Ninas Family Missional Life

     Ambition!    I have heard this word all of my life.   Most of the time it is used with the words " selfish "  and " blind ."  So you at first it seemed a little unnerving to find it used in Scripture.  The dictionary word for ambition  seems rather benign, with nothing belying the evil connotation often associated with it.   Ambition  is defined as " a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work."   Those last two phrases " determination " and " hard work " don't seem to fit the negative stereotype of ambition .        How did I get on this topic you ask?   Since my miraculous salvation at a small church on Crawford Road in Phenix City, Alabama in 1977, I have heard Christians talk about a life verse .  In my study of Scripture and in listening to sermons I have searched for verses that would guide me in my Christian walk.  I k...

     Back on Blogger!!   At least I know the folks in Zambia can read it, even if it isn't fancy!!!  We have finished our second full week of school.  To say that I have been busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest would be an understatement.  However, the joy of being back where God wants me this side of this Atlantic is unspeakable.  Please notice the underline in that last sentence.  I know in my heart that God has work for me in Zambia!!  And a big part of my heart is there with the children and my friends Hilda, Abbey, Liz, Kulenga and Mulanga . . .my brothers and sisters.         Our church is having a Global Impact conference on missions this weekend.  The keynote speaker is Al Jackson from Lakeview Baptist in Auburn, Alabama.  Last night at the supper he preached on missions and asked us at the end to pray for how God would use us.  Lynne and I are both open to WHATEVER or WHE...

A morass up close!!      I have often read the word "morass" in books, magazine articles and poetry.  I knew what it was but wondered if I would ever use it in a sentence myself.  I can honestly say that life after Zambia is a morass.  It seems that daily I sink farther and farther into the morass of every day life in America.  Trips to Wal-Mart, television, social situations are all part of the morass.    When I think I am making progress in focusing on prayer, studying Scripture, and focusing on God, the suction created by the morass draws at my thoughts threatening to suck me under .      In Zambia I blogged EVERY day.  Alone with God and my thoughts in the hut, thoughts were clear and flowed freely.  Back in the U.S., Wal-Mart, school, church obligations, appointments, parent conferences storm into my mind like Ghengis Kahn.  My body relaxes but my mind is filled with marshmallow creme.     ...

      It is hard to believe we have been home from Zambia for almost two weeks.  I have had a busy time since returning.  Doing what?  Well, at the end of the school year I backed up all of my planning and curriculum documents on a portable hard drive.  I had a total of 80 GB of material that I use in teaching classes for grades 6-8.  I placed it in a very secure location so it would not get moved when the custodians cleaned my room, or when the IT folks installed the new computers.  You guessed it, I can't remember where that secure location is?       The last ten days have been spent re-creating my curriculum.  It works out great for me, because it gives me the opportunity to clean up, re-organize and re-create.   I have hard copies of the handouts and I can scan them and copy them.  I had my 8th grade curriculum on a CD, so it was easy to recover.  This opportunity made me stop and think about what I...

This is my favorite tree in Georgia.  You can see it if you drive down Robertson Road (between Hamilton Road and Lower Big Springs Road.   I have taken more sunrise photographs from this spot that I have "really" lost count.   About four years ago, Mr. Vaughn tore  down the metal hay shed that blocked this view from the road.  I have had White-tailed does stop and watch me take photographs, and very often have the local Meadowlark to serenade me while I enjoy the sunrise.  As always, the passage from Ecclesiastes comes to my that was made into my favorite hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness."    Sunrise reminds me that God's mercies are new and fresh every morning.  Had a great conversation with God this morning while He used my favorite tree as the centerpiece of his masterpiece.      It was registration day at Long Cane Middle School today.   You might say it is the longest day of the school year in some respec...

          Back in the saddle again!!!     Still processing our time in Mapanza!     Met with my discipleship group for the first time in two months yesterday.  We are studying through a book co-written by David Platt and Francis Chan called  Multiply Movement .  It is a 24 week group study.  I highly recommend it if you want to be challenged to grow as a disciple of Christ.  Jeff was sharing a story about being distracted like Peter was when he was walking on water toward Jesus, and something that occurred during our say abroad came into focus.       We had the privilege of participating in a safari in Botswana with the Rosemont team when they were in Zambia.  Our transport was a truck with 6 rows of seats mounted on the back.   No walls, allowed an almost unobstructed view of any wildlife we encountered. It was no time that we were seeing Sable Antelope, elephants, African Fish Eagles, Giraff...

John Way as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit.  [cocks his gun] "Mr. Rat... I have a writ here says you're to stop eating Chen Lee's cornmeal forthwith. Now it's a rat writ, writ for a rat, and this is lawful service of the same. See? Doesn't pay any attention to me."      " It's Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday!  Everybody's workin' for the weekend!"    Yep, still singing that Rebecca Black song.    We have been home from Zambia for one week.  It seems like forever!!!  I really miss those cool mornings sipping coffee on the front porch, and the cool evenings on the tank tower watching God paint another sunset " with a brushes of comet's hair. "    Yes, Darbi, I did fall in love with Zambia and its people!!       I actually slept to 7:30 a.m. this morning.  Waited till 9 a.m.  to start the chainsaw and cut up the huge pecan limb that I had dragged out of the front yard.  While I was stil...

      Situational awareness is something the Navy taught me;specifically, Naval Aviation taught me.  Your head should be on a swivel and you should always be aware of your surroundings.  I can't help it, my powers of observation are always working.  Things you might not notice catch my eye.  You might say I would make a reliable eyewitness to a crime.  I was able to identify the guy who pulled a gun on me and some of my friends in a Phenix City, Alabama, parking lot one night.  The judge complimented me on getting his description and the description of the van perfect.  Remembering the license plate number didn't hurt either.  Why were we in the parking lot and why did he pull a gun on us?  That is a story for another time.  Let us not digress.      I drove to Long Cane Middle School today to work on the lab sinks for a couple of 6th grade science teachers.   As I was driving flashbacks to my...

      I know I know!!  Nobody likes change.   Well, I love change.  So if I love change that makes me nobody, and nobody is perfect.  So I guess that makes me . . . can't say it!    I didn't want to continue to post on Zambian Panda, since I am no longer in Zambia.  However, when we return to Mapanza I will go back to Zambian Panda.  Why blog at all you ask?  Some of the folks at New Day Orphanage (henceforth known as NDO) asked that I continue to write for the entertainment value.  So I am happy to oblige.      Why do some people get involved in missions and some don't?  Some folks talk about going and don't.  Some don't even talk about going or even support/acknowledge those who have served on mission.  A similar question would be, "Why is it that only 10%  of a church membership does 99% of the work in the church?"       Although the premise of meeting with Albe...

      Most times it is best to stick to the basics.  I know, people have tried to tell me but still I venture out of the basics.  From my Zambian friends I ask forgiveness.  It never occurred to me that you would not be able to access Weebly  in Zambia.  Today I will begin migrating posts I have made since returning to the US to Blogger.