Just “skimming” through the news tonight…some pretty heavy headlines.
Quake Kills More Than 3,000 in South Asia
Mudslides, Floods in Guatemala Kill 500
Is it ever hard for any of you to stay focused? It is for me. It does not take much to convince me that there are so many broken people in need of God’s healing touch. Everywhere I look, I see physical, spiritual, and emotional need. I just want to be in the place that God can use me the most to impact his kingdom the most. It is easy for me to get overwhelmed sometimes, to look at all the hurt and pain and know that many will never know the power in God’s touch.
So as I was praying today about what is going on all over the world…from the people closest to me…to those in our country who have lost everything from Katrina, to Guatemala, to South Asia…I began to get discouraged as to how God can use me to reach those individuals who are experiencing incredible devastation right now.
Then I read this amazing passage of scripture…
1 Peter 4:8-11
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
That passage blew me away. So what can I do? What can we do?
Be serious and watchful in our prayers.
Above all things—have a fervent love for one another.
Use the gifts God gave us…minister them to one another…
Speak on behalf of God, minister under the ability which God supplies
SO THAT in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
What an intense “crash” the church would become if we did that?
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Friday, September 30, 2005
Just wanted to share some precious stories about my cousin, Nicholas.
Last week, Allison, Nicholas, and I were walking down the street in downtown phoenix and a man who seemed to be homeless walked up to us. He asked us for some money to ride the bus. Without hesitating, my eight-year-old cousin reached into his pocket, whipped out his wallet, looked at the man with a big smile and said, “I have money.”
The man looked at him and said, “no, no, kid…I can’t take your money.” And Nicholas quickly responded, “no, its okay…I get $2 a week in allowance”. As we walked away, Nick looked at us and said, “the sad thing is, he will probably spend it on beer…but he still needs it more then me.” I was so touched at his pure heart and his desire to give, without hesitation. It wasn't just that he was too innocent to assume that themoney would not be used on food...he was so innocent that it didn't matter to him what it was spent on, he just knew he had plenty and this man had little.
Then…this past weekend, Nick and I were hanging out and somehow the topic of kids came up…he looked at me with a total sincere heart…there was no doubt in his mind that he would one day do this, but he said, “Dennae, I am going to adopt five kids. One from China, one from India, one from Africa, one from Russia, and one from Mexico that way I have one child from all parts of the world. Then when we go on missions trips, my kids can translate for us depending on the country we are in.” He had this huge smile on his face and was so excited as he thought about it.
His heart is so special. I totally love that kid. The heart that all of my younger cousins have totally blows me away…you always hear about 2nd and 3rd generation Christians who are totally burned by church and turned off to God, but the Lord has gotten a hold of these precious hearts at a young age and I feel like God is constantly speaking to me through their precious thoughts, motives, and big dreams. I long to have that precious child like love, heart, and passion.
Last week, Allison, Nicholas, and I were walking down the street in downtown phoenix and a man who seemed to be homeless walked up to us. He asked us for some money to ride the bus. Without hesitating, my eight-year-old cousin reached into his pocket, whipped out his wallet, looked at the man with a big smile and said, “I have money.”
The man looked at him and said, “no, no, kid…I can’t take your money.” And Nicholas quickly responded, “no, its okay…I get $2 a week in allowance”. As we walked away, Nick looked at us and said, “the sad thing is, he will probably spend it on beer…but he still needs it more then me.” I was so touched at his pure heart and his desire to give, without hesitation. It wasn't just that he was too innocent to assume that themoney would not be used on food...he was so innocent that it didn't matter to him what it was spent on, he just knew he had plenty and this man had little.
Then…this past weekend, Nick and I were hanging out and somehow the topic of kids came up…he looked at me with a total sincere heart…there was no doubt in his mind that he would one day do this, but he said, “Dennae, I am going to adopt five kids. One from China, one from India, one from Africa, one from Russia, and one from Mexico that way I have one child from all parts of the world. Then when we go on missions trips, my kids can translate for us depending on the country we are in.” He had this huge smile on his face and was so excited as he thought about it.
His heart is so special. I totally love that kid. The heart that all of my younger cousins have totally blows me away…you always hear about 2nd and 3rd generation Christians who are totally burned by church and turned off to God, but the Lord has gotten a hold of these precious hearts at a young age and I feel like God is constantly speaking to me through their precious thoughts, motives, and big dreams. I long to have that precious child like love, heart, and passion.
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Matthew 18:1-6
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
just some thoughts...
“The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God and the Church is famishing for want of His presence. The instant cure of most of our religious ills would be to enter the Presence in spiritual experience, to become suddenly aware that we are in God and God is in us. This would lift us out of our pitiful narrowness and cause our hearts to be enlarged. This would burn away the impurities from our lives as the bugs and fungi were burned away by the fire that dwelt in the bush.”
-A.W. Tozer
I read that in “The Pursuit of God” a few weeks ago and the words keep coming up in conversation and discussion about the church. It seems like Christians all around me are famished for God’s presence and I think A.W. Tozer’s observations hit the nail on the head. What if we entered into spiritual experience? What if w truly understood that we are in God and God is in us. How would that change the way we live our daily lives? How would it change the way we view and serve this world?
It seems like the topic of conversation the past few weeks in my circle has been, “works”. “Works can’t save you” and “you can’t earn your salvation” are concepts the church wants to make sure their congregation really understands. Here is an analogy I have kind of been imaging up in my head as I have been listening to people…imagine your relationship with your spouse. What if you took out the trash, tucked your kids into bed at night, did the dishes, sat and listened to your wife share their feelings/ frustrations, and even kissed them goodbye in the morning because it made you a “good husband/wife”. What if your only purpose in doing all those things were to live up to the standard of what a “good spouse” was, but you had no desire to do it out of your love for the person? You would quickly become burned out and feel a lack of love in your life. That is the equivalent to “doing” just for the sake of “doing” what God requires of you. But what if you did the same things in your relationship with your spouse, not because you had to, but because you deeply loved the person and wanted to pour out as much of your love into their life as possible? The actions might look the same, but the heart would be different. One person is burned out by the action and the other is energized by the action.
I think that is one of the differences between the average Christian wandering through life famishing for God’s presence and one walking through knowing they are in God and God is in them. I really believe a lot of entering into God’s presence and an intimate relationship with Christ has to do with our understanding of what that means…to be aware that God in us means we share his heart…and God’s heart beats for people. He has an intense love for them I believe he wants to pour into our hearts…if the world is perishing for a lack of knowledge of God then I need to do a better job of knowing God so I can share Him with them.
-A.W. Tozer
I read that in “The Pursuit of God” a few weeks ago and the words keep coming up in conversation and discussion about the church. It seems like Christians all around me are famished for God’s presence and I think A.W. Tozer’s observations hit the nail on the head. What if we entered into spiritual experience? What if w truly understood that we are in God and God is in us. How would that change the way we live our daily lives? How would it change the way we view and serve this world?
It seems like the topic of conversation the past few weeks in my circle has been, “works”. “Works can’t save you” and “you can’t earn your salvation” are concepts the church wants to make sure their congregation really understands. Here is an analogy I have kind of been imaging up in my head as I have been listening to people…imagine your relationship with your spouse. What if you took out the trash, tucked your kids into bed at night, did the dishes, sat and listened to your wife share their feelings/ frustrations, and even kissed them goodbye in the morning because it made you a “good husband/wife”. What if your only purpose in doing all those things were to live up to the standard of what a “good spouse” was, but you had no desire to do it out of your love for the person? You would quickly become burned out and feel a lack of love in your life. That is the equivalent to “doing” just for the sake of “doing” what God requires of you. But what if you did the same things in your relationship with your spouse, not because you had to, but because you deeply loved the person and wanted to pour out as much of your love into their life as possible? The actions might look the same, but the heart would be different. One person is burned out by the action and the other is energized by the action.
I think that is one of the differences between the average Christian wandering through life famishing for God’s presence and one walking through knowing they are in God and God is in them. I really believe a lot of entering into God’s presence and an intimate relationship with Christ has to do with our understanding of what that means…to be aware that God in us means we share his heart…and God’s heart beats for people. He has an intense love for them I believe he wants to pour into our hearts…if the world is perishing for a lack of knowledge of God then I need to do a better job of knowing God so I can share Him with them.
Friday, September 02, 2005
I wish I could do something greater then donate money to help with this disaster...lives are in shambles right now...I just pray that God moves on our hearts and there are people who can go help minster to hearts and lives. Here are some great ways to help a little...
World Vision
Red Cross
I want to continue the train of thought from my last post. You know, my heart and mind seems to be maxed out as far as understanding as much as I possibly can the great need in this world. There are so many physical needs not being met...and while I am so passionate about being an active participant in doing something, anything to at least help a few...I want to make sure that it is ALL being driven out of my desire to meet their spiritual needs.
When I look at pictures, hear stories, and think about lives that are destroyed through this disaster...and lives all over the world that are hopelessly struggling just to survive, something inside of me wants to change that. But it is almost easy to get passionate about that and get on a soap box about being wasteful physically and being so selfishly materialistic and ignore the even GREATER tragedy...being wasteful spiritually. I want to be able to look into the hearts of all those around me and have the same compassion on them that I have for children in Africa or Asia. They are starving spiritually. In some ways it is a little more difficult...because it is harder to see the need...but I pray that my eyes are constantly open and my heart always sensitive to know the need spiritually.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Finding the Balance...
In my last post, I wrote, "I am not so sure what I am going to do with it yet...I just know that the Lord is moving me, more every day, into a place where I am sickened by how much I spend on self and comfort." Well, it has been a week now since I saw Pastor Modekai's face and my thoughts and conversations have been consumed with what I am going to do.
The concept of giving and blessings just seem so backward to me (at least the way I have always heard it taught in church and Christian circles)...
Why do we always say, "give and the Lord will bless you?" or, "if you give abundantly you will receive abundantly?" This is the question that keeps running through my head, "how much more do we want God to bless us financially?" I mean, the American living off of minimum wage is rich compared to the third world...they are struggling, but they are still blessed.
Give more to be blessed more? I don't think Christ intended for my giving to be about me. What about give more because God can use it to reach the hearts and souls of people? Or give more because kids in Honduras are dying from a bug bite that would be prevented if they had a tin roof on their houses? Or because a $7 bottle of medicine would cure millions from a disease that causes blindness? What about give more because millions are dying from AIDS, malaria, drought, and famine?
I keep asking myself, "Why have I conformed to the mindset that I should be striving for more things?" Why do we work our entire lives to live "more comfortably?" What is wrong with living comfortably...why do we need more? (I know the answer to that is sin, pride, but it seems like materialism has become an idol that is turning our hearts to everything but God)
The rich ruler came to Jesus and asked, "What else can I do?" Sell it all, give to the poor, and follow me. Who do you think the rich ruler is?
I am. Working at starbucks part time...in America, that is nothing, but to the world, I am wealthy beyond belief. So what else can I do, beyond what I am already doing, to follow Christ?
Sell it. Give it. Follow.
I have often justified my pull to materialism by saying it is okay to enjoy the excess, because God has blessed me to enjoy it...and while there may be some truth to that, there is a line that is crossed where we begin to glorify ourselves rather then God through possessions.
I know that this might seem like I am being extreme. I am not saying we should live below poverty. I am typing this just after I finished drinking my $2.oo starbucks cup of coffee, but I can't stop asking myself these questions because of what I might need to give up. There has to be a balance. What is it? Maybe the church is living way above her means...or right in line with her means, when she could be living way below her means. Please understand that I am not pointing fingers or being judgemental...I am simply asking, "what is the balance?" and "are we living it?"
I know the answer for me is that I am out of balance. I fear to think about how out of balance because I don't want to give up my toys. What if God is calling some of us to radically change our spending habbits and what we spend our money on? What if he is calling some of us to give up something as small as our dish network/ tivo or something as large as downsizing our house? Am I really willing to think, pray, and challenge myself as to what God wants me to do? How radically can I and will I live?
Just the thoughts going through my head...please share what your thoughts are...
The concept of giving and blessings just seem so backward to me (at least the way I have always heard it taught in church and Christian circles)...
Why do we always say, "give and the Lord will bless you?" or, "if you give abundantly you will receive abundantly?" This is the question that keeps running through my head, "how much more do we want God to bless us financially?" I mean, the American living off of minimum wage is rich compared to the third world...they are struggling, but they are still blessed.
Give more to be blessed more? I don't think Christ intended for my giving to be about me. What about give more because God can use it to reach the hearts and souls of people? Or give more because kids in Honduras are dying from a bug bite that would be prevented if they had a tin roof on their houses? Or because a $7 bottle of medicine would cure millions from a disease that causes blindness? What about give more because millions are dying from AIDS, malaria, drought, and famine?
I keep asking myself, "Why have I conformed to the mindset that I should be striving for more things?" Why do we work our entire lives to live "more comfortably?" What is wrong with living comfortably...why do we need more? (I know the answer to that is sin, pride, but it seems like materialism has become an idol that is turning our hearts to everything but God)
The rich ruler came to Jesus and asked, "What else can I do?" Sell it all, give to the poor, and follow me. Who do you think the rich ruler is?
I am. Working at starbucks part time...in America, that is nothing, but to the world, I am wealthy beyond belief. So what else can I do, beyond what I am already doing, to follow Christ?
Sell it. Give it. Follow.
I have often justified my pull to materialism by saying it is okay to enjoy the excess, because God has blessed me to enjoy it...and while there may be some truth to that, there is a line that is crossed where we begin to glorify ourselves rather then God through possessions.
I know that this might seem like I am being extreme. I am not saying we should live below poverty. I am typing this just after I finished drinking my $2.oo starbucks cup of coffee, but I can't stop asking myself these questions because of what I might need to give up. There has to be a balance. What is it? Maybe the church is living way above her means...or right in line with her means, when she could be living way below her means. Please understand that I am not pointing fingers or being judgemental...I am simply asking, "what is the balance?" and "are we living it?"
I know the answer for me is that I am out of balance. I fear to think about how out of balance because I don't want to give up my toys. What if God is calling some of us to radically change our spending habbits and what we spend our money on? What if he is calling some of us to give up something as small as our dish network/ tivo or something as large as downsizing our house? Am I really willing to think, pray, and challenge myself as to what God wants me to do? How radically can I and will I live?
Just the thoughts going through my head...please share what your thoughts are...
Thursday, August 25, 2005
their food, our toys...
Pastor Mordekai has been staying at our house this past week. He has been going through the phone book, calling pastors, asking them if he can come meet with them and share his story. We were at a church this past week in Fountain Hills that was serving and reaching out into their community in great ways...the pastor had such a tender heart. They were giving us a tour of their preschool when we came across a room with rice all over the floor.
Pastor Mordekai looked at the room with a very confused look on his face. His eyes wandered to a table...filled with rice and toys. "Is this a toy?" he asked the pastor, stunned. The pastor replied with an I-know-what-you-are-thinking, "yes". Pastor Mordekai lost it...his eyes filled up with tears and a look of pain came acros his face. He just groaned and paused, then said..."You Americans..." he continued to stare at the table filled with rice. "In the villages in my country...this is their food. Their only food. The children, the families, only have enough to eat twice, maybe three time a week. And your children are playing with it...throwing it all over the floor. Ughh...you Americans."
He wasn't disgusted, he wasn't angry...but I think his heart hurt...as did mine...as did the pastors. I haven't been able to get the facial expression he made out of my head or heart all week... I am not so sure what I am going to do with it yet...I just know that the Lord is moving me, more every day, into a place where I am sickened by how much I spend on self and comfort.
On those lines...if you haven't read Dale's post and article about the 600 million children living in poverty...please take the time to read it.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Back in Arizona...
I am back in sunny Arizona...I think I missed most of the heat...it is still warm, but cool enough to enjoy being outdoors! As much as I miss the cool weather and amazing people back east, it is nice to be home too (and out of the car!).
Brooke and I had a crazy week driving across country...it was so much fun. New York City and Chicago are both awesome places, but the atmosphere of the two were both so different. It was so much fun to see the difference between the two cities. Not just the physical difference, but the difference in personalities, paces, and style. Chicago as a whole was so much more laid back then New York...but both places were fun and we met some great people during our travels (In case ya'll didn't already know this...Brooke is a people magnent).
I think the biggest shocker for the week was Kansas City. I never imagined there being such a big inner city in Missouri. I saw more homeless people in the one day I was in Kansas City then in the three days I was in New York and Chicago combined. But it was so encouraging...I was able to meet the pastors of Brook's church, Solomon's Porch, and it was incredible to me how much they are giving to the community. They are feeding the homeless, providing clothes, food, shelter, day care for single moms, a youth center for the kids and teens to hang out in after school and on weekends...but most of all they are pouring out an incredible amount of God's unconditional love. I could have sat and listened to those pastors talk forever about their passion for reaching Kansas City. I love seeing how God is moving the entire body of Christ to meet the needs of this world. Dale, I love what you said in your comment on my last post, "I do think there is something in the kingdom of God that causes the spread of His people. I don't think it an accident that the apostles didn't die in a group but alone and on mission." I love when...on my journey...I am able to cross paths for even a short while and meet people who are, "on mission"...just reminds, encourages, and empowers me to stay on mine.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
See you on the field...
You know the sports movies where the team is in this high-tention game...they take a quick time out...regroup, restrategize, then come back and give it their all and win the game? That is kind of what I felt this summer was like. I was extermely blessed to meet some amazing people who live their life like they are in the last 30-seconds of the game. When I talk with my new friends and my wonderful family, it is not like talking to a bunch of people sitting on the side-lines, critiquing the performance of the players...they are the players, and they are passionately pouring their hearts, bodies, and souls into this world. My friends and family here are not philosophers. They don't sit around and ponder how life could be better. They are strategizers. They gather together, swap war stories, and plan the next move. Every time you see them...they have taken new ground.
So, I am leaving in a few hours to drive back across the country... I didn't know it was possible to fall in love with so many people so quickly. I look forward to hearing all about the amazing things that happens in and through each and every one of you. Each of you encouraged me to live a more missional life in a unique and wonderful way. Thank you.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
The most exciting thing that happened this week had to be the time I was able to spend with my grandfather...
Victor, my grandfather, has been one of the closest and dearest people to my heart for my entire life. Although he is not a Christian, he has been one of the most influential people in my life spiritually. e is not a hard person about anything in life, except God (of course he picks the most important decision of his life the thing worth being stubborn on). But even though he does not believe in God, God has used him in my life greatly to give me a burden for those who do not have a relationship with Him. I could write pages about what my grandfather has taught me spiritually without ever trying, but that will have to be a different post.
My grandpa lives very close to me in Arizona and for as long as I have been alive I have been praying for him and sharing with him every chance I get about what life is like with a relationship with Jesus. He is always so hard when I bring it up...he will go off about how when he moved to Rhode Island from Honduras the church in town that had the only private school refused to let his daughters in because the were Hispanic. Or he will tell stories about how his father abandoned him and his twin brother was shot while they were hunting together as teenagers—and how could there be a God who would allow pain? We have had hundreds, maybe thousands of conversations of him just pouring out his heart, his hard heart about why God cannot and does not exist. I have often driven home feeling so hopeless and not being able to see any possible way that he would surrender his life to the Lord...I knew it would take a miracle.
Well...I started praying for a miracle when I was at a kids camp in 3rd grade...so about 13 years ago and the week in Honduras was the first glimpse of an answered prayer. When we got to my grandfather’s nephew’s house in San Pedro Sula we all sat around a table and everyone immediately began to share stories. Come to find out, both of my grandfather’s nephews are Christians and my grandfather’s father became a Christian in the later years of his life. Christ changed his life and he stopped drinking and actually raised my grandpa’s nephew’s when their father abandoned them. At the beginning of the week, my grandpa just shrugged it off and made comments like, “na...he was a drunk” but by the end of the week he was telling us story after story through teary eyes about how many good memories he had of his father.
I was sitting at one of my grandpa’s nephew’s houses and they began to share a poem with my grandpa that his father had written shortly before he died. Victor was translating it from Spanish into English for me and he was so choked up he couldn’t finish it. I am going to post the poem in a week or so once I have it completely translated, but a few lines from the poem that I remember were—
Who is this God? This amazing being?
Who can make an egg into a bird
A worm into a butterfly
A lost and soul into a beautiful child?
On the plane ride home I realized that I have developed a poor misconception of God’s love over the years...
I always heard it said and believed it whole heartedly that if we continue to harden our hearts that God will at some point stop drawing us to Him. I have heard it used in altar calls and evangelistic services and while I am sure there is some truth to that, I think it has been taken out of context. God is love. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love always hopes. Love always perseveres. Love endures all things. Love always protects. God’s love is never ending and unfailing. In the past I have often prayed, “Father, I know he has hardened his heart so many times....but please still draw him to you.” As I watched God so intentionally pursue my Grandfather’s heart during that week, I realized that there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love. Eight years old or eighty years old, saint or murderer, God’s love will continue to pursue our hearts and call out to us until the day we die.
Victor, my grandfather, has been one of the closest and dearest people to my heart for my entire life. Although he is not a Christian, he has been one of the most influential people in my life spiritually. e is not a hard person about anything in life, except God (of course he picks the most important decision of his life the thing worth being stubborn on). But even though he does not believe in God, God has used him in my life greatly to give me a burden for those who do not have a relationship with Him. I could write pages about what my grandfather has taught me spiritually without ever trying, but that will have to be a different post.
My grandpa lives very close to me in Arizona and for as long as I have been alive I have been praying for him and sharing with him every chance I get about what life is like with a relationship with Jesus. He is always so hard when I bring it up...he will go off about how when he moved to Rhode Island from Honduras the church in town that had the only private school refused to let his daughters in because the were Hispanic. Or he will tell stories about how his father abandoned him and his twin brother was shot while they were hunting together as teenagers—and how could there be a God who would allow pain? We have had hundreds, maybe thousands of conversations of him just pouring out his heart, his hard heart about why God cannot and does not exist. I have often driven home feeling so hopeless and not being able to see any possible way that he would surrender his life to the Lord...I knew it would take a miracle.
Well...I started praying for a miracle when I was at a kids camp in 3rd grade...so about 13 years ago and the week in Honduras was the first glimpse of an answered prayer. When we got to my grandfather’s nephew’s house in San Pedro Sula we all sat around a table and everyone immediately began to share stories. Come to find out, both of my grandfather’s nephews are Christians and my grandfather’s father became a Christian in the later years of his life. Christ changed his life and he stopped drinking and actually raised my grandpa’s nephew’s when their father abandoned them. At the beginning of the week, my grandpa just shrugged it off and made comments like, “na...he was a drunk” but by the end of the week he was telling us story after story through teary eyes about how many good memories he had of his father.
I was sitting at one of my grandpa’s nephew’s houses and they began to share a poem with my grandpa that his father had written shortly before he died. Victor was translating it from Spanish into English for me and he was so choked up he couldn’t finish it. I am going to post the poem in a week or so once I have it completely translated, but a few lines from the poem that I remember were—
Who is this God? This amazing being?
Who can make an egg into a bird
A worm into a butterfly
A lost and soul into a beautiful child?
On the plane ride home I realized that I have developed a poor misconception of God’s love over the years...
I always heard it said and believed it whole heartedly that if we continue to harden our hearts that God will at some point stop drawing us to Him. I have heard it used in altar calls and evangelistic services and while I am sure there is some truth to that, I think it has been taken out of context. God is love. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love always hopes. Love always perseveres. Love endures all things. Love always protects. God’s love is never ending and unfailing. In the past I have often prayed, “Father, I know he has hardened his heart so many times....but please still draw him to you.” As I watched God so intentionally pursue my Grandfather’s heart during that week, I realized that there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love. Eight years old or eighty years old, saint or murderer, God’s love will continue to pursue our hearts and call out to us until the day we die.
Friday, July 29, 2005
I am in Honduras right now. It is so beautiful here. Definitely a unique beauty...not like anything I have ever experienced before. I hope to be posting several stories over the next few days about this past week.
I had no idea what to expect when I got on the plane to come here. I was definitely excited to come to Central America, but I thought it was going to be kind of a ¨puposeless¨week...most people go to third world countries to serve and do missions, and I was coming to spend a week on a beautiful beach. I thought the extent of my opportunity would be to spend time with my grandfather and share with him more about my faith. I could not have been more wrong.
I have more family living in Honduras then I have living in the United States, but I never knew it. I knew I had some second cousins, great uncles, and so forth...but from the moment I have arrived here I have been surrounded by people who treat me like I am their long lost daughter. It has been such a powerful experience for me to get to know all of my family, to walk into a room and see people who look so much like me, and to hear story after story about what my grandfather and grandmother were like growing up. I feel very...at home.
I don´t have time to tell many stories right now...but I will post some soon.
I had no idea what to expect when I got on the plane to come here. I was definitely excited to come to Central America, but I thought it was going to be kind of a ¨puposeless¨week...most people go to third world countries to serve and do missions, and I was coming to spend a week on a beautiful beach. I thought the extent of my opportunity would be to spend time with my grandfather and share with him more about my faith. I could not have been more wrong.
I have more family living in Honduras then I have living in the United States, but I never knew it. I knew I had some second cousins, great uncles, and so forth...but from the moment I have arrived here I have been surrounded by people who treat me like I am their long lost daughter. It has been such a powerful experience for me to get to know all of my family, to walk into a room and see people who look so much like me, and to hear story after story about what my grandfather and grandmother were like growing up. I feel very...at home.
I don´t have time to tell many stories right now...but I will post some soon.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
I read this in a book called “Experiential Storytelling” by Mark Miller:
“What if we were to take our message and begin speaking the language of the natives? Instead of telling people Jesus is the light of the world, what if we showed them the stark difference between light and darkness?
What if we removed all the argumentative language, replaced it with beautiful narratives, and let people feel the power of the story? Instead of trying to convince people to accept a list of spiritual laws, how about placing individuals in the story, allowing them to learn and interact with God’s character? What if we told our story in a holistic manner engaging all of the God-given senses? What if...?”
I had to re-read that paragraph a few times. It was very powerful to me. Telling people about Jesus is so powerful and such an important part of pushing God’s kingdom forward. But when you match up telling people, with showing people, I think the impact you make is so much greater.
But as I read that paragraph over again, I could not help but ask how many Christians are able to show the world “the stark difference between light and dark?” Do we even know how stark of a difference it really is? How are we really able to speak in beautiful narratives...in a way that people can feel the power of the story?
I know this is really basic, but it all comes down to knowing and understanding the word of God. We can try as hard as we can to learn the “lingo” of our time and read book after book about all the different cultures in our midst, but if we do not have a love for God’s word, how can we possible tell the Story to those we encounter as if it were real?
I love to read, it does not really matter the genre, but something different happens to me when I read God’s word. I cannot even compare my experience to reading any normal book to my experience of reading the scriptures. The bible is so alive to me. It is almost like a living, breathing organism. As I read different passages of scripture I feel drawn into the stories, into the lives of the men who were used to write the passages. As I read the Gospels, I imagine myself following Jesus around and sitting at his feet, hearing his teaching. I play out the battle scenes and stories in my head like I was watching them in a movie theater. As I read God’s word my heart is captivated and my soul feels so charged, at home, at rest.
We need to speak the language of the natives. Do you know what they want? They want to hear something authentic. Something real. Its time for us to engage the Story with all of our God-given senses. Its time for to fall passionately in-love with God so we can stop talking about God and start talking like we know Him.
So...question for those who want to share. Do you remember a time when reading God’s word shifted from a “to-do” to something that you were passionate about?
“What if we were to take our message and begin speaking the language of the natives? Instead of telling people Jesus is the light of the world, what if we showed them the stark difference between light and darkness?
What if we removed all the argumentative language, replaced it with beautiful narratives, and let people feel the power of the story? Instead of trying to convince people to accept a list of spiritual laws, how about placing individuals in the story, allowing them to learn and interact with God’s character? What if we told our story in a holistic manner engaging all of the God-given senses? What if...?”
I had to re-read that paragraph a few times. It was very powerful to me. Telling people about Jesus is so powerful and such an important part of pushing God’s kingdom forward. But when you match up telling people, with showing people, I think the impact you make is so much greater.
But as I read that paragraph over again, I could not help but ask how many Christians are able to show the world “the stark difference between light and dark?” Do we even know how stark of a difference it really is? How are we really able to speak in beautiful narratives...in a way that people can feel the power of the story?
I know this is really basic, but it all comes down to knowing and understanding the word of God. We can try as hard as we can to learn the “lingo” of our time and read book after book about all the different cultures in our midst, but if we do not have a love for God’s word, how can we possible tell the Story to those we encounter as if it were real?
I love to read, it does not really matter the genre, but something different happens to me when I read God’s word. I cannot even compare my experience to reading any normal book to my experience of reading the scriptures. The bible is so alive to me. It is almost like a living, breathing organism. As I read different passages of scripture I feel drawn into the stories, into the lives of the men who were used to write the passages. As I read the Gospels, I imagine myself following Jesus around and sitting at his feet, hearing his teaching. I play out the battle scenes and stories in my head like I was watching them in a movie theater. As I read God’s word my heart is captivated and my soul feels so charged, at home, at rest.
We need to speak the language of the natives. Do you know what they want? They want to hear something authentic. Something real. Its time for us to engage the Story with all of our God-given senses. Its time for to fall passionately in-love with God so we can stop talking about God and start talking like we know Him.
So...question for those who want to share. Do you remember a time when reading God’s word shifted from a “to-do” to something that you were passionate about?
Thursday, July 14, 2005
The comments from the last post really stirred my heart and mind. I would like to comment on several things said...
Starting with David’s comments. I love that scripture in James, “Pure and Undefiled Religion is this...” I believe with my whole heart that we are called to go and do everything within our means to impact this world for eternity. We cannot leave the job to someone else—God has entrusted it to each of us who desire to follow Him.
It isn’t about “doing” just for the sake of “doing.” It is about living a life devoted to something much greater and more important then “self.” The comment was made that people get busy with church. I love what Dennis (my dad) said in his comment: “Let's not be busy for the sake of business. Let's rather make sure our lives have significance because we are pouring them into the lives of others and reaching the lost with the awesome good news.” Isn’t that what it all comes down to? Are we going to live a life gratifying and fulfilling the desires of “self” or are we going to spend our lives spreading the Gospel?
Here is what it all boils down to for me:
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21
So is it this “must do” approach just part of the “rich and powerful” American mindset? I don’t believe it is. I think that mindset is evident in Christ as He walked His final days on earth. I do not believe that God would have provided a Savior for our souls if in His heart He did not have the “must do” mindset. He loved us so much, that no matter the cost...He was going to give each of us an opportunity to spend eternity with Him. As each of us makes a decision to follow in Christ’s steps we must also choose the same. The more we fall in-love with our Lord, the more we will fall in love for His children. As we “have the mind of Christ Jesus” take shape within our own minds...we will begin to have a deeper and clearer understanding that there is no other option then to offer the Truth to this world, no matter the cost is to self.
I also understand what Madcupmum was saying about the Gate. I think you were saying that Christ is the one who will guide us, like a shepherd gently guides his sheep, through the gate. If the “break down the door” analogy seems too harsh, then the other analogy works just as well. (Just to clarify things...that analogy was never meant to mean we should go Westernize the world...that is the last thing we should do. It just means that whatever barriers exist that we are capable of removing by us being pliable and flexible...then lets move them).
What do you think it is about the shepherd that causes the sheep to trust him? I read once that a shepherd touches each and every sheep as he enters his gate each night and speaks to the sheep. That is why the sheep recognize and now the voice of their master. It is his loving hand, his loving touch. How much more can we follow in Christ’s steps then by offering our loving hand to this world so that through us they might feel the loving and healing touch of their Father?
My “missions trip” doesn’t start when I get off that plane in Tanzania no more then it ends when Allison and Lauren come back from Mexico. My life is a mission...this is a race and I have to decide each and every morning if I am going to run it with all of my heart, soul, and mind. My “mission” is to reveal the heart of my Father to every person who God allows to cross my path...
Starting with David’s comments. I love that scripture in James, “Pure and Undefiled Religion is this...” I believe with my whole heart that we are called to go and do everything within our means to impact this world for eternity. We cannot leave the job to someone else—God has entrusted it to each of us who desire to follow Him.
It isn’t about “doing” just for the sake of “doing.” It is about living a life devoted to something much greater and more important then “self.” The comment was made that people get busy with church. I love what Dennis (my dad) said in his comment: “Let's not be busy for the sake of business. Let's rather make sure our lives have significance because we are pouring them into the lives of others and reaching the lost with the awesome good news.” Isn’t that what it all comes down to? Are we going to live a life gratifying and fulfilling the desires of “self” or are we going to spend our lives spreading the Gospel?
Here is what it all boils down to for me:
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21
So is it this “must do” approach just part of the “rich and powerful” American mindset? I don’t believe it is. I think that mindset is evident in Christ as He walked His final days on earth. I do not believe that God would have provided a Savior for our souls if in His heart He did not have the “must do” mindset. He loved us so much, that no matter the cost...He was going to give each of us an opportunity to spend eternity with Him. As each of us makes a decision to follow in Christ’s steps we must also choose the same. The more we fall in-love with our Lord, the more we will fall in love for His children. As we “have the mind of Christ Jesus” take shape within our own minds...we will begin to have a deeper and clearer understanding that there is no other option then to offer the Truth to this world, no matter the cost is to self.
I also understand what Madcupmum was saying about the Gate. I think you were saying that Christ is the one who will guide us, like a shepherd gently guides his sheep, through the gate. If the “break down the door” analogy seems too harsh, then the other analogy works just as well. (Just to clarify things...that analogy was never meant to mean we should go Westernize the world...that is the last thing we should do. It just means that whatever barriers exist that we are capable of removing by us being pliable and flexible...then lets move them).
What do you think it is about the shepherd that causes the sheep to trust him? I read once that a shepherd touches each and every sheep as he enters his gate each night and speaks to the sheep. That is why the sheep recognize and now the voice of their master. It is his loving hand, his loving touch. How much more can we follow in Christ’s steps then by offering our loving hand to this world so that through us they might feel the loving and healing touch of their Father?
My “missions trip” doesn’t start when I get off that plane in Tanzania no more then it ends when Allison and Lauren come back from Mexico. My life is a mission...this is a race and I have to decide each and every morning if I am going to run it with all of my heart, soul, and mind. My “mission” is to reveal the heart of my Father to every person who God allows to cross my path...
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Why Not...Part 2
I would like to continue the discussion from the previous post.... I would like to focus some things that Dale and Brent said.
Dale said, “When it comes to callings...and doors of opportunities....and all that stuff that we construct to create some valid reason why we don't obey God...well, I just don't believe in those things anymore.”
Pastor Dale told me something along the same lines when I first got to Rhode Island and it has challenged me in every area of my life. He told me that so often we wait for an “open door” but scripture doesn’t really talk about open doors. If the door is not open, then try a window, and if we can’t find a window...then run as hard as we can through the wall and try to break through the wall. If can’t break the wall and we die from the impact of hitting it, then at least the wall is a little weaker and will be a little easier for the next person to break through.
When I first visualized that I thought...wow, how many opportunities have I missed because I had no door to walk through? I mean, I do not even know when I developed the attitude that I needed God to “open doors” but I remember praying from a young age that God would show me His will by opening and closing doors. Imagine what would have happened in the early church if they waited for open doors? They gave their lives to spread the gospel because there were no open doors...they broke through the walls.
Dale also said, “I propose that we all take our lives and hit this world as hard as we can. Yep, it will cost us our lives.” Spending our lives is something that goes completely against the grain of American culture. Our culture is constantly trying to make our lives more comfortable and easier to live. The “American Dream” is defined by many as the ability to acquire wealth. Even within the church, we counsel our kids to pick careers that will help them achieve “success” and often they chose paychecks over passion. If we, as believers and followers of Christ, are not spending our lives to impact this world...then what are we saving it for? Why are we building ourselves into a box with satin cushions...why are we obsessed with comfort? That comfortable, cushioned box I lived in was nothing more then a coffin. A friend of mine recently told me that he wants to “live his life without borders.” That is what I want to do...live my life without borders. I want to take my life and hit this world as hard as I can. Is my life more valuable then others? Is my comfort more important then sharing love and life with others who are in desperate need?
Brent made the comment, (refering to the great commission) “...so why don't we at every opportunity given to us?” I loved that. You know, this opportunity to Africa is not a once and a lifetime opportunity. The opportunity to go into any part of this world is always there (you can always go by yourself or create your own trip), but at what point in our lives are we going to just do it? I want to take every opportunity to share the message of Christ with people. I want to take every opportunity to love those who have never really experienced love. The trip I am taking to Tanzania is something that I know God can and will use me in...I will be able to love on these kids who have grown up on the streets and share Christ with Muslims and people who do not know God—I also know he will awaken my eyes, hands, heart, and soul to what real need is and what I really need to do to impact this world. I want to take, like Brent said, “every opportunity given” to me to change this world.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Why Not?
Why Not???
Okay...so here is my challenge to all my friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and family who are currently in college (or just graduated and haven’t made any long-term commitments yet). Take the spring semester off of school and come to Tanzania with me.
I laugh as I say that, because I say it like it is no big deal...but seriously, is it? I mean...sometimes we get so tied down to thinking that we have to get started on our careers or we have to finish school as fast as possible, but for what? Especially those who want to go into “full-time ministry”...what is the rush to get a job at a church? I mean...this would be "full time ministry" What is the rush to get your credentials? Or those of us who want to be lawyers, business men and women, polititians...will it really matter 20 years from now if you started your “career” 6 months latter then you were supposed to?
Can you imagine if ten of us decide to devote three months to non-stop, around the clock, outreach and “missions.” What a great opportunity to touch lives of children across the world or to build relationships/ friendships with Muslims and share the Truth with them. What an incredible chance to tell people who may have never heard the name “Jesus” all about who he is and what he can do for them. What an unbelievable opportunity to hold a child who has lived most of their life sniffing glue on a street to keep their stomach from feeling hungry. America is not this world...the horrors that we expect children to be sheltered from are norms in other countries, what are we going to do about it?
Not only that...but our world-view is so warped... I was thinking this morning how often I use the word “need” and I felt a little nauseous. “Need”...I do not even really know the meaning of that word, I have never had an unmet physical “need” in my life. The only way that our generation has a chance at changing this world is if we can shift our focus from “me” to “them” and from “selfishness” to “selflessness.” There is this Keith Green song that I love that says, “it is so hard to see when my eyes are on me...” how true is that? What are we going to do to get our eyes off of ourselves and onto others? Think about how an experience like this would change our hearts and our eyes/view forever.
Okay...so we are not all going to end up living in third world countries for the rest of our lives. But why not for a small period of time? What is three months in light of eternity? It is just three months. Will you miss your friends and family? Of course. Will it be difficult and lonley at times...probably. But if not now, then when? If you don’t make the time to do something like this...it isn’t going to just happen.
So it cost a lot of $...but there are so many things we could live without for the next 6 months to save for it. So our family thinks its crazy and irresponsible to take time off of school...I think God would be totally cool with it. So we haven’t “audibly” heard from God that we should do this...umm, wait...I think there is something at the end of Matthew 28? We want to wait and see if the door is opening up for us (creek...hear that sound? That is the sound of the door opening up for you =))
Okay...enough rambling. I am only challenging you to this because I think something like this could change us in a way that would bring about change to this world. I think we all need a bigger dose of passion and compassion...and what better way to get it then from putting ourselves in a situation where we can see first hand how great the need is in this world and how we can be used by God to touch it. So pray about it...think about it...email me about it and I will pray with and for you...and if it isn’t Tanzania in January, then pray and plan on serving somewhere soon (before life gets too committed and too crazy) somewhere outside of the good ol’ USA. I think each of us really should spend some amount of time outside of what we have always known to be true here in America...it would do the world (and America) SO much good to see what most of this world is living with day in and day out. If anything, it will give you experiences that you can use right here in Arizona, Rhode Island, and everywhere in between to reach people.
Email me if you want the information. Here are some web sites to check out too:
www.pureopportunity.blogspot.com
www.emmanuelcenter.blogspot.com
Okay...so here is my challenge to all my friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and family who are currently in college (or just graduated and haven’t made any long-term commitments yet). Take the spring semester off of school and come to Tanzania with me.
I laugh as I say that, because I say it like it is no big deal...but seriously, is it? I mean...sometimes we get so tied down to thinking that we have to get started on our careers or we have to finish school as fast as possible, but for what? Especially those who want to go into “full-time ministry”...what is the rush to get a job at a church? I mean...this would be "full time ministry" What is the rush to get your credentials? Or those of us who want to be lawyers, business men and women, polititians...will it really matter 20 years from now if you started your “career” 6 months latter then you were supposed to?
Can you imagine if ten of us decide to devote three months to non-stop, around the clock, outreach and “missions.” What a great opportunity to touch lives of children across the world or to build relationships/ friendships with Muslims and share the Truth with them. What an incredible chance to tell people who may have never heard the name “Jesus” all about who he is and what he can do for them. What an unbelievable opportunity to hold a child who has lived most of their life sniffing glue on a street to keep their stomach from feeling hungry. America is not this world...the horrors that we expect children to be sheltered from are norms in other countries, what are we going to do about it?
Not only that...but our world-view is so warped... I was thinking this morning how often I use the word “need” and I felt a little nauseous. “Need”...I do not even really know the meaning of that word, I have never had an unmet physical “need” in my life. The only way that our generation has a chance at changing this world is if we can shift our focus from “me” to “them” and from “selfishness” to “selflessness.” There is this Keith Green song that I love that says, “it is so hard to see when my eyes are on me...” how true is that? What are we going to do to get our eyes off of ourselves and onto others? Think about how an experience like this would change our hearts and our eyes/view forever.
Okay...so we are not all going to end up living in third world countries for the rest of our lives. But why not for a small period of time? What is three months in light of eternity? It is just three months. Will you miss your friends and family? Of course. Will it be difficult and lonley at times...probably. But if not now, then when? If you don’t make the time to do something like this...it isn’t going to just happen.
So it cost a lot of $...but there are so many things we could live without for the next 6 months to save for it. So our family thinks its crazy and irresponsible to take time off of school...I think God would be totally cool with it. So we haven’t “audibly” heard from God that we should do this...umm, wait...I think there is something at the end of Matthew 28? We want to wait and see if the door is opening up for us (creek...hear that sound? That is the sound of the door opening up for you =))
Okay...enough rambling. I am only challenging you to this because I think something like this could change us in a way that would bring about change to this world. I think we all need a bigger dose of passion and compassion...and what better way to get it then from putting ourselves in a situation where we can see first hand how great the need is in this world and how we can be used by God to touch it. So pray about it...think about it...email me about it and I will pray with and for you...and if it isn’t Tanzania in January, then pray and plan on serving somewhere soon (before life gets too committed and too crazy) somewhere outside of the good ol’ USA. I think each of us really should spend some amount of time outside of what we have always known to be true here in America...it would do the world (and America) SO much good to see what most of this world is living with day in and day out. If anything, it will give you experiences that you can use right here in Arizona, Rhode Island, and everywhere in between to reach people.
Email me if you want the information. Here are some web sites to check out too:
www.pureopportunity.blogspot.com
www.emmanuelcenter.blogspot.com
Monday, July 04, 2005
language gap...
I drove a friend of mine to Montréal on Saturday and when I got there it happened to be the weekend of their International Jazz Festival. After I dropped off Amber at the bus station, I thought I would walk around the city a little bit and “explore.” It is such a neat city...I felt like I was in Europe and it was so great to hear people all around me speaking French.
Dale mentioned on a blog that whenever he is in a big city he tries to sit in a coffee shop and talk to people...so I thought I would give it a try. (I’m still not the best at striking up conversations with random people...but I’m trying to get better) So I was sitting outside of a little coffee shop drinking my enduire de caramel (I think it was espresso and caramel?) It was so much fun to just sit and listen to people all around me speaking in french...and all sorts of different languages. There were a lot of tourists there because of the Jazz Festival, so I met people from the Mid East (who had a relative playing in that weekend...did you know there was Arabic Jazz? I didn’t...but this couple played it for me and I loved it...I'm trying to find it on-line right now so I can purchase it), Asia, and several parts of Europe. It really is a neat city and I had such a great time just having conversations with store owners and people who were hanging out watching the different Jazz bands.
The only frustrating thing was the language barrier. I mean...I love hearing other languages, I just wish it did not take so long to learn another language. Wouldn’t it be awesome to just sit down and be able to have an in-depth conversation with someone in French, Swahili, Arabic, German, and Spanish? If someone knows of a brain chip that you could implant in your head that would make you fluent in 20 different languages, please...let me know. =)
In the mean time...I will stick to learning Spanish and as much Swahili as I can. I really want to immerse my children in other cultures and languages from the time they are born. It is so vital that Americans learn a love for other cultures, languages...well, more a love for people and use knowing their culture and languages as the means to connect. I think the attitude that we are Americans and don't "need" anything else from this world is very boxed thinking and it needs to change.
I love America. (By the way, happy Fourth of July...this is one of my favorite holidays.) I love that I live here. I feel amazingly blessed that I was born in a country with such freedom, an abundance of wealth, and the possibility to pursue any dream one can think up. I wouldn't choose to be born into any other country in this world, but the American church needs to become more globally minded. The fact that we have been blessed with so much should drive us to not only accept, but pursue people from all over the world and show them the love they need...our impact on eternity greatly depends on how our worldview shifts over the upcoming years.
Dale mentioned on a blog that whenever he is in a big city he tries to sit in a coffee shop and talk to people...so I thought I would give it a try. (I’m still not the best at striking up conversations with random people...but I’m trying to get better) So I was sitting outside of a little coffee shop drinking my enduire de caramel (I think it was espresso and caramel?) It was so much fun to just sit and listen to people all around me speaking in french...and all sorts of different languages. There were a lot of tourists there because of the Jazz Festival, so I met people from the Mid East (who had a relative playing in that weekend...did you know there was Arabic Jazz? I didn’t...but this couple played it for me and I loved it...I'm trying to find it on-line right now so I can purchase it), Asia, and several parts of Europe. It really is a neat city and I had such a great time just having conversations with store owners and people who were hanging out watching the different Jazz bands.
The only frustrating thing was the language barrier. I mean...I love hearing other languages, I just wish it did not take so long to learn another language. Wouldn’t it be awesome to just sit down and be able to have an in-depth conversation with someone in French, Swahili, Arabic, German, and Spanish? If someone knows of a brain chip that you could implant in your head that would make you fluent in 20 different languages, please...let me know. =)
In the mean time...I will stick to learning Spanish and as much Swahili as I can. I really want to immerse my children in other cultures and languages from the time they are born. It is so vital that Americans learn a love for other cultures, languages...well, more a love for people and use knowing their culture and languages as the means to connect. I think the attitude that we are Americans and don't "need" anything else from this world is very boxed thinking and it needs to change.
I love America. (By the way, happy Fourth of July...this is one of my favorite holidays.) I love that I live here. I feel amazingly blessed that I was born in a country with such freedom, an abundance of wealth, and the possibility to pursue any dream one can think up. I wouldn't choose to be born into any other country in this world, but the American church needs to become more globally minded. The fact that we have been blessed with so much should drive us to not only accept, but pursue people from all over the world and show them the love they need...our impact on eternity greatly depends on how our worldview shifts over the upcoming years.
Friday, July 01, 2005
This is from Unstoppable Force, by Erwin McMannus:
“As with each individual, there is a difference between living and existing for the church. The life of the church is the heart of God. The heart of God is to serve a broken world. When Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist, he reminded us that only he could wash away our sin. The church cannot live when the heart of God is not beating within her. God’s heartbeat is to seek and save that which is lost. The church exists to serve as the body of Christ, and it is through this commitment to serve that we are forced to engage our culture.
The serving that we are called to requires direct contact. You cannot wash the feet of a dirty world if you refuse to touch it. There is a sense of mystery to this, but it is in serving that the church finds her strength. When she ceases to serve the world around her, she begins to atrophy.”
I read that last week and I have not been able to get the image out of my head of the church, standing up to its waste in dirt and filth and just looking at each other with disgusted looks on their face, unwilling to be the vessels that clean up the mess.
I love the story in John 4 where Jesus goes up to the Samaritan woman and asks her for a drink. Jesus didn’t sit back and wait for this woman to come to Him, He initiated the conversation. The Pharisees and even His disciples sat back and saw this woman as “dirty” they marveled at the fact that Jesus was speaking with a woman...who was a Samaritan, who was an adulteress. But Jesus saw her need and gave her hope of a life filled with more then the every day monotony of the here and now.
Each day we have a choice...serve God or serve ourselves? Make choices that push us toward American “success” or make choices that push people into the arms of their loving Father. I don’t want to be afraid of touching this world...I want to wash their feet.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Lines Scribbled on an Envelope While Riding the 104 Broadway Bus
Lot's of thoughts stirring in my head right now...I will be posting (soon) about the amazing chain of events that happened this weekend that proves to me (yet again) that God is so big and he cares so much about each and every one of us. It amazes me how he weaves us into the fabric of each other's lives in order to touch each of our hearts in a special way and in order to use us to touch others.
My uncle has been reading poetry to us each night (what a guy, huh?) and he read this one a few nights ago that I keep replaying over and over in my head...it really touched me and I wanted to share it...
Lines Scribbled on an Envelope While Riding the 104 Broadway Bus
By Madeline L'Engle
There is too much pain
I cannot understand
I cannot pray
I cannot pray for all the little ones with bellies bloated by starvation in India;
for all the angry Africans striving to be separate in a world struggling for wholeness;
for all the young Chinese men and women taught that hatred and killing are good and compassion evil;
or even all the frightened people in my own city looking for truth in pot or acid.
Here I am
and the ugly man with beery breath beside me reminds me that it is not my prayers that waken your concern, my Lord;
my prayers, my intercessions are not to ask for your love
for all your lost and lonely ones,
your sick and sinning souls,
but mine, my love, my acceptance of your love.
Your love for the woman sticking her umbrella and her expensive parcels into my ribs and snarling, "Why don't you wants where you are going?"
Your love for the long-haired, gum chewing boy who shoves the old lady aside to grab a seat,
Your love for me, too, too tired to look with love,
to tired to look at Love, at you, in every person on the bus.
Expand my love, Lord, so I can help to bear the pain,
help your love move my love into the tired prostitute with false eyelashes and bunioned feet,
the corrupt policeman with his hand open for graft,
the addict, the derelict, the woman in the mink coat and discontented mouth,
the high school girl with heavy books and frightened eyes.
Help me through these scandalous particulars
to understand
your love.
Help me to pray.
My uncle has been reading poetry to us each night (what a guy, huh?) and he read this one a few nights ago that I keep replaying over and over in my head...it really touched me and I wanted to share it...
Lines Scribbled on an Envelope While Riding the 104 Broadway Bus
By Madeline L'Engle
There is too much pain
I cannot understand
I cannot pray
I cannot pray for all the little ones with bellies bloated by starvation in India;
for all the angry Africans striving to be separate in a world struggling for wholeness;
for all the young Chinese men and women taught that hatred and killing are good and compassion evil;
or even all the frightened people in my own city looking for truth in pot or acid.
Here I am
and the ugly man with beery breath beside me reminds me that it is not my prayers that waken your concern, my Lord;
my prayers, my intercessions are not to ask for your love
for all your lost and lonely ones,
your sick and sinning souls,
but mine, my love, my acceptance of your love.
Your love for the woman sticking her umbrella and her expensive parcels into my ribs and snarling, "Why don't you wants where you are going?"
Your love for the long-haired, gum chewing boy who shoves the old lady aside to grab a seat,
Your love for me, too, too tired to look with love,
to tired to look at Love, at you, in every person on the bus.
Expand my love, Lord, so I can help to bear the pain,
help your love move my love into the tired prostitute with false eyelashes and bunioned feet,
the corrupt policeman with his hand open for graft,
the addict, the derelict, the woman in the mink coat and discontented mouth,
the high school girl with heavy books and frightened eyes.
Help me through these scandalous particulars
to understand
your love.
Help me to pray.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
I will go...
Every time I read through the story of Rebekah I always pause and think about what an amazing woman she was. I was reading Genesis 24 yesterday and some things stood out to me that I kind of skimmed over in the past.
The reason I have always admired this woman was because she is just going through the daily grind...doing her daily chores, when all of a sudden a man shows up, tells her God sent him to bring her back to his master, she agrees to go...and off they ride into the sunset. Her willingness to follow this stranger so that she could meet and spend the rest of her life married to another stranger was no doubt a brave decision.
When Abraham’s servant came to the place where he was supposed to find this woman for Isaac, he asked God to give him a sign...have the woman offer a drink to his camels as well. Sure enough, Rebekah comes up, this man asks for a drink and she not only gives him a drink, but she draws enough water and gives water to his camels as well. Clearly, this woman had a servant’s heart. I do not think Rebekah thought she was doing anything extraordinary and I do not think she was trying to impress the man, she simply saw the need and extended herself to serve. It was because of her servant’s heart that she was chosen.
After the servant reveals his reason for coming he praises God and gives gifts to Rebeka. He then proceeds to ask her father if he can skip through the tradition of waiting around for ten days and bring her to his master immediately. The decision rests in Rebeka’s hands. “Will you go with this man?” they said. “I will go.”
I love that. “I will go.” I can only imagine what was going through her mind at this time. Fear, doubt, what about her family? They gave her an out...they left the decision up to her. No one would have blamed her for wanting to spend a week or so saying good bye to her family...but she recognized this man as a Godly man and went.
Rebeka did not know where she would be going, who she would be marying, what kind of world or life she was entering...she did not even “clearly” hear from God on the matter. She was given an opportunity and without weighing the risk, consequence, or personal loss—she left her family and followed this man.
She was willing to venture into the unknown—she saw something in this man and wanted to be a part of it. “I will go...”
Just like this servant bestowed gifts to Rebeka, God has laid out his treasure before us. He has clearly spoken to us about what directions are lives should constantly be heading. Are we up for the challenge, the adventure? Will we go? Or will we remain paralyzed in fear of the unknown? When I think of Rebeka I think of a woman who was willing to be completely open and vulnerable to a man and his family that she did not know. With that complete trust and total openness and a heart that lives to serve, God will take us through the unknown to do what our minds don’t even dream of.
The reason I have always admired this woman was because she is just going through the daily grind...doing her daily chores, when all of a sudden a man shows up, tells her God sent him to bring her back to his master, she agrees to go...and off they ride into the sunset. Her willingness to follow this stranger so that she could meet and spend the rest of her life married to another stranger was no doubt a brave decision.
When Abraham’s servant came to the place where he was supposed to find this woman for Isaac, he asked God to give him a sign...have the woman offer a drink to his camels as well. Sure enough, Rebekah comes up, this man asks for a drink and she not only gives him a drink, but she draws enough water and gives water to his camels as well. Clearly, this woman had a servant’s heart. I do not think Rebekah thought she was doing anything extraordinary and I do not think she was trying to impress the man, she simply saw the need and extended herself to serve. It was because of her servant’s heart that she was chosen.
After the servant reveals his reason for coming he praises God and gives gifts to Rebeka. He then proceeds to ask her father if he can skip through the tradition of waiting around for ten days and bring her to his master immediately. The decision rests in Rebeka’s hands. “Will you go with this man?” they said. “I will go.”
I love that. “I will go.” I can only imagine what was going through her mind at this time. Fear, doubt, what about her family? They gave her an out...they left the decision up to her. No one would have blamed her for wanting to spend a week or so saying good bye to her family...but she recognized this man as a Godly man and went.
Rebeka did not know where she would be going, who she would be marying, what kind of world or life she was entering...she did not even “clearly” hear from God on the matter. She was given an opportunity and without weighing the risk, consequence, or personal loss—she left her family and followed this man.
She was willing to venture into the unknown—she saw something in this man and wanted to be a part of it. “I will go...”
Just like this servant bestowed gifts to Rebeka, God has laid out his treasure before us. He has clearly spoken to us about what directions are lives should constantly be heading. Are we up for the challenge, the adventure? Will we go? Or will we remain paralyzed in fear of the unknown? When I think of Rebeka I think of a woman who was willing to be completely open and vulnerable to a man and his family that she did not know. With that complete trust and total openness and a heart that lives to serve, God will take us through the unknown to do what our minds don’t even dream of.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Just a vessel...
Pastor Dan did an object lesson in church yesterday that really spoke to me. He was talking about “barriers” between people and God. As he was speaking my mind immediately began to race with all the people in my life that I love so much who do not know God. I was thinking of different barriers and reasons why they choose to reject the truth and I felt this overwhelming burden...like they were never going to “get it.”
My thoughts were interrupted by Dan pulling a sheet off of a table with bricks on it. He took a hammer and began hammering away at the brick talking about how we often, in our own strength, try to be the force behind the hammer...we don’t even make a dent in the lives of those around us. But when we let God be the force, and we simply just allow ourselves to be the tool—God works and works at the seemingly indestructible barrier and shatters all excuses people have to reject Him.
As I examine my life and the relationships I am in I see how often I try to be the one who “changes” the lives of those around me. I know full well that there is nothing extra special about me that has the power to do this, but for some reason (pride) I approach people trying to be the driving force to point them in the right direction, instead of just allowing God’s love to spill out of my life and consume all those around me.
I have been praying and thinking a lot about what living in Tanzania is going to be like next year and as I have done that I have gotten a little overwhelmed...the need is so huge, what can just one person do? But yesterday I was reminded (again) that it isn’t about what I can do or what I can say...I just need to follow the path that God has called me to and stay so close to God that His love becomes who I am and in doing that lives will be touched and changed.
I want to be a vessel. Just something plain and ordinary that God can pour out his love through so that the hurting, hopeless, and lost people of this world can find Him. When I stop worrying about if I am saying the right words to convince someone or doing the right thing to show someone, then I am free to just love them with no restrictions and trust and believe that God is constantly pursuing their hearts and will use me and other people in their lives to show them who He really is.
My thoughts were interrupted by Dan pulling a sheet off of a table with bricks on it. He took a hammer and began hammering away at the brick talking about how we often, in our own strength, try to be the force behind the hammer...we don’t even make a dent in the lives of those around us. But when we let God be the force, and we simply just allow ourselves to be the tool—God works and works at the seemingly indestructible barrier and shatters all excuses people have to reject Him.
As I examine my life and the relationships I am in I see how often I try to be the one who “changes” the lives of those around me. I know full well that there is nothing extra special about me that has the power to do this, but for some reason (pride) I approach people trying to be the driving force to point them in the right direction, instead of just allowing God’s love to spill out of my life and consume all those around me.
I have been praying and thinking a lot about what living in Tanzania is going to be like next year and as I have done that I have gotten a little overwhelmed...the need is so huge, what can just one person do? But yesterday I was reminded (again) that it isn’t about what I can do or what I can say...I just need to follow the path that God has called me to and stay so close to God that His love becomes who I am and in doing that lives will be touched and changed.
I want to be a vessel. Just something plain and ordinary that God can pour out his love through so that the hurting, hopeless, and lost people of this world can find Him. When I stop worrying about if I am saying the right words to convince someone or doing the right thing to show someone, then I am free to just love them with no restrictions and trust and believe that God is constantly pursuing their hearts and will use me and other people in their lives to show them who He really is.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
1 Corinthians 9: 19-13 (The Message)
“Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized - whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ - but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!”
I was in Boston last night/ today and as I walked the streets I tried very hard to look into the faces of as many people as possible. (I hope no one caught me staring :)) It is such a culturally diverse city...it seemed like every person we passed by was from a different ethnic background...every person we stopped to ask for directions (which, for those of you who know me, happened on more then one occasion) had a different accent. As I walked around the city I was just blown away with how many people from all over the world there are to reach in just one place...how many different opportunities we pass up on a daily bases to connect with someone because we don’t have a way to connect.
The more “languages” we can speak, the greater platform of influence we have. The more cultures I understand, the more I can speak to the heart of those who seemingly have nothing “in common” with me. I believe that every person we encounter, we should be able to find something to connect with them on. As I walked around the city yesterday I just had an increasing desire to start to dig into the lives of those around me and figure out what makes them who they are... I want to know where they are coming from and hopefully be able to learn their “language” and speak God’s message to their heart in a way they can understand.
There is this awesome group that just started up here in Rhode Island called Prodigy (check out the website for more info: www.prodigyspace.blogspot.com) and the first week we talked about “touch points.” Touch Points are things we experience that help us to connect with other people...I think it would be really neat to create touch points by getting to know committed followers of other religions...maybe that would help me understand what they believe, why they believe it, and give me more ways to know how to show them the truth?
“Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized - whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ - but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!”
I was in Boston last night/ today and as I walked the streets I tried very hard to look into the faces of as many people as possible. (I hope no one caught me staring :)) It is such a culturally diverse city...it seemed like every person we passed by was from a different ethnic background...every person we stopped to ask for directions (which, for those of you who know me, happened on more then one occasion) had a different accent. As I walked around the city I was just blown away with how many people from all over the world there are to reach in just one place...how many different opportunities we pass up on a daily bases to connect with someone because we don’t have a way to connect.
The more “languages” we can speak, the greater platform of influence we have. The more cultures I understand, the more I can speak to the heart of those who seemingly have nothing “in common” with me. I believe that every person we encounter, we should be able to find something to connect with them on. As I walked around the city yesterday I just had an increasing desire to start to dig into the lives of those around me and figure out what makes them who they are... I want to know where they are coming from and hopefully be able to learn their “language” and speak God’s message to their heart in a way they can understand.
There is this awesome group that just started up here in Rhode Island called Prodigy (check out the website for more info: www.prodigyspace.blogspot.com) and the first week we talked about “touch points.” Touch Points are things we experience that help us to connect with other people...I think it would be really neat to create touch points by getting to know committed followers of other religions...maybe that would help me understand what they believe, why they believe it, and give me more ways to know how to show them the truth?
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
lessons from a child...
I went for a walk on the beach yesterday with my 7 year-old cousin, Aiden. Aiden has a facination with insects, flowers, and fish. We walked along the beach and filled up his bucket with crab shells. Every time he came across a new crab he would get so excited, bend down, examine every detail of it and then explain to me why it was so "beautiful." He showed me how some had orange spots, some had purple spots, some had reddish shells, some had brown. When I asked him why he loved crabs so much he said (with great excitement and animation) "because they are so cool...they are all different shapes, sizes, and colors. that's so cool."
As we walked along the beach and I watched him pick up 30 or 40 crab shells, never losing any excitement or getting bored, I thought to myself...this is how my heart needs to be for people. So often we walk into stores, down the street, even in our neighborhood and we pass hundreds...thousands of people and we never take the time to stop and examine them. I have been to the beach more times then I can count and I have never noticed that some crabs have purple spots and some have orange, red, or green spots. When Aiden pointed this out to me it truly was a "beautiful moment". How many people do I come in contact with daily that I do not notice their beauty? I have often asked myself the question about certain people, "why are they in my life?" and I can hear God saying..."because they are so cool...they are all different shapes, sizes, and colors. that's so cool."
When we got back to our blankets and chairs, Aiden excitedly rounded the other kids together and dumped out his "treasure"...expecting the kids to think it was as amazing as he did. Most of the other kids said, "eww" and one of the girls was afraid of getting stung...so one by one they abandoned the pile of crab shells to go play in the water. Again, this just made me think how God just dumps out his "treasure"...his children in front of me and often I look at them as a "mass" a "pile" instead of looking at each and every individual person. Often my actions act more like I am thinking, "eww...what is so beautiful about that?" or I stay away not wanting to get "stung" but I want to see God's creation...His people through His eyes...seeing the unique beauty he has placed within each and every soul.
As we walked along the beach and I watched him pick up 30 or 40 crab shells, never losing any excitement or getting bored, I thought to myself...this is how my heart needs to be for people. So often we walk into stores, down the street, even in our neighborhood and we pass hundreds...thousands of people and we never take the time to stop and examine them. I have been to the beach more times then I can count and I have never noticed that some crabs have purple spots and some have orange, red, or green spots. When Aiden pointed this out to me it truly was a "beautiful moment". How many people do I come in contact with daily that I do not notice their beauty? I have often asked myself the question about certain people, "why are they in my life?" and I can hear God saying..."because they are so cool...they are all different shapes, sizes, and colors. that's so cool."
When we got back to our blankets and chairs, Aiden excitedly rounded the other kids together and dumped out his "treasure"...expecting the kids to think it was as amazing as he did. Most of the other kids said, "eww" and one of the girls was afraid of getting stung...so one by one they abandoned the pile of crab shells to go play in the water. Again, this just made me think how God just dumps out his "treasure"...his children in front of me and often I look at them as a "mass" a "pile" instead of looking at each and every individual person. Often my actions act more like I am thinking, "eww...what is so beautiful about that?" or I stay away not wanting to get "stung" but I want to see God's creation...His people through His eyes...seeing the unique beauty he has placed within each and every soul.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Explorer or Adventurer?
I was sitting with a group of people the other day discussing the difference between an explorer and an adventurer. I have been tossing this idea around in my head all week so here are my thoughts...
My mind paused when I first heard the question, “what is the difference between an adventurer and an explorer?” Those two words have always been interchangeable for me. I have always wanted to be an “adventurous” person...someone willing to step out into the unknown....someone willing to explore areas that have never been explored before. However, as our conversation developed, I realized that there is definitely a difference between an “explorer” and an “adventurer.”
One of the main differences we discussed was the purpose. The purpose of an adventurer is to experience something exciting, daring, challenging. The purpose of an explorer is to discover, learn, obtain. It seems to me like the adventurer lives for the moment...creating experiences in order to have a new thrill. The purpose of an explorer is to discover something new, someone who loves to learn. I think of an explorer as someone who experiences life and an adventurer as someone who creates experiences. An explorer seems to live their life greatly enjoying the journey that leads to a destination they are passionate about getting to and an adventurer seems to be jumping from one destination to the other. Those who explore life, naturally encounter adventure, risk, danger, excitement, and thrill—but they do not live for it. The focus of one only brings fulfillment to self, the focus of the other shares that fulfillment with those they come in contact with.
I want to be an explorer. I want to spend my life discovering, learning, and creating new trails...hopefully making it a little easier for people to follow...so that I can more powerfully share Christ’s love with this world. I want to experience adventure, risk, and danger...but not for the purpose of a thrill...I want to experience those things so that I can have more tools and more opportunities to share the message of God’s unfailing love with people.
I think it is easy to get bored when you are living for adventure. You constantly have to move from one exciting moment to the next, seeking something new for you to experience. When you are exploring life...you enjoy every moment that God allows you to experience. Every thing you do, whether extremely risky and exciting or just every day mundane activities, you see as a clue to this journey you are on that you can share with other people...to help make their journey a little easier.
When your focus is on your self, people just become something that contributes to your next adventure. They are something you use to excite and entertain you, eventually you grow bored with them and move on to your next “exciting adventure.” However, when your focus is on God and sharing His love with His children, people become something that helps you discover more and more of God’s love, they become part of the purpose of your journey.
The most amazing thing to me is this—when we truly live out life in this way, seeking to explore life and share God’s love...he will weave the most amazing adventures into our journey...so we can discover even more about His infinite love.
My mind paused when I first heard the question, “what is the difference between an adventurer and an explorer?” Those two words have always been interchangeable for me. I have always wanted to be an “adventurous” person...someone willing to step out into the unknown....someone willing to explore areas that have never been explored before. However, as our conversation developed, I realized that there is definitely a difference between an “explorer” and an “adventurer.”
One of the main differences we discussed was the purpose. The purpose of an adventurer is to experience something exciting, daring, challenging. The purpose of an explorer is to discover, learn, obtain. It seems to me like the adventurer lives for the moment...creating experiences in order to have a new thrill. The purpose of an explorer is to discover something new, someone who loves to learn. I think of an explorer as someone who experiences life and an adventurer as someone who creates experiences. An explorer seems to live their life greatly enjoying the journey that leads to a destination they are passionate about getting to and an adventurer seems to be jumping from one destination to the other. Those who explore life, naturally encounter adventure, risk, danger, excitement, and thrill—but they do not live for it. The focus of one only brings fulfillment to self, the focus of the other shares that fulfillment with those they come in contact with.
I want to be an explorer. I want to spend my life discovering, learning, and creating new trails...hopefully making it a little easier for people to follow...so that I can more powerfully share Christ’s love with this world. I want to experience adventure, risk, and danger...but not for the purpose of a thrill...I want to experience those things so that I can have more tools and more opportunities to share the message of God’s unfailing love with people.
I think it is easy to get bored when you are living for adventure. You constantly have to move from one exciting moment to the next, seeking something new for you to experience. When you are exploring life...you enjoy every moment that God allows you to experience. Every thing you do, whether extremely risky and exciting or just every day mundane activities, you see as a clue to this journey you are on that you can share with other people...to help make their journey a little easier.
When your focus is on your self, people just become something that contributes to your next adventure. They are something you use to excite and entertain you, eventually you grow bored with them and move on to your next “exciting adventure.” However, when your focus is on God and sharing His love with His children, people become something that helps you discover more and more of God’s love, they become part of the purpose of your journey.
The most amazing thing to me is this—when we truly live out life in this way, seeking to explore life and share God’s love...he will weave the most amazing adventures into our journey...so we can discover even more about His infinite love.
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