One Child Campaign

The Tornado of Simplicity: Faith, Obedience and 7

2012-02-22T10:12:00.000-08:00

Something has been stirring in me. And by stirring, I mean more of a tornado of tillers in my soul. I have becoming more and more aware of the times and seasons in life and though far from where I can be, I know that when we made the first crazy act of obedience a little over two years ago to launch One Child Campaign, we opened Pandora’s Box. Typically, the “Box” has negative implications but for us this was good. It’s been the hardest two years of life, yet the most rewarding.

Let me say this with complete authenticity, this post is not a “hey, look what I can do!” post…in fact, it might be more of “look what I haven’t been able to do”. What we are feeling is raw, it’s real, and it’s fresh. So, if anything shared is offensive to you or you just don’t get it…it’s ok, because a lot of this post is to keep myself accountable to what God is doing inside of us.

To give you an idea of the past two years, it’s consisted of us starting One Child with zero seed money, zero monthly supporters and more zeros that I care to ever see again in my lifetime until there is a larger number and commas involved. We sold our paid-off dream vehicle – Blue Steel, yes she had a name – our 2005 Toyota 4Runner in exchange for a gift given to us in the form of a 1996 Lincoln Town Car dubbed, the Tuna Boat. We have gone several months at a time with no income and trying to cut down the budget to the bare minimum – goodbye HGTV, Food Network and Bravo. No income meaning, pretty much nothing other than what personal items we could sell on Craigslist. We still don’t know how we will pay family bills month to month, but God is faithful. To be honest, much of what we have accomplished was done in our own strength and through a works mindset…and as a result, we have ended up with loads of personal debt to see the ministry get off the ground. I can admit this isn’t the ideal situation but we did the best that we could in our humanness. Didn’t I mention this would be raw?

Just when we thought we couldn’t last another day of fighting, and we just wanted to “cruise” through life a little, God decides it’s time to peel off another layer to go deeper and those aforementioned tornadoes arrived…

Discontent - the good kind - has officially set in. Even after all that we have given up as a family, we’re discovering that things still own us and our Western mindset and culture has created a sense of misguided independence that sometimes rears it’s head in the form of community isolation. I’m frustrated with the church, I don’t mean my church per se, but the church as a whole. This is not me pointing a finger outward, it’s a realization that I am the church and I’m frustrated with what we’ve become. I don’t want the church to be a weekly club with all its programs, for me personally, I want the Acts church full of fellowship, meetings needs of orphans and widows, shared food and no hidden agendas – genuine Gospel community. Hang on with me, though it’s going to seem like I’m all over the place (I am), it all ties in together. Trust me…or don’t, it’s your prerogative.

The past year especially has been a time that God has brought a slew of new friends and contacts into our life and it’s almost like He knows what He is doing. I find it ironic that I didn’t realize that it was Ash Wednesday until the restlessness inside of us got so intense that we made the decision this morning that today was the day we were going to make some drastic changes and start to simplify. Now, don’t judge us because what is drastic to us might be commonplace to you…nevertheless, we know we are about to get our butt kicked with an early spiritual, emotional and physical spring-cleaning of sorts. God needed us in this place and has worked on us for over two years using authors, friends, family, pastors and leadership.

What pushed us over the edge this time? Well, I’d like to happily (and slightly begrudgingly) point the finger at two of our new friends that we met this past year. Enter: Brandon and Jen Hatmaker. We met under dire circumstances in both of our families’ adoptions from Ethiopia in 2011. We knew we loved them, enjoyed our time together eating, comparing tattoos (you guys totally win) and the such amid a glory cloud of frankincense (thanks, Jimmy!). What we didn’t know was that they were both authors and that they would one day return to our lives with conviction veiled in fun and sarcastic banter.

If you haven’t read “Barefoot Church” by Brandon or “7-An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess” by Jen – go to Amazon or your local bookstore and join the company of many of my friends. We are using those two books to launch into a family/life makeover of sorts. We are adjusting the premises as described in “7” to what will work best for our family and ministry – if you don’t know these “premises” that I’m talking about, go buy the books. Now. Then you’ll be in the “cool group”, just kidding, but really go get those books – they will change your life, while you laugh and cry simultaneously…you’ll then get my “begrudgingly” comment above.

Here is what our family is committing to do for the next 7 weeks, starting Monday, February 27th and will go through Lent until the week after Easter Sunday. Feel free to follow our journey that we assume will involve caffeine headaches, rage, photos, joy, freedom and a new sense of Gospel community at www.davidfamilyadventures.com and also on our ministry blog at http://theofficialonechildcampaign.blogspot.com , you can also get there from our main website: www.onechildcampaign.com

Welcome to the David family “7” Manifesto!

1. Food
For all 7 weeks, we are committing to eating only 7 types of food: fruits, vegetables, chicken, cheese, whole grain bread, yogurt/butter and eggs. This means I (Caleb) will be giving up coffee (gasp) but I refuse to let go of butter – Julia Childs would be proud.
2. Clothes
On week two, we will wear a combination of only 7 pieces of clothing/shoes the whole week.
3. Possessions
On week three, we will purge our entire home and give away to those less fortunate. Our minimum goal is to give away 210 possessions, something tells me we’ll find much more. Anything in excess of the 210 items will be sold for debt reduction.
4. Media
For all 7 weeks, we will limit our media consumption to 7 hours per week. The exception will be media that is necessary to keep the ministry work functioning, this also however, will be limited and streamlined to checking email, texts and FB twice a day. We will limit the amount of personal texting to only what is vital for real life communication. This one is going to be hard for us!
5. Waste
For all 7 weeks, we will focus on recycling, composting and conserving energy. During this time, we will also begin a garden project that we hope to include our family and friends in…aka…I stink at building things and hate pulling weeds, but think if I had some help, I’d love to share the fruits of our labor.
6. Spending
For all 7 weeks, we will limit our spending to 7 places: monthly bills/expenses, gas, Sakari’s school, Walmart, Whole Foods, Target and buying local as much as possible.
7. Stress
For all 7 weeks, we will be participating in the Seven Sacred Pauses daily and weekly observing the Sabbath. For us, it works best to observe from Saturday sundown to Sunday sundown.

Who knows what else God has in store for our family and ministry calling, but we’ve decided to make this drastic change in our life for the next 7 weeks as our next steps of obedience in our walk of faith. Will you join us?

Jesus said that He set eternity in our hearts. I never fully understood this statement, but I have a very strong feeling that after the “7” experience, we will understand more as He removes more layers of what we’ve become through the temporary trappings of our culture into more of who He has created us to be. It could get ugly, but we’re willing to take the risk for the beauty of getting to know Him and His people more. I pray this turns into a full lifestyle change and that the simplicity of the Gospel becomes more real to us: to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Caleb, Becca, Sakari and Huxley David

Live Dead Conclusion

2012-01-31T14:48:00.000-08:00

To conclude, I'm simply going to share some of the final thoughts as shared directly in the book.

Living dead is a call to life and life abundant. Living dead is a call to radical love for Jesus and sacrificial love for the world.

Samuel Zwemer, known as "the Apostle to Islam", says "Frequent setbacks and apparent failure never dishearten the real pioneer. Occasional martyrdom are only a fresh incentive. Opposition is stimulus to greater activity. Great victory has never been possible without great sacrifice. War always means blood and treasure. Our only concern should be to keep the fight aggressive and to win victory regardless of cost or sacrifice. The unoccupied fields of the world must have their Calvary, before they can have their Pentecost. It was the bigness of the task and its difficulty that thrilled the early church. Its impossibility was its glory, its worldwide character, its grandeur."

Ultimately, to live dead means no regrets, we accomplish nothing but obedience. That's it...nothing but obedience.

No reserve. No retreat. No regrets.

I encourage you to also take the Live Dead challenge.

Day 29-30: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Forgiveness and Pentecost

2012-01-31T14:29:00.000-08:00

A fitting ending to the challenge...because I now know first hand how many opportunities ministry gives us to be offended and walk in unforgiveness. At the core of unforgiveness is pride, jealousy and hurt. It's vital for us to own and confess our part of the situation. Forgiveness has a cost, it hurts to give up our hurt and offense. It's a laying down of our "rights". If we can operate in forgiveness we look, feel and respond differently. I'm a "forgiveness" work in progress...I pray that each day I get closer to who He wants me to be and somehow I feel today I am.

Living dead isn't about having it all together, it's about confessing our deep need for Jesus to help us get our acts together. Humility and brokenness are good for the soul and we need to be reliant on the Holy Spirit to lead us when we don't have a clue what to do. Therein lies the power. If we refuse to rely on Him, we won't utilize His power. We must give up conrol and when we choose to walk in His power, we can experience the joy of Pentecost.

Prayer for Unreached People Groups: South Betsimisaraka of Madagascar and the Somali people

Day 26-28: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Submission, Teamwork and Pioneering

2012-01-30T06:21:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased at how well written and thought through this journal is, the themes are very well interwoven and are well communicated. I will admit as some of my fellow "Live Deaders" that I have not put in my full 2.5 hours per day but I do see daily how much this habit is already affecting me, imagine how much greater it would be if I got all the time in...however, I choose not to live with regret but gratefulness for God is teaching me through this process.

My response to the past few days of devotional time starts with submission. I don't think that we can really understand submission with surrendering first to our Creator. We must understand that God has placed people in our lives for a reason and though human and sometimes wrong, our response to authority is key. How we leave one season is how we enter the next. I want to learn what I'm to learn from each leader and season before moving onto the next and having to re-learn all over again. In past weeks, I've seen how many people respond when someone in authority or influence makes a mistake and how leaders are so often criticized and their intentions put under scrutiny. We have had a tiny, tiny taste of that here at One Child, but no where near what many other ministry leaders deal with and what little we know, drives us to pray, encourage and lift up the arms of the leaders we know. None of us know the pressures they are under, the pedestals they are put on and the full vision of what God has called them to do. Part of submission, I strongly believe, is to build up, not tear down our leaders.

Teamwork. For successful teamwork, oneness of vision and a thorough understanding of the common goal is vital. I've had the honor to be a part and help lead a couple of stand out teams. Even to this day, though most of us don't work together...there is still a bond of family between us. How do we build a culture of teamwork? We first must know who we are and then also identify and cultivate the gifts among the members of the team. Put each other first, encourage and create situations where each person is validated as a team member. If this is executed correctly over time, team turns into family. Though there is dysfunction that comes with any relationship, we must build the best teams at any cost to rally behind God's vision. People resources are infinitely more valuable that monetary resources.

Many of us would not ever consider ourselves pioneers. Pioneering has the feel of someone taking on the unknown and almost being reckless with abandon...what I'm discovering is that pioneering is simply the adventurous spirit that is willing to obey God at any cost. This means that we can all pioneer. We all have different areas of influence and we have the ability to lead the charge, when others see us walk in faith humbly, they are quietly inspired to do the same. Pioneering does always come with a price - from being ridiculed by friends and family to even dying for your faith. What is God calling you to initiate?

Prayer for Unreached People Groups: Ugandan Nubians, Grand Comorian and Puntland Somali

Day 24 and 25: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Giving and Humility

2012-01-27T17:31:00.000-08:00

These are two areas that I desire the most in my life...especially the latter. My response to giving is simply, "Lord, give us more so that we can share more." Beyond tithing, we want to give lavishly...sure, I want my family to be taken care of and comfortable but the older I get, the more I realize I'd picking giving or living lavishly. That's just my personal position. Thankfully, we have had solid teaching in this area of our lives and we are blessed, but we are for a reason. To give.

Humility is something that seems weak, but it's the strongest force on earth because it is rooted in love. My heroes are those who walk in humility...consistently. It's not flashy, it's not really popular but it seems so elusive...that's why I want it. I want to be like Jesus. I searching for more profound words but ultimately that's just it...none are needed. I want more of Him...and when I seek Him, the other things are added.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: Harari and Ethiopian Afar

Machine Gun Camera: A Philosophy in Short-Term Missions

2012-01-26T20:04:00.001-08:00

Machine Gun Camera
A Philosophy in Short-Term Missions

Let’s clear the air. The world of short-term missions has been rocked recently with many new thoughts, blogs, missionaries and scholars. I’m not writing to defend the camp that seems to think that all short-term mission trips are destructive, nor am I siding with those who are stuck doing things “the way they have always been done” and are offended at the other viewpoint and prefer the distance of being behind the machine gun camera. The point of this article is to help us discover that we need each other and that it can be done in a holistic and effective way. I do not consider myself a revolutionary and am aware that there is nothing new under the sun, but we can find new ways to engage and apply the resources and wisdom that is already available to us.

I grew up as a preacher’s kid and spent several years as a child in India and the course of my life led me to work for a great short-term missions organization called Big World Ventures (www.bigworld.org) for many years in which we facilitated thousands on trips. The next phase of life came after we adopted our daughter, Sakari, from Ethiopia and on a vision trip back to Africa with Children’s Hopechest (www.hopechest.org), the Lord spoke clearly for us to launch a unique hybrid of short and long term missions while engaging individuals, ministry partnerships and communities – One Child Campaign.

Our philosophy: We believe that the purpose of short-term trips are to create awareness, build Kingdom-minded relationships, successful partnerships, funnel resources with accountability, give voice and facilitate sustainable solutions while connecting communities long-term. This is accomplished through many creative streams and strategic partnerships. The trip is not the end result - the real work begins once we get back home. The goal is to be as invisible as possible and empower the local churches, missionaries and communities to continue the work seamlessly even after the team leaves. This means working within the appropriate cultural and ministry structure and being willing to never be recognized for our efforts.

To be honest, I totally get what the seemingly jaded long-term missionary is saying because of their encounters and the overall structure of “traditional” short-term team trips. They have to deal with the effects of those who drop in but exit as quickly as they come. The other side is that short-term teams have the potential to raise awareness, bring resources and encourage those who are putting it all on the line daily. I’d like to establish what a short-term trip should NOT be: a poverty tour, a yearly penance to feel good about ourselves, a quick fix for our elusions of heroism, or a way to fill a hole in our identity. Are we secure enough in our calling and identity to never get an ounce of credit? Each of us must use our areas of influence with purpose and dignity, with a sense of awareness of each other.

We have to think beyond the 10-14 days of our time in a nation – beyond handing out candy, evangelical tracts and putting on drama performances and crusades. Now, before I’m called a heretic, I’m not saying those things are wrong, but I’m asking us to re-evaluate our initial integration into a foreign culture. I humbly ask you to think deeper than the surface of someone repeating a prayer after you. We must make disciples (the concept of multiplication) and that takes time, trust and truth. We must model consistency in our love. We go because we love Him and His people. Any other motivation is wrong.

Everything in our lives ultimately goes back to our identity. In order to be effective we must first know who we are and know that we can hear and follow the voice of the Good Shepherd. He has called us to love and perfect love casts out all fear. He came to seek and save that which was lost. What was lost?? Communion and relationship with God – we are to be ministers of reconciliation, not heroes with good PR. The Gospels make it very clear that we are to go, but I think that many times we focus on the action of going and not on the attitude or the aftermath of our actions while we are there. We must constantly check the motivation of our hearts and look past the marketing, the budgets and conferences.

I believe that the church is finally waking up to its responsibility for social justice. I believe the next revival that we will see will be one of compassion and justice. Both of those words require the awareness of a need and an action to bring reconciliation or peace. Tim Keller shares in his book, Generous Justice, “In general, to “do justice” means to lives in a way that generates a strong community where human beings can flourish. Specifically, however, to “do justice” means to go to places where the fabric of shalom has broken down, where the weaker members of societies are falling through the fabric, and to repair it. This happens when we concentrate and meet the needs of the poor. How can we do that? The only way to reweave and strengthen the fabric is by weaving yourself into it.”

It can be intimidating, so do we just sit home in fear that we will do the wrong thing? I submit to you a resounding “no!” Where does our heart, mind and spirit need to be when we are about to step foot onto a plane when God calls us to go? We will start more discussion on this subject in our next post and offer some practical tips that will help you to prepare for your next trip. The Father clearly lets us know the harvest is ready in Matthew 9:35-38. We need to keep short-term trips going but lay down our own agendas, take the time to engage those who are there on the front lines fighting every day and use their wisdom and experience to forge an effective strategy together.

Yes, the trip will change you but remember it's really not about you. Before you book your plane ticket and embark on a life changing adventure, commit to putting on the cloak of humility, walking in wisdom and lifting up the name of Jesus, so that all men would be drawn unto Him not just through your words, but primarily through your selfless love in action.

Caleb David
One Child Campaign
www.onechildcampaign.com

Day 21-23: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Worship, Flexibility and Hospitality

2012-01-26T07:36:00.000-08:00

Amazing how all three of these subjects tie so much together if we look a little further than the surface of the words themselves. How often do we just stop during the day and thank God for the breathe we breathe, the nation we live in and the resources we have available? Something our late pastor said many years ago has stuck with me and forever will - he said, "Ungratefulness is one of the ugliest things in the world." We cannot live a life of worship if we are constantly ungrateful and counting what we don't have - worship to me is living a lifestyle of gratefulness because yes, we are worshipping God for what He's given but it also acknowledges who He is! He is a Redeemer and true worship means that we must have revelation of our redemption, then we can truly pour out the oil on His feet. We must pour out our offerings and worship to Him without reserve. Helen Nest shares in this devotional the words that a worship leader shared during a service, "If you are still measuring out your offerings, you haven't seen His worth."

Flexibility keeps us in a place of dependence on God, it means that we are not in complete control and that we give the Holy Spirit room to work in our lives. We are to make plans and not just sit around, but flexibility helps us see the good, helps us be grateful and keeps us teachable. In our society, we are much more task oriented instead of people oriented, which sometimes (almost always) means that we are more intent on our job at hand than the people in our lives. How desperately we need a balance! Flexibility is key to that equalizer.

This ties now into hospitality, our homes can be one of the most powerful places to affect a life for God. It is rarely convenient, but it is worship to God. It is the way we see people, if we are going to ask for God's viewpoint and perspective, this is one area that we are going to have to allow Him to change. Invite someone for a meal, pray for them, listen to them.

Prayer for Unreached People Groups: Ndzwani, Oromo and Bara

Day 18-20 Live Dead Journal Challenge: Apostolic Function, Proclamation and Suffering

2012-01-22T13:32:00.000-08:00

I have fallen behind in the posting of my journal time, but the past couple days have been days of good rest, much needed.

My response to apostolic function was not what I would expect it to be, partly because my understanding of it was deepened through reading this devotional. The response of "Here I am, send me Lord" is apostolic function, willingness to take the responsibility of the good news to our place of assignment. If we wait until we feel apostolic, we will never go and as it is, sadly, the vast majority of mission effort (some estimate up to 97%) is misguidedly done among those that have greatest access to the good news already. I spent some time at www.joshuaproject.net and am learning and praying more and more for the unreached peoples of the world, specifically, I feel led to the nation of Ethiopia.

My response to proclamation was that first of all, it took me some time to process because for years we were involved in missions that was very evangelistic and full of proclaiming the gospel in the streets through drama, etc. I know that there is much value to that but in the past couple years my focus has swung to the side of serving quietly through physical and social ways. We have felt to support the local ministries and churches and do what we can to support their methods of proclamation. I know that there is a balance and I'm looking for it...but I think the only way is to be open and sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I want my words and actions to proclaim, "Turn to Jesus!"

Suffering. A subject none of us really want to discuss, much less experience. Reading and learning more about the unreached also brings light to those who are persecuted for the name of Jesus. Beyond that, we all at some point in life will experience various degrees of suffering and the challenge in it all is simply: will we still believe that He is good and still obey Him in all things? I would love to think that I would, but the only way that can be ensured is if I continually abide in the Word and in prayer...

Prayer for Unreached People Groups: Antaisaka, Antankarana and Somali
I also have been praying additional with burden for the persecuted church

Day 17: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Scripture

2012-01-19T13:44:00.000-08:00

Simply put: I need to spend more time in the Scriptures. Recently, I have been very intrigued with the Word as it relates in Jewish history and customs. That is my goal for this year to learn more about the Word from a different perspective.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: the Boni of Kenya

Day 16: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Mobility

2012-01-19T11:29:00.000-08:00

It's funny how sometimes (ok almost always) life turns out just a little bit different than we imagined in our own plans. Today's challenge was to think about be prepared to be mobile, the gospel is mobile and we must be ready to follow and obey at a moment's notice. We've been talking a lot lately about obedience, surrender, timing, transition, etc...and that takes trust. It takes us surrendering our dreams and aspirations for His and in that we find a goodness deeper than we ever imagined. We become grateful because our "revised" version of life is richer, sweeter and more satisfying than our original plans. Our hearts move from being willful to being willing. Today's time in reflection was taught by Rosemarie Hanson whose family serves long term in Kenya.

My response to being mobile is to think about what I can do practically to be able to move and do anything God speaks at any given moment. What comforts, "necessities" and ties must I cut to be able to afford this level of obedience.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: the Datoog

Day 15 Part Two: Martyrdom

2012-01-19T11:01:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I'll keep it real - the last few days I have not kept up my end of the time commitment. I have done my reading and some praying, but I don't feel condemned because I'm learning how to make this prayer and abiding time happening throughout the day, every day.

Honestly, to get a full picture of what today's devotional covered, you just have to get the book and work through it. As I was reading this morning, I didn't realize yesterday had a part two and so many parts of it stood out to me, especially when the author talked about Green Martyrdom. And it has challenged and encouraged me in my philosophy of missions. Much of what I share today is directly from the book because the way Dick Brogden puts it into words is simply profound, he put to paper and words what I believe but in a very prolific way.

Green refers to the Irish and how they innovated evangelism with missional monasteries where ever they went. These were established to take the gospel to the world by interaction. This was the Celtic way of evangelism. As a team, the Irish would welcome the lost to BELONG before they asked for a change in BELIEF. The Romans - and most of us today - do it the other way around. OUCH!!!! We present the truth but make no provision for community and we create no space for belonging. But we must never sacrifice the urgency of proclamation.

I have been having the conversation so much lately with many different friends about transition. We all feel that 2012 is a very of transition. I say this because in this chapter he challenges us with this: "Are you sure that God wants you to keep doing what you are doing? For most of you, He probably does. Your calling is radical obedience for the glory of Christ right where you are. But for many of you...God wants to loosen your roots and plant you in another place."

We cannot compare our individual callings to others, all He asks of us is radical obedience - whatever it is that it looks like for you and me. We must die to our opinions and ideas and surrender what we have "always done" and enter into a new season of following His ways.

Day 15: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Humility

2012-01-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

My response today to a lifestyle of serving and humility is a prayer that the Lord would help me put aside my agenda for His. That God would give me His heart for others. That I would know more and more daily who I am in Him and walk in confidence as a child of God while looking for opportunities to serve.

The older I get and the more life and injustice I see in the world, I'm learning that humility is the prevailing characteristic of Jesus' servant leadership. The core of our life and faith should be the same - humility. How important it is for our souls to prefer others over ourselves. Jesus was not a pushover, He was the most powerful figure to every walk on our planet, but He did it because of love and through the power of humility.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: Swahili of Pemba

Day 14: Live Dead Journal Challenge - A Learning Heart

2012-01-15T19:28:00.000-08:00

A learning heart: the call to be more. I find it very interesting that the verb used in the previous sentence is "be", not "do". But how often we take on the Martha cloak and resist the role of Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus...just to learn from Him and to be. This is what we hope for when we take our trips overseas, for our leadership and teams to listen and learn. Learning cannot be done from a person full of pride, it's the essence of humility and humility takes some serious discipline.

Discipline requires action. This time daily in learning and praying through the Live Dead journal is starting to create a discipline in me. In fact, last night I was awakened after a very intense, real dream in which I saw cars being lit on fire, people who fought for justice were under attack and somehow I was sheltered from it but I woke up with a start knowing this was real. Very real for many people around the world right now. I was so shaken and moved by what God was showing me, that I spent a good 45-60 minutes praying and interceding for those around the world that God woke me up to stand in the gap for...this is NOT to be about me, but simply about the power of the Holy Spirit when we submit to his discipline...obedience breeds obedience and it takes faith.

Steve Pennington shares in today's time that, "We cannot escape the conviction that following Christ compels us to uncompromising excellence in our normal Christian lives...Be More!"

Prayer for Unreached People Group: the Sudanese Baggara

Day 13: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Affirmation

2012-01-14T09:34:00.000-08:00

"I believe that one of the main reasons we fail in our endeavors to serve is because we are not living dead. We are still trying to protect ourselves. We need to prove our worth. We need to succeed. If we're full of ourselves, we're not dead. Only by emptying out our wants, our needs, and our obsessive desire to be better than others can we really start living dead. When we've got to have our way no matter the cost, we can be assured that we're very much alive in ourselves." Loretta Wideman

Today my response to affirmation is to remember where we need to get our complete affirmation from...this is something that I've been working on in my own life for about 7 years. I was your classic people pleaser...classic, not in a good way. I wanted peace, I wanted harmony, I didn't want to rock the boat...just acceptance. Just about all of that desire to please people is gone, though I'm still working out some of my need for perfection and feeling the pressure of what others expect from me (or what I perceive those expectations are). Years ago, my healing of this personal epidemic came with the realization of who I am and where I must find my identity. The book that helped me the most was a book called, "The Search for Significance". I have read it over and over again - what I have learned from it and application of the Word of God has set me free to be who He has called me to be. Though it's something I still work through, it's much easier to identify the symptoms and deal with it quickly.

Life is not about competition, it's about obedience. Competition means comparison, obedience means confidence.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: Yemeni Arab

Day 12: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Transparency

2012-01-14T09:14:00.001-08:00

My response to being open is that transparency is a word that has some negative connotations in my mind for some reason, maybe because of situations and people that I have encountered in the past. That said, I'm all for accountability, openness and being genuine. Here's the trick though: transparency (at least what it means to me in my mind) must be served with cultural context and a dollop of Biblical wisdom. A big one. If someone wants to get all up in your business (or someone else's) for the sake of "praying" for you (or them), it's a red flag. Something tells me this post isn't going to be too popular in some circles.

To me, openness is to be confident, humble genuine, generous and inviting. But that does not mean that we share everything with everyone. I think transparency and openness should speak more to how we live our every day lives instead of sharing our deepest, darkest secrets with every new friend. Openness builds community, so often we clench what we have in material possessions in our culture. If we let it go and learn how to live in a truly healthy community - there is a richness that money cannot buy.

Something that my parents always taught me was that,"People are more important than things". Listening to people, caring and serving is where it's at. In order to be open with others, we must be open with ourselves. What that means to me is to understand what I have been redeemed and forgiven of, so that I can extend that grace and generosity to those around me as best I can.

Prayer for Unreached People Group - the Fur people of western Sudan

Day 11: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Prophecy

2012-01-14T06:18:00.000-08:00

For some people prophecy is something mystical or something that one "chosen" people are privy to. But in Joel 2:28 is simply states,"I will pour our my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy."

The definition of prophecy as discussed in this chapter is seeing and declaring God's perspective. Prophecy starts with know God's perspective. Prophecy is for everyone...He desires that we see through His eyes and to know His heart. It sounds simple enough but to switch our human understanding, viewpoint and perceived reality to His is nothing short of a battle. When we see things like God does...power follows. This is something that the enemy will fight because if we know who we are, whose we are and what we are capable of through Him - then we are pretty much invincible.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: Beja of northeastern Sudan

Day 10: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Abandon

2012-01-11T07:26:00.000-08:00

My response to physical death used to be one of irrational fear and if I'm being honest, the thought of not being with my family hurts too deeply to dwell on for too long. However, I have arrived at a place of peace of knowing called has called me to be and do certain things as part of my assignment here on earth. Until it's my time, I cannot be taken out and there is too much to live for to be ruled by fear. He is my Keeper.

Today's author and her family are living a life of abandon in service to the Somali people. I realize that I cannot compare what God has called her to do to what I'm called to do, nevertheless, I respect them beyond words.

The thing that got me thinking today was the question if I see my death as an end or a beginning? There's an easy flippant "Christian" answer that came to mind...but I paused a second longer and I my thinking switched to committing to live a life that is not about me, but is something more of a legacy that can be carried on after I'm gone. My desire is that the next generation will take His message, love and work much farther than I ever could. So, my focus must be on humility and building His kingdom and not my own.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: Djibouti Somali

Day 9: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Persecution

2012-01-11T06:57:00.000-08:00

My response today to persecution is that though I have experienced very little of it in my life, my prayer is that somehow I can identify with the millions of persecuted believers around the world. There are incredible organizations such as Voice of the Martyrs that are committed to praying, giving and bringing light to the persecuted church. I encourage you to check them out and see how you can pray and get involved in practical ways. I'm asking God today to help remind me daily of the persecuted so that I can pray and act of their behalf. Should the day come when I may ever have to go through something like they have, I humbly pray for the grace of my Savior but then I must legitimately and intimately KNOW Him.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: the Nubians of northern Sudan and southern Egypt

Day 8: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Living with Passion

2012-01-10T08:34:00.001-08:00

"I had utterly abandoned myself to Him. Could any choice be as wonderful as His will? Could any place be safer than the center of His will? Did not He assure me by His very presence that His thoughts toward us are good, and not evil? Death to my own plans and desires was almost deliriously delightful. Everything was laid at His nail-scarred feet, life or death, health or illness, appreciation by others or misunderstanding, success or failure as measured by human standards. Only He Himself mattered." - V. Raymond Edman

Today my response to living with passion is simply how much today's devotional resounded with me! Being in full time ministry can get you on the fast track to burn out, so that's one reason this meant so much to me. I wish I had read this a year or so ago before the intense stress sheer survival mode kicked in. Then again, now I have a better understanding and appreciation for what was shared. Life is spiritual but somehow we always categorize things into spiritual and non-spiritual. God is Spirit, we are spirit the life we live (every part) should be full of spirit and passion. The "extraordinary" and "mundane". I am getting to a place where I love God so much, trust His calling, provision and heart that I believe our desires are lining up with His. I know that He wants the best for me, my family, and the ministry...so I should not feel obligated to "do" certain things but through living in the heart beat of Jesus, I can live the life He and I want to live and enjoy it to the fullest. Every part of it! Passion and ministry overflow from abiding in the passionate love of the Father...the joy and energy created from that relationship is where we get the strength to do the work He calls us to.

Here are a few phrases that stood out to me on this devo by Brett Nelson:

- we dusted off favorite hobbies...found ways to laugh and enjoy life

- ...avoided, within reason, some life-draining activities

- my challenges didn't go away, but my passion for life and ministry slowly began to return

- the better we live - exuberantly, joyfully, passionately - the more we can truly live dead

- to live dead does not mean to live in misery

- live with passion...with a quiet and profound trust in the Life Giver

Today, my prayer is to live each day with passion, for in living well, I am humbly opening myself to the challenge to live dead.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: Masalit people of Darfur in western Sudan.

Day 7: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Biblical Conversation

2012-01-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

This is actually yesterday's post, yesterday there were things more important than blogging - gasp, haha! So today, there will be a post from yesterday and today.

Biblical guidelines for conversation are simple in theory: Is it beneficial? Is it focused on the needs of others? Is it edifying to the listener? If you have any reservations, choose not to speak.

Today, my response to biblical conversation is to be silent as much as I can and think before I speak or communicate. I am one who appreciates a good dose of sarcasm and am not easily offended. However, not everyone is that way...in fact, I might be in the minority. My focus will be on Kingdom mindedness, what is in the best interest of others, speaking truth in love and seeking restoration and redemption One thing I will not apologize for is speaking up for justice, this does not mean I must be rude or abrasive, though sometimes truth does convict. But the main issue is my heart and motivation for speaking...that's when the simple idea becomes a little more complicated. I must guard my heart and my mouth.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: the Shagiyya Arabs of northern Sudan along the Nile.

Day 6: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Expectations

2012-01-07T06:41:00.000-08:00

I've been blogging at night at the end of each day, but today's really resounded with me because I've been walking through this daily for the past year and a half...maybe longer. I will share my feedback but you just have to get this journal because so far, this chapter has kicked my rear more than any other...

Expectations

Luke 17:7-10
Many of us embark on ministry tasks with good hearts, but as we haven't been through all the fires of refining, our launch into work seems noble but secretly we believe it's worthy of attention and it will fulfill our need for worth. Expectations can be dangerous, their effect on our state of being can make or break us.

What I write next might make a few waves, but understand that it's from personal battles and experiences of my own unrealistic expectations in launching One Child Campaign. The past year and a half has been a time where we have been challenged, broken down and rebuilt. So here goes...orphan care (and any ministry for that matter) is a calling, not just a nice, sweet thing to do. In fact, to get to the point, it's usually gritty, not full of glory, ugly and flat out hard. Sometimes, we unknowingly make what we "do" who we are - it can become our idol and our identity. Been there. Still fight it. Yes, to care for orphans and widows and to love with abandon is the calling of every believer - BUT that does not mean we need to build "our own" ministry kingdoms.

Something that we share with every one of our teams that go on our trips is simply this - the orphan crisis, poverty and injustice will be overwhelming. It just is. But, we set their expectations that they are only responsible to do what God speaks to them to do. Touch the life of one child, one woman, one man, one family, one church or one community. It's our job as an organization to make sure that we can facilitate that obedience in any way that we can, even if it means they plug into the vision of another ministry. After all, whose Kingdom are we building?

I'm reminded of the parable in Matthew 25 that deals with stewardship. We are to only obey what God tells us to do. We are NOT to compare what we have been given to anyone else's "talent". We are responsible for only obedience. Most of the time obedience doesn't win awards, doesn't get attention or validation. But whose validation are we looking for? Our calling wasn't given to us to feel good or for people to recognize who we are, so we (I) must daily humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and learn to live His expectations for us. That is the life that Jesus lived, He sought to do nothing but please the Father. He only did what He heard the Father tell Him to do. Nothing else matters. Just Jesus.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: Somali

Day 5: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Spiritual Warfare

2012-01-06T20:12:00.001-08:00

Today, my response to spiritual warfare is that I will pray more specifically for discernment. I've grown up around spiritual warfare, in fact, some things that we experienced growing up were so extreme that very few people have heard us share. Warfare and weapons take on many different forms so we must always be looking beyond the physical realm.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: The Zaghawa people of Sudan, Chad and Libya

Day 4: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Sacrifice

2012-01-05T19:06:00.000-08:00

"Where are you getting your love, your respect, your acceptance? Are you willing to give those things to the Master?"

Sacrifice

Today, my response to sacrificing is to give up my need for perfection in my work. It means letting go of unrealistic expectations and putting my passion for orphans, missions, etc. on the back burner after Jesus and my family. A wise man, Fred Garmon of People for Care and Learning, recently told me that it's ok to strive for excellence, but not perfection.

It always goes back to the motivation of the heart. Due to some health issues and stress created by the pressure of ministry and needing to provide for my family, I was urged into a short season of rest. For me, taking a rest was a huge sacrifice, but it continues to pay off. It's a habit of sacrifice that I must cultivate. I'm thankful for people in my life that love us but also speak the truth in love. I was challenged by a friend who also happens to cut my hair, to take a long, hard look at the possibility that I might be making an idol out of caring for orphans. Gasp. Though my heart was in the right place and all my intentions were good, he was right! It consumed me, every moment of being awake was thinking about what we could do to help...I thought about it more than my redemptive Savior. What if it all was stripped away? Who would I be then? It was time to sacrifice my passion and dreams on the altar and remember that my identity is in Christ alone, the ministry is fueled by the overflow.

"Your glory fills the heavens, Your glory fills the earth. Still you chose surrender, You gave Yourself for me. God of my salvation, hope of righteousness. You paid the price of freedom, You took a lonely cross. And You saw me, when You took the crown of thorns and Your blood washed over me. And You loved me through the nails that You bore and Your blood washed over me."
- You Saw Me/Hillsong

All of a sudden, my sacrifice seems like a small part of the bigger picture of bringing honor to His name.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: Afar people of Eritrea, Djibouti and Ethiopia

Day 3: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Simplicity

2012-01-04T15:58:00.000-08:00

Simplicity. Silence.

Oh how I sometimes crave simplicity and silence! And you guessed it, today was not filled with much of it at all. It was mostly chaos, relate? Hux was up well before 6am again this morning...and the day again did not go as planned, but I'm not as uptight about it today as I was yesterday. Still very overwhelmed, but not panicking.

Interestingly enough, I believe I posted yesterday about seeking first His Kingdom and that was part of today's focus in the journal. Pretty sure I needed a reminder again.

Today, my response to being silent is first that I must be led by still waters. There my soul is restored, if I don't walk away from the cares and the pressure and the "must-dos", I cannot be restored. It literally means for me to turn my back from the external noise...and Lord knows that I have plenty of internal noise going on in my head and heart! Quieting one's self seems to me like it must be one of the most difficult things to do in the world! But when silence and quiet comes, an awareness of peace floods.

Maybe that is why I love long plane rides, it can serve as my quiet, cozy cocoon. It forces stillness and quiet. While I sit there, my only job is to trust the pilot and his crew to get me to where I need to go. Interesting parallel.

Silence can also be scary. Silence is a mirror into ourselves. We have to face ourselves and get 100% real. Well, I guess we don't HAVE to, but though it's not comfortable, in the long run it's got some great dividends. This is the root of authenticity, there is no reason for us to "self-deceive" in an effort to be "ok" or "fine" - that's called the fear of man. There can be no true peace, simplicity or silence when the fear of man is involved. To walk in silence is to be willing to make a journey through the wilderness but slow your breath, take it slow...breathe in deeply, sip a dose of reality, look into the perfect law of liberty... and there is an unsurpassing peace and confidence on the other side waiting for you.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: the Sudanese Arab

Day 2: Live Dead Journal Challenge - Lost

2012-01-03T17:10:00.001-08:00

Day 1 was awesome, things went as planned and better than I had hoped. My son waking up at 5am for a couple hours should have been my first clue that today was not going to be the same. This week has not been "normal" at all and at a glance, doesn't seem that it will line up to be that way for the rest of it.

Today, the focus was on listening to God. This morning during prayer and journal time this is the overall idea of what I wrote down...

Today, my response to listening to God is:
- to take the time to be still
- to evaluate my priorities, sort through the things that fight for my attention

Man, this is a fight for sure...why does the enemy fight stillness and listening? Since today is the day for listening, seems like a thousand little things are already flying and buzzing around my head like annoying gnats.

Aaaannnnnddd...that's the extent of what I was able to write today. Literally, it was like a full on attack on peace...from all sides. Now, don't get me wrong - today was not horrific or anything...what we would call "life" happened. But, tonight I question...is that really the life God has called us to?? Overall, I felt like I've kept my peace (for the most part) but today was just flat out hard. I was able to spend time in the Word, prayer and worship...but exercise didn't happen. I guess the most important things were experienced.

Prayer for Unreached People Group: the Tigre of Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan.

Taking a deep breath and asking God to pour His heart into me. If I love Him, I will listen...I want to make His longing our mission. That is a priority, if I focus on that and seek first His Kingdom then I'm choosing to take the leap of faith to believe that He will honor His word and take care of the rest.