Search Results for: Friends and friends of friends

I awake this morning to finish my time in Lexington, KY and head to Cincinnati, OH, for an all-too-brief one day visit.  But this was a late add-on.  I’d intended to go straight to Millersburg, OH today, but God opened some doors in Cincinnati and the people in Millersburg were generous enough to give up one of their days so I could hang out in Cincinnati.  I am very much looking forward to the connections there.  

This is my second time in Lexington and what I appreciate is how much deeper the conversations go with those I met the first time around about a year ago.  It seems when I arrive somewhere for the first time the conversations seem to revolve around issues about theology, church, and Scriptural understandings.  Only later do the conversations turn to life—how people are sorting out their own journey and how they are engaging God in doing so.  Yes, I’ve been with lots of new people this trip, too, but the conversations that have come with those I met previous are a delight.  I enjoy seeing growth in people’s lives as well as fleshing out their story more.

These four days have been a whirlwind.  We started out with day-long open event for whomever wanted to join us and we used the building of a local congregation and some of their people joined in.  Over the days that followed I have been with old friends from my college days, shared for a few hours about marriage with a group of young marrieds at an Alliance fellowship, shared with a seminary class about Finding Church and The Shack, helped a good friend with a novel he’s writing about the civil war, spent some time with an Army Ranger who has just returned from Afghanistan, a young wife whose thirteen-year old sister just passed away in a tragic accident, and three other gatherings with people as well as numerous other lunches and dinners with various people who’ve wanted to hang out together.  I’ve been in so many different conversations the past few days that have enriched my life, and hopefully theirs.  

Yesterday afternoon I met with a judge and some of the young men he meets with weekly at the local Panera.  It started a few months ago as he had lunch with a man in his twenties and shared with him how at 30 he everything about his life looked successful on the outside, but he was dying inside.  An older man somehow recognized it, connected with him, and helped him find a better journey. The young man he was with obviously wanted the same engagement. So the judge sent an email to half a dozen young men, explaining where he’d been at at 30 and offered to get together to start a group if others would find the same time to be helpful to them. Well, they jumped on it.  Too many of us live in isolation, either needing encouragement or having encouragement to offer and not finding space to do it in. These have found that space.  They just get together after work on Tuesdays at Panera to talk about their journeys and to encourage each other.  I love those times.  

But now it is on to Cincinnati.  Recording a podcast this mornign for a friend, having lunch with someone I met years ago in Las Vegas, and then heading to an evening of fellowship and sharing with people I’ve never met, but who have been reading some of my things.  I am amazed at the life I get to live and the people God lets me know.  It is really worth crawling out of our comfort zones and connecting with people who are on a marvelous journey of learning to live in the Father’s affection.  Ask God to connect you, too to people around you that you can either encourage or be encouraged by.  Hopefully you’ll discover both, even with the same people.  Befriend them and let the relationship take its course.  That’s how his church grows in the world.  

Since I’ve come to see the church as an expanding set of relationships that share the life and love of Jesus, Sara and I have put all our eggs into the relational basket.  Instead of building things, we’ve connected with people and watched as he continues to knit together friends and friends of friends throughout the world.  I’ve simply trusted that all God wants to do in my life will grow out of the simple relationships he has given me with others.  I’m really amazed how far-reaching God’s work through relationships can go.  This has been a big affirmation of what God can do out of those relationships.  

I’ve been told so many times that if we don’t have large mission organizations, we wouldn’t be able to respond to the needs of the world.  But I’ve tried to get many to help us in the last couple of weeks with provision and wells in that region and have discovered that most are not looking for opportunities to help.  They are already overrun with them.  What they want is money to do projects they already want to do.  I also have so many emails from peope who’ve worked in the field or on staff with those organizations only to see how much money gets sucked up in fundraising and administration and how much they are hamstrung from really helping people by rules and demands from the home office.  

Who knew that eight years ago when we got involved with people in Kenya, that they would eventually come across a forgotten group of 120,000 tribesman in the northern reaches of Kenya that would need to be rescued from a severe drought?  And who knew that I knew enough people who would give over $62,000.00 in two weeks to bring food, water, and medicine to those people?  And who knew that our Kenyan brothers and sisters would be moved with compassion for these people and would want to return to build classrooms, a pharmacy, and dig some wells to help them build a more hopeful future for them and their children?  And who knew that at the time they connected, these people in Pokot would be fully disillusioned with praying and sacrificing to their ancestors who have not helped them from beyond the grave and would be open to finding a God who loves them? And who knew that I knew a man in Texas who would have the ability and the compassion to give $135,000.00 on short notice to fund those classrooms, pharmacy, and wells?  

I guess God did!

By the time I was able to relay the news to our friend in Kenya, they had already gone to bed and did not know of this gift last night.  This morning I received this email from Michael after they awakened.  

My brother since we left North Pokot, our intercessors team, all over IGEM territory, East and Central Africa, they have been praying, fasting and interceding towards our brothers and sisters in this region and even, the pastors who got the bicycles are among the team who are interceding for the Lord’s visitation to this region, since the Lord created the world, they have never seen, the miracles as the Lord did through medication, food, water and other things. So we appreciate God, through Lifestream for opening the heart to the oppressed community.  Many white missionaries, there are thousand in Kenya, but none who cares to reach the place like this.  This is amazing God and since I visit myself, I was really touched and even because of this region, even I forgotten to present Forkland school the slum where I have ministered the whole of my life but in order to present the need of brothers and sisters in this region.

So my Brother what is happening, is that the Lord has answered the prayers of our brothers and sisters in this region, because it will bring a shame to the god of Mountain Kadam and Mudeo, from now they will believe the God of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac and it will remain the live testimony and God be Glorified forever. The time I read this email, I was shocked….for what the Lord is doing, this is God’s provision, and the Holy Spirit convict me to read Isaiah 42:7-8-12, Jeremiah 29:10-11-12-13. These are the verses which I believe the Lord will be glorified to every creature.

Concerning yesterday, since I had to prepare the volunteers to go, you know what I shared with them?   That everybody needs to go to prayer and search the answer from God and provision and in the morning before I checked the Mail one volunteer rang to me and said, “My Brother Michael, the Lord has confirmed that he has provided all necessary need for this people, and not very long God will give us a surprise answer.”  After I got the message , I prayed and check the Mail, and I jumped out and immediately Thomas called that his wife has delivered a child in the night.  We came together in the office to lift the name of Jesus higher.  This is God’s doing, and Thomas called her daughter Sarah, for this kind of great love.

The geologist will be travelling from Nairobi, along with his team and the machine for detecting water underground, I thank God that, he will confirm. And the process needs to start soon as possible you will be informed.  About the school and dispensary, this work need to be started very quickly, I have again called the engineer this evening to tell them what the Lord has done and he has already communicated with the volunteer to arrange the trip next week as well as planning to purchase materials, ready for work, soon as the money indicate, so Brother the work will be well and every step you will be informed by writing and picture, for any step I would be consulting you along with Thomas for the better team work.   Send our greetings and appreciation to the brother who gave this support.

My heart is overwhelmed at this unfolding story and how God has brought so many things together for just “such a time as this.”  This is why my heart wants to keep encouraging people inside a relationship of affection with this Father, to connect with others in love, and participate together in the ways he works in the world.  I can’t wait to see how this story continues to unfold in days to come. I’ll keep you posted.  

A lot has been happening in Kenya over the past few months and I want to take a moment here to give you an update.  I know how easily we can be fatigued with needs from overseas, but I have appreciated the number of you who have continued to carry this on your heart and were able to help us alleviate their suffering.  On my most recent trip I was asked multiple times about our friends in Kenya and how they are getting along.  I am so blessed to know that others have them on their hearts and minds as well.    And please, there is no guilt being offered here for people who haven’t helped financially.  I know that not everyone has the margin in their lives to carry this, nor extra resource at this point to help them out.  I do trust God to provide however he desires and am always overjoyed when he does.  Just the other day we received a sizeable donation to help us catch up with the ongoing need there and it wasn’t even in response to any recent information.  I love it when that happens because it doesn’t come from people who are motivated by anything other than what God has put on their hearts.  

As to the orphaned children themselves, we’ve been given an amazing gift to help these young lives overcome the tragic death of their parents to find their way in the world.  Yes, we realize God meant children to grow up in families, not institutions and have continued to encourage the Kenyans to think of this as transitional housing as they look for homes that could take in these children.  Unfortunately, the area is so impoverished that families can hardly care for their own children, much less others.  One family I know there has taken in 19 displaced children from the tribal violence and raising them as if they were their own.  It’s just not available to all the children, so we are caring for those we can.  Here is a recent picture they sent to thank the Lifestream family for being a conduit of God’s love and provision for them.  

A few months ago we took an offering to help get some clothes for the children.  They last about two years, but as with all our clothes, especially those you wear two or three times per week, they wear out quickly even as the children are growing out of them.  We had lots of people send money to help buy the clothes, which were made by people locally and recently delivered.  Here’s how some of those kids look in their new clothes:

Though the service station we helped them build as a way for them to help provide for the Living Loved Centre, it hasn’t been able to generate much income because the government closed the road for repairs shortly after completion.  It has not been re-opened yet due to torrential rains that have slowed construction. They are now hoping to re-open in early January. So the service station has only been able to help with local needs and has not made anywhere close to the income projected.  That has meant we have continued to carry the bulk of the financial load for the staff, provisions, and education of the children.  The good news is that when the road reopens it will be a major thoroughfare that will bring in lots of traffic. They are hopeful when that time comes not only will they be able to pay the staff, finance the orphanage, but also to meet other emergency needs that arise. 

One of those came this past week.  A wife of one of the staff members of the Living Loved Center was in her eighth month of pregnancy when the baby died in her womb.  It wasn’t discovered early enough and the infection had spread to her womb and her liver. By the time she got to the hospital she was in critical condition and despite their heroic attempts she passed away a few days later.    The hospital bill for the baby and the mother totaled over $1500.00 US.  In Kenya, they do not release the body until the hospital bill is paid in full.  I guess that is their form of health care, because family and friends will chip in what they have to help this man het his wife’s and his baby’s body out of the morgue.  They collected what they could in Kenya, and though I was amazed at what some of them were willing to give, it was not enough.  We sent the remaining amount needed as soon as we heard.  

It isn’t easy watching people you love suffer under such extraordinary conditions in a country so far away.  But keeping them in my heart and before you has been a blessing to me.  It widens my perspective about our own needs and struggles and sets them in a wider context that is helpful to gain perspective.  Thanks again for those who also hold these children in their hearts and for those who give what they can to help these young lives.  

As always, every dollar you send goes to the students themselves, we do not (nor do they) take out any administrative or money transfer fees.  If you would like to be part of this to support these brothers and sisters and see the gospel grow in this part of Africa, please see our Sharing With the World page at Lifestream. You can either donate with a credit card there, or you can mail a check to Lifestream Ministries • 1560 Newbury Rd Ste 1  •  Newbury Park, CA 91320. Or if you prefer, we can take your donation over the phone at (805) 498-7774.

For those who follow this page and The God Journey, we’re having quite a bit of discussion about relationships and community. Learning to live in the love of the Father, and then out of that love to others opens the door for the kinds of relationships that we crave and that God designed us for. But these kind of friendships don’t happen quickly and can’t be manufactured by human engineering. They are deeply rooted in a heart God is healing and allows us to engage others with freedom and joy.

I wrote this over a year ago and found it in an old file today. Here are some things I have learned about relationships over the course of my life:

Friendships that are filled with love, grace, and shared wisdom are the best treasures we’re given in this life—those that are filled with laughter, that speak truth graciously, and that serve each other generously. They will last a lifetime and are more valuable than gold.

If you value any thing more than your friends, your friendships won’t last. Bet on it.

It takes two people and a significant amount of love, grace and time to build a friendship in which the glory of God can be revealed. It only takes one of those people and a careless act of betrayal to destroy it.

Failure alone won’t end a friendship. Abandonment will.

No matter how broken a relationship is, it can always be reconciled if both people are willing to invest the time and effort to own each other’s story. But the process demands a healthy dose of honesty, tenderness, and openness to see things as they are, not how we want them to be.

Real relationships are not about just being nice. There is no relationship without authenticity and truth. Light and love travel together, as painful as that might be at times. But that’s a glorious mix.

Learn the wonder and power of forgiveness so that other people’s failures don’t become your issues.

Too many people want a relationship only for what they can get out of it, and will not always be there to help others when the friendship asks something of them.

Your coping mechanisms might have saved you in trauma when you were younger, but they will subvert healthy friendships now. That’s why wholeness is worth fighting instead of simply passing your pain on to others.

If someone is making accusations about another’s motives to you, you can bet that they are also doing it about you to someone else.

When the conversation shifts from how we share together what God gives, to demanding for ourselves that which we think we deserve, that friendship has been sacrificed on the altar of selfish ambition and vain conceit. It’s a really bad trade.

Those who give up on a friendship, had to never know the joy of that friendship to begin with.

Most people are users, pretending a friendship to benefit themselves. But users won’t change without being loved, even if it takes a number of discarded friendships for them to learn that. Love them anyway, just do it with your eyes open!

When accusations enter a friendship before the person ever sits down to discuss his or her concerns, you can be sure that gossip has had its course and the accusations will be distortions at best, or outright lies at worst.

It’s easy to stab a friend in the back, because they are trusting you not to. Betrayal is an act of cowardice.

When people give up on a friendship without even a meaningful conversation where they seek to hear as much as be heard, you can be pretty sure it was always a one-sided relationship to begin with.

To live inside of lies you have to block out any voice that challenges your thinking. When you live in the truth you need no such protection.

My dad taught me that my word is my bond. If you say it you do it. If you cease to respect your own word, you’ll gather no respect from others. And don’t confuse someone’s love with their respect. They are two separate realities. You can love someone you don’t respect, but the great friendships are filled with both.

Proverbs says that telling lies about someone is an act of hatred, no matter what excuse you give yourself.

Those you love the most, can hurt you the deepest. Keep loving anyway!

The best counsel I know for the kind of deep friendships that spawn true community come from Paul’s words in Philippians 2:1-4- “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” No man or woman can live that way by their own efforts. It takes a rich and real relationship with Jesus to be transformed enough by him to have the freedom to live like that.