“You will listen and listen, yet never understand” (Acts 28:26). Never understand refers to a stifling inability. The Greek definition for “understanding” is “assembling of individual facts into an organized whole, as collecting pieces of a puzzle and putting them together.” This is displayed when the mind grasps concepts and sees the proper relationship between them. Do you understand what is at stake?

If we cease to surrender to all God has for us this also hinders the ability to understand how certain circumstances are to come together for your good and his glory. We will have a spiritual disconnect only seeing specific experiences rather than how they are connecting the pieces of our divine puzzle. I can tell you God is at work in your life and you may physically hear me but you may have limited the ability to understand. When we develop a more cooperative spirit we in turn develop a greater understanding of God’s purposes. Many of those experiences still hurt, but I find comfort in seeing their eventual usefulness as part of the final piece of the puzzle (Romans 8:28-29).

“You will look and look, yet never perceive” (Acts 28:26). Perceived in the Greek means,” which merges the ability to see with the ability to know.” When we decline to cooperate with God in the midst of difficult times we hinder the ability to see past the obvious and the physical. The work of the Holy Spirit allows us to perceive spiritual and eternal works in the present season of life.

I will never forget the day I began to experience back pain out of nowhere and the unbelievable places it would take me. Initially Doctors saw a cyst on my spine that could result in instantly being paralyzed.  I presented myself before the Deacons of my church for prayer and believe I was miraculously healed. Later they discovered my rods were taken out of my back too early, from a previous auto accident, so my back was curved and inverted in the same spot which entailed extensive surgery. My Mentor had spiritual wisdom to assign people to pray throughout my surgery (I believe it was suppose to take 18hrs). The Surgeon had tightened one of the screws in my back too tight and my spine began to swell causing me to be paralyzed. Rushed back into surgery to loosen the screws resolved the problem of being paralyzed. When I was in my initial auto accident the Doctors were amazed at how well my back healed so please understand at that time I couldn’t wrap my little mind around the need for another surgery. With spiritual insight I now understand God was removing me from the path I was on at that time. He had another plan for me and I had been less than cooperative. I can’t even imagine how my life would look now if I had not surrendered to his plan for my life and opted to give up.

“This people’s heart has grown callous” (Acts 28:27). The Greek word for callous means, “to make fat…calloused as if from fat.” We understand that lack of exercise and diet results in fat around the heart in the physical realm and I believe God is displaying it as truth in the spiritual realm as well. Are you walking in faith? Getting your daily bread (word of God)? To obtain the optimal physique requires new exercises because muscles are smart and easily adjust to routine.  If you have been riding a bike for years at the same speed and see little results that is why. Religion has the same results spiritually. We’ve all been hurt by loving someone. But if we resist exercising our hearts by loving God and loving others our hearts will become fat! God graciously provided these warnings for us out of his love and understanding of human nature, take heed. The individual piece you are holding now is a key piece in the divine puzzle of your life.

At first glance, one may wonder why God would call a girl with a love for fashion and make-up to Sudan. If you dig a little deeper- you will find this girl is lavished in grace and desperate to make her heavenly father proud.  Who knows? God knows-You could be a piece of the puzzle for reaching Sudan. At first glance it may not appear to fit but once the piece is in place it gives vision to the entire puzzle. My Sudan puzzle requires many individual pieces and presently waiting for a few more pieces to be put in place.

I believe if physical healing was all that Malta truly needed God would have used Luke rather than leading them to the true source, Jesus Christ. This testimony leads us to believe God desired to heal them spiritually as well. What if Paul would have taken the credit? It’s easy to believe this was not a temptation of Paul’s for many reasons but what about us? Are we willing to step aside and allow God to get all the credit in our lives? When God allows us to participate in something that only God can do we have to be careful to give credit where credit is due.

Many who read this are not aware of my health history. God permitted a season for me that entailed daily leg and back pain for two- and-a-half years. I believe God allowed me to experience relief by the hands of Doctors and medicine however I was never diagnosed or healed. My last Doctor visit I was not only told there was no further assistance available for me but I should be alarmed by any Doctor suggesting otherwise. I will never forget leaving that office and saying out loud, “Well God, it’s all in your hands.” Within the next couple of weeks I was completely pain free and have not struggled with pain since. I believe it was a two-fold miracle: His sustaining grace for two-and-a-half years brought me to his thrown on a daily basis, unveiling my eyes to the one and only true source. To wake up one morning pain free and never suffer pain like that since is a miracle. I can’t tell you that I would like to experience it over again but I will tell you that I believe the sustaining grace to be just as miraculous as the instant healing. Only God!

Has life presented you with an obstacle? I can direct you to the source of all healing. The majority of us seek out the quick fix from any source whether it is physical, financial or relational. If you feel tempted to give up because your time frame has lapsed or you’ve lost hope, I beg you to hold on. By the power of his word I promise you, his grace is sufficient and will sustain you when you allow it. Don’t pass up experiencing the miraculous work of God.

Izzy, I’m healed. Also available on itunes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ul8WQZbfWk

Shortly after his resurrection, Jesus decides to join two friends veiled as a stranger. The journey leaving Jerusalem allotted time to share their story of despair, unfortunately Cleopas was the only one recorded saying what everyone else was feeling, “But we had hoped that he was the one.” Jesus quickly responds, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” In the Greek the word for “hope” means ”confident expectation” Jesus told his followers what to “expect” and reminded them that a victorious ending would follow the cross. When Jesus gives us his word, He wants us to live in absolute expectation of it, trusting that whether it happens now or later, you can believe it will happen!

Have you ever found it interesting that not one of the disciples insisted on staying with Jesus after all they had experienced with him? Do I have to list the miracles? Peter was following Jesus but at a distance. Obviously, if he would have stayed with Christ he wouldn’t have denied him. Fear must have overtaken them all but the distance made one disciple especially vulnerable. Anytime we find ourselves drifting into the crowd or attempting to remain unidentifiable, we are inadvertently placing ourselves toward denial.

Peter distances himself a little further to warm his hands by the fire joining “the servants and officials” in the middle of the courtyard. We are all sent to be witnesses to those who do not know Christ however we need to be extremely cautious about whom we are warming our hands with by the same fire. Only hours ago Peter was willing to kill these very men for Christ but now reluctant to die for him.

I’m so thankful this is not the end of the story. Only Christ could see past Peter’s puffed-up exterior there was a heart after God. Peter had fallen but his faith did not fail. After a season of sifting he was used to strengthen his brothers. There is a price for distance. Cling dear one, Cling.

The Passover meal was prepared by Peter and John, as all the disciples joined around the table at sundown. Jesus took the father role in the observance. He poured the first of four cups of wine and everyone rose from the table as he recited the blessing (Luke 22:17). Tradition explains they would observe a ceremonial washing and break the unleavened bread. Immediately they would enact Exodus 12:26-37 as the youngest child would provoke the father to tell the story.

The four cups of wine served at the Passover meal represented the four expressions, or “I wills” of God’s promised deliverance. Jesus would now pour the second cup of wine while narrating the story of Israel’s exodus. Only Jesus knew by the very next sundown he would be the very fulfillment. The third cup was traditionally taken after the supper was eaten. Exodus 6:6: “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.”

Luke tells us that Jesus would not drink from this third cup until the coming of the Kingdom of God. Surely this had the disciple’s heads spinning? They were all bound to the law and in that moment Jesus signified the release of a new covenant that would be written in blood. He became the third cup and poured out his life for the redemption of all mankind. Soon his body would be broken so that the bread of life could be distributed to all who would sit at his table. Every part of the Passover meal was highly symbolic, but it had no meaning at all without the lamb.

 Just another day or is it? What are some “I wills” God has given to you? God has gone to great lengths writing the blueprint of your life. The tasks God assigns to us are never trivial and the ultimate goal in any work is to reveal himself. I’m sure Peter and John were not thrilled about preparing the Passover meal. The Passover involved a fairly elaborate meal with a very specific setting. I’m quite certain there was some grumbling involved because they had no idea as to the significance of the work God had called them to do that day. We may not be able to grasp the significance of today at this time, but eventually we will “get it.” Just another day?

Perhaps God’s timing was never more deliberate than in the events that were about to unfold. Passover was approaching and Jesus was resolved to fulfill the gospel that had been preached to Abraham.  The Pharisee’s had come to their fill of Jesus with his triumphal entry and his cleansing of the temple. To the present religious establishment, Jesus’ presence was finally becoming more than his opposition could handle.

A new year on Israel’s calendar had just begun.  There was no way for anyone to grasp this would be the most sacred year in all of history. The Kingdom clock rang and Christ declared “the year of the Lord’s favor.” Life for us would never be the same. Hallelujah! May our hearts be resolved this week to fulfill our part in the gospel. Will you partner with me in praying for those who have not accepted the good news of Jesus during this Holy week?

Lord, we are so grateful-and-awed that you do not delay your promise, as some understand delay, but rather you are patient with us, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), to be saved, to come to the knowledge of truth (1 Timothy 2:4). May many understand today-especially those I know and care about- that now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Amen!

We’ve all hoped for a miracle at one time or another with the assumption it would solve everyone’s problems.  Knowing God wants to be found. The question begs, are you willing to be a miracle? Your neighbor may be waiting for an invitation to church, a kind word or deed. A co-worker may need a word of encouragement to sustain this present season of life.  A contribution to partner with my call to Sudan is a miracle. God wants to be found and he chose his followers to point the way. Are you willing to be a miracle today?

Greetings from the Land of Missionaries.

Tonight I board a plane for Djibouti and Somalia to join three colleagues in investigating how we as an organization can move to engage the Somali with The unmatched love of Jesus.  A recent security training advised us to craft statements whenever we travel to dangerous places in the event of ordained misfortune.  The statements may help a confused world understand what we Live and die for.  Here is ours:

Are we missionaries? Of course we are Christians!

Christians have the joy and responsibility to bear witness to what God has done in Christ.  In a world full of brokenness, there is Good News. Jesus came to reconcile men and women to each other and to God.  Christians bear witness of this by their words,
their actions, and their prayers expressing the comprehensive love of God to mankind – for God loves our minds, our bodies, and our souls.  Missionaries then are Christians who have been sent with this good news to all tribes and peoples of the earth.  It is the great honor of our lives to be trusted with this good news, this gospel, trusted to communicate it clearly and respectfully to all nations. 
 
This world needs more missionaries, not less. 

Missionaries build schools, drill wells, and establish hospitals.  Missionaries engage culture respectfully, learning local languages,celebrating what is good, speaking against injustice, speaking for those too weak or abused to speak for themselves.  Missionaries often love their adopted countries as much as natural citizens do. Missionaries exalt Christ and point to Him as the only answer for our common sin problem, and the only hope for lasting peace. Those who accept Christ as Lord and Savior – from any tribe and nation – find peace with themselves, their neighbors, and their God.  They are a blessing to their families and society.  They are loyal to their families, faithful to their authorities, and servants to their communities.
 
Let it be known that missionaries serve with great joy and awe.  We are amazed that God chooses to send us, frail and foolish as we are, to let the world know that He indeed is good, He surely is loving, and He is the source of all truth.  By our service, by our imprisonment, by our lives, and if necessary by our deaths we want to communicate that there is one hope for this world.  This hope is not a system or an army or a program or a monetary fund.  The one hope of the world is Jesus.  Jesus, the Divine Christ is the only one who can get to the root of the problem of earth – the sin in each of our hearts.  Jesus is the only sin bearer.  Having undeservedly received forgiveness by accepting Jesus death for us on the cross, we unashamedly and without apology carry the news of this opportunity to everyone, everywhere.
 
Jesus is the one hope of Somalia.  Though the problems of Somalia seem overwhelming, the answer is as simple as it is difficult. The answer for Somalia is transformed hearts.  Only with transformed hearts can a people address the immense challenges of education,health, poverty, politics, tribalism, piracy, legalism, and fragmented society. We are not naïve.  We realize that missionaries are ridiculed by some, resented by others, and feared by the misinformed.  We engage the precious Somali people despite risk, for the life that Jesus offers to them is worth any cost to us– however painful.

Somali’s have a right to know Jesus loves them so much, that He too was willing to die. 
Life comes from death, and it is our great assurance that one day the Somali will truly live.
Your Sent Ones
Dick and Jennifer Brogden
Luke and Zack

Family fights can be the most painful.  My uncle has not spoken to my father in almost 25 years. A Sudanese friend who pastors a Nuer congregation here in Sudan, tried to broker a peace deal Between warring ministers and was bit for his trouble.  Sometimes the misunderstandings areBenign, sometimes painful, and sometimes humorous. Sometimes they are all three.

The Ness family were ambling their way to our house some time ago for a community meeting. They walked side by side on the dusty street. The Overturf family pulled into the street behind them, all 7 Overturfs crowded in the family van. Suddenly, two Arabs on a motorbike darted behind the Nesses in full view of the Overturfs Snatched something out of Chris Ness’s back pocket and raced off.  Steve Overturf recognized the chance Of a lifetime and floored it.  His five kids and wife screaming “THIEF!  THIEF!” out the windows, the chase was On.  Eventually the dusty streets won, and the motorbike skidded out of control spilling its guilty riders.

One rider got away, but Steve pounced on the other, and hauled him off to the police station where the kindly Men at arms, applied themselves diligently and soon beat the fellow until he was bleeding. It was at about this juncture Steve realized that the item stolen from Chris’s pocket was a Bible. The rest of us of course ribbed Steve mercilessly.  “This poor Arab Muslim was so desperate to get his Hands on a Bible that he did whatever he could to obtain one, only to have the missionary hunt him Down, turn him over to the police, and have him beaten until he bleeds.” I imagine the poor fellow is still in a cell somewhere, thanking the Lord that he is privileged to suffer for The word.

All the above is a precursor to asking for your prayer.  Southern Sudan is voting this week, desirous of Independence from the Arab and Muslim North.  Though I disagree with the decision strategically, I understand The sentiment.  Yet I can not help but feel sadness that this nation is being divided and that the consequences On access to the Gospel are sobering. 

On the encouraging side, though Steve may have taken one Bible back, we did give out 1,000,000 copies of Luke over the last few months in 25 Northern Arab cities.  It was a God team effort.  Light for the Lost, SRG, First Fruit, AMI, The Bible Society and others provided the funds.  YWAM, Local churches and believers did a massive distribution. Not knowing if or when the doors will close, we wanted to get as many scriptures into the hands of Muslims as we can. God was faithful to empower this saturation effort.  Time will tell the reconciliation it brings. 99,999 Bibles to the good.

Dick and Jennifer Brogden
Luke and Zack

Missionary Family I will be working with in Sudan.

The referendum will allow the South of Sudan to be an independent Nation. The month of January is going to be marked in commemoration of independence of the new nation of South Sudan. Ironically though, January is also the month Old Sudan is celebrating its independence.

The relentless tension between the old and the new. I’m so thankful we serve a God who desires to do “a new thing” (Is 43:19) yet in only a way God can do, he reconciles the Old. Acts 9:22 displays Saul (later known as Paul) displaying this very act. Saul proved to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. The word “proved” means “to cause to come together, to bring together…to join or knit together.” Saul knit together the Old Testament Law and Prophets with their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.  They just hadn’t recognized the One about whom the scriptures were written. May Christ reconcile the old and the new for Sudan so that ALL may recognize the ONE who is mighty to save!

Your word is clear, “Pay attention to me, my people and listen to me, My nations, for instruction will come from me, and my justice for a light to the nations. I will bring it about quickly. My righteousness is near, My salvation appears, and My arms will bring justice to the nations. The coastlands will put their hope in me, and they will look to my strength” (Isa. 51:4-5). Lord allow us to be part of this great work in our day, in whatever form you desire. “Speak, for your servant is listening” (I Sam 3:10).

For more information: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12033185