Another book is titled “The Hole in our Gospel.” World Vision leader and author David Stearns attempts to answer the question, “What does God expect of us?”  This book is a classic and you need to read it.  It gently but firmly confronts us as readers.  How can one read the book and say, “Maybe some day?”

Where Gergen helps us evaluate the development of leadership traits that we aspire to, Stearns confronts our Christianity to the core challenging you and I and our worldview.

Nancy and I had lunch with missionaries on Saturday.  That can be dangerous.  We heard their struggles, victories and most of all their heartbeat.  My prayer is that we were at least half as encouraging as they were to us.  However  delightful the “jump in when you can” conversation was, it reminded me of the books I am reading as it relates to you and I.

We can theorize  all we want! There is a point that we need to jump off into the radical edge of living, loving, leading and doing.  What about you?  Will we look, read and debate as if  we  are tourists looking at the Roman Coliseum for the first time and end up doing nothing?  Do we live in a world like a museum; look but do not touch?  Are we insensitive to get our hands dirty?  Are we cold-hearted to need?

Until my neighbor also includes a hungry child in Sudan or the prostitute that we pass by in our city, have we really gotten it?   Will you  just flat make a decision today to touch and change  your world?

What am I learning?  I need to lead in a world that is not my own.  I am passing through.  I need to lead in a world that has heard the Gospel but also needs to see and feel it.  Leadership is intentional.  Transformation is hard work, demanding patience.

What are you learning, doing?

My dad passed away last week. It was a joyful, tearful celebration at 12:15 pm on August 30, 2009. This post is sent on what would be his 88^th birthday, Saturday, Sept. 5. Having worked for 35 years with General Electric as an engineer, my mom and dad retired in the great northwest locating in Poulsbo, WA. Space does not permit full resume of accomplishments and journey.

To the point, I had the honor to give my Dad’s eulogy at the Silverdale United Methodist Church, Silverdale, WA. This church is a jewel of life and Spirit filled living. My hesitation to write personal insight is outweighed by the force of impact my dad had on me. My mother encouraged me to let young men hear, so listen.

In the eulogy I shared at least five thoughts that every young man should read and older men need to remember:

· My dad was a romantic-He often whispered to my mom, “You were my first love.” In 1982, he wrote on a card, “Half a lifetime, but not enough to show my devotion and love. Forever yours.” I remember my Dad getting up every morning to make my mom coffee and serve her toast. He deeply cared for her. It was evident in all he did. The “house” was in order when he passed on because he loved my mom and his children. Later in years he talked of dance lessons in Spokane, WA. I never knew that. When asked which dance was his favorite, he crisply replied, “Helen S. Hinton,” who is of course my mother.

· He was an activist-His life was a discovery of causes and involvement with these causes. He cared about the environment, political strategy and community events. Because of a love for the outdoors, he bought a donkey for backpacking and actually kept the donkey on their property. Their home in Poulsbo overlooked Port Orchard Bay, a place they called the “Eagles Nest.” Everyone who passed by knew whom Thunder, the donkey, was. Dad made a fairly large red-lettered sign that said, “This donkey is a Republican.” He led the U.S. Marines in the funeral parade of President Franklin Delanor Roosevelt’s funeral.

· He was a lover of the outdoors-He knew every inch of the land that he owned. We remember him as one who loved to cut trees, haul brush, pull weeds, plant flowers and make pathways. His gardens were to die for. At 6:30 am, the day of Dad’s funeral, I wrote:

“He planted and watched it grow, early in the morning he would survey the land, every seed he did know.

He reaped the harvest for to show, in the afternoon he would hold every strand, ‘Here’s dinner Helen, he would glow.”

· He was a difference maker-Five words describe the difference. Linda, Pam, Patsy, Tom and Jeff. He made impact, a difference. As we came together and shared stories we discovered in a very fresh way, that our father had touched us each individually and collectively, a tapestry that was now woven into an esteemed memorial of honor and respect. The stories of grandchildren stamped our dad as one who had a far-reaching effect. He was our DNA. He was good stock. What a legacy to follow. I want to finish strong and pass on the legacy. We all do. On a personal note, just after Dad breathed his last, I “heard” his words to me that he shared on a rare, special day as the sun brought solace to Port Orhcard Bay with Mt. Rainer in the background, “You have a gift to communicate about God and missions. Do nothing else.”

· He was a follower-He knew the Lord. When he prayed, his words had depth and compassion. Scripture was not an add-on but rather a solid center-point. It was not always like this. Coming from a background of intellectualism, the other side of the railroad tracks and being self-made, he initially struggled with the God factor. My mom’s steadfast faith in God was heroic and honorable. Dad changed. The older he became, the stronger was his faith in God, evidenced by his generous giving and constant prayer for family members. One day, he called all family members and said, tearfully, “Forgive me. I have missed it. I have given my life to Christ.” Mom said he wept for three weeks as he pondered this discovery of faith and relationship in Christ. At his bedside, we told him he would soon be with Jesus. He weakly replied, “I am already there.” May the synthesis of culture, education, background, heartache and/or loss thread us to Him that was crucified for our sins and misgivings so that we place ourselves in the hands of Him on a daily basis without hesitation. This pleases God the Father.

It was Frost who said he had “…miles to go before he sleeps…” I too must steward my life from this point onward.

My resolve is to make life a better place for those whom I can, to treat others with the kindness and deep respect they deserve and I wish for myself, to learn from mistakes and failures, to touch those closest to me the best I possibly can so that at the end of the day I can but look back, if possible, and simply say, my fleeting presence made a difference; may the Lord be glorified!

Good job, Dad. You did a good job. Grateful I am!

Fast forward to a view of Cien Fuegos where we are bringing the Health Care Team in November.  Cien Fuegos is a group of small hills where squatters find their way.  Close  by is a large garbage dump that is a “life saver” to many.  They find their daily ration there.  There is a humanitarian issue there.  Poor people getting sick for various reasons including lack of education in areas such as hygiene, diabetes and high blood pressure.  Lack of employment leads to malnourishment, social issues as well as a deep frustration of what life is all about.  It reminds me of the  awarding winning Nobel Peace Prize book entitled, “The Colonel has no place to lay his head. ” written by Garcia Marquez.  In the book, Marquez descriptively colors a picture of desperate living, a culture within in a culture.  There is an oppression that settles in leading to “que sera, sera” which means whatever will be will be.  The book deeply affected me when I read it in Spanish, mentored by Spanish professor Luis Solano.  I got it.

My friend Hampton was developing his business.  My friends in Cien Fuegos were living their lives looking for whatever would hold their day together each day. What if Hampton connected to the  church world providing employment for some and in turn developed his business?   In God’s timing we had a meeting with Hampton and Pastor Oswaldo, the pastor of the Cien Fuegos church where we are bringing  the Health Care Team in November.  It was like magic.  It was God.  A connection was made.

There are young people in Cien Fuegos that will be employed soon. Hamptons’  business will continue to grow.  As a matter of fact, a model will be created so that others can be involved.  This was a dream come true, responding to great need that not only included a clear presentation of the Gospel, one of integrity and smothered with love;   but also a compassionate response to a place I knew needed creativity and God’s stamp of favor.  I think the Gospel will be heard!

It was a miracle for Cien Fuegos on a cloudy day.

We also were able to do the necessary measurements and prepare a purchase list for the roof we are going to place on a house in Cien Fuegos as a random act of kindness.

Nancy and I are so grateful to all who give to Barnabas Task.  As we reach out in faith, God is providing through faithful people like yourself.

UPDATE TOMMORROW ABOUT A NEW FREIND STARTING A RECYCLING BUSINESS.

1. The journey to the Dominican Republic continues. I have been here for a few days with Phil Pritichett, a businessman from Seattle, WA. We are talking to a lot of people, walking and discovering. I am asking a lot of quesitons. In Santiago, we went to the location the Health Care Team will go to in November. It is a block from a garbage dump that is basically “squatter” type property, where homes are built with whatever is available.

This is a picture of the house we are going to place a new roof on. There may some limited structural reinforcement needed as well. The roof is a random act of kindness, not asked for, and was an incredible, tearful  surprise when we told the widowed mother of four children what was going to happen.

Phil Pritchett said, “Twenty steps across the street from the church building where we will be in Cien Fuegos lives Yolanda. She and her three children live in a 10 x 20 building that literally is falling apart. It is a shanty. The challenge will be to replace the corroded metal roof and needed additional structure. This random act of kindness is a bridge to this family and to the entire community called Cien Fuegos. As a businessman, I want to do my part to help them have a dry place to sleep. Will you help us as well?”

If you would desire to do so, we are asking for help with this roof. Please give through the Pay Pal, (See Donate). You may call me for more information. Thanks for helping with this project.

The mothers name  is Yolanda. Nancy “discovered” her on a walk in the area. Pastor Oswaldo, a community leader, said it had been his desire to do something for this widow but had no funds to do so. It was raining the day we were there. Literally, water was flowing like a large faucet from about 8 different places in the house.

2. The second set of photos is of Pastor John and Diana Martinez and their week old baby, Sara. What a joy to be in their home and bless their new child. She is so small and pretty. John and Diana are the pastors that will lead the church that we start in 2010. They are gifted and anointed. They are originally from Colombia.

I wondered why some corn fields were growing better than others.  I asked some farmers.

• Different type of corn
• Fertilizer
• Rain in one place does not necessarily mean rain in another
• Some farmers plant later (earlier) than others
• Better soil
• Patience

After being educated and I am sure there is more to this, I thought more about harvest and harvest workers.

• A good harvest is hard work.  It is thought through and planned.
• A good harvest demands more hard work.
• The X factor in harvest demands patience and understanding
• When harvest comes, there is an urgency.  I remember talking to grape farmers in Chile that articulated the urgency of reaping ripe harvest.  Grapes must be harvested when ready, cleaned, taken to market etc.
• I am grateful for those that prepare for harvest, think harvest, plan for harvest and reap the harvest.
• Howbeit we have an X factor in our harvest terminology (the Holy Spirit), and I want  to totally depend on this, I think we all need to spend more time talking strategically about harvest.  We live for this.

Think about it.  If you were a farmer, would you keep planting, doing the same thing every year, if there was no result.  Maybe we should change how we do things.

I wept today.

I have been visiting my Mom and Dad. Dad will move into an Alzheimer’s/Memory Care unit. I struggle with this. My Mom’s reality of always being with him is a paradigm that is being changed as I write. Siblings and friends express concern, give counsel, provide prayer from a distance. This is not about me. My sisters and brother have been heroic in attempting to discern what is best. I write though. I blog.

Mom cannot care for Dad, medically, physically, and emotionally. She has courageously given of herself. They both have done so well. “A time has come for a change Dad, I am sorry but we must do something different. I have tried but I can’t go on any further.”

I wept today.

I was eating lunch with mom and noticed four ladies sitting together. Their husbands have passed away. All the residents sit at tables of four. They were like four sisters chatting, telling stories, and laughing. I went to them after lunch and thanked them for their example of courage. I thanked them for the joy it brought me to watch them and listen to them. I was so happy for them; they had each other between the visits of loved ones that would visit.

I wept today.

In the course of four days, I visited five Nursing Homes with mom, my brother, sister and friend of my sister. We walked around, asked questions and had consultations. As we passed through the Alzheimer Unit or Memory Care areas, I held back tears. Then I wept. Is this it? Is this what happens when Dad moves into a place like this?

I wept today.

She waved at me from a distance. I waved back. She waved again. I waved back. Then I realized this elderly lady was waving at someone else, behind me. By this time, I was waving at five or six people. It was silent, no talking. Just waving. I guess I was not ready when the lady that started it all came up to me, pushed on a wheel chair by a caregiver. “Thank you,” she said. Such simplicity.

I have made friends with some of the residents. They stop by to say hi or goodbye.

I wept today.

I did little errands for mom. She was so grateful. I listened. We talked. We had our little daily routine. We processed a theme that kept coming to my mind: “I want the best for Mom with excellent care for Dad.” My siblings do too. Grateful I am to them. Dad wanted to watch the Seattle Mariners. He slept most of the time. We always talked about a desire to go to the College World Series together. He can’t remember. We never did. He coached me in Little League, taught me how to be a catcher. He had played semi-pro baseball. He knew the sport. He can’t recall.

I wept today.

As we sat with the Community Relations Director for the Memory Care Center at Emeritus Oaks I heard her say, “We will join your Dad’s journey, where ever he is.” I liked it. “If he is missing the smell of an apple pie, we will join him and bake a pie.” I heard a little Starbucks philosophy, that teaches baristas to say “yes,” if at all possible.

I was so encouraged. I loved the thought of “joining the journey.” Shouldn’t we be doing that with each other anyway, like now?

It is time to leave Poulsbo, WA, a beautiful Scandinavian town on Liberty Bay. Due diligence has been accomplished. Some huge decisions have been made and will place in motion other decisions. It is 4:30 am. I need to catch the shuttle that will take me to the airport, an hour and half drive as the sun comes over the Narrows Bridge connecting Kitsap Peninsula and Tacoma.

I say goodbye to Dad in the dark. He is snoring. I kiss his forehead. I touch his feet.

“I will join you in your journey Dad.”

Grateful I am!

I wept today.

I think that perhaps the “word” God gave me for the Dominican Republic (DR) was just as much for us than anyone else.  While in the DR the Lord spoke and  said:  ”I will send a fire to the Dominican Republic, burning the wrong, illuminating the right.”  ”What did it all mean?” I humbly asked.

All I know is that God is speaking to Nancy and I.  As we prepare for what God has in the DR, we identify our need.  We want God!  We believe God has given some understanding that He is preparing us for war.  He is saving us, pouring new wine into our old wine skins, breaking us to begin at the beginning again.  God strip us. It is painful. He loves us.  He loves the church. That is where we are at today in our preparation for a church plant in Santiago.

View the link for yourself.  Take a moment and reflect.   Don’t be guilt tripped into anything.  At the same time, lay yourself before the Lord and allow Him to cleanse you and lovingly help you.

http://vodpod.com/watch/1779195-a-call-to-anguish-by-david-wilkerson

I don’t think this thought is original although I can’t honestly say where it came from.  I have used it for years.  Born to give birth.  In planting churches or starting ministries it has been a consistent mantra I have articulated.   Jesus was always looking for others.  He had a sense that there were other places that He must go to.  (Mark 1:35-39)  (Matt. 9:35-39)  

I am not sure why I have always felt this but it seems consistent in my thinking when talking about planting a church internationally.  For some reason, it seems to be truncated in the American culture. Help me with this.  What do you think?

I know in Santiago, Dominican Republic where we will start a church in 2010, we are already looking at another area that needs a church that may start as a Bible Study. Breaking down the concept, as I think about it, my life is not my own.  To help others, to share with others, to lead/influence others seems to be constant. Thus, Born to Give Birth.  

Our Need

Nancy and I have stepped into what we are doing.  He is helping.  To date He has provided.  We do have need.  There is a cost to plant a church in Santiago, Dominican Republic (DR), spiritually and financially.  Dedicated to pray and fast for the next year, we will be sharing with you soon about a significant prayer focus we are developing.    From now until July 2010, we are raising funds for what will be a “Church Plant” in the DR.   We are in need of cash and monthly pledge support now for the following:

• Daily radio broadcasts
• Property purchase or rental
• Evangelism strategy including consistent night meetings, Bible Studies
• Basic living expenses including housing,  food and transportation

It is not easy to quantify what we do.  It is humbling to express need.  Yet, I feel confident that we have  arrived at the following conclusion that was expressed to us on Facebook one day, the original author of which I do not know:

“For the man who sees his future through the eyes of God there is one road. Your focus is clear and your purpose is defined…” 

We ask that you prayerfully consider either a one time offering or a monthly pledge to Barnabas Task.  You can do so by using the Donate button to the right.  You will receive an automated receipt generated by Pay Pal.   You may wish to call and inquire further about what we are doing.  Please do so at 260 579-8275.

In that  context and profoundly so,  I believe a non-negotiable is building relationships with others including ministries, churches and pastors.  I am asking God to bless and open the city, so that every ministry and church sees fruitfulness and dreams fulfilled.

After attending the 5 am prayer meeting last Saturday in Santiago I walked again, blessing the purposes of God.  On Sunday, I went to a 5 pm combination prayer and information meeting about God touching the city, enlarging the hearts of pastors for missions and finally with the express purpose of unity amongst all.  I was not aware of this until arrival in Santiago.  

God is doing something amazing in this metro area of about one million people.  

As can happen many times, those that were going to present were late.  For this reason, I was asked to speak a few minutes.  In the context of it all my sense was that God was going to bring “fire” to the city, burning up “wrong,”  illuminating “right.”   Paul Allyn and I had talked about ‘Missions” prior to this meeting.  It was on our lips, in our hearts.  There was a real sense of God speaking to pastors at this meeting about  something other than themselves.

When the presenters of the evening came, there seemed to be a solid confirmation of what had been shared earlier.  

Can we share with you what God helped us with?  We had asked for prayer that the Lord would provide favor in the city.  In the two meetings I attended with pastoral leadership of the city, God did just that.  It was Him, arranging the timing of it all.

We proceed with what we feel is “favor” that God has provided.  It is a good start.  I am so happy for the new relationships that are birthing for us.  We bless these new friends.

Santiago, Dominican Republic

There is nothing quite like walking in a city where you feel it is His purpose to start a church.  To begin the process of finding that specific location (although it may change) to start the church is challenging. To be refused entry to a place, to be laughed at or not be listened to is part of the package.  It has happened to me here in the few days we are investing in this process.  I will be coming back again in August to do the same.  Discovery and Design  is a combination of prayer, writing, journaling, fasting, looking, common sense, consensus, getting counsel, question and answer dialog, patience etc.

There is a merging of information that includes asking what kind of church this will be, who will we strategize to reach, what is our philosophy of ministry, what is God saying etc.  Habakkuk 2:1 says it should be written out.

However significant it is to process this, and we are step by step,  I know that at the end of the day, we will catch fish.    What I am supposed to say to someone that comes out of a barrel some place, “Excuse me, I was not fishing for you!”   I don’t think so.

Thanks for praying as we go through a process of what this will look like ever mindful of what God is saying and what He wants.  We are so grateful for prayer like never before.  

I am going  prayer walking and to a 5 pm prayer meeting in Santiago, Dominican Republic where I will introduce myself as Pastor without a building or a congregation, (except in my heart!)