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Physicians for Human Rights our of Washington DC just put together a nice little flash movie from their travel to Darfur Sudan that is worth taking a look at - Click here to view - If I could get on a plane tomorrow and go there I would
- look at savedarfur.org
Last week I took a short trip to Amarillo, TX to speak at a dinner at a foundation that has supported our efforts. C.J. Humphreys, a successful lawyer, started this foundation back in 1958 and launched what he called, "missionary millionaires" in 1964. He challenged 1000 people to give $1,000 to establish a million dollar foundation. Pretty good idea if you ask me! He did not quite reach the goal, but continued on doing a monthly bank draft' and different contributions from people. They have helped build churches all over the place. We need more C.J. Humphreys around: business types who can gather other business types to give their money to Kingdom causes around the globe! I applaud his efforts. He died several years back but his efforts are still making an impact, even in remote places in India where we are working! For more info and education on philanthropy, look at what my friend Daryl Heald is doing to mobilize more resources for God's work: generousgiving.com I also was reminded of the Oprah law suite while in Amarillo back in 1998 where the cattle industry sued her, remember that one? 40% of this countries beef is packaged in this part of Texas. The Famous restaurant, BIG TEXAN, is in Amarillo - I love steak, the more raw the better, although I did not go to this place. If you can eat 72 oz steak in 1 hour, it is free or you have to come up with $50- I learned the following [i am sure you would like to know this]
This weekend was busy and filled with much activity. My beautiful wife turned 31! We had a great time together. Her sister, Joy, was in from Seattle for her wedding shower and got to celebrate together Elise's birthday! Zayd got a bit confused and thought it was his birthday getting to blow out the candles - He also had lots of fun with his cousin, Jackson, who lives in the area! I enjoyed preaching 3 times yesterday in Common Ground church, our home church here. Did you know today was Africa Malaria Day 2005? Killing 1 million people every year, usually under the age of 5 and 90% in sub-Sahara Africa.
Our doctor confirmed this week that our baby is a GIRL! We are hopeful that she is correct, as I have heard stories how sometimes it is not 100%. But she seemed certain. It is very welcomed news and we are very happy to know Zayd will have a little sister. Her first name will be Daya (Hindi and Nepali for compassion) We are still going through options of a middle name. The due date is August 15!
i have to be honest with you. After getting back to the states, it has been a very hard process of staying faithful in communicating about life on this blog. I have been in a world wind of emotion, processing our past season of life in Asia (5 months) our growing family, future, etc. etc. It is hard to type about what you see on TV or read on another blog/news when you are doing relief work in the midst of the worst recorded natural disaster in history, killing the most people..... After gazing into my blank page on this computer I thought through some things I have seen that were unique like watching jane fonda on Larry King last night talking of her coming to Jesus but not liking to use the term, "christian" because she said it was too "political" - When King asked her if she was 'born again', her reply was 'I don't know. I don't even know what that means..." And I think I believed her a bit, altough I think she was trying to 'be safe'. Back to my own dilemma. Since the events of December 26 in Asia (tsunami) People were hungry for news, stories, photos from 'on the field'- We were in the midst of it. why has it decreased? I am starting back on the "US preaching/speaking circuit" now. Getting some invites and requests from different places. In all honesty, I am not too thrilled and it surprising me. "Am I burned out? Do I need to take a season to do nothing?" I ask myself. Perhaps I am meant to spend my life in the villages in Asia and raise my family there full time and discontinue the 'dual continent' lifestyle we have going now. There is this real struggle within my soul of 'home' / 'roots' -- What any cross-cultural worker deals with, whether they are a diplomat, military, or mission type. As our family grows this year from 3 to 4 this issue is really surfacing -- I do not really know why I am being honest here, as I am sure many read this who I do not know personally. Perhaps it is for me to process and pray through it more or ask you to pray for me/us. I do realize we all need the rhythms in life to ACT/DO/SERVE and then REFLECT/RENEW/REPLENISH -- it sure is more fun to post entries here of the "action" of the doing, helping, especially the past few months...I do welcome a season of rest, renewal in my own heart, mind, and body...Yet, i want to always stay restless of the injustice and poverty and wickedness in so many regions. So it is this great tension of resting in the love of God yet staying restless over the injustice in the world... "Oh God, may I rest in you yet always remain restless..."
My friend Sivin Kit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia had this photo on his blog! His beautiful daughter Elysia with a copy!
I walked down into the dark basement at in my in-laws yesterday about 4 pm, the day I turned 33. I could not see 1 inch in front of my face but I knew the room was filled with friends from a far. A candle was lit and Brian McLaren's face was all I could see. Elise had surprised me and organized a surprise dedication day for my book. Friends and family were there to celebrate with me the release of Wanting More. Brian spoke for about 15 minutes and shared his comments about the power of story and comments about the book. I was blessed. The candle was passed around the room and others began to speak: My father and mother from Atlanta; Kevin from Ohio, Ian & Michael from Costa Mesa, CA; Rich from Quebec, Canada; Ty from Texas; Russ from Texas; Steven from North Carolina; Mo from Las Vegas; Michael from Austin; Sky from Seattle; Adam, Kristin, and Chris from Indy were some who were there. I could not believe my eyes.. so many different relationships from around the country in 1 room. People I thought would never meet each other but were present on my birthday. The best gift anyone could give, the ministry of presense! The group then annointed Elise and I with oil and prayed over us a prayer of blessing. Elise had prepared an INTERNATIONAL cuisine from about 10 places around town: Korean, Lebanese, Thai, Ethiopian, Japanese, Nepali, Indian, Nigerian, Morocon to name a few 
- It was a day I will never forget.
Well, this was a first! Finding Zayd asleep standing up! Getting moved in and boxes unpacked (which we are not even close to being finished) has worn us all out. I carried Zayd up to his room at 6 pm, after he fell asleep like this. He slept through the night! We have moved in near downtown in Indianapolis, in the heart of the city. Across the street from us is one of the largest children's musuems in the nation, and the central office for the Salvation Army. We live on one of the most historic and well known streets in the city, Meridian. If I had to live out in the suburbs I think I would have gone crazy! Literally. We were downtown just a few days ago and left the mall to find my license plate stolen off our car! Of all the cars, they chose to steal ours! Bizarrre, hegh? So driving around with no license plate is not a good thing. Our neihborhood is a mixture like any urban melting pot in the nation. The area is mostly a black community w/ most businesses catering to them. (i.e. a wig store for black women) Funny thing is that there is a Starbucks down the street, but it is hardly anyone inside. I think expressos and latte are not a common past times in the black community. Throughout the night we hear numerous sirens rushing down the street, usually 4-5 thought the night. I took Zayd down to our local Walgreens, we were the only white people around! It was great! I love being the minority. A drug dealer in his very plush mercedes (with all the trimmings) nodding to me, "What up!" as we walked out in the parking lot. Adam and Kristin came over for lunch yesterday. They live not too far (about 10 minutes) - They were sharing how a drug dealer did literally move across the street from them and our discussion led on what they should do, not do, etc. They shared how a few days ago in a basketball court just down the street from them that someone got shot. With getting settled into our new place I have been reminded of how many comments and questions have been raised to me, "Is it safe where you are living?" I know what people mean and that they ask out of a sense of care and concern for my family..but it does surface again this notion that most Christians embrace and that is that God is primarily concerned for us to be "safe" in life. I do not think this is God's main purpose for us.
Amnesty International says that Nepal has has the highest number of disappearances in the world for the last two years...read more - I cannot imagine the amount of people that would be GONE from family, friends, life and no one knows where they are - Abducting by the Maoists? girls off to work at brothels in India? 200,000 under the age of 16 are said to be working in India --- Elise and I drove to Willmore, Kentucky this week for 1 night. It was my first time to this area of Kentucky- Really beautiful country.. horse farms, green/rolling hills, lots of fences. I spoke at the chapel at Asbury Seminary. It was a real honor to be there and meet some wonderful people. I know what some of you are thinking reading this, "Asbury? how did you land that one?" Not my usual speaking opportunity - I am usually preaching in a refugee camp or in a small, new church meeting in a coffee shop...A new friend, Brooke Burns, is a student at Asbury with her husband, and they had a cancellation in one of their chapel speakers ( I think he died) as they book speakers one year in advance. She had suggested my name and they invited me on down...a real unique opportunity to remind folks of what is going on around the world while they are buried writing papers for a systematic theology class...One thing it did remind me of, I am sure glad I am not in school -- Maybe for a 1 week intensive class. I told the story in the chapel of the urgency that Jesus had in ministering and preaching the good news of the Kingdom as he mentioned in Mark 1 as he wanted to go to other villages..I told the story of a gentlemen I met at a seminary who was 54 years of age and had been in seminary for 18 years! 18 YEARS! I wanted to say to him, "What are you doing? You are not 24."
I got a lot of laughs from the crowd on that one, actually. Someone told me afterwords that there were several around that might have gotten uncomfortable when I said that...but in a needed and good way...Some people just make a career of being a seminary student and never doing anything with it...
I found tickets online the day before the women's NCAA championship game here in Indy! I am a graduate of Baylor and it was great to make it to the game to support those lady bears who WON!!!!!! It was not much of a game, as they took the lead early and Mich. State hardly came close the whole game! Ran into a few friends at the game, Tom and Jan Purdy - We are off to today to drive to Wilmore, Kentucky. Tomorrow I speak at the chapel at Asbury Seminary. Should be a real interesting/uniqe experience. Please pray as I will be speaking around 11:30 am EST.
