Messy Church

Check out My Cousen Jordan’s Blog for his perspective on this trip– Good stuff!

John’s stuff is here. 

 I am not a very good tourist. I hate to be driven around site to site. I’m the kind of guy who wants to enjoy the stuff in between sites. When I visit a place I want to feel like I know the neighborhood. Yesterday I spent an hour or so trying to make sense of my Phnom Penh map. I grew more and more frustrated.  Today I walked for 3 hours, found our orphanage, and was able to gather enough information to make my own map. I now feel like I have added a new neighborhood to my collection of neighborhoods I call home.
(I found a chinese medicine shop that sold huge jars containing cobras suspended in some strange fluid with a scorpion in their mouth!, apparently it is a kidney remedy- I migh try yo bring one back –Snakes on a Plane!)

 I showed up unannounced at our orphanage and was greeted with the site of 1/2 our kids taking noontime naps in the front lobby.  What a bunch of cuties. I also got to ride on the back of a few Motos (Honda C-90’s aka Super-Cubs) Words cannot describe the traffic chaos, but everyone is used to it- so I feel safe, but it looks insane.

 I am NOT an itinerant Preacher. I love teaching at Central VIneyard because It feels like family.  In the US I turn down most invitations to speak outside our church. It’s probably a mix between insecurity and a desire to know WHO I’m talking to so I can craft my talk accordingly.  I hatye flying blind.  I l;ike routines, maybe that’s why I rarely leave my neighborhood (43202).  So I was completely stressed out being a speaker at a key outreach led by Gospel Commission Fellowship.  My friend Narin Chey is the Pastor of this Church.  Central Vineyard began to pay his salary last year as he began planting this church.  The church is now up to 160 and has moved to two services.  Narin had the idea to have us rent out one of the primo restaurants in Pnomh Penh and hold an outreach.  He planned for 70 to attend and 85 people showed up.  It was an interesting mix of people form students to some ranking Govt. Officials.  I sat next to a Generals wife for the meal.  If any of you are familiar with the Cambodian GOvt. you will know just how interesting a scenario this is.  Narin is working hard to change his country by bringing those in charge to Jesus.  The Outreach began with John and Jordan playing worship songs together.  This was Jordan’s first time playing guitar in front of people. They did a great Job!! Jordan is one of the best people to travel with. He is willing to try and do ANYTHING.  He is a low key guy- but that is not to be confused with timmidity.  His more introverted- subversive way of connecting with people really helps to balance John and me with our more aggressive form of connecting.  We get to be a well-rounded team of not so well rounded individuals! 

John shared a short testimony about the Gospel’s ability to help you overcome fear.

I followed on the theme of fear by making everyone laugh about my fear of flying- sharing some anecdotes, including the drama involved in getting to Cambodia. The only humor that really translates is self effacement in the culture- so they got to laugh at the funny looking white guy

My talk was about the Resurrection of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ’s followers in the future- and specifically how that inspired early Christians to abandon their fear of world powers (i.e. Rome etc) and proclaim the gospel- not fearing the death that they would inevitably face.  (I Love to plagarize NT Wright) I talked about how because of the Death and ressurection of Jesus, poor and rich, powerful and powerless- can be made one community in Christ.  After I spoke Narin said some words and led people in a prayer of commitment to Christ.  Attendees filled out comment cards and 17 indicated they mad decisions to follow Jesus whgile 30 indicated they would like to get together with one of the leaders to find out more about Jesus.  wow!

 (As I write this blog john and Jordan are playing live music by the riverfront along the main drag of Mao Tse Toung Blvd.  )

 BTW- I found out that Cambodians love to mock those that drive Vespa’s.  Vespa’’s are big in Thailand and Viet Nam- But the Cambodians think they are crap– That having been said- I found a 100 dollar side saddle seat for my Vespa Super for 10 bucks at the market!