Blast from the Past

I still keep up with my friends from the American International School in Johannesburg through a shared message board.

Sometimes I get openly persecuted for my beliefs, and even just for what I am. Being in vocational ministry is not PC with this group. A couple of them believe it is absolutely bigoted to say there is only one way to God. Some are Buddhist, Bahai, Hindu, Mormon, Unitarian, Atheists and various other faiths. So I am clearly the minority in the bunch.

But we still connect through our shared memories of high school. So when a friend posted photos this week, we had fun looking through them and commenting on past events.

This one is of me in 10th grade, with my two constant companions, Chrissy and Kim. We were inseparable, and everyone called us the "Three Musketeers"!!!

I am thankful for these two. They were amazing friends to me, and provided me a "home away from home". Both came from strong Catholic families, so provided a good moral foundation for me and a "safe" place to go when I needed to retreat from the MK home. They were good girls, and we had so much fun together that we never even considered getting into trouble. I did, however, try my first taste of alcohol at Chrissy's house. I had a bad cold and her Mom insisted on giving me a shot of brandy. I remember thinking my throat was on fire!!!! : )

I went to Mass with them sometimes, and was privileged to be invited to Kim's confirmation. They were both military brats. Chrissy's dad was in the Navy, and Kim's dad was the Air Force attache and pilot for the embassy. Through them I was able to meet the Ambassador and lots of other important dignitaries. We also liked to hang out at the Marine house, especially for patriotic celebrations.

Their diplomatic immunity could be really convenient at times, too--especially since we lived in the throes of apartheid. When we wanted to take our "non-white" friends out to restricted eating establishments, all it took was a flash of the diplomatic pass, and nobody could refuse us service. I guess it was our way of protesting the racist system, and taking a political stand.

I was glad to find an appropriate way to protest. My best friend from Zimbabwe, Indira, was considered "non-white" under the standards of the South African government. That made me really, really angry. She and I would not have been allowed in most stores, restaurants or even neighborhoods together. Her uncle was murdered in a South African prison by RSA policemen after he was arrested for his involvement in a protest. (Indira's family were also personal friends of Nelson Mandela.)

So my political activism was in honor of my friend, as well as a stand against the moral injustice of the system.

But we also tried to do our part to help in non-political ways. We raised some money and went into Soweto to help with a humanitarian aid organization. I will never forget the despair of the people in the shanty towns, and the utter hopelessness in the eyes of the children. In actuality we probably placed ourselves in grave danger by going there. But God protected us, and those images impacted my life from that time on.

Pray for my friends from AISJ. They are spread all over the world, and most of them have everything that you could ever want from a worldly viewpoint. One is even a succesful actor in Hollywood, having appeared on shows like NYPD Blue. But they are so completely lost, and their personal lives are just empty. I can read the hollowness between the lines of their posts.

It breaks my heart sometimes to even think about them, and I will never give up hope. I am holding to the promise of James 5:16, that fervent prayer can accomplish much.

A Life that Counts

A few posts ago I told you how I had been able to reconnect with an old friend from Zimbabwe.

Today I received an exciting email. It was from a guy named Rob, who also knew the Drewitz boys. Here's what he had to say,

If you could put me in touch with them I would be very grateful as those two had an effect on me giving my life to the Lord, and they do not know it. I actually use them as an example of how we witness through our actions when nobody is looking or watching. I was.

I was an exchange student from Seattle, WA to Bulawayo that year and would be very grateful if you could give me an email address to get in touch with them.

What a precious email!!! The thing that struck me was the power of a quiet, consistent, Christlike life. I was trying to peg what quality the Drewitz boys had that was so exceptional. And then it hit me.

They HONOR others. And it is from the heart. I truly think they see value in everyone they meet. I know that one thing I have heard them say is, "everyone has something to contribute, no matter how small."

In a world that values being RIGHT, Stefan and Samuel value kindness even more.

As we prepare to leave for Greenboro tomorrow, this was a timely reminder for me. To be honest, I'm weary of the conflict and struggle and messiness within our convention. I have been meditating on 1 John 1:7 this morning. If we are all walking in the light, then why is our fellowship so broken? Lord, heal us!!!! Have mercy on us!!!

I agree with Steve Walker--my truest hopes for Greensboro are that God would get hold of our hearts, that we would be focused on Him, that there would be brokenness and unity, and that HE would be glorified in a way never seen before in our convention.

Lord, above all, teach me to honor others in the way that you would honor them. Let me be a channel of your love and kindness. And may my life bring glory to you. AMEN.

3 Days and Counting!!!!

On Friday the World Cup begins with Germany playing Costa Rica. Later that same day, Poland will face off against Ecuador.

I can hardly wait!!! And I have to pack for Greensboro in the midst of all the excitement.

In addition, my all-time soccer hero, Pele, is going to be at the opening celebration. I doubt he'll be doing any of his famous bicycle kicks, but it is still really cool that he will be there.

The US will play their first game, against the Czech Republic, on Monday the 12th. And my second favorite team, Argentina, will kick off the Cup series by playing Cote d'Ivoire on Saturday the 10th.

There has already been some drama, though. Both Argentina and England have key players who are injured. The verdict is still out on whether either will be able to play. Lionel Messi is a top scorer for the Argentinian team, so I'm holding my breath on that one.

Are any of you soccer fans? Anyone else interested in doing brackets with me? (just for fun--no gambling involved.)

The Antichrist?

My friend Kelly has a great post on his blog today. Check it out here.

My Place in the Big Picture

A recent post on my friend Tim's blog got me thinking. Who am I? Have I accomplished what I had hoped by this stage in my life? Have I really found where I fit in the big picture?

It's strange--all my childhood I strove towards achieving this ultimate goal of adulthood, but upon reaching it, found it rather anti-climactic. I love being a Mom and really enjoy campus ministry. But on the inside, I question my capabilities sometimes.

I still don't even feel like a "grown-up". I keep waiting for this magic moment when I will finally arrive. That point where I have wisdom, maturity, can parent with grace and flair, and breeze through ministry knowing just exactly what to do and say in every situation. I had imagined that by 37 I would be further along than this.

But the truth is, I still spend a lot of my time crying "Help!!!" to God. I don't know exactly how to navigate through ministry. It's a day-to-day thing for me, and I spend a lot of time on my face seeking direction. I'm just thankful that He is a graceful, patient and very ever-present God. There is NO WAY I could ever have made it this far without Him.

Even in parenting, there are days I stop and look at my kids and think, "What was God thinking? Couldn't He have found someone more capable to be their mother? They deserve better!!!"

And like Tim, I struggle with pressure from the worldly standards for success. I also had high expectations for my future, and was serious about academics. As a woman, I have battled the added pressure to be skinny, charming, graceful and beautiful. (But unfortunately, I didn't come with the tall and svelte, socially elegant DNA package!!!)

I often find myself caught in the "significance" trap--looking for validation and approval from others. However, that hope will always dissapoint, because it is not the true source of our value. It only causes a downward spiral into self-deprecation.

In reality, the only opinion that really matters is GOD's opinion. He says we are chosen, dearly loved, called, forgiven, fearfully and wonderfully made, powerful, holy, righteous, valueable, capable, purposeful, precious, mighty, beautiful, rich, and destined for greatness. He has made us intentionally to accomplish a very specific task. We have an intricately designed personality, spirit and set of gifts that are totally unique and special. Nothing about us is accidental. We are not mistakes. We are amazing creations of an Almighty God, who will one day be fully complete and whole when we are united forever with Him in Heaven.

WOW!!! 'nuff said.

Blue Man Group

I really enjoy the Blue Man Group. Not only do I like their unique sound, but they are always so creative and visually exciting.

But I have never gotten to see them in concert. I have heard that it is an amazing sensory experience.

We just found out they will be in Pittsburgh at the Mellon Arena on September 30. If there is any way posssible, I'm planning to be there.

Have any of you seen them? Any other Blue Man fans out there?

Mission M Possible

I came across a fantastic website this week, and connected with some guys who are doing great stuff with youth. I think they are really on to something here!

As a college minister, I'm excited about the prospect of getting youth like this coming to our universities. How incredible would it be to have strong Christian students, trained and equipped, intentionally coming to plant their lives as missional students on our campuses?

We hear from our college students all the time that they want more depth. They want comprehensive teaching and tools to help them dig into God's Word. They desire hands-on, practical, applicable discipleship. And they want to be mentored.

Most say they did not get that in their youth groups.
Many of them have told us they are tired of having church "marketed" to them. They see through the entertainment, the facades, and the glitzy little packages. This generation is willing to go anywhere and do anything for the things they believe in. They are passionate, courageous and strong. But we've been giving them milk when they want meat.

How cool would it be if we started getting youth coming to college, ready to plug into our campus ministries, who were already strong in discipleship and equipped with the knowledge of how to plant a church? Can you imagine the impact we could have on university campuses across the world?

I would encourage you to check out Mission M Possible

Let's get serious in our churches about equipping our youth. I believe Geoff Baggett is right--if we engage them at this level, I seriously doubt we will continue to see students dropping away from church at the rate they have been in the past decade.

Alternative Bumper Stickers

I found this cartoon from Great Britain and thought it was hilarious.

Today as we were driving to church, Doug and I were taking note of all of the annoying bumper stickers: "Honk if you love Jesus", "Proud parent of an honor student", "You're lookin' at my kid's inheritance", etc.

So we started talking about alternative bumper stickers we would like to create. Here's some we came up with "Proud parent of a "D" student", "Honk if you're an idiot", and "My compact car didn't bury me in debt like your sports car."

One other fun sticker we would like to put on our little Toyota Echo: "When I grow up I want to be a Suburban."

What bumper stickers annoy you? And what alternatives/fun bumper stickers would you come up with?

Want a hot dog?

Katie, who is a 10-year old GA in GA, sent me this picture of her dog, Peanut. I thought it was so cute that I had to post it.

Good News from a Distant Land

Downtown in Granna, Sweden

Last night, as I lay talking to God, I asked Him for some refreshment. This has been such a lonely year, and I was really feeling it yesterday.

God is so good! I woke up this morning, and had an email in my inbox from a very special childhood friend. His name is Stefan, and I have not seen or talked to him in 21 years. He and his wife Anette now live in Granna, Sweden.

Stefan and his brother Samuel were some of my best friends when we were teenagers in Zimbabwe. Their parents were Nazarene missionaries from Graaskarg, Sweden. The Drewitz boys, along with my good friend Bev and I, would laugh until it hurt. They were funny, and crazy, and embraced life with passion. They also loved God, and enjoyed having discussions about what they were learning in His word.

Their whole family was amazing. The best way to describe them is "warm and gentle." They had five kids, of which Stefan was the oldest--all with bright blue eyes, blonde hair and rosy cheeks. They were a very close, happy and loving family, and sang beautifully. They went to a different church, but would come and do specials at ours. It was like watching a scene from the "Sound of Music."

Stefan and I didn't really hang out with the same groups at school. But he was the kind of friend who I could pass in the hall, and he would always give me a huge smile and encouraging greeting. Then on weekends, when our youth groups would get together, we would pick up where we left off the week before.

And that's exactly what we're doing now. Even though 20 years have passed, we just caught up as if we'd never been apart. It is so cool to have some of those special people in life--who are loyal friends, even across miles and years.

God knew that I needed that reminder of His love and faithfulness. I am thanking Him today for this special blessing.

Proverbs 25:25 "Like cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a distant land."

More Wedding Pics

The Happy Couple


I wonder who'll be next.........?????

Beth dancing with the kids


Mr. Hollywood. Get used to seeing this face--it will be on the big screen soon.


Jarrod's toast as the best man


Linnea dancing with Elizabeth


Ted can cut a rug, too!


But Cassidy is too tired. Being a flower girl is hard work!!!


Time to dance....or like Adam, do the "Roxbury" theme.



Various groups of friends.....

That's all, folks!

The way a wedding should be

This past weekend was really special for us. Joel-- who has been the leader of our campus ministry--got married!

His bride Sharon graduated from Muskingum college in Ohio, but we have been blessed to know and fall in love with her over the past two years as well. She is a beautiful, passionate, godly woman.

They have spent a lot of time at our house, and will always have a significant place in our lives.

Making it even more special was that Doug performed the wedding--his very first one ever!!!!!

The whole ceremony, from start to finish, was a celebration. It ended with Joel and Sharon leading the congregation in a time of worship.

But there were so many special aspects to this wedding, and is was truly a reflection of who Joel and Sharon are.

First, every one of the bridesmaids and groomsmen are not only joyful Christians, but all actively involved in ministry. Two are with Campus Crusade, another going overseas to serve this Summer, two involved in working with at-risk kids, and another in training for the mission field. All of them are leaders in their church and in their local campus ministries.

When it came time for the congregational singing, it was so cool to watch the bridal party truly worshipping!!!!! And at the reception, when the best man, Jarrod, gave his toast--he spoke about how there is a special beauty to a woman who loves Christ that is unlike any other beauty.

Several of our CrossSeekers were involved in the wedding or came as guests. One thing I love about them, anytime that we get together, is that they are full of JOY. These guys are so much fun. I realized again this weekend how blessed we are to know these special young men and women.

But another thing I noticed was how diverse Joel and Sharon's friends are. It was a blessing to see people from so many different backgrounds come to celebrate this day with them. Many of their friends are from other religious backgrounds, so it was a wonderful testimony of what a Christian wedding should look like.

And to make it even more special, they will be spending their honeymoon working with a Compassion International school in Peru. They will be there for two months, before they start their new jobs in Washington D.C.

They are also sponsoring a young man, Sylvestre, from the school in Peru. At the reception they had cards and magnets with his picture on the tables, and asked people to pray for him. They also had cards inviting other people to sponsor a needy child.

Joel and Sharon's hearts beat missions. Whether they end up going to the field someday, or staying in the States, I know that they will be involved in reaching every nation, tribe and tongue with the gospel. Because they have a passion to pray and give and go.......UNTIL HE COMES!!



Joel (far left) and the rest of the Peru team at the Compassion International school back in March.

Honoring the Sabbath

I have been reading in Exodus as one of my quiet time passages, and recently read the part about being put to death for not honoring the Sabbath.

That got my attention. I know that we are not under the old law anymore. But it still seems to be a pretty significant principle throughout both the old and new testaments. There are two clear commands for that day: to worship and to rest.

I'm not so sure we really honor the sabbath in our society today. I started thinking about all the ways that the subtleties of the world have crept into our sabbath observance.

I'd like to say that I have never shopped on a Sunday. But I can't. It's just so easy to "run by the store and grab a gallon of milk." And what about eating out, which is something we do mainly on Sundays? Aren't we causing others to work on Sunday by doing so?

Then there is the issue of sporting events. In our area, as kids get older, most of the competitive sports leagues have games on Sunday afternoon. And it is definitely true for college-level athletes.

What about professional sports? We live in an NFL city. What about attending Steeler games? NASCAR races? Golf tournaments? Marathons?

Then there is the issue of church. How many of you find yourselves so busy on Sundays with meetings, choir practices, wedding/baby showers, lesson preparation and so many church events that it ends up being a day of exhaustion rather than a day of rest?

Another issue is movies, television, music and the internet. How careless are we with what we fill our minds with? Joke about? Do we "check out" of our spiritual mode after leaving church, and then assume we can do whatever we please?

Where do we draw the line? Have we, like the Israelites, become so "comfortable" with the culture around us that we have adopted their heathen practices? Are we breaking this commandment without even realizing it?

I don't have the answers. I am still asking these questions myself.

But as I've been reading through the Old Testament, it struck me how much things have stayed the same. The children of Israel went through cycles of following God wholeheartedly, then slowly slipping into the practices of the idolatrous culture around them. Sometimes when I read about their sin, I want to ask them, "how can you forget your God so easily, when you have SEEN His faithfulness, and He has provided for you over and over again?"

Yet aren't we exactly the same? We have seen His faithfulness, and He has provided daily for us. We also have something the Israelites did not have. We have the living, active Word of God to hold in our hands and to read and study personally. So we really are without excuse.

What do you think it means to honor the Sabbath? I would like to hear your thoughts.

Isaiah 58:13-14 "If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Calling all you ordinary people!!!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am growing weary of the recent negativity in the blog-o-sphere. So I'm fighting back!!!!

I am officially declaring this a "nice" site (with a small sprinkling of "cheesy.")

You are welcome to comment (or even post!) here. This is an "I like everybody" website. That means you don't have to understand soteriology, or be ultra-educated, or have read the latest Bryan McClaren book or even have to like Starbucks to post on my site. (I'm sorry Kevin, but coffee-haters are people, too.)

I don't even care if your comments make sense, or if you like to end your sentences with multiple exclamation marks!!!!!!!!! I want this to be a safe place for everyone to come. Because You are special, and people like you!!!!!!!!

But Art and Dorcas tell me that all blogs should have rules. So here are mine:

1. If you have a pulse, you can post here.
2. If you don't have a pulse, you can still post here. (but I will be scared).
3. Play nice. (That means no slamming, YELLING, cussing, nastiness, deliberately blowing people off, condescending or "drive-by posting").
4. Optional rule: Sing, "It's love, it's love, it's love that makes the world go round...." as you type.
5. Your pictures don't have to be remotely related to your post content (see example above.)
6. You have the right to be "BA-leted" (must be read in a Strongbad voice) should you break these rules.
7. If you are like my friend Francie and not a fan of sentence structure or splling but would rather write your comments in one long stream-of-consciousness then you are still welcome at this site.

So.......in the interest of generating some positive conversation in the blog-o-sphere, here's a topic starter. Your answer can be a true story, totally random thoughts or a complete bunch of foo-feee. (oh, and new and original words are welcome here, too.......)

It was a seemingly ordinary day, until.............

Global Community

Yesterday I was speaking by Instant Messenger with a friend who lives in Mozambique. It was so refreshing for me to talk to another "kindred spirit", and to catch up on her life and family there on the field. Thanks, Angie!!! I really needed that.

As I finished speaking to her, I realized something. My best friends, those truly "kindred spirits" who I relate to on a heart level--are spread all over the world!!!! And it has to be that way, because we've all been commissioned to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

I have prayed so much for God to send me a couple of close friends here in Pittsburgh, and wondered why He has not answered that prayer. But in reality, He HAS answered my prayer--just not in the way I would have expected. Most of my friends may not be here physically, but we live in an age of technology where we can connect GLOBALLY.

So I am adapting my idea of what "community" looks like. And I need to say thanks to some people.

Joel and David--thanks for calling me all the way from conference in Seattle, and for your wisdom and prayers. You have no idea how much of an encouragement you were to all of us that day.

Guy--thanks for the great material you sent. Your example, and your faithfulness, have meant so much to us. This new direction we are taking is going to be unconventional and messy----but exciting!!!! Your affirmation means a lot. We would love to meet you guys sometime, when you're back in the States. Plus it would be cool for your Anna and Joshua to meet our Anna and Joshua. ; )

Vicky--thanks for the phone call. I really miss "girl" time, and miss getting to serve with you and Kelly. And can't stand that we're so far away from those sweet kids!!!! But we love hearing about your ministry, and are excited about your connection with the local college, too.

Dan and Rachael, Angie S., and Ron--thanks for stopping by my blog--and especially for the kind words about my parents. It encourages me to know that others love them, too!!!!

Our Pittsburgh church planting team--I really enjoyed the meeting and lunch with you. Wish we all saw each other more often. I am blessed to get to work alongside you guys.

Massa--thanks for your listening ear and servant heart. We would have been lost without you these past 2 1/2 years. We still owe you dinner and a family outing. Just name the time. : )

Francie--thanks for your fun voicemails and emails. You always make me smile.

Jason--thanks for keeping me posted about your ministry, and for making me laugh. : ) I appreciate the lightheartedness and need a break from all the intensity sometimes.

Steve W., Art, and Dan--thanks for the kind words of encouragement, and especially the prayers. : )

Paul--thanks for sharing your heart with us, and letting us be part of this new adventure in your family.

Adam--thanks for your words of appreciation to us. Your email made me cry. You will always have a special place in our hearts--you're one of our "kids" now. But we also look forward to our new relationship as teammates. Next year is going to be amazing.

Phm 1:4-7 "I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints,
and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you."

It's up!!!!

All of you who know me well also know that for two years I have been waiting.....somewhat patiently.....for my punching bag to be put up here in our house in Pennsylvania. It was my birthday present when we first came to Pittsburgh, and the promise to hang it has been given to me for Christmas, an additional birthday and Mother's Day.

But today, the promise came to fruition!!!! Doug figured out a way to attach it to the "I" beam in the garage. So no more improvisation!!!! I no longer have to set it up, punch, set it up, punch, set it up, punch. :)

What a great day!!! And I can even find a verse that is applicable (I know it is a stretch. For all you literalists--I am having some fun here.)

Heb 6:15 And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Servant Heart

This picture was on the NAMB website, and we didn't even realize it!!! That's my Dad, Jerry Schleiff, in the foreground.

It was taken on one of the trips with his Arkansas Disaster Relief team--feeding those affected by the hurricane.

I wanted to share this picture because it characterizes my Dad. He has such a servant heart. One story in particular sticks out in my mind.

There was an epileptic man, Manyai, who lived near our mission station at Sessami. Manyai was a sweet man, but was too disabled to care for himself. He smelled of body odor and urine, and his beard was tangled and scraggly. The other villagers shunned him.

But every few months he would show up at our house, and after eating a good, hearty meal, he would submit to Dad for his annual bath. It literally took hours to wash the layers of dirt from Manyai, and to shave his matted hair and beard. It was such an labor of love. I will never forget the friendship between Dad and Manyai.

But my Dad is like that with everyone. As kids, if we ever needed anything, he would bend over backwards to meet that need. Each morning he would wake us up gently with a cup of tea and a backscratch. (That was usually followed by him coercing us into a morning run. He and I still enjoy going to the track together--and Dad will be 71 this year!!!)

Even now, he and Mom have people in their house constantly--especially college students. And the first words that you will hear out of Dad's mouth when someone walks through the door are, "Hey, can I get you anything?"

Mom and Dad just love people. They have adopted "kids" all over the world. After serving for 28 years in Zimbabwe, they had the opportunity to work at IMB headquarters in Virginia. But instead, they chose to go to Asia and spend 5 years as Member Care personnel--serving, encouraging and supporting other missionaries.

The amazing thing is that my Dad has had opportunities at various times in his life to take denominational positions that carry some prestige. When he was younger, he could have been on staff at a large church in Texas. But he has turned all of those down and opted for the mission field. It has meant working in some dangerous, tough places.

He has not had a high-profile life, but he has certainly had a rich and meaningful one. I don't believe we'll know the full impact of my parent's lives until we get to heaven. So much of it has been lived in quiet, servant-hearted anonymity. And I could not be prouder of them.

Tribute to Mom

Today is my Mom's birthday, and I wanted to write a tribute to this very special woman. She has not only been an amazing mother, but a friend and mentor.

There are so many qualities I admire about her--especially that she loves the Lord and taught us about Him. When we were little, every morning we would walk by Mom's bed and see snuggled under the covers in her "turtle" position. She would be face down, with her knees pulled under her and Bible open, and her eyes closed in prayer.

I have often thought how Mom's "turtle" position, with covers pulled over her head, was much like Susanna Wesley's apron over her head. Both mothers had their own way of teaching that time with God took precedent over everything else.

Mom was a great teacher. She seized natural opportunities to show us about the qualities of God. I remember the first time she cut open an apple and showed us the star inside. And how she illustrated the story of Elijah and the widow by putting a marble in a jar of oil. She would hold the bottle up (causing the marble to block the oil from running out) and tell us how the widow's oil was running out. But then, God miraculously provided more oil!!!! (she would tip the bottle so the oil flowed around the marble.) I thought that was amazing. My Mom could do magical things.

She is also an loving nurturer. Every morning we would awaken to the aroma of breakfast, then go into the kitchen to get a hug and a cup of hot tea from Mom. Anyone who knows Barbara Schleiff knows that her love language is feeding people. Which was not an easy task when we lived in the bush. Everything had to be grown, picked and cooked from scratch!!!!

Mom is a lot of fun. She is spunky, and funny and loves to tease. She also has a slightly competitive edge, which usually comes out in board games. I remember many late nights of playing "Texas 42" or putting together a puzzle. And she loved to embarrass us at mission meeting by getting up and doing skits for the group.

Mom has some incredible faith. She has always lived by the principle, "If we really need it, God will provide." I remember one time we were way out on a dirt road in the bush, and had a flat tire. When Dad started to put on the spare, he discovered it also had a slow leak. We were not sure what we were going to do.

Then Mom pulled the bubble gum she was chewing out of her mouth, stuck it on the hole in the tire, and prayed, "Lord, you know we need to make it into town, so make this bubble gum hold." We actually made it those next several miles--over terribly rough roads--and into a service station!!!!

She also is a woman of prayer. One night, Dad was up late reading by candlelight as he often did. Suddenly, he noticed a cobra slithering into the bedroom. In a panic, he tossed his shoes at it, then the book.......then the candle. Uh-oh. Not a good move. Unsure what to do next, Dad leaned over and shook Mom awake. "Barbara. BARBARA. There's a cobra in the bedroom."

Mom woke up just enough to comprehend what Dad had said. Then she pulled the covers back over her head, and said, "Honey, I'm praying for you" and went back to sleep. (We never did find that cobra.)

Mom also is a woman of incredible courage. One incident that stands out in my mind was when we were living in Gweru right after the war was over. The city had a new mayor named Kombayi, and he was an evil and ruthless man. He had a gang of thugs that accompanied him wherever he went. People were severely "dealt with" if they crossed him.

Well, Mom felt like God told her in her quiet time one day to go and confront Kombayi for his actions. She also felt that she was supposed to present the gospel to him.

So after a week of prayer and fasting, Mom made an appointment with him.

I thought she had lost her mind, and when she walked out the door that morning to meet with him, I really felt like it might be the last time I saw my mother.

Kombayi did not accept Christ that day, even though Mom gave him a Bible with some very impressive passages highlighted (including some on sin and judgment.) However, one of the men who worked in his office was so moved by Mom's courage that he accepted Christ, and years later became a deacon in our church.

From that time on, though, whenever Kombayi saw my mother in town, he would cross the street and come over to greet her warmly (with all his thugs in tow.) She is the only person I know of who he treated with that kind of respect.

Mom's heart, though, is illustrated best in a conversation we had recently. She had really been missing having opportunities to share Christ. "I feel like I'm always around Christians now that we are retired, " she told me. "I just miss getting to tell people about Jesus."

She asked me to pray for her to build some relationships with lost people.

About two days later she called, all excited. One of the universities in town had called and asked if she could host some international students. When they arrived, there were two vans full of new students. Mom quickly discovered that most of them were not Christians.

She was in missionary heaven!!!! Since then, she has continued to build relationships with several of them, and even mentors three or four of the girls. She has started a Bible Study with the ones who were interested in learning about Christianity.

Mom's life has been a reflection of her favorite bible verse.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. "

Pittsburgh's religious climate--what does the future hold?

Yesterday, Bishop Donald Wuerl, head of the Pittsburgh diocese, was named by Pope Benedict XVI to be the new Archbishop of Washington D.C. The position is an incredible honor and many are speculating that he will one day be named a Cardinal.

His new role in D.C. will carry significant responsibilities with it. He is already being bombarded with questions regarding immigration, and whether communion should be administered to Senators who are pro-abortion.

This is huge news for our region. Over 800,000 people in Pittsburgh are Catholic.

But the Catholic church is also in crisis. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, on a given Sunday only 36 percent of parishioners attend mass. The number of active attenders has fallen significantly. Just a few years ago the number of practicing Catholics in Pittsburgh numbered more than a million.

Bishop Wuerl's top assistant, Auxiliary Bishop Paul J. Bradley, sees the falloff in Mass attendance, and the influence of "The Da Vinci Code," as hints of a church-wide problem in faith.

"Not unlike other parts of the church in the United States and other parts of the world, there's a growing number of nominal Catholics, fewer practicing Catholics," he said. "It's a reflection of where we are that a particular movie could affect a person's faith perspective."

And there is a shortage of priests as well. Only one man was ordained this year.

So how does this affect our city? There is no doubt that Bishop Wuerl, with his charismatic personality and sharp intellect, influenced more than the religious climate of this region. The political and social climates have also been shaped by his leadership. The Catholic church is so strong locally that it is often referred to as "the church", and news from the diocese is reported regularly in the mainstream media.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the days ahead--both in Washington and here in Pittsburgh. It will likely be several months before a new bishop is selected for Pittsburgh. That nomination comes directly from Pope Benedict XVI.

You may be asking why I would write a post on this, especially since I am Protestant.

But those of you living in regions where Catholicism is the predominate religion can understand. Most of my neighbors and friends are Catholic. This affects them significantly, so it affects me, too. We live in a culture that is very much influenced by the Catholic church, and these changes will impact our entire city.

Please be praying for the city of Pittsburgh in the days ahead. Be praying for those people who are struggling with faith and wondering how God and religion fit into their lives. Bishop Wuerl allowed a lot of inter-denominational freedom and cooperation. Pray that the new bishop will do the same. And please continue to pray for our lost friends and neighbors--those who don't know what it means to have a personal relationship with God.

Cute story

We had our primary elections yesterday.

I took Joshua with me to vote. They had brand new computerized machines, which intrigued him. He wanted to try them out. So I let him enter all of my votes. Suddenly, right in the middle of it, he stopped and got this horrified look on his face. In a loud whisper he exclaimed, "Are you sure this is legal??? I'm not 18 yet!!!"

Everyone in the room had a good chuckle at that.