Is it the Dark Continent?

Africa was first called The Dark Continent by British missionaries. The term seemed to be a natural fit. The spiritual darkness could be seen in all the forms of their tribal religions. The Sacrificing to idols, pouring out libations to the spirits of ancestors and engaging in pagan rituals not previously seen by the “civilized” Christian community left these travelers with little doubt concerning the spiritual darkness they had encountered.

As we traveled through Nigeria we too experienced the Dark Continent. Not the spiritual darkness experienced by our forefathers, but the blackness of the African night. Electricity is a luxury that may be experienced for a couple of hours on a good day. When the lights go out at night there is a darkness that drapes your body like a cold, damp robe.

It is amazing the impact a small light can have in the darkest night. Each evening a few dozen light bulbs where illuminated over the chapel at Nigerian Christian Bible College. In an area that might seat 2,000 people if you pack them in tightly, we saw nearly 4,000 crammed under the tents and scattered all around the chapel area. While we begin to tire after an hour of worship, these dedicated servants of God would seat all day and all evening listening to the gospel be preached.

I am convinced you will never see a more stark contrast of the light and darkness better than we did during those three nights in Ukpom Abak. While generators provided light to a darkened chapel, the light of the gospel shined more brightly than the sun on the African plains. At the conclusion of services the first evening our hearts were filled with joy as people pushed their way through the crowds just to confess the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. By the end of the third evening over 160 people named the name of Jesus. Together hundreds of our brothers and sisters accompanied them down dangerous roads, through the black African night so they could be baptized for the remission of their sins.

We still refer to Africa as The Dark Continent, but nothing could be further from the truth. For over five decades the churches in Nigeria have grown at an amazing rate, doubling every decade. Today there are over 4,000 churches of Christ meeting in Nigeria and thousands more throughout the continent. The light of the gospel is shining brightly over Africa because of the men and women who support training preachers of the gospel and participate in the fellowship of this great work. We pray you will continue to support bringing the light of Christ to a people eager to escape the darkness.

For more information about the work at African Christian Schools Foundation, see the link on the right side of my page.

Wildflowers

Last fall I was hiking through East Tennessee and was amazed by the beauty and splendor of God's creation. Autumn would soon turn to winter, the leaves would be scattered and the vibrant reds, oranges and yellows would turn to brown and gray. While hiking around Indian Mound Lake a few wildflowers remained, peeking through the undergrowth painting the palette of the earth with the remnant of summer.

Earlier this evening I was on my way to teach a Bible class at the local coffeeshop. The mood was subdued, and the usual warmth and laughter seemed cloaked in clouds of concern; but just as the first freeze of winter couldn't extinguish the wildflowers pressing through the earth, a few wildflowers were planted along my path today.

In the moments before our study began a friend shared some kind words that were spoken on my behalf. It is always humbling, yet gratifying to hear the encouraging words of others. The last few weeks have been busy and full (rushed and stressful at times), but God allowed a few wildflowers to spring up along the way.

I am not sure who coined the phrase, "stop and smell the roses," but it's worth repeating. In the last few minutes before class I sat sipping my coffee, thankful that God brings friends into our lives to sow seeds of encouragement, so wildflowers can bloom in the winters of our discontent.

Let Go, Let God

I have never been a big follower of the trendy fads that follow the religious community. I understand the good that can come from getting people to stop and think, "What would Jesus Do?" (WWJD). I guess it is the commercialization, or the tendency to repeat things without thinking deeply that bothers me.

Sometimes when someone was struggling with certain challenges, or troubles they just couldn't turn loose, I would hear someone say, "Just let go and let God do His thing." I would cringe and think how trite that sounded in the midst of wading through the mire that can overtake our lives.

As I have pondered recent changes in my own life it has become obvious to me that there is some truth in that saying. I left "formal ministry" nearly 8 years ago, but somehow God always found a way to call me back. Whether it was working for a Christian based ministry, or teaching in the Bible school program, I never strayed too far from my roots. Over the past couple of years I have learned that ministry is where my heart is and I believe that is where God can best use me. That realization has forced me to let go of some of my selfish desires.

I really don't know what all that looks like in the future, but through victory and adversity, through trials and success, God has been good to me. He continues to remind me that there is a lot of wisdom in letting go of my own selfish pursuits and seeking a life devoted to him.

Let Go and Let God! I stand corrected - that is very good advice.

Waiting on God

I was never a very patient person - so waiting on God is always a challenge for me. It is especially difficult when the answer seems so obvious to me. "Alright Lord, I need one more account to meet my budget this month, wrapping that up by Friday would be great." Wouldn't it be nice if it worked that way.

Last night I was reminded of how many people out there are waiting on God to answer their prayer for a Christian partner. I was asked during our prayer service to pray for all those who are lonely and seeking a Christian mate. An interesting paradox isn't it: wait on the Lord, or seek a mate? I believe the old proverb, "God helps those who help themselves." It is the law of sowing and reaping. If we want a harvest, we have to sow some seed.

I know a lot of singles who are sitting at home, waiting for God to FEDEX their knight in shining armor. I tried a search on E-bay, but she wasn't their either. Loneliness is a terrible thing because it can debilitate people. Their negativity becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. They never find the love of their life, because of apathy and inactivity.

This may sound a little harsh, but if you are lonely, get off the couch - throw on a little make-up and visit a singles class at church, or volunteer at a local charity, maybe even get back to working out at the YMCA occasionally. Guys, you need to shave, put on a clean shirt, brush your teeth and put on a little deoderant.

Since we are all waiting on God to bring us that special someone, we might as well use that time to prepare ourselves for the next great thing He pours into our lives. A wise man once said, "Success is where opportunity meets preparation." You take the time to get prepared and an opportunity will present itself.

Take me Higher

There are certain people in your life who lift you up and make your life richer and fuller. As I look back over 48 years I realize I have been blessed with more than a few of those friends. I have childhood friends I keep in touch with, my college roomate and I get together a few times a year even though he lives in Canada, and I still have close friendships in all the churches I have been priviledged to serve.

This past week has reminded me of the blessings of friendship. There is a fairly new trend on the internet known as social networking. It consists of websites like myspace and facebook. They are marketed as a way to stay connected and they can serve a good purpose, but I think they are only effective when you have built a personal relationship with someone. Every once in a while I get a "friend request" from someone I don't know. That seems strange to me. "You may be an ax murder, but I want you to be my friend."

Maybe I am just old fashion, but I want to see my friends face to face. I enjoy sitting and talking over a cup of coffee. I want to see the gleam in their eye, hear the subtle intonations of their voice as we share our thoughts and ideas.

There are a few people who raise my spirits with an email. I am thankful that I can stay connected with my son who is in Europe, friends across the state, but even those relationships were built through personal interaction.

Now for the inconsistency of this blog. Here I am sharing my thoughts and feelings with my friends through this electronic medium called the internet. If somehow my words have touched you and we are not yet friends - well that just shows what an intelligent person you are. :-)

Band of Brothers

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition. An gentlemen in England now-a-bed shall think themselves accursed they were not here, and hold their manhood cheap while any speaks that fought with us on St. Crispins day. (Henry V, Shakespeare)

The year was 1415 and as the English marched across Northwest France, the men had grown weak from dysentary and morale was low. The French saw this as an opportunity to rid their country of this enemy. They brought 25,000 men up against this struggling band, but Henry rallied his forces and the English lost only 200 men while the defeated French lost 5,000.

When men walk together through life their is something special. When you are forced to join arms and fight, or pull your brother up from a struggle that has ravaged his life you create bonds not easily broken.

I spent two years walking through life with 11 such men. We shared our good times and our sorrows. There were battles and struggles and times our morale was low, but no one ever walked alone. In Shakespeare's rendition of Henry V, he talks of the men who one day will draw back their sleeves and show the scars they carry from the battle at Agincourt. When I think of my own band of brothers, we each bear the scars that life left on us, but we look upon them with honor and with joy. Those scars remind me of the men who joined me in life's battle.

When I think about how great it is to have those kind of men in your life - friends that I will carry with me to the grave, I am also reminded of how hard it must have been for Christ to hang on the cross. Yes the torture of a cross was a brutal and senseless way to kill a man, but I believe the real anquish of our savior was to look out over the angry mob and all but his mother and John had departed. In that moment we see the humanity of Jesus as he cried out, "My God, My God why has thou forsaken me."

Though we are tempted, tried and tested - we never walk alone. We have a deliverer to lead us into battle and a Savior to rescue us from defeat. Among my own band of brothers is an elder brother who surrendered his body and blood for my freedom and security.

Henry V died at age 35, seven years after the battle of Agincourt. Our Lord was raised from the grave three days after his crucifixion, never to die again. Our King leads us to an eternal victory that will one day also rescue us from the grave.

Right or Wrong

I attended a parent / teacher meeting at my daughter' school tonight and I continue to be impressed with the focus and emphasis the school places on teaching the students to make solid moral decisions. While discussing the role of Humanities in their curriculum, the founder stated, "Our goal is not to teach your children the difference between right and wrong, our goal is to teach your children the difference between right and almost right."

That is a very powerful distinction. I know individuals who have lived their entire lives under the shadow of the cross and never learned that lesson. We live in a world filled with situational ethics and justifications for every form of immoral and ungodlly behavior. It is refreshing to find a school where the objective is to shape a child's thinking and not simply monitor their behavior. Thank you FCS.

The Measure of a Man

I have recently been re-reading John Eldridge's book "Wild at Heart." My son and I have both read the book through at least three times. Eldridge does such an excellent job explaining why God created us the way he did.

There is something that captures the imagination of a man as he watches John Wayne draw his pistol from the holster, or Michael Jordan hit a jump shot from 30 feet with the game on the line. We love the violence of hockey and football because of the vicarious thrill of watching men go into battle.

God didn't design men to be spectators, he created us to be leaders. To fight for our families, stand up for the oppressed and defend the truth and honor of the bride of Christ. I believe that Theodore Roosevelt captures the heart of a "real man" in the following statement.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

In a few weeks the men of the Spring Meadows Church of Christ will be studying Wild at Heart on Wednesday evenings. I pray all of our men will come and bring friends. If you are inspired by Henry's speech at Agincourt or how Sir William Wallace rallied his men to go up against the superior forces of the English, or it may be you long to stand beside the 300 Spartan's as they hold off the Persians at the pass at Thermopylae. If this describes you then join us for an epic adventure of manhood.

The God of Second Chances

When Tom Watson was serving as head of IBM one of his top level executives made a mistake that cost the company over a million dollars. Knowing that his job was history the manager walked into Watson's office and said, "I know boss, I messed up and I am ready to quit." Watson responded, "Quit, are you kidding, it cost a million dollars to educate you. It's time to get back to work."

I don't think I ever cost an employer a million dollars, or even walked into an employer's office expecting to be fired, but there have been many occasions when I have been thankful for recieving a second chance.

The other day I was reading Matthew 18 where Peter asks the Lord how many times he should forgive his brother - 7 times? Jesus said, "I tell you not seven times, but seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:22). That can be a difficult command to live sometimes, but it becomes easier when we realize that God wasn't just giving us a command, he was giving us an insight into His own divine nature. Our God is a loving, compassionate and forgiving God.

So, next time you feel you have exhausted God's patience, or fallen so far that you will never find the road back, remember that we serve a God of second (third, and fourth) chances. Like the father in the prodigal son, He stands watching and waiting for our return. When we go to him ready to quit, ready to surrender to the obstacles of life, feeling that all hope is lost, you can imagine him saying, "Are you kidding, you can't quit, my son already paid that debt with his blood. It's time to get back to work."

Evaluating our Priorities

There was a sense of relief as our plane landed in Lagos, Nigeria. After spending a day and a half on airplanes and in airports I was ready to start our pilgrimage across the Dark Continent.

I smiled as we waited on our luggage. There was a large sign hanging over the exit that read, "Nigeria: The happiest people on earth." My initial reaction was, "Yea Right." I had heard stories about Nigeria; the violence, corruption and poverty. How could these be the happiest people on earth?

The next two hours were spent in cramped vehicles traveling to Calabar. As we drove through the crowed streets of Lagos I was a bit overwhelmed by the overcrowding and poverty. Again, I thought about the sign in the airport "Nigeria: The Happiest People on Earth." The blind, crippled and destitute standing in the streets begging for their daily bread, raw sewage running through the streets - who were they trying to convince?

The next couple of weeks showed me a different side of Nigeria - the people living outside of the major cities. While there was still poverty and hardships I came to realize that many of the people working in the markets, or selling their wares on the streets lived life from day to day. They didn't have the luxury of worrying about tomorrow or next week, for as Jesus said, "tomorrow will bring its own anxieties" (Matthew 6:34).

Two weeks without the cell phone ringing, or the beckoning call of my internet browser was a welcome relief. I kept notes in a hand written journal and took daily walks on the campus or through the local villages. During that time I ate better, slept better and felt better about myself and about life. I realized how easy it is for my priorities to get completely out of balance.

I have returned home from mission trips before with a commitment to change my priorities, only to fall quickly back into old patterns of behavior. I pray this time that I can keep some of those promises I made to myself about simplifying life and taking pleasure in this day that God has given me.

I don't know if the Nigerian people are the happiest people on earth, but I found an inner peace and contentment during my short stay there. I pray that I can hold on to those feelings a little longer this time round.