Kay returned from teaching how to use mobile phones in Ghana and Kenya (click here to read the story). But is mobile a viable platform for discipleship and training?

Here is some good reading on mobile devices. I’ve put some of my favorite quotes beneath each article link.

1. Tablets are starting to impact African education

Africa is the second-largest mobile-phone market in the world behind Asia … Over the past 10 years, the number of mobile connections in Africa grew an average of 30 percent a year, and the report predicted it would reach 735 million people by the end of this year on a continent with about a billion people. [Note: this would be about 70% of the population.]

USAID recently started an education mobile-phone initiative and last year hosted, in Bethesda, Md., the first International Symposium on Mobiles for Education for Development. The initiative aims to improve access to low-cost mobile technologies for education globally.

It’s important not to oversell the use of mobile technology in Africa. While many people in Africa have mobile phones, many aren’t smartphones that can access the Internet, she said. Mobile learning, she said, is not going to take the place of traditional teaching methods. … education with mobile phones in Africa typically involves a student or teacher using his or her own technology and bearing the burden of associated costs, even if those costs are low.

She expects a very low cost tablet to be introduced in the marketplace soon and to explode in Africa. “I know mobile phones are all over Africa, but I’m not sure that’s the right form for education,” she said. “The tablets are great.”

2. Mobiles starting to edge out internet cafes in Africa

Smart mobile phones are slowly edging out internet cafés in Malawi, says a new report.

He said most youths are buying high-tech mobile phones because they want to appear to be ahead of the game in terms of living up to modern trends and fashion.

3. Wikipedia will be available on free mobile access in Africa via Orange

Orange has struck a deal with Wikipedia to make its digital encyclopaedia available free of data charges to millions of mobile phone users across the Middle East and Africa. The mobile phone operator has 70 million customers across Africa and the Middle East.

The ability to access the internet, and websites such as Wikipedia, is currently limited to about 10 million Orange customers who have mobile devices with 2G or 3G capability.

4. Next billion mobile users will come from developing rural areas

Operators can expect to see the next billion mobile connections to come from rural areas in emerging markets, according to analyst Ovum.

5. In 2012, there will be 200 million more mobile users in India

The mobile phone will drive internet use in India in 2012. Computing begins with the mobile and its growth is fast in India.

He believes that the increase in smartphone and internet capable phones, selling below $94 and built by Indian manufacturers, is making it easier and more affordable to own such devices.

The other big change when it comes to India and the internet is how people are using the web. With better connections, mobile phones and computers, Indians are increasingly using the internet for more than just checking their email.

In both rural and urban areas, social networking is a key driver of use. The most popular site in India is now Facebook, which in the past six months saw its user base grow by more than a third.

When I lived in Nigeria in the ’80s and ’90s, few people had a landline telephone. The introduction of  cellphones allowed Africa countries to skip the installation of telephone line infrastructure. I think the growth in smartphones will similarly allow Africans to skip the computer + internet that most of us associate with internet connectivity.

Yes, I think mobile phones, and especially tablets, will allow us to increasingly disciple and train people better than ever before. What about you? In what ways can mobile assist discipleship? In what ways should we be cautious?

God just doesn’t fit into any box. We often appear to try to box God in by predetermining how he should work out a solution to my current problem.

I’m reading through Acts. It’s amazing how often God spoke directly with Paul, to warn him, to guide him, to encourage him.

So, why then did God use the son of Paul’s sister to overhear an ambush plot? Why did Paul believe him? (Acts 23:16-18)

It would have been easy for Paul to say, “Thanks, nephew. But I have this communication channel with God, you see. He speaks directly to me. In fact, he spoke to me just last night and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” He didn’t say anything about this ambush plot, so we’ll just let things go. I’m sure God can deal with it.”

No. Paul understood that God uses all sorts of ways to communicate with us. Paul understood a very important principle. Don’t put God in a box. Don’t predetermine how God will speak or how God will act.

Let God be God.

How do you sometimes box God in?

This morning, I read Matthew 10. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

I reflected on the life I have found by losing my own ambitions and plans.

I am a 5th generation native-born Texan. My great-great grandfather was born in the Wylie area of Collin County, Texas in 1853. His father had moved from Tennessee.

I am a 4th generation product of Mesquite, Texas. My great-grandfather Sam Seabourn moved to Mesquite. I graduated from the same Mesquite High School that my mother and father did. I married my high school sweetheart, also a 4th generation product of Mesquite, whose parents also graduated from Mesquite High School.

Until leaving for college, I had only lived in two houses and both were on the same piece of land. Kay had lived in one house on two pieces of land (her dad jacked up their house and moved it when their land was turned into a shopping center).

To say we have anything but deep roots in one place is a shallow statement.

But 40 years ago, in September 1971, when I was a junior at Texas A&M University, the God of the universe re-invaded my life. He reminded me that he had a call on my life. He reminded me that he wanted me to follow him with everything I am.

And that began an amazing journey that continues to this day.

The journey led us out of the engineering and school teacher roles we were preparing for, and into the role of a cross-cultural ambassador of the King of Kings, called a missionary. That began a journey that led us to leave our Texas roots for Nigeria where we lived for 15 years. That has led us through 6 passports filled with visas and stamps from 33 countries on 4 continents.

It started when a fellow Aggie student stopped by the Law Hall dorm room I shared with roommate Steve. It was a hot, humid September afternoon in the Brazos valley. As we sat on my bottom bunk and the springs squeaked every time I uncomfortably shifted, Frank shared the gospel with me using the Four Spiritual Laws. I told him I had accepted Christ as a young person through the influence of my parents and my church. Then Frank asked me, “So, if you were to die today, are you sure you would go to heaven.” I must have given him a somewhat acceptable answer, but also a somewhat confused one. My ongoing struggle with areas of sin robbed me of confidence that I was right with God.

Without missing a beat, Frank asked me “Would you like to make the wonderful discovery of the Spirit-Filled life?” We shifted into Campus Crusade’s famous blue book. As Frank walked me through these basics of the Christian life, for the very first time in my life I understood that following God was a step of faith. I understood there were Christians who lived by their own strength and Christians who lived by the Sprit’s strength. I understood spiritual breathing, how to deal with the sin in my life and how to see the life of Jesus flow through me by the power of his Spirit.

I still remember the visual image of that afternoon. My dorm room had a closet. A naked light bulb hung from a cord. As Frank shared the truths of the Spirit-filled Christian life, it was just like walking into my dark closet and switching on the light. Illumination. I could see. Everything made sense. God had prepared a path for an abundant, joyful life as his child. That afternoon, for the first of many times in my life, I invited the Holy Spirit to fill me with his overflowing presence.

Frank met with me weekly for follow-up Bible study. With his encouragement, I joined a Leadership Training class. I joined Frank in going door-to-door talking to other students about Jesus. I wrote letters to Kay, by then my fiance, explaining what I was learning. She, too, began walking daily in the power of the Spirit.

I was hooked by seeing my life transform, by seeing Kay’s life transform, and seeing the lives students change right before my eyes.

Now, 40 years after that September afternoon, I cannot imagine a different life. I wanted a job as an engineer in a big company. I wanted a vacation home. I wanted my own airplane. God wanted me to represent him to people in need. God wanted me to use the technical abilities he had given to help millions of people hear about his love through the Jesus film, through the internet, through mobile phones.

I am amazed that God uprooted a 5th generation Texas boy from a small suburb of Dallas and has given me such a privileged life. It all started on a September afternoon in 1971 in a dorm room when I asked the Holy Spirit to fill me with his power.

And I am eternally grateful.

We were in bad shape. Following the wrong course. Carrying out the wrong activities.

But God showed his love for us (Romans 5:8)
But God made us alive (Ephesians 2:4,5)

I may be failing. Ready to give up. Frustrated. Discouraged.

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

They mistreated Jesus. They beat him. They even killed him.

But God raised him on the third day. (Acts 10:39, 40)

His brothers were jealous of Joseph. They dumped him in a pit. They sold him to foreigners.

But God was with him. (Acts 7:9)

But God changes the course of history. But God changes someone’s eternity. But God changes me.

Have you had a but God moment lately? Do you need one?

Have you heard the story about the sculptor? He was hard at work with his hammer and his chisel. Chips of stone were flying around.

An onlooker asked, “What are you making?”

“A horse,” the sculptor replied.

“How do you know how to turn a block of stone into a horse?” asked the onlooker.

“It is actually very easy,” said the sculptor. “You just knock off anything that doesn’t look like a horse.”

I have used this story many times as I teach people about the life of Christ, and being remade into his image. I usually say, “And that is what God does in our lives. He chips off anything that doesn’t look like Jesus.”

Today, I watched this story. It’s a powerful telling of how our Father lovingly forms us into the image of his Son.

Kay and I have been meeting with a financial counselor. His job is to help us understand where we are financially as we look into the future. He has not yet jumped up and said, “What were you thinking?” He is very gracious and kind.

I don’t know how much preparation for the future is enough, but I’m guessing that almost everyone would say, “I need more than I have now.”

This morning, these thoughts came to me during our church service.

Philip told Jesus, ”Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” [John 14:8]

There are times I feel like if God would just show me the pile of money, it would be enough for me.

So Jesus said to the official, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” [John 4:48]

I can identify. I’d like a sign that I’ll have enough. I would like to stand in wonder of the pile of cash ready for my future.

Thomas, the doubter, said, “Unless I see the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” [John 20:25]

Yep. I want to see it. I want to feel it.

“Though Jesus had done so many signs before the people, they still did not believe in him.” [John 12:37]

Ouch! Jesus has done many signs in my life. Ministry partners have faithfully financed our ministry for 35 years. We’ve raised 3 kids. Three kids have gone through college and come out with minimal educational debt. Two kids have married. God has provided.

But they still did not believe…

I’ve wondered, “How many years does someone have to follow Jesus before believing and trusting him becomes automatic, no-questions-asked?” I have no idea, but it must be more than I’ve followed him. He has provided every step of the way. In my head, I know he will provide in the future. In my heart, I’m still struggle wanting more than it looks like I’ll have.

Pretty pathetic, isn’t it! How do you live out full-of-faith each day?

I’ve been continuing to think about some things from church this week.

Death (Luke 22:14-20)

• The last supper: bread and wine.
• The bread. Jesus’ body. Broken. Crushing wheat is part of the break-making process. Leaven changes crushed wheat into bread.
• The wine. Jesus’ blood. Poured out. Crushing grapes is part of the wine-making process. Fermenting changes crushed grapes into wine.
• The passover system of 2 goats. One sacrificed. One a scapegoat, carrying sins far away. The broken body of a sacrificed animal. The broken body of God in flesh.

Life

• Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35)
• Life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11)
• Jesus’ offering cleansed our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:14)

Death and life. Bread and wine.

Question: Are you cleansed from acts that lead to death? Are you serving the living God?

Karin’s grandaddy passed away last week. She is a colleague. Karin wrote a powerful tribute to her grandaddy.

I would have liked Karin’s grandaddy. Anyone who values drinking a Coke with peanuts inside is my kind of a grandaddy! It’s a Seabourn family treat also. For the Seabourns, little red spanish peanuts are the kind for Cokes!

I’m a granddad to 4 wonderful grandchildren. I hope to be a grandad to them like Karin’s grandaddy was to her.

In Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Habit 2 is begin with the end in mind.

To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means know where you are going so that you can better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.

Imagine your eulogy at your funeral. What would your friends say? What would you like them to say? Your family? Your co-workers?

Question: What do you want said at your funeral? What are you doing today to become that person?

She is one of the most courageous women I know. I watched a video she released today, and I cried. I showed it to Kay, and she joined me in crying. Joyful crying. Kay and I have 2 videos from Christine we want to share with you.

She and her special-guy husband made a huge career change a few years ago. They left behind years of youth ministry and a pastorate to run an RV park of mobile homes.

But that’s not the half of their courage.

They have adopted 3 very special needs kids who have serious emotional issues. They already had 2 kids with less serious emotional issues. Two of her adopted children have RAD, reactive attachment disorder.

Kay and I had the privilege of teaching a Sunday School with Christine in the class many years ago. Michael was the youth minister at our church.

Christine released this video today. Daughter Mackensie made this video of Christine and Mar celebrating Mar’s 3 years in the family. It’s not been an easy 3 years. Click here to read Christine’s blog post and watch the video. [Alert: Some of Christine's blog posts are very raw, very transparent. Read other posts at your own risk!]

It’s good to see today’s celebration video first. Then you’ll understand the power in this second video from a year ago.

What a picture of love, both Christ’s for us and Christine’s for her children, especially the “unlovable”.

This is Easter week. Thank you, Christine, for this picture of total love.

Question: Do I truly “get” God’s love for me? The type expressed through Christ? The type Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians 13? Do you?

Not only could God’s acts not be done better; a better way to do them can not be imagined. … We must by the exercise of faith and by prayer bring the truth of God’s infinite wisdom into the practical world of our day-by-day experience. … Most of us go through life praying a little, planning a little, jockeying for position, hoping but never being quite certain of anything, and always secretly afraid that w will miss the way. This is a tragic waste of the truth of God’s wisdom and it never gives rest to the heart. [The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer, Chapter 11: The Wisdom of God]