Home Again

Back from my travels and like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I want to say, "There is no place like home." It was a great trip. I still think real Christianity displayed in the world is the most dazzling thing on the planet. Rescuing little girls from brothels at great personal risk or caring for HIV infected orphans, it is followers of Christ who are carrying on the work. Sad, wonderful, heartbreaking, dazzling in the display of God's love and glory.
The trip was only marred by an anonymous letter faxed to me while in Thailand that was openly critical of the leadership and direction of the church. It has been sent out to a bunch of people. It makes me sad. If the person had just come to me with their concerns I could have answered almost all of them. Knowing a lot about the Bible doesn't necessarily mean you will obey it. The Bible is clear on how to handle a disagreement and sending an anonymous letter to everyone you know is not the way. But, God is big. I think He gave me Psalm 37 while in Thailand.
I am glad I am home. Home has always seemed a safe place. Because of the letter, church feels a little less safe for me and I know for my family. God never wanted that, of this I am sure.

Lost and Found

Yesterday I had the chance to worship in a church in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I sat right behind 3 college age kids from Holland. The worship music was in English and then Thai. The songs were the same we sing at home. It was amazing to watch those kids in front of me worship in a Thai church with English when they were from Holland. Very cool. I am sitting in a cyber cafe in the middle of Hong Kong. I went up for coffee and just held out coins in my hand and let the guy take whatever he wanted. I may be drinking the most expensive coffee in the world right now. I toured an HIV orphanage. Every child has HIV and all their parents died of AIDS. I walked out thinking the love of Christ is the greatest thing in the world. I love being a follower of Jesus. So do those kids from Holland. I hope you do too.

From Thailand

Sitting overlooking the Ping river in Chennai Mai, Thailand eating pizza and reading my Bible. Weird. Looking over two ministries. One rescues children from brothels. Tough stuff. Two organizations. One works to rescue and close down the brothels. The other works with the damaged kids in a safe house and raises them. The rescue group, International Justice Mission, has bullet proof glass at their offices. The brothels are controlled by organized crime. These are tough and passionate people. It will be a privlege to help in some way. A 12 hour time difference means major jet lag. Early mornings means good prayer time. The good news about sleepless nights is if I know your name you have a good chance of being prayed for. Pizza is getting cold. The Ping is very tranquil. All in all, it is a good place to be right now.

Thinking

In two days I leave for the far east. I will be checking out a couple of ministries. One rescues children from brothels. I am looking forward to the time to think. Forty hours in the air total. Wow!! A work week sitting in coach and thinking. The good news is I will be 35,000 feet closer to God. This morning I was thinking about the incommunicable attributes of God. The ones he doesn't share with us. The fact that he is completely independant. I am so dependant. If I don't eat for a couple of hours I begin to get hungry. A reminder of my fragility. God is not fragile. That is a good thing. I want to remember while I am hurtling around the globe that God is the same, feels the same about me, and in reality is no closer or farther away. I like that about God. I like that He is so big, that He doesn't need me or you or anything. He is free. He connects to us as an act of his will. He binds himself to us in love, through promise. That is some of what I will be thinking about as I sit and wait to arrive on the other side of this blue ball.

Sleep...per chance to dream

I was thinking about sleep this morning. I don't sleep particularly well so I tend to appreciate more than most perhaps. I think sleep is a gift of grace. God didn't have to create us to sleep but he has given us mandatory rest from our work. There are few things more pleasurable than flopping down on my bed when I am really exhausted. Sleep is also an act of faith. I trust the bed to hold me up but more than that I trust God will keep my body running without my help. Sleep should build my faith every night. It is also an affirmation of my place and a lesson in humility. Only God does not rest or slumber. I have to sleep and while I sleep I can do nothing and yet my heart continues to beat and I breathe every few seconds...actually I puff but that is another story and one that can only be confirmed by my wife. So, sleep tonight, but count your gifts before you doze off. They are many. Grace, faith, humility...three things I can also use more of.

Shame

Shame. I have heard it called the immune system of the soul. Shame lets me know something is wrong, so very wrong. I don't know when the last time you had a really good dose of shame but it is an awful feeling. I think that is why our society is slowly trying to remove it from our experience. The most shocking thing about shows like The Jerry Springer Show is the absolute lack of shame. Any way, I was thinking about the cross since this is Easter weekend. I think the worst thing about the cross is the shame Jesus endured. He must have felt the shame I have felt and all the shame you have felt. Legitimate shame times a billion would be beyond endurance. I wonder if that had as much to do with his death as the nails in his hands. "By his stripes, I am healed", so says Isaiah. The relief of shame, the healing of my damaged soul, is the great gift Jesus has given me. It came at great cost. Shame, it turns out, is about as expensive as anything in the world.

changes

Lots of changes. My son just moved to Atlanta. My oldest daughter is getting married in 2 months. My parents are moving up here to live with us. There are maybe more changes now than at any time in my life. Changes give flavor and spice to life. But in the midst of changes it is good to look toward Sunday. This week I keep thinking about the cross. For 2000 years it has been the symbol of love and sacrifice and life. It is good for me to look and be reminded of that which does not change. God is the same. His love is the same. The key to my life stays the same. The cross is the Rock in my life and I can't wait till Sunday to look at it fresh once again.