Moree--Day Three...or Moreee?

Since my last post I have enjoyed a BBQ with some of the church and aboriginal leaders here in Moree to do some last minute planning and prayer for the outreach (which began with the kids early Thursday AM).

We had about 15 of us gather under shelter on a back patio under a tin roof as the rain beat down around us. Like most of NSW (and Australia for that matter) they could really use some rain here so it was a blessing but got us wondering about back up plans for the next day if the rain continued. Great food and fellowship together in anticipation for tomorrow. I ended up having a long chat with Alan about his favorite pasttimes of fishing (for yellowbelly) and hunting wild pigs (some up to 200 lbs) with his dogs and a knife. He had a couple of scars to show me!

The sun seems to rise earlier out here and we were all up and about by 6:15...and yes, in spite of our fears the sun did rise with only enough cloud to cool things off (just a bit). Our plan includes picking up the kids in a Salvation Army bus and feeding them a nutricious breakfast before running some drills and then some games...frequent water and "sugar-water" breaks and finish with a short and simple evangelistic talk just before lunch and a return bus ride home. Start time to be approximately 8:30. At that time this morning there were only 3 kids there...but within a half-hour and with the help of the bus we had swelled to more like 35 kids ranging from 3 to 14. It was hot work on the soccer field but the kids seemed to enjoy it.

After lunch on a supervised trip to the school restrooms nearby several of the boys were asking me about God (the main topic of our short "devotional"). Amazing how a six year old can stop you dead in an argument..."if God made everything...who made him?"...followed immediately (and long before I could frame an answer to the first question) by "Where did Jesus come from?" At least I had some help from one of the other kids at that point who argued, "From his mother's belly." I might let him answer any future questions.

Returned the kids to their homes on the bus and looking forward to meeting up with them again for games tonight at the local PCYC (Police Citizens Youth Club) where we have been given exclusive use of the facility for the next couple of nights. Gotta go help prepare tea first so I will sign off now.

Moree Meanderings

I am in "country NSW" up near the Queensland border on the Moree Plains (and I mean "flat") for a week. I have joined with a small team of people from the Salvation Army who are keen to assist their local corps in doing outreach among indigenous people over the school holidays... through evangelistic sports clinics.

It took the entire day on Tuesday just to drive the 500 km through the country to get here. At least I got quite a bit of reading done for my "Life Coaching" extension course. The entire team settled in with the local Salvation Army Leuitenant in a large 4-bedroom house on the south edge of town and began to plan for the four day programme.

Wednesday (so far) has been spent in checking out the venues and purchasing food as we will be providing breakfast and lunch for any of the kids that come along. Tomorrow at least we will start at the playground of the local primary school. We met the Principal this AM and he is very warm to the project and willing to assist in any way possible. Later today we are planning a BBQ with some of the aboriginal and church leaders to pray and plan. We will start work bright and early tommorrow AM.

Gabbing in the 'Gong

Had a great time yesterday with one of the guys I'm mentoring--my mate!

We drove down to the 'Gong (Wollongong) several hours before the Sydney Kings’ last pre-season game with the Hawks...stopped to pray first...and then dropped by the home of an injured rugby player that I met a couple of weeks ago...picked him up...and settled in at a local coffee shop nearby for a huge mug of hot chocolate.

My mate did a great job sharing the story of his spiritual journey with the injured player...and then walked him through little booklet entitled "Knowing God Personally". The lights seemed to go on once or twice in the player's eyes, but at the end of the presentation, he didn't feel that he could really "mean it" (if he were to say a prayer of invitation at that time). We answered a couple of the questions that had arisen in the discussion and assured him that he could say that prayer whenever he could really mean it...and he would enter into God's family.

Just to see whether or not he really understood the "mechanics" we were suggesting, I asked him what he would actually do if (or when) he came to a point in his life where he was ready to enter into a relationship with God. His response was simply "get off the throne and ask Jesus to come into my life by saying a prayer like the one in the booklet". My mate and I gave each other a knowing look and realized that we had done all we could do at that point in time.

We chatted a bit more, expressed our availability to the player, dropped him back by his home, and headed off to the game…where the Kings were severely trounced!

Couple of lessons here...

1. Always remember...

"Success in evangelism is simply sharing Christ...in the power of the Spirit...and leaving the results to God." Even though the player wasn't ready to respond to Christ (yet!), we were "successful" because we met the criteria above. (Sometimes the hardest bit of this equation is "to leave the results to God".)

2. A new experience of an old lesson...

Just because you are obedient (and faithful) in sharing the gospel with others…it doesn't mean your team will win their next basketball game!

Anyhow...I was really encouraged by my mate's heart for God and others...and with his rapidly developing skills in communicating spiritual truth.

God is great...God is good!

Thoughts on behaviour and values

A friend of mine has asked me to pray that "my faith will dramatically affect my behavior in these next days". In reply to her...and probably gearing in more on the word "behavior"...I had a few thought that I decided to blog as well...

I have been reminded at least five times in the last couple of days that "our behavior is merely a reflection of our values". Rather that trying to motivate others (or even myself) by demanding (or even suggesting!) behavioural change...it would be far more effective and long-lasting to help them make a shift in their values that would drive a change in the way they do things. Values in turn are reinforced by investing time and energy (and other resources) into the things and people we "value" (or want to).

Then again...that ususally involves some kind of behaviour! Getting confusing here (to me at least). Possibly because the two are more closely integrated than we realize. To salvage anything from this mental rambling, I will close off by suggesting that any movement toward behavioural change should factor in some thought on underlying values.

Athens Revisited (Again): Sequel 2

Yeah...I know...long gone and ancient history...but I have just received another report from an eye-witness to God's mighty hand at work during the last Olympics. It was too good not to archive the report "somewhere". Thanks Dave for your ministry there...and for sharing these stories with me...sorry about the edits!

"I have been able to minister to so many athletes and officials in Athens... what a harvest field. I found a lot of athletes with problems, to use as a point of contact...

I enjoyed ministering to South African athletes, Namibians, a Turkish athlete, Estonians,Greek reporters, a Ugandan boxer, Latvian athletes, Nigerian athletes, USA athletes, Russians, a South African swimmer , and also a German discus thrower.

I met up with Glory Alozie (ex Nigeria). She runs for Spain now. She's 5'1" of dynamite. I prayed with her for her races (100 metres hurdles). This young lady flew into Sydney to compete at the 2000 Olympics to find that her childhood sweetheart and fellow athlete had been killed by a car in Sydney a few days before. No one had informed her of the tragedy. She was devastated and for two weeks didn't feel like running, eating or sleeping. With the help of a fellow chaplain, who counselled her, Glory bounced back to win silver medal in the 100 metres hurdles. Since then changed nations when Nigeria refused to fly her fiancé's body back for burial - she had to do that at her own expense. She's gone on to win in many competitions around the world. A truly amazing story of tragedy and victory.

I changed accommodation on one of my free days, and decided to sit and read in the Plaka – a famous shopping area in central Athens. I was minding my own business on a park bench, when three young athletes came and sat next to me. We got talking and I found they were from the water polo team. After telling them that I played water polo in South Africa many years ago, they asked what I was doing in the Olympic Village. Well, that opened a huge door to share Jesus with them.

A few minutes later two Greek men came along handing out Gospel tracts, to me and a young lady who’d sat down at the other end of my bench. I noticed that she was struggling to read it and asked where she was from. She replied in broken English, “Stan-country”. Her husband was the national champion in his sport. I greeted her in Russian and began sharing the Gospel with her. It was so easy as the Holy Spirit opened her heart to Jesus. Then her family arrived and she told them what I’d told her. It was amazing that her first witness was to her family right on the spot. There I was having a rest on a day off, and the Holy Spirit had everything arranged. This never ceases to excite me.

One day there was a deluge of athletes to share with – they just came out of the woodwork – two German wrestlers, two Russian boxers, three South American volley ball players, and several of my old friends from the Sydney 2004 Games who were competing in the 20km walk.

Something beautiful happened as I was walking from the hotel to breakfast at a restaurant across the square. I passed an old man pushing a walking apparatus. He asked me if I'd seen somebody along the way. I answered "No" and walked on, but the Lord quickly impressed me to go back and talk to him. The thought crossed my mind as I walked back to him, "I'm going to be old too, in the not to distant future; don't I want some one to give me special attention?" I asked him what he was doing, and he said he was Greek but visiting from Chicago. He told me his name and his age (87). He looked like he'd been sleeping on a park bench. We spoke about a lot of things, like the Olympics and nutrition, and the inventions he'd made, including one he'd come to introduce to sport in Greece. He said he needed to get to old Olympus about 200 kms away and didn't have enough money. Prior to this the Lord was "telling" me to give him 50 Euro, which I did. He gasped and simply said, "Hi yi yi yi yi". It's been a long time since I heard that expression. He then simply said to me that some people in the last few days, had asked him if "he'd found Christ?" He said to me that he didn't know what that meant, and would I help him to understand that statement. This came right out of the blue as I hadn't shared anything of the Gospel with him. I said to him that it was more that Jesus was seeking him that he was seeking Jesus. I told him that Jesus came to seek and save those who were lost - like the shepherd who left the 99 sheep in the fold and went out to find the one who was lost. He asked me what he had to do to be found. I said, "Just let yourself be found. Tell Jesus that you are lost and ask him to bring you home." I told him how to pray and invite Jesus into his heart. He then that this was the simplest sermon he'd ever heard, and walked off to find a quiet place to "found."

On the way to watch the final of the baseball between Australia and Cuba, I met three Australian girls from Bendigo together with a young Canadian Athletes In Action team member. When he mentioned who he was, I asked the girls how they’d got involved with a Christian athlete, they replied that they’d only just met him and didn’t know who he was. That opened the door for me to ask them where they stood with Jesus. Their hearts were really open to the Lord.

One day I was helping security at the Transport Mall, the entrance to the Olympic Village where the athletes arrive back from events or practice, when a water polo team arrived back from a game. Discussion arose about tactics of their game and they wondered that I knew about the game. Somebody asked, “What else do you do?” I was amazed how this opened opportunities to share spiritual things with them for a few precious minutes. Over the next hour I met up with a water polo champion, the Spanish Physiotherapist, and a basketball player – an powerful young Christian man with Proverbs 3:5-7 tattooed on his arm.

One day while walking near the entrance where the athletes return from their events, a tall young rower arrived back with a wreath on his head, his bunch of flowers and a medal around his neck. I greeted him in Russian and blessed him in the name of the Lord. He whipped around and said back, “That is why I won medal, because He blessed me.” What a great time we had sharing the Lord. Shortly after that a wrestler from a "Stan-country" walked by. I greeted him too in Russian. He came over as we started chatting. He was thrilled the way he was progressing at the Games. He hugged me and asked me to pray for him. He willingly prayed and received Jesus.

In the shopping precinct I met up with a huge man – an Eastern European wrestling coach. I asked him, “Do you remember me from Sydney?” He blinked and a smile broke out across his face. He burst out, “You are the man who prayed in Sydney. You are the man who prayed in Sydney.” That was precious.

While helping with security checks at the International Zone, I was introduced to a young Chinese man whom I found was to be assisting with the administration of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He personally asked if I’d apply for the 2008 Games and gave me his official email address. What an amazing God-incidence."

David tells more of his life story and ministry on his website at www.smethurstministries.org
It is well worth linking and praying for this choice servant of the King of kings!

Paralympics Chaplain

For something a little bit different after all the Olympics hype...here's an interview with Stacy James...a chaplain serving in Athens at the Paralympics. Stacy's won 160 gold medals for disabled sport and narrowly missed selection for the US team at these Games.

Interview is courtesy of 2K Plus International Sports Media...Adrian Barnard, Chief Executive Officer and reporter Rich Hallstrom (who himself is disabled and in a wheelchair).

"Stacy James tells her story...I was 19 and a junior in college when I was standing on my friend's shoulders in the shallow end of the pool. I was losing my balance so I dove towards five feet of water but ended up hitting my head on the bottom of three feet and it paralysed me from the neck down. The doctors told my parents I'd never walk again and I just wanted to move
my hands, I couldn't move my hands or my arms. I had a long road ahead of me.

I was just (a student in university) but I knew that my life still had a purpose. I knew that God still had a plan for my life even though my body might be really different and that's the time that my family and friends really came by my side, encouraging me, prayed for me, let me know I was still valuable and important to them. And I knew that I still had a life to live and so I determined to do the best I could in therapy to live my life the best I can and I didn't want my room-mates to take care of me my whole life. So I really did everything I could.

I had to lift weights with my wrists and just lift even one or two pounds on my arms in therapy. And I had also wanted to come on staff with a group called Campus Crusade for Christ, I felt called to full-time Christian ministry, so it was a huge motivating factor to do the best that I could do. And eventually I remember, after a couple of weeks, I was able to move one
of my toes and then after maybe four weeks I was able to move a muscle in my leg and then by the end of four months I was able to barely walk out of there on crutches. And so I was just so thankful for that, all that hard work and stuff, but really the biggest thing was my faith that kept me going, just to have a solid rock when your whole world falls apart.

My relationship with Christ meant everything to me. When it's all you have to hang onto it really means everything and reading my Bible those promises really kept me going, especially the verse "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". I found out that just because you're in a wheelchair it doesn't mean you still can't be active and so through some friends I found out about quad rugby and I started playing quad rugby which was a really fun sport. It used to be called Murder Ball!

Through that I got involved in wheelchair racing and track and field and even though I only have 25% of my upper body strength I'm still able to go around the track and through my injury was able to win medals and since that first time five years ago I've won 160 gold medals in track and field and swimming, weightlifting, and I also do marathons in my hand cycle. I might
finish a little slower than the winners but I love doing it and I've been able to do thirteen across the United States.

And you know it hasn't been an easy road, that was 13 years ago, but I wouldn't change my life for all the great things I've been able to do, the places I've been able to go, people I've been able to meet, but more important the ways that I've grown as a better person using those characteristics I've just shared with you but also learning to be thankful and growing in my relationship with God number one, knowing that my body is just my shell, and the inside of me is what really matters. So I love my life and I really wouldn't trade it for anything. And especially the chance to be here as a chaplain in Greece. I wasn't able to quite make it as a
competitor but I think this is an even better opportunity, to meet people, to reach out, to share my story and to encourage others and especially in the faith that's helped me so much."

God love ya...and bless you Stacy! Thanks 2K Plus for sharing this story with us.

Athens Revisited: The Sequel

One ministry report (from Judy) spawned yet another personal report from an onsite worker for me to add to the blog as a semi-permanent record...thanks Ray! (Sorry about the editing.)

This is a long collection of stories but gives a good idea of what was going on...multiply this report by 50 to get an idea of AIA activity alone...and there were many other Christians working just as hard in this unique harvest field!

"From the moment I boarded the airplane to fly to Athens, I had a sense that God was divinely directing my steps. One my first flight, I met a stewardess who was reading the book, "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" which led to a great discussion about the "DaVinci Code" heresies. We ended up having a long discussion on science and faith after which she said that she had a church background, but was "starting life over looking for the spiritual." She then introduced me to another passenger who was reading the same book. He turned out to be the husband on one of the women on USA Women's Soccer match. We had a great discussion about the spiritual dimension of sports (and parenting!)...

Then, in London, getting ready to board the next plane, an entire Caribbean Island Olympic team came into the lounge and I met one of the boxers. He said, "In my training, I must prepare mentally, physically, and spiritually!" He was looking for someplace to worship in the Olympic Village and took my business card with one of the AIA chaplain's info on it...plus an athletic gospel tract that I had in my bag.

In our first day of "scouting out" various Olympic venues, we discovered that you needed to buy tickets to get in at all, so we purchased tickets to the gymnastics practice session. There, through a series of events, we were able to give Jesus DVDs to the parents of an Olympian, an Eastern European gymnast, and the sister of two women on a Western European Sailing Team.

On the second day of scouting, we had the assignment of going to the Acropolis where we met several officials from various National Olympic Committees. Two of them from Caribbean Island teams were glad to receive DVDs and asked that we contact them in the future. We also met a European Photographer who was personal friends with two Track athletes, so we gave him two DVDs. Then, on the Metro, we met two ladies who were girlfriends of guys on the Canadian Baseball team and they took DVDs to give to the players.

The Metro continued to be a "divine appointment" place as we met a girl on one of the fencing teams. She told us that she and her three other teammates always tried to find a Church to go to where ever they competed and she was happy to accept DVDs for all of them.

At the bicycle road race on the first day of competition, we handed DVDs to a former Olympian in the 5000m who had an Achilles heel injury, an American coaching basketball for another country, a man who knew three or four of the cyclists from his country, a Physio Therapist from one of the Men's Soccer teams, a sports doctor from an Asian country who worked with Olympians in various sports, and two DVDs to a European Swimming Delegation leader.

Getting free tickets to the Women's Gymnastics preliminaries allowed us to give five DVDs to a team manager from Africa who was just watching, DVDs to two Asian male gymnasts, five DVDs to members of a European Gymnastics team, and two DVDs to a swim coach and a masseur from another European team.

The Metro again proved to be a divine meeting place as we met the club team manager for a swimmer from Europe in the breastroke whom we later found out may be a Christian, and a swim coach from the same country. We gave DVDs to each of them and one for the athlete. Later that evening, on the way to the US Basketball teams defeat against Puerto Rico, we gave Greek Four Laws to two girls who wanted to go to Hollywood when they found out I was from Los Angeles, and I was able to give a DVD to a woman on the French NOC who appeared to be from an African country.

It seemed that every step our feet took was blessed. One the day that we had a radio correspondent with us, we were able to give "Just Believe It" CDs to a Russian Army officer who had been stationed with the UN Mission in Kosovo, and a former US Olympian from 1980. We met two Australian baseball players on their Olympic team who also played in the Minor League systems here in the US. We were able to get their responses to the question, "What has motivated you to achieve this level of competition", on tape, as well as our presentation of seven DVDs for them and their teammates. Later that same day, we gave DVDs to a Eurpoean lightweight boxer, an Asian archery coach whose star athlete won a medal, and a women swimmer who needed directions in the Metro station.

Even on our day off, taking a ferry to the island of Aginas, God had some divine appointments for us. I was able to share some key biblical thoughts a lady from the Philippines who had won accommodations and tickets in Athens. She had been a Sunday School director in the Philippines but had gotten off the track. She had recently prayed, "God if you want me, come and get me." I was the third person to talk to her about spiritual things in the last two months! In addition, on the trip back to the mainland we made friends with two Greek guys who hardly spoke English, but were very enthusiastic about American girls and the USA vs. Greece basketball game on the TV. We gave them Greek (gospel booklet) to read, and they eagerly looked them over. Next, we met a woman from a European Gymnastics team who had not qualified for the Olympics, but was on track for the Beijing 2008 Games. She, her mom, and sister, were very friendly and gladly accepted a DVD as we docked.

During the trip, Vital, our staff member from an African country, confided in me that this had been his first trip outside of Africa. He had never been on a ship as big as the Ferry, nor had he ever swam in salt water! Standing on the end of the harbor's peninsula under the light pole, he exclaimed, "I am from a poor family in a poor country, and here I am in Europe on a Greek island at the Olympics! God is GREAT." Shouting out into the crashing surf. The next day, we were invited into the Olympic Village to meet with the delegation from his country. He was able to introduce himself and explain our vision to the head woman of the delegation, their track coach, and the doctor of the team. He was able to meet each of his country's Olympians establishing himself as a spiritual resource for years to come."

Great report...glory to God!

Athens Revisited

One of the "after-action" reports from someone onsite at Athens...thanks Judy!


"On August 7, 2004, 20-year-old Eleni Ioamou, a member of Greece’s Olympic judo team, jumped from the balcony of her 3rd floor apartment in Athens. It was the result of an argument with her live-in boyfriend. Six days later, instead of marching into the stadium for the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games, she lay in the hospital in critical condition. Before the Games ended, Eleni had died.

Even the greatest achievements – such as competing in the Olympic Games – cannot eliminate the pain and emptiness that often exists in the hearts of elite athletes. This incident was a wake-up call for 50 of our Athletes in Action staff from 24 countries – who had come to Athens to minister to the spiritual needs of the 11,090 Olympic athletes. Nine of our staff were selected to serve as official chaplains in the Olympic Village. The other 41 staff trusted God to provide them with day passes to access the Village, or for “divine appointments” in the streets and squares of Athens.

And God did not disappoint. Divine appointments occurred daily. Before our project had ended we had given copies of an Olympic version of the Jesus Film (DVD format, in 18 languages) to 2,000 of the Olympic athletes. Another 500 -1000 copies would not have been too many. "

Input at Eastwood Baptist

I had a great time with my wife at Eastwood Baptist Church last night speaking on "A Christian Perspective on Sex". Good response for those gathered...though it went way too long with an extensive (exhaustive) Q and A. (sorry guys!) At least that portion of the evening was "optional", so I trust if anyone got really bored they were able to just get up and go home!

Anyhow, if you were at Eastwood and you're looking here for the resources I promised you...you're halfway there. Now you only need to click on the link in the sidebar on the left entitled "Semi-Organized Scratchings". If you want to make a hardcopy, you will probably need to "cut and paste" to your own document and then print...but think of all the time and effort (and postage) we saved by going to electronic mail.

A word from the Word

Details are important.

??? Do others get even a glimpse of Jesus in me ???

"Our work as God's servants gets validated -- or not -- in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all."

- 2 Corinthians 6:4-11 (Msg)

Good on ya, Gov!

Governor-General Says Jesus is the Greatest Leader Ever

Interesting story by David Adams in Sight... www.sightmagazine.com.au

Australia’s Governor-General, Michael Jeffery, has told a meeting of business figures this week that Jesus Christ was the “greatest personification of true leadership the world has ever seen or ever will see”.With Jesus already capturing headlines across the country thanks to his depiction in the Mel Gibson film, The Passion of the Christ, Major-General Jeffery told a gathering of business in Perth that Jesus continued to inspire people across the world.“By demonstrating supreme moral and physical courage, he embodied a universal wisdom and creed that has transcended time, place, culture and language, such that his example continues to inspire many, many hundreds of millions of people, indeed billions, around the world today,” he was reported as saying.

Great example of someone using his "platform" to boldly lift up the King of Kings!

Welcome to Sight readers...

It appears that the Athens stories (presented here) have attracted some attention in the worldwide web. Sight magazine has linked to Speckman's Scratchings...and any readers are welcome and encouraged to comment.

At this time, most of the blog (including archives from 13 August to present) is focused on Christian presence and activity at Athens, but in the true spirit of a blog, (from now on) it will take on more of the flavour identified in the byline..."mental ramblings". What a great media for getting thoughts into words and inviting others to journey together for a few paces along the trail?

Until I can figure out how to put a link in a side column (I'm still new to this)...I will link to Sight Magazine here...scratch...scratch!

www.sightmagazine.com.au

The Return of the Olympians

I thoroughly enjoyed catching up yesterday with one of our returning Australian Olympians.

He assured me that in spite of the tremendous thrill of the opening and closing ceremonies...and the privilege of playing for his country...one of his most exciting highlights of the entire time was a Bible tour of Corinth! So how often would you hear a statement like that in our media coverage of the games?

He also read my blog frequently and made contact with several of the other Christians that I mentioned in my daily report.