Promised Land hopes in a Kingdom of Heaven Reality

We all want the promised land. We deeply desire to live in a house we did not build, drink from wells we did not dig and gather grapes we did not plant (Deut 6:10-12). God’s promise to Israel greatly appeals to Americans today. We want the maximum reward for minimum effort.  But God’s promise wasn’t to Americans…it was to a barely cohesive band of people who were mostly of Abrahamic descent. They’d been in slavery for nearly 400 years and they had no sense of national pride or any concept of how to pull themselves up “by their boot straps.” Apart for being sandal clad, they had little idea of what life without orders entailed.

Instead of dwelling in the land flowing with milk and honey, we’re informed, “in this world we will have trouble” (John 16:33).  Wait?? Seriously? The Old Testament God is MORE merciful and generous that the New Testament one? YEP!!

No!

The Bible describes the singular God - deeply in love with us and sacrificing himself for us…in both testaments. We just often miss it. The truth is the new covenant (God’s plan as revealed in the New Testament) is HARD too!

Peter tells us that we are destined to live as aliens and strangers in this world (1 Pt 2:11), and yet we strive (sometimes with ridiculous effort) to make a home in this world. God’s uprooted my sense of home more than most. New job in WA, license plates in CO, stuff in storage…

You know me well enough to know that I thrive on change…I love meeting new people and making new friends. I’m thrilled to be right where I am. But am I home??

Yes and no!

Despite leaving a phenomenal support system, I am as close to home as I’m going to get. I’m with the family of God. I know cheesy…It is. Lavish love stories often are. I’m kinda like Annie…the “nappy headed” little ginger that God took into His family.  That family is large and expansive and it exists in Bellingham too.

Some days I want a home…friends down the street, family within driving distance, a place for my stuff, a husband. But the reality is…I wouldn’t be anymore at home here (although I, emphasis on I, might be more deluded into believing I was.) In truth, I have been rescued from an empty life (1 Peter 1:18) of hoop jumping, trophy winning, and keeping up with the Joneses (whoever they may be).

Instead of finding ease, I’ve found this path very difficult. And I’m surprised?? (John15:18, 1 Peter 4:12, 1 John 3:13)…I probably shouldn't be.

“In this world you will have trouble…” Check!

So why am I baffled?? Perhaps because I don’t understand the utter beauty of Jesus’ life advice: “BUT take heart, I have over come the world.” 3500 years ago, God gave a people who were landless, slaves standing and a home. And I long for that…stability. But I forget how many generations were promised a home in Canaan that never saw the fulfillment of that promise.

In God’s economy, so many things are backwards: the first are last, the weak are strong, poor and blessed, and the "homeless" find stability in Jesus.  Years ago ONE generation out of many generations of slaves got to experience freedom. Today I wonder what one generation out of many generations of free people is being called to…

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

Bellinghamster Report

I've been informed, I'm now Bellinghamster...which thrills me way too much (my deep love of the zoo is far too pervasive). 

I am getting settled, although it's been a whirlwind trip. 

I arrived Sunday evening to a home cooked meal served with a 270 degree view of the sound. The family who graciously agreed to host me are Taylor grads, deeply hospitable and just might be located in the most spectacular house in the area:) My room has 2 full walls of windows with a breath taking views...God is rewarding me for 6 land-locked years.

I arrived safely in Bellingham, by the grace of God. My AC compressor froze and was shooting sparks when we started my Jeep up late Saturday night. Jim (my host dad :p) drove it down the "mountain" on Monday morning when my belt broke, throwing out the power steering. Thankfully, I was not driving down the steep and curvy road, and he recovered beautifully! Of course, I learned my lesson!! We only prayed for safe travels...next time (which will hopefully not be soon) we'll pray for the car, as well!

Monday, I jumped in with both feet and met the Church and INN staff. I am so excited to be a part of this family. They are insightful and gifted individuals who God blessed with gobs of talent. They have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome and to orient me to the ministry. Tuesday, our 2nd year INNtern returned and we laid out the talk plans for the first quarter. YES, Justin!! I know what we're speaking about through December...be amazed:) Seth, Stead, and DJ agreed to help me unload my U-Haul and if you thought the packing experience was interesting, the unpacking was an hilarious tail. We arrived to find that my storage unit was up a ramp, down an elevator, down the hall and around the corner from where we could park. The "quick" unpacking job a promised was 2 hours and LOTS trip. I cannot take them enough for helping me and smiling the whole time.

Wednesday, our 4 new INNterns arrived and we all headed off for a 3 day retreat in Birch Bay. It was a great time of worship, prayer, and TONS of laughter. So excited this bunch loves trivia :) And I can't wait to see what God does this year with this team. I am so honored to be a part of it!

Keep us in your prayers.

Where am I headed??

I know a lot of you feel out of the loop on what's going on and where I'm headed. If you don't know, don't feel bad...it's been a bit of a whirlwind.

On Monday I accepted a job at First Pres in Bellingham, WA to serve as their Interim College Director. It's an incredible ministry with an unbelievable staff (which I'm dying to meet in person). I'm thrilled about this opportunity. I'll be on staff through June, and will be able to apply for the Exec Dir position some time next year if that's how God's leading. For the moment, I'm taking it step by step, but the steps have been HUGE :)

I had 3 1/2 days to reserve the trailer, service my jeep, pack up and say my goodbyes. If you're in Fort Collins, and I didn't see you, I'm sorry...you'll just have to come visit:) I headed out of town this morning and just made it to Bozeman, MT. Man, that safe trailer speed really slows you down!!

I'll be in Coeur d'Alene tomorrow night and arrive in Bellingham Sunday evening so that I can start on Monday! Yep, HUGE steps:) But the entire staff and 1/2 the congregation have already gone out of their way to welcome me. So I have no doubts this is right where God wants me right now.

I was hoping this trip would be a nice relaxing break (I love road trips) from the chaos of packing and the emotional drain of saying goodbye to so many people I love. College ministry is one of the most amazing opportunities. But it takes a lot of energy, and I want to be at my best! So far, it's been more challenging than relaxing.

So here are my prayer requests...because I NEED your prayers:
- A couple really good nights of sleep and the mental space to gear up for this upcoming year.
- Cooler weather - my AC broke today and it was 98 inside my Jeep...I actually have a tan line from the seat belt.
- For everything else on my Jeep to remain in good working order and for safety.
-And really however else God leads you to pray from me, I never turn down prayer:)

Thanks crew!

Repeating myself

So a lot of you got saw this recommendation on Facebook. But it's so good and I keep pointing people to it, so I thought I'd direct you to it again.

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across (literally just a random topical search on "giving" on iTunes) this sermon by Aaron McCarter from Maryville Vineyard. It's entitled "Ours to Give 1" and dated 5/27/07. If you know how to link to an iTunes podcast, I NEED that info - please share. For now you'll just have to search for it yourself :)

I was blown away by his perspective on giving. Not that it was new information, he simply just communicates it in a way that we all can grasp - with sarcasm, humor, and a tad bit of self depreciation.

If you like that sermon - and even if you don't - you should check out Scott Nickell's sermon that continues to reshape our perspective on our role in relationship to God's role!! Happy listening.

Wounded Spirit

I'm reading Frank Peretti's book, Wounded Spirit. I bought it 4 years ago, and I'm finally getting around to it. In it, he addresses the damage of bullying and the long-term ramifications such treatment can have on one's psyche and faith. He argues that allowing bullying to happen or simply ignoring it inadvertently teaches that God is not concerned with justice. He goes on to speak about the need for an absolute moral standard to even address such issues. But I want to focus on his argument that our lack of action contributes to others' misconceptions of Jesus.

He's right! Millions of people point to a hurting world filled with injustice and ask how we can believe in a righteous God. Bono wisely pointed the finger at the Church. And the reality is the Church has worked hard to make a very relevant gospel irrelevant. God's Word is vibrant and real, and it's only when we water it down and soften it's edges that it becomes irrelevant. When we seek to make God's message more palatable and less offensive, it usually ceases to be the Word of God.

The Church's problem is not that the Bible is too harsh, it's that we've made it too easy. Instead, we should asked how we can believe in a righteous God and not address the injustice in the world. How can we allow children to starve and people to die alone from AIDS? In this instance, I think Bono and Jesus (and Gandhi) are on the same page.

But we can't sit around and blame the Church either.

Matthew 25:31-45 tells what will happen when the Son of Man (Jesus) comes in glory. Read here "the ultimate climax of all things ever." And Jesus gives us some insight into how he will judge us:

Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.        Matthew 25:34-36

Jesus goes on to say that "whatever [we] did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of [his], [we] did for [him]" (Mt 25:40). You see it's not enough for us to join a church that loves the poor and needy. Jesus won't be doling out the judgement based on the missions team at your church or your denomination's commitment to the poor, the widow, or the orphan. He's going to judge us on our own individual acts of love to his brothers and sisters...our acts toward God's children. 


It's too easy to complain about the church!  And it's too counter-intuitive because...


we ARE the church! It is unthinkable that I might allow (or worse cause) anyone to question the goodness of God through my inaction. Can God intervene and cure all disease? feed the poor? give clean water to all those in need? Of course, he could. But that's not his plan.


Irresponsible? Heartless? Stupid? 


I might land on stupid, but it's not God who's thoughtless...it's often us!


Throughout Scripture (Ex 22:22, 23:6, 23:11; Lev 23:22, 25:47-48; Deut 10:18, 14:28-29, 15:4, 24:14 & 17, 27:19; 1 Sam 2:8; Prov 14:21 & 31, 17:5, 19:17, 21:13, 29:7; Isa 1:17; Micah 6:8 - just to name a few and not even to touch the NT, which is the appendix anyway :p) God declares that we are to care for the poor, the needy, the hurting, and broken people. God has inexplicably chosen us to love his children. We are asked to demonstrate the love of God. 


Why? Because modeling the actions of the Father make us more like him. Practicing his love and compassion conform us to his image. So my question is not am I doing enough. My question is can I be doing less?


Less, that is, to minimize the misconceptions of who God is and ultimately more to tangibly share God's love with a world in need?

Headed Camping...

in Medicine Bow, WY. I'm attempting to hit all my "must sees" before I potentially take off for parts unknown. And JoAnne and I have been talking about hiking in Medicine Bow for nearly a year now. I'm super excited...I love getting away, I love nature, I love new experiences.

But I just realized in all my chaotic packing a bunch of my camping equipment is mysteriously tucked away in some poorly labeled box. So I'm setting off with JoAnne for a weekend (who will show up with not much more than a sleeping bag and a CamelBak) and I have a trunk full of non-camping "equivalents." It's interesting - my trip to get away from all that encumbers is already overloaded with gear.

Now, I don't know if I should feel better knowing that somewhere I have a therm-a-rest that's 1/5 the size the sleeping mat I could put my hands on, a microfiber towel that's 1/4 as big as the beach towel I'm bringing, and several other space saving devices. In reality, those nifty camping aids take up room in a closet somewhere 90% of the year and only save space on about 7 weekend trips. But I have them, in case I need them...

Do you remember the movie, One Fine Day? Michelle Pfeiffer has this incredible bag that contains everything needed for every possible situation. I loved that bag! Perhaps that's why even with all my oversized non-technical equipment I still have this urge to overpack. Years of youth ministry has concealed this obsession - I needed to bring an extra towel or Bible for the kid who forgot, I had to have a fully stocked first aid kit, etc.

The reality is I admire the light packer, the person who can do without. In college, my friend, Matt, showed up for a weekend retreat with a toothbrush. THAT'S IT! Now that's probably excessive.

So if I'd like to pack, I'm stuck thinking: Do I overpack because I'm responsible or afraid of uncertainty? Because I want to be able to meet the needs of others or because I value my personal conform so much? Because I'm lazy or willing to go the extra mile?

YES! All of those! Like I said earlier, I am nothing if not complex. But I wonder how we should prepare for the spiritual journey. My friend, Joseph, was in an accident in college. He nearly lost his life, and in the process he did lose his leg. He used the illustration of packing a bag for the life journey we're on. He talked about Jesus coming alongside him in the packing process and taking things out of his bag (things that he thought he needed) and adding other things to his bag (things he couldn't see the use for).  Joseph said that he'd grown to realize whatever journey he was on, he obviously didn't need two legs.

He understood, with a faith that truly surpasses understanding, that God is the only one who knows what our trip entails. We may think we're headed for the Bahamas and end up in Antarctica...when we do, we'll be happy we lugged that parka around a for weeks.

As God teaches me crazy lessons or continually removes something I so desperately want to carry or adds to my pack something that seems bulky and worthless, may I constantly see that he's the ultimate trip planner. My I be willing to carry whatever he determines I need and to let go of the rest.

Worth Dying For...

Spent the morning reflecting on a little bit of history I learned while on a family trip to Scotland a few years ago. Of course, there’s a good number of opinions flying around, but this is the story as I heard it…

The Castle of Urquhart sits on the bank of Loch Ness. We don't hear much about it today. Its nearly 4,000 years of history are overshadowed by a mythic creature that was first sighted in 1933.

Urquhart was a military stronghold, which changed hands countless times is the tenuous Scottish history. As the Scottish and English fought for the right to control the throne in Scotland, Urquhart Castle became a battleground. In 1692, the English parliament ordered its destruction for fear of it falling into Jacobite hands. The Jacobites, Highland Warriors, were determined to maintain the rightful royal line rather than following England's appointed puppet kings. Their tenacity struck fear in the heart of English officials who decided the best route was to dynamite the disputed castle and walk away.

Hmmm…

The Urquhart clan, Jacobite supporters, were so committed to their goal of restored Scottish royalty that it threatened their financial ruin. Such drastic beliefs divided the family. At one point the clan was so at odds that half the clan marched in support of the true monarchy while the remainder kept up appearances of English support to maintain their coffer.

Doesn’t all this sound familiar?? It should.

78 years of monstrous tales…tails? have all but erased centuries of truth. A handful of the clan was willing to give up everything to serve the rightful authority. Those in power choose to destroy the castle out of fear of what a few passionate followers can actually accomplish.

Are we as Christians that passionate about our allegiance to the Lord? Do we believe it’s worth sacrificing everything – money, adoration, security, our lives – to insure that no one else sits on the throne? Are we that unrelenting in our pursuit of single-minded devotion? Or do we cow-tow to the invading, foreign presence that storms into our lives demanding respect and fear? 

A lot of historians speak about the massacre at Castle Urquhart and the strategy of the Urquhart clan as a military failure. I'm not surprised. It failed to accomplish its intended goal of restoring the Stuarts to the throne. But wouldn't the Urquhart clan view servitude to an English king as failure, as well? They may not have accomplished their ultimate goal, but at least they upheld their principles in the process. 

Choosing the right over the safe and secure path isn't popular (and sometimes it defies logic). Sometimes our efforts to serve the True Authority look like failure to the world around us. Not that we're looking to dive head first into catastrophe, but often the direction God guides us in looks like a ruined castle...

"In that day, I will restore David's fallen shelter - I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins - will rebuild it as it used to be." Amos 9:11

God destroyed Jerusalem because the Israelites had turned their eyes from him. He wanted to teach them that devotion to him is essential.

Is it really more comfortable to conform to the invading ruler? Will it actually ensure security?