Jack and Drew Birthday Pics

July2007

Click to view individual pics or Watch the Running Slideshow on the side.

Who is Really Held Captive?

The Taliban have taken another missionary's life.

These dear brothers and sisters lives are in jeopardy because they were providing medical aid. What an incredible injustice by people who have no regard for human life!

As Robin and I prayed for them the other day, I recalled Paul and Silas in a jail in Philippi. They were unjustly brought before authorities, accused of promoting customs contrary to what the Greeks practiced and believed, severely beaten with rods without a trail and thrown into an inner cell with their feet in stocks. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians that they had suffered and been outrageously treated in Philippi. (1 Thess. 2:2)

What did they do? They sang hymns and prayed. I can't help but imagine that our dear Korean brothers and sisters in Christ are but doing the same.

May those who are holding them captive be listening like the other prisoners were to Paul and Silas. May they be miraculously delivered in such a way that would cause their captives to cry out 'what must I do to be saved?'

For who is really held captive? It is a tragedy and I am sure a stressful situation for friends and family back in Korea. I certainly do not want to take lightly their situation. It is a tragic crisis.

But who is really held imprisoned? Our brothers and sisters are free. They face death but ultimately they will live and never die. The Taliban and those held captive by Islam are perishing. They are held captive by the enemy to do his will. They are imprisoned. They face eternal death and separation from a God who loves them. These Korean believers are not without hope. The Taliban have no hope apart from Christ.

May the captors have visions of our Lord. May they see what Paul saw on the road to Damascus. May they be struck blind by His glory and power. May they know the One whom they are persecuting. May they be delivered from their prison.

May God be glorified through these dear brothers and sisters - whether in life or death.

Aunt Belinda, T-Ball Game and Aqaurium

My sister Belinda is in town. She came in Thursday night and will stay through Monday morning.

Yesterday Luke has a T-Ball game. it was his one and only game. The game was time-based so each team got two innings with everyone getting a chance to bat each inning. Luke got two hits. the 2nd went all the way out to 2B. Which was an accomplishment since most everyone barely hit to the pitcher's mound. I think i saw one other hit go further than his. His first one went halfway up the 1B line so it was further than most too.

The first inning, he played at the pitcher's mound with another little boy. Which meant he rotated getting every hit. He was very slow and deliberate on his throws to first. In fact, he would get the ball and walk back to the pitcher's mound with it before he threw to first. Which was okay because the First baseman was never looking.

He had fun, got a certificate and pop-sickle and got to watch his friend Danya play int he game that followed his.

Today we all went to the Downtown Denver Aquarium. it was Luke's birthday present from Belinda. The boys all loved it. I think Jack liked the sea turtle the best. Luke liked the sharks. And Jack liked the stuffed Tiger he got for his birthday at the aquarium store.

Tomorrow Jack and Drew turn two. Hopefully I will have more pics of that special day.

The World Was Not Worthy of Them

One of 23 Korean Missionaries were killed and the Talbian says they will kill the rest by 1 AM Thursday.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:10

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. Matt 24:9

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. John 15:19-21

We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it. 1 Corinthians 4:1

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12

Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. Hebrews 11:36-38


"Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: " 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One' Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:24-31

Hearing from Dan Allender

This morning the women (including Robin) attended a session lead by the "Women of Faith". The men went to a seminar where we heard from Dan Allender.

Luke's got a cold so we got a babysitter (whose Dad was both Robin and my Campus director at UGA) for him and we dropped Jack and Drew (who are over the stomach flu) at childcare. I then took Robin to Moby gym and drove to the Lincoln Center. I was late so not only did I have to park about a mile away and walk, I ended up in an overflow room watching it on a screen.

I was thinking, 'this is what being late at a megachurch must feel like!' I was expecting a typical men's talk but was pleasantly surprised as Dan spoke on understanding our story and how to engage others in theirs and lead them to God's story. (I wished I had heard this before I led an evangelism training on this very thing early this summer at church!)

One of my favorite books is Encouragement which I always attributed just to Larry Crabb but Dan co-authored it. Who knew? I also have Leading with a Limp which my director gave to me as a gift earlier this Spring. I must confess that i haven't read it yet but will. (It's a confession to Keith who probably will read this blog too. It has no reflection on my appreciation, Keith!) I have heard of his other books like Wounded Heart but haven't read them.

Dan was awesome! His own story of redemption is fresh and told in a humorous way. I will mull over for a while being an orphan, a stranger and a widow. In fact a lot of waht he said I want to really think it over especially about listening to other's stories and connected the gospel to them. I got a feeling that his book To Be Told is about this and will explain it more. I ordered one during the break so I will let you know if it does.

Update on South Africa Project

Ethan & Terah Weikamp who helped lead our project to Pretoria South Africa have an incredible final update.

This project started at CM2007 and then went to Pretoria. Ethan gives a final report of what God did there along with how they trained the students and a cool story as an example.

You Got to be Kidding

Words you don't want to hear after standing in a line for over an hour waiting for the Ferris Wheel at the Crusade Fair....

"But Dad this isn't the strawberry (berry-go-round) ride. I don't want to ride this I want to ride the strawberry."

Video of CM 2007

CM 2007 - Pic of 2007 STINT TL Training and Video by Simplebulldog

Day Two and Day Three of CSU

Yesterday was the "Craig Johring and Joe Cross" Day. Let's see my good friends were interviewed on stage by the MC - Bret Ogburn, (I was outside in an intense discussion and missed their big moment) referred to from up front by three speakers: Keith Bubalo, Layo Lavia, and Mark Gauthier. (Though I think Layo said "John and Craig") And they each had a spot during the WSN specific time.

So proud of them being recognized, hope they remember it's not about them! (Sure they will) And hope they remember the little people. Hey I joined staff with that Craig guy!

On a family note... both Jack and Drew have been throwing-up sick. Today was regional day and I came in late after taking Luke to childcare. Neither Robin nor I got much sleep last night because Jack and Drew didn't. Right now I am sitting with them while Robin and Luke are at the Great Plains regional picnic. They are sleeping which is good and why I can be updated this.

I think every time we bring kids to CSU -whether for staff training or STINT Team Leaders trg - they have gotten sick. At least for the first-time ever we are staying somewhere with AC.

Start of Campus Days

In addition to the boys first day in childcare, it was a good first full day...

Started with a WSN breakfast of Bagels and Coffee with CMC AOA (Central America/Mexico/Caribbean Area of Affairs) where the highlight for me was hearing an update of our Mexico Journey project where students went to 7 cities and launched 17 movements in 7 weeks. Joe Cross who led the project said it was like the Book of Acts which is exactly what we were praying for it to be like.

In the morning, we heard from Darryl Smith the National Director for Student Venture, our high school ministry. Darryl opened the Word and spoke on the Prodigal Son but mainly about our identity as children of the Father. Darryl's an awesome communciater and a humble grateful leader.

Mid-morning we heard from "Blue Like Jazz" author, Donald Miller. Donald gave a really good talk on stories and how we need to live and tell stories that are compelling. Pretty cool to rethink what we are truly living for as a story with a 'sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat' plot.

We had seminars in the afternoon (I only went to one) and then Holly Shelden who has been serving in East Asia for a number of years spoke in the evening. I missed most of Holly's talk because we took the boys to the meeting and Jack and Drew both started screaming for mommy at the same time so we had to leave. Good Day.

Well.... They are Shaped like a Banana

Last Night Reading "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"

Jack (pointing to a pickle on the day the Hungry Caterpillar eats a lot of stuff) : Dis?

Robin: A pickle.

Jack (pointing to a sausage link): Dis?

Robin: Sausage.

Jack (pointing again to the pickle): Dis?

Robin: A pickle.

Jack: ickle.

Jack (pointing to sausage): Dis?

Robin: Sausage.

Jack: ausage.

Drew (emphatically): Nana!

Our July Letter

You can download our July Newsletter complete with CM2007 updates and family pictures.

You Never Know What's in There

Seems some guys in Beijing are selling baozi (steamed buns with seasoned pork) made out cardboard.

I personally think it's taking recycling a bit too far.

9 years ago the guys on my team had a jaozi (similar but smaller and boiled not steamed) eating contest. Just glad we didn't get a hold of some of these.

Appreciating My Mom and Dad a Little More...

Today I appreciated my mom and dad a little more.

See for the last few days I have been diving in with a medical emergency involving one of our summer project participants in Russia. A young gal - Kristen - was not only to keep any fluids down for a while and our team took her to a local clinic. It happened to be the 2nd time she had been this summer so I dove in with the team leader - Michael - and on the advice of our emergency medical insurance company (SOS) we had her evacuated to Germany. Someone had to travel with her so Michael and I decided the best move was to challenge another of the gals - Ashley - who was going to be leaving early on Monday anyway. Turns this gal spoke a little German too.

The part that makes me appreciate my parents a little more is how Kristen's parents (believers) responded. On some level I understand. It's their little girl (though she is 20) and she is on the other side of the world and sick. But after several calls with her dad, I realized I was not talking with a rational person with normal concerns. He was driving me crazy with questions I couldn't answer and demands I couldn't meet. Each time, Robin said I was patient which help because inside I wasn't.

This morning, we knew they had arrived in Germany and his daughter was released from the hospital but we hadn't heard from them personally. So he called me and goes ballistic saying he was going to hold Crusade responsible for this situation. "This situation" he referred to was all in his head assuming the worse. He was mad because I didn't have her on a plane right that moment even though I wasn't sure the doctors didn't want to observe her more or if they could get a flight that soon and I was waiting on them to contact me. Fortunately, Michael called me from Russia as he was yelling at me so I could say I had to talk to Russia and get off the phone with him.

Turns out they were fine. They had been awake at the hospital till 4 am while they ran tests and when she was released they checked into a hotel and preceded to sleep for 6 hours. They woke up, she emailed her parents, they got something to eat, bought a phone card and called me. Tomorrow they will rest and work on changing their airline tickets

Here's where I appreciate my parents... I don't think they would do this. When I first joined CCC staff, my mom said she was struggling with letting me go. In her quiet time she read the story of Jesus as a boy in the temple. As Jesus told his mother and father that 'He must be about His Father's business", my mom realized the same was true for me and she gave up control. She knows the safest place for her son (daughter-in-law and grandsons too) is in the center of God's will.

She has never complained that I lived in California, Colorado or the remotest parts of the earth. She doesn't demand that we 'bring home the grand kids' like some Christian parents do of their missionary kids. She doesn't get overly concerned or irrational. She trusts in the Lord who called me. And if its possible, my dad does more. He has always just trusted that the Lord is in control.

We are facing an uncertain future, my friends. (Maybe I should say it is a certain future since there is One who holds the future.) The remaining locations where the gospel has not yet gone are in the most dangerous places on earth. The dark places are dark because the enemy has a stronghold and yet the light of gospel needs to go forth. Someone must go. It will cost lives. I fear that students will be willing to lay down their lives and go and yet parents (even those who call themselves Christians) will stand in the way. They will say "not my son", "not my little girl". They will threaten mission agencies with phrases like "I hold you responsible!"

How 'bout we hold God responsible, huh? How 'bout we trust that the Lord who has our best interest at heart is in control. How 'bout we even let our sons and daughters experience the joy of sharing in His sufferings! How 'bout we let them - if its His will - experience the blessing - yes, blessing - of being persecuted for His name sake!

I guess I am going off. I do care. I care enough that I dove in to help this gal get medical care. I care so much that I authorized us to use our funds to cover the cost of evacuation. I don't want to see people in a harm's way. I have a pastoral caring heart. But I just wonder what it would look like if we really surrendered control of our kids and like Hannah gave them over to the Lord's service.

I just hope that God would call my sons to follow Him and I will be willing and proud to let them go wherever He calls them. I certainly don't want to stand before the Judge one day knowing I selfishly stood in the way of them obeying the Lord.

Grocery Shopping

Robin mentioned she need to go grocery shopping sometime soon. I told her that I would go for her. But she let me know that she really didn't like me going for her because I usually come home with something not quite right and my pick of produce leaves much to be desired. (I thought I was pretty good at determine ripeness. I guess not.)

I smiled because I recalled the only time my mother sent my dad grocery shopping. He took my sister Laura and me with him to the local grocery store: Scarborough and Dale. We came home with Jiffy-pop popcorn, Chips-a-Hoy, nutty-buddy ice creams, Coca-colas, and other various sundry of snacks and sweets. We didn't come home with most of the things on mom's list. My mom never sent him again. I couldn't understand it I thought he was a great grocery shopper!

My dad has a reputation in our family as a rather impulsive shopper and this is usually one of our evidences that demand a verdict. I remember laughing a few years ago with my dad and mom as I recalled this incident. My dad proceeded to remind me with a sly grin that my mom never asked him to grocery shop again.

The Philippi Principle

As I was prepping to give a 'talk' this past week on Planting Movements at the training for next year's STINT Team Leaders, I came across a principle I had never seen. I decided not to really give a talk but review Paul's missionary journeys by memory and discuss principles of movement planting. So in preparation, I read Acts 13-20 a lot! A Lot! Maybe 100 times. So one night I am laying in bed going over them again and thinking about the principles and what to do with the miracles. And it hit me! I about scared Robin to death.

The wonders and miracles Paul performed were for the Greeks not the Jews. Paul writes in 1 Cor chapter 1 that "Jews demand a sign and Greeks seek wisdom". But Paul flipped that. He reasoned and spoke in the synagogues with Jews and God-fearing Greeks in every town. But in town and after town miracles opened doors for the gospel. Only one time in Athens does it say he reasoned with Greeks.

Sometimes a miraculous sign verified the gospel. Sometimes miracles caused the Greeks to honor the name of Jesus. Sometimes miracles and wonders gave Paul a platform to proclaim the gospel. But often it resulted in many Greeks believing.

But how do we apply that? Not like people are going to be healed by the sweat of my handkerchief. The gospel Paul proclaimed was one of LOVE (Cross) + POWER (Resurrection). The gospel Paul demonstrated was LOVE (Compassion like toward a lame man in Lystra) + POWER (Power over demonic forces, Power of disease, Power to shake the foundations of a jail cell). Paul in Romans 15 says that the gospel came in word and deed.

Philippi is the great comparison/contrast...

(Acts 16:13-15)
Strategic evangelism – went to river expecting to find a place of prayer
Gospel Proclaimed
to women by River - Place of Prayer
“worshiper of God”
Women listened
Hear the gospel: (Paul’s message)
Person of Peace: Lydia
Lord opened her heart
Her Household believed and are baptized
(Jewish Oikos reached)
Transformation – “If you consider me a believer… stay at my house”
Church / movement planted among Jews

(Acts16:25-34)
Not a strategy but an opportunity – plan was to go back to river but got arrested
Gospel Demonstrated
to jailer and men in jail – Place of Punishment
they see Paul and Silas worshiping and praying
Men listen
See the gospel: (Changed lives of apostles; earthquake, compassion of apostles)
Person of Peace: Jailer
Jailer asked. (Lord moved his heart)
His Household believed and are baptized
(Gentile Oikos reached)
Transformation – “brought them into his house… filled with joy”
Church/movement planted among Gentiles

What does this mean? Well we still should proclaim the gospel and the gospel itself has power. (Rom 1:16). But what if instead of banging our heads against the wall trying to reason with post-moderns or culturally Muslims, we demonstrated the gospel first? What if we made it a practice to first demonstrate the gospel in LOVE and by faith ask God to supernaturally demonstrate the gospel in POWER? When I shared this with leaders, one of them who led last year in Istanbul said that their leaders challenged them to pray with their Turk friends. So they asked their friends how could they pray for them and if they could pray in the name of Jesus. Turk after Turk started seeing God answer prayer and they believed. Before they did this they had seen no Turkish students trust Christ.

"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" - I Cor 2:1-5

Thoughts On Korea

I got back from Korea yesterday. It was 6 pm by the time I got home. I am still on wacky jet-lag as I went to bed last night and slept til 1 pm.

This is a picture of all of the Great Plains staff and students at CM2007. My camera battery went dead the first day. One big negative about a rechargeable camera battery. I couldn't just buy one to replace it and left the recharger at home. I will just have to harvest other people's pics off of facebook or something.

A lot of thoughts are still in my head from Korea. Sort of random but here are a few...

1. This may have been the most historically significant event I have ever been to 21 years of ministry.

2. Korean staff are the greatest servants I have ever seen. I never saw them complain. Korean students are incredibly friendly. They genuinely were glad we were there and wanted to meet us.

3. The Koreans have no limits in their worship. It's real, its infectious and fun.

4. Can I take worker's comp for a worship injury? I got thrust into a worship mosh pit the last night and injured my calf. They might be the "dancing generation, dancing because of Your great mercy, Lord" but I am old.

5. It was a taste of heaven with students from all over the world and most of them didn't look like me.

6. It was incrediblly encouraging to see students from places where I had ministered before or where I had helped send others. This was also a foretaste of heaven in seeing throngs the fruit of mine and others others labors.

7. I liked most Korea food. More than just Kim Chee.

8. As we send students to complete the mission... many will die. The conference was a call on the journey to movements everywhere to go after the next 6000 key universities in the world without a witness. Many of these are in places that are dangerous.

9. Students are willing to die for the cause of Christ. Over a 100 students came to hear about an opportunity to go to Afghanistan within the next year. Students from America, Korea, Russia, and all over.

10. It's hard to be away from my family but the role I have been given is worth it.