Lessons from the Journey

Embers of Restoration

2011-06-27T23:16:00.000+02:00

Peter finds himself in an all so familiar place as Jesus gently calls his name from the shore. Immediately, his thoughts drift back to that day, some three years ago when Christ wooed him from his nets to follow Him. Ah, that voice. The same voice which in love commanded a little girl to wake from death's grip, in zeal cleansed the temple, in passion announced the kingdom, and in agony cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me." (Matthew 27:46) Yet now, Jesus extends an invitation to breakfast. Fish and bread. But Peter notices something else. A charcoal fire. (John 21:9)

Jesus is up to something more. Don't miss this. Only two times in Scripture is this phrase, "a charcoal fire" used. Both found in the book of John. Here, and a couple chapters back, in John 18:18, "Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself." The last time Peter stood around a charcoal fire was on that fateful night of Christ's betrayal and it was around that very charcoal fire Peter denied even knowing the Man in the judgment seat. Upon glimpsing this seaside scene, no doubt a trigger of emotional pain shot through Peter's veins. But Jesus was not seeking retribution. Rather, this was about restoration.

Jesus re-created the setting of this night in Peter's past. Not to bring up his faults, but to enable him to move past his failure by recognizing his responsibility. Where only shortly before Peter denied Christ three times around a charcoal fire, here, Peter emphatically declares his undying love for Christ. Three times. (John 21:15-19) Where previously Peter refused to bear the consequences of being associated with Jesus of Nazareth, he now embraces the call to follow this King of Heaven. To the point of giving his life. Peter's fall was painful, but not final. Jesus had told Peter earlier, "but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22:32) Darby translates it, "when once thou hast been restored…" Our very restoration is not for self-advancement, but for the building up of His church.

When Jesus called Peter and his friends from their life of fishing (Matthew 4:18-22) to "follow Him", Matthew noted that James and John were "mending their nets." They recognized a broken net catches few fish. Likewise, a discouraged saint catches few men. The word used for "mending" is the same word translated "restore" in Galatians 6:1. "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness." Just as catching fish requires a mended net, fishing for men requires restored vessels. Webster's Dictionary defines "restore" as "to bring back to a previous condition."

Many find themselves in this same vortex of madness. Emptiness, despair, failure, frustration, and hopelessness define their days. Even in the very presence of those they know and love, loneliness characterizes their moments. In seeking to be known and vulnerable, they feel betrayed, distanced, and at times, cut off from acceptance. Mother Teresa said, "“Of all the diseases I have known, loneliness is the worst.” Like Peter, we go back to fishing. Back to that thing in which we think we'll find our identity, only to realize that was never who we were. Why? Because we were created with an eternal purpose satisfied only in the pursuit of the Eternal...never intended to be satisfied by the diversions of time.

Among Christ's followers, there is a great need for restoration. Not a mere passing over of sins committed, but a demonstration of Jesus' love which seeks to restore and renew lives which once were discarded as useless for the Kingdom. Are we looking to gently encourage and shepherd our brothers and sisters past their past, or are we condemning them based on their history? Nets are mended for the purpose of fishing once more. In God's economy, a broken net is a call for the Church to "…forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him."(2 Corinthians 2:7-8) Furthermore, Paul goes on to plead that we would not be “outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his strategies." (2:11) To withhold comfort and refuse restoration to a sincere, repenting sinner is to directly play into Satan's hand.

Never forget that, as a believer in Jesus, on the best day, our status is a sinner saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. For those trapped in a funnel of despair, know that Jesus calls you to His charcoal fire. Not to condemn, but to affirm His love and offer restoration. May our lives, as His lights in this world, reflect His attitude of restoration. As we seek to mend broken nets, let us lay aside bitterness, resentment and pride, and under a unified and unhindered banner, proclaim His restoration to this generation.

Forgiveness in the Ashes

2011-04-06T03:30:00.002+02:00

Standing by their charred house and the heaps of rubbish piled up in front, a few of my friends (young kids) recounted their story of nearly being burned alive in one of Cairo's slums---just last month. Barred in their house by angry activists, they were able to escape the inferno by jumping from the roof to safety. A bit later, after leaving them, I was greeted by a neighbor. He immediately asked me why I was visiting this particular family. Despite my saying nothing about the incident, he quickly threw out, “Don’t feel bad for them. They got involved in a situation and one must retaliate. If someone hits me, I must hit him back. That is the way it goes. As often as it happens.”

Is it? Must it be?

Jesus Christ taught a different form of responding to crisis. “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27-28)

Such words ring absurd to most ears, yet could this be the very liberation for those who would hold onto the past? Could forgiveness be the path to freedom for the hurt and the offender? Is our world trapped in the downward spiral of escalating aggression due to man’s inability to comprehend Christ’s words? Does harboring bitterness and resentment only tighten the grip on unresolved stress, frustration, and anger? Mark Twain put it poetically. "Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”

Yet forgiveness is no mere change of mind. Rather, it’s an action; an action which reverses the trend rather than merely stopping the offense. It reaches out to the miscreant in love. It seeks restoration. It bridges the gap making a way for new life.

This is the message of Calvary. “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) We have offended a righteous God by our sins. Chosen to pursue our own path. Yet God, in true love, bridged the gap to offer us forgiveness and restoration. A forgiveness that brings freedom to those who embrace the gift His Son died to provide and rose from the dead to offer.

So the world will continue to war. True. But for those of us who have tasted Jesus' forgiveness, can we respond with any reply other than that of the apostle John, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (I John 4:11) Not once, nor twice, but with a love which refuses to count the wrongs of another. (Matthew 18:21-22) With such a love we were forgiven and with such a love the world will see our Savior.

It may be in the ashes of our dreams, expectations, and plans, but there we must find and offer love's response. Forgiveness. For it is there we find freedom and there restoration begins.

Choosing Love

2011-04-01T08:04:00.002+02:00

That four-letter word. Love. Lightly and frequently used today. We "love" everything from pizza, to our favorite clothing brands, to a certain someone. For many, the word has casually become a conversational closer. It's thrown around in our vocabulary as fish in Seattle's Pike Place Market. The media world permeates our society with its broad definition of love. From Everybody Loves Raymond, I Love Lucy, Love Actually, or Elvis' Love Me Tender, the word is used to encapsulate our emotions.

But is love the feeling painted by Hollywood OR is it a choice of commitment and self-sacrifice? Webster's leaves it as "an intense feeling or deep affection" but could it be something far more? What's the deal? What is love? Paul defines love as an action which is "patient, kind...always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails." (I Corinthians 13:4, 7-8) Always. Consistency. A bit different than the world's portrayal, huh? Are you [am I] actually prepared to "love"?

Interestingly, the Scriptures identify love as much by what it is not, as much as what it is. It does not "envy, it does not boast, it isn't proud, it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps NO record of wrongs...does not delight in evil." (I Corinthians 13:4-6) Such actions are not controlled by our emotions, but by a choice. A choice to submit to the Spirit of God. The chaos, frustration, and stress of life will push us to our emotional limits, but are we choosing to "love one another as Christ has loved us"? (John 13:34) This is NOT a natural response.

Love exposes us. Makes our life vulnerable for the sake of another, and at times, requires our life. C.S. Lewis may have said it best. “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable." Love hurts. But love is also the ultimate gift we can give another, for in it, we experience freedom. Freedom to model Christ. Freedom to know Christ. Freedom to know ourselves in a way we never knew existed. Love frees.

Jesus taught, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) The apostle John reiterated, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (I John 3:16) Perhaps saying, "I love you" is actually a statement of sacrifice and self-denial. Not a license to lust, but a call of commitment.

So before you unleash that four-letter word, pause. It's a choice.

Thank You Ronald Finson

2011-03-24T22:25:00.000+02:00

Guess I'm gonna quit work. Or at least take a vacation. I mean, after receiving news like this, why not?Among the many e-mails I received this week, this gem found it's way into my inbox. From some guy named Ronald Finson. Decent fellow. He wrote,

G-20 board of trustees comprises of twenty finance minister and representative

all over the world head a meeting at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in January 5th 2011

regarding the economical meltdown affecting the world, so they decieded to engage

in an email eletronic ballot system through an email open ballot email selection

which your email came out as one on their beneficairy and they instructed Mr RONALD FINSON of Money Gram to keep send you $5000 USD twice a week untill the sum {$820,000} is completed

I mean, please don't be jealous, but it looks like I'm going to be making $10,000 a week for doing nothing. All I have to do is send my bank details, etc. Great news!

Or is it?

It's easy to absorb what we want to hear. Whether its encouragement coming from the mouth of a friend, a good recommendation of a boss, or the words of a philosopher, we embrace that which is conducive to our life. But my question is simple. Is something "good news" when unfounded, misleading, and ultimately, a lie? Sure, it might feel good to believe it for a time, but its end is destruction, loss, and hurt. But how can we know what is true and what is counterfeit?

As followers of Christ, we must return to our source. The gospel being propagated today is one of self-absorption. One that contradicts Christ's first command in Luke 9:23, "If any man desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me." With books hitting the shelf promoting universalism, pluralism, financial prosperity, and self-enrichment, we have made the good news about us, rather than truth. About time, rather than eternity. Salvation is by faith in Christ's work alone. Period. Yet such love will produce a concrete response and life change. In the words of Bob Hayes, ‎"The decision to be a disciple of Christ is a decision to put aside our double life." When Jesus' disciples were confronted with hard truths, Jesus asked them, "Do you also want to go away?" Peter answered Him saying, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." (John 6:67-69)

Could it be many hold a counterfeit faith? A Ronald Finson promise? Webster’s Dictionary has defined counterfeit as “made in imitation of something else with intent to deceive.” Whether intentional or unintentional, could many have picked up a counterfeit version of Christ? A version that sells self-advancement, prosperity, and worldly happiness when Christ, preached denial, sacrifice, and death? Are you dissatisfied with the status quo of life? With the meaningless pursuits of the present? With the frustration life's rat race? I'm not suggesting we ought to move to some remote location, rashly make life transitions, or emphatically change who we are. No. Rather, adopt the midset Jesus taught us. "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) A new priority which trumps all else. May I suggest the greatest sacrifice one could ever make is to reject the authentic call of Jesus Christ for in this pathway, we find hope, purpose, acceptance, and fulfillment.

Identifying a counterfeit is a process. The United States federal government trains fraud investigators to know every mark of the authentic in order that the counterfeit will be identified in its failure to match the genuine. They are taught to look for differences, not similarities when distinguishing the fake from the real. This is contrary to the world’s mindset of pluralism. In knowing and understanding the authentic call of Christ, the counterfeit emerges under the microscope of the real. "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) Focusing on the many deviations of Christ’s call may create an debater, but what this world desperately needs is devoted imitators of Jesus. Followers whose lives conform to message of Christ.

Is Christ an addition to your life OR is Christ your life?

A Crowded Christmas

2010-12-06T00:31:00.003+02:00

Ah, the beautiful bustle of the Christmas shopping. Store promotions. Wish lists. Lights. Tinsel. Trees. Carolers. Snow. Food. Family. Love. Gifts. Parking lot gridlocks. Seemingly endless checkout lines. Crammed food courts. Screaming children. Stressed mothers. Frustrated fathers. (With the gentle strains of ♫ Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar. Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia. Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born. ♫ playing in the background.)

We return home with armloads of gifts for others. In a frenzy, we wrap the last of the presents only to have them ripped open moments later. Then, we rush off to catch the next family gathering. Exhausted.

And here we are again. Christmas. It's not that we don't want to hear the angels singing. Yes, we need a star to follow, as the wise men did, and if you're like me, we desperately want to kneel at the manger. We truly long to adore that child wrapped in swaddling clothes, just as Mary did. And we yearn to worship with the shepherd and bring our gifts beside the magi. It's just, well...no time.

Not much has changed. It was crowded then...even Bethlehem had no room available. Just too crowded. And it still is. "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:10-12) God doesn't force His way into crowded lives. He knocks. Sends an invitation. That invitation is Jesus.

Interesting. We have time for other things. Work, friends, sports, food, sleep, TV, family, Facebook. Yet when it comes to time for the Author of Life, a few minutes is a sacrifice. No room for the very heartbeat of our existence. Maybe it's time to stop. To stop and ponder, wonder, worship, adore, bring your gift...to the nucleus of Christmas. "For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11) It's Christmas. Time to follow the star to Bethlehem. Time to leave your sheep and head to manger. Time to open the door to your inn. Stop.

As a ten year old, I participated in a Christmas Cantata, entitled Noel, Jesus is Born. A particular number impacted my young life.

♫ No room, no room for him. No room, to let Him in. No room for Jesus in the world He made. No room. No room, for the king of kings. But room for others, and for other things. No room for Jesus in a world he made, no room.

Room for houses, lands and pleasures, room for things that pass away. But for the one who reigns forever, there's no room today. No room, no room for Him. No room, to let Him in. No room for Jesus, in the heart He made, just for Him.

No room for the King of Kings. Room for others and for other things. No room for Jesus in the heart He made, just for Him. He just keeps knocking, but He hears you say, "No room." ♫

I know. You're life is busy. He still is knocking. Any room?

The King Returns

2010-12-04T23:37:00.000+02:00

Life goes on. History unfolds. World leaders come. Others go. Wars start. Peace negotiations are held. Economies thrive. Others collapse. Celebraties are made. Others head to rehab. And life goes on. A cycle which numbs our minds. Blinds our eyes from seeing eternity in the everyday numbs our hearts to treat the temporal as eternal. And life goes on. Or does it?

Sitting in Starbucks with my Eggnog Latte, I'm reminded the time of year. The trees, lights, wreaths, holiday beverages (hence, the Eggnog Latte), and special promotions vividly refresh my memory. Constantly. But are all these festivities numbing my mind to something more?

Sure, a Child was born in Bethlehem a long time ago. Got that. Who could have known back then that history itself was about to change as an infant entered the world? Who contemplated our timeline would be divided based on this One? Who could have known that God Himself was about to become a baby with a beating heart? Who knew? Strangely enough, these questions are not rhetorical. True, most missed Him, but some were waiting. Some were watching. For some, this was no surprise.

The characters are few. Several magi, Anna the prophetess, and the devout Simeon. And then there were those who were alerted directly by God. Mary and Zachariah by Gabriel the angel. Joseph in a dream. Elizabeth indirectly through her husband. And a scruffy bunch of shepherds who had the sky break open one night with His birth announcement by rousing band of angelic hosts. His arrival into our cosmos was long-promised, yet most lost sight of it as the years drifted by, the prophets went silent, the fatigue of life set in, and the oppression of the Roman world was reality.

Today, I suggest we make the same mistake. Yeah, our televisions are blanketed with It's a Wonderful Life and A Charlie Brown's Christmas. Our radios serenate the home with Kenny G's Christmas masterpiece or Billy Idol's Jingle Bell Rock. Yet amidst the drama of this wonderful season and the chaos of our world, we miss the Savior. No, not His birth. Not even His person, His work, or the truth of who Jesus is. Rather, are we missing the present reality? The story isn't over. We love to speak of His salvation, but we lose sight there remains a conclusion. Are we living with the same expectation of Anna who was looking for God's "redemption" (Luke 2:38) or with the promise of Simeon who was waiting for God's "Consolation" who would be "a light to bring revelation" to all peoples? (Luke 2:25,32)

Jesus didn't come to reform a sick world, but to transform it by giving His life. First as a newborn in Bethlehem's manger. Then as a man on Calvary's cross. He didn't come to make this world our "home." He came to bring us "home." That is why He lovingly shared with His disciples, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:1-6)

Does God's promise seem outdated today? Have the stresses, advancements, and demands of the 21st Century made Christ's promise seem faint and surreal? Has the hectic pace of life numbed your mind from focusing on the reality of God's promise? No doubt, it felt the same way for a couple young people living in the occupied territory of Nazareth a couple thousand years ago.

As we celebrate His birth into this world, are you eagerly considering His return to this world? Still today, most miss Him. Are you waiting?

Interesting. His last words in Scripture read, “Yes, I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:20) Will it be a surprise for you when the sky breaks open again, as it did on Bethlehem's hills? Are you watching?

Handful of Sand

2010-09-21T18:31:00.002+03:00

A few pyramids. A handful of sand. A young girl.

Each year, millions of visitors flood to the archaic Pyramids of Giza to capture a snapshot of time itself. To encapsulate their moment of history. Arguably, the greatest wonder of man's creation, these pyramids stand as a monument to past greatness and collapsed empires. Ah, but the sand.

Just recently, my seventeen-month old niece made her first trip to this ancient site on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. Nestled in the far Eastern portion of the Sahara, the desert compiles the base, backdrop, (depending on which direction you are facing) and natural beauty of this spectacle. Despite the buzzing atmosphere of camels, vendors, KFC/Pizza Hut, Sphinx, and yes, the Pyramids, what captivated her young mind was the sand of Giza. Content to let others drool over the imposing structures in the background, she found more pleasure in handling the sand of the desert and immersing herself in the fascination of its fine grains sifting through her fingers. A child's mentality.

But wait. Are we any different? Are we playing in the sand when the Pyramids of Giza lie behind us?

We stress over academic results, job promotions, the outcome of sporting events, expectations of others, or even our physical safety. We earn and save our money to invest into houses, education, vacations, retirement, and emergencies. And for what? To make our seventy-year existence as pleasurable, comfortable, and stable as humanly possible, along with leaving a name for ourself, and possibly an inheritance for the next generation. Noble pursuits, perhaps, but mere sand in the shadow of a Pyramid. The eternal. The Word of God vividly reminds us, "we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)

God did not create man merely to exist in time. He did not create us merely to play with sand. Rather, we were created "in His image" (Genesis 1:27) that we might intimately know and experience His love. It is true that we live in a world of heartache, disappointments, disease, and death but these distractions are but reminders of life's brevity. A reminder that there is an enemy seeking to blind our eyes to the reality life's purposes. (2 Corinthians 4:3-6) We can know God who revealed Himself through Jesus, the very "image of the invisible God." (Colossians 1:15) We are not mere creatures of God's creation, but the object of His love. Hard to believe? Yeah. It should be. Takes faith. He conquered sin and death that we might experience true life, eternal life, through the grace (something we don't deserve) of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Life is more than what we see. In fact, that which we see deceives us into reckoning it is the truest reality.

Perhaps we are missing the big picture. Completely. An old nursery rhyme sums it up so appropriately. "Pussycat, pussycat, Where have you been? // I've been to London, To visit the Queen. // Pussycat, pussycat, What did you there? // I frightened a little mouse, Under her chair." Are we focused on the mouse under the chair when in the presence of the Queen? Are we focused on the vain pursuits of this world when the God of the universe offers a personal relationship with Him?

Those who have tasted of truth of Jesus cannot live as before, playing with the sand of this world. (Thus begging the question, have many so-called follower of Christ actually experienced the true Jesus?) Those who have been transformed by the Gospel of Jesus will not continue living for nationalistic ideologies, personal pursuits, or comfortable living. In the words of Jesus, “If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:24-26)

What is Jesus saying? The only way to follow is to live for the eternal at the expense of the temporal. We have to abandon the gods of idealism, materialism, and nationalism so that this world will see the hope of eternity which transcends race, religion, affiliations, and ethnicities. Rather than pursuing selfish, egotistical, self-exalting pursuits, our time, energy, and resources will be invested into a hurting world so that the love of Jesus may be experienced and known by the nations. Our definition of "emergency" will be redefined by 26,000 children starving to death daily, hundreds of millions of street children, countless lives trapped in the $40,000,000,000+ sex-trafficking market, the millions displaced by war, or the billions still searching for peace and hope for time and eternity. This will induce action rather than a possible future medical problem, a potential financial crisis (since Matthew 6:25-34 is still true, last I checked), or a sudden whim/desire. Our identity will not be found in a political affiliation, citizenship, ideology, or social cause but rather in the truth that there is purpose, meaning, and hope in life and death.

C.S. Lewis put it this way. "Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." (excerpt from Weight of Glory)

Are you playing with sand? Turn around.

Masks of Our Lives

2010-08-06T21:32:00.000+03:00

Venturing through the narrow alleys of Venice, (Italy) punting down a canal in a gondola, perusing the quaint sidewalk boutiques, or sipping an espresso at a corner cafe evoke romantic, idealistic and renaissance sentiments in one’s soul. A walk through these historic cobblestone corridors cause one to reflect on the footsteps of the past. What was, what might have been, and what could have been. Yet as my journey took me through this ancient and picturesque city, one vivid historic element caught my attention. An element, I suggest, we need to remember, for I fear we are returning to the past.

In the glory days of Venice, it was a city noted for its carnivals and parties but one tradition garnered my interest. The Venetian masks. Designed in Baroque style, they were often decorated with ornate and vibrant designs. Ultimately, however, these masks were tools to mask identity, social status, and permit scandalous romantic ventures, illicit and/or illegal activities, all without identification of the person.

Yet the mere history of these Venetian masks and their uses starkly expose the crisis of today’s world. We may not veil our face with a Bauta (full-faced mask) or Columbina (the eye-only mask), yet daily, we seek to conceal our true identity. That person we are when no one is looking. This is no new phenomenon. In fact, from the beginning of time, our ancestors, Adam and Eve did likewise. Rather than a Venetian mask, it was a fig leaf. When they rebelled against God by disobeying His one command, they used fig leaves to “hide” their nakedness in an attempt to conceal their sin before a holy God.

We have this built-in mechanism that seeks to gain the approval of others. Perhaps the approval of our boss, teachers, peers, friends, coach, or a significant-other. We hide behind a “fig leaf” for fear of being exposed. Of being found out. Of the inside scoop being revealed. What fig leaves are we using to cover our “nakedness.” Perhaps our occupation, humor, intelligence, personality, or accomplishments? Today’s online virtual reality world has outlined our desire to live “other” lives. From the expansive virtual world of “Second Life” to the Facebook profiles we offer “friends”, we pursue virtual identities revealing only the side of life chosen to be made public.

Yet when elements of our life crumble, from relationships, to employment, to dreams, to expectations, to ultimately death, where will we hide? Hebrews 4:13 tells us that “no creature is hidden from God’s sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” As the song from (The) Razz goes, “You can run, but you can’t hide!” This is the truth before God. We can live our lives behind a veil and fool every individual around us, but in the end, we will give account to an all-knowing God. But there is good news.

Unfortunately, many of us have a confused and skewed view of God. We assume that He is like the all-seeing eye of Sauron in Tolkien’s trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, constantly seeking out his enemies and ready to destroy them at moment’s notice. On the contrary, we have a God of love who is seeking a relationship with us. Our sin has separated us from that intimacy, yet God in His mercy has made all the provisions for us to be reunited. It is now a choice on our behalf to repent, to remove the fig leaves we are hiding behind (such as self-righteousness & religion) and allow the cleansing blood of Jesus to purify our soul and restore the intimacy we were created to enjoy.

Interesting thought. A week before Jesus died for the sins of humanity, on His way into Jerusalem, He cursed a barren fig tree. (Matthew 21:18-19) Why, we might ask? Jesus was declaring that mankind’s original attempt at covering their “nakedness” (sin) was inadequate. Our good works, righteousness, and pursuits of social welfare are a barren fig tree (of no good), when it comes to being righteous before God.

It goes on to say in verses 14-16 of Hebrews 4, “We know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” We need to be clothed in Jesus’ righteousness; not our futile fig leaves. We didn't need a manual for how to be good. We needed a Savior! As in the story of the two wayward sons of Luke 15, God is waiting for us to come home to Him. As the prophet Solomon said, we are created with “eternity in our hearts.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) A homesickness for heaven satisfied only in a relationship with God through Jesus.

As a child, when I was scolded or simply embarrassed, I would cover my face with my hands and declare, “You can’t see me!!” Clearly, it was a childish action, yet it epitomizes our attempts to hide from God. Psalm 139 starts out with the amazing words, “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thoughts afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.” God loves us for who we are. Not what we do. The Holy Scriptures also say, “WHILE we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) His love is NOT conditional, neither is His offer of eternal life and a relationship with Him forced on anyone. It is a gift that requires acceptance, and acceptance of this gift will breed a changed life.

A great old hymn by Charles Tindley states, “Nothing between my soul and my Savior, so that His blessed face may be seen.” If we desire intimacy with God, we must remove the masks in our life. If that relationship has been established, our hearts will long for a closer walk with Christ. A deeper knowledge of Him. If this desire is absent, then “examine yourself” to see if you even know this Jesus. (2 Corinthians 13:5) With the apostle Paul, we will declare, “I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8) That is the heart of one whose life has absorbed the love of God. A life which gladly throws aside the masks of this world for intimacy with God. How easy it is to develop and adopt masks in order to preserve our pride. How many “would-be followers” of Jesus choose self-preservation over intimacy and this world over eternity?

What mask is it time to remove?

To Be Greatly Missed: Tom Zacharia

2010-06-24T19:05:00.001+03:00

Three missed calls. Picking up my phone at 15:52 on Thursday afternoon (June 24, 2010), I cheerfully answered my dear friend, Karim Hassan’s fourth attempt to contact me. The message on the other end, however, was not expected. Details were vague, my memory clouded. Something about a treadmill, and…Tom Zacharia---passed away. Blindsided by life’s brevity. Struck by death’s reality.

As Tom’s youth group leader and more importantly, friend, I treasured his presence and wisdom. No, not the intelligence which earned him a 4.0+ GPA in the classroom, but rather, his wisdom which sought to live life in a way that counted…in a manner which impacted lives. His wit, humor, passion, and love earned him a place in hearts. His early departure at seventeen years old has left a void in our lives. In one word, Tom was extraordinary.

And now, as we pick up the pieces, the fragments of our torn hearts, where is our hope? Many find the words of The Roots to echo their questioning spirit. "Dear God, I'm trying hard to reach you, dear God, I see your face in all I do. Sometimes, it's so hard to believe you. But God, I know you have your reasons. I know I'm thinking out loud, but if your love's still around, why do we suffer? Why do we suffer?"

At times like these, it is right to question, to search for answers, and to ache for the presence of a lost friend. Yet it is these very times that remind us of our reality. We are mortal beings. As Solomon the prophet aptly noted, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)

Yet Tom, being a believer in Jesus Christ, knew there was more to the story. In that same chapter, Solomon also reminds us, “God has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” (3:11) We were not created merely for time, but for eternity. We were created to last forever. Whether our life entails seventeen years, or seventy, each day is gift from God. A day by which we may (by faith) better understand His love through experiencing God’s ultimate gift, Jesus. Sometimes God speaks through the joy of life, and sometimes through the megaphone of pain. To answer the question of the song, perhaps it is God’s very love which allows us to experience loss and heartache so we can be reminded that life is for more than eating and drinking---rather, it is humanity’s opportunity to know their God. The Jesus Tom embraced said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” Tom was loved with an “everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3) He now can experience that love in full measure.

As much as I’m tempted to question God for taking my dear brother Tom’s life so early on (according to our perception), I’m forever blessed that I got to call Tom Zacharia, “friend.”

Living in Egypt, the phrase “inshallah” (God willing) has become deeply embedded into our minds, yet what truth it portrays as we reflect life. James tells us, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.’” (James 4:13-14) Tom had plans…for university, his major (sorry, his triple-major), and occupation. But Thursday concluded Tom’s race towards eternity. How easily we make our plans and plan our lives, yet forget our mortality? How often we forget life’s most important question?

Are you prepared for your step into eternity? As the author of Hebrews reminds us, “Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Jesus Christ's death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And Jesus will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly wait for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28) This life is about more than solely existing. We were created to love. To love God and to know Him. Not by compulsion, but by choice. Tom’s life had a purpose. Your life has a purpose.

Though the tears continue to fall and with my heart still aching, my eyes fall on I Corinthians 15: 55-57. “‘O grave, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Tom, love you brother!

(Dedicated to my dear friend, Tom Zacharia)

Going Green (Robert Green, that is)

2010-06-18T00:55:00.006+03:00

The world’s biggest stage. Over a billion eyes glued to the action. A mere grass pitch. Twenty-two men. A place where heroes are birthed, legends established, and goats created.

On Saturday night, my eyes were two of the billion-plus focused on the highly heated, hotly contested, star-studded match between England and the United States of America. The names emblazoned on jerseys reminded viewers of the magnitude of the match. Rooney, Donovan, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Crouch, Altidore, Howard, Dempsey. Yet one name stole the show. Robert Green.

Understand this about me. As a Senegalese/American, my football allegiances lie with Senegal, other West African teams, and France. That said, when watching any match/game/meet, I have a tendency to root for the underdog or the largely unrepresented fan presence. Thus, when I entered a sports club in Larnaca (Cyprus) on Saturday night full of British fans clad in their colors, my lot as the biggest USA fan in the joint was confirmed. Ok, so I was the only one.

Though sporting the colors of Senegal, my accent and skin tone identified me as an American and thus, the enemy of the night. The next ninety minutes contained threats to my well-being (no exaggeration) iif the USA was to win, along with the constant flow of incessant vulgar and explicit language directed at every player, fan, and play. There were also the creative remarks of “You stole our language, you misspell our words, and now &)^@%9-7$!#^@. ..” Ah, sports. Please note, I love the British and if I had been watching this game in the USA, I would have been rooting for the English, for the sake of creating rivalry. But this all revealed a fact of life and a lesson to be learned.

In the 40th minute of the match, everything changed. A script which destined one unwillingly for the pages of sports history. With the English leading one-nil, Clint Dempsey of the USA unleashed a 25 yard strike directly at keeper Robert Green. What ensued was a moment of dread for every Anglo-Saxon. With history being written, the ball was mishandled escaping the grip of Green’s gloves and rolled gently into the open net providing the “Yanks” all they needed for the draw. The blunder etched Green’s name beside legends such as David Seaman, Scott Carson, and Paul Robinson who are remembered agonizing moments on the pitch.

Since that infamous (can you call something “infamous” which happened but a week ago?) day, Green has asked Brits and fans worldwide for forgiveness. Facebook groups are emerging out of the woodwork with hundreds of thousands of members, such as, “That awkward moment when Robert Green asks you to play catch with him”, "I can catch... LOL jk I'm Robert Green”, or "My computer's got the Robert Green virus. It can't save anything." One group, entitled, "I forgive Robert Green" has but a few thousand members. Yet what deeper lesson is embedded in this account?

Forgiveness is a lost art in society and in our world. We seek an object of blame. The last thing we want to relinquish is our pride. In the very beginning of time, when Adam was questioned by God, he immediately passed the blame on to the Eve, even implicating God in the blame with his notation, “the woman YOU gave to be with me.” (Genesis 3:12) When Eve was questioned, she immediately pointed at the serpent. At least Robert Green didn’t blame his gloves, the wind, or even the highly controversial Jubalani World Cup ball.

Unfortunately, in life, we have all made a similar blunder. We have directly gone against God’s perfect law of love. We have chosen hatred, lust, envy, chauvinism, racism, bigotry, and rejected the truth on the grounds so that our superiority and pride be not touched. God’s word aptly notes, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Since God is completely holy and perfect, our sin separates us from God and from the intimacy He desires with His creation. Yet, in God’s grace, complete, unconditional forgiveness is offered through the work of Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. (Colossians 1:14) Fortunately for us, God did all the work necessary for us to be forgiven. (II Corinthians 5:18) Now, it requires a complete humbling of self by admitting we actually went wrong and need God’s solution. Warning: Faith required. [For the full story, see HERE]

True forgiveness is an interesting thing requiring two components. First, the one seeking forgiveness, (repentance) and secondly, the one offering forgiveness (mercy). Note, forgiveness is not telling someone they “didn’t do anything wrong” , a denial of having been hurt, or a simple, “forget about it!” Rather, forgiveness acknowledges the wrong committed and chooses to fully relinquish all rights of resentment and revenge. When God forgives, the Bible says he removes our sins (forgives us) “as far as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12) Never to be brought up again.

Repentance, however, if more than self-pity, vexation, or a simple, “I’m sorry!” Jesus called hearers to “Repent and believe the good news!" In Greek, the word for repentance is metanoia. This literally means, a "change of mind and heart." To repent is to turn from our wayward ways. To change our habits and our way of life. Many so called “Christians” are sorry for their sins, but have yet to repent of their ways forgetting that "IF anyone is in Christ, he IS a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) Are our lives actually producing "fruit worthy of repentance?" (Matthew 3:8) Fakes do exist which is why the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians to "Examine yourself!" (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Resentment, bitterness, and anger is embodied by those who choose not to forgive. (AND I’m not referring to the Robert Green dilemma) Rather, we have all been wronged (and wronged others) by words, actions, and thoughts. How futile to hold grudges when we consider God’s willingness to forgive us. Around the world on a weekly basis, Christians pray the Lord’s Prayer and utter, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” REALLY? You really want God to forgive you as you forgive others? Personally, I need mercy. Mercy from a God who forgives me in spite of my woeful ability to love as HE loved and my failure to forgive as He forgives.

Just as Robert Green released that Jubalani ball into the back of the net, the time is now to unleash forgiveness on those who have wronged us. As one said, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was YOU.” In forgiving, we find freedom. In repentance, we find hope.

Before we judge the hands of Robert Green, perhaps we ought to examine our own life.

When a Barbie Becomes a Gun

2010-05-13T00:13:00.000+03:00

Meandering through the streets of Casablanca (Morocco), Richard (a Dutch friend) and I came upon a bulldozer removing boulders from a construction site. As we watched this powerful piece of machinery clearing the terrain, our conversation branched into how such things (machinery, engines, etc) are naturally enthralling (especially for guys). As our discussion progressed, Richard noted, despite disallowing toy guns in their household, his five-year old began using his sister’s Barbies as makeshift guns. His ensuing comment caught my attention. “When a Barbie becomes a gun…"

Interestingly enough, my parents had the same policy in our house. Raised in West Africa, war was reality and guns were no joking matter. The reality of death was evident from a young age and it wasn’t beautified by a plush morgue and men in black suits. To this day, my friends poke fun at me since I would choose to watch The Wedding Planner or How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, rather than Saving Private Ryan or Braveheart.

As the calendar turned over this morning, so did my age. Entering my 27th year of life, (indicating this is my 26th birthday celebration) there is a truth which is vividly becoming a trait I desire to portray. Martin Luther King Jr. said it well, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” We live in a world rampant with gossip, hatred, backstabbing, broken relationships, revenge, and fear. Though this is the normal course of human existence, we must throw love into the spokes of the status quo.

This only happens with a paradigm shift. Innately, it is our inclination and reaction to respond in kind. A beautiful articulation of this is in Matthew 5:38-42. Jesus declared, “You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." This is completely contrary to our human nature.

But that is Jesus’ point. He wanted us to see our need for God. We live in a world where it is not politically correct to say we are “sinners.” People shudder when congregations sing, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me” or quote Romans, 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Yet, I find it more amusing that Isaiah states that our righteousness in God’s eyes is as “filthy rags.” (64:6) More literally, it could be translated as soiled “menstrual clothes.” (Which made one defiled according to Jewish law—Leviticus 15:19-33) No articulation needed. And that’s our RIGHTEOUSNESS. Imagine our sin.

If God offers forgiveness and a restored relationship with us through Christ, how much more must any follower of Jesus demonstrate that same love to EVERY life with whom they come in contact? Paul reiterated, “Repay NO ONE evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of ALL men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with ALL men… If your ENEMY is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink…do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-18, 20a, 21)

Note that we are not only to respond to the needs of our enemy, but furthermore, actively look to meet them. A peacemaker is not a pacifist. When Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” he wasn’t defining those unwilling to pick up the sword. (Matthew 5: 9) In fact, the other time that word for “peace” is used in the Bible, it speaks of Christ “making peace through the blood of His cross.” (Colossians 1:19) That is not my definition of passivity. Rather, a true peacemaker takes action with love; not ignoring or avoiding the crisis.

In the words of Sydney Harris, “Once we assuage our conscience by calling something a ‘necessary evil,’ it begins to look more and more necessary and less and less evil.” We can easily convince ourselves that the course of action we are taking is justified and necessary, but is it our pride, self-preservation, and agenda obstructing our simple obedience to Christ?

When a Barbie becomes a gun, it is a reminder of our problem. Are we ready to “wear humility” and demonstrate love to those who have rejected, ignored, or wronged us/or others. As the apostle John stated, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." (I John 4:7) Thus, my prayer is this, as I launch into another year of my earthly existence. From the old Christmas Carol, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”

The Great Divide: Perspective

2010-04-17T15:59:00.000+02:00

If you frequent the international travel scene, without doubt, you have witnessed the plethora of mesmerizing and thought-provoking ad campaigns HSBC has pushed over the past couple years. Plastering the jet ways of terminals globally, their images and words are engraved into our mind provoking contemplation. Subtle, yet stimulating. Gently passive, yet provocative. In the end, they encapsulate one concept.

Perspective.

HSBC’s slogan, “The World’s Local Bank” seeks to identify their recognition of various cultures, traditions, religions, identities, and ultimately, values. On these billboards read, “The more you look at the world, the more you recognize that people value the same things but in different ways.” Brilliantly illustrated, these ads contain one word accompanied by a few pictures depicting that word OR vice-versa with one picture identifying a few words describing the same image. My personal favorite depicts the word, “courage.” Three powerful images. A solitary microphone, a young man bungee jumping, and a woman in her garb of mourning. Distinctly different. Strikingly similar. Unquestionably linked.

Courage.

Our lives tell a story. The attributes we display are no random occurrence, but a product of time and decisions. How easy to label others a villain or hero, a terrorist or saint, a failure or success...yet is our urgency of branding others a fear of change in our own lives? Are so entrenched in our perspective that we fail to see truth or opportunity?

A few years ago, I had the privilege spending an evening with a wonderful group of Palestinian refugees from a camp outside Beirut (Lebanon). Over a cup of coffee we discussed our life’s dreams, hopes, and visions. That evening, the voice of one young man caught my attention. He shared his passion. To one day be a suicide bomber. Be assured of this. He did not wake up one morning and identify himself as an extremist, fundamentalist, or terrorist. Rather, the pain, hopelessness, turmoil and hatred of life changed his value system.

How easy for us to allow our pride or politics to fill us with animosity and judgment blinding our eyes from seeing a soul in need of love and hope. Perspective. Courage. A step in their shoes. A taste of their pain. A tearfor their loss. A prayer on their behalf. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend."

I believe it is our perspective that prevents and limits our lives from the pursuit of excellence. One writer put it, "God has called you to see the invisible and do the impossible.” We live in a fabricated box of limitations and settle into a life of mediocrity. We accept the boundaries, social norms, and expectations of others. We live to avoid failure, disappointment, or loss. William MacDonald said, “With faith, if impossible is the only objection, then it can be done.”

In the Torah, a beautiful illustration of perspective in revealed. Moses sends twelve spies into Canaan to scout out the land God had promised to give His people. He tells them to “Be courageous!” (Numbers 13:20) [See here for the full spy report] As the spies returned to Moses, the reports were conflicting. Two spies, Caleb and Joshua, proclaimed, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it!” (13:30) while the remaining ten declared, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we…we saw the giants…and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight.” (13:31-33)

Twelve men. Two perspectives.

What was the difference? Caleb and Joshua looked to the promises of God as reality (remember God had ALREADY promised the land to Moses and His people) while the remaining spies saw only the impediments and threats of man. The ten hid behind excuses and belittled themselves in the process while Caleb and Joshua amplified God and prepared to go forward. Does the lens of fear magnify every obstacle or do we trust a loving Heavenly Father who says, “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

A fresh perspective is born, not through meager self-will, but rather through a fresh gaze on Jesus Christ. Like Caleb and Joshua, we are not called to understand the answer to the question “Why?” but rather, to trust the One leading. If we know Him, love Him, and trust Him, then we will obey His commands. (John 14:21-24) We will choose to love when staring hate in the face, we will choose to forgive when retaliation seems more fulfilling, we will choose to give when to take is more satisfying, we will choose to sacrifice when selfishness is more appealing, and we will choose to listen when pride is more alluring.

True perspective is when we can lift our eyes from fog of this world’s chaos and declare, “the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18) The journey of truly trusting God starts in knowing the One who said, “Do not let your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know and the way you know. I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:1-4,6)

My eternal hope is not bound in this world. We can focus on the superficial symptoms of suicide bombers, nuclear weapons, economic crises, or broken relationships, or we can look at His provision and promises.

Do we see ourselves as helpless “grasshoppers” (Numbers 13:33) or have we lifted our gaze to God’s eternal promises? Are we living for more than the eye can see, or are we trapped in the reality of the present?

It takes courage. One word: Perspective.

René Frédéric Faye

2010-04-15T00:02:00.003+02:00

It was one of those moments. A day forever etched in my memory. Seems as though it was yesterday…despite the fact today marks fifteen years since we received the call.

It had been a long day. Easter Sunday, in fact. Many guests had been in our home that day and as dusk was falling, the final guests were departing. Then the phone rang. I remember my dad summoning the family together. That became the day I heard René Frédéric Faye had been ushered into eternity.

Far more than a friend, he was my big brother. Before my first moments of life were engrained into memory, René and his twin brother Germain were in my life. From hours of watching African Cup drama, to football matches in Saint Louis’ sandy streets, to educating my brother and I in the finer points of “l’élevage” (animal husbandry), these two were family. More importantly, Germain and René gave my young life living examples of the verse, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

But death first divided our family in 1994 when God called Germain home at the age of twenty-four. Stricken with a brain tumor, having lost his eyesight, hearing, taste, and smell, Germain lay in his death bed praising God for His love and the hope to come. Finally, on April 7, 1994, my brother Ger was freed from his pain-wracked body. René, having entered the Senegalese military the year prior (the two were to have entered together, but Ger’s brain tumor prevented him from enlisting) was summoned off to Rwanda as a UN peacekeeper following the Rwandan Genocide between the Tutsis and Hutus. As I bid my dear friend "au revoir", never did I expect the next time I would see his face would be in a wooden coffin in our living room.

But God had other plans. On April 15, 1995, a transport truck carrying fifty people through a mountain pass lost grip, causing one wheel to slip from the mountain, nearly sending the entire truck over the precipice to the probable death of all passengers. René, however, jumped out the back and attempted to stabilize the truck. In the process, he fell under its weight acting as a wheel stop, which consequently crushed René’s body but stopped the truck and spared the lives of all therein. As Jesus said, "Greater love has no man than this. That he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

A fitting death for a life lived sacrificing on behalf of others.
Yet the words of Jesus echo loudly, "Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is, destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.” (John 12:24-26) Fifteen years later, these words have only picked up momentum.

René lived his life for eternity, not merely for time. Through his death, others saw his real “treasure.” Not life, but rather, His relationship with Jesus Christ. René’s life demonstrated the reality of “For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) His life was a tool to show this world God’s love, forgiveness, and grace. René’s death demonstrated his hope.

The days which followed remain a blur. Our home was turned into a house of mourning, our living room---the morgue, our courtyard---the chapel, and a constant bustle of bodies, military personnel, and UN officials moved about. Amidst the chaos, two of my brother’s possessions were slipped to me. Two articles signifying the reality of death, yet the hope of eternal life. The first token was the Air Afrique luggage tag attached to René’s body bag as they shipped his corpse back to Senegal one last time. The second was René’s New Testament which he was carrying as he passed into the presence of His God. Two symbols. Symbols to remind me that "It is appointed to man once to die and then the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27) Life is uncertain. Death is sure.

Still today, I pick up that French New Testament, and flipping through its worn pages, my eyes fall on one of Ger and René’s favorite verses, and appropriately, the verse etched on their gravestone. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

Fifteen years later, his testimony of love lives on. As said of Abel, I can say of René, "though he is dead, he still speaks." (Hebrews 11:4)

I love you brother!

(Dedicated to my bro, Luke McIntosh)

My Declaration of Independence

2010-04-04T00:46:00.010+02:00

Freedom. The very word conveys hope, joy, and excitement to the hearts of humankind. Our hearts long for liberty. Liberty from oppression, compulsion, fear, and abuse. Freedom to live life to the fullest.

As time strikes April 4, 2010, the nation of Senegal (land of my birth) celebrates their fiftieth anniversary of their independence received from France (via transfer of power). The green, red and yellow colors of Senegal are proudly displayed throughout the land and as this historic day is fêted, a thought remains. As Senegalese, we enjoy our sovereignty as a republic and relative peace, yet the lives of many individuals remain trapped in an endless cycle of hopelessness, desperation, and futility. We celebrate an event, but do we live in the reality of freedom?

Even as my Senegalese compatriots commemorate this significant Sunday, my heart is drawn to a different event where my freedom was won--being remembered on this same day. The crux of my faith lies in an event which took place nearly two thousand years ago when Jesus broke the chains of hell, death, and the grave by rising again after His crucifixion, offering eternal life to those who trust in Him.

As the letter to the Corinthians noted, “If Christ weren't raised, then all you're doing is wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever. If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we're a pretty sorry lot. But the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries.” (I Corinthians 15:17,19-20)

How many of us are looking for hope in the wrong place? Like Mary Magdalene. On that first Easter morning, she went to the tomb to prepare the body of Jesus for proper burial. But an angel said to her, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:5-6) How often we search for truth, hope, and purpose in the wrong places. From people, success, comfort, philanthropy, money, to popularity, we stand outside the tombs of failed promises, ventures, and pursuits. What liberty to discover life has more to offer than the eighty or so years we tread on planet earth!

How easy it is to become a captive of earthly vices. We fear the opinions and words of others, our self-perception, the loss of our material accumulations or acquaintances, the lack of necessities, change itself, and ultimately death. We may define freedom as “the condition of being free from restraints,” but is this our true pursuit? Perhaps, rather, we long for a place of peace, acceptance, love, and protection.

My faith is not about a set of rules to obey. It's about a relationship God desires with His creation--available through Jesus. We were separated from God because of sin, but God sent Jesus to earth to show us what He is like, (which is why one of Jesus’ names is “Immanuel”, meaning, “God with us.”) to die in our place for our sins, AND to rise from the dead to offer us power over the grave, which is the ultimate consequence of sin. Thus, my faith is not about me trying to earn God’s favor through a series of good works, prayers, or passion. Rather, it is an acceptance of His love and an embracing of Jesus' work of salvation for my sins. Jesus didn't come to make bad people good. He came to make the dead, (spiritually) alive.That said, if my love for others, joy for life, and compassion for the hurting is absent, you have every right to question the validity of my faith.

As James put it, “faith without works is dead” (2:20) or in the words of songwriter Rich Mullins, “faith without works… it’s about as useless as a screen-door on a submarine.”Pilate nailed it when he asked Jesus on trial, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) This is the million-dollar question. We can believe something all day long, but is it merely a hobby-horse, personal opinion, cultural perception, timeless legend, good-way of living—or is it, in fact, truth?

We live in a world that seeks to make everything subjective. We attempt to modify absolutes and dilute impositions. To believe in Jesus is a personal thing, yet on this Easter Sunday, I want to spare each reader (regardless of their ethnicity, culture, religion, or nationality) one futile pursuit. That futile pursuit is, to label and patronize Jesus as merely a moral teacher, prophet, or philosopher. One who claims to be God’s Son, conqueror over death, and the way to God cannot be branded as but a “great leader.” He must either a lunatic, liar, or Lord.

Jesus said, “I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) The choice we have is to accept Him as the truth or a liar, for anything else would be a contradiction. Benedict the XVI shared with a group of young people, “Truth is not an imposition…It is a discovery of the One who never fails us; the One whom we can always trust. In seeking truth we come to live by belief because ultimately truth is a person: Jesus Christ. That is why authentic freedom is not an opting out. It is an opting in.”

My friends, I share these thoughts as my declaration of independence. That, on this Easter Sunday, you may know my joy, my heart, my hope. This same Jesus promises eternal life to those who trust Him. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (John 11:25) Not a mere possibility, but a guarantee.

I’m thankful to be Senegalese and for our fifty years of autonomy. Yet how much more thankful I am for freedom from the power of the grave and the promise of eternal life. Therein lies true freedom!

Each of us must answer Pilate’s question for ourselves. “What is truth?”

Happy Easter!

More Than a Gold Medal

2010-03-25T01:22:00.005+02:00

A KODAK moment. When time stops. A memory is made. A heart is touched. Recently, I was moved far beyond words by one such act. An act of sacrifice, friendship, and love.

Coaching swimming has always been a pure privilege. Perhaps it is solely the fact I've been blessed with some of the greatest kids on earth, but regardless, each swimmer contributes a portion of that privilege. From the constantly radiant Myada, Hodder's out-of-the-box humor, Kent's amazing bone-crushing hugs, Kayla's enlightening conversations during practice, or Gebaly's ability to make me smile, each one is a special gift to my life.

Amazing personalities aside, they also lack no talent. In my two years of co-coaching the traveling squad, they produced two dominating ISST titles (a European championship---we are the only African-based team). This story unfolded after their recent victory in London. Following the championship, the team went out for a celebratory dinner in Esher, slightly outside the city.

After dinner, Dorien, a JV swimmer and my dear friend, approached me carrying a medal. Placing her gold medal in my hand, she shared, "This is the first ISST gold I've ever won and I want you to have it because I could have never done it without you!" My reaction? Speechless. Without a doubt, this medal means FAR more to me than any I have ever won. It represents more than merely a first-place finish. It is a symbol of dedication, appreciation, sacrifice, love, and friendship.

Gets me thinking, in our lives, how often do we bypass the opportunity to express our gratitude? Do we stop long enough to contemplate the many lives who have poured into our own? Do we live life with the "I deserve it" mentality, or with the appreciation that all we have is a gift? Are we as the one leper who, after being healed by Jesus, (see Luke 17:11-19 for the full story) came back to give thanks or the other nine who went on their way? Are we that exception in society recognizing the love we have been shown? Most importantly, do we recognize and acknowledge the love God has shown each of us in providing the opportunity to know Him?
Gratitude requires humility. This is where our efforts of appreciation often stall. We must recognize our need for another. Prior to going to His cross of execution (where He died in the place of His friends---you and me included), Jesus picked up the towel and assumed the humbling role of a servant washing His disciples feet...including the feet of the very man who would soon betray Him. Afterward, He shared, "I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." (John 13:15) No small order when considering the One speaking, but Isaac Watts summed it up well, "Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."

For followers of this Jesus, the greatest gold medal we can place in His hands is a life which embraces and reflects His love. A life of sacrifice on behalf of others. One which brings peace to the striving, hope to the desperate, love to the lonely, grace to the marginalized, and mercy to the oppressed.
True gratitude is far more than a word said. Rather, it is an action taken. Perhaps that is why Jesus went on to say in the same setting, "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:34-35)
Dorien has forever stamped her memory on my life by this simple, yet profound act.

How different our life would be if we adhered to the words of artist John Southar, "The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you." How different our world would be if we embraced the life-transforming reality of Jesus' aforementioned words, "In the same way I loved you, you love one another."
This lesson won't be forgotten anytime soon.
In case I'm prone to forget, there is a gold medal hanging in my room to remind me.

(blog entry inspired by and dedicated to my friend Dorien)

The Journey Home

2010-03-21T20:52:00.014+02:00

As the honking horns, bustling streets, masses of pedestrians, and chaos of Cairo slipped beneath the smog and clouds, my eyes began to fog up. As my reality became a memory, my mind was flooded with countless recollections of birthday parties in the slums, swim practices during dust storms, treks in the desert, meetings with government officials, and coffee with friends. This place I once only knew as Egypt, had become "home." These kids who quickly became friends were now my "family." Reclining in my slightly broken aisle seat of Egypt Air flight #777, it hit me. Life would never be quite the same.

Due to allegations, accusations, and threats, the decision was made to step out of a place I had grown to love. Yet my heart begs the question, "Where is home?" The cliché, "Home is where the heart is!" somehow leaves me hanging. When I recall the painful goodbyes standing on a sidewalk in Covent Gardens (London) attempting to say something of substance to a team of swimmers I love, or my feeble efforts at bidding farewell to precious individuals in Cairo who are far more than mere friends, I recognize the inadequacy of linguistics and the emptiness of au revoirs. Corrie Bramsen Mutilva summed it up brilliantly in these words:

With a few of my dear friends/swimmers in Cobham

Some people say that home is where the heart is,
But that saying leaves a question in my mind,
'Cause my heart has taken root in several countries, Does that mean I leave a part of me behind?

There's a portion of my heart that's in the desert,
And another part that's in the USA,
I have sisters and brothers in each nation,
And it hurts each time I have to go away.

But I've come to learn home is more than just a country,
I can have three homes, or four, or even more.
For home is anywhere I'm serving Jesus.
It's anywhere He's opened up the door.

So home is in the dunes of the Sahara.
And here in Carolina's mountain domes.
And wherever He may lead me in the future,
I know that He will make it home, sweet home!

As tempting as it is to wallow in the discomfort of change, God has called us to live as pilgrims in a world which is, ultimately, NOT our final home. Rather than focus on the absence of dear friends left behind, how thankful I am that God gave me the opportunity to know and be blessed by each of these lives. From the Karim Hassan's to the Myada El-Barkouki's, my life will never be the same.

As a follower of Jesus who believes in His work and words, there is the promise that He has conquered death and offers eternal life. (for the complete story, see here) Thus, it is vital to recognize AND live out our true identity. Philippians articulates, we are "citizens of Heaven." (3:20) NOT in the future tense, but rather, the present. Our lives are to be a reflection of our identity and our life's pursuit ought to show our faith—or may I suggest, it DOES show our faith. The only question is, "Do we really believe it?" Does your life show your hope beyond the grave? Or does death still carry potency?

In the book of Hebrews, the author notes [after reviewing a number of incredible lives], "Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them." (11:13-16) The word for "transients" (strangers) most literally means, "without a share" (think stock market). These are the ones whose investment is not in temporal commodities but in eternal assets.

Are we living for eternity, or merely for time? The separation, changes, and divisions on earth only remind us of our temporary residence status. This life is not forever, but the impact and decisions we make will echo in eternity. Are we prepared to lay aside the temporary for the sake of the eternal? Does not our heart compel us to live for more than this world can offer? The plethora of goodbyes create a longing in my heart for something more permanent.

In the musical, Fiddler on the Roof, Hodel, the second daughter of Tevya (lead character), is leaving home/family to join her lover in the wastelands of Siberia. As she parts from the train depot, she sings these words to her Papa: [edited]

How can I hope to make you understand, why I do what I do?

Why I must travel to a distant land, far from the home I love.

There where my heart has settled long ago, I must go, I must go.

Who could imagine I'd be wandering so far from the home I love. Yet... there with my love, I'm home.

My friends I will forever hold dear. My heart breaks each time I part ways with loved ones because they provide a glimpse of our deep longing for permanency and relationship. Wherever I unpack my suitcase or brew my next pot of coffee may have different surroundings, language, and people, but to those I leave in the wake, allow me to say as Wickham eloquently expressed in Pride and Prejudice, "Let us say not farewell, but as the French have it: 'Au revoir!'"

Life is the journey. Heaven is my true home. That place where "my heart has settled long ago." On that day when I see Jesus face to face, then the tape will be broken, the race will be won, the pilgrimage will be done, and I will be home. Until then, "I must go."

Dropping Stones

2010-02-23T09:53:00.009+02:00

Settling in at Café Greco to enjoy my grande Irish cream latte, I picked up the Egyptian Gazette and began perusing its contents. Amidst the headlines noting national conflicts, family strife, ethnic wars and other miscellaneous items, one article caught my eye. "Somali woman stoned to death for adultery." (to view the article, see here [not light reading])

Tit for tat. Our world is full of it. Read history. Watch the news. Hang out with friends. We have deemed Gandhi's warning, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind," as idealistic. The words of Jesus Christ to "love our enemies"are labeled figurative or metaphorical. Certainly not literal. We limit the scope of influencing lives to operating within the pre-existing structures of society; rather than embracing the lifestyle of "being the change we want to see in the world."(Gandhi, once again)

The source of the problem, however, is not with this world's political systems, cultural perceptions, economic structures, or religious ideologies. Rather, I would suggest the problem lies in our pursuit of hope. Where we are pursuing hope. From the antipathy and revulsion of my Democratic friends towards the presidency of George W. Bush, to the post-November 2008 fears of the conservative contingency on Obama's move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (aka: The White House), the core issue remains the same. (Do not for a second entertain thoughts that I am apathetic towards these issues. I do not run from the political scene nor avoid taking part.) My hope, however, is not remotely related nor dependent upon the actions of a Bush or an Obama, and thus, my perspective of their actions is mirrored by a different ideology.

Allow me to share one of my all-time favorite stories. Contains wisdom, authority, rebuke, and love. Intertwined. The message? Never more relevant than for today's world. For my world. For your world.

Confronted by extreme opposition by the religious leaders of His day, Jesus took on a touchy situation involving a woman caught in the act of adultery. By the law of Moses, this woman WAS condemned to death by stoning.The question wasn't "Guilty or not guilty?" nor was it, "Is adultery a sin?" Their question was instead, "Jesus, what do you say?" (John 8:5). They wanted to catch Jesus in a trap between mercy and justice.

Rather than responding immediately, Jesus knelt down and wrote in the sand—with the same “finger of God” (Exodus 31:18) that wrote the laws of God’s justice on the tablets of stone on Mount Sinai. "For while the law came through Moses, grace and truth comes through Jesus Christ." (John 1:17) Rising, Jesus declared, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again, He went back to writing in the sand. One by one, they dropped their stones and left the scene until He alone was left with her. Rising, He asked the woman,"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, Lord." With that, Jesus said,"Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." (For the full story, read John 8:3-12)

Let it be noted that Jesus is the only One who has existed in time as sinless, and thus, could have reached down and "cast the first stone." But why did he choose to show mercy to this woman with the words, "Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin"?

So easily, we find ourselves trapped in a world of classifications and labels. We begin to see affiliations instead of souls. We debate the issue, rather than meet the need.

One by one, we pick up stones.

Note, this is not about sweeping sin under any proverbial rug. Rather,the deepest identification of sin comes through the revelation of what WE deserve in perspective of God's holiness. This must originate in our own lives. Hence, Jesus said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." We must stop and look inside...first.

Jesus openly declared that love is to be the identifying feature of His follower. In fact, he went as far as to say, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you...by this all will know that you are My disciples." (John 13:34-35) Hang on to your seats. It gets hard. God's definition of love? To love someone is to treat them like Jesus treated you--dying for you while you were yet a sinner. While you were still God's enemy. (I John 3:16) Is that my identity before the world? Can they see my extreme love? More bluntly, John shares,"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."(I John 4:8) Period. God does not simply love. He IS love. If we are His children, we likewise will see the world through the lens of God's grace and love.

Time and time again, Jesus reminded His followers that His kingdom is NOT of this world. (John 18:36) If it were, His followers would fight. But it's not. He did not leave the issue ambiguous. It's not a political reign nor is it by popular vote. Rather, it's a treasure to be discovered by the explorer seeking life's meaning and purpose.

Are the outcasts of society drawn to Jesus because we dropped our stones of pride and class to listen to their life story and meet their needs? Do the marginalized acknowledge the love and presence of a Heavenly Father because we dropped our stones of judgment to come alongside and walk through life with them? Are we willing to sacrifice our own life, reputation, and time for the good of that hurting girl and the life of the child she carries and drop the stone of condescension? (Even if she pursues a decision we believe to be out of place? Will we continue to love her?) Do the nations of the world see in us Jesus and His love in the midst of violence and hatred because we are willing to drop the stone of nationalism and acknowledge our common humanity and need for God's grace? That is the life Jesus lived and the message He shared.

Jesus dropped the labels and saw the souls.

No, He didn't sweep sin under the rug. Our sin shows our need of a Savior and the futility without Him. A true follower of Jesus WILL love because he/she has experienced the unconditional love of God. In the words of my Friend Jesus, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, torepentance." (Matthew 9:12-13)

Innately, on my best of days, I am no better than Timothy McVeigh, Osama Bin Laden, or Idi Amin. Rather, it is the love and grace of God that showed me my need for something this world and my goodness couldn't offer. Eternal hope and forgiveness.

We are born into a wicked world. Out of that wickedness, however, a God of love is offering forgiveness and rebirth. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

A new life. Hope.

Are you ready to drop your stones?

"Live in love, as Christ loved you and gave his life for you"
(Ephesians 5:1-2)

A Seat in Business Class

2010-02-16T04:12:00.011+02:00

Preparing to board an Emirates flight out of Dubai International Airport, the check-in assistant inquired, "Excuse me, sir. May we move you from your window seat?" Assuming an aisle seat was in my destiny, I agreed, only for her to reveal that it was, instead, a middle seat. At this point, I was boarding my fourth flight on a fifty-one hour journey. Slightly frustrated and fatigued, I suggested this was not ideal due to my 189cm (6'2) frame. She responded, "What if the middle seat is in Business Class?" I consented.

As I enjoyed the spacious legroom, plush seats, fine dining, and top-notch service of Emirates Business Class, my mind drifted to that window seat in Economy. In life, how often are we unwilling to let go of the insignificant when God desires to pour out His extravagant love on us? We wallow in the slums of sin, mediocrity, and self-pity, seeking appeasement in other's pain, the maintenance of the status quo, or the pursuit of self-promotion--all at the expense of finding excellence. We so quickly forget Jesus' mission in coming to earth was to give us life, and life more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Let us not, however, buy into the false assumption that this "abundant life" is packaged by material wealth. Perhaps, in fact, that is very opposite of the truth, for life's extravagances often keep us from acknowledging our need for God's grace and love. Rather, true abundance is discovered in finding the purpose and meaning of life; that we have been created for far more than simple food or clothing. (Luke 12:23) Indeed, our hearts are wrapped with the very threads of the eternal. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) The abundance God wants to give us through Jesus is the opportunity to know Him, to love Him, to live with Him forever. To know Him as creator, as our lover, as our God. It is in this relationship that the words are fulfilled, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." (John 17:3)

The greatest sacrifice is found, not in following Jesus, but in rejecting Him. For in the former, you may, at times, bypass certain temporal pleasures or abdicate earthly honors, yet the latter offers no promises but in this present world. Jim Elliot succinctly encapsulated this principle in his famous statement. "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

David Livingston, the Scottish missionary and world-reknown explorer of Africa, also expressed this eternal perspective beautifully as he addressed the student body of Cambridge University in 1857. Livingston commented,"People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa...Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink, but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall hereafter be revealed in, and for, us. I never made a sacrifice. Of this we ought not to talk, when we remember the great sacrifice which HE [Jesus] made who left His Father's throne on high to give Himself for us."

May God open our eternal eyes so that we would not squander the gift of life on earth's fleeting gratifications. Rather, may we find the fulfillment and abundance of life through knowing the very Author of Life." (Acts 3:15)

Are we content to continue clinging to our window-seat in Economy when we are being offered Business Class?

Missing the Moment

2010-02-02T15:39:00.013+02:00

The dramatic moments of life often leave us in awe. As a scuba/rescue diver, I have many memories from under the sea: from encounters with Great White sharks in the Indian Ocean, to playing with wild dolphins in the Red Sea, to lying on the ocean floor looking up through 33 meters of crystal clear water at a full moon and majestic starry night sky. Such moments are when time stops and when dreams become memories.

As a novice in the scuba world, a friend gave me good advice that goes far beyond the BCD (buoyancy control device) and regulator. He shared, "If you want to make the most of this sport, you have to learn to appreciate the little things"; the brilliant multicolored coral woven together in exotic patterns intertwined with extravagant plant life, a small clownfish hovering in a crevice seeking refuge from lurking predators; a lionfish boldly displaying his coat of featherlike spines warning any intruder to beware.

Ah, the little things.

Is life any different? Rather than appreciating, absorbing, and learning from the less-noticed components of life, we race through time, rarely stopping to relish the beauty God has placed around us: the blessing of a functioning body, the fragrance and intricacies of a flower, the laugh of a friend, the embrace of a loved one, the opportunity to forgive, or the unity in a family. Annie Dilliard has well said, "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."

Rather than living in the reality of life's blessings, we dwell on the absence of life's abundances. The author of Ephesians commands us, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (5:15-16) Literally, this verse is saying, "Buy up the time, or rescue it from loss." Every moment is a gift from God; an opportunity to invest into the eternal. Unfortunately, we miss out on so much of life because we fail to see His hand of love orchestrating life's minute details. In a recent note, a friend reminded me that there are so many things "we take for granted while moving on the highway of life, whizzing past things that truly matter."

The prophet Moses reminded us, "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:10,12) We exist; we die. The question is, "Do we live?" True "living" occurs when we seek the heart of wisdom referred to by Moses; when we learn to live out the image of God in which man was first created—fulfilled in a relationship with God through Jesus (who showed us in human flesh what God is like). Proverbs describes this "wisdom" as a "hidden treasure." (2:4) Not lying on the surface to be disregarded by the passerby, but a buried treasure to be discovered by the exploring seeker. God wants to use the precious moments of our lives to reveal His love to us in unique and innovative ways. Are we looking?

Whether it’s the beauty of the underwater world, the love of a father for his son, or the intrigue of a mathematical equation, do we see the signature of God in the mundane? God's Word reminds us, "You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." (James 4:14) We have today. As eternal beings, God has given us the gift of time so we can express our love to Him and recognize the love He has demonstrated to us in a plethora of ways.

Are we willing to slow down and allow God's love to penetrate the busy pace of our lives? Are we taking the time to reciprocate the love of our heavenly Father in a world which desperately needs to see love in action? Joy Williams summed it up perfectly in her song Every Moment: "Running through yesterday into tomorrow, don't let it just slip away. Forget about tying the hands of time, give every minute to the One who gave us today."

Live for the purpose you were created: to glorify and honor God in the mundane and the spectacular. Learn to recognize meaning where others see pointlessness. To see the eternal when others see only time. To see EVERY person (whether friend or perceived enemy) as an opportunity to show and reciprocate God's love. Are we "making the most" of the time God has graciously given us on planet earth? Do we relish the beauty of the little things?

Sharks may grip our attention, but don't miss the the clownfish!

(blog entry inspired by and dedicated to my friend Batawi)

Expectations: Going Against the Flow

2010-01-25T08:12:00.006+02:00

I admit it. I made false assumptions.

For some reason, as I took my Hyundai i10 to the streets of Cairo, I assumed a few things. For instance, I assumed lane lines meant something; that one-way streets were intended to be, well, one-way. I didn't know round-abouts were multi-directional or that backing up on a major freeway is not only not a problem, but an appropriate way of back-tracking. I suppose I missed the memo that the highway doubles up as a cross-walk and the sidewalk doubles up as a highway. Forgot that donkey carts are equally four-cylinder vehicles of transportation. It was convenient to discover you can stop in the middle of a busy street to congratulate your neighbor on his purchase of a new television while an orchestra of honking horns serenade the conversation. Perhaps even more beautiful was the realization that stop-lights have no significance and the concept of right-of-way is subjective. Indeed, I was mistaken.

Ah, expectations! The expectations of others; our expectations of others; our expectations of ourselves. Disappointment. Apprehension. Worry. Dissatisfaction. Fear. All products from the same source.

We base success, contentment, and happiness on the outcome of assumptions, competition, relationships, and results. We spend our days attempting to live up to what other people expect our lives to produce, rather than pursuing the God-given purpose for which we were created. We allow the world to define "success" and "failure." The very foundations of our lives are built on particular expectations, and when we fail to achieve them, we become depressed, discouraged, or frustrated.

Jesus conveyed this thought in a beautiful parable. (A parable is a simple story illustrating a deeper meaning.) He told of two men. One built his house on the rock; the other, on the sand. In both cases, the storms came and torrentially beat on the houses. The house on the rock held its ground while the house on the sand buckled and collapsed under the force of the storm.(Matthew 7:24-27) The point of the parable is NOT about building in a storm-free environment. We all go through the storms of life. Regardless of our faith, culture, ethnicity, or nationality we go through disease, disaster, pain, separation, heartache, disappointment, and ultimately, death. The real question lies in this: "What is your foundation?" When the storms of life hit, is your foundation intact?

Janet Paschal, songwriter/singer penned these lyrics, "For every beginning, something is ending. Everything changes but change. Funny how life is, forever amending, the plans that we all prearranged. So laugh when you can, cry when you must, I pray you'll always live deep. Never forget, sometimes you just drink from the bitter to savor the sweet."

Life isn't stable. It wasn't meant to be. Change is constant. Are you building your life on a solid foundation? If you build your life on expectations, disappointment is guaranteed. People will fail you, bank accounts will collapse, bodies will grow old, questions will go unanswered.

There is one foundation I trust. Jesus shared with His disciples, "I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd...My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life and they shall never perish...I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me though he may die, he shall live." (John 10:10-11, 27-28; 11:25) God wants us to have not only life, but abundant life AND eternal life with Him. The problem is that all too often we choose the “broken cisterns” (Jeremiah 2:13) of the world while ignoring our very raison d'être. We seek things which simply do not last and pursue temporal pleasures.

It is this tragedy that spurred C.S. Lewis to declare, “If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” (Read that quote again)

So I ask, WHEN the expectations of your world crumble, will your foundation be secure?

In Cairo traffic, I’ve learned to go with the flow. But when it comes to the world’s expectations, I’m determined to go against the flow.

Are You Holding a Lion???

2010-01-16T11:40:00.008+02:00

The zoo. A word which inspires thoughts of joy and excitement in the mind of a child. An expedition of adventure, learning, thrill, and exploration. A place where dreams are birthed, the wild comes to life, and fiction becomes reality.

Over the years, I've visited a wide array of zoological parks around the world with no shortage of experiences to match the expectations. From the grandeur of the San Diego Zoo in California to the beauty and serenity of the zoo in Santa Barbara, to the exotic flair of the Sydney's Koala Park Sanctuary—each had its magic.

In years to follow, I was blessed with experiencing wildlife in more natural settings—from camel-trekking in the Sahara desert, to riding elephants through Asia's jungles,a safari in Southern Senegal, to encountering Great White Sharks face to face off South Africa's coast in the Indian Ocean. In each case, the beauty and power of God's creation was revealed in new ways.

Sometimes, however, the most distinctive memories emerge from the parks less recognized for their orderly and managed facilities, such as the randomness and dilapidation of Dakar's Animal Park (Senegal). From their sale of lion's urine for an assortment of ailments, to the random fugitive monkeys roaming the parks, to the diseased hyenas in inhumane cement cubicles haphazardly inserted throughout the park, its array of experiences proved original and unique in my growing up years.

Despite my past encounters, my recent trip with friends to Cairo's Giza Zoo proved to be truly unique and entertaining in many ways. Aside from from being Egypt's largest zoo (100 acres), it provides a nice escape from Cairo's desert atmosphere with its gardens, parks, and small canals (including a suspension bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel). This zoo prides itself on providing the visitor a special "behind the scenes" experience of wildlife at its best. All that is required is a little "baksheesh" (or "tips") and politesse.

One such memory was the invitation to hold a "baby" African lion. With the promise in hand, we were ushered through a heavy metal door and into the lion's den. A narrow corridor accessed the cages of slightly unhappy, obnoxiously loud roaring lions. Gave a whole new perspective to Daniel's experience! (To read the story, see Daniel 6:1-23.) True to his promise, the zoo keeper brought out the "baby" for us to hold, which he had aforementioned. This "baby" lion was nearly four feet long, had well-developed teeth, and a personality of his own. Nonetheless, the investment of 10LE ($1.82) was not going to waste! Apparently, this cub's name was Medhat, though we never developed much of a relationship.

As I held the lion, my thoughts drifted to what this cub would one day become. That in my hands, I held the "king of beasts." (Proverbs 30:30) A well-deserved title and a vital warning! Though seemingly innocent and beautiful, I held a potentially dangerous creature in my arms which required respect and care.

Yet, how frequently in our lives do we "play" with the seemingly innocent things without regarding their effects? We "hold the lions" of gossip, slander, and anger without considering their effects to be divisive and deadly. We flirt with immorality assuming our will-power strong enough to flee when necessary. How polarized these thoughts are in relationship to Jesus' teachings. "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies... but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man." (Matthew 15:19, 20b) God looks at the heart, and thus, evil must be uprooted from that point. (I Samuel 16:7) Hence, the prophet David prayed after committing adultery, "Create in me a clean heart." (Psalm 51:10) Not simply, "Forgive my sin." The heart is the source of the issue.

Acts of piety mean nothing before God without a transformed heart. Following God is NOT about following a "To Do" & "Not To DO" list. Rather, it's about developing a relationship of knowing His heart and what He desires from us. He didn't make us robots; He gave us a soul to choose to love Him.

Thus, out of love for God, we are to flee the very semblance of evil. In Scripture, leaven (yeast) often represents sin. At the feast of unleavened bread, not only were the observers of the feast to remove leaven from their baking, but in addition, they were to remove ALL leaven from their homes and land! (Exodus 12:19; Deuteronomy 16:4)

In our society today, "to flee" is a sign of weakness, but in God's economy, a test of strength. (To "flee" could be defined as "to run away, as from trouble or danger.") Time and time again, the Word of God commands us to "flee" those things which would destroy our soul. From "sexual immorality" (I Corinthians 6:18), "idols" (similar to addictions—anything that is “worshiped” before God) (I Corinthians 10:14), "the love of money" (I Timothy 6:10) and "youthful lusts" (2 Timothy 2:22), the command remains the same. Flee. NOT because we have a kill-joy God.

Get real. God created sex, worship, a mind to develop business, and the desires of the body. His longing, however, is that we know the path to ultimate joy rather than selling ourselves short through the devil's lies. As we release that which places us in danger, we are freed to live out the purpose of our existence.

So, what lion are you holding?

Golf, Pyramids, & Perspective

2010-01-10T21:17:00.006+02:00

With Giza's Pyramids towering in the background, I lined up my putt for birdie on the par-five nine. Despite the uneven greens, trash scattered in the rough, random moisture collections on the fairways, and the presence of history itself on this nineteenth-century, Egyptian golf course, my concentration was zeroed in on the thirteen-foot putt at hand. (A putt I miserably misread on a fast green!)

Founded in 1899, the Mena House Oberoi Golf Course is Egypt's oldest and one of the more unique courses on our planet. Only yards from the Great Pyramids of Giza, the view is spectacular and history itself becomes part of the game.

As my friend Bobby and I finished our round of nine and headed for the clubhouse, my thoughts wandered back to the bigger picture. Despite having had the privilege of golfing in the shadow of the Great Pyramids, my attention had been focused on a small, dimpled golf ball and the objective of putting it into a cup four hundred yards away. How easy in this life to be so focused on our pursuits, distractions, addictions, struggles, and conflicts that we lose sight of the big picture!

Is life just about "our game" or are we part of a

much larger story? One bigger than ourselves? Is this vapor called "life" just about living and then dying and that's it? Somehow, I find this difficult to believe when I see the investment our Creator put into forming the world around us, breathing life into organisms, and creating "in His image" the amazing people I interact with on a daily basis. (Genesis 1:27) Psalm 139 describes God careful design. "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb." (v13) It goes on to say "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" (v17) You aren't a mistake or some haphazard invention. Rather, you are part of a plan. A master plan. A masterpiece.

I believe the Bible to be true when it says that we have been created "for the pleasure" of God. (Revelation 4:11) This word "pleasure" indicates a desire on God's part for a relationship with us... for us to enjoy His presence and worship Him for who He is: God. From the beginning with Adam and Eve, God walked and talked with them in the Garden of Eden. As sin/evil entered and broke the intimacy of their relationship, God’s story is one of sacrifice, love and redemption. One of God giving His best (Jesus) out of love to buy us back from the grasp of this world that has blinded us from the reality of our existence. But like any good relationship, it's a choice. God doesn't force His love. He offers it. Freedom to accept His love, freedom to reject it.

Life is the test. The opportunity. The choice. All the hardships, disappointments, blessings, and joys are a chance to see His story. I think we sometimes make the mistake of turning the focus inward. It's not about putting God into our life's plans. It's about putting our life into God's plan. When the Lord appeared to Joshua, Joshua asked, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” The Lord replied, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” (Joshua 5:13-14) He doesn't want to be a part of our life. He wants our life. He wants to be our life. (Colossians 3:3)

Though I managed to save par on nine, a greater perspective grabbed my attention that day. Don't miss the big picture! Whether it's the Pyramids overshadowing your putt or God's love inundating your life, there's more than meets the eye.

Don't miss it!

(A great summary of God's story can be found here: "Your Story" www.one-god-one-message.com)

A Resolution To Live By

2010-01-01T06:16:00.014+02:00

Mobs of people, a few staggering drunks, police clad in riot gear, traffic at a standstill, street vendors profits skyrocketing, horns blaring, children awed by the confusion.

Scene: the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur Central on New Year's Eve minutes from midnight. Somehow, in the midst of the chaos, I found an abandoned ledge in an old parking lot with a clear view of the towers. Perching myself upon it, I watched the madness from a semi-safe distance. My only companions were a couple security guards who periodically told me the time. Then it happened...the countdown, the fireworks, the celebration.

As the explosions of fireworks lit up the night sky, I contemplated, why? Why do we usher in the new year with such happiness, expectation, and excitement? What unites people to push into the future with such vigor? My hypothesis may be deemed simple or incomplete, but give it thought. We celebrate the desire for a fresh start, freedom from the failures of the past, liberation from painful memories, a discharge of unmet expectations, the hope of a better tomorrow, and a place of new beginnings.

Thus, we make our resolutions for the new year. Often times, eerily similar to our past commitments. According to various polls, the most common resolutions are as follows.

1. Lose weight and get in better physical shape

2. Reduce debt and stick to a budget

3. Enjoy more quality time with family

4. Quit smoking and drinking

5. Volunteer more often

6. Learn something new

7. Get organized

Noble endeavors, without doubt, but what is the foundation of such pursuits? Are we pursuing self-actualization, a life of significance, purpose, acceptance, forgiveness? As I considered these things, it became evident that we focus on the superficial symptoms of our problems while failing to reconcile the heart of the issue. There is nothing wrong with pursuing the aforementioned items, but what will make our pursuit this year any different than the past?

Working among street children has put this point to the test. I can easily deal with the superficial issues of the street (drugs, sexual abuse, violence, etc) but without asking the question, "Why are these phenomena's present in the first place?" A child didn't just wake up one morning and decide, "I'm going to go live on the street and be sexually abused." Events of life caused this digression.

Likewise, our actions are the product of our life's decisions.

King Solomon so beautiful states, "God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11) We have not been created to live a temporal life with limited achievements. We are eternal beings with an eternal purpose and until we pursue THAT purpose, we will continue to suffer failed expectations and unmet potential. Perhaps, our problem is that we are striving for the wrong goal.

Prioritizing our activities can be a hassle and pain, but I believe Jesus offers us a clue. " Do not worry about tomorrow...but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:32-33) To "seek" is "to strive, to search". To know God, His authority in your life, AND His righteousness (or justice) is not simply a matter of head-knowledge. Rather, it must be converted into wisdom which demands action (based on faith). We know through both knowledge and experience. To "seek" is an active pursuit requiring determination.

Solomon added, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." My friend, notice that it is not God's plan to spare us from the events of life, but rather, to use these lessons to draw us to His real purpose of our existence. To know Him, have a relationship with Him, to love Him!

The real question is, "How will we respond?" With our old habits, or with a fresh perspective of a great plan/purpose? Will we look on the temporal or the eternal? "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Thus as we embark on this new year, I close with a compelling question worth considering, directly from the mouth of Jesus. "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?" (Matthew 16:26) Therefore, my resolution is simple. "That I may know Him...the fellowship of His sufferings...the power of His resurrection." (Philippians 3:10) In that pursuit, I find purpose.

Happy New Year!

A Strange Way To Save the World

2009-12-23T06:18:00.014+02:00

Christmas simply comes alive in Cairo.

Under the tent off of Port Said Street, Bethlehem comes to Maadi, Egypt. From the camels, donkey, sheep, shepherds, angels, wisemen, and the manger scene, the Maadi Christmas Pageant brings to life one of the most wonderful stories ever told.

After previous years of being the fourth magi and Gabriel, I had the privilege this season of filling the shoes of Joseph, the earthly surrogate father of Jesus Christ. A role packed with the emotions of confusion, anger, forgiveness, understanding, joy, and love. As the play draws to a close, I had the privilege of sharing Joseph's heart in song. The lyrics of the chorus went,

"Why me? I'm just a simple man of trade.

Why Him? With all the rulers in the world.

Why here? Inside this stable filled with hay.

Why her? She is just an ordinary girl.

Now I'm not one, to second guess, what angels have to say, but this is such a strange way to save the world!"

Sometimes I wonder. Did Joseph recognize the magnitude of this child? As Mary's midwife, while he delivered Jesus, did he consider that this Child had come to deliver him? As Joseph taught Jesus the tools of his trade, did he consider the One he taught created life itself? As Joseph searched the temple looking for Jesus, did he recognize this One he looked to find came to earth to find Him?

Yes, sometimes I wonder.

Jesus did NOT choose to enter a clean environment. From being born to a single-mother, to calling an animal's manger in Bethlehem his first home, to his baby clothes being the rags of death, to being born a citizen of an occupied territory, to becoming a refugee shortly after birth, God's Son chose to come into this world in a state of poverty and social rejection. Brings life to the verse, "You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Even today, Jesus doesn't choose to come into a sanitary environment. Instead, he wants to come into my life. Your life. Our messed up lives. Our lives with all their shortcomings, failures, and problems. He wants to call it "home". He implicitly said, "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32) He didn't come to clean stuff up. He came to save us from our desperate situation. But he doesn't intrude. He comes invited.

A strange way to save the world?

The idea that God chose to become man. "Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate deity" (from Hark the Herald Angels Sing) Chose to "dwell among us." (John 1:14) To feel our pain. To embrace our heartaches. To understand our losses. To experience our reality. To share in our humanity.

The statement that "God so loved the world that He GAVE His only Son that WHOEVER believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16) isn't a simple mathematical equation. It's a story of love, mystery, sacrifice, and redemption. Requires faith. Not mere human logic. Faith that believes the story of Christmas.

"Unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR!" (Luke 2:11)

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.

But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

(Taken from God Knew Our Greatest Need)

So my friend, as you celebrate your Christmas holiday, remember God's gift to you. With that, I wish you a Merry Christmas!

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)

My Christmas Ornament

2009-12-01T19:40:00.006+02:00

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!"

With Kenny G serenading my room with angelic Christmas melodies, I wiped the cobwebs and dust off the oddly shaped rectangular box above my armoire. Pulling out my Christmas tree and setting it up, I began meticulously decorating it with care. As I hung my few ornaments, one grabbed my attention.

The ornament is simple. A basic oval-shaped olive-wood carving of Mary and Joseph entering Bethlehem. Ordinary. Nonetheless, this decoration brought back vivid memories. Memories of turmoil, unrest, conflict, hatred, yet hope.

I purchased this piece in the land of Palestine earlier this year while working on a project in the West Bank. Finding this ornament in Bethlehem, I thought it an appropriate addition to my Christmas experience. A question, however, lingers in my mind.

When the angels announced Jesus' birth to the shepherds, they proclaimed, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14) Yet sometimes I wonder, "Where is that peace? That goodwill?"

Visiting the middle of a conflict zone brings life into clear reality. The place of my accommodations in the West Bank felt like a low-security prison with the numerous checkpoints, armed soldiers on the rooftops, barred doors & windows, vacant streets, and barbed wire lining the pathways.

Yet, it is at such times that you realize the harsh reality of this world's wickedness. When you are playing football on the streets with young boys to an audience of armed militants, or holding a six-day old newborn whose house/tent has just been obliterated for political reasons, or when cradling the head of a sobbing child on your chest who is traumatized by life's pain, you wonder. Peace on earth?

What could those angel's have meant? Even Jesus declared, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:34) Contradictory? Maybe at a glance, but here we have a beautiful promise. Christ didn't come to make this world His "kingdom." He openly stated, "My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36) Rather, He declared, "These things I have spoken to you that IN ME you may have peace. In the world, you WILL have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

On my way back to Cairo, I stopped in Jerusalem at the Garden Tomb for a few moments of solitude and reflection. As I sat there quietly, a verse struck me profoundly. "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but He is risen." (Luke 24:5b-6a) How often do we look for the solution in the wrong place; in our government, in society, in people? The solution for hope, peace, love, or acceptance.

True peace is not found in the absence of conflict, but rather, in the person of Jesus. Not in our vain and fruitless pursuits of trade agreements, peace treaties, and ceasefire. Rather, in the very person of CHRISTmas. "Peace on earth." Christ on earth! God's purpose for our lives is not that we live in the absence of conflict, but that we find Him through life's joys and difficulties. He joined our world two thousand years ago to seek us. In finding Him, we find peace. For both now and forever.

As the lights flicker magically from my three-foot Christmas tree and Kenny G's heavenly music continues to fill the air, I smile. Once again, Christmas is upon us. That, "thrill of hope The weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks A new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels' voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born."

Desert Silence

2009-11-16T00:59:00.005+02:00

Trudging into our campsite, nestled between the resplendent limestone formations of the White Desert of Egypt, we set up camp preparing for our first night under the stars. Having left Cairo and the signs of civilization far behind, we braced ourselves for three days of sand, desert foxes, and a breathtaking sunsets.

As we gathered around the evening campfire to drink tea, our Bedouin guide, Ashraf, shared with us, “Water cleanses the body, but the desert cleanses the soul.” The depth of his statement resonated, but only a few days removed from society could clarify its implications.

Trekking with an amazing 8th grade class from Cairo American College, my days were filled with wonderful memories of crazy desert games (International Chaos and Desert Ball), dune jumping, odd toilet experiences, and wild camping memories. One evening, after a dinner of grilled chicken and Bedouin bread (cooked over the open coals of our campfire), we decided to experiment with silence. Far from the bustle of Cairo, the honking of horns, the cloud of smog, the cries of children, and the chaos of life, we shut up.

And listened. And listened.

What I heard that night was not solely the light wind sweeping over the sand after a day of burning heat, nor the munching of hay coming from the camels.

In the silence...God.

I felt the presence of a Creator who is in control of a world that, at times, seems chaotic and spinning wildly out of control. A God who watches over the desert foxes, sand mice, and acacia trees. In the middle of an arid land, He provides for their sustenance. A God who paints majestic sunset backdrops and forms the rolling dune for the few visitors who dare venture into the desolation of the desert. And in that SILENCE...

I listened.

It's no wonder that God chooses to reveal himself in the "gentle whisper" as He shared with Elijah. (I Kings 19:12) With the Psalmist, it resonates, "Be still and know that I am God!" (Psalm 46:10) The term, "be still" comes from the Hebrew, RAPHAH. Literally, "to let drop." The verb "to know" (YADA) could be translated, "realize."

"Drop everything and realize that I am God."

He is God.

In our flurry of non-stop activity and noise, how often do we lose sight this truth? How often does our busyness blind us from the reality of His promises? Do we stop and remember He is in control? That "the Lord is on his heavenly throne." (Psalm 11:4)

The Tuareg's (a Berber Nomadic people of the Sahara) have a proverb, "You have the watch; we have the time." If our desire to hear God's voice, then we must take the time to be still. To drop everything. To listen. In that silence, you will hear.

He has not lost control of this world, the desert, or your life. If he provides moisture for desert plant life and food for the desert fox, how much more will He care for us? (Matthew 6) We have a God of love who wants to communicate with us...will we listen?

Remember, it's in the imperative. "Be still!"

Shhhhh!

Listen.

Into the Fog

2009-10-20T19:29:00.005+02:00

As I trudged higher and higher through the snow of Mount Ngauruhoe (narrow-hoe-ee) the predicament I was in became apparent. Either continue on into the blinding fog with no sense of direction accompanied by impending dangers, or submit to the fact that I had scaled a great portion of this imposing mountain and the time had come to call it a day.

Ngauruhoe, an active stratovolcano on the North Island in New Zealand, is commonly known for being the model of Mount Doom in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

Due to inclement weather, my expedition of climbing Ngauruhoe, highlighting the backdrop of Tongariro National Park, had experienced a near cancellation. Upon arriving at my hostel I discovered that the Tonguriro Crossing had been canceled due to the extreme weather this region had been experiencing. All climbs had been cancelled but my schedule allowed for no flexibility. Thus, after seeking the advice of a local climbing outfitting joint, I decided to proceed with the climb alone.

Heading out at seven, the North Island still covered in the throes of dawn, I picked up a latte along with a Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McMuffin from a nearby McDonalds and headed towards Tongariro National Park…a ninety-minute drive from my hostel. Prior to venturing out, I stopped at an outfitting outlet to pick up a few essential elements (climbing shoes, gloves, proper headgear, and some maps). After discussing the conditions with these blokes, we arranged if I wasn’t back by 1800h, they would come looking for me.

Arriving at the park, the landscape stole my breath. The expansive beauty captured my heart and passion, and there, rising up on the horizon, completely covered in clouds and fog was the target... Ngauruhoe. Despite not seeing the mountain due to the cover, I knew it was there and intended to conquer it.

The adventure was magnificent.

As I trekked through Tongariro, I saw not one soul. Not one. Completely alone in a vast expanse of mountains, prairies, and mountain streams. As far as the eye could see. there were no explorers, park rangers, or signs of human life. Only the sound of the birds, brooks, waterfalls, and the wind whipping across the open fields and the howling weather on the mountain. Tranquility and peace.

Just me and God.

So we walked and talked as closest of friends. There was absolute joy, laughing and tears. A precious time together.

Reaching the South Crater, I began the pursuit of Ngauruhoe's summit. The fog was blinding and intense. I relied on the post markers planted every ten to twenty meters to keep me on track. Knowing the danger of the mountain, its glaciers and sudden deathly drop-offs, I trudged cautiously, step by step. It wasn't too long, however, before the blinding snow and fog masked my eyes from identifying the next guidepost. I was stuck with a choice. Wait for the fog to clear, or call it a climb.

That day, God taught me a lesson.

How often in life is it hard to see where we are going (just as I couldn't see Ngauruhoe that day due to fog, but I knew it was there by faith). We want a blueprint for our lives. We wonder why bad things happen to good people, or why cancer, broken hearts, and hurt exist. Yet perhaps God has a plan far bigger than our earthly eyes can see. Rather than "why," perhaps our question should be, "what" (would you have me learn)?

We are called to go from one guidepost to the next. By faith. Faith not in ourselves, but in the God who can see through the fog of life and knows exactly what He is doing, even when we can't see the mountain. Faith is that "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

We don't have to understand everything. It's ok. As long as we know the One leading. In the words of Oswald Chambers, "Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."

God's Word clearly tells us in Hebrews 11:6, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." If we all saw God for who He fully is, we would believe, but that belief would be based on sight, not faith. God desires a relationship with us based on love. A love which believes Him for who He says He is and lives on that premise.

And as we journey, let us not forget that His Word (the Holy Bible) is "a lamp to our feet and a light to our path." (Psalm 110:105) Simply a lamp. A small lantern providing enough light to show us the next divot in the road. Not a floodlight for strategic planning. Light enough to keep us walking, yet not an abundance to keep us trusting.

One guidepost at a time.

Simple obedience.

And when the fog gets too thick to even see the next step, just wait. Soon in the fog, you'll hear those comforting words of Jesus, "Follow Me!"

Spaghetti, Meat Sauce, and a little Garlic Bread

2009-09-23T23:51:00.007+02:00

Spaghetti with meat sauce and some garlic bread.

Just another dinner...so I thought. That is, until the garlic bread.

Being Senegalese/American, I am used to living in a land of malfunctioning appliances, loss of power and water, and the general lack of modern conveniences...thus, I figured that included gas stoves. Perhaps, a lack of judgment.

The spaghetti dinner was turning out great...or so our guests declared. Apparently the welcoming scent of the meat sauce had wafted down into the general foyer as our dinner invitees arrived...

But, the garlic bread still needed to be toasted.

Having had previous experience lighting our oven, (thanks to blueberry muffins) I attempted to start the ancient piece of debris...no success. After a couple attempts, my housemate, having never used this particular appliance before, suggested giving it a try...gladly, I handed the matches to him.

What happened next is still a blur...As Jeremy reached in to ignite the burner, (and I stood closely over his shoulder) it happened.

Ka-BOOM!!

An EXPLOSION similar to a small bomb...the force of the explosion sent Jeremy (my housemate) and I flying backward, shattered windows across our house, blew the entire oven/stove onto its front and the next thing I remember was being on the kitchen counter and my friend crying out from the kitchen floor which was now covered in boiling water...

But this story is not about an oven, garlic bread, or drama...rather, about the grace of God.

Though the trauma of the explosion, the burns inflicted, along with the pizza boxes and computer paper covering our pane-less windows remind us of this night, the divine protection of God stands above all else. From our gas tank (directly next to the stove) not igniting, to the matches laying ON the oven door not bursting into flames, to our clothes not even getting singed, we experienced a miracle. A blast of God's mercy!

As I stirred the sauce and my friend prepared the garlic bread, did we consider the proximity of death? The face of eternity? We feel invincible...as if God owes us a certain number of years. The Word of God, however, clearly points out, "It is appointed to man once to die and then the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)

Regardless of our faith, (or lack thereof) we acknowledge death...but are we living for something which lasts beyond the grave or is our hope in this life alone? Paul shared, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." (I Corinthians 15:19)

I'm thankful God spared my life (and that of Jeremy), but I'm even more thankful to know that on the day my short life ends, I have a living hope beyond the grave!

Still, another thought lies on my mind...do I LIVE daily in light of eternity? We are clearly told in II Corinthians 4:18, "...we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

May our love transcend preferences, differences, frustrations, divisions, cultures, nationalities, ignorance, impatience, and the like so that we may focus on living for something far greater than what we see. That our love would display a far greater hope!

Thus, as my alarm clock begins it's cheery BEEP-BEEP BEEP-BEEP at 0415h, I smile...another day! To live, to laugh, to love! Another day to invest into the invisible.

Who knows, I may have to make garlic bread!

The Answer to Your Prayers

2009-08-20T22:20:00.006+03:00

I'll never forget those two faces.

If the attribute of joy was personified, then Merna and Jacqueline embodied it. Their beautiful faces radiated with a supernatural joy. As identical twins, telling them apart was nearly impossible, but their precious smile undeniably further entwined their likeness.

Nestled in the back alley of Manshayet Nasr (known to foreigners as "Garbage City") at a home run by nuns [started by Mother Teresa], I found myself "mother" to six newborns (2-6 months old)...five girls, one boy. These were my children. Bottles, feeding, burping, pacifiers, changing diapers, playing, and putting babies to sleep became regular elements of life...these kids had my heart.

One day in early April, upon entering the children's home, my heart was ripped apart to find two of my kids gone...Jacqueline and Merna. (On a positive note, I was told they were returned to their biological parents) I distinctly remember going to their blatantly empty cribs, kneeling down beside them on the cold tiles, and with tears in my eyes, I prayed.

My prayer was simple...that God would take care of them, and that He would bring someone into their life who would love them and share the love of Jesus with them.

Little did I know the impact of such a prayer...

Shortly after returning to the US of A in May of '04, my university studies resumed...so with 9992 km separating me from my adopted-family, my dorm room wall became a panorama of memories. And my prayers continued...as before.

Two years later, degree in hand, I boarded Lufthansa Airlines bound for a new life in Beirut...except God had other plans. War, logistical issues, and divine guidance landed me in Cairo...again. With David, I came to the realization, "I trust in You, O Lord. I say, 'You are my God!' My times are in Your hand." (Psalm 31:13-14)

As time went by, I returned to the streets of Manshayet Nasr...passing by a group of children, a ten year old [Lobna], called out, "Parlez vous francais?" Being a Senegalese and a native-French speaker, I turned...instantly, a friendship was born. After getting to know the family and discovering the kids study in French, I became the tutor for their kids, their cousins, and their cousin's cousins.

Months later, as we sat around the family's rickety broken plastic table conjugating verbs in the past tense [surrounded by rubbish along with chickens randomly flying over our head---yes, chickens CAN fly], two little girls stepped into my world...again. Barefoot, covered in dirt from head to toe, clothes slightly tattered, their hair crusty and mangled from playing in the street and their faces bore no sign of joy, but something in their eyes looked ever so familiar. Looking up, I asked Lobna who these two adorable twins were...she replied, "My sisters, Jacqueline and Merna." Though their names are commonplace, other identifying features were given and I quickly realized that in a city of over 20 million residents, God had reunited me with two of my girls!

And then it hit me...my prayer. Today, I see these girls frequently, pour love into them, and share the stories of my friend, Jesus. As kindergartners, they love school [especially gymnastics] and life...their laughter is back and my life is enriched because of them.

But take a step back in history, when Jesus and His disciples were swamped with thousands of people and no food...the disciples quickly managed a solution and suggested Jesus send the multitudes away. Christ's answer baffled their logic. "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." (Matthew 14:16) We know the rest of the story...one boy, five loaves, two "small" [John 6:9] fish...and Jesus. When we pray, are we willing to be the answer to our prayer? For those suffering around the world...are we willing to give up our abundance so others may have the bare minimum? For the lonely...are we willing to sacrifice our time to comfort? We pray like Asaph, "Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy, deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked." (Psalm 82:3-4) But are we willing to be the vessel God uses?

SO, just a little warning...be careful what you pray.

You may be the answer to your own prayer!

No RESERVES, No RETREATS...No REGRETS

2009-07-24T16:45:00.004+03:00

Buried in the heart of Cairo in a forgotten cemetery lies the grave of a man many have forgotten. The high walls of this ancient cemetery, the barred gate, and the overgrown brush bring back memories of The Secret Garden.

The significance, however, is not found in what lies within these stone walls. Rather, the power of this story lies in what these walls (and grave) could not hold.

To access the grave, we had to climb over tombs, rubble, shrubbery, and trash. After clearing the grave from its assorted debris and branches, along with scrubbing off the years of dust and bird poop accumulation, the words were revealed.

William Whiting Borden.

Born in 1887 to one of the richest families in the United States and heir to millions, Borden was given the high school graduation gift of traveling the globe. As William traveled, he saw the immense hurt around the world and recognized the need to invest his life into that which would last for eternity. In a letter home to mom and dad, Borden wrote, "I'm going to give my life to prepare for the mission field." And that he did.

Friends tried to discourage him claiming that by making this decision, he was "throwing himself away." In response, he journaled in the front of his Bible, "No reserves."

After earning degrees from Yale and Princeton while actively engaging in campus and community life, (started the Yale Hope Mission, ministered to drunks downtown, and engaged over 70% of Yale's student body in small group Bible studies) Borden realized the time had come to follow Christ to the "ends of the earth." Turning down high-paying job offers and a life of relative ease, Borden added two more words under the previous entry. His words, "No retreats."

Refusing to be side-tracked by the things of time, Borden set sail for China in December of 1912 stopping in Egypt to study Arabic. Upon arriving in Cairo, Borden hit the books, but shortly thereafter, William contracted spinal meningitis. Within a month, on April 9, 1913 at the age of 25, Borden was face to face with the Jesus he loved and served.

Borden's passing was carried in nearly every major US newspaper. One woman wrote, "Borden not only gave (away) his wealth, but himself, in a way so joyous and natural that it (seemed) a privilege rather than a sacrifice."

Was his life a waste? Was this an untimely death? Not in God's economy. Rather, "unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." (John 12:24) Is a long life the rubric of success, or faithfulness? Wealth, or love? Self-pursuits, or sacrifice?

Prior to closing his eyes in death, Borden etched two final words in the front of his Bible. Beneath "No reserves" and "No retreats" were written, "No regrets." For Borden, "To live [was] Christ, and to die [was] gain." (Philippians 1:21)

His tombstone is epic, but this portion encapsulates his life and passion. "A Man in Christ, he arose and forsook all and followed Him, kindly affectioned with brotherly love, fervent in spirit serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope patient in tribulation, instant in prayer, communicating to the necessity of saints, In honour preferring others. Apart from faith in Christ there is no explanation for such a life."

Oswald Chambers, buried a mere 100 meters from Borden, declared, “Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.” There are many things I don't understand about Borden's life and death, but what I do know is this...he lived a life which counted for eternity. He lived, not for this world nor for himself, but for eternity and the God he loved.

Will I write, "No regrets?"

A Tale of Two Lives

2009-06-29T11:43:00.004+03:00

As I tuned into the radio while driving my Hyundai on Friday morning, I received word of Michael Jackson's death. A few hours later, upon checking my e-mail, I received word that my friend, Chris Leggett, had been targeted and killed by two Al-Quaida gunmen. (his crime: loving people with the love of Jesus and investing his life into the people of Mauritania)

Two lives. Two legacies. Two eternities. Both lived. Both died.

The Bible reads, "It is appointed to man once to die, and then the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)

Since hearing of their deaths, my facebook is flooded with notifications concerning Michael Jackson quizzes, applications, and memoirs, yet eeringly silent on my buddy, Chris. But my spirit begs to ask the question, who REALLY lived? What does it mean to live? Is life REALLY only to live and then to die? Or is there more?

Does the fame, the crowds, the girls, the money really add up to much in the end? Did Michael Jackson really find the joy and peace he was looking for, or did he come up empty? I find it sad, yet interesting, to have heard today that Jackson died with nearly a half BILLION dollars of debt. A man who couldn't decide if he wanted to be a man. A man who had "everything" BUT didn't have enough.

Meanwhile, my friend Chris, his wife, and four kids gave up their comfortable home in Tennessee to pursue a calling God had given them---not forced upon them...to go to the proverbial ends of the earth to love a people they didn't know. To pour their lives out. They went, not to earn favor in God's eyes, but because of love for their King. There wasn't any glamour or money involved. But they had MORE than enough...it was time to give away.

The Leggetts recognized, "There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever." (2 Corinthians 4:18 The Message)

The more I live, the more I realize life isn't about following a certain religion or about self-pursuits. Rather, it's about finding the purpose for which we were created.

And I truly believe that purpose is found in a relationship with God our creator...a relationship that says, I want to "know you" and experience you by the "power of your resurrection and the fellowship of your sufferings" because I've tasted your eternal love and it satisfies all my longing. (Philippians 3:10)

How better to taste HIS love than to love...love extravagantly every person you meet. Share compassion with the hurting, minister kindness to the afflicted, give of yourself to those who have nothing. SHOW the world Jesus...let your life tell! As Will Rogers wisely said, "People's minds are changed through observation, not argument."

I've been to over fifty nations, met thousands upon thousands of people, and had my heart broken over the wickedness of this world, but please listen to this...I've found more hope in the hell-holes of Calcutta, the trash-heaps of Muquattam, and the shanty-towns of Phnom Penh than in the palaces and mansions of the wealthy from Dubai to LA. Why?

Perhaps it's because the things of the world blind us to the truest reality of life...and that being, God's love for the people He created. Sometimes, He has to take things away for us to pay attention to that which is valuable.

If this is the case, I want nothing more than to "know HIM." For in that desire, I have everything.

I'm not sure where Jackson stood in his relationship with God. That's between him and God.

But when Chris Leggett's spirit left his bloodied bullet-ridden body which lay on that dusty Mauritanian soil on Tuesday morning, Jesus rose from His throne and announced, "My precious son is coming home!"

Well done Chris...you ran well...you won the race!

(I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. II Timothy 4:7-8)

The "Blessed" Life

2009-05-12T11:27:00.000+03:00

Recently, I was enjoying a vanilla latte in a Cairo coffee shop with a couple dear friends while perusing photographs from the past few years. With it came old memories, laughter, and contemplation of the lessons learned along the way.

As I turn a quarter of century, (that's 25 my friends!) I realize the brevity of this life, yet how full and wonderful it is and has been. If “blessed” is defined by earthly terms, I am “blessed.” But I question that definition.

I am surrounded by the greatest friends and family any guy could ask for, spread out in nations around the globe. I'm fulfilling my dream of serving/loving children globally and investing into their futures. To me, it's not work; its my calling and a pure joy. I get to coach a sport I love to youth I love far more than the sport. Along the way, God has provided many snapshots of beauty/excitement...

From watching the sun rise over the majestic temples at Ankor Wat, diving face to face with the Great White Sharks in the cold waters of Gansbaii, skydiving over the metropolis of Atlanta, attending “Beauty and the Beast” on Broadway in Manhattan, trekking through the Sahara, exploring the rain forests of Southeast Asia, kayaking midst the jagged rock faces of the Li Jin River in China, swimming the open water from Dakar to Goree Island, free diving wrecks off Bahamas’ coast, skiing the mountains of Northern Lebanon, visiting the seven churches of Asia in Turkey, viewing the Pyramids of Giza, bathing in the Dead Sea, gazing at the starry sky through a hole in an underwater cave at 30m depth at the bottom of the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea, climbing Sinai’s peak, scaling Half Dome in God’s backyard of Yosemite, admiring Da Vinci’s work in Milan at the Last Supper painting, jumping the world highest bridge bungee jump in the Bloukrans, looking out over Paris from the Eiffel Tower, mounting the step of Buckingham Palace, strolling the vineyards of South Africa, eating tarantulas in Cambodia's roadside markets, standing in awe before the 275 waterfalls merging into one at Foz D’Iguazu in Brazil, to the awesome waves crashing on the rock of Valetta’s coast during storms on Malta, cruising the Nile, witnessing Syria’s fortress at Crac de Chevalier, exploring Jordan’s rock masterpiece city of Petra, to gazing in wonder at the empty tomb in Jerusalem. Truly, I’ve seen and experienced much in my first 9131 days of life outside the womb. (yes, I counted leap years)

And yet…am I blessed in this? I would suggest this weighs little to none on the “blessed” life. In the Word of God, I find the “blessed” man described as one who "KNOWS His God!" “Blessed are you Simon bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you!” (Matthew 16:17) One who is poor in Spirit, who has the Lord for their Shepherd, who is a doer of the Word, who is pure in heart, who is a peacemaker, who hungers and thirsts for righteousness, who is meek, who is persecuted for righteousness’ sake, who believes in the One he has never seen. Blessed is the one whose hope goes beyond the grave. Thus, true "blessedness" depends not on economic status, culture, ethnicity,age, experience or caste.

Indeed, the blessedness from God’s perspective can be found in the trash dumps of Ezbit il Nakhl, in the communist nation of Burma, or the dusty villages of Pakistan. How much more "blessed" am I when holding a dying baby in my arms, born in the brothels and stricken with AIDS she didn’t induce. When treating the open wounds of a street child, ministering love to intensely impoverished kids trapped in the slums and sewers of Calcutta, recognizing a life well-lived as I stood over the coffin of my brother René who died saving fifty lives during the genocide of Rwanda, the privilege of baptizing a couple Pakistanis in their irrigation canal, playing with Burma’s children in remote mountain villages, pulling the worms out of the scalp of a young girl in Northern Syria, changing diapers in an orphanage in Garbage City, to simply loving a child trapped in the midst of violence, danger, abuse, and fear.

These are the highlights of life. This is where the rubber meets the road…where faith takes action. If pain is God’s megaphone to a world that desperately needs HIS message of love and forgiveness through Jesus, that is where I want to be...with them in it. To feel THEIR pain in order to share the hope within the crisis.

Indeed, the truly blessed life would be one where this world sees no longer see Nate. Rather, my hands would serve as Jesus. My mouth would speak His words of love and forgiveness. My thoughts, His. My eyes would see opportunity and potential and not simply reality. My lap would be a safe haven for those who need care and compassion. My feet would be a messenger for His love.

Whether I have only today or 25 more years, may this be my definition of "blessed."

Thanks for sharing life with me and KNOW I am honored to call you, "friend!"

Listening to Coach

2009-05-01T19:22:00.000+03:00

"Exhausted" would accurately describe how I feel at the present moment...after five hours of swim time trials, forty-one races, high adrenaline, and stiff competition, sleep sounds quite appealing. Problem is, I wasn't even the one swimming.

One of my great joys in life is coaching swimming. I absolutely love every one of "my kids." (though some are but six years younger than myself) Love the diversity of our team; what each one brings to the pool and to my life. From all over the globe...Australia, Egypt, Netherlands, USA, South Korea, Italy, Palestine, England, South Africa, and more...each is unique. From Hodder's humor, Leila's laugh, Morucci's encouragement, to Salma's wonderful sarcasm, they brighten each day! They are truly my friends.

Each day in practice, they hear my voice...probably more than they wish. But, the simple fact is this. They know it. Very well! It's distinct, loud, and my words are predictable. "Tighten up. Streamline. Kick! Core rotations. Attack the wall!! Watch your hand-entry."

But come meet day, with adrenaline pumping, the passion of the parents and crowd, and the distractions of the day, it's easy for my voice to be lost in the chaos of the moment. But prior to the start of the meet, I often draw swimmers aside from the commotion and say, "Listen for my voice only...remember the things I've told you." For this to happen, they must fade out the other distractions and tune in to only one frequency. Coach Nate.

We live in a chaotic world. Everything is seeking to grasp our attention and time. Work. Money. Family. Entertainment. Friends. Politics. Conflict. Relationships. Fear. How easy it is to be distracted from our purpose and passion in order to pursue the good while sacrificing the excellent.

How often I claim to struggle to hear the voice of God! Could it be that my life is simply too loud? Could it be I fail to tune out the distractions around me and neglect to take the time to listen to His voice? Jesus reminds us in John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me." Of one thing I am convinced. God is not the one failing to communicate. It's me...failing to listen.

To identify a counterfeit bill, you don't have to study all the fakes. Just know the real. My swimmers do not need to know all the voices in the crowd to know which is mine. They know me. Likewise, I must know the voice of Jesus in this world if I wish to follow Him. The voice of the one who says, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35)

No surprise this world has trouble recognizing followers of Jesus since so few seem to actually learn His voice, let alone, listen to His voice. We will only know His voice if we choose to pursue a deep relationship with Him AND fade out the voices of this world with it's hatred, revenge, selfishness, and pride. To know His words, His character, His love. Takes time, commitment, and sacrifice.

"On the blocks...take your mark." [buzzer sounds] The race is off...screaming people, splashing water, horns honking...who are you listening to?

Shoes

2009-04-19T18:32:00.001+02:00

Shoes. A simple component of one's attire yet a powerful reminder to me to love. Frustrated by Mahmoud's frequent cancellations and tardy appearances to my Arabic class had me thinking thoughts which were less than Jesus-like. That is, until I saw his shoes. He walked in, clearly feeling ill, slightly discouraged, yet trying to pull himself together enough to teach another lesson. I saw a young man living in desperation, wanting more out of life, getting less.

I was ready to give him the typical lecture of his responsibility to be on time, how my day is valuable, and his duty to come prepared to instruct...it was then I looked down. And there they were on his feet. Two tennis shoes. Black with a red stripe. And it hit me. Hard. He is just like me. Goes out searching for shoes. Ones that are comfortable, in-style, and durable. We are brothers. We are so similar.

Perhaps he is dealing with heartaches I cannot imagine. If I had to walk in his shoes, what would my life be like. Helpless as I see the chaos around me and the futility of my efforts to change it. Wearily teaching Arabic to dumb foreigners for 10 hours a day. Frustratingly trying to make ends meet and realizing this is simply a constant circle with no end in sight. Hopeless as I follow the stringent regulations of man-made religious precepts required to reach God. But his shoes, God, they are like mine. For 40 years in the desert, you kept the shoes of Your people from wearing out. (Deut. 29:5) So keep my love fresh in the spiritual desert of this world. Because inside those shoes are feet with calluses, aches, blisters, arthritis. Did I think of that before? No, because I failed to put myself in his shoes. O God, forgive me for not loving more. Forgive me for getting frustrated at trite things.

How will the world ever see Jesus in me if I only judge, dishonor others, and impose my "rights?" It's not about "my rights" but about His love.

When Jesus showed humility and servanthood at it's finest, He hit the floor, untied those dusty sandals of His disciples, and began washing. Letting the cool water rinse those dirty, disgusting feet that had been cooped up in shoes all day. Drying them with the towel with which He was wearing. And Jesus…no, He didn't care. It wasn't about where those feet had been. What they had done, whether right or wrong. It was about what they needed now. A little attention. A little love. So He served. And then He shared with His disciples, "I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you...if you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." (John 13:15,17)

In that day, even a slave didn't have to untie his master's sandal. This was the ultimate form of humility. Yet this was the One of whom John said, "whose sandal strap I am not worthy to losse." (Luke 3:16) Who else needs love today? Just look at their shoes. You might not know where they've been, but is that the question? Perhaps, we should be more concerned about where they are going...that we intersect their life with love. Life isn't easy. Maybe, they've just been in the desert for 40 years, or maybe they are like Mahmoud…just needing someone who genuinely cares…and loves.

Oh yeah, I nearly forgot…you gotta get down low. It's hard to wash feet standing up.

5-4-3-2-1-JUMP

2009-04-17T17:22:00.000+02:00

My legs were trembling as trudged the 200m catwalk to the arch of the Bloukrans Bridge. The open grillwork of the catwalk revealed the 700-plus feet of air beneath me dropping to the gorge's floor. It was shortly after 0800h on that Monday morning. The clouds had passed over and the sky opened up lighting up the brilliant mountains to the North and creating a glistening effect on the Indian Ocean to the South. A few minutes before, I had been strapped into a full body harness, wished good luck, and sent on my way...on my way to the pinnacle of fear.

Before venturing onto the bridge that Fall morning, a sign overhead reminded me, "Fear is temporary, regret is forever." So, facing my fear, I went forward. I have never been one to let fear conquer areas of my life. From reaching kids in war zones, to jumping out of planes, to eating tarantulas, to diving with Great White sharks, nothing has been an obstacle...but my greatest fear directly faced me now. The world's highest bridge bungy jump. Situated along the Garden Route at the Tsitsikamma National Forest off the Garden Route, the Bloukrans Bridge is an attraction for any extreme athlete.

Upon reaching the jump site on the arch, I was welcomed by an energetic group of South African bungy specialists...ready to send me on my way to the fall of my life. After strapping the padding and strap to my ankles, I was escorted to the edge where the bungy was attached to my 81kg frame.

And then the moment came...the moment every extreme athlete waits for. Asking for any last minute advice, I was told, "Don't hesitate!" Then the moment you wait for...when the adrenaline is pumping at such an extreme level that the body overrides every mechanism of fear...with the techno music pumping, my feet over the edge, the enthusiastic staff screamed out, 5-4-3-2-1-JUMP!!!!

With that, I left the solid concrete of the the 216m high bridge, and took the biggest jump of my life...assuming streamline position, I plummeted the couple hundred meters towards the earth leaving all common sense behind. As the bungy caught, it sprang my body 130 meters back into the air...after a 90 second bounce experience, I was retrieved by the winch and returned to solid earth.

Though the experience enabled me to overcome another of life's fears, I learned a much bigger lesson that day. Nearly everyone reading this blog would agree that the bungee cord itself is reliable, but how many would actually venture onto the bridge and take the plunge? Twelve years of safety, thousands of jumpers, and loads of adrenaline have proved this fact, but though I can say ALL day that I trust the bungee, until I’m willing to actually jump off the bridge basing my entire confidence in it, how much do I ACTUALLY trust it?

Likewise, so it is in our walk with God. Most people in the world believe in God (as do demons...and they tremble---James 2:19) and though we claim to trust God, how much does it really mean until we are willing to venture into the unknown trusting HIS promises alone? To swim upstream when the world tells us otherwise. Jesus tell us that "whoever wants to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25) Then Jesus unleashes the extreme call of, "If any man desires to follow Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow." (Luke 9:23)

No in-between options. Either you jump or you don't. Either you follow, or you stay behind! "Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4) A forsaking of life's common conveniences for the pursuit of the extraordinary! Faith as a mustard seed. It's not the amount of faith, but in whom it was placed. It didn't matter if I had heaps of faith in the bungy or a little. The question is, "Did I jump?" T.S. Eliot put it like this, "Only those who risk going too far can find out how far one can possibly go."

Does that characterize my faith in Jesus? Am I jumping off the bridges of life for Him? Or am I the spectator who says, "He is worthy to be trusted, but I'm not willing to risk it"? Perhaps the greatest risk is to stay on the bridge.

I would suggest, "Jump!" My advice, "don't hesitate!"

(for more pics, check out my facebook page)