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Guest post by Erik Tryggestad

A Church of Christ building in San Pedro, Belize (photo by Erik Tryggestad)

I had hoped to devote most of this post to “Global South,” the news series we’re planning to begin in the July issue of The Christian Chronicle.

The series will have on-the-spot reports from around the world as we discuss the southward shift in Christianity — and the impact of this phenomenon on Churches of Christ.

A Church of Christ meets in a home outside of Accra, Ghana (photo by Erik Tryggestad)

Currently we think of Nashville, Tenn., and Dallas as having the “epicenters” of Churches of Christ. Now it seems that those epicenters are shifting — or have shifted — to cities including Lagos, Nigeria and Chennai, India. (And where else? What have you seen?)

This phenomenon cuts across faith groups, according to Philip Jenkins, author of “The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity.” Jenkins was among the first researchers to highlight the trend. I highly recommend his book.

Jenkins writes:

The era of Western Christianity has passed within our lifetimes, and the day of Southern Christianity is dawning. The fact of change itself is undeniable: it has happened, and will continue to happen.

***

While Christianity is shifting South, several of our missionaries are headed North from Mexico as they flee the swine flu epidemic.

We just posted a news story with up-to-the-minute responses from some of our workers south of the border, including church planter Sean McClue. Sean was one of the first missionaries I interviewed in the field, way back in 2001 when I attended the Pan American Lectures in Toluca, a suburb of Mexico City.

Sean and his family work in the Mexico City borough of Tlalpan and are headed home to Phoenix in the next few days. They usually get a summer break, but the swine flu and the nationwide lock-down convinced them to start their break a bit early.

The McClue family in Mexico

Sean is asking U.S. church members to contribute toward the purchase of hand sanitizer, rubber gloves and surgical masks for Mexico. All of these things are in high demand, and now we’re getting reports of surgical mask hoarding going on around the globe (as evidenced in this news story from, of all places, Finland).

If you’re interested in helping, contact Sean’s supporting church, the Palo Verde Church of Christ in Tucson, Ariz. The church’s phone number is  (520) 886-1295.

The story also highlights other mission groups that have been recalled to the States until the flu threat lessens. Here’s a video produced by the Adventures in Missions team in Tlalpan. The team members have been recalled to the U.S. until the threat lessens.

A recent blog post by Leon, Mexico, missionary Shawn Gary sums up the frustration that a lot of our church members and workers in Mexico must be experiencing:

It all started with the economic crisis, then drug lords and NOW PIG FLU!!! You have got to be kidding me! Does it ever stop?! It’s like Satan knew something great was going to happen in Mexico this Summer and he’s pulled all the strings to keep it from happening!

***

In closing, I’d like to attempt to bring this whole epidemic into perspective. Swine flu certainly is a cause for concern, partly because it’s a new flu strain. But the flu kills people every year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 13,000 people in the U.S. have died so far this year from the flu — the non-swine variety. Most of the victims are the elderly who already suffer from health problems, made worse by the flu.

Worldwide, between 250,000 and half a million people die each year from the flu, according to the CDC.

It sounds to me like we experience a global pandemic each year. It’s called flu season.

***

Is your church canceling or postponing any Mexico mission trips because of swine flu?

What are Christians in Mexico doing as they wait for schools, restaurants and churches to reopen?

What evidence have you seen of a global, southward shift in the church?

Do you know of any Christians from the South who have moved to the North to help “re-evangelize” the U.S., Canada or Europe?

Our working title for our new series is “Global South: The emerging church,” but some folks have pointed out that the term “emerging church” could easily be confused with another religious phenomenon. Do you agree? Can you help us think of an alternate title? (“Global South: The changing face of the church?” Something like that?)

The Mexican flag

• • •

A drug war. The swine flu. Even an earthquake.

For the United States’ neighbor to the south, could the news get much worse?

A U.S. News & World Report blog post on Monday characterized the situation in Mexico this way:

It’s definitely a gamble traveling to Mexico, especially with the spate of grim news concerning a deadly influenza outbreak, escalating drug wars, and today’s 5.6-magnitude earthquake. Officials today urged Americans against “nonessential” travel to Mexico.

But is travel to Mexico truly a gamble? Or is it really a safe place to visit — and evangelize?

• • •

A sign at a Church of Christ in Tijuana, Mexico (photo by Bobby Ross Jr.)

• • •

On Page 1 of The Christian Chronicle last month, Erik Tryggestad and I reported on border violence curtailing a number of church mission trips to Mexico. That story has prompted a fair amount of reaction from church members who have gone to Mexico in recent weeks.

My Facebook friend Shelly Kellis, a member of the Greater Portland Church of Christ in Portland, Maine, and I communicated about the situation in Mexico before she left. When Shelly returned, she sent me this message, which she gave me permission to share:

I just returned home from a mission trip to Mexico. It was a wonderful blessing and opportunity to serve God. While I was there I was reflecting on some on our conversations prior to my trip, as well as the articles in The Christian Chronicle prior to leaving.

While I was there, I found a different perspective on the ground. We had Mexican men from the church escort and help us through at the border and all the driving and found our time there very safe. Many I spoke to said the situation there is no different than it has been in the past. Granted, where I was in Monterrey may be in a different place than where others were planning to go this year. However, I did learn that because so many people are canceling their trips, the church there is suffering.

While there I was in contact with Rick Owens, a longtime missionary building church buildings in Mexico. He was giving a different perspective on all that is going on in Mexico right now.

• • •

Rick Owens gives instructions to American volunteers helping with a work project in Mexico last year (Photo by Bobby Ross Jr.)

• • •

Shelly’s mention of Rick Owens made me smile.

I spent time with Rick last year in a small mountain village an hour south of Saltillo, Mexico, and wrote a lengthy profile of him for the Chronicle. My feature described him as “a bit rough around the edges, even cantankerous,” but also as “a dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ whose tender heart melts with compassion for his brothers and sisters south of the U.S. border.”

Given Rick’s passion for the Lord’s work in Mexico, I can just imagine what he has to say about Christians staying home because of a bit of fighting among rival drug cartels.

My friend Rick O’Dell, youth and family minister at the West-Ark Church of Christ in Fort Smith, Ark., also is frustrated with how the media — including your friendly neighborhood Christian Chronicle — have portrayed the circumstances in Mexico:

During our time in Mexico, I spoke with preachers in both Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey about the situation there. I’ve been watching the Mexican media. I have spoken with numerous others who have traveled in and out of Mexico on a variety of mission trips over the past few months.

They are in total agreement that the situation has been GREATLY exaggerated by American media outlets (especially CBS and FOX for some reason).

Although in recent articles The Christian Chronicle has attempted to inform churches of the situation prior to the recent Spring Break time period, I believe that even that was somewhat inaccurate. Add these reports with a little third hand “spin” that many in our churches have put on it, and no wonder the situation sounds worse than it is.

Rick Odell acknowledges that there is violence in Mexico — between the drug cartels and Mexican police and armed forces. He also points to some disturbing recent crime trends from right here in the U.S.

“Ironically, while we were in Mexico, there was a big drug bust in front of the home of one of our members in Fort Smith, Ark., with K-9 and SWAT police units,” he writes.

Churches of Christ in Mexico are the unintended victims of this violence, he adds, because at least 20 mission groups from the U.S. have canceled trips. He quotes Shane Claiborne, who wrote in his book “Irresistible Revolution” that “the most dangerous place for the church is a place of comfort.”

As Rick Odell sees it:

The time for the church to shine brightest is when darkness seems to be at its most powerful. Now is that time both in the United States AND in Mexico. Jesus NEVER promised us safety. …

Somehow, someway, we have to persuade our church leaders (and parents) to live dangerously for Christ. There is a time coming (it may be now) where we cannot shrink back but instead have great courage and boldness.

• • •

Brian McCutchen, center, and fellow mission workers worship with the El Sacrificio church (Photo Provided)

• • •

In the latest Christian Chronicle, Erik follows up on the situation in Mexico in an article headlined Drug-related violence fails to deter the peace of Jesus. In just two, short paragraphs, he does a marvelous job of highlighting the risks and rewards involved:

When asked to describe her recent trip to Torreon, Mexico, Cheri Reese said, “We have never felt so welcome.”

That’s despite facing men with machine guns — twice.

To some extent, it probably would be accurate to say that going to Mexico never has been a risk-free endeavor. Ten-plus years ago, I remember traveling with a spring-break mission group that exchanged quite a bit of cash with corrupt border guards to let us through. Five years ago, during my time as a religion writer for The Associated Press, I spent a week with a Pentecostal church group from Texas in Juarez, Mexico. In my 2004 story, I described that border town this way:

A bustling city of 1.3 million, Juarez mixes neon lights and one of Mexico’s higher standards of living with large pockets of poverty and despair. More than 300 women have been killed in Juarez since 1993. About 100 of the killings were similar, and fears of serial killers prompted a special government review.

It’s a city that could use help.

I don’t think anybody argues with this fact: Mexico is a country that could use help.

The question is: How do we help?

Is this the right time for Christians to go help? Or does God call us to assess the threats and find a different way to help at this time?

— Bobby

• • •

Guest post by Tamie (well, not really)

Ross family held hostage: Day 11.

Normally, Tamie would fill this space with her wonderful personality, insight and wit. And page views would skyrocket. But despite getting a flu shot, she has been battling the flu for more than a week now. Today marks Day 11 in bed for her. She was diagnosed with Type A flu. As far as we can tell, it’s not the dreaded swine flu. But we’ve already promised Miss Piggy the exclusive interview if it is. She’s headed back to the doctor this morning — Tamie, that is, not Miss Piggy.

Today also marks our 19th wedding anniversary. Fortunately for us, we don’t tend to mark such occasions with a bunch of fanfare. Occasionally, we do spend our anniversary in bed. But not quite like this, if you know what I mean. (Children, if you are reading this, move along now.)

Seriously, I asked each of the kids to write a few thoughts to fill in for their mom’s regular blog post. Each reflected on what it’s like to endure 10-plus days of Dad serving as Mr. Mom.

Enjoy!

Kendall prefaced her thoughts with lyrics from Lonestar’s hit song “Mr. Mom” (see video above):

Well at least there’s not bubble gum in the baby’s hair or sweet potatoes in the lazy chair. The difference is Dad didn’t lose his job. I absolutely LOVE my dad, but the last week or so I realized how much I need Mom. Nobody to match my shoes, or pick out my clothes, and wake me up in the morning. Mom, if you’re awake enough to read this: YOU MUST GET BETTER!

• • •

Keaton, future professional writer in training, was a bit more verbose:

Well, things have been a little weird around our house, with Mom having the flu. Dad has to do everything, from cooking, to cleaning, to laundry. Well, it’s kind of a pain. Dad’s specialties (aka things he can make without burning) are spaghetti, chili and tacos. His version of cleaning is getting us all to clean up, and we usually mess up the house again with papers, dishes, shoes, etc. And laundry means he gets me to get a certain color of dirty clothes and he washes them. And we’re talking about something very serious. 10-14 days of the flu! Weeks! And she can’t do anything! Usually, she can do some things if she is sick. AND IT ALMOST NEVER COMES DOWN TO COOKING!!!!!!! It’s the four Rosses, not the five Rosses. And it’s these kind of things that make you realize how much we love and appreciate our mom. Without her having the flu, our lives would be normal. Watching TV, drawing, hanging out. But now we have to work. I just hope I don’t get this thing, even though I’m not as crucial in the house as Mom. I just hope she will get better soon!

• • •

And Brady, the teenager with too much of his father in him, went for laughs:

She needs to get better so I don’t have to go Panera twice a day (to get her favorite soup) and see all the 50-year-old women and metrosexual men. And I’m glad that my Dad is helping out, but I’m not into this whole Facebook PDA thing. When you are as old as they are, that should be more of a private thing. I have to wake up 30 minutes early because my Dad knows about the list of excuses I have in my room so I don’t have to ride the bus. I have some that I have never used, but I can’t find my list, because my Mom usually cleans my room and hangs up my clothes and vacuums up all the sunflower seeds and picks up all the water bottles on my bed. But I haven’t seen her get out of bed since I got home from San Antonio (on my school band trip), so it looks like Hurricane Katrina came through my room. And I have about an eight-man rotation of socks going right now. And a two-man rotation of underwear.

• • •

Even Tamie provided a few comments:

Bobby is asking me to add my thoughts here with the kids’. I have never felt so completely not like writing. Totally not normal. I don’t want Starbucks either. DNA check? I didn’t finish my soup yesterday because it seemed like too much effort. A couple days ago, the only part of my body that didn’t hurt was the pad of my fourth finger, left hand. So I texted with it. Lemonade, you know. Bobby and the kids have done such a good job holding it all together at home while I’ve been down these last (cough cough) 9 days. And people at work are so sweet, covering for me. I’m so ready to be well. Hopefully soon.

Got ants in your church pants!?

Apparently, you’re not alone, according to an in-depth survey released today by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

USA Today reports:

More than half of all Americans have switched religions at least once, according to an in-depth survey released today. And that may still be “a conservative estimate,” says Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

The Washington Post characterizes Pew’s findings this way:

More Americans have given up their faith or changed religions because of a gradual spiritual drift than switched because of a disillusionment over their churches’ policies, according to a new study released today which illustrates how personal spiritual attitudes are taking precedence over denominational traditions.

D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion, tells The Associated Press that the survey “shows a sort of religion a la carte and how pervasive it is. In some ways, it’s an indictment of organized Christianity. It suggests there’s a big open door for newcomers, but a wide back door where people are leaving.”

What can religious leaders learn from what respondents told Pew researchers?

Analysts suggest to Religion News Service that the findings may give hope, or at least guidance, to religious leaders, who often don’t learn the specific reasons why worshipers leave their faith:

”It suggests there is a market out there,” said Lindsay. “If you lose somebody, it doesn’t necessarily mean you lose them for the rest of your career. If we’re thinking of it like a religious marketplace, you might lose the customer for a year, but you might bring them back with a new product line.”

• • •

• • •

The new survey involved Pew re-contacting 2,800 people from its U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, which surveyed 35,000 people. In The Christian Chronicle last April, I wrote a column about the original survey, and what it meant for Churches of Christ. More recently, a Page 1 story in the Chronicle and this blog tackled the touchy subject of why some leave our fellowship.

So, if you’ve been paying attention, today’s headlines probably don’t surprise you all that much.

Alarm you? Maybe.

Make you scratch your head? Perhaps.

But shock you? Nah.

• • •

With all that buildup, here’s my question: How do we reach a nation of religious drifters for Jesus and keep them in the fold?

– Bobby

• • •

French-Fry Fridays are a chance to lighten the mood and enjoy ourselves a bit after a week of serious, sometimes deep discussions. Or in the case of this week, it’s a chance to blog again after dedicating most of the week to press deadlines for The Christian Chronicle and playing Mr. Mom during my wife’s flu misery.

• • •

I covered Dave Ramsey’s nationwide “Town Hall for Hope” meeting at an Oklahoma City area megachurch Thursday night and wrote a profile of Ramsey for Religion News Service.

Erik Tryggestad of Trygg Thursday fame came along and snapped some excellent photos of the run-through. (Organizers would not allow pictures to be taken during the actual event.)

• • •

• • •

Ramsey is known for his witticisms. Here are a few from his Oklahoma appearance:

• “Even a turkey can fly in a tornado, y’all.” (On how any idiot could make money when the economy was really booming.)

• “I legislated the credit-card companies that were in my life with a pair of scissors.” (On President Barack Obama’s call for a new credit-card law better protecting consumers.)

• “When you play with snakes, you get bit. Stay away from snakes.” (On why he cut up his credit cards.)

• “I’ve got a friend who says, ‘When the tide goes out, you can tell who was skinny dipping.’” (On how financial underbellies were exposed by the recession.)

• “You can be sincere and still be stupid.” (On his opposition to federal bailouts of big business.)

• “I almost lost my marriage and my sanity, and I did lose my hair.” (On going bankrupt in his 20s and turning to the Bible for financial principles.)

• “When I went broke, I spent about six months whining. … I thought it was a form of prayer.”

• “No, you’re 16, you can’t have a new Corvette. With your income, you get a ’94 Chevette.” (On learning to make better financial decisions and say “no.”)

• “No, you can’t buy a house, you’re freaking broke.” (On not investing in real estate until you have money in the bank and an emergency fund.)

• Sometimes, Christians’ prayer is code for, ‘I don’t want to face reality.’ Sometimes, Christians’ prayer is code for, ‘I’m just going to sit back and watch Oprah reruns and have life fix itself.’ You can pray while you’re working.”

• “A lot of people are worried about their 401(k) plans because if you look at them, a lot of them look like 201(k) plans.”

• “You’re at Kmart, honey, and the blue light’s on.” (On his view that low home prices will rise again.)

• • •

• • •

• “It’s the best time in 30 years to buy a house, but don’t buy a house if you’re broke. … Otherwise, Murphy will move in with you with his friends: Broke, Desperate and Stupid.”

• “I think gold is the Snuggie of investments. What I mean is, if it’s sold on midnight cable and you buy it, it’ll make you look stupid.”

• “I’m not complaining. It’s just humorous. Somebody always starts off with a Scripture right before they tear my head off.” (On “Christian hate mail” from folks who don’t agree with his approach to debt and finances.)

• “There’s probably some government employee out there with his hand on the plug.” (On his microphones losing power midway through the event, after he had spent considerable time criticizing government intervention in the recession.)

• “Failure is a possibility. Yes, it’s a long way down there. That’s why I’d be flapping.” (Moving his arms like a bird as he called for a capitalistic approach where people are allowed to succeed or fail based on their hard work and ingenuity.)

• “The average millionaire can’t tell you who got thrown off the island.”

Are you a Ramsey fan? If so, what wittisms did I miss that you like? Are you a Ramsey critic? If so, please do share your perspective and let the, um, dialogue flow. (If you’re a heretic who didn’t like “Fireproof,” please know that any anti-Ramsey statements are likely to engender the same level of weeping and gnashing of teeth. )

Have a terrific weekend!

— Bobby

• • •

Guest post by Erik Tryggestad

As a kid growing up in Macon, Ga., I remember the Sunday night services when Jimmy Judd would report on the work in Malawi — that skinny little country in southern Africa where he baptized hundreds of new believers each year.

He always had at least three carrousels full of slides. It seemed to take about 30 minutes to set it all up.

The service always ran late — especially that night when no one could find a table high enough for the projector. A couple of resourceful deacons placed it atop a closed folding chair and suspended it between two church pews. Made quite a racket when the whole thing crashed to the ground, spraying little white squares everywhere.

I wish I could say that the photos of new believers, new churches and the Mzuzu Mission enraptured me as a child. But what I really looked forward to was the pictures of animals that had made their way into Brother Judd’s house — snakes, giant lizards and spiders the size of my head (or so it seemed).

Now that I get to see some of our church missions firsthand for The Christian Chronicle, I can’t resist snapping photos of the creatures that I run across on occasion — and creatures that occasionally run across me.

(photo by Erik Tryggestad)

Not too far from Malawi is the troubled nation of Zimbabwe, where I caught these two monkeys grooming each other just outside of Victoria Falls in 2006. I was there by gracious invitation of the East Point Church of Christ in Wichita, Kan., which sponsors the Brian Lemons Memorial Hospital at the venerable Nhowe Mission. The hospital is struggling to treat Zimbabwe’s cholera epidemic, as the Chronicle reported in February.

Victoria Falls is supposed to be an area rich in wildlife, but drought and poachers are taking their toll. We saw some water buffalo and baboons on a brief safari, but to date I’ve seen more elephants in the Oklahoma City Zoo (four) than I’ve seen in all of Africa (none).

(photo by Erik Tryggestad)

We did see plenty of these guys, though. Warthogs were everywhere. We even ate a few of them …

(photo by Erik Tryggestad)

Honestly, the barbecued warthog was one of the tastiest dishes I’ve ever eaten. I went back for seconds.

The name of this restaurant is The Boma Place of Eating. Those chefs take the meat you ask for and then grill it for you right there. Outstanding! The ostrich kebabs were good, too.

(photo by Erik Tryggestad)

And of course, we all had to try the Mopani worm. I’ve got a special method for eating such fare — chew, chew, chew and swallow. Do not taste! Do not, under any circumstances, savor!

(photo by Erik Tryggestad)

Here’s a shot of our team and the cool safari hut where we lodged in Victoria Falls. Dr. Steve Lemons and Zimbabwean minister Washington Mhlanga are trying to get a cell phone signal while Roy Van Zant trims his beard.

I hardly got any sleep that last night in Zimbabwe. A mouse got into the hut and I stayed up worrying that it would somehow get through my mosquito net and attack me. I didn’t get any pictures, but it was easily two or three inches long!

(photo by Gena Alexander)

But you don’t need to leave the country to see exotic wildlife firsthand. This little guy flew into the meeting room of the Quartz Mountain Resort Arts and Conference Center in southwest Oklahoma. Our church had a couple’s retreat there recently.

(photo by Erik Tryggestad)

As you can imagine, our little winged friend caused quite a stir, and it took some elaborate teamwork to send him back into the wild.

(photo by Erik Tryggestad)

Though rattled by the bat incident, we still were able to have worship the next morning. Here’s a warts-and-all recording of us singing a portion of “Salvation Belongs to our God.” Enjoy.

Feel free to share your own close calls encountering — and eating — nature.

I’m in the middle of going to press with the May issue of The Christian Chronicle (translation: actual work), so I’m putting this blog thing on hold for just a few days. Thanks for stopping by, and check back soon for new posts!

— Bobby

Sunset over the marsh near San Pedro, Belize (Photo by Erik Tryggestad)

Guest post by Erik Tryggestad

You just don’t say “no” to Barbara Kee.

In 2006 Barbara asked me to come on a mission trip to the Central American nation of Belize. She and her husband, Windle, live in Wichita Falls, Texas, and have been doing mission work in Belize and the African nation of Cameroon for years. (There’s a really neat story about how they got to Wichita Falls, but that will have to wait.) Their son, Paul, is a full-time missionary in Cameroon.

As mission trips go, Belize was pretty affordable. I paid for most of it myself. (This was in the days before our little bundle of joy came along and “disposable income” became an oxymoron.) I found plenty of work to do, people to meet and stories to write during the trip. Visiting the small San Pedro church on Ambergris Caye was the highlight. I also got to spend time with Dennis and Susan Cady, who brought their three children (plus spouses) and their six grandchildren on the mission trip.

Flash forward to 2009 — this past Saturday in fact — when I got an e-mail from Barbara saying that she and Windle were in town with someone I had to meet. So I drove to Oklahoma Christian University and spent a few minutes with Tamu Blakeney.

Barbara Kee and Tamu Blakeney at Oklahoma Christian University (photo by Erik Tryggestad)

Tamu, who met the Kees when they worshiped with the Onalaska, Texas, church, is a world traveler. She has a master’s in counseling and worked with churches in Jamaica before she moved to Hawaii. She’s also been to Kenya, Ghana and many other countries helping in a variety of ministries, including family counseling.

She recently spent three months in Cameroon. That was the Kees’ idea. Tamu can’t say “no” to Barbara either. Now she plans to return there to do two years of mission work. The Pearl Harbor church in Hawaii is her sponsoring congregation, but she’s looking for additional support.

But Tamu didn’t want to talk about herself. She wanted to tell me about Forju Mary Forbin, a Cameroonian Christian who studied in America and graduated from Oklahoma Christian before returning to her native country and establishing the Baird Memorial College, which now has 90 students. Forbin wants to train the next generation of church leaders in Cameroon.

Outside a Church of Christ in Cameroon (photo by Tamu Blakeney)

Tamu wants me to write a feature on Sister Forju. I said, “Sure, but only if I can write a feature on you, too.”

The negotiations continue.

• • •

Moving from Cameroon to Cambodia, we posted a short item on The Christian Chronicle Web site recently about Angkor of Faith 3, a youth conference and outreach mission. The funny name is a play on words. Angkor Wat is the name of a famous Buddhist temple near Siem Reap, Cambodia. The conference gets bigger each year. Church youths from Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and Singapore participated.

Christians from across Asia sing at Angkor of Faith 3 (photo by Tommy Chia)

Joel Osborne, a missionary in Sendai, Japan, led English hymn singing during the event. The results were pretty amazing — especially since English is not the first language for many of the singers.

• • •

And speaking of singing, I highly recommend this video of Susan Boyle from an episode of “Britain’s Got Talent.” (Can you imagine what it’s like to be judged by Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan at the same time?)

If you’re viewing this page from our Facebook link, you won’t be able to watch the video on this page. But you can find it here.

There’s no real connection here to church news in Europe … or is there? I think Susan may be symbolic of the small, struggling Churches of Christ scattered across the continent. Their outward appearance may cause some to dismiss them, but inside there’s hidden strength and beauty.

(And, as much as I loathe admitting it, I’m a huge “Les Mis” fan.)

So, how many continents did you count? Pick any country on the globe and see if I can tell you the name of a church member there. I dare ya!

Where is the “hidden beauty” in your church? We’re always looking for people to profile who serve the Lord in ways that might go unnoticed.

Oh, so close.

At the end of four days and 72 holes, three golfers were tied Sunday for the lead at the Masters, one of — if not the — premier golf tournaments in the world.

Now, typically, I don’t pay much attention to golf. Baseball is my sport, followed closely by college football. But as the managing editor of The Christian Chronicle, I was intrigued by the Augusta leaderboard for two main reasons: Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell.

Kenny Perry is a missions deacon at the Franklin Church of Christ in Kentucky who gives 5 percent of his PGA winnings to Church of Christ-associated Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. With more than $25 million in career earnings, that amounts to at least $1.25 million. Erik Tryggestad profiled Perry in a September 2003 Chronicle feature headlined “Golfer, deacon becomes PGA role model.”

• • •

Chad Campbell, in 2004 Ryder Cup competition

Mike Campbell, head golf coach at ACU

• • •

Chad Campbell, meanwhile, is the brother of Mike Campbell, head golf coach at Church of Christ-associated Abilene Christian University. Chad Campbell was the talk of Abilene after jumping out to the first-round lead at the Masters. Interestingly, AP’s lead golf writer is Doug Ferguson, himself an ACU graduate. Want one more ACU connection? Lance Barrow, the university’s 2008 outstanding alumnus, produces the Masters for CBS Sports.

Mike Campbell traveled to Augusta and watched his brother’s impressive performance. Mike and I have been playing phone tag, but I plan to update this post once we connect.

Alas, Angel Cabrera — who as far as I know has no Church of Christ ties — emerged as the winner of the Masters’ coveted green jacket.

• • •

Kenny Perry, at the 2009 Masters tournament

• • •

Oh, so close.

At age 48, Kenny Perry came so close to becoming the oldest golfer in history to win the Masters — or any major championship, for that matter. But even in defeat, his class — his faith — shined through. Yahoo! Sports columnist Dan Wetzel described him this way:

Perry, though, is the enduring image of this event. He knew this was probably his last, best chance at a major. He was already two years older than Jack Nicklaus when, in 1986, Jack became the oldest to win the green jacket.

Perry’s game had come together recently because his youngest daughter, Lindsey, had gone off to Southern Methodist and he found the time again to concentrate on golf. He was a guy who perhaps could’ve been great, but never was willing to sacrifice everything in the pursuit of perfection. He’s a dad. He’s a husband. He’s a good church man. He won’t apologize for any of it.

He still gives some of his winnings to Lipscomb University, part of a long-ago deal with a church leader who helped pay for the PGA Tour’s Qualifying School.

A Sports Illustrated story painted this picture of the scene as Perry faced a 15-foot part putt to win the tournament in regulation:

Behind the green, Perry’s wife, Sandy, his sweetheart since the eighth grade, gathered with their three kids. Back home, the congregation at the Franklin Church of Christ was holding its evening Easter service, and more than a few prayers were muttered for a man who never fails to worship there when he’s in town. Over at Country Creek Golf Course, on Kenny Perry Drive, dozens of regulars had gathered for the telecast. Perry’s 85-year-old father, Ken, still picks up the balls on the Country Creek range most every day in denim overalls, but he elected to watch TV at home with his wife, who has been waging a long battle with cancer. With so much resting on one putt, it’s no wonder Perry’s ball couldn’t get to the hole. The fight went out of him right then and there, even though Perry had a chance for redemption in the playoff.

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Byron Nelson, in 2005 interview at his Roanoke, Texas, house

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Oh, so close.

I’m thinking Byron Nelson, a faithful Christian with deep Church of Christ roots, would have enjoyed Sunday’s remarkable finish.

“Lord Byron” was the golfer best known for winning a record 11 straight PGA tournaments — and 18 in all — in his remarkable 1945 season. It was my privilege to interview him in 2005, a little more than a year before he died. In a column after his September 2006 death, I recalled:

I met Byron, who lived to be 94, at his Roanoke, Texas, ranch house last year. Neither he nor his wife, Peggy, could have been any nicer. I will never forget this golf legend telling me, “I was really surprised when I heard The Christian Chronicle wanted to do a story about me.” I considered that a sign of his true humility.

Given their similar church and golf backgrounds, I brought up Kenny Perry during my visit with Byron Nelson. Although that part of our conversation didn’t make it into my story, I remember that Byron was familiar with Kenny and was a fan of his golf game and his character.

This is a generic sick child, not the actual Ross daughter

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Guest post by Tamie

My feverish (and yet somehow still precocious) daughter sat down next to me a moment ago and stated flatly, “Mom, cough cough, I need to make an appointment with you.”

Granted, I am working from home today (see aforementioned fever, down today to 99.8 at last check) but seriously? Does she really think she needs to schedule time with me?

Apparently the refill of blue Gatorade in a sports-top bottle requires such formality. And now we’re back to our respective morning assignments – her book and my blog post.

You’d think I would be used to this by now. Fifteen-plus years into this parenting gig, I’ve had the opportunity (and truly the blessing) to work from home lots and lots when three little people needed me nearby.

BUT! Say you’re someone who needs, oh, five consecutive, uninterrupted minutes to take a thought from your head to paper. How do you cope with near-constant interruption? How do you balance the sick child’s craving for extra attention and TLC with a looming deadline?

And, most importantly, how do you keep the car on the road without making the trip seem so fun that they want to take it again tomorrow! And the next day! And maybe again a week from now!

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For you, my soul-mate, my fellow mom in the trenches, I present this exhaustive list of ideas designed to buy you that time while making oh-so-special memories.

1. YouTube. The novelty of Smurfs and Josie and the Pussycats may have long-since faded for you, but think of the joy you’re depriving your children. Go ahead, make that sick-day playlist. But do not abuse it – it is sacred.

2. All-you-can-eat Popsicles. In the kitchen floor. While the computer sits on the counter away from the resulting stickiness.

3. Play “naptime in the closet.” Once my children were small enough to fit inside our biggest suitcase while I slaved away. (I never zipped it shut. Unless they were contagious.)

4. Dolphin bathtime. They swim for hours!

5. Connect the pox. I prefer a blue non-repro pen, but that could just be the journalist in me. Also works with freckles and moles, should Chicken Pox not be your illness du jour.

6. Drugs.

If you’re from Parenting Magazine or Working Moms Digest and want to use this list, we’ll need to talk first. I may need a pen name.

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