neighbors... friends... people.

This line of thought comes from several comments that have been made to me over the past week or so. First of all one of my co-workers was talking about going to the properties we have just off of Broadway in North, and she said, "I do my best not to even get out of the car up there."

Another co-worker was talking about a cruise he may go on. One of the stops is Haiti, and when he listed that stop, he said, "Yeah, there's no way I'm getting off the ship there."

And lastly, I had a friend tell me yesterday, very honestly, that he's intimidated by poverty. And I think that rings true for a lot of people.

Is that because it touches our consciences? Because it's different from what we are used to? Because we feel powerless to help? I think we can talk as much as we want about ways to reform government, bills, non-profits, economic structure (not that those are bad things to talk about, I think they're very important, and also something that is very interesting to me). But if we're afraid to, or too lazy to spend time with the poor, can we really say we have their best interests at heart? Can we really know what their best interests are? Can we respect their culture without knowing their culture? I don't see how we could.

This is no sort of pedestal for myself. There have been many times that the doorbell has rung and I have dreaded answering it because it might be some neighbor kids who want to come up, and I don't think I have the time. There've been many times I've driven past a homeless person and had nothing to give them. Not because I really have nothing, but because last time I was at the store I didn't think to buy pretzels or a box of granola bars for those who really need it. I think about what I should cook, what I should eat, and do not pay attention to the people around me.

Something that's really convicted me lately is at one point in "The Irrisistible Revolution," Shane Claiborne says something to the tune of "Maybe we need to think not so much of what we've given away, but of what we have left." Anything we have left is something we have not given away. And if we still have more than our neighbor, have we really loved our neighbor as ourself? Not that these are easy things to do, and I certainly don't. So I challenge myself, and you. What does truly loving our neighbor look like? And can we truly love them and not act on that love? If we love God, we obey His commands (John 14:21). If we love the poor... do we not share with them both our lives and resources, in order to love our neighbor as ourselves?

"Glory!"

Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this;

shout aloud, O earth beneath.

Burst into song, you mountains,
you forests and all you trees,
for the LORD has redeemed Jacob,

he displays his glory in Israel. (Isaiah 44:23)

The work that God has done gives us reason to shout for JOY every day. I have to pray to be continually reminded of this, because there are certainly times when happiness doesn’t come easily. But joy rests on the Mighty Rock. He is my fortress, I will not be shaken (Psalm 62:2).

Then there are times that it seems we are all really just children playing. We may have duties, plans, constraints, but in our hearts, we are free. Free to fly, despite physical constraints. Free to dream, despite practicality. Free to love, despite past hurts. I thank the Lord for the joy that is constant in Him. For the continual blessings He bestows on His people, whether we recognize them or not. I pray for a spirit that is aware, listening, experiencing those blessings, and sharing in the pain felt by the people of God. And all are His people, made in the image of their Maker, whether or not the Maker is recognized as such. When things seem unclear, He is clarity, He is light, He is warmth, peace, rest, energy, determination, love.

So sing for joy, heavens, earth, mountains, forests, trees, and children of God. And in his temple, all cry, “Glory!” (Psalm 29:9)

More joy to share

If last week's props went out to line dancing, this week's belong no doubt to a fabulous band I like to call Nickel Creek. The 6 hours of driving (preceded by an oil change that turned into an oil change plus replaced belt plus tire rotation plus the replacement of something that I don't know what is plus I have to go back to have my power steering fluid flushed) on Wednesday were SO WELL WORTH IT to see this wonderful band, as well as about a million people that I love dearly and don't talk to enough. I'd also like to thank my friends Julia and Katherine (for being so important to the winning of this Oscar... err...) for being great co-adventurers on the journey that was Wednesday night.

Black highway all night ride
Watching the times fall away to the side
Clear channel way down low
Is comin’ in loud and my mind let go

Back babe, back in time
I wanna go back when you were mine
-Gillian Welch, covered by Nickel Creek. So great.

What (or WHO) is first?

Once in a while I like to try to take a step back from my life and obtain (if possible) a slightly more objective viewpoint than that which comes naturally. While sometimes the "one day at a time" attitude is necessary, I think it also lacks a lot of important perspective. So often I become so used to what my life is right now, I narrow my scope of what can be.

When I hear about communities living together who spend time time in prayer with each other every day, I tend to think "oh, that's great, but I don't have time for that in my life." Now my question is why don't I have time for that? Or why don't I think I have time for that? If that was what was really important to me, I would make time.

Or when I think about spending time overseas, I think about how I really have things scheduled 6 nights a week, and am using my lunch breaks to get stuff done. It would be hard to cancel all that stuff. Poopoo that! I ask myself: what (or WHO) am I really putting first in my life? Sure God, I'll serve you, but I'm going to spend my time going to and doing the things I have planned. You'll use me through those, right? I can set the perimeters, and you can use me within those? Pretty sure I don't serve a God who's going to let me set perimeters, if He has bigger things for my life than I could ever ask or imagine. How can we put limits on an omnipotent God? Can't, or should not, I believe. If I try I'll only be missing out on blessings.

So, I pause a moment, survey the land. If I've walked 500 miles in the wrong direction, I need to be willing to turn around and do it again if that's what's asked of me. Not "well I've come this far, let's just keep doing it my way."

Gotta share the joy...

Just a quick note, that line dancing is AMAZING. I would seriously consider moving west for many reasons, but line dancing could be pretty prominent on that list =). Yes friends, I spent my Wednesday night this week line dancing in Cottage Grove, and I cannot say enough about the level of fun attained.

Love

Well the thought process all started in my small group when we were talking about Song of Solomon. One member had a pretty darn good argument that it has a lot more to do with our relationship with God than we think... so often we talk about it referring mostly to a relationship between humans. I won't go into that discussion, although you can post your thoughts if you want. The point though is that I've been thinking a lot about about what it means to really love God, and let ourselves be loved by God. The following lyrics have been an important part of the thought process for me so I thought I'd share...


He's more than the laughter or the stars in the heavens
As close a heartbeat or a song on our lips
Someday we'll trust Him and learn how to see Him
Someday He'll call us and we will come running
and fall in His arms and the tears will fall down and we'll pray,
I want to fall in love with You
-Jars of Clay "Love song for a Savior"


Because you have loved me, now I can love you too
Your love flows deep into my heart
And I send it back to you
-"Face to Face"... one of my favorite songs, but I've never heard it recorded (I think it's translated from Korean)


Just let me say how much I love You
Let me speak of Your mercy and grace
Just let me live in the shadow of Your beauty
Let me see You face to face
And the earth will shake as Your Word goes forth
And the heavens can tremble and fall
But let me say how much I love You
O my Savior, my Lord and friend

Just let me hear Your finest whispers
As You gently call my name
And let me see Your power and Your glory
Let me feel Your Spirit's flame
Let me find You in the desert
'Til this sand is holy ground
And I am found completely surrendered
To You, my Lord and friend

So let me say how much I love You
With all my heart I long for You
For I am caught in this passion of knowing
This endless love I've found in You
And the depth of grace, the forgiveness found
To be called a child of God
Just makes me say how much I love You
O my Savior, my Lord and friend
-Geoff Bullock

Pride

Tough subject. Also something I'm lacking at the moment, as I don't know how to do my job and there is no one around to ask. So... looks like it's blog time.

You may not get how this relates to pride right away, but stick with me, I'll get there. So I was listening to a podcast on religion yesterday, and it was talking about how when people used to travel, they would worship the gods of the people they vistited, and sometimes bring those back home with them, and incorporate them into their religion and culture. They knew they were seeking, looking for what was right... even if now we say they were looking in the wrong places. There was an openness, and a searching attitude.

Now if I look at our society today, I see people (forgive the generalization) who feel they must have an opinion, and stick to it, whether or not it's right. Just to defend their cause. I think pride gets in the way of seeking. Many people when the come to faith can label that "big change" moment, and for many it also comes after some sort of experience that makes us realize we cannot handle life on our own, making us see the need for a savior. I wonder if we weren't so prideful as a society, if that need for a savior would just be known. Perhaps everyone who doesn't believe would be seeking. Instead, God has to bash a lot of us over the head with a hammer to get our attention.

After being a Christian for years, I still have to be knocked off my feet from time to time, as I'm otherwise unwilling to get on my knees. I am so convicted of my pride when I look at Jesus... the one being who has ever lived perfect on this earth, and yet check this out:

"Let your attitude be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who being in the very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself unto death, even death on a cross." I could stop there for the sake of this entry, but the next part is beautiful... "That at the name of Jesus every knee would bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." What an exciting picture of what is to come! (That was from Philippians 2).

There are also some important things about pride to be learned from Romans 12. Take "We belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others (vs.5)". Even living in community should be an exercise in humility. Don't you think we could form deeper relationships if we would humble ourselves to admit that we need each other?

What would happen if we would humble ourselves and be willing to utilize each other's gifts, as opposed to coveting them, and sharing our gifts as opposed to keeping them for ourselves? (vs.6-8)

There are more great verses in that passage obviously talking about pride, but those are a couple thoughts that stuck out in my mind. There's so much to be said for painting a realistic picture of ourselves... both the picture we show ourselves and the one we show others. So... I'll become even more undignified than this. Some might say it's foolishness, but that bat will swing right over my head if I'm on my knees before God.

Thankful

Many days I find myself running and striving... what more can I learn, how can I help, stay in shape, succeed. Paul compares living the Christian life to running a race in Philippians 3. Push forward for the prize. It seems important to take a moment every once in a while to ask myself though if the race I'm running is dictated by the demands of society, or those of God. If I lived in Japan, society would say I needed to succeed at work. Here, I need to have enough money to buy a nice house, nice car, nice clothes. In the Philippines, I would need to have fruitful relationships, and a companion with me at all times. If different areas of the world, or different groups of people can determine what comprises the race of life, then there must be something more, something bigger that applies to all people.

It's really not so difficult to determine WHAT is needed (it's not quite so easy to carry it out), as it is spelled out in the Bible. Micah 6:8 says "What does the Lord require of the but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." Jesus tells us to love our neighbor. Where (or when, rather) did this world lose sight of the simpler things of life and start running a race that is a competition for success, money, and popularity? How do those things help us to walk humbly with our God?

There's a place downtown that offers a week of free yoga if you've never been there before. I'm using my free week right now, and it's a pretty amazing practice. Difficult and yet relaxing, and incredibly good for your body. The relating factor to this blog is that the instructor was talking yesterday about the balance of discipline and compassion. It is good to strive, to push for more. To seek God with all your heart, absolutely. But there also needs to be an element of compassion that says things are pretty great the way they are.

Today I am thankful. Thankful that I am sitting at a desk, thankful I have a job, thankful I can walk and run. Thankful it's a Friday, thankful I work with those I do. Thankful I have a loving family, a place to live, clothes to wear. Thankful for the opportunities I've been granted... a college education, a semester in France, ski trips, summers working with high schoolers and running kids clubs. Thankful to live in a country where I can worship God freely, thankful for the relationships God has granted me. Thankful for an able mind and body.

As much as I want to make a "bigger" difference, working with other cultures, or at least know more about what's going on in the world, things are pretty great the way they are. I do not need all the things I have, but just to come to an understanding that while I want more, and will continue to seek God for all He is, I must also walk humbly with Him. If the things I'm striving for are for my own benefit, or to conform to the patterns of this world, then my energy is concentrated in the wrong places. That race we run must be run with our eyes on Jesus!