Opposition

Marriage is opposed—especially a marriage centered around Christ. It took me a looooong time to see and admit this. Marriage is just supposed to happen. Right? Oh, no. The Enemy knows that marriage is powerful for the picture it is supposed to be of Christ and the Church. The Enemy is also very aware that the Lord uses marriage to perfect us individually. Victory is already ours though, as we call upon the power and grace of Jesus Christ.

During a time of prayer this past week, I felt a prompting to read Nehemiah. Leafing through the impossibly thin pages of the Word, I saw some passages from a new angle.

"The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start building, but you have no share, right, or historic claim in Jerusalem" Nehemiah 2:20

How sweet is this?! The institution of marriage, much like the walls of Jerusalem, has taken many blows and lies in disrepair. An enemy comes to mock and distract. As we tell this enemy where our hope comes from, it also serves as a reminder to us—fortifying hope. Because of the work on the cross, we are now co-heirs with Christ and Satan has no, "share, right, or historic claim," in our lives and marriages. What a powerful proclamation!

In the newest season of Survivor, there is a character who verbalizes every spiritual struggle he undergoes (these struggles center around marital faithfulness). It is really shocking to see since so much of the time we (the body of Christ) take incredible strides to hide such things from those around us! He has spent much time and effort chastising himself and focusing on the cardboard cutout of the enemy's foot-soldier rather than going directly to the One who can provide the victory. I have found myself in the same situation too often. I shadowbox at the temptation—cupping my hands around my mouth "Rahhhh...Rahhhhh...and the crowd goes wild"—defeating nothing of significance. Why not expose the enemy and remind him, "what can you do?! I have been bought at a price. You have no claim to me!"

"When our enemies realized that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall." Nehemiah 4:15

If Satan and his cronies have planned a sneak attack—skulking around in the dark—and the Lord exposes those plans as we join in unified prayer, what will the devil have left? Nada. It reminds me of playing hide and seek with youngins: "Hey! You weren't supposed to look here!"

Satan utilizes a pretty nutso strategy against marriage in Vanuatu. Ni-Vanuatu men purchase their brides by paying a specified amount to the bride's father. This particular practice is not just common, it is the standard in and out of the church. This presents all kinds of problems since women are ultimately viewed as possessions. Men feel justified in "disciplining" (beating) their wives when deemed "appropriate". Merissa and I are excited to be used in this area as we display a Godly example of marriage—because we're perfect in every way. That's...uh...that's a joke... We really do believe that we will be able to use the struggles and triumphs of our marriage as a testimony to the men and women of Vanuatu. Merissa will be used by the Spirit to bring healing and show the Father's love to women in Vanuatu. I will have influence over men in the school of ministry as I disciple them. Please lift up this area of ministry when praying for us and the people of Vanuatu.

One last thought. People joined together for the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. Please lift up a friend's marriage this week.

Time

Ethan is obsessed with the time.  His handsome blue eyes become fixated on our digital kitchen clock.  Panic sets in, his young brow furrows, and he wrings his hands.

"Dad!  It's 7:26! We missed breakfast!"
"Son, don't worry.  Just sit and eat."
"But, Dad! You said the other day we need to start eating by 7:25 to make it to school on time.  Now it's 7:26.   We are going to be late for school."
"Ethan, buddy, we'll be fine. Just sit and eat. Please just trust me.  I will not let you be late, OK?"
"Aaaahhh!  Now it's 7:31!  Are we going to be late, now?!"

Ella calmly looks on while munching contentedly on her Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch.

Now in the car, things do not improve.  He asks numerous times every minute what time it is as he strains against his seatbelt in an attempt to glimpse the clock above the dash.

"Will we have to get a late pass?  Brady was late the other day and he had to sit in the office.  Will I have to sit in the office?  My teacher does not allow us to be late. What time is it, Daddy?!"

As I hiked and prayed the other day, the Lord really brought a new light to this entire scene.

After leaving the fire station, I headed out to a new set of trails the City of Prescott just opened.  Some questions had come up that I really wanted to take before the Lord.  Once I had hiked for a bit, I found a great vantage point on a boulder sticking out of the ground like a Volkswagen Beetle on end.  I tried to calm rushing thoughts—pushing out all distractions so I could better hear from my Maker.  Vanuatu had been heavy on my mind during the night.  When would we leave for the island nation?  Could we really raise our monthly budget?  Who would our supporters be?  Will I be licensed as a minister before we leave?

My attention was diverted to some cows grazing in the distance. Black dots against a green canvas —well, green for Arizona is more of  "rotting avocado" than a true vibrant "green".  I was far enough away to see they were cows but could not perceive any real movement.   "Oh, hmmm.  I think I know where this is headed, Lord," I muttered aloud. Were I to have a different vantage point, perspective if you will, I would be able to see the swishing of tails, the chewing of cud, and the stamping of hooves. It's not that the cows were not moving, I just didn't have the correct point of view.

Then came the real kicker.

"How are you so different than Ethan?"

Ouch. I had been trying to gain control over things I will never be able to grasp!  I was pestering God! Why? What? What? What? Why? Why? Why?  Is it time, yet? Now? How 'bout, now? Now?  I felt even worse for being frustrated at my son for doing exactly what I had done to my Heavenly Father!!  God was asking for my trust—just like I ask Ethan to trust me.

Luke 12:25 states, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?"

Jesus talks about worry in his Sermon on the Mount. I have read the passage numerous times—I guess it is time to apply it (get it, eh? time...the blog's theme is...time...yeah...).

Springfield

fireflies cut small holes in the fabric of night

while children dance in pure delight

During our Pre-Field Orientation in Springfield, MO, the kids got to experience many fascinating new things—fireflies being a small part.  One of the most exciting aspects of the mindset of Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) has been their insistence on the inclusion of the entire family in missions work.  Early on it was said, "These are not missionary's kids.  These are missionary kids."  Ethan and Ella were whisked off each day to new activities and lessons which were not only tons of fun but purposed to prepare them for their part in the Great Commission.  

Food ministry was an activity during one of their days.  Ethan tried crawdads, frog legs (which he remarked, "tastes like chicken"), and Pepsi mixed with milk.  Ella experienced hummus and guacamole among other foods of unique consistency.  The emphasis on this day was to eat, with gratitude, whatever was presented.  

Most of their teachers were young men and women who are currently serving or have served with their families in a foreign country.  I did not meet an individual who was not passionate about what they were doing and passionate about our kids.  It was our experience that for each kid there were three to four young men/ women pouring into them at any given moment.  

The PFO is a two week deal.  Merissa and I had our reservations at first about how our kids would handle being in a strange new place with new people for such an extended period of time.  Of course our fears and worries were unwarranted as they did much better than Mer and me!  Kids rock when it comes to being flexible and adapting!  By the way, Merissa and I did fine(ish), too.  We may have griped a bit about sleeping in a dormitory and eating at the campus cafeteria with no hope of escaping to eat a meal with fewer than 1,000,000 grams of sodium per 1/2cup serving.  Yes, trivial. I know.  I'm a work in progress. 

Each day the kids would learn more about where others in their age group would be serving.  At the end of the two weeks, both Ethan and Ella had a collection of prayer cards for missionaries serving in all areas of the globe.  They love to sift through these cards nightly and pray for their new friends.  

Just as fireflies illuminate their little spot in the darkness, so now our kids are equipped to shine their light in the nations. 

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Woo Who?

"I have finally come to realize that it is God wooing me...He wants us to turn our faces into those things that he is bringing to woo our hearts."

This is a quote from John Eldredge's book, "Love and War". In this section John talks about the way certain things, like a soft summer breeze or the feel of sand between our toes, make our hearts glad. It is during these moments where the Lord beckons us to take a moment and turn toward him.

With all of the distractions of the day—facebook, twitter, youtube, blogs (ahem)—I find myself in fewer places alone with my Savior. Indeed, it is hard to be wooed with constant noise, chatter and visual stimuli. Have you ever been to coffee with someone who you are trying to get to know while they constantly check their updates and most recent posts? Does it feel as if they are trying to make a real connection—trading a relationship with one who is physically present for a series of "0's" and "1's"? I can't imagine trying to get my wife, Merissa, to fall in love with me if we were both so involved in separate virtual worlds that we never made eye contact. We, like our Creator, are relational. Relations are built out of time, attention and personal sacrifice.

Just stepping out onto the back deck today brought a moment where the Savior called to me.

"For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse..." Romans 1:20

For me, creation is full of those "wooing" moments. Even something as simple as stepping out onto my deck and smelling the crisp, fresh, mineral laden air after a summer monsoon brings instant awe.

This coming week I will get out into that which He created to listen for His direction and voice of love. I will turn my face toward the One that I love—and worship.