Why Men Dont' Ask for Directions

This is why is not safe to ask for directions.

Women in Ministry

James 4:7a "Submit therefore to God..."

When I saw that the topic of Women in Ministry had resurfaced in the SBC, I cringed. I have a lot of history with that particular subject.

But God has been doing cool stuff in my heart just in the past two years in regard to that. If you go back and read some of my comments on the original Lifeway Younger Leaders board (but please don't!) then you will see how far I've come. God has been doing some major renovation.

There was a point where I had concluded that most Christian men, especially those in ministry positions, were misogynists. I have seen and experienced harsh, arrogant, and disrespectful treatment toward women that is not honoring to God.

It used to upset me when this topic was brought up at all--not because I believe women should be ordained (I don't) but because I felt it has been used to prohibit women from participating in legitimate ministries to which God has called them. I have also seen it abused by self-centered, proud individuals who are seeking to puff up their own self esteem.

For example, I had a friend in college who was an incredible preacher, and who I really respected as a minister. But one day I saw him with his wife, and to be honest, he was a complete jerk to her. It totally floored me. How could a man be such a wonderful leader in the church, but so abusive in his own home?

So I was not surprised later, in class, when he began speaking against the ordination of women, and how man was made to serve God, but the woman was made to serve man. He made it very clear that he believed women were "lesser" in the eyes of God.

That attitude, which was not unique to this one man, caused me to overcompensate in the other direction. I began LOOKING for evidence that a woman should be ordained, simply because I'd seen the mistreatment of women in regard to this topic.

But to be honest, I didn't find the evidence I was looking for. I still believe that there is a lot of freedom for women in ministry, but that does not include the role of pastor.

What I did find, though, was an overwhelming confirmation from my Lord and Savior that I am not inferior in His eyes. HE determines my value, not man.

And I'm okay with not ever being a preacher. I can't ever be President of the United States, either. (I wasn't born in this country). But I don't think that makes me a "lesser" American, or makes my civic responsibility lower than that of any other citizen. And I'm certainly not going to make a public outcry about being discriminated against, or about my rights being suppressed.

In the same way, I don't think not being able to be a pastor makes me inferior to a man spiritually. On the contrary--God Himself has shown me in my personal time with Him that I have incredible worth, value and purpose in His eyes. He also has a unique, special role for me in ministry that only I can fill. And I LOVE that!!!

All through my Bible, you will occasionally find a little heart drawn by a particular passage. That is a passage of scripture where God has spoken to me on a very deep and intimate level regarding this issue. I know who God says I am. And really, that's all that matters.

I have two friends who are both ordained female ministers. I love them both, and enjoy being with them any opportunity I get. I like their personailities, think they are really fun to be around. They even teach me lots of things about life.

I'm not going to disassociate with them, or lecture them on their proper role in the body of Christ. Why should I? Just because we have doctrinal differences doesn't mean we can't be good friends. Their beliefs don't affect our ability to fellowship with and enjoy one another's company. And they are not going to "contaminate" me in any way, either.

I think that much of the pain and hurt surrounding this issue could be alleviated if the body of Christ took Mark 12:28-31 seriously. Submit to God and His Word daily, and honor one another. So many problems would just not exist if we could put self aside and value the other person for who Christ says they are.

Hilarious Video

Funny Comedy - A Reporter tries to file a report about soldiers burning weed in an open field but the smoke starts to mess him up. - fun funny laugh laughter humor comedy

Fun LIttle S-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g Exercise

If you want a perspective-stretching exercise, related to my last post, then go to the blog search engine, and google "grew up Southern Baptist", "former Southern Baptist", or "in a Baptist church."

It's a little disturbing to read some of those stories, and how many of our youth who walked an aisle and were baptized still have no idea what it really means to have a relationship with God.

I did that little exercise this morning, and even found some former SBCers now immersed in Wicca, paganism, universalism, and all kinds of eastern mysticism. There are also some who are pretty bitter at God, and some sad stories of church abuse. A couple of preacher's/missionary kids, too.

DISCLAIMER: a couple of the sites had raw content, so proceed with caution.

Hurting Body, Indifferent Church???

I have been following with great interest the discussion surrounding Henderson Hills and their position on baptism and membership. And to be honest, I think they are asking some good questions.

It is complex, but a lot of people have been contributing valuable insights on the subject. (One of my favorites is Paul Burleson's ).

Everyone involved seems to agree that baptism (by immersion) is doctrinally correct for Southern Baptists, as well as a vitally important step of obedience following a person's decision to accept Christ.

That's not really the issue. The question causing the controversy is whether baptism is a necessary requirement for church membership.

It's the age old "chicken and the egg" question from a Christian perspective--belief/belong or belong/belief. And since official membership in a local church is not addressed biblically, it becomes another one of those topics where biblical/historical/traditional lines all seem to be blur into varying interpretations.

But that is not the point of my post. I read the most recent post by Dennis Newkirk, the pastor of HHBC, and was saddened by what I found. He has really been beaten up, and sounds discouraged. That picture he posted on his site speaks volumes.

Here is a man who has been crushed for simply daring to ask some relevant questions.

He has been hurt by fellow Christians whose careless words reflect careless hearts. We all need to stop and ask ourselves: is it more important to be "right", or to be godly?

We would do well to remember the warning of Proverbs Pro 12:18. "There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing."

Please hear me out, and don't bombard me with doctrinal dissertations concerning baptism and membership. I'm not endorsing one position or another, because I'm still contemplating the issue myself.

But here's what I DO know. 1 Cor. 12 tells us that if we are in Christ, we are all members of one body. It also tells us that when one member of the body is hurting, it affects the whole body, because that member is a connected, valuable part of the whole. Dennis apparently recognized this hurt within his own church family, and felt it merited his attention. It is a topic that is very worthy of discussion.

Whether we want to admit it or not, this IS a genuine barrier for many people, and there is deep pain associated with the baptism/membership issue. We cannot assume that everyone grew up within the same religious culture and tradition that we experienced. We need to start putting ourselves in other's shoes.

There are fellow brothers and sisters, in the North, East, West, and yes, even the South, who have been deeply hurt by this issue. And no matter where we stand on the issue itself, if it affects part of the body, it affects us.

Allow me to share a story with you.

I have a dear friend who is a godly, amazing woman. But she grew up in a different denomination, and came to a relationship with Christ in that church. She decided to follow Christ in baptism, because she recognized that it was an important step of obedience in her walk with Christ. Her baptism was a very rich, meaningful experience for her, and was done with the intent of honoring and bringing glory to her Lord.

So she was stunned, years later, when she attempted to join an SBC church, and they told her she would have to be re-baptized, because she had been sprinkled rather than immersed.

With tears in her eyes, she explained why she adamantly objected to doing so. To be re-baptized now would be for the purposes of membership into an SBC church, rather than as a public confession of her salvation. To her, it negates her original act of obedience and cheapens the true meaning of baptism.

So she remains in a church where she faithfully attends and actively participates, while feeling like a "second-class citizen" because of the membership issue. To make matters worse, she has received a lot of pressure from well-meaning Baptists to "just get re-baptized and put the whole issue behind her."

For her, it is not a matter of disobedience, but rather of principle.

This is not an isolated story. Each of us probably knows someone who has a similar testimony. And if you have ever heard them speak about it, then you have seen the pain in their face and the depth of emotion that accompanies this topic.

I'm not saying that we should alter doctrine to keep people happy. There is a definite time to stand for truth. But there is also a definite time to stand for love. We need to be actively seeking wisdom, while respecting those around us.

Love is patient. It is humble. It puts the other person first. Love listens. Love seeks understanding. It is gentle, honorable and kind.

Jesus did not expect the people he encountered on the street, or even his own disciples, to have instantaneously "arrived". He discipled them, allowing them to gradually learn spiritual principles. We see multiple examples of where he used questions, stories or experiences to help them grow into an understanding of truth. He allowed them to grow at their own pace within a safe environment.

I have a hard time believing that if Jesus were here today, He would say, "If those people don't like our doctrine, they can just go find a different church." He would have listened to those who were hurting. He would have sought understanding. He would have prayed and searched for God's will in the matter. And He would have responded with kindness and respect.

Some of the comments I have read recently from one Christian to another are quite frankly sickening. There is no love exhibited, no honor shown, no attempt to esteem others more highly or love our neighbor as ourselves.

No matter what opinions we may have, the biblical guidelines on relating to one another are clear.


1Th 5:11-15 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,
and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.

Rom 12:10-13 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Rom 15:5-7 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

1Pe 1:22-23 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

Ramblings of a future pet owner

It's 2:31 a.m. and I can't sleep. So I'm writing rambling posts on non-theological topics in the wee hours of the morning. Bear that in mind as you read this.

I'm anxious about tomorrow. That's when we'll find out if we have a shot at dog ownership.

I never thought I would be this stressed out. I'm usually not this emotional about an animal--especially one I don't even really know. When we decided to take the plunge and adopt a pet, I thought it would simply be a matter of going down to the local shelter, selecting a dog we liked, and taking it home.

But oh no, no. Not in America. Did you know that there is an application process, background check, and sometimes even a home visit? I had no idea that the process was this grueling. All day long I've been thinking, "what if they don't think we'd be good owners? What if our home is not good enough? What if the dog doesn't seem to like us?"

I also made the mistake of getting my heart set on a particular pet. She is an 8 month old labrador/dachshund mix named "Crickett." I had a Labradox (or Doxador, as Doug prefers to call her) when I was a kid. Crickett happens to look a lot like her, and seems to have much of the same disposition.

The problem is that another family is ahead of us in the application process. They will be spending time with Crickett tomorrow, in view of adoption.

So we are playing the waiting game. Part of me wonders if it is okay to pray about something like this. Does God care about our pet desires? Is that like asking him to help your team win a football game? Is it fair to ask Him to make another family not want her?

What do you think? Is it okay to pray about the little things in life, even if they have no theological bearings whatsoever?

Either way, I know that it will all work out in the end. But in case God does care about it, I might just say a little prayer, too. : )

An Eight-Cow Wife

I read a recent post over on "Dorcas' site" that got me thinking. It is titled "If I Had Only Known..." and brings up the value and responsibility of a woman.

Rather than state my personal opionion on the topic, I would like to share a story that greatly impacted me a few years ago. It is taken from "Winning in the Land of Giants" (Youth Edition), by Dr. William Mitchell--an excellent study which we have gone through both with the kids at the Children's Home, and with our college students.


Long ago, in a primitive culture, it was required that before they married, the young men had to bargain with the girl's father for her. The fathers of the village demanded payment for their daughters generally in the form of cows. Three cows could buy an above-average wife, and four or five cows a very beautiful wife!

Johnny, the brightest, strongest, and most handsome man in the village loved Sarita. Sarita most henerously could have been described as being plain. She was not truly ugly, but neither attractive. She was shy. She was also older than most girls at the time of marriage.

The villagers' loved to gossip about the bargaining price of a girl. Some said Johnny might offer two or three cows. Others said Sarita's father might take one cow since nobody else was interested in her.

Johnny went to meet with Sarita's father and offered eight cows for her.

Everyone was astonished. That was the highest price ever paid for a bride in their village! Soon, Johnny herded eight cows to his future father-in-law. The wedding was held the same evening.

Time passed, Sarita changed. Her eyes dazzled, and she moved and spoke with striking grace and poise. People who came to the village and had never seen Sarita before remarked that she was the region's most beautiful woman.

Much later, someone asked Johnny why he paid such a high price for her. Why offer eight cows when he could have had her as his wife for less? Did he make such an offer to make her happy?

"Yes, I wanted her to be happy, but I wanted more than that. The most important thing that changes a woman is how she thinks about herself. Sarita believed she was worth nothing. Now she knows she is worth more than any other woman in the village." Johnny concluded, "I loved Sarita and no other woman. And I wanted to marry her. But I also wanted an eight-cow wife."

from Winning in the Land of Giants, p. 43

Fantastic Surprise!!!

This whole past year I have been concerned about a student who seemed to have fallen off the map. Joshua Boston was active with our group all throughout the previous year, and had even applied to be a small group leader.

So we were understandably concerned when he did not show up at school this past year. I had interacted with him a couple of times through the Summer, when he had requested info on some mission opportunities. I even wrote a recommendation for him, but did not hear back, so assumed he had decided not to do Summer missions.

But then when I tried to reach him this past Fall, both his email and cell phone accounts had become inactive.

I have been concerned for and praying my heart out all year for Joshua. So I was so excited to get an email from him on Friday. And I just had to laugh when I read it. Here's what it said.

It's been a while, I know, and I'm sorry about basically leaving you completely in the dark. I don't exactly have a cell phone right now, but my Andrew account is back online. The basic story is that I followed up on that email you had forwarded last year from the IMB and Mike Lopez, and recently returned from the one-year trip to Wales. By the way, that was fantastic, but I'm glad to be home.

We've had a missionary from our CrossSeeker group in Europe this past year--and didn't even know it!!!

I just wish we could have been praying for and supporting him while he was there. But I am so thankful that we'll be getting him back for '06-'07. Since he took this past year off, he'll now be around CMU for a year longer than expected. Hey, Joshua.....about that small group leader position........ : )

The SBCs Forgotten Missionaries

Our support-raising trips are always interesting, and we can never know what to expect. But this year has been particularly challenging.

We're used to the typical disconnect when it comes to missions, and the gratuitous, "it's nice what you're doing for those kids in Philadelphia." : )

But this year, it was difficult to even get into churches to speak. I had one pastor tell me not mention what we did in Pittsburgh, because he did not want us "competing" with the church's existing missions programs. (and that was a church I helped plant while in college!!!)

We also were challenged in aspects of our ministry. One man objected to us "interacting with homosexuals." Another lady was appalled that we would "allow non-Christians to come to our group." She was concerned that they might tarnish our Christian doctrine if they were allowed to participate!!!

To be honest, it's really frustrating to be so misunderstood by your own denomination. It would be easier for us to be trying to raise support in a denomination that did NOT have a Cooperative Program, because other denominations see support-raising as a normal component of mission work.

Doug and I are actually doing pretty well financially, compared to many of our peers. We are running at about 80% of where we need to be.

But we have many MSC friends who are struggling to make ends meet, especially those who work in the Bible Belt. It's tough to hear what they go through. Our churches simply don't understand the concept of self-supported SBC missions.

So I'd like to dispel some of the common myths about Mission Service Corps that we hear over and over and over again.

1. "Mission Service Corps is not a Southern Baptist program." On the contrary. It was formed 29 years ago as an avenue for missionaries to be able to go to areas where there would otherwise be no work. It falls under the umbrella of NAMB, and makes up a majority of the NAMB missionaries. It is totally and completely a Southern Baptist mission program, even though it requires that missionaries raise their own support. Doug and I learned about Mission Service Corps from official NAMB representatives, when they recruited us at Glorieta.

2. "NAMB takes a portion of money given to MSC missionaries for administrative purposes." 100% of the money designated for a specific MSC missionary goes to that missionary. NAMB processes the money and keeps it in a designated account, then pays it out in the form of a regular paycheck. But ALL of the money given for the missionary makes it to the missionary.

3. "Giving to Mission Service Corps hurts the Cooperative Program and special offerings such as Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong." In a "recent NAMB study" reports from the vast majority of association sponsors and state conventions indicated that MSC giving either did not affect or enhanced support of the Cooperative Program. 43% stated that giving to Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon actually increased because of MSC support. Mission Service Corps generates roughly $36 million annually for missions support.

4. "There are no checks and balances with the MSC system." We have a NAMB appointed supervisor, NAMB authorities, and fill out regular NAMB paperwork just like other Southern Baptist missionaries. MSC missionaries must apply and be appointed by NAMB. Our money is channelled through NAMB, and they take care of much of the paperwork for us. There are numerous sources of accountability within the system.

5. "People apply to MSC when they don't qualify for other traditional SBC mission programs." I have not even heard of one case where this is true. A good number of MSC missionaries choose to go through Mission Servie Corps because they are called to a specific region or type of work that has no Cooperative Program funding or position. This is particularly true in College Ministry. Many campus ministers outside the Bible Belt have to raise their own financial support, because there is just no traditional funding available.

I want to make one last appeal, on behalf of MSC missionaries all over the country. Please give MSC missionaries a chance to share their stories in your churches. MSC missionaries are dependent on funding by individuals and churches in order to survive. It is incredibly difficult to build a support base when Southern Baptist churches will not even allow MSC personnel an opportunity to speak. Mission Service Corps people are often the forgotten missionaries of the SBC. Yet God is using them all over this nation, and they need your support and prayers just as much as traditional missionaries.

What if?????...........

There is a question that has been bothering me for months now, and I have been hesitant to ask it. But I would really like to hear some of your responses to it, so I'm going to stick my neck out and ask anyway.

Where WOULD we be today if the Conservative Resurgence had not happened?

I have been chastised for not having a deep gratitude and appreciation for this group of men (even though I was 10 years old in 1979.) To be honest, I'm not really sure why I'm supposed to have these indebted feelings towards them.

The statement has been made, "imagine where we would be now if those men had not taken this stand!!!!"

But where WOULD we be???? What is the answer to that????

I have a hard time believing that our whole Southern Baptist Convention would have slid down the slippery slope to liberalism.

I think of my heroes within the SBC, starting with my parents. Their authority is the Word of God, and the leading of the Holy Spirit. I hardly see them jumping on a bandwagon of liberalism simply because other members within an organization chose to do so. And that goes for so many of the men and women I have known well over the last 37 years.

They are deeply grounded and rooted. I just have a hard time believing that such a large organization of believers, who have individual relationships with God, would have suddenly become tainted with liberal theology. Or that they would have corporately forsaken the Word that they had stood on all of their lives.

Call me naive, but I believe that God can HIMSELF protect the integrity and authority of His Word, as He has done for centuries. I believe that even if a huge number of Southern Baptists had gone astray, there would still have remained a good number who adhered to the inerrancy of the scripture.

And I question whether God would have used the same methods that certain men have used in order to protect the authority of His Word. Some of the things that have happened just do not seem to gel with the character of a Holy God.

I'm going to ask a tough question here, and please read it with the spirit that is intended. Is it possible that the Conservative Resurgence could have had right motives, but utilized ungodly methods for upholding the inerrancy of the Word? Kind of like Abram, when He got ahead of God's plan by sleeping with Hagar?

For months I have wrestled with this, asking myself, "Am I off base somewhere for not seeing these guys as the salvation of my denomination???" I struggle with some of the things that have been done by these men, especially "bringing down" other people. Even if those who were "disciplined" were teaching a false theology, and needed to be corrected, was there not a more Biblical, kind and loving way of doing so? Those chastised men and women were our brothers and sisters in Christ!!!! I just can't believe that Jesus would have used some of the same methods or condoned all the things that were done in the name of purifying our denomination.

Do you know what I honestly think? That I would be in the same place that I am theologically today--with or without the Conservative Resurgence.

My family, my mentors and the people who have invested in my spiritually through the years all upheld a deep reverence for Scripture and faith in the inerrancy of God's Word. I believe they would have still taught me TRUTH.

I also believe in the POWER of the Word of God to sustain itself. It is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword.

Where do you think we would be today without the Conservative Resurgence??? I would love to hear from people on both sides of this issue, because I am honestly trying to understand the huge difference in perspectives.

Hero of the Faith

This is a picture of Baba Cain Velemu. I came across it while going through the picture trunk tonight.

Baba Cain is one of my lifelong heroes. He was a deacon at our Chininyetu church, and served as the preacher whenever he was needed. He also worked on the Sanyati mission station.

Baba Cain was a very close friend with Uncle Archie Dunaway, who was murdered by terrorists in 1978. After Uncle Archie was killed and the mission was evacuated, it was Baba Cain who came to the station and ensured that the work continue in the absence of our missionaries.

Baba Cain was one of the warmest, gentlest, kindest people you could ever meet. I was just a little girl, but he would always make a point to come over to greet me. He made all of us kids feel important, and he seemed genuinely excited to see each person he encountered through the day. Missionaries and nationals alike loved and respected Baba Cain.

The only thing he seemed to love more than people was his Lord. He was passionate about the gospel and excited about sharing the story of his God. He had a deep faith and a strong, humble spirit.

So it was a sad day when we learned that Baba Cain had been murdered. A band of terrorists captured him and ordered him to deny Christ. When he refused, they cut off his arms at the elbows, and his legs at the knees. Then they threw him in the river, taunting him with statements like, "let's see if Christians can swim" and "can your God save you now?"

We lost a great man that day. But I am sure that when he arrived in heaven, with his beaming smile and joyful spirit, Jesus was standing there to greet him. I have no doubt that he heard the words "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Baba Cain, you have not been forgotten. Your influence and your legacy live on to this day.

A trip down memory lane

Mufundisi Mutasa baptizing a new convert near Sasame in 1973 (I'm the kid in the red hat.)


Mark relaxing in a tree (1968)


In our backyard in Sasame

We are getting ready for a Schleiff family reunion this coming weekend, so I've been helping Mom go through old photos and put together some memories.

It has been fun. We opened some trunks that have been stored for most of my life, and found some pictures from when I was little. We could not get film in the bush of Rhodesia, so pictures from that era are few and far between.

I discovered that I cost a whopping 2 pounds and 80 shillings when I was born (if I had been a boy, then I would have cost even more. Circumcisions were 10 shillings each.) There was also a recipe to make the formula I was given as a baby, as well as congratulatory letters from the Richmond office of the Foreign Mission Board.

We found an FMB report showing total missionaries on the field, churches planted, etc. from 1948-1973. It is amazing how far we have come in just over 50 years. There was a picture of Gordon Fort from his teenage years, WMU uniforms, Commission magazines and enough FMB memorabilia to fill a museum someday. We had a good laugh going through it all.

One other fascinating find was a Sunday School Board quarterly from July-August-September 1918. My great-grandfather carried it with him during World War I.

And there are hundreds--maybe thousands--of native artifacts. An ancient camel bell Dad picked up in the desert of Afghanistan, jewelry made by unreached tribespeople, Shona hymnals, and about 20+ more trunks with souvenirs from around the world. This house is a WMU Director's dream.

Well, I've gotta run. I've got a few thousand more slides to go through, and we can't find a working carousel. So it may be a while until I post again. : )

Lost and Homesick in the Bible Belt

We just spent the last few days in Branson with both sets of our parents. Doug's father has some time-share property, and took us all there for some R & R. We did have a great visit with our parents, and some much-needed away time with our kids. But the experience also had a profound effect on our perspective of the Bible Belt.

On our second day there, we warily agreed to attend one of the resort's sales presentations. It would give my father-in-law a discount on his annual maintenance fees, and we would receive free tickets to Silver Dollar City.

But God had a different purpose and agenda for the meeting. We came away from that experience with broken hearts, and new desire to pray for the people trapped in the entertainment industry.

Our morning started with a group workshop that was really just a series of off-colored jokes. I cringed when the presenter bragged about the fact that he was a "good Southern Baptist."

Then the individual, high-pressure sales pitch began. Our sales rep, Crystal, was brand new on the job--a single Mom who had moved from Arkansas in a desperate attempt to provide a living for her family. She shared with us how life had really knocked her around.

Then her supervisor, Jim, came over to talk to us. He began telling us how his grandfather had been an alcoholic Southern Baptist judge who would read the Bible to him one minute, then beat the tar out of him the next. The pain and bitterness in Jim's voice was tangible. He is an alcoholic himself, but rattled off a list of good deeds that he still tries to do in order to stay in good standing with God. They were both so lost and so empty.

We left that experience with sad and heavy hearts for both Jim and Crystal. Doug was so moved that he went and spent some time alone just praying for them.

The religious climate in the Bible Belt is really not that different from the religious climate up north where we are. People are just as lost, except that they have a warped sense of God and Christianity also mixed into their crazy worldview.

It was ironic to be surrounded by Christian stores, Christian t-shirts, Christian shows, and churches on every block, yet still in the midst of lostness and depravity. The story of God was nothing but cultural wallpaper to so many of the people immersed in it.

We ate dinner one night at a pizza parlor, and a group of teenagers came and sat at the table next to us. They were talking about shooting up drugs, and how the pain of the needle was worth it when you got your "high." It was so disheartening to listen to them.

But then the real shocker came. One boy turned to the friend next to him and said, "I thought you used to be real involved in your church and stuff." The other boy's reply was disheartening, "Yeah, I was. But I've gotten away from all of that. My sister is still into it, though. She doesn't like a lot of what I'm doing." They all had a good laugh at that, and I wanted to cry.

I have felt so out-of-place on this trip. I'm tired of plastic Christianity. I'm weary of pre-packaged, slick, marketed religion. I'm tired of discussions about Christian books and church politics and the latest programs.

I would love to find a group of believers who just want to come together, read straight Scripture, and discuss what it says. I want to pray and worship together for as long as the Holy Spirit leads. I want to hear testimonies of God's amazing power, and talk about our wonderful, magnificent, indescribable GOD!!!! I want to pour our hearts out on behalf of the nations, and intercede with tears and pleading for the unreached. I want to see the Holy Spirit move in power, and rejoice as lost souls come to Christ.

Last week we were visiting with one of our former college students, and he said, "sometimes I just get so homesick for heaven. I want to REALLY see Christ glorified. I want to worship with people from every nation, praising God corporately and being truly excited about God and His Word."

I couldn't agree more. Our son Joshua echoed the cry of my heart over a meal recently. He said, "Jesus, please help the missionaries and each of us do our jobs so that people all over the world can come to know you and you can hurry up and come back. We're ready to be with you."

Amen, Joshua, AMEN.

A New Law

Isn't this video by Derek Webb so true?

Right now we are traveling around the country, speaking in several different churches and Christian venues, and meet so many with their blindfolds on. Sometimes we wonder why we even try to share the story of God's activity with the church, because so many don't get it or don't care.

But there is a remnant that DO see and DO care, and they transcend generational and denominational boundaries.

Last night we got to be part of just such a group, and it was so refreshing. We went to the "Midrash" service at Fusion--a church plant in Oklahoma City (www.fusionokc.com).

God is really moving in this little group of believers. Their members are so hungry for radical Christian living. They are desperate to reach the unreached, and are heading to the Himalayas in a couple of weeks to put feet to their passion. They live to see Christ glorified throughout the nations, beginning in dowtown Oklahoma City.

We were eating dinner with their pastor last night. He was sharing how it sometimes gets messy, and it is not safe. But it is oh, so cool to see people living lives that are sold out for Christ. We enjoyed being with these kindred spirits who have taken their blindfolds off and are allowing the Holy Spirit to lead them into new and unfamiliar territory.

Sabras of the New Jerusalem

The Summer before my Senior year of high school, my parents took me to Jerusalem. It was my graduation present, because I had always wanted to visit the Holy Land.

We were able to stay in a hospice in Old Jerusalem, right on the Via Dolorosa. Our rooms were actually above the Lithostrotos, where Jesus was sentenced.

It was on that trip that I met my first "Sabra." A "Sabra" is a Jew born in Israel.

Being a Sabra is an honor that carries with it both a birthright and responsibility. The name is taken from the word for "prickly pear", a fruit which has a tough, prickly outside, but is soft and sweet on the inside. Native-born Israelis are often compared to this fruit. Their tragic history has caused them to become tough and a little harsh on the outside, yet if you can get beyond the hard exterior you will discover a warmer, softer side.

Sabras are born with a national identity unlike that of any other. They love their country and are proud of their heritage. There is an understanding that they are to guard, defend, and protect Israel above all else. They are fierce patriots, and their citizenship takes precedence over their individuality. Many of them are farmers, and connected to the ground itself. They feel a responsibility to cultivate and nourish the land with which they have been entrusted.

They all serve in their military for at least two years. No one is exempt--both men and women serve in the armed forces. Each of them is assigned a weapon, which they must guard at all costs. It becomes their constant companion for the duration of the time that it is in their possession.

I recently found a great analogy in scripture to this concept of being a "Sabra." I was reading Psalm 87, and as I got to verse 4, it hit me. All of us who are born into Christ are Sabras of the New Jerusalem, and citizens of Zion!!!

Psa 87:2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob.
Psa 87:3 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah.
Psa 87:4 "I shall mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me; Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia: 'This one was born there.'"
Psa 87:5 But of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her"; And the Most High Himself will establish her.
Psa 87:6 The LORD will count when He registers the peoples, "This one was born there." Selah.

Notice the nations which are mentioned in verse 4. The present-day locations would be Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, and Sudan. Those are Muslim nations today!!!

So in a sense, every single one of us who have come to faith in Christ, regardless of what nation we come from, what language we speak, and what background we have, are "Sabras" of the city of Zion. Our citizenship carries with it a birthright and a national identity, as well as a responsibility to uphold the honor of our country. We were born to fulfill the purposes of our King.

We are also to be faithful members of the military of our nation, and to maintain and carry our weapon at all times. We are to be prepared to defend our faith, and uphold the honor and glory of our King at all cost. Our lives are not our own. We are Sabras of the New Jerusalem.

Message Rubs the Wrong Way

Doug speaking at the Younger Leaders session on Monday night

Today's blog comes from a very special guest--my husband, Doug. He is not a regular blogger, but wanted to write a post today. Doug was unable to attend the final session, because he was back at the hotel with our two exhausted and convention-weary children. However, he watched the entire service via webstreaming, as many of you did that evening.


Bobby Welch delivered a message that was somewhat offensive to many younger Baptists during the final session of the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention. There were a few things said that came across as jabs, but two stood out to me.

First, Bobby Welch was emphasizing the need for intentional personal evangelism. I totally agree! Yes, ALL of us (myself included) need to be more deliberate in sharing the redeeming story of Jesus Christ.

Bobby Welch then stated that people needed to quit spending so much time on blogs and web sites and get out there in the streets to share their faith. This was obviously a political comment directed toward the younger Baptist who network and communicate with each other through blogs. From his statement, it can be assumed that Bobby Welch, and possibly others, feel threatened by the free exchange of ideas shared amongst younger Baptist in the blogging world.

In some cases, what Bobby Welch said was true. I’m sure there are a few Baptists who spend way too much time blogging and rarely share their faith. Blogging could even be an idol for some. However, Bobby Welch failed to mention the multitude of other ways Southern Baptist waste time and neglect to share Christ with others.

Many of us are obsessed with leisure, entertainment, and easy living. We have an unholy and egocentric worldview of ourselves, our resources, and our time. Our lifestyles rarely differ from the culture at large. God’s Word teaches that we are no longer our own, but that we belong to Christ. Our lives should be consumed by His purposes. Our time and resources should be totally yielded to God.

In addition to blogging less, maybe we should snap out of our hedonistic materialism and move away from our consumer lifestyle. Maybe we should go to fewer movies and stop watching TV for six hours a day. Maybe we should play less golf, go on fewer vacations, and stay out of the shopping mall. Maybe it’s time we cast down our idol of spectator sport, quit going into debt, and quit buying bigger houses and expensive cars. Maybe we need to quit being so self-absorbed, learn to die to self, and truly obey and follow Jesus Christ.

The second and most notable thing Bobby Welch said was “if you younger people leave the Southern Baptist Convention, you will be showing your ignorance”. Considering the context and the framing of this statement, his comment seemed to be based on two rather arrogant assumptions. The first assumption is that younger people are ignorant. The second assumption is that God is exclusively or preferably using Southern Baptists. And, that if one were to leave the Southern Baptist Convention, then it would be their loss.

While I could relatively care less about the first assumption, the second assumption is rather dangerous, and quite frankly prideful and dead wrong! God is working all around the world in multiple ways and through multiple groups of people. While I see God working through Southern Baptist, I also see God working outside of the Southern Baptist Convention. Just take a good look at many of the para-church organizations, some of the non-SBC mission agencies, and the church in places such as China and South Korea. Southern Baptists are a very small part of God’s total redemptive work. To assume otherwise indicates a dramatic underestimation of God and His power.

For me, I choose to be Southern Baptist, I agree with Southern Baptist doctrine, and I know God has called me to serve Him through the Southern Baptist denomination. However, if I were to leave the Southern Baptist Convention, I assure you it would not be because of ignorance. It would be because God is leading in a new way and I’m choosing to follow Him. But, some other younger Baptists may leave the convention because they continue to be disrespected, disregarded, and not listened to by some of the older established leadership. Bobby Welch’s message illustrates my case and point.

A Slap in the Face

All the excitement and hope we had felt Tuesday was completely deflated after the events at the convention yesterday. We felt totally misunderstood, misrepresented and misjudged.

The implications made by Bobby Welch in his final sermon were a slap in the face to all of us who blog.

His words were unfair and untrue. We are not spending all of our time blogging, and many of us have a deep passion for evangelism and compassion for the lost. If he had actually taken the time to read any of our blogs, then he would know that.

Much of what we write is iron-sharpening-iron stuff about church planting, discipleship, evangelism, or simply testimonies of celebration about what God has done. Many of the bloggers are missionaries.

We also have built a practical network of support and encouragement as ministers who feel alone and isolated much of the time in our ministries. We have not found solutions to meet those needs within the traditional avenues of the SBC. So we adapted and got together to be that resource for each other.

Let me give you practical examples of what I am talking about. Recently, the baby son of one of our bloggers was diagnosed with cancer. We have been able to pray with him and support him through surgery and the first round of chemo. Another blogger was being really beaten up in the church where he was serving, and was isolated and in despair. Others came to his side.

We have connected for missions opportunities. Kevin Bussey, and a team from his church, just returned from helping Jason Sampler gut houses in New Orleans. And I can testify personally, that in some tough moments these guys have called just to pray for us in big decisions that needed to be made, and even helped us financially.

Because we are Mission Service Corps, we don't get a penny of CP funding. But when we had a dream to take students on a Spring Break mission trip (for the first time EVER), it was fellow bloggers who prayed with us that God would raise the money needed if it was His will. Then some of them put words to their prayers by sending us checks. We were overwhelmed by the love and support of these guys. As a result, we were able to take students to both Peru and Quebec, and then this Summer we have five going overseas to serve.

Which is amazing when you remember that we are a 2 1/2 year old ministry on a secular, hedonistic campus. It has been because of the PRAYERS of these fellow ministers who stood in the trenches with us.

Now that we are realizing God is leading us to plant a church in Oakland, we turned again to our blogging friends. Many of them have been processing with us, praying, sending us material on church planting and giving us personal advice from their own experience. Two key bloggers in this area have been David Rogers in Spain, and Guy Muse in Ecuador. Their experience and wisdom about church planting has been invaluable to us.

Two others called to pray over us before a crucial meeting regarding the church plant.

To be brutally honest--I have never received that kind of hands-on support and direction from the "traditional" SBC channels. I have been referred to a lot of books and programs, most of which are completely irrelevant in our context. I have been blown off or ignored by many of the leadership from whom I've asked questions, simply because we are not "important enough" in the social circles of the SBC. The blogging community has been our lifeline, and they have lived out Acts 2 fellowship with us, even though it has been long-distance.

The SBC is going to have to wakeup and realize that our culture is changing and adapting, and we must keep up with the impact that technology is having on our society. The SBC did not invent blogging. It is an effective communication tool that has been around for years. Most of our students have been engaged in this form of social interaction since they were young teens.

Cyber connection among people is something we are just going to have to accept. It is going to exist in spite of what certain leaders of the SBC feel about it. Blogging, chat rooms, internet resourcing, message boards and web site development are entrenched forms of communication in our global culture. Rather than criticizing what we don't understand, we need to find the value in it and embrace ways to use it to further the gospel.

I have had three random college students connect with me through my blog. Each of them stumbled upon it while going through a major crisis in their life. One was suicidal. But for some reason they felt "safe" talking to me, and it has been an opportunity for me to minister to some hurting young women around the world.

I would also like to address another fallacy that was directed our way last night, and that is the implication that we are just seeking power within the convention.

THAT IS NOT TRUE. I know that many of these guys have had opportunities to serve in various capacities and have chosen not to at this time. I have turned down two opportunities this year myself, because I did not feel like God was leading in that direction.

The politics within the SBC makes us want to retch. This is NOT about power or position. This is about the integrity of the Word of God, and about keeping missionaries where they need to be to accomplish the task. We are taking a stand against unreasonable, narrowing parameters of cooperation, and proponents of getting back to the MAIN THING.

Finally, my support of Dr. Page was not to leverage influence, but because I felt he was the best man for the job. Let me give you reasons why I felt this way.

1. His support for missions and the Cooperative Program. Go to his church website and read everything connected with missions. Their program is extensive and is built on an Acts 1:8 principle. I knew that he would support missions in regions like ours outside the Bible Belt.

I'm also a believer in the cooperative program, even though I am one of the SBC missionaries who has to raise their own support because there are not enough CP dollars to go around. Dr. Page believes in getting back to the heart of cooperative missions.

2. He LISTENED to me. I wrote him an email when he was first nominated, and he replied the very next day. The other candidates did not even make themselves available to the grassroots people. Then Monday, when I happened to see Dr. Page at a restaurant, he walked up and introduced himself to me, and knew my name. He asked about our ministry in Pittsburgh. He is CLEARLY interested in the younger ministers within the SBC, and in hearing the challenges, needs and questions that we face as we try to serve in the trenches in some tough regions of the world.

3. Over and over and over again he has emphasized prayer. I have heard him admit that he does not have all the answers, but will continue to seek direction through prayer. I sense that he is a man who goes straight to GOD when a problem arises, rather than to the latest book, program or trend. He is a man who I believe can bring reconciliation between growing factions of the SBC, and bring back the unity we so desperately need. He is not a politician, and he has not used mean-spirited, underhanded means to gain this position. He has not stabbed any fellow brothers in the back to leverage himself to leadership. He has simply served where God has placed him, and now God is allowing him to be in a position to influence our convention.

I am a little knocked down today, but we will get back up. Because our GOD is bigger than the SBC. He is at work, and we are going to finish the task. It just may not be through the great and wonderful denomination that has been a foundation for all of my life. But HE WILL BE GLORIFIED, and WE WILL REACH THE LOST PEOPLE OF THE WORLD!!!!

Radiant Faces, Radiant Lives

I have been privileged to be around some amazing people these past few days. These individuals embody what I would like to be when I grow up. : ) They have qualities about them that are really special and worth far more than any title or position.

Take Steve Walker, for instance. Steve is a pastor in California, but within seconds of being around him, you will realize he is a man of prayer and passionate about missions. I was so touched Monday night when I got to witness an interaction between Steve and my Mom. They were talking about the people of Afghanistan, and their faces were glowing. They both reflected a love, concern and compassion for a people group clear on the other side of the world.

I witnessed much of the same thing in talking with Elaine Meador. She is the wife of Clyde Meador, VP of the International Mission Board. They both are amazing individuals. But Elaine has a sweetness and beauty that just radiate from her face. Her heart beats missions, and she is as real and transparent as can be. After talking with her, I found myself wanting to get on a plane and go work in Central Asia.

Then there is Bob Stith. Our relationship with Bob goes back a few years. We met at the Texas Motor Speedway, while serving in TxArm, a ministry to NASCAR fans. What I love about Bob is his passion for people. He is no respecter of persons, but sees value and beauty in every person he comes across. Bob and the TxArm team taught us how to meet people on their own territory.

Bob is a great listener, and genuinely hears the stories of the people he encounters. He seeks to find their "cultural heart language", and looks for a way to communicate value to each person he meets.

I saw him yesterday at a booth for his new ministry, which reaches out to those engaged in homosexual lifestyles or who are struggling with same-sex attraction. I am not surprised that Bob would be engaged in reaching such a tough segment of society.

As he was telling me about his organization, he clearly had a deep love and empathy for those held in bondage by this sin. Bob is one of those quiet spiritual giants. His name may never be well-known, but his faithfulness and impact will one day come to light. Bob has always been willing to serve with little recognition or feedback. His humility and selflessness reflect the true depth of his character.

Two of my favorite leaders in the whole SBC are David Waltz and Gail Hallman. I got hugs from both of them yesterday, and was reminded how blessed I am to get to know and learn from them. David is the Executive Director of our PA/SJ convention, and Gail is our Director of Mobilization. Both are warm, loving, passionate about missions, driven to reach the people God has entrusted to us, and so supportive of our team.

They are genuine, approachable, and real. One of the first things that David did yesterday was ask how things were going on our campus, and communicate his love and appreciation for us. Then he bent down and spent time talking to our kids. Davud and Gail are the real thing. We know that they pray for us, because they ask about specific topics weeks after we requested prayer. We are so grateful for the amazing leadership we have in Pennsylvania.

Another new friend is David Rogers. I have gotten to know and appreciate him from our little blog world, but got to meet him live and in color this week. He is every bit as warm and kind in person as he is online. I was impressed with his gentleness, and his sincere heart for the people of Spain. He is a person who could use his name for leverage, and could hold positions of power and influence. But instead he chooses to faithfully serve in the land where God has called him, and desires the approval of God far more than the approval of man.

Finally, the last person I would like to mention is John--an accountant who was working at the Guidestone booth. I did not know John before yesterday, but was deeply touched when he told me that he prays for us and our ministry in Pennsylvania. It gave me chill bumps to hear how this total stranger intercedes for us, and was so encouraging to know that there are people like John fighting for us even in those times when we feel isolated and alone. In the few minutes I spent talking to him, I knew immediately that he was a prayer warrior, and walked away knowing I had met a kindred spirit.

So what is the common denominator in all of these people? I was laying in bed last night, turning that question over in my head. And then it hit me.

Without fail, every one of these individuals have a powerful outward demeanor, because they have a deep inward relationship with God. They place a high priority on consistent, meaningful, private time with the Lord.

Seeing them has challenged me. I want to have that kind of devotional life. I want to BE a person whose face radiates because my heart has communed with God.

I know that I still have a ways to go in that area. I am not as disciplined as I would like to be, and often do seek the approval of others more than the approval of God. I don't pray as much as I would like and wish I was more patient, and gentle and loving.

But I'm on the journey. I am just thankful for these amazing people whose steps I can follow in and learn from.

What a Day!!!!

Today was quite a day--filled with hope for our future, excitement over the general spirit and direction the SBC seems to be taking, and a sobriety at the realization of our shared responsibility.

Several things encouraged me about what happened today, so I'll tackle them one by one.

1. The proposal to invite the WMU to come under the umbrella of the SBC was shot down by messengers, and by a good margin. Let me tell you why I see that as significant. I love the WMU. I have a debt of gratitude to this wonderful organization of women. As a little girl, they taught me about the Cooperative Program and what it means to be Southern Baptist. When I was an MK in college, far away from home and so alone, it was WMU women who encouraged, hugged on me and brought me cookies. They instilled in me a passion to pray for our missionaries. To me, they are the heart of the SBC.

So I was concerned when the idea was proposed to take an organization that works so well, and that God has used so mightily, and bring it under the controls and constraints of another entity.
Apparently my fellow Southern Baptists agree, and they voted to leave the WMU alone. I am praising God today for that.


2. Dr. Frank Page being elected as the new SBC President. Dr. Page is a man who sees missions as priority. He not only voices that conviction, but puts words to action through the ministries of his church. And he is against narrowing the parameters of cooperation.

Today's vote spoke volumes. It told me that many of my fellow SBCers still see missions, and support of the Cooperative Program, as priorities. In spite of all the issues that have been on the table recently, when it comes down to it, our chief concern as a denomination remains the desire to take the gospel to every nation, tribe and tongue.


3. A hunger to get back to the things that count. I have been overwhelmed and greatly encouraged by conversations with fellow Southern Baptists this week. One thing I am hearing is a hunger for Christ to be glorified, and a desire to see all the nations come to Him. I have heard so many amazing and powerful testimonies of things God is doing all over the world. There is an excitement and anticipation that God is at work, and that the best is yet to come.


4. Validation of a new generation of Southern Baptists, coupled with words of wisdom from those who have blazed the trail before us. It has been so affirming to hear many respected leaders speak inclusively of the younger generations within the SBC. There seems to be a desire to adapt and change in order to be missional, and I sense that our leadership is listening to the concerns of the missionaries, pastors, and laypeople at the grassroots.

But I also appreciate their words of admonition and caution. Some of the best advice I have heard recently came from Dr. Iorg on Monday night. He warned of the danger of distractions, and recommended that we choose our words carefully and wisely. This week, numerous people have told me, "I read your blog." That humbled and scared me. I suddenly realized the awesome responsibility that our words carry. As ambassadors for Christ, we need to be so on guard that the things we say bring Him glory and not dishonor.


5. Emphasis on prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit. It was wonderful today to hear that IMB missionaries all over the world are joining us in prayer for the duration of the convention. Prayer is the key to everything.

Multiple times this week, in sermons that were preached and in conversations with individuals, there was an emphasis on prayer until. That means being obedient to go where God sends us, and then waiting for Him to reveal the next step rather than taking a pre-conceived program and trying to fit God around it. I am convinced that God will move in a powerful way through us when we become a people of earnest, persistent prayer, and when we get still enough to listen.



What an incredible, wonderful, exciting day. I can only respond by saying, "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it."

Greensboro

Yesterday we finally got to put faces with many of our fellow bloggers. What an amazing group!!!

These guys (and girls) are sharp, and really have a passion for the Lord. We were able to eat dinner with Marty and Sonya, Paul, Todd, Joel and Amy, David, Wes, Tim, Alan, and Kevin. (Sorry if I left anyone out. I'm a little tired this morning.) Dr. Frank Page also happened to be eating at the restaurant where we were, so we were able to speak to him for a minute as well.

Doug and I came away refreshed and excited about the future of our denomination. Even the program yesterday was great. Nelson Searcy, Kerry Shook and Erwin McManus all preached, while music was led by Shane & Shane, and the worship team from Johnson Ferry.

The Younger Leaders meeting was incredibly encouraging. I was so proud of Doug, too. : ) The tone that was conveyed by all of the men who spoke was that changes are happening in the convention, and that we are not alone in our desires for the denomination. There was a sweet spirit of fellowship and cooperation within the group. We are excited about getting to know many of these young leaders better, and being able to partner with some of them in ministry.

I also got to see five different friends from college at the meeting. That was pretty cool. It's so fun to see what all has happened in our lives in the past 16 years.

It will be interesting to see what happens over the course of the next two days, as we get down to all the business. I am praying that the Holy Spirit will guide and direct the decisions that are made.

Final note: my one regret yesterday was that I did not get to meet Dorcas Hawker. I'm hoping I can track her down today, and we can go get a coke or something together.