Have a Coke and a Smile...

I know, it's not much of a smile, but it's the best I can do. This picture was taken in Peru, halfway between Lima and Huaraz. At this point, I was still wondering what this week was going to hold. We had arrived in Lima in the late afternoon, took a shuttle to our hotel, bedded down for the night, and at the point of this picture, had already begun half of the 8 hour bus ride the following day. I knew I was in for something, but I had no idea what it was.

Two things were impressed on me as I crossed the seas to this new culture.

1. Simplicity breeds contentment. As we watched people living "slower" lives, with less opportunity for distraction, they seemed to be satisfied with so little, and enjoyed the "finer" things of life - like relationships with others. People sitting down on the side of the road, watching the world go by. People talking over meal tables and hanging out with family. Seemed much slower and comfortable. You know, have a coke and a smile... relax!

2. People come in a variety of shapes, colors, designs, etc. which showed me the creativity of our God. However, at their basic core, people are so similar. You watch parents love their children. You see rules and regulations defining what is and is not okay. As we crossed into this new culture, it was imperative that we find out what the social norms are so that we could adjust to meet their expectations. In light of recent things I have been reading - you know, the blogs about the proofs that God does not exist - the variety yet the similarity of people was for me a very plausible defense for the existence of a loving, artistic, wise creator. Say what you will, our God exists, and His creation defends that truth every day.

Well there is much more to write, but that will come another day. So, sit back, enjoy your creator, and "have a coke and a smile..."

Lessons from Peru (introduction)

I have had the privilege of being in Peru since last Thursday and will be here until Monday. The purpose of the trip is for missions to the Quetchuan, the children in the Huaraz children´s center, and to minister to the kids in the children´s center in Lima.

As with any missions trip, many lessons are being learned, and I look forward to sharing them over the next few blogs. Each day I am recording lessons that I am learning, along with ideas for future blog sessions. International travel gives me much to think about, as I step away from my normal patterns, culture, and comforts. I will be recording some of these thoughts over the next few days (after I return - unless I get access to a computer in Lima).

Many have prayed for us (the team) and our families, and I appreciate those prayers. God has given us great opportunities, and I believe only in eternity will we know the fruit of the work that God is doing here.

Blind Faith???

I know you have heard it said that justice is blind. It would be nice if that were completely true. We all know stories of people that have somehow been judged incorrectly, or intentionally broadsided by those who have the responsibility to judge fairly. Whether in a courtroom battle, or just in a ball field skirmish, justice is not always blindly determined.

It is also not true that faith is blind. Ignorance allows for someone to blindly follow what they do not know, but faith does not. Let me state that another way. Someone may say they have "faith", but if it is indefensible, or one chooses to ignore the necessity for the defense of truth, it is not "blind faith", but rather ignorance, or lazy ignorance.

I have recently been following the writings of Daniel Florien in his blog - unreasonablefaith.com. It intrigues me because this man seems to be very intelligent, and willing to hear defenses for almost anything, but he has concluded that there is no god. As Christians seek to "wrestle" with him using their words, he rightly concludes that there is little they have to say. I keep reading to see if someone can/will stand for truth, but most follow his arguements, allow for his assumptions, and limply strike at his defenses.

I would like to encourage us as Christians to know the word of God, to know the work of Christ, to be able to defend truth, without waivering. That will require a lot of work, and a confidence that what we are defending is true. Daniel says he is looking with eyes wide open, and I commend him for that. We must be able to "give an answer" for anyone, including Daniel.

Fanatic or Just Plain Crazy???

It's 9:30 on Friday Night at Chattanooga's Riverbend, Willie Nelson is just stepping out on the stage, and I am about 200 yards from him. If we were the only 2 people there, I could use a megaphone, and I am confident he still would not hear me. He looked like he was 2 inches tall standing on Riverbend's Coca Cola Stage on the Tennessee River.

Now I am not a real fan of Willie Nelson. I was at Riverbend to support some friends in the Sheriff's department.

However, the little ole' lady right behind me was there for Willie only. When he walked out on the stage, the whooping and hollering started. "WHOOOOOOHHH, WILLLIIIIIIEEEEE" She would yell in a coarse base voice. He would start a song and she would dance and sing along. Her 5 foot, 60+ year old frame swaying off beat, as she sang as loud as she could the words of his songs. Right next to her was another woman, obviously enamoured with Willie, as she did not take her eyes of the 25' screens that his image was displayed on. I mean she was focused!! She was probably early 40's, but she looked like she was watching her best friend perform. "WHOOOOOOHHH, WILLLIIIIIIEEEEE" the old lady would yell, and the younger lady would just smile and continue watching the screen. They didn't care what anyone else said or did (except for when I stepped in front of the old lady - "Sir, Sir, could you please move, I can't see Willie.")

I had to ask myself, are these ladies crazy?? After all, he is a musician. He plays music. Sings songs. That's it! He doesn't even know that they are there - amongst the 100+ thousand people on the riverfront. As a matter of fact, it doesn't even look like he cares. He addresses the crowd twice, neither time for more that 5 seconds, and awaiting no reply, moves into his next song. He was obviously impared, but he could still sing, so he did.

In a world where we are encouraged to hold very little that imporant in our lives, it was interesting to see with what passion and focus these women held to a musician that didn't even care about them.

Let me ask you - what are you willing to be "crazy" about? While others look on and are baffled by your dedication, what are you "trying to see"? What are you a "fan" of?

The Lessons of the Deck...

No, not a deck of cards. Not a deck on a ship. A 10 x 8 deck in my back yard.

The project started as a plan to build a tree house for my son - from that it grew into a 10x8 deck placed strategically by the trampoline about 7 feet in the air. Yes, I am encouraging my son to jump off a deck onto the trampoline from 4 feet above the trampoline.

Here are the lessons learned from 7+ hours in the sun on Saturday (followed by 5 hours on Sunday).

1. Start with a plan and stick to it! I had an idea of what I needed to do to make this deck work, and after talking with the "crew" we revised the plan. Result : confusion and constant reworking of the job.

2. Start with something that is sure! Because we modified the original plan, we modified the way the deck would be supported. Since none of the legs were attached to the others, everything was relative. One leg would be level - 6 inches in from the side, another leg would be lever 8 inches in from the side. After a while, neither one of them was level because the leg that was 5 inches from the side had to be shifted to make it level. IT WAS A NIGHTMARE!!

3. Where there is no security, you better be nimble! Shortly after the crew left, and we were in the process of re-evaluation, the deck fell! I was explaining the need for some stabilizing legs to make the makeshift project work, and next thing I know it's on the ground!

I don't just share this to mock my carpentry skills - but rather to encourage you with the life lessons I took from this failure.

Daily we need to refocus ourselves on the "plan" that has been laid out for us. We need to interact with the designer, and make sure that we are moving ahead according to His direction.

We need to start with something true and sure. If truth is variable, results will vary, and ultimately will result in chaos.

Finally, when we step away from fixed truth and a solid plan, we are on shaky ground. Just like the deck looked right before it fell, things seem stable and sure, but in just seconds all that we have worked for can be laying in a heap.

By the way, on Sunday, we went back to the original plan, and amazingly enough, in just a 2 hours we had the deck up and people were jumping off of it. Stop by some time and enjoy a good jump on the trampoline...

Love this message

Great Introduction to 2 Peter by Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Baptist Church.

http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/trial/faith-in-your-new-birth

A friend told me about this church, and I just spent the last hour listening to this message - I had to share it!!!

Hope you enjoy it as well...

Fortified on all sides...Falling apart inside.

The American church is in trouble. Much like the castles of old, Christians have walled themselves in to a society of people that agree with them, are safe to be with, and are committed to their protection. War is raging all around, and we sit in our secure facilities struggling over the meaningless dribble that fills our lives. People outside our circles are searching for answers. They are concluding that there is no God because they do not see Him at work in the world today. The basic concept of marriage is under attack. Children are being bought and sold. Psychologists and Psychiatrists are giving people false hope in new patterns, new drugs, new "thinking". MILLIONS are living empty, fruitless, dead lives because they do not know anything else. The enemy is waging war, taking prisoners, and WE ARE UNIMPACTED.

Yes, I know, we pray for the unchurched. We talk about the unsaved. We even have "outreaches" to bring them into the castle (better not keep the door open too long, you never know what might come in...). HOWEVER...

We have laid our weapons of war down. We have fattened ourselves up with the pleasures and passions of this life. We have become anemic in our faith and cannot defend ourselves in battle. We have become a powerless generation that argues over theology, but neither studies God to know Him, nor implements the things we learn.

Our marriages are falling apart. Our children are walking away from truth. Our churches are watching their leaders fall. We are dying from the inside out.

I, for one am looking for something else, something more, something real. What about you???

The problem with Christianity today is...

I was researching the phrase "traveling mercies" when I came across a website blog by a very intelligent, self proclaiming atheist. Very interesting things were written in his blog, for example, "The Tragic Trap of the Christian Marriage", "A Guide to Christian Cliche's and Phrases", "Why I deny the Virgin birth", "The Futility of Invoking a Designer", just to name a few. The author of this blog was once a follower of Christ, and has apparently had much training, even to the extent that he was headed into "full-time" ministry. Hundreds of comments are listed on his blog - as people join together to record their distaste for Christians, and their disbelief in a God. I have 2 thoughts, and I will keep it simple (or at least attempt to).

First, it is a shame that Christians get in the way of the message of Christ. It is generally not the truth of the Bible that people reject, but rather the presentation of those truths. Christians (including myself) need to be able to "give an answer" to everyone who asks the reason for the hope that we have. As I read through this blog (and many others) the Christian responses are weak at best, and generally tend toward anger, judgment, and/or disdain for people that God loves very dearly.

Secondly, I am reminded how great our God is who, as creator of all, is not obligated to make Himself known to anyone. Yet, in His plan, He not only gave us His word to tell us about Himself, but gave us His Word in flesh, and showed us how to live. There is no defense for God - He does not need one - which is why He spends no time in His word defending His existence. However, the evidence for God is overwhelming and irrefutable! What an amazing thought that creator God loved us so much that He allows people to choose to deny His existence. He allows people to choose to reject His gift of love in His own son's sacrifice on Calvary. He allows humankind to make the decisions they want to make, and does not demand our respect, our love, our obedience, or even our acknowledgment of Himself. He does, however, warn us of the consequences of our choices - we all know that every choice has consequences.

Last thoughts - if challenged today to defend your faith, could you do it? If you can, does your defense of your faith draw others to God, or arrogantly push them away? If you cannot, of what use is your faith? and finally, when was the last time that your heart hurt for people that cannot, will not, or do not know God?

I promised I'd keep it brief...