There must be more...go back? Come along...?

Over the past 18 months I have been somewhat intentional about what James admonished us to know - become a "do'er" - "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." (Jas. 1:22) - the kicker is that being a do'er generally has some kind of intentional focus on the "object" of the "do". Hand a homeless guy a lunch - that's a good thing - give him a hug - that's a better thing I guess - tell him Jesus loves him - that's maybe the ultimate thing. But to know that Jesus loves him through you - and telling him that YOU love him and really do - in his "filth" - we help them see past the self-image of junk to how the Lord really does love them.

And I'm changed...

I hope you've found the same reality - same truth in stepping out of your comfort zone and hugging/loving what the world says is very unlovable. In the doing - you'll find the path to unconditional love. Not easy - but if not "the" path - certainly the pavers or morter of the path...

So - what if 20 of us gathered together - and we each found 50 supporters - and we encouraged each supporter to provide us with $100? Do that math - head back in July next year - we've got about 10 months - $10 per month per supporter - do that math. It might cost $40-$50k to put 20 people on the ground - ugh. A lot of money. Consider what we could do with the leftover...

Build a church...??

Build a school...??

Dig a well...??

Feed an entire orphanage for X months...??

What do you think? Ask yourself this question - is this really God's will? In the context of Matthew 5:16 - - - I think we have a great opportunity to come together and put that lamp on a hill...

In Christ -

Clay

We're back...and the pics are a comin'...!!

Well – I’m back (almost two weeks now…) – we’re back – actually as you might know, we returned a week ago Sunday – and the transition back to EST for me was a piece of cake! With the help of a little chemistry (Ambien!!) – some ear plugs – and eye mask – it got dark and quiet on the flight from Nairobi to Paris. Arrived around 3pm Sunday – stayed up ‘till 10:30pm or so and by Monday morning had JERKED my system back into Atlanta-time.
...kids are kids 'eh?

I came back with 4 hours of video – Robyn returned with about 2 hours – that’s a lot of video to put into something “use-able” – but I’m working on it. Attached here are two more “installments” – one being a quick interview of Lucy Andrew – a young lady who grew up in Ngaamba, educated there and lives/works for the community there. She’s one of about 5 young ladies that were so very impressive – their walk with God – demure – it all showed up so brightly when they prayed! I asked Lucy a few questions – she was nervous to be “on-camera” but gave us some great inspiration – please do watch!! Then she turned the camera on me…

It’s the people – they work so hard – life’s not very easy especially when considered in the context of our lives – but there were not complaints – no griping – all I sensed was a trust in God – in Christ. Seriously! We praised God each day that – 1) we (Americans!) did NOT have to dig the ditch – our Ngaamba brothers/sisters – they dug it out like they were just eating a bowl of cereal. 2) Thank you LORD for the cloud-cover!! It is so dry – and even with the cloud cover it was hot – when the sun peeked through – the temp rose quickly. There are certainly other things to praise God about – but those were two biggies!

In the brief clip below – Thursday when we did some “home visits” – we were introduced to brick-making. A lot of the homes in Ngaamba are of a poured concrete construction – rebar - just like we have here!! BUT their rebar is sticks and limbs – their concrete is clay-strengthened mud (I like that…).

This pic busts me up!!!

It is hard to articulate all that God does in the middle of something like this – they think THEY’RE blessed – I guess it’s your perspective – I know I was by God showing up – actually already being there – and active – old Blackaby as you can imagine – in his 3-piece suits and VHS video teaching was absolutely right – find out where God is working and go THERE. We did – and He gave us the chance to be part of what He’s doing – not what we think we’re doing! If you’ve never stepped fully into this world – keep an eye out – listen closely – He’s calling you to change a life – most likely your own – maybe someone on the periphery of your life…

Stay tuned – thank you for being a part!

Clay

Tuesday - we began working. God blessed us with cloud-cover - it's winter now but the sun when direct is hot - the air is dry - the dust is unrelenting - the ground in the desert is covered with plants that have some VERY solid and detering features! Nearly everyting growing wild will cut, scratch or poke a hole in skin. And leave a bit of nasty juice just for irritable good measure...

The drive off the main road starts with a stretch we called "Mars" - the red clay dust was 5-6 inches deep and every tree and plant within 30 feet of the road was monochromatic red. Our lungs were probably the same! Rough roads - ROUGH! A LOT of bottled water - - - from where we stayed in Machakos to Ngaamba was nearly a 2 hour ride. Have to figure it was only (only...?) about 60 miles or so. But a rough ride - have video...

The place we're serving - Ngaamba - is in a 3 year drought - summers hit 100 degrees daily. The corn is dead - the "cow beans" are basically dead. But the spirit of these people is summed up in "Praise God!" - so grateful...

They're not starving - they are so resourceful and survive on very littlle. This water - there's so much it will do - and who knows - through our obedience - maybe God has chosen the next "Billy Graham" - a Kenyan from Ngaamba - to change this world.

Wednesday night, I led the devotions - I decided to focus on Phil. 2:5-8 - on the "path" to humility - which we've all chosen on this trip by being obedient to God's call. Which you've chosen by saying "yes" to being a part - It is such a joy to tell these new friends that "beside me" are 60 people who know the love of Christ and are living it....for these people...for His sake.

For this posting, I've been able to edit a short video - a compilation of digital photos of the work on the pipe - enjoy - and as usual - more to come!!

Saturday the 12th - We took the 30+ children to the Lake Nakuru wildlife refuge - plenty of amazement and so fun to hear the kids proclaim "zehb-rah" as we'd see a small herd - a bunch of rhino's - one waking within 30-40 feet of the bus - giraffe - hyena (nasty animals...) - and baboons. The kids were glued to the windows as this was the 1st time any of them had seen these animals live. You ladies would say "precious" - I thought it was pretty cool...

Lunch was fascinating - the baboons found us in FORCE!! There were 2-3 that must have weighed 40+ lbs. There were also a bunch of little ones - a BUNCH. And they wanted lunch.

Ours...!!

These boys were aggressive and they worked together to distract and grab food! Turned into quite a "circus" with one of the little one boldly going into one of the busses. Chased out easily - but the big ones were pretty fearless! It was a long bus ride and a few of the kids curled up against us nd fell asleep...

The food here has been excellent...dinner at 7 - meeting at 8:30 - 2 Advil at 9. Journal - exhausted - slleep at 3pm Atl time.

On day 2 Sunday - spent the day at church and then on to Havilla childrens orphanage. Wait 'till you see the pictures - the video - the singing - I am trying to think of a good metaphor that is not cliche - it was amazing - these were the strong voices of little kids who had only the basics - and those too were skimpy.

What struck me - a lot of stuff actually - too much for an email - but that we saw no fighting - no grasping for things commonly seen as entitlements. These kids were grace - it was so alive in these little boys and girls - 36 or so of them - 9 years old to 15 - and Tony, the big-big brother at 25. Singing along with Fee and Todd and Kristian - yup - they have the NP worship CD from last fall. Nonetheless, abandoned - all of them by their father and mother outright or left to themselves because of AIDS - and then at the end of the day they thanked US. Right.

It was THEY that blessed us - but honestly, I knew that would happen...

It was hard to leave as through the day yesterday and today their little hearts opened further to us and they would stand close and stay there - or take or hands to walk from one place to another.

By our standards - you'll see - they live in nearly abject poverty - but defined in the context of God's grace - it was the Taj Mahal. The blessing to me - their amazing gratitude -

Monday - we leave Nairobi for the desert town of Ngaamba (Gahm-bah) to lay some water pipe....

Leaving Thursday...

The past weeks have been very, very full. God's blessed me with 57 people who've drawn alongside to "go with" me to Kenya. I suppose some of you know I raise my hand - say "yes" - for a variety of reasons - with the obvious one being God just asked. I'm not always good at saying "yes" to Him. A malady most of us suffer - Mother Theresa is a good example of probably saying "yes" every single time. But - I ain't Mother Theresa. Phil. 1:6 applies...!!

We leave Thursday - 5pm'ish flight - fly through Schiphol (shkeep-ohl) in Amsterdam arriving a little after 8am. We hang out in the city where Rembrandt lived out the latter years of his life. At 10am on Friday, we leave for Nairobi - and arrive at 7:40pm there. That is around 12 noon or therebouts here in Atlanta. We'll be a bit tired...

The past few weeks have been fascinating. Some good - some clearly with the "accuser" working me and some others over pretty good. But Christ remains... In the middle of the past weeks, we were introduced to another group - born out of Kenya - that is working side-by-side with 410 Bridge and some with Northpoint - called Global Outreach Ministry. (http://www.goaweb.org/). Through circumstances and arrangements only God could orchestrate - Troy Johnson of GOA found us at a Sunday team meeting and brought to us the founder of GOA - Bishop David Thagana and one of his pastors - Phyllis. Phyllis is the pastor of Tumaini orphanage in Karima, Kenya - in the Kinangop Region. She is also the Sr. Pastor at the church there. She and her husband are mother and father to - as of this blog post - 87 children.

Her story - I was able to capture it on digital video - as I hope to do with many others when in Kenya. Her story - and the story of how this orphanage came to be - are very moving and very powerful. Hmmm - what a surprise. When Jesus gets in the middle of something, there appears to be nothing but power. His. Take a look at this brief segment of her telling how this orphanage came into being...

A little boy - he refused. He refused to stand apart from the love of Christ. The world had stripped him of nearly every element of possessions - those things that could stand in the way of what becomes a demand - when all else is gone and fades away - the demand that we know true Love. Each one of us wants it - each one of us seeks it. It seems so illusive in our lives though - but this one boy demanded. And you know the story by now...

We'll spend time (Sat/Sun) with the children of the Havilla orphanage. This is the orphanage that has produced the Daraja Children's Choir we saw last year at Northpoint - take a look at the video. I'm very excited to meet the people at Havilla who have given their hearts and lives to listen to the voice of God - see His vision for His fatherless children and how they will touch lives for the cause of Christ.

We'll then head to Ngaamba ("gahm-bah") where we'll help the people of that town continue to develop their water supply. Hard work I imagine - we'll all need leather gloves for this part...

Pray for our team - open hearts to allow God to trash the "stuff" that so fills us - that we can see with His eyes - we allow our arms and hands to be His - that we'll accept and know that our simple "touch" with the love of Christ may be all that He intends. All plans and "projects" be ordained as He needs and we will be as Christ - we will have the attitude that was in Him - to empty ourselves of our "American prerogative" and be made in the likeness of Christ - humbling our selves by becoming obedient - obedient to the point of the death of our "self" and seek to be only that which He needs. Right now. Right there.

Thank you again for standing beside me - and Christ in this endeavor.

In His grip with you - Clay

Getting close...26 days...

...to departure. I've been washed over with blessings - there are nearly 60 people who've decided to walk beside me on this trip financially and prayerfully. As I look across the list of those who've decided to walk this one with me - it has struck me that each person has in some way before this endeavor - chosen to be part of God's solution - part of His plan - in a tangible and active way.

Not just church staff - volunteers inside the church - and volunteers outside the church - taking your hearts to help, heal and give - your service - to others for the sake of Christ. The power in such a team is enormous.

ENORMOUS!!

McManus said this in his book "Uprising" - "Only those who would live to serve can be trusted with the power of God...". I know each of you has been entrusted - and maybe I'm harping on this too much - but you gotta understand, I believe God has chosen to annoint this team of people - and honestly, maybe it will seem like a wrecking of our lives - but He's good at that - He's good at busting away the "things" of this world and tearing down the "stuff" we cling to so to bring us closer to Him - closer to His will.

Matthew...chapter 5 (the Message) - 13"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

14-16"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

I like the NASB version of v.16 - "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Isn't that God's total will for our lives? Be his boots on the ground - in some way? For His glory - for His purpose - 410 Bridge poses the challenge to us - to be part of the answer to the question we pray the world will ask - - - "What happened in Kenya?".

His light is shone - through you.

Immuned...??? Breathe on Me Lord...

Friday was immunizations - Hep A/B, tetanus and a few others were back in '05 - Kenya warrants Yellow Fever and strangely enough - they suggest polio. So - I got 'em. I figure to live is Christ, to die is gain - but s'pose the "risk" of getting one of those isn't all that smart. Malaria pills are also part of the game...

Said I might feel a bit ill - it's Sunday and the "flu" feels as though it's creeping in.

Guess it's just the shots...

Breathe On Me. Thank you Todd - thank you God for instilling that in Todd's heart.

What a song - God of Power...God of Might - breathe on me! Forever...you are the the reason for living! Merciful Saviour unending!! Breathe on ME!!

I couldn't help today as we offered that up to the Lord to think about the children we would be visiting. It's easy to stand here and say "we have it so good..." and then push that through the die of God's call to missions thinking all sorts of things - but the hope of our comfort and prosperity that we sometimes want to share is impossible. It will never happen. They will never sit at a cherrywood dining room table with a $100 bottle of wine and marinated steaks. In air conditioning.

It's just not going to happen - I guess for us - for me - for this "team" of people including the backline support - that we'd so center on the Breath of God in our hearts and lives and that receiving that breath - we'll all come alive in Him for one child - maybe two - it is all we really have to give. Nothing more - nothing greater.

God, please breathe on us - forever as you are the reason - the only reason - for living!! Breathe on me...

Almost there...thank you...

Just a quick note - for my part of this trip, you as part of this team have brought the "goods" so to speak and as of this post - almost there with funding the trip. If you know of someone who has a heart for these things - point them at this blog and that they can help the overall team by making a contribution - online - at - - -

https://ssl.northpoint.org/ssl/globalx/giving.html
Country: Kenya
Trip: Kenya NPCC Family 2 – 07/10/08 – 07/20/08
Individual: Clay Zirkle OR David Hickenbottom OR Robyn Cobb (a few good friends going along...)

Sunday at church - was mixing on West and there's this camera op guy - Lawrence - who was on stage cam - hadn't seen him in what seemed like ages - so I popped over after the 11 o'clock service was over and we talked a bit. He asked what I was up to and I mentioned Kenya. His last name is Kibunjah. I didn't know that. Now - consider this - that certainly appears to be an African name - Lawrence was born and raised in Nairobi. Dang.

So - praise God for his providence - for His timing - Lawrence is on this "team" with us - and on the 28th of June - keep the date! - we'll gather and have some time to meet each other - learn more about the trip - hope to have some of the folks who are there now (1st of 3 or 4 to Kenya this year) give us an update on their trip.

Thank you - thank you - thank you - your prayers are soo important - your help financially makes this a reality for me - you - and most important those on the ground in Kenya we will connect with.

Why go there??

I suppose this is a cliche question isn't it? A person living here in wealthy Alpharetta - there's plenty of poverty here to work to solve - that' s for sure - and you who've known me this last year know that I KNOW THAT very well. The "streets" of Atlanta are not devoid of poverty issues - drugs - booze - addictions. Every person - EVERY one - seeks "wholeness" - Pascal called it a "God shaped vacuum" - only one thing can fill it - and it's not self, drugs, booze, a car or someone who "completes" you (sorry Jerry...).

McManus - in his book "Uprising" offers what I think is one of the keys to the door to the path of wholeness - you have to choose to enter it - and use this key - he says simply enough...

"Wholeness is not found through receiving - but through giving".

Let's together embrace this addiction...

...giving away what you cannot keep!

And in the end, you cannot keep any of it.

I pray you're filled with the love of Christ - never ending flow - so much so that no one - not a single person on God's green earth - is needed to fill your tank. That is a journey of course - and the fleeting moments when we find complete awareness of that truth - give. Find a place to give - of your SELF -

All that being said - - - I'm going to Kenya - 2+ years ago, I traveled to Indonesia to do some basic business consulting for a group of Indonesians wanting to start small businesses - since then, I can't shake this thing inside me that tells me it's not about me. Uh - that big question above?? It's not about me - but yet, I want to make it about me - I want people to like ME - to want to be around ME - ME, ME, ME, ME!!!! Scripture flat out predicts - tells us - what it's all about and where this junk we live in comes from. Jeremiah pegs it - "The heart is more deceitful than all else - and is desperately sick - who can understand it?"

It's about a village that has no running water. I've got running water that is available 24x7x365 despite the water shortage - I've got it. They walk miles - so we're going to dig a ditch. Not glamorous - dirty work - probably back breaking. So what the heck? I can't add it up in the context of this world's "system" - the world's system says a lot of different things - and you're very welcome to post what you think about all this - why am I going? Why would you go? What would compel YOU to go?

Take a look - http://www.410bridge.org/video.php - this is what it's about.

Join me - come with me. I need your help - spiritually there's things going on that are attacking my physical and financial - and a bit of emotional/mental health - hey, I'm going to Kenya so you must figure there's a bit of nutcase in me as well 'eh.

Uh - I need to raise about $3,500 in support as well - but I need YOU on board as my back-home-team-member too!! As of this posting, I am about $1,300 shy of raising enough - and praising God for those who've stepped in to come along...

Prayerfully consider helping - joining me. You can post to this blog with encouragement, thoughts and prayer - please do commit to praying for us - and if you're led - write a check! The church has set up an online thing - info is -

https://ssl.northpoint.org/ssl/globalx/giving.html

The answers to their questions are as follows - - -

Country: Kenya
Trip: Kenya NPCC Family 2 – 07/10/08 – 07/20/08
Individual: Uh – me – Clay Zirkle

Or – you can mail a check – tax deductible – to the following –

Payee: Northpoint Community Church

Mail to –
Clay Zirkle
14275 Thompson Road
Alpharetta GA 30004