Happy Endings On My Birthday....

I woke up at 5 this morning to get ready for an 8:40 flight out of DFW. After flying about halfway to Birmingham, our plane was leaking fuel, so they turned us around and took us back to Dallas (where there is a repair facility, versus Birmingham where there isn't. Thanks American.)

Next flight canceled due to weather. Sent us to Northwest Air for another flight. Delayed 2 hours, and can't make Memphis connection. Back to American. No flying today. All day in airport. Bring home a guy from L.A. who was heading to the same conference and got stuck in Dallas. Rebook for tomorrow's 8:40am flight. Thunderstorms forecast again. Conference much anticipated, I'm scheduled to speak tomorrow afternoon, and I really wanted to take in the whole thing.

Plenty to complain about.

Oh yeah...tonight I got to be home and pray by his side as my son, Cole, asked Jesus to come into his heart, to save him from his sins, and to be his boss for the rest of his life.

Thank you God for the obstacles.

Can you imagine....

I talk a lot about the refugees we are befriending. The United Nations is sending them to Dallas in droves, about 2,500 last year alone. That means every week on average there are 10 or 12 families arriving here from places like Nepal (where these photos were taken), Burma, Thailand, Bhutan, Vietnam, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, and so many more.

Take a look at these photos. This Bhutanese family has been in a refugee camp in Nepal for 18 years. Suddenly, they're sent to Dallas. They get 6 months of support, during which time they have to learn English, find a job, figure out school for kids, figure out banking, junk mail, thermostats, smoke detectors,.... It's absolutely unbelievable. But they're right here in our backyard, and more are coming all the time.

Christians are traveling around the world on short-term projects in unprecedented numbers. And that's an awesome thing. For all the bad press Christians seem to receive, the amount of heartfelt, sacrificial service they've provided to the poorest of the poor around the world, and the funds given to that end, has certainly been unparalleled.

While we should never stop going to the "uttermost parts of the earth", we must also heed the first 3/4 of our commission. To reach out to our Jerusalem, our Judea, our Samaria.

Traveling abroad for 10 days is life-changing. And very expensive.

Working with people from all over the world right on our doorstep, while still life-changing, is free. And priceless.

My Son

My son, Cole, who just turned 7 this weekend, loves nothing more than our visits to our international friends' homes. Last week we visited families from Bhutan, Somalia and Iraq in one evening. I told him he may have been the only little boy in Texas to do that that night. They love seeing him too.

One True God

Hey guys,

Thought I'd share a song I just wrote. It needs some work, but anyway, this is where they start....

Hope this will encourage you to start your day worshiping the One True God.

Blessings,

Eddie



And here are the lyrics:

The heavens declare
The earth declares
All creation declares
That You are God

The mountains declare
The oceans delare
Mighty rivers declare
That You are God

And not to be outdone
My heart, my soul, my voice cries out that

You are God, Almighty God
Everlasting God
King over heaven, King over earth

Yes You are God
The One True God
The Most High God
You Reign!

Among every tribe
Among every nation
The people declare
That You are God

Every knee will bow
Every tongue confess
All creation will know
That You are God