It is Saturday morning  we are getting ready to head out to kitali. Our ride is a couple hours late I am ok with that Suzanne is taking another nap. We have had a good week. We have had wonderful hospitality. Simon was given a prophetic word yesterday and it opened up a great conversation with the two of us. I don’t think he has been able to talk through all the trials he has faced since leaving Birmingham. I think he was greatly impacted and hope he received some healing this week.

The thing that struck me most about the conference here is how similar it was to each vineyard conference I have been to at home. We sang familiar songs and familiar brake out sessions and heard familiar general session speeches besides the food and the toilet this conference could have taken place in Alabama. We received positive feedback about our talk and break out sessions. I think seeing a couple speaking and doing ministry was significant to many people. I was surprised at how mello the worship was. I do agree with Bubba’s opinion that a Kenya trip is less foreign than a Latin America trip. My opinion might change now that we are leaving Nairobi.  Doug and Su Brown were wonderful hosts. We got to Skype our kids yesterday It is hard being away from them but seem to be having a good time with Suzanne’s dad. I was asked multiple times to comeback and do a men’s and fatherhood conference. We would want to bring a kid or all our kids if we ever come back. WE are staying in an African hotel the next few nights can’t wait for that experience. My tongue has turned black from all the pepto I am taking but my stomach has survived so far. We are so glad we brought Nate and Sandra they are great and are assertive and excited about serving Jesus here. See you guys soon

Greetings everyone!  Today was our first full day in Kenya after traveling a full 24 hours to get here.  The flights went great.  Ward’s back went through the trip without giving him any major trouble.  Sandra ordered kosher meals on the plane for the fun of it.  Her food was very interesting.  I started breaking out in a rash on the chin and then on my eye.  It is still bothers me a bit.  We believe that it is a spiritual attack and prayed against it immediately.  In the airport, we met Thomas, a local guy, who was so nice and instantly became our friend.  He gave us a short cut through the visa line.  Nate and Sandra are staying at Doug and Sue Brown’s house who are the pastor’s of the Karen Vineyard.  It was interesting arriving at their house.  There are these big gates in front of every house and the property is surrounded by high hedges and security wire.  They said that vandalism is extremely high and prominent.  Ward and I are staying by ourselves on a property.  They said we should not worry about vandalism because there were dogs on the property and that was a good sign.  The alarm did go of in the middle of the night.  But we are not worried.  Today they took us to a place to feed the giraffes and see warthogs.  Very cool and interesting.  I was too scared to feed the giraffes.  I am not too fond of animals that are bigger than me.  Ward, of course, fed the giraffe and hugged it.  Then we went to see the house where the movie “Out of Africa” was filmed.  Very neat and it made me want to see the movie again.  Tonight we met Mark and Sue who are moving to Karen for a year to work at the Karen Vineyard. We met Alexander and Jill who are pastors of a Vineyard in Johannesburg and Jenny whose house we are staying in.  We had a great meal of lasagna.  It is now bed time and I have jet lag.  I am a little worried and anxious about my talk tomorrow to 200 Pastors.  I am praying for God’s favor and his presence to be there.  We will let you know how it goes!

It has been a steady journey for each older sibling to care for the younger sibling in our home. In the case of Deuce and Jonah, I recall when Deuce was four and Jonah was 22 months old being the bumpiest of all. If Jonah had a toy that Deuce wanted, Deuce took it and left Jonah sad and frustrated. If Jonah had his milk cup and Deuce wanted it, once again Deuce took it. It was truly his immaturity and human nature that was driving him to treat his brother this way. Thankfully, God showed me a way to teach Deuce how to be more considerate of his brother.

I explained to Deuce that when he takes something, he is thinking about himself. I explained that it was his job to be a considerate brother and think of how his brother feels. I continued by sharing that God will take care of his needs. I wanted Deuce to see that if he took time to think about his brother or sister, he could trust that God would take care of his needs as well as his daddy and me.

Once we had the discussion I could use it to teach him how to be more considerate. When he would take something from Jonah, I would ask him who he is thinking about. He would answer, “Me.” I then would ask who he should be thinking about. He would answer, “Jonah.” Then I would ask who would think about him. He would answer, “God.”

It really seemed to reinforce the principle he was struggling with. It was a big challenge for Deuce to learn to slow himself down, but this teaching has really helped us talk through each time he is inconsiderate to his brother.

Isn’t that what God wants us to do? He wants us to help others and he in turn will take care of us. God wants us to trust him to take care of us and allow him to do his job. He doesn’t want us to have to run around snatching up things we want. He wants to bless us and give us the things we want and need.

I encourage you to see if this teaching works for your child. Of course, I still have to discipline at times when he goes too far, but this helps him understand what he should do.

I pray that God will show you ways to teach your children the values that God desires for them to follow. I pray that you will see how God’s principles can apply to teaching and guiding your children. I pray for peace in your home and rest to your spirit.

Matthew 6:25-27, 33

25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.rs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.

A few thoughts from my daily Bible reading… Job 3:1-4:21. I recently read a great book on discipleship titled “The Contrarians Guide to Know God” by Larry  Osborn. In one chapter the author challenges the belief that if we are pleasing God everything goes right and if we are disobeying God then life is full of trouble. He points out that on the outside it looked like God approved of Samson because of all of his success in many battles but we know Samson had a major issue with women. He frequented prostitutes. A sinful relationship with Delilah led to his death. You contrast that with the life of Job. He started out being blessed. God said to Satan that Job was a righteous man. Satan indicated to God that he couldn’t touch Job because of God’s protective wall around Job. But then God took down the wall. Satan destroyed Job’s family, fortune and health. Today I am reading how Job hated the day that he was born. He was miserable. Where is God when it hurts? Then he has a friend Eliphaz who seems to place blame on Job for his sickness. He tries to separate Job from the knowledge of God‘s love and mercy.

Psalms 91:14-16… what a contrast to the story of Job. Here God says I will protect those who know me. I will answer their prayer. I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them. I will give them a long life. How do you reconcile the pain of Job with the promises of Psalms? I don’t know.

Romans 8:1-17… this passage it is about being free from sin. Verse 15 tells us we can have the most intimate relationship with God. We can call him Daddy. I love that. My heart leaps for joy when my girls come up to me and call me Daddy. Today I think I will meditate on God being my Daddy. By the way, God spoke to me as I was enjoying a cup of coffee.

I just finished a 70-minute run-walk-prayer. I ran (slow jog) for five minutes then walked and prayed for five minutes and then ran and then walked and then ran and then walked, etc. While running all I could do was think about breathing and not passing out. But while walking I prayed through the three areas of physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

I felt like God told me to break physical curses of diabetes, obesity, kidney failure, joint problems on my body and on my family’s bodies. I also blessed my body with health and self-control. In the area emotions I felt like God revealed the root of all three emotional issues is rejection and I prayed for freedom. In the spiritual area I blessed those I have been jealous of asked for God’s revelation in my life.

Prayer- Father God, give me the ability to stick to the fast today.
Your son,

Bubba

Fasting is taking time to concentrate on God.  My mind thinks on a thousand different things every few minutes. My thoughts are inspired by the environment in which I place myself. Everything I listen to generates a thought. Everything I see causes a thought. Everything I talk about births a thought. Fasting should be an activity where I place my thoughts on God. Thus by substituting Christian teaching or worship on my drive into work I think about God instead of football or basketball or baseball. By reading my one year Bible in the morning instead of watching the news I think about God and His word instead of whatever the news is reporting.

So how did concentrating on God go yesterday? It went ok. I have a set of CDs entitled “Leading Like Jesus.” I listened to them while driving and was surprised at how much they affected me. On one of the CDs Rick Warren taught on the Stewardship of Influence. He quoted a Psalm of Solomon asking God to increase Solomon’s influence. With an increase in influence Solomon was going to speak up for those who had no influence, the widows, the orphans, the sick and the oppressed. That got me thinking about how God wanted us the church to speak up for the oppressed. This fasting thing just might be working.

When we sat down for supper last night we ate at the kitchen table. Lately it seems like we pull out the TV trays and watch an episode of NCIS. Both of my girls had friends come over. All of us squeezed at the table and just talked. Part of the conversation was around why we had vegetable stir fry without any meat. For a few minutes we talked about fasting certain foods in order to pursue God with four kids, two of whom are not currently pursuers of God.

I must admit not having my normal meat intake has affected my body. I love to work out with weights and stairmasters. I feel my body crying out for protein. Last night my legs hurt all night but I am going to stick with the exercise commitment. I did get all my water, all my veggies and fruits in.

Just a note on eating out. You can still do it. I had a wonderfully satisfying veggie plate from Cracker Barrel yesterday for lunch with a friend. I find I have to have more than a salad to feel satisfied.

Prayer- Father God, give me the ability to stick to the fast today.
Your son,

Bubba

I believe I should eat 3 fruits and 4 vegetables and drink 64 0z of water everyday for the next 21 days. I am committing to exercise to burn at least 1,000 calories every day. Instead of listening to the morning and afternoon sports show I will listen to Christian books on CD, and worship music as I drive to work and back. I am committing to pray for requests turned in by the members of our church.

Why do it? Why not bite into that Milo’s hamburger or order that fried chicken? I believe God wants to heal my heart, spirit and body. I am changing my lifestyle for 21 days because that is how long it takes to start a new habit and break an old habit. I need God to give me…

1. Better health. I will cooperate with Him by eating fruits and vegetables, drinking water and exercising. I also want to break the power of bad food in my life.

2. A healed heart. These past few weeks, hurts from my past have reared their heads, and I want healing. I want to be unaffected by negative words from my extended family. I want to have past mentoring relationships restored. I desire to be free from the anger and unforgiveness that always seem to lurk for any opportunity to capture me.

3. Spiritual renewal. Yesterday I saw a t-shirt advertising a local church and realized how jealous I was of their success. I need my mind changed by God’s word. I really need to hear God’s voice as He leads me.

How does a person start a fast? I am doing what they call a “Daniel Fast” based on 3 fasts found in the book of Daniel. These fasts do not call for a total abstaining from food but a partial doing without of “fun” food. This is a hard week to start a fast because my wife and daughter each have a birthday. I also have a huge family birthday party on Saturday. So I am gearing up to just say “No” to the cake and ice-cream. My brother-in-law suggested I could still eat carrot cake & peach cobbler because they had a fruit and vegetable in their name. That might be cheating. I once knew a woman who would puree a steak and potato in a super blender and claim she was on a liquid fast. I think she missed the point.

Today I have gotten in my 4 veggies and 3 fruits, along with a starch or two. I have drunk my water and had to have my wife come rescue me when I tried to run a five-mile run up a hill both ways.

Prayer- Father God, give me the ability to stick to the fast today.
Your son,

Bubba