Problems on Purpose

Are there questions in your life that you can never find an answer for?

If you are like most of humanity there are things you have experienced that you will never completely understand. The most frequent question we raise in our search for answers is, "How can a good God allow bad things to happen?" Related to it are questions about why does suffering happen and is there a purpose in all these painful problems.

As a fellow man, I find that I have very little to offer in an answer to these difficult questions. Instead I like you wrestle with these questions over and over in my life.

The best answers I can find are those moments when God reveals something out of the ordinary. History itself offers an explanation when good is discovered in the ongoing suffering.

This week at CCR we will look at one of those historic moments. We'll hear a young administrator offer an outstanding debate to his opponents. However, instead of the opponents softening in the face of reason they become violently antagonistic and murder him in the travesty of mob justice. Then we'll be introduced to a young killer who due to years of conditioning and personal zeal uses this event to begin house to house searches and arrests.

Yet, the story does not end in tragedy. Instead, God uses the tragedy for His purposes and history of humanity changes forever.

I hope you will join us this Sunday as we explore this history.

Imana ikurinde,

Dave

A Time to Heal

A few weeks ago, we ventured into the New Year eager to see what it would become. Some of us made resolutions. If we are like most of the world our resolutions will focus on some consistent themes such as improving our physical health, relationships, and finances. Lose a little weight. Save a little money. Meet a special some one new. Run faster. Start a new business. Get married. Find more time for family and friends. Though the goal may be personal transformation, we like the success gurus of the world know it can not happen if it is not measurable. Thus our focus tends to be on potential transforming activities.

As we begin our 2008 journey, let me provide another resolution for us. Maybe, the season is right to take time to heal? Maybe, something within us needs to be still?

Many of you know my habit of beginning my mornings with a run or bike ride in Kigali. At forty one it is not about speed or athletic prowess. Instead, my morning rituals are my coping mechanism for life’s pain and renewed discoveries of hope. In the midst of them occasionally I find a good friend with whom to share the journey. There have been a few times in my life when I’ve walked with a cane and I know my future is simply to return to a pile of dust. Thus it seems the joy of an early morning run is an inescapable hunger in my soul.

However, I also struggle with a boyish desire to achieve. Something in me ponders how long can I do this? Can I find a new challenge? Is there something more I have yet to discover? It may reflect in my desire to start a new church or school, make a new friend, or try one more physical challenge before life’s inevitable decline catches me. I imagine that a few of you share my struggles.

Maybe, even Kigali brings out this compulsive obsession to achieve? How many of us work days that start at 5:00 a.m. and don’t end until 11:00 p.m.? Do our phones ever stop ringing? Are our inboxes ever completely empty? Does our “to do” lists ever say “done”? Is there something about the opportunity before us that tells us that we must seize today as we have no guarantee what tomorrow’s crisis may be?

For me 2007 was a thrilling, but exhausting year. We began a new church in a fabulous facility. We also participated with others in the development of a new school in Kigali. Besides these activities my morning rituals brought me to a few new places. I ran a half marathon in Kigali in May. (I did the half because I was unwilling to commit a whole morning to a run when I needed to preach later in the day.) I swam 5 kilometers in Lake Kivu with a few friends in August. In September I rode my bike with a few others to Butare. However, by December my knees and ankles were sore and seemingly unable to heal. Also, I caught my yearly flew and for weeks could not stop coughing.

Thankfully, many years ago I organized the worst honeymoon in history, and as penance each December take Jana away for a few days on our anniversary. (If one of you ever responds in writing to something I write I promise to tell the story in Focus.) As we retreated for a celebration of 17 years together I broke my morning ritual. I slept in. I did not start the day with exercise. I kept it up for a couple days that we were away.

Then I returned home to the five kids, church, school, a ringing phone, full inbox, and more problems to solve than the day allowed. Somehow, I kept my anniversary habit and slept in a little more. I still reported to office work at about the same time, but skipped my daily runs and rides for a couple weeks. It was a strange paradox of life. I hungered for physical health, but craved quiet and rest.

In the process something out of the ordinary happened. My ankle quit swelling. My knees became pain free. My lungs cleared out and I started breathing again.

Last week, I rolled out of bed and ran again. It was nothing to brag about, but I felt joy in the run again.

I could not help, but ponder that my month of physical rest may have more to teach me than just how to restore my ankles, knees, and lungs. When God created us He defined our nature as being in His image. I’m resistant to definitions of both God and man that emphasize piety over pragmatics. It seems to me that God smiles at the sunsets He creates as much as we do. I suggest that He gave us our physical and intellectual capacities as a reflection of His creative ability. An athlete’s run or academic’s thesis may be as “spiritual” as a monk’s prayer.

I propose that the disciplines of humanity such as study, exercise, and work ethics are a reflection of God’s desire to renew and transform all elements of our humanity. Thus if rest is good for our body’s restoration it is also good for our spirit’s restoration.

As we enter that season in the New Year in which we start to fall back into old habits and early resolutions slip away I propose that we take time to heal. The activities of life can wait. The phone calls can be returned. The inbox can be replied to on another day. Our efficiency is stifled not because of lack of organization and discipline, but because we are not healed people. There are places in our lives that have as much pain as sore ankles and sick lungs. Though our desire to achieve says push on as fast as possible, our wiser self tells us to be still. What needs to happen most in us will not happen in the hurry ups of life.

Will you join me in resting to heal?

Come run with me.

First In Faith

We know it must look like we have fallen off the face of the earth. President Kagame says, “Other countries can walk. We must run.” Our pace has been so fast that it has been a real struggle to catch our breath long enough to communicate. We want to briefly share some good news and then speak of a huge answered prayer in our lives.

Our effort at a church plant among Rwanda’s current and future thought leaders is going well. This past Sunday we had 170 in attendance which was our highest Sunday attendance since our Grand Opening on March Fourth 2006. One of the most vital statistics was that we had 21 cars in our parking lot. In a nation where the Per Capita Income is in the neighborhood of $300 it is imperative to plant a sustainable church that it is composed of those with the capacity to manage complexities and lead others. Regular attendees include those from leading Rwandan government offices, embassies, businesses, and non-profit organizations.

Also, Kigali International Community School (KICS) opened this term with 87 students from 23 nationalities. We never would have guessed the diversity the Lord would bring to us when we entered Rwanda. The Lord has taken our struggle to make a sustainable educational environment for our children and from it brought a new mission field to us. We can only ponder what the Lord intends to do with this surprising endeavor.

To keep a presence in our Kigali community, Dave still teaches an Ethics course at a local university, Kigali Institute of Science and Technology. Last year, he had over 250 students. He also writes a weekly column for a local impendent paper (“Focus”), and many of the articles can be found on our blog.

The whole endeavor in Rwanda has humbled us and caused us to ask many questions. We have only been in Rwanda for a little over 2 ½ years. We are far ahead of what we ever could have anticipated. Under the best of situations we would not have anticipated to be where we are currently at even after being here 5 years. Surely the Lord has done something truly out of the ordinary. It is He who deserves all the glory and honor.

However, He does work through people and prayer. Some are worthy of special honor in order to tell the story of our faith journey to Rwanda. We want to dedicate this newsletter to our overseeing congregation, Quail Springs Church of Christ. Allow us to tell their story in Rwanda.

In 2004 our family was nearing the end of our contract to stay in Uganda. During a season of deep struggle Dave wrote a prayer crying out for an answer when the Lord had been almost silent for years.

“Lord,

It seems you have asked me to shepherd many others, but who will shepherd me? I know you are a shepherd by nature, but I need one with flesh by me. I am lonely and confused. Please bring a shepherd to me.”

In a certain way it seemed rather selfish, but the deepest cries of the heart are that way. We are now convinced the Lord heard the prayer and responded immediately. It just took us time to let go of what we held dear in order for Him to bring to us what He held dear. Also, it took Him some time to prepare our future shepherds.

The united journey began in earnest in September 2004. We arrived at Oklahoma Christian University (OC) in the Fall of 2004 as a typical burned out missionary. The OC community was a true Sabbatical Year for us, but we needed a church home. We made a decision that since our time at OC would last just 9 months church shopping would not be an option. During our first Wednesday evening Bible class we observed our 5 year old Ugandan daughter, Ruthie in a Quail Bible class where she could celebrate her African dance skills, and we knew this was the church for us. Thus we had a natural transition to Quail overseeing us when God called us to Rwanda.

During May 2005 Quail had our commissioning Sunday. Dr. Mark Henderson spoke pastoral words that both terrified and inspired us. “If you are in trouble, we will come and get you.” Did Mark mean Quail’s standard of missionary accountability was so high that a screw up would cost us a on site visit with a return plane ticket, or that Quail would personally evacuate us from an African crisis? He’s never told us, but it was Quail’s message of love.

In hindsight it all makes sense, but also we are amazed at our “foolishness.” Truly, Quail and we were fools of the cross. No church had been registered by the Rwandan government in over 3 years. How would we even stay legal? When we arrived we tried a local school for months, but our kids knew within a few hours that it would not work. How could our children live in a healthy social and educational environment? We only had a few Rwandan friends. How would we learn the ropes and adjust?

However, the Lord repeatedly did the surprising. In fact, the more desperate we became the more likely time would show we were on the right path.

Through out this time we our Quail supporters displayed an immense sense of faith in the Lord’s providence. They are always the first to commit. Let us tell a few high lights:

As we came to Rwanda, Bryan Hixson was assigned to be our Missions Liaison. During the summer of 2006 Bryan, Holly, and their two beautiful daughters Alexis and Grace were with us. They were part of the celebration when we were the first church in Rwanda in years to be granted a new registration to operate legally. Also, during that time we selected the first OC Rwanda Presidential Scholars. Holly particularly took an older sister role with the students. Upon the Hixson’s return the Quail Springs Church of Christ families adopted all of the Rwandan students and made Oklahoma their home.

The OC Rwanda Presidential Scholars program has been directed by our Missions Committee Chairman, John Osborne who also is the Director of International Studies at OC. At every positive turn that has been taken for our ministry in Rwanda John Osborne has been one of the driving factors.

As Christ’s Church in Rwanda was granted a legal registration it came with the instruction to quickly develop property. Thus the Quail Missions Committee decided that they would send two elders, Tom Gooch and Sue Gooch and Larry Schwab to help us assess the best option. Prior to their arrival we became aware of a school and hall for sale that was part of a model community designed by the Rwandan government to set an example for all their hopes in the year 2020.

When the Gooches and Larry arrived in September 2006 we cautiously showed them the property, and they were sold on it. At one point as we looked around the property, Dave jumped over a fence assuming the gate was locked when it was not. Sue Gooch humorous rebuke of, “Stop jumping over open gates” has summarized this journey. It is a lot easier than we anticipated if we would just trust the Lord to open gates.

The Gooches and Larry were with us for the first opening day of KICS. We only had about 25 kids, but the dream was alive. Tom repeatedly spoke that though we were not sent to start a school it was very apparent that was the Lord’s intention. We just needed to be prepared for all that was the Lord’s intention.

As the dream to purchase our current facility began to get off the ground, the Quail leadership rule of first to commit continued when their leadership decided they would raise 20% of the capital from Quail internally and began forming the ROC foundation as the means to acquire and manage the property.

When tough negotiations needed to be done, Dr. Mike O’Neal; and Quail member and Oklahoma businessman, Steve Clark were sent to Rwanda in February 2007.

One of the blessings of being associated with Quail has been their sensitive eyes that see our limitations. As it was becoming apparent that to manage the property would be more than we could handle they knew we needed a property manager. As we surveyed the need and available people there became an obvious answer to this problem. Those who gave first in faith would need to give their very best. Though painful to do, we asked for our Missions Liaison, Bryan and Holly Hixson to join us in Rwanda. At the time Quail was financially stretched and for both Quail and the Hixsons their entrance into Rwanda was an action of complete faith and trust. The Hixsons arrived in August 2007, and immediately lightened the load on our weary shoulders.

During our Grand Church Opening on March Fourth, 2007; Quail sent their Senior Minister Mark and Sharon Henderson to help us launch into new territory. During their week with us, Mark and Sharon visited an orphanage and saw over 40 infants. Mark told the Lord, “This is unacceptable.” Mark is like us and rarely hears messages that he attributes directly to the Lord, but felt in his spirit that God said, “I agree. What are you going to do about it?”

Thus, the adoption journey began. Mark and Sharon returned to Rwanda and spent 7 weeks with us as they adopted Zach and Nate. They were followed by another Quail family, Dave and Melissa Osborne who adopted Ethan. Our most recent adoption journey was Brett and Keli Shreck who like the Hendersons also adopted Benjamin and Nicholas. Again, the rule with Quail and Rwanda is always first to commit in faith.

Now besides all the stories let us tell a few statistics:

1). Quail Springs has invested over $400,000 in Rwanda in the last 3 years. This includes the support given to our family and the Hixsons, short-term mission teams, adoptions, and property acquisition.

2) Besides the investment in finances, we know of no other church in our fellowship who has invested so heavily in people as Quail has in Rwanda. Quail has had personnel on the ground in Rwanda 46 of the past 62 weeks that we have been in Rwanda (74% of our time). We are unaware of any missionary who has ever had such a continual presence of help and encouragement as we have experienced from Quail.

3) If you were to attend Quail Springs on an “average” Sunday you may see 18 of Rwanda’s brightest scholars. Also, you may see 5 former orphans that now call Quail families “mom and dad.” This has truly been a relationship of reciprocity with Rwanda. Quail’s presence in Rwanda has been a reflection of Rwanda’s presence at Quail.

Now a few of you may be thinking, “Well this makes sense as Quail is a large, influential, and wealthy congregation.” Please allow us to tell you a painful truth of our faith. The Lord works best through our weaknesses. The last two years have not been easy ones at Quail. In fact, Quail has made new commitments to Rwanda during times when money was tight and involved members few. So though this newsletter is an attempt by a humble missionary to shout from the mountains the answer to a desperate prayer it is an attempt to honor God more than Quail.

Weakness teaches us many things. One is that God is our sustainer. The other is that God works most clearly through partnerships with like minded individuals. To be honest, each day from our office we see many who the Lord has drawn to this endeavor in surprising ways. We could not be where we are at without their willing spirits and hands. Again, we feel much like the Lord and we pray for Him to send more workers into the rich field of Rwanda.

We hope the best for all of you. May all of you find shepherds in your life like the ones we have found at Quail.

Dave and Jana

Resolutions at Week Three

I'll share with all of you one of my struggles. The Lord designed me to be a Visionary. I am always looking at the future. In a crisis I can't help but to keep trying to find a solution. When things are calm I can't help but ponder what could become. My mind is always looking to the future.

The other paradox of me is that I'm a historian. I read everything I can about the past and ask many questions. I also enjoy the company of those older than myself, and want to capture all their wisdom before it disappears.

It may seem like a contradiction, but I discover history because I can not help but dream for the future. History is my venue to clarify future vision.

Almost three years ago I was fortunate to be on a life changing pastoral retreat. Prior to the retreat I was required to take a psychological test. It probably does not surprise you, but both Jana and I tested as Visionaries. As we were receiving some wise counsel from a wiser pastor than myself he raised the question, "Who lives in the here and now?" He hit the nail on the head for many of my struggles. Left to my own devices I have a difficult time taking care of the ordinary details of life. My only hope is to be extremely disciplined, do all I can to build a community of peace, and gather to myself those whose spiritual gifting complements my own.

Today, I'm looking back at a sermon I preached as we started 2008. I put before many of you my 2008 personal resolutions to say "no" more often and to seek greater order. My hope was that by being more orderly and less committed I would be a better person living in community. We also looked at the typical resolutions that most people make each year. Almost all of the typical resolutions deal with physical health, financial stability, and spiritual growth.

My guess is that some of you made resolutions that were about spiritual formation. How are you doing on these?

Let me offer a little help this week. When Jesus was on this earth he left several things undone. One was to form the institution we call "The Church." For some mysterious reason, He did not get the church organized until after He rose from the dead and the Holy Spirit came to dwell inside those who believe in the Resurrection. An old church planting pastor named Paul of Tarsus use the phrase "_________ one another" frequently in his writings. Paul's point was that in "the church" we must do things for one another to build their spirituality. Some times I hear people say something to the effect of "Yes to Jesus, but no to the church." They have found the failings of people in the church and decided spirituality in a community is not worth the effort.

However, according to both Jesus and Paul spirituality can not happen without others. So if one of your 2008 resolutions is about spiritual growth let me offer some opportunities at CCR for you.

First, this Thursday, 24 January we are starting a weekly small group Bible study in our home from 6 to 8 p.m. Our home is in Kimihurura. Please give me a call if you need directions to our home at 08-675-122. It is our hope that this group will do what Jesus and Paul intended. We meet in community and search.

We discover the truths of God's word an apply it to our lives. We share our celebrations and struggles. God is honored as we find in Him all we need.

Next, this Saturday, 26 January we will offer our Beginnings Course at CCR from 1 to 5 p.m. In it the basic questions of faith will be addressed—Who is Jesus and how do I follow Him? Also, we'll explain our CCR Vision and how you can become involved. Lastly, we'll discuss in more detail the Christian symbols of Baptism and Holy Communion.

I hope that I'll see some of you who are seeking this week.

Imana ikurinde,

Dave

You Are Not In Charge of Me

Several weeks ago in our fair city of Kigali a man was pondering the relationship between freedom and responsibility. We all hunger to be free. Tyranny and dictatorships are despised. In fact the words of equality and freedom are the buzz words we use each time we feel our right to individual autonomy is threatened. Yet in our call to freedom some truths are inescapable. We live in a community. Some have gone before us to set precedent. Our actions do affect others and it is just to consider the rights of others as we ponder our own God given rights.

As our Kigali philosopher pondered two of his sons began a discussion about the same matter. The youngest son of our Kigali philosopher chose to exercise his rights to freedom. The oldest son of our Kigali philosopher chose to exercise his authority. The discussion continued for some time, but came to a final conclusion upon the family’s dining table.

The five year old son chose to show his physical strength and climbed upon the family dining table. From such a position he could look eye to eye with this tyrannical thirteen year old elder brother. The elder brother proclaimed that it was not proper to stand on the dining room table. The younger son proclaimed it was not proper for the older son to tell him what to do. In his cry for ultimate freedom our young revolutionary proclaimed, “You are not in charge of me.”

A revolution almost birthed. Five year old boys through out Kigali heard the rumor. Media outlets were prepared to announce the revolution. Our young revolutionary began stomping his feet in rhythm. It was like a drum beating. The music was inescapable and his cry for freedom passionate. Would five year old boys be permitted to stand on their family tables and dance and argue with no accountability? Yet the older brother held firm. “Get down from the table,” he proclaimed.

At this crucial moment in the almost revolution our Kigali philosopher awakened from his cluttered mind. He heard the noise of the household revolution and came to see what was about to transpire. A final show down occurred. Our Kigali philosopher looked eye to eye with young revolutionary and proclaimed, “When my oldest son seeks to protect my property he speaks with my authority. Get down from the table or I will severely cane you.” The young revolutionary conceded his defeat and scurried back to the floor. The look in his eyes however confirmed that the revolution was not finished in this defeat. The five year old revolutionary would arise again. Another battle was coming. The next one would be well chosen and decisive for he believed to his core being that his older brother truly was not in charge of him.

Sound familiar? Is there a revolutionary lurking in your household? Do you hear this familiar chorus? Could a conspiracy be a foot among us? Or worse yet, is the conspiracy lurking in your place of work? Do you live in a world of chaos where it seems you are the only one willing to take responsibility? Are you weary of the demands of others? Do you hunger for more order and authority in a hope that it will create a better world?

Or do you come down on the other spectrum of the dichotomy between freedom and responsibility? Have you been exploited by those who should nurture and guide? Have you been forced into actions you did not understand or own? Are you weary and tired of the same failed patterns of leadership? Are you eager to try your own hand at leading others in the hope that you will not repeat the mistakes of the past?

Our philosopher’s children are a reflection of our own spirits. The reason we giggle at their behavior is that we see ourselves in them. All they do is strip away the sophistication of our arguments and expose our true selves.

Our naked ambition is mixed with many conflicting desires. One on hand we hunger for the intimacy and order of community. On another hand we hunger for the freedom to make our own way. For some within us is an inescapable urge to lead. Some of leadership quest is about the inescapable needs of our community, but some of the quest is just a desire for power, recognition, and affluence. We come to the table with a mixture of motives and desires. How do we find our way forward?

Allow me to turn back to the disagreement of our two young men. The disagreement started because they lived in the most basic building block of community. They were a family. As brothers they tussle back and forth. Some is good natured play that strengthens body, mind, and spirit. However, some is downright selfish ambition. Yet in the end they are brothers and must find a way forward. They must put aside their own agendas and seek the good of the community.

Authority is a mixed blessing in community. Without it community can not function. Some one must chart a vision and call others to it. Without the role of a vision carrier our community is doomed to cycles of poverty of mind and pocketbook. This leader also in moments when human frailty masks itself in power must call the offender to accountability. Without his voice and action calling for accountability our human nature will embark on a path of destruction. The revolutionaries in our midst will simply stomp the table to pieces.

Our freedom is not about standing on tables and stomping slogans. Our freedom is about the choice to lead our community to a new way of thinking and living.

Today’s message is not so much about leadership as it is following. Out of authentic following we learn the discipline of authentic leading.

Can you hear the rhythm?

Come run with me.

Problems at Church

When I was a boy, my favorite Sports writer was a man named Sid Hartman. He wrote for the Minneapolis Star / Tribune. Sid had a terminal case of what historian's call "Boosterism." No matter how poorly the local teams played nor outrageous their off field behavior, to Sid they could do no wrong. As a boy I loved Sid's eternal optimism. Also, the local athletes were my heroes, and my childish brain had no room in it to consider their humanity. The worst part of my naivety was that I did not have the courage to acknowledge that my heroes may not be heroes. In fact, time would show that a few were criminals. As I've grown a bit more seasoned in life I find my heroes are the much more ordinary men in my childhood - coaches, teachers, pastors, bosses, and mostly my dad, uncles, and grandfathers. (But I'll save that discussion for another time.)

As my mind grappled with the history of humanity, I found a better writing style. I still don't know what to call it, but I instinctively pursue it. My favorite style lays out the truth for all to see, but never gives up hope. For those of us who believe in the Resurrection of Jesus this style is firmly rooted in a belief that God will deliver His people from oppression to glorious victory in a final triumphant act of judgment. We live between these two realities - the Resurrection and the Final Judgment. Though our season of life may be difficult there is nothing that will stop the Sovereign plans of our God.

This Sunday we are going to look at one of those stories that no missionary or pastor would ever want to tell. It won't be one that would make church bulletins nor fill the boosterism pages of Christian magazines and newsletters. This week's story will be about problems at church.

To be honest if I had not committed to all of you and the Lord that I would preach through Acts this year I'd just push the fast forward on this story. In fact, if you want to come to church and be entertained like small children looking for a hero I would recommend that you not come this Sunday.

This week we will be Acts 6:1-7 and deal with one of Christian history's ugliest sins. Sometimes, God's people play favorites based on ethnicity. Sometimes they only see the needs of people just like themselves. Sometimes they murmur and gossip. Sometimes they undermine those the Lord has anointed to lead them.

Yet, like I said God's story with humanity is one of victory. Our sin does not reign. God's sovereign will does reign. This Sunday as we look at the problems of church we will find that God did not leave His people. Instead He inspired them to find a solution and actually improve their service to their community.

I trust that our CCR future will be much the same. Boosterism will fail us. The realists in our midst will quickly find our problems. Yet, God will not abandon us. If we love one another and hunger for God a way forward will be found.

I hope to see those of you who seek something more this Sunday.

Dave

Is Anyone Listening?

With five children in our home there is rarely a quiet moment. Noise fills our activities, but communication and understanding does not always happen. Sometimes the temptation is to just increase the volume or repetition. Maybe, if we repeat the same words over and over; and louder and louder we will finally be understood. It usually does not work. Instead it seems what is most effective is to engage, to touch, and to calm down. We find that the time when we stop to listen is the moment when we are also finally heard.

It seems to me that since we are made in the image of God we will by nature be communicative beings. It also seems that our struggle to be heard and to hear is rooted in our desire to find community with both God and man.

During the times in which God has moved in an out of the ordinary way upon the earth were times in which men were able to hear from God. Somehow in the midst of the noise of the day a message of eternal was heard. In ordinary struggles of life, God's hand was seen clearer. I doubt that God was any closer or farther from men. His nature does not change. It seems that instead we may have been better listeners.

In the New Year of 2008 we will begin a discovery in a historian named Luke's second volume called Acts. In this historical account, Luke writes about the transformation of a group of scattered and confused individuals into history's most transforming movement of all time - The Christian Church. We'll examine many items. For instance, proofs of the resurrection of Jesus, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the activities of a faith community. One area that will capture our attention will be prayer. It was the discipline that allowed the scattered and confused to become the gathered and convicted.

It is my hope that in 2008, our CCR community will in a greater way discover the power of speaking and listening to God. I trust as we do this our sensitivity to His purposes will increase and our love for one another deepen. The process will require for us to humble our levels of sophistication, and become like childhood playmates. We simply enjoy one another and do all we can to both heal one another's wounds and celebrate one another's victories.

We will get past the platitudes of religion and speak the common words of a community.

Two weeks ago, our CCR community blessed Jeff and Lisa Jackson as they temporarily left us to return to Australia. Each week in which we now corporately worship the Lord we both see and hear the fruits of the Jackson's labor in our hall. They took our hall full of echoes and transformed it into a place where our frail human ears could finally hear.

Two days ago, I received a message from the Jacksons that upon their return to Australia, Lisa was diagnosed with skin cancer on her foot. In a few days Lisa will have a minor surgery and assessment of the cancer's spread in her body. They have asked for us to keep them in our prayers. Though this situation is difficult it appears the Lord is giving us an opportunity to become in a greater measure a communicating community. Will you join me in asking the Lord to both heal Lisa and also display His glory through this situation?

Also, please feel free to share both the victories and struggles of your life with our CCR community.

Imana ikurinde,

Dave

Time to Meet?

I trust your holidays went well. We particularly enjoyed the special activities of the Candle Light Christmas Eve Service, Christmas Day Service, and listening to some of you express your thanksgiving for 2007 in our New Year's Day Service. As we enter into the New Year of 2008 we begin making plans in which we hope for the best.

One of my hopes is that those of us attending Christ's Church in Rwanda will grow as a community closer to both one another and Christ. It seems that this always happens the way that Jesus himself did this - by calling men and women to join in a small community that explores faith together.

I know that all of you are very busy people, and have a question for you. If you would like to participate with a small group of people who meet weekly to explore faith, when is a good time and place to meet? Would you prefer a weekday or weekend meeting? Would you prefer early in the morning or after work? Would you prefer meeting at our church facility or in a home? If in a home could you suggest one? Do you have any other suggestions?

Thank you for your thoughts.

May God richly bless your New Year.

Dave