Gotcha Day! God's Grace - No Ordinary Love

My blog is going on hold for a while...

So here is a parting video that brings the beginning of our adoption story to a close.  Yes, I said the beginning... I've learned every day is a new beginning and nothing ever comes to a final close.

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Social Justice and God’s Math

God’s ways are not our ways and thank God for that.  We look at things with our limited logic and think there is no way that 1 + 1 = 3 (our US government being the exception).  God looks at impossible equations and says, “watch and see my glory.”

A couple of the best examples of God’s math are found in the Gospels.  Not once, but twice, Jesus feeds thousands of people with just a few loaves of bread and fish.  Amazing as this was, many people still did not get it.

God is still doing amazing math today and we still do not get it.  It does not work out logically so we tend to see the problem as too large.  We often do not want to confront a large problem if it appears impossible.  This is especially true if the problem is not our own.  It’s easier to ignore it than to risk looking like Don Quixote fighting a windmill.

For the Love of the Orphan

Warner Bros. new horror movie Orphan proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your biological children. Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life...

Court Date – Again!

Tuesday is our third attempt at adoption court in Ethiopia.  Actually. with the eight hour time difference, our hearing will probably take place sometime while we sleep tomorrow night.

Our adoption process has had it’s ups and downs.  During the home study and paperwork phase everything went smoothly until it came to getting a background check on my time in the Republic of Panama.

Those types of records are difficult to come by when a country has gone through a couple of government overhauls.  We were continually pointed to different agencies and different government departments, both U.S. and Panamanian.

Finally, we got the letter we needed, right when we also figured out that Panama was one of the countries listed where a background check was not needed (because they don’t keep those types of records).

The Shack – William Young

The Shack was not on my reading list.  I’d heard about it, some good and some bad.  Most of the bad had to do either with how God was depicted as an African American woman named Papa or how the Trinity was portrayed.  In any case, I had a pile of books on my wish list already and The Shack was not going to make the cut.

However, my mom read it.  She really liked it and said it was a book that my dad would have enjoyed.  My dad was Baptist preacher who joined the Army during the Vietnam war.  After retiring from the Army he ran a small college for a few years before finishing his career as a Hospice chaplain.  I’m not sure how conservative my dad was when he first became a preacher.  But he would tell me that after spending time in Vietnam, working as a hospital Chaplain, and finally helping people die in peace with Hospice that he probably would not make it in a Baptist church.

In any case, since my mom talked so enthusiastically about the book I figured I should read it.  I needed to figure out for myself if it was a good as the Christian media says or as bad as some conservative Christian leaders warned.

Why We’re Not Emergent

(by two guys that should be) Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck.

I’ve read and posted reviews on a couple of books by what many would call “emergent” church leaders.  You can find reviews for The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren and Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell on this blog.  Dan Kimball is also mentioned in Why We’re Not Emergent and an”emergent” leader and I have also reviewed his book They Like Jesus But Not the Church.

Kevin DeYoung is a pastor of a church while Ted Kluck is a writer but a lay person as opposed to a pastor or theologian.  They have split the book literally in two as they alternate writing each chapter.  This could have been confusing if you did not read the Introduction first but with the strategy understood up front it worked out ok.

I enjoyed the book.  It addressed many of the questions I asked myself after reading McLaren’s and Bell’s book.  I enjoyed these latter books as well but as I mention in my reviews, certain aspects did not sit quite right with me.  DeYoung and Kluck point out many of these same questions so at least I know I’m not alone.

Gifts worth waiting for

I remember the excitement of finding out my wife was pregnant with each of our first four babies.  Each time there was excitement with an undercurrent of fear - “are we ready for this?” God was always good to quickly answer - “yes, or I would not have blessed you with this new child.”

As the husband, I admit, I had the easy part.  Mandy on the other hand had to deal with all the blessings of actually carrying our babies – morning sickness, swelling, hot flashes, a tired back, and of course prenatal vitamins.  I’m sure there were many other wonderful gifts of pregnancy that I am leaving off.

Then there was the waiting.  The first seven months seemed to fly by.  However, the last two seemed to take forever.  We’re ready for our new baby and the kids are ready for their new brother or sister.

As we approached the expected delivery date everyday was a new day wondering – is it going to be today?

Scared – by Tom Davis

I’ve read Fields of the Fatherless and Red Letters by Tom Davis.  In both of these books Davis uses his  passion to convict the reader to care for orphans, the poor, the down-trodden, and AIDS victims in Africa.  When I heard he was writing a novel that wove these human sorrows into a story I was intrigued and ordered a copy before it was even released.

Scared is a story of two different people from two different worlds whose lives cross.  God works in both of their lives to lift them from the pit of hopelessness to a new found peace in him.

Both the hero and the heroin are in desperate times.  Adanna is a young girl in Swaziland that lives in a village where many of the adults have died or they are dying of AIDS.  She often goes days without anything to eat.  Life is desperate.

Stuart is a free-lance photographer.  His pictures of the massacre in the Congo earned him honors in his field but the images in his mind have left his personal life and career quickly spiraling downward and out of control.  Life is desperate.

The Tau Connection

What a fine looking group of young men…  I lost touch with many of these guys until recently on Facebook.  Now I see random status updates from time to time.  Amazing as it seems, most of us grew up.

What’s more amazing is how God has used a part of my life that was way off the Christian path for his good purposes.  There are many past experiences and life choices (good and bad) that make up who I am today.  God has used them all to mold me and grow me and he is still at work.  The job often looks hopeless to me but with God all things are possible (Matt 19:26).

This story however is about how God has used my past not just to mold me, but to dramatically change the life of 57 orphans in Liberia and a suburban Baptist church in Cypress, Texas.

How much do I give?

Each month I receive a variety of solicitations from worthy Christian organizations asking for money.  These organizations are doing great things to help those in need both physically and spiritually.  Right now on my desk I have requests from the following organizations:

ServLife – this organization has a vision to equip 1000 indigenous leaders to share the gospel with their own people, educate and care for 1000 children through sponsorships, and help start 1000 micro-businesses to rescue people out of poverty – all by the year 2013.

Crazy Love – Francis Chan

A friend of mine recommended Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God to me.  Prior to that I had not heard of Francis Chan.  My friend let me down in a way.  Before you recommend this book to anyone, you need to provide a warning.  If you’re comfortable in your Christian life, good family, good church, good job, all in all life is good – then do not read this book.  Unless of course, you’re brave enough to challenge your comfortable status quo.

Chan has a unique way of starting a book.  In chapter one he asks you to stop and watch a couple of videos on the book’s website, “Just Stop and Think” and “The Awe Factor of God”.  The reason that he wants you to watch these videos is that the purpose of the first three chapters is to make sure you have an understanding of who God is in the bible.

Chapter one discusses God being holy, eternal, all knowing, all powerful, and fair and just.  Chan brings home the point that many Christians today have learned this at some point but that we suffer from spiritual amnesia.  We start to take the awesomeness of God for granted.

Chapter two reminds us that life is short (James 4:13-14).  In this chapter, you are challenged that worry and stress are sins where you are making your problems greater than God.  He then ends the chapter asking if you’re ready to face God today.

In chapter three Chan really set me up.  He talks about God being this awesome Father, how He loves me, and how I need to love and fear him like a child does their own loving Dad – safe, secure, loved, but with respect and awe.  After these three chapters you’re feeling good about God and who you are with Him.  You might even be more encouraged to get back on track with your quiet time and bible reading.  Then comes the next chapter.

Some might say that Chapter four and five are the crux of the this book.  I don’t know about that.  In fact, Chan gives that title to the last chapter.  If these Chapters were all the book was about then this would be a discouraging book, but it’s meant to encourage.  The last half of the book picks you back up off the mat after chapter four hits you in the gut and then chapter five delivers the knock-out to your glass jaw.

Chapter four is about lukewarm Christians.  Francis Chan goes through verse after verse in describing lukewarm Christians.  It reminded me of Jeff Foxworthy and his famous routine, “You know you’re a redneck when…”.  The chapter reads like, “You know you’re a lukewarm Christian when…”.

I didn’t fail all of the lukewarm Christian tests but I saw myself in enough of them that I was humbled and broken.  I know lots of people that I would point to and think, “lukewarm Christian”.  However, when I read all the passages on how Christians are called to live, I saw the large log in my own eye.

Chapter four was harsh.  Chapter five starts by Chan stating, “Of all the chapters in this book, this one was the hardest for me to write.”  What?  Maybe I should should close the book now.  However, I took a deep breadth and continued.

The key passage in chapter five is Revelation 3:15-18.

I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

The message in chapter five is, true Christians, Christ followers, cannot be lukewarm.  If you are a lukewarm Christian, the bible says that Jesus “spits you out”.  Basically, Chan is saying that the bible is teaching that lukewarm Christians are not Christians.  After reading chapter four and realizing how much of my life is a lukewarm Christian life, chapter five delivered the blow and challenged my faith.  If I am a lukewarm Christian, am I a Christian at all?

For such a controversial and tough topic, Chan again does what more Christian authors should do.  He tells the reader to stop and read the gospels, all the way through and see for themselves what God says about those that claim to follow Jesus but don’t lead the life that follows Jesus.

I don’t want to scare anyone from reading this book.  Chan makes it clear that he is not wanting us to doubt our salvation.  He reaffirms that God’s grace covers our failures to follow Jesus how the bible tells us to follow him.  The point at which you need to think about your salvation is if your not 100% sold out for Jesus, and you’re ok with that.

As I mentioned, the rest of the book picks you back off the mat and encourages on how to live a life that is on fire for Jesus as opposed to the lukewarm life that has become too comfortable to us.

Chapter six is about what it means to truly love God.  What does that look like?  He quotes John Piper’s challenge from “God is the Gospel”.

The critical question for our generation—and for every generation— is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there?

Chan’s point is this chapter is to encourage the reader to seek a true love relationship with Jesus.  If we try to pursue obedience to Jesus out of fear and guilt, we will fail.  We must be in love with Jesus.  If you’re not there, ask God to get you there.

Chapter seven encourages you to live for your next life and not this one.  We all know the verses about storing up treasures in heaven, but yet we still all live pursuing perishable treasures here on earth.

Chapter eight sort of reads like the antithesis of chapter four.  This chapter examples of what it is like to be obsessed for living for Jesus.  “You might be obsessed if…”.

Chapter nine follows up the theory of chapter eight with some real-life examples of people living radical lives for Jesus.  It includes well-known Christians from history like George Mueller to an everyday family that delivers food to the homeless every Christmas.

Chapter ten is titled, “The Crux of the Matter.”  Basically, now that you’ve read this book, if it cut to your heart and has convicted you to start living all out of Jesus, what next?

I highly recommend “Crazy Love” to everyone.  However, don’t forget the warning: This book may challenge you more than you want to be challenged if you think your life is comfortable and comfort is what you want.

I’m actually going through it again with a group of guys I meet with each week.  It was one of these guys that recommended the book to me but I later found out, he’d never read it yet himself.  Well, he’s going to read it now, and I’ve fully warned them all.

Faith of Costello

Have you ever felt as lost as Costello in “Who’s on First” when trying to figure out this whole Christianity thing?

It all seemed so simple when I first said that short prayer as a ten year old boy.  Just believe that Jesus is the Son of God that died for my sins and ask him to be in my heart.  At that point, my sins consisted of being mean to my little brother and sometimes not obeying my mom and dad.  If believing in Jesus would save me from hell and the devil then I was all for that.

It started to get a little more complicated when puberty hit.  As a teenager, suddenly my sins started mounting up and I began this endless cycle of guilt and confession.  Finally, at some point I found it was easier to justify my behavior than feel guilty about it.

Christianity became real easy once I just ignored it all together.

Who’s on First? I don’t care.  It wasn’t very complicated at all.  I had my prayer done and my eternity ticket punched.

Fortunately for me, it was not just up to me.

Romans 8:29 (ESV)
²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

God pursued me and would not let me cast him aside.  You can read my story in detail under My Damascus Road.

This however, is when Christianity started to get much more confusing and I started to find myself frustrated with what I call the “faith of Costello”.  What I mean by that is Christianity is simple, but my expectations had made it very difficult.

I know we are saved by faith.  There is nothing we can do to save ourselves.

Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)
⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

However, just a few books to the right, we read that faith without works is no faith at all.  And Jesus tells us those that belong to him will bear good fruit.

James 2:17 (ESV)
¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

John 15:2 (ESV)
² Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

So what are some of these good works that I need to be doing or maybe my faith is dead?  Oh, nothing much…Just lose your life, crucify your life to this world, consider everything worldly as crap.

Matthew 10:38 (ESV)
³⁸ And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Romans 6:6 (ESV)
⁶ We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Philippians 3:8 (ESV)
⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

I’m saved by faith alone.  Ok, but I’m still living a pretty comfy life.  I’m not sure where my cross is to carry even if I was willing.  I sure don’t feel that crucified and while some of my stuff is crap – some of it I really like!  I can’t do this.  This is too hard God.  I just want to know what it takes to be a Christ follower.

Who’s on First?

I don’t know.

No, he’s on Third.

Who?

No, Who’s on First

Is it really that difficult to grasp?

Not really.  It’s no more difficult than when I was ten.  Only now, I understand it better because I understand that my sin is much more than just being mean to my little brother and not listening to my parents all the time.  My sin is in my very nature.  However, the answer is still the same.  Jesus died for all this sin.  And the power that resurrected him from the dead is the same power that will allow me to overcome my old nature that fights against my new nature.

The reason this seems so complicated to me sometimes, is because I forget that the gospel that saved me in the beginning is the same gospel that rescues me everyday.  When I come before His cross each day, I want to pick up my own, I want to crucify myself to this world, and everything else does become rubbish.  Not because of what I do, but because of the power of his grace that gives me the faith to do the works.

Who’s on First?

Jesus.

The Theology of Adoption

My wife and I attended the Christian Alliance for Orphans conference held in Dallas this April.  On the way to the conference my wife was excited about the conference and about getting involved in this ministry.  I was looking forward to the conference but I had other issues that God had been working out in me.  I was not completely sure that orphan ministry was where he wanted me right now.

I tried to share my concern with my wife but I did not do too well.  I tried to explain that God has been working on pride issues in me and telling me to focus on Jesus first above all else.  My struggle is that I don't think I do the basics right.  I’m still wrestling at making sure Jesus is glorified in all I do and that my life needs to be about living out the gospel and telling others about Jesus.

This may sound weird to some, but something like orphan ministry actual sounded easy compared to my first responsibility of living the gospel and sharing it with others.  It’s easy to have a broken heart for the orphan.  But I need to have a broken heart for my neighbor.

I teach a Sunday morning bible study.  I enjoy it.  God’s word excites me and teaching it excites me.  But when I am at my job or with others that don’t know Jesus, I stay quiet.  This is what God has been working out in me.  Orphan care ministry needed to come after the gospel ministry.

As I tried to explain this to my wife on the trip up to Dallas I think I frustrated her.  I sounded like I was looking for excuses but I wasn’t.  I just was not explaining where I was coming from very well.

The first breakout session we attended at the conference was a lesson called “A Theology of Adoption”.  It was presented by Daniel Bennett, the Senior Pastor at Bethany Community Church in Washington, Illinois.  God is so good.  He took the very first session and within the very first five minutes, let me know that AdoptionOrphan Care ministry starts when the church’s heart is first desiring to know and glorify God.

You see, I was concerned about orphan care ministry being focused on the orphan.  Don’t get me wrong, we need to love and care for the orphans and that is the point of the ministry.  But here I am struggling with glorifying Jesus above all else and I knew a heart-breaking ministry could tempt me to focus primarily on the injustice.  My focus would be what “I” could do or encourage “others” to do.  Any ministry has to be about what “God” will do.  My heart needs to be about glorifying God, and through glorifying Him loving others – orphans in orphan care ministries, but also my co-worker and my neighbor.

So what is the theology of adoption?  Here are the six points that Pastor Bennett laid out:

1. Our adoption was accomplished despite our condition.  (Romans 3:10-23; Romans 5:6-11)

2. Our adoption was an act of God. (Romans 3:24-26)

3. Our adoption was accomplished through the suffering of our savior. (Romans 5:6-11; Romans 6:1-11)

4. Our adoption makes us part of a new family. (Romans 8:14-17)

5. Our adoption can never be revoked. (Romans 8:14-39)

6. Our adoption is for the glory of God. (Romans 9:22-29)

The theology of adoption is about glorifying God and about the gospel.  What God has been working out in me these past six months and still today, is preparing me for this ministry.  I don’t know if he has me ready yet, but I’m placing one foot in front of the other and we’ll see where he takes me.

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)
¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Help! I’m an Orphan

My son has a couple of private blogs.  One of them is about waiting for his new little brother from Ethiopia.  He recently posted a great article on orphans so I got permission to re-post it here for everyone else.

(by Tate) I was watching someone on the TV the other day with my mom and dad. He was talking about helping the orphan. I started crying ( on the inside ) and really thought about what he was saying.

He started talking about adopting, and it struck me - these orphans aren't just orphans, they're kids! Kids that don't have anybody, or anything. The man on TV said something I'll never forget, he said "If Jesus comes in the next 2 minutes, none of this would matter - if he comes in the next 200 years, it does."

Let me list a few of the things your typical orphan has and doesn't have.

Has:

• 2 small meals a day


• 1 outfit


• an orphanage to sleep in

Doesn't Have:

• clean water


• a nice bed


• good clothes


• toys


• a pet


• a family

See what I mean. It's a recipe for starvation and if we aren't going to help who will? And we aren't even thankful for what we have half the time! I just wanted to share that with you. And if you are reading this now, you should be thankful you have a computer.

Don’t Waste Your Life - John Piper

I read this book on the way to Liberia last summer.  If you read or listen to much of John Piper you know that he has a passion for people to understand the joy that comes from the glory of Jesus.  For him, everything is about the cross, the price Jesus paid for our sins even though we deserve no mercy, and the glory and joy of God’s forgiveness anyway.

Piper believes we are created to be full of joy and the joy comes from the glory of God.  Chapter 3 includes some resolutions from Jonathan Edwards, including Resolution #22: “Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.”

This is a powerful quote that can easily be misunderstood.  In our PC world it is not good to talk about violence but as Piper explains, Edwards is expressing what Jesus meant when he said if your eye is causing you to sin, gouge it out.  Basically, do whatever is necessary to live in this world for the next.

Living for the next life is probably the best way to describe the theme for this book, “Don’t Waste Your Life”.  The point Piper makes is that everything we do needs to be to magnify Christ.  To magnify Christ is not to make him bigger, because you can’t, but to live your life so that others can see the glory of Christ – magnify him to others.

Chapter four starts to take you into what it means to live a life that magnifies Jesus.  It means a life of suffering and pain but full of joy.  Quite a paradox but right from the gospels and Paul’s letters.

After chapter four makes it clear that you can expect suffering when you don’t waste your life, chapter five urges you forward to take action, take risks.  We certainly crave the good life in our country.  The American dream is to be financially independent and successful.  Risk taking is ok in business but not when the reward you can expect is pain and suffering.  We don’t call that a risk, we call that stupid.

I heard a great point by Francis Chan the other day.  When we are at God’s throne and making an account for our lives, who will feel stupid?  The one that was sold out for Jesus and risking it all, or the one that played it safe, built up a great retirement plan and financial security for his children.  When everything in this world burns away, which life is stupid?

There is a warning here however.  God is always interested in our hearts.  Are you wanting to risk it all so you feel exalted?  Do you look down on others whom you perceive to be wasting their lives and see yourself as a better Christian?  Self-righteousness is not an acceptable heart for God.  Everything is for his glory, and his glory alone.

Chapter seven asks a great question that every follower of Jesus should ask themselves.  It is based on 1 Peter 3:15.

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
¹⁵ but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;

Do people ask you about “the hope that is in you” or is your hope the same as theirs?  Does your life look so radically different that your neighbors know that your live for a different purpose?  Or does your life look like your goals are like theirs, a comfortable suburban life, kids in college, and a comfortable retirement?

I think whenever I’ve read this verse in the past, my thought was that this meant how people see me handle adversity.  How do I handle the death of a loved one?  How do I handle the loss of a job?  However, it is much more than that.

Peter is talking about the suffering that comes from a zeal for living for Christ.  To the early Christians reading Peter’s letter this meant real persecution like many of our brothers and sisters face in other countries today.  For us in America, it means others, including my neighbor, are more important to me than me.  If my neighbor cannot tell from my everyday life that I live for the glory of Christ, I’m not giving him any reason to ask about the hope that is in me.

While the preceding chapters are convicting and cause you to think about how you're living your life, many of us may think that this “sold out” life-style is reserved for preachers and missionaries.  However, chapter 8, “Making Much of Christ from 8 to 5”, brings it back to you, wherever you are at.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
³¹ So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Chapter nine is for those that are reading the book and know they are being pulled by God beyond their 8 to 5 job.  Missionaries and preachers are called and Piper winds down his book encouraging those that feel the pull to not resist, give it all up, and do it.  However, even if you are not called (at least yet) to join the front lines in reaching the unreached, Piper makes this point.  In war, even the civilians need to have a heart for the battle and for the people in the far corners of the world that have not yet heard the good news.  The news that there is a God and he loves them and wants to draw them to himself.

Piper has a great analogy – don’t be content to just be a bat boy that thinks the great point of the World Series is to hand the players a bat.  If you are a “sender” then show your love and mercy to those in need at home.  There is no reason for any of us to just sit on the sidelines and waste our life.

I read this book on my own and again as I used it in a Sunday morning bible study and with my men’s accountability group.  Piper draws you to God’s word and challenges you to live it out.

The only criticism that I have received from those that have read the book along with me is that Piper is super intelligent and uses words sometimes that may require a dictionary.  I’m too lazy for that and usually just went with the context so it never really bothered me too much.  The overall intent of his words were always crystal clear.

One final note, as I know John Piper would agree, this book is just the words of a man.  It’s meant only as a supplement to challenge you based on what you read for yourself in God’s word.

Economic Certainty

I hear on the news over and over again about the struggles of our country as we continue to face economic uncertainty.  This is great statement about the mindset of Americans and how capitalism has replaced Christianity as our value system.  Even in the best of times, our economic future is uncertain.  What is the old saying, “the only thing that certain is death and taxes.”

Unfortunately, unlike America, most of the world lives in extremely certain economic times.  Almost half the world lives on less that $2.50 a day.  Eighty percent of the world lives on less than $10 a day.  For these people, there is no economic uncertainty.  They have extreme poverty today and they are quite certain that they will have extreme poverty tomorrow and probably their entire lives.

I can stress about my 401k and all my savings that I no longer have in my future.  However, I’m not too worried about what I am going to eat tomorrow.  I can stress about the economy getting even worse and I can watch it all in my air-conditioned home on my wide-screen TV through cable provided to me for a measly $75 month.

Many people in have lost their jobs recently.  Many fear that they could lose theirs at anytime.  However, even if you lose your job, your home, and your cable TV, will you starve to death?

There is a reason Jesus tells us not to put our faith in wealth.  I like to tell myself that my faith is in God and not my money.  I’m sure most Christians would say the same.  If that’s true, think about the rich young ruler that came to Jesus looking for eternal life.

Luke 18:18-25 (ESV)
¹⁸ And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" ¹⁹ And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " ²¹ And he said, "All these I have kept from my youth." ²² When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." ²³ But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. ²⁴ Jesus, looking at him with sadness, said, "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

If ask the average Christian, if they should sell everything they have and follow Jesus, they will probably tell you that this passage is not suggesting that Christians do that.  They will probably tell you that this passage means that you should be willing to do that if called.  They may say that following Jesus should be more valuable to you than all of your possessions but this passage is a principle and not a practical application for all Christians to follow.

Ok, so let’s go with the principle concept.  In principle, if God were to ask you to sell everything you have and give it to the poor, would you?  How do you know if you could do it?  Better yet, how do you know if God were to ask you?  Are you assuming that God’s call for your life is to have your current standard of living?  Why would God not want you to give so much away that it dramatically lowered your personal lifestyle?  Why do you think that the eye of the needle is so large for you?

Maybe we should take this time of economic uncertainty and think more about the rest of the world and their economic certainty.  Maybe we should adjust our standard of living so that others can live.  Or I guess you can go to the fridge, get another cold drink, sit back in your lazy boy, and change the channel.

Back from sabbatical

Well, kind of.  I think a sabbatical is where you are supposed to get away from it all and maybe concentrate on learning something new or writing a book.  I haven’t gotten away from anything except blogging.  Work has been busier and family time is all the more precious.  I have, however, been continuing my quest to seek the things above where Christ is seated and I’m starting to fill up again on thoughts about my journey that I need to get out.  Blogging is a great release when things are piling up in your head.

There have been some key influencers on my life the last few months that I hope to brain dump over the next few weeks.

• Getting so close yet still so far from being able to bring our new son home from Ethiopia (see Hipp is My Middle Name for more on this process).
• Two simultaneous discussion groups on the book Don't Waste Your Life (one with my accountability men’s group and one in Sunday morning bible study).
• Getting back to listening to sermons on my IPod rather than talk radio – in particular – Paul Washer, Mark Driscoll, John Piper, and Francis Chan.
• Attending the Christian Alliance for Orphans conference in Dallas.
• The mediocre success of our church goal in sponsoring 57 orphans in Liberia through BrightPoint for Children.
• Watching the video of Rachel Barkey talk about the glory of Jesus as she faces death from cancer in the next six to eighteen months.
• Reading Same Kind Of Different As Me by John HallDenver Moore and Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan (still in progress).
• Completing 12-weeks of Body for Life (still maintaining the healthy lifestyle one month later).
• Loss of 401k, loss of jobs, loss of perspective…

Please visit again or better yet subscribe for updates.  Maybe something that leaks from my head will challenge or encourage you.  Maybe what I write will seem idiotic.  In either case, comment and let me know.  If what I write bores you to tears, don’t worry, I’m not quitting my day job.

Grace and peace.

tc

Finding Joy

(by Mandy) Yesterday, I was reading about how the Israelites were complaining (again) and how God got mad at them for asking for selfish reasons. As I read that, I stopped and prayed God would forgive me for complaining about this delay and asking for this to happen faster for selfish reasons. Yes, I do believe it's best for Gideon to come home sooner, but I also really wanted him home sooner because I had my expectations and they are not being met. I had my plans for this summer and fall, and now this delay is messing with that! After releasing that, I immediately felt a wave of peace come over me and I have felt that peace ever since.

I am still asking God to bring our little guy home this summer because God wants us to share our hearts with Him. But I've stopped whining and begging to God and tried to have a grateful attitude instead of complaining. I'm sure I will start complaining again (because I'm broken like that!), but maybe I will be able to recognize it quickly and hand it over to God. He doesn't want us to have a spirit of complaining about not getting our way.

I read about how God works in people's lives in amazing ways when they are faithful to Him. I always think it's so cool to read that about other people. But, God wants us to be faithful so He can work amazing things in our lives, too! He doesn't want a few Christians in the game while the rest sit on the bench. This is our chance to grow in our faith and allow God to make us stronger.  I need to embrace this time, knowing that God is using it to change me.   And boy, do I need to be changed!

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have it's full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I know God has worked on my heart during this wait.  I think if everything was going perfectly smooth, I would have been consumed in my preparations for bringing a baby into our home.  I’ve still been getting ready, but it’s been more in a practical way.  I’ve been more consumed with seeing God in this.  There have been moments He has revealed things in my heart that, believe me…aren’t pretty.  But, I guess that’s the first step to changing me – making me see where I need to change.

Hopefully, we will see some movement in the courts this week for abandonment cases.  I know the Ethiopian government is trying to do what is best for these kids.  I am praying this will happen quickly so these kids can get home to their families that are waiting for them.

We have court on Monday and our paper chain is quickly shrinking.  I’m supposed to be excited as I watch it get smaller and smaller, but I get sad sometimes thinking it could be counting down to the day we won’t pass court.  I’m confused – do I get excited as court gets closer, or do I not???  I am looking forward to seeing families pass court again so I can hope we will pass, too.  Maybe this is the week!

40 Days for Life

Tomball-Cypress believers sign-up here to participate: 40 Days for Life sign-up sheet.  Please submit a contact form for access.

You are invited to participate in "40 Days for Life" with other families in the Tomball-Cypress community as we ask the Lord to save lives from abortion and close the Planned Parenthood in Houston.  Planned Parenthood of Houston is currently being remodeled to house the largest abortion clinic in the Western Hemisphere including a partial-birth abortion facility.

Families in the Tomball-Cypress area have been led by the Lord to pull together families from our communities with convictions regarding the state of abortion in our nation and city. To take a moment in our lives and recognize the devastation of abortion on our land and with repentant hearts ask the Lord to bring life where death has been rampant.

40 Days for Life is a nationwide prayer and fasting movement RELYING ON THE LORD to end abortion and close abortion centers in our nation.  Please read the testimonies of clinics closing and innocent lives being saved on the "40 Days" website. You will be very encouraged!

We are gathering families (children are welcome at your parental digression) who want to participate on Friday February 27th and/or Monday March 2nd with fasting and prayer at the Planned Parenthood building in Houston. We will be praying in 2-4 hour blocks through out the 7am-5pm open hours of the building. The "40 day" event will be from February 25th- April 5th. We have chosen those days in February/March, but you are more than welcome to participate ANY day of the prayer vigil.

40 Days for Life is a peaceful and prayerful campaign to ask God to intervene.  This is not rally or picketing campaign.  In fact anyone interested in participating must sign a statement of peace that includes the following:

• I will only pursue peaceful solutions to the violence of abortion when volunteering with the 40 Days of Life campaign


• I will show compassion and reflect Christ’s love to all (abortion facility or Planned Parenthood) employees, volunteers, and customers


• I understand that acting in a violent or harmful manner immediately and completely disassociates me from the 40 Days of Life campaign


• I am in no way associated with Planned Parenthood or its affiliates by way of employment, informant, volunteer, client, or otherwise

While standing in the city right of way in front of (abortion facility or Planned Parenthood location):

• I will not obstruct the driveways or sidewalk while standing in the public right of way


• I will not litter on the public right of way


• I will closely attend to any children I bring to the prayer vigil


• I will not threaten, physically contact, or verbally abuse (abortion facility or Planned Parenthood) employees, volunteers, or customers


• I will not vandalize private property


• I will cooperate with local city authorities

If you are interested or have questions, please use the contact form on this blog.

Please feel free to pass this on to those who you know have a desire to stand for the innocent and who's hearts desire is to show compassion through prayer and fasting, relying on the Lord to move this mountain called abortion.

Matthew 18:19-20 (ESV)

¹⁹ Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

Additional Resources:

Official 40 Days for Life website

Campaign Overview Report

Inspiring Case Study Video

Endorsements for 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life News Coverage

A Time to Pray

This is quite a year in front of us.  We’re in the midst of a financial mess in our country.  We’re still fighting a war on two front in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Our new president is telling us we can make it through, if we all do our share.  I’m skeptical about what he means by that.

In any case, what our country needs is God but we’re a country that more and more does not want God involved in our business.  Separation of church and state has become much more than freedom of religion for individuals.  It has become, keep God out of government at all cost.

If you’re a believer in God, what is your hope if your country turns its back on Him?

I’d love to blame the ACLU and other liberal political factions for pushing God out of our country.  However, I think the blame belongs with me.  Of course non-believing individuals and organizations will strive to eliminate any dependence on God.  It’s all foolishness to them (1 Cor 1:18-31).

The blame belongs on me because all too often I sit back, watch, and shake my head in disbelief and disgust.  What can I do but watch our country spiral down a godless path?

I can pray.  I can pray like never before.  I can pray like I really believe God can and will do something about it.  And most importantly, I can pray for my own heart before I begin to worry about my country’s heart.

Psalms 19:12-14 (ESV)
¹² Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. ¹³ Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. ¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Pray for revival in our country, but pray prayers of praise as well.

God rules our land.

Regardless of what those who do not know him plan.

Psalms 47:6-8 (ESV)
⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! ⁷ For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! ⁸ God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.

Please take a number

We heard from All God’s Children today.  They’ve reviewed our dossier and all of our paperwork is in order.  Amazing!  Well, actually I’m not all that surprised.  My wife has been spearheading the documentation phase of our adoption process and she is amazing.

When you look at the requirements list for an adoption dossier it is overwhelming.  Background checks, reference letters, letters of good health from doctors, and on and on.  Ethiopia will have more information on us that we ever knew existed.  The odds of getting all of the paperwork collected and getting it all collected right are pretty much stacked against you.  However, Mandy handled it all like a pro and we got it done – right.

We’ve been at this since October when we heard the call to adopt.  Most of the process has been extremely smooth except for trying to get records from Panama that state I have a clean record from 27 years ago when I lived there.  See Waiting for a Message.  That message finally arrived and here we are, waiting again.

We’ve had other trials along the way.  Right before Christmas we learned that Mandy had a miscarriage.  We did not even know she was pregnant.  That was just the beginning.  Three trips to the emergency room later, we discovered that it was not just a miscarriage but an ectopic pregnancy.

Apparently Mandy became pregnant in late November and had been suffering through an ectopic pregnancy for about a month.  The doctor tells us we are extremely fortunate that her tube never ruptured which could have been life threatening.  Mandy is still recovering.

I don’t understand God’s ways (Isaiah 55:8). Two years ago God convicted us that we never should have made the decision for me to get a vasectomy.  We made the decision out of fear and without much prayer.  So after much prayer, I had a reversal.  We did not make this decision for a desire to have another child.  We made it to be obedient.

Then this summer, God started working on our hearts to adopt.  It started when Moses came to live with us for a couple of months.  Then it grew until we knew what God wanted us to do and our hearts fell in love with the orphans in Ethiopia.

So if God wanted us to adopt, why did I have to have to have the reversal?  I’m not sure.  Did I do it out of guilt?  No.  I actually cried tears of joy on the operating table.  Doctor Leverett prayed over us before he started the surgery.  His ministry is to provide affordable reversals for Christian couples.  It felt like worship (until he actually started…).

Why did God allow Mandy to get pregnant only to have the pregnancy become ectopic.  If she had a successful pregnancy we would have been ineligible for our adoption and would of had to forfeit our money and dreams for our child in Ethiopia.  We did lose a child in the process that we had not even had a chance to dream about yet.  I’m not sure if I should feel relief or sorrow.  I think I feel both, how’s that?

What’s the plan God?

Psalms 25:4-5 (ESV)
⁴ Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
⁵ Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

So what’s with the number 18?  That’s what number we are in line to get referred to our little boy in Ethiopia.  Whoop!

Homestudy complete?

(by Mandy)

I haven’t posted an update on the adoption in a while because it has been at a standstill while we waited for our letter from Panama.

We waited one month!

The letter finally came in and our social worker said she has everything ready.  Now we wait to see if our agency is happy with it.  I’m a little nervous because our “letter” from Panama was more like an incomplete form – they filled in his name only and stamped and signed the bottom that his criminal record was clear.  I would feel much better if it looked more like our letter from Texas – written on state letterhead and stamped with the state seal.  It was very pretty.  I think I covered all of our bases though because while we were waiting for the “letter”, I also requested a letter from the Freedom of Information Act and the National Archives – both stating they have searched the records from Panama and Tony is not a criminal.  I had some time on my hands.

Now we just wait.

Patiently.

Fortunately, I have lots of catching up to do after the Christmas festivities and lots of New Year’s resolutions to make – and break.  That should keep my mind off the waiting.

It really hasn’t been that bad.  On one hand, it seems like we started this process a long time ago; but, on the other, I haven’t been thinking about it too much.  I think it’s been good.  So far.  I’m sure it will be much harder once we see our little boy’s face and we want to bring him home.  Okay – thinking about bringing him home makes me want to squeal!  That’s a pretty good sign it’s going to be much harder to be patient!

On those same lines – Tate was asking us questions the other night about what else we need to do before we can bring our little man home.  When he started talking about getting to meet him for the first time, he got teary eyed!  As his mom, I was very touched to see him so moved at just the thought of meeting his little brother.  Sweet!

Hopefully, it will not be long before I have another update about more progress.