Leaving on a jet plane

“My sister” Kathryn left Saturday afternoon for a trip to Uganda, followed by a trip to Russia.
I just got this email in an old email account (apparently she hasn’t updated her address book):

Thank you so much for your generous support! All your donations, prayers, and
encouraging words have been such a blessing. Although you will not physically
board the plane with me today, you will be apart of spreading the Good News of the
Kingdom of God to the people of Rakai, Uganda.

Jesus says in Isaiah 61 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has
anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom
for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, and release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Jesus’ mission was to not only bring
spiritual healing, but his mission had a physical dimension as well. Jesus’
mission was to show what the Kingdom of God is like, and we as his missionaries
are sent to the world to proclaim the goodness of God and the reality of His
Kingdom.

Many people in Rakai are oppressed, many are imprisoned by poverty, HIV/AIDS,
spiritual darkness, and we are called to help fulfill the message of the Good News
that there is FREEDOM and HEALING in Christ. We will do this not only by our
words, but by our actions.

Please pray that God may use us as his missionaries to help bring lasting healing
and transformation to an area that is beautifully green and lush, but is a desert
wasteland spiritually as people live under the oppressive yoke of the kingdom of
this world. Together with your fervent prayers, let’s wave the banner high and
kick in the gates of hell!

I look forward to writing you again and updating you on what God is doing in the
lives of the people in Rakai.

Much love and gratitude,
~Kathryn

Trip Dates: (Rakai, Uganda – 6/9-6/22) (St. Pete, Russia – 7/5-84)

“Smokey” Joe Barton promotes balanced energy use

According to the WDL Blog:

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, recently joined a group of Republican Members of Congress at the U.S. Capitol to unveil a common-sense approach to energy policy. Barton, who is ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has long played a role in crafting the nation’s energy laws, having drafted the sweeping Energy Policy Act of 2005, which is now law.
The Republican energy plan announced today contains several action items designed to expand and encourage the use of renewable fuels, fund research and development of new and innovative energy technologies, and increase energy efficiency and conservation to reduce consumption and protect the environment. The plan is designed to help reduce America’s dependence on fossil fuels, particularly those from unreliable foreign sources. It also purports to increase investment into research into new and innovative domestic fuel sources.

The micro-brewery that could

If you’ve wondered about St. Arnold’s beer, you’re probably not alone. The Houston micro-brewery is only 13 years old but was started by a man with a love of beer and making beer and a weariness of doing the same old job day in and day out.
I’m a big fan of their Lawnmower brew – especially on a hot day out in the sun.
Beer fan or not, Brian Armstrong interviewed the founder/owner of the micro-brewery and shared several unique perspectives Brock Wagner learned along the way.
They’re perspectives that can help in small or large business, ministry or life in general.
Read the full story

SOS Roger Williams resigns

KEYEtv.com is reporting that Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams has will announce his resignation this morning.
Many are speculating Williams will make a run for the governor’s mansion in 2010. We’ll wait and see.

Williams is said to be most proud of his economic development efforts with Governor Rick Perry to bring more jobs to Texas. He has also been credited with making voting more accessible for all Texans.

Williams is expected to end his term, that began in 2004 on July 1.

May they be united

I’m going through a lot of things in my head right now. A number of words are ringing in my ear. Words are burning into my head.
I think God is really wanting to show me some things and I’m trying to piece it all together.

I have a modge-podge of ideas going through my head right now.

  • I’m reading and focusing on community and small groups.
  • I’m continuing to stand amazed at what God has done through the life of Sally and Jose recently (that’s a whole ‘nother book in and of itself – but let me say, I met with Jose again for our weekly breakfast – the first one since Mother’s Day – and it’s amazing to hear him talk about how much more he loves his wife and even more importantly God).
  • I’m hearing stories of marriages on the rocks, friends who’s families are in crisis.
  • I’m preparing to fill in for Brian at encounter on June 24th – yikes two weeks away.
  • I’m learning what sacrifice, grace and community means at church, in my own home and even at work.
  • I’m thinking about my own future & career.

Just lots of things to ponder.
As these things poor through my head I’m reminded of John 17.
Jesus is literally living out his last days on earth.
The last supper is finished, Judas has left Jesus and the other 12 disciples and Jesus has a final, pre-death, extended conversation with His Father.
I doubt the disciples had any indication what was coming. I think that’s what happens to many of us in life. A loved one is close to death, they may even hear death knocking at the door and they want to share their last thoughts with us. We never really understand the full impact of their dying wishes until they’re actually gone. Then (hopefully) we do all we can to honor the dying wishes of our loved ones.
In His final hours before His betrayal, trial and crucifixion Jesus gives us an insight into what really matters. He gives us a clue as to what final thoughts and advice He wants to leave with us.

John 17:9-11, 22-24

NLV
“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.
“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!”

NIV
“I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”

MSG
I pray for them.
I’m not praying for the God-rejecting world
But for those you gave me,
For they are yours by right.
Everything mine is yours, and yours mine,
And my life is on display in them.
For I’m no longer going to be visible in the world;
They’ll continue in the world
While I return to you.
Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life
That you conferred as a gift through me,
So they can be one heart and mind
As we are one heart and mind.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they’ll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you’ve sent me and loved them
In the same way you’ve loved me.
Father, I want those you gave me
To be with me, right where I am,
So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,
Having loved me
Long before there ever was a world.

Lots of ways to say the same thing – eh? But do you see the reoccurring pattern? Jesus is praying for the 12 disciples, the coming church and all the believers to follow.
An His constant prayer is that Christ followers would be united as ONE. Even united in the same extent as Jesus is united with the Father and the Holy Spirit – the theological concept we’re introduced to in Genesis 1:26 (there’s a whole ‘nother topic there as well).
Jesus was ONE with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The same way scripture says I have left my father and mother and become ONE flesh with my wife, Laurie.
This is the exact same prayer that Jesus had for each and everyone one of His followers. We are to be ONE with each other and ONE with Him. We are to be united.
I think about those around me that are hurting and I should be hurting with them. I should be suffering with them. That’s what community is. That’s the image Jesus saw in His last hours.
“Blessed are they poor in spirit, for their’s is the kingdom of God.”
So often it’s easy for me to say, “Well I have my own bills to pay” or “Well I have my own troubles at home” or “Well I have this or that.”
But God wants us to give sacrificially for one another and look beyond the flaw our brother may have. Pray for him, lift him up and encourage him along the way.

Don’t let Satan destroy another life simply because we were too busy to lend a helping hand.