The likeness of a foreigner...

After a quick start here, I got slammed to the ground with a bout of stomach flu for 24 hours.  Picture Jesus and the lukewarm Laodiceans.  The rest and sleep gave me a chance to reflect on some feelings about coming here.

I am homesick.   I want to go home now, already!  Familiarity of language, food, location, customs, and comrades, I have a longing.  Don't get me wrong, my friends are treating me well and helping me to get acclimated.  Going from a mild to cold climate,  independence to dependence, meat to vegetables, is a shock to my system.

I have a nice bed, warm dwelling, plenty of food, computer, and reliable bus transportation.  I am still considered the wealthiest of this planet.  Why am I longing for something more?

Is it okay to feel this way?  What is home?  Where is home?

A little reflection led me to wonder, "did Jesus ever get homesick?"
The King of Glory, to helpless babe, did He miss some perks?  I am not sure if He did or not, but I recalled Philippians 2 where it mentions Christ's attitude more than anything else.

^{Phil 2:5} Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 


Wow!  I then remember the words commitment, diligence, grace, humility, and perseverance.

I found myself in the likeness of a foreigner the other day.  While having a shrimp/cabbage meal (not something I have ever had), I was instructed to rip the head and tail off and pull the shell off before eating.  As I ripped one head off, I squirted cabbage juice into the eye of the principal of the school.  She was very gracious, but I was very embarrassed.   I was surprised at how long she wiped at her face.

I generate lots of looks being a tall, bald, white guy.  In my own culture, this might make me angry, but here I take it as opportunity to smile.  This is about the only way I can share God's love right now, not knowing any Mandarin.

As Amber replies to her Mom every morning via text, "a vapor",  and her Mom, "a mist".  No matter what is going on, I think I can make it a little longer remembering this life is but a vapor and a mist, and that my real home is citizenship in Heaven.  Lord, help me complete my purpose and mission here in this foreign land.

Never in a million years...

This is kind of like the sequel to my last post in October where I listed all of the events that happened in the last couple of years that I never would have imagined.  Here are a few more...

I am in Asia for a second time in less than a year.

Friends of mine, and I are in a condo where we stayed in April as guests, but are now the occupants.

Watching Sam dazzle me with her teaching skills to Asian  preschoolers, and loving it.

Eating a lunch consisting of an onion entree, rice, eggplant, tofu noodles, cabbage, and peppers.

Sitting contently on a Saturday night at 7:30 pm writing a blog.

So, I'm a few days away from observing a very skilled friend teach young children the story of the Three Little Pigs and infusing timeless principles of the Word by incorporating the parable of the two men who built upon sand and rock.

Never in a million years would I have guessed that I would be teaching here, let alone with 3 wonderful people I have met in the last 2 years.

So, as you dream of your future, don't worry about what might seem so improbable.  It probably will be if it is of God.

I am trying to build my dwelling on the Rock that doesn't fail when the roaming Lion comes to devour and destroy.  The Rock is the only thing that will not fail.  Try it and dream of the improbable.  It will always keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Lord directs the path...

Four and half years ago, I planned a move to San Diego.  I was going to move to this cool beach community.  Enjoy the weather, the So Cal lifestyle and all of it appealed to me greatly.  I figured I would join a church, make some friends and enjoy life here in San Diego.

What I did not plan in those four and half years...

Getting laid off
Going to a diverse church
Living on the beach
Signing up for Discipleship Training
Hiking Catalina with heavy pack
Going to Haiti (twice)
Serving like never before
Three great friends, one Uzbek, and one Argentine, and one over seventy
A connect group that seemed so odd, but still meets up
Friends that I can't imagine being without
Big Bear adventures
Nehemiah breakdown that helped me erect some boundaries
Joshua teaching that broke paradigms
Digging a pit in the Philippines
Picking up sand dollars and starfish on a far away Tondol beach
Awesome, unforgettable worship times
Prayer walks in forgotten/unwanted areas of San Diego
Singing with the "Asian" believers
Mentoring Lebanese, Hispanic, White, Filipino and Chinese believers
Learning more as a mentor than teaching
Entering a house church through Fruit store in China
Standing on the Great Wall with new Chinese friends
Feeling like a brother to  Chen Family in Zibo, China
Easter dinner in Lille, France
Royal Wedding in London
Thanksgiving with an Italian soccer star
Praising God during a blackout
Witnessing in Hawaii
Snorkeling with Fishes and seeing miracles in Honolulu
Standing up with a friend for the dedication of his child in an "Asian" church


Though it was not my way or plan,  it was far better than anything I could think up.

Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

Dear Jesus Letter

I'm getting lazy.  I decided to share an old classic of mine I did 15 years ago, but still seems relevant today.  When we ask Jesus questions of why something is happening in our lives with our focus so selfishly tuned, the answer is probably in the unselfish acts of Jesus.

DEAR JESUS,

Dear Jesus,

            Did you love me when I spilt my milk at the evening table?

Dear Michael,           

            I loved you so much I spilt my own blood for you.

Dear Jesus,

            Did you love me when I struck out at tee-ball?

Dear Michael,

            I loved you so much I was struck 39 times with a whip.

Dear Jesus,

            Did you love me when I got beat up at school?

Dear Michael,

            I loved you so much I was beaten, spat upon, and insulted on your behalf.

Dear Jesus,

            Did you love me when no one celebrated my birthday?

Dear Michael,

            I loved you so much I gave you a new birth.

Dear Jesus,

            Did you love me when my parents fought?

Dear Michael,

            I loved you so much I fought to the gates of Hell.

Dear Jesus,

            Did you love me when I did not live for you?

Dear Michael,

            I loved you so much I died for you.

Dear Jesus,

            Did you love me when I felt hopeless?

Dear Michael,

            I loved you so much I rose again to give you hope.

Dear Jesus,

            Do you love me when I am lonely?

Dear Michael,

            I love you so much I was alone on the cross.

Dear Jesus,

            Do you love me when I make promises I do not keep?

Dear Michael,

            I love you so much I can never break a promise I have made to you.

Dear Jesus,

            Do you love me when I complain of my lack of riches?

Dear Michael,

            I love you so much I gave you every spiritual blessing in Heaven.

Dear Jesus,

            Do you love me when I break all your commands?

Dear Michael,

            I love you so much I became sin for you.

Dear Jesus,

            When will I accept your unconditional love?

Dear Michael,           

            Not by your might, but by my power I have called you from the beginning

            of the Age.  My precious child, rest your weary, heavy heart in mine and I

            will give you peace.  The work for you was finished on the cross.  Be

            convinced already that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities

            nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth,

            nor any other created thing will be able to separate you from my love.

            This is the truth!   It will make you free! I have, and always will, love you dearly,

            my dear, precious, Michael.

Raymart's ramparts

Rampart is a defensive wall.  Raymart is a young guy in the Philippines I met a couple of weeks ago.  I was so impressed with this young man's initiative and dedication to God's Word.  He decided back a few month's ago to memorize one verse a day for a year...well, he had over 100 memorized already...and he could recite them immediately with no hesitation.

I was thinking how writing God's Word on one's heart was a great shield and guard to his mind and soul.  Jesus used scripture to ward off and send running the devil.  He countered each temptation with scripture and truth to make all of Satan's schemes and lies null and ineffective.

Thank you Raymart for your example and encouragement to build ramparts of scripture around my heart and mind.

Psalm 119:9, 11 "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. [11] I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

Why should God let me into Heaven?

I ran across a document I wrote as part of an application to get into a choir.  The question asked, "What would you tell God if He asked you why should He let you into Heaven?"

Dear Lord,

I am a sinner, separated from you by my own rebellion and by my inherited unworthiness.  I have broken all of your commands at a heart level.  I have made myself God in my own sight.  I am very sorry for this.  (Rom 3:11)

However, you searched for me and called me.  I am so thankful for that.  I accepted your invitation to relationship in 1994.  I received you and made you my own.  I claimed your Son’s crucified blood and body as the payment for my sins.  I believe your Son is alive and exalted.  It is His worthiness and His alone that I claim as my own.   Your Holy Spirit’s seal has confirmed this.  I am a fellow heir with your own Son, and an adopted child of Yours. (John 11:25, Eph 1:7, Gal 3:26-29 and Gal 4:1-7)

You have marked me.  You chose me.  I have citizenship in Your Heaven now.  (Eph 1:13, Eph 2:8, Eph 1:4, Phil 4:20)

You cannot condemn me because I am buried with Christ, and resurrected with Him also.  I am so glad you only see your Son’s glory when you look at me.  Thank you for forgiving and forgetting my sins.  (Rom 8:1-2)

You have made these promises and declarations and cannot go back on your own word. (Psalm 145:14)

PS.  Of course God will not ask me why He needs to let me into His heaven.  My name will be already written in the book of Life, and I only long to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.  

Thank you for the opportunity to remind myself of these wonderful, other-worldly, blessings on my life.

Jesus is coming soon.  And, I will be ready.

I wrote that 3 years ago in an application sense trying to show off my knowledge of eternal security.  Truthfully, I think I would probably just fall on my face and ask for Mercy.

The nightmare before Christmas!

This time of year reminds me to be very thankful.  Jump in my blog and go for a ride with me for a few minutes.  I had just left a Christmas Party at my office in San Diego.  I was excited for the mug, candy, and gift card to McDonald's.   It was the Christmas season and I was leaving right after our lunch to head to Phoenix to spend the holidays with my family.  It is about a 5 hour ride if you don't stop too long in Yuma for gas and food.  I prayed that God would give me the opportunity to give like He had given so much to me.  And I was off....


The first 2 1/2 hours went by quickly through the mountains and desert.  I play my Christian music through my ipod and just sing along the whole way.  The time goes by very quickly.  I made my usual stop in Yuma for gas.   It was a cold night, and I saw a man with a sign that read "hungry and traveling".   Hmm...I thought, as I slowed down.    I rolled down the window, and instead of just giving a dollar, I asked him, "Where are you going?"  He replied, "Gila Bend."  He then asked me where I was going.  I meekly answered, "Phoenix."  Gulp.  I knew that I had opened a can of worms and he now knew there was no reason for me not to take him in my big, spacious, Nissan Murano.  Oh well, I thought, then replied, "Come on in, I'll get you to Gila Bend."


As soon as he got in the car, I realized I had misjudged the situation greatly.  The smell of  body odor and alcohol permeated his being.  Trying to think quickly, I asked if he wanted some food, hoping this might sober him up.  He said yes.  I stopped across the street at KFC to get a quick sandwich.  He got out of the car and followed me in.  He was making a scene, being loud, and everyone was looking at me.  I was so embarrassed.  And, fear was starting to grow inside me.


Fortunately, I thought quickly before we got into the car.  I made a call to my brother and told him the situation, and said to call me back in 2 hours.   If I didn't answer, he was to call the police.  As I got in, I put a small knife between my legs, hidden, so that I might react to any troublesome situation.  I unlocked his door and the journey commenced.


Things seemed to start out okay.  We got on the road, and he starts the conversation with, "I guess this is where I tell you my story."  After a pause, he grinned and told me his name was Shawn.  He started telling his story, it was mostly jumbled, disconnected, and contradictory.  Sometimes I think he realized the contradictions and would backtrack his story.  But, being very inebriated, he couldn't follow his own story.  Let me just say that the words, "on the run", "murder one", "killed a nigger", "sister's a whore", "pedophila", "child abuse" all came up during thIs introduction.   Needless to say, I am very scared and wondering when I will have to draw my knife.  My heart was pounding, and I think every sense in my body was on full alert.  


He then told me he had to go pee.  I saw a rest area sign in another couple miles.  He couldn't wait.  He said he'd just go in his pants.  He did smell as if that was an option, but I didn't want it on my seats.  So, I saw an empty cup.  He whipped his penis out and started peeing as I sped down the highway.  Oh my, what was happening?  How did I get into this mess.  He proceeded to tell me more of his story, but he seemed to start getting angry and scarier.  I tried to steer the conversation to happy topics, but his life seemed to have so many sad and tragic endings.  At one point, he stopped talking to me and turned his head and just started staring at me.  I was ready to stab him, but I just asked him why he was staring at me.  There seemed something very sinister in his response.  He sneered, "I'm deciding, if I'm going to pick on you."  My heart skipped a beat.  I know the next response came from the Holy Spirit because everything else in my body was screaming, "Get out of here!"  But, I responded, calmly, "You are not going to do any picking.  I will have to let you out if you do."  I thought to myself, "How stupid was that, Mike."   


About this time, the border stop about half way to Gila Bend appeared.  There were lots of cars and Border Police.  I could have this guy arrested, or turned in, or something.  As my car was getting closer, "Shawn" took something out of his pocket and threw it out of the window.  It looked like a small piece of paper.  I asked him, "What was that?"   He replied smiling, then laughing, "Drugs".  It didn't look like anything, and I thought, "Doesn't this hitchhiker know any hiking etiquette?"  How silly, as if I thought I knew these rules.  The checkpoint appeared, and my decision was nearing, but all I could hear was a voice telling me that I promised to get him to Gila Bend.  What?!  God, you have to be kidding?  Integrity, now?  Well, I slowly pulled away from my last hope.


As we resumed conversing, Shawn took off his hat.  His thick hair was matted but the sides that were outside the hat were sticking up, giving this man the look of horns.  Every time he looked at me, I thought I was looking into the face of Satan.  The cars thinned out, it was about 8 pm, and I just knew that my life might end at any moment.  His every movement was closely monitored by my eyes.  I was ready to send the car into a roll if he tried anything.  It seemed as though he was looking at my legs, and I kept wondering if he saw my knife.


About 30 miles from Gila Bend, he said he had to pee again.  This time there was no cup.  He suggested going in his pants again.  Nooooooo!  I took the first exit, pulled to the side and said "Pee, out there."  I realized that now I was stopped.  He could kill me right here.  I could speed away right now, and just leave him there.  Why couldn't I do this?  I kept hearing the voice, "Keep your word."  
He got back into the car, and he seemed to be getting less drunk, which scared me, because his strength and coordination seemed to be returning.  My heart beat faster and stronger.


Finally, I start doing most of the talking.  I ask him if he knows Jesus.  He says a little.  He says he tried to be a Christian once, but it didn't work.  I explained that the great thing about Jesus, is that He gives us more than just one chance.  And, even if it didn't work on his merit, Jesus still paid the penalty for him if he wanted to accept him as his Savior.  He seemed confused, and seemed sorrowful.  I asked him if I could pray for him.  He declined.  I kept talking about Jesus, because it seemed to soothe him and me. He did say something very sad, that he had no friends, no family. He said, "I guess you are my family."  Although, that sounded very creepy to me, the said thing was, I was probably the closest thing to a family he had seen in a long time.


I was speeding down Interstate 8 at about 95 mph.  I didn't care if I got stopped, at least this guy would get picked up.  No such luck.  However, the lights of Gila Bend came into view.  Wow!  I was never so happier to see Gila Bend.  


I was growing stronger, and bolder with my declarations about Jesus.  He seemed defeated.  It was strange, my heart still felt compassion on him even after being the most scared I had been in my life at his hands.  


I asked him where I could drop him, and he said, "McDonald's".  It was cold out and I wished him luck.  I pulled into McDonald's and parked.  But, he seemed to not to want to move.  He slowly opened the door, then turned and lunged toward my leg.  I visibly flinched.  He took ahold of my leg, and said, "You promised to pray for me!"  Relieved, I said, "Yes, I did."  I said a short, sincere prayer for him for traveling mercies and for God to stay near to him.  He said, "Thank You." and started to leave.  I said, "Wait".  Here is a gift card.  I think it was meant for you.  He took it and left.   SIGH.


I drove a half mile to Burger King, got out and went to the rest room, washed my hands, said a prayer of thanks to God, and got a few paper towels to wipe down my car seat. It smelled of urine and body odor all the rest of the way to Phoenix. God had answered my prayers.  I was a different person, and hopefully, Shawn was too.