One. Forever.

It has been 565 days. 565! 565 days ago, Tiffany and I officially submitted our application to adopt a little girl from China; and even then, it was a journey eleven years in the making. It's been a long road to this point, but within hours of you reading this, Tiffany and I will board a plane to fly the 7,818 miles to Wuhan, China, the city where we will be united with Mia for the very first time. 

It has been 274 days. 274! 274 days ago, Tiffany and I got the referral on the little girl who would come to be known as Mia. This came after a time I felt the urge to pray, just before answering a call from our case worker about a little girl who needed a forever family. While I was praying, our case worker saw Mia's picture and thought of us. It is true. All of it. Next Monday, the face that we have only seen in pictures will be nose-to-nose to us. We will be hers. She will be ours. 

It has been 237 days. 237! 237 days ago, China generated a letter granting us preliminary approval to adopt this little girl. It was Christmas Day, and Mia received her middle name: Noelle. 

It's been 64 days. 64! 64 days ago we got our letter of acceptance to officially adopt Mia Noelle. 4 lives changed. Forever.

It's been 13 days. 13! 13 days ago we got our travel approval to fly to China to go get Mia. The journey wasn't quite finished, because we still had some things yet to be scheduled, but we were close. 

It's been 9 days. 9! 9 days ago we got the date for when we would have our appointment at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China to set in motion the events that will make Mia not only a Jordan, but a U.S. citizen. Forever. 

It's been 8 days. 8! 8 days ago we booked our travel package and the final countdown commenced. The time had come. All that separated us from Mia was one more week...one more week...until we could get to where we wanted to be some 20 months ago. 

And now we look forward. 

5 more days. 5! Only 5 more days until the little face we saw in those pictures every day for 9 months will be nose-to-nose to ours. 

6 more days. 6! Only 6 more days until we sign the paperwork to say we will be her forever family. 

13 more days. 13! Only 13 more days until we take the oath that will set in motion the events that will result in Mia not only being a Jordan, but an American. Forever. 

16 more days. 16! Only 16 more days until we board a plan that will carry us the 8002 miles to bring us back into the United States. When that plane lands at JFK in New York, Mia will be a Jordan and an American. Then it's on to Atlanta where a whole new journey begins. 

581 days. More than 17,000 miles. 1 little girl. 1 family. An eternity of difference. 

It's been a long journey that at times has been hopeless and filled with hope. Seeming to last forever and flying by. And here we are. In just a matter of days, we will be able to fulfill our mission to bring Mia home and then begin the long and intentional process of helping her assimilate into our family and culture. It won't always be easy; in fact, there are times that it will be tough and heartbreaking. As a friend of mine who adopted once said, "Adoption begins with tragedy." But there's something to be said about the love of God. God's love brings hope out of the hopelessness that invades our lives. Throughout all the difficulties, Tiffany and I know it would not be possible without the love and support of our friends, our families, and our precious church. 

So now we're down to 1. 1! Only one more day until we board the plane. Though it is just the two of us that will buckle up, there will be hundreds if not thousands of people who will embark on that journey with us. From buying t-shirts and crafts, to giving monetary gifts, running miles, to praying us through this process full of ups and downs, so many people and gestures of love will board that plane with us. All for one little girl, abandoned as a newborn in July of 2012, who has never known a mom and dad, yet now has a huge and loving family. 

There is so much more to say, but I have bags to pack and a plane to board. I have an ocean to cross and a daughter to claim. And while I do, I will remember and celebrate the God who claimed me as His own, welcoming me into His forever family. I will carry with me the love and grace of my own forever family that has helped us get to this point in our lives. And I will look forward to being back together with you so we can celebrate what God has done in all of our lives. But until then, remember Tiffany and me as we travel; Ethan as he stays behind with his grandparents to stay current with his school work; and Mia as her life is about to change. Forever. 

One little girl, brought into one family, by one great God, who wants for us all to be together. 

One. Forever.

Back to School Survival Kit

Can you believe that the start of a new school year is upon us? By the end of the week, the majority of our students and educators will be back in the school grind. There are so many opportunities for a new school year, but a bunch of challenges as well. That being the case, I thought I'd share this "Back to School Survival Kit" with you, to offer some encouragement as the reading, writing, and arithmetic resumes in earnest:

·       Toothpick: To remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.

ü  Do not judge, or you too will be judged. (Matthew 7:1)

·       Rubber Band: To remind you to be flexible, things might not always to the way you want, but it will work out.

ü  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

·       Band-Aid: To remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else's.

ü  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)

·       Pencil: To remind you to list your blessings every day.

ü  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

·       Eraser: To remind you that everyone makes mistakes and it's okay.

ü  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

·       Chewing Gum:  To remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything with Jesus.

ü   I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

·       Mint: To remind you that you are worth a mint to your Heavenly Father.

ü  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

·       Candy Hugs: To remind you that everyone needs a hug every day.

ü  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)

May the items in this “Back to School Survival Kit” be of assistance to you at the start of this new school year, or for your next lesson in the proverbial school of hard knocks.

The Journey

As you are probably aware, Tiffany and I are awaiting word for when we can go to China to bring Mia home. To say this has been a journey is an understatement! Since we filed our application and initial paperwork in January of 2014, we have been on a road of ups and downs, zigs and zags, and now find ourselves waiting until we get to travel.

The support we have received from friends, family, and complete strangers has been awe inspiring and humbling. From the time we made our official announcement, to the sales of the t-shirts Ethan designed, to the ongoing fundraising and baby showers, to the RACE for the Orphans, and simple random acts of kindness, people have rallied around our family in ways that can only be comprehended in light of God's grace. It has been nothing short of amazing!

While we are in this waiting phase and preparing to travel, Tiffany and I are beginning to learn more about the culture and area where Mia has spent the first 2+ years of her life. From the landscape to language, we are working to familiarize ourselves as best we can to help facilitate her transition to our family and an altogether different environment.

During my research and study, I discovered something intriguing about the Chinese proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Since one cannot perfectly translate the Chinese dialects into English, there is a nuance that seems to be missing. Based on what I have read about this proverb, it is probably more accurately translated, “A journey of a thousand miles begins before a single step.” The implied message being that before one can begin a journey, he or she must decide from a position of stillness that this is the journey to take.

As I reflect over that proverb, the simple addition of the word, before, is truly significant. From the moment when Tiffany and I separately felt God calling us to this, through the stages when we were busy reading, writing, and attending classes, and even through the waiting periods similar to what we are experiencing now, we each have that sense that we are called to this journey. This has helped motivate us when we were overwhelmed with things to do, as well as keep us focused during the times when all we can do is wait.

God has called each and every one of us to some form of journey in our lives. The individual burdens and passions we bear are what reveals to us the ministry God has called us to in order to serve the world. This ministry/journey is not merely for the ordained or the vocational Christians, but each and every one who professes faith in Christ. Think of Jesus telling Peter he was going to teach him to fish for people…this is the essence of using our lives in service to God.

Where are you in your journey? Are you standing still, waiting on a word from God as to where to go? Have you already begun your journey and see yourself actively working to serve God by serving others? Or are you perhaps in a transitional period where you might be shifting gears or changing lanes? May we continue our journey with faith and perseverance, regardless of how far along we are or how much farther we still have to go. We might be standing still waiting to take that first step, or somewhere between miles 1 and 1,000, but through it all, we can be bold and courageous because God is with us and promises never leave nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

May we all press on in our journeys...the ones we have been called to for the cause of Jesus Christ! I thank you for being such an integral part of our journey, and I’m eager to see where it takes us next.

See you along the road,

While I'm Waiting

Perhaps you heard that we have experienced a bit of a delay in our adoption process. Nothing bad has happened, but after the Chinese government made some changes in international adoption policies and procedures, our original travel target of April or May has been pushed to August or September. Initially this felt like a kick in the gut since we put so much emphasis on the spring timetable, but hindsight being what it is, we see God's hand all over us.

Waiting typically isn't easy, is it? We don't like waiting in line, waiting in traffic, or waiting for someone who is running late for an appointment. When forced to wait we can get anxious, look around to see if anyone else is moving at a pace we'd rather be moving, or even begin to wonder if we are at the right place at the right time. Waiting isn't easy, but some pretty special things can happen in the time we are forced to wait if we open ourselves to the possibilities and God's presence with us through the process. Keeping our eyes and heart open to what God wants to do with, in, and for us can help to mitigate the fatigue and frustration we undoubtedly will experience while we wait.

Isaiah 40:28-31 is perhaps the most well known passage that provides guidance for us in the times we are forced to wait: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (NKJV)

Interestingly enough, the RACE for the Orphans we participated in, and received a generous adoption grant thanks to everyone who supported the cause, came shortly after we realized that we were going to have to wait a little longer to bring Mia home. It was good medicine for my body and soul as I participated in my first official race. I started off strong, but must admit that I did get tired and thought about walking the remainder of the route just past the second mile mark. Something came over me, though, as I started thinking and celebrating through prayer not only why I was running, but also why I was waiting. Reorienting my thoughts gave me the perspective I needed to channel that inner strength to finish the race and continue to wait with purpose and perseverance. After the race, I was tired and sweaty, but exuberant.

Tiffany and I were afforded the opportunity to meet Christian recording artist John Waller, who was there to perform at the event. As an adoptive father himself, Waller was very interested in our story and he offered his support for the rest of the journey. He asked where we were in the process, and I led off with the fact that our timeline had been pushed back a few months, and he acknowledged that waiting can often be the hardest part. He told Tiffany and me that he would sing his hit song, “While I'm Waiting,” in our honor and as a prayer for us to be faithful to God while we wait.

Honesty, I had heard the song quite a bit, but the lyrics for the chorus struck me in a way they never had before: “While I'm waiting, I will serve You; while I'm waiting, I will worship; while I'm waiting, I will not faint, I'll be running the race, even while I wait.” That last phrase — I'll be running the race, even while I wait — proved to be so inspirational to me after running my first official race while waiting for the word to travel to bring Mia home. It brought the Isaiah passage into the forefront of my consciousness to remind me that waiting is not always a bad thing.

BIG things have happened in the midst of our waiting since that morning in early May. Even though I have gotten fatigued and frustrated with things not going my way, I can clearly see the work that God is doing in our adoption journey, in my family, and in my heart. Admittedly it feels like I'm running uphill at times, but there is power in continuing to serve and worship God in the midst of waiting. So now as we (hopefully) make the turn toward the last leg in this waiting process, I am bearing down to channel that inner strength, and prayerfully celebrate all God has done, is doing, and promises to do for us in order to finish the race. That way, when the time comes to board the plane and soar across the world on wings like eagles, I will not be weary, but rather empowered by our omnipotent God. I might be a sweaty mess by the time we get there, but I know I will be stronger for it.

From Fear to Faith*

I cannot necessarily say I’m a man’s man. I mean, sure, I love sports and a good action movie, but I’ve never been terribly macho or one to take risks. Now honestly, I know those stereotypical things are not what makes a man, but let’s face it, we can be deceived into thinking such silliness. When we began our adoption journey, there was a particular risk-aversion I had to overcome: money. With the estimated costs of adoption in the neighborhood of $30,000, this wasn’t just daunting, it was practically debilitating. I had shared this fear with two other godly men, both of whom adopted internationally, and each one said almost the exact same thing to me: don’t let money be an obstacleto adoption.

Those words rumbled through my head and my heart as I considered all the times Tiffany and I had talked about adoption.Everything began to change at the end of 2013, when within the span of a few short weeks the Lord confirmed the call to adoption in our hearts. We completed the initial application process, but I could not get past the expense of adoption as I wondered and worried from where the money would come; that is until Tiffany said something to me that put it all in perspective: if we can pay for a minivan, we can pay for an adoption. That one commentgave me a tangible point of reference and I was able to fully commit.

Taking up the cause of the fatherless is a biblical mandate (Isaiah 1:17 | Psalm 82:3), and if it’s important to God, He will make a way. It was critically important for me as the leader of our household to trust in God and the calling He placed upon our lives. With that trust, I shared the calling with our family. Sure there were some skeptics, but we received love and unwavering support from those who knew us best. Next, we felt movement when I shared the call to adopt with our church family. The synergistic power of the Holy Spirit began surging through our church in amazing ways as they overwhelmingly answered the callto walk with us in our adoption journey. Then, we took our story out into the greater community and connected with people and organizations that share a passion for orphan care. That was whenthe unbelievable commenced as God blew our minds by strengthening existing relationships; forging new relationships with others on differing stages of a similar journey; and before we knew it, the need was met.

Did you know that humans process fear and faith in the same part of the brain, the amygdala? Personally, I had to get over the fear of not having enough money and turn it into faith in the One who moves mountains. It started with a little perspective from my wife,grew as I learned to trust in God, and really began changing my life when we connected with others who also believe in taking up the cause of the fatherless. As I look back, it is nothing short of miraculous, but it is more than just dollars and cents…miracles occur when people rally together to answer God’s call, each one doing his or her part, to make a difference in the life of others.

Speaking to you man to man, let me share something from the bottom of my heart: where God plants the vision, God provides the provision. I admit that part of this journey for me has been more of a test of faith than finances, but when I gained a little perspective, trusted more deeply in the Lord, answered God’s call, and connected with other followers of Jesus, miraclesmaterialized. This is God’s business and I am convinced He is looking for ways to bless all of His children.

So allow me to close with the same advice I had to receive twice to truly understand: don’t let money be an obstacle to adoption. If God is giving you a vision, God will give you the provision. Trust me, not because I’m a man’s man, but because I overcame my fear with faith and trust in my heavenly Father who has given us all amandate: to take up the cause of the fatherless.

Aflame

This past Sunday we experienced a wonderful convergence in the calendar for the Christian year – and Methodism in particular – as we celebrated Pentecost and Aldersgate Day.

Pentecost is the day we celebrate GOD’s sending of the Holy Spirit to be the counselor and guide Jesus promised. The Book of Acts tells us that when the Holy Spirit came, it blew into the room where the disciples were and rested like tongues of flame above their heads. This blessed the disciples with the ability to share the good news of Jesus with a diverse array of people in their own languages.

Aldersgate Day is the day we remember a profound experience that John Wesley (the founder of Methodism) had when he realized that GOD did indeed love him and forgave him of his sin. Wesley described this experience as feeling his heart strangely warmed, which ignited a passion within him that inspired a global movement of revival to share the love of GOD in Jesus Christ.

As we consider both Pentecost and Aldersgate Day through an important theological lens, we realize that both deal with the fact the GOD loves us enough to meet us where we are, but too much to leave us there. Pentecost enabled and empowered the disciples to share the love of GOD with people across the world in a way that was meaningful to those who needed to hear the good news of Jesus. Similarly, the Methodist movement has been characterized with deploying followers of Jesus across the globe in such a way as to share the gospel with people within their own context. At Cokes Chapel, this is precisely what we mean when we talk about making disciples to transform the world here, there, and everywhere!

My favorite John Wesley quote is, “Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come from miles to watch you burn.” I think this is a perfect quote to consider with the other two metaphors of fire – the tongues of flame on Pentecost and the warming love of GOD that changed Wesley’s heart, and as a result, the world – as we think about our own passion for who GOD is and what GOD has done for us.

Have you surrendered your life in such a way that you can be ignited with the Holy Spirit? Are you aflame with passion thanks to the love of GOD in Jesus Christ? Are you aflame with passion to share that with others? The world is in desperate need of people who will passionately share the love of Jesus by meeting people in the midst of their need.

John Wesley made it his practice to go where the people were, since GOD’s did the exact same thing in sending Jesus and the Holy Spirit. May we be aflame with the love of GOD and experience GOD’s life-changing power as we seek to meet people where they are, catch on fire with enthusiasm for the Lord, and share that message with all the world!

Rest Area

Well folks, we made it... we finished our “U-Turns Allowed” message series. As we closed the series this past week, we explored the need to develop a healthy rhythm of living – working, and resting – as we continue in the long journey down Jesus Road (Rest Area).

The growth of the highway rest area arose during the interstate construction project under President Eisenhower. Rest areas — initially called, safety rest areas — were places for people to make a pit stop right off the highway to stretch their legs, use the restrooms, get some nourishment, and rest before resuming the journey. Additionally, the vision for these rest areas was to provide a park-like environment where people could experience some grass amongst the asphalt and take advantage of facilities that were to be built as an homage to local architecture as a way to help deal with the unintended consequences that the interstates had on the small towns that dried up when tourists were no longer traveling through.

You can see that the idea of the rest area has a pretty insightful spiritual connection with our journey down Jesus Road. We need a regular time and place to pause in the midst of our journey without exiting Jesus Road. We need time to recharge, replenish, refuel, and recover in the midst of a long journey. Without the proper rest, we will wear down so badly in mind, body, and soul that we are no use to self, others, or God. Just as a rest area on the highway provides regular opportunities for rest and replenish, God gave us sabbath to do the same for our spiritual lives.

The 4^th of the 10 Commandments is to remember the sabbath and keep it holy. Exodus 20:8-11 teaches us that God worked for 6 days creating the world and everything in it, and on the 7^th day, God rested. The sabbath, therefore, is a for us to remember God’s work, and to remind us to rest from ours.

Observing the sabbath requires a rhythmic discipline of learning to live, work, and rest with God. Admittedly, resting is something we often struggle with, because of the high value of work we place in our culture. But think about it: to not rest in the Lord is a violation of the 4^th Commandment and a sin. Staggering thought, isn’t it?

When we aren’t resting, we are wearing ourselves out, no doubt about it. Then when it comes to experience the rhythms of life and grace, we often have to force it, leaving us even more exhausted! Consider The Message version of Jesus’ words as recorded in Matthew 11:28-30, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Sounds great, doesn't it? Recovery of life…taking a real rest…learning the rhythms of life and grace from the Lord Jesus Himself. And it really is, but we’ll never get there if we do not take the time to recharge, replenish, refuel, and recover in the midst of life’s journey. We need rest areas so we can pause without exiting Jesus Road, keeping us sharp for the rest of our journey. This prevents us from getting worn out that we take matters into our own hands and refuse to yield to Jesus; we won’t get so burned out that we lose patience with others and refuse to help them merge onto Jesus Road; we won’t get so tired that we decide to quit (No Parking) at the first sign of trouble or hazards on the road (Slippery Road Ahead). We must remember that our journey down Jesus Road is a lifelong journey that begins when we decide to make a U-Turn to think and live differently, thanks to the love and grace of God.

U-Turns are allowed and will change your life! Keep easing on down the road, and don’t let the troubles of the world keep you from persevering. There are others in the world who need your life experience and perspective to help them keep going when the going gets tough, so continue to follow Jesus and learn to enjoy the regular and rhythmic rest that God gives (and commands!) you to take so you are ready for what the journey has in store for you.