We, too...

I have been reading Jon Meacham's "American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House." I am seeing some interesting parallels between 1830 and today. This passage was written for all, but directed at a segment of our citizenry that felt a bit disenfranchised; maybe a bit mistreated; certainly misunderstood and mis/under-represented.

"Contemplate the condition of that country of which you still form an important part. Consider its government, uniting in one bond of common interest and general protection so many different states, giving to all their inhabitants the proud title of American citizen, protecting their commerce securing their literature and their arts, facilitating their intercommunication, defending their frontiers, and making their name respected in the remotest parts of the earth. Consider the extent of its its territory, its increasing and happy population, its advance in arts which render life agreeable, and the sciences which elevate the mind! See education spreading the lights of religions, morality and general information into every cottage in this wide extent of our Territories and States. Behold it as the asylum where the wretched and the oppressed find refuge and support. Look on this picture of happiness and honor and say, We too are citizens of America."

Reading this makes me think about where we are. Have we come very far from our infighting 180 years ago? If I thought I could get our elected representatives in federal government to listen, I think this is what I would say after making them write the preceding passage on the chalkboard 20 times (to you younger readers, ask your mom or dad).

Good or bad, it is OUR country. She has weathered wars external and internal, disease, natural disaster, hatred from without and within, yet she stands. She stands, and is the desire of the world. Don't kid yourself. People all across our world still long to live in this place. We are envied - not for what we have, but for what we can become. That has not changed in all these years. 

Scan the papers, watch the news, read the internet. Why would anyone want to come to our house?? There are days I am not sure why anyone would want to come and live here. We fight like cats and dogs. We call names. We lie. We misrepresent. We should be sent out in the backyard to get a switch (youngsters, see parenthetical statement above) and then have it applied where it will have most effect. 

 I was taught there is no problem that Americans, working together, cannot solve. 

I have had the opportunity sit on the "sidelines" for some 17 months and observe. I am disgusted. No, I am saddened. We are better than this, as a country. You are better than this, as men and women elected to SERVE your country. I was taught there is no problem that Americans, working together, cannot solve. We have certainly done it throughout history. Have we lost the ability?

If our elected officials cannot see their way to work together and find solutions, then vote them out. Democrat, Republican, and Independent. If they can't do it, let's give someone else a shot at it. Just because they can't see fit to do their job, we can't give up our job in the voting booth. Write letters; send emails; make telephone calls. Let them know you don't care about which side of the aisle they sit on. We don't want them in their chairs, anyway. We want them up, walking, and talking together.

I want to leave a place where my grandchildren can, "Look on this picture of happiness and honor and say, We too are citizens of America."

There Was One Who Was Willing

   So, with my last post, it is all out in the open. I am a Zombist. Nah, you didn't miss a day in school. That is a word I have just coined. It means, "one who delights in stories of zombies." Feel free to use it, any time! Share it with your friends. They will be quite impressed with your broad vocabulary. You might be surprised -- some of them may be closet Zombists.

   While reading in the afore-mentioned tome, Zombiestan, I came across another great passage. 

"It was perhaps only appropriate that the solution to the madness and destruction the world had inflicted upon itself lay in the blood of an innocent child."

As you would expect, the scene is where there is the revelation that a particular child's blood possesses the antibodies to fight the dread virus that creates the zombies.

   When I first read the passage, I saw the Biblical implications of the sentence. It isn't that I am so spiritually-minded. It was pretty obvious. BOOM! There it is; innocent blood redeems the world. Where else is my mind supposed to go.  But, it wasn't just the spiritual implications that drew my eyes and thoughts back to the passage. It was the wording, actually.

   I was struck by the words which the author chose. Read it, again. There are some key words:

• appropriate
• madness and destruction
• inflicted on itself

It wasn't the thoughts or the concepts that began to "haunt" me. It was those words. I could not help but think how applicable those same words are to where we find ourselves.

   Appropriate is defined as "fitting for a particular purpose." God/Christ had a purpose. A particular purpose. There might have been other solutions, but only one was fitting. It was that the innocent, the blameless should be offered as a sacrifice. Christ's death wasn't the easy out. It wasn't the only thing God could do. He is God. He makes the rules. He could decide what works. He chose the solution that was fitting with the way He had always done things - the innocent is given up for the guilty.

   Could any two words, other than madness and destruction, be better used to describe the world we inhabit? What else but madness requires us to love that which is ephemeral. We praise beauty, knowing it fades with time. We extol athletic prowess, seeing example after example of how it diminishes with time. The traits we should laud (purity, honesty, service, etc.)  are used as punchlines or a descriptor of a second-rate someone who doesn't possess the "important" things. This madness is bound to end in destruction. There is no way in can end in anything more positive.

   And, the saddest note of all is that it is all self-inflicted. We do it to ourselves. We do it to our children. We do it to anyone who will listen. We espouse and believe what Satan spits out. "Faith in a higher being is weakness. Be your own man. Solve your own problems." "Kindness and mercy are defects of the soul." "The clothes make the man (or woman)." 

   Our world is mad and set on destroying itself. I for one don't intend to go down with the ship. I cannot continue to follow this world. I want something better. I need something better. I have found a fitting answer, the blood of an innocent. The blood of one who understands. I want to forget the world and learn more about the one who wants what is best for me. I want to know the one who said,

Take the yoke  I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.

   Who said that? The one who willingly spilled the blood for each of us mad and destructive people. 

So, there's where Zombiestan fell short. The innocent in that story had no choice - had no say. He was a toddler and adults made his choice. 

HALLELUJAH, I have one who was willing; One who chose to give it all. And He is the One I choose to follow.

Of Rocks and Zombies

Over the holidays, I was reading a great book, Zombiestan, by Mainak Dhar.  Yes, it is a zombie story that begins with a virus in Afghanistan.  You see, I like zombies.

Okay, it’s out there.  I like zombie movies. I like zombie television series.   I like zombie books. Throw rocks if you will, but be sure to aim for my head.  If you know zombies, you know why. 

How Far Is Heaven?

Sitting in a hotel recently, I was reading and listening to music.  A favorite group, Los Lonely Boys, came up in the queue. The song “Heaven” came on.

I have heard the song many, many times – too many times to count.  But, for the first time I heard it. I mean really heard it.  Check out the video. If you like some Latin/blues, then you will like the music.  I love the rhythm and sound. 

Los Lonely Boys - HEAVEN video

He doesn't really need my help making the rules

I have learned so much about God and His plan for us, over the last year.  Supposedly, I was teaching others.  But, God was teaching me, through them.

One of our crew members has been asking many questions about baptism. His questions started with the mechanics of the act.  You know, who does it, how is it done, is it done on a day other than Sunday, etc. 

  These were all such “basic” questions. I explained that it was not difficult. I shared Biblical accounts of those who were baptized. More questions came up. I wanted them to see that the key is water, immersion, and a cleansed heart. As we talked and I answered other questions, I realized there was a great truth hiding in the simple answers: There are some things that are so important that God did not establish unreasonable or high barriers.

I Want to See

God knows what I need to hear.  Usually, He isn’t very subtle – but, that is just because I can be a bit dense.  Often, he shows me something and I do not get the importance.  So, he shows me again.  And, finally, He drives me to the Word to say, “This is what I have been showing you!”

Over the last few weeks, we have been seeing many patients with cataracts.  Some of the cataracts are quite severe.  We let the patients know that the Ship of Life will assist them with the expense of traveling to the hospital.  The hospitals have been providing the surgery at no cost to the patient (thanks to the Fred Hollows Foundation and the Ministry of Health).  What a great deal!  All they have to invest is time, and they will regain their vision.  The years of not seeing clearly will be over.

Many of the villagers gladly accept the offer.  In fact, not long ago, we sent groups of 16 and 18 people for surgery.  Today, nearly 30 people have had surgery and are seeing clearly.

It Started in January

It was the beginning of January. We met her in Koh Chen.  She lived in the nearby village of Prek Kdam.  I met her cousin, first.  He was a very nice young man who was interested in improving his English.  He and many friends came to the ship, each night.  They just wanted to talk – or, rather, they wanted to hear me talk.

One day, while we were out walking Reggie, we saw her cousin.  We were standing across the road from his house.  His family was working.  They do beautiful carving in brass.  She walked up with a huge smile on her face.  She wanted to meet the “barangs” from the big ship.  She was introduced to us.  I had already met her younger sister. They showed us the beautiful handicrafts they make.