How Great is Jesus?

Our last two prison programs were today. After three weeks of practicing carols, drama and dance we finished our Christamas (sorry got Harry Belafonte's "Mary's Boy Child" in my head) programs at Bugungu YO and Bugungu YP. YP is always a celebration but YO is a very dark place spiritually. So we started there at 10:30 this morning.

As I was giving the opening prayer and remarks there was a couple of young muslim men standing in the front. They were openly hostile to our sharing the gospel in song, drama and dance. After our choir started I could barely hear them. They were intimidated by the men. So I went and stood next to these men, boys really, and began to sing with the choir. One of them moved away but the other stayed where he was. Soon he was starting to sing with the music.

When the one boy moved away Bev came up and stood beside him and began to sing. The men then started to enjoy the music. We had told them at the start that they could enjoy the music even if they weren't Christians but this young man next to Bev just refused. Between songs Bev told him that he could enjoy the music even if he didn't get saved. Jesus gives us joy and lets us dance in prison. Well that seemed to make a difference as his defiant attitude soon washed away.

The Birth of Jesus was told from Matthew and Luke with short dramas to fill in the story. Then Moro Steven, our prisons pastor, shared a very powerful message. And nine men gave their lives to Jesus, including the two muslim boys.

Then when the song and dance segment started the joy on the saved men's faces was indescribable unless you happen to be born again. In that case you know exactly what it looks like. Because we can see it every day in the mirror.

The Program was even better at YP. 19 men came forward to give their lives to Jesus and it was such an incredible blessing. I even met a guard who got saved as a prisoner in Kirinya Remand in 2000. He is still walking with Christ.

I am always amazed at what Jesus does. He saves people that 10 minutes earlier had been dead set against Him. He saves them in prison, on the street, in the hospital, at church. He saves us wherever we may be. Pray for those He is saving this Christmas and every day. Jesus is indeed the Gift that keeps forgiving.

Have a blessed and merry Christmas.

Slow is good

Well the new School of Ministry class is here. We've been meeting for three weeks and have lost one student so far. Ruth is a young woman who wanted to come to the SoM but to do so she would have to quit her job. She has not come the last week so I think she has opted to remain gainfully employed. Which in the underemployed world of Uganda is a very good idea.

So we have Joseph from Kenya. He is quiet but already seems to have a servant's heart. He volunteers for anything and works hard at the assignment. That is one of the goals of the SoM. Joseph is also a musician so our class worship times are better than ever.

Collin is from the church in Gulu. He has already been tried when his one year old daughter developed malaria the second week of school. He did not rush home but asked the class to pray for her and God has healed her. He seems to be a man of true faith.

Grace is one of our church members and wants to learn more about God by studying His
word. He and his wife Patricia lost their 5 year old son last year. At the burial the family abused Grace publicly but he responded with humility and grace towards them. I have been impressed by his strong unwavering commitment to do good in all things.

Moses is Pastor Apollo's younger brother. I have known him about eight years. He is probably the most advanced student in the class and he has surprised me a couple of times already with his insight into and use of Scripture.

Dismas is a former prisoner who lives in Bugiri. He has come because of all the false teaching in his district. He feels God has called him to bring the truth of His word to the people in Bugiri and neighboring Kenya. He came with lots of bad beliefs but every day God removes more from Dismas' heart and replaces it with truth.

Charles is the youngest Christian in the school and has only known Jesus for less than a year. But he does know that Jesus is the truth, not the B'hai religion that he was forced to follow by his former employer. He is always willing to give an answer. Can't wait to see how he does with apologetics.

Zacharia is a former Church of Uganda catechist who had been out of church for six years. He started coming to Calvary last year and his desire is to share God's word in the Teso region. Zacharia is the oldest student at 54 years.

Anne is from nearby Mayuge District. She was married with two children but her husband chased her from their home when she was born again. Sadly that is an all too common occurence. She is staying with Steven and Mary and is learning much. She started with problems in understanding my English but is getting much better.

Finally William. He is a young man who is also on our church board. In the last 5 years no one has asked me more or better questions about the Bible and faith than William. He will be keeping me on my toes.

I said slow is good and when it comes to a new SoM class, it is true. We are taking much time this year to ensure that a good, solid foundation is laid before we press ahead. Please keep these students in prayer so that they will not give up and that their teacher can speak in understandable terms.

It's Up, It's Down

What comes up, must go down. That pretty well sums up the internet, phone and electric service here in Jinja. It has been almost two weeks since I've been able to connect to the internet.

When the internet is down you have to call your provider. For us, that's the phone company. Problem is the phone is the same line as the internet. If the net is down usually the phone is down too. Aha! You think to yourself, I'll use my cell phone to call the phone company. A seemingly good idea but there is one major hitch. Since cell phone providers are stealing all of the phone company's customers the phone company has decided that they won't take service calls from cell phones. Kind of a payback thing, I guess. So you call but they don't answer! Now you have to drive down and talk to them in person (or have your lovely wife do that, thanks sweetie).

When the phone/internet guy finally arrives after 3 days he checks out the situation with great patience and skill and he determines that you need a new wire to run fron the pole to your house. "Great", you say. "Wire that baby up." That is when you get the sad news that the phone company has no phone wire. "When will you get some?" you eagerly ask. "Next week...maybe."

So next week or later finally comes and you get the wire and the phone and internet are back. You're in business... except now the electric lines are down. You wait another day until the repairman can come to fix them. Which he does. Hurray! now you can finally communicate with the outside world. Except, in your house, there is still no power. The electric guy has forgotten to put the fuse back in the transformer for your house! So you call him up on his cell phone (no rules about phones for the electric company) and he says he will be right there. An hour later he arrives in the dark to put in the fuse on the pole. Simple job so you leave him to do it.

About five minutes later you start to wonder why the power hasn't come on. Then you hear a comotion outside. The dog has bitten the power guy! "What?" "Your dog has attacked me!" Hard to believe since this is the same dog that slept as thieves stole the bike rack with two bikes attached last month. So you promise the power guy that the dog is not rabid and he calms down then finishes putting the fuse back. Finally you get to check your email but before you can sit the phone rings. It is the hospital informing you that the power guy is getting rabies injections. So off to the hospital you go with your dog's vaccination record and a wad of cash as rabies vaccine is expensive. Two hours later you return home too tired to check email. It will wait until tomorrow. Except for the thunderstorm that blows the fuses in your equipment overnight.

It's up it's down but it's the only game in town. And people wonder why I never write...

Two days in the hole or what a weigh to go

Now that it is time to head back to Jinja the dreaded task of matching weight to space is upon me. The last two days have started in the hole. That is what I have nicknamed Dale and Debbie's basement. It's where we keep all the stuff that we gathered to take back to Jinja when we go. Now it is time to make everything fit into our luggage.

The hole is rather nice with no creepy things or slimy things running around but it is still a basement. It has lights, a level floor and it is climate controled.

I started the process by lifting up everything we are going to pack and then standing on the bathroom scale. We can carry back free of charge 300 pounds. I had hoped to be close to that but we ended up at 600lbs.

No problem. After getting the excess removed I'm down to 400lbs. Now the tedious part. Fitting it all piece by piece into trunks then weighing the trunk by standing on the scale while holding the trunk. Then I set down the trunk to weigh myself without the trunk to calculate the difference. The depressing part in this is being reminded that I've gained 10 lbs on this trip and that everyone I see in Uganda is going to remind me of that when they say, "You have put on!" At least I should be excited that I live in a country that appreciates traditionally built women and the "big" man. And no, as incredible as it may seem, two days of load shifting and working in the hole does not cause you to lose even a pound.

Now after 48 hours of laboring I've got 8 trunks ready to go. I have a men's conference to attend and my dear wife is looking for something to do. I just know she's going shopping! Life in the hole goes on!

Feels just like home

Traveling from Reno to blackfoot, Idaho. Bev and I made reservations for a room in Wells, Nv. Good thinking by the idiot for a change. As we drive through Elko the highway sign says "Next gas 112 miles". Since Wells is only 51 miles away I naturally think that this must be a devious plan by the unscrupulous petrol dealers in Elko to get travelers to buy their gas rather than gas up in Wells.

I asked Bev if she needed to stop and she said a restroom would be appreciated. Being ever vigilant to score easy husband points with the little woman (restroom points are much easier to get than other points like shopping points-you must initiate the shopping event yourself to receive husband points and the shopping event cannot take place anywhere that has the word TOOL, HARDWARE, BARN or JOE'S in it's name, so JOE'S HARDWARE AND TOOL BARN does not qualify.) She told me that was very considerate and she needed to stop so we got gas as well.

Checking into the motel in Wells we find out that the town's electricity has been off all day and it would not return until tomorrow. That's why there is no gasoline. Having prepaid for the room we stayed anyway. It was just like being back in Jinja. Sitting in a dark hotel room with no place to go and nothing to do. So we went to bed early and woke up at three a.m. when the power came back on and so did every light in the room. Now it is 4:00 a.m. and I'm blogging because my eyes were badly exposed with the return of the power. This however has cost me some valuable husband points since Bev now blames me for her being awake. Ahh it's good to be home! Now to score more points. "Look Honey, there is a Tool World right across the street!"

Living with the Giants

Living with the Giants. Warren Wiersbe wrote a book by that name. The book is filled with short biographies of spiritual giants of the Christian faith. It is an interesting read. Men who have had an impact on the world around them by their preaching. But it causes to think about my life and the giants in it.

On this trip to America I have been blessed to spend time with some of my personal giants. These are men who have mentored or taught or encouraged me in my walk with Jesus. It seems that most of my early mentors live in Denver now so my first days back were incredible as I got to get together with them and be refreshed.

Now I'm in Leadville and God again has me among giants. Guys that I personally answer to. Next week Bev and I will be going to Albuquerque. More giants! I have been so blessed to have all these men, some pastors and some not, who have taken their time and encouraged me to press on toward the goal to which God has called me.

I share all this realizing that at the same time my giants are helping me, I should and must be doing the same for others. We all should. While we may not feel like giants of the faith we can have that kind of impact on friends, family, believers and the world. The hall of fame of faith in Hebrews 11 is filled with regular people who became giants to the nation of Israel just by being obedient to God. You may never know in whose eyes you may be a giant but people are watching us. Following our example, needing our advice, our guidance and our love. It is a gigantic task God asks of small average people. But if we live lives bigger than ourselves (our imperfections, our pettyness, our jealousies, our self doubts and all those other things we wish weren't there) which show the enormous power and size of God whom we serve and follow, our Father will be glorified.

If we live with the giants let us live like giants. Ever notice that a true giant is humble not proud, serves without demanding to be served. Honors without seeking honors. When the young man David faced what others thought to be a giant, Goliath who was proud and self reliant, he showed the others that to be a true giant you just have to trust God for His glory.

The seeds of the Ponderosa pine, the largest variety of pine tree, don't open until a fire burns the forest and the old growth is gone. From the ashes new Ponderosa pines grow to become giants of the forest. A new generation of giants. Those former giants that Wiersbe wrote about need to be replaced. Will you be a new giant for those around you and for the next generation?

Shopping till they give

Bev and I went shopping with some dear friends in Denver yesterday. I am still trying to figure it out. Bev and I are hunters. We go kill the item, bag it then move on. Our friends on the other hand are shooooooppers. They study, analyse then reap. They were amazing!

I needed to get some new running shoes so we went to a department store that has a good selection and after looking at shoes and not making sense of which shoe had which advantages and which were for serious runners and which were not, I asked my friend Tom* for some help.

Tom is one of those people who knows someone everywhere. Turns out that he knows the manager of the shoe department. So Manager Don* takes me on a step by step run down on running shoes. After trying on several pairs and taking them on extended test runs through the store I finally select a pair. I had been test running for the previous hour and it was nice to finally sit down and make a choice. The shoes were good and the price was great(33% off) but then Tom's wife Louise* speaks up.

She is one of the sweetest people I know but when it comes to deal making she takes no prisoners. She told me to have the store hold the shoes until Wednesday. "Why?" I naively asked. "Because Wednesdays I get 30% off whatever I buy!" she replies. Sounds good to me so we have the store hold them. We then go to the checkout line for Tom to pay for a pair of pants but he doesn't pay anything because Louise has coupons. She somehow gets the trousers for free.

Next day they come back over with the shoes and it turns out she had coupons that got them for free as well. She then said that she thought I should get a second pair of shoes since I can't get them in Uganda and the first pair will likely wear out before we come home again. Sounds good to me so back we went. This time she has a combination of coupons that are so powerful that the store actually pays her $4.00 to take the shoes. I believe they also offered her a cash register and two sales associates if she left before the consumer price index fell any further.

I still don't know how she did it but apparently I have a lot to learn about shooooooopping!

* Names have been changed to protect the thrifty...

Back in the USA

Furlough. For most missionaries it is a dreaded word. It means being back home where you don't fit anymore. It means speaking all the time about what God has you doing rather than doing what God has you do. It means trying to find time to see everyone you hold dear but never get to see or talk to except for a short window of time every couple of years. It means leaving the family you have built in your new country and trying to reconnect with your true family back home. Then doing the reverse when you go back. It is also a time to reconnect with your best friend, Jesus, who too often gets lost in the shuffle of the mission work.

One of the major frustrations of furlough is not being on the field when major events happen. The bombings in Kampala on Sunday make me want to get on a plane and race back to be sure everyone is safe. But I can't do that. This furlough God is busy reminding me that all things are in His hand not mine. Even me!

Bev is doing well with it all. She has such a quiet, solid faith. She takes it all in and holds tight to the Lord. Nothing seems to shake her.

Me, I'm just trying to hear what God is saying to my heart in regards to the future. I hope I have the time and take the time to listen. As long as a furlough seems to last it is also over in a short time. I hope God lets us make the most of it.

It Only Takes a Moment

Yesterday we had Ryan's "Goodbye, Party". Kelli had planned the whole thing and put together a fabulous video on Ryan's ministry and life here in Jinja over the last nine years. She did an incredible amount of work over the past week and all day yesterday but then when the party ended every sign of her labor and the effort put into the celebration was gone in 15 minutes. It only takes a moment. But the love she has shown will be felt for a lifetime.

Yesterday Bev and Priscilla went to Kampala early in the morning to get some needed things. In Mabira forest was a huge accident involving six lorries. At least one body was dead on the road. In DR Congo a petrol tanker overturned and killed at least 230 people, burning down an entire village. It only takes a moment. The end can come so suddenly. Did the people who died in the accidents know they were loved by their family and friends? If not, they should have. It only takes a moment.

Ryan's nine years of ministry here in Jinja has changed the lives of countless youth and now it is finishing. For eight years and 278 days he has labored with the team here in Jinja to share the love of Jesus with the entire community. I watched him grow from a nervous unsure young man, in way over his head, to a mature ministry leader who handles today's problems with the grace that only God gives. Yesterday we ordained Ryan T. McCabe as a pastor, a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It only took a moment. But I hope he serves a lifetime.

I hope he knows how much joy he has given me and the lessons he has taught me about loving people and serving people and following Jesus. The ordination was difficult for me since it marks a major change in the ministry of Calvary Chapel Jinja. How long does it take for nine years to elapse? It only takes a moment.

How long will it take for me to post this blog? It only takes a mo

Team Building African style

So there I am in a dark 20 foot storage container trying to enlarge an 8mm hole on a piece of steel plate with a round rat tail file. It's 11:00 ast night, my hand hurts from the incision I made while cutting the sidewall out a used truck tire to mount bull horns on an old landrover. That's when Dr. Jean starts to tell me how we're the intelligent ones on this crew. The humor of it all gets us to laughing and soon the entire team is cutting up and it is just another gorgeous full moon night in Africa.

Dr. Jean and her hubby Tom are setting out on Sunday, the next morning, along with Ryan to scope out their new ministry location in Karamoja. As a precaution we are mounting Ankole cattle horns on the front of the landrover to assure the people of the area that this is the vet who can heal their cattle. That explains the bull horns. The filing is to enlarge the hole on the steel mounting plate that supports the horns. As hard headed as the bull's skull may be it seems that when you drill into it, it may wander a bit, the hole not the bull. Although the bull would probably wonder what you're doing. Anyway the filing works and we get the bolts in place.

Now comes the rubber from the tire. I had sliced my hand about 2 inches long and 3/16 inch deep cutting the sidewall to make a mounting cushion for the horns. I must admit that this was the sharpest I had ever gotten a knife blade to be and when I sliced it I felt no pain. Kelli started to worry about the amount of blood seeping out of the wound and went and got a rag from Bev to wipe up the spill before someone slipped on the slick spot. However Bev picked up on the implications of Kelli's question and asked "How badly did my husband cut himself?" That's when Bev came outside to join Ryan, Jean, Tom, Kelli and I in this team building moonlight adventure. We had already decided to use the soles of Ryan's sandals instead of the tire rubber since the smell of the shoes might be greater than the smell of the bull horns, so I had cut myself for nothing but it still was funny.

Anyway we finally finished about midnight and the horns look great! Not very loud but they do make a statement.

It is hard for all of us to think about Ryan not being here in Jinja full time but God has opened a great door of opportunity for the team to minister in an unreached area. The mood is a bit somber at the thought of Ryan, Tom and Jean leaving but we are resilient in Christ and He makes changes as He sees fit. The travelers will be back for Ryan's farewell party on Saturday the 3rd.

Lord give us strength to rejoice in what You will accomplish through our friends even though we will miss them so much.

And thanks Lord for healing my hand.

Tearing down and building up

What an awesome difficult week it has been! The Lord has had alot to say to us here in Jinja. Neil Ortiz, Sandy Dunn, Mark and Deanna Pilcher and James and Priscilla Clovis arrived last Friday and Saturday to serve here for three weeks. They have been a real blessing.
Monday was the start of a three day Pastor's Conference and it was painful. As Neil and the others shared, the Lord convicted me, and I hope others, that there are still many areas where I need His touch to change me. I feel like the clay in the potter's hand in Jeremiah 18:4, that was formed yet was marred so the potter reformed it, shaping it as it seemed best to him. That reforming is uncomfortable but necessary so that we grow in Jesus and not become set in our ways. Then we can continue serving our Lord.

Sandy's presentation of the Gospel is truly unique. He is a drummer who takes cast off items and beats out the rhythm of messages from God's word. Anger, worry, being broken and being used in a new way with others in the body of Christ. Truly amazing inspired messages.

So that is how the conference went. God using one message to tear us down and then using the next to build us up. Painful blessings! It is one of those things that only God can do which is good as that kind of power left in the hands of man could be very dangerous and debilitating. But in God's hand it is humbling and exhilarating. Every message was impacting, convicting and life changing. Neil, JB, James, Mark, Doug Calhoon (senior pastor CC Fort Portal) all brought the word with great power and authority.

It was truly painful but it has reminded us to never settle for anything less than Jesus. Let Him be the potter tearing down what was marred and building us up in Him.

The Stress Factor

What is stress? To me it is that pressure behind the eyeballs when you're not quite sure what's about to take place or even what has just happened. I am lucky as I have a built in stressometer. My left hand! When I'm stressing it flaps around like a free range chicken that's been hit by a truck. Sort of like now. Actually anytime I have to speak or write something it stresses me. At least that's what my hand tells me! But the amazing thing is when I get my words right on paper or in speech it stops shaking completely. So I know when to shut up or what not to say. I still get my foot stuck in my mouth alot but thats more stupidity than stress.

Others exhibit stress in their own way. Some cry, others get beligerent. Some get sarcastic while others get apologetic. Some get hyper and can't sleep but others become lethargic and can't wake up.

So what do we do with stress? My solution is to STRESS. Stop Taking Relatively Everything So Seriously! When I stress its because I don't think I can say the right things at the right time. And you know what, I'm right. I'll never be good enough by myself to say the right things but if I just let Jesus have control of my mind and heart the right words will come from him. And then the arm grows blissfully still.

If I follow the STRESS principle I won't have to control everything or worry about every detail becase Jesus wants me looking at Him work through me. When I don't follow the STRESS principle Jesus has to work in spite of me.

If I follow the STRESS principle I won't have to know everything since Jesus wants me to take every thought captive to Him. And since He knows everything I don't have to. Then I can live by faith being sure of the outcome I hope for.

If I follow the STRESS principle I will get the needed things accomplished for they will be a joy for me to complete. I'll have a smile on my face doing every task because Jesus is letting me help! Ever watch a child help his Dad? He can be serious but still have so much fun. That's what Jesus desires for us. To be serious but to also enjoy the work.

Next time you are stressed take a deep breath and take a close look at yourself. How funny we must look to God when we are so serious and God is saying "Lighten up already!" Sorry that's my paraphrase. God says be "Joyful Always".

Hey the arm stopped flapping!

The highs and lows in life

Life is filled with high points and low points. You never know which is going to come or when they will come. But both will come. The Bible makes it clear that we will struggle in life to understand all that God is doing around us. You just trust your life to Jesus and know he is there to share the joy and the sorrow.

This week we sent JB, Martin, Julie and Alice to Bushenyi for the traditional introduction of Walter the Plumber and his wife, Privah, at her parents' home. It went well and they arrived back home this evening around 5:30. They had a good time but there were some problems; however they were dealt with gracefully and all our people came back safe. It was a real blessing for the bride and groom to have a few close friends from Jinja stand along side of them. It showed Privah's family that her husband Walter is a man respected by the community he lives in and by the church, the body of Christ, that he is a member of.

Upon their return JB received word that His cousin brother passed away back home in the North. It hurts to lose a close relative but it is even harder when all eyes turn to you for help. That is the position JB is in. But sometimes there is nothing you can do. Distance, time, money and circumstance all seem to come against you at once. At moments like these Jesus is our only hope, comfort and provider. I feel sorrow for those who don't know the Lord Jesus. JB is heartbroken at the loss of his brother but Jesus will see him through. Already another brother has stepped forward to bring the dead brother's body home. That is an answer to prayer that lifted some of the burden from JB. Jesus never fails!

It grieved me deeply to see my brother JB in so much pain but Jesus is the God of all comfort. His mercies are new every morning. He will bring a new day and a renewed hope for JB's extended family. Just as He brings new hope to all of us who trust Him. Pray for JB and Grace and give thanks to God for He never leaves us or fosakes us.

The lows come and so do the highs of life. The only constant is Jesus!

Quite a week

I figured I had better let people know what's been going on of late. Last week Dennie Krivo came and spent a few days with us. It was a blessing having him here to bounce ideas off each other. Dennie has agreed to be on our board of Elders to hold me more accountable. One of the problems with the culture here is that it frowns on challenging the big man whether he is a pastor or mayor or any authority. It causes men to go unchecked until the time comes to remove them. It's one of the reasons democracy struggles on this continent. You don't stand against the incumbent unless you are sure to defeat him or your name will be ruined. So if you want change here you are more likely to see it come by the gun than the vote.

The same is true for pastors. No one says a word to them when the sin is creeping into their life. It is only when they have broken their qualifications and have to be removed that anyone speaks. Hopefully Dennie will keep that from happening.

Saturday Bev and I taught another marriage seminar, this time in Kajjansi. It did not have a great turnout but the 20 people who attended had a lot more chance to discuss problems so it was still very good.

Then Sunday I was blessed to teach the 3 services at CC Kampala. Bless Bev's heart she sat through all three services. It made the weekend very long but the highlight was spending time with Josh Carlson the asst. pastor. Another guy that always blesses me with his wisdom! At Calvary Kampala I am always amazed at how many people there, have been in our church in Jinja either as regular attenders who have shifted to Kampala or have just visited us in Jinja. The body of Christ is a very living thing.

The front page picture on the newspaper Tuesday was of two little old nuns arrested for growing marijuana in their banana plantation. Police said it proves that marijuana is habit forming.

The other interesting article was "Two murdered, one in comma." Police said at first doctors thought the victim was in an apostrophe but on the bottom line it is a comma. If he is the murderer, will they pause before they sentence him? That's all they said period

That sinking feeling

Do you ever get that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when all your confidence is gone and you know you are being hung out to dry? Me neither!

Actually I had it today. I traveled with Anthony the welfare officer from Main Prison and Annet his clerk to Kayunga to visit the home of Yusuf a former condemned prisoner who is about to be released. Yusuf has been in prison for 23 years and we needed to know if his family would welcome him back. As we approached the town the man in white threw up his arm, let me rephrase that, he raised his arm and directed me to stop. In years past this would mean he is hungry and is looking to get money from his prey for lunch. I relish these moments because we are sticklers for keeping the vehicles road worthy. And the traffic police look for any little defect to write you an on the spot fine. (One time an officer even demanded that I use the windscreen washer to prove it had water in it.) The truck was running good so I confidently gave the officer my license. Then he asked for the truck's insurance certificate. I said it is on the windscreen. Then he looked and said, "No, the real one." I said "It is there. That is the one." "This one is expired." "Are you sure?" Yes it died March 30th." I reached for the glove box knowing that I had the paperwork in there. Oops, it was dead too. That sinking feeling started and got worse when he pointed to Anthony and asked "Where is this man's lap belt?" I started to sink faster.

"What shall I do with you." Not wanting to pay a bribe, I was reminded of the garden of Eden when Adam was caught red handed with his tooth marks in the fruit. He said "Lord, the woman you gave me made me eat it." So I said "It's my wife's fault."
Since Bev wasn't there to defend herself I blamed her. "But you are driving this vehicle..." as he continued I decided that the only thing to do was be straghtforward. "How much is the fine?" "40,000 and you must not move till you have insurance." I reached for my wallet dejectedly knowing all I had brought was 41,000 Ugs. Not wanting to waste his day, Gerald (funny how you get on a first name basis here very quickly) told me "William you go get insurance in town and then show it to me on your way home." I quickly agreed with this plan. One small problem. Today is Martyr's Day a national holiday. Everything was closed. Return of the sinking feeling. But God is gracious and we found a small insurance office at the taxi park. The sign said, "Rio Insurance-when all you need is a piece of paper."

After getting the insurance we met Yusuf's family. 5 kids from 25-15 years of age. Only problem is that Yusuf has been in prison for 23 years with no conjugal visits.
That sinking feeling came back. It finally left when visiting his parents. They informed us that these were his brother's kids. We had a good visit and feel assured that Yusef will do well when he is released.

God is good. He let us find everyone we needed to talk to and even got us insurance and lunch all for the incredibly low price of 41,000 Ugs. Jesus is good indeed! And to top it off as I entered the driveway the left front tire went flat. Thank you Lord for seeing me home!

Mister Fixit

Today was fixit day. Fixed a lawnmower, a ceiling lamp and a microphone. It should be easy but it never is.

I started with the lawnmower but got interupted by a phone call. As I was talking on the phone I mentioned to the other party that I had to go back and finish the lawnmower. I saw Bev's eyebrows raise which is no mean feat as she was facing away from me at the time, and heard her say,"I know you will fix the light in the closet this morning like you promised me last night." The lawn mower quickly lost its number one priority and the closet light took it place.

Now for the first ten years of our stay in Jinja I never had to worry about the closet light going bad but then I never had a closet either. Well the closet that I now have is a dark and forboding place so Bev had asked me to put a 100 watt bulb in the fixture. This is about 40 watts above the rating and when the bulb burned out the fixture crumbled in my hand as I tried to replace it. Its the same result we got as kids when we put a flood lamp in our friend's sister's Easy Bake oven. The cooking process is greatly speeded up but the life of the oven drops at an alarming rate. Same with the light fixture! Go figure.

Before I could go buy a new fixture I was interupted by Jordan and Steven whom I had instructed to paint the garage. Well it used to be a garage but now it is now a two room apartment (after a short stint as a two room chicken coop). Anyway they went and bought the paint so they also got the new light fixture. While waiting for them I tore the lawnmower apart and cleaned the air filter. It now had to dry so I went to work on the microphone. Just about the time I realized that I would need a soldering iron the light fixture showed up. So dropping the mic, I went back to that dark closet and installed the new light. I am now officially my wife's hero!

Then back to the mower. It needed a part welded so I gave the piece to Davis and sent him to have it welded. So I went back to the mic. Doing what I could which wasn't much, I then was interupted by two phone calls and lunch. Then Davis returned with the welded part so I reassembled the mower up to the airfilter which still needed to dry. I headed to Main Street and bought a meter of solder for 2000 shillings and a brand new soldering iron for 8,000 Ugs. 4 dollars isn't too bad. At least some things are still cheap!

I soon found out why I didn't have a soldering iron already. It takes three hands to operate. Since one of my three hands has a pretty good shake to it what should have been a 15 minute job took 2 hours. After finally getting the mic back together I tested it and it worked! At least I assumed it worked. It made a horrible screetching sound when I sang into it and since that is how I sing it must be working properly.

Then Davis wanted to run the mower but by that time I couldn't remember where I had put the air filter. Eagle eyed Ryan found it in the dirty dishes, Hey if I knew how it got there or why it was there I'd tell you so don't ask. Then we installed the filter and Davis mowed for 5 minutes before the rain came.

So to celebrate a successful day where there is now light in the dark closet and short grass in the yard and horrible screetching sounds from sound system, everybody watched a movie together. I saw the opening and closing credits but not much else.

I'm tired and going to bed. Honey, what do you meant the light won't switch off?

They are at the post

Well race day is over! I hope it pleased the Lord as much as it did us! We had anywhere fom 150 -250 kids. About 50 prayed to receive Jesus as their Lord. Julie did a fantastic job with the gospel presentations. She is our main translator and since she is a great teacher and we wanted it all in vernacular she fit the bill. And God spoke to the kids and they responded.

The drama team also was wonderful. John and Davis scared the daylights out of the kids a couple of times. In the first drama Fred and Agnes get killed by thief. Davis was the thief and when Fred and Agnes (John and Shammi) stepped off the stage he jumped up and shot them yelling "Give me your money!" Then shouted "BOOM, BOOM" The kids screamed and scattered. It is sad that the kids know this scenario in real life.
Later when John and Davis staged a fight the kids screamed again. It just made the dramas so alive that the kids responded to the altar call.

The races went well. Very smooth by Uganda standards. The kids loved the sugar sack race and three legged race. There was one flaw with the Sack race. Instead of sugar sacks we got posho(corn flour)sacks. When the kids started jumping, a cloud of fine white powder engulfed the racers. Luckily the cloud dissipated by the finish so we think we got the right winners. The relay race was the highlight of the race day as it was very competitive.

What I learned at race day: A 7 year old P1 student can out race a 56 year old pastor by a mile in a sugar sack race. (I want a rematch!)(In your dreams, Pops)
Don't have your wife hold the finish line sign in the race if you ever want to see her again because the kids will use her as the finish line. (Gee she was here a minute ago but now all I can find is her ear rings)
Don't assume that just because all the other 39 relay racers ran one direction that the very last one will go the same direction.(took us 200 yards to catch her. That girl was quick).
Ugandan Kool aide when allowed to sit in direct sunlight will strip paint.
Always have only the best assistants to get done what you can't.( Thanks Kelli-Race director, JB-M.C., Julie-Gospel presenter, Bev-Documentary photograhper and Ryan- Sound and music)

Lastly if Jesus is on our relay team He will help us win the race even when we take off in the wrong direction.

Running the race

Well two days to go till the big Race day. We hope to have 500 kids (ages 5-12) here Saturday for The R.A.C.E.-Running According to Christ's Example. It should be fun but it has been work. Last week we, meaning Bev, Kelli, JB, and I started laying out race courses and sign up sheets and planning heats and how to present the good news of Jesus to all these kids. It was fun!

Now this week, we four plus Martin, John, Davis and others have been actually setting everything up. For me the most fun was writing four 2-5 minute dramas that will precede each gospel presentation. How to come to Jesus, How to walk with Jesus without sin, How to work with the Holy Spirit and How to be a member of the body of Christ.

Then there was the futile search for award ribbons. It seemed like such a simple request. "Do you know where I can buy award ribbons to give kids for winning a race?" I was shown hair ribbons. No, I explained, a ribbon to be given to the winner. How many races the man asked. Four races and four age groups and three ribbons per each. I was assured I would have the ribbons the next day. Next morning the man rang and said he had my ribbons. Only $700. The man had brought me 48 rolls of plastic barrior tape to use as finish line tapes. No not quite right. It only took two days to get the Asian business comunity to understand what we wanted. Then with a knowing nod of the head every shop owner I spoke with said "It is not possible. I bring you something better." That means "I sell you something more expensive that you don't want." After refusing their offers Bev, Kelli and I put our heads together (painful if done too quickly) and bought yards of blue, white and red ribbons. Then remembering the ribbons kids used to get at fairs, we designed and made 72 1st, 2nd, 3rd place ribbons. The three of us plus Judy and Rochelle spent 3 hours making them one evening. Bev and I now have a new career opportunity should we ever leave the mission field. "Ribbons are us!"

Saturday's event training went well but it was made easier because only half of the 45 volunteers actually showed up.

Now we just wait for the kids and the chance to share the love of Jesus. And that is what it is all about anyway. The races and the ribbons and dramas all are secondary things but Jesus is the main thing. If we put on a first rate event but the kids don't hear about Jesus or don't know that He loves them, it will be wasted effort. So we wait and pray and pray and wait.

The real happenings

Saturday Pastor Apollo Okome and I went to visit the Ogongora and Olele churches. Apollo had visited two weeks earlier and we went back to iron out some problems. Pastor Stephen had started CC Olele about a year ago and Pastor Andrew had taken over the ministry at Ogongora. But two months ago Andrew left the church for financial reasons and now they were without a pastor. Apollo had returned from his visit earlier with a list of problems that needed addressing.

When we arrived Saturday I was asked to share a message and we studied Psalm 127 "Unless the Lord builds the house the builders labor in vain." God led us to examine where we as a combined ministry of 3 different churches have worked without the Lord's guidance and labored in vain. It was a very productive 5 hour meeting and God addressed a whole slew of problems. Most of them coming from misunderstanding each other's efforts and goals. We all sat together and discussed where each church was headed and agreed on changes that God was calling for. Then Apollo, Stephen and I talked for another 4 hours about what was needed in our overall ministry effort. We came up with some plans that will take about one year to implement but should make our unity stronger and our witness better. Jesus never fails and we will not fail if we focus on Him.

Back in Jinja the ministry training is going ahead and the response is good. We are learning that the Christian life is a life of service that is exciting and demanding as well. The call to serve must be met with a fully committed heart. The joy of serving can only be hindered by the reluctance to serve. As individuals step forward to serve we hope for a more joyful body to serve with, in and to.

This weeks big event: The Youth Conference. 100-150 youth. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And guess what I get to teach. Following Jesus example and serving others. I'm starting to see and hear a pattern. Please keep it all in prayer.

Monitors and radar dryers

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the trials of traveling the highways of Uganda. I have come across a new trial to face. HIGHWAY MONITORS!

No, this is not a traffic officer with a radar gun or even a blow dryer. Here is a true story. A friend was stopped in Kenya by a traffic officer with a blow dryer who claimed it was a radar gun. The officer even pointed out the “proof” of overspeeding when he showed how the radar gun/blow dryer had switched itself from low to high. A definite indicator of speeding! My friend escaped a fine when he pointed out that the radar gun/ blow dryer wasn’t plugged in and there was no place for batteries. Can’t beat that logic.

No, the highway monitor I refer to is a five foot monitor lizard. (that’s five feet long not five footed) As we were returning home on the Lira-Soroti highway this monitor lizard came out of the swamp and started to cross the road in front of us. Since he stood about nine inches tall and weighed about 50 pounds which is big enough to do great damage to the car, I swerved to the right to avoid him but he kept coming.

Now you should know the only previous run in I have had with a monitor lizard was quite literal. I was upstairs in the apartment reading in my favorite chair when I noticed movement in the doorway. A two foot long monitor had come onto the porch and was eyeballing me. I looked at him and said “NO!” Evidently “NO” to a monitor does not mean the same thing as “NO” to a person. He charged straight at me so that I had to lift my feet up as he lunged for me with razor sharp fangs slashing the air mere millimeters from my heels. (Well that’s what it felt like anyway.) I avoided his charge which carried him into the spare room. Thinking quickly I closed the door behind him and did what any brave man would do. I called for my wife to come kill it.

Bev, being a Texas farm girl, is not frightened by any animal or lizard. She is a bit put off by spiders so our wedding vows included strict sections about who kills what in the house. I kill any eight legged creature in the house she kills all the rest. Since monitors are four footed (with exceptions to the five footed variety) I sent her into the room to kill it. After a momentous battle she emerged some 20 minutes later with a 3 inch gecko. I insisted there was a monitor and with a victorious smile and a nod toward the corner she said “Oh, that one” and told me to remove the intruder.

But now out on the highway without Bev I had to choose. Hit the lizard or run off the road into the swamp. Recalling Bev’s words of wisdom, “Always attack lizards, never retreat”, I attacked. The monitor, sensing my mood change, gave way. I missed him by ½ inch. It is the first time I can ever recall seeing a lizard walk backwards. But he did. A wise move.

The rest of the trip was uneventful with the exception of the usual potholes in Mbale.

Working with the little Woman

I mentioned that Bev and I led a marriage seminar last week in Gulu and this past Saturday in Lumuli. It was a lot of fun as we had expected 50 people and got 150. Bev is so much fun to teach with as she knows exactly what the women are thinking. Richard the pastor came to see me this morning and said all anyone could talk about in the trading center the past two days was how everything that had been done in the homes of the people around the center on Friday night had been accurately revealed by the prophets on Saturday afternoon.

But the good thing is we are not prophets just a husband and wife sharing the truth of God's word. Solomon said,"What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." Ecc.1:9. And it is true! Everything we laughed about in the seminar from a coulpe's tug of war over the blanket after a fight, to the cold shoulder reply of "I'm fine!", or the flattery in courtship by the man and then his being out with the guys instead of being with his wife, they have all experienced.

The Word of God is true. It can change our lives if we will only listen. The woman in Lumuli had it right when she told Steven on Saturday, "That lady teaching us must truly have heard from God to know all these things." Bev does hear from God, just as we all can. She reads His Word and listens. So can you!

Honey, can I have part of the blanket now?

The List

We had a great day today. A good service began with Ryan leading worship, I've been gone for three weeks and wanted to worship Jesus with words I understand. It was nice. Then JB taught a great message from Romans 12. Then Issac from Fort Portal and his folks came to second service and they were a huge blessing to Bev and I. Then we did training for different ministries here. This is the follow up to last week's ministry fair. Kelli did an incredible job setting that event up and the response was more than we had hoped for. About 100 people signed up for different ministries and today marked the first day of training.

First group were Ushers. Now this may seem like an easy work to do but how many people really want to be told where to sit. Especially if you are told to sit in front. Jb is well behaved but I have a tendency to bump into things, drop my notes or like yesterday in the village I knocked the podium over.(Scared that lady half to death but she wasn't sleeping any more) I also tend to ask rhetorical questions from those in front so people tend to want to give me lots of space.
So it can be a bit daunting for the ushers to politely get the people to the front. But God has blessed us with a fantastic young woman who has ushering down to an art. Its all about the "look". She is the warmest and sweetest lady you'll ever find but if you don't sit where she politely tells you she will give you the "look" and you instantly know if you don't move quickly your life as you have known it is over. It is the "look" that a wife gives her husband when pays more attention to his repair project than her. Or when she's wearing a new dress and asks "Notice anything different" and he says "You got your hair fixed." It is the look that grabs the husband's attention and strikes him with fear. But our usher can strike that fear into any member of the church male or female, old or young. If the angels who spoke to the shepherds on that Christmas morning had this look they never would have said "Fear not".
So the ushers have been trained in the look and our other female usher has great potential but the guys just don't have it! I think the guys just have the "Lack". But maybe they can work up to it.

The hospital training went well and so did the street kids ministry later in the day. We are truly praising God for the heart he is putting in His people to serve.

Gulu and Dead Minnows

Well, we got back from Gulu in one piece. We were confident that the trip would go well but since Bev and I have never taught a marriage seminar before or even taught together before we weren’t 100% sure we could do it. Plus the fact that apparently I had neglected to mention to Bev that she was teaching with me made for an interesting evening Friday.

We had taken the long way so we could drop Pastor Apollo at Atiriri after getting fuel in Soroti. Pastor Stephen met us there and Apollo spent the weekend with him and the churches at Olele and Ogongora. Then we went through Lira and on up to Gulu. It took about 8 hours and that was on good roads without speed humps. We had a lovely lunch of mukene (dried minnows) in peanut sauce over posho (maize meal) and greens cooked in raw eggs. Yum! Surprisingly good, actually.

So Friday night was spent deciding how we would share “Song of Songs”. Bev would read the woman’s part and I would read the man’s. Seems rather obvious now but after the long trip and lunch we weren’t too sure about anything anymore. Then we went to bed and pretended to sleep. We wanted to sleep and desired sleep but the power was off and there was no fan so there was no sleep. And with no fan that meant no mosquito net so after numerous bites (check here in 5-10 days for our latest malaria update) we got up for a brisk cold shower (no hot water) and breakfast. Praise the Lord for the hot coffee.

We started at 10:00am and finished at 5:00pm. And we had a lot of fun in the process. My wife taught very well despite her lack of prep time. There were 31 attendees. How do you get 31 at a couple’s event? Easy, some wives came without their unsaved husbands. Oh yeah, there was that one man who brought both wives! That is another story in itself. But we did give him five pages of Scripture to read. And a written answer that took an hour to write Sunday morning. But all in all it went well!

The highlight for me was to watch the women’s faces as their husbands publicly declared two things they liked about their wives. Amazingly enough 2 women and 2 men mentioned that they loved the fact that their spouse was missing at least one of their front teeth. This caused some brief editing on my part to downplay the verse that says “her teeth are like just shorn sheep coming up from the washing, EACH ONE WITH ITS TWIN”. It actually was really cool to see how God has made each of us appreciate in our spouse what others consider a draw back.

We got back Monday and look forward to sharing at other churches in the coming month. That’s all from Jinja. Hey honey what are these dead minnows doing on my pizza?

Traveling Season or Rumbling over the Hump

School of Ministry is out and now traveling season begins. Bev and I went to visit Isaac and Clea Wooten and Doug and Destiny Calhoon in Fort Portal last week. Doug is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Portal and Isaac runs the CCFP School of Ministry. We had a great 3 1/2 days of fellowship and got to sit in the services on Thursday and Sunday. One of our former students was there, as well as the mother of Happy, one of our Sunday School leaders. Now that our short holiday is over it's time to visit all the village churches. Bev is going with me and we'll be leading a one day marriage seminar at each church.

We are going to Gulu this week. The road going there is for the most part good, virtually brand new. No pot holes. But watch out for the rumblestrips and speed humps. It is an interesting East African construction tactic that someday I hope to understand. You build a new road so people can swiftly and safely navigate from point A to point B. You eliminate all the potholes, blind spots and anything that would cause a problem to high speed travel and let people go(No! that's just what they'd expect us to do). Instead you cover the road with rumblestrips(five 2" high warning bumps each seperated by 4 inches) that give you advance warning of the 8" high speed bump that is followed by more rumblestrips. African highway traditions require five rumblestrip sets before and after every speed hump. There are approximately 136 (Isaac counted)speed humps on the 57 kilometer highway from Mityana to Kampala. (To be fair this is a constrution zone, where new speed humps are being constructed.) The idea is to slow traffic back down to pothole speed. It works!

The fun part (for the Uganda National Road Authority)is where to hide the speed humps and rumblestrips. Classic hidden locations are in tree shadows, dips and just there over the rise. The system is quite effective as the strips jar off any loose trimwork , body fasteners or suspension parts so that the humps don't get too cluttered with anything smaller then a fender or bumper and an occasional door panel.
But don't worry there are plenty of spare parts along the road.

Another fun game to play is where to put the warning sign. At the start of your adventure the warning signs are put 50 feet before the first rumblestrip. After about 3 signs you then shorten the distance to 10 feet. The next spacing should be 10 feet behind the first rumble strip, which catches any complacent or sleeping driver off guard and requires him to get replacement dental work. Then the fun really begins as the next set has no rumblestrips only a 12 inch speed hump which may or may not be marked. This gives the immediate effect of making any car or bus look like a lowrider with a whacked out hydraulic system.

The really diabolical maintenance crews don't put in strips or humps at all. They just discolor the tarmac to make it look like a strip or hump. The screaming and sheer terror this illusion creates is evidently more fun than the actual damage a real hump creates. And the maintenance costs are practically nil.

To all this fun add the race aspect of passing slower vehicles while crossing the humps and strips and you're ready to go to Gulu. Can't wait to be there.

Graduation and what is that?

What a great day! It started at six when I went to open the gate to let the guard out. We have been employing a night guard since thieves tried to steal Judy"s bike. Any way as I let him out Rose comes to the gate to start cooking food for graduation. As I welcome her I realize Julie is already standing behind me with a bucket of charcoal. I've always felt that sometimes its best not to ask too many questions but this time I forgot that bit of wisdom and I asked,"How's your charcoal?" "It's wet." was her short answer. "I need parafin." I realize that she is trying to light the charcoal stove, a sigiri, and needs kerosene to make the wet charcoal ignite. No problem I'll get you some. Easier said than done. In the dark all the plastic jerrycans look alike and with my lack of a good nose (it's big yes but not good) I can't be sure if I'm grabbing diesel, petrol or parafin. So I take a small container to Julie and Rose. Rose looks at it and says "I can't smell either" and dumps it on the fire.

I have a new appreciation for God being beyond time and His knowing the past, present and future already. He obviously heard my prayer in that split second as it indeed turned out to be parafin and not gasoline. We did not go up in a ball of flame! Moral of the story: A Rose by any other name still can't smell for nothing.

After a morning of preparation graduation started only 10 minutes late and minus most of the guests. But the guys did graduate and each taught a passage of Scripture that God had laid on their hearts. It was fantastic. By two o'clock we were all cleaned up and the guys Jacob, Rogers, George and Joseph had packed their stuff and gone home. A great group of guys that Bev and I will miss terribly. But you have to let them go or the gospel never spreads.

Tonight after a dinner at a nearby guest house we (Bev, Ryan, Kelli and I) returned home about 9:15. I was checking the vehicles to be sure they were locked when I saw the most incredible sight! From the western horizon I saw a string of orange lights coming my way. At first I thought they were skyrockets from the 10th anniversary celebration from the guest house. Then I remembered, Tuesday night. As Bev and I were escorting Judy and Rochelle home after dinner we saw an orange light move from south to north on a fairly straight track. It wasn't airplane lights and I thought the light looked more like the glow of a jet exaust. I checked the internet later to see if it was something in space but NASA said nothing should be visible. I quickly forgot the matter until tonight.

With no moon the lights were quite bright and I ran yelling to Bev to come out as fast as she could. She thought someone had died but I told her to look up. The lights that had been in a straight line heading east were now in a curve and a diamond formation heading north. Bev's "Wow" was enough to tell me that I hadn't lost my mind. So we yelled for Kelli to come out quick and look up. Ryan heard the commotion, came out and saw it and then Kelli came out too. We all watched as the lights changed formations and disappeared to the north. I had counted them and there were ten in all. It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen in the sky.

It reminds me of the last line in the 50's sci-fi movie "The Thing" (which I consider Bev's and my "movie" since we watched on our first date) where the reporter says "Keep watching the Sky! Keep watching the sky!" You won't see UFOs but someday we will see Jesus! That will be the greatest thing any of us will ever see in the sky or elsewhere!

What a weekend and what is that smell?

What a fantastic weekend we had here at Calvary Chapel Jinja. The services were a blessing for all who came.

The staff set up the tent in record time on Friday. The Good Friday service was blessed with a rainbow. And the tent came down in record time that night when we got 2" of rain in an hour.

Sunday Services were combined into one and with the newly re-erected tent in a new record time everybody fit! Ryan led 40 minutes of worship JB taught on the meaning, necessity and value for us of Jesus' resurrection. Then the cross decorating was another 20 minutes of praise and the cross that symbolized death was transformed into an instrument that brings life. Only Jesus can do that so we praised Him.

The School of Ministry students really showed their servant hearts by setting up and taking down the tent twice, ushering for the service, helping out the Sunday school and serving communion. I'm going to miss this group when they graduate Saturday. But their churches will be extremely blessed.

As I write this I started to wonder what that smell was. If you've never been to Jinja it is hard to describe the cornucopia of scents that assault the nose. One minute it is the tannery, the next the fish packing plant and the next sewer ponds. All convieniently located side by side to one another and a stone's throw from the church and our house. But this was different - it was really ripe! Nonchalantly checking that it wasn't me, I started to investigate where this fragrance was coming from. It was strangely familiar and seemed to be coming from the bookcase next to my desk.

So I grabbed a torch (flashlight to those outside of Africa)and started into the hunt. Good thing is I am uniquely suited for this investigation as P.D.(Parking Zones disease) tends to greatly diminish your ability to smell (I can stink as bad as others but just don't know it) as well as your ability to parallel park. So the search doesn't take long as I move a small box and the stench gets much worse. Now I wish I had a real flaming torch so I can burn down the bookcase rather than continue but Bev doesn't allow me to consider that option. With a gentle nudge and a sweetly whispered, "Get back in there you coward." That's what I thought I heard. She says her statement was "Going back in there? You're wierd." Any way I dive into the dark recesses of the cubby space next to my desk. Then I remember what the smell is. It's a dead mouse! My mind quickly reverts back to five years earlier when a mouse died under the fridge. I was elected for the task of mouse hunter that time too. (funny how my vote doesn't count in these situations). But the question at hand is how long can I hold my breath? Apparently it has to be longer than eight seconds as my next breath just about does me in but I am successful and the mouse is finally removed. Now the question is "How many scented candles will it take to erase the odor and how many years to erase the memory?"

Good Friday

God blessed us with an incredible afternoon. We got the 50ft X 40ft tent up in record time(under 2 hours), the worship team chose great music that celebrated and worshiped our Lord Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross and the rain held off long enough for the service to end and everyhing to get put back into the church. God even provided a rainbow against the backdrop of the storm.

The only bad aspect of the day was the live 30 minute morning radio program didn't happen because the crazy power fluctuations yesterday knocked the station off the air until midday.

I am still amazed at God's love for us that allows us even to see this day. That the Creator of all things would allow for His son to die for our sins and that Jesus did so willingly still boggles my mind. How can it be true? But it is! Praise Him that His act of love has set us on the path of eternal life and freed us from the tyranny of sin and death.

It still saddens me though that many people refuse to take what God so freely gives and insist that a life of slavery and bondage to sin is preferable to the freedom we find in Jesus Christ. I guess we just need to be more faithful in spreading the Good News so more come to Him to have Life.

Here in Jinja the cross that was raised along the side of Bell Avenue will be a reminder of the depth of God's love for us and on Sunday it will be a reminder of the power of God to resurrect Jesus and all who put their trust in Him.

Thank you Father! Thank you Jesus!

Highlights of the week and the wave

Please check this location next week for more highlights!

What do you say when you can't remember the past week? We had a visit from Denny which was great but as always too short. Denny always brings a lot of wisdom with him so I enjoy the opportunity to sit and visit (or whine) for a while. Denny is very patient and lets me go on and on for as long as it takes or 15 minutes, whichever comes first. It is nice to bounce ideas off someone not always on site to get perspective. Its kind of like wearing someone elses glasses and taking infield practice. You think you see the ball clearly but then it hits you right between the eyes. Anyway, thanks Denny!

Jordan has also come out from New Mexico. Great guy from what I can see! (no I'm not still wearing Denny's glasses) He'll be working a while in Moroto with Noah helping run some Proclaimer listening groups. The Proclaimer is a solar/handcrank/electric gadget from Faith Comes by Hearing/Hosanna that has the bible prerecorded in Karamijong. Listening groups are set up in various trading centers so an oral society can listen to God's word in their native tongue. Works really well. Just have to have people monitoring the groups and answering questions. Jordan stayed with us last week but went to Moroto(he arrived safely) today.

Had a wonderful Wednesday evening Bible Study 1 Thessalonians 2.

JB and I finished teaching church history Thursday and Steven is now teaching Apologetics. With the exception of last year's class this has been the most interested class for Church History.

Thursday I was down with malaria but we had a good elders' meeting anyway.

On Friday Jordan, Pastor Apollo and I went to Tororo to conduct business. Selling a piece of land where a church once was. The church was shut down due to the lack of a pastor. What was supposed to take two hours took eight and on the way home the truck's alternator died. So we were racing to beat the darkness back to Jinja so we wouldn't have to use headlights which, minus the charging system, were dim at best. We almost made it but the darkness caught us about 15 minutes from home. So we groped our way home (Hey, lots of trucks here don't have lights at all) and dealt with the beast the next day. I wish I could say we buried it on a nice hillside overlooking a freeway. But no! We fixed it and it lives on. Actually I love that truck. But then I love root canals too. And like my teeth I just get one fixed and another one goes bad, so we get one thing fixed on the truck and something else goes out.

Saturday was sermon prep day and Sunday was delivery day. The radio program would have been better except for the medicine. I don't take my 6:00 am meds until after the 6:30-7:00 program or else I fall asleep in the middle of the program. Not a problem if you are listening but a big problem when you're the one speaking! Well not only did I not take the morning meds but I was so tired the night before that I forgot to take my bedtime meds. So as I'm trying to teach on the radio my hand is shaking so much I look like a waving Rose Bowl Parade queen (elbow-elbow, wrist-wrist) after an all nighter at Starbucks with her hand caught in a paint shaker. It got so bad that I had to sit on my hands and then almost threw myself out of the chair twice! Other than being laughed at by the radio man because my voice was shaking as fast as my hand, it went well. And that middle part I don't remember it much.

But it really was a good week and the Kajjansi Women's Conference was a great blessing. Bev, Jo, and our 5 Ugandan staff ladies, all teaching and sharing. But two days without Bev is too much! Next time I'll go too. Now that I've got the wave down.

The Serious side of malaria

But seriously, malaria is nothing to laugh at. When the parasites get into your blood they attack the red blood cells. When the parasites reproduce they explode the red blood cells. This causes many of the symptoms: aching joints, headache, fatigue etc. The overall weakness and fatigue makes the desire to go and get treatment be replaced by the desire to sleep and rest. This gives malaria the opportunity to get the upper hand on the system. The fever comes as the body battles against the increase in parasites. So you get this cycle of fever spikes which get closer together as more and more parasites breed and the body gets too weak to fight.

Malaria takes it greatest toll on kids. They are fine, running around and playing and then in a matter of a couple of hours they are on death’s door. They lie down to nap or go to sleep at night and then they are too sick to get up. If you live in the village where there is no transport how do you get a sick 2-5 year old someplace for treatment. Most villagers can’t afford the frontline medicines that I get to take. So they give their child chloroquine or fansidar which are now less then 20% and 40 % effective. And the child worsens until it has to go to a hospital or clinic for intravenous treatment with quinine.

It is malaria’s ability to resist drugs that makes this disease the number one killer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Parents can’t afford the proper medicine let alone a blood test to confirm that it is malaria so at any sign of fever the malaria medicine that is cheapest or most easily available is given, usually in less than full dosage and that builds the drug resistance in the parasites. The government here tries it’s best to keep effective medicines in stock but it takes so much of its funding that it can’t possibly keep up.

Malaria also mimics many others diseases and often gets ignored as a cold or flu until it gets too advanced to treat and cure easily. That is why many doctors take the position treat for malaria first then, if there is no response, treat for another disease. This also leads to drug resistant strains of malaria.

It is estimated that 95% of malaria can be prevented by sleeping under a mosquito net. But getting nets out to the rural people is not easy. When the government can give away nets many sell the nets to get income for other needs.

It all needs God’s intervention. He is where our hope lies. He is the healer and divine planner. Pray for the kids of Africa. Pray that God’s mighty hand of protection will cause malaria to end. Pray for medicines that are effective and cheap. Pray for a vaccine. Pray for good officials to distribute what God provides. Our hope is in Jesus. He is the answer to all our prayers.

I Got I!

Yep, I got it! Malaria, again. What a strange disease. You feel fine and then the wheels fall off.
Headache, backache, extreme fatigue, bad stomach, fevers that come and go plus anything else you can think of. All rolled into one little mosquito bite. Pesky little guys those mosquitoes (pronounced mos-kwee-toes). They live under my desk and attack my ankles at night when I work on the computer. I get bitten all the time but nothing usually happens. Then they invite one of their out of town malaria parasite covered relatives over to feast on the leg of muzungu being served under the desk and there you go, you got it.

It's not too bad this time, I caught it early and Bev has given me a new drug. It's a one day course of pills. Eight at one shot rather than over a couple of days. Its easy but you just don't know how it's going to hit you, the medicine that is. Malaria has the unique ability to make you sicker while you get better. It's because the illness is caused by parasites that are reproducing in your blood. As the parasite count grows your symptoms get worse. Then you take the medicine and kill the parasites and you feel better. But that poison in your system that killed the parasites tends to make you feel as miserable as those nasty invaders did. So you're sick from the medicine. And now your blood is full of poison as well as the bodies of all the little dead malaria bad guys. They make you feel just as bad when they are dead as when they were alive. But eventually the system gets rid of them all and you're back to normal. Or as close to normal as you personally might be.

Martin had malaria Saturday, Steven got it yesterday and I got it today. Tune in tomorrow to find out who the next contestant will be on "I got it but you can have it!" Meet you under the desk.

Church History- A Time to Nap

I'm having fun this week teaching church history to the School of Ministry. We are going into our final three weeks so we are doubling up classes but that is easier said than done. Trying to find one or two hours in the afternoon is difficult. We scheduled this afternoon for 3:30 because we had an insurance guy coming to sell us some health insurance at 2:00. Which is good timing allowing me to take a nap for 20 minutes before he arrives. But he called at 1:45 to say he'd be late so we changed class to 2:00. There goes my nap!

Now typically 2:00 is a bad time for me as food shock from lunch makes me tired (no, eating less isn't an option) and then I take my afternoon medicine at 2:00 and it makes me very tired. But since it was the only time available, off I went to round up the students.

This was easy to do as apparently a morning class of three hours of church history makes them extremely tired! They were all sound asleep in their bunks. Except for Joseph who was studying out on the lawn swing. I left the others in their bunks to go inform Joseph of the schedule change. As I walked over I realized that he wasn't studying at all but was sound asleep in his history notes. I gently woke him up ( he really did hit the ground softly) and he soon was in class with the others who had by this time awakened after someone had apparently slammed their dorm room door a few times.

Class begins and we're looking at Martin Luther and and the birth of the reformation and things are going well but then my meds begin to kick in. They don't just make me tired they make me forgetful. As in, what was the point of my story. I have literally forgotten what I was saying in midsentence and have had to ask people what my point was. I've even been told that when I tell a story I should try to have a point. (that is not a good statement if you want a passing mark in Church History) Then the uncontrolable yawning starts and class is over. No point in fighting a losing battle. But we did get an hour and twenty five minutes in. Now I'm going to take a nap.

But as I head back to the house I see an old friend, Blind Grace, waiting for me at the hut and one of our street kids is sitting with him.. Grace always asks for water when he comes so I decide to get it first and then go greet. It was a good idea but for some reason this past week I havn't been able to hold on to the plastic cups we use. It was no better this this time. I get some nice cold water ( it was very hot today) and go to greet Grace. I get all the way to the hut and I realize Grace is sound asleep! Why is it everybody else gets to nap except me? As I approach him the plastic cup slips from my hand I reach for it and almost get it but not quite . Just at that instant Grace wakes up but being blind he doesn't see the deluge of water coming his way. Bosco the street kid is staring at me wide eyed at the thought that I would be so mean to Grace. I never saw Bosco or anyone else run out the gate so fast.

I must admit Grace took it well enough. He had come to see me because he had a toothache and wanted some panadol so I went to get it and some more water which Grace very kindly asked if he could have in a cup this time. I told him sure and then the insurance guy showed up. There goes my nap again. I got Grace taken care of sent him on his way and proceeded to the insurance meeting.

I have just found the greatest time to nap! I used to think it was Saturday afternoon watching professional bowling on tv but an insurance sales pitch on a hot day in Uganda beats the PBA by miles. I woke up fully rested and fully insured! And the rest is history.

Newton and Ministry

I've been reading a biography of Newton, John not Isaac. John Newton is the man who wrote "Amazing Grace", Isaac wrote about "amazing gravity".

John Newton had gone to Africa to be a slave trader and became a slave to the man who was supposed to be his partner. For the better part of 18 months he was chained to a shallow riverboat and fed scraps to eat. It was only by God's grace, shown through other slaves who gave him food secretly that he survived. When he was freed he headed back to England and during a severe storm that was breaking up the ship he had a conversion experience. Nineteen years later he wrote "Amazing Grace". But He continued in the slave trade for six more years as a slave ship captain. Then became a pastor in the Church of England.

I am astounded by the idea that after being a slave himself he continued in the work of the slave trade. My mind says "How could he?" But at the time slavery was a part of normal society. God was indeed changing Newton's life but sometimes He brings slow changes that take time to fully develop in us to be the people He wants us to be. Newton had to see and understand the glory and righteousness of God more fully before God used him to help abolish the slave trade.

Many of us follow Christ but then get right back into the sinful mess we had left, just like John Newton. We don't see the evils in our society because God has to show us His righteousness first so we can see the unrighteousness of the world. But we can never stop seeking His righteousness. And He will never stop turning our hearts to him.

What is it we allow today that 100 years from now will be condemned by the Holy One? What are we blinded by in our world that we are content with but our grandkids will condemn. Brideprice? Immorality? Corruption? Is it the sinful things we allow into our homes as entertainment? What will we look back on at the end of all things and say, "Why didn't I see how this looks to God? How could I have not known this offended our Lord?"

Are we too comfortable with this world so that we cannot change it? Are we too content with the status quo to speak against or even see the evil that is there?

I pray that Jesus lets us see what is offensive to the Father in our world today by showing us what real righteousness is. The apostle Phillip said "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." To which Jesus replied,"Don't you know me, Phillip even after I have been among you such a long time." Let us know Jesus so well that we know what breaks our Father's heart. Let us put an end to those things. Let us be ahead of our time by knowing the eternal God.

Working for the women

What is the difference between success and disaster, triumphant victory and utter defeat? Sometimes its all just a matter of timing. Yesterday was women's day. JB, Martin and I have, the past couple of years, cooked for our wives on women's day. So JB suggested we do the same but this year we also got Steven, Don and Joseph to join us too. With this many cooks we figured to take the endeavor to a new level and cook for all the women on the compound. Six fearless strong men going where no man has gone before, the kitchen.

JB and I decided on the menu and JB was appointed to purchase the food. Good plan, bad timing! Women's day is a holiday. The market was closed! No problem you can always buy from street vendors and even save some money! Good plan, bad timing! The rains began last week and street vendors don't sell in the rain so JB had to search to find the food. What should have been a 45 minute trip took 3 hours but the man got it done! (I don't want to hear how a woman would have planned ahead, we got it done).

Now we 6 brave men descend upon the kitchen with the confidence that comes from watching people (women) cook for years and assuming it is as easy as it looks. The phrase "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread" came to mind as we all had full ideas on what to do but only half a clue on how to do it. JB started cutting meat, Don-chickens, Joseph-carrots, Steven-onions, Martin-rice and I was the Head Man (I got to shred two heads of cabbage). We were a well oiled machine, each wearing a nice apron, and in no time we had food everywhere. I did learn that you need a really big pot for two shredded cabbage heads. Good enough I missed the pot about half the time so actually for two heads a one head pot will do. Irege was supervising
and almost gave himself an injury when he slipped in the puddle of tears that Steven had shed chopping onions. Don with JB and Martin did a superb job on the meat and poultry. I still wonder how that other 1/2 chicken got away. All we had to do was cook it all.

Now the team spread out. Some in our kitchen, some in JB's, and some in the cooking hut. Again we were so efficient that I went and did some counseling, Steven went and did some repair work.
We all came back about 6:00 pm and started setting up for dinner. By seven we were ready and all 43 people had a wonderful meal. Especially if you llike your rice slightly scorched or your posho Cajun style(blackened)All my fault.

We served the women first then the female kids then the male kids and finally the men. Then the men even did the clean up. Dishes were finished by 8:15 and women's day was over. Now I can rest up for next year!

Note: No persons were injured in the making of this event but some aviary and bovine helpers were lost. One person was injured but not during the celebration.(broken bones mend) Thanks to Ryan as advisor to the culinary portion of the day.

Thank you Father for the wondeful blessing of wives, sisters and daughters!

The Sting of Death

William, our newest member of the elder board, lost his father today. He had been sick for a number of years and he passed away this afternoon. He was a believer in Jesus Christ and a great many people are expected at his burial. The problem is he died in Lugazi and he is to be buried in the north past Arua. This is an all night trip as he is to be buried tomorrow due to the lack of embalming. Someone has donated a truck and the church is helping with petrol. There will probably be 50 people on that truck as the man's entire village wants to go. That's the way it is here. The two most expensive things to do here are to die or get married. Of course it is better if you reverse the order! Families go into deep debt as they are expected to provide food for whoever shows up. For a week! But it is a sign of great respect and honor to have so many people so families do it gladly. Richard who is JB's assistant and Ryan's replacement is going to represent our church as it would look bad to the people for no one from his son's church to be there. We would send more but it will be a two day trip and most people can't be gone that long.

Ryan also lost his Grandfather today. It is tough on the mission field when your family member dies back home. Ryan is taking it well but can't get home for the burial so it bothers him that he can't comfort his family in person. That is one of the decisions that missionaries make when they leave home. But that doesn't make it any easier to not be there. Pray for Ryan that he will be able to console his family from a distance.

Death happens to all of us but it is when our loved ones die not knowing Jesus that we hurt the most. Don't miss the opportunities to share the reason for the hope we have in Christ Jesus. Take away the sting of death by sharing God's gift of life in Jesus.

May God bless you and keep you until we see each other again and keep praying for the lost of the world and in our families.

How do you sew a volleyball?

I am sitting here wondering how they sew volleyballs together. All the stiches are inside and to get to them you have to turn your volleyball inside out. Which is exactly what I was doing this afternoon. I didn't really want to turn it wrong way out but it wouldn't hold air because it had apparently been impaled on one of the thorn hedges surrounding the house. I found the volleyball while looking into the hedge at what the dog was barking at. I don't think it was the ball he wanted but he was after something.

Normally this wouldn't bother me but the dog had earlier gotten out of the yard when I left the gate open after finding Bev's bike laying in the middle of the driveway. The kids had been riding it (the bike not the dog) and had left it laying out with the front gates wide open. This is typical and would not have concerned me much except that we almost lost two bikes this week.

Last Sunday night somone came into the yard and tried to steal Judy's bike. Not only her bike but also the 70 pound bike rack it was locked to. The thieves carried the rack with the bike 25 yards to the gate and lifted it over the 7 ft high gate out to the street and carried them down to the front gate where it either got too light (the night) or too heavy (the bike and rack). Well JB and Martin found them the next morning still locked together out on the street. But Acol's bike which had also been parked in the rack but had not been locked was gone. I only hope the thieves didn't realize it wasn't locked til after they hoisted it, or would that be heisted it over the fence.

So when I went to get the bike out of the yard with the open gate so it would not be stolen the dog got loose. After chasing him down and carrying him back to the yard I put the bike away. That's when I found the volleyball. I tried to inflate it but it wouldn't hold air. So I went on line to find out how to repair a leaking volleyball. I was assured it is easy to do you just need a leaking ball, a pump and and some ball sealant. Yeah right. Lots of that here in Jinja! Then it occured to me what a strange world Africa is. You can go on line to get info but there is no place to actually buy what is needed when you get the info.

So now I have a gutless, inside out volleyball on my desk. Couldn't find a website to tell me how to sew it back together. I know, I'll just leave the ball out in the yard for the thieves to take. They'll be looking for something lighter this time anyway.

The Lord amazes me

Today I had a unique experience that just made my head spin.

We have a baptism scheduled for March 13th. Two of the men who want to be baptised are Hallelujah and Patel. They came for some instuction this afternoon on the meaning and purpose of baptism. Sounds well and good but they are both from India and I can't understand their accents and they don't get mine either. So I had to have my friend Hemchend come and translate. One problem, all three men speak different Indian languages. So I speak in English Hem speaks his language to Patel while Hallelujah fills in what Hem doesn't get right. Patel has been coming to church about 3 months and gave his life to Jesus three weeks ago while Pastor Mohan and his wife from CCKampala were here. They also are from India but speak a different language as well. He is excited to be baptised and really happy to belong to Christ.

Hallelujah has been saved 14 years and been attending our church since arriving 5 months ago. He is full of enthusiasm and we talk alot but we get maybe two out of twenty of each other's words. He is excited to be baptised since baptism is outlawed in his part of India.

Hem has been saved for 7-8 years but has struggled with some bad teaching in the past and has become a big part of our church family. He loves everyone. He loves the teaching at Calvary and can't get enough.

Anyway it just amazed me how God was using all four of us to minister to and instuct each other. It was almost like a dream. I was greatly awed by how Jesus builds His church with so many people of different backgrounds but all of the same family in Christ heading for the same eternal home. Can't wait to get there. Maybe I'll even understand Hem, Halle and Patel. Actually you can count on it!

Rain and the idiot!

Okay so Kelli's back. First thing she did was make us all agree to the weather being 20 degrees cooler within seven days. Hey I'm no fan of hot weather but what can I do? So we all agreed. After all it been over 90 for a month and over 100 for at least half that. (no I'm not prone to exaggeration!)

This morning as I get up in the dark to go out running. I can see lightning off in the distance. By the time I get my shoes on the rain comes. Just a spinkle but as I walk out the door I hear a wall of water coming. I text my partner Don, "It just started raining." As I come back to the door the rain and wind hit. I text Don again,"It just started raining, heavily!" But Don's wife sends a reply, "He left a couple of minutes ago." Well I know Don's an intelligent guy so I figure he would turn back, but nagging me is the unwritten runners rule"If you start before the rain hits you keep running." Surely Don won't run in this. By now it is raining so hard I can't get out the door. Bev and I start closing every window in the house. Then the dogs start barking at the gate. What if it's Don? I grab my umbrella open the door get hit in the face by a torrent of rain from the roof. I step into a river that used to be the front path, wade through the lake that has replaced the front yard and go to the gate. The wind turns my umbrella inside out. Now I'm trying to unlock the gate holding the umbrella with my teeth and I drop the keys. Finally get the lock undone. Swim back to the house. I text Danielle asking if Don has come back. The response is from Don,"If? Ha! I'm not that manly!" But apparently I'm that much of an idiot. Good news is with my morning shower already taken and the run off for the day I can go back to bed. And Kelli is happy because the promise for cooler weather was kept. And Bev is ecstatic that she gets to sleep in.

I feel very content as if I made everyone happy all by myself. Thank you, Lord! You made the rain, You made Don smart enough to turn back, Kelli cool enough to sleep and my wife happy enough to sleep in that she didn't even get angry when I got back into bed all cold and wet! And you let me be just a big enough idiot to be happy for it all.

The Conference

I have to admit that the Pastor's conferences are a real pleasure and a real pain. Although I get to share I look forward to being able to sit and be fed.

Denny shared Monday afternoon on Nehemiah. Are we following the pattern he gave us by having true concern for our community. Are we addressing the problems of poverty, teenage pregnancy, drunkeness to name a few that plague Uganda. Or are we just preaching a message in church but not carrying it into the community?

Steven shared on the life of Paul and following the pattern "even as I follow Christ." Are we looking beyond Paul's example and taking on the attitude and nature of Jesus in ministry. Are we truly concerned with people? Do we have Jesus' compassion?

Craig shared on the life of Samuel. God has prepared us, are we humble enough to serve under others or even under a leader who is less qualified? Do we have a heart to be near God and a heart to hear God like the young Samuel or are we merely lying down like Eli "in his usual place?" Am I serving with passion or just going along the same as always because it is what I've grown accustomed to?

JB shared on David and his denying justice to Uriah and taking his life so he could hide his sin and gain his wife. In the ministry are we helping others to succeed or are we using them to hide our mistakes and make ourselves look good?

Zane shared on the life of Joshua. Are we trusting God to be true to His word and being courageous in our ministry even though we are anything but courageous?

These are some of the challenges laid on us. I'm working on a response as soon as God finishes convicting me. And this is the pleasure part.

The pain comes when dealing with the village pastors. It seems they had a meeting Tuesday night and have decided that they need direct support. Not just provision for business but a salary to help them do the work of the ministry. They are good men who deserve their wages but it is such a danger to my friends. In America I didn't see men get corrupted by money, at least not as easily and quickly as here. Paul was correct when he wrote to Timothy and warned him about men who think godliness is a means to financial gain (1Tim.6:5) and then said in verse 10 that some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. I know these men need help but how can I keep them from piercing themselves. How can I encourage them to have contentment when every where they look the world and even the church sends a message to them "to get theirs first." How do we support men without becoming a denomination with all the hierarchy that goes with it? Is it even my place to try to watch over and protect these men or is that the Holy Spirit's work?

I look forward to our conferences but dealing with the issues God raises in my heart almost crushes me every time. Thank you Jesus for letting me lean on you. Continue to show us the path by being a lamp for our feet.

My level of Faith

It's Wednesday and the week is only half way through and I'm exausted. We just finished a three day Pastor's Conference here in Jinja. We had 30 men attend as well as three missionaries. The theme of the conference was Living According to the Pattern Philippians 3:17. The guys that taught were excellent and I was really challenged, to examine our ministry. It was tough yet true and challenging (the way God can speak to your heart and make you want to crawl in a hole and die or crawl in His lap and cry). I hope to have some time to process it all.

A good week makes twelve years.

What makes a good week? Lots of things. I'll tell you a few.
Paper work that works. Our NGO renewal was under consideration by the NGO Board and praise the Lord it was approved! First time it was submitted too! We never get any paper work approved on the first shot but it was. God gave Bev the time and diligence to wade through all the requirements and when ready off she went to submit it all. She had a suitcase full of stuff just in case they wanted one more paper, file, signature, stamp, letterhead or no letter head, handwritten or typed. Bev had a back up for it all and it was accepted. In 2005 it took eight months. Unbelievably this year it was done in ten days.

What time we saved on paperwork we lost at the wedding on Saturday. The wedding at CCJinja was to start at 11:30 so we started working at 7:30 to have the church cleaned and decorated in time. We just had enough time to change and get to the church on time. The groom arrived at 12:00, the first guest by 12:15 and the bride at 1:15. And everyone was surprised she was so early. But the important thing was they got married. And I figure we are still 71/2 months ahead by what we saved in the NGO cert process.

We also got our lease extended for another 99 years (that means we won't be homeless until I'm 1555 years old). This has been a fun experience as we went to a District Land Board meeting Friday. That started two hours late. Then went to town hall today to get the papers with the instruction to take the file to the Assessor whose office is right across the street from us. So I went to see Martin the Assessor who told me to see the Lands Officer. I got in to see her in 20 minutes and told her Martin had sent me. She told me "Let Martin come" meaning you go get him and bring him here. So I yanked Martin from a meeting that he wasn't leaving until I mentioned the Lands Officer wanted to see him. At her office she asked why he was dealing with me not her and he said I had gone to the wrong office and he had not been dealing with me. So they agreed the best idea was to send me to the clerks office to get the whole file. So I went. After a 45 minute search she remembered that the nice young man Ryan had been in 10 days earlier and that the file had been taken to the Lands Officer and was on her desk (the file that is not Ryan). I asked if I should go tell her that and the clerk said "Oh no! If you do she'll never speak to you again. You come back tomorrow." I asked her if she would go and she said, "Oh no! She'll never speak to me again. You just wait." Ten minutes later an office boy came and was sent to get the file. He did and brought it to the clerk who gave it to me and said, "take it to the Lands Officer." The Lands Officer then sent me to the clerk who sent me back to Martin who took me back to the clerk to have her fill in the lease offer form. She told me " I told you to come back tomorrow." Then she informed me that she needed six copies to fill out and that I must go make the copies. I left and arrived back home only an hour late for a pre-marital counseling session. I go back to the clerk tomorrow! But hey I'm still at least seven months ahead so maybe I'll take an extra day off this month. Got to spend time while you have time.

I did get to teach at Kirinya Staff Church and Main and Remand prisons which was good since Friday was Bev's and my 12 year anniversay of living in Uganda and here I was doing the exact thing Sunday that I did twelve years ago.

All in all its been a good week. A good twelve years for that matter.

Thank you Jesus for letting me be here with my sense of humor still intact.

Good, great or Christian?

This morning I was sharing about a good man. He was a good friend, a good husband, a good family man and an active man of faith. His name was Philemon and he was a friend of the Apostle Paul. He was all the above things plus he refreshed the hearts of the saints.

I would like to think that we all could be that kind of good man or woman. It just requires us to love our friends and families and the saints. That should be easy enough. After all Jesus told us that the world would know we are His disciples when we love one another. The making of a good is right here.

But Paul encouraged his friend to be more, to go farther. He prayed for him to have an active faith so that he would have an understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. I was reminded that the more we tell the world about Jesus the more we see Him and know Him and ultimately are conformed to His image. This is what makes a great man! Paul encourages Philemon to be a great man in Christ.

If that was all to learn from this epistle it could be enough but Paul says there is more. Paul wants Philemon to be a Christian man! Apparently Philemon owned a slave named Onesimus who had escaped after stealing from his his master. Paul wants Philemon to forgive Onesimus who has gotten saved while with Paul in Rome. And take him back. And to treat him like a brother not a slave or a thief.

In my self confident, self righteous flesh I always thought this would be easy for Philemon or any Christian but then the Lord started to remind me of how many I had "forgiven."

Philemon was being told not just to forgive but to take this slave, who defied his authority, who had stolen from him and embarassed him, and put him back inside his home! To set him free and treat him like family. Who could do that? A Christian that's who!

The Lord was showing me that I have the talk down but the walk still needs work. I easily say "You're forgiven" but do I let them back into fellowship with me or even to be part of my family?
That's what Jesus did for me. He has forgiven me, brought me into His family as a brother and is even building me a place to live.

I tell you that I have no idea what that kind of forgiveness is like on the giving side. I know it on the receiving end but I still struggle on the giving end. But I will keep trying because Jesus didn't quit doing the Godly thing and I need to do the Christian thing.

Until this morning I was willing to settle for the good man and possibly hoping for the great. But now Jesus challenges me to be the Christian man.

Lord I need to learn to live an active faith by forgiving like you do. I have to admit I'm a little nervous to teach the last 18 verses of this letter next Sunday. But with God all things are possible!