Archive for January, 2007
“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones, “ the King said, projecting his voice toward the dark world so loudly it was heard on the earth as thunder. “For I tell you that their angels in heaven always behold the face of my Father.�
The King pointed to a church custodian yelling at children unauthorized to play on the swings and chasing them away. “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.�
The King spoke to people out for Sunday dinner after church, who turned away from the street children. “Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.�
Then he watched a man and a woman taking children off the streets bringing them into a building, giving them a warm meal and a cot and safe refuge, and telling them about their Master. On the other side of the planet, in Africa, he watched his people caring for children born with AIDS, many of them orphans now, or soon to be.
The King nodded his approval. “Whoerver welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.�
He watched his people give the children a warm bath, read stories to them, hug them, and laugh with them. He smiled broadly, “Thank you,� the King whispered, “for doing this to me.�
He looked now at men plotting and stalking and taking pictures of children, doing to them the unthinkable. He looked at men herding frightened little girls together and selling them to foreigners. He looked at men in white coats, driving beautiful cars purchased by the blood of children. He looked at those who inflicted the suffering. His eyes smoldered.
“I made these children. I took them into my arms, put my hands on them and blessed them. And yet you scorn them, use them for your gain, treat them as disposable. It would be better for you to have a millstone tied around your neck and be thrown into the sea than to face what I will surely do to you.�
He looked now at others who turned their heads from the children, too busy to share a meal, a blanket, or a paycheck. They did little or nothing to help the children, and he regarded their failure to help as the inflicting of harm. “To you who look the other way, saying my children are not your concern: Repent! For it is I you have turned away from. I will not forget.�
He gazed at another group of people, those watching out for and reaching out to and helping the children. He said simply, “Well done. Your reward shall be great.�
Taken from Safely Home (p. 357-358) by Randy Alcorn, Tyndale House Publishers, 2001
January 26th, 2007
I am reading an article this morning before going to language class that I believe to be important enough to share here. Christianity Today has published an article by Christopher J.H.Wright that speaks to many issues concerning Missions in the 21st Century. I think it is well worth reading and should be thought through and discussed.
I could write several articles surrounding my own thoughts on the Missiological issues that he brings up. However, I am going to refrain at the moment (I have to go to Language class!) However, I did want to quote what Wright wrote (that’s sort of fun to say outloud) regarding the Cross and Missions. It’s a timely word for me this morning.
Why is the Cross just as important across the whole field of mission? Because in all forms of Christian mission, we are confronting the powers of evil and the kingdom of Satan�with all their dismal effects on human life and the wider creation. If we are to proclaim and demonstrate the reality of the kingdom of God and his justice, then we will be in direct conflict with the usurped reign of the evil one. In all such work, social or evangelistic, we confront the reality of sin and Satan. In all such work, we challenge the darkness of the world with the light and Good News of Jesus Christ and the reign of God through him.
By what authority can we do so? On what basis dare we challenge the chains of Satan, in word and deed, in people’s spiritual, moral, physical, and social lives? Only the Cross. The Cross must be as central to our social engagement as it is to our evangelism. There is no other power, no other resource, no other name through which we can offer the whole gospel to the whole person and the whole world than Jesus Christ crucified and risen.
January 22nd, 2007
I wanted to post a few family photos from the holidays. Some are from Christmas morning. Some are from our open house gathering. Some are from New Year’s, with a few shots from ‘around town’. You can see all of these photo’s and more on our Photos page. Check it out!
This was at our Christmas open house with our team. All of the older kids from the field are here. They barely fit on the steps!
Gabe, Enoch and Jonathan …eating. They do that a lot…
We actually drugged our puppy. She was wonderfully sedate for the evening.
Suhkbaatar Square decorated for New Year’s. They don’t really celebrate CHristmas here, so much - but New Year’s was huge. Fireworks, lights, music … all night long.
Khan Bootz - Mongolian Fast Food Restaurant decorated for the holidays.
Cori and our language teacher’s daughter Mongol-Jin being silly on the stairway.
Christmas Morning at the Anderson’s
Cori’s new stereo
Jonathan’s new guitar (left-handed and upside down, just like Hendrix…)
Intriguing ice sculptures
Mom Anderson preparing Christmas goodies for all …
.. and to all a good night…
January 4th, 2007
The sun is rising on Januarly 2nd here, and I sit in my kitchen eating a bowl imported Russian oatmeal. I usually eat imported German oatmeal. However, the Russian stuff is chunkier. I am enjoying a cup of American Imported Starbucks. That’s quite nice. It’s a new year and time to do new things. I would like to say that I have reslved to “Blog more” this year - but I don’t want to commit myself. Maybe I should resolve to drink more coffee? Too easy…
The New Year was celebrated in Ulaanbaatar with quite a fury of activity. The square (Suhkbaatar Square at the City Center) was fully decorated with lights and concert stages and food booths. There were fireworks at midnight (and all night long, really. Our dog was freaking out), as well as endless repetition of “The Happy New Year Song” by ABBA. (note: neither of us had heard of this song prior to moving to Mongolia. It is officially the most overplayed song in the country during the month of December.) We didn’t join the festivities at the square, but we did have an enjoyable New Year’s Eve with some new friends from several different organizations working in the city. We played games and ate pizza. We also spent a large chunk of New Year’s Day with team members. We had a prolonged breakfast, good conversation and sweet time of prayer. All in all, a good day.
This morning, I am breaking open my new ESV Journaling Bible, with a freshly printed Discipleship Journal Yearly Bible Reading Guide. In perusing other blog’s, I came across a link to this site: 10 questions for the New Year. I am finding this a really healthy excercise. There are actually 31 questions (if you read the entire page). I am taking one question per day and meditating on the possible answers, then logging in my journal the outcome of my thinking. The first question on the list is a pivotal one, I believe: What’s one thing I can do this year to increase my enjoyment of God?
This morning I read Psalm 1. I think it’s a key to the answer.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
(Psalms 1:1-2 ESV)
I think a key to delight is meditation; to let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. 2007 will be a full year of learning Mongolian for us. However, it is my desire to enjoy God more in the process. A key, as I understand it, is allowing God’s word to so permeate the mind and the heart that there is genuine and utter delight in it. Other delights taste less sweet. God becomes all. My goal for this year is to delight in the Law of the Lord. It is perfect. It satisifes the soul. It is definitely better than Russian oatmeal.
January 2nd, 2007