Small is Beautiful

On Saturday, Jan. 25^th I (nate) took a few minutes to read the classic devotional called “Our Daily Bread.” The Bible passage was John 6:53-71 where it talks about some of Jesus’ difficult teachings and then tells about how many of his followers deserted him afterwards. The title of that day’s devotional was “Small is Beautiful” and it posed the question: “Why do we think that God’s call is necessarily upwardly mobile? Why wouldn’t he send His best workers to labor for a lifetime in some small place?”

A whole host of thoughts went running through my head at this point. Where we are right now –Kremmling, Colorado—is a small place. It’s also not exactly where Rachelle and I envisioned being at this point in our lives. We thought we’d been called to the Jungle and a ministry among the Waorani and were willing to stay there as missionaries for a long time.

When Rachelle got sick and was unable to continue living overseas we realized God had different plans. There are many times we have grieved the loss of this ministry and I think we have even felt second class for no longer being able to be jungle missionaries. We definitely were both challenged and fulfilled in our jobs and lives down there. But this little devotional made me think about the fact that this change in venue isn’t necessarily a demotion. I pray I can remain faithful in this small place we are at.

I really like the idea that God’s call isn’t always upwardly mobile. It is so counter-culture in our bigger-is-better lives in the US. A demotion in the world’s eyes can easily bring you to a place where God can use you. It may be right where he wants you. I really hope Rachelle and I are still living in that place.

Faith on display at the Superbowl

I found this article on the internet today. It's about the very public faith of some of the players in the Superbowl and I found it interesting. Take a read:

"Faith mixes with football for the big game"

By Tim Dahlberg (AP, January 27, 2009)

Tampa, USA - Arizona running back Tim Hightower had just finished a thoughtful explanation of his religious beliefs when one of the media types who found their way into the Super Bowl stadium Tuesday decided he needed more proof.

"Can you pray right now?" he asked.

"I can pray that whatever is going on in your life right now that you find God," Hightower said.

Hightower handled the question with the same ease he handled would-be tacklers to score the winning touchdown that got his team into the Super Bowl, which by itself was somewhat surprising since he is a rookie on the biggest stage of his young life.

Even more surprising at this Super Bowl, though, is how so many players on both teams aren't hesitating to invoke the name of God as they prepare to play a violent game where there will be no mercy shown on either side.

Usually that has writers setting down their pens and cameramen hitting the pause button until talk returns to the game itself.

But the depth of convictions from evangelical Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner to the Steelers who will do their best to plant him face-first into the ground on Sunday has put religion squarely in play this week. All of a sudden the G-word is in vogue.

"You just have to embrace it, whatever God does in your life and wherever he puts you," Warner said in one of his many religious references since landing in Tampa. "If it means being a role model in this game, I'm happy to do that. You are excited about that opportunity because you get the chance to speak to millions of people and, hopefully, we'll get an opportunity to impact some lives this week."

Warner is the most vocal — and visible — Christian on the Cardinals, proclaiming his faith at every opportunity and underscoring it by carrying a Bible with him almost everywhere he goes. He had it with him at the postgame press conference after Arizona upset Philadelphia to reach the Super Bowl, and took time to credit his faith in God for the win before answering any other questions.

The 37-year-old Warner's public display of faith has left an impression on his younger teammates, about 20 of whom join him in Bible studies after practice every Wednesday during the season.

"Our quarterback is a definite leader and devout Christian," cornerback Roderick Hood said. "I think that has spearheaded our growth. Also, guys see the peace we have on the field and want to find that themselves."

Hood says he prays before every game, after every game and during the game itself. Lest Pittsburgh fans get the wrong idea, though, he says he prays for everyone to be safe and not for any particular team to win.

The Steelers aren't as public about their religious beliefs, but many consider themselves devout Christians and can sometimes be seen in locker rooms or on airplanes reading their Bibles. Safety Troy Polamalu brings teammates to services at his Eastern Orthodox Christian church, while running back Willie Parker leaned on his faith to come back from injuries this season, praying that he would be 100 percent physically and able to produce.

Defensive lineman Aaron Smith found comfort in his beliefs when his young son was diagnosed with leukemia.

"It's really through the Lord's strength that I've been able to cope with this," Smith said.

Compared to that, crediting God for helping on the field seems almost trite, though that doesn't stop athletes from doing it all the time. Football players tend to do it more often than others, perhaps because they could be permanently injured on almost any play. But there are baseball players who point to the sky every time they touch home plate and golfers who believe that God gave them the peace within to win major championships.

A poll last summer by the Pew Research Center Forum on Religion and Public Life revealed that 92 percent of Americans believe in some form of God, while 78 percent identify themselves as Christians. And while they express some concern about the mixing of politics and religion, there has never been much outcry about players from both teams gathering after a football game to kneel together in prayer.

Expect plenty of those prayers before and after Sunday's game from plenty of different players. Expect to see Warner with a Bible in hand as soon as he's done throwing a football with it.

And don't expect to hear him shout right away that he's going to Disneyland if the Cardinals win.

Because he's going to thank God first.

HCJB Global partners with Theovision in Ghana

Here is some news from HCJB Global--I'm hoping that I can lead some short term teams to Ghana in the near future to help Theovision!

Nate

HCJB Global recently began a strategic partnership with Theovision International, a large mission organization that has been working in Accra, Ghana, for nearly 20 years. HCJB Global joined with the organization, specializing in recording audio New Testaments, because of its growing interest in radio, said Sub-Saharan Africa Executive Director Lee Sonius. “Audio Scriptures and radio go hand in hand,” he explained. “Theovision has just received three FM radio permits from the Ghana authorities for three different towns. We are committed to helping them get these stations on the air, and we want this to be accomplished in the coming years.”

The primary focus of Theovision, which also has offices in Nigeria and Kenya, is the recording of the New Testament in African languages. So far Theovision has completed recordings in 168 languages, covering 80 percent of the languages spoken in 28 countries.

“In the villages where the audio Scriptures are used in listening clubs, we will also help Theovision as they begin to provide community healthcare and development,” Sonius added. “This will be done mainly with a four-wheel-drive, mobile medical clinic that can access even the remotest areas of Ghana. We’re also looking at helping to provide clean water to villages, through wells with hand pumps.”

Theovision’s ministry is important because “50 percent of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa is illiterate, so even if the Bible has been translated into a specific language, many of the speakers cannot read it,” he said.