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The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke

We were blessed to minister at Capital LIfe Church on Sunday June 23, 2013. This amazing church is pastored by Bill Shuler, the former campus pastor of Oral Roberts University. It was an honor to minister at Pastor Bill's church.

We have just two weeks left in the States. We have enjoyed our time Stateside. Below are pictures of our time in Orlando with my Mom.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke

As I type these lines I am sitting at a coffee shop window with a view of my alma mater Oral Roberts University .  Seeing ORU for the first time in almost fifteen years puts me in a reflective mood. Read on . . . Camp Sonshine has changed my life. I met my wife there, I did my first children's ministry there. Chris and I still work there (at Camp Sonshine Philippines), and so do our children . I almost did not go. In the Summer of 1991 I was planning to go on a missions trip to France.   ORU Summer Missions organizes trips each year, and I was on the France team. I spent the entire year raising funds, meeting with my team members, and learning French (actually took two semesters). But I did not make it to France. I was not able to raise the funds. Eventually I got THE LETTER from the Summer Missions department. I got it in early April. You know the letter, "The Hook"--basically telling me "since you did not raise enough funds for this trip, you will ...

libraries (really missed these), long walks in the woods, playgrounds,  and hot showers and baths (REALLY missed these).

Time to hit the road. We leave for the States in just four days. Our itineraries: Tuesday July 12 Iloilo to Manila Cebu Pacific flight #5J 454 departing 10:20a arriving 11:30a Because our international flights leave so early in the morning, we will be spending the night in Manila. Wednesday July 13, the long haul Our family is not flying together. Chris is flying almost free using her frequent flyer miles. She and Gabriella will have this flight plan: Manila to Hong Kong Cebu Pacific flight #5J 110 departing 7:55a arriving 9:55a Hong Kong to Toronto Air Canada flight #16 departing 3:10p arriving 6:05p, this flight will last 14 hours and 55 minutes! This flight is in the top 20 of the longest flights in current operation. Fortunately for Chris and Gabriella, Air Canada is an amazing carrier. They fly brand new Boeing 777s. Their in-flight entertainment is first rate, even in coach. Widescreen TVs at your seat with all movies and TV shows on demand. Toronto to Baltimo...

In about two weeks I'll be driving around in a minivan. We leave for the States on Wednesday July 13, arriving in Baltimore the evening of the same calendar day. We were able to secure a vehicle from a service that offers deeply discounted vehicle rentals to missionaries. I have nothing against minivans. It's really the best vehicle solution for us now that we have SIX PEOPLE in our family. However, the minivan does not fit the image that I have of myself as a world traveler/missionary/adventurer for Christ. At least a minivan is better than this other family vehicle option: To our Stateside family and friends, we are looking forward to seeing you soon. Just twelve more days until we leave.

Lately I have been trolling around other Christian blogs, and I am noticing a trend, the "edgy" or "hip" Christian bloggers are getting a large portion of the Internet, Christian blogging traffic. Cutting edge topics and arresting titles are the rule of the day. And this can be seen as a corresponding trend mimicking how the church is evolving, moving from the traditional to the more "today" or "hip." Instead of services, we have "gatherings." Instead of calling yourself a born-again Christian, you are a "Christ-follower." Who doesn't want to be cool? Who doesn't want to be considered very "now?" I find myself a little envious of the cool kid Christians, with the high traffic blogs, who are considered "real" because they have controversial blog posts and are unafraid to use profanity. But rather than confirm to this, so I too can be considered cool, I feel a check in my spirit (I know that's an ...

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:" Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their b...

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke

Even though we now have about a week left in-country, the the other day Chris, the kids, her mom, and her sister and her kids got to do one more amusement park visit to Hershey Park.

In the Fall of 2003, about six months before we left for the mission field, I was driving with my then four year old son, Eric. Our family had already made the decision to make the leap to full time missions, departure date was June of 2004. He was asking me about this next big thing in our family's life. He asked about his friends. Eric has been blessed with several lifelong friends--they are all still really close. He asked, "So when will they (his friends) be moving to the Philippines?" Of course I told him that we were the only ones moving, that his friends and their families will remain in the Untied States. This was a cold dose of reality for him, realizing that his life-long, best friends would not be with him in the Philippines. With that realization, he began to cry . . . and cry . . . and cry. He did not want to leave his best friends. Here we are again, getting ready to return to the Philippines, and the goodbyes are starting. Tonight Faithy started to get sad,...

From a letter of John Adams to his wife: "The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.- I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by Solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfire and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more." Happy 2nd of July, on this day in 1776 the unanimous vote for the declaration of independence from the empire of Great Britain was voted and agreed upon. On that day, according to John Adams: "the greatest Question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony 'that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be fre...

Taken by my brother, Rey:

Every time we are Stateside, my Mom spoils us with an Orlando vacation, this time we did Sea World, Universal Studios and Disney Quest at Downtown Disney. Today she is taking the three older grand kids to see Toy Story 3. Getting spoiled again and again.

this week. Every time we are Stateside my Mom spoils us with an Orlando vacation. This week, along with my brother Rey, we are enjoying Sea World and other Disney attractions.

Our Stateside sojourn continues with some travels. We spent three days in Myrtle Beach, SC, enjoying some beach time, then we enjoyed more beach time at Daytona Beach. There we joined other Go To Nations missionaries at our missionary reunion. Now we are at my Mom's house in Ocala, FL, and tomorrow she takes us to Orlando for some theme park fun. In Daytona Beach we went to a unique restaurant on the water, with GTN missionaries Glenn and Rebekah Hickey and their kids. It was like Sea World in that we were entertained by dolphins. They swam near our table our entire meal, even jumping out of the water to catch fish.

After seven nights in NICU, Gabriella is finally with us. Today is the first day of the rest of her life. To all who held us so tightly in prayer during this very difficult time, we want to express our extreme gratitude and appreciation. Thank you for standing with us in prayer, seeking God for health and healing for our newest child. Your prayers are powerful and effective, so don't stop. If you happen to be in the Maryland area, please feel free to contact us if you want to come see the newest missionary in the family.

So what is the significance of that day? Who was born on that day? The noted Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli and author of The Prince celebrated his birthday on May 3. At the other end of the spectrum, James Brown the "Godfather of Soul" celebrated his birthday on May 3rd. If all goes according to plan--unless she comes on her own--our fourth child will be born on May 3. Being that this is still considered an at risk pregnancy, and also being that both Mother and child continue to progress along very healthily, the doctors have decided to reduce any further chances of risk and induce this pregnancy into delivery. This is scheduled for Monday May, 3, 2010. As most of you know, we are currently Stateside, in Maryland, so unlike Daniel , our daughter will be, to quote Bruce Springsteen, "Born in the U.S.A.!" Actually she will be born in the same hospital that Eric and Faith were born, Howard County General . So things are about to get more exciting a...