December 2008 Update

Immanuel... God with us. The Scriptures tell us that before Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, God, through a messenger, spoke to both Joseph and Mary to explain what He was about to do. He told them that Mary would conceive of the Holy Spirit and bear a son and that they were to name him Jesus, “for He will save His people form their sins.” He also told Mary that Jesus would be called “the Son of the Highest”. The name Jesus is the English translation of the Greek name Iesous, which is from the Hebrew name Yehoshua: Yahweh is salvation. God was telling them both that they would be the earthly parents of His own Son - the Son of the Highest - who was coming to save His people from their sins, as His name foretold: Yahweh is salvation. The Son of God would become the son of man so that He might save us from our sins.

“Who, being in very nature God, did not demand and cling to His rights as God, but made Himself nothing, taking the humble position of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:6-7) And so the Creator of the universe humbled himself and became a man. And not just any man, but a newborn infant. And not just any newborn infant, but one born to a poor, unwed girl, from a tiny, third-world, backwoods village in a despised and neglected region of a tiny little “country” detested by it’s occupying government. This was no ordinary birth. It was less than ordinary. The lowest of births. The humblest of beginnings.

“And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even a criminal's death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) From the humblest of beginnings, came the most powerful man ever born. And yet His real power was not in miracles and healings, but in humble obedience. His real power was in the fact that though He was God in human flesh, he did not hold onto it, but humbled Himself and obeyed the Father in heaven. His obedience was ultimate and complete, willingly giving Himself to die a criminal’s death by crucifixion at the hand’s of the Roman’s, who had perfected the art of torturous death. His power was in His perfect humility and obedience. It was the most powerful force ever known, able to conquer the power of sin and death, enabling you and I to be free from the bondage of sin and the judgment of damnation, so that we can humbly serve our Creator in like manner to our Saviour.

Isaiah, in the 53rd chapter of his writings, sums up nicely the life of the Christ (and he was writing 700 years before Christ was born). He prophesies of the Messiah’s humble origin, His ministry, and His rejection leading to His atoning death. But then he reveals something so shocking in verse 10, “Yet it pleased the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin...” (Isaiah 53:10a). Having sent His one and only Son into the world as the greatest gift of all time - the first and only real “christmas” gift - He then crushed Him on our behalf! For “all sin and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus the Lord” (Romans 6:23). We’ve all earned our wages in this life, and the paycheck due us is death itself. Because God is perfect in righteousness, His righteousness requires Him to pay the wages owed. The choice was plain, crush you and me under the weight of our sin wage, or crush Christ, His only begotten Son. He chose the latter, and took pleasure in it.

The work of sin,
the wages owed,
we earned it, you and I.
Required to pay,
His Son He chose,
the price of love so high.

What kind of God would do such a thing? What kind of Christ would humbly submit to such an act? One who was not willing to spend eternity separated from the object of His love, His elect children. One who was willing to pay the highest price to redeem His creation from the chains of sin and set them free to know and serve Him once again.

Current Need. The Lord is so good to us. This past year He has blessed us not only with a beautiful new addition to the family, but He has also met each and every need of our family, each and every day. At home in Kigoma, through faithful partners like you, He has blessed us with a used diesel generator to replace our small Chinese “knock-off” that died on us. He also provided a used washing machine from an older retiring missionary couple in the area. With a little bit of hard work and money we should be able to get the water piping working good enough to use the washer and be free from the daily hand-washing in the tub. While in the U.S. the Lord has provided places to stay, food to eat, and opportunities to serve. These daily blessings and needs being met are a result of His divine care through ministry partners like you. We give Him thanks daily, knowing that He has used you to bless us. Now that we are so close to getting back home we have one rather large need, which we’re confident that He will provide for as well. We would like to get medical insurance for the next year (2009). This is special insurance that pays for health care for the entire family while abroad and even has partial coverage for short visits to the States. It pays for air transport to the nearest appropriate medical facility and evacuation in case of any emergencies. Considering what is covered, the cost of $4,000 for one year is very inexpensive (compared to U.S. rates), but still an expense we just don’t have enough for presently. Please join us in petitioning the Lord that He would meet this need. If you want to be used in this area, please contact Far Reaching Ministries and let them know you’d like to help with the Langley family’s medical insurance expense. Mungu akubariki!

Ministry News. As you probably know already, we’re in the States briefly due to the birth of Jasmine and the need for sorting out her papers and vaccinations before returning home to Kigoma. As an added blessing to our family and friends, this means we’re here for Christmas. Though our location is different, our ministry is similar. One of Carrie’s primary ministries is still the teaching of the children each day. Just as important, and even more time consuming and energy depleting is the caring for and raising of all five children, especially Jasmine. She was very blessed to be invited to speak at a women’s conference as well, and based on the feedback we got, the ladies at the conference were blessed to hear what the Lord had to say through her. Carrie was encouraged through this opportunity to continue to use her gift for teaching and encouraging others in the future. In fact, if you would like for her to come and share at your church’s ladies event, be sure to let us know right away so we can work out the details.

When I’m not helping to lighten Carrie’s load a little, I’m studying for the classes I’ll be teaching come January. I’ll be teaching Church History and Daniel this coming semester at the Bible College in Kigoma. There is much to do to prepare for these classes and I’m really enjoying the time spent studying and preparing the syllabi and outlines. In addition to the preparation for these classes, I’m volunteering at a local church as well and trying to organize opportunities to share at local churches about the ministry. In fact, if you would like us to come and share at your fellowship, please let us know right away so we can make the arrangements. We would love to come - no charge, no expectation of “honorariums”, etc. We just love to share about the Lord and encourage the family of Christ in the Word. Please don’t hesitate to contact us. All of our contact information is at the bottom of the page.

A new opportunity has arisen, one that we’d love to have you praying about. We’ve always told others that we felt the Lord was eventually going to have us do ministry in DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) after we settled in Tanzania. It would appear that He is putting the necessary things into place to accomplish this. I’ve been contacted by a Congolese pastor named John who has been networking with several other pastors in DRC and throughout East Africa. He has received a request from a group of former refugees that I met in 2006 while they were living in the Congolese refugee camp at Lugufu, Tanzania. Now that they have been repatriated back to DRC they’ve sent a request through John to me, asking if I would assist them in establishing a Bible School in Eastern DRC. Some have been repatriated to the Katanga Region of DRC, and others to the South Kivu Region. They would like to have a school for each but cannot really even afford one school, so they’re praying about a location “in the middle” so people from both areas can come. Now take a minute to look at the map of the DRC below. To give you a reference point you can relate to, the DRC is roughly 30% of the size of the continental United States; or Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico COMBINED! The regions of South Kivu and Katanga are connected, just like Oregon and California are connected. Basically they’re trying to decide on a location between “Portland” and “Los Angeles” for a Bible School so that people from each location can attend. That’s how far they’re willing to walk in order to find a place where they can learn the Bible so they can return to their home villages and be used by God to teach and lead their own people. Following are some specific areas to pray for us regarding this new opportunity.

- Safety. The South Kivu region is on the fringe of the renewed fighting between rebel Tutsi forces (former DRC military-turned rebels), and current DRC military forces. In addition, all of Eastern Congo is plagued with bandits and corrupt officials.

- Wisdom. We don’t want to turn down the opportunity but we are already stretched thin on time and completely spent on financial resources. We also need wisdom in helping our friends to decide on the best location, taking into consideration safety and accessibility.

- Resources. Pray that God will continue to provide for everything He asks us to do. Pray for co-laborers to come along side of us to help.

Family News. Jasmine is doing well. She eats, burps, spits, and sleeps, and fills her diaper just like any newborn baby should. She’s growing a bit every day as well. We were blessed to get her birth certificate and social security card quickly, and so have already applied for her passport and expect to receive it by Christmas. Meanwhile, a friend in Tanzania is working with the local immigration office to have her added to our work permit so we don’t have to pay an extra $100 when we go home to Kigoma after Christmas. Kevan, Keenan, and Caleb are all doing well with their schooling. Kevan recently took the CAT (California Achievement Test) so we could gauge where he’s at and make sure he’s doing as well as we thought. His overall score was in the 97th percentile! That was a real blessing for both of us, especially Carrie, as she bears the most burden in regards to his schooling and wants to be sure that she’s doing a good job, not just as a mom, but also as a teacher. We’ll probably have Keenan and Caleb do the same tests at the end of this school year. Jada absolutely loves having a baby sister to “pet” and “help” take care of. She’s a great big sister.

Please pray for all of us.
- Health and protection from the cold and flu “bugs” here in the States.
- Faithful and fruitful witness to family each day and throughout the holidays.
- Quick return of passport
- A safe return home.

November 2008 Update

Baby News. Our little girl has arrived, 8 lbs, 8 ounces, 19.5 inches long. As planned, we have named her Jasmine Grace. Now Jada has a baby sister to spend time with instead of always being stuck with three older brothers. We’ll see how she adjusts and pray that she plays well and takes good care of her (at least until Jasmine is old enough and big enough to defend herself). I truly don’t care for hospital newborn photos, so we’ve included one we took ourselves. As you can see, she looks like all newborns do: cute, little, squishy, wrinkly, pink, etc. Thanks so much for your prayer for Jasmine, and for Carrie as she was carrying her for the last nine months. The pregnancy, labor, and delivery all went very smooth and we give our great God the glory for His grace and blessing in it all. (For pictures see the blog posts from October 14th and 15th)

Ministry News. I think you all know what Carrie is busy with at the moment. For those of you not sure... she’s recovering from childbirth, taking care of a newborn, trying to pay attention to Jada so she doesn’t get too jealous of the new baby, mothering the three older boys, and babying the biggest boy too! (That’s me, Jon, if you didn’t catch it). I’m pretty busy as well. With Carrie so busy with the new baby, I’m taking over much of the homeschooling. We’ve just started a new Science curriculum so it’s good timing for the transition from mom to dad as teacher. In addition to the homeschooling, I’m attempting to lend a hand around the ‘house’ (the travel trailer we’re living in right now) so that Carrie doesn’t get too overwhelmed (okay, that last statement was a little generous as Carrie is such a hard worker that it’s really not that much more work for me... but I try). I’m also preparing for teaching next semester. I’ll be teaching a class on Church History as well as teaching the Book of Daniel and one other class yet to be determined. On top of that, I’ll be starting the book of Luke at the church so I’m preparing for that as well. This is my first time teaching Church History at the Bible College and I’m really looking forward to it. Anyone who knows me a little knows how much I love history, and when you truly enjoy what you’re teaching it typically makes the class go really well. The same is true of Daniel - that I really enjoy the book - so it should be a great class as well. That being said, please continue to pray for the time of preparation and the classes themselves. We will only be in the States for a short time now that the baby is here. We need about two months to get her U.S. Passport, her Tanzanian visa, and to get her started on the basic immunizations (when you live in a place where people die every day from things that the last couple of generations in the U.S. have forgotten the names of, you really appreciate good vaccinations and immunizations). So, as we remain in Southern California for the next two months, I will also be volunteering in ministry locally. Please pray the Lord would use us for His glory while we’re here for this short stay.

Electronic Info. It’s not fancy, but I have managed to erect a basic website to compliment the already existing blog. Please take a minute to check it out at http://www.thelangleyclan.org. The best source for regular information, pictures, thoughts, funny stories, and even mini-sermons, is still the Web Log, or Blog, which you can find on the Internet here: http://thelangleyclan.blogspot.com. There’s a link to it from the website as well.

Contact Us. We’d really love to take advantage of the opportunity of being here to visit those we haven’t had a chance to visit yet. Please email or call if you’d like to arrange something. Our contact information is below. We look forward to hearing from you.

Co-laboring. There are many ways that we co-labor together with others. Several individuals, as well as a few churches, have partnered with us financially, and in that way have provided for our needs in order that we might serve the Lord and His people as we do. In addition to these co-laborers, many dear brothers and sisters in Christ have partnered in prayer, and in that way have also supported us in serving as we do. Still others have co-labored with us by providing housing and/or a vehicle to drive while in the U.S., or by meeting little needs here and there as they arise (and they always do). Others have partnered with us by speaking to their pastor and inviting us to come and share at their church. And some have done several, or even all of these things. But there is also another way to co-labor with us in this ministry, and that is side by side. This isn’t for everyone, and we’ve had some tell us plainly that they’d rather just use the money that the trip would have cost to financially support the work. But we have had several people contact us about doing a short-term trip, and we are still praying for others who will want to come out for even longer periods. If you’re interested in either, short or long term, or in co-laboring in any other way at all, please get in touch with us. We’d love to hear from you and discuss the possibilities. If you’d rather remain anonymous, please contact the Far Reaching Ministries office. Their contact information is also listed below. Mungu akubariki sana!

The King of Shame

Please read this post, but prepare yourself in advance for the graphic and disturbing truth revealed.

Is New Really Improved?
What truly separates modern man from those we study in books? We tend to study history through a telescope, as if our ancestors were somehow alien, instead of using the vision God gave us... up close and personal. Though the facts and figures of history are separated from us by a great gulf of time, they are not physically far away and out of reach like some distant galaxy. We can touch the past - with the gloved hands of the present - through the records and annals of historical knowledge collected and preserved through time. We can know and learn from our predecessors. We are not their superiors, but their descendants. We are neither their prosecutors nor advocates, but the gallery, learning from their past actions and the judgments of the Great Judge. We find ourselves living in the most historically egocentric generations of all time, deeming each generation before as successively inferior. We consider technological and scientific advancement proof of our preferred evolutionary status. And yet, for all of our research, scientific, technological, and industrial success, we are fools; for "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'" Psalm 14:1. At our core we are no different than our peers of old. Only now we use different blinders to avoid the greatest and harshest of realities. Now we use bigger, bolder, supposedly better methods and means of distracting ourselves from the truth of who we are: sinners all.

The Old
There is an Ammonite deity who goes by the name of Molech. He goes by various other names within the Semitic sub-cultures of the Levant region. The Punic peoples called him Kronos. Whatever the name, he is a god of great power, proving capable of destroying many kingdoms and cultures, and bringing great shame upon the peoples who worship him. In fact, in the Semitic language of Hebrew, his name is derived by taking the word for "king" and substituting the vowel points from the word for "shame". I shall call him ‘the king of shame’. It was this very king of shame that King Solomon allowed into the nation of Israel. And after giving time for repentance, God tore Solomon’s kingdom apart and took it from him, just like the children who passed through the fires of Molech were torn apart and taken from this world.

There are different historical accounts of the king of shame and the way in which the shameful worshiped him. They vary slightly, but as a whole they paint a clear picture. Like any god, past or present, the king of shame was worshiped so that the worshipers might somehow receive a benefit. The benefit desired by the worshiper is irrelevant. The fact that a person is willing to do whatever seems necessary to achieve that benefit is in itself the act of worship, regardless of the god being worshiped or the benefit being sought. Whether the god is ancient or new, famous, infamous or nameless, well respected, popular, or hated, the sacrificing of time, money, people, energy, thought, or prayer in order to achieve a desired benefit is an act of worship. For the worshipers of the king of shame, the way to achieve their desired benefit was to sacrifice life... specifically the life of a child.

Most people absolutely cringe at the idea of “child sacrifice”. They picture a young, innocent child, bound and gagged and cut open by the blade of a madman. Or maybe they’ve done research into the ways of worship of the various cultures of the world and can picture the bronze idol of the king of shame, arms outstretched over a pyre aflame, metal body heated to a radiant red. And then they can envision the priest taking the small child from the stoic parents and placing her upon the blazing bronze arms of the king of shame, watching her little limbs contract and disintegrate in the severe heat, and seeing what appears to be a smile on her face as her cooking facial muscles slightly curl her open mouth into the shape of laughter. Maybe now they will get what they really want.

The New
If I were to go to my local donut shop tomorrow morning to get a donut and a cup of coffee, I would find that the owners have placed a small statue of Buddha in the back corner of the store and have placed money, food, and incense in front of him as a sacrifice. They are sacrificing these things in order to receive a benefit they are seeking, presumably good business and/or happiness. If I were to look at the bank statements of certain people I know today, I would find that they have sent thousands upon thousands of dollars to a man or woman they saw on television who promised them good health and an incredible ROI (return on investment) directly from heaven because of their "faith". They, too, have made a sacrifice in order to receive a benefit that they desire, again, presumably wealth and happiness. I know those who sacrifice so much time and money to books and television shows and CDs that promise them the benefit of wealth, happiness, “spirituality”, etc. Whatever we sacrifice to for the desired benefit is the god we worship!

In the last 35 years, my fellow Americans, some of them family members and close friends, have sacrificed sacred life to the king of shame in order to receive the benefit of health, wealth, and/or happiness. They have given various reasons and explanations to assuage the guilt of the truth, but the facts remain: 50,000,000 children (yes, that’s fifty million!) have been shamefully sacrificed for the benefit of happiness, health, or wealth in this country alone. You won’t find a lunatic legion of the criminally insane behind it all. You’ll find average, everyday people. Some of them so self-centered and egocentric that they can’t even recognize themselves as the shameful worshipers they are. Some of them scared and confused children who didn’t have a family that loved them enough to tell them the truth and help them through their difficult time. Some of them are dastardly and deceitful people of power and position whose agenda of self-promotion was the benefit desired and achieved. Most were simple people persuaded by pop culture, pop psychology, and the propaganda of relativism. Whatever the reason, whoever the scapegoat, the ultimate end was the sacrifice of a child’s life for the benefit of another person. Like those who lived before us, we continue to hand over our children to the priest of pleasure so that we might have less stress, or avoid responsibility, or do what feels right at the moment to achieve the desired benefit. We, like those before us, continue to stand by and watch as the child is placed into the welcoming arms of Molech, consumed by the torturous, burning pain of the saline or urea solution. Slowly and painfully the body is maliciously mutilated by the cocktail, while the child - piece by piece - falls into the the pyre below: the vacuum canister. Thus the sacrifice is complete, the benefit secured. The god of shame has been given his due, as have we, the shamed.

I shudder and weep at what is in store for us after the time of God’s mercy and patience is passed, and the cup of His wrath is full. Don’t mistake patience for passivity. Just as He is full of grace and will blot out the transgressions of those who repent and call upon His name, He is also righteous, and will blot out the wicked and unrepentant from this life and damn them to eternal punishment. These aren’t my rules or ideas. They’re His. Read it for yourself in His Word.

God was, is, and always will be SOVEREIGN

It's 8:11 pm California time on Election Day (not the theological kind) 2008. Barack Obama is being declared the President Elect of the United States of America. I am not shy about the fact that I did not vote for him because I believe him to be the lesser of many candidates for the job (not just in comparison to John McCain). That being said, he is the President Elect and the same Bible that clearly guided me to use my precious vote to elect a Godly man now clearly guides me to live in obedience to the laws and governing authorities so long as they do not contravene Scripture (Romans 13), and to live peaceably with all men, as much as is possible and within my power (Romans 12:18), even if I don't like their worldview, their record, their ideas, or their lack of Scriptural morals. The Scriptures also tell me to pray for those in authority over me, ie. the President, Congress and Federal Judges, the Governor, State Senate and State Assembly, the Mayor and Councilmembers, etc.

Most importantly is the Scriptural fact that God is sovereign and still in control of everything. I may not prefer the man taking office next year, or the policies that he has promised to enact, but that does not change me, my relationship with my Creator, or my duty to serve Him in love each and every day. I encourage you to read the previous article for further information, but let me summarize with this: God is in control. Yes, we are responsible to vote according to Scripture, but God is still sovereign over those who don't recognize His sovereignty. No matter what nation or community we live in or who is governing over us; no matter how wonderful or terrible they might be or we might perceive them to be; God's will for me and for you is much bigger than one Tuesday every four years. It was important to educate yourself and others about the candidates and issues and to prayferfully and Scripturally vote. Now that you've done so, continue on with the many other important tasks God has called you to. Continue to live a life completely sold out to Him, talking to Him, listening to His Word, worshiping Him with your voice, your time, your resources, and your very life. "Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Don't be distracted by things that don't go the way you wish they would have, but instead, continue to trust Him. He hasn't changed, nor has His plan or His will for you. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Political Activism, Radical Faith, and the Believer's Responsibility

"A certain amount of healthy and balanced concern about current trends in government and the community is acceptable, as long as we realize that such interest is not vital to our spiritual lives, our righteous testimony or the advancement of the kingdom of Christ. Above all, the believer's political involvement should never displace the priority of preaching and teaching the gospel because the morality and righteousness that God seeks is the result of salvation and sanctification." - John MacArthur, from 'Why Government Can't Save You' (emphasis mine)

I read the above quote from a book written by John MacArthur and it prompted my quick and sincere agreement. The fact is that as American citizens we have been blessed by God with the gift of a representative government (it's not a pure democracy, but that's a discussion for another time). God is sovereign and according to His sovereign plan we (American citizens) have been born into a constitutional republic called The United States of America. And this republic has a government that was designed and established not to give us rights, but to protect our God-given rights as the founders of this country understood them. Some of these rights and privileges have to do with voting and running for office, both being a means to have our voices represented in government, be it local, regional, state, or national. We should all thank God for the privilege of living in a country that honors and protects these rights, and we should be keen to make our voices heard and to use our gifts and talents in government according to God's will.

That being said, being a political activist, a politician, a talk show host, a banner bearer, a sign waver, or even just a simple, unknown voter, is completely moot in regards to the Kingdom of Christ if it is being done apart from authentic, biblical, disciplined, Christian faith. It is only the saving, sanctifying, transforming power of God that provides a worthy candidate for office. It is only by the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus and the resulting empowering of His Holy Spirit that a person blessed with the privilege of a vote can actually make full use of it for the Kingdom of Christ. I agree that more Christian believers should vote and get involved in their country's politics. The truth is, though, that most Americans who attend church and/or go by the name "christian" don't really know Christ very well, if at all. Most American "christians" don't truly call Him Lord; He is not their Master or the one whom they serve wholeheartedly. So what good would more "moral" or "traditional" or "conservative" people do in American politics. Those kinds of people are already a dime a dozen and most are doing terrible jobs, hurting more than helping (other than helping themselves to lobbyist monies, earmarks, and pork barrel spending)! And lest you think I'm throwing the baby out with the bath water, I know there are some truly awesome and sincere believers involved in American politics at many different levels who are doing a tremendous job representing the people, and Christ, in a totally corrupt and degenerate system. That's who we need more of. But, as John MacArthur so clearly points out in the above quote, the morality and righteousness that so many Christians are seeking for in American government and daily life is something that results from salvation and sanctification, not from legislation or politics. If only we could get our priorities straight as the Church of Christ here in America, maybe we truly could make progress towards having a government that actually represents us. If we, as the body of Christ, judged ourselves and allowed the sanctifying power of Christ to change our hearts; if, by the empowering of His Holy Spirit, we were vessels of righteousness bringing the truth, love, and power of the gospel to our communities; if we could do this - living as true disciples - then whatever true change in our society is possible according to the sovereign grace of God would take place. By working on the problem from the proper paradigm we'll find that we could possibly change our country one neighborhood at a time, accomplishing the very thing in our entire nation that we had originally hoped to convince our neighbors to do through legislation.

Regarding California Proposition 8

I know that for some this topic is painful, divisive, frustrating, and just plain emotional. But silence on my part does not show tolerance and love towards others, but rather a disregard for them by not being willing to politely explain the truth - which in itself is one of the most sacred responsibilities of true love.

Proposition 8, on the ballot in California this November, is not a long and confusing document. It is actually quite short and to the point, being only 14 words long. The entire text of Proposition 8 is as follows: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."

So why are the two opposing camps spending so much money to convince voters to cast their votes one way or the other? Let's look at the "NOs" first.

Why does the "No On Prop 8" camp feel so strongly? According to what I've seen and heard in the television ads, Internet ads, radio ads, billboards, and conversations, it appears that opponents to Proposition 8 feel as if the passing of this law somehow takes away their rights. Whether this feeling of having their rights offended is something reasoned or learned, whether by thought or pure propaganda, the effect is the same: they are incensed and outraged that anyone would try to take their rights away from them. If I were a homosexual, I imagine that I would feel the same way. Especially if I hadn't considered all the facts.

But the fact is that under current California law (CA Family Code 297.5), all "domestic partners" are allowed the same exact rights as a "spouse". So in all actuality, to clearly define "marriage" as being between a man and a woman does not "strip", "remove", or "steal" any rights of domestic partnership. They already exist. Interestingly enough, the very law that gives all "domestic partners" this spousal equivalency, by it's very existence and wording, clarifies the natural reality that a "spouse" is by definition someone other than a "domestic partner", while at the same time maintaining equal access to health benefits and other privileges typically accorded a "spouse". If a homosexual couple seeks legal recognition as such, they "need only file a 'Declaration of Domestic Partnership' with the secretary of state, who adds it to a statewide database. (Cal. Fam. Code sec. 298.5(a), (b).) It's harder to redeem frequent-flier miles than to register as domestic partners." (Quoted from the blog of Oasis California, a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender organization in California - http://www.news.oasiscalifornia.org/2008/09/domestic-partnership-vs-marriage.html).

The only major difference in the State of California between a "marriage" and a "domestic partnership" is the title itself. Having said this, I can understand why homosexual partners would prefer the title of "marriage" over "domestic partnership". The title of "marriage" or being married just sounds right. It has history and legitimacy and strength. If a homosexual partnership can legally use this title, instead of the made-up title of "domestic partnership", it could theoretically help them to accomplish the sense of equality so longed for in the homosexual community. So... I can and do see why it's important for so many homosexuals in the State of California (and in other states for that matter) to see that Proposition 8 fails so they can continue their quest for "equality" as "married" persons and not just "domestic partners". Again, I would most likely be campaigning similarly if I were a homosexual.

So now let's look at the camp of those promoting Proposition 8 and the "Protect Marriage" campaign. Why do they want Prop 8 passed? If California "domestic partners" and "spouses" already have the same rights under California law, what's the big deal in just using the same title for everyone, regardless of being homosexual or heterosexual?

In theory, because of the current rights and protections under California law, it would seem that there is no real legitimate reason for fighting for a clear definition of marriage as that of a man and woman only. Whether you are a male or female "spouse", or a male or female "domestic partner", the only major difference in the State of California is the title itself. So why not allow "domestic partners" to call themselves "spouses"? There are a few reasons why the "Protect Marriage" folks feel the way they do. Let's take a closer look.

One of the reasons that you will here from many Prop 8 supporters is the fact that marriage always has been defined as being between a man and a woman. The word "marriage" carries with it a sense of honor, respect and commitment that's based on centuries of historical practice and observation (even despite the modern-day divorce epidemic). This is, of course, one of the reasons that this title is so sought after by homosexual partners over the title of "domestic partner". Historically, anything outside of marriage has been referred to as "an affair" or "liaison", be it heterosexual or homosexual. I have to say that I, too, am often frustrated by the re-defining of words that have for eons meant one thing but now mean another just because of popular culture or because "we say so". Whether this is in and of itself a strong enough reason to support Prop 8 is unlikely, but its still a piece of the puzzle.

Another reason given, and seen in many of the television and internet ads, is the lesson learned from the State of Massachusetts on this very issue. While it has been counter-advertised that these claims are "not true" by the opponents to Prop 8, I guarantee that I did due diligence to verify the information before posting it on this blog. It is a fact that in multiple cases the Sate of Massachusetts has taught homosexual marriage to young children and then used the State laws regarding homosexual marriage as their foundation for being allowed to do so. In both cases they did it without parental notification and when parental notification was requested by the parents they were denied. When one of the parents asked if they could remove their child from class for the days on which the topic was being taught, the Massachusetts courts told them NO.

The following video is simple and informative in regards to the potential legal ramifications if Propostion 8 is not passed:


Here is a video from the Family Research Council documenting the example of the five-year-old Kindergarten student being taught about homosexual marriage in Massachusetts:


Neither of these videos are intended by me as "scare tactics", nor are they untrue. They are simply examples of the potentialities in the State of California if "domestic partners" and "spouses" become one and the same.

It seems to me that the only thing "lost" by homosexual partners in the State of California - if Proposition 8 were to pass - is the possibility of being able to officially use the title of "married" or "spouse". And again, I have to be honest and recognize that I would prefer that title as well if I were in a homosexual partnership as the historically defined term is a respectable one. But that doesn't change the fact that the definition of marriage is what it is because the definition is what it is. I realize that sounds trite, but it's still true. The reason that marriage is defined as being a life covenant between one man and one woman is because a life covenant between one man and one woman is what marriage is. This definition was not some random thought of a homophobic heterosexual wordsmith. It's the actual definition, understood by those who first received the instructions regarding marriage from God Himself, and then recognized by the billions of souls and countless generations it was passed along to since. Even in cultures which have already changed the true definition of marriage, the truth of what marriage is and always was can still be found in that culture, if you look.

In the ongoing debate over this issue, locally and nationally, I often hear the term "traditional marriage" used. While I understand what is meant by that phrase - the traditional marriage of one man and one woman - I shy away from using it. Why? My perspective is a bit different, having traveled to and lived in other cultures. Where we currently live, it is traditional for a man to marry several women. Should I fight for this type of "traditional marriage"? The issue I have is with the word "tradition". I don't believe our primary motivation for belief, taking a stance, or "fighting" for something should be based upon tradition. It's like a friend of mine once said. His wife's family had a tradition of eating waffles every Saturday and he didn't like waffles. So he got rid of that tradition. The truth of God, His commands, His ways, His will - these always trump tradition. So if God says "traditional marriage" is wrong, then we should get rid of it. In the case of polygamy being considered "traditional marriage", God says it's wrong. In the case of one man and one woman being married, God says it's right, so that is what we should hold to. Not because of traditions, but because of the truth that our Creator communicated to us.

So, in an attempt to conclude my thoughts... It would appear that those who are currently protected as "domestic partners" under California law, really have nothing to lose other than the potential for using the titles "marriage" and "spouse" instead of "domestic partnership" and "domestic partner". But for those who believe that marriage is a sacred institution designed and defined by our Creator Himself, there is a clear reason for defending it as such. Additionally, there is the clear evidence of history that, ironically, provides us with foresight into what could, and probably would happen in California if the definition of marriage is not protected, and instead changed to include anything other than one man and one woman in covenant.

I have been honest and even tried to put myself into the shoes of the homosexual individual so that I might try to imagine their thoughts and feelings on the subject. For those who know me well you know why doing this is so important to me. Having done that, I cannot agree that the importance of what may be gained for the cause of the homosexual community by defeating Prop 8 is greater than the importance of what may be gained for the truth of God's Word and for the families who must live under the laws of the Sate of California should Prop 8 pass.

True love is honest. And though some people very dear to me will be very upset with me over these words, I must trust God with those relationships and honor His word and His truth above my own desires for avoiding conflict or the world's cries for "tolerance" as they define it.

Jasmine Grace pictures

Here's a few pics of Jasmine from days one and two. This will get you started, but for more pics visit our gallery here - http://gallery.me.com/thelangleyclan

Grace... Jasmine Grace that is!

We want to thank God for his goodness and grace to us. Carrie delivered our fifth child early yesterday, Monday, October 13th, 2008, at 9:35am in San Diego, California, USA. She was 8 pounds 8 ounces and 19.5 inches long. Her name is JASMINE GRACE LANGLEY and she and mom are both doing well. Carrie did a terrific job. Thanks for you prayer. We'll put up some pics soon.

The Hand of God in London (Part 2)

So... last I wrote I had just arrived in East Dulwich, London. My friend Ayo hooked me up with a Pastor from Calvary Chapel South London named Patrick. He and his wife, Sarah, took me in for the two days and two nights. They have two great kids, both boys, and staying with them was a real blessing.

(I know for some what I'm about to say doesn't seem like that big of a deal. But for me, personally, finding true, biblical hospitality, love, and fellowship with other Christians who are otherwise complete strangers is a tremendous joy.)

Upon arriving at the Pierre-Powell home in London, Patrick welcomed me in and showed me around. Then we spent a little time getting to know one another. One of the reasons I enjoyed the conversation was the very fact that I was sitting in his home with my backpack unpacked, already having seen where I'd be sleeping, where the bathroom was located, etc., and yet just then actually getting to know one another. That's one of the reasons that it stands out in my mind as such a great example of Biblical Christianity. Ayo - a brother in Christ whom I barely knew to begin with - wanted to bless me with a place to stay to allow me to layover in London for a couple of days to visit the local church family. When he couldn't fulfill the need himself due to unforeseen circumstances, he simply asked another brother from yet another local church family if he could help meet the need of a Christian brother whom he had never met or heard of, and voila! There I was. What a blessing.

After a while Sarah came home with their youngest son. A bit later we were eating some delicious Indian food and having a great time getting to know one another around the dinner table. We stayed up rather late talking and planning out the next day, and then I went to bed; blessed, full, and very tired.

Saturday morning I woke to a warm and happy home. Sarah was very thoughtful and offered to make whatever I'd like for breakfast. As usual, I told her that if it starts with an 'f', ends with a 'd' and has an 'oo' in the middle, then I'll eat it! Seeing that I was trying to be an easy and flexible guest, she quickly conjured a common American stereotype and applied it to the situation: she offered to make pancakes. She even had a box of 'Hungry Jack' brand pancake mix that another American friend had brought to them as a gift (which made me laugh of course). I was very pleased, and I'm sure I furthered the common belief that all Americans love pancakes for breakfast. The funny thing is that I'm enthusiastic about having pancakes for breakfast for the simple reason that I rarely do! So we ate a delicious breakfast together before heading off to fulfill our various schedules.

While Sarah and Patrick had their own commitments to keep, I walked over to the bus stop (after Patrick gave me his Oyster card and helped me to load some money onto it), and caught the 176 north to London's city center (Picadilly Circus to be exact). When the bus came I saw that it had a second level and immediately decided to ride up top. It wasn't one of those double-decker tour buses with an uncovered second level; just a regular public transport bus that was two stories high, so I figured I could see more and take some pictures from up top. It wasn't until about five minutes after the bus pulled away that I realized I had left my camera at my hosts' home! Typical.

The bus stopped what seemed to be every single block, so the ride took a bit. Along the way I took "mental pictures" of the various burroughs of London, the River Thames, the various bridges across the River Thames, the people, the architecture, etc. About fifty minutes later I arrived at my destination, which is basically "downtown" London. That's where I met Ayo, my guide for the day. He walked around London with me and tried to point out a few sights. After being in East Africa alone for so long, I really just needed koinonia, so we mostly just talked a lot and encouraged one another in spiritual things as we walked around the city. As much as I love history, architecture, and other cultural things, that day, those hobbies took a back seat to my desire for good friends and fellowship, which worked out well for Ayo. (I love you fam, but you're a terrible London tour guide!) He did take me to a museum to show me some ancient something-or-other from the Biblical Book of 1 Chronicles. But after getting lost in the museum looking for it (literally), we finally asked one of the museum employees and were told that we were at the wrong museum. Afterwards, we actually did manage to find Buckingham Palace (if he would have failed that one I would have reported him and asked that he be deported).

We sat outside of the biggest house I've ever seen for quite a while (Buckingham), talking and sharpening one another, and then meandered back to where we started. Then we took the Tube to Tower Hill and walked to another brother's place over by St. Catherine's Wharf. His name is Alistair, and he and Tim and Dan all met up with us at the market where we bought groceries to cook up for dinner. We took the supplies back to Alistair's house (his wife was gone), and then Tim, Alistair, and Dan whipped up a killer dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, hamburgers, salad, and rolls, which we ate out on the balcony facing the garden courtyard. The food was so good (kudos especially to Tim), but more importantly, the fellowship was great. I needed it so much. After dinner we had a time of worship and then we had communion together, which they asked me to lead. Then we topped off the night with cake and coffee/tea. It was such a great time.

When it was time to go, Dan (an American who has been living in London for about two years now) escorted me via bus back to East Dulwich. He told me it would be no problem. He said we'd jump on the 100 bus to 'Elephant and Castle' and then take the 185 to East Dulwhich. As we rode along on the bus we got to talk and learn more about one another. After a bit I realized the bus was stopped and nobody else was on the bus. So I asked Dan how much further it was. He said, "I think it's the next stop." Then he realized the bus wasn't moving and walked to the front to ask the driver. He sheepishly told me, "This is our stop." It was funny. Then we walked over to the other bus stop to catch the 185 (according to Dan). When we got there I noticed that the sign listed several different buses, none of them the 185 that Dan mentioned. I pointed out the correct bus to Dan and then spent the rest of the trip harassing him about how he was supposed to make sure I got back okay and couldn't even get there himself without my help. It was a little funny.

The next morning was church. I walked with Patrick over to the school where Calvary Chapel South London meets. It was so reminiscent of Grace Chapel in the early days: meeting in a school, going early to set up the chairs and the sound system, getting the children's ministry ready, etc. It was like being transported back in time about seven years. The service was great, and family of Christ was so welcoming. They even asked me to come up and share briefly about who we are and what we're doing in Tanzania.



After church, we hung around and had fellowship for some time. Since Ayo fellowships at Calvary Chapel Docklands and Patrick and his family had to go to a relative's house after service, they had arranged for a "babysitter" for me - Peter Beggs. Pete is a great brother. We walked together from the school to a nearby bus stop, planning to take a couple of buses to the home of Mark and Tabitha Fyffe for food and fellowship. We waited at the bus stop for a bit but Pete seemed a bit confused about whether it was the right one or not. We then decided to walk a ways to another bus stop, nearby the Pierre-Powell's home. We got there and Pete told me where we were going and the bus we were waiting for. When I looked at the bus stop sign it didn't jive with what Pete was saying, but he assured me that we were in the right place and that it only looked confusing because the bus turned around nearby. We waited... and waited... and waited. I eventually convinced him to look at the bus stop accross the street where the buses were headed in the other direction (the direction that looked right according to my reckoning). He reluctantnly crossed over with me and I showed him the map on this stop and how it looked to be the correct direction. Just as I was convincing him of this our bus arrived and we boarded. That was the second time now that I'd had to help one of my hosts to help me find my way around. It was such fun to harass them all about it.

We arrived at the Fyffe's home, where they were celebrating their oldest son's 16th birthday. It was so much fun. I met a bunch of people from the church again and a few others that I hadn't yet met. The food was awesome! A new brother named 'Jack' (real name withheld for privacy) had made most of it and it was really, really good. We had curry goat, jerk chicken, fried plantains, some other stuff, and most importantly, homemade mac and cheese. "Jack's" mac and cheese was honestly the BEST I've ever had, and I let him know about it. He had just come to live with the Fyffe's five days earlier after having been on the streets and addicted to alcohol. Mark and some other brothers met "Jack" on the streets and told him about Christ. After "Jack" repented and called upon Christ as Lord and Saviour, Mark offered him shelter and the opportunity for fellowship and encouragement until he got back on his feet. (As of the writing of this blog, "Jack's" health is in jeapordy. He has quit drinking and his body is having a severe reaction to the change. He had been consuming massive quantities of alcohol, and quitting has resulted in seizures and hospitalization. Please pray for this dear brother.) We stayed at the Fyffe's all day, listening to music, talking, playing games, eating food, and otherwiase having great koinonia. Patrick came and picked up Ayo and I that night and took us back to his place for my last night in London. We stayed up and talked for a bit and then I hit the sack.

Early the next morning Patrick took Ayo and I to Victoria Station where we could catch the "tube" or London Underground to Heathrow. It was nice to have the escort but Ayo and I were so tired that we both pretty much slept on the tube while listening to music. There was nearly a third incident of my local escort needing my help to make the correct transfer at one of the stations, but Ayo caught his own mistake just as I was about to say something. It was still comical how often it happend in the course of two days though.

I made it safely to Heathrow, boarded, and got safely back to California where a good friend picked me up at LAX and drove me down to San Diego where my wonderful wife and children were waiting for me. The night before leaving I told Ayo and Patrick the honest truth: I missed my family more than anything, but I was enjoying the family of Christ in London so much that I wished that Carrie and the kids could come to London to be with me rather than me having to leave London to be with them in California. I truly pray that the Lord gives us the opportunity to visit the body of Christ in London as a family some day in the future.

The Hand of God in London (Part 1)

As usual, while traveling on British Airways between the continents of Africa and North America, I was forced to stay the night in London due to a layover of nearly 24 hours. Usually we just sleep on the seats in Heathrow's Terminal 1, but since I was traveling alone on this particular occasion, I took advantage of an invitation to stay with a brother I had previously met at the Calvary Chapel Bible College in California who lives in the London area. This brother's name is Ayo (he's originally from Nigeria, that's why he has such a cool name), and he serves the Lord at Calvary Chapel Docklands in East London. When I was a couple of weeks away from coming through I sent Ayo an email to cash in on his offer. He informed me that since returning to London from school in California, he was still looking for steady work and a place to live. But that wasn't a problem, because he hooked me up with another brother in Christ named Patrick, a pastor at Calvary Chapel South London (both CCSL and CC Docklands sprang from the church plant of CC Westminster that Brian Brodersen started several years ago).

Upon landing at London Heathrow airport and hearing the beautiful 'ding' of the seatbelt sign - the signal for the human herd aboard to all stand up at once and begin grabbing for luggage and shoving various body parts into each other - I stood with the other animals and awaited the opening of the pen door. As I did so, the gentleman sitting one row up and over with his wife and baby apologized for his fussy son's screaming sonnets throughout the flight. I replied that it was no problem and commented that I have four of my own. Then I realized from his speech that he was British. I casually asked him about the best public transportation route to 'East Dulwich' - the London neighborhood I was headed to in order to stay with complete strangers at the request of a brother I had met and talked to in the States for only a few hours (I love being part of such a big family). My fellow passenger quickly and calmly replied, "We live in East Dulwich. You can ride with us if you don't mind the baby." I had to ask him to repeat himself. I probably sounded like a typical American, deaf to most words of English as spoken by the English. But the truth is that his answer was so shocking that I thought I actually must have been mishearing his English English! He repeated it again and I was so surprised and humbled that I nearly didn't accept the offer. Finally I repeated what he said as a way of thrice clarifying the situation. He nodded that I had heard him correctly and then I accepted. It was definitely a divine appointment. When I told him that I had to stop and ask British Airways a question, he didn't even flinch. He told me it would be no problem and that they would wait for me. So we left the airplane together and headed for baggage claim.

As I had no luggage to claim, I headed straight for the British Airways counter to talk to them while my benefactors stood at the waiting wheel for their bags. I took the elevator up to the airline counters and looked for the right place to ask my question. Oh, my question was a doozy by the way. When an agent was available I walked up and told her plainly, "I just landed and have an overnight layover. I'm scheduled to leave tomorrow afternoon. I'm a missionary who has made this trip many times and have never left the airport. When people ask me what London is like, I always reply, 'which terminal'. So, I'd like to actually leave the airport and visit a church here in London on Sunday. Is there any way you could change the remaining leg of my ticket from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning? Oh, and I don't have any money to pay for it." That's almost word for word what I said. I kid you not. She looked at my ticket and saw that I was indeed on a missionary fare. She asked her co-worker if she could change it without charging me and he thought it sounded fine. She did the stereotypical fast-finger typing made famous by many-a-movie and printed out a new ticket for me. Done. Once again, I was shocked. I had to ask her, "Did you already do it?" She had. And she was really nice about it too! Clearly God was interested in allowing me to visit the church family in London.

So I headed downstairs and hooked up with my ride - Rob, Liz, and their 16-month old little one, Henry. We caught a bus out to long-term parking and piled into their brand new BMW X5 (that's an SUV) with leather interior and seats that were much more comfortable than the airplane's. Not only did God allow me to change my ticket and hook me up with a free ride, He hooked me up with a NICE ride! If I had taken public transport as planned, it would have cost about $10 and taken about an hour and a half on two different subways, an overground train, and a bus! Riding with the Cassidys was approximately 40 minutes of luxurious comfort and pleasant conversation. They even offered to share there little miniature hot dog snacks with me, which a politely declined (the British eat some strange things).

So that's how God got me to London. More about my hosts and the rest of the brothers and sisters I had the awesome pleasure of spending time with later.

October 2008 Update

Bible College - Kigoma, Tanzania. The Bible College I was teaching at previously is currently closed until the February session starts. This is due mostly to a lack of teachers. I wish I could accurately describe what it’s like to teach the Word of God to the students here. They are like sponges, just soaking up the truth of God’s Word and asking so many questions. If I could only paint a picture that would give you the inspiration and vision that the Lord has given to me, then I’m positive that those of you able and qualified to teach God’s Word would be on the next plane. I don’t want to exaggerate. There are always a few students who are there for the wrong reasons and even those who have never truly committed their lives to Christ. But even that is a blessing, as we get to re-introduce them to Christ and His Word and lead them into an understanding of a right relationship with Him and a right motive for studying His Word at the school. I can always attach pictures and tell stories, but I pray that God will instill in some of you a true and deep desire to come and help us teach - short term, long term, any term - so that the truth and power of His Word will continue to go forth to the men and women of Tanzania, Burundi, and Congo (yes, there are students from many places). And if you’re reading this and you’re not in a position to help by teaching, there are many other ways to co-labor with us, both here in East Africa and there where you live, including spreading the word to others about the opportunities. Fortunately for me, there is another Bible School in a nearby town that had a visiting teacher cancel at the last minute and they asked me if I would teach the class with only five days notice. You’ll never guess what class they had scheduled... MISSIONS. God has a wonderful sense of humor. Though I’ve taught Inductive Bible Study, Hermeneutics, and various books of the Bible before, I’ve never taught a class on “missions”. But if you’re going to ask me to teach a class that I’ve never taught before, and that at the last minute, what better subject is there? The class was daily for two and a half hours and we had a great time looking into the Word in regards to missions. The topic of the class was geared mainly towards evangelism and “church planting”, and I was able to teach them by example of Christ, Paul, and those whom Paul trained up, as seen in Acts and the letters that Paul wrote to those churches he planted and ministers he trained. The students always have so many great questions, many of which I would never be asked in the West and therefore never have to spend time reasoning and searching the Scriptures for the Biblical response. It’s not so much a challenging experience, as a refreshing one. I, the teacher, am learning and being built up in the Word by looking at things in ways I normally wouldn’t think to. The students were very well disciplined, relatively attentive (considering it was the “after lunch” class in the heat of the day), and seemed to really “get it”, and retain the information well. Preparing for and teaching a new class at the last minute is hard work, as you sense the sudden responsibility of teaching a subject for which you cannot just use previous notes and teaching experience. But at the same time, it’s so rewarding, as you are forced to let go of “how I normally do things” and trust in the Holy Spirit for His guidance, enlightenment of Scripture, strength, peace, and ability to communicate. I, like Paul, am surprised and humbled that “to me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the nations the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8).

Southern California, USA. By the time you receive this update the due date for our new baby will be at our door (October 15th). Carrie and the kids are doing well. All of her check-ups with the OB/GYN have been good, with the baby growing normal and healthy. Here’s a short excerpt from an email Carrie sent to me (Jon) regarding the children's schooling:
“The kids are doing well. My goal is to have them memorize a Bible verse every week. We are reading through the book of First Samuel and they memorized 1 Sam. 12:24 this week. We read one chapter a day and sometimes they really like what we're reading and ask to read more. It's a blessing for all of us. I know we have Foxes Book of Martyrs somewhere. I was thinking of reading that to them once a week as well. I am also having the boys write in a journal everyday and read a book.”

The Vice President of Tanzania. What do “Sandals”, “The Vice President of Tanzania”, and a “T-Shirt” all have in common? Me, unfortunately! Let me explain... I went to town to meet with a Congolese friend who is a leader in one of the local ministries here in Kigoma. Shortly after arriving at his office, he told me he had to hurry to the airport and asked if I could give him a ride. He said we could talk while driving. As we were driving, he told me that the Vice President of Tanzania was coming to town and that he was going to join with other local politicians and community leaders to greet him when he got off the airplane. So I planned to drop him off at the airport and then meet with him later regarding the questions I had about ministry. As we were driving he began to explain to me the protocol for meeting the Vice President and what was going to happen at the airport. It was then that I suddenly realized that he intended for me to join him in meeting the Vice President! As soon as I realized what he was saying I exclaimed that I wasn’t properly dressed for the occasion. I was wearing long pants, but only had on a T-Shirt and sandals. His response was a bit derogatory, but comical in it’s honesty. “Oh, he knows that Americans don’t care about the way they dress,” he said. I tried to convince him to let me make the detour to my house to put on a nicer shirt and some shoes, but he insisted that we needed to get there right away so we could get a good spot. To make things worse, I realized when we arrived at the airport that he intended to introduce me to all of the local “bigwigs”. First I met the Regional Traffic Officer (the head guy over the Kigoma Region’s Traffic Police). Then I met the second in command of the Kigoma Region for Immigration. Then I met the Kigoma/Ujiji Mayor, then the District Commissioner of the Kigoma District (like a county in the U.S.). His name is John, and so when he said I had a good name and asked if it was he who was lucky to be named John or me, I correctly stated that it was I who was lucky to be named like him. I passed the test and we talked for a brief moment. After that I met the Regional Immigration Officer in charge of the immigration department for the whole Kigoma Region (like a state in the U.S.). Then I met the Town Planner for Kigoma/Ujiji. He’s in charge of all land use issues and zoning for the area and he is a Christian and a very amiable man. He’s a good person to know when it comes time to find a plot for the Kigoma/Ujiji Youth Center we’re trying to develop. Then I met a bigwig from the Tanzania Revenue Authority (like the IRS in the U.S.), then the Regional Commissioner of the Kigoma Region (like a governor in the U.S.), and finally, after waiting for almost two hours for his plane to arrive, the Vice President of Tanzania, the Honorable Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein. And even though they all supposedly don’t expect us Americans to dress nice for such an occasion, it was still extremely uncomfortable, though very fruitful.
Left to right: Regional Commissioner, Vice President, Mwenge (my friend), Me

Praises and Prayer...
Please join with us in praising the Lord for His goodness to us in providing for our daily needs.
We also want to thank Him for a healthy pregnancy for Carrie thus far and pray for a continued blessing upon Carrie and the baby in her womb; that the pregnancy, labor, and delivery would all go well.
Please continue to pray for provision for the ministry in Africa, that we can stay busy, and be able to stay for a long time without having to think about finances.
Please pray for Jon’s health and safe travels.
Please pray for Carrie and the kids, that the Lord would grant them peace and safety and bless their time together.
We really need language training in order to be more effective in Tanzania. Please make this a matter of prayer on our behalf, as this will cost a few thousand dollars if this is what God wants us to do.
Lastly, please pray for the funds for a new phone/modem.

Reunited and it feels so good

Sorry for the cheesy reference to the 1980 Peaches and Herb song, "Reunited". My mind is a multi-generational, multi-genre mega-jukebox, containing many songs I wish I didn't know!

It's so good to be back with Carrie and the kids! I missed them so much, and though quite jet-lagged, I'm enjoying my time with them dearly.

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us over the past two and half months. Also, thanks for the prayers for the pregnancy and baby. Both of the girls are doing well, the baby has finally dropped, and it looks like she'll come right on time.

We'll keep you updated.

Deciphering Sorrow through the Din (Journal Entry)

4:20 pm - It’s Sunday. The power went off around 9 or 10 PM last night and it’s been off ever since. I wasn’t feeling well this morning and have been home all day, with the exception of finding some food to eat for brekfast/lunch. I’ve been fiddling with broken electronics to pass the time this afternoon and to keep my mind from locking in on the loneliness of this empty house. Without the sounds of the children playing inside and out - talking, laughing, asking questions, and giving me their advice - and without Carrie’s smile and warm presence, this house seems more like a tomb than a home. So I was taking apart a voltage stabilizer that blew up in order to scavenge useful parts. It’s amazing how many great little screws, nuts and bolts, switches, small lights, pieces of wire, and power plugs you can scavenge from something! After I finished with that, I moved on to modifying a cheap battery backup unit I bought in town last year to be able to use an old gigantic truck battery I found left over from the last tenant of this house. Whilst turning screws, clipping wires, and getting very creative with electrical tape, I realized something. I realized that for some time now, over the somewhat muffled sound of the U.N. office’s enormous generator next door, I had been hearing an unusual sound. It’s strange when you hear something, but then realize that you’ve been hearing it for a while now without consciously recognizing it. So I tuned my conscious thoughts to the frequency of the sound and was able to make out what sounded like wailing, mixed with laughter, mixed with talking. The confusion of sounds either overwhelmed my conscious mind with too many mixed signals to know what exactly was going on, or it was just too lazy to care. Because shortly after pausing to listen, I turned my attention back to my electronic autopsy. A short while later the sounds in the background once again forced their way into the part of my mind that actually cares and is also curious. So I stopped again and went to the opened front door and stood at the screen. I listened carefully and was sure that I was hearing wailing, but then also, and almost at the same time, laughter. It was the kind of laughter that people laugh when someone has done or said something funny and you’re laughing at them. Because the wailing was so diametrically different from any sound that you would here in conjunction with mocking laughter, I again decided that I was just not hearing things right and everything was okay. After all, there were many people laughing. A while later, after growing weary of the “no electricity” situation, I decided to drive into town to get some fuel and parts to try and get the old little “knock-off” generator we have to work (I’m still working on getting a new one and hope to have it by the end of the month). As I pulled away, I noticed some people at a nearby house talking and laughing and realized that this must have been the talking and laughing I had been hearing. Then I thought, “But why did I think there was wailing? Have I lost my mind?” As I continued down the dirt road another 100 meters, turned right at the bend and continued another 100 meters, and then turned left onto the main road and continued another 200 meters, suddenly there it was the again! Wailing! It was a woman. It was coming from my left and it was louder than I had heard it all day. It was incessant. It was deep and sorrowful and heartfelt. It was actually painful to listen to, causing an automatic sympathetic sickness in my gut. It was coming from Maweni hospital, which is situated due north of my house, about 500 meters! For a couple of hours I had been hearing the neighbors, just one door down, outside of their home talking and laughing. But mixed in with the familial, familiar, and joyful sounds of Sunday afternoon banter, was the horrid howl of a family suffering bitter loss, and that coming from a quarter of a mile away! To feel the pain of loss so deeply and completely that it cannot be contained and can be heard such a long distance away for so long a time... I could only imagine that it was a mother and her family mourning the loss of a child. Probably another case of malaria, TB, meningitis, or AIDS. I don’t want to know that pain - the pain of losing a child - but I feel that today my soul was penetrated by sound, and for the second time in my life I tasted of it, just a little.

Bats in the Belfry

Before we left Kigoma for furlough several months ago, I noticed a noise in the attic, just above the sitting room. After listening carefully and investigating further, we determined that some bats had made their way into the attic. I didn't care much for the idea of having bats in the attic, but there were only a few of them and I just didn't have time to deal with it. I put it off until it was too late, and then we left for furlough.

Upon returning home to Kigoma, I found that their were no longer a few bats in the attic. There were hundreds! They were everywhere up there. Through a local friend of mine, I was able to find a man who was the closest thing we have here to a fumigator. He brought over a bunch of poison and a motorized backpack blower to blow the poison throughout the attic. This is the hard stuff that kills all bugs and rodents present. The idea is that the bats will flee from the poison and then you simply block whatever hole or holes they were using to get into the attic. He wasn't able to get the backpack contraption into the attic because it's such a short space. So he sent his young apprentice into the attic with a spray bottle full of poison and a gas mask. The poor young guy was up there for over an hour spraying. When they were spraying in the north end of the attic, they said about 100 or 200 bats flew out. Then they moved to the south end of the house, above the sitting room, and another couple of hundred came out. There were three to four hundred bats living up there!

They proceeded to try and block the holes so the bats couldn't return. They blocked the obvious ones, but then realized that the smaller bats could squeeze in between the small gaps where the corrugated metal roofing met the edge beam of the house. They stuffed a bunch of plastic bags and cardboard pieces into the gaps until they ran out of plastic and cardboard.

Later that night, after returning from a Bible study, I could here and see tons of bats squeaking and flying around the front and sides of the house. I stood there and watched for a bit as they flew at the house toward the various holes they had been forced out of and were now unable to get back in through. It was freaky having the bats fly right at me and then suddenly divert when their radar said, "Warning, enormous man dead ahead." But it was so satisfying to watch them try and get back into the attic without success. I then realized that I had my camera handy, so I took the following photo.

On the right is part of the roof line of the house, where the corrugated metal roofing meets the beam in the front of the house. The bat in the foreground had just attempted to return "home" and was flying away in failure. The bat in the background was on his way in for the attempt. Hundreds of them tried for a couple of hours. Most gave up, but unfortunately some of the smaller ones found a way back in. You can't buy caulking, or those small wooden strips that match the ripples of the corrugated metal in order to close the gaps. It's time I started collecting plastic bags and cardboard scraps. The house is going to look really funny, but if that's the only way to keep them out then so be it!

If any of you know of some surefire way to discourage bats from taking up residence in your belfry, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Restored Vision

I was coming back from town today and made a small detour to look around the area a bit for just a few minutes and the Lord began answering a prayer I've had of late. He began to give me a heart and vision for the people again. Not that I had completely lost it, but it had become dim from being gone for so long. It's so refreshing to remember in my heart and soul why we're here and to be excited about what the Lord will do, rather than to just restate to myself what I tell people when they ask why we're here. It may sound small, but it's so important to have the same love, passion, and vision for the work that the Lord has, in addition to the willing and obedient heart.

Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness.

"For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself."
2 Timothy 2:11-13

"He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it."
1 Thessalonians 5:24

September 2008 Update

Nimule, Sudan. Having completed my time in Nimule, Sudan (technically it’s ‘Southern Sudan’ or ‘New Sudan’), I’ve traveled back through Uganda and then on to Tanzania and finally home to Kigoma. My time in Sudan was great. I got to meet so many wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ, serving the Lord and each other in this war-ravaged part of the world. While I was quite safe at all times, it wasn’t that many years ago that there were regular bombings on this small town and upon the FRM compound in particular. The military of the North, using Russian Antonov airplanes, would fly low and release steel drums (the 50 gallon variety) full of explosive and shards of metal. The idea was not just to incinerate them, but to terrorize and torture as many people as possible with deadly, painful, gaping wounds that would still eventually lead to death. Every person I’ve met - and I’d imagine every person over 10 years of age - knows not only what the Antonov looks like from a distance, but exactly what it sounds like. The Antonov was also used by relief organizations to bring food and medical supplies. I can’t imagine having to wonder, each time I heard the all-to-familiar sound of the Antonov, if this was a harbinger of life or death. But the truly amazing thing, and the very reason I even mention the terrible history of this region, is that the Sudanese believers who live and serve here in Southern Sudan as pastors and chaplains and other ministry leaders do not behave as a terrorized people, and angry people, a vengeful people, a fearful people, or any other negative adjective you can imagine. The men and women who run the FRM compound in Nimule, and the other Chaplains and pastors that formerly graduated from the training school here, are truly inspirational in there steadfast hope - not in politics, military campaigns, governments, or the like - but in Jesus Christ. They simply amaze me with there knowledge of Scripture, willingness to be used by the Lord, and commitment to bringing Christ to the nation of Sudan.

The flag at the compound in Nimule representing the Chaplain Corps of the region of Equatoria, Southern Sudan

There is a maturity in Christ and as men in general that these former graduates of the Chaplain and Pastors Training School in Nimule possess. It was such a blessing to serve along side them, and to be able to teach and influence the new class of students (Class 7) to be the same type of

Teaching Genesis to Class 7 of the Chaplains and Pastors

men: Godly husbands, Godly fathers, Godly leaders, Godly examples of Christ and His redeeming love and grace. Please remember to pray for the current students, as many of them come for chaplain training without truly even knowing Christ. Maybe they were raised by “christian” parents, but they’ve never actually recognized their personal sin and called upon the grace of God in Jesus Christ for forgiveness. This class has just begun (I was the very first teacher of Class 7), and there is testimony of former students who did not give their lives to Christ until they had been there for three months! Also, remember to pray for the former graduates of Classes 1-6, as they serve the Lord by bringing the good news of Christ’s grace and hope to the battle-hardened hearts and often conscience-seared minds of the men of the SPLA. Some of the former graduates have even left active duty to plant churches in their home villages, like Pastor Tobias, who has planted Maranatha Chapel in Pageri. I had the opportunity to visit the church on a Friday for their weekly women’s Bible study. Normally Vicky Bentley, one of the Nimule staff, or Pastor Tobias will teach the study, but since I was here they asked me to come and share. It’s about and hour and a half drive North from Nimule towards Juba (the captial of Southern Sudan). Vicky had left off at Luke 22, so I was blessed with the opportunity to teach them about the “Lord’s Supper”. I had a great time. There were so many ladies there that the

Maranatha Chapel Pageri, Southern Sudan

entire church was packed! In the two weeks previous to my arrival, there had been a team visiting from Maranatha Chapel in San Diego had held a women’s conference in Pageri and many new ladies had given their lives to Christ during the conference. So I got to teach to a

Half of the ladies at the Bible Study (this picture is of the right side of the building only)

FULL HOUSE. The culture of the church in America - at least in Southern California - is one in which men rarely, if ever, teach a women’s Bible Study. But here, they consider it a blessing and an honor to have a man come and teach them. Reciprocally, it was a blessing and an honor for me.

Kigoma, Tanzania. Now that I’m back in Kigoma there is much to do. Teaching, working on the house to prepare it for the family, visiting villages both here in Tanzania and also in Congo (if God wills), and immigration paperwork to prepare for the new baby to be added to my work permit. It’s a bit overwhelming, and, to be honest, I miss Carrie and the kids terribly. So please pray for strength for all of us. Also, please pray for God to give us clear vision as to what things He wants us to do and in what order of priority. There are so many open doors that we just can’t walk through them all. We continue to ask Him, and to ask you to ask Him, for co-laborers in this endeavor. It’s nice to be back though, and to see the brothers and sisters at Calvary Chapel Kigoma. They are doing well and still meeting in the same small unfinished house on the hill in Mlole with the tarp roof.

Calvary Chapel Kigoma, Tanzania

Southern California, USA. Carrie and the kids are doing well. Carrie’s hands are VERY full with the kids and her pregnancy, but we communicate regularly and God is giving her the grace to handle it. All of her check-ups with the OB/GYN have been good, with the baby growing normal and healthy. She has even managed to somehow have the strength to have one, and even two, of the kids’ friends over to spend the night. I know that made the kids really happy. Carrie is plugging away at the homeschooling and the boys seem to be doing very well. Kevan and Keenan will be taking a test soon to give us an idea of how they’re doing compared to the “norm”. The test is actually an older one that’s harder than the ones they use today. For some reason the U.S. Education system keeps making their aptitude/achievement tests easier all the time. You can pray that the kids will continue to do well in their schooling as well as on the tests. Jada is getting big and growing up fast. With three older brothers she’s learned to be stubborn and independent at an early age so that she can hold her own. When I talk to the family on the phone and it’s her turn to talk, Carrie will put the phone up to her ear so it’s placed correctly so she can hear me, but she will grab it from Carrie and say, “Me do it.” It’s so cute (I’m sure I won’t think so when she’s a little older), and makes me miss her so much. But I know the Lord is keeping us all in His grace and love and we will be reunited soon.

Praises and Prayer...
- Please join with us in praising the Lord for His goodness to us in providing for our daily needs.
- We also want to thank Him for a healthy pregnancy for Carrie thus far and pray for a continued blessing upon Carrie and the baby in her womb; that the pregnancy, labor, and delivery would all go well.
- Please continue to pray for provision for the ministry in Africa, that we can stay busy, and be able to stay for a long time without having to think about finances.
- Please pray for Jon’s health and safe travels in July, August, and September as he ministers in East Africa.
- Please pray for Carrie and the kids as they stay behind in the States during these months, that the Lord would grant them peace and safety and bless their time together.
- Praise the Lord for His goodness in providing a vehicle for us to use when we are in the States. - Please pray that it will run strong and problem-free for Carrie and the kids while I’m not there.
- We really need language training in order to be more effective in Tanzania. Please make this a matter of prayer on our behalf, as this will cost a few thousand dollars if this is what God wants us to do.
- Lastly, please pray for the funds for a new phone/modem. The Nokia phone that we’ve used for the past two years is about to “give up the ghost”. This is our line to the outside world for both voice calls and Internet/Email access. A new one costs a few hundred dollars (there are no contracts in Africa to offset the cost).