Travel Playlist, 14of16

What an awesome day yesterday (Sunday, March 3)! I was blessed in so many unexpected ways. It was a long day that was planned to include several aspects of interaction with the Salem Church of God near Dayton, Ohio. It began with introductions during both worship services, which were comically scripted by Global outreach pastor Nabil Safi. (Nabil is Lebanese and we interacted last summer through the Ana Terzo Camp and H4L Staff retreat); he began by greeting the congregation and introducing me in Arabic, and then I arrived on stage and we exchanged a brief set of Arabic pleasantries before he transitioned the conversation to English. It was a great intro set to a representative of a family the Salem Church has been supporting for over a year. I then had the opportunity to interact with the adult Sunday school groups through a brief presentation and Q&A session. Joining us in the presentation was my Uncle Richard (my father's youngest brother) who lives near by. I was hoping to connect with them over the next couple days, and he was able to get to me ahead of my plans. It was great to see him and to spend the Sunday morning with him. Also, my childhood pastor and his wife, Dave and Jan Cox, have retired in the area and now attend the Salem Church--it was great to see them and to interact with them after many years. Jan directed the formative Children's ministry at my childhood church that had such an impact on my spiritual formation--wow, the reunions and thanksgiving just continued on a day I least expected it!

I came back to the hotel and interacted briefly with my wife (to whom I can't wait to get home), and then I took a Skype video call from North Modesto Church of God (California). Pastor Brian Smith led some Q&A, and then allowed the congregation to ask their own questions--interesting questions make for interesting presentations! We are so blessed by their partnership and thankful for the technology to interact with them during their Faith Promise Missions Banquet. They have supported us in the last year, are planning to increase their support, and are looking to help us get some young Egyptian leaders to the Ana Terzo camp in Lebanon this August! Wow--just a blessing all around.

Then it was time to get ready quickly to return to Salem for the Youth's Sunday night "Epic" Service. I love sharing with teens and young adults and I was so thankful for this opportunity to encourage these teens to pursue "living in the movement instead of living in the moment" -- the message was well-received by youth and leaders. I was really impressed with the commitment level of the adults who served these teens in a variety of ways each week--Salem is without a current youth pastor, and their ministries continue to the next generation because of the sacrificial and dedicated service of loving adults, many of whom do not have children in the group.

So now, it's Monday, the day before I fly home, but there's still much to do today:
1) I'll begin with breakfast with Pastor Bob Moss -- again, I'm so excited to finally meet and have the opportunity to interact with him more personally. As he said, we have so many points of connection in our circles of friends, mentors, and ministries--it's amazing we haven't had this opportunity before now.

2) I'll travel down to Cincinnati to meet with Pastor Tom Planck of the Journey Church. I was a freshman when Tom was a senior at Anderson University; we shared at least one class together, and we had some shared experiences. We've only seen each other once (that I remember) since those days. Tom has been able to plant a church after a lot of effort, prayers and tears that (from what I read) is representative of the dream he had in college. It will be really cool to see this church, but also to interact with him again. Patrick Nachtigall has invited Tom to speak into the 3W region by sharing in a 2015 Budapest Lecture series--it's great that we will have this opportunity to reconnect and share about what God is doing in our region and how he can contribute to inspiring others.

3) I will have the opportunity for one last family dinner on this trip as I will go to my Uncle and Aunt's home--so glad that we've had this opportunity to see each other again. I know my uncle is among the many who regularly pray for us, and we know that we would not be able to do what we do with such regular prayers for our strength, safety, and wisdom.

So, what songs will play through my mind or on the radio on a day like this? I'm so overwhelmed by the good family and friends I've been able to see again, and the new friends I've met along the way--such feeling has filled me with such gratitude not only for each of them, but for the God of my life who has loved me and given to me through each.

So, the song is "Thank You for Hearing Me" by David Crowder Band -- each of these relationships were either spoken or unspoken prayers that have been answered by God abundantly in my life:




Pics from yesterday:
(me and my uncle; the Salem lobby filled with representatives of wonderful outreach/service ministries; me with the Cox's, my childhood pastors; and the start of the Epic Youth service)

Travel Playlist, 13of16

I woke up this morning to Keli's Dad Frank cooking me bacon, eggs & toast for my long day. I got to share the quick meal with Frank & Pat as my last interaction with friends and family on this trip. Then it was loading up the car in freezing rain, and hitting the road to Franklin, Tennessee, the site of my first face-to-face Heart for Lebanon Board meeting.

No one necessarily gets excited about board meetings, but I was looking forward to this; H4L is such an impressive organization that meets so many diverse needs with Kingdom values and partnerships--I was looking forward to seeing the caliber of leaders in the group, understanding the issues that affect them, and perceiving more of founder Camille Melki's vision beyond obstacles to greater things. The meeting didn't disappoint these expectations.

One of those leaders and fellow board members was Pastor Bob Moss. I've heard about Bob and his ministry for years; Bob also serves on the 3W oversight group called the Roundtable. Though we've exchanged a lot of correspondence, we have never been able to meet in person. It was great for us to meet on Saturday, because after the meeting, I would drive to Dayton, Ohio so that I can share with the Salem Church of God on Sunday, which is the congregation that Pastor Bob serves as pastor.

So, the meeting concluded and I took the long drive from snowy Tennessee and into wet/cold Ohio. It was a long day, and I'm one tired traveller.

As I prepare to share with the Salem Church of God, I'm preparing to share in different ways in different settings. During the day, I will also have a Skype conference with the North Modesto Church of God in California; I will be interviewed by Pastor Brian Smith for their faith promise weekend and take time for a Q&A.

As I wrap up this trip and having had time to consider all the wonderful people who have blessed my life along the way of our journey, I've come full circle in a couple of different ways. One, I've returned to the southeastern Ohio area from where this little journey began--I've traveled over 2500 miles so far, with a few short drives remaining. But two, I'm also returning to the midwest where my journey began in life--I never anticipated doing what I have opportunity to do for The Lord and for others--I never, ever anticipated that would I did would be something that people would want to hear about, even scheduling time to talk with me.

In many ways, I still see myself as the scrawny, little, unconfident kid from Nowhere, Indiana. And though I've experienced the Lord's working within me that has recreated me with the confidence to step up in these unique opportunities, I'm still often lacking confidence at times in my own worth.

A song that speaks to this is by Shawn Groves called, "Should I Tell Them"--I can't hardly get through listening to the chorus without tearing, specifically when it says, "...should I tell them that I am the perfect example of all you can do in a life..."

How The Lord has taken me, saved me, shaped me, given me purpose and direction--it's more than I could ever have imagined then, or can completely fathom now. I am truly blessed in so many ways, and I am happy to be a small part in helping others experience the same...



(no pics from Saturday)

Travel Playlist 12of16

My amazing and brief family visits come to a close this morning as I not only leave Decatur, but also north out of Alabama and into Tennessee first, before eventually making it into Dayton, Ohio later this evening. It was good and difficult to see family and friends for such a brief amount of time--there is so much to say, to share, to hear, and to express in such a short space of time--we all did our best, but time is cruel as it runs out.

I head north this morning to Franklin, Tennessee and the site of the Heart for Lebanon board of directors meeting that is the reason for this whirlwind tour through the southeast USA. I will spend at least 6 hours with passionate Christian leaders who will hear reports and make decisions regarding one of the most impressive ministries that I have seen anywhere. I am excited not for meetings, but for the resulting inspiration and encouragement that will result from such a meeting. In the process, I'm likely to have my heart broken and humbled as I hear the continuing needs and plight of refugees, orphans, and others in desperate circumstances that H4L serves daily.

This leads me to my song of the day by the Dave Matthew's Band entitled, "Funny the Way It Is", which is a song about the irony of the various experiences of people not only around the world, but potentially in the same area. It acknowledges that it's not necessarily "right or wrong" but just the way it is. I will think about this song as I hear these reports of needs and lives facing difficulties that I can barely imagine, all the while we sit in a comfortable, safe place and consider the use of resources and personnel to meet these needs that we can hardly fathom. We will be we'll fed while we consider those with nothing, and warm while others are cold, and will have paid enough money to sit around that table that could have helped to meet even more needs.

I'm not attempting to be critical or cynical about this--we will be performing a necessary task that enables the ministry to continue not only a little more wisely (hopefully), but also with integrity thought the accountability that we provide. It's just "funny the way it is"...

http://youtu.be/R2mFDTTWqOU (click link, or copy to your web-browser)

After the meeting, I will hop back into the car and drive northeast to Dayton, OH where I will crash!!! Then it will be time to share with the Salem ChoG in person (and North Modesto ChoG via Skype).

Thanks for your continued interest, thoughts, and prayers for my travels here, and for Keli and the kids in Cairo. We have all appreciated your kind and encouraging words during this time.


Pics from yesterday (hanging out with Julie and Staci at Starbucks, lunch was followed by a brief organ recital by Ms Jane, and the Decatur area family gathered for a meal and storytelling)...