And now, a moment of silence please...

Check out the link to find out what I'm talking about:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051030/film_nm/france_depardieu_dc

Right Time, Right Place

Istanbul was fantastic! It was a very interesting city: almost all Muslim, yet very European. It is the only city to be in both Europe and Asia. The people have such character in their faces. You see little old ladies in winter coats and scarves looking very old school East European and then men in stylish suits, with moussed hair looking like GQ guys. A city that was a times, the center of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empires, and a major hub for both Christianity and Islam.
Thankfully, this trip was as much a spiritual retreat as a workshop. I was needing time to pause and spend time with brothers and sisters to reflect on Our Father, His promises, His Word and His Son. I know that some time in the future I am going to look back on this trip and say, "that was a pivotal point in my life and the Lord was at work."

With that I want to list 10 things that I'm thankful for (in alphabetical order):
1. Affirmation from my father.
2. Affirmation from Our Father.
3. A God that saves marriages.
4. Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Offering that keep me on the field and enable me to do my work.
5. Hearing testimonies from believers around the world.
6. Men taking time to invest spiritually in me.
7. Relationships.
8. Seeing a specific place in a movie or TV show and then going there.
9. Sunsets in beautiful new places.
10. Your prayers

This was our guide Ozer. About 3 years ago, Jesus saved his life and his marriage. Please keep Ozer and others like him in your prayers.

Sunset on the Blue Mosque from the ferry.

Me at the Hagia Sophia. It was a Christian church, then when the Muslims took over, they turned it into a mosque. Then in the 1930s they turned it into a museum. There are some incredible mosaics on the ceiling that the Muslims covered with plaster, some have been uncovered.

Me with Istanbul in the background. It was a beautiful city with interesting people.

Sunset in Istanbul. Near side is Asia, then across the Bosphorus (body of water) is Europe. You can see the domes and towers of the mosques on the horizon.

All's fair in love and war and SEC Football...

Gators slip by the Dogs 14-10. I could make a lot of excuses, but it wouldn't change the score. So I will let Florida DE Jeremy Mincey put it in a nutshell: ``This game came down to heart and hustle,'' Mincey said. ``We had more heart, and we outhustled them.'' Florida made things happen when they had to.
On a couple of side notes: I did make it to O'Hare International in time to watch most of the 4th Qtr at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant. It was the first Georgia game I've seen this year (so I'm looking forward to the DVDs of the other games- Thanks Brian.)
While watching the game a guy sat down 3 stools from me... that person was The Incomparable Jerry Rice, the Greatest WR to Play Professional Football. I thought about talking to him or taking a picture, but the DG next to me convinced me not to, when he stumbled to sound intelligent while trying to engage Rice in a conversation.
Finally, I know several Vols read this blog occasionally, but I have to say, Saturday, I was actually happy to see the Evil Genius beat the Snitch.
Keep Rollin' Tide!

After shouldering the weight of the world for a week, Joe T III gets some consolation from the guy who's shouldered a whole lot for 4 years. Bad guys 14, UGA 10.

Packin' my bags

Well, country number 1 of my trip is about history (Hint: "it's not Constantinople"). It's been a great time here for a work/spiritual retreat and the city was a pleasant surprise. I hope to have some pictures up in a few days as soon as I can transfer the pictures to my computer. Next stop... Old Dominion.

You are Napoleon Dyanamite and a buttload of gangs
are trying to recruit you.

Which Napoleon Dynamite character are you?
brought to you by

Bitter-sweet Victories

Well, UGA managed to pull off a 23-20 win against Arkansas, despite losing QB DJ Shockley early in the 2nd quarter. I was unable to keep track of the game since I was flying somewhere over China at the time in route to my current destination in Eurasia. I read some articles and looked at the stats and frankly, I'm a little discouraged- especially heading into the Florida game.
I read about how the defense and the special teams stepped up and the offense did just enough to preserve a win. Allowing a RB (albeit a good one) to run for 190 yards including a 70 yard TD and a back up to also pick up significant yards isn't a great showing on defense. I know we were dealing with some key injuries on D, but it looks like the defense gave up a lot and just made big plays at key moments.
More of a concern is the lack of a running game. Coming into this season, the line and the RBs were the strengths of the Offense and DJ and the WRs were the questionmarks. DJ has stepped up remarkably and the WRs have been inconsistent, but good enough. It seems to me that if you lose your QB, and you have a great line and a good stable of RBs, you run it down Arkansas' throat- making you the team with 200+ yards rushing, not the one with barely 200 yards of total offense.
This is where I need your help, if you saw the game, post your thoughts or email me cause I want to know. That withstanding, I'm going to speculate...
Arkansas probably stacked the line- "8 men in the box"- and forced UGA to throw. SO WHAT?! Arkansas came into the game at the bottom of both the SEC and nationally in Defense, so even if they stacked the line, there should have been opportunities. Remember the Tennessee game, Brown and the UGA line flattened a stacked Vol defense (with a great front 7) by running 10+ plays in a row, accounting for 70+ yards and a TD. Either UGA has a good running game or it doesn't, it's that simple. From the numbers, it looked like Richt stuck with the passing game after DJ was lost. I love Coach Richt; I think he is a great coach and a better man, but I do question his dedication to weaker alternatives in light of obviously strengths. I can only hope that Richt was preparing 'lil Joe T and the Dogs for gametime passing action without DJ against Florida and Auburn, and that the running game will step up big next week- crushing Florida and giving Joe T some cushion.
It's funny a guy here said, "but Florida's not that good this year." Florida is always dangerous. Leak is still a good QB. A win is still a win, and a loss keeps you out of the Rose Bowl. Do you think those annoying Florida fans are going to say, "we only beat you because DJ wasn't playing." Heck no!

Dear Dakanda / Puen Sanit (Close Friends). Which would you chose: Dakanda above or Nui below?

One more for the Road

Well, I'm off on another trip to 2 countries and enough miles to circle the globe.

Last night, I went to see a movie with 4 friends. It's a Thai movie called: "Dear Dakanda" in English or "Puen Sanit" (Close Friends) in Thai. I had heard a lot about the movie since it was filmed by a group out of Chiang Mai University, in fact, much of the movie was shot here. It was cool to see places here and know exactly where they are.
The movie is about an art student at CMU, Moo. He falls in love with one of his close friends and fellow art students, Dakanda. But he is shy and doesn't tell her about his feelings. Later he ends up in southern Thailand and meets a nurse, Nui. She loves Moo. Finally Moo must decide whether he wants to chase the girl of his dreams or the girl that loves him. It was a pretty good movie, some of it was done really well, some of it was hillarious and some of it was a little slow, but I recommend it. You can check out more at the website: http://www.puensanit.com/ Good luck reading it.

Same Same, but Different

I had an interesting experience on the tsongtow (taxi/truck) today. I got into the tsongtow at the Day Market to go back to my apt. A Thai got in right after me and I thought it was a little odd, because I didn't notice him tell the driver where he was going. He soon started talking to me (which should have been my first clue, since I have to work hard to get most Thais to talk to me) and asking me where I was going. He spoke English well, but I tried to speak in Thai so I can improve. So we talked for a while in Thai-nglish. We went through the normal questions and I was able to say that I don't have a Thai wife because there aren't many Thai Christians and I want a Christian wife, since I am a Christian. He proceeded to tell me about a Thai church across from the university. So I followed up with questions about him going to church, reading the Bible, knowing Jesus, etc. He told me the Bible was good, he had read some of it and that God has a "good heart" and Jesus is good. So I began to share my testimony. Soon we were at my stop and as I was getting out, he said, "you pay 40 baht since I take you here." Now, I had agreed on 20 baht with the driver which was fair, but I paid 15 baht to get to the market. Now this guy wants me to pay 40 because he tagged along. He even had the gall to tell the driver I was paying for him. I told the driver that wasn't right, but paid anyway. (I know, I shouldn't have, but I did. Actually, it would have been interesting to see if the driver would have come after the guy if I didn't pay. But he could've come after me and I didn't need that today). I told Kom (the thief), that what he did was wrong. He asked for some money because he was far from home and needed money. I told him no, that if he would have asked I would've given him 20 baht instead of wasting it tagging along with me. He said Christians are supposed to be good people and help others. Well, I told him he already got a free ride from this Christian and that would be all today and walked away.
I think maybe you've struggled with this situation or something like it: Do you give to a beggar or homeless person? The Bible says what you have done to the least of these, you have done to me. But you don't want to give in to a liar or give money to someone that is going to waste it on alcohol or whatever. But as I was walking away, I recalled a couple of verses: 1) "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." - 2 Thess. 3:10. While Jesus expects me to be charitable, he expects others not to be lazy. 2) "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you." - Acts 3:6. I was a faithful witness for Christ and I gave Kom something more valuable than a dollar, I gave him God's Truth.
"Same, Same, but Different"... it's a common thing to hear here. They print it on T-shirts. It is used when you want one thing, but somebody gives you something similar, but not what you want., i.e. you go into a store and ask for a pen, the clerk gives you a green crayon. You say, that's not a pen. He says, "same, same, but different." Sure you can write with it, but it's not the same as an ink pen. (Jason, where are you going with this? you ask.)
When I was in Niger, I heard the testimony of a man who was baptized that day. He said he was interested in the church (of the white people), because he wanted to see what he could get out of it (meaning money, gifts, food, etc.). But after a while, he realized that he wasn't going to get what he wanted, but he could get what he needed... Jesus.
You can travel around this tiny world and people... people are "same, same, but different."

Pray that God would open Kom's eyes just like he did for our Nigerian brother.

Words for today

Last night as I was reading I found 2 great verses that really lifted my heart:

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trust in you."
~Isaiah 26:3

"Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us."
~Isaiah 26:12

In today's world, we are conditioned to be strong... work harder, make your own way, be independent, be #1, etc. When we are stong, we can earn respect from others. But when we reveal our vulnerabilities to others, we put our trust in them, because we let them see who we really are. Then they can truly love us. Respect and love are both desirable, but love is vital- it is what makes a life worth living.
"Thank You, Father, for loving us when we are strong, but more importantly, when we are weak. Amen."

This is my friend Jocy. She lives in China. Would you ask the Lord to speak to her heart today?

It's coming...

I was checking out the website today and found this:
http://imbresources.org/index.cfm/fa/store.prod/ProdID/1469.cfm
It's a new video called Timeline: Lifeline. It's stories from the Tsunami. I'd love for you to see and hear what I experienced on my trips, but more importantly I'd love for you to see what God is doing to heal the victims' pain.
If you buy a copy and hand deliver it to Chiang Mai, I will autograph it.

Just a small portion of a wonderful illustration and word from God.

8 " 'Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine.
9 " 'I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you.
~ Ezekiel 16:8-9

How awesome that Our Lord finds us at just the right time and makes us whole by making us His!

UGA wins 34-17 in a Season of Surprises

Vandy 2nd in the SEC East? Yes.
UGA undefeated at 6-0? Yes.
Cutler picked preseason SEC QB over Leak? Yes.
DJ getting it done? Yes.

The Dogs managed to get by a tougher than usual Vandy team 34-17. The Dogs can wrap up the SEC East with 3 wins vs. Ark, Fla, Kentuck or Auburn or with a victory over Florida (thanks to a LSU win) and one other SEC team.
While I didn't see the game, I was able to keep up via ESPN's GameDay. To be honest, the dogs didn't look that sharp and survived on a couple of big plays. Vandy ran all over us at times, much more than the Vols. But a win is a win (ask Bama).

Hats off to former Furman coach, Bobby Johnson, for fielding a feisty football team. MTSU? How?

I'm pretty surprised to see UGA at this spot, but I am thankful and will enjoy it while I can, but for the players, it's time to figure out how to stop Arkansas' McFadden before they become next weeks upset (a la Florida State).
I have been a big fan of Chris Leak and really thought he was in a class alone in the SEC, but Urban Meyer, Alabama and several others have proved me wrong. I was shocked to see Jay Cutler given preseason props. However, if you were to take the same poll right now I think it would be: 1) Croyle 2) DJ 3) Cutler. Hopefully, UGA gets Florida before they solve their offensive woes. While DJ hasn't been Charlie Ward, he hasn't been Chris Rix either (sorry for the FSU references). I, much like most of the Bulldog nation, was nervous about a season with DJ at the helm, but DJ has answered the critics. Hopefully, he'll keep it up.

Finally, here's my thoughts nationally:
1. Texas (no real scares like USC, even if the competition hasn't been as good)
2. USC (this is a really talented team, but it's not the outright best team in the nation)
3. Va Tech (w/ apologies to the Dogs, Va Tech is the last of the top tier teams).

4. UGA (once UGA figures out how to put teams away decisively, they move to the top tier).
5. Miami (sorry, Bama. Would win rematch vs. FSU).
6. Alabama (see UGA).

Heisman:
1. Vince Young (he carries his team like no one else. His passing numbers are second to no one (read: Leinart), oh and he can run as well as anyone else).
2. Reggie Bush (if you doubled his carries to put him in line with the Minn/Wisc backs, he would smoke them in yardage. Victim of his supporting cast)

3. Matt Leinart (good QB with great cast, that doesn't make mistakes)
4. Brady Quinn (seriously, he's on line with any of the passing QBs and he is a huge reason ND is back)

Barkin' in Thailand,
Jason

Dogs sack Cutler and Vandy to take control of SEC East.

Another Promise

Yesterday, my mind recalled on of the Lord's greatest promises:
"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."
~2 Chronicles 7:13-16

How awesome is that?!

In times when we are suffering, being disciplined or just being rebellious toward God, He still is there for us. He patiently waits for us to turn to Him. No matter what garbage we've chosen over Him, no matter what evil thing we're doing, He says, "come back and I will take you." He wants us to know that He claims us even when we're bad and unworthy. Acknowledge that fact and the fact that He is Yaweh, Almighty God, and you are the work of His hands. Speak to Him; He is listening. Tell Him you're sorry. Apology accepted. Look to the Living Word, Jesus Christ, He will show you what to do- how to be. Walk away from the evil you are in. He knows it's hard for us, so He will help us. He forgives us. He comforts us. He strengthens us. He takes us in His arms like a loving Father. And He doesn't forget us. He watches over us and works in us to help us avoid sin... Always.
He told this first to Solomon after he had finished building the temple of the Lord. 1 Corinthians says that we are "temples of the Holy Spirit." He longs to have His Name rest upon you and His Spirit dwell within you.

I need this promise. There are days when it's all too evident I am living in the encampment of the enemy, when the battle is wearing me out. That's when I need this promise, not just the His words, but the fact He acts, not just speaks in/to me.
This promise is for peoples, nations and tribes. When you look at how bad things can get, know that He is able to do the impossible on a grand scale. He alone can reach out into a sea of lostness and rescue the masses.

"Father, I am certainly not worth this promise and the work you have done in me, but I am thankful, even if I don't always show it. Open my eyes to your kindness when I struggle and remind me of how much better you are than anything else I pursue. Amen."
~jason

Random Thoughts

Listening to: mainly U2 today
Reading: Revelation
Playing: Settlers of Cattan, but not very well as I got stomped last night.

How many starving musicians are out there completely ticked off because they didn't think of writing a chant/song feature the spelling of B-A-N-A-N-A-S?

Remember: We have a High Priest who can sympathize with our needs, because Christ came and walked among us before ascending to the throne His Father had prepared for Him. His sacrifice was sufficient, only necessary once, unlike the sacrificing of bulls or goats.

My Pakistan Video

For those of you who have been asking, "when can I see some of your work?" The answer is now. I wrote and edited a piece this summer about Pakistan that is for the Fall 2005 Global Harvest release. Because of the earthquake, they released it early on the web, so you could learn a little more about Pakistan. Click on the link below to see a streaming version of the story:
http://imb.org/ASX/gh/GHFall2005/Pakistan_medium.asx
Or you can go to imb.org and on the front page in the Top Story section, you can get other versions, downloads and more info on what Southern Baptists are doing to help out those in need.
There's also a couple of stories from Sri Lanka there about the volunteer teams I followed this summer.

Thanks for you prayers and support.

This is the wife of a prominent man in Abalak. We stayed at their place for a night and enjoyed tremendous hospitalilty. (Not shown: her other 4 kids and the remains of a goat we ate).

Car trouble on the way to Cure Salee- temperamental radiator. Travel is one of the things that people in West Africa ask for prayer about. The roads are bad, if they're even there. Sand, heat, thorns, flooded roads and even bandits also present challenges.

Fulani men in ceremonial costumes.

Nate and John under our tent at Cure Salee. I slept here one night.

Kids at Cure Salee.

A Fulani beauty pageant. Unfortunately, I don't have a shot of the winner. I think her talent was spinning plates and she hopes for world peace.

Baby giraffe with an older one. One of the bulls, came at me a little bit when I got too close. I was backpeddling like a blue-chip Cornerback. I felt kinda odd, because you don't really hear about giraffes running amuck and killing people, but I wasn't looking to get on one of those Darwin Award emails either for the "dumb guy that got taken to the wood shed by a long-necked herbavore." It was really cool to be so close to them out in their environment.

While in Niger, we were able to see a herd of giraffes. There are more than a hundred that live outside of Niamey (the capital). We found a dozen or so, about 250 yards of one of the main highways.

Body Lifting

Not body building or power lifting, but something much stronger... Body lifting.

Please lift up my friends CC and WS as they prepare to do their part in the area of the recent massive earthquake. Ask for safety, compassion and strength as they do their jobs. Ask that this will be just the beginning of God reaching out in compassion and mercy to the hurting and desperate.

Please be mindful of Iraq and the constitutional vote there in less than a week. I don't know whether God wants it to pass or fail, but what I do believe is that He wants people who are tired of violence, hatred and death, to stand up against evil people and powers and go to the polls. Please ask that God would open their hearts to Truth and His will. Ask for safety for our troops, our brothers and sisters and those seeking peace in a land that has not known it for a long time. Ask that God would thwart those who plan evil and violence in the name of hatred.

Thanks.

Great story

Hey, check out this great story from ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2185866

Random Thoughts

While I was trying to go to sleep last night, I started thinking about names. The name Mary appears in the Bible for at least 3 characters:
1. Mary the mother of Jesus
2. Mary Magdalene
3. Mary the sister of Martha
All play a pretty prominent role in the Gospel. Then I thought about how Martha was a busy-body or do-er, but her sister Mary was more apt to just spend time enjoying her time with Jesus. I wondered what the name Mary means. Joshua means "He saves", Absalom has something to do with "peace", Jason means "healer". So if you know what Mary means, let me know.
But then I thought, why do we name children before they are born? Wouldn't it make more sense to see them and then name them according to who they are?

Other random things:
I'm listening to: Jars of Clay's Redemption Songs
I'm reading: The Epistles of John

Words for today

Before going to lunch today, the Lord put some words on my heart. I thought they would be for me to share with Mickey (a waitress), but at the same time the Lord was putting them on the heart of my brother Scott who went to lunch with us. They words were for him. As I shared the passage with him, he said that he had just read that, but it now had new meaning.

"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls then each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God?"
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
~ Isaiah 40:25-31

Whoa! How awesome is Our God?!
He is sovereign. He is mighty. He is compassionate.

Crunch time!

Thomas Brown running strong as Dogs make a statement in Knoxville.

27-14! Dogs Win!

Sic 'em, Dogs! How 'bout UGA pulling the "upset" win over Snitch Fulmer and his Vols?!

Thomas Bros Inc. rollin' late for the victory! That's Thomas Flowers with a huge 54 yard punt return for a TD after the special teams drops Tenn on the 1 yard line and the D responds. Then Thomas Brown grabs the rock and doesn't let go. 9 consecutive carries + 73 yards = TD! Call him Mighty Mouse, Man Child or Unstoppable, but that little guy runs strong that anyone I've ever seen.
Oh, about the "upset" that's just because no one outside UGA wants to give the #5 Dogs any respect.
Barkin' in Thailand!
-Jason

Thomas Brown would not be denied as the Dogs pound the Vols

Day 1

Well, I finally broke down and started a blog. I hope to find some more technologically gifted people to help me improve the look and feel of it.