ECIPLESHIP for Passionate Christ-Followers

I’ve been rubbing shoulders with some really great people today…all day. I’ve also been reminded at how powerful dreaming, planning, strategizing, and inspiring one another can be. This is not only true for business and ministry settings, but for each of our lives personally too.

So–have you dreamed lately? Have you considered what you could do with your life if you brought a little focus and intention to your daily actions? How about considering a dreaming and planning session for yourself (even 10 minutes!) where you consider what it is you want to see happen in and through your life? Then share it with someone so they can check up on you now and then. Go ahead–ask them to do this. You may be amazed at what 10 minutes of dreaming can do for yourself…and for the glory of God.

Last night, as I was having some great conversation with my Army son, he was describing how difficult his last Physical Training Test was. As he was running the timed two-mile, he described how he wanted to quit, slow up, or take even a 30 second walk. He then realized that if he did, he would have arrive over the allowed time and would be required to go through the whole thing again next time. He dug deep to find a resource of strength that initially he didn’t know was there.

This is what he said, “Dad, I intentionally chose to focus on the results of my actions in order to find strength to persevere to the finish.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 state, ” Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The picture here is that of a race. It’s presenting us in the Arena of Life, the stands filled with the saints who have gone before us. They have been past runners in this strenuous contest and know what it takes to win. There they are, standing on their feet, voices straining, arms reaching, bodies tense, faces intense as they cheer us on in this race of life. With all of this attention, the challenge is to give it everything you’ve got! Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Don’t give only a portion of what you can. When you have delivered everything you think you’re able to give, dig deeper. Keep running that race with every ounce of determination and strength you can muster. The crowd is packed with great heroes cheering you on to victory.

Today again, God calls you to fix your eyes on Jesus standing at that finish line in order to do what is important, not what is easy.

“If following Jesus does not feel dangerous, I should probably pause and check to see if it is Jesus I’m following.” This Gary Haugen statement is packed with fact.

Fact #1 — We naturally like to be safe rather than dangerous. Unless we deliberately choose to be dangerous, we will be safe.

Fact #2 — God-followers have always been called to danger. From Abraham being called to move from the most developed city of his day to a place he had never heard of nor ever been, all the way to Jesus’ disciples dispensing with their safe places to join the world-rattling adventure with Jesus, we are called to danger.

Fact #3 — We cannot muster up the courage to be dangerous rather than safe. This orientation comes only through being so filled with heart and passion of God that we take on His likeness. That’s why, when the early church leaders lost their resolve, they prayed together and the Holy Spirit came upon them. They were infused with courage to continue their dangerous cause. (Acts 4)

Fact #4 — God doesn’t call us to anything He has not subjected Himself to first. Christmas is all about danger. The Creator became created, the all-powerful One became a helpless baby in a feeding trough, the King of Kings became dependent on his mother’s providence. He who had it all became a homeless disadvantaged and hunted human being destined for a cruel cross.

That’s why scripture declares to every God-follower, “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,” 1 Peter 4:1.

If following Jesus does not feel dangerous, I should probably pause and check to see if it is Jesus I’m following.

I just finished a great book called Just Courage by Gary A. Haugen. Being the president and CEO of International Justice Mission, he knows a few things about courage. Ponder a few of his statements…

• Christians seem to have the amazing ability to say the most wonderful things without actually believing them.
• Following Christ was supposed to be a bold adventure of power and beauty and singular importance, but the reality that keeps emerging appears to be something very different.
• Our rescue is not our ultimate destination; it is the indispensable means by which God works out his plan to rescue the world.
• When it comes to injustice (the abuse of power by taking from others what God has given them), God’s position is straightforward. God hates it and wants it to stop.
• Many Christians are so busy defending their own end zone that they have forgotten the joy of scoring touchdowns.
• If following Jesus does not feel dangerous, I should probably pause and check to see if it is Jesus I’m following.
• Am I being brave, or am I being safe?

Now there’s a little food for thought…

Many Christians can look good but be terribly empty. In modern American Christianity, we tend to have something that is more cultural than biblical. In place of authentic faith being lived out, we easily slip into a form of something religious but lack substantive power. We can look good on the outside, but are like whitewashed tombs on the inside.

This morning, I read Hosea 10:12:

I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,
and you will harvest a crop of love.
Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,
for now is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come
and shower righteousness upon you.’

God desperately longs to shower you with His love and blessing, but we often place ourselves in a wasteland apart from God’s grace. In fact, Jude 21 states, “Live in such a way that God’s love can bless you.” How cool is that?

Hosea mentions the “seeds of righteousness”. What are those? In this scripture’s context, it refers to:

• Living without idols…those things we rely on that become our crutches. We go to these for security and providence instead of God [like today's financial security, credit cards, nice cars, luxurious homes, toys and entertainment items that feed our pleasure quotient]. Plow up that hard ground of your heart.
• Running passionately after God — making Him the first love of our life…“seek the LORD”
• Living like Jesus would live with compassion for the needy, an awareness and commitment to the lost, and honoring God with a life of integrity. Action is more important than theoretical beliefs.

I don’t know about you, but I definitely want to “live in such a way that God’s love can bless me”…today.

OK-so our team of seven experienced so many things while gone.

I wanted to give you a few visuals today to help you get a better feel of what transpired…

Thank you for all of your prayers and support! A more thorough report will be given at Edinbrook Church on the evening of January 3.

The blog will continue for passionate Christ-followers. Come back tomorrow!

It’s our last day in Gembu. We leave at 6AM tomorrow morning (Friday), so all of our goodbyes must be done today. We have made so many friends and connected so well with many people here at GECHAAN. We have been reminded of the incredible bond there is between brothers and sisters in Christ. There is truly a Spirit which binds us together in a way that is beyond human understanding. Consider this…

“Put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful,” Colossians 3:14-15.

Honestly…the love we have experienced from the GECHAAN staff and so many Nigerians in the last two weeks has been overwhelming. As a result, there has been a palatable sense of unity among us. Love is the bonding agent that makes us one in Christ! And yes…it makes us very thankful to have spent these days with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

NOW–don’t stop reading the blog.

I will still post some final pics and thoughts from our African Adventure, but I will also continue to blog every day after I return. The blogs will be shorter (most of the time), but will be written to encourage you to become a passionate Christ-follower.

Oooh! What an experience we had in Mbamga! This village is located about two hours drive from Gembu through rocky mountains, perilous roads, beautiful valleys, and a river raft crossing. The village is packed with little children, 160 of them that are orphans in the Foster Parent Program. The twinkling eyes and contagious smiles from the crowds of eager children melted our hearts…and made us so grateful for GECHAAN’s passion to help these vulnerable and needy children.

Check out a few highlights of our day in the bush:

• Meeting with the Jaro (village chief) in ceremonial fashion as we exchanged greetings and some important information. And then seeing him hop on the back of Art’s all terrain vehicle for a ride through the village.
• Having lunch in Miriam’s house. She was the first lady to take in orphans into her home and led the pilot project that has now become the model for orphan care in all of Nigeria. She fed us fu fu with chicken. Fu fu is a corn based paste that you eat with your fingers by dipping it in the chicken and seasoned sauce dish. Delicious.
• The open-air meeting with around 150 village people present. In preparation for subsidizing the foster parents for their care of the children, some important announcements were made while moms, dads, and gobs of pretty-faced children looked on with anticipation. What fun!
• We walked across the village to see the home of the Baptist Pastor in town — he is also a foster parent to two boys. We were inspired by his faithfulness to the Lord. Our team prayed blessing upon him in his home before we left.
• We visited the local hospital and met numerous patients in their beds — mostly babies and mommas. We were amazed at their good work with so little. We prayed for a good number of the sick and tried to bring them a little joy.

Mbamga is a place very few people in the world have ever heard of. We found so many people who are quietly and faithfully living our their authentic faith in life-changing ways. God sees…and today, we did too. We have been inspired in ways that words cannot describe.

Lord–bless these faithful, simple, and dedicated people as they serve you in their remote corner of the world. Thank you for seeing them…and blessing them…and reserving a special place for them in glory.

What a day! There were so many things we experience on this Tuesday in Gembu…

• We witnessed an HIV/AIDS education competition that the high schools participate in. This was the championship contest. Beyond the actual competition, they presented dramatic sketches, original songs (on HIV/AIDS), dancing, special presentations, and of course, they honored the American guests. It was inspiring to see how so many young people are learning the facts about his devastating disease and choosing to live wisely. All of this originated with GECHAAN.
• We visited the house of a foster child. In this simple clay brick abode, momma was roasting ground nuts (like our peanuts) to make oil for the market, while brothers, sisters, and friends shelled piles of them on a mat on the ground. It is so inspiring to see the joy amidst their simplicity of life.
• We all visited a Grandmother’s House. Grandmas often need to care for grandchildren when their parents die, or they will even take in orphans as their own. In this culture, however, these women have virtually no rights. GECHAAN has initiated a program to purchase and deed land to grandmas and then build them a house (for around $3000 each). According to our standards, I cannot describe how simple it was. But this grandma told us that she “cannot put words together to describe her joy and gratitude. It’s like living in a palace,” she exclaimed. We prayed a blessing upon her and her home and went away humbled and amazed.

The highlight of the day, however, was dedicating the guest house and restaurant that Edinbrook has funded. The guest house has been named The House of Hope. I was taken by surprise at my emotions as I sat there, waiting to give my message, witnessing the exuberant praise of the 60 or so Nigerian staff-members present. Each of these individuals have risen above the peril of their nation to become significant ministers to the weak, sick, disadvantaged, and hurting around them. They are making their lives count for something eternal. I was deeply moved.

This is a beautiful and much needed facility. It will provide:

• Opportunities for growing GECHAAN as more long and short-term workers can come to help in this ministry
• A standard of excellence in a community where this is rarely seen. It truly honors the Lord.
• Healthy Helwigs! They will hopefully have a few more opportunities for solitude and silence since the guests will now be able to live and eat in a venue NOT in their home. How wonderful that will be!
• God honoring hospitality. This is such an important piece of being Christian.

Thank you, Edinbrook, for your faithful support of GECHAAN. We have truly honored the Lord in this effort and are continuing to profoundly affect lives by our involvement in this little corner of the world.

Injustice is a huge issue around the world. It can be described as “people in power taking away the rights that God has given to others.” This happens in Gembu so often — men taking away the virginity of women, landowners stealing homes from widows, and adult predators hunting and abusing vulnerable and orphaned children. Injustice is everywhere! And you do not need to be in Africa to see it. It happens everyday in high school hallways, for instance, when bullies exert power over the “nobodies”.

Listen to God’s declaration from Amos 5:

²¹ “I hate all your show and pretense—
the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.
²² I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.
I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.
²³ Away with your noisy hymns of praise!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
²⁴ Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,
an endless river of righteous living.

Do you see what matters to God? If we act out all of the religious rituals and practices as well as possible, but fail to DO what God expects us to do, our religiosity is disgusting to Him. And God has great compassion for the disadvantaged and weak.

I want to learn more about what it means to stand for justice…and then do it well. It’s what God is looking for in each of us.

PS — Our team is preparing for the Guest House dedication tomorrow. It looks like it will be named “The House of Hope.” So fitting for Gembu.