I HATE LITTLE COFFINS; YET MY BOSS IS THE RESURRECTION

A Little Coffin in Use

Nineteen years of memories – What do I see when I close my eyes?   

                The dearest of Africa’s Great Lake’s memories – dance, celebrations, bountiful meals, weddings, baptisms, Christmas, Palm Sunday, Easter, football (soccer)goals, cheering crowds, and children’s laughter.

                Yet a few memories haunt to the deepest part of my soul.   Some memories still cross my mind that causes my body to jerk and shake.   Old pastoral literature occasionally pulls the veil off of pastor’s souls to disclose that we are wounded healers (David Hansen and Henry Nouwen have written wonders on these matters.)    Some have compared our wounds to those of wounded soldiers in a war.    Old missionaries remind me that we came to a battle.   We’ll be scared if we wade into the fight.   In the still moments we close our eyes and feel again the wounds of battle.

                Pastors are to be men of love.   Yet sometimes we hate.    The dictionary defines hate as to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; and detest (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hate.)    The dictionary does not do justice to pastoral hatred.   The things I hate I hate with much more intensity than words can describe.

                Memories of missionary pastoral hatred occasionally waken my sleep.    I hate little coffins.

                Before getting on a plane to Kampala, Uganda in 1993 I read the news.    Some research concluded as much as 30% of Uganda’s adult population in the early 1990’s was HIV positive.    Could such startling statistics be true?

                Jana, Sophia, and I arrived in Entebbe Airport in March 1993.   Light bulbs hung from wires in customs.    Uganda was recovering from years of chaos.    Debra Tarbet Carr met us.   We bundled our luggage in a Toyota Corolla Hatchback.    Then we began the journey.   We left “the new airport,” and drove past “the old.”   Debra knew my historical mind, and pointed out the airport where Israel’s famous “Raid on Entebbe” took place.   Then we drove past the banana plantations and small dukas (kiosks and shops) that dotted the old Entebbe road.

                Then we reached Katwe, the edge of Kampala.   Katwe was the small scale industrial hub of Kampala.   Expatriate friends referred to it as the wal-martization of Uganda.   (Kampala was just a big Wal-Mart store.   All you needed was to find the section of town that sold what you needed and start looking.) Katwe had a section of gates.   The competitors were right next to one another with a plethora of options.   Katwe had a section of furniture.   Again, the competitors were next to one another with bountiful options.  

 

Coffins being manufactured in Kampala, Uganda

Katwe also had a startling coffin section.    I hope my memory is colored by years and culture shock, but I remember it stretching for hundreds of meters.    The number of coffins was sobering.    AIDS was obviously devastating Uganda.    I believe in the theory of understanding called, “Follow the money.”   If one followed the economic boom of Uganda in the early 1990’s one had to notice the booming funeral industry.   Death was everywhere.    Within the hundreds of coffins were small child sized coffins.    Hatred for those coffins was the only emotion I could feel.    AIDS was an indiscriminate killer.

Our first missionary task was “office bouncing.”   Most missionaries hate it.   I thoroughly enjoy it.    Office bouncing is the gathering of legal documents.   It involves registering organizations, keeping their documents current, getting visas, paying taxes, etc…    The pragmatic key to office bouncing success is pastoral – make friends, pray, see the mundane as an opportunity to speak good words for the Lord.    

Over time those who bounce offices well are those of great influence.    Yet, office bouncing in Uganda in the early ‘90’s had one glitch to efficiency – the commonality of death.    

Africa’s Great Lakes culture at her best is one of community compassion.     We live in a web of social obligation.     When a member of our community is in trouble we drop everything and go to help.    Funerals are one of those moments.   Yet there is also a dark side to the practice of community compassion.   Some put on illusions out of fear.    For instance, if one does not attend a funeral some in the community will assume that missing one was actually the cause of another’s death.    AIDS changed Africa’s culture rapidly as urban myths were created.     Why did we have so many deaths?   Some concluded it was witchcraft and poison.   Thus from both fear and compassion each death stopped all in the deceased’s social web.

Pragmatically, it meant office bouncing was frequently a hurry and wait, start and stop, series of visits.   Office bouncing frequently was met with vacant offices as bureaucrats left work to attend funerals.

With much of the death one could find marginal reasonableness, self-justification, and the illusions of prophetic hope.    I remember messages in Balokole (evangelical / “saved”) churches that predicted a glorious Balokole coming day.    “You see AIDS kills the immoral.   It is God’s judgment.   In a time to come only “the saved” will remain.   We will rule.”

Little coffins were not so easy to justify.  How does one explain the death of children in a world of self-justification?

I hoped to never know a little coffin.

Besides the first days in Uganda’s startle of little coffins I also first heard automatic gun fire while staying at Rubaga Social Training Centre (a guest house run by the Catholic Church.)   I pushed Jana and Sophia to the ground while the crowd laughed at me.    The sound of gunfire would become ordinary over the years, but at first it was startling.    My Ugandan friends explained that gunfire is usually just watchman or police shooting in the air to frighten a suspected thief.    The wise were home at night inside a locked door, a gated compound, and employed someone to watch their home through the night.    For our first year in Uganda many privately hired policemen to be personal body guards.    

Our first home was located just two doors down from a police post so I hired policemen to guard our home.    They were disappointing.    I found them asleep.   I found them drunk.    I needed to make a change.

One of the wonders in the early ‘90’s Uganda was the RC system.    When Museveni was in the bush fighting a guerrilla war (1981-1986) eventually the hit and run maneuvers faced the pragmatic task of governing.    When Museveni’s enemies were thoroughly defeated in a region there was no need to run after the attacks.   Now the civilian population needed leadership with roots.    His guerrilla army could not step into the void of governing and continue the battles.    Thus he instituted a highly empowered local leadership structure called the Resistance Committee (RC) System.   Among roughly 4,000 people in a community nine would be elected locally to manage the affairs of a community.    Their responsibilities ranged from repairing roads to marital counseling to maintaining the security of a community.   After January 26, 1981 when the National Resistance Army captured Kampala, the RC system became the governing structure of Uganda.

My Abilene Christian University days were shared with Charles Guma, a Ugandan student.   Guma was with us in Uganda as we started.   One of his counsels was to quickly introduce ourselves to our RC Committee.   We became friends quickly with David Muwonge, our RC Chairman.    David became a father like figure to us.

As we struggled to know what to do with the drunken and sleeping policemen guarding our home, David suggested making a new hire.   He brought to our home, Mzee (wise old man) Lasto.   Introductions were shared.   Lasto had immigrated to Uganda from Tanzania many years prior.   He had married a Muganda woman.   He had children and grandchildren.   He had made his living as an askari (watchman).   David told me that Lasto did not drink, could stay awake long hours, and was faithful.   I chose to trust David thus I chose to trust Lasto.    We surprised Lasto by telling him the job started that night.   He asked what weapons we would provide.   At the time we had none.    Lasto surprised us as he began collecting rocks, and making piles at strategic locations.  If a thief entered our compound that night he would have been pelted by rocks from our askari hidden in shadows.  Lasto was resilient and would not be caught off guard.  

The following morning I greeted Lasto with my limited Kiswahili, “Mzee, habari ya asubuhi?   (Wise, old man; how was your night?”   He responded with, “Mzuri sana (Very good.)”  The next evening when he came to work, I greeted him, “Habari, mzee (Wise, old man; how are you?)”   He responded, “Mzuri sana (Very good.)”

Sophia playing with Lydia Bagira's son, Joel

These greetings became our daily rituals.   On occasion, Lasto would interrupt ritual and protocol.    One night came Jana and I attempted to parent infants like Americans.    Sophia was always a snuggler.   She was also a “snack and nap kid.”   Parenting Sophia as an infant meant she was always in physical contact with us.   When she was hungry she cried.   By Jana nursing Sophia she was quickly appeased and fell asleep.   Then a short time later the process began again.    As we moved to Uganda we finally concluded it was time for Sophia to sleep alone.    American Christian parenting books assured us this was the right step.   We must place Sophia in her crib and let “her cry it out.”   

The following morning, Lasto followed the greeting with, “Habari mtoto (How is the child)?”  When I responded, “Mzuri (good),”  Lasto connected the dots.   We had let a child cry through the night.    All African protocol and employer / employee institutional authority was lost.    I’m sure Lasto’s mind was filled with questions about what kind of cruel race and family we must represent.     African wisdom insists on nurturing and touching children.    Only in the most destitute of situations would one not do all one could to comfort a crying child.    Lasto let me have it.    My Kiswahili was not good enough to follow Lasto’s tirade, but I learned my lesson.    Sophia would never again cry through the night.   She would sleep with us and snack and nap until she decided that she was old enough to sleep on her own.

Mzee Lasto loved children.

Sophia began to walk beating and dancing to an African drum.   Sophia began to speak.    She quickly caught on to preferred languages.    Jana and I preferred English.   Her first words to us were in English.   Our Ugandan staff preferred Luganda.   Her first words to them were in Luganda.    Mzee Lasto preferred Kiswahili.   Her first words to Lasto were in Kiswahili.

Our family settled into routine.

One evening the routine fell into tragedy.    When I greeted Lasto with, “Habari, Mzee? (How are you, wise old man?)”   Lasto responded, “Mbaya.   Mbaya sana (Bad.   Very bad.)”    

I inquired with my best Kiswahili and heard the word I hoped to never hear, “Mtoto (child).”   Something very bad had happened to a child.

I called Jana and Lydia Bagira (whose Kiswahili was better than mine) to inquire what misfortune had befallen a child.    The startling translation was death.    Mzee Lasto’s infant granddaughter had died.   In fact, she had died of AIDS.    Mbaya.   Mbaya sana were the only words fitting to describe such tragedy.    We would see a little coffin in use.    I hate little coffins.

When my hatred for little coffins met pastoral love I volunteered to transport the little coffin with an infant’s body to the home village.   I also offered to preach the funeral sermon.

Pastoral hatred is a haunting journey.    Memories of old filled my mind.

One of my favorite missions’ professors at Abilene Christian University, Wendell Broom once remarked, “There is no problem the resurrection cannot solve.”

Jesus raises Jairus' daughter

The Senior Minister at our overseeing congregation at that point in our Uganda journey, Dr. Royce Dickinson seemed to always find his way to stories of the resurrection as he preached.   

The only way to make sense of the pastoral hatred of little coffins this side of heaven was in the resurrection.

Death is a separation of the spirit of life from our bodies.    It can be a sweet transition.   Some are so privileged to live upon this earth that they can remark, "LIFE SHOULD NOT BE A JOURNEY TO THE GRAVE WITH THE INTENTION OF ARRIVING SAFELY IN AN ATTRACTIVE WELL PRESERVED BODY... BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, CHOCOLATE IN ONE HAND, BIBLE IN THE OTHER, THOROUGHLY USED UP, TOTALLY WORN OUT & SCREAMING, "WOO HOO ... WHAT A RIDE!  (Again a Wendell Broom quote.)”

Yet, death also is horrible.   In a world without morticians it stinks.    It is painful.   It is final.  Death of innocent children to a disease that sucks out all pleasures of this earth is atrocious.   I hate little coffins.   I believe my boss also hates little coffins.

There are 4 stories of resurrection in the Gospels.   Two are of children.   One is of Jesus’ friend, Lazarus.   The final one is of the Lord Jesus himself.    My Boss is the Resurrection.    He also hates little coffins.

A sick child on the verge of death makes us drop all pretension and protocol.   A Jewish religious leader named Jairus came in desperation asking for the Lord’s healing of his daughter (Mark 5:21-43).    At first it seemed too late.   When the crowds told Jairus that his daughter had died and it was time to cease bothering Jesus, the master teacher; Jesus, the BOSS OF THE LIVING AND DEAD told Jairus to not fear but believe.   Then the Lord went with an intimate group of mentorees and family to touch the 12 year old little girl.  Then he pulled her by the hand to her feet.    The crowd initially laughed at Jesus courage to proclaim the girl was just asleep.   Now they were astounded.    Because Jesus hates little coffins He is the Resurrection.

Jesus Raises Widow's Son

Another time my Boss entered the town of Nain.   It was a chaotic moment.   Jesus entered with a crowd.   Another crowd was leaving.   Jesus’ crowd of anticipation met a crowd grieving with a widow who had lost her only son.   I can’t imagine this woman’s grief.    Academic minds will quickly point out that a widow who lost her only son was completely on her own after the funeral.    Economic disaster with utter loneliness would follow this widow to the grave.    Jesus must have hated that coffin.   He told the widow not to cry.   He touched the coffin.   He commanded the young man to arise.   Because Jesus hates little coffins He is the Resurrection.

Shortly before Jesus entered Jerusalem to begin the Passion he met dear friends, Mary and Martha, who had just lost their brother, Lazarus (John 11).    Again, the situation is full of confusion.   Grief throws humanity into loss and despair.   In the midst of this mystery, timeless truths are spoken and lived.    A Resurrection day is coming.   Jesus, my Boss is the Resurrection.   My Boss hates coffins.   My Boss loves from the deepest part of His heart.   He wept for His friend’s loss.   He weeps for our loss too.   Out of this Divine Anger and Grief comes true Power.   He commanded Lazarus to arise.   My Boss is the Boss of the Living and The Dead.   Lazarus rose. 

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

All four Gospels tell the story of Jesus’ Resurrection.   I believe it to my core.   My hatred of little coffins only can be consoled by the hope of a Resurrection.   

Thus early in the morning in 1993 I went with David Muwonge to Mzee Lasto’s home.   We picked up a little coffin that contained the infant body of Mzee Lasto’s granddaughter.    We placed it on the roof rack of my Toyota 4WD Lite Ace.  Then we preached the Resurrection in deed.

The funeral industry in Uganda made a killing on transporting bodies.    Many AIDS sufferers came to Kampala in the closing days of life to get whatever medical treatment could be found.    The treatments were generally better than the village, but still pathetic compared to North America or Western Europe.   After the dying breaths the deceased’s community would need to transport the body to the home village for burial.    Only the richest of rich had their own transport.   Some relied on connections with Kampala’s elite who may loan a vehicle to extended family for transport.   However, many were stuck.   Thus the opportunistic business people gouged the grieving with extravagant prices to transport a body to the home village for burial.   

Our old Toyota Lite Ace at Work

David and I tied the little coffin to the top of my roof rack.   The fuel was my gift.   None of my friends would be gouged in grief.   I hate little coffins and the actions of little coffin profiteers.

A crowd gathered around my vehicle and began to place eggs under the wheels.   Thankfully, I had sat at the feet of missionary bzee like Shawn Tyler, Monte Cox, Gailyn Van Rheenen, and Gaston Tarbet.   I knew the message of the eggs.   It was pure animism, paganism, and an affront to my Boss.     The eggs were sacrifices to hovering spirits.   They were an attempt to appease malicious spirits intent on bringing misfortune to our journey with a community of those grieving for the loss contained in the little coffin.   I spoke an angry message.   It is one of the few times where I’m still convinced my anger was my boss’.    The eggs were gone.   We said a prayer trusting my Boss’ protection.

We reached the home village.    I was seated on a chair among the bzee (wise old men).   The community offered a chair to Jana.   My wise wife refused the chair.   She sat on the ground with the women and children.   The crowd giggled and then clapped.    My wise wife’s humility had earned both her and me immense moral authority.   She refused to take honor that was simply about race.   She knew by sitting with her Ugandan peers she showed honor to the family.   By giving honor to the family she won their respect.

Mzee Lasto introduced me to the village crowd as, "Mukama wange, Daudi Jenkins (My Lord, David Jenkins.)   I was shocked to be assigned a title of divinity.    Then I asked David Muwonge quietly if I had hear correctly.   "Yes," he replied.    "You are mzee Lasto's boss."   The simple introduction would have profound impact on my view of discipleship.

I remembered Royce Dickinson discussing church worship debates in the USA.   He pointed out that American culture has no gestures to communicate honor.   Americans also seem to have no language to communicate submission and honor.   Lasto in one introduction taught me that Lordship is about honor and submission to a boss as well as to divinity.

A Young Dave Preaching in a Ugandan Village

Speeches were made.  I was asked to preach.   I spoke the simple old message of the Gospel.   I told the stories of the Resurrection.   I prayed the 23rd Psalm to comfort.   I sat down.

The little coffin was lowered into the grave.   We each threw a handful of dirt into the grave.  Then the village laborers filled it to the top.   It was over.

We had a meal.   We drank chai.   We journeyed back to Kampala.

A few months later, Mzee Lasto again told me, “Mbaya.   Mbaya sana (Bad.  Very Bad.)”   When I inquired I was told, “Mtoto.”   When Jana and Lydia translated we found that Mzee Lasto’s daughter had died of AIDS.    Her coffin was not little.   We went through the same ritual with the same message again.

My most startling memory of the day of Mzee Lasto’s daughter’s funeral was lifting her coffin to the top of my car.   The coffin was light.   The lift was easy.   Ugandans called AIDS “Slim.”   Mzee Lasto’s daughter had the substance of life sucked from her body in her last days.  Her coffin was so light it seemed to not hold an adult body.

A few months later we were in the USA on furlough.   News came to us of an impending great tragedy.   Mzee Lasto was sick.   A short time later news came that Mzee Lasto had passed.   Slim had caught him.   Mzee Lasto died of AIDS.  In one year a granddaughter, daughter, and grandfather had all died.   AIDS was an indiscriminate killer.

I hate little coffins.    My Boss is the Resurrection.

Pastoral hatred does many things.    Those who know me best remark of my remarkable ability to give and receive love.   I know my own dark demons too well to take that title.    Yet, those few intimate friends also note that my love sometimes comes out as hatred.

I hate little coffins.    That hatred comes from my Boss.  Here are some other matters that I hate:

I hate listening to religious gatherings that judge victims and superimpose victory.   AIDS would not develop a master Balokole race in Uganda.    All would suffer.   All would someday bow to my Boss.   He is the only One Righteous.

I hate the practice of polygamy.   I’ve loved many polygamous friends.   Yet, the consequences of polygamy are family dysfunction and death.   Little coffins thrive in polygamous families.

I hate my Kizungu (Western) culture of serial adultery and divorce.   It is ethically one step below polygamy.   My polygamous friends attempt to care for all their wives and children.    My Bazungu (White race) friends who practice serial adultery and divorce leave more shattered relationships and lives than my African friends.   If they are Balokole serial adulterers they also become masters of manipulation and deception.   The consequences to children are horrendous.

I hate discos and bars that lure youth into sexual immorality.  Even with condom proselytism we cannot escape that a thin piece of plastic can never protect the human heart.   We were designed to mate for life.   Any relationship that denies that truth of created order will become a disaster.

I hate little coffins.

Yet, those little coffins have given me startling love.

Jesus After Resurrection Sharing Holy Communion with Disciples

I love the faithful.   I cannot conceptualize that anyone seeking the spiritual is my enemy.   Little coffins showed me the profound commonality of human life.   Denominational identity is irrelevant squabbling for those who trust in my Boss’ Resurrection.

I love children.   I’ve always done all I can so they can thrive.   I want to build institutions to bless them for generations.

I love youth.  I love their athletic feats.   I love their music and dance.   I love their courage.   I love their intelligent search for knowledge.

In these painful moments I close my eyes.   My memories overwhelm me.   As my body shakes comes forth my deepest beliefs, hopes, and actions.

In 19 years in Africa I’ve only twice performed a funeral with a little coffin.    I’ve begged God for children’s lives many times.   I can’t answer the question of why twice God was silent.    Yet, I do believe in my Boss’ Resurrection. 

Though I hate little coffins, my Boss is the Resurrection.

SEPTEMBER 2012 PRAYER BULLETIN

Dear Family and Friends,

A few weeks ago we sat in church and used the Lord’s Prayer in worship.   The old resonated to the deepest part of my being.    I’ve found myself meditating on it each morning as I run,

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
 (Matthew 5:10-13, King James Version)

As our family starts missionary life anew in Chicago please join us in praying:

1.    Adoration to our Holy Father (What else can we do?   We are adopted children by a God completely beyond all we can conceptualize)

2.   Seeking His heavenly kingdom to grow upon this earth.   (Thankful to have been a vessel in Africa and now seeking His will in the USA)

3.   Trusting for our daily sustenance.   (Not sure how we’ll pay the bills this season, but aware of His daily abundance.)

4.   Forgiving and being forgiven.   (Old church planters know too well their personal failings.    Yet we also have survived tremendous battles.   This is a season to heal through forgiveness.)

5.   Separation from sin.   (Confusion, discouragement, and idolatry be gone.)

6.   Awestruck forever at God.

Thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement that sustain our family and ministry.

Mungu akubariki (God bless you),

Dave

P.S.  We will be at Abilene Christian University’s Summit this coming week and hope to connect with some of you there.

ANNOUNCING THANK YOU TOUR

Our family running in our new post of Wheaton, Chicago

Dear Family and Friends,

Two commands fill God’s word when His people are in seasons of transition.  Those words are “Remember (150 references),” and “Thanks (100 references).”  (References counted by www.biblegateway.com.)

Our family last week finished getting the kids in five different educational institutions (Lowell Elementary, Franklin Middle School, Wheaton North High School, College of DuPage, and Wheaton College in Chicago.)   This past Sunday at Willow Creek Dupage we heard Shauna Niequist remark, “Enrolling a child in kindergarten is like getting a job in the CIA.”  We concur it is thorough and exhausting.

Christmas 2011 with foster child, Gabriel Mugisha Jacobs

This week we are beginning the process of organizing 19 years of memories.  We must remember.   God was, is, and is to come “Faithful.”  He used many family, friends, churches, and organizations to share this journey.  Here are some highlights:

• Of 21 years of marriage, 19 happened in Africa’s Great Lakes
• 2 nations of day by day labor (Uganda and Rwanda)
• Raised 5 great kids (Sophia, Caleb, Ethan, Ruth, and Timothy)
•   Fostered 1 pre-mature baby through weight gain, colick, and at one point 3 seizure clusters per day until he was adopted (Gabriel Mugisha Jacobs)
• 177 churches developed and 55 missionary families entered Uganda through New Testament Churches of Christ (1993 – 2004)
•   2 urban church plants (Kampala Church of Christ and Christ’s Church of Rwanda)
•  1 School Start (Kigali International Community School)
•    3 ½ years doing a weekly prime time radio show with Monitor FM (now KFM)
•    Volunteering at Kampala Kids League
•    6 years writing a column for The Rwanda Focus
•    200 children sponsored to attend school through Christian Relief Fund
•   1 library developed (Better Living Resource Center)
•  1 ministry to university students and young professionals (UP)
•   Over 300 of Rwanda’s brightest studying at USA universities through the Presidential Scholars program
•   Over 2,000 university students in Ethics lectures (School of Finance and Banking, and Kigali Institute of Science and Technology)
•   10 adoptions facilitated
•   5 houses serving as earthly homes and guesthouses frequently filled with delightful visitors
•   Daily morning walks, runs, swims, and bike rides that occasionally became community endeavors (NTCC Bikathon, Kigali Peace Marathon, and Kumbya 3 Hump Island Swim)
•   More baptisms, baby dedications, weddings, and funerals than we could count
•   Countless friends made and experiences shared
•   ONE SOVEREIGN, PROVIDENTIAL, AND MYSTERIOUS GOD

We sense as the Lord transitions us to a new season as missionaries in the United States He asks us to thank many of you face to face for your participation in this journey.   We’re a little scattered, but starting to put a pencil to a calendar.   

Would you like to see us and share some of these memories?   We’d love to visit.   Please drop us a note and we’ll start planning to share the thanksgiving memories.

Mungu akubariki (God bless you),

Dave and Jana

WEDDING OF YVES NTARE MUSIINE AND NICOLE KAMANA

Bride, Nicole Kamana; and her sister and Maid of Honor, Isabella

“Who gives Nicole away?”

“Her family and I” - FRANCIS

·         Introduction: 

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together in the sight of God and in the face of these witnesses to join together this man, Yves Musiine and this woman, Nicole Kamana in Holy Matrimony.   Marriage is an honorable institution, instituted by God, signifying the union of Christ and His Church.   It is not to be entered lightly, but thoughtfully in the fear of God.

·         PRAYER OF BLESSING:

“Our Holy Sovereign Father,

We gather today to unite Yves and Nicole in marriage.   We believe this day has been planned by you from before Creation.   We believe you intend for their marriage to display Your glory.   May you dwell in our presence today.   May today be one for Your honor.   May you bless the marriage of Yves and Nicole.   May their home be filled with children, family, and friends.   May their home be a place where we all find joy and wisdom.   May coming generations be blessed by the events of today.

We ask these matters in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen

1 Corinthians 13 - Love Is the Greatest – Reading by Mucho

Yves and Family

13 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. ³ If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;^[a] but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

⁸ Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages^[b] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! ⁹ Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! ¹⁰ But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.
¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. ¹² Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.^[c] All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

¹³ Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

·         Sermon:

The Apostle Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote to church in Ephesus, 

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. ⁵ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. ^… He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. ⁸ He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

⁹ God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. ¹⁰ And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth…. for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. (Ephesians 1:4-11, The New Living Translation.)

Paul in writing to Ephesus told the big picture history of God and humanity.   One of my favorite professors in seminary, Dr. Ed Mathews stated it with this sound bite, “God was a Redeemer before He was a Creator.”   God is Omniscient.   He knows everything.  Before He created the world He knew what would become the future.   Those God created in His own image would betray Him.   God’s nature of Holiness could not tolerate such an affront.   The only way for humanity to be restored to God’s intent would be the sacrifice by horrible death of God’s Own Son.    

If I was constructing a building and I foresaw the building would cost the life of my son I would terminate the project.   In fact, I would tear it down.

Yet, God chose before Creation that He was a Redeemer.   He would pay the price to redeem His Creation.

We call this story the Gospel.   Literally, it means Good News.   The story is timeless.  All need to hear it.  All must make a choice with eternal consequences.   All can be blessed by the Gospel.

As God describes the process of the Gospel restoring humanity family illustrations are used.   One of the most enduring is the parable Jesus spoke of the Lost Son (Luke 15).   Jesus told this story to make it abundantly clear – God is an mzee who runs to forgive and restore.

Theologians notice two family metaphors used to explain the Gospel.   They are Adoption and Marriage.   These illustrations are timeless.   Both the Old and New Testament use these illustrations of Adoption and Marriage to explain God’s love for created humanity.   

In Ezekiel 16 God uses the parable of adoption to explain that all humanity is like a child abandoned and left to die in a field.   Yet, instead of the child dying by exposure; God rescues the child, incorporates her into his family, and blesses her future as a treasured jewel.   

God describes this love in Isaiah 49 with these words, 

“Can a mother forget her nursing child?
    Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
    I would not forget you!
 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. (Isaiah 49:15,16, New Living Translation.)”

God describes humanity as “made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).”   As such it our both our nature and responsibility to see, feel, speak, and do the actions of God.   How do we do this?

Paul made it clear.   Our lives are part of God’s grand history.   He intends for all things on heaven and earth to be brought under the authority of Christ.   It is part of God’s eternal plan for us to marry, celebrate, produce children, adopt children, and build on earth the institutions that bless future generations until the Lord returns.   

Marriage is the first institution God created to bless future generations.

God’s word states in Genesis 1, 

“The Lord God said,

“It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.

But for Adam^[a] no suitable helper was found. ²¹ So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs^[b] and then closed up the place with flesh. ²² Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib^[c] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

²³ The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
    for she was taken out of man. ”

²⁴ That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

²⁵ Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame (Genesis 1:18-25.  New International Version.)”.

God is the Designer of Marriage.   He saw the first man’s loneliness and said, “It is not good for man to be alone.”  God sees our circumstances and understands our deepest loss and loneliness.   He will not leave us alone.   God says, “I will make a helper for him.”  

The purpose of marriage is to help one another in the responsibilities of life.   God brings a man and woman together to fulfill both their deepest longings and God’s intent for their marriage to display His glory.   They leave the comforts of their past homes and form a new one.   In this process our community is blessed by their shared wisdom, joy, and service.  

  In the Holy Institution of Marriage their extended families are united for purposes beyond today’s capacity.   This process involves both an honoring of the past heritage, and a separation from the past’s limitations.   A new authority structure begins with their marriage as the man leaves his father and mother to be united with his wife.

There is no shame in marriage.   Children are produced.   Children are adopted.   Godly offspring fill the earth.   Their home is full of laughter and grief, joy and comfort, wisdom and grace.

  Their home becomes a meeting point for a community.   Children for generations fill the home.   Plans are made for these children.  Institutions are created for these children.   

The legitimacy of these marriages are displayed by a lifelong commitment, the approval of the extended families and culture, compliance to government regulation, and most importantly a shared faith community blessing the new marriage.  

Our marriages display the relationship all of us who believe in Jesus share.   The Apostle Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote, 

 ^“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.                                   

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing^[a] her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body. ³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{[b] 32} This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.   (Ephesians 5:21-33.  New International Translation.)”

            Many in their reading of this text miss the introduction.   Before Paul discusses the roles of a husband and wife he gives us an endearing sound bite that sums up following Christ in community.   We all must submit to one another.   We look to others interests before our own.  We seek their good.   We put aside our interests to serve others.   We trust God to be our personal and communal sustainer.  

            This radical vision of following Christ raises questions rapidly.   What if someone takes advantage of me?   What if I am misunderstood?   What if I am left alone at loss?

            Yes, life in faith requires humility, courage, and trust.   After all, marriage symbolizes the very nature of the Gospel.   How do we flawed humans find hope?

            God wades in when life is messy.   He sacrifices the life of His Son to save humanity.
            Husbands you must live in this profound responsibility.   You must turn off ESPN and the news when the family is messy.   You must listen well.   You must discern.   You must labor.   You must guide.   You must heal.   You must be willing to give up all the temporary comforts of this earth for a greater good.   Your life must be considered nothing.    Your family needs you to sacrifice as Christ sacrificed for the Church.

            Wives, in such a sacred relationship you must submit to your husbands.   It is interesting that Paul does not command you to love.   However, obedience is part of love, and love becomes a natural outflow when the one you follow sacrifices deeply.    In seasons of mystery, you must trust and choose to follow.

            The reason we live in these profound mysteries is because of the Gospel.   God chose to use the illustrations of family to communicate His deepest intentions for humanity.   These illustrations are Adoption and Marriage.   With these illustrations we have the profound human responsibility to proclaim the Gospel – The Hope of the World.

·         Declaration:

“Do you Yves take Nicole as your wife to live together in the holy state of marriage?

“I do”

“Do you Nicole take Yves as your husband to live together in the holy state of marriage?

“I do”

·         Vows: 

“Take each other’s right hand and repeat after me”

 “I, Yves take you Nicole as my wife”

“To have and to hold”

“From this day forward”

“For better, for worse”

“For richer, for poorer”

“In sickness and in health”

“To love and to cherish”

“Forsaking all others”

“Till death do us part”

“I, Nicole take you Yves as my husband”

“To have and to hold”

“From this day forward”

“For better, for worse”

“For richer, for poorer”

“In sickness and in health”

“To love and to cherish”

“Forsaking all others”

“Till death do us part”

·         Exchange of Rings

Nicole and Ring Bearer

“Rings represent a symbol of eternal love and commitment with no start or finish.”

“Yves place the wedding ring on Nicole’s left hand ring finger and repeat after me:”

“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love”

“And with all that I am and all that I have”

“I honor you”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”

“Nicole place the wedding ring on Yve’s left hand ring finger and repeat after me:”

“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love”

“And with all that I am and all that I have”

“I honor you”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”

·         Unity Candle:

"The two outside candles have been lit by Yves and Nicole’s aunties to represent their lives to this moment. The lights, representing the faith, wisdom, and love they have received from their families.

Now they will light the unity candle from these outside lights.   As they join now in marriage, there is a merging of these two lights into one light.

 This is what the Lord meant when He said, "On this account a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall be one flesh." From now on your thoughts shall be for each other. Your plans shall be mutual, your joys and sorrows shall be shared alike.

Each of you take a candle and together light the center one, to represent the union of your lives. As this one light cannot be divided, neither shall your lives be divided but a united testimony in a Christian home. May the radiance of this one light be a testimony of your unity in the Lord Jesus Christ.

·         Proclamation:

Yves and Groomsmen

 “As Yves and Nicole have consented to marriage in the presence of these witnesses and given their vows to one another, as a minister of the gospel, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

“You may kiss the bride”

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”

AUGUST 2012 PRAYER BULLETIN

Dear Family and Friends,

Our Lord said, “I tell you for certain that a grain of wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat.  If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life.  If you serve me, you must go with me. My servants will be with me wherever I am. If you serve me, my Father will honor you. (John 12:24-26. Contemporary English Version.)”

A little over 2 months ago, our family left all we had dreamed of, labored for, and a community we had lived with for 19 years.   We sensed a call of God to return to our passport nation.   We sold all our earthly possession except our memories.   We came to the United States city of Chicago as missionaries. 

 

When told, “Welcome home.”

We responded, “Home is heaven.   This is just a temporary assignment.”

An old missionary friend of ours described the emotions of this transition as “It felt like death.”

Yet from death to all that seems like life on this earth springs forth great fruit.

This month we ask your prayers for the following matters:

1.     Thanksgiving for the reunions of life.   We are reconnecting with family, friends, and supporters.   A special delight was last week seeing our foster son, Gabriel Mugisha Jacobs thriving (For more news see http://jenkinsinrwanda.blogspot.com/2012/08/visiting-gabriel-mugisha-jacobs.html,  and photos  see http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.452694121418131.107475.100000326419518&type=1

2. Thanksgiving for the discovery of new friends and opportunities.   Within a few blocks of our Wheaton home live friends of ours from Africa’s Great Lakes (Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, and Congo.)   Posted signs are even translated from English to Kiswahili.   (For more news on our first month in the USA see http://jenkinsinrwanda.blogspot.com/2012/07/1st-month-in-usa.html.)  It is obvious we are where God has called us to be. 

3. Our children’s adaptation to life in the USA.   In a few weeks they will all start school.   Please pray for their academic, athletic, social, and most importantly spiritual adaptations to the USA.

4.   Wisdom and discernment as our family begins a new missionary journey.   Chicago feels much like Kampala in 1993 and Kigali in 2005.   May God be glorified through this journey of discovery and service.

Mungu akubariki (God bless you),

Dave and Jana

VISITING GABRIEL MUGISHA JACOBS

Dave and Jana walking Gabriel

Dear Family and Friends.

 

We hope your summer is going well.   We are enjoying summer in the USA, but also deeply miss Rwanda.   This week we particularly miss the Kumbya Retreat where missionaries from Africa’s Great Lake have gathered every year since 1947 to fellowship and renew.

We sense our season in the USA will be a similar season to gather and refresh as we renew old friendships and make new ones. 

We are traveling this week.   Currently, we are in the Dallas area visiting Mark and Chelsea Jacobs for a few days and seeing our former foster son, Gabriel Mugisha Jacobs.  

Gabe is doing well.   He now weighs 10.45 kilos (23 pounds).   It is unbelievable when you pick him up.   The Jacobs have a baby back pack carrier, and we take Mugisha for walks in the morning.   There is a pond near the Jacobs' home.   We walk around the pond similar to how Dave used to walk around the Nyarutarama Lake when we lived in Kigali.   However, Gabe is significantly heavier, and it becomes just a bit more tiring. 

We're very thankful to see Gabe doing so well.   It is miraculous as you listen to the Jacobs tell stories of all the divine appointments that have happened.   He is getting the best care possible.   A multiple of different therapists come to their home each week to help Gabe get through the next stages.   He is rolling over and almost crawling so great progress has been made in his development.   He also is full of joy and seems to remember our family even after not seeing us for 4 months. It was fun watching his face as he was trying to process it all. He came to us easily. Chelsea said that he usually doesn't warm up to others that fast. All of our kids are with us.  They love playing and cuddling with Gabe, and reconnecting with the Jacobs other girls!  We think our families are enmeshed for life! 

It is hard to describe with words the deep and profound sense of joy and contentment to be again with Mugisha.   God's will and love are perfect.  We love cuddling and holding Gabe again! Such sweet blessings!

Jenkins' boys with Gabriel

This weekend Dave will be performing a wedding in Indiana of a lovely Rwandan couple. We are looking forward to seeing several Rwandan friends, and meeting more of Rwandans that are living on this side of the ocean!

However, after being on the road for a week we are starting to be homesick for our new Wheaton home!

Blessings to all of you,

Dave and Jana