I knew that taking a missions trip to a foreign country would be a complex, involved process of details...but come on! This is insane! I packed way too much stuff in a backpack that weighs over 40 pounds and there is a constant stream of trip details that must be dealt with on a daily basis. Who in their right mind would put themselves through this?

It may be insane, but is first and foremost incredibly awesome, that is, the God kind of awesome. We know that He has commissioned this trip and has the results in his hand. Just being a part of God's plan to reach the lost people in this part of the world is absolutely amazing. Yes, it is worth the insanity of details!

Dear Lord, guide our every word and our every action while on this short trip, prepare the people ahead of time that you would have us talk to, soften the hearts and clear the minds of the Guaymi Indians, change hearts and lives, both theirs and ours. I know this is your will. Amen.

 

Just 3 days now from leaving for Panama. This trip is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY outside my comfort zone, as least as far as the physical/camping/outdoorsy aspect is concerned. But, I am living proof that God can take a person with little earthly talent, a man of questionably average looks and much below average height, and put that person in unbelievably extraordinary circumstances to serve Him. God searches our hearts constantly to see if He can use us in these types of circumstances. I am flooded with joy and as he has found me faithful enough to call me to this mission in Panama.

 

So, what is "happiness"? Why do we chase it? Why are we willing to change just about anything in our life to get it? Why is it so elusive? Is life about being happy and continually trying to be happy? I don't think so.

Take a person we know about for an example. Think about the apostle Paul. Paul was constantly in conflict or escaping from or imprisoned by those who would try to shut down his ministry down. His life was not easy or comfortable by any stretch of the imagination. He was constantly in new and many times very uncomfortable situations. But, was he "happy?"

Look at Romans 12:12. Most people in Paul's shoes would be looking for a new line of work, one that paid better and offered a few more benefits and a lot less grief. But Paul tells us to "...Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction..." Even when Paul's circumstances of life were extremely difficult he was telling us to be joyful and patient. Why? Because these "afflictions" are temporary. Very difficult to deal with, and yes, I know, they have to be dealt with. But they are temporary nonetheless. I believe Paul's secret is that he focused nearly all his thought and energy on Jesus Christ, all the time. Yes, he still had to deal with everything he was going through, but I bet if you were to ask Paul what it was like having been in prison he would tell you about how God worked through the experience, not how much the shackles hurt or how little he had to eat. The circumstances were secondary.

I struggle with this just as much as anyone. But I think the goal as Christians is to live outside of our circumstances.How? Pray constantly and study the word (I mean study, not just casually read). With Christ as the most important thing in our life at ANY given moment, the circumstances will be difficult, but seem much less important. The need to be comfortable or happy will also seem less important, and certainly not worth constantly chasing it.

 

Here is the general Itinerary for our Panama missions trip (attached, see link below), coming up now in just a week!!!

Keep praying for us. I wnat deperately for lives (theirs and ours) to be changed by God while we are there and I know tha is what God wants too. Pray hard.

Itinerary Panama 2008.doc (27.5 KB)
 

I am a little stressed. My air conditioner at home is on the fritz for the 2nd time in 2 months and the roof has developed 2 leaky spots. If only I had a sick dog and a broken down Chevy pickup...

In just 3 weeks my wife and I will be headed off to Panama on, what is quite possibly, the biggest adventure of our lives. We are excited, yet scared to death at the same time. We are trying to take care of last minute details, I am trying to finish writing these sermons and prepare bible studies. I will admit I am a little stressed. All the problems with the house just add to the complication and really try to take our mind off of what is important. Right now I need to TOTALLY focus on Christ and what he has me doing (getting ready for Panama), instead of letting these bad circumstances like leaky roofs occupy all my brain power (admittedly there is not much there to begin with).

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

 

I think I have an idea now of what I will be "preaching" on when in Panama in 4 weeks (can't believe it's that soon!). I was told to prepare at least 3 sermons or messages to deliver in the evenings. Here is what I am thinking as topics:

1. Incredible grace/a call to faith and repentance (evangelistic)
2. Being "broken" before God (growing as a Christian)
3. Becoming free to live the life God expects (growing as a Christian)
   

If I have time I might add an extra to keep just in case, probably about God using the trial of life to make us who He wants us to be.

I'm not a "preacher" and have no degree from seminary, so pray for the the right words and my nerves! Praise God for this opportunity. I know HE will change many lives in Panama through us.

 

I Love my wife. No, she is not perfect, but either am I...no one is. But, the fact is, If I had to pick one girl out of a crowd to spend my life with it would definitely be this girl that I married. She can look at a situation from an eternal perspective when it seems no one else can or will. She seems to keep her sense about her when everyone else is being senseless. She truly has the kind of Christ-like character that makes me proud of her in a way I cannot even explain. I like Proverbs 12:4, "A wife of noble character is her husband's crown...(NIV)" She is definitely my crown.

Here is the crazy part...but the part that really fits my "little did he know" / Mr. Magoo-like character. When we first got married I didn't know or understand how incredible she was. Unfortunately, I was not a Christian at that point in my life, was more concerned with myself than her, and missed out getting to know her like I do now. She suffered then  because of my worldly self-centeredness, but I believe that I am paying now in lost time. I wasted so much time that I could have spent honoring and serving her...

But, this is the way it always seems to go for me. God always seems to place me, an incredibly average guy, in the middle of extraordinary situations with extraordinary people, as if I'm just kind of along for the ride...he definitely put me with the right woman...I love my wife. :)