The beauty of a "MOSAIC" life

I'm not an artist in any real sense of the word but I do enjoy being an observer of various forms of artistry. The forming of a mosaic image in art intrigues me because of it's beauty and the meaning that it represents. The definition of the word strikes me as visionary, a picture made of variously colored materials to form various images or patterns. There is something uniquely striking in bringing unity out of diversity. In order to fit the various components together into a meaningful pattern it takes the "eye" of a great artist! In a world of such intense and vibrant cultural diversity we must know the artist behind it all to paint the images he has laid in the heavens. I have always been an admirer of sunsets and sunrises. Having lived in Alaska I remember the brilliant and unusual colors as so breathtaking that it impacted my ability see beyond myself toward God himself.
Lately, I have been wanting to bring these brilliant colors and diversity together in a community of relationships where I live in Mobile, Alabama. I want to build a community of faith that will look as close to heaven on earth as God will allow us to experience. What a joy to even dream about a family of faith where we build relationships on purpose across the various colors and cultures that God has brought into our lives. I have a dream of a fellowship of believers whose greatest desire is to love God and to love one another. One in spirit but diverse in expression of life and beauty. It's coming. Want to join us?
Jim

A Family for All Nations

We have been blessed since July of 1998 to be the directors of Friends of Internationals at the University of South Alabama. It has opened our hearts and home to thousands of students from nearly all the nations of the world. We love what we do! Soon we will add another component to our life which though not for everyone will serve a number of international students and families in the area who are looking for a multi-cultural family of faith. Our lives are open to people from every nation and religion. Some of our friends are interested in finding out more about the Christian faith. We have decided to mover towards establishing a community of faith with an an emphasis on reaching out to people from different cultures. There is an interesting portrait of heaven in the last book of the Bible which describes how Jesus Christ had by his sacrificial death as an innocent enabled people to have eternal life. Our desire is to establish a family of believers and seekers of Jesus who will share their lives, their faith and their cultural heritage with one another in a beautiful mosaic of vibrant life. How can we do this? Only God is capable of building something like this. So we choose to believe and have faith in God and in his desire to draw together a faith community from every nation/ethnicity in the Mobile, Al area. Will you pray for God to help us as we move forward in faith toward God? We know you will!
Jim

Trembling on the path to Healing!

In a recent blog I told the story of a woman whose joy was restored when we were able to provide her with a simple pair of reading glasses. That same day began with a dramatic walk of bravery and allowed all the other healing ministry that day to happen. The village of Nagar was a very conservative Islamic community which practiced Purdah... a tradition where woman often are not allowed outside the walls surrounding their homes except under unusual circumstances. As outsiders we were viewed with great fear. We were the first group of people from outside the community to penetrate the veil of Nagar. Though the local leaders had announced that free medical care would be provided over the Mosque loud speakers we waited for nearly 40 minutes and no one was coming to the school building where we had set up to perform exams. Finally, after nearly an hour we looked through the windows of the school toward the open courtyard and saw a hunched older woman moving slowly in our direction. As she drew closer we could see that her whole body was shaking. It was not the shaking of muscular disease but from raw fear. She was afraid of what might happen to her as she put her health into the hands of strangers. But what was greater than her fear was the excruciating pain of a dreadful eye disease known as Trachoma. It is an infection which gradually causes the eye lashes to turn inward and scratch the most pain sensitive area of the human body: the cornea or outer surface of the eye. She had an advanced case and must have lived in unending searing pain for a long time. As we examined her she continued to tremble and as we talked with her through local translators she seemed resigned to her fate of ongoing pain. We gave her the medicine needed to effect a complete cure with detailed instructions to take the medicines over 2 weeks. She left with her haunched appearance slightly more steady.
Two weeks later we returned and the trembling and forlorn look of depression was gone. A broad smile greeted us and she kissed our hands as a sign of affection and gratitude. Another life changed, another day of pain removed and God was pleased. I resolved in prayer once again to not waste my life.. not a single moment. Will you join me in the adventure of serving others?
Jim