Understanding our salvation

So how do we know we are moving? How do we know our Christian walk isn't just something we've taken ahold of, like a kite in the wind, yet just plopped down to sit rather than run to watch it fly.

It's kind of like a ship. When we ride on a ship we know we are moving because everything we pass gets closer and eventually passes on. It is the same with life; we move because life changes around us and those objects or circumstances that arise may even be too close for comfort, yet will indeed pass away if we steer straight and don't allow them to be a boulder to crash into.

God promises to carry us through if we take ahold of what He says. He tells us in Romans through the pen of Paul, that as Christ endured suffering even to death, He has risen to brings us life and that through Him we are MORE than conquerors. Nothing will be able to separate us; life or death, angels or demons, anything present or to come, the greatest heights or depths, nor any other thing created by the hand of God Himself will be able to separate us from Him and His love.
So then our movement comes from the hand of God as from His hand came everything that is as Hebrews says "God who spoke through prophets and now His Son whom is appointed all things through whom He made the worlds." Also, the Psalmist expresses in this reality of God, that His works are manifold and in wisdom have been made. "The earth is full of His possessions,..living things both small and great."

We know if we steadily trust His hand, that when life happens we have THE source of it to draw from. Hopefully we will draw from it every day to keep our well full of water so that should a drought occur, we will not thirst.

We know that when sin rears it's ugly head also, the truth of God's word will not return void, and His Spirit Himself will intercede for us when we have not the words. He is our helper who abides with us forever; whom the world cannot receive because it knows Him not. We know Him because He dwells in us and will not leave us (John 14). God also reveals His many wonders to us through His Spirit. "For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of man but his own spirit? Even so no one knows the things of God except His Spirit. We have this Spirit from Him, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God!"

How beautiful are the words of God to those who believe!?

This is how we understand our salvation; while day by day His mercies pour over us to reveal once again His greatness and power, our finiteness is seen and our therefore need for such a Savior. When our minds can't comprehend this, we can bow our knees and pray for one another as Paul did that God would grant to us the riches of His glory to be strengthened with His might and that He may then dwell with us while being rooted in such a great love. We know the message of the cross is foolishness to the world but to those who believe it is the power of God!

We know that love is what makes the world go round and pretty much solves all problems. The root of our sins stem from a lack of love so often, yet when we grasp how wide the love of God is, we are able to cope with the fact that there is no one that can love us more than Him we need not rely on men for this fulfillment.

We can then go forth pouring out His love on others, which will then enable the world to spin again. If we sit to long and wait for anything to move we will grow stir crazy. We must then be proactive in stirring up love amongst one another as love covers a multitude of sins and surpasses any attempts that this world and their forces of evil and egotism can approach.

After all, it is the God of heaven and earth, the LORD almighty who created all including love itself, and who is able to accomplish more than we could ask or think.
So help us God, to understand the salvation you've freely given us and the love that accompanies it which is able to conquer all!

The Gospel in Les Miserables

This movie was the first of many in a long time that caused me to weep. I watched as a depraved man, a thief, was shown mercy which began for him a life of showing the same mercy while paying others back for the gratitude he had for a man and his wife whom not only spared his freedom, but gave him above and beyond what he deserved to show him mercy.

He then began a life of honesty and generosity. He was a “changed man” as he’d claimed he would be, and yet there were of course, still the consequences of his former sin which he had to live with. While his life was sought extensively by the ‘evil one,’ he lived in peace knowing he’d covered his bases; yet this evil one was out to prove him wrong. He did feel a deep sense of remorse for his past, and was willing to take the charges, should they be proved against him while others were potentially put to the stake for being mistaken with his actual account. He rescues many from failure and hardship, and the very life and nurturing of an orphan he promised to care for. He takes what his past represented and attempted to spare her life from anything close to it, yet goes to the extreme as sadly so many overly fearful though loving parents mistakenly do. He wants to hinder this child from the world and its ugliness, but the day comes where it is not possible. What he could have done was teach her the truth and how to combat the harsh realities of life with the power of God. However, while they do break out into reality, and life makes for harder decisions, his honor keeps him to the end. He does what he can out of love; having been a receptor of such deep mercy and grace, he then extended it on to many generations.

His attempt at reviving the life and love of one whom was shown no mercy for her sin, showed a beautiful picture of what some of the world would see as unjust. Our very God is just yet the justifier too, and we know His hand to be perfect in our lives when others may see it as not right in their own eyes.

The evil man in this movie was so bound by sin, and the law he felt he must keep that he showed no mercy even when such a changed and blameless man was snow before him. He could not get past it, and his wicked schemes did not let him rest until they lead him to death, as sin we know always does.

In the end, our main man goes free; and walks away down a road and info a flock of birds that then fly up into the air, representing the likeness his heart clearly felt as his burdens and weight of the past sins in his life too, flew away.

Many times his life was pictured to me as Christ’s while though he was a sinner, he had come back to repentance and changed and though still sought after, he was always willing to give up his life and freedom for others. You can’t help but love him as all main characters, especially with such renovated and pure motives for the well being of others. And you can’t help but despise the disgusting man who sought his life, as his lack of mercy was so relentless and unjust. Sin does this to our lives, as is vies to strangle us with every ounce of strength it holds on our life. We must run from it, and know its end.

We must pour mercy on those who need it, as we’ve been shown this great mercy! And never forget the unconditional love we’ve been shown; as there is NO greater love than that one should lay his life down for his friends. God in Christ Jesus did this, and His very life was laid on our account, to forever wash us clean. Our slates are new; what can we do but show mercy today!?

Markers of Sanctification

It is such a blessing to be known by God, and personally know Him.

When situations beyond our control spin new things in and out of our lives, it gives me peace knowing there is absolutely nothing I can do to prevent what God has planned; if i try it will just be harder on me:)

I am encouraged that through job situations and highs and lows, we can embrace each change that comes as a way to say "God knows" and "I" do not. He has it all worked out and when I try to make things happen that are not meant to be, I will just fall flat on my face. Sensing Him and trying to follow His steps laid out before us are sometimes clear, sometimes not. I think our clarity is fogged by our own desires sometimes though, and we only keep ourselves from seeing further. I love that as a follower of Christ we are given His Spirit to us as a helper. As Jesus said in John 14 "The Helper, the Holy Spirit, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance things I said to you. Peace I leave with you, not as the world gives..." and later "These things have I spoken, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."

1 Corinthians 2 also tells us that "God has revealed (the things He is preparing for us) through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes the deep things of God." What greater joy can we have than that!? Our Creator has given us truth beyond ourselves to give us incite into His wisdom and knowledge; of course not yet complete, but something to be hoped for in the coming of the redemption of the purchased possession, as it says in Ephesians 1. Such wonderful things to be hoped for!
I know now that as He gives me grace to respond how I would not otherwise on my own accord, when difficult circumstances arise, I can give Him all the glory for He has enabled me to do so. It is not I, but Christ who lives in me. "This is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?!"
AMEN.

A place to live

It is awesome to have moved into a place we can call our own. We all want that right? Well as much enjoyment as it is so wake up to your own place, schedule, letting nothing else controling your surroundings, and to use beautiful things unwrapped after a three year period in storage, I feel so grateful for what I know I do not deserve, while even a bit hesitant to allow myself entitlement to it.

There is much we don't need- I LOVE the less is more principle. I hate the American "I need more and bigger!" mentallity. God help us not even gradually let our hearts reach that point. I know we will always work to beat our greedy hearts into submission to Christ's call on our lives to lay down whatever this world longs for us to cling to. Yet, I am thankful He reminds me daily I don't deserve any of it- that it ALL is His, and that I must know that stuff does NOT equal happiness; it only begets more desire. "The eyes of man are never full" a favorite Proverb wisely states it.
Many people never dream of "owning" what we do. And as I feared my own impending doom of "losing" it all the other day due to leaving our stove burner on:/ I was so thankful for God's gracious hand in preserving "our things" and kept my conscious thankful notion that all things are from Him, for Him, and must be given back to Him.

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow!"

Eat, Pray, Love

I entirely agree with the title of this movie; but in drastically different measures than intended by the author. The woman here, who sets out to find what she 'really' wants in life, finds that thorough enjoyment of giving into every indulgence her heart desires, leads her onto the road of true happiness; or so she thinks. While leaving the 'love of her life' as we've seen oh too many times before, she sets out to pursue religion, seclusion, and flat out pure hedonism at it's heighth. A natural tendancy, sure, many have. To 'listen to your heart' as the popular 80's sing star Roxette puts it, brings you to what YOU really want in life, disregarding all the broken relationships of those you've committed to, now severed on your behalf. Something I think we've actually been warned against, if we actually take heed.

The Bible says it best, in that true love, everlasting love "endures all things, hopes, forgives, believes,"...and so on. We are so susceptable to pursuing things that don't last, to love the things which produce yes happiness, but inevitably fade. Our God is to be worshipped first of all, and then enjoyed THROUGH the world which He created. As in Romans it says that "What may be known of Him is manifest in us, for God shows it to us. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are seen, even His eternal power and Godhead; so we are without excuse...but although many know God, we often do not glorify Him as such, are not thankful, but are futile in thought. Our foolish hearts can be so dark, and as the world claims to be wise, foolishness is the actual state. Then while changing the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man...we exchange the truth of God for a lie, worshipping and serving creature rather than Creator; who is (or SHOULD be) blessed through our lives forever." (Romans 1)

Our worldy love and worship is so contrary to what I've come to know through the words of our Lord and Savior from whom perfect love is given. He's given us life through Himself, which was ordained before time, from God the Father from whom also proceeds every perfect gift. (Hebrews and Matthew)

So then "to be carnally minded is death. But to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans) So to think upon ourselves and our ever pressing urgent needs, desires, and wants leads only to a life of narcissism. We get trapped within ourselves to believe this way of life, yet we so long for peace. So where does this peace come from?

One source, a true source. A reliable source; not some figment of our imaginations, serenity through quiet, or chanting to a god who is dead. We have hope in God, THE God whose Holy Word says He created heaven and earth, us, calls us as His own, and "desires that none should perish, but come to repentance." We seek fulfillment in life, and He says "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest." He also says that "you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." (John)

So when we set out to 'find ourselves,' our source of life, and purpose therein, where do we find it but outside of ourselves of course. Serving and loving others surely produces joy, regardless of your reasons for it. But where does this service come from? Emptying of self is a gift from God who Himself was "emptied and poured out as an offering" for us, but for HIS glory. He humbled Himself through Jesus' life, whose live's we are to emulate, doing "nothing out of selfish ambition, but considering 'others better than ourselves,'" as He did. (Philippians).

So go out into all the world; travel, eat, enjoy new people, places, cultures, and nations. But give thanks to God our Father who created it all, and to whom all should give glory to and for. And then also set out to pray, that the eyes of your understanding be enlightened; to know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints; the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all power and dominion, and every name that is named forever."
And finally love, and pray that He will grant you such according to His glory, to be strengthened with might though His Spirit in the inner man, that He may dwell in your heart through faith; being rooted and grounded in this love, able to comprehend with all the saints what the width and lenghth and depth and heigth is, that is the love of Christ which passes all knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
If we live this, we will be able to eat of His gifts, pray to Him Him for all things, and love as He loves; which proves no selfish thing, but endures forever. This is the greatest of all, and what truely brings about the peace and hope in life we are all searching for.

AMEN

Have you ever had a dream you felt was so real?

I know you have, because I think we all do. We wake up in a stupor as though we just got through an intense movie, and our life was as the main character!

In this case, I was held hostage for who knows what reason, but needless to say, it was a bit threatening. I began to ease in the situation while surrounded by people of evil intentions, as I found compassion within myself to ask them simply why they were doing what they were, and desiring also to share with them about Christ and give them hope beyond whatever or wherever their evil intentions were taking them.

I don't remember much else, but then this morning read on in Matthew where I've been studying for awhile, to refresh my memory of the verses where Jesus tells His disciples that we must not fear those who can kill the body but not the soul. Our soul belongs to God and noone out there can keep us from this eternal love and keeping. It was interesting as I had even awoke to thinking upon this verse, and was comforted by the fact that truely noone and nothing can keep us from our Lord-neither life nor death is to be feared with God on our side. Christ goes on to say that he brought the sword to divide and prove those who are worthy of Him- those who will deny, and follow Him.

As we are weak in flesh, He can be made stronger, and if we allow Him to be magnified in our lives and proven, He will then prove us true to His Father God in Heaven. Jesus is the way, the answer- the key to living this life with eternity in focus- as His life is life to us, and His death is also; so must be our lives- whether we live or die, to Him be all the glory.



I also thought on persecution recently as I read from a book full of stories of those who had undergone bouts of it. It brings questions to our minds as to why, etc. But we are then confirmed when and if we do go through this, just why and even beforehand, that it is inevitable in this life. From harsh to almost non existant as in these westernized countries it can be, we still have some answers even if not all fully explained. And so are my thoughts on the next blog.

blessed are those who are persecuted...

So we often wonder how it is that our lives will or should look as followers of Christ; a paradox for sure, as we die to ourselves to live to Christ. In our weakness He is made stronger in us, we are to put others first, while in the kingdom of heaven those who were first shall be last, and the last first. We wonder if God will “bless us” as His word seems to intend. However our view of blessings can be skewed by the ways in which our narrow minds conceive.
Spiritual blessings are to be above all treasured, and material can also be nice, but if our real treasure is laid up in heaven as Matthew says it should be, we will have our minds so set there that temporal things don’t phase us quite so heavily. I have now come to understand that we do not deserve anything as sinners, and that every gracious gift given to us comes from our Father in heaven, regardless of whether we deserve it. We don’t have answers for everything; for pain, for blessings per se, or cursings, for God no longer works consistently has the God of the ‘big stick’ in order to beat us to submission. He works as a compassionate one who gave us free life through His Son Christ Jesus the heir of all things as is reiterated all throughout the Bible. So there we have it at first hand, the riches of Christ and blessings eternally laid up in heaven for us. We shall not want for more; and yet we do. We are here on earth and we desire the temporal. The temporal, though beautiful as it may be in the short term, is nothing to be compared with the beauty of Christ and the blessings to be poured out when we enter His presence in eternity. We live for now all to often, and see the pain this world so easily bestows when our hopes are here. We are given such good lives, in some terms, and yet not all of us do.
We see fellow believers of Christ being persecuted for their faith, yet this is a God honoring thing in this world for it is written in His Word, blessed are those who suffer for His sake. We can take this to heart, and rejoice in the Hope and faith His gives us through the knowledge of His Son, knowing that as He says, “the genuineness of our faith, being more precious than gold, though tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1)
God gives us a huge manual to tell us of the short comings of many men, His hand in their lives, and how to avoid wrong doing. He tells us His righteousness has been GIVEN to us, so we need not work for salvation, but we must live in light of this glorious lot in our lives.

Psalms says “the good mans steps are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. ..I am young, and now old; Yet have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.”

Well we know that none are actually good- except Christ, but that He has now laid on our account, His own righteousness. So then those who live according to His word, or even just those who are His may receive this blessing? Well there you see, material blessings in the way of provision, and I truly have seen this in my own life ONLY by grace MANY times. I know believers have perished for their faith- so there you wonder of safety provision, but ultimately their true valued treasure was not kept from them, and their lives are now an honor to the Lord even by their death. I read stories of those faithful to the Lord amidst rough family derission, yet through all the toil and pain they endured, God brought them through even the most unbelievable physical circumstances to prove their faith.

And so you have it, some who are spared and some who are not. We know not which we will be, if ever we even truly have to face trials such as these. But count it a blessing, if so, for then our faith will be given opportunity to prove Christ what honor is due. May we live in such light of His eternal blessings, that they far outweigh any menial life circumstances that beset us in this life. May we live in the light of His glory and grace, and be imitators of God in this world, being holy, that is ‘set apart’ as he called us to “be holy, for I am holy.”

HOPE drives

What drives you?

Rich told me today that he has to wonder why I am the way I am. And I retorted that I also wonder the same of him. I think that is just the nature of marriage, and living with another human being. We all tic the way we do because of a number of things; our family, our genes, and our situations in life. Even two people growing up together may handle the very same situation completely different; in the same way that those who grow up completely opposite may also handle the same situation the very same. We all have heros, life changing events, moments; and these all occur at different times and places, based on what I believe, is God's sovereignty in putting them there to make you who you are.

So it is, with my busy personality, that he wonders why I never stop. I came to a concise conclusion during the sermon today which out of Romans 8, pointed us to the fact that we have a hope- which is obviously not seen, because what is hope in something that is already seen? It isn't hope at all.

And so I have this hope, not just in the spiritual sense which does of course trump all other hopes, but I have hope in life. I truely hold strong faith in many things and avenues of exciting potential for life that I simply cannot stand to waste my life not pursuing them, almost to the point of error.

I cannot watch much tv, I cannot spend too much time doing the same thing as there is too much else out there to not be a part of. I cannot have one best friend (besides Rich:), and I cannot stand to take the Bible as I know it, and not search for more great truths yet to be learned.

God's Word has given us so much to uncover, that we scarcely understand all that He intends. I hope also that my life will be worth something to those who it touches, in the way of impact and inspiration, and as I know that no one leads others by sitting around and staying stagnant; I also cannot do this.

I think we all can have faith and hope in life that true joy comes from knowing our God, and the ability He gives us to learn about and contribute to this world He's created to order.

Motives

So as we often discuss with people who are yet to be married, or now have been for sometime, the topic of 'motives' driving this union inevitably come up. We all have our grounds for 'why' we do the things that we do, and can argue quite reasonably (at least I'd hope so). But sometimes our reasoning sounds so good in our heads, while out loud really just stinks.

We just got through a sermon series at our church going through Ephesians, and of course then ending on the topic of spiritual warfare in chapter 6.

Well one of the tactics of spiritual warfare which I believe bids us much frustration in life, is that of our very own thought life and self talk. Ephesians 6 tells us that we must prepare for the battle we are fighting against the enemy; taking on faith, which quenches the fiery darts of the wicked one. And so we must drown out also, the ways of selfish talk that comes from every angle around us, predisposing us to a life of unhappiness while seeking self gratification 24/7.

How hard it is, for us to forget ourselves, and put others in front of our pressing desires so natural to strive for. Within reason, we of course must maintain what we must to live and be able to serve; but then as in most relationships, with marriage it is supposed to be about the 'giving,' and not so much the taking (although receiving on the other end does make for an easier time together).

We read books, including the Bible, influencing our ways of thought and helping us transform our innate pursuit of egotism, and slowly we realize that it is more blessed to give than to recieve, that encouragment indeed breeds reciprocal encouragment, doing to others often ends up in the same treament being directed back, and so on.

But behind the motives of anything can still creep in slightly selfishly hinted desires. Money, recognition, and of course love, are not bad things, but alone can drive us to stomp on those we love to receive them; which in turn does just exactly opposite of what was initially intended.

And so as in marriage, I often wonder how much of our minds are really ready to just lay down all we are, when at the marriage alter, to ensure that this person we share our vows with will enjoy their life to the best of their ability, and become better through it. As Christ followers we are to take up our cross and die to our own self while putting others first, as His love allows us to do. If we focus on His sacrifice and our purpose in this life, it is easiER, and much more then gratifying for all!

God help us remember that! If we don't, we will suffer, for noone is more miserable that those who are in a rutt to seek out the best life for theirself. Even the most moral of human beings regardless of spiritual beliefs knows this. And so as those who know the very God of heaven and earth who has given us a real purpose in life AND death, we must live in reflection of His sacrificial love and mercy to those both deserving and undeserving; for we ourselves, also are not deserving for such love. It is mercy we've been given, and so we must give it back!

Rejoicing like a strong man to run its race

I can't say that yesterday I ran what I did in Durham's annual 8k race, with complete rejoicing as in a strong man running his race. I do, however, give thanks to the Lord for strength to run, for a community of people who enjoy the same sport, for beautiful weather, and an opportunity to come together for an overall enjoyable event.

Again, I believe running points to SO many life analogies. I signed up for this race awhile back, with the great 'intention' of pushing myself to train hard, in hopes of some sort of prize. Now not knowing what the competition would be, nor having the experience of running an 8k length before, combined with lack of motivation to push myself against the wind which gives no frame of reference for competition, I fell a little short.

Again, an enjoyable experience, but this time I learned something that I already knew- if that's possible, that I simply cannot train alone.

And so out of it comes another sermon for thought- that even as a runner cannot train alone, (or at least not nearly as well as with others beside him), our Christian walk is the same; not meant to be walked alone. God did not intend for us to be lone rangers, and we hear this all the time.

We know we have weaknesses, but that when surrounded by others, we can together pull one another up when the others fall. Or even better, when we run against someone with more strength altogether, or whose already been past the mile marker we are running on, they can help explain just how it may go, and what helped them when they were there. They can explain obstacles in the way, or again just simply let competition's drive push them in their stride to compare, match, or outrun those next to them; in all actuality just making the one next to them work harder too, at becoming better than he was before.

We are to sharpen eachother in our skills, or lack thereof. We are to train, not just hope to train, and then think we will just somehow win.

We run for a prize in these life events sometimes, but ultimately our goal should be to honor Christ, and find joy in Him through all of life's races. We are to see that all this world has fades in comparison to the joy and satisfaction that knowing GOD brings, and therefore not continually fail or allow ourselves to be disappointed when we don't match up to the world's standards. This world is not our home, we are just passin' through..as an old hymn says, and we can keep that outlook if we sharpen each other to stride our best through this life, seeing everything that comes and goes as a sharpening tool.

So as the picture in the verse I read in Psalms 19 today states, "The heavens declare the glory of God;..In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, (boasting almost), and rejoicing like a strong man to run its race." We are to be ready, prepared, strengthened, and embody the picture of strength on the race of life- as we take heed from the power of the Lord and His Word, allowing it to sharpen us along with others to run as a strong man would be after training hard. We have the tools, we must use them, and our race will be all the better for it.

Vergissmeinnicht!

SO I copied the below paragraph from Wikipedia instead of trying to rewrite what was unnecessary to do so. I thought it to be a fascinating little story, at least to those of us with a fondness in German folklore:) I had to research these flowers a bit before I planted them, after having been given a tiny packet as a going away gift from our German friends.

"In a German legend, God named all the plants when a tiny unnamed one cried out, "Forget-me-not, O Lord!" God replied, "That shall be your name."[2] In another legend, the little flower cried out, "Forget-me-not!" as Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden.[2]
The Christ Child was sitting on Mary's lap one day and said that he wished that future generations could see her eyes. He touched her eyes and then waved his hand over the ground and blue forget-me-nots appeared, hence the name forget-me-not.
Henry IV adopted the flower as his symbol during his exile in 1398, and retained the symbol upon his return to England the following year.[2]
In 15th-century Germany, it was supposed that the wearers of the flower would not be forgotten by their lovers. Legend has it that in medieval times, a knight and his lady were walking along the side of a river. He picked a posy of flowers, but because of the weight of his armour he fell into the river. As he was drowning he threw the posy to his loved one and shouted "Forget-me-not". This is a flower connected with romance and tragic fate. It was often worn by ladies as a sign of faithfulness and enduring love."

So too, we should be!; faithful to God, and to the ones we've committed our lives to in love, whether that be a spouse or friend. Our friend Marion gave these to us, and Im thankful we have them now to remember our German friends by, as each time we walk past the will in their own little way cry out "Forget me not!"

Home

SO we are finally HOME. Whatever home really means; I suppose for us at this point home is truely only where the heart is. Our family and friends and various homes of the last three years are all so widespread, we believe finally now we will be here for a period of time longer than one year. It is a good feeling, yet as on the plane I listened to the ironic lyrics of Michael Buble's hit "Home," I found it nastalgically bringing me mixed thoughts as we returned "home." Home was where we lived in Germany, but home is also where friends and family are here in the states. The lyrics even mention places like Paris and Rome, and while we went to Paris and were only kept from going to Rome due to the recently cancelled flights, I resonate that it is great to travel, but home is by far the greatest place to be. I always read the life of the apostle Paul as seemingly exciting, and feel privileged to have been a part of now so many churches, ministries, and different people's lives. I guess that's why God's allowed us to do so.

And as we all know, our real home dosn't settle in till we are gone from this earth, and if we find Heaven our resting place. That will be our real home. Yet for now, it is good to say, we are finally "home!"

Vanity

So we thoroughly enjoyed our recent nine hour flight filled with reading, relaxing and watching movies. From speculating on the lives of those in movie documentaries from the editor of Vogue, to the drug worn Rolling Stones. Oh how I do not desire the spotlight of vanity they enjoy- as it has brought them somewhat into hints of artificial realities of life. Touching the greatness of love and adoration, yet being in their overly elevated and improper positions, their lives are in bondage to outperform even themselves- a burden too heavy for any human being. Their professions in and of themselves can be fun, creative, and produce a life full of joy I believe, but IF a soul source of satisfaction- seem to prove empty, and ever changing. Fasion changes, rotating decades in between, and people, driven by the luxuries that only accessorize their egocentrically adorned bodies only for their own glory, are never a fun bunch to mingle with.

I realize that my fascination in watching them though, is proven by my own habits of watching reality movies and shows, and only reading non fiction and biographies. I do so because I love meeting new people, learning their lives, and understanding why they do what they do. I cannot even put down my pen when I watch them or read, as I am fascinated by the similarities in all people; the need for the basic loves, etc., and also continuous results in the lives of most people, whether different by culture or custom; seeking to enhance their current state of happiness by deriving it from false and boastful sources.

I rarely finish a movie, or a book- without a long lapse in between. I am always eager to meet the next character, and can't deal with too slowly drawn out plots. I tend to get lost in day dreaming, and need a purpose to my step. I'm sure there is some error to this, but I also see it as something that is ingrained in me for a reason, and I intend to try to use it.
I like to read a little, watch a little, and then write a lot.

Rich and I love to watch movies and see parallels into life, and even the Gospel, as far as the need for a Savior's love that is so everpresent. I also love to do the same as I write, and reflect on the lives of those who I in the moment surmise to be ever so short of this love. All I know is people's stories drive me, and I long to make them even more impactful by drawing these points out of them to show a world who needs to hear current testimonies of what we've already seen and heard written in God's Word. It's a wonder that when we read it we can actually prevent the chaotic lives that we too often produce by our ignorance. Let's take heed, and watch for our lives not to be caught in the same tread.

Flug, Zug, und Autobahn

So this week we have spent more time in transit than anything else. Whether that be on a plane, a train, an automobile, or just our own two feet- we have have the privilege of enjoying many memories with many people whom we could only meet if caught in the circumstances we have been in.

Germany has a little system they like to call 'mitfahrgelegenheit,' meaning- the opportunity to ride 'with' someone else. It is a more organized way of hitchhiking to put it simply. We pitched in a very reasonable price to ride with a van full of the most collectic group of people you could imagine, for 5 straight hours. In the US we are afraid of getting a gun pulled, while to Germans- well this is just simply- a cheaper way to go, no worries about it.

Then we, by mishap of a wrong way ticket by one I wont name, (thought not myself:), we had to rent a car to leave Berlin- of which ended up bumping us to a C class Mercedes which Rich took the liberty of 'flying' us in, to Frankfurt just an hour short of our destined time:)

And last but not least, as the infamous Volcano blew, we were stranded one extra day in Vienna with friends for an enjoyable longer weekend than originally planned as well.

We then proceeded to spend 9 hours traveling shoulder to shoulder with foreigners from all over the EU, interspursed with a few hours of sitting. We met marathoners from the day before in Vienna, missionary anthropologists to Holland, a really tall law student from Lithuania (who informed me a bit on their ever shrinking population), and last but not least, a lady who literally talked our ears off for almost two hours straight! It's one thing to listen to German- another to engage in a conversation in German, and a whole other thing to engage in German with an 80 year old woman with a dialect from who knows where, and who humored not just us, but herself quite as well.

Needless to say, our long and stuffy journey ended up being a great experience that will, for our memorable circumstances, go down in history for life:)

running for the prize

I ran my second half marathon yesterday in Berlin, and as always before, the adrenaline rush of subjecting your body to something that is challenging and while participating with thousands of others, the experience is a bit contaging. I woke up today as excited as yesterday beFORe the race, after such a great experience. When God gives you a passion to do something that you're able to enjoy for yourself, yet see His hand upon you in the midst, it brings you no greater joy. I will never be a gold medalist, yet I find the strength through a discipline that shows reward in the end, while I "put my body into this subjection" for awhile, in order to accomplish a premeditated goal. Many non-runners think runners are crazy, and I completely agree. But as the infamous Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland asks "Have I gone mad?" while Alice responds,
"I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. all the best people are."

It is great to be mad (or passionate) about something, and together with many others, understand the mad obsurdity. It is even greater to meet together shoulder to shoulder with, literally yesterday 90 some nations, in a city of such exteme impact on our world. A sense of "gemeinshaft" or "fellowship" comes from the commeraderie with those you experience the same toil yet joy with, through something like a long distance race. And as our tummys churned, we each individually set out for goals of our own, to accomplish something as individual humans that we might leave feeling proud of.

I always take with me verses of the Bible that represent physical similitude in accordance to our spiritual life. Paul in Corinthians says "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only ONE gets the prize? (This could be disconcerning or self defeating) but as we set back and just realize that God created those we find to come in 1st regularly hailing from the most talented African continent, it seems that the general consensus is still not to just give up, but aim for our own goals. Paul then says "Run in such a way as to get the price. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but WE do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

And our outlook must be so; I enjoy each race embracing the opportunity I have to beat my own PR. And in our Christian walk in life, we must look to Jesus the author and FINISHer of our faith. He has won the victory over life and death. He calls us to Himself to believe and be sealed with the promise that we CAN win. But we must bring our bodies into subjection as He calls us to die to ourselves, our personal desires, and lives for His. And when we do, when we fight the good fight, with strength in fervor for something outside our personal momentary interest, it proves to be far greater and more satisfying than everything else in this world which pales in magnificance to Christ our Savior. There is unfortunately only one 1st place winner here on earth, but with Christ- there is one who has won it for all of us, and more importantly so, for eternity!

A Tablespoon of Culture Shock

The other week we had the opportunity to eat on the local Air Force base. The Air Force base is like America junior, where it has restaurants and things that you would find in America. On base there was a Macaroni Grill that we wanted to try out. Julia and I do not go out to eat much, but whenever we do we have always gone to a place that is not on an Army post, but a regular German restaurant. Julia and I had become accustomed to the way of German dining. Let me give you an idea of German dining. In German restaurants there are rarely any hostesses, but it is find a table that looks good and have a seat. If all the tables are taken, go find a table that has extra seats and sit next to someone you don’t know and eat next to them. When your waitress comes to get your order and drink order they usually seem like they are annoyed that you are there. There are no free refills, even on water, in German restaurants so drink slow, and make sure you don’t have a spicy meal or you will be in trouble. If you ask for anything extra don’t expect to get a nice smile, but an annoyed scowl. They do not work on tips so they are not scared to make anyone upset. If you find anything wrong with your food, like a hair, don’t think it’s going to be a freebee, you’ll be brought the dish remade while the other person’s food gets cold. After experiencing German restaurant culture and now being able to get a taste of American restaurant culture was a culture shock. A hostess brought us to our table and our waitress greeted us with her name and a smile. Then we ordered drinks and I asked if they were free refills, she assured me they were and I had to have the waitress reaffirm me that the ice tea had free refills. I took full advantage of this thing called “free refills”. I had 4 refills on my ice tea, as I sucked them back faster than she could refill it. She continued to refill our bread until our meals came and she asked us how the food was. At the end of our eating she came and boxed up our left over food for us and did not scowl at the fact that I was taking it home with me. I had never left a restaurant more gleeful in my life. I was in culture shock, I thought in my mind, “they like me, they really like me.” After we left I thought about what other things I will face in culture shock when I go back to America; Heating more than one room, saying “nice to meet you” to someone after you meet them, awful American drivers who don’t know how to use the passing lane. It’s always interesting when you live in another culture and you start getting used to it, I know with our waning weeks in Germany we are going to start thinking about all that we are going to miss.

A Parade Day

Julia and I had a great opportunity to enjoy a taste of Germans culture a couple of days ago. I wish I could have written about it earlier, but with my schooling I am somewhat bogged down at times. Every Monday before “Ash Wednesday”, a ritual observed by the Catholic Church, there is a huge parade and celebration. Everyone I talked to made this parade and event made it sound like it was the craziest thing I would ever see. People dress up in costumes like it is Halloween and pretty much drink all day, I guess it’s a little nuts. In order to go to the city that the parade is held at we had to take a train. While we were waiting for the train, we were surrounded by people in costumes, which made me feel reassured we were going to the right place. The train pulled up and it was already packed with people. There was not one seat available nor was there barely standing room. We were slammed into the train shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of other people who started there day by putting beer in their cereal instead of milk. I think the greatest example I can give you about their drinking is that the straps that are used in the military to hold ammo, were being used to hold mini shots of alcohol. As we stopped by each stop, we could see crowds of people waiting to get on the train. Our train was so full we couldn’t let any of the waiting people on our train. My nose could testify how many people were in the train because of the stench of body odor that permeated. We arrived to Mainz and saw everyone walking toward the big parade. When we arrived I realized it was like every other parade I had ever seen. Bands were marching in single file order while playing songs no one knew, floats were riding by while throwing candy, rubber balls, and yes bread…Germans love bread. After we froze for 30 minutes, we knew that there was another 3 and a half hours left to this parade. Instead of freezing outside and to catch 5 more mini chocolate bars, we decided to watch the rest of the parade from a nice cafe from its second floor admiring people falling all over the ground for little things that were thrown from the different floats in the parade. I love each and every experience I get here even though my last could be experienced at any Fourth of July parade.

Ages 0-99

I told Rich the other day I'm really going to miss the children we work with.

There's a raw relationship you have with these kids as they are uninhibited, and as we are pulled to our wits end much of the time, their emotions run wild and so we jump right through the normal stages of adult relationships and go right to the "storm" stage that inevitably brings you closer in the end.

When I first started I asked a girl who was PCSing for the states, "what will you miss most?" and she replied "the kids." I thought this was a bit funny at first, as the kids can also be the reason you want to drop everything and walk out many times. They don't listen, they fight, they cry, scream, and doing everything in their power to emotionally, if not physically, hurt those around them sometimes.

Now after spending time with these kids ages 7-12, they have grown on me, and as I pray God will preserve them from much of the corruption many have already been succumbed to, my heart too, has connected to them in a way that it only can with kids.

As we grow up we learn to hold back our emotions, while as children they have yet to learn how to do so. And so as I repeat the lessons we all must live by, I see the same characteristics in these little people, as in people of all ages. "You must love those you don't FEEL like loving," as biblicaly commanded, yet though without the ability to give that exact explanation, it still leaves our circumstances in better condition than when we fight back full of anger.

These kids retaliate with anger while originally just seeking affirmation, while often is the case in our world of chaos today. As we grow, we learn how to handle what comes our way, but still have the same innate desires and needs as all people, young and old.

I'm so thankful for these precious little ones we were able to help impact while they also have impacted my life, and helped me see the lessons necessary to teach that are still pertinent to us until the day we die.

Heartburn

I have been reading through the book of Luke lately and yesterday I was able to hear Luke 24 read out loud. This passage is one of my favorites in Scripture and after I heard it read out loud I started crying. Luke 24 is after the death and resurrection of Jesus and two men are having a conversation about the events that have just taken place with Jesus. They are having some trouble realizing everything that Jesus had just accomplished through His death and resurrection and were doubting. Jesus appears to them on the road they are traveling and begins talking with them about the events that have just taken place in Jerusalem. He knows their doubting hearts and explains to them starting with Moses and all the Prophets and taught them through the Scriptures concerning himself. Jesus then goes to eat with these 2 guys, they realize its Jesus, Jesus then disappears. Then the men say in Vs. 32, “They said to each other, did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures.” I love that verse so much because their hearts burned when they heard the fulfillment of Christ and the Gospel explained to them by Christ. Their lives were radically changed from doubting in Jesus to proclaiming the Good news of Christ rising from the dead. I think many times I can become a stale bag of chips, as my brother said in a message one time. I forget the work Jesus has done and how it has changed my life and will change others. I think many times this is why we have such a passionless effort for local and global missions. The Gospel has become stale and something we have forgotten about the Gospel. We have replaced the main thing with minor things in our lives and forgotten about the redeeming work of Christ and our command to bring the good news to the world. I think if we refocus and study Christ in his Word and his plan of redemption through the Bible or hearts will burn for him and a fervor and passion will begin to grow for missions by wanting to bring the Gospel to the nations. I want my heart to burn after I read scripture and I want my actions to back up what I read. May we never forget the power, beauty, and life changing work of the Gospel or we will easily forget about missions and the great commission.

Finite minds

Today I read a bit in Revelation, about where we will one day remain forever in the presence of God. I found it a bit humorous and strange that we should, as it says, have “His name on our foreheads.”…This is the mark of those who really truly love someone, and is not today found normal in any case. So as often, I told God that though we don’t understand this, how great He is and must be in beauty as he enables us to spend eternity with Him, and there also contain His very name on our heads!

Then as I was running and coming back to our aptmnt, I saw the sun reflecting off the snow as it so rarely does here, and as did the castle we can see in the distance was truly picture perfect. I thought it was a beautiful picture of how Christ IS reigning and will forevermore reign on His throne. His beauty is much like this, only better, than we can imagine. I also thought again how funny it will be to have his name there engraved, yet as I also remember not too long ago I did almost the very same thing that many adolescents do when overwhelmed with the attraction of another. I so ignorantly obsessed with my friends over the infamous Leonardo DiCaprio. We never ceased to write on paper, talk about, and buy necklaces bearing his name. I was taken with his appearance, as we so absurdly are often in this life, and it was nothing strange to me then to obsess in this way.

And so we were created, to worship, to obsess over and bear the name of one greater and more beautiful that we or anything we can imagine- only that beauty is found in our Lord whom we have yet to completely understand and behold before our eyes. I’m sure our finite minds incapable of knowing the truest beauty will set back, sigh, and have the biggest ah ha moment of our life, when we finally have before us the greatest one that ever was, is, and evermore will be.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery

I sometimes enjoy watching German tv shows, and again I say sometimes. Someone asked me what their tv shows are like and I stopped and thought they are exactly like ours, as a matter of fact they just take most of ours and dub them over in German. One that is exactly like ours is called “Deutschland sucht den Superstar”. This is German’s form of “American Idol”. Everything is the same and I mean everything. It is like watching it only in German. The only thing that is different is the guy who is supposed to be Randy is white and skinny, little disappointed in that one. They even have the German Simon who is mean and makes people cry, and the people who think they are good and try to make the show. They had one guy who looked like Paul from the wonder years try out. He was dressed like Michael Jackson and tried to perform the dance moves of Michael. To say the least the only thing he could do consistently like Michael Jackson was the crotch grab, very disturbing. After that they said no, he was mad, and the Ryan of the show interviewed him and yada yada yada. This made me think, what if we pursued following Christ like that. Trying to imitate him where it wouldn’t be a secret what I was imitating. I can’t say I accomplish that all the time, especially through hard times at work. When you are being told no by kids or told “you suck” by a kid because you wont let him play with something or stressed out because you have 21 kids in your room all being very loud and it’s a little crazy. Christ is easy to imitate when everything is going well, but when things go bad is when sometimes we fall. This is the beauty of the Gospel though, when I fail I know my identity is in Christ and he picks me up and shows me that he lavishes his grace upon me and assures us that life is a race and to lay aside the sin and be imitators of him because of our new identity in Him. Praise God for the Gospel, where I fail He has conquered through the cross and the empty tomb. What a great life we can experience as our identity is now found in Christ that we may imitate the person whom are identity is found.

Hello again!

Sorry I have not kept up with our blog lately, but I will post more frequent this coming year. For a while I was doing well with it and then it just kinda fell off my map. A quick review since Thanksgiving; went to Berlin, had Christmas and New Years here, my brother Chris came and went to Paris, went to Berlin again and had an opportunity to speak there and now school is starting back up. I forgot to mention that Julia now works at my building with me and likes it better, but on a daily basis we both have to ask for grace to get through the day, as our 2 weeks notice is always a “print” away. It’s really just living life in another country, while working with American kids who need parents, and seeing ministry first hand from a German perspective, while at the same time having an opportunity of a lifetime. I have had a great detox from American Christian subculture that really strips away a lot of things you can hide behind as a Christian, and this detox makes you look straight at God. I can’t say I pass many test with flying colors, as this last week after preaching on Joseph and his awful circumstances and his Gospel response he gave. I some what failed the test not loving work and having a unbiblical response to my emotions, as I was picking kids off the floor and separating others from hitting each other. We are entering month 5 soon and I am very glad to see where and what God has brought us through so far. We have made some very close friendships and continue to make new ones. Cant wait to see what happens in this next year and thanks again for continually encouraging us and praying for us.