The Process

Jesus told his disciples to get into the boat so they could all go to the other side of the Lake. [Mk.4:35]Traditional thinking would have us think that the whole goal here was to get into the boat to get to the other side of the lake. But a storm interrupted their little row or sail across the lake. In life we have turbulence. We are irritated by these moments in life that hinder us from getting to the other side or accomplishing our goal. ---The teaching moment for the disciples came when the storm brew up. The opportunity for them to show trust and faith showed up during the storm. Trust and obedience to Jesus Christ are the goal, not getting to the other side. We tend to despise the process, but it is the process that is the daily moments (the journey) of getting to the other side. Quit looking over there so much. Live, trust, obey in the moment.

Below average is good?

Approaching the end of the series dealing with "love one another", I have some thoughts to share. In baseball if a player gets a hit 3 out of 10 times at bat, he is considered doing well. Yet, he failed 7 times out of 10. If you are a good friend 3 out of 10 times, you are probably in danger of losing friends. Yet, none of us are perfect so there is a lot of leeway there...a lot of work that needs to be done in the relationship area of life. Do the work---be patient, kind, forgiving, etc. so that the world is a better place. Don't settle. Excel!

Giant Jellyfish

I was reading this article where these giant 6 feet long jelly fish are wrecking havoc off the coast of Japan. I thought what kind of havoc can a jellyfish cause? Evidently they get into the nets of fishermen and ruin the nets allowing the catch of fish to escape. That doesn't sound like too big a deal to us far away from the scene. But when your next meal and the village that you live in depends on this as a source for food---it's a huge deal. It turns out that these nets are owned by the whole community. These communities invest together so they can live. ---Ah! These people that have probably read few books on leadership, and are totally disconnected with the latest technology have learned that it takes togetherness for a community to survive and thrive. Doing one's part is not optional in their world...nor ours if we are to live out the life God intended.

BFF

There are many layers of friendship. Look at Jesus' example. There were the seventy, the twelve, the three, the one---each type of friendship had its own dynamic. We have those people that are in our top 70, top ten, top 3, BFF. Everyone can't be your BFF, so don't get mad when they aren't, because it's impossible. Don't go Middle School on your friends. There are some people that are friends from a distance, and some that are up close and personal. That's okay. It is the way we are made. ---Who was Jesus' best friend? Oh, I think he had one, but I'll tell you what I think next week.

Disconcern for the Environment

Typically when discussing the environment saving the tree frog or global warming or saving the rain forest are hot topics. But what about saving the babies? I never understood this: the ones looking to save the whale or some nearly extinct spider don’t fight for the life of the unborn human. Why does this rattle the cage of those immersed in greenery? Likewise, those that are concerned for the unborn should be concerned about the planet in which these children would be left to manage. You did know that ‘s why were put here, don’t you? ---to manage and replenish the earth.

Home Training

A guy told me a story of how he watched a young man at his church follow an attractive young woman in the hall way to "check her out". He said that it ticked him off that this guy was treating church as a pick-up spot.---Well, I haven't heard of that one at our church, but I've heard of other things that should be highlighted. Since there isn't a guidebook we need to have an avenue to give a little "home training", so I will try it right here for the few readers we have.

Scoot over- when someone looks like that need a place to sit...scoot over.

Be quiet- when the pastor or someone is speaking...be quiet. Show respect. It amazes me how loud people talk when they think they are whispering. You don't know how many times people behind you are disturbed and can't listen because of your noisy antics. Your disturbance might stand between a person and where they spend eternity. (I would say especially during the Invitation, but then again that would make it sound like it was okay at other times.)

Lastly, Don't get up during the service---it doesn't bother me, but I hear people quite often lose touch because somebody got up and walked out during the service. (I'm not talking about someone being sick or serious issues. We're not Legalist.) For goodness' sake lay off the coffee if you can't handle it. For those that have back pain and fear you'll have to get up; you can certainly sit in the back. ---Seriously, this stuff doesn't phase me in the least, but it does phase other people in the congregation...because they tell me about it. ---So, just consider this a little home training.

Clothes Don't Make the Man

Clothes don't make the man. Clothes just help us hide who we really are. On the way to church, I saw folks walking into their church all dressed up. That's fine. But it spurred a thought in my head. How easy is it for man to play dress up? We can cover up and make ourselves look good, when we aren't all together on the inside. (*this doesn't mean you can't dress up for church) When we come before God and our fellow man in truth and honesty, then can real things happen in our lives. Otherwise, we can pretend for our whole lives. We need life transformation, not wardrobe transformation. ---Keepin it real.

True or False Test

Although we try to be all things to all men, so that we may reach some; the cold, hard truth is that all men will not come to the One Way Jesus. While the universal appeal is to all men; Christianity is exclusive in that call. Jesus said, " I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me." Peter full of the Holy Spirit says "there is no other name under heaven whereby man must be saved, but Jesus." Jesus was not just a good man or prophet. He wasn't just some wise sage. He is the exact representation of God (so we're told in Scriptures). No where in Scriptures does it claim that he is a way. One Way Jesus is the claim. It's a true or false test. It's not multiple choice. I can't get past the evidence. Jesus is the Way. "The work of God is this, believe in the one He has sent."---Jesus

One of Many

Visiting children/families at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital ---just one of the mission opportunities many of our CPR Groups will be doing in the next thirty days. For those that don't know, CPR stands for Care, Prayer, and Relationships--this our adult small groups that meet at various times and places throughout the week. Not only do we study God's Word together and hang out and pray together, we move out from the living room and serve in the community. Other mission opps (and not limited to): helping out at the local Pregnancy Resource Center, helping the elderly and disabled clean up around their homes. ---It is exciting to be God's hands and feet as we go out. What are you doing intentionally in your life for others?

The Wow of Togetherness

Here we are, a week away from agreeing to purchase 35.26 acres of land for LTC. Wow! Not so much that it has taken nine years. Not so much that here we are about to buy land. Not so much a surprise that God found us a great deal. ---But Wow in the sense that, even though the road has been long, God seems to be bringing us to crossing into a new place in the life of LTC--- together.
Let me remind you that this is not The Place. We’ve not arrived. This will be a place for us to minister from. It will serve as our Outpost for Operations. Get excited about it. Get serious about it. Continue to go and make disciples.

Genesis to Revelation

What do you wanna know?
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say : My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.
Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness. I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed.
---God speaking to Isaiah 2,700 years ago.(46:10-13) God is still making history. You can start in the back and read the ending urrr beginning...I guess it's how you look at it.

Never take freedom for granted

With July 4th coming up, I thought I would share a letter from a freedom fighter.
Hello Norman,
Today I am sitting in my office. There is a normalizing sound that permeates my "B" Hut. It is the sound of baby birds chirping. There are baby birds in the wall where my air conditioning unit lines are placed. It's good to hear. It is good to hear because I hear it over all the other strange and awkward noises of a Forward Operating Base (FOB). There is the occasional sound of gunfire. Sometimes it is gunfire from our ranges. Sometimes it is the real deal. There is the occasional sound of an explosion. Usually, that one is real. These aren't as common as you might be thinking, except the gunfire. There is the sound of a huge generator that powers a Pizza Hut next to my office. You might say, "I bet Tim loves that." You would be wrong. I hate Pizza Hut. I don't like pizza, for a later conversation. But, the birds provide me with something different.


I call the baby birds a normalizing and familiar sound for my day. I have heard baby birds before today. I have heard them at home. So, it is like a piece of home in Afghanistan. Now, I don't know if they are chirping in Pashtu. But frankly, I don't even know English bird chirping. So, I cannot say that I am an expert in the chirping linguistics. I am sure that it is Pashtu chirping though. I just know that it isn't annoying like it should be. At home, I would probably try to move the nest; I don't know. It would likely annoy me, but not today. Today it is comforting. It is familiar. It is a slight shift in my perspective.


Another shift in my perspective occurred the other day. You may have read or seen news of the rocket attack in Bagram last weekend. One of my soldiers lost his leg from the knee down. He sustained other injuries. He should be recovering now at another location. Well, I was shaving the next day. My razor had fallen off the case in to my shaving kit. I reached in and grabbed it. I shaved off the corner of my thumb, just a piece. The first thing I thought or said I will leave as a mystery. The second, and almost immediate thought was, "I have my leg." It ceased to even be an issue at that moment.


I stood on the flight line as the FOB Chaplain yesterday as the medevac choppers came in. They unloaded a number of soldiers (Can't disclose details at this time due to Secret policy). I watched them be wheeled to the vehicles and shortly to the Med Station where I met them. They were sons, fathers, brothers etc... I watched over them and prayed for them. As they wheeled them from the choppers to the vehicles, tears pooled around my eyes. These brave me are somebody’s babies, dads.....


I am doing well. But, doing well doesn't mean that I don't feel the pain of those around me. We have just begun. There will be more of this unfortunately. There will also be some great stuff. I spend 99% of my time full and happy about what I do. It is only occasionally that it is hard. So, don't worry about me. I am doing well. I even went to a party last night.


The Afghan Security Guard hosted an event for us last night. I ate the local food and I lived through it. It was actually very good. They played music for us. A group of Afghans danced for us. I eventually joined them. It was a lot of fun. Some of the other officers were dancing with me. I am sure you know that I was acting a fool. We had a great time. Soon, I will have pictures. They will be great.


Keep our soldiers in your daily prayers. We are making a difference here. I spoke with a leader of the Afghan Army last night. He could not stop talking about the changes here. He spoke of hope. He spoke of new days. I see it in their eyes. This ancient, war-torn land has truly tasted what can be. They are determined and hungry for it. From what I gather from my comrades, it is different from Iraq somewhat in that sense. It is fresh, new life for them.


The birds are still chirping. They will chirp for a while, then go. They must lean on their mother right now until they can stretch their wings and fly on their own. Isn't that funny? Maybe, just maybe, Afghanistan will fly one day, all by itself.


Serving the Best Men and Women Today,
CH (CPT) Tim Brown

One More

It's always great to be a part of the process when someone enters into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It's refreshing to see the Holy Spirit draw a person to Himself. It's rewarding to watch the journey from our own vantage point as God takes someone from being an athiest to a believer and follower of Jesus. It's tough to be patient during that time. I am thankful to those that were concerned enough to invite a friend to come and hear the Word. I am grateful to other friends that even gave rides to church. Also, I am thankful for those that were friendly to a stranger. It takes all of us. Now, it will take all of us to disciple the new believer. Praise the Lord! One more has entered the Kingdom...let's join the Holy Spirit in pursuing one more...

Pay Attention

I will show myself holy among you in the sight of the nations. Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your fathers.Ezek.20:41b-42
God has a long-standing promise with Israel. He plans to keep it. He has ordained it. He has no problem stating ahead of time that it is going to happen. And He has no problem in making it happen in the future. God is able. He is the Sovereign LORD of the Universe. ---Something I did not realize before. The land of Canaan was a beautiful, green, fertile land until Israel had committed her many sins against God. She went into the beautiful places and made high-places to worship sticks and stones---false idols. For this, God allowed this beautiful land to be desecrated into a dry and thirsty land. We have known it as a deserted looking land of rock and such. However, it is making a come back. God is preparing the land to bring His people back! Pay attention to the signs! The world can turn its head and act like nothing is going on, but God will show Himself holy amongst Israel in the sight of the nations! Be careful to not get side-tracked with North Korea, the economy, Iran, civil unions, Iraq, Dow Jones and Hollywood. God will restore the nation of Israel. Why do you think they are still around?