We Can Live At Peace With Each Other

I am honored to be serving on staff of Pacific Justice Institute who defends religious freedom, parental rights and other civil liberties without charge.

In this post-Christian world we are being pressured (in some cases, forced) to set aside strongly held biblical morals which have guided life and livelihoods for generations – nay, for ages. We are expected, not just acquiesce to, but fully accept whatever new cultural dictum is put forth. Even to the point of losing our own personal liberties and possessions to judgments from an amoral court system.

If truth be known, standing on one's faith in living out a biblical lifestyle does not always equate to intolerance or hate of another's life choices – as many charge us as doing. Most people of faith I know desire to accept others and learn to make reasonable accommodation for other's beliefs – as this 72-year old Washington businesswoman sought to do for her longtime LGBT customer. One must only listen to her appeal to know her heart when faced with the choice of accepting a light judgement:

"Your offer reveals that you don’t really understand me or what this conflict is all about. It’s about freedom, not money. I certainly don’t relish the idea of losing my business, my home, and everything else that your lawsuit threatens to take from my family, but my freedom to honor God in doing what I do best is more important. Washington’s constitution guarantees us “freedom of conscience in all matters of religious sentiment.” I cannot sell that precious freedom. You are asking me to walk in the way of a well-known betrayer, one who sold something of infinite worth for 30 pieces of silver. That is something I will not do.

I pray that you reconsider your position. I kindly served Rob for nearly a decade and would gladly continue to do so. I truly want the best for my friend. I’ve also employed and served many members of the LGBT community, and I will continue to do so regardless of what happens with this case. You chose to attack my faith and pursue this not simply as a matter of law, but to threaten my very means of working, eating, and having a home. If you are serious about clarifying the law, then I urge you to drop your claims against my home, business, and other assets and pursue the legal claims through the appeal process."

Her plea reminds me of the scripture verse in Romans 12:18 which admonishes: "If it is at all possible, as much as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

Perhaps if we were slow to assume the worse in each other, and took the time to hear each other out before forming baseless opinions or judgments, we would be able to live out that scriptural directive of living at peace with ourselves and each other.

Read the full article here:

Shame on the Silent Christian Leaders Who Refuse to Stand Against Tyranny

How one church became hospitable to their homeless neighbors

HIS House (Homeless Intervention Shelter) was founded by members of Placentia Presbyterian Church in 1989.  To the north of the Presbyterian Church stood an old two story farm house that was built about 1910.  It had three bedrooms and one bath and tenants passed back and forth over the years.  As orange groves gave way to housing in Placentia it was used as a sorority house for California State College Fullerton students. Then it came into the ownership of the Knights of Columbus, who built an adjacent hall onto the house.  However, in 1988 the Knights found the maintenance of the building a burden they could not sustain, so they put the property up for sale.

Alerted to the availability of the house, several members of the Session, the elected administrative body of the Placentia church, believed it an opportunity to buy the property and thereby provide an area of possible expansion for the church.  A further consideration was to prevent the land from falling into the hands of owners who might develop it for housing that would have been incompatible with keeping the area close to the church in harmony with its buildings.

Some resistance on the part of Session members to the purchase of the property surfaced. Members expressed doubts that the church, which had just finished a building program that caused it to assume a debt of $900,000, should not put itself into still greater indebtedness. Nevertheless, a majority in the Session supported the purchase of the property and in March 1989, at a cost of $360,000 the transfer was finalized.  The Session authorized the borrowing of a temporary loan from the Presbyterian Synod. It was still undecided how to use the house and upon inspection, it was found to be in need of serious repair. Plumbing was especially in poor condition with a large sunken tub that could not be drained.
For several months the house at 907 North Bradford remained empty while interest payments came due on a regular basis. In fact, financing became such a critical issue that in February 1990 the property was listed for sale.

In the meantime at another meeting of the Session, one of its members, Denise Eastin, active in the Featherly Park ministry, urged that the house be opened for the Drapers, a family living at the park.  The wife was soon to give birth and the baby would have to return to a tent in the park with winter approaching. The Session agreed to Ms. Eastin’s request and allowed the Drapers to move into the house. Volunteers commenced the arduous task of cleaning and making repairs so that the structure would be fit for habitation. Once Christopher Andrew Draper was born, the family continued to stay there until they found a place to live.

Development of HIS House

As it is today, in 1990 there was no lack of needy people seeking shelter. Orange County had only 500 beds (today they have 3500 beds) for homeless individuals. The Bulmaro Herrera family, comprised of fourteen members, was threatened with eviction onto the street in September when Placentia city housing inspectors declared their rental house unsafe and unsanitary. The family was ordered to leave but they had nowhere to go and not enough money to pay for an apartment. Happily, Orange County Housing officials knew that the Presbyterians had offered shelter to others in their Bradford Ave house, and the Herreras were invited to move in.  The Herrera’s became residents and the once empty house filled with the cries and laughter of the eight Herrera children.  During 1990 a total of seventeen adults and twenty five children were sheltered at HIS House, the name given to the facility.

It was now evident that a purpose had been established for HIS House, but for Session members the future still looked bleak. The church found the interest on the loan and utility bills worrisome. The HIS House committee, twelve in number and chaired by Denise Eastin, oversaw the activities at the facility, but it was difficult for them to be on call whenever something was needed at the house. The committee members would handle emergency calls. No one had experience running a shelter, yet the committee felt their ministry had to continue. To quote the late Elaine Van Deventer “Prayer was used to finance the house.”

The real estate was still listed for sale in July 1991 when a stroke of good fortune came in answer to those prayers.  The HIS House committee discovered that the California Emergency Shelter Program offered grants to run a shelter for the homeless provided that there would be a commitment to offer services for a number of years. An application to the state was successful, so the property could be removed from the market, as the grant paid a substantial portion of the church obligation to the Synod.

With the state grant in hand, the committee could now look for additional community support. They learned of an organization called Home Aid. This was a consortium of about 900 building contractors and suppliers who donated their services to assist various non-profit organizations that needed assistance. The director of Home Aid found HIS House was exactly the kind of project that met their goals.

After the renovation the shelter could house 25 individuals, couples and families.  In 1996 another grant was applied for and received to expand again.  This time 15 more beds and two additional restrooms. The capacity is now 40 beds.

In 2002, the City of Placentia purchased a home two doors north of HIS House with Redevelopment funds.  They were looking to invite a low-income family to inhabit the property. However, HIS House found out about the property and offered to pay the yearly taxes and invite graduates of the HIS House program to spend an additional “Second Step” while paying a program fee.

What HIS House offers its participants:
We offer a safe and homelike atmosphere where residents can have their own guest room, share baths and kitchens with others while looking for employment and participating in our classes. We offer no-cost housing for 4-6 months. Each week residents participate in life skill classes and an additional class of either parenting, budgeting, a mentor meeting and career development.

Each participant meets weekly with a case manager where they prioritize expenses and save money for permanent housing. Each resident receive a new pillow, toiletry basket (from the Placentia Roundtable women’s club) gas and transportation vouchers, individual counseling and two months of subsidized childcare.  Children receive a quilt from the North Cities Quilt Guild and a welcome basket from the Placentia Roundtable. Each month birthdays are celebrated with cake and ice cream (sponsored by the Placentia Roundtable) and gifts for adults and children are given.

HIS House continues to exist with the assistance of government grants, private donations and fundraisers. The generosity of our community and volunteers help make HIS House a successful program.

This year we are initiating a strategic plan process for organizational reorganization as a solo 501(c)(3), as well as a funding plan in order to deepen, strengthen, and expand our services. We would appreciate your prayerful investment.

Learn how to help here:

Lessons in a Tree Stand

Sitting in a tree stand, waiting for deer, is a difficult task (especially when it's real early on an icy 20° morning). Not necessarily the waiting; but my thoughts. Rather than allow myself to completely 'be' in this moment, I'm mentally doing a myriad of things. My mind is wired for analysis. My patience is fleeting. 

Similarly difficult for me – for which this solitary environment provides an ideal moment – is having a quiet, devotional time with God (praying for prey doesn't count). But rather than allowing the beauty of creation and nature's orchestra to embrace and lift me, I'm contemplating my calendar, career tracks and past mis-cues. And in contrast to the stillness, unmitigated static from tinnitus* competes with the sounds of birds and raindrops on leaves.

Past thoughts invade the present moment; replaying various innings of my life. But unlike the annoying video challenges in football and baseball, there's nothing that can change the outcome for me.

It recalls my past life of editing our pastor's Sunday messages on reel-to-reel tape for radio broadcast. I meticulously removed every 'uh', stutter, or cough. He never sounded so professional as he did on-the-air. It was a tedious task when his delivery was off. Listen, pause, rewind, pause . . . spinning the reels back and forth, listening where to mark and trim the bloopers from the reel.

But real life doesn't allow video challenges or post-production cut-and-tape. As with live broadcasts, what we say and do is out there for the world to see, hear, critique – and judge.

Where live productions succeed is in pre-production. That requires the study of scripts and screen plays, blocking, staging, memorizing lines and cues. If not, at least you had better be really good at ad lib and improvising.

Our personal and spiritual pre-production comes together best in our quiet times. No devotions = no preparation for success. Thus, for the unprepared pragmatists as myself, our daily improvising is sorely tested. We pray for the video challenge, and post-production editing, and then beat ourselves up for not studying the script or recognizing the cues.

But here in this tree stand – if I force myself to become quiet enough and become willing to embrace the thoughts that come – I may start to sense the Producer at work in nature and in my life. I may begin to feel, see, and hear His hand in the next act . . . and his Spirit happens to be a great Director.

Perhaps spending more time studying His script, screenplay and cues for this next one, I won't want so much post-production analysis. And waiting for prey is always a good time to pray.

I just heard a confirming voice of thunder telegraphing the advancing rain. "Break a leg!", I think as I scramble to descend ahead of the danger of lightning. But hopefully not from falling out of this tree stand. (PS. I didn't get my deer)

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 42 ESV

* Tinnitus (TIN-ih-tus) is noise or ringing in the ears.

Realizing Isolation as Part of Healing

I realize that no blog post can be inclusive of all points of view, but I find myself wanting to respond to this post on isolation as a negative part of healing. 
http://blog.christianleadershipalliance.org/2014/09/15/six-steps-towards-healing-for-the-wounded-leader/

In her PhD dissertation, Shelley Trebesch focuses on periods of isolation as required time spent seeking an intimacy with God. Intimacy is the place where we recognize our need before our Creator and become honest in regard to being His steward. Shelley outlines a number of processes that take place in isolation that often come in response to organizational discipline (Trebesch 1997, 35-43):

1.  Stripping – sometimes the cause of the isolation (as it was with my self-initiated sabbatical after my resignation), a leader will face his or her identity – or loss of identity – in view of a separation from ministry whether voluntary or involuntary.

2.  Wrestling with God – if the isolation is forced, this brings the leader to desperately search for God and their true identity apart from the position and activity of ministry. This spiritual exertion can be as literal as Jacob’s interaction with God in Genesis 32, as we cling to God until we realize contentment.

3.  Increased Intimacy – this stage brings about an openness and honesty of the leader’s weakness, brokenness and vulnerability. There is a freedom in allowing others to see their hearts in this state. Leaders will often truncate this process here as it can be too painful, or they find another outlet for ministry. However, for those who are able to separate themselves from the position of ministry, they will discover a growing satisfaction in Christ alone.

4.  Released to Look Toward the Future – Rather than succumb to the temptation to truncate this process, the leader must allow God to remove them when He is ready. There will be an intuitive renewal and openness to the future. This is often when leadership emergence reveals itself.

I personally experienced this isolation process in 2006, following my voluntary resignation from a ministry, as I found myself seriously questioning my leadership ability and competency for ministry. It was paradoxical to me at that time, that while many other local organizations were seeking out my leadership, there was an unmistakable barrier between them and me . . . until which time I came through that process with a clear freedom to accept a new position.

The process was undesired, but critical to my spiritual formation, as well as my professional growth as a leader. It was only after my acceptance of a new position as God’s direction for me that I was contacted by the other organizations with the news that I was not their choice. It was this process that led me to an awareness of God’s preparation of me for a specific ministry position. I also feel that without this process of isolation I would not have been as prepared for continued leadership or for the intense introspection of the MA program that I was undertaking. 

  

I have learned that isolation can be a friend, but also a trap. Use it sparingly, but realize it as part of healing as a leader. 

Shelley Trebesch, “Developing Persons in Christian Organizations: A Case Study of OMF International.” (Ph.D. diss., FTS) 1997.

Some good quotes for me to embrace today

Push aside the expectations of others and instead focus on the appreciation of what you've accomplished. If you believe in it, then that's all the truly matters. - unknown

Don't judge me on the basis of what you heard from others. Judge me on the basis of what YOU know about me, or else try knowing me. - Ashish Basumatary

There's people that are just in awe of what you do, and then there are people who just think it's garbage. And I think there are people who are just uncomfortable seeing someone have fun with their job. - Todd Barry

With fame, you can't trust everybody. You can't depend on them being there for you as a person. They will only be there because of what you've got and what you can bring to their life. It's not a relationship - it's a leech. - Chris Brown

The ultimate victory in competition is derived from the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your best and that you have gotten the most out of what you had to give. - Howard Cosell

Believe half of what you see and only some of what you hear, unless you hear it from me. - Chris Daughtry

Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't. - Steve Maraboli

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart . . ."

The Common Good of Community

These days, providing for the common good by equalizing the economic level playing field through the “creation or redistribution of wealth”—or giving one’s fair share—is an interesting conversation.  

It intrigues me that many of those who take up such a mantra, themselves live apart from those with whom they wish to build solidarity. However, as “First Things” editor R. R. Reno points out: “Solidarity is not the same as equality. It’s about being with others, being part of something, rather than being the same or having the same amounts of stuff.”^[1] So, if disparity of wealth is not the issue dividing us, what is?

Reno goes on to state that it is actual space that divides us, not just financial distance. We need each other.  Just as the scientific study of isolation on infants indicated that touch and the spoken word are necessary for proper emotional and physical nurturing, people need community. Reno also claims it’s a grievous error to think that this distance can be broached by the rich paying a greater share of taxes – as this chasm is a social gap, not merely economic. 

What the poor and disadvantaged need is not bread alone . . . they need to be in community with us – in solidarity with those seeking to help them. 

Again, solidarity is not merely monetary equality, but togetherness. Detrick Bonhoeffer warned that those who dream of community are likely the destroyer of community. How? They focus only what they want it to be, not on the community itself as it is. Such are those who desire to build a better community from afar – thinking that their charitable contributions, requiring increased taxes, or that their advocacy and activism will bring solidarity . . . without having to bridge the space between themselves and those they “target” with their doing good.   

What personal and professional time, talent, and treasures are creating space rather than lessening it in your sphere of community? We will each need to go beyond our “soup-kitchener” and donor activity, as well as our share of the tax burden, and deal with decreasing the space between ourselves and those we seek to help. If we want to see solidarity of community, we must do it as Jesus did . . . with our feet, our hands, and our actions.

¹ Reno, R. R. "The Public Square: Solidarity." First Things (Institute on Religion and Public LIfe), no. 234 (June/July 2013): 3-4.

Radical Christianity?

I find the argument about whether Christian has to be “radical” in order to be genuine is an interesting conversation. If we look at the etymology of the term Christian, its very roots define such a person “as following and belonging to the anointed one;” a pretty radical calling, if you ask me.   

The Greek word Χριστιανός (Christianos) [meaning "follower of Christ"] comes from Χριστός (Christos) [meaning "anointed one"] with an adjectival ending borrowed from Latin to denote adhering to, or even belonging to, as in slave ownership.^[1}

That being the case, having been bought with the price of Christ’s blood, we are no longer our own, but His. We can do nothing of our own accord, only act as His bond slave – or steward. I suppose the conversation may then shift to the issue of if one is actually following the desires of the Owner or one’s own desires . . . removing themselves from bondage to Christ.

 

As this “bondage” is a voluntary submission—not mandatory—the follower is free to act in the Owner’s interest or their own. It seems to me that such a powerful realization of salvation through Christ’s sacrifice would render a person as fully and forever awestruck of his own need and the fullness of joy in their submission to Him – such as is rendered by C.S.Lewis in his autobiography Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life (1955).

 

My own realization recalls the scene in the film “The Miracle Worker” when young, defiant Helen Keller receives her “sight” and is overcome by joy; her life is changed forever, and spends the rest of her life bringing sight to others. ^[2]

My sight was realized in July of 1976 during vespers at Sequoia National Park, where I worked for the summer. In response to a phase of sincerely seeking His grace and forgiveness, I came to a fuller knowledge of my salvation and committed myself to follow Christ . . . unknowing then what form or manner that path of service would take. I would hope that others observing my life since would say its been somewhat radical.

Having been so surprised by joy, I can’t fathom it anything else . . . He is mine and I am His. And I want others to realize that radical joy as well. 

Notes: 

1.     Bickerman, 1949 p. 147, All these Greek terms, formed with the Latin suffix -ianus, exactly as the Latin words of the same derivation, express the idea that the men or things referred to, belong to the person to whose name the suffix is added. p. 145, In Latin this suffix produced proper names of the type Marcianus and, on the other hand, derivatives from the name of a person, which referred to his belongings, like fundus Narcissianus, or, by extension, to his adherents, Ciceroniani. (underline mine)

2.     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Miracle_Worker_(1962_film)  

A Brief Review of Dallas Willard's "Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ"

[Note: this report was my submittal in the course, ML582: Character, Community and Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary in 2009 and is edited to reflect his passing]

Willard, Dallas, 2002. Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

            Dallas Willard (1935-2013) was a professor and former Director of the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles where he taught since 1965. Willard lived out his personal philosophy within his teaching, writing and in his strategy for his life: “I know what good work is. I’m going to do it, and I expect God to help me. I will give my life to it. Of course, I will be a prisoner of Christ; that’s what I am.”[i] This philosophy is very much evidenced in his writing and in his commitment to allowing the Spirit to reign and provide direction in his life. Although not setting out to teach in a secular university, he was led to do so subsequent to his graduate work. Willard stated that he never self-promoted himself – not seeking a position or a raise – but considers himself a “literalist in terms of the Bible,”[ii] as it relates to advancement coming from God.

            The thesis of this book is that in the process of realizing the character of Christ, one may “remove or master” each impediment to gaining that character (:10-11); and that process should be orderly – not haphazard or mysterious – to those wanting to overcome human (sinful) nature.

            Willard presents five chapters of introductory, foundation-building elements which examines mankind’s frailty in the human existence, and provides support for the development of spiritual formation; including why people often fall short of the ideal of Christ-like character.

An “Interlude” chapter reflects on the reality of seeking this transformation.  It is Willard’s perspective that our own effort falls short; we are in need of God’s grace.  He states that those who are “the greatest saints are not those who need less grace, but those who consume the most grace;” God’s grace sustains them (:93-94).

Willard then lays out through six chapters a process of transformation of: (1) Mind/ Thought; (2) Mind/Feeling; (3) Will; (4) Body; (5) Social Dimension; and (6) Soul.  These areas of one’s self are outlined earlier in chapter two as distinct areas in which we must allow the Spirit to work through for our transformation (:38). 

In the two concluding chapters Willard examines how this process of transformation interfaces with the world and within the local church.  In the world, a contrast of light and darkness presents a picture of the outcome of personal sanctification, and its effect upon us and the world we are in (:224).  Willard then presents God’s plan for spiritual formation within the congregation of the people of God with a focus on being rather than doing. 

This book makes me recall Richard J. Foster’s Celebration of Discipline.  While I read Foster’s book in 1978 during a period of discipleship, I find Willard’s book is timely to this era of my life.  Through this book I am able to more fully recognize my shortcomings and how I may have diverted from disciplines in my life, which were a critical and primary element of my new life in Christ.  I am not surprised that Foster provides an endorsement for this book.[iii]

Willard puts flesh on the teaching of sanctification in a way I need to reconsider within my life and leadership ministry, and grasp that the transforming work of the Spirit “. . . brings every element in (my) being, working from inside out, into harmony with the will of God . . .”[iv]  C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce also comes to mind, as the landscape on the way to the Kingdom feels unbearably unreachable until one repents through an act of the will.

---

[i] Dallas Willard, “My Journey To and Beyond Tenure in a Secular University” (Remarks given at the Faculty Forum Luncheon of the C.S. Lewis Foundation Summer Conference, University of San Diego, 21 June 2003), available at http://www.dwillard.org/biography/tenure.asp, Internet.

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] Richard Foster states, “No one has thought more carefully than Dallas Willard about the human personality and how it can be transformed into Christlikeness.” This endorsement is found on the back cover of the hardcover version of Renovation of the Heart.

[iv] A summary which quotes the author is found on the back cover of the hardcover version of Renovation of the Heart.

Rescued from a Cornfield, Restored into Service

I’d like to tell you a story of an airplane . . . (from 1990)

The DC3 is an exceptional aircraft that just won't die! Modern technology hasn't improved on it in decades. It's one of the safest large twin engine airplanes. It has the ability to continue to climb out of a normal takeoff after rotation even if it loses an engine.

The Chief Tariri is no exception. After serving for years in the jungle of South America, it was brought up to the JAARS Center in Waxhaw, NC (where we were going through training) to be completely refurbished. Careful hands worked it over nose to tail – wingtip to wingtip – extended wings; beefed up cargo capacity; new radios . . . boy it looked sharp! Gleaming aluminum in the North Carolina sun with two blue stripes down the fuselage – just sitting on the ramp it looked proud!

All this work was to ready it for a critically needed new assignment in East Africa – in a cooperative effort with Africa Inland Mission.

As the Chief waited for final FAA clearance it was participating in "missions at the airport" events, along with other JAARS aircraft.

As this pristine missionary bird sat on a grass strip in Kidron, Ohio, 27 people buckled up for a ride. After taxiing out to the end of the strip, its twin 14 piston radial engines thundered as the Chief rolled down the soft grass runway. Seconds later, the Chief was plowing through acres of corn waiting to be harvested. Except for one of the pilots who got some cuts, miraculously, all aboard escaped without injury.

The experienced crew had done their best to recover from an engine failure, just after rotation – from a soft, grass airstrip. The line of trees at the end of the runway had kept them from a complete recovery, but they were able to just barely clear the trees and land in the neighboring cornfield. There was corn everywhere, and there the Chief lay, with what appeared as crippling damage. Africa, it seemed, was not to be.

Just before this incident, Leslie and I were just finishing our Intercultural Communications Course and looking forward to our membership status and an assignment with Wycliffe Bible Translators. At the culmination of a 14 year dream, almost two years of intensive training was nearing completion. We joyously told our supporters to expect news of our assignment approval in our next newsletter. Like the DC3, we were ready to take-off for Papua New Guinea.

Our newsletter was written, partnership development plans made, and the children were excited. We roared over the trees and right into the cornfield. We were completely blindsided. Two men were telling us we would never make it in Wycliffe without counseling. Somewhere in the files from our initial Quest orientation course were questions no one had since talked to us about, but fueled concern of the membership office. We were grounded.

We recognized that we had been dealing with a spiritual battle for some time. We met with our course director who was as shocked as we were. He laid hands on us and prayed for us and we felt a complete lifting of the darkness that we had been feeling for months. We got back on track. Finishing our job orientation was a real struggle, as others were given assignments, but we were ministered to by the Personnel and Radio Department directors. They could hardly believe we just didn't pack up the kids in our van and go home. But we changed our plans and went on.

We took a month and a half long partnership development trip throughout the northeast and midwest. We then spent two weeks at a spiritual retreat center in the Appalachia Mountains with a counselor. After a lot of being evaluated, introspection, counseling and prayer, our counselor brought us together to discuss his evaluation. "It's my professional opinion that you are God's people trying to do God's work and Satan is doing his utmost to keep you from going on. You two must have quite a ministry ahead of you." He then recommended that we immediately be given our Member-In-Training status along with our assignment.

You see, a whole group of people went out to that cornfield to help bring the crippled DC3 out and into the repair process. The Chief Tariri is again sitting proudly – on a ramp in East Africa. Loving hands came to its rescue to return it to working condition and to ministry.

We too, had loving hands help us out of our "cornfield" and pray for, and encourage us on to our field of ministry.

The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."