Looking Through a Key Hole

Well, John McCain has chosen his running mate. Soon we will know more about Sarah Palin than we ever wanted to know. We are already hearing about what she has not done. Soon, we will hear about everything she wished she hadn't done. Going into politics is like walking through customs at the airport. It may begin slowly but it could very easily progress to a full out cavity search. Sorry for that image. Jean Paul Sartre, the existentialist philosopher, wrote a short story that captured why he was an atheist. In the short story he was spying on someone through a key hole. He felt a thrill as he watched them in part because he was getting completely unfiltered information about them. Then he heard a noise and realized that someone was looking through a key hole at him. It was God. Sartre said if God exists then he gets completely unfiltered information about us. For Sartre that was the most horrifying thought ever. Many of us would never think about running for public office because it is just a taste of this. All of us like to present ourselves to people on our terms. If my unfiltered thoughts would somehow spew themselves into this blog it would be the last time I ever opened a computer. But we have a problem. We have a deep fear of people really knowing what is going on deep down inside of us. We filter our presentation of ourselves even to our closest friends. But we also have this terrible need to be loved. And love is only as powerful as true knowledge of a person. And here is the wonder. God does look through the key hole at my life. He has completely unfiltered information about me...and yet. And yet, God loves and that is the greatest mystery of all. That is why God's love is so much greater than we can imagine because God knows. He knows and he still loves. That may be something Sarah Palin may need to be reminded of before this is all over. It is something that is my joy to remind you of today.

On Protesters,Bumperstickers, and Being Thankful

I read this morning about 8 Americans who went over to China during the Olympics to protest the Chinese government and their treatment of Tibet. The eight were promptly arrested, jailed, interrogated, and it appears at least mildly tortured. I say mild, but I am sure it was terrible and yet when I read they have now been deported to the States and were still walking. I think mild since the government they were protesting has a record of interrogating people until they can't walk. I was thankful they were released and I don't know them or their passion so I am not sure if what I am going to say is accurate. Their actions struck me as naive. I think Americans get really used to America and we forget what an amazing place this is. The political season always bugs me. We have candidates trying to convince us of how terrible things are. The unemployment figures are always trotted out. I think if I was a candidate I would say, "Hey, if you have a job then vote for me." I figure on average that would land me in the neighborhood of a 95% landslide. Here in America we are free to rage about our sitting president. We can put bumper stickers on our cars saying not only what a lousy job we feel like he has done but we can even add personal insults. So, we get used to the amazing freedom and we run off to China because the opening ceremony looked so much like what America might do if we had an extra 5 or 6 hundred million people and we make up some pretty mild signs according to American standards. "Quit Messing With Tibet". We don't even add "You Bunch of Big Bullies". And before you know it we are in a tiny room filled with Chinese gentlemen who aren't at all like the ones we saw in the opening ceremony. I believe God loves the whole world and that if Jesus was an American there would be much he would want us to change. I get that. But today let's take a step back and be grateful for this nation that lets us complain as loudly as we want. A place where we can say how terrible it is that all of us don't have insurance for the best health care the world has ever known. A place where when we are sick and doctors can't make us better or we can't afford the doctor of our choice we can still walk into any one of the hundred of churches that dot our landscape and pray as long as we want to the God who decided 250 years ago to allow a country like this to be formed. And while we are on our knees, let's say thanks because no matter what the politicians tell us these next couple of months there is no place like home. I know 8 Americans who will say 'Amen' to that.

Don't Ride it Alone

As far back as I can remember I have been involved in athletics. I enjoyed the competition, the camaraderie of a team, and the feeling of mind and body working together. I think I may have become addicted to endorphines too. I think those are the chemicals released into the body during physical exertion. About 15 years ago I bought my first heart monitor. I loved that thing. I could ride my bike, target a heart rate and ride my little brains out. The heart rate monitor made it possible for me to work out as hard as I wanted to. I prided myself in being able to target a heart rate of say 172 and hold it there for an hour. I really thought I could ride as hard by myself as when I was riding with other people. I've been watching the Olympics the last couple of weeks. Like everyone else I have watched as one world record after another has fallen. What I have come to realize is no one breaks a record when they are working out by themselves. These athletes are the best in the world. They aren't broken down athletes turned preachers. And yet, they are only at their very best when they are running, riding, swimming with others. That got me thinking about being a Christian. Christians weren't made to live it alone. We were meant to be side by side with others running the same race. You not only make it less lonely for me, you make me better. Lately there seems to be an epidemic around me of lives exploding and marriages disintegrating. I think that happens in part because people head off with their heart monitor and think they can do just as well when they ride by themselves. Don't. You can't. The church is designed to be the group that rides with you, makes it safer, less lonely, and ends up spurring you on when you want to give up. All you loners out there, come on in and let's ride this one out together. One thing I have learned is that fellow riders are way better than a heart monitor.

Case Dismissed!

I just received this e-mail about Tom Randall this morning from his wife Karen.

Dear Friends,
I just got off the phone with Tom and the case was dismissed! WE are thanking the Lord for His goodness and His protection.
The story started with an accusation from an 11 year old boy that he had been kidnapped by Tom, Toto, and another Filipino man. The mother is a vendor in town and was widowed around 4 months ago and this is her youngest boy. Today when the boy was questioned very carefully by the District Attorney he told his story. But the mother began to cry during his testimony because she felt bad about how things were turning out. She didn't know about Sankey Samaritan Home, about Tom, or about how great a place Sankey really is. After more questioning the boy began to waiver in his answers and soon it was clear that he wasn't telling the truth.

The District Attorney was a lady around 40 years old. Our lawyer knew her and told Tom that we got "lucky" because this one is honest. And it turns out she really was. She refused to take the case before any other judge and threatened to investigate the policemen working on this case. She even told them she could get them reassigned...maybe even to Mindanao...which is like Siberia! So the good thing is that the case was dismissed but now the judge at the hearing, the mayor (we think he was in on it), and the policemen are mad. That can be dangerous for Tom so he is spending the night at our camp around 40 miles away. There are 24 hour guards there which makes us all feel better. Then on Friday night he will stay in a hotel in Manila and fly out Saturday morning as planned.

One of the things I wondered about was this woman and boy. We all knew the boy was lying but we still aren't sure if the story came from him or the policemen or even someone else. Our feeling is the boy and him mom were just being used. At one point in the hearing Toto very quietly asked the boy if Tom was the American who kidnapped him. He had to admit that Tom wasn't the one. That's when things began to fall apart. But the good news is that we think we can help this mom and boy. We are thinking she probably doesn't have any money to send him to school so we can do that for her. We'll see if they will accept that. We hope so.

I just can't tell you how much we have felt your prayers and your love for us. Thank you for standing with us through this. Please continue to pray. Some friends gave me Psalm 27 to read today. I've been hanging on it! Read it to see why!

Love, Karen

Time is Sneaky

By nature time is sneaky. Today I don't feel much different than I did yesterday. My guess is that I don't look remarkably different either. My children grew up very slowly or so it seemed. It would be months before they needed bigger shoes and when they were little each year we would measure them but day by day they hardly changed at all. Every once in a while time comes out of the closet, becomes visible, and we can mark it's movement. The pages of time seem to slip by but the chapters are clearly marked for those who have eyes to see. And a chapter hits with the force of many pages. This is the time of year when students go back to school. Each new grade is a small chapter. But some of my friends are taking kids to college for the first time and that is a chapter of many pages. It hits with great force. We are reminded that a lot of life has slipped by and like water under a bridge it is gone and some of our life is gone with it. I never noticed the last time I carried my daughter to bed or the last time my son held my hand. I remember clearly the day I drove away from their college and saw them standing and waving and then turning toward the dorm to start life without me. I write this because time is passing all of us today. You woke up and didn't look or feel much different but a page turned nonetheless. So today pay attention. Each minute, each relationship, every moment is a gift. Hug your kids, appreciate your friends, kiss your spouse, serve your God because time is sneaky.

A Request to Pray

This is an update to my blog from August 5th on Tom Randall and the Philippines, What Goes Around Comes Around. Tom just called me with an update. The governor did get involved and at first everyone apologized and backed down. But evidently the group of conspirators has regrouped and decided to roll the dice and take their chances even with the governor. Tom received word today that he has been subpoenaed and needs to appear in court in Lucena City, Philippines. He called to ask me to pray and let others know. He has been praying about whether or not he should go to the Philippines and felt this morning the Lord wanted him to go. He said,"Joe, I have never resisted the Lord when He asked me to do something. I'm not going to start with this. I just need you to pray with me." I do not doubt that he has never resisted the call. His life experiences stand as an amazing testimony. He has asked his friend Ben Crenshaw to help him line up someone from the State Department to assist him when he gets over there. Ben is good friends with President Bush so who knows what that will mean. Please pray for my friend as he walks into the belly of the beast so to speak. The team that went before and helped build all the schools and provide relief for the typhoon victims have done their part. The stage is set for God to do what God does best. Let's all pray for justice and righteousness to prevail and that God would do for Tom what He has done countless times before. According to the subpoena Tom needs to report to the courthouse on Thursday. He is planning to fly out this Sunday evening. I will keep you posted. Please remember to pray for Tom. Thanks

Make My Day

My wife Karen came home from Walmart and her eyes danced a little. She said she was standing in line and the cashier was an older gentleman who seemed like he was struggling some. She said he might have been in his 70's. He was African American. Checking out was taking longer than usual as he labored to get the system down. Karen said she just waited. When her turn came he looked her in the eye and said,"Thanks for being so patient. You didn't fidget or huff or say anything. You just stood there looking nice. People get so mad. They say bad things to me, call me names. But not you. You were great". Those who know my wife know that is no real surprise. But she looked at him and said," Well, someone has to watch out for you" and she smiled. The cashier looked at her and pointed toward the sky and said,"Someone is looking out for me and he sent me you." And when he said that he made my wife's eyes dance. And there it was. A man having a tough day and a stranger showing him just a little patience and it made both their days. So, today, be patient, be kind, be loving, the day you may be making is your own.

The Sound of the Hope of the World

In June my youngest daughter went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. She is my child who is the most interested in missions. She asked a couple of weeks ago if some of the kids who went on the trip could come over to our house for what they were calling the "Upper Room". I said, "Sure". So the other night they came. There were about 75 of them. They were like locusts. They ate everything we set out, drank everything, and then I am pretty sure I saw some teeth marks on the furniture. Anyway they ended up outside around our fire pit, all 75 of them. Two students had guitars and began to lead worship. They sang and prayed for almost 2 hours. Toward the end I opened my bedroom window so I could hear. I looked out on 75 high school students gathered around a fire with their eyes closed and swaying together as they sang. They were singing Amazing Grace. As I listened I got goose bumps because I realized I wasn't just listening to high school students singing. I was listening to the hope of the world. The world is always one generation from total collapse. Christianity is one generation from absolute extinction. Outside my bedroom window gathered a herd of teenagers who could have been out watching a movie or partying their brains out. Instead they stood under my window and sang "Amazing Grace". So, the hope of the world gathered in my backyard the other night and I was thankful. I wanted to wake my neighbors and let them know that the next 20 years were going to be OK. I wanted them to know they could sleep well. God was not done with us yet. The fire has been lit in the next generation and so all is well. But I realized they were already awake. I just hope they had their windows open so they could hear the words..."I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see." I don't know when I have felt so good about being up so late. Let them come and eat all I have as long as I can hear them sing as I lay in my bed and thank God that another generation has been lit and is burning bright.

What Goes Around Comes Around

Two years ago we sent a basketball team from Hudson Community Chapel to the Philippines with Tom Randall for a two week trip. My son was part of that team. They had an amazing time traveling around the Philippines playing basketball and telling people about the God who loves them so much He sent His Son to die for them. They arrived shortly after a typhoon had devastated the area. The people were responsive and needy. Some towns had been hit hard and schools had been demolished by the storm. The team gave extra money and Tom had some money given him from the States and they set about giving money to rebuild and help the people of this area in the name of Jesus. My son and the others on the trip talked about pulling up to towns completely wiped out by the storm and seeing Tom organize, purchase and then disperse rice so everyone could eat. To say it was memorable is a gross understatement. Anyone who has ever had the great privilege of being an answer to prayer and putting flesh on the love of God knows it is an experience you never forget and one you will always long to repeat. So it is with this small band of brothers who went over to play basketball and found themselves doing so much more. A week ago I received a call from Tom to pray. He had received word that he was formally charged with kidnapping in the Philippines. Tom has several orphanages in the Philippines and someone was claiming he had taken their child. A group of eight policemen had raided the one orphanage and delivered the warrant signed by a judge. Tom told me he thought it was an extortion scheme but it was well orchestrated and had some power behind it since it involved at least 8 police and a judge. Last night he called to tell me what had happened since we started praying. It seems the governor of the area had remembered what the basketball team had done for the towns in his district. The governor had asked for assistance from Manila but no help had come. Instead a group of American basketball players had traveled all over his region distributing rice and building schools. When he heard of the charges he called the mayor of the city where the charges were filed. He told the mayor he was getting personally involved to defend Tom. Now it looks like the 8 corrupt policemen and the judge are in some serious trouble. Tom breathed a sigh of relief with me on the phone and we both spoke in awe of a God who two years ago would begin to weave a blanket of protection for Tom when Tom thought he was just having a blast spreading the love of God in a way people could see and taste. So, today I encourage you to spread the love of God where you are. You never know if the love you spread will one day soon be the net that catches you and saves you from an enemy you cannot see but does not hold a candle to the God you serve.

100 Miles Has Me Thinking of Heaven

The Sports Impact ministry of our church got some of the serious bicycle riders together today to ride the 14 hills of the valley. It is very close to 100 miles up and down the hills leading in and out of the valley. I had to go. My wife and my daughter think I am crazy but I really love things like this. There are a few reasons. There is something immensely satisfying about doing something that is difficult to do. It is sheer joy to do something really difficult with some other people. There were around a dozen of us that gathered at the church at 7am this morning. Because we ride at different speeds we ended up breaking up into smaller teams. My team consisted of Leigh Atkins and Mark Gorman. We had a blast. There is something that happens between people when they suffer together even if it is self induced suffering. King Henry had it right when he said,"He who sheds his blood with me this day shall be my brother be he ever so vile. And gentlemen now abed in England shall think themselves accursed and hold their manhood cheap that they were not here to fight on St.Crispen"s Day." I think that quote is close. So, I love the challenge, I love the camaraderie and friendship that forms between fellow sufferers. But I also love one more thing. At the end of the ride when we are sitting around having a cold drink all the hardest parts of the ride are the things we laugh and joke about. That reminds me of what heaven will be. Someday I will sit around and laugh at the hardest things in this life because all sad things will become untrue. At the church right now we are about to do some great stuff with adding campuses and a student ministry building. It will be a challenge. I will be asking people to sacrifice. Through it we will experience some of what I experienced today and so I can't wait. Thanks for coming along for the ride and I will see you at the top of the hill and we will laugh together.