Archive - June, 2008

Dr. Michael Brown’s “Line of Fire” Radio on 5 Nights A Week

June 26, 2008 in Commentary with 2 Comments

I recently had a chance to spend some time with a mentor and friend, Dr. Michael Brown, as he filled in on the radio for the well known evangelical radio personality, Stu Epperson. Once we hit the studio, Dr. Brown took to the radio format like a duck to water. He talked about revival and how to discern a true move of God.

It is great to see Dr. Brown in this format among evangelical giants like Ravi Zacharias, Greg Laurie, Charles Stanley, Chuck Swindoll, and even John MacArthur and Hank Hanegraaf. Doc may be the only Charismatic background speaker in the whole station lineup.  He is definately up for the challenge and the station seems eager for the diversity that Dr. Brown brings.  Whether you agree with his perspective or not, at least there will never be a lack of things to talk about! Continue Reading…

Missions & Extreme Makeover

June 23, 2008 in Commentary with 2 Comments

I love the show Extreme Makeover Home Edition.  I think epitomizes the heart and soul of America and what we are capable of as a country.

I have enjoyed watching families who are in desperate situations have their lives completely changed because of the service of an army of volunteers and the over the top generosity of the show itself.

As I watch the show each Sunday night, it reminds me of so many things.

It reminds me of

  • the “over the top” grace  and goodness of God that is exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or think.
  • how we can all take the little we have, some more than others, put it all together in a common cause and see incredible results.
  • the value of missions work where our lives our changed even as God changes the lives of the people through us.
  • heaven; where all that will matter while on this Earth is whether we truly loved God and loved people.

Finally it reminds me that it’s not really work when you love what you’re doing.

Influence: Brad and Sarah Cronbaugh

June 20, 2008 in Development with 0 Comments

I am back with my series on people who have influenced me with a couple I met while in Okinawa Japan.  While stationed in Sasebo Japan as a Hospital Corpsman in the Navy, our ship the USS Belleau Wood, would travel to Okinawa to pick up Marines before heading out for maneuvers.  Each time we pulled into a port, I would take a few men with me and seek out a local church to visit.  While we were at a local serviceman’s center, I picked up the phone book and called a local Okinawan Missions church to ask them to send someone one to pick us up.

The church sent future missionaries, Brad and Sarah Cronbaugh.  Sarah was still in the Air Force, but they were preparing to go to Central Asia to scout out the area for future work with Interdev.  Before the service, they took us over to their place and fed us lunch.  While we sat talking about life and ministry, Brad came back to the front room with an arm full of books. Continue Reading…

We Sold Our Home! and We Are “A Go” for Mexico!

June 19, 2008 in Development with 1 Comment

What?  You thought we were going to Thailand?  Well, the Lord spoke to us….and…..

just kidding! 

Actually we are still moving forward with our plans to launch to Thailand after the first of the year, but we have missions orientation and training in Cuernavaca, Mexico from Sept 12-Nov 22.  More on this in just a moment.  But before we could go to the orientation/training we needed to sell our home.

In today’s market and with the number of homes out there, ours could have sat on the market for months, or even worse, before getting a serious buyer.  Even then, getting a QUALIFIED buyer is harder than it used to be, especially if they have little money down and credit bumps.  That being said, let me just brag on God! Continue Reading…

Brady Boyd Visits Freedom House Church & Updates on Life

June 18, 2008 in Commentary with 1 Comment

Hi everyone!  I know it’s been awhile since I did a personal update, but alot has been going on.  I can barely keep up with it all!  So, I’ll give you the breakdown and also tell you a little about our recent visit by Pastor Brady Boyd of New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Continue Reading…

Influence: Steve Hill

June 12, 2008 in Development with 2 Comments

I am continuing my series on men and women of God who have influenced me and helped me to become the man I am today.

It’s been exciting to think of introducing many of you to these men and women for the first time.

Many of you know the story, but for those of you who don’t, Steve Hill was an atheist turned missionary-evangelist before becoming the Evangelist of the Brownsville Revival.

On Father’s Day of 1995, Steve preached for John Kilpatrick at the Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, FL and the supernatural presence of God fell on the place.

Years later, meetings continued on every day of the week, millions from all over the world, hundreds of thousands of lives were radically changed, and many people were activated into their ministries and callings.  Continue Reading…

Influence: Alexander “Sandy” Carson

June 10, 2008 in Development with 2 Comments

Alexander Carson, or “Sandy” as he is known by his friends is one of these men that should have received alot more recognition and platform, in my opinion, than he ever did.  I met Sandy in 1996 just as I was getting serious about my faith.  At 80 years old, he is still a dear friend to this day.  I don’t remember every detail of his story, but here is what I know from memory.

Sandy grew up in the Northeast and became a Catholic priest after graduting from Tufts University in Boston.  He loved the priesthood and helping people.  He received a call to serve in Louisiana and became known as the minister on the motorcycle because of his chosen mode of transportation.  This was a strange site for many to see, a priest on a motorcycle.  Continue Reading…

Influence: Dr. Michael L. Brown

June 9, 2008 in Development with 2 Comments

I will take a few posts to recognize men of God who have impacted my life.

I will start off with a mentor and friend, Dr. Michael Brown.  I have never met a man like Dr. Michael Brown.  He has had a profound influence on my life and ministry.  I first met Dr. Brown in the summer of 1996 when he was teaching day sessions on revival history and characteristics.  I was a 20 year old military man just starting my Christian walk.  His teachings riveted me and when he talked about starting a new school of ministry in 1997, I was all in. Continue Reading…

A Missionary Guide To Cross Cultural Work

June 2, 2008 in Missions with 3 Comments

If I speak with the tongue of a national, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal.

If I wear the national dress and understand the culture and all forms of etiquette, and if I copy all the mannerisms so that I could pass for a national, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor, and if I spend my energy without reserve, but have not love, I am nothing.

Love endures long hours of language study, and is kind to those who mock his accent, love does not envy those who stayed at home, love does not exalt his home culture, is not proud of national superiority.

Love does not boast about the way we do it back home, does not seek his own ways, is not easily provoked into telling about the beauty of his home country, does not think evil of this culture.

Love bears all criticism about his home culture, believes all good things about this new culture, confidently anticipates being at home in this place, endures all inconveniences.

Love never fails, but where there is cultural anthropology, it will fail, where there is linguistics, it will change.  For we know only part of the culture and we minister to only part of the culture.  But when Christ is reproduced in this culture, then our inadequacies will be insignificant.

When I was in America I spoke as a American I understood as a American I thought as a American, but when I left America, I put away American things.

Now we adapt to this culture awkwardly, but He will live in it intimately, now I speak with a strange accent, but He will speak to the heart.

And now these three remain; cultural adaptation, language study and love, but the greatest of these is love.

I found this clever play off of I Cor 13 on the YWAM Thailand site. It’s a great guide to being a missionary. Definately makes you think…