Kid3: Dad, do angels have wings?
Me: I dunno son, I guess so...
Kid3: Do they migrate?
LOL
Getting the oil changed. Getting our licenses renewed. Going to the girls basketball game. Going to hang out with Wayne Jacobsen and meet some folks on a similar journey. Looking forward to it.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Monday, February 06, 2006
Christian Hedonism
Found this is John Piper's book Desiring God which is online:
Christian Hedonism is a philosophy of life built on the following five convictions:
Christian Hedonism is a philosophy of life built on the following five convictions:
 | l. The longing to be happy is a universal human experience, and it is good, not sinful. | |
| 2. We should never try to deny or resist our longing to be happy, as though it were a bad impulse. Instead we should seek to intensify this longing and nourish it with whatever will provide the deepest and most enduring satisfaction. | |
| 3. The deepest and most enduring happiness is found only in God. | |
| 4. The happiness we find in God reaches its consummation when it is shared with others in the manifold ways of love. | |
| 5. To the extent we try to abandon the pursuit of our own pleasure, we fail to honor God and love people. Or, to put it positively: the pursuit of pleasure is a necessary part of all worship and virtue. That is, | |
The chief end of man is to glorify God
BY
enjoying him forever.
I haven't read the book yet, but there are a lot of implications in these few sentences....
Why don't more Christians enjoy God?
Is praise the natural result of thorough enjoyment of something or someone?
In what ways does my enjoying God bring Him glory?
Are there things I can do to help me enjoy God more often and more deeply?
Why don't more Christians enjoy God?
Is praise the natural result of thorough enjoyment of something or someone?
In what ways does my enjoying God bring Him glory?
Are there things I can do to help me enjoy God more often and more deeply?
Monday, January 30, 2006
The Personal Scoop
If you have followed the exploits, thoughts, ramblings and rantings on this blog for anytime, you know that we have been on a journey. We haven't always knows where that journey was going, still don't, but it has always been toward the Father, with His Son, in the Spirit.
We have been outside of institutional forms of church for about 3-4 months. I've lost track really. I can say without equivocation that it has been the best thing we could have done. The anger over the things I've experienced, and haven't experienced in organized forms of religion has subsided. It has been replaced by a passion to know Christ more fully. Religious things just don't seem to matter in light of Bridegroom who passionately loves me. This journey has consistently become less about how I express my relationship with God and more about the relationship with God. It has become about learning to live loved instead of trying fabricate love I didn't really have. By doing that Jesus is renewing my heart, breathing fresh air into clay, and making dry bones dance. Now, please don't get me wrong. We still desire and pray for some people in our area that are like-minded to just ask God, "What do you want to do in this little town that would bless others?"....it will be in His time.... I'm willing to wait.
In further news....the Blues suck. They have officially thrown away the rest of the season. They make it hard to be a hockey fan.
Trish took a new job. She will rock it! She is smart and beautiful! The total package!
Wayne Jacobsen is coming to the St. Louis area in a couple weeks. If you are in the area don't miss time to hang out with an awesome brother! More details to come...
We have been outside of institutional forms of church for about 3-4 months. I've lost track really. I can say without equivocation that it has been the best thing we could have done. The anger over the things I've experienced, and haven't experienced in organized forms of religion has subsided. It has been replaced by a passion to know Christ more fully. Religious things just don't seem to matter in light of Bridegroom who passionately loves me. This journey has consistently become less about how I express my relationship with God and more about the relationship with God. It has become about learning to live loved instead of trying fabricate love I didn't really have. By doing that Jesus is renewing my heart, breathing fresh air into clay, and making dry bones dance. Now, please don't get me wrong. We still desire and pray for some people in our area that are like-minded to just ask God, "What do you want to do in this little town that would bless others?"....it will be in His time.... I'm willing to wait.
In further news....the Blues suck. They have officially thrown away the rest of the season. They make it hard to be a hockey fan.
Trish took a new job. She will rock it! She is smart and beautiful! The total package!
Wayne Jacobsen is coming to the St. Louis area in a couple weeks. If you are in the area don't miss time to hang out with an awesome brother! More details to come...
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Saturday, January 21, 2006
HS
I have been part of churches where the cross was focused on so heavily that there was no mention of the Spirit. And I have seen some wackiness in the name of the Spirit too. I so don't want to come off as not giving enough do to the work of Christ on the cross. But, can we talk for a moment? While I am fully aware of all of the ramifications, the story did not end there!
Act 1:4-8 And having met with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to await the promise of the Father which you heard from Me. For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now. Then, indeed, these coming together, they asked Him, saying, Lord, do You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And He said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
I love this passage! Under pressure, these are the guys that ran off and denied the Lord at the crucifixion. There were barren, full of dread and doubt. Jesus has been hanging out with them for 40 days teaching them about the kingdom. Jesus is going to trust these guys with His Bride. He tells them to wait for the Spirit. Wait...I'm leaving, but you stay here and wait. They obviously didn't get it at first. Not even after 3 years of "in the flesh" teaching, plus 40 days of teaching from the Risen Lord! They were recent spiritual failures still worrying about things that weren't on God's mind. But, Jesus' promise to them stood. They would receive power when the Holy Spirit came on them. Then they would begin being the Church.
I can relate. I'm about that dense. I'm a spiritual failure. I worry about a lot of things that are not on God's mind. I've tried to live a good portion of my Christian life without truly relying on God's power. I've read books. Bought on to the latest method. Listened to preachers. Gone to conferences. Listened to tapes and CD's. . . But, I cannot say that I have experienced relying on the Spirit, in any consistent way, the way that Paul talks about in his letters.
Jesus sent something from heaven that radically transformed this rag-tag bunch of uneducated people. Something from heaven gripped them, flooded their lives, and they were changed forever. Isn't it interesting that the disciples were not really transformed by the teaching of Christ, but by experiencing a new dimension of God's Spirit.
How many times have I read a new book, received some enlightenment on a Scripture, been blessed by some teaching, but it never really "stuck." Too many to count. The real times of transformation in my life have come not when I understood what Christ has done for me, but when I experienced what Christ has done for me. God has enlightened my mind, healed my emotions, and reshaped my will when I have placed myself in positions for the Spirit to work in my life and the love of God has been poured out in my heart through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). It isn't an issue of salvation. But how salvation works in my life. And I think Paul's view is that we are being saved through our experience with the Spirit, renewing our minds, wills and emotions.
That's all I have time for now. I'll end with a quote from Jim Cymbala:
While Christ's work on the cross, the shedding of His blood, was the only way to settle the problems of guilt, sin and condemnation, the coming of the Holy Spirit was God's way of changing human beings from the inside out. The Law given to Moses had failed at this very point. It was in itself holy and just, but the problem was the sinful nature within the people. Now the Holy Spirit dwelling in the hearts of believers would conquer the age old dilemma of "I want to be different but I keep doing it anyway." This empowering of the Spirit would be the dynamic source throughout time for all who live for, and labor with Jesus.
Act 1:4-8 And having met with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to await the promise of the Father which you heard from Me. For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now. Then, indeed, these coming together, they asked Him, saying, Lord, do You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And He said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
I love this passage! Under pressure, these are the guys that ran off and denied the Lord at the crucifixion. There were barren, full of dread and doubt. Jesus has been hanging out with them for 40 days teaching them about the kingdom. Jesus is going to trust these guys with His Bride. He tells them to wait for the Spirit. Wait...I'm leaving, but you stay here and wait. They obviously didn't get it at first. Not even after 3 years of "in the flesh" teaching, plus 40 days of teaching from the Risen Lord! They were recent spiritual failures still worrying about things that weren't on God's mind. But, Jesus' promise to them stood. They would receive power when the Holy Spirit came on them. Then they would begin being the Church.
I can relate. I'm about that dense. I'm a spiritual failure. I worry about a lot of things that are not on God's mind. I've tried to live a good portion of my Christian life without truly relying on God's power. I've read books. Bought on to the latest method. Listened to preachers. Gone to conferences. Listened to tapes and CD's. . . But, I cannot say that I have experienced relying on the Spirit, in any consistent way, the way that Paul talks about in his letters.
Jesus sent something from heaven that radically transformed this rag-tag bunch of uneducated people. Something from heaven gripped them, flooded their lives, and they were changed forever. Isn't it interesting that the disciples were not really transformed by the teaching of Christ, but by experiencing a new dimension of God's Spirit.
How many times have I read a new book, received some enlightenment on a Scripture, been blessed by some teaching, but it never really "stuck." Too many to count. The real times of transformation in my life have come not when I understood what Christ has done for me, but when I experienced what Christ has done for me. God has enlightened my mind, healed my emotions, and reshaped my will when I have placed myself in positions for the Spirit to work in my life and the love of God has been poured out in my heart through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). It isn't an issue of salvation. But how salvation works in my life. And I think Paul's view is that we are being saved through our experience with the Spirit, renewing our minds, wills and emotions.
That's all I have time for now. I'll end with a quote from Jim Cymbala:
While Christ's work on the cross, the shedding of His blood, was the only way to settle the problems of guilt, sin and condemnation, the coming of the Holy Spirit was God's way of changing human beings from the inside out. The Law given to Moses had failed at this very point. It was in itself holy and just, but the problem was the sinful nature within the people. Now the Holy Spirit dwelling in the hearts of believers would conquer the age old dilemma of "I want to be different but I keep doing it anyway." This empowering of the Spirit would be the dynamic source throughout time for all who live for, and labor with Jesus.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Enjoy God
Our God Who Rejoices
Zep 3:17 The LORD, your God, is in the midst of you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will rest in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
Isa 62:5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
Our God Who is Passionate
Son 1:15 Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; you have doves' eyes.
Joh 15:9 As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; continue in My love.
Joh 17:23 I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.
1Jo 4:16-19
And we have known and believed the love that God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. In this is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, that as He is, so also we are in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment. He who fears has not been perfected in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
Rom 5:5 And hope does not make us ashamed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us.
Luk 15:10 Likewise I say to you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luk 15:20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
Our God Who Reveals Himself
Eph 3:16-19
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Col 1:27 For to them God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,
Our God Who is Kind
Psa 36:7-8
How precious is Your loving-kindness, O God! And the sons of men take refuge under the shadow of Your wing. They shall be satisfied with the fatness of Your house; and You shall make them drink of the river of Your pleasures.
Our God Who Shares His Glory
Joh 17:22 And I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us.
Our God Who Lifts Us Up
Eph 3:19 and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Eph 4:13 And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
2Pe 1:4 through which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Zep 3:17 The LORD, your God, is in the midst of you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will rest in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
Isa 62:5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
Our God Who is Passionate
Son 1:15 Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; you have doves' eyes.
Joh 15:9 As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; continue in My love.
Joh 17:23 I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.
1Jo 4:16-19
And we have known and believed the love that God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. In this is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, that as He is, so also we are in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment. He who fears has not been perfected in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
Rom 5:5 And hope does not make us ashamed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us.
Luk 15:10 Likewise I say to you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luk 15:20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
Our God Who Reveals Himself
Eph 3:16-19
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Col 1:27 For to them God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,
Our God Who is Kind
Psa 36:7-8
How precious is Your loving-kindness, O God! And the sons of men take refuge under the shadow of Your wing. They shall be satisfied with the fatness of Your house; and You shall make them drink of the river of Your pleasures.
Our God Who Shares His Glory
Joh 17:22 And I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us.
Our God Who Lifts Us Up
Eph 3:19 and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Eph 4:13 And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
2Pe 1:4 through which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Spirit, Soul and Body
I've been giving some thought to the fact that we have a spirit, soul and body.
1Th 5:23 And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blamelessly at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, I've always been told that the soul is composed of the mind, will and emotions. It is what makes us a unique person. The body is pretty self-explanatory. But the spirit....my spirit....hmmm.
1Co 6:17 But he being joined to the Lord is one spirit.
So, if Paul is saying that God has placed His uncreated Spirit in my created body it makes sense of some other motifs of Paul. My spirit is God's Spirit. The working of God in my life is an inside-out job.
Now, if all Christians have God's Spirit why are there crabby-assed, sour, sick, sin-filled Christians around who have gone to church most of their lives? I'm not trying to be judgemental, but you know the people that I'm talking about. The folks who usually sit on the church boards, run the church councils.... Why is the Spirit apparently not working in their lives? Is the Spirit weak? Can't be.
Col 1:29
For which I also labor, striving according to the working of Him who works in me in power.
Eph 3:20
Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us...
Why do most of us not experience the power that we are promised? Where is the wisdom? Where are the changed desires? Why are our minds, will and emotions still broken?
This is what I think. I need my soul saturated by God's Spirit. I need my mind, will and emotions renewed, conformed, and filled with power. You know what? It happens in the context of relationship with God. Specifcally, the fellowship of the Spirit. And I play a part in the process. More later...
2Co 13:14
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
1Th 5:23 And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blamelessly at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, I've always been told that the soul is composed of the mind, will and emotions. It is what makes us a unique person. The body is pretty self-explanatory. But the spirit....my spirit....hmmm.
1Co 6:17 But he being joined to the Lord is one spirit.
So, if Paul is saying that God has placed His uncreated Spirit in my created body it makes sense of some other motifs of Paul. My spirit is God's Spirit. The working of God in my life is an inside-out job.
Now, if all Christians have God's Spirit why are there crabby-assed, sour, sick, sin-filled Christians around who have gone to church most of their lives? I'm not trying to be judgemental, but you know the people that I'm talking about. The folks who usually sit on the church boards, run the church councils.... Why is the Spirit apparently not working in their lives? Is the Spirit weak? Can't be.
Col 1:29
For which I also labor, striving according to the working of Him who works in me in power.
Eph 3:20
Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us...
Why do most of us not experience the power that we are promised? Where is the wisdom? Where are the changed desires? Why are our minds, will and emotions still broken?
This is what I think. I need my soul saturated by God's Spirit. I need my mind, will and emotions renewed, conformed, and filled with power. You know what? It happens in the context of relationship with God. Specifcally, the fellowship of the Spirit. And I play a part in the process. More later...
2Co 13:14
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Friday, December 30, 2005
The Desert and the Bride
The Desert sucks.
Figuratively and literally.
I know.
I've lived in both.
I won't lie. I've wondered what God was doing during some of these desert times. The times when I am seeking Him and there is nothing but silence. The times when I need to be comforted and I get another thorn in my side (usually my backside!). The times I hoped someone else would understand where I'm at and I get a blank stare.
How do we make sense of this silence? Of this seemingly lack of caring by the God that we've all been told loves us? I'm not saying I've got a total handle on it, in fact, I think I've still got a little desert walking to do, but the only way I can make sense of it is understanding the Bridal Paradigm.
When I look at the end of the Bible, which tells us about the end of all things, this is what I find
(Actually, the Bible is full of Bridal symbolism, and it's a pretty interesting study.) :
Rev 21:1-4 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And the sea no longer is. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband. And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away.
Rev 21:9 And one of the seven angels who had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Can you sense the excitement in the angel's voice as he shows John the Bride? Have you ever met a bridegroom that was not passionate for his bride?
The culmination of human history will be a wedding ceremony! The final state of God's people will be as a Bride adorned for her Husband. God is preparing us for the ultimate wedding ceremony. It is in this reality that I need to interpret God's dealings with me.
The attitude God has taken toward us has never been one of pity, irritation or impatience. He has succumbed neither to despair nor a performance orientation. His attitude has always been that of the delighted Father, preparing the perfect partner for His perfect Son. The Son's posture has eternally been that of the enthralled Bridegroom, captured by the beauty of one created specifically to be His counterpart. The assurance of the power of God guarantees that at the end of it all we will be what He intended. - Gary Wiens
How does the desert play into this scenario? I think the book of Hosea gives us a sense of God's heart towards His Beloved.
In the context of Israel's "harlotry" as she chases after other lovers:
Hos 2:13-16, 19-20
And I will visit on her the days of the Baals, in which she burned incense to them, and she adorned herself with her nose-rings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers and forgot Me, says Jehovah. Therefore, behold, I will lure her and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her. And I will give her vineyards to her from there, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope. And she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be at that day, says Jehovah, you shall call Me, My Husband, and shall no more call Me, My Baal. And I will betroth you to Me forever. Yea, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth you to Me in faithfulness. And you shall know Jehovah.
The desert time. The times of silence and despair. The times of confusion and hopelessness. They are a necessary part of the preparation. Our trouble (Valley of Achor) will be turned into a doorway of hope. God is wooing us back. Restoring us. Preparing us for a deeper sense of his presence. Opening the doorway for communication with his heart in deeper, more full ways. And songs will spring forth from our hearts....
Figuratively and literally.
I know.
I've lived in both.
I won't lie. I've wondered what God was doing during some of these desert times. The times when I am seeking Him and there is nothing but silence. The times when I need to be comforted and I get another thorn in my side (usually my backside!). The times I hoped someone else would understand where I'm at and I get a blank stare.
How do we make sense of this silence? Of this seemingly lack of caring by the God that we've all been told loves us? I'm not saying I've got a total handle on it, in fact, I think I've still got a little desert walking to do, but the only way I can make sense of it is understanding the Bridal Paradigm.
When I look at the end of the Bible, which tells us about the end of all things, this is what I find
(Actually, the Bible is full of Bridal symbolism, and it's a pretty interesting study.) :
Rev 21:1-4 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And the sea no longer is. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband. And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away.
Rev 21:9 And one of the seven angels who had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Can you sense the excitement in the angel's voice as he shows John the Bride? Have you ever met a bridegroom that was not passionate for his bride?
The culmination of human history will be a wedding ceremony! The final state of God's people will be as a Bride adorned for her Husband. God is preparing us for the ultimate wedding ceremony. It is in this reality that I need to interpret God's dealings with me.
The attitude God has taken toward us has never been one of pity, irritation or impatience. He has succumbed neither to despair nor a performance orientation. His attitude has always been that of the delighted Father, preparing the perfect partner for His perfect Son. The Son's posture has eternally been that of the enthralled Bridegroom, captured by the beauty of one created specifically to be His counterpart. The assurance of the power of God guarantees that at the end of it all we will be what He intended. - Gary Wiens
How does the desert play into this scenario? I think the book of Hosea gives us a sense of God's heart towards His Beloved.
In the context of Israel's "harlotry" as she chases after other lovers:
Hos 2:13-16, 19-20
And I will visit on her the days of the Baals, in which she burned incense to them, and she adorned herself with her nose-rings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers and forgot Me, says Jehovah. Therefore, behold, I will lure her and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her. And I will give her vineyards to her from there, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope. And she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be at that day, says Jehovah, you shall call Me, My Husband, and shall no more call Me, My Baal. And I will betroth you to Me forever. Yea, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth you to Me in faithfulness. And you shall know Jehovah.
The desert time. The times of silence and despair. The times of confusion and hopelessness. They are a necessary part of the preparation. Our trouble (Valley of Achor) will be turned into a doorway of hope. God is wooing us back. Restoring us. Preparing us for a deeper sense of his presence. Opening the doorway for communication with his heart in deeper, more full ways. And songs will spring forth from our hearts....
Friday, December 16, 2005
Who Is This King of Glory?
Aaahhh. Ain't he cute? Little baby Jesus laying in the manger. Docile animals all around. Sweet little cherub overhead....
Peace and safety.
The world is lullabied by peace and safety.
The church is lullabied by peace and safety.
And the magi bring their gifts. Gently bowing before the tiny baby. Knowing that a great future awaited him....
Peace and safety.
The world is lullabied by peace and safety.
The church is lullabied by peace and safety.
Aaahh. Mary and Joseph looking with love and awe at their little bundle of joy wrapped in swaddling clothes. To bad they had to be run out of town because they had a bastard child.
Who is this King of Glory?
Laying in a barn that stinks like animal crap and wet hay. No room for him in his town. No room for him in a home. No room for him in his people's hearts.
Who is this King of Glory?
Is he still a baby laying in a manger?
NO! He is no longer a baby in a manger! He is no longer cute and cuddly. He has walked this life in the flesh. He loved and lost. He has been beaten, whipped and crucified. He has seen death and conquered it. His eyes are like fire. He wears many crowns. He has a sword in his mouth and rod of iron in his hand. He rides a white horse. No swaddling clothes here, but a garment dipped in blood. He is risen from the dead and full of glory. . .
Who is this King of Glory?
You do not choose to be friends with someone so powerful, so awesome. . . someone like this chooses friendship with you. And he HAS chosen you to be his friend! He has chosen you to be his bride! AND HE IS PASSIONATE FOR YOU!
Who is this King of Glory?
He is Jesus Christ!
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Army of the Broken
Our friends from England have been here and gone. Rich is my oldest and dearest friend. We met in Hollywood, CA at music school when neither of us knew the Lord and now we are both followers. Rich is always a breath of spiritual fresh air. He brought two friends this time: Simon and Val who are also gems.
They spent a week at IHOP. Not eating pancakes either. It is the International House of Prayer in K.C. When they arrived here they felt like they had some unfinished business there and that we should join them. I can be spontaneous, but a 5 hour trip with the kids is a stretch for me. We threw some stuff in a suitcase, packed up the kids and a cooler and went. I was a bit skeptical....organized religion.....charismatic prophecy.....and all of that.....
When we got there the worship didn't seem like anything special, other than it has been going on 24/7 for the last 4 years. And it definately was not a show. These people could care less how the people were reacting. They were going for it for God and God only. But I sensed God telling me that I wasn't going to get anymore of Him there than I would anywhere else. I was willing....but no real connection.
At 10:00pm another worship team was taking over (seamless transitions of whole bands by the way). The leader sat down at the piano and played a couple of familar tunes as her band got into place. Then it happened. Misty Edwards began spontaneous prophecying/preaching as she sang. I have never experienced anything quite like it. Quite definately God-led.
The next day we met one of Rich's friends from England (Who "happened" to be there the same week). Paul is an older gentleman with gentleness in his spirit and wisdom in his words. He knew a little of our story and he had been through some similar stuff. A pastor booted out of his church....lost it all....broken...angry.....desperate in the silence....
And as he prayed over us he said:
"What you have been through was not a mistake or a failure. You have been led by God so that you could join an army of the broken."
Hos 2:14-16
Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her to the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her vineyards back to her and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came out of the land of Egypt. In that day--the LORD's declaration--you will call Me: My husband. . .
They spent a week at IHOP. Not eating pancakes either. It is the International House of Prayer in K.C. When they arrived here they felt like they had some unfinished business there and that we should join them. I can be spontaneous, but a 5 hour trip with the kids is a stretch for me. We threw some stuff in a suitcase, packed up the kids and a cooler and went. I was a bit skeptical....organized religion.....charismatic prophecy.....and all of that.....
When we got there the worship didn't seem like anything special, other than it has been going on 24/7 for the last 4 years. And it definately was not a show. These people could care less how the people were reacting. They were going for it for God and God only. But I sensed God telling me that I wasn't going to get anymore of Him there than I would anywhere else. I was willing....but no real connection.
At 10:00pm another worship team was taking over (seamless transitions of whole bands by the way). The leader sat down at the piano and played a couple of familar tunes as her band got into place. Then it happened. Misty Edwards began spontaneous prophecying/preaching as she sang. I have never experienced anything quite like it. Quite definately God-led.
The next day we met one of Rich's friends from England (Who "happened" to be there the same week). Paul is an older gentleman with gentleness in his spirit and wisdom in his words. He knew a little of our story and he had been through some similar stuff. A pastor booted out of his church....lost it all....broken...angry.....desperate in the silence....
And as he prayed over us he said:
"What you have been through was not a mistake or a failure. You have been led by God so that you could join an army of the broken."
Hos 2:14-16
Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her to the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her vineyards back to her and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came out of the land of Egypt. In that day--the LORD's declaration--you will call Me: My husband. . .
Sunday, December 04, 2005
The News - One Foot In Front Of The Other
Christmas time is approaching....
I like Christmas. I don't care what consumerism and capitalism have done to it. I like giving and receiving gifts. Guess I'm not spiritual enough to just like giving. Sorry. But have you thought about our role in our relationship with God? He is the giver....we are the receivers. I have a lot to learn about receiving.
In other news.
"Conservative Christians" are going to bat for Christ by putting the "Christ" back in Christmas! I'm glad someone fights the battles that matter. (Insert sarcasm here)
In personal news.
We are coming closer to some decisions about our future. Trish and I both want to finish our degrees. I'm basically an idiot. I have spent most of my life not knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up. I started out as a psychology major. Switched to music. Then compromised for a degree in Organizational Leadership because I could get it done quickly. Funny thing is I am going back to where I started and persuing a degree in Social Work.
Updates to come...
P.S. Thanks for all the moral and spiritual support!
I like Christmas. I don't care what consumerism and capitalism have done to it. I like giving and receiving gifts. Guess I'm not spiritual enough to just like giving. Sorry. But have you thought about our role in our relationship with God? He is the giver....we are the receivers. I have a lot to learn about receiving.
In other news.
"Conservative Christians" are going to bat for Christ by putting the "Christ" back in Christmas! I'm glad someone fights the battles that matter. (Insert sarcasm here)
In personal news.
We are coming closer to some decisions about our future. Trish and I both want to finish our degrees. I'm basically an idiot. I have spent most of my life not knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up. I started out as a psychology major. Switched to music. Then compromised for a degree in Organizational Leadership because I could get it done quickly. Funny thing is I am going back to where I started and persuing a degree in Social Work.
Updates to come...
P.S. Thanks for all the moral and spiritual support!
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
First Day Back
The first day back to school after Thanksgiving.
Yea, it is usually a little stressful with the kids getting back on schedule. But, this is a behavioral disorder classroom. Magnify it. Then magnify it again.
There is a little boy in our class. I'll call him N. He is small for his age. About a head smaller than most. He is witty and can be as cute as they come....when he wants to be. And that ain't often.
From what I gather he spends most of his life being ignored by his family. When he does get attention it is in the form of a big brother's taunts and fists.
As a result, every little thing is a power struggle. EVERY LITTLE THING. In order to feel like he belongs and is accepted N. must be in control. Probably because he feels everyone else controls his circumstances.
Today N. lost it. Not his usual playing gymnastics with the desk and chair, or making loud noises to disrupt the rest of the class. No. We had to restrain him after he started throwing chairs around the room. When the teacher got tired of being hit and kicked we had to do a more restrictive restraining technique. When he realized he was truely powerless he cried like a baby.
To tell the truth it was hard for me not to cry with him. What happens at his home to cause this behavior breaks my heart. Any communication of love is met with complete resistance and defiance. But, I will not give in or give up.
Jesus claimed this as His mission:
Luk 4:18-19
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
I think it is mine too. Right in my little broken classroom.
Yea, it is usually a little stressful with the kids getting back on schedule. But, this is a behavioral disorder classroom. Magnify it. Then magnify it again.
There is a little boy in our class. I'll call him N. He is small for his age. About a head smaller than most. He is witty and can be as cute as they come....when he wants to be. And that ain't often.
From what I gather he spends most of his life being ignored by his family. When he does get attention it is in the form of a big brother's taunts and fists.
As a result, every little thing is a power struggle. EVERY LITTLE THING. In order to feel like he belongs and is accepted N. must be in control. Probably because he feels everyone else controls his circumstances.
Today N. lost it. Not his usual playing gymnastics with the desk and chair, or making loud noises to disrupt the rest of the class. No. We had to restrain him after he started throwing chairs around the room. When the teacher got tired of being hit and kicked we had to do a more restrictive restraining technique. When he realized he was truely powerless he cried like a baby.
To tell the truth it was hard for me not to cry with him. What happens at his home to cause this behavior breaks my heart. Any communication of love is met with complete resistance and defiance. But, I will not give in or give up.
Jesus claimed this as His mission:
Luk 4:18-19
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
I think it is mine too. Right in my little broken classroom.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Can we get honest here...?
Honestly.
The past five years have been difficult. I won't bore you with the details. The few that read this drivel know most of it anyway.
Trish and I recently had an argument that escalated far beyond what is acceptable. It scared the kids and it scared us too. No, we are not getting divorced. No, we are not separated. Yes, we are getting some help to work through it. . .
This incident has forced me to look at my life and verbalize some things that had been swirling around in my demented head for sometime anyway. As most of you know a series of events began when we left a stable job, good friends, and the church where we started our journey with Jesus in Dallas. I was unhappy with my job and believed God was calling us to "full-time ministry" (whatever that is). We moved to El Paso so I could work at a church as worship and youth leader. It was a complete disaster and we left confused, hurt and disillusioned. We moved to Illinois where I was going to complete a degree in music and be a worship leader at a hopefully healthy church. I changed my major with that in mind. Then the screwball. We began to seriously questions the motives and usefulness of organized religion.
So, during this time Trish, who wants to be a stay-at-home mom has been the primary bread winner. I now have a degree that is worthless. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. The decisions over the last five years have not worked out like we had hoped, and it has left me confused, depressed, disillusioned, angry, and directionless. Any dreams that I had are gone. They need to be replaced with something else. I don't really care what....but I am a dreamer....I gotta have something to shoot for....
I think I have been a functional Agnostic for the past few months. Yea, God is there, but I just ain't feelin' it. I'm fine with that. I've resolved that the next move is His.
The past five years have been difficult. I won't bore you with the details. The few that read this drivel know most of it anyway.
Trish and I recently had an argument that escalated far beyond what is acceptable. It scared the kids and it scared us too. No, we are not getting divorced. No, we are not separated. Yes, we are getting some help to work through it. . .
This incident has forced me to look at my life and verbalize some things that had been swirling around in my demented head for sometime anyway. As most of you know a series of events began when we left a stable job, good friends, and the church where we started our journey with Jesus in Dallas. I was unhappy with my job and believed God was calling us to "full-time ministry" (whatever that is). We moved to El Paso so I could work at a church as worship and youth leader. It was a complete disaster and we left confused, hurt and disillusioned. We moved to Illinois where I was going to complete a degree in music and be a worship leader at a hopefully healthy church. I changed my major with that in mind. Then the screwball. We began to seriously questions the motives and usefulness of organized religion.
So, during this time Trish, who wants to be a stay-at-home mom has been the primary bread winner. I now have a degree that is worthless. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. The decisions over the last five years have not worked out like we had hoped, and it has left me confused, depressed, disillusioned, angry, and directionless. Any dreams that I had are gone. They need to be replaced with something else. I don't really care what....but I am a dreamer....I gotta have something to shoot for....
I think I have been a functional Agnostic for the past few months. Yea, God is there, but I just ain't feelin' it. I'm fine with that. I've resolved that the next move is His.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Rapid Increase in Alternative Forms of The Church Are Changing the Religious Landscape
Here is an excerpt from an interesting article from Barna that Trish turned me on to.... seems the "alternative" forms of church are more mainstream than most people thought....
A new book by George Barna, entitled Revolution, indicates that since the turn of the millennium there have been major changes occurring in how people experience and express their faith. Based on a regular series of national surveys conducted by his company during the past quarter century, Barna discovered that discontent with congregational churches, changes in lifestyles, and a burgeoning desire to get closer to God, have caused many people to seek new ways of being in relationship with God and other God-seeking people.
In 2000, most of the nation’s organized religious activity took place at or through local churches. Today, Barna’s research points out, the action is shifting to newer forms of corporate religious commitment. In a typical week, 9% of all adults participate in a house church. An even greater proportion – 22% - engages in spiritual encounters that take place in the marketplace (e.g., with groups of people while they are at their place of work or play, or in other typical daily contexts). The Internet serves as the foundation for interactive faith experiences for more than one out of every ten adults, although most of them currently use it in tandem with another form of corporate religious experience.
A new book by George Barna, entitled Revolution, indicates that since the turn of the millennium there have been major changes occurring in how people experience and express their faith. Based on a regular series of national surveys conducted by his company during the past quarter century, Barna discovered that discontent with congregational churches, changes in lifestyles, and a burgeoning desire to get closer to God, have caused many people to seek new ways of being in relationship with God and other God-seeking people.
In 2000, most of the nation’s organized religious activity took place at or through local churches. Today, Barna’s research points out, the action is shifting to newer forms of corporate religious commitment. In a typical week, 9% of all adults participate in a house church. An even greater proportion – 22% - engages in spiritual encounters that take place in the marketplace (e.g., with groups of people while they are at their place of work or play, or in other typical daily contexts). The Internet serves as the foundation for interactive faith experiences for more than one out of every ten adults, although most of them currently use it in tandem with another form of corporate religious experience.
Saturday, October 22, 2005
The Road Less Traveled
I am not very motivated to blog right now, though there are lots of things I could blog about.... Yea, I'm lazy...
I've been reading The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck. It isn't exactly a "Christian" book, but I've been really challenged by some of his concepts and thoughts.
Peck believes that love is at the core of any spiritual change. It is how Peck defines love, and the implications that follow, that I find really interesting.
Peck's definition of love: "The will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth."
According to Peck one cannot love someone else without loving their own self. I know. That sounds like modern psychological BS. But think about it. Can you really give someone else something you don't have? Can we impart character or discipline to our children that we don't have? Or, that God is not living in us and through us?
Next, Peck emphasizes the word "will" in his definition of love. "Will is desire of sufficient intensity that it is translated into action." There is a difference between desire and action. We can desire to be loving, and not be loving. This sounds trite, but when I think about my own life, and my "lived-out" definition of love, it tends to be nebulous. This definition forces me to think about love on an individual level rather than the "we are the world" level. Who is God putting right in front of me, right now?
Last, this definition implies that love is work. (I'm sure there are some with a "romantic" view of love who will have problems with this. The romantic view of love is based on feeling so would fall outside of the definition that we are using here.) In Peck's view, love is always a form of work and/or courage because we are extending ourselves to include someone else in our "world". That extension of ourself implies risk and work.
After pointing out the many things that love is not, Peck discusses the "work of attention". The fact is that a large part of love is attention. It is listening. It is entering in to the other person's world. If you have ever really tried to that, you know that it is work. I don't know about you, but my thoughts drift so easily...."What will I say next?"...."Oh, I can fix that."...."Dang, I forgot to put that load of laundry in."....."My kids are being to loud."..... I've thought about how often I truly enter in to my kid's world too. Peck points out that there are many different levels of listening and we need to use each one at certain times. But, how often do I fully enter in to my kindergartener's world with all my attention? Not often enough.
I'll end with a quote from a part of the book about the role of love in psychotherapy. I think it describes a way in which we, as the Church, can and should be present to the broken in our world.
"It is not "unconditonal positive regard," nor it is magical words, techniques or postures; it is human involvement and struggle. It is the willingness of the therapist to extend himself or herself for the purpose of nurturing a patient's growth - willingness to go out on a limb, to truly involve oneself at an emotional level in the relationship, to actually struggle with the patient and with oneself. In short, the magical ingredient of successful deep and meaningful psychotherapy is love."
Am I willing to go to the broken places and broken people of the world and enter struggle?
Who, specifically, am I struggling with?
How am I doing at struggling with my wife and kids?
I've been reading The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck. It isn't exactly a "Christian" book, but I've been really challenged by some of his concepts and thoughts.
Peck believes that love is at the core of any spiritual change. It is how Peck defines love, and the implications that follow, that I find really interesting.
Peck's definition of love: "The will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth."
According to Peck one cannot love someone else without loving their own self. I know. That sounds like modern psychological BS. But think about it. Can you really give someone else something you don't have? Can we impart character or discipline to our children that we don't have? Or, that God is not living in us and through us?
Next, Peck emphasizes the word "will" in his definition of love. "Will is desire of sufficient intensity that it is translated into action." There is a difference between desire and action. We can desire to be loving, and not be loving. This sounds trite, but when I think about my own life, and my "lived-out" definition of love, it tends to be nebulous. This definition forces me to think about love on an individual level rather than the "we are the world" level. Who is God putting right in front of me, right now?
Last, this definition implies that love is work. (I'm sure there are some with a "romantic" view of love who will have problems with this. The romantic view of love is based on feeling so would fall outside of the definition that we are using here.) In Peck's view, love is always a form of work and/or courage because we are extending ourselves to include someone else in our "world". That extension of ourself implies risk and work.
After pointing out the many things that love is not, Peck discusses the "work of attention". The fact is that a large part of love is attention. It is listening. It is entering in to the other person's world. If you have ever really tried to that, you know that it is work. I don't know about you, but my thoughts drift so easily...."What will I say next?"...."Oh, I can fix that."...."Dang, I forgot to put that load of laundry in."....."My kids are being to loud."..... I've thought about how often I truly enter in to my kid's world too. Peck points out that there are many different levels of listening and we need to use each one at certain times. But, how often do I fully enter in to my kindergartener's world with all my attention? Not often enough.
I'll end with a quote from a part of the book about the role of love in psychotherapy. I think it describes a way in which we, as the Church, can and should be present to the broken in our world.
"It is not "unconditonal positive regard," nor it is magical words, techniques or postures; it is human involvement and struggle. It is the willingness of the therapist to extend himself or herself for the purpose of nurturing a patient's growth - willingness to go out on a limb, to truly involve oneself at an emotional level in the relationship, to actually struggle with the patient and with oneself. In short, the magical ingredient of successful deep and meaningful psychotherapy is love."
Am I willing to go to the broken places and broken people of the world and enter struggle?
Who, specifically, am I struggling with?
How am I doing at struggling with my wife and kids?
Sunday, October 09, 2005
This is our first Sunday not being part of an institutional church in about 12 years. I didn't miss is it this weekend.... We had a time of reading the OT and Psalms as a family, sang a song or two and chilled out on the couch and enjoyed each other. We had a nice bonfire on Friday night with some good friends....gotta like that....something about friends, fire and a few beers that I really enjoy.... We continue to pray for God to put people into our life that want to journey with us.... We will be having biscuits and gravy "church" at our house in the near future.
Been reading N.T. Wright's "Challenge of Jesus". Really challenges me in putting Jesus in a historical context rather than viewing him as a "supernatural" being that floated his way through life. I'm sure I'll have some more to say at a later time about that....
My job as a teacher's asst. continues to be interesting. I pray for my kids everyday....in a public school even....they don't know it though.....that wouldn't be "legal". My heart breaks for some of these kids. The home life they must have that causes them to act out like they do.... sigh....heartbreak....prayer....
Been reading N.T. Wright's "Challenge of Jesus". Really challenges me in putting Jesus in a historical context rather than viewing him as a "supernatural" being that floated his way through life. I'm sure I'll have some more to say at a later time about that....
My job as a teacher's asst. continues to be interesting. I pray for my kids everyday....in a public school even....they don't know it though.....that wouldn't be "legal". My heart breaks for some of these kids. The home life they must have that causes them to act out like they do.... sigh....heartbreak....prayer....
Thursday, September 22, 2005
The Midwest Camping Experiment
Reality Show Update:
Can three families whose only contact has been on the internet camp together for a weekend? Will their kids get along? Will they be able to share food and water? Will they be able to share the life of Christ without devolving into petty theological arguements? Will they be able to endure a three mile wilderness hike with meager provisions, little water, and nine whiney children? Stay tuned. . .
The answer to all these questions was a resounding YES! Last weekend we camped with Bob and Amy, and Matt and Amy and their children. Some people might think we were crazy for camping with people we met on the internet. Of course they could have been axe murders, but I can verify that there were hatchets available, and yet, we all came back alive. Physically and spiritually.
It didn't cease to amaze me the whole weekend how easily and effortlessly our children connected. They played like they have known each other for years! It reminded me of a family get-togethers as a kid, which my kids don't get to enjoy due to family strangeness. It was cool to see them share, and mostly get through their small disagreements on their own. My kids couldn't stop talking about the fun they had on the way home!
I think that sense of immediate connection was shared among the adults too. We shared food and spiritual journeys around the campfire. We shared carrying each others children on our wilderness adventure. (Note to self: Never do a three mile hike with children under 8.) We shared songs. From my point of view it just felt "right".
I am reminded how important it is to spend time with others in the family of God. We all have different expriences that shape our theology, ecclesiology and worldview, and I am reminded how much I need my theology, ecclesiology and worldview shaped by others.
It never ceases to amaze me how God connects His people. It was great to have a family outing and we can't wait for the next one.
I would say our "reality show" was a success....
Can three families whose only contact has been on the internet camp together for a weekend? Will their kids get along? Will they be able to share food and water? Will they be able to share the life of Christ without devolving into petty theological arguements? Will they be able to endure a three mile wilderness hike with meager provisions, little water, and nine whiney children? Stay tuned. . .
The answer to all these questions was a resounding YES! Last weekend we camped with Bob and Amy, and Matt and Amy and their children. Some people might think we were crazy for camping with people we met on the internet. Of course they could have been axe murders, but I can verify that there were hatchets available, and yet, we all came back alive. Physically and spiritually.
It didn't cease to amaze me the whole weekend how easily and effortlessly our children connected. They played like they have known each other for years! It reminded me of a family get-togethers as a kid, which my kids don't get to enjoy due to family strangeness. It was cool to see them share, and mostly get through their small disagreements on their own. My kids couldn't stop talking about the fun they had on the way home!
I think that sense of immediate connection was shared among the adults too. We shared food and spiritual journeys around the campfire. We shared carrying each others children on our wilderness adventure. (Note to self: Never do a three mile hike with children under 8.) We shared songs. From my point of view it just felt "right".
I am reminded how important it is to spend time with others in the family of God. We all have different expriences that shape our theology, ecclesiology and worldview, and I am reminded how much I need my theology, ecclesiology and worldview shaped by others.
It never ceases to amaze me how God connects His people. It was great to have a family outing and we can't wait for the next one.
I would say our "reality show" was a success....
Monday, September 19, 2005
Friday, September 09, 2005
"D"
Her shaggy brown hair covered her face, providing shelter from those who might make fun of her. She dressed in classic second hand clothes. Just out of style enough to stick out. At the start of every day she came to the fifth and sixth grade gym, searched out a place in the middle of the gym where she wouldn’t be noticed, and sat alone. While the other kids socialized, swapping stories about their latest video game, or who the cutest boy in their class is, or what happened at the ball game last night, or even finished their homework . . . she looked at the gym floor.
A bald, directionless, teacher’s assistant who happens to believe that God loves people like this little girl with deep affection enters the picture. He is just stupid enough to believe that God has put this little girl on his heart. He knows enough about feeling alone and left out to not want others to feel the same way, and just naive enough to think that he can make a difference. He introduces himself, asks some general questions and invites her to join his little band of misfits. She smiles and politely declines.
In a conversation with the social worker the next day he points out the little girl sitting alone with her hair in her face. It just so happens the social worker knows another little girl who has some social issues and she introduces them. Can you believe that these two little girls used to be friends a long time ago and hadn’t talked in a long time? Can you believe that they happen to have enough in common to strike up a conversation? I knew you could. . .
The next day the bald, directionless teacher’s assistant walks in the gym with his boys and looks for the shaggy-haired little girl. She isn’t in her usual spot. Scanning the gym he catches sight of her. What a beautiful sight it was! The wilting flower of a girl had gotten a drink of water and was blooming among a group of new friends. Smiling and laughing, and not looking much at all like the girl of the previous day. . .
The bald, directionless teacher’s assistant is learning to measure success in small increments. . .
A bald, directionless, teacher’s assistant who happens to believe that God loves people like this little girl with deep affection enters the picture. He is just stupid enough to believe that God has put this little girl on his heart. He knows enough about feeling alone and left out to not want others to feel the same way, and just naive enough to think that he can make a difference. He introduces himself, asks some general questions and invites her to join his little band of misfits. She smiles and politely declines.
In a conversation with the social worker the next day he points out the little girl sitting alone with her hair in her face. It just so happens the social worker knows another little girl who has some social issues and she introduces them. Can you believe that these two little girls used to be friends a long time ago and hadn’t talked in a long time? Can you believe that they happen to have enough in common to strike up a conversation? I knew you could. . .
The next day the bald, directionless teacher’s assistant walks in the gym with his boys and looks for the shaggy-haired little girl. She isn’t in her usual spot. Scanning the gym he catches sight of her. What a beautiful sight it was! The wilting flower of a girl had gotten a drink of water and was blooming among a group of new friends. Smiling and laughing, and not looking much at all like the girl of the previous day. . .
The bald, directionless teacher’s assistant is learning to measure success in small increments. . .
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