Is This Elijah's Tree?

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. (1 Kings 19:3-7)

Every time we're out in the desert driving and I see one of these trees... in the middle of no where... I can't help but to think of Elijah. Is this a "broom tree"? I haven't a clue really... but to me just seeing this tree makes me think of Elijah. It is amazing though all the amazing things God had done through Elijah (the profits of Baal and the drought and prayer for rain were just a few of them) before getting to this tree in the middle of no where... he had been on a super spiritual high that followed by this super spiritual low. Ups and downs... sounds like my life... what about yours? What's so cool though is God's faithfulness in all circumstances.

Even here in the middle of no where the Lord fed him. I know it's so easy to get to the "middle of no where" in our society with all the distractions we have ... tv, phones, ipods, work... the list really is endless... our enemy would like nothing more than for us to wander around in the wilderness for 40 years... I think Psalm 139:1-7 is a real source of encouragement ...

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O Lord.
You hem me in - behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

Time Never Stops Does It

Where in the world have I been these last few weeks? Here in Egypt that's true... but not here on the site ... oh... you noticed? Sorry...

It's funny, work is slowing down... which is great... but now taking 2 courses online that both started 1 Oct... and that's great ... but the Humanities course instructor is really challenging me to be actively engaged in his curriculum... Call me silly... but I expected Hum 1000 to be a "cake walk" but ... oh boy... reality check for me... so... with a new set of courses starting and then our going to Sharm this last weekend... I've found myself continually behind in reading and posting discussion questions... and well... just keeping up with everything else has led to my absence.

Now with the trip to Sharm it's interesting the things you see on the 500km trip... this was one of those ... goats running between the traffic ... It was also amazing the number of cars we saw sitting or abandoned on the road from serious accidents.

The beach in Sharm was pretty nice... but we've come to two conclusions.... 500km is a long way to go just for 1 full day at the beach... and 2, some of the foreigners that come there on vacation from other countries just make it hard to enjoy the beach in a family setting... maybe we're going to have to start looking for some other places to go for some time on the beach.

Glasses for Everyone

I don't remember if I mentioned that we have all been doing the dental and eye exam check-ups here lately... and Karmia was the winner in the dental area... she had zero cavities... even after a whole year between check- ups.... but now ... as you see... she has a strong does of dad's genes and now has her first pair of glasses ... so far she seems to like them. Really she only needs them for reading... but so far she seems to enjoy wearing them all the time.... even I'm getting a pair of glasses again.... it's been four years since I had laser surgery and one of my eyes is weakening again... oh well... As for the mold of teeth... well... those are Angela's. These will be evaluated by our insurance to validate that she needs braces, so we won't have to pay for them 100% anyway.

Brian Doerksen Comes to Cairo

It was really great to have Brian Doerksen and his band extend their tour to include Cairo... although I'm delinquent in posting about it since they were here last weekend... opps... well, anyway, it was still great to hear "Light the Fire Again", "Faithful One", and "Come, Now is the Time to Worship"... along with many other songs that he's written... here... in Cairo. Brian's message from Psalm 23 was about the characteristics of sheep was a great set up for our own cell groups study in Matt 25:31-46... with the sheep and the goats... anyway, they led the regular services on Thursday and Friday and then had a concert on Saturday night at the local softball field... which was quite the feat! Well done to MCC and especially Mark for coordinating the whole thing. Our whole community got to enjoy some truly heavenly music for a change :-)
Thanks Brian from coming to town, we truly enjoyed it!

God's Love & Forgiveness

I was talking with a friend the other day and I asked how his relationship with God was these days... I also asked if he had found a good church to attend in his area... and his reply was "I went to a church here once but didn't go back because I was afraid of what God would reveal to me about myself".... and he also told me that he was afraid if he started to get close to God again... that God would turn His back on him...

I was actually surprised by his answer... I tried to explain that the Lord is not one to withdrawal from us... it's actually quite the opposite... we are told in Isaiah 55:6-7 to "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked (all of us) forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon."

There's a lot in there about how much our heavenly Father loves us and wants to drawl us near to Him... we don't have to clean ourselves up to come to Him... He just wants us to come... He'll take care of the rest. He desires to forgive us and to have us near... but the key is we have to come to Him.

Greek Tragedy

It's interesting, I don't remember if I've ever read any of the Greek Tragedies while in High School... British Lit and Shakespeare, yes... but in any event I'm taking basic Humanities next semester and started reading Sophocles and The Theban Plays... and I've actually enjoyed it... what's more, I have found it very interesting to see that there was a concept of honoring one's word... no matter the cost to oneself... 2,400 years ago. I at least see why this book is part of the course curriculum now ... it's quite a lesson in honor, even in the incredibly weird stories given...

While reading Antigone I was impressed with her statement "We have only a little time to please the livings, but all eternity to love the dead." Wow... that's absolutely right... and in the context she was saying this she knew the right thing she needed to do could cost her her life... and then I think of how this relates to life today... it's not about being a "man pleaser" that is important in this life now, it's about doing what is right now... and that will have eternal rewards from our Heavenly Father. It's a matter of living a life that is surrendered to the will of Christ today... and everyday.

Friday Afternoon

What do you do on a lazy Friday after noon? Go out to the local wadi and enjoy some time with friends that's what! There's just something about being out in the rugged outdoors and enjoying letting the kids run without worrying where they are... or what they're doing.

I look at this countryside and can't help but think of David and his prayer in Psalm 61.... "Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings."