Ministering Dignity - Holistic Spirituality

We're in a season of hosting a number of short term teams from overseas who are coming to minister here. We're often asked if groups of people coming into a new culture can really do much good in 2-3 weeks. We always say emphatically "yes!!" Recently we had a small example of what can be done.

We live near a wonderful HIV/Aids ministry/hospice called Living Hope. Some of the young ladies on one of the teams went to the hospice one day. They planned to give manicures and pedicures to all the women in the hospice.

They had noticed one lady in particular who was always quiet and withdrawn, always sad. After she'd received her manicure and pedicure, they were quite stunned to see her dancing around and quietly singing to herself. As they listened closely, they realized she was singing over and over - "today I'm a lady!"

If all of the teams came and only touched this one life - it would be so worth it! For a few hours/days, they ministered beauty and dignity to this suffering woman.

Some people define spiritual ministry as only taking place when someone is praying or preaching. We believe it's an act of worship to Jesus to serve those with AIDS and minister to the poor in whatever loving, serving, encouraging, or practical way we can.

"Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." Matt. 25:40

A Bible Study on Spiritual Authority

Introduction: This is a four-part study on the Biblical nature of authority as it relates to spiritual leadership:

• A partial list of verses from the New Testament on the subject of authority

• The meaning of the Greek word(s) for authority as used in the New Testament

• Some comments on the nature of spiritual authority

• The function of spiritual authority as it relates to elderships and leadership teams

1. A Partial List of Verses From the New Testament on the Subject of Authority

The following scriptures on authority use the word to mean the right and responsibility to exercise influence in people’s lives by virtue of godly character, experience, and fulfillment of a God-given calling or ministry:

Matt. 7:29 “... for He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes."

Matt. 21:23 "When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as He was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’”

Matt. 28:18 "And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."

1 Cor. 9:8 "Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same?"

2 Cor. 10:8 "Now, even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it."

2 Cor. 11:17 "What I am saying in regard to this boastful confidence, I am saying not with the Lord’s authority, but as a fool;"

2 Cor. 13:10 "So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down."

1 Thess. 4:8 "Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you."

Titus 2:15 Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you."

1 Pet. 5:5 "In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

2 Pet. 2:10 "...especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust, and who despise authority. Bold and willful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones..."

3 John 9 "I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. "

Jude 8 "Yet in the same way these dreamers also defile the flesh, reject authority, and slander the glorious ones."

Rev. 11:3 "And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days, wearing sackcloth.”

Rev. 18:1 "After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was made bright with his splendor."

Rev. 20:4 "Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years."

2. The Meaning of the Greek Words For Authority as Used in the New Testament

"Authority" when used as a noun, comes from exousia, which is derived from the verb exesti, which means, "it is lawful." The most basic meaning of the word, then, means a derived or delegated right. It can also mean, depending on the context, permission to do something, liberty, the ability one has to perform or accomplish something, or the right to exercise power.

Other words that are translated "authority:"

• Epitage - Injunction or commandment. See Titus 2:15

• Huperoche - A projection of eminence, as a mountain peak, therefore, pre-eminence, superiority, or excellence. See I Timothy 2:2 translated, "high place" as of the position of magistrates. In I Corinthians 2:1 this word is translated "excellence" as in speech.

• Dunastes - Close to dunamis, or power. Signifies dynasty, potentate, high and powerful officer. See Acts 8:27, Luke 1:52, I Timothy 6:15.

• Authenteo - From auto (self) and hentes, probably signifying to authenticate. Thus, to exercise authority on one's own account, to domineer over. In earlier usage of this word it signified one who killed another person with their own hand, or who took their own life with their own hand. See 1 Timothy 2:12.

The word authority, when derived from exousia, emphasizes the right, more than the power, to do something. There are two basic forms of this right to exercise authority:

• Intrinsic authority, which has to do with moral authority. This authority is derived from one's own person by virtue of the person's character.

• Delegated authority, that is, authority given to a person from another source.

Since "there is no authority except from God" (Romans 13:1, speaking of the right of magistrates to exercise authority over others), we may deduct from this verse the principle that every kind of authority, other than God Himself, is derived or delegated authority, and therefore secondary to God. Even moral authority is derived from being created in God's image.

One other kind of authority that takes supremacy over human authority, is the Bible. Because it is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21), it has divine authority. The Bible was given by God with the intention that we submit to it and obey it, not look to it as one more influence in our lives.

Christians have been given various kinds of authority. These include the authority of a believer to cast out demons (Mk. 3:15), the authority of parents to instruct their children and command their obedience (Eph. 6:1, 1 Tim. 3:4), and the authority of church leaders (see scriptures listed above).

Each kind of derived or delegated authority has certain conditions and qualifications in order for it to be exercised properly. The Scriptures are careful to distinguish between spiritual authority and the authority of magistrates. The authority that Paul speaks about in Romans 13 is the right and power to enforce obedience, but the authority Peter speaks about in 1 Peter 5 is the responsibility to serve God's people for God's purposes in God's ways.

Below is a list of scriptures that make it clear that spiritual leaders have been given authority to lead, albeit, with certain conditions and restrictions:

1 Pet. 5:1-5 “Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it, not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Tim. 5:17 “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching”

Titus 1:5 “I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you”

Acts 20:28-30 “Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that He obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.”

1 Thess. 5:12 “But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

Heb. 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them… Let them do this with joy and not with sighing, for that would be harmful to you.”

2 Tim. 4:1 “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.”

2 Tim. 2:24 “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth”

3. Some Comments on the Nature of Spiritual Authority

It is clear from these passages and from others that there is a delegated authority to those who are called and gifted by God to lead the church, but that authority can only be exercised properly to the degree there is derived authority to carry it out in a Christlike manner. In other words, spiritual authority is delegated by God, but derived through godliness.

So the real question on spiritual authority is not does it exist, but how is it to be exercised? That, in turn, depends on how one defines "spiritual authority." Jesus made it abundantly clear that what He meant by authority was influencing the flock through serving it. The only right use of spiritual authority is to serve others: "Let...he who governs be as one who serves" (Luke 22:26-27).

In this sense, authority is defined as the right to influence others. Jesus went to great lengths to re-define the meaning of that authority, both in word and deed. But how do we know if we are exercising spiritual authority in a Christlike way? The following seven tests may help:

• Does it restrict or does it liberate?

• Does it lead to conformity or does it promote creativity?

• Does it bring dependence on man or on God?

• Does it produce servility or servanthood?

• Does it depend on law or grace?

• Does it destroy or build a person's confidence?

• Does it produce fear of touching God's anointed, or does it equip people to function with confidence in their gifts as priests and kings before God?

There are three dimensions of spiritual authority. By looking at the practical outworking of spiritual authority, we get a better feel of what authority is, and just as important, what it is not. Those three dimensions are:

• The mark of spiritual authority is Christlikeness. Spiritual authority is not taken, just offered. Once you try to force people to do or believe something, i.e. to enforce your right to influence them, you are no longer exercising spiritual authority, but operating in the flesh. Jesus came 2,000 years ago as a suffering servant. He came to win the hearts of people by serving them, and ultimately dying for them. Spiritual leaders in His church are commanded to do the same. Mark 9:35 “He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’”

Spiritual authority includes persuasion. Paul is a good example of someone who employed every means possible to convince the churches he planted to do what he felt was right. He pleaded, cajoled, warned, and pressured, all to touch the hearts of God's people and move them to obedience to the Lord. 2 Cor. 5:11 "Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others..."

• The mandate of spiritual authority is to lead. While I am concerned about the style of leadership, I want to be clear that it is leadership I am calling for. It is going in front. It is making decisions and persuading others to make decisions.

The exercise of spiritual authority differs according to the gifts a person has been given. The spiritual authority of a teacher flows from right use of the Scriptures to persuade and convince, whereas the prophet warns about sin in people's lives and reveals the heart of God. Apostolic authority is derived from the faith and vision one has of the glory of God among the Gentiles and one’s role as a spiritual parent to those who come to Christ through their ministry.

It is vital to note that when Paul appeals to his authority as an apostle in correcting the saints in Corinth and Galatia, he is not thinking institutionally or positionally, but relationally. The apostolic networks and chains of command we see in the body of Christ today tend to operate in a manner that is completely foreign to what Paul had in mind when he spoke of his apostolic authority. Paul appealed to his authority to see new Christians free from the control of false teachers, and to preserve the truth of gospel, not to establish a network of churches that reported to him at the top. He was concerned about the believers being brought under the influence of false doctrine. There is no scriptural evidence that Paul set up a movement of churches with himself in charge as the “ruling apostle”.

• The ministry of those given spiritual authority is three-fold:

a. Guard the flock:

• against wolves from within - Acts 20:28-30
• against false doctrine – 2 Timothy 4:1-5
• against deceivers - 2 John 7-11
• against those who cause divisions - Romans 16:17- 18, Titus 3:10
• against immorality - 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

b. Govern the flock:

• By tending the flock - 1 Pet. 5:1-5 "Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it, not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock."

• By correcting the flock - 2 Tim. 2:24 "And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth"

• By bringing order to the flock - Titus 1:5 "I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you”

1 Timothy 3:15 “You know how the church ought to conduct itself”

• By making decisions that affect the flock - 1 Tim. 5:17 "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor..."

Acts 15:13-22 "James spoke up: brothers, listen to me, it is my judgment...then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided..."

c. Guide the flock:

• By teaching from the Word – 1 Timothy 4:11 "Command and teach these things"

2 Tim. 4:1 "I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching."

John 3:34 "He whom God has sent speaks the words of God."

1 Tim. 3:2 "Now an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach..."

• By equipping and preparing others for the work of ministry - 2 Tim. 2:2 "And what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well."

Eph. 4:11 "The gifts He gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ..."

Eph. 4:12 "To prepare God's people for works of service."

• By imparting passion to others - Romans 15:20,30,16:26 "It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ is not known...I urge you, brothers...to join me in my struggle...so that all nations might believe and obey him - to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."

Cynicism, disrespect and disorder characterize this present evil age. It is not surprising, therefore, to find within the church a hunger for fresh understanding concerning the nature of spiritual authority and obedience. Tom Marshall once said, “We live in freedom only within the constraints of divine order in all of our relationships.”

Some teachers and leaders in the Body of Christ so gravely misunderstand and misrepresent the issues of authority and obedience that we need to think very carefully about the Biblical issues and principles involved. In the flesh people seek to avoid personal responsibility, pushing the responsibility for decisions up to a leader. The leader, also in the flesh, is all too eager to take responsibility that is not his or hers to take.

The Bible makes it clear that obedience merely for the sake obedience is not necessarily good. We can obey evil as well as good; we can obey man when we ought to obey God. Obedience that produces conformity is not healthy. Obedience to gain acceptance feeds the flesh. It is therefore of great importance that we distinguish between true spiritual authority and the abuse of authority.

It was Tom Marshall that taught about three different kinds of authority and the obedience that is appropriate to each one:

1. Task authority

2. Teaching authority

3. Spiritual authority

Authority is to be exercised differently in each of these categories. Many of the problems in the church arise from using a type of authority and expecting a kind of response that is inappropriate to the situation.

Task authority is the simplest and easiest to understand. This kind of authority concerns a job that is to be done. A person is put in charge that gives assignments and direction; under him or her is a team whose responsibility it is to comply as promptly and efficiently as they can with the leader’s instructions. It may or may not be appropriate to be "creative," take individual ownership, or discuss the pros and cons of certain approaches to the tasks to be done.

In certain circumstances task authority is a legitimate and effective form of leadership. It turns a group of individuals into a single operating unit and allows work to be done efficiently. The New Testament uses the Greek word peitharcheo (to obey a chief or ruler) to describe the obedience that is appropriate in response to leaders in such situations (Titus 3:1). This word is also used to describe the kind of obedience we are to give to magistrates (Romans 13:1), and the obedience to God rather than man (Acts 5:29).

When we turn to teaching authority, the purpose is much more than simply accomplishing a task. It is not so much something that is to be done, but truth to be learned. What is of greatest importance is that the one learning has the opportunity to discover how to learn for himself, so that after he has learned he will no longer need detailed instructions. In these situations, unlike the task situation, questions and answers, reasons, explanations and dealing with objections and misunderstandings are all part of the learning process. Thus the Bible uses the Greek word peitho (to be persuaded) to describe the kind of obedience God is looking for. He wants obedience with understanding, from the heart. When the writer to the Hebrews says, "obey your leaders" (Hebrews 13:17), peitho is the word he uses.

Teaching authority is persuasion authority. We are to convince others by appealing to the Word, with the aim that the person being taught has revelation for him or herself of the truth being expounded. Paul said in 2 Cor. 5:11 "Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences."

Teaching authority in the church is often confused with task authority. The pastor or leader who balks at being asked such legitimate questions as "Why?" or "What for?" needs to understand the difference between the two types of authority and the obedience God expects to each. Applying task authority to teaching situations will not produce true learning; the believers will not really understand but just repeat a lesson or truth like a parrot.

A good teacher will never be content with rote learning; he understands the severe limitations on those who do not truly understand the truths being presented. Some of those being taught may not want to grapple with the truths of God's Word; others may not want to make the changes it demands in their lives, but we must not lapse into a task authority approach when teaching the Word of God. It may seem easier, but in the end it does not solve problems, it creates them.

When it comes to the exercise of spiritual authority, the aim again is different. The aim is not compliance or blind obedience, but motivation from one’s heart to take ownership of what God is doing or saying in a particular situation. The purpose of spiritual authority is to serve people, equip them, and influence them to become who God wants them to be.

The essence of Christian maturity is the free response of the will to truth and the will of God as one seeks for and receives revelation to his or her own heart. The witness of the truth to a person’s heart is vital. If I alter my behavior or try to develop my character for any other reason than a loving response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit in my heart, it is not obedience that is pleasing to God.

Thus, the word used for this type of obedience is different again; it is hupakouo, "to listen under." The hearing and obeying both come from under the surface, from deep within the heart. The spiritual leader may be a channel of God's Spirit motivating a person, but they are not the only channel, and they are not assigned by God to control what channels He uses in people’s lives.

Task authority and teaching authority can both be deadly if applied to a situation that calls for a person to seek for and find what God wants for themselves. The exercise of spiritual authority in relation to hupakouo obedience should be aimed at leading a person to self-discovery of the will of God. We should not order them as if it were a task they should do, nor should we spoon feed them as if they cannot study the Word or listen to the Spirit for themselves.

The right exercise of spiritual authority calls upon leaders in the church to trust the precious Holy Spirit to work in people's hearts. He is more committed to their obedience and growth than the leaders could ever be.

4. The Practical Outworking of Spiritual Authority on Leadership Teams/Elderships

How does authority work on leadership teams, where there is a plurality of spiritual gifts? Because the nature of spiritual authority is to serve, it requires humility to recognize and receive what has been given by God to others, and receive those persons as gifts from the Lord. If God has given a person the spiritual gift of leadership, and if He calls him to give oversight to a leadership team/eldership, then it requires humility both in him to offer that gift, and in others to receive it. Authority, in that context, is the call of God to lead the team with the vision, wisdom, values, perspective, etc., that God has deposited in that person.

Authority is delegated to the person called to lead, and is derived through their obedience to God. By leading, the person who is the “senior amongst equals” is offering to serve others with the gifts God has given to them. Each person on an eldership has been given spiritual gifts that result in ministry to the body, and to the others on the eldership.

Each person on the eldership has something unique to contribute, each one has been gifted by God, and when He brings a group of people together, they are to honor those gifts and callings of their co-workers, and submit to them.

That includes the one chosen by God to be a senior amongst equals. God's normal pattern is to anoint one person to lead out, to be the senior on the team. That person plays the role of helmsman, like a captain on a ship. The analogy of a ship is a good one, because one person cannot single-handedly navigate, engineer, set the sails, and clean the decks for an entire ship. It requires a team effort. The role of each person is vital for the ship to be kept in tip-top condition and to reach its destination.

The role of the helmsman is an important one, but no more important than anyone else in terms of value or function. And though each person has equal value, not every person has equal responsibility or authority. It is the helmsman, the captain, who brings the crew together, makes sure each person on the crew is prepared to take up their responsibilities in sailing the ship, and helps chart the course they are to sail.

God has provided for this role in the church by giving some the gift of helmsman (sometimes translated leadership, or administrations). This gift is mentioned in 1 Cor. 12:28, and comes from the Greek word kubernesis, which literally means to steer or pilot. The same gift is referred to in Romans 12: 8. There Paul uses the word proistimi, which is translated as governorship, or oversight. It is translated in the English language as leadership.

As each person honors the gifts and callings of God in others, and is secure and clear about his or her role and calling, there will be unity. That unity in turn will flow out into the body and be a great source of inspiration to others to take up the place God has given them. As each person is functioning in his or her gifts, the body is joined together and grows into the likeness of Christ. Then the purposes of God for that fellowship of men and women are accomplished to the glory of God and the worship of His Son, Jesus, in the nations.

Amen

Copyright: Floyd McClung, July 4, 2007

Timothy and the Incarnational Principle

A few weeks ago and I wrote and told you that one of our workers, Timothy, was beaten by a gang of criminals. The bottom line is these guys are against what Timothy and our team is doing. We are seeking to plant a church in the heart of a very poor township called Masiphumelele.

The guys who attacked Timothy smashed a beer bottle in his face, beat him with their fists and kicked him when he was able to break through the circle they made around him and get away.

Timothy is doing well. Timothy has been a model and inspiration to our team of courage, faith and sacrifice. Timothy lives among the poor. He is a humble man. He lives by faith, loves people and has a great sense of humor. Timothy loves sports; he is discipling some guys he plays basketball with.

Timothy is an example of the incarnational vs attractional principle of missions that we try to follow. We believe as much as possible we should live and work among people, going to them and not expecting them to come to us. This is what Jesus did for us. He stepped into our world. He invites us to do the same for others: "...as the Father sent me, so I send you..."

There was power in the incarnation. There was no compromise in what Jesus did, but there was humility is coming close to people in their sin. The power of being with people, of simple friendship, is extraordinary. It touches us when we realize that Jesus enjoys being with us. It affirms us and adds great dignity and significance and hope to our lives. And we do the same for others when we are "incarnational" in our lifestyle.

But Jesus was on a mission. He had an agenda. God sent His son to save people from their sin. Hanging out for the sake of hanging out misses the point. God sends us just as certainly as He sent Jesus. We are to go to them, enjoy them, like them for the pure pleasure of enjoying who God has made them to be, but we are also to take Jesus with us into every conversation and every friendship.

Without knowing it, Timothy embodies the principle of incarnation. He is very holistic. He is fully human and at the same time fully dedicated to the purposes of God.

Please pray for Timothy. He is on the verge of a break through. The guys he is discipling are close to making commitments to Christ. A simple church is being formed through his involvement with them. When it happens, well, you can be sure I will let you know!

God Space

Is "God Space" another cute Christian cliché? Or is it something real?

"God space" is real to me, and it was genuine for the man who first introduced me to the term. Dr. Bob, as he was called, was dying of leukemia. He was on his last missionary journey, just a few weeks away from death.

Dr Bob checked himself out of Cedar-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, bought an around-the-world ticket, and was saying goodbye as he made it from one mission-post to another in Asia, India, the Middle East and Europe. We were one of his last stops on the last lap of his life's journey.

Dr Bob sat in a wheel chair, depleted of energy, as he challenged us to live in God Space. "When you get to the end of yourself, the end of your resources and your abilities, then you enter God Space," he said to Sally and me. He was frail, but he was still feisty. He was at the end, but death did not impress him and fear did not hold him.

"Faith doesn't begin until you have to have God come through for you, Floyd." His gaze was steady. He then turned to Sally. "You don't need faith for what you can do, Sally, you need faith for what you cannot do. Then you are living in God Space."

He explained the term further. "God space is living between the end of your resources and abilities and what God wants you to do for Him. That's God space."

At the time we were trusting God to buy the former Salvation Army headquarters in the heart of Amsterdam for an outreach and training center. We were entering God space big time and needed those words of encouragement. A few months later, a friend of Dr Bob's sent a large gift to encourage us. It was the down payment we needed to buy the building. It was sent in memory of Dr Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision and Samaritan's Purse. More importantly to us, our friend. And mentor.

Dr Bob taught us to live in God Space.

I recently received this testimony from someone who chose to take the risk and live in God Space:

I'd like to tell you a story. The day that you came to Muncie, IN. and spoke at Union Chapel last year, something amazing happened. You talked about "God Space." I had a friend who wasn't talking to me anymore, and I missed that person in my life. I decided the day you came to speak to give the situation with that person over to God and let God work in his space. I went home, after Church service, and prayed about it. Then I had this amazing sense of God's presence, and I heard a gentle voice speak to me in my head. It wasn't my thinking voice, it was God speaking to me. Anyhow, God told me to leave my apartment and go out. So, I decided that I'd go out to dinner at Arby's. Well, when I got to Arby's, God spoke again and said that I should go to the grocery store in the same general shopping area. So, I drove around the restaurant and went to the grocery. When I walked into the grocery store......guess who was there. Yep, the friend who I had neither seen nor talked to for months. However, the friend told me to never to talk to them again. So, I walked by them, without saying anything, and I went and bought some items at the grocery store. When I came back to the front of the store, she was still standing talking to someone at the front of the store, but as I was going through the check out she stepped out the door. At that point, I'm wondering why God guided me there? I walked out the store, and it was now raining. I had forgotten an umbrella. So, I started to walk towards my car, and I caught a glimpse of her walking towards her several lines away in the parking lot in totally the opposite direction I was headed. Then....out of nowhere......she turns around, waves at me, and actually runs up to me while sticking an umbrella above my head. We began talking again. God had guided me there that day to reconnect with my friend. Thank you for the sermon on "God space." I definitely needed it.

What challenge are you facing? There is a space, a dimension of life, where you have to have God come through for you to make it, to experience God's grace. I encourage you go there voluntarily. Live there. Rest there. Wait there.

God space is where God loves to come through for us, to meet us in very personal and life-altering ways. It may be in the valley of the shadow, and it may be on a spiritual high... God space does not mean we always get what we want, but it does mean God will be with us. Dr Bob died of leukemia - but he did so in the presence of the Lord, living in that realm of life that meant trusting God for grace to live victoriously. Dr Bob was not perfect, but he lived with passion and zest for the purposes of God. You can as well - if you live in God Space.

The Forgotten Ways of Church

I was recently sent a review of a new book by Alan Hirsch, co-author of The Shaping of Things to Come. I found the review so stimulating that I had to pass it on to you.

The numbers tell the story: about 15% of the population in South Africa and the United States attends church, and are less than in other Western countries. More important, the church is no longer engaging the culture or a force for transformation in society. The church is irrelevant to most people. Those same people are interested in Jesus, pray and believe in a higher power. They have not said no to God but they are not attracted to the cultural way we package church. That says to me we need to re-imagine church, to seriously look at new ways of doing church, ways that get us out of the church bubble and into the world.

I think you will find this short summary of The Forgotten Ways inspiring if you are as concerned as I am about reaching un-churched and unreached people with the good news of Jesus.

Here is the review:

Alan Hirsch begins his new book, The Forgotten Ways, with a challenging question: why do some Christian movements grow so incredibly fast absent professional clergy, official leadership structures, central organization, and the ability to gather together in large group meetings? And what should this observation mean to us today? His answer is that they live out a radically different paradigm of 'church' - a missional-incarnational model, which he contends is the organic people movement Jesus initiated, rather than the hierarchical, religious, institutional model we have pursued during the last 17 hundred years.

This new paradigm of church cannot, in Hirsch's opinion, be merely a tag-on to what already exists. The system forces of church-as-usual disallow the co-existence of the emerging paradigm - when it is implemented as just another program to attract the younger generation. New wine has never performed well in old wineskins. A revival of the movement Jesus gave life insists on change at the very core of today's Christianity. Our systems story must be re-imagined - i.e. the very basis for how we feel, think and behave.

Hirsch believes that the key to fulfilling God's call to His church is based upon whether or not missional DNA is the basis of their re-creation in Christ. In the current church paradigm, religious institutions hold the template for what church ought to look like. Man is in control, measuring other men & women by their own interpretations of what is deemed sacred. Alternatively, when the Spirit dwells within a new born Christian, it is the God Himself who moves the individual, not a creed or institutional handbook. Fear of heresy has compelled centuries of church leadership to usurp the role of guide from the Spirit, thus installing clones of a man-made religion throughout the world, rather than reproducing a Spirit-led movement built on missional DNA.

The author presents six elegant features of a healthy Jesus Movement:

1. Jesus Is Lord - Everything having to do with life here on earth must be brought under the rule of God. When we live out a dualistic notion of existence - i.e. separating sacred space where God is found from secular space where God is considered absent - we end up with operational polytheism. God must rule in every aspect of life as the Alpha and Omega. Christians must continually assess whether other gods are leading in their lives - the god of consumerism, of power, of popularity, of financial security, etc. Be loyal to the One true God.

2. Disciple Making - Disciple making is one non-negotiable of any genuine expression of Christianity. Today's church has bought into the consumerism model which has unwittingly made 90% of our members passive spectators, thus - for all intents and purposes - pagans in sheep clothing. Jesus must be embodied within us enabling each one of us to become the gospel to those around us 24/7 - as living love letters. The notion that right ideas alone will transform people is erroneous. Discipleship is about living out kingdom principles on a daily basis, as spiritual practitioners, among those we seek to disciple.

3. Missional-Incarnational Impulse - This is the practical, centrifugal, seed-spreading, de-churchifying, contextualizing, outworking of the missio Dei. There are four dimensions to this: Presence - as God lives within us, we must be living in authentic relationship with others; Proximity - God, having brought us into various relationships, calls us to be regularly accessible to folks in the place where they live out their lives; Powerlessness - we live to serve with humility, not to rule or to pontificate; Proclamation - we are to invite others to follow Jesus. We are called, as the Christ incarnation archetypically exemplified, to exercise a genuine identification and affinity for all others.

4. Apostolic Environment - If we really want missional church, then we must have a missional leadership system to drive it. Apostolic ministry is a function, not an office; a calling and a gifting, not an earned DMin. Biblically, this is not about having a charismatic personality, CEO acumen, or the appropriate denominational pedigree. It is about having a persistent, Spirit-led influence that awakens the church to its true calling and identity. Apostolic environments are enticingly visionary, persevering stubborn despite opposition, alliance building among those of similar convictions, consistent mentors of the next generation, and tireless in their efforts to restructure church structure so that it can remain a dynamic movement rather than a static institution.

5. Organic Systems - God is both beyond his creation as well as fully present in even the smallest subatomic particle. Therein lies the basis of our confidence in organic systems - it is must always and entirely be seen as a God thing. When the Spirit indwells a believer, that person can be confidently sent out without the need of hierarchical control. Instead, the believer is networked with other believers while engaging in relationship building with non-believers. Movements are structure-lite and authority de-centralized because God is trusted to do as promised - to teach and guide each believer. Some have labeled this liquid church, meaning it is more immediately adaptive and responsive to the surrounding context because it takes seriously being both in Christ as well as part of the body of Christ. Christ is the undisputed, trusted head. Simultaneously we remain vitally and dependently connected to one another within the body. As in nature, organic systems intentionally reproduce (not clone) so that they maximize diversity, which - contrary to the thinking of the hierarchical model - actually decreases vulnerability.

6. Communitas, Not Community - Could middle-class culture actually be contrary to authentic gospel values? If our culture is preoccupied with safety and security, for ourselves and particularly for our children; if we are obsessed with comfort and convenience and thus the penchant for consumerism - then the pejorative and proverbial bourgeois shoe probably fits. How might this change? Hirsch posits that by leaving the context of security and entering the context of liminality (the initially disorienting arena at the margins of our expected community of comfort and safety) we are driven to develop bonds of communality - communitas - among others suffering similar life difficulties. Throughout history liminality and communitas have been the more normative existence of God's people when they were living at their spiritual best. Against this is the tendency of all living systems toward equilibrium, with a concurrent loss of adaptability and diversity. Stasis actually diminishes the possibility of survival because we become reluctant, even resistant, to change which is the one constant of life in this world. The Spirit is wisely and continuously moving the church to the edge of chaos where we must take risks and creatively rethink every aspect of being in order to continue as kingdom people.

I wholeheartedly invite you all to raid your piggy-banks in order to purchase this book. Alan is the co-author of The Shaping of Things to Come.

Only One...

Friend,

Do you ever feel overwhelmed and don't know how to respond to the masses of people in need? We find comfort in these amazing words. May they guide and strengthen you today as well,

Floyd and Sally

ONLY ONE...

My child...I've often heard you question...and this message is my
answer...hear Me well:
You're concerned about the hungry world, the millions who are
starving... and you ask,
"What can only one do?"

feed one

You grieve for all the unborn, children murdered,
every day...and you ask, "What can only one do?"

save one

You're haunted by the homeless souls who wander
city streets...and you ask, "What can only one do?"

shelter one

You weep for those who suffer pain, disease and hopelessness...
and you ask, "What can only one do?"

comfort one

Your heart aches for the lonely. the imprisoned, the abused...
and you ask, "What can only one do?'

love one

Remember this my Child...two thousand years ago,
the world was filled, just as it is today, with those in need...
and when the helpless and the hopeless cried out to me for mercy,
I sent a Saviour....

Hope Began...With Only One...

B. J. Hoff

Winter

It's winter here in the southern hemisphere.  Well, technically, it's still autumn - but we've had lots of "winter" (read cold!) days.  We've also had many pleasant, sunny days, so it's not all bad.  But the weather has turned, the nights are definitely cold, and my 'used to central heating' body is going through some major transition!

I've been told I'll be a true Cape Tonian when I've survived my first winter here!  I think I may need to increase the prayer support.  I'm used to living in cold climates (blizzards in Afghanistan, cold/wet weather in Amsterdam, snowy Colorado, ice storms in Kansas City), but the big difference for me here is the lack of heating.  I must confess that I puzzle over that concept.  I find it hard to function/work/be sweet when I'm shivering and watching my breath in the air.  I just want to curl up in a ball (like our dog Sossy) and try to keep warm.

Some homes have fireplaces.  Our home-to-be doesn't, but we would like to build one in.  Some people use electric heaters.  Many, I'd say most, don't.  I was with some friends recently in very cold weather.  We were all bundled up and the topic of conversation was how very cold it was.  As I walked through their home, almost every window and many outside doors were wide open.......now that's another concept I don't understand.  I'm told it's to have fresh air.  But, hey! that fresh air is freezing cold!!!

We're still house sitting for a friend here.  During the very first cold spell I was going to light her fireplace.  I wasn't quite sure how the flue worked, and Floyd wasn't home, so I decided I'd better wait.  When Floyd came home, he found a dead pigeon stuck in the flue.  Thankfully I escaped the aroma of roasted pigeon in the house!

Our winter clothes are still mostly packed away in our boxes (hopefully we'll unpack those in Aug.), so I'm keeping warm by layering.  Some days I look like a little roly-poly doll, but it works!  Floyd says I'm an angel when I tuck the hot water bottles in our beds at night.....I do miss my electric blanket!  I guess I've been pretty spoiled by some of these creature comforts.

All in all, I'm very blessed and can't complain.  I'm living in a lovely home, I have a roof over my head, I have clothes to wear and food to eat, and a dog and husband who love me.  I'm just praying my blood will quickly thicken up for the winter here!

"While the earth remains.....summer and winter......shall not cease."   Genesis 8:22

Anybody Can Be a Missionary!

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not a typical front line type person! I prefer to be in the background. I'm more practical. I enjoy helping to get things done by serving and working behind the scenes. You won't find me preaching on a street corner. I most likely won't be leading an outreach team.

And here I am, in South Africa, helping to pioneer and develop the ministry of All Nations in Cape Town. It could seem like a bad fit! Yet I'm happy, I'm challenged, I'm loving being here, and I'm finding what God has for me here. We've been here about 7 months, and I already feel very much at home. It seems like we've been here much longer!

One of the ways that I "fit" is by loving people one at a time. I find God has people for me to encourage and build friendship with all over the place - at the bank, at the post office, at the shops.......I don't even have to look for them. He has strategically placed them all around me. All I have to do is listen to that "still small voice" prompting me to say something, reach out in some way, to someone right in front of me.

The other day I was in a huge long queue (line) at the grocery store. I was joking with a couple in front of me, and then the husband left. I somehow knew I was to talk with the lady about Jesus - which we did for about 10 minutes while standing, waiting to check out. It was one of those moments when I knew God put me here in South Africa for that lady.

Small home groups are starting to be formed around contacts that different ones of our team are making. Soon U.S. summer teams will be joining us, so we hope to be meeting/ministering to even more people.

We can all talk. We can all be friendly. We can all share about the most important person in our lives - Jesus. So we can ALL do this! If I can do this, you can too!! Want to come join us in South Africa?

Floyd, Sossy (our Airedale Terrier) and I are doing well in our new homeland. Sossy communicates from the outside balcony with the whole neighborhood! We're all finding our place here!

Forty Years

Floyd and I recently took a couple days to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.  Forty years.  Wow - that's a lifetime!  I have lots of friends that aren't even that old.  The children of Israel wandered in the desert for that long.  When we speak of it, we talk about how l-ooooo-n-g that was!!  And, now, we've been married that long!  Incredible.  How did that happen?! :}

Some days when I think about it - it seems like forever.  It's hard to remember not knowing Floyd.  At other times, it seems like we just got married last week.  However long or short it is, it's certainly been the best years of my life!

Every day, every week, every month, and, yes, every year has been an adventure!  I would have never, ever, in my wildest dreams have dreamed what my life with Floyd would be like.  Who, but God, could have known?!

We've seen the world.  We've had amazing adventures.  We've had highs and lows.  We've had "richer" and "poorer."  We've had "sickness" and "in health."  We've had "better" and "worse."  We've had "wither thou goest."  We've had it all, so to speak.

I wouldn't trade a day of it - even the hard ones! - for the way God has directed and interwoven our lives.  He has been so faithful to us.  We know each other in strengths and weaknesses, and love each other in spite of, or because of.  The good days have brightened our love - the hard days have deepened it.

I'm very grateful for the lifetime we've had together, and hope we have 40 more.  We'll be hobbling around by then, but it'll still be a fun adventure.  I'm thankful to God for giving me such a wonderful partner in life.

And now we find ourselves beginning a new life and adventure here in South Africa.  Some would say we should be relaxing, "retiring," slowing down.  Well, I do move slowly some days, but we're not slowing down.  We're at the outset of a new chapter in our life here on earth.  I wouldn't begin to imagine what all it will entail.  But I know there'll never be a dull day.  God is good!!

"The Lord your God is with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9    Amen!  He has been with us for 40 years!

My Favorite

I must confess that I don't like the kinds of questions that have to do with "biggest," "most," "best."  You know the kind I mean.  What is your most embarrassing moment?  What is the best.......?  What is your biggest.....?  I don't tend to think in those terms, and I always feel so put on the spot.......like I have to come up with a wonderful answer.

And yet the other day I found myself thinking along these lines......my favorite verse (see it quoted below).  I love II Cor. 12:9!  Probably because I've needed the truth it contains so much in my life!

I love the way the verse says His grace "is" sufficient.  It's present tense.  It wasn't just available yesterday.  It won't just be available in the future.  It's available right now, this very minute, if I need it.  I have only to call upon Him.  He doesn't always remove the problems from my life, but He does give me what I need to walk through the problem.  He helps me persevere and endure.

I like to be strong and up for the task, but this verse lets me know that in my weakness, if I'll lean into Him and receive His grace, He can more clearly shine through me in His power.  He gets the honor and glory - not me!  There have been so many times in my life when I KNEW I couldn't do something, couldn't persevere through something........but I knew He could through me.  He's given me the strength and courage to face things I couldn't have otherwise.

There are so many situations that I think back to:  living in Afghanistan, raising our children in the red light district of Amsterdam, living with physical pain, walking through conflict with friends, nursing our daughter in her illness, facing the possible loss of my daughter and grandson when he was born, leaving friends and family to move to a new land, trusting God for miraculous provision.......the list is endless.  If His grace hadn't been there, I couldn't have made it!!

In our life now in South Africa, I feel so inadequate in response to the need.  The problems, the needs, the numbers are so great.  I don't know if I have the wisdom, time, or energy to meet them.  It can be overwhelming if I focus on myself.  His grace is ministered to my heart when I think about His infinite power and might.

I must say that I feel my "age" as well.  At age 58, I just don't have the strength and energy that I had when I was 20 or 30.  I can't go as long and as hard.  I need my sleep, and even a nap now and then.  I have some aches and pains that I didn't use to have.  I do feel "weak."  How grateful I am that His power can be shown forth in spite of my age-related weaknesses.

The comfort and testimony of looking back to how He's helped me in the past gives me assurance in facing the new challenges of my present life.  I'm weak, inadequate......but He IS sufficient.  That's why I love this verse!  It is my "favorite."

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.........for when I am weak, then I am strong."  II Cor. 12:9, 10

We Will Succeed

We live near a township called Masiphumele, which means "we will succeed."  I love that!  The confidence, courage, statement of faith that the name reflects is wonderful.  The name is on a stone sign at the entrance to the neighborhood - proclaiming the desire and hope of success.

As we meet people from "Masi" and as we work there, you can see that some people believe the statement and others seem apathetic or defeated.  I'd love to drop a ray of hope and faith into all their hearts.  We're trusting God will give us the ability to help improve their lives and help them succeed.

Knowing what their name means.......and how the first people there chose it as their statement, has challenged me personally.  I've asked myself if I believe we will succeed in what God has called us to do here.  At times the needs seem so overwhelming, so impossible, so........just too much!!  I wonder if the little we are able to do can even make a dent in the big picture.  It seems like every day I learn of more needs.  Down the road from Masi is Ocean View, another community, a larger one with similar immense needs.

It's been a good opportunity for me to keep my focus on God.  If I focus on the needs, I do get overwhelmed.  It's too big.  But if I focus on God, I'm encouraged and strengthened.  I guess that's true for all of us wherever we live, and whatever the needs around us may be.

I was praying about this recently and was reminded of the loaves and fishes.  Wow - 5 loaves, 2 fish.......and 5000 men plus women and children (I'm sure there were lots!) were fed.  With seconds and left-overs!  You can't beat that.

I remember one Christmas in Amsterdam when we were feeding the homeless.  We had cooked for days - worked to have a wonderful meal.  Then Christmas eve. there was a problem, and all the food spoiled!!  All the stores were closed, people had been invited.....and no food.  We quickly gathered what food we could from our staff households and started cooking again.  When the day was over, we had fed everyone who came - hundreds of them........and we had food left over to send home with our staff.  We had our own miracle!

So, yes - with my eyes on God, my hope in Him, strengthened by my knowledge of who He is - I know we will succeed.  That's my hope, my prayer, and that's why we're here.

"We have only 5 loaves and 2 fish.  And he said, "Bring them here to me."  And they all ate and were satisfied."  Matthew 14:17, 18, 20

Led by a Cloud

When I've read the Old Testament story of the children of Israel being led by a cloud each day after they left Egypt, I've often wondered what that meant......or more specifically, what it might have looked like.  There are clouds every day.  What's to distinguish one from another?  What makes one more special?

When we lived in Holland, we saw lots of clouds.  They were massive - filling the whole sky.  There seemed to be more clouds than earth.  When you looked out the window, you saw a little bit of land, but most of the view would be clouds - great masses of them!  And they just hung there!  They didn't seem to move very quickly.  They stayed there and brought gray days and rain.  The sky was often very bleak and heavy looking.

Since moving to Cape Town, I have been fascinated by the clouds here!  They are huge, and move quickly through the valley where we live.  They may move east for awhile......and then later I'll look, and they're moving west.  Sometimes there are 2 types of clouds moving in opposite directions.  Some clouds hang low in the valley, others are high above us.  Sometimes the sun is shining through the clouds making them almost too bright to look at.  Very rarely do the clouds here stay still.  They seem to always be on the move.

The clouds and the ocean seem to have a distinct relationship - working together.  Sometimes clouds roll in from the ocean and disappear as they reach land.  On other days, it's the opposite - they roll from land out to the ocean and dissipate quickly.  It's fascinating and constantly changing.  I can see why people would be drawn to study them and learn from them.

I don't think I've been "led" by them yet, but I've certainly enjoyed watching them........and thinking of the one who created them!  How vast and awesome is He!!  Clouds are mentioned so often in the Word.  In the Old Testament, His presence was often in the cloud.......in the New Testament, He spoke out of the cloud at Christ's baptism.  I look out the window at these beautiful clouds and sense His nearness all around me!

"The Lord God went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way......and did not depart from before the people."  Exodus 13: 21, 22

Under His Wings

I don't usually think of a bird as something that I would feel safe and protected under!  When the Psalmist used the analogy of finding refuge "under his wings," that always sounded a little weak to me.

A while back we were with some friends at a restaurant in Pretoria called "The Blue Crane."  We sat on a deck overlooking a pond with a number of birds.  I heard the blue crane before I saw it.......a very loud squawking noise.......and then it swooped down.  Its body was large, not huge, but its wing span was HUGE.  I didn't run out with my tape measure, but my guess would be 2-3 yards/meters across.

This large, yes it was a blue/gray color, bird was watching out for and protecting a female that was nesting.  It was making lots of noise and flying down in attack at any other bird that got near the nest.  Its sole mission seemed to be to scare away predators.  One look at those huge wings coming in, and the other birds and ground animals took off.  Because of those large wings, as it flew it also cast a large shadow on the ground blocking out the bright mid-day sun.

The verses from Psalm 91 took on new meaning and significance with this very visual application of the promises written there.  You could see, and thus feel, the sense of protection.  It brought home a fresh reality of our protection under HIS wings and in HIS shadow.  I know right where I want to be!

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty.......under his wings you will find refuge." Psalm 91:1, 4

I Think I Need Translation!

I am still learning the "English" language here.  I've written before about wondering if we speak the same language.  So many words are new, different, or used differently.  Here are some more I've been learning:

• hoot: to honk the car horn

• rocket: a green leaf vegetable used in salads and cooking

• pudding: dessert

• rates: taxes

• tuck shop: a snack shop

• a flat: an apartment

• sweets: candy

• biscuits: cookies

• a "couple" biscuits: two of them

• a "few" biscuits: more than two of them

• panel beaters: car body shop

• plaster: a bandaid

• caravan: a camping trailer

• tekkies: sneakers, tennis shoes

• bring and braai: a potluck

• trolley: not the San Francisco cable car, but a grocery cart

I am constantly learning new ones!  One of my favorites was a newspaper ad I saw recently.  The advertisement was for beds - specifically a style of bed called a "sleigh" bed because of its shape.  Something was lost in the translation however, as they were advertising a "slave" bed.  I laughed for a long time over that one!!

"Now the whole earth had one language and few words."  - Genesis 11:1  Maybe it would have been more helpful if we'd stayed that way!!

Daily Life

I'm regularly asked what my daily life is like in South Africa.  In many ways it's the same.  There's still laundry to do, the house to clean, groceries to buy, errands to run.....the ordinary things of life don't change.  I guess the biggest difference in that area is that things seem to take longer.  There are many "conveniences" we live with in the U.S. that we take for granted and even consider them to sometimes be necessities.  A lot of those are missing in South Africa, so doing "life" takes longer.

I sometimes feel myself caught between a 1st and 3rd world country........a country in transition perhaps.  South Africa is a lovely country.  Many things are definitely modern, cutting edge, and "1st world."  And then there are other things that seem 3rd world.  I hesitate to even use those terms because they don't seem to do justice to the reality of life here.  Let's just say that there are areas that could do with some attention.

It's still in many ways a "paper society."  It seems strange to be helped by someone who is sitting by a computer, and yet they are writing everything out by hand with multiple copies being made by carbon paper.  Or they may be adding figures on paper by long hand when there is a calculator near by.

Because I handle all our finances and bookkeeping, I also do all our banking.  I think this has been one of the biggest adjustments for me.  It took us weeks and many, many trips to the bank before we could even get a bank account opened.  Getting checks to use this account took a while longer.  It took weeks for one and then months for the other to get the cards we needed for our financial business.  We use one card to get money from the bank and another card to make purchases.  Transactions that I'm used to taking care of at the bank in five minutes can take 60 - 90 minutes.  I constantly have to tell myself to slow down, relax, and be patient.

I see people, on a daily basis, getting irritated and rude because of these stresses of daily life.  I don't want to be like that or respond like that.  Smiling, chatting with people around me, praying, and thinking of ways to express appreciation helps!  I find myself constantly adjusting my expectations of time, and how much I can accomplish in a certain amount of time.  My "to do" list for each day never quite gets done.

There don't seem to be any 2 days alike.  I find myself each morning looking at what needs to be done, and asking the Lord for wisdom on which things to tackle that day.......not unlike what my life has always been like!  So daily life for me is much the same......but different.  Different people, a different country, a different culture, different ways of doing things.  But life still gets done!!

I'm happy here.  I'm grateful to be here.  I'm thankful for all the ways the Lord has helped us in being here.  It's home now........and becoming more precious to us day by day.

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."  Proverbs 16:3

Missing Out

Our grandson, Luke, just celebrated his 4th birthday.  We received the email invitation to his party at the zoo.  We sent our regrets.  We knew he wanted a bicycle.  We sent a check for his parents to buy that for him from us.  We called on his birthday to talk to him.  After 3 attempts, we managed to actually speak to him.  We assured him we loved him, and told him we wished we could come to his party when he asked if we would be there.  We watched the DVD sent by email of his party.  We wished we could have been there to join in the celebration.

These are the kinds of events that pull on my heartstrings now because I'm living half a world away from my 2 grandchildren.  I miss them!  I miss seeing the changes in them.  I miss watching them grow up.  I miss being close enough to talk to them any time I want for as long as I want.  I miss sending them surprise packages to remind them that I love them.

This was by FAR the biggest issue I had to process in moving to South Africa.  After a number of years of being very ill, our daughter was told by doctors that she would never be able to have children.  The Lord wonderfully healed her, but it was still uncertain if she would be able to conceive and carry children.  I never accepted the doctor's statements as fact, and prayed for years that we would have these little ones.  The story of each of their births is a miracle and testimony to God's goodness and power.  We are so grateful for their lives.  They are truly a gift from the Lord.

And now I'm so far away!  Overall I've had a great rest and peace about this.  In processing our decision to move here, I worked it through in my heart with the Lord, and it wasn't an "issue" any more.  But there are moments, like special celebrations, when I feel the distance.  I feel like I'm missing out.  Luke's birthday was one of those.

I had a good talk with the Lord about it!  I expressed my gratitude for the phone and internet that keeps us in good communication.  And I thanked the Lord again that we have these 2 dear ones.  Many medical experts said they weren't to be, but God's thoughts and ways were higher.  Near or far, they are a gift from Him.  I will enjoy and celebrate their lives.  I'm glad Luke had a 4th birthday!!

"David was greatly distressed.....he strengthened himself in the Lord his God."  I Samuel 30:6   I joined David in this.....my burden was lifted and my strength renewed.

Facing Fear

There seems to be one consistent, often discussed topic of conversation here - fear, and concern for safety.  Friends talk about it, shopkeepers talk about it, strangers talk about it........there's an article in almost every issue of the newspaper and it's a popular topic on the television news.  I am regularly asked why we came to South Africa.  People say to me that it's not safe here.  Why would I leave America?  Why would I choose to live here? Many are leaving South Africa and moving to other countries out of fear.  I happen to believe that God will bring others to replace them who are called to come out of love.  I think Floyd and I are part of the latter group.

Floyd has thought for years that we would probably live here someday, but I wasn't so sure.  I had my own reasons for that, but, yes, concern for safety was one of those.  It was something I needed to think and pray through in making our decision to move here.  Actually, when it came right down to it, it was pretty straight forward - being in God's will is the safest place to be!  I had a deep sense of calling that it was God's will for us to be here.  It doesn't mean there won't be problems, it just means He'll help us with whatever we have to face.

I remember when we lived in the Red Light District in Amsterdam, Holland.  It certainly wasn't your typical "safe" neighborhood!  People thought we were crazy to live there with our two young children.  Besides all the prostitution, there was drug dealing, fighting, crime, pornography, satanism......if you can think of an evil, it was probably there.  And, yet, we loved living there and felt safe!

We had a young Dutch woman who worked with us for a couple years, and then she made plans to move to England to study.  On her last evening in Amsterdam before taking the train to England, she came to say goodbye.  As she walked into our neighborhood that evening, she was consumed with fear!  She had lived and worked there boldly......not sensing fear........and now she was overwhelmed with it.  As she contemplated what was happening to her, she felt the Lord speak into her heart:  "During the years you lived and worked here, my grace was upon you.  Now you're coming in as a visitor.  I wanted you to see the difference so you can encourage the workers that I'm with them - even when they don't realize it."  I'll never forget her sharing that with us that evening........and I've remembered it all these years since. I am sure there are many instances in all of our lives when God has protected us, and we've not even been aware of it!  I'm so grateful for that.  My heart is increasingly consumed with a love for this country and the people here.  It's not something I can "work up."  I know it's from the Lord.  I can't think of anywhere else in the world that I'd rather be.  I'm careful.  I'm cautious.  I try to be wise.  But I don't live in fear.  I think that's a testimony to His grace!  For years now I've had a problem with sleep.  I've actually slept better since moving here than I have in a long time!  My mind and my heart are at rest in Him.  I think we can face fear, and come to a place of rest and peace.

"You will not fear the terror of the night, not the arrow that flies by the day.......For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways."  Psalms 91: 5

Hunting a "Dangerous Game"

I love all (or, mostly, all) of God's creatures......but I don't want them in my house!  Sossy, our Airedale Terrier, is the only one I really care to have living indoors with us.

We recently had one of these uninvited creatures in our house......a good sized black lizard.  Just thinking about it gives me the "heebie jeebies."  I really don't like them.  I saw this creature in the house one day, but it ran and I lost track of it.  We have a dear lady named Martha who works for us one day a week.  I heard an 'eek' one day when she was here, and then heard her quietly calling for me.  It turns out, she likes these creatures even less than me!  She's quite afraid of them.

So, between the two of us, we decided to help it get back outside where it belonged!  Martha tried to move it along towards the door with a dust pan, and I tried to sweep it out with a broom.  The poor thing was probably scared to death!  I had to make Sossy lay down in a different part of the room because she wanted to be in on whatever this was that was taking place.  It seemed so exciting to her.

This "dangerous game" lost it's tail, but we managed to get it outside.  It lay quietly for a long time, and then finally moved along.  Floyd, who was away traveling at the time, said he would have loved to have all this on video!  Such a helpful response!

Let's hope that we don't have any more creatures come visit!  I may be the one scared to death next time.

"God created every living creature that moves."  Gen. 1:20   Too bad He didn't tell them to stay outdoors!!

A Historical Note

I am contemplating the words of one of the first Europeans to land in Cape Colony, what is today South Africa, written on April 8, 1652. His lofty ideals were not to be lived out. I wonder what would have happened, in the history of the land, indeed in all of Africa, if they had been lived and practiced?

He gave this command to those serving under him: "Whoso, therefore, ill-treats or pushes any of the natives, whether he be right of wrong, shall, in their presence, be scourged with 50 lashes, in order that they shall perceive that such conduct is against our will, and that we are desirous to deal with them in love & friendship..."

I don't know if that is consistent with other things he wrote and believed, but in itself it is a powerful statement.

Fighting Fire... Literally!

We have been away for a retreat with our All Nations family here in South Africa for a few days. We were at a conference center in the mountains outside of Pretoria, in the northeast of the country. All during the weekend, we could see brush fires burning around us, but at a distance. Veld (brush) fires are not uncommon. They are usually left to burn, unless structures are threatened. Most times they burn themselves out. After lunch on Sunday, everyone said their goodbyes and were on their way. A few people stayed behind for a small meeting. During the afternoon, the fire edged closer to where we were.......until it was burning on two sides of the conference center!! Floyd and some of the other men rushed out to help fight the fire.......with hoses, buckets, wet blankets, and branches of green leaves that wouldn't catch fire. At one point the fire came within about 10-12 feet of the wooden cabin that we had been staying in and that I had just evacuated about 3 minutes before!

I've seen fire at a distance before, but never quite that close. It's exhilarating, and frightening! You realize how very quick and destructive it can be. Afterwards I noticed that Floyd's gray hair had been singed yellow in a few places. That's a little "too" close to the fire!!!

I've written before about all the unusual experiences we've had in our life here in Africa. This is yet one more! I wouldn't dare to imagine what might be next!

"As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze...." Psalms 83:14