The Silent Page

Today is the first day I have felt somewhat normal in weeks. Many. Weeks. Since I returned from Austria at the beginning of this year, I have been plagued with near debilitating medical issues. I even thought I might not be able to go to Bulembu. Thankfully, a diagnosis was made and medicine was prescribed. But it wasn’t the right solution, and I have since become a guinea pig to doctor’s trying to find the right cocktail that will do the trick. In the meantime, there are days when I can barely get out of bed. Today is the first day I haven’t had a moderately painful headache or full-blown migraine in more than a month. Remnants of PTSD crept back into my life creating anxiety that made me fearful to even leave my home.

And work? Ha. Forget work. If there was enough energy to make it downstairs, I’d consider that a good day. There have been a few projects here and there, for which I am thankful. But my blog…

I consider this blog to be the window to my soul. I know God has called me to write, and I don’t mind opening the shades so people can get a glimpse inside. But I’m the type of writer who believes that writing just for writing’s sake is ineffective and pointless. I’m reminded of the story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar. When he heard that Jesus was coming, he tried to position himself close enough but the crowd was too much. So, he yelled, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd told him to be quiet but Bartimaeus only yelled louder. When Jesus heard his cry, he called him over and asked him what he wanted. He replied, “My rabbi, I want to see.” Instantly, Bartimaeus was healed, and he followed Jesus. (Mark 10:46-52)

Bartimaeus spoke when he needed to and when it mattered most. And when everything was on the line, he didn’t give up. I liken myself to Bartimaeus when it comes to writing. I write only when I feel there’s something important to say. I can’t blog just to blog. I must make a difference. What I write must matter to the reader. Otherwise, why bother? Bartimaeus believed Jesus would heal him if he just yelled loud enough.

This is where the similarities between me and Bart end. I feel like I have been screaming at the top of my lungs, but Jesus hasn’t been listening. Yes, I know in my head that God always hears us. Moving that knowledge about 12 inches lower to my heart is a different story. When depression takes over, you stop believing in everything and everyone, including yourself.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve opened up my blog in the last three weeks, wanting desperately to write something that matters. Instead, I would just wait; not for inspiration but for death to wash over me because I don’t have the courage to do it myself. So, another day would pass and another page would remain silent.

Until today when there is a glimmer of hope. But I’ve seen this movie before. And I know how it ends. I wonder how long the page will remain silent this time.

It isn’t what you think it means

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “adoption”? Like most of the rest of the planet, you probably think adoption means to permanently place a child within the home of another family. But, I’m here to tell you, it isn’t what you think it means. Biblically speaking, adoption means much more than child placement.

The Greek word from which “adoption” is derived is actually a compound of the words that mean “son” and “to place”. So, yes, adoption IS about child placement, but when we look at it from a Biblical perspective, it doesn’t end there. Adoption is also about renewal of creation. (See Romans 8:19-23) Where the Bible is concerned, when you have “adoption” you also have “renewal of creation”. You never have one without the other.

Dan Cruver, from Together for Adoption tells us, “God’s work of adoption will one day result in the comprehensive restoration of all creation so that it becomes the happy home of all of His children. One awe-inspiring day creation will be restored to a home of unceasing communion and fellowship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In that day we will enter into the overflowing and never-ending peace and joy and gladness of our Father.”

It is important to remember that the Christian’s adoption is vertical before there can ever be a horizontal adoption. Once we are welcomed into the family of Christ through adoption, we must then, as a church family, “care for the orphans and widows”, according to Scripture. There are so many ways to do this; to place a child in a home and to create renewal.

One way to discover how to do both is to participate in the National Orphan Sunday, which will be held on November 7, 2010. Visit the link below to find a church in your area that is participating and learn how you can get involved. Check back here often this week as we will discuss more Biblical implications of adoption and how we can all care for orphans in preparation for Orphan Sunday.

 

www.orphansunday.org

 

 

Voices for Bulembu: It’s An Act of Love

He doesn’t give many interviews. In fact, he’s quite the recluse. But Volker Wagner, the man behind the vision that is the Bulembu Foundation just gave his first ever interview to Canada’s National Newspaper, The Globe and Mail; about his work in the town he is devoted to helping rebuild. And he did so with good reason.

This weekend marks the 2010 Voices for Bulembu campaign in which Mr. Wagner and the Canadian Tenors hope to raise $2 million, just about a million dollars more than they raised during last year’s event. And to think, all of this started when Wagner visited Swaziland on a completely different mission.

As a professional businessman, Wagner’s original goal was to help raise funds for an eye clinic in the African country but after a conversation with Swaziland’s king, he ended up walking away with another burden on his heart. The eye clinic opened in 2004 with substantial funding from one source, the Teldon Community Foundation. In the meantime, Wagner was also thinking about Bulembu, the tiny town he had pledged to help restore. Forget that it was a ghost town after the main employer abandoned its citizens and employees after more than 60 years. Forget that the people who did live there were barely alive thanks to the highest AIDS rate in the world. Forget that there are 56,000 AIDS orphans in Swaziland. Forget that two-thirds of the people live on less than $1.25 a day. Wagner saw something in Bulembu; something that made him believe this town could come back stronger than ever.

What Wagner saw was an opportunity to teach a man to fish. He saw an opportunity to be the Hands and Feet of Jesus Christ instead of just throwing money at the problem, hoping it would fix itself or just go away. Through prayer, Wagner says he realized things could be done differently. In 2006, he partnered with numerous business executives who enabled the $1 million deal to buy Bulembu in an effort to restore this town and ultimately restore a nation.

Four years later, the Bulembu Foundation has raised $9 million from donors. Bulembu is now home to 2,000 including 270 orphans and annual revenue is $3 million, with a $250,000 profit. All the money made is pumped back into Bulembu. The vision is to create a completely self-sustaining community while caring for 2,000 orphans by 2020.

The Canadian International Development Agency will grant $500,000 to help convert an old building into a training facility for the hospitality business and a convention centre, which will ultimately bring more people to Bulembu.

The Canadian Tenors joined the efforts of Wagner and the Bulembu Foundation in 2008 after their first visit to Bulembu. They have remained steadfast in their support and are especially passionate about the children of Bulembu. They have recently returned from their second visit and will share stories of the progress being made at two Voices for Bulembu concerts this weekend. The first concert will be held at Mission Hill Winery in Kelowna on Saturday, September 18. This concert is sold out. Their final fundraising concert will be held on Sunday, September 19 at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts.

Wagner, who pours 60 hours a week into the Bulembu Foundation and makes no money from this endeavor, believes another $45 million is needed to achieve all of their goals. This is something in which he finds great personal joy. He doesn’t refer to any of this as a coincidence. It is a God moment, an act of love.

Fans who want to support the Canadian Tenors can make a secure donation by clicking on the banner.

What are you waiting for?

“I believe; but help my unbelief.”

These are the desperate words spoken by a father anxious for healing for his child in the New Testament Book of Mark (Mark 9:24). These are also the words I have often uttered to my Father in Heaven as I have sought healing and hope for my own future. Waiting with hope is hard enough. But waiting for hope is an entirely different story. That’s when my hope turns into doubt and the tug-of-war between belief and unbelief begins.

When I think of the citizens of Bulembu, who have been left with nearly nothing and left to die, I am ashamed to admit my weak faith. They wait with hope, and they wait for hope. This is what we call patience. I often joke that I hear it (patience) is a virtue but I cannot testify!

Those who remain in Bulembu see nothing but sorrow in their cups yet they are willing to drink it because of the conviction that God’s Eyes see further than our own. This is the patience of Job, the patience of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

For such a long time they saw no hint of success but refused to despair. They saw nothing but darkness in the evening sky but kept their shutters open because the stars just might come out on this night. This is the greatest kind of patience, the patience of Job and of Jesus. They waited with hope and for hope.

Hope arrived in the form of the Bulembu Foundation and a vision to restore this town to prosperity and self-sufficiency. Though the stars come out each night, they are far from the bleakness that has consumed their every waking and sleeping moment. But they waited, and in waiting, God is planting the seeds of a brighter tomorrow.

Today I say again, “Lord, I believe but help my unbelief.” My life is full of riches many in Bulembu will never know yet I despair over trivial things. I recall the words of Canadian Tenors member Victor Micallef when he said he wished everyone he knew (and didn’t know) could take a trip to Bulembu to see first-hand what life there is like. I wish I could take him up on the offer! Perhaps I wouldn’t worry so much over such petty and insignificant things. Perhaps then I could wait for hope.

While the Tenors have Voices for Bulembu; working as ambassadors toward reaching the vision for Bulembu, I wonder what else I can do to make a difference. And I wonder why I have to wait. I wait because God’s Eyes see further than my own. I wait because Job waited. I wait because Jesus waited. I wait because the sick and dying and desperate in Bulembu wait. Right now I am waiting with hope. But I want to wait for hope and persevere to know the greatest patience in the universe. Then and only then will I have reached the point of the greatest strength.

What are you waiting for?

(To see how you can help support the Bulembu Foundation and Voices for Bulembu, click on the banner below.)

Guest Post – J. Doug Settle

Jesus said,“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest…”
(Matthew 11:28 NASB)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has presented real problems in living for many.  This is especially true in the lives of those combat veterans who returned and are returning from past and present wars. The problems have called for genuine solutions, but those currently in place seem to fall short of reaching a healthy and manageable goal. The question becomes: Are there really any legitimate answers for effectively dealing with or managing PTSD?

While I personally will not discount or endorse the legitimacy or illegitimacy of the many proposed remedies, I do support the solutions as presented in the Word of God for its proposals in dealing with this destructive malady. As the above verse promises, God offers those who are “weary” – tired, exhausted, or worn out – as well as those who are “heavy-laden” – carrying around a heavy burden in life, including dealing with matters stemming from PTSD – to come to Him. Those who do are promised “rest”; the kind of rest that brings peace of mind, inner harmony, a tranquil and refreshed soul.

Why then are many missing out on experiencing God’s rest remedies for their souls? Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” God wants us to take His Word seriously! God has provided His many promises, principles and provisions to live by. The wise man will hear and obey what God has provided. The problem occurs when the unbelieving man as well as the believing man will not pay attention to God’s Word and Will. PTSD will never be sufficiently personally dealt with until that aspect of life is finally decided on.

In my newly released book, From Stress to Faith Rest, I share my own combat experiences in the Vietnam War and my continued struggles with PTSD. I also go on to share God’s provisions for dealing with my problems in living. I would like to report that God has taken all the pain and horror away and that full healing has occurred. That would be untrue. What has happened is that God has provided legitimate answers for dealing with and managing the problems in living from the stressors inherent in PTSD. He has also provided His peace and rest, making those available to be expressed in my inner and outer life. In that sense, and that sense only, has healing occurred; at least in my case!

While there are some Biblical counselors who would discount the inner workings of man, my book goes on to express how the inner makeup of man is meant to function in life. There are diagrams included that help one understand the Scriptural dynamics involved and how God’s Word is meant to be applied in the crucible of everyday living.

Ultimate healing will one day occur in the lives of those who have personally trusted in the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ, but for now, experientially, one must learn to rely on God’s Word and Will for living life. I have tested and tasted God’s word for over thirty five years and have discovered that Jesus’ promise of “rest” is true. After all, it is He who also said, “…I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6 NASB). Are we willing to go to Him?

To find out more about my book,, visit my website, “Chapel at China Sea” at http://www.jdougsettle.com.