Ever leave for an extended trip, or even a short one, and have that funny feeling that you've forgotten something? I remember sitting on an airplane at 35,000 feet and realizing that I could not remember putting down the garage door. As soon as I landed I called a friend who lived near our home. Sure enough, I had not lowered the door.
On another occasion, our "automatic" pet watering bowl began to leak and a catastrophic flood and water bill were avoided because our friend caught it before a lot of damage was done.
A trusted friend who can check on things while you travel is invaluable. Always make arrangements to have someone do the lawn, water the plants and generally check on things while you are away.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
May 2, 2012 - Lock and Load
Being on old (and aging) soldier, I've used the phrase hundreds of
times to literally mean "prepare your weapon for firing". It
did not matter if I was giving orders to soldiers armed with an M-1911 pistol,
an M-16 rifle, a TOW anti-tank missile or an M-60 tank. I also used the
phrase more generically to tell the soldiers to "get ready to go" or
"get ready for action".
It has been almost 20 years since I wore the uniform, but this
phrase still comes to mind, especially in our work as missionaries. Now
Trisha and I are "locked and loaded" as we prepare for a summer full
of Christian battle. Now through December, our schedule is filled with
activities and events where the gospel will be presented to thousands of
people.
You won't find the phrase "lock and load" in the Bible,
however, check this out.
"Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be
instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared (locked and loaded)
to do any good work." 2 Timothy 2:21 (NIV)
"Preach the word; be prepared (locked and loaded)
in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience
and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2
(NIV)
"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared
(locked and loaded)
to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," 1 Peter 3:15
So for old times sake, allow this old soldier to once again say,
"Soldiers, lock and load!"
Thursday, April 26, 2012
April 26, 2012 - Save the Date
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| Save the date - September 15, 2012 |
April 9, 2012 - Lord, what are you up to now?
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| The harvest is plentiful. Workers are few, but work is abundant. |
Just when we think we know what we are to do for the coming years,
the Lord challenges us to take a fresh look at "our plans".
Lord, what are you up to now?
Our home and car in Managua were supposed to make us more
efficient and effective with our current work load. Now we just have more
work. Lord, what are you up to now?
We are now being invited to not only bring teams for our
Practically Speaking English courses, but to provide our church partners with
some seminars, training, conferences and other events and resources.
Lord, what are you up to now?
Then we were visited by our dear friend and mission partner, Joe
Wilson, who shares a vision with us to begin a church planting movement among
the university age adults in Managua. We plan to be an ingredient in that
mission. Lord, what are you up to now?
I can see that our expenses will be increasing, but our donations
have not increased (yet). Lord, what are you up to now?
Lord, what are you up to now?
He is up to the Father's business, as He has been from eternity
past. Reaching the lost is His business. Saving the condemned is
His business. Stretching His people to join Him in the Father's business,
is His business.
Please consider joining Him and us in the Father's business.
Pray for us. Go with us. GIve to us.
February 1, 2012 - Everything Is the Same, Only Different
Everything
Is the Same, Only Different
February 1, 2012
February 1, 2012
One of the joys of teaching English is to see our friends express
a sense of humor in English. Our dear friend and ministry partner Josué found
the title expression funny. So funny, in fact, that he used it every chance he
got. It came to be a game with him and our team. Someone would say,
"Josue, what's new?" He would answer with a big smile,
"Everything is the same, only different." Then all would
laugh.
Oddly enough, this strange and oxymoronic expression was true of
2011. While most of our ministry experience was much like past years, there
were many new and different episodes in 2011.
We praise the Lord and give Christ all the glory for all He has
allowed us to accomplish in 2011. In that year alone, almost 1,000 adults said
"yes" to Christ during our Practically Speaking English events in
Nicaragua and Russia.
Friday, September 30, 2011
August 16, 2011 - Is a Picture Really Worth 1,000 Words?
We have literally tens of thousands of photographs from our 20 years of mission work. Our entry into full-time service (11 years ago) was accompanied by the advent of digital camera's that were affordable and easy to use. Now, not only is it easy to take digital still photographs, it is easy to take video, often with the same camera. The internet, personal computers and inexpensive (or free) software make it easy to share our memories on sites such as YouTube and social networking sites.
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| Gina D's YouTube Video |
One of our summer missionaries created a great video of her experience in Nicaragua. Better than 1,000 words, this video summarizes a 10 day mission into a couple of minutes. Watch the video and you will see what we mean.
June 11, 2011 - One-Two-Three, What Are We Fightin' For...
The opening line of this oldie reminds me of my youth in Commerce, Texas during the 60's and early 70's when the hippies were doing their thing, college students protested the war and those of the so-called "enlightened generation" were ruining their minds with anything they could set on fire and suck through a pipe. Commerce was somewhat insulated from a lot of that, yet the small campus of East Texas Teacher's College (later East Texas State University and now Texas A&M at Commerce) had its share of civil disobedience and hippies.
The song goes on to answer the question with "I don't know and I don't give a (care)" (expletive omitted).
Does this have anything at all to do with today? As Christians, we should be asking this question of ourselves - "What are we fighting for?" Another way to phrase it might be, "What are we striving for? We should know the answer, yet so many of our Christian brothers and sisters (bound for Heaven for sure) can't answer the question and what's more, don't really care.
Can you answer? You should know for what you are striving.
Want a hint? Click here.
May 29, 2011 - Memorial Day
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On this Memorial Day weekend, we were privileged to visit the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery with our son, Lt. Arron Burch (USN). While I viewed the rows upon rows of graves I realized that many of these were killed in action while most served with honor and returned to live out their days in the freedom that they themselves had fought for. I don't know the story of YN1 Higginbotham, but from his young age, it could be that he lost his life while on duty for us.
As we reflected on the ultimate sacrifices made by those killed in action, we could see at the mouth of the bay a United States nuclear submarine returning from duty somewhere in the world. The crew of that submarine are voluntarily and intentionally serving us and the freedoms we love.
We mourn for the lost and the families that miss them. We pray for those families that will live day to day thinking about a loved one lost to war. We pray for those that are still serving.
Jody and Trisha Kennedy
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March 13, 2011 - A Great and Dear Soldier Goes Home
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