Humming along…

Citrus City

I heard several of our team humming, whistling, singing songs today. Maybe it was the intense heat that made people more musical, but I think it was the fact we felt like God was working in and through us here in Mission, TX. The VBS team had a good start. The Women’s Ministry had four women, but they are all bringing friends tomorrow. The Construction Team got a house insulated and started on drywall. It was the right kind of Monday for us here.
Our team is small, but we are here. In fact, just a few years ago, mission teams were so large and plentiful here it was hard to find a place to stay. Now, whether it be the sour economy or fears of the violence, we are the only team staying at Valley Baptist Retreat. That’s too bad, because it really isn’t dangerous at all. It’s just hot (but isn’t it where you are too?)
One member of our team was the most musical today – Marty Burks. It is his birthday, and as he has for several years, he’s spent it working in the heat in the Valley. Nevertheless, he sang and hummed. I didn’t need an iPod. I’m grateful Marty came. His music was better.
Somebody else is whereever you are today. In fact, He is always there. It’s Jesus. He has a song for you. If you listen, you’ll be glad Jesus is there with you too.

Wave Time

Typical summer day in Florida. It rained. Which of course changed our camp plans for the morning for outdoor recreation. Nevertheless, resilient teenagers and creative youth pastors came up with a way to pass the time. Pics are on my facebook page of game time with 300 teens in a small room. It was fun.

Thankfully, the rain stopped for the afternoon and us inlanders made our way to the beach. You would’ve thought we’d turned five year olds loose in a candy store. The surf was up, but that didn’t deter the youth. In they went to try the waves. It was a lot of fun to watch (and play in too) as some waves topped seven or eight feet.

Camp is a time to let Jesus’ Spirit hit us in waves. We run to the camp experience like teens to the surf. And, if we dive in, Jesus will soak us in worship and scripture. Keep praying for our students to have a great week.

Beach Front

Today, after a very long drive, I arrived at Beach Camp with our Youth from FBCP. Although I look forward to a great week, I’ve already had a good time just traveling 700 or so miles with these guys. They practice Christian grace and community really well. (I think it is a great reflection on their parenting and their youth pastor, Scott.)

Our location, Laguna Beach Christian Camp, is right on the beach. The sand and surf are beautiful and the weather matches them. What a great ministry idea for a camp.

Now, all the groups have gathered and we’ve had our first evening of worship together. It’s a good frontside to the week already. Please pray for God to move among the students (and leaders) in a mighty way.

Worth It

Mary J. died yesterday after 94 years of living.  Her life was lived like the Bible says you should, and of course she followed Jesus.  In fact, she followed Jesus so well, that even though she passed away at an age that usually prescribes a small funeral attendance, I predict our church building has a good crowd on Saturday morning for her funeral.  Mary was such an encourager. At 90, when her hearing was pretty much gone, she said to me after one sermon, “I couldn’t hear a word you said, but I know it was good!”  I hope you can be here as we gather and thank God for a life that pointed a lot of us toward Jesus. She would want us to know it is worth it to follow Jesus.  Mary is really living now.

This Friday evening, my daughter, Hayley graduates from High School.  Nearly two-hundred of her peers will have on their cap and gown and hear that it was worth it to learn all they learned over the past 12 years (how to color and do algebra).  Some will take the treasure of their education and invest it in good living.  Some will go on to further education.  Some will begin their work careers. All that good.  Some, however will toss the future to the wind like they will their mortar board cap.  Each of them is worth so much to God.  I hope they learn that soon if they don’t already know.

Tonight, I got a phone call from a young man I’ve been trying to reach for years.  He’s in his mid-twenties now and suffice to say, he’s done lots of living out of God’s will.  The main focus of our conversation arrived when he asked me, “I’ve been away from church for a long time now.  Is it okay if I come back?”  While getting misty-eyed, I told him that Jesus said a father had a son that was gone for a while too.  When the father saw the son coming home, the father ran to the son and hugged him.   I told the young man, he should expect a similar welcome.  Jesus went on to say that the father said,

“‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”  (Luke 15:22-24 NIV)

So, my phone caller and I had a little celebration and look forward to another to come as we talked about what Grace really is.  All these years.  All these prayers.  Now, I see it was worth it.

I also believe it will be a celebration Friday night as we proud parents cheer on the grads. All the nights helping them learn math.  It’s gonna pay off.

I know it will be a celebration Saturday for Mary J. who has heard, “Welcome Home. You were worth it.”

And so are you.

Finish Line

Monday, I went to a middle school track meet.  It wasn’t the olympics, of course, but it was fun to see the kids work at their level of competitiveness.  At that age some of them are just beginning to develop athletically, while a few have already peaked.  So, the differences between the athletes is huge.  For instance, in the 110 meter hurdles race the six-foot tall eighth grader finished two hurdles ahead of his much shorter peers.  That same disparity occured in long-jump, high jump, pole-vault, and track events.

Still it was fun to watch the races, even if you could pick winners before the starter fired his gun. I had a seat at the finish line and I saw speedsters cross victoriously while the slower runners simply crossed thankfully.  What was cool was the coaches did a fine job of keeping time on all runners and welcoming them all to the finish line.  The crowd was into it too.  We cheered for the talented and gasped when one girl fell during the hurdles, sighed as she got to her feet and (in our minds picked her up), and encouraged her to the finish line.  The way folks shouted, you’d have thought she won.

All this made me remember the wonderful imagery of Hebrews 12:1-2 ¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

I ran track in school too, and I was never the great speedster.  As a Christian, I’m no superstar either.  But I get the message of Hebrews.  I get the message of the cross.  This race we call Christianity is worth running because it has a finish line that has already been Crossed by Jesus.  He’s the victor and He wants to share the gold medal with us.  So we keep running, cheered on by others.

Picked up, dusted off, running.

Jay

Healthcare re-formed

Last week, a female cardinal nearly pecked her brains out on one of our windows at home.  Not only was the noise annoying, but I felt sorry for her. I tried to chase her away, but she came right back and resumed banging her head into the glass.  She would chirp, flutter up, and peck at the glass.  Perhaps it was her reflection she saw and wanted the “other” female out of her territory.  Perhaps she could see into our bedroom and wanted to build her nest in that secure place.  I don’t know.  If I did, if there was some way I could’ve helped her out, I would have.  She was so persistent.

Jesus told a story about a woman who, like the cardinal, was persistent.  Her rights were being trampled on.  She needed justice.  A godless judge finally yielded to her nagging and granted her cause.   Then, to make His point, Jesus said, “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”  (Luke 18:7-8)

The cardinal is gone today.  Perhaps she found a better place to nest or realized the futility of her head-banging.  I know this God took care of the bird (see Matthew 6:26), and God wants to take care of you.

As  dear friend, mentor, pastor, evangelist BO Baker used to say, “Hangeth in there.”  God loves stubborn people.  Especially when you need justice.

New Roads

In Hot Water

Last Sunday, I was baptizing a couple who had come through quite a bit. Both have confessed that though they had been in the church years ago, drugs had nearly ruined their lives. Thanks be to God, they are in recovery. It is my honor and privilege to disciple and pastor them now.

As I prepared to baptize the young lady, she turned to me and said, “I thought this water would be boiling hot!” 

“Why do you say that?” I asked.

“Because of all my sins,” she chuckled.  “They are so bad it would take hot water to wash them away…” 

We laughed, and continued the celebration of believer’s baptism as the counted have done for two thousand years. I dunked her. She rose out of the water. The congregation and her husband rejoiced.

Now, I know the water doesn’t wash away our sins, Jesus’ blood does. His tide can cheer us through all the cycles of life, knowing we gain a life as white as ivory snow.

Fresh air appreciated

We journeyed back to Palestine today, but not in a way we expected. It is the way of the Devil, to attempt to discourage those on Mission with Jesus, but the enemy isn’t very creative. Once again, we were in an unairconditioned vehicle on a mission trip (see Ramallah posts about “Mitsi”). The alternator on our two year old church van failed, so we couldn’t run the A/C for the 10 hour drive. The team wasn’t fazed in the least. We went “old-fashioned” and appreciated each rest stop when we could go into a cooler place. Even so, we loaded back up into the hot bus because we wanted to get home, together. We made it home – sweaty, stinky, but happy.

Tomorrow we’ll share about our journey. I promise, we’ll have showered before then. Come on to church, you’ll want to hear.

Leaving, the Results

The working part of the Rio Grande Journey ended today, but the effect of the work will continue for some time. The last day is kind of hard on a team because we have to say goodbyes and don’t always get to see the results. Yet God was good today. VBS had a huge group of children and 15 received Jesus as Savior today. The Women’s Ministry had 26 ladies today and eight made decisions for Christ. Those are great numbers to celebrate. Amazingly, the construction team insulated and drywalled a room in one day for a baby that had heat rash (this in addition to two other projects in the week.) Our team worked hard and deserves the day of play on South Padre Island tomorrow.

I know Pastor Ruben will make a lot of visits to the new people reached at the block party and through the week’s ministries.  I know Buckner Border Ministries leadership will continue to work in this colonia. I know the Holy Spirit will guide the work here too. Still, it is still hard to leave because we saw some results of our labors and we are leaving part of ourselves behind.

Leaving was hard for me because of two little boys named Juan and Pancho (the boys from the house with the new floor). There is a lot about their situation that I can’t write in a blog, but it is enough for you to know they don’t get a lot of positive male leadership in their lives. After I affirmed them, they latched on to me (literally) and had a hard time letting go. So, after four days, they got very good at jumping onto my back and landing in my heart.

You see, Pancho and Juan remind me of what life might have been like for my grandfathers. Almost one-hundred-years ago those men had poor fathering, hard living conditions, and little hope. Even so, someone came along (I don’t know the story) and pointed those boys to something better. They grew up to become productive workers, loving husbands, good fathers, and great Christians. I feel like I owe the legacy of whomever loved my grandfathers to Jesus to do the same for some boys like Juan and Pancho. Who knows what the results will be. I’m leaving it up to God, yes, but what if a hundred years from now someone who is a pastor writes and says, “I don’t know who it was, but someone loved my grandfather, built a floor, put in a window, and showed him Jesus and I’m better for it today.”

I can leave on that.

Jay