Ethiopian Pastors Vision Trip

We have had an amazing trip.

The theme of our trip has been the amazing providence of God. God had gone ahead of us. God has directed us.

We arrived very late (which ended up being very early in the morning) on Friday night. I got three hours of sleep and then we were up to go teach at the Bible School. I loved getting to see my friends that I met in 2008 when I got to teach and then again last year. We taught about grace. At the end we had testimonies by the student and one was very powerful saying that they were preparing to quit, but we had restored their hope. It was fabulous. We got to worship with the students. I wish all of you could see the joy of their worship.

On Sunday we were disappointed because we had all prepared to preach. Instead we went to Bantu. The president asked us to come to the dedication of a memorial and statue to the hero of that area. He was a brave soldier and our school is named for him (the president asked if we would name it for this local hero). He was so pleased we were there and bragged on us to the huge crowd, the national television media, and the other honored guests. It was the right place to be. We then went to the school and about half of the kids came to see us. We toured the facility. It is so exciting to see the great works our churches are doing together.

Monday. We traveled to Nazaret and Debrazette. We saw the work with the community change agents. They are being trained to go back to their villages and help make a difference. As we help them we are helping so many people in the future. Then we went to meet with the vocational training staff. We saw the woodworking, plumbing, hairdressing, metal working, and building skills. We have a great idea for building kits with basic tools that we hope to bring back to graduates of the program. That night we had a great conversation while eating dinner at the Koroftu. It is a favorite place of our teams.

Tuesday. We left very early to fly to Axxum. We went to see the foster children’s program first. The children were waiting at the door singing a great song. We got to see the computer center we set up in 2008 fully functioning with dozens of students in class. It was great. Then we saw some of the sites in town. We went to the mayor’s office and then he took us around town and we looked at the 3 sites they are proposing for the new community change center being built their. We went back to the hotel. I looked out my window and saw a tall hill and a good hiking path. I proposed that we hike to the top, which the group did. When we got to the top we prayed over the city for what God was going to do.

Wednesday. We left early to fly back to Addis. We meet some people working in a refugee camp on the Eritrean border. It is very bad in that area. We arrived in Addis and went back tot he Bible school and visited the library (it was locked on Sat, but no one had the key). It is humble and needs lots of help. We had lunch. We were planning to go to the University to meet some officials. Getahunf had made some calls, but could not get anyone to meet with us. While we were having lunch the President of the University cam into the restaurant (the Blue Top). Getahun talked to him and found out that the President’s sister is a believer and goes to Getahun’s church. He set appointments with us for Thursday! We then visited the shoe/dress training center. Women are rescued from poverty and prostitution and taught skills. They are grateful people. We visited a church and saw a shallow well drilling rig that Bright Hope has and can use to dig in some areas.

Thursday we will go to the University and the Baby Home. I leave about 5:30 for London via Dubai. I will then train to Brighton and get some rest. I will meet with Pastor Lawrence on Friday night and then spend Saturday morning in prayer. I will be teaching a conference with his church on Saturday and Sunday. I will leave Sunday afternoon. I will get to London and begin the long journey home that should put me in to Athens late on Monday. I plan to sleep when I arrive.

Thursday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve

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The Last JudgmentMatthew 25:31-4631 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,

43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

The mystery of ministry is that the Lord is to be found where we minister.

Father Henri Nouwen, Gracias, 20.

 

We were standing on the top of Meggido looking down into the Jezreel Valley. This flock flowed across the fields. This valley is also called the valley of Meggido or Armegedon, the place of the end of the world.  Everything comes to and end. There will be a sorting . Are you ready? 

 

Wednesday, December 30

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The Genealogy of Jesus

Luke 3:23-38

23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,

24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,

27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,

28 the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,

30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,

31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,

33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,

38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

People have lost confidence in themselves and can hardly imagine that they themselves have something to give.

Father Henri Nouwen, Reaching Out, 87.

 

This list is even more obscure that the last one. God wants to take one more chance to remind you this year, that he made you, fashioned you, called you, equipped you, gifted you, prepared works of service for you to complete, and awaits you. You are chosen in God!

 

Tuesday, December 29

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The Boy Jesus in the Temple

Luke 2:41-52

41 Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.

42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.

43 After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.

44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.

45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Truly knowing God always means wanting to make God known.

Father Henri Nouwen, Theology as Doxology, 99.

 

If you know God, then why do you keep it bottled up inside of you most of the time? Make some commitments that this next year you are going to do a better job of telling others about Jesus.

 

Monday, December 28

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The Childhood of Jesus at Nazareth

Matthew 2:22-23

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,

23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Luke 2:39-40

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Self-knowledge and self-love are the fruit of knowing and loving God.

Father Henri Nouwen, Letters to Marc About Jesus, 75.

 

Jesus grew physically, but he also grew spiritually. The texts says, “the grace of God was upon him.” Is the grace of God upon you? Have you grown this year? If not, why not? Did you try? Did you listen to the wisdom of the text? Did you do some of the spiritual things that might stretch you, or did you think they were silly? Do you need a do over?

 

Sunday, December 27

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The Flight into Egypt and Return

Matthew 2:13-21

13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,

15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

If we think a little praying can’t do any harm, we will soon find that it can’t do much good either. Prayer has meaning only if it is necessary and indispensable.

Father Henri Nouwen, With Open Hands, 50. 

 

Do you ever wonder if we are missing the warnings of God? From what traps and pitfalls does God want to protect you? Are you listening?

 

Saturday, December 26

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The Circumcision and Presentation in the Temple

Luke 2:21-38

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.

22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”),

24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,

28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,

37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

There can be no human beings who are completely alone in their suffering since God, in and through Jesus, has become Emmanuel, God with us. The good news of the Gospel, therefore, is not that God came to take our suffering away, but that God wanted to become part of it.

Father Henri Nouwen, Christ of the Americas, 294. 

 

No matter what you are facing Christmas means Jesus is standing with you and strengthening you.

 

Friday, December 25; Christmas Day

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The Adoration of the Infant Jesus

Matthew 2:1-12

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem

2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.

8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Luke 2:8-20

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,

18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

John 7:41-42

41 Others said, “He is the Christ.” Still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee?

42 Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”

 

Lord Jesus, master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!”

Henri J. M. Nouwen 
 

 

I Love the way other people see Jesus. One of my favorite churches we visited in Israel is the church of the Annunciation in Nazareth. It walls are lined with picutre of Jesus from around the wordl. Here are two of my favoriet and a poem that expresses my understanding of the reality of the incarnation.

 Jesus and Mary from Japan

Jesus and Mary from Camerun, Africa

Some Children See Him, By Alfred Burt

Some children see Him lily white
the baby Jesus born this night
Some children see Him lily white
with tresses soft and fair

Some children see Him bronzed and brown
the Lord of heav’n to earth come down
Some children see Him bronzed and brown
with dark and heavy hair 

Some children see Him almond-eyed
This Saviour whom we kneel beside
Some children see Him almond-eyed
With skin of yellow hue!

Some children see Him dark as they
Sweet Mary’s Son to whom we pray
Some children see Him dark as they
And, ah! they love Him too!

The children in each different place
Will see the Baby Jesus’ face
Like theirs but bright with heav’nly grace
And filled with holy light!

O lay aside each earthly thing
and with your heart as offering
Come worship now the infant King
’tis love that’s born tonight!

 

 

 

Thursday, December 24 – Christmas Eve

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The Birth of Jesus

Matthew 1:18-25

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Luke 2:1-7

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The small child of Bethlehem, the unknown man of Nazareth, the rejected preacher, the naked man on the cross, HE asks for my full attention. The work of our salvation takes place in the midst of a world that continues to shout, scream and overwhelm us with its claims and promises." -Henri J.M. Nouwen

Henri Nouwen, Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen

This little girl showed up at our mission trip to Bantu in the summer of 2008. She was little, sick, and fussy. She was too little to learn much. She needed a full-time watcher so the rest of the kids could learn. When a baby shows up, they demand our full attention. Maybe Christmas needs to remind you that Jesus needs your full attention. Look him in the face, just enjoy his smile. He loves you.

Wednesday, December 23

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The Genealogy of Jesus

Matthew 1:2-17

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,

4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,

5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,

8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,

11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,

14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud,

15 Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,

16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.

A lot of people have expended so much energy on overcoming their low opinion of themselves that they seldom get around to asking about the purpose of their existence.

Father Henri Nouwen, Letters to Marc About Jesus, 4.

 

I actually love this list of names. Most of them we don’t have any information about them. Some of them we know to be rascals. A few stellar examples of faith. None of us really knows the long-term impact of our lives, but we ought to try to invest in the people around us. Go back as far as you can and make a spiritual linage for your life. Thank God for the people that told the people that told you about Jesus.

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