Videos from my trip

Here is a link to the videos I showed in church from my trip

https://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopupvideo.asp?SID=911182042128

Below is audio of the message I gave talking about my trip

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=911182042128

Looking back in thankfulness - on good and hard days

My heart is filled with thankfulness To Him who walks beside;

Who floods my weaknesses with strength And causes fears to fly;

Whose ev’ry promise is enough For ev’ry step I take,

Sustaining me with arms of love And crowning me with grace.

Those words very much describe my heart this day as I prepare to fly, and I think I’ve experienced them more related to my Africa trips that any other time. Earlier there was some fear that a political uprising could cause problems, protests, etc., but that didn’t transpire. I have felt my weaknesses here but have also felt flooded with strength by Christ’s faithful sufficient promises. Each day and every step I can look back and see Him who walks beside and sustains me with His love and grace. Today is a hard day to say goodbye to my African family but a good day as I will see my CA family soon.

The other day we drove by the grave of my son Mark Joseph here in Congo and I was reminded of experiencing these truths in greater ways (see blog from 8/31/18). As I look back 7 years to the first time I traveled home from Africa, my heart wasn’t initially filled with thankfulness as I sat on that plane for a long lonely ride. My thoughts were in a downward spiral of sin, self-pity that was spinning into resentment and bitterness. But that day by God’s grace I stopped listening to myself and started preaching to my soul about God (see Psalm 42-43). I took that road less traveled and it made all the difference. My circumstances hadn’t changed, but my perspective changed as I pursued thankfulness in the midst of my selfishness. Instead of complaining I began counting my blessings, and as I travel back from Africa this time, I can assure every reader of this blog we have much to be thankful for. Not just physically or materially (the more obvious in Congo), but spiritually we all need to count and recount our blessings (including those not as obvious without this exercise). I’m re-posting what I wrote then in hopes it will stimulate you to rehearse and even record past blessings, and to revisit the next time you’re in a downward spiral.

http://lifeatthelaytons.blogspot.com/2011/09/sunday-message-away-from-church.html

My heart is filled with thankfulness To him who reigns above,

Whose wisdom is my perfect peace, Whose ev’ry thought is love.

For ev’ry day I have on earth Is given by the King;

So I will give my life, my all, To love and follow him.”

— WORDS AND MUSIC BY KEITH GETTY & STUART TOWNEND COPYRIGHT © 2003 THANKYOU MUSIC

Update: I’m also filled with thankfulness for travel mercies of getting changed seats to have extra legroom in the emergency exit row this time for my 26 hours of flying! Spiritual blessings are most important, but physical blessings for a tall guy on a cramped plane are a great added bonus!! :)

A Worshipful Weekend to Remember

Saturday was a day of rest and I was blessed and refreshed. I was able to call my kids for a bit and also had some down time and then a nice dinner with Didier and Patience (his pastoral assistant). Didier told me all the men would agree this has been a revival for them and these reformation solas have re-invigorated them to pursue biblical ministry under these 5 pillars of the church. Patience in his free time after the conference had been typing all of the notes on these points into a 13-page syllabus of the main points in French and English! It was a labor of love of many hours and will be a blessing to handout to the pastors and those wanting to pass on its truths to others! What a joy this young man is and I can see why Didier is grooming him for ministry and praying he’ll become a key leader for Compassion for Congo and help lead the church’s next generation here.

On a side note about notes I heard that the police colonel who attended took notes and is sending that out to many he knows via WhatsApp! (If you don’t know what that is, ask a young person, hint: social media group app :). Even in this compound that doesn’t have electricity without running a generator, the theology of the Reformation is going out in print and in phone apps, by God’s sovereign providence!

Saturday night was quite a feast with fish and pigeon and rice and foo-foo and okra. I asked for the pigeon recipe as I told him we have some pigeons at our church! The youth group had a choir practice, study, and sleepover here last night so the guest house was full with young men who love the Lord.

Sunday morning was a blessed time of worship with the 3 churches gathered together for joint service and agape meal. There were 300 some people (155 kids!) and the service was 3 hours long. The prelude alone was powerful and so worshipful. Since there was the Lord’s table and 6 choir songs, I was asked to keep my preaching to 75-80 minutes. I felt a foretaste of heaven ... worshipful singing and reverence at the Lord’s Table, rejoicing in music and in the message exalting Christ. I preached on John 20, responding to seeing Christ in His risen glory. For communion those who are prepared walk forward to take the elements and I and the pastors held hands on stage and kneeled and prayed. The choir was 40 people deep and so uplifting, especially because I knew some of these people personally from our interactions these 2 weeks. When I thought the service was done, they sang 3 more songs :)

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When I started my sermon I quoted a few phrases I learned in Swahili when I was adopting Matteus, and the place erupted in applause and hand-waving and I think made me friends with all of them. After church I think 100-200 people wanted pictures with me. I don’t think I’ve taken that many pictures since my wedding and my face muscles haven’t been as sore since from all the smiling :) They also presented me with gifts to hang in my office or home to remind me to pray for them and I will. I’ll miss these dear saints as I head out Monday PM. Lord-willing I’we may be able to send some pictures and videos when I get Wi-Fi at the airport in Ethiopia before my 20.5 hour flight from there to LAX (no, that’s not a typo, 20.5 hours on one plane :). Appreciate your prayers and support for this trip, all glory be to Christ our King!