I had to spell check that word to make sure it was right. But I came up with a different meaning than what I had intended. Unfortunately this isn't going to be a hugely spiritually significant post on a life lesson learned. It's 130 in the morning and I leave in about 5 hours for South Africa so thoughts and ideas are slightly scattered. I kind of just finished packing...
Usually before I travel I cut my hair pretty short, so right now the gristle refers to the feeling of the short freshly cut hair, maybe it should be the bristle... Perhaps due to lack of adequate sleep my mind has settled on a word that shouldn't be used.
Being in Southern Africa always hits you with so many emotions. The helplessness, the overwhelming feeling of inadequacy, the anger and frustration at how so many children's innocence is stolen. It's hard to describe driving through places where you know the children's life expectancy is only about 30 years. It's frustrating trying to answer secondary student's questions about HIV/ AIDS. A disease that is honestly and literally going to cause some of their countries to be extinct if behavior doesn't change.
And somehow I'm supposed to prepare 14 young people to be ready to face these situations for the next three months.
In Africa AIDS is destroying the nations, in America materialism is corrupting our thinking and our priorities.
The gristle is that it's so easy for us to not even take five minutes to pray for God's Justice and His hand to rescue those in need.
I'm going to post this now, and someday soon I'll probably go back and read it and edit it... trying to make sense of what I was thinking... or not thinking... the gristle.
Thanks for reading
9.01.2007
8.01.2007
Let darkness pass by
I went to a mall today. Filled with moms and dads and kids and teenagers. Tables of sales and shoes and phones and clothing; two food courts and multiple levels of consumerism. Plenty to be bought and browsed and looked at and desired. Strollers and people holding hands, shopping bags filled with the latest accessories and must haves. I went to a mall today where I found myself one of only five other pale faces that I counted as darkness passed by.
This mall is in a Muslim dominated country. The women here wear a head covering as part of their work uniform. Fitted neatly to their head and color coordinated to the uniform they wear, it’s an overwhelming sight. Yet my eyes are drawn to another crowd as I walk the lanes of the busy mall. You see there are many other visitors here like me; they are people who don’t belong in this country as well. And they come from places I’ll probably never be able to reach them at.
Every year thousands of college students leave their families to study abroad. Every year they come to places not their own. They come seeking a better life, a better education and Truth. The problem is that they will be indoctrinated into a knowledge system based on a theory that claims we’re here by random chance giving our lives no meaning and no purpose. Yet there is another belief system claiming life does have meaning and they have a Father who cares about them. The problem being they have no one to tell them.
As I walked the lanes of the mall ladies young and old are hidden behind a veil of darkness. Coming from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, U.A.E., and other places where Islam has blinded them from the Truth about the meaning of their lives. And I feel helpless, as I can’t do anything about it. I stand absolutely stunned as I realize they stand right before me living in places that I will never be able to get to. Yet they come here looking for happiness in a shopping bag.
There are some interesting facts about college students in the U.S. Many of them come from places around the world. In fact according to some estimates:
“The 2006 Open Doors report was released this week, showing that the overall number of international students in the US has held steady from last year, at about 565,000…”
Do we see the numbers there? It seems that when we “can’t” get to some countries because of religious or political reasons, God brings the people to us. He brings them right to our door, or next-door if you live near a University; and then He gives us an opportunity to reveal Christ to a people group that may have been closed off to the Gospel. Think about it, there are students living, eating, shopping and going to school right next to you that have no family, friends or community around them they are familiar with. When we don’t go to them, God brings them to us.
I wanted to walk through the mall today handing out Books of Hope to all the visitors. Laws made by men prevent me from being able to do that. My heart aches knowing I can never share with them the Truth they are seeking. I want to go back to the mall and just sit and start conversations with people and let God lead. I want to go back and hear where people are from and what they’re doing here and see God work. I want them to be able to go back home with stories of an encounter with their creator and not new clothes to show off.
The article I referenced earlier went on to say this:
US States with the Most International Students
California 75,385
New York 64,283
Texas 46,869
Massachusetts 28,007
Florida 26,058
Leading Countries of Origin
India 76,503
China 62,582
Korea 58,847
Japan 38,712
Canada 28,202
Again, interesting to note that the two most populous countries in the world, the two with some of the most influential markets and economies of the world are sending young people to us. Interesting to think about how many times during those four years they’ll get to sit down with an average American family and be listened to and fed and told the Truth about a God who crafted them with a purpose and plan for their lives.
We don’t have to go far to find people who need to know about Christ. In fact we can be people who not only support missionaries by praying and financially giving, we can also be people who change the course of lives and send them back as missionaries to the villages, towns, communities and families they left in their countries. Places we may never go.
I want to reach into the dark places of the world to change people’s lives. Sometimes all that means is stepping into the lives of one of their young people. Find out who they are. Invited them to dinner one night a month. Listen to their hearts. Send them back as missionaries. Let the darkness pass by and return with the light. Here’s how you start:
“Hello. Where are you from?”
Thanks for reading...
Referenced from: http://www.internationalfinancialaidblog.com/2006/11/number-of-international-students-in-us.html
This mall is in a Muslim dominated country. The women here wear a head covering as part of their work uniform. Fitted neatly to their head and color coordinated to the uniform they wear, it’s an overwhelming sight. Yet my eyes are drawn to another crowd as I walk the lanes of the busy mall. You see there are many other visitors here like me; they are people who don’t belong in this country as well. And they come from places I’ll probably never be able to reach them at.
Every year thousands of college students leave their families to study abroad. Every year they come to places not their own. They come seeking a better life, a better education and Truth. The problem is that they will be indoctrinated into a knowledge system based on a theory that claims we’re here by random chance giving our lives no meaning and no purpose. Yet there is another belief system claiming life does have meaning and they have a Father who cares about them. The problem being they have no one to tell them.
As I walked the lanes of the mall ladies young and old are hidden behind a veil of darkness. Coming from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, U.A.E., and other places where Islam has blinded them from the Truth about the meaning of their lives. And I feel helpless, as I can’t do anything about it. I stand absolutely stunned as I realize they stand right before me living in places that I will never be able to get to. Yet they come here looking for happiness in a shopping bag.
There are some interesting facts about college students in the U.S. Many of them come from places around the world. In fact according to some estimates:
“The 2006 Open Doors report was released this week, showing that the overall number of international students in the US has held steady from last year, at about 565,000…”
Do we see the numbers there? It seems that when we “can’t” get to some countries because of religious or political reasons, God brings the people to us. He brings them right to our door, or next-door if you live near a University; and then He gives us an opportunity to reveal Christ to a people group that may have been closed off to the Gospel. Think about it, there are students living, eating, shopping and going to school right next to you that have no family, friends or community around them they are familiar with. When we don’t go to them, God brings them to us.
I wanted to walk through the mall today handing out Books of Hope to all the visitors. Laws made by men prevent me from being able to do that. My heart aches knowing I can never share with them the Truth they are seeking. I want to go back to the mall and just sit and start conversations with people and let God lead. I want to go back and hear where people are from and what they’re doing here and see God work. I want them to be able to go back home with stories of an encounter with their creator and not new clothes to show off.
The article I referenced earlier went on to say this:
US States with the Most International Students
California 75,385
New York 64,283
Texas 46,869
Massachusetts 28,007
Florida 26,058
Leading Countries of Origin
India 76,503
China 62,582
Korea 58,847
Japan 38,712
Canada 28,202
Again, interesting to note that the two most populous countries in the world, the two with some of the most influential markets and economies of the world are sending young people to us. Interesting to think about how many times during those four years they’ll get to sit down with an average American family and be listened to and fed and told the Truth about a God who crafted them with a purpose and plan for their lives.
We don’t have to go far to find people who need to know about Christ. In fact we can be people who not only support missionaries by praying and financially giving, we can also be people who change the course of lives and send them back as missionaries to the villages, towns, communities and families they left in their countries. Places we may never go.
I want to reach into the dark places of the world to change people’s lives. Sometimes all that means is stepping into the lives of one of their young people. Find out who they are. Invited them to dinner one night a month. Listen to their hearts. Send them back as missionaries. Let the darkness pass by and return with the light. Here’s how you start:
“Hello. Where are you from?”
Thanks for reading...
Referenced from: http://www.internationalfinancialaidblog.com/2006/11/number-of-international-students-in-us.html
6.12.2007
The Addiction
I cross a border today. One I crossed once before a few months ago. There is a misguided allure and an intrigue about living this kind of life. Filling up a passport with stamps from new countries is always a rush. The feeling of hearing about the next country you’ll be visiting or the layovers in far off places is always a kind of high, especially if you’ve never been there before. There is something unmistakable about returning home only to receive you’re next shipping out date. This addiction is a hard one to break.
Two weeks ago today, I stood in front of 140 Secondary students in Northern Ireland and spoke truth into their lives. The room was absolutely silent as I explained that they must take into account that their lives and choices matter. Their eyes fixated as I told them it is no mistake they are here, that they were created with purpose and intention. As the presentation ended we opened the time for questions and answers. In reality, the presentation was over and we were ready to pack up, the teacher however, didn’t want to let the students out into the hallways. The students somewhat hesitant at first, soon began voicing their wonderings. A hand in the back shot up. He was one of the older students, shaved head, his uniform in order. I thought he’d ask a simple question about what we thought of Northern Ireland. Instead “What’s your story?” He asked.
During the last six years there are certain moments that feed the addiction to what I do. There are presentations or testimonies or encounters that fuel the need to continue. A chance meeting on a bus with a young man looking for God. A teacher approaches you after a presentation and through her tears she hugs you and thanks you for sharing your story and promises to use the Book of Hope to teach her students. Laughter from a room full of primary school students wanting to be loved, laughter in an all boys secondary school, the students wanting to be believed in. Moments that will freeze in your mind and in your memories and continue to create the desire to commit another six years. The addiction.
I shared my story that afternoon in Northern Ireland. The room sat still as I explained life circumstances, a single-parent home, choosing to wait until I’m married, growing up in church and having to make my own choice about my parents religion. When I finished, something happened that I’ve rarely seen. The students clapped. Not because someone on our team started it and the students joined in. Not because of an awkward silence and certainly not because of my incredible abilities. Simply because God was there. That is the addiction.
I left the school that day on a different level. God had fueled a passion and a desire that is unlike any other feeling in the entire world. Given that I haven’t tried everything else I still wouldn’t trade the absolute rush of knowing this is it. This is worth all the missed flights, asking people for money, lost luggage, haggling with taxi drivers, no home, no car, living from a suitcase. There is nothing glamorous about this. But I’d do it all again for those moments when God is there. He is the addiction.
Here at a small farm in South Africa I’ll leave today to lead five young people into a nation I’ve never been to before. I’ll do my best to lead and protect and disciple them during this next month of their lives. We’ve spent the last six days living and eating and practicing dramas together. We’ll depend upon each other and lean on each other and trust each other. We’ll feed the addiction together as we see God move in ways we could never dream or imagine. We drive today into Botswana from South Africa. Tomorrow we continue with a ten hour drive into Namibia where we’ll spend the time in schools presenting children with the Truth about who they are.
God is the addiction. And it’s worth it.
Two weeks ago today, I stood in front of 140 Secondary students in Northern Ireland and spoke truth into their lives. The room was absolutely silent as I explained that they must take into account that their lives and choices matter. Their eyes fixated as I told them it is no mistake they are here, that they were created with purpose and intention. As the presentation ended we opened the time for questions and answers. In reality, the presentation was over and we were ready to pack up, the teacher however, didn’t want to let the students out into the hallways. The students somewhat hesitant at first, soon began voicing their wonderings. A hand in the back shot up. He was one of the older students, shaved head, his uniform in order. I thought he’d ask a simple question about what we thought of Northern Ireland. Instead “What’s your story?” He asked.
During the last six years there are certain moments that feed the addiction to what I do. There are presentations or testimonies or encounters that fuel the need to continue. A chance meeting on a bus with a young man looking for God. A teacher approaches you after a presentation and through her tears she hugs you and thanks you for sharing your story and promises to use the Book of Hope to teach her students. Laughter from a room full of primary school students wanting to be loved, laughter in an all boys secondary school, the students wanting to be believed in. Moments that will freeze in your mind and in your memories and continue to create the desire to commit another six years. The addiction.
I shared my story that afternoon in Northern Ireland. The room sat still as I explained life circumstances, a single-parent home, choosing to wait until I’m married, growing up in church and having to make my own choice about my parents religion. When I finished, something happened that I’ve rarely seen. The students clapped. Not because someone on our team started it and the students joined in. Not because of an awkward silence and certainly not because of my incredible abilities. Simply because God was there. That is the addiction.
I left the school that day on a different level. God had fueled a passion and a desire that is unlike any other feeling in the entire world. Given that I haven’t tried everything else I still wouldn’t trade the absolute rush of knowing this is it. This is worth all the missed flights, asking people for money, lost luggage, haggling with taxi drivers, no home, no car, living from a suitcase. There is nothing glamorous about this. But I’d do it all again for those moments when God is there. He is the addiction.
Here at a small farm in South Africa I’ll leave today to lead five young people into a nation I’ve never been to before. I’ll do my best to lead and protect and disciple them during this next month of their lives. We’ve spent the last six days living and eating and practicing dramas together. We’ll depend upon each other and lean on each other and trust each other. We’ll feed the addiction together as we see God move in ways we could never dream or imagine. We drive today into Botswana from South Africa. Tomorrow we continue with a ten hour drive into Namibia where we’ll spend the time in schools presenting children with the Truth about who they are.
God is the addiction. And it’s worth it.
4.04.2007
Forty
About forty minutes ago I sat in a small living room in an apartment on the third floor in a small India village. I sat in the honored guest’s seat, so I sat on the only piece of furniture in the room. Twenty-seven other people were also there; most sitting on small carpets or straw mats on the floor. Forty minutes ago I was charged with the task of motivating, explaining and informing the small church about the importance of children’s ministry and the purpose of Book of Hope. As I worked through my introduction and our mission statement I paused as I repeated these words, “It is our responsibility to tell children God loves them and Jesus is worthy of our praise”.
During the past week we’ve spent time with pastors and area coordinators challenging them to think differently about children’s ministry and how important it is. It’s important to understand that if we don’t put God’s word into the hearts and minds of the children, someone else will put something else there. There are over four hundred and twenty million children in India. There is a lack of material intended to reach children. Children are the most receptive to the Gospel. Forty minutes ago I looked into the eyes of the people who will first-hand tell children how much God loves them.
In the Indian context it is difficult to separate Jesus and the one true God from the multitudes of other religions. With millions of god’s in the Hindu religion Jesus becomes just another face among the others. What makes Him different or unique when there are other god’s promising prosperity, happiness, peace, long-life, fertility and other temporary fixes to our ailments? You need not drive far to find a shrine or a temple dedicated to a statue that will never heal, help or listen to your needs. These places of worship are visited daily by the masses. A small prayer or flowers or money is left to try and gain approval from the statue. Somehow in some way these rituals bring false hope that somehow the action of obedience and reverence will improve life. What is it that separates the story of Jesus Christ from the millions of other god’s? What is it that makes the story of Christianity so different than any other religion? The difference is that God sent Christ to return us to Him. God is reaching down to all who are willing to come, the Shiva’s aren’t trying to reach down to any of us.
In Matthew 21 we read an interesting story about children and what they are taught. In verse six we read how Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem. Coats and palm branches are laid before Him. As the crowds are shouting His praise, He begins healing and setting people free. Soon the children begin shouting as well. They know who Jesus is because they hear others praising Him and they see His miracles. The children hear what others are saying and they join in the worship. The religious leaders and teachers are upset and angry about what’s happening. The Pharisee’s are upset that even the children are praising Him. Jesus defends and rebukes them, “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise”. The children were taught who He was and the praise He is due.
It always upsets me that the religious leaders and teachers didn’t even recognize who Jesus was. They were so caught up in their obedience to the law they were completely blinded when the fulfillment was right in front of them. I will never become a Pharisee. I will never tell people one thing and live another.
Our meeting tonight went well. The small church is excited to begin using the Book of Hope as a tool to reach the children in their communities. Each of the members will try to reach out to about 10 children each. This of course will also impact the families. As we prepared to leave I was struck by the thought that in one year this church may have to find a bigger house to meet in. Here, the children are being taught.
Forty minutes ago our car stopped at a light. A ten-year-old girl slowly approached the car. Her clothes were filthy. Even in the dim streetlight I could see she was dirty and malnourished. Her actions had obviously been repeated hundreds of times before. She slowly began wiping street dust from the windows of our car. After she finished she came to the window and tapped on it repeatedly. Putting her hand to her mouth as a sign to say she needed money for food. My mind and my heart battled. My mind tells me she’ll never see any of the money I give her. As soon as I hand it over someone older and much less needy will take it from her. My mind tells me that the money will never go to provide the food she desperately needs. What can I do? How much can I really help this little one? Are there any words that would break the lifestyle she lives in? While my mind tells me one thing, my heart breaks knowing she’s only trying to survive. The stillness in the vehicle marks the unease to which all four of us feel. We all sit in silence hoping the light will soon change, the traffic will begin moving and we can leave the whole situation behind us.
Forty-eight minutes ago I told 27 people they need to tell children God loves them and Jesus is worthy of our praise. Forty minutes ago I tried shifting my focus away from the hurting world this child lives in. Forty minutes ago I found myself a Pharisee.
During the past week we’ve spent time with pastors and area coordinators challenging them to think differently about children’s ministry and how important it is. It’s important to understand that if we don’t put God’s word into the hearts and minds of the children, someone else will put something else there. There are over four hundred and twenty million children in India. There is a lack of material intended to reach children. Children are the most receptive to the Gospel. Forty minutes ago I looked into the eyes of the people who will first-hand tell children how much God loves them.
In the Indian context it is difficult to separate Jesus and the one true God from the multitudes of other religions. With millions of god’s in the Hindu religion Jesus becomes just another face among the others. What makes Him different or unique when there are other god’s promising prosperity, happiness, peace, long-life, fertility and other temporary fixes to our ailments? You need not drive far to find a shrine or a temple dedicated to a statue that will never heal, help or listen to your needs. These places of worship are visited daily by the masses. A small prayer or flowers or money is left to try and gain approval from the statue. Somehow in some way these rituals bring false hope that somehow the action of obedience and reverence will improve life. What is it that separates the story of Jesus Christ from the millions of other god’s? What is it that makes the story of Christianity so different than any other religion? The difference is that God sent Christ to return us to Him. God is reaching down to all who are willing to come, the Shiva’s aren’t trying to reach down to any of us.
In Matthew 21 we read an interesting story about children and what they are taught. In verse six we read how Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem. Coats and palm branches are laid before Him. As the crowds are shouting His praise, He begins healing and setting people free. Soon the children begin shouting as well. They know who Jesus is because they hear others praising Him and they see His miracles. The children hear what others are saying and they join in the worship. The religious leaders and teachers are upset and angry about what’s happening. The Pharisee’s are upset that even the children are praising Him. Jesus defends and rebukes them, “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise”. The children were taught who He was and the praise He is due.
It always upsets me that the religious leaders and teachers didn’t even recognize who Jesus was. They were so caught up in their obedience to the law they were completely blinded when the fulfillment was right in front of them. I will never become a Pharisee. I will never tell people one thing and live another.
Our meeting tonight went well. The small church is excited to begin using the Book of Hope as a tool to reach the children in their communities. Each of the members will try to reach out to about 10 children each. This of course will also impact the families. As we prepared to leave I was struck by the thought that in one year this church may have to find a bigger house to meet in. Here, the children are being taught.
Forty minutes ago our car stopped at a light. A ten-year-old girl slowly approached the car. Her clothes were filthy. Even in the dim streetlight I could see she was dirty and malnourished. Her actions had obviously been repeated hundreds of times before. She slowly began wiping street dust from the windows of our car. After she finished she came to the window and tapped on it repeatedly. Putting her hand to her mouth as a sign to say she needed money for food. My mind and my heart battled. My mind tells me she’ll never see any of the money I give her. As soon as I hand it over someone older and much less needy will take it from her. My mind tells me that the money will never go to provide the food she desperately needs. What can I do? How much can I really help this little one? Are there any words that would break the lifestyle she lives in? While my mind tells me one thing, my heart breaks knowing she’s only trying to survive. The stillness in the vehicle marks the unease to which all four of us feel. We all sit in silence hoping the light will soon change, the traffic will begin moving and we can leave the whole situation behind us.
Forty-eight minutes ago I told 27 people they need to tell children God loves them and Jesus is worthy of our praise. Forty minutes ago I tried shifting my focus away from the hurting world this child lives in. Forty minutes ago I found myself a Pharisee.
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