Haiti’s Nightmare – When Disaster Strikes

When the news first hit the airwaves concerning a massive earthquake in Haiti, little attention was given to the severity. There have been rumblings here and there, but who would have thought that 10 short miles below the surface of Port-au-Prince a massive 7.0 earthquake was to ravage the city, and bring devastation beyond comprehension?

With each passing day the magnitude of the disaster is trickling into the media and the images are beyond gruesome. Latest estimates are saying as many as 100 000 lives have been lost, and a sharp rise is expected.

Some video clips that have made it onto the web are horrific, and can only leave us imagining the full scope of this nightmare that has unfolded on the nation of Haiti.

Watching the shear desperation on the faces of the people, dealing with the aftermath, must impact even the bravest of souls. Entire families have been wiped out. Children have been pulled from rubble, with missing limbs, others have waited in agony at clinics for help and treatment and care, only to die in the queue.

Every agency across the USA that has expertise in dealing with these scenarios has been called upon to step forward and help. Nations across the world have without hesitation loaded cargo planes and ships with food and medical supplies en route for Haiti, to help rescue those who are still alive, medically treat the injured, feed and cloth the hungry, and help to rebuild this nation in her hour of need.

Bringing some kind of spiritual balance to this mayhem is difficult. Did the Lord intend to crush this city with devastation? I do not believe so. Are the people of Haiti paying for their involvement in witchcraft? Knowing the love that Christ has for humanity, and His extended grace, so often abuse, I am unable to make such a connection. Is it right for those in spiritual authority and places of Godly recognition to make such calls? I hazard to say it is right. I don’t believe this is a time to psycho-analyze why such a significant disaster occurred, and which spiritual entity is to blame. For the church to hint this is God’s way of retribution, before judgment would be erroneous, and to say it is a result of evil prevailing above a nation might be presumptuous, for the time being.

What is of greater importance is what position we all as believers take during such a major catastrophe. If world agencies can rush to their rescue before drawing a conclusion as to why this happened, then for us the call to fall to our knees and cry out to the Lord for the people of Haiti, to find comfort, healing, salvation across every dimension of existence, and every other possible need to be fulfilled – then we ought to lay aside our own lives and seek the Lord for them earnestly.

This is not a time to judge a nation that is in need of every possible form of help they can get. Be it fresh running water, a piece of bread, a shirt for their back, and a place to once again call home, while these agencies set about doing the work they are trained for, let us as believers in Christ set about doing what we are trained for; Standing in the gap for these people, praying for their comfort, for healing, for every emotional wound to be made whole, for physical pain, anguish, anxiety and stress to be quelled by the very same grace that one day saved you and I.

A call to pray for the people of Haiti; a call to seek the Lord for this people; a call to bring healing and peace, restoration and rebuilding of shattered lives, in their hour of need.

As believers we can balance the humanitarian aide by introducing Christ into the midst of those who need Him more than life itself. Please support the people of Haiti in prayer, if you decide to help with finance be cautious and use only agencies that are specialized in these types of situations. Below are some links you might consider using if you donate finance:

The International Rescue Committee

Doctors Without Borders

Save The Children

Partners In Health

CARE

**I am in no way partnered or linked to these organizations, and urge you to exercise wisdom and caution in making any online donations to organizations that are not legitimate and prey on innocent people desiring to do good and help those in their time of need.

This youtube clip is referring to the testimony below in the comments, Karen’s friend’s husband was rescued…3 days later!! What a testimony!!

 

Considered a Love Dare Lately?

Let me start out by wishing you all a very wonderful 2010! Don’t know about you, but I am relieved that 2009 is history, not discounting the lessons I learned along the way, but rejoicing as we enter 2010 – there is an air of expectancy, excitement for what lies ahead!

I was thinking of some of the practical ways as a believer I could demonstrate the love of Christ, in a simple yet effective way, and it dawned on me that sometimes we complicate the Gospel, and shy away from reaching out to bless people around us. Not sure if you understand what I am saying, but I am guilty of doing that! People say “the Lord told me to do this” or “The Lord spoke clearly to me” well, I haven’t heard His voice, but there are times when I have an urge inside of me to act – to do something – to step into a place where I usually don’t, purely for the purpose of impacting someone’s life.

It would be so much easier if as in the days when Jesus walked with the disciples, and commanded Peter to walk on water, at least we would be easier to convince of His glorious working power – right? Maybe not! Even Peter after seeing Jesus walk on water, walking on it himself, taking His eyes off Christ, began to sink – I think the waves that began rising caused fear to grip Peter.

Life is like that too. Jesus – ever the loving father, always there for us, outstretched hand, beckoning us to come closer, yet we allow the waves of every day life and circumstance to toss us to and fro, sometimes sinking, sometimes taking in a mouthful of water and choking, other times scrambling for the shore, all the while Jesus remains faithful wanting no harm to come to us. How is it then, that we are so easily distracted, knowing that our Lord and Savior is the very one who lives in us, and will use every circumstance as a means to drawing us closer to Him, yet we shrink back, and sometimes even urge others to go ahead instead of us?

Often I look at the big names out there, and marvel at their testimonies, and how the Lord used them for His glory, and then consider us – surely there is more to life than this? Surely we each have a role to play in our walk with the Lord? Is there something I can do today, that will bless someone, cause them to consider what motivated a stranger to help them?

1 John 3:16v18 ~ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and truth.

This scripture confronted me to the core. So if Jesus lives in my heart, then His love must be evident, and demonstrable. How do we go about then demonstrating His love working in and through us? Thought provoking questions arise, and well up within me to examine the state of my own life. Many opportunities have been passed up, through my own fear, looking at those waves, lacking in trust, denying that tiny mustard seed faith, swimming for shore and almost pretending I can’t see the Lord in a situation!

So the question came to mind “Have you considered a love dare?” Well, truthfully – No! But I do consider it now, knowing how much Christ loves me, lives in me, and wants me to step out of my comfort zone, the boat I am in navigating through life, and He wants me to keep focused on him, but at the same time having some form of impact in the lives of those in my circle of influence. What is a love dare?

If you have family that you haven’t connected with for a while, send them an email, or a text message, tell them ‘I am thinking of you today”.  If you are on one of the many social networking sites out there, take a moment to listen to your heart, and allow the Lord to lead you to someone who needs to be encouraged, send them a gentle word. Maybe your husband or wife hasn’t heard you pay a compliment in a while, step out of your boat, and say something that will bless and encourage. Be kind to someone at the drive-through, leave a tip, and wish them a happy day. Check on your neighbor, ask if they are doing ok, and if you can help them in any way, run an errand, put their mail in the box for them. For some of us, it is as simple as a SMILE.

I can assure you, by doing just the simplest of acts, will bless someone! The fact that you cared enough to say something, to reach out, to encourage…to practice a love dare…and impact someone’s life will return in such a blessing for you!

This 2010, the Lord bless, and provide, and comfort all as we go about doing ‘life’ together.

 

How Content am I?

The dollar is up one day down the next. The stock markets are following suite. Now Dubai is asking for some kind of bail out or assistance with their crumbling economy. Most economies around the world are negative. The H1N1 pandemic is circling the globe. The list of hardships is endless, isn’t it?

For many people these are desperate times, calling for desperate measures to continue surviving. For others these are times of opportunity, and yet for others, these are times of zero consequence to anything that is going on globally.

I come from a background of hard working ideals, where nothing was handed to me on a silver plate. Leaving school at the age of 16, I took on a few menial jobs, and then signed up an apprenticeship in the printing industry. At 20 I qualified as a journeyman press operator. By the time I was 25, my wife and I had started our business, which many people said would never mount to anything. A few short years later, the very people who spoke against our vision, were applying to us for employment. We became a worthy opponent and competitor in the industry, confounding many with the  successes we achieved.

People may read and think “what a cheeky arrogant statement!”. But on the back end of this success, came what people didn’t see as much. And that was the dependency we placed in Christ. There was no way we could possibly succeed as the odds were stacked against us on many levels, yet through diligence and prayer the wisdom we sought to operate in such a way so as to prosper and succeed God’s way became evident. The Lord was able to meld our hearts with Him, and countless times we saw the business as a means for ministry while engaging in productive sustainability that fed and clothed families, and rendered opportunities for others to reach their potential.

Leaving Zimbabwe, and coming to the USA, so often for many people can be a huge misconception. The age old saying “the grass is always greener on the other side” doesn’t always resonate with truth. Yes the opportunities are endless. The ability to achieve your wildest dreams exist. A simple idea can become an overnight success. And yet, on the flip side, lies reality that deals certain unavoidable circumstances that have the ability to make or break even the strongest willed individual.

The ostrich will bury its’ head when it believes a fearful situation is about to come upon it. I fail to see the wisdom in the ostrich taking this approach…because while its’ head is safely buried under the soil, he thinks nothing can harm him, he thinks he is protected, and he thinks “I won’t be affected”. Strange that the ostrich doesn’t consider that a whopping 200 pounds of flesh and feathers remains visible to the adverse circumstance, and that only 300 grams of brain is protected! Many times we are that ostrich! We think that what happens around us will not affect us, won’t last as long as people say it will, and that it’s “all good”, when in actuality it isn’t and we ought to be aware of the broader picture.

Philippians 4:11-13 ~ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength.

It is very easy to base our success on our skill base. The problem with that mindset is that when an economy falters, when situations change adversely we can loose sight of the overall purpose of our primary existence. Yes we need to eat, yes we need to survive, yes we need to grow exponentially.  But I find myself asking the question ‘for what purpose?’ – is it so that I can amass wealth, status and material gain? I don’t think so. Been there done that, and to be quite honest didn’t enjoy it. Looking between the cracks of my own life, I found there to be a greater purpose, a defined reason for why the Lord at one time allowed wealth to come into my life, and by the same token why He allowed difficulty to travel the same road through my life.

Of the two, which do you suppose was greater? In my mind, I enjoyed the wealth. It brought lots of toys, loads of friends, status and position. In the difficult times, where prosperity was a negative attribute, I prospered all the more – in my spirit. Being able to exist purely by faith, having to depend on and in Christ, learning to trust His word, for the promises contained in it. I choose the latter option.

Paul gives us such a complete understanding of contentment. It can only be achieved in the fullest sense in Christ. When He is my Lord then it is impossible for me to have a lack for anything. My mindset has to shift, and I have to see that the sole purpose of my existence is to serve Him, and in so doing, He is able to meet every need known to mankind. I must learn to distinguish between wants, desires, needs and provision. In so doing, I give Christ an open ended opportunity and invitation to show His glorious provision, in the correct order of wellness in my spirit, soul and body.

This doesn’t mean we sit back and let everything around us fall apart, but it means we take on the revelation that Paul had, to be content always, in much and in lack, to always allow the sweat smelling aroma of the Holy Spirit to exude so that others may be drawn to the hope and salvation we share in Christ. We can’t all be Pastors, but we can all be witnesses for our Savior, daily in all that we say and do. So for me, and my household, we choose to be content. Though there are storms brewing, and He may seem to be asleep in your boat during the storm, be encouraged, He is with us all.

We can choose to define being content in a myriad of ways. Can we for a moment choose Christ? His options are far more rewarding, and everlasting. Though we suffer for a moment, what awaits us in eternity is glorious, and makes the journey through life all the more worthwhile.

Be encouraged, don’t give up just yet, don’t surrender to the circumstances that are pounding your life, allow the Lord to take charge, and let Him calm the storm, and therein become content in His presence.

 

Las Vegas Downloaded

Once in a while there comes an opportunity to visit a place that everyone across the globe talks about.  Sometimes it is a place that you may have heard of as a child growing up, or perhaps someone told you of a time they went to an amazing world renowned city.

For us, this past weekend such a trip took place. We were invited along with precious friends of ours who were attended a family wedding in las Vegas. They asked if we would like to tag along so that we could at least say we had visited the gambling mecca of the world – Las Vegas. Without question we jumped at the opportunity, and drove with them on Friday, heading north across the State line into Nevada.

For those of you who know us, we are not the gambling type, it does not interest us, and so the motivation to see Las Vegas was completely different to the average visitor to the city. We had heard much about the ’strip’, the hotels, the casinos, the water shows, light displays and so on. Looking at images online do not do justice to the actual experience of walking down Las Vegas boulevard. I digress…

On Friday, we drove into Las Vegas just after 2:00pm, and Jack, being a Mustang fanatic, mentioned that a must see in Vegas is the Shelby Museum and manufacturing plant.  So…heading across town, we drove into the plant, and went inside to be greeted by the most amazing cars I have seen yet. Of course nothing like a Ferrari, the Shelby however ranks right up there as a power packed racing machine. We walked around the museum like little boys in a toy shop! To be this close to genuine Shelby powered Mustangs was amazing! There is a show on tv that follows a famous auctioneer around the USA, on one such a show we watched an old Cobra being auctioned final price on the block – $1.3 million for a REPLICA. In this museum stands an original…I can hardly imagine what the price tag would be. When we walked out of the Shelby plant up in the sky were fighter jets doing amazing displays, we stood and watched that for a while before heading across town to settle in for the night.

I managed to take a bunch of photos – having often seen the buildings on tv and online, now finally seeing them in real time was rather interesting. The Needle, Trump Center, The Luxor, The Mirage, Cesar’s Palace, MGM, The Mirage, The Excalibur -the list goes on…seeing all these amazing buildings glittering in the afternoon sun was indeed pleasing on the eye.

Strange to think that back in the day a group of business people or should I say mob related individuals decided they needed an outlet for their massive amounts of wealth, and what better place to bury copious amounts of money, than to build a city catering to every whim known to man, in the middle of nowhere, and call it Las Vegas!

Saturday afternoon Nancy and I put our walking shoes on, and started at the top of the strip, and began our 6 hour “look & see” journey, camera in hand. The atmosphere on the strip is tangible, difficult to explain unless you have been there and had the same experience. We walked slowly, and took in the sights and sounds as everything unfolded with each step. Most of the hotels have gold reflective windows…in the setting sun, the effect is dazzling. Next to the Mandalay is this huge black pyramid, it looks deceivingly small, but when you are right under it, looking up it is dauntingly huge. New York New York was a sight for sore eyes! Replicas of the New York skyline, the statue of Liberty and a roller coaster hugging the entire complex with screaming individuals roaring through the sky. I guess we could have gone for a ride, but then simply walking through Vegas is a ride of its own! Music blares from high quality speakers on every block, from classical to rock and everything else you can think of, often it was difficult to hear myself think!

We came upon the Belagio water front, and people had begun to gather, so we joined the crowd, and were treated to the world famous water display. Everything was incredibly well choreographed. We timed it well, because the sun had just set, and the glowing deep blue sky with the lighting from the Belagio in the background made the fountain display absolutely beautiful. We decided to walk in to Cesar’s Palace, and from the onset you are greeted by the familiar lights and bells and whistles of slot machines. Seasoned users sat glued to their seats focussed on the tumbling wheels of fortune, some smoking huge cigars, others drawing deep of their cigarettes to ease their nerves I guess, while they eagerly hoped for lady luck to drop a jackpot. We walked through the gaming tables, saw Bobby Flay’s restaurant, glimpsed at the prices and realized how wealth goes to the wealthy!

When in Rome do as the Romans – right? Well, that can be said to be true, but when in doubt stick with what you know. We were trying to decided on weather to eat in one of the buffets or go with something more familiar and close to home. Nancy spotted an “Outback” restaurant and that became the flavor of choice for dinner. Nothing beats a good old fashioned Burger and fries when everything else looks deceivingly tempting…my advice – stick with what you know. The marketing of casinos is done in such a way that in order to get from point A to point B you literally have no alternative choices but to go through the gambling halls. We sat and enjoyed our burgers, and reflected on what we had seen up until that point.

After dinner, we strolled down the street to the Venetian, automatic elevators take you to wherever  you want to go, and along the way we came across a wax museum, and couldn’t resist a shot of a celebrity standing with Nancy. Down below we saw an intricate water way with Gondolas and people everywhere. Las Vegas is in the high desert siting approximately 4000 feet above sea level, and at this time of the year, the wind was howling through the buildings and made for a bit of a chilling experience. We walked until our legs could barely go on, sitting often to rest our feet and do a bit of people watching.

Ah yes – people watching! What better place to do that than in Las Vegas! The lights on the buildings were truly amazing, no blown out bulbs, just brilliant color everywhere, from the ground up as high as you can look.  I had often heard Las Vegas being referred to as ’sin city’. Of course the first thought that comes to mind is ‘gambling’. But there is a whole other side to the city that was rather shocking to say the least. People walking down the street with their drinks in hand, pushing and shoving their way to wherever they were heading. Every block was lined with people wearing promotional clothing handing out cards and fliers to adult shows. The streets and walkways were littered with offensive material, and no one seemed to be too concerned, the way some folks were dressed left very little to the imagination.

Towards the end of the evening, both Nancy and I felt an urgency to escape. We had come to Las Vegas, we had seen the buildings, the amazing architecture, the displays, the lights, the people, and we had come to the conclusion that we now fully understood why this was called “sin city”.

One of the highlights of our weekend concerned the place we were staying at. This was a little city 30 miles south east of Las Vegas, called Jean. This place has a community that owns their own runway, and you can only live there if you own a plane. Mary’s mom lives there and has two planes in the hangar – quite a sight! I thought we might see John Travolta flying around in his Boeing 707, until I walked to the runway and noticed it was a small strip not big enough for a jet to land on! Needless to say, that was quite an experience, staying in a community that doesn’t have car garages but plane hangars instead!

We also drove through the town of Baker, where the world’s largest working thermometer is on display! I must say in conclusion that despite the bad side of Vegas we enjoyed our visit and the whole experience was incredible, to actually identify reality with the images and thoughts we had concerning Las Vegas. One of the thoughts that kept going through my mind is “how much money flows through this strip here in Las Vegas?”. I did a little research and almost fell off my chair! Las Vegas turns over an average $56 million every single day! How scary is that concept?

 

Becoming the conduit: You Feed Them!

¹³When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

¹⁵As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

¹⁶Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

¹⁷“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

¹⁸“Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. Matthew 14:13-20

It dawned on me today that there is a precious gem locked in this portion of scripture that I didn’t truly pay attention to over the years. To think that the disciples had the honor of walking from town to town with Jesus Christ, watching him perform miracle after miracle, teaching the crowds, scribes and pharisees, and never turning away from any need that came across his path. Just like the lady with the issue of blood, Jesus knew power had gone out from him, healing and restoring her – not simply because she touched him, but because she did so with a zeal and faith knowing that Christ was her only hope of being restored, and Jesus knew the very moment she stepped out in faith and touched him, that her faith had made her well.

I marvel at the unbelief or perhaps doubt that the disciples continued to walk in despite all they had witnessed in the presence and daily ministry of the Lord.

Jesus had just heard of the beheading of John the Baptist, and so he had gone to a quiet place out on the water, perhaps to mourn, to be alone with his father, and to deal with the grief he was experiencing. The people knew Jesus was in the area, and they left their homes, towns and cities and followed after him. When he returned to shore, immediately he began healing their sick because he had compassion on them.

The two distinct differences I see here is how Christ looked at the crowd, and how the disciples looked at the same crowd. Jesus saw their lack, their needs, their illnesses, and was driven by compassion to heal. The disciples on the other hand coming from their business sense of mind, looked at the crowd, saw no food, and began calculating what cost it might be to feed all these people. Their solution was easy: “Lord send them home, let them go and eat in their own environment, if they are serious they will be back tomorrow“.

Jesus looked through the lens of his father, and told the disciples, “they don’t have to go away, YOU give them something to eat.” Can you imagine their first thoughts? Seriously – they must have wondered if Jesus had finally lost his mind. There was no food! No grain bins nearby! No ovens to bake bread! We must give them SOMETHING to eat?!?!

The lad with the five loaves and two fish was the stage being setup for a miracle. Still the disciples didn’t see it! Jesus already knew what was going to happen, and that he was going to stretch his disciples faith. I am convinced they didn’t see it until it happened. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, Jesus looked up to heaven, Jesus gave thanks! Then he gave the food to his disciples and they gave the food to the people.

The 20th verse tells us “They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.“

So, I began to look at how this might apply today in our lives. The contrast of the feeding of the 5000 and the many varied situations we find ourselves faced with today is only different by way of association. How we approach a circumstance, how we examine it, and how we deal with it. We have the choice like the disciples to send the people (circumstance) away, and actually hope that it doesn’t return later on in life. But Jesus says the same thing as he did back then ~ “YOU give them something to eat”. Who is “them” and what is “something” and how do they “eat“?

Jesus Christ has already made provision for us. When someone comes across our lives, and we look at their situation as being hopeless, beyond repair, perhaps even destructive in nature, at that very moment, we are standing in that place where we have the ability to “send them away” or to “give them something to eat”.

These accounts are written for our benefit, so that our faith may increase, so that we may begin to walk out in faith and actually take the five loaves and two fish situation – offer it back to Christ, allowing him to bless it, and then trusting us to be the vehicle that delivers his provision, be it healing, a miracle, the meeting of a financial need, a listening ear,  a cooked meal, a loving caring heart, tank of gas – the list is endless.

We choose whether we want to be the conduit for a miracle looking through the Lord’s lens knowing that what we have to work with is nothing, but after he blesses it and gives thanks, the very nothing that we have, for someone in need becomes everything.

I believe that day, the disciples grew in their knowledge and understanding of the Lord. They partook in and witnessed a major miracle, after they went to the Lord and told him what they had to work with, how he multiplied it, and how after everyone had eaten their fill, there were still 12 baskets left over. How many disciples were there…? Interesting!

My prayer is that the next time we come into a place where there is a need, be it spiritual, physical or emotional, that we will be bold, and come to Jesus, present him with what we have, let him bless it, give thanks, and allow someone’s life to be changed forever. In so doing, based on this portion of scripture there will be excess, there will be left overs from what Christ can do in and through each of us, his abundance cannot be quenched.

If all we have to work with is five loaves and two fish – it will always be enough…

 

Kennedy Meadows – Wild West Adventure

Last week we were invited to join our precious friends and head out of town on a camping trip.

Destination: BEYOND KENNEDY MEADOWS.

In 2008 we visited Yosemite National Park, and had an amazing time. Almost exact to the day, this year we headed up the 15 interstate across the desert into the south Sierra Nevada Mountains. Having just about reached the end of summer I can honestly say that having a vehicle with good air conditioning is an absolute must if you are going to travel across the desert.

Of course we have camped often back in Zimbabwe, in the Matopos Game park, as well as Hwange National Park and on the farm in Nyamandlovu, but there is something to be said when you are camping out in the open in surroundings that you are not entirely familiar with. There is a vast contrast between the outdoors in Africa and that of USA. Having never camped out before, this trip was a reminder of how amazing an experience can be had admiring God’s amazing creation.

Reaching Pearsonville you soon make a left turn and begin climbing up the hill – well mountain really. A nice steep climb on a single lane road without barriers makes for a slight adrenalin rush…the thought of ‘what if…‘ definitely crossed my mind a few times.

We climbed to the crest of the mountain and then headed towards what would become the last real place of known civilization. You know, the bare necessities of life, such as fresh treated running water, bathroom, and shower facilities…soft comfortable beds, warm blankets, and central heating and cooling. Our destination lay ahead of us, in a place where few people have traveled. Even looking on a regular map you won’t find the spots we came across.

At the altitude of 8150 feet we reached Blackrock Ranger station. The sun was high, and it was hot. Glenn filled our water canteen with enough spring water to last us the duration of our stay, I must admit that I have yet to taste such delicious water! Untreated and directly sourced from a spring in the hills. In addition to the last known place to collect fresh water, we took advantage of the outhouses that would soon become a figment of our imagination. Heading higher still, the road ended and Glenn engaged the 4 wheel drive on his Yukon, the next 30 miles would be an interesting hair raising experience. Nancy was hugging a pillow, Toni was a little anxious, and while Glenn took it in his stride, I managed to grip a little harder on the door rest a few times.

The views we came across were simply breath taking and stunning. Being high up in the mountains, and looking at God’s handy work was amazing. The meadows, the trees, the peaks beyond where we were going were astonishingly beautiful. On our way to the camp site, we can across some deer, browsing in the late afternoon, they didn’t seem particularly concerned by our presence, my guess is they knew it wasn’t hunting season!

Setting up camp was fun! We found a beautiful spot, right at the end of the road, where no vehicles had gone before, next to the stream, on level ground with a fire pit. What more could we have asked for? We made haste in setting up the tents, and getting adjusted before nightfall, considering the fact that we were wedged between two rock faces, we needed to take advantage of the remaining daylight to get a fire going, and a bite to eat. During one of our many chats, Glenn reminded us that this is “brown bear and mountain lion” country. This for me added a new level of excitement, whilst I know for the ladies the same excitement was not shared at all. Fortunately we were protected, and in the event of an encounter, as has been famously said before, my only concern would be to out run everyone else!

Looking at the stream, I could barely wait to fish and see what I could catch. I have to be honest and say that I am by no means a fisherman, and had it not been for the expert attention and advice of Glenn, had we relied on my abilities to catch dinner, starvation would have the best of us. Most of the streams at that altitude have two types of trout, German Brown and the Golden. The German is not native to this area, and grows larger than the Golden and feeds off the Golden. So a few ponds were created to stop the rogue trout from swimming up stream and destroying the native Golden. They have been known to jump as high as 6 – 8 feet to go upstream!

Glenn took me through a crash course on how to fish in these shallow waters, noting that the streams had never been this low since he has been going up there. In some places it was less than a foot deep, which made for difficult fishing. I had no idea that trout were so easily spooked. The skill required for catching fish in these conditions is nothing short of an art. No shadows on the water. No talking. No stomping of feet on the ground. Don’t wear white. Hook your night crawler in such a way that the barb isn’t visible. Cast up stream and let your line out enough to allow your bait to find it’s way into the holes where the trout hide. Needless to say along the hike up stream there were plenty perfect spots to fish and I did manage to catch a few trout, and a number of them ‘got away’. Glenn on the other hand being an avid fisherman set about catching trout where I didn’t think it possible to catch. It was actually pleasant watching a professional at work.

Who would have thought it possible to shower at an elevation of 8600 feet in the middle of nowhere with a home made shower facility? Nothing like filling a thermal bag with fresh stream water, setting it out on a rock for the day to warm up sufficiently to provide a tepid shower. This added to the adventure of being in the wild, and camping under the stars. As to the use of the bathroom, I encourage you to use your imagination.

Breathing in the air at that altitude was fresh, and required some acclimatization. The first night was bit rough, but we soon settled into a routine. I can’t remember when last I was in bed before 9pm and awake at 5.30am – somehow it felt right, and restful. During the night, it was amazing what games the mind would play. Every sound was exaggerated…’is it a bear…or mountain lion?…I hope it’s a bear because one swipe of his paw and I won’t feel much, but the lion – he won’t be as friendly, and will want to drag me up the rock face’. Bizarre thoughts, quite random but disturbing enough to cause concern. Until we came across a camper who has been heading to that same spot for the past 20 years and confidently told us he had never seen any bears or mountain lion up there….only their tracks. There is always a first time right?

Saturday night dinner was out of this world. A variety of fresh caught trout, marinated steak, coal baked potatoes, coal baked butternut squash and corn on the cob. It was a feast! There are times when even a high resolution picture cannot do justice to the aroma, the sight and the flavor of a meal. We ate, we enjoyed, we finished everything that had been prepared, totally delicious.

Sunday came far too quick. It felt as if we had only arrived, and yet it was time to break down camp, pack up and begin the arduous drive back home. Along the way we stopped at a few meadows, to take in the beauty. We saw the Aspen trees changing color, the leaves stood out beautifully. We came across many range cows, unfriendly, wary of humans, in excellent condition. I don’t blame them for being wary, they are after all in dangerous territory. We managed to collect a few branches of Aspen for  Tammy’s pet, they love Aspen…and as I sit here, he is basking under the heat lamp on a branch.

Heading home we listened to Cd’s and chatted about the weekend away. It was really an amazing time in nature, and we were just grateful that Glenn and Toni invited us along, we had fun! Along the road on the way home, in the middle of nowhere, I spotted a road sign that looked familiar. I could hardly believe my eyes. It read “Johannesburg” and under that San Bernadino – how odd, that a South African city name would end up in the desert of California – my guess is that it is a small gold mining community.

A few times while Glenn and I were fishing, I would sit down, and listen to the stream beneath me, I would look into the woods, and see giant trees, and brush, upward I would gaze on the most pristine blue sky, and I couldn’t help but think how amazing God is to have made the earth such a marvelous place for us to live in preparation for His return. At night we would share, and end the day in prayer, and it really felt wonderful being in relationship and community with fellow believers. The Psalms really came alive on this trip, in the middle of nowhere, it was easier to grasp the heart of David in all his triumphs and defeats, praise and worship unto the Lord.

God truly is amazing!

 

How do I carry my cross?

I was sitting here thinking to myself, how amazing life can be. That the outcome of what we pursue is often the very thing that keeps us busy day in day out, sometimes for good and often for worse.

As the years passed I have had some lucky breaks, but along with those breaks came moments of indecision and missed opportunities that hurt either financially or emotionally. I hardly ever considered the spiritual ramification of my quests because for a while I was convinced I lived in some type of protective bubble. If only that were true…yet I know for those who are in Christ, He is in them, therefore such a protection does exist! Just not along the realm of my train of thought, but rather according to His word and promise to those who belong to Him.

I remember approximately 17 years ago, I was invited by a friend of mine to start cycling. The thought excited me, and I began looking for a decent entry level road bike. There was a lot to consider, color, frame size, rim design, seat and handlebars, what type of tape to use for a better grip, which gear train to use, type of cranks, hub and bearings, the list was seemingly endless. Instead of buying a stock bike, because I am tall, it was better to custom build my bike. For anyone who knows about this sport, as soon as you start customizing a racing bike the costs begin to shift upward and before you know it, you are paying far more than you anticipated. Well, in addition to building my bike, I needed the gear…shorts, shirts,  socks, clip on shoes, helmet, gloves, drinking bottles, energy supplements, fruit bars, corn starch etc. A high powered hand pump light enough to carry on training rides, spare tubes…the list seemed to grow infinitely. I seriously began to wonder if I really wanted to take up the hobby of cycling!

Luke 14:28-30 says “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish it.”

I wanted to become a cyclist, but had no idea it would cost on the back end to get all the fancy equipment on the front end. I had to make provision for the financial input before I could enjoy the benefit of cycling down the road on my custom built racing bike.

The parallel to this example is remarkably close to the lives we live in Christ. Sometimes we think that everything will simply be taken care of and that we have no need of doing anything. But the Lord reminds us that we ought to choose the foundation we will build our lives on, using Him as the cornerstone, which all the other builders rejected. That in building our lives in Christ we should count the cost, and understand that it is required of us to participate not only in all the many blessings of the Lord, but also in the trials and tribulations that will surely come across our lives.

I thank the Lord that through His grace He enables us to continue pressing forward, without shame knowing that He set the example for us when He was crucified.

Luke 9:23 says “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to us that the Lord set His own life as an example and then encourages us to daily follow Him by picking up our own cross. The road that we will navigate will probably not be too easy, alone, but with Him living in us, leading and guiding us, the effort and labor of carrying our cross will be easier.

What does “carrying your own cross” mean to you? I think we could establish very quickly what that cross is in our lives. Perhaps it is the need to walk out life in such a way that family members see Christ in us. Maybe it is doing something we normally wouldn’t do along the lines of being a good Samaritan, helping someone we normally wouldn’t consider assisting. Or, dealing with a life situation that seemingly has no escape, and needs to be walked out daily in such a way that the Lord is glorified.  For someone maybe it entails working in a place that needs you there to shine as a light and beacon of hope to those who really could do with some guidance.

It is refreshing to stop and pause a while, and look inward for a moment. I know that what I carry today as my cross someone else would have no problem carrying it, yet for me it is heavy, digging into my shoulders and splintering my hands and arms as I try and bear it alone. But then, walking that path, I see many brothers and sisters carrying crosses that I wouldn’t be able to support, let alone walk with. Funny how we think someone’s cross is lighter, easier, smaller to carry than our own. If only we walked in their shoes. At the front of the crowd, however, I see One who carried His cross, willingly, out of love and knowing the joy and reward set before Him, edging all of us on, to keep going, to carry this cross just a little longer.

The reward that we can enjoy if we endure is absolutely worth every splinter, every callous, every blister, every drop of blood and every tear that we may experience.

So, it should be said that we can rejoice in carrying our cross for the Lord, because He lives within us, therefore the temporary discomfort is manageable. None of us may like what we have to face each day, both in our own lives, our relationships, our environment – the list is endless, but one thing for certain, if He called us, if we carry our own cross – He is more than able to give us the strength we need to complete the journey He called us to walk in.

 

Rich man, poor man…

This is pretty much a verbalization of something that has troubled me today, if it means anything to you, great, if it doesn’t that is great too, I just have this urgency to share and “put it out there”.

Does it work like this for you; just randomly going about your day, and then suddenly you get this gnawing feeling deep inside your spirit. It is hard to put words to the feeling, it’s a mix of emotions and compelling thoughts that keep your attention until you confront it. I am going to try and explain what I mean, and so bear with me for a moment.

Today I was reading in the book of James. Actually quite enjoyed my time in the word, but then a pattern began to surface and I found myself feeling drawn to a couple of the scriptures which I would like to share with you.

James 2:1-4 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose  a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but you say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

I began to ponder this section of scripture; It is wrong to show favoritism based on external circumstances, whether it is favoritism to the rich or to the poor. It is normal for the world to honor the rich and famous, because riches and fame are things for which those of the world strive. As Christians, we should have different values. We should esteem individuals for different reasons than the world does.

When I see a poor man, or someone going through a bad stretch in their life is it right for me to judge this person based on the external appearance? Surely not. Many times we say the famous “but for the grace of God there go I…” indeed. But what if we look below the level of skin, go a little deeper and understand that there is a heart inside this individual, they perhaps didn’t ask for the battering ram of hardship to knock them out of the loop of success in this life. When I look at someone in this situation, what is on my agenda? Will I judge unfairly out of my own critical nature, or will I try to view the person through the lens of Christ, and have compassion?

2 Corinthians 5:16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

It is extremely easy to discriminate not only between the rich and poor but amongst those of differing faiths. This is a challenge. Discrimination is a damaging sin to the cause of Christendom because of its poor testimony to the world, and those looking on at our testimony. The rich and the poor have the same need in common – Christ as their savior. So, if I show partiality then someone wins and someone loses. The math is easy to figure out.

So how do we walk in such a way as to not show partiality, discrimination and favoritism? Paul gives us the perfect example:

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings.

The reward in applying this portion of scripture lies in being partakers of the blessings in the gospel. Lord help us the next time an opportunity to share your word arises, may I not show favoritism based on the individual’s physical appearance or position in life, neither let me judge their belief and faith, but help me to look through your lens with a right attitude so that I may win over a soul for you.

 

All I need is You!

Such depth and meaning to this worship song, enjoy!

 

S.O.A.P Journal on Facebook

What exactly is S.O.A.P?

Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer ~

Sounds easy enough, and is a great way to grow personally. You can pick up a Bible journal at most Christian book stores, and follow the suggestion of reading through the bible in a year while applying the above method of study.

I remember when I started writing my journal, feels like it was almost a decade ago – when we used pen and paper! The other day, I sat looking at my journal, and glanced over at my bible, and wondered to myself “imagine if we could incorporate this and somehow do it online…“

Well, to make a long story short, I logged into my Facebook account, and created a Social Group, calling it “TODAY’S S.O.A.P – online scripture Journal“. Next, I scrolled down my friend’s list, and sent out invitations across the USA, UK, Holland, Italy, Australia and New Zea land, South Africa and Zimbabwe. At the end of the first day we had 22 members…and a bunch of recipients still needing to confirm membership.

It is no secret that most people know Facebook as a social networking service that is free to join, and offers the ability for people to connect across a myriad of platforms, ranging from family, friends, workmates, and an infinite number of groups.  This is such a wonderful resource to use for the exponential advantage of sharing scripture, thoughts and prayer. So, with that in mind, creating “Today’s S.O.A.P” on Facebook we expect members to grow, not so much in numbers, but in depth and commitment.

If you don’t have a Facebook account, check it out, you will be pleasantly surprised, it is safe, clean and secure! Just today I was looking through a close friend’s list and recognized a name, contacted the person, and after 24 years managed to make contact – simply amazing!

I don’t usually promote and advocate for other websites, but would urge you to at least look around Facebook, you may find someon from many years ago, even establish contact with family. FACEBOOK