Busy, busy, busy May...and June

It's been several weeks since my last entry. I had thought of blogging a number of times, but never got around to it in the midst of a plethora of activity.

May began in Manila, Philippines. After that was a visit in Paris from my father-in-law (and with other friends during the month), a Wheaton College chambre music brunch event I helped organize, and now the June 3 Passion Paris event. Plus, the usual events of our family 3. Plus, some unusual ones, like dental work for my son. Plus, additional tiredness for my wife, who is in the 4th month of her pregnancy with our 4th child.

My son is now sitting next to me at the dining room table and making cards for his classmates. He has made great strides this year at his school (his 3rd and final year there). He's now 6 and really values his friends. He has developed greatly socially this year and his classmates respond better to him because of this. He knows the names of all the children in all 3 classes at his school.

We need to decide between 2 schools for him for next year and hope God helps give confirmation one way or another through some special word or circumstances. We don't know at all the eventualities, benefits, challenges, etc. of his going to one or the other. But I do think that God will have some children and their families who will be open to God's presence and salvation in whatever school he goes to.

My older daughter (4 years 9 months) was climbing on my shoulders a minute ago. She's our princess. Mathilde, one of her classmates, invited her for a going away party next Saturday, as her father got transferred to southern France. I felt sad to hear of their move, as both her parents are nice, but we have hardly gotten to know them. This is another case where we trust that God's presence in and through us somehow is part of their journey to personal faith in the Messiah. Over our years in France, it has been surprising how God has weaved some people in and out of our lives.

Our younger daughter (age 2) is currently sleeping. She had a rough night. She's full of life and precociously does most things earlier than her older siblings.

The troops are getting restless, so I'll close. Our older daughter is claiming this computer for PBS Kids games.

Family stuff

My father-in-law David is in Paris this week. We don't get to have him here often, as his last visit was over 2 years ago. This morning we all went to visit the Chateau of Vincennes just east of Paris. After visiting the recently repaired main tower, we ate a picnic lunch that my wife prepared. All 3 kids, as well as we 3 adults, all enjoyed the outing.

I often feel the tension between family responsibilities and ministry responsibilities. Certainly, there is some overlap. As I try to get my family roles as husband and father right, then it affects the effectiveness and authenticity of my ministry responsibilities. However, I'm not completely comfortable with the formula that puts family before ministry. Certainly, one must not consistently neglect one's marriage and children for ministry. Often those PKs and MKs most adamently opposed to being raised in this type of home do so as a reaction to being consistently neglected by their parents (especially their fathers) for the sake of "the ministry." However, there are times when the ministry must come first. I observe that sometimes family can become an "idol" that prevents one from doing ministry that God has called one to do.

My trip to the Philippines was very important for me and I'm thankful that my wife agreed to have me go there, even though it made more work for her. I normally don't like to take trips that take me away from my family. However, there are times when this has to happen.

After the kids went to sleep, David, my wife and I had a good powwow over some family stuff. It was good to gain some understanding over some current issues and situations. It was good to have this face-to-face, rather than over the phone.

The kids are already sad about David's departure on Friday. This is part of living overseas.

We Believe

"We Believe" is the name of the title song of a worship album by Filipino couple Rommel & Susan Guevara. I was privileged to meet them last week in the Philippines at the International Leadership Forum of my organization. They also led worship at our conference.

This album and Chris Tomlin's "See the Morning" are currently my favorite 2 worship albums. Tomlin will be coming to Paris on June 3 for the Passion Paris evening event.

Today we celebrate Pentecost Monday, a national holiday in France. This is the 50th day after Resurrection Sunday and 10 days after Christ's Ascension. This is when the power came, the Holy Spirit that Jesus had promised would come.

I've been amazed at the Spirit's work in the Philippines this decade. The national bird was renamed from a tiny little bird to the eagle. The Filipino Church now has the vision to be an eagle in sending its people around the world. Our organization's national Philippines office has grown from just a handful in 2001 to around 300 in 2008. This is with humble financial means, but great faith. As we read a children's book on the Holy Spirit last night, I was reminded that faith is one of the spiritual gifts. I am humbled by the great faith that I see in some of my Filipino colleagues.

Here are the lyric to "We Believe"

We believe
We believe
We believe in You, Oh God
We believe
We believe
We believe in You, Oh Lord

Awesome in glory
Awesome in power
Mighty God can do mighty things
Saviour Redeemer
Healer Comforter
God who provides our every need.

Another of my favorites is "Time to Rejoice"

Time to rejoice
Time to celebrate
For He is good
He is good
His love endures forever
He is good
His love endures forever
Forever
His anger lasts a moment
But His favor lasts a lifetime

This is a year for expanding faith. (I write this in faith). Faith in God's power to melt frozen hearts, soften harden hearts, provide even more abundantly, expand exponentially His work in France, send out more workers from France, bring in more workers for France, multiply creativity, raise the dead (literally and figuratively), heal the sick, rebuild broken relationships, etc.

May the words of their song "A Brand New Day" be true this coming year.

A brand new day
A brand new hope
A blessed start
In the presence of the Lord
Give Him thanks
Give Him praise
Everyday begins
With the joy He brings
A brand new day
A brand new day
A brand new day
It's a brand new day

End of conference in Manila; Corregidor Island visit today

This morning the conference with my organization ended  with breakfast.  I got to eat with Romario and Susan, a Filipino couple who helped lead worship at the conference.   It was good to have my last meal there with some of my "cousins."  

Last night's session was a powerful time of worship and communion.  It was good to celebrate together.  I got to hold Baby Joshua, my adopted nephew for the conference, during part of the session.  It's funny how a basically helpless human being ministered to me.  I hope that my kids will get to know Joshua and some of their Filipino "cousins" sometime.  

After the session, the leader of the Philippines field of my group, his mentor, and some of my other friends prayed for me.  They prayed that I would be one of the Filipino eagles sent out.  They then sang one of their songs of which the title is "welcome to the family" or something similar.  

I enjoyed my last hot chocolate at the hotel last night.   While nearly everyone went out, I needed some alone time in the peaceful restaurant.   I had lots of time to thank God for all the blessings of the conference, including my newfound family.  

My former NBC and WGS classmate Pete picked me up this morning and we spend a good part of the day visiting Corregidor Island.  This was a historic place during World War II.  From here, General Douglas McArthur made his famous promise "I shall return" in 1942 before entering a submarine and leaving for Australia.  I hadn't realized how much McArthur loved the Philippines, even before WWII.  From her early age in the army, he was good friends with Filipine President Quezon.  

I was moved to think of the thousands of Filipino and American young men who died on the Bataan Death March in 1942.  

While looking out on the waves to and from Corregidor, it struck me that I know feel like I have 3 countries:  the U.S., France and now the Philippines.  3 countries on 3 continents.  Not too bad.

I'm looking forward to getting back to my family on Thursday morning May 8.  I fly from Manila to Singapore tomorrow, then on to Paris.

The beautiful and the ugly of Manila

Today I saw some beauty and some ugliness within a short time span and in a short distance.

My former grad school classmates Pete & Cindy picked me up at the hotel where our conference is happening. They drove me past some of the shanty town areas, then we turned left into one of the garbage dump areas where people live by sorting through and selling garbage. Thousands of poor people of all ages live in these areas. One positive sign was a school that was developed in the midst of the garbage. Some of my colleagues visited a church this morning that meets in one of these dumps.

I saw a beautiful sunset on the bay as we were driving toward the Mall of Asia, a very modern shopping center. It could have been anywhere in the West.

I got to hold Baby Joshua today after the evening meeting. I miss my family. But I'm enjoying this time building relationships with colleagues with my organization, especially those from the Philippines. God seemed to say to me this morning that I should be a bridge person between Philippines and the U.S. and France. We'll see how this plays out. But I have lots of ideas.

I'm incredibly blessed to get to be here for this week. It's a gift that words cannot describe.

Live from Manila, Philippines

It's the end of the 3rd day of a conference in Manila, Philippines of my organization.

It's been great to be back to the land that 3 of my grandparents left 80 years ago to try their chances at the American Dream. God seemed to say this morning that, in His wisdom and mercy, He had them leave for the U.S. so that my parents (who weren't even born when they immigrated to the U.S.) would come to faith in Christ. This is a grace to me and to my children.

It's been terrific meeting many of the Filipinos with our organization. They are visionary, fun-loving, and full of faith. It's no surprise that this is by far the largest sending country of our group.

My wife is doing well back home. She's gotten some help and encouragement from some of the young women in the church. This is also a grace of God.

Finally, jet lag has been basically non-existent on this trip. Another grace of God.

Now it's time for bed.