Declared outcasts

I could be in this picture

Some families embroil themselves in destructive behaviors. It isn't another family somewhere.  I own this one.  My first Al-anon reading from "Hope for today," described behaviors with amazing clarity.

"One of the family's methods for coping with the insanity...has been to declare certain members outcasts.  The decision is never overt, and explanations are never made openly.  The outcasts simply find themselves excluded from the family for a period of time. I sometimes have been judge, sacrificial lamb, or member of the lynch mob."

page 80, March 20

Al-anon emphasizes family members are creatures of God whose shortcomings are beyond my power to change.  Some are not even yet to the point of making amends regarding damage done by participating in adult family habits of casting members out.  Unwritten family codes unravel.

I am praying and surrendering to detach with love and respect from those traveling down paths I choose to avoid.

"Thought for the day:  A statue looks different depending on the angle from which I view it.  If I change the angle from which I view my family members, they might look different, too."

Our Al-anon group focused on Step Nine which is: "Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."

One looks for miracles waiting for the death of an addictive parent by seeking to be kind and loving.  Anger and bitterness still torment.  She has lost her home due to unemployment and asked the Lord to take the wheel.  She cried.

Several respond to family substance abuse by repeated isolation.  They express a need to take care of themselves.  Caring for the needs of others when uninvited is intruding on unwelcome ground.  

 

Some love their own soap operas.  Family dark sides disorient reality. Crises are addicting.  We either have one or create one.  Some are gifted at identifying them for others.  

"You have a crisis.  There, see it?"

We are off to our next crisis.  Sitting at peace is hard.  Al-anon is seen as a spiritual program.  God has a plan. 

We are neither perfect parents nor were we perfect children.  We might be dealing with angry spirits developed from childhood.  We have no idea how to solve our problems nor anybody else's.  Only God knows.  We need safe places to cry.  One was told her stress level was like a Vietnam vet.  Life has no boredom.  She tries waiting but is not comfortable.  

Another Al-anon concept is: "don't just do something, sit there."

Roadblocks are overwhelming.  Everything goes wrong.  More tears.  Fear of further disappointment leaves us frozen.

There is HOPE.  The Lord Himself gives us peace beyond our understanding.

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

“Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!”

The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.   Selah

Psalm 46:10-11

Hula hoops and detachment

Control what's inside my hula hoop

When a family member continues addictive patterns, I recognize the squalling opportunities to gossip or cause a big drama.  The world starts to be a big drama.  With the family struggling with addiction, there is always a daily soap opera.   

Stop!   

Crazy-making swirls all around, from one incident to the next.  I can’t fix my addicted child.  I can work on myself. What are my issues and needs?

A couple of weeks ago, I started attending an Al-anon group Saturday mornings in Kent and am learning critical life lessons.  Al-anon is for family members of those who struggle with a wide spectrum of addiction issues.  

One Al-anon word picture I am applying is the hula-hoop model.  I control the hula hoop space around me.  I can control and work on what is inside my hula hoop personal space.

Focus on what is really true.  I can seek His spiritual food by seeking God and reading the word of God.  I can read Al-anon materials.  I am not anybody’s savior.  Stop trying to save the world.  They are not asking to be saved from their addictions.  I am to take care of myself and my issues.  The addicted person’s issues are not my business.  I need to learn and respect boundaries.

How much space is inside the hula hoop?

I can gain experience, strength, and hope from other people’s stories.  I, myself, need to look beyond what certain other people did to me.  That is really an issue for me. 

Am I in the habit of doing what I say I will do? Do I commit to leaving things alone, giving the process time,  and then going back on my commitment? 

In dealing with the deep wounds of life, some really struggle with what to do with themselves when they are alone.  These troubled ones are really stressed when they get home and are alone.  When they are working or busy, they feel functional.  They have a deep need to always be busy and working so they don't think about how much hurts.

Some people need safe places to cry.  They can’t talk, yet, or now.  Crying is very good.

Servants and Puritans of vigilance

One of my most favorite library and ministry mentor- friends is Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones.  I highly recommend all of his books and sermons.  I listen to a selection of his sermons regularly.  If you would like to hear for yourself, check out:Martyn Lloyd Jones sermons

His words on the bombing raids by the Germans on London speak to our contemporary setting. This color footage from the blitz and it rewinds me to 9-11-2001:German blitz on London

"During the air raids many of us, indeed most of us, objected to the restrictions that were imposed upon us by the army commanders. 

"We objected to dark blinds and shaded lights. We objected because we did not realize the danger, we did not realize that we were at the mercy of those powers that were in the air or might be there at any moment. But the army commanders knew and carried out the preparations on our behalf."

PA

Our high school and college-aged groups from Faith Baptist Church are preparing for July missions trips to Fort Macleod, Alberta and Costa Rica.  I am planning on going with Pastor Aaron Bauer the high schoolers so these words on spiritual warfare really speak to me.

“The Puritan is not the strong man. He is a very weak man who has been given strength to realize that he is weak. I would say of all men and women that we are all weak, very weak, the difference being that the sinners do not appreciate the fact that they are weak, whereas the Christians do.

"I have mentioned Baxter, Bunyan and Fox, but if you wish to have the best description of all of what Puritanism means, read the epistles of St. Paul. 

"Sin is ignorance, and we object to the restrictions and the vigor of the Puritan regime, but let me remind you that the Puritans are, and were, the commanders-in-chief of God’s garrison upon earth.

"Is it surprising that, to the Puritan, life is a serious matter, demanding the whole of his time and attention? If you have once seen the face of God, there is nothing else worth seeing as far as you are concerned. All these other things merely obscure the vision, therefore they must be swept away … 

"If anything interferes with the worshiping of God it must be destroyed. … It is because of these feelings that the Puritan is always a crusader. To him, Christianity is a fight, a noble crusade, not merely a defensive action against the principalities and powers, but also a challenge to and an assault upon their fortress. … 

"Oh! how far have we wandered from this! ‘Plain living and high thinking’ are no more! The church is no longer distinct from the world, for instead of the church going out into the world we have allowed the world to capture the church from the inside. We nearly all recognize the position. When will we return to Puritanism? Let us be up and clear the brushwood and the thorns that have overgrown the face of our spiritual world!” (1:99-100).

Hungry right now

Julio is hungry to receive the salvation that only Jesus Christ can give.  He met me in Robert unit of the RJC and asked, really begged, to meet with me.  He is more comfortable with Spanish but speaks some English so we moved slowly but effectively.

He knew he wanted to understand more.  He attends the Resurrection Church, a Spanish-speaking congregation, in Tukwila, where Juan is the pastor. One transition step is to ask him what it means to be a Christian.

Remembering that Julio and I were  struggling with a language obstacle, he said it meant "surrendering ...and giving the Lord 100%," looking for my approval.  He is using a Spanish Bible and was reading a little because he wasn't getting too much out of his reading.  He said he wasn't applying it to himself.

He said he tried to get through Matthew and was starting to read through Markos.  I took him on a brief tour of Matthew

:

4:17  The message of Jesus was "repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand"

4:1-17  Jesus wants you to hear, obey, and bear fruit

4:18-19  Jesus said, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men."

6:33  Jesus tells us to seek first His Kingdom and righteousness

7:21-25 Jesus is the Foundation Rock through te storms of life

28:19-20  Jesus wants us to be and make disciples of all nations

Mark 10:45 Jesus came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many

Surrendering and giving 100% is right-on but every believer first needs to receive and rest forever in what Jesus Christ has done once for all.  Jesus paid the price and did all the work.  Jesus took all our sins upon Himself at the cross--past, present, and future, ALL our sins, and covered us with His blood and clothed us with His righteousness-- that's called "the Great Exchange."

We moved to 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, the greatest news message of salvation in two verses:

"For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him."

2 Corinthians 6:1-3 brings the supernatural miracle work of salvation to right here, right now.

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says,“In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation..."

So, nothing else needs to be required to receive eternal life.  Jesus Christ died for us.  We can hear and obey the message of salvation.  

We can live with Jesus forever, starting right now.  

It is a Grace-Favorable Time right here, right now.

I prayed with Julio and he was ready.  He is studying a worksheet and answering the questions in Spanish.  He agreed to write his own prayer thanking Jesus for saving him,  when he is ready.







6:

The Dread Warrior of Salvation

Rick and Carol Stark, missionaries

Career missionaries Rick and Carol Stark from Brazil shared some practical steps of evangelism with our high school class at Faith Baptist Church, this past Sunday.  He focused on Jesus Christ being the dread warrior of salvation--in the warfare of salvation, Jesus always wins and seeks the needy. 

"But the Lord is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.  

"O Lord of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind,  let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.

"Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers."  Jeremiah 20:11-13

Youth in Crackland, Brazil

"And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you." Luke 10:6 

Whether speaking to the deepest domains of darkness in Brazil's Crackland, our July 8-15 mission destination of Fort McLeod, Alberta, Canada, or our 51 other weeks in our high schools and community, those who desire to share the eternal, saving work in Jesus are warrior sons and daughters of peace. 

Here is a depiction of "Crackland in Brazil:  Crackland exposed in Brazil

The adversary and enemy of salvation does not want anyone seeking to be bring the message of salvation to the worlds we live in.  Rick suggested the enemy wants us and every listener to be concerned about  ourselves with evil deception and self-focus.  Some of the thoughts might be like:  

• Maybe I won't be popular.  
• I am too messed up to talk about Jesus?  
• What will my friends or those people think of me?

Rick gave us an incredibly key question to ask someone in our conversations to transition to presenting Jesus and salvation through Him:

Jesus is our saving anchor

Hope like an achor

Osvaldo, an inmate, today received Christ to become a child of God while we shared 1-on-1 at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.  

We began sharing together Monday afternoon as he was searching.  I encouraged him to read John 3, 10, and 14 and arranged to follow-up with any questions or responses.  I also passed on  "An anchor for the soul," by Ray Pritchard.

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast, and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered  as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."  
Hebrews 6:19-20
                                                                       the great exchange

by Ray Pritchard

Osvaldo read in the chapter on "the great exchange," in "Anchor for the soul," so I outlined this Biblical theme.  The Lord Jesus takes away all our sins--past, present, and future--placing them on Himself on the cross, once for all.  In response, He clothes us with His righteousness and covers us with His blood.

The prophet writes, "Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and you cannot look on wickedness with favor," Habakkuk 1:13 As the guilty sinner who is believing Him for salvation, the Father looks on you and me with favor and receives us as His children.  

In the eternal courtroom of heaven, Jesus acts as our lawyer and announces,  
"He died for our sins according to the Scriptures, " 1 Corinthians 15:3;  

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him," 2 Corinthians 5:21

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us...,"  1 Peter 3:18


"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit."   Galatians 3:13

The very heart of the gospel message is that Jesus Christ paid for all of our sins in full.  

Ray Pritchard summarizes what the Father has said about the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ:

• He is the Savior of the world, and the only way to God, the Father.
• He came from heaven for you.
• He died on the cross, paying the price for your sins.
• He rose from the dead on the third day.
• He is ready to forgive you.
• He wants to give you His perfect righteousness.

 Jesus invites every new believer to "come and follow Me." 

Where we were on 9-11

• 

  flag raising on 9-11-200

  Can you recall where you were on September 11, 2001 when you learned of the multiple attacks in New York and Washington D.C.?
  
  Our radio alarm was set for 5:45 A.M. and as it clicked on, we heard the KIRO news report of the first plane flying into the World Trade Center.  We needed confirmation as it all was surreal.  We turned on the TV news and shortly thereafter saw the report of the second airplane.  It looked like some kind of animation.
  
  We learned of the Pentagon crash and a Todd Beamer flight that crashed in a Pennsylvania field, perhaps headed for the White House, or who knew where.  Was there more?
  
  There was a video of Usama bin Laden claiming credit for the attack.  I remember an aide whispered in the ear of President Bush as he visited an elementary school classroom. 
  
  Here is a YouTube video as President was informed of the attack:
  Read to Suceed on 9-11 with the President
  
  
  The world stage was changing as we knew it and we had no idea what future implications might be. Katharine and I were dazed. I am not rejoicing over this political assassination of bin Laden.  His actions and life were evil.  He faces an eternity separated from the mercy and love of God in hell. That sickens me.
  
  We must pray faithfully over the next days, weeks, and months.  Draw near to the Lord Jesus.  Speak to others about Jesus.  Walk in His love.
  
  What can we learn about what the Lord God thinks about all these things?
  
  

  "At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done?' "   Daniel 4:34-35

  

  Attack at the Twin Towers

  
  I asked Facebook friends.  Here is what others shared:
  
  Greg Benton said,"I too was relieved and somewhat rejoicing that justice had been done. I was on the U.S.S. Constellation on 9/11 between Hawaii and San Diego."
  
  
  
  "I was immediately sobered on Sunday night when I heard on the radio that there was joyful celebrating over the death of OBL. Somehow it seemed like celebrating would not be something Jesus would have been doing, "Marcia Ruark said. 
  
  
   Lynn reminded Marcia of Ezekiel 33:11, "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live."
  
  Chris Sherry: "I was just barely out of high school and fell asleep with the TV on and woke up to the news coverage. I was dating someone in the military at the time and our entire household literally disappeared for a few days after reporting for PT that... morning. (3 room mates out of 5 of us living there were in the military!) 

  
  
  "I am both relieved and rejoicing at the same time. Not rejoicing for someone's death, but rejoicing for the closure that so many families have been waiting for. While this may or may not end the war in the middle east, this will definitely bring peace to so many families that have had to go on living without their loved ones, and for THAT I rejoice! :)"
  
    "I was relieved," Mary Vance Nasvik said, "but not joyous. I wonder about retaliation."
  
  "We were in Manila," Cal Redmond wrote, "and because it was 12 hours different than Eastern time, I had fallen asleep. My wife woke me up, showed me CNN on our cable, and then I woke up and realized what happened. After the first plane, I thought maybe it could be a horrible accident, but after second plane, I knew it was terrorist action. People in Manila I didn't know extended their sympathy to me as an American for about 2 weeks."

"Although I know he was dangerous and full of hatred," Gail Morris reflected, "I could never  rejoice in anyone's death, especially when I know he will burn in hell. I would rather they had captured him instead and imprisoned him. But they had to do what they had to do under the circumstances. Just can't rejoice in it."

Snatched seeds

What happens to the seed?

Some evangelism seems to fall flat.  In the parable of the seed, sower and soil, Jesus paints a word picture of the message of salvation falling on rocky soil and eaten by birds.

"The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them."  Mark 4:14-15

The word snatched away by Satan, according to Mark's account.  We don't know the whole story when the Lord gives us opportunities to evangelize.  The snatching represents front line spiritual warfare.

We may also be:

• watering the soil
• fertilizing the soil
• loosening up the soil 

Isaiah presents another very strong assurance as each of us faithfully presents the seed, the message of truth.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth,making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

Dan, a member of our Chaplaincy Advisory Group at the RJC, recently requested I follow-up with Mike, an inmate at the Regional Justice Center in Kent.  Dan also meets with inmates at the RJC as a member of a local church in Kent.

Mike apparently requested to be moved to participate in Bible study and fellowship in his unit.

He received materials from me when I met with him, the first time. He was very brief and not enthusiastic.  Mike told me he was a new believer and just beginning during our first visit.

I suggested Felipe, next cell, follow-up to encourage him and see where it might go.  He reported Mike expressed feeling pressured and wanted to find his way on his own.  He did not want help.

God faithfully uses His word for His glory

I met with Mike a second time, last week.  He was less enthusiastic than the first time.  He had not read any of the materials I gave him, nor his Bible, and felt like my visits were too much pressure.  He denied  wanting to have Bible study and fellowship, from the beginning.  

I actively pray for Mike and others like him. Dan believes he responded favorably to the message of salvation, earlier.


He is free to send me a request for a visit or share with another chaplain should he be interested.

More evidences of God's providence

World Series ticket

Every once in awhile, we get chances to treat other people right.  In my case, today, it was about treating a father and son right.

More than that, we recognized how the Lord Himself sovereignly places people and circumstances together for a testimony of His amazing faithful providence.

Perry bobblehead

I went to a "fan go round" at Cheney Stadium to see some of my friends and to get an autograph on a Gaylord Perry bobble-head.  I was standing in a long line and started talking with Eric and his son Karl.

The Lord had other, greater plans, again. There were a series of "God incidences," not coincidences.

They had a ticket and program for the  Game 5 World Series perfect game by Yankee Don Larsen over the Brooklyn Dodgers on October 8, 1956.

Larsen finished his baseball career in 1968 with six games for the Tacoma Tugs and was at "the fan go round" as a special guest and to sign memorabilia along with Perry.

Don Larsen

Eric and Karl were getting their autograph and hustling back over to Columbia Junior High in Fife where Karl was playing in a weekend select baseball tournament.

Gaylord Perry

They got their autograph and quickly skedaddled for their game at Columbia.  We didn't say good-bye and I didn't even see them leave.  All of a sudden, another man discovered the ticket on the floor less than ten feet from me.  I immediately saw what it was because Eric showed it to me so I told the other man who briefly gave it to me.

At that point, I knew where Eric and Karl were planning to be but I didn't even know their names.  My credibility wasn't very strong.  The man who discovered it graciously took the ticket back saying he was afraid it might be sold on-line. 

I might not have seen this man find the ticket nor where Eric and Karl were on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.  He did the right thing, too, and called the Rainiers personnel.

I got my signature and skedaddled myself to Columbia to locate Eric and Karl.  

They discovered the ticket was missing shortly after arriving at the parking lot at Columbia and had no idea where to look. They were pretty shook up, as we can all imagine. 

Hopefully, Eric will be able to connect with the Rainiers front office Monday and arrange to recover his autographed World Series ticket.  

I prayed with Eric before I came home, just thanking God for His remarkable faithfulness and providence.