Proverbs 22:6, The Message

"Point your kids in the right direction—when they're old they won't be lost."

If you're like me, then as you age, mature, and reflect on your life you realize how much your parents did for you that you were never aware of before. You realize the sacrifices they made of their own time and needs in order to accommodate your own. The reality of the amount of prayer and decisions (and probably arguments and heartache too) they put into your life becomes a flooring revelation. I wonder if I will ever reach the point in my life where I feel like I fully grasp everything my parents did for me as a baby, as a child, as a teen, and continually as an adult too. Probably not.


In the same way - how much more can I look back at the path my life has taken and see all that God has done for me?

Psalm 139:13: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

He created us from the inmost, He's provided for us with the physical things and guided us to life everlasting through spiritual places. I'm in awe.

I know that my awareness and appreciation of my parents is encouraging to them and I'm sure that they are thrilled to know that their love and faithfulness has always revealed more to me about God than they realize.

Philippians 1:9-11, New International Version

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

I was moved deeply by several things that were shared at small group last night. As you know from earlier posts this week, we had a discussion on the Trinity. At the end of the night, when asked why it's important to understand more of Who God is, one of the girls (Ali) said something so beautiful and profound... it made me cry because it was so true and just what my heart was feeling but I couldn't express it in words.

Ali said that it's important to know more about God and His three persons because it helps us love Him more. It's like when you're in a relationship - you "like" this person and want to know more about him/her. As you do in any good relationship, the more you learn about your significant other, the more you begin to love him/her more. Now imagine that you know this person inside and out - you're in love - and then you meet his/her family and, wow, your heart swells with even more love than you thought! As you hear stories from their childhood, meet their family, look at old photos, watch home videos - you're discovering more and more about this person and finding new things to love and even reaching a deeper level of understanding than you thought existed.

I'm not saying that your significant other should be like a god - please don't misunderstand me - I just think that this is a beautiful description of what it's like when you search for more of God. You find more about God to love! You thought you knew Him, but then you learn something new and you fall in love all over again.

And, just like these verses Paul wrote in Philippians - this is my prayer for you today. That you may depth of knowledge and insight about the Lord would increase and your love for Him would abound. And that this process would continue in your life, to God's glory, until we're at Home with Him forever!

Fix You

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse.

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream, down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face and I...

Tears stream, down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face and I...

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.

I feel like this song is singing about something spiritual. So many Coldplay songs sound like they are written by someone who is searching for something... I find them moving, emotional, and relevant. This one especially because it reminds me of my feelings when I lived in Belfast and had to leave the people there when my year with Youth for Christ was over. I wanted to help fix them, I wanted to be a part of the revival. But obviously the Lord is the One to do that, not me. I hope that my faith that God will finish what He's begun will be true with Northern Ireland.

1 Timothy 3:16, The Message

This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough:
He appeared in a human body,
was proved right by the invisible Spirit,
was seen by angels.
He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples,
believed in all over the world,
taken up into heavenly glory.

I struggled a little bit with planning tonight's discussion on the Trinty but found comfort in this verse because it reminded me that as mysterious as the ways of God are - the basics are the same. It's all about Jesus.

Be encouraged today by knowing that even in times of doubt or drought, God the Father sent His son, God the Son (Jesus), to take the punishment of sin for you, and God the Spirit resides in us as an every day living reminder of our Lord's power.

A Personal God; C.S. Lewis; Mere Christianty

When you come to knowing God, the initiative lies on His side. If He does not show Himself, nothing you can do will enable you to find Him. And, in fact, He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others - not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition. Just as sunlight, though it has no favourites, cannot be reflected in a dusty mirror as clearly as in a clean one.

As usual, I'm very busy this week - but I like it, so it's okay. My good friends from Northern Ireland are visiting! In addition to working full time while they're here, I am leading the discussion Thursday night at small group. I wanted to lead, I've missed it the last month or so when I had a co-leader step in so I could have a rest. The funny thing is, the topic we wanted to discuss this week is the Trinity. "Whhhhat? Haha, that's funny God! Bet you got a kick out of that," I said to God when I found out I needed to lead on this topic. "So much for an easy discussion."

How do I approach this topic as a leader? Although I've been more than familiar with the Bible, God, church, and "christianese" since I was a kid - the theology and concept of a three-in-one God is still too much for me sometimes! My mind is only so big! Add to the mix that the girls in our group are in a large age range of 18-27 and very diverse spiritual backgrounds. But it's okay - God can still use my pea-sized brain to simplify the concept for everyone's understanding.

I'm going to use several chapters from Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis for clarification of the theology of a Personal God and springboard for discussion questions. I'm actually looking forward to it a lot because I find his words to be thought-provoking and great discussion starters. For instance - what do you think about this quote? Do you think that if you seek God you can not find Him unless He chooses to reveal Himself to you?

Psalm 1:1-3, New Living Translation

Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.

We must have constant regard to the word of God, as the rule of our actions, and the spring of our comforts; and have it in our thoughts night and day. For this purpose no time is amiss.

Psalm 23:4, New International Version

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Meet Joe Black was released in 1998. In this film, wealthy media tycoon William "Bill" Parrish is confronted face-to-face with Death. Death came to Bill with an extraordinary proposition - he'll delay Bill's imminent demise in exchange for a tour of life. Given the name "Joe Black," Death disrupts Bill's world for the length of his "vacation." Joe threatens to change the rules when he begins to understand what love is and grow attached to things on earth. It's a unique tale of life and death.

The first time I actually sat down and watched the entire three hour film, I was immediately fascinated with the profound quotes as the entire movie revolved around the idea of Death, and yet never mentions God, heaven, hell, or Satan. In fact, I think the movie is as much about Love as it is about Death.

If you haven't seen it, I recommend it. Be patient, it's slow moving. At the same time, leave yourself time to process some of the thoughts at the end. I believe there is a lot of Truth hidden in the story and I love discussing it with people after watching it with them. Just read some of these quotes:

----

William Parrish (to his daughter): Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived.

-----

Joe Black: I don't care Bill. I love her.
William Parrish: How perfect for you - to take whatever you want because it pleases you. That's not love.
Joe Black: Then what is it?
William Parrish: Some aimless infatuation which, for the moment, you feel like indulging - it's missing everything that matters.
Joe Black: Which is what?
William Parrish: Trust, responsibility, taking the weight for your choices and feelings, and spending the rest of your life living up to them. And above all, not hurting the object of your love.
Joe Black: So that's what love is according to William Parrish?
William Parrish: Multiply it by infinity, and take it to the depth of forever, and you will still have barely a glimpse of what I'm talking about.

Ephesians 6:12, New Century Version

Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world.

hmm… read it again. After reading this, does anyone else have the question remain: “So am I strong enough to wrestle this alone?!? Aren’t we supposed to be able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us?” Hard fact: the spiritual battles you fight with the Lord will be win-win, win-lose, lose-win, and lose-lose. It isn’t always victory, it isn’t always a loss, and sometimes it’s rough and tough for everyone, no matter what the “score” is.

In all this wrestling, we get spiritually beaten up. I know that my spirit feels like it was tossed around in a boxing ring this week. I feel tired, bruised and hurt – it’s like I’m recovering from a championship fight, but I can’t tell who won or who lost and I have a limp and a few scars as a result.

This is why we need brothers and sisters to stand beside us. We are family and we’re in this eternal battle together. Look at this picture – support is on the side, ready to jump in if necessary, declare when it’s over, give the fighter advice, etc. Same thing in spiritual wars, we need our cheerleaders, our mentors/coaches, our prayer warriors, and our relief when we’re about to be overtaken.

I wish I could rest, but it’s so hard because I feel like the enemy will attack me again because he sees that I’m weak. So I’m scrambling to get myself sorted out. But wait, I’ve forgotten something – His power is made perfect in weakness. So when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor. 12:9, 10).

So friends, in these moments, I trust that you will be the ones to remind me of the Lord and continue to life me up in prayer. I appreciate your support more than you know. Thanks for being a crucial part of this Family with me.

Answers to prayer -

Praise the Lord that, through faithful friends and generous believers, I have received enough funding for my mission trip to India this November to purchase my air fare ($1,451)!! I just need the remaining amount to send to Truthseekers and a little bit to cover the visa for entry into India. Thank you for financial and spiritual support!

In case you want to know a little bit more about Truthseekers International and what the American group will be doing to help, here is an incredible story about how their ministry began:

"God joins East and West" - the story of Sunil and Pam Sardar
(as taken from http://truthseekersinternational.org/sections/aboutus.php?Id=1)

In 1985, a young American woman named Pam visited India as part of a family mission trip. Her soul was stirred with compassion for the physical and spiritual poverty of this unfamiliar but wonderful land. However, upon her return to her teaching job in Elkhart, Indiana, Pam began to spend her time in self-directed pursuits. She nearly entered a marriage that was clearly not part of God's plan for her life. Three weeks before that marriage, Pam ended the relationship and surrendered the direction of her life to the guiding hand of Jesus Christ.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a young Indian national named Sunil was pursuing opportunities to bring the life saving news of Jesus Christ to his beloved country. God moved his heart toward a ministry with an eternal impact- planting healthy, vibrant churches. He wanted a wife with whom to share this journey, and began to pray, asking others to pray as well.

It happened that Pam's mother was one of the people who began to pray for Sunil. As she prayed, the Lord impressed upon her spirit that Sunil's wife would be her daughter, Pam. She shared this conviction with both Pam and Sunil, who agreed to take the matter to the Lord in prayer. Having never met, Pam and Sunil were nonetheless open to any way that God might want to work in their lives. God gave Sunil the following scripture: ''No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him – but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.'' (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

The Lord spoke to Pam as well, and the first time Sunil called Pam in April of 1989, they became engaged over the phone. Sunil flew to the U.S., and the couple first met in August of 1989. Two months later they married. They see their marriage as a miracle directly from the hand of God, and have been living that miracle ever since.

In July of 1990, Sunil and Pam Sardar began their ministry in India among a small tribal group in Maharashtra (central India) called the Kolawar. After witnessing for several months, Sunil planned a leadership conference for the group, and 45 people were baptized into Christ. Minutes after the baptism, militant Hindus stormed the gathering and Sunil was arrested. Imprisoned for four days, he continued sharing the Gospel and several fellow prisoners came to the Lord. God used this sequence of events to birth a church-planting ministry called ''Dinbandhu'' (Friend of the poor.)

Sunil became active in politics and aligned closely with Prakash Ambedkar, a Member of Parliament and grandson of one of the men who wrote India's Constitution. He also began publishing a weekly newspaper called ''Jankar'' (one who knows truth) to educate lower castes and Dalits about the need for change in India. Working with others, Sunil and Pam helped begin an English medium Christian school in Wardha for tribal and lower caste children. Through this network of activities and relationships, the Dinbandhu ministry flourished. More than 400 churches representing 40 different castes stand as testimony to God's miraculous work poured out through a decade of church planting.

God has led Sunil and Pam into a new phase of ministry, the creation of Truthseekers International, named after the 19th century Truthseekers movement started by Mahatma Jotirao Phule. The goal of Truthseekers International is to present the Truth of Jesus Christ to the seven hundred million lower caste and Dalit peoples throughout India.

The home for Truthseekers International is New Delhi, a strategic city in Southeast Asia. In Hindi, ''dil'' means heart. As never before in history, this new heart city is open to change. Trusting God and His leading, Sunil and Pam see this as God's time for revival.

God has given Sunil a vision of the river Ganges filled with thousands of new brothers and sisters baptizing each other in the name of Jesus Christ. Share the vision. Pray for India.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21, New Living Translation

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Ambassador: an authorized representative or messenger

Christ has no body on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which
Christ's compassion for the world is to look out;
yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good;
and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.
--Saint Teresa of Avila

John 15:5-8, New Living Translation

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father."

An applicable truth (as always) for me this week. Apart from Christ, I can do nothing. This week was very difficult for me and I begged to God to make the emotional roller coaster end several times. I'm so glad the "excitement" is slowing down, and I hope the my actions bring "great glory to the Father" and no one else.

Matthew 11:28-30, The Message

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

One of the best episodes of any television show ever created is the episode of I Love Lucy where she sells Vitameatavegamin, it's called "Lucy does a commercial." The way the Message translates these verses sounds so similar to Lucy's script for the Vitameatavegamin commercial:


"Are you tired, rundown, listless? Do you poop out at parties? Are you unpopular? Well, the answer to all your problems is in this little bottle. Vitameatavegamin. Yes, with Vitameatavegamin you can spoon your way to health. All you have to do is take a tablespoon after every meal. It's so tasty too! Just like candy! So why don't you join the thousands of happy, peppy people and get a great big bottle of Vitameatavegamin tomorrow."


Thankfully, the answer to our problems isn't a spoonful of medicine after every meal (especially one that is 23% alcohol!). Our life can be lived freely and lightly with the not-so-secret ingredient of C-H-R-I-S-T. All you have to do is just walk with Him and work with Him and watch Him. So why don't you join the millions of free, unconditionally loved people and believe in a big Savior today!

1 Corinthians 14, select verses, New Living Translation

v. 1: Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.

v. 3, 4: But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them...but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.

v. 22: Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers

v. 39, 40: So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy...But be sure that everything is done properly and in order

Yesterday I took a lengthy online quiz about spiritual gifts. I don't mind sharing the results, this is listed from my strengths down to my weaknesses:

Pastor/Shepherd

Administration

Evangelism

Exhortation

Showing Mercy

Prophecy

Serving

Teaching

Giving

The reason I included verses about prophecy today is because I was pleased to see that it was in the middle-area of my results. I had several incredible experiences with prophetic ministry in Belfast a couple years ago. I haven't had the same obvious experiences since, but I know that God has spoken to me through various people and circumstances since then.

Until those experiences in Belfast, I always thought prophecy was something confined to Old Testament prophets. But, as you can read in the verses above, prophecy isn't as complicated or confusing as you might thing (if it's practiced biblically).

Prophecy should never be discouraging, it's meant for mutual encouragement and edification of the Church. More than just one person can prophesy, you don't have to be a "prophet." You should have other people present and pray about each word before you speak it - don't say anything from your own mind, let it all be God's Words. The other people present should also pray and weigh the words you speak, verifying that they are in line with scripture and the individual/organization you are speaking to.

As a measure of examining prophesies that I've been given, I always write them down and ask other people if that seems correct for me. In one experience, the man who prophesied over me spoke his prayer into a cassette tape recorder and gave it to me immediately after so that I could listen to it and remember. He also made sure that those in the room who knew me would agree that what he said was accurate for my life. Nothing about that experience was negative or gave me a weird feeling - that's also how I know it was true.

So, like verse 39, let's all be eager to hear from the Lord and speak His Words when they're given to us. Let's uplift each other this way and acknowledge that we have a living and moving God who can speak to us.

Ephesians 3:12-21, The Message

When we trust in him, we're free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go...

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love.

Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

I had one of those weeks that was filled with a deep contentment of spiritual peace even though work was tough and I was tired. I hesitate to say it was a "spiritual high," like a camp experience, but in a lot of ways my excitement was greater and my anticipation/awareness of what God is doing was heightened. Trivial and day-to-day things didn't overwhelm me, I was too caught up with the spiritual ideas in my head to let them distract me.

Read this verses, read them again, make your voice reflect the excitement in these words! Say it conversationally, not formally. Be ready to tell it to everyone you meet!

We're free to boldly go wherever we need to go to serve Him! I love that!

Colossians 3:12-14, New American Standard Bible

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Sitting in my cubicle at work today (trying to remember that God has me there for a reason...) I got really excited when "God of Justice" by Tim Hughes came on my iPod. If you don't know the song, you need to listen to it. I think the lyrics sum up a lot of this verse from Colossians while also helping motivate the listeners to not just sit, listen and read anymore - it's time for action. Here are the lyrics:

God of Justice, Saviour to all,
Came to rescue the weak and the poor,
Chose to serve and not be served
Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in every way
Walking humbly before You God

You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
Fill us up and send us out

Social justice should be our passion just as it was a passion of Jesus when He was on earth. He was the truest example of compassion and love. I referenced this book earlier in the last week, but The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne really helped open my eyes to issues that I conveniently avoid or easily forget about. Here is my final thought, and I plagiarized it from the book:

"And I think that's what our world is desperately in need of - lovers, people who are building deep, genuine relationships with fellow strugglers along the way, and who actually know the faces of the people behind the issues they are concerned about."

Proverbs 4:23, King James Version

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

I've always been curious about the phrase "guard your heart." All through junior high, high school, and even college, there were youth and small group leaders who focused on the importance of being careful how much of our heart we give away. We should save all of our heart for marriage, flirting is dangerous, dating is preparation for divorce, etc...you get the idea. Basically, in my life, "guarding your heart" has only meant to save emotional intimacy for your future spouse.

There's only one problem with this idea. It's not actually biblical. The phrase "guard your heart" comes from the verse above and, when read in context, it's clearly talking about guarding our hearts against sin, not people. And yet the two go hand in hand.

Someone named Lindy Keffer said this on the subject: "As usual, the Bible calls us to a standard higher than the ones we construct for ourselves. Guarding our hearts against sin includes much of the wisdom that's already built into the Christian dating culture: It causes us to choose our company carefully, steer clear of physical activity that arouses our sexual passions, and factor the lifelong nature of the marriage commitment into our interaction with potential spouses. It also asks us to dig deeper — to go beyond the neat boundaries outlined in books and lectures and wrestle with God regarding our own sin."

In the article where I got this quote, and another I read on the subject, it's indicated that Christians can hid behind a "guard your heart" mentality in human romantic relationships as a way to avoid the pain and hurt that is inevitable in any relationship. You can't check the guard-your-heart-box and call it a day; emotional intimacy demands heart involvement.

This feels very girly because it's about relationships - and I'm not very girly in a mushy sense. But every time I'm having fun with a little interest or crush, I ultimately hear "guard your heart Katie." But I'm okay with being hurt if it means that I'm authentically getting my heart involved with someone. I'd rather be hurt and upset and wishing I'd never gotten involved than being so "protected" that I lose myself behind that shield. I just need to remember to guard my heart against sin - not people.

The other author of the article I read said this: "And yet there is something of spiritual value in the process. When we make the focus guarding our hearts against sin, not people, we risk being hurt. But when you consider the many ways God can be glorified in righteous vulnerability, it is a risk worth taking."

Psalm 16:11, New International Version

You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

One Upon a Tandem

When I invited Jesus on my bicycle-built-for-two, I assumed He'd pedal. Instead, He's dead weight. He's slowing me down. I wonder why I ever let Him on in the first place.

Finally, I turn and say, “How come you never pedal?” With a wink and a smile He replies, “I thought you'd never ask.” And so life is better. Easier. Pedaling with Jesus, I get where I'm going faster than ever. Still, my carefully chosen destinations are never as good as I imagined.

Suddenly, I realize that He's been whispering directions to me the whole time. When I take His advice, we wind up on short cuts and smooth black top, and all roads seem to go downhill. Then, when I get tired of pedaling, I put my feet up on the handlebars and it turns out that I've been slowing Him down! He never gets tired.

Nothing, I decide, could be better than tandem biking with Jesus as co-pilot. But, I'm wrong. The real fun begins when I stop the bike and ask Jesus to take the front seat – handlebars and all.

Since then, I've never looked back. And my oh my, the places He takes me. The sights I see. The scenic routes. The side roads. The bumpy trails. The dizzying mountaintops. The green valleys. All places I would have missed.

Oh, I still have my own handlebars and sometimes I hang on for dear life. But, on tandem bikes those back handlebars can't steer at all. So, I go where Jesus goes. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Unashamed Love

You're calling me to lay aside the worries of my day

To quiet down my busy mind and find a hiding place

Worthy, Worthy

I open up my heart and let my spirit worship Yours

I open up my mouth and let a song of praise come forth

Worthy, You are worthy

Of a child-like faith

And of my honest praise

And of my unashamed love

Of a holy life

And of my sacrifice

And of my unashamed love

This came on my iPod at work just now and it really touched my heart, especially following up my post from last night. God is so worthy of all these things. Forgive me for when my love is not unashamed and I hesitate to praise You. Thank you for teaching me unconditional, unashamed love.

Matthew 24:35, New Living Translation

Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

I love singing songs at church on Sunday nights. If I can, I keep my eyes closed and imagine that I'm in a room alone. It's hard to do that, but when I succeed it's wonderful. Sometimes I like to not sing the words but hum or whisper prayers while the music is playing and people around me are singing, worship (in the sense of singing at church) is beautiful.

I found this verses in Matthew (it was the verse of the day on www.biblegateway.com) to be interesting tonight after a great worship and sermon at church. I was thinking that some of the songs we sang were newer and others were a little more dated. While I like all of them, it made me wonder why we stop singing older songs and move on to new ones. It's probably because they are words of men and can't begin say everything about God that we want to communicate, or it could also be because we're a short-attention-span generation and like to keep it new and fresh.

Either way you look at it, it's just curious. It doesn't really bother me. Thankfully, the words of Christ at not a trendy collection that will soon become boring. Frankfully, they must be a bit supernatural to have lasted this long! It's AWEsome in every sense of the word and I couldn't be more thankful that God's words speak through our ADD/ADHD/short attention spams and are still relevant.

Philippians 4:13, New International Version

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

I met a guy at a swimming pool today by striking up a conversation about the large cross tattoo on his arm. The text "Phil 4:13" accompanied the cross and I asked him if it was the "I can do all things verse." He said yes and that he was glad I knew the verses because he wouldn't have told me. Curious, I asked why. He said that he wants people to look the verse up for themselves (so that they get into the bible) rather than just giving them the one verse.

I can appreciate his idea, getting people to look up the verse if they are that inquisitive and maybe reading more of the bible as a result. However, I think if someone goes as far as to ask about a tattoo, you should at least give an answer instead of shutting the person down and sending them off on their own. It was an opportunity! I was a little frustrated that this guy didn't want to take advantage of it, but I can't impose my thoughts on this guy.

That all said, I like the verses this guy chose for his tattoo. Here it is in the Message translation:

I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

Live like Jesus and see what happens

"Missions then is less about the transportation of God from one place to another and more about the identification of a God who is already there [...] You see God where others don't. And then you point him out. So the issue isn't so much taking Jesus to people who don't have him, but going to a place and pointing out to the people the creative, life-giving God who is already present in their midst. " - Rob Bell

One of the girls spoke about the first chapter of Velvet Elvis tonight as the core thoughts on emerging church topic. I'm not sure I agree with how he's approached some of the topic (at least from the excerpts from the first chapter that we read), but I like the quote of his above. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what book this quote is from. But one of the things we talked about tonight was the concept of life simply being as much like Jesus as you can from day to day, and seeing what happens as a result. Can that really be it? I think so. Obviously it's an umbrella statement and there is a lot to it - but overall it's all we can do.

Another question I have for you to think about (and hopefully comment on), how do you have fun with God? We should right? I mean, why not. If we're doing life with and for God, that includes good and bad, fun and serious. So, what does it look like when you have fun with God?

For me, it's travel. I have so much fun seeing new places, different places, new people, hearing a unique accent, experiencing a new culture, trying new food, etc. That is so much FUN and shows me so many of God's multifaceted Character and creativity.

1 Timothy 4:7-9, The Message

Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this.

Religious Misconceptions | My small group will be discussing religious misconceptions tomorrow night and I can't WAIT for the debates and conversations that will ensue. This is a favorite topic of mine because it's near and dear to my heart. In fact, I just glanced at my book shelf to see what I might find on the subject and found five books that I must recommend:

More Jesus, Less Religion by Stephen Arterburn and Jack Felton
Soul Revolution by John Burke
The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Revolution by George Barna

I've read each of these books in the last three years as I've begun this pursuit of cultivating an authentic faith. Thankfully, these books (and the countless others on the subject) have motivated me further and encouraged me deeply as I realize I am not alone in this desire.

The struggle for me is that I can read these books and read the Bible, but how much reading do I need to do before my desires take permanent residence in my actions and I can finally put the book down and begin living this way? Unfortunately, as the last three years have proven, and as these verses from 1 Timothy 4 remind me, this is a workout - an exercise - and I have to continue the reading/learning part as well as the practical/hard work parts in order to see progress. I can't sit on the sofa learning and never live, nor can I run around not knowing what the heck I'm doing.

So I'm stated here, publicly, that I'm committing to this race, this walk, this path - good times and bad I want to stick it out and practice for perfection until Jesus comes. Keep me accountable friends, don't let me become spiritually flabby.