John & Lynn are good friends who have been a part of our journey through life for over 35 years, beginning when Kay, John and I were students at Texas A&M. Lynn was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. As they thought they were ending the chemo, they learned that Lynn need more chemo treatments. They said, “We began this [breast cancer] journey recognizing it as a divine disruption. This week certainly was a ‘bend in the road’ that we did not see coming, expect or want…”

John preceeded us to Africa by about a year. When Kay and I first arrived in Nigeria 31 years ago, John wrote to us:

There are some things God wants to teach you that cannot be learned quite as well anyplace else on the face of the earth.

One of the foundational lessons we’ve learned during our life journey is summarized by the Apostle Paul.
Writing to the Thessalonians, Paul gives us 10 words to live by.

Rejoice always. [2 words]
Praywithout ceasing. [3 words]
Give thanks in all circumstances [5 words]
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

I remember this as the 2-3-5 plan to joy in life. There is an active command, and a clearly defined scope.

Gordon MacDonald writes:

Discipline is the act of inducing pain and stress in order to grow into greater toughness, capacity, endurance or strength. So spiritual discipline is that effort of pressing the soul so that it will enlarge its capacity to hear God speak and, as a result, to generate inner force that will guide and empower one’s mind and outer life.

God presses my soul so that it will enlarge it’s capacity to hear God speak. God presses my soul so that my soul will have a strong inner force that will guide and empower me, both in the inner mind and in my outer life. God desires tough children, children with capacity, children who can endure, children who are strong.

Heidelberg Catechism eloquently identifies God’s providence in our lives:

What do you mean by the providence of God? (Question 27)

The almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by his hand, he upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.

What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by his providence does still uphold all things? (Question 28)

That we may be patient in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from his love; since all creatures are so in his hand, that without his will they cannot so much as move.

All things come, not by chance, but by his fatherly hand. Our response: patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, placing our firm trust in our faithful God and Father.

Paul takes it a step further. We are to be thankful in all circumstances. We are rejoice in everything. We are to have a rich, never-ceasing inner conversation with God.

A couple of weeks ago, we were waiting to hear from our children Jonathan and Meredith about the birth of grandson Luke Andrew. At about that same time, Molly Ann Mutz was born. She is the granddaughter of Dennis and Barbara Rainey. The Rainey’s give leadership to FamilyLife, the family ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. You may have heard Dennis on the radio or read one of the many books they have authored..

Molly was born a few days before Luke. She was born with congestive heart failure. She didn’t cry for the first 4 minutes of her life. Then additional testing revealed a very rare and very destructive abnormality of blood vessels in her brain. Over 50% of her brain was permanently damaged. They learned that after 15-20 surgeries, she might have a few brain functions. The families spent days hoping and praying for a miracle. After 3 days of testing, this young couple has to make a very difficult choice. They decide to not pursue the several very dangerous and complex brain surgeries and remove life support later in the week.

You have to read Dennis’ story and Barbara’s story of that week. I still weep my way through it although I’ve read it many times. I weep because it’s sad. I weep because it’s full of joy. I weep because God is so gentle and loving. I weep because evil is so everpresent, but God is so overpowering.

About a year ago, Kay and I were in India. We got word that our granddaughter Lucy had meningitis. The bacterial kind. The bad kind. The kind that can leave permanent effects like loss of hearing. Kay and I struggled with feelings of being half a world away. But we had God’s words. We had His promises.

During that time, I remembered what Christian author John Eldredge wrote in Chapter 1 of Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive:

[We] were born into a world at war, and [we] will live all [our] days in the midst of a great battle, involving all the forces of heaven and hell played out here on earth. … Until we come to terms with war as the context of our days, we will not understand life. We will misinterpret 90 percent of what is happening around us and to us. It will be hard to believe that God’s intentions toward us are life abundant.

Have you come to terms with war as the context of our days?

10 words to live by. The 2-3-5 plan. They have served me well for many years.

Rejoice always. [2 words]
Praywithout ceasing. [3 words]
Give thanks in all circumstances [5 words]
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Thanks, John, for your advice long ago. I’ve learned that they don’t apply just to geographic places. They also apply to circumstancial places. There are some things God wants to teach you that cannot be learned quite as well anyplace else on the face of the earth.

One of the teams indicated that they wanted to improve their electronic mailings to followers of Jesus. I contacted N_____ and offered to help him learn to use our sophisticated Lyris mailing list manager system. He wrote me back:

I don’t know what to say! This was our prayer request for more than 1 year. Glory to our Father, He never ignores our requests. When we have the opportunity to check Lyris system we almost thought it is impossible for us to get it. It was out of our dreams! (budget wize I mean).

I am humbled at the thought that I might be a part of the answer to someone’s prayer.

Then today, I received this Arabic message. I knew that N_____ had succeeded in accomplishing his prayer. 41,605 people received information about how to love life through their relationship with Jesus.

Much of my leadership now involves casting vision, speaking at events, holding conferences, and planning global strategies. But every now and then, I get to personally help people like N_____ implement his heart’s desire to help 41,605 people know how to grow in their love relationship with Jesus.

And now I’ve offered to help M_____ do the same thing in another country in the region!

Whether it’s sharing Christ with the person in the seat next to me on an airline flight, or teaching N_____ to use an email list to disciple 41,605, or recording a Jesus film in a language spoken by 10 million, it’s so satisfying to be available and engaged in helping people come to know Jesus, to grow in their faith, and to engage in reaching out to others.

Father of all miracles, thank you for Luke. He started life as “peanut”. He grew into Luke Andrew. For 9 months you have knit him together in Meredith’s womb. You have ordained all his days. He is your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, and you have prepared good works for him to do all the days of his life. Every day of his life is recorded in your book. Every moment is laid out. He is fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank you for making him so wonderfully complex. Your workmanship is marvelous. Your fame, O Lord, is known to every generation. I look forward, Father, to helping Luke know you - your greatness, your mercy, your compassion, your love for him and for everyone.

You can read more at Jonathan & Meredith’s blog.

I feel so limited in these environments. This morning, people at the breakfast buffet are greeting me in English, not Dutch. How do they know? Do I have a sign across my forehead, “Only speaks English. Converse with caution.” Truthfully, it’s probably the clothes, the haircut, the eyeglasses. I know that subtle things like these give clues to national identity.

I’m in Amsterdam. I left Cairo Sunday morning. After a night in Amsterdam, I’m traveling by train to Schipol airport to connect with Roger Vann. We’ll go by car to Rotterdam and Doorn to meet leaders in internet evangelism and discipleship in the Dutch ministry. Roger is a 40 year veteran missionary, originally from Houston, Texas. He’s been in Europe “forever” and gives leadership to internet ministry across the continent.

Tomorrow, we travel to Paris for more internet evangelism meetings with leaders there. Eric Celiér is a former staff member who leads an internet ministry with global impact. Would you like to see some amazing internet action? Visit Joy in Heaven. You’ll see people coming to Christ around the world, country by country, decision by decision. Although not officially a part of our ministry, several of our countries partner with Eric’s team as part of this global ministry.

I read these words from John Piper this morning. He is “sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3). “…in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). Jesus defined reality in the beginning. He continues to sustain and hold reality together today.

So while I’m reading these thoughts from Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ (John Piper), a gift from Angela Duggins, I’m listening to…

Cause when I’m weak, You make me strong
When I’m blind, You shine Your light on me
Cause I’ll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don’t need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I’ll stand on Your truth, and I’ll fight with Your strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

(In Me, by Casting Crowns)

Actually, I misheard a line in the middle to be Cause I’ll never get by living in my own reality. Not a bad misunderstanding.

Along the way, I asked Mustafa how he came to know Christ. His short answer was, “Prayer.” He went on to explain that Muslims say God is everywhere but to pray, you must face a certain direction toward Mecca. Christians say that God is everywhere, and pray facing any direction. Mustafa said that the Christian teaching of “God is everywhere” was demonstrated in their prayer life by not focusing prayers in a certain direction. It attracted him to watch Christians more closely and listen to what he heard.

Isn’t it interesting to think about the little things that God uses as a testimony to those seeking to know him?

I was reminded of Mustafa today when I read an exciting article by Chuck Colson, Why Muslims Convert to Christianity. Colson refers to a 16 year study of 750 Muslims who have become true followers of Jesus, the Son of God. Colson writes, “The number one reason Muslim converts listed for their decision to follow Christ was the lifestyle of the Christians among them.”

I remember hearing stories from the horrible tsunami that killed so many in Phuket and other parts of Thailand. Our ministry and others rushed aid, people, and rebuilding efforts into the area. Muslims did not. Buddhists did not. Their perspective was that God was punishing the villagers in these areas for their misdeeds, so they deserved what they got. Christians’ worldview is fundamentally different. We see the disaster and misfortune in the world as a result of the fall of mankind in the garden, with its disastrous consequences. Our lifestyle demonstrates God’s love for the orphans and widows, his compassion in the face of disaster, and his grace with mankind. Or at least it should.

Colson ends his excellent and inspiring article with

Woodberry’s research shows that when the Church is being the Church—witnessing to the love of Christ and of His transforming power—Muslims are drawn both to us and to Him.

When is the last time you welcomed a Muslim family to the neighborhood, or invited a Muslim co-worker for a cup of coffee?

And my memory of a hot, dusty, sometimes scary day with Mustafa in northern Nigeria reminded me today that sometimes it can be something as little as what direction we don’t face when we pray.

Piper’s post reminded me of another purpose in our ministry partner development time. Kay and I are passionate about what we do. I have never gotten over the tremendous privilege we have of engaging fulltime, all day, every day, in a myriad of places in being an ambassador for the King of kings. And as we have met with ministry partners this past two weeks, we’re able to stir up their passion, and hearing from them stirs our passion even more.

Piper calls this

…a God-designed effect on others. This is part of why passion is so good. It is an honor to Christ, and satisfying to us, and transforming to others.

That’s what Paul points out in 2 Corinthians 9:2. With great zeal for Christ, the Corinthians are ready to share in the collection for the poor in Jerusalem. And what is the effect on the Macedonians? “Your zeal has stirred up most of them.” That is the God-designed effect of passion for God.

Bring on the zeal, the passion!

Last Saturday, I helped a ministry partner/friend lay wood flooring for a few hours. I like doing stuff like that. And Kay and I might be doing that in a year or two. And I got to visit with partners and friends. Worked really well!!!

Back to c|life. Yes, we did get to visit with several friends. So that part worked well. But we had the added bonus of a great worship time, and a powerful message by co-pastor David Griffin. His topic was Jonah and his roundabout trip to Nineveh. His title was Overthrown. His premise was that we need to allow God to overthrow our lives. Jonah allowed himself to be overthrown, over the side of the ship, as part of his repentance from running the wrong way. The king of Nineveh allowed himself and his entire kingdom to be overthrown by righteousness as part of his repentence for running the wrong way.

This morning, driving to a 7 am breakfast appointment with a fantastic ministry partner, I listened to Casting Crowns singing Somewhere in the Middle. It echoes the cry of my heart. It’s about my heart’s desire to see my small plans overthrown by God’s amazing plans.

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Fearless warriors in a picket fence,
reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end
and we are caught in the middle

With eyes wide open to the differences,
the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His
or are we caught in the middle

Are we caught in the middle

It reminds me of a couple of posts I wrote before here and here.

The focus was a little different, but pretty similar. Life is messy in the middle. And too often, I make choices that leave me floundering in the middle.

In Lord of the Rings 2 The Two Towers, Sam tells Frodo, “It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really matter. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you don’t want to know the end … because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was with so much bad happening? … I think Mr. Frodo that I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back. Only they didn’t. They kept going because they were holding on to something.”

Sometimes I’m a fearless warrior behind a picket fence. I wrap reckless abandon with common sense. I want deep water faith, but I want it in the shallow end where I can touch the bottom every now and then just in case things don’t work out like I thought they would trusting God.

Today, I choose to trade my dreams for today for His dreams for today. I commit to holding on to him and his plans. Today, I commit to making choices outside the middle.

Yesterday, Fred shared these thoughts on high impact people.

• Link their passion and their uniqueness. They understand that who they are and what they do well correlate.
• Minimize religion and maximize spirituality. They know that Christianity is about relationship, not ritual.
• Endure pain to win the gold. They have an answer to the Olympian’s question, “What do you do when you start hurting? High impact people keep going.
• Understand that discipline is not punishment. Correction signifies concern.
• Save, Invest, and then Speculate. They never invert the financial pyramid and never go to Las Vegas with the meal money.
• Control their time. They don’t expect others to spend their time any more than they expect others to spend their money. They understand the power of dramatic moments.
• Focus. They understand that bigger game is brought down with a rifle, not a shotgun.
• Are energetic. They have discovered the power of creative energy — its source and uses.
• Balance their lives. They stay out of the rat race and off rabbit trails. They integrate all the spokes of their life wheel, so the ride isn’t rocky.
• Nurture their curiosity. They see the magic of life and want to know why.
• Take calculated risks. They put the odds in their favor. They would rather own the slot machines in Las Vegas, rather than playing them.
• Capture the concept of plateauing. They know the rules of growing, assimilating, and growing again. They know when you grow too fast, holes occur.
• Keep stress vertical. They know that vertical stress is positive while horizontal stress causes distress.
• Have and use a sense of humor. They appreciate the fact that “what you cry about today, you will laugh about tomorrow.”
• Don’t take destructive action. They may “think it,” but don’t do it.
• Anticipate. They don’t like and work against surprises. They know how to go “where the puck will be, not where it is” as Gretzky said.
• Work with cause and effect. They understand the principles of sowing and reaping.
• Operate and articulate the meaning of life. They have clear internal dialogue that is purposeful and intentional. They know what real life isn’t about wealth and fame.
• Have emotional control. They have a broad repertoire of emotions and know how to use them. They have a disciplined imagination, are courageous, and eliminate the negative. John Wayne said, “Courage is being sacred to death and still saddling up.”
• Choose their attitude. They adopt Frankl’s observation that attitude can be controlled even when circumstances cannot.

[Adapted from Breakfast with Fred daily newsletter, April 1, 2008.]

Thanks, Fred.

Kay and I lived in northern Nigeria for a number of years. We learned some basic Hausa, the lingua franca (trade language) spoken throughout northern Nigeria. When you enter someone’s home, you greet them with “Salama alekum.”

Today is Easter. Our Pastor spoke this morning out of Luke 24, where Jesus appears in the upper room. I was reminded of of the AHA moment I observed many years ago.

It is amazing to see the story of the goodnews through the eyes of those hearing it for the first time, or even hearing it for the first time in their own language. For many years, I produced the Jesus Film in languages of Nigeria. I was involved in showing the film many times in rural areas (called “the bush”) as well as cities.

As the Jesus Film progresses, through the crucifixion, people are very anguished. Particularly women and children writhe and sometimes cry in pain as Jesus is tortured and crucified. Then comes the hopelessness of his burial. How could they do this to such a good, loving person? During the burial, the audience frequently sits in stunned silence. Not a sound among hundreds of people.

Then Jesus appears to his followers. He says “Salama alekum.” Peace unto you.

And the audience gasps. It’s an audible, shocked gasp. Yes, he is risen. But I think even more astounding are these words salama alekum, spoken many times each day as a thoughtless greeting. But now they take on power and meaning. They are comforting. Often people clap and shout with joy. He has overcome death.

I’m convinced that for the next several weeks, when Nigerians hear someone enter a room with the greeting “Salama alekum”, the Holy Spirit takes them back to the one who gives peace, the one who overcame death.

This morning, my mind raced back to this scene. I projected the Hausa Jesus Film many times over the years in Nigeria. I always anticipated this moment, when he demonstrates the death of death. Luke goes on to record more from Jesus near the end of chapter 24. Jesus speaks

• peace into their troubles
• confidence into their doubts
• comfort into their loss
• certainty into their unbelief

And he gently reminds them to get about the plan. Things are happening according to God’s eternal plan. You are witnesses, Jesus says. Repentance and forgiveness is being extended to all nations. You are part of this eternal plan. But first, you need to be clothed with the Holy Spirit’s power.

And the final effect of Jesus appearing to his followers was worship, great joy, and continual praise.

Even today, worship, great joy, and continual praise continue. So does the plan of forgiveness and salvation which is spreading for person to person, until everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus.