The Eternal Adventure Chapter 12
Flagrant Disregard Ahead!
In 2002, two friends from Maui joined our team of missionaries on the Coco River. David Melrose was a teacher at Seabury Hall, a private school in Upcountry Maui that was started by David’s father, an Episcopal pastor. David’s wife Nutie is a hair cutter and became famous in the early 80’s on Maui when her worship band won the Hawaii Music Association award for best single, “Shut De Door”. Both were well known celebrities on our island, and living the dream- raising their three children, enjoying their community, and making an impact on young and old all over the island.
Yet both realized that God was calling them to more. In 2001 while we were on Maui, they invited us to their home in Haiku and asked us about the possibility of visiting the Rio Coco, and joining Seek The Lamb team. That was an exciting thought for us. They joined us the following summer for an extended time on the Rio Coco, when Alice Remedios came from North Carolina to help us start our bead jewelry business, Rio Coco Beads, which served as a remarkable fundraiser for Project Ezra for many years.
The following year, 2003, we brought our friend Randy Smith from Israel to help with pastoral training on the Coco River. We thought that would be a good time to invite David and Nutie as well to participate in the conferences. We also invited our dear friend Tom Keogh to come over from Puerto Lempira, Honduras, to help translate for Randy. Tom had been our school superintendent during the war years, working with us from 1988 to 2001. Tom is an expert in the Miskito language and culture, and a very effective Bible teacher. Dave and Tom became friends during that trip, and Tom became a source for Dave of cross-cultural information.
David was skilled in leading groups of teenagers through experiential education at Seabury Hall. He and Nutie had a desire continue that experience by bringing young adults to Nicaragua and working with our Miskito communities, bringing Biblical lesson to each community, knowing that the experience would more affect the young Americans in the process. Dave envisioned a six-week experience that would include a few days of orientation in the civilized part of Nicaragua before flying out to the Coco River. Then it would be three to four weeks on the river, visiting our schools, and working with the local churches. Finally, there would be a debrief week, where we would go to a more relaxed location, and talk about the things we learned.
All forms of travel would be utilized during this six-week trip spanning the width of Nicaragua from the Pacific to the Caribbean shores: airplanes, trucks, fiberglass boats, dugout out canoes, busses, and taxis. With groups of 14 to 21, any plans would by definition have to have a large degree of flexibility.
David wanted to get these American young and older adults out of their comfort zone and to a place where God could really have a free hand to deal with any personal issues. His thoughts were akin to a trip to the beach and a swim in the ocean. Where most Christians stay “close to the shore” where they could always touch the bottom (and maintain a semblance of control), David wanted the experience to take them away from the shore, and out into the deep water of a true experience with God. He titled this experience ‘Deep Water Discipleship’.
We began in 2004 with a mixed group from North Carolina, Hawaii, Israel, Germany, and Florida. It was an ambitious schedule that began in Managua, moved up to the mountains above Matagalpa, traveled to Miskitia, down the Coco River, finally ending up on the Pacific beaches of San Juan del Sur. At each step, the vehicles got smaller, the accommodations more rustic, the meals simpler, the bugs thicker, and the temperature hotter. Each day was filled with activities, study, and eventually bathing in whatever water was available.
The turning point for most was at the end of week three downriver in Sawa, one of the most remote fourth world corners of Central America, where we were all eating rice and beans three times a day, bathing in a coffee colored river, using candles and flashlights at night, and sleeping inside a warm tent, because of the voracious appetite of the many bugs outside. The disciples were definitely away from their comfort zones, and into the deep water of depending on God to get them through the days. Many will testify that these were some of the most trying days of their lives.
David was very effective in designing and leading this experience. We loved working with him. To our great sorrow, in 2005 David discovered he had an advanced case of cancer, and passed on to be with the Lord in 2006. His departure was a shock to many in Nicaragua, and more in Maui, where hundreds turned out at his memorial service.
Nutie returned to the Coco River that fall and continued to work in her calling to the Miskito people, and leading the DWD teams. In 2008 we asked Tom Keogh to come to the river to help us with a pastoral and teacher training workshop. It was during those weeks that God revealed to Nutie that she was to marry Tom, whom she and David had known since 2003. They did marry in January of 2009, and have been the spiritual leaders of our project on the Rio Coco since then.
In each of these summer Deep Water Discipleship experiences, schedules often changed in a moment, and new plans were made. For us experienced ‘Wangki Upla’ (Coco River People), this was considered normal, but for the ‘Meriki’ (Americans, Europeans, any outsider), these changes often caused consternation and frustration. As we observed these reactions on the part of some DWD teammates, we smiled at how God was indeed taking them into deeper waters of trust. It often seemed like God had flagrant disregard for our well thought out plans!
Indeed, the Bible says
The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9
And
You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. Proverbs 19:21
This seemed to reach a crescendo in the 2008 Deep Water Discipleship. “Flagrant Disregard Ahead” became the motto of this particular team. It was Nutie herself who first shouted this out at a team meeting, when frustrations were being vocalized by a few team members.
God does want us to make plans. He gives us wisdom, and He allows us access to His mind through our prayers. He speaks directly to us through His Word and audible voice.
But I have often found that my plans fall very short of God’s vision for the moment. His plans for my life have always been bigger that my own. It has taken me years, but I have discovered when my plans fall to the ground, usually God has something much better in mind.
The disciples at Antioch were about to learn this very valuable principle of ministry.
After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there. Acts 15:36-41
Paul makes a plan for him and Barnabas to go on the second mission trip, to revisit the new believers in each of the places they went before. Barnabas wants to again invite his nephew Mark to be part of the team, but Paul “disagrees strongly”. The result was a split in the team, and Paul chose a recent arrival from Jerusalem (Acts 15:27-34), a prophet named Silas, to be his ministry partner.
Now there are two teams on the road, something neither Paul nor Barnabas considered before. In addition, the spiritual giftings of Silas, as well as his Roman citizenship, will come in very handy down the road.
Principle: Problems encountered in ministry often lead to more effective ministry.
Paul went first Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek. Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day. Acts 16:1-5
Does it seem unusual that after the Council in Jerusalem where Gentiles were told that they didn’t have to be circumcised, that Paul arranged for Timothy to undergo that painful procedure? Paul’s focus was on ministry, especially to his own Jewish people. He wanted nothing to negatively affect that.
Principle: We should always do our best to create relationships with those we encounter, even if it costs us some personal freedoms.
Paul also knew that having a young disciple along would be an excellent opportunity to train another missionary. Timothy was now entering into his life calling. He would experientially learn how to be effective in cross cultural ministry and develop the disciplines that would make him effective in being a minister of the Gospel. Paul reminded Timothy of this principle in his second letter:
You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. 2 Timothy 2:2
Principle: Always be on the lookout for that young person whom God will bring into your life who will benefit from your life and ministry experiences and be equipped for their own.
Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.
That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. Acts 16:6-10
At Troas Paul had a dream of a man requesting that they come over to Europe and begin a work there. Perhaps Paul never considered that he would be the one to bring the Gospel to the continent where Christianity took root and became the strongest missionary-sending culture in history. We also notice the pronoun “we”. Luke is now part of the Paul/Silas/Timothy mission team. What follows is an eyewitness account of the incredible launch of ministry in Europe.
Principle: Often God’s plans are much bigger than our own.
We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. Acts 16:11-12
Neopolis, modern Kabala, where Paul's team landed in Europe
Neapolis is now called Kabala, and it is a picturesque fishing town with a beautiful harbor. We had lunch at a café at the harbor with our study tour group, and Lisa got so excited when she saw the big fish in the cooler. The waiter was very excited to have such an opportunity, and meticulously served this fish to Lisa, Jeff, Tony and Denise. We were all surprised when they calculated the bill. That meal cost $134!
Lisa, Jeff, Tony and Denise enjoy a delicious fish lunch in Neopolis!
Neopolis is where the Via Ignatia begins. It is a Roman road that goes all the way to Rome. You can still walk on the paving stones. The Romans built their road ‘to last forever’.
The Via Egnatia starts in Neopolis and ends in Rome.
There is a prayer that many Jewish men, especially the Pharisees, began their day. It went something like this: “Lord, thank you for not making me a woman, a slave, nor a gentile.”
Saul the Pharisee probable uttered those words often in is Christian persecution days. This prayer would come to life for Saul/Paul in what came next.
Philippi
On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She and her household were baptized, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed. Acts 16:11-16
Principle: It is a good practice that as we begin our day of ministry at the Rio Coco Café or anywhere, we ask God to open the hearts of those we encounter. He is the only one who has that ability.
Lydia insisted that the Mission Team stay with her and enjoy her hospitality. This is a sign of genuine faith that we should look for in any who profess Jesus as their Lord- they become givers rather than just consumers. Now the team has their base in Philippi and continue the ministry. All is apparently going well until one day something unexpected happens.
Acts 16:16-34
One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”
This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her.
Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”
The Philippian Agora and Forum
The Team is being harassed by a slave fortune teller. She is in bondage to the controlling spirit, as well as her master. In modern terms, perhaps think “drug addicted human trafficked prostitute”. Paul is either irritated by the manner that the spirit controlling the girl speaking through her, or he had compassion on the trafficked girl and her situation, or both. He commands the spirit to leave her and it does! She has had a dramatic encounter with the power of God. Now she is free from that oppression and is useless to her masters. Perhaps now even her economic situation has changed. In any case her masters are enraged and move against Paul and Silas.
A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
Paul and Silas are beaten and bloody and suffer further by having their feet clamped in uncomfortable bindings. These men are Roman citizens, and what just happen is a not allowed under Roman law! They cannot be punished without due process. Yet instead of complaining they do the opposite.
Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”
The jailer is probably a retired Roman centurion. These government jobs were given to retired legionaries. He is an honorable man, who knows that Roman law has placed the responsibility of these prisoners in his hands, and if any escape, he will pay for it with his life. Rather than await a long public judicial trial and execution, he decided to that his own life and spare his family the humiliation. With this earthquake and the open doors, he is sure that some of the prisoners have escaped. Imagine his surprise when Paul cries out “Don’t kill yourself. We are all here.”
Perhaps these are the jailer’s thoughts: “Why would these prisoners whom we have beaten and tortured not want to escape, but instead have decided to save my life by remaining in the jail? Who are these men?”
Something that Paul and Silas did caused the jailer to have a sudden change of heart.
The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household. And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. Acts 16:16-34
Paul and Silas were praying and singing worship songs to the Lord when a massive earthquake occurred. It makes you wonder what these two were praying for. Perhaps Silas the prophet had received a word from the Lord that there would be a massive earthquake, and that they would be freed. Perhaps he proclaimed this word out loud, so that all the prisoners and the jailer could hear. The crucial moment for the jailer was when discovering the prison doors were open, that not one prisoner had attempted to escape. Paul and Silas seem to be responsible for that. The hardened combat veteran who had undoubtedly taken many lives in his career in the Legions suddenly was awestruck by the concern that these strangers had for his life. After Paul and Silas explained to ‘his household’ what it means to be a follower of Jesus, they were all baptized.
Principle: Our consideration for the needs of others is a powerful force in our evangelistic efforts.
Silas and Paul never planned to be arrested, beaten and thrown in jail. They were focusing on ministry in the agora- the marketplace in Philippi, not a prison ministry. It was their plan to reach the people in the agora that set them up for a breakthrough that they never could have set up on their own! Here again we see the principle of “Flagrant Disregard”: When our plans fall to the floor, it is probably because God has much bigger and better plans for us.
I often think of this principle when I am preparing to ride my bicycle. Standing next to it, I am not going anywhere. When I actually mount onboard and click my shoes into the pedals, I push down and the bike begins to move. My first few feet of travel may be wobbly, and not in any particular direction, as I am only trying to get the momentum of the bicycle moving. It’s after the first few seconds that I actually steer the bike in the direction I want to go. Then my legs and arms are coordinated to get me to my destination. This process happens every time I begin a ride on Maui from the garage in Waikapu up Iao Valley.
I think it’s that way with God somethings. He wants us to first step out in faith to something He is telling us to do, which may only to get us moving so that He can point us in His direction. Many of us are standing by our bike, but are we willing to actually get on and go?
I’ll often begin my ride by standing in the garage gazing at the incredibly majestic West Maui Mountains which tower over 5700 feet, knowing what is ahead. The ride up to the top of Iao Valley is very strenuous, and it gets my heart rate up to 150-160. I have to be careful of the cars and busses that wiz pass me as I’m climbing up in low gear, sometimes as slow as 7 mph. Sweat begins to drip onto my sunglasses as I near the top. There is one place past the Heritage Park that is very steep! Cars are whizzing by me at this point. Soon the road begins to level out, and when I reach the parking lot at the top, I feel like I have accomplished something significant. The view of the mountains and waterfalls are incredible, and worth the ride! How fortunate I am to have this experience!
After a few sips of water, an more moments of meditation, I turn the bike downhill. As I roll past the parking attendant shack, I begin to pick up speed. Soon I’m hitting the brakes to control my velocity around the curves- there is a drop off on the right that goes all the way to Iao Stream. Then I get to the steep part, and my speedometer is shooting past 30 mph. I let off the brakes and pedal a few strokes. As I pass the entrance to Heritage Park, I have to be careful of the tourist busses pulling out onto the road, as my speed in now passing 40 mph. There is often some water on the road right before the bridge that crosses Iao Stream. Now I am in the tuck position as I pass the houses on the right, and coffee plantation on the left, maintaining my 40 mph speed. Finally, if all goes right, I pass the Fruit Stand at 30 plus, as the road levels out.
When I get to the church in Wailuku, I’m back at normal speed, heading back home. The entire ride takes about 55 minutes.
I have just had an adventure.
Adventure: a risky undertaking; a remarkable experience.
I have met many of my brothers and sisters who have been standing by their bicycles for a long time, awaiting a clear understanding where they are to go. They have yet to mount up and push down on the pedals. They talk about intentions, plans, dreams, and even visions from the Lord. But they stand alongside their bicycle, going nowhere. Occasionally they will lay it down to attend the latest conference, where they will get more equipped, and maybe more vision, only to return to stand patiently by their bicycles. They have not yet stepped out for their personal adventure with the Lord.
I’ve often heard my friend Craig Englert once describe his style of ministry:
“Ready, Fire, Aim!”
Usually the logic process goes “Ready, Aim, Fire”.
Pick up your weapon, point in the general direction, and open fire. As you do, your target will come into focus, and you will begin to hit the target. Craig’s philosophy of ministry has proven successful in planting churches on Maui and discipling thousands over the past four decades.
This has also been my experience. God has often displayed Flagrant Disregard for my plans, as He sets in motion His own. But since I was already on His bicycle moving, it was easy for me to change course and proceed in His direction.
It began when I volunteered at Hope Chapel to help with the chair setup before our service at the old Kihei school cafeteria. Then I got involved in children’s church, teaching the First Grade class. Then Craig pulled me into a Wednesday night small group, where I played guitar and began team teaching with him- until he left me and started another small group. I volunteered to go to Honduras in 1984 for a two-week trip to deliver relief supplies. It was when I was delayed that the real adventure began.
A free cargo container suddenly appeared for our relief supplies to get from Houston to Tegucigalpa along with free importation permits. Then a pilot brought his airplane from Massachusetts to Honduras to help us fly our cargo out to our remote refugee community on the Kruta River- there are no roads from the civilized part of Honduras out to that area! Then a ship captain whom I met in Vero Beach brought more cargo on his mission ship from Ft Pierce Florida. Six months later most of our cargo was distributed to the many refugee communities along the Kruta and Coco Rivers. It was then that a refugee teacher asked us for help in starting a school. We bought notebooks, pencils, plywood, blackboard paint and chalk and opened our first school in Sawa. A few months later we had schools in four more communities. By the following year, 1987, we had primary schools in 12 refugee communities! That particular adventure is currently in its 39th year, and still going.
Living in La Ceiba, on the north coast of Honduras, from 1986-2000, we often visited the island of Utila, a short 15 minute flight in our Piper Pacer. We became friends with some of the Utilians and began to take our family and friends there to enjoy the island life. After noticing all the international travelers who came to Utila from every inhabited continent on Earth for diving, we decided to plant a church there. This was 1995-96. Before we could get started, we took our Miskito leaders to Israel in 1997 for a study tour, and got invited to return in 1999 by our teacher Dr Randy Smith to help him create an online Bible school, spending four months living in downtown Jerusalem. We went back to Israel in 2000 and helped Randy begin a relief ministry during the Intifada, assisting Arab and Jewish families. We returned in 2001, 2006, and 2007, 2018, and 2023. Meanwhile, in 2004 we started our coffee company, Rio Coco Beans. We bought our own roaster in 2008. That same year we decided to return to La Ceiba and Utila to visit our friends, whom we had not seen in 10 years.
Arriving on the island, I suddenly remembered our long forgotten plans to plant a church. It was then that the Lord said “Not a church, but a coffee shop. More of the travelers will come to a place that serves good coffee and food”. He was right. Flagrant Disregard for our plan. Now there are three Rio Coco Cafes, in Honduras and Vero Beach Florida.
Principle: Sometime the best ministry philosophy is Ready, Fire, Aim.
The ministry in Philippi really took off as a result of an experience that wasn’t on the Mission Teams’s schedule. I was in the ancient city of Philippi a few years ago, standing in the ruins of a Fifth Century church. I marveled at how this prison experience resulted in a church that lasted at least 500 years and spread throughout the rest of Europe, eventually to North America, then to Hawaii, and finally to me.
The ruins of a Fifth Century Church in Philippi
The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.”
But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!”
When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town. Acts 16:35-40
There were huge advantages to having Roman citizenship. The city officials had to apologize to Silas and Paul, and escort them out of the prison. It was decided that the former prisoners would proceed on the journey, while Timothy and Luke stayed behind with Lydia, the jailer and his family, and the rest of the new believers. Now there were two teams, one evangelizing, and the other helping the Philippians learn what it means to follow Christ.
Imagine sitting in the home of Lydia in a gathering to worship the Lord Jesus. Sitting on one side is a slave girl and on the other a Roman jailer and his family. Lydia is a wealthy merchant, selling only expensive fabric to the elite of society. The former Roman legionnaire is now working with criminals in a filthy prison. The slave girl does chores for her master, who can order her to do anything he wants. From the top of Roman society to the bottom, from impoverished to the wealthy, men and women, all are meeting together! This was unheard of in Roman and Greek society.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
Principle: Although the Christian Church has been accused of being an exclusive club, the reality is it has been the most inclusive organization in all human history. All are welcome.
Let’s understand the varying methods that the Holy spirit reached these three different individuals. Lydia was convinced by hearing the Word. The slave girl experienced a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit. The jailer was stirred not by words, or an encounter with God, but by what the disciples did.
The Holy Spirit knows what is needed for the people in each situation that we find ourselves in. We must be flexible in our own methods of presenting the Gospel. Sometimes we will meet Lydias, whom God has opened their hearts to hear and understand God’s heart toward them. They will respond to our words to them. Others who are in deep bondage will often ignore words but will respond to an encounter with God’s presence and power through our prayers for them at that moment. Still others are insensitive to God’s Word, or even his Presence, but are watching what we disciples do. Are we servants of those around us? Do we think of others before our own needs. Paul and Silas had the need to get out of that jail, but saw the jailer had a greater need- his life. They chose to serve him, rather than themselves. Service to others is often the open door for the Gospel in the lives of many.
The Paul/Silas/Timothy/Luke Mission Team had an unexpected adventure in Philippi.
Adventure: a risky undertaking; a remarkable experience.
This adventure has resulted in the salvation of all of us. Yes risky, but remarkable. Let’s live out our own adventure that God has designed for us.
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