But Three Days

The holidays are now past. Things were very laid back for us this year. But it was nice. Molly returns to the dorm today. Tempus fugit.

There are but three days left before we leave again for Ireland. It seems like we were just there, and yet it seems too long. Our hearts are definitely becoming anchored there.

Here we are in the City Centre of Dublin:


It's going to be a challenging trip over, in that between the two of us we will have two large suitcases, two guitars, four carry-ons, a keyboard and a portable sound system. Crazy, huh? Fortunately, the keyboard and sound system will be living in Ireland.

We were needing to have these for the work we're doing, but there were two factors to consider. One, we didn't want to have to haul them back and forth to Ireland every time we go. Two, musical and sound equipment is very expensive in Ireland. So it just made sense to purchase them here in the States and take them with us to leave over there.

The guys at the music store (Tringas Music - Pensacola - give them your business) did an incredible job boxing everything up for us (using three roles of packing tape in the process). Now I'm wondering if TSA will have to open them up to look inside. Guess I'll call and find out before we get there Tuesday morning.

Be sure to check back here often over the next few weeks. We'll keep you updated during our travels -- try to make you feel like you're there with us. And hopefully you will be through your prayers. We need them.

Be blessed...

Humility and encouragement

Yesterday, Beth and I had lunch with a very interesting man, Dr. T Lunkim (do a Google search with his name), who is the father of a friend of ours.

Just a few things that will help you understand a little about him:

- Born to an animist priest, a member of the Kuki people, and now works in his homeland in northeast India
- Saved shortly after his marriage
- At 22 was made head of the North East Kuki Baptist Christian Circle Conference
- Translated the Bible into the Kuki Language from Hebrew and Greek texts (for which he was imprisoned for 43 days) and finished it in 4 1/2 years, the shortest time ever taken by any Bible translator
- Some 500 churches have been founded under his leadership
- After visiting family in the U.S. a year ago, decided to return to his work in India even though he knew there was a price on his head. He was subsequently kidnapped and held captive for 61 days by the Kuki Liberation Army -- he is now in his 80's

So here we are, at Barnhill's Country Buffet, answering questions about our work in Ireland, feeling that it is so insignificant compared to Dr. Lunkim's ministry. I mean, good grief, how can what we are doing have anything near the impact as Dr. Lunkim has had in India?

But Dr. Lunkim was so gracious and so encouraging. He didn't hesitate to express his feelings as to the importance of our ministry. He's been to Europe and seen the spiritual darkness and the need to support the church there.

He is heading back home soon and has no idea what to expect. But he is determined to continue doing what God has called him to do. He reminds me of the apostle Paul when a prophet told him that if he returned to Jerusalem he would be bound and imprisoned, yet Paul chose to go because that was what God had called him to do -- and the Gospel was advanced because of his obedience.

So now we are preparing to head to Ireland next week. Yes we're excited. We always get excited when we're doing what God has called us to do. I'll be updating this blog and uploading pictures and stuff to our website during our travels.

Stay tuned.

Selah

Alright, so I guess at this point I'm supposed to post something about New Year's resolutions or something like that. Part of me rebels. It says, "Yuck! Do I have to do that?" The other part says, "Just shut up and write something profound."

Hmm...

Here's the deal. A few weeks ago, on a Sunday afternoon, Beth and I were on our way home from church (yeah, I know, the whole "we are the church" thing...). Beth asked what I had planned for the rest of the day. I said, "Well, I'll probably try to get a few hours of work in, " to which she replied, "When was the last time you just took a whole day off?" I couldn't remember.

So that day, we just spent the day together, out and about, doing no particular thing. It was great!

Later it dawned on me. You know, I have been so busy doing the Lord's work that I hadn't given myself the luxury of just resting in the Lord. Nor had I spent much time in quiet reflection, allowing God to speak to me.

Throughout the Psalms there is a term which shows up from time-to-time. It is the Hebrew word "selah". It's generally believed that selah means to pause -- probably a musical term, but one which has spiritual implications -- benefiting the singer, after pouring out his heart to the Lord, by giving God a chance to speak to his spirit.

Psalm 46:10 quotes our Creator: "Be still and know that I am God..." Of course we know that He is God, because we read about Him and see His handiwork in creation and sense Him when we pray and glimpse His glory when we worship Him. But how often do we know He is God in our stillness? Do we allow him that chance?

It is in those "selah" moments that we allow God to have His say. As we meditate on His word and on His person, He will speak. How can we expect to hear His "still small voice" when we are only talking or singing and not pausing to let Him?

So I guess this is my resolution -- to be still and know...

Happy New Year!

On the Lighter Side

After yesterday's post, I felt that I should lighten things up a bit.

So it's just less than a month that we leave for Ireland again. I'm getting really excited about this trip. It think it will turn out to be as significant as our last vist -- maybe more so.

We have several workshops that we are conducting in local churches in Dublin and Cork. If you don't know what our worship workshops are like, you can find out on my October 15 post.

We also have a bunch of people to meet with to share about our ministry and establish relationships.

There is much to so before we go. We will be out-of-town for a week beginning Friday and then there's someting else.. um... let's see...

Oh - Christmas!

Then we have a lot of potential supporters with which to meet, and I need to get a lot of work in to have enough money to pay the bills while we're gone. All this before we leave on the 9th!

Whew!

In our weakness He is made strong.

How many more?

This little diatribe isn't a reflection of bitterness, but simply an observation of questionable practices by Christians -- saved-by-grace sinners, of which I am the chief. These are questions I am asking myself...

How many more people for whom Christ died will we consider not worth the effort?

How many more times will we ignore the broken hurting person right in front of us because we feel uncomfortable with "that kind of person" or their situation?

How many more lives will be damaged by the attitudes, practices, predjudices, and pride of Christians?

How many more people will we, the church let fall through the cracks because they dress, talk or act "differently" and therefore "it must be a spiritual issue"?

How many more times will we attempt to remake a person on the outside before we allow God to do that from the inside?

How many more non-believers will we shun and look down our noses at with disdain and say, "I thank you Lord that I am not like that person"?

How many more believers will we deceive into believing that we have it all together -- that "if we were doing any better, we couldn't stand it"?

How many more people will we assume are unsaved because they are doing something that we have labled as sin?

How many more ways can we justify treating another person poorly in the name of Christ?

How many more issues can we invent that divide the Body of Christ?

How many more offerings will we attempt to bring to the Lord while we hold hatred, malice or ill-feelings toward a brother or sister?

How many more "I love you, Lord"s will we sing while being unloving to others?

How many more social or humanitarian issues will we ignore because we fear being associated with liberals?

How many more things can we, as believers do to invalidate the Gospel in the eyes of the world?

Just a few things to think about.