http://garyblack.myadventures.org Living the Mystery - Fully Alive! en-us Sat, 17 May 2008 14:03:15 GMT 30 http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=my-grumpy-bum http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=my-grumpy-bum One of my very best friends in the world is Mike Paschall. Mike walks in a powerful "Pastoral" and "Prophetic" anointing, but his main service to the body of Christ is raising up "Spiritual Sons and Daughters" He has an unique way of discipleship the following is from one of his "Spiritual Sons" Paul Allison. Paul is an artist, entrepreneur and father of 4 sons - this is a great example of calling people to not stay were they are in the real world...Last weekend, I was at a restaurant Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=fog http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=fog Living in America can mean a lot of things; freedom, protection, security, abundance I guess to many that live in the inner-city's, lost their jobs, or that live in white-suburbia that have over extended themselves, maybe they don't feel this way about America I know for me coming back in from Africa after 14 months, there is a fog. It is a like a false reality about life - how we do Church, how we raise our kids, how we run around looking for something that just isn't there. I can't Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=swaziland-is-dying-and-you-can-help http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=swaziland-is-dying-and-you-can-help From Seth Barnes' blog:Sometimes, it seems melodramatic to say it, but there is no escaping the fact that Swaziland is dying. The official numbers show a relentless pandemic sweeping through the countryside, leaving a trail of orphans in its wake. When I first arrived in 2004, there were 80,000 orphans. Within six years, that number will have more than tripled. This is absurd.Simultaneously, the Swazi men are systematically raping and abusing the women. It's horrific stuff. My team is there in t Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=theyre-someones-babies http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=theyre-someones-babies From my wife Lisa-Marie: Ever left your crying toddler in the Church nursery, or your Kindergarten student on the first day of school, or even a pre-teen at a summer camp? They look up at you with "Please don't leave me, Mommy" tears brimming, lower lip protruding, arms reaching out to for you to pick them up. You know there is nothing you can do; the time has come and you have to leave, but you feel a little nauseated. And the second you get to your car, you let the hot tears flow. My last we Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=god-is-up-to-something-with-this-generation http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=god-is-up-to-something-with-this-generation This is one of my favorite people in the world! Sean just got home from doing the World Race. Pray for these kids, God is up to something very big!Home Video by Sean Smith on 5/7/2008 World Race Final from Sean Smith on Vimeo. Journal Entry from 5/5/07 I stand on solid ground refusing to go back to my old ways! How do I sustain this path? I guess much like how I sustained the other path; by the choices I make so shall be my reward of course. My reward is Him, God. I pr Wed, 7 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=big-shout-out-for-caleb-alexander-the-great http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=big-shout-out-for-caleb-alexander-the-great Caleb is 11 years old today, and we are celebrating this young life all week! For those of you that know Caleb you will smile as you read this - those of you that have not had the pleasure of hanging out with him, your time will come Caleb is huge for his age: 130 pounds, 5 feet, 4 inches tall - surprisingly enough his best friend Hayden Davis is exactly the same size. Their balance and ability has not completely caught up with their size yet, but when it does, watch out! They are a Tue, 6 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=back-in-america http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=back-in-america We are back in America and adjusting slowly! Just wanted to thank you all for praying for us and financially helping us get home still a little jet-lagged, but we found a "manageable" (four teen-agers to one bathroom) house on the east side of Colorado Springs, and are very excited as we became very close in Africa! We are not sure how long the Lord will have us here, but we do know we are in His perfect plan. It's an amazing adjustment from Africa to America - how fast your food com Mon, 5 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=drink-a-warm-cup-and-feed-some-kids-today http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=drink-a-warm-cup-and-feed-some-kids-today Just a reminder to order your Saints coffee - Brett brought some over to Africa and it really is the best I have had... so, help feed some children today and enjoy some amazing beans!  Saint's Coffee is a small-batch, micro-roaster offering specialty blends and unique varietals of 100% Fair Trade Certified and organic coffees.  But beyond being the freshest, finest, and fairest of them allSaint's Coffee is transforming the lives of orphaned children by investing over 1/3rd of net profi Sat, 3 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=what-is-your-purpose http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=what-is-your-purpose I met with Danny Seay and Tom Deuschle today; Danny is a friend of 18 years that has stood by me when very few have been there Tom is a new friend, but challenged me today more then most have the balls to do. Danny Seay, (be careful to click on his name; his gift from God will "Blow" you up if you contact him)! Danny is a treasure from God for my family; he knew me when I was well known, he knew me when know one else cared - and he has loved my weakness as much as my strength. I have o Fri, 2 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=goodbye-world-race-squad-c http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=goodbye-world-race-squad-c Another post from Seth Barnes, who just left the States for Guatemala to debrief another squad of World Racers who are going home in a week. The World Race is a movement that we've been dreaming about for awhile, and Seth made it a reality. Lisa and I got to pour into these young people while they were in Africa, and I echo a lot of Seth's thoughts here. It is so rewarding to let these world-changers stand on our shoulders and be who they were meant to be!Karen and I are headed to Guatemala tomo Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=fathers-repent-to-your-sons http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=fathers-repent-to-your-sons A great blog from Seth Barnes on how we as fathers and mothers ought to repent to our kids, especially those getting ready to leave the nest:I have what I consider to be great relationships with my kids, but here's my report from the other side of this transition: Each of them has, of their own initiative, come to me to debrief some painful aspect of childhood that I unwittingly had a part in. The sad part is, I was clueless about it and they had never wanted to hurt my feelings.Every time Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=bring-the-rain http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=bring-the-rain This is from one of our World Racers Aaron; this is the way it works!When our team was in Nsoko, Swaziland, one of the things that the Lord told me to do was pray over my teammates every night and to pray for the area that we were in. One night, I remember lamenting under an open sky for the people of Nsoko. It is a dry and weary place and there is an oppressive presence that hovers over the area. I cried out for the Lord to bring rain to this dry and weary land. That he would cover the land wit Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=we-need-community http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=we-need-community When the followers of Jesus gather together and experience community, it wrecks them for just "doing church." They want to be the church. That's what's happening to our World Racers and other missionaries that come to live with us in Swaziland. That's why with G42, we're beginning to build leadership schools around the world. The first one will be in Georgia, and many more will follow. Check out this opportunity coming up in September of this year:We're excited to introduce a new opportunity th Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=when-we-weep http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=when-we-weep Michael, Emily, Alexis and I have been in the mountains of South Africa for the past 5 days experiencing God with 50 + young missionaries. I would love for you to see these mountains majestic, breath-taking, and right at the bottom of the mountains, poverty and violence. The D-squad of the World Race was ending their time in Africa and the E-Squad was just beginning. The collision was awesome! Can you imagine? Almost 60 young hearts; hungry, alive and wanting to change the world, stu Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=can-i-tell-you-about-my-wife-part-2 http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=can-i-tell-you-about-my-wife-part-2 As most of you know we have had a 23 year-old Swazi living with us this past year We call her Zandilicious! Her name is Zandiwe and she is one of the most soft, gentle spirits you would ever meet. About nine months ago, we found out she was pregnant; in Swaziland, most men have multiple wives and multiple partners; it is very common. Zandi, alone, young, wanting a future and a hope believed a lie: "I will take care of you, you will never have to beg again, just have a baby with me and Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=can-i-tell-you-about-my-wife http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=can-i-tell-you-about-my-wife As most of you know we have given our time, our finances, our support and our lives to a little place called Nsoko, Swaziland We have planted a church and built a Children's Village there. We educate, feed and disciple over 300 orphans, 70 Make's (mothers) and 20 some go, go's (grandma's) each day. But the reason we are doing this is because of one women's obedience. Lisa Black would get up in the morning about 6:00 - go to the gym with me, and then start her day. Breakfast for the tr Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=how-to-celebrate-easter-in-africa http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=how-to-celebrate-easter-in-africa From Collen Foley, a World Racer that spent her Easter with us in Swaziland: Step 1. Buy and transport cow to feed the whole village Step 2. grocery shop for the village and cook food for your sqaud Step 3. Put up tent for the third time this week Step 4. Trudge to Church in the mud Step 5. Worship the Risen King, Ordain a Pastor and Plant a Church! Step 6. Save your energy... it's going to be a long day Step 7. Take it all down again Step 8. Most importantly.. Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=world-race-update-from-the-field http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=world-race-update-from-the-field An update from the field of our missionaries traveling all over the world:Currently, we have one squad in South America, one in Africa, one in Central America, and one preparing to soon launch overseas. Here's an update from each squad. From our squad in Guatemala: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=tangible-help http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=tangible-help I have had many people ask me for specific ways in which they can tangibly help in Nsoko, Swaziland, and many have sent money for clothes (see Lisa's blog). Here is a list of what we need urgently and what will help us start educating the children and producing our self-sustainability projects... Most of Phase One is done - the Church is planted, (see video), the community center is built and paid for (we are feeding hundreds everyday, doing workshops on AIDS and teacher-training five days a we Wed, 9 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=nsoko-vision-trip http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=nsoko-vision-trip We have a few more days left to book you for the first Nsoko, G42 vision trip... please read and please pray earnestly about joining us!Nsoko vision tripWe are very excited to announce our first vision trip for Nsoko, Swaziland. Since we arrived in Swaziland a year ago we have been focusing on this rural area which is consumed with great need, as well as some of the most amazing people you will ever meet. One day Gary was showing some of the World Racers an area an hour and a half from o Fri, 4 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=boys-in-johannesburg-girls-in-nsoko http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=boys-in-johannesburg-girls-in-nsoko I am sitting in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa for the third day. I have my boys with me; Lisa and the girls are camping down in Nsoko bathing and clothing over 300 orphans. Last Friday my 14-year-old Michael called me from South Africa and said they will not put new papers in my passport and they have kept it! He is traveling over to Botswana with one of our World Race teams to help out an orphan ministry that is in dire need and did not have enough pages left in his passpo Wed, 2 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=where-weve-been-and-where-were-going http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=where-weve-been-and-where-were-going We are leaving Swazi, not from our own will, but God's. Not forever, but for a season. This does not mean, however, that we are stopping our mission or being demoted - the Lord has made it clear this is a promotion! We are putting a "Vision Trip" together for June 18-25 to bring people to Swaziland, see our Children's Village, go on safari, minister to orphans, help in the clinic, etc. For more details see Lisa-Marie's blog. We also have committed to eight debriefs around the world with our W Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=god-gave-us-the-key http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=god-gave-us-the-key This video is a bit humbling but King David's phrase kept going through my mind - "I will be even more undignified than this!" As many of you know we have been in a battle over our work permits for most of last year. At our first G42 African church plant on Easter Sunday a couple of princes the chiefs brothers joined us. After the service we had the privilege of having lunch with them. Andrew Shearman shared his passion with them of how he felt about the Blacks being thrown out of the cou Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=a-good-friday-to-remember http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=a-good-friday-to-remember Water Baptism is one of the two ordinances of the Church. My girls had never experienced the amazing process of washing your old self away with water and coming up as a new creation.The old is gone, and the new has come! But, after a day of listening to Andrew Shearman talk about our authority in Christ and how we must bring the Garden of Eden everywhere we go, they asked me if Andrew could baptize them. It turned into a Holy Spirit party with most of my kids and many World Racers ju Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=video-of-our-first-church-plant-in-swaziland http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=video-of-our-first-church-plant-in-swaziland Seth Barnes did a great job of explaining what an incredible moment we had here in Swaziland as we planted our first G42 church and ordained Pastor Gift:It was a good day for orphans yesterday, at least in my world.We had found 95 orphans in the Swaziland dirt last summer with no one to look after them. We felt God saying, "Take care of them." You can read the story of how we started on Morgan's blog. And God took our efforts and multiplied them. Here's a video of the inauguration of our first c Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=another-day-at-the-office http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=another-day-at-the-office Easter Sunday 2008, G42's first African Church Plant! As you know, our goals when we moved here were to learn God's heart through the eyes of an orphan, watch our kids get an inheritance of Africa from the Lord, find local families that wanted to bring "Kingdom" back to Swaziland and establish a training center/Church. We now have a "Sending Center" to mobilize thousands all over Africa. I'm not sure if you have ever planted a church, but it is a grueling task! We set up a 500 seat tent the w Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=uvukile http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=uvukile The Words "He has Risen" are the three words in English that speak hope to any person or any situation! May we know the power of His resurrection to the fullest! In Saswati, (Swaziland's Native tongue), it is all summed up in one word - "Uvukile.""HE HAS RISEN" - CELEBRATE THE CHRIST TODAY Happy easter from the BlackTribe! Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=a-covenantal-generation http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=a-covenantal-generation For this past year, Lisa and I have been teaching, training, debriefing, and loving on hundreds of young missionaries from America and Canada. Most of our time with them is spent in our Lapa (South African patio with a thatch roof over the top, keeps the heat out) in our back yard. The conversations are mostly about Kingdom living; community, apostolic family, tabernacle and covenant. This generation is looking for the "Authentic" - people that are really who they say they are and famil Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=the-foot-washing-of-foot-washings http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=the-foot-washing-of-foot-washings I have had my feet washed a few times, but it has never been very comfortable. I've found it is much easier to wash someone's feet than to have my feet washed; last night my feet were washed like never before. If you have been reading my blogs, you know we have a World Race Squad here with us in Africa. 26 young Americans traveling around the world that we have had the privilege of hosting for the past couple months.I have been teaching the teams each morning about Kingdom, living Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=doubt-miracles-and-faith http://garyblack.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=doubt-miracles-and-faith Here's another one from Seth on miracles and disbelief. In the U.S., Africa, and all around the world, I've seen God move in powerful ways. Yet, there still seems to be a mystery about the whole process: why do some get healed and others (who seem just as faithful) do not? Seth raises some good questions in this blog and resolves a few, too:We're stuck - here we are, children of a cynical culture, and we serve a master whose top priority is teaching his disciples to trust a God they can't see. Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT