green harvested

I was apolled today as I listened to a doctor describe the way our plants even considered "vine ripened" are grown. picked green, sprayed and kept to suffocate in a plastic bag, while they change color then to be sold, is what they term "green harvesting."

I was disgusted as an all too deeply involved health freak, but then also observed the parallel of what that also looks like in our lives when we appear to be "vine ripened," (spiritually speaking) but are really snipped off of the true living source. We may have an attached vine and pretend to be living, but when we are only stubs representing what was once there, we can only live healthy so long, or should I say short. Our nutrients flow from the original source, as Jesus said "I am the vine and you are the branches," and much like our poor produce today, sometimes we are lacking many necessary nutrients.

Our desire for the righteousness comes from reading the Word and other spiritual resources. When we cut off our life line of reading and being taught and encouraged in these resources, we become dry. We must not set aside this source of life which gives us only what appears to be a healthy lifestyle, but was only made so by an instant or inefficient method. It takes time to reap true and healthy fruit, but when it is done, it's the best quality of life we can find!

Away but Home

Today is the first time Julia and I have ever been without one or the other’s family during Christmas. It is also the first time we have been in Germany for Christmas. I was thinking it would be a very sad occasion. I can truly say that God has really given us grace from being depressed and lonely. I will say the opposite has happened and we are having a great time! God has richly blessed us with people here who seem like family, so last night we had a great time eating, talking, and playing games with the Landolls and others. That is the beauty of the church, even when you might be away from your “blood” family, you are still able to have a family atmosphere when real Christian brotherly love is there. The bond we have in the church is through Christ, who is the Head of the Church. He came into this world over 2000 years ago and a verse that has become radioactive to me regarding Christ and His birth and death is, Col 2:15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him. When you read scripture through the lens of God’s sovereign plan unfolding, you can really see how he put them to open shame and has triumphed through all Scripture. We are beneficiaries of Christ work on the Cross in our lives, and one of the benefits is having family where ever the church is. We thank God for His Church this Christmas season as we celebrate with our spiritual family.

we love display baby Jesus

This Christmas season Julia and I have had a great opportunity to visit many different Christmas Markets. Each one is unique from the other and they all are very beautiful, each are lit up at night with lights and have either bands or choirs singing out Christmas songs. As you walk through the markets you get the smell of roasting nuts, deep fried food, and wurst. You walk through each row and look at each booth to see what unnecessary good they are trying to sell and by the end of the night realize you have no more money. While walking through this last one in Stuttgart, I saw a booth that was selling all of their baby Jesus’ and “religious things”. As a Christmas song was sung in the background a thought stuck to my mind that had been resonating this whole Christmas season, everyone loves the idea of “display baby Jesus” because he doesn’t say much and we can do what we want with him, but not too many people likes the “real Jesus” that is talked about in Scripture. People don’t love Bible Jesus because he changes your life and says hard things to stomach like deny yourself and live for His glory even through the good times and hardships. We sometimes like to fit Jesus into our own man made profiles and not scriptures profile. It breaks my heart for those who may know everything about Christmas and Easter Jesus, but do not know Him for their salvation and life transformation. What a kind shepherd He is, who laid down his life that we may have life in Him. I can easily forget about what He has taken me from and what grace He has put me into. May we see Jesus through scripture and not some man made ideas.

"half of my heart.."

Isn't this just how it is- we are half hearted in what we do many times, yet we can't admit it most of the time:/

A few lyrics from the artist John Mayer have stuck out in my mind as very real. He sings "Half of my heart has a grip on the situation,..." and then goes on to sing that half of it does not, as we too are often conflicted between our emotions and the truth.

Another song he sings "belief is the heaviest armor" and truthfully states that it is so, as we all believe something, and it truely affects us either strongly, or else we are mocked by it.

Does what you believe always show? If we say we believe we must live it wholeheartedly, as when not,we only hurt ourselves, the potential of the belief's of the world around us, and we just glide through life neither making a great difference nor exceeding our own expectations for what Christ has to offer.

It is sometimes hard for us to be in a country where we don't sing our own heart language at church, and are not uplifted the same way as a tongue which reaches the depths of your soul with just the right words to sweep out any lingering unnecessary objects of affection. You are not penetrated from the pulpit with sharp words which also knock down walls that should not be there, and you don't get the same face to face confrontation of discipleship that could come from someone who knows you well enough to pick apart your weakness and ask the hard questions.

So though not alone in the journey, it is a stretch and preparation for the times when we have to live with mostly the strength of Christ alone in our relationship. In this case it is easy to feel half hearted at times. But one of the most important things I've continued to learn, is that we do NOT go by what our heart in it's momentary affliction or selfish desires wants, as strong as it may be at times.

We must pray that half our hearts are not only involved when we set out to accomplish life, but the whole heart in it's entirety, as we will then make a greater difference in the world. We must be real before Christ and God our Father as we repent from our daily sins- He has forgiven yes, but we must be up front and know our place before His Holiness.

It's the people who are whole hearted that make a difference and stand out. Sometimes our weary bodies get in the way- and we can only do as much as they allow. Our tanks run low, our needs run high, and we just can't do it all- but if we can make it our aim to fight with vigor, our affect in this world will be much greater.

Our first snow!

It was an awesome view Saturday morninng to Baumholder's "Jingle bell jog." The hills that we enter from our city in the lower valley, was dusted upon with the first snow as in a movie that shows transition from fall into winter. There is a major altitude change, and a not so slight variation in the climate when climbing these hills and upon entering the city they chose to place this army base, for clever reasons while it sits in an area that reaches points of extreme fog even, causing then a sort of disappearing for any enemy's eye.

It was a perfect backdrop to the 5k holiday race as well, as it was the only beauty in sight, while the roads themselves were only lined with stereotypical baracks and cement building hiding the secrecies of warfare preparation. Such a depressing place these bases can be, and adding that alongside the PTSD that beguiles many a soldier homes, we can only pray that God would use the light and glory of Christ to light up these dark places of the world.

The world is huge, and God's placed us here at this time to work on the army base as a byproduct of our initial intention just as a place enabling us to do our "real" mission. But pray that in the lives of those whose hope could be destitute for joy in an evil, violent, and ever so greedy, nation manipulating world, we might help be a beacon of hope and light as Christ is allowed to shine through us by the love He only so mercifully gives.

He calls us to love all people, and especially in the more lovingly resistant places where only His love is made evident. It takes His power to do this, and we pray that it is done so.

After running this race, I felt it necessary to purchase a "poor mans" eggnog latte from the only Starbucks within too many miles of where we live. Thank God for their bringing THIS taste of America to the army base; for it too brings a particular beacon of hope and light to our little city:)

Things better aged

There are a few things that get better with time. Besides wine and cheese, on a more serious note, marriage and our relationship with Christ. Now I say this hesitatingly, as likely just after I write, I will get into what may not be a huge fight, but some sort of disagreement, with Rich. Nevertheless I write that however altogether, I thank God for His love and friendship, more each day (most days:) and this thought came to me as I thought of other things that grow richer and better tasting with time, and as we all know that supposedly "good things come to those who wait."

So we've been married 2 plus years, and it is true that when done right, marriage gets better with time. I laugh as one friend once told us that nobody else could be married likewise to both Rich or I, as we were uniquely made for one another. Although that notion isn't true because we are all bound to not work perfectly with any other human being, at least we know as our relationship with Christ and understanding of His love AND forgiveness abounds in us, it is possible to grow together into a deeper love- contrary to the frivolent falling in and out of love theories. I write slightly from response to the book my Dad has pleaded with us to read " Family driven Faith," as the author writes with joy of the marraige that God has given Him, not due to His perfection but through what God has brought them to understand what marriage should be about.
Yesterday Rich told me, as He has many times before, that he has "fallen more in love with me today than yesterday." This is something I could unfortunately get too used to hearing, but currently, remain so thankful that it is not the opposite. I know not everyone has the best of marrital bliss, and on the contrary, many have completley opposite. I know we don't always, but that the work we put into it brings back much more gain that if we lived out our short lived bursts of frustration or whatever else. Thank God He never gives us more than we can handle- and that dosn't mean almost more than we can handle, just probably right to the point where we think we can no longer make it.

I don't say this to brag, as it is one thing in life that we can enjoy speaking of and still appear humble, as it is one of God's favorite institutions. I also say this because it is awesome to see the silly parallels in life, such as cheese and wine, in which God brings to us the lessons He wants us to understand most. Many things truely get better with time. :)

"Because I said so"

It's amazing how much we inherit the methods or traits we were raised with. One thing I find myself saying all too often at work with the ever disobedient little children, is "because I said do." I hated this phrase when I was growing up, simply told to me just because my parents could, when I always desired an explanation for it. These kids are just like I was, actually still am at times. I know I always want to know "why" even from God, whom shouldn't have to be demanded for an explanation, and yet these questions still linger sometimes. He has told us that "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God. For we did not receive the spirit of bondage to fear, but the Spirit of adoption..He bears witness that we are children of God, and then so heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ." We are not bound to live a life of fear of anything, as we've been given something greater than we know.


This inheritance is a great treasure, and yet we are now responsible to answer to our God. As Job went through trials, he threw a fit of anguish yet praised the Lord through His pain and quandry; this must also be our answer. And as Romans says "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does not the Potter have the power over the clay..?"


We were adopted as sons, as many kids in this world need so badly, with the lack of necessary guidance. As it is with God, we need this greater authority, while we are much better off with it, and lead much straighter lives. So then, we accept the implications of His rule.

Tim Keller said in a message I recently heard, that when Christ leads our life, there are two implications; He always demands more from us than we expected, and yet also always returns much more than we ever expected. This is how we grow. In almost anything we strive for we must give of ourselves to reap positive return. This world is a paradoxical place; pain is gain, giving is more blessed than to receive, etc.

At work I constantly break up fights and fits of rage, take fists in the face, and separate buddies from provoking one another to disregard my word; (keep in mind these are preschoolers). And although they don't like me for the moment, I do what I do because I do know better than them, can simply tell them "because I said so," and they have to learn to trust my authority.

Hopefully we too, will learn to accept this discipline in life when it comes from God our authority who is much more adequate to deliver it:) God disciplines those He loves, His Word says, and another thing I heard from Kellar I believe resonates with all; that the real Jesus should, and will disturb you. He pushes us beyonds limits we never knew were there.

Does Jesus disturb you? Because He should:)

No nonsense

I am going through Jesus specific words in Matthew right now, that evidence the faith necessary for the salvation that we so thankfully are given; as opposed to the works that many in the world only hope to obtain. I know we still get caught up in the thought of these too, however, and want to keep my soul resting in the truth that eliminates any fears that it is up to me to be a ‘good’ person, as I’ve discovered by now that there is no hope in that area.

Christ calls us to follow Him, no matter what the cost is. Many of his disciples initially did this; when He called them, they just got up and went. Following Him produces perseverance when we are brought through things we don’t chose beforehand to accept when He calls us to Himself. We live on the edge of faith when we can’t see, and we step into a dirty world full of disbelief. When the Pharisees (who did all supposedly “right”) and were bewildered that Jesus spent time with those of “second rate” social status, He responded that “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick…’I desire mercy, not sacrifice;’ for I’ve come not to call the righteous, but sinners.” He always brings up thought provoking, facilitative, no nonsense and in your face answers. So able to knock our senses to the ground when they should be, yet wise enough and able to do so, because He is God, and we dare not oppose His omniscience.

I pray we not think ourselves ‘above’ those who need Christ, or cease to embrace relationships with those outside of our own comfortable realm or sphere of choice influence.
Jesus also often gives what clearly seems to me to be a ‘duh’ factor type response. I see this also when others asked him why His disciples did not fast at the time He was with them. He said “Why fast while I am here, for I will soon be taken away, and then they can fast.” So fitting and obvious an answer, as to only fast because they “should,” would just be considered a ‘duty.’ So then we also must allow the Holy Spirit to work in our own hearts to give us wisdom for each decision and how it is fitting for our life and the context it is lived in. We will be all things to all men, as Paul proclaimed, and are held no longer by the power of the law but by grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ and the freedom to know that He will lead us to truth to live by; not necessarily by the commands of every other man’s personal consciousness.’
There are many misnomers about Christianity, and the “chains” people want to think it enslaves us into. But there are also these many lies that the world can sow into our minds when we are not led by the truth. Jesus said “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Also “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:31-36).

Thank you Jesus for the truth that we are no longer slaves to sin, but to righteousness only by your name and the freedom you give us to lives worthy of something greater than ourselves!
I am not a theologian, so if you can give greater feedback on any Scriptures mentioned, I’m always up for reproof. :)