The Works of God

Lord willing, I’m either in transit or actually in Oregon when you read this.  I’m going to see some crazy people – most people do not know what to do with radicals like these!

They don’t look like radicals, do they?

God has made Craig and Susan (on the left) into pretty amazing people.

Their story is interesting.  The way they tell it, they were good-hearted, nice church people – then God moved on them to change their lives in ways they never could have expected.

Susan started a program to serve young mothers a few years ago – they’ve served more than 1,500 women and children!  All with volunteers and all with donations of clothes and baby items.  And every woman hears the gospel.  Here’s a five minute video that tells the story much better than I can.

Maybe the most telling comment is this one from Susan: A few years ago all my friends were basically like me.  Now my best friends have criminal records and tattoos!

They moved across the street from this ministry, which is located in a poor part of town.  God planted more dreams, and Craig responded in faith.  Most men don’t consider a radical shift from a professional career into the ministry at his age, but that’s what he’s doing.

They aren’t ‘nice’ people at all – joy-filled, hospitable, smart, kind, hard working – but not nice.  There is a tenacious clinging to Jesus for joy that is special.   Satan knows how dangerous they are.

So, I’m going to happily hang out with them for a few hours as they celebrate the launching of their new church that Craig will be leading.

Then I’ll drive down to Bend to spend time with more dangerous people.  Justin (the fellow on the right above) gave up a good business to work full-time on The Elisha Foundation, which is entirely dedicated to making Jesus known to families like ours through retreats, respite nights, and reaching out beyond the boundaries of the United States.  My family has experienced their God-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-filled hospitality – as have dozens of others.  This kind of pouring out of one’s life – looking the suffering of disability squarely in the eye and proclaiming the sovereignty and goodness of God – isn’t easy or simply.  But it is wonderful to experience.

I’m grateful to God for these people and how he has made them and sustains them.  I’m grateful to God for my wife’s generosity in releasing me for these three days as that is no simple thing either.  And I’m grateful to God for Desiring God posting (Lord willing) Pastor John’s message on Monday, as I won’t be in Minnesota to hear him deliver his annual pro-life message which God has used to change how I think about unborn life and the goodness and sovereignty of God.