Dear Friends in the Gospel;

I have been wrestling with some extremely important issues over the past year. Issues that have direct bearing on how I go about my current ministry and are literally foundational principals that direct our work as missionaries and our stewardship of the lives God has given us. So…where to begin? Many of you are familiar with my missions journey, but I just can't resist:

…A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…Or at least the sometimes alien culture of California. I was raised in a family that traveled extensively yet inexpensively. As a child I remember sleeping on motel room floors, in tents, trailers, RV's, airport chairs and the occasional closet (yes, I've since "come out of the closet"). By the time I turned eight we had rambled throughout Mexico, Canada and a majority of US States, so later, when my church offered a High School Summer Mission trip to the Yucatan, it was a no brainier, and that's where I first tasted foreign missions. Mixing cement with sweat in the tropical heat and running a vacation Bible school in the evening fit me like a glove. In the years that followed, my passion for the Gospel and foreign ministry would literally lead me around the world, allow me to take part in a South American Church plant, marry a wonderful Chilean woman, and spend extensive time with pastors and Christian leaders in Fidel Castro's Cuba.

Over the past few years, the Lord in His wisdom has ordained adjustments to our missions trajectory in ways that I would not have personally chosen, but do embrace as His will. One of the most influential was in being "blacklisted" in Cuba at the end of '06 and no longer allowed to enter the country. Since then I have continued working "remotely" (see http://abeggloveletters.blogspot.com/ ) and asking the Lord what He would have me do. This has brought me to reflect on my convictions with regards to missions as well as my overall theology or Biblical understanding of the work of a missionary. My "missiology".

This blog reflects some of my wrestling to understand God's heart for His world and what that means for me as a follower of Jesus with the specific gifting and abilities He has provided. Each of you reading this are invited to, in a sense, walk with my family and I on this leg of the journey. To one degree or another, you are already a traveling companion -whether you've known me for a short time or over a few decades (for some of you nearly four decades!), you are someone who's council I value and am thrilled to share this process with. Some of you I consider studied "theologians", experienced missionaries, Godly businessmen or simply posess what I believe is a God honoring understanding and interpretation of what the He has done, and is currently doing in your own lives. You are all our friends and family in Christ and I highly value your prayerful considerations. “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” ( Proverbs 27:9 )

With this in mind, please visit: "MISsionUNDERSTANDINGS" (http://missionunderstandings.blogspot.com) . I'm starting with humble beginnings, so please join in the conversation and share your theological convictions, or any practical wisdom and experience our God has granted as He has guided you on this journey. I trust the Lord has something in this not only for my family, but those of you who value the mission's conversation, and are concerned about how the Church goes about fulfilling the great commission of "making disciples of all nations".