JOHANNESBURG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,
SOUTH AFRICA. Well, what can one say except that it's over. This trip
has been one of those "Wow, what a trip" trips. There was so much life
change that happened in front of my eyes it's like it was all some kind of a
dream. There were so many miracles and so many reports of miracles; so many
people born again and filled with the goodness of God.
And then
there were the children--I tell you, the children... They just get so deep
in your heart. Crusade after crusade they are by far the one happening
before which I can't hold back the tears. The scenes of them sitting
quietly absorbing the Gospel. The scenes of them lifting their hands to
say, "I want to receive Jesus." The scenes of them lined up in the hundreds
waiting for a plate of sausage and corn meal, a candy and an Ice Pop. The
scenes of them with bellies so bloated because they stuffed themselves far
beyond what their tiny bodies could contain... Looking at the photographs
of them even--it's just too much to handle.
The
theme in the Kiddies Crusade this time was animals--the teachers dressed in
animal costumes and told/acted out Gospel stories--Gospel stories told from
the animal's point of view. There was a lion who was in the lion's den with
Daniel. There was a ladybug whose markings displayed the plan of
salvation. There was a lamb and an elephant, a couple of bees and on and
on... "Sister Sharon" as the Africans call her just blew them away with
Gospel goodness once again.
But what
can one say when children like these who grow up in the harshest of
circumstances are fed a full and "luxurious" meal (some of the kids tasted
meat for the first time in their lives). Night after night they're brought
joy upon joy and goodness galore. And most glorious of all, they're
introduced to Jesus--they find Jesus--even in their precious,
tiny, little lives they give their hearts to Jesus. "Breathtaking" isn't
nearly the word for it all, and all I can say is "Glory to Jesus."
Then
there was the adult side of things. It's so mind-bending, the African
ministry experience. It's so "life in the power of God" and that's no
exaggeration. I regularly see things I rarely if ever see in western
settings--literal first century miracles of healing before my eyes. Radical
and dramatic repentance and turnaround. People worshipping God with tears
streaming down their faces. Old ladies on their knees on dirt and cement.
People crying out to God and crying out to God, and it just goes on and
on...
One
night Martin called criminals to repentance. It was an unbelievable thing
to do--I mean these guys stood up in front of thousands of people confessing
that they're criminals. How do they know there are no police in the crowd
(as there most surely are)?
But
Martin gave the call and you wouldn't believe your eyes as they came
forward. Not just ten of fifteen, but well over a hundred of them. And
they actually gave their names to be followed up--these are guys who hijack
cars at gunpoint and have done all sorts of terrible things--and they
actually gave the counselors their names! It's so incredibly unheard of.
Then you
see the very same guys sitting in the service the next night, and the next
night, and just "leaning into" every Gospel word. So many of them came to
the teen event and you should have seen them leaning into the message,
standing with their arms raised and worshipping God. Unbelievable, really.
True, serious repentance. I am trusting God that these guys will never
terrorize their communities or the streets of South Africa ever again.
And
therein is something the Lord showed me as clearly as can be--He showed me
what we are involved in as an added bonus to all the eternal salvation.
With violent crime the great horror of South Africa right alongside AIDS,
the Lord showed me that He was saving the nation--that this and this alone
is the key to the country coming right--these young African men not roaming
the streets like predators in the night, but born again and worshipping
Jesus.
But of
all that the week has held for me--with all the miracles and drama--there
are two stories that I fly home with most deeply in my heart. The first was
told by one of Martin's leaders with regard to the teen event we held on the
Saturday of the Crusade--a day where the teens could gather for an
outreach/worship service and then break into teams for soccer, volleyball,
and netball (kind of like basketball).
All the
leaders were gathered in a circle and he spoke about his heart for the young
people and how long he'd been racking his brain trying to think of a way to
reach them. Then he said that he has a teenage cousin who "lived like a
prostitute." He told us how he'd gotten her to come to the teen day because
of all the fun and sports--he said this was a girl who wouldn't go near a
church event otherwise.
He said
he was sitting in the back of the teen service and suddenly to his
amazement, when the salvation invitation was given, there she was walking up
the aisle and toward the platform to receive Jesus. He said he was so
overwhelmed, but deep inside wondered how "real" her decision was. He was
smart enough not to corner her and hammer her about it, but simply told her
about the Sunday service the next morning and if she wanted to go she could
catch the bus to Oukasie.
Now
these are the words that got me. He said, "When I saw her in that bus
Sunday morning I was so astounded." He said, "You must understand that this
was a hard girl. But when I saw her on that bus all by herself without any
prodding I knew 'this was the way to reach the young people.' This that we
did on Saturday was the way..."
And so
the teen emphasis has risen to the top of the priority list alongside the
kiddies. We must reach them young and ground them in Jesus before all the
hell that hell assaults them with has a chance to grip their young lives.
We'll be doing teen events along with every future crusade from now on, and
doing these sports days all through the year as often as finances allow.
The
other story also has to do with a teenager--but I'll hold off telling it
until the end as it really caps the whole Crusade adventure for me--it
really is the biggest Crusade miracle and the one that will "carry me"
through these difficult days of "re-entry" back into normal American life
(whatever that means!). But another hallmark of this trip above the others
is the precious friendship with Martin growing and growing--the time we
spent together just laughing and drinking coffee, driving around on errands
and chatting away...
Man,
Martin got deep in my heart on this trip--as deep as he already was it was
nothing like now. It's less than a day since I've seen him and I miss him
so--the way we work together and laugh together, pray together and plan
together... On this trip God sealed us in partnership and friendship so
much so that Friday night after the crusade service was over and all the
people were gone and both of our shirts were soaked with sweat and soil... I
looked at him and said, "You know we're going to be doing this for a long,
long time, don't you, brother?" He just laughed and laughed and said, "I
love you, brother. Praise God... Praise God."
And so I
miss you, Martin. I can't wait to be back in action with you again. Praise
God... Praise God.
But
getting back to that "ultimate story" it was Saturday night, well after the
service was over. I was walking toward the door and with the auditorium
entirely empty I saw a teenage boy sitting on the floor with his head in his
hands. He was crying and I thought, "Yikes! This boy must have some
serious problems to be sitting here like this long after everyone else had
gone home." I went to him, sat on the floor next to him, put my hand on his
shoulder and asked, "Are you ok?"
You
wouldn't believe in a million years what this kid said to me. He lifted his
head, wiped his tears and said, "I just praise God, Pastor. I just praise
God. I've learned so much this week. There are so many problems at home,
Pastor--my father is gone and it's me, my mother, and my sister, and no one
is working. I used to feel terrible about it all and be scared all the
time, but now after this week I can see how God has been so faithful to me,
Pastor. I can see how He's taken care of us. Even though there's no
work I'm still able to stay in school and there's always some kind of food
on the table. We live in a shack, Pastor, but you know some people don't
even have a shack. I have a place to come home to, Pastor. God's given me
a place to come home to..."
Here was
this 17 year old kid--Daniel was his name--living in literal hell and all he
could do was thank God for His faithfulness. He just cried and cried
overcome by God's goodness. "I just thank God, Pastor," he kept saying over
and over, "I just thank God." What can I say about that except, "What a
kid," and "What a miracle."
So it's
been quite a time, this past week and a half. It's been a time of
tremendous friendship and two guys "standing together" in the goodness of
God. It's been a time of sweat and dust, and tropical rain. It's been a
time of tears and troubles, and watching God sort all of them out. It's
been a time of dancing in the joy of salvation and sitting stunned in
wonder. It's been all that a crusade week in Africa always is, and then
some.
In a
couple of hours I'll be high above the Atlantic Ocean and on my way to my
"other" life. Soon I'll be enjoying my family, walking through shopping
malls, and singing Christmas carols. Instead of watching African kids lined
up for a plate of sausage and corn I'll be watching American kids standing
in line for a photo with Santa. Instead of sharing Jesus from the platform
of Oukasie Community Hall I'll be in the back row of my own home church just
sitting at His feet.
Work-wise, instead of playing soccer with a bunch of African teens it'll be
a computer screen and getting started on another book. Instead of planning
over coffee with my precious brother, Martin, it'll be emails and Sunday
afternoon phone calls. There's so much to do in the coming year--so much to
plan for and move toward. And there's so much to be thankful for in the
past year--so much to sit quietly with God about, and just "come down" from,
and thank Him, and thank Him, and thank Him...
There
will be two more Crusades in the coming year, along with building houses for
the people, empowering some of the men with camera skills through which they
can feed their families. Martin will be investing lots of time in his
leadership, building them up, strengthening the "infrastructure" so it can
better handle the influx of new believers. We'll build churches in the
coming year where now there is only the shade of a tree or a steel frame.
"Sister Sharon" will be back with new teaching tools to disciple the kiddies
and new techniques to equip the African teachers. 2005 will be a wonderful
year, no doubt about that--kind of like 2004 was, I imagine.
But then
that's God's way, isn't it? "Glory to glory." "Strength to strength."
"Eye has not seen nor ear has heard..." Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...
"Thank
You, Jesus, for such a wondrous adventure. I'm so spoiled, Lord, it blows
me away. Thank You for keeping us all safe through this time, Lord, and for
all the wonders You did in front of our eyes. Thank You for that cousin who
used to live like a prostitute, Father; and thank You for Daniel
and all the Daniel's I'll never get the chance to know are even out there.
Thank
You for honoring our efforts, Lord, by 'showing up' and drawing the people
to You. Thank you for those kiddies, Lord, and Your love for them and the
looks on their faces as they gripped their little Ice Pops and savored their
sausages. Thank You that so many of them came to You, and came to You--so
many people came to You...
Thanks
for those teenagers who need You so much, Father. And thanks for all the
people on the home front who gave and gave so that all of the above could
come true.
Thanks
for the way You are just so incredibly faithful, Lord, just like young
Daniel says--faithful, faithful, and beyond beyond faithful. Yes, that's
who You are, Lord: 'Faithful.' Thank You, Lord.... thank You."
Glory to the Name of Jesus!
Here I
come, America! Next stop, LA!
Go to Top
MT. JULIET, TENNESSEE. I tell you,
there just is nothing, nothing, nothing that can match the manifest
"presence" of the living God. You gather together with a room full of
saints, you start praising and worshipping the living God... and then this
"thing" happens--this thing that is entirely unexplainable and entirely
undeniable. This "gentleness," this "calm," this sense of goodness
literally dripping from the ceiling and filling the room and every heart in
it.
Suddenly all that "stuff" of the world that lay just outside the doors--it's
as if it doesn't anymore exist. All those struggles and challenges that
have kept you awake night after night--it's as if they're suddenly so
completely small. All the questions and confusions--suddenly there's only
answers... and the answer--oh, what glorious answer--is so
obviously Jesus! Glory to the Name of Jesus!
I've come to "live for" that experience in a room when it comes to
ministering. There's nothing worse than just standing up there blabbing
away and though it may be good information, so what. But to be up there
blabbing and then suddenly "that" happens--I tell you, I live for it and if
it ever doesn't happen I'm in big trouble. Standing up there with nothing
but words--there's nothing more scary to me--yikes!
But this weekend it was happening everywhere--and it was glorious! Through
the worship time, through the ministry time, through the worship that
followed and didn't stop because no one wanted to go home... Man, God was
just everywhere and it was so thrilling.
Saturday night I was ministering to the local teens--what a blast. But when
"that" happened something struck me that is so obvious though I'd never
thought about it so specifically. It may be only me but since then I just
can't stop thinking about it...
That "sense"--that goodness, that calm, that peace, that joy, that
"security" that comes in those moments--that's the loveliness of the Holy
Spirit--the Spirit of God--the Spirit of Jesus. As He is exalted and lifted
up and focused on, it's His Person flooding into our lives in a degree and
dynamic where we can actually "feel" it, and as I'm guessing you know what
I'm talking about, not one person in a room like that can deny it.
But as God is One and Jesus was "God with us" (can you guess where I'm
going?) that must have been what the people felt when they were eye-to-eye
with Him 2000 years ago. That's what it must have been like to be with Him
or around Him, talking with Him, whatever... All that goodness--the calm,
the secure-ness, the "rest," the clarity that we feel in those times--that's
the personality of Jesus! That's who He is, and oh, how it must
have beamed from His eyes 2000 years ago, and flowed from His touch and His
words and tone of voice--security, gentleness, loveliness, strength,
goodness, holiness...
Can you imagine being around someone like that? Wow, what a
thought! Through all the discussions and books and Bible studies and Jesus
movies and all that other
good stuff... you want to know who Jesus really is? Just remember what the room was like in those times. Just
remember that "sense" of your heart being hugged; that sense of being in a
place so safe and pure that you could abandon yourself entirely...
Maybe you were sitting in church like I was all weekend. Maybe you just had
headphones on and were sitting in your home all alone listening to worship
music and singing along. Maybe you were praying intensely... And "it" just
happened--overcome with a sense of precious-ness, loveliness--like God was
just holding your heart in the cradle of His hand... Next time that happens
think to yourself, "This is Jesus." I mean Him--His
personality--His nature--who He is. Wow, wow, double wow!
Anyway, I'm so thankful because He was so faithful this weekend. Sunday
night I hardly spoke and then the worship guys got back up and it was
"something." I was on my knees, I could hear someone behind me sobbing, a
woman to my left went to her knees with her arms spread out... just
spontaneous reactions to that "who He is." Spontaneous abandon to who He
is... Overcome by Jesus! So much so that it went on and on and no one
wanted to go home... The band just kept playing and playing... Glory to
the Name of Jesus!
In only a few days I'll be on my way back to Africa for our second and final
Crusade of 2004. "It" happens there, too. I remember one time in
particular the people were singing, It Is Well With My Soul--people
who have absolutely nothing in physical terms singing It Is
Well With My Soul-- and suddenly it was like someone had opened a dam
or something. It was like this "rush" of goodness and "realness" that's so
entirely unexplainable. But you look across the room and everywhere there's
just tears and people on their knees and people singing so hard you can see
their necks straining. And it just goes on and on and on and the worship
team doesn't stop and the people don't stop and you never want it to stop,
and, and, and...
Anyway, that was just one of many times during the Crusades and we've come
to "count on" those times in the Crusades. We've even given salvation calls
in those moments without any preaching or anything and you should see the
people stream forward. All the fancy preaching in the world can't even
begin to make Jesus that real, and I'm just so, so thankful.
So next stop is Africa and that will wrap up an incredible year. An
incredible year of seeing folks saved like I never dreamed possible. An
incredible year of seeing brothers and sisters ignited and strengthened in
the love of Jesus. An incredible year of seeing God heal people in front of
my eyes. An incredible year of sharing Jesus on 5 different continents and
in 5 different countries. An incredible year of a new Jesus book out and a
new Jesus book written. An incredible year of all the laughter and fun,
tears and heartache, goodness and "hanging in there" that comes with life
and living life, and the wonders of life in Jesus. It's been incredible,
really--and I am just so, so thankful...
Off to Africa, back for Christmas... and all I can is "Glory to the Name of
Jesus!"
Go to Top
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA.
Whew, what a run of ministry trips. I tell you, I was sitting on this last
airplane back home from Indiana and every minute felt like an hour. It's
funny how sleeping in one's own bed becomes life's greatest luxury. Glory
to Jesus!
But it's been an astounding run. I've seen folks come to Jesus every step
of the way and therein is the bottom line. Therein is what makes every mile
worthwhile (hey, that rhymed!). Therein is the satisfaction at the end of
every day--people coming to Jesus, people growing in Jesus, people finding
the strength in Jesus to press through all the stuff that life throws at
them... And again, glory to Jesus.
It will be this way until just before Christmas. I'll be flying all over,
standing in front of loads of folks, sharing Jesus and sharing Jesus...
I'll be sharing Jesus in Kentucky, sharing Jesus in Nashville, sharing Jesus
in the townships of South Africa, sharing Jesus on South African TV... and
then I get to come home, do some Christmas shopping, spend time with the
family... and rest... in Jesus.
It's what I've been trying to do during the few days I have at home between
flights--rest in Jesus. It's tough to do--we are so programmed toward work,
work, work. But if there's anything the Lord is calling me to these days
it's to "come away" and "just be" with Him. He's been speaking to me of His
"friendship." He's been speaking to me of His intimacy and never-ending
companionship. This phrase keeps ringing in my ear, "the companionship of
Christ." How many of us actually experience Him in that way and on that
level--His companionship, His friendship. "Never alone" in Jesus...
I was even praying in my hotel room last weekend and just worshipping away
and telling Him how much I loved Him and all, and it was like He stopped me
and whispered the word, "Papa," into my heart. It was like He wanted me to
come to Him not only as my Lord and not just as "Father." He wanted me to
"curl up" into His care, lean my head against His bosom, so to speak. He
wanted me to come close, close, and closer than close. He wanted me to just
stop and just be His son, and just let Him be "Papa." Can you imagine?
He's the living God and He wanted me to call Him "Papa."
It's funny, but I'll never forget a long time ago when I was really running
around like a nut, not saying no to anything, just going for it like mad.
It was exhausting and it was exhilarating, and it was an extraordinarily
fruitful time to be sure. But I remember once in the middle of it all
talking with my then assistant about how I was going to fit it all in and
how I didn't want to let the Lord down and all... and she said some of the
wisest words I've ever heard. She said, "You know, Bruce, the Lord doesn't
need all your running around and all your skills and talents and all...
He just wants your heart. That's all He wants from you, Bruce--your
heart."
And so it's true--"All He wants is your heart." "Papa." He's thankful for
all the running around--about that there can be no doubt. But if it's at
the expense of a man or woman's heart, I can promise you He'd rather you
just leave it. He'd rather you just curl up in His arms. He'd rather you
lean your weariness against His "Papa-ness." He'd rather you just stop and
say, "I love You, Papa. I love You..."
Oh, give Him your heart, precious one. Oh, make certain above any and all
that you've laid at His feet, that it's your heart He has and not just your
deeds, or commitment, or time, or giving, or service, or worship, or, or,
or... All that is nice and all that is wonderful, but what He really,
really wants is your heart. Glory to the Name of Jesus! Oh, how
precious to your Papa is your precious, precious heart... And again, "Glory
to the Name of Jesus!"
Go to Top
TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND. What can you say about a town
that's so breathtakingly old you expect to see Tiny Tim hobble around the corner
any minute? And pretty much every town is like this. I drove 4 hours south from
Heathrow to the southwest coast and literally every place I pulled off the
highway and into was like this. I'd think, "I need to stretch my legs and get a
cup of coffee," and pull off at the next opportunity and no matter what center that was literally hundreds of years old,
streets so narrow you have to pull over to let the oncoming traffic through...
right out of every period English movie I ever saw. I even walked on authentic,
original cobblestone streets--amazing.
Not being much of a tourist I hadn't really thought about all of this. I never
look through guide books or anything--I just land, pick up my car, and go. But I
am totally taken by surprise here. My eyes have been popping out of my head left
and right day after day--it is really, truly something special.
And the English country side... Rolling hills of green like I've never seen
green. Ancient farmhouses and inns. The "hedgerows" surrounding the fields, the
patches of forest, and that classic scene of sheep grazing a hill's expanse over
and over... I tell you, it's so beautiful here I don't even mind the rain.
And speaking of rain the folks are out walking around in it, bicycling
around--even mothers out with their baby strollers--in the rain! Man, these are
"hardy," strong people to be sure. Little old ladies on bicycles--in the rain! I
thought, "You're a long way from California, kid." I mean we hide indoors if
there are clouds in the sky (ok, that's an exaggeration--but not such a big
one!). We're total wimps compared to these folks!
Anyway, England has been a real unexpected blessing in this sight-seeing way. In
fact I can't stop thinking how good God is to me--taking me these places and
giving me these rich travel adventures and experiences. I mean last Saturday
night I had dinner in a restaurant that was founded by the captain of the ship
that was sent to arrest the mutiny on the Bounty guys. He named the restaurant
after his ship--the "Pandora" Inn. I tell you, I expected to see Captain Hook
walk in the door with an eye patch and a parrot on his shoulder. That's how
"real" and authentic this place was. Anyway, as you can see I've been having a
blast here in England, and all I can say is, "Thank You, Jesus!" Glory to His
Name.
On top of that the ministry has been exceptional. I really had no idea that
anyone here had any knowledge of me, my books, Matthew. My sense was always that
there was no real distribution effort in this country and that is more or less
true. But it's like the Lord showing me everywhere I go, "I'm not limited to
man's distribution channels and means, Bruce. What man could never do and has
fouled in his efforts to do, I've been busy doing in My "tip-toe" way. Every
venue has been packed out like I never imagined. A gentleman said to me, "Thank
you for what you've meant to the people in my community." Are you joking? And
the stories of how people found Footsteps or Matthew or...
This one guy came and told me he was saved through Footsteps. Man, that blew my
mind--he was this young handsome guy. I asked him, "Where did you find the
book?" "In the library," he answered. "It was the only Christian book in the
library. My life had hit a real low so I went looking for something about Jesus
and this was the only book they had."
Well, that really got me--"in the library." I mean how did it get there? Little
did I know the real story had yet to be told. I asked him, "What library did you
find it in?" I wanted to get some understanding of how/why the books were
getting around. He got a little "shy" and said, "It was a prison library."
Can you believe a thing like that? How on earth does Footsteps find its way into
a prison library in the UK? It's astounding really. And how many other guys has
God drawn to Himself through it? And what other strategic nooks/crannies has God
placed it in that neither me or the publisher or anyone even knows about?
It's so incredibly exciting--and again all I can say is, "Glory to Jesus." He's
certainly shown me that He's a whole lot bigger than man's failures or even
more, man's best efforts. Oh, if we could only learn to depend on Him and look
to Him... how much more we'd get done, and how much more effectively. Oh, oh,
double oh!! Glory to Jesus!
On top of all that the ministry has been exceptional--the sense of God's
presence and blessing has been so "thick" in each and every room. Again along
the lines of God being so much bigger, many of the meetings have so incredibly
defied our "formulas" for ministry and "opening the door" to God's presence in a
service it's been a remarkable show of God's "limited by nothing" grace.
I had one meeting at 11 in the morning on a week day in a church that was
literally hundreds of years old. In physical terms the setting was "archaic,"
traditional. The garden all around the church was filled with ancient graves and
I think there were even a couple folks buried in the church's floor. You should
have seen the door to get into this church--I thought, "This just has to be a
Hollywood prop," but it wasn't. It was the real thing--I mean any minute Henry
VIII was going to walk through it. And the congregation--the place was packed
out and I was one of the maybe six or seven people who were under seventy years
old--no joke. We sang one "hymn" and then it was over to me.
So all that to say in terms of our "human wisdom" ways of how a service needs to
be done, and how I'm sure leaders are taught that it's supposed to be done this
setting was seriously "against the grain." And for a guy to minister in this
setting--one would assume (falsely) that it would be very challenging.
So guess what happened? With no effort of mine or anyone else's God "blew the
doors" off that place. I tell you (I'll have a little fun here) the stained
glass windows were shaking with His love so much that I think the dead people in
the floor were about to jump up and start dancing. Maybe they were up and
dancing in the garden outside--who knows. I mean God "showed up" in such
intimate fullness and dynamic it was breathtaking. He so blessed those folks
with His care that as I look back it quite possibly was my most "God" meeting of
all while here.
And here's the bottom line--these precious older folks who at first glance would
appear to be more "traditional" than anything else were so "in love" with Jesus.
They just held Him so deeply in their hearts, and were so seriously born again
and so seriously seeking God... You should have heard them sing that hymn. It
wasn't the typical organ playing and no one really singing. These people belted
it out, I tell you--and this was something I saw across the board in every one
of these seemingly "traditional" settings. The word "hymn" to them meant
"Yippee, it's time to worship God!" Glory to Jesus!
So I've been so blown away in meeting after meeting that I can only conclude,
"God is really 'doing a thing' in this country." I mean that meeting that I just
described--you would tend to guess "religious tradition" being in focus and
perhaps in some places it is (just like in the US and rest of the world). But
literally everywhere I went, no matter the denomination or setting, traditional
or charismatic, stone historical "Church of England" buildings or church in the
basement of a wharf district... I found people on fire for Jesus, lifting holy
hands, worshipping and worshipping... And not one or two people but all through
the room. I saw it over and over, again and again. I tell you, something very
fresh and vital is going on in jolly ol' England. Glory to the Name of Jesus.
Just to punch the point, one night I came back to my hotel after a long day of
ministry. It was late Sunday night. From the "car park" as I approached the
hotel I looked through a basement window and saw a room wall-too-wall with
people and a projection screen with words on it. As I got closer and closer I
realized the words were song lyrics--in the basement room of this hotel late on
a Sunday night people were packed in worshipping God.
I was startled and then when I went into the room to check it all out I was even
more startled. It wasn't just "people"--it was teenagers. There were maybe two
hundred of them, elbow to elbow, hands lifted high, eyes closed, thirteen year
olds next to nineteen year olds... worshipping God. I looked all around the room
and it wasn't the typical maybe 50% truly worshipping God and others just kind
of "there," checking out the girls or whatever. These kids were really "into
it"--the quantity of them combined with the intensity and seriousness of them...
Again, God is very busy doing some very special here. It is the only conclusion
I can come to. And again, glory to His Name...
So I praise God for this time and I hope He brings me back--if He's got
something specific for me to do He most certainly will. I praise God for how
He's shown me His bigness so far above and beyond the conventions of man, the
wisdom of man, man's best efforts and biggest failures... I tell you, at our
best we're just stumbling around and He just does His thing and does His thing.
He lets us think it has something to do with us when there really isn't anything
more laughable, and He just keeps right on doing His thing.
I praise Him for this time and I praise Him for His ways. I praise Him for the
opportunity to "stumble around" myself and enjoy watching His kingdom here grow.
The year's been pretty stretching--Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the states,
and here. A new book released and another book written... I've got a couple more
months to go so the stretching is far from over... and I just praise God. I
praise Him, and praise Him, and praise His holy Name.
Next stop, home--long enough to do my laundry. Thank God that my Levi's hold up
like they do! They hold up so well I could be a Levi's commercial! Hey, that
sounds fun! Here I go! Glory to the Name of Jesus!
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OUKASIE, SOUTH AFRICA. The
dust has settled on another crusade and with it comes all the wonder,
excitement, fatigue... that seems to go with every adventure in the living
God. I'm so exhausted that words are hard to find... Tuesday night set the
pace with a packed out hall, a massive salvation response, and (this so
blows my mind) many people testifying that they were healed even while the
message was being preached. The Kiddies Crusade opened at 300 strong.
Usually these crusades "warm-up" with smaller crowds the first couple nights
and then overflow Thursday, Friday, Saturday. But the Lord threw us a curve
on this one--packed out from day one.
Wednesday was the same--so
many people coming forward to say they were healed. So many coming forward
to give their lives to Jesus. It's all so mind-spinning. The Kiddies
Crusade was 450 strong--already beyond our expectation and (unfortunately)
our planning. Martin and the guys scrambled to "make a plan"--the African
reality is such that they develop the skill of thinking on their feet. At
the end of the day God did a mighty thing across the board and no one even
sensed we were caught off-guard.
Thursday "all hell broke
loose." This is beyond understanding but just as Martin was giving an altar
call for car hijackers and criminals to come forward and repent, our worship
leader and his wife were being hijacked on their way to the meeting. They
were forced at gunpoint into the trunk of their car and driven for miles
until, unexplainably; the hijackers pulled over and abandoned the car.
Praise God no one was hurt--shaken up pretty badly, but unhurt. Praise God.
At the same time well over
100 came forward at Martin called to criminals. I tell you, it blew my
mind--there they were standing before their community with tears. The place
went wild as these guys really terrorize the people. Salvation was massive
beyond belief. The follow-up room is way too small. There aren't enough
buses. There aren't enough chairs. There aren't enough counselors... All
we've got enough of is hungry souls--glory to Jesus. I told Martin, "We
have a beautiful problem--too many people wanting Jesus." Glory to Jesus.
Friday the kids were up to
800, sitting in the aisles, blanketing the floor. Buses upon buses of them.
We'd budgeted for 2 buses for the kiddies but tonight we needed 5 and I felt
so bad because there were twice as many kids on each bus as there should
have been. Praise God for His protection over them. In the main crusade I
saw something I never saw before. It was an hour before the service was to
begin and people were filling the follow-up room--they were bringing their
sick to be prayed for--it was breathtaking. And I saw something that again,
I've never seen before--a man stood from his wheelchair. I actually saw the
moment and captured it on film. I tell you, one cannot describe such a
thing--the tears streaming down his face and streaming down his face, and
the pastors running all over praising God. I still lay awake thinking about
that moment. Absolutely mind-blowing.
Again the salvation was
massive--people coming forward in droves, the follow-up room and the add-on
follow-up room both far too small, the lines to get in stretching the length
of the auditorium and wrapping around in front of the stage. It was a good
hour before that line was no more--the people stood in line for an hour to
record their salvations. Absolutely mind-blowing.
Then the devil kicked up his
heels. Martin was attacked by a teenager outside the hall--the kid actually
bit into his hand like an animal and didn't let go. Thank God there were
ushers nearby to subdue the boy because Martin was totally taken by
surprise. Then another pastor was stabbed as he was helping the people
re-board their buses home. Out of nowhere some guy came at the people
brandishing a knife. He stepped in and thank God he got his arm up or it
would have been terrible. Again he was subdued but his buddies came
around--one with a knife and the other with a gun. I tell you, it was
crazy--sheer madness. But these African pastors are accustomed to dealing
with such things so after a big scuffle they disarmed the guys and the
police were called. I tell you, just seeing that gun and the pure evil in
those guys' eyes... I just praise God no one was hurt and today they're
locked away where they can do no more harm. We discovered the one guy was
wanted for another stabbing--praise God he's off the streets.
Saturday was calm in that
way--Martin had his guys patrolling the area outside the hall in force. The
enemy tried hard but he couldn't even begin to succeed. The hall was
standing room only, the kids were standing room only, and the salvation in
both was again, absolutely massive. Sunday was the same as the kiddies were
fed and people again were saved, and, and, and... what an adventure in
Jesus.
I tell you, one just sits in
wonder. How does a guy "assimilate" (is that the right word?) seeing so
much glory and goodness? How does one handle scores of lives coming to
Jesus and people testifying to being healed one after the other? How does
one even begin to describe the looks on the children's faces--the innocence
and wonder, excitement and glee? It's far beyond me, that's for sure and
all I can say in response is, "I can't wait to do it again!" Next stop is
England and then I'll be back here with Martin in December. Here we go
again--glory upon glory upon glory. Thank You, Father! Thank You, Father!
Glory, glory, glory to Jesus!
Go to Top
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. Well,
my feet are still in LA but my heart is already in South Africa. With only
days before I fly it's been quite a "recovery" process, coming off of all
the round-the-clock writing. It's such a strange "bitter-sweet" when a
project like this is done. I'm so thrilled to have it all behind me and at
the same time I miss it! I tell you...
But the last few days have been extra time in the gym, extra time with
family, extra time in bed, extra time on the beach, and more than anything
else... extra time on my knees. I tell you, oh how we need the
Lord! The times are electric in both good and difficult ways--God has never
been moving more evidently and at the same time there has never been so much
enmity in the spiritual air. I tell you, the battle lines are being drawn
clearer than ever--and praise God that we stand on the winning side. Glory
to Jesus!
But I don't know about anyone else, but I just can't get enough of being
with God lately. I am so aware--like never before--of my utter need for
Him. Just this morning I went out with my cup of coffee and Bible and
before I knew it a couple hours had passed by. It was glorious, and if not
for a few matters that needed my attention I'd still be out there--just
throwing myself on His mercy and craving His leadership. I tell you, it's
just got to be all Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
And in the past few days He's so shown me Himself in fresh ways, showing me
things that happened in the past months that were entirely His faithfulness,
His answer to prayers, His upholding me... but in such subtle ways it's like
you don't recognize it until you're down the line a bit. Then you look back
and "wow!" He showed Me His hand of restoration, His faithfulness to His Word and the principles in His Word, His detailed attention to each and
every moment of seeking Him, His stand by my side through whatever would
appear to be challenge or fire... I know I'm being a little vague and
that's just for my own privacy which I haven't always been so good at
protecting, but really, just to encourage you... whoever you are, I can
promise you with all that I am that God will be faithful. And it isn't even
a matter of "will be" faithful--it's a matter of His already having been
faithful! He has done "it," I promise you.
Just keep looking to Him and looking to Him. Just stay on your knees like
never before. Just take a good look and make sure you're coming to Him on
His terms and not your own--seeking and fasting, crying out and
crying out, keeping your heart clean of un-forgiveness and self, keeping your
ways clean of unrighteousness that can cut you off from the fullness of His
kingdom growing in your life...
I was reading in the Old Testament (Leviticus or Numbers??) recently and it
gives pages of what the priests had to do before they entered the
Tent of Meeting--where they would go to "meet" God. I'm not going to take
the time to look back but they had to go through all this cleaning and
washing of themselves and their garments... I tell you, I praise God that I
live under the new covenant because that was quite a thing they went through
back then. But the bottom line was this realization that it was a huge,
huge deal to approach God for those guys--and it should be for us today!
We approach God so "sloppily," with all sorts of uncleanness in our hearts
and self-motivations, and in all sorts of other ways. These guys wouldn't
dare approach God with anything like that and all the "ritual" was meant to
assure cleanness and even more to tell us something these 3000 years later
about how we need to approach God if we truly want to "meet" with Him--hear
His voice in leadership and have His hand operating all through
us. Approaching God on "our terms" instead of His and without
first "clearing the spiritual way" in our hearts and lives just kind of
leaves Him out. We end up hearing from our own emotions and desires, our
own frustrations and either thinking all that is Him speaking or wondering
why He isn't speaking. The truth be told God is literally shouting 24 hours
a days but there's so much other "noise"--the noise of our strong desires,
the noise of human wisdom and strong emotion, the noise of always being in a
hurry and never taking the time to "be still"... we get all mixed up and
miss Him completely.
I tell you, that's a mistake I just don't want to make anymore. If there's
one thing I just keep learning over and over and grow in understanding more
and more it's that it's all--every nook and cranny of my choices,
my activities, my focus, my desires, my hopes, my relationships, my ways
within those relationships... it's just all got to be of Him, by
Him, because of Him, through Him, unto Him, in Him, with Him... He alone
holds the cards to the fullness of my life. He alone knows the paths I need
to choose. He alone knows the end from the beginning and His Wisdom is
certainly far above and beyond any wisdom I've come by. I'd be plum out of
my mind to walk around making decisions on my own when my "Dad" is the
living God, the Wisdom of Ages! I'd be the fool of fools to try to build my
own circumstances and securities when my Dad "owns the cattle on 1000
hills." I mean really... it's beyond ludicrous to even consider. Glory to
Jesus!
And so there's only one place for a guy to be: On his knees with his face to
the floor. Adoring God, craving God, laying it all at God's feet, wanting
only God... It's the only recipe for true and wondrous success, if you know
what I mean--"Your kingdom come, Father! Your will be
done!" Glory to Jesus!
So now I'm off to another African adventure. I'm so thankful there's no
emotional residue left over from being attacked on my last trip. In fact I
hope the guys come to the Crusade--stranger things have been known to
happen. Or better yet, that they're already saved! I can't say that I
won't want to still punch them each in the nose, but man, wouldn't that be
wonderful if they were saved! Glory to Jesus!
The African brothersted and waiting, the gry souls
God has destined for harvest don’t even know it but they're excited and
waiting, too. The kiddies--man, the kiddies! This Kiddies Crusade will be
something as word has spread throughout the region about what happened last
December. I can't wait to see all those little faces and all those little
hands go up to receive Jesus. I can't wait to see when we tell them they're
going on another fun adventure to the theme park, African Island. I can't
wait to see them clutching their little Jesus books, and sitting on the
grass laughing in the Jesus puppets shows... I tell you, I just plain can't
wait.
God has been so good as we move toward this event. He's been so good at
carrying me through all the work I needed to get done so Ies we
need (thanks to so many of you for your care and support!). He'll be so
good in saving many, many people. And He'll be so good in leading me into
whatever next adventure will surely follow.
"I love You, Father! I love you, Jesus! I praise you in wonder and I
worship You in marvel. Yes, Lord, I just stand in awe and marvel. Glory to
Your precious, precious Name!" Africa!
Go to Top
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. Well, what can I say about
4/5 days straight of non-stop writing. 8 AM till I can't keep my eyes open for
one more second. 1, 2, 3 o'clock in the morning... Welcome to the glamorous
world of being an author. Throw an ugly computer virus problem in the mix that
put me writing on a Palm Pilot for 2 days (I know it's not very Christian but
I’d sure love to get hold of one of those virus guys. I'd give him the Gospel,
lead him to Jesus, and then punch him in the face! Glory to God!).
But it's done and I tell you, I don't know whether I should laugh and celebrate
or just sit down and have a good cry. When I dive into a project it becomes all
of me--literally. and then one day it's just, well... gone. Yikes! It happened
on Matthew, it happened with Footsteps, it's happened with every ministry
adventure and Crusade... A part of me has learned to handle it better but a part
of me has a long way to go. It's ok, though... when I sit back after all the
dust settles and see what God did, wow! It makes all the "crash and burn" worth
it and worth it even more. Bring it on, Baby! Glory to Jesus!
So now there is only to get geared up for the September Crusade experience that
is coming on with a rush and then dive in there. I tell you, I can't wait.
Pastor Martin is so excited. We'll sit and have lunch the first day I arrive and
we'll just laugh and laugh and talk of God's goodness all afternoon. The first
Sunday I'm there I'll go on a tour of the (this blows my mind) 25 churches that
he's planted to follow up the harvest from from the 2003 Crusades. I've got my
brand new dream camera with me (did I ever mention that I love photography? At
the Crusades when I'm not preaching I'm running around taking photos. The people
must think, "This American preacher is nuts!") so I'll run through a whole bunch
of rolls going from church to church and bring back pictures for the web site.
Some of the churches are meeting in the grass beneath trees, some in garages,
some in corrugated iron shacks, some in school rooms... I can't wait to see the
church in Lethlabile that the guys constructed in 10 days next to the Crusade
grounds. Martin tells me it's already too small to handle all the people.
People are hungry for Jesus out there, I tell you. It is so, so easy out there.
People are just leaning in, looking for truth and what's right everywhere I go.
Yes, we live in challenging times but man, we live in exciting times, too! Glory
to Jesus!
So we just keep reaching out and reaching out. This past
week it was a book, years ago it was Matthew, in two weeks
it will be South Africa... Soon we'll be building houses for
the poor and there's some nice film/video surprises in the
offing (a little teaser there)... and it's all, all, all just Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus! What a life, I tell you...
The Lord is handily providing for every Crusade expense as we're almost there
(thank you so much to so many of you, by the way). We've received everything
from 25 cents from a little boy to classrooms taking us on as a project to
supporters in Sweden, England, Canada, and every corner of the US. I tell you,
it's so exciting and so humbling. I just praise God and again, thank you.
People's lives are changing and will be radically changed in the next few weeks,
and it is all just plain exciting.
One thing that is so cool, we'll be conducting a "Sunday School" teachers
training for kiddies. This sounds funny but specific ministry to kiddies is
almost unheard of in the African church culture. The kids are always kind of an
"obligation," for lack of a better way to put it. They seat the kids off to the
side and they just have to sit there for the 3 hours or whatever while church is
going on.
But man, we discovered something. In December we brought in puppets for the kids
and snacks and special programs. We put up a tent just for them and a band just
for them, and, and, and... the results were mind-blowing. Hundreds and hundreds
of kids showed up and I-don't-know-how-many came to Jesus. But just as exciting
the African leaders were blown sky high--this was all something never before
conceived of or even considered. Even a tiny thing like providing juice and
snacks for the kids--it just never occurred to them that the reason the kids
fall asleep and get cranky is because they're hungry! All that to say we'll be
training the leaders on the puppets and all sorts of things--even basic
nutrition. We'll provide them with booklets and tracts and evangelical
drawings... and then they can carry the torch into those 25 churches and (may it
be) far, far beyond! Glory to the Name of Jesus!
So with a lot behind and a lot ahead, with my eyes crossed from staring at this
screen day/night, with excitement in my heart and exhaustion in every other part
of me... we move on, and press on, and pray on... We keep our eyes on Jesus and
our feet to the ground. We just keep going and going... and reaching out in
Jesus. I know this was short (thanks for the break) but all my worn out head can
handle right now is one big, GLORY TO THE NAME OF JESUS!! Next stop, Africa.
Joy, joy, joy! Glory to the Name of Jesus!
Go to Top
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. Ok, ok... I know I haven't written in my travel
journal in forever--but that's because I haven't been traveling! Hallelujah! Truthfully, I hate to say it but it's been
just plain wonderful to at home so much this summer. I've gotten fully re-acquainted with the squirrels and scrub jays that
live in my yard (man, they were missing their daily ration of peanuts) and had loads of fun with my nephews and niece. (Why
can't someone come up with one word to cover them both? It sure would make it easier on the uncles of the world). In fact,
I think this entry will have to do with time I've spent with my niece in particular, but before I get into it I don't want
you to think I've been a slacker just sitting on my porch here all day. I have rarely worked harder in my life than this
summer, finishing work on my next book (I'm so excited--more news later), doing the usual ministry management stuff, preparing
for the upcoming Crusade... I tell you, it really is a bundle sometimes--but what a lovely bundle to be sure. Glory to Jesus!
So my niece comes to visit for a day last week and when any of them come to visit
Uncle Bruce, as we say, "the lid is off." I consider it my most primary job as an uncle to spoil the sandals off of them
and judging from the look on my brother's face when I return them to him I can easily boast that I am as good as an uncle
gets at it. I tell you, it's among my greatest pleasures.
So she comes down to visit and here's the thing--she loves this cartoon character,
Spongebob. One time I saw Spongebob on TV and I wasn't too convinced. It was the episode where he walked around with his
"bubble buddy." I had a few good laughs, but really, a sponge who works in a restaurant? I've since "seen the light," though,
with the help of my niece of course. She helped me understand the intricacies of life in Bikini Bottom and now I'm a complete
fan. Spongebob Squarepants got me.
On the aside I must tell you, knowing the way the film/TV industry works I can only
imagine the network meeting when Spongebob's creator had his 15 minutes with the network execs to "pitch" the cartoon. You
can't imagine how high pressure these meetings are because all the marbles ride on those 15 minutes--it means the difference
between a guy being unemployed and the idea he's worked on for years going down the drain or a guy rising to that rare position
of prominence in this town--that position of actually having a pr 1% of this intensely competitive world.
So I can only imagine this guy standing there at the head of this long table surrounded
by executives and saying with great excitement, "The lead character is a sponge--a big, square, yellow sponge. He wears
square pants and a red tie and he works in a restaurant called the Crusty Crab, best known for its crabby patties as they're
the best anywhere. The other characters are a squid named Squidword, a Starfish named Patrick... and they all live happily
together in Bikini Bottom.
I mean really, can you imagine anything more ridiculous? But I tell you, huge bucks
ride on those meetings and, well, Spongebob is everywhere these days so as crazy as a meeting like that may have been, a
lot of guys are driving brand new Porsches because of it. Glory to Jesus!
So I'm driving with my niece, Melinda, and we get to talking seriously about life
and things. She is something special in every way--and I'm not just being a proud uncle here. She actually looks at me and
sincerely asks, "How are things going, Uncle Bruce?" I mean, she's really interested and really concerned when she detects
that "mind far away" look in my eyes. So I talked to her just like I would answer an adult who asked me that question...
"Well, I'm a little tired because I've been working around the clock on this book and traveling is getting to me, but I'm
ok. God is really carrying me along and there are great things happening..." We just had this little "adult" conversation
and she was thankful to know I was ok.
But then she said, "You know, Uncle Bruce, there's no need to ever worry about anything.
Adults worry about stuff but there's no need to." "Why not, Melinda?" "Just think 'Spongy,' Uncle Bruce. He doesn't worry
about anything. He just goes around having fun. There's no need to worry because everything is peaceful in Bikini Bottom."
Well that began a whole "philosophy of life" discussion and heretofore is my precious niece's two keys to how life should
be lived--and yes, they're cute, but yes, they're a bit of a wake-up call, too.
Number one, if something isn't fun find some way to make it fun. Life has just got
to be fun no matter how hard the work is or whatever and all it takes is looking for the fun, finding the fun, and not being
a boring grown up who just likes to sit talking all the time ("How boring, Uncle Bruce"). And again, if you can't find any
fun in something, find some way to make it fun because there isn't anything that can't somehow be fun. Amen and amen!
Number two, "Just go around being spongy." "What does that mean, Melinda?" "Just go
around being nice to people. That's what Spongebob does--he's just nice to everyone. That's why he has so much fun and life
in Bikini Bottom is so peaceful. So all you got to do is go around being spongy--being nice to everyone."
Well... What can I say about that one? Can you imagine a world that took that seriously?
Is there a greater solution to every world problem? Is there a greater solution to every private problem? Is there any better
description for how God would have us all conduct our lives?
I mean, Jesus didn't have Spongebob to reference, so He put it this way... "Love God
with all your heart, mind, and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself. This is the greatest commandment." "In everything
do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets." "If someone strikes you on
the right cheek turn to him the other also." "Give to the one who asks and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow."
"Whatever you did to the least of these you did to Me." In other words, "Go around being nice to people. Just be spongy!"
Jesus...
I tell you, Christianity is so simple, folks. "Out of the mouths of babes (and sponges,
I guess)." Man, how we make it this big and complicated thing--but the call of God is not to complication and His idea of
bigness is a whole lot different than yours or mine. We're always thinking big means stadiums full of worshippers and winning
thousands to Jesus--and that is no doubt a big thing--I mean, really, it's my whole life. But there's a whole other "big"
that is only big in God's eyes and the shock of shocks to our human understanding is that in His eyes it is just as big--if
not bigger. I mean, didn't Paul say you can have all the Holy Spirit gifting in the world but without love it all means
nothing? Yes, God has a whole different perspective than you or me, and a whole different idea of big...
A simple act of kindness, a word spoken in encouragement, time taken for someone who
is hurting. Fifty bucks sent to a friend who's struggling, fifty bucks sent to a missionary who's on the front lines, forgiving
an employee for a blunder, picking up the old widower down the street for church--then taking him out for breakfast. Phoning
your parents for the first time in forever, calling that brother you had an argument with last year, saying your sorry to
your wife, kids, or husband... Man, I tell you, to God these are the things are really, really big.
So anyone out there up for being spongy? My niece and I spent the entire day going
from one store to the other looking at every Spongebob thing there was to be had. We didn't buy much, though--only a pencil
set and a Spongebob Pez. I wanted to but Melinda wouldn't let me. As big as her eyes were she felt funny about Uncle Bruce
spending money on her like that. She said, "You work hard for your money, Uncle Bruce. You don't need to buy me things.
I just like hanging out with you. That's the most fun."
Man, it's nice being with Melinda. "Why?" you might ask. Well, I guess because she's
just so... so... spongy. Yeah, that's it. She just goes around being nice to me all the time, and that's just so totally,
totally spongy! Glory to Jesus!
Go to Top
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. Well, it's "maintenance Bruce" day, here in not-so-sunny
southern California. This time of year we always experience what we call "June gloom." We go most of the month and don't
see the sun but a couple of times. Man, it's the toughest month of my life, I tell you! I feel like I'm in prison or something--"give
me some sun, for crying out loud!"
But then the day comes when we wake up and the clouds lift as if they never were, and it's
just sun, sun, sun. (Hmmm, is there a sermon in that line or what?). It goes from winter to the heat of summer literally
overnight. I'm living for that day just about now and I hope it comes tomorrow. Glory to Jesus!
But today will be very unusual for me--running around "taking care of me." I visit my dentist
at 12:30 for a check-up, get my hair cut at 3, then off to the (I hate to say it) chiropractor at 4. Man, I'm exhausted
just writing about it. But I feel like a caveman going so hard with all the traveling and then hunkering down in the round-the-clock
writing mode, so I just need to take care of a little Bruce business. Oh yeah, got to get the truck washed, too!
The chiropractor thing bugs me, as I'm sure you can tell. I think it's my denial or something--I
just refuse to admit that I "need" anything (typical "guy thing," I'm going to guess) and I'm the kind of guy who won't
go to the doctor unless he's bled a couple of gallons already--then you go to the doctor. But with all the sports injuries
over the years, and torn this and strained that... In '91 I tore a disc in my back carrying a sleeper sofa up two flights
of stairs by myself (what was I thinking?) and of course, I never had it looked at. It's an injury that screams at me now
and again, and especially with all the air travel and standing in one spot for a long time is the worst (sometimes I'm ministering
and it's like knives in my back). I have a friend who's a chiropractor in Florida and she's always telling me to get "adjusted."
And she's right--the couple times she did it for me I was a new man. It was startling, really, the difference. My back was
completely ok, in the gym I could lift 50% more weight, I slept better, and here's a really cool thing--blew my mind--I
didn't need to use my glasses! I'm telling you, I don't know what it is or how it works, but when it affects your eyes like
that, I'm in, baby!
So of course with all that evidence I never picked up the phone to "get adjusted" again
(boy, that's a kind of an ominous sounding term, isn't it). There's never any time, and "I can handle it," and "It's money
I don't need to spend," and... So here I sit today, the product of my ridiculous-ness. My back is screaming at me, my shoulder
is a knot (and I have a softball game tomorrow that I need to be ready for--priorities, you know), my neck crackles when
I turn my head--and my glasses are suddenly not good enough! (That was a joke). I was in the gym yesterday and man, lifting
was effort like rarely before. So all that adds up to--"GO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, BRUCE, YOU DOUGH-HEAD!" Ok, ok, you don't
have to hit me over the head with a skillet (yeah, right!). Glory to Jesus!
Yesterday was a "Bruce day," too. I don't know if I ever mentioned it before, but several
years ago the Lord really impressed on me to take a "Sabbath"--one day a week where I turn everything off, and unplug the
phone, and do no writing or anything, and go off by myself and just spend the day with Him. It's interesting how difficult
that is to do--in fact it may be the most difficult thing for me. Again, there's just so much to do and the pull on a man
to "be productive" is strong, strong.
You'll laugh, but I usually take my Sabbath on a Monday or Tuesday, and I go down to this
somewhat secluded beach area and just stroll along and chat with Jesus, and take a swim if the water's nice and the sun
is shining. But the funny thing is one time I was out there and in my memory it was a Monday (when the whole world is at
work). I looked at the few people that were enjoying the beach, too, and it was all people who don't have jobs! There were
older, obviously retired couples, housewives with their kiddies, some kids who'd probably skipped their classes... even
a homeless guy or two! I looked around and man, talk about a guy battling with his work ethic! Too, too funny!
But the truth is, I work harder than most folks and it's an unending occupation--that is,
as long as there're people who need Jesus. Glory to His Name! I've got my hand in so many pots--I wear so many different
hats. All in one day, often, I'm a writer, an evangelist, running a ministry, planning films... I tell you, it can really
get overwhelming.
But oh, what an entirely joyous obsession! I tell you, as difficult as it gets I'm the
most blessed guy on the planet--and I know it! Just last week I was at a gathering of Christian film industry professionals
and just in conversation with different guys and hearing where they were at and the things that were most on their minds
and the activities they were busy with... I just stood there "shouting" within the silence of my heart, "Thank you for my
life and what You've given me to do, Lord. Thank You, thank You, thank You! Glory to Your Name!" I tell you, God's plans
for a guys life far exceed his own, and I'm living evidence of that. And again, glory to His Name!
But yesterday I was strolling my beach and just chatting with the Lord, and He was so incredibly
faithful to "stroll" that beach right alongside me, uplifting me, assuring me, giving me confidence and strength to keep
going and keep going... He showed me something, and it was so incredible I just have to share it with you--because I know
beyond knowing I'll be speaking into numbers and numbers of your lives. May the revelation bless you--may it sink deep into
your heart and grip your soul with its simplicity and unarguable truth. Amen and amen...
I was asking God what to do in a certain situation. It's a professional situation and I'm
at a crossroads in it. I could go one way or the other in my response and action to what's in front of me, and it's so big
a deal I don't want to make a move without the knowledge of God going before me--without knowing beyond knowing it is the
move He has ordained. Glory, glory!
So in the middle of my seeking, the Lord shows me (man, this is so remarkably simple and
so remarkably breathtaking)... All anyone needs to do in any and every situation, in every step of every situation, is please
God. It should be my total and complete all-consuming focus--"What would please God in this situation?" To know what pleases
God in a situation and then to do it, is to know God's will in that situation and move in it, pure and simple.
We're always waiting for what I jokingly call a "Holy Spirit bonk" over the head. "Lord,
make the south wind blow north if this is your will!" "Lord, give me a sign!" I'm not discounting that--the Lord loves it
when His children are so concerned with what He wants that they go out of their way like that to find it. He loves it!
At the same time, it's like He's saying, "What I want is obvious. I've given you My Word
to show you what pleases me, and My Word applies to every life situation you'll ever face. Just apply My Word. Seek to please
Me and Me alone--not him or her or yourself or your bank account or your career or, or, or... Seek Me--seek to please Me
and everything else will fall into place. Know what pleases Me--it's obvious--then just do it! In this way, with this approach,
you'll be walking in the bulls-eye of My will in every situation of your life, and in every way, and you'll never have to
wonder ever again." Glory to Jesus!
I'll give you an example. Say, for whatever reason, a guy hates his job. I mean, he really
hates it. He'd love to leave it, but he's got a wife and kids at home who depend on it. They're fed and secured by this
job. He goes home every night and tucks his kids in, and he can see the fruit of this job--how the Lord has been a gracious
provider to them through it.
Still it needles him. He's got all sorts of ideas--good and honorable ideas--and he wants
to pursue them. He finds himself day after day sitting at his desk thinking about them and crying out, "What's Your will,
Lord? Should I leave?" He looks for "signs from God." He fasts and prays for answers... but none seem to come.
What pleases God in this situation? Hate to break it to you, but commitment pleases God.
Responsibility pleases God. A man putting the needs of his wife and kids ahead of his personal dreams pleases God. And on
top of all that "bad news" He says through His Word, "'Slaves, obey your masters.' Work as unto God Himself. Work as to
be a shining example. Be the best employee in the place. Do everything "as unto the Lord." Then just leave everything else
at His feet.
And that's not a downer, it's exciting! To be in the center of God's will--to know, know,
know you're doing exactly what He wants no matter how hard it may seem to be! I tell you, for we who are His children--who
should be living each day like kids who just want to please their Daddy--there is no more productive, fruitful, fulfilling,
purposeful, kingdom-advancing, personally rewarding, opportunity-opening... place any of us can be.
And you know, the Lord knows that guy's dreams--just like He knows yours. He's such a good
Lord that it's just like Him to one day open an opportunity for that guy and everyone like him where he can work each day
in the center of his dreams and still carry the responsibility without risk or harm to his family. He'll open up that opportunity
in His way and in His time which will always be far superior to any opportunity that guy could create for himself on his
own terms.
The Lord knows, knows, knows those things, and all He asks--His entire will for me and
you is faithfulness to Him and what He's put before us today. That may mean something as seemingly ordinary as properly
caring for your kids, or sweeping the church floor, or bringing your wife flowers, or visiting your aged parents... or it
may mean something that the world would view as extraordinary--I don't know. All I know is that seemingly ordinary or seemingly
extraordinary, it's all the same in God's eyes--no one of His "assignments" is greater than any other. And the golden key
to it all is day to day faithfulness; day to day pleasing Him and seeking to please Him--there's the will of God, folks!
That's what puts a smile on your Daddy's face. That's what opens every door to every purpose and future He gloriously has
laid up for you. Glory to His Name!
So get out there and please Him--what a precious opportunity we have in Him to do so! He'll
take every bit of all you offer and turn it into gold and silver, I guarantee it. He'll just bless and bless, and be faithful
and faithful... After all, that's who He gloriously is! Glory, glory, glory to His Name! Jesus!
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PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA.
What's
that old rock/roll song lyric? "What a loooong, strange trip it's been." Well it has been long and I guess I can look back
and tell a few "strange" stories, but man, the wonder, the glory, the lives changed--the souls that came into God's kingdom!
Glory, glory, glory to His Name!
I am
doing an extraordinary thing right now--taking a vacation. I was thinking back and realized it's been 2, maybe 3 years.
I've just been going and going, and then, of course, when I have time free the last thing I want to do is get on an airplane
or go anywhere so I just stay home. But I've been going so hard of late--from December last year, really--I just had to
pull the wagon over and "set a while." So here I am--3 full days (gee, what a vacation!) of nothing but desert sun, swimming
and snoozing by the pool, long walks in the desert night, maybe a hike or two in the local mountains, and just quiet and
rest. Glory to Jesus!
This
is so odd for me, really. Not just the fact of taking a vacation, but this kind of vacation. In the past it's always been
the great outdoors--backpacking or skiing, depending on the time of year. But I tell you, Bruce just needed to stop--he
just needed to come to a complete and total, do nothing, hear nothing, think of nothing... stop.
So
what am I doing writing this journal entry, you say? What do you mean--isn't this stopping? No, you say? Man, I've got a
lot to learn, I guess--about taking vacations, anyway. But I promise you, I will stop. It might be on day 3, but I can promise
you I'll stop. Ha! Welcome to me!
Seriously,
I just sit here in wonder at what has been going on these months--all the lives, all the souls. There hasn't been one meeting
where I've walked out thinking, "Well, Bruce, you're going to have to trust God on that one." It has been one show of His
glory and care after another. It has been one significant adventure after another. It has been just a roller-coaster of
the kingdom of God. Glory to His Name!
I remember
in 1995 sitting outside a little farm house in Africa in the middle of the night. It was my birthday and there I was on
the other side of the world--in the heat of summer when at home it was winter. I'd gone out to dinner with friends and was
sitting all alone under a breathtaking canopy of stars far from any city lights that could steal their spectacle.
I remember
being very contemplative, just thinking about where I'd been and all that was happening. Matthew was still very fresh and
I was in the middle of writing In the Footsteps of Jesus.
My
life had really been "yanked" onto a different course and not all of that was easy but all of it was wonderful. But I remember
just sitting there and enjoying the night sounds of the bushveldt all around me, and just praying and thanking Jesus--kind
of like I'm doing by this pool all these years later.
But
I remember looking into the sky and saying, "Lord, I've wasted so much time in my life--just running around without purpose
or direction, just pursuing my own interests and my own ways..." You must understand, I'd only known the Lord 6 years by
then. But I made Him a vow. I said, "Lord, I promise you I'll not waste any of the rest of my life."
Then
I remember a couple of years later during an altar call. I had just walked off the platform and the call was given and people
were streaming forward. I remember there was a father and his son, both with tears in their eyes. There was a teenage daughter
helping her granny. It was so overwhelming I just started to cry and got on my face there in the front row, praying, "Lord,
give me souls for my inheritance. Lord, give me souls..." It was a "watershed" moment--my acting ambitions were removed
from the throne of my heart and I just cried out to God.
Then
I was reminded the other day by a friend of something I said in 1997. My father was in the hospital and things were very
"if-y" for him. There I was in the Intensive Care Unit and all around me was all this brokenness--this fall-out of sin in
our creation. I saw all this agony and heartbreak and everything that God never intended for us to endure, and I guess it
all just got to me because he told me I called him and I had this sense of anger toward it all and I said, "I'm going to
spend the rest of my life snatching as many souls from the devil's hands as I possibly can."
And
I remember sitting by my father's bedside during that time. Again, it was the middle of the night. He was touch/go--and
I can only praise God that today, all these years later, he's go, go, go! But I again made a vow to God. I said, "Lord,
if you give me my father I will give you the rest of my life. I'll serve you for the rest of my life."
Well,
the Lord took me up on that--it's astounding that my father pulled through, let alone is this strong, healthy guy all these
years later. And it hasn't always been easy to keep my end of that "agreement," but I can't tell you how many times I sat
in some cockroach motel on the other side of the world thinking I'd had enough, but then I'd
hearken back to that ICU prayer
and God would pull me out of it.
So
here I sit by this swimming pool all these years--and all those prayers--later. All the souls, all the lives, all the goodness
and grace that God has shown. All the dreams fulfilled and all the dreams still in the waiting. All the books that have
been written and the films that have been made--all the books and films that have yet to be made. All of the miles traveled
and all of the miles yet to go...
I
tell you, folks, the Lord is good. He is faithful--His faithfulness is perfect--and He is good. Rest in Him, take your strength
in Him. Stand for Him and walk in Him. Lean on Him and cast yourself and everything that is your life at His more than capable
feet. Seek Him with all your heart--He will never leave, He'll never forsake. He'll never disappoint and never miss an appointment.
He is God and He is all. Glory, glory, glory to His Name! See you back in LA!
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NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. "There's
nothing new under the sun." It's the Scripture that so hangs in my heart this morning, and I just smile to think about it...
It is quite a roller-coaster I've been
on this year. Only a quarter has passed and it feels like January was a lifetime ago. I do so much in a day, I go so many
places, I see so many people and most exciting, I see God change so many lives.
Just this morning about a half dozen women
gave their lives to Jesus in a small breakfast gathering for moms. I tell you, it was so exciting. Two of the women were
sisters-in-law, immigrants born and bred in the Armenian Orthodox Church. You should have seen their gleaming faces as they
took each other's hands and responded to the love of Jesus. I tell you, I've been doing this for 10 years or more, and that
sight just knocks me over every time. Glory to Jesus.
Then last week, the Tacoma Prayer Breakfast...
I was told it is the largest National Day of Prayer Breakfast in the nation outside of D.C. I felt so "silly." I mean, next
year their speaker is Laura Bush, for crying out loud! There were all these congress men and women, a Washington state senator,
captains of industry... all around me. It was kind of intimidating--I felt like this "little kid" in the middle of all this
achievement. I kept thinking to myself, "How on earth did I ever get here?"
But man, God touched that meeting, and
again, people came to Jesus. It was really something precious and special--if I can put it this way, a kind of "special"
presence of God in His goodness just kind of "settled" on the room. It was really something. Sitting here now I am almost
teary-eyed to think about it. It's like, "I just want to 'live' there."
Then New Zealand's event beaming via satellite
to God only knows where, and testimonies coming in from Jesus Wept, and new opportunities on the horizon, and all this great
stuff... I tell you, it can all begin make a guy spin in circles to think about it.
And so this morning I'm praying and enjoying
having slept in my own bed for a change. I'm enjoying having a nice coffee out of my own mug and sitting in my favorite
chair in the sun watching the squirrels fight over the sunflower seeds and peanuts I put out for them every day. I'm sitting
there preparing for the morning's ministry and reading in Jeremiah and Ephesians (Wow, what a book! But then they're all
"wow" books!), and feeling really at ease in my favorite pair of jeans and shoes that are old and look old but are oh, so
comfortable... and the Lord begins to show me choices and decisions of yesterday--places where I "missed it"--mistakes because
I didn't listen to Him.
Now you know what is so cool about the
Lord--and here is a good way to discern that it's Him showing you something like this and not the enemy trying to knock
you down. When it's God it always comes in the "spirit" of God: Goodness, love, gentle, uplifting as opposed to tearing
down, freeing as opposed to condemning. This morning He showed me this and He showed me that... He showed me the different
ways He tried to wave flags in front of me but I was so set on what I was doing, or wanted to do, or just (and this is a
huge mistake we tend to make) assessing those "nudges" in human wisdom as opposed to just trusting that it's God trying
to say something and going with it.
You know those nudges--those instincts
that kind of come out of nowhere and don't make sense. It's funny how we tend to move through our day on the assumption
that God isn't speaking to us instead of really understanding the fullness of His faithfulness to guide and protect and
just walking "in faith" of His Father-heart, that He does not want us to make mistakes and is doing all He can to prevent
that. Psalm 121-- "I will not let your foot slip." That other Scripture comes to mind where He says, "It will be as if you
hear a voice saying, 'This is the way you should go.'" Man, we need to listen for that "voice" and trust it so much more...
But the bottom line is I made a couple
mistakes--and that's no big deal--we all do. But in the middle of it, this morning as I sipped my coffee (And here's where
"nothing new under the sun" comes in. Ah, you were thinking I'd forgotten--caught you!), the Lord led me right back to what
it's all about: Surrender, submission, humility before Him, humility before others. Trust, obey... Trust, obey. Seek, do...
Seek and do. Honor Him above and beyond. Honor Him by walking in His ways. Worship Him by bowing to His standards. Putting
yourself on the shelf that He might fill and lead, supply and open doors, reveal and secure, protect and fulfill... Submission,
humility, surrender... Jesus.
I tell you, it is the big stuff of Christianity.
It is the "whole enchilada," if I can oversimplify and phrase it colloquially. You won't find any books about it on the
best seller list--it's sad, but true. We tend to chase the sensational and self-improving. That stuff seems old and boring,
and "Besides, I know all that already." Then, needless to say, that is the hard stuff--the tough stuff, the "where the tire
hits the road" stuff of day-to-day, gut-it-out Christianity.
The interesting irony, however, is that
there is nothing more sensational--in God's eyes--than simple obedience. There is nothing that so causes fireworks to explode
around His throne than one of His children walking in humbleness and surrender. There is nothing that takes His breath away
more than someone who says no to an opportunity because it doesn't honor God or treads too close to the line. And there
is nothing more self-improving than walking in submission. There is nothing more freeing, nothing more "resting" or arresting,
more building of wholeness and direction, purpose and power... There is no quicker way to achieve one's dreams or better
even, to walk in the center of His dreams for you. There's no better way to run a family, or raise kids, or organize a business,
or deal with conflict, or, or, or... Submission, obeying, hearing and doing, humility and righteousness...
No, there's nothing new under the sun...
These are the things God invited us to in Genesis through Malachi. These are the things Jesus spoke of from street corners
and hillsides--the things He modeled with every drop of His blood. These are the "baton" He passed to Paul and Peter, Jude
and James... These are (believe it or not) the essence and bottom line of the Revelation He gave John--the true "sensation"
He would have us walk away from its reading with: Surrender, worship, ear to His Spirit, trust and obey, humility and righteousness...
from day one unto eternity! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!!
Well, I for one don't want to make the
same mistakes as yesterday. I for one need to understand those things, and walk in them, and keep my nose in the carpet
and my hope in His Word. I for one need to keep my feet solidly on His ground, and in the middle of His path, on the road
to His purposes, looking for His leadership... Anyone care to join me?
"Lord, we just need You, and these things
are the things of You--the pathways to more of You, the "techniques" to all of You... Lord, I fail a whole bunch--and I
can only guess that a lot of folks reading these words would nod their heads to that one--and I know I have far from failed
for that last time. But failure is not You, Lord--it's not Your leadership or Your hope for me--or anyone who is agreeing
with me right now...
So keep me on Your path, Lord--the path
of holiness, submission, surrender, hope singularly in You, worship in all of my ways, seeking You every step, listening
hard and obeying harder... Only You can keep me going in that wondrous way, Lord. Lord, please keep me going in that way.
Only You, Lord... Only You. Amen, and amen."
Glory, glory, glory to Jesus!
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DENVER, COLORADO. What's that old movie title, If It's Tuesday This Must be Budapest? Well, this airport chair is
a long way from Budapest (though I did have an invite to minister there a while back) and it's not exactly Tuesday (what
day is it, anyway?), and a two hour layover is not the most exotic travel experience, but still I'm smiling all the way.
Glory to Jesus!
I tell you, I've been moving like a river (at least I hope I have, spiritually speaking) and as exhausted as I am that's
how big my smile is. I've been just seeing God in people's lives, and God in people's lives... Every stop is a wild mix
of Holy Spirit goodness, salvation, touching hearts in every which way for the Father's kingdom--I tell you, who can beat
it.
I had the neatest thing happen at my last stop. There was this huge man waiting for me outside the church--in fact, he
was an usher handing out bulletins and greeting people. He was so big I saw him from way across the parking lot and as I
neared him he just smiled this ever-so-shy smile and I could see him getting kind of withdrawn and quiet and his face turning
almost red. I tell you, a big guy like that...
But then the pastor introduced me to him--he'd recently been made a deacon, or something like that (what is a deacon, anyway?).
The pastor told me he'd come to Jesus about a year ago and one of the resources I've been privileged to create was instrumental
for the guy. But then the guy lit up and told me all about his background--a wild--seriously wild--background. You could
even see it on his face, if you know what I mean. His face was drawn and "gray," physically. His eyes were deep set with
dark circles and deep creases along his cheek lines and brow. He'd been "around the corner" and back more than a couple
times. And the reason I stress the word "physically" is because as physically stressed as I could see his life had been,
that's how much joy and freedom--the light of God's presence--I could see beaming from him. It's amazing how literally handsome
the glory of God can make a guy. Glory to Jesus!
But this guy's face just lit up and he was real shy and kind of physically awkward--you could tell he was not accustomed
to being with people and having people's attention--and he just went on and on about his freedom and the wonder of it all
and how the Lord had taken away all of his longing for nonsense and on and on. It was just as precious a sight as anyone
could see. And the Lord just told me to wrap a huge hug around him. That may sound super-spiritual, but it wasn't that at
all. I just felt a real surge of love for this guy, and I can promise you, that's God!
And so I tossed my one arm around him--I tell you, it must have looked like a matchstick compared to him. Then I put my
other arm around the front of him and just told him what a precious guy he was--and he just started to cry. Here was this
huge man who'd lived one terribly hard life--and the softness in him--it just spilled and spilled as he just cried and cried.
I tell you, I could have held this precious brother and just held him as he literally shook against me. A guy set completely
and totally free, free, free--and so incredibly aware of it, too. Man, what a blessing a guy like that must be to Jesus.
And again, glory to His Name!
So with so much in the town behind me, I move on to the town ahead of me--and in between, pop in to say hello to you. So
now for the spiritual lesson of the day--Isaiah 25:1--the second half that says: "in perfect faithfulness You have done
marvelous deeds" (or something like that). I'd read the passage so many times but just now it so hit me. Interesting how
it's when you think you can't think anymore--when you're too tired to think and your everything of self is on the shelf
(that was a good one!), the Lord slips in a whisper.
But it's that word "perfect" that hit me, and if I possibly can I want to bless you with it. Lord, give me the words...
"In perfect faithfulness..." Folks, His faithfulness is perfect. It's not great. It's not, "God will be faithful." It's
not, "God was so faithful in this." It's not any of those common Christian phrases. It's that it's perfect. 100%. Never
once anything but completely, entirely, wholly, every moment, in every situation, whether I asked Him to be or not, a perfect
10 every time, a perfect strike every pitch, a goal with every kick... perfect. God has never not been faithful. God doesn't
"rise" to be faithful.
God does not "be" faithful. God is faithful--He's living faithfulness. He is the personification of faithfulness. He is
the definition of faithfulness. He is the perfection of faithfulness. He literally is faithfulness. Faithfulness is not
one of His qualities--it's the declaration of His Person. If I can phrase it this way, He cannot be anything but faithful
because that is who He is: Faithfulness.
Yes, that's it--it's like it's His Name: Faithful. In fact, if you look down the list of His Names--Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah
Shama, Jehovah Tsidkenu, Jehovah Nissi... the word "faithful" is the sum total of all of them--Provider, Banner, Redeemer,
"The Lord is There," Healer... It's so far beyond comprehension! It's so much bigger, so much more full and complete and
all-enveloping than any of us thinks.
He doesn't turn His faithfulness on and off or up and down--it's who He is! It's all He does! It's what He is about. It's
His job, so to speak, and His singular, if I may, activity for all else falls under it in one way or another. Faithfulness,
faithfulness, faithfulness--Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!! Glory to His Name!
There hasn't been one singular moment in human history where He was not faithful--and beyond that, perfectly faithful.
There hasn't been one moment in your or my personal history where He was not faithful--and beyond that, perfectly faithful.
Oh, we sure don't see it that way because we are looking at everything through our unknowing, self-possessed, "I want what
I want now" infant-like eyes. I mean, a kid wants to touch the stove but Mommy won't let him. The kid just thinks Mommy
doesn't like him but what is really going on? Mommy is being faithful!!! Hallelujah, Mommy!
Then there's the issue of our constant and ever-present in-the-flesh unfaithfulness--to Him and to ourselves and those
around us, and the "unfaithful" impact that has on our lives and the lives of those around us. Let's be scripturally honest
with ourselves--"all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We're all sinners and our best shot is like dirty
rags, the scriptures say (Isaiah 64:6--man, I'm beginning to sound like a preacher--yikes!). That means as hard as we try
to exercise faithfulness the best of us can't come close--but in His perfection of faithfulness He covers all of our lack
of closing that distance by closing it for us. He stretches out His highways of love and care, goodness overflowing, redemption
(like that guy I met), holiness and humility, salvation and sureness, peace and joy, healing and provision, protection and
power, picking us off the ground over and over and putting the pieces back together, healing our families, covering our
shortcomings, giving us grace one to another to pursue relationships and purposes... in perfect faithfulness--oh, glory,
glory, glory to Jesus!
So I tell you, I'm rocking in wonder these days. God has literally never not been there. He's literally never let me down--even
when I couldn't care less and/or when it looked to my puny human understanding like He'd left the building. God's attention
to my life and hand of participation, and outpouring of goodness from moment one in the womb until today and beyond--has
been perfect. Not 9.5, not 99%, not better than anyone, not the best who ever played the game... but perfect. Every serve--an
ace. Every shot a bull's eye. Every swing of the bat a grand slam home run. Every move made in perfect love, a perfection
of care, in total attention--in perfect faithfulness--Jesus.
I hope that blesses you, folks. I hope that makes your spirit soar as it has mine ever since the moment I "got it." I hope
it reaches into those pockets of questioning and wondering--I hope it reaches into your understanding of God and His level
of participation and involvement in your life and just blows the doors off as it should in all of our lives no matter who.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Glory to His Name! Next stop, the precious folks of Pennsylvania. Glory to Jesus!
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QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. I can't pronounce or spell the name of this town I'm in right now--Mumwillimbaugh??
But I can promise you, of all the places I've been, this has to rank as one of the most beautiful. It is a lush "valley"
surrounded by "mountains" and ocean. Why the quotes? The mountains, I've discovered, are the rim of a dormant volcano, and
the valley is its crater. Gee, I never wrote an email from the crater of a volcano before! Glory to Jesus!
But really, this place is breathtaking. Tropical vegetation/forests/sugar cane fields... and this is really
cool--the trees are loaded with exotic birds--flocks of the most vividly colored parrots and all. Really, it is something
out here--and apparently relatively undiscovered--just the way the locals want to keep it. Oops! Sorry, locals...
But as I sit here with my eyes half open from the fatigue of every day a different town, I can only smile
at the faithfulness of God. I have seen people coming to Jesus every night, night after night--and it is extraordinary.
I tell you, I'll never grow weary or jaded--it's a miracle that takes my breath away every time. And here's the astounding
irony of me being here in this country doing this: Australia is where it all started a dozen years ago!
In my first meeting the other night I was standing in a town auditorium and I thought, "Why does this look
familiar?" And then I realized--way back in '91 there was that missions trip that I didn't want to go on--that missions
trip the Lord had to drag me into doing--and it was night after night in these very same kinds of halls on the very same
kinds of stages. It was that missions trip that led me to "Matthew" and "Matthew" that led me to this ministry, and as I
sit here with God-only-knows how many ministry miles beneath my feet--having come full circle back the place where it all
started--it's like the Lord just standing there with His mighty hands folded across His mighty chest, grinning that mighty
grin of His and saying, "See what I've done in your life, kid? I told you I had a future for you. I told you the plans I
had for you were good. And I told you I'd change your heart, too. Twelve years ago I had to drag you out here, but here
you are with tears in your eyes for these precious souls. I love you, kid. We haven't even begun yet, either--and just like
you tell the people night after night, I love you." Jesus.
So God is blowing my mind out here, folks--so much so that right now I just need some good, hard sleep. He
has "completed the circuit" in bringing me out here. He has brought me back to the beginning--and he has brought me straight
into my future. People are getting saved and saved and saved, and tropical birds or no tropical birds, glory, glory, glory
to Jesus!
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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. And incredible country--but far more than that, an incredible time of ministry.
A 'Footsteps' seminar beamed by satellite all through the region and beyond--even got picked up in
California of all places
(gee, if I was home I could have watched it!). Anyway, what an event--and what an incredible group of guys--true servants,
hearts humble before God, humble before the people, just serving and serving... I tell you, give me a handful of those guys
and watch the world change overnight. Glory to Jesus!
No time at this internet cafe, but just enough to say this land is so beautiful. This afternoon I fell asleep
on a white sand beach and just basked in the goodness and faithfulness of our almighty God. The event went off, only He
knows how many folks tuned in, the testimonies of changed lives are rolling in, and I fell asleep on a New Zealand beach--does
life get any better? Glory to Jesus!!
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NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. I enjoyed the most precious experience yesterday--it's amazing the way
the Lord drops these little "niceties" in our laps--small things in the grand scale of it all, but precious--oh-so precious.
I went into an editing studio to transfer some Matthew clips from video to DVD for purposes of my upcoming
trip to New Zealand. Now you must get a sense of these places--several rooms, each an editing bay full of monitors and computers,
tape decks of every size, sound boards... The lights are always out so the images can be seen better on the monitors and
these guys sit around with empty pizza boxes and coffee cups looking like they've been living in this room for weeks--which
for the most part they usually have! There's a sense of excitement--everyone's film is their Gone With the Wind--and it's
all very artsy creative, and well, very "Hollywood."
So in I walk with my little Jesus-movie clips--and I must say, I've always got my seatbelt buckled so to speak
in these kinds of environments. I mean, when they see it's about Jesus you just never know what kind of reaction you're
going to get. But I talked with a guy named Fred and told him what I wanted. He said, "Not a problem--let me take a look
and see what you've got." Gulp! Here it comes--I was either going to get "This is cool!" or a cold shoulder. When it comes
to Jesus there's no in between.
But Fred took a look and of course commented on how he'd just gone to see The Passion because he wanted to
judge for himself if it was truly anti-Semitic, and that he was seeing lots of religious projects come through the studio
in the past month for the History Channel, A&E, etc., as he worded it, "Trying to cash in." He asked me what I did and what
I needed the edit for (gulp again), and responded very neutrally when I told him. He just stuck out his hand for a good-bye
shake and told me to come back at 4.
Well Fred was one nice guy, I can promise you that. I got no indication that he was a believer or anything,
though one can never speak for another's heart one way or the other. But he was a real Hollywood kind of guy who obviously
loved what he did and did it well--and praise God for that. Amen and amen.
So I returned at 4 and the DVD's were ready--and here's the good part--Fred handed them to me and said, "These
are on me." You've got to understand, editing booth time is expensive, not to mention the cost of his time. I said, "No,
come on, Fred--," and he cut me off with a line that brought tears to my eyes as I walked out the door. He said, "No--this
kind of stuff is important."
What could I say? I shook his hand and said thanks. I told him, "You're a very rare person in this town, Fred,"
and he said it again, "No, this kind of stuff is important." Fred had also made some labels for me "just in case you can
use them." I walked out the door and like I said, my eyes welled with mist. The humility, the graciousness, the kindness--the
touch of almighty God...
"This kind of stuff is important"--Jesus. I don't know how those words sound in the repeating of them here,
but I tell you, it's a line that took my breath away. Glory, glory, glory to Jesus.
I tell you, folks, Jesus is alive and well and His Spirit is touching spirits and renewing minds left and
right and right and left--and it is all just plain glorious. He tip-toes here and He tip-toes there. He whispers into that
ear and shakes the ground beneath those feet. He's just so busy being God, reaching into lives, hoisting souls out of the
darkness, and just loving, loving, loving--you.
In a few days I'm off to a New Zealand adventure--satellite TV reaching Australia and the entire region. I
just can't wait to see what God will do. And guess what--I have to wear a tie!! Yikes!! On TV with a tie! No one will recognize
me--I won't recognize me! But it will be worth the "stretch" just like it's worth the stretch during the crusades--because
that tie will mean souls. Precious, precious, precious souls. Glory to Jesus! Next stop, NZ!
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PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA. Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. You spend enough time in a place like South
Africa and the odds eventually catch up with you--not that I feel as "cavalier" as I probably sound--it's just my way of
dealing with it, I guess.
Two men with these knives--the kind of
knives hunters use to skin and butcher game in the wild--curved, dirty, hand-honed, horrific blades. I was on a walk with
my assistant through a nature reserve--winding trails through modest canyons and hills, babbling brooks and most ominously,
thick bush all around. Exhausted after 2 weeks of round-the-clock running around and organizing and racing from here to
there for ministry, we decided to take a day off--a day out in nature.
We had our Bibles with us, a few bucks
to enjoy a late lunch in the café at the end of the trail. We came to a split--one trail went straight up, the other followed
the stream. Always wanting to get a little exercise wherever I can I suggested the one that went up. Praise God for that
choice. If not for it I would not be alive today to write this. And Lord only knows what would have happened to |
