BJ Not BK

Several weeks ago I shared with our little community here the story of a new sister in Christ who is living in China (you can read the full story here [link] ).  This story if you remember is about a woman who recently accepted Christ as her savior and Lord and then shortly after that found out that she is expecting another child.  Here is the latest on this situation (notice all the "code" words they have to use because of censorship in the government):

"What a trying few weeks this has been. Thank you for all the thinking you have done for LC and her family (the Doe family). After much  pyr, tears, and sleepless nights. The Doe family has come to the decision to look beyond themselves and keep baby Doe, come what may. What a great cost they will pay to keep this child. They have made this decision on their own, and though no one else may help them, they are trusting in Dad to provide for their great need. What a big faith for a new sister and her husband, who still counts himself unworthy to receive forgiveness from Dad. Please continue to think for him.

We have spent many hours with the Doe family discussing all kinds of options, but in the end, always coming to the conclusion that only Dad can provide a way. As things look now,  it is most likely that LC will have to stay in country and hide herself. This means she will not be able to work in her shop. Her husband will stop his own job to run the shop. They will go down to one income. When the baby comes, the family will be fined. The fine is very large, about $14,000. This is an overwhelming price for a family here. It is more money than they will make in several years. This cost of this decision far exceeds the Doe's income. They will struggle greatly to pay doctor bills and rent on one income. 

Many of you have responded asking how you can help. Right now we are pursuing any options Dad may provide, like adoption or leaving this country for a while. And we continue to hope Dad will work something out. However, we are bracing for the toughest scenario which will be the family going to one income then undergoing severe and relentless coercion, followed by a daunting fine. Sounds like a case just for Dad, right? And of course He will provide.

Please ask Dad to show His strength and provision in the lives of the Doe's. Thank Dad that He has made himself known to the Doe family just in time to save this little one. What perfect timing. LC accepted his invitation just a week before she found out her news.

We would like to ask you, as the body, to consider helping the Doe family financially survive this turbulent time. The Doe family initially rejected the idea of any financial aid (Chinese people are typically very proud). They now, however, understand that it is o.k. for the body to support one another in times like this. Their financial burden is just part of the puzzle, but it is absolutely daunting to them.

If you feel lead to financially support the effort to help the Doe family, you may send money to:

Wayne & Donna Robertson
2101 Old Tusculum Road
Greeneville, TN 37745

A couple other GREAT notes:  LC invited her friends to her "learn about Dad" meeting. After the meeting, one of her buddies-Mrs. Jahng, also became a sister!!  Also, two weeks ago, another contact of ours, Mrs. Wang, accepted Him into her heart. The is so special because Mrs. Wang is the daughter of a 77-year-old "M" person sister living in our city. This precious Grandma is unable to travel back to her family in the far countryside to spread the word, but now her daughter (Mrs. Wang) can! It's such a cool story how Dad heard her thoughts and brought us all together for such an exciting result. Wow, just more reminders that Dad is all about Life!"

God is so good, His grace is so wonderful.  Please pray for this precious family as they now face an incredibly difficult time in their lives and please pray how God may lead you to help them in their time of need.

Lord, may we never take our freedom for granted or to use it as an excuse. 

      Another week gone yet no caravan, no convoy this week to the armored bunker as there isn't much to deliver.

1.  Friday is for photos.  I remember when I was a kid how I loved to fly kites.  There was this one kite I had that was the best, coolest kite on the planet.  I was probably around 8 years old and I remember buying it at the Kmart for $5.00.  My dad chewed me out because I spend so much money on a kite but this thing was the bomb.  It was a dragon kite with a 25 foot tail and it was sweet!  Anywho, these two pics are of me and L flying our kite out in the backyard.

As you can see, we had some great wind that day.

2.  This next picture was taken earlier in the year when I was in Seattle.  I call it, pagan Steeple.

3. If you like great photography make sure to visit Steve Mckoy's Friday photos here [link] and Joe Thorn's here [link].

4.  What are you reading?  My wife pokes fun at me because I currently have several books going at any given time.  I recently ran across this great website for books - Westminster Bookstore [link].  They have fantastic prices and any orders over $35.00 get 2 day shipping at $4.00 total.  I bought a couple of Bibles for some loved ones and this book on Whitfield.

5.  What are you listening to?  Me?  I have been listening to quite a bit of John Piper's sermons lately [Desiring God].  Anybody out there a fan of Piper?  I have also been listening to some great worship music on my way to and from work.

6.  Weekend plans anyone?  This weekend we are celebrating Uncle J's birthday as well as three years of being cancer free!  Praise Jesus for His goodness and Uncle J...we love you!

7.Thanks everyone for reading bjnotbk this week.  My prayer is that you will be entertained and encouraged or challenged each time you stop by.  I am also praying for you, my readers, that is, so be encouraged in knowing that no matter what someone, somewhere is praying for you.  Now go read your Bible, love your family, lover your neighbor, get outside, and love Jesus!  

Growth and girth are somewhat similar but yet are very very different.  While they both start with a g and while they both point to adding to or some type of increase they are very different in their connotation.

You don't have to do too much to add girth just go to any cubicle farm on any given day and take in what the working world loving reffers to as cubicle booty.  You know what I am talking about, men and women who are tied to a desk all day whose backside grows in an effort to add additional padding spanning across several zip codes and time zones.  I am amazed how someone can have a 32 inch waist or be a size 2, look slender from the head to the belt and then ka-chow!  Cubicle booty!  Not only does girth add to our bodies physically but it takes away our edge mentally making us lazy and lethargic.  Our spirits become heavy and sluggish.

The problem is that girth happens easily, without much effort, doesn't add much to appearance, doesn't make one more attractive, fun, energetic, happy, it really is just a byproduct of sitting and watching.  

Growth on the other hand is a result of some change taking place within the body/mind.  Growth early on comes quickly and without much effort and sometimes causes pain and discomfort.  Growing as a child is involuntary and natural yet as you get older our bodies at some point stop growing unless you are in the gym with me building some crazy serious hurt bombs.     

Now take these same to words, growth and girth and look at your soul's life through the eyes of a physician.  How are you doing today?  Does your soul have cubicle booty?  Is it sluggish, fat, tired, full of knowledge of God, full of commands, words, concepts, theology, the Bible but slow to react and slow to move?  Have you become a spectator, a pew potato? 

Sure you know the creeds, the deeds, the church history, the church fathers, but you can't move beyond the pew, outside the four walls.  Your soul is fat in a "triple bypass balloon surgery kind of a way."

Or is your soul growing?  Are you seeking Jesus out over other things.  How is your prayer life?  Are you serving?  Are you sharing both your physical and spiritual possessions, including the gospel?

What sits on the altar of your heart?  Money, sex, food?  Do you feel the growing pains of your soul or are you fat dumb and happy?

Girth mostly points to a sedentary lifestyle, unless we are talking about my 21 inch guns, growth speaks to reaching up to Him and reaching out to others.

My prayer is that you are growing in Jesus and not just gaining more padding in your spiritual backside.

Psalm 1:1-3

 1 Blessed is the man
       who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
       or stand in the way of sinners
       or sit in the seat of mockers.

 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       and on his law he meditates day and night.

 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
       which yields its fruit in season
       and whose leaf does not wither.
       Whatever he does prospers.

I can't remember the last time when work has been so hectic and so busy.  This all began two weeks ago when I had to travel to N.J. or American Airlines, thank goodness it was not this week, to attend a customer meeting.  It is funny and ironic, I am a salesman, my job is suppose to consist of me meeting with clients, understanding their needs, and then determining if our solutions can help them.  Yet lately I feel all I do is manage email.  You would think that the most important thing going for me would be to sit in front of customers but alas that is not the case.  More and more any time I am out of the office it seems that is when the emergencies happen, the gremlins come out, and all...well, you know, breaks lose.

So out of the office last week right?  Then out Monday for a client review, out Tuesday for 2Q account reviews with my director which consisted of..."What are you going to sell this quarter?"  and I drove 5 hours to answer that?  I could have been in the office looking at email!  Followed by a large project deadline which culminated in a 4:30 Friday afternoon meeting.

Flying, driving, sitting, standing, presenting, selling, yelling, worrying, all the gambits of my last two weeks rolled up into one nice, concise, post just for you. 

 My mouth has been cleaned by Orbitz gum, hence the funky title of this post.  I know most of you have kids out there.  What is the one phrase you use out of frustration in your daily life that is family friendly?

Sorry for the absence lately.  Work has got me tied up in travel and projects.  I see things slowing down shortly and will be back in the neighborhood soon.