Prayer Request

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

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

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

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!

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

"Wise men still seek Him"

Winter Recess Holiday Season - Ha

Attention Dorcas Hawker

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

Annonymous Blogging for Dummies!

A Tiny Glimpse of Heaven

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

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

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

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

Deeply Conflicted

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

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

God is good! (all the time)

Another Prayer Request

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

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

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

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)

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

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.