The minister’s wife came forward after the sermon…

Many churches offer an invitation after the sermon, allowing people to make a public response of any kind to the teaching just presented. We typically expect a non-response, which speeds us to lunch faster. But how would we respond if a pastor’s wife responded to the invitation, as it did this morning at Stones River Church of Christ (Murfreesboro, Tennessee).

Most churches I’ve attended would respond as though they were witnessing an unfolding scandal… “what is going on?” “ I bet there is some sin someone has found out about”… or “I always thought that she was a strong Christian, why is she having to come forward.” My advice to those who are in churches like these: lock your doors and take down your sign. You are not a church. At least not as I would define church.

Stones River demonstrated what a church is in its reaction. It appeared as though dozens were responding to the sermon, as many people came forward to offer their help, encouragement, and prayers. The preacher shared that this sister in Christ was struggling with her attitude, and that God used the worship assembly to convict her of hardness within her heart. As he prayed for her, many more came forward to surround her in prayer.

Here is a daughter of God that understands the all-encompassing nature of a relationship with Jesus, and a family committed to helping one another become disciples of Christ. Here are people who understand that there is no longer any use for or power in shame and guilt in the Kingdom of unconditional love. This is how I would define church: not an event, not a building, not an organization to belong to, but a distinctive people called out to represent God’s Kingdom here on earth.

ten thousand villages, but still a small world...



we visited our teammate Chris Boyce (see below) on Sunday, as he presented his successes and struggles to the Harpeth Hills church in Nashville. After visiting with Chris, we decided to stop by ten thousand villages, a store located in another part of Nashville. Who was eating in the restaurant next door but Jason and Emily Miller, other teammates of ours (we even unknowingly parked in the space next to them!) We knew they had traveled in from Kansas City for the weekend to visit family and meet with a couple churches, but a planned meeting seemed incredibly difficult… sometimes no plans are needed!!! It was a giddy moment for Charity, and Josiah, as he loves Jason and Emily as well! And there is nothing better than being with Jason when he laughs. He is a full-body, deep-belly laugher, and after each double take ("kevin...charity...no way!!!") he indulged us with some of the best laughs ever, which we gladly shared in person.

Sunday, we were given a glimpse of what being with these families in Mwanza will be like... and it is the best encouragement to persevere in the fund-raising process!

A new respect for teachers…

today was my first day in the classroom, as a substitute teacher at Swiss Elementary. I learned so much: here are a few things that stand out:

1. ADD is for real. Someone ship me some Ritalin from Canada, please.
2. Teachers are underpaid (I made $37 dollars today, or $4.11/hr. Made twice that much per hour folding T-shirts in Vegas)
3. Everyone in your class gets to go to the bathroom 5 times an hour, while you have to hold it all day!
4. Our system aims at educating. Children in our society desperately need personal attention. These two components are often inconsistent.
5. Most elementary students have never had a “boy teacher”.
6. The loud students (usually boys) get more attention; the obedient students get overlooked.
7. After even one day, they feel like “my kids”. Thank God for children!


Funny question from Ben: “What grade is your son in?” “He’s 15 months old.” “No, WHAT GRADE?”

Do you have a barnabas in your life?

Do you know somebody that believes in you more than you believe in yourself? Tim and Kristi Cooke are such people for us. They have helped us and encouraged us in numerous ways. Last night, they let us know that they have scheduled a meeting for us with the missions committee at the Brainerd church (Chattanooga)for Dec. 8. God always seems to put people like this in our lives at just the right times!

the month ahead...

our teammate and urban mission trailblazer Chris Boyce is home from Mwanza for a couple weeks... and we are going to be able to meet his wife and baby! We are working together with Chris to secure contacts for potential sponsoring churches, and his firsthand stories of God's work are the best "selling" technique we know.

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Chris and Teresa will be speaking/presenting at several of the churches that are contributing to their efforts, and one of these presentations will provide us with the opportunity to connect with the chair of Woodmont Hills mission committee. We are continuing to pray for open doors; this is His work!

Also, the Laurel church in Knoxville has requested more information from us. Josiah's traveling training will continue, one road trip after another, until we reach the place where there are no roads!

back to school (it's not a nightmare!)

I just heard back from ACU, where I have finished 33 hours of a 54 hr. Masters Degree. It turns out, that with the right combination of course subsitution, that I can finish this degree in the spring without having to move back to Abilene. This will be a great deal of work, but the three classes that I will be attending are three classes that I've always wanted to take (Introduction to Spiritual Formation, Advanced Introduction to the Old Testament, and Development Ministry).

It seems a door has opened for us. We will keep you posted.

Suffering saints

It is not fun to watch a man die. My friend, Sherwood Long, is one of the toughest men I know (perhaps the toughest, if not for Charity's granddaddy). He has endured 5 separate amputations in the past couple months; he needed open heart surgery last year, and has suffered through a decade of kidney dialysis, three times a week.

I try to visit him, to place a hand on him and pray for him. I am running out of words to pray; he will not be able to return to his home, he will not be able to walk again (his hope before his second leg was amputated, shortly before fitting a prosthesis for the first leg), he will not be able to leave skilled care again. He will be largely confined to a nursing home or hospital bed for the remainder of the days that God has appointed for him.

I could not visit him today... his bed at the nursing home was empty...my fears for the worst were not realized, but the condition of his return to the hospital was not encouraging. But what would I have prayed?

I often pray that God takes him home, but that is not always comfortable to pray in person. But does he have any life left?

My prayer for sherwood is this: that he live as long as he is able to proclaim your goodness. The aging psalmist writes "even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come." (ps. 71)

But if you know Sherwood, or any of the thousands of suffering saints like him, you know that he will continue to share of God's power and might; maybe our prayers should be for the next generation, that they--that we--might hear the testimony of those who are passing into the life to come.

Jesus vs. the way of war

check this out...from a friend in Vegas
http://jeremyohl.blogspot.com/2004/11/what-about-hitler.html

Does God directly lead your life?

This was the question posed to me early this morning by an older man (perhaps 80), an elder at Hixson Church of Christ in Chattanooga.

Though surprised by its bluntness, I was prepared for the question--I mean, I believe strongly in God's direction, and I can justify my beliefs with scripture and logic. But I wasn't prepared for his response when I returned the question.

"I am trying to allow God to be in total control of my life, and I am learning to completely submit to his leading".

And I need forgiveness, because I believed that this question was about an issue. Instead, it was about a savior. In his response, we were able to engage in true fellowship--our Hardee's Bacon Egg & Cheese biscuit was transformed into holy communion.

It is unnerving to be asked a question (not an information question, but a request for spritual advice) by someone old enough to be my grandfather. But God used this question to instruct me in the way of the Father.

Good news from Washington!!!

Our friends, JJ and Mary Martin, ,and future co-workers in Tanzania, were totally blown away by the support they received from JJ's home church in Vancouver, Washington. They have (tentatively) committed their 5th sunday offerings to support JJ and Mary in their mission endeavors. Praise God!!!

JJ and Mary are good friends that constantly remind us and encourage us about God's example of incarnational ministry; that is, ministering through the amazing power of weakness (after the example of Jesus, Paul, and others). We rejoice with them in their good news!

Top 7 reasons Josiah will Love Africa!!!

1. Sporadic power outages mean candles everywhere.
2. Wadudu (swahili for bugs). Wadudu everywhere.
3. More time walking. Less time in the carseat.
4. He won't be the only one in church singing and dancing!
5. Animals... particularly chickens and goats, two favorites!
6. Fresh pineapple, bananas, and mangoes, everyday.
7. Lots of dirt to play in (and in the rainy season, mud puddles!)

If only grandparents and great-grandparents could be there, it would be perfect!

News and Notes:

We have been greatly blessed by a few people that have stepped up to serve as advocates for us, and they have provided us with several contacts, some of which are very promising.

Tim and Kristi Cooke, Gailyn and Becky Van Rheenen, Todd Lollar, and Chris Boyce have helped us greatly. Here is some of what is going on:

We have had good conversations with people from Farmers Branch, Southlake, and The Colony in the Dallas area; Hixson and Brainerd in Chattanooga, Tammany Oaks in New Orleans, and we have an upcoming meeting with Woodmont in Nashville. Keep us in your prayers!

Also, the support of Collins church in Tennessee and some friends is keeping us going right now...praise God for his provision, and keep praying!

Kevin

"for it is not the will of the father that one of these little ones be lost" Mt. 18:14