Imitators

One of my favorite things to do is to attend live music performances. I honestly enjoy nearly every genre of music, and I especially enjoy watching artists perform on stage. I try to take every chance I get to go to live performances and I really like it when I have the opportunity to go to a venue and/or a type of performance that I have never been to before. Recently, I had this opportunity.

Christy and I, along with two other couples, went to Star Wars: In Concert at the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK. The show itself consisted of a symphony orchestra and choir performing selections from the original score of the Star Wars movies, an amazing light and effects show, and a gigantic digital screen that played movie clips corresponding with the music being played. All of this, obviously, was extremely well done and impressive.

But, Star Wars: In Concert was more than just a show. It was also a traveling "museum." Star Wars movie props and costumes were put on display throughout the arena. So, fans of the movies were given the opportunity to see things that they would normally only see on the big screen.

Obviously, with the type of following that Star Wars has, this type of an event brings out all kinds of fans. I'd like to specifically focus on one type of fan - the super fan. There were, in the crowd, many super fans. These are the people who are so into Star Wars that they came to the show dressed as their favorite character.

We are all familiar with people like this. We see them at them at the Renaissance Fair, dressed as knights, monks, or as inaccurate as it may be, elves and hobbits. We see them at ComiCon dressed as their favorite super hero. We see them at the Star Trek conventions, speaking Klingon or wearing Spock ears.

Countless sit-coms have spent time poking fun at this behavior. What comes to my mind immediately is one of my favorite TV shows, The Big Bang Theory. These are the types of characters you expect to be fans of this nature.

I started to think about this behavior after the Star Wars concert. These are adults who are so passionate about these movies that they find it necessary and enjoyable to publicly, and most likely privately, imitate their favorite characters. But then, a few questions popped into my mind.

Would these people imitate these characters anywhere besides an event like this? Sure, it's easy to dress up like a Jedi and walk around an event that is dedicated to the glorification of the Star Wars saga. But, would that same guy dress up like a Jedi at any other time? Maybe on Halloween. Maybe when going to the movie in the theater. But would he do it while shopping at Wal-Mart on a Tuesday? Would he do it at his job?

Actually, some people may be comfortable imitating these characters everywhere. But I would bet that most of these people only do it in situations where it is socially acceptable. Whether you imitate Renaissance people, Sci-fi characters, or superheros, I am sure that most would only do it in the "appropriate" settings. Doing so elsewhere would result in extreme ridicule from the rest of the world. It would result in an immediate "freak" label to be applied.

It's interesting how this translates to those of us who follow Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:1-2 reads, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

I would venture to say that many of us who claim to follow Jesus only really imitate God in locations and situations where it is acceptable. We're probably really good at imitating God at a church service, at a small group Bible study, around other Jesus followers. It's easy to do it there. It's acceptable. But do we imitate God while shopping at Wal-mart on Tuesday? Do we imitate God at our jobs?

Imitating God outside of the acceptable arenas of our life might result in ridicule from the rest of the world. It might result in the "freak" label to be applied.

I think we can learn a lesson from the guy who is willing to dress up like Obi-Wan and carry a toy light sabre despite the fact that it's not Halloween, he's not at a Star Wars event, and there is no apparent reason for it.

What a different place this world would be if followers of Jesus actually imitated God every second of every day.

Oklahom(e)a

Since arriving in Oklahoma last March, we have seen a lot of change. We’ve seen the weather change from a late Spring snow storm, to tornado warnings, to Summer heat, and now to a very slight taste of an upcoming Fall. We've also seen changes at The Voice Of The Martyrs as the organization has now fully moved into their brand new Operations Center.

And, there is another change that we are excited to share. It’s a change in our status as year-long volunteers with The Voice Of The Martyrs (VOM).

As most of you know, Christy and I had committed to serving here in Oklahoma for one year with VOM as volunteers. But recently, we have been offered positions on staff. Christy is now the full time Housing Manager/Assistant to the Facilities Director, and I am currently the part time Resource Assembly Assistant.

What this means for us is that Oklahoma has become "home."

We have been here nearly six months, and now that we know that we will be staying longer than one year, we will begin to settle in a more permanent fashion. It's time to begin switching license plates, drivers licenses, and insurance. It's also becoming increasingly more important that we sell our home in Ohio!

It's been an amazing journey over the past few month. We look forward to continuing to share our lives with all of you.

Four Months

"We have learned that suffering is not the worst thing in the world...disobedience is." - A Vietnamese pastor who was imprisoned for his faith.

I came across this quote in "Foxe - Voices Of The Martyrs" and I thought it would be good to share. It is easy to assume that nothing could be worse than extreme suffering...but for Christians who have been in the midst of that in other parts of the world, there is something worse. Time and time again, I hear about persecuted Christians remaining obedient to Christ even in moments of great suffering. This intense focus on the Savior and His will sustains these saints as they suffer because of His name. I believe that disobedience during suffering would not lead to comfort and peace, but instead would lead to an even greater torment.

If Christians in situations such as these can remain obedient to Christ, then why is it so hard for us?

I have found that the most fulfilling times in my life have come when I have been obedient to Christ. I believe that these first four months as a volunteer for The Voice Of The Martyrs is a testimony of that.

Christy is currently continuing in her role as Apartment Manager/Assistant To The Facilities Director. I am currently continuing in my roles at Bibles Unbound and Order Fulfillment. Both of us are glad to be serving in these roles.

Last month I mentioned that VOM was preparing for a big move from one facility to another. Well, the move has happened! We are in an amazing new facility that will surely enhance the effectiveness of this ministry. Please continue to pray for VOM as we adjust to new surroundings and procedures.

Due to Christy's position as Apartment Manager, we have recently had the opportunity to meet some really cool VOM staff people from other parts of the world. I have been blown away by the bond that exists between brothers and sisters in Christ who not only do not know each other, but who also live on separate continents.

We appreciate all the support we get from you! Here are a couple areas that you can continue to pray for us:

• Our home is still on the market in Mt. Orab, Ohio. We have been trying to sell it since last November.


• Christy and I have already started to pray and think about what God wants us to do when our year committment here with VOM comes to an end in March 2010. It seems weird to think about this already, since it seems like we just got here, but we believe it is necessary to begin to be aware of the different opportunities that are before us.

And, as always, please keep the persecuted church in your prayers. I really hope that all of you have subscribed to VOM's free monthly newsletter! If you haven't, go to http://www.persecution.com/ and sign up. Over 500,000 people are subscribed. Just imagine the difference that is being made by 500,000 people praying for specific brothers and sisters who are being persecuted. I hope that all of you would want to be a part of that!

Calling You Out

Are you sick of the continuing coverage of the death of MJ? Apparently, most of you are. I've heard it from Oklahomans. I've heard it from Facebook friends. I've heard and read comment after comment. I've heard jokes and "revised" song lyrics. I've seen apathy and annoyance, hatred and condemnation.

And most of this comes from people who follow Jesus Christ.

Look, I get it. You're annoyed at the constant news coverage. Fine. I don't have a problem with that (except for the fact that it's funny to me that so many of you are so surprised about how the media is reacting - where have you been?). But I do have a HUGE problem with the attitude.

Have you completely lost the ability to recognize that every single human being on this earth has a soul that is in danger of spending an eternity separated from God?

I do not know if MJ had a relationship with Jesus Christ. It's too late to change that now. But I wonder, was there anyone in his life that was concerned about that when he was alive? Were you concerned about it?

I'm not saying that you could have done anything about it (outside of praying) - even if by some stretch you were concerned. But therein lies the problem. YOU WEREN'T CONCERNED.

Many Christians are only concerned about the Heaven and Hell issue when it comes to themselves and people who are like them. They would never wish Hell or death upon loved ones or other human beings who lead similar lives as they do. They would never wish Hell upon a soldier or a person who is "good."

But when it comes to a "freak" in Hollywood - Let him burn!

Seriously?

Most of you reading this are Christians - and probably have been for quite some time. So I don't need to remind you about just how opposite that attitude is from the attitude of Jesus Christ.

Luke 19:41 reads, "As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace...'"

That's how Jesus feels about lost people - all lost people.

If you stood and looked at Hollywood, would you weep over it? Or would you begin formulating catchy jokes about its inhabitants and make light of the fact that they lead spiritually hopeless lives as you sit back in the comfort of your own eternal security.

Remember that the next time you look at the masses. Please stop picking out of the crowd those who get your compassion and those who don't based on your own preferences. It should move you to tears every time you think about the fact that there are millions of people who are going to Hell.

There is a common theme that I've noticed in my short time here with The Voice Of The Martyrs. Nearly every time I hear a story about a persecuted Christian from another part of the world, I hear that the person being persecuted wants nothing more than for the people who are persecuting them to come to know Jesus Christ. I never hear that a persecuted person wishes death or hell upon their persecutor.

These people are often being tortured beyond imagination. Loved ones are being taken from them. They are enduring physical and mental pain that is beyond our understanding. But, they have so much compassion in their hearts for lost souls that they find the strength to share God's love with their torturers. Their attitude is that of Christ.

You may not like his music or his lifestyle. But, did MJ torture you? Did he persecute you? Did he do anything to you? If a persecuted believer can find compassion in their heart for their persecutor, can't you find compassion in your heart for lost people who have never harmed you? If you can't, then what would happen if you found yourself in a situation where you were mistreated?

My guess is that you wouldn't follow in the footsteps of Stephen when he said, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them," as he was being stoned to death.

What a different world this would be if American Christians wept over lost people and made all lost souls their number one concern.

Ancient Wisdom - Applicable Today

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." - Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" - Matthew 16:26.

One Quarter

"More love, O Christ, to Thee. More love to Thee." - Sung by North Korean Christians as their children were being hanged by the communists because the parents refused to deny Christ.

I thought this quote might be interesting to everyone, due to the recent events making the news about North Korea. In fact, I have found that since I have been working with The Voice Of The Martyrs over the past three months, I have seen headlines a bit differently.

At VOM, I receive daily information about what is happening to Christians in places like Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, and North Korea. Then, I log on to my favorite news websites and I read what the world media is reporting about these same countries. As I see the headlines and read the stories, I can't help but make a connection.

A couple of months ago, I heard a man who works in Iran speak. He told those of us who were in the room that he would like us to simply watch and pray. Watch for news stories on TV and the web about Iran. Then pray for the people there. He commented on how, in the midst of persecution, God is moving in a dramatic fashion in Iran. We, as Christians in the US, need to simply be attentive (watch) and pray for the people there.

I have applied this to not only Iran, but to other countries as well, including North Korea. When I saw (watched) headlines today about North Korea, I couldn't help but pray for the people there. In North Korea, there are people who know Christ and are being persecuted for it, and there are people who are living in spiritual darkness and need to know what Christ did for them on the cross.

As you go about your daily business, will you watch and pray for places like Iran and North Korea?

Like I said, Christy and I have been here three months. Christy is continuing with her work as Apartment Manager/Assistant To The Facilities Director. It has been an awesome opportunity to meet guests and volunteers from all over the world. I am continuing my work with the Bibles Unbound program and with Order Fulfillment. I love the crews that I work with along with the work that we do.

A busy time is coming up for both of us. In a couple weeks, VOM will be moving some of their operations out of their current warehouses and into a brand new facility! Everyone is very excited about the move, but at the same time, it is a huge task. Please pray that everything goes smooth and that important VOM work is not unnecessarily interrupted due to glitches. Christy and I are excited to be a part of this moment in VOM history.

I also want to point out a few things on a personal level.

• We had a great visit from Christy's mom, aunt, and cousin recently. One of the many highlights was going to watch an outdoor production of the musical "Oklahoma!".
• Our 8th anniversary is coming up on June 23!
• Please continue to pray for our house in Ohio to sell. God is providing for our needs in a tremendous way (partly through your support and prayers). We believe that God can sell our house in this tough economy.
• Christy and I are the "Missionaries" for a week of camp at Woodland Lakes in Ohio on June 21-26. We are honored. I wish so badly that I could be there for the week, but I can't. Please pray that the message of the persecuted church is communicated to the students at that camp through the literature I sent and through the web based communication that we'll be using with them. It's a bit unconventional, but I know God will work through it.

Thanks for all of your support and prayers.

Our Second Month

It's hard to believe that we've been serving with The Voice Of The Martyrs in Bartlesville, Oklahoma for two months.

On one hand, time has flown by. It doesn't seem like it was two months ago that we were packing up our vehicles and heading west.

On the other hand, it seems like we've been here for a long time. I feel this way for a couple different reasons. First of all, some of the friendships that we've made feel a lot stronger than just two month relationships. It has been great to meet people that we really "click" with. Also, when I compare how little Christy and I knew about this ministry two months ago to what we know now, it seems like it would be impossible to learn it all in two short months. And, obviously, there is still so much to learn!

But, I think the main reason that I feel like we've been here longer than 2 months is because it is so clear to us that this is exactly where God wants us to be right now. When that happens in your life, when you know that where you are is where God wants you, you can't help but feel a peace and assurance that is really unexplainable.

We have only committed to being here for one year. After that, we have no idea what God will lead us to do. But, for right now, we can clearly see that this step was the step that God wanted us to take! Thanks to all of you who prayed for us and supported us as we decided to go this direction.

As far as what's been going on the past month, we do have some cool news.

Christy got the job as Apartment Manager for the guest/volunteer housing here on the VOM property. We moved in to our new apartment (The Pearl), and she began her new job on May 1st. It has been very eventful so far. Along with being the apartment manager, she is also the assistant to the facilities director. Obviously, she has been learning alot over the past couple weeks!

The main thing that I want to say about this job is what a huge answer to prayer it is. As most of you know, we committed to being volunteers here for one year, which means we were not getting paid a dime. Therefore, we raised support from friends and family. Thanks to the generosity of so many people and churches, we were able to make this move! One of the key factors in making this all possible was the sale of our home in Ohio. This key factor still hasn't happened (please continue to pray!). Due to the fact that we still own our home, we still have costs associated with that. These costs were above and beyond the amount we had budgeted and raised for our year of volunteer work.

Well, God took care of it. He provided this position to open up for Christy. The salary that is provided to her is actually just over the exact amount we need to cover our home expenses in Ohio!

The position of apartment manager is Christy's for 6 months. Will God sell our home in 6 months? Will he provide another source of income to cover our home costs once these 6 months are through if our home has not yet sold? Like I said, please continue to pray for this situation. And please thank God for providing in such an awesome way!

Another cool opportunity that we've had recently is to help lead worship in the chapel service that The Voice Of The Martyrs has for their volunteers and employees every Tuesday morning. We helped to lead worship a couple of weeks ago, and we will help again next week. As most of you know, Christy and I both love being a part of leading worship. Without having a church home here in Oklahoma, we were wondering if we would have the opportunity to serve in this way. But, once again, God provide for us by opening up these opportunities at VOM.

Speaking of not having a church home, I wanted to let you all know about what we've been doing every Sunday. Christy and I have rarely had the opportunity to visit a variety of churches on Sunday mornings. So, over the past couple months, we have done just that. It has been a very cool experience for us to be a part of different worship services in churches of all different shapes and sizes.

All of this, combined with a great visit from my mom last week, has made for an exciting month. We thank all of you for your support and prayers. We would love to hear from you if you get a chance.

Above all, please continue to pray for your brothers and sisters in chains all over this world.

Hebrews 13:3