The Seabourns

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Lucy photos

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Kay and I are in Bangkok and are relying on our family for Lucy photos. And they are responding!

Little Lucy

Little Lucy. 8 pounds. 20 1/2 inches long.

Sisters

Sisters.

Michelle writes

Abby loves her sister…she often tells us to “get it” when Lucy cries. She seems to be adjusting well. Keep praying for her and for us to know how to best respond to her as all of us are going through changes! We love hanging out together with the girls, and watching them interact. So fun!

Daniel and Michelle have posted lots of photos online.

Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Meredith have visited and took photos also. Photos and stories are posted on their website.

MinistryNet::Bangkok has begun

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MinistryNet::Bangkok 2007 has begun. 100 people from 25 countries on 5 continents.

We started last night with a brief session then opened up the coffee shop. And they came and talked. And talked. And talked.

MinNet_Wouter-MarilynA major outcome we’ve prayed for is that people will network with one another, share ideas, dream, and trust God together. We set up whiteboards. We hung huge pads of paper for drawing. We put crayons and paper on the tables. We set up computers around the room. We provided coffee, tea, and treats.

MinNet_FrancisAnd they networked. And they drew diagrams. They shared ministry processes and strategies.

It’s Monday afternoon here in Bangkok. We’re finishing our first full day.

I love international conferences. Our worship time was led by a Singapore and Thai praise team. Our devotional speaker Oumar from Mali spoke in French and his co-worker Daniel translated into English for us. Wouter from the Netherlands was the first main session speaker.

We heard about internet ministry activities and lessons learned in

  • Korea
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan
  • East Asia
  • South Africa
  • Mali
  • Zambia
  • Ghana

What a day! I can’t wait for tomorrow!

Welcome, Lucy Hope Seabourn

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Lucy Hope Seabourn was born to Daniel and Michelle on Friday morning in the early hours. She came a week earlier than expected thereby declaring that she may be daughter #2 for Daniel and Michelle, but she is her own person and will arrive when she is ready!

So Abby is a big sister!

It feels kind of strange to be half a world away.

I read Daniel’s email about 5:30 am this Saturday morning. Jet lag means I don’t always sleep solidly for the first night or two. So I got up and read email. When I saw Daniel’s “She’s here” email message, I opened it first! I debated whether to wake Kay up to tell her the news, or just wait another hour or two until she woke up normally. I debated about 2 seconds! So I went in, woke her up, and told her about her newest granddaughter! She told me I had better wake her up to tell her!

I’m glad I woke her up. I definitely don’t want to be on the wrong side of a new grandmother, in Bangkok!

We celebrated. We prayed. We rejoiced. We’re excited!

I’ll post photos as soon as Daniel recovers and gets some online!

Welcome to our family, Lucy Hope!

MinistryNet 2007: Bangkok

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Kay and I have arrived in Bangkok to begin final preparations for MinistryNet 2007: Bangkok.

…a gathering for Campus Crusade for Christ staff involved in internet ministry (eMinistry). The conference will begin Sunday 15 April and end Thursday 19 April, 2007. The purpose of the conference is to connect people to people and people to God using internet technology so that everyone everywhere knows someone who truly follows Jesus.

Kay and I do several things to help promote increasing ministry fruitfulness through using internet communication tools. MinistryNet is one of them.

We’re expecting 100 people from 25 countries.

Kay traveled in Tuesday and arrived on Thursday morning just after midnight. I was delayed a day to make a presentation to Campus Crusade’s Global Leadership Team of the President and Vice-Presidents on the topic of measuring our ministry effectiveness in internet ministry. So 24 hours later on Wednesday, I began chasing Kay around the globe. I arrived Friday morning in the wee hours.

Prayer Request: Please pray for these 100 people as they are beginning to arrive. We start on Sunday evening. Please pray for my speaking as I welcome everyone on Sunday evening and set the tone of expectancy as we seek God’s blessings on increasing ministry fruitfulness.

Last year, hundreds of thousands came to know Jesus personally through our effective internet ministries. Each of these is personally followed up through hundreds of trained volunteers and Campus Crusade staff. MinistryNet is about doing more and better than ever before.

The problem of evil, pain and suffering

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I receive about 10 emails a week for seekers who are exploring what it means to know and follow Jesus. Some have just recently received Christ. Some are still on their journey towards Jesus.

Some of the recurring questions I receive are in the area of “How can a good and loving God allow pain and suffering and evil?”

This is not an easy topic for mature Christians and is sometimes a stumbling block for those seeking to know our God of love and forgiveness.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Letters and Papers from Prison:

It is a good thing to learn early that God and suffering are not opposites but rather one and the same thing and necessarily so; for me, the idea that God himself suffers is far and away the most convincing piece of Christian doctrine.

I’ve found several things that help questioners address this important issue. Here’s an email I sent today to someone asking this question.

Dear ________,

Hi, my name is Keith and I wanted to thank you for visiting our web site.

I appreciate your desire to investigate Christianity and the claims of Christ. This is definitely not a decision to be taken lightly and if there is anything I can help you with on your spiritual journey, please let me know.

My hope and prayer for you is that you will experience God’s peace and plan for your life.

I do not want to trivialize your questions about God’s existence and the deep issues of pain and suffering. Here are some articles that I think might help you think through this very important issue. Would you read these and write me back? I would like to know what you think.

Why Would a Loving God Allow Pain and Suffering?

Is there a God?

Deliver us from evil (This website was developed by a friend of mine)

Father of mercy and love, I ask you to reveal yourself to ________ as he works through the deeply painful issues in his life. Would you please show him your love. Show him your desire to help him make sense of the pain and suffering in his life.

I look forward to hearing more from you.

On the journey with you,
Keith