Book...

I need a new book to read. Something uplifting yet convicting, for when you're looking for direction in life, trying to figure out what life's all about, why it is the way it is, and how to take up His cross and follow Him, daily, without doubting or wavering.

Any suggestions?

The Aggie Network

The fact that the President of our Lutheran Synod includes stories about Texas A&M in his Pastoral Updates just makes me smile:

Sept 2007 Pastoral Letter

The Aggie Network. You've gotta love it.

Whataweekend

This weekend I went to West Virginia. Why would anyone go to West Virginia, you ask? To quote their state motto, because it's wild and wonderful, of course. I went camping and whitewater rafting, and I had a blast. Rafting isn't for everyone, and I wasn't sure it was for me at first. But after the 2nd rapid, I was lovin' it. Sigh, if only I could find an excuse to spend more of my days outside...

Jay

A few weeks ago, I heard a good family friend Jay was going to have heart surgery for a heart condition he's had since he was born. Yesterday, I found out he passed away after the surgery. He was 28. I remember the last time I saw him, about a year ago. He was so full of life and hope. And it reminded me of two things:

1) Life is short and God calls us to live in the moments He gives us each day, planning for the future, but appreciating the present because we don't know what the future will hold. As I look back at my life a year ago and my life now, I've certainly been learning this lesson. There have been times in the past when I've focused so much on the future that I've forgotten to see the things God has planned for me that day. Slowing down can be a good thing. I guess that's what the phrase "Stop and smell the roses" is all about.

2) Faith, hope, and love are not products of our circumstances. Some of the people I know with the strongest faith, the most abounding hope, and endless love are people who have been through the toughest situations. As John Piper says, "Joy in affliction is rooted in the hope of resurrection, but our experience of suffering also deepens the root of that hope."

Jay will be missed, but he is rejoicing with his Savior now.

Journies

The journey brings happiness, not the destination.

Flying Alarm Clock

Saw this on the History Channel...

Flying Alarm Clock

Good idea!

Beloved

I'm a huge fan of Derek Webb. Huge. I was listening to an old album of his the other day, "She Must and Shall Go Free". It's essentially an album Derek wrote talking about the church and our culture today. On the album, he has a song called "Beloved", written from the perspective of Jesus talking to us, his Beloved children. I really like the chorus:

beloved listen to me
don’t believe all that you see
and don’t you ever let anyone tell you
that there’s anything that you need
but me

Nerds. No, not the candy.

Me: You know, I used to have a crush on him.

Bets: You did?

Me: Yeah, I think it started when we were talking math together one night ;) I'm a nerd.

Bets: Haha! That is NERDY!

Stars

With all the weddings and engagements that have been going on lately, I've had Bryan White's song "Someone Else's Star" in my head for a while. At some point, I will outgrow this song. But for the time being, it still makes me sigh. I've met a lot of amazing guys over the years, but they all seem to end up with someone else. Don't get me wrong, I'm learning to be content with where God has placed me. But a girl can dream, can't she?

Alone again tonight
Without someone to love
The stars are shining bright
So one more wish goes up
Oh I wish I may
And I wish with all my might
For the love I’m dreaming of
And missing in my life

You’d think that I could find
A true love of my own
It happens all the time
To people that I know
Their wishes all come true
So I’ve got to believe
There’s still someone out there who
Is meant for only me

I guess I must be wishing on
Someone else’s star
It seems like someone else keeps getting
What I’m wishing for
Why can’t I be as lucky
As those other people are
I guess I must be wishing
On someone else’s star

I sit here in the dark
And stare up at the sky
But I can’t give my heart
One good reason why
Everywhere I look
It’s lovers that I see
It seems like everyone’s in love
Everyone but me

I guess I must be wishing on
Someone else’s star
It seems like someone else keeps getting
What I’m wishing for
Why can’t I be as lucky
As those other people are
I guess I must be wishing
On someone else’s star

Why can’t I be as lucky
As those other people are
Oh, I guess I must be wishing
On someone else’s star

Socks

Zach's comment on my last post made me think of an analogy I typed up a long time ago, in 2001 to be exact. I dug it out of my archive files and decided to post it here:

"Some people seem to make friends quickly and easily. Others wonder how they do it. Although warped and demented, I see it like this:

Let's say I have $10 and need a pair of socks. I can go to Walmart and get a Value Pack and come home happy with 10 pairs of tube socks. Or I can go to Academy and invest in the super-duper, "nothing short of an armored tank is putting a hole in these puppies" pair of socks -- the kind that has 'comfort' written all over them. Now, there are pros and cons to each. Going to Walmart leaves me with lots of socks. But perhaps the lower quality will cause them to wear out sooner, and after many intense games of basketball, I won't have them when I need them. On the other hand, these Academy socks are durable and will surely hold up to the task. However, I have only one, and if I were to lose it for some reason, it'd be extremely
tough. I'd try to mend it at first, but if that didn't work, I'd have to find a loaner pair, perhaps an old dusty pair or two that I hadn't called into duty for awhile. But rest-assured, the coach, the man-in-charge will see to it that I have the needed pair of socks when I need it most.

It's a cheesy, over-simplification, I know. Personality types and past experiences factor into friendships. I personally go the Academy route, but I'll admit it's much riskier at times. But the coolest part (and perhaps the only thing of value I have to say w/ this analogy) is that we are not measured by the number of socks we have. Nor by the quality of those socks. Rather, what counts is that our Big Game Day Sock is Jesus Christ."

Silver and Gold

My friend Mike made a comment on his blog about how many of his old friends are becoming passing friendships, where you catch up occassionally, but for the most part have moved on to different paths in life. This got me thinking, and realizing how many of my college friendships could be characterized the same way now. For me, the big reason is because I'm 1600 miles away from those friends.

I'm reminded of the kid's song "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold." I have "fond" memories of this song b/c Grandma used to make us cousins sing-along to it with the Wee Sing in Sillyville movie. But I seriously digress.

Back to the point....I'm the type of person that builds friendships through quality time: Finding a common interest and building memories together. What do I do when I can't spend quality time with my old friends, the way I wish I could? How do I stay in touch with people and know what's going on in their lives, when I'm not around them? Life (and God) has pulled me in a different direction, but I don't want to lose those memories and those friendships. To those of you that I've been horrible at keeping in touch with lately: I'm sorry. I wish I could throw a koosh with you right now, share a laugh with you, or have you over for another Garden Girls Party. Your friendship has made me into the person I am now, and I miss you. God might lead us down different paths, but you will never be replaced. And if you ever find yourself in my neck of the woods, or need a roadtrip and want to see the sights, don't hesitate to call me up anytime!!

Get Real

Before reading the rest of this post, you have to do some homework:

• 1. Read Tiff's recent blog post


• 2. Click here to listen to Casting Crowns' song "Stained Glass Masquerade" and think about the words
  

Sometimes their music is repetitive, but I absolutely love the lyrics of Casting Crowns' songs. I haven't seen them in concert, maybe someday I'll get to... But I have read a bunch of stuff by Mark Hall, their lead singer. His lyrics are real, his stories cut to your heart and cause you to stop and think. I recommend reading his book LifeStories. It gives insight into the people and events behind his songs. Powerful. Or check out www.castingcrowns.tv.

I'll quote some of my favorite paragraphs from the chapter on the "Stained Glass Masquerade" song:

"In John 3:30, John the Baptist refers to Jesus and says, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

My conversations with students I minister to cast the verse in a different light: I must decrease before the kids so they will have a greater chance to increase. I must become humble, meek, transparent, and approachable. I must become real. I must never become an ivory-tower preacher. I must live a real life in a real world...just as they do.

Instead of building walls to hide my weaknesses---like those I had expertly crafted my entire life---I should expose my weakness. Even when it is humiliating. I have to decrease, even in the students' respect of me, because they don't need a hero. They need a Savior. So if knowing Jesus means they have to discover that I don't have it all together---and if I'm a little less cool in their eyes---then so be it.

I make sure to convey this message in concerts today.

When we're onstage, my goal is to prove to you that God can use anybody. The Apostle Paul took the same approach: "I boast in my weakness." (2 Cor 12:9)"

Mark goes on to say:

"One Godline did not make this song, but I use it in concerts and when I talk to my students. It summarizes the song perfectly: I don't think it bothers the world so much that we sin; I think it bothers the world that we act like we don't.

Growing up in a church that didn't talk about personal sins and struggles, I sketched a mental picture of a strong Christian, someone who truly walks with Jesus. I strived to be that person. If there was anything in my life that didn't fit the mental picture, I had to bury it. I guess subconciously I thought that if my church folks believed i was OK, then maybe I really was.

Sound familiar?

I don't think I'm alone. Our insistence on maintaining an image is the reason most believers rarely confess bitterness, jealousy, addiction, lust, self-hate, greed, and anger at God. If that is the case in our lives, then people at church don't really know us.

I seems we're missing so much in the area of fellowship. If only we authentically knew each other, it would be so much easier to loosen up and accept and love each other."

So, I've been thinking a lot about fellowship lately too. How does one go about building authentic fellowship, true community? I think it starts as a matter of the heart. Do we truly love our neighbors? Are we real with them? Do we love others and ourselves the way Christ loves us, unconditionally?

Purpose for Everything

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, And a time to lose;
A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
A time to tear, And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
A time to love, And a time to hate;
A time of war, And a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

We've all had times we've been encouraged, and we've all had times we've been discouraged. I used to think discouragement was a bad thing, something I ran into only when I wasn't on the right course in life. But the following section from Chuck Swindoll's book "Hand Me Another Brick" has made me think of discouragement in a different light. Don't get me wrong, I certainly prefer those encouraging times, when things make sense and smiles abound. But much like brokenness and suffering, discouragement may have a role to play in building our faith and increasing our dependance on God:

You might think discouragement is only for those not walking with God. That's not true. Many Christian leaders admit that times of discouragement have often been signals from God announcing a whole new direction and plan. Strange though it may seem, discouragement, brought on by a removal of our tangible securities, can become a catalyst for incredible achievements.

Such was the admission of Charles Spurgeon, one of the greatest spokesmen for Christ in the history of the church: "Before any great achievement, some measure of the same depression is very usual...Such was my experience when I first became a pastor in London. My success appalled me; and the thought of the career which it seemed to open up, so far from elating me, cast me into the lowest depth, out of which I uttered my miserere and found no room for a gloria in excelsis. Who was I that I should continue to lead so great a multitude? I would betake me to my village obscurity, or emigrate to America, and find a solitary nest in the backwoods, where I might be sufficient for the things that would be demanded of me. It was just then the curtain was rising on my lifework...This depression comes over me whenever the Lord is preparing a larger blessing for my ministry."

I can find nothing in Scripture to prove this, but I am more convinced than ever that discouragement is nothing more than a barrier Satan erects between great people and great achievements. I wonder how many great triumphs we might have seen but didn't because great people simply lost heart.

Perhaps today you find yourself standing before the door of opportunity or change. Your strength has run out. Your confidence has faded. Your vision has grown dim. You're shaking with fear and you want to retreat to safety. A nagging voice somewhere deep within whispers, "It isn't worth it."

Wait! You may be on the verge of the greatest years of your life. On the other side of that barrier---if you just keep pressing on, doing what you know to be right---the reward of faithfulness awaits you.

I especially liked the part where Spurgeon admits that he often wanted to run to places where he "might be sufficient for the things that would be demanded" of him. In those pivotal moments of life, we will be faced with a choice: rely on our own strength, or take a step of faith and rely on God. Growth only occurs when we rely on God. Oh how I wish I could do that more easily!

Two Contrasts

You are passionately loved by the God of the universe.
You are passionately hated by His Enemy.

From the book Captivating, which Tiff got me for my birthday a while back.

Love

I'm probably not one to comment on love. I haven't the faintest clue about how and when to let go. All I know is the amazing picture of love we find in 1 John 4:
--------------------------
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."
----------------

There's a quote that says "The difference between friendship and love is how much you can hurt each other." Loving completely can be a risk b/c it means opening yourself up to the possibility of getting hurt. But there's another quote that says "To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure. But risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing."

We can love only because we are loved completely by God. We fail at loving completely because we are sinners. But we try. With God's grace, we have to try, in spite of the possible hurt.

But are there times when we have to let go and move on? Love keeps no record of wrongs. But is "moving on" not keeping a record of wrongs, or is it simply ignoring the wrongs? Avoidance is not to be confused with love. I think the better description for for "letting go and moving on" is "forgiving". It's not easy; it takes work and prayer. After all, "What we forgive too freely doesn't stay forgiven. --Mignon McLaughlin. But it is possible, and when it's truly heart-felt forgiveness, it becomes a form of love. "You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well. --Lewis B. Smedes"

Colossians 3: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Mexico

I've always said that when I get a real job, I'd use my vacation time in a useful way. Now that I finally have a real job, I finally got a chance to do that, on a week-long mission trip to Mexico with UKANDU:

On June 1, I flew down to Texas and met up with the young adult group from Trinity-Klein in Spring. Aside from my friend Lindsay, I had no idea who would be going, and I really didn't quite know what we would be doing. That's not typical for a Type-A person like myself, who likes to plan and know what I'm getting into, but when the opportunity for me to go on the trip came up at the last minute, I left it in God's hands and went along for the ride.

Our group consisted of 7 folks, pictured below from left to right at El Potrero Chico, an internationally known rock-climbing location:

• Myself


• Tim (My brother went to high school with his sister)


• Linds (we go WAY back)


• John-David (the youth minister at Trinity)


• Anne (I played basketball in high school with her)


• Christine (I was good friends with her brother at A&M)


• Kerri (not pictured. I went to A&M with her sister)

I think it's so cool that even though I didn't know our group, I had common ties with all of them! In Laredo, we met up with the high school youth group from St. Paul, Ft. Worth, where my sister was married and where a number of my friends now attend church. Again, we didn't know this group, but by the end of the week, we had all made new friends. St. Paul has an amazing youth group and awesome adult leaders. There's some great things going on in that place.

As a group of about 50 folks, we drove to El Carmen, where we would be working on an orphanage. The orphanage now has 25 kids staying on the lower level. We were working to prepare the upper level so they could take care of 25 more kids. The long-term vision is to support 10 such orphanages, caring for 500 kids total. At the orphanage, the kids receive food, clothing, education, love, and Christ.

I was on the "Tiling Team", and quickly became a pro at laying ceramic tile. The "Grout Girls" came behind us to finish up with grout. Here's a pic of the main room with the diagonal pink "rug" in the middle:




The kids were still in school during the day, so we only got to play with them in the evenings. Before they were allowed to play, they had to finish their homework. I tried to help a 5-year-old with her homework...Let's just say my Spanish skills need some brushing up:



On Wednesday, we went to the market in Saltillo. This was my 4th time in Saltillo. In 2003, on my first trip to Saltillo, we were waiting around in the parking garage, so as always, I pulled out my koosh ball and tried to stay entertained. Without thinking, I chucked my koosh ball up as high as I could. It went up, up, up, but never came down! It got stuck in the lip of an I-beam in the rafters of the garage. I was very sad to leave it there, but every year since then, we always parked in the same garage and I got to check on my koosh ball. I was curious if it would still be there now in 2007. Sure enough, it is! Granted, now it is very black and hardly recognizable, but I know it is there:



All in all, this was a good, refreshing trip. Seeing a different culture, different ways to worship, and different lifestyles always renews my perspective on things. God is great, and the diversity He has created in the world is amazing. How great that day will be when we see all nations worshipping the Lord, as in Revelations 15:4:

"Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."

But as Romans 10:12-15 says, how can all nations come and worship unless we share the hope we have:

"For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Piper

A lady at work hosts a weekly Bible study. I was finally able to join in one week and they were talking about John Piper's book Don't Waste Your Life. I was really interested by the discussion, so I decided to read it when I got some free time. I'm only about 3 chapters in right now, but I really like this quote that was on a window decoration in Piper's kitchen growing up:

Only one life,

twill soon be past,

only what's done for Christ will last.

Quote

Quote of the day from my niece Bethany, while talking to her grandma, after seeing a stray cat across the yard:

"Bethy can't pet that kitty cat, that kitty cat is very old, like you grandma."

[FYI: The twins talk about themselves in the 3rd person. I'm not sure if all kids do that. Kinda cute, but I would hope they grow out of it at some point...]

Following Christ

A friend sent me this excerpt from “New Way to Be Human” by Charlie Peacock:

Charlie speaking:

“Here’s what I’ve figured out for myself: My life is going to tell a
story whether I try to or not. It’s going to tell a story that says,
'This is what a follower of Jeus is , this is what he or she is
interested in, this is what he or she believes and trusts, this is what
he or she thinks is important.' Because this is going to happen and can’t
be stopped, I’d better make sure I know my role and my job description-a
student-follower of Jesus is a living explanation. As I go about living,
I will either make the teaching about God the Savior attractive, or I
won’t. It’s attractive on its own. I make it attractive to others by
living it out. My work should be to represent it accurately. This
doesn’t mean that my life will look just as his looked. That’s not even
possible. I’ll be doing well if I can, stepwise, become the kind of
person he’s teaching me to be.”

Tharseo

"Tharseo is an Ancient Greek word that means "Have Courage!" or "Be of Good Cheer!" or "Take Heart!" Jesus uses this term often after healing people and in John 16:33 (NIV): "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.""