Managua

The flight from DFW to San Salvador featured lots of little kids and a pretty decent meal. I had a quick layover in San Salvador and a short flight to Managua. San Salvador's terminal was filled with duty free shops and, curiously, 80's music. Apparently, the market tested well for cheesy MTV videos on the long walks to one's flight.

Managua was interesting. Bag guys fighting quickly for work, custom declarations given to attendants looking more like doctors than custom agents, and we stopped to get a heat map of ourselves on the tv. But the most interesting aspect was the passport check in- after it was done, a "tourist fee" of $10 was extorted by any means possible. I had no cash, so the non-English speaking (except for "10 dollars") took me through the airport until he found an ATM, all the while speaking to anyone who would listen about the plight. He pointed to the ATM and I told him "I'm not using my MasterCard for this". 

So, we stood for at least 10 minutes there in a standoff for ten dollars in cash. He did not relent. We walked back to the booth from where he left 20 minutes before and waited for an English speaking friend. When one was found, the interpreter simply said, "You have friend?"

"Lots of them, but none here with $10!", I noted, then added, "Are you going to hold me all night for ten dollars?"

"Why you no have cash?", the interpreter asked. 

"For situations like this", I replied. 

It reminded me of the movie Better Off Dead, where the persistent paper boy hounded Jon Cusack by repeating his only line in the movie: "Two Dollars!"

Fortunately, JD was in sight and the other bag man grabbed my two heavy baseball equipment filled bags, sensing a big payday (which he should already known wasn't coming based on my "no cash" policy. But JD came through and would be repaid at the hotel bar after he some "chicken" wings. 

Gerard,

 our driver from Livonia, Michigan was waiting in a rented Toyota Corrola. Gerard has spent lots of time in Central America and has been in Managua since Monday. The best way to describe Gerard at this point is that he has a servants heart wrapped within a sailors mouth. He is a passionate, go-getter, man of action and he knows the lay of this land. He is genuinely excited about baseball and excited about language. 

The Toyota had a trunk issue, which was thoughtfully pointed out by every driver and motorcyclist on the way to the hotel. The trunk and backseat was full. JD was sandwiched into the back seat amid bags of equipment and seemed to be enjoying himself. The trunk, however, didn't stay such. In the haste of the bag guy to get his cash, he jammed the trunk shut in the bags and broke the fastening mechanism. 

Every 2 blocks or so, the trunk would open on our 20 minute drive to the hotel, which would be made even longer by our stop at gas station with no tools. Eventually, some resourceful Nicaraguan found pliers and temporarily fixed the trunk. Temporarily because 4 blocks later, the trunk flew open again. Gerard did his best, driving like an old lady out of necessity but it didn't help. 

Once we found the huge painting of Hugo Chavez, eerily reminiscent of the early Obama propaganda posters, we were within range. Of course, we had not eaten and at 10:50pm local time, we were hopeful the Crowne Plaza Bar would do the trick. 

6 units of wings for $6 and fried potatoes with cheese would indeed do the trick. The wings looked sketchy, but JD threw them down and the fried potatoes were just French fries in a bowl, covered in melted cheese. Gerard joined us with his own sustenances, Jim Beam and water, "in that order" he declared. 

Gerard didn't want to go back to the hotel, so he stayed with us. Now Phil had warned me JD was a snorer; no, he wasn't, Gerard was a snorer and a good one at that!

All in all, JD and I are thankful for God's provision on day 1. We are looking forward to the camp at Santa Rita today and the resort. 

Stage One of the Great (Mis)Adventure

God calls things that are not as though they are. We trust this but as CS Lewis wisely penned 60 years ago, we don't truly know what we believe until it is tested.

In the past 2 months, I've run through a wide range of thoughts in my professional and personal (read spiritual) life. I've acted on some and am now acting on one that is sure to be memorable. 

The circumstances have led me to this terminal, D7, at DFW airport as I wait for the unknown in the midst of so many unknowns soon to be known. 

One of my former players (JD) is waiting in Houston for his flight to Managua and we will be using baseball the next few days to preach the gospel and if necessary, we'll use words. 

What seemed like a sure thing a few weeks back came all unraveled as the host of the events we were going to conduct pulled out in the last 18 hours. So, our team (Phil & Lisa Davis, Bob O., and Justin (JD) were trying to figure out should I stay or should I go. 

Our first instinct was to bail, but I'm reminded most times the hard thing is the thing. At least in my case, comfort is what I seek and this is anything but comfortable. After breakfast with Phil, talking with God and Cory, it became evident we were still a go. Plus, eating $470 of airfare seemed so unDutch-like. Of course, the good Dutchman isn't spending that much on a flight anyway. 

Turn in your card, poser!

So, stage one is loading up 2 giant bags of baseball equipment on to Avianca's luggage belt, slowly working through TSA's line, and waiting to board an airline I've never heard of in order to be stretched to new lengths. 

This is the great adventure!

TSA Line

6 stitches last night further clouding the trip!

Joseph and Lessons of Life

Lessons of Life

Anything with pain has a lesson. James 1:2-4. God doesn't waste anything.
Life is lived in motion but can only be understood by looking back, which means trusting God's purposes even when things seem out of control.

2 Corinthians 5:7 goes against every element of self preservation so we can become more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37).

Joseph had dark days filled with difficult experiences. He became one of the first "over comers" in our history.

Overcoming Life's Challenges

Jacob took multiple wives and had children with both wives, and handmaidens. 12 children all vying for the a position with Jacob. He preferred his second wife, Rachel, and her two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Lots of friction!
Joseph spied on older brothers, toted around his special coat of colors, and stoked the anger of his brothers. The conflict was rooted in the marriage, where the competition started. It was easy to elevate particular sons with love, praise or scorn. So, rejection and affection were manifest.

Joseph made three errors in judgment:
He was indiscriminate not recognizing family troubles
He was insensitive in not considering the impact of his actions on family
He was immature in not thinking of what his actions would cause.

A lack of discernment causes a lot of pain!

Am I using my position or am I allowing God to use me in it?

The Leader's Prayer 

Lord, when I'm wrong, make me willing to change. When I'm right, make me easy to live with. Strengthen me that the power of my example will far exceed the authority of my rank. 

The root of bitterness is hate; the symptom of bitterness is sarcasm; and the result of bitterness is manipulation, using people instead of loving them. Matthew 5:21-22 and James 3:1-8

What happened? Reuben mourned for Joseph, brothers lied to their father but didn't escape their guilt. Reaping and sowing and the end result was Joseph being sold into slavery.

Overcoming Temptation

Trials often come on the heels of our greatest successes and can be perplexing, making life a little bit harder. The more success, the more temptation and the greater the possibility of a major fall.
Although Joseph was far from home in Egypt, God was very real and near. It's woven through Genesis 39 and had a dramatic effect on Potiphar. Joseph was not bitter, thus not enslaved to circumstances. He was content in the presence of God.

Joseph's convictions would help him when it came to Potiphar's wife, who saw his appearance as handsome. Convictions are birthed in the quiet times with God. He formed a battle plan and followed it when it would have been rather easy to use his position to give in to temptation.

Genesis 39:8-9 showed Joseph was concerned ethically about Potiphar and concerned spiritually about his relationship with God. Every offer of sensual pleasure has a price tag attached to it.

Genesis 39:10 shows Joseph had the right strategy by avoiding contact with Potiphar's wife. He was alert.

Genesis 39:12 shows Joseph had a way out, a way of escape. He ran as far as he could and left his precious possession behind, his coat. He did what many, including myself, didn't and couldn't do...Flee! Samson, David, Solomon, Me. Joseph kept his courage of his convictions and integrity intact. 2 Timothy 2:22. There was no flirting, arguing, reasoning with sin. He fled.

How?

Recognition you belong to God
Recognition of sin's effect on others
Recognition of sin is defiance against God

That wasn't the end. Potiphar's wife had revenge in mind for being rebuffed by Joseph's rejection. She lied to the men of Potiphar's house (Genesis 39:13-15), lied to Potiphar (Genesis 39:16-18) and Joseph was put into prison. All undeserved.

Joseph's response was amazing! Genesis 39:21, 23 shows God's blessing for Joseph completely trusting in Him.

Overcoming Disappointment

Joseph rose to a position of leadership, even in prison. God is in control and nothing happens by accident. Joseph ended up serving two disgraced members of Potiphar's house when they were put into prison. Divine appointments must be embraced and they're necessary. The author of this piece met his wife on a ministry event neither one was supposed to be apart of.

One of the great joys - and challenges - of life is to look expectantly for the hand of God in all of life's circumstances. In Joseph's case, the perfect plan of God involved a meeting with two disgraced officials and himself...in prison.

In spite of his own difficulty and hardship, he had become empathetic towards the men, in spite of his own situation. He didn't allow his relationship with God to be affected and he didn't allow his hurt to prevent him from displaying empathy toward others, even though he was humanly justified.

Don't become self absorbed and self centered. Energy wasted on self pity is foolish. Invest time in others. How's my response? LOL.

Joseph interpreted the dreams when not long before he was boasting to his brothers about his own dream. Three days after the interpretation, the dreams were fulfilled exactly as Joseph had said. Humility and godly character were needed because the officials didn't remember Joseph until two years later! Man had forgotten Joseph, but God did not.

Without patience there can be no maturity; without trials, delays and disappointments there will be no patience.

A man isn't a hero because he is braver than anyone else but because he is brave longer

Overcoming Success

Erwin Lutzer's book, "The Back Door to Success", describes how it takes years of failures and setbacks to become an "overnight success". Abraham Lincoln's failures before becoming president is one example to perseverance. Joseph's years being forgotten prepared him for the moment.

If we are troubled by spiritual things beyond our grasp, it's important we seek answers in the right place - God. Pharaoh was troubled and couldn't get answers for the turmoil in his heart. He needed to accept the authority of God's truth, just as we do, and when that is done, we will have answers for the things that trouble us.

Godly character is unaffected by the harsh circumstances of life. Joseph had dignity because he dressed appropriately to come before the king. He had humility and is summed up in this great quote:

No man can, at the same time, prove he is clever and Jesus Christ is mighty to save

Joseph also had strong faith in God and gave him the glory. God' investment in Joseph paid dividends. Because of Joseph's patience and trust in God, he was appointed to oversee the food supplies of all Egypt. So, the true qualities of a leader aren't just physical, but spiritual. Not just talent or skill, but character and our relationship with God. Internal, not external.  

"Praise God for the hammer, the file, the furnace. For the hammer molds us, the file sharpens us, and the fire tempers us" - Samuel Rutherford

Finally, Joseph can say in Genesis 50:20 because he trusted God completely.

Psalm 46:1-3

2 Corinthians 4:15-17

Hebrews 12:5-12

God Can Turn Suffering Around For Our Good, Lesson 4

I don't want to suffer. I don't actively seek suffering for its sake. However, I'm going to suffer and God can turn that into some beautiful jewels, if I embrace it. Self preservation says "No thank you, I'm fine" but in the eternal picture it just can't be.

Genesis 50:20

Joseph was thrown into a pit, left for dead with the intention of death and then forgotten. That's some tough circumstances. He used it to refine his character and gain favor with God and man. There is always tension between my intent and God's intent. Paul was conflicted about staying on earth or moving on to heaven. Moses was reluctant to lead due to his deficiencies.

In Psalm 42:1-11, David cried out to God in his thirst for Him. Joseph, no doubt had those same sentiments as he waited for the purposes to become clear.

I'd like to see growth in my wisdom through hardships and suffering. However, compared to other's suffering, it's tough to say I've had it rough. Most of my hardships are a direct result of my decisions. So, in one respect I have many regrets and shame. I cannot escape the accumulative effect of my sin in terms of living life. "How did it come to this?" and at the same time thankful for the grace of God.

I've rarely responded like Joseph did in the face of harm toward me, intended or otherwise. A level of spiritual and emotional maturity is lacking. Father, I'll need that going forward.

Psalm 34:8

Romans 8:28-29

Can God use me because He is at work in and through me?

Don't waste the Pain! If we don't learn from the pain, it will happen again.
If we believe God works out all things for our good, then the biggest challenge is to allow hard, painful experiences to be our teacher in the classroom of life.

Suffering Takes Us to the Edge of Eternity, Lesson 3

Psalm 73:17-26

Worship brings us to an understanding of our final destiny

Through our troubles, if we allow God to guide us, we have hope.

Although our heart and flesh will fail, God is the strength of our soul and chief over seer.

Moses, Paul, Samson,

What happens during suffering?
Acutely aware of both the suffering and hope for the future. Most of the pain I experience are the result of my own decisions and regret from making them, as well as the consequences. In times of worship, there is peace and an understanding of the transcendence of God's presence and power.

God and eternity should impact my decision making more than it does. To broaden my perspective and becoming more aware of eternity in decision making means taking more time to make decisions, regardless of the time allotted. How will this benefit the kingdom, ministry opportunities and my relationships?

Acts 2:28

Romans 8:18-19

Matthew 5:3 - make this more and more of a reality, Lord.

Heaven occurs in its singular and plural form over 600 times in the Bible.
1. Habitation of God
Isaiah 57:15
1 Kings 8:30
Psalm 103:19
Daniel 4:37

God hears prayers and accepts praise. All activity worthwhile centers around His throne.

2. Home of departed Saints
In Christ's Presence Luke 23:42-43
Philippians 1:21-23
2 Corinthians 5:6-8

The Holy City
2 Peter 3:10  Home transformed

Revelation 21:1-2

The new Jerusalem and heavenly Jerusalem are the same city but seen at different stages of redemptive history.

Three Aspects of the Heavenly Home
1. Present Location (Hebrews 12:22) Possibly near the North Star? Psalm 75:6 and no stars have been found around the North Star.

2. Place in the Millennial Kingdom - above the earth as a satellite city?

The residence of the saints in heaven while ruling on earth is much less of a problem than that of a businessman whose office is in a city while his residence is in the suburbs.

Will the heavenly Jerusalem be visible to earth dwellers? Revelation 13:6 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. City was already in existence before it made it descent to earth.

Revelation 21:1-3
Revelation 21:15-16
1500 miles long and wide, which means at its ground it covers more area than India and if placed in the United States, it would reach from tip of Maine to tip of Florida and from the Atlantic Ocean to Denver.

3. Home of Beauty

Revelation 20:11
2 Peter 3:10

Jasper Wall - translucent so light can pass through. Wall is 216 feet high
Jeweled Foundations - 12 layers of different stones stretching all around the city.
Pearly Gates - Revelation 21:12, 21)
Beauty Within - Golden streets (purity), Crystal River, Tree of Life

Two responses
Renewed determination to place top priority on the eternal rather than temporary
Renew our hope when becoming discontented with life and discouraged about the future.

The Effects of Sin Removed  Revelation 21:4

• No Tears 
• No Death 
• No Sorrow
• No Pain 
• No Night (Revelation 21:23-25)
• No Defilement (Revelation 21:27)
• No Curse (Revelation 22:3)

Man's Destiny Fulfilled

We will know God perfectly
We will worship and serve God
We will reign with Him

Faith On Trial, Lesson 2

Lesson 2

There isn't much bumping of the hot chocolate to reveal what's in my heart. It takes very little to churn me up and reveal. An ongoing commitment and goal is to have a godly response to adversity.

A Torah scroll was rescued from a Warsaw ghetto

1. Suffering Comes with the Freedom to Choose

Overprotection is intuitive but ultimately counter productive to personal and corporate growth.

Ravi: Love is the supreme ethic but isn't possible without the freedom to love or hate. With that freedom comes the possibility of rejection, evil and wickedness.


1 Peter 1:6-8

Great rejoicing? Suffer grief in all kinds of trials, protected and shielded by God's power.

Result? Faith proved genuine

Is the temporal testing of fire and the joy and glory of Christ's return incompatible? 1 Peter 1:8-9 say no.

The way I maintain a mask of control in the midst of troubling times:
Flee and run from God, rarely to him.
Go to that which I can control - temporal value

This hinders my ability to trust and rest in God. There must always be a laying down of arms and a "yes, Lord" attitude.

Romans 5:3-5

What stresses are keeping me from experiencing abounding joy God desires me to have?
Work related items I have not been 'excelling' in

More is never enough. Discontent destroys any possibility of personal peace.
1. Possession Expectations -

Poverty consists not in the decrease of one's possession but in the increase of one's greed.

The increase of things creates an appetite for more. When God provides what we need, they aren't enslaving.

2. People Expectations
If you are not satisfied with the people around you, you are probably even less satisfied with yourself.

3. Performance Expectations
Our worth becomes identified with our work and no spot on the mountain is high enough. Whatever our game is, we will constantly lose if we have to win. It's enslaving to always have something to prove and there is no rest from that. It is the mortal enemy of peace. 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Is there value in stress?
Potter's clay when "fired" it can be touched. Until the clay is "fired", it cannot be touched. 1 Peter 1:6-7

Fire increases the value of something precious. But not the heat brought about by my decisions, only the fire of God. My heat burns, God's heat beautifies. We won't escape the stress, but we can multiply the peace (Hebrews 12:7,11)

Hardship defined as Training. Can the pressure train us?

1. Get rid of the Cargo you don't need (Acts 27:18-19) and board up the windows and doors of that which is precious.

2. Get busy with things that really matter (Acts 27:22-24) The ship didn't matter. People do.

3. Get Desperate with God (Acts 27:30-32)
When self rescue isn't enough, go to God. Supernatural vs Religious (Psalm 94:19)

4. Get back to a healthy Routine (Acts 27:33-34). Daily routines are usually lost when storms come.

Clouds arise and blow by order from Thy Throne

When storms come, change is usually needed.  The storm that Paul and the crew experienced blew them aground on the island of Malta, which sits off the coast of Italy, the ships original destination. The whole time they were "out of control", they were right on course in God's sight. (Nahum 1:3)

Job 13:15-16

Job 1:20-22

2 Corinthians 4:6-12

2 Corinthians 11:23-30

10 Reasons To Believe In A God Who Allows Suffering - Lesson 1

As a parent, do you help or hurt your children by continually protecting them?


There is little doubt when we do that which can be done by our sons and daughters, it does harm. There are some people who will do all that which is in their power to shield their children from perceived harm. God isn't obligated to protect us from our poor decisions.



How can you protect them from danger without shielding them from the necessary consequences of their wrong choices?


The best way is to clearly show the natural consequences of decisions by letting the decisions run to their logical end. I don't want my sons to necessarily find out the harms of poor decisions, but if we can do due diligence of presenting the consequences, perhaps it can be noted and avoided.


1. Suffering comes with the freedom to choose


God takes the risk and considers it worthwhile to allow man to make his own decisions. We wouldn't like to be paralyzed and without ability to make a choice each time a bad choice presented itself. Being human means being free to choose right or wrong. That's the deal God gave us.


2. Suffering reveals what is in our hearts


Israel cuts 60% of the diamonds in the world and the number one export of Israel. Yet, they mine the raw diamond from other continents. Like our character, it forms with pressure and time, cutting, grinding and polishing.


Responses to adversity and suffering range from more faith in God to anger and bitterness. Goes back to the nature of the soul.


We really can't tell what is in our hearts until there is suffering/adversity. Which many find disconcerting, including myself. Nobody wants to suffer. But it does reveal us and introduces ourselves to each other.


The box cars in Auschwitz would carry 30 head of cattle but it was reported as many as 300 Jewish people would be packed into those cattle cars to be taken to their death.


How does God allow that?


In the first place, we are brought to the edge of eternity when we reflect on these circumstances in each of our lives.


3. Suffering takes Us to the Edge of Eternity


Those who find themselves and God through suffering have not wasted their pain. Our thoughts turn to God and the condition of our soul, not our bodies. Matthew 5:1-12 and Romans 8:18-19


Psalm 73:24-26


4. God turns suffering around for our good.


The Holocaust took roughly 1/3 of the Jewish population at the time yet resulted in the rebirth of a nation. WW I prepared a land for the people by giving the British control over the Holy Land and WW II prepared a people for the land by placing in their hearts a desire for their own homeland.


Genesis 50:20


Do we really know the "good" God intends to bring about through suffering? Our definition of good and God's definition of good are particularly different. We are utterly dependent upon God and there is no other way around this life but through suffering. Gulp.


God Is Working the Nightshift!


If you want wisdom, go to someone who has suffered through much and whose faith still remains strong. Amen.


Psalm 42


We are not toy soldiers programmed to tell our parents "I love you" each hour on the hour. We must be free to choose to love.


I wouldn't exchange my freedom to choose in order to enjoy freedom from pain. Pain would be meaningless and without content. We wouldn't even know the difference between pain and joy.


Atheists and others who rail against God about human suffering often forget much of the suffering we see in this world could be alleviated by other humans making better choices.


Genesis 2:15-17

Privilege - God put man in the garden of Eden

Responsibility - Work and Care for the Garden

Boundaries - Free to choose any tree from which to eat except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.


Genesis 3:1-8

Serpent distorted God's command by noting God only wants to keep them from eating because then their eyes will be opened and be like God, knowing good and evil.

Eve distorted God's command by seeing the fruit was indeed good for eating (Good never said it wasn't good for eating!) and why not gain more wisdom?


Bottom line, God said if they ate of it, they would die. Serpent said "nah, not going to happen" and Eve forgot about the death part and only saw wisdom.


There are natural consequences to our choices, both the good ones and the bad ones. Once Adam and Eve made the free will choice to eat of the fruit, it set in motion what God had set up- death, work, pain. It didn't have to be that way.


My personal suffering due to bad choices:

Where to start? So much needless time wasted because of poor choices. If I could go back in time to change so much, I would.


I like Piper's ANTHEM to avoid poor choices, but perhaps the best thing to ask is, "Is this beneficial for me and/or others?"


Psalm 40:11


Psalm 91:14


John 17:14


Ezekiel 18:23-32