A Few More Pictures

Just thought I would throw together a few pictures today as I was not able to put them into the Blog the other days. I also am sleeping in due to a long day yesterday so consider this a little break for me from my usual writing.

This is the plate of food that I recieved while have ing lunch with Chandel and the other men in the transient tents in Kandahar. Top left is Curried potatoes and white beans. Below that a pork chop slightly overcooked on top of egg noodles. Along side is a few soggy potatoe wedges and above is some kind of flavorless chicked beef with gravy. That was it, no choices other than not eating. The ironic thing is that not 300 yards away is a DFAC that has more food then you could imagine but these men can not go there as they do not have ID's for KAF.

This is Chandel and another man who just happened to have lived in Shimla, the same town in which Chandel is from. We ate together at the picinic table where all the transient workes come to eat.

This is the "Outside Dining" here in South Park for the transient workers. Unlike back home being outside eating is not something special as the insect population is quiet considerable and you don't get your own private table.

It was nice eating with Chandel as I had not seen him in a few weeks. It was also nice meeting a man that Chandel knew growing up in his town. I thought about the Lord possibly working through Chandel one day and bringing this man to Saving Faith in Him and others back in their town. We never know what His plans are we just have to keep making ourselves available to Him.

Have a wonderful day.

The Good Side of Things

It always feels good to leave Kandahar. For some reason I just don't like being here. I have said in the past that it just has an evil feeling about it, a business that is just consuming of those that are here. An ant hill of paople that never stops working.

I think that is why things like the transient tent happen, people just left alone in conditions that are not as good as the others. There is just too much other stuff going on for those that could do something. The peopel that should be able to do something can't or won't take the time to see what is really happenening in some places.

I spoke to a freind who came through Texas with me. She is actually a Jehovahs Wittness and often we speak about our faith. I was telling her about being in the transient tent for lunch and the conditions there and she had no clue herself. It is not that she could do anything about it but she had been here for three months, in Kandahar, and didn't know of the conditions in those tents.

Kandahar seems very much a place of "haves" and "have nots". There is a definate class structure and culture within each. You can meet people and they will ask where you are staying as that will tell alot about your position. Some have cars to use to get around others do not. Even the positions of power create in people attitudes that are sometimes very rough to deal with. It is in a large way, and I have said it before, a slice of the worst of the rest of the world.

Maybe it is as if when you make a reduction while cooking. All the things of the world were put in one pot and bboiled down here in Kandahar. What you were left with was the concentrated parts of evrywhere else. Some good and some bad.

It will be nice to leave here. Even in Shindand there is this trouble however not as bad it still exists. I guess the saying that war brings out the best in people and it can bring out the worst in people is true. I will continue to do my part and try to always be on the good side of things. It should be the same for everyone, for you also. Try to always find the good side of things. Don't become part of the problems.

Keep your eyes and ears open as you go though life today and see how many times you can be that something special in someone life. See if you can remain calm in the hecticness or lift someone who does not have what you have up a bit. Look for opportunities to show charity to someone, to remove a burdon, to make them smile and change their day.

God Bless.

Staying Safe

Last night while enjoying a movie ofver at the MWR, Mental Welfair and Recreation, building there were three seperate rocket attacks about ten minutes apart from each other. Doesn't make for a good movie experience to saythe least. Anyway, each time there is a rocket attack the proceedure should be to lay on the ground, as low as you can get. Feet and legs together, head down and hands over your head. You should stay there for one minute and then get up and move to the nearest bunker.

Ok, that's what should happen. What really happens is that most people stand up when the alarm goes off and begin walking to the bunker. Some, sit for a minute before doing anything. Others like me, when the conditions are not exactly right for laying on the ground, squat down for a little while and then move to the bunker. Then there are those that do get on the ground and lay in the appropriate lifesaving position that they should be in.

As you exit the buildings the bunkers are usually pretty close to wherever you may be. Geberally most of them are precast concrete rectangles about twenty five feet long. They have what they call T walls on each end to protect stuff from coming in from there. Here again, some do as they are instructed and move into the bunkers as far as possible and get as low as possible. Others stand in the ends of the bunkers, not quiet committing to go inside but in enough to say the were. Yet others, stay outside as if hanging out with friends on a nice evening. Smoking cigerettes and talking about various subjects as if nothing were going on.

It occurred to me last night on the third time around that the actions of these people here parralel that of Christians. We don't all react in the same ways. we each do what we feel the best for the situation at hand. Some committ fully to the instructions given and others only partially.

The procedures that are in place to save us during Rocket attacks are not lies. They are the best way to survive the danger. Isn't also the Bible, Gods Word and the example of Jesus Christ the Christians procedures for saving their lives, by coming through the danger unharmed? But like here, each chooses the parts of the procedures we want to follow and when we want to follow them. We don't put all of our faith and all of our actions into practice. as we should.

Now the closest rocket that I have experienced was about 300 yards away. Actually heard the explosion as I was still getting out of my bed. By the time I got to the bunker all you could see was smoke at the impact point. I wonder however if last night the rocket had been closer, if the explosion was near, how many people would have done what they should have done. Gotten face down and then moved into the bunkers. How many would not and been in danger of death still as the danger was around them.

As Christians death is always around us, we live in a world that is dead to its sin. We also waiver back and forth in the war that is waged against this sin, our sin. We know the procedures that we must follow to help survive the attacks. We know that we must also lay face down in humility and worship to God each day, and evertime there is danger. We also know that we must move to the center of the bunker which is His word and the Truth of our Saviour. We must stay in the bunker and let it suround us always for as we move out of it, or linger by its entrance we remain in danger.

Trust God, trust His Word and trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Anything less and you remain in danger of your death.

Luke 9:23

Then Jesus said to them all:"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

A.W. Tozer in his book The Puruit of God makes this statement. "The cross is rough and it is deadly, but it is effective. It does not keep its victims hanging there forever. There comes a moment when its work is finished and the suffering victim dies."

Christ says in Luke 9:23, to take up the cross daily and follow Him. We must begin each day with a concious effort to place our lives on the cross and let ourselves die to this world. We must determine to feel the roughness of its wood dig into our backs as we shed the feelings and emotions that this world would have us hold onto. Maybe it is an unresolved issue with our spouse. I greivance against a co worker or boss. The wood of the cross must scower these things away from our souls.

We must be nailed into a position that we can not move a way from. The Cross is deadly and it is effective. Arms open and bodies hanging in anticipation of our death for this day. Awaiting the moment that we give ourselves fully over to the mercy of our Lord. How many are willing to nail themselves to it each morning. How many times have I run from this death, so I can remain in my own. Even if the death is quick we are still afraid to go through it.

In moments that we have no alternative but the cross, we glady step to it. When our lives are full of things that we can not escape from we look up and accept the trial, we beg for its death. In those times we see the light in the darkness that comes from above this momentary death. We reach out and ask the Lord to move quickly and bring us to Him.

Tozer follows the above with " There comes a moment when the suffering victim dies. After that is resurrection glory and power, and the pain is forgotten for the joy that the veil is taken and we entered in actual spiritual experience the presence of the living God"

We see the glory of God each time we endure this suffering. We are resurrected in Him in a new body a body freed from the turmoil and death of this world. Our Lord again states "Must take up his cross daily and follow me. Once is not a permenant solution for us. We can not stay in the presence of God with only a temporary death. We must perform this ritual daily.

Each day to endure the daeth of the cross. Each day feel the sting of the wood on our bare skin. The pressure on our open arms, wide open, waiting for our death to occur. We must not run but welcome this death daily or we will not be freed from the eternal pain of this life. We must be willing to feel the sweetness of His presence after we have endured the pain.

We have a choice each day, death of ourselves, death on the cross or misery within ourselves as we walk at the base of the cross. Which will you choose today.

A Simple Song.

You are Lord and Savior to me, Oh Lord
You are Lord and Savior to me, Oh Lord
You are Lord and Savior to me
Lord and Savior to me
You are Lord and Savior to me
Oh Lord.

You are Merciful to me Oh Lord
You are Merciful to Me Oh Lord
You are Merciful to me
Merciful to me
You are merciful to me
Oh Lord

You are Lovely to me Oh Lord
You are Lovely to me Oh Lord
You are Lovely to me
Lovely to me
You are Lovely to me
Oh Lord

You are Evrything to me Oh Lord
You are Everything to me Oh Lord
You are Everything to me
Everything to me
You are everything to me
Oh Lord

This is a Song that my Kenyan Brothers sing before our prayer on Monday and Thursday Nights in Shindand. The song repeats like that over and over again many times, just changing the key word. It is also highlighted by one man, Killian, repeating in harmony as the rest of us sing. It is so simple yet uplifting to us all. I have been singing this song in my head all morning and several times each day as I have been here.

This is worship. Not fancy, or overly complex, just simply uplifting. We only need a simple song to give to Him as we walk. A reminder of who and what He is in our lives, what He did on the Cross. How He has changed us. A simple song from the heart is all that is necessary.

Walk with a song in your heart as a constant reminder for Him of your Love. Try this one if you haven't got another.

Be Glad For What You Have

Ok, I don't no where this one is going but if you could start out by clicking on the photo so it will enlarge for you that may help. Once you have done that just look at the photo for a while and take in what ever you can from it. Let it sink in a bit. I know the quality is not that good but it will due.

This is a transient tent at KAF. I was there looking for Chandel after church as he is still down here a week after a training class we sent him to ended. He is staying in the top bunk on the left. This tent can hold up to forty people if it were full.

Chandel was not there so I stood and spoke to the Tent Manager a bit. He is the Tent Manager because he has been there the longest, seven weeks. Now I have been in Afghanistan for three months and have been in two different Camps thus far. He has been waiting for an assignment so he can be sent to his permenant location. All of the men that stay here are waiting also.

If you couldn't tell from the conditions, it is bad. Each bed has an old mattress on it, most with broken springs and tares in the fabric. None have sheets so the matresses have been used by hundereds of people and never been cleaned. The top bunks have no ladders to get up and down and are within inches of the ceiling. Those mattresses are generally worse then the lower ones.

The floors are dirty, really dirty as they also have not been cleaned. Each man has a little area in which they keep their belongings, maybe a suitcase or bag of some sort. Wet towels and clothes hang from strings or wires so they can dry. The smell is strange as it is a mix of many things but the uncleanliness is the most noticible.

The tent is dark and depressing. Men sleeping all day long as they are not allowed to leave this compound. There is a picinic area outside which is the social area and also where they are given their food. They do not have ID's you see so they can not travel freely around the Camp. They are not alowed into the DFACs for dinner so all food is brought to them there and placed out in pans buffet style for them and the flies.

The outside is dirty also from the food and from the hundreds kivibng in a small area. Trash and bottles overflow the garbage cans creating more filth. the dust is everywhere and shade is at a minimum unless you are back in the tent. Not a nce place at all. In essence this is the slum of the Camp and this is where many of the men first come when they arrive in Kandahar. It is so crowded now that anyone below a Manager comes to these tents when they stay in KAF.

I had you look at the photo so you would not pass it by. I wanted you to think about what men will go through for work and survival. I also wanted you to imagine yourself, coming here for a job, thinking that your prayers were answered and finding this as you place to live for a month or more. I wanted you to have a feeling in your stomach of dusgust at the thought of this for others.

These are the conditions for which many are put here. Life has different meaning here I think then other places. It becomes expendable and not as valuable to those in authority. Men become bodies that need to be delt with. No emotion in the decisions that keep them in these places. Just move them in and move them out, feed them because you have to.

Anywhere else and we would want to help and improve their lives. We would come and assist them in bettering their situations. Here it is ok. Here it is war and human life doesn't matter as much.

I know I have said it before, but be glad for what you have. Be glad that this place was what you needed to look forward to to better your life.

Ephesians 6:13-17

Put on the whole armor of God! Every piece of it. Don't leave any aside or you will be vulnerable to the enemy. Every soldier knows that each piece of equipment is meaningful for battle. Each piece serves a purpose and without each the soldier is incomplete.

I was thinking about this as I walked around Kandahar this morning. It is easy to do when you are in a NATO base surounded be soldiers and equipment from around the world. I thought about the differences in each countries equipment, in each soldiers camo and gear. I also thought of how some countries soldiers are not as well equipped as others. The United States by far has the most well equipped of them all. But some just have the basics. The bare minimum for what they need to go out and fight.

I wondered about Ephesians, and if I put on the full Armor of God each day. If I was prepared for the battle at hand or if I was just being complacient and putting on only what I needed at the time. See here, in Afghanistan, depending on where you are and what you are doing that determines your level of preparedness. In Kandahar, weapons have no clips in them. In Shindand everyone is loaded and carried at all times. Some bases are under constatnt fire and others are not and this deternmines the level of readiness. So where do I stand?

As I pondered this I realized that I too in my walk only prepare to the level of threat in which a precieve will be there. In the world, I only wear my Battle Raddle when I travel of open territory or when the Camp threat level changes. Do I always wear my Breast Plate of Righteousness? No, sometimes I leave it in the corner as with my Kevlar Vest. Sometimes I only think of my own needs and do things that are selfish and unrighteous.

The helmets that they give us here make me look like a mushroom head. I have a big head to start with and add the XL Green helmet and look out. Again, I don't put this on unless I have to. I don't use my head I guess! But the Helmet of Salvation, fits me differently, but none the less, how many times do I forget to wear it. How often do I not rest in the assurance of Gods Salvation through Jesus Christ. Often I forget that I am saved from this world, that death has no grip on me. How many times do I just fear the things of man, of men walking in death. They can't touch me Spiritually however I fear them, not my Lord, and not walk in His Salvation. I leave the Helmet next to my Kevlar.

Oh and how easy it is here in Kandahar not to trust others. To fear that something will go wrong. Many times you are placed in a position to check and double check with others until you know that something has been done. How about our Shield of Faith? How many times do we not fully allow ourselves to be assured of our Faith in Him. When have we prayed for our Faith to be strengthened because we know we have let it slide a bit? Faith is being assured of the what you can not see. Assured! Are we always assured of this. Do we always carry our Shields with us or does it get too heavey so we put it down abit or leave it aside altogether? In history, when a Soldier gave up in battle and ran, he would drop his shield first for it was heavy and only used in defense. If we are to face or days, we must have shield in hand.

I have a bad waist and I wear nmy pants too low because of my belly. It has always been the case. Therefore my belt is necessary. For the Soldiers here their belts carry necessities for battle, their wepons and ammo. They are again necessary for them. Ephesians speaks of the Belt of Truth. What Truth? Gods truth, the truth of the Gospel. Place the truth of the Gospel around you waist. Tie it tight and it will carry all the necessary equipment you need. Use the truth as you walk to lighten the load. Trust the truth to always be with you, close. Do you ever forget to speak the truth? I do, I have those moments when I could have spoken Gods word to another but I didn't. I just didn't think it was the right time. I might as well let my pants fall down.

My boots are wore out and dusty. They have not held up like they should have. The soldiers all have nice boots, expensive but nice. I noticed also now that they don't all wear the same boots. Each soldier can choose the ones that are best for them. Is this not how we view piece also? Each uses their own stabndard and comfort level to determine their peace. We place our own ideas of what that is until somebody does something to upset us. God wants us to be peace makers. To use His standards, from the Gospel to bring about peace around us. He wants us to Love each other so that we will not hate and have disruptions and kaos, unsettledness and peacelessness (don't know if that is a word, but it works). We must wear the sandels of the Gospel of Peace. We must all have the same boots on and not let them get worn out and dusty. They must be made fresh daily.

Finally to the weapon, I have none, no gun nothing to protect myself here. I have thought about this often, what would I do if confronted with death at the hand of another. My heart is not fully set on not fighting back as a Christian (this is another subject) but I wondered, as in a war zone you do, what would I do? For us as Christians, in Spiritual battle, we have Gods Word as our sword. We have the ultimate weapon to use against the enemy. It must be sharp and light, not burdonsome to carry, but why do I even leave it aside at times. I go out without the Word of God in my heart. I put my sword down when I am not threatened like some Soldiers not have clips in their weopons, We are not threatened so we are not armed.

I spoke to my father last night about how you get used to things around here. Rocket attacks, as we had another last night, people just continue to walk around like nothing. We had a mortor the other day at Shindand and it only made me stop for a second as I walked to the DFAC. I thought, on a daily basis, in one form or another, someone is actually trying to kill me. Maybe not personally but certainly by shooting in my direction. If this were anywhere else I would run to the authorities, do what I had to do to protect myself, but here it is what happens. Is't that in a way the same thing that we do as Christians?

We just allow ourselves to become used to certain things. Like me here, we only duck if we think we are in danger. As Christians we don't prepare fully with the Armor of God, we only put on what we need to at the time. Be it what is comfortable for the day ahead. If it is hot well maybe I will leave the helmet off or not carry the shield. We dress only in the equipment that we feel is necessary. No wonder so many of us, including me, have so many up and down days.

Here people get killed because the don't follow instructions. they get killed because they get complacient. They get killed because they don't wear the PPE that was given thenm when they need it, I am guilty of this also. For Christians we can't walk in His assurance because we are unproteced when we go out. We put ourselves at risk and then wonder why we got attacked and wounded form it. We look up at God and pray for His help, but we don't wear the Armor that He has given us. We go to the battle field but we remain unprepared for battle.

Follow the instructions of God. Begin to everyday to place the Full Aromr fo God on before you begin your day. Don't chose what you will wear and what you will leave in the corner. And remeber, if you chose not to be prepared, and not to trian yourself to rely on the weapons and armor you have, don't blame God for the beating you will take. He has prepared each of us, He continues to strengthen you so we may be stronger. He has fully equpped you, now stand in the battle prepared.

Waiting for the Plane

I only have time for a quick note this morning as God willing I will be on a Dash 8-100 on my way down to Kanadahar in a little while.

May God bless all of your days today. May you look at the things around you and be thankful to God for all that you have. All things are His. All things work together for the good, His good. Rejoice in this day and be glad in it as we have the inheritance in Heaven. We are His children and He will watch over us. Live in the freedom that our Lord has provided you.

Another Trip To Kandahar

Mixed feelings on this one! I will have to travel down to Kandahar this weekend to make arrangements to move some cargo out of there. It will be exciting in one way because it is something new for me, which is always good, but in another Kandarhar is a pit. A black hole that once you get into it takes a lot of effort to get out.

You may recall the last two times I was there, when I moved to Shindand from Leatherneck and the more recently when I went to get my CAC Card. Both times it was almost a week before I was able to get out. Just so much activity in and out of, cancellations, changes, weather, anything that will go wrong will go wrong.

The other thing about KAF is that it just has the very weird vibe about it. As soon as you land you just get this feeling that something bad is going on around you. It feels evil to be honest with you. Hecktict, disorganized, busy, all things to keep you unfocussed on anything. I am sure if you were to look from high enough it would look like an ant hill. Everybody doing their jobs but just very random order.

KAF has also been getting hit everyday by rockets. It is just a hudge dense target for the Taliban. Not difficult to spot from afar. Large so that it is easy to hit. Mountains just the right range away and add good cover for the set up men. A few weeks ago a rocket hit the CHU's in which Dyn Employees stay and destroyed a few of them. Luckily it was lunch time and nobody was in them.

It is strange sometimes to think about this war and this country, even the work that I do. You are here assisting the Military do their jobs. You here shooting and bombs go off around you, but the Contractors just do their work as if it was any other office environment. Bombs and rockets are part of the discussions in almost a way that is the same if you spoke about Big Brother at the water cooler. Today as a matter of fact, while walking to breakfast a mortor was shot over the camp and landed near the flight line. Stopped for a second, said to the guy next to me that it sounded funny and continued walking. Strange in my mind, strange that we just don't see the danger.

So I will travel to KAF, fall into the pit and try to keep my head above it all but low enough not to get killed by a rocket. I will rely on the Lord as I have done since I have arrived. For I know in my heart that HE will see me through all of this. I ask always that his will be done in my life. This carries me through the delays, the changes, the hectictness and the rockets . There is nothing really that I can do to make anything any different then what God has already ordained to happen. There is no worry that will add a day to my life. I can only find my way to Glorify Him in all things that happen.

What do you look like to others?

I just sat here for the last forty five minutes listening to two men argue about their views on aspects of the Church. What they like and what they don't like about where they go or what the Church has or doesn't have. The interesting thing was that one man doesn't go to Church hardly ever and the other man is a Christian. Now this may not seem to interesting, maybe even a normal conversation for some people but I was amazed at the points they were arguing about.

The Baptist man, the one who doesn't go to church at all made a statement that he doesn't think that Woman should be Preachers because it just isn't right for a woman to lead that many people especially spiritually. Now the Christian man got upset at this and started to get very angry that the other man thought woman should lead the Church. This lead to not have gays or lesbians in the Church either.

Now the Christian, continued to ask the other man why he had such a view as woman have just as much right to Preach as any other person. The Non Church man could only say that he didn't think it was right based on his upbringing. The Christian at one point even cursed at the other because he didn't have a good reason for his argument. This went back and forth for some time.

At one point the Christian was talking about how the non Christain should not judge others and in the same sentance told the non Christian that he was just dumb and didn't know what he was talking about. Funny huh?

A few minutes later the subject turned to gays in the Church, Of course pretty much the same repetition to the conversation. One arguing for segregation and seperation and the other speaking about how off base the other was while swearing and being judgemental. Each just kinda pointing fingers and being judgemental of either each other or of the subject matter.

When it came to specifics in the Bible each had the things that they liked and disliked. Each was willing to accept the things that made sense but other things didn't matter. I expressed to the Chritian that the Bible speaks of not swearing but he felt that swearing was ok as it made his point but judgeing another was unacceptable.

The converstaion went on for some time, back and forth, and I am not doing it justice. My point to this that if you had walked into the room you would not have been able to tell the difference between the two of them. Each held to deep views. Each took from the Bible what they liked but tossed out what they didn't. Each spoke using the same swears, and both were being judgemental of either the others view or of the people they were speaking of.

The Bible is to be followed and we are to continually strive to live our lives the way God designed us to do. We are to leave judgement up to God. We are to love the sinner and hate the sin. We should hold our tongues and not use fowl language. respect for others and be a good wittness to them, even if they have different views. We are to show the same Love that Christ shows us.

If each had just realized that Christ Jesus died for all people the same. He spilled His blood for all sins now and forever. He loves all of unconditionaly, that is unconditionally of our own faults. We are accepted by Him in all of our faults so in turn we are to be accepting of others in their faults. We are to show Christ in all that we do, all the time, everywhere.

In a small way these two represent the rest of us. We like what we like and dislike what we dislike. Aren't we called to more though, to release our own pride and follow the Word of God, to see things as He asks us to see them. Evaluate yourself and see where you draw the line, where you become the judge. Work to do better. Look differently and speak differently than those around you, do. Ask yourself, what you look like to the others around you? Can they tell any difference between you as a Christian and the non Christian next to you.

Phillipians 4:9

Phillipians 4:9, Whatever you have leard, or recieved, or heard from me, or seen in me put it into practice. Not only is this a statment to the students but it is also an obligation to the teacher to adequately and appropriately teach the student.

As Robert read another verse from Phillipians during our Prayer meeting last night this verse caught my attention. That is probably why I don't know which verse Robert read, however I focussed on this one. I began to think of how this applies to so many things in our life. Discipleship, as Paul is writing, parenting, work, coaching, whatever it may be this obligation stands true for us.

The obligation on the teacher is to teach what is correct, to give information and knowledge that is consistant and true. To understand that what you give will be recieved by the student the way you gave it to them. If you teach it incorecctly, if you decieve the recipient then you are not fullfilling your obligations as a teacher. Bad teacher will lead to wrong answers and a lack of basic knowledge of the subject.

As a Coach the obligation is quiet the same, you are to teach the skills necessary for the game to be played correctly. Your knowledge gained from years of experience becomes important. This though can be a little different because in a way, your actions, the procedures and skills that you have are what are transfered to the student. A Coach then can transfer knowledge from more practical experience from their life. In more ways then with the Tacher the Coach becomes an examle of what is taught. Bad Coaching will lead to bad inadequate performance.

As a Parent, all things that we do become important. We must teach our children by our action and inactions, our words and lack of words also. We are constantly teaching through everything we do. Our children become like us in so many ways, we model the people they will become more so than any teacher or coach ever will. The responsibility is great as the consequences of the wrong teacher can be detrimental and cause a lifetime of struggle and pain.

I reflected opon my life and understand how important this verse can be. I have seen the pain that my poor parenting caused in my life. I have seen how my behaviors and actions when modeled have become struggles in a childs life. I have also seen how the things that I have done correctly have become areas in which bring them joy.

Discipleship is very much all of these things put together into one area. We are to Disciple with the love of Chrsit, as with the parent and the children. We are to teach truth to the students so that their information is not false and misleading. We are to be as the Coach and correct behavior that is not consistant with the way it should be done. We are to model ourselves correctly because of the consequences our wrong actions may have in the Disciples life. Everything becomes important to the final outcome, the final goal.

The Bible gives warning to those that teach falsely, or causes others to stumble. This is the word of God stating that the consequences will be eternal if we lead someone in the wrong direction knowingly. Therefore if you know what is good and correct yet you do something differently the responsibility is on your head, you will stand in judgement.

I beleive Paul spoke with confidence when he wrote this verse. Whatever you have learned, or recieved, or heard, from me, or seen in me, put into practice. He was confident in what he was teaching and modeling to others. He knew that his heart was correct and following Jesus Christ as he states, "or seen in me", His love, His thoughts, His grace. Not Pauls own, but that of Jesus Christ that was in Him. He followed His teachers example and taught that example to others in His life.

Paul ends this verse with the reason why this is so important, that "Gods peace will be with you". It makes sense, that if we teach as God would have us teach, with truth of the Gospel and with a pure heart. If we do not cause anyone to stumble, and we allow our actions to reflect our words and if they see in us Jesus Christ, and know His love through us then Gods peace will be with us. Gods peace will be with those we teach.

Can we say the same thing with confidence? Can we look back on the lives that we have spoken into, taught, coached or discipled and know with the same confidence that it was correct. Can we say to these people that if they put into practice what we have should them through our lives that Gods peace will be with them.

It is a hard question, but it is also a necessary self evaluation because if the answer is no then you have more work to do. If you see areas which need improvement then you must move towards that improvement. You must as we are all teachers and coaches and parents in some way all the time.

Lord, continue to allow us to learn and grown in your way. Bring us to the areas of our lives and have us examine them and test them and change them if they are not good. Allow us to put into practice also what you have taught us, the truth of your word so that others may then use us as example and do the same. Give us the confidence of our walk to invite others to follow you.

Feeling and Circumstance

I am tired today as I stayed up far to late watching a movie that was recommended to me by a Co Worker. I didn't start the movie until after 9:00 as Abu was braiding me a new braclet as I had broke my old one and had it tied to my wrist with cord. So this morning I am dragging and with this my mind is jumpy and my thoughts are scattered. The strange thing is that again I feel a deep need to reach for Christ.

It is a draw that I am feeling in my heart, one that is causing me to reflect or evaluate myself and my walk at this time. I keep thinking that there is more that I can do. More prayer, more wittness, more something. I also think that this is the wrong feeling, that I am right where I need to be, that it is only because I am tired that my mind is doing this.

Each os us will have things that will cause us to question, to reflect on ourselves, our relationships, our faith. We will have stress that will move our focuss to a finite place away from Him. We will have a spouse or friend that becomes part of the circumstance to the way we feel this day. We will allow these things to test us, sometimes leaving us feeling weak, other times alone.

As I allow circumsatnce and feelings to rule then I can not experience my faith the way that I should. Circumstances and feeling change, as I experience today because of being tired. Because of my lack of sleep my mind is in this slight turmoil, my heart questions. Becasue I watched a movie and did not read my feeling is that I did not give him my all last night. Because I devoted myself to being used by Him but yet I did something other last night I have a little guilt. Feeling and circumstance are ruling my mind.

Our faith is more than that, it is deeper than the thin outer crust of our feelings. Faith is deep and trusted, something we should cling to regardless of our feeling and circumstances, regardless if I slept very little last night. Regardless if I am stresed or not, or think that I did not read enough. My faith should be a stable guidpost in my life that regardless of where I am is an assurance of Jesus Christ in my life. The Strong Tower we can see from a great distance.

So why am I allowing feelings and circumstance overpower my guidpost, overpower my assurance of Christ? Am I weak and unsure? Is my faith just not strong enough to get me through this race? No! It, I believe is the way we learn to endure. It is the catalyst for the Spirit to work in our lives. It gives the opportunities to practice our endurance, to seek our assurance of our faith. We need to have times of struggle or times of weakness so that we can practice turning back to Him. We need to be aware of the things that can lead us astay so that we can stay more focussed on the path the next time.

Without our feelings we would be dead in a sense to ourselves, disconnected from our inner needs. We would not have desire to turn back if we did not feel the strain of our own hearts. Without circumstances we would not have outside influencesto make us choose a path. We would just walk and do things without consiquence, without have in a way cause and effect in our lives.

So in faith I must trust that my Lord Jesus, that the Holy Spirit will use my feelings and circumstance for His benefit. That my life in its entirety has a purpose for Him. That He uses all things for the good and for His Glory, and thus this day also will be used. He is all powerful, and just because Iam in a state that is not perfect He will walk me through this and turn me the way He wants. My life, if dedicated to Him, is directed by Him.

Accept that you will have up and down days, that you will more times than not feel off from what you think is normal. Know that your faith will undergo stretching and strengthening from many areas, internal and external. But also know that your Faith shall be something that will become the beaken of light for you to follow in these times when feelings and circumstance change.

Matthew 4:19

"Follow Me", He told them, "and I will make you fishers of men!" I was thinking about this verse this morning. I think about it allot. I believe that these simple words, more than a request to just the Disciples, is a request for each of us in our Christian walks. Each day we should ask ourselves, am I willing to follow Jesus today? Can I place myself in a position, in a state of mind to drop everything, as the Disciples did and Follow Him?

Generally we start our days with Devotions and Prayers. We want to be right with the Lord, have the word of God in our minds, be ready to face the world, but do we set our minds to truly "Follow Him" for the day. Do our prayers commit to this simple request by committing to do what is asked of us in His name. Are we willing to change our plans for others, or keep our tongue when we get aggrevated at the kids. If we do then, we have passed the easy things!

For me many times "Following Him" is the after thought of my day. As I work my mind is on work, and as I have time I am able to commit to Him. I think even with that that I have done well, I was able to walk with Him for half the day. I prayed three times and spoke the word to somone once this evening. But does that get to the essence of what Christ means when He makes His request?

I believe that verse 4:20 shows us that it is not. Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Anything that was of their old self was left. Their business, the assets, their families. they left this in order to be with the Lord continually. This applies to us in the same way. not that we are going to actually leave everything tomorrow morning, but are we going to leave it so that everything we do we do for Him? Can we devote ourselves as Christians, to be Christains every day of our lives, every minute. It is difficult, yes, but not impossible.

Each morning we must strive not only to have our devotions and prayers, but to reset our commitment to "Follow Him" throughout the day. To set our hearts to continually reflect on how well we are doing in this endevour. To we chose something of the world or do we drop it, as if our nets, and immediately leave it for Him?

Our goal in life, the reason that Jesus calls us in this way is so that we may see His example and use it as a berometer to our lives. We have one advantage over the Disciples, they did not get to see the entire picture as we do. We know everything that happens through the benefit of the Gospels. We know what is expected of us, what will happen to us, the outcome of our faith.

Place this commitmment into your mind. Every moment ask if you are following your Savior. Are you doing the things that He has shown you through His example. Are you giving up the things of the world so that you are not drawn away from Him? Are you returning to Him when you do not follow and correcting the things that went wrong? Are you asking for forgivness when you tottaly forget about Him?

Ultimately Christ wants us to becoming like Him. He wants us to shine His light through our lives. He wants us to live with the power of the Holy Spirit guiding us and the Power that is given to as our inheritance as a Child of God. We are to live in the knowledge that through Jesus Christ, we are set free from the World. That we can immediately leave everything and Follow Him in our lives and that we will be ok. Don't doubt this request. Don't doubt that you can live for him and be devoted to Him in all that you do.

Today ask often, am I following Him? Am I leaving the little thing, the big things of this of this World behind so that I can become more like Him. Am I honoring His simple request, "Follow Me"?

Foundation of Love

A few things as an update to some of the older posts.


First of all, I have convinced our Billeting to allow me to stay in the tent I have been in since I arrived here in Shindand. It is an open tent that has been used as a Transient Tent as new people have come in before they are permently assigned into another bed. Chandel, after coming to Faith in Christ, wanted to be next to me so I could teach him the Gospel every night. (You can read Rejoice a New Beilever and then New Life with Christ to see the story) Well yesterday I was able to finally get him moved across from me in the tent. He was very pleased at the news.

With this I will have formed true Discipleship with Chandel, living, eating, working and studing the Gospel together. I wll now have nine months to help strengthen my Brother so that he can then go home and do the same for his family and friends.

You may also remember Seth. (You can read about this incredibale wittness to Jesus and Soldier under the title Seth.) Last week his father passed away from the cancer that had raveged him for a yer now. The last time I saw Seth he was testifying to the fact that his father was pretty near death and that he would soon be with the Lord. Not a quiver in his voice as he spoke to the congregation, such strong faith in Jesus the man has. He was able to return home for the funeral in which he was to deliver the Ulagy (spelling).

Mathew, the young man who was shunned by his Church many years ago, still is struggling with his faith. (Read under the title of Rejected) He and I get to talk maybe once a week and I alsways enjoy the time. I feel so much for this young man as he is 19 and has so much on his mind. When I sit with him all I can think is that he just needs to be loved, for me to show him the heart ache I have for the situation he is in, and what Jesus wants for him. In a way he has the same thoughts that I had in my life up until I was Born Again. For him, it will all start with what Christ tells us is the most important thing, what the Gospel shows of God, that the greatest thing is Love. To Love yourself first, and then to Love others.

Nevin, the Napleese man who was a Hindu continues to come to the Chapel during Sunday service. (You can read of him in New Friends, Discipleship and Small Community) Last week he, Javeen and another man all were at the Chapel an hour early in anticipation of the service. Navin also volunteered to play the Dgembe for worship. He was very happy to help out with this. He continues to read his Bible and meet with Javeen for prayer and learning. I await his acceptance of the Lord Jesus as Savior in his life.

Going way back, (Musa and His Song), as I understand, Keeshan has come to faith in Jesus Christ and continues to read is Bile and attend the morning prayer in the Happy Bus. Last I saw him he was so happy and looked forward to returning home to India to his family. He was the first man that I was able to wittness to here in Afghanistan and plant a seed that was then watered and harvested by Musa and John.

For me I am comfortable where I am at right now. I am setlled in and working everyday with a good heart for the job. That is a lot better than the alternative, I have worked with the wrong heart before. It is not a good place to be. I am building good relationships with those around me, even the Supervisor who I had some issues with is settling down a bit. I am remaining Faithful that the Lord will see me through and provide for me at all times and thus far He has.

I worry a little, which I shouldn't, that when I am comfortable I will become stagnet and ineffective. I see this as the disease that attacks Christians most often and I don't want to be there. Comfort brings ease and ease allows us to be less dependant on Jesus. So I wrestle with this often, where should I be and how should I get there? I do know this now however, this is where I am to be, and I am to be available for Him at all times.

We must find the way in our lives to be devoted to making Disciples of the world, to discipling others in His name. To living as and speaking as a Chritians all the time and removing the excuses that bind us to this World. I believe that we are called to action, called to to walk where HE guides us no matter what. If we say that we don't want to offend or say the wrong thing then I believe that we are not fully trusting His word. There are always ways to say that you love someone, there always ways to show it. Isn't that the basics of our faith, to show love to all men?

As I look up, on this page, in these simple updates, I see Christ Jesus working all the time. In and through me, around me, and in and through others. He doesn't need me to do any of this work. His plans will continue anyway, but I am thankful that He has included me in His plans here. I am thankful that in all things I am learning to Love others and speak and act that love out in my life. When we use the foundation of Love as the basis of our lives amazing things will happen.

Be blessed and just love today.

We Sing to the Joy of the Lord

I feel like I missed a day on the Blog. I will explain what has been occurring here and why I could not post yesterday and then I will write todays post.

When I came to Afghanistan I came as a Civilian Contractor with what they call a NAC-I security clearence. This is a general clearance that all civilians must have to be on the bases. Under normal circumstances this clearance would have been suficient for me to perform my duties as a Transporation Manager. At this bases, I am more involved in Security Sensative operations which means I have to now get a Secret Clearence. In order to get this you can not work for a foriegn entity which is in essence what I was doing as a Civilian Contractor as my pay was coming from Dubia. So at the end of August my contract was terminated and I was hired as a US employee. When this happens eventually they had to disable my network credentials which is what happened yesterday.

All in all this is a good thing for me. Instead of being paid once a month it is now twice a month. I will pay FICA taxes now however that will allow me to continue to pay into Social Security and not miss a year. I will also be eligable for unemployment insurance next year if needed.

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Last night we had just an amazing time during our prayer at the Chapel. As many of you know, but some may not, when I first arrived here at Shindand and met back up with Robert we started to have nightly prayer time together. We soon had a need to find a location that would facilitate a few more people as other Kenyan men wanted to join us. After speaking with the Army Chaplins, we were given permission to use the Chapel two nights a week to meet. Usually it has been just three or four of us, giving testimony, speaking the word and praying together. Twice a week coming together to build one another up it has been marvelous.

More recently instead of just one Chaplins Assistant, Richard we have also been joined by Phillip, both of whom are fabulous young men. Our group had some growth and or gatherings had been becoming more in depth and comfortable for us. Yesterday though was different. Three new Kenyan men came to the Chapel. I had never met two of them, comiong in they just warmly hugged me and introduced themselves.

We now had had eight men in our group, five of which are Kenyans and three expats. As we begun we sang two Hymns out of the Hymnal. I have to say that we actually sounded pretty good and thankfully somone knew the tunes. The spirit began to work because as we ended with "It Is Well" Killian began to sing a song, in English, that was nothing I had every heard before. Immediately the other Kenyan men joined in, singing with such love and joy. We all stood and joined hands in a circle, I just stood and listened. Soon the tune caught the rest of us and we joined in the song. I could feel Phillips hand on my right and Josephs on the left, as the power of the words came to us, tighten around mine. We were all joined as brothers in song.

This song was such, and forgive me as I can not recall the words, that we could raise our voices and sing at full strength with Killian singing some harmony. The song lasted for what felt like ten minutes. Each time through the key word would change but the rest of the words remained the same. Such a warm feeling of us just coming together in such a simple way.

As this song ended, Killian went right into another and the same reaction from the other Kenyan men. They knew this song, it was part of their culture, sung in English but wonderful to listen to. I danced, Phillip also next to me bounced to the rythm, eventually we all were singing the song, again raising our voices up to the Lord as best we could.

The last song came from Peter, softly he began in English and then after a verse continued in Kenyan. Again on cue the other Kenyan men joined in. They all sang in there native tongue and the three of us Americans just listened. Wonderful it was, wonderful . Just hearing this worship in another languge, it did not matter, I continued just listening and praising God for this moment. Thanking Jesus for allowing me to experience this time of Joy. Worshiping with my brothers. I only knew one word that they sang, "Mungu" God. Each time they got to His name a sang it in English along with them.

God. These eight men coming together under God, singing Hymns and worship songs to our Lord. We are one, we are all Christians, followers of Christ Jesus, coming together in fellowship. It didn't matter what languge or what culture we came from, we had the love of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit guiding us. I believe that Gods word trancends culture and language, in this moment, last night, I saw this happening. The Spirit was in us and we understood not the necessarily the words but the reason, the love that we have for our Lord. We sang for the Joy of the Lord.

I left feeling so lifted up, so thankful for what the Lord is doing here through these men and through me. Our fellowship is growing and therefore the opportunities we have to spread the Gospel are growing. Our gathering of two men has now become eight. We live and eat together, walk and work side by side. We fellowship as one and we Love the Lord as one. I am blessed by these Brothers.

Lord may our songs of Worship be sung as one. May our lives be of one Spirit and one Love, of you Lord. May our voices in these times be heard by those outside and the Spirit rest in their minds and hearts creating a longing to know you more Lord.

No Computer Credentials Today.

Due to the Company chnaging me from a Contract employee to a US employee, great news, I have been terminated from my contract and thus my Log On credentials have been canceled. I will need to wait until the system gets updated with my new credentials are set up to write a new post. Hopefully before the end of the day.

Thank you all and God Bless.

I Haven't Talked to Dad for a While!

"I haven't talked to Dad in a while!" As my wife told me that my son had spoken these words to me my heart got heavey a bit. Thoughts of my son as a little boy flooded my mind and then thoughts of how grown up he is becoming came right in after. It is amazing how quickly the mind will remind you of a lifetime of memories.

I remember the day Harrison was born, I can still remember the first moments as his eyes were opened wide and his hands spread as big as he could get them. That evening the Yankees and the Mariners were playing in the playoffs as I video taped Catherine holding him in the hospital bed. Grandma's and Granpa's coming to visit to see him. I barely knew what to do with him as he was so little.

Also as a young boy how he liked to listen to Celtic music and wrestle in the basement. Anna would join us later and we would have to be careful but he would jump from his play box and land on me. We would roll and wrestle until we were both sweaty.

Harrison liked trucks and playing with them on his street carpet. Playing army and being an army man. War movies, and things that I guess at the time were things I liked so he liked tham also. Later it would be baseball, he loved just to play. Winning and losing was not importatnt to him just playing. He would try to be an ispiration to the other players even sometimes to his ridicule but he just stuck with it until it no longer interested him.

He is so big now, tall and lanky, handsome, wonderful paersonality. Somewhere along the way he developed a compassionate heart for others that is just inspiring to me. He puts all he can into the things he loves and works so hard at getting things right. Catherine watched him for years ride his skateboard, attempt after attempt at doing a single trick, he never gave up, never stopped trying until he got it. Then on to the next one. How many times he came and asked us to watch him in the driveway to show us something new.

Now as a young man he continues to let his qualities mature. A love of life and friends. A passion for music and his drums. It adds to his warmth and strong gentleness. I see him love his sister even in times of difficulty and her looking to him as a mentor in times. It is wonderful for me as a father to see.

I am proud of my son Harrison. He is a marvelous example to me and to those around him. I cry when I think of how close he is to moving from my home but at the same time I look forward to the rest of my life with him.

Harrison, I love you so much. You are my son my flesh. You are an example to me of the man I should have been for so many years. Your love of life and of those around you is amazing to watch. My heart aches with our disctance with the time that I am missing with you but I know that over our lives we will share so much more. I ask also that you always first look to Jesus Christ as your guide post in life. Thank Him for the life He has given you as I thank Him for your life He has given me. Be a faithful man and stand tall for who you are as He has made you what He wants you to be.

Know that I love you and becasue of my Love for you I can understand more fully the love of God for us all. Even though we don't speak all the time, it's ok, but if you feel a tug reminding you of me, know that it is the other end of the tug that I feel reminding me of you.

I haven't spoke to my son in a while, but know that you are with me always.

Your father.

Seek the Unseen Things First

2 Corinthians 4:18 - Do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal.

Ever since I have been in Afghanistan I have remained committed to speaking with my accountability group every week. It is a very important part of my week and a way that I feel as if I can stay in touch with my life back home. These four other men are men that I have relied opon very heavily when I was home and now that I am here.

Today we spoke alot about our reliance on others in our lives as Christians. How important are the people in our lives verses the relationship with Christ. Basically, what do we put our assurance in and where to we get our Spiritual filling from. It was a good discussion that lasted the better part of an hour.

As I started my day, I was reading Utmost for His highest and todays verse was 2 Corinthians 4:2. I grabbed my Bible and turned to this passgae and began to read, and went right past it. What caught my eye was the the last passage 4:18, Focus on what is unseen, for what is seen in temporay and what is unseen is eternal. It was interesting to me that I was at this passage after having the conversation with my group. Focus on what is unseen, for it is eternal. Focus on Christ Jesus as that is eternal.

I believe that we need fellow believers around us. We need to be in fellowship with those that also follow Christ so that we can build into each other. We need to have opportunity to pour ourselves out to others in the Love of Christ Jesus so that the Church may grow and flourish. But this can not be our primary focus, it must be on God.

As Jesus shows us He set his ministry squarley focussed on what His Father had set before Him. He continually sought to do the will of God and to fullfill what He had planned for Him. Jesus invited the Disciples to follow Him. He poured into them. He even asked them to be with Him in times of stress or need. But ultimately He sought the Father in all things first, and those around Him benefited from that relationship.

I more and more see that of myself here. I am so uplifted by the outpouring around me and by the things I am able to give others. I look forward to speaking to those who are close to me but I more look forward to the Spirit in my life. To the Lord providing everything I need to make it through each day, for providing enough living water that I can spill it over to the others here.

Ultimately this is where we as Christians need to be, seeking the unseen first for it is eternal, seeking God and not the seen, the things of this world. We need to have those around us that we can pour out to, that we can give the abundance of God to. We need to be available to the others to do the same. If we rely soley on the things seen then we will be disapointed at the results.

In the end Jesus said "It is Finished". He had completed what God laid out to Him. He had prepared His Disciples and His Ministry had fullfilled its purpose. Only when we seek the unseen, the heavenly things first will we be in the place where God can use us most.

Love thy nieghbor. Fellowship with beilievers. Build the Church. Do these things as an outpouring of the Spirit from within you, but seek God first and draw your strength from Him.

What to Write?

As I sit here and attempt to write I am drawing a blank. No words are coming to mind and I continue to ask the Lord to show me the direction He would take me this morning inthis Blog, and yet still nothing. Generally when this happens I will go for breakfast and take my walk, spend time with Him and most assurredly words and thoughts will come to me to write.
Today however my routine will be off a little and I am scheduled to be with the Quality Assurance / Quality Control guy for the morning conducting an audit for my section and I will not have time to walk and be alone with the Lord.

So I think, is this not what happens in our lives. We have set times for the lord and when the routine changes so does our devotions. We compartmentalize our lives into segments and try to stay to that schedule everyday. Don't we even do this with God, with our time with the Lord, our devotions? When we miss them then we feel as if we didn't get our coffee. That we didn't get to connect to Him and therefore we are missing out on something.

Here my words are not flowing as I expect them to. My thoughts are not spiritual and I write with very little wisdom and ease. If only I had connected with the Lord this morning this would not be happening or would it?

Is this not just our state of mind? Am I not just finding an excuse for my own inability to hear His voice today? He is always with me, He has not missed the appointment to have devotions with me. I am the reason for the quietness or maybe I just have nothing in paticular to relate to this morning in some Spirtual way. Maybe I am using my writing and feelings as the berometer of my relationship with the Lord each day.

I guess maybe today, the lack of thought and the sense that maybe I missed something was not that at all. Maybe it was just a way of having me realize that my Spiritual life is more that what comes out on paper or word. It is about the entire relationship and the devotion in my heart to Him as we walk together that matters most. It is knowing that in all things and all ways and at all times he is with me.

Even in this abscense of thought He has given me thought, I only needed to realize what it was.

No Internet Today.

We had no internet today for most of the day so my Blog is extremely late. If any of you are early risers I appologize to you. I generally write it first thing in the morning which is right when you are mostly going to bed. I am able to take advantage of the time difference.

So today was very productive overall. I have been around the base twice looking for Military personell, and damaged equipment. It is funny as I am the Transportation Manager and I have no means of transportation other than my feet and the buses. It makes for an interesting day.

To give you an idea the base is about seven miles around the outside parimeter. The buses route from one side to the other takes abiout thirty five minutes total but the bus stops are not located convieniently so there is a lot of walking involved. To add to this the Military some of the Military has moved to the East side and some remains on the west side of the Airfield so if you get bad information then you are on a big goose chase.

I was able to go to church in the middle of all of this. Chaplin Johnson is back from R&R so that was really good to see him again. He didn't do the Sermon but he did give the communion which was nice. Navin also played the djembe today during worship. He is the Napeleese man that has been now reading the Bible and sitting with us for prayer.

Later in the day my heart stopped. I kicked a old Russian grenade out of the gravel while I walked. I thought it was just an interesting piece of round metal and up cam the whole grenade. I thought, boy how stupid was that! then I went and found some military to come and check it out. I didn't have my camera or I would have gotten a photo. Crazy what people leave laying around huh!

So my day was busy again. I was able to get alot done. Even kept my foot so I will still be able to get around. I have even been spiritual doing very well keeping in a good state prayer and thought. That is the good thing about walking, it alows more time for thought.

Anyway, please have a great Sunday. Make it count for something at the end of the day and please don't kick any grenades along the way.

Pictures from yesterday as promised.

Asyou may have read yeaterday I was invited by the Muslim DynCorp workers to go with them for their celebration of Eid, the end of Ramadon, at the Afghan Army Compound yesterday. I was able to sit and observe their prayer time and it was a once in a lifetime experience.

I could not resist the opportunity to take this picture of the Cross. It is from the grout lines between the tiles in the Prayer Hall. I took this just before they finished with their prayers as I kneeled in the back watching.

It was quiet pioniant as I was also praying during this time and to have a Cross to look at during it was nice.

A note that many of these buildings that are being used were built by the Russians when they were here. The Afghans use them from everything formBarracks to kitchens now.

Here are several of the DynCorp employees along with the Afghan man who helped arranged for them to come over and participate with the Afghans.

Abu is on the left, then the Afghan man, followed by Mohammad and then some of the others.

I was able to take this picture of the main room before any Afghan Soldiers came. These are the DynCorp employees preparing for the day. You can see that this room is carpeted and the lines are oriented to the East.

The men sit along these lines shoulder to shoulder. Withing a half hour of this, this room was packed full and I moved to the adjacent room with Abu.

Here is a picture of the men with one of the Afghan Officers after the prayer. He is the one in the center with the Camo and long beard. He is also the one who came and shook my hand and then hugged me.

This is the shot I showed yesterday with all of the guys outside of the Prayer Hall. You can doubleclick on any of these shots to enlarge them. I am the guy in the middle with the red shirt.

This is Abu with the Afghan Officer. Abu is the one who stayed with me the entire time in case something happened.

This was some day for me, one I will not forget. It was a little risky as it could have gone bad but I believe that I was meant to see this and have it to draw opon in my future.

As you walk, walk in Faith that the Lord will see you through the circumstances He places you in.

God Bless.

The End of Ramadon.

This photo is of the Muslim DynCorp Employees. We are standing outside of the Prayer Hall in the Afghan Army Compound. I have some other picture that I will post tomorrow.

To start off if you are reading this post realize that there is a second one, "How?" just below this one also. If you don't see it go to the Post List on the right hand side. You get an expanded addition today!

You have probably heard back in the States that today is the Eid, which is the last day of Ramadon. This marks the end of the Fast for the Muslims and is a day of prayer and celebration.

Mohammad, the man standing to my right (your left) is one of the Administrators that work for me here at Shindand. I had asked Mohammad several weeks ago if he would be willing to speak with me about the Muslim faith as I planned on being a Pastor and felt it would be helpful for me in my studies. He agreed and on several occasions he would tell me about his faith, and occasionally ask me about the Christian Faith.

As Ramadon came to a close, he and his fellow Muslims began to prepare for Eid, which as I said above marks the end of Ramadon. They bagan to collect money that would go to a local family as a gift and also to buy food for their celebration. Mohammad had asked if I would donate some money which I did and in doing so he invited me to participate in their day. This sounded interesting so of course I said yes. I was actually thrilled that I would experience this with them.

This morning as they gathered Abu asked me to join them. They all had on their best clothes, there head coverings, and were washed and perfumed. AsI approached Abu told me how to say Happy Eid, which I have forgotten, so I could appropriately greet each man. They were thrilled, I was the only Expat there and I wished each of the thrity men Happy Eid. They were very happy for this day.

We begn to walk and I asked Mohammad where we would be going now. He explained that they had made arrangements with the Afghan National Army to go to their compounbd and pray with them. I was nervous and told him that I did not think I shoukld go, and he replied with his smile and said it will be ok you are our guest. So we walked to the Afghan compound and entered the room that would serve as the Mosque, taking our shoes and socks off as we entered. I was excited and nervous and was thanking God for this opportunity.

We entered and it was very basic. Carpeted floor with lines oriented to the East and a small sound system at the front. I just stood for a little not knowing what to do as the men all came in. At first I felt that maybe it would be just us. There were only a few others that were setting up. Them man all sat near the front and I stayed near the back, dismissing their invites to be closer. I only wanted to observe.

Then more men bagan to come. I tried to be pleasant as they looked at me with some surprise. I would place my right hand on my heart and lower my head a bit. Again I began to pray a little for the Lords help in keeping me calm if you will. More and more men came. Afghan soldiers and local workers. Slowly the Mosque was filling and my comfortable spot in the rear was now being filled with people.

I moved to the side in the place that looked as if it woukld be the worst seat in the house. I could feel stares a bit but I continued to pray and be thankful that I was there. Abu must have sensed a little bit of this so he came back to me and sat, asking if I were ok. I said yes but that I was a little uncomforatble. I asked him at that point to let me know if I should leave. He reassured me that he would take care of me and that things would be ok.

The service started in from what I found out was of more of the local dialect than of anything else. Three nmen conducted the service including one Emam. I sat and watched and thought aboutr God bringing me here for a purpose. I cried some thinking that I would have never had this opportunity any other way. I listen and watched and the room continued to fill and my spot became very enveloped in all the men.

I Eventually gave up my spot and moved to the area where all of the shoes had been placed, squatting on the floor. Abu to my right we continued to listen, and I continued to pray. I was now near the enterance so as people entered I was the first thing they saw so I just continued to be respectful and place my hand to my heart and lower my head a little. As this area also became full and men bagan to move to a side room that was not carpeted so we moved in there with them.

Here I was able to remain in the back as the ceremony turned to the actual prayer. Abu wanted me to move to the front with him but I told him that I could not pray ith them and that I would just remain in the back. I watched as they prayed, standing and bowing and then lowering their face to the ground. All I could do is watch and pray on my own, I was thanking God and asking for my nerves to be settled.

At the conclusion all of the men stood and began to shake hands and hug three times. They were very happy. Then one at a time differnent men came and hugged me, the first being an Afghan Army Officer with a thich beard. Then others, did also, one at a time. I just kept trying to say Happy Eid to them but knew I was messing it up. Then my friends came and hugged me, followed by a line of all of them. Each was excited that I had stayed and I thanked them each for allowing me to join them.

It was something that I will not forget. I was in a Mosque at the end of Ramadon, during the Eid prayer, with two hundered Afghan men and soldiers in the middle of Afghanistan. Who would have ever though this in a million years? My God would have, that who. Amazing.

As we exited I was able to take the picture at the top of this post with the guys. Below are several other pictures for you to look at. Be blessed. Do something different. Trust God and the Pwer of Jesus Chrsit to lead your life and you will be amazed at what may happen.

How?

If you look at yesterdays Post, "Here is the Church" Gary asked me a questions in response that I initially answered last night but want to more formally answer now with a short post. He asked simply, How?

Amazingly, God is always at work and last night as I was at Prayer Robert gave Testimony to the Lord. As he spoke I thought about what Gary had asked because I felt that the answer I had given wasn't quiet right. I didn't have what I was trying to get at through the Post down, my thought swere just a little jumbled. Then Robert made this comment, "we must fill ourselves with more of Jesus and less of everything else in the world". Wow, there was the answer.

Gary, "you must fill yourself with more of Jesus Christ and less of everything else in this world". So the how is not a specific answer it is a personal answer. Your "How"? may be greatly different than mine. I made a choice to follow Gods call to me and come here. I embrace evry moment for what He is trying to teach me or show me. I remain in a state that affords me very little opportunity to be filled by the things of the World. I depend on Him to fill me as I pour out to others. You know the drill from my point of view. I couldn't have come to this point if I were home. It would not have worked and I would still be in a place where I was before I left.

So Gary, you will need to find your how. It may even take some real digging, maybe even sacrifice on your part. You are the only one that will know if you are truly seeking it or not, in this world. You will be the only one to determine how far you will go past your comfort zone. How far will you seek to know Him.

We must be emptied of ourselves everyday. That is a conscience effort on our part and only we can determine where it ends. I believe that we are comfortable where we are at as Christians in America. We won't push ourselves past the point of pain. We will sit in the Church that stays within our comfort zones and fellowship for the same reason. Until each Christain trealizes his or her comfort zone and then purposedly pushes past it we will be stagnet.

Hope that helps.

Here is the Church...

"Here is the Church, here is the steeple, open the doors and here's all the people". This has for the last two days been on my mind, this nursary rhym of sorts. We remember it as kids with the folding of our hads with our fingers turned inward and our index fingers pointed out for the steeple. Then as we spoke the words people we would turn our hands over and fingers up, wiggling them as the people. It made us chuckle and we thought we were cute, inmpressing all of our other friends with it. You remeber, right. Try it once.

As I left New York to come here my Church was beginning to move to a Discipleship model Church. Small groups lead by Elders, teaching us to be like Jesus. Small groups are the place for growth, for discussion and learning. Sunday is the celebration of our Faith and a time to worship our God together, not our catch all day to show our faith. We were trying to develop small community. To move as one body under Christ Jesus as the Bible tells us to do. To make Disciples of the world starting with each other.

I whole heartedly believe that this model is the way that the Lord Jesus has modeled for us and the way it should be done. One person pouring into others in deep discussion and from that one on one discipleship and teaching others so that they are equiped then to do the same. My Church has it correct, the Elders are right, we must use the example of the Lord and become a small community of believers, pouring into each other so that we can Follow Him. It is the perfect way from the Perfect Son.

There is an obstacle that I believe must be overcome in our Church, in the American Church before the real Discipleship can begin. Each Christian must begin to have an intimate relationship with Jesus Chrsit and allow ourselves to pour out to those around us without expectation of any return from man. We must only seek the Kingdom of Heaven. We must only be used by the Lord and seek Him and His approval, not mans.

I recall speaking "Christian" regarding being filled or not being filled. It became a catch phrase for being tired or not. If we worked hard for another we were empty, if we recieved we were full. Almost an excuse for our overall attitude. Heck you could use the term to get past an argument if you liked, "I am just not filled with the Spirit today" Could you imagine the lord saying this? "I am sorry Sir, I am just not filled today, none of the Disciples poured into me and all I did was give all week long, so I can't cure you right now. Maybe come back after my small group on Tuesday". Ridiculous!

He didn't because Christ Jesus was dependent on God Himself and that relationship to get Him through His days. He didn't depend on Peter or John. How many times did He scold Peter for messing things up. Our Lord, Discipled and poured and prayed and sufferd and got made fun of and challenged every day and yet He maintained His relationship with the Father and poured out to those around Him. We must do the same. Our Church must look the same. We must all be only dependent on God the Father and what Jesus did on the cross for us to maintain ourselves. Once we have done that then we can pour out to our hearts content, and the Spirit that dwells there will abundantly give us the means to do so. When this happens then we can move to a Discipleship Church.

Once there we will only see others needs. Once there we will only see how and where we are needed because a need exists not a need to be fullfilled by the need. Once we are there then we will all grow because or service becomes for Him alone and not us. We will gather in His name, not ours. We will reach out to others unconditionally for them and not us. We will be as Christ individually, and therefore be one body Corporately.

So back to the ryhm. I will change it a little. Here is the Church, here is the steeple, open the doors and here's all the Christian people. What are people going to see when they come to our Church. Will they know from other than the building that we are Christians? Will they be able to enter and see Christ? Better yet, will they see Christ when they see you outside of the Chruch? Only by our pure dependance in Christ Jesus will we ever become the Christians that Jesus asks us to be. Only when we move past seeking mans approval will we be the Church described in the Bible.

Seeing my face in the face of another.

We never know the situations that we will be placed in that will test us. As we move through our days, our lives we will avoid situations that will stress us. We will avoid rush hour traffic and leave work later. We will avoid functions at the school or people that we find abrasive so that our peacful lives are not disrupted. In our homes we will engauge in hobbies that avoid family times, or dismiss the children so we can relax by ourselves. Many ways and for many reasons we attempt to eliminate our stress, so that we are ok.

Here, as I have mentioned before there, is little opportunity to avoid stress. The Military tries to relieve stress in Soldiers, they even try to manage stress but avoiding is not usually a viable option for us here. I attempt to manage mine through engauging in Spiritual activities, reading when I can, writing and consistant sleep. But sometimes it just stares you in the face and becomes relentless. What then?

Also at Shindand, the Americans are the only ones who can not drink alcohol. It is served at the Italian DFAC and in the Italian PX's. Last night just after 2000, while watching a DVD of a service from my Church with Chandel our Security gaurd came and informed me that he needed my assitance. Three men, one which was one of mine, had been caught buying beer at the Italian PX. I needed to come and deal with the situation.

The employee was one that I have counceled a few times since I have been here and last week was given a final warning that if he had anymoe problems he would be cleaning toilets or sent home. It was made clear to him and I ahd hoped he would change. As I worked out the details I determined not to send him home and to have him tranfered to clean toilets. It was cut and dry and the discussion was completed very quickly. I returned to my bed around 2130 and went to quickly fell asleep.

Just before midnight I was awoken again by a Supervisor that worked for me and he explained that he had to work some overtime that evening and wanted to let me know. This is a little frustrating as it could have been discussed in the morning, but none the I was awake. I walked then to the rest room and inside was the man who I had earlier had to discipline. He began to explain to me what had happened and I suggested that we go out side to continue. Within a few minutes I determined that the man was drunk.

When asked he admitted to me, that he was and as I asked him to waklk with me to security he began the slow descent into what turned into a long night of in your face confronations as I and the Security gaurd now were responsible to monitior this man and keep him safe. For me now I was tried, and I was faced with a man that was anger and baligerent. As we worked through the situation there were times when we were alone and the verbal attacks became very personal. This man was a Muslim and he knows that I am a Christian so many of the attacks were against my honesty and compassion and te values that I hold true to.

This was stress that I couldn't avoid but unlike the man from last week this was
different. I was seeing the effects of alcohol from the other side. I was dealing with an attack from a man but also thinking of how I must have looked why I was like this. How I must have been viewed by my wife duing our arguments when I was drunk. I tink now of even how my children must have seen this behavior at times, what they must have thought. Now it was in my face. Unlike at home I couldn't avoid it or pass it on I had to maintain myself through it. I was seeing myself in the face of another.

Eventually the man fell asleep in the cot we set up for him and I was able to sleep but only for three hours. Only restlessly at best. This stress, this attack has left me drained and vulnerable. It has stirred in me thought sof my prior life.It brought remorse for my pain and it brought me stress.

Catherine tells me all the time that these become my most trying days. That when I am tired she sees that I handle things differently. That when I am stressed my fuse is shorter, I avoid confrontation less. Catherine also reminds me that these are the times when I must seek the Lord and the proitection of His Word more fully. that I must acknoledge my weakness and give it to Him.

I will be tried today as many of you will be tried by circumstances you can and cannot control. there will be bosses that will be relentless about something, traffic between you and your next appointment. What will we do, what can we do? Both believers and non believers have to figure out how to manage stresses in life. Both need to recognize the signs and the triggers. As believers we can give it to the Lord. We can accept that God is in control of all things and that if we allow Him, he will see us through. He will show us what he wants to learn from the situation and move us in the direction he wants us to go.

When we descide to stay at work an extra few minutes, or to avoid the neighbor, or to ask our kids to leave the room we may be just missing Gods point. We may be avoiding more than stress. We may be missing a chance to change or grow in our Lord.

With that, to my family, I am sorry for the times when I also was drunk and baligerent. I am sorry for the times when I was drunk and agry and aggressive. Catherine, I will say it again now, I am thankful that you had so much strength to look at me when I could not look at myself and continue to love me. To Harrison and Anna, I am sorry for the times that my drinking was more important than you. I am sorry for allowing the stresses in my life to overwhelm me and let alcohol consume me. I love you all.

I pray Lord Jesus, that any who read this, that may need to, see their face in the face of another. That they see themselves, and allow God to lead them. That the avoidance of stress, does not bring the reality of this pain. I pray that we may all be changed by your Words. Amen.

To Anna.

Anna,

How many ways can I tell you that I love you. How many ways can I let you know that I care about you so deeply.

I am your father and you have come from my and your mothers flesh. We are one and because of that you are always with me. Know that when you are happy I am happy as I only want the best for you, always. Know also that when you are sad and hurting, I too am sad and hurting.

I pray for Jesus Christ to lead your life, that you may always look to Him for your guidance in times of struggle and times of happiness. He is your perfect father and through Him you may be saved and walk in freedoim from any bondage that may come upon you. Love Him Anna, with all of your heart and all of your soul and all of your mind and He will never fail you.

As you look to Him know that any thing in your life will be overcome by His power and Grace. I have found this in my life as at one time, as you know, my heart and soul were in turmoil. I could not live each day without anxiety and anger and pain that seemed to consume me. I no longer need to dwell in that place as the Lord brings me comfort, He has delivered me from that bondage.

I have found healing in the Lords touch, many examples in the Bible show us that, and so does my life and our family. As we have allowed the Lord to Minister in our hearts we have been healed, delivered. We are not perfect, non of us are but we do have the ability to move into perfection through Christ Jesus. We are permitted to immitate Him so that we may walk as He walked and do as He has done. He is our perfect example to follow.

I ask Anna that as I did, you give yourself fully to the Lord Jesus. I have asked Him to impart His will in your life and to lead you and be an example to you to follow. I ask that I can surrender you to His complete care as you walk in Faith with Him. I ask that even now I can be a good steward of your life and show you an example of Him through me.

I want you to also take the Joy that you have for life, for the little things you set your heart on and give them to Him. To be thankful for Him for all that He has given you. I want you to speak with Him softly as a friend and allow Him to whisper back to you so that you know Him and relate to Him closely. I want you to stand on a platform and shout that He is your God and your friend and that He will not leave or forsake you. I want you to be proud of Him who will be your best and closest friend if you let Him.

Anna, you are my precious little girl, the jewel of my heart. I give you to the Lords will and that He may have you through your life. Trust Him fully. Know that He heals and helps. Know that He will show you love when the world shows you nothing. Know that He will never leave you and that you are His. Be strong, Anna because you will have Jesus Christ at your shoulder and because of this you will never fall.

I love you. I care so much about you and I want you to be everything that you can be. Everything that He has made you to be. I want you to experience Life to its fullest and enjoy this life as you walk with Him.

Be well my daughter.

Labor Day Agreement.

Today is Labor Day in America. A day when we don't Labor but that we acknowledge the work that we do with our friends and families. BBQ's and swimming pools, friends and fellowship. Here it is another day of Labor for all of us, no break, and just some good food to enjoy at the DFAC tonight in honor of the Holiday.

For a small portion of the people here, we should rejoice that the DFAC workers here will sign thier agreement with the subcontractor today. The men have been waiting for this for six weeks now, and they are all very excited. Most of these men have come here in faith of men that they would have work and be treated fairly. They have all worked hard and not complained and today they will know what they have been working for.

The shame in this is much, as we see how others are treated from around the world. Labor is cheap and men are greedy. To ones that look for gain only these men are just bodies to fill the positions needed here in Afghanistan. Many of the men had to pay an agent up to 3,000 dollars to get the positions. Some come as indentured to the agents and need to pay off this fee or portions of it as they get paid. Jeevan, spent five months in Delhi waiting to get here after paying his money. He will only now begin to be paid.

These men show such humilty also in how they handle this. It took them a while to even mention it to me. They some how expect this type of treatment, or it has become normal to them that their reactions are very different from westerners. I in my experience have seen men down right angry over a few dollars of pay in their pay check for the week, yet these men have gone weeks with nothing.

So today they are excited, the will have an agreement. Almost reminicent of some Union movie in the states. Not celebrating but putting on their good clothes and cleaning up to go down and sign their papers. They are happy and so I am also for them.

I am thankful to God that He has allowed me to see this. That He has allowed me the position here to know the DCMA and others that have helped in pushing this along. This abuse is minor compared to others that we know about in the world but none the less it was abusive. We are asked by our Lord to help those in need and to intervene when we can. This issue was important, but so also are the small evryday one that we see.

Take the oportunities everyday, that the Lord has placed before you, to do unto the least of them. Put your change in the bucket. Buy a cup of coffe for the man on the corner. Help your neighbor when you see them needing it, even if they are not friendly. In these small ways you will show the Love of Christ in you to those around you.

Be well, and on this Labor Day remember these men here who labored from the time they left home until today only in the hopes of a few dollars and an agreement with their employer. Thank the Lord for His blessings opon you and your family and if you have an opportunity bless somone who otherwise has nothing to celebrate today.