The Real Action Star

We received a package this month from Julia’s sister. Inside was a plethora of movies and TV shows. One of the movies was Live Free or Die Hard aka Die Hard 4. I was stoked to be able to watch a “mans movie”. You see, on the compound we have a wide range of children and romantic films but a very small number of “man movies”. The male missionaries have been dying for an action film with a shallow plot and a lot of action. Die Hard 4 provided the perfect blend of explosions, car chases, and gun fights.

Last night, I invited all of the men over to my house to watch Die Hard 4. Ten middle aged men crowded into my living room to watch Live Free or Die Hard and Bruce Willis did not disappoint. He was awesome! His ability to dodge bullets, get shot at, catapult a car into a helicopter, jump on top of an F-15, kill at least 50 bad guys, and save America, yet again, was amazing. The fact that he is able to do it with only one t-shirt and a witty sense of humor was AWESOME!

John McClain and other action stars strike a nerve in all of us because of our longing for someone to save the day. We look around at this world and can tell that things are not as they should be. Something is drastically wrong. We need a hero! John McClain and other action stars are but micro-pictures of the real hero; King Jesus. One day King Jesus will split open the sky, riding down to Earth and with ONE WORD; He will conquer Satan. Satan, his demons, the curse, sin, and death will be thrown into Hell forever. Everything in this world will be made right. He will wipe away every tear from our eyes and He will fully set up His eternal reign on this Earth. O, what a glorious day that will be!

In conclusion, John McClain and other action stars are  micro-pictures of the real action star; King Jesus! Ten middle aged men gathered in my living room to watch Die Hard 4, in part due to their longing for the real hero. One day, King Jesus will make everything right and He won’t even have to say, “Yippee Kay yay…”

February Newsletter

 God executes justice for the fatherless, the widow and the outcast, and loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. –Deuteronomy 10:18

Story:

Ten minutes outside of Nalerigu off an old motorcycle trail lies a village. If you are not looking for a village one could easily drive past. If you were to stop and linger you would notice that there are a lot of women and children, in fact if you looked closer you would soon realize that there are no men. The village is located on the outskirts of another village known as Gambaga but none of the residents of Gambaga will talk about this village. In fact, no-one in Northern Ghana will talk about the village or visit the women.

The reason why no-one will talk about this village is because the village is a camp (i.e. prison) for witches. (Yes, I just said witches. Yes, the people here really believe these women are witches.) The Outcast Camp is home to ninety women and children who have been accused of witchcraft. When a woman is accused of witchcraft, she is placed on trial in Gambaga. The chief of Gambaga kills a chicken and depending on which way the chicken falls will determine whether or not the woman is a witch. The people of Northern Ghana are terrified of these women, and will kill anyone who is suspected of being a witch. The chief of Gambaga provides a “safe” place for the women to live. The townspeople believe that once a woman enters the Outcast Camp, the power of the chief prevents the woman from performing spells. The longer a woman stays in the camp, the less power she has until eventually when she is an old lady she is allowed to leave the camp. The majority of these women have been abandoned by their husbands, parents, and friends. They are forced to farm the chief’s land in return for their safety. They are outcasts of society. 

Julia and I have partnered with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana to bring hope to these women. I goes twice a month to share Bible stories and hope with the women. We facilitate with volunteers and churches in America to help ensure these women are loved and cared for. When a lady is able to leave the camp and return to her village, we will help her transition back. We are excited for this opportunity.

Pictures:

The women in the Outcast Camp make necklaces and bracelets to help make money to purchase food.

Women hard at work.

Making sure each necklace has the right amount of beads.

Africans are the worlds most resourceful people. Who knew you could use your feet to stretch  necklaces?

One of the cutest little kids at the camp. Pray he is adopted into God's family.

A young girl coming back from working the farm.

Listening to a Bible Story

We started a youth group with the missionary kids. They named it D.O.G. (Defenders of God) and our theme is "Who Let the Dogs Out."

The internet is the worst part about living here. Pray I don't throw the computer across the room as I attempt to take an online class this semester.

It wouldn't be a blog without a pic of our cat. She's on the look out for snakes or maybe she's watching me climb up the tree to bring her down. Either way I think I'm a cat person.

Devotions:

Avoid sexual sin, Enjoy your Marriage

Looney Tunes and Sin

Prayer Requests:

1.   Please be praying for the women and children in the Witches Camp at Gambaga. T will be sharing Bible Stories with the women twice a month. Pray their eyes would be open to the Gospel. Pray they would know that though they are outcasts in society; in God’s eyes they are worthy and someone for whom Christ died for. Pray for Madame Larriba, she is a Christian who has been working with the women for years. She receives a lot of criticism for working with the women.

2.   We are progressing in our understanding of Mamprulli. We are fluent in Mamglish (a mix of Mamprulli and English). Pray we would be diligent/determined to put in the hours necessary to learn Mamprulli. Pray we would have ears to hear and tongues to speak Mamprulli.

3.  We are slowly but surely adjusting to life in Nalerigu. We are getting used to greeting EVERYONE as we walk down the road and getting phone calls from Ghanaians with no purpose whatsoever but to say, “hello”.  Pray we would continue to adjust to life in Nalerigu. Pray we would be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves when it comes to navigating culture. Pray we would have wisdom to navigate the culture and humility to laugh at ourselves when we make mistakes.

4.   A missionary family is leaving Nalerigu at the end of February and we have had to divide their jobs. T will be welcoming the new volunteers who come to serve at the hospital, as well as daily buying groceries and once a month traveling three hours into the city in order to buy a large supply of food. Julia will be overseeing the cleaning of all of the houses on the compound. Following behind the Ghanaians, making sure they have in fact cleaned. Pray we would adapt to our new jobs. Pray we would be able to juggle new responsibilities on top of old ones.

5.   The men of Nalerigu need to see a husband who loves and serves his wife. Please pray for our marriage. Pray that our marriage would be a picture of the Gospel to the Mamprussi people. Pray we would grow closer together as a couple. Pray we would thrive in Africa and not just survive.

Are you exhausted?

The everlasting God...neither faints nor is weary.-Isaiah 40:28

Author: Oswald Chambers

Book: My Utmost for His highest

Date: February 9

Exhaustion means that our vital energies are completely worn out and spent. Spiritual exhaustion is never the result of sin, but of service. Whether or not you experience exhaustion will depend on where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My sheep," but He gave him nothing with which to feed them (John 21:17). The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other people's souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you completely-to the very last drop. But be careful to replenish your supply, or you will quickly be utterly exhausted. Until others learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus directly, they will have to draw on His life through you. You must literally be their source of supply, until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and sheep, as well as for Him.

Have you delivered yourself over to exhaustion because of the way you have been serving God? Is so, then renew and rekindle your desires and affections. Examine your reasons for service. Is your source based on your own understanding or is it grounded on the redemption of Jesus Christ? Continually look back to the foundation of your love and affection and remember where your Source of power lies. You have no right to complain, "O Lord, I am so exhausted." He saved and sanctified you to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that He is your supply. "All my springs are in you" (Psalm 87:7).

Flat tires and God's Providence

The lot is cast into the lap, but it's every decision is from the LORD.- Proverbs 16:33

I have been driving for ten years and before coming to Africa I had only one flat tire. Since, being in Africa for three months I have had "THREE" flat tires. That's right, THREE! It is heartbreaking to be leaving the house, keys in hand, look down and see a flat tire. Having a flat tire in Nalerigu is a lot like having a flat tire in America, you have to change it and than drive it up to the nearest man who fixes tires and have him patch it. It's easy and inexpensive but it takes time. And just like in America when the person pulls the nail out of the tire, it's never a big nail but ALWAYS a small nail. The day after I have a flat tire, when I go out in the town I always look down in order to see if I can see any nails or objects which could cause a flat. I see tons of objects lying in the streets waiting for a car to drive over them. Eventually, I see so many potential objects that I give up, realizing that I am going to have to trust God to guide and direct my tires. If it wasn't for God protecting my tires, I would have a flat everyday instead of just once a month. I'm learning to trust in God's providence.

The author of Proverbs is thinking about God's providence when he pens Proverbs 16:33. Proverbs 16:33 is not a promotion of gambling but rather the lot or dice is the smallest thing the author could think of. The author is saying that if God is in control of such a minor event as throwing dice than He is in control over everything. If God is in control over dice than He's in control over small nails lying in the road and whether or not they puncture my tires. 

If God's in control of thrown dice, and if He's in control over small nails, than He's in control over the bigger aspects of our lives. He's in control over finances. He's in control over governments. He's in control of the economy. He's in control over schools. He's in control over weather. He's in control over sickness and disease. He's in control over marriages. He's in control over children. He's in control over atomic particles. He's in control over families. He's in control over radical Muslim leaders. He's in control over the Universe. He's in control over Earth rotating on it's axis. He's in control over the tide coming in and out. He's in control over tyrannical leaders. He's in control over everything. There's not one square inch on planet Earth in which the living Savior does not say, "MINE". 

In conclusion, if God is in control over thrown dice and small nails in the road than He's in control of it all. God can be trusted with everything. Surrender your worries to Him, call out to Him, cast your burdens on Him for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Looney Tunes and Sin

Each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.- James 1:14-15

Saturday mornings when I was a kid were devoted to cartoons. My brother and I used to get up early to watch Doug, Recess, Pinkie and the Brian and my personal favorite Looney Tunes. Nothing compares to watching Bugs Bunny (What's up Doc?), Elmer Fude (I'm hunting rabbits), Porkey Pig (that's all folks), Donald Duck (Insert best DD impersonation here), or my personal favorite Coyote and Road Runner. The persistent coyote always trying to catch RR and either blowing himself up in the process or falling off cliffs was always a great source of entertainment. I will always remember the episode when coyote decided to build a snowball and roll it down a mountain. His plan was to have the small snowball at the top of the mountain gain momentum and snow as it rolled down until it picked up size and speed slamming into RR at the bottom. RR got away and coyote, of course, got caught in the snow ball and was rolled off the mountain. 

Coyote, Road Runner, and the giant snowball provides a great example of the runaway nature of sin. According to James 1:14-15, "each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death". Sin is like the snowball. No-one wakes up one day and says, "Hum, today I'm going to commit a grievous sin which will cost me everything." No, sin usually starts off "innocently" enough. We tell ourselves it's just this one time, no-one will know, I'm not hurting anyone, etc. One small compromise, one small step over the line leads to more frequent steps over the line. Eventually, one sin doesn't satisfy anymore, therefore, you have to take another step and another and another. Before we know it our sin has gone from a little snowball to a giant one as we continue to sin. Eventually, our sin rolls out of control, we can't hide it anymore, and we end up like the coyote being run over by our sin.

Thankfully the Bible tells us that when we are tempted we should cry out to God asking for help. We have a high priest who in every way was tempted like we are, yet he was without sin. Jesus is able to sympathize with us in our weakness. God's word tells us that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Our fate doesn't have to be like the coyotes if we cry out to God He will hear our prayers and forgive us.

In conclusion, Coyote, Road Runner and the giant snowball provide a great example of the runaway nature of sin, but our fate doesn't have to be like Coyotes if we cry out to God when we fail He will hear our cry and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.