Declare His Glory Among the Nations!

This is the kind of preaching I long for. It's fifty minutes long, but I really urge you, Tivo ER and take the time to listen to this. Get someone to sit down and listen with you. Pray before you start, and listen and be encouraged!

Click Here to listen to the audio.

You can also click on the title of this post to read or watch the same sermon, but I like the audio best because they read the scripture to you first. 

The way John Piper communicate... the urgency in his voice... that's how Heidi and I feel. We're so hungry for a healthy, obedient church... willing to lay down it's life and the lives of others for the honor of God's name, for the praise of God's name. 

Anniversary #9

Yesterday was Heidi's and my 9 year anniversary.
I have to admit. I was worried. I am almost every year. I've never had much to offer her. At least that's how I feel. We have been penniless nearly all of our married lives.
I remember back when we were dating. We didn't have much money. We were in school full-time. But we would go on long walks together. We window shopped a ton. We talked constantly about the things we wanted to get for each other. And when we had the means, we would buy that special gift and deliver it in grand fashion!
I really shouldn't worry. I know Heidi. She's amazing. She would never hold something like a forgotten gift against me, not for long at least. She loves what I get her, no matter what it is.
Now that I think about it... It's hard to remember the gifts we've given each other over the years. The things that are most memorable are the thoughts behind it all. I kind of feel like we are the "Gift of the Magi" couple. You know the story were Jim sells his pocket watch to buy hair combs for Della who has just sold her hair to buy a gold chain for Jim's pocket watch.
This year Zechariah woke me up at 6 AM. I put on my running shoes and went nine miles (9th anniversary) to get Heidi flowers and breakfast which included our favorite, pain au chocolat. When I got back, exhausted (because we live at the top of a really steep road), what could Heidi be bringing out of the oven but pain au chocolat. We both appreciate each other so much. We didn't need anything else.

Forth of July Fireworks!

We went to our friends house in Gilroy to see the fireworks. 

The boys snuggled together to stay warm. They really enjoyed each other!

Small town fireworks are great. They were so close. I shot this with a wide angle lens (24 mm). We almost got hit my a misfire.

They boys hide under a blanket when the fireworks were really loud.

They were pretty proud of themselves for not being too scared.

Ryan and Candice took care of Harley for me for the whole time. She really enjoyed them. Heidi stayed at the Drummond's with Zechariah and some friends. 

Untitled

Here's another poem from my notebook...

I've got a plan

     a clever trick

          to get a stone to talk.

We'll gather round

     a pile of rocks

          no one will speak or squawk.

Jesus said

     that this would work

          just before He died.

I can't say

     that I've seen it

          even though I've tried.

What you do 

     is not praise God

          don't give Him what He's due.

Then stones and rocks

     will all cry out

          declaring what is true.

The reason that

     it's never worked

          is that I can't be still.

I see the stones,

     the grass, the trees

          rising up the hills

And there I see

     my Savior, God,

          Creator, Kind, and Friend

Then praises rise

     in my stoney heart.

          His praise is without end.

I've Got a Boy, He's Got a Father

This is a poem I wrote when my first son became a believer. It's fading from the notebook I scratched it in so I thought I better put it somewhere more permanent.

A father's love is deeper than

     one can understand

The Father Himself gave me a son

     designed by His own hand

Before his birth God made it clear

     the child would not be mine

My son is now my brother

     We share a Father divine

The Great Outdoors!

Zechariah Job

    It's been a long time since my last post, and you may be well aware of why we named our son Zechariah Job. If you don't, here's the explanation. Zechariah means "God Remembers," and Job means "the Afflicted." I wanted a name that reflected the character of God, and God has put a burden on my heart for the suffering people in this world.   
     My first two sons were named after people I want them to grow up to be like: friends, relatives, or Bible characters. Zachariah is named for the attributes and actions of God that I long for and cling to. It is my prayer that Zechariah grows up to embody God's love for the poor and afflicted.

Psalm 10

     11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
          he covers his face and never sees."

     12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. 

          Do not forget the helpless.

     17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; 

          you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

     18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, 

          in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

Psalm 98

3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel;

   all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Zechariah 8

        2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her."

Here's an e-mail that I wrote to a friend concerning the spelling of Zechariah's name. 

     The short answer to your questions is, "Yes."

     I'm not misspelling Petit's name. It says Zachariah on his birth certificate. It took a little persuading for Heidi to go along with that name, and I thought I was giving a little ground by spelling it with an 'a' so that it would easily translate into the not-all-that-uncommon, Zach. Later she said she was surprised that I did that, and I thought, "Yeah, I kind of caved there. The last thing I was trying to do was conform to popular tradition... then at the last minute I did." So spelling it with an 'e' is kind of reclaiming a good name; a name from the living Word of God. It is an allowing of confusion in acknowledgement of fact that often mystery is deeper, truer... than understanding. 

     That's the first time I've really answered the question. So I might cut-and-paste it for other people. 

     Loveya, 

         Jeff Frazee......

Baby Boy

This is our new baby boy. We don't have a name yet.

Dusty Boxes

You might have noticed on some of my other sites that I recently moved our belongings into their third storage place in the past two years. When you're moving things it's always a good opportunity to off-load things and reminisce. I found my old copy of The NIV Harmony of the Gospels, and inside was the card I signed in October of 1996 committing to pray about and seek my role in international missions. I've mentioned the card to many people as we have spoken with different churches, and I talked about it in the video we sent out. So now here it is, for your viewing pleasure, for the first time on the world wide web... my Moody Bible Institute World Evangelism Decision Card!!!

The Thorn

I thought I blogged this before, but I couldn't find it. I love it.

I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne
And begged Him for a priceless gift, which I could call my own.
I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart
I cried, “But Lord, this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.
This is a strange, a hurtful gift that Thou hast given me.
He said, “My child, I give good gifts and give my best to thee.”
I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore;
As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.
I learned He never gives a thorn without this added Grace.
He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.

“The Thorn,” by Martha Snell Nicholson

The Road to Mali

Turn up your volume.
I hope this brings some clarity to what is going on in our lives. Please feel free to share this video. Pray that we get all the support we need to leave by August!

Loss and Gain

My mother-in-law (affectionately known as 'belle mere' or Janou) wrote me an e-mail to let me know she is praying for us. She included a quote by David Livingston.

< "I never made a sacrifice." -David Livingston

But I think my belle mere said it better. She was a missionary in Africa for 25 years 'ish.'

"We have encountered, which you and Heidi may have as well, individuals who talk about the sacrifice we make in going to Africa. We have said that no—is not at all true. In fact the sacrifice would have been to have stayed in the U.S. and sacrificed God’s blessing on our family since He had called us to go and we must obey that call. Africa was where He wanted us to be. It was not without its difficulties, the hard times, the sickness, the separations—all like Livingston mentions. But, the blessings far outweigh and overshadow the other things."

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

I have so much to write, but I've just got time to give you the quick version.
On November first we flew to New York. We stayed with my brother in Brooklyn, and they took us all around the city. Have you tried navigating the subway with three small kids? I don't know how families do it. At the end of the day we were always ready to get back to Jim and Becca's quiet (relatively speaking) and homey apartment.
We also drove down to Pennsylvania and Maryland where Heidi's grandma and aunt and uncle live. Leaving the city for the rolling country side was like lifting a weight off my shoulders. I guess I'm a country boy. Grandma Kunkle and Aunt Lois cooked us the most amazing meals. I think Grandma Kunkle must be the easiest person to be with. She just makes you feel right at home any time you see her.
Now we're in Michigan with Heidi's family. We got here just in time to help them put the finishing touches on their addition. Last night we hosted a party in the new great room, and it was just wonderful. God has blessed us with so many great friends. We even met a new couple who wants to help support us in our ministry!
The biggest blessing of all is our growing family. Harley and Abby are six months apart, and it took them all of about five minutes to become the best of friends. Girls are different than boys, and our two little girls just sit together and make each other laugh. They hug and kiss and ask where the other one is when they're not around.
As if that wasn't good enough?!... Heidi and our sister-in-law are expecting two new babies just two months apart!
God is good!

Mali.aria

This is an article I found that talks about how malaria affects Mali. CLICK HERE A totally treatable disease takes over 100,000 lives in Mali alone. I really hope some of you guys come and visit us in Mali when we move there. It just really opens your eyes in a way that no writing or pictures ever can.

Ten Things (first draft)

Ten things to do before I die
not yet in any particular order

1. Speak French fluently.
2. Speak Bambara fluently.
3. Make a deeply moving, professional quality, God-glorifying documentary film.
4. Be a missionary to Mali.
5. Leave a legacy of committed disciples in Mali.
6. See all my children commit their lives to Christ.
7. See grandchildren and great grandchildren serving Christ.
8. Publish my work in National Geographic. (a cover shot would be pretty nice too.)
9. Adopt children.
10. Pay off my student loans.

other possible alternates
Learn to really play the guitar, kora, and balafone (West African instruments)
Climb a few of the 14s
Write a book
Publish my autobiography or biography
Dance like no one's looking

cast your votes and make your own lists

Journalism in Mali

CLICK HERE for more BBC stories on Mali. This link is time sensitive because news is a living thing. So check it out soon. There are three video stories: one about a hostage situation and a Malian bride, one about a job center in Mali, and one about the poor treatment of journalists in Mali.

Street Scene in Mali

We got this video from some of our really good friends in Mali, Ben and Brenda. Brenda was Heidi's roommate in high school and college, and now they are missionaries in Mali.
Their video is of some kids in the street doing tumbling. It's always amazing to me how resourceful kids are. We can't wait to get out there with Ben and Brenda! They're a ton of fun!

Mali: Land of Mystery 002

I found some good Mali videos at National Geographic. If you click on the title of this post you can watch the videos. or Click Here
There are four videos. It amazes me how much parts of Mali have remained unchanged for hundreds of years. On a spiritual level it reminded me of the Bozo people of Mali. There are around 150,000 Bozos (stifle your laughs), and 84% of them have never even heard the good news about what Jesus has done for them. How is that possible? They don't live in some unreachable location. Pray for them.

It's hard to stay close if you don't understand life your friend is living. We probably won't live in Mali until 2010 (dates like that should only be in sci-fi movies). But we want you to know about the place that we're in love with. So CLICK HERE to get a quick overview of Mali by BBC.

Mali: Land of Mystery

So... you all probably know that this is a manatee. But I bet you didn't know that they have manatees in Mali! I couldn't believe it when I read about it. Apparently, you can find fresh water manatees in the Niger River, which spends a large part of its distance in Mali.
The picture above is not of African manatees. In fact, I couldn't really find a picture of one. There was a picture of an African manatee in a Japanese aquarium, but even that was a terrible picture.
So I'm thinking I'll do the first thorough photographic study of the African manatee. National Geographic here I come! Okay, so the Niger River also has hippos and crocodiles... So I'll probably get an "assistant" (that's what you call it in the professional photography business), give him my camera, tell him to swim out into the murky Niger, and take the credit for the photos after he's risked life and limb.
Of course, I would never do this even though it is considered totally legitimate in the magazine photography world. No joke.

Amy Carmichael

I'm reading From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya for the third time now. I really like it. (Heidi can't stand it.) It is a quick (500 pages) history of Christian missions.





The story about Amy Carmichael had a quote that really said what I have been wanting to tell people. When confronted with the criticism that her work of meeting physical needs and providing education wasn't evangelistic enough for a missionary she said, "Souls are more or less securely fastened to bodies ...and as you cannot get the souls out and deal with them separately, you have to take them both together."

I got so excited when I read that because it confirmed the common sense and wisdom of how God has been leading me all these years. I can't wait to see how God uses what He has been teaching me about Himself and about visual journalism to change peoples lives in Mali. I was timid about leaving the mission field to study photography. But... now... "Who has known the mind of the Lord or offered Him and counsel?" (Rom. 11:34) He knows what He's doing.

Check out this video the my missionary buddy, Matt Kingsley, turned me on to. I would love to help these kind of small business get going in Mali. Better yet, I would love my good friend Brian Pederson to come out to Mali and run a micro finance business. That's what he said he would want to do if he was a missionary.

Love y'all