It was a gorgeous day here and we had a fabulous meeting talking about our fascinating and changing world. Technology is wonderful! This is the international board of Christar and we represent several different nationalities. One of our board members joined us from Hong Kong via Skype. We started at 6:00pm here and it was 6:00am tomorrow there.

Here’s what really concerns me. I have to fly home tomorrow night via Minneapolis. The weather there is not going to be a problem My flight is not scheduled to arrive in Kansas City until 11:30pm. Normally I would make it home around 12:30am. Tomorrow?? I need you to pray me home! Sunday is the day we begin three services.

I have written about Christar on multiple occasions, an agency that specializes in spreading God’s transforming love among those who come from Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim backgrounds. Being around this wonderful group of people is a blessing, and I have the honor to be on both the international and US boards. We will have the international meeting tomorrow and the US meeting Saturday.

This is the next to the last time I will be here for a board meeting, because we have just purchased a building the Dallas area. Texas is the state where more Christar workers are from that any other. It is a key source of support and recruiting, and also offers the opportunity to be accessible for all parts of the country. The international airport is great, and the cost of living is very reasonable compared to the coasts. It will certainly make things more convenient for me to attend meetings, but pray for the many people who are moving across the country. You can imagine that this is a major challenge to each and every one of them. Some are excited because they are from that area. Others are wondering what they are going to find, having never lived in the middle of the country. God’s grace has been apparent in the sale of some of their homes here, but there is so much more to do. The goal is for everyone to be in place sometime this Fall. This is a major operation!

Speaking of prayer, thanks to those of you who have prayed for Cheryl and asked about her. She is doing better, though still weak. I spoke with her twice today and she seems so much better even from yesterday.

Esta noche iniciamos un estudio a fondo de Génesis. La semana pasada ofrecí una introducción al libro. Les menciono esto porque apenas estamos comenzando.  A veces algunos me escriben preguntando si tenemos grabaciones de estudios míos en español. Tenemos algo mejor. En cada momento tenemos un buen archivo de estudios en nuestro sitio web. Pensando en el hecho de que iniciamos el estudio de Génesis, aprovecho para animarles a que nos sigan cada semana en este estudio.

Si vas a http:/kcbt.org y haces click bajo Servicio de Adoración, más información, esto te lleva a la página que tiene varias semanas de estudios. Lo que vi esta noche es precisamente la introducción a Génesis. Lo que hice esta  noche, Génesis 1:1, aparecerá dentro de  poco.  Puedes ir aquí si quieres ir directamente a la página con los estudios en español.

Since Cheryl has been under the weather and not having much of an appetite, it fell to me last night to fend for myself for dinner. Not having had a bite to eat all day long, I was getting hungry. The cupboard was a little bare and I decided to go in search of one of  my favorite comfort foods – pizza! Since I would be eating alone and would not have a chance to do leftovers the next day, I thought I would try one of the many brands of frozen pizza that are on display in the local super.

I had not had frozen pizza for years.  Now I remember why. It was horrible. The crust was mostly hard. and the pizza itself had a somewhat metallic taste that must have come from the funky little cardboard/foil contraption that the pizza sits on in the microwave. A quick Internet search of reviews pointed me to DiGiorno. So, if that was one of the better ones, then I thank God I didn’t try one of the lesser ones!

In case this ever comes up again, does anyone have any better suggestions? And, while we are talking pizza, what is your favorite take-away pizza (not sit down in a restaurant pizza). My three favorites at this moment are Minsky’s combo from the Main Street location south of The Plaza, Tim’s on 4o Highway and the deep dish Chicago style from Rosati’s on 103rd Street whenever I need to gain a couple of pounds.

Most people have no problem accepting that something is terribly wrong in the cosmos. Wars, evil, horrible sickness, poverty, injustice, pain and suffering surround us. Even Nature is convulsed by earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, fire and flood. Why is this? Why would God allow this?

The short answer is sin. Not necessarily your sins or mine, but the sin of human kind, the consequence of disobedience to God’s truth. Perhaps the most succinct statement of this is in Romans 8:22 where the Apostle Paul says that all creation is groaning and suffering together waiting for God’s final redemption and the restoration of of all things.

Why wait? 2Peter 3 addresses this issue saying that God’s long-suffering is meant to give us opportunity to repent, change, by responding to his gracious offer of transformation based on death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This is all good theology, but how does this help us when we or our loved ones are suffering devastating illness?

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (James 5:14-15)

Many focus on the anointing of oil as though there were some mysterious power in a ceremony. The word James uses for anoint, however, is one not normally used in ceremonial sense, but in practical application. Oils were a vital part of medicine in the first century, and it seems James speaks of making use of the best of medical science. Notice he then says it is the prayer of faith that saves the sick, not a ceremonial application of oil. There is nothing wrong, though, with a ceremonial application of oil accompanied by prayer as a symbolic reminder of the power of God’s Spirit, something I have done many times.

Here are six brief reasons I can come up with for God’s purposes in our illness. I don’t claim to have all the answers and sometimes it may be a combination of reasons, some of which we may never fully understand.

• Violation of natural law. Poor eating choices, for example, can wreak havoc on the human body.
• Sin. Sometimes illness might be the direct consequence of sinful disobedience (Exodus 15:26).
• Satanic attack. This is what Job experienced within the sovereignty and determined parameters of God (Job 2:7). This opens an area that often extends far beyond our comprehension. Other examples: Matthew 9:32; 12:22; Luke 9:37-41; 11:14; 13:11-16
• As an instrument of God’s love and purposes in our lives. Paul’s thorn in the flesh is one such example (2Corinthians 12:7).
• To bring glory to God, as in the case of the blind man in John 9:1-3
• To get those he loves to Heaven (Psalm 116:15).

These reasons have been a comfort to me through the years. I have learned, though, that we will never reduce God to a formula or “figure him out.” Ultimately, we love him because he first loved us (1John 4:19). This is the foundation of our trust in him despite adverse circumstances.

Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days. – John 11:6

This whole theme of hurting people continues to hold me captive.

You know the above verse, don’t you? Jesus had just received word that his friend was sick. You would think that he would hurry on his way to heal him. He did not. He stayed put for two whole days until Lazarus was good and dead. Why in the world would he do that!

Lazarus’ sister Martha articulated the emotion we have all experienced. “Lord, if you would have come, my brother wouldn’t have died.” Martha was probably questioning Jesus’ love for her brother. The real issue was not a lack of love, but the completion of God’s purposes.

How many times have we said or felt like saying something similar?

Os Hillman comments on this passage.

God often has to delay His work in us in order to accomplish something for His purposes that can be achieved only in the delay. Jesus had to let Lazarus die in order for the miracle that was about to take place to have its full effect. If Jesus had simply healed a sick man, the impact of the miracle would not have been as newsworthy as resurrecting a man who had been dead for four days. This is Jesus’ greatest “public relations act” of His whole ministry. What many do not realize is that the key to the whole story is in the next chapter.

Many people, because they had heard that He had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet Him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!” (John 12:18-19)

If Jesus had not raised Lazarus from the dead, there would have been no crowds to cheer the Lord when He came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

God often sets the stage so that His glory is revealed through the events that He orchestrates. He did this with Moses and Pharaoh, allowing delay after delay for release of the Israelites from Egypt. He did this with Abraham and Sarah for the promised child, Isaac. God granted Sarah a baby past the age of childbearing in order to demonstrate His power.

I have many questions without answers. Why does God heal this one but not that one? Why did this one have to die? Why now? Did it have to be this way?

The reality is that God alone has all the answers and he owes me none. So, I suppose I’m right back to Zak’s concluding statement in his video testimony – “If God chooses to heal me, God is still God and God is still good. If God chooses not to heal me … then God is still God and God is still good.”

Recently, we lost a beloved staff member to cancer way before we were ready to turn loose of her. I was just on FaceBook following the story of some distant cousins of mine whose infant son is fighting for his life. Every Monday our staff meets for prayer, and not a time goes but what we are asking God to intervene in the lives of those who are ill. Sometimes God chooses to heal miraculously and at other times he uses illness to accomplish his purposes in other ways. I think I’ll make some comments about that maybe tomorrow.

Right now, Vickie’s words remind me of how important it is for us to offer a touch of humanity to those who are hurting. Last night two Muslim men confined to wheelchairs, recent immigrants,  came to our prayer ministry. A wonderful couple in our church is mentoring them through their adjustment to life in our culture. I met them recently in a lunch we sponsored for a number of such folks that are being mentored by volunteers from our church in cooperation with the Jewish Vocational Services. Others prayed with them throughout the course of the evening. At the conclusion, I thought it important that I reach out to them, too. I went first to one, then the other, and asked if I might pray a blessing over them. As I prayed, each gripped my hand tightly and began to weep. They couldn’t even understand everything I said. They simply felt the human touch. As I concluded my prayer, one of the men, still weeping cried out to Isa (Jesus) and then kissed my hand.

I was leaving the office in a hurry this afternoon and greeted a couple sitting in the waiting area as I walked by. I was briefly detained by a staff member asking a question. Continuing my walk, the man from the waiting area was now beside me asking if he could talk as I walked.

“Sure,” I said as I continued my pace.

“My daughter was the one killed in that car crash Sunday at (he gave me the intersection).  She wasn’t officially a member here, nor are we. But we  attend from time to time and wanted to see about having her service here. Her sisters attend here also.”

I stopped dead in my tracks.

“I saw you and thought maybe you could put in a good word for us.”

“Come with me,” I said, reversing my course and headed back into the office to personally connect them with the right party.

“I know you are a busy man and I don’t want to keep from what you have to do.”

“Look,” I said, “there is absolutely nothing in my life that is even as remotely important as what you are dealing with right now.”

He choked back tears; we continued our trajectory toward the office.

Nothing I mentioned above was a sacrifice or cost me anything, not even much time. The effect of a human touch in every case was priceless. I would like to say I have always been so sensitive to people in need. I’m ashamed to say that I have not.

I am learning, though, that people all around me are hurting. I used to worry that I would not know what to say. I still don’t know what to say. Most of the time it’s best not to say much at all, but it’s simply the human touch empowered by the Spirit of God that ministers to the hurting heart. To paraphrase the famous quotation from Francis of Assisi, “When people are hurting, preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.”

Another person with whom I reconnected was a man named Jim Smith. No, that’s really his name. His father was also named Jim Smith, and was sent out from our church as a missionary to Mexico in the early 50’s. All of his ten children faithfully serve God.  His namesake ended up ministering for many years in Quito, Ecuador. The amazing Rachel Saint was a member of his church in her later years, and it was my joy to meet her there and enjoy dinner in her home.  When I was last with Jim and his wife Sharon in Quito, his children, Zack and Stacy were still at home. Great kids! Jim is now a mission executive and Sharon also works in the office.

Jim and I exchanged a good Latin abrazo and relished the moment of seeing each other again after so many years. Jim is an upbeat, pleasant man who is very comfortable wearing a smile most of the time. We caught up on a number of life’s details.

Zach is married, has three children and living in Anderson, South Carolina, Jim told me.

His next words were like a surprise kick in the gut.

Zach has stage 4 colon cancer and will probably die in the next few months.

I hurt because my brother was hurting. I stopped and prayed for them right then and there.  Do you every pray when you have no idea what to say?

Then, we walked across the street to Sharon’s office so I could pray over them again without knowing what to say except to commend them to the grace of a loving God.

Zach tells his story on YouTube and it’s pretty powerful.

Lost in Reflection

The remnant of Jews in Nehemiah’s day assembled together to worship God and pray to reestablish the foundations of Hebrew society. As they prayed, they listed all the many ways God provided for them and their ancestors and also their continued disobedience.  In the Nehemiah study this morning I took this example to say that two obstacles that can keep us from fulfilling the mission God has for us are pride and failure to grow.

Grow is the one word theme we have adopted for this year. Both as an individual and as the church we are asking God to grow. Not only do I want to avoid pride by surrendering the control of my life to God, I want to learn from my sin and mistakes, avoiding them in the future. So, along with you, I am examining my life and assessing those areas where I need to grow.

This assessment of areas where growth is needed is all part of the discipleship process. When Paul left Titus in Crete, he gave him the following instructions. He was to find out what was lacking in the lives of the believers and fill the void. Then, he was to reproduce himself by developing other leaders (Titus 1:5).

We have been through a wonderful week of The Summit. There is a growing sense and awareness that God is doing something special. Let’s not blow it! Let’s set aside our pride and learn from past mistakes. Let’s examine our lives, find out what’s lacking and fill the voids. Then, let’s grow and reproduce ourselves in others!

For months we prayed along with the Student Mission Council that The Summit would not be just a conference, but the beginning of engagement in God’s mission for many people as they enter the story of God’s Kingdom. Each night during The Summit in my role as the closer, I pointed out specific ways to enter the story. Whether praying, giving, or going, there are practical steps for anyone to take.

There was a time when I thought I would take tomorrow morning (Sunday) as a time to reflect on what God has done at The Summit. However, as I looked over the passage in Nehemiah that corresponds to our series, I decided to stay the course, as the passage really does make for a nice follow up.  The Jewish inhabitants of Nehemiah’s day were rebuilding the foundations of Hebrew society and stepping up to own responsibility in God’s mission. Only two obstacles could keep them from fulfilling the mission. I’m calling this study “Two Buts and a Sure Bet.”