Lee's Blog

The Goal is the World!!!!

lee@fbcaledo.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:51:00 GMT

Here at First Baptist Aledo we spend a whole lot of money trying to reach the world. We do so in our cooperative giving. We do so in giving beyond our cooperative giving. We are spending lots of money presently in Cambodia. We are feeding, teaching, reaching and building in Cambodia. We see the Lord making plans for orphanages in Cambodia. We are spending lots of money going to Portugal, Haiti, and various places in the world. Every once in awhile I receive the question of .... what about the people around us, why not here, why do we go so far away and spend so much money beyond our borders when we have so many lost people around us. Just recently I was charged with this comment. "Now preacher just whose idea is it to be doing all this traveling. It sure is a waste of a lot of money".

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

So Jesus clearly tells us the goal is the world. Our goal is to reach people in our Jerusalem, then Judea and Samaria for the purpose of taking the gospel to the World. So we reach our neighbor and his neighbor and his neighbor to reach the World. We are to go into all the world with the good news about Jesus.

The GOAL is the World. Whose idea is it? Jesus'

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EMPTY TOMB

lee@fbcaledo.com — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:27:00 GMT

2 Corinthians 4:7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

Empty Tomb Living means that we understand that we are fragile clay jars but that doesn’t keep God from shining in our hearts. Actually because we are fragile clay jars He shines brighter. So don’t let your fragile condition hold you back from serving Jesus.

The fact that we fail, we are weak, we aren’t strong enough to handle simple problems is a reason to celebrate because Jesus shines bright in our broken state.
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HE IS ALIVE

lee@fbcaledo.com — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:00:00 GMT

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT) The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

John 5:24 (NLT) “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

I still remember thinking that the cross was foolish. God, Jesus, the story of the bible was foolishness. I can remember arguing with my Aunt when I was a young lad that the Bible was just mans creation. That is is foolish to believe in anything but evolution. I never even considered the possibility. Life was basically yours to do with as you please.

What a contrast to my life now. I am absolutely consumed with the cross and the story of salvation. I am obsessed with the idea of God in my life. Fact is I am more obsessed with this Jesus life today than I was on April 2, 2011. No question more obsessed with this Jesus life today than I was 5 years ago or 10 years ago.

I can’t find any reason for this change other than I have heard the message, believed the message and I have crossed over from death to life. I was spiritually dead and now I am spiritually alive. The crazy part about this spiritual life is that it intensifies as I get older. Alive in Christ. Obsessed. Whacky. Nuts. Yep. Because He is alive.

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PRAYING WITHOUT A NET

lee@fbcaledo.com — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:01:00 GMT

Last week at one of the churches we visited in Cambodia a mother walked up to me holding her child. He looked to be 4 or 5 years old. He was asleep in her arms. She said in real broken english, “boy hot, boy hot”. She was rubbing his head for me to understand. I touched his forehead and sure enough he was really hot. I hunted around for the others who were with me to see if any of them had any tylenol or aspirin. No one did. I went back over to the mom and realized it wasn’t going to get explained that we didn’t have any medicine to give. Kyle (interpreter) was outside and I couldn’t locate him so I just placed my hand on his head and began to pray. I began to pray the prayer that I have prayed hundreds and hundreds of times. In hospital rooms, at prayer meetings, etc.. I have prayed for the sick a lot in my life. I believe in praying for the sick. As I was praying for this boy, praying the usual kind of stuff, I found myyself praying and having another conversation with God in my heart. That second conversation went kind of like this: Lord, I usually talk with you about this kind of stuff with a back up. I know that the person I am praying for is going to see a Dr. or has already has seen a doctor. I know that medicine or treatment is going to be involved to help the person that is sick that I am praying for. But this time Lord I am talking to you about this sick child and this is really different. Lord if you don’t break this fever and heal whatever it is that is making this child sick this might not end well. Lord I am so unworthy for you to do anything I ask, but this one time Lord will you heal this child. I finished the audible prayer.... Opened my eyes and looked at the mom and child. She nodded her head to me as if she was nodding thank you. There was no change in the boy.

It was something to pray without a net. I have thought a great deal about that experience the past few days. Here in the land of Blessing there are alot of nets. We pray in faith yet we have the nets of medicine, Dr.’s and Nurses that know how to do stuff. We pray for solutions to problems yet we have the net of smart people that seem to be able to figure things out. We pray for an answer to some need yet immediate after we say Amen we start brain storming. Here in the land of blessing we have nets in place that just aren’t in place in Cambodia.

It really was interesting praying without a net. I am not sure what to make of this experience. Just writing down the experience. I have Always thought I lived by faith and without a net....maybe I don’t? I wonder if we are missing out because of nets? Then again maybe the net isn’t really there we just think it is. Just sorting things out.

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CAMBODIAN BLOG #8

lee@fbcaledo.com — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:04:00 GMT

I already miss my new Cambodian friends. I pray that God will allow me to return soon.

When we arrived at LAX I went hunting some of the eye glass cleaner tissues. I was waiting to ask a lady behind the counter at one of the little convenience stores. There were two dolled up young ladies in front of me. I over heard this conversation, [insert your valley girl accent] “if we don’t get upgraded to first class I will just die, I can’t survive coach”.

Wow. I am home.

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CAMBODIAN BLOG #7

lee@fbcaledo.com — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:58:00 GMT

We left this morning early and drove within a few miles of Vietnam. We had to cross the Mekong River going and coming on another ferry. Long lines and it was really hot waiting. Lots of orphans begging and people trying to sell everthing from water to fried crickets. Really sad to see so many orphans at these places.

When we arrived at Grace of Christ Jesus Phorn Wat Church we were welcomed with another huge, welcoming, hospitable crowd. I don’t have much doubt that I am the first big, bald, hair on the chin, white guy that most of them have ever seen. The church had prepared a feast for us. The food in Cambodia is the best Chinese Food I have ever had. That sounds kind of funny but this is what we call Chinese food at home but its really Cambodia food. I guess its all the same but this food is really amazing far better than PF Chang’s and I guess that is the best I have had at home.

We had mud fish, papaya [cole slaw ?] fried rice, and three or four other things that I am not sure what they were but sure good. I have enjoyed all of it. I have eaten stuff that I have never heard of before and probably wouldn’t try but you kind of get caught up in all the atmosphere and go for it. The church had already eaten so they all sat and watched us eat. Normally I would think that would be kind of strange...but it was kind of cool.

Then the kids sang. I shared the gospel. Our guys gave their testimonies and several received Christ. It was really a Revival Service. IThere is an openess to the Word here. They really love hearing it explained. The Holy Spirit is at work in these churches. They are alive, full of love, joy and celebration.

This is the church that the Brick Factory people will be moving to next week. They are building a four room building at the back of their church. Pastor So Savan had prayed for a long time to have a building that he could use as an orphanage. When he was asked about having the three families live in the building he agreed. We have given the money for the building. His church has several kids that are orphaned. I can’t help but think that the Brick Factory Families might be the right people to care for these orphans. That is just the kind of thing the Lord does.

Pastor So Savan cried at the end of the time with us. He stood before his congregation and wept that we had helped them so much. Pastor Savan is one of those that Jesus will reward big time. He has served faithfully for years. He kept the congregation together and kept sharing the gospel during the Khmer Rouge. They would hide from the authorities, he has been tortured, persecuted, and he remained faithful. I left today having been honored, appreciated, thanked because I Pastor a Church that has blessed them so much with resources. Truth is I left humbled to even be in this mans presence.

Last meal with our hosts tonight. Pastor Tum and Sreng having been a blast to travel with. Tomorrow heading home. Getting prepared for a 32 hr Tuesday.

This has been an adventure. If God puts Cambodia Ministry on your heart... GO!

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CAMBODIA BLOG #6

lee@fbcaledo.com — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 01:29:00 GMT

Today has been a very difficult day. It is has been a day of tremendous joy and great anguish of spirit. In Matthew 9 Jesus saw the people as helpless and harassed like sheep without a shepherd. His emotion was one of intense stomach cramp. The kind of hurt in your gut that takes away your ability to think, speak or function.

Many of you have heard the story of the brick factory three families that were enslaved to the brick factory. First Aledo collected the money and paid the debt. We had them at the church further north that has pigs, fish and chickens. The agreement was that they would live there and work and be cared for. For reasons that I shouldn’t mention here and because [anger doesn’t produce the righteousness God desires] I will just let that go. Anyway we had them taken here to Battambang and we found them. They are living beside a rice field under tarps. These tarps aren’t brand new from Home Depot. All three families are together and still trying to make it through. We now have plans for them to move in two weeks to another church/farm so they can work and be cared for. I have met this Pastor and I believe he will care for them.

These families are extremely poor. They welcomed us as family. They had their bibles with them and had been reading. They talked with us about how Jesus keeps showing up for them and miracles are happening. One of the babies had birth problems and they said we can’t use the hospital because they have no money. They showed us the tree that they stood under and prayed for a miracle and they got one. They said Jesus is always coming to see them and helping them.

They have named three children after us. They now have Jeremiah Aledo and David Aledo with them. One of the wives gave birth to John Aledo.

The didn’t beg for anything, they didn’t ask for anything. They just welcomed us like family. It was so hard to walk away. I couldn’t function. I thought wildly I can sell my house I have equity in it I can feed people for a few years, I can sell by beat up corolla with a wire for a horn, my Obama killing retirement fund can be cashed. If I have any bigger barns shame on me ill sell everything. I need to get down to one pair of boots, two shirts, two sets of underwear and sell everything. I then thought I would steal all the suburbans and trucks in our church parking lot on sundays and sell them quickly 50 cents on the dollar and feed these people cause there are thousands just like them.

We left them and headed to have a late lunch. We ate some delicious food. I was in turmoil It was really good but hard to enjoy it. Tum is one of the pastors that is with us on this journey. Two of the Cambodia Pastors have stayed with us the whole time. Tum eats a lot. He eats his food then all of ours then we get more rice for him. We joke about it. He was eating all that was left and someone asked him what I thought was an awkward question at the moment. Does your wife cook for you like this. He smiled and said no. He then said our food usually is I go out and try to catch at least three fish for my family of 7. We eat rice and three fish. He smiled and said I don’t eat very much protein.

I eat allot of protein.

We left the restaurant. When straight to the market and bought 100 lb. bag of rice, vegetables, and some roasted chicken I think and went straight back to the 3 families under the tarps. They smiled, thanked us and said, “Jesus has come again”.

I know we can't fix all this. But we can share Jesus with them. They may live hard lives. Lives we can't even comprehend but their ETERNITIES will be unbelievable and thats what we are at work doing.

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CAMBODIA BLOG #5

lee@fbcaledo.com — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:36:00 GMT

We spent the morning visiting three churches. Two of the churches met under homes. Because of the rain that happens from June to September most of the houses are on stilts. We are seeing a pattern. Lots of people in the churches in small spaces. Lots of children in all these churches. They are always well behaved and really interested in our voices and our different looks. I have enjoyed sharing the gospel in each church. In doing so I describe all of our differences: [language, looks, ways of life etc...] but then we have the most important thing in common ... that being our Savior Jesus Christ so we are all family... so I am glad to meet my Cambodian Family .... each time they really light up..

Our Cambodian friends are extremely friendly. Most of the people we have met are really poor. They live very different lives than we do. Most of the homes are wood or bamboo structures with no glass in the windows. They sleep on bamboo beds or hammocks. If they are fortunate their transportation is a small motorcycle. There are so many honda 125’s on the road. It is the transportation of choice. They outnumber cars 2 to 1.

After visiting the churches we traveled for 8 hours we are presently in Battambang. This is where Kyle Y is from. He is absolutely giddy. Kyle Y is made to live in Cambodia. He just comes alive. He led a young man to the Lord on the front porch of the hotel last night. He woke me up at 4 am just beaming with Joy. He then brought the young man in had me talk with him, we took their picture. He called a pastor close to where the young man lives and had already He has such a connection with his people. In every church and with all the Pastors he is so respected and Loved. I have really enjoyed watching him minister. He is really growing. I have a hunch he and Amy will be back home serving soon.

Two of the Pastors have been traveling with us. I am enjoying spending time with Sreng Soehal ... he is the pastor of the church under the trees. We visited his church last night. There were so many people gathered under those trees. The kids were lined up in four lines and the adults were all seated in plastic lawn chairs. After we shared our testimonies and I spoke a little bit he walked us around. He said we are praying for the Lord provide us a shelter on stilts over the cat fish pond [in which they feed their people with]. A cloud blew in, thunder and lightning, and it began to rain. I looked up into the sky and shouted I hear you Lord.

People kind of looked at me like I was crazy but Robert and Kevin knew what was going on.

We got back in the van and I asked Kyle ... how much for the shelter so they can worship under a roof from june to september. Now they just worship in the rain. He said around 6 thousand... then he said and they rented those chairs to sit in tonight. How much are those chairs was my next question. Answer $4 each.

You already know what is going to happen....

ps. Kyle said he over heard one of the ladies say as we were living. There has been no sign of rain for a few days and it rained when the Americans came. I have already asked Sreng to pray for me.... :)

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CAMBODIA BLOG #4

lee@fbcaledo.com — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:15:00 GMT

The Miracle of the Tuk Tuk

All over this city are very small motor bikes they have a 5th wheel set up with a trailer that has benches. Tuk Tuk’s are the Cambodian Taxi Cab. There are gazillions. They weave in and out of traffic. The Traffic in Phnom Penh is basically without rules. It is totally nuts. Gazillions of small motorbikes, toyota’s, and Tuk Tuk’s weave in and out. There is no Rules. You just go where you want to go and it just seems to all work out. There is no regard to anyones right of way, there doesn’t seem to be a particular side of the road you drive on. You just go. It is a miracle that there are not gazillion wrecks.

Today at the Pastors Conference one of the Pastors told us about his job driving a Tuk Tuk in the city. He was given a bible and he started reading it. He said everyday it would open up to John 3:16 and he would read it. He would read the bible waiting on customers. One day there were 50 Tuk Tuk’s waiting outside a hotel for customers. Pastor Cheourhn walks by several Tuk Tuk’s and hired him. Pastor Cheourhn sees his bible and asks the typical Pastor question, “are you a Christian”. He said no just reading the bible it is very interesting. A conversation began that lasted a few years and today this Yuk Yuk driver is now the Pastor of one of the most amazing churches I have ever seen.

The church is way out in the country. Surrounded by extreme poverty. The people live from day to day. Looking for rice for the day to survive. The church building which is a simple shelter was packed with people. There were approx. 200 kids and 100 adults that gathered to meet us and worship with us. They sang, danced, gave testimonies and requested that we share and preach. As I shared with them the look on their faces was one of hunger and thirst. They hung on every word. It was obvious that most of them are physically hungry. They all appeared to need a lot more food each day than they were getting. But their hunger for Jesus trumped their hunger for food.

Their joy, celebration, and Love for Jesus was really LOUD.

It has been a few hours since we were in that village yet I can’t get their smiles out of my memory.

And that Tuk Tuk driver stood to preach, I watched with goose bumps, he is a Miracle.

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CAMBODIA TRIP BLOG #3

lee@fbcaledo.com — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:35:00 GMT

Check out our mission trip pictures on the mission page. Click Here

The Pastors Conference got off to a great start today. Along with the four of us from First Baptist Aledo we had 11 Cambodian Pastors. I really enjoyed teaching today. The opportunity to share some things with Pastors was tons of fun and very energizing. I did learn a few things myself. One lesson being a well crafted John Wayne illustration doesn’t work very well in Cambodia. I started talking about West Texas and what it would be like to Pastor in a place like Justiceburg or Valentine or Comstock and ....well it just didn’t fly very well. Not one of the Pastors had ever heard of John Wayne and the had never heard of West Texas and the blank stares told me real bluntly that they didn’t care either. So I didn’t bring up any more of my heroes for illustrations. I also didn’t use a couple of my favorite phrases during the conference. Green light wouldn’t translate very well because in a town of three million we have seen one traffic light. It is really hard to explain traffic in Phnom Penh but basically it is a free for all. Little mopeds and Toyotas zooming around everywhere. Lots of fun and we saw hundreds of near misses but no wrecks today. Also I didn’t even try Git R Done. Enough said.

I did see hunger for God, Love for His Church, and a desire to experience a harvest in their communities. They do have a Git R Done mindset. I don’t imagine it would translate very well in Cambodian.

We visited two more churches today. I am so thrilled that we are supporting these churches. They need the rice we buy. They need the resources God can supply through us. So far though it is clear with the three churches we have visited ... it is true Gods Enough is Enough.

I did get to sit at the same table tonight for supper with a Pastor who's church meets under a tree. He was the leader of the pack at this table if you know what I mean. I couldn't talk with him. But if I could I would tell him he's the man and git r done. That is preacher talk that means man I am blown away with your Love for Jesus...not sure I got what you got... He just looked at me between his bites of rice and smiled.

By the way Kevin, Robert and Kyle or doing great

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