Happy Resurrection to you!

I can promise you one thing! In Uganda - we have the best tasting pineapple in the world (yes better than Hawaii). If you don't believe me - I think you better come and try one.

The interesting thing about pineapple is that many people don't know they grew. As you can see it grows like a plant, out of the ground - just one at a time.

Before I seen a pineapple growing - I never knew how they grew. But then again, I never really thought about it.

The bible gives an interesting analogy here as to how Christ "grew" before he went to the cross.

Isaiah tells us that Jesus came as "....a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground...."(Isa 53:2).

If your not familiar with Isaiah 53 - The prophet goes on and describes (as well as prophecies) the death of Christ and how He suffered for us.

This verse "(Isa 53:2) describes Jesus as a tender plant - meaning He was a servant. The Good News Bible says it this way "It was the will of the LORD that his servant grow like a plant taking root in dry ground...."

It would do us (I know it would do me) good to be reminded that Jesus grew as a servant - that we might take on the same attitude. Serving means going the way of the cross for us all. But if we look for ways to serve one another - we can expect a resurrection.

Philippians 2:5-11
For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God bless you as "we" serve our King!

Sri Lanka Missions Trip

This week I am in Sri Lanka (Darryl). I was invited to be one of the speakers at a missions conference called "Arise Asia". It has been a tremendous conference with delegates from all over Asia and the world (many from India and Nepal). One of the testimonies I heard is worth repeating and sharing with you.

His name is Ps. Augustine Jebakumar from a place called Beher in India. Augustine left his home and traveled about 36 hours on a train to a place in India where neither knew one person or spoke the language. He arrived only having felt God calling him to the place, but not knowing what he would do or say. He began ministering to anyone who would listen. Today the Lord has helped them to care for 25,000 children in their schools and 1500 orphans. They also have over 1,0000 churches that they over see. They spend 45% of there general church budget on mission work. But waht really got to me about this man's life was his sacrifice to preach the gospel.

Once, when he was out on the mission field preaching far from his hometown his father died. It was 6 days before the news got to him that his father was dead and it took him 7 days to get back home, before he could be with his grieving mother and family (13 days later). On a second a occasion, again while he was out preaching his son died - this time it was 3 days to get him the news and then anthor 3 days for him to get back home to be with his grieving wife (6 days later). Because he was not around - his own wife with two others had to dig the grave for their son.

He spoke with a broken heart about these deaths - rightly so - but he said that the choice to either stay home or "GO" and preach the gospel was a decision he was compelled to make. Their are people today around the world that are living out their faith in ways that God may or may not require of us -but I encourage you to live fearlessly in the face of whatever your facing - knowing that what He has called you to He is faithful to get you through it.