Five Years Later

Early this morning, as I was retrieving the morning paper in my just-woke-up-not-totally-awake state of semi-consciousness, I did the mental gymnastics of remembering today’s date. Let me think, today is…well yesterday was Wednesday, tomorrow is Friday—OH YEAH, TOMORROW IS OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY—so today is August 21. (I’ve been totally aware that our anniversary is coming, just had to clarify my thinking.) Suddenly I was totally awake as I remembered the significance of August 21. It was 5 years ago today we were told Judy had breast cancer. FIVE YEARS!!!!!

 “Had cancer!”  Five years ago Judy HAD breast cancer. Today she is cancer free. We’re not yet to the fifth anniversary of her cancer being removed or of her last radiation treatment. BUT WE ARE AT A FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

Cancer entered our world on the eve of our 39^th wedding anniversary. That anniversary was more tender than any of the previous 38. As have many, I began blogging to verbalize my emotions and keep our children, scattered over the world, in our loop. Surprisingly, I find myself becoming emotional now as I relive the events of that summer five years ago.

Once the word “cancer,” or as many say, “that c-word,” enters your vocabulary, priorities change. We declared war on our adversary. We were blessed to have good insurance, wonderful doctors, and a great God. Not everyone’s experience has such a happy ending. I don’t know why Judy was set free from cancer while others are not. That’s a mystery for all ages. I just don’t want to take Judy’s healing for granted, as I am prone to do with many of God’s blessings.

So today I count our many blessings and give thanks to God for my wife and our prospects of years to come.

To Market, to market, to buy a ........

Day 7 of our Grand Asia Adventure. This morning I went with Brigitte to the market to purchase some produce. You wouldn't believe all the things that are available at the local market. This one sets up each morning just outside the gate of their apartment complex. Booth after booth of fresh vegetables and fruit and...uhhh...and...well....uhhh....things that make you go "huh." Honestly, I cannot begin to imagine what some of the things are that the peddlers have. This market magically appears early in the morning and just as magically disappears around noon. They offer meat, but I'm skeptical of purchasing meat from a street vendor, although I must say the dogs that hang around the tent and eat the scraps are definitely satisfied customers.

One thing that's not available at the local market is the erhu. What's an erhu you say? Oh, you want to know how to pronounce "erhu?" That's easy--it's pronounced just like it's spelled. (O.K., it's like you're saying are  and who.) An erhu is a Chinese alto fiddle. Chances are you've seen one in the movies or then again, chances are you've never seen one. They have a distinct sound, kind of like the sound a cat makes when you're trying to pull it through a knot hole in a fence by the tail. For some bizarre reason I decided I'd like to have one. Well, it's not actually so bizarre as it is insane.

One of the local ethnic minorities have a dance each and every night (except when they don't) just outside our bedroom window. They begin around 8:00 and finish when everyone is danced out--usually around 9:30 or whenever the rain begins. They are led by some guy playing an erhu and he's accompanied by anywhere from one to six instruments that resemble a mandolin the same way a kangaroo resembles a donkey. This extemporaneous band plays the same song over and over and over and over and over...well, you get the picture. The dancers form a circle and do some form of side-step, side-step, kick, kick, kick except when they don't. There's not real pattern or rhythm to the dance, but they all seem to know what to do and don't kick the person next to them.

Maybe it's because I've been hearing the same song over and over and over and over and ....that I've decided I'd like to have one. So, we began looking for an erhu. Brigitte took me to Old Town last night and we began our search. We were told that erhus were not sold in our town--by several merchants. Later we asked the Asian taxi driver (between honks) if he knew where we could secure one and he mentioned a town about 40 minutes away. Of course, he'd be happy to drive us there. B decided to ask the erhu player last night when they assembled for the dance and before he began playing the same song over and over and over and over and...(forgive me, I've got this song stuck in my head) where to find one. He told her of a location across town but said I'd probably not be able to select a good one. He offered to go with us to make the purchase.

Tonight Brigitte, Judy and I prepared to travel across town to look for one when Kevin realized what we were seeking. He said there was a music store just across the street from our apartment complex that sells them. He was right. Judy, Brigitte and I crossed the street (no small fete in Asia), walked into the store, and found my erhu. Brigitte insisted on purchasing it for me for Father's Day, which she did. I am now the proud owner of an erhu.

I'm willing to bet money that I'm the only non-musical pastor in all of the USAmerica who is the owner of an erhu. Can't say I can make it sound good, but I can make it sound. But then, so can my granddaughters.

Two year old Trinity can make it sound better than I can. But then, she's lived in Asia most of her life, so she has a built-in advantage.
Tomorrow we play the role of tourist and travel further up into the mountains. Kevin and Brigitte are taking a couple of days off to travel with us. What this means is that you won't be subjected to a new blog post for a couple of days. Try to survive without updates from this side of the world. You can do it, I know you can.

Taxi question and other thoughts

Day 5 has been a fun, fun day. We made a couple of trips in a taxi and I made a discovery. What do you think is the first thing to wear out on an Asian taxi? Nope, not the breaks, they don't use them all that much. No, it's not the signal lights--for the same reason. Not the engine either, even though they do use their engines a lot. Give up? It's the..................horn. Yep, the horn is the most used item on an Asian taxi. Tonight I counted 15 hpm (honks per minute for the non-initiated Asian rider). Training for an Asian taxi drive consists of, well, actually  nothing. I think the taxi companies spend a lot of time at the bumper car places and pick the person who was bumped the least. Riding in an Asian taxi is very similar to being a passenger in a bumper car.

      Today Judy, Brigitte and I took the girls to a local amusement park while Kevin worked. We all had a good time. I absolutely loved watching the girls explore the rides.  Grace has become a thill-seeker and just loves the roller coaster. Granna was such a good sport and enjoyed the ride as well. Everything is much more fun when experienced with a 5-year old. "Go Granna!"

Of course, when you're only 2 you have to settle for a less wild ride. Trinity  wanted the big horse. Granna's get to ride for free. "Go Granna!"

And what is a trip to an amusement park without ice cream. Trinity is showing the typical Asian stance. My knees just won't cooperate when I attempt this stance.

Tonight Brigitte and I had a daughter/dad night and went to the local Old Town. We observed the epitome of Chinglish in this sign. See if you can figure out what the sign is attempting to say.

My interpretaion is "Stupid American--keep off the grass!"

In keeping with the weird theme I've got going at the moment, I want to let you in on a secret I discovered. Elvis is alive and well and living in Asia. Here's proof:

What this guy lacked in talent he more than overcompensated for with volumn and reverb in his speakers. (My ears stopped bleeding about a half-hour ago.)

I would be remiss if I left out a decent picture of Old Town. It is beautiful with gorgeous water gardens. I shot this while on a small bridge spanning the stream that flows throughout the area.

This is a beautiful part of the world. While I often claim to have left my farm-boy roots behind, I really haven't. My attention is continually drawn to the beautiful plants and the growing gardens here. Maybe tomorrow I can get a few shots of the gardens they grow along the side of the streets. Any place--and I really do mean ANY place there's a square foot of ground available--they use it to grow food. Got to love their use of the land. They'll use the space until someone "paves paradise and puts in a parking lot."
     It's been a great day here in Asia. The granddaughters have warmed the cockles of my heart repeatedly today. At this moment they've had their baths and snacks, have said their prayers and had their Bible story, sang their songs and are tucked in--hopefully--for the night. Good evening from the other side of the world.

Random Thoughts

Today is day 4 of our grand adventure in Asia. Yesterday we spent some time with like-minded folks and celebrated Father's goodness. Then we did the one thing we most had in common--we went to eat. Absolutely love the food in this area of the world. They actually have beef here--not just water buffalo. (Insert radom thought here: the girls are playing music from the Veggie Tales record and the song playing now is "Everybody has a water buffalo." That's not strange at all in this part of the world.) They prepare the beef in the most unusual and tasty way possible. Absolutely love it.
My respect and admiration for our kids living here in Asia increases exponentially (mark it down--two posts in a row using the word exponentially)each time we're with them. Just doing life here is a full-time job. It's almost like the natives have figured out the most challenging, taxing and tiring way to do things, and made that normal. Take plumbing. The Asians just stink at plumbing (pun intended). For example, the sink in the bathroom. Every side of the sink is angled. Great for drainage; not so great for setting things. Try shaving when the can of lather keeps falling into the water and the razor won't stay in place. Then, when draining the water con stubble, don't drain it too fast. For some unexplainable reason, not all the water can escape quickly via the sink drain, so it spills out onto the bathroom floor. OR, have they ingenously discovered how to multi-task: shave AND wash your feet at the same time. Maybe there's some theraputic value to having your feet marinating in shaving cream and whisker stubble.
And the bath tub con shower. The bottom of the tub is ribbed. Extremely uncomfortable and challenging to stand for showering. OR, have they again ingenously figured out how to conserve water. No one can withstand the pain of standing on those ribs for more than .645 minutes. BRILLIANT?!?!
Yes, life in Asis is challenging. But my kids have adapted because they love the Asian people and desperately want them to know the Truth. And at the end of the day, so do I. But I must confess, it would be nice if it was someone else's kids, not mine, helping them know the Truth. I also know that if they don't do it, no one else will. So there are here with my blessings and admiration.

End of the World

Judy and I are in Asia visiting family. Yesterday, my first day in Asia, (after spending 32 hours in transit the very long day before) I traveled with some new friends to look for a unique people group. We traveled some rough roads. Now that I think about it, I traveled almost as much distance vertically (as in bouncing up an down) as horizontally. We congressed (if pro is positive and con is negative, what is the natural opposite of progress?) through roads. We began with smooth highways, congressed to cobblestone, then to dirt. Each step of the congress slowed us down exponentially (been waiting for an opportunity to use that word). We saw georgous scenery and interesting people. A couple of the villages we went through were having market day. You should see market day in a small village in Asia. I can't begin to describe all the things for sale, nor adequately convey the smells of the street-vendor food. My memory took us to a scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark when Indiana Jones was looking for a kidnapped person. Remember how the street vendors just closed in on them? That is a reasonable comparison to market day in a small village in Asia.
We finally arrived at our desired location by late afternoon. We'd stopped for lunch around 2:30 and had some very tasty food. When we arrived at our location about an hour after lunch, we looked up the side of the mountain and was able to see our restaurant. It wasn't far away, distance wise, but over an hour by car. We found some villages situated on the side of the mountain, unaccessible by car. We hiked up the side of the mountain and attempted to visit with the villagers. They didn't speak the same language as the rest of the people of the country. After several attempts, we finally found a man who could speak the common language.
While my friends communicated with him, I stayed up on the high ground to pray for the contact. As I surveyed the scenery, it occured to me that these mountains were more than mountains. While they were indeed beautiful and provided a livelihood for the residents, they were also prisons. These folks were totally unaware of things taking place in the rest of the world. Because they were so remote and isolated, they knew nothing of the things we take for granted. They had no knowledge of our Lord--hadn't ever heard His name before. They had no knowledge of the things taking place in their world. Their world consisted of their mountain pass. Now I realize some will think this is great--to have a self-contained world. But the experiences they are missing are mind boggling.
Yesterday my world vision was expanded by our trip while I realized other folks will never have the opportunity to expand theirs. I am a blessed man.
Last night I got a good nights' sleep. When I awoke this morning, everyone else was in the living room talking and laughing. I really wanted to get up but couldn't find a way to get uncomfortable in bed. Really, every way I turned was comfortable. Finally decided to just suck-it-up and get out of bed. Glad I did. Our daughter had make pumpkin bread out of butternut squash and it was AMAZING. Thank you, daughter, for taking care of your father. Judy and I are thrilled (and stiff and sore and dealing with jet-lag) and so happy to be here.
I'll blog as often as I can while we're here in Asia. Oh, I titled my post "End of the World." What I didn't mention is that we really didn't travel to the end of the world yesterday, but we could see it from our final destination. It was beautiful, but very remote.

When Thoughts Don't Align with Truth

POINT OF REFERENCE: Joshua 7:7 Almighty, Lord, why did You bring these people across the Jordan River? Was it to hand us over to the Amorites so that they could destroy us? I wish we had been content to live on the other side of the Jordan!
Joshua is the new leader of Israel at this point and has met with huge successes. The nation has crossed the Jordan River—ON DRY GROUND DURING FLOOD SEASON—after a 40-year hiatus in the wilderness. They’d wasted 40 years out of sheer disobedience to God. But all that is changing. They’re now in the Promised Land and had their first military victory. God took down the walls of Jericho so Israel could prevail over their foes. God was bringing judgment upon the people of Canaan for their many years of outright sin and rebellion against the one true God. The Lord was using Joshua and the army of Israel to accomplish His purposes. Joshua should have been higher than a kite in March. He wasn’t.
My degree in psychology (yes, really, I DO have a degree in psychology) gives me just enough insight to be dangerous. My own struggle with mild depression gives me some first-hand experience on the subject as well. And my training and experience tell me Joshua was depressed. Fresh-on-the-heels of two major advancements (the Jordan crossing and the Jericho victory), Israel suffered a major set-back. The puny city of Ai had kicked their tails and cost the lives of 36 soldiers. For the first time an Israeli soldier had shed his blood fighting for his country. Beyond the loss of life was the sense of despair. Look at how the Bible describes it: Israel’s troops lost heart and were scared stiff. The old fear their parents/grandparents had lived with resurfaced. To Joshua things appeared hopeless. I wish we had been content to live on the other side of the Jordan!
No doubt Joshua is second-guessing his leadership skills. Perhaps he’s even questioning the wisdom of following God and crossing the Jordan. It’s entirely possible that he flashed-back to a day 40 years ago when 10 of the 12 spies talked the people out of attempting to conquer Canaan and had a few fleeting thoughts that “maybe they were right after all.”
Look back to Joshua 1:3 and 5 to see what God had earlier told Joshua: I will give you every place on which you set foot, as I promised Moses. (5) No one will be able to oppose you successfully as long as you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will never neglect you or abandon you. Do you think Joshua might have felt like he was getting mixed signals from the Lord? What in the world had happened?
God had NOT changed His mind nor gone back on His promise. He had NOT abandoned Joshua. What had happened was that Israel had disobeyed God. Not the whole nation, just one man, a guy named Achan. But the sin of that one man had affected the whole nation just like a plague begins with a single case. God had a special relationship with Israel and the nation was about to get hit with a spiritual virus. God dealt with it immediately. Joshua didn’t know what or why it had happened. He just felt betrayed, neglected and abandoned. He began to express thoughts that didn’t align with truth.
And that’s one of the problems of depression—our thoughts don’t align with God’s reality. Things appear worse than they really are. We mistakenly believe we’ve been abandoned. We feel hurt, alone, and often wish to die. When I was out of ministry there were days when I told the Lord, “You know I don’t believe in suicide and won’t actually do anything to harm myself. However, if You could see Your way to let a semi-truck run a red light and take me out, I’d be fine with that. I’d be out of my misery and my family could get a pile of money from the trucking company for the accident.” THANK YOU GOD FOR NOT HONORING THAT PRAYER!
God proved His faithfulness to never abandon Joshua. God spoke to him about sin in the camp and told him how to deal with it. Joshua did and God restored the power and might of the Israeli army.
Watch out for fits of depression when your plans get interrupted. Don’t allow your thoughts to get out of alignment with God’s word. It might not be that God has changed His mind or that you’ve missed God’s plan for your life. It just might be that your life has gotten out of balance and God is stopping you for realignment. Are you doing the right thing but in the wrong way? Is there an Achan in your life that’s threatening to infect your spiritual life with a damaging sin virus? Regardless, do what Joshua did—he got on his face before the Lord. Yes, he was whining about some things, but God can handle our whining. What doesn’t work is our withdrawing from Him. Draw near unto Him and He will draw near to you. Watch to see how God will restore you. He always keeps His promises.

Risking Success

Point of Reference: Joshua 6:1 Jericho was bolted and barred shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites.
The cowardly Israelites 40 years earlier made a rush-to-judgment about Canaan and incorrectly assumed it was an unconquerable land. Jericho assumed, rightly so, that the invading Israeli army was unstoppable. But because of the false assumption of the Israelites the correct assumption of the people of Jericho failed to materialize—for 40 years. Weird, the enemies of God’s people had a better handle on reality than did God’s people. God’s people failed to risk success for fear of failure.
This whole scenario got me to thinking (a dangerous thing) about other times the people of God failed to achieve what God had planned because they/we feared failure. We’ve scaled back on plans because they were too aggressive and “we probably wouldn’t be able to afford it.” Never mind that God said, “Do it” and was on the hook to provide the funds; it didn’t seem feasible and do-able, so we didn’t risk success for fear of failure.
Nothing in my experience compares to attacking a walled city, like Jericho, with a battle plan similar to what God gave Joshua. Verses 3-5 read: All the soldiers will march around the city once a day for 6 days. Seven priests will carry rams’ horns ahead of the ark. But on the 7th day you must march around the city 7 times while the priests blow their horns. When you hear a long blast on the horn, all the troops must shout very loudly. The wall around the city will collapse. Then the troops must charge straight ahead into the city. Strangest battle plan ever devised. March daily for 6 days, on the 7th day make 7 trips around the city, then blow horns and shout. Much easier than battering rams and siege ramps that would take months, maybe even years, to complete. If a pastor today suggested such a ridiculous strategy for advancing the Kingdom of God, he’d be fired on the spot.
Perhaps it was because they had just crossed the Jordan River on dry ground (God parted the water for them) and saw first-hand what God was capable of doing. Perhaps it was because they liked having a new leader and Joshua had successfully delivered them onto Canaan’s soil. Perhaps it was because they had finally learned to trust God. Perhaps…it doesn’t matter the perhaps, they did what God told Joshua to have them do. They marched and probably looked ridiculous in the process. But they chose to risk success OVER the fear of failure. And God honored their work. Jericho fell.
It’s time we take a new look at ventures the Lord is leading us to attempt. We sit down and count the cost—which is Biblical. But usually we discount the intangible leading of the Lord over the tangible visible cost. We often allow our fear of failure to stop us from moving forward. We don’t want to risk failure. But WHAT IF we were willing to risk success? Nothing of significance has ever been accomplished without a certain amount of risk. The successful folks were willing to risk failure because they knew/know you can’t have success without the option of failure.
Are you facing any challenges today that have you in a quandary? Are you unable to make a decision for fear of failure? Is the risk of success an option? Bet it is!