You Are Welcome

Dagombas (the tribe where I am in Ghana) offer a wonderful greeting whenever you arrive somewhere. They say "a maraaba!" [ah-mah-rah-bah] which means, "You are welcome." Since they recognize American/Europeans they usually go ahead and say, "You are welcome" to us in English. This greeting is given when you arrive anywhere – a store, church, school, or upon entering someone's home. The Dagbani response to this greeting is "n goya" [en – goine-yah], which means, "thank-you for your welcome." It's funny, but I've gotten so used to the greeting that I find myself offering it now when people arrive somewhere that I am. Even funnier is I usually say the greeting with the stilted English accent most Ghanaians use over here, "Y-o-u a-r-e w-e-l-c-o-m-e!"

Anyhow – hearing this greeting so frequently made me realize how much not being welcome is such a huge fear many of us have. I don't think we consciously think of this, but deep down inside I believe many of us carry a fear of not being welcome. Many of us feel unworthy, or like a fifth wheel, or even condemned. We suspect that when we enter the room, those already present are actually unhappy we have arrived. We fear we are a lot of trouble – we're a burden – and people would rather we not be around.

This fear of not being welcome can be paralyzing. The antidote, of course, is to know that we are unconditionally accepted by God; the God who calls us his beloved. Jesus wants us to know "You are welcome here – 'a maraaba'" – He wants his home to be our home. He wants to know all about us; our likes and dislikes, our happy times and our sad times. He wants to know our plans and dreams. We are always welcomed by him. What's more, He's even gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us in the life to come.

Today, if you are feeling unwelcome for any reason. Know that you have a friend; one who says "a maraaba!" to you each and every time you approach him. That, my friend, is good news!

How God Answers Prayer

Here goes Steve again!!!  Look out

For a number of reasons, my prayer life has deepened while on this extended mission trip. One aspect of prayer I've been thinking about lately is how God answers prayer. I realize prayer is about more than asking God for things; prayer also involves praising God, confession of sin, offering thanksgiving, and more. My comments below, however, are about the ways God answers petitions for ourselves and intercession for others.

God sometimes answers prayer by saying YES. This is perhaps our favorite way for God to answer. There is good biblical warrant for it as well. Jesus said, "Ask and you shall receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Matt. 7:7). God's immediate "Yes" often comes when we pray for relief of sickness, for safe travel, for the healing of another, or for deliverance from danger. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den (Dan. 6). In that story it was actually the king who threw Daniel to the lions who prayed that God would save Daniel, and when the king checked the next morning, Daniel was unharmed. Sometimes we need an immediate answer – like when we're thrown to the lions – and God answers, "Yes!"

God sometimes answers prayer by saying, "NO," but I believe God says "No" because he loves us too much to say yes. I recall when Amy and Leigh were little girls, every Christmas they asked for a trampoline. Trampolines are unsafe and so I never caved to their repeated requests and arguments that "all their friends have trampolines." I'm sure at the time my daughters thought me unloving and callous to not grant their request when it was within my power to do so. But I stood firm with my "No," because I love them too much to risk a broken arm or worse. There is a great illustration of this kind of "No" in the Bible. One day the mother of the Zebedee boys, James and John, came to Jesus requesting he seat them at his right and left when he came into his kingdom. Jesus' response to the pushy mom was "You don't know what you're asking," (Matt. 20:22) and her request was denied. I believe this was one of those "No's" because God loves us too much to let us fall prey to our own folly or ignorance.

God sometimes answers prayer by saying "LATER." In other words, you'll have to wait. The classic example of this in the Bible is Hannah, the mother of Samuel who prayed and prayed for a baby, but God had "closed her womb" (1 Samuel 1:6). Finally Hannah's "Yes" came, but only after she had committed her son to the Lord (should she have one). I believe God knew Hannah wasn't spiritually mature enough to handle the responsibility she would face as Samuel's mother. Honestly, this is the situation I am in right now. I think God is telling me "later" because I'm not ready to receive God's answer yet. The verse to remember for those of us in this situation is Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding." This is very, very difficult.

God sometimes answers prayer by saying, "NO, I HAVE A BETTER IDEA." The issue here is whether or not we want God's best for our life, or if we want the best scenario we can think up. I can recall dozens of times when I was certain I knew exactly what I wanted or needed and I was praying like crazy for that job, relationship, or possession, but it just never happened and so I was disappointed with God. But then God orchestrated something else which, in retrospect, was a thousand times better than what my plan was. Whenever I think of this answer to prayer two Scriptures come to mind. Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Uh-huh… And then there's Jeremiah 29:11 where GOD says, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Oh yeah…I've had plans – great plans which I prayed earnestly for, but God said "No." Why? Because God had a better idea all along.

This last answer to prayer is best illustrated biblically by the cross. God's better idea was the cross. As Jesus began to wrap up his ministry he told his disciples three times he was about to go to Jerusalem to die and each time the disciples protested. They thought they had a better idea. Jesus himself even prayed to God to see if there was any other way, but there was not. The cross and the subsequent resurrection of Christ was God's solution to man's greatest problem. Ever since Calvary mankind has tried to come up with a better solution, but there is none. In fact, the Bible says that even the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom (1 Cor. 1:25).

What are you praying for today? Whatever situation you are in, know that God loves to answer his children's prayers; he delights in answering prayer. Trust God today to answer your prayer – fact is, he may already have.

Fond Farewell

The team from Fayetteville, NC left this morning. I got up and had breakfast with them because I've made some good friends. Bob Parker drove them over to the Tamale airport at 6am for their flight to Accra. I was in my room having my quiet time at 8am and I heard the drone of their airplane. I went outside and looked up to see their flight go directly overhead, headed towards the southeast.

As I watched the plane disappear in the distance I must admit I felt a little homesick; it was actually one of the few times I've felt that way. I've noticed that whenever a team arrives I get all excited about what they are going to do; and about what I'm doing over here. Then, over time, I settle back into my routine and things become "business as usual." Then, as teams prepare to return to the states I start wishing I was going home too. I suppose that's natural. Today I will be jumping right back into action helping with a Mega-Voice training event later this morning, and tomorrow I am preaching at B Dakpemyili. So it isn't like I'm sitting here twiddling my thumbs feeling lonely or forgotten.

What's really going on, I believe, is a spiritual maturity issue where I am learning to find my joy and fulfillment in Christ alone. I was journaling this morning and realized that it really shouldn't matter where you are; whether you are at home, or thousands of miles away, or on the moon. It shouldn't matter if you have a lot to do, or if you are unoccupied. Christ is always with us and He wants us to turn to Him for everything. I think that's what David meant when he wrote, "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken" (Psalm 62:1-2). The little Hebrew word for "alone" or "only" appears six times in Psalm 62. I also think David was referring to what I'm talking about when he wrote "I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken" (Psalm 16:8). It takes a conscious effort to "set the Lord always before [yourself]."

Today, let's remember that the Lord is all we need. Wherever we go and whatever our situation, He is the answer to the question. Father, help this truth to go deep in my spirit today, and in the spirit of my readers I pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Greeting the Chief

One of the things you do when visiting a village in Ghana is you go and greet the “naa” or chief. This is done out of courtesy and respect. When visiting the chief you typically do so at his palace, which is usually a simple round hut with a straw roof. When you get to his palace you usually find the chief sitting on an animal skin inside his palace with the village elders seated around him on the ground. When you meet the chief you are expected to bow to him and you’re not supposed to make direct eye contact with him. You also cannot speak directly to him, but instead must speak through his spokesperson. The conversation is usually fairly stilted, but most of the chiefs I have met have always been polite, and several have had a great sense of humor. As you greet the chief you state your business in the village and then ask permission to preach, or teach, or do a medical clinic; whatever it is you are there for. Chiefs usually expect a gift of some kind; a cedi or two, or perhaps a bench for his village. Chiefs also frequently ask for prayer, whether they are Christian, Muslim, or African Traditional Religion adherents.

The man pictured above is the chief of Gua. When we arrived in his village on Monday to do a medical clinic we didn’t have go to his palace to greet him – he was already at the place we were going to do the medical clinic waiting on us to arrive! We also weren’t required to speak through a spokesperson. He was quite willing to engage us in conversation through a translator. When we do clinics where we anticipate a large number of people like we had at Gua we hand out numbers to keep some semblance of crowd control. Each family gets a number and then we call the families up by number. In this case, the chief received number 1 and was very pleased.

Experiences like this are priceless, but it is all in a day’s work on the mission field. I’m hopeful that some of you who have followed this blog will perhaps join me on a future trip. If you feel God nudging you in the least, please let me know and let’s talk and pray about it. You will never be the same – I guarantee it!

Getting On Up There

“I have been young, and now I am old.” Psalm 37:25a

I’ve always liked the 37^th Psalm, but reading it today the partial verse above caught my eye. I suppose it did because I’ve noticed lately that I am definitely aging. My new room here at Seed Ministry has no mirror so I have had to resort to using the tiny 4x4 inch mirror in my toiletry kit to put in my contacts, comb my hair, etc… When I look in that mirror especially, I’ve noticed more lines, wrinkles, jowls and liver spots than I realized I had. Those aren’t my only signs of aging either. I find my energy levels are lower and I’ve begun to discover aches and pains in places where I’ve never had them before. Some of them in places I didn’t even know I had!

The interesting thing is I don’t mind it; in fact, I am enjoying getting older. I realize American culture is obsessed with youthfulness and we are expected to practice denial when it comes to aging, but honestly I welcome the autumn of my life. There is a certain peace and satisfaction that comes with aging. We are able to let go of some of the impatient grasping and constant striving toward goals we once had. Our vision clears and we are able to see God’s hand at work in places we never thought He was active. And as the fog of living clears as we age, we find God’s plans begin to flourish and our relationship with him and with a few others assumes a sweet intensity we could have never known as “young bucks,” eager to make our mark in the world.

I realize I sound like a broken record over here but God is teaching me that we each have a role to play in his plan; it may be a small role, or it may be a large one – but there are no unimportant roles. The object is to do your part, and to do it well in God’s strength and in God’s way.

Speaking of aging, one of my mentors from afar, Henri Nouwen put it this way, “When everything is put in its proper place, there is time to greet the true reasons for living.” Welcome to the “right now,” I pray your fog is lifting too and that God is revealing your “true reasons for living” like He is mine.   

Farewell Message

I am preaching in chapel at the seminary this Friday. Since I travel home later this month I will be using the occasion to give the students my "farewell message." I put together the message this morning and I chose 2 Tim. 4:1-5, Paul's charge to his student Timothy as my text. In these five verses Paul exhorts his protégé to do seven things: 1) Preach the word, 2) be prepared in and out of season, 3) correct, rebuke and encourage, 4) keep your head in all situations, 5) endure hardship, 6) do the work of an evangelist, and 7) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Since I'll only have about 20-25 minutes for my remarks, I've summarized Paul's final words to Timothy, and my words to my students. I tell them that as they go out as new young pastors they must realize that:

There will be TEMPTATIONS. Not the usual sort of temptations though. The temptations facing a pastor are things like the temptation to be popular, which is what Paul is talking about in verses 3-4 when he says people will surround themselves with teachers who will say what the hearers' 'itching ears want to hear.' Pastors also face the temptation to be sensational; to try and make their ministry, and their church just a little more 'exciting' or 'relevant' than the next church. Still a third common temptation for pastors is the temptation to make something besides the main thing be the main thing. Among other idols, this "other thing" can be sports leagues, facilities, their worship team, or even the pastor himself.

I will also remind the pastors that when they get "out there" there will be TRIALS. This is what Paul is talking about when he tells Timothy to "endure hardship" (v. 5). Being a pastor is tough. Oddly, much of the strain of being a pastor often comes from one's own flock. Many times the congregation insists on keeping their pastor humble (translation "poor"). Meanwhile, each member considers him or herself the pastor's boss and many think he only works for an hour or two a week. They are also confident they could do a better job than the pastor and will often tell him so. Still another trial from within are those who pastors bend over backwards for who then turn and stab him in the back – et tu Brute? On top of all this are the difficulties and disappointments that come from outside the church.

My final reminder to the pastors is to be sure to TELL people about Jesus. The five verses from Paul mention this several times (preach the word…be prepared in and out of season…correct, rebuke and teach…and, most importantly, 'do the work of an evangelist'). All of these point to the importance of telling people about Jesus. The world's population recently topped the 7 billion mark, and more than half of them, 4.5 billion, are currently separated from God in their sin and will spend eternity that way unless someone tells them about Jesus and they respond.

My main concern in my sermon is not to come across negative or cynical. There is unspeakable joy in serving Christ and a local congregation; I want them to know that. But I also believe they need a healthy dose of reality. I don't want to curb their youthful idealism, but I would like to help them keep from getting hurt or from hurting others if I can. Pray that when the time comes the Holy Spirit have free reign to say what He has to say and that I will simply be His mouthpiece. The message will be delivered Friday at 10am my time, 6am Georgia time.

Galenshegu and Gua

Fulani family I met today

I went out with the team from North Carolina today to the villages of Galenshegu and Gua. The team split up and I went with the nurses and staff that went to Gua. There we ministered to the villagers for about 4 hours. We had an assembly line where the people would see a nurse, then come to my station where I shared the gospel with them. Then they went to a make-shift dispensary we set up and received the drugs our nurses prescribed; mainly vitamins, iron tablets, malaria meds, antibiotics, cough syrups, etc… We also had children’s ministry going on where the kids played games and sang and were told the story of Jesus’ love, along with receiving dum dum suckers, a book, stickers, etc.... The group over in Galenshegu mainly did sanitation training and Aids counseling. They also passed out soap and sanitation products, did evangelism counseling, and children’s ministry going on.

It was hot as blazes today, but I must say it felt really good to minister to the whole person today. It also was a lot of fun ministering with a team again. I have mostly been flying solo this trip so it was great to hang out with this team, which has really accepted me as one of their own. I especially enjoyed hearing the interesting stories of the other places some of them have ministered such as Uganda. It was also great to be with some first-timers who got their first big taste of being in a village for most of the day. No one ever forgets their first time in a village; there is nothing like it.

Fulani teenager at Gua today

The icing on the cake for me personally today was my first experience of being around Fulani people. Fulanis are very exotic-looking people, and I find them very beautiful. They are mainly herdsmen who live out in the country away from other tribes and villages, mostly keeping to themselves. The main difference I noticed between the Fulani and other Africans is the way they dress and adorn themselves. All the men today had on strange-looking hats and the women had beaded hair and a variety of colorful scarves, beads, and cowrie shells adorning their bodies and clothing. Many of them were also tattooed and wore beautiful jewelry.

The Fulani are mostly Muslims; in fact the majority of those I shared with today were Muslim, but they were all very gracious and all listened patiently, many of them thanking me profusely even though they had to wait hours in the heat to be seen. I was grateful for the team I served with today, grateful God allowed me to meet many new friends today and grateful I got to share the Good News of Jesus Christ face to face with some people I know God loves so much. I wish you could have been with me. You would have loved it!