Nomad 4 God

A summary for convenience sake

2008-11-14T22:28:00.003-06:00

I've noticed that many folks are still accessing Nomad 4 God and for that I thank the Lord. For convenience's sake, I have assembled the essence of the blog in the following posts.

What it's like: Part 1 (Being a Missionary)
What it's like: Part 2 (Health Issues)
What it's like: Part 3 (Kids)
What it's like: Part 4 (Security Issues)
What it's like: Part 5 (Discouragement)
What it's like: Part 6 (Furlough)
What it's like: Part 7 (GIC)
What it's like: Final Installment (Resignation)
What it's like: Post Script (Staying Home)

If you are interested in Mission and do not know where to turn, you can call the International Mission Board toll free at 1-800-999-3113. Mission opportunities are available to persons of almost any age.

I urge you to contribute to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. You can contribute directly by clicking here.

May God bless you as you seek to serve Him.

What it's like: post-script (staying home)

2008-01-07T19:57:00.000-06:00

Today is the day that we would have returned overseas from furlough if we had not resigned. It has been a very hard day. We have had all kinds of feelings, ranging from sadness to giddiness. From reflectiveness to feelings of anticipation.

There is a large part of me that wonders what my colleagues think about me. After all, our lives intertwined so much for so long. There is another part of me that says since I am following God, it doesn't matter what others think of me. I just sincerely didn't want to discourage my fellow missionaries from the task at hand. Of course, I can't help but to think about all the wonderful things that God would have done had we stayed. That is moot, since He is going to be doing so many wonderful things here on the home mission field.

I am truly enjoying being a pastor; I NEVER thought I would. I see God use me each Sunday as He gives me the words to say; words that I would have never thought of on my own.

Yes, it is bittersweet; I would have loved to have gone back, but I dare not disobey. My place is serving at God's direction. I wouldn't rather be any other place in the whole world.

I anticipate this being my last post on Nomad 4 God. I will however not delete this blog, but leave it up as a tribute to God's grace.

Different Blog Location

2007-08-07T00:13:00.001-05:00

Friends, I have decided to direct you to the blog I now post at. I am now the pastor of Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Wagoner, OK.

Thanks to all of you who have sent notes of encouragement. I am pleased to know that you have enjoyed reading Nomad 4 God. I pray God's richest blessings for you.

NOTE: LINK FIXED 2/13/08

What it's like: final installment (resignation)

2007-07-07T22:31:00.000-05:00

From the 10/40 Window to Mayberry; the journey isn't over yet.

We arrived in the US on furlough back in March. By mid April, God had made it undeniably clear that He wanted us to remain in the US and pastor a church.

Two things: 1) I ALWAYS thought I would retire from the IMB and be an "emeritus missionary", and 2) I have NEVER been a pastor before.

In combination, these two things sent me into a "crisis of belief" (a la Experiencing God). Why would God have us spend so many years overseas only to return "home" and pastor a church? I could not (and can not) answer this. However, I know this to be true: this is what God wants me to do.

Amazingly, my wife felt the Lord speaking to her in the same way (except for her being a pastor).

I have never had such a hard time with something that the Lord has directed me to do. You see, I LOVE(D) being a missionary. There was nothing else I wanted to do and nothing else I wanted to be. God began to whisper to me that I needed to make sure that I loved HIM more than I loved being a missionary. Ouch. That one was close to the heart.

However, EVERY step of the way in this process, God has confirmed His direction and our obedience. To be very honest, I threw out many "fleeces" (a la Gideon) and have determined that HE REALLY, REALLY WANTS ME TO DO THIS. I am utterly amazed. A little confused about "why", but mine is not to questions my Father's desire.

I will admit that my letter of resignation was the hardest letter I have ever written, except, perhaps, for the letter to my colleagues letting them know that we would be resigning. I thought about posting a copy of the letter here, but, quite frankly, it is just too personal of a thing to have up on the internet.

I have honestly loved my work with the IMB over the past many years. I love my colleagues and my service to them. I respect the leadership of the Board and my region. I have no "beef" with the Board, my colleagues, my team, or anything else about it. I am simply following the guidance of my Heavenly Father.

In a way, I feel as though I am betraying the cause of Mission. However, I know I am doing the will of my Father. In a way, I feel that I am being a source of discouragement to those who are excited about and involved in Mission. However, I know I am doing the will of my Father.

My new church is a small church in NE Oklahoma. It has been a church that has been hurt and is tired. I do not know why the Lord wants me to be its shepherd. It is in a small town that reminds me of Mayberry (a la Andy Griffith). I will start August 1.

My last day as a missionary with the International Mission Board is July 31. My last day as a missionary is when I see my Saviour's face. It will be my goal to lead my church to be "on mission, with God".

I have enjoyed being "Nomad For God", but there is no reason to keep up the secret identity. To that end, I am not sure it is worth keeping up this blog. I am unconvinced that I can share with you who I am and not jeopardize the security of those with whom I have worked. Any suggestions?

So, without further ado, this will probably be my last post as Nomad on Nomad. I will maintain my blog account and my nomad4god@gmail.com email account.

Thank you to all who have prayed for me and my family. Thank you to all those who support Mission through prayer and giving. Thank you to all who continue to serve our Lord through obedience to the Great Commission.

Won't you please begin to consider what you will give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering this year? The goal is $165,000,000.

May God bless you all.

This Blog Rated "R"

2007-06-26T16:47:00.000-05:00

That's right. I found this little webiste over on Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee. I find it very interesting that "Missionary" warrants an "R" rating. Strange.

This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:
missionary (13x)
death (2x)

Find out what your blog is rated here.

MQotW

2007-06-24T14:52:00.000-05:00

"Love is the root of missions; sacrifice is the fruit of missions" - Roderick Davis

MQotW

2007-06-10T18:21:00.000-05:00

"People who don't believe in missions have not read the New Testament. Right from the beginning Jesus said the field is the world. The early church took Him at His word and went East, West, North and South." - J. Howard Edington

MQotW

2007-06-03T07:59:00.000-05:00

"I believe that in each generation God has called' enough men and women to evangelize all the yet unreached tribes of the earth…. It is not God who does not call. It is man who will not respond!" - Isobel Kuhn, missionary to China and Thailand

No disrespect intended

2007-06-02T21:53:00.000-05:00

I mean no disrespect to anyone who cares about the PPL survey thing. However, I don't hold much stock in surveys and/or statistics. For instance, give me 30 minutes and I can prove the existence of Santa Claus, given the right demographics.

Please remember: just because a certain number of people believe in something (or don't believe in something) doesn't make it true. (There is a HUGE number of people out in Utah who believe with all their hearts that they will be a god when they die.)

I think that what this all really means is that we must be tolerant of each other on things that really don't make that much difference. Please don't let it be a stumbling block for folks to come to Jesus. Argue, but argue with love. And, if need be, agree to disagree.

That's my two cents.

Interesting Day

2007-05-27T18:04:00.000-05:00

Today, my family visited a nearby Baptist church. It is one of only two Sundays where we haven't been traveling or speaking somewhere. My wife attended there on the other Sunday, when I was so sick that I didn't go to church.

They knwe my wife when we walked in from the other time she visited. Today, they were glad to see us (and meet me and the rest of the family). So glad, that they asked me to teach their kids' Sunday School class. The they pastor also asked me to preach! My goodness! They didn't know I would be attending; I was a visitor; I was the preacher!

What an interesting day.

MQotW

2007-05-27T18:01:00.000-05:00

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives ... and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." - Nate Saint, missionary martyr

MQotW

2007-05-20T22:17:00.000-05:00

"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?" - David Livingstone

Pray for Art Rogers

2007-05-20T16:38:00.000-05:00

Please take a moment and pray for Art Rogers who posts over at 12 Witnesses after you read today's post.

Rejoice with me!

2007-05-14T19:55:00.000-05:00

Luke 4:17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him (Jesus). And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, Luke 4:18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, Luke 4:19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." Luke 4:20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. Luke 4:21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

My grandmother (same on as in the post below) had some sort of stroke behind her left eye in 1986 and left her sightless in that eye. A year or so ago, she had a stroke behind her right eye and eventually lost 99% of the sight in her right eye. It has left her (understandably) depressed and sad by the turn of events in her latter years (she's 91).

Today, my mother took her to the eye doctor . (She has been to countless eye specialists to see what could be done; they all said they could do nothing) However, this new doctor took a look at her eyes, then another look, then yet another look. Finally, he sat back and said, "I think I can help". He told her about a laser procedure and my grandmother wanted it done right then and there. They were able to do it.

MY GRANDMOTHER HAS FULL SIGHT BACK IN HER LEFT EYE!
PRAISE THE LORD!

Update on my grandma's church

2007-05-14T12:36:00.000-05:00

Well, I preached yesterday at my grandmother's church. To give you some background, this is the church that dismantled the indigent clothes closet because they "didn't want that riff-raff coming in and out" of their church. Since then, they also made it clear to me that they weren't going to give me an honorarium because I was still on full salary with the IMB and didn't need the money. They are correct; I don't need their money. (at this point, I don't want it, either)

So, for the past 6 weeks or so, I have been praying about what to preach on. I specifically didn't want my emotions to get away with me and prevent God getting the glory for yesterday. So, I ended up preaching on James 2:1-13. I called the sermon "Prescription for an Ailing Church". I was gracious, but I didn't hold back. I told them that they were a sick church and they needed fixing and anyone who didn't see that their church was in trouble was part of the problem. My whole family attended, since it was Mother's Day. I saw many, many mouths gape open wide at much that I had to say. Again, I was gracious, told them I needed to hear it as much as they did, and the reason that I was saying what I was saying was because I loved them and wanted them to be the very best they could be.

Last night, I showed slides about our missionary life. I challenged them and encouraged them to reach our of their comfort zone and reach the people around them. I did a mini-sermon on Acts 1:8 before I showed the slides (PowerPoint) Afterwards there was an ice cream social. I mentioned at the beginning of the slide show that several people had been offended by what I said, due to the number of folks, (n0ticably deacons) who weren't there that night who normally were. I went on to explain that since most of what I had to say was scripture, that they were offended by the Word of God and were under conviction by the Holy Spirit.

Many people who attended last night told me how much they appreciated what I had to say. They said they felt like their toes got stepped on, but that was OK as they hadn't been stepped on in a very long time.

Pray for this little church. Pray that God would get a hold of them and really shake them up. For HIS glory!

MQotW

2007-05-14T12:31:00.000-05:00

"The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity." - Mike Stachura

Really?

2007-05-11T20:29:00.000-05:00

Do we really need this many different kinds of cereal? I need therapy after every time I go to Wal-Mart!

MQotW

2007-05-06T13:44:00.001-05:00

"Go, send, or disobey." - John Piper

What it's like: part 7 (GIC)

2007-04-30T23:32:00.000-05:00

GIC, or Global Impact Conference, is the mission's emphasis strategy created by Johnny Hunt, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA. In a nutshell, it follows the Acts 1:8 strategy of reaching your hometown, then your state, then your country, then the world. It encourages a church to combine their missions offerings into a year long endeavor, not just IMB at Christmas, NAMB at Easter, etc. Generally, it serves to increase the offerings, not dilute them. The actual event is a missions fair, with lots of local, state, NAMB, and international missionaries and ministries invited to attend and to "schmooze" with the local congregation.

The missionary assumes the role of spiritual celebrity, much to the uneasiness of the missionary. Certainly of all the things we do missions for, we don't do it for our own glory. It is a constant job to keep the focus on God and HIS work, not on our OWN pitiful little corner of HIS work. I have, however, decided to keep attending them when asked, because I have seen God change people through these conferences. Basically, I see God at work there and I choose to join Him.

I received the following letter from a man at the last GIC I attended. It had the subject line: I'm mad at you for stirring the waters of my life If you read it the same way I do, it looks like he should be mad at God, not me! (lol)

I must share with you what an impact you have on me this week-end. I visited with you at breakfast on Saturday, and again on Sunday, individually with (your wife). Your courage and conviction are contagious. The waters in my life are quite peaceful, and I am happy. You, however, stirred those waters, and I am entering a grappling contest. I want the peace that I know and cherish. I do not want to pulled down by the current the crashes over the waterfall. I told (your wife), that I was mad at you because you have stirred the waters of my life.

I must confess that I have really enjoy participating in GIC's. They are unique opportunities to address crowds of people who are already interested in missions. They are opportunities for missionaries, especially those of us in Security 3 areas, to "feel" like missionaries. We get to wear special name tags that identify us as missionaries, we get to tell our stories to folks who want to hear, and we get to be loved on and let us "refill" our cup. We get to stay with members of the church and get to know them and their families.

If you ever have an opportunity to attend a GIC, or even better, house a missionary during a GIC, GO FOR IT!

MQotW

2007-04-28T13:08:00.000-05:00

"If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn't it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death." - Dave Davidson

Totally Outraged

2007-04-19T22:27:00.000-05:00

My grandmother, who is 91 years old, had some sort of stroke behind her eyes about two years ago and has completely lost her sight. Despite that, and a few other health problems, she has maintained her sense of humor and her sense of purpose. For the past several years, she has operated her church's "Clothes Closet" for the poor. It has allowed her to be active and gives her a place of ministry, since she can no longer see to teach Sunday School. It has given her an outlet for her to love God by loving others. I am very proud of my grandmother.

A couple of weeks ago, a deacon of her church came and told her that they were 'shutting down the clothes closet'. My grandmother asked why (of course) and she was told this: "We don't want all that riff-raff coming in and out of our church each week!" My grandmother was outraged! But the deacon was bull headed and wouldn't give in. (he has been the ram-rod around there for a long time and wasn't going to back down).

My grandmother was crushed. Her ministry outlet was gone. Her last "purpose" was gone (according to her). She has endured bullies before and usually came out on top. But this time, it was different. She said she just didn't have the strength to fight for it. I think she is depressed about the fact that she "gave in". She told my sister that now, all she has is simply to wait for the Lord to take her home." She said "I can't see to teach, I can't see to drive people to the doctor; I'm no longer strong enough to go out on visitation; I am simply useless". (I wasn't there at the time; my sister told me about it later)

It broke my heart to hear her talk like that. Please pray for her to be encouraged (and for sight). We call her "Meme".

I am going to be preaching in that church on Mother's Day. I really need your prayers to control what I say from the pulpit and not use it for my own (very heated) opinions. Pray that I would glorify the Father in what I say. Anybody got any ideas about what to say?

Really Encouraged

2007-04-19T22:10:00.000-05:00

I was at the mall Wednesday getting something before I make a trip to a GIC (Global Impact Conference). I was trying to get some information from the lady at the information booth. While there, an older man walked up and she moved away from me and told the man that she missed him at church last Sunday night and asked him if he was going to be there that night. He made some excuses then she went on to say how important it was for him to go to church and that they really miss him when he doesn't come. She told him that he was important to her and the church and wanted to make sure that he knew that.

I was impressed.

That was one of the very few times I have happened to be privy to a conversation like that, with me being completely on the outside. After the man walked off, I asked her a few things, first of all where she went to church. She told me it was one of the local SBC churches! PTL! She went on to tell me that the man wasn't a member of her church, but only a sporadic visitor. She said she didn't even know if he had ever accepted Christ, but was trying to make sure he had every opportunity.

Bless her heart! That just made my whole day.

MQotW

2007-04-10T13:46:00.000-05:00

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." - C.T. Studd

STAS is great!

2007-04-10T13:42:00.000-05:00

Life in America is just too cool! You can read the road signs (much to the chagrin of your sister) and they keep bringing you more pop at any restaurant without having to pay extra!

The only problem is (well, one among several) that I don't have good connectivity at our furlough house. I only have dial up. Actually, I don't even have that. The phone line to our house is down, so I have to go next door just to do email. In some ways, that isn't anything to complain about; at least my wife is happy that I'm not "surfin" all day and night.

In any case, my posts will be sporadic until we can get the internet up and runnin' in the sticks.

Stateside Observations

2007-03-21T15:56:00.000-05:00

Here are some observations about being back in the US (in no particular order):

Boy! Americans are fat!
Mexican food sure is good! (possible reason for observation above)
Wal-Mart still "sells for less".
Why do Americans gripe so much?
Spring is great!
Too many cereal choices!
I forgot how good "Little Debbie's" are! (possible reason for first item above)
McDonald's tastes the same everywhere. (too bad)
Americans need a good geography lesson.
I sure am glad to see my mom.
American cars are big!
American stores have a selection to choose from in "my size".
Rural America is so different than rural "10/40 Window".
Have you seen the candy aisle? (another possible reason for first item above)
Church bulletins; what a concept!
Christian radio stations; what a blessing!
Sonic needs to go international. (yet another reason for first item above)
Suffering is relative.
So is poverty.
Americans have a LOT of leisure time, but they fill it with busy stuff.
No one has yet to ask me about life overseas.
Even bad roads are good in America.
Do you really need that many varieties of Colgate?
ENOUGH about Anna Nicole Smith already!

MQotW

2007-03-18T16:06:00.001-05:00

"Our God of Grace often gives us a second chance, but there is no second chance to harvest a ripe crop." - Kurt von Schleicher

Hot Spots

2007-03-14T10:03:00.000-05:00

For the past several years, I have subscribed to "Hot Spots", a global summary of security issues, country by country. It is a great way to keep a finger on the pulse of things happening in the world. Their main web site is: http://www.asigroup.com

You can subscribe to their daily email summary at: http://www.asigroup.com/hotform.htm

I highly recommend it. Let me know if you like it.

MQotW

2007-03-11T06:48:00.000-05:00

"Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist." - Oswald J. Smith

MQotW

2007-03-06T00:19:00.000-06:00

When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, "You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages." To that, Calvert replied, "We died before we came here."

from the "lighter side"

2007-03-06T00:11:00.000-06:00

Someone alerted me to the fact that Crabtree & Evelyn of London has a new product line for men called "Nomad". Too bad I didn't think of that first!

The Task

2007-03-01T08:45:00.000-06:00

At David Rogers' (whom I greatly respect) suggestion, I have reposted my story about "Dawn".

I am greatly saddened by the events of today, but it brings home again, the sense of urgency we have as believers. And the importance of our task.

Folks, there is a battle for souls. Satan will do anything to steal them away. The Lamb of God has paid the greatest price for those souls and HE ALONE deserves their worship.

Join in the work. Either by your presence, your prayers, or your presents. Pray for laborers for the Harvest for the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Devastated

2007-02-28T23:19:00.000-06:00

That is the only word to describe it, unless it is disappointed.

Yesterday, I had a post about leading a young woman to the Lord in my target country, which is a restricted country.

Today, I pulled that post down after receiving the following email from that same woman:

Dear (Nomad),

Thanks for all of your kindness. I realized that one person can not have two believes, so I am not a Christian. I apologize for my mistake.

Good day ahead!

Best Regards
(young woman)

I am so sad for her. I don't have any other information. I emailed her back and told her that Jesus was still waiting for her and would be until the day she dies.

Please pray for her. For security sake, let's call her Dawn.

Sense of Urgency

2007-02-28T06:33:00.000-06:00

Why can't I live my life like there is no tomorrow? Specifically, why don't I treat every pre-believer I meet like today is their last day on earth? It would sure work out better that way.

Without going into too much detail (because of security stuff), I have been traveling into a nearby restricted country to do language study. I happen to live in a less restricted area to do my particular work assignment. Since we are getting ready for furlough, I decided that I needed to return to my teachers one last time and "draw the net". (we are 'fishers of men' right?) I had casted the net for several months, but had not really drawn it up, thinking I had more time. But, since I won't be back with them for a very long time, I decided that it was time.

So, with prayer and preparation, I set out this morning to have the talk with my teacher and a few others. I tried to draw the net around my teacher, but she slipped through. However, she got a really, really good view on the inside of the net, so I don't think she would slip through again, if offered the chance. I spoke with the "school" language director. She got gloriously caught in the net. I spoke with the "school" receptionist. She slipped through and didn't seem to be very happy about being close to the net. I also went to talk with a shopkeeper and her husband. the husband walked away mid-sentence and she seemed interested about getting into the net "someday".

So, back to the one in the net. It was way cool. She has always seemed "standoff-ish", but today was her appointment with the King of Kings. I had a bi-lingual tract with me, as I am not anywhere close to being able to share in that particular language. After we went through it, she said she needed to think about it some more and might consider it later. I told her that today was the day of salvation and she needed to not hesitate any longer. She said she wasn't going to without reading it again. I told her to take it to her office and go read it. She did. She came back about 15 minutes later and said that she was ready to pray that prayer. She did. After a little explaining, praying, and rejoicing, I was telling her a few things about spiritual growth and told her that she needed to tell others. I gave her the assignment to tell 5 other people this week and asked her "who?" Immediately, she said her husband and her father. I then suggested the other two folks who had slipped through the net in the "school". She was up for the task, then I saw the work of the Holy Spirit as she said without being prompted, "Yes, it is my responsibility to tell others about Jesus, isn't it?" YAHOOOOOOOOO! Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! Then, I felt compelled to do something I have never done before after leading someone to the Lord; I felt I needed to say a blessing over her, Old Testament style. I really felt the power of the Lord with me and said things that I've never thought of saying before. I honestly can't adequately describe my feelings about being a part of this.

Now then, when all this is said and rejoiced about, comes my original question. Why can't I treat every day as a pre-believer's last day on earth? Why do I think there will be plenty of time tomorrow? How many people must perish without knowing the Truth? Why can't the same sense of urgency that God has in getting people reconciled to Him be uttermost in my daily life? How many more must die in darkness before we, as the church, take His mission seriously?

May God have mercy on us all.

MQotW

2007-02-25T05:03:00.000-06:00

"Sympathy is no substitute for action." - David Livingstone

What it's like: part 6 (furlough)

2007-02-19T02:02:00.000-06:00

It used to be called furlough, but it is now called "Stateside Assignment". It was supposed to be a time when a missionary could have R&R and rejuvenation, but now, it is often just an American venue to continue your work. Many folks do not have any kind of a real furlough, but instead are expected to continue on with their duties, thanks to the miracle that is email.

Stateside Assignment, or STAS, is a mixed bag and a mixed blessing. There are so many good things about STAS: seeing your family; allowing the kids to bond with the grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc; seeing old friends; eating familiar foods; going to familiar stores and restaurants; showing your kids where you grew up; sharing your story at churches and other gatherings; telling folks about how God is at work. But there is a second side of the coin with this; your family and friends purposefully or inadvertently put a guilt trip on you about the kids growing up without grandparents or other close family; enjoying those familiar foods and restaurants too much and then having to deal with the Board about your BMI; enjoying Wal-Mart too much then having to get rid of stuff before returning to the field; having to deal with people or churches who really don't care about life in Lalaland; family members who ask you about life "over there" then not paying attention to your answer.

I remember when I was a journeyman and returned home and a family member asked me, "How was it over there?" as he reached for the remote control and never even heard my answer.

I'm not faulting folks in America for not paying attention to your answer or for not comprehending what it's like to be a missionary, but many folks in America haven't even been out of their home state, if not their home county, and simply don't understand what you're talking about. I certainly don't mean that missionaries are better than, smarter than, or wiser than the next guy, but our range of experience is so broad, that sometimes the same conversations you had when you were 20 years old seem to be mundane.

I don't like hearing people gripe about our government or health care or education. While the American systems aren't perfect, it only takes living OUTSIDE America for a few months to discover that we ain't got it too bad in the good ole US of A.

Furlough is a wonderful, blessed, crazy time. You are often put on a pedestal where you don't belong and often attributed super-spiritual, super-human qualities, which you do not possess. Feelings of amazement happen every day when you realize that you don't get the jokes being told, don't know who the TV and movie stars are that are being talked about, and the new model cars look like they are from a sci-fi movie. You are overwhelmed by the variety and choices available. I remember on our first furlough, my wife sent me to the store the very first morning for some cereal and milk. I was gone an hour and a half and only came back with the milk. I stood in the cereal aisle for an hour trying to decide what to buy, then decided I'd just buy "Raisin Bran", but then couldn't decided which variety of the old "standby" to purchase. I think we ended up going out for donuts that morning!

I also remember the first time home from overseas and my sister took us to Wal-Mart. After about 20 minutes she said, "you know, we can go on in the store; these are just the clearance items at the door!" When we then went to El Chico's for supper after Wally World, we nearly shouted for joy (and scared the waitress) when she brought us all ice water!

You forget how to do stuff, living overseas. I remember trying to fill up the car for the first time back when everyone had changed to credit card gas pumps. Finally, the clerk at the 7 Eleven came out and showed me how to do it, or I might have still been there, trying to figure it out. When my wife went to Wal-Mart, she simply handed the clerk her credit card. The woman handed it back and told my wife that she needed to do it herself. My wife had no idea how to do it, so I think she just paid cash!

It's the little things like that which make you realize that while you may speak a half a dozen languages, you can't even pay for Little Debbie's and Tide at Wal-Mart without help from the clerk. Seriously though, it is a demonstration of how little changes can add up. Not just at Wal-Mart, but in people, too. Family expects you to be the same person as when you left. There is NO WAY anyone can remain the same after living overseas, whether as a missionary or in the military or business. You change. Of course, so do the people "back home". They may not change as much, but they do change.

All this is more of a dialogue for me to mentally prepare myself for STAS. We will return in March to the US (to the Greatest State in the Union) for a nice, long, well-deserved, long over-due furlough.

(This is just a joke....)

2007-02-16T07:12:00.000-06:00

Some people have to wait until they die to go to hell ; missionaries have to go to language school.

I can't help but be discouraged

2007-02-12T01:52:00.000-06:00

I am absolutely dumbfounded by all the bickering going on in the SBC. I personally think it should be mandatory for everyone who serves in any kind of public capacity to spend at least 6 months overseas before taking their office/position. This includes seminary presidents, professors, trustees, etc. This way, they would have a 'real world' perspective before calling people idiots or making silly rulings or policies. I think this would clear out the snot and let the SBC breathe a little easier.

I can't help but to be discouraged to be overseas and know that my supporters are at odds with one another over things that mostly likely don't have an eternal significance. The very people who are supposed to be praying, giving, and participating, are instead spending all of their time arguing. Looks like Satan has pulled one over on us and is making us think this "stuff" is more important than seeing a lost world reconciled to God. May God have mercy on us!

MQotW

2007-02-11T04:18:00.000-06:00

"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God" - William Carey

MQotW

2007-02-04T23:36:00.000-06:00

"The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed." - Hudson Taylor

Off Subject

2007-02-04T23:28:00.000-06:00

This is completely off the subject of missions, but I thought I might mention it for the benefit of other missionaries living around the world. I was able to watch the superbowl today LIVE through the TVU player. We actually even had a little party with food and stuff, and had a great time hollering and yelling like the Americans we are. Times where you can be "American" are few and far in between, but the Superbowl is one of them.

We had a DSL connection and only had a few instances where it was "jerky". We hooked it up to our LCD projector and watched it on a screen somewhere around the 52" limit. Since we didn't have a measuring tape, we can't be sure.

Praise report

2007-01-30T00:37:00.000-06:00

I wanted to mention that my wife feels that she has finally 'turned a corner' in regards to her post-surgery recovery. She is getting around better and is feeling good in that respect.

Thanks to all who have prayed for her, even if you didn't know who she is.

MQotW

2007-01-29T01:30:00.000-06:00

"The greater the extent that you go to fulfill the Great Commission in your life, the greater extent you will see God at work in your life." - Thom Wolf

Don't make me think....

2007-01-22T18:51:00.000-06:00

"Don't make me think; just entertain me!" - John Q. Public

This kind of attitude is much too prevalent in the world today.

It keeps people out of the Word and into TV. It keeps boys out of RA's and into soccer practice. It makes little girls throw up after they eat. It makes men turn to porn instead of paying attention to their wives. It makes women read romance novels instead of romancing their husbands.

The lack of correct thinking leads to things like militias, fanatic fundamentalist terrorists, welfare, bankruptcy, and frivolous lawsuits. You end up with movements/trends like PETA, Greenpeace, rap, and modern art. It lets actors run for public office. It lets wives of politicians enter the political arena and even run for president (!?!). It allows people to incorporate things like the Mormon church, the church of Scientology, Jehovah Witnesses, and Christian Scientists into mainstream Christianity. It makes people/organizations act on feelings or sentiment rather than counting the costs.

Then when someone who thinks challenges the thing in question, they are labeled as not being politically correct or insensitive, or stupid. Some of us who aren't eloquent and only vomit our thoughts instead of making them pretty (or logical) are dismissed as "only a blogger" or if we don't have a string of letters behind our name aren't considered legitimate because our thoughts swirl instead of flow.

What is the point of this post? I'm not real sure. I think I just needed to express my frustration of things that bug me: Hillary, Mormonism, terrorists, tort reform, and modern art.

Some of you who are better thinkers than I, go ahead and fill in the gaps in the comment section, if this resonates with you, too.

New Weekly Feature: MQotW

2007-01-21T02:15:00.000-06:00

I would like to make a new weekly feature called "Missions Quote of the Week" spotlighting quotes from previous missionaries or contemporary quotes regarding missions.

I'd like to kick this off with my all time favorite quote from Jim Elliott:

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose."

Language Test Update

2007-01-17T03:21:00.000-06:00

Thank you so much for joining me in this with your prayers. I am very pleased to inform you that I took my test this afternoon and passed it!

Language study is an important part of the missionary life as we learn to communicate in the host language with the goal of sharing the Gospel. This is one step onwards towards that goal.

Prayer Request

2007-01-16T03:11:00.000-06:00

Will you take a moment right now and pray for me? Sometime on Wednesday (my time) I will take a language exam. It is just a first level test, but is important nonetheless. I don't know if it will be morning or afternoon, but by the time you have Wednesday night prayer meeting at church, my test will already be over with, so go ahead and pray right now. Being that the board has now paid for, well let's just say "more than 3" language schools for me, I am interested in doing my best. But I must say, I am getting to old to have to learn very many more languages. They all start to mix in together. (Oh for the gift of tongues!)

Thank you in advance for your prayers. I'll update tomorrow with the results of my test.

New Nomad

2007-01-01T00:05:00.000-06:00

In honor of a new year, Nomad 4 God now has a new, improved look and layout.

I hope you enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Death of a Tyrant

2006-12-30T09:45:00.000-06:00

With intense interest I watched the events unfold on CNN and BBC this morning as Saddam Hussein was executed. Then, the video of him being led to the gallows and the noose being placed around his neck. Afterwards, his body, laid out in a sheet, with his neck elongated. Dead. But even worse: lost.

They said he went to his death with the Koran in his hand and shouted out "Allahu Akbar" moments before his death. Now, he knows the truth. The tragedy is that he never "knew" the Truth before it was too late. For His name is not Allah. It is Jehovah. It is Yahweh. It is "I AM".

As this tyrant refused multitudes of people basic human rights, he went to the gallows as a common criminal. As he acted as a demigod on earth, so he will now bow to the King of Kings in the after-life. Hussein has eternal life (of sorts); it just happens to be outside of the presence of God. And that is for eternity.

On earth, he deserved what he got; after death, we all deserve the same. But God has demonstrated His love for us, while that were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for us. I am no different from Saddam Hussein except that God has reconciled me to Himself through Jesus.

Thanks be to God, who is indeed great.

Reflections on 2006

2006-12-28T09:50:00.000-06:00

How in the world can it be the end of another year? I remember back when it turned to 1970. I decided that I was going to go honk the car horn 70 times. At about 35 honks, my grandpa came out and put a stop to my personal celebration. Of course, that was WAY before car alarms which honk way more than 70 times when a trash truck goes by, right?

Now, 36 years later, we come to the end of yet another year. Reflecting on the events of this year, I'm not sure how to rate this year. We had a lot of transition. We moved to yet ANOTHER country and started yet ANOTHER new language. There is LOTS of stress related to moving to a new country. The kids have had trouble adjusting to the school. We have had trouble adjusting to our new lives here.

It hasn't been a particularly spectacular year in the "Main Thing". I think I have been faithful to share with many people, but I don't recall actually leading anyone to the Lord this year. There have been many times with large seed broadcasting, but no "one-on-one" experiences, other than sharing with folks. I have seen my kids faithful to share with others, and that makes me very happy. I console myself with knowing that God calls us to faithfulness and He will bring folks to Himself in His time. I question and challenge myself with making sure that I am as faithful as I can be. A missionary (or anyone else, for that matter) doesn't "save" anyone; that is the job of the Holy Spirit. It is my job to share with people and be available to be used by God.

It has been a particularly discouraging year. As I said before, my kids have had a hard time adjusting to our new situation and their new school. My wife has battled with severe migraines and more recently chronic pain that required minor surgery. Unfortunately, the effects of the surgery hasn't been all that we had hoped and she has only seen minor improvements. We have had many personal crises with our family back in the States, from aging parents, a grandmother basically going blind, a nephew in prison, another nephew divorced, a young brother-in-law suffering a stroke, and most recently, the "burning-to-the-ground" of my childhood home. Above all, and through all, I can honestly say that "God is faithful" and He has not forsaken us nor has He left us. But, through these difficulties, He has been faithful to love and support us either by His Spirit, or by the extended family He has provided in the Church.

Perhaps one of the most significant things that happened, in a personal way, this year was that I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and am now using a CPAP machine to breath at night. For the first time in years, I am dreaming and I actually feel rested. Previously, I was sleep deprived and was becoming (as I'm sure my wife could testify) quite the cranky old man. Now, I can concentrate all my efforts in just being crotchety! ;-)

There have been many, many blessings this year as well. We have been blessed with a very nice, "biggish" flat in our new city. Generally, my family's health has been good and we have made it through the year with only my wife's surgery as a hospitalization. In fact, one of my kids has asthma, and since moving to our new country, they have weaned them self off the asthma medicine and is doing very well. My kids are making friends here and are getting along better in school.

Now then, with all this said and written, what are my goals for next year?

I will to continue to be faithful to share with folks as God brings the opportunities;
I will finish language school;
I will begin the work for which we moved to this new country;
I will be a better husband by spending less time on the computer;
I will be a better father by spending more quality time with the kids;
I will be a good son by writing my folks at least once a week;
I will be a good friend by being available to those in need;
I will be a good colleague by not complaining and being willing to do what is needed;
I will loose weight by exercising and following a sensible diet;
I will be less crotchety (God help me);
I will be a better adopted son of the Most High by spending quality time with Him and being who I know He wants me to be.

May God bless you for a Happy, Healthy, Blessed 2007!

Merry CHRISTmas!

2006-12-23T00:55:00.000-06:00

From our house to yours, we wish you a blessed, happy, merry CHRISTmas!

"Wise men still seek Him"

Winter Recess Holiday Season - Ha

2006-12-23T00:20:00.000-06:00

Attention Dorcas Hawker

2006-12-21T01:58:00.000-06:00

This is to Dorcas:

I don't know what changes you made to your blog, but I am locked out. I created a Wordpress account just so I could log into your blog, but it won't let me. Please let me read your stuff; I like what you have to say.

Nomad4God@gmail.com

New for 2007

2006-12-17T18:48:00.000-06:00

Annonymous Blogging for Dummies!

A Tiny Glimpse of Heaven

2006-12-17T00:35:00.000-06:00

We attend an international fellowship here in the 10/40 Window. It truly is an international fellowship. This morning, was our "missions emphasis" Sunday and we had a big lunch and missions presentations and a missions speaker. The tiny glimpse of heaven was this: there were people from every corner of the earth present at the service. I personally greeted people in Swahili, French, Portugese, at least two local languages, English, and of course, the dialect of the "Greatest State in the Union". There was a man and his son dressed in Scottish kilts, another man and his family dressed in East African robes, and a family from India all dressed in their saris and suits. It was way too cool.

I remember growing up and hearing about the church an old aunt of mine attended in Garland, TX. It was Church of Christ or Disciples of Christ or something like that. They actually believed that their little congregation in Garland was the ONLY church going to Heaven. I still can hardly believe that after all these years. How sad to think that folks don't understand that it pleases God to hear praises and prayers from all the peoples of the earth.

Christmas season giving

2006-12-13T07:05:00.000-06:00

For Southern Baptists, this is the height of the push for giving to missions through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. For those of you who are not SB, let me tell you what a good thing we got going!

About 100 years ago, there was a little bitty 4 foot nothing woman named Lottie Moon who was a missionary in China. She heard that Methodists were collecting an offering for missions and thought that Southern Baptists could collect more. She challenged a group of women back in the States to take up an offering specifically for missions. The tradition began.

Now, it accounts for somewhere around 40% of the budget of the International Mission Board. The rest of the budget comes from a really cool thing we call the "Cooperative Program". It is where SB churches from all over the US voluntarily contribute part of their weekly offering to support things like the IMB, the mission board in the US (called the North American Mission Board), seminaries, and some of our other denominational organizations. Part of the budget also comes from endowments and investments.

What it essentially does for us, the IMB missionaries, is provide our salary, our housing, our health insurance, our transportation needs, our logistical support on the field and in the US, continued training, retreats, meetings, and a whole lot more that I can't seem to remember right now.

In any case, you, even though you may or may not be Southern Baptist, have an opportunity to contribute to this missions offering. You can mail your check to:

Development Office
International Mission Board
3806 Monument Ave
PO Box 6767
Richmond, VA 23230-0767

Or you can give online at: http://resources.imb.org/index.cfm/fa/store.prod/ProdID/256.cfm

Do something special with your giving this year. Make an eternal impact. Give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. You'll be glad you did.

For those of you who are SB, thank you for your generous, faithful, continued support through the LMCO and through your regular giving throug the CP. We really, really appreciate it and find it an honor being "your" missionaries. May God bless you this Christmas season!

Finally heard something

2006-11-30T05:45:00.000-06:00

I finally heard something from someone in my home church about their pastor passing away. It was actually a response to the prayer request for my wife's surgery. In any case, I was quite saddened/alarmed to hear that the church hasn't yet ordered any Lottie Moon Offering promotional material and was wondering whether or not the offering would be "worthy" this year.

Yikes.

Change of email address

2006-11-25T05:50:00.000-06:00

Effective immediately, I have changed my email address to nomad4god@gmail.com.

Deeply Conflicted

2006-11-20T19:00:00.000-06:00

I have a conflict going on in this pea-brain of mine. It is one that is embarrasing, but it is there nontheless.

The pastor of my home church, back in the Greatest State in the Union died today.

I did not really know him. He came to my church since we have been overseas. I confess that I wasn't fond of him, for he didn't have "any use for missions" and he sure didn't appear to like us. Our last stateside assignment, I tried to find a time with him where I could speak to our home church. He said that he wasn't really sure when that would happen, because he didn't foresee a time when he would need pulpit supply in the next several months of Sunday nights! Our first Sunday back in our home church during stateside assignment, he didn't even acknowledge our presence in the morning service, despite a personal introduction a few days before and greeting him before the service. (not that I needed acknowledgement, but it was my home church and it isn't all that big; it was an obvious breech of protocol, noticed by all) He polarized the church in that you either loved him or you hated him. He alienated most of the older members of the church, focusing on younger families. While focusing on families is fine, you simply cannot neglect the majority of the church.

My conflict is this: I am sorry he died. I am happy that the church will be getting a new pastor.

I feel bad over this conflict. I feel bad for his wife and extended family. I feel bad for the members of my church who are hurting.

I also feel bad that the church has been without any kind of a mission emphasis for quite a few years now. I feel bad that many church members have quit going to that church because they didn't like the pastor. I feel bad that many members feel like they haven't had a pastor, but only a preacher, for the past several years.

I am not happy he is dead. But, I know that he is in the presence of the King right now.

I don't really know what I should be feeling. I guess that is why I am deeply conflicted.

Prayers Answered

2006-11-19T02:14:00.000-06:00

Thank you so much for praying! Our prayers were answered EXACTLY as we had hoped.

God is good! (all the time)

Another Prayer Request

2006-11-14T05:21:00.000-06:00

Without divulging too much personal information, I need to request prayer again for my family. My wife will have surgery this weekend to determine the cause of constant pain she has been having.

Our request is that the doctors would be able to completely take care of the problem DURING this first surgery. If a second surgery is indicated, recovery time would take up to six months.

Thank you for your prayers.

Hurtful Words

2006-11-06T07:59:00.000-06:00

I was reminded tonight of how we must be very careful of the words we say. Even in jest. You might not know what someone is going through and your clever words, meant to delight, can have just the opposite effect and cause embarrassment and a heavy heart. This is especially so overseas, because EVERYTHING is exacerbated and exaggerated.

We know that "many a truth have been spoken in jest", so the receiver of the words ponders what he has done to justify the harangue. If the receiver is already feeling stressed or overwhelmed with circumstances, then they could very well spend the rest of the day trying to over-analyze the situation, when in fact, the speaker may have truly had something to say and just said it "wrong" or "too strong". I know, for I am usually guilty of trying to be cute and end up being hurtful. I got a taste of my own medicine tonight at a dinner meeting.

It is certainly no big deal, but I am sure pondering the implications that my own words have on others when I am trying to be the center of attention or when I think I am being clever or when I think about a split-second after I have spoken.

It is bitter medicine; but it is good medicine.

This is for me:
Eph 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. (NASB)

Quick Update

2006-11-02T02:16:00.000-06:00

First of all, I want to thank all of you who have prayed for us. We really appreciate your prayers. When you pray for us, you join us in our ministry and share a portion of it.

Second, I can say that we can honestly see a difference since you have prayed. One thing that you need to realize is since we didn't recognize this as a spiritual attack for so long, there are some wounds that now need to heal. Attitudes have been affected; relationships have been altered. However, we feel the major portion of the attack has been stopped.

Our children have been at the center of this attack and they seem to be doing better, but we still have a long way to go. Another thing being attacked was my family while I was away each week on business. Since the prayers started, I can say that this last week was the first week without a major "incident" in three months!

Thank you for your prayers; please don't cease to pray!

Spiritual Attacks

2006-10-30T04:54:00.000-06:00

My family has been under intense spiritual attack for the past 3 months or so. We have finally recognized it as such. We thought we were just having a series of incredibly bad days, but my wife's mother called it for what it was and now we are able to pray against it.

Will you please join in prayer for me and my family? We could really use the relief.

What it's like: part 5 (discouragement)

2006-10-17T04:57:00.000-05:00

John 10:10a "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; (NASB)

Utter discouragement. Profound despair. Spiritual attacks. Seemingly endless gloom. "Deep dark depression; excessive misery". (in the words of the Hee-Haw crew)

Not exactly a pretty picture. Certainly not the picture of a "spiritual" "holy" "chosen" "missionary". That makes it even that much more discouraging.

Missionaries are people, too. We don't get a special dispensation of holiness or strength; well, I least I didn't. Some seem to have, at times. Living overseas only exacerbates and amplifies any attacks of depression and discouragement.

Doubt creeps in. Satan attacks your children and they say just the right things to make you question your own call. Satan attacks your spouse and she ends up feeling useless or discouraged or both. Satan attacks you and you feel like giving up.

I remember my first year on the field in a very difficult situation. I was shaving one morning and my oldest child came in and saw my face covered in shaving cream. Innocently, the statement was made, "Daddy, you look like a clown." I have never had such an innocent statement cut me so deeply. What was going on? I certainly didn't know at the time.

Satan can attack the most sacred of partnerships; your marriage. Not in the so obvious ways of immorality (although, for some, that has certainly been a problem), but in subtle ways, like building walls, or discontentment, or silly little arguments. Sure, this happens in the US, too, but overseas, EVERYTHING is amplified. Everything.

Satan will attack your sense of self; your qualifications, your talents, your abilities, your desires, your habits, your hobbies, your thoughts. Everything. Sure, this happens in the US, too, but overseas, EVERYTHING is amplified.

John 10:10b I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (NASB)

Praise be to God who gives His Son and His Spirit to give life, comfort, and direction.

"I will never leave you nor forsake you" - The special promise that I have from God that no matter what, it will be 'OK'.

Pray for us.

Special Note to SBC Bloggers

2006-10-10T08:54:00.000-05:00

My dear fellow SBC bloggers,

I have received several emails in the past week asking "who's side" I am on, that is, am I "for or against Wade Burleson".

I am on Jesus' side.

Please accept my declining to engage in political blogging on the basis that it, in my humble opinion, does not serve any real purpose but to divide.

To be honest, this whole "political thing" within the SBC is absolutely disgusting and quite discouraging. In the pathetic words of Rodney King, "Can we all just get along?"

Now then, how about everyone deciding today what you are going to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering this year. Then, go out and tell somebody about Jesus.

God bless you!

Pray for missions.

PS: This post is not "aimed" at anyone. There is no intention of offending anyone. If I somehow accidentally offended you, please accept my sincerest apologies.

What it's like: part 4 (security issues)

2006-09-29T10:47:00.000-05:00

Level 1 - Everyone knows you are a missionary. Your mom can freely proclaim it on any website or blog and you drive around in a 4x4 with "Mission Baptiste" or "Baptist Mission of Wales" or something like that. You sport a missionary visa in your passport and are asked by the local Baptist Convention to preach at various churches, give the commencement address at the Baptist Seminary graduation, etc. Your name can be listed on IMB "stuff". When you attend a Global Impact Conference (GIC), you get to use your real name and tell anything and everything about your work. You get letters from GA's, RA's and Little Blue Haired Ladies. (The life-line of missionary work, cause they actually pray for you!). Almost everyone was a Level 1 missionary until the non-resident missionary program. (some of you older timers correct me if I'm wrong here.) There aren't too many left in these last days.

Level 2 - Everyone knows you are a missionary. Well, probably. At least you don't advertise it, though. You live and work in an area, or with a people group that isn't necessarily excited about your being there. You start using silly substitute words in your emails back to Mama. You may still drive a 4x4, but your RL made you remove the magnetic signs on the doors. However, you have kept them for travel around the country, anyway, because "up country" there is still a "mystic" of the "holy man". You get an occasional letter from a missions group, but not very often. At least your name is still listed in the "Open Windows" so you can get prayed for by name on the Wednesday night closest to your birthday. You still get to use your real name at GIC's, but you hesitate to tell all about what you are doing overseas. You have to modify your blog or website to be careful about what you say. You give security a thought maybe once or twice a month, if that often. A great deal of field personnel are Level 2.

Level 3 - Everyone knows you are a missionary. Let's face it; to most people overseas, they think that if you are an American, you are a Christian. If you aren't a spy, then you must be a missionary. Some of our folks are fortunate and can get away with the "authorities" knowing that they are Christians, but, because they don't make too many "waves" or provide the government with a good excuse to "keep" you in country, you are allowed to stay with an infrequent interrogation by the local security bureau/agency. Others really have to work at a legitimate reason to get to stay in country. For many of our folks, it is extremely illegal to be a missionary in their country. So, they are teachers, or consultants, or specialists, or yada yada yada. After all:

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without preaching?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!"

The next part should be, "And how can those who are sent continue to have access to the lost, unless they have a residence visa". (No, I'm NOT adding to the Word; just making a point) My point is most security level 3 folks spend an inordinate amount of time making sure they are able to keep the visa in their country. They must be constantly concerned with information security. Much of the time, it isn't necessarily for their own safety, but for the safety of local believers. These saints (the local believers) can be beaten and/or tortured for simply implied association with IMB personnel.

I have heard that there are several countries where the government knows "who's who", but, because, as a general rule, IMB folks aren't "flamboyant" or cause embarrassment to the government, we are tolerated. Sometimes, just flat ignored. However, if the line is crossed, out we go!

You must protect all identifying information over the internet; you have to have an anonymous blog. I I have heard that there are even some of the "young ones" who use fake names at MLC. Personally, I think that it is taking it a bit too far, but that is their call. At GIC's, you use only part of your name or a pseudonym. You haven't heard from a blue haired lady in years. You are listed in a "clump" in Open Windows, as "Last Frontier". You can't answer the question "So, what do you do", without some creative license. In any case, there is a LOT of stress associated with being a level 3 missionary.

Level 4- Supposedly doesn't exist. Supposed "private" appointment services with only a few trustees, Jerry, and a VP or two, simply never happen. I might have accidentally met one, briefly, once. No way to prove it.

Pray for us.

Competition for souls

2006-09-16T06:10:00.000-05:00

I ate with one of my kids at McDonald's today. (not my choice) While sitting there, we noticed two Mormon "Elders" sitting with a young man. I assume they were "witnessing", "prostylizing", "wining and dining", or whatever they call it. I was overwhelmed with a sense of anger. These two young guys will move on in two years and leave in their wake more confused people than they found when they got here. I mean we already have to deal with the local religion and it is bad enough. But then you get these fakers who represent the great faker leading people on a road to false truth. Can lost people be more lost than they were before Mormons got to them? No, I don't think so. After all, lost is lost. However, I think they can cause indescribable damage. I really, really hate Mormonism.

I visited the offical Mormon website after going to Mickey D's. I have studied it on and off for years (not for personal gain, but for battle info). They are so full of lies that I couldn't look at if for more than 5 minutes without feeling ill. I really, really hate Mormonism.

Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

What it's like: part 3 (kids)

2006-09-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Parenting is an adventure no matter where on earth you are at, but it can be even more of a challenge, and more of a delight when you are overseas.

Everyone has a cute MK story about this or that, and my regular public blog (which shall remain unknown and unlinked to this blog) is full of funny stories about my kids. I'll spare you the stories and focus on the challenges of raising "Third culture kids". The notion of TCK's is that they don't fit in their parent's culture and they don't fit in their host culture. They have a culture all their own. And when you have lived in as many countries as we have, we aren't even sure of what they call their own...

What got me thinking about this particular subject today is a derogatory comment my pre-teen said to my wife today. The comment was something like "Why can't you make this 'home'"? Of course, that is about the worse thing a kid can say to their mother. Our youngest child, simply couldn't even understanding the sibling asking that question and got rather upset that it was asked, because that child's definition of home is "where ever your suitcases are". The basis of the pre-teen's question is rooted in the many, many moves we have made over the past years and having to say numerous good-byes and having to start over making friends.

So it got me thinking about what "home" is. For me, "home" will always be back in the Greatest State in the Union. Even if I NEVER live there again, I'll always consider it "home". Even when I lived in Hell (Los Angeles), I went "home" for Christmas. I asked my wife what home meant to her. She said that it used to mean the Greatest State in the Union, but now, she doesn't know any more. She said that she has tried really hard to make a couple of the places to feel like home, but they really never got there, except in two instances. She said she is really, really trying to make this new place seem like home. Me, too.

Back to MK issues... Their normal growing up years is so vastly (and sometimes ghastly) different from mine. I lived in the same town until I left for college. I had a yard, two dogs and two cats. I went to a rural school through 8th grade. I lived in the same town as grandparents. I went hunting practically whenever I wanted. My kids had a dog, but it was bitten by a black mamba and died. My kids live 10,000 miles from their grandparents. My oldest child started off in pre-school in a foreign language school, where this child didn't speak one word of the language. This child ended up being first in the class in both pre-school and kindergarten! Private ownership of guns has been illegal in every country we have lived in, so hunting is just out of the question for my kids.

In my growing up years, all we had to worry about was Viet Nam or the Cold War. I never saw any act of "civil disobedience" during the civil rights 'era'; my home town was just too small and didn't care. My kids have seen extreme poverty, public riots, and incredible hostility. They have heard bombs, grenades and machine gun fire. In fact, several years ago, we were in the US. An ambulance happened to go by and my mother asked one of my kids if they heard lots of sirens over there in Lalaland. My brave little child answered, "no grandma, just machine gun fire". That statement haunts us to this day.

I have ended up with some incredible kids. Well, despite the fact that they don't like hot dogs, they speak multiple languages, understand nuances of different cultures and can sing the national anthem of several different countries. They understand lostness. They understand the need for compassion. They ask deep questions, not just about silly things. Yes, they are still kids and as a parent, I still have to get on to them. They certainly aren't perfect. But I'll bet they will be some of the most interesting people their friends will ever meet when they go off to college!

What it's like: part 2 (health issues)

2006-09-09T08:27:00.000-05:00

It isn't any fun being sick. Back in the States, I hated that feeling that comes on when you're getting the flu. For me, my hips start to hurt first, then I get all 'achy'. That is usually just an inconvenient sickness, that is, for someone my age, usually not life threatening.

I've never broken a bone (thank the Lord!). Of course, I have known many people who have broken various bones. It is a scary time and, I'm told, it hurts like heck. I hope I never have to know.

Cancer is a whole other story. That is some bad stuff. My mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother were all affected by cancer. My grandma and mom are cancer survivors. That is a horrible, trying time for the whole family, not to mention the patient. The treatment can be almost as hard on you as the cancer itself. You sure want to have someone who knows what they are doing to deal with it, especially if it is caught early. Cancer is just plain 'bad'.

A heart attack is scary. It has some warning signs, and there are perhaps, 'high risk groups' for having one, but you really just don't know what is going on inside that ticker of yours. People as young as 40 can drop dead without warning. Of course, it is sometimes survivable if you are able to get help when it first starts. You need some big time health care to survive a heart attack.

A stroke is a nightmare. I know several stroke victims. I had a great aunt who literally just killed over with a massive stroke. My brother-in-law has had a couple of stokes and he is struggling to recover. PTL he hasn't lost any function from these mind scrambling events.

Being sick yourself is one thing; it is quite something else when your child is sick. You tend to panic, especially if there is any difficulty of breathing or a high fever. At least "Urgent Care" is open 24 hours. Right?

Well, if you live in the States it is. If you live overseas, especially in the 10/40 window, your chances aren't so great of finding any kind of medical care you'd send your dog to, much less your children.

I have been associated in some way with helping other missionaries get health care in the various regions I have lived. The very first "city" we lived in on the mission field (before helping folks) had a "medical" clinic. It actually had a price list of medical procedures painted on the outside wall. One of the procedures that has stayed with us was "caesarian section". It listed its price as about $15. It listed a C-Section WITH ANESTHETIC at $25. We reasoned that it was listed that way because some folks couldn't afford the extra 10 bucks for the happy juice! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!

I have seen the terror on a mother's face when something is wrong with their child and they are 10,000 miles from "home" and the only medical care is something along the lines that I described above. Medical care is reimbursed where ever you decide to have it, but in order to get your travel and lodging reimbursed, you have to have pre-approval. Of course, procedures exist for emergencies, which vary from region to region.

However, you can't just zip down the street to you local ER or urgent care facility. In our first city, we lived about 5 hours from the capital which had one negligible hospital that we weren't too uncomfortable going to for basic stuff. However, when my wife needed to give birth, we packed up the family and went to a different country for nearly two months to give birth in the very best hospital in the whole region, which was on par with a rural county hospital in the US. This hospital was clean and nice, and offered a measure of assurance, but for anything major, you had to be flown to Europe or back to the US. Any kind of heart problem? BOOM! Back to America. Any kind of cancer? BOOM! Back to America. Broken bone? Boom! Go to the regional hospital. Appendicitis requiring emergency surgery? Boom! Go to the regional hospital. Need to give birth? Boom! Go the regional hospital.

Where I am now is not much better. I'd say that more that 90% of all the folks who live in my current region must go somewhere else for birth, surgery, etc. Same for the folks in the surrounding regions.

Well, I see that this is now too long for most folks to read. If you have continued this far, this is definitely something that separates living in the US and living overseas in the 10/40 window. Pray for us.

Missed the Band Wagon

2006-08-31T19:12:00.000-05:00

Yep, that's right. I missed the band wagon regarding a timely blog about the controversial chapel service at SWBTS. I did some commenting, but, quite frankly, I don't think I can add anything to what has already been said.

Except, perhaps, for this:

I address this to all believers, not just leadership, and not just SBC: Remember that we are God's ambassadors on Earth. Our job is to RECONCILE people to the Lord; not be a stumbling block. We must live our lives and conduct our business as if the whole world was watching. Every time one of us trips (Flockhart) or does something questionable (SWBTS censorship), the lost are looking at that and at how the rest of us responds to the problem. We are ALL in this together.

No disrespect intended

2006-08-29T02:54:00.000-05:00

I respect my fellow bloggers who are much more educated than me, are better thinkers than me, and are better debaters than me. However, for me personally I would much rather talk about this Calvin:

than this one:

The main reason is this: most people whom I have contact with care more about the first than the second. True, the first is just pretend. But the second is dead. It's not that I don't understand the implications of the second, but the first one is just a whole lot more fun. Discussion of the second one seems to depress me, mostly because it turns into fruitless arguing.

(Unfortunately, I tend to identify more with the first, inasmuch as I am easily distracted and tend to spend a lot of time daydreaming.)

I like this kind a tulips:

a whole lot more than this tulip:

But that is just me. A plain ole simple small town boy who ain't very good with big words and lofty ideas. I like the poster on Ken Sorrell's blog that says "With Jesus in my heart and a Bible in my hand, I have everything I need to start a new church."

Extra-Biblical crud

2006-08-27T01:29:00.000-05:00

Many of my missionary colleagues (anonymous and nonymous?) together with other bloggers are discussing extra-Biblical junk that is presented by our culture which gets in the way of a Christ-centered life and/or missions. The example I bring to the discussion table is miniscule in reality, but it represents the broader, deeper problem.

Last week, at a church I was attending, they had a "children's sermon" or "Kid's moment" or whatever. That part I didn't have a problem with. What concerned me was at the end, the woman who was leading this (didn't have a problem with that, either) said something to the effect of "OK, now, everyone assume their prayer posture". (That was the part I had problems with). This statement, "Prayer Posture" is extremely important in some cultures. People seem to think that they must be in a certain position or posture to be able to pray, whether it is kneeling or prostrating themselves. In this overseas Baptist sub-culture I am in, I have NEVER heard anyone talk about a "prayer posture". I think I know what she meant, that is, bow your head and close your eyes, but to ask/tell children to assume their "prayer posture" simply went over the top for me.

When I was a kid growing up in church (not a Baptist church, by the way) we all knew that you were supposed to close your eyes and bow your head to pray. But sometimes, as a kid (and maybe sometimes now) I looked around at people while they prayed. There was this one older man who closed his eyes, but he NEVER bowed his head; he ALWAYS looked up. Being the inquisitive kid, I asked him why. He said that as a kid, he was always taught to look at someone when he was in conversation with them and he assumed the Lord was up, so, he always looked up. I thought this was a little weird, but I decided that it was OK with me.

My first year on the field, a missionary who had been there a couple more years on the field mentioned that he didn't like the way I prayed. Being the inquisitive kid, I asked him why. He said that my body presentation didn't look like I was being sincere. I asked him to explain further. He said that instead of "sitting up, with my feet on the floor" I continued to sit in whatever position I was in and prayed that way. He said it looked like I didn't understand the solemness of prayer. I thanked him for sharing his feelings with me, and I thought I was quite gracious to not say much at all. I understand his point, but.....

Some of the things the Word says about prayer is to"not pray on the street corners to be seen by all, but go into your private closet"; "don't pray as the pharisee who wasn't repentant, but as the publican who beat his chest with remorse"; "don't use meaningless repetition"; and "pray without ceasing". (paraphrased missionary version PMV). I don't recall reading a portion that said that we must sit upright with our heads bowed and our eyes closed, with our feet firmly on the floor.

Am I way out of line with my thinking? Do I need to encourage others to sit or stand or kneel a certain way for their prayers to be effective? Am I taking this much too personally?

I know that there are much more important extra-biblical mal-practices, but what is your take on this? I'd really like to know.

Culture Stress

2006-08-27T01:19:00.000-05:00

I define culture stress as "having it up to here (hands pointing to the top of your head) in dealing with your host culture". I know that isn't the MLC definition, but it works for me. (I heard they changed it to ILC; another paradigm shift?)

I am dealing with a bit of culture stress. Specifically, the bus system. Being in the country I am in, I am not afforded a vehicle by my region. I really miss having a vehicle. I don't mind taking the bus, especially since they are now (mostly) air conditioned. You can get around to anywhere on the bus, or a combination of buses. There are several different bus companies/systems in the city where I live. There is the regular bus service then a series of smaller independent type bus services. They are very convenient, but the system is hard to figure out. A few minutes ago, I tried to catch one of these smaller buses. The driver let a whole slew of passengers off his bus, but waved me off when I tried to get on. For the life of me, I can't figure out why. So, while walking on home, I was left to ponder the reasons why. I never came up with a good explanation, which leaves me with culture stress.

I think I am ready for furlough, oops, I mean Stateside Assignment (another paradigm shift).

Paradigm Shift

2006-08-23T10:42:00.000-05:00

I am currently at a meeting with many of my colleagues. I learned that I missed yet another paradigm shift. The IMB is no longer refering to the 10/40 window as the "10/40 window", but as the "Last Frontier".

I had seen in some of the literature and stuff where they were using "Last Frontier", but I didn't realize that they weren't using "10/40 Window" anymore.

Well, tough. I happen to like the term "10/40 Window". I'll continue to use it until I get my own "pair of dimes".

Pun Intended

2006-08-19T02:05:00.000-05:00

The picture to the right is of a Chevy Nomad. I did a google search on "nomad" and found this one. I thought it was clever. I'm not particularly a car buff, but I thought it might be a good substitute for my real picture.

What it's like: part 1

2006-08-18T08:04:00.000-05:00

I am sometimes asked what it's like to be a missionary (mostly when I am in the US). There is nothing else on earth like it. I consider myself to be a "Servant of the Most High God". That is my calling.

To try to tell you what it is like is actually very difficult, because it is so multi-faceted. It's NOT like the Peace Corps (well, not all the time). It's NOT like the military (well, not all the time). It's NOT like Diplomatic Service (well, not all the time). It's NOT like ex-pat work (well, not all the time. It IS rewarding. It IS dangerous (at times). It IS hard. It IS easy. It IS lonely. It IS overwhelming. It IS challenging. It IS wonderful. It IS exciting. It IS frustrating. It IS stressful. It IS very stressful.

Rewarding: there is NOTHING in the whole world like seeing the faces of people, or an entire village receive the Gospel or a portion of the Bible in their own language for the very first time in their life.
Dangerous: you can take all the contingency training you like but NOTHING will prepare you to have REAL AK-47 shoved in your face. 3 days of pretending at MLC just isn't going to cut it.
Hard: when the kids pull out the "Grandma" card, or the grandma's pull out the "I'm missing their entire childhood" card. That is very, very hard.
Easy: seeing the best the world has to offer and making really great relationships and fun contacts all over the world.
Lonely: at times, no one seems to be able to really "connect" with you and you can feel isolated and alone, even in a city of millions.
Overwhelming: realizing that if you swerve the wrong way, you could send 2 or 3 dozen people screaming into eternity without the Lord. Realizing that even with a lifetime language learning, you'll ALWAYS be a foreigner, an outsider.
Challenging: trying to live and function in a culture that is hostile to your presence and looks at you as a threat to culture and religion. Trying to bridge that gap with the Gospel.
Wonderful: seeing people's lives and even whole villages change with the new knowledge of and life in the Living Word.
Exciting: being a part of the cutting edge of missions; knowing that what you are doing is actually making a difference for the Kingdom of God.
Frustrating: seeing people make bad decisions/choices which bring about a negative effect on your work, other's work, or the church in general.
Stressful: trying to learn yet ANOTHER language in order to make relationships, etc, knowing that the foundation that you lay in the beginning months make all the difference in years to come, but having to deal with all of the above, plus culture shock in those first few months.
Very Stressful: did I mention language study and culture shock? add in having a baby overseas. That'll put you right over the edge.

I love being a missionary. If I ever had to stop being a missionary, I really have no idea what I would want to do. I see it as "who I am".

I'll write more about this later.

Welcome!

2006-08-18T02:53:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my blog. Sorry I can't tell you who I am, but it would present a security challenge for those I work with. I'm sure you understand.