Kids, youth, Christmas, mission, skiing, ...

We have a packed next few weeks ... and almost everything involves Betty Ann! She has been working very hard for what's coming up these next few weeks, and I encourage you to show her as much support as you can (helping out, words of encouragement, notes, participating in one of the fundraisers, and so on).

The children and youth will be teaching us the Christmas story on Sunday the 21st. I've read the script, and think that they have a very interesting story to bring to us. Also, please join us Christmas Eve at 6:00 PM for our annual Christmas Eve service. This year will be time of traditional carols and celebrating the valuable gift of God sending His Son to us.

The youth have a Christmas party / progressive dinner planned for Sunday night - thanks to all the families who have opened their homes for part of the meal.

On the 31st, many of our youth are leaving on their mission trip / ski trip. They are taking one day of their trip to pack nutritious meals for the hungry around the world, and then spending some time on the slopes for a good winter break.

As you can see, Betty Ann has her plate full! Please help lighten her load with prayer, encouragement, and helping out.

One important event outside of Betty Ann's direct leadership is the Angel Tree project. We are raising money again this Christmas to provide financial support for the teachers of the Friends of Christ orphanage in Ahero, Kenya. Please take one of the envelopes, prayerfully consider an amount to give, and then put it into the brown offering box. As money is raised, we add ornaments to the Christmas tree in the sanctuary - a bit of a reversal of our normal method of taking ornaments off of the tree as we support more.

Headship Questions, Part 4

Last week, I said that I should take a "cream puff" question about headship to give myself a break on these tough questions our men have put together. Well, so much for "cream puff" - this week's question is another doozy.

Question: If the wife takes action that is against the will of the covenant head, what should the response of the covenant head be to his wife?

This is one of the "real life" questions. The theory is understood, but in real life, things don't always go the way we studied about. In fact, things almost never go the way we study about.

Let's begin with the enormous assumption in this question - that the husband is doing a decent job of maintaining the covenant head responsibilities. If the husband is doing a miserable job upholding his role of leadership, then he has little to no right to focus on the wife failing in her role. Yes, faulty people can accurately assess what other faulty people should be doing, but in this particular case, we're talking about the covenant head, and unless he's providing some decent leadership, he forfeits his rights to insist on good follower-ship.

The wife's submission is submission to the husband's headship. (Recall our definition of submission: "A wife's submission is her commitment to the success of her husband as the covenant head.") She is responsible for this submission even when he's failing - she can be committed to his success whether or not he's committed to it. However, if the husband is failing in his role, I would say that he has no clout at all to insist on his wife fulfilling her role to submit to his non-existent leadership! She answers to the Lord for how she submits, but he of all people has no credibility to be the one to press her on the matter.

But if our assumption is correct, that the husband is doing a decent job, then we can explore what he should do when she still insists on rejecting her role to submit.

The man is instructed in Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her." This does not say, "Husbands, rule over your wives," or, "Husbands, make sure your wives submit like I told them to in verse 22." The man's headship does not mean that he tries to force the wive to fulfill her role. He is told to love her, and to love her in the same way that Jesus sacrificially loves the church. He is to love her even when she's not submitting, just like the wife is to be submitted to the husband's success as the covenant head, even when he's falling down on the job.

A man must answer this tough question by asking, "How does Jesus love the church when she doesn't follow His leadership?" We know this happens, so how does Jesus, the perfect Covenant Head, handle it? He never stops loving her, He never stops advocating on her behalf before the Father, He never stops providing leadership, He never leaves her nor forsakes her (Hebrews 13:5), and He never fails to offer God's Word. In other words, when the church refuses to follow His leadership, He provides more leadership! But He never forces her to submit against her will.

There were three things we said the covenant head does, and he needs to continue doing those things when the wife rebels.

1. Stand before God on behalf of the family, and stand before the family on behalf of God. Even when she rebels, the husband must be persistent in prayer, facing God and praying on behalf of his wife. He must also lovingly, gently make sure that God's Word is clearly provided. He does not beat her over the head with the Bible, but if she is unaware of the biblical teachings, he must make it available in an appropriate way. In effect, he is facing her on behalf of God.
2. Stand in the breech between danger and his wife. A wife who rejects godly leadership is facing dangers, physical, emotional, and spiritual. It may be by her own choosing, but the husband as the covenant head must provide as much protection as he can. He doesn't need to shield her from every consequence, but he must protect her from forces that would truly harm her. He cannot shrug his shoulders and pretend like he has no responsibility for her well-being.
3. Love his wife as Christ loves the church. This is the primary, unconditional, non-negotiable absolute of being a Christian husband. Our marriages are modeled after the relationship of Christ and the church, and there is no excuse we can offer to let men off the hook from loving their wives. This love is sacrificial, which means it will cost the man to love his wife. He will pay some of the price to restore her, and he should do so willingly. It is how Christ loves the church.

I recommend that you read the book of Hosea, which is a dramatic and prophetic picture from the Old Testament of how Jesus will continue to pursue the church even when she's wayward.

Perhaps the questioner (and the reader!) wants more of a "how to" than this. What are the steps? What can I do to bring my wife around? Men should remember that they do not have the capacity to make their wives "come around." So, rather than dwell on things we cannot accomplish, focus on these principles, and let God do God's work:

• Never stop providing covenant head leadership.
• Never stop loving your wife as Christ loves the church.

Headship Questions, Part 3

NOTE: This blog allows readers to make comments. You are more than welcome to make comments on any post, so long as you are respectful. You can even post a different conclusion, if you like. I only ask that whatever anyone posts (including me), that it is an honest effort to represent Scripture and is written in a spirit of kindness.

Let me continue with the series of questions about headship that were generated at the Men's Retreat. If you've missed parts 1 and 2, then scroll down or look in the archives to find those questions and answers.

The next questions is a toughie! If as covenant head I do everything to guard against danger and instruct the Word of God and my family still chooses to not follow the way they should, will God hold their disobedience against me?

This question arises from two theological thoughts that seem to be at odds with one another. One the one hand, we said in our series that the man stands before God doubly accountable - he is accountable for himself, as are all people, but as the Covenant Head, he is also accountable for the family. On the other hand, from what we know of God, it doesn't seem right to hold someone accountable for someone else's sin, especially if that person does everything he can to be a godly influence in the other person's life. These two ideas seem to conflict, and so we have an excellent, perceptive question.

My first reaction is to say, "Oh, no, God won't hold you accountable if you've done everything you can." That only seems fair and right.

But I have two problems with this response. First, it seems to unravel the entire idea of being doubly accountable, which is the foundation of our headship model. It certainly doesn't pack any punch to say that the man is doubly accountable for himself and the family ... as long as the family does well. That lacks any kind of significance.

Second, this answer doesn't fit with the example we've chosen to understand the principles of headship, namely Moses up on the mountain while the people of Israel committed the sin of the golden calf. Moses was not only completely innocent of the sin of the golden calf, but he was also occupied doing the exact thing God needed him to do in order to be the Covenant Head - he was up on the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments. You can't find a better model for our question: If as covenant head I do everything to guard against danger and instruct the Word of God and my family still chooses to not follow the way they should, will God hold their disobedience against me?

Moses was certainly doing everything he was supposed to do to guard and instruct, and they still chose to follow a different path (with Aaron, the "substitute Covenant Head", allowed them to do). And yet, Moses was still held accountable for the covenant group. God called on Moses to answer for them.

But, notice something very important in this story (Exodus 32). God laid the situation before Moses, starting in verse 7. In verse 10, God gives Moses an option: "Leave me alone, so that my anger may burn against them and I can destroy them." As we discussed in the series, God was putting before Moses two options: leave him alone (in other words, fail to stand up as the Covenant Head), or the second option, which was implied, don't leave him alone (in other words, stand up as the Covenant Head and intercede on behalf of the covenant group).

Moses was accountable for their sin, but God's offer was to mete out the punishment where the punishment was due - on the people, not Moses. As the Covenant Head, Moses would not pay the price of their sin, but he still was the one who was accountable to God - he answered to God even though they were the ones who sinned. Moses' did not say, "I've got nuthin' to do with this." Instead, he chose to be the Covenant Head and stand before God to represent the sinful people, advocating on their behalf (which he does starting in verse 31).

God will not make the Covenant Head pay for the sin of the family - each person is accountable to God for his own sin. But the Covenant Head is accountable in the sense that his responsibility is to advocate to God on behalf of the family and to advocate to the family on behalf of God. If they sin and he's perfectly innocent, he's not off the hook. He still has a seriously important responsibility to intercede, teach, lead, pray for, guide, coach, and correct. He has that unique set of responsibilities as the Covenant Head.

Also consider Christ as the Covenant Head. In this case, the Covenant Head did in fact pay the price of the sins of the covenant group. He was completely innocent. He had given us more than enough instruction and guidance. And yet we, the human race, still "did not follow the way that we should." And Jesus was the one accountable to God for our sin. In this case, the Covenant Head paid the price himself! But, of course, he chose to do so voluntarily. That's what's so amazing about this covenant!

So, men, you are not off the hook for the family's sin, even when you've done absolutely everything to be the Covenant Head (although, I seriously doubt a husband ever did absolutely everything he could to lead his family). That doesn't mean you pay for their sin, but it does mean you have a holy obligation before God when the family sins, even though you are virtually innocent.

This means that when the family sins, a real Covenant Head doesn't say, "I've got nuthin' to do with this." A real Covenant Head says, "I will stand."

Maybe in the next blog I'll pick a cream puff question to give myself a break!

Happy Thanksgiving!

May the Lord grant you all the joy of being thankful!

When you think about it, being thankful is a joy. Having a heart of gratitude is enjoyable! There is a great personal benefit from being thankful for someone else or for what someone has done. When we're thankful, we get a second gift. The first gift is whatever it is we're thankful for, and the second gift is the joy of being thankful.

If we see our response to God as an obligation, then we don't enjoy it so much ... and it's not really thanksgiving. Scripture does exhort us to be thankful, but it never has in mind a begrudging obligation. Scripture merely commands us to do what's truly enjoyable! We have been blessed in many ways - the most important, of course, is the free offer of salvation in Christ. Then, Scripture instructs us to enjoy being thankful for the blessings.

What a great 1-2 punch!

May the Lord grant you all the joy of being thankful!

Headship Questions, Part 2

Continuing on in our series of answering questions about "headship" that came out of our recent men's retreat...

Question 2: Does the definition of submission defined in the sermon create a license for the wife to do what she wants under the auspices of making her husband successful?

This question is based on the definition of submission that we used in the sermon series: A woman's submission is her commitment to the success of her husband in his role as the Covenant Head.

It took a few Sundays to develop this definition, and requires some understanding of the concept of headship in the first place. There's not enough space in this column to develop all that material again, so I refer you to the sermon series itself at http://dublinbiblechurch.org/sermons.html .  The example of Abigail was an extreme example in order to demonstrate the difference between submission and subjection. In that extreme example, Abigail made decisions that gave her husband the best chance to succeed, even if it meant doing something different than what he has already decided.

This question tests the limits of of the model. If women are to be committed to their husbands' success even to point of doing something other than what their husbands say, what's to stop her from just doing as she pleases, willfully disobeying her husband, and all the while claiming the excuse that she's just doing what she thinks is best for his success? Clearly, that is a concern.

Let's distinguish between the model and interpretation of the model. The model is that she is to be committed to her husband's success, not just what she interprets to be in his best interest. If she is truly committed to his real success as the Covenant Head, she is by definition not going take this model as license to do as she pleases. "Doing as she pleases" is neither a commitment to her husband's success nor submission. So, just by definition, she can't truly submit according to the model and use the model to do whatever she wants.

But the practical question is: How can we avoid her abusing the definition and turning it into license? Of course, wanting to "make her" live according to the model comes from an attitude of lording over her, rather than leading her. So, husbands can't "make her" live by the model at all. There must be a different way to help her avoid abusing her role.

The way to avoid the abuse comes down to the wife humbly adopting the biblical model in truth, and not just as a cover to doing as she pleases. This model puts a hefty responsibility on both husband and wife, and we experience problems when either one of them either abuses the responsibilities or just ignores them.

Some will say that we shouldn't teach this model if we can't stop women from abusing the definitions. It's too dangerous, and women might just start doing whatever they want, they say. But just because people might abuse the biblical model doesn't mean we shouldn't teach the biblical model. We don't want to teach a less-than-biblical model just because someone might abuse the truly biblical model.

Furthermore, where are the controls to prevent men from abusing their end of the model? Should we not teach headship if some men will abuse that definition to do as they please? Even if men can abuse their responsibilities, we teach the biblical ideal. The same should hold true for women. What will keep men inside the model is the same thing that will keep women inside the model - humble submission to the Lord and to His definitions of husband and wife.

I must reiterate a point made in the sermon - the cases where the woman actually has to "go Abigail" on her husband and defy his words in order to submit to his success are rare. This is not an option that women need to resort to often. There are many, many options of finding resolutions to problems before the wife is cornered into following Abigail's extreme example. 

They may even be times when the wife needs to avoid "going Abigail" on an issue even if she is clearly right and he is clearly wrong, simply because the "Abigail option" always comes with a price in the relationship. That price may be too high to pay for situations that are not crucial. In Abigail's case, it was a matter of life and death. The level of danger warranted the price of going against the husband's will. However, if the matter is about how much to spend on Christmas presents, the outcome is likely not so crucial that the price of taking the "Abigail option" is worth it.

This model is not a license for women. But it does show that the position of submission is a very important, responsible position that requires a lot of wisdom and humility. Rather than shield women away from their responsibility because they might abuse it, we should empower them to the fullest extent of Scripture - just like we should do for men.

Men, there's only one sure way to avoid having your wife need to "go Abigail" on you. Lead with integrity in a way that serves your family's best interests, according to the biblical model. The only time wives need the "Abigail option" is when we're making decisions that contribute to our failure as the covenant head. Simply make decisions that work for your success as the covenant head, and you will have created the best, most effective safeguard you can against your wife exercising license inappropriately.

Headship Questions, Part 1

At the Men's Retreat last weekend, we generated nearly 50 questions related to the concept of the covenant head and ezer, based on our recent sermon series on being "Men and Women of God." There were a lot of excellent, important questions. There was not nearly enough time to answer all of them. Clearly, the series generated more questions than it answered! The challenge, now, is for us to find the best format to discuss these questions in a way that is most accessible to all the men of DBC. One of those ways will be to discuss a few questions at a time as a Colonnade article / blog.

One of the questions was: When a couple reaches a point of disagreement and there is no way to reach an agreement - at that point, does the wife yield her will to the covenant head?

This is a natural question to flow out of our topic. It is a question we discussed in the Youth Sunday School several weeks ago, and something that our small group also pondered one night.

Let's set up the scenario for purposes of discussion:

• There's a family decision to be made that's important and affects the whole family.
• There are only two choices: "A" and "B". There is no compromise "C" in this scenario. (Clearly, reaching a compromise when possible is very desirable, but I'm taking that possibility out of this picture in order to answer the root question.)
• The husband thinks that "A" is the best option. The wife thinks that "B" is the best option.
• The couple has sought a solution in prayer, through wise counselors, in Scripture, and so on. In other words, they have already done all the things that you're supposed to do in order to make a big decision, and yet they still have different opinions.
• Both have the same level of conviction. It's not like he's 51% sure and she's 99% sure.
  

OK, now that the scenario is set, how do we reach a decision between "A" and "B"?

One possibility is to go with what the husband thinks. After all, he's the covenant head, he's the "tie breaker", and he's the one who answers to God on behalf of the entire family.

Another possibility is to abdicate the husband's responsibility and just go with whatever the wife wants - in this case, "B." Wouldn't that just be easier in the long run? Besides, guys are pretty adaptable to different situations, aren't they?

A third possibility is to do something random, such as flip a coin. The apostles cast lots in order to replace Judas Iscariot, for example.

You might be surprised that I think that the third possibility is the best of the three. But there's a better answer.

The key to understanding this, as one of our own youth so astutely observed, is the fact that the husband will stand before God responsible for the decision. But, this does not automatically mean that we go with option "A" !!! Just because he's accountable doesn't mean that he should choose his own favorite idea. His position before God does not automatically translate to going with his opinion.

What this means is that the buck stops with him, and the decision is his responsibility. He must see to it that "A" or "B" is chosen, and he answers for it. But he is free to choose either "A" or "B", and to bear the consequences of that choice.

No matter what he chooses, however, that decision now becomes his favorite. If he chooses "A", then that's now his favorite (not hard to do - it was his idea!). If he chooses "B", then that becomes his favorite. It becomes his decision and the family's decision, not just "hers." This means that if he chooses "B" and ends up going poorly, as the covenant head, he has forfeited the right to say, "I told you so!" He is responsible for the decision, and being the covenant head means that it is now "his" decision as much as anyone's. So, later casting blame onto the wife is violating the responsibility of the covenant head. He also forfeits the right to say "I told you so" if he chooses "A" and it works out well. "I told you so" creates distance, whereas the covenant head should build oneness.

Likewise, the wife as the ezer (suitable helper) has the responsbility to make the husband's decision her favorite. Again, that's easy if he chooses "B". But if he chooses "A" and it goes poorly, she also forfeits the right to say "I told you so." That's not the role of the ezer. And if he chooses "B" and it goes well, rather than "I told you so," she should be thankful that her covenant head is succeeding in his role.

Why would the husband choose "B" if "A" is what he thought was best? Several reasons. First, he could choose to do so in order to show honor and respect for his wife. Second, he could choose that in order to demonstrate to her that he trusts her, that he doesn't always have to have his way, or that he values her opinions. Third, he could do so because he knows that she is more spiritually sensitive than he is (for example) - choosing to rely on her strengths to make the best possible decision. Whatever the reason, he is still acting as covenant head. He takes the responsibility. It is not abdication because he claims responsibility for it and is the one who bears the brunt of the consequences if things turn out poorly. He answers to God for the decision, which is the opposite of abdication.

So, in those rare instances where the couple has done all the wise things and still can't make a decision, the covenant head must act with the full knowledge that he's responsible for the decision. Sometimes, that means humbly choosing "A", and sometimes that means gracefully choosing "B".

In my experience, this is the rare case. More often, we can't reach decisions because have not fully exercised all the provisions of wisdom God has made available to us: Scripture, prayer, wise counsel, etc. Men, as the covenant head, I strongly urge you to delay using your "final authority" until all paths of wisdom have been exhausted. Often, you can find unity in a decision by seeking the Lord's face together.

Now ... about the coin toss possibility. There's a rather large book that delves into the issue of decision-making, and it deals with the coin toss question. There's too little space here. So ... this is a question I'm going to leave to you to ask me in person when there's time to talk about it. Call it a little bit of blog cruelty.

The Blessing of Prayer

Lynne and I had a fantastic trip to California this past weekend, primarily for the privilege of baptizing and praying for one of our godchildren. But while we were there, we naturally spent time reconnecting with old friends and finding out what God has been doing in their lives. We were overwhelmed by the love and concern that people still have for us, even though we haven't seen many of them for over 5 years.

The greatest blessing, though, was an all-too-brief time of prayer with our hosts and dear friends, Aaron and Amanda. It is our tradition to pray together for one another whenever we get together (and even sometimes over Skype). I must confess that Aaron and Amanda do a better job of making sure we have that time of prayer than I do. That kind of prayer is something that we had as couples almost every week.

As we prayed Sunday night, the sense of God's love, His protection, His sovereignty, His mercy and grace, and His presence was very, very strong. My love and gratitude for Him was rich and almost primal. It was another very special moment with our close friends.

I encourage you to get over that little awkwardness of asking the question and make sure when you spend quality time with your closest of friends that you say, "Let's not leave until we've prayed for each other." Find out the most pressing prayer needs, share your own most pressing needs, and have a relaxed time of prayer that lasts as long as there are prayers to be uttered.

Don't just pray for God to do things to benefit us. Praise, thanksgiving, affirmation of trust, and even confession should be a part of this intimate, shared prayer time.

Meaningful prayers that we share in Small Group or in church settings are necessary and greatly beneficial. But there's another level of shared prayer with your closest Christian friends that goes beyond the norm. If you don't have that, go get it!

It may even be a little awkward at first. But know this - it's not awkward for God.

I believe you'll be amazed at what happens within your spirit when you allow yourself to be abandoned in prayer with other believers you are very close to.

A Soggy Privilege

It was my distinct privilege to baptize Alex, Taylor, Brandon, and Trinity last Sunday night. Since we cannot see the change that happens in someone's heart when he or she becomes a new creature in Christ, Jesus has given us baptism to picture the miracle of being born from above. Plus, to see a young person publicly declare his or her faith in the Lord Jesus is an important step in and of itself - it brings me great joy to see them tell both the church and the world that they belong to Jesus.

Thanks to Betty Ann for all of the counsel, instruction, and prayer that she invested into these young people. I saw God work in these young people through her. There are many of you within the church who also had a part in the lives of one or more of their lives, too, and I thank you for it.

This Sunday, I also have the privilege of baptizing one of our godchildren in California. She is a special little girl named Chayila, daughter of our close friends Aaron and Amanda. Please remember to pray for Chayila as she grows in her new faith. (Her name comes from the Hebrew word in Proverbs 31:10 meaning "noble character.")

It took me a few years after believing in Christ to realize I should be baptized, even though I had been baptized as a youth (not because I believed, but because it was "time"). I encourage every believer in Christ that if you have not yet been baptized that you commit the matter to prayer. I take following the Lord's instruction on baptism to be a matter of gratitude and obedience, but I would never baptize someone who wasn't doing so of their own free will.

An Insomniac's Theology

I know that many of our church family suffer from chronic insomnia in degrees worse than I've ever experienced. So I tell the following not because my sleeplessness is major or the worst case in the church. Nor do I air my troubles to gain any sympathy - I really don't want that. But I share it because of a lesson learned.

For most of my life, my encounters with insomnia have been sparse and almost always identifiable to particular stress or overconsumption of caffeine. But it was not nightly. Until this year. Slowly, over the course of this year, sleep was getting harder and harder to come by. I hate taking pills, but I resorted to OTC sleep aids, and then prescription. They helped me sleep more, but never generated the really restful kind of sleep.

What I didn't notice was that as the insomnia slowly grew worse, so did my attitude. My temper grew shorter, my countenance became more and more gray, my enthusiasm for many things waned. The change was slow enough that I wasn't fully aware of it. But Lynne, and likely others, were.

When I started getting more sleep from the sleep aids, even though my sleep wasn't great, it was good enough to where my attitude and enthusiasm began to recover in significant ways. I was amazed at how much better I was feeling (because I wasn't really aware of how nasty I was feeling throughout). But Lynne noticed a big change, and gently explained to me how sleeplessness had been affecting me.

The lesson from this for me is that "little sins" work the exact same way. Their effect on our lives is insidious and slow. We are often blind to the impact they have on us. It's not until something jars us, or until a trusted Christian brother or sister honestly tells us, that we realize the slow decline we have suffered.

First, do not be deceived. "Little sins" eat away at your soul, and because of their stealth capabilities, are perhaps more dangerous than "really big sins." Second, be that honest, trusted brother or sister for one another. Not a judge, not a harping nag, but a true friend who lovingly acts for the good. I wouldn't bother with explaining how the sin is sin (we usually already know that), but how you see sin affecting your friend, and how that sin affects you.

Scripture encourages us to be jealous for one another's righteousness. (Matt 18:15; Gal 6:1; 2 Thess 3:15; James 5:19). Realize that we are often blind to the insidious effects of our own sin, and we need someone to "wake us up." But above all, put on love (Col 3:14). Love must be first and last when we work together for holiness.

We are trying a few theories to restore natural sleep, and seeing some success. I imagine sweeping out the "little sins" of our lives requires the same kind of ongoing diligence and attention.

Locked In !!!

Perhaps you didn't hear the news that the Youth Group had a lock-in last Sunday night. Whenever there is a Monday holiday from school, Betty Ann likes to have some event for the youth, whether it's a lock-in or a games night or something else that can go later than the normal Sunday night youth fellowship. For Columbus Day, it was a lock-in. Many, many thanks to Betty Ann for all the hard work in planning the events, and to Debbi Bryarly for feeding the whole crew throughout the night. And thanks to Wal-Mart for not kicking us out during the scavenger hunt (they were very gracious!).

One of the events was called "Stump the Geezer" - a forum for the youth to pose to me difficult questions about the Bible or about theology. I guess I'm the geezer. The first part was like the game "Balderdash", where teams of students were trying to come up with their own answers to the tough questions. I must say that all the teams had very good answers. All the leaders were very pleased with our students' ability to ponder a question and draw upon Biblical knowledge and even logic to formulate a response.

The second part of the activity was a bit unplanned, but also very rich. The game turned into a wide open forum of questions. Our students have a healthy concern for some of the most intriguing questions about the Bible. At times, I felt like Jackie Chan with 8 ninjas coming at me from every direction!

And, yes, they did stump the geezer. Someone asked about the curse of the serpent in Genesis 3 and his "offspring." Who are these offspring? I had absolutely zero recollection of any teaching on that interesting question. Perhaps I could blame that on the late hour? (Later, I read that scholars also find the reference puzzling, but see that it most likely refers to the same concept found in John 8:44, that those who do the deeds of the devil have the devil as their "father.")

Please convey your gratitude to Betty Ann for the sacrifice she makes for our youth. Please pray for her and for all our youth. Please pray about offering your help to Betty Ann for various needs within the Youth Group.

Of course, every time I try to stay up all night with the youth, I do in fact feel more and more like a geezer. Perhaps the game is well-named after all.

Meltdown?

Like you, we have been affected by the recent turmoil on Wall Street. The current situation has affected investments, lending, demand for whatever products or services each of us provides, the price of every day goods, and even charitable giving (secular and religious). Very few are unaffected.

Interestingly, most of the downturn is fueled not by economic realities, but fear. When sectors react out of panic and fear, the economy takes a hit. The temptation to react out of fear is worsened when one's trust is in money or retirement accounts or number of customers. If your emotional confidence lies in something volatile, like worldly goods, then when the thing you trust in is proven to be unreliable, panic ensues, which only worsens the problem. In other words, the economy is taking a hit at least in part because our collective trust is not in God, our Provider, but in things that are not eternally good and strong. Our money says, "In God we trust," but our country's trust is less in what the phrase means and more in what the phrase is written on.

If our collective trust was in God, our country would not worsen the problem of economic instability by reacting out of fear. I do not deny the volatility of the market - in fact, that's the whole point. The market is volatile - God is not. The last generation of a relatively prosperous market has lulled us into the false belief that the market is reliable and trustworthy, something that we began to believe we could entrust our security to. But God is not volatile or untrustworthy. He is always the same, always reliable. God will never suffer a "meltdown." God never needs to be bailed out. When our trust is placed solely in Him, there is never a reason to panic or fear.

I have no clue what will happen to the market. God never promised us an economy where we could all afford premium coffees and mobile phones. He promised to never leave us or forsake us. He promised to right every wrong and to heal every wound for those who trust in Him. He promised to be our constant companion both in prosperous and in lean times. He promised to give us everything we need in order to accomplish His will. He did not promise us a daily double tall no whip.

I don't like the prospect of a recession or a lessening of our personal standard of living. But those who have seen joy in our Kenyan friends know that a lesser standard of living does not mean that we have less opportunity for true joy and peace.

Our trust in God also affects our efforts to stabilize the economy. There is no question we as a society should make wise decisions in an effort to keep the economy from taking a serious downturn. But our motive must not be because we think that's the only way we'll be happy. Our motive should be that a maintaining a sound economy is what good stewards do.

No matter what the market does, we have a biblical admonition to always be good stewards of our money. That means that when the economy puts the squeeze on, we must make adjustments in order to live within our means. As Christians, we cannot insist on conveniences that we cannot afford. To cling to material goods because we trust them or we think that we can only be happy with them is a denial of God as our only source of joy and peace. Living beyond our means (or close to the limit of our means) denies us the privilege of helping others in need and helping to finance the work of the Great Commission.

Spend time in prayer to 1) Reaffirm your trust only in God, 2) Reaffirm that He is your only source of soul satisfaction, 3) Commit to always live within the means that God supplies, and to do so with thanksgiving, and 4) Give yourself to God's agenda for mankind with everything He has provided, including time, talent, and resources. Use this uneasy time to make sure your trust is rightly placed.

These times are unsure and tempt us to fear. We only need to fear if our trust is in something other than God.

Notes from Kenya

There's no room to journal everything, but here are some daily highlights from my recent trip to Kenya:

Sun, 9/14: Lynne drove me the sad trip to Atlanta, saying goodbye at the airport. Happily, the security line was short! Then to D.C. During the layover, I watched the Redskins with a bunch of fans in D.C. Only a 6 hour flight to London, but a little Tylenol PM and melatonin, and I slept most of the way - waking up with breakfast already on my tray table. Good start.

Mon, 9/15: Arrived at 6:20am. I thought they had lost my checked luggage somewhere in the London airport - that bag contained the scanner, my dress shoes, a gift for Pastor Chris, and half of my clothing. But I knew from experience to keep the real essentials in carry-on luggage. I felt helpless even though I had two phones (one for the U.S., one for Kenya), because neither worked in London, so there was no way to track the bag. After a sleepy couple of hours trying to track down the bag, they discovered that they had checked it through to Nairobi. Able to relax, I discovered that I could sleep if I set my carry-on upright, then put my bookbag on that, then the inflatable neck pillow. However, sleeping in that position is prone for droolage.

Paid too much for internet access for 30 minutes, only to have a keyboard that reeppeeatted some lettttttters and lft othrs out. After tracking down the bag, took the underground to the other terminal to endure the rest of the 12-hour layover. The restaurant where TJ and I ate and played cribbage last year is now a place to rent a bunk by the hour to sleep between flights. $50 minimum, and it was tempting.

I camped out in a restaurant and worked on the lessons. Couldn't check in until 4pm, which then allows me to go further in only to wait again until the 8pm flight. Heathrow often doesn't post the gate until just before boarding time, so you watch the monitors and mentally gamble which gate will be yours ("departure gate Bingo"). I tried to find a tasty, affordable, and not-too-bad-for-you sandwich to tide me over - I settled for affordable. Got on the plane, sat next to a British newlywed couple. Her TV screen was broken, so they got moved, and I had 3 seats to myself. Dinner, Tylenol PM, melatonin, and 3 seats - I slept great. It would turn out to be the best sleep I would get for the next 2 weeks.

Tue, Sep 16: Arrived in Nairobi, long passport line, but no problems. All the luggage arrived. Starting to check in for the flight to Kisumu to find out that my 25 kg of checked luggage was 5 kg over the limit (which included the scanner, gifts, etc.). The guys shrugged it off and let me check it all anyway. The plane to Kisumu is bigger, better, and faster than before - got there in 30 minutes, well before the time I told Benard to pick me up. Lots of drivers want to give me a ride. Time for Benard, no Benard. After 15 more minutes, I asked a guy to call him - just as he drove up. The problem was 1) that he had gotten stuck in the mud, and 2) there's no way he could show up at the airport with mud on the car. Getting stuck in the mud in the ditch off the side of the road would be something I would experience twice this day, and 3 more times during the trip. Apparently, the technique on the very slick muddy roads is a semi-controlled alternating fishtail maneuver with the engine fully gunned. Woo hoo.

In Kisumu, I bought some "gum boots", which I would need for said ditching, and then I checked email at Ken Shoppe (a bad experience - neither Gmail nor Yahoo mail would display properly). Stopped by AEST (the seminary) to say howdy and to arrange the first class for 2pm that day - jetlag shmetlag. The second ditching occurred near the house, so Benard's son Abraham and another young man waded through the mud in order to carry my luggage down the road and into the house. After a rain, the dirt roads are horrible, but after only a few hours of sun and heat and foot traffic from the many school children, they are drivable again. At AEST, I covered John 1-2 for the first afternoon. Many students are not in class because they have not raised enough school fee to return (all expenses for one year amount to about $400). There were some new students, including David, a Luo man from Tanzania. Got the mobile phone working. More rain that night. Sleep problems begin.

Wed, Sep 17: Woke up at 3am - laid there until a time more proper for waking up. Then the normal routine of shower, Quiet Time, breakfast, and teaching from 8am to 12:45pm. We covered John 3-5. No chapel today. Found out that morning porridge has been replaced by morning tea, due to cost. However, Eunuce (the secretary and the daughter-in-law to Reverend Kute) still brings me porridge every day, and has me retire to the teacher's office. Handwashing, porridge, Fanta, and cookies. After class, called Lynne (good connection), and sent a few text messages that never arrived. Afternoon for grading papers and trying to stay awake. I try to avoid fish while traveling, but today was the first of many meals of tilapia. Lots of rain today.

Thu, Sep 18: Another good ditching of the car, so I started to walk to class, but the car became unstuck by applying maximum RPM's, so we rode in after all. Taught John 6-12, finding myself stepping out of the lesson many times in order to encourage the students in ministry based on the text. Agnes made it back to AEST today (ended up with the 3rd highest grade - very bright). On the way home I bought phone credits, topped off the phone, and called Lynne again. Bigger storm that ever. We lost power before dinner, so dinner and paper grading was done by lantern and candlelight. More trouble sleeping (having the lights come on when the power was restored didn't help).

Fri, Sep 19: Taught John 13-17. The students and I were equally brain numb from too much information too fast, so not the best day of teaching. The groups gave their "I AM" lessons - very good. Albert spoke for his group - he was more bold than previous years, but still shy and quiet. I met Pastor Edward from Sudan - he will teach bibliology on Tuesday. He's a chaplain of a Kenyan school, displaced from Sudan. We packed for Wachara in the afternoon (I would forget my toothbrush, toothpaste, shorts, flashlight, and pajamas). Not looking forward to having only a "squattie potty" for 48 hours. On the way, the car was making funny noises (not funny, really), so we stopped in a town on the way to have it fixed. Pamela left silently to go shopping for groceries. I left the car to stand in the shade. Eventually, one of the many "mechanics" walked up carrying a seat torn out from a car, laid it on the ground next to me, and walked off without saying a word. It took me a second to realize he had brought me something to sit on, so I felt obliged to sit. Next to the garage was a mosque, and across the street we could hear an overloaded PA system with someone preaching the Gospel. Car got fixed, we made it to Oyugis for more shopping (after getting back to the car, Benard mentioned that I needed honey for my sore throat, so she went back - what a sweet lady). Friday is market day in Oyugis. I saw a few young couples that looked like they had a little money - nicer clothes and better hygiene.

I found out why they stop in Oyugis before heading to Wachara - in Wachara, there is nothing to buy and no where to buy it. They must get supplies in Oyugis. More than an hour walk, the car ride is not much better - 6 kilometers of extremely rough terrain, a road not frequented by motorized vehicles - a dirt path with inverse potholes (rocks that stick up like stalagmites).

Wachara is way back in the sticks. At one point on the trip, you can see Lake Victoria in the distance. But the house! It's great! Pamela paid for it while Benard was at CIU by growing sugar cane. The plants are lush, the house is nice (but no electricity or running water ... yet), the view is spectacular. Two large tanks to collect rainwater from the roof. Benard's parents live uphill, the church is off to one side. The mill generator would make a lot of noise and spew smoke, but that was only a few times a day. The shepherd is a very nice, very strong man - he tended the goats, the sheep, the cattle, the chickens. One goat had given birth that very day - the baby was struggling to stand and walk. Mama goat got real huffy when the dogs got too close. There's a garden in the back with maize and potatoes and all kinds of things both yummy and grody. There's even landscaping in the front - grass and flowering bushes. The weather was perfect. Even the rainstorm at night was pleasant, as we sat on the covered porch and talked.

I met Alice, a young lady who teaches the Sunday School and who helps around the house.

Do not, by the way, lean over when standing in a squattie potty with your glasses in your shirt pocket. It took me a while in the dark to discover that they had not fallen into the hole, just very close by.

Lynne is at the women's retreat, so no phone contact for a couple of days.

For $1000, Benard installed a well pump, arranged so that neighbors can access it without coming inside his gate. It's been a boon to the village. We should raise money to install another.

After dinner, just before going to bed, Benard said, "Oh, and there are rats." Great. But, they just get on the roof and make noise.

First good night's sleep since the Nairobi flight, oddly enough.

Sat, Sep 20: We did a conference for the youth in the AM and the adults in the PM. Nothing like finding out last minute who your audience will be and what you should teach on. Good thing I brought a lot of notes from recent series and lessons. We could never agree as to what time everything was supposed to begin - but why do they bother? Nothing starts on time no matter what time you pick! (Interesting: as they were discussing this, they were talking in Luo - except when there was a time-bound concept, such as "15 minutes"; those phrases were in English, but everything else in Luo - that reflects the two cultures view of time!)

For the youth, we talked about being ransomed from the Law. This area of Kenya has only known a very legalistic Christian cult, until this church was formed last year, so the topic was pertinent. It's like the book of Acts there - the religious leaders of the legalistic religion reject and threaten the incoming preachers of the Gospel of grace, and shun those residents who convert. For the adults, we did Matthew 11 (the yoke of discipleship, again very pertinent to their legalistic background). In Albert's discussion group, I became the Bible Answer Man - great questions, especially from Bernard's elderly father.

But Albert! He was amazing! Not the shy student, but Mr. Gregarious, working the crowd, laughing and smiling and teaching and leading music. I didn't recognize him! It was so awesome to see him pastoring these people with joy and confidence! Every difficulty of teaching at AEST meant nothing compared to seeing Albert using his willingness to serve and his training.

During the discussion groups, the elementary and younger kids sat in the sanctuary, leading each other in songs, without adult supervision for over an hour. No misbehaving at all. Having the misungu balance the pulpit on his chin was good for about a minute of entertainment.

We had a donor from DBC donate money for new Luo Bibles. Most of those Bibles are in use at this church.

But ... the camera doesn't work! I get zero pictures in Wachara. The batteries acted dead, although after we returned to Ahero, they were fine. Grrrrr.

After the conference, back at the house, I sit in a chair outside to record these thoughts. But the neighbor boys and girls want to see the freak misungu. They start at the gate, slowly working their way closer, giggling every time I look at them. They slowly get close. A few boys find broken tiles and pretend they are mobile phones, saying "Hello" over and over. I would then pretend to talk on a phone back to them, and apparently that's pretty funny. Then we practice English words, like "cow", "chicken", "chair", "arm". Then, magic. We did "knees" and the "head", and then by some silent cue, all of them instantly broke into the "head, shoulders, knees, and toes" song, first in English, then in Luo. Some ended up stroking my arm - because of the arm hair, plus they heard that white skin was very soft. Others stroked my hair. At one point while writing notes, I was surrounded by a dozen little children, easily entertained by an occasional glance and goofy face. Then, Albert got them to play a hopping game.

The Safari ants were mobbing something on the path - apparently their bite is pretty nasty.

I met a former MP, a stately lady named Phoebe. Her daughter was with her, visiting from her home in Roanoke, VA. They invited Benard and me for breakfast on Sunday.

Lots of flies in the house - the second biggest negative (the first being the squattie potties, which were not only squattie potties, but they had flies, too - a double whammy. Interesting: just as you begin to use the SP's, the flies stop flying and rest on the walls ... waiting; I prefer to think that they are being polite, but can't shake the thought that they are staring). Pamela informed me that a chicken got shut into my room during the day, and used my bed as her own personal SP (the chicken, not Pamela).

I met Benard's folks earlier in the day. They are so proud of him! Both are in declining health, and this was the first day mama was able to get out of bed and sit in a chair. Benard looks like his mama.

Before dinner, on the porch with Albert, I gently broached the topic of him finding a wife. We talked carefully, and his shyness returned. But then Benard grabs a chair and joins us, looks at Albert, and says, "So, what do you think about Alice????"

Benard told me the story of growing up here as a boy, when there were more wild animals, like leopards, monkeys, and hyenas. More than once while walking along the path at night, a leopard would track the young Benard. Seeing that he was no danger, the leopard would go ahead of him and clear a path for him. The leopard would escort Benard and protect him from the other animals. Amazing.

Tried to sleep without pills, since I did so well the night before. Bad mistake. Awake from midnight to 4, including a bad situation of needing to use the SP, but finding that the front door is locked, and the key is no where around. I weighed a lot of options (including the bedroom window), but opted to sacrifice my water bottle. (I am never without a water bottle in Kenya.)

Sun, Sep 21: Breakfast at the former MP's. Very, very nice house, not far from Benard's. Also there was the local chief, Phoebe's husband, daughter (whom I had already met), and her son Cesar, who lives in Nairobi. The daughter's pastor from the States (Kingdom Life Church in Roanoke) was also there, looking to expand her church's mission from Ghana to Kenya. Lots of laughs at the table, and a scrumptious, full meal. I had to learn the difference between "tea" and "tea tea", the latter having lemon grass tea added.

The church service was great. Albert was like a seasoned pastor. I preached on Psalm 3. The youth choir was awesome. The first-time visitors gave testimonies, including an old lady who testified that with medical mission from Pennsylvania came (see, Beth Morgan) in 2005, she could not see. With the medical treatment, she can now see, and is very grateful to God.

Benard made a point to show me homeless people, widows, orphans, etc.

After church, the leadership council asked to meet with Benard and me. They shared with me their vision for the future and the challenges to get there. It was the only board meeting I've been to with a chicken walking around in the middle. They want a medical center, daughter churches, schooling for the children, plaster for the walls, proper facilities for the church (now, there are none), youth camps for the kids. I encouraged them the best I could, reminding them that Jesus commanded His disciples to do the impossible (like telling them to feed 5000 families), and that whatever He commands us to do He will empower us to do, even if it is "impossible." After this, Benard and I left and the council and Albert remained. This is enormously important, because Benard could easily overshadow Albert. Staying would have done that. Leaving affirms Albert as the pastor. Benard is very intentional about establishing Albert as the pastor.

In the afternoon, people started mysteriously showing up in Benard's living room. When the room was full, a little girl popped her head in, saw all the familiar faces, then got to my misungu face, and starting bawling and running for mama. We all had a good laugh about that. The gathering was to formally say goodbye to me, with several speeches.

Note: The technique of using a SP properly is to get close to the target ... but not too close!

The way back was harrowing. The car quit on an uphill climb, apparently a fuel line problem. So, Benard would gun it going downhill to get up every next hill, weaving in and out of traffic (motor, foot, and bicycle). I was praying like I've never prayed for a car trip before. Along the way, I noticed for the second time a local wearing a hockey jersey. In Kenya. Hockey jersey. In Kenya.

Mon, Sep 22: Today's class (John 18-21) was very encouraging, with lots of good side discussions and questions. Anne made it back today, but is too far behind to join us for John. She's not doing well - an infected foot problem and lacking school fees.

Benard, however, witnessed a horrible accident on the road to Kisumu - a man got off his motorcycle in the middle of the road only to get struck by a mutatu (minivan used for public transport). Everyone scattered, including those inside the mutatu. Benard took him to the hospital, and went to find the guy's wife. Benard found out later that the hospital discharged the man, and told him to come back the next day. When he did, then they diagnosed his multiple fractures!

I went to the orphanage in the afternoon. Amazing progress! We broke ground in 2006, saw the first 3-room building in 2007, but now, the new wing dwarfs the first building. (The tin shack is still there, still being used.) The running water is off to the side, but is a major feature. The principal, another man named Benard, is very concerned about making sure the academic standards get competitive with the public schools. (We need to pay teachers more to retain them - we get good ones, but then they find jobs that pay the going rate. We won't reach our academic goals without paying teachers better!) I was mobbed by kids, especially when I started taking pictures (see http://picasaweb.google.com/cek1227/Kenya2008). The staff have a proper room and table for lunch and devotions (they were having beans for lunch this day). They want to another another wing for classrooms, a chapel, a better kitchen with a cafeteria. They want to cement a lot of the grounds to get the kids off of the mud and dirt. We need to get Brick by Brick going stronger.

All the time here has been Ramadan. So, there are several commercials and talking heads for the Muslim religion on TV. That's just part of the large increase I've seen of Islam's influence on the area. They are using the petrodollars to bring services in exchange for loyalty. They have purchased many of the major businesses in Kenya.

I finished designing the exam, but computer problems galore make printing full exams impossible. All I can do is print a list of questions - the students will have to use their own paper.

Finally got another good night's sleep.

Tue, Sep 23: Taught angelology and prepped the students for the exam. I realize that my test is too big - lots of glazed, shocked faces. I'll pare it down a bit. Not able to call Lynne today. Still lots of business to handle with Benard - we actually got a lot of it done this night. I took several notes of their needs.

Wed, Sep 24: Exam day. Yet another ditching (this one required us to drive along the ditch for a ways until we got to the crossroad). Dauglas (that's the correct spelling) has gone through this entire class without anyone telling me that his English is very weak. This happened with another student in 2006 and we tried to correct it in 2007. I should have been more diligent to ask Benard or one of the advanced students. Pastor B had to translate the exam for him. His homework was OK (they can collaborate some), but his exam was miserable. The first exam was finished by 9:35, but the last (Albert!) was not until after chapel.

I got pictures of all the students, individual and group.

All of the chapels these two weeks were selections from our ecclesiology series called "We Are."

Sign in the classroom: "Noisemaking is quite abominable, vexatious, and obnoxious."

I graded all the exams in the afternoon. The good ones were great - they clearly learned and assimilated! The weak ones were not good. A few failed the exam, but with the homework style I chose (more creative), no one failed the course. For the course, 5 A's, 6 B's, 3 C's, and 4 D's.

Dinner at the Kute's, like we do every year. Benard was late because someone at the gas station put diesel in his tank (the gas cap says diesel, but it's not diesel). So, they had to drain the tank.

Thu, Sep 25: The car will not stay started (probably the diesel problem). My flight is coming soon! Benard called to hire a driver, but then got the car to stay running. He drove like we were late for my flight, but we weren't. A frightening drive - it made me a little mad, actually, but there was no need for it.

The flight was event-free. I met Pastor Tom in Nairobi (he's the former principal of AEST and a good friend). His cousin David, who has his own software company, took off the morning to drive us around. We toured NIST (a graduate school for theological training run by Campus Crusade for Christ), where Tom now works - what a thrill. Our church in Austin supported the first librarian of NIST years ago - he now attends that church in Austin. At NIST, they consider him to be the "father of the library."

Then we went to the Fairview Hotel to hang out in their beautifully landscaped grounds. We had coffee and then a buffet lunch, and talked for 8 hours. Tom's wife Dorothy took two hours by mutatu and on foot to meet me. Tom is still involved with AEST, helping the board to gain a vision for what AEST can become.

The hotel is near the Israeli Embassy, so the security on this road is tight. The signs say "Your friendly traffic stop" and "The safest street in Nairobi." Yeah. The Uzzi-bearing guards went through my luggage in the trunk just so we could get to the hotel - friendly.

Then to the Nairobi airport and the long wait. I talked with an English guy who is bicycling from Korea to Cape Town to raise money for a charity for Africa. He was taking a break to go back home for his brother's wedding. Interesting guy.

I did not sleep well on this flight. I could not get comfortable.

Fri, Sep 26: No problems changing airlines, although the passport control dude insisted that UA was in terminal 3. It was in 1, as I thought. Our gate was the furthest away possible in all of Heathrow. I met two guys from Arkansas coming back from a mission to Kenya and a young gal from Georgia on her way back from a mission to Sudan.

I tried to work on the sermon for Sunday on the flight, but was brain dead. A few cat naps, but mostly just watching the same movies over and over.

Starting feeling ill in the airport in D.C. - almost took the offer for a later flight due to overbooking so that I could stay in a hotel and recover, but I just wanted to get home.

Lynne was waiting for me at the luggage claim. She had struck up a conversation with a retired, ex-Air Force guy. Steak and Shake on the way home! A real burger and a real shake!

I come home to find an email from another Kenyan Albert (who translated for me in 2006 at Onjiko Church) saying that he feels lead to teach at AEST.

Some lessons:

• Wachara is loaded with potential for evangelism, growth, micro-business. They could use a medical mission, and even moreso could use a permanent clinic. The orphanage could grow large.
  
• Albert demonstrates the power of multiplication that's possible through AEST. Through one trained student, we have in less than one year a church of over 100 people, with potential for far more.
  
• There are even more needs and opportunities than before - how to sort through all of them and prioritize?
• The danger level in Ahero is higher than ever, including a rise in crime and vigilante justice.
• Short term trips are still worth the effort and expense.
• I want to be more in control of the transportation situation for future trip - even hiring our own driver, if necessary. The danger I was put in is not acceptable for future teams.
• We need to pray for the Lord to raise up someone for overseeing micro-business development, especially in Wachara.
• We're not thinking big enough for the orphanages and AEST.
• AEST needs 3 full-time faculty.
  
• God is at work - how do we best partner with His work?
• But it is also true that Islam is advancing in Kenya - these are critical times, and the Muslims are well-financed with a clear strategy.
  

Kenya Prayers

From September 14 though 26, I will be traveling to and from Ahero, Kenya, in order to teach at the Ahero Evangelical School of Theology (AEST). As we learned from Justin and Sarah Bothwell, the atmosphere has changed in Kenya, which means there are very specific prayer requests that I have for you to lift up to the Lord on behalf of the ministry there and me.

• The safety of the workers there. The pastors and school teachers live with the constant tension and possibility of a flare up of the ethnic strife. With the growing inflation, crime has been on the rise and people become more desperate.
• My safety. There are many legs to this trip, some of which are not the safest. Furthermore, as a white Westerner, some will assume that I'm carrying some amount of cash on me.
• Effective ministry. I'll be teaching in a few different venues, so pray that the Word will go out. It's difficult to keep the point clear through cultural and linguistic differences, so we need the Holy Spirit to convey the Truth despite the hurdles.
• Ministry to the workers. Pray that the Lord will use me to encourage and comfort the pastors, teachers, and students, which is more important than the topics I will teach.
• Lynne's peace. Pray that the Lord will comfort her so that she will not be anxious.
• As the Lord leads. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you in prayer, and then pray for the things that He brings to mind. If He is bringing something to your mind, then it's more important to pray for than anything on this list.

I look forward to returning and sharing with you what the Lord has done. Paul tells the believers at Corinth that He believes that God is the one who brings victory in ministry, but that the prayers of the saints are also clearly a part of that success. Paul believed that having people pray for him and his ministry would change things - and I believe the same thing. I truly believe that your prayers will make a difference in Kenya.

I'm also anxious to share with you after I return about a "matching funds" program for the seminary. For a twelve month period, we have a donor who is willing to match dollar-for-dollar donations to AEST, up to $400 per month. When I get back, I'll tell you more about it.

Latest from Kenya

Justin and Sarah Bothwell gave us a great report of their recent trip to Kenya this past Sunday in church. It was fantastic to see pictures of the orphans (now 167 strong!), the progress on the buildings that we've been praying for and contributing to, the tractor, the running water - we're thankful for what the Lord is doing! Despite the ethnic violence and severe inflation, we are still seeing amazing things.

Some quick notes of what else is going on in Kenya:

• Friends of Christ has opened a second orphanage in Wachara. Right now, it's just in the beginning stages - not even quite to the level that Sarah experienced in Ahero during her trip in 2004. There are now just a handful of children.
  
• Inflation in Kenya has been devastating because of the conflicts. The costs for the daily operations of the orphanage and the construction have risen dramatically - some prices have doubled, others have even quadrupled!
  
• A couple of students from AEST (the seminary Ben Byxbe and I have taught at) planted a church in Wachara, and after meeting under a tree for months, they are now meeting in a temporary building.
• Pastor Benard reports that many of the students will not be able to return to AEST because of the costs. Please consider contributing to AEST to help them return (make a check out to DBC, and put "AEST" on the memo line).
  
• We have learned that our visits to Ahero not only do a lot of good for the children, students, and teachers, but can also unexpectedly bring some dangers to our hosts. These dangers are new since the ethic violence that erupted earlier this year. Therefore, we need to adjust our strategies for any future trips.
• Hungry 4 Him, the organization that oversees our ministry in Kenya, has been operating under Dublin Bible Church sinced its inception. However, we are coming closer to establishing H4H as a separate, not-for-profit organization. We will, of course, continue to work closely with DBC.
• I will be in Kenya Sept 14-26. I will primarily be teaching at the seminary, but I'm sure I'll be asked to conduct a conference and preach a couple of times. I will be teaching the students the Gospel of John and the doctrine of angels.
• After I return, we will begin to explore the possibility of putting together another team to go to Kenya within the next couple of years. Because of the dangers, the size of the Ahero orphanage, and the new oppportunities in the South Nyanza region, if we take another team, they will have a different assignment than the 9-person team we took in 2006. Details will be forthcoming.
• A book about Pastor Benard and his ministry is very close to publication. H4H will be helping to distribute the books. When the books are available, we will let you know so you can buy some. We will also be looking for volunteers to give us a couple of hours per month to help get ordered books sent through the post office.
  

Please remember to be praying for the ministries in Kenya (Friends of Christ orphanage in Ahero, Friends of Christ orphanage in Wachara, AEST, and the churches). And please pray for me starting now, continuing through my return on the 26th.

I Tried to Slip By

I was keeping very quiet about our approaching 5th anniversary with Dublin Bible Church. I figured that if I didn't say anything, no one would notice, and no one would make a fuss. I want to be very conscientious about a church busying themselves with loving Christ and loving one another rather than putting too much focus on the pastor. We've all seen unhealthy situations where the church had an imbalanced sense of the pastor's role.

However, my aversion to a fuss is a poor excuse to not celebrate what God has done in the last 5 years.

I am grateful to all the co-conspirators, of whom Debbi and Betty Ann are the chiefest, for the Christ-focused, well-done video shown in church last Sunday. God is indeed at work at DBC, and it was uplifting to celebrate what He has been doing among us. But it's not because of anyone you hired - it is because He is sovereign and because the people of DBC are making themselves available to His work in their lives. That's where credit is due.

I said before, and I repeat it here: The most that can be accomplished in ministry is to help other people get into that place where God is at work in their lives. Perhaps that work is to build up what needs to be built up, perhaps that work is to tear down what needs to be torn down, but always that work is good. A pastor can accomplish no more than this, but if he does, he has accomplished much.

It is a greater privilege than you realize to help people at DBC get into that place and then to sit back and watch God work. I truly get more satisfaction and sense of accomplishment by watching God at work in you than by any words or gestures of gratitude. In other words, if you really want to encourage your pastor, grow in and humbly serve Christ! Be busy about knowing Jesus personally - that's far greater than any pat on the back could ever accomplish.

Thank you for being tolerant of crazy ideas gone awry, jokes that have fallen flat, words that could never quite find their way out of my mouth, and holes in the set of skills pastors "ought" to have. You have truly been gracious and forgiving. You have been generous with the pats on the back and stingy with the kicks on the backside. (Although, a few well-placed kicks are vital to keep your pastor sharp!)

Also, much of what has been good at DBC over these last several years is the product of hard work, sacrifice, and an unfailing commitment to pray on behalf of your Elders. The "front man" gets a lot of credit for what they have worked hard to accomplish. There is little I can point to that has been good in DBC that doesn't have the Elders fingerprints on it. They should know that you know this to be true - so tell them!

Please also remember to thank and encourage our other staff and volunteers. There is so much work being done by those crews that don't get the spotlight as much. The less visible, harder working saints need even more of your appreciation than those who are easier to notice. Please don't forget them in your prayers, and in your acts of appreciation. More often than not, their work is the "front edge" of ministry, where the Word is brought face-to-face with real lives.

Things I Never Asked For

I never asked to work with youth as a volunteer.

• Even though I had no rapport with the youth, the youth pastor of our church in Austin asked me to help develop a youth retreat based C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, which soon led to weekly involvement with the youth.
  

• If God had not given me what I didn't ask for, I never would have seen how teachers can use creativity to challenge young minds.

I never asked to teach Sunday School for adults.

• I rejected requests to teach Sunday School year after year, but then our church in Seattle needed an occasional fill-in, which eventually led to me being the only teacher left.

• If God had not given me what I didn't ask for, I never would have developed a love for bringing God's Word into the lives of others.
  

I never asked to be changed from developing software in OS/2 to developing software in Windows.

• I loved OS/2 and hated Windows, but upper management didn't love OS/2 and canceled our project. My choices were to leave and pay back over $10,000 of moving expenses, or work in a Windows environment.

• If God had not given me what I didn't ask for, I never would have ended up in management, which then led to other things I didn't ask for.

I never asked to be a manager in the software industry.

• I professed repeatedly that I would never go into management. One day, one of the vice presidents of the company said, "You're a manager, starting tomorrow."

• If God had not given me what I didn't ask for, I never would have begun the process of learning leadership skills which would later be crucial in church ministry.

I never asked to have a separated shoulder.

• Night skiing sounded like so much fun.

• If God had not given me what I didn't ask for, I may never have gotten serious about serving Him as He revealed His will to me during recuperation.
  

I never asked to give up career pursuits in order to go to seminary.

• Every told us we were crazy to give up software to go into seminary - it was pretty "foolish" to give up something that came naturally and that I was good at in order to pursue something that is way outside of the area of my strengths.

• If God had not given me what I didn't ask for, I never would have known what He's been preparing me for all along.

I never asked to be a pastor.

• Our plans going into seminary included all kinds of scenarios, none of which included pastoring. Before I knew it, I was asked to join the staff of a church in a wild experiment, even though I had already rejected the idea.

• If God had not given me what I didn't ask for, I never would have seen God at work in lives like I have as a pastor.

I never asked to live in a small town.

• And I especially never asked to be placed 100 miles from the nearest Starbucks! (A problem now remedied.)
  

• If God had not given me what I didn't ask for, I would not have had to face how theology meets everyday life in so many ways.

I never asked to be childless.

• In fact, I was coldly critical of those who chose childlessness.

• If God had not given me what I didn't ask for, I would have missed out on transformative lessons on compassion, purpose, and the extent of God's sovereign goodness.

Matthew 6:6-13

But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

So pray this way:

Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored,

may your kingdom come,

may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Thank You, FFN

For well over a year, we have had "Family Fellowship Night" on Wednesday nights, with a shared meal and then activities for every age group. We've added to our fellowship and gotten to know each other well. Plus, we've had some excellent food provided by Wolfpack Catering (thanks, Bob and Cheryl!).

We believe, though, that Family Fellowship Night (FFN) has run its course. Bob and Cheryl are off on their adventure to start a signature barbecue restaurant downtown ("Smokin' Lobos"). Plus, not all of the goals we set out for FFN were realized. Many were, but not all. The after-dinner program is just too late for young families, and young families were exactly who we were trying to serve better.

So, we are going to retire FFN. August 20th will be our last evening for the FFN format. Starting on the 27th, we will have a new schedule. The youth Bible study will continue to meet from 7pm-8:30pm. The elementary program will be suspended, until we can find a better time for it. The adult program is going to return back into homes. Home groups will be reformulating, so if you're interested in a home group, please contact an Elder or me.

The home groups have provided a level of friendship and intimacy in Christ that just isn't possible in a wide-open sanctuary or classroom, so we're excited to see group get back into people's homes. The home groups will be free to study whatever topic they choose, including the option of helping one another apply the sermon into our daily lives.

As the groups get defined, we'll be sure to keep you informed. In the meantime, please thank Bob and Cheryl for the fantastic meals we've had. I know I'm going to be one of their regular customers!

Locusts and rain

I've been going through Joel in my Quiet Time lately, and received a great reminder about God's sovereignty.

Joel begins by describing a devastating invasion of locusts that plagued Israel, resulting in the loss of all the crops for a couple of years. Over thousands of years, that region has suffered several locust invasions, including a particularly catastrophic invasion as recently as 1915. Joel describes the invading hordes of locusts as an "army" that destroys everything in sight ... and then the second wave comes and destroys more, and then the third, and then the fourth! Interestingly, one of the gravest tragedies is that a lack of crops means nothing for the offering in the temple.

But the locusts are not just a "natural phenomenon." They were sent by God. Joel describes the army as God's army who march according to His commands. God sent the locusts because of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness to the covenant. But it was not just for punishment - it was a passionate plea for Israel to repent and return. His purpose was to discipline as a parent so that they would come back to Him.

Joel also describes Israel after God sends the rains and the crops begin to grow again, even into great abundance. God forgives and restores, and showers Old Covenant blessings on His Old Covenant people. Just as they lamented not being able to bring offerings to the temple during the lean years, they rejoice that now they can bring offerings in abundance when the bumper crops come in.

We moderns don't often credit God for the rains which bring the crops, which in turn brings abundance. We can hold the odd opinion that God did send the rains back then, but somehow God modernized along with mankind and now leaves all the rain to natural processes. (Or, we just question that God ever sent rain at all, even in the Old Testament.) We are even more reticent to give God "credit" for the locusts. We don't like the idea of Him disciplining or punishing us, because we live under grace. Strangely, we're slightly more willing to give Him credit for rain than locusts - we can give Him credit for the good stuff, but not for the bad stuff, right?

But, the locusts weren't really "bad stuff" in Joel. Yes, it was horrible for the people - a plague like they've never seen before. But it was for their good. God doesn't delight in the necessity of sending locusts, but He sent them because of the good He wanted to cause. Joel easily and freely gives God credit for the locusts because God 0nly had Israel's good in mind.

I believe God sends the rain and the locusts. I don't assume that locusts automatically mean that we have sinned and God is directly punishing us - that clearly is a feature of the Old Covenant in particular. However, I cannot believe that God is less sovereign over the elements as He used to be. I believe He controls everything, and that He does so with a purpose of good. And I must believe that even locusts are sent our way for our good - perhaps in ways we can't even fathom right away.

But this does not stop with literal locusts. At various times in our lives, we have "locusts" - an invasion into our lives that seems to be more about destruction than anything else. If God is as sovereign now as He "used to be," then those locusts in your life are no less random than in Joel's day. The are part of His purpose for good.

What does Joel tell the Israelites to do in response to the locusts? Cry out! Weep! Turn to God! That's the right response to locusts. Cry out! It hurts. Weep! It's sad. Turn to God! That's all He ever wants from us, anyway. Don't pretend to understand why the locusts have come, but know that the right response to locusts is to cry out and weep and turn to your God for comfort and help.

God brings both the locusts and the rain.

Pray for the Olympics

The 2008 Summer Olympics start on August 8, and for just over two weeks, the world's attention will be on China, this year's host. And that is a call for prayer!

It is no secret that the Chinese government has been using it's tremendous power to create a much better impression of their society than reality warrants. Never a government for respecting individual rights, they have been particularly overbearing in the months leading up to the opening ceremony. From restricting traffic to help ease the thick pollution problem to navigating the Olympic Torch Relay to avoid as many protests as possible to clamping down on Tibetan protesters, they have tried to manage every aspect of life to give the appearance that all is well in China.

Worse than the social facade they are creating, their well-documented escalation of persecuting Christians is a losing effort to give the conflicting impressions that China is both tolerant of all religions and that there are very few Christians in China. Both statements are false, and the government has taken on the futile task of trying to make us believe both are true. The more evangelistic Chinese pastors have been harassed and arrested like never before. Literature distribution around Olympic venues is strictly forbidden. Evangelism will most likely be met with swift rebukes.

So ... pray! It is precisely in times like this that people discover the Gospel cannot be stopped. Pray as the Lord would direct your heart. Consider the following prayer needs every day of the Olympics:

• The persecution of Christians in China.
• The Chinese believers who are committed to sharing the Gospel with as many Olympic visitors as possible.
• Missionaries and other foreign workers who are gathering in China to share the Gospel.
• Believing athletes to keep their testimony and to use their unique access as another avenue of sharing the Gospel.
• For the oppression of the government to be broken by God's power.
• For the church in China (the largest in the world, by the way!) to prosper and flourish no matter what the government does.
  

The Olympics are games. Persecution is no game. The Gospel is no game. We can be the strongest competitors of the Olympics if we commit to pray. I invite you to remind each other to pray during those two weeks. Every time you hear the Olympic theme, see the 5 Ring emblem, see a medal count, or see an event, be reminded to pray. Be more enthusiastic about the Church winning than the U.S. winning.

P.S. You can order a free "Pray for China" wristband from Voice of the Martyrs at: http://etools.780net.com/a/vomso/bg_vomso_CTI-China-Prayer-Bands_317.html .

How Do I "Stand in the Breach"?

Last Sunday, we discussed Psa 106:19-25 and how Moses "stood in the breach." He is the "covenant head" of Israel, the covenant people had violated the covenant in the most grotesque of ways (considering their golden calf party likely included pagan sexual behavior), thus opening up a large breach in "walls" of the covenant, but Moses acted as the covenant head should and stood in the breach on behalf of the people. He knew exactly where he should stand - between God's wrath and God's people.

The encouragement for Christian men is to stand in the breaches of the walls of our own homes. Men should serve as covenant head in the same way as Moses - standing between danger and their families, especially the spiritual dangers that threaten us. But, the question is "How?" If I agree that as a husband I should be standing in the breach, that doesn't mean I know exactly how to do that. I know some of you have asked this question, and I know I have, too. Perhaps the sermon should have provided more help in this direction.

However, a simple "How To Stand in the Breach" or "Standing in the Breach for Dummies" would not be an easy book to write. Every breach is different. Every breach is unique to the family it affects. There is no way to be able to develop "Three Steps to Effective Breach-Standing" or "The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Breach-Standers."

The first step is to commit to stand. To be bold enough to look for the breaches, to be honest enough to identify them, and then to be courageous enough to stand smack dab in the middle of them. If we can convince the men of the church to do that much, the "how to's" will come. First, we must determine to stand. If we've firmly committed to that, then by definition we've also committed to find how to stand there.

There are easy examples. If unaccountable Internet access is a breach, then stand in the breach - make access accountable and take the heat for it. If financial habits are a breach, then stand in the breach - find the tools, classes, and counselors to rein in the habits and deal with the harsh realities of change. If your hair-trigger anger is a breach, then stand in the breach - remove the danger by necessary means, which may mean that you have to be man enough to admit weakness and character flaws. And so on - standing in the breach means making the tough, right decisions to close the breaches and to take the heat and responsibility for them.

It's the tough examples that the men will have to commit to figure out. Sometimes, the breach has been open for so many years that repairing the wall will take months or years. Stand in the breach. Commit yourself to the months and years it takes. Do not let excuses be stronger than your resolve to fix the breaches. And then stand in the gaps while the repairs are going on.

That's what covenant heads do. They commit to make it right for the family, even if they don't know "how to." Do you think Moses had a "Leading the Exiles Through the Dessert for Dummies" book handy? Not a chance. What he had was the resolve to stand in the gap and then figure out how to repair the damage.

May the Lord steel the resolve of our men to stand. May the Lord give wisdom and grace to our women to help the men stand with success.

More Great Online Resources

In the past, I've told you about some great online resources for studying the Bible and theology. For example, The NET Bible (http://bible.org) is one of my favorite sites (see also http://net.bible.org). On this site, you can study various translations, get help with the original languages, sign up for self-paced lessons in theology, and read blogs by excellent theologians. This site is primarily related to the NET translation, but it also shows parallel translations. It is an excellent site for word studies and original language parsing. But there are a few more that I've been using that you might be interested in.

(Click on any of the images to see more detail.)


Crosswalk has a fairly good set of Bible Study Tools (http://beta.biblestudytools.com). There are many translations, original language helps, commentaries, Bible dictionaries, lexicons, devotionals, Bible-in-a-year reading plan, and so on. It's similar to net.bible.org in many ways, but you can choose which translation is your primary.

However, it doesn't have the theology program that the NET site does. One of best features of Crosswalk's site is that it allows you to highlight text and save personal notes for individual verses. The support for original languages is not bad, but for some reason, they are not offered in the parallel translations view.


Another similar site is the eBible (http://ebible.com). It is not as feature-rich as the other two sites, but I like the fact that the footnotes and cross-references are visible as "flyovers" - just put the mouse cursor over the footnote marker, and the footnote pops right up in a little, non-instrusive box. Most of the other sites require you to click on the footnote, and you are navigated away from the verse you were reading. This site also has a helpful tool for memorizing Scripture.


Biola University has a well-respected site called the Unbound Bible (http://unbound.biola.edu). It has a powerful search engine and a fantastic selection of translations in many languages. A minor downside of this site is that it is not quite as user-friendly and attractive as the others.


Study Light (http://studylight.org) also does multiple translations and original language helps. The user interface is a bit constricted, but they have a unique offering of articles and other resources. They also offer more commentaries than most others, and they are easily accessible.


The Bible Gateway (http://biblegateway.com) offers plenty of punch, too, which a good selection of translations in many languages. The interface is simple, clean, and attractive, and it offers a nice set of tools and helps.


Also worth noting is the website offered by the publishers of the ESV translation (http://www.gnpcb.org/esv). They have a few devotions, an easy-to-use search engine, a daily reading plan, and some footnotes. This is a good site if the ESV is your translation of choice, but the ESV is also available on some of these other websites with all the tools (such as eBible, Bible Gateway, Study Light

Almost all of the sites offer a similar library of dictionaries and maps, although each site has something unique in its library. Many offer audio versions of the passage you're reading - just click and you hear the passage read. The major difference will be a matter of taste - try them all and see which you like best. Some sites do not offer key translations, such as the NASB, the NET, and the ESV. If you want to do any study related to the original languages, some of these sites offer something, but few offer something excellent.


There is, however, one notable exception. It is very good for Greek (no Hebrew), but it doesn't offer all of the other bells and whistles. And I love the name - The Resurgence Greek Project (http://www.zhubert.com). It does parallel translations and has excellent flyover analysis of Greek words, including parsing the grammar. This is a Bible nerd's haven! There are some Hebrew sites, but they still have a lot to be desired on presentation.


One more fun site - it's not for Bibles, but for background and general Bible study, called the OpenBible.info (http://openbible.info). It has a great set of maps and photos (using Google Earth!) - you can find exactly what you want very easily. You can download Google Earth kmz files and have on your desktop all the identifiable biblical sites - this is very, very cool! It has a topical Bible "mashup" - a strong search engine on words and topics, a very cool Bible book browser, and some interesting tools that make visual images based on words of the Bible. This site uses the ESV exclusively.

If you have another website you like to use for Bible study and theology, I want to know. I'm always looking for a site that offers something new and unique!

Also note that there are several very good programs that you install on your computer (Libronix, e-Sword, WordSearch, and so on). They cost money, but the features can't be beat and the available selection of books far exceed the free online tools.