National Day of Prayer in D.C.

Wow, what an exciting and long day Sandy and I had in Washington D.C.

We arrived at the Cannon Caucus Room at 11 am for a noon prayer gathering.  It was broadcast live on GodTv.  Shirley Dobson, sick with a cold and all, led the meeting.  Ravi Zacharias was the keynote speaker.  Ravi did a marvelous job talking about the power of prayer in his life and the power it has in all our lives.  He is so eloquent!  He focused on the fact that prayer is our strength and shield.  Our ultimate hope and answer lies in a sovereign God who is a near as a friend.

There were government officials; congressman, judges and pentagon representatives.  The Secretary of the Interior took the main stage fromt he White House.  Mr. Kemphorne is a devout follower of Jesus and did a great job sharing his heart for prayer.  There was a great time of worship led by the worship leader of Thomas Road Baptist Church.  Dave Butts from Harvest Prayer Ministries is the National Prayer Committee chairman and led in one of the prayers for the government.

We left that gathering around 3 pm and went to the lawn of the capital where the local expression of the days event had gathered.  There was a nice crowd of diverse ethnic and church representation.  Dave Butts was one of the national prayer leaders who led a section of the prayer time.  It was a gorgeous sunny day.  We then went to dinner with the NPC group at Union Station.  Had a wonderful time of fellowship.  Sandy was able to meet Beth Moore and she was thrilled!  Beth will be next year’s honorary chairman and keynote speaker.

Well we are getting ready to fly home!  God truly blessed us with this wonderful experience.  As one of the NPC leaders said, “the Kingdom advances through friends

Washington D.C. 4.29.08

After a 4 am wake-up call on Tuesday we made it to D.C.!  Wow, what a city!  It just made us tingle.  We spent about 4 hours walking the mall area and visiting memorials; Lincoln, Vietnamn, WW II.  We looked, listened and just were in awe.  We took a tour of the Capitol thanks to Congresswoman Musgrave from Colorado.  It was amazing!  Then we prayed!  We met with the NPC leaders at the New York Prsbyterian Church where Abraham Lincoln had worshipped and Peter Marshall had been pastor.  It was a great prayer time.  The worship leader was from Rhwanda!  Go figure!!!!

Battle Over “Guns and Religion”

It is Saturday morning in Terre Haute Indiana. Things have calmed a bit since Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have headed out of small town America, but not in my spirit! I am still fired up and proud to be a Christian and an American! Wow, what a privilege it is to have these conversations even though they are heated and full of emotion.

I know that as a pastor I am walking on dangerous ground, but as an American it is holy ground! I have the right as a citizen to speak my views on issues. I don’t have a right as a pastor to publicly from my stage at Maryland Community Church promote a candidate and I respect that. This isn’t about ‘a candidate’. It is about an issue or shall we say a mixed bag of issues.

First, I am one of those small town people that Mr. Obabma was talking about. I am by my standards a conservative politically, there you go I said it. I do want to address the heart of what this candidate and the other two said about his statement. Generally the statements he made centered around relying on “guns and religion” when the government isn’t listening to us. Here are some direct quotes from Fox News on the issue:

Mr. Obama:”It’s not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

Mrs. Clinton: “Americans who believe in the Second Amendment believe it’s a constitutional right. Americans who believe in God believe it’s a matter of personal faith. Americans who believe in protecting good American jobs believe it’s a matter of the American dream,” she said. “People embrace faith not because they are materially poor but because they are spiritually rich.”

I truly believe what both of them said is true! I will say that most of us that I know in the Mid-West don’t have a hot-line to the White House. But I must also remind all of us, we do have a computer, email, telephones, paper and pen, and the right to talk to those in office at all levels. For that you should be grateful and thank God for!

Our country was founded on a general belief that we as citizens have the right to protect ourselves against a government turned evil. We can possess and use a weapon in such a case. There are of course folks like myself who choose not to, but I do have a right to. There are many nations in which citizens do not have the right and are in a horrible situation when an evil dictator takes over the government. I don’t like thinking about such things but I and all citizens must at times.

Let me also be very clear, the owning of a weapon does not entitle me to use it to kill innocent people. We all struggle with the horrible use of military style weapons being used in our schools and towns for the wrong reasons. It is a very very hard balance to maintain. Our government and we as citizens have a hard and complex issue facing us. I believe we should work hard to both allow the possession of weapons under the best and most manageable means keep them out of the hands of criminals who will harm other people. Sounds like a no brainer…..but it isn’t.

As for God. Wow, I don’t even want to begin speaking for Him! But, as a pastor who has been called by God to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ I must speak on behalf of what I know and am willing to die for.

No government or President is above God’s Law. As a citizen I have not only the right but the obligation as a follower of Jesus Christ to make sure I pray for my government and my President no matter who he or she is. I must add, this process; prayer and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ are my primary weapons for change and the power to have peace for all my fellow citizens of this world. I could quote you some bible but I don’t think that is necessary.

These are hard times. Who isn’t for change! None of us, including President Bush, want things to stay the way they are. Shame on us if we think it is that simple.

I don’t honestly believe any of us want this to be about sexuality, race or religion. We want the best for our country and the right to follow our God in the process. We want peace on the earth, we want a roof over our head, food on the table, clothes on our back and have it be safe to walk our streets.

Please, vote your conscience and your belief, but vote! Don’t just get frustrated and angry at the democratic process. It could be worse! I didn’t have a choice about where I was born, but every day I make a choice to live here. I say, God bless America! I say America Bless God! I say God save the world! I say citizen of the earth, live responsibly! Your life matters and counts! You are somebody and don’t ever for get it, no matter where you live!

As someone famous once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.” I want to also add, don’t ask, what can God do for me, ask, what can I do for God!

A humble and proud citizen of God’s earth living in Terre Haute Indiana and serving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Goma Refugees Update

We made it to Goma, at the north end of Lake Kivu, this morning at about 10 AM.  It was a 2 hour trip by ferry.  The ferry trip up the lake is not bad but the larger ferries have all had some kind of problems and are not running right now so the one we took was much more cramped.  There was no room to move your feet much at all and there were some engine fumes coming into the cabin.  I sat next to a window so I could get a little good air.  The further to the front the better so on the way back I will go even further up.  The ride though was smooth.  They don’t allow pictures so I can’t add one of those for you at this point.

 

We met with the church leaders of this area and discussed the funds we received from IDES for the refugees.  They are very thankful for the help as these people have really suffered.  Most of the money will be used for long lasting things like blankets and clothing but some clothes and medicine will be necessary as well.  They had worked out a very good list of things to buy and are now revising it down a little so they can fit within the budget we have.  Then they will have a 10 person committee to do the distribution which will include people from every level of the church.  It is a very good plan and should be able to be done in the next few days.  Tomorrow they will buy as much of the goods as possible and then work on the plans to get it transported to the outlying areas where the hurting people are living.  At this point there are no longer people living out in the open.  Everyone has a least a tent like structure to be in but many have no way to stay warm, etc.  Also there are some who can return to their homes but they have to rebuild so a small percentage of the money will be to by some roofing for them.  In those areas they can get poles and mud for the walls but roofing is the difficult part.  It won’t help everyone but a few will be blessed.  Most of the members of our churches who have been displaced will get something.  This should reach into the lives of more than 500 people.  God bless all have given for this and other emergency situations through International Disaster and Emergency Services (IDES).  God bless all the work IDES does.

For those of you who have been following our work in the Congo; here is an update from Ed Buell.

“I am doing well here and very busy. I am in meetings of one kind or another almost every day in order to get things going at Tracy’s Heart and other projects. We met on Saturday morning with the Coordinator of a program similar to Tracy’s Heart we are starting. It was a wonderful meeting. The lady who runs it is very sharp and knows what is happening and what is needed. They have a training program available which we will send our people to as well. It is for people who will be counseling or dealing with the women and their families in any way. The task is huge but Lord willing we will help make a dent in it as well. That group helped 448 women last year but I think all on an out patient basis. Anyway, I am glad to have their assistance and hope we can work together in the future. Though it is our plan to open the center before I go, we will probably not bring in any women until we have a chance to train some workers first. If we do any helping it will be completely on an out patient basis as we have already been doing with 4 women and then we will see about actually brining some into the home after that.

We do though say a big thanks to International Disaster and Emergency Services for sending us over $5000 to help with rebuilding the wall at Tracy’s Heart. They also sent $10,000 to help some refugees in North Kivu who have been forced out of their homes due to continued rebel activity in their area. I hope to go there early next week to see that project get underway. I will take just a couple of days myself but may leave someone there to continue seeing it through.

Sopo is making good headway on his house. He had the doors and windows installed yesterday so it now secure. He will have a crew of friends there tomorrow morning at 6 am to tear the old house down from inside the new one. (The new one was built around and over the old one.) They will then dig holes for the poles which will be used to separate the various rooms, nail pieces of split open bamboo across these so they can then fill in between with rocks and mud to make walls and to provide insulation from the cold. I am not sue what the next step is after that but we are taking it one phase at a time. I hope to get with the other pastor who lost his house to the earthquake to get him started on his building project as well. I want to get at least a few pictures to send to you before I leave.

We have had a couple of pretty hard shakes the last two nights. Friday night about 2 AM and Sunday about 3:15 AM. I sure wish they would stop. I feel light ones quite often but the hard ones keep us all on edge and a little shaky.

God bless, thanks for the prayers and love which I constantly feel.”

In Christ, Ed

Ed Buell
Field Coordinator - DR Congo
ACM International

Update on the little boy of the rape victim

Ed sent some pictures of the little boy who had surgery on a tumor. Thanks to the folks who gave so this little boy could be helped! Him mom, one of the rape victims we met in Bukavu is overjoyed!

Update on Offering

With the extra money we raised last Sunday for the earthquake relief, we were able to help repair one of the pastor’s houses that was heavily damaged.

His name isRutakangwa Murhula. His house was totally destroyed in the earthquake. He received $60 to get his family into a rental house for 6 months but needs to rebuild. He has given me an estimate of $813 for all of the material and labor to get it done. This would be a house made from poles to which bamboo strips would be attached inside and out so that in between they can put small rocks and then coat with a layer of mud. It would have a metal roof.

He has come to work here every day since he got the $60 so he could help with the building of the wall without expecting any pay in return.

Thanks to those who gave and now have seen a blessing from the Lord!

Some good news on repairing Sopo’s House

Mick Adams one of our Unit guys shared with our congregation this morning about Sopo’s house and what we were doing in trying to repair it after the earthquake.

We gave people an opportunity to help us withe the expenses, needed about $1,000. The folks came up with almost $2,000! God bless you all! What a joy it is to pastor at a place like Maryland! You guys rock!

To God be the glory!

A night to hear about the Congo Trip

There will be a dessert and coffee time on Thursday Feb. 28, 6:30 pm in the Atrium at MCC for you to come and hear, see and learn about “The Unit’s” mission to Congo.

There will be pictures and some video.

Love to have you there! Plan on coming.

Sunday At MCC

It was great seeing all “the Unit” at church this morning! Some of us were a little ragged and still getting over jet lag and some tummy issues. But it was such a joy to be back worshiping with our family at Maryland.

My son asked me, “was culture shock harder going to Congo or coming back?” Good question! I told him they were both very uncomfortable and each was hard.

The sheer lack of normal comforts was everywhere in Bukavu. I missed my wife, my recliner, my shower, my bed, my TV, my good internet connection, my cell phone, electricity being on all the time, running water all the time, etc. The constant onslaught of poverty and the ravages of war were all around. One amazing cultural difference was the huge honor and respect the church of Congo gave us. We were treated like royalty and their humble respect was overwhelming.

Back here in the USA I was just overcome by all the things that were available to me that I had taken for granted. The sheer ability to be comfortable was just awesome. I don’t think I ever want to take it for granted again. As I walked into MCC I was overwhelmed by the huge difference it was compared to the three churches we had worshiped at in Congo. Sometimes you just have to distance yourself from what you have to appreciate it and even understand it.

It was so hard after church to try and explain to a reporter about our trip. How do you put it into words. They seemed to fail us. But we tried. I found myself even disappointed in all the pictures that just didn’t quite communicate what I saw and felt. In some ways I find myself thinking, wow, no wonder Jesus had such a hard time communicating the Kingdom of God! Talk about foreign concepts!

The little phrase we were taught by Ed Buell, was “TIA” or That Is Africa is really almost impossible to communicate to somone who hasn’t been there and experienced it.

Hopefully over the next few months the six of us will do our best to communicate about our neighbors in Bukavu Congo. They taught us so much about faith, living for the day and hope. We learned what it meant do something in the name of Jesus and have it make a difference. Some lives were change, including ours.

I want to live more “in the moment” and not so much in the future. Easy to say, but I know how hard it will be. I think, “one day at a time” really hit me between the eyes in Congo.

Well so much for that rambling, forgive me, I am still kind of working it all through.