One World?

The rain was pouring - no the rain was pounding. The rain had knocked the power out. The ceiling fan which had provided at least some comfort during the night had long since quite working. The air was hot and thick and hard to inhale. At least it was daylight.
I dreaded getting up.

I was way out of my comfort zone. My worrisome mind had already switched from adventure mode to survival mode. I worried about the river that we had to cross to make it home. It had already been flooded when we crossed the day before. This latest deluge would not help matters.

Our medical mission team had spent two grueling days working near a small Mayan village outside of Belmopan. We had seen over 900 people, most of which were children. We were exhausted. All that stood between us and the long road home that morning was getting the team safely back across the swollen river, driving through a few muddy miles of washed out jungle roads, and driving two hours through a monsoon on a broken down van with no windshield wipers.

As I lay there longing for home and the comfort and safety of my own bed God reminded me of the beautiful children that we had left behind the day before. I wondered if they were dry. I wondered if they were safe. The huts that these children call home were not adequate shelter against such a storm.

There are simply no words to describe the depth and the reality of the poverty that we witnessed last week.

I am now safely home. My house and my bed are even more comfortable than I had remembered - but for now at least - it hard for me to relax and enjoy them. God keeps reminding me that it is still raining on the children in Belmopan.

One world? I don’t think so….

The Long Road Home

We are finally home! It only took us 25 hours to make the trip. Only 8 of those hours were actually spent moving and going anywhere. The rest of the hours were spent sitting and waiting all courtasy of American Airlines.
There are lots of pictures and stories that I am anxious to share, but for now, seeing that we have only had 3 hours of sleep in the last 36 hours, I think that I 'm just going to bed!

Sarcasim and a Conflicting Message

In Honor of the up coming fourth of July Celebration, a very wise man sent me this link to "The Battle Hymn of The Republic." It is being performed by four High School Choirs along with a children's choir made up of elementary school children.


Click here: Battle Hymn Once it opens you may have to click the picture to get it going

The Battle Hymn of the Republic was written by Julia W. Howe in 1861. If you are an American it is very difficult to listen to this song without a lump in your throat or a tear in your eye. This song stirs very deep emotions. It is clearly, as the title suggest, a hymn. It speaks of the power of God, His righteous word, and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. While the emotion for most Americans may be simple patriotism, the emotion for the child of God is clearly worship.

The obvious point of this video is to put God back where he belongs in our nation. Everyone I know would be united and shout a hearty AMEN to this effort. Until of course you tried to sing this song in their church on Sunday morning, or heaven forbid show this video. This video is great for everyday life - real life - but it would be condemned and banned in most every church that I have ever attended.

How foolish and inconsistent would we be if we condemned this emotion and side tracked this effort by pointing out the sinfulness of choirs, and the blasphemy of using instrumental music in worship? The very idea of turning this into a commentary on church doctrine and instrumental music would be appalling- appalling indeed!

My point is this: Real life and church life should be the same. If it is acceptable and righteous to sing this song with true emotion at the high school football game on Friday night (with the marching band and choir) then why does it suddenly turn sinful on Sunday morning?

Am I the only one who sees hypocrisy and inconsistency here?

Count Down To Belize

Well, here we go again....
We leave on our Medical Mission Trip to Belize this Saturday.
The country has recently had torrential rains and flooding. Many of the roads and bridges were washed out so we really don't know what to expect.

This year is special because Krysi is going with us. It will be her first time on an airplane. I will keep you updated every chance I get, but for a daily update on our trip please see Russ' Blog. He usually post something about we are doing each day of the trip.

Please pray that God will lead us to the people who need us the most. We are going back to the village of Belmapan. We will try to find the little boy who was so sick last year. If you have not heard this story, or if you have forgotten, please look back at our post from last year. http://garyneat-garyanderson-garyneat.blogspot.com/2007/07/where-is-god.html

We plead for your prayers.

No Winners

Lately, when it comes to any subject that includes the idea of “us” against “them” I have been trying my best to keep my mouth (and my typing finger) shut.
It is not as if I no longer have strong opinions – I do.
It is just that through my ever so short silence I have observed and learned the following:

When it comes to religious infighting there are no winners.

No matter how well worded or good intentioned an argument, the conservatives remain conservative, the liberals remain liberal and the outsiders remain disgusted. Arguments do not change minds, hearts, or attitudes. Time and circumstances however, do.

Call it life, call it fate, call it the Holy Spirit if you are brave enough. But the truth is that only God can change someone's heart.

In my life, when I needed God the most, my legalistic attitude and my scripted answers and arguments were simply not enough. My iron clad interpretations and indisputable reasoning left me cold, alone and empty. God used Life's circumstances to do something that no argument could ever do - change me.

If God can change me, he can change anyone. So, give it time. Let God work. You will be amazed at the changes you see.

Missing Lynetta

This is day 3 of 6. Last Thursday I took Lynetta to the airport and sent her off to a Coding Conference in Florida. There is about one week per year that her job requires her to travel.
She has been doing this for several years now. I have always hated this week. I admit that I don't do well alone.

Well, apparently Lynetta is getting to where she does not do so well without me either. It seems that she managed to lock herself out of her hotel room twice in the same day. (actually within just a matter of about two hours)

The first time was understandable. She had the Card Key in an envelope stuck down in her back pocket. When she got to her room the envelope was still in her pocket, but the Card Key was gone. This was really no big deal. She just went to the front desk and explained the situation to the clerk. He told her that if she had some identification he could simply activate another Card for her. Luckily, she had her purse and wallet with her so the clerk simply gave her a new Card.

About an hour later she decided that she would go out and get some ice. She grabbed the ice bucket and the old Card Key (which was now deactivated) and headed down the hallway. When she returned with her bucket of ice she quickly discovered that the old Card Key no longer opened her door. So, back to the front desk she went - ice bucket in hand.

I am sure that the clerk remembered her. Perhaps he was just tired of seeing her. But again he insisted on seeing her identification which this time was back in the room in her purse. "No Identification - No Key" said the clerk. So there she stood with the ice melting in her bucket.

I would tell you how the story ends, but that would make it boring. Let's just leave her standing there awhile so I can enjoy the fact that just perhaps she needs me as bad as I need her.

I love you Neat :)

Stage Fright?

Chalk it it up to stage fright.
My meager little blog recently exploded with hits.
My loyal 30 - 40 family and friend readers all of the sudden ballooned into 300 - 400 hits per day. I really didn't have anything profound to say to that many people. Most of them, I suspect, were only looking for scandal anyway.
Thanks you for your support, prayers and concern for me. I am fine - perhaps a little jaded - but fine none the less.
Good Lord willing I will be back to my old boring self soon.