Corn and more corn...
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Zayd the ladies man..
While traveling recently, it was wonderful to welcome friends from Santa Ana, CA - Synthia and Tatiana Baynes (wife and daughter of ServLife board member, Michael) Zayd was a little ladies man, so I was told...
Wild Cowboy!
When I was Zayd's age, I was riding horses in Texas...In Thailand it is a bit different...
Starting a Movement of PEACE
I wanted to post an article I just emailed out in the light of war and increased fear among many in the world- Some of you may not get ServLife emails from me - If you do not and want to, click here to sign up --
Start a Movement of PEACE
I have been asking myself in recent days from following so many complicated global issues, is it possible for the church of Jesus (that is you and me) to rise above partisan politics and economic/ethnic divide and be an instrument of peace in an ever increasing hostile world? I believe it is. America is divided politically as well as most regions of the world. We as the church should involve ourselves in the public square; however, we as image bearers of the most high God have more power within us than any military or commander in chief in the world to rattle the halls of hell and move the heart of God to awaken his people to action (Rom 8:11). Indeed, there is great power waiting to be unleashed among us to see peace in the world come through the church of Jesus Christ, that is you and me.
As Israel’s offensive continues and the Hezbollah fights back, we are all approached with the ambiguity of Middle East policies, promises, and protocol. It is not an easy issue as some want to make it out to be. It is very multifaceted in the Middle East and globally there are ethnic, economic, cultural, religious complexities as well that leads easily to scratching one’s head in bewilderment. I know I have been scratching in recent days. There is not one simple definition to understand any one conflict in the world, as some want to prescribe. Indeed, terrorism elements do exist and those who want to kill and destroy any western interest or ideology are real in our world today. I do believe strongly that any war should be the last result. I should say again, any act of war should be last result and not the first response. The inevitable loss of innocent life saddens me profoundly. I wish to give four basic reminders on how we as the body of Christ, no matter where you are located or the kind of _expression you embrace, can respond in the light of current political turmoil the world is currently in and see Shalom (peace) realized and expressed.
Read 4 Reminders of our response Click here to read the entire article
Christians in Lebanon aiding Muslims in the midst of bombing
I got this email from my friend in Beiruit named Nabil who runs The Lebanese Society for Educational & Social Development (LSESD):
“Air-raids started again as early as 3:00 am targeting the Beirut Int'l Airport and the southern suburb of Beiruit. This went on and on all day today. The artillery and the bombs used are horrendous. May God have mercy - Families are being displaced from the heavily targeted areas seeking shelter in school buildings. Effective early this afternoon, our Beurit Baptist School opened its doors offering temporary shelter to 200 Muslim people (around 30 families) from southern Lebanon. Upon arrival we offered them food and drink; yet we have no notion of how temporary will this situation be. We live each day at a time and trust God for his intervention."
Rise and Seek Peace - Response to hostile activity in the world
Tonight, my heart is heavy as I look around the world from Southeast Asia. The need for prayer is urgent. The need for action is paramount. The need for peace is overriding. Just a few days ago, Albert Das and I were on a spiritual pilgrimage together throughout Israel and drove through the West Bank on our way to the Sea of Galilee. I had driven through Jericho on the same road about six years ago. The decay of buildings and road signs were astonishing among the Palestian region from what I remembered before. The streets were empty and the few shops we passed waved us down to stop and shop. The contrast of driving through Palestian occupied areas verse Israel is like comparing Manhattan vs. Mozambique, you cannot. It is obvious who has the power and resources and who is marginalized. I don’t know about you, but when I look into the world I see a great deal of chaos, confusion, and conflict and fear and hopelessness creeps in like smoke through a cracked door. Tonight in our world:
- Israel bombing Lebanon and Gaza
- Train bombing in Mumbai, India
- Iraq on a verge of civil war
- Taliban gaining momentum in Afghanistan
- North Korea launching missiles
- Iran’s nuclear potential
We must allow Jesus to invade our minds, call our hearts, and direct our feet. We must not merely respond with withdrawing and interpret the current events in our world through the lense of Revelation. We must be seekers of peace, conduits of hope, expressions of love, and vessels of mercy. We must arise!
These regions of the world are where very few followers of Jesus Christ even live. As I feel hopeless, I must not forget that God is the source of hope and I must be filled with all joy and peace as I trust in him, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom.15:13)
Can we as the church of Jesus Christ with all of our division and differences stand as one and seek peace in the world? Jesus’ work restores relationship. Can we unite to GO into these regions of the world to declare a new Kingdom? A new way? His Kingdom brings Shiite and Sunni; communists and capitalists; Jew and Gentile to his feet in humility, grace, and forgiveness. Whether the world believes our message or not, we must pray and seek and stand together for peace. Jesus said in John 17:20-22 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent Me.?
We as the church of Jesus must receive a refreshing and new vision in the midst of challenging circumstances like the world is currently in. Our hope is sustained when we know there are others who seek peace. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God (Matt 5:9).”
May all who read this pray to the risen Lord and ask his Spirit to invade our imaginations and ambitions to be perpetuators of hope, peace, and love.
From Israel
Shalom! Salem! Peace! Albert and I have been in Israel for the 2nd day and having a joy filled time together here in the land of our Lord - There is indeed an amazing amount of tension in the air, as today we walked by several crowds in intense argument and fighting - July 4th was amazing to visit the Garden Tomb and be moved by the FREEDOM that Jesus brings us - The garden tombe dates back 2,000 years plus and believed to be the grave of Jesus - 
We are FREE! from sin, guilt, death -- Jesus is alive! Yes and Amen.
A blog by Joel Vestal
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