Early Morning Rescue

My phone rang at 4.36 AM. My colleague, Roger Kuykendall, was on the line. "We need you here at the guest house and we need you fast.....and make sure you pick up two taxis on the way."

In an early morning state of delirium I flew down the road in my vehicle veering towards the taxi stand at break neck speed. In jumbled "I should still be in bed" Swahili I barked orders for two taxi drivers to follow me to the guest house.

We made it to the guest house in an astounding 10 minutes. The team was there scrambling around with luggage. Their bus to take them to the airport had broken down minutes before. Several were still sweating from trying to push the 21 seater. However, this bus was going nowhere fast; but, they had a plane to catch! Roger did his best to keep people calm and give them direction.

We quickly loaded up the 19 members of the team and their luggage in 4 vehicles- including the two taxis. Roger had a plan- "take the short-cut; save time. drive fast- follow me!" Sounded good to me. I relayed the plan to the taxi drivers. "READY?" I almost shouted feeling the adrenaline of a high speed drive to the airport!

Their faces told me everything. "We can't go that way." "WHAT!?!" I almost screeched. I had come to far to fail now in helping Roger get this team to the airport on time. "We don't have any fuel in our cars." It slowly sunk in as only things can do at 4.53 AM. "You're a taxi driver for crying out loud- how can you not have any fuel?!?" I stammered incredulously.

"We have to go the other way rafiki (friend)....where the station is located" I just blinked off into the humid Dar darkness. "uhhhh....yah......okay" I mumbled. So instead of a break-neck speed early morning adventure to the airport following Roger, we instead crept along back to the station following the taxi drivers. Then we proceeded to pain-stakingly watch precious minutes disappear as they filled their tanks.

As I sat there it hit me. These guys just weren't prepared for a 4.36 AM airport run. They failed to be ready when they were needed the most. The funny thing about the whole story is that taxi stand where I first picked them up is 30 feet from the petrol station. So close; so far. I continued to ponder the situation as only one can do at 5.10 in the morning.

It hit me again- this is just like so many Christians. God has a plan. There is a specific purpose and agenda that He is accomplishing in our lives. He has everything set. The way is marked out. The steps are ordained. "Ready?" he asks. "Ummm........not really God.....you see......" and then come the excuses fast and furious.

Here at our church we are in a 40 day Prayer Initiative where we are seeking God for His direction and purpose for 2010. I challenge the people often: "Prayer is preparation!" "Prayer is positioning your heart to be ready!" "Prayer is saying 'HERE I AM'"- even when God calls at 4.36 AM. May our hearts be filled to overflowing with a determination to do His will no matter when, where, or what He calls us to.

(In case you are wondering the team made it to the airport thanks mostly to the fact that I still had my early morning break-neck speed adventure through the streets of Dar.)

God's 3 Favorite Words

Hebrews 10:9 "Then he said, 'Here I am, I have come to do your will"

At the beginning of 2010, I've been thinking about what kind of attitude it takes to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. It seems to me that all too often Christians approach God with a hidden agenda. We want God to bless our plans, goals, and dreams. We think that our walk with the Lord is all about us and our comfort. Rather, I think the Lord looks for people who pray: "God I want to be a part of what you are doing! I want to accomplish your agenda, your plan, your dreams, and your purposes."

Instead of saying: "God bless what I'm doing" we need to pray "God how can I be apart of what you are already blessing". God has 3 favorite words that He loves to hear: "Here I am!" If you look through scripture at the great heroes of the faith- people like Abraham, Moses, Samuel, etc.. there seems to be at least one common denominator. They all had experiences where God called them and they said: "HERE I AM!" Their lives were full of great acts of faith, great testimonies of God's power, and great accounts of God's faithfulness. Their attitude in serving God was simple: "HERE I AM"

The Hebrew equivalent of "Here I AM" is "Na'am". It's the same in Swahili. In Swahili culture when someone is called by their first name they drop everything they are doing and come running. At the same time they respond saying: "Na'am". This is especially true of an employee or a domestic servant at a house. The idea is that they are totally available and willing to be apart of whatever plan, agenda, etc.. the boss has in mind.

The same is true for us in our service of the Lord. Too many people come to God and say: "Let's make a deal God". "I'll serve you if..... I'll go if...... I'll share with that person if..... I'll make myself available if....." God is looking for people to stop trying to make a deal with Him; He longs to hear His 3 favorite words- "HERE I AM LORD".

In Hebrews 10 Jesus models this for us so beautifully. He comes to the Father and says: "HERE I AM" He never expects anything more from us than He has already modeled. He willingly gave His life on the cross. No one forced Him. He knew it was the will of God for Him to come to earth and redeem our fallen race. So He stood before the Father and spoke the Father's 3 favorite words- "HERE I AM- I've come to do your will". His willingness opened the way for us to be redeemed. His attitude of surrender opened the way for the purposes of God.

I want to be the kind of person whose life becomes a vehicle for the purposes of God to be accomplished. HERE I AM! How about you?

Fishing in the Sewer

Driving along the road near my house I was startled- not so much because of the usual traffic jam on the busy road, but because of a solitary fisherman.

He was totally oblivious to the hundreds of vehicles barely scraping by him on the side of the road. Leaning over the main drainage canal, he had his pole dangling in the water. I was shocked. The drainage water is nasty- full of garbage bags, plastic wrappers, chemical run-off from urbanization, human waste etc... African urbanization at its worst. Yet, none of this seemed to affect him in the least. Diligently he tried to hook some puny fish that wouldn't have filled up a cat.

As I considered how preposterous his efforts seemed, an even more ludicrous thought suddenly crossed my mind. Dar es Salaam is built on the edge of the Indian Ocean. A body of water that is teeming with fish. This fisherman was standing no more than 1/2 mile from the beach at his current location. Rather than enjoying the white sandy coast lines of Tanzania with the possibility of some wonderful catches like tuna, red snapper, etc... he is fishing for minnows in a polluted urban drainage ditch.

I don't know about you- but fishing in the sewer has never really been my forte.

Yet, it occurs to me that this is a brilliantly clear picture of where many Christians find themselves in 2010. For many, 2009 was difficult at best and they have contented themselves with fishing for God's purposes, plans, and direction in the murky waters of life. A drainage ditch congested by vehicles and plastic bags occupies their pursuit. Meanwhile, the Ocean of God's immeasurable grace, unfathomable goodness, and relentless love is nearby.

I recently preached a message with 3 points that brought out this idea. "NOW IS THE TIME"- to get over our disillusionment with other people, to reject the devil's lies, to let go of the hurts and wounds of the past, and to embrace the Lord's purposes and wonderful plans. "THIS IS THE PLACE"-to allow God to move in our lives, to give Him free reign to accomplish His will, to receive everything He has for us, to make a difference for God. "I AM THE ONE" - to do something for the Lord, to experience His grace and mercy, to touch other for Christ, to enjoy the Ocean of His presence!

I don't know about you- but I'm done fishing for minnows in Dar sewage water! I want the Ocean!

Leaving a Legacy on Zanzibar

"Dr. Livingstone I presume?"

Every heard the famous question that New York Herald reporter Henry Stanley asked when meeting the famous explorer for the first time? He had been tracking him down for over year through the interior of Tanzania.  Livingstone would pass away just a few months after this famous question.  

Two of Livingstone's most trusted personal attendants during his East African wanderings were Chuma and Susi.  In order to preserve their beloved patron's body for the 4 month haul back from the lake area to Bagamoyo they cut out his heart and buried it on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. His body was later shipped to Zanzibar before being buried in Westminister Abby. In remuneration for their heroic feat both men were given a sum of money.   

One of the porters invested his money to buy a little piece of land on the island of Zanzibar just outside of the capital city- Stone Town.  There an Anglican church was built as well as a cemetery for him to be buried.  He received Christ through the witness of  Dr. Livingstone and could no longer be buried in the Islamic cemetery's of Zanzibar.  

 Fast-forward history 100 some years.  

In the late 1990's, the T.A.G was offered this piece of land by the Anglican church due to a  lack of funds as well as  increasing pressure from the Islamic neighbors.  They regarded the little Christian cemetery and church as an eye-sore.   The T.A.G accepted the offer- bought the land, and planted a small church.   

I first visited this piece of land in 1999- 10 years ago and preached my very first sermon in Tanzania. The church was running somewhere around 70 people.  I was 19 years old having just completed my freshman year at ORU.  Over the past decade, I have often wondered how the little church was doing.   

Last week my brother Adam and I had the chance to visit and to paint the recently completed primary and English learning school on the property.  Fittingly, it is named Livingstone Academy. To my shock the church has grown to over 900 and has planted 6 other churches on the island.  We were told that almost everyday someone comes to the property asking how to be born-again.  The Presence of God was very strong.  Clearly, The Lord is doing something great on the island! 

I marveled as I put on the primer inside the school building: "Livingstone's life is still touching people over a hundred and thirty years later!" "What a legacy in missions!" Please pray that God will continue to do a powerful work on the island of Zanzibar.  

And may each of our lives be trans-generational: Impacting people both here and now as well as for the future with Christ's love! 

The Chapati Eating Thief of Tandala

It was early- the rain had been pouring down for hours.  We sat in a small African living room in the highlands of Tanzania.   Fog covered much of the ground and I was shivering.  The elevation made breathing more difficult than usual.  Thick pine forests surrounded the small village high in the Tandala, Makete area.   We had come to this place to check the progress of a community development project to help a local church.   

I was struck with the serenity and beauty of this mountainous part of Africa as we ate breakfast with the local pastor.  It reminded me of the pine forests of Colorado with little African villages interspersed.  Such a combination was totally new to me. As we drank the piping hot chai served to us  that one of my traveling companions called "diabetes in a cup" due to the inordinately high sugar content, I suddenly saw the cat.   

He was mid-night black with a nefarious feline gaze that told me he was up to no good! In Africa cats are not usually kept as pets.  And it the rare cases, they are certainly not welcome around the dining table.     Yet, there he was sitting on his haunches staring right at my chapati.   I tore a piece off to dip into my sugary chai and the feline's eyes followed my every move.   A bit unnerved by the intensity of this cat's gaze, I jumped into Swahili: "so.... pastor.....I see there's a cat in the living room." I hoped he would get the hint.  

"Yes, indeed, my brother" he replied.  "And we are eating its favorite food!" 

"What?" I asked bewildered.  In an attempt to answer my question through demonstration he threw half of his chapati on the floor.  POW! The feisty feline greedily pounced on it like most cats attack mice.  Within seconds, the African flat-bread was devoured.  Then came the icy stare again as if to say: "that was just a warm-up exercise!"

I was in shock.  Never in all of my life have I ever seen a cat that eats flour products!

 "So does your cat eat meat?"  "No not really." 

  "Errr....maybe mice?"  "Hmm....no, not much."  

"Err..what does it eat then?"   "CHAPATIS!!!" came the answer.   

Even as I asked the question, the cat jumped up onto it's hind legs and started to sniff my plate with greedy anticipation.  Half a chapati remained.   "Get down you thief!" I blurted out.  "Miaowwww" cried the chapati stalker.  It then began to circle my feet biding it's time as if to say: "you just wait buster- I'll have that chapati yet!" 

 Maybe the altitude of this highland African village had messed with it's feline instincts.  Possibly the sight of pine forests in middle of Africa caused it to loose it's senses.  Or maybe it was the freezing cold temperatures where they say it snowed a couple of months ago.  Whatever the reason- this cat was messed up!  I mean whoever heard of a cat eating chapatis.  

As I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that this cat needed serious therapy to overcome its eating habits and its kleptomaniac approach to life.  A cat feeding only on chapatis will at some point loose all nutrition. 

I think there are some similarities with Christians. 

 Many Christians much like this cat feed on all kinds of things.  Entertainment, sports,  shopping, friends, hobbies, etc... none of which are bad;   these are much like chapatis.   We pounce on them eagerly and devour them quickly.  We follow there every movement.  Sadly, the solid meat of the Word of God is a long-forgotten concept.  We are enamored by chapatis.   At some point, however,  an unhealthy spiritual diet will catch up to us like an unhealthy feline diet.  Here's my challenge: find the Word, read the Word, meditate on the Word, digest the Word, and live the Word.  

I Came With My Answer

Over the past 3 months I have built a relationship with Joeli.  He's a young Tanzanian who works as a guard at the house where I currently live here in Dar. 

  Several years ago he represented Tanzania in the East African Power Lifting championship in Nairobi.  It's the only time he's ever been out of the country.  As you can imagine, he's rip- real rip!   I would almost go so far as to say that he's as rip as me- but it's good to remain modest about things like this :-) he he he....  

 He grew up Catholic, but hadn't attended church in years.  And had no intentions of changing. We have  had several conversations about God since I first met him. Each time,  I came away thinking that he was totally not interested.   About a month ago he suddenly asked me for a Bible.  He's been reading it on and off for several weeks.  One week ago we talked.  

"If you left work today where would you go?" I asked.  "Oh that's simple- I would head home."  

We chatted about his home for several minutes- the area of town he lives in, the part of the country he comes from etc... 

"What if you were to leave this life today Joeli, where would you go?" I continued.   "Err...I don't know...."   "but I think that's a very important question" he replied.  

As we talked I felt to challenge him.  "Jesus can give you assurance in your heart that you will go to heaven to be with him- are you ready to take that step?"  

"Hmmm....no. Not yet"  came his response.  "Give me one week to think about it and I will come with my answer next weekend when I'm back on duty". 

I thought he was just putting me off. 

This past weekend the rains came very heavy.  For four some hours it poured.  I didn't get outside to go to talk to Joeli during the rain.  And when I finally emerged I missed him- he had gone home. 

  The following day we met after a full week.   We chatted about the rain and the need for more.  Suddenly, he cut me short:  "I came with my answer Steve but you weren't around." The look in his eyes told me that he was hurt.    I apologized.  He continued: "I still have the same answer today though."   

I could see the hunger in his eyes.  "My answer, " said the former Tanzanian power-lifter "is that I want to give my life to Jesus".    We prayed together.    Jesus touched him as He always does anyone anywhere who comes with such a heart-felt answer.   

I learned a lesson:  often it's not asking the right questions as much as it is coming with the right answer.  "I want Jesus to do something for me!" What about you? 

It's who you know

The power went out late Friday afternoon.  Power rationing has started all over Dar so this was  somewhat expected.  After 12 hours, however, the normal time for power cuts the electricity did not come back on.  A full day went by.  Then 36 hours.  As I talked with people in the neighborhood, I heard the full story. 

 Thieves came to steal the oil inside the transformer supplying power to our area during the scheduled power rationing time.  They drilled a hole inside the side of the steel transformer 10 feet off the ground without anyone hearing anything despite the fact that the transformer is only 15 feet away from the neighbor's front gate.  

TANESCO, the Tanzanian power company came to investigate the problem.  Maximizing their service ethic to the fullest, they promptly refused to repair the problem and drove off.   The next day they returned to collect money from the inhabitants in our area to hire a night watchman to "protect" the transformer- 10 feet off the ground with visibility from any direction.   The whole situation seemed very fishy.  

We were told or maybe threatened would be a more adequate description of the communication that without money for a watchman and money for a new transformer there would be no more power. 

The house I currently rent belongs to a certain businessman known even to the president of Tanzania.  I called him on the phone.  "What do you think?" I asked him.  "Oh...this is a common scam that the TANESCO people try to earn some extra money" he replied.  "I will call the top manager and take care of it".  

3 hours later a TANESCO truck appeared with a brand new transformer.  After 80 some hours without power it was restored! Thank you to those who prayed.  God gave me great favor with this business man. He was able to accomplish in a few minutes what I couldn't get done in days. 

 It seems that the old saying is true: it's really who you know.  This businessman goes right to the top. He knows the most influential people in all of Tanzania.  He's on a first name basis with the power-brokers of Dar.  Yet, in Christ we have access to ONE way more influential and much more powerful than anyone in Dar or even in all of Tanzania for that matter! We know the Most High God.