.....Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs

Singing and making melody to the Lord is the Christian's way of saying that God is so awesome that thinking and talking will not be enough. There needs to be deep feeling and hence, there needs to be singing.  I can still hear a song we used to sing on Sunday nights at the church my Dad pastored: "There's within my heart a melody, Jesus whispers sweet and low, fear not I am with thee, peace be still, in all of life's ebb and flow...Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go."  When I raised my kids, the kitchen was always our place of merriment not just because we liked to eat, but because that is where we had music playing and bodies moving to the beat of the songs.  Let's face it, music brings out in us something very natural. But in Ephesians 5: 18-19, Paul is referring to something supernatural.  He makes the point that when we are together and under the influence of the Spirit, we are to "speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord." Our family's dance parties in the kitchen are nothing compared to the hilarity of being filled with the Spirit and making a joyful noise unto the Lord.  Though we do not get our theology from a song, when we as believers speak to one another in psalms and hymns, we are prophetically revealing God's heart to one another. I am not going to lie here; there is something about worshiping in song with my African brothers and sisters that is not like anything I have experienced stateside!!!  I hope to sing with my team members and our co-laborers in Christ at the Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go."  I'M GOING TO AFRICA AND I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!

Spur one another on to faith and good deeds......

As a college coach, it was my job "to arouse, to excite, to call into action" my athletes for the competition they were to participate in on the basketball court.  It never ceased to amaze me the energy that could be generated in the lockeroom before a huge ball game.  As important as enthusiasm is, sometimes athletes can be overstimulated before a contest, and it can have an adverse effect upon performance.  But as a Christian, can you ever be excited to love each other too much, or to perform too many good works?  When is the last time someone attentively considered your trials, difficulties and weaknesses?  When is the last time I felt for another and encouraged my brother or sister in Christ to an increase of love to God or to one another? The proof of spurring one another on is seen in being fruitful in good works.  I pray that as we distribute the wheelchairs in Uganda,  our lives will stimulate and encourage the agape love we have for our African brothers and sisters.

Love one another.........

I wonder what it must have been like to have experienced firsthand being in close proximity to Jesus and being one of the handful of believers who were a part of the early Church?  From reading the book of Acts, it appeared that the first-century Christians knew what it meant to be in real community with one another.  They seemed to relate with a depth and commitment that made the metaphor "body of Christ" a perfect description for the Church.  On the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was sent, I think Jesus had something much greater in mind than the Body of Christ mistaking community for friendliness, courtesy, or sociability.  Jesus made his marching orders very clear for His followers.  He said, "love each other, just as I have loved you." (John 13:34)  Truth told, I have all kinds of reasons why I don't love others as Christ has loved me.  I might get used and have to give up some of my time.  I might have to get too invested in the life of someone else; and let's be honest, that would take too much attention away from what's most important to me......me, my family, my job, my leisure time.  It might be dangerous and cost me too much emotionally, financially, and physically.  I struggle with all these excuses in practicing the command to love one another.  Jesus Christ loves us and wants us to love and serve one another.  Mission trips are one way I have been stretched to live out Christ's marching orders.  As we leave for Uganda,  I pray that the Holy Spirit will be poured out on us so that indeed, our African brothers and sisters will know we are Christians by our love.

Friend, I'll be there for you.......accept one another

For eleven years, one of the highest rated shows on television was the series "Cheers."  I think one of the reasons for the show's popularity had something to do with its ability to tap into a deep human longing for community.  The series showed people who care about each other,  people who shared an emotional bond, who accepted one another in spite of human frailties, failings and idiosyncrasies.  Take a look at the theme song:
Cheers
Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you’ve got;
Taking a break from all your worries
 Sure would help a lot.
Wouldn’t you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they’re always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to be where everybody knows your name.

Friends
I’ll be there for you (when the rain starts to pour)
I’ll be there for you (like I’ve been there before)
I’ll be there for you (’cause you’re there for me too)

Apart from God, we define ourselves horizontally--by the ways in which we are different from other humans. The problem with defining ourselves in this way is that inevitably it will draw us to those who are like us and alienate us from those who are different from us.  The Bible offers us a better way of self-definition; it is found in a vertical identity, where our Creator assigns and reveals to us who we are in relationship with Him.  In Christ, our basis for acceptance for ourselves and with one another is not our race, sex, language, socioeconomic status, intelligence, popularity, or good looks.  As we travel to Uganda this summer, it is our desire to share with our brothers and sisters there the unconditional acceptance of Jesus Christ. We hope that when we leave, we will know some of their names, and that they will be glad we came.

Fellowship .....committment to one another.

From my study of God's Word I have learned that in worship we are committed to God, in service we are committed to serve, in evangelism we are committed to share, in discipleship we are committed to learn, and in fellowship, we are committed to one another.  The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia: common, having in common, sharing.  In Acts 2:42 we read, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."  These followers of Christ shared their lives together.  This is amplified in 44-45, "All the believers were together and had everything in common, selling their possessions and goods, they gave to everyone as he had need."  For years this passage has baffled me.  Why did these people work in unity, function in unity, and devote themselves to unity?  Studies have been done among former POW's to decide what procedures used by the enemy had the best result in breaking down their spirit.  The findings revealed that it was not torture or physical deprivation that broke down these prisoners as quickly as did solitary confinement or disrupted relationships caused by frequent changing of personnel.  These POW's were not sustained by faith in their country or by the cause for which they fought, but rather from the close attachments they had developed to the small military units to which they belonged.  Although this is an example from the world, it shows that created beings and recreated beings, can't do without fellowship with one another. We are a close family and we are called to share in one anothers lives.  As we leave for Uganda, we need to demonstrate that Christianity is not a sole occupation.  It is a shared experience based on love and it is this sharing together that builds us up.  It is my prayer that we will so love one another that our African brothers and sisters will see in our commitment to relationships, the love of Jesus Christ.

Comfort one another.....the power of just being there....

Have you ever been in a situation in your life when there was nothing anyone could really say or do that could really comfort you? So many times in our lives we are faced with circumstances where someone we care about is suffering and we just don't know what we can do to help them.  A friend's cancer has returned, a loved one suffers a miscarriage, a parent is in hospice care and at the end of their life, a spouse leaves their marriage, a friend dies unexpectedly.  We have no answers and we can't fix the problem and are left feeling totally inadequate.  In the Bible, Job's friends came to comfort and console him and were totally overwhelmed when they came face to face with him. So they sat with him for seven days and seven nights and nobody said a word.  That's the power of being there.  Being there says, "I care about you and I care about your suffering."  Being there puts you in a position where God can uniquely use you, even if you never open your mouth!!  I am leaving to travel to Uganda with someone who did that for me this past year!!! It is Nancy's and my desire to bring the comfort of Jesus to those who need not only a wheelchair, but the power of His presence in our willingness to come.  Come, Holy Spirit, Come.

Live in Harmony with One Another.......

As a college basketball coach for 25 years, reporters would often ask me, "Coach, what is the secret of teams that win?"  Besides the obvious answer of recruiting highly skilled athletes, I would always tell them that the secret to getting ahead on the scoreboard is the same secret to getting ahead in life.....putting others ahead of yourself and serving each other.  To live in harmony with one another we have to be willing to be involved with everyone.  As Christians, we should not be conceited or have a higher opinion of ourselves than we should.  We need to be willing to include and care for those around us and not be snobbish toward one another.   Jesus told his disciples in Mark 9:35-37, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."  Jesus then took a child in his arms and went on to explain to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me: and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."  As we leave for Uganda, we desire to keep this eternal perspective in mind, enabling us to live in harmony with one another, rejoicing, mourning and caring for those needing wheelchairs and the Good News of Jesus Christ.  The Lord stands before us and we look to Him for all we need to carry out His purposes on this trip.

Honor one another above yourselves........

Pictured here is a delicate seashell called a "Precious Wentletrap."  It has a winding or spiral staircase and for centuries has been celebrated for its rare beauty. The length to which seashell lovers would go to find this treasure would surprise most.  What would you do for something or someone that you consider precious?  We all invest a lot of time, money, thought and prayers in caring for what we think is valuable.  If we value something, we make sure to protect, nurture and keep it well maintained.  In Romans 12: 10 we  are told to "honor one another above yourselves."  Honoring one another means more than giving someone special recognition, complimenting them, or showing respect.  In studying the word "honor" I found out that it means "to value."  In I Corinthians 7:23 where it says, "you were bought with a price..." the word "price" is the same Greek word translated "honor."  To honor one another is to treat each person as valuable, costly, of greater worth, dear, precious.  Christ is the perfect example of demonstrating how to value others by dying on the cross for our sins.  In Matt. 25: 40, Jesus said, "whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."  As we leave for Uganda, what an amazing thought that we can care for others for Jesus' sake. To think that caring for our brothers and sisters in Africa equals caring for HIm?  Wow!!  Will you join us in prayer that God will give us wisdom on how to care for each precious person who crosses our path?  We want to honor one another,  and in so doing, honor Christ Jesus. 

Bear one another's burdens........

In Galatians 6: 5 we are told that there are burdens for which each one of us must take responsibility.   We are to seek the Lord and with His enablement, we are to do what we can for ourselves.   However, the longer I live, the more convinced I am that our modern world is constantly under satanic attack and pressure.   Most of us know people who suffer from disease, sickness, loneliness, unemployment and a whole host of other pressures that just seem to be constantly escalating. There are times in each one of our lives when the pressure is so great, that it can only be handled if others will come to our aid and lend a helping hand. As we leave for Uganda, we know we will encounter those with unspeakable need.  We cannot solve all the problems we will face there, but we are admonished in Galatians 6: 2 to "bear one another's burdens."  We accept the wonderful privilege that is ours to bear the burdens of our brothers and sisters there and to do what we can to improve the quality of life for those who need a wheelchair.  We know that as we meet a physical need, we will have plenty of opportunities to meet their spiritual needs as well.   We'd ask that you be a burden bearer for us and pray that we will minister the love of Jesus Christ to all those we meet.

Be kind to one another......recovery from Prosopagnosia

In the book of Proverbs, a woman clothed with strength and dignity is described.  It says, "she openeth her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness."  As we leave for Africa, I have been thinking about this "one another" and have been wondering just exactly what does it mean to live by the law of kindness?  By definition, kindness is affectionate, loving; a sympathetic or helpful nature.   We are going to a part of the world where the disabled are treated very unkindly and yet we know in our innermost part, that kindness is a language the dumb can speak, the deaf can hear and the blind can see.  And aren't all of us as sinners  saved because of  His kindness?  Our incurable disease called sin, was taken up by the Lord Jesus Christ and in Roman 3 it says, "that His kindness leadeth to repentance."  Christ looked past our sin and saw our need for His mercy.  When you are "kind to one another" you are willing to look in the face of the hurting.  We are living in a culture of faceblindness, prosopagnosia.  The term prosopagnosia is derived from Greek: prosop meaning “face”, and agnosi meaning “without knowledge”. Accordingly, those affected with the disorder lack the ability to recognize distinguishable facial features in humans.  So often I find myself suffering from this disorder;  I don't want to look in the face of the homeless, the hungry, the needy.  I don't want to look at suffering.   As we leave for Uganda, I pray for Dove's Eyes, that as Job 6:28 says,  "I will be so kind as to look"  at the suffering, the hurting, the needy and be healed of my faceblindness.

PREPARING FOR TAKEOFF....HIS WAY!

This week Nancy and I received our checklist for the Wheels for the World Trip from Joni & Friends.  Our airline tickets will be purchased this coming week and we are officially leaving for Uganda on June 25th.  We have begun reading together a daily devotional entitled "Before You Go" which is 40 days of preparation for a short term missions trip.  According to the author Jack Hempfling, preparation for a short term mission trip involves three things:  1) preparation of the body; 2) preparation of the mind; and  3) preparation of the heart.  He points out that while the first two are important, " there is nothing that will affect the success of a short term mission team more than the level to which each member is prepared in heart."  It is our desire that we go in His strength, with His anointing and power, to do the work that He has ordained for us to do.  We want to practice the one anothers with our African brothers and sisters, and know that in the sharing of our lives, God's eternal purposes will be accomplished.