Prayers and Action for Kenya

I received another email today about the unrest in Kenya. You can pray, of course. Also, if you feel led to check out the work that Nazarene Compassion Ministries does as well as one.org. Both do amazing things. (I know you're familiar with one.org because I've got their daily blog fed over there to the left.)

Also, I've learned that if you'd rather mail a check to NCM you can make it out to “Kenya Unrest ACM1199” and mail them to Global Treasury Services, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. (In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3).

A Prayer for Kenya

This is a letter that was sent to my friends, Pam and Nelson, who forwarded on to me. I thought that whatever else I would write today couldn't be more important than this. I don't know Bill and Felicia personally but I will pray for them.

Mayhem continues in Kenya

Although the killing, rioting and mayhem in Kenya has ceased to be the top headline story on CNN, FOX and the MSNBC news, there is still much upheaval. We need your prayers!!!

Saturday, 30 people were murdered up in Nakuru during continued rioting over the latest election results. And yesterday (Sunday) another 15 people were killed and thousands were displaced in a violent protest in Navasha. Navasha is fairly close to our home in Karen. Last night at about 9 pm our friend and house helper called us to rescue her from her home just 10 minutes from our home. Gangs of angry protesters were in her area looking to kill people of her tribe (Luo). She was escorted to the nearest police station were she stayed the night sleeping on the floor with her two small children. This morning I (Bill) went to pick her and her children up and went back to their 8ft. x 8ft. home to get some of her things. They are now staying with us for several nights in hopes that things will cool down soon.

For the most part, it is peaceful around our home in Karen. Life seems almost normal. We do not travel far from our home because it is still not safe. Everywhere I go I can feel the tension and fear in the air. Most people do not know who to trust. It is always tense when passing a group of young men on the side of the road. Tomorrow I have to travel to downtown Nairobi to take care of some important business. There has been a lot of violence in and near the downtown area. Please pray for my safety.

Please pray for safety and peace.

Pray that the violence will cease soon.

Pray for all the families of those that have lost their lives during the violence.

Pray for all the thousands, up to 300,000 people displaced and living in fields and makeshift shelters.

Pray for our church and the other churches to step up and help where needed.

Thank you,

Bill & Felicia

I Think those of us in North America are Blessed

Thanks to Kate at Relevant for posting these visuals. What we need and what we consume are often dramatically different. This is really powerful.

The Same but Different

We didn't got to church yesterday but we did go to a place of worship. In fact it was a lot like the place of worship we went to to the weekend before...

Both had massive crowds, 'celebrities' up on giant video screens, places to eat, souvenirs to buy, long lines, long walks, high-tech interactive displays, maps, worship folders, great music, volunteers serving, greeters, crowds of happy people, cheerleaders, programs for kids, parking attendants, lots (and lots) of money changing hands...

and both had very strong messages.

What strikes me is that the only real difference between the NFL Experience at Super Bowl 42 (see a few pix of my family there) and the church we visited the week before would be the content of the message.

And now, I would like to draw lots of conclusions here... but I'm not going to... what do you think? Leave a comment.

Uh, Yes, I'd like the Fruit of Death Please

Hey, I believe in the sovereignty of God. He's definitely in control. But don't hide behind that. I think sometimes you think that because God is in control that you don't have to do anything. Mmmmm... not exactly. I think we have lots of opportunities to guide and control our lives. (please read those with lower case 'g' and 'c').

I read this morning, Proverbs 18:21(NIV), "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

Seriously, are you eating of the fruit of life or death? Can you imagine at breakfast tomorrow sitting down at the cafe, looking over the menu and then telling the waiter, "You know, I think I'm gonna' go with the fruit of death. Yeah, that sounds good."

What do you love? What are you 'eating'? What are you talking about?

Negativity has no place in an authentic relationship. I'm not saying that you shouldn't be able to address issues. That has to happen. But it's your responsibility to do it with a positive 'slant'. Why? Cuz if you don't it's like eating the fruit of death. Doesn't sound good.

I can't overstate this whole concept. It's a huge deal in our society and amazingly in our churches. We have to own up to this problem. Reminds me of an old Texas saying about owning problems..

If someone calls you a horse once ignore it.
If they call you a horse again, take a look in the mirror.
If they call you a horse three times... buy a saddle

Well, I've gone from scripture to Texas sayings. I think that's far enough today.

Peace, J

This is so much Better than Iconic Biblical Images Randomly Appearing on Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Wow. What can you say? www.jesuspan.com

Make Music about the Light or What You See with the Light

Great quote from Dylan Petersen at www.relevantmagazine.com “There are those who make music about the Light and then there are those who make music about what they are able to see because of the Light.”

What do you think? Where do you fall? Can you substitute the word, "make music" with other words? What would they be?

Also, check out a new website a friend told me about, www.wreckedfortheordinary.com


rennovare
j

The Father of Illegitimate Adversity

I was reading about pain and adversity by Austin C. Bonds recently and I guess I've been thinking about difficult times. Sometimes adversity is just adversity... a byproduct of being clothed in flesh. At other times adversity breaks down on me like the monster-waves I'm so fascinated to watch on the discovery channel. Though we seem to live in more sophisticated and subtle times (I speak here only relatively as our culture careens toward hedonism) the Evil One still fathers all kinds of adversity in our lives. Hold that thought for a moment...

So, I read Probverbs 17:17b(NIV) this morning. Ready? "A brother is born out of adversity." Have you ever found someone in the midst of adversity that became your friend, your advocate, confidant, supporter, champion... or brother? Like me, I know you have. Think about your most difficult times.... I bet you can come up with at least one person who "stepped up" to become someone you could trust. That's because though the Evil One fathers adversity in your life, it's illegitimate adversity. There is someone greater who fathers what I'll call legitimate adversity.

The difference?

One, illegitimate adversity, is meant to tempt you and break you.
The other, legitimate adversity, is meant to test you and refine you.
(And I might add, in many cases, bring you a brother)

So, hang on. Any great authentic relationship will go through some adversity. The relationship you're in with Jesus (or want to be in) will include some as well. But adversity's very presence means that something good can happen.

Check out this excerpt from Robinson Jeffers' poem, "The Bloody Sire" and substitute the word, "adversity" for "violence". Or don't. It's semi-genius either way.

Who would remember Helen's face
Lacking the terrible halo of spears?
Who formed Christ but Herod and Caesar,
The cruel and bloody victories of Caesar?
Violence has been the sire of all the world's values

Martin Luther King Jr Day

My friend, Jason, sent me this quote. I can't do better than this...

"There is a power in love that our world has not discovered yet. Jesus discovered it centuries ago. Mahatma Gandhi of India discovered it a few years ago, but most men and most women never discover it. For they believe in hitting for hitting; they believe in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; they believe in hating for hating; but Jesus comes to us and says, "This isn’t the way." And this morning, I think of the fact that our world is in transition now. Our whole world is facing a revolution." Martin Luther King, Jr.

Do the Math

The 'Listening Blog' by Winn Collier is refreshing. Proverbs says, "Where words are many, sin is not absent". Hmmm... count your words today... apparently as they increase so does the possibility of your sinning. Do the math.

Jesus was a Viral Marketer

Seth Godin says, "technology doesn't care who you hate." True. But his list highlights more than technology. It highlights speed, the personal and sometimes the authentic as well. Hmmm, makes me think of Jesus. He was effective, personal, authentic and radically different than anyone and anything of his time... and ours.

The religious institution hated him.

Do they still? In what ways would you say they do? Good questions.

Giving All

Surrendering to God is a discipline that must be exercised frequently… daily… ok, hourly. And though the years of doing this have conditioned me there are still days when it feels surprisingly counter intuitive. In those moments I am tempted to think maybe I don’t need to give too much. It’s kinda like paying taxes… we all agree in the necessity of taxes, but at the same time we all want to know how little we can get away with paying. C.S. Lewis points out that our perspective of God is similar; we desire a relationship with Him but we don't want Him to demand too much of us. And yet he doesn’t demand anything more than what He gave… all.

Random Question of the Day

Speaking of random questions, I was at the grocery store today and asked the checkout lady what was the most amount of money any customer had spent at her register. She said, "800.00" and then added, "there was a lot of alcohol". I didn't ask if she meant there was a lot of alcohol purchased or if there was a lot of alcohol consumed before the purchase. Maybe both.

Denouement

I like the French word, Denouement. Not only is it fun to say (day-nu-mah... think Inspector Clouse) but it also has a cool meaning. It's an untying of knots or a resolution. It was the word of the day on June 10, 2001 in case you were wondering and it’s my word for the moment as I am currently experiencing it. I don’t really expect a complete resolution though. So, I’m living in the midst of the untying. Waiting for everything to make sense can be dangerous. Waiting is good. But sometimes, especially in Christian circles, it is overrated. So, I’m moving ahead. If denouement was always reality then faith would be obsolete.

“Now we see in part then we will have complete denouement.”

(Words I don’t like include the word, "paradisaical". I heard someone recently say, “The island was paradisaical.” Wow. That’s just too much. I think I’ll stick with, “The island is like paradise.”)