Long's Chronicles

Book Review: 'The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church' by Reggie McNeal for the Church

2010-09-24T12:28:00.001-07:00

As a young pastor of several years, I am not surprised when people come up to me and say, “We should have more of....” Maybe it is hymns, or quieter music, or spiritual formation, or discipleship, or being more missional. And I humbly admit that I also have my own biases or should we say my own passions that come from my own unique journey.

That is all to say, this book by Reggie McNeal resonates with my passion for people with a missional faith. That we should be more missional. To survive as a church in this modern western world, we need a huge paradigm shift of being missional. “Missional” is the buzz word today for outreach, evangelism, holistic gospel, and more. So it’s broad meaning can get lost in its overuse. I would define it as the incarnational reality of Christ naturally lived out to others, especially those far from God. Or more simply, Christ in us loving others far from God. If there is any word that I might add to it, it might be “intentional.” And that is what I believe McNeal’s bullhorn call is, an intentional missional living.

A Wake Up call:

I would have to agree with McNeal’s urgent cry for the church to wake up. Times have changed and we are losing our relevant engagement with the culture. As McNeal says the church “has largely forsaken its missional covenant with God to be a part of kingdom expansion. It has, instead, substituted its own charter of church as a clubhouse where religious people hang out with other people who think, dress, behave, vote, and believe like them.” McNeal points out that only 26% of Americans go to church. Being from Denver-Metro area, I would guess that the figure is around 15-25%. Pretty dismal when you think about it and even more depressing considering that the rate lowers drastically for the younger generations. The reality is that as McNeal says, “Church leaders seem unable to grasp this simple implication of the new world - people outside the church think church is for church people, not for them.”

Strengths:

Not a how-to book. Personally, I think that church-model or church growth strategies (how-to philosophies) can be blasphemous. We reduce God and his blessing to a formula. If you just do A,B, and C then God will bless you. I do think strategies can be helpful but they need to be God given, Spirit inspired, and locally relevant - and common sense helps too.
I believe that the ‘Church should not be a clubhouse’ mentality is helpful. When we make decisions towards services, ministries, events, how much do we think of those outside the church.
McNeal observes an interesting contrast between the Pharisees evangelism strategy and Jesus strategy. The Pharisees would say, “Come and get it” and be like us. They would withdraw from people in attempt to not be contaminated. While Jesus strategy was “Go get ‘em” and was known as welcoming sinners and eating with them. Sadly, our churches act more like the people that Jesus despised.
A couple ideas for missional living. 1) Don’t build buildings for yourself but partner with the community in something the community can use as well. Partner with a YMCA or rent out an existing space. 2) Adopt a school: help with literacy classes, mentor and tutor students. 3) Get out there: instead of meeting as a small group or class in the church, meet in a restaurant or coffee shop. You never know what God could do.
This missional paradigm shift takes changing the score card. The success of the church is not wrapped in buildings, budgets, and butts, but celebrating people being sent our or out-reaches within the community.
McNeal has some great thoughts about life coaching towards spiritual formation. He says, “Instead of dumping a packet of church club member stuff on them, why not interview them about what they would like to see happen in their lives in terms of their spiritual development and personal growth.” He has a great analogy of walking into a YMCA and being intimidated by all those contraptions of torture to having someone walk alongside him and dialoguing about how to live a healthy life...and even use those machines to what spiritual coaching could look like.
In speaking about vision and values, McNeal says, “It is critical that heroes be made of the right people and the right ministries that embody the vision and values of the congregation.”

Weaknesses:

If there is any weakness that I see in this book, it might be the consulting feel closer to the end of the book. The book does an excellent job of not reducing God to “to do list” or a “sure-win formula.” McNeal talks about changing the scorecard which I believe at a philosophical level is essential but as he starts to focus on missional results, it has a modernistic feel to it. I think it is great to aim towards God transforming results but ultimately I need to leave it in God’s hands.

Quotes:

“Missionless religion that calls itself Christianity is an affront to God, however it styles itself.”

Aiden Lucas Long

2010-09-11T13:47:00.000-07:00

Aiden Lucas Long arrived on Sept. 8th, 2010, at 3:10 pm, 5 lbs. 13 oz. 19 in. Baby and mom are doing fine and resting...until he poops or feeds which feels like very hour. He is adorably sweet and a great addition to the Long family. McKye says, "Ohh, baby, ohh, baby."

This was a rough pregnancy for Angie (2nd rough pregnancy and last) that ended with mild pre-eclampsia. We praise God that things did not escalate as fast allowing the baby and Angie to last to 37 weeks.

Aiden enters the world:

We are trying to warm up his armpits...you will have to ask the nurses:

Aiden meets his parents:

A cute pic:

Aiden meets his brother McKye:

McKye Talking

2010-08-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

Now, just let us know what he is saying...

I got published

2010-08-05T10:15:00.001-07:00

An ad in the newspaper is not really being published but I felt pretty cocky for a couple minutes seeing that what I wrote up about Lookout Mountain Community Church was in the Saturday edition of the Denver Post.

Baptizing in the Caribbean

2010-07-08T20:45:00.001-07:00

Not exactly your typical setting for a baptism - turquoise waters, the gentle breeze dancing with the warmth of the sun, Dominicans playing along the beach and the scattering of Speedo-clad European tourist wondering about this circle of Dominicans and Americans in the water.

What a joy to be a part of a baptism service with Pastor Janel and his ministry to the Youth of La Victoria. Eight kids, ranging from five years-old to eighteen, were baptized. Many of these kids come from challenging environments and now they have found a community where they are accepted, loved, shown the gospel, and encouraged to live it out.

As I stood in this circle hearing the words of Pastor Janel and looking up a the clouds in the sky, I imagined God and the majestic hosts in heaven looking down dancing with joy because the lost have been found.

In Luke 15, there are three stories in a row that Jesus gives about the lost. The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost sons (we often call this the Prodigal Son). It is striking that in each of these stories, after finding what was lost, there is rejoicing and celebration. It is extravagant, bewildering, and shocking. It is a reflection of God's economy, He gives all for the lost. That is the depth of His heart for just on person.

Why?

Because He loves them and because He desires that they would be a part of the celebration that is intrinsically a part of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are a divine circle, a dance of life looking down at this broken circle, in the middle of the Caribbean, declaring a need for God and His dance of life.

DR: June 26th - July 3rd Pics

2010-07-08T15:51:00.000-07:00

Beach Day

The Caribbean, the best setting ever to preach

Check out the shadows. I think Sammy got a little more air than me.

Keko and Marnie at the Beach

Party at the Community Center

Praying for Pastor Janel (a great man with a David's heart)

Working on the drama at Biemba's for the campo

The girls did a great choreographed dance for us.

Worship dance time in the campo (poorer outskirts of La Victoria).

On Wednesday, Gregg took Jim and myself

up to the mountains to check out a couple waterfalls.

Absolutely refreshing from the sweltering heat. Just imagine waking up three in the morning because the power went off and you have a ring of sweat around your neck on your t-shirt.

Dominican Republic Trip - June 26- July 3rd

2010-07-08T14:53:00.000-07:00

(Left to Right: Pastor Janel, Jim Maynard, Adam Long, Damion Johnston, Barb Dokter, Mercy Tucker, Gregg Tucker, and Pastor Bello)

We arrived in the Dominican Republic on June 26th after a thankfully uneventful trip...and with all our luggage. Barb Dokter and Jim Maynard and I flew down together while Damion and Judah Johnston would be joining us the following day. We met up with Gregg & Mercy Tucker with their two kids, Taryn and James who are down in the D.R. for a month this summer.

(From a blog sent two days into the trip)

Jim Maynard, Damion and Judah Johnston, and myself are staying with Tito, a good Dominican friend we have known for years.

On Sunday morning, we headed off to a town close to Santa Dominica to a recently built church that the youth of La Victoria are reaching out to. Pastor Janel joined them to serve the community.

So... here came a bunch of kids on a bus to love the kids of this community! They were also praying about the possibility of trying to create a community center in that area.

We were in the top room praying together with open hands with what God wanted to do. We asked that it would not be our idea but God's.

And then it hit me.

What they were doing -- coming to God in openess -- is what we from Lookoutare doing by coming down here. We want to come with open hands, listening to how God wants us to connect with them. Much like life in Christ, we need to walk with open hands asking God where he is working.

Sweating for Jesus,

Adam Long

McKye's Dance Video

2010-05-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

A Merry Christmas from McKye

2009-12-25T08:31:00.000-08:00

2009-12-06T18:01:00.000-08:00

McKye is finally walking.

McKye's 1st Birthday

2009-10-05T17:56:00.001-07:00

On Friday, Oct. 2nd we celebrated McKye's 1st birthday. Angie and I both were reminiscing a year ago when we found out that we would be having our child five weeks early and the craziness of everything...even Angie projectile vomiting across the room after she gave birth. Well, a year later and we have a very active cute little boy. I still look at him and marvel at how he is turning into such a little boy. He is not walking yet but he climbs up on everything (I think he takes that from his dad) and wants to explore and figure out how things work. Angie did a phenomenal job of creating a rubber ducky theme party. There was probably about 20 adults and 7 kids, many of them under 2 years old. At first I was wondering why throw a party when McKye won't remember anything. Well, I think it has helped us remember the past year and God's faithfulness through the ups and downs of everything. And it is fun to have a party.

Angie's impressive rubber ducky cake she thought of and made herself.

There is the birthday boy. Interestingly enough, when we all started singing "Happy Birthday" our social little boy got pretty shy and started sinking into his high chair.

Here is McKye with a bunch of his friends as we watch a video I created of his first year. Getting a handle on Mac's iMovie.

Oklahoma State Fair Seniors King

2009-09-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

My father in law who lives in Shawnee, Oklahoma went to the state fair and on a whim he ended up being crowned the King of the Senior State Fair. He was one of many possible Kings but after he shared about his most memorable moment of singing to his wife in the middle of a cruise ship with a couple thousand people watching, they asked if he would sing for them right then. Well, he sang and got crowned King. For the rest of the day he had to be on floats and do the whole royalty thing that he ended up missing a lot of the booths at the fair. And he got his picture with Miss Oklahoma State Fair and Oklahoma State Fair Outstanding Teem...only in Oklahoma.

Capitol Peak - Labor Day Weekend 2009

2009-09-09T20:47:00.000-07:00

Stephen Anthony (a friend from seminary), Aaron Nelson (a friend from college days), and myself on our second annual Labor Day hike attempting Capitol Peak. We first took the wrong side trail that detoured us for about 50 minutes, extra hiking we really did not need with 40 lb. packs. After about three and half hours we finally made it into Capitol Lake at 11,600 ft. where we camped out.

At 4:45 am my alarm went off and I could hear it sprinkling outside, not a good sign for the start of a challenging hike. Climbing up wet rock and being butt early in the morning just does not wake you up. So we slept till 6:00 am and I decided we had nothing better to do that day so we might as well try to summit.

First we needed to get up to a 13,000 ft. peak called K2 and then take the ridge to Capitol. Take a look at the talus and elevation change we scrambled up in this video.

After K2 we headed to the infamous knife edge. It really is the exposure that gets you and not necessarily the technicalness of it. So if you focus on the rock ahead of you, you can do okay going across.

As you can tell we were in the clouds up at this elevation. Maybe it was a good thing so we could not see how far of a fall it would be. The first part of the video below gives you a sense of the cloud cover and exposure. The rest of the video will make you dizzy - almost like you have altitude sickness. This is shot by my friend Aaron Nelson.

We finally made it to the top after three hours and forty five minutes of intense exposed hiking and climbing up rock. It was a white out situation with the clouds but we were thankful that we made it to the top.

The weather cleared up in the afternoon so that we were able to hang out at beautiful Capitol Lake.

Some people ask me why I do this? Why risk your life to make it to the top of a mountain? Well, I was asking myself the same question during difficult stretches thinking I need to find an easier hobby. But then when I get to the top and accomplish this great feat of summitting a fourteener, then I remember why. I feel like the strenuous journey up helps me become less of myself, quiet my mind, so that I might fully dwell in God's presence all around me in His creation. The fact of the matter is that when I am truly pushed and exhausted I believe I let go of myself and grab more of God. The physical reality of this often leads to a spiritual reality with Christ. It is a privilege do this with friends who are also passionate about Christ and I think that is the way God would want us to do it - become less of ourselves and more of God as we journey with others. Probably the best part of the trip was coming home to my beautiful wife and cute son...it also helps you appreciate what God has given you.

Lake Powell Trip - July 26th - July 31st

2009-08-08T19:54:00.000-07:00

The long awaited trip finally came to fruition. My parents and my older brother, Justin and his wife, Jamie flew in from Minnesota and then my younger brother Ivan with his wife, Dee all joined us to head off on an RV to Lake Powell. Thank goodness we took an RV considering traveling with a ten month old boy and how sitting in a car seat for nine hours straight would not have gone over very well.

We picked up a house boat at Bullfrog Marina. After a quick overview of how to use the houseboat we headed off...in the wrong direction. I had asked the marina pilot which way was south and some how he gave us the wrong information. After finally looking at our GPS and checking it with another GPS we started in the right direction.

Trying to beach the houseboat is quite the interesting process. All the brothers are screaming at each other, "right forward throttle...no, left back throttle...are you doing anything." Even my mom would sometime jump in to the tense moments as we tried to steer this behemoth boat against a current in a particular direction while near rocks and shrubs under the water. That first night we would drive into a cove to later find that all the spots were taken (first come first served for whatever spot you think is suitable). Finally we went into one cove and there was another boat there but there was a spot to the left that looked like a decent spot to beach. Not like we are experts in beaching. Well, it turns out that we got a great spot.

Earlier in the morning McKye and I would head off for a hike. This was a way to calm him down so that others in the boat could sleep in a bit. It is pretty fun to hear him making noises as we would scamper up these rocks. If his mom only knew where we hike...someone might be in trouble

McKye's Aunt Dee playing with him in the water. Thankfully he loved to swim and play in the water.

Our first anchor point, a huge rock probably weighing about 1500 lbs. pulled free after the wind pulled the boat away. Finally we figured out a better way to anchor the boat.

My beautiful wife advertising her favorite cold beverage.

We had the opportunity to water ski in these beautiful canyon walls...gorgeous.

Angie and I had the opportunity to hang out and go on hikes together and get a bit of kayaking in. It was a great time...a little different with a ten month old baby but still quite the blessing of a trip.

McKye meets his cousin Kenna

2009-06-25T08:51:00.001-07:00

McKye hanging out with his uncle at the Hospital
McKye meet his cousin Kenna Elizabeth Mackey last Thursday, June 18th. Kenna was born on June 17th to Jared and Jennifer Mackey. It is crazy to think about how big their head grows in eight months.

Thoughts on being a Dad

2009-06-01T10:50:00.003-07:00

Charles Dickens opens up his classic 'A Tale of Two Cities' with the memorable line, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope..." I really don't know exactly what Dickens meant, maybe it was because I only got half way through the book but if anything I would say that being a dad has been a season of extremes. Watching his birth and especially watching Angie fall in love with him and turning into a mom has been absolutely magical. And then there are days, a little like today where I don't seem to be able to calm him down and he is a constant fuss bomb. The funny thing is that he might be fussy all day and then we will go hang out with friends and he is all chill and looking around smiling at people and they are like, "wow, your son is so calm." If they only knew. Actually, considering all things McKye has been a great baby and now at eight months it is neat to see the new things he does and the little boy he is turning into. I think that when he starts crawling he is going to be a handful.

Spiritually, I would say that this season has been different for me. I am used to having discretionary time to read a bunch of books and spend time in the word and journaling. But there are some mornings where I am barely able to get up because I have already been up several times through the night. And then as I try to read my bible in the morning I will get so far and then McKye needs something. Ministry wise, I am now home a lot more. It is not that it is necessarily bad, it is just different. I try to remind myself that in this season I have the opportunity to minister to my son's soul... And right now he is looking at me from his exersaucer like, "won't you play with me".

Let's go swimming

2009-06-01T10:34:00.001-07:00

McKye is in his first swim trunks ever. We need to get him used to the water for our Lake Powell trip in late July.

I think he is learning how to chill out in his little pool.

McKye being dedicated

2009-05-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

On May 17, 2009 we dedicated McKye Benjamin Long at Lookout Mountain Community Church. In this momentous occasion, if you look closely I think you can see that as we are praying for McKye, he is blowing a bubble. That would be our son. Seriously, this was a great time and I believe a moment where there was a divine ripple in the cosmos declaring that McKye is God's child. Now we as parents just need to live out His presence.

2009-04-23T18:49:00.000-07:00

Uncle Ivan playing with McKye

McKye Playing in his pac and play

2009-04-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

McKye Playing

Six Month Update: Great shots of McKye

2009-04-06T21:09:00.000-07:00

I am trying to figure out if he is working on something here or if it is just a funny smile.

Super Baby is our favorite activity. I don't think he will have a fear of heights considering I sometimes put him up against the ceiling, I just need to watch that he does not drool or spit up on me.

McKye is all about drooling.

Angie sure knows how to dress up our GQ boy.

McKye just started eating baby food and it is incredible how fast he is learning. But he sure does not like mushed carrots and peas...I wouldn't blame him.

LMCC: A Good Laugh

2009-04-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

Back in March 13th, Lookout Mountain Community Church had it's 'Tacos & Tunes.' This is a talent show - showcasing the good to the goofy. As you can see above, myself and Brian Newman (Executive Pastor) was doing a little mini-me dance. We were actually dancing to Slumdog Millionaire. We called ourselves the Slumdog Mini-me Pastors. Lookout has truly walked through an interesting season this past year, starting off with a church split which has led to much needed healing, recouping, stabilizing, and finding time to laugh. It was a great time for us as a community to get together and enjoy the richness of community.

Six Month Update: The Oxygen Rollercoaster

2009-04-06T20:56:00.003-07:00

As many of you know, McKye went into the ER when he was two months old due to some choking (reflux related). While in the ER they figured out that he appeared to be wrestling with 'periodic breathing.' So we headed to children's hospital for observation and an exhaustive sleep study as seen by the picture above. This was quite the heart stretching journey for us as we often were in places of unknown and to watch your little child hooked up to monitors and wrestling with oxygen - not fun. Due to the 'periodic breathing,' he needed to be on oxygen when he sleeps till he was seven months old. Well, let us just say having a baby on oxygen is not a lot of fun. But praise God after two months of being on oxygen we did an at-home pulse-ox study and he was doing a lot better so that he no longer needed the oxygen. He now seems to be doing very well and progressing like a normal baby boy.

Tuxed out McKye

2008-11-19T15:21:00.000-08:00

The styling Long family...McKye was showing us all up.

The Long and McGuire Wedding: Ivan and Dee with Ivan's cousin Eric with his wife Erin. It was a great celebration with incredible food, spectacular dancing, and a cute baby in a tuxedo.

Tuxedo McKye with his hot mom.

Halloween McKye

2008-10-31T21:40:00.000-07:00

McKye was trying to spook us in this cute ghost outfit.

McKye was a true baby burrito at Chipotle tonight. He was the absolute hit as high schoolers and cooks came out to see the best dressed chipotle outfit. If you are not familiar with the tradition, Chipotle gives you a free burrito if you use aluminum foil in some form as a costume. The manager liked baby burrito so much she told us we get two free burritos. I guess I am kind of shameless using my son to get free food...why not.

The Grandparents were in town

2008-10-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

The Long and Mackey Grandparents came in town and it was a great joy to see them meet and hold McKye. Plus they helped with meals and little jobs around the house. I am especially grateful for the dads who help minimize the long "nesting list" Angie had for me.

McKye Benjamin Long

2008-10-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

Four and a half weeks early but absolutley adorable: 4 lbs. 15 oz. 18 in.

Born: Oct. 2nd, 2008. 1:04 pm

McKye is looking over at his dad as he just entered this new and strange world.

Angie did a phenomenal job giving life to our son. You can see how small he is. But I remind McKye that I too was first small as a baby and he will grow to be as big and strong as his dad.

As we talked about McKye's arrival, Angie kept on saying how she wanted him to have hair. I thought that he would most likely just have blonde fuzz. Well, right when I saw his head coming out, I said, "Angie, he has hair and he is beautiful!"

His first outfit to go home from the hospital... a friend brought us some premie clothes which are still a little big on him.

The Name of McKye

2008-10-05T21:56:00.000-07:00

McKye Benjamin Long
Angie and I really wrestled with what name to give our son. We ended up choosing McKye, which comes from the origin of Angie's maiden name Mackey. It comes from the Scottish clan Mackay but pronounced "mc-eye." The name actually means "son of courage" or "with a strong hand," which we found quite fitting considering all that he went through in the pregnancy and birth. Angie was sick throughout her pregnancy and was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia last week, which necessitated the early inducement.

McKye was 4 1/2 weeks early but was healthy in every way: heart, lungs, body tempterature, reflexes, etc. When the doctor broke Angie's water for inducement, there was meconium in the water which often means he was in distress or would have been shortly. Additionally, when the placenta was delivered, the doctor said it looked like a 42 week old placenta and was giving out. So we consider him a true fighter, a "son of courage."

His middle name "Benjamin" comes from my father's name. So there you have it:

McKye Benjamin Long

The Story: McKye's birth

2008-10-05T21:24:00.000-07:00

The Story: the surprising arrival of McKye

On Wednesday, Oct. 1st Angie gave me a call and in a excited voice she said, "The doctor just called and said that my protein had double and we need to come into the hospital tonight and try to induce tomorrow." I knew we were getting closer to the date but tomorrow and only 35 1/2 weeks along.

So we gathered our stuff together and would continue to look at each other in the shocked reality that we might have a son tomorrow...crazy. We arrived at the hospital at around 10:00 pm and started to get situated. Which a hospital is not necessarily the best place to get comfortable as you await labor and delivery the next day.

On Thursday, they started the pitocin to induce the labor. The contractions started to get stronger and stronger. If Angie had her desire she would have already been on the epideral but they wanted to at least get to the point where the contractions brought the "evil twin" out. Well, she came out and the epideral was finally given. The only problem was that it usually takes 10-20 minutes for it to work and 50 minutes later, Angie was still in some very painful contractions. We were scared the epideral was working and they would have to try it again but finally the pain started to subside.

Now with Angie relaxed and about 4 cm dilated, the nurse said that it would probably take about 6-10 hours before she needed to push. It was 12:30pm, so as a friend stayed with Angie I went to Qdoba to get some food for the long journey ahead. While I was in line ordering a chicken quesadilla, I got a call from Erma, Angie's friend who says, "Adam, Angie is at 10 cm and pushing. You need to get back here right now." So there I am in line and tell them that I need to go because my wife is about to have a baby. They smile and cheer me on as I run back to the hospital. I get back into the hospital room which is packed with people and see my wife pushing. She pushes through a couple contractions and the doctor notices that the babies heart rate is not coming back after the contraction. So the baby needs to come out now. The forceps came and (thank God for the epideral) she is grabbing the baby and pulling him out. He comes out all covered in stuff and I wait for the cry but it does not come. They put him over at the examining table and I finally see his chest rise and fall. Our baby is okay.

This wasn't the end of the journey. Angie is given magnesium through an iv to prevent ceasure due to the pre-eclampsia. Well, she starts violently shaking in response to all the drugs in her body and to the magnesium. Pretty soon she is projectile vomitting across the room as I am trying to sooth our son. After an hour she finally stops shaking and goes into a serious drugged state. Basically she is drugged up for the next 24 hours.

McKye did remarkably well with all the test and was able to stay in the room. So I would change him, feed him and hold him. I didn't need a book or movie to past the time, I would just look at this cute son of ours and tear up.

The next day after they took her off the magnesium Angie started to do a lot better and we were transferred to the mother baby rooms. There I saw the most beautiful thing - my wife falling in love with our son. She would speak, sing, laugh, and cry at him. Some of it I believe was the roller coaster of hormones. At one point, we were both crying as she told him, "I thought you would not be worth all the pain of pregnancy but you were totally worth it."

My sweetheart is in my arms

2007-06-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

We had not seen each other for seventeen days, not the most ideal for your first couple months of marriage. But I guess that is the lifestyle of two people involved in international ministry. So there I waited at the train station for my wife to arrive from southern Thailand. She was there with OMF meeting the short term coordinator talking about short term ministry. I first saw her in the window of the train and then caught her as she jumped off the train into my arms. I kissed her and she commented that this is probably a little too much PDA for Thailand, but we didn't really care.

The next couple days we will be checking out different ministries in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand and Laos. We would appreciate your prayers as we travel and see how our hearts respond to what God is doing.

Making money at a casino

2007-06-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

After five straight days of children, medical, and english outreach in the camps...in the sweltering humidity, we headed to Chiang Mai. On our way there we stopped at a hotel on the border. It happen to be a casino but had decent accomodations. Initially it was quite frustrating as we needed to pay for the rooms up front and have a deposit on each room. After about two hours we were finally able to get to the rooms. They had a promotion running with the casino where with each room we got 300 baht ($9) of promotion chips. So with our five rooms we had 1500 baht. It was free money so we had to use it. Well it turns out that we made 5000 baht on Roulette. I kind of felt like it was God's humor as we were fretting over finances and money. From the extra money, we enjoyed a good meal in Chiang Mai.

The Affects of the Killing Fields

2007-06-09T06:49:00.000-07:00

We were doing an English lesson with about fifty kids teaching them words such as father, mother, grandmother, and grandfather. We would often ask how many of them have a grandmother or grandfather. When we asked if they have a grandmother pretty much all of their hands were up. But then we asked how many have grandfathers and four out of the fifty kids had a grandfather. We first thought we had asked incorrectly but found out that many of their grandfathers died during the killing fields...crazy.

The Team

2007-06-09T06:37:00.000-07:00

This is our team with the Cambodian doctors. We are taking a break and visiting an ancient temple dated back to 700 A.D. Our days are usually filled with driving on bumpy roads, "jumping roads" as Sareth says for an hour and fifteen minutes to the camp and then we wait for the kids and those seeking medical attention. In the morning we do crafts with the kids making a gospel bracelet or we make a sheet with 1 John 3:16 in Khmer and challenge them to memorize it for a treat. They get to decorate it with glitter paint. In the afternoon we are playing games and just seeing where things take us. Sometimes we will just have impromtu question and answer time using the translators as we ask questions of people who are there. Having the medical and children outreach together is great because it draws a lot of attention and the mothers can drop the kids off as we play with them. The doctors said they treated about 600 people in the last two days. It is pretty sweet to see what God is doing.

Prayer Request

2007-06-06T06:27:00.000-07:00

We have stayed pretty healthy through this trip and God continues to sustain us in our travels and relationships. There have only been a couple times motorcycles have hit our vehicle on the road and other interesting moments. Please pray for the next four days, we have five long days of reaching out to kids, speaking to people, english lessons, and medical outreach with Cambodia doctors. Overall, we just want to "be" with the people. Pray for strength as the days go by, God's patience and love to each other in the group and to others. Please also pray that our actions, words, smiles, and whatever God likes to use would be life breath to those we encounter.

From the glory of Angkor to the glory of God

2007-06-06T05:53:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, we headed to Angkor Wat - an area spanning 20 square km with several temples celebrating the grandeur of the Angkor empire. This was an empire from 900 - 1300 A.D. that span the whole South East Asian peninsula reflecting the Buddhist and Hindu kings. These temples were incredible with their stone carvings, steep steps, stone pools, and beautiful reliefs. And you could climb all over them. There was another temple called Bayon that through the maze of stone and different levels you would be stared upon by a stone face carved into the many towers - it is kind of spooky. I believe that there was about 45 of these faces on the different spires that make up this temple. It is almost as if this king wanted to make sure he was remembered. Or to think of Angkor Wat and its glory, reflecting a huge civilization. The question echoed through my mind, “how did God pursue these people?” “Were there any Melchizedeks who some how knew of the great high God? Someone who did not settle on the glory of man but saw it as a mere shadow of the glory of God and that he is to be praised.”

And from the glory of God we went to the rural village of the military base Unit 51 - jumping roads, dust (they call it Cambodian snow), no running water, no electricity, but an alive Church reaching out to the community. Only one day after Angkor we were sitting around a circle sharing about our lives. The Khmer women and men decided to sing from some of their local Khmer Christian hymns. It was beautiful as they argued over which songs to sing and trying to get everyone together in there singing. For many of these people had just come to Christ a couple years ago. You could see it in their smile - the true glory of God.

Preaching

2007-06-04T07:37:00.001-07:00

I did a little bit of preaching and a lot of sweating...I think God used it both.

S21

2007-06-04T07:31:00.001-07:00

Some of the phots at S21 during the Khmer Rogue reign from 1974-1979. It is estimated that 20,00 died in this facility and 1.5 million in the country.

Wednesday, May 30th: Unit 1

2007-06-04T07:12:00.001-07:00

Tammy Gavi and Matt Eyser Teach english. Eyser soon learned to sit down so that the kids wouldn't get too freaked out from his height. Christina Rollins with the help of Sareth is sharing the gospel bracelet in the background. There were around 120 kids in all.

Christina sharing the gospel bracelets.

Some of the cute Cambodian girls at Unit 1

Bryce Shaffer is dripping with sweat after he had been playing soccer outside with the kids.

some pictures

2007-06-03T18:04:00.000-07:00

We are headed up to Siem Reap today, we would appreciate your prayers in the long travels. If you want to check out another member's blog with pictures go to http://tmgavi.blogspot.com.

Preaching in a small Cambodian Church

2007-06-03T07:49:00.000-07:00

We got off the Tuk Tuk's and headed through this passage way into the backside of the city - it was poor, destitute, a mix of shacks all cluttered together. The view from the streets often creates a facade to the grim reality behind it - kind of the reflection of many that only care about what is seen. So there tuck behind the views from the streets was a church that reached out to the poor part of town. A military doctor who came to Christ in 2003 with the partnership of others started with a clinic in this area and soon a church was born. It was cool to worship with them in their Khmer style - loud keyboard music, clapping, dancing, and hearts wanting God.

I hesitate when preaching in another culture in fear of being the arrogant missionary coming in and teaching from the word of God considering the huge cultural differences. Thankfully God can do a lot of the talking. I shared from Galatians 5:1, challenging them to be Christians who smell like freedom. I shared the observation that as our group travels around the country we see people relaxed enjoying each other and think that they have freedom. But then Cambodian children will come up to us and ask us if America is like heaven. Everyone seems to pursue freedom but never gets it, therefore looking in other places - almost like we are not a part of this world.

I think that our efforts for freedom are like a facade covering the greater reality of bondage inside. Our efforts can be very convincing but then when you get beyond the surface, you start to really see. It is encouraging to see that God's church is beyond the streets into the backside of the city, in a place where the grim reality of life can not be ignored. I pray that God's freedom might reign.

S21 and Killing Fields

2007-06-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

It is hard to imagine that after walking through S21, the prison that executed about 20,000 Khmer soldiers and women and children during the Khmer Rogue regime (1974-1979) that Pol Pot was never brought to justice. Sareth tells me that there are so many in power now who were a part of the atrocities that there would be no way to bring people to justice. The only one who has been sent to prison is the general who accepted Christ and confessed to his crimes. It makes me think about what is really looks like to take up your cross and follow Jesus. For this man took up Jesus and also took on judgment. But he is probably the only one who is free among them all.

A mass of kids

2007-05-31T07:52:00.000-07:00

On our first day in Cambodia we drove through the city and coutry side taking in the sights of a family of four on a motorcycle, cars weaving in and out of traffic, people peeing on the side of the road, 150 cc motorcycles pulling a cart of twelve people, cows wandering on the streets, monks walking along side of the road, and lotus plants in bloom - we are in Camboida.

We were headed to Unit 1 to help with a children's camp in progress. Right when we got there we walked in and 105 kids were sitting on the ground patiently as Sareth said to me as he handed me the mic, "Are you ready to do your program." Actually I wasn't but had an idea of what we were going to do and just flew with it.

Our time there was composed of teaching english to kids, sharing a gospel bracelet with them, and teaching them some baseball. We called it a Cambodian version of baseball for you hit the baserunner with this softer version of a baseball. They loved it for they could hit the ball and pelt people with a ball - they were actually pretty good at it. Some on our team have theories that they have planted a seed for baseball that will spread through the country. We would also play games, teach them children's songs which we had to reach back in the recesses of our minds for ('Hokie Pokie', 'Head shoulders, knees and toes'), and do a skit of the prodigal son. Within all this stuff our prayer was that we would just "be" with these kids. It is so easy to fall back into the western mindset of 'doing.' And with our lack of Khmer (Cambodian language), it sometimes feels like we are not doing much.

We have been spending out time in 1 John as we are here and it is striking that a big part of the message is fellowship with others - just being there. I think about love and how love can easily be communicated by a laugh or a smile. And that is what we can do. To say to the many that white foreigners from half way around the world would come and just "be" with them. To just come and love them. As we were having lunch there was a separate group of kids off to the side eating. We later found out that they are muslim so they can not eat pork and want to respect their beliefs. That was incredible to think of the many different stories of these kids and how all of them were here and from the efforts of the local pastor and community planting a seed of light and life into their life.

As we left it was quite the contrast to enter into this community of kids and at first feel so awkward but then leave with many good byes and hugs. Just the sight of kids smiling and waving as we headed off is a sight to remember - it felt like we were loved and we had loved.

Getting to Cambodia

2007-05-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

After flying from Denver to LA to Hong Kong to Phnom Penh, we have finally made it - and that even includes our bags. I do have to admit that my 6'6" frame was not meant for these planes. The team composes of (clockwise) Adam Long, Matt Eyser, Tammy Gavi, David Hendricks, Bryce Shaffer, and Christina Rollins. We met up with David DeJong from Moody Bible Institute and Paul Bradley our host with Cadence International. After I unfolded myself out of the plane we got through customs and met up with Paul and David. In the comatose state of jetlag, we kept ourselves awake through the afternoon with food, a little nap, going to a market, and more food. The food is great hear - very Asian which I love. Tomorrow we are headed to military camp unit 1 where we will be hanging with about 100 kids. This will be the first of two days at unit 1. I guess that will keep us awake. These camps are more like villages. The exciting part is that as we talked to Paul and Saeret (Cambodia contact), they have not done too much children outreach. So the children are really excited for us to come.

Prayer request:

- Good night sleep and fast adjustment

- Being Christ as we spend time with the kids

- Safety in heath and as we travel

Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos

2007-05-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

May 27— June 17: I am leading a team of six Young Adults from LMCC to Cambodia. We are teaming up with a ministry called Cadence International that reaches out to Cambodian military and police. We will be working our way up north from the capital city of Phnom Penh to different military camps where we will be involved in medical outreach, children programs, and teaching English. We are excited to be a part of the incredible healing God is doing in Cambodia, a nation which has experienced horrific pain and loss.

Another exciting element of this trip is that I will be meeting up with Angie in Chiang Mai, Thailand at the end. We will be visiting different OMF ministries in Thailand and Laos. Our hope is to explore different possibilities where God might be leading us in the future.

The wedding and honeymoon

2007-05-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

The wedding is over and the marriage has begun. The wedding ceremony was incredible as we celebrated with over 400 of our friends and family. Many people told us it was one of the most worshipful weddings they have attended which was so encouraging to us, considering our thankfulness that God finally answered our long awaited prayers for a mate! God has been a source of grace to us as we have been getting to know each other more, and working through the moments when we have two different schedules and personalities coming together.. As many mentors have shared, marriage is sanctifying. I would agree, but it has been a joy for us to talk together at night about the day, pray together, and serve together.

The Honeymoon: Kauai...well what can you say, it was beautiful. And even better to enjoy it with my new bride, Angie. We ate, relaxed, visited waterfalls, kayaked, ATVed, hiked along the Nepali Coast (below), flew in a motorized hang glider, and other good stuff.