The Fear of the Lord is a Truning Point

Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.
(Daniel 5:5-6)

In the Old Testament, the finger of God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone tablets and later inscribed a message of judgment on the plaster walls of Belshazzar’s palace. In the New Testament, the finger of Jesus wrote in the dirt in John 8:6.

Today we have God’s handwriting in Scripture. The very word Scripture comes from the Latin scriptum, meaning “to write.” All Scripture is inspired by God, and every word in God’s Word is God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16).

President Abraham Lincoln came to that conclusion during the Civil War. He increasingly opened his Bible, frequently turning to Daniel and the other Old Testament prophets. He believed, as he told one group who presented him with a beautiful leather-bound Bible, that “this Great Book is the best gift God has given to man.”

If even wicked old Belshazzar trembled before this divine script, it’s important for all of us to revere, rely on, and obey every word from God, whether we are kings, presidents, cooks, housewives, plumbers, pastors, students, or servants.

In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength.
General Robert E. Lee

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 1:1 - 2:37

Rahab The Harlot . Introduction to the "Diary"

During the last two years my spiritual life has taken a turn for the better! A turn that I desperately needed to take. Those walking closely with me know that both are true. It's mainly been that during that time I've been practicing the "habits" as I call them. In antiquity and by the learned they're called "spiritual disciplines." They've changed my life. Or more accurately, He has changed my life because of the increased focus and time I've spent listening to Him and apprehending spiritual truth. A big part of this, besides prayer, reading the Word, and staying in Community is my practice of reading three devotional books - a short scripture and thought for each day.
Recently I was spending some time with Brian, and introduced him to one of these books, Thoughts From The Diary Of A Desperate Man, by Walter A. Henrichsen. He immediately decided to order one, but also found the daily writ on the web at this address: http://www.ncmm.org/devotional/
He suggested I share it with you all, so we can read it together, and get in the habit of sharing our thoughts or lessons learned as we read. So be it! I pray it grows to mean as much to you as it has to me, since an American Airlines captain gifted me with it as we shared Christ over a meal in a London Tavern a few years ago. May your journey grow richer as you continue. Amen.
"She does not enter "The Hall of Fame" as one of God's heroines because she abandoned her promiscuous life and became a good Hebrew. Rather, because, as a whore, she "received the spies with peace." She testified to the spies, "for we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt… for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath." [85] On the basis of a rumor over forty years old, she was willing to risk all she had. God overlooked her moral imperfections and declared her great.

Rahab knew very little and took great risks. By way of contrast, the Pharisees knew a great deal and took few risks. God rebuked the Pharisees and exalted Rahab. You please God, not by what you know but by the size of the risks you are willing to take; not by what you know, but by what you apply. God did not give you the Bible to make you a smarter sinner, but rather a holy saint. Application, not knowledge, pleases God."

Voice of Adventrue

“The Voice of Adventure”

“Those who try to keep their lives will lose them. But those who give up their lives will save them.” Luke 17:33

There is a rawness and wonder to life. Pursue it. Hunt for it. Sell out to get it. Don’t listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second-rate life and want you to do the same so they won’t feel guilty. Your goal is not to live long; it’s to live.

Jesus says the options are clear. On one side there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in your hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and safe….

Or you can hear the voice of adventure – God’s adventure. Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart. Follow God’s impulses. Adopt the child. Move overseas. Teach the class. Change careers. Run for office. Make a difference. Sure it isn’t safe, but what is?

What adventure do you feel compelled to follow? What steps can you take to achieve it?

From “He Still Moves Stones,” and Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado

Tomas Nelson, Nashville TN, 2007

Mission Belize 2009

February 2, page 2

Roaring Creek, Belize City, DFW, Fort Smith, and Mena

Life happens. Life also is to be seized and lived – treasured really, with Friends. February 2 gets 2 entries for 2 reasons. Mission and Friendship. Which is more important? You tell me! Can they be separated? Should they be? This is how our mission ended….

The last thing Fred shared in his devotional, thru some tears, was a “Thank you” to our little troop of guys. “Six amigos coming together and being one,” he put it. He said he had experienced a “time to laugh.” It’s been six months since Nikita went to be with the Lord, and it left a hole in him that he, at times, wasn’t sure he could crawl out of. He had shared with me privately before the trip that he was thinking about asking the Lord for “six more months, because it’s so hard.” We all felt that a lot of healing came to Fred on the trip, and lots of distilled life came to us from Fred. But we were all one. He said it this way, “We were a little crazy at times, but I needed that!”

Well the day was incredibly beautiful and rewarding as our hundreds of photos and stories can attest. But it was the peace of mind and joy of helping others, and being with friends that marked that last day as we drove through the country west to east, sight seeing, daydreaming and meditating as we went. A quiet peaceful time really… punctuated with jokes on or about each other from time to time.

As we started to leave Belize, I started to feel some spiritual resistance as we headed back to the USA. I’ll leave it to prophetic people to interpret or speak to that. Our plane was delayed by a mechanical malfunction for thirty minutes. We missed our flight in from DFW to FSM due to this. We’re deciding where to spend the night, our little battle-tested group still undaunted, and in good spirits. We get a call from Carole for Ed that his mother may be dying? That changes everything. We now work together to get Ed there as soon as we can. We rent a van and drive through the night, arriving in Ft. Smith at 330am. Carole meets Ed and they drive on to Mena. The guys get home and in bed about 430-500am. Ed probably stays up almost 48 hours. But he gets to see him mom and be there when she goes to be with the Lord very peacefully, having lived a long healthy life. The guys pray for and support Ed and the family as they can the next few days. We’re grateful to share this special moment with him and to see his heart. Also to learn that his mom “knew the Lord almost her whole life, and she is probably the reason I’m saved or living today.”

Yep. Life is special. And life is brief.

Hope you’ll have More Tomorrow.

Mission Belize 2009

February 2

Xunantunich, Spanish Lookout, The Zoo, Belize City

Up 0600, Packed, Going Home Day!, Breakfast 0700, Devotional 0745-0815 by Fred – Very Good! 0830 Packed in Suburban and off for a big sightseeing day, en route to the airport – target 1530L (for 1700 – 5pm flight.)

Our goal is “Xunantunich” Mayan Ruins; lunch at “Spanish Lookout” in Mennonite country (Can you say “ice cream?”); the “Belize Zoo”; and the airport.

We did in fact accomplish all of that and have a great time together. Also another great photo day. I may speak about these later; but the best part of the day was the devotional by Fred.

Every other devotional during our stay was by our “spiritual leader,” Bobby, and he did an excellent job! But early in the week Fred had requested to do it the last day. And that day had arrived. He began, “I’m not asking that you carefully get all the detail, but please hear my heart.” Psalm 68:6 “…He sitteth the solitary in families.” “When I think of “solitary,” I think of a diamond – and what a diamond goes through. I look at the age group we have here. God has done a work in every one of us – for a reason – not just so we can say what we’ve been through. A diamond is the only jewel that can cut metal – can cut chains off people. Randy, you can do so in this place. The CCF men’s ministry, women’s ministry, all the ministries; we need to ratchet it up a few notches this year! All of us, step it up.”

Fred’s last and most heart felt word was about “fathers.” He said, “We have 10,000 teachers, but not many fathers.” “Look for opportunities, be one – to others.” May God lead and teach us to do so. Be willing and desire to do it. It’s rewarding and so needed. Amen.

I saw Fred, Ed and Ralph and the other men model it on the construction site. I saw the difference just three days made in Charles, Clifford, Mike, and Juan. A “father’s heart” makes a difference. Keep the vision alive. Make it plain. Do it.

More Tomorrow, from Fort Smith.

Mission Belize 2009

February 1
0615 Get up; 0700 breakfast. Bobby shared his life verse (Matt 16:25) "meant so much to him because he had lost his life trying to save it by his own means, and since giving it up to Jesus; got it back again." A few others share and then...
Time to go to More Tomorrow, and children's church. We arrive at 10am and start to open up the community building. Kids are already running our way. We have about 20 children before beginning and a few adults standing around, as Randy starts leading in some worship songs on the keyboard and guitar. The kids know them and are animated as they sing. Although the kids study and speak English in school, this is a predominately Spanish and Mayan speaking village. They are in for a treat, as our own Fred Zavala reads and tells them the story of Paul on the road to Damascus in Spanish. As he does so, he has the rest of our team acting it out!
After this Ralph and Bobby lead with the "butterfly" art and craft project of the day. We help each child build his butterfly, with as little or much help as he or she needs, and they start coloring their pictures of Paul struck by the blinding light, after they finish. The butterfly represents, they are told, that we are "new creatures in Christ." Just like Paul was!
After church we walked around the village and helped Randy measure and look at lots suitable for the new church, preschool, medical, multiuse facility he intends to build there for the fledgling chruch.
Back to the compound for relaxing afternoon of naps and walks across the swinging bridge to the confluence of the Belize River and Roaring Creek, a peaceful and beautiful site. There is also journaling, reading, washing clothes going on into the evening.
We've had a great, long, spiritually productive, and restful day. Thank you Lord!
Later I IM Colby to ask a computer question for the compound, and I'm informed who won the the Super Bowl. It seems rather unimportant, and a world away.
More Tomorrow!

Mission Belize 2009

January 31 Lamanai, Belize

Up 0600L – 0700L Breakfast
Devotional – Psalm 8 read by Bobby, then his favorite Job verse – Job 36:26.
“How great is our God – beyond our understanding?”

Off on a day of recreation to Orange Walk in the north – actual destination was the longest lived Mayan Ruin of “Lamanai” (submerged crocodile). It was 2 hour drive, followed by a 1.5 hour (26mile) boat ride through the jungle, followed by a 1 mile walk through the jungle and climbing the ruins – most notably the “high temple.” (see photo) This place was settled about 1500 B.C. and was still in operation when the Spanish arrived in 1500 A.D. – 3000 years! Most Mayan cities mysteriously went into decline and disappeared by around 900 A.D.

We had a Jewish woman, Judy, from New Jersey join our group – not by accident, I’m sure! She fit in well, and seemed to enjoy our camaraderie too.

Great day! Great weather! Great opportunity! Great friends! There was lots of laughter, joking and good will.

More Tomorrow!

Mission Belize 2009

January 30

Great day – up at 6 am as usual. French toast, fresh pineapple, and fresh papaya for breakfast. Bobby shared a devotional teaching on being “instant in prayer.”

Some of the main points were: (1) Hearing from God is not a three step process. (2) Probably 90% of the time you can go to the Word to hear. (3) But a key for me (I believe anyone) is Romans 12:12 – “Be instant in prayer.” (4) Means more than respond – means be waiting to hear that voice. (5) No better time to respond than during an invitation. (6) Heb 2:1 Must earnestly heed to the things you hear lest they slip away. (7) Be a doer of the Word – not a hearer only – deceiving yourselves.

Ralph commented about his beautiful Toucan wood carving. “The artist just took away what’s not supposed to be there.” God does so too, in us.

Randy chimed in:

“Quick to hear

Instant to obey

Your soul will never go astray!”

Bobby kept it going with:

“Get on your face

Find your place

Run your race!”

We arrived at More Tomorrow about 845 am. Half of us stopped by the hardware store for needed supplies. Half went with Eugenio to open the building, tear down and move the scaffolding to the new work location in the room. The first group arrived and the work was in full swing until we finished at 1:30 – 2::00 pm, had lunch, packed our tools, said goodbyes to our friends and headed back to Roaring Creek. Once there we headed for the showers, and spent the evening eating, relaxing, and taking a walk with Randy across a swinging bridge to the confluence of Roaring Creek and the Belize River – a beautiful spot.

Randy was able to have the day free from us again to catch up on his work. We spent the meal time and walk time catching up with him.

One final word on the men of More Tomorrow… We had such a good time and relationship with the village chairman, Mike, a village elder, George, and two younger men, Clifford and Charles. We worked side by side and really bonded in respect, friendship, and love. They were very expressive of their appreciation for what we did for them and their village. We were able to express our appreciation for their hard work, side by side, with us. They liked hanging with us, working hard and laughing a lot. They took pride and ownership in the project, and we made some good friends!

I’ll have another update with More Tomorrow!