The Trip Part II

This post was a mysterious journey for me. I started out with the idea of explaining why Jeremiah 29:13 was so meaningful to me and found myself having a brief but intense discussion with our heavenly father. The discussion and this post ended when someone seated next to me reached out to say hello. Little did I know that he was lost and in need of my help. Anyway here is the post as it was. This was an intense and powerful few moments that humbled me. In The Trip IV I will share a bit about the gentleman who reached out to me and in some future post the rest of the Jeremiah 29:13 story.

May God bless and keep you, may his face shine upon you.

Here is the post.

Jeremiah 29:13

In 2002 I had the pleasure of being a part of my first ever bible study. In this critical time in my walk I had the honor of having Fred, Chris, Raynor and Nick speak into my life in a profound way. Each of these men became a mentor of sorts as we dove into the books of the bible together. By far the most memorable book was Jeremiah. Most people may consider Jeremiah to be a dark and pessimistic book. I found it to be the most poignant revelation of the heart of God in the bible. Throughout the book you could feel the massive disappointment the Lord felt toward his chosen people. A people he had nurtured for over a thousand years. A father who became... [[At this point I was at a loss for words and prayed to God to help me finish the story, give me the right word Father, Allow me to honor you with these words. I got a different response.]] As I write this I feel the power of God saying Stop! What you want to write is no longer true. You cannot say I have lost my connection. Do not talk about the past. Instead LISTEN to the song on your IPOD

Michael W Smith sings…

Help me find the way to bring me back to you

You are all I want you are all I ever needed

Help me know you are near

Father I am humbled as I sit and try with all my heart to honor you by writing about your scriptures your holy verse you speak to me a story of hope of victory through your son Jesus Christ.

I am stunned by this revelation; our heavenly father has not spoken to me this clearly before. Just then the song on my Ipod ends and another randomly begins. (Note I often set my Ipod to shuffle and listen to songs at random it can be a fun game to see where it will go next) The next song is by Kutless, the song “Saved” I hear…

I tell you now its the only way 

To be set free from all your pain 

You must accept these words I say 

I need your focus just this day 

Let me reveal to you a friend 

He’ll give you purpose and eternal life 

He is the Christ and to Him I say 

I am speechless.

Praise be to you almighty father

Amen

The Trip Part I

Last week, as I flew off to Canada to be with my mother I reflected on my favorite book of the old testament; Jeremiah. This post and the next address this intimate love story of God for his chosen people Israel and why it is so meaningful to me.

Jeremiah 29:11

In the Christian circles I navigate, I am often faced with one of the more well known quotes from the bible. It is Jeremiah 29:11. For I know the plans…

What a great verse full of hope and promise full of the brightness of life and the opportunity to fulfill a life’s purpose. This is the faithful’s foreshadow of the New Testament verse “well done good and faithful servant”. I love that verse and its obvious significance.

He shoots he…is tripped?!

In my life I have not been the brightest, the most popular, the most agile, the best hockey player. I have had to earn every toehold, every acknowledgment. Affirmations in my life have been in short supply.

About 10 years ago, one of my best friends and I played pickup hockey on an early Sunday morning. This was the first time he and I had played hockey together. I knew him to be a pretty talented hockey player. In Toronto this is saying something. Everyone there plays. It was 5am in Toronto. I still remember the mist covering the ice as we cut the first blades of steel into the frozen surface. As the game progressed the friendly banter subsided as heart rates and breathing quickened, Canadians take their hockey seriously even at 5am on a Sunday morning. Even in a pickup game with no significance at all.

Since my early 20’s I have played defense. I think this started because I was, as I stated above, not the most skilled. My goals and assists were earned. My bruises fought for. My pride was always hanging in the balance. So I played defense. After several years I became quite proficient at it. I did not have to be the fastest, the strongest, the most skilled. I learned that if I used my intellect, my heart, my stamina in concert I could compete. Some days I could even win. Every once in a while I could shine. Safely locked away in the deepest part of my human heart are those few memories of soaring. (There was a time in a playoff game where we lost 3-2. I scored two goals and was a +2 playing 40 minutes of a 50 minute game. If you know hockey this is more than good. There was another time when my Farmington Hills MI over 30 team won the league championship. I was recognized by that team as one of our best defense. No sacrifice was too great that season bruise concussion, sprain; the team would win if I had anything to say about it. We did. This is my private Stanley Cup)

That morning in Toronto was no different. I worked hard to keep the stars of the other team from scoring with only mixed results. Toward the end of the game I had a break away. Just before scoring (well I thought I would) the defenseman on the other side tripped me from behind. I was enraged. It was a pickup game; there are no referees just an honor code to play the game for the love of it.

Only in hockey have I faced giants fearlessly. I got in this guys face and screamed at him. What are you doing?! This is a pickup game!!! Luckily my friend got between us and calmed the situation down. This guy was about 6 inches taller and 100 pounds heavier (all muscle) I would have lost it gone any further.

My friend said something to me on the way home that has burned itself into my memory. You are a scrapper. You are not the most talented but you work really hard. This observation was as close as my friend could come to an authentic compliment. I know I am not that talented, so did he. I find great release in the intensity of trying with all my being to win.

This worldly perspective seems incongruous with Jeremiah 29:11. I was not made to play in the NHL or even in an elite amateur league. Hockey for me is a passion that will never be more than a hobby. All the same it has taught me about the plans my maker has made for me. He gave me an ability to enter into a state of fiery passion, a capability to live in a controlled rage of energy and concentration. Yes it has at times tipped beyond the point of sanity but only rarely. Only when injustices are leveled against me or those people or causes I care deeply about do I lash out.

It took two decades for me to make the connection. Only in the past few years has it become clear. He was preparing me, giving me glimpses of what I was called for while I was far from him. He was foreshadowing the promise I had in him, if I could only submit to his will.

Fiery Passion

This is the clearest and most sought after state of my mind. I want to be on fire for him. I have learned to get to a point where I am hyper alert, energized to the limit, conscious of every detail, and fully emotionally engaged. What an elusive state! When I am there I feel like anything the Lord wants me to do is possible. What was most profound to me about this state was what it signified. This was the fire the Lord set in me to be a leader.

Through the elegant and violent game of hockey my heavenly father revealed to me that he had bestowed upon me the gift of leadership.

For me leading is now as necessary as breathing. It is not about the need to have power and control, inexplicably it is about giving it away. I love to do the Lord’s work through leading, I cannot, not lead. Jeremiah said something early in his ministry that was very much on point to this yearning inside me when he said.

20:9

But if I say “ I will not mention him

or speak any more of his name”

His word is in my heart like a fire

a fire shut up in my bones

I am weary of holding it in

Indeed I cannot.

This is what leading is to me, a fire in my bones, a fire from our heavenly father.

Father

I praise you for your revelation in my life

You are my Lord of my life

Holy one, you who knew me before I was conceived

You had plans for me before the beginning of time

Father, words cannot express my wonder at you omnipotence

Help me to fulfill the destiny you created for me

Speak to me father

Share your plan to me so that I might honor you

Allow me the pleasure of living totally committed in your will

Your will be done in this life

In your son’s victorious name I pray

Amen

Ron

The Trip Part III

So much happened while I was back home in Canada. Over the next few weeks I will share with you how God blessed my life during this challenging time. For those of you who are wondering my mother’s operation went extremely well and she is recovering nicely. Praise God for his healing power and the talent he gave to my mother’s surgeon.

Yes this is part three. I wrote two installments of this journey prior to this that are not quite finished I will add them in the next few days.

The Least

It was early morning and unseasonably cold for mid august in southern Ontario. As I was leaving to take my mom to the hospital I saw him out of the corner of my eye. He was sitting in a heap on the bottom stair of the building entrance. His shoulders slumped in resignation, his cloths filthy and stained. His hair was wild and unkempt but there was something about him. I turned to walk across the street and suddenly stopped. It was as if a large hand signaled in front of me STOP! Turn Around and look at him. I did so obediently. I found myself walking back toward him my hand reaching in my pocket to find whatever money was there.

I walked up to him and asked “are you alright friend?” His response was a startled almost panicky look. But those eyes…

Have you ever looked in the eyes of another person and knew you were looking straight at Jesus? That morning I knew I was. I offered him a two dollar coin and suggested he go get a coffee. As I prepared to leave I said “God bless you my friend”

I then turned and walked to the car and caught up to my parents in time to open the door and get in. They had not seen what had happened. As we drove away I looked for him to see where he was, had he gone to the coffee shop? He was no where to be found. Under my breathe I said a short prayer of praise thanksgiving and deliverance. For I knew that my God was with me; for the difficult journey ahead. Was this guy real or an opportunity to be be faithful in giving to one of the least of our brothers?

Father thank you for lighting my path

Thank you for walking always by my side

Even when the road was unsure

You were there

Even when my frustration and anxiety threatened to boil over

You were there

When I felt claustrophobic and restrained with the living scripts of my past

You were there

You gave me hope,

You gave me peace,

You loved me even when I tried to stray

You were there

Praise you father

Praise your name, your power, your mercy

Praise your Holy and victorious name

Amen

Hello Everyone!

Hey thanks for reading my blog.

Every time I have contemplated what to write in this blog, I have been blessed that it had less to do with me and more to do with the Holy Spirit. I write each post based on a thought in the back of my head. I am often unsure what the post will be about until it starts to come together and materialize on the page. After writing each post I leave it for 24 hours then come back for a final edit. On each one I have had a subtle shiver down my back as I read it almost for the first time. I pray that this continues and that our fathers spirit will continue to grace me.

I hope that this blog has been helpful and has ministered to you in some small way. If it has Praise God. If not I pray that the right people, those who are searching for him and maybe not even know it yet, will find this blog and will open up to God's word through these pages. I simply want to be used by him in the accomplishment of the great commission.

I am off to Canada tomorrow morning to see about helping my mother get well (See Cancer in the Hills). I hope to post while away so hopefully there will be no delays, but we shall see.

Earlier today my prayer warrior sister Joyce C gave me some verses to pray over as I enter into this time of ministry. I would like to share them with you and humbly ask that you pray for my mom as well.

Lets end this post with Joyce's prayer...

This is the Day

Good morning Ron;

As I pray for you and your family this morning, The Lord spoke and He said, go in His name and power. He has given you authority, power and dominion to speak those things to existence. Fear not nor be dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with you.

As you travel tomorrow, I pray even now that the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH WHO CAME IN THE FLESH go before you and strategically wash everything that’s not of Our Lord and Savior. From every area of your traveling path, your parents home, inside and outside and seven miles around, above, below their home also your home in your absence.

These are some scriptures:

Healing: Malachi 4:2, Matthew 4:23 & 9:35, Luke 9:11, Acts 4:22

Healeth: Exodus 15:26, Psalm 103:3 &147:3, Isaiah 30:26

Be Blessed and go in HIS POWER.

Just know that everything you do is in HIM.

I pray the peace of GOD upon you.

Joyce

If I am saved by grace, why do I still sin?

Sin

If I am saved by grace, why do I still sin?

Father, forgive me for I have sinned…

As a child I must have started this prayer of contrition a thousand times, usually with a Priest on the other side of a veiled confessional. I grew up this way, telling a Priest what I had done wrong, receiving prayers and acts of penance. Each time, while I felt intellectually freer, I never felt clean never felt washed in Christ’s gift of grace.

Why was that?

I think at the root of the problem is the conflict of my carnal and spiritual natures. In my heart and soul I hate sin. Yet as a human I seem to be unable to escape my carnal nature. Each time I sin I beg forgiveness I claim my inheritance in Christ, his grace and resolve to turn away to repent from those acts which separate me from him.

Create in me a clean heart Oh God and renew my spirit

Deep within me I know that Christ is doing a work in me. He is transforming me. One day I hope to be changed enough that I will begin to reflect his glory and not my small self. I see my heart and it is stained black with sin, but through the cross these stains are being moved toward the edges dissipating, lessening. One day the darkness of the edges will be all that is left, another day I will have a clean heart, a heart totally committed and devoted to God. The darkness inside will be brought to the light. While the darkness tries to hide, it will fail. All will be made light. God please speed up your work on my heart I am so tired of failing.

I find some solace in the book of Romans, particularly the end of chapter 7 and the start of 8. I know deep in my soul that the answers to my struggles lie in these verses.

Romans 7: 15-25 8: 1-3
15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

8:1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.

I see in Paul’s words that I am not alone in this battle. Most importantly my stumbles are not fatal. As I have my hope and salvation in Christ Jesus my savior, I cannot be condemned. My salvation is a gift of grace through the resurrection of Christ. Here in lies my theology, I am not worthy of it, I cannot earn it, it was freely given to me out of a sacrifice of love.

Father deliver me
Wash me clean
Only your grace and love can cleanse me
I need you today more than ever
The battle rages but my hope is in you
That you will deliver me from this hell
That you will carry me through this
Father deliver me
I am before you in the dust
I am not worthy father
Heal me
Deliver me

In your sons victorious name I call on you to deliver me

Amen

Special report: LEAD: from where you are

The 2007 Leadership Summit

This past week I had the pleasure of attending the 12^th annual Leadership Summit hosted by Willow Creek Church in Illinois. I attended via a satellite site in Alta Loma CA. This is my third summit and as always I came away a better leader for attending. In 2005 when I first attended I was taken by the thought that over 25,000 Christian leaders were getting together worshiping and learning how to lead better. My previous post on Material Leadership “Are you a leader?” was birthed at the 05 summit when Pastor Hybels asked that haunting question, “What wrecks you?”

The 06 summit was good but I was not fully engaged, I was distracted the entire summit by work concerns. I felt attacked the entire summit and ultimately gave up on the second day. The speakers were awesome the interviews great. Bono from U2 (my favorite band) made a guest appearance and challenged the church to pick up its game on famine in Africa. Over 50,000 leaders took part in that summit.

This year nearly 100,000 Christian leaders from all over the globe took part in the summit. Going into this event I resolved to be present and undistracted. I wanted to ensure I extracted every ounce of value from this excellent line up of speakers. Marcus Buckingham was stunning. His humor was understated and hilarious his content meaningful. Jimmy Carter was poignant and reflective of his career and leadership record. He enjoyed laughing at the way in which people try to honor him for what he did after the presidency. He of course thought he did a good job as president. Carly Fiorina was elegant and candid, and she oozed integrity. I would really like to work for her if she takes on another corporate role.

I found myself in many other talks focusing in on delivery and presentation style. Bill Hybels second talk on inspirational leadership hit the mark throughout. A couple of others left me irritated and quietly wishing the next break would arrive a little bit earlier. Pastor Hybels first talk on vision casting also hit the mark for me. He described in detail the steps he uses to build consensus and broad based support. This was a wonderful follow up to his 05 talk on what wrecks you.

I love these summits because they cross two of my most important values faith and learning (not to mention leadership development). There just are not enough events like this one where you can praise your creator, pray for direction and learn how to engage your followers all in the same day.

Take Aways

Pastor Hybels talk on inspiration left me feeling tingly. He challenged us that if we did not know what our leadership Kingdom purpose was, we should clear our calendars and spend significant time in prayer seeking the Lord’s will and our calling. I had been doing this for the past several weeks so the advice resonated with me. In the coming weeks I had planned to transition the content of my Material Leadership blog from leadership values toward leadership purpose. Don’t you love it when “coincidences” happen?

There were many moments during the conference when something I had written in my material leadership blog or a topic I had recently prayed about was stressed by a presenter. It was as if where I had been the past few months was being played back for me, almost an affirmation of the journey. Keep it up you are on the right track.

Ya I love it when God is in the details working his plan showing the way.

Go God!

Thank you!

Ron

"Twas grace that saved a wretch like me"

Have you ever felt lost, defeated, embarrassed, beaten, worthless? Have you? I have.

The wisdom of man is the mere folly of God

This past weekend I listened to a wonderful testimony by a Jewish Christian named Judy Reimer. Judy shared a poignant story of how she was found and saved by the King of the Universe, Jesus Christ. Throughout her early life she described how empty and broken she felt. She tried to fill the spaces inside with stuff, with all the trappings of the world. She tried the altruistic route doing acts of service; she tried new age mumbo jumbo spirituality. Nothing worked, she was empty and no amount of self help fixed her. She described how instead of looking Godward for deliverance she continued to look inward to self help techniques.

I once was lost, now am found

My own story is a bit different from Judy’s. Mine has had many ups and downs. The best way to describe my story is through a game I played as a boy; King of the hill. My game was at its best in the ice and slate gray days of January in small town Canada. At recess, my school yard friends and I would gather to see who would be king of the bitter cold (icy) hill. The objective was to get to the top and stay there. Neither getting there nor staying there was an easy task. Getting up the ice covered hill required the skills of Spiderman and the patience of Job. We had to be certain not to fall since the hill is hard as well “ice”. Believe it or not ice feels hot after a certain amount of contact in one exposed location, not a great idea. Every step is treacherous. You get a toe hold, then a hand hold then reach up for another toe hold and whoosh down you go. If you were lucky you came to rest before the ice filled watery moat at the base of the hill. Our game was not for wimps, lose and you were lucky not to get frostbite for your effort.

My journey in Christ has been a lot like my old school yard game. I got over the moat pretty easily as a young Christian. I climbed the base of the hill carefully being sure to follow the doctrine of those who had climbed before me. Yet as I reached higher there was always something causing me to stumble. Whether a deposed school chum sliding down (worldly perspective) or a lost grip (personal sin), starting over was the order of each day it seemed. Yes by the way I got my share of icy soakers. Often I felt as if getting to the top was impossible, only a saint could navigate this bitter ice field.

This is my faith journey, one tenuous step up and three back down. Praise God, Jesus did not give up on me. He continued to encourage and support me as I moved onward ever deliberately, stubbornly upward toward full surrender to him.

On the school ground the hill always drew us in; we wanted to be king of our icy realm if only for a 15 minute recess. I never gave up, I always wanted to win, I kept climbing falling, climbing and falling until I turned 16. From my late teens till my mid thirties I tired of the game and walked away. Why you ask? It was not the big questions. Is God real? Does he care about me? How could a man be God? Why would God die for me? It was something far craftier by the enemy. Am I supposed to blindly follow this churches dogma? You expect me not to ask questions? To blindly accept and follow what I am told? No sir I cannot do that. So I left.

Honor thy father and mother and it will go well with you

Fast forward to 1998. I am in my mid thirties and feeling empty. I had a successful career, a loving wife, two beautiful children, a lovely home and I am empty, broken and riddled with guilt and defeat. Out of “obligation” I attended a mass with my parents that Christmas. I did not expect to enjoy it. I expected to fulfill some sense of duty a son has toward his parents. I love them, they want me to go, so I go and act polite. Little did I know that what I meant for politeness God would turn into good. In the middle of this Mass, the whole congregation joined hands and prayed the Our Father. It was as if I had been kicked in the stomach. I could feel a sensation of community, the electricity of connectedness within this congregation and new at once that was what was missing in me. The emptiness welled up and left a bitter taste in my mouth. This is what was missing, love community faith…God. I was empty and God was telling me he was the only thing that could fill me.

I decided in earnest that I needed to rediscover this concept of God and faith. I had always believed he was real, just that it wasn’t for me. In the past eight years I have re-embraced the icy hill game of my youth and begun once again to discover what it means to be a Christian. Only this time it is different. I am armed with a bible that I actually read OFTEN. God’s word has guided me these last several years in a supernatural way.

Create in me a new heart oh God and renew my spirit

But alas I am still just a sinner. Today I stand before you broken and scarred, but not lost, not worthless, not embarrassed and most of all not defeated. You see I am a new creation in Christ. He is transforming me, giving me a new heart; a heart that loves the poor and lonely, a heart that breaks over the struggles of others. He is giving me a clean heart a fresh spirit.

Today I slip on the hill of my youth and Christ is there to catch my fall. Moments of guilt have been replaced with humility and wonder at his sacrifice for me. One day I will reach the top and after hearing the words I long to hear “well done good and faithful servant” I expect my lord to laugh heartily as I come to realize I was never alone, he was always there waiting for me to reach out to him with all my heart.

Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength

They will soar on wings like eagles

Father

Your work in me is far from complete and I wait joyfully for your spirit to continue the transformation you have underway in my heart. Open the eyes of my heart, give me a passion to serve your people, guide me on the path to righteousness. Teach me and reveal to me your destiny for me your grand design of how I can make a difference in your kingdom.

Father I love you and worship you

In your son’s victorious name I pray

Amen

Ron

Cancer in the Hills

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

² My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore. Ps 121

My family and I live in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountain range in southern California. I am blessed to have awesome trails to ride my mountain bike on just a few hundred yards from my house. This is a joyous time for me as I can spend time in prayer and in the word. It is my alone time with God.

For the past several weeks I have been coming to terms with the recent diagnosis of my mother. She was told she has cancer, again. Four and a half years ago she went toe to toe with this horrible disease. She emerged tired and bruised but victorious, Praise God. Now however the stakes are higher. A tumor was found and will be removed in two weeks.

My mother and I are not close in the traditional sense. Her generation was not one to let you know how they feel. I learned to fill in the blank spaces. Acts of kindness and sacrifice can easily be understood as I love you. A smile or friendly lilt in a voice can mean I love you.

But now, does “are you coming to visit?” mean I am scared, I can’t do this alone. Does clinging to details about accommodations belay a loss of control? What of her fear of death? How does that play out, in prayer, devotion?

I am not on solid ground here. Much like the rocks and gravel on my mountain playground the ground seems unstable, shifting and full of peril. Each of my rides has taken on a new significance. Most days I cannot wait to get there. At the summit of my ride I stop and take in the vista. As I catch my breath I pray earnestly. Most days the prayer starts with Psalm 121. Here this psalm comes to life. I can feel his presence consoling me, encouraging me, strengthening me. Like the beat of my heart pounding in my ears, Jesus is there with me. Jesus is my rock and solid ground.

He reminds me of his sacrifice, his commitment to me. On my knees I ask for a miracle that my mother would know his power, his healing. I see this tremendous mountain range and know that it would melt before him if he wished, it would be thrown down into the ocean at his command. His power is there for each of us who earnestly seek it. Those who would do his will, build his kingdom, love him and their neighbor with all their heart.

Today I am torn up by the suffering and fear of my mother. But my trust is in him and his power. Today and all days he is the one that I seek, that I love, that I will follow with all my heart. Today I pray for a miracle, I intercede on behalf of my mother. Today I call upon the name of Christ and ask that he give my mother the chance to complete her life in his peace, in his grace, carried away with gentleness and warmth. The woman who brought me into this world I pray will go out of it another day fully in his comforting hand.

May all the praise and glory be yours

My heavenly father I pray these things in the name of your victorious son

Amen

Em-Manuel

A few days ago I had the opportunity to work with a small but dedicated group in south Fontana. Perhaps you have never heard of south Fontana. It is a hot arid place on the edge of the deserts of southern California. Here you find blistering heat in the summer and poverty year round. This is a place of desperation. This is a place where generations of Americans go without health care; without most of the things that you and I hardly think about. Here people consider where their next meal will come from and whether they should eat or pay their rent. This is a place of desperation.

When I was sick…

For one day each month this changes. A small group of Christ followers congregate at a local church and do their level best to serve these same people. A mobile medical unit comes and sets up shop providing basic medical care for all who show up. They work tirelessly all day ensuring that these people see the hope of Christ through their eyes.

When I was hungry…

Our group brings in a truck full of food. I have the pleasure of organizing the packing of 100 boxes of food for the people. There are so many wonderful moments in this time. Each moment is a blessing, everything from small aches of joy in the small of my back, to the electricity of the opening prayer, to the intimacy of listening to a hurting broken brother or sister. I praise God for the opportunity to be in these moments fully alive for him and his church.

When I was lonely…

There are games, music, puppet shows, bouncers for the kids. This is a time for community to be built and strengthened, a time for new bonds of friendship to be planted.

Go amongst all the nations and proclaim the good news…

This day I asked a new friend "Manuel" a question. Do you believe that Christ died for you and loves you? Any evangelist worth his weight in salt might think this is no big thing. It was, Saturday marked the first time, praise God, that I asked another person this question. At least the first person where the answer was not known. The Lord is doing a work inside my heart. He is opening me up to the lonely and the poor, he is gracing me with a glimpse of his ability to see his people as he does.

Speak Lord for your servant is listening…

Father I praise you, I love you and I thank you. I ask that you open the eyes of all the peoples of this earth to the suffering, pain and loneliness that surrounds them like a sea. I ask that you bless them and teach them to see how they can make a difference for you. Father I pray that you will use me fully, make me a vessel of your peace of your grace and healing. Here I am father use me.

In your son’s victorious name I pray

Amen