Arise Deborah! (I-Team)

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, our 4-man I-Team was attached to Ethnos Asia during the times that we ministered. Our womenfolk conducted a Deborah Seminar for Bangladeshi women at a local A.G. church.

Indeed, I requested to sit in on it to see how it went. Arise Deborah! is designed to educate Bangladeshi women to their rightful place in society, in their community, even in national life --as Christians.

Here, Virginia befriends a few of the 40 delegates who were interested in getting a closer look at an American woman who personifies the spirit of Deborah.

Religion of Piece(s)

Bangkok --our 2nd Home
Originally uploaded by Geo & VO.

An ice cream vendor was beheaded in Thai Muslim south.

As we prepare to deploy to Thailand on Tactical Team-I, I've learned that a Buddhist ice cream vendor was killed and his headless body left sitting on the bicycle seat of his cart in Thailand’s Muslim south.

The vendor, a 45-year-old Buddhist originally from the country’s north east, was shot three times in the back of his head while riding his cart into a Muslim village in Pattani.

They chopped his head off and walked away with it, leaving his body sitting on the ice cream bike’s seat.

How can there be a fatwa against ice cream?

No one in Arabia could make ice cream in Mohammed's day!

Happily, our Team will be lodging far north in Bangkok prior to our departure to Bangladesh.
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Full of oneself

A type of Christian full of himself
Originally uploaded by Geo & VO.

“God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves.”
—Dwight L. Moody

“Deflate yourselves.” —Dwight L. Obregon

The mind of God

A Cathedral of God
Originally uploaded by Geo & VO.

II Timothy 2:15
"Study to show thyself approved unto God...a workman...rightly dividing the word of truth."

"But now bring me a man who deploys to God's mission frontier. And, when the man arrives he becomes an exponent of Christ."
~ 1 George 1:1

Global outlook

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Imminent deployment >>Tactical Team-I

The Bangladesh Consulate in L.A. returned our passports with our Bangladesh VISAs affixed inside.

The evolutionary process of one's Christian life ends with the happy contentment of serving Christ on the mission frontier.

Indeed, for Jubilee Christian Center missionaries, faith without works is dead.

Power

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. --Lord Acton

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New Year's Resolutions

A Pensive Mood
Originally uploaded by Geo & VO.

After reading Pas. Adam Bernal's article in the December issue of Jubilee Life, I began to feel inspired regarding New Year's resolutions:

"Maybe it's time to start a list of possible New Year's resolutions..."

"Hmm, lose 20 lbs... Stop being a jerk... Buy stronger mouthwash... Read the occasional book... Bathe more often..."

Okey, Dokey; that takes care of my co-workers; better think up one for me now.

Somewhere in the future

The colorful prophet, Kim Clement, was in the house tonight (Jubilee Christian Center) on the last day of A.D. 2006.

It was appropriate that with the passing into eternity of 3 world famous people just days ago, Godfather of Soul James Brown, President Gerald Ford, and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, Prophet Clement and singers Miranda and Brittany sung and declared this continual refrain: “I’m somewhere in the future and I look much better than I look right now; I’m somewhere in the future and I look much better than I look right now…”

Is that telling or what?

The future will reveal whether that is true for each of us. But Clement is no lightweight; this refrain could be understood as a means of building our faith. Yes, it can be understood as a statement of faith, i.e., prophesy to things, and that when one prophesies things are brought to life: ”I’m somewhere in the future and I look much better than I look right now.”

That is why Clement could also declare, I have a reason to celebrate!

One of the more unusual prophecies given tonight was that the day of United Nations disarray is over. Another welcomed prophecy was that rap was going to be used by the black community to glorify God –I believe the implication was regarding the major players in the American rap culture. (In the morning service, a prophecy was declared that Ted Haggard would one day minister to the homosexual community.)

We’ll have to see what unfolds.

Finally, this evening the prophet encouraged us to welcome the appearance of God in our lives for our shortcomings in 2006:
“I am welcoming You to forgive.”
“I am welcoming You to restore.”
“I am welcoming You to provide.”

If the Lord tarries, 2007 will indeed reveal a little bit more of each of our futures.

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A hanging in Iraq

We have learned, as everyone else has by this time, that Saddam Hussein has been executed for the capital crimes he committed against the Iraqi people.

This execution is an interesting marker for the world, and I think for the USA in particular.

Indeed, in the USA, executing convicted murderers is carried out only after a very, very, long appeals process--taking many, many years. As a result, the death penalty is no longer a deterrent against capital crimes in my country.

Methinks there is no people, rude or learned, who are not awakened by this swift execution.

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Our brightest ornament

"I think that I did see all heaven before me, and the great God Himself!" --HANDEL upon completing The Messiah in just 25 days.

On behalf of Virginia and I, Merry Christmas!

The Christian faith of our Founders, and upon which our Declaration of Independence and Constitution were conceived, is indeed our brightest ornament.

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Casting call for recruits

KASEY, CYNTHIA, AND LISA IN THE JCC ECOSYSTEM
Originally uploaded by Geo & VO.

We are making preparations to deploy overseas beginning February 2007.

It is a long process to prepare for a dual-deployment: Philippines and Bangladesh.

We put out the casting call for recruits, and have found some good actors (12 in total) for the mission field --to serve God in the 10/40 drop zone.

Kasey, Cynthia, and Lisa, shown above at Jubilee Christian Center, will serve in the Philippines. Afterwards, Cynthia will depart with us and we will make our way to Bangladesh, via Bangkok; the rest will return home to California.
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Progress, a definition

"The reasonable missionary tries to adapt the mission frontier to himself...


the unreasonable missionary adapts himself to the mission frontier;

--therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable."

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Natural selection at Jubilee Vietnam Church

Natural selection at Jubilee Vietnam
Originally uploaded by Geo & VO.

While young Cassandra plays, Geo. and Dr. Bui demonstrate the biology of natural selection.

Natural selection is a process by which individual organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive than those with unfavorable traits. Indeed...

...so long as Geo & Dr. Bui secure a steady supply of food their Jubilee Vietnam kinship group should survive. Here, their edible plants and animals included flank steak, chicken, and all manner of rice and noodles.

Modern biology is fun!

JVC ECOSYSTEM :: SILICON VALLEY, CALIFORNIA USA
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Wildlife missionary

Crocodile Hunter and wife Terri
Originally uploaded by Geo & VO.

I am saddened by the death of Steve Irwin, the Croc Hunter.

I looked upon Irwin as a wildlife missionary, spreading the
gospel of love for animals.

Steve loved life, loved animals, loved and married an American,
boy I loved that guy!

But the ocean can be a dangerous place. As soon as you set foot in
the water, you enter the food chain. Steve knew the risks and
he played the odds with intelligence --but died nevertheless. Irwin
left us a legacy as a real wildlife evangelist.

Knowing what our pop-culture tries to pass off as role models
nowadays: "Survivor" rejects and "Paris Hilton", I'd be pleased
if my nieces and nephews took their inspiration from the
likes of Steve Irwin.

And Terri, well her soulmate is gone and she's still so young...

Godspeed, Steve....

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Virginia's surprise birthday party at Jubilee Vietnamese

Virginia's surprise birthday party at Jubilee Vietnamese
Originally uploaded by Geo & VO.

A week and a half ago, we had a surprise birthday party for Virginia following the Jubilee Vietnamese service.

In this picture, while Lisa Rich helps cut the cake, Pas. Nguyen Bui explains that it is not impolite in Vietnamese culture to ask someone their age.

However, Pas. Bui was unsuccessful in getting Virginia's cooperation.

Nice try Pastor!

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Nuclear restraint

Kim Jong il
Originally uploaded by Geo & VO.

I admire Condie Rice as Sect'y of State, but her call for Hezbollah and Israel to show restraint during a time of war, is odd.

If Hezbollah had nuclear weapons, --does anyone think they would hesitate to use them against Israel?

Israel has nuclear weapons; they do not use them.

The irony is that Israel is demonstrating restraint.

And speaking of lethal things flying through the air, I predict North Korea will get so impatient by the worldwide attention focused on this war that they'll fire off more missiles into the Sea of Japan very soon.

Homo Sapien Brain-power

Jubilee Vietnamese
Originally uploaded by Geo & VO.

As expert hunter-gatherers, Early Man was able to bring down large game using his superior intellect.

Today however, modern man uses his brain power for other things, and so, has his game brought to him by other members of his tribe.

(Here, Pas. Bui & Geo enjoy the generosity of Jubilee Vietnamese wives who prepare edibles every Sunday afternoon. Caramba!

Plutonium vs. evil

PHYSICS
Originally uploaded by Geo & VO.

"The real problem is in the hearts and minds of men. It is not a problem of physics but of ethics. It is easier to denature plutonium than to denature the evil from the spirit of man."
—Albert Einstein

Free Press: a very old concept

Why can't they learn from their neighbours?
Originally uploaded by Geo & VO.

With regard to Muslim cartoon depictions in the world's free press:

Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and Mormons don't explode in violence when their religious sensibilities are offended. They certainly don't expect their beliefs to be immune from criticism, mockery, or dissent.

Radical Muslims should learn from their peaceful neighbours.