kevin pounds' blog

Resurrection Sunday: We had hoped!

kevinpounds — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 13:18:03 +0000

“But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.” Luke 24:21

Millions upon millions of Christians are worshiping Jesus world-wide this morning , celebrating who He is and what He did by dying on the cross and raising from the dead three days later. The resurrection of Jesus is the defining moment in history, the defining moment in our faith, and the defining moment in our lives as Jesus followers. There’s often a tangible sense of excitement connected to this global celebration. But we all know that every day does not feel like Easter Sunday.

There are days where the excitement and celebration is not as heightened.

There are days where our faith is tested.

There are days when we struggle to have hope.

We may be surprised that our experience and our story parallels the story of two men traveling on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus almost 2000 years ago. You can read their story in Luke 24:13-35.

For these two men this testing of faith and struggle for hope was very real and personal. We only know one of their names, Cleopas, but we know they were both disciples of Jesus. At some point in the previous three years they had been exposed to Jesus’ ministry. They had listened to him teach thousands of people sitting on the hillsides and watched him miraculously heal the blind, the crippled, the lepers. They saw him reach out to those on the fringe of society- the social and religious outcasts. At some point in the process they responded to His simple invitation of “follow me.”

They said yes to following Him.

They embraced what Jesus taught- his values, the way He lived.

They had joined the movement, very possibly leaving everything they had to follow Him and now…

THEIR LEADER WAS DEAD.

We don’t have to wonder what their mindset was walking on the road that day: we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. This is not the ending they expected.

Jesus was not the first or the last person to come on the scene to claim to be the Messiah: Simon of Peraea, Judas of Galilee, Athronges, Menahem ben Judah, Simon bar Kokhba. Each of them were killed and their movement died with them. This is not the end Cleopas and the other disciple expected.

Let’s make sure we are clear on what they had expected:

Jesus would liberate Israel from Roman bondage
Israel would be at the top of the pecking order again.
Jesus as the Messiah would be large and in charge.
As His faithful followers they’d be on top and in charge with Him.

Let’s make sure we understand their formula:

I say yes to Jesus + I obey Jesus = My life is on top!

That’s how many of us live our lives in general: if I wear the right label and I do the right things, then my life will turn out well. Also known as karma: good intent and good deeds contribute to good karma and future happiness, while bad intent and bad deeds contribute to bad karma and future suffering.

Here’s the problem with they faced with their formula: Jesus was the perfect person and he was just betrayed, beaten, and crucified on cruel Roman cross. It’s not what they expected.

Maybe you’ve found yourself in a similar situation.

You’ve worn the Jesus label.

You’ve done the right things.

You feel like your life is in the crapper.

You want to give up on the whole God thing.

How do we see Jesus responding to these two followers who’ve given up hope?

While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. Luke 24:15

Jesus joins them on the path. He went on this journey with them . Not just the seven miles of Jerusalem to Emmaus- He joined them on their journey of faith. No matter where we are on the journey, Jesus is not intimidated- not by our questions, our struggles, our fears, our issues. He willingly walks with us. No matter how much we think we’ve committed to Him, we cannot outdo His commitment to us. We see these promises throughout scripture: I will never leave you nor forsake you… I am with you always… Nothing in all of creation can separate you from my love.

Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27

Jesus teaches them and reminds them who He is. He wanted them to understand. The resurrected Jesus, the Son of God, was walking with them, teaching them. They just did not recognize Him. For how many of us is that true? Jesus is speaking to us and we don’t recognize His voice. The questions spring deep within our soul, the desire for purpose and meaning beyond the here and now. Are we willing to listen to what He’s saying? One aspect of the Bible that give me great confidence in its accuracy and authority is how the prophecies in the Old Testament point to Jesus. BUT it’s not enough just to study the Bible. We need Jesus to speak to us through the scriptures. We need Him to open our eyes to see, our ears to listen, our minds to understand.

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. Luke 24:30-31

I don’t want to overspiritualize this profound moment. Jesus was sharing a meal with His followers. Who do you share meals with? Your friends. I can only imagine the number of meals they’d shared before in a similar manner. I don’t believe it’s by accident that in this moment of fellowship and friendship, they recognized Jesus.

See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. Luke 24:37

Jesus invites them to touch and see. They needed to know with certainty He is alive. Jesus invites us to see whether He is true, real, and authentic. He wants us to know with certainty. He wants us to experience a real and personal encounter with the resurrected Jesus. For some of us the challenge is that we are afraid of what the implications might be if we encounter the resurrected Jesus.

Think about their dilemma: the equation was not working the way they expected: wore the right label + did the right things= Jesus was dead. Now He’s alive. Are they on top or not? What did they miss?

When we trust Jesus as the Lord and Savior of our lives NO ONE can promise us that we’ll never experience poverty, disease, or heartbreak in this life. In fact, I can almost guarantee that all of us will experience one of those challenges and some of us will face all of them at some point.

Exhibit A is the stories of several other disciples who Jesus invited to “touch and see:”

beheaded
scourged
boiled in oil
stoned
dragged through the streets
hung on an olive tree
a few were crucified like Jesus
one chose to be crucified upside down

But something clicked in their hearts that day. They realized that Jesus is the Son of God, He is bigger than our sins, and He is bigger than death. When you know you are forgiven of all your sin, freed from guilt, and guaranteed eternal life with God, you do not have to live in fear. You can life a life of faith, courage, and hope.

Jesus never promises to remove us from this crazy world or this life’s journey but He does promise to not only join us, not only teach us and guide us, not only invite us to encounter and experience Him. He promises to place His life in us and live His life through us. That’s the prize. That’s the promise.

Because He is alive and He is present.

When we die to ourselves and turn to Him,

He brings hope to the hopeless.

He brings healing to the sick.

He brings freedom to the enslaved.

He brings strength to the broken.

He bring purpose to the mundane.

He brings forgiveness to the condemned.

He brings life to the dead.

When we give Him our lives, He gives us His life.

I have been crucified with Christ.

It is no longer I who live,

but Christ who lives in me.

And the life I now live in the flesh

I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

The Apostle Paul, Galatians 2:20

WHEN TRIUMPH DOESN’T FEEL TRIUMPHAL

kevinpounds — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 02:42:03 +0000

Sometimes God does not meet our expectations. Maybe it’s a broken relationship, a lost job, a debilitating sickness, an overwhelming sense of anxiety, or a global pandemic that’s now at our doorsteps. If God loves us, God knows our situations, and God is the most powerful being in the universe, then surely God will know to respond- with the right outcome lining up with how we each expect Him to respond.

Today is Palm Sunday, an important day in the Christian Holy Week that marks Jesus’ “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem. What’s easy to miss, though, is this day represents the beginning of several days of unmet expectations for both Jesus’ inner circle of followers and the multitudes who were drawn in by His teaching and miracles. Here’s a snapshot of what they and their nation of Israel had been going through:

Since 63 BC Israel had been under Roman occupation. This was more than just political. Greco-Roman culture was threatening the Jewish identity. The Romans even built the huge Antonia fortress next to the temple with its imposing 115 ft high walls where Roman soldiers would mock worshipers heading to the temple.
Herod, he king of Israel, was a sell out and puppet for the Romans. He cared only about his personal power, caring nothing about the people of the country he ruled. To call him a tyrant would be an understatement. To make it even worse, the High Priest and his cronies who were supposed to be the spiritual leaders of the nation had also sold out.
Probably most devastating, Israel had experienced 400 years of silence from God. After centuries of God sending prophets in the good times and bad times, stunningly there was nothing …

Then suddenly over the past three years this miracle-working teacher comes on the scene. He’s the son of a carpenter from the blue collar town of Nazareth and tens of thousands flock to the Galilean countryside to hear him declare “the Kingdom of God is near.” Many believe Jesus is the Messiah or Christ- the promised one who will redeem the people. And now this Jesus, is coming to Jerusalem for the Passover Celebration. This celebration where the Jewish people remember God miraculously delivering them as slaves from Egyptian bondage (sometime between the 13th and 15th century BCE). Think of this celebration as a mash up between the 4th of July and Christmas. Although Jews had been dispersed across the Roman Empire, many would make a pilgrimage back to Jerusalem making the population triple and even quadruple. Here’s how one of Jesus’ followers described what happened next:

1 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2“Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me.3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” 4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, 5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.’”6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. 8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD ! Praise God in highest heaven!” 10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked. 11And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Matthew 21:1-11

The expectation was clear: Jesus, the long anticipated Messiah, was being welcomed into Jerusalem like a conquering King. The crowds were essentially yelling, Praise God! Save us we pray! The Son of David is here! The promised one we have been waiting for has finally arrived. Would this be the time when God once again freed His people from bondage, putting the Romans, the crooked King, and the sellout priests in their place?

We can look back historically and know the trajectory of this story. The multitude’s excitement about Jesus waned, hundreds if not thousands would chant “crucify him” to their Roman oppressors, and the ten thousand fans would be whittled down to a fearful 120 faithful followers.

Like our first century brethren we can often want God to change the circumstances of the universe and at first glance it seems as if God is doing nothing. What if I my job is in jeopardy? What if I cannot pay the rent or mortgage? What if I become sick? What if death visits someone I love? There is something about sitting in uncertainty that forces us to simultaneously look upward and inward and this is where true soul-shaking transformation takes place. I find myself rightly asking God to heal, to redeem, and to reconcile. And His Spirit says, “OK let’s start with your heart.”

It’s in those moments of brokenness and desperation that God brings healing, redemption, and reconciliation into our lives in such a way that it inevitably begins to overflow to other around us.

An afterthought.

Over the next 200 years the Roman Empire would face two epic plagues which would directly impact the influence of the early Christians. In both cases most citizens who could flee did, but a relatively small group decided to stay. The Christians remained and instead of cheering the pain and demise of their oppressors they showed radical compassion. The kind that only comes from a transformed heart. Sociologist Rodney Stark records the following statement by the bishop or Carthage in his book, The Triumph of Christianity:

How suitable, how necessary it is that this plague and pestilence, which seems horrible and deadly, searches out the justice of each and every one and examines the mind of the human race; whether the well care for the sick, whether relatives dutifully love their kinsman as they should, whether masters show compassion for their ailing slaves, whether physicians do not desert the afflicted…. Although this mortality had contributed nothing else, it has especially accomplished this for Christians and servants of God, that we have begun gladly to seek martyrdom while we are learning not to fear death.

Stark goes on to posit: “As for action, Christians met the obligation to care for the sick rather than desert them, and thereby saved enormous numbers of lives!”

Stark, Rodney. The Triumph of Christianity: How the Jesus Movement Became the World’s Largest Religion (p.116-117). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

Dad: the final years

kevinpounds — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 09:30:57 +0000

There is something transcendental about holding the hand of my father in his final days knowing he held me during my first days. Just as I entered this world knowing as I was loved, protected, and cared for, I want him to exit this world with that same knowledge.

Many do not know my dad’s story over the past seventeen years. For anyone who knew him from before, it’s not what we would have expected.

It’s an understatement to say he was an amazing dad while I was growing up. After leaving our mother for another woman, his life began to spiral as he could not hold down a consistent job, struggled with alcoholism, and weighed down by guilt worked to distance himself from family and friends. Throughout that time, I checked up on him: bugging him by calling once a month and swinging by to say hi whenever I was in town. The constant message I attempted to drip in was I love you, I forgive you, I’m thankful you’re my dad, and I want you to be part of our lives. Each time I could see the downward slope he was on, which came to a head in August and September of 2015.

We knew the relationship he was in had turned dysfunctional and abusive with him living in a damp dungeon of a basement, no heat or air-conditioning, little access to food, surrounded by the fifteen stray cats he had taken in, and showing early signs of dementia. My biggest fear was that my father who I love would die in that dirty basement feeling distant from those who cared about him most, so I decided to call his girl-friend and make an offer: “There will come a day where messing with my dad becomes too difficult and you give up on him… when that day happens, call me and we’ll take over.” A few weeks later, I received the call as the combination of dementia and infections had made him deliriously dangerous to both her and himself. With the determined assistance of an agent from Adult Protective Services and medical staff from the local hospital, we were able to take over caring for my dad.

I would not trade the past two years for anything- they have been a gift from God. Despite feeling sad about my father’s impending death, I’m incredibly thankful. After seeing him weighed down with more guilt than I can comprehend, I watched him receive God’s forgiveness and experience true grace. I was able to reconcile with my dad and see him reconnect with other family members. I saw his posture and demeanor transform as he experienced relative peace despite his declining health.

These past two weeks the combined effects of dementia, cirrhosis, COPD, then pneumonia have proven too much on his worn out body. I know he’s taking his final steps in this life, but I’m thankful that he gets to exit this life knowing he’s loved and enter eternity experiencing the embrace of a Father who loves him exceedingly more. He’ll finally be free of sin, free of guilt, and free of sickness.

Dad: stories that shaped me

kevinpounds — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 09:30:03 +0000

As I’ve realized my father is coming to the end of his life, I find myself feeling incredibly thankful he was may Dad. I often shared with him that although the past seventeen years were difficult, they could never negate what a great father he was to me as a child, teen, and young adult. Nothing could erase those memories and the slide show is never ending as I sit by his bedside. There are not words sufficient to share them all but here are three that stand out.

Blue jackets. In an old photo album I came across a rather mundane picture of us two standing in the den with matching blue nylon windbreakers. I’m maybe five years old and it’s Saturday morning following the usual routine of waffles and Super Friends cartoons. Now we’re suiting up to go fishing at my grandmother’s lake, which also means we get to stop at my grandmother’s convenience store for bait along with the soft drink (Sprite) and the treat of my choice. This is my favorite jacket because it’s just like my Dad’s. I’m his buddy and I want to be just like him. There was something special about these Saturdays because I knew Dad wanted to spend quality time with us regardless of what else was happening in life.

Strike out. My eighth grade season of little league baseball is horrendous. This follows a surprisingly solid seventh grade season. That year Dad (who played college baseball) worked with me to understand how to properly judge a pop-fly or line & drive from long distance, how to follow the ball with my eye into contact with the bat, and how throwing with proper form compensated for my relatively weak arm. The work paid off with a climax of me hitting a game winning triple, receiving the game ball, followed by a bear hug from my Dad and “I’m so proud of you.” One year later, bottom of the ninth, one run down, and runners on second and third, I strike out. My coach is cussing, my team is angry, and as I’m fighting back tears I feel a bear hug: “I love you and I’m still so proud of you.”

Holey Shoes. I’m turning 16 and fixated on the new Nike Air Max shoes. They’re top shelf running shoes that I’m confident will give me an edge while training for wrestling and added plus: looked incredibly cool which is a department where I needed all the help I could get. At the same time, money is especially tight as my father’s contracting business has gone bankrupt. I’ve come to the realization that if I want a car I need a job and $100 running shoes aren’t exactly a family necessity. BUT somehow on May 18, 1988 I open a box of size 8 blue Nike Air Max Shoes! Like a typical teen I give my parents a quick thank you hug without much thought. A few weeks later while rummaging (without permission) through my Dad’s closet I notice the shoes he wears each day to work- the soles are worn so thin they have holes in the bottom. He had foregone shoes he needed so I could have the shoes I wanted.

There are more memories flowing through my mind than I could possibly share. Stories that helped shape me as a child and now as a man.

To my fellow white evangelicals…

kevinpounds — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 17:17:00 +0000

To my white evangelical brothers and sisters in Jesus, this post is primarily for you. Please don’t dismiss it. I ask that you read it with prayerful humility as I attempt to write with the same posture. This morning looking in the mirror I realized I am a white evangelical. Although I did not choose this label, it describes who I am. A caucasian of predominately European descent. A believer in the authority of the Bible, the Lordship of Jesus, and our need to be reconciled to God through the sacrifice of Christ. I never anticipated that a commitment to the scriptures and the message of Jesus would put me at odds with so many of my Bible believing brothers and sisters. But it has.

Years ago I visited the holocaust museums in both Washington D.C. and Jerusalem, created to remind our world of the horrors inflicted as Hitler’s Nazi regime systematically killed six million European Jews between 1933-1945. These places left a lasting impression- the exhibits, the pictures, and especially the stories of unthinkable suffering and persevering courage displayed so we would remember. Why would the creators of these museums want these memories to become etched in our minds and hearts? So that this will never happen again.

One story that especially stood out was the voyage of “the Saint Louis.” In 1939 the ocean liner set sail from Hamburg, Germany carrying 937 passengers, predominately Jewish refugees, with planned stops in Cuba and then the United States. In Cuba only a small number of passengers were allowed to disembark, while the Cuban president demanded a payment of over $500,000 to allow entry to the others. Although they had all applied for visas, the United States also denied them entry. With no place to dock, the ship returned to Europe passing so close to the United States mainland the passengers could see the lights of Miami in the dark of the night. Of the 620 passengers who returned to the European continent, only half survived the holocaust. According to a Smithsonian article this was indicative of the U.S posture towards Jewish refugees during the 1930-40s as we turned away thousands due to our government’s fear that Nazi spies would enter the US with the Jewish refugees.

I’ve sat with friends and family watching movies like Schindler’s List, The Pianist, and Band of Brothers that reveal glimpses of the holocaust. The response is almost always the same. If only we had known the extent of the horrors. If only we had a second chance.

This time we do know. History repeats itself again. There is almost global agreement we are now facing the greatest humanitarian crisis since the holocaust. We’ve seen the pictures and heard the stories with over 11 million Syrians displaced and conservative estimates of over 300,000 killed.

Many scriptures could apply to this situation, but one that especially stands out is from Proverbs 24:10-12:

10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. 11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. 12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?

We say we are pro-life. Many of us agree in promoting a culture that protects all life from the womb to the tomb. This conviction motivates me to promote adoption as an alternative to abortion, to care for my terminally ill father suffering the effects of alcoholism, and to share in the burden of our global refugee neighbors who’s lives swing in the balance.

We say we are pro-family. Many of us believe the family is the foundation of society and strong families make strong communities. Yet as I write this thousands of vetted Syrian families who tasted a glimpse of safety and a future for their children have been turned away and must return to navigating dangers we choose not to imagine.

We say we are pro-Jesus. Many of us agree with Apostle Paul that God has called us to be ambassadors for Jesus and ministers or reconciliation. Representing His interests trumps even our own self interests and national interests. Are we presenting an accurate representation of who Jesus is and what He values to our nation and the world?

Historically, partnerships between those seeking Jesus’ kingdom and those pursuing political power have not produced lasting fruit. Many of us have struck a deal with the great deal maker which we will eventually regret. The deal goes something like this: “I will give you the influential seat at my table you desire if you give me the ultimate position of power I crave.” It’s a partnership which is quickly nullifying a lasting legacy with a younger generation of Christians, alienating our spiritual brothers and sisters from minority backgrounds, and casting doubt with our global neighbors about what “Christian values” really means.

I wish at times like this Jesus would provide historical and eternal perspective so we would have a compass to guide us and a lens through which to discern what is good, right, and true. Fortunately, He did. Regardless of the posture of our government, He has made clear the priorities for His church.

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For 35 I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 22:31-46

4 ACTION STEPS TO WELCOME REFUGEES

kevinpounds — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 13:09:55 +0000

4 actions steps to welcoming refugees:

Open your home. Share a meal. Listen to their story. Make a friend. In almost every culture around the globe, the mark of hospitality is inviting someone into your home to share a meal.
Pray for them. Pray with them. Trust God to show up. Many refugees come from religious backgrounds and will be blessed by you caring enough to pray.
Respond to invitations. Eat in their home. Attend their celebrations. Get to know their culture. They’re identity will shift from refugee to neighbor to friend.
Advocate for their rights. Speak publicly. Share the facts. Write to government leaders. Change often require persistence and sacrifice.

10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. 11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. 12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?

Proverbs 24:10-12

4 MYTHS ABOUT TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ACTION

kevinpounds — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 12:57:37 +0000

Due to the president’s executive action barring the entrance of refugees, a great deal of misinformation and “alternative facts” seem to be floating around.

4 myths about Trump’s executive action & refugee resettlement:

1) We don’t know these people. An article from the Economist regarding Syrian refugee resettlement explains:

They undergo investigations of their biography and identity; FBI biometric checks of their fingerprints and photographs; in-person interviews by Department of Homeland Security officers; medical screenings as well as investigations by the National Counter-terrorism Centre and by American and international intelligence agencies. The process may take as long as three years, sometimes longer. No other person entering America is subjected to such a level of scrutiny.

Refugee resettlement is the least likely route for potential terrorists, says Kathleen Newland at the Migration Policy Institute, a think-tank. Of the 745,000 refugees resettled since September 11th, only two Iraqis in Kentucky have been arrested on terrorist charges, for aiding al-Qaeda in Iraq.

2) This action makes you safer. A recent risk assessment by the Cato Institute which is a libertarian think tank discovered the following:

From 1975 through 2015, the annual chance that an American would be murdered in a terrorist attack carried out by a foreign-born terrorist was 1 in 3,609,709. Foreigners on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) killed zero Americans in terrorist attacks, whereas those on other tourist visas killed 1 in 3.9million a year. The chance that an American would be killed in a terrorist attack committed by a refugee was 1 in 3.64 billion a year. Of the roughly 768,000 total murders committed in the United States from 1975 to the end of 2015, 3,024 (or 0.39 percent) were committed by foreign-born terrorists in an attack… The annual chance of being murdered was 252.9 times as great as dying in an attack committed by a foreign-born terrorist on U.S. soil.

For reference, you have a greater statistical chance of dying from taking a bath, riding a bike, or walking outside than a terrorist attack perpetuated by refugees.

3) We’re keeping terrorists out. The following chart speaks for itself.

4)Refugees are takers not contributors. Although it’s not explicitly stated by our president, its definitely another misplaced fear not rooted in fact. Within 120 days after arrival 89% of refugees attain Economic Self Sufficiency and 92 % within 240 days.

Dad

kevinpounds — Wed, 18 May 2016 13:13:17 +0000

As some of you know on Monday I made a very quick last minute trip to GA to handle some Medicaid business for my dad. His steady decline associated with dementia and cirrhosis meant he needs the end of life care only a nursing home can provide. The trip was about as exciting as it sounds- long meetings with nice people involving lots of mind-numbing paperwork.

Many of you know I grew up in a tight knit family and enjoyed an especially close relationship to my Dad. Much in our relationship changed during the past seventeen years as a wedge developed between me and him-the combined effect of affairs and alcoholism. Over this past decade I’ve watched the weight of regret and guilt slowly crush my dad. Although I told my dad many times I love him and forgive him, a palpable tension continued between us. This wedge, the tension, and his spiraling spiritual, emotional, and physical decline has proven to be one of the greatest pains of my life. I’ve seen firsthand you can choose to love someone, you can choose to forgive, but true reconciliation can never be forced.

Yesterday after completing business with the nursing home case manager, I walked to my dad’s room to spend a couple of hours with him. He’s a shell of his former self- weakened, bound to a wheel chair, and fighting the mental fog to focus. Yet this meeting was different. This meeting was unexpectedly very different. Somehow after all these years the real conversation we both needed happened. The details of our conversation are best left between a father and his son but I exited down the hallway with a new found sense of peace knowing true reconciliation has taken place.It was a strange thing this morning to find myself weeping in the midst of strangers sitting at Atlanta airport terminal D. I was silently meditating, praying, and listening to music in when I heard the subtle yet clear voice of God’s Holy Spirit: “Just in case you missed it- this trip wasn’t about Medicaid or medical care. This trip was all about me giving you the reconciliation you’ve longed for.” I’ve taught for many years that the Good News of Jesus is primarily about God reconciling messed up people to Himself through Jesus and secondarily about God reconciling us as messed up people to each other. What a blessing to experience this Good News once again- this time in one of the most valuable relationships in my life. Thank you Jesus!

¹⁸All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Blessing a brother

kevinpounds — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 11:59:46 +0000

The name of our friend has purposely been changed and the name of his home country omitted for the safety of him and his family.

I met Pacifico five years ago while volunteering at the COTS Day Station, a warm place for people to come off the streets during Vermont’s frigid winters. Kate, the peppiest of the COTS case managers, walked in the room and shouted, “Kevin you’re like a minister- right?” I quickly walked over and she continued, “I have this guy who just arrived in my office. He’s a pastor from Africa and doesn’t speak any English. Can you try to figure out his situation?” And for the better part of an hour we used the modern miracle of Google translator to type between English and French.

I’ve heard similar stories before. Christians arrested for proclaiming Jesus in a region where persecution is real. Sentenced to prison, then death, without a trial due to being from the wrong religion or ethnicity. Only Pacifico’s story had a twist. The soldiers assigned to kill him had a moral dilemma. Something in their moral compass informed them this was the wrong decision, so they released him on one condition: run and don’t come back. Pacifico ran for his life, knowing if he returned to family and friends that his very presence would certainly place their lives in danger. He ran for his life knowing he was leaving behind some of the most precious blessings in his life: his wife and two young daughters.

I assumed the interaction with Pacifico would be momentary and his path would take him elsewhere. Realistically, Burlington, VT is not the typical landing spot for persecuted pastors. God’s plans were different, because for the past five years I have crossed paths with Pacifico at least once every month. Every time we meet we embrace and pray together for God to protect his family, for God to bring them back together, and for God to give Pacifico peace throughout the process. I believe in the power of prayer, but I often find myself wondering if there is something tangible I could to bless this friend and brother in Jesus- until now.

Over these past five years, both Pacifico and various case workers provided me with snapshots of the grueling process he went through with his family: locating them, reconnecting, communicating, beginning the long process of trying to reunite, navigating immigration bureaucracy, hitting dead ends and detours. I have never met anyone with such patience, persistence, and hope-filled peace, and now after five years he’s on the verge of seeing the answer to his prayers: his wife and children are finally coming to America.

Pacifico has lived for these past years in the Anew Place shelter while working long hours so he could send money to his family and save every available penny to bring them here. The costs are significant: $4000 for plane tickets, $650 in remaining visa costs, and the anticipated $2500 “down payment” for a local apartment. My goal is simple: raise enough money to help bring this Christian brother’s family home to see their father.

$5000 will provide the money needed to transport his family to Burlington, while allowing Pacifico to focus on making a new home for his family here. If you’re interested in making a donation, make checks out to Burlington City Church and write “pacifico” in the memo line.

If you’re part of Burlington City Church, you can drop checks in our Sunday offering basket. If not, mail them to 49 Janet Circle, Burlington, VT 05408.

Equip Retreat 2016

kevinpounds — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 13:26:20 +0000

This weekend, January 29-30, we host our third annual Equip Retreat through Vermont Church Planting. Forty church planters and potential church planters from across Vermont and the neighboring region are attending with Mike Breen from 3DM Movements leading our sessions.

This week I sensed God leading me to pray three specific things for this retreat. Will you pray the following with me?

For God to remind us Jesus is worth the risks we’re taking and sacrifices we’re making.
For God to encourage us as we share stories with other like minded guys.
For God to equip us with some practical tools for our ministry toolbox.

Thank you for your prayers and partnership.