Christ's "Inappropriate" call to Discipleship

[This post is by Leah Nelson]

"Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.  But Martha was distracted with much serving.  And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Tell her to help me."  But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion. which will not be taken away from her." -Luke 10:38-42

In this text, there were several things obviously happening: Jesus was invited to a banquet in the house of His good friend, Martha.  However, in the eyes of the world (and specifically in the culture of that time) there are several things terribly wrong and unusual with Mary's behavior.  What are they?

1. Mary left her sister alone to do all the serving.  In a sense, it was simply Mary's duty and responsibility to help with the dinner preparations.  It was not fair for Mary to neglect her fair share of work.  Afterall, this was no small task that Martha had before her.  It was simply expected that Mary would help and do her share of work.  This would seem very rude and even somewhat irresponsible on Mary's part.

2.  During that period of time, it was culturally inappropriate for a woman to sit at the feet of any rabbi.  Why?  Because only disciples sat and listened to rabbis and discipleship was reserved only for men.  What is a disciple, afterall?  A disciple is like a student who is tightly attached to his/her teacher.  A disciple listens, follows and clings to every word spoken by the rabbi, to the extent that the student is trained and molded by his rabbi.  Mary assumed a position that was unrightfully hers.

Wow, so in the eyes of the world and of that culture, Mary seemed to be rude to her sister, lazy, inconsiderate, irresponsible and culturally inappropriate.  I am sure that Jesus would have to agree, right?  Dead wrong.

Jesus said that Mary chose the good portion.  Mary chose what was the very best.  So, was it really the best?  Wasn't Mary being culturally inappropraite?  Wasn't she being rude and lazy?  Mary took her share alright, but she took her share of God's precious Word and LISTENING to our Master, which is far more vaulable than impressive and busy work. Jesus told Martha that she was anxious and troubled about so many things but that only one thing was necessary.  What was that one necessary thing?  Was Jesus talking about food?  Did He mean that only one kind of food was necessary instead of all the preparations that Martha was making?  No, I don't think so...

The Word of Jesus Christ is the one thing that is necessary.  I fully believe that this is what Jesus meant.  He was not talking about food or other banquet preparations, He was talking about Himself.  He is what is necessary, knowing Him is what is necessary, listening to His words is what is necessary, prayer is what is necessary.

There is a female singer whom I respect, her name is Misty Edwards.  She is a Christian singer who does not use an ounce of her talent for herself but for the sake of Jesus Christ.  She also serves with the International House of Prayer.  There was a guy named Mike who was concerned about Misty for a period of time.  He said that all Misty ever did was pray, pray, pray and then pray some more.  Misty often prayed for about 8-10 hours a day.  Mike was concerned that Misty should do something else with her time.

"Um, Misty, shouldn't you get a hobby or something?"  Mike had asked Misty.  However, later on, Mike confessed that he was feeling convicted about his own words and by Misty's lifestyle.  Misty's life could have appeared lazy or just strange to the world, but she was sitting at the feet of Jesus and such a treasure should not be taken away from her.

This story, along with the one in Luke, encouraged me very much.  Often when the Lord calls us and tells us to live for Him, it can look irresponsible, irrational, culturally inappropriate, lazy or just plain odd to the world (and sadly, to other Christians).  In my own life, I have been asked, "Leah, don't you have anything better to do than to sit around and read your Bible all day?  Don't you desire a career instead of to be a poor missionary your whole life?"  But I love the Lord and to sit and listen to Jesus Christ is my treasure and it will never be taken away from me.

I have also been asked, "Leah, perhaps you should try to improve in certain skills and interest yourself in some hobbies.  Come on, have a little fun."

We, as humans with sinful flesh, have a tendency to make life incredibely difficult.  We bring many additives on to life and we greatly value things and skills that will not help anyone enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  We spend so much time and effort on things that just don't matter. I am not saying that what Martha was doing was pointless!  In fact, I am talking about ourselves.  Have we forgotten that really only one thing is necessary?  It is to know Jesus Christ and to make Him known.

In my own life, I am not extraordinary or extravagant in anything, and I don't try to be and I don't want to be.  Only one thing is really necessary to me.  I think it is good to do everything with simplicity so that we can devote all of the time that we have on earth to the one thing that matters: to know Jesus Christ, be refined and molded by His Spirit, to be changed into His image, to love and adore His character, to have Him fully living in us and working for His own purposes.  In other words, life is Christ and that's all it should be.  He will lead us to everything He wants and wills...to the church, to the broken, to the lost....

Don't you know that all that matters is Jesus Christ?  It is good to live a simple life, with very little distractions, only doing what is necessary so that we can devote all of our attention and time to Jesus Christ because He is all that matters.  Then, Jesus will show us what matters to Him.  But listen to this: WE WILL NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT MATTERS TO JESUS UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

So, please, stop valuing so many things that will not help anyone enter God's kingdom.  Please, stop devoting so much of God's time on what doesn't matter.  Stop stressing out and simplify your life for the sake of Jesus.  Devote every ounce of your existence into the wonders of our Creator.  Work hard for what matter, work hard for what is eternal and not for the food that perishes.

Remember, only one thing is necessary.      

Trust in the Lord!

Today Phil preached in the AIC Kijabe church. The topic was "Trusting Christ" and the text, Proverbs 3:5-8. The challenge was to truly trust Christ in every way and in all things. Trusting Christ is totally connected to knowing Christ (the message he shared last time). The more we know Christ, the more we trust Him. Our faith, in action, is based upon, and fueled by our practical understanding of Christ.

Often we speak that we trust Christ but never trust Him in reality and practically. To illustrate this, Phil called up 10 volunteers and told them to stand in two lines...




Often God calls us to trust Him, and we say we will follow, we say we will trust, but we never step out in faith. Trusting God requires a move to action. Truth is proven by action. Is God faithful? Act in faith!

If God calls us out in faith, we cannot remain with words only. We must go forward and trust Him in reality! So, to complete the illustration, Phil fell backwards off the stage into the men's arms.

May Christ increase our faith, and lead us to trust Him completely. He will send His revival fire as we press on to know Christ and as we trust Him with all that we are! Oh God guide us as we walk in trust!

Oh God be glorified in our Trusting

This is a poem Phil wrote for Sunday's sermon entitled: Trusting Christ

When all around the ground is scorched and dry,
     When my foe brings me low, saying: “Prepare to die!”
Oh God of my Salvation, hear my humble cry!
     Lift my broken spirit and cause my soul to fly!

Our hope and strength are not in muscles and might,
     We do not stoop; returning hate for hate and spite for spite.
For our home is Heaven, Christ has improved our sight,
     In HIM we hope, for we know HE is Victorious in the fight.

On Christ and Christ alone do we fling our entire trust!
     He is eternal, apart from Him our lives are merely dust,
Tossed to and fro when the wind of this world blows a single gust.
     Our only hope is in Him who is wholly gracious and wholly Just!

Oh Lord, be merciful and free us from this muck and mire.
     May You and Your glory be our hearts’ one burning desire.
God we know You can do it!  Take us up and take us higher;
     Christ Jesus, do not relent until You send Your Revival fire!

May our every prayer be:
     Burn Your Holy fire in me,
Until the only thing I see
     Is Your Righteousness reigning free!

That every spot and every stain
     Might be washed by the LAMB once slain,
And only Your perfect love there remains.
     Oh Great God, Glorify Thy Holy Name!

Pure Religion is This...

"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:26,27

Here we find some words often repeated by people who attempt to justify themselves before God based upon their works. I cannot number how many people have told me that because they help people, they are right before God. But on the other hand, I cannot number how many people have told me that because they don't do things the way the world does them, they are right before God.

If we are really honest with ourselves, we rather like to sticking to one thing or the other. We like that if we just help people out just enough, it eases our conscience just enough that we can sleep at night. Or, we like that if our lives have become different from the world in some way, then in some way we feel 'ok' in our religion.

The truth of the matter is this: relying merely upon personal holiness or our love for our fellow man is not pure religion - in fact, you can have a measure of both of the above and never come to true and saving faith. I pray that each person reading this post might know what is true and saving faith.

However, when I, as a Christian, come to this text in the book of James, I cannot simply shrugg my shoulders and walk away. Dear friends, if the Spirit of Christ is dwelling in your heart, then you cannot ignore His Word in regard to helping the helpless! The very heart behind loving orphans is because God, our Father, has adopted us and made us His own. The very reason behind helping the helpless is because God, in His infinite mercy helps us when we are helpless. Oh that the heart of God might be mightily seen in His Church!

All of the above is an introduction to an opportunity with which we have been blessed. As you have seen in past blog posts, we have been working with Simon in getting an orphanage up and running. God willing, in January the children are going to be moving in. In Kenya, there is an unmet need in regards to orphans. Due to the post election violence in 2007, there are many children who lost one or both of their parents. This problem is only added to the increase of AIDs fatalities in East Africa. There are many children without parents and without hope in this nation.

Just last week, a widow in Kijabe died from HIV / AIDs. She left behind 3 children: a 13 year old, a 12 year old, and a 6 year old. Both of the older children are in boarding school and are being taken care of, however, the 6 year old was left with an extended family who is unable to provide for him.

This is George Njau:

In January, he will be moving just outside of Naivasha, into the orphanage with which we have been working. God has provided a sponsor for George. But there are thousands children just like him who could move into the orphanage, but they lack someone to help sponsor them. The orphanage is looking for people who are willing to sponsor a child for $40 per month - this will cover all of their expenses: food, uniforms for school, education, shoes, books, housing, etc.

God is a Father to the fatherless! We thank God for all that He is doing! Let us not forget that we are the body of Christ, we are His hands and feet. God is a Father to the fatherless through you!

A Big Book and A Big Smile

Today we went to Nairobi. We have made a good connection with The Bible Society of Kenya. All of the Bibles (in Pokot, Swahili, and English) that we have purchased, since in Kenya, have come from our friends at BSK. Almost every language in Kenya which has a portion of the Scriptures in print can be found there. And because we are not buying Bibles to turn around and sell them, often we are given a generous discount.

But Bibles are not the only thing found at BSK. They also sell a really good whole Bible commentary entiled "Africa Bible Commentary" or ABC for short. If you know Phil, you know that he really likes books... and well, today he bought two copies of this commentary.

In Kenya, finding sound Biblical tools is significantly difficult, and the tools that you do find are often more than the avarage pastor can afford. After spending two weeks laboring beside Joseph Mulatya (the Kenyan missionary who is preparing to move to Amaya) we had ample time to discuss our passions - which for both of Joseph and Phil books were near the top of the list.

While visiting Mulatya's home, he mentioned how he had been looking for the ABC but every time he had an opportunity to purchase the book, he literally did not have enough money to purchase it (one copy costs about $30).

So, today after buying 60 Bibles and two copies of the ABC, we went to Mulatya's house. As a demonstration of God's gracious provision of His Word, we are sending to two villages in Pokot (Amaya and Kasilangua) 16 English, 23 Pokot, and 21 Swahili Bibles. And because Mulatya is going to Amaya before us, he and Phil carried the Bibles down to his house. After this difficult task, Phil pulled out a copy of the ABC as a surprise gift for Mulatya. How I wish I had a picture of that moment! But a picture a few moments after is not too bad... :)

Here is Joseph Mulatya holding a Pokot Bible (a language he must soon learn) and his own copy of the Africa Bible Commentary. This picture describes perfectly what we pray the Lord will do through us: giving people the Word of God and the tools they need to apply it to their lives and ministries.

Teaching Teachers and Showing some Films

For now, this will be our last story from the Pokot village, Amaya.

The church we have been assisting in Kijabe has a heart for missions; they have committed to sending a Kenyan missionary to the village of Amaya. Because we were going to Pokot, the missionary, Joseph Mulatya came along with us to survey the area he would be working.

Every day we were there, he would go down to the local school and teach a HIV / AIDs awareness course to the older classes. During this time, the teachers were left to Phil. All of the teachers had expressed that they made a confession of faith, and when able attended church. However, as many people in Amaya, they did not have Bibles. So, during the 1.5 hours, Phil would take them through one or two verses. The goal of the class was to show them that when they read the Bible, they can understand it and live their lives by God's Word.


Everyday we went through one "I AM" statement from the book of John. At the beginning of our time, Phil was basically the only one talking. However, by the very end of the class, Phil hardly had to say anything, the teachers were doing it all by themselves. For every verse we went through, we had five steps:
1. Observations
2. Words
3. Context
4. Analysis
5. Application

With these few things, the teachers were able to understand the meaning of the text and apply it to their lives. If there is one thing that we desire in the ministry of Christ's Word For All Nations, it is this: that every Christian might understand and apply His Word to their lives!



The second part of this story has to do with films... Every night that we were in Amaya people would hear the team's generator and would come to the little compound asking if there would be a film. We did not have the equippment to show a film to the 70 people gathered at our doorstep. We did have a small solar projector with us (thanks Good News Production International for donating the solar kit), but there was no way that the little projector could be loud enough for the whole group. We prayed and planned how we might boost the sound.

By God's grace, we learned that one of the officers working in the police post of Amaya had some kind of speakers. We went down to ask if they might let us borrow them. And again by God's grace, they did! So, that night we were testing to see if the speakers would work. And without invitation, the 70 people showed up at our doorstep. Because the crowd was so big, we had to move to the church. The next two nights we had between 200-300 people show up!

Here are a couple pictures: the first is the little projector that did all the work; the second, about half to one quater of the crowd. (Taking pictures in the dark sometimes turn out less than perfect.)



The rest of the week, Leah, Mulatya, and Phil would go down to the school after all the days activities and show films to students. Every night there were nearly 100 students packing into a little room. The clips that we showed were clips from "The Global Gospel," a project done by GNPI. Basically there are paintings depicting specific Bible stories, they have been given a little motion, and someone narrates from the Scripture text. They are a great way to visually engage your people. Between each clip (they usually range from 2-10 min) Mulatya and Phil would explain the text.

Here are a couple photos:



These are but a few stories from our time in Pokot. They represent just a few of the major activites and issues we encountered during our very brief two weeks. I hope that they have painted an accurate picture of our time, and I do pray that they have inspired you to keep seeking God - asking the Lord of the Harvest to send workers into HIS harvest field.

Cultural Darkness

As you may have noticed in some of the previous posts, there are things within the Pokot culture which are very dark. The first thing we must mention is this: While there are very dark things within the Pokot culture, we are not ignorant of the darkness within our own cultures. The American culture is no more righteous before God than the Pokot culture. But that does not mean that we are free to remain in darkness! Jesus calls us to Himself, to embrace the culture of heaven, and to leave our culture behind!

Nonetheless, we cannot help but grieve when we see such darkness enslaving the people! If the light dwells in you, you cannot rejoice with darkness. As the Word says in the book of Proverbs: "the fear of the Lord is the hatred of evil." And dear friend, that applies to more than observing evil around you, it includes the evil within you! I must also mention that for those who are within the church, these things are becoming virtually non-existent as the Truth is preached.

There are several specific areas of darkness which stand out. The first issue is that of "FGM". Without going into the details, the word stands for "Female Genital Mutilation." When young girls reach the ages of 10-14, they are taken from whatever activities they are doing, and they are taught about becoming women. During this time, someone performs an operation on them. (This is not like going to a hospital, this is someone with a share knife and something to clean the blood.)

The second issue is that of Young marriage. After these young girls have gone through FGM, they are considered as candidates for marriage. Many girls are married by the time they are 14 and have 3 or more children by the time they are 20 years old. These girls have no choice in regard to who they marry, and often their husband is between the age of 35 and 55.

The third issue, related to the previous one, is that of polygamy. In the Pokot culture, it is not uncommon for men to have 3 or 4 wives. The more wives you have, the more children you have; and the more children you have, the more help with animals, the more you increase your clan, and the more chances you have to receive the dowry for your daughters.

This brings us to the fourth issue, within this culture, the live stock is considered more important than the children. When girls become an age which they might be married, all a man has to do is bring the right number of goats or cows, and then he practically buys the young girl at the determined price. Within the next few days the girl is taken to the man's place and will not see their family again unless the husband dies.

Many of the above issues can be addressed simply through education and the preaching of the Gospel. The fifth issue is illiteracy. So many people in the Pokot culture don't know how to read or write. However, this issue is deeper than a mere issue of knowing how to read.

One way that young girls can be rescued from some of the dark things in the culture is by sending them to a boarding school. However, when a girl finishes school and returns to her family, she is not welcomed by anyone. Everyone now looks at this woman as a prostitute. No one is wanting to marry this girl, because she has not followed the ways of the culture, she cannot be trusted. And if she is does not get married, she has no hope at home. There is no means for income, there is no security, there is no food.

Because of all the above issues, we come to the last issue we will discuss in this post: Practical slavery. Women are responsible for everything in the Pokot family. Raising children completely alone, cooking for the family, building houses, fetching water and firewood, tending to the flocks, laundry, caring for the crops, anything else that might come up.

All of these are heavy burdens upon those who are working as God's ministers in the Pokot culture. But, these are not impossible obstacles. Though the darkness is thick and oppressive, Jesus Christ is greater! The Light of the world has come and the darkness has not overcome it!

Who will share Christ with these people? He is THE Way, THE Truth, THE Life! Do we as believers honestly believe that? How much more should we be ready to go and share HIM with those dwelling in darkness?!

A Famine in the Land

In rural Kenya we have seen a Prophecy really come to light. I (Phil) have personally never lived among people that fit the description of Amos 8:11-12 so well.

"Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord God, "when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it."

Leah and I have been to places that do not have the Word of God, but those places are not going from sea to sea... they were not stopping us on the side of the road begging for Bibles.

All over Kenya we have seen so many people so hungry for the Word of God, hungry for sound Scriptural teaching. Because many of the places we target are rural areas, the people face two problems: the price of Bibles is too high, and the availability of Bibles too scarce. If they see a visiting pastor, regardless of their race, the question always comes: "do you have any Bibles?"

We know that Kenya is but a microcosm of this global crisis. How we long to sends Bibles into all the nations that have yet to receive them! But God has given us both the opportunity and the responsibility to reach Kenya. We might not be able to reach all of Africa, but we will labor with all of God's glorious might that He powerfully work in us to reach all of Kenya!

There is always a need for Bibles! A good Bible in the trade language of the people of Kenya (Swahili) costs between $5-10. For those tribes that have a full Bible in their mother tongue, the Bibles usually cost about $10 a copy. Can you help provide the Word of God for the rural tribes of Kenya?

Here are a few pictures of the people we gave Bibles to in the Pokot area...

(These are elders and evangelists that Phil spent 2 days teaching and training)


(The following are women that Leah spent a day teaching)

A Murdered Son and Unclean Mother

Every day, with exception of Sundays and travel days, we would go house to house sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I guess a better description would be hut to hut; there are only 3 houses (as Americans may understand them) in the village of Amaya.

This place is practically unreached. While there are some Christians and a witness to the Living God, many of the people in this farming community have heard very little about Jesus Christ. (Could that be from a lack of the people possessing God's Word? From a total lack of Biblically illiterate elders and leaders?)

But where darkness resides is a greater opportunity to shine Christ's light! In many places we had ample opportunity to share Christ with people for the first time! Under trees, in huts, on walking paths, anywhere there is a group of people - there is a pulpit!

Although you do not see them in this picture, there are about 10-15 people sitting under this tree. It is a man with his 3 wives and about 10 children.


Now, concerning the title of this blog post... One day while going hut to hut, we met a woman on the road. At first we thought she was drunk; she was making all kinds of noises and hitting the ground with her walking stick. But as we walked by, she called out "pastor!" So the five of us (2 pastors, Leah and I, and our friend Jeremy) went to see what was going on.

Then we heard the story. This woman's son had been murdered in cold blood about 1 or 2 weeks prior in Nairobi. In the Pokot culture, if a family member dies, you are considered unclean until the body has been buried and a goat is slaughtered and the blood sprinkled upon you. While someone is unclean, the extended family does not let that person into their house and they are culturally bound to not help them until they have been made clean.

We talked with her for about an hour and then parted ways. But God's Spirit cannot let His people hear such things without moving them to action. So, the next day we drove to the nearest "shopping center" to buy some food and simple supplies for her and her family (it was about 50 kilometers away... and just an idea of how big this place was, they didn't even have a loaf of bread to sell).

We came to her hut to deliver the surprise. She was wondering why we would come to her hut and bring things to help her. We said simply, God knows your hurts, He knows your pain, and He sent us to help you and show you that He loves you. Even though you do not know Him He loves you! Then we sat under a tree and shared the Gospel with her for a couple hours.

We shared with her that God sent Jesus to die for the sins of people, that the Bible says He is the Lamb which was slain. His blood is sprinkled upon those who believe in Him, and His blood is what makes us clean! And He was sacrificed once for all, there are no more sacrifices necessary after Him!

After this, one of the team members helped to dress some of her wounds:



Then after praying, she told us that she needs to know this God who loves her and makes her clean and that she needs to follow Him. So we rejoiced with her and connected her with a local church.

(She is the one directly bellow me in the picture.)

There a so many people in this nation that have never heard the name of Jesus, they don't know that He died to save them from their sins and reconcile them to God! We know that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. But how will they call on the name of one whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without someone preaching to them? And how will they preach unless they are sent?

Two weeks in the bush

We apologize for not updating sooner; however, as we mentioned, we spent two weeks in a remote area. We did not have electricity, drinking water, cell phone reception, etc.

We returned from Amaya (the village in which we stayed in the Pokot area) late Saturday night. Then, Sunday morning, Phil preached in the two services in the AIC Kijabe church. As you can imagine, we are a little tired.

As this week will be a little bit slower, we will try to share one story from Pokot ever day for the next week...

As for today's story, I will share briefly about this picture:


On one of the first days in Amaya, we were greeted by this old man. His name is William. He was one of the first people to follow Jesus from this village nearly 40 years ago. He is a respected elder not only in the community, but also in the church.

Phil had noticed that all the Pokot men would carry these walking sticks everywhere they went. He asked one of the pastors if he should have one, and this man, William, just gave Phil his stick. Now if you are an American, you may not realize what this means. In the Pokot culture you are not really a man if you don't have a stick. By this man giving Phil his stick, he was welcoming him to his culture and saying that Phil is a respected man among them.

Now, William was a great help to us in more ways that we can explain on a blog. One of the very practical ways he helped us was with his 1980's Land Rover. Not only the team, but also Leah and I were in a few jams, but William and his old Land Rover came to the rescue...

You don't realize how much you really appreciate good jumper cables and a durable, dependable truck until your vehicle dies in the bush! It is totally dark, your vehicle is totally dead, you don't speak the only language the natives speak, you don't have a flash light because you never expected to be out that late, and you don't know the trails that cut through the bush back to your camp.

But God is good in all circumstances! The Lord brought someone along who would lead Phil and another girl back to camp while two others on the team stayed with the truck. After a 30 min walk back to the camp, Phil and a local missionary ran up the hill to find William who was getting ready for bed. But William was glad ti help us. He drove down to the broken down truck, gave us a jump, and helped get us out of a bit of a jam.

If you want to see God's hand in all things, one place you will see it is in the bush. There, you take absolutely nothing for granted. We were there for only 2 weeks and we have more stories than we could possibly share in a month of blogging!

Truly, we are feeling the drawing of God to work in such places! Oh that we might see His heart for those dwelling in utter darkness! Send the light!

May the Lord bless you and keep you.