More and more, God teaches me things that sometimes it takes me a while to figure out. I guess I am a little thick skulled! When we are hit with things like sickness that might take our life, or the life of a loved one, what is the meaning sometimes if that person is a believer, and why would God choose a faithful servant to suffer pain and agony only to die within two years? Even being a follower of Jesus for the past 18 years, I still ask these questions, and it is hard to see it happen.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, my Gramps has been diagnosed with bone cancer, far advanced, and it has made the bones in his back so brittle that his spine has some fractures. He has been in intense pain and not very lucid because of it. The doctors said that they could slow or stop the cancer, but not cure it and it would take his life within two years. He is unable to have surgery to fix his back and will have to wear a back brace for the rest of his life. Again I asked why would this happen?
Thank God for my beautiful wife. I heard her explaining to my daughter about why Gramps is going through such a trial. Since Gramps has been diagnosed, my Dad has moved back from AZ to be at his side during this. Some of his other siblings are followers of Jesus, but my dad is not. My wife said that now the people who don't know Jesus get a front row seat to see God's power at work, and to have the best chance to fully understand it. And what has happened? The doctors have seen, and have said "miraculous" progress. Gramps has been eating, walking around and will be going home after his last radiation treatment this week! Praise God for this, and for showing His power in a way that others who do not know Him personally to now see Jesus for who he is and can be in their lives. Gramps still has a long hard road ahead of chemo treatments and still much pain, but it is a miracle that he has progressed this far from when the prognosis first came.
Maybe through all this, even I might come to understand and accept that His way is the best way, and His plans are to prosper us and give us hope for the future. I still have lots to learn, and it will be a fun class, but I know there will be some tough times of learning ahead. I thought maybe I had learned enough to get by, but Jesus is not finished with me yet! What a great God we serve!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Spiritual Warfare Hits Home
We expect the enemy to attack us here. Many times missionaries in other countries are hit with terrible persecution, sickness and sometimes even worse. We thought that spiritual warfare would attack us head on while here, and we were ready. But things are happening back home more than they are here, and it has hit us more where it hurts.
My wife's grandfather has been battling complications from a stroke he had last year. While she was able to visit him before we left for the field, his condition has worsened since we arrived and he is now getting full time care. It is hard on my wife, as she is wanting to be there, but she knows we have been called here and to stay the course. We have had other things happen among our family and friends since leaving, which grieves us more than if they were happening to us. The retired pastor of our home church as recently lapsed into full alzheimer's, where he cannot remember anything or anyone around him, and has been admitted to an assisted living facility where he will be safe. Most recent, my grandfather, has been having much back pain, so much so that he could not get out of bed. Just the other day he was admitted to the hospital because of the intense pain was not subsiding at all. We found out that he has bone cancer up and down his spinal column and also on the base of his skull. My grandmother and the rest of the family is having a hard time seeing him in such intense pain. This has really hit home for us, as now my dad's family has gathered together for support, and I cannot be there.
The enemy takes great delight in our suffering and the suffering of the ones closest to us. This suffering comes under counting the cost of being a disciple. Many times we find ourselves out in village areas wondering where we will sleep, which brings to mind Luke 9:58. But now we find ourselves worried about loved ones, and ask the question "Why are we here?" Don't get me wrong, we are not questioning our call, in fact there is nothing I would rather be doing. I am encouraged by the words of Jesus again in Luke 9:60- Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their own dead but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." I thank God for His word, in times of trouble and sorrow, He has always been there, always kept His promise to love me and provide for me and protect me and encourage me and never forsake me. His word is truth, and I will proclaim the kingdom of God to the nations, no matter what the enemy can try to hit us with, until God tells me one of two things- It is finished, or well done good and faithful servant.
My wife's grandfather has been battling complications from a stroke he had last year. While she was able to visit him before we left for the field, his condition has worsened since we arrived and he is now getting full time care. It is hard on my wife, as she is wanting to be there, but she knows we have been called here and to stay the course. We have had other things happen among our family and friends since leaving, which grieves us more than if they were happening to us. The retired pastor of our home church as recently lapsed into full alzheimer's, where he cannot remember anything or anyone around him, and has been admitted to an assisted living facility where he will be safe. Most recent, my grandfather, has been having much back pain, so much so that he could not get out of bed. Just the other day he was admitted to the hospital because of the intense pain was not subsiding at all. We found out that he has bone cancer up and down his spinal column and also on the base of his skull. My grandmother and the rest of the family is having a hard time seeing him in such intense pain. This has really hit home for us, as now my dad's family has gathered together for support, and I cannot be there.
The enemy takes great delight in our suffering and the suffering of the ones closest to us. This suffering comes under counting the cost of being a disciple. Many times we find ourselves out in village areas wondering where we will sleep, which brings to mind Luke 9:58. But now we find ourselves worried about loved ones, and ask the question "Why are we here?" Don't get me wrong, we are not questioning our call, in fact there is nothing I would rather be doing. I am encouraged by the words of Jesus again in Luke 9:60- Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their own dead but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." I thank God for His word, in times of trouble and sorrow, He has always been there, always kept His promise to love me and provide for me and protect me and encourage me and never forsake me. His word is truth, and I will proclaim the kingdom of God to the nations, no matter what the enemy can try to hit us with, until God tells me one of two things- It is finished, or well done good and faithful servant.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Future Evangelist for South Asia
God continues to show me things that I would never have expected to see. This past weekend, my team-mate and I traveled north about 9 hours to a place where we were to give our training to some local church planters. Things went pretty much as normal, but one thing really stood out to me. While we sat and ate breakfast one morning with some of the local believers in this village area, a 12 year old boy became very close to us. He is a believer (I'll call him K.K.) and he followed us everywhere. Even though we traveled by car around the area, he showed up beside the car ready to hang out with us no matter where we went. I was told that his father had died, and all he had was his older brother and the local church planter to take care of him. He is a good looking kid, always greeting us with a smile and a joy that only the Lord Himself could fill him with. He watched our every move, smiling every time we looked his way. He carried a bible in his language, wrapped in a home-made paper wrap (like those ones we used to cover our text-books in school with) and also kept it in a type of zip-loc bag for protection. We could tell this bible was very important to him by the way he protected it. I asked him, in my best attempt at his language that I have been learning, if he was reading his bible. He said yes. Later, as we exchanged some words in our own languages by pointing to objects, I decided to give him a bible verse to memorize (2 Timothy 3:16). I expected him to just listen to it and nod yes that he would read the verse. Right then he opened his bible, and to my amazement, the pages were full of underlined verses. He also had a notebook which he promptly pulled out and wrote down the verse I had given him and then underlined it in his bible. WOW, 12 going on 30 maybe? This young man showed me spiritual maturity that I had only acheived 7 years ago, when this young man was only 5! I also told him the Roman Road passages (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10, & 10:13), and that these were important verses to memorize for when he was somewhere and did not have his bible. This way he could share the salvation of Jesus with someone from memory. By seeing him, I believe that he will memorize them, and much more than that. During our training, instead of sitting in the back and fidgiting and daydreaming like you would expect a young boy to do, K.K. sat up front and hung on every word that we taught, reading passages out loud when we called for someone to read and frantically taking notes as the teaching went on. I was so impressed how God is working among the people of this area, even this young 0ne, that I had to tell this story. Please pray for K.K. as he moves on in his young life to be a strong leader for the Lord in this area of South Asia. I pray for the Lord to use him in a mighty way to move the people not only of his village but his whole state some day.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Persons of Peace and God's Plan
We recently had a couple of guys visit us from one of our prayer partner churches. One of the ways we use volunteer teams here is to visit some villages who have never heard the Gospel before and we share with them and give them an opportunity to accept the gift of Salvation of Jesus. We follow Jesus' example of finding the person of peace in that village, but what does that person look like?
The first day, we planned to go to some villages and give gospl presentations. However, God had it raining a lot that day while we drove to the area. We knew that this was a problem for where we were going because the roads would be muddy and treacherous and no one would come out for anything in the rain, even to hear good news. So we let God lead us to an area that had a paved road and got out to find the person of peace. As we walked and greeted those in their homes looking out at us, the rain subsided and we were able to stay dry. A lady inside her home asked us what we were doing, and then invited us in for tea. As we sat and accepted her hospitality, her son came in to visit with us as well as his three children. While we drank tea, the leader of our group asked if he could share a story about his life. He shared his testimony and then asked if he could share with them the good news that changed his life. The son was wide eyed and nodded yes. The mother, who was a widow, began to figit some. At the end of the salvation presentation, he asked if they would receive the salvation. The son said that he would, but the mother was opposed. She said that since they were poor that if Jesus would help them financially and show them his power this way that she would believe. Please pray for this household and especially this woman that she would see that the truth is what she needs and that God will provide all her needs. We gave the son a bible so that he could read further about the truth.
The son then took us through the village. As we passed through, we came to the house of a very large and elaborate house. My first thought was that this house and the people inside are completely unapproachable. It looked totally out of place among the other houses that were crumbling. We walked further and saw the place where the son worked. He was working at a tobacco selling stand. He apologized and seemed embarrassed that he worked there, but explained that it was the only work he could do. God will work on his heart in this area as well, because most men who work these stands use the products they sell.
We then started back towards our house, as a crowd was beginning to form near us, but just out of curiosity. We were told that it had been 30 years since any foriegners had been to this place, and that was as survey team who was coming through the state. WOW! We were walking past the wealthy man's home, when the son, who now was our guide for the village, walked up to the house and knocked. We did not know what was happening, but the next thing we knew we were all sitting in this man's living room sharing tea and stories! This man and his wife have lived here all their lives, and obviously have much influence in this village. He was very gracious and engaging and very happy that we were there to visit. We shared the gospel with him and got into a friendly debate with him. He said that all religions and beliefs lead to heaven. That there were many roads to heaven and any one that you choose would take you there if you were obedient. He knew of Satan and we asked if the road of Satan lead to heaven. After a thought, he said no, so we told him that all ways do not lead to heaven. All this debate was very friendly, and there was no harsh words spoken. Obviously this was the man of peace and influence in the community that God lead us to that day. We gave he and his family bibles, got his contact number for future visits and then went on our way praising God for this encounter. This may not sound like a successful visit, but that wealthy and influential man is very important in this village. He is not opposed to Jesus and His way, so the door has been opened and Gospel seeds planted in this village for the future. This is a win-win situation. If the man accepts Jesus, many people in the village will follow his lead. Even if he does not accept, he may be open to holding gospel sharing meetings in his home with other people, and if there is ever a problem while we come back, we have made a friend among the people and we will probably not be bothered. Pray for this first contact and the man of peace, that peace will fall on his house and he and his family will read the Word of God and find the truth.
Thank you Lord for showing us Your plan, when it seemed we had our own plans in mind that day.
The first day, we planned to go to some villages and give gospl presentations. However, God had it raining a lot that day while we drove to the area. We knew that this was a problem for where we were going because the roads would be muddy and treacherous and no one would come out for anything in the rain, even to hear good news. So we let God lead us to an area that had a paved road and got out to find the person of peace. As we walked and greeted those in their homes looking out at us, the rain subsided and we were able to stay dry. A lady inside her home asked us what we were doing, and then invited us in for tea. As we sat and accepted her hospitality, her son came in to visit with us as well as his three children. While we drank tea, the leader of our group asked if he could share a story about his life. He shared his testimony and then asked if he could share with them the good news that changed his life. The son was wide eyed and nodded yes. The mother, who was a widow, began to figit some. At the end of the salvation presentation, he asked if they would receive the salvation. The son said that he would, but the mother was opposed. She said that since they were poor that if Jesus would help them financially and show them his power this way that she would believe. Please pray for this household and especially this woman that she would see that the truth is what she needs and that God will provide all her needs. We gave the son a bible so that he could read further about the truth.
The son then took us through the village. As we passed through, we came to the house of a very large and elaborate house. My first thought was that this house and the people inside are completely unapproachable. It looked totally out of place among the other houses that were crumbling. We walked further and saw the place where the son worked. He was working at a tobacco selling stand. He apologized and seemed embarrassed that he worked there, but explained that it was the only work he could do. God will work on his heart in this area as well, because most men who work these stands use the products they sell.
We then started back towards our house, as a crowd was beginning to form near us, but just out of curiosity. We were told that it had been 30 years since any foriegners had been to this place, and that was as survey team who was coming through the state. WOW! We were walking past the wealthy man's home, when the son, who now was our guide for the village, walked up to the house and knocked. We did not know what was happening, but the next thing we knew we were all sitting in this man's living room sharing tea and stories! This man and his wife have lived here all their lives, and obviously have much influence in this village. He was very gracious and engaging and very happy that we were there to visit. We shared the gospel with him and got into a friendly debate with him. He said that all religions and beliefs lead to heaven. That there were many roads to heaven and any one that you choose would take you there if you were obedient. He knew of Satan and we asked if the road of Satan lead to heaven. After a thought, he said no, so we told him that all ways do not lead to heaven. All this debate was very friendly, and there was no harsh words spoken. Obviously this was the man of peace and influence in the community that God lead us to that day. We gave he and his family bibles, got his contact number for future visits and then went on our way praising God for this encounter. This may not sound like a successful visit, but that wealthy and influential man is very important in this village. He is not opposed to Jesus and His way, so the door has been opened and Gospel seeds planted in this village for the future. This is a win-win situation. If the man accepts Jesus, many people in the village will follow his lead. Even if he does not accept, he may be open to holding gospel sharing meetings in his home with other people, and if there is ever a problem while we come back, we have made a friend among the people and we will probably not be bothered. Pray for this first contact and the man of peace, that peace will fall on his house and he and his family will read the Word of God and find the truth.
Thank you Lord for showing us Your plan, when it seemed we had our own plans in mind that day.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Why Pray for the South Asia People?
We have the privilege of hosting a couple of guys from a church back home. They have arrived today and are here to know how to better partner in prayer with us for the people living here. There is so much lostness here, but what is sad is that being here and the busy-ness of our life here so far has numbed our senses to some of that lostness. Today, as we took the two guys out to a place of idol worship, I was deeply moved as I tried to explain what goes on in the
se areas. So many rituals, so many different ways the people are trying to call out to God, so many places of worship and the priests who "speak" to the gods for the people at these temples. It was the first time in 
a long time my heart was moved for the lostness around us. It was overwhelming, and I began to weep. I wondered what some of the nationals looking at me were thinking. "Is he weeping for a dead relative?" (since we were standing at a place of cremation). I also think that knowing that our visitors were seeing these sights for the first time made me think of the first time I saw them.
se areas. So many rituals, so many different ways the people are trying to call out to God, so many places of worship and the priests who "speak" to the gods for the people at these temples. It was the first time in 
a long time my heart was moved for the lostness around us. It was overwhelming, and I began to weep. I wondered what some of the nationals looking at me were thinking. "Is he weeping for a dead relative?" (since we were standing at a place of cremation). I also think that knowing that our visitors were seeing these sights for the first time made me think of the first time I saw them. One way to pray for the people of South Asia is to pray that they find no peace in their many ways of worship, and that they seek another way; The Only Way. In the next 
couple of days, us and the two guys from back home will travel around our state to share the gospel, or sow seed. We will also prayer walk a major temple here. Pray that we have interested and curious onlookers who are also persons of peace. Ones that will be open to the Gospel.
South Asia needs prayer! Prepare the soil with prayer and that soil will be ready for the seed of the Gospel!
couple of days, us and the two guys from back home will travel around our state to share the gospel, or sow seed. We will also prayer walk a major temple here. Pray that we have interested and curious onlookers who are also persons of peace. Ones that will be open to the Gospel. South Asia needs prayer! Prepare the soil with prayer and that soil will be ready for the seed of the Gospel!
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