Seeking God at Times of Weariness

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.
Psalm 63:1-5 NLT

Thirsty for God

I read a moving prayer today in Francis Chan’s book Crazy Love. He attributed the prayer listed below to A.W. Tozer in his book, The Pursuit of God. Reading this prayer touched my heart and led me to “thirst to be made more thirsty still” for God!

I invite you to read it below and even possibly pray it as well!





O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, “Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.” Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.

What is Your View of God?

For it was I, the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. “But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! … But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.” Psalm 81:1, 10-14, 16 NLT

So many people have a distorted view of God due to past life experiences. Some of those life experiences possibly include a negative experience with a religious person and/or a religious group which led to a view of God as One who is unpredictable, unreliable, harsh and quick to administer judgment. What is your view of God?

Throughout the Bible, we see a portrait of a loving, gracious God who is longing to bring good into our lives. As you read the selected verses from Psalm 81 listed above observe the beautiful description of God.

Followers of Christ have a privilege and responsibility to share the good news with others that God is a loving God, who longs to “rescue” us, fill us “with good things,” “subdue … enemies,” “feed” and nourish us, and “satisfy” our lives! Although God will not force us to pursue a relationship with him, he freely invites us to an abundant life and teaches us to walk in his paths!

Are you like those who have lived in the past (described in Psalm 81) who did not listen to God? Are you going to resist the God who longs to fill your life with good things? Or … Are you willing to trust the God who has your best interest at heart and walk in his path to find life?

Seeking God with All of Our Heart

A wholehearted seeker of God was a Jewish King named Josiah. His story is told in the 2nd Book of Kings with the following description of his devotion to the LORD: Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since. 2 Kings 23:25 NLT

As I read this description of Josiah, it made me wonder what prevented the other kings from having a wholehearted devotion for God. In my reflection, I realized that they like many of us allowed their hearts to be divided by other pursuits in life. This observation does not mean that pursuing career ambitions, hobbies, or family time are bad in and of themselves, but the very core of a heartfelt seeker of God is the LORD himself!

The diagram above led me to ask myself … Am I seeking God with all of my heart? Or have I allowed my heart to become divided? How about you?

Seeking God’s Lead while Seeking a Job

For the last three months the YMCA Job Seekers Support Group has been examining a very practical book entitled, “It’s Not About You, It’s About Them” written by C. Bruce Flanagan. This group meets at the Coffman Family YMCA every Wednesday at 9:00 am in the Conference Room. The support group is a faith based initiative that has been spearheaded by the Christian Emphasis Committee of the Coffman Family YMCA. The group typically begins with a devotional thought from the Bible and a prayer and then concludes with a prayer at the end of the hour long discussion focusing on the specific requests by the various members.

This group has been offered at the YMCA for more than a year and now has numerous gainfully employed alumni. During the past several weeks, the group has discussed practical topics like the following: networking, writing a cover letter, writing a resume, effectively planning for an interview, etc. Along with these practical discussions, the group has continued to keep an emphasis on the overriding theme of the book which is to remind the job seeker that it is not about you!

The Bible states this principle in this way: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

Isn’t it amazing that when an individual seeks God’s direction in life, that the principles found in the Bible truly make a difference in every facet of life, even job seeking?!

Stop at the Crossroads

This is what the LORD says: "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16 NLT



Life is full of tough choices. Sometimes we find ourselves at the fork of the road and we are trying to determine the best path to take for the future.

Approximately 600 years before Jesus Christ walked on this earth, a guy named Jeremiah was God’s spokesman to a generation that had made a lot of bad choices in the past. The result of their bad choices was heartache and disaster.

God promises that His Path will lead to peace and rest for the soul. What path have you been traveling?

Seeking God in Boro …. Not Seeking Gold in Boro

This week I handed a business card to someone inviting them to check out this web site. His response was that he had seen signs posted around town, but he had thought the sign said “Seeking Gold in Boro.” I couldn’t help but chuckle to think that possibly individuals had checked out this web site hoping to find a hidden a gold mine in Springboro or a resource to make cash by trading in their golden jewelry. My hope is that anyone seeking gold will not be disappointed by this web site, but instead be reminded that seeking God is of much greater value!

One of the first followers of Jesus Christ named Peter, wrote his life experience as follows: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:18-21 TNIV

Can you identify with these inspired words from the Bible? A meaningful life is not found through the pursuit of possessions, pleasure, prestige, or popularity. Instead, a truly meaningful life is found in seeking a personal relationship with God.

The good news is that a personal relationship with our Creator is possible because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. His willing sacrifice enables the seeker of God to draw near a holy God. And Jesus’ victory over death in the resurrection enables the seeker of God to have confidence and hope for the future. Now … that is valuable good news!!

Seeking to Embrace Jesus' Mission

This week 26 individuals from Southwest Church in Springboro are in New Orleans partnering with Crossroads Missions (www.crossroadsmissions.com) to serve the people of New Orleans. New Orleans has been reeling ever since Hurricane Katrina brought widespread destruction to the city five years ago. The result of the destruction has resulted in heightened poverty in this city of 350,000 people (pre-Katrina (485,000) with 30% of the population living below the poverty level.*

Last year, 1,000 volunteers from 15 different states and Canada partnered with Crossroads Missions to make a difference in the lives of people who are living in poverty in New Orleans. This mission effort seeks to embrace Jesus’ mission statement to bring good news to the poor described in the Bible (Luke 4:18-19). In this proclamation, Jesus fulfilled the messianic description recorded in Scripture by Isaiah the prophet, who lived 700 BC.

As we read this messianic description recorded by Isaiah, we sense that this has always been and will always be God’s desired purpose for his people. Isaiah wrote,
The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn, to care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by God to display his glory. They'll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. They'll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new. Isaiah 61:1-4 MSG

It is encouraging to know that our dedicated volunteers are helping rebuild the old ruins of New Orleans and helping raise a new city out of the wreckage. I am proud of these devoted followers of Christ and I think it would be appropriate to call them “Oaks of Righteousness” who are displaying God’s glory in the city of New Orleans!

____________

* New Orleans Demographics
• New Orleans Population: approx. 350,000 people (Pre-Katrina: 485,000),
• 30% of population lives below poverty level,
• 41% of children live in poverty,
• in poorer neighborhoods, 33% of people do not have access to a car,
• median household income: $ 27,000,
• completed high school: 40%

A Well Watered Garden

After 14 years of living in our house we finally got around to planting a little garden beside our back deck. The verdict is still out on whether our garden will produce more than one nice green pepper and two little green tomatoes, but it has been a fun adventure.

Although I have spent very little time in our garden, my wife has really enjoyed the opportunity to test her green thumb. And by the way, she has done a great job of growing some green plants and we will keep you posted if any vegetables surface. In spite of the lack of edible resources in our garden, I can assure you that the garden is well watered (even during a very hot July).

As I reflect on our well watered garden, I realize that its green vibrant plants are a reflection of the gardener who cares for it. Isaiah described God’s care for us as follows: The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. (Isaiah 58:11).

Isn’t it encouraging knowing that the LORD takes such great care for each of us? And that God will provide opportunities for us to stay fresh and vibrant even during dry seasons of life?

Learning to Seek What Jesus Did

The leadership team of our church met tonight for our monthly meeting. We are reading and discussing together the book written by Jim Putman entitled, Church is a Team Sport.

During our discussion of Chapter 6, which is entitled “A Coach Worth Following: Discovering Our God-Given Purpose” we discussed the following quote from the author: “A winning team is one that reaches the lost and makes disciples who can disciple others. … It starts with taking responsibility not just for winning the lost but for shepherding them too. The pastor can’t do this by himself. Part of his job is to create a shepherding environment where everyone is challenged to shepherd others and win the lost.” (Putman; pages 95-97)

We resolved as a group and I resolved as an individual to no longer be a “number counter” but a “soul chaser.” It is obvious that was what Jesus had as his focus and if I call myself a follower of Christ, then I must commit to the same focus.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 NLT

Something to Remember in the River of Difficulty

Sometimes life can be overwhelming as we face the challenges before us. The Book of Isaiah was written to the people of Israel to prepare them for some upcoming tough circumstances and yet it was also written to give them hope that the LORD would be with them throughout the imminent challenges.

Listen to these inspired words written in the Book of Isaiah … "But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:1-3 NLT).

The next time you find yourself facing rivers of difficulty and are tempted to think you will be swept away remember that the LORD, your God will be with you and see you through the deep waters!

Seeking God through Daily Bible Reading

One of the best moments of my day is the time that I sit down with an open Bible and read the written Word of God. On Saturday, I was feeling a bit weary from a long week, so I honestly admitted to God that I needed some encouragement before I tackled some needed work scheduled for the day.

I had recently been reading through the Book of Isaiah which frankly deals with some pretty tough matters in Israel’s history. So I was wondering if anything in Isaiah (written 700 BC) would particularly speak to my heart and personal circumstances in July of 2010. Well once again the LORD answered my prayer and demonstrated the relevance of his Word in the life of someone who is seeking him.

Here are the encouraging words that I read on a day that I was feeling particularly weary: “The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT).

Well needless to say, I was encouraged and reminded that I needed to trust in the LORD’s strength and not my own. The result was that I had a great day and the work scheduled for that day was completed and I was refreshed!!

Seeking God in Boro

What is the purpose of this web site?

The purpose of this web site is to provide a resource site for those who are seeking God for the first time, the first time in a long time, or on an ongoing basis! Please feel free to pass this site on to others who are seeking God, who by the way is seeking us!

On the right of the screen you will find some helpful links.

A link for individuals who are seeking to become a Christian with a Biblical explanation on how an individual can have certainty that they are in a secure personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

A link to Southwest Church which is a pretty good church to begin seeking God and to continue seeking God.

A link to some other churches in Springboro, Ohio as we are truly interested in helping others to begin seeking God with all their hearts and want to provide a link to the churches listed on the Springboro Chamber of Commerce web site.

A link to an online Bible with numerous versions to choose.

A link to some powerful prayers to find inspiration.

Important Note: Please continue to revist this web site as we are committed to continuing to revise, improve, and update it so that it can be a helpful resource to those who are seeking God!

Children Seeking God in Boro

Can anyone sing with me ...

H - E - R - O

... God is my HERO!

H - E - R - O

... God is my HERO!

More Pictures from 2010 VBS

Pizza Man and Water Woman Both Receive Pie in Face!


Group Hug ...
Learning Community!

Some of our Heroes Making Faith - Ka - Bobs!




Preschoolers Seeking God and Having Fun!

One Little Boy Made a Difference!

On Thursday night the Bible Story for Hero Headquarters (Vacation Bible School) was the story of Jesus feeding the large crowd of five thousand men (possibly a total crowd of more than 10,000). Obviously the ultimate hero in the story is Jesus who in his compassion for others performed a phenomenal miracle. And yet it is noteworthy that one little boy was willing to bring what he had (some fish sandwiches) to Jesus so that Jesus could multiply it in an amazing way!

Throughout this week at Vacation Bible School, the dedicated volunteers from Southwest Church have done a wonderful job of reminding the children during snack time, craft time, game time, and singing time that God can work through every person (big or small) to make a difference in this world! It appears from observing the children’s reactions that they are beginning to believe that they can truly make a difference. How about you?

Heroes of Faith

This week at Heroes Headquarters (a.k.a. Vacation Bible School), more than 100 children have been learning important life lessons regarding faith in God. It has been encouraging to see the eager hearts of children to learn more about God and the incredible stories of faith in the Bible.

Last night the children learned that faith means believing in a God that we cannot see. During the Bible story portion of the evening, the children heard the story of the faithful Roman army officer (the story of the Centurion is found in Matthew 8) who trusted that Jesus could heal his young servant by simply speaking the word!

Jesus responded to the Centurion’s faith with the following statement, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” (Matthew 8:10) And then later Jesus acted upon the Roman officer’s faith by healing his servant and further explaining the nature of faith with these encouraging words: “Because you believed, it has happened” (Matthew 8:13).

This week as a volunteer at Heroes Headquarters, I have been encouraged and challenged by the simple trusting faith of both the Centurion and the children participating in Vacation Bible School. The eager, pure, trusting, faithful hearts of the children have reminded me of another statement that Jesus taught, “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it” (Luke 18:17).

You see both the Centurion and the children are heroes of faith to me!

Heroes Taking Action

During the second night of Vacation Bible School, the children were encouraged to “Take Action” in life to make a difference. The children were told the story of the birth of Jesus Christ with the emphasis being on the shepherds’ reaction to the news that Jesus had been born. These shepherds, who were viewed by many of their generation as the outcast of the society, were entrusted with the angelic message that the Messiah had been born.

The shepherds immediately took action by running to Bethlehem to investigate the angels’ claim. After seeing for themselves the baby lying in the manger, “the shepherds told everyone what had happened” (Luke 2:17 NLT). Throughout the night the children were encouraged to take action and tell others about Jesus, our ultimate hero!

Unexpected Heroes

This week at the Southwest Church Vacation Bible School entitled, Hero Headquarters, the 125 children participating in the evening activities are learning the importance of making a positive difference in the world. During the first night, the children learned the inspiring story (recorded in 2 Kings 5) of God healing Naaman from leprosy. Naaman, who was the army commander for the nation of Aram, was told by a young Jewish servant girl that the God of Israel could provide healing in his life. As Naaman pursued God’s direction in his life, he eventually experienced complete healing from his leprosy.

Throughout the evening the children were reminded through games, crafts, and even snack time, that they can make a difference in this world by trusting God and pointing others to Him! The memory verse for the evening was 1 Timothy 4:12, which emphatically states: Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Personally, I was greatly encouraged by the humble and eager hearts of the children. They have already set an example for me!

Great Opportunity for Children

Satisfy Us in the Morning!

Sunday Outdoor Worship
“Seeking God”
This Sunday, July 11th (10:35 am)
Under the “Big Tent” next to the Coffman YMCA (88 Remick Blvd; Springboro)
(This Week Only … One Combined Sunday Morning Worship Service)

On Saturday Night we had a wonderful time singing songs of praise under the big tent! The Southwest Church Praise Band led by Larry Adams did a great job of leading the crowd gathered in a time of worshipping God. We anticipate a great time together with even more people on Sunday morning, July 11th as we sing praises to God.

The Psalmist wrote, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14). Come join us at 88 Remick Boulevard on Sunday, July 11th at 10:35 am. You will be encouraged as we sing of God’s unfailing love!

Special Weekend Outdoor Celebration

Special Outdoor Saturday Celebration
THIS Saturday, July 10th (7:00 – 9:00 pm)
Under the “Big Tent” next to the Coffman YMCA (88 Remick Blvd; Springboro)

Come Join in the Fun!
Outdoor Worship Music ...
Fun Inflatable for Children ...
Free Ice Cream!

Sunday Outdoor Worship
“Seeking God”
This Sunday, July 11th (10:35 am)
Under the “Big Tent” next to the Coffman YMCA (88 Remick Blvd; Springboro)
(This Week Only … One Combined Sunday Morning Worship Service)

Tons of Praise

One of the highlights of our recent mission trip to Mexico was the night that we had an authentic Mexican Praise Band which included 10 guitars leading us in a time of worship. Our hosts described the night as a Fiesta and we clapped and danced as we praised God in song. My favorite song of the evening was entitled, “Tons of Praise.” During this particular uplifting song, the leader of the band invited the crowd to not only sing, but to dance before the LORD. Some of the people from our mission team started a dance line with the Mexican children and it was one of the most enjoyable moments of worship that I have ever experienced in my life. At the end of the song, my face “hurt” from smiling so much!

It seems very appropriate to call a time of collective worship as a Fiesta! Our times together should be a celebration, when we gather with other believers to praise the One who created us and the One who has washed away all of our past mistakes through a personal relationship with Jesus. The Bible describes the Good News that is available for the follower of Christ in Hebrews.

And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he says “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” Hebrews 10:15-17

Now that news of forgiveness is so good that it is only appropriate for us to offer a “Ton of Praise!” This Saturday, July 10 at 7:00 pm we will offer a special Saturday night of praise music outdoors next to the YMCA in Springboro on Remick Boulevard. We will not only have a lot of encouraging praise music with a live band, but we will also have a fun inflatable for children and free ice cream for everyone! Make plans to attend, invite others, and join in a “ton of praise” as we seek God together!

Experiencing the Gospel in Mexico

Throughout this week, I am writing a journal of reflection on our recent mission trip to Piedras Negras, Mexico. You can read these journal entries on the first 8 July postings of this web log.

During our week in Mexico, our mission team of 13 individuals representing the Southwest Church wrestled with the question: What is the Gospel? We challenged ourselves to dig deeper in our daily Bible readings to discover afresh the meaning of the Good News of Jesus and what that Gospel message meant personally to our lives and how to effectively share the Good News to others.

After three full days of labor working on one of the building projects that were available for our team (painting a Christian school, stuccoing a community building, building a block house, etc.), we were given Thursday afternoon off to rest and to have some additional time to reflect on the purpose of our trip to share the Gospel (Good News) with the Mexican people.

The timing of our afternoon of rest was perfect as we experienced an afternoon of heavy rain as result of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Alex that hit Mexico last week. The daily rain which brought unexpected relief from the summer desert heat was a blessing to the people of Piedras and to those of who weren’t use to daily manual labor in almost 100 degree temperature.

The Bible reading for Thursday was found in 1 Peter 2. This particular chapter of the Bible means a great deal to me and my initial understanding of this passage a number of years ago was instrumental in me falling in love with Jesus and to begin seeking a personal relationship with God.

Listen to these powerful words recorded in the Bible: But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 NLT

The Apostle Peter goes on to write that God’s mercy is available because of what Jesus did for each and every one of us. Peter wrote, “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25 NLT

Now that is Good News!!

A Gift Left Behind

While in Mexico our Mission Team had the privilege to partner with Irma’s Soup Kitchen to provide both spiritual and physical food for the children that lived in one of the poorest areas of town. An elderly Mexican lady named Irma organized a collective effort a number of years ago to partner with local churches and Christian ministries to provide physical and spiritual support for families who live in the shacks near the government owned railroad tracks.

The Mexican children love to play soccer, but many times use empty aluminum cans and rocks to form their goal posts. A number of us worked on a project to build the children who live near Irma’s Soup Kitchen a pair of soccer goals that will hopefully bring the children hours of enjoyment.

As we assembled the soccer goals (see picture above), I wondered how long the gift that we were leaving behind would last. Would some of the adults take the wood and use it for building materials for the partially completed shacks nearby? Or would the wooden posts simply make nice logs for a fire to cook a future meal?

I am grateful that the gift Jesus left behind on earth cannot be taken away from those who will trust him. Jesus said, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT

Accepting Limitations

As we begin our second work day of our week in Mexico, I painfully learn my need to accept my limitations. Although I would like to believe that I can keep up with a group of 18 year old young men building a house by laying concrete blocks in the hot sun, my physical body is reminding that is not to be the case. So although I wanted to sign up for the “concrete block” work project, I instead signed up for the stucco work on the partially completed community building in the neighborhood.

Following my first day in the sun, my arms and legs began to break out with an allergic reaction to the Sun, so I was further humbled by my reassignment to indoor painting in a new Christian School being developed in Piedras Negras. Although I would have much preferred a job of labor in the Sun, I wondered if God was teaching me a lesson about accepting limitations in my life.

Throughout my life, I have struggled with the tendency of relying on my personal strength and my willingness to work hard instead of simply trusting the power of God. As I reflect on my transition of job responsibilities in the first two days of the trip, I am becoming convinced that God is seeking to teach me an important lesson not only for our time in Mexico but for the rest of my life.

Maybe it is not a coincidence that our Bible reading for the day was from the prophet Ezekiel foretelling the Good News that would become known in Jesus. Ezekiel wrote, “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” Ezekiel 36:26 NLT

What is the Gospel?

“Preach the Gospel everyday, when necessary use words.”

The above quote from Saint Francis of Assisi serves as the mission statement of the Crossroads Missions Team. As our mission team began our week of work in Mexico, we read together the mission statement that Jesus read as he began his public ministry of teaching and serving. This clear declaration of Jesus’ mission is recorded in the Bible in the Gospel of Luke.

Jesus read the following Scripture that described in advance his mission on Earth: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18-19 NLT

The project manager of Crossroads Missions challenged our group every day with the question: What is the Gospel? We discussed that the Gospel which definitely includes the Good News that Jesus died for our sins, was buried in a grave, and yet overcame sin and death through the resurrection was taught and proclaimed prior to Jesus going to the cross (as seen in the above scripture).

We were encouraged to continue to contemplate the question: What is the Gospel? We were to contemplate that question not just in our quite times of reflection in the mornings, but throughout the day was we carried out various work projects (see the photo above) that included weather proofing a community building in the neighborhood with black paper, chicken wire, and stucco.

The question that continues to challenge my heart: Am I bringing Good News to others though my words and actions?

The Good News Spread All Over the World

Each morning during our time in Mexico our Mission Team from Springboro along with 12 Christians from Tennessee would read a Bible passage together as we prepared our hearts and minds for the day ahead. On our first day we read about the Supremacy of Christ recorded in the Bible in the 1st chapter of Colossians.

Listen to this beautiful description of the person of Jesus Christ:
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. … He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. … The Good News has been preached all over the world. Colossians 1:15-16, 17-18, 23 NLT

It was very encouraging on our first full day in Mexico to worship Christ with a group of Mexican believers that although we did not share a common language, we did share a common faith in Christ. One of the few phrases that I was able to understand from the songs that we sang together was the phrase … “Jesu Christo Es El Señor.”

For you fellow gringos that simply means “Jesus Christ is the LORD!”

Seeking God While in Mexico

Today is actually the day that a group of 13 people from Springboro are traveling back to the United States from Piedras Negras, Mexico. But since I have not had access to a computer for 7 days (which actually was a very good thing), I will journal some of our experiences in Mexico and what this traveler learned about Seeking God.

Our Mexico Mission Team (a group of 13 travelers) left Springboro at 4:00 am on Saturday, June 26th. We drove to Columbus, Ohio and then traveled by airplane to San Antonio, Texas (via Atlanta) and then we were met at the airport by Jimmy Hatter (the project manager of Crossroads Missions in Mexico) and driven by a van to Piedras Negras. We were thrilled to be able to travel in an air-conditioned van for the 150 miles trip to our Mexican destination. (The previous year we made that same trip in an old school bus that did not have air conditioning.)

Piedras Negras is a Border City in the state of Coahuila, Mexico directly across the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass, Texas. Piedras Negras is “famous” for being the home of the original nacho! And yet it is a very poor city with the average factory worker making $400 a month.

Crossroads Mission has been working for the past 17 years developing a subdivision that includes modest homes for Mexican families and community buildings provided for local Christian Ministries that either Crossroads has pioneered or are partnering with to make a difference in the lives of the people in this city.

We are eager to learn of the work projects and service projects that we will be working on during our time in Mexico. The words of Psalm 67 provide encouragement and inspiration for us as we begin this week of service …

May God be merciful and bless us.
May his face smile with favor on us.
May your ways be known throughout the earth,
your saving power among people everywhere.
May the nations praise you, O God.
Yes, may all the nations praise you.
Let the whole world sing for joy,
because you govern the nations with justice
and guide the people of the whole world.
May the nations praise you, O God.
Yes, may all the nations praise you.
Then the earth will yield its harvests,
and God, our God, will richly bless us.
Yes, God will bless us,
and people all over the world will fear him. Psalm 67:1-7 NLT

Review of Last Year's Trip

As I look back on our 2009 Mission Trip, one of the bright moments of that trip was the joy of partnering with one of the Orphanage in Piedras Negras, Mexico. During our July 2009 trip, our mission team not only interacted with the children who lived in the orphanage during an interactive Bible Lesson complete with songs, story time, crafts, and snacks, but we also had the privilege of building a concrete wall to enclose a play area for the children.

This orphanage is in the downtown area of Piedras Negras and it is not a safe area for children to play outside, but the wall created a “safe zone” for the children to play. As we learned of the poor and dangerous conditions that some of the children were removed from their homes of origin and placed in this safe, loving home it reminded me of one of the many beautiful descriptions of God in Scripture. The Psalmist described God as …

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families. Psalm 68:5-6 NLT

Seeking Pure Motivation for Mission

As you read this I will be in Mexico serving alongside 12 other devoted individuals sent out by the Southwest Church on a Mission Trip to Piedras Negras, Mexico. Piedras Negras is a poverty stricken border town in Mexico near Eagle Pass, Texas. Before our first trip to Mexico in 2009, I had read in a travel guide, that “Piedras is an unattractive city and you will not want to spend much time there.” Although from a tourist point of view, I could not agree more with the travel guide and yet for someone who is seeking to look at life through a Biblical Worldview I feel compelled to return for another visit this year.

Jesus traveled to some unattractive cites while he walked on this earth. On one occasion the Bible records the following: Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” (Matthew 9:35-38 NLT)

In this description of Jesus’ ministry we get a glimpse of the motivation for his mission on earth. He was deeply moved by the hurting and harassed people that he encountered in his travels. His compassion for the brokenness of the human race led him to not only to teach and to serve those people in need, but to pray and inspire others to serve likewise. Jesus recognized that there is not a scarcity of need in the world nor is there a shortage of people who will gladly respond to God’s Good News of Love, but there is a shortage of workers.

Will you be an answer to Jesus’ prayer and be his hands and feet in the world that you live? Will you join Jesus in his prayer for more workers? And will you join me in praying that our 2010 Mexico Mission Team will bring Good News to some people who desperately need good news?