Play Ball!

"Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer." ~Ted Williams

"Unless we're talking fielding because if your fielding percentage was .333, you'd stink." ~ me.

Play Ball!

Every Day

Every day, around the world, 372,000 babies are born.

Every day 153,000 people die.

Every day the world’s population grows by 219,000 people.

Every day 170,000 people are converted to the Christian faith.

Every day 91,000 people leave the Christian faith.

Every day the Church grows by 79,000 people.

Every day over 90% of the global increase in the number of Christians can be found in Africa, Asia or Latin America.


Missiometrics 2008: Reality Checks for Christian World Communions

Extravagant Leadership - Ramsey and Amanda

Ramsey Pershing (on the far left), Amanda Armstrong (in the brown shirt) and their team are seen here enacting a scene from a Thai passion play based around the verse: ‘he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel’. The wardrobe department’s budget was a little limited so that had to use same costumes from the Christmas pageant. Their next production is "Amanda and the King".

Ramsey says, “Leading a STINT team this year has helped me to grow more this year than any other. We entered onto Mae Fah Luang University (in Chiang Rai, Thailand) at the start of the second semester and were able to build a base of 64 students that we regularly see and meet with! The decision was just made to continue with another STINT team next year and it will be really excited to see how this base becomes a movement of students.”

Amanda adds, “This year has been a huge blessing, one after another. Compared to last year, it seems like a night and day difference. We are so thankful that our team has been so easy to lead, (I am sure threats of bringing back out the snake help) and that we have had fruit on campus this year even though the soil is hard. Oddly enough, it has been mostly international students from a larger East Asian country that have been the most receptive to the gospel; however, we have also seen a genuine change in Thai students praying to receive Christ. Another difference from last year is that the university we work at teaches all its classes in English so everyone on campus wants to be friends with the farang (foreigner). We have been doing more relational evangelism this year and lack of language barrier allows us to form deeper relationships with the students and this in turn opens them up to the gospel.”

In the passion play of the Four Gospels, one of my favorite characters is Mary of Bethany. (Not to be confused with Mary mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, Mary the wife of Clopas or Mary mother of John Mark.) In the credits Mary B. would be listed just above ‘woman in the crowd scene’. In three scenes, she only has one sentence of dialogue. And yet Jesus twice defends her from rebuke, honors her choices, weeps when she weeps and sets her up as one whose story should be told around the world. So let’s tell the story…

A few days before the Passover in Bethany, a little village a short distance from Jerusalem, at the home of Simon the Leper a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Mary B.’s recently-back-from-the-dead brother is there (hopefully he no longer ‘stinketh’) and Martha, her sister, is exercising her Spiritual gift of hospitality. In the middle of this feast, Mary comes to the Savior carrying an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She breaks the alabaster pint-sized jar of perfume made of pure nard and its intense, warm fragrance fills the room. Jesus is at the table and Mary B. anoints our Savior’s head with the perfume. It runs down his reclining body. She pours the rest on his feet and gently, lovingly wipes them with her hair.

The Accountant of the Apostles, Judas I., scoffs at this act of love calling it a waste. “This could have gone into the benevolent fund”, he says. He didn’t care about the poor. He was a thief always skimming some of the top and would look to make a few silver coins with a kiss of treachery. “At the very least, she could have gotten the knock-off brand of semi-pure nard in at the Wailing Wal-mart”. Others, indignant as well, join the chorus of criticism.

"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

Mary B. is a woman of extravagant faith. She understood what no one else did. She was listening when others were working. She knew the story that would be played out. This was for His burial.

Mary B. is a woman of extravagant love. It is an act of intimacy and love of one who knows that she, like us, is the bride of Christ.

Mary B. is a woman of extravagant surrender. In every scene in which she appears Mary B. is falling at the feet of Jesus. She knows her Savior is worth even a whole year’s wages. She is shameless in her worship.

May we carry on the memory of Mary B. May we break ‘the alabaster jar of perfume’ and pour out all we have on the body of Christ. May we worship at his feet fully believing, fully loving, and fully surrendered. May we like Mary B. be leaders who move the heart of God.

More on the Anoiting of Jesus by Mary

I have told the story of the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet using the passages found in Matthew 16, Mark 14 and John 12.

There is another story of a woman who anointed Jesus’ feet that is found in Luke 7. Sometimes it’s confusing because some of the scene is similar: alabaster jar of perfume, wiping Jesus feet with hair, house by a man named Simon, etc. But that story happened in the region of Galilee earlier in the public ministry of Jesus and Luke is notorious for historical details and chronological order . It’s also a story of forgiveness experienced by a sinful woman where the other three are clearly about a woman preparing Jesus for his burial. So it’s not the same scene. (Sorry Paul Eshelman but Luke’s account is also not of Mary called Magdalene either because he introduces her in the next chapter as one of Jesus’ supporters and could have said she was the woman in the story but doesn’t.)

While most scholars equate the anointing for burial account found in the other 3 gospels as one, it could be two different occasions. There are several similarities in Matt., Mark and John’s accounts: Bethany, alabaster jar of pure nard, rebuke about money could have been used for poor, Jesus’ words of defense and explanation of why she did this.

And yet there are several key differences. Mark and Matthew are almost totally alike with Mark going into more details. John’s is a little different. M & M set the scene in Simon’s house while John only lets us know that Lazarus and Martha are there. M & M don’t give the name of the woman and John tells us it’s Mary B. M& M say she poured the perfume on his head. John says she poured it on his feet and washed them with her hair. Mark says some of those present were indignant. Matthew narrows that down to the disciples. John narrows it further and puts the blame on Judas I.

But the biggest difference is that John says this happened six days before the Passover and right before his triumphal entry. Both Mark and Matthew place it after the triumphal entry and Mark clearly says its two days before the Passover.

So could it be that 6 days before the Passover, Mary anoints Jesus feet for burial and Judas alone rebukes her and then 4 days later at another meal in Bethany, an unnamed woman anoints his head for burial with a similar expensive perfume and the disciples pick up on the rebuke not hearing Jesus’ answer earlier in the week to Judas? I don’t know that sounds a little far-fetched. Besides the greatest evidence to me that this is the same story is that in the chapter before John tells this story. John lets us know that the Mary who brother lay sick was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. Now how could John explain to his readers that this was that Mary when he hasn’t told that story yet? My only conclusion is that the words of Jesus, ‘wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her’ have preceded John’s written record of the gospel. So that to me means that John in Chapter 11 is refering to the story told earlier by Mark and Matthew. A story he would write about in chapter 12.

I actually heard someone I respect explain John’s introduction of Mary in chapter 11 by combining all 4 gospel accounts mentioned earlier. In like something straight of a Christian Fiction Novel, he weaved a story of Mary running away from home, becoming a prostitute in area around Galilee, anointing Jesus and coming back home. His reasoning was to explain John 11:2. While a good story of forgiveness, reconciliation and reasoning as to the depth of Mary B.’s love, this speaker disregarded the fact that Luke introduces Mary B. in chapter 10 and doesn’t say she was the unnamed woman from 3 chapters earlier. Sorry but that’s pure fiction.

How do I answer the discrepancy of dates where Mark clearly says its 2 day before the Passover and John clearly says its 6 days before? I just know that Matthew, Mark and John don’t value chronological order the way I, Luke and other historians might. (Okay I just majored in history, not really a historian but sounds cool to say I am.) All the gospel writers are weaving a story with a purpose. Some details are not as important as major facts. Perhaps M& M just wanted to place the story well within the Passion Week. Perhaps for John, it was easier just to place this story right after he introduced Mary, Martha and Lazarus. That would allow him to set in motion the motivates of the chief priests and Judas I’s actions.

I don't know but far easier for me to believe its the same story that there being two very similar scenes where each writer only writes about once.

44

I think the first two favorite sports heroes I had growing up were Hank Aaron and Pete Mavarich. They both wore number 44. Hank of course hit 755 dingers w/o any performance enhancing drugs. Pete was a magician with the ball all the while using performance-limiting drugs.

I remember being really distraught to learn the Hawks had traded Pistol Pete to the New Orleans Jazz when I was 6. I may have not been so distraught when Hank was traded to the Brewers because everyone said he was old. He was 41. Pete died before he was 41. Today I am 44.

That's
528 months
2,296 weeks
16,071 days
385,713 hours
23,142,755 minutes (at the time I turned 44.)
1,388,565,336 seconds (ditto)

I was born on Good Friday.

In 1964 there were approximately 4.2 million births in the US.
The US population was c. 179,323,175 people, 50.6 persons per square mile.
In the US, that year there were c. 1,523,000 marriages (8.5%) and 393,000 divorces (2.2%).
In 1964 in the US there were c. 1,712,000 deaths (9.5 per 1000).
A baby like myself in the US in '64 was born approximately every 8 seconds.
One person was dying about every 12 seconds.

I am feeling 44. But feel blessed to have a wonderful wife, three little boys whom I adore, a wonderful family, a home, true friends, a great job and a Savior who who didn't come to condemn me but die for me and give me life, abundant life.

South Africa video

This is a recruitment video for South Africa. It was made when I went in December.

Right now we have 31 staff and students planning to go on a missions project for the month of July and 10 who have applied for a year-long STINT starting in January. In addition there are 13 of us going (July 19-31) with my church to work with Erika and Beam Africa. We have another 15 or so who are still considering coming.

Conversation Last night

Seeing Drew pick a big booger...

Me: Drew... don't eat that.

Drew: Don't eat it, Daddy. A squirrel will eat it.

Top Ten Verses for Tomorrow

1. You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay - Psalm 16:10

2. Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied - Isaiah 53:10-11

3. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" - John 11:25-26

4. Regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 1:3, 4

5. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. - Romans 6:4, 5

6. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. - Romans 8:11

7. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. - Romans 14:8, 9

8. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. - I Thessalonians 4:14

9. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him... - Hebrews 7:23-25

10. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you. - I Peter 1:3,4

Top Ten Verses for Today

1. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. - Genesis 3:15

2. Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness— so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. - Isaiah 52:13-15

3. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. - Isaiah 53:4, 5

4. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:6-10

5. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God - 2 Corinthians 5:21

6. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them [Jews and Gentiles] to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. - Ephesians 2:15b-16

7. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,... - Philippians 2:8-11

8. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. - Hebrews 10:19-25

9. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. - 1 Peter 1:18-19

10. And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation..." - Revelation 5:9-12

Mad About March

Tomorrow my Georgia Bulldogs (yes, they are mine) open up in the NCAA Tournament against Xavier at 10:30 am (my time). I don't know that much about Xavier except that's it’s a Catholic school in Cincy. I know they are favored over the Dawgs and deep with seniors.

When I was filling out my bracket(s), I tried not to let my judgments be swayed by my loyalties. I know the Dawgs were pathetic until the SEC Tournament... but, they were amazing. They won 4 in 3 days and 3 of them were against Tourney-bound teams (Kentucky, Mississippi State and Arkansas). If they play like that they can beat anyone.

And I can't help but think of the 1983 team that got hot, won the SEC Tournament and proceeded to beat St. John's (the beast of the East with Chris Mullin) and defending champs UNC (with Sam Perkins and this SO named Michael Jordan) by 10 points. Sam Perkins said the day before the game, "Georgia? I don't even know what conference they are from." SEC, Sam. SEC.

(Okay we lost to NC State in ABQ at the Final Four and yes, I know it was 25 years ago but that's the only Final Four we've been to so it’s all I got.)

Go DAWGS!

Leading from a Mountain Perspective - Daryl and Lauren

Daryl Swartzentruber and Lauren Lutz lead the STINT Team in Ekaterinburg Russia. (My spell-check says it should be Yekaterinburg but I think Daryl and Lauren should know since this is their 2nd year.) This picture, however, is not taken into the Urals but was taken at Mount Sinai where they vacationed this winter. Daryl was quick to point out that their faces are glowing like that of Moses.

Daryl writes, “We just returned from our spring leadership retreat. Every year we gather believers from Ekaterinburg and from neighboring cities where we have ministries for a weekend of Bible teaching, seminars, and fellowship. This year we had about 40 students, and it was very encouraging to be around them and see their heart to grow in Christ and to reach the students of their cities. The theme was our personal relationship with God, and the speakers (mostly our Russian staff) did a great job of providing the students with solid food from the Word.”

“Such times are really good for Lauren and me,” Daryl goes on to say, “Because honestly, there are still a lot of things that are hard about life and ministry in Russia. We still have to deal with below freezing temperatures and the layer of snow and ice that has been on the ground for more than 4 months. We haven't had a lot of success finding English-speaking students at the universities we are working at, and as a result it has been difficult for us to build deep relationships and share our faith on a consistent basis. We are very busy, but don't always feel like we are busy in the right ways.”

Daryl concludes, “But whenever I step back and look at things as a whole, from God's perspective, I realize there is so much to be praise him for. We are on the verge of a genuine student movement here in Ekat, as we saw this past weekend at the retreat. Our team has grown closer together this semester, and all three first-year STINTers will be returning as a part of next year's team. Several of our students will be taking place in a summer project for Russian students. And perhaps most importantly, each of us have grown and are continuing to grow in our walks with the Lord. Those are the things that give us hope and help us to press on.”

Perspective from a mountain top is like that… things look different in the light of seeing the entire landscape.

Mountains play a significant role in scripture. Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac on a mountain. Moses was called on a mountain. He received the Law on a mountain. He died on a mountain looking at the Promised Land that he could not enter.

The Psalmist says that God dwells forever on a mountain. Isaiah tells us that in the last days the nations will stream to the Mountain of God to learn of His ways.

Jesus was tempted on a mountain, prayed all night on a mountain, gave a sermon on a mount and was transfigured on a mountain. We have victory because of what happened to Jesus on a mount (and of the empty tomb that followed).

No longer do we come to a mountain that cannot be touched and is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to a voice speaking works that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken. But we have come to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, and the city of the living God. We have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. We have come to God, the judge of all people, to the spirits of righteous ones made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (Heb 12:18-24)

We live and lead in light of a different perspective. We may not see the entire landscape but we know the final outcome. We are under His grace and mercy. We lead others to receive the new covenant of His blood that was shed on a mount.

Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart....Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Cor 4:1, 16-18

Why Is It...

Why is it that we have this huge sand box in the back yard (the one we converted from a koi pond) and yet my boys persist on playing 'construction site' in the front yard?

What once was a small bare spot in the yard in huge, complete with mud, several toy dump trucks and other construction vehicles. Today there were loading up their dump truck with my neighbor's tiny pebbles that are next to their drive way. I think they are making a road.

I don't know whether to be overwrought or just glad that there'll be less grass to cut this Spring & Summer.

What Kind of Leader Are You

I saw this "Leadership Profile" quiz from military.com linked at Reasoned Audacity and decided to take the test

I scored out as Dwight Eisenhower among others. Shows I like to give the big picture casting vision to the troops but trust those under my leadership with the details and to make adjustments as necessary. I am also not into unconditional surrender of the enemy.

Speaking of Ike, I highly recommend...

* Eisenhower's Presidential Library in Abilene Kansas if driving out I-70. You get a two-for-oneWWII Museum as well as a Presidential Library.

* At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends by Eisenhower.

Rippin up the Roof - Rick and Katherine

Since Selection Sunday is within a week, we will highlight a pair of leaders who are alumni of two-time defending champs UF. Rick Kingsley and Katherine Clements are leading in Salerno Italy, situated on the Costiera Amalfitana. Despite a perfect setting, Rick brings a little reality as he acknowledges, “For me, personally, I've had to deal with a lot of disappointment. Before I arrived in Salerno, I heard a lot about the fruitfulness of the ministry here. My expectations were high for the year. While students are very open to conversing about the gospel, they have a tough time grasping the concept of 'unmerited favor'. Plus, most see the sins of religious authorities and then reject any sort of organized religion (or relationship…). From a stats standpoint, this year has been a failure. We 'know' the Lord has been using us for his good purpose because of His promises, but it has been easy to 'feel' useless. It has been difficult to motivate the team when Katherine and I just as discouraged.”

But Rick goes on to write, “Despite my doom and gloom summation, we have reasons to celebrate. One highlight was the Agape Europe student conference, which we took four students (2 guys, 2 girls). Held 2/15-17 in Bristol, England, the conference was a follow-up to CM07. Its purpose was to cast vision for what God could do in Western Europe while providing ideas and opportunities for evangelism. The girls, Anto and Silvia, got really excited about ways to reach their countrymen; a huge deal as most Italian believers don't really share their faith... ever.”

“I'd say that we've been laboring in the dark this year, for two reasons”, Rick concludes. “First, Italy is so spiritually dark that dawn must surely be around the corner (we hope). But, second, I say 'laboring in the dark' because I have no idea what God is doing here. It's okay, it's not our right to know His ways or means. He told us to come here and share the gospel and that's what we've done. We'll leave the changing lives part to him.”

Yesterday, I was reading the story in the gospels where the four guys lowered their paralyzed friend through the roof. (It’s found in 3 places – Matt 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; and Luke 5:17-25. Matthew doesn’t include the roof part of the story.) As I read this, I tried to put myself into the situation as the person organizing this event.

The parking lot is full of donkeys. The place is packed. SRO. Even the doorway is blocked. Fire codes, shmire codes. And sitting front and center are really important religious dudes from every town in Galilee, Judea and even as far as Jerusalem. We've got a perfect speaker. Who needs PowerPoint and video clips? He tells awesome stories and the power of Lord is present to heal.

But then in the middle of this great talk, shmack starts to fall from the ceiling onto Jesus’ head. Some yahoos are rippin’ up the roof, digging out a 2’ x 6’ hole. What the spank are they doing to my roof and this perfect outreach?!? If they wanted balcony seating they should have come early or had a pharisee front-row pass. Look at them with their goofy grins. If I could get through this crowd, I'd go toss them off the roof. They disappear for a second and now they are slowly lowering this guy right slap-dap in the middle.

Of course we know from these guys point of view, it wasn’t initially a perfect outreach. Looked good stats-wise, but really how good was it? These guys’s friend needed to be brought before Jesus. He had no other hope. And, like for Rick, Katherine and their team, organized religion and religious authorities were blocking the path to healing, forgiveness, and transformation. The authorities in that day didn’t get grace or who Jesus was asking ‘who is this fellow who claims he can forgive sin’. The crowd doesn’t seem to get it either. Sure they praise God in the end but it’s more like ‘what a remarkable thing that God gave this authority to man’.

Jesus looks at the ‘four yahoos’ grinning from the roof and sees their faith. So it begs us to ask what demonstrated faith for these who just wanted to bring someone to Jesus…

~ They don’t let obstacles or discouragement stand in the way.
~ They have dynamic determinism and intellectual flexibility
~ They make sacrifices (Perhaps one of them had to carry their friend on his back up a ladder to even get on the roof.)
~ They rip off the roof to find a new way to bring the lost and paralyzed to Jesus
~ They don’t care if their approach is unconventional. All they are thinking is ‘we just needed to bring our friend to the feet of Jesus and let Him do the work’.
~ They desired to see their friend get physical healing
~ They got a friend who received a greater healing of his sins being forgiven.

Here’s to rippin’ off the roof. Something we all can drink to.

Mary Ann Caught with Pot

Oh man... my crush from when I was a boy is in the joint for doing the joint. Seems the innocent girl from Kansas was smoking the giggle weed. Mary Ann was tokin the Mary Jane. She was having a Tea Party and serving more than coconut creme pies.

Personally I would have assumed Gilligan would be more the one on the Hemp train especially since he was Maynard G. Krebs before his was the Skipper's little buddy.

Maybe she was making grass brownies for him and Bingo, Bango, Bongo & Irving of the Mosquitoes when they showed up.

The bigger question though from the AP article is who knew Mary Ann was 6' 5"? That would make Ginger - who was taller - an Amazon.

Oh wait a minutes it says 'centimeters' so that's 5'5"... whew! I guess the Idaho cops use the metric system. 6'5" would have blown my childhood crush more than the Ganja.

Jack n Drew stuff

I haven't written on Jack and Drew in while. here's a few notable things...

* They are really into pretend lately.

* Speaking of which... Ever since Luke and I left to fly to SC almost two weeks ago, they have be playing airplane. everythings an airplane... the sofa, their cribs, and they fly things around.

* They gave themselves and everyone in the family nicknames. Jack is "Nametag". Drew is "Music". Robin is "Flower". I am "Frog" and Luke is either "Fish" or "Boat".

* They like stripping down to nothing.

* Yesterday Jack said "Drew is my friend." and Drew said "I am Jack's friend."

* Drew likes to talk babytalk especially if he is upset. But its so funny, Robin and I can't stop laughing. He sounds like Bill Murray in Caddyshack.

Caveat Emptor - Let the Buyer Beware

Quite frankly, not sure how I feel about the news of Airborne reaching a tentative settlement in a class action lawsuit that the company misrepresented its product.

Okay they may have misled some but come on... it's a dietary supplement for heaven sakes! Does anyone really think any dietary supplement works? They clearly said 'it was created by a school teacher'. A school teacher? My mom was a school teacher. I can't see her in some secret lab coming up with a formula that cures the common cold. It's just advertising like when we saw the sailor go up in lighthouse and say 'What's this? Hmm a non-dairy creamer'. Like we didn't know creamers were supposed to be made from dairy and not plastic.

I just don't get the whole 'sue everybody and his brother' kick America is on. Think how our healthcare costs could be reigned in if we had tort reform. Didn't anyone read that novel by John Gisham, King of Torts where the main character gets rich of Tort cases?... I think his name was John Edwards.

Then again... maybe old John is thinking right. We forked over hard earned cash on these Airborne things and all it was was gas. (Robin was a firm believer. I scoffed them but took them anyway so that makes me culpable as well.) Perhaps we should apply.... and John Edwards needs to pay off his campaign debts anyway.

Jolly in His Goodness - S & D

S and D are in East Asia leading a very young team of four on a very young campus ministry, only in its third year of existence, with young leaders leading young believers. D writes, "It has been frustrating to see many of our key students who we hoped would be leaders this year fall away and become distracted by worldly things in the first semester, but we are praying that we will not lose sight of God’s Spirit as the driving force in our lives as a team and in the lives of the students who are truly committed to following Jesus in community."

One particular student, Jolly, though has been a huge encouragement to D and the team. Jolly was a very inconsistent believer until about December 1st. (Perhaps because of his moniker he realized the Christmas season was a good time to shine.) He decided to end a bad relationship with his girlfriend and attended a city-wide conference for student leaders. Seeing the vision of these older and more mature students inspired him to want to go sharing every week with D and convince others to join them. During the week of Christmas he was baptized. D writes, "He was more excited than any believer I had ever seen after (baptism). It had really meant something deep to him. He came to a Christmas day lunch party for all the believers in our ministry wearing a shirt that said in big letters ‘I BELONG TO JESUS!!’ Normally we would’ve pulled him aside and reminded him of the dangers that go along with wearing that in a closed country, but there was no way we could coax him for such joy in a public announcement of his faith! He went sharing consistently since then, seeing 6 new brothers indicate a decision to follow Jesus and followed up with 4 of them the next several weeks. Not only this, but after talking to him today he told me that he had gone home and decided to share at the university in his home town, where he and another brother were promptly taken and arrested, having to call his dad to bail him out of jail. The only thing he said about this was 'My heart was happy to go and share with the boys.' "

D and S and their team just returned from six weeks out of country and are in the midst of following up contacts from a period when they did five evangelistic parties per week for six weeks and shared the gospel with over 200 students. D asks us to pray with them for wide spread growth and maturity. They desire to see deep discipleship happen and more students like Jolly who are committed to seeing the vision of the Lord’s movement on our campus become a reality.


This past week all of us in WSN Leadership were together in South Carolina. One morning Tim Dougherty gave the devotion. Those of you who were at the training in Korea last summer might remember Tim as one of the ones who packed all the snacks for us in his bag. He is a servant of the Most High God.

Tim shared with us on Friday morning from Isaiah 40 about the Goodness and Greatness of God. This chapter is about our Creator God – who is all-knowing, all powerful, of whom nothing can compare – that tends us like a shepherd gently carrying us close to His heart. Our Mighty God wants to comfort us letting us know that our sin has been paid for. We know this… but we struggle to believe this.

Isaiah ends chapter 40 with… “Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God’? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

May, this week, we know that our way is not hidden from Him. Our cause is not disregarded. May we hope in Him today and He will renew our strength.... Then we all will be Jolly, too.... hopefully without the jailed part.

Return Flight

Yesterday I flew back to Colorado after a week of meetings in South Carolina. It was a long day to say the least. I drove up to meet Luke at his Uncle Allan’s in Lady Island, SC. (Despite the name, I didn’t hear or see any sirens.) We went out to lunch with Allan, Woody and Carolyn. After spending a little time at a park in nearby Beaufort, Luke and I left them and drove the 135 miles to Columbia airport. We arrived in plenty of time.

After going through security, we just sat in the big rocking chairs at CAE and watched planes land and take off followed by a supper of BBQ and hotdog. I had the BBQ sandwich as Columbia doesn't have hotdogs like this. Our flight from Columbia was one of those puddle jumpers to Washington DC. You actually walk on the tarmac to board.

As it neared the time to board, Luke and I went downstairs and saw where the flight was delayed from a 7:15 departure to a 7:50 departure. This meant we would have 30 minutes to make our connection in DC.

If you have ever flown into Dulles, you know they have those crazy people movers. I knew we would fly into one terminal and then have to take one of them to another. The timing didn't look right. But we would try none the less. I asked Luke if he was ready to run.

As we landed our flight to Denver was already boarding. We deplaned first and Luke did a good job of running through terminal A up some stairs to just make a crazy people mover. His little legs were churning like I never seen before. The only problem is that this people mover was going to terminal C and our flight to Denver was D-5. We could have waited for a D terminal people mover but it didn't leave for another 5 minutes. It was one of those quick decisions and knowing I could run from C to D, we jumped on board as the driver was just closing the door.

At C, we got off the people mover and ran again. Luke started to tire so I carrying him leaving only one set of footprints in the sand... er, carpet. I am not in shape and running while carrying my carry-on, Luke's and a 45+ lb little boy wore me out. I had to set him down and walk, catch my breath and try it again… 2X. We made it to our gate with 8 minutes to spare.

When we got to Denver, we waited a long time for our bags not knowing if they made it for not. It was taking like forever for the bags to arrive at baggage claim - a long time even for DIA. After 30 minutes, I took Luke to where Robin was waiting in the car and went back down and they still hadn’t arrived. I asked a foursome of baggage handlers standing off to the side if there was a strike that I didn't know about. They chuckled and said it was just because a number of flights arrived at the same time. I didn’t buy that reasoning and wondered if it was one of those non-strike strikes but waited nonetheless. But they finally came and Robin took us home. (A co-worker spent the night and stayed with Jack and Drew.)

We got to bed at 2 am or 4 am to Luke and my bodies. I need a nap and trip to chiropractor.