[caption id="attachment_691" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Both sides of the debate have authored cartoons..."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_692" align="aligncenter" width="520" caption="So where do I stand on Universal Health Care?"][/caption]

#1 I do not believe in entitlement.

I think giving something to someone for free when they have chosen against it by their actions (i.e. a person who receives welfare or free health care when they choose not to work), encourages more people to not work.

#2 I believe in people.

I think we communicate this belief in people when we expect much out of them.

I think we expect much out of people when we refuse to give hand outs. This expectation can push people towards the greatness and capacity for which they were designed.

This post is about those who have received something undeserved. It’s meant to highlight the lack of “fairness” and justice exhibited when people receive something they’ve never worked for.

But this post is not just about them.

It’s more about me.

And it’s also about grace.

Grace freely given to me, when my actions …

Just got a report from Europe.

Things have gone incredibly well there! Andy has done a remarkable job and I’ve even been included on correspondence as the leaders go through their follow up materials.

Here’s a snippet from Christina’s report of the event in Hungary:
Participants were from Hungary, Sweden, Slovakia, Albania, Switzerland, and Holland. Everyone was between 29 and 80 so it was amazing to hear the different insight people had (not to mention of course, the differences in cultures). These were very spiritually mature people. I really enjoyed hearing the different challenges and suggestions they presented. I think everyone in the group really benefited from the discussions and interactions. And because we all stayed in the same place, we were able to talk a lot!
Andy did a wonderful job. This was a very interactive group and I think everyone felt very comfortable with one another…
On Friday, Andy and I talked to the Hungarians. They are ready to move forward and finish creating Crown in Hungary.  It was a very encouraging discussion and all of the guys really have their heart in it. I think there are …

I’m supposed to be in Hungary.

Mononucleosis (mono) plus a nasty virus would allow for none of that though. For the first time in eight years I am missing a trip. Your prayers for the leaders from across Europe gathering right now in Hungary are greatly appreciated.

Andrew Nedlechev from Bulgaria will be presenting the entire training by himself. We had planned on splitting duties.

Christina Wolverton, the new Crown intern, will be there representing the home office.

As I receive updates I will do my best to pass them on to you.

I am hanging in there, gradually feeling better, but weak and awful tired. Thanks for praying.

On the stage, with the camera rolling, he told me that I would now be acting.

Yikes.

A few days prior I was making pleasant conversation with one of our lead trainers (Mark Aranal-he’s the guy to my left in the above photo) in the Philippines. He had arranged for us to attend the soft opening of a new “Broadway” type musical that was about to open in Manila. I thanked him profusely and told him that I had done some acting back in my teenage years. And that’s where the conversation had ended.

Or so I thought.

Fast forward a few days later. The same friend had asked me to be interviewed on his Sunday evening show called Gospel Jam. During the interview, he brought up a Filipina actress handed her and I a script and had us “act” out the “Secret Love Letters of David and Bathsheba”. Yep.

And I did it.

And that’s all I have to say about that.

[caption id="attachment_644" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="N.O.A.H. was the musical where the "acting" conversation took place"]…

Is not something I’ve had much of since coming back from Asia. It has been a battle to get back into any sort of schedule and make my body want to eat and sleep during the times that this culture dictates.

The work that God is doing in Asia through Crown is glorious. It is a high privilege to serve these leaders. Korea is doing extraordinarily well. Taiwan has a solid foundation and great future plans.

Our time in the Philippines was met with a great leadership team, and a cool, young, edgy set of volunteers that are carrying the ministry forward. It was fun to join in with the stuff that God is up to over there.

Here are some more photos:

[caption id="attachment_636" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Me with the interpreter in Taipei"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_638" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Leading Stewards Course"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_639" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Leading Stewards discussion"][/caption]