Compassion Devo #4: Compassion vs. Competition

Phil. 2:5-11

"5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

“We find ourselves immersed in all kinds of competition. Our whole sense of self is dependent upon the way we compare ourselves with others and upon the differences we can identify.. . .This all pervasive competition, which reaches into the smallest corners of our relationships, prevents us from entering into full solidarity with each other and stands in the way of our being compassionate.” (Compassion, p. 19)

Ponder: How could competition wreak havoc on the effectiveness of our team?

Pray: Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank him for his forgiveness.

Back Home

Just a couple hours ago we arrrived in Kansas City, after being rerouted to Omaha for an extra couple of hours due to a severe storm in KC that temporary closed the airport. I Thank the Lord for a safe trip, for this truly amazing team of women, and for the gift of once again of loving and being loved by the people of Australia.

We will all be a bit jet-lagged and out of whack for a few days, adjusting to life here at home once again. Many of us have already caught ourselves looking for signs of familiar Polynesian and Australian culture: the unmistakable accent, the beautiful brown skin, tropical flowers, the laughs of our host families, the taste of Tim Tams. . .it is always so difficult to say good-bye.

Stay tuned as we post information about the team of Aussies coming right here to KC in November!!

Thank you for supporting the work of the Lord in Australia by praying for each of us, helping us make connections, and providing for us financially. May God bless you for being such a blessing to us!

Heading Home Tomorrow

G'day Friends!

We have had an incredible time here in Logan over the last month and it's hard to believe that it is now time to say good-bye and make the transition from one 'home' to another. The last couple days have taken us to the Australia Zoo (Yes, this is Steve Erwin's zoo, for those of you who are fans of the crocodile hunter.) We have also had great time catching up with our billets and doing some last minute shopping.

It is impossible to leave this place untouched by its beauty and diversity, but most importantly by the servanthood and generosity of our brothers and sisters at the Logan Community Church if the Nazarene. THANK YOU for praying for our team. Please continue to pray as we prepare for another long journey home and continue ministering in our regular spheres of influence back home.

Good-bye from the land 'Down Under'!

Youth Camp- Evans Head

In case you've noticed that we haven't posted on the blog for a few days, that is because we just returned from a fantastic time with the youth from both the Gold Coast and Logan churches for youth camp at Evans Head.

Evans Head is a sleepy little coastal town 3 hours south of Brisbane, just over the border into New South Wales. It is gorgeous and our campsite was just a 5 minute walk from the shore- incredible! We enjoyed surfing, lazer skirmish, beach games, good eats, great devotionals by the team, and a wonderful time bonding with all. There is a special comeraderie that occurs when people are removed from their normal routine of life and learn to work together. New friendships are formed and old ones are strengthened. What a gift.

We walked along the beach Tuesday night under a glorious canopy of stars. You definitely don't see that in Kansas! Enjoy some pics from camp:

Speak Aussie?

Jandals- flip flops, sandals
Ta- Thanks; Cheers- Thanks
Maccas- McDonalds
Petrol- gasoline
Tomato sauce- ketchup
Motorways- Highways
footpath- sidewalk
Toilet- Bathroom (here the toilet is in a totally seperate room from the sink and shower. ... a 'bathroom' refers only to the shower room.)
Tea- any meal
Jumper- sweatshirt or jacket
Bonnet- hood of car
Boot- trunk of car
Car park- parking lot
Rubbish bin- trash can
'Faatalofa atu'; 'Afio-mai';
'Tala mai aao': Welcome in Samoan
'Talofa': Hello in Samoan
'Tofa tofa soifua': Good-bye

More Wild Wacky Week: Day 2,3,4, 5

We have just finished 5 fun-filled days in "God's Big Backyard" with the primary school students in Logan while they are on holiday. (For you Americans reading this, primary school is the same thing as our elementary school and 'holiday' refers to a school break or vacation.) The theme for the each day is centered around some area of service: serving family, friends, neighbors, community, and serving the Lord.

These kids are fantastic, full of energy, and after spending 6 hours with them each day, are becoming like family. Please pray for the children and youth here in Logan, that all would come to understand the fullness of Christ's love for them, and in turn live out His love in their own lives and spheres of influence.

Things Never to Reveal to Little Kids...

*That you'll give piggy back rides.
*That you have candy.
*That you're OK with any nickname.
*That you have band-aids (seriously, injuries appear out of nowhere).

The kids' camp is going great, but we're all worn out at the end of the day. It's so much fun now that we're past the shyness stage and can really get to know these awesome kids. They are beautiful as is this country. Love you all, thanks for your prayers!

-Roberta

Wild Wacky Week: Day 1

Ministry- It's all about relationships.

Friday night we had the privilege of hosting Youth in Action with 20 fantastics teens from the Logan area. We taught them a few classic American group games, recreated the story of the Jesus walking on the water Mad Lib style, and had a time of prayer together. The kids are wonderful and it is clear that the the Logan Church of the Nazarene invest much in the youth of their community.
Tonight we were able to participate in the evening worship service with a skit, testimonies and some more Ice-breaker games for a little unconventional worship/community- building. Heaps of fun!

Us human folk were created for community, which is why the church, the body of Christ, is so important. Worshipping together and building trusting relationships are key. The beautiful thing is that this community or family we call the "church" is colorful and rich, chock full of people from all cultures, languages, eating habits, hairdos, with every skin color in the rainbow. Here in Logan we are immersed in the Polynesian culture, represented by people from many different Pacific islands scuh as Samoa, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, and Tonga. Thank the Lord for this global family.

And they call this winter. . .

It's winter here in Queensland, but to us midwestern US girls, this is like the perfect spring. Nearly everyday it has been partly sunny, dry, and in the high 60s/low 70s. And they call THIS winter??



I never thought I would take up birdwatching, too boring and slow . .. .but in a land such as this where birds are everywhere and the sky is never silent, birdwatching might not be so bad. Everything is lush and green, with gum trees and brilliant flowers everywhere. The flora and fauna here are incredible!
Enjoy some pics from this afternoon.

Fair Dinkum!

G'day everyone!
I only have a minute left on my computer at this cyber cafe, so I'll make it quick. Who knew things would be so much the same, yet so different. Lovin'it!
-Roberta

Koala Park and Ministry Prep

G'day!
The past two days have included great time getting know our billets, koala sightings at the park, and given us time to plan fo r ministry. Tonight we will host Youth in Action and then Monday begins our full schedule of Wild Wacky Week ministry to kids, 'Inner Beauty Night' with the teen girls, and lots of learning (and getting some good eats!)

Check out these great pics. Cheers!

We're here!

After 30 hours of traveling, we have finally arrived in Australia! It's been a long haul, but the Lord has been merciful to us and our flights were smooth and on time.
Tonight we will settle in with our billets (host families) and hit the sack early, eager to sleep on a flat bed and take a shower.

Thank you for praying. We are so excited to be here in Logan with the bros and sisters here!

Lightning Bugs

Why is it that it's only cute for young children to catch lightning bugs?

Could it be that it's nearly impossible to catch one of these little creatures, thus making the task look utterly ridiculous for anyone who tries? It's much more pleasurable to watch a child frolicking through the woods to catch a firefly than to see a grown adult stumbling in the darkness, tripping in the weeds, trying to accomplish the same task, only with little or nothing to show for their humiliation.

Regardless, I have been fascinated by these flying flashlights for years and made up my mind to capture one in the heat of this Kansas summer night. Despite the possibility of humiliation and being eaten alive by other night creatures, I accomplished my mission!

I have grown very fond of my new friend; I think I'll call him 'Indiglo'. The light he emits very closely resembles the glow of a Timex Indiglo watch I used to have. I wanted to protect my new friend, so I quickly punched holes in the lid of my glass jar to provide him with air.. . .

However, now 30 minutes into this, I am noticing that Indiglo's light is fading quickly. 30 minutes ago he was enjoying life in the forest by the MNU soccer fields, but was abruptly removed from his 'home' and alienated from his other nocturnal insect friends. When I first caught him he glowed constantly, flashing rapidly, as if he was sending an S.O.S. to his other forest friends, some type of morse code. Now his light is faded and sporadic as he sits in his new jar as a lonely little bug.

Why the sad story of the lightning bug, you ask? Well, this little bug has got me thinking. Perhaps us human creatures are a bit like the lightning bug. Our lights shine best when we are functioning within our God given calling (true vocation), and supported by friends and family that love us. It is more difficult to shine when we are lonely and displaced, which is why we need the comfort of our Great Comforter, the Holy Spirit, and of others in the body of Christ lift us up and recharge our lights. We all need each other,so let's help each other keep our lights shining.

Compassion Day 3: Solidarity

Matthew 1:22-23
22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"[d]—which means, "God with us."

“Simply being with someone is difficult because it asks of us that we share in the other’s vulnerability, enter with him or her into the experience of weakness and powerlessness, become a part of uncertainty, and give up control and self-determination.” (Compassion, p. 14)

Ponder: God is with you; he is with me, right now. Think about that. God is choosing at this moment to fully engage in your life at all its levels. He is entering into your vulnerability.

Why is it important for our team to be vulnerable with one another? How could doing this positively affect our team and ministry?

Pray: Ask for the Lord’s guidance in being open and honest with those around you, so that healthy relationships can be built and sustained for the glory of God.

Two weeks and counting. . .

Two weeks from today we'll be on a plane over the Pacific! Just to wet your appetite, here are a few pics from our trip to Brisbane last year! Enjoy!

The Compassionate God: Day 2

Luke 6: 36 “Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.”

“The word compassion is derived from the Latin words, pati and cum, which together mean ‘to suffer with.’ Compassion asks us to go to where it hurts, to enter into places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish.” (Compassion, p. 4)

Ponder: The heart is often referred to as the seat of the emotions in American culture. We talk about our hearts being broken, giving our heart to Jesus, etc. In some cultures the seat of the emotions is in the bowels, the womb, or the ‘gut’ as Henri Nouwen describes. True compassion, not mere pity, calls us to go to the lowest place with the hurting and make a home there, to feel it in the ‘gut’ with someone, which is often acutely uncomfortable. This is what God has done and continues to do in Christ for us.

Is there someone on my team, host family, or sphere of influence that needs compassion today? How can I enter into life with someone, so far as to allow myself to feel their pain ‘in the gut’?

Pray: Ask the Lord for true compassion and take time to intercede for those around you who may be displaced or suffering.

Volcano Eruption in Guatemala

Just this morning, the Pacaya Volcano erupted just south of Guatemala City, killing at least one, injuring others, and closing down the international airport. Check this link for more updates:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jfqSK7_JS5An1wyNi7oFIg5KGmuQD9FVTD1O0

Please pray for those directly affectd by this tragedy, and for our MNU Teams of volunteers who are scheduled to leave for Guatemala next week.

Watch this video

Watch this hilarious video, "Sunday's Coming" movie trailer. It's definitely a reflection of the trend happening in churches these days, for better or worse.

http://vimeo.com/groups/8453/videos/11501569

I welcome your comments.

Paul's Final Instructions = Our First Instructions

It is the purpose of these following brief devotionals to complement and reinforce our pre-field team training using the book, Compassion by Nouwen, McNeill and Morrison.

I Thessalonians 5: 12-18

12Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

“In the community gathered in Christ’s name, there is an unlimited space into which strangers from different places with very different stories can enter and experience God’s compassionate presence. It is a great mystery that compassion often becomes real for people not simply because of the deeds of one hospitable individual, but because of an intangible atmosphere resulting from a common life. [. . .] It is precisely by constant prayer and meditation that the community remains alert and open to the needs of the world.” (Compassion, p. 58)

Ponder: Here Paul lays out basic final instructions for the church of Thessalonica. He is leaving no room for misinterpretation or misunderstanding of what God’s will is: respect those you work with, live at peace with everyone, pray without stopping and always give thanks. The command is clear. We might consider Paul’s final instructions our first instructions as we embark on this new journey to partner with God on His mission here in Australia.

Seek out every opportunity to learn from the local pastors and ministry leaders, find ways to bless your host family and practice the presence of Christ in your life through continual prayer.

Pray: Ask the Lord to reveal any areas of unconfessed sin that might be hinder you from effective ministry and learning. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

5 Weeks and Counting. . .

Well Friends, it has been far too long since we've blogged hasn't it?
Now that we are approaching departure for Australia once again, we'll be updating the blog more, sharing pictures, stories, and recalling ways in which God is teaching us in deeply personal ways.

Please feel free to leave comments and join us on this journey to learn what it means to truly follow Christ on HIS mission, whether here at home or among the people of Australia.

Haiti Crisis- How You Can help!

Many of you are wondering how you can help with the earthquake crisis:

-- PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

-- We will be redirecting the $1,100 that was already previously given to
the Haiti notebook project and giving that money to Heart to Heart Intl. for
use in this intense crisis. Heart to Heart Intl is currently on the ground
in Haiti providing assistance and medical care as we speak.

-- We will also be collecting Crisis Care Kits. You can contribute to these kits two ways:

1) Complete a kit. Get together with your division/school, friends, co-workers, etc. to create a complete kit. Check out this link for EXACT instructions on what can/cannot go into a kit.
http://www.hearttoheart.org/PDF/CareKitSheet.pdf

2) You may donate individual supplies for the kits: (ALL supplies must be NEW)

-- hand towels
-- washcloths
-- wide-tooth combs
-- small bottles of shampoo
-- new individually wrapped toothbrushs
-- travel size tubes of toothpaste
-- adhesive bandages
-- individually wrapped bath size bars of soap
-- plastic travel soap dishes
-- one-gallon size zipper seal bags

If you choose to donate individual supplies, please bring them by the MNU ServiceCorps Office by Friday, Jan. 29th. Please do not donate any additional items that are not on this list, as the contents of these kits have already been approved for customs clearance.