-
It’s hard to kill a dead man
I’ve met several missionaries who are part of the “Live Dead” teams being raised up to go into the hardest places of the world. They have been to my church. I’ve sat with them at lunch. They are incredibly determined people. Meeting one in context is somehow a very different story. Sitting in another country, listening to them almost casually…
-
The deck is stacked
Last night in our prayer group we were catching up on the past two weeks. As I talked about what God was speaking to me concerning Ethiopia, I was listening to what God was saying to people in our church while I was away. One phrase that stuck out as we talked was, “The deck is stacked.” Someone had heard…
-
Quick Pictures from Ethiopia
Since I’m having some jet lag, it’s a great time to organize a few pictures!
-
The opportunities we have as we pray
It was a little over two years ago the Lord challenged me with “owning” a country. He called on me to have our church really get involved in one nation. A year ago that narrowed to Africa. Over the past few months Ethiopia became the opportunity. As I’ve been here two weeks the Spirit is showing me the amazing opportunity…
-
Random thoughts from Ethiopia, Part 2
One of the regular things that happen in Ethiopia is the power goes out. While I’ve been here it’s not been for any real length of time, thankfully. But tonight the power went out during dinner. I’m thankful for “roughing it” with long time missionaries who keep their laptops charged so I can fire off a few thoughts before the…
-
A joyous Sunday in an Ethiopian church
It’s hard to believe that I am more than halfway through my stay in this amazing city. Today was the joy of preaching a new church in the south area of Addis. They meet in a tent and it is a hopping church! The church in Ethiopia (non-Orthodox) is not very old because communism left in 1997. In the Assemblies…
-
Quick thoughts from Ethiopia
I have been teaching for four days and my first week is almost finished. It is an incredible joy, and the time is flying by! Addis Ababa, the capital, is where the Bible college is located. I couldn’t have picked a more perfect climate. It’s just finishing rainy season, but that means there is rain sometime during the day and…
-
It is not enough
It is not enough to think that if someone simply has a church they can walk by that they have an “adequate” witness of the gospel. We to be IN the lives of those who do not yet believe so they have an opportunity to see Jesus in some form of reality. Let us not be lazy and think we’re…
-
The call of discipleship
I am reading Transforming Discipleship: Making disciples a few at a time by Greg Ogden. We have been developing this thought for training leaders in our church. We want intentional leadership not mass produced in a classroom. Small groups and one on one develop disciples in a stronger way. But it is a decision to become a disciple. “The seeking…
-
Fulfilling a dream
I am now in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Since I just arrived I have no real thoughts on the city or ministry, except to say when I took off from Minneapolis I was so immensely excited. It was such a fulfillment of prayer. And when I landed in Addis, I was overwhelmed with joy. It will be an adventure these next…
