Broken on the Wheels of Living

Sometimes, God does not answer the cry of our heart. We think the pain we experience means we are either in sin or need psychotherapy.

Could it be instead we are experiencing the very same pain Jesus experienced at some point in his short life on earth? 

Could it be our pain mirrors the pain in His heart, and thereby the pain of our Father's heart?

Anger, grief, sadness, weariness, loneliness, disappointment - these are all emotions He felt.

Wilder's play (1) demonstrates the spiritual reality of John 5 - the healing at the Pool of Bethesda.

The doctor wants to get in to the pool to relieve his melancholy and depression, but the Angel will not allow him.

The Angel says,

Without your wound where would your power be? It is your very remorse that makes your low voice tremble into the hearts of men. The very angels themselves cannot persuade the wretched and blundering children on earth as can one human being broken on the wheels of living. In Love’s service only the wounded soldiers can serve. Draw back.

Those who are aware of their woundedness and willingness to work through the pain are people the Miracle Maker can work with. Those who are unwilling or unaware of their need to sit in the dirt on the side of the road and beg the passing Nazarene, "Jesus, Son of David, Have mercy on me," diminish their usefulness to the Master.

• He uses us despite our pain and wounds.
• He heals us through our pain and woundedness.
• He is glorified in our pain and wounds.

This is a spiritual principle as old as time and writing itself. Job 36:15 teaches,

"He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity."

Martin Smith also wrote about this in his song, "Miracle Maker."

I'm waiting here for my life to change,

When the waters stir you can rearrange me.

Just one touch is all I need,

I've nothing much but the wounds I feel,

I'm looking for the hand of the miracle man.

Holy, you are holy,

Who was and is and is to come.

Holy, you are holy, Saviour, Healer,

I'm standing at the feet of the miracle maker.

I'm holding on, with your life in mine,

Living water's come,

And you've rearranged me.

Holy you are holy,

Who was and is and is to come.

Holy, you are holy,

Saviour, healer,

I'm staring in the face of the miracle maker.

Holy, you are holy,

Who was and is and is to come.

Jesus, precious Jesus,

Thank you, Saviour,

I'm walking in the shoes of my miracle maker.

I'm standing with the faith of a miracle maker.

Written by Delirious? ©2005 Curious? Music UK

“Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, 

which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 

In these lay a great multitude of invalid folk – blind, halt, withered 

– waiting for the moving of the water. 

For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water.  

Whosoever then first stepped in, after the troubling of the water, 

was made whole of whatsoever disease he had."

(John 5: 12-14 NASB)

(1) The Angel That Troubled the Waters (A short play by Thornton Wilder)

The Meaning of How We Meet Death

When one is called to risk for Christ's sake, how we meet death is a sign of how we have met life.

There are those who seem to think it is enough to simply exist and persevere in a high risk situation, that in persevering we have become spiritually noble or spiritual heroes.

The non-suffering Church naively heralds such people. 

There are those who seem to think that risking anything for Christ means we have become someone we are not.

There are those who "market" for the sake of money or influence the death of people who have died in risk, who indeed were foolish and did not live day-to-day in their relationships in a way that glorifies God.

It takes real discernment to understand the meaning of our life--and potential death--when in a high-risk situation.

"There is meaning beyond absurdity [or chaos]. Know that every deed counts, that every word is power...Above all, remember that you must build your life as if it were a work of art."(1)

So what is the meaning?

We cannot choose the biggest death, the one that most glorifies God, if we are not choosing on a day-to-day basis in our most ignoble or non-seen moments that which glorifies God and demonstrates His kindness to those around us.

From the team members who cannot get along, the one who "never forgave and never respected" the leader, from the husband who abuses his wife, to those who criticize, slander and withhold approval - these are not qualities that lead to a Christ-exalting life nor a Christ-exalting death.

• We meet death well when we live sacrificially, when we don't live in a place of mourning or silence but of praise and indebtedness to a God who bled for us and who died to break the power of death over us. 
• We meet death well when we continue serving Him, loving Him, even when we want to walk away, when the pain or the potential pain in risk (or in life) seems too great. 
• We meet death well when we give all of our heart to love others well, even when misunderstood, slandered, and judged, just as He was. 

 When we meet death with a sense of wonder, praise, indebtedness on our lips, our death--and our life--has the highest meaning possible. When we meet death knowing that our life is part of God's life on this earth, that we have brought His presence to others, when we live in a constant state of awareness of the holy dimension of living, then our our death glorifies God the greatest. 




(1) Abraham Heschel, "I Asked For Wonder" and in interview with NBC.

What's a Girl to Do?

I've moved 20 times in our 19 years of marriage, and set up house in 5 countries.  This means I've left behind a lot of clothes and shoes in many places, and started my seasonal wardrobes over as many times.

Being a girl who likes lots of shoes for every occasion, I've kinda been forced into minimalism due to kilo and space restrictions. 

People in the faith-based work are not known as style or fashion icons. However, it's important to become "all things to all people" in such a manner that my clothing is not a distraction or impedes connecting with people for the sake of the Gospel. 

So I pay careful attention to my clothing in all the cultures I find myself in. 

I was a bit kerflummoxed recently when beginning to prepare to go to Africa to give the RAM Training in a few weeks.

In Central Asia, modest women are required to wear pants, and either a long blouse or a skirt over the pants. I've chosen to just wear pants and a long blouse. Since it gets cold, it requires clothes for 4 seasons. It's not modest to show arms or much of an ankle. None of those clothes will work in Africa.

In America, I try to wear clothes that are modern and contemporary and work for the audiences I speak to here, often middle class and upper-middle class.  Long skirts and modest blouses?  When were those last in style in America?

However, in Africa, modest women will wear long skirts and not pants, and apparently sleeveless shirts and blouses are okay. And it's hot, so the clothes have to be summer weight.

I also need my outfits in all these cultural situations to be able to work as "presentation" clothes, ones which work to the multi-generational multi-cultural audiences I speak to, as well as carefully be modest but stylish as Neal and I are often speaking to men and women. 

How can I live the minimalist lifestyle on a restricted budget when I need clothes for every occasion in three very different cultures, with the shoes that match? 

Wish I could live in jeans, a t-shirt, and slip-on loafers. 

Okay, not really. 

Sure is nice to have an excuse to thrift shop again, hunting for "new" sandals. They were $3 on Sunday's 50% off day.

1st World Problems

In order to help ourselves and our kids maintain a global perspective and remember what true wealth and true poverty really are, we point out "1st World problems" when we come across them.

"First World problem is a slang term used to refer to issues in wealthy (First World) nations that are complained about only because of the absence of more pressing concerns." First World Problems are frustrations and complaints that are experienced by privileged individuals in wealthy countries. It is typically used as a tongue-in-cheek comedic device to make light of trivial inconveniences.

(Note: when you research this topic, too many (N. American) people are still using the term "3rd world," which sounds condescending. Instead use the phrase"Developing world."  China and Europe (per capita) are way ahead of N. Americans when it comes to technology, internet, and cell phone useage.)

Here's an example of 1st versus Developing world problems: 

Here are some examples that make us laugh, roll our eyes, and shake our head in embarrassment about a nation that has no idea how much disposable money they have.

1. Toaster

2. "Throw-a-way" Cashmere Robe - Too much stuff!
I was at the 2nd Hand store and I found a brand new $400 cashmere bathrobe for $8.  Who would pay $400!!!!  Yep, I bought it (for $8) and enjoy it every day.


3. Almond Milk

4.Wifi on Cruise

5. Book Batteries

6. GPS

7. Coffee

"My 7 dollar starbucks latte came with ONE espresso shot instead of the TWO I asked for!"

More at this link.

In the meantime, 

• Of the annual top 50 countries where Christians are limited, oppressed, persecuted, and face martyrdom, almost all of the countries in the Central Asia, Cauceses, Middle East, and North Africa are listed. 

• Each year for the past few years there have been upwards of 10,000 terrorist attacks and millions upon tens of millions of displaced peoples. 
• Yet the Central Asia and Middle East region has almost 1 billion Muslims who have not heard the Gospel
• There are approximately 600 unreached people groups in this region
• Of the world’s 440,000 missionaries, only about 5000 go to this region.
• Of the $11.5 Billion spent globally on Missions, only $40M (less than ½%) goes to the CA/ME/NA region (99% of our mission spending goes to people who have access to the gospel).
• Finally, for every 1M Muslims, there is 1 person sharing the gospel. 

We go about our lives every day, not remembering that tens of THOUSANDS of people go to their deaths, eternally separated from God.  

How often I forget this and think my problems are big. 

Standing Stronger

There are brilliant minds, people with like 60 billion years in member care and global work on the front lines, as well as PhD's right now working on developing materials on how to help global workers be more resilient in cross-cultural work.

I look forward to hearing what they have to say.

But I suspect the primary answer is being faithful to receive from the Lord with joy whatever He gives each and every day and be obedient to Him.

Having said that, this song is encouraging.  Thanks Moriah!

Standing Stronger  (Youtube video link)
Moriah Peters

With a soul as bold as lions
And a strength to face the giants
Come and join us in the silence
For the King who saved the world
Hear the voices in the night
We sing till sunrise

Stand, stand strong
Keep holding on
We sing blessed are the persecuted
Blessed are the weak and wounded
This is your song
Stand, stand strong
Stand, stand strong

If the gravity pulls you down, down, down
Or you're lost and want to get found
Lift your eyes and turn around now
Can you see you're not alone
Raise our voices in the night and sing

Stand, stand strong
Keep holding on
We sing blessed are the persecuted
Blessed are the weak and wounded
This is your song
Stand, stand strong
Stand, stand strong

So do not be afraid
He'll keep you safe
Through fire…

Stand, stand strong
Keep holding on
Stand, stand strong
Keep holding on
We sing blessed are the persecuted
Blessed are the weak and wounded
This is your song
Stand, stand strong
Stand, stand strong
Keep holding on

Stand, stand strong

Songwriters: Joel Smallbone

BRAVE by Moriah Peters

See the Youtube Video:  - Brave

Moriah Peters - Brave Lyrics

From the album Brave

No one ever told me this would be easy
But I never knew that it could be this hard
Oh, the worry, the worry, the worry is weighing on me
Could you help me break down all these question marks
And make me

Brave
I'll fight like a soldier
Brave
Rise like a warrior
Brave
Won't stop till the final day
Brave
I want to be stronger
Brave
Going to be bolder
Brave
Look up and I see the way
You make me brave

I know, I know I'm no superwoman
But impossible is possible with You
So no, no, no more running, no more hiding
Strike the fire so I'll be fearless too
And make me

None go with me
Still I'll follow
Through the joy and
Through the sorrow
Cross before me
World behind me
There's no turning back

Brave
Brave
Brave