Trip to Haiti -- Post Earth Quake 2010

It was a wild ride beginning on Monday the 18th of January when I spoke with my brother-in-law who was headed for Haiti with a team of doctors to set up a mobile hospital. Having grown up in Haiti, my desire was to somehow get down there and be of some help if I could. So I offered my services as translator, porter or "whatever needed" guy. When they accepted and my church gave their blessing, it all came together quickly. By Wednesday morning (20th) I was on a plane to meet up with the team headed for the devastated home of my childhood.

I would have the privilege of working with a godly team of docs and nurses for a week, as we witnessed the resilience of the Haitian people, who faced pain, death, destruction, and horrific living conditions. I've been to Haiti for short term missions many times in my life. However, I was not prepared for how much this trip would effect me. Once I got home and slowed down long enough to decompress my mind and begin to recall what I had seen and heard, my emotions surprised me.

Over the next several days I'll be posting blogs from my journal of the trip.

Saying Good-bye To a Friend

It's a privilege to look back and remember the godly people in your life who were very instrumental in shaping who you are today. For many of us who spent our teenage years in Marion, Indiana, Ben Medows was one of those men/mentors/friends.

Ben went to his eternal reward today and will be greatly missed, but not soon forgotten by the myriad of lives he so powerfully impacted and encouraged over the years. Pray for the Medows family as they cherish the memories and feel the deep pain of their loss.

Be Careful Hitting the Forward Button

Just a concerned note from a fellow Christian who, like you, has moments of anxiousness about the times in which we live. Please accept the humility with which I write this — not as a scold — but as a fellow traveler who had this pointed out to me several months ago, after forwarding (with good intentions) a story that was false. I found out later the false story served to mask a far deeper danger that was going on behind the scenes. So please take that extra time to research and check out stories from the internet before hitting the forward button. Believe it or not, the enemy of your faith, can use these unfounded stories to do great damage to the integrity of the church.

The times have proven very crucial for us as Christians to be vigilant, yet very careful not to disseminate false information. For when found out, it simply renders us greatly handicapped spreading the truth. For even in the nobility of our designs we lose integrity when we send false messages. More than ever before, we must be careful to be agents of TRUTH.

Here is an example, these original messages (first two links below) are false in their content, but by doing 10 minutes of checking, I found a true story (last two links below) about the ACLU that was easily masked by the false stories being spread out there. This is the genius of the enemy. Get us all riled up about things that are false or surfacy, while working elsewhere to take spiritual ground and then leave us shaking our heads and wondering why the “church” is losing it’s influence.

I have no doubt that the ACLU is an evil tool of the devil. But there is so much true stuff that we can use as warnings, we don’t need to jump on the band wagon of sending any forms of falsehood. We tell the world they can count on Jesus as “truth.” Now is our chance to really prove this and be SURE -- before we “pass it on.” Honestly, if we cannot prove it’s foundation, we shouldn’t be forwarding it. The Bible speaks pretty clearly about gossip and how it differs from true spiritual admonitions.

Since we stand by the Biblical statement that “the truth will set us free,” let’s take a little more time and prove the liberating power of HIS truth—even in emails. Most of all, it will be proven by our redemptive attitude toward culture and people who are not followers of Jesus.
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FALSE stories:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/marines.asp
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_aclu_marines_praying.htm

Pay careful attention to these two true ones!!!!
http://www.themediadesk.com/files/usmc.htm
http://www.aclu-sc.org/releases/view/100062

God's Stimulus Package...

TITHE; GIVE; be GENEROUS to others in tough times.

Don't believe it?  Read Malachi 3:7-12 and then try it His way. That's what He invites you to do. He said, "Test Me in this and see.... (verse 10)" 

 What....you'd rather trust the government to bail you out? You'd rather hoard your resources and control it all yourself. How's that working for you? How fulfilled are you in that? God's stimulus plan (goes beyond money) is, and always has been, through obedience to Him and generosity to His Bride -- the church.

Last Stop Before Eternity...

My short-term memory is not as sharp as it used to be.
Also, my short-term memory's not as sharp as it used to be.

That was one of my older-than-60 prayer partners, jokingly reminding me that he has a few years on me. I think it was his way of telling me that it is worth my while to listen to his recommendations about life -- even if he can't remember that he just told me that same story the last time we had breakfast together. Some of my colleagues ask what it's like to live and pastor in an area that has such a huge percentage of folks over the age of 60. I have to admit that after about three months of pastoring in Brevard, North Carolina, I did ask God if I had misunderstood His calling. What was I doing going from a ministry to many families with young children to a place where 60% of the congregation were over 55? It wasn't long after that I attended a funeral of an elderly man who had decided to become a Jesus - follower only months before his death -- he was in his 80s.

A strong realization came over me at that moment. THIS WAS HIS LAST STOP BEFORE ETERNITY! There is a lot of energy and resources that go into reaching young individuals and families. It's much easier to mobilize an army of volunteers to "save" the children and teens of our culture. And I am so glad that is true. We need to be reaching folks at a young age so they will establish early the life-style of honoring Jesus and expanding His kingdom. But what of the elderly?

"Oh, they are set in their ways. They are just going to a place like Brevard, NC to selfishly live out their final years. They don't generate the excitement like working with young people. Statistics say they won't change -- almost impossible to make a decision for Jesus at that age."

One friend asked me recently if I was content to live out my ministry in obscurity in a place like this. Not sure what obscurity has to do with anything (other than perhaps that friend has some "letting go of the ring" issues), but to answer the "contented" part -- NO! I hope never to be "content" as long as even one human being (old or young) is headed into eternity without knowing how to love Jesus.

Is there anybody in your life who is right now on their "last stop before eternity?" Is your time and pursuit of kingdom recognition too valuable to mess with such potential obscurity?

In just two days from now,
tomorrow will be yesterday.

The "Haircut"

My inbox is bombarded with email stories and jokes every day! Some are hilarious anecdotes; some hoaxes; some tear-jerkers; some....well some just never should have been sent. I got one this morning that falls into the "anecdote with a purpose" file. A friend was sending out a reminder of how important it is for Americans to vote as INFORMED citizens. It also has great implications for the church ... check it out...
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The Haircut
One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asks about his bill and the barber replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The florist is pleased and leaves the shop.

When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The cop is happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door (a little stereotypical slant).

Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The professor is very happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen different books, such as 'How to Improve Your Business' and 'Becoming More Successful.'

Then, a Congressman comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Congressman is very happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the members of our Congress. Your vote counts!
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Great story!!! Sure reminds us of the importance of informed voting. It also reminds me of Jesus' example as He modeled servant leadership for His church -- even in these uncertain times. Let us not kid ourselves, people will be watching and scrutinizing Christians more than ever. Jesus put serving ahead of everything and modeled it consistently, even when closest friends and family complained, some of the “religious” community criticized and boycotted His ministry efforts, and people lined up to abuse His generosity. Jesus just kept on serving!

If the evangelical church in America would have been following that model all along, the congressional lineup for the “haircut” would be irrelevant. Sadly, it’s not.

Keep on keepin’ on (serving) in HIM!