One Beggar.....

India Part 1 - The Sovereignty of God

2011-10-09T19:31:00.000-07:00

I recently returned from leading a short-term disciple-making trip to India. This is part 1 in a series of posts describing how God decided to use us for His glory and put His greatness on display before our team over a ten day period.

The training for our trip began in mid-July. We were introduced to our field partner and began going through material, via Skype, on Church Planting. The material covered a concept built around a passage in Luke 10. In the passage, a pattern for entering a town or village to share the gospel is given. The basic strategy is to identify a house of peace, be invited into the house and then use a mixture of listening and responding to query for whether the household would be open to hearing a story, a biblical story. If favor is granted, team members are equipped to share stories that tell truths about God as shown in Scripture in a way that communicates the entire gospel clearly.

About two months out, the game plan was set. A pastor was identified whose church was located around villages in need of being reached with the gospel. The team would travel to his area and hike into these villages each day in 2-person teams with a translator accompanying. The Luke 10 strategy would be employed and homes would be reached as long as houses of peace could be identified. Game plan set, just execute, right?

Wrong. Six days before the team's departure an earthquake hit Northeast India. At a magnitude of 6.9 the quake produced sizable damage and, having just emerged from the monsoon season, already saturated roads and mountainsides began to slide taking victims with them and blocking the very roads by which aid could be brought to those who survived. The roads to our goal location were impassible at best. While our field partners prayed and scrambled to find out what could be done, the team stayed home literally praying for an open road to share the gospel.

Plans changed throughout the week leading up to our departure and it was not until the team was on the ground in Northeast India that a skeleton plan had been devised. Once on the ground the team learned that we would be heading to one of the points nearest the Earthquake’s epicenter. However, there were a few barriers. First, the state where we would be ministering required a separate visa from the one we obtained to enter the country in Delhi. By God’s sovereignty, the original location we were scheduled to be in is located in that state and our field partner had already secured the correct documentation to allow us to get these special visas. Next, the area where the earthquake hit was closed to both foreigners (us) and nationals (our translators and drivers) because it was the sole possession of a specific tribe; much like an Indian Reservation here in the US. Again, by God’s sovereignty, our field partner was put in contact with that area’s District Councilman who was the only party with the right to grant us access to the area. The District Councilman insisted that the area needed medical care and that if we could provide that, he would provide us access. God’s sovereignty was again on display as our team had one paramedic and one physical therapist which in this area was more than enough medical expertise.

The process of collecting all of these visas and permits took about a day and a half and was grueling and a bit discouraging at times for many of us. However, by Tuesday we were on the road to an earthquake relief camp with full permission. We had gladly been given access to a part of India that was completely closed off to us as foreigners but, more surprisingly, to our national partners as well. We were literally walking into a place where the feet of gospel partners had most likely never trod.

The Haze

2011-06-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

Whenever I return from sharing the gospel in another context, there is always a hazy time period that follows. Of course there is a haze due to jet lag and/or lack of sleep but there is also a haze due to a war within me; a battle to decide how the time spent there will affect me and how the Lord wants to continue to affect a lost and dying world through me.

I begin running through a list of questions including, how did the time our team spent affect the people we worked with? Was the gospel clear? Was the gospel shared at every point possible and was it lived out alongside the words we spoke?

Then I shift to how my life should look going forward. How do I live in this American world where I find myself craving things instead of God and fighting to re-establish focus? Why does it seem different sharing the gospel at work than it does sharing the gospel with children and adults who do not even share my language? Where can I be most effective for the kingdom? The context I live in now? Another context? The house I live in now? Another house?

I wonder about my brothers and sisters that I left behind when I returned home. Were they encouraged by our partnership? How will they maintain what was built? How do I need to be praying for them going forward? What about the kids and adults who heard the gospel for the first time? Did they get it?

Such a haze of questions...but God is control of all of them.

When Missions Gets All Over You

2011-02-16T10:08:00.000-08:00

Missions has gotten all over me. In the picture above it was quite a literal thing. In this case, missions got right up in my shoe. That part of missions is the part you have probably experienced right here in the US. This is not the type of "getting all over" I discuss below of course but I thought this might be a good picture to start your brain in the right direction.

When missions gets all over you it is a beautiful thing to watch. When the reality of the gospel in your own life begins to morph into the reality that millions of people all over the world have never heard the gospel. It stirs a dangerous concoction. People you have never met from places you have never been in parts of the world that you have never thought about begin to invade your thoughts. People you have seen on the news from places you know are dangerous have read about in parts of the world you have dreamed about flood your mind. Money you had saved to do things that entertain gets spent on things that to the world seem worthless.

I haven't always had a heart for missions. In fact, just a few short years ago I would have told you that I was called to stay right here in the US and possibly never leave...certainly not relocate. I remember praying a pitiful but effective prayer for the Lord to give me a heart for missions. How laughable this was. I was missing the point that a heart for missions is the heart the Lord wants me to have all the time.....His heart. A heart to share the gospel with those who are just as lost as I was. Most of them with little to no opportunity to hear the gospel.

The result of this prayer was disasterous. The most dangerous parts of town started to look appealing because they housed people for whom the gospel was being twisted. Countries a world away became my "vacation" spots where I could use my company-allotted vacation to visit people who needed to hear that there is one true God who payed the price for their sins to bring them into relationship with Him...their greatest joy. I began to really see people and realized that we are all the same without Christ....Lost. It totally messed up everything I had thought life should be.

I watched these effects play out in a businessman who was reluctant to go overseas but followed out of obedience. As soon as his feet hit the ground it seemed his heart began to burn for the Guatemalan people and their physical and spiritual poverty. I watched as he loved each and every child even playing with them until he was physically exhausted continually saying, they just need to be loved!

I watched as a friend sold off a "luxury" in order to go to a people group in South America and was considering what resources it would take to go to yet another continent where the gospel was scarce.

I have watched as a mother readjusts her familie's schedule each week to drive into a drug-ridden area to reflect the love of Christ to a teenager.

I have watched as families pack up their children and go both short and long-term to places where the danger to Christ-Followers is so real that their location can only be known by a small group of close contacts.

All of this is considered by the world as idiotic. If you have one life, why in the world are you going to spend it traveling to much less living in places where there is only dirty water to drink or in low income locations where you or your children could be in danger. Why in the world would you live at less than your income affords for the sake of someone else? The answer is that this life is not all that we have. This is just the warm-up, the prelude, the pre-game show. We are looking forward to a day when we will be with our Savior but until then we will continue to tell others about Him so that they can be reunited with Him as well. So as we near that day, we live out the commandment to take the good news of the gospel into all nations; US and abroad. We must remember that iIn the words of David Platt, "You are the Plan of God, and there is no Plan B."

Easy Tortilla Pizza

2011-01-25T17:40:00.000-08:00

Here is a recipe I got from a friend several years ago that Kari and I love! We had this tonight for dinner and so I thought I would share.

Easy Tortilla Pizza

Ingredients:

Olive Oil

Tortilla/Wrap (any type; we prefer spinach)

Pasta Sauce

Toppings

This can be anything you enjoy on a pizza. Some that we have tried are Turkey, Ham,

Chicken (already cooked), bacon (already cooked), mushrooms, pineapple, tomatoes.

Cheese (almost any type of cheese will work; we have used mozzarella, cheddar, and colby

jack..all worked well)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Coat each tortilla (1 tortilla per adult) with just enough olive oil to cover.

Place tortilla's in oven for 8-10 minutes. I forgot this tip in my first post: Use a baking stone as opposed to a cookie sheet.

Take tortilla's out and add sauce, toppings, and cheese in that order.

Place tortilla's back in oven for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and edges are brown.

Finished!

A filling and low-fat meal (depending on your topping selections). Some suggestions to keep it low fat are to use low fat cheese and tortillas. Look for cheese that is made with 2% milk instead of whole milk. This is often marked very clearly on the front of the package. Also, try to stay away from higher fat tortillas. Whole wheat and spinach tortilla's can be found at most stores. Finally, shoot for lower fat olive oil. Either way it should be a recipe the whole family can enjoy!

Looking for a Miracle...

2010-08-17T05:51:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a miracle today I have some encouragement. Some of God's greatest miracles in our lives come in the form of Him fashioning circumstances together in accordance with His Will and for His Glory! Check out this quote from John MacArthur:

"Think about it. The vast scope and endless outworking of divine providence,

in which God draws together millions of details and circumstances to achieve

His will each day, is a far greater miracle than the relatively uncomplicated,

one-time, supernatural occurrences that we ususally term miracles."

MacArthur goes on to talk about how God's providence, this ability to draw millions of details together to achieve His will, is a great comfort as we go through trials. We can know that as His children He is literally working all things together for our good (Rom. 8:28). Take courage, the God is working a miracle in you today....and give Him glory for His providence not only in your own life but across the world to draw people to himself and show His glory.

Disturbed...

2010-08-16T07:34:00.000-07:00

While the rest of my computer was tied up at work, I decided to hop on the intenet and retool my blog...the blog I have not touched in several months. After a few changes here and there, I decided to write a short blog on what the Lord is doing in my life. I sat back in my chair, arms crossed behind my head thinking about the last few months and my eyes caught sight of a prayer by Sir Francis Drake that I posted beside my desk sometime last fall. Although I have seen this prayer every word day since I posted it, it just hit me that the Lord has been answering that praying in my life. He has been disturbing me. Read the prayer below.

Disturb us, Lord, when

We are too well pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true

Because we have dreamed too little,

When we arrived safely

Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when

With the abundance of things we possess

We have lost our thirst

For the waters of life;

We have ceased to dream of eternity

And in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision

Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,

To venture on wider seas

Where storms will show your mastery;

Where losing sight of land,

We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back

The horizons of our hopes;

And to push into the future

In strength, courage, hope, and love.

The Lord has been disturbing me. Breaking up my norm and pushing me out to the edge into the storms to show me His mastery. It has not been easy out on the edge but my prayer is that my thirst for the waters of life will continue to increase, God's glory will been evident, and that I will find the stars somewhere well beyond what my small mind could have imagined. Lord, continue to disturb me and let these storms show your glory.

Update on Guinnenthon

2010-02-10T06:48:00.000-08:00

I still have not heard any specific news about Guinnenthon from Compassion but in searching their site today I was able to locate a list that gave details about each Compassion sponsored location on the island. The list was broken into 3 categories, Not Affected, Moderatly Affected, & Significantly Affected. Guinnenthon's center was listed in the Significantly Affected category. What this means is that his center:

is located within the official “impact zone” as defined by the United Nations and Haitian government

has reported deaths or injuries to children

has reported significant damage to the church or other facilities

has reported significant damage to children’s homes, with many homes destroyed

Please continue to pray for Guinnenthon and his family.....

Praying for Sand Point

2010-02-02T18:55:00.000-08:00

In my Sunday School class I have begun challenging our members to pray for one area of the world each week. We call it our weekly prayer focus and we switch it up each week to cover another area and another people group. This week's prayer focus is one that is pretty special to me. We are praying for Sand Point, Alaska.

In December, a good friend and mentor of mine, Alan Ward, moved, with his family, to Sand Point to take on a pastorate position. The state of Alaska is 95% unchurched and the island of Sand Point is no exception. My friend Alan's church is the only evangelical church on the island which houses approximately 1,000 residents, however, this population fluctuates with fishing seasons as Sand Point is home to one of the largest fishing fleets in the Aleutian Islands.

The climate is slightly warmer than the mainland of Alaska with temperatures ranging from -9 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit. The sun is a bit rare during the winter with the daylight hours lasting only 6 hours and the sun hovering just above the horizon. During the summer months however, the sun remains fully perched for more than half the day sometimes lighting the sky for 18 plus hours.

Since Alan has been in Sand Point, the Lord has been faithful to give him many ministry opportunities. Through the small Baptist church that Alan pastors he has been able to help the church members dig into the word by reorganizing their Sunday School times to be a deep study of Scripture. Alan's exegetical preaching style has also added to the depth of the church as he walks the church members through difficult texts during the main worship time. The Lord has also opened other doors around the island for Alan to share the gospel through conversations at the local coffee shop to working as a jail guard to hosting his own radio show each Thursday at 6:06pm Central time (3:06 PM Sand Point time). You can listen to his radio show where he shares truth with the people of Sand Point for a solid hour here.

Please pray for my friend Alan, his wife Karey and his children Maizy, Allie, Haddie, Ryan, Aiden, & Larken as they minister to the people of Sand Point Alaska. Pray first that hearts would be softened and open to the gospel throughout the island and that disciples would be made as a result. Pray for opportunities for Alan and Karey to share the gospel and to strengthen the few believers who live on the island. Finally, pray for the Wards as they continue to acclimate to climate and make their home in Sand Point.

To God be the Glory!

Praying for Sand Point...

Kids L-R: Maizy, Allie, Haddie, Ryan, Aiden, Larken; Alan & Karey in back

(Picture taken in Alabama on their last visit home before moving)

Allie, Aiden, Haddie, Maizy, & Ryan on a walk near their new home

..

More on Haiti....

2010-01-27T17:18:00.000-08:00

The Lord has drawn the eyes of the world to an obscure nation called Haiti. Below are a handful of the pictures provided by MSNBC over the past couple of weeks. I chose pictures mostly with children because my heart runs to them first. They are the future of the nation and facing utter hopelessness. Use these pictures to focus your prayers for the people of Haiti to not only receive ample food and other resources, but to receive the gospel and gain an eternal hope through the God who is pursuing them.

Haitian girl cries with her mother

Boy is given medial care

Haitian boy washes in the streets

Haitian girl with her new family in Sacramento, CA

Haitian girl clings to a stuffed animal in a tent city

Radical Experiment.....

2010-01-24T18:31:00.001-08:00

So, a couple of posts ago I mentioned that I was participating with a local church in what is called the Radical Experiment. I would like to explain what that is and why I feel like the Lord has called me to this at this time.

A church in my area that I do not attend but do stay well connected with started an experiment this year that was driven by the Word of God speaking to the pastor of that church during 2009. The challenge is to live radically for God in several areas during 2010. The experiment includes Reading through the Entire Bible, Praying for the Whole World, Committing to a multiplying Community, Sacrificing Money for a Specific Purpose, and Spending time in Another Context. The overall challenge is to examine the way I live, spend time, and spend money. Then determine if what I am committing my life to is furthering the Kingdom of God.

There is so much to examine. There are so many parts of the world that I have taken as normal. There are so many things that I have taken much less seriously than I should and so many other things I simply have not considered at all. As I type, my mind is whirring and I will do my best to flesh out my thoughts in a series of posts to follow. This will definitely be a radical experiment and I hope you will hang with me!

Haiti on the Heart...

2010-01-24T17:56:00.000-08:00

If you have watched any news coverage over the past 13 days or so you are well aware that the poverty stricken and spiritually dark country of Haiti has been devastated by an earthquake registering 7.0 on the Richter Scale. The loss of life was large, very few structures remain standing and food and water are scarce. This is the first in a series of blogs to talk out what has been happening in my Haiti heart.

First I want to tell you about my Compassion sponsor child who lives just outside the city of Port-au-Prince. Guinnenthon is 15 years old and is served by the Cite des Junes Child Development Center on the plains of Delmas. Guinnenthon is not an orphan but lives with both parents however he is being raised in a country that is only 16% protestant with half the population practices voodoo.

Guinnenthon's status is still unknown. Following the quake, Compassion has been excellent at communicating what they know but information is still so scarce. They know that many children have been lost in the quake but the Haitian Compassion staff is still trying to locate children and get word to the sponsors of those children. Please pray with me for the safety of Guninnenthon, his family, and even his development center where he gets a constant dose of the gospel.

There is so much more to discuss about how the Lord has opened the eyes of the world to this nation. In the next few posts, I will try to communicate what the Lord is working out in my heart for this nation.

Radical Spending...

2010-01-18T12:21:00.000-08:00

So this year I am participating with a local church in my area in what is called, "The Radical Experiment". I will share more on that later but one of the key objectives to the experiment is to see how much money you can save in order to use that money for making disciples of all nations.; local, global, etc. On the Radical Experiment blog, they have been listing different cost cutting measures. Some are extreme, others are just good, general ideas for everyone.

I wanted to share one budget success for the year. One thing I knew ahead of time was that I would have to buy new eyeglasses. I have been putting it off so long that it is becoming unsafe to use them when I am driving or doing other things that require seeing details (don't worry I have contacts in 95% of the time). I had mainly been putting it off because it was so stinking expensive. Well, this year I set a budget for my glasses, got the tax free dollars you can set aside ahead of time for expenses such as these, and headed out on the trail.

I knew the trick....walk into the store, find a frame that works perfect and fits the budget and then BAM.....add in the lenses which are up to twice as much as the frame plus scratch proof coating and night laser vision optics and some other insurance just in case your dog eats them and cha-ching, your bill is upwards of $350.00 even after being frugal in a frame selection.

I went shopping this year and the Lord hooked me up with a deal! I chose to eliminate my normal location because I knew they would be the highest just from viewing them online. I set out next to Target and got a reasonable estimate for a pair of glasses I was reasonably satisfied with. Next, I moved on to a new place outside our new Target called Eyemart. I figured I could get some really classy wire rimmed circa 1980 glasses at a place with that name. Well, they proved me wrong! They had more frames I was interested in than the other two locations and the frame price was significantly less. I thought the catch must be coming in the lenses but those were a fraction of the cost of the Target lenses....with even better features. Well, now that I have nerded you to death let me sum it up by saying....there are cheaper options out there for most anything with the same (or better) quality. Don't settle or be lazy, the less money we spend on the stuff we have to get....the more for that's left for the kingdom. Oh, and just for the record, I came in $3.96 under budget. Waahhoooo!!!

Our Amazing God - Part 1

2009-12-18T11:43:00.000-08:00

Regarding the importance of prophetic biblical prophecy:

"If a single man had written a book fortelling the time and manner of Jesus's coming and Jesus had come in conformity with these prophecies, this would carry infinite weight. But there is much more here. There is a scuccession of men over a period of 4,000 years, coming consistently and invariably one after the other, to foretell the same coming; there is an entire people proclaiming it, existing for 4,000 years to testify in a body to the certainty they feel about it, from which they cannot be deflected by whatever threats and persecutions they may suffer. This is of a quite different order of importance."

~Blaise Pascal
17th Century Philosopher

Mastercard Gift Finder

2009-12-17T07:37:00.000-08:00

So, this ad kept popping up every time I got on the web the last month or so that featured Peyton Manning and some chick I am not familiar with. Today I finally decided to figure out what it was about.

The ad pointed me to the "Mastercard Priceless Gift Finder" by Amazon. You go through a number of steps telling this algorithm who you are shopping for and details about the person. Then, Peyton or nameless chick suggests gifts for your loved one.

I thought it would be interesting to see what they picked out for some of my closest relatives and boy was it hilarious. I started with my sister. I had to choose from a list of descriptions of her like sister, friend, roommate, etc....well, she could have been any of those but I went with sister. Then I told her age and chose a category that described her. None of the others seemed to fit her so I went with "Sports Fanatic". Hahaha...she does love sports but I had an itching suspicion they would picture a different type of person. I was right. Their two suggestions were some type of behind the ear headphones and get this.....a "Beer Tender" from Heineken and Krups....the coffee people went in with heineken to close in on the beer market! Hahahaha...not exactlty Kari.

For the next try I went with my Mom. Again, the categories didn't describe her well except for the "Pet Person"....she loves her 2 boys (cats). The gift suggestions were a kennel, a napping/scratching post (they forgot to ask if the cats were declawed) and a "HydroSurge RapidBath System"....does this thing give you a bath or "draw" your bath for you....weird?

Finally, my dad...this one should have been a doosey. Well, I chose the "Do-It-Yourselfer" for dear ole dad and actually got some good gifts. First was a variable speed electric leaf blower, then an electric shrub trimmer (his is currently broken) and finally, a 1,500-Wattt On-Demand Power Steamer (for me to take down the wall paper in his house).

Guess it is a good thing I have already gotten everyone's gift(s).....if it were up to the gift finder Dad might be the only one fairing well.

Merry Christmas!

A Very Happy Birthday!

2009-10-31T20:05:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I celebrated my 28th birthday. It was a pretty normal day but a little more hum drum than usual because we had a family member that was very sick and our entire family was a little of kilter. Well, plenty of people wished me Happy Birthday but all in all, I was just ready to get to the next day and begin living the #28 out and see what it held.

When I got home, I changed my mind....this is what I found:

Well, these AND a box of Rice Krispie Treats (an old college favorite I have recently rediscovered). These are from some of my favorite people...Lexie, Dallas, Maggie, Levi, Lilly and of course their mama, Polly. While Kari and I were at work, they snuck into the house and dropped off these beautifully hand-made cards.

Here is a closer look at them:

From Dallas: Age 11

From Lexie: Age 14

Levi: Age 4

Is that "I love Toy" or "I love You"...hahaha

From Lilly: Age 4

Looks like Hebrew to me..?!?!

Thank you so much Bices! You made my day!

Here is some other Birthday stuff. Here is my birthday cake from my family...the people at Edgar's got the spelling wrong but I fixed it just fine!

Then my boss and I split a cake at work...she wouldn't let me have an Alabama cake, but settled for this compromise.

All in all, it was a good birthday. Thank you Lord for another year!

Swift Encounter!

2009-09-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

So, apparently there is a new country sensation sweeping the nation in the form of a 19 year old curly headed blonde know as Taylor Swift. Well, apparently she is coming to my city...like tonight. I did not know that until I extended some lane changing hospitality to an 18-wheeler with said performer's billboard sized picture stretched across the side. Being partially unfamiliar with her fame or appearance in my city, I thought it was just another blue jeans add and continued to look for the company the picutre was advertising until I realized it was advertising her.

So, for all you Taylor Swift fans....I came within about 10 feet of her set design and possibly her wardrobe this morning in what I am calling, a "Swift Encounter".

Best of luck concert goers and luck to you as well little blonde headed sensation!

Fear Rightly....

2009-09-11T06:03:00.000-07:00

In our Wednesday Bible study at church our pastor taught on fearing God and not man. He mentioned the verse below and referred to the acts of terrorism committed throughout the World and the September 11th attacks in particular.

4"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows."

Luke 12:4-7

I thought this verse was particularly fitting and hope giving in light of the 8th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Terrorist cells throughout the World seek to destroy us. As Christians in particular, they consider it their holy duty to eliminate us or at least scare us into submission and silence. But there is hope. While terrorism and acts of evil can steal this life....they are powerless from that point forward. Our hope is in the one whom we meet the second this life is gone if we are indeed His children. Fear this One....love Him...if He knows the whereabouts of sparrows and counts the hairs of your head one by one, you can trust that He has the details of your life under control.

Soli Deo Gloria!

YOU have a place in orphan care!

2009-09-08T17:34:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows there are orphans all over the world. Either you have seen Compassion or World Vision adds telling you about the needs of Javier in Ecuador or Akim in India. Maybe you have even see the infomercials of kids wearing little clothing, with bloated bellies, and muted skin between showings of your favorite TV schedule. What is crazy is that these kids are real. Not only are they real but they are 143 million strong!

The LORD has been coming at me in every direction....friends....articles....books.....even celebrities with the message....do something about my children. Your children?....yes Lord, they are your children aren't they? Not just nameless faces with no future but individuals who were woven together in their mother's womb by the sovereign God just like you and I. But Lord, what do I do?

I battled with how a single woman rescues an orphan. Do I bring an orphan home to a fatherless house? Will countries (this country included) allow me to do that?

Care for my orphans....

Is this something for now or for later?

I went to an adoption meeting, I searched the web, I read books and became very encouraged and spurred on to adopt.....one day. But where is my place now?

Then came a message through a huge adoption proponent who showed me that every person has a place in orphan care. It is less a question of whether or not you were called to care for orphans and more a question of how. Most adopting families cannot afford the entire bill themselves....give. Many orphans are unable to be adopted for health or political reasons....go. Hearts need to be turned to adoption in families all across the nation....pray. Fundraise, join an adoption ministry and serve, join a family in their adoption process, take short-term or long-term trips and care!

I have found my place caring for the 143 million orphans...have you?

Rolling Again....

2009-09-07T18:24:00.001-07:00

So, I have been away from the blog for 4 months and some change and am officially ready to roll again. I have so much I want to write about that I can't quite figure out where to start. I want to talk about orphans, and adoption, and the Lovelady Center, and Psalms and reading the Bible in 90 days, and how God is so cool to have weaved scripture in the way that He did and about life and about fears of wasting it and giving in to the comforts of the world. I have so much to write about but not the clarity yet to get it all out. It is coming though I promise and when it does, maybe it won't be wasted but used to encourage you, challenge you, surprise you or something even greater. Stay tuned....many an update to come!

Mother's Day....

2009-05-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

The Tibbs sisters are in need of some help....and where better to get a little help than from the blogging community? Sparing you the story and family drama, we were "chosen" to host our family's Mother's Day lunch. There will be 8 of us including my grandparents, one aunt and uncle and my immediate family. What I need are some food suggestions. It is "tradition" that the mothers not have to do any work on this day and since Kari and I find ourselves kidless, it is up to us and a bunch of non-cooking guys. Sooo, I am looking for some ideas for food. We have decided to go with chicken for the meat due to cost and ease of preparation but we need some suggestions on how to round out the rest with side dishes and such. I hate to do the boring normal so give me some suggestions that you think some traditional southerners would eat.....I would love to have your suggestions!

Compassion Bloggers...

2009-05-01T19:17:00.000-07:00

This is a blog post about bloggers but trust me, it will be well worth your time.

A friend of mine who is always more on top of the blogging community and "happinin" things than I, told me about the Compassion International trip to India. I knew they were taking a trip....what I did not know was the reason. Compassion is taking several trips to various Compassion sponsored countries and taking along "popular bloggers." These bloggers were chosen because of the large amount of attention they draw with their posts. Many are connected to larger ministries thus boosting their publicity and they have traveled to India to blog about their experiences. The goal is to boost sponsorship of children through the very pensive, eye opening and heart-wrenching posts that flow from a day spent with Compassion children. I have at least skimmed all of the blogs and they are all amazing. I never imagined the impact that someone could have by simply immersing them self in the culture and then communicating that back to us via blog world. Therefore I want to take the next few minutes to become the Compassion bloggers' blogger.

Here are the links you need to keep up with the goings down of the India bloggers. They return home tomorrow but it is well worth digging through their week in the literal slums of India.

If you haven't gotten the idea yet, these children can be shown the light of Christ and have their basic needs met with a donation that amounts to a cheap Sunday lunch for you and your family. Use the link below to give another child a chance to dream big dreams and ultimately to enter the kingdom of God!

Running Analogies.....

2009-03-29T17:22:00.000-07:00

The activity of running holds a wealth of analogies for our relationship with Christ and subsequent journey as Christians in a foreign world. The running group I am a part of learned this lesson in full force Saturday. This past Saturday was our 6 mile training run for a half marathon that we will run in less than a month. The night before was very stormy and we had plans to cancel the run should the weather not clear before our scheduled time. Well, the active weather kept many of us up several times during the night zapping our energy. Also, no one really thought we would be able to run since the forecast predicted that the heavy storms would stick around until at least mid-day on Saturday and therefore weren't really prepared mentally or physically to go. Add on a bit of sickness and crazy weeks for everyone and we were all a mess by 7:30am on Saturday. Well, the storms cleared early and we started out only 45min after our original time but it was HARD! Soon after, this came to mind:

Hebrews 12:1 calls us to, "...run with endurance the race that is set before us." Our Christian walk is not often a walk but rather a steady, sometimes hilly, run. Often our run begins strong. After only a short distance, we begin to settle in and it feels like we could go forever. As the distance increases and the sun begins to beam down, our legs start to tire. Our joints ache and we feel the weight of the pavement with each crash of the foot. It is just at this time that we begin to question why we began this run in the first place? Is the goal really worth it? And, while in running the goal may be to improve the shape of your body or finish a distance race, the prize for continuing to run the race set out for us by Christ is much greater. As we fix our eyes on Christ we are no longer following the leader of the pack or beating our best time, in fact, we are no longer worried about ourselves. We simply concentrate on the one who makes it all worth it.....Jesus Christ....and we keep running....maybe even speed up. We run no matter what. When we are tired, we run. When the weather is unfavorable but Christ calls, we run. When we have had the weight of the world poured on our shoulders...we look at Christ....and then we run.

Throughout the Christian life we are going to face ups and downs and turmoil that threatens to throw us off course or at least get us off the pace a bit....however, Christ sustains us and makes it possible for us to keep "running." His prize is much more than an extravagant finishers medal....He gives us the one thing our souls scream out for...Himself.

Thank you LORD for sustaining us and for being our great reward.....our inheritance. Give us the strength to run the race set out for us!

Race Crashers......

2009-03-07T20:41:00.000-08:00

So, this morning I took my running group on a new route. We were scheduled to run 7 miles this week so I took one of our regular routes and added on enough to make it 7. A little familiar, a little new...mixin in up. I mapped out the course online and then drove it in my car during my lunch break this week to check for any hills, extremely busy streets, or sketchy areas. All were in check.....I remembered everything....right?

Not so much....this week we had to run uncharacteristically late to accommodate all of our schedules so we started around 8:30...we were cruising along just fine until we made our turn onto the new part of the course. Coming towards us were a few, very fast teens and twenty year old males with a guy at the corner waving them to the left.....What is this? Shirt read, "Knights of Columbus 5K"....excellent. We chatted with the guy as to whether we could run against the crowd if we stayed out of the way and he gave us the go ahead. As we ran against the crowd it was so tempting to scream, "Ahhh....where is the finish line? I have obviously made a wrong turn." Instead we kept our pace and soon passed the entire group (small race). What we didn't realize is that we would meet them again just around the corner and this time we would be going WITH the flow. We proceeded across the street and joined up with the other runners. Soon there were small children cheering us on....and of course we said, "Thank you, Oh thank you." We befuddled a camera man who had been given a mission to make sure the runner's number was in each picture so they could be identified later.....wait a minute, 6 ladies, no numbers.....he mouths to me, "What are ya'll doing?"...."Just passing through I said."

Next we turn the corner and spot the "Finish Line" sign....this was not the official finish line but instead, a loop that they would pass again to complete the race but the pressure was on. We had to fake like we had just finished the race. So, as we ran under the banner the two of us who dared, shot our arms up in victory and quickly checked our watches to find out our official time just in case those goobs with the "official" clock messed up.

This made for a great distraction and gave us lots to laugh about....but for all those out there who run races regularly in our city, you should be afraid, very afraid. Next time you take on a 5 or 10K you just might meet....."The Race Crashers"

Give me Your eyes....

2009-03-06T11:18:00.000-08:00

This chorus from Brandon Heath's song kind of says it all....I need eyes to see people the way the Lord does...Lord, give me your eyes....

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me your heart for the once forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see

An Interesting Offer.....

2009-02-25T19:10:00.000-08:00

**I am going to put the PG-17 rating on this one because I know I have some little ones reading and while I am going to keep this clean, let's just say there will be some "splaning" to do if certain little ones get into this.

So, the last 24 hours have been kind of crazy. On Tuesday night our hot water heater busted and flooded Kari's room and part of our kitchen. Now, when I say flooded, I mean there was standing water but not like "get me a bucket I am drowning" type deep. Well, we did have to get the Service Master dude out today to rip up the carpet and cut out part of the vinyl flooring which brings me to my story.

After dinner tonight, Kari and I went out searching for new carpet and flooring for the kitchen. While browsing through the different vinyl flooring patterns, a lady who had been talking with the Home Depot guy about some carpet approached us awkwardly. I turned and looked at her and she silently extended her hand. In it was a business card. She never said a word, just continued to look at us until I finally took the card. I said thanks and then turned around guessing that she or her husband (who was talking to the Home Depot guy) installed floors and this was their business card for when we decided to put in our new flooring. I dismissed it but then got curious.

When I read the card here is what it said, "Pole*Yourself*Thin Studio" - Pole Dancing & Aerobics Classes...it included the address and web page where I could learn more about "PYT". After I scooped my jaw up off the ground, I took a minute to consider what made her pick Kari and I. I mean seriously, is it that we need to shed a few pounds or is that we look like the "type" who could excel at pole dancing?

.....Pause for dramatic effect....

The card also mentioned a website which I thought was just too good to be true. Here is what the site advertises:

Welcome to P.Y.T. “Pole Yourself Thin”, Birmingham’s first pole aerobics studio. If you are tired of the same old gym atmosphere and seeking change, this is the place for you. Take time out of your everyday routine to come and enjoy the lights, music, and sounds while twirling away those pounds. Within weeks loose pounds by bending, kicking, and swinging. Throw away the free weights and put up the treadmill, there is a new prop in town that can improve your body, mind, and social lifestyle. Ladies, leave the children behind and enter an all adult gym structured to meet your getting in shape needs. Women across the world, from America to Australia are experiencing this new stylized activity that is now offered in your own backyard. So, pack up your gym shoes and high-heeled shoes and join P.Y.T. to become a “Pretty Young Thing”!

And here is a lineup of the classes:

Exotic Pole
Polelaties
Kick Pole
Hip Hop Pole

So, if anyone is interested....Kari and I seem to have what it takes to be recruited into the Pole Dancing world. As Julia Roberts so astutely put it in the movie "My Best Friend's Wedding"..."I've got moves you've never seen!".

Lessons learned in the last 24 hours....

2009-02-24T18:48:00.000-08:00

Make sure the yogurt package does not say "Light".....

Stop buying frozen dinner's with shrimp in them.....

The speed limit on Russet Hill Lane is 25 mph and Officer Turner's limit is 38 mph.....

Carry your driver's license with you even if you are within 2 miles of your house......

The hot water valve is on top of the water heater and at my house it is backwards (no righty tighty)......

The main water valve is on the wall.....and Kari, that means we have NO water when that is turned off.....

When the hot water heater busts in the "House that Jack Built" it floods Kari's room and part of the kitchen.....

French-Hill Wedding....

2009-02-08T17:39:00.000-08:00

So, let's face it, this is the blog we have all been waiting for. Katie French finally found the man who could make her second guess her love of singleness.....and she married him.

Below is obviously a picture of Katie and her dad. Her dad is a retired Army Col. with numerous medals and honors. Katie's dress was beautiful, as was she.....don't look too close at her feet though, she is not sporting high heels but replaced them with tennis shoes with the #9 (her college soccer #) plastered to the side.

The vows....they wrote their own vows and Katie made it through them without crying...
The kiss...
Mr. and Mrs. Walker Hill III......
The reception....this place was incredible!!!!
Here is the toasting....notice the way Walker is watching Katie....that was the theme of the night...he knew his bride was a prize...
First dance.....
Dad's turn to dance....he served the US Army well and showed some patriotic moves!
Finally, I get my picture with the bride. She was the calmest bride I have ever spoken to...what was the first thing she said?, "What is new with you, how is your job?"....this kid...excuse me....this woman is crazy humble...always concerned about everyone else
Here is my date....they say the longer people stay around each other, the more they look alike.....well, I guess that counts for sisters too......NO WE ARE NOT TWINS

Here is where I give a shout out to my friends at Table #9.....The Thompson family with all your Chicago accents and dibs to Roy for taking the picture above.....you guys were pure entertainment!

Tribute to Papaw

2009-02-02T09:42:00.001-08:00

Today earth lost a great one and heaven gained a dancer! Right now Mr. Kenneth Vann better known as Papaw is in the presence of the LORD....healed, free and most likely dancing before his King...our great inheritance.

For those of you who do not know Papaw I will tell you what I learned of him in the short one year I knew him. Papaw was a giver. He would often feel the spirit of the LORD move him to send money to a relative and later find out he had met an urgent need. He was all over the place. He hit every spagetti dinner and pot luck social in the Hope, Arkansas area just to meet people while friends his age sat at home. He was an Arkansas fan and loved to joke with us Alabama fans about embarassing victories for the Razorbacks.

He loved. He loved his family and those his family called family....whomever that might be. He established a quick friendship with his grandaughter's friends (including me) and even sent them the picture posted above so "Papaw's Girls" would have a picture of him (as requested).

Most importantly, Papaw was a child of God...a lover of Jesus Christ. I have no doubt in my mind that he is more whole and more happy now than he has ever been in the presence of the one we look forward to being with for eterninty......Jesus Christ.

We miss you Papaw!

Papaw's Girls

Be Courageous....Mr. President....

2009-01-27T06:48:00.001-08:00

Update on Video....

2009-01-18T18:46:00.000-08:00

Here is an update on Sam and Esther from the Village 2 Village video I included earlier. It is so good to see them healthy and laughing! I wonder though how many more are out their abandoned and waiting for someone to come find them.

Sam, laughing his head off.

Sam, Jane, and Esther at their new home....4 months after they were rescued.

Same and Esther hanging around

Picture of the Day.....

2009-01-16T06:13:00.000-08:00

No Words....

2009-01-15T06:52:00.001-08:00

Forgetful night....Scandalous Morning....

2008-12-18T07:52:00.000-08:00

My memory is an interesting thing. I can remember a face or a name from my preschool years but forget to do the simplest tasks. Yesterday I kept reminding myself that I needed to pick up my suits from the cleaners because I needed to wear one of them to work today for a special event. Kari and I ran to Chick-fil-a (cleaners on the way), ran to church (again passing the cleaners) then ran to Wal-mart and Academy (right by the cleaners). We then fell into the car completely exhausted and drove home. As we unloaded the car it hit me....MY SUITS! Unlike my normal pattern of leaving at least one suit at home while cleaning the rest, I figured it was Christmas and who gave a who what I wore! Well, to say the least, I was mad at myself and my middle school hair brained memory.

Flash forward 9 hours, I have slept, run, showered and am now dressed in my full attire, minus the suit. My outfit consisted of a nice beige turtleneck with a brand new "sweater thangy" (quote from Sweet Home Alabama) and black heels. Pause for dramatic affect. The cleaners open early so I headed out the door with only one problem....where to change???? I got to the cleaners in a jiffy since no one else seems to be open at 7:00am. As the lady slowly picked out my large order I scanned the parking lot for a quiet, unsurvelanced spot where I could make a quick change. About that time I heard what sounded like a tornado as a cleaning truck rounded the corner sucking up trash out of the parking lot. I watched these two guys twirl about the parking lot picking up wrappers and receipts and prayed they would GO AWAY! Finally, she came back with all my stuff and my receipt and it was time to pick. I pulled out and watched where my little trash collecting friends went and then sprinted (in my car) to the middle of the parking lot away from building cameras and would be customers. I was shocked at the speed with which I could make my costume change and return to the road unnoticed as if this was a normal activity.

The funniest part about all of this is that just now as I began typing this out, I remembered that although I picked up my cleaning this morning....I totally forgot to drop off the two pairs of pants that were sitting in my back seat. If memory gets worse with age then I guess all I have to say is....."It was nice knowing ya!"

Silence

2008-12-16T12:29:00.000-08:00

Silence
Mark Driscoll
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven... a time to be silent and a time to speak...Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7b

It was a very normal day until I realized that I was actively destroying my own soul.
The day began with my alarm jolting me awake. I immediately turned on my BlackBerry to hear it chime for each voicemail and email that had been left while I slept. I stepped into the shower where I listened to my waterproof radio. I then turned on the television to catch some news while I dressed. Driving to work I tuned in to some talk-radio banter.

Throughout the day the chime on my laptop kept ringing as email arrived, and my cell phone continued to vibrate and ring on my hip. Before long, I needed a break, and I put on my iPod to go for a walk.

On the drive home, I again listened to the radio in an effort to drown out the blaring horns of frustrated fellow commuters. After eating dinner and tucking my five children into bed, I turned on the television to watch shows I had recorded on my Tivo.

As I drifted off to sleep, it dawned on me that I had not had one minute of silence during my entire day. It was possible, I realized, that I could live the rest of my life without ever again experiencing silence.

In that moment, God deeply convicted me that I was addicted to the false trinity of our day, the gods known as Noise, Hurry, and Crowds. I remembered the words of missionary martyr Jim Elliot, who said, “I think the devil has made it his business to monopolize on three elements: noise, hurry, crowds . . . Satan is quite aware of the power of silence.”

I began to ponder what Jesus’ life might be like if He lived today. Would He be available to all of His followers twenty-four hours a day on His BlackBerry? Would He have left His phone on at the Last Supper and been continually interrupted by needless calls? Would He have failed to stop and speak to needy people because their weeping was not loud enough for Him to hear over His iPod as He hurried past them on His way to a meeting He was already late for?
In that moment I prayed, asking God for His wisdom and help to save me from myself. God answered my prayer and reminded me that Jesus often took periods of prayerful silence to hear from the Father and to ensure not that He was doing everything He could, but that He was doing only what was most important. For example, before beginning His public ministry, Jesus spent forty days fasting from food, people, and noise in an effort to prepare Himself to fully accomplish what God the Father had given Him to do on the earth.

Moreover, the Bible says in Luke 5:16 that “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places.” Jesus spent considerable time alone in silence to pray, rest, and focus on what priorities He should be devoting His time and energy to. This helps to explain why, in just three short years of ministry, Jesus had a greater impact on history than anyone else who has ever lived.
The Bible also describes multiple benefits of purposeful silence, including:

hearing from God (1 Kings 19:11–13)
waiting patiently for the Lord to act (Lamentations 3:25–28)
worshiping God (Habakkuk 2:20)
knowing God better (Psalm 46:10)
praying effectively (Luke 5:16)

Since God convicted me of my addiction to noise, I have sought to conform my life more to the pattern of Jesus’, which has proven quite helpful. I try to spend at least five minutes an hour in silence, at least thirty minutes in uninterrupted silence each day, and a full day in silence once a month. During those times I find myself going for silent prayer walks to listen to God, writing in my journal, and sometimes doing nothing at all, which for me has become an act of faith that God is at work even when I am not.

My prayer is that those reading this who, like me, are guilty of noise addiction can also experience the regular gift of silence because that is often where God is waiting for us. There was silence before God spoke the world into existence, and silence for forty days before Jesus began His public ministry, which may indicate that silence is what allows us to speak as God intends.

Ever feel like this?

2008-12-16T10:55:00.000-08:00

2008-12-16T10:21:00.000-08:00

“Covenant keeping, not the effects of being ‘in love’, is the main point of marriage…and tough-minded covenant keeping is the best soil for the long-term flourishing of tender affections.” - John Piper

Picture of the Day.....

2008-12-12T06:36:00.001-08:00

Congo refugess fight for water in a camp in Ngangi.

Martian Child

2008-12-11T21:24:00.001-08:00

Here is a movie suggestion for those of you with a heart for adoption. Martian child is an excellent story of a widower who opens his house and his heart to a child who is less than typical. The two spend time figuring each other out. The child believes he is from Mars and tries to figure out what he is supposed to be like here on earth. The dad tries to figure out how to love this child and develop a family with just the two of them.

I will leave the rest of the details for you to discover but the moral of the story is that we all at times wish or believe that we are from another planet because our past experiences or current circumstances cannot be reality. Sadly enough this earth is harsh and it is reality but it is NOT home. Though Hollywood leaves this connection out, we were made for much more than this world and Jesus Christ swept into our earthly realm to prove that although we are not from Mars, we were not made for this world as it is.

Watch this movie and consider how the LORD is calling you to radically share the gospel through adoption and show a child a whole new world in the Kingdom of God!

Oh, and beware, if you watch this with children, you might be facing some major begging for Lucky Charms on your next grocery trip!

Future Adoptive Parent

Picture of the Day.....

2008-12-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

Awesome picture of two U.S. Marines praying with two Afghan national army members. They were praying for an Afghan colleague who was injured in an ambush.

2008-12-08T17:55:00.000-08:00

On my Calendar today.....

2008-11-28T09:37:00.000-08:00

Flipped to the December page of my Desiring God missions calendar today....here is what I read...priceless....

"If we as a church are disobedient, it is not ultimately the cause of God and the cause of world missions that will lose -- we will lose. God's counsel will stand and he will accomplish all his purpose (Is. 46:10). His triumph is never in question, only our participation in it or our incalculable loss. We can be drunk with private concerns and indifferent to the great enterprise of world evangelization, but God will simply pass over us and do his great work while we shrivel up in our little land of comfort."

Free Shorts

2008-11-28T08:15:00.000-08:00

I have some free....gently used....size medium new balance running shorts for FREE to the first taker. Must be close by or strongly persuade me to ship (unless your initials are LBT....then I will ship gladly).

Send me a comment if you want them.

Congo Orphans Again

2008-11-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

Here is another one. This little guy is collecting flour from a sack that busted on the ground. The sack was distributed by the World Food Progam.

Congo Orphans

2008-11-20T07:11:00.000-08:00

This picture has my heart today. These are Congo orphans who have either lost their parents through death or separation during the fighting that is going on there right now. Some of them are also orphans from war torn areas who lost their parents through other means. Anyone want to fly over there and get one...or maybe several?

Birthday Blast

2008-11-19T20:26:00.000-08:00

Here are the pictures from my Birthday party (almost a month ago). Sorry for the delay but I have been busy, busy and frankly I should be getting in the bed right now instead of typing up this blog. Oh well, here goes.

These are my peeps. This was a surprise party which Kari tried to craftily plan. Of course I am not an easy person to surprise and so long story short I messed up things but despite all that these women showed up and waited for me to get home from church!

Here is my first reaction. What is this face? I have never made that face before???

By the way, they threw a Princess birthday party for me. Their thinking was that I had most likely never had a princess birthday party....for those of you who know me you know this was a pretty safe guess.

Here we are trying to use our party favors....no comments on this one please.

Here is the cake. They tell me they lost the 7 to go with the 2....I just believe they were trying to tell me something. Also, my mom laughed when she saw the sunflowers because she thought, "Oh these are NOT Lynsey"....hahaha. Oh, notice the name on the cake.....I will explain the story if you would like but long story short, I outsmarted a GPS one night whose name was "Sasha" and so claimed her name on the next Starbucks run as I heard "Hot Chocolate for Sasha" come from the kind but deceived barista.

Here I am acting like I am blowing out my "2" candle since we missed it the first time around....quick as a cat I say.

It was a good birthday. Thanks for all the people who chose to put up with me this year!

Down and Out

2008-11-19T20:19:00.000-08:00

So, I wondered where all my stress was going and about a week ago I found out.....It was being inserted directly into my stomach. Last week I had to have a scope (upper, not lower) to find out why my stomach has been whack for the past couple of months. Here are some pictures of me totally awake and aware of my surroundings.....HA.

Notice my faithful companion.....funny thing is, I don't remember her being there....matter of fact, I don't remember much of anything. That is some loopty loo juice they give you. I just about drove Kari bats asking her the same questions over and over and over again.

Oh, and I only had one ulcer...no prob Bob....and no comments Brittnie!

2008-11-19T07:51:00.000-08:00

We spend a whole lot of money and time

caring for things that have no eternal value.

When we live with eternity in mind,

priorities and passions change.

Take a Drive Today....

2008-10-28T06:49:00.001-07:00

Take a drive today....

Pack up the kids....get in the car....and take a drive....

Fall is here and at least in Alabama that equates to some beautiful foliage that you DON'T want to miss!

On my way into work today I was blown away by the vibrant variety of colors.....

Here is a suggeted route for those of you in the Hoover area....take the back way through Russet Woods, take a right out onto Parkwood Road....stay on Parkwood all the way to 150....beware of the potholes but look up and catch all the colors coming at you. Next, head out to Ross Bridge and wind through about 4 miles of beauty until you get the Shannon-Oxmoor Road...take a right....wind through and over the RR tracks to a tunnel of fall foliage....continue on until you reach the BP station and take a right to head up to Shades Crest.....Go UP UP over on top of the crest and try to stay on the road as you look out over the valley.....there will be one spot in particular that will take your breath away.....continue on Shades Crest and make your own trail from there but whatever you do, when you get home, get online and comment on this blog about what you saw.....

Take a Soli Deo Gloria afternoon and show your kids a tiny inkling of the Glory of the Lord!

P.S. Take some pictures and send them to me to include here.

Financial Crisis

2008-10-27T07:18:00.000-07:00

As we head into one of the most dire financial times in history I have had a growing feeling that this could be just the type of situation that could spring up new growth as people lay aside their dependency upon and love of earthly things and fall at the feet of the LORD. I found this blog entry by John Piper this morning that suggests what this situation could do in light of missions and wanted to share it with you.

Bad Times Are Good for Missions
October 26, 2008
By: John Piper

I believe the Lord brought this word to mind in one of our prayer meetings on Friday:
The worst of all times is the best of all times for missions.

We were praying over Lamentations 3. Those were the worst of times for Israel. But in that moment they were given the best of promises,

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (3:22-23)

Today marks the close of Missions Focus at Bethlehem. So we were praying for missions. That is when this word came: The worst of all times is the best of all times for missions.

Such words do not have intrinsic authority the way Scripture does. They must be tested. Here is the truth I hear in those words.

1. During an economic downturn we are more dependent on God. That is the most fertile soil
for creating missionaries.

2. During an economic downturn unreached people around the world do not expect you to
come, but to look out for yourself. So they may more likely see your risk as love rather than
exploitation.
3. During an economic downturn those who need Christ around the world may be less secure
in earthly things and more ready to hear about eternal life.
4. During an economic downturn people at home may be wakened to the brevity of life and
the fragility of material things, and so may become more generous not less. And when they
give under these circumstances, it will make Christ look all the more like the all-satisfying
Treasure that he is.

And so it may well prove to be that the worst of all times is the best of all times for missions.

When did I see you Lord?

2008-10-20T05:19:00.001-07:00

This week I was sitting at a table eating lunch with my boss when a homeless man walked up rather briskly, pulled out a chair next to my boss and had a seat. He turned to her quickly and started talking in a manner that neither of us could exactly understand but it became clear that he wanted money or food. Apparently he had been wandering around in the food court trying to grab stuff and our security guards had escorted him out.

Looking at him I wasn't quite sure what to do. We had just had a safety seminar telling us to beware of people like this and to seek help. I still wasn't quite sure what to do but as I looked around there were several security guards who had gathered around us standing about 10 feet away in each direction. One of them caught my attention and asked if we needed him and I motioned for him to come over. Suddenly there were about 5 who surrounded us and coaxed the guy away.

As he walked away, I was pretty certain I had done the wrong thing. This guy was more than likely harmless. He may have wanted money for alcohol but he also may have just been hungry. Either way there was really no question that he was spiritually hungry and could have used someone who would see him as a person and at least meet his basic needs.

I am pretty certain that I did just as those in Matthew 25 looking over the face of God sitting in front of me and turned him over to the authorities.

Please be careful today but not the way the world would tell you to be careful. Be careful to watch out for the face of the Lord and to meet His need. LORD, let me love your people and you through them. Let me meet their needs and forget my comfort and safety knowing that my safety lies in you!

27 Years Gone by....

2008-10-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

If you had asked me when I was 7 years old what I would be doing at 27 I would have probably told you that I would be working as a garbage collector.....I always thought it would be the coolest job to ride on the back of the garbage truck. I probably also would have told you that my side job would be babysitting and living with my parents forever (hmmm)?!?!

At 17, while captain of the school danceline, I would have told you that athletic training was more my style. I also would have told you that I was about as knowlegable as I would ever be. My theory being that you learn all you will ever learn by 18 and then just apply that knowledge for the rest of your life. I would like to count this distruth as a "Means of Grace" for all you Systematic people.

By 20 I was a little less certain that I knew so much....in fact, I was pretty certain I knew nothing as I had already changed my major 2 or 3 times and was now digging through the details of Engineering. One thing I did know though was that I would be married in a couple of years because almost everyone got married shortly after college and that would certainly be over for me by 22.

By 23 I knew different. My four year degree was stretching but adding summers, I would make it out just in time....the husband though was no where to be seen. As I began to think about careers and finding a job my stomach began to churn and I just wasn't sure the working world was where I wanted to be just yet.

By 25 I found myself with one year of more than free graduate school under my belt and a job that I loved in a place I never thought I would get to go (but won $100 for getting to....ask Kari). I had spent 2 summers in a place 2800 miles from home and a bit out of the norm for me and found a whole new side of myself that I never knew I had.

At 27 I would say life has not been any of what I would have predicted. I did not become a trash collector or an athletic trainer and I don't still live with my parents. No one would guess I was ever on the danceline and I certainly am not going to recreate the moves. I am not married...I feel like I know less than I ever have. My mission field is a corporate headquarter and my passionate work a non-profit ministry.

What then should I conclude??? Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 God is greater! I would not change one thing....in fact, I am so glad that the LORD's purposes prevail because His plans are supreme. I see the clear thread the LORD has strung through my life gently but sometimes firmly directing me back to Him.

What will the next 27 years hold? I have NO IDEA! I wouldn't even want to guess because I could never put my finger on it. All I can do is hold tight to the hand of the LORD and FOLLOW! Faithfully FOLLOW!

Clarkston Georgia

2008-10-19T05:19:00.001-07:00

Yesterday a group from our church traveled to Clarkston Georgia which is just outside Atlanta to work with a group of refugees from Liberia. We had an awesome time getting to know them, playing games, painting faces, etc. Here are some pictures below of our time there.

We started out with some sweets....here is Wendy mastering the art of cotton candy!

One of our many helpers on popcorn duty...

Now she has found Ms. Kari out in the field and has run one kid off just to get a picture....

Good ole Timothy....this little man provided for hours of entertainment!

We don't know this little guy's name but he just about got adopted by Kari...here he is getting a brand new salvation bracelet....

Here are our Liberian brothers and sisters joining in on some worship songs

Little man again.....Kari was loving her time with him and had just said she would take him home if she could and then haaaachuuuu....sneezed right in her face.....yummy....now that's love

Liberian worship team leading us in some songs

One word.....Precious!

Now time for some kick ball.....the game just kept growing

Here comes what I like to call a little bit of "every tribe and nation" making it across the field to make salvation bracelets

Ok, this one is for you Mrs. Train and Ms. French....I used some of those mad skills you both taught me to play it up with some future Liberian national team members!

Look at this.....she wanted to be a butterfly.....whatcha think.....too cute...I think so!

And of course, Mrs. Brittnie has got a hold of her......

And here is the picture....

Worn out and headed home.....

REST STOP.....wait, according to this sign, I should not be here?!?!

Our SS girls.....

The end.....for now!

This morning on the way up I-65...

2008-10-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

This morning on the way up I-65 I was approaching the 65/59-20 interchange. This intersection is often slow and easily gets backed up. Every once in a while the traffic stretches all the way back to the entrance ramp preceeding it. On these mornings I simply slide over in the left lane and go on to the next exit where I can slide around the traffic without having to sit on the interstate and cause a wreck. This morning was one of those mornings so I slid over in the left lane and continued on I-65 North....about that time I caught a glimpse of the mountain in front of me and the fog rising off of it and a magical thought crossed my mind. What if I just kept driving?....what if? Just me, the LORD, a full tank of gas, a dead ipod (forgot to charge) and the road ahead. I could cruse up to Nashville and spend the day. No one would even know I was there!!!

Well, the thought seemed to last longer than the quarter of a mile stretch to my exit but my car, the responsible thing it is, carefully exited pointing me right back toward the ole' tower of power and here I sit blogging about what could have been....sigh

Truly Yours,

Adventurous Cubicle Worker

Where is all the money going?

2008-10-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I heard about a man in the state of Alabama who pays approximately $400 to attend each home game for his favorite college football team. After calculating up the gas to travel to the game, the price of a ticket for he and his wife, and the cost of food before, after, and during the game it totalled $400. This did not surprise me and as a math lover I was happy to see someone taking into account ALL of the costs and not just the ticket price.

This got me thinking though. Could that $400 have been used better? Are there really causes out there that are more important than college football, more important even then spending a Saturday with friends? Of course the answer is yes.

That same money could have easily fed 400 people for one day or 1 or 2 people for 1 year and 35 days assuming it cost $1 per day to feed someone like this little man pictured below. (keep in mind these are rough estimates)

Now, I know many of you will think I am a spoil sport but allow me to make my case. I love spending time with friends, I like watching college football. These things are fun and the enjoyment of them is not inheritantly evil. These are just examples to show how entertainment and self-satisfying endeavors have taken the place of our love for others. In our very comfortable world where we wake up, choose and outfit from our full closets, choose our breakfast from our multiplicity of choices, spend time in climates that are adjusted just right to keep out the summer's heat and winter's cold, and slide into plush, posturepedic beds at night in relatively safe neighborhoods we forget that there is a world that is STARVING for food and for the gospel. People are literally dying or losing abilities such as sight because they have no substantial food or no food at all.

All I am asking is that you consider it. I have had to consider myself how my budget is applied each month. As a single woman with a good job, no house payment, no car payment, and no dependents, I have money to spare each month. The question is.....has this money been given to me for my accumulation of things or for my sister in Africa, in Asia, in Alabaster? Lord, let us see our wealth and GIVE IT!

Little Men and Flag Football

2008-10-11T17:40:00.000-07:00

Part of the joy of being an "aunt" is getting to watch some fine sportsmanship a few Saturdays a year. Well, this week I got to watch a couple of pretty cool kids. Here is my play-by-play of the 6 year old and 10 year old flag football "Games of the Week"!

Let's start off with an action play....run Jadon....the wrong team is scoring but look at that sprint!

Set and ready to go on D!

Get back dude!....wait a second, you are on my team!

Hey dude, your flag is longer than mine???

Team huddle...ok kids, we were going to try the spread offense but we see what that did to Auburn so let's keep it simple

Game Over!!! Team chestbump and manly hug!

Prizes! Do they give the D1A athletes chick-fil-a coupons for good performance?....they don't know what they are missing!

A little momma love after the game...

Moving on to bigger things....practicing with the big boys to get the ready for the big league game to follow....

Refreshment for the wearied parent.....

Going for a big pass...from Dad during Jonah's game

Looking like a J. Crew kid on the stride back to "aunt" Kari...

Fun with flags!

Half toothed smile!

Oh boy, is this a boy or a NINJA???

Now, time for the big league game.....

Big pass from QB Wilbanks...

Down for another snap...just another day in the life of a big leaguer....

Practicing some passing.....

Gathering the troops....

Taking a pass....uhhhh

ummmm.....did I take down my own man back there???...just don't look back!

Sup mom....daddio....watch this!

I'm about to take this guy out....

Here I come....be afraid, be VERY afraid!

One more star stud from the REVIVE SS kids...Riley

Check out that running.....

Ready to go and looking good.....

Big pass down field....now, if I can just keep these flags up!

I am open....right here dude!

Well, I hope you enjoyed the pictures of all the future missionaries I know in their early years.

We are not here for this world

2008-10-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

We are not here for this world.....We are not here for this world.....We are not here for this world. Maybe if I keep repeating it I will get it, maybe others will as well but we have to wake up and realize that we are not here for this world. These are NOT meant to be the sweetest times of our lives....things are not meant to be our inheritance.....a nice house, a good car, lots of food in the fridge....these things are fleeting and NOT promised to us in this life.

We have to wake up and realize that we are in a war. We are fighting against an enemy and we are fighting for the Kingdom of God. Our goal is to reach the lost and teach them how to be disciples of Jesus so that they will re-enter relationship with Him as they were created to do and continue to advance the kingdom. We are to spend ourselves, our resources, even our lives for this task and as my good buddy Brittnie says, "come flying across the finish line into heaven bloody and beaten up and used for the Kingdom" ready to enter the Kingdom's fullness. Ladies and gentlemen, this life is the practice and I BEG you not to waste your time here playing around with comfort and ease while the rest of the world parishes daily....you will regret it for eternity!

Let's get going!

Lynsey

Amazingly Simple, Unbelievably True

2008-10-05T19:49:00.000-07:00

I was reminded today of one of the most simple truths of faith in Jesus Christ.....redemption. So often I go about my life with no thought to the fact that not only did Christ pay my ransom but there was a ransom to be paid! I forget that I am dust, that my faults, my careless words and actions and my lackluster response to His glory all add up to a heap of overwhelming, mile high pile of sin for which the penalty is death. DEATH....dying, separation from Christ and His glory forever more.....FOREVER! That is what I deserve and nothing less. There was a ransom to be paid.....BUT God not because of any good found in me, chose to pay the ransom to win me back.....because HE wanted to. He paid the ransom.....PAID THE RANSOM!!!!

Amen I am FREE!!!

Why would the God of the universe save me?

He paid your ransom too!

Are we flying upside down?

2008-09-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

Are we moving through our lives like a fighter jet cruising at top speeds yet headed straight for the ground? Dallas Willard asked this question and I have to as well.

Are we flying upside down when trivial pursuits such as college football steal our emotions, our money, our time and our conversations...when we can't spare the time to dig into the Word deeper or go on missions yet, we have time for endless entertainment and expensive meals....when every passion in our lives surpasses our passion for Christ? We have confused the gospel with a watered down version and come to belive that as long as life is safe and happy, it is good. What if safe is extremely dangerous? What if we turned the jet over and realized that all the things we sacrifice for and spend countless hours and dollars investing in are far from what Christ asks? What if safe in this life means waste for eternity. What if Christ is calling us to more than this....indeed, different than this altogether.

Well, we would be weird. Our children would be upset with us sometimes. Friends would get tired of hanging around us. We might be considered outcasts, foolish even and one day, one day, we may pay for it with our own lives. And what if the billions of lost on this earth had a chance to hear the gospel and were saved. Would it be worth it? I am scared that most would answer no...

Humility's Back in Town

2008-09-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

Every year around May, the city of Birmingham feels just a little bit different. The sun is just starting to heat up....college kids are finishing up and school age kids are looking toward summer. But somewhere along Hwy 280 between Brookwood Mall and the Red Mountain Expressway, a small whole in the universe is formed and very few even know it. An unusually large amount of humility is virtually sucked from the Birmingham landscape. Not all at once, but over a course of weeks, one by one and two by two the JH Ranch staff slowly make their way to the snow capped mountains of Etna, California and with them goes the great humilty all on staff have come to know.

If somehow, your life has been spent underneath a rock and therefore you are not aware of this phenomenon, let me tell you about this humility and the people who embody it. The humility really belongs to the female staff. They are very aware that they have absolutely no care for themselves....they never think of themselves, never turn a conversation toward themselves...in fact, they almost forget that they exist. Throughout the summer, the degree of humility shifts among the ladies with one considered "The most humble person at the ranch" one day and the title shifting to another the next. This characteristic has begun to infiltrate the summer staff as well with one or more of them vying to the prized position of second or third on the list.

You may know some of these great humble women and I would like to pay tribute some of them now. Unerstandably, I will not be able to list them all as some are too humble even to be noticed but here is a short list of current and past humble JH staff women. Lauren B., Heather H., Leslie A., Natalie B. (summer staff), Rosalyn S. (summer staff), and intentionally last and considered by herself as the least.....Julie J.

Ladies, you are truly humble. As some of you begin to branch out from the ranch I want to wish you the best in spreading your humility to the various places to which you will travel....Boone Docks, D.C., etc. Good luck ladies

Sincerely,

The origninal "Most Humble Person at the Ranch"

San Antonio

2008-09-01T19:49:00.001-07:00

Now, this is Triple trouble!!!

Hunter Streeters descend on San Antonio....along with our new friends!

LPM Setup....

Photo of our group if you look hard, we start in the second row and go back about 5-6 rows

We got caught in the rain....but what is more fun than running in the rain?

The three amigos unite again to enjoy some REAL mexican food.....it was SOOOO good

Here is a little snippet and this plate had been significantly consumed

Too much of a good thing?!?!....Nahhh...wish I had some REAL Chile Con Queso RIGHT NOW!

Here are some of our main squeezes from Bham as well as our friends from Dallas

What can I say, our weekend ended at Nelda's....home of the slap your momma they are soooo good tortilla chips with the seasoning that is unexplainable.......and best of all, time with Ms. Paula!

The coast of Ceasarea

2008-08-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD;in the coastlands of the sea, give glory to the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

Ponder This

2008-08-25T05:08:00.000-07:00

The love of God is greater far

Than tongue or pen can ever tell

It goes beyond the highest star

And reaches to the lowest hell

The guilty pair, bowed down with care

God gave His Son to win

His erring child He reconciled

And pardoned from his sin

Could we with ink the ocean fil

And were the skies of parchment made

Were every stalk on earth a quill

And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry

Nor could the scroll contain the whol

Though stretched from sky to sky

O love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure

The saints' and angels' song

Multiplying Time

2008-08-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I hear someone pray that the Lord would multiply someone's time. The person being prayed for was needing to get a lot done in very little time as I am sure we can all relate to. Well, I have been praying for this same thing for myself in others any time there is a time cruch and there is a need for the Lord's wisdom and mercy in getting done what He wants done.

Last night I had an appointment to meet a friend at church to help her make some copies for a ministry I work with. I also had some details left to work out for the same event as well as some packing to do for my trip this weekend after a quick trip to Chick-fil-a and Walmart (of course). Long story short, Kari and I hopped out of the car at the church at around 5 'til 6:00pm. We went in, ran into Brittnie (speaker for the minstry I work with). Talk for a few minutes (estimated 5 minutes).....find Polly (one I am there to meet) go upstairs, discuss materials, talk, talk, talk, (estimated 15 minutes) head towards the copier, stop and talk to the ladies I am traveling with tomorrow.....talk about laundry, REVIVE, babysitters, plane tickets, etc, etc. (estimated 25 minutes) get to copier, copier occupied, next copier other side of church, make copies.....lots of pages, talk, talk, talk (estimated 10 minutes)....(by the way loving every minute of it)....head towards car, see people in transit and talk a little then across the expanse of the HSBC parking lot (over the river and through the woods) to the car (estimated 5 minutes). A bit stressed because I realized how much I actually had to do and was no where close to home.....Hop in the car and turn on, clock flashes 6:36pm.......NO WAY.......there is absolutely no way that only took 40 minutes.......I had estimated at least an hour......I am actually pretty good at estimating time as a practice and this time was the first time I remember that the actual time was WAY under. Kari and I both laughed and thought there was no way this could be real.....no way!!!

Once home, things continuted to move fast and both of us were ready for REVIVE and San Antonio by around 9:30pm. The moral to the story is, the LORD multiplied our time. Do I believe the LORD actually put time back on the clock....I believe he absolutely can do whatever he wills but cannot say that I know what happened in this instance. All I know is that the LORD answered my prayers to mulitply my time in one way or another and it blew me away.

Our God Reigns!

Cardboard Testimonies

2008-07-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

We are all filthy sinners in need of a gracious God and so are all the people around us. What if I saw my condition, before entering into relationship with Christ, and my sin even now as it really is?...just as filthy as the things I point to and shake my head. What if I didn't run from people whom I don't understand or think to be "unclean" but ran TO them, gave to meet their needs, and sacrificed to show them Christ?

I was a Fast Track Pharisee with rule book in hand.....then there was Christ

What is your Cardboard Testimony?

REVIVE

2008-07-09T07:13:00.001-07:00

Here is a new promo video for the ministry I am working with in Birmingham. Check it out and if you are in the Birmingham area, I hope you will consider joining us. I have a link to the ministry blog in my link's list as well.

Yard Sale & Fishing

2008-06-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had our annual "Clean out the junk and try to make some money out of it" expedition best known as a Yard Sale. This year, instead of just including our family's junk we included another family's junk (stuff) as well. Mostly we just didn't want to be alone early on a Saturday morning trying to convince people that our junk was not junk at all.

Some of the things included were an old recliner that my mom rocked me to sleep in until I was so big that my head and legs hung off either side while she struggled to rock me back and forth just hoping I would fall asleep :). My college dinner table that had been the center piece of many a serious discussion, pumpkin carvings at Halloween, a photo shoot for a cereal commercial (ask me later), and much more. 76 cds of which one person bought them all!!! All the rest of my college furniture....all the rest of my college dishes....waaaaayyyy too many Alabama Gymnastics posters, programs, and media guides. Bye bye college ;)

And surrounded by a cloud of junk were me, my family and my friends....so what is a person to do? Go fishing! And so THEY did (not really a fisherman although cutting the worms in half was fun!).

Here are two of my favorite 10 and 6 year olds learning/perfecting their fishing skills.

The Professional

Hey Jonah! Watch out for the big ones....they swallow!

The Beginner....

....with a little help from the Texas Native mom!

Now he is getting it.....but WATCHOUT everyone on shore!!!

Two monsters for the Pro!

See Jonah, I told you they would swallow......

Then of course....I got bored and had to entertain myself (and others). So I rummaged through the junk to find the perfect outfit for the day.

This is what I came up with

I am taking suggestions for names for this character.

What type of friend would take a picture with this weirdo.....a good one I will say!

For the Married Folks!

2008-06-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this is for you married folks who suffered through the singleness rant thinking, how in the world does this apply to me? I am going to put the same caveat on this message as David Platt gives on his sermon which is that I am not an expert on this subject and do not claim to be. In fact I have NO IDEA what it is like to be married but the Word of God does give us an idea of what it should look like....a lot of them in fact. So, for this post I have pulled just a few highlights from the sermon that is attached below.....I HIGHLY suggest taking the time to listen to this sermon whether you are married or single.

Let me know what you think!

A few of the high points:

The Glory of God is the ultimate aim of marriage.

Marriage exists for God more than it exists for you.

The Grace of God is the ultimate hope for marriage.

The major problem in every marriage: sin
The major solution for any marriage: a Savior

The Gospel of God is the ultimate picture in marriage.

Wives give a picture of the church to the world.
Husbands give a picture of Christ to the world.

The Gospel and Marriage (Select the message with this title)

Attention Singles!!!

2008-06-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

This blog entry is for all singles. All shapes, sizes, personalities, and reasons for being single included. I challenge you to reconsider your singleness. Consider that it is meant for more than you. Consider that it is meant for more than hanging out, more than biding time in the process of finding the right mate, even more than building yourself up after a loss of some sort that has left you single.

I challenge you to consider that your singleness is for the progression of the gospel. The gospel you say? Absolutely, the gospel that Jesus Christ has come to restore the relationship with God the father that mankind was made for but is separated from by sin. You have resources that married people do not. You have the opportunity to travel overseas, to spend late

hours to give of yourself sacrificially for the gospel in a way that married men and women cannot.

Many of you are single with kids and think these things do not apply to you because you do not have the flexibility that I have mentioned above. However, you have a testimony like no other and have a platform among those who share your lot like no one else.

Am I downplaying marriage? In no way. Marriage is good, it is God's design. But both marriage and singleness are a blessing from God. Paul confirms this when he says, "I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another." (1 Corinthians 7:6)

Finally, I challenge you not to waste this time. You may be single for 2 more years or for the rest of your life but either way, you are single now so please do not waste this time. Seek the Lord, and find out what He would have you do now for the gospel to be spread. Even if you die in the pursuit, if you are a child of God you will meet your bridegroom immediately! Oh what a marriage!

Here is a message challenging the like:

(choose The Gospel and Singleness)

SMORES!

2008-06-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

Parenting 101 for singles: Find well-disciplined kids and feed them SMORES! Here are some pictures from our night with the Wilbanks boys where we tried out our new fire pit. All we need is a fattened pig carefully suspended above this furious flame and we would have a full blow luau!

Here is our first lesson in how to toast the marshmallows and quickly blow them out when they catch on fire :)

Then teach them how to stuff 'em in. INCOMING!!!

I am also thoroughly convinced that all of life's really important lessons can be learned around a campfire. The discussion here: smoke inhalation.

Finally, love on 'em!

Thanks Jeff & Brittnie for a great Date Night....you sure you don't want to do this more often?

2008-04-29T18:05:00.000-07:00

Biceps, Buns, & Acne

2008-03-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

I was thinking today about the different things we do to make our bodies look and feel good. We put hours of cardio training in to take off the pounds and get in shape. We lift weights and take classes aimed at toning and shaping....building up and shaving off around the edges. We even go to the grocery store and buy product after product promising to make us have smooth skin. These things are all good to a degree but it occurred to me that while I will spend hours investing in my physical body, my mindset is almost a 180 when it comes to my spiritual body.

What if knowledge of the word made you more fit? What if for every verse you memorized your biceps would grow? What if for every chapter of the word studied and meditated upon, your buns became more tone? What if clear knowledge of the Word (led by the Holy Spirit) resulted in clear skin? We know we would all be diving in.

Yet, if you are like me, you do not consider that the Word is more than this. It fixes you inside. It cleans you out. It makes your inside pretty. And WAY more than that it introduces you to the Lover of your soul; our glorious God. It is the food which if we do not eat of, we will DIE!!! Our outsides may be pretty, tone, clear, shapely but our insides will be haggard and utterly disgusting without the Word LIVING inside of us.

This verse comes to mind: "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

Keep the outside of the temple ready for battle and in physical shape but do not neglect the inside or you may have a cave in.

Sunday is Coming

2008-03-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

Check out this video. Friday, the King of the Jews was crucified....but Sunday is coming!!!

My Twin Sister (4 years removed)....

2008-03-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

So here is my twin sister.....or so some have said. We are of course not twins but seem to dress similarly sometimes and hang around each other enough to be called twins by almost every clerk at Walmart, fast food places and most recently the Lazy-Boy Gallery.....I just don't see it. If they only knew our personalities....night.....and day!

Here are some of my favorite pictures....complete annihilation by way of snowball. Yep, we had a snowball fight in the middle of the summer atop the peaks at Crater Lake in Oregon. Of course it was more of a route on my part. She never saw it coming :)!

Jonathan Edwards on the Pilgrim Mindset

2008-03-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

By John Piper October 8, 2003

In celebration of Jonathan Edwards' 300th birthday this month, let him teach us more about Bethlehem's vision called Treasuring Christ Together, and about the pilgrim mindset it calls for. In September of 1733, he preached a sermon called "The Christian Pilgrim, Or, The True Christian's Life a Journey Toward Heaven." It was based on Hebrews 11:13-14:
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

Let his vision shape yours.

Pilgrims are not diverted from their aim.
A traveler . . . is not enticed by fine appearances to put off the thought of proceeding. No, but his journey's end is in his mind. If he meets with comfortable accommodations at an inn, he entertains no thoughts of settling there. He considers that these things are not his own, that he is but a stranger, and when he has refreshed himself, or tarried for a night, he is for going forward. (Works, Banner of Truth, p. 243)

Pilgrims are to hold the things of this world loosely.
So should we desire heaven more than the comforts and enjoyments of this life. . . . Our hearts ought to be loose to these things, as that of a man on a journey, that we may as cheerfully part with them whenever God calls. (243)

Pilgrims become like what they hope to attain.
We should be endeavoring to come nearer to heaven, in being more heavenly, becoming more and more like the inhabitants of heaven in respect of holiness and conformity to God, the knowledge of God and Christ, in clear views of the glory of God, the beauty of Christ, and the excellency of divine things, as we come nearer to the beatific vision. - We should labor to be continually growing in divine love - that this may be an increasing flame in our hearts, till they ascend wholly in this flame. (244)

Pilgrims will not be satisfied with anything less than God.
God is the highest good of the reasonable creature, and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. - To go to heaven fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows. But the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams, but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean. . . . Why should we labor for, or set our hearts on anything else, but that which is our proper end, and true happiness? (244)

Pilgrims are not grieved by their arrival at the journey's end.
To spend our lives so as to be only a journeying towards heaven, is the way to be free from bondage and to have the prospect and forethought of death comfortable. Does the traveler think of his journey's end with fear and terror? Is it terrible to him to think that he has almost got to his journey's end? Were the children of Israel sorry after forty years' travel in the wilderness, when they had almost got to Canaan? (246)

Pilgrims ponder what they pursue.
Labor to be much acquainted with heaven. - If you are not acquainted with it, you will not be likely to spend your life as a journey thither. You will not be sensible of its worth, nor will you long for it. Unless you are much conversant in your mind with a better good, it will be exceeding difficult to you to have your hearts loose from these things, to use them only in subordination to something else, and be ready to part with them for the sake of that better good. - Labor therefore to obtain a realizing sense of a heavenly world, to get a firm belief of its reality, and to be very much conversant with it in your thoughts. (246)

Pilgrims travel together (in small groups).
Let Christians help one another in going this journey. . . . Company is very desirable in a journey, but in none so much as this. - Let them go united and not fall out by the way, which would be to hinder one another, but use all means they can to help each other up the hill. - This would ensure a more successful traveling and a more joyful meeting at their Father's house in glory. (246)

Through the Lens...

2008-03-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

The name for this blog was taken from a concept presented by John Piper in His book, Don't Waste Your Life where he presents scripture to support the fact that, "everything - everything good, and everything bad that God turns for the good of His redeemed children - was purchased by the death of Christ for us." Therefore, everything in my life was purchased by the cross. The air I breathe, the life I have, the ability to have friends, a job, a car, intelligence, even weakness and the ability to do anything in spite of those weaknesses was bought for me on the cross of Christ. I aim to see everything through the cross of Christ and share through this blog the things the Lord is teaching me and the things His blood bought for me. I aim to give God glory for what He has done despite my wretchedness. Soli Deo Gloria!