Refiner's Fire

We get regular emails from GEM with prayer requests that come from GEM missionaries. Lately there has been a series of prayer requests highlighting the plight of a pastor in Azerbaijan, a small country nestled between Russia, Turkey and the Caspian Sea.

Pastor Zaur was arrested May 20 while conducting a worship service in his home. He has been convicted of preaching (yes - illegal) and is also accused of attacking and beating 5 police officers (he is in poor health with a heart condition). His sentence is 2 years in prison and the police continue to harass his family and the other church members.

We are praying for his release and for his family and church. At the same time, the members of the church family are growing stronger, their faith is increasing -- they are not despairing, they are not dismayed.

The whole scenario playing out in Azerbaijan has caused me to once again examine the western church, and specifically the American church.

We cry "foul!" when prayers are banned from public gathering such as ballgames or when our kids can't write about their faith when composing a school essay. We think we are being persecuted. Ha.

It stems from the consumer attitude that people have toward "church". I was speaking to a good friend who leads worship at a new church plant here in NW Florida. They are still very small and have had a number of people visit and say they liked it, but that they wanted something a little bit bigger. If all of those had stuck around, the church body would now be more than a little bit bigger!

When our pastor, Robert Pooley first planted Coast he had people telling him that they liked what was happening, but would wait and see if the church survived and then they might consider returning and becoming members.

So it brings me to the question - how did we get to the point that the majority of America views church as somewhere you go, something you do, and not something you are? The goal in the search for "the perfect church" seems to be to find the place that you get the most out of, instead of, "where can God use me the most?"

Of the fat and happy chosen who grace the pew each week, how many would be there should their gathering for worship be outlawed?

In some sick way, I would like to see real persecution break out against the church here on our own soil, as we see in China or Azerbaijan. I would like to see the church filled with the power of God, moving ahead in faith and being the Body of Christ, not continuing on with the fortitude of the Stay Puft Marshmallow man. But I'm afraid that we won't see that happen until the church in America is refined -- and refining happens only with extreme heat and pressure.

Am I wrong? Please prove me wrong.

Tempus Fugit

Gee, it's only another 4 weeks and we'll be packing to return to Ireland. Crazy.

We continually hone our methods and are always on the lookout for things that can make our travels more efficient, more comfortable, more practical. Lately it's been a hunt for God's perfect shoes. We would both like to find a pair of shoes that are, A. comfortable, B. versatile enough to wear every day for weeks on end, and 3. cute enough to enjoy wearing (okay, so "cute" is not my stipulation, but I do want to like the way they look as well).

You see, it's all about reducing the amount of stuff and the weight of our luggage. What we don't want to have happen is what happened when returning from Dublin in January. We knew one of our suitcases was overweight, but we were willing to pay the extra $25 or so. (We had done this in the States before) When we told this to the agent who was checking us in, she curtly told us, "No, that's not an option. You simply cannot have an overweight article." So there we were, huddled around our open suitcases, surrounded by other travelers waiting in line, transferring this and that to our carry-ons and throwing away a good bit of cosmetics, shampoos, etc.

So back to the shoes. I think what we're looking at now is wearing one pair of shoes on the journey to Ireland and heading to the shoe stores as soon as we arrive. That should be fun. Jet-lagged. Looking for God's perfect shoes. Paying through the nose.

Oh well...

Pastor in Chief

Came across an interesting article based upon a series of interviews with Billy Graham.

Check it out.

The Gospel of Convenience

Why is it that at times, especially when I'm on "ministry trips" or whatever, that I can flow naturally in the Spirit and follow His leading, have His compassion, share His grace with anyone and everyone He puts in my path, and then totally ignore my next door neighbor or the homeless guy hanging out near my workplace because it's not convenient?

Too much of the time, when a ministry opportunity presents itself, I immediately rationalize it away and look for a "better offer". The sad thing is that the better offer is usually of benefit only to me, and only in the immediate, with no lasting merit.

What does that say to others about this Gospel I tout and upon which I stake my life? Is another person not worth of my sacrifice of convenience? My life is worth Jesus' much more costly sacrifice, is it not?

How does this happen? How do I get to this point? Now that I'm here, will it change me?

The jury is still out.

My better half

Is this not remarkable?

Beth and I -- we have these times, especially when we are working in Europe, that we are together for weeks on end with no break from each other. It's rather remarkable that I cannot recall one time when we wouldn't choose to be together. We simply don't get tired of each other.

I am truly blessed with my soulmate.