To Roatan

A group of friends and I will be in Roatan (Honduras) the next several days.  Most of our time there will be spent under water. This is my annual mancation where some of my pals and I leave the normal routine, catch up on life, and SCUBA dive.

I’m looking forward to unplugging and resting the weary brain while looking at some of the most amazing things that God has created, all with great friends.  SCUBA diving is a “thin” time for me.  Let’s hope the air doesn’t run thin.

For a play-by-play (until internet runs dry) follow me on twitter or facebook.

While I am gone, the PM service at MCC continues the Good, Bad, and Ugly series with Justin Hoeppner and Jack the Fox.  The AM service continues The Me I want to Be series with Dr Vince.

And while I have you, don’t forget that Easter is April 4.  We have two services, 9AM and 11AM (no PM service that day).  This is a fantastic opportunity to invite a friend or family member to one of the best worship gatherings of the year.

Follow Compassion Bloggers in Kenya

A group of bloggers are in Kenya this week.  They are taking a first-hand look at Compassion International and blogging their experiences.  For more information, click here.

Side note:  I am putting together a vision trip to Kenya in September.  This trip has limited openings for Pastors or Sr leaders in larger churches.  More deets to come.

Make Your Life (and work) Count

Help Haiti Live

Compassion International presents Help Haiti Live.  Join us as we are assembling the largest on-line viewing audience possible. The concert will be streamed live at HelpHaitiLive.com on Feb 27th at 7:30 Central time and will last approximately two and a half hours.

Gibson Foundation has donated a guitar to be signed by ‘Help Haiti Live’ performers and auctioned at HelpHaitiLive.com as well beginning Wednesday afternoon. All proceeds from the auction and other on-line donations will go to Compassion International’s Haiti disaster relief fund.

Compassion has already been providing temporary shelter, spiritual counsel, clean water, food and medicine to about 20,000 Haitian families. This event, made possible by your support, will allow that care to continue and rebuild the homes and lives of many Compassion families devastated by the earthquake on January 12th.

Compassion Thursday; Laura needs you

Change the world for Laura, a Colombian child waiting for sponsorship with Compassion International. 

Laura lives with her father and her mother. She is responsible for running errands and cleaning. Her father is employed and her mother maintains the home. There are 2 children in the family.
Laura is not attending school because she is too young. Playing house, playing with dolls and playing group games are her favorite activities. She also attends Bible class regularly.
Because of your sponsorship, Laura will have new opportunities to learn and grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Thank you for your concern and prayers.

To learn more about sponsoring Laura, click here.

Honoring Myself

¹ Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. ² So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. ³ Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:
       " ‘Among those who approach me
       I will show myself holy;
       in the sight of all the people
       I will be honored.’ "
      Aaron remained silent. – Lev 1

We must offer authorized fire (service).  What makes it authorized?  Among other things, it must honor God.  Do the things I offer honor him or me?

Do I serve so that I can tell great stories of my serving or so that I honor God?

Do I build relationships with people so that I can feel better about myself or so that I honor God?

Do I tithe and give so that God will bless me, or do I do it to honor God?

It all comes down to the motivation of my heart.

Today may we offer him no unauthorized fire, but only that which brings him honor.

photo by elenm1

Suffer

¹⁵But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. ¹⁶I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." – Acts 9

A guy named Paul (who would later write much of the New Testament), had just had an experience with God.  It blinded him.  He was in a house and God decides to send a guy named Ananias to Paul.  Ananias is to tell Paul of the great things that will come in the future.  Exciting things like . . . suffering.

Suffering?  You would think that God would say that he is going to show Paul all the great things that will be done.  The thousands that will be saved.  The church that will be established. Why not start with the big vision?  Why not get Paul pumped about the results and get him to commit to the plan no matter what the cost?

Because Paul was not committed to the plan, he was committed to the Christ.  If it brought suffering, so be it.

God wanted to give him a clear picture; it’s not all roses.

What if God showed me how much I would suffer for him?  Would I still make the decision to follow him?  Would you?

photo by CGehlen

Compassion Thursday; Brandoll Needs You

Be a part of a world-changing movement by becoming a child sponsor with Compassion International.  Brandoll is a young man in Honduras.  My family and I sponsor a child in Honduras and in her last letter she asked us to pray that her country would become safe.  Honduras is currently not the best place to live or travel.  How great would it be to make a difference in Brandoll’s life and give him a chance to thrive in challenging country?

Brandoll makes his home with his mother. Washing clothes, running errands and cleaning are his household duties. His mother is sometimes employed as a laborer. There are 2 children in the family.
As part of Compassion’s ministry, Brandoll participates in church activities and Bible class. He is also in kindergarten where his performance is average. Playing with cars, hide-and-seek and playing group games are his favorite activities.
Your care and consistent sponsorship are especially important to Brandoll because he has asthma and is receiving regular medical treatment. Thank you for your love and prayers.

To learn more about sponsoring Brandoll, click here.

Where is God Now?

⁷ Moses named the place Massah (which means “test”) and Meribah (which means “arguing”) because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord here with us or not? – Ex 17

Sometimes I wonder about the presence of God. "Is the Lord here with me?"  Sometimes I know that he is.  Sometimes it feels like he is far away.  I look at Israel and think, "How can they think God was far away, he sent the plagues, opened up the Red Sea, freed them from slavery." 

I bet if I were there I would have wondered the same thing they did.  Or maybe I would have thought "Sure, God was with us then, but where is he now?" 

I know that God has done some great things in the past, but he seems a bit distant in the present.  Maybe it is because I am too busy to recognize him.  Maybe I am not paying attention.  Or maybe he is backing off for a season for some reason.  Either way, I have two choices; argue with God, or try to listen all the more intently.

I’ll chose to listen.

How will you listen today?

photo by adam selwood

Guatemala Updates

A small team from MCC landed yesterday in Guatemala.  To keep with their ministry, check out the blogs of Shawn, Nate and Rachael, and Jody.