Simple Truth

The Gospel

God has granted us a history and a future, created in His image, we are unlike any living thing on earth. Given free will and conscience, you can search out God and His good and perfect plan for your life, or deny His sovereignty and reject the provision He has made to reconcile your soul to Him in the sacrifice of His son, face judgment and an eternal hell.

The good news is, so great is God’s love for us, and His desire that we return to Him from our inherited and chosen state of sinfulness that He willingly sent His only son, perfect and sinless, to shame, torture and death on the cross to pay the price for our disobedience and so make a way home for us. We are all imperfect because of sin, so we judge ourselves by imperfect standards to be good. We also compare ourselves to other people who are in no better shape than ourselves, giving us a false sense of security about the state of our souls.

So God offers a plan for your soul, free of charge, a treasure greater than any thing of value on earth! By His grace alone He calls us to faith in Jesus as the Savior of our souls, that if we believe He is the Son of God, that He died for our sins on the cross in our place, was buried and in three days rose alive in a real and glorified body, then ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father until the day of His return, we will be saved from God’s righteous judgment on us for our sins!

Understand that no matter how good we try to be, no one is worthy of Salvation. This is why we can only be saved by faith in Christ, given by the grace of God. It makes no difference where we come from, our ethnicity or social class. No matter what we have done, how depraved our thoughts or actions, the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross is sufficient to overcome all our sins, past, present, and future. By His shed blood, Christ’s righteousness covers those who believe in Him, and presents us clean of the stain of sin before God the Father.

Media Crime

Friday Mornings at the Pentagon
By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY
McClatchy Newspapers


Over the last 12 months, 1,042 soldiers, Marines, sailors and Air Force personnel have given their lives in the terrible duty that is war. Thousands more have come home on stretchers, horribly wounded and facing months or years in military hospitals.

This week, I'm turning my space over to a good friend and former roommate, Army Lt. Col. Robert Bateman , who recently completed a year long tour of duty in Iraq and is now back at the Pentagon.

Here's Lt. Col. Bateman's account of a little-known ceremony that fills the halls of the Army corridor of the Pentagon with cheers, applause and many tears every Friday morning. It first appeared on May 17 on the Weblog of media critic and pundit Eric Alterman at the Media Matters for America Website.

"It is 110 yards from the "E" ring to the "A" ring of the Pentagon. This section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the hallway is broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire length of the corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants and some civilians, all crammed tightly three and four deep against the walls. There are thousands here.

This hallway, more than any other, is the `Army' hallway. The G3 offices line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner. All Army. Moderate conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends who may not have seen each other for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the way and renew.

Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air conditioning system was not designed for this press of bodies in this area.

The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares. "10:36 hours: The clapping starts at the E-Ring. That is the outermost of the five rings of the Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance to the building. This clapping is low, sustained, hearty. It is applause with a deep emotion behind it as it moves forward in a wave down the length of the hallway.

"A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier in t he wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is the first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his wounds are still suppurating. By his age I expect that he is a private, or perhaps a private first class.

"Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and nod as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I described one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat different. The applause a little wilder, perhaps in private guilt for not having shared in the burden .. yet.

"Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the wheelchair, also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I think deepens the sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier's chair is pushed by, I believe, a full colonel.

"Behind him, and stretching the length from Rings E to A, come more of his peers, each private, corporal, or sergeant assisted as need be by a field grade officer. "11:00 hours: Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. My hands hurt. Please! Shut up and clap. For twenty-four minutes, soldier after soldier has come down this hallway - 20, 25, 30. Fifty-three legs come with them, and perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but down this hall came 30 solid hearts.

They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet for a private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by the generals. Some are wheeled along. Some insist upon getting out of their chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down this hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are catching handshakes and smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July parade. More than a couple of them seem amazed and are smiling shyly.

"There are families with them as well: the 18-year-old war-bride pushing her 19-year-old husband's wheelchair and not quite understanding why her husband is so affected by this, the boy she grew up with, now a man, who had never shed a tear is crying; the older immigrant Latino parents who have, perhaps more than their wounded mid-20s son, an appreciation for the emotion given on their son's behalf. No man in that hallway, walking or clapping, is ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks. An Airborne Ranger wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the officers in this crowd have themselves been a part of this parade in the past.

These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every single Friday, all year long, for more than four years.

" Did you know that?

The media hasn't told the story."

Because this would not further the liberal left agenda, it will not be permitted to reach the American people who need to know the truth about the price being paid, and the dedication of our soldiers to the protection of our nation, our way of life, and the God given right of individuals to live free of persecution by those who would force their rule or religion of death on others.

Had a bad day?

Just in case you had a busy day, maybe things did not go the way you planned, you may have had a fender bender or lost an account that would have netted you some extra money.
It is possible the kids gave you a hard time getting ready for school, or you were aggravated at a phone call from your wife telling you your teenager failed an important class.


You may have been anxiously watching the stock market, planning your retirement, your wedding or building your new home.
Hopefully, you were not dealing with a hangover. I pray you are not planning on leaving your husband, or deserting your wife and kids because things are getting tough.

I know how hard it is to be away from your parents, cramming for upcoming college tests. I know the anxiety you suffer waiting for that phone call from the employer you hope to work for.




Maybe, you spent part of the day worrying whether or not you can afford the newest electronic game system for your kids.

Is it possible that today is one of those days that something got under your skin, and you got that 'it's just not fair' feeling? Maybe you lashed out at a friend or colleague because your vacation week was just canceled.












If you have felt like this recently, praise God that you are so fortunate. For many our strife would be a blessing;


You stay up for 16 hours,

He stays awake for days on end.




You start the day with a hot shower and coffee,

He has not seen running water for weeks.

You complain of a headache and call out of work sick,

He is shot at and sees others hit, and still moves forward.

You put on your anti-war, 'don't support the troops' shirt and meet up with your friends for lunch,

He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

You check your cell phone twenty times a day,

He clutches the cross hanging on a chain next to his dog tags for twenty minutes as mortars and bullets fly over his head.

You talk trash about your buddies when their not with you,

He knows he may not see his buddies again.

You walk the beach looking at pretty girls,

He walks the street looking for armed insurgents and IED's.

You complain that the waitress got your order wrong,

He does not get to eat today.

You are aggravated when a baby cries,

He wonders if he will ever meet his newborn daughter.

Your mad because you class let out 10 minutes late,


He just learned he will be there 4 more months.

You go to the mall to get your hair done,

He did not have time to brush his teeth today.

You see what the media wants you to see,

He sees the broken bodies on the battlefield.

You criticize your government, and say war never solves anything,

He sees the innocents tortured and killed by their own people, and remembers why he is there.

Tomorrow, thank God you live in a free society, and pray for those who risk their lives to keep it that way.

Gasoline for the fire

Photo courtesy; Associated Press.

Where else could this come from but the hotbed of social liberal sickness that is the city of San Francisco.
Yesterday the health officials of this bastion of iniquity, announced that it is taking the first steps in the attempt to open a 'safe' drug injection room for users of illegal narcotics.
This brilliant idea is being sold as a viable answer to some of the problems created by drug abuse, according to the city's Department of Public Health.
The problems they hope to address? The high rate of deaths caused by drug overdose, the ever increasing financial burden on the city and state caused by the emergency response to care for these folks, and to help clean up the unsightly clutter of used needles in Golden Gate park.
As I listened to this on MSNBC, and read the article on Lycos News I was sadly shocked to realize that nowhere was there to be offered counseling and help to those addicted in this plan. After all, why ruin a good high with the glaring reality that our public officials have given up on those in need.
What this will accomplish is the removal of the problem from our immediate perception, and so less attention will be paid to addicts and their plight. We will be able to more easily go about our lives in our comfortable consciences, while the hopelessly addicted can trudge their way to a slower death out of the public eye. The benefits are tragically wonderful. As these 'safe' drug rooms will be a haven from the law, (it is planned that anyone using the service will be exempt from arrest and prosecution for possession of a controlled substance, as to encourage users to come there rather than shoot up elsewhere) police will be freed up from dealing with many drug related operations and paperwork. Dealers of heroin and cocaine will gain a legitimate place in society and see increased profits. The citizens of San Francisco can better sell their city and all it's vices to the rest of the nation, perhaps in it's public relations advertisements, a fun visit to the 'safe' drug room for a blast of H or coke can be marketed as a place to wind down, or rev up after a day at the Folsom Street Fair.
Perhaps best of all, money will be saved. Numbers of emergency calls to rescue overdosing addicts will sharply drop, along with their expense, thus giving a happily validating news bite to the left leaning media, who if this succeeds, may begin to pose the question, why do we fight a war against drugs? Then again, why fight against anything at all when it's easier to just give up.

Appreciation

October is pastor appreciation month. While we think about our church leaders all year round, this month is a time to give extra consideration to the man at the pulpit.
Hopefully we as Christians have a good relationship with our pastors, one that exceeds a handshake at the door after service, and sending a polite card at Christmas and Easter wishing them and their family blessings. While those things are good, and to be sure appreciated by the clergy, these men who have been called to a life of dedication to the preaching of God's Word deserve vastly more consideration for the daily sacrifices they make for their love of God, and the flock He has entrusted to their care.
We may not realize the sermon we hear on Sunday that takes in most cases an hour or so to speak does not take an hour to write, that the study and research done often takes days worth of hours to pen, and hours of prayer to discern, that we may be sure of receiving all that God gives to his servant for the filling of our spiritual bellies. These hours are labors of love, many that take up extra time that may be spent with a loving wife, or anxious children longing for dad's attention. Sometimes meals are missed, and quiet times of much needed rest or meditation fall by the wayside as evening's hours turn to night, while the man of God chisels in ink the art of exposition for our ears.
The responsibilities of leadership in a church go beyond the Sunday sermon. We see these men wedding couples, and leading funeral services, dedicating babies, and comforting the dying in their last hours, then comforting the family of the deceased for days and weeks afterward. There are baptisms, conventions to attend, speakers to hear, and travel to meet and know other men of the faith that serve God as His shepherds, that they may edify and encourage one another. There are also difficult times to face, agonizing over a fallen member of the flock, who needs to be found and brought home to the congregation, and church discipline to be enforced in the case of the unrepentant. There is persecution to be faced from the world, angry folk who will not hear God's word that the pastor works so hard to purvey accurately and Biblically, leave the church in anger and disagreement. Like prophets from the Old Testament, they are sometimes ignored, often despised, and even threatened with incarceration or death when willful sinners inflamed with conviction turn their shame to anger and seek a target at which to vent their rage, or a government's desire to keep social order at the expense of truth.
There are missionary commitments to meet, ministries to explore, and the walk of faith in Christ by Grace from God to display in all situations as an example to the flock, yet at the same time being only human, subject to every temptation, fault, illness and error we all are.
Include with this responsibilities of family and daily life. Mortgage, car payments, a sick child. Physical ailments, the passing of a loved one, car repair and flooded basements. Comforting the kids in their grief when the family pet dies, the need to care for an elderly parent that can no longer take care of themselves.
Take time this month to think on these things, and this Sunday consider the man behind the pulpit and the message he brings from God and his Word. Take the time to talk with him as you would any brother in the Lord, and let him know how much his labor means to you and how much you appreciate his loving service to our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father.

Ernie, are you kidding?

This article was published yesterday, September 19, 2007 in the Boston Herald.

From Associated press.
photo courtesy Yahoo News

Annoyed as hell, Nebraska senator sues God

Lincoln, Neb.- The defendant in a state senator's lawsuit is accused of causing untold death and horror. He can be sued in Douglas County, the legislator claims, because He's everywhere.
State Sen. Ernie Chambers has sued God. Irked by another lawsuit he considers frivolous, Chambers says he's trying to make the point that anybody can file a lawsuit against... Anybody.
The lawsuit claims God has made terroristic threats, inspired fear and caused "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."
Chambers, who skips the legislature's morning prayers and often criticizes Christians, added God has caused "fearsome floods... horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes." He's seeking a permanent injunction against the Almighty.
Chambers said his lawsuit was triggered by a federal suit filed against a state judge who recently barred such words as "rape" and "victim" from a sexual assault trial. The accuser in the criminal case, Tory Bowen, sued that judge, claiming he violated her free speech rights.
"This lawsuit having been filed and being of such questionable merit creates a circumstance where my lawsuit is appropriately filed," Chambers said.
A federal judge last week expressed doubts about whether Bowen's lawsuit "has any legal basis whatsoever" and said sanctions may be imposed against Bowen and her attorneys if they fail to show cause for a lawsuit.


While different people may find different aspects of the events this article documents disturbing, or amusing, I hope to focus for this blog on one central issue.
Senator Chambers states he is "trying to make the point that anybody can file a lawsuit against... Anybody." Yet by his actions and criticisms, crowned by this dubious legal action, he certainly proves to take a dim view of the Christian faith, those who practice it, and believe in Him or not, God Himself.
I have to wonder what the response of his constituents would have been if he had brought suit against Allah, Budda, or Ganesh. Certainly the ACLU would get involved if a Muslim, or a Buddist or Hindu complained. The man could loose his senate seat over the political fallout of such a careless act, but somehow it is acceptable today to ridicule God in the public eye, just to make a point. I feel prayer is called for here, both for the senator who so willingly proclaims to be the enemy of God by his foolishness, and for a nation that has so little faith in God that this kind of foolishness has become acceptable.

One per cent

You may remember seeing these photographs in The New York Times, Washington Post, or your state capital's largest news publication early February, 2006.
Maybe you saw the footage of these protesters in the U.K. on MSNBC, CBS, or FOX news, shouting angry threats at the Western world over the re-publication of cartoons Muslims found offensive.
Originally printed in the Danish newspaper 'Jyllends-Posten' on September, 30 2005, the twelve cartoons seemed to cause problems, calling muslim leaders to gather and angrily decry the 'Blasphemy'. In late January of 2006 the Norwegian Christian newspaper 'Magazinet', and the newspaper website of 'Dagbladet', also based in Norway, caused the outcry you may remember so much about, as it's images flooded the U.S. press from coast to coast and border to border.
Doesn't ring a bell? You certainly remember the talk, as there was much over weeks. What about the cartoons? Do you remember those appearing in Time, Life, and The New Yorker? The one of the prophet Muhammad, his turban a bomb? The other eleven?
There is a reason you do not.
These images were deleted from every aspect of the U.S. press, as not to upset the Muslim world any further. Imagine the United States bowing to the possibility of the rage of Islam, 'the religion of peace'. So much so that the freedom of the press to depict the truth of the situation in Europe was abrogated.
Were it not for the Internet, the images worth one thousand words each if fair market value still holds, would have most likely not been presented here. Carefully read the signs of these peaceful people and study their faces, those peaceful enough not to have concealed themselves for fear of recognition (other than those who may be women. Some,who as a cultural practice wear burkas) This is the face of Radical Islam.
Several moderate Muslim leaders from countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan have stated that the 'Radical Muslim' population is only about one per cent. Bear in mind these countries are not democracies and are to one degree or another if not completely. Muslim theocracies.
The European Union's estimated population as of January, 1 2007 is four-hundred and ninety million. of this an estimated four to five percent are Muslim, giving us a rough figure of fifteen to twenty million practicing Muslims among the E.U.'s twenty-seven member states. So according to Moderate Muslim leaders there are approximately one million, five-hundred thousand, to two million practicing Muslims who could be considered to be 'Radical' by Muslim standards.




Radical is a multi -toned word. Once, an out of controlled child in a supermarket who got a well deserved swat on the behind was considered to be 'receiving discipline'. Now such a 'Radical' action can bring about a lawsuit and destroy a family in the name of the 'child's rights' should the ACLU get involved. There was a time when speaking out in protest against our own government was considered 'Radical', even illegal depending on what you said.

We find in America today, in many states if not all, you can be jailed and charged for just the threat of murder. The freedom of speech most
Western countries enjoy does not mean you can shout "Bomb" on a crowded plane at twenty thousand feet. Threatening to murder another three thousand civilians, or even more atrocious, to advocate the slaughter of another six million people for any reason certainly qualifies as 'Radical' with prejudice.
While we realize the cartoons were not published in America, though there were many who wished they were, and the protests and violence they were responded to with did not happen on our streets, or even offend our delicate senses via most forms of public media, they do with crystal clarity show the hatred of lethal intent by a portion of a religious culture toward anyone and anything it deems unacceptable.




We have had the earth shaken under our feet, the sky blackened with soot and our eyes filled with the tears of agony and loss by that one per cent, and one wonders what else we are being kept in the dark about as a nation, by the fear of those in control on our portion of the earth, that we may not further disturb such a peaceful system of belief as Islam. We can ponder these things as we go about our privileged lives, content with what we are fed daily by the news and try to think of peaceful things, and put our thoughts elsewhere. We can oppose and protest a war we at home are not personally watching our fellow soldier die or be maimed in. We can argue all the what if's our minds can handle.




This is where the enemy wants us most, and where we as a divided nation, and a divided culture are most happy to oblige because it keeps our nose out of the truth, which sometimes smells less like flowers than we would like. Things at a distance do not appear as clearly as we would think, and the faster they come at us the harder it is to make a decision about where we stand. Islam is the worlds fastest growing religion, and at least one per cent of Muslims have told us in no uncertain terms how they feel publicly, and loudly so we can not say we did not know. As of July, 2007 the population of the United States is a little over three hundred million.

The Hope of Haiti, Pt. 2. Reference Psalm 50:2

I have so many more images of the Haitian people, and closing this series is a difficult thing for me as my passion for these wonderful human beings and my desire to return to their nation has not abated. I pray to God in Jesus matchless name, He will allow me one day soon to return to give of the labor of my hands and the witness of my mouth to his Glory, and to be so blessed again as I was by Him and these hopeful people on my first visit.
The image above is of the children of the small church we attended service at in Cap Haitian. Their pastor who's name I fail to remember is poorly cropped to the extreme right. Greg, whom you have seen in other posts is rear left, and the little girl in the very front left is one of the missionaries children who brought us to the service and helped us to understand the translation.
The second facet of hope I see for Haiti is the faith of it's Christian people, especially their children who worship and sing in service with as much energy as the adults! These will be the future parents of godly children no longer under the yoke of Voodoo or a Catholic hybrid thereof.
Some of these young folk speak more than one language, learn a tireless work ethic that the need to just survive demands, and show up every worship service dressed their best as if they were going to meet Jesus personally that day. Amongst all the squalor and poverty, every attendant of the service we went to from oldest to youngest were dressed in a fashion that rivals most of us who worship corporately in America. For most of these folks I am told it is the only good set of clothing they may own, and in some cases if they do not feel presentable enough they will not attend for shame of disrespecting Christ in their appearance! Although I was informed that this practice is happening a little less as they come to understand it is the condition of the heart and not the clothes Jesus is concerned with.
Can you see the hope there? who do we know among us that loves Christ so much they fear to disrespect Him by even less than their best dress in church? How many in America will miss church this Sunday simply because they want to sleep in, or have work around the home to do, or want the money Sunday overtime may provide!
Can you see the the richness of Christ in the souls of those who have little, as compared to the poorness of the hearts of some of us who have so much?
This is the hope of Haiti, the love and devotion and enthusiasm to our Crucified and Risen Lord Jesus Christ, taught diligently by missionary brothers and sisters to the parents, who's hearts are open to God and touched by His Grace, and teach of His Word their children well!

The Hope of Haiti, Pt.1

This photo was taken by the last mission trip to Haiti from Holland Church. I believe the young man in the foreground is Isaac, and the man behind the wall is Pastor Randy, team leader that year. they are working on an outer wall of the Bethesda medical clinic. As each year passes, and the teams continue to work, the hope of the people who live in Haiti as missionaries grow alongside the lives of the native peoples as they learn of the love of Jesus, and see it displayed by those who come to share it.

Greg sweeps the dried tile mud and sand from the unfinished section of the room. We had hoped to finish the whole room, just as I below strove to finish the hallway before we were called back to the OMS compound for dinner. Even in our earnest labor for the Lord we are still chastised for our pride. He sends hands to dig the furrow, others to plant the seeds, some to water and He gives the increase. The next team, one from Canada will take over next week and finish here all according to His plan.

I never expected to learn a skill on this foray, even one as enjoyable as this one is to me. I look forward to the day when the Lord calls me back to Haiti to serve the needs of these people, and to share in the fellowship of such good brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Hope is such a multifaceted word. Over the past blog segments we have seen the need for it, and I pray enough drive to empower the execution of action on it's behalf. I believe there are two planes of hope for this nation. This segment will attempt to address in some small way the lesser of the two.
Above part of our missions work team takes a quick break from laying tile in the new compound that will house a large modern seminary school for the training of Haitian pastors. As I write this the building you see here is already completed and occupied by full time missionaries Gil and Dan Shoemaker, who are overseeing the project. The physical labor is hard and the temperature is above 90f. Most of us have never laid a tile in our lives, but became fairly good at it under the firm and professional guidance of fellow missionary Lt. Dan, a professional contractor from Indiana who gives weeks each year to the Lord's service.



Begun and finished 3 years ago, this is an addition to the Bethesda medical clinic on the main OMS compound, this photo was taken by the last mission team to Haiti from Holland Church.



Donated from The US, Canada, and other countries, things we take for granted like cabinetry for a kitchen may seem trivial, but the desire in the hearts of those who donate, ship, and work to install these simple amenities is anything but that. The love of Christ and the desire to help those in desperate need fuel the furnace of human industry that helps to build even the smallest parts of God's Kingdom.



John, son of a full time missionary from Canada spends his winter months working to add to the compound. Here he cuts tile with a wet saw. The pace is fast as we strive in a week to accomplish all we can for those who live and devote their lives to the mission field full time. Though we are but a small drop in the bucket, the privilege and blessings are great, growing our hearts for service to others.
The next segment will be the final one on this experience, and will tell of the largest hope for the people of Haiti, and for those who are moved by the Grace of God to call Jesus Christ Lord and Saviour.

In love in Christ, Mike.

The Beauty of Haiti

A beautiful garden maintained in a restaurant courtyard in Cap Haitian.


First let me apologize for the delay in this promised post on the physical beauty of the nation of Haiti. Physical and emotional distress has kept me otherwise distracted until today, as God has blesses me with a window of relative comfort, and a desire for industry. The following are some of what I feel are the wonderful natural gifts God has bestowed on this island. Gifts that are constantly in danger of eradication, and in some cases extinction. I was not able to obtain all the names of the flora featured here, but I will do my best to identify those I do know. If you see any you recognize, feel free to leave a comment and the correct name!


This wonderful flowering shrub was all over the OMS compound, fragrant, and looks to me like a tropical version of Azalea, or it's larger cousin Rhododendron found frequently in my home area of New England. The bushes ranged is size from o few feet to over 12 ft. tall and as many wide. Their beautiful sunburst color and sweet fragrance were a welcome experience every morning.



Most everyone will recognize this classic tropical beauty, the Hibiscus. This is just one of many colors and configurations I saw during the week, and with the exception of Bananas, Papayas, Bougainvillea, and some others I can not name, they were the most numerous and possibly the most fragrant of all I encountered.



Though deforestation is rampant on the island, in some small protected places such as the OMS compound, and on the lands held behind high walls of the wealthy few the diversity of trees and shrubs that grow in profusion here are remarkable. Charimoya, Mahogany, Date palm, Papaya, Banana, and I believe ( correct me if I am wrong) Lychee and Longon berry trees.
There were also cultivated Tamarind trees, who's seed pods produce a fruity paste like a tart fig. God has certainly placed a wealth of life here, just waiting for the spiritual recovery of the nation to thrive upon, feed it's own, and export to a waiting world.



I would like to say these beauties are a form of Bougainvillea, but I can not be sure. They may be indigenous or introduced, I really do not know much about them but they are spectacular.
Among Haiti's subsistence crops are peanuts, which they make the best peanut butter in the world with. Sugar cane, guavas, papayas, bananas, and my personal favorite of God's earthly gifts, coffee, which local co-ops helped by OMS grow, harvest, roast, and sell. If you have never had Haitian Coffee, check out the link on the link section on my blog front page "Starfish Kids", and check out their link section, this will lead you to places where you can find ways to order this delicacy at for far less than the overpriced mud found at Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts. I still have a pound in my freezer I keep for special occasions. You can also order peanut butter from them, but the supply is limited and sporadic depending on the harvest, and the rain



I hoped to get a better shot of this creature, it is a large (15") reptile of the Skink family that did not seem to eager to wait around for a photo op. Aside from much smaller Anoels and an abundance of insects, spiders, birds and frogs, native fauna was hard to come by. This is mostly due to habitat loss and human predation for food.


Away from the interior of the country the tourist areas, which one is seldom if ever allowed to leave is kept pristine and breathtaking. Labadee is a small island a few hundred yards off the coast of Haiti that is owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a 'day at the beach' dock. Lavadee beach where we went for a day of R&R a few hundred yards swim west was not so exclusive, but beautiful in the fact that it was God's provision for us that day.
Part of the port of Labadee . If you look at the far edge of the water on the right side of the photo, almost to the opposite shore, you can see a small dark spot. Four of us swam with one kayak between us to that buoy, it is over a mile away and weighs several tons. It is anchored to the sea floor and is used to tie to the cruise ships that sail the Caribbean and stop here for a day at Labadee.
Beauty and danger often go hand in hand in Haiti,. These wondrous limestone formations on shore are part coral and will shred the feet of any who venture onto them unprotected!



Possibly my favorite scent in all of Haiti, the Jasmine. (at least I believe it is, smells like it, looks like it even though I am used to seeing them in white.) These are also found all over the land where pollution and contaminated water has not devastated the ecology. They are a common shrub around the OMS compound and most of the walled enclosures of the well to do. The night air is thick with the scent and brings a peaceful sleep despite the whine of mosquitoes!



On our approach to Haiti I was awestruck by the landscape. I have been to the Bahamas, but their featureless topography never prepared me for the breathtaking sight of the Hispaniola Mountain range that divides The Dominican Republic from Haiti. this view is from the Northwest. about three hours from our last stop at the Bahamian island of Exuma where we took on fuel to complete the trip.



This is one of the most unusual flowers I have seen anywhere, but Haiti is not the first place I saw it. There is sample species in a greenhouse in Connecticut. It is (by the curator) called a lobster claw plant, because of the way the flowers petals open and close into each other like the claws of the popular North American crustacean . I was not able to learn the Haitian name for the plant, but it was abundant and thrived in the tropical environment.



While one may not recognize the plant shown above by the flower, you would know it instantly by the sharp heat and flavor, indeed even the spicy scent from and number of Japanese, Indian,Thai, Korean and Caribbean dishes, as the tuber from this plant is the ever popular spice Ginger! It is indigenous, and grows profusely in the wild, and local gardens, as well as by most roadsides where pollution has not destroyed all plant life.




This one, well, you got me. I am guessing by the ornate petal edges on the main body of the flower that it may be a member of the Hibiscus family, even with the wild display of pistil and stamen. Unfortunately, I can not remember if there was a strong scent associated with it to confirm my guess. This was a less common species so it seemed, usually found in tended gardens and not so much in the open areas we were allowed to explore. Again, if you know the species, please comment!


The last image I chose here is one that is both nondescript, and potent in my thoughts. It is not cultivated or colorful, cultured, or maintained by any but the hand of God. He made the nation of Haiti as He did America, Europe, Africa, South America or Australia. It is the sin of humans that cursed the lands, and by the Redemptive Blood of Christ and the loving labor of the Faithful in worship of the One True God, this land may once again shine forth in spiritual as well as physical beauty in honor of the Father, Son, and Holy spirit.

In love in Christ, Mike Z.

The Desolation of Haiti, pt. 2.

The UN office at Cap Haitian International Airport.

The United Nations has had a peacekeeping force of some 3,000 international forces in Haiti for a few years now. As most local police are corrupt, underfunded, and under equipped these are the only stabilizing force against the gangs and drug cartels that pray on the Haitian citizens. While we were in Haiti, the gang violence in Port Au Prince reached a crescendo with attacks on UN vehicles and soldiers. Some of these were perpetrated by children under the age of 14, weilding AK-47's supplied by the now defunct Aristied government. Usually the UN will not engage the population in a firefight, but the day before we left we were told by our missionary hosts of street to street gunfights, as the UN took a stand to rout the gangs from the city streets.


12 ft. walls surrounding the OMS compound.

Walls are a common sight in Haitian life. They define those who have and those who have not, they protect and preserve, and they segregate and divide. The original land area or the OMS compound was almost twice what is circled by walls today. Squatters are a fact of life here, and the only way to drive off the desperate and destitute is by the gun. Saints would do no such thing, so walls were erected around the land not yet taken over by the poor to keep the establishment of service to the Haitian people intact. The envious and unrepentant look upon them with resentment, and the VooDoo practitioners focus their malice upon them and those they protect. The broken in spirit see hope in the establishment of secure boundaries, where help for what ails the body and soul can be found.


Multipurpose waterway.

Fresh water in Haiti is rarity. Here a shallow river provides water for a multiple of uses. Cars are washed, garbage and sewerage is disposed of, bodies are washed and the poor drink from the same source, fish and wildlife are polluted out of existence by this. Deforestation and erosion scar the land causing rockfalls and mudslides that take lives without warning. This desolation has been caused by a people fighting to survive day to day in a land almost devoid of hope and natural resorces. I fish many of the waters in Massachusetts where I live and appreciate their beauty. Many times I feel shame and anger at the sight of trash left by uncaring people who have no appreciation for the gift of the natural world God has given us. Perhaps if these unthinking minds and unconcerned hearts had only such places like these in Haiti in which to get their drinking water or to bathe they would consider the bounty The Father has heaped on us, and treat it accordingly.


Housing of the middle class.

Haiti is a nation of over 8 million as of 2005 estimates. The area of Haiti is only slightly less than that of Maryland, and much of the country is arid and mountainous. 75% of the population crowds into it's two major cities, Cap Haitian and Port Au Prince. 80% of the people live below poverty level, for us in the United States thats a little over $10,000 annual salary. For the Haitian citizen it is less than $500 a year. The most basic of needs take precedence, food and shelter. Above is a coastal district of Cap Haitian that is blessed with concrete domiciles, offering protection from hurricanes, and offering some sense of security.


Dangerous shores.

This is a beach front property in Cap Haitian. The erratic fluctuation of an unstable economy and political upheaval see flurries of unfinished construction as resources fail, and long intervals of decay and stagnation. This has taught the people of Haiti to be resourceful with what they do have available to them. Cars that breakdown and can not be fixed due to lack of parts or money are stripped to the bare metal frame, every nut, bolt, scrap of upholstery and length of wire is salvaged, reused, sold, or traded.


Pop shop.

Soda pop is as common in Haiti as in the US. Small businesses like this are found all throughout Cap Haitian and Port Au Prince. The glass bottle is more valuable than it's contents and are always reused. Of all the refuse one will see in Haiti, a discarded pop bottle is the most rare.
The next post in this series will show the natural beauty that the nation of Haiti still possesses. while there is precious little of it left, it is breathtakingly beautiful none the less. It shows I think that God has not completely forsaken this place, and as the Faithful labor to do the work of The Kingdom in the hearts of the Haitian people the land may yet heal.