Thoughts about Thailand

Where do I begin? If you asked me if there was anything I wanted to share about Thailand, I could  come up with at least a half-dozen things (no, maybe a couple dozen!) that were really special about the trip.  After coming home and adjusting to the time changes, the digestion issues, and just the general every day life issues, an explosion of thoughts that related this trip - what God was doing there, and in me personally, began to flood my mind.

Long before getting on the plane for Thailand, in one of the team meetings, it was mentioned (as it is before all mission trips) that we needed to seriously prepare spiritually for this trip, and for what God wanted to do in the girls to set them free.  I really took this to heart and was feeling the weight of responsibility of that commission. I did NOT just want to go on another mission trip, and come home with some memorabilia to add to my collection, or be one of 'those Americans that came with their nice little program'.  (This was, however an amazing trip where I felt like we got the 'full experience' of Thailand!), but I digress:

I personally was wondering if I was ready for this trip, or would be useful to the team and those we were to minister to.  I had been feeling rather dry and detached, and was feeling the burden of responsibility to bring manna and hope to the people there by speaking where asked, and by sharing my testimony at the Kids Camp on the night we were to address the pain and heartbreak (which I knew would be difficult).  I had been trying to write my testimony for weeks and it was only days before leaving that I was able to even put the basics on paper.  Then on the morning of October 24th, I read something in my devotions that really spoke to me and encouraged me.  It was called, “Becoming Invisible” and I loved the analogy given:
   

“Where I live, this is the time of year when plants defy death by remaining underground until it is safe to come out again.  Before the snow comes and the ground freezes, they let go of their beautiful blooms and retreat to a place where they can rest and save energy for the next growing season.  Contrary to the way it looks, they are not dead; they are dormant.  When the snow melts and the ground thaws, they will again lift their heads toward heaven, greeting their Creator with brilliant colors and sweet fragrances. 

The seasons of life require that we sometimes enter a period of dormancy.  We are not dead, but we may feel we’ve become invisible.  During such times we may feel useless, and we may wonder whether God will ever use us again.  But periods like this are for our protection and preparation.  When the time is right and the conditions are safe, God will call us once again to service and worship.”

Now I was ready!  I could go with great anticipation of what God would do in and through us!

God moved in a powerful way in Thailand, and so many of the girls' testimonies proved that He was present to do a deep work in answer to the prayers of the Pastor and his wife at Home of Blessing. (Throughout the trip, I was thinking about something we used to have in our church called "Cleansing Waters" where many in our church, myself included, experienced healing and deliverance that can only come from God).  We saw this again in how God was moving in the girls there.  And, as one of our team members mentioned this past Sunday in the service, I too was wondering what our part (as lay persons) in the Pastors Conference would be and just had to trust that God would use us. As it turns out I was so blessed to be a part of what He did there!  And it was exceeding abundantly above all I could ask or think!

Over the next few weeks, as I sort my thoughts and pictures, I will post more about the details of our trip.

To say that going on missions is life-changing is an understatement!  From my first trip to Haiti in 1997, I have understood and always believed that.  To say you 'can't out-give God' is another one of those understatements, as I have always come away with such rich blessings from the time with Him, and the people we are sent to.  Yes, there are sacrifices and there are challenges, but it is well worth it - every time!

Crisis Response Basic Training

How do I sum up such an amazing and intense week?  There were so many elements to this training that were designed to prepare us spiritually, physically, emotionally and even psychologically.  Based on my own experience and past training, I would have to say it was like "We had Church"; Chaplaincy training; First Aid; CFL Kids' Camp (for adults); disaster preparedness and Cleansing Waters (Deliverance ministry) all rolled into one 3 1/2 day course!

Each day the focus was on a different phase of crisis response beginning with the Mitigation Phase.  We were taught on the importance of lessening the degree of severity, seriousness and painfulness of the event. 

The training included Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) where we got both classroom and hands-on training to administer Spiritual and Emotional care as well as spiritual training on healing.   We also had a class in Disaster First Aid where we were shown how and when to use tourniquets.

The next day was focused on the Preparedness (the state of readiness) Phase.  The Chaplaincy training continued with Grief/Forgiveness and hands-on Death Notices.  All of which ministered to each of us in a personal way.  The spiritual part of the training was on deliverance.  This was following by Personal Preparation for disaster in our own communities, giving us many resources, and lists of important items to have on hand in the event of an emergency. 

We moved from there to doing what they called "Light SAR" (Search And Rescue).  Let me just tell you, there was nothing 'light' about it!  We were brought through the woods to a very well-staged area where we had a simulated tornado. 



The scene was overwhelming and chaotic, but we had no time to think about that.  We immediately moved into action doing triage, first aid and recovery.  It was very sobering to come upon a  little girl who ended up in this scenario dying right in front of me when I was doing all I could to help her.  It brings back the reminder from our first Disaster First Aid course that ultimately the outcome is in the hands of God.

After tagging the little girl, I was immediately confronted with an injured man who was frantic about his girlfriend who was pinned in the car he was thrown from.  I could see that although he was running around and I was trying to get him to stop and sit down, that he had a severe head wound that needed immediate attention.  I called others to come and help and we got him to lay down and put

pressure on the wound while we assessed him for other injuries.  When enough people were available, we got him on a board and moved him over to a medevac area.

Day 3 was the Response Phase.  We discussed deployment protocol and were taught on land navigation in our First Aid class. 

In the afternoon simulation of a plane crash, we were told there were no survivors and had to do Cadaver Recovery including the use of tags and body bags.  Once again, very sobering!  Afterwards we were confronted with family members who were converging on the scene and hysterical.  We immediately had to switch gears and respond as Chaplains, calling on the Holy Spirit and doing our best to meet their basic needs.  Our spiritual training was on prayer, evangelism and the prophetic.

Every morning we had worship and devotions, and the evening was worship and the Word.  At the end of day 3 we were graduated and given our Certificates making us official Disaster Responders!

I would definitely recommend this, or one of the many other courses offered by CRI (Crisis Response International) to anyone who is interested in being the hands and feet of God in the event of the sure to be forthcoming disasters both home and abroad.  For future training events, here is their website: http://criout.com/

"Be true to who you are...."

'To be, or not to be - that is the question.' 

It is no surprise that there is, and will continue to be, a lot of repercussion to Bruce (aka Caitlyn) Jenner receiving the ESPY Arthur Ashe Award for courage.

Let me say, first of all, that I agree it takes a great amount of courage to stand up for what you believe in, especially when you know it is controversial and that there will be backlash - regardless whether it is right or wrong.

My thoughts go back to the day I was arrested for sitting in front of an abortion clinic door in silent protest of the atrocity going on inside. As I was sitting there, someone from the crowd who was opposing my protest grabbed a fist full of my hair and physically tried to remove me by my hair. A righteous indignation rose up within me and I committed at that moment to remain seated regardless of whether my hair stayed with me or not. Thankfully, my 'courage' won out and I stayed until by law, I was removed - and so did my hair!

I anticipate that some day, maybe in the not too distant future, I will be challenged to take a more risky stand for my faith.

Back to Bruce, who was most certainly a great athlete in his day. I don't know if he truly 'deserved' the reward or not, but upon receiving it, he took the opportunity to use his 'coming out' as a platform to support those who had battled or committed suicide over these struggles. All of which are heartbreaking and tragic. Genuine or political on Bruce's part (and I believe genuine), this will only serve to widen the path for others to 'be true to who they are'.

Here is where my heart is grieved.

His comment, which I have not been able to shake since hearing it, in context, shows how so many have been deceived, including Bruce himself:

"If you want to call me names, make jokes, doubt my intentions, go ahead, because the reality is, I can take it," she said. "But for the thousands of kids out there, coming to terms with being true to who they are, they shouldn't have to take it."

What does it mean to be 'true to yourself'? And, what about being true to who God created you to be? Sadly, we have moved so far from His truth about us in this day and age that we don't even know who we really are, or why we are on this planet!

Here is a brief rundown of who we are as Christians.  We are:

Created in His image and likeness (Gen. 1:27) 

Forgiven (Colossians 1:13,14) 

We are children of God (Jn. 1:12) 

Complete in Christ (Col. 2:10) 

Free from condemnation (Rom. 8:1,2) 

Fellow heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17) 

We are no longer slaves (Gal. 4:7) 

We are new creations in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17) 

We are set free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2) 

We are justified and redeemed (Rom. 3:22-24) 

Citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20) 

Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:13) 

Branches of the true vine, and conduits of Christ's life (Jn. 15:1,5) 

Partakers of His Divine Nature (II Pet. 1:4) 

Delivered from the powers of darkness (Col. 1:13) 

Strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Eph. 6:10) 

More than conquerors (Rom. 8:37) 

The light of the world (Matt. 5:14) 

And the list goes on (but I said I would be brief!). Doesn't this sound better than a life of confusion? He is the Potter and you are the clay.  Let Him mold you.  He is an expert!

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." (Ps. 139:14)

"Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us and not we ourselves..." (Ps. 100:3)

"And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good." (Gen. 1:31)

And finally,

"The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works." (Ps. 145:9)

He loves you!

I don't hate you!

That's right! In fact I love you!  I don't hate anyone.

But, you say, "What if I am gay?"  I say, "No difference! I love you regardless of the color of your skin, the bad things you have done, or the way you choose to express your love outside of traditional marriage."

So why are you believing all their lies when they don't even know me?  They tell you that unless I throw away my Christian convictions about what sin is, then I am intolerant and a hate monger.  If they don't even believe in God, that shouldn't bother them.  I can bake you a cake, but once I say I can't use my business or talents to endorse your event because it is in conflict with my personal beliefs, now I am to have my home and business taken away and my life ruined because of my intolerance.  Is this tolerance? Is this love? No, this is hypocritical.  I must accept your beliefs but I am not allowed to have or live by my own?

WWJD?

He would.................
Feed you if you were hungry
Give you drink if you are thirsty
Clothe you if you were naked
Visit you if you were in prison
Care for you if you were widowed or orphaned
Help you if you are hurting or broken
Die for you

Wait, what?  Yes, He would (and did) die for you, and so would I.

You heard that right!  If I thought my death would save you, I would die for you.  After all, my life is not my own.  I am wholly committed to God and have no question where I am going for eternity. 

But, what Jesus can't do for you (and neither can I) is tell you that your sin is acceptable in God's eyes.  We can't change God's laws to suit man's lusts.  The couple that is living together before getting married - I can't tell them that is O.K.  The guy that is cheating on his taxes - not O.K.  The liar, the cheater, the murderer - all wrong.  Are all loved by God? Yes! Are they welcome at the foot of the cross or in my church? Yes!  Will they hear the truth according to God's word there? Yes!  But we ALL have free will.  I chose to surrender.  You may not.  I don't love you any less.  Understand?

I have nothing to gain by hating you.  My heart is to see you experience the love of God as I did over 30 yrs. ago.

I lived a wild life as a teenager, and did many things that grieved the heart of God.  When I got married I left all those behaviors behind and for several years thought I was doing O.K., because now I was a good person - or so I thought!  I still had a choice to make because I found, as God drew me by His love, that none of my good works could save me.

In the end, EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord!  So glad I chose to bow when I did and now experience the overcoming power of God in my life every day!

What will you do?  As long as there is breath, there is hope.  We are not promised tomorrow though.  Today is the day of salvation.  Now is the time.  God loves you - and so do I!

Why does it seem like Christian's are always attacking gays?

As the Supreme Court approaches their decision on gay marriage, the argument is being revived all over the news, on billboards and in social media.

I read a comment in a post just yesterday that said, "homosexuality is not a sex act any more than heterosexuality is a sex act."

Really? No, I mean, really?

We are sexual beings by nature, but unfortunately we also all have a sin nature, and that can take many roads. Without exercising some self control and restraint, we are all at risk of crossing the line. How many openly gay people do you know that practice celibacy? And, having said that, all sex outside of marriage is sin according to the Bible. Well, here's another quote I heard today, "The gospel is meant to change the sinner, not for the sinner to change the gospel to suit their sin." You can't change God's law to suit you.

Sin is sin, right? And every sin will be judged by God, unless it is put under the blood of Jesus.

So why then does it seem that Christians appear only to be focusing on gays?

Are they? Or is the LGBT agenda demanding that the Christian accept their 'lifestyle' because they feel so strongly that God does? If the Christian dares to bring up the sin issue, then they are automatically tagged as hate mongers and homophobes. The Christian tries desperately to "speak the truth in love" but it falls on deaf ears. Could it just be that they are the only "sin" group that is fighting for rights to live the way they want to live, and have rights attached to it regardless of what the law (God's or man's) says? Well, let's just change the law then and we'll deal with God later. They should just get married, right? Let me ask you this, are the fornicators, adulterers, pedophiles, lairs, thieves, and a myriad of other "sinner" groups asking for this?  This may be why they are feeling attacked, not because they are actually being attacked, it's just that the Christian cannot stand down when it comes to opposing God's word.  Many Christians have, and there is now much compromise in the church.  Does that make it any more right?

I do realize that fornication is almost never addressed because, sadly the movements of the 60's did take us take us to a place of acceptance and down a road away from God. "If it feels good, do it." was the slogan. Is this where the slippery slope started? Not really?

Sexual sin has been around since the garden, and at one point it became so perverted that God destroyed an entire city. God has not changed his mind.  Yet, He is not cruel enough to create a person one way and then say it is wrong for them. So who is wrong here - God? No, the problem doesn't lie with God.

The latest "in your face" stance resides on a billboard near me. It almost assumes the message 'I dare you to tell me He doesn't'!



So, does He? Yes, absolutely! God loves everyone! I love you! I have no problem with you. We all have our beliefs and our opinions and have all been created by God, in His image and according to His likeness.  Let's meet at the foot of the cross!  Let's take it to God in prayer.  I mean dare to take it to prayer!  He loves you.

For the love of Missions!

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

I have been a Christian for 35 years and I have loved and served the Lord ever since.  God placed a desire in my heart almost 20 years ago for missions and outreach.  Since then, I have served locally on and off through outreach to the needy and homeless; as a ‘Camper Buddy’ and as Staff for our Kid’s Camp to abused and neglected children; and been on several mission trips Internationally to Haiti, Dominican Republic, Romania and South Africa.  I have also been involved nationwide in Disaster Relief in Missouri, Colorado and New Jersey helping storm victims with cleanups and rebuilds.  This year I became certified as a Chaplain through ICT, and I am a volunteer Chaplain through the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (yet to go on my first deployment!).

From this, and a series of other events, God's direction for me has led to the creation of Help Fund My Mission

This website was birthed as a result of my recent commitment to be part of a team headed to Thailand in the fall that will work alongside a Christian ministry in Northern Thailand which cares for girls from at-risk backgrounds, supporting, training and inspiring them. (More about that to come later).

As usual, it got me wondering how God was going to provide the means this time for me to go. After prayer and some time considering my options, I was made aware of a workable concept that has been growing exponentially in popularity.

Crowdfunding!

I considered starting a campaign on the most popular of the sites that allows fundraising for any reason at all from: “My favorite Charity”, to “My sister has cancer”; “My neighbor needs a car”; or even “My dog needs surgery”. All very good causes indeed! Then, there was the 5% fee that would be charged for the service. (It’s not that it wasn’t a good business idea as I’m all for free enterprise!). Still, something I couldn’t explain kept me for going forward with it.

Then it hit me!

What if there was a crowdfunding site that was specifically designed for missions? Not only that, but how about it be a site that doesn’t just support or help missions, but actually gives back to missions?

Drum roll please! 

Help Fund My Mission has just moved from being a vision to reality!

Help Fund My Mission is a new tool to assist in, and give an avenue for awareness, support and funding of missions. Help Fund My Mission is basically ministry-focused, and was birthed out of a heart to go into all the world to preach the gospel, to help others do the same, and to give back through financial support to other missions that are doing just that.

I have also created a Facebook Page where posts and updates will be made regularly.  You can check it out here.

This is just Phase One, and as this site grows and improves, it will give more options and more money back into missions and approved nonprofits.

I would like to invite you to take some time and look over the website to see if this is something you can use or get behind. And, if you are anything like me you will see that:

• Online fundraising is the fastest growing segment of personal giving and Help Fund My Mission can help you tap into this rapidly growing market in unique, value-added ways. Our goal is (1) to give you an extremely easy, customizable platform to create compelling fundraising campaigns that raise new money for your Organization, (2) to provide a turn-key solution for empowering your base of donors, supporters, and volunteers to raise money for your missions, and (3) to help you tap into the younger demographic by making it fun and attractive to give back.

• If you are a 501(c)3, I think you will find that Crowdfunding through Help Fund My Mission is the most innovative, and effective way for your Non-Profit Organization to turn your supporters into passionate fundraisers and to create peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns.

• If you are an individual looking to raise funds and support for your mission, then I think you too will find this site to be the most reasonable and worthy of all sites to start your campaign.

Then, if you be willing, you can partner with me by helping to offset the startup costs of launching this new site by donating to this sites first campaign. (The only drawback here is that we are yet to become a nonprofit, and therefore your generous giving in this case would not be tax deductible!)

And, by all means, start your own campaign today to get your mission funded!

March 2015 - Weekend Training - Disaster First Aid through CRI

I can now say, "Been there, done that, got the T-Shirt!", but it would be such a shame if that is all I was looking to get out of it, because our experience this last weekend was so much more than that! There is such purpose to what CRI is doing to prepare the church to 'go out into all the world', and Disaster First Aid preparedness, though thorough and very beneficial, is just a portion of what CRI does, and it just scratches the surface of what they are all about.  Our instructor Tracey White, who works at Freedom River Outreach in Tacoma, WA is a retired EMT who also trains for YWAM Kona, with credentials as long as your arm.  He poured into us and gave us 'hands-on' training that was so valuable.  In fact, he made it clear that, although condensed, what we received was more than even some Fire and Rescue teams get over a much longer space of time and training.  The course itself dealt with the whole person, spirit, soul and body; starting with the emphasis on praying and the 'hand of God' as key elements.

I anticipated that our weekend as a whole was going to be spiritually rich as well, and I was not disappointed! The ministry that went forth through worship, prayer and the laying on of hands was deep to say the least. There was such a feeling of camaraderie through the team of people that make up CRI, as well as with the classmates that came from several states and even France to participate.   I was personally ministered to, and was equipped with more tools to go out and serve others.  I can say without a doubt that I will pursue further training with CRI and future deployments to work along side this blessed and growing ministry.  God is bringing the church together and raising up His army to be strong and ready in the days to come!