Trinity Baptist Ministries

I am sitting today at our fireworks stand. I have brought many projects to do in the down time. One of these projects in cutting squares for quilts. As I cut I make two piles; one of squares and the other of scrap. Many times I look at the scrap and think, “What a waste.” If only I could think of a good way to use the scrap. I am reminded how God prunes and cuts away the scrap so we can be used for a project. Sometimes we may think that a particular scrap is useful or I especially like the pattern of the material. In God’s great patchwork quilt some pieces just won’t fit. They are scrap, to be cut away. So a beautiful quilt can be made. Let us not hold on to that which God is so carefully cutting away.

Oh, and keep your fingers away from the blade. It is sharp. Is seems there could be another lesson there. I will let you draw the application.

I have been sitting in a firework’s tent in Neenah attempting to raise some money for my college age children. During the downtimes - which are many the first week - I have time to read and cannot do much else.

I read a book recommended to Lin called “The Shack.” It is a novel-with-an-agenda. The author uses a story about a man named Mack to challenge our thinking about God.

I enjoyed the book, read it in parts of two days. There is enough action to keep interest while the author is hammering home his agenda.

I found most of the book a confirmation of much I have been thinking about God in recent years. A couple of times I would read a paragraph and wonder if I agreed with the theology being presented. At times he flirted with open-theism. I then reminded myself that the book was a novel written with an agenda and that most of his ideas were great.

I would strongly recommend this book to adults who have some time in the faith. Others may get distracted by the extreme illustrations. Read it, perhaps its time you took another look at God.

Luke 20:19-26 - Because of the 4th I am going to skip ahead a couple of sermons and preach “The Things that are Caesar’s.” We’ll come back to the triumphant entry and speak about Our Prophetic Jesus on July 7th.

The Word of God plainly tells us that we have responsibilities toward government. Some Christians take an adversarial attitude towards all things that concern human government. This is not a biblical position. what does belong to Caesar?

Team Africa has returned and this past Sunday they gave us their report. I am sure we will hear more in the weeks and months to come, but this Sunday we had opportunity to hear a little from each of them.

It was a great blessing to me to hear of how their hearts were touched by God and people. They came back with burdens for people they did not know 4 weeks ago. Pray for our church that their burdens might be used of God for His glory.

My son, Charlie, is to take Life Science next school year. This might not mean much to the normal person, but to me it means the dreaded IC (insect collection). Which of course they do not tell you about until the end of September, when all good little insects have vanished. So being the sometimes anal retentive, obsessive/compulsive person that I am I have started the family looking for bugs.

So, yesterday I sighted a beautiful butterfly taking a peek into our house. I jumped into action and caught the butterfly in a tupperware. This morning I thought it was dead so I lifted the cover, actually so I could catch another bug, and knocked the butterfly out unto the counter. It lay there for some time and when I looked back it was testing its wings. I thought to myself how often have I run into people who seem dead when all they need is a little fresh air.

How often I have been that person. They are beautiful creatures, but have been bottled in impossible circumstances. Trapped through no fault of their own. Stuck in a tupperware. I thought I want to be the one to free those people, not looking for ways to trap them. If God cares for the sparrows (and butterflies) does He not care for people so much more? I wanted to let the butterfly go, but did not, the next time I see a person struggling I will look for ways to open the tupperware. I have cried for that butterfly and maybe not so much for the butterfly but for all the people that butterfly represents.

Imagine your surprise if someone stood before you and announced, “It has come to our attention that the Hunter family is playing games on Kosrae with our financial support”? Even though I know how disturbing that news would be, I must admit that it is true. Before you call in the spiritual swat team, please hear me out.

Towards the end of our furlough in the states, dear friends of ours in Georgia introduced us to board game. It was easy to learn and an enjoyable game. As we left their home, they insisted that we take the game with us. Had they slipped us a $1000 check, new tires for the van, or some other mega gift, we would have surely acknowledged this as God provision. If it had been BIG, God would have surely been behind it, right? While we were thrilled to get the board game, I must admit that it never once occurred to me that God might have had something to do with the gift of a used board game.

A week ago we invited a local friend and his family over to our home for a meal. They used to live just down the road from us before we moved. My friend is a big man with a soft and generous heart. He even sends his children to our former church’s services. I might add that he is also an alcoholic, the biggest importer of beer on island, a tobacco user, and an admittedly lost sinner. Catching him at a completely sober moment is a rare treat. That’s my friend in a nutshell.

I have a love for this family that I can’t describe. God has pricked my heart for them in a similar way that He must have loved me, while I was yet His enemy. I don’t see my friend as a drunk or the scourge of society. God has opened my eyes to see him as God does. I wonder if my feelings for this family are similar to Christ’s as he comfortably sat with prostitutes, alcoholics, cheaters, diseased, and the dregs of society. My heart currently aches with my friend’s current condition, but it will forever rejoice if and when he and his family become joint heirs in Christ.

Dawn fixed up a wonderful meal and we spent the whole evening together. After everyone was stuffed, we taught them how to play the board game given to us by our friends on the other side of the world. I sensed that our guests were both defensive and awaiting a certain religious ambush, so we played games rather than discuss the obvious reality of my friend’s life being a train wreck. My friend loved the game so much that he (no typo) invited his family back over a week later. He even started talking trash about how he and his wife were going to beat Dawn and me in the next game.

They showed up this past Sunday evening with a load of meat for a BBQ and a desire to play the game. After being stuffed to gills, it was time for the game to begin. After all, the board game was a big reason he was anticipating our get together. Before we began playing on our supporter’s dime, my friend opened up the door for a conversation about God. He shared his future plans of turning to God when he becomes strong enough to change his life. Playing was gladly postponed for at least an hour as we discussed with them how they will never be strong enough or good enough to attract God’s love. The fact that God loves them just as they are and that He hung on a cross as proof of that love was a “turn their world upside down” moment. This kind of love and grace was in complete contrast to the island religion they have been saturated with since childhood. After giving them more than enough to cause spiritual vertigo and plenty enough for the Holy Spirit to use, we settled in for an enjoyable evening of playing games.

We accept by faith that God uses fiery mountains, a flood, talking donkeys, parting waters, miraculously appearing food, resurrections, and a host of other methods to get His human creation’s attention. These mega attention getting events of the past are the staples of our Sunday school curriculum and the texts of a plethora of sermons. If we believe that these mega methods are God’s only tools, is it any wonder we can get the idea that God is distant at best and has taken a hands-off approach in our lives? Oh yes, we acknowledge that God uses the evangelist during the big special meetings, the pastor who leads a mega church, the missionaries who convert whole villages while eating exotic foods, and the people and ministries that produce bigger results than ourselves. People reason that God must be in those things because they are about as close to Biblical mega moments as most of us have ever seen.

So where does this leave those of us who are not in the middle of a mega moment? Even scarier, where does this leave God in our lives? Will my kids only see God really working in their lives if they grow up to be people who orchestrate mega events?

Call me simple if you wish, but I see God’s handiwork in a used board game given to us by friends in Georgia — just as well as I acknowledge the Biblical parting of the Red Sea. What about Dawn’s meal cooked with loving hands? How about my kids who set aside their free time to entertain my alcoholic friend’s kids? How about the Packer game tapes sent from a friend in Wisconsin, which provided the initial common thread between my friend and me? Can God use these seemingly small actions to work His grace? Most would answer in the affirmative. Let’s take it a step farther. Does He do it? Do we see Him working in the so called mundane activities and events in our lives or do we continue to wait for the elusive mega moment? Was God actually behind the gift of a board game back in Georgia? How about my friend liking the game so much that he invited himself back, which gave us an open opportunity to clearly share the gospel with Him? What about all the seemly small events in your life?

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. 1 Corinthians 1:27

While finishing up these thoughts, a group of boys from the village showed up at my door. They wanted to know if I can take them to the gym to play basketball. It looks like it is time to shut down the computer so my boys and I can go play some more games on our supporter’s dime. I hope you’ll understand.

Steve

Pastor Leeds,
This is Kevin Zak just wanting to put in my appreciation for the team you sent our way. They have been willing to participate in all aspects of ministry and have done so with enthusiasm. They are a fantastic group and have been an encouragement in many ways to our family. Tomorrow Rory will be traveling by taxi with Christa and one of the African gals from Kopano Baptist, Sarah, to the village of Kekana Gardens as they are in need of a preacher and I had a few available. Jeremy will be speaking tomorrow evening at Kopano Baptist. What will I be doing? - encouraging them and being fed! We have been on the streets connecting with street people, in refugee camps connecting with Congolese, Burundi, Somalian, Ethiopian, and Zimbabwian people, they have been a blessing sharing testimonies and singing at Kopano Baptist, we have had a singing and sharing testimonies and a brief gospel message service at Malas which is a place for Mozambique refugees, they have painted walls and fencing around our place, sorted and distributed clothing and food to the needy, they have walked through two villages being an encouragement and sharing Christ and sweeties with children and moms, and tonight we are going to eat at a Chinese restaurant owned by a man who needs the Lord. They will evaluate their time with us at the end, but I want you to know that my evaluation of their hearts for ministry and effectiveness in ministry is a Big A+. Please pass along our appreciation for such a team of servants and partners in ministry to your church body. We thank God for you and this excellent team! Serving with Gladness, Kevin for the Pak

We have three fundraising opportunities for TBS coming up in the next couple of weeks.

This Saturday, June 14th, the volleyball team will have their second car wash. They are sending 8 girls to camp at MBBC this year and so they need to raise a lot of money. They brought in $400 at the first car wash. They need to do that 2 more times. Pray that the rain stops by Saturday!. Come get your car washed and help the team win a 3rd championship!

Then on June 21st we need volunteers for 2 activities. We need staff to work our table of goodies at the model air plain fly-in and we need people to run a “hunt test” for dogs. If you are able to donate some time on the 21st, we can use you. Contact Kerry Tompkins if you have any questions about these 2 opportunities.

I praise the Lord for another great Lord’s Day at Trinity Baptist. Our attendance has been soft with Team Africa gone and with many others traveling, but there has been a delightful spirit in the services these past two weeks.

I am looking forward to the return of Rory, Jeremy, and Regan. I feel like I have talked way too. I think those who attend are ready for someone else too!