Life with The Swell Guy!

Jesus Movement

Sometimes I think of King Soloman's laments in Ecclesiastes about there being nothing new under the sun. After he spends quite a bit of time ranting about the vanities of life he comes around to saying it is all useless if God is left out of the picture. Still, he keeps reminding us that all of the trends and things we believe are new have already been done.

And sometimes I wonder what Christ thought of the Jesus Movement in the 1970s, the big Christian music festivals for the last 25 years, and some of the conferences the church has these days. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining or against any if it, but I wonder what Jesus' take would be. Would he turn his back? Would he be on stage? Both? Maybe.

While I was young and certainly not yet a Christ-follower, I am grateful that I was around for the last parts of the Jesus Movement. Every time I catch a Larry Norman tune, or hear Johnny Cash, or Billy Graham says something it crosses my mind. It may not have been new, but it was a different time in our country. It started a few cults, but it also called Christ-followers that are still in or leading ministries today. And I must say, they really had some sweet t-shirts...

History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.- Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NLT)

Good Advice for Men - No. 52

Tell your kids about your parents. Tell them the unique and wonderful stories about their grandparents. Let them understand your heritage and the things that helped make you who you are.

PS: Grandpa Albert was Super Bad. I'm just stating for the record.

Piano Blues

If you can't play good, play with style.

Fridays in Kenya

This time last week we were starting our flight home from Nairobi, Kenya. As we expected, the time with our girls and the missions work exceeded all that Denine & I had imagined. Before we left on our journey I noticed this post from the Stuff Christians Like Blog. While it is written tongue and cheek, it reminded me not to overload everyone with what was impressed on me during our trip, but I also know a number of you are interested in Beth and Erin's missionary work and what we experienced while away. What to do?

I figured a good plan is to put up a post next Friday that will provide many details about our time in Kenya as well as a few links in case you are interested in checking them out. Then for a while each Friday I'll put of a photo or video from the trip. If you are interested you will get a little bump once a week. If it's not your bag you can head out for a long weekend away from theswellguyblog. In any case, I'll  love you just as much. Really. - Zig

Bacon Bible!

I sent this link to facebook recently. Then last night a Swellguy reader sent it too me. It really is too good not to post. Thank you again, Sacred Sandwich. You are the best!

By the way, a while back our pastor mentioned bacon in a sermon and I immediately shouted "BACON!!". Who wouldn't? It was a shining moment. You should have seen the "guy envy" in the room.

The "Not Like Me" Review

About a month ago I mentioned that I was selected as one of five to receive a book from Carlos over at Ragamuffin Soul. The book is called "Not Like Me" and it was written by Carlos' friend Eric Bryant. It's a very accessible book and is easy to read. More importantly the message is great.

Eric points out that as Christ-followers we tend to build relationships with people just like us and may end up hiding from the rest of the world. The truth is we are called to engage our world and seek out building relationships with people not like us... not only based on religion, but also in race, creed, and anything else that makes us different. More than that, we are called to love others in a real and practical way through friendship, caring, and relationship. Eric relays this information in a very practical, sometimes humorus, and relevant way.

I could go on, but let me just say this. Once in a while I read a book that I find so encouraging or challenging that I want to pass it on. Denine is currently reading this book and says the same thing. I'd like to get the ball rolling on this one. The first five folks who ask me for this book will get a fresh new copy. You know my 411. I hope you will pass on after reading to someone else and keep it going. Thank you.

Back Home

Denine and I returned from Nairobi, Kenya this past Saturday evening. The trip was as special as anything we could have dreamed. It was wonderful to see our Baby Girl & Erin, visit our sponsored child, and witness all the incredible ministry that is bringing hope to the Mathare Valley slums. Thanks to so many of you for the encouragement, cheers, and prayers for our journey. I'll post an overview within the next week or so.  

Class Photo

We were back out at Joska on Wednesday for the day. The school at Joska is a boarding school out in the country that was built to educate and protect the most endangered children from the Mathare slums. It too, is at capacity and there is a waiting list. For many of the students it is the first time they have had their own bed to sleep. These children love to study and play. Most of them love Jesus and they speak with great joy.

After lunch we found ourselves playing with the 4 and 5 year old class. They swarmed us and we spend a while laughing and swinging them in the air. As they went back to class the kids got pretty excited about taking a group photo and the teacher, Esther, also thought it was a swell idea. It was a big high for the day.

Meeting Terry

This is Terry. She is 7 years old and attends the Missions of Hope School in the Kosovo village of the Mathare slum. Denine and I have been sponsoring Terry's education for a while and it was wonderful to meet her. Terry loves Jesus. She is bright, beautiful, and because of education she has an opportunity to leave the slums and have a better future. 

We will be happy to talk to our friends about child sponsorship and help you sign-up when we return home. Several close friends have already begun sponsoring a child. Each month it costs about what we would spend to eat out one time. Until then, here is a bit of brief information.

Missions of Hope Schools

In September of 2000, Mary Kamau started a small school in a rented “house” for 50 four and five year old children. Today there over 4,000 children enrolled in the 10 schools in the Valley and the one boarding school outside of the city. More children could be enrolled if they had more space available. The change this is creating in the slums...well, it is dramatic. One person showing the love of Jesus reached a community and began building hope for the future. Many more have now joined Mary in this work.