Listening to Movies

Someone asked me the this week, "What do you mean 'you listened' to some movies last week?" And a good question indeed. Most people watch movies, but when you're driving a mini-van home from a mission trip (if it was a volvo, I might have actually felt safer watching a few more scenes), you listen to them while the people in the back seats actually watch them.

We had the privilege of watching the classic film Billy Madison on the way back from MS. One scene hit me particularly hard. Ms. Vaughn (Bridgette Wilson-Billy's recent 3rd grade teacher) told Billy (Adam Sandler), "It doesn't feel so good to be called a loser. Perhaps you'll be nicer to those whom you called loser when you were in high school." In the movie he immediately calls up Danny McGraf (Steve Buscemi) and apologizes for the things he said 10 years ago. It moved Danny so much that he erased Billy's name from his "People to Kill" list.

The neat thing is that I was actually quite convicted while watching, or rather 'listening' to the scene (when you watch a movie nearly 20 times, you don't really need to actually 'see' it). I had referred to someone as a 'loser' the other day, and God really convicted me. I will hopefully be erasing that word from my vocabulary.

Even something as stupid (though incredibly funny) as an Adam Sandler film can serve devotional and didactic purposes if we are actively engaged with the film. But it can do the very opposite if we become oysters and just take in everything.

Smokin in the Boy's Room

I'm going to be perfectly blunt, I don't like cigarettes. I don't like the smell, the fact that people believe throwing them on the ground isn't littering (I don't get this one), and probably the cancer they cause.

But sometimes, I don't like people who smoke them (just sometimes). This is bad and that is why I am confessing it now. Its not really that I don't like them, but I do judge them and look at them differently.

Let me give you an example of how my judgment led to my shame on the mission trip. The church had a no tobacco/alcohol policy on the site due to the scores of youth participating in the restoration in Bay St. Louis. Fine with me, I could live without a beer for a week.

But the problem was that even some of the Lagniappe staff workers and interns smoked cigarettes on site. I just noticed it a few times. And so I thought to myself, "I guess they are not too picky about who they bring on staff here."

And then one night I had a conversation with one of "The Smokers." Wow. It was the most encouraging and challenging conversation I had the whole week. He spoke of how God had called him there, how He had graciously supported him (all the staff are on support; but this guy didn't ask anyone for a dime-all the money came from 2 unsolicited resources!), and how it was the hardest work of his life and yet he was "having the time of his life." Even further proof that there is a supernatural joy that comes when you lay your life down.

I was ashamed at myself for judging this man. I should have looked at the planks in my own eye. While I still think smoking is not a good habit, I hope to be less judgmental toward smokers. There seems, at least in my own heart, a stigma toward smoking. But in reality, gossip and sins of the tongue are way worse-and actually mentioned in the bible. In addition, I have plenty of stuff in which you or they could be judgmental toward me. I hope I can remember that.

Debriefing Thoughts

I'll admit, I'm on a 'missions' fix right now, with all posts being related to missions. Well, this may be it, for the time. Below I've posted an article I wrote for the Bradenton Herald before I left. Since the circulation doesn't get past Bradenton, I'm posting a link here to direct you to the article should you want to read it (I'm not going to be presumptuous and presume). Of course they changed my title again, but this time the title is 'doable,' and doesn't take away from the well crafted article. There is a mistake with the website listed for the church; the correct link is gohope.net

Anyhow, the trip was a blast, further proving the point that we find more joy by laying down our lives. Someone on staff at the mission church told me that, "You'll never work so hard, be so tired, but have more fun in your life. " In that one week, I could agree with him and the articl I wrote on an existential level. That's always a plus.


Article in Herald

A Positive Picture

Many people have a bad picture of the church. They see TV preachers asking for money, saying "Go to the phones!" or see Pat Robertson representing the Christian voice in politics. However in the Mississippi gulf coast area, there is currently a more positive picture of the church.

The government as entirely pulled out of the reconstruction effort. Entirely. The only people coming and leading the effort to help rebuild the area are churches. The people there are so thankful that the churches haven't forgotten.

The church in America has fallen short in many areas over the years, but they have been 'on the ball' this time. And Christ is being honored. In other centuries, the church has been quick to dispense mercy. They used to take in babies bound for the dung heap (Romans weren't very nice to unwanted babies) and they were the ones who took care of folks (and died trying) during the European plagues. It was the Church, not the government.

So Katrina relief is just following a pattern laid down by brothers/sisters of previous generations. And Christ is getting glory down in Mississippi. And that's pretty dang cool, eh?

Friday, Workday 5-The Home Stretch

We're are now currently done with our our house. We left it in much better shape than we found it. All in all, we 'demolitioned', cleaned out a ton of debris that was still there after 2 years, insulated, cut/hung/mudded/taped, dry-walled the whole house. There are just a few places that didn't get taped.

The Lagniappe people couldn't believe how much was done, and done well. Thanks again for praying.

We turned in time sheets for hours worked, which will be turned into FEMA, and the debt of the town will be reduced. So we have actually not only helped the Favre family (remember, no relation to Brett-but she did go to high school with him and next year is the 20 year reunion), but also the town.

I'm off to go help Johnny paint the wooden manatee that we cut out. Each team makes some sort of wooden 'memento' to leave at the church. Marla suggested a manatee for Manatee County, and Steven suggested we leave "Hope Pres" in boat scars on his back. While scars may be a stretch to accomplish, the manatee looks good. We made our county proud.

Have a good one, and please pray for our drive home tomorrow. It's long, and we're tired. Peace.


Sorry we don't have any quotes. It was a silent day. We worked like monks.

Thursday, Workday 4: Patience and Grace

Today was really a great day. We got a ton of stuff done, having gone through 21 sheets of dry wall. That's a lot, it really is. The Lagniappe staff can't keep up with us, and they act surprised everyday when I request more.

More than that, its quality. The interns overseeing the project spend very little time at our house. They just stop by, give us a popsicle, and tell us everything looks really good. One group had to redo all of their mudding and taping, but we've been doing it so well. That's a praise to God who grants wisdom and skill and all kinds of knowledge. Daniel once said the same thing about his dream interpreting ability. But this is no less amazing.

The kids are getting some skills down and doing quite well. The adults aren't half bad either.
I hope you can tell how much work is getting done through the posted pictures.

Some of the pics are from our trip to New Orleans last night. We saw the mighty Mississippi. It couldn't have been muddier.

Keep praying. One more day of work, and then the drive home Saturday. Peace.

Quotes of the Day:

• "These lights of (New Orleans) are nice but they don't have the WOW of Las Vegas."- Micheal Bouwer
• "These containers smell like Tad Poles." -Jessica Terry
  

Wed; Work day 3- Screwing Around

Wed, June 13th, Workday 3

The day was originally supposed to be a half day of work, ending at 2 pm (although that really wouldn't be half). However we did end a little earlier today, at 3 pm. Today was a day of screwing around (literally). We put up a ton of screws. In addition, more dry wall was added and mud after that, and tape after that. And then some more dry wall mud.

We finally got to meet the family today, and that was a blast. They couldn't be nicer. Really, they couldn't.

The team is looking forward to dinner in New Orleans, as we'll be leaving the compound shortly. Please pray for grace and patience. Grace is slow to be given and patience only shows up every so often when you get really tired. And we are tired. And our reward that we're all looking forward to when we get back from New Orleans is this: bathroom duty!

The guys will be short handed, so we ought be up for a bit tonight. So, keep praying the 3 fold prayer mentioned on the Tuesday blog. And for the part about US, please pray for grace and patience with each other. That's one way we 'resist the devil (James 4:7).' Peace.

Tuesday's Pics

I just figured out that the computers here at Lagniappe take the storage cards in our cameras. So I thought I'd post some more pictures today.

One thing that I haven't mentioned much of is the relational component of the ministry here. Yesterday we met the homeowner's father. It turns out that he is a big fisherman and loved to share his secrets on trout and redfishing in the area. Unfortunately we won't have time to try them out. But just listening to this man was truly a blessing for him.

In addition we talked with some plumbers who had to ride out of their house on a boat during Katrina. They eventually came back to their house, and just rebuilt it one room at a time. There are so many stories and so little time to share. Hopefully we'll get the chance when we get back. The kids have done a great job, and of course the adults as well. I'm blessed with this crew; I really am. Hope these pics give you an idea of what you're praying for.

If not, then here is the standard prayer outline we're following. Thanks!

1.) Us-needs of the team
2.) Lagniappe church-that operations continue, and ministry increases
3.) Kingdom-God's Kingdom=His will and reign through reconstruction efforts and humble Christ centered community, and all of life and culture here

By the way, that's Budweiser water we're holding. Relax, its just water!

Tuesday , June 12th

Tuesday, Work Day 2


Today is Tuesday, a great day for work. We put up some lovely sheet rock, and tore down some unlovely sheet rock. Jerusha, Johnny, Courtney, Sam, Hannah were part of the demolition squad. They left a huge wake of destruction in their paths, which was quickly hauled out to the corner.

In addition to putting up the sheet rock, the ladies laid some delicious mud on the dry wall, covering the disgusting nails. They also taped like it was nobody's business. And it really wasn't.

This morning Johnny got a chance to pray with a lady who was deeply upset about her housing situation. She was very happy to pray with someone, and to know that someone cared enough. She said, "Jesus Christ, thank you so much for this kid!"

Heads bumped a bit, sparks flew (so I'm told-I witnessed no sparks), but God's grace prevailed.
We were visited by some trusty interns who showed us the way to more effective mud and tape dry wall. The girls thanked God for sending them.

Dave Bouwer's constrcution prowess has shined. He's been leading a good ship. It's been getting rather warm lately, so please keep praying for strength. Thanks again. Talk to you tomorrow. More camera trouble now, so hope to post some more pics next time. Peace.

June 11th-The First Day of Work

Great News. I used Steven's camera and Johnny's camera USB cord to connect to my computer, so here are some pics. We spent a lot of the time doing demolition of the inside of a house, cleaning debris, and fully insulating the house. It happened to belong to a Favre, but no relation to the interception prone quarterback that the Bucs usually eat for breakfast Brett Favre.

We started at 8 this morning and ended around 4:15 or so. Thanks for your prayers. We got a ton of stuff done, and tomorrow we will commence dry-walling. We only did one piece today.

Pray for our safety, physical stamina, skill, patience with each other, and if time-Sam's cell phone to work! Thanks again! Peace.


Quotes of the day:

"My mom said my IQ was 20/20."- Johnny Weichel

"What's 37 + 38? 39?" - Micheal Bouwer

"I don't know what they call this hear, but in Florida its called a Violation of Child Labor
Laws.-Jessica Terry

"There's something about sandwiches that's just Oh so scrumptuous!"-Jessica Terry

Sunday

Worship this morning was, well, quite worshipful. The funny thing was that we opened our service with the same exact song people at Hope Presbyterian opened with: better is one day. The service was very laid back as the pastor actually wore shorts (my dream one day is to preach in shorts), but the mood was still reverent. We sang some of the same songs that we sing at Hope, and even had a prayer request time.

After lunch, we went to the beach. Nothing to write home about.Ugly sand. Unfortunately I forgot to bring the chords to connect to the computer with the camera. I know I spelled chords incorrectly but the computer I'm working with doesn't delete very quickly; its like a type writer. Anyhow, I'm trying to get pictures up, but have had some computer troubles so far. If I can, I'll get you pictures.

Tonight we received our 'orders.' Unfortunately the dude said, "You'll have to see Ruth tomorrow at 7 am, because I don't know anything about this particular house." Great. So we'll be doing some gutting and cleaning and repair. Probably.

I'll update tomorrow with what we did exactly. Thanks for praying. Peace

Arrival

We arrived at Lagniappe Pres safe and sound today. Praise the Lord for blessing us with safe and quick travels. If it wouldn't have been for a bad storm, which we nicknamed Hurricane Carlos, we would have made the world record. But you can't win them all. Anyhow, thanks for praying for our safety.

We are situated in bunk houses with lots and lots of bunk beds, which is well air conditioned. I'm wishing I brought a comforter. There will be close to 220 people here by tomorrow night-maybe that will warm things up.

Most of us were surprised at the 'look of the place.' At first glance you would never think this was a church. The main church building is a warehouse, and everything from eating, to registering, to playing, to worshiping goes on here. Its really quite neat (sorry for that word, but its the best I could come up with after driving 650 miles today and operating on little sleep).

The team ate dinner tonight, got situated, and had a good bonding time over Scattergories.
Everyone is getting along very well, and enjoying each other's company. Lights out are at 10 pm each night, so I have to go now to get ready for worship tomorrow.

I'll post tomorrow to let you know about our Sunday activities. Thanks for your prayers.

Cleaning Seats

The other day Penn State had several football players arrested. Not really that big news I know, football players getting arrested. But what was big news was the punishment for the crime. Instead of releasing these players from scholarships, or individually punishing the the players involved, Old Paterno had something else up his coaching sleeve.

On Sundays after home games, the football team has to clean up the entire stadium this fall season. That includes the coaching staff as well. Apparently they will get paid, but then put the money back into the the club athletics programs.

Paterno has been criticized for the move, but I think there is some method in his madness. These several football players haven't just made a bad name for themselves, but for the program (I can't remember the names of any of the players-even if they were released, you wouldn' remember them by name). The good name of Penn State footbal, if it ever had a good name, was slandered by the offense of a few. And so to redeem or atone for that crime, the whole team is going to prove itself to the outside world that Penn State is in fact a respectable program.

What I admire about this incident is not necessarily the punishment, but the fact that Paterno recognized that the actions of the members of a team bring either glory or shame to that team. Individuals themselves may be forgotten, but the team is remembered-for better or for worse.

The same is true for the church today. The church of Jesus is slandered for the actions of its members. I don't propose that we clean seats, and there is no way to atone for any of our sins except by the blood of Christ. But I do believe we ought to understand that what we do brings either glory or shame upon Christ. And those who hate the church (and I'm not exonerating them) often have been given reasons to do so by those claiming the name of Christ. So we may have to spend some time apologizing for the sins of others. Of course this is in addition to apologizing for our own sins. But this bit of good news: going to church on Sunday is better than cleaning seats-for ours have been made clean by one who came before us.

From one catfish to another

I saw this rather disgusting, picture of a catfish trying to eat a bastketball. Yes, a basketball. Apparently this catfish saw a delicious looking basketball floating on the surface (where most things float, I guess) and went in for a bite, or rather a gulp. The ball got lodged in the catfish's mouth, and it was bobbing on the surface for a long time before rescue.

A compassionate husband and wife team drove their boat to the hapless fish, and eventually had to flatten the ball with a knife in order to remove it. This proves once and for all that catfish will eat anything-which is one reason why I don't eat catfish (I know I'm being hypocritical because I like bacon-but at least I beat you to it).

I got to thinking after looking at the picture. I noticed an uncanny resemblance between people and catfish. Hear me out (or rather read me out) on this one. As needy and hungry people-and we all are-we have a tendency to fill our faces and hearts with anything that looks good. I'm assuming that basketball looked 'good' at the time, but in the end had the capability of destroying this 'beautiful(I'm sure to some folks)' creature. Likewise we often chase after things which look good, but are really quite harmful.

And sometimes its not until we really get stuck that we realize just how bad and destructive some things can be. So when someone else finds you 'bobbing' after you've filled your heart with something harmful, let them help you remove it. So when they break out the knife to help YOU break free, let them help you. And it never hurts to listen to others BEFORE we swallow basketballs as well. Just some words best spoken from one catfish to another.

A pubescent yard

I just had the 'joy' of mowing my yard yesterday. I can't say 'grass' because my yard really consists of clumps of bahia grass here and there, along with weeds, clovers, leaves, and some fallen tree branches. I compare my yard to the face of a young high schooler.

It's kind of cool when you first start to shave, much like it is cool when you first buy and use a mower in your very own yard (as much as paying a mortgage is 'owning' of course). But then after a while it starts to get old, much like mowing the grass.

And what makes it harder is that when you're a young lad, facial hair doesn't grow evenly. Often it comes in very patchy, much like grass on my yard. Some yards can grow for a while, just like some faces; in the end, you get a beard-and it makes you look older, suave, genteel, perhaps even sophisticated. My yard will never get a 'beard,' or look genteel. In fact, the best I hope for is some sort of pubescent, early teen, fuzzy mustache.

Because tall patchy grass looks a lot worse than evenly distributed tall grass, sometimes I wish it would never grow. But then would it cease to be a yard? Just some random, although cohesive I believe, thoughts on mowing the grass and shaving.

Is it better to be lucky than good?

Last night for youth group (since only 3 youth actually came!), we decided to take a little 'field trip' to play disc golf. If you've never played this sport (I guess if golf is a sport, then this is as well), it inolves throwing discs which are similar to frisbee's-0nly smaller and heavier-into a chained bucket on top of a small pole.

I resisted the trend for a while, but it really is a good time. Anyhow, the course where we play is often littered with big trees and branches that regularly knock down any disc which tries to pass through. Someone may throw a really good hard straight throw, and it might just barely nick a branch, and totally have its course redirected for the worse. Other times someone may throw the disc, which barely misses hitting 5-6 branches, and lands exactly where the thrower desired. Or it might hit a branch and actually have its course positively redirected.

No one is good enough to actually intend for the disc to do such things. And so when it does, we always say, "Its better to be lucky, than good." Of course, by luck, we mean that God has providentially blessed the flight of the disc so that it lands in a commendable spot near the basket.

It's hard to argue that it's not better to be 'lucky' than good. Outside the disc golf course, we are so dependent upon God's providential (that He powerfully preserves and governs all that comes to pass) involvement. Sometimes that can be comforting, and sometimes it can be humbling. We who are Christians are 'lucky' people because God promises to work all things for our good, which ultimately means making us more like Christ-which is a really good thing.

And when we succeed, we have to recognize that while God used our planning, gifts, skills, efforts, we are in the end 'lucky,' not 'good.' There are always many scenarios, often unseen or unrealized, that we end up passing through.

We are like the disc that just barely makes it through the branches. We don't operate or depend upon our skill, but on 'luck.''Good' gives praise to the thrower; 'lucky' gives praise to the one who directs both the thrower and the disc. So in the end, "it is better to be lucky than good."

Do you have 'reservations'?

On my last day in Richmond, my wife and I, and in-laws visited the Pamunkey Indian reservation. My wife Amy is 1/4 Pamunkey Indian, and her mom is 1/2, but they hadn't been out to the reservation in some time. When we arrived at the Pamunkey museum, my mother-in-law began chatting with the ladies running it. They both knew of her mother and aunt, who at one time lived on the reservation. As we began to talk to these ladies, I was saddened over a number of actions taken against the native Americans.

My mother-in-law's mother went to a public school, and was repeatedly sent home (in first grade!) because the teacher wouldn't teach Indians. Another woman had to go to an Indian boarding school in another state to receive education.

Another of the women currently living on the reservation had to get married in North Carolina, because Virginia had a law against Indians intermarrying (she married a white boy). I also found out that my in-laws marriage wasn't really legal either because that law wasn't changed until 1968! Fortunately for them there was no documentation! Unfortunately for our kids (who would be 1/8 Indian), we can't prove Indian blood for college scholarships!

All in all, it was a fascinating journey into the history of a forgotten people. But it was also a journey into some of the history white people like me would like to forget. Perhaps some repentance from the Christian community may put a few more Pamunkeys back in the pews (there was a small fairly unattended Baptist church on site). I'm sure much of the prejudice came from people claiming they knew a thing or two about Jesus. But I wonder if they really did.