War on earth is the saddest human reality. In January I was invited to travel to Liberia. I knew very little about that country. So I began to read about the place beforehand. I found out that Liberia had two civil wars almost back to back; the first war was about 8 years. Then there was three years of peace before another civil war of 4 years occurred. War for 12 years! Those wars killed one out of every seventeen people. Everyone I met was able to tell me a horrible war story. The young man assigned to drive our team for a week told us of how he was just coming home from school the day that the war broke out. When he got home there were rebel soldiers in his house and he saw them shoot and kill his older sister and her baby before his eyes. He ran and hid for days and had to drink water from a hole he dug in a ground. The memories still haunt him. Another told about how a rebel soldier might catch you and ask, “Which tribe are you?” There are 16 different tribes there. If you answered wrongly, you could get killed then and there on the road.  Although the war is over nine years now, there remains deep divisions and mistrust among the different tribal groups there. 

Recently I read the New York Times about the five year trial of deposed Liberian president Charles Taylor, the man who was at the center of most of the destruction. He was convicted of war crimes committed against humanity in neighboring Sierra Leone in order to nor arouse more sentiment in Liberia and reignite hatred. The civil war cost over 300,000 lives and the trial cost 250 million dollars to find out the obvious, that this man was extremely crafty and as rotten to the core as the proverbial apple in the African barrel. Chilling stories of lines of tribal people marched out by rebel soldiers to receive their punishment of 'short sleeves', 'long sleeves' or 'smile.' The Times report that "A sinister rebel vocabulary pointed to the horrors: applying “a smile” meant cutting off the upper and lower lips of a victim, giving “long sleeves” meant hacking off the hands, and giving “short sleeves” meant cutting the arm above the elbow." Today thousands live maimed by the evil tactics abetted by Charles Taylor and his evil thugs.

War is ugly. It is always ugly. 

World War 1: 15 million deaths.

World War 2: 60 Million deaths.

Vietnam War: 5 million 

Civil war in Rwanda that lasted 100 days 800,000 murdered! (20% of population) One Rwandan pastor said that it was like “every demon in hell was let loose and came to Rwanda!”

The total estimate of people killed by war on our earth according to Wikipedia is about 453.9 million people.

Tragic and horrible are to tame to describe the loss and pain! Is this what humans have done and continue to do?  My own Mom was made an orphan by war. As kids we would ask mom what it was like living through war. But she never talked to us about her loss because of that war until much later when she was older and even then as she talked about the hardships of living through war it would bring tears to her eyes. There were still emotional scars. Talking about war and warfare is not the easiest thing to do. I believe that all war is what happens when mankind chooses not to be led by God. It is inspired by the King of Liars himself, the devil who incites humanity to deface the beauty of the earth of which man has been given to look after. That may sound hokey to you the readers of this blog, but it truly is a sign of the depravity of man. 

The fact is, if we take the focus off our own lives and really look around us, we’ll notice that this world in not a playground, it is a battlefield. This world bears deep wounds, unhealed wounds. We cannot be like the ostrich that puts his head in the sand and pretend there are no problems happening on the earth. Everyday people are getting robbed, people are getting raped, people are hurting each other, and we humans are getting killing each other. Then I think about the natural world in which we live and it's recklessness in giving us famine, natural disasters, accidents, sickness, and great poverty. As I take a walk down some of the streets where I live in Thailand I can see the prostituting of bodies of young men, young women and know immediately that something is not right about us. Call it darkness in our souls or call it depravity. This is no longer the ‘Garden of Eden’. God meant for us. There is an ancient battle ever raging between good and evil. This war is far more reaching than all the wars started by dictators and despots and warlords. It is a battle for survival of the most evil, a try at the control of the hearts and minds of people everywhere. It is the same scheme of the ancient serpent in God's pristine garden, his method is to lie his way to our minds and our demise and destruction.

If you take the Bible seriously, even a bit, it says he used to live in heaven with God. He was one of the top angels! He is smart! He is not a little kid wearing silly horns that reasons that he is now scary because of his horns. He has always been fearsome and crafty. His beauty and intelligence led him to start a rebellion in the world from where he came from before falling to his abode here. Now his jealousy has led him to the goal of ruining the beauty of God in you and I. And he has succeeded to a great measure. And he has had a long time to perfect his craft, after all, he’s called the ‘ancient serpent’ in the Bible for a reason! He's tricky and cunning and always at work. So Paul writes to believers that,  “I don't want Satan to outwit us. After all, we are not ignorant about Satan's scheming.”   (2 Corinthians 2:11)

if I open the first few pages of the Bible i read about Adam and Eve, who had a close relationship with God, and yet were still outwitted by the snake in the Garden of Eden.  There's a warning in that too, he can play the role of your best friend perfectly to a 't' while in disguise. Heck, he'd pick you up in his best sports car and drive you wherever you wanted to go, he'd sit with you at the gambling table and chat you up! What is worth noticing is that the very first words on the snake's lips are suspicious of the things these two had heard from God, their friend. He opens his mouth and says, "Um, did God really say you shall not eat of that wonderful looking tree in the garden?" And the second words on his lips were a subtle lie "ha! You will not die." His tactic is flagrant, doubt God and doubt for sure his good intentions for you! They believed the serpent's sly lie and something was birthed inside of them to want more than they had. They wanted to have more than just a perfect life in perfect surroundings and enjoying all things perfect, they wanted to have more power and say over their lives, over the world even, even if it meant disobedience to their close friend and maker. The rest is history, as they say, (and a sad one at that.)

 So in a world at both physical and spiritual war, it is not surprising to see the metaphor of warfare and combat in the Bible. Here is perhaps the best known verse on warfare:  “We wrestle not against flesh and blood…” 

Now notice the word, “We…” that means every believer needs to know about the intentions of a spiritual combatant. We need to have the wrestler's stance, eyes wide open. From the day you had your spiritual birth to the day when you have your natural earthly death, you are in the battle.  Whether you like it or not, you are in the combat with Satan. This Satan hates you. This Satan will tempt you.  This Satan wants to turn you away from God. This Satan wants only your destruction. We can’t afford to sit back passively doing nothing about the faith we have been given. That's the way to defeat and taking a mighty bad beating.

True wrestling is primarily a ‘one-on-one’ hand combat where one opponent singles out another and enters the wrestling arena with him. It is not the fake WWF tag-team sport that we see on the television in a hotel room with fake blood and fake chairs breaking over the heads of the opponents. It is a call to fight to the finish.  It’s not fighting from a distance. Its not like an army shooting canons from a distance. It’s not like snipers hiding in a window shooting at you. It’s close in fighting.  

Think about the picture of David and Goliath… it’s ‘one-on-one’!

Think about the picture of Jesus alone in the desert with the devil. The enemy subtly trying to sow doubt about the identity of Christ which would potentially lead him on a path of subservience. Yes Jesus and the devil were like wrestlers exerting spiritual force and strength against each other.  Jesus resisted every advance, every accusation and temptation to disobedience. The devil finally left him alone, knowing he could not find any chink in Jesus' armour. Nice going Jesus!

But here's the reality: If he went after Jesus, he'll come after you and I too. He will challenge us at every opportunity. He will sneak up from behind when we are not looking. When we are planting seeds for the Kingdom he will try to get our attention… to distract … to get us to stop what we are doing for God, even if for just a short time. He will interfere with God’s plans for you. As Paul said to the believers at Thessaloniki, “I would have come to you several times, but Satan hindered me.”   

Like i said, he's been around and is well-versed in wrestling. He has many moves. He has many disguises including the famous 'angel disguise.' He knows how to find a weakness and stands ready to pounce.  Like a good wrestler he will try to grab and fasten himself on one part of your body, the most vulnerable part, to bring you down.  So what are we to do? First of all be alert. This is no war game. It's for mastery over you and control of your future.  People who have fought in a war have said, “There is something about war that sharpens the senses . . . You hear a twig snap or the rustling of leaves and you are immediately in attack mode. Someone coughs nearby and you are ready to pull the trigger." (RJ) So be alert, a war footing keeps you awake and vigilant.  Secondly, resist him! That's right, don't be intimidated. Don't think you can outsmart him. Don't think you can out-argue him. Simply resist his advances and subtleties.

Finally, be ready for your 'super-power' move. Okay, that sounds like a silly statement after all I have said, but hear me out. In the old days, wrestlers used to put oil on their bodies so that the enemy could not keep a hold on them. That’s ‘Old School’ Greek wrestling strategy. Oil makes you slippery and so your power move is to get God's oil on you! You will become slippery to the pursuit of the devil's grasping fingers. He can flex all he wants but he has no way to get a grip on you. So in a spiritual way, we need to get back to putting oil all over us!!!! This to me is wisdom for us today, to make sure that we are covered, smothered with God’s oil. The oil of God’s presence will help you evade the enemy’s grip. That's the way, then, to not get outwitted, but outlast the powerful warlord called Satan.

I still am amazed that God has called me to be a leader. I think at times I could easily be a loner. It takes a lot less energy. But God had better things in mind for me knowing deep down I do want to love and be loved. I guess more than that I am being forged into a better me by my role and my relationships. I meet a lot of people in my role. What has been the most surprising over the years for me is to see how people connect and then grow with each other in relationship. Strangers can become friends for life. On the other hand sometimes the initial sparks of chemistry fizzle into charred hope.

I have discovered that all relationships are doomed to some sort of disappointment. Great friends can disappear like a meteorite burning up as it hits earth's atmosphere. When they reappear somewhere it is like the meteorite has changed into an odd rock without any warmth. As a pastor I have seen members of the 'family of God' just leave without saying a word. No goodbyes, no explanations, just a quiet divorce. I assume then that they went out looking for a better father, mother and better brothers and sisters. They left their ‘relational circle’ disappointed once more with the quality or lack thereof of their relationships.

It’s obvious that relationships can make a huge difference in life. For instance, a good marriage, it is proven, prolongs life! Even a bad marriage, it appears, is better than loneliness. A great boss motivates you to want to grow and change the world with him or her. A trusted friend makes you feel loved even when you can be a bit of a silly fool. Watching a sports match with someone who shares your passion is so much more fun. We are not meant to be alone. The key element of our personal growth and satisfaction in life will always be those life-giving relationships.

When I was younger this all seemed simple. My relationships were fun and easy. But as I grow old I see I am not the same easy-going smiling guy that I was when I was battling pimples. Life expectantly whacks you over the head more than a few times and the trusted heart-guard goes up. Old men can be some of the most cantankerous people on earth and I have no interest becoming like that!

Relationships can only grow when we are deliberate in taking the time to listen to each other and share moments and a part of our lives with each another. A new friend of mine said the secret to his great relationship with his wife was not doing the dishes, but sitting on the couch shooting the breeze. A phone call from a friend is good, but it cannot replace sitting over a hot brew of Arabica and intentionally opening up some part of the brain to each other.

Relationships also grow deeper when they are tested by trials, differences of opinion and personality traits and yet we choose to not give up in spite of the anvil of discomfort. I know that sounds like a tough compromise that many would rather avoid. It reminds me of the shocking comment by a TV evangelist saying a man could divorce his Alzheimer wife because she is no longer there. Do you discard a person when that person no longer meets your needs?

Reality tells me that most relationships go through moments of disappointments and frustration. In those times the potential for betrayal and broken trust is real. At church I like to take part in having communion together with others by literally touching the bread and breaking it with another. Originally communion was a family meal. It was all about finding relief and forgiveness. It’s still about repentance and renewing our commitment to Christ and each other.

You’ll remember the whole backdrop of the first communion service was about fear, betrayal, denial… fragile community I'd say.

Matthew26: 31

Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
" 'I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'^[a] 32But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

³³Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."

³⁴"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

³⁵But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.

I find this so interesting. Jesus was making an everlasting blood covenant with His friends and at the same time He allows us to take a close look inside and see the fragility of that first community. I am struck by the word Jesus uses “scatter”. “You men will scatter in all directions.”

Jesus commitment to the fragile men in his group was strong as blood, eternal. But the disciple’s commitment to Christ and the community was shaky at best. Peter disowns Christ to save his own hide. Judas betrays out of greed and then won’t forgive himself. Everyone is walking in sadness and fear. They goofed up with Christ and the community.

But Jesus taught us well through example about next steps. He didn’t send an email asking for clarification or an answer for failure, he just went out and appeared unannounced into their world. There was no dithering or doubting on his part about how much he cared. It was a confirmation that it is possible to get past the disappointment and enter into a heart-covenant relationship.

To all the friendships that have somehow stood the test of time. I salute you! You are a walking testimony of grace and perseverance. To all of my friends and family who have patiently loved. I salute you, too! You are the meaning to what this life is all about.

Oh, lest I forget, I really do need you....

I am just back from an amazing opportunity to minister with Evangelist Marie Miller in Liberia. This is the same country where the American people sent back some of the black slaves beginning in 1820. My research says that it was believed ex-slaves would have greater freedom and equality in Africa. In 1847, these colonists founded the Republic of Liberia, establishing a government modeled on that of the United States and naming the capital city Monrovia after James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States and a prominent supporter of the colonization. The colonists, known as Americo-Liberians, monopolized the political and economic sectors of the country despite comprising only a small percentage of the largely indigenous population. (Wikepedia)

In the 1980’s there were two successive civil wars killing over 250,000 people. Just recently really has there been peace and 2005 saw the first democratic elections. Marie Miller has had a burden for this country for years and this trip was her fourth. She asked me to come along this time in order to speak something to the Youth Leaders. Her ministry invested a lot into this trip that targeted young leaders and a crusade called, “Dream Again!” Of course she preached with great passion and eloquence and many hundreds of people responded to the Word of God. On two of the evenings more than 400 people responded to the call to salvation.

My role was to help in anyway possible and take on some of the teaching sessions during the mornings for Youth Leaders. This trip was an eye-opener and left me remembering why I was born! My heart was stretched and tears come to me when I think of the great needs of Africa. I am so grateful for this opportunity and truly feel it has made me a better missionary! I know that God has something more for me in all of this.

For this report I thought I would highlight each day with some of my thoughts that were Facebook satuses and express some of the feelings and happenings. It is not m,eant to be super-spiritual, but more 'real' and I do hope you enjoy reading this:

Jan 6th

Goodbye Bangkok its hard to leave you! (I really struggled saying goodbye to Patricia and the girls. We call them 'second thoughts.')

Hello Nairobi: Ah the first of two all-night legs finally accomplished. Hello Africa for the very first time in my life and hello Nairobi International Airport... (What, no air-conditioning???) Oh and sorry to say but those Kenya Air seats were the smallest I’ve ever flown on in my life. Interesting conversation with a Rwandan man beside me...He says that his country is a wonderful example of 'Reconciliation'.... love that!

Off to Monrovia in three more hours. Another nine hour trip!!!

Jan 7th

Arrived in Monrovia at 3pm: Already in a short time can see that this place is war torn and impoverished. Strangely enough the hotels and food are pricier than Thailand by far. We had a late supper with Marie Miller, Mother Merle, Colin Gittens and Patrick Kuchio from Kenya. Marie says things have improved a lot since the first time she came in 2007. For one thing there are paved roads now! One comment that stood out to me was the comment about the absence of flowers and laughter in Liberia.

Jan 8th

AM: Sunday Morning has arrived early and now to seek the Lord for some Word to share in the churches. Our little team will break up into four to each share individually a message to a different Liberian congregation.

PM: First Liberian Church Experience for me: Noticed the poverty, whoah, most people have little. (85% unemployment I was told.) The community I was in was rough and poor and dusty. Many churches though there. Kids are a delight and love getting in pictures. The best part was watching the dance as they worshipped. They really can dance a storm... In and out of the block church building twice. That was grace and freedom for a moment! I ate with the Pastor and family, curry fish.

Afternoon: Liberia is the product of years of neglect. It is the least educated English country in Africa. And then there was war. So little motivation and hope. Most rural areas have no schooling. Children have to migrate to get schooling. Those kids often get exploited and don't end up in schools.

So awesome to see Marie Miller's face posted up in the middle of the city of Monrovia to invite people to the nightly event to the stadium. The theme is 'Dream Again!'

Evening: How is this for unplanned... Going to go on live television with Marie Miller right now...

Jan 9th

Good Morning Liberia! The real reason why we are here begins this now:. Teaching Youth Leaders in the morning and City Wide Youth Crusade in the evening. Calling out for people of prayer to pray today all day all sorts of prayers.

Someone just gave me malaria pills.. Took first one today. Should kick in three days. That means no bites for three days or I am at risk! And tonight the outdoor stadium crusade will begin!

Evening: First Night went terrific. We started two hours late. The music was brilliant and short. The crowd was smaller than anticipated. It concerned us. Yet the place buzzed with energy. The Rev. Marie was at her anointed best! The response time was powerful. The sense is Tommorow will be even better. Keep praying for this!

Jan 10th

A new day has been given to us. I am so glad that' this day is given as a gift and whatsoever we do we can do it with all our heart as a thanks offering back to the gift giver ...

After preaching today for one hour my shirt felt like I had just jumped into the pool! It was intense. It was fun! It was passionate. Now a television has asked us to share ten minutes each on the subject of Reconcilliation! I have no time to ready myself... So it's gonna be Jazz... Ad lib the heart of God!

Walking the markets in Monrovia was a unique experience... The only white person. . . I was real glad to have my Kenyan Bro with me! Thanks Patrick kuchio!

Now in a few minutes: Crusade Night in Monrovia.

Tonight's crusade is building up in numbers. Many responded to the call for salvation and in a place where there is one doctor to every 70000 people, many responded to the need of healing.

Jan 11th

A real need for intercessory prayer today. Coming from the 'Land of Smiles' and being in a land of 'few smiles' , brokenness and loss I realize that so so much grace and healing is needed. Our driver is an example... Rebels came killed his family...raising his voice he said "for no good reason!" and today the emotional scars remain. One story... Repeated in a million ways in this land.

I have my own after-service time. The first night ere were about 5 kids aged 4 to 14. First night we did push-ups. They came for more the second night, but they had a rubber ball so we payed throw...and tonight my congregation has grown to 25! As I left the stadium they they chanted Peecher Peecher!

I made the great mistake to walk into the high school and asking to see the classrooms in session. I ended speaking 'hope' to six classes from grade 9 to 12. Serendipitous moments are sometimes the best!

Can someone tell me a good simple game that involves a circle and some running to do with young kids?

Heading out for the ATS Stadium Liberia for night 4. Hope to see some of the kids like Esther, Fanta, Rory, and Issa among the people. Going to play Duck, duck, goose! You know last night about1,000 plus people present. But there was tons of technical difficulty. Tonight we need some smooth technicians! Going to be a good night....

The very best night of all the meetings so far just happened tonight! A great response to the story of the prodigal son ... Hundreds responded! (400) And then my children's ministry increased overnight! We were were over forty! And I played until my teammates could stands it no longer. In fact marie kept saying, "Get in the car Peter!" What can I say?

Jan 12th

Fever broke out in my body last night. I took my last three Advil pills. Not feeling too good today. Got a cough as well. You know what I am asking for... prayer.

Going out now to meet up with Liberian Youth and Youth leaders for one last time. Pray for a special touch as we finish this day.

Afternoon: Best session yet and wanted to stay longer but we have an appointment with another couple who returned to Liberia as missionaries.

Evening: I want to be there on the last night. Please Lord... I feel not so good! I want to see Liberians respond to God and my little congregation of kids!

Still Burning at 8pm. I think I’m bed-ridden tonight. When will this fever go?

Jan 13th

Felt terrible that I missed the last night of our Liberian Stadium Dream Again event. I missed the kids especially. Looking forward to hearing from the team how it all went. I just wasn't able to get the fever down in three hours! Right now the Advil has kicked in, but the head is still throbbing. Thanks for the prayers too!

Jan 14th

Last night I had a soccer ball for the kids. I could not attend because of my fever. I told Rev. Collin to give the ball to Issa. The kids were asking "where is Peecher?" Collin said to them you will play with the ball and Issa will take it home. As soon as Issa got the ball in her hands she made a B-line out of the stadium with twenty boys running after her. The origins of American Football began in Liberia!

The worry is I am showing malaria-like symptoms!

Today is a day off for some looking around and shopping. Was hoping to see a soccer match between Nigeria and liberia...but postponed due to the inauguaration.

Jan 15th

Anytime you have a loss, play it down & pray it up. Focus on what's left, not what's lost. (Rick Warren) Hope I remember this quote today while I preach!

Oh my..the sound of three hundred African voices in harmony!!! Dude! And I preached and sang and danced my sermon away... It was an experience that I doubt will ever be repeated ever again! Immediately after the last amen my head felt ready to explode...not in a good way. But I am okay! One more night in Liberia, two more nights on a plane!

Afternoon: Thinking about a good moment in a sermon by Patrick Kuchio "If you leave Liberia as a loser, you will still be a loser in America! If you flee Liberia as a crocodile to America, you will still be one there!" The point was change my heart now....

The hotel is surrounded by security..heads of state are arriving, guns are all over. sitting with an UN police in the lobby right now. Its the inauguration in a day.

Evening: Before I go to bed may I interrupt you once more. You see I walked in a community that ripped me up on the inside with hundreds of kids unable to attend a school. No power for years, no running water, a granddad reporting that 27 people lived in a tin shack home, polio victims congregating in wheelchairs, war victims on crutches... The forgotten. ... I spoke to many... I spoke only hope... I can only hope that one day...

Jan 16th

Pancakes! Why no one tell me I could order pancakes till my last day! Leaving Liberia today on an overnighter at 5:30pm. Then in Nairobi for a 19 hour layover. But I have a plan in place... I am going to visit Garry and Brenda Kean who have arranged a taxi driver named Kimani to get me..

Jan 17th

Arrived in the wee hours at Nairobi, Kenya and am with Garry Kean and his family and thiugh working on two hours of sleep and incoherent conversation it still feels so good to see another African country! The weather is crisp and clean. Looking forward to seeing a few sites before returning home to Bangkok.

Walked thru the second largest slum in Africa and largest slum in Nairobi (estimated over one million people) with Brenda Kean and what I saw caused me to be shaken and yet the word I got, that I remembered was the word, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" There is an unsung hero who lives there and his name is Pastor Elias! He lives in this slum, he knows the people and shows the people the gospel-way... Brenda too is so passionate about helping the disenfranchised. I also met and saw beauty in the talented seamstress, Sarah and her daughter Sheila... They are two wonderful stories from "Nazareth".

Jan 18th

Monrovia-Nairobi-Bangkok (45 hours of travel if you include going to and returning from the airport!)

Thanks again for those who sponsored this trip including my air fare and allowing me to be a part of a story that intertwines my life story to God's greater redemption story in Africa. Many hundreds responded to God's love (recorded over 2000 people who prayed the prayer of faith). But out of all those people, one thing I know, I won't be the same!