We're home. Been home since midnight Saturday night or Sunday morning. The trip back across 11 time zones is hard. Like any return trip from almost any destination, the excitement is gone, the adrenaline is gone There's not much to look forward to except suitcases full of dirty laundry.
Pastor Pavel puts this into better perspective. When asked at the first of the week what he would like to see happen, he said he wanted to establish relationships with unchurched families of the kids who attended camp. That's something to look forward to! He told the missionary, with a smile on his face, that he had addresses and phone numbers for all these families. I'm praying for this church as they move into the community to impact eternity!
We'll be doing the same at Cross Road. Pray for us as we try to impact eternity in our part of the world.
What are you looking forward to? You can answer that question in lots of ways; just make sure it will make an eternal difference in somebody's life.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
Russia Mission Trip - Post #9
We leave for the airport in about 6 hours. I'm still working! That's OK. I'll have lots of long flights to get a nap or two. But I usually don't sleep on planes. I can take a nap Sunday afternoon. And all day Monday. And Tuesday.
This trip has been successful on many fronts. Let me mention two or three. Just when it looked like reaching Talitsa was going to be a far-off dream, we saw the hand of God at work this week. A man who pastors a church in the area is also interested in reaching beyond his town and into Talitsa. An interest in the Russia people was birthed in my heart in July of 1986 when I came to the Soviet Union as part of an Economics class at Arkansas Tech University. Then when I had the opportunity to come to Russia in February 2008, God stirred a passion in my heart for the city of Talitsa. We came back in 2009 and 2010. But in 2011 there was just not much glimmer of hope that a church would be planted there. I stayed home that year but prayed anyway. This trip has shown me that God works off the radar of my understanding. My faith is strengthened and my desire to pray for and work in Talitsa is rekindled.
Another point of success is that Cross Road Baptist Church has shown it can partner with another church (this one happens to be in Russia) to accomplish kingdom goals. Two American churches (Little Rock and Louisville) sent six people to partner with the church in Ekaterinburg for a week of children's ministry. We're not really sure what to call it. It was like a day camp and we used VBS material. And it worked. Most importantly, God worked through the camp and the churches to touch lives. One parent (a non-believer) said she wanted her kids to come back day after day because she could tell a difference in them. They were singing and happy. That's what the gospel does: it wraps people in the love of Jesus and changes them. Her children are not yet believers but they have tasted of God's goodness and seen the examples of many transformed lives before them this week.
The third point of success may not look like it at first. The woman who normally directs the camp was not able to lead this year because she was pregnant. She had the baby this week. But her sister stepped up to the task and learned that God empowers his people to do what he wants them to do. Many of the Americans and Russians fought with a stomach virus. Our manpower changed on a day-to-day basis. But we trusted God to use those who were able to accomplish his purposes. Even things like travel schedules and exchanging money were messed up. But God is in control! We live in a physical world and fight spiritual battles. Satan uses both spiritual and physical things to stop us. God is sovereign in both realms and always acts in accordance with Romans 8:28. This week was a Romans 8:28 week, for sure.
We head home soon. We get home late Saturday night. Since we are traveling west, we are chasing the sun. That makes for a long, long day of travel. I think I'll schedule a few naps for next week.
This trip has been successful on many fronts. Let me mention two or three. Just when it looked like reaching Talitsa was going to be a far-off dream, we saw the hand of God at work this week. A man who pastors a church in the area is also interested in reaching beyond his town and into Talitsa. An interest in the Russia people was birthed in my heart in July of 1986 when I came to the Soviet Union as part of an Economics class at Arkansas Tech University. Then when I had the opportunity to come to Russia in February 2008, God stirred a passion in my heart for the city of Talitsa. We came back in 2009 and 2010. But in 2011 there was just not much glimmer of hope that a church would be planted there. I stayed home that year but prayed anyway. This trip has shown me that God works off the radar of my understanding. My faith is strengthened and my desire to pray for and work in Talitsa is rekindled.
Another point of success is that Cross Road Baptist Church has shown it can partner with another church (this one happens to be in Russia) to accomplish kingdom goals. Two American churches (Little Rock and Louisville) sent six people to partner with the church in Ekaterinburg for a week of children's ministry. We're not really sure what to call it. It was like a day camp and we used VBS material. And it worked. Most importantly, God worked through the camp and the churches to touch lives. One parent (a non-believer) said she wanted her kids to come back day after day because she could tell a difference in them. They were singing and happy. That's what the gospel does: it wraps people in the love of Jesus and changes them. Her children are not yet believers but they have tasted of God's goodness and seen the examples of many transformed lives before them this week.
The third point of success may not look like it at first. The woman who normally directs the camp was not able to lead this year because she was pregnant. She had the baby this week. But her sister stepped up to the task and learned that God empowers his people to do what he wants them to do. Many of the Americans and Russians fought with a stomach virus. Our manpower changed on a day-to-day basis. But we trusted God to use those who were able to accomplish his purposes. Even things like travel schedules and exchanging money were messed up. But God is in control! We live in a physical world and fight spiritual battles. Satan uses both spiritual and physical things to stop us. God is sovereign in both realms and always acts in accordance with Romans 8:28. This week was a Romans 8:28 week, for sure.
We head home soon. We get home late Saturday night. Since we are traveling west, we are chasing the sun. That makes for a long, long day of travel. I think I'll schedule a few naps for next week.
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Russia Mission Trip - Post #8
It's hard to believe that this week is almost over. The Russian believers here in Ekaterinburg are doing a wonderful job leading the Amazing Wonders Aviation VBS. The Bible lessons have been translated into Russian for the teachers. The theme song is in Russian. Even the Americans are speaking some Russian. Not very good though.
The Americans are doing the crafts and recreation, with the help of translators. Actually, the two women doing the recreation have lived here for three years so they don't need the help of translators but the rest of us do. Jessica and Jocelyn were in the IMB Journeyman program. They've been back home for a year and a half. We thought of them immediately when putting our team together for this trip. It's been a joy having them with us.
Deana, Shirley, and Gwen are doing the crafts. The translators are helpful but we have been able to communicate much of what the kids need to know just by pointing or showing them what to do. Most of the kids have wanted to use English on their crafts rather than Russian for the words and stuff. And most of them know a little English. At least enough to make me feel bad for the small amount of Russian I know.
My job has been to introduce the daily theme in the opening gathering and then to reinforce the theme in the closing gathering. I'm also teaching the kids a song in English. "Every Move I Make" is a little long but they are doing a good job and they love the choreography. A couple of girls "interviewed" me today. One question was, "Bob, do you like to dance?" I laughed inside and said, "Well, in America pastors aren't really supposed to dance." The translator said, "It's that way in Russia, too, but you are pretty good." Now keep that to yourself because I've never been, am not now, nor will I ever be a dancer! (But I'm pretty good at whatever it is I'm doing!)
Tomorrow is the last day. We'll head home Saturday and get home about midnight Saturday night. Eleven days away from home is a long time but the good news regarding our "Reaching Talitsa" emphasis and the exciting week we've had in VBS day camp makes it worthwhile.
The Americans are doing the crafts and recreation, with the help of translators. Actually, the two women doing the recreation have lived here for three years so they don't need the help of translators but the rest of us do. Jessica and Jocelyn were in the IMB Journeyman program. They've been back home for a year and a half. We thought of them immediately when putting our team together for this trip. It's been a joy having them with us.
Deana, Shirley, and Gwen are doing the crafts. The translators are helpful but we have been able to communicate much of what the kids need to know just by pointing or showing them what to do. Most of the kids have wanted to use English on their crafts rather than Russian for the words and stuff. And most of them know a little English. At least enough to make me feel bad for the small amount of Russian I know.
My job has been to introduce the daily theme in the opening gathering and then to reinforce the theme in the closing gathering. I'm also teaching the kids a song in English. "Every Move I Make" is a little long but they are doing a good job and they love the choreography. A couple of girls "interviewed" me today. One question was, "Bob, do you like to dance?" I laughed inside and said, "Well, in America pastors aren't really supposed to dance." The translator said, "It's that way in Russia, too, but you are pretty good." Now keep that to yourself because I've never been, am not now, nor will I ever be a dancer! (But I'm pretty good at whatever it is I'm doing!)
Tomorrow is the last day. We'll head home Saturday and get home about midnight Saturday night. Eleven days away from home is a long time but the good news regarding our "Reaching Talitsa" emphasis and the exciting week we've had in VBS day camp makes it worthwhile.
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Russia Mission Trip - Post #7
We've just wrapped up the second day of VBS day camp at the House of Prayer in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Everybody that was sick yesterday is feeling much better today. Just a couple of folks are not yet back to full strength. Thanks for the prayers and please keep praying for all of us to either get to 100% or stay that way for the rest of the trip.
Just like yesterday, the kids were great. They pay attention, are obedient, and treat everyone respectfully. OK, maybe not completely...they're just kids! But I am impressed with them! Today's Bible study was based on the event recorded in the book of Daniel where Daniel was thrown into a lions den because he would not pray to the king instead of to God. Sometimes we have to make a hard decision to stand strong in our faith or stand up for what the Bible says. That's not always well received by people around us. I'm not aware of any lions dens around today but we may face opposition in other ways when we stand up for the Lord. Stand up anyway! That's what Daniel did and it turned out OK for him.
One of the things I love about working with the Russia children is that they don't really understand the language barrier and don't pay much attention to it. They will smile and say something in Russian that seems to be really important to them. Something like, "Are we going to have crafts again tomorrow?" We may not understand what they are saying but we can tell by their sweet faces that it's important. We'll either smile and say, "Yes," or we'll grab one of the few who can speak both Russian and English. Most of the time a smile and "Yes" work just fine!
I know I'm clumsy when it comes to ministering to children, but the rest of our team is doing great. I'm so glad Deana, Gwen, Shirley, Jessica, and Jocelyn are here. Please keep us in your prayers as we rest tonight and go after it again tomorrow morning. (By the way, the time is 10:50 pm on Tuesday night in Ekaterinburg and 11:50 am on Tuesday morning in Little Rock. We are half way around the world!)
Just like yesterday, the kids were great. They pay attention, are obedient, and treat everyone respectfully. OK, maybe not completely...they're just kids! But I am impressed with them! Today's Bible study was based on the event recorded in the book of Daniel where Daniel was thrown into a lions den because he would not pray to the king instead of to God. Sometimes we have to make a hard decision to stand strong in our faith or stand up for what the Bible says. That's not always well received by people around us. I'm not aware of any lions dens around today but we may face opposition in other ways when we stand up for the Lord. Stand up anyway! That's what Daniel did and it turned out OK for him.
One of the things I love about working with the Russia children is that they don't really understand the language barrier and don't pay much attention to it. They will smile and say something in Russian that seems to be really important to them. Something like, "Are we going to have crafts again tomorrow?" We may not understand what they are saying but we can tell by their sweet faces that it's important. We'll either smile and say, "Yes," or we'll grab one of the few who can speak both Russian and English. Most of the time a smile and "Yes" work just fine!
I know I'm clumsy when it comes to ministering to children, but the rest of our team is doing great. I'm so glad Deana, Gwen, Shirley, Jessica, and Jocelyn are here. Please keep us in your prayers as we rest tonight and go after it again tomorrow morning. (By the way, the time is 10:50 pm on Tuesday night in Ekaterinburg and 11:50 am on Tuesday morning in Little Rock. We are half way around the world!)
Monday, August 06, 2012
Russia Mission Trip - Post #6
Today was the first day of the VBS Day Camp. About 25 children attended and had a great time. They learned about the time God stopped the waters of the Jordan River so his people could cross into the Promised Land. God is awesome and has mighty power over all he created!
Crafts, recreation, and music were home runs! The kids sang out loud - every one of them! They made bags and airplanes. And flew their foam airplanes outside. They loved it all.
On a personal note, at least four of the Americans have a stomach bug. Pray that we'll be well, hydrated, rested, and back to top form. I believe this is Satan trying to stick his nose in God's business. He can't win!
The kids love the VBS and we are loving on them. The adults, both Russian and American, are working together and with the Holy Spirit. God is at working out his plan for this week. I'm glad I'm here to experience it.
Crafts, recreation, and music were home runs! The kids sang out loud - every one of them! They made bags and airplanes. And flew their foam airplanes outside. They loved it all.
On a personal note, at least four of the Americans have a stomach bug. Pray that we'll be well, hydrated, rested, and back to top form. I believe this is Satan trying to stick his nose in God's business. He can't win!
The kids love the VBS and we are loving on them. The adults, both Russian and American, are working together and with the Holy Spirit. God is at working out his plan for this week. I'm glad I'm here to experience it.
Sunday, August 05, 2012
Russia Mission Trip - Post #5
Sunday was a great day. We headed out to the House of Prayer (all churches that are not Russia Orthodox are called this) to worship with Russian believers. The place was packed with over 100 people - men, women, boys and girls. In my limited experience in Russia, this was very refreshing to see!
I preached from the passage in Mark 8 about Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ. A Russian pastor preached from Romans 1 about the need for salvation and the change in lifestyle that brings. The pastor of the church, Pavel, preached. Yes, that's three sermons! We observed the Lord's Supper. There was music and drama. One adult man gave his testimony of coming to Christ recently. The pastor's son, Mark (14 yrs old), gave testimony of repenting and accepting Christ just this last Monday night. We prayed. I love the way Russians pray. I can't understand what they are saying but I can tell they are praying from their hearts.
The service lasted over two hours. We commented about the length of it and how American Baptists couldn't take it. But then I thought about our Sunday morning routine. Bible study begins at 9:45 and we are usually leaving shortly after noon. That's over two hours! We just don't spend the time all together in one place. Maybe we should try a service like this some time.
We had lunch at the church before decorating for VBS. The meal was more of a snack by Russian standards. Cheese and bread. Bread with cabbage and potatoes. Cupcakes. Apple cake. Cucumbers. Watermelon. Another kind of melon. Candy. Coffee and tea. It had been a long time since breakfast (it was about 2:00 now) so we partook generously!
The church is now decorated for VBS. Balloons and streamers. Airplanes and posters. We prayed for God to work his will this week in us and through us. Join us in this prayer as we hope to impact many families this week.
I preached from the passage in Mark 8 about Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ. A Russian pastor preached from Romans 1 about the need for salvation and the change in lifestyle that brings. The pastor of the church, Pavel, preached. Yes, that's three sermons! We observed the Lord's Supper. There was music and drama. One adult man gave his testimony of coming to Christ recently. The pastor's son, Mark (14 yrs old), gave testimony of repenting and accepting Christ just this last Monday night. We prayed. I love the way Russians pray. I can't understand what they are saying but I can tell they are praying from their hearts.
The service lasted over two hours. We commented about the length of it and how American Baptists couldn't take it. But then I thought about our Sunday morning routine. Bible study begins at 9:45 and we are usually leaving shortly after noon. That's over two hours! We just don't spend the time all together in one place. Maybe we should try a service like this some time.
We had lunch at the church before decorating for VBS. The meal was more of a snack by Russian standards. Cheese and bread. Bread with cabbage and potatoes. Cupcakes. Apple cake. Cucumbers. Watermelon. Another kind of melon. Candy. Coffee and tea. It had been a long time since breakfast (it was about 2:00 now) so we partook generously!
The church is now decorated for VBS. Balloons and streamers. Airplanes and posters. We prayed for God to work his will this week in us and through us. Join us in this prayer as we hope to impact many families this week.
Saturday, August 04, 2012
Russia Mission Trip - Post #4
We had a good day of preparation today. The Americans and Russians met together at the House of Prayer (the church) to talk about next week's VBS. Then we hit the streets to let children and families know about the event. We spent about an hour playing in the courtyard of an apartment complex. The idea was to connect with children and their parents. We probably started a little early because the crowd was sparse. Those who were in the courtyard noticed us and the Russians were able to talk with a few families. We hope to see more kids tomorrow.
After about an hour, the Americans took to the streets for a little sight-seeing and souvenir shopping. The Russians went to another complex to meet more families.
The sight-seeing tour led us to The Church on the Blood. This Russian Orthodox church is built on the exact site where Romanov czar Nicholas II and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War.
We rode the metro today. I've only ridden subways in New York City, Ekaterinburg, and Moscow. Ekaterinburg's subway stations are extremely clean. New Yorkers ought to take a lesson from the Russians in this. Ekaterinburg has a population of over two million people. Although the streets were packed with cars today (Saturday), the metro stations are packed through the week. Lots of folks move through these areas every day. Deana found a little shop underground that sells rings that she really likes, among other items. It is operated by a Russian Orthodox convent. Most of the shoppers in our group picked up a thing or two here.
Our next stop was a shopping area near the circus. This is an outdoor gathering of merchants selling products ranging from old collectable coins to hand-made crafts to Martrioshka (nesting) dolls. A lot of money changes hands in this place that is packed with people looking for a bargain or a souvenir.
Back to sight-seeing. The next stop was the Memorial for the Politically Oppressed. The site is built around mass graves found several years ago. In the graves are the remains of tens of thousands of people who were executed for their religious beliefs during the communistic rule of Stalin. While people of all religious faiths were persecuted during his regime, Christianity seems to be the center of the persecution because the Christian cross takes a dominant physical, architectural position in the memorial. Many people died for their faith. My prayer is that the current inhabitants of Ekaterinburg will come to and cling to Jesus Christ even though such decisions may lead to persecution.
Our last stop on the sight-seeing tour was the border between two continents: Asia and Europe. We stood on the line! One foot in one continent and the other foot in another continent. The border is a popular stop for wedding parties. Russian weddings begin at the government office where it's all official. Then the wedding party makes the rounds of popular places in the area. The entire wedding party and families move through the city. Several were at the border while we were there. Their traditions are a little different than our. They probably would say the same thing about a traditional American wedding!
Then we shopped some more, had supper in the food court of Mega Mall (the name is accurate), and headed home to the Home Hotel. We'll attend the House of Prayer tomorrow for worship services then spend the afternoon decorating for VBS. Please pray that we can help the Russian Christians make an impact among families for Jesus Christ.
After about an hour, the Americans took to the streets for a little sight-seeing and souvenir shopping. The Russians went to another complex to meet more families.
The sight-seeing tour led us to The Church on the Blood. This Russian Orthodox church is built on the exact site where Romanov czar Nicholas II and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War.
We rode the metro today. I've only ridden subways in New York City, Ekaterinburg, and Moscow. Ekaterinburg's subway stations are extremely clean. New Yorkers ought to take a lesson from the Russians in this. Ekaterinburg has a population of over two million people. Although the streets were packed with cars today (Saturday), the metro stations are packed through the week. Lots of folks move through these areas every day. Deana found a little shop underground that sells rings that she really likes, among other items. It is operated by a Russian Orthodox convent. Most of the shoppers in our group picked up a thing or two here.
Our next stop was a shopping area near the circus. This is an outdoor gathering of merchants selling products ranging from old collectable coins to hand-made crafts to Martrioshka (nesting) dolls. A lot of money changes hands in this place that is packed with people looking for a bargain or a souvenir.
Back to sight-seeing. The next stop was the Memorial for the Politically Oppressed. The site is built around mass graves found several years ago. In the graves are the remains of tens of thousands of people who were executed for their religious beliefs during the communistic rule of Stalin. While people of all religious faiths were persecuted during his regime, Christianity seems to be the center of the persecution because the Christian cross takes a dominant physical, architectural position in the memorial. Many people died for their faith. My prayer is that the current inhabitants of Ekaterinburg will come to and cling to Jesus Christ even though such decisions may lead to persecution.
Our last stop on the sight-seeing tour was the border between two continents: Asia and Europe. We stood on the line! One foot in one continent and the other foot in another continent. The border is a popular stop for wedding parties. Russian weddings begin at the government office where it's all official. Then the wedding party makes the rounds of popular places in the area. The entire wedding party and families move through the city. Several were at the border while we were there. Their traditions are a little different than our. They probably would say the same thing about a traditional American wedding!
Then we shopped some more, had supper in the food court of Mega Mall (the name is accurate), and headed home to the Home Hotel. We'll attend the House of Prayer tomorrow for worship services then spend the afternoon decorating for VBS. Please pray that we can help the Russian Christians make an impact among families for Jesus Christ.
Friday, August 03, 2012
Russia Mission Trip - Post #3
This is Friday night, actually it's already Saturday morning. We've spent the evening in the home of a Russia couple who are active in a Baptist church in Ekaterinburg. The church is having a day camp next week and we are here to help them. We had supper with some of the camp's leadership so we could get to know each other and talk about the week ahead. It's going to be a busy week.
We do some preliminary work tomorrow (later this morning, really!) at the church then head out to some parks/playgrounds to create some interest. We'll interact with families, play games with the kids, and ask parents for permission for their children to attend (a requirement in Russia).
Please pray for our team: Deana, Gwen, Shirley, Jessica, Jocelyn, and me. Pray for the Russians - I haven't got all their names, yet. Pray that the children will be interested and the parents will be approving. Pray that the gospel will be heard and embraced.
We do some preliminary work tomorrow (later this morning, really!) at the church then head out to some parks/playgrounds to create some interest. We'll interact with families, play games with the kids, and ask parents for permission for their children to attend (a requirement in Russia).
Please pray for our team: Deana, Gwen, Shirley, Jessica, Jocelyn, and me. Pray for the Russians - I haven't got all their names, yet. Pray that the children will be interested and the parents will be approving. Pray that the gospel will be heard and embraced.
Russia Mission Trip - Post #2
We had a great day today, Friday, August 3.
Breakfast at Home Hotel consisted of two eggs, sunny side up with ham, bread, and some kind of berry juice that was really good. The server works really hard to speak English and she did a good job but we could tell she was a little embarrassed about it. All the staff here speaks English with some degree of success. They are much better at English than we are at Russia. We should do better.
After breakfast we headed to Talitsa. This city of about 30,000 people has been on our church's prayer list. We want to help plant a church in the city, which is Russia's equivalent of a county seat town. The drive was extra long because we usually stay in Kamishlov, a city about halfway between Ekaterinburg and Talitsa. But we didn't plan the trip that way this time. Add to that the construction detour and we were in the car about 4 hours each way. But the drive was worth it!
Our prayer for the last year or so has been that God would raise up a leader through whom God would work to plant the church. We feel it's important for the leadership to be Russian so that the church is Russian, not American. We may have met him today. His name is Vadim and he is the pastor of Spiritual Renewal Baptist Church in Troitsky. Troitsky is Talitsa's neighbor and apparently the two communities almost consider themselves to be one. The church is small, 12 years old this week, and has survived some turmoil. Vadim pastored the church a few years ago and has been back for one year. So we had never met him. The turmoil happened while he was away. He feels God has led him and his family back to this church in order to reach the community.
It seems that about the time I think I have God's plan figured out for Talitsa, I learn something that changes everything. That's how I feel today after meeting Vadim. I believe he is the man God will work through to reach the Talitsa area. I'm pretty excited about this! Will you pray with me about three things Vadim emphasized in our conversation?
- Pray that the church will regain a standing with the city officials so that they can have more freedom to minister.
- Pray that the church's members will continue to grow spiritually.
- Pray that the church will be evangelistic as they engage the community.
Let me expose some thoughts to you. On the drive to Talitsa I was praying asking God to help me understand what I've been calling "Reaching Talitsa." Should we continue? Is it time to move on? So I'm ready to partner with Vadim and lead our churches to partner together to reach Talitsa and the communities nearby. God is good and he's up to something really good!
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Russia Mission Trip - Post #1
Our day began with the sound of the alarm at 5:15. But we had not slept much. As with most trips, Deana and I stay up late the night before, get up early in the morning, and sleep very little in between. We like to go!
One reason we stayed up late last night was to repack. Our original ticket to Ekaterinburg was on Delta all the way. That changed a week or so ago and the last leg of the trip (Moscow to Ekaterinburg) is ticketed by Aeroflot. The main thing that means for us is that the baggage allowance is different than we had anticipated.
We thought we'd each get two bags free. That's not the case, though. One free and the second at $80! So we repacked!
Another reason we stayed up was to deliver Riley to Deana's parents where he'll camp out until we get back. They had plans last night so we were able to take him over there rather late. And he misses us more than other times we've been separated. I think ice cream will go a long way soothing his feelings. And swimming.
We are flying Delta and that means delays. We've been running behind from the start. Little Rock to Atlanta was delayed. But so was Atlanta to New York. We are in flight now. The captain just announced we are being rerouted to delay our arrival in New York due to weather. Our short time between flights at JFK may be evaporating. We won' t really know until we get there. Maybe the weather is keeping that one on the ground for a little while.
We were to be joined in New York by two young ladies who served as missionaries in Russia for three years. They now live in Louisville, KY. Their flight to New York was cancelled. They will now go to Atlanta, Amsterdam, and Moscow on the way to Ekaterinburg. They'll get there about five hours after we are scheduled to arrive.
Lots to pray for as we begin the journey.
1. Travel delays and safety
2. Family stuff (separation and sickness are both part of the mix back home)
3. Quick recovery from travel
4. Our willingness to let God work in and through us
Check back soon for more updates. Check Facebook for short updates, pictures, and video. facebook.com/bobloyd
One reason we stayed up late last night was to repack. Our original ticket to Ekaterinburg was on Delta all the way. That changed a week or so ago and the last leg of the trip (Moscow to Ekaterinburg) is ticketed by Aeroflot. The main thing that means for us is that the baggage allowance is different than we had anticipated.
We thought we'd each get two bags free. That's not the case, though. One free and the second at $80! So we repacked!
Another reason we stayed up was to deliver Riley to Deana's parents where he'll camp out until we get back. They had plans last night so we were able to take him over there rather late. And he misses us more than other times we've been separated. I think ice cream will go a long way soothing his feelings. And swimming.
We are flying Delta and that means delays. We've been running behind from the start. Little Rock to Atlanta was delayed. But so was Atlanta to New York. We are in flight now. The captain just announced we are being rerouted to delay our arrival in New York due to weather. Our short time between flights at JFK may be evaporating. We won' t really know until we get there. Maybe the weather is keeping that one on the ground for a little while.
We were to be joined in New York by two young ladies who served as missionaries in Russia for three years. They now live in Louisville, KY. Their flight to New York was cancelled. They will now go to Atlanta, Amsterdam, and Moscow on the way to Ekaterinburg. They'll get there about five hours after we are scheduled to arrive.
Lots to pray for as we begin the journey.
1. Travel delays and safety
2. Family stuff (separation and sickness are both part of the mix back home)
3. Quick recovery from travel
4. Our willingness to let God work in and through us
Check back soon for more updates. Check Facebook for short updates, pictures, and video. facebook.com/bobloyd
Friday, July 27, 2012
Weekly Devotional - July 27, 2012
“Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?”
Psalm 139:7 NIV
A friend’s testimony of what she’s going through as her husband faces a life-threatening infection led me to Psalm 139. King David wrote the psalm expressing attributes of God: He knows all things and is present in all places. Especially moving to me when I read Psalm 139 is the listing of places a person might go - intentionally to hide from God or unintentionally as driven by circumstances - yet God is there. And God did not arrive when that person arrived there; He was already there.
A couple of decades ago I enjoyed writing songs. Some were pretty good and others were quickly forgotten. Perhaps I wrote some of them just for myself because I cannot remember much more than a hook phrase for some. But one was written out of Psalm 139 and the phrase I remember is, “Where you are now, He’s already been.”
My friend’s circumstances - and my own, perhaps yours, too - have taken her to unexpected places. She wrote in a Facebook post that she felt like she was on an emotional roller coaster: at times high in the clouds then suddenly in the depths. You’ve been there, haven’t you? The good news / bad news of a medical emergency? The sudden change in a job situation? The chill of an empty house when the spouse has moved out? The constant ringing of the phone and you know it’s bill collectors?
“Where you are now, He’s already been.” If you were to try to escape God’s presence you would find he is waiting for you around the corner or in your hiding place. If circumstances drive you to the heights and depths of emotion you will find God is there.
And God is not there to punish you but to restore you, refresh you, and redeem you. Pray that God will meet you where you are today.
Freedom of Speech
Interesting how the pendulum swings. Fifty years ago, Christian principles were more a part of the fabric of our society than today. Divorce was kept quiet and not seen as a good way to resolve marital problems. Abortion was still illegal and tabu. Sexual promiscuity was gaining popularity but nothing like we know now. Homosexuality was not talked about or portrayed in entertainment media.
I'm not saying that all these social issues are new to our generation. They were all part of the biblical story. And they were all considered to be sin because God's word established it so. What has changed over the last 50 years, or the last 4,000 years, is that all these social issues are no longer tabu, no longer kept out of the media, and no longer considered to be sin.
God's word has not changed.
In the news this week is the topic of traditional/biblical marriage versus gay marriage. Dan Cathy, President and COO of Chick-Fil-A, said in an interview with a Baptist paper that his company (privately owned by his family) was built upon Christian values. One of those values is the belief and adherence to the biblical definition of marriage. (Read the interview here - http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38271)
The reaction of many in media, the LGBT community, Hollywood, and left-leaning politicians has been heavy and harsh. Mayors of three cities - Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco - have publicly stated that Chick-Fil-A is not welcome in their cities because of this. Social media and blogs are filled with opinions.
To say that we live in a country that values freedom of speech would make one scratch his head. We say we value freedom of speech. Our constitution's First Amendment guarantees it. But when a Christian speaks freely about his convictions, the firestorm begins. Our actions speak louder than our words.
Here are some examples of what I think is a double standard regarding free speech.
Nabisco is marketing Oreos with cream stuffing in the colors of the rainbow, symbolic of Gay Pride. The LA Times posted an article today talking about using gay pride as a business strategy. Noted in the article are J.C. Penney, American Express, and Cisco. JCP "has earned kudos from many corners (gay and non-gay alike) for sticking with its views" even though the company struggles financially.
The article cites another article from the Economist stating that the workforce may be comprised of 5-10% homosexuals. Both sides would argue the percentages but it's probably safe to extend that percentage to the general populations. "The LGBT community may be small, but it and its backers are vocal." Yes they are. Ask Dan Cathy. (LA Times article http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-oreo-gay-pride-7cookie-reaction-20120626,0,6550055.htmlstory)
Willow Creek Community Church hosted a leadership summit last year. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz withdrew from the conference under pressure from the gay community because of Willow Creek's affiliation with Exodus International (a ministry for those seeking to turn from homosexuality). An estimated 72,000 people were to participate in the conference; about 700 signed the petition threatening to boycott Starbucks if Schultz made his presentation.
Hybels clarified his and the church's position on marriage. "Now, what is true is that we challenge homosexuals and heterosexuals to live out the sexual ethics taught in the scriptures which encourages full sexual expression between a man and a woman in the context of marriage and prescribes sexual abstinence and purity for everybody else.” The biblical standard was taken to task.
Rather than call for a boycott of Starbucks - unfortunately, some Christians did - Hybels said, "Buy a cup of Starbuck coffee in the next couple of days and just show some Christian goodwill." Boycotts by Christians are generally mocked while a boycott by homosexuals was taken seriously. (Read the article about this http://www.christianpost.com/news/willow-creek-church-is-not-anti-gay-pastor-clarifies-53805/)
Here's my point: Christians are in the minority in America and Christian values no longer run throughout the fabric of our country's principles. This is evidenced by the way Christians are not allowed free speech. Sure, we can speak about stuff that the culture doesn't care about but let a Christian get vocal about a key social issue and the oppression begins.
I'm all for free speech. Let the Christian and the Muslim and the atheist speak freely. Let the proponents of the biblical family/marriage and the homosexuals speak freely. Without everyone having freedom of speech, nobody really does.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Weekly Devotional - July 20, 2012
"Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land
from the hand of the king of Assyria?"
from the hand of the king of Assyria?"
2 Kings 18:33 NIV
The king of Assyria was a brutal leader. His army had conquered everyone around, including the northern kingdom Israel. Then he sent messengers to Hezekiah, king of the southern kingdom Judah. The message was simple: surrender. Even mighty Egypt was no match for Assyria. Surrender was the logical action to take.
Hezekiah's representatives asked the Assyrian messengers to speak in Aramaic rather than in Hebrew so the Jewish people in the city would not be able to understand them. Instead, the Assyrians spoke even louder in Hebrew. They told the Jewish people how powerful their army was and how they had defeated all enemies.
And they mocked God by putting him in the same category with all other gods. If the other gods had not been able to stop Assyria's army, then the Hebrew god would be of no help, either.
The Assyrians only knew false gods. They had never encountered the God of the Hebrews. They imagined Judah's God to be just like all the others. And all the others had been powerless.
But Hezekiah prayed to the all-powerful God. And Isaiah prophesied the fall of the Assyrian king. God responded by killing 185,000 Assyrians in camp that night. The king retreated and was later killed by his own sons while worshiping his false god.
God will not be mocked. He will not be considered just as any other god. He is the one true God who is supreme and sovereign.
You may face an enemy that mocks God. You may hear a message like Hezekiah heard: "What god can help you?" No false god can but the living God will. Pray asking God to help you stand firm in the face of enemy attacks.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Attributes of Discipleship - Stetzer
In 2008, LifeWay Research commissioned a survey of more than 7,000 churches to discover the principles involved with healthy congregations. That research made up the framework for Transformational Church, a book I coauthored with Thom Rainer.The results allowed us to identify eight Biblical factors that consistently show up in the life of a maturing believer. Those "attributes of discipleship" are:
Last year, we conducted another study to focus not on the church, but on the individual believer. In this study, we asked more than 4,000 people about their spiritual lives and level of maturity. This was not a convenience sample drawn from participating churches, but a randomly selected sample to ensure an even higher level of research accuracy.
- Bible engagement
- Obeying God and denying self
- Serving God and others
- Sharing Christ
- Exercising faith
- Seeking God
- Building relationships
- Unashamed transparency
Spiritual growth does not happen by accident, and since Jesus has called us to make disciples of all nations, we wanted to discover the common traits for those maturing in their faith. It goes without saying that such attributes do not make you a Chrisitan but, rather, are an outgrowth of being a Christian. Furthermore, these are measurements of growth, but only God causes the growth. (http://www.edstetzer.com/2012/07/massive-lifeway-research-proje.html)
Now we ought to assess our own spiritual maturity to learn where we can improve. And the church - your church, my church - should look closely at our discipling process to see how we might better carry out the Great Commission.
Different Views
Jerry Sandusky will spend the rest of his life in jail for sexually abusing several boys over the last couple of decades. As a coach for Penn State University, Sandusky had access and freedom and influence. He misused all that. He ought to spend the rest of his life in jail.
Listening to Dan Patrick on the radio this morning, Dan said that Sandusky will spend the rest of his life in jail and then die and go to hell. I understand the sentiment but not the theology.
At the base of this kind of thinking is the idea that sin sends a person to hell. Maybe it has to be a really big sin. Like sexually abusing children.
The Bible says that breaking one point of God's law is the same as breaking all the law (James 2:10). The Bible says that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). And the Bible says that all sinners deserve death (Romans 6:23). If that is the totality of what the Bible says about sin, then Jerry Sandusky is undoubtedly going to hell.
But the Bible says more about the subject. The rest of Romans 6:23 says, "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." That's good news because it means that any sinner can have eternal life!
The Bible also says that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). And if we confess our sins God will forgive us of our sins (1 John 1:9).
If only the first part is true then we are all going to hell. But if all of this is true then it's possible that anyone can go to heaven.
I understand that you may be uncomfortable with the thought that anyone can go to heaven. I am, too. But I wouldn't have it any other way because I could be going to hell if it were not for the grace of God.
Grace is what makes it possible for Jerry Sandusky to go to heaven. But if he doesn't put his faith in Jesus Christ he will go to hell.
A person's eternal destination depends not upon their sins but upon their decision to accept by faith (or not) the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. Would you consider accepting this gift by faith? Message me in the comments if you would like to talk more about it.
Listening to Dan Patrick on the radio this morning, Dan said that Sandusky will spend the rest of his life in jail and then die and go to hell. I understand the sentiment but not the theology.
At the base of this kind of thinking is the idea that sin sends a person to hell. Maybe it has to be a really big sin. Like sexually abusing children.
The Bible says that breaking one point of God's law is the same as breaking all the law (James 2:10). The Bible says that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). And the Bible says that all sinners deserve death (Romans 6:23). If that is the totality of what the Bible says about sin, then Jerry Sandusky is undoubtedly going to hell.
But the Bible says more about the subject. The rest of Romans 6:23 says, "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." That's good news because it means that any sinner can have eternal life!
The Bible also says that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). And if we confess our sins God will forgive us of our sins (1 John 1:9).
If only the first part is true then we are all going to hell. But if all of this is true then it's possible that anyone can go to heaven.
I understand that you may be uncomfortable with the thought that anyone can go to heaven. I am, too. But I wouldn't have it any other way because I could be going to hell if it were not for the grace of God.
Grace is what makes it possible for Jerry Sandusky to go to heaven. But if he doesn't put his faith in Jesus Christ he will go to hell.
A person's eternal destination depends not upon their sins but upon their decision to accept by faith (or not) the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. Would you consider accepting this gift by faith? Message me in the comments if you would like to talk more about it.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Unplugged
I must confess that this was not a hard decision to make. We are going on a cruise and won't have internet access anyway. Still, no computer?
I plan to read a lot so I'll have to take real books with me. (Haven't decided about taking the iPad.) And I'm reading the Bible following the Chronological Plan on youversion.com so I'll have to plan ahead and write down the schedule for the days we are gone.
Are you like me? Are you dependent upon technology? It's not all bad but it is some bad. A vacation from technology may be just what I need so I'll try it. The mission trip to Russia is just a couple of weeks away. Maybe I can make it those eleven days without the laptop, too.
But for now, I'm using the MacBook Pro to post to the blog, checking text messages on the iPhone, and reading on the iPad. Is there a Technology-ics Anonymous around town?
Friday, July 13, 2012
Weekly Devotional - July 13, 2012
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."
Colossians 2:8 NIV
The last century and a half have been times of upheaval in one of the basic ideas about human origin. The advancement of the Theory of Evolution led to a rejection by many of the truths found in God's word. And, as should be the case, when one component of a belief system falls, folks begin to reject more, if not all, of the beliefs.
The crisis of belief is this: Do we believe the Bible or do we believe something that stands to contradict the Bible? If we believe the Bible - and as Christians we say we do - then everything must filter through it before we can accept it as truth. The Bible does tell of the creation of the universe and the origin of the human race. I believe this is accurate so anything that has to do with creation or origin must agree with Scripture or that teaching is false.
When my boys were pre-schoolers they all had a common trait: they denied an accusation if it made them look bad. My middle son's name is Caleb Tanner Loyd. As he learned to write the letters of his name, he always made the Ns capitals and backwards. One day I found his full name neatly printed on the wall of his bedroom in crayon. Capital and backwards Ns just like always. Standing there with him looking at the wall I asked him if he had written his name on the wall. He consistently and emphatically denied that he had done it. Any handwriting expert - or novice, for that matter - could tell he had!
Crisis of belief: Do I believe the Bible when it says we are all sinners or do I believe we are all innately good? You are faced with a crisis of belief many times each day. Do you believe the Bible to be true and the only worthy guide for life or do you accept human philosophies in its place? Pray that God will help you understand and apply all the Bible teaches.
Monday, July 09, 2012
Incentive
What does it take to motivate you? Some of us need money or recognition. Others of us just have an inner drive to get it done. I've been trying to motivate my son Riley to read this summer. He's going into 6th grade and I want him to become a lifelong reader. That's a struggle I have and is one of the reasons I'm not finished with my DMin project.
During the Chick-Fil-A Leadercast, John Maxwell said his father did not give him and his siblings an allowance for doing chores because you did chores because you are part of the family. Instead, his father gave them an allowance for reading books. Not just any books but books that would challenge their reading ability and their thought processes.
I like that idea so I adopted it for Riley for this summer. We need to save money wherever we can so Riley tags along with me when school is out instead of going to a daycare or something like that. Since I have a certain amount of study and sermon prep to do, he has lots of time for reading.
He's spent most of that time watching TV or playing video games, though. That's only partially his fault. I must carry most of the blame.
Anyway, we went to Barnes & Noble Bookstore several weeks ago and picked out four books for his summer reading program. And we added some books of the Bible to round out a list of biographies, mysteries, fun stuff, and scripture.
And he gets a handsome allowance when he completes each book. To date, I am out ZERO DOLLARS! He's always asking for an allowance so I told him about Maxwell's reading deal. We both liked it. He just doesn't stick with it very long. I understand.
But when I make him sit down and read, like right now, he's constantly telling me about something in the book. Maybe we are making progress.
Sometimes you just have to do something you're not all that excited about in order to gain something you really want. For Riley, that means reading in order to get an allowance.
Will y'all take up a collection for an incentive for me to finish my DMin project? I need something. Maybe I just need to do what I'm not all that excited about in order to gain something that would be really meaningful to me.
During the Chick-Fil-A Leadercast, John Maxwell said his father did not give him and his siblings an allowance for doing chores because you did chores because you are part of the family. Instead, his father gave them an allowance for reading books. Not just any books but books that would challenge their reading ability and their thought processes.
I like that idea so I adopted it for Riley for this summer. We need to save money wherever we can so Riley tags along with me when school is out instead of going to a daycare or something like that. Since I have a certain amount of study and sermon prep to do, he has lots of time for reading.
He's spent most of that time watching TV or playing video games, though. That's only partially his fault. I must carry most of the blame.
Anyway, we went to Barnes & Noble Bookstore several weeks ago and picked out four books for his summer reading program. And we added some books of the Bible to round out a list of biographies, mysteries, fun stuff, and scripture.
And he gets a handsome allowance when he completes each book. To date, I am out ZERO DOLLARS! He's always asking for an allowance so I told him about Maxwell's reading deal. We both liked it. He just doesn't stick with it very long. I understand.
But when I make him sit down and read, like right now, he's constantly telling me about something in the book. Maybe we are making progress.
Sometimes you just have to do something you're not all that excited about in order to gain something you really want. For Riley, that means reading in order to get an allowance.
Will y'all take up a collection for an incentive for me to finish my DMin project? I need something. Maybe I just need to do what I'm not all that excited about in order to gain something that would be really meaningful to me.
Friday, July 06, 2012
Weekly Devotional - July 6, 2012
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine
and puts them into practice is like a wise man
who built his house on the rock."
Matthew 7:24 NIV
You may find this hard to believe if you live in a part of the country that is experiencing drought - like in Arkansas. But just a few days ago in Invermere, British Columbia, heavy rains led to the collapse of a retaining wall supporting a road into a residential community. Engineers say the wall was properly constructed but that the recent influx of water is the problem.
What? Aren't retaining walls built for the purpose of keeping soil from sliding downward? And isn't rainfall one of the things that can cause the soil to slide? I'm not an engineer and I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night, so my thinking might not be up to par on this topic.
But I do know that Jesus talked about crumbling foundations and shifting sands. The uncertainties of life can lead to problems and even downfalls. What you think is solid ground can slide out from under your feet when tempted. Your secure footing can give way when bad news or disappointment comes. It's possible to maintain control even if you haven't prepared very well by implementing some disaster control. But most likely - hasn't this been the case in your life? - the lack of preparing facilitates the crumbling foundation.
Jesus tells us to prepare for floods by building the house on a rock. The solid foundation can withstand the torrents. You can eliminate some of the disasters that lurk around the corner but you can't avoid all of them. Life will certainly be marked by problems. A good foundation minimizes and even eliminates damage.
What makes a good foundation in life? Jesus said that a good foundation that will withstand the storms of life is to hear his words and put them into practice. Do you hear the word of God? Do you obey the word of God? Pray that God will help you put into practice what his word says.
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
It's a Long Season
The baseball season in long. The teams play 162 games over six months. The the playoffs begin. The World Series caps the season in late October - a season that began in February when pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training.
Being in the lead of your division at any point in the season is an accomplishment, but the only lead that matters is after 162 games. The Reds have been five games out of first place this year. They've also been up by five games this year. The long season has an ebb and flow of wins and losses. Leads are built, diminished, and lost. In the end, the champion is not the team that scored the most runs or stole the most bases or had the longest winning streak. The championship pennant goes to the team with the best record over the long season.
My life has its ups and downs, too. I've had some winning streaks but I've also wallowed in the cellar some. Taken in narrow slices, you might conclude that my life is a huge success or a grand failure depending upon which slice you see.
God sees my life - and yours - as a whole. He notices the ups and downs, the victories and defeats, the good and the bad. But he doesn't pull the plug on us until the season is over. Then he may not pull the plug at all.
Jesus Christ died for your sins and mine. He had to because God demands punishment for our sins. That punishment is death - eternal separation from God. Yet God loves us so much that he desires to redeem us rather than punish us. So in order to meet his just demands for punishment of sins, Jesus died to take the punishment. So we don't have to!
Now, God extends an offer to each of us that, if accepted, sets us on a winning path. God freely offers salvation to everyone who will confess that Jesus is Lord. That means you repent of (turn from) your sins and follow Jesus. When you accept the free gift of salvation your unrighteousness is replaced with Christ's righteousness so that when Judgment Day comes you'll be found right with God.
Along the way you'll experience the ups and downs. You'll have amazing hit streaks. You'll commit some errors. You'll win some battles and lose some. But in the end God won't look at a scorecard to see how you've done. He'll look at a book that has written in it the names of all the redeemed.
Sure, I want my scorecard to look pretty good. But I want my name written in that book. And I know that it is because I have by faith accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord. That's the only way any of us can know we are right with God and saved by his grace.
Now, I'm rooting for you to follow Christ and press on to the end, and I'm rooting for the Reds to press on to win the pennant.
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