dafroneyguy's Blog

The Mystery Of Pain (by Emily Dickinson)

2011-01-06T18:05:00.001-08:00

In an on-going attempt to broaden my literary horizons, I found a collection of poems by Emily Dickinson. I have really enjoyed her poetry thus far, and look forward to more. Among the poems I've read so far is this short, insightful gem that I thought my internet friends might enjoy:

The Mystery Of Pain

Pain has an element of blank;
It cannot recollect
When it began, or if there were
A day when it was not.

It has no future but itself,
Its infinite realms contain
Its past, enlightened to perceive
New periods of pain.

(-Emily Dickinson)

Why Are Fire Engines Red?

2010-12-06T09:18:00.001-08:00

I recently read Exegetical Fallacies (by D.A. Carson). It is a good, technical book that highlights some of the wrong ways to study the Bible. One of the areas where Bible scholars can go astray is in their logic, involving fallacies owing to improper steps, inconclusive evidence, etc. To begin the chapter dealing with logic, Carson gives this funny (and thought-provoking) logical argument:

Why Are Fire Engines Red?

They have four wheels and eight men;
four plus eight is twelve;
twelve inches make a ruler;
a ruler is Queen Elizabeth;
Queen Elizabeth sails the seven seas;
the seven seas have fish;
the fish have fins;
the Finns hate the Russians;
the Russians are red;
fire engines are always rushin’;
so they’re red.

And Pastor Preached On Patience…

2009-03-05T16:09:00.001-08:00

Sunday morning’s sermon was on patience. God knew that I needed it. It’s interesting how God works in my life sometimes. The Saturday before was particularly challenging – a Romans 12:18 day for me. God was preparing me for Sunday morning. The message was excellent! Pastor spoke of how the Lord is not impatient with us, though He has every right to be; he listed some of God’s goals in His patience (to make us more Christ-like, to develop true inner worship of God, to mature us in our human relationships); he gave examples of when we need to have patience; then he spoke of how we can improve our patience…

Yep, it’s what you’re probably thinking: pray for trouble* (see James 1:2-4).

Guess what? God still answers prayer. He has daily been teaching me to wait on Him – to rest in His strength. I suppose God knows that trials are the best way (quickest, most effective) to get us to rely on Him. Yet in every situation He has supplied the strength and grace to make it through. Praise His Name! He IS GOOD!!! I have in no way arrived, that much I know.

But He is faithful.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:8-9

*Disclaimer: Pastor did not recommend using this method.

Is It Funeral Time?

2009-01-20T11:01:00.000-08:00

The story is told of Martin Luther who was going through a time of depression. He was missing sleep, not eating very much, and was very discouraged about life in general. One morning he came down for breakfast, and was surprised to see his wife in black mourning clothes. He was very puzzled by this, and so asked her who died. Her answer shocked him:

"God has died," she said somberly.

His reply was quick. "That's impossible - God cannot die!" He continued to assure her that God was indeed alive, giving valid arguments and testimony to His Power and Aliveness.

When he had finally finished, she asked one question.

"Then why are you acting like He died?"

What a point! Even during tough times our God is alive and thriving! In fact, He says that we can "be of good cheer," even though tribulations do come (John 16:33). We must trust His Goodness and rest in His Strength.

(And who said life was about us, anyway?)

A Prayer Answered

2008-10-13T18:23:00.001-07:00

My God is so good!

This past week I hit a tree with the door of my Jeep. It looked like a minor accident at first... until we took it to the body shop. My carelessness was going to cost me $1300 in repairs. And I wouldn't be able to drive the Jeep until I saved up that money to have the repairs done.

Needless to say, it was not a good day. And knowing that it was all my fault only made the situation more discouraging. I knew that God was in total control, but it was still hard to see it through the eyes of faith. Several friends encouraged me to trust God, and also reminded me of this passage:

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
James 1:2-4 (emphasis mine)

Monday morning we went back to the shop; I was expecting bad news. But the Lord provided for me; I'll be able to drive my Jeep for around $300! (It needs some new paint, but it is drivable!)

Later, I learned that several friends were specifically praying for me that morning; God heard their prayers, and worked on my behalf. He Alone deserves the Glory!

Praise His Name!

Patience Is A Virtue, I Think....

2008-08-20T11:44:00.001-07:00

It's almost been a month since I left North Africa. I think about it everyday, every hour of everyday. I really miss the culture, the places, but most importantly, I miss the people. And it's easy to get depressed, remembering it, thinking about the need there, wishing to return, knowing what I know, having seen all that I've seen, having been touched so deeply in so many ways. But God never stopped being in control, and He has brought me to where I am.

So I must be content with what He is doing. It's not easy, but it is a must. There is a definite need in North Africa, but there's also a definite need in the ATL, too. Right now God hasn't put me in NA, but He has put me in Atlanta. So instead of getting tunnel-vision for NA, I should be taking advantage of the opportunities that God has put around me; serving in my church, encouraging my friends in the Lord, studying at Bible college, spreading the Gospel in my Jerusalem, etc, etc, etc. But does this mean that I am so involved here that I forget the rest of the world? Not at all.

I suppose it pretty much comes down to one word - balance. I am patient, yet I am taking action. I am waiting, yet I am doing. I am sharing the Gospel at home, and still wanting to share it abroad. I am content where God has placed me, yet I am not stagnant, forgetting where I am headed.

A good friend recently encouraged me that God's Will isn't necessarily about a destination. It's about the journey. What am I learning now? How am I growing spiritually? Am I letting God teach me? Am I being a good steward of the time and talent God has given me now? Am I running my race with patience (Hebrews 12:1)? There should be long-range focus, of course, but bring that into balance with the 'here-and-now.' I'm not living in the future. I'm living in the present, with the future approaching me(ever so slowly, it feels like).

It's been a while since I posted. I have much on my mind, but hope that these thoughts have encouraged you in some way.

"...let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..."

-Hebrews 12:1-2

Completely. Worn. Out.

2008-07-24T07:39:00.001-07:00

I been traveling for the past 35+ hours. We successfully crossed from North Africa to NY, NY. Then we unsuccessfully flew from NY to ATL. In fact, we didn't even all fly to ATL. We missed our flight due to heavy air traffic. After trying to run from one terminal to another, we realized that half our group could fly out on the next flight home. Good. Then two students were able to fly on a "standby" flight home. So that left 4 of us remaining in NY through the night. And what a night! Trying to sleep in an airport is a near-impossibility, so instead we sat, talked, and drank coffee. Being stuck in tiring situations is actually fun with the right people - and the four of us (Jamie, Miranda, Casondra, and I) made a great group. Then, this morning, Miranda flew home to Pittsburgh. So now there's three of us, and we are about to get a taxi to La Guardia, since JFK won't fly us home. According to the schedule, we arrive home at 7 tonight.

On a personal note, I am completely exhausted. But so is everyone else, so we can relate to each other. Not only are we physically tired, but we're also emotionally drained. Leaving a country and friends that you love is very hard.

Pray for me as I adjust to life in the States again, and continue to seek God's Will for my life. Thank you so much for your prayers and support during the past 2+ months! God richly blessed, and I'm excited to share what has happened this summer!

A Preacher-Boy Once Again!

2008-07-09T15:44:00.001-07:00

I got to preach tonight! Amen! I preached in English to 10 English speaking people (9 team members, and one native who speaks English well). There was no translator because the other pastor preached in Arabic as well. (No, we didn't preach at the same time...) The topic of my message was Elisha and Gehazi, and what separated their lives and ministries. The focal point was materialism - living for the "here & now", and not being concerned with eternal things. I can't judge how I preached, but the study/preparation time was very convicting! I preached the message to myself, and let the other people listen in.

It's exciting serving the Lord! Thank you to everyone who has encouraged/stretched/prodded/helped me grow in any way! I appreciate how the Lord has used you in my life, and am grateful for you!

Discipleship Time!

2008-07-07T06:59:00.001-07:00

This weekend, I had the opportunity to lead a discipleship time with nine Nigerians. This area is where many Nigerians (mostly male) travel to in hopes of reaching Spain, and a better life. Few make it across the border legally, so there are groups of Nigerian men who live together, waiting for their opportunity to cross. The missionary here is good friends with several Christian Nigerians, and he meets with them 2-3 times a month for sandwiches and a Bible study.

I was asked (a.k.a. 'volunteered') to lead a lesson on "Eternal Security." I readily accepted the challenge, especially since I had no other choice. I was really nervous, wondering how God could use me (a very white American!) to encourage these dear believers across the globe from Nigeria. The past week, I had been suffering with some stomach trouble, and was still not completely better. Also, I didn't have as much time to prepare as I would've liked to have had. But, in spite of my many weaknesses, God blessed, and the believers were edified. Praise the Lord!

Tears For Hell

2008-07-05T06:02:00.001-07:00

Today we went to a hill overlooking the city. As a group, we prayed for the Muslims here, that God would open their eyes to the Gospel of Christ. On the bus ride home, God touched me in a very powerful way. Since this is Saturday afternoon, the streets are full of people. As we drove, I noticed these people today, not as physical bodies only, but as souls that will live forever.

Souls that have never heard about Jesus.

Souls that believe they are going to Heaven.

Souls that are really going to Hell.

For eternity.

I saw individual faces, individual people, individual souls. Knowing that each soul is "condemned already" before God, and that there is no one to tell them about Jesus - wow! - what a terrible realization!

Who will come here?

Who will tell them about Jesus?

Who will give them hope for eternity?

Will you help?

Will you come?

Will you give them hope?

I Know The Recipe For Humble Pie!!!

2008-07-02T03:56:00.001-07:00

Written By Paul

During this trip, there have been 3 distinct times where I have said or done something that offended someone else. Whether it was a joke at someone's expense, or a miscommunication on my part, or even hitting my friend in the eye with a bag of candy, I've had plenty of opportunities to practice humility. It is both hard and easy to apologize to someone; hard, because you have to totally admit you were wrong, and ask them to forgive you. And it's easy because humility is (by far) the best route and it is what God wants. (Think of the results if I don't apologize when I'm wrong!)

Through the different experiences, I'm learning how incredibly imperfect I really am. When I do something in my flesh, it's destined to failure. My flesh is sinful, and can do no good thing. However, when I'm walking in the Spirit of God, the Lord can accomplish good through me. When I fail my friends, it is easy for me to get discouraged, and "give up on myself." But it is only when we fail, and can see what a failure we really are in ourselves, that we can more fully see God's power and grace in our own lives. So personal failure, in a very weird way, can be the very tool that draws us closer to God. Isn't life different than we usually expect it to be?

Pictures!

2008-06-28T01:18:00.001-07:00

Written by Paul

Here a few snapshots of our visit to the Spanish enclave. Enjoy!

This was our ride up to the city. There were a lot of hills, and there was always a curve or turn. Our taxi driver must have played a lot of Xbox, because on every downhill curve, I think he floored the gasoline! It was an interesting ride!

There were four of us crammed into the backseat of our taxi!

The scenery was beautiful the entire trip...

More ocean views...

This was a small town that we drove through. The entire population must have been outside on the street, selling stuff, drinking coffee, or driving their taxis.

The enclave is a tourist spot, so there is some cool looking tourist stuff.

A beautiful view of the Strait of Gibraltar... ! The coast in the background is Spain.

There was a lot of water around here, if you can't tell...

Another beautiful view of the city...

"Yep, I'd like a McAuto, with extra fries, please." Is there a place where McDonald's isn't?

The Rock of Gibraltar is full of monkeys, and Miranda was right after all.

A great picture of the mountains.

We all took pictures of ourselves with the Rock in the background - "Mom, this is for you!"

This is a snapshot of the city. It is growing fast, and has a great need for missionaries!

I Walked Seven Zillion Miles Today

2008-06-25T16:41:00.001-07:00

Written by Paul

Today was a 'free' day for our team, so Bro. Omar (who kindly asked me to stop calling him "Bro. Mustard") took us to one of the Spanish enclaves in North Africa. It was a really neat experience! This morning, we rode in two very cramped taxis for an hour. Then, after going through one of the sloppiest, most confused borders in the world, we entered the Spanish city. (At this border, some girls on our team saw someone bribe a cop... !) Once we entered, we walked for about 45min to McDonald's. After lunch, we spent two hours passing out Gospel materials in the city. The city itself is not very big, so there was no danger of getting lost. The city is actually a peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea, so the view was incredible all day long. After passing out our tracts and Bibles, we went to a hilltop to take some pictures, then headed back to the border, and drove home.

Yes, the title is somewhat of an exaggeration, but in reality, we probably did walk about 7-10 miles today, so everyone is exhausted. One interesting fact - this is the city where Omar is planning on moving to in a year's time. There is religious freedom here, even though it is located in a closed country. It's also a strategic position to reach other closed countries. Please continue praying for the work here in North Africa!

Paying For Breakfast

2008-06-24T04:59:00.001-07:00

This morning I went out to breakfast with my Arabic teacher. He is 22 years old, from North Africa, and lives here with us at the school. So naturally we spend a lot of time together. Did I mention that he speaks very fluent Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, Spanish, as well as English? Languages are his passion, so he's a great teacher. Back to my story. We went to the coffee shop right below us for breakfast. We ordered coffee and some breakfast cake. It was very good, though I must be honest and say that I am fond of food in general. After our meal, since he speaks Arabic fluently, he payed the bill. Walking back upstairs, I asked him how much it cost, and what my bill was. He looked at me strangely, and said, "Shut up! Do you want to insult me?" Needless to say, I wasn't expecting that reply. So he proceeded to tell me that in this culture, when a friend takes you out to eat, it is insulting to offer to pay your own bill. Right! I'll remember that! But in order to keep things equal, I'll have to pay for the next breakfast. So they take turns paying for each other; everybody feels good and stays happy this way.

Just one more thing to add to my list of unique experiences.

It Starts At The Beginning

2008-06-22T02:53:00.001-07:00

Written by Paul

We had the opportunity to play soccer with some local Nigerians. They come here trying to get to Spain, but usually can't afford it. So they live here, doing menial jobs, waiting for something to happen that will grant them clearance to Spain. They all speak pretty English, which is awesome. So we met, played soccer for about 2 hours, then had a Bible study. The Nigerians come from a Christian background and profess salvation. That is wonderful!

Even though they claim to be saved, Bro. Mustard* preached for an hour on salvation. Everyone is a sinner. Man cannot reach God on His own. Man is facing eternal death. Jesus came as a Man, to satisfy God's Wrath. Because of Jesus' Perfection, man can now reach God when he accepts Jesus Atonement. It was a great message, and reminded me to start with the basics when telling others about Jesus. Also, when we get caught up in the 'hustle and bustle' of life, take a minute to remember your salvation - why are we doing what we're doing? How will it impact eternity? What are the basics that we should live for? What superfluous things are we doing that really don't matter in big picture? Just some thoughts to think about...

*Name changed for security purposes

Hospitable People

2008-06-20T16:06:00.001-07:00

Written by Jamie

Now that I am a travel expert, having traveled for the first time to a foreign country and lived there a week, I can say with authority that people are the same, wherever you go! True, culture and customs are different, but underneath are the same emotions, interests, and desires as most of us Americans. In one thing at least I have concluded they far surpass us. That is in their hospitality. Two days ago I and one of the other girls in our group met three girls on the street and as soon as we had introduced ourselves and learned their names, they invited us to go to tea with them. It was so much fun to drink tea while trying to communicate in a combination of broken English, Spanish, French, and Arabic! At times we could understand well, sometimes it was only a word here and there, and sometimes we had to just laugh together when we couldn't understand each other at all. Two hours later we left with many kisses on both cheeks, their phone numbers, email addresses, street address, and an open invitation to come visit them at any time!

It made me think: if their hospitality is giving me so many opportunities to build relationships and share Christ's love with them here, how many people could I reach back in the States if I were that hospitable to others?

North Africa Update #9: Happy Soup and Calf Heart

2008-06-19T16:45:00.001-07:00

Yep, this was my menu today. The Happy Soup was for dinner. I don't know what the girls put into it, but it was some powerful soup! It had rice, vegetables, and several different meats in it. As soon as I started eating it, it seemed like this wave of euphoria surrounded my head. But I wasn't the only one. Others at the table noticed it, too. Everything was much funnier and everybody was laughing more than usual. It was a very strange experience, to be sure. (I gotta get that recipe!)

So I had Happy Soup for dinner and the Calf Heart as a semi-midnight snack. A friend and I went out for a cup of coffee. (This is my friend below. He's waving to you all...) After walking to the cafe, he decided that he wanted more than just a cup of coffee. So we walked for about 10 minutes to this tiny, hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Oh, I forgot a small detail - it was pitch-dark outside, and I didn't have a clue where I was going. But once we arrived, we sat down at a small picnic table. The owner brought us two bowls of this disgusting-looking green sauce with bread. The sauce was some sort of bean dip, and it was much better than it looked. Then they brought out the meat. It looked pretty good, until my friend pointed at the meat, then pointed at his heart. He did this several times, trying to make some point. That's when I started getting worried! Come to find out, it was little, bite-size calf-heart pieces. And I ate about 6 of them. At first it tasted like normal beef, but once I started chewing it, it was really mushy and had a weird taste. Plus, there were some psychological issues I had to work through while I was eating it. But, hey, if I didn't eat it, I'd offend my friend, and that would be bad.

And, yes, he did kiss me goodbye.

North Africa Update #8: Accepting The Culture

2008-06-18T16:08:00.001-07:00

In America, when two friends meet, they usually shake hands and say hello. In North Africa, when two friends meet, they shake hands, hug each other, and kiss on the cheek. Twice, at least. This isn't normal for me. But I'm trying to make friends here, so I've got to kiss them back. Not kissing your friends would be rude, and offend them. So it's a must - kiss when you meet, kiss when you leave.

But still, kissing a 40-year old guy with scruffy whiskers is strange.

North Africa Update #7: English Class

2008-06-18T04:32:00.001-07:00

Our reason for coming to North Africa is to teach English. (Notice I said "reason", not goal...) When teaching English, our group is divided into three teams, each team teaching a separate class at different times. My team of three guys ended up with a class of four. Yeah, that doesn't work out very well - 3 big (American) guys vs. 4 nervous students. Not very... practical. Well, we were praying that more students would show up for our class. But God decided to work in a different way (Amen!). Another class had two exceptional students, that were far beyond learning the basics of English. I mean these guys are good; both are going to a local University, and fluent in at least two other languages. Since they couldn't be in the beginner's class, Bro. Mustard* asked me to teach them more advanced English. I was very nervous, but since our other class wasn't the best situation, I agreed to teach. Needless to say, it was awesome. The guys are very smart, friendly, and good learners, too. Since they have a very good understanding of the English language, our class is more of the conversational sort. This not only builds their English skills, but also builds a friendship among us. And it leaves the door wide open for 'deeper conversations' that I wouldn't otherwise be able to have with them. Praise the Lord!

In the next couple of days, the other interns will be posting on this blog. That will give you different aspects of our trip, and also provide me a break from writing a blog everyday! :)

Thank you for your prayer support!

"But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing."
-2 Thessalonians 3:13

(*Name changed for security purposes)

North Africa Update #6: Meeting People

2008-06-16T14:09:00.001-07:00

The main goal of this trip is to meet people. Duh. That is, of course, why we came here. Well, today I finally met a 'real' stranger. Two of them, in fact. The first was Abdul*. I was walking along the beach, passing out some flyers for our English class. Abdul and his friends were sitting on a bench, enjoying the breeze. I walked up to them, gave them a flyer, and asked them if they spoke English. Abdul said that he spoke little, so we made small talk for about 15 minutes. Although he won't be coming to English class, I did get his name and number to contact him.

Stranger #2 was a much more eccentric character. He is an older man, and speaks only Spanish. (Yes, that was a challenge for me! My meager Spanish skills were pushed to the limit tonight!) After talking for 20 minutes, he offered to buy me a cigarette. "No fumo, no fumo!" I think he got the point that I don't smoke, although he still lit up. His name is very long, but part of it is Morab. Morab and I talked about work, family, America... anything we could think of. Then he took me to a local cafe, which is also where he works. He bought me a 'super-black-espresso', and we watched the soccer game for 45 minutes. It was getting late, and after he gave me his picture and telephone number, we parted ways. I am definitely excited. God is working here, and people are being reached for Him. Jesus came that none should perish; that includes Abdul, Morab, and everyone else that we meet. It includes everyone that you meet, too! Americans need the Gospel of Christ just as much as the people of North Africa!

The team in general is doing very well. We stared teaching English and learning Arabic today. Wow! Arabic is insanely hard to learn! We all felt overwhelmed after class today. But it was the first class, so hopefully things will improve with each class.Teaching English will be fun, though. We get to teach English and make new friends at the same time. Amen!

Thank you for reading this, and praying for us all. We really appreciate your support!

*Name changed for security purposes

North Africa Update #5: First Sunday

2008-06-15T18:01:00.001-07:00

Today was our first Sunday in North Africa. Our entire group went to the church here. Our missionaries started this church 2-4 months ago. It is still very small; for the one service that we had today, two people came (outside of our group), and only one was a Christian. It is easy to see how a missionary can get discouraged and want to come back home! But God blessed today. The pastor preached an awesome sermon in a language that most of us couldn't understand, and the congregation sang hymns in that very same language. Afterwards, there was a time of discipleship for one of the men. Discipleship is perhaps the greatest tool that missionaries have. If they can train a national to take over the church, and keep the work going, then the missionary can go start another church, and start the process all over again. That is the ideal way to do things.

After church, we had lunch, then we had a quasi-service at our house. Our missionary shared a good word from Romans of salvation, and why we must tell people the Gospel. After a time of prayer, we took some flyers and went into the city to pass them out. The people here are really receptive, but we can't speak their language. It can be very frustrating! But God gives grace, and we start language school this week, so things should improve. Thank you for your prayers!

Here is a picture of our city at night, looking down a main street.

North Africa Update #4: Elected To... Post?

2008-06-14T16:55:00.001-07:00

This Saturday afternoon, the leader of this trip commanded us all to post updates on our blogs. And then they elected one person to officially run the trip blog. Well, it wasn't exactly an election, because I tried to withdraw, but they forced me to stay in the race. And since no one else was running, I won.

Seriously, though, this past week has been such a blur that trying to post every detail would get very... impossible? So let me give you the highlight so far. The highlight isn't the food, though that is really good. The highlight isn't the really cool city, or the very aesthetic architecture. The highlight isn't even the awesome three-seater green-blue taxis that are everywhere. No, I would have to say that the highlight has been the people. From the nationals that work with the ministry here, to the doorman at the hotel, to the kids that waved to me as we drove by in the city bus, the people are definitely what makes this place special and exciting.

North Africa Update #3: Stuck In NY

2008-06-09T22:15:00.001-07:00

As you can probably tell by the title of this post, things are not going according to schedule. Today we were supposed to leave Atlanta at 4:00pm, fly to New York, have a 1.5 hour lay-over, and then fly through the night to North Africa. That was the plan, at least. But God had something different in mind for us. Our first delay was in Atlanta. Due to some suspicious cargo, our plane left 20 minutes later than it should have. Then, we had to dodge a few storms over the Kentucky area, which put us a little more behind schedule. Our biggest delay was once we reached New York. The terminal where our airplane was supposed to dock was having some trouble. Apparently, the previous airplane had some major mechanical failures, and was unable to move from our terminal. So we sat. And waited. And prayed. And kept checking our watches. It was one hour before our plane to North Africa was scheduled to depart, and we were still outside, sitting in our airplane, waiting for the other plane to move. Finally, things started moving, but we were already behind schedule. So we rushed off our plane, and practically ran through the airport, trying to locate our next flight. But since we had not shown up early enough, the airline had given our tickets to other people. Needless to say, it was really tempting to get very upset with some airline people, especially when they offered us no help or aid. So we started making telephone calls. After deciding that any hotels were out of the question, we agreed to spend the night at JFK. Then God opened a door. Bro. Aaron has a pastor friend here in NY that he was able to get in touch with. Pastor Joshua gladly invited us to stay the night at his church, and we gladly accepted. After a long bus ride, and some dinner at McDonald's, we arrived at his church, tired but very grateful. Praise the Lord for His provision to us! And thank you to everyone that was praying for us - God answered your prayers!

We are still planning on flying to North Africa Tuesday afternoon. But who knows what might happen...

North Africa Update #2: Temples in America

2008-06-04T22:35:00.001-07:00

On Wednesday we had the opportunity to visit both Buddhist and Hindu temples. The Buddhist temple was in a small warehouse, and I didn't take any pictures. It was small and not very glamorous - more like a Buddhist library, it seemed. The Hindu temple, however, was the the complete opposite. It looked like something that you might see in Disneyland, or another very gigantic, pompous place. During our visit we talked to the tour guide about Hinduism, and the differences between it and Christianity. He was very nice and political, but basically said that all roads lead to 'heaven', and that the follower must be sincere in whatever religion he chooses for it to count in eternity. The architecture of the temple resembled the attitude of the tour guide; cool, distant, and beyond persuasion. The temple had much form, but it lacked spiritual function. If you want to get a glimpse of the need that is in our own city, I recommend visiting this Hindu temple. The fields are definitely white unto harvest.

The temple is huge, as you can plainly tell.

There is much ornate decoration, both inside and outside the temple. There are no iron or steel support beams at all in the structure. The guide described it like a giant jigsaw puzzle, where every stone is hand-crafted, and fits perfectly in with all the others.

Every bit of this amazing detail was hand-crafted. What dedication! If Hindus knew the truth about their religion, what a difference that would make in their lives!

This temple was assembled in America by thousands of volunteer workers. Over 1.3 million man-hours went into building it, and they had it completed in less than 17 months.

The whole shape and structure is modeled after one of their gods. Different parts of the building represent different parts of the gods body. For instance, the pillars in the lower right-hand corners represent the god's legs. The roof represents its head. The red flags on top of the building symbolize the god's hair. Little do the Hindus realize that all their labor is in vain - but who will tell them differently?

North Africa Update #1: And So It Begins.

2008-06-03T22:37:00.001-07:00

The first week of this summer's missions trip to North Africa is dedicated to training. The training is general Christian evangelism training, and also specialized training, for those 10 of us who are going to North Africa. There has been much preaching the past two days, and it has been phenomenal. Since this is a missions oriented camp, all the preaching has been geared toward missions, and it has definitely 'stirred the embers' in my own heart, as well as the other students attending this camp. Not only has the preaching been a great encouragement, but so has the fellowship with other like-minded believers. There are about 75-100 young people here, and there is a strong sensitivity toward missions.

Our mornings are preaching/teaching times on evangelism in general, and then discussion on a particular people or area. Tuesday we went witnessing in a really ethnic apartment complex. Since our 'target-audience' is Muslims, we presented the Gospel through the life and picture of Adam. It is really neat to witness that way! There are some parallels that I've never realized, and it's neat to see that you can present the gospel message from the first 3 chapters of Genesis!

We spoke with several different people while witnessing today, although no one accepted Jesus as Savior. There is a great mission field in our own country! Did you know that Nashville and Atlanta are where the refugees from other countries that come to the U.S. are placed? That means that these two cities and their suburbs are filled with people who have probably never heard of Jesus, and who come from rough, tumultuous backgrounds. What an opportunity for us Christians! The world is in our backyard!

I will do my best to keep this blog updated regularly, and share some of what God has been doing in my own heart. Continue to pray for God to do a mighty work in North Africa this summer!

Jumping Out Of The Plane

2008-03-31T11:49:00.001-07:00

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." -James 1:22

Reading about skydiving is one thing; jumping out of the plane is something totally different. You can read, watch, and talk about skydiving all day long, but until you actually jump out of that plane, you haven't made skydiving a reality in your own life. That's what is being said in James 1:22. We can listen to great sermons, we can hear testimonies from great missionaries, we can go to inspiring prayer meetings, but until we jump out of the plane and put our Christianity to the test of reality, we really haven't done anything. We must take those steps that God puts in front of us, even when we feel like we're falling with no parachute.

Also, when somebody is jumping out of a plane, they're not thinking about the pilot, the plane, or the other people on the plane. Their focus is completely on the task at hand. Perhaps this principle should apply to my last post, where I bemoaned the lack of focus in others around me. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be concerned about the spiritual state of our brothers & sisters in Christ, but that we shouldn't focus on their lack of focus, because then our focus is in the wrong place. Pray for them? Yes. Encourage them when we can? Certainly. Become obsessed over the 'lack of focus'? Nope, it's not our job to do that. Let God work in their lives as He chooses.

I hope that I'm making sense here. I haven't had to jump out of any big planes yet, so my 'Christian skydiving' experiences are limited. But each Christian has to be willing to jump, trusting God to catch them. And we should pray for our friends who are jumping, that they wouldn't be afraid, but trust God to provide for them.

"Dude, You're Making Him Lose His Focus!"

2008-03-04T20:05:00.001-08:00

Perhaps it isn't a good thing to title a post with a quote from Monsters, Inc., but it pretty much summarizes my thought for this post. What is my thought, and how can it be derived from a children's movie? Glad you asked! Here it is: A Christian young person who doesn't have his (or her) focus on the Lord can distract other Christian young people who do have their focus on the Lord. This isn't some abstract idea that I've thought up in my own head, but something that I've struggled with personally in my life. (I am NOT going to point any fingers at anyone, and there will be no name-calling here! When you point a finger at someone, you have three pointing back at you, which is a good thing to remember. Plus, I've been taught that if you call someone a name, that you are that name first.)

So, there are these Nameless People at our local church who don't have their focus "on things above", but rather on things of this world. These folks talk about the latest movies, or the coolest music, or the most recent sports happenings, or even the latest church scuttlebutt (a word which here means gossip). Their focus isn't generally on things of God, and spiritual things are rarely discussed by this gathering.

Here's the first question: Should these young men & women offer public worship to the Lord? (I'm trying to speak in general here, but some examples would be ushering during service, singing in the choir, playing in the orchestra, 'performing' an offertory, etc.) Since they obviously aren't focused on spiritual matters, can they minister life to other believers? (Romans 8:6, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.")

Now, for the really hard question - can I judge these people? Am I allowed to condemn these brothers and sisters in Christ, because they don't worship with the right spirit? The Bible instructs us to be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves; Jesus says to judge not, lest we ourselves are judged. John 7:24 adds another aspect, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." What should righteous judgement be in this situation? Where should the line be drawn? Should we even draw a line? Or is this a matter where our response varies with each situation? Can we join these people in their worship, or are they even worshipping God themselves? And if they're not worshipping, can we offer their 'wanna-be-worship' to the Lord as worship from our own hearts?

I've asked some interesting questions, and given no answers. This is something that I'm dealing with in my own heart right now, and I haven't reached many conclusions yet. (Although I suppose my focus shouldn't be on others, but that I should be worried about my own focus being on Christ. Which brings me to the Practical Application...)

(Practical application: I gotta live my life focused on Christ, so that I won't be a stumblingblock to others! Perhaps Satan wants to capitalize on my being focused on these other people, so that He can throw me off of my own spiritual walk with God. Another point - I am very grateful my friends who are living a focused life, and thus encouraging me to do the same! Keep it up, friends!)

Comment if you will. Your thoughts will be appreciated.

The God of Leviticus Is Still The Same Today

2008-02-11T14:26:00.001-08:00

It may be hard to read through Leviticus, but all of the detailed commandments and intricate sacrificial procedures only emphasize the complete Holiness of God. If the priest did not come to God completely on God's terms, then God had no duty to accept the priest's offering. This is plainly seen in the tragic deaths of Nadab and Abihu, who were killed when they offered 'strange' incense to God. This principle of man coming to God on God's terms alone is seen in the New Testament as well. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus Christ is the exclusive way to God the Father. There is no other way. Paul says that "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:8-9) If it's not of ourselves, what right do we have to try and come to God on our terms? Not only does this apply to our salvation, but also in how we worship God and how we live our daily Christian life. More could be said on that, but I'll leave it for later.

Power, Love, and a Sound Mind

2008-02-07T10:43:00.001-08:00

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking to about a hundred children for 15-minutes about faith, and how it applied in George Muller's life. Well, as I was preparing, I noticed that I was getting really nervous. I couldn't concentrate, and I kept thinking of all the ways that I would probably mess it up. Things weren't going very well at all! But then the Lord brought to my mind 2 Titus 2:17, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Wow! Think of it! Power - that's strength, or the ability to do what we need to do. Love - this is where our motive comes from; it involves putting our heart & emotions into our task. A sound mind - this is the knowledge or wisdom to complete our task efficiently & the right way.

As I meditated on this verse, a sense of Heavenly Peace flooded my soul. God is our strength, He gives us love, and supplies us with wisdom. I had nothing to worry about! Anyway, I spoke that night, and things went great. None of the horrible things that I had imagined happened, and I delivered my message without any major flaws. My God is so Good!

Quote Of The Day...

2008-02-04T12:56:00.000-08:00

"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier. The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
-A.W. Tozer

'American Idol' Politics

2008-01-30T19:25:00.001-08:00

With a plethora of media options today, politicians can reach a huge number of people very inexpensively & very consistently. Look at YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, any major news site and you'll see politics written everywhere. Image is everything. Politicians (and any other advertiser) go to where the people are. And people are the internet. And it's big. And it's inexpensive. And it touches millions of people. And you can project almost any image & message about yourself, even if it's untrue. American Idol politics isn't exactly what's happening, but it's sure doggone close to it. There really are YouTube debates between politicians. Can you really befriend your favorite politician on Facebook? Or add them to your MySpace? Isn't something wrong here? Where have the days gone when one's candidacy was based upon the politicians' character & previous political record? What about the time when all politicians were men? And when all politicians would say the Pledge of Allegiance, and be sworn into public office on a Bible? Does charisma & personality really play such a big part in a politicians ability to perform well? (Hitler was charismatic. So was the Kool-Aid Minister. So is Fidel Castro.) Since when has politics changed so much in one election year? Times are changing! Things aren't what they once were! Public opinion sways so easily; can we really trust the vast majority of ourselves, especially in a matter so important? We're not voting for our favorite actor, or TV show, or movie, or American Idol singer! We're voting for a suitable person to hold the most prestigious office in the world! So many people in the American society aren't mature. A generation raised on video games, Pop-Tarts, and Hollywood has arrived. And they're about to vote for a president.

Now, we could remedy this problem by instituting voting requirements, beyond just proving American citizenship & being 18 years old. There would be restrictions based on education (at the very least a high-school education), perhaps a salary minimum, maybe no "state-insured" voters (PeachCare, Medicare, Medicaide;relates to salary requirements), definitely only people who are up-to-date taxpayers, landowners (to some degree?), absolutely no one who's in current trouble with the law, etc, etc, etc. If any system such as this were ever proposed (and I'm not suggesting one, per se), the outcry against it would be so deafening that the entire world would cover their ears. There would be cries harking back to those of William Wilburforce, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Abraham Lincoln, and other great leaders in the halls of Liberty. "We have a Constitutional right to vote," people would say. Yes, that's true! But understood in that right is the fact that we will vote responsibly! Not a vote based solely on the race, gender, religion, good looks, or campaign promises of a politician, but a vote based on experience, past history, and a love for the endurance of freedom!

That brings us back to where we started: Emotions and popularity are intrinsically linked today. And both are very temporary. And the internet helps to facilitate them both; it provides a very temporary place to be popular. So, should the internet be a viable means of advertising oneself as a political candidate? Should certain rules govern how politicians campaign online?

Quotes Of The Day...

2008-01-29T11:56:00.001-08:00

"The primary object of the [Christian life] is to show before the whole world...that even in these last evil days the living God is ready to prove Himself as the living God, by being ever willing to help...and answer the prayers of those who trust in Him."

"When I was asking the petition I was fully aware what I was doing, i.e. asking for something that I had no natural prospect of getting from the brethren I knew, but which was not too much for the Lord to grant."

-George Muller

Quote Of The Day

2008-01-28T06:15:00.001-08:00

"Prayer is the catalyst that moves God's hand."
-Author Unknown

Quote Of The Day...

2008-01-25T05:16:00.000-08:00

"Remember, O Christian, that thou art a son of the King of Kings. Therefore, keep thyself unspotted from the world. Soil not the fingers which are soon to sweep celestial strings; Let not these eyes become the windows of lust which are soon to see the King in his beauty, let not those feet be defiled in miry places, which are soon to walk the golden streets, let not those hearts be filled with pride and bitterness which are ere long to be filled with heaven, and to overflow with ecstatic joy."

-Author Unknown

Jan 16, National Mailbox Day

2008-01-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

Why Every Home Should Have A Mailbox

Yes, every home should have a mailbox. Great or small, large or tiny, grand or lowly, a home deserves to be graced by a mailbox. Mailboxes are a vital, yet seemingly unimportant part in everyone’s daily routine. This faithful servant has long been ignored by many, though it made such a huge impact in the history of our nation. How could the great letters in the past have been sent or received by the leaders of our country if they had no mail box? I’ll give you three extremely logical reasons why your home should have a mailbox.

The main, most important reason in owning a mailbox is to receive mail. If you didn’t have a mailbox, how else would you know how much junk mail you were receiving? Of course, your mailbox is not only for junk mail, but also for people to attach their business cards onto it. If you had no mailbox, then you wouldn’t know who the neighborhood lawn service, trash company, or housecleaning service is. You would be totally confused, and unable to function properly. If you can’t get your mail, or business cards, then how do you know what’s going on in your community?

The second reason for owning a mailbox is to show your social status to whoever goes past your driveway. If you live in a ritzy, high-class house, your mailbox is probably brick, marble, or granite that is decorated with hundreds of intricate designs, or at least has some noble simplicity. If you live in a middle-class house, you may have a nice-looking box attached to a painted wooden post, or maybe a simple brick design. The lower-class homes often function by hanging their mailboxes from the nearest tree limb, attaching them to some artless post. Other times, the boxes will simply be placed on the ground, to the great consternation of the mailman. (Note: This is not a ‘concrete’ standard, but simply a rule-of-thumb.)

The third and final reason for owning a mailbox is the most healthy reason yet. You get your own daily exercise program without having to pay a monthly membership fee! Cool, isn’t it? Ladies and gentlemen, with your very own mailbox you can stay fit and keep in shape while doing something useful at the same time- checking your mail!

As you can clearly see, mailboxes are practical, stylish, and healthy all at the same time. Every home should have this unique and classic symbol of Americanism standing proudly at the end of their driveway. Yes, great or small, rich or poor, every home needs one, and every home should have one! To honor this silent hero, I think that we should set aside every 16^th of January from hereon and hitherto, to be called National Mailbox day - a day to recognize and applaud this hero of our society, and everything that it has done for us. May it live long and prosperously at the end of every driveway across this great nation of ours.

-Paul

Dreams...

2008-01-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

At a recent youth conference (a.k.a. The Summit, BCWE), I was challenged to dream big for God. Too many people are stuck in their ordinary, comfortable, everyday habits to think of what a dedicated life can do for God. Yes, we Americans dream dreams - the "American Dream", where we're making lot of money, driving a nice car, living in a nice house, enjoying a nice life, and looking forward to a nice retirement with our nice grandkids. Aside from a completely selfish dream, what's so big about it? Everybody dreams that dream. It's a common, ordinary dream! It's a run-of-the-mill, everyday dream, that everyone aspires to. It's also a self-centered dream, focused on material goods - what I can get out of this life. It's all of a sudden about me! But life isn't about me, or my material goods, or anything that I can get out of this life!

Where are the dreamers who want to reach outside of themselves? Who are the dreamers who want to reach Morocco, or Argentina, or Peru, or Burkina Faso, or Spain, or even New York City and do great things for God? Where's the fire in our hearts for something bigger than ourselves? Why can't we look beyond this life? Why can't we sacrifice for the Person who gave His life, His all for us? Why can't we live our life sold-out, on-fire, 100%-devoted to our Creator? Why isn't the Great Commission stamped on our hearts as it was on the Apostles' hearts in the early days? Why can't we deny ourselves, and give ourselves wholly to the cause of Christ?

Because we stand in the way.

God wants to use us, but He's a gentleman - He won't push us, or makes us do something (no matter how grand it is, or how satisfied we'll be doing it) that we won't let Him do.

In Jeremiah 8:22, Israel asks if there is a balm in Gilead, and there was; only the physicians who could apply the healing ointment didn't, thus causing the "health of the daughter of my people" not to be recovered. America is mostly where the "balm" for a hurting world is. We, as Christians in America, are given a unique opportunity to have the ability to do so much to reach others for Christ, but yet we do so little! It's to our shame. With God's help, why can't we dream big and evangelize in a Muslim nation? Why can't our reach go beyond our comfort zone? Why can't we - our generation today!- follow in the legacies of the great men who lived before us? Why can't God use us to turn this world on its head, and infiltrate it with the Gospel of Salvation? Only WE limit what God can do through us!

"There are no great men of the faith; only a great God that they serve."

"Happy Valentines Day!"

2007-12-04T21:07:00.000-08:00

Here's a 9-month old essay on Valetine's Day that I wrote 9-months ago, on Valetine's Day:

"Instituted by the Catholic Church in the 1700's, this day commemorates the martyrdom of St. Valentine, who died for his beliefs concerning marriage. Traditionally, this day has been celebrated with romance; from cards to chocolate, to cupid and the teddy bear, anything that says "I love you" is probably seen at one time or another. Young and old alike celebrate with candy, flowers, jewelry, or any other romantic gift that they can give to their 'significant other', as a sign of their deep, heartfelt love for them.

As I was thinking about Valentines Day, pondering the utter uselessness of me and it (yes, it truly is a 'SAD' day!), my thoughts, empty on the human side of things, turned to the spiritual. First, Jesus Christ is the ultimate Gift to the World, the ultimate demonstration of God's love for us. Secondly, human love changes with age; there's that first intense 'romantic crush', which may then lead to a more committed romance, which sometimes leads to marriage. If this happens, the romantic love invariably turns to a faithful, determined, committed love to our spouse. Now, thirdly, (and with the utmost possible respect), does God's love for us change as our relationship with Him grows and matures? Obviously, God's love is perfect, and can never be lessened in any way. But is God ever infatuated with us? Does He feel toward us like a young, romantic man might feel toward his fiáncèe? Obviously, God is faithful, and He will never leave us, or forsake us - He is faithful and committed, just as a Godly husband is toward his wife. But is not the Church the bridegroom of Christ? And are not bridegrooms romantic with their brides? It seems logical that our God has the possibility of being 'romantic' with His people. Pastor T.P. once said that if we knew the extent of God's love toward us, we would melt in our tracks. It would overwhelm us completely if we could comprehend the vastness of it. Paul says in Romans 8, that neither "height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. " His love isn't limited to Valentines Day, Christmas, Easter, or any other holiday! He loves us 100% of the time, regardless of how we love Him in return! How exciting!

Anyway, those are my thoughts; feel free to tell me what you think. To everyone who reads this (married or single), I wish you a Happy, Hopeful, and otherwise Wonderful Valentines Day."

Fish, anyone?

2007-09-21T15:40:00.001-07:00

(I'm at a local super-market, and decided to try out uploading from my camera phone...

Not bad, if you like fish!)

Multimedia message

2007-05-18T10:48:00.001-07:00