Today is an interesting time in history. Through God’s sovereignty here we are, living in what Jesus describes as “the last days” 2 Tim 3:1, James 5:3. The period of time after His ascension and before His second coming and He is going to return by the way (Matt 24.36-25:46) although we don’t seem to talk about it that much anymore.

What an exciting time to be alive and such an important time to be alive as well. Why? Simply because on His way into heaven Jesus spoke to the disciples these last words in Acts 1:7-8. ” It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

The suns coming up right now and I am reminded of my assignment “be My witness.” Today, September 29 I have a lot to do. My schedule is full but nothing as important as this. I like my chances because being a witness of Christ has nothing to do with me since I have received power by the Holy Spirit. Not just any power but a supernatural power that only God can give me in which I must draw from.

I need to get ready and head to the church offices; however I feel the need to dress myself first from Eph. 6:10-18. Today is an important day even though from looking through my schedule there’s nothing out of the ordinary. However I can never forget how important today is because of what Jesus told me to do, what He’s counting on me to do. I need to be aware of anyone sent my way that I could share my faith with or encourage, or speak truth into their lives. Jesus’ last words to His disciples are just as important to me as they were to them.

It’s an important day because there is a possibility that “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord”. 1 Thess. 4:16-17.

Mike

I’m excited to return to Uganda. I will have the opportunity to see some new friends that I met last April as Michael and I meet up with two amazing men, Pastor Henry and Pastor Joseph who have a ministry to the displaced widows and orphans from the wars in Uganda and Sudan. Our goal is to help start micro-businesses so that they can feed their families, allow their children to go to school, and elevate themselves out of the intense poverty that they have found themselves in. It is absolutely mind boggling how two piglets can change their lives.

God seems to always teach me something every time I go overseas, so as I head over I’m already thinking pretty hard on this one. A common thread among the church leaders in Uganda is that as they introduce their family to me it goes something like this. “This is my wife and my eight children.” At first I would think man you guys have a lot of kids over here and then I would soon discover that only two or three are biological, the rest are children who were taken off the streets and brought into their homes and now are treated as if they are their own. I have yet to find a church leader that has not taken in children off the streets.

I’m not sure why children intimidate me like they do. My friend Kim Rust use to force me into her class of 5 year olds to speak to them about missions and it was the worst day of my year. I always had butterflies, felt nauseated, and would sweat bullets sitting on the little mats with them and having to look into their beady little eyes. They just sit there waiting to pounce on you.

I seem to be changing though and I’m not as afraid of them anymore, however I do enter with caution. I’m now quick to pick one up or play a game with them, or let them lead me around by the hand. In a moment of weakness just the other night I said to Vanda, “We should volunteer in pre-school, they always need help.”  She glanced at me without saying a word. I really don’t want to know what she was thinking. I even have a picture of me with some kids on my facebook page as I think of it. So what’s going on with me? Am I just getting older, a softy, or because Vanda and I will be empty nesters this time next year?

The children of Africa swarm you like bees. They have zero personal space, grab your hand; sit as close as they can to you and there is nothing you can do about it. Believe me I’ve tried. So what’s the connection? What’s God trying to teach me?  How do these unselfish loving church leaders in Uganda have the ability to do something so much greater than I? If they can adopt them, shouldn’t I be able to minister to them better than I do? What is God trying to open my heart to?

I’m not going to lie. I’m a little scared about this one. It may sound crazy to some but children take me way out of my comfort zone. Sunday I’m heading back to the swarm and I’m preparing myself for it. Not so much for the way the children are all over you, but for the lesson God might choose to teach me and for the obedience that must follow from every lesson.

Mike

The city of Gulu in Uganda is widely known around the world. Ask any college student in America about it and they will give you an earful. I remember my two sons protesting at our state capital along with a thousand of other college students to try to draw attention to the atrocities of what was happening where I was standing just two years ago. A band of rebels called the Lord’s Resistance Army led by a man named Joseph Kony terrorized Gulu far beyond what we can comprehend. His soldier’s kidnapped children and put them on the front lines as they attacked the Ugandan government. A documentary was made called “Invisible Children,” and it’s well worth watching and would give one a better idea of where we were ministering.

As I land on continent after continent, country after country God never stops revealing Himself to me. As I walked the campus of this church God began to show me something I knew but take me to a new level of His greatness. It’s so easy for me to say that God is good. Why would I think any different? I live in a great city, state, and country. I have an amazing family and church. I have a house better than I deserve, cars, a scooter to play on, friends, great food, nice roads, and police that protect me, not rob me. I have clean drinking water, don’t have to worry about diseases, famine, and of course God is good. It would be sinful for me to complain about anything. I live in the Edmond bubble of the real world. 

As I sat around visiting, laughing, learning to love my Ugandan brothers in Christ it didn’t take long to realize that they felt the same way but on a whole new level. The church I was standing in began when their war did. The church God was building was birthed in one of the most difficult times in their history. As they built the walls rebels were closing in. As they worshiped the enemy was at the door. As they were building buildings and transforming lives, families were being destroyed. As people were dying new believers were coming alive in Christ. In the midst of pure evil, hate, and darkness stood a light, a light of hope and an example of the goodness of God. I love it when God does what only He can do. I worshiped God’s greatness as I heard testimony after testimony of the way that God used the members of Gulu Baptist church. God’s word is true in which He turns everything into good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.

I have a new perspective or have just added to the list of God’s goodness. I’m humbled and grateful for the good things God has chosen to bless me with. I only deserve His wrath. Now when I think of God’s goodness it will never be about my life but of Gulu Baptist church. How could I possibly think of anything else?

Mike

-Stephanie

When I came home I remember how excited I was to share my experiences and the things that God did in Uganda. I remember how full my brain seemed to be, and was looking forward to processing my time out loud to those who cared to read. I would begin writing and it wasn’t long when I would pause, delete. It wasn’t to uncommon because I delete or have sitting on my computer more entries than I have ever posted, however this time was different. I just could not find the words that would adequately describe Uganda so instead of cheating my experience I chose to say nothing.

Now that I have returned home from Uganda once again some three months later I feel this time will be a little easier. I understand the African culture a little better and culture is so important. If a person doesn’t grasp the culture and history of a country then so much of it will go over your head. That’s why everywhere we go our cultural training is one of the most important things we do.

I guess this post is my Africa introduction and God willing over the next few weeks I hope to spill my guts all over the place. Having been home for less than 12 hours now I am still pretty tired but as always my inner-man is renewed. I don’t get it but somehow ministering overseas brings me and my ministries into focus. I have returned more motivated and inspired to do the work of God than ever before. Not sure how that happens it just does. I can’t wait to get to the office in a few hours, even though there is a lot to do, and it does seem a little overwhelming.

What I’m not saying is that my experiences in Uganda are going to be easy to write. However, I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to do it. If I can say one thing right now of my overall experience is that I have gone through a considerable amount of conviction and confession. It never ceases to amaze me how God can take me to places and reveal so much about Himself to me and the more I see of Him and His holiness the more I see of my sin and the things in my life that God wants to continue to chip away.

The other thing that stands out to me right now is how different the United States and Africa is in some ways but how similar we are in others. I haven’t quite comprehended it all, but God is showing me the struggles the Ugandans have are very similar to the struggles that we have. They worship idols, we worship idols. They have poverty, we have spiritual poverty. Our customs are different, our language is different, our skin is different, our food is different, but we all have a desperate need of the same God.

Mike

I stepped on the plane with much enthusaism in my heart. Reconnecting with these girls will be valuable to strenghten our friendship, with the hope that they will, one day soon, accept Christ. It is in these close relationships that peoples’ minds begin to explore and discover what it means to give your life to Christ. I was full of hope for the potential that this trip holds.
For those of you who have experienced culture shock, you know it can be so painful. The foreign world can be quite intimidating. The engery and excitement that surrounded my vision were quickly croweded out by the stress of being in a new culture. Like Peter, walking towards Jesus on the water, I let my fears distract me. The work ahead of me began to seem intimidating-my joy was being clouded. I went into survival mode, hoping just to figure out the basics of interaction in everyday life here–and I got discouraged.
I knew I had to get defensive against the strategies of the evil one (John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.) It took my very human self a while to realize what needed to me done- So I let the Holy Spirit remind me that God’s glory is my goal. Trying to function without reliance on the Lord ignores his glory. I deprive myself of one of the sweetest aspects of the Christian life. I am free to depend on Him; I am able to rest in the assurance of His love and guidance. Although this took a very consious effort, I set my eyes on Him once again. I replaced thoughts of fear with truth. (”I have not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of self-control.” 2 Tim. 1:7) I replaced my feelings of powerlessness with reminders that God’s power is working. (”Finally, be strong in the Lord, and the the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10.) And my fear began to fade. In light of God’s power, this trip is not a problem for Him. I have confidence in the unstoppable, all pervasive, trustworthy, and perfect power of God.

I’ve had some great personal conversations with my friend here in Korea. In these conversations, I have been able to talk about God in my life. Placing my love for God…and my friend… above my worry about how my friend will react has allowed me to bold. She knows that I care about her and that I’m not pushing anything on her. She has reacted quite respectfully, but without any personal interest. Prayer continues to be essential. Prayer and trust.

-Stephanie

As I leave the amazing pizza, pasta, and gelato of Italy, my mind starts heading toward Africa. Tonight I fly to London, get a few hours sleep and begin my 14 hour journey as I join the Uganda team led by the infamous Andy Deck. Having been in Uganda just three months ago makes me excited to get there. It’s a little comical to me landing in my third different culture in three weeks although it doesn’t bother me and oddly enough it is more the norm, in which I am the most comfortable. It reminds me of my most asked question. How do you cope spending so much time in so many different countries?

Here comes a few moments of honesty. I call Edmond home even though it doesn’t feel like home, it’s just the easy answer. Now, I love Edmond, I love my church with a passion, and everything about my life there, but where do I live? I was thinking about that question last year as I was sitting on a plane looking out the window on my way to Cuba. I remember flying over the coastline of Florida looking down into the beautiful blue waters as we were entering the Caribbean when it hit me. “That’s where I live! Right down there. Somewhere in-between the U.S. and wherever God is sending me.”

Some might say that is a bad thing and that I should maybe be more grounded, but I feel I am one of the most blessed persons alive. The life I live helps me in so many ways. It helps me keep my life in perspective, reminds me what is really important in this world, keeps me from being selfish (most of the time) and keeps me from wanting more and more of what this world has to offer which ends up leaving us empty, stressed and thirsty for more. Doing what I am blessed to do, allows me to hang on to things loosely, learning over and over again that I own absolutely nothing, including my sons (Ps. 24:1).

As we walk away from Joshua in a few hours it will be hard, a lot harder than I thought it would be some months ago before he left. We will all cry and cry a lot.  However, what Vanda and I are learning, what we hang on too, what gets us through times when we miss him so much is that Joshua really doesn’t belong to us, he belongs to God and God has called him here to make an impact in a dark spiritual place.

I need to go re-pack my suitcase, re-arrange my clothes and take out what I don’t need for Africa, and hopefully the clothes Vanda washed for me are dry. Our family of four will go in three different directions today; however, none of us will be going home. That will be when we all arrive in heaven.  

Mike

Within a few minutes, I’m standing within its shadow, an incredible display of the height of Rome’s dominance of the world. After soaking it in, I start my run looking for a place where I would be away from the many tourists, but close enough to gaze upon this amazing peace of history. As I ran around the coliseum and the old city of Rome it is nearly impossible to wrap one’s brain around seeing things that the apostle Paul and Peter saw, walking where they walked and thinking about the tens of thousands of Christians who gave their lives for their faith inside the coliseum. I didn’t think my day could be more impactful; however, I was wrong.

After lunch, Vanda, Caleb and I decided to go to the catacombs. (I highly recommend you google it, it’s worth the read.) It is essentially the burial grounds of thousands of Christians who died, and hundreds that were martyred. The catacombs we went to was one of 62 known catacombs with four levels of graves. We toured only the second level which held 500,000 believers. Our tour guide told us story after story of those who gave their lives at the coliseum simply because of their love for Christ. Walking through the catacombs is an amazing experience; however, my run around the coliseum made it that much more impactful. As I passed tomb after tomb I felt indebted to those who gave their lives so that I could know Christ.

It saddens me to think of the spiritual condition of Italy, as well as the other countries in Western Europe. USA Today called Western Europe the most godless corner of the earth. There are more believers in the Republic of Congo alone than in Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy combined. Western Europe is known as the grave yard for missionaries because so little fruit is seen here, and discouragement takes its toll. It normally takes years of praying, sowing, and reaping to see one person come to Christ. It’s heartbreaking to see churches that have been turned into apartment complexes, restaurants, and even more devastating mosques because of the rapid growth of Islam. Today as I walk down the streets most likely everyone I pass will spend eternity separated from a God who loves them.

I can’t help but think about my own life. The convicting question for me right now is would I be willing to die for my faith? Am I so committed to Christ that I would lay down my life simple because I am a follower? If so, why can’t I seem to die to myself daily like I want too?  Today my prayer is that as I walk where mighty saints once walked, that you oh God, would allow me to have a small impact on someone like the saints of yesterday have impacted me today. I have the opportunity to bring God glory today, through my actions, words, and prayers. That’s a good definition of purpose.

Mike

It has been a bit strange slowing down to equal the pace of Italian life. Our dinner last night was nearly three hours, which I think was pretty quick actually. The waiter seemed a bit surprised when we asked for the check. The couples around us were there before we got there and we left before they did. I sat there a little envious as I observed them enjoying each other’s company and they sure knew how to enjoy their food. Today being Sunday will be even slower, so Joshua says, but I’m not sure how that is possible.

We decided to get out a bit today so we walked down the street from the apartment to a place called Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls. It’s a huge cathedral that was built in 320 a. d. As we walked into the church like any other cathedral in Europe the beauty of the church is indescribable. As Joshua and I were looking around we came to the main attraction of the church where someone was buried. It had kneeling benches in front of it and people where waiting in line to kneel and pray. Wondering who all these people were praying to I asked Josh “who’s buried there?” He looked at me and said “Dad, the apostle Paul.” As I made it to the front of Paul’s grave a strange thing happened to me. There was no way I was about to kneel so I just stood there looking at his grave even though everyone around me was kneeling. I seemed to be able to feel the eyes of people staring at me towering over everyone but I just couldn’t do it. I kept thinking Paul was maybe the greatest Christian of all time, but he is not my Lord and I’m not about to bow to him. So there I stood people all around me kneeling but something inside of me just couldn’t do it.

As I have had a little time to reflect on my afternoon embarrassing myself at the cathedral dedicated to the apostle Paul, it made me think about some things. I wasn’t about to bow to Paul but are there other things in my life I worship other than God. So I begin to think about the things I think about the most or what I spend my money on or any other way that things in this world take the place of God in my life. Not an easy question to ponder but I’ll do it anyway. I have a pretty good idea what it is already, because most the time I’m pretty selfish and I tend to put my needs before anything or anyone else. Well, we will start our day soon so one of my goals today is not to embarrass myself. Sure hope I don’t run into the pope while I’m here. I’m sure he’s a pretty good guy and all but with all due respect, I’m not bowing to him either.

Mike

As we walked to our first of four villages we couldn’t decide if we were walking through the pages of National Geographic or Jurassic Park from the lush green trees, rolling mountains, streams, and waterfalls that we took a little time to stop and swim in. I did my best to etch into my mind the beauty in front of me and marveled at Gods amazing handy work. I’m thinking God smiled when He made Nicaragua.

For three days we lived the life of a Nicaraguan who lives in the mountains. We walked their trails, ate the food they grow, slept on the floor and hammocks, bathed in their streams, listened to the roosters who crowed all night long, and worshiped with them in their small church with the faithful believes whom some walked a couple of hours to get there using a torch for light to get home with after the torrential rain slowed enough not to put out their flame.

As I watched they walked away into the dark night, it hit me. After spending so much time with the poor for 12 years now it took me living with them for a few days for me to realize what it is about them that cause us to feel so bad. It’s not so much that their poor, but the fact that their happy. We know what our lives are like and how empty we are so much of the time and the contrast is a bit perplexing.  None of them lost any of their retirement as the stocks came crashing down, they’re not worried about their house payment or what car they are or not driving. They don’t care where their clothes are bought or what tomorrow will bring. They are content, happy, and peaceful for today.

As I left my new mountain friends they gave me a priceless gift which only confirmed what God spoke to my heart that night and challenged me to live. Through God’s grace I hope to be content in today because today has enough worries of its own and despite my failures God really, really loves me. I also will try not worry about tomorrow because God is in control and any control I think I have is just a false illusion. On my desk Monday I will place my new gift to remind me of that night. So don’t think I’m weirder than usual if you see on my desk a bag of beans.

Mike