Middle East Aflame

First it was Tunisia and a popular uprising that removed President Zine Ben Ali after 23 years of rule.  Egypt quickly followed suit, although an Egyptian uprising has far further-reaching implications in the Middle East and around the world than a political overthrow in tiny Tunisia (pop. 10 million).  Now Mubarak is gone (after 30 years) and Egypt is ruled by an interim military ruling council. What is staggering is how quickly power change can take place when fueled only by the will of the people. Once Egypt's grass-roots revolution was successful, I knew it was only a matter of time before similar protests broke out in virtually every Arab country in the region ... and beyond.  Libya is now embroiled in a bloody near-civil war that has already claimed the lives of thousands of citizens, the reason being that Qaddafi has never even made a pretense of political moderation.  He rules with an iron fist, and that fist is hammering (and bombing) the life out of thousands of his own citizens.  And the instability and chaos are far from over.  The leaders of Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Djibouti, Jordan, Morocco, Iran and Iraq are all fighting to hold off their own "premature" departures from power, and I predict that many or even most of these will also fall to the will of the people and the strength of a united revolution.  Now even Saudi Arabia is scrambling to launch economic reforms and incentives in what is perhaps a vain effort to plug the hole in the dam before riots and revolt break out in this largest and most influential Arab kingdom.  Even non-Arab countries such as Zimbabwe are catching the wave of "power-change by popular demand".  Trust me, this tidal wave of chaos and instability is far from over, and the leaders of the remaining countries in the region (Mauritania, Algeria, Syria, Qatar, UAE) are likely to find themselves fighting for their political (and literal) lives in a very short time.  Now the U.S. has moved warships through the Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean, ostensibly to re-locate closer to Libyan waters.  I find it interesting, however, that this move by the U.S. military follows the path of two Iranian warships that also passed through the Suez only days ago on their way to Syria.  The military and strategic "cards" are being put on the table as each side waits for the other to make the first move.

So what does all of the above mean for us today, here in America?  Certainly the eyes of many are on the tiny nation of Israel, who is now surrounded by Arab countries in various stages of instability.  While the popular uprisings in the region are not - at least for the moment - directed at Israel, it would not take long for the anger to turn towards the Jewish nation should the power structure in any of these countries shift to a more hard-line Muslim context.  President Ahmadinejad of Iran (arguably Israel's most vocal and dangerous enemy)  has publicly proclaimed that the unrest in the region is being inspired by the appearance of the 12th Imam (Shiite version of the Messiah) who will usher in a New Age of power and influence for Muslims, and who will ensure the destruction of America and Israel.  I can only imagine the high state of alert for the Israeli military right now, knowing that Iran's crazy leader may just try to use the chaos in the Middle East to attempt a strike against Israel.



I am working on a new sermon series for our Wednesday night service called "Faith in the Furnace: God's Sovereignty in the midst of crisis".

While we may not yet find ourselves in a state of crisis in America, the rising gas prices alone (predicted to hit $4.00 a gallon by this summer) will have a definitely negative impact on an already depressed economy.  I personally believe that God is preparing His church to rise up in strength and faith to face what may be the most difficult crisis America has faced in years - and perhaps ever.  I am not pretending to be a prophet here; I just see the signs of the times, and in the Global Village that we live in, we will not remain untouched by the most widespread unrest ever that is spreading like wildfire across North Africa and the Middle East.  At the very least, the moment that Israel is attacked or launches its own preemptive strike upon Iran or any other country that threatens its survival - America will find itself engaged in its third or fourth simultaneous military conflict (along with Iraq, Afghanistan, and possibly Libya).  


We have no reason to fear, however.  We serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who reigns supremely over the nations.  And while times may get extremely hard for all of us in the coming days, His perfect love should cast all fear from our hearts.  He who has promised to provide for all our needs is still faithful, and our only response should be to watch, pray and listen for His voice.  Our finest hour as believers only comes when the night is darkest and hope seems to be lost.  What an exciting time to be alive!  Perhaps we are now watching the birth pains of the Last Days when all remaining Biblical prophecies will be fulfilled.  


Stay Strong!

To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice

Jim,

As you can see below my dad emailed Matt and me about your recent blog posts on work and men as providers. I decided to read the posts at lunch today, and I was really impressed by your comments. I can also understand why they were challenging for some of the men who read them. A crucial point in your earlier post is that "the preponderance of scriptural teaching is focused on WHO we are as husbands, fathers, elders, etc. (rather) than on WHAT we do." This ties in with a crucial point in your later post, "The goal of work in God's eyes is never to provide, but to be where He wants me, and to do what He wants me to do." I am much in agreement with what you say here and with how you talk about Matt. 6:25-34 and your comments on work in the life of Apostle Paul.

I would add that I also tend to think here about the life of King Saul and his actions and work which led up to his rejection by God. Saul wanted to work hard for the people and their approval rather than listening to God (and here I am thinking about your comments on "listening.") Of course, the famous line most often remembered about this story is the rebuke of 1 Samuel 15:22, "To obey is better than sacrifice." But I think most men, and I certainly include myself in this, have a hard time getting this one through our heads. We rely on working hard, and yes, we like to say that it is related to providing for our families, and yes, this is correct in a number of important ways, but...in truth, we often find it easier to deal with the familiar struggle and futility of our daily efforts than wait upon a God who wants to be kind to us beyond our work. Grace frustrates us even as it undoes the curse of Gen. 3:17-19 (which is a curse on our work!). And the riches of God's kindness in grace never finally leads us to laziness but to repentance (Rom. 2:4) and obedience to God which ultimately (re)forms our work for Him.

Of course, you made many of these points very well in what you wrote, but I think you have also made them through your own difficult struggles to follow after God over these last several years. I know less of the details about this than my father and Matt, but I do know that your have made some tough decisions so that you can embrace God's calling for you and move to a place where you and your family might have a chance to flourish. Moving out in faith like that hardly requires less work, but it does demand that one not put their faith in work and that is something that a lot of us just aren't willing to risk. I hope I will remember your words--God is focused on WHO we are--and your example as I think about struggles with work in my own life.

Andy

Truths for Mature Adults

Now that I'm pushing 50, I figure I can own the title "mature"... well, sometimes.

1. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
2. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
3. How in the world are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
4. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
5. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
6. Bad decisions make good stories (and sermon illustrations)
7. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
8. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again
9. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Dang it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
10. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
11. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
12. I wish my GPS had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
13. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.
14. I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.
15. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.
16. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
17. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
18. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
19. I hate that moment when I doze off in the middle of a group conversation, then just as I wake up I say something bizarre and completely out of context... and everyone just stops and stares.
20. I am convinced that the junk in my garage is actually alive and is secretly reproducing itself.

Jim, you've got it all wrong

It is 2:35 in the morning, and like so many mornings in the past few months I am sitting in my living room having given up the struggle to get back to sleep.  As I type this I can imagine several of you saying to yourselves: "Jim, don't you know that working on your computer in the middle of the night is the worst thing you can do to solve insomnia?"  Yes, I am aware of this well-known fact, so I release you from the need to remind me.  Who knows?  Perhaps God has a plan for me that supercedes the importance of sleep - even though all current wisdom says that I need 7 hours of sound sleep per night to function at a "normal" cognitive level.  It wouldn't be the first time that God's plans might go against "sound" logic, would it?  
I will need to re-read this blog later in the day before posting it, lest my thoughts wander too far from reality and I start to write about Red Dogs Eating Mushrooms In the Laundry Room.


I received feedback from several men after my last blog post, so I decided to write my reply here as well.  If any of you want to continue this discussion, then feel free to post a comment at the bottom of this blog entry. 


First of all, a quick disclaimer:  I write my blog in much the same way as I write in my journal - a free-flow of thought rather than a crisp, word-crafted essay.  You could compare a blog to a written version of a Rorschach test -- "So... what do YOU see in this image?"  Of course, I am far more sensitive about the content of the blog than I am about what I write in my personal journal - but it is still my personal "Juniper Tree Journey" filled with my own reflections and opinions.  Even if it's nice to know that something I've written strikes a chord with someone, I really don't have an expectation that people will agree with me.

In response to those who felt it necessary to correct my thinking on the topic of trusting in God as our Provider rather than believing this to be our role as husbands and fathers:  Paul wrote in Romans 8: 14 - "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God". Following the Lord's leading in our lives is an active endeavor, not passive.  "Listening" is a verb, not a noun.  And No, I am not promoting a "let go and let God" perspective - at least not in the way that most people would tend to use this bumper-sticker theology.  I find it fascinating to note that the mere suggestion that God may have a different plan for Christian men than to spend our lives working to "provide" for our families provokes an immediate, almost visceral response from men.  I find the same reaction from people when I teach on hearing the voice of God ("God doesn't speak that way anymore!"), or on living our lives free from sin and fear ("Are you saying that you live in sinless perfection??!").  Think with me for a moment of the metaphors that God uses to describe our relationship with him (as believers, not just as men).  He is the Bridegroom and we are His Bride.  He is the Master and we are His Servants.  He is the High Priest and we are His Royal Priesthood.  He is the Shepherd and we are His Sheep.  He is our Father, and we are His Children. 

Question: In a marriage covenant, does the bride lead or does she follow?  Does the servant provide for his own needs, or is the Master responsible for his food and lodging?  Are the sheep required to fend for themselves and wander around searching for food?  Don't they follow the Shepherd's voice as He leads them to green pastures and beside quiet waters?  Do children rise up early to work for their food, shelter and clothing... or do they simply trust that their parents know what their needs are before they even ask?  And when it comes to our role as a royal priesthood: the tribe of Levi was the only tribe in Israel that did not receive an inheritance of land, and who were actually forbidden by God to do any work outside of their role of serving God and the people.  The Lord said to the tribe of Levi: " You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel."   

My main point to my friend in my previous blog actually has nothing at all to do with the issue of work.  What I am saying is that God is calling all of us to become less independent, and more dependent - not on others, but on God.  Less like adults, and more like children.  One of you spoke about how the birds of the air rise early and stay up late to search for what God has already provided.  Here's the big difference between us and the birds: they are never worried or anxious.  Their lives are actually very simple - eat, drink and mate.  That's about it.  Another difference is that birds are not created in the image of God.  God's ultimate calling for us in this life is not to work; His calling is for us to be conformed to the image of His Son, and He has the right to use anything and everything to accomplish that purpose - whether that be a good job or unemployment; wealth or poverty; sickness or health; good times or economic tragedy.

Yes, it is true that Paul spoke of working with his own hands at times to provide for his needs and those of his companions.  But he also spent many years moving from place to place, living on the gifts of God's people.  When God asked him to work, he worked.  And when God asked him to live in dependence on others, he did so unashamedly - even challenging the believers to give towards his needs. If the mandate from the Lord was that Paul earn his living at all times through tent-making, he would never have been able to plant churches throughout the known world.  Paul knew that God was His provider, and He lived in daily dependence upon and communication with God's Spirit.  The question in my mind has never been to work or not work.  The real question is this:  What is God asking of you and I today?  Do we really believe that God is asking us to spend 60 hours a week, for 50-60 years of our lives simply to provide for our families - something He has already promised to do?  The goal of work in God's eyes is never to provide, but to be where He wants me, and to do what He wants me to do.  We somehow have this idea that it's only when we're debilitated (like my brother John), or we're unemployed that we have to trust in God's promises.  Funny, I don't recall God making that stipulation in the scriptures.... " So if you're sick or unemployed, do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that only sickly and unemployed people need His help. Therefore, if you're unable to work, seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." 
Most of us really trust God for very little.  We want God to stay out of our business and leave us alone to get on with running our lives.  Only when tragedy or hardship strikes do we turn to Him in desperation and cry out, "Oh God, help me!"

In His sovereignty God has used the current economic crisis as His perfect tool to shake us men out of our addiction to work as the source of our identity, and at the same time force us to slow down and listen.  Jesus' challenge to us in Matthew 6 actually does not address the issue of whether or not we should work, but what our attitude is towards work.  His point is that our lives should be free of worry and anxiety about the very things that most of us worry and are anxious about on a daily basis: food, shelter, clothes (and by logical extension, anything else we may worry about).  So my challenge to men is to this:  God's calling upon us is to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness - and simply to enjoy Him, period.  This is true at all times, whether working or unemployed, in sickness or in health.  These 70 or 80 years on earth are the only time God has given to prepare us for eternity.  So, what are you doing with the time He's given you?

  

Below is an email I sent to one of my college buddies this morning.  He wrote me several days ago expressing concern for my brother John's ongoing battle with pain, as well as to ask for prayer as he tries to find a new job that will allow him to provide better for his family.  This was my response:
 _____________________________________

  I appreciate your thoughts regarding John.  You know what would bless John, and probably you too, would be for you to just give him a call (or better yet, meet him for lunch) and just listen to what the Lord's been teaching him.  You're right about the deepness of his walk with God - I'll tell you what bro: I'm learning to pay attention to what God is teaching people who are going through times of suffering, because there's almost always something He can and will tell me through their experience.  So get off your soapbox and give him a call!

Been thinking about what you wrote regarding your job situation.  Interesting concept - how to provide for our families.  Here's a challenge for you: find any scripture passage that specifically addresses our role to provide for our families.  There is one passage in 1 Timothy where the children of elderly widows are exhorted to provide for their mother, but that's dealing with a very specific need and problem in the church.  I do not know of one passage where fathers are exhorted or commanded by God to provide for their family as their primary role (you didn't say that - I'm just jumping on my own soapbox because I'm passionate about this issue).  I believe we should work when God provides the opportunity, and laziness is never an option.  However, I also believe that the preponderance of scriptural teaching is focused on WHO we are as husbands, fathers, elders, etc than on WHAT we do.  I think as men, particularly in our Western society, we place ourselves under inordinate pressure to be "providers", when all that God is asking of us is to be "listeners".  God has said - over and over and over in Scripture - that HE will provide for our needs.  If we focus on anything, we should be focused on walking more intimately with God, hearing His voice, and loving those around us well.  Then we just watch as God steps in to provide for us, but even more to watch as He uses us in the lives of people all around us every day.

Here's an example that happened to me recently:  As you know, we're on staff with this church here in Conifer.  The church can only pay us $________ per week, and I'm sure you can imagine that for a family of 5 that doesn't go too far.  But I believe this is where God wants us, and the amount of money the church can give us is irrelevant.  I never asked for a specific amount, nor do I plan to.  My days are spent doing what I hear God asking of me, and my trust has to be in Him to provide.  So how is God providing for us right now?  In part through the church; through a few gifts sent in by supporters; through an occasional painting that someone buys; through the money we were able to save from the sale of our house in France.  I can't say how He will provide tomorrow, or even whether He will lead me to get a part-time outside the church down the road.  But what I am seeing is that day by day He comes through in the most amazing ways. I started making signs to put around the church out of wood, and I burn the letters with a wood-burning tool (they fit the "rustic" mountain theme).  I've chosen to buy the wood and tools at my expense, and not ask the church to reimburse me; it's just one more way I can give by tithing my time and expenses.  Low and behold, I've had several people comment on the signs and I may end up getting commissioned to make some personalized signs for other people.  I didn't plan it that way - it's just how God works stuff out.  Here's another example:  you probably know that I started a crisis management consulting company last year, thinking that God would provide for our needs through contracts for training.  I had one contract to train a local church in Texas, but other than that nothing else.  To be honest, I'm just not a businessman at heart.  I told the Lord that we would follow His lead to invest our time and energy in The Journey Church, and that I would not spend any more time doing marketing for Storm Guides.  If He wants to use the company to provide, then He would have to drop it in my lap.  Well, about 10 days ago I got a call out of the blue from a small mission agency that works in several countries in Africa.  I don't know them from Adam.  They have some needs for crisis management training, and they'd actually started by contacting my main "competitor" in this business.  For some reason, he just dropped off the radar about eight months ago.  They tried a couple more organizations, but couldn't seem to find the right fit for their needs.  They somehow got in touch with me through a recommendation from a different mission agency based in Denver - a group I've never trained or even helped in any way.  They tried to contact me through my website contact form, but the link didn't work and I never got the message.  They finally called me, and I just sent them a proposal for training their staff that could potentially provide several thousand dollars in income… and I never lifted one finger on my side. This may or may not pan out, but it doesn't matter in the end.  What God has shown me is that He can provide at any time, through any means, without me doing anything.  If He doesn't provide through this contract, He'll provide some other way.

 My point is this:  I could be spending all my time running around trying to find work that would provide for our needs, but that would mean I would be taking things into my own hands to work out my own solutions, rather than finding rest in God's promises to provide.  Frankly, I'd rather have God's solutions than my own any day.  I believe both biblically and experientially that this is where He wants us to remain: at rest, free from fear or anxiety, simply trusting in Him.  When He leads, we follow.  When we hear nothing, we just stay busy doing what He's already shown us to do.  As Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and the follow me."  That's our only role in life - to follow.  Do we always know where He's taking us?  Almost never.  Does He sometimes ask us to go through times of hardship, or sickness, or tragedy? Absolutely.  And through it all, He is there for us: strong, in control, full of love and compassion for us, enjoying every minute of fellowship with His children.  We're the ones who have this strange idea that we have to work everything out for ourselves, and we end up full of fear, stressed-out, and running from one job to the next.  Our lives get so full of "activity" that we never actually get to enjoy the journey itself, which is what we were created for. 

My favorite passage on the whole point of trusting in Him alone to provide for our needs is from Matthew 6:

 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.  For this reason I say to you, do not be bworried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 “And who of you by being aworried can badd a single hour to his life? 28 “And why are you aworried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 “But if God so clothes the agrass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 “Do not aworry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for ayour heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But 1seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." 

The Big Dump

Daphne and I just returned from Orlando after visiting my folks for four days.  Wouldn't you know it that the exact days we were away Conifer was hit with the "Big Dump" of snow for this winter.  I think in those four days we got 30 inches of snow - more than we've had the rest of the winter combined.  Our neighbor Carol came and plowed for us a couple of times, and Cortland (who stayed with the girls with his wife Crystal) used the Quad to plow as well.  We have a wall of snow on either side of our driveway now (see picture below) and I'll need to get another friend to push the snow over the edge of the hill before the next snowfall, or there'll be nowhere to push the snow out of the way.

Back Deck at 6 a.m.

Back deck

Our house early this mornin

As we were coming down our road towards our house yesterday (on our way home from the airport) we found our mailman signaling us to slow down.  His truck had slid off the edge of the road just past our house, but the back of the vehicle was still sticking out into the road.  He'd stopped just a foot or two from plunging another 10-15 feet down into the ravine.  Apparently another car did go all the way down this past weekend and had to be pulled out. I dropped Daphne at home then came back and pulled him out of the snow with my truck; you gotta love big engines and 4WD!  At least I've had the chance to meet our mailman now - his name is Rusty.

Orlando was wet, cool and humid.  I slept much more soundly down there, I assume due to the increased level of oxygen.  Makes me wonder if I should see if supplemental oxygen would help me up here... wait a minute - am I really that old now??  Yikes.  Daphne and I really enjoyed the time with my folks, and on Saturday evening we had something of a reunion with many of the friends we'd served with the past 10 years in the NAMESTAN team in France.  I was struck by how radically different our lives are, now that we're in Colorado and part of the church team.  While I admit it was fun to see our friends again, I was struck by the realization that I really have no desire to return to our former life with CCC.  I guess it was a good confirmation that God has moved us to a new place and a different calling in life.  Other than our best friends Scott and Mary, this was the first time we'd seen any of our former teammates.  I was struck by another sobering fact as well: virtually everyone who came to the "mini reunion" had left the mission field as a member of the Walking Wounded.  This fact saddened me considerably.  How is it that so many mature, faithful staff members can return from an international ministry assignment with deep emotional scars, without the organizational leadership responding with a serious evaluation of the causes?  At some point my respect for Christian leaders is contingent on how they respond to the needs of their people - and in this case I have to say that the response has been underwhelming.

Moving on.  I spoke last night on the topic of Persecution.  My main point is that our faith is BY DESIGN a risky venture.  Jesus not only suffered greatly Himself, but He promised that as His children we would suffer as well.  Not exactly the kind of promises we like to claim, are they?  I am convinced that true peace is only possible in the midst of trials and hardships - not in spite of them.  It's a question of contrast, just like the fact that we appreciate the sunshine all the more after the storm.  Somehow in Christendom we've come to equate the Christian Life with health, wealth and prosperity - all the while ignoring the reality that by FAR the vast majority of believers throughout church history have not enjoyed the relative comfort of the western church today.  I've just finished reading an excellent book called "The Barbarian Way" by Erwin Mcmanus.  The author asks a disturbing question: Would God knowingly and willingly lead His children into the face of danger?  The answer, both biblically and experientially, is a resounding YES.  We love to quote the now famous statement: "The safest place to be is in the center of God's will".  However, most people have no idea that this statement was made by Betsie Ten Boom in the middle of the German invasion of Holland, nor that Betsie died of disease in Ravensbruck concentration camp only weeks after making this statement.  Therefore the word "Safe" has a different biblical definition than the way we use the word today.  Biblically speaking, "Safety" is a more a statement of WHO than WHAT.  It has nothing to do with our health, protection from physical harm or the provision of our needs - but everything to do with finding emotional and spiritual shelter in the strong arms of the one who controls every event of our lives.  In this sense then, safety will surely mean hardship, trials and loss.  But it also means a life of freedom from fear, a life of experiencing the supernatural hand of God in our lives on a daily basis, of the wild adventure of hearing the voice of God Himself saying "Follow Me".  This must have been what Paul meant when he penned these words in 2 Corinthians 4:
       "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;  we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."

Bitter Cold

It is 6:30 Tuesday morning, and according to our outside thermometer it is -12º.  School is canceled - not for the snow, but because of the cold.  If you count the windchill it should get down to -20º.  Now that's COLD!  The Angry Llama Diner is closed as well, so this may be a day to finish my sermon for tomorrow night and work some more on my latest painting. 

Daphne's folks will be leaving us on Thursday morning, and we will be sad to see them go.  After two months away I'm sure they're looking forward to being back in their own "digs" again, but we've had an truly wonderful and memorable time with them.  When they arrived we all sensed that the Lord was bringing them here for more than just a visit, and this has really proven to be true.  God has used them in our lives in some significant ways, and I also believe the reverse is also true.  Their visit has been very significant for me personally for one main reason: when they arrived, I was in a difficult and confusing place emotionally.  I was struggling to understand why God had brought us here and what roles we could fill in our church, and I was honestly feeling depressed.  What a change two months can bring!  I can't explain what has transpired in my heart, or when it happened; all I know is that I feel fulfilled and full of joy and excitement over what God is doing in my life, in my family and in our community.  This fact (the change in my emotional state since Daphne's folks arrived) only occurred to me this morning, so I'm still wondering how God brought it about.  Regardless, I'm grateful to God and to several key prayer partners who've faithfully stood in the gap for us spiritually.  God has answered their prayers.

The deer have been more frequent around our house recently.  I really wonder how any wildlife can survive outdoors in such extreme conditions.  At least foxes and dens to curl up in, but the deer and elk have to depend on their thick layers of fur to keep them warm.  I got some great pictures of the buck that shows up every so often.  I'd put a salt/mineral lick out on the rocks behind our house, and I've been waiting for weeks for just the right circumstances where the lighting is good and that the buck doesn't bolt as soon as I step outside with my camera.  Last Sunday morning was the PERFECT opportunity, and he cooperated beautifully.

I am realizing what a challenge it is for pastors to preach every week, and to do so with energy, passion and a fresh word from God.  All the years we served overseas I would preach about once a month, so I had plenty of time to think, pray and prepare a message to bring.  Now that I'm speaking every week, I've gained a whole new appreciation for challenge this presents.  Michael has been a great help to me - giving me tips on ways to improve my presentation, and how to build my messages in a clear and simple way.  Still, the difficulty remains to come with a topic that I am passionate about.  If the passion isn't there, the whole message can collapse.  Last week I re-taught on Character (since only two people had come the previous week due to the snow... which I find amusing, being that we're living in the mountains and all), but I just could not get my heart into the topic.  I got through the message, but with enormous difficulty and a great deal of spiritual opposition.  Tomorrow I'm planning to talk about the reality of spiritual persecution, particularly in the Middle East.  The difficulty is to take this topic and "bring it home" for the folks here. 

The day after Daphne's folks head back to Jolly Old England, Daphne and I will hop on a plane to Orlando to spend a few days with my folks.  We didn't get to see them at all during the holidays, and the last time we saw them was during the summer.  Mom has finished her radiation treatments and is hopefully feeling stronger and able to handle some more visitors.  My folks are opening their home on Saturday evening for all the people we've worked with in the NAMESTAN office who now live in Orlando - should be a fun reunion.

Yes, I'm still here!

I'm back from my adventures in Middle-Earth.  I enjoyed my visit with Bilbo and Frodo, but now it's time to get back to work.  Gandalf says Hi, by the way.  Seriously though - the lack of blog entries is entirely due to everyone else and is not my fault.  Talking about Middle-Earth, though, has reminded me that years ago when I'd just "launched" my Billy Bob character, I created a Powerpoint presentation for one of our staff retreats called "Billy Bob of the Rings".  It was just after the first Lord of the Rings movie had come out and I felt inspired -- so I put my graphic designer hat on and re-created all of the main characters in the movie in the form of Billy Bob.  Kind of hard to explain, so I'll just show you.  The first picture is, of course, Billy Bob.

The rest is self-explanatory.

The original - never to be imitated

 Wow, the wonders of Photoshop!  When I showed this power point the first time, there were literally people in the audience who fell off their chairs they were laughing so hard. I've never had quite the same reaction since; I wonder why?

______________________________________


We've thoroughly been enjoying a long, relaxed visit from Daphne's parents Felix and Valerie.  They arrived on December 6th, and they're scheduled to leave on February 3rd.  We'll be very sad to send them head back to Jolly Ol' England early next month.  Because so much of our lives take place at our church building, they've come right along with us and they'll sit at the diner literally for hours, chatting with anyone who comes along.  We're planning to take them up to Estes Park on Monday to show them some more of this beautiful state, and to visit our dear friend Sharon McElwain.  They've handled the altitude amazingly well, and

they've only needed to use some oxygen at night to help them sleep.

The church is growing by leaps and bounds, and that kind of growth brings lots of great excitement and plenty of challenges.  Last Wednesday evening I spoke on the topic of spiritual warfare, and it seemed literally the next day - and the following days - the devil came out with his claws unsheathed.  Family problems, health issues, broken appliances... the good thing is we weren't surprised, and I believe half
of the battle is won simply by our alertness to who is behind the problems.  He prefers to stay hidden and make us believe his lies.  Once his schemes are revealed, he tends to back off and wait for a more "opportune time."

Last night did the second in the "Believe It Or Not" series, this time on character.  It was snowing outside, and even though we live in the mountains and people are used to driving in the snow, only three people showed up for the service.  I confess that I get a little discouraged when so few show up, because I try to put a lot into what I teach.  However, all the sessions are recorded, and you can listen to them online if you go follow these steps:
1. www.journeyfoothills.com
2. Click on the image "Midweek @ Journey" on the right side of the page
3. Click on the link and listen to the message on your computer.

Got to run - we're invited out for dinner.

"Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful..."

BCS  CHAMPIONSHIP!!

Today is the big day:  The BCS National Championship between Auburn and Oregon, and I hear that the dinner menu is candied Duck.  We haven't actually won a national championship since 1957, although we could have in 1993 and 2004 because we went undefeated in both seasons.  I only wish I could be in Alabama watching the game with all my Auburn buddies.  Maybe next year.   I've already bought a bottle of champagne to celebrate the Tigers victory tonight - should be fun!

It's been snowing non-stop since yesterday morning, and it should begin to taper off in a few hours.  I'd say we've gotten maybe 12 inches in the last 24 hours.  I plowed the driveway twice yesterday to stay ahead of the curve, and I learned a new trick by watching the big dump-trucks as they plow the roads around here:  the faster you go when you're plowing the better.  The last time I plowed (a week ago) it probably took me 45 minutes to clear the driveway.  Yesterday I could finish the job in 15 by driving the ATV faster because the snow just tends to blow away in front of you rather than heaping up into piles.  I don't know if this idea will work later in the Spring when the snow becomes wetter and heavier - but the snow we've gotten so far is like powdered sugar (must be awesome up on the ski slopes!).

Spiritual Warfare

The video link below is the introduction to my message this coming Wednesday on Spiritual Warfare - the first in the series called, "Jim's Believe It Or Not; Amazing But True Tales From The Mission Field."  In preparing for this particular message, I was reminded of the strange but true story of "The Man Eaters of Tsavo" - a tale that took place in what is now the Tsavo East National Park in Southern Kenya.  I've been to Tsavo many times in my younger days, but was never able to spot any of the now infamous "mane-less" male lions that still roam this arid,  unforgiving land.  In the late 1800's two such unusual male lions lacking the typical magnificent golden mane of the species brought the construction of a railway bridge over the Tsavo river to a complete halt.  These two lions snacked on some 135 Indian and African workers over a period of nine months, and halted the construction of the railway and frustrated the power of the British Kingdom until Colonel Patterson was able to kill both of them.  These lions had an uncanny ability to evade being killed, so much so that the locals believed they were not lions at all but demons in lion form.  Patterson described how he would set a trap at one end of the camp, only to hear the screams coming from the opposite end sometime during the night - again, and again, and again.  It was like they could read his mind and knew where he was going to be.


It's no wonder why the Lord compares Satan to a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.  Interesting thing about lions: they roar to declare their territory or to frighten away other animals; but when they hunt, they go silent because they're ambush killers.  So is our enemy - he would rather convince us that he's not a threat at all, or keep us looking in the wrong direction while he tries to trip us up at our weakest point.  We have to put on the armor we've been given, and resist the enemy at every point along the way.

First Winter Storm

Three Cowboys at church

 We had our first genuine winter storm a couple days ago - about 8 or 9 inches.  I spent about 45 minutes plowing our driveway with the blade on the front of my ATV.  There wasn't enough snow to warrant plowing, except for the fact that our driveway stays in shade all year once it freezes, the ice ruts are there to stay until May.  

We held our first Christmas Eve Candlelight service at church last week.  We put out 188

chairs, thinking we probably wouldn't even fill that many (it was our first time - chalk it up to our lack of experience).  The service started at 5:30.  When people started arriving at 4:45, we realized we'd probably underestimated the crowd.  They just kept coming and coming until the entire parking lot was packed, and we had to bring chairs and benches up from the restaurant to seat everyone - and even then we had at least 50 people standing in the back.  The final count was 436 people.  For this small mountain community that's the equivalent of 5000 down the hill in Denver.  It was incredible.  I didn't recognize at least a third of those who came, many who'd heard about it from the flyers we handed out at the Christmas parade, and 100 posters we put up around the community.  What can I say - the Lord blew us away. 

New Teaching Series

I've finished teaching through the book of John, and now I'm taking a couple of weeks off to prepare for the next series called "Jim's Believe It Or Not! Amazing But True Tales From The Mission Field". I've hesitated up till now to share a great deal of our background (growing up in Kenya for me and in Zimbabwe for Daphne), and of our twenty years serving overseas, because I thought the folks here would not be able to relate.  Then it occurred to me that it's up to us to help them relate by telling our stories.  The best preachers are those who can tell a story that will hook the hearts of their listeners, draw them in, and help them to find themselves somewhere in the story - and hopefully learn something significant in the process.  This is the first time for me to pull together some of the most significant lessons the Lord taught me in the 28 years I spent living internationally, and I'm excited about the opportunity to share our lives with those who attend the mid-week service.

Deer In Our Front Yard This Morning

I've started putting grain out to attract the deer, and they've caught on quickly.  I don't know where they hide, but it isn't usually more than 30 minutes for them to show up once the feed out.  They've become very bold and only walk a few steps away if I come out to where they are.  I'm sure we're not the only ones who feed them judging by their weight!  I would love to draw the elk closer in, but they tend to wander further than the deer.  We saw a herd of 30-40 at the top of our road a week ago, but then they disappeared.  Now that the rutting season is over, the elk gather in huge herds of up to 200 - I'm dying to show them to Daphne's folks, but they're never with us in the car when the elk appear.  Murphy's Law.

First Plow Of The Season

 

The Back Deck

Elk On The Road Just Above Our House