That was my wife's reaction when I told her I traced out the flight pattern that we most likely will take this weekend when I fly to India. If I'm correct, it takes us over some of the more . . . interesting places in the Middle East and Asia. Houston to Frankfurt is a no-brainer. From Frankfurt, we should fly over such exotic ports o' call as Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Now I know we are in international airspace and will perfectly fine, but not much of a comfort to Anna until I get to Chennai and she hears from me. Add to that the fact that India is almost 12 hours ahead of Houston, and that makes it a long wait.
Which brings us to my prayer focus today: safety for our team. Pray for safe, uneventful flights to Chennai and on the way home as we stop-over in London. Pray for safety in Chennai for our team and in K-Kota where Steve Noris and I will be. Safety from harm, but also safety from fatigue, disease, sickness, pride, and attacks from the Enemy. Pray for peace of mind for our families and for them to feel God's goodness and presence during this time.
Thanks for all your prayers-I sure feel them!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday Before India
T-minus 4 days and counting until I leave for India. With a short week it's going to be hard to get everything done to take care of TSMAC and church stuff as well as family responsibilities before I go. Spending today getting last minute travel items as well as trying to enjoy at least part of the day as a Sabbath since it will be the last one for about 3 weeks. Still have to finish my last lesson for training as well.
Which brings us to todays prayer focus: Time. Pray that with time beginning to crunch I'll have enough to get everything done. That I'll be able to focus, prioritize and take care of things according to importance. It's really hitting me now that I really will be traveling all the way around the world into a vastly different culture than I've ever been in. Getting a little nervous and anxious. Starting tomorrow, 3 full days is not a of of time to get everything done, pack, and still spend generous amounts of time with Anna, Kels, and Ben. Pray that I will be able to make the most of these last 96 or so hours. And pray this for the other 7 members of the India team as well. Thanks.
Which brings us to todays prayer focus: Time. Pray that with time beginning to crunch I'll have enough to get everything done. That I'll be able to focus, prioritize and take care of things according to importance. It's really hitting me now that I really will be traveling all the way around the world into a vastly different culture than I've ever been in. Getting a little nervous and anxious. Starting tomorrow, 3 full days is not a of of time to get everything done, pack, and still spend generous amounts of time with Anna, Kels, and Ben. Pray that I will be able to make the most of these last 96 or so hours. And pray this for the other 7 members of the India team as well. Thanks.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Heading to the Far Side of the World
One week from tonight I will be arriving in Chennai, India on a mission trip to train Indian youth workers. I feel like a cross between Tully Mars in a Jimmy Buffett novel, Indiana Jones, and Hudson Taylor. (The latter being the only one non-ficticious.) But before I begin my trek to the Far Side of the World, I want to take the next few days to bring to mind some things to pray for as I get ready for this amazing adventure for which I am hugely grateful for to God and all of you who've helped me get this far.
Today the prayer focus is for the Bania people of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The Merchant Class of people. These are primarily the folks we will be ministering to in the area where I am going. Although we fly into Chennai, I will go with another pastor to a village in Andhra Pradesh to teach for the week at a local Bible Institute.
The Merchant Class run most of the business in India and is part of the Hindu and social caste system. The caste system include the very wealthy and prominent, the Brahman, all the way to the lowest, the Untouchables. Seldom does each caste class reach out to those in the caste systems below it. Merchants can become very self-sufficient and wealthy, money is their god. Their loyalty lies with the Hindu goddess who brings wealth.
Pray for the one true God to show the Merchant Class that only He can satisfy that longing of fulfillment they are trying to fill with wealth. Pray for the pastors and youth workers we will be training that they will have the skills and relationships they need to minister to the Bania.
My plan is to blog every day until I leave next Friday about a specific prayer need or fact of India. I am so excited to see what God is going to do. Check back here everyday through next Friday and please comment or shout out some prayers!
Today the prayer focus is for the Bania people of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The Merchant Class of people. These are primarily the folks we will be ministering to in the area where I am going. Although we fly into Chennai, I will go with another pastor to a village in Andhra Pradesh to teach for the week at a local Bible Institute.
The Merchant Class run most of the business in India and is part of the Hindu and social caste system. The caste system include the very wealthy and prominent, the Brahman, all the way to the lowest, the Untouchables. Seldom does each caste class reach out to those in the caste systems below it. Merchants can become very self-sufficient and wealthy, money is their god. Their loyalty lies with the Hindu goddess who brings wealth.
Pray for the one true God to show the Merchant Class that only He can satisfy that longing of fulfillment they are trying to fill with wealth. Pray for the pastors and youth workers we will be training that they will have the skills and relationships they need to minister to the Bania.
My plan is to blog every day until I leave next Friday about a specific prayer need or fact of India. I am so excited to see what God is going to do. Check back here everyday through next Friday and please comment or shout out some prayers!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
What I'm Giving Up For Lent
Lent is upon us and this is really the first time in my life I am seriously making an attempt to observe the full six weeks of it. I appreciate the beauty and gravity of the liturgical order and service, but in the vein of some of those who have gone before, I am laying out for all to see what I'm giving up for Lent. For, you know, accountability as well as shameless publication for all two of you who still check on my blog. Be very jealous.
STUFF I'M GIVING UP FOR LENT
my Backyardigans habit
making Pasedena TX smell better
Scandinavian clogging
Celine Dion songs
my magnetic personality
speedos
the Downhill Slalom
back hair
Subliminal bullying
the pursuit of my private island where I can be a pirate
saying "yar"
my search for Hogwart's
CTU training
yak milking
cutting my fingers with a papercutter
flying to Dublin to jam weekly with Bono and the boys
underwater basket weaving
bromances
thongs
astronaut training (NASA's being cut anyway)
goiters
Martha Stewart
my Rolls Royce collection
Luby's
my Lane Kiffin fan club membership
alligator farming
roadkill (this is a stretch since I am from Tennessee)
having my art on display at the Louvre
playing 1st base for the Astros (Lance can have it back)
Canasta with Bigfoot
gnat breeding
dreaming in color
Uber-Hyper-Nomadic-Super-Ultra-Phlegmatic Calvinism
All kidding aside, I really am observing Lent this year and do have some things I am doing without. But, as you can see, my resolve is strong and I do pretty well at abstaining. But like I said, I was just inspired by some other bloggers who had gone before me in this charted territory. So, like in their case, feel free to make some suggestions of other things I could also give up for Lent - I'd love to hear them in a comment . . .
STUFF I'M GIVING UP FOR LENT
my Backyardigans habit
making Pasedena TX smell better
Scandinavian clogging
Celine Dion songs
my magnetic personality
speedos
the Downhill Slalom
back hair
Subliminal bullying
the pursuit of my private island where I can be a pirate
saying "yar"
my search for Hogwart's
CTU training
yak milking
cutting my fingers with a papercutter
flying to Dublin to jam weekly with Bono and the boys
underwater basket weaving
bromances
thongs
astronaut training (NASA's being cut anyway)
goiters
Martha Stewart
my Rolls Royce collection
Luby's
my Lane Kiffin fan club membership
alligator farming
roadkill (this is a stretch since I am from Tennessee)
having my art on display at the Louvre
playing 1st base for the Astros (Lance can have it back)
Canasta with Bigfoot
gnat breeding
dreaming in color
Uber-Hyper-Nomadic-Super-Ultra-Phlegmatic Calvinism
All kidding aside, I really am observing Lent this year and do have some things I am doing without. But, as you can see, my resolve is strong and I do pretty well at abstaining. But like I said, I was just inspired by some other bloggers who had gone before me in this charted territory. So, like in their case, feel free to make some suggestions of other things I could also give up for Lent - I'd love to hear them in a comment . . .
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Top Popular Songs of 2009
The Source for Youth Ministry just released a very informative article on the top songs of 2009. Read it for a great window into Youth Culture as this year winds down . . .
Click this link here to go to it: Top Artists of 2009
Click this link here to go to it: Top Artists of 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody
One of my favorite classic rock songs by one of my favorite childhood programs! Enjoy!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Between the Divine and the Daily
In my back yard here in Houston I have stately Queen Palm that we planted right after we moved in a few years ago. It has grown very fast and very tall. Today is Monday and my day off, or as I'm trying to make it more and more, my Sabbath day. Today in Houston it is also remarkably cooler that normal and I'm sitting outside on my back porch spending my morning in reading, contemplation, prayer, and just general enjoyment of the day. And it's not hot. Or humid. Or sticky. Or put your least favorite Houston weather characteristic here. I'm watching the Queen Palm, and it's a little windier than normal. When the wind hits it just right, the fronds wave majestically toward its beckoning direction. When the wind is full force, it turns my back yard into a cathedral of sound that invites me to look up and listen as the pine trees weave a beautiful tune among their branches. (eek, I'm starting to sound like a poet). In this moment the wind is supreme above the din of the neighbors hammer, the lawn service's mower, and the occasional traffic on the street in front of my house.
For me this is an intersection of the Divine amongst the daily. I am naturalist, that is I can feel really close to God and seem to focus, pray, worship, contemplate best in the outdoors. Especially on a cool or cold day with my decaf chai tea or my favorite Starbucks blend, whichever I happen to feel a fancy for.
I am currently reading a book by Robert Benson on the discipline of the Daily Offices, or fixed times of prayer, if you will. An ancient practice that has it's precedent even from the pages of Scripture as we see in the prayer lives of David, Jesus, and other Biblical personalities. Jewish roots that have been passed down through centuries, kept alive in the early years and first centuries of the church, but practiced now by very few believers, and evangelicals at that.
I recently discovered this ancient discipline and began to learn about it on a recent sabbatical. I found a Book of Common Prayer at a close-by seminary and purchased it (and I'm not even Catholic or Episcopal). I am trying to make prayer a better discipline in my life, not just requests, but praying back Scripture to God and acknowledging prayer as a time spent in Abba's presence.
I'm convicted we don't pray enough. At least we don't really pray. Or maybe I'm just talking about me and you actually have prayer figured out. Please write a book if you do. We spend time asking things focused on what we want, but not enough time praying as a blessing to God. The Daily Offices have helped me be more focused for that purpose. Benson's book is one in a series on the ancinet practices that I've stumbled on and am currently trying to obtain the rest. I found it on the 5 for $5 rack at Mardel's. Best dollar I ever spent. He does a good job explaining the Offices for an evangelical like me, but really talks about the discipline as not getting into a routine of it, but learning to use it as a tool to live a life of constant prayer. Hence the name of the book, In Constant Prayer.
Laerning to live a life of constant and fixed prayer is new to me. The Offices are a huge blessing and help. Fixed times of prayer are becoming for me a time to re-focus at key times of the day to make sure I am about God's purpose whatever I may be doing. It also just gives me time with my Heavenly Father.
For me, on Mondays that are particularly cool in Houston, when the morning light and shadows dance around in my backyard in harmony with the wind, while reading more about the importance of prayer in our lives, the Divine has intersected the daily.
Where does that intersection happen for you? I'd be intersted to hear from you and find out.
For me this is an intersection of the Divine amongst the daily. I am naturalist, that is I can feel really close to God and seem to focus, pray, worship, contemplate best in the outdoors. Especially on a cool or cold day with my decaf chai tea or my favorite Starbucks blend, whichever I happen to feel a fancy for.
I am currently reading a book by Robert Benson on the discipline of the Daily Offices, or fixed times of prayer, if you will. An ancient practice that has it's precedent even from the pages of Scripture as we see in the prayer lives of David, Jesus, and other Biblical personalities. Jewish roots that have been passed down through centuries, kept alive in the early years and first centuries of the church, but practiced now by very few believers, and evangelicals at that.
I recently discovered this ancient discipline and began to learn about it on a recent sabbatical. I found a Book of Common Prayer at a close-by seminary and purchased it (and I'm not even Catholic or Episcopal). I am trying to make prayer a better discipline in my life, not just requests, but praying back Scripture to God and acknowledging prayer as a time spent in Abba's presence.
I'm convicted we don't pray enough. At least we don't really pray. Or maybe I'm just talking about me and you actually have prayer figured out. Please write a book if you do. We spend time asking things focused on what we want, but not enough time praying as a blessing to God. The Daily Offices have helped me be more focused for that purpose. Benson's book is one in a series on the ancinet practices that I've stumbled on and am currently trying to obtain the rest. I found it on the 5 for $5 rack at Mardel's. Best dollar I ever spent. He does a good job explaining the Offices for an evangelical like me, but really talks about the discipline as not getting into a routine of it, but learning to use it as a tool to live a life of constant prayer. Hence the name of the book, In Constant Prayer.
Laerning to live a life of constant and fixed prayer is new to me. The Offices are a huge blessing and help. Fixed times of prayer are becoming for me a time to re-focus at key times of the day to make sure I am about God's purpose whatever I may be doing. It also just gives me time with my Heavenly Father.
For me, on Mondays that are particularly cool in Houston, when the morning light and shadows dance around in my backyard in harmony with the wind, while reading more about the importance of prayer in our lives, the Divine has intersected the daily.
Where does that intersection happen for you? I'd be intersted to hear from you and find out.
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