Follower of The Way - Life of An Ordinary Radical - Josh Bruce

A Letter

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey Friend,

In the past few weeks I have really been thinking a lot about you. I really love you and I hope by this point you know that. Forgive me please if at any point I have expressed anything other than love to you. Also I wanted to share a few things with you that have been on my heart. First, however, I would like to ask you a couple of questions and for you to be completely honest with yourself and me. Have you ever stopped to ask God what he thinks about you and how he views you? Also, how is your heart?

The one question I ask myself every time you come to my mind is; Are the words I speak to you bringing you life? I asked that question because that is something I think God has asked me to do with my life. He wants me to speak life and bring life especially to dead things. I believe that when I am bringing dead things to life then I am fulfilling some of the destiny God has called me too. Don't get me wrong I am not calling you dead but I do believe we all need life spoken to us versus death. Also I want to live a life that is open and transparent before God. I say that to you because I believe our relationship should work the same way. I want us to walk openly and transparent before each other trusting that we have each other's best interest at heart.

The last thing I what to tell you is something that is constantly keeping me in the process of learning and growing. That is listening to the voice of God in my life. What is God saying to me, how is that for me and possibly for others around me to bring life? So how intentional are we about listening for the voice of God in our life? I believe this is so important because He is the Word and we are the voice. So we MUST speak. When we speak the Word of the Lord dead things come alive.

Thank you for always being in my corner and going to the ends of the earth with me. Lets continue to do this together because it was made to be done that way. Plus, we are weak in just ourselves but together our efforts are expounded. I love you, stay full of the Holy Spirit, and lets stay unified with one purpose to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.

You're always on my heart,

Josh Bruce

Stanley

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We encountered Stanley during our outreach time with Harvesters Ministry in Nkhotakota, Malawi. Stanley was the eldest of three men in his family. He was referred to as a wayward boy by his father and as someone who had not given much thought to God or to that way of living. He did not say much, just stared at us with a blank stare maybe hoping to return to whatever he was engaged in before we showed up. In spite of the lack of interest in us, the white people sitting across from him, Tara proceeded to tell the story of Jesus and of God's love for his people. As Tara spoke through our translator the Gospel message of Jesus began to tickle the heart of Stanley. The idea that the God of the universe desired a relationship with him and would sacrifice his son for him began to tug at his soul. To know that your burden and your shortfalls were placed on someone else, and that they paid the penalty for those inequities, this revelation has a profound effect on their heart. And as only Jesus can do he began to draw Stanley near, speaking softly in his ear "you are loved and cherished by my father." "Stanley, he has made you unique and desires to carry your burdens."

As Tara brought the story of Jesus to an end Stanley was eager and ready to forfeit everything over to Him. On February 14th Stanley put down his life and picked up The Way of Jesus. Everyone departed that day with smiles on their faces; Stanley's father because his wayward son had been found, Our outreach team because God moved and allowed us to see some fruits of the labor; Stanley because he had a personal experience with the living God and received life.

We returned a week later to follow up with the people we visited the week before. We encountered Stanley this time without the stares and the awkward silence, but we met with a smile and huge wave hello. He still did not say much but what did come out attested to the living God. Prior to Stanley picking up The Way of Jesus he was repeatedly tormented in the night by "evil things." In this part of Africa witchcraft is a dominant belief system that oppresses the people and keeps them enslaved to the enemy. While here in Malawi we have encountered numerous stories of people being tormented by witches being sent to them in the night. So for Stanley to share with us that these things no longer torment him attests to the character of God. He also shared that he has stopped drinking and while around his village people have seen a physical difference in his character and actions.

Once again we depart with smiles and encouragement for God has done what he has set out to do. Redeem the hearts of lost and bring all of his children back to him. When Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30, my inflection added). This claim Jesus made about himself was true for Stanley and it can be true for you. All Jesus asks is that you receive his grace and give everything to him.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Happy Christmas from the July World Race Squad. Sorry if I missed your name in my shout out.

The Way He Loves Us - Part 1

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the Message Remix Bible Eugene Peterson gives this introduction to the book of Hosea:

We live in world awash in love stories. Most of them are lies. They are not love stories at all - they are lust stories, sex-fantasy stories, domination stories. From the cradle we are fed on lies about love.

This would be bad enough if it only messed up human relationships - man and woman, parent and child, friend and friend - but it also messes up God-relationships. The huge, mountainous reality of all existence is that God is love, that God loves the world. Each single detail of the real world that we face and deal with day after day is permeated by this love.

But when our minds and imaginations are crippled with lies about love, we have a hard time understanding this fundamental ingredient of daily living, "love," either as a noun or as a verb. And if the basic orienting phrase "God is love" is plastered over with cultural graffiti that obscure and deface the truth of the way the world is, we are not going to get very far in living well. We require true stories of love if we are to live truly.

Hosea is the prophet of love, but no love as we imagine or fantasize it. He was a parable of God's love for his people lived out as God revealed and enacted it - a lived parable. It is an astonishing story: a prophet commanded to marry a common whore and have children with her. It is an even more astonishing message: God loves us in just this way - goes after us at our worst, keeps after us until he gets us, and makes lovers of men and women who know nothing of real love. Once we absorb this story and the words that flow from it, we will know God far more accurately. And we will be well on our way to being cured of all the sentimentalized and neurotic distortions of love that incapacitates us from dealing with the God who loves us and loving the neighbors who don't love us.

As I started reading Hosea it did not take long to notice that Israel (God's people) had really got themselves into a mess. They had essential told God we have found something better. I continued read and began to compare myself to Israel and in the beginning thought I am not like that. However around chapter 5 the words of Hosea really hit me. Hosea writes in 5:4 They couldn't turn to God if they wanted to. Their evil life is a bad habit. Every breath they take is a whore's breath. They wouldn't recognize God if they saw me." Also in verse 6and 7 he writes, "When they decide to get their lives together and go off looking for God once again, They'll find it's too late. I, God, will be long gone. They've played fast and loose with me for too long, filling the country with their bastard offspring."

Man those are harsh words but it is the truth. I have sold myself or prostituted myself to so many other things. I am like Israel. I have found so many things in my life that offer so much more than God offers. When I find those things I no longer need God. He is useless to me because I can make it on my own or with whatever I have sold myself to. I will go as far as I can and as long as I can until it is of no use and then find something else. The cycle repeats itself until the inevitable happens. I hit rock bottom. Hosea writes in 5:14, "Then I'll (God) go back to where I came from until they come to their senses. When they finally hit rock bottom, maybe they'll come looking for me."

If this is you like it is me so many times in my life you do not need to wait to hit rock bottom. I do not really understand why in our mind this is the best way to live, but in the moment nothing could seem more right. But do not despair there is hope. Eugene Peterson wrote in his introduction to Hosea," God loves us in just this way - goes after us at our worst, keeps after us until he gets us, and makes lovers of men and women who know nothing of real love.

In trying to keep this thing from being extremely long I will continue this blog tomorrow. I will look at what Hosea writes in Chapter 14 and the hope that this real love offers.

All biblical text comes from the Message Remix Bible

The Way He Loves Us - Part 2

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In yesterdays blog I ended with this idea that we wait until we hit rock bottom before we realize we need God. In chapter 14 Hosea offers that hope for the rock bottom moments and shares of God's deep love for us.

O Israel, come back! Return to you God! You're down but not out. Prepare your confession and come back to God. Pray to him, "Take away our sin, accept our confession. Receive as restitution our repentant prayers. Assyria won't save us; horses won't get us where we want to go. We'll never again say our god' to something we've made or made up. You're our last hope. Is it not true that in you the orphan finds mercy?"

"I will heal their waywardness, I will love them lavishly. My anger is played out. I will make a fresh start with Israel. He'll burst into bloom like a crocus in the spring. He'll put down deep oak tree roots, he'll become a forest of oaks! He'll become splendid - like a giant sequoia, his fragrance like a grove of cedars! Those who live near him will be blessed by him, be blessed and prosper like golden grain. Everyone will be talking about them, spreading their fame as the vintage children of God. Ephraim is finished with gods that are no-gods. From now on I'm the one who answers and satisfies him. I am like a luxuriant fruit tree. Everything you need is to be found in me."

If you want to live well, make sure you understand all of this. If you know what's good for you, you'll learn this inside and out. God's paths get you where you want to go. Right-living people walk them easily; wrong-living people are always tripping and stumbling.

But the truth is we do not need to wait until then. God is constantly pursuing us and desires and intimate relationship with us. Those same desires we all have toward someone where, do you think they came from? The one who created every one of us. He will stop at nothing to have that relationship with you. It is truly a thought that I cannot get my mind around. The creator of the universe, the God who died for us will stop at nothing to have relationship with us.

THAT IS TRUE LOVE! So stop running after the things that look and fell like God. Just turn around receive God's embrace because He is right behind you.

All biblical text comes from the Message Remix Bible

It is in you!

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I was reading some of Andrew Shearman's past blogs and I came across this:

I know this: you`re carrying something. God gave it to you. Planted it deep in your soul and has entrusted you to be His representative and carrier. I would like to call that out of you today, if I could. It`s not dead. At the smell of water, a meeting with the right tribe, a word from a prophet of God with a word of life, a dream in the night; something will activate you. It`s in you. HIS word ( the seed ) will not return to Him empty. Rise up!

Reading this was very encouraging. So I thought I should put in a blog and hope that it will encourage you also. If you would like to read more from Andrew Shearman click here.

This was a good day.

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This is a story that you may have read posted by some other members of my team. But it is a story of what happens when you put aside the things you think you should do and allow God to do what he does best. Creating relationships with others and Himself.

Tara, Johnny, Marissa, Shanda, Stephanie, and I hopped a train to ride up to the northern part of Thailand called Chiang Mai. When we decided to go all we knew was that Stephanie had been there before and knew of some cool people we should meet up with. With that in mind the other five of us thought that is enough info and we will just go for it with no other plans. Making a plan with no plan seems like the right thing to doesn't it? Is that not the way that things are done everywhere? As much as I am a laid back person in the back of mind I was wondering what was going to come of our time with no plan. That little thought is just one of the numerous ways that separates my mind from the mind of God.

So we get to Chiang Mai in the morning and decide to stay at a guest house and wait for the only contacts we had to arrive the day after us. The rest of the day was spent walking around Chiang Mai and going to Starbucks and praying for our team and the team in Myanmar. The next morning we awoke with excitement about meeting the contacts that Stephanie had met from the year before. We proceed to get breakfast and Stephanie began share of some thoughts she was having about our time in Chiang Mai and what she had thought it would look like. In this discussion Matthew 10 came up (you can read it if you like) and little did we know that someone at another table heard this part of the conversation. Our little team discussion ended with us not really knowing what we were going to do and when we would travel to the other town we were going to go to called Chiang Rai.

At that moment the man from the other table came over to us and introduced himself as Vern from Oregon and he is part of ministry in Chiang Rai. We thought great another contact we can make and when we get there we will team up with him and do ministry. This is great. The pieces seemed to be falling into place; we have a contact in Chiang Mai and now one in Chiang Rai. But we still had a small snag, how much time would be devoted to the two places? When would leave to go to Chiang Rai and come back to Chiang Mai or vice versa. In this little bit of confusion Vern says "by the way we are going back to Chiang Rai today and if you would like a ride you can ride with us. If that is good be ready to load up at 2." What do you say to that?

After being apart of world race for almost five months now, when someone offers you a free ride to a place you are going you take it. Not did he offer us a free ride to Chiang Rai he also offered for us to stay at his place for free. This is another opportunity that you do not pass up.

It is just amazing how God works these things out when we are open to allowing him to put in the places we should be. Also I know that you asking what is the ministry that Vern and his wife are a part of. Posted here is a link to the Eden House. The video at the bottom of the blog gives more info about Eden House.

No Worries!

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I am starting the fifth month on World Race and my identity has experienced a wrecking crew of emotions, however, there has been something missing but I could not put a finger on it. So up to this point things have been good and God has been giving Tara and I dreams and desires for the future (more on that in future blogs as that becomes more clear) but something was still in the way. However, something was blocking the joy and fulfillment of beginning to understand what I would do with my life. But like in all struggles God continues to speak through His Word revealing truths about Himself and the best way to live this life; the best way to live this life in freedom. In Matthew 6:19-34 Jesus gives a powerful message that is in direct opposition to the whisperings of the World and those words shatter the bonds of the American Dream.

Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or - worse - stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

"Your eyes are windows into you body. If you open your eyes wide to wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!

"You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can't worship God and Money both.

"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance that the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror even gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion - do think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen - don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep you life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

Taken from The Message Remix

As many of you know Tara and I own a house back in Georgia and due to the current state of the economy could not give it away if we wanted to. In spite of the current economic situation God provided a person to rent our home while we are on World Race but that was not enough. In the beginning of this I told you God has been giving us plans and dreams for the future and owning a house in Georgia is not part of that. But even before we were dreaming about the future I was always occupied with an unsettling feeling of owning something I could not get rid of. This robbed my joy as I wrestled and worried about it in the back of my mind. The more I wrestled the more tired and defeated I became. All I could think about was will this dream ever come to reality, will I ever have everything in place to start a family. Although I never voiced them out loud I began to believe less and less in the dreams God had given us and became more enslaved to the endless cycle of the American Dream.

In that moment I had chosen who I was going to serve and for a brief time it enslaved my thoughts, my heart and my dreams. But God in his pursuing nature never stopped speaking truth into the lies. Then one morning as Tara and I where talking it broke. I broke. Truth had replaced the lies and I began to see the future for what it was. The future. The future no longer needed my plans and thoughts; it no longer needed my enslavement to itself. The future no longer needed my worries. In that moment I became content and overwhelmed with joy in the place that God had placed me. This was not the joy that you get when you score the game winning shot, but sustaining joy. Joy that only can come through freedom in Christ.

I do not know how to end this except with a simple phrase, "No worries!"

Saigon Sleeps

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Mazes of metal, wood, and glass,

Tangled masses of tarmac,

The unfiltered noise rips through the silence.

Intricately detailed faces all the same,

The cries of the afflicted reach the heavens.

Awake, Awake, O restless sleeper!

Grace and Prayers

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I am sorry if you got excited because you thought that Josh finally posted a blog. However, I just wanted to tell everyone that I am sorry for not posting blogs lately. I feel that I have let down people interested and our supporters in informing your on what Tara and I have been doing. Things have been going on and God has been moving I have just done a terrible job at putting it on paper. So please forgive me and extend me some grace I will work hard to get another blog up. Thank you for all your support, patience and understanding, I know that everyone who reads this truly cares as to what goes on where we are.

P.S. - Could please join us in praying this Sunday at 11:00 pm here Sunday 12:00 noon on the east coast till 4:00 pm eastern time. We praying into the issue of prostitution that is going on in the hotel we are staying in. Praying for the salvation of those we have come in contact with over the past week or so. Praying for the ministries in Vietnam to begin a revival in this country. If you could join us during those times that would be great. Thanks.

Gave the wrong time it will be Sunday on the east coast. Sorry if you already prayed just do it again. Thanks

Happy Birthday Tara!

Wed, 3 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Grace. Is it for everyone? Part 2

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The story posted a couple of days ago had some incorrect information. The story I posted was based on info given to me by locals, but it seems that they were incorrect. So I received and email with info that should be correct or what was at lest posted in the paper. Do with it what you will but I just wanted to let everyone know that I posted the wrong information.

The burning of the man happened in Solola NOT Panajachel and it was not about a kidnapping. The kidnappings that werehappening in Panajachel are not only of kids. These men were not kidnappers they were collecting a debt, which the guy saidhe did not owe. Later when the guys were taken to the courtroom they found out they were innocent and had gone to theMinisterio Publico before showing up in pana about the debt for 800,000 quetzals.

Grace. Is it for everyone? Part 1

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I know from the beginning of this I am going to have a hard time describing the way that I am feeling about something I witnessed today. So here it goes, I will do the best that I can.

Tara and I are walking back to our house from town, something that has become a normal everyday ritual, however, today was not like the rest. As we approach the split in the road that takes us home we are passed by men running, men on motorcycles, and the police mixed all in between. Not knowing what is going on we decided to follow. We reach the point where the two roads meet again and we see that the angry mob has surrounded a car. At this point many people are yelling and screaming stuff in Spanish and yelling to the police officers. While this is going on, multiple people begin to hit and shake the car from side to side. Amongst all the chaos a ringleader raises his voice and at that moment they pull two guys from the car.

When this began to happen I was reminded of a story that a local pastor told us a couple of weeks ago. There were a group of men who were involved in kidnapping some children around Panajachel. One man involved in this crime was caught by a mob sometime in July and was burned in the middle of the street as symbol to the others involved. Come to find out the men pulled from the car were the other two men involved in the kidnapping. The two men are pulled from the car and they begin to beat them and take them down the street. When all of a sudden part of the mob flips the car over onto its roof. I begin to look around and notice the police are doing nothing but trying to direct traffic. It was a very odd site because it was completely against my normal.

The two men have been taken out of sight so Tara and I stay around a little longer then we begin to walk back to the house when we hear some more yelling and screaming coming from the direction of the main square. We walk to the main square and there are hundreds of people surrounding these men beating them. The mob leader is standing on a car asking the crowd "what should we do with these men?" The answer they screamed back was, "lynch them." In that moment my heart began to beat fast and I felt completely helpless. All I could do was pray that God would intervene in some way. They ended up taking them in the town hall where there are holding cells and I guess that is where they remain for the time being.

While this is all going on I am trapped with this thought of why is no one standing up for these men. I understand that they are criminals but I ask myself, "Is God's grace not for them?" Did the death of Christ only cover my sins and not theirs? There was a part of me that did not want to understand the grace of God because it would have made the situation so much easier. It would have been easier to just watch like everybody else and truly believe will all my heart that these guys are getting what they deserved. I wish it could have been that way because then I would be able to sleep at night. I wish it could have been that way then I would be able to sit in silence and not hear the sounds of them being beat. However, it is not that way. I am a no longer a slave to sin but I am slave to righteousness and that makes me a slave to grace.

Just A Word

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

So as we press in together may God wreck our view of what is normal, what is ordinary, what is safe, what is comfortable, and what is easy. Replacing it with what is of the spirit and manifesting itself through the gifts and the miraculous signs and wonders that put God's love on display. As we are in the last days may we continue to fight to put God's love on display and end each day with nothing left to give knowing that we will be filled with the Spirit to do it all over.

Just a cool picture!

The Woman I Love

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On Friday the 25th of July all six guys from the squad and Seth were at hotel in Antigua have a guys night. Now of the six guys on the squad three are married and three are single. Sometime in the night someone brought up the idea of making a list of expectations of what a future spouse would look like. Already being married this brought to mind the list Tara made for herself and the things that she would expect of her future spouse. But I as I began to think further my thoughts were flooded with just how amazing my wife Tara is and it brought a huge smile to my face. So I am going to take a little time here and say some great things about the woman I love:

I cannot image what life would be like without her, she is an absolute blessing to my life and true gift from God. I think to say that I married over my head would be an understatement. I have done nothing to deserve someone as special as she is. It is amazing to see the amount of love and compassion that is in this women and the ways in which it overflows to everyone. When I say everyone I mean everyone, she will love a stranger the same way she loves a friend. If there is anyone I know who could embody the way Christ would want us to love on another it would be her. Another characteristic that draws me to Tara is her ability to pray and intercede for people. It is truly a beautiful site to see her just worship God through her prayers. I am so thankful that I have someone in my life that could model true intercession. These are just a few things that I could say about the amazing woman of God that thought I would share with everyone who reads this thing.

I also just wanted to say to Tara that I love you and I do not have word to describe the way I fell about you and how truly amazing you are. God is going to do things through us that we could not do alone.

So it is out there on the internet the way that I feel about my wife and if any of you would like to get to know her more you can check out her blog on by clicking here.

What to do with myself?

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The timing of these types of situations is amazing. It has been just 30 minutes since I posted the blog telling the world how I fell about my wife and I get in an argument with her. During that time I want to believe so bad that I am in the right and I fight so hard against what I know I should do and continue to do the things I hate doing. Sounds kind of familiar doesn't it?

Romans 7:15-20 - I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is the sin living in me. I know that good itself does not dwell in me that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So in a 30 minute period time I have just invalidated all the things I just said about her. I even struggled with pulling the blog down because the things I just wrote no longer seem to ring true by my actions. I still believe that they are true but if you read those words then saw my actions you would think that I was two faced. I just may be that in the sinful nature as Paul says. The funny thing is, is that I no longer have to operate in the sinful nature because I have been set free by Christ and his spirit lives in me.

However, I struggle so hard sometimes to believe that about myself. I know that there is victory in Christ and in the words that Paul wrote in Romans 8. I know that I have authority over the sinful nature and the power to rebuke it. I hear the Lord speaking to me and telling me that pride is no longer apart of who you are. You do not fight against the things of this world that tell you, you must be right, but that you need to love in spite of those things just for the sake of loving that person. The funny thing is the person to which I battle with the most is the person I love the most or at least that is what I tell the world on the internet.

So I am going to press into God and relinquish my grasp on my pride (even as I write this I fell the desire to make myself sound better than I am). So as I relinquish my grasp on my pride I chose to pick up love and press into the love of the Father. I know that I am not through with this but I know that this is one step closer to stepping into the identity that Christ has for me. And in the end love wins!

Our Anniversary

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Here is a few pictures from our 4th year anniversary date at Misol-Ha waterfall near Palenque, Mexico. Tara and I wanted to thank everyone who have been praying for our marriage. We believe that prayer is crucial part to our marital success on the world race. We also wanted to thank those who have supported our marriage financially allowing us to take the date nights.

Looking for Accolades

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

My teammates and I have been staying in a small town called Trinidad. It is located in the southern part of Mexico in the state of Chiapas. During our time here we have been instructed to put together church services every night for the local church. Problem number one is that most of the team does not speak Spanish at all except for Johnny who has been getting us through. Problem number two is the congregation gives zero response to head pastor so imagine the response we are getting. Lets just say it is very awkward to finish speaking or doing a drama and get crickets and the gas face from the crowd. It was in one of these awkward moments that God really taught me something.

The plan for the evening was to sing a few songs in Spanish led by Stacey and Tara. Then I would read the story of Moses translated into Spanish followed by a drama. After the drama Marissa would share her testimony translated by Johnny. The songs are sung with no response. I struggle through about 10 minutes worth of Spanish reading followed by the drama and the testimony and nothing. I know they saw the strain on my face as I fought through my mispronunciation. I did the best that I could and yet their faces were saying you should have done better. In that moment I realized that I was looking for some type of response or accolade for the work that we just put in. It was a very humbling experience. God reminded me that these things we were saying were not for the people but were sweet offering to him. God was using us to scatter His Word and he would come in sew those words into the heart of the people.

This thought at first seemed so counterintuitive to way that we do things in America or at least the way I did things. Here I am putting myself out there expecting some type of response or accolade to build myself up. All this time and I had no idea I was even seeking those things. It felt good to discover that about myself because now there are fewer insecurities to get in the way of finding my true identity in Christ. My prayer is that all these little pieces of myself that I hold on to and try find significance in are brought to the surface. I want to be able to get to the end of service, a time of ministry, and even the world race and know that everything is poured out for the sake of Christ and not just a pat on the back.

Leave any agenda you might carry in the river. You don't have room for it. Let this time expose who you truly are and let the God of the world mold and shape and carve you until there isn't a doubt exactly what your role is in this epic story.(A little wisdom from someone with whom I trust my life)

Vision for the Blind

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the first four books of the New Testament, commonly referred to as the Gospels, the Gospel authors make 51* references to the healing miracles Jesus performed throughout his earthly ministry. Jesus in his full humanity, under the power of the Holy Spirit, guided by the Father performed the miracles referred to in the Gospels. That same power by which Jesus operated in is offered to us in the Holy Spirit. So if that same spirit lives in us then we should be able to perform the same miracles and do greater things than even Jesus. John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these"

The question is why do we fail to operate in that power? Is it because we do not believe we have it? Has someone said that we are not capable of doing things greater than Jesus? Even worse, has someone lied to us and told us we cannot do the things altogether? Or are you like me, you believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is in you but you let fear control how you use it, despite all the people who have seen that God has given you the gift of healing. On Sunday July 6^th God put me in a situation with two choices, I could act in fear or I could operate in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lets set the scene: My team and another world race team are attending a church service in Palenque, Mexico with around 25 locals. It is a three-sided building with a gate front sandwiched between two houses in the middle of a residential area. We walk in to take our seats after we are greeted with a hug and bible verse. After seated I began to pray that the Holy Spirit would reveal whatever God wanted to tell me during this time. In this moment God reminded me of a previous world racer named Chad Mast who healed a boy's eye in Africa. Chad put his thumb on the boy's eye and prayed for healing. In this vision God reminded me of Chad's experience and showed me that someone in the congregation was blind in both eyes and that I would need to put both thumbs on their eyes and pray for healing. I opened my eyes and began to look around for this person and up front was an older lady kneeling in front on the stage with her back to everyone. She had been in this position since we arrived. When she rose from her prayer another lady went to help her walk back to her seat because she was blind. In that moment I was confronted with those two choices; I could step out in faith and pray for her and others that were sick within the congregation or I could cower in fear and deny what God had just showed me. I decided to go for it when the time was right.

As the service was ending the pastor invited the world race teams that had attended to come up so the congregation could pray for us. This time was amazing in it self and might be another blog but when they were done I knew that this was the time to call up the sick for healing. Through our translator I asked for those who need healing to come forward. At this time about 12-15 people out of the 25 or so locals came forward including the blind lady. I took my thumbs and reached them out and put them on the blind ladies' eyes and began to pray. When I had finished praying for her Tara and I moved to the others that came forward for healing.

Now I know it would be great to tell you that a miracle happened and the blind ladies' eyes were restored but that did not happen. However, I had no doubt in my mind that the process of healing in her eyes is taking place. In that moment I truly had faith that when I removed my thumbs from her eyes that she would be able to see. Was I disappointed in the outcome? Was I scared what the people thought because what I prayed did not happen? To be honest how could I be. God gave me a vision of how he wanted me to pray for one of his children and I did it. I expected an outcome but the end result was far greater than I would have imagined. I believe that two significant things happened that day; the faith of the people in the congregation was strengthened and my faith and trust in what God is asking us to do as a body grew. In the future will I be confronted with the fear, of course. But I pray that I will be reminded of that day in a small church in Palenque, Mexico that a vision for the blind was given.

John 14:12 - I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these

The Right Pants Could Save Your Life!

Fri, 4 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

During our 14-hour bus ride from Cancun to Villahermosa, Mexico we made two stops in which we were able to get off. The first of the stops was a routine stop with the voluntary option to step off the bus to get food and to use the restroom. The second stop was not like the first in any way, because getting off was not a voluntary option, you were selected to step off. Being selected was not like being selected to win the lottery. Remember back to elementary school recess when you would play kick ball and everybody would line up and two captains would start selecting teams. The thoughts going trough your head as people are being picked; "I do not want to be on that team with nerdy kids because they suck at kickball. What if the girl sees me play and they make me look bad. She will think that I suck at kickball when really I am the kickball world champion and hold the record for most career homeruns* and furthest homerun ever kicked." The only difference in this situation is that you are being selected by Mexican Federally with huge machine guns and not little, unauthentic nerdy kids.
The Federally begin randomly check passengers papers and select one Mexican guy for their team and instruct him to bring all his belongings. At this point Tara and I are in a little bit of shock after being on a bus for about 10 hours; and now men with guns are on the bus pulling people off searching them. They continue to check papers and then another Federally steps back on after speaking to the bus driver and gives me the flashlight in the face signal letting me know that I have been selected for their team. My first reaction is resistance as I look behind me as if he is pointing at the guy behind which at that point I knew no one was seated there. So I get another flash in the eyes and reluctantly I get up and step off the bus. When my feet hit the dirt I looked up and standing there are 3 Federally decked out in their urban assault gear with the bus light reflecting intimidatingly off of their massive guns. Then with my superior Spanish knowledge (joke) I make out the bus driver tell the 3 that "he has on the wrong pants." They tell me to get back on the bus, which I do with haste and sit back down.
When I get back on they are speaking to another white dude about smoking cigarettes on the bus and possibly other illegal substances. Comes to find out that he was from Germany and coincidently I was born there and that is stated very clearly on my passport. So in this little Mexican town between Cancun and Villahermosa I will be forever linked to a possible drug smoking German, however, if you wear the right pants you might be able to get away with whatever you want.

*(Record was set without the use of steroids; Kickball World Almanac 1991)

It has Begun!

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I hope that these blogs can be a blessing to you just as you have been a blessing in my life. I will never be the same! (Lay over in Mexico City) Skype Name: joshandtarabruce

A Henri Nouwen Daily Meditation

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

If you have never had the opportunity to read Seth Barnes blog site you should. As I have read I started to notice he talks about this guy Henri Nouwen a lot. Seth would post quotes and short thoughts by Nouwen and they seem to just speak directly to your heart. So in a recent blog post, Seth gave the link to sign up for "Daily Meditations" by Henri Nouwen. I signed up and have been receiving them for about a week and I now know why Seth likes that guy so much.

I really enjoyed Nouwen's post from Sunday May 18^th:

When we speak about the Holy Spirit, we speak about the breath of God, breathing in us. The Greek word for "spirit" is pneuma, which means "breath." We are seldom aware of our breathing. It is so essential for life that we only think about it when something is wrong with it.

The Spirit of God is like our breath. God's spirit is more intimate to us than we are to ourselves. We might not often be aware of it, but without it we cannot live a "spiritual life." It is the Holy Spirit of God who prays in us, who offers us the gifts of love, forgiveness, kindness, goodness, gentleness, peace, and joy. It is the Holy Spirit who offers us the life that death cannot destroy. Let us always pray: "Come, Holy Spirit, come."

If you would like to sign up to receive his "Daily Meditations" click here.

Team B.O.L.D.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We will no longer be known as the married team. We will be known as TEAM B.O.L.D.:

B.O.L.D. - Bringing our Lord's Dominion.

We are here to bring God's kingdom to earth. The nature of the task is going to put each of us in uncomfortable situations, however, God asks us to stand firm in his word and be BOLD in the task at hand. We are to rise up as men and women of God and declare his "kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).

If you resonate with this please feel free to click the link Adopt-a-Team and partner with us in bringing heaven to earth.

Team members: Brian Alonzo Stacy Alonzo Tara Bruce Josh Bruce Johnny Pratt Marissa Pratt

Big logs and God.

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As a part of training week for The World Race we went as a squad to Unicoi State Park located in the North Georgia Mountains. At the heart of the state park is a gorgeous lake surrounded by tree covered mountains, with eagles flying overhead, and ducks swimming in the lake. I think you are starting to get the picture. This place is beautiful. It has everything you need to get away; clean air, cool water, and trees everywhere.

As you are taking this in you hear the Adventures in Missions staff tell you to grab an object that will represent something you want to give up or surrender. Hearing this I knew right away what I wanted to surrender and it was pretty big. I figured if what I wanted to surrender was big so the object should be also. My only thought was that we were going to pray about it then heave the object in the lake (So there was a small part of me that wanted to see a big splash). So after everyone has found their object and we have gathered back together; I see some of the AIM staff with smiles on there faces looking at me. I do not know what to think at this point until I realized why they were smiling. This little task come to find out was called the surrender walk; not the surrender throw, or pick up something heavy and surrender it and put it back down. It was the surrender WALK.

So here I am staring down a 6 foot log that is about 8 inches in diameter. Thinking to myself why did I want to see a big splash? But as I began to look at the log more and hold it and feel its weight, it began to make sense. This does represent the materialism in my life. The burden I carry everyday to have cool stuff and wear cool clothes, things that really make me part of this world. It is a heavy burden, and maybe the log really does fit the bill. Anyways, I begin to march and it is not so bad at first. However, as I walk on the log continues to get heavier and heavier and more awkward to carry. During that time of struggle God gave me a verse in Matthew 11 and it just began to consume my thoughts. It says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give your rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

In that moment I realized that the log was not gentle and it was not easy to carry and no rest could come from it. The comparison between the log and the burden of materialism became surprisingly real. The yoke of the world is not easy or good. It is like a poor relationship; the one way type of relationship that you pour yourself into and in return you just feel violated. However the yoke of Jesus takes that violated feeling and speaks truth into. You can pour your entire being into this relationship but the truth is Jesus just pours more love, compassion, grace, and mercy back into you.

So I finished the walk, which by the way included a climb up a small mountain. However, I made it to point at which I could throw it down and surrender it before God. What a feeling that was to take that burden and lay it down and know that I do not ever have to pick it up again. Then weirdest feeling came over me as I looked back and I realized that I never did pick it up to start with it was just placed upon me. However, the yoke of Jesus I want to pick up and I want to bear it because it is good.

"YOU ARE FREE"

Tue, 8 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Coming to training camp my mind was filled with expectations and ideas of what was going to take place. I came with the expectation of meeting teammates, doing crazy outdoor activities and some where along the way I WOULD encounter God. As some my expectations were met one was not. I have to say it is Tuesday April 8^th and we have been here for almost four full days and I have not yet encountered God, however, something greater has taken place, GOD HAS ENCOUNTERED ME.

He has scooped me up and brought me into his presence setting aside my short comings, my flaws, my insecurities, and all the crap and baggage that I am carrying around everyday. I carried this stuff because there was a part of me that bought into the lie that things must always look good from the outside, however, the total opposite is true. It is ok to not be ok, and He just wanted me to crawl up into his lap and let him speak truth into those lies.

So I crawled up there with hesitation and God just poured his spirit of truth into the lies and all the pains and insecurities were exposed. As the pain began to flood in and I just wanted to run but God just held on tighter, lavishing love on me. As I am doing my best to describe this moment I cannot put it into words the feeling of the Creator God just holding you in his arms and whispering in your ear "YOU ARE FREE."

As I share this moment with my wife we are rejoicing because of the freedom that has been whispered into our marriage. It has been hard for the both of us and a ton of internal healing to process but the initial pain is worth the time spent in the arms of the Father. More has been done for my marriage in the past 3 days than almost the 4 years we have been married.

Jesus said "I have come so you may have life and have it abundantly." I am beginning to see the abundant life and once you have tasted it nothing else can satisfy that taste but the one true God. So crawl up into the lap of the Father and listen for that whisper "YOU ARE FREE."

All Aboard!

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A thought keeps reoccurring in my head: What if I get to death and look back on my life and all I see are worldly accomplishments and the accumulation of stuff. Would I be satisfied? Would I get to the end and say "man this was great, it was everything I wanted it to be?" Could I spend eternity knowing that's what I had to show for myself; was an old man with a lot of crap. This thought has really bothered me and I know that what I want to see when I get to death is not a vision of that.

God is doing some huge things across the world, doing whatever it takes to reclaim what is rightfully his. He is speaking truth into lies, giving hope to the hopeless, spreading love to the hated, extending grace to the murders of his truth, pointing light into the darkness, and pouring himself out so that his creation may have abundant life. You hear stories about God doing these things and this idea of God reclaiming his creation just shatters my previous thoughts.

I want to look back at the end of my life and not really know I how got there. I just want to know that along the way I got onboard with what God was doing in the world and He took me for a ride. I could be satisfied with that. I could get to the end and know that I was apart of something huge, something outside of myself.

My hope and prayer is that we are all aboard because God is moving fast and this is something I cannot afford to miss. As my best friend would say "sometimes you have to let go of something good to grab a hold of something great."

Blood Over Africa

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I read in the news today that there has been more gang violence in western Kenya due to the recent presidential election. I know this is old news, however, this time I can personally relate to this story. The violence took place in a small town near the Great Rift Valley called Naivasha. Over the last year my wife and I have traveled to Kenya twice, and both times have stayed in Naivasha. Reading the news it broke my heart to read of peoples homes being burned and the bodies hacked with machetes all because of tribal differences. I have met people belonging to the Kikuyu tribe and those belonging to the Luo tribe, and I cannot imagine the hate they have for each other. I have looked them both in the eyes and many of times at the same time. Each time I saw hope, joy, compassion, and love. So to say the least it breaks my heart to read the news and as tears come to my eyes I am filled with peace. I am filled with peace because I know some courageous African's from both the Kikuyu and Luo tribes. Most importantly I know their deep passion and understanding of the restorative power of the blood of Christ. My prayer is that these men and women from both tribes will continue to have the power and courage to speak the name of God boldly; that their hope and joy in Christ Jesus will transcend all cultural barriers that are threatening Kenya; that when the wounds of Kenya are exposed the courageous will take Jesus to those wounds and bring the healing and restorative power of God to Kenya; and that all the tribes, tongues, and nations of Africa will stop shedding the blood of their neighbor and know that the blood of Jesus is enough. Lastly I pray that the outpouring of the blood of Christ will run over the other nations of Africa and God will bring his children back to him.