doxology & benediction

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Dana

We’ve come to the end of another school year so this will be the last writing for a while. A ‘Doxology’ is an expression of praise to our Father in Heaven. It is a beautiful thing to hear His children sing:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

IMG_7414We had two graduations this past week in our family. John walked across the stage as a fifth grade graduate. We are so proud of John and he is excited to enter junior high next school year. My favorite picture from Kenya could have been taken any day we were in the villages: John walking down a dirt path arm in arm with five or six African friends. I learn a lot about love from this eleven-year-old.

photoTaylor graduated from his Masters’ program at Georgia State University with an outstanding grade point average. Of course Taylor and Emma’s greatest blessing this year has been little Wilkes, who is already being spoiled by four grandparents who live nearby.

I praise God for a year of health. We have tried to learn to ‘seize the day’ and to be grateful. The first week of June the doctors want to put me through a couple of major medical tests as they are always concerned about multiple myeloma activity. As always, Susan and I cherish your prayers.

I’ll close with the ‘Benediction’ that God gave Moses to bless the children of Israel. May we live each day with the assurance of our Father’s love.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

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Barnabas

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Dana

A year ago I posted a couple of writings about Barnabas Mam, a Cambodian survivor of Pol Pot’s reign of terror. Through a friend who works with ‘Ambassadors for Christ,’ Barnabas came to the house a couple of weeks ago and shared with our community.

In the Body of Christ, heroes of the faith are also dear brothers or sisters in Christ. Though he has suffered in prison, in refugee camps, and in a ravaged nation, Barnabas humbly encouraged American Christians to simply keep our eyes on the Good Shepherd, who knows each sheep by name and expertly leads us.

photoAt the close of our time together, eleven-year-old John gave sixty-five year old Barnabas a big hug and said, “Won’t you eat with us?” Of course Barnabas accepted the invitation. It is beautiful to see the older children of God invest in the younger.

From 1975 – 1979, an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians were murdered in Pol Pot’s ‘Killing Fields.’ Barnabas is one of only about two hundred Christians who survived. Today he is part of an amazing work God is doing to welcome the lost into His Kingdom, as there are now approximately 500,000 Christians in Cambodia.

People are coming to Christ in droves. It isn’t rare to attend a baptism of 300, 500, 700, or even 1000 people. Local pastors perform these baptisms, and I, filled with joy, watch my younger brothers wade into the river or lake with so many new believers. It is a feast for my eyes.

The streams of God’s goodness are flowing in Cambodia today. And the result is exactly what the Psalmist said. One little phrase, slipped into the beginning of Psalm 23, reminds me of the Shepherd’s intended outcome through every twist and turn, every hill and valley, at every table.

He leads, we follow, and it is all “for His name’s sake.” Together, we are bringing honor to His name. In an amazing act of solidarity, the Shepherd and His sheep share the same goal: the glory of God.

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:1-3

(Quote from Church Behind the Wire, by Barnabas Mam with Kitti Murray, ©2012 Moody Publishers, p 349)

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servant leader

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Dana

photoOur 410 Bridge guide in Kenya was a wonderful man named David. David’s home was in the northern part of the country, where he lived with his wife, his twelve-year-old son, and his seven-year-old daughter.

Not only did David get us from place to place and help us communicate where English was not spoken, he exemplified a servant leader. Our high school students loved him and he had a special way of relating to each individual.

David especially reached out to John, our eleven-year-old who was able to go with me on the trip. Maybe it was because he had a son of similar age, but there seemed to be no limit to his patience and love for the youngest member of our mission team.

Somehow the conversation of beautiful women came up in our travels and David explained the culture and practices of his nation. All men have to pay a dowry for their wives. David told us he was still paying to the parents of his lovely wife twelve years after their wedding day.

These are the attributes most cherished in Kenya that lead to a woman being worth a few more cows or goats:

  1. a strong, wide woman who can lift heavy things and bear many children
  2. a gap between the two front teeth that helps with fire-building
  3. a dimple on a cheek, or even better, a dimple on each cheek.

David taught us some of the local language and seemed to enjoy bragging about his country. He had a great sense of humor and was tireless in serving his American visitors. Most of all, David reflected Jesus.

These are the things I saw in our guide that reminded me of Christ:

  • humility
  • love for children
  • putting others’ needs and comforts ahead of his own
  • appreciation for the Father’s creation
  • willingness to go the ‘second mile’ in serving others

Praise God for his Son and for those who walk in His steps!

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ‘Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in human 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, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’” Philippians 2:4-11

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grandparents

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Dana

unnamed

One of our last days in Kenya, we were invited to visit the home of a local family. As we sat under the tree overlooking their garden, we shared life with one another.

In the circle were five Americans, a few neighbors, an older couple who owned the home and property, a daughter-in-law, and several children. One teenage boy named Benjamin was in a wheelchair due to contracting polio as a child.

The couple shared that they had nine children who had all moved away from home. Four or five lived close by and the others had gotten jobs in Nairobi. The husband and wife beamed with pride while talking about their family.

We were shown how they prepared a staple food as the daughter-in-law ground corn and taught us how. Then we went to the kitchen, which was a free-standing little hut where the fire was built. The cornmeal was mixed with beans and onions and soon we enjoyed a tasty snack.

As we were getting ready to leave, I thought of little Wilkes, our three-week-old grandson in Atlanta. With the help of an interpreter, I asked the older couple how many grandchildren they had. They talked it over for a couple of minutes and I saw them counting on their fingers. Finally, they came up with the answer: nine children, thirty-six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Susan and I have a ways to go…

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise up early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for He grants sleep to those He loves. Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127

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alongside

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Dana

photoPictures like this will be my memories of our trip to Kenya… God’s children walking side by side… black and white, African and American, older and younger, different, but the same.

The 410 Bridge Departure Book states this: “We provide opportunities for Americans to get involved with God’s overall mission to serve people, and thereby experience a growing relationship with Him. As we walk alongside the people of these developing countries, we recognize the indescribable needs and suffering that exist there. Our desire is to work alongside our friends, empowering and encouraging them towards sustainable solutions and closer relationship with God, one community at a time.”

Every time I’ve visited the continent of Africa, I have met people of faith who closely walk in relationship with the Father, and I have asked God to let me be more like them. The beauty of the Body of Christ is that the members of God’s family need each other. We are all different and each of us is called to “use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

As Jesus prepared to leave the earth, He spoke of God’s plan for the third Person of the Trinity to come alongside those who had put their faith in Him. “If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him or knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14: 15-18)

God knows that we need Him to come alongside us. Even better, we need Him to live in us. The Counselor, the Comforter, the Advocate, the Helper, the Spirit of Truth… these are names given the One who comes. And the Holy Spirit is a far superior Companion than any human being! He will constantly remind us of Jesus and He will always tell us the truth.

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about Me.” John 15:26

“But when He, The Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will only speak what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you.” John 16:13-14

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