India 2010, First Day Of Ministry: 4 Lepers

As my family and friends in the DC area try to dig themselves out from under a historic snowstorm, I had the privilege of speaking at the Sunday morning worship service of Ecclesia Ministries in Kazipet, Andhra Pradesh, India. I feel bad that I am not with my family to help them dig out, but I am here (with their blessing of course).

Ecclesia Ministries, under the leadership of Pastor Daniel Kalyanapu is celebrating 25 years of ministry this week, and I was called upon to deliver the first message of the week-long celebration. I felt led to speak about the four lepers in II Kings 7, who when expecting to die because of a famine in their city (they were under siege from the Armenian army), went to the camp of the enemy hoping to be spared and given some food.

What they found was a deserted camp because the Lord God had caused all of the Armenians to flee, leaving a camp full of food, clothing, silver and gold. The four lepers ate, drank and hid for themselves the silver and gold found in the first tent they opened. They went to the second tent and did the same thing.

Realizing that all of the tents contained the same food and riches, they said to each other, "What we are doing is not right." Choosing to do the right thing, they went and told the city officials of their discovery, and thus the city was saved.

I challenged the members of the church to not sit back and enjoy the blessings of the 25 years of successful ministry, but rather continue to share what they have, the good news of Jesus Christ.

I believe that the Lord has even greater things in store for the many thousands of people who call themselves part of Ecclesia Ministries. If it takes four lepers to teach us how to share what we have with others, that's OK with me.

Question: What are you sharing with others?

DC Blizzard...I Missed It!

(You can receive this Blog via email by entering your address on the right.)

BWI, JFK, Dubai, Hyderabad, Kazipet. I arrived safely in India very early this morning, and after retrieving my luggage, I was met by my favorite translator Jesher. We drove the 2 1/2 hour trip to Kazipet, I had a shower, a nap and a fabulous Indian meal, and now it's Blog update time.

I understand from my wife Elaine, whom I chatted with while I was in Dubai (and whom I miss dearly), that I got out of DC just in time ahead of the snow. So while my family and friends back home are enjoying(?) the blizzard, I am basking in the near 90 degree heat of south-central India! Not a bad trade-off (my wife and kids know where the snow shovels are).

Tomorrow I have the honor of preaching in Pastor Daniel Kalyanapu's church, as they are celebrating their 25th anniversary. I always count it a privilege to speak to Pastor Daniel's people, and this event makes it even more special. Then I will be preparing to kick-off the Bible Conference, as my senior pastor, Charles Schmitt, travels here, having been delayed because of the blizzard. (I didn't plan on speaking right away at the conference, but that's what snow delays will do...)

I intend to post to this Blog daily, as we minister at the Bible Conference, Bible School graduation, and crusade. Keep following, and please leave your comments!

India Calls...Again!

I will be leaving for India on Thursday, partnering with my Senior Pastor for eight days of ministry in Kazipet, Andhra Pradesh. We will be teaching at a Bible Conference, graduating the 11th class of our Bible School there, and preaching at a nightly crusade.

Although this is my seventh trip to India in the last three years, I do not take lightly the responsibility and privilege that I have in participating in what God is already doing among the Indian people. My wife says that when I go to India, "God shows off, and Brad gets to be a part of it."

Please check this Blog regularly, as I will be updating with daily posts (once I am on the ground after two days of traveling). If you are a Facebook member, please 'friend' me (Brad Lewis). Also, if you Twitter, please join the conversation (@bigcloudmusic).

And please leave comments below...

Finding Answers For Impossible Situations

There's a story in the Bible about four lepers who were in a bad situation, but through a little creativity and boldness, they were able to improve their circumstances beyond their wildest dreams.

The city where they lived was under siege by their enemies, and a great famine ensued. All of the inhabitants of the city were affected, especially the lepers who pretty-much had to beg for everything they got. The four of them got to talking to each other one day, and they made the collective decision to leave the city, go to the camp of the enemy, and beg for food from them (who had an abundance of food, drink, clothing, and other assorted "stuff").

Their reasoning was this: If they stayed inside the city, they were going to die. If they went to the enemy camp, they were going to die...but, maybe the enemies would show mercy and give them something to eat and drink.

Well an interesting thing happened. The Lord God made the enemies who were camping outside the city hear the sound of a great army of horses and chariots, and they thought it was the allies of the city residents coming to rescue them. They literally ran away and left everything behind, even stripping off extra clothing as they ran so they could run away even fraster.

The four lepers of our story found the abandoned campground and after checking out a few of the tents, found that they had stumbled upon a mega-powerball-sized jackpot. Food, drink, clothing, silver, and gold were all left behind by the scared enemies. The four lepers began to eat and drink all that they wanted, and then to gather the riches and stockpile them for themselves for later use.

There is more to this story, but for the purposes of this Blog post, allow me to state that looking outside of a seemingly impossible problem or situation may produce the solution or answers you are seeking. Add to that a little boldness to move beyond the familiar and comfortable, and you are setting the stage for a huge breakthrough.

Having some faith in the Lord God completes the package.

Question: What difficult or impossible situation are you facing that may need you to look outside for an answer, to look inside for some boldness, and to have the faith to look heavenward for help?

Chihuahua, Change And Creativity

My daughter (my youngest child, the only girl, very much still has me wrapped around her little finger) got a Chihuahua on Saturday. She has been looking for a dog for the past few months, one that would complement her lifestyle, and had settled on a very small dog (my daughter is only 5'1"). So a Chihuahua is perfect!

Jack-Jack is a one-year-old, purebred, AKC registered, fully grown, 4 lb. Chihuahua with a paid-up health insurance and dental plan. We got him for a steal (no, we did not steal him). He already had the name "Jack", and my daughter re-named him Jack-Jack (I'm still not sure why - maybe in case he misses his name the first time he is called).

My daughter and Jack-Jack bonded immediately. I am no expert, but I understand Chihuahuas are very territorial, and very selective in relationships (don't we wish our children were the same way?). He immediately jumped into her lap and allowed her to pet him. He responded with the complimentary face-lick for my daughter (she refused to lick him back). Still, both seemed happy.

Our home is already different since Jack-Jack moved in. I have to watch where I walk (I weigh 153 lbs, Jack-Jack weighs only 4 lbs. It wouldn't be pretty if I stepped on him, and I would end up getting punished). I have already baby-sat for Jack-Jack (three times, and it's only Tuesday), so my "running around" has been severely curtailed. (Although Jack-Jack does love to go for a ride in the car, and behaves himself very well while traveling.)

Some advantages to having a very small dog: Jack-Jack doesn't eat much, so dog food shouldn't cause me to have to cut the internet to our house in order to pay for his food. If he gets in my recliner while I'm sitting in it, I can put my MacBook Pro in my lap and there is still room for him to lay on my legs. Finally, when he is walked on public grassy areas, sometimes I can't find his "business" so I don't have to collect and dispose (I honestly do search...).

Now, what does this have to do with creativity? Well, any change (even small, 4 lb. ones) cause us to become creative. We can't continue to live the way we used to before the change, without incurring consequences. New territory requires new strategy. Change demands innovation. And a Chihuahua can rule the house...

Question: What changes in your life have caused you to become creative?

God's Fingerprints

My wife and I were watching a PBS program on hummingbirds the other day. I was intrigued by the facts that were presented: about migration (some species more than 5,000 miles a year), about number of times they flapped their wings (12-90 times per second), and about weight (Bee Hummingbird: .07 ounces).

Most of all I was impressed by the iridescent colors of their feathers. (My, do I sound like a simple 'bird watcher', as opposed to the 'expert birder' that my wife is? - "Hey Elaine, look at them pretty feathers!")

As I watched the show, I was struck with a thought:

Even on one of the smallest of creatures, God leaves His fingerprints.

Each species of hummingbird was unique in its color and beauty. Each had their own unique mannerisms and habits. And each one reminded me that God creates life and sustains life.

So I conclude that there is beauty in even the smallest of things. (Even if it's them pretty feathers.) All created things bear the marks of their Creator. Even you.

How did God leave His fingerprints on you?

Complacency And Creativity

 I was thinking earlier today about that which keeps us from being creative. I believe that there are many obstacles to creativity, but I wanted to narrow it down to something all of us could identify with. Here's what I came up with:

Complacency is the enemy of creativity. We should constantly ask ourselves, "How can I do and be better?"

Now I know that it is very simplistic of me to state that all lack of creativity stems from complacency. I mean, who am I to make such a sweeping statement that tries to cover all of the reasons for not being creative?

I can remember as a 12 year old spending hours "tinkering" with my Dad's tools trying to make something that would cut weeds around fence posts easier. (I could have been the inventor of the weed-eater if my Mom hadn't made me go outside and get working on the weeds with the hand clippers!). Maybe I was simply motivated by the desire to get chores finished quickly.

When I consider artists and musicians, writers and poets, I venture to say that they create because they aren't satisfied with what was created before them, by others and even themselves. (I think of myself as a songwriter and find that I am motivated to write a song many times because I don't know of one that says what I'm wanting to say just right.)

When I think of engineers and architects, I have to assume that they are looking for a better, smoother, faster, more efficient way to do something.

And then I have to consider those who create just for the sake of creating, who can't help themselves but to create. Hmmmm... Could it be that there is something inside of them that pushes out and makes them be creative? (Could it be the nature of The Creator that all of us have been made in the image of?)

Well, that is how I feel: Complacency is the enemy of creativity.

How about you... What do you think keeps us from being creative?

2009 In Review: Footprints

No, this is not a "Year in Review" post. Nor is it a "what have I accomplished this year" post. Rather, it is about looking back at our footprints.

I hope you set out to accomplish many things (or at least something) in 2009. Just about all of do that each year. I think the popular term is "resolutions".

Sometimes it's a few personal goals, like losing weight or getting out of debt. Sometimes it's wider, like spending more time together as a family, or taking your business to the next level. At whatever plane, we begin each year with lofty (or not so lofty) goals. Hopefully we accomplish them.

As I review my 2009, I am not looking at the goals I accomplished (like recording and  releasing a CD of my songs, or expanding my Blog/Facebook/Twitter base). I am though, looking at the lives I have influenced. And that's where the footprints come in.

You see, footprints leave a mark. They blaze a trail. They lead the way. And the most important thing I could have done in 2009 is to have influenced others. Influenced them to succeed, to dream, to create, to fulfill their destiny.

And so I turn around from my journey, and look to see if I have left any footprints behind. But more importantly, seeing if anybody is following those footprints.

What about you? Did you leave any footprints in 2009?

12 Days Of Christmas Video Blog - Day 12

12 Days Of Christmas Video Blog - Day 12 from Brad Lewis on Vimeo.

12 Days Of Christmas Video Blog - Day 11

12 Days Of Christmas Video Blog - Day 11 from Brad Lewis on Vimeo.

12 Days Of Christmas Video Blog - Day 10

12 Days Of Christmas Video Blog - Day 10 from Brad Lewis on Vimeo.