This will be my last post before I leave for South Africa. I will include specific prayer requests at the end of my blog, but until then I will make one final plea as an Christian, as an American, as a believer in our great republic, as a believer in our rights...one final plea...cry out for the Lord to deliver us from the coming darkness. Regardless of who gets voted in as our next President, I believe our country is on the VERGE of a great downward spiral. I feel great anxiety as to the future of our once solid and prosperous nation. We have strayed from our moral base...the Bible. We have ignored truth, mocked it, legistated it out of our laws and social fabric, and now we teeter on the edge of it all.
We need to cry out like the nation of Israel did in the Old Testament...
Jdg 3:9 When the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
Jdg 3:15 But when the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. By him the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab
2Ki 13:5 Then the LORD gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as before.
These are just 3 examples of the Lord delivering Israel from the depths and despair of the invading and oppressing world that surrounded them.
There are other times when the Lord did not give Israel the deliverence she may have wanted or needed because they had strayed so far. Ultimately the Lord did set them free or deliver them, but not without great trials for the nation first.
So friends, do we see the end of God's mercy on us as we approach the next 10 years or we will continue to see His mercy extended to a nation that honestly doesn't deserve it? I pray that we will turn from our sin and our idolatry and seek His face again. God will not be mocked and He is a God of justice.
Well that's kind of scary I have to say. Those are my thoughts and fears for the day...there for the whole world to read if they so choose.
Thursday we will be departing for Africa. Please cover us in prayers, not just as we travel, but as we share the Gospel. God wants to be praised from every corner, every tent, every valley, every cave, every hill, every nation, every tribe. Pray that one new small corner of the world will see His liberting Truth through Jesus and that His name will be magnified in Diepsloot and Johannesburg South Africa!
Team members are leaving their kids (all of our women members have 3 kids), they're leaving husbands or wifes, moms or dads, brothers and sisters behind. Pray that both the family members that remain and the team that is going will adapt to these changes. Pray for our team to remain out of the emotionally draining and mission-distracting culture shock so that we may remain focused on the short-term mission goals and pray for the soil to be prepared by the Holy Spirit so that His Word will successfully be planted in hearts...then pray for the harvest!
Pray for Ron, Scot, John, Leslie, Derrina, Alison, and Wendy. Pray for our missionaries Rich and Michelle and Thom and Penny! ...and don't forget to pray for revival in the great United States of America. God Bless!
Ron
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Miscellaneous Throughts
So it's a dreary Friday outside here in beautiful Southwest Virginia. It's cool and the wind is stirring every so gently from the east. If I didn't know any better I'd say it was going to snow, but it's not going to happen today. I love these kind of fall days. Too bad we don't have a fireplace in the house to throw a log on and sit around with some warm soup. It just feels like that kind of day to me. As I look out my window, the sugar maple that stands guard in the front yard has shed it's beautiful leaves. The yard is 6 inches deep in hues of yellows, reds and oranges. I'm enjoying the scenery too much to rake them up.
It's just a great day to sleep in and do nothing. I don't have that luxery. I'm working on the message that I'll be sharing on Sunday and trying to put together a slide show for the missions service that we are having Sunday night. The only slide show we have may be 5 people standing up front with pictures with music playing in the background! LOL!
I'm excited about the opportunity to preach. I think this will also be the first time that I've preached while our pastor, Neal, will be there. The only other times I've preached has been while he is out. It will be great to have him there this time! I have really been changed personally by the message I'll be sharing so it will be exciting to be able to share that with my PBC family.
Sarah and I went to baby doctor yesterday. We were able to see baby Chloe or baby Luke and listen to his/her heartbeat. He/she was jumping around quiet a bit in there. It's such an exciting time for us. We can't wait until we see him or her face to face. The woman that did the ultrasound actually recognized me from church. Apparently she had visited there for the last two weeks! It's pretty neat that we were 40 minutes away and ran into someone who had visited with us!
Well this time next week I'll be on a plane to South Africa. The team had their final "training" class on Wednesday night and it was a wonderful time that we were able to share with each other. The Holy Spirit was very real and present in that room and the entire team became "real" and transparent with the group as we shared our personal testimony. It was a wonderful experience that I'll not soon forget. Please keep our team in your prayers. I so want and ask the Lord to use us and change us from the inside out as we go and as we join Him in His work.
I will try to blog up through Wednesday next week. After that it may be a bit more sporadic if any until I get back on Nov 10th.
Have a wonderful Friday! Look and listen for the Lord today! He is there...always!
It's just a great day to sleep in and do nothing. I don't have that luxery. I'm working on the message that I'll be sharing on Sunday and trying to put together a slide show for the missions service that we are having Sunday night. The only slide show we have may be 5 people standing up front with pictures with music playing in the background! LOL!
I'm excited about the opportunity to preach. I think this will also be the first time that I've preached while our pastor, Neal, will be there. The only other times I've preached has been while he is out. It will be great to have him there this time! I have really been changed personally by the message I'll be sharing so it will be exciting to be able to share that with my PBC family.
Sarah and I went to baby doctor yesterday. We were able to see baby Chloe or baby Luke and listen to his/her heartbeat. He/she was jumping around quiet a bit in there. It's such an exciting time for us. We can't wait until we see him or her face to face. The woman that did the ultrasound actually recognized me from church. Apparently she had visited there for the last two weeks! It's pretty neat that we were 40 minutes away and ran into someone who had visited with us!
Well this time next week I'll be on a plane to South Africa. The team had their final "training" class on Wednesday night and it was a wonderful time that we were able to share with each other. The Holy Spirit was very real and present in that room and the entire team became "real" and transparent with the group as we shared our personal testimony. It was a wonderful experience that I'll not soon forget. Please keep our team in your prayers. I so want and ask the Lord to use us and change us from the inside out as we go and as we join Him in His work.
I will try to blog up through Wednesday next week. After that it may be a bit more sporadic if any until I get back on Nov 10th.
Have a wonderful Friday! Look and listen for the Lord today! He is there...always!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
When is Life Life?
So with all of the talk on social values playing into the election and other avenues of life, I'd like to examine what the Bible has to say about the sanctity of human life. Just when does "life" begin?
I'm not going to get into what the pro-lifers and the pro-choicers believe and push. No, I'm going to take you to just a few simple Scriptures that should make this whole entire issue crystal clear.
If you say you believe the Word of God to be truth, then this is the Truth as it is written.
O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. PSALM 139:1, 13-16
Thou shall not murder - Exodus 20:13
And thou shall not give any of thy seed (children) to set them apart (sacrifice) to Molech, neither shall you profane the name of thy God = Levitius 18:21
Well how simple was that. So life begins from the moment the Lord wove them together in the dark of the womb. I think about the little boy or girl that my wife is carrying and I think about how God is delicately weaving this child together as I type this. He already has a plan and a purpose for this baby...one far beyond anything I can see. He has already seen every single moment of our babies life.
The abortion issue really should be no issue at all. The facts are clearly black and white. We, however, now live in a society that only sees gray. We live in a society that puts the truth of the Bible in the background as decisions and laws are passed. We live in a society that is in trouble. We must return to Him and Him alone should there be any hope for our future. May God have mercy on our nation for her crimes against Him.
I'm not going to get into what the pro-lifers and the pro-choicers believe and push. No, I'm going to take you to just a few simple Scriptures that should make this whole entire issue crystal clear.
If you say you believe the Word of God to be truth, then this is the Truth as it is written.
O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. PSALM 139:1, 13-16
Thou shall not murder - Exodus 20:13
And thou shall not give any of thy seed (children) to set them apart (sacrifice) to Molech, neither shall you profane the name of thy God = Levitius 18:21
Well how simple was that. So life begins from the moment the Lord wove them together in the dark of the womb. I think about the little boy or girl that my wife is carrying and I think about how God is delicately weaving this child together as I type this. He already has a plan and a purpose for this baby...one far beyond anything I can see. He has already seen every single moment of our babies life.
The abortion issue really should be no issue at all. The facts are clearly black and white. We, however, now live in a society that only sees gray. We live in a society that puts the truth of the Bible in the background as decisions and laws are passed. We live in a society that is in trouble. We must return to Him and Him alone should there be any hope for our future. May God have mercy on our nation for her crimes against Him.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Lamb and Lion Ministries
This insert is from the Lamb and Lion Ministries...written by Nathan Jones. I found it eye-opening to say the least and felt it should be shared. Could the end really be this close? Let me know what you think in comments.
BY NATHAN JONES...
Life as we know it is about to radically change.
As you and I watch world events unfold, especially during this past week, end-time prophetic scenarios now appear ready to begin. Scriptures often tie a prophesied future event with something that will happen directly to the Jews, and all instances of these world events will directly affect Israel.
Events and outcomes:
• The United States is sadly on the brink of bankruptcy and a second Great Depression. With the loss of income comes the loss of political and military power. Because of that and depending on the outcome of the current presidential election, Israel would lose the United States as an ally and protector. Israel will be on its own..
• A U..S. financial meltdown would throw much of the world into financial suffering, resulting in world-wide poverty and famine. Countries all over the world already have hurriedly begun calling for a change from the dollar to a one-world currency and an overall world organization to manage it.
• Israel is in a disarrayed leadership vacuum. The front-runner for Prime Minister wishes upon taking power to immediately give over a lot of land to their enemies, making Israel almost indefensible.
• Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and other terror-supporting nations have rearmed and are ready to invade Israel. Syria's already moving troops along its border.
• Russia roared out of the background to consolidate their interests from Moscow through Georgia and all the way into Syrian ports. They are reaching for the Middle East oil fields and Israel.
• Iran and Russia have solidified their political ties. Iran is only months away from being nuclear-armed, ready to act on their promises of annihilating Israel.
All these world events will force Israel to act in the upcoming months. Israel will be forced either into a Psalm 83 scenario where they are under siege and forced to use maximum force against their surrounding neighbors. Or, Iran will follow through on its threats and with the help of Russia fulfill the Ezekiel 38-39 scenario of the Gog-Magog invasion. It will probably be both, one closely after another.
Unless God intervenes and delays what is prophetically inevitable, the world scene appears to be ready for the 7-year Tribulation; a time Jesus said will be "such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall." In fact, Jesus said it will be so terrible that if it were not stopped at the end of seven years, it would result in the destruction of all life (Matt. 24:21-22).
For the believer in Christ, this life change may mean some suffering in the short term, but believers will be spared God's wrath and the Tribulation by first being taken up to be with Jesus in heaven (John 14:1-4; Rom. 5:9; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9).
Because the Rapture of the Church looks so close, we're releasing the text version (below) of a video we're working on titled "Jesus Came. What's Next?" It is Lamb & Lion's message to those left behind. I encourage you not only to forward this e-newsletter and download as many copies as possible to give out to those you know haven't accepted Jesus as Savior, but also to use it as a "left behind" message using You've Been Left Behind.
Our waiting is almost over. Jesus is coming back to reign!
BY NATHAN JONES...
Life as we know it is about to radically change.
As you and I watch world events unfold, especially during this past week, end-time prophetic scenarios now appear ready to begin. Scriptures often tie a prophesied future event with something that will happen directly to the Jews, and all instances of these world events will directly affect Israel.
Events and outcomes:
• The United States is sadly on the brink of bankruptcy and a second Great Depression. With the loss of income comes the loss of political and military power. Because of that and depending on the outcome of the current presidential election, Israel would lose the United States as an ally and protector. Israel will be on its own..
• A U..S. financial meltdown would throw much of the world into financial suffering, resulting in world-wide poverty and famine. Countries all over the world already have hurriedly begun calling for a change from the dollar to a one-world currency and an overall world organization to manage it.
• Israel is in a disarrayed leadership vacuum. The front-runner for Prime Minister wishes upon taking power to immediately give over a lot of land to their enemies, making Israel almost indefensible.
• Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and other terror-supporting nations have rearmed and are ready to invade Israel. Syria's already moving troops along its border.
• Russia roared out of the background to consolidate their interests from Moscow through Georgia and all the way into Syrian ports. They are reaching for the Middle East oil fields and Israel.
• Iran and Russia have solidified their political ties. Iran is only months away from being nuclear-armed, ready to act on their promises of annihilating Israel.
All these world events will force Israel to act in the upcoming months. Israel will be forced either into a Psalm 83 scenario where they are under siege and forced to use maximum force against their surrounding neighbors. Or, Iran will follow through on its threats and with the help of Russia fulfill the Ezekiel 38-39 scenario of the Gog-Magog invasion. It will probably be both, one closely after another.
Unless God intervenes and delays what is prophetically inevitable, the world scene appears to be ready for the 7-year Tribulation; a time Jesus said will be "such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall." In fact, Jesus said it will be so terrible that if it were not stopped at the end of seven years, it would result in the destruction of all life (Matt. 24:21-22).
For the believer in Christ, this life change may mean some suffering in the short term, but believers will be spared God's wrath and the Tribulation by first being taken up to be with Jesus in heaven (John 14:1-4; Rom. 5:9; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9).
Because the Rapture of the Church looks so close, we're releasing the text version (below) of a video we're working on titled "Jesus Came. What's Next?" It is Lamb & Lion's message to those left behind. I encourage you not only to forward this e-newsletter and download as many copies as possible to give out to those you know haven't accepted Jesus as Savior, but also to use it as a "left behind" message using You've Been Left Behind.
Our waiting is almost over. Jesus is coming back to reign!
Friday, October 17, 2008
got hope?
Let me ask you this...when you first read the title of this blog what did you think of? I was at the drive thru at McDonalds yesterday and saw the simple, ascetically pleasing bumper sticker that said "got hope?". I thought to myself as I waited to place my order how nice it was that someone had such a positive message on their bumper sticker that challenge people to consider if they had hope in their life. Of course, my faith in Jesus made me think about how our hope is in Him and Him alone and that I'm thankful that yes I do "got hope".
I pull around to pay my $4.54 and upon closer inspection of the bumper sticker it said Obama/Biden 08 underneath the slogan. It was all I could do not to press my foot to the gas pedal and slam right into the back of that vehicle. I'm serious. John and Trish probably wouldn't cover my insurance claim so I backed down. I got my change and pulled forward to the window to collect my chicken biscuit and Sarah's sausage biscuit - and then collect my thoughts.
Politics aside here, what is happening? Can someone please comment and let me know because I scratch my head at this stuff. What kind of Christian, like Obama claims to be, would first of all not distance himself from comments that compare him to Jesus, the Messiah? Shouldn't he be appalled? Yes...is he? Actions don't indicate that he is.
Then to allow bumper stickers that would also make people think spiritually about hope and Christ only then to see that it is attached to Obama is just as careless. Of course he wants people to see him as that. The world already worships him. Children in America are singing songs of praise using his name, Obama's. Yes the world has fallen asleep and so have Americans. I am outraged at his arrogance to allow himself to be compared to my Savior. I am offended as a Christian, that another fellow "Christian" would allow himself to be referred to as the Messiah. Shame on him or any others that would allow such.
Thankfully, I serve the RISEN SAVIOUR! I serve the One who defeated the enemy on all fronts, who conquered death, conquered hell, conquered the grave! Yes! I serve the King of all Kings. I serve the Most HIGH GOD...and His name isn't Barak Hussein Obama...His name is Jesus!
got hope? Yes...and it isn't in my political systems or in my governor's office. Yes my hope comes from the Lord. When all hope seems lost for this nation, my hope still comes from Him and Him alone. Nancy Pelosi can't earn this level of hope, Harry Reid can't, Barak Obama can't, and neither can John McCain or Sarah Palin. We must take our eyes off of people to solve the problems of American and put our HOPE and our TRUST in an all-knowing, all-powerful God!
I pull around to pay my $4.54 and upon closer inspection of the bumper sticker it said Obama/Biden 08 underneath the slogan. It was all I could do not to press my foot to the gas pedal and slam right into the back of that vehicle. I'm serious. John and Trish probably wouldn't cover my insurance claim so I backed down. I got my change and pulled forward to the window to collect my chicken biscuit and Sarah's sausage biscuit - and then collect my thoughts.
Politics aside here, what is happening? Can someone please comment and let me know because I scratch my head at this stuff. What kind of Christian, like Obama claims to be, would first of all not distance himself from comments that compare him to Jesus, the Messiah? Shouldn't he be appalled? Yes...is he? Actions don't indicate that he is.
Then to allow bumper stickers that would also make people think spiritually about hope and Christ only then to see that it is attached to Obama is just as careless. Of course he wants people to see him as that. The world already worships him. Children in America are singing songs of praise using his name, Obama's. Yes the world has fallen asleep and so have Americans. I am outraged at his arrogance to allow himself to be compared to my Savior. I am offended as a Christian, that another fellow "Christian" would allow himself to be referred to as the Messiah. Shame on him or any others that would allow such.
Thankfully, I serve the RISEN SAVIOUR! I serve the One who defeated the enemy on all fronts, who conquered death, conquered hell, conquered the grave! Yes! I serve the King of all Kings. I serve the Most HIGH GOD...and His name isn't Barak Hussein Obama...His name is Jesus!
got hope? Yes...and it isn't in my political systems or in my governor's office. Yes my hope comes from the Lord. When all hope seems lost for this nation, my hope still comes from Him and Him alone. Nancy Pelosi can't earn this level of hope, Harry Reid can't, Barak Obama can't, and neither can John McCain or Sarah Palin. We must take our eyes off of people to solve the problems of American and put our HOPE and our TRUST in an all-knowing, all-powerful God!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The Communists Are Rejoicing!
So I said I wouldn't get into the politics of the election cycle anymore this year, but I saw something from the Communist Party that was posted on the net that needs to be discussed. All I can say is we need to be in heavy, heavy prayer before this election.
As posted on Neal Boortz...Apparently there are two groups of people in this country who are feeling really good right about now. One would be Barack Obama supporters. The other would be the US Communist Party. Seriously! The Communist Party headquarters in Manhattan says that "Marxist-Leninism's time has finally come," in light of the recent economic crisis.
One regional party chairman says, "We are very excited, we feel that we are at a turning point ... We can afford to be less on the defensive for the first time since Ronald Reagan, and we can say our word in rebuilding America on a new basis, rebuilding a better world, instead of one based on the greed of the few." Oh gawd, here we go with this "greed" nonsense.
There's another reason why the Communist Party is pumped ... they are working hard to get people to vote. Gosh, I wonder which candidate could have these Communists drooling. While the Communist Party has not officially endorses Obama for president, a report from the Communist headquarters says that "many staff here wore his picture on lapel buttons, while Republican John McCain was relegated to a box of tissues -- the tissues being pulled through his mouth."...NEAL BOORTZ
I've been to the former Soviet Union. I've stood in front of a gigantic statue of Lenin that sits in the center of most every town in the area. I know from being in the field and working with the people that lived under his hard-line Communist rule the effects of this type of control is devasting to a society, culture, people, and religion. Now the Communisty Party of the US is excitied and drooling at the prospects of economic collapse and an Obama presidency.
Yes, the Communist, the Iranians, the Europeans are all praying to their false gods for the collapse of our very existence. Yes, Osama Bin Laden, the Hamas, PLO, and other terrorists are anxiously awaiting for the day that America becomes more peace-loving, more accepting of extreme ism and more friendly to terrorist. The world waits for Obama to be our next president...and no one seems to be alarmed that every anti-American group rejoices? Have the eyes been blinded? The warning bells are ringing and the storm warning red flags are flying, but no one is listening?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
NOTHING TO SAY?
Strange as it is, I find myself at a loss for words this morning. If you know me, you'll know that it's a bit unusual for me to have nothing to say. It's about 8:45 and I sit in my dark office staring at this stupid computer screen trying to think about what I can bring to the conversation of the day.
Last week while I was in Texas, I found it so refreshing that I didn't hear all of the political news (thankfully I was able to watch the VP debate) that I made a pact with myself that I would not write about nor read about any more of this politics stuff. I have made my views known through this blog (a vote for Obama is a vote for OSAMA...okay, fine...one last jab!!!) and I have even voted via an absentee ballot (McCain/Palin 2008)so why add to the insanity of this "election" with my comments (we must defeat this liberal movement that threatens to suffocate our nation)? As you can see it really is hard for me to restrain myself (how could we vote for a man that allows himself to be compared to the Messiah). Nevertheless, I will not bore you with more political commentary (how can we allow all of these fake registered voters to vote...this nation and election is being hijacked by the nut-jobs on the left and we sit back and watch it happen) that you are so used to reading about on the net (drudgereport.com) and hearing on TV (foxnews of course).
Okay, so I can't write about the election news because I don't listen or read any (did you see where Obama was up like 9 points over McCain? Who are they polling? Everyone in San Francisco). I guess I'm just useless for you this morning and for that I'm sorry!
Last week while I was in Texas, I found it so refreshing that I didn't hear all of the political news (thankfully I was able to watch the VP debate) that I made a pact with myself that I would not write about nor read about any more of this politics stuff. I have made my views known through this blog (a vote for Obama is a vote for OSAMA...okay, fine...one last jab!!!) and I have even voted via an absentee ballot (McCain/Palin 2008)so why add to the insanity of this "election" with my comments (we must defeat this liberal movement that threatens to suffocate our nation)? As you can see it really is hard for me to restrain myself (how could we vote for a man that allows himself to be compared to the Messiah). Nevertheless, I will not bore you with more political commentary (how can we allow all of these fake registered voters to vote...this nation and election is being hijacked by the nut-jobs on the left and we sit back and watch it happen) that you are so used to reading about on the net (drudgereport.com) and hearing on TV (foxnews of course).
Okay, so I can't write about the election news because I don't listen or read any (did you see where Obama was up like 9 points over McCain? Who are they polling? Everyone in San Francisco). I guess I'm just useless for you this morning and for that I'm sorry!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
South Africa Horizons
Good Tuesday everyone! It's great to be back home! What a wonderful overall experience our team had in Texas! We were all so very tired when we returned but I must say it was the refreshing that I received from the Holy Spirit while I was there that made this trip so memorable.
Going into this mission, I confess that I was tired and worn down. I was feeling so dry spiritually. I felt disconnected and out of touch with everything around me. I am so thankful for some spiritual breakthroughs that I had while I was out of town. God revealed himself to me in many ways that took me from that desert/dry place to a place of overflowing. It's wonderful to have that refreshment. I thank Him for bringing me through the wilderness and for allowing me to 'feel' His presence on me again!
There's not much time to rest! I will be preaching on the 26th of October and then I leave that Thursday for another 11-day mission to South Africa. With this new refreshment I sense, I am even more excited about embarking on this trailblazing adventure. I can't wait to see how God will use us! We have received our itinerary while we will be there and we will be working in the squatter camps of Diepsloot! Our team will be doing lots of one-on-one ministry and personal evangelism. Keep us in your prayers and pray for the locals that we will be ministering to. Thanks as always for your prayer support of the missions work at Pioneer Baptist!
Going into this mission, I confess that I was tired and worn down. I was feeling so dry spiritually. I felt disconnected and out of touch with everything around me. I am so thankful for some spiritual breakthroughs that I had while I was out of town. God revealed himself to me in many ways that took me from that desert/dry place to a place of overflowing. It's wonderful to have that refreshment. I thank Him for bringing me through the wilderness and for allowing me to 'feel' His presence on me again!
There's not much time to rest! I will be preaching on the 26th of October and then I leave that Thursday for another 11-day mission to South Africa. With this new refreshment I sense, I am even more excited about embarking on this trailblazing adventure. I can't wait to see how God will use us! We have received our itinerary while we will be there and we will be working in the squatter camps of Diepsloot! Our team will be doing lots of one-on-one ministry and personal evangelism. Keep us in your prayers and pray for the locals that we will be ministering to. Thanks as always for your prayer support of the missions work at Pioneer Baptist!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Picking Up The Pieces
We're still in Galveston for our last night! Yahoo! I'm tired, I'm so ready to come home that I can't even put into words, but yet I'm so glad I came. In hindsight, I won't likely commit to a 2-week obligation to this type of event. It's a long time to be away from everyone that I love so much.
Last night we were moved to the tarmac of the Galvatson Airport. It's a little weird to be sleeping on a runway. The sand colored tents dot our square area that has been transformed into a home away from home for thousands of volunteers.
I gaze across the landscape. It's flat and barren. The watching eyes of the air-traffic control tower loom not too far from our "base." It's like a movie really in my head. The sun is setting low, like a huge giant orange ball. It slowly descends down below the scared land we are here to work with. The wind howls across the terrain as though another storm is on the horizon. A chill goes down my arms as the north wind brings in a refreshing and needed blast of cooler less humid air. I continue my glance across the landscape and am interrupted by the armed security guards that keep our camp protected. I think, no wait, I'm almost certain that Will Smith is going to barge in at any moment. It's a little surreal to be perfectly honest with you.
I've seen so much this past 2 weeks. I've seen people hurting in ways I've never experienced or imagined. I've seen churches meeting outside in their yards because their sanctuary was destroyed or flooded and now covered with mold. I've prayed with pastors who were trying to keep their congregation together and yet still look for the members of their congregation that are STILL missing.
On this trip, I've met determination and resolve in people that I totally did not expect. They've lost everything and yet they prevail. We are so blessed to have what we have and still have it. It could all be gone tomorrow. What then?
What do YOU do, when everything you know is taken from you? Do you curse God? Do you walk away from Him? Do you trust Him? Do you cry out to Him? I don't know about you but I'm glad that I can call out to Him. I'm glad He listens and He cares for me. What a lonely life it would be if we didn't have Him.
I hope that some of these great folks make their mess into a message of hope and restoration. God wants His name to be praised from this broken city. God wants Galveston! Please keep this world away from us in your prayers as they seek to find their way, no God's way, through this disaster.
Ron
Last night we were moved to the tarmac of the Galvatson Airport. It's a little weird to be sleeping on a runway. The sand colored tents dot our square area that has been transformed into a home away from home for thousands of volunteers.
I gaze across the landscape. It's flat and barren. The watching eyes of the air-traffic control tower loom not too far from our "base." It's like a movie really in my head. The sun is setting low, like a huge giant orange ball. It slowly descends down below the scared land we are here to work with. The wind howls across the terrain as though another storm is on the horizon. A chill goes down my arms as the north wind brings in a refreshing and needed blast of cooler less humid air. I continue my glance across the landscape and am interrupted by the armed security guards that keep our camp protected. I think, no wait, I'm almost certain that Will Smith is going to barge in at any moment. It's a little surreal to be perfectly honest with you.
I've seen so much this past 2 weeks. I've seen people hurting in ways I've never experienced or imagined. I've seen churches meeting outside in their yards because their sanctuary was destroyed or flooded and now covered with mold. I've prayed with pastors who were trying to keep their congregation together and yet still look for the members of their congregation that are STILL missing.
On this trip, I've met determination and resolve in people that I totally did not expect. They've lost everything and yet they prevail. We are so blessed to have what we have and still have it. It could all be gone tomorrow. What then?
What do YOU do, when everything you know is taken from you? Do you curse God? Do you walk away from Him? Do you trust Him? Do you cry out to Him? I don't know about you but I'm glad that I can call out to Him. I'm glad He listens and He cares for me. What a lonely life it would be if we didn't have Him.
I hope that some of these great folks make their mess into a message of hope and restoration. God wants His name to be praised from this broken city. God wants Galveston! Please keep this world away from us in your prayers as they seek to find their way, no God's way, through this disaster.
Ron
Friday, October 3, 2008
ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
Not much time to type, but please remember us in your prayers as we FINALLY get our redeployment orders. We will be heading to Pasadena Texas or Seabrook Texas to assist in cooking and/or serving meals. That means we won't be coming home until Thursday. God isn't done with the Pioneer Trailblazers in Texas!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Finding Flexibility through Insanity
After writing the blog from yesterday evening (see below) so much has changed. As a Missions Pastor, I've trained and trained on the necessity to be flexible, but I must confess that I'm just about at the edge of my willingness to be flexible and fluid.
From the beginning of this trip up until now, the organization of the Salvation Army has been disasterous. They are highly incapable of making any type of decision and then executing the decision. Instead they change their minds.
I will avoid citing the countless examples. One of the most frustrating examples is our departure. We were told we would initally be here for 13 days...then it was moved to 11 days. Yesterday we thought we would be home for the weekend. In the team's mind we were going to be with our families by Saturday so we were thinking in that direction. Now the Salvation Army says we will probably be relocating to serve in Seabrook Texas. There is a lot of devastation in this area and the Georgia Baptist need some reinforcements. I'm excited about getting to help them but if I'm going to be going just to hang out until October 9th, I'm not going to be a happy camper.
All we know now is that we will be sleeping our final evening in this building and then we will be moving out tomorrow. We will either be coming home tomorrow or we will be driving south to the area near Galveston.
Thanks for your prayers during this mission and I ask you to continue to pray that God's will be done for this team. IF there is "mission" work to be done, then we all agree that we want to go. IF we are only going to please an organization then pray that they will let us return home.
I will not have computer access after tomorrow so this will be my final blog for the week. Be blessed my friends!
Ron
From the beginning of this trip up until now, the organization of the Salvation Army has been disasterous. They are highly incapable of making any type of decision and then executing the decision. Instead they change their minds.
I will avoid citing the countless examples. One of the most frustrating examples is our departure. We were told we would initally be here for 13 days...then it was moved to 11 days. Yesterday we thought we would be home for the weekend. In the team's mind we were going to be with our families by Saturday so we were thinking in that direction. Now the Salvation Army says we will probably be relocating to serve in Seabrook Texas. There is a lot of devastation in this area and the Georgia Baptist need some reinforcements. I'm excited about getting to help them but if I'm going to be going just to hang out until October 9th, I'm not going to be a happy camper.
All we know now is that we will be sleeping our final evening in this building and then we will be moving out tomorrow. We will either be coming home tomorrow or we will be driving south to the area near Galveston.
Thanks for your prayers during this mission and I ask you to continue to pray that God's will be done for this team. IF there is "mission" work to be done, then we all agree that we want to go. IF we are only going to please an organization then pray that they will let us return home.
I will not have computer access after tomorrow so this will be my final blog for the week. Be blessed my friends!
Ron
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Texas Sized Task
Hello from Beaumont Texas. I have a little access to computer this evening so I wanted to blog really quick with an update.
They say everything is bigger in Texas and from the looks of things, hurricane relief is no different. So far we, the Southern Baptists of Virginia have cooked 144,984 meals. This is not a misprint. It is the official total. At one point, the two kitchens on site were putting out 20,000 meals per day. By the time our team arrived we were putting out about 7500 meals per day. It's amazing how much food two teams can provide. All in all we know of 26 states worth of Southern Baptist that have responded to this disaster and served as Christ would serve.
Our days have been about 18 hours long...no joke...we get up at 3:45 or 4:30...no joke...and go to bed at 9 or 10...only to get up again at 4:00...no joke. It is physically demanding, but extremely rewarding! How great it has been to to work alongside of my dad on this mission experience. We have seen some incredible things together. Having 2 Rons in the group certainly kept things interesting and fun!
It's been an incredible experience. I've seen things I've only ever dreamed of seeing. You know, I love hurricanes and am fascinated by their power and destruction. Now I've seen first hand just how horrific it can be for people to truly lose everything. We live in our little comfortable world and see these images on TV of people that say they've lost it all but their lives. This week I met those people. I walked through shells of what was once a home. You could literally walk through walls because so much of the homes were destroyed. In Sabine Pass Texas, me dad, and Trish worked a feeding unit and witnessed total devastation. I have some incredible shots that I will post next week of what an 8-foot storm surge 3 miles from the nearest water can do to a wonderful little community that's a lot like our own Max MEadows.
I met a man named Sam. Sam was sitting in what was once his garage. He owns/owned a beautiful white home in this town and now he stands by a table he pulled from the wreckage and fights back the tears as he thinks about the havoc nature has loosed on him and his wife Katie. I look around and the top of the garage door frame has water debris to show just how high the water was in his home. Sam is a Christian and when he was asked how we could pray with or for him, he asked that we pray for his lost neighbors! Wow!
I ask you tonight to please pray for these families that are homeless and hurting. Please check back next week for more information and pictures.
In Christ,
Ron
They say everything is bigger in Texas and from the looks of things, hurricane relief is no different. So far we, the Southern Baptists of Virginia have cooked 144,984 meals. This is not a misprint. It is the official total. At one point, the two kitchens on site were putting out 20,000 meals per day. By the time our team arrived we were putting out about 7500 meals per day. It's amazing how much food two teams can provide. All in all we know of 26 states worth of Southern Baptist that have responded to this disaster and served as Christ would serve.
Our days have been about 18 hours long...no joke...we get up at 3:45 or 4:30...no joke...and go to bed at 9 or 10...only to get up again at 4:00...no joke. It is physically demanding, but extremely rewarding! How great it has been to to work alongside of my dad on this mission experience. We have seen some incredible things together. Having 2 Rons in the group certainly kept things interesting and fun!
It's been an incredible experience. I've seen things I've only ever dreamed of seeing. You know, I love hurricanes and am fascinated by their power and destruction. Now I've seen first hand just how horrific it can be for people to truly lose everything. We live in our little comfortable world and see these images on TV of people that say they've lost it all but their lives. This week I met those people. I walked through shells of what was once a home. You could literally walk through walls because so much of the homes were destroyed. In Sabine Pass Texas, me dad, and Trish worked a feeding unit and witnessed total devastation. I have some incredible shots that I will post next week of what an 8-foot storm surge 3 miles from the nearest water can do to a wonderful little community that's a lot like our own Max MEadows.
I met a man named Sam. Sam was sitting in what was once his garage. He owns/owned a beautiful white home in this town and now he stands by a table he pulled from the wreckage and fights back the tears as he thinks about the havoc nature has loosed on him and his wife Katie. I look around and the top of the garage door frame has water debris to show just how high the water was in his home. Sam is a Christian and when he was asked how we could pray with or for him, he asked that we pray for his lost neighbors! Wow!
I ask you tonight to please pray for these families that are homeless and hurting. Please check back next week for more information and pictures.
In Christ,
Ron
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