Brother Andrew - God Smuggler

This book really spoke to me about having faith in what you are doing and giving God the chance to work in your life. Brother Andrew never went ahead of what God was doing and he was always provided for. This is an inspiration to all Christians to follow God and the calling that He has put on your life.

Also, what I got from this book is the difference between a calling and choosing to do something because it needs to be done. All around the world there are things and projects that need to be done, and most of us are capable of doing a lot; but that may not be where God has called you to be. You see, Jesus called the apostles to Himself, not everyone, just a select few. Though there were many disciples of Christ, not all were apostles. Even within the select 12, there were some who were even closer to Jesus; chosen for an even more specific work. They were not just simply filling a need, but following the call from their Lord.

If we are to fully serve Jesus, we need to follow His calling; and be satisfied with what He has given us to do. All around the world they need Bible teachers, carpenters, administrators, Bible College teachers, etc. but that doesn't mean that we go because of the need, we go because we are called. Much like brother Andrew, he saw the need, prayed, and that was his calling, to get the Bibles under the communist rule.

I hope that you are as blessed as I was after reading this book. Please share how God has impacted you from this book, or any other book you may be reading.

Grace and Peace from Uganda,

Bob

From the coffee shop

Today we are at a local coffee shop. I must say that Uganda has the best coffee I have ever tasted, cheap too. They have WiFi here and it is pretty fast, almost up to cable type speeds.

Yesterday I got to do my first teaching, it was a 30 minute devotion. The audience was mixed with Africans and Americans. The Africans were Sudanese men, 6 of them, 5 who are in the South Sudanese Army. All have been in the army 20 + years and only one is over 40 years old. You see, they all joined the army before they were 15 years old, one joined when he was 9 years old. As I sat around the room, these were the most kind and gentle men that I have encountered while here in Africa.

All these men have been in over 10 years of war and all have fought in many, many battles themselves. Most of their brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers have all died due to the war. The thing that amazed me the most though was their love for Jesus. They had this unconditional love, a love that you read about Christ having for us. They didn't love Christ because they had nice cars (for none of them had a car), because they had nice clothes (they had to buy new clothes when they got to Kampala) or because they are rich (most make yearly what we make in a month). No, for them the love was only predicated on the fact that Jesus loved them first, that's it.

The text that I taught from was in Philippians 3, speaking of our citizenship in heaven and our identity in Christ. These men don't have much, but they know their scripture well. I couldn't help but wonder how much better off we (Americans in general) would be if we didn't think that every bad thing that happened to us was God turning His back on us or that when we really, really needed something or things went bad we prayed. These men said nothing without mentioning Jesus, and one carries a literal cross with him wherever he goes. I was simply awestruck at the faith, compassion and dedication I saw yesterday. They really have the "God is good all the time" attitude and when they need something, they know that God will always provide.

For me, I pray that the Lord would continue to show me people with this unbelievable faith, unwavering faith. It truly is a blessing to be around people like this. I will be posting some of the chaplain profiles over the upcoming months. I would like to introduce you to some of the men who are changing my life.

Here in Africa

We have now been here for two weeks and feeling right at home. It is such a blessing to be serving the Lord right where He calls you to be. Though it has been unbelievably hot and humid, we are getting along just fine.

The best part of running the guest house is all of the other missionaries we get to meet. We have already had the opportunity to get to know people from Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan. They had to stay at the house to do some business here in Kampala.

Overall, we are doing really well and already making some new friends and renewing our old friendships that we had started when we were here 18 months ago. The people here are great and a real blessing to work with.

Please continue to pray for us, that we will continue to be a blessing to the ministry here and that we will continue to walk in the grace of Jesus. As we are here, we are hoping to get more and more involved  in the Calvary Chapel in Kampala, pray the Lord would give us wisdom in what to do.

Books, Books and more Books

As per our latest newsletter, we are going to start reviewing some books and hopefully inspire, and be inspired ourselves, to read some books. The Christian should never stop learning nor should they stop gathering information. I hope that these books will bless you, or have blessed you, in the same capacity they have undoubtedly blessed us.

Warren Wiersbe wrote On Being a Servant of God with the idea of helping those who are beginning their ministry all the way to those who have been serving for a lifetime. One of the points he makes is that we should always be reading at least one book, expanding our horizon on the things of God. If you haven't had the opportunity to read this yet, I do suggest that you do. If you have, like me, maybe you should consider this a yearly read. The basic and fundamental truths that Wiersbe states are a lifetime lesson for all of us.   

Do you know your Old Testament?

Lately I have been speaking with several Christians who seem to think that the Old Testament (O.T) really doesn't have a practical or important place in today's church. I couldn't disagree more. Without a proper understanding of the O.T. we can not fully understand what happened on the Cross when Jesus died. Do you know the significance of the day that Jesus died on? Do you know why he called the Lamb of God? Do you know of the picture in the O.T. of Jesus dying and coming back to life? You see, in the New Testament (N.T), the book of Jude speaks about knowing the O.T., Jude 4 "For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe." You see, here we are told to "remember" those things that happened in the old days because they are an example for us today. If you continue reading in the book of Jude, you read things about Egypt, the fallen angels, Sodom & Gomorrah, Moses, Cain, Balaam and the rebellion of Korah, Enoch and Adam. IF I were to ask you how many of these things you could tell someone else about and explain what happened to them, could you? Could you explain how they point to Jesus Christ? Could you tell someone why God was angry with them and He exercised His righteousness judgement on them? You see, I believe that one of the biggest errors we can have today is not understanding the O.T. in the way the N.T. writers did. They used the O.T. for their scriptures and examples for living, why shouldn't we?

Romans 15:4 "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

You see, by knowing the the O.T. Scriptures, it will help with your hope in the Lord, that we may see what He has done in the past and we know that the Lord never changes so we can count on Him for us today. How is your hope in the Lord? Read about Job and his patience, Abraham and his heart to follow God, David and the years he waited for the promise of his kingship to come to pass. All of these men have something in common, they heard from God and waited for the promise.

2 Corinthians 5:10-11 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences."

Far Reaching Ministries Aviation: Rabuna-Fi Project

I wanted to share some really great things that are happening with Far Reaching Ministries and it's partner, Far Reaching Ministries Aviation (FRMA). FRMA focuses on women's ministry in Sudan, Kenya and Uganda. Take a look at the videos below and it explains it all. They need your help, one way you can help is by throwing a "party" for the ministry. It is just like a party lite or pampered chef party, you get a lot of friends to come over, watch a video and take a look at what crafts the women are making.






Check out their website at www.rabunafi.org

After Our First Week Here In California

What is better than being in Southeastern Michigan? Being in Southern California!! With that being said, let me tell you that we have quite the work load that we are expected to get done over the course of the next six months. Let me share with you what we have to do: 1. Go through all 148 mp3 teachings of Chuck Smith and take one page of notes on each teaching, 2. Read about 10 books and do book reports on each one of them, 3. Learn and master the QuickBooks program, 4. Do the Self-Confrontation book and work book, 5. Take a Leading From Your Strengths test, read the book and talk about it in a group setting, 6. Lead a monthly bible study at the office, 7. Get plugged into a local church here and start to serve there, 8. Learn how all the office works with oversea's recipts from purchases in Africa....and a lot more stuff that I just can't remember right now. So, to say that we are having a vacation here in SoCal is quite the understatement.

But....God is so great that he has allowed us the time and energy to accomplish it all. Thanks again for all the prayers, we really need them.

So week number one was a huge success....and we have Friday off for the 4th.

See you all soon!!!

Psalm 34:10 "The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing."