it herself, but not so much anymore. I've changed. I think I'll dry her hair as long as she'll let me.

Theology of Holiness

Classes start back up again this week, and it looks like I'm taking Theology of Holiness- Grrrrr. I really have to check my attitude on the subject. Pastor Tom tells me that I need to not get angry but listen, so I'm trying to go in with a humble spirit. He has tried to explain this doctrine to me, which is shared by the Wesleyan church, but I haven't embraced it yet (that's putting it lightly).

My statement of faith is that I am a sinner saved by grace. No matter how "holy" of a life I live, I am only made righteous through the work of Christ. All my good deeds and "clean" living are filthy rags, but Jesus Christ alone paid the ransom and made me acceptable to God. I attempt to live a holy life out of loving obedience as one recruited to a team that loves his Savior and neighbors and must work within the rules to help the team be successful.

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Comment:

Chris Sumpter (unverified)Jan 12, 2008: Just out of curiosity, where did you get the phrase "sinner saved by grace"? Because it's not from the Bible. I just did a little search of the New Testament to see if I could find any references to Christians being referred to as sinners. The closest I came was when Paul said that Christ came to save sinners, of whom he is chief. I don't really think Paul was saying that, at the time he was writing, he was the chief of sinners. It seems to be clear that he is talking about his past pre-conversion life. Then I did a search for the word "saints." Christians are referred to 60 times as saints. That doesn't count the times that they are referred to as righteous, sanctified, etc. So, is it more scripturally accurate to say "I am a sinner saved by grace" or "I was a sinner, but am now a saint, by grace"?

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Chris, good observation, but what about...?

Luke 18:9-10

9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector...

Philippians 3:8-10

8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Rom 3:10

10As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;

Rom 3:23 (notice that fall is in the present tense)

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Rom 7:14-20 (Was Paul not sanctified?)

14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing.20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Rom 7:25 (It seems that as long as we are in the flesh, we are bent toward sin.)

23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Isa 64:6

6All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Rom 3:9

9What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.

Phil 3:12-13

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead

The phrase "sinner saved by grace" may not be directly stated in scripture, but you will also not find terms such as: regeneration, Christian perfection and second blessing.

Yes, the believers are the saints, the chosen, the holy preisthood, but we are still battleing the sinnful nature, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in [us] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

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Comment:

Chris Sumpter (unverified)Jan 13, 2008: Luke 18--Was the tax collector a Christian? No, but when he admitted that he was a sinner in need of mercy, he was justified. Philippians 3--Paul doesn't say that he's not righteous; he just says that he could not have achieved righteousness on his own, but that he is pressing on toward complete holiness. I have no disagreement with that. Rom. 3--In their unjustified state, no one is righteous. But, thank God, when one is born from above they are made righteous, not just had righteousness imputed to them. Romans 7--There are so many different interpretations of this passage that I'm not going to use it to prove one doctrine over another. I can only read it in the light of the general message of Scripture and Paul's particular teachings on holiness elsewhere. I think it is fair to say that Paul was not always sanctified. I don't read verse 25 ff. to say that we must always have a leaning toward sin. I'm not arguing against the phrase "sinner saved by grace"; I don't think the concept exists in the NT. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~