tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42830224559039455512024-03-19T07:40:01.516-05:00as for meSleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.comBlogger280125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-82384884787284314772014-03-06T12:23:00.000-06:002014-03-06T12:23:20.540-06:00Spiritual Forces<i>For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.</i> (Eph 6:12)<br />
<br />
A couple of nights ago I went to bed feeling a bit down. I went to bed praying <br />
<br />
But I awoke at some dark hour of the morning, not near time to arise for the day. I awoke glanced to my right, then back over my left shoulder. If I could adequately describe what I saw, you might understand my terror. However, I am not sure what I saw, so I will describe me innate reaction. My whole being was jolted with fear. Not fear as in I was a little startled, but fear as in my heart rate accelerated instantly. What I think I saw was some dark figure, as tall as the ceiling, bending or leaning over me, but far enough away to not have laid a hand on me.<br />
<br />
All I could do was utter out loud, "<i><b>Jesus help me</b>!</i>" or "<i><b>Jesus save me!</b></i>" That was the only thing I could get out of my mouth! And instantly whatever was there, was immediately gone and did not come back. Praise Jesus and what power there is in His name! In the one who upholds the whole of the created order, his name is <i>powerful</i>!<br />
<br />
This is what I think ... Considering Paul's wise input and warning from Eph 6:12, I think I witnessed where this material world collides with eternal spiritual world! Everything about my "experience" fits with this verse. It was darkness in my room, leaning over me, darkness as in oppression. What I saw was terrifying ... I can imagine it was strong as in powerful, a cosmic power; but not the one true all-powerful Jesus!<br />
<br />
<div class="indent line" id="p19091011_09-1">
I can further imagine that perhaps it was near me, but not attacking me because as my life verse states, "<span class="selected">For he will command his </span><a class="cf" href="http://www.esvbible.org/Ps34.7/"><span class=""></span></a><span class="">angels concerning you to </span><a class="cf" href="http://www.esvbible.org/Ex23.20/"><span class=""></span></a><span class="">guard you in all your ways." (Ps 91:11). Perhaps there were in some way angels surrounding me, like a barricade to this spiritual force. I don't know! But whatever was going on, I am fully convinced that Jesus delivered me from something that night, big or small He is my Deliverer! Further, at Jesus' name this thing went away. And in Jesus' name I asked him to protect our house, each room, our minds too! </span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19091011_09-1">
<span class=""><br /></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19091011_09-1">
<span class="">If I learned anything it is this .... There is a spiritual reality beyond the mundane we live each day, and we need - as Christians - to acknowledge that and seek to live armored with God's armor (Eph 6:10-18). He provides us what we need to face our enemies and the legions upon legions that want to destroy us for eternity! Not only that, He supplies what we need to seek to win over those who are currently leading lives unto eternal destruction.</span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19091011_09-1">
<span class=""><br /></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19091011_09-1">
I'll end with this ... </div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19091011_09-1">
<br /></div>
<div id="p66019011_07-1">
<i>Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in<span class="footnote"></span> blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords</i>. (Revelation 19:11-16)</div>
Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-39527135094002321022013-07-24T07:41:00.000-05:002013-07-24T07:41:01.509-05:00I don't right about this muchI'm pretty sure not many people read this ... even so I at least wanted to jot down a few brief thoughts.<br />
<br />
Even though I do not write much, here or anywhere else for that matter, about having Cystic Fibrosis, being a double-lung transplant patient, or having diabetes ... I will today.<br />
<br />
Several thoughts ...<br />
<br />
First, if you are someone in a similar situation to mine own, why do you let all your thoughts be about CF & the difficulty it puts you through? Why dwell on the horrible aspects of CF all the time? Why sit around and choose to gripe and vent about what is so wrong in your life?<br />
<br />
Second, if you do not gripe about it all the time, why let your entire existence revolve around it? Why have a blog dedicated to all things CF? Perhaps its because you want people to be aware of CF. That is good and dandy, but it doesn't always have to be 110% CF this or CF that. Write or say something without including how CF impacts that aspect of your life?<br />
<br />
Thirdly if the first question I posed describes you, why are you so angry about CF? I get it, actually I know first hand the very devastating affects CF can have. I know how it kills people who are young, don't deserve to die early, etc. I was almost one of them. And that time of my life was horrible! And there was a time I was very angry about CF and it affected my whole life. I<i>n very negative ways!</i> Why do you post on Facebook, your blog, or twitter or any other social media all your angry, resentful, harsh and off-putting comments about CF?<br />
<br />
Here's what I want to say ... QUIT BEING SO ANGRY ABOUT CF ALL TIME!<br />
<br />
Its not helping you stay healthy, I can promise you that! Trying finding the good in life that often is hidden under layers of difficulty and hardship. Try being determined to enjoy life, without focusing so much on how CF ruins everything.<br />
<br />
I learned this from my wife. You should try it ... go for a brisk walk, a jog, or run and instead of finding that your winded and griping ... turn it into to thankfulness and gratitude that you are able-bodied enough to walk or run. Some people cannot even do that! If it hurts, be grateful that you're alive enough to feel pain! Turn your anger into determination to beat a beastly disease ... but do that without griping all the time.<br />
<br />
That is all.<br />
<br />
<br />Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-20683446679376228492013-04-08T13:00:00.001-05:002013-04-08T13:00:40.277-05:00Rain Barrel FrustrationsVocation.<br />
<br />
At church we're beginning a series on vocation. Its more about our calling to God - to be disciples & followers of Jesus, and how that "primary calling" (or vocation) directs & influences our other "secondary calling" (or vocation).<br />
<br />
Note, vocation here is not referring to the job I spend 40+ hours a week at ... although it includes that. More broadly it encompasses how my calling to belong to God influences my life in four particular areas - family, church, occupation, and the culture I live in. In short, the idea of vocation - belonging to God as a disciple of Jesus Christ - impacts every area of my life, both big & small.<br />
<br />
Here, I'll be addressing the small things, more particularly a small thing. From yesterday.<br />
<br />
While reading through Col 3:1-17 this morning, I was convicted about my attitude/behavior yesterday.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Context</i>: Yesterday, we went to church, it was awesome. Following that Mere & I knocked out groceries for the week, then she started on some school work, while I began what I wanted to do all day ... <i>build and ready really cheap rain barrel & stand for our garden in the backyard</i>! So my goal for yesterday above all else - I was in tunnel-vision mode about it - was to knock this simple project out. I was so stoked about it! Commence trip to Home Depot (HD), followed by a stop at my station/farm to cut a 4x4 to size, & get back home to assemble the stand! Pretty simple? </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
NO.</div>
<br />
Home Depot was a mad house. What I thought was going to be a 20 minute trip, was an hour. Pus someone decided they needed my cart (& the items I was going to purcahse) more than I did. Who steals a cart? When returning to go by the station, I realized I had left my work keys at home (a total back-tracking trip of 6 miles (read: "Not that big a deal" But it felt like it). Got back to the station cut the 4x4, and went home. Only thing is, in between all this I was fuming. I was mad and irritated.<br />
<br />
I don't think getting frustrated at frustrating situations is wrong. I think that is emotion. Its wrong when that frustration boils over into anger. That is what happened with me. I have a temper, and apparently badly want everything to go super smoothly with no hick-ups at all. </blockquote>
So, long story shortened ... I finished it yesterday and if I may, its awesome! Free Water for our garden, which will be awesome too!<br />
<br />
Here is where Col 3 comes in. With each of the 17 verses it seemed as layer, much like on an onion, were being painfully peeled back revealing a stronger and stronger stench ... that of self-absorbed sin. My actions from yesterday scream self-centeredness ... its because each thing that went wrong, was in opposition to my plan to easily & smoothly assemble the rain barrel system. Nothing bad happened other than that I was slowed down ... a lot. But just consider Paul's words:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is<span class="verse-num" id="v51003002-1">..</span>. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. <span class="verse-num" id="v51003003-1"></span>For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God... But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth... Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, <span class="verse-num" id="v51003013-1"></span>bearing with one another... And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. <span class="verse-num" id="v51003016-1">16 </span>Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him...</blockquote>
<br />
Everything in these verse instructs me to act the complete opposite of how I did. More than that it makes me ask, "<i>What does it really matter that I got slowed down?</i>" ... "<i>Didn't I have the chance to enjoy the beautiful day, be creative, constructive, and productive for the enjoyment of the project and to do it unto the Lord? And wouldn't that have been so honoring to Him?"</i> ... I think there is a lot to that. The thought that as a child of God, I can go about my daily life & hobbies knowing that while am enjoying those aspects of life, I am also by those very actions honoring God. I think that is marvelous! I love that & I believe God does too.<br />
<br />
So what did I miss out on yesterday? Well there was certainly no value added to my day from being worked up. I missed out on quality time w/ Mere as I let it affect us for a little while. I was not honoring God, I allowed the joy of things be taken right from me (although I still enjoyed putting it all together).<br />
<br />
This speaks directly to my primary vocation ... belonging to God. As
one who belongs to God I want to be marked like that, to be known as
belonging to God b/c of how I live. yesterday I failed - it would seem -
to live out my primary calling. <br />
<br />
At the end of the day, I had my heart set on my own intentions ... meaning, come hell or high water, I was finishing that stand! Instead of, allowing my thoughts of belonging to Christ to direct me to pursue completing the stand w/ the joy of being creative & productive. I let the old man (anger) conquer the new man (patience). Finally, I am still not sure if while I was working on it if I did it as unto the Lord or not ... I think it was not. That makes me sad too. <br />
<br />
But, I will not muddle there any longer, the good news is that, yesterday is past and today is now. I can work today for Christ and find joy and meaning in that. I know that I stand forgiven and complete before God in Christ Jesus, so I can move on from my failures and not live in guilt. But hopefully there is room for learning from all this.<br />
<br />
PS - I'll get a pic of the barrel soon!Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-91368676017372269022013-01-31T11:49:00.001-06:002013-01-31T11:49:22.624-06:00I dont like correctionI don't like correction.<br />
<br />
Today, the Holy Spirit has been all about some correction, re-orientation in my life. And its warranted. Today, I am aware of how bent on sin my heart can be. Its been made clear to just how harsh I can be toward people - if only in my head; which is no different than if I said those things directly to those people.<br />
<br />
Today it is one person in particular. It is unnaturally easy to not like him. Not right... but unbelievably easy. See, it would appear from our interactions that he indeed hates me. Or at the very least, he wishes to have nothing to do with me; which is nigh impossible seeing that we work together. Every day.<br />
<br />
So combine his disdain for me, my innately defensive self and the outcome is pretty predictable. I don't like him. In fact, if I am honest, scarily honest ... it feels at times that I hate him back.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BAM!</b></span><br />
<br />
At that honest thought, my soul got slapped. The first time I honestly evaluated my feelings toward him, my mental words to him, etc ... the Holy Spirit stepped in. CONVICTION! Strong, in my face conviction. My mental dialog (directed by the Spirit) went something like this ...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Wow! I really do feel that way about him. Ehh, that scares me! God, please don't let me feel this way toward him. He doesn't deserve that. ... He doesn't deserve to be hated or even disliked any more than I deserve that. Because we are the same... We are the same... Ouch, I don't like admitting that. But we are. Jesus died for both of us, Jesus loves him just as much as he loves me. Jesus wants him to be save just as much as he wanted to save me! The only difference between us ... Jesus has ransomed my life, and he is still refusing Jesus.... if even he has ever heard of Jesus' good news. God forgive me. Forgive me for feeling of hatred toward him. God, help me to see him as you see him; to see him as once you saw me. Forgive me for my wrathful thoughts toward him, for condemning him when you have proclaimed that I am not condemned before you! Help me to treat him as you have treated me. God, let me be Jesus to him.</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Even as I am writing this, verses are coming to my mind. Verses that describe me and Barney (not his real name) ... "<i>For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the
unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the
flesh but made alive in the spirit</i>" (1 Pet 3:18). Also, "<i>And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, 'Those who are well have no
need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the
righteous, but sinners</i>'" (Mark 2:17). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am complete unrighteousness without Jesus. I am totally sick and dying because of sin without Jesus! Barney is the same ... he is unrighteous and sick, in need of a Savior to cleanse and heal. There is no difference between us, I am no better than he. He is no worse than me. The only difference in that God in Jesus Christ my wonderful Savior has looked down upon me and poured out mercy, redeeming me despite that I constantly & rebelliously shake my fist at Him as I try to rule my life!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus saves to the uttermost ... at the moment of first trust in his great sacrifice and love and today and every day, constantly redeeming me with the everlasting outcry of his blood on my behalf.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Knowing all this, the least I can do is love Jesus by loving Barney, and not stooping to the level of my fleshly reactions. But rather, I can turn it over to the Holy Spirit to treat him with the utmost respect and calmness, that I might win his friendship and be a light unto Christ for him.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">O Jesus, work in us both!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thankful for correction. </span> Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-60125707888631068412012-12-24T15:45:00.001-06:002012-12-24T15:45:27.382-06:00Its been 9 years!First, Merry Christmas!!!<br />
<br />
Nine (9) years.<br />
<br />
That is one third of my life, exactly.<br />
<br />
Nine years ago today, I was in bad shape. I found myself in critical condition at Children's Hospital in Birmingham, AL totally dependent for life on anything and everything but myself, but my own body. And in a very real way all the medicine, doctors, family and loved ones, although an immense comfort, could not pull me back from the brink of death. All I had - all I have ever had - was Jesus. He was, is, and always will be my only hope!<br />
<br />
You see, my body attacked and in 18 years decimated my lungs to a point of no return. Death had a tightening grip that day and night. Christmas Eve 2003 was horrific. Mostly I was passed out with a body quickly fading, having all but shut down due to overwhelming infection and a massive lack of oxygen. But for my family ... my dad, mom, 2 brothers, grandmother, and close friends ... Dec 24th, 2003 was the worst.<br />
<br />
Then, 2am Christmas morning came. The most significant and joy filled phone call was received, <strong>"We've got lungs!"</strong> That was the beginning of life for me. By Christmas afternoon I had been made <em>new</em>. I was <em>restored</em>, <em>renewed</em>, transformed in a moment from death to life. The power of God displayed like I have never witnessed before. An unmistakable entrance into time from the Timeless Lord of all life!<br />
<br />
Do you see where this is going?<br />
<br />
Its kind of like it parallels Advent and the promise of Christmas! Where in the pain, agony, hurt, despair, loss of hope, and a general sense of being incomplete <em>GOD ACTED</em>! He intervened in the worst of all situations and circumstances ... Humanity who had turned its back on God, thus responsible for their own demise. He came into our pain and sorrow. He became our pain and sorrow for us, He is the Man of Sorrows.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>STOP!</strong></div>
<br />
Let it sink in ... Jesus, the Creator, the Son of God became the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief . The merciful and gracious Creator, submitted himself to humanity and was eventually murdered by the men He created. Its incomprehensible!!!<br />
<br />
But herein lies the promise of Advent ... for renewal, for a hope anchored in a greater reality than what we see. Its the promise of all being made new!<br />
<br />
It is because of the very horrors of Golgotha that I sit here today. It is because of the gruesomeness of the cross that I have two amazingly healthy lungs breathing - LIVING ABUNDANTLY - in my chest!<br />
<br />
It is with a very tangible sense of longing and desire to know Jesus, face-to-face, and to know God with the veil removed that we look back to the cross, to His life, to His ADVENT and rejoice. Rejoice because we know we live under the gracious hand of God, who does the impossible. The impossible?<br />
<br />
Life? No, He is good at that, but that is not the impossible! I can attest, as so many other people can, as Lazarus can! <br />
<br />
The impossible is an infinite God - in every capacity - limiting Himself with flesh, with my limitations and living thus without sin, so that He might redeem His good creation that is rebelling against Him still. That is the impossible, and He is good at that too!!!<br />
<br />
We also have a future hope, when He will once and for all make all things new and good. You cannot forget that!<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
Kind of flowing out of those thoughts, are thoughts about how grateful and full my heart is now. I am married! I am married to my best friend, an amazing women who adores me and puts up with all my health "issues" by choice. She said yes to me almost a year ago, fully aware of what she was getting into. If you don't know her, well that's your loss. She is my favorite and I love living and doing life with her. I am a rich, rich man because of the Lord's grace in my life through Meredith! I have parents and brothers and a sister-in-law who all love me, whom I all love as well. I am the most blessed man among men. I cannot tell you just how full my heart is!<br />
<br />
There is another family as well, one I've yet to meet. They are the parents and siblings of my donor. I love them. I want to tell them such, to show off to them all that God has done in my life. How they have blessed so many more lives than just my own, but oh how blessed my life is indeed. My heart hurts for you, with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. My heart breaks for you. Please know, I absolutely love you so much, and wish I could tell you in person. You are angels from God! If I meet you, I will bear hug you like I've never hugged anyone!<br />
<br />
So with that I will leave you with a <strong>Merry Christmas! </strong>I hope you will join me in celebrating the gift of lungs that Jesus provided for me nine years ago. But more than that, <strong>stop, </strong><strong>worship</strong> and <strong>celebrate</strong> Jesus, He is far more than "worth it." He is the best! He is the greatest and I love Him so much!<br />
<br />
May your heart be filled with hope, love, joy and peace of Jesus, the Great I AM, our Immanuel. Today, tonight, and always He is with us!<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas!Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-73787025876150434052012-12-13T11:23:00.002-06:002012-12-13T11:23:46.655-06:00Waiting
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<span style="font-family: Optima;">I wrote this a few days ago
as I was reading along with an Advent reading plan. These are the thoughts that
flowed out of that reading.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima;">Isaiah 11:1-10 </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima;">The contrast between
chapter 10:20-34 and 11:1-10 is rather stark. God is pronouncing judgment via
the Assyrians, assuring Israel that there will be destruction and yet a remnant
will remain. He promises that His indignation will relent. His anger will be
turned toward those who oppress Israel, as it was with Egypt and other enemies
of Israel. Chapter 10 comes to an end with a strong decree that God will wipe out Assyria
with might and sheer strength.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Optima;">Chapter 11 begins with
a tree shoot springing up from the root of Jesse, King David’s father. This One
will have God’s Spirit upon Him, to lead Him in wisdom and understanding, in
counsel and strength, and in the knowledge and fear of God. Not only will
the Spirit of God lead him in these things, but it will be His delight
(v1-3a)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Optima;">To those of us seeking to follow Christ ... By allowing the Spirit to lead, our hearts can be
opened to the mysterious and wondrous heart of God, so that our hearts become
aligned with His, our minds with His thoughts, and our ways as His are. It will
be as a delight to us. We will be made into a people upon whom the Spirit
of God can freely rest, thus our hearts will be transformed into delighting,
enjoying, longing, and desiring after God; We'll be made to walk how He says to out of love
and concern for us, to live as directed because it leads to fullness of life in
Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Optima;">The Branch is above superficial
judgment of the eye, by what meager words He hears (v3b). But rather by the righteousness
of God, He views the world and through that He judges. Yet, His concern is not
initially on the “sinners” and “vile,” but it mentions He will, with
righteousness, judge the poor (V4). The poor? As in materially poor, monetarily
poor, or poor in spirit (Matt 5:3)? (I am going with poor in spirit) He will judge the poor because they are unpretentious, broken and weak people who know their need.
These desire to be fixed and hold on to even the smallest thread of hope, that
the day is coming for all things to be undone and set in perfect order! These are the ones He comes for, </span><span style="font-family: Optima;"><span style="font-family: Optima;">because they are the ones who inherit the kingdom of God. </span>After this comes His judgment of the earth (v4-5).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Optima;">After judgment come
harmony, peace, newness and total restoration (v6-9)! No longer will the weak
be devoured, no longer will the defenseless be destroyed, no longer will the
lost be ashamed and led astray … NO LONGER will the fallenness of this world
wreak its havoc into every last sphere, insisting on upheaval of peace and
order, creating chaos, pain, hurt and remorse. NO LONGER will God sit by in long-suffering and patience as His
beautiful creation groans under the weight of the curse, longing with
anticipation and heart ache for the day when ALL IS MADE NEW! NO LONGER will
God postpone His burning white-hot judgment due for Satan, all of hell’s
demons, and darkness. No longer will God patiently watch as His bride is taken
advantage of both from the inside and outside. No longer will death, despair,
and brokenness prevail! Rather in that day, the ultimate realization of love,
peace, comfort, joy and completeness will be ushered in with great to do! In that
day we will all see our Savior, the wonderful and awesome Jesus whose throne
will be glorious (v10)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Optima;">That is the waiting and
longing of Advent!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Optima;">Merry Christmas!!! </span></div>
Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-9279209731271545422012-08-02T15:59:00.001-05:002012-08-02T15:59:49.507-05:00There was a time...Right now Mere and I are treading new territory. In a way its a repeat of long dormant trials and in other ways its all new.<br />
<br />
Three weeks ago, after seeing my PFT's (a breathing test I do to indicate level of lung function) drop twice consecutively, my doctors & I decided it was time for a bronch (to get lung biopsies). It did not go well, but they did find infection. We started treating the infection with oral & inhaled antibiotics. After two weeks I saw my doctors again; & my PFT's had not improved, moreover some kidney levels were off. They were so abnormal for me that we repeated labs to confirm they were actually my own labs. They were. Throughout that week (last week) labs were repeated making sure those numbers were correcting themselves. They were not. I drank and drank water to hydrate myself, to flush my system, to get these numbers down ... to no avail.<br />
<br />
Then I received the type of call thay last Friday nobody really cares to receive.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Friday, July 27th, 1:30 pm <br />
<br />
Me: Hello?<br />
Laura (lung transplant coordinator): Hi Adam, we need you to come to the hospital.<br />
Me: Okay, whats up?<br />
Laura: You're creatinine levels are still climbing. We need you to come in.<br />
Me: When, like now?<br />
Laura: Yeah, right now.<br />
Me: ...uh ...okay. I'll be headed that way shortly. Thanks, bye.<br />
Laura: Okay just come back to clinic. See you soon.<br />
Me: ?????????... <br />
<br />
End phone call.</blockquote>
Most people would assume I was just dehydrated, having been working in heat indices greater than 105 degrees. But if you had known I had downed 6 liters of water two days straight, you might change your mind. So for Mere, the doctors, & I; we all assumed I was not dehydrated, how could I have been?<br />
<br />
At clinic, Laura proceeds to use the words "systemic infection," at what time Mere & I heard "septic." Cue<i> FREAKOUT!!! </i>We both did a little. But Laura stated, "We THINK it MAY BE a sign of a systemic infection since we THINK you are hydrated." Still, hard not to hear some certainties amongst the uncertainties. So, I was promptly admitted, had an IV called a PICC line inserted in my arm (it can stay in for up to 6 weeks if needed). Once my room was ready they administered IV fluids and antibiotics. By now, we had spoken to my parents who had then decided to drive through the night to be with us. They are awesome.<br />
<br />
You must understand. I am healthy. If you met me today, you would not only not suspect, but never even know I am a transplant patient. I like it that way. Also, in 8 and 1/2 years since being transplanted, I have NEVER been sick ... at least not with it starting or even progressing to my lungs. So this is entirely abnormal! That is why I said this is new for me and my folks. This is definitely new for Mere as she has never known me to be sick at all ... not like this anyway. So, as my wife, she found all of this to be overwhelming. As I did too. But she is an amazing woman. She accepted it, and took it all in stride as each new bit of information became available. Friday afternoon and evening, we prayed and prayed and prayed and others who knew did too.<br />
<br />
Fast forward 5 days, I am now at home on IV antibiotics for the next three weeks. In a matter of a few hours, our house transformed into a make shift hospital, which is FAR better than a real hospital. So, in this since its old territory, like the days before transplant.<br />
<br />
So, now that I have said all that ... let me get to the meat of what I am thinking ...<br />
<br />
Tuesday was a hard day for Mere and I. In different and in similar ways I think. Adjusting to this is not easy. For me, its hard to shift back, recalling the bad times before transplant when I was actually sick, recalling the times when bad news was a frequent and normal occurrence. It is hard to break a health-oriented mentality and lifestyle. For Mere, it was a lot more than that. She was watching all this stuff happen like it was no big deal. To her it is a great big deal, understandably so! For her, all of this IV supplies around the house triggered a series of "What if's?" Those are hard to manage and mostly they paralyze one in fear. Then it got harder for me as I watched an innocent bystander - Mere, as she were - have to take all this crap upon herself and then be affected by it. This is not easy. It is not easy to watch my wife suffer on my behalf. So we both had some cries, and rightfully so.<br />
<br />
But we both in our own ways started internally working through it all. By day's end we were totally different people, so it seemed. We had our thoughts corrected and re-oriented. We see the blessing and grace of it all, straight from Jesus' gracious hand. We have & will continue to consider that God's wisdom is higher & different than our own. We know that trials work to change us us - when we persevere in them - a perfect completeness results (James 1:2-4). We also know that in Jesus all our request and all God's promises are yes (2 Cor 1:20), including the ones that tell us not to worry because He cares and provides for us all that we need.<br />
<br />
Even so, I am mindful of Solomon's wise words...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="text Eccl-3-1"><b>For everything there is a season</b>, and a time for every matter under heaven:</span> <br />
<div class="poetry top-1">
<div class="line">
<span class="text Eccl-3-2" id="en-ESV-17362">a time to be born, and a time to die;</span><span class="text Eccl-3-2"> </span></div>
<div class="line">
<span class="text Eccl-3-2">a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;</span><span class="text Eccl-3-3" id="en-ESV-17363"></span></div>
<div class="line">
<span class="text Eccl-3-3" id="en-ESV-17363">a time to kill, and a time to heal;</span><br />
<span class="text Eccl-3-3">a time to break down, and a time to build up;</span><span class="text Eccl-3-4" id="en-ESV-17364"></span></div>
<div class="line">
<span class="text Eccl-3-4" id="en-ESV-17364"><b>a time to weep, and a time to laugh</b>;</span><br />
<b><span class="text Eccl-3-4">a time to mourn, and a time to dance;</span></b><span class="text Eccl-3-5" id="en-ESV-17365"></span></div>
<div class="line">
<span class="text Eccl-3-5" id="en-ESV-17365">a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;</span><br />
<span class="text Eccl-3-5">a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;</span><span class="text Eccl-3-6" id="en-ESV-17366"></span></div>
<div class="line">
<span class="text Eccl-3-6" id="en-ESV-17366">a time to seek, and a time to lose;</span><br />
<span class="text Eccl-3-6">a time to keep, and a time to cast away;</span><span class="text Eccl-3-7" id="en-ESV-17367"> </span></div>
<div class="line">
<span class="text Eccl-3-7" id="en-ESV-17367">a time to tear, and a time to sew;</span><br />
<span class="text Eccl-3-7">a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;</span><span class="text Eccl-3-8" id="en-ESV-17368"></span></div>
<div class="line">
<span class="text Eccl-3-8" id="en-ESV-17368">a time to love, and a time to hate;</span><br />
<span class="text Eccl-3-8">a time for war, and a time for peace.</span></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
With this is mind, I am encouraged and confronted by truth. Its is okay to struggle with accepting something. There is a time and a place to struggle with difficult circumstances. There is a time to weep, to be sad, to be downcast ... but there is no time or place or reason to allow sadness to turn into sulking, self pity, and outright grumpiness due to one's circumstances. Likewise, on the flip side of sadness and mourning, there is a glorious and wondrous time of laughing & dancing ... ie: REJOICING.<br />
<br />
Q: But what is there for rejoicing in during trials of life? <br />
A: PLENTY!!!<br />
<br />
Paul nails this one on the head, leaving us with no excuses, when he says in Phil 3:1, "Finally, my brethren, <i>rejoice in the Lord</i>..." (my emphasis). <i>Finally</i> ... after all that he had written, after all the instruction in the preceding two chapters, he says we are to rejoice. I guess it could be perplaxing, a little ... coming from Paul; Mr. I have suffered <span class="text 2Cor-11-23" id="en-ESV-28996">"far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.</span> <span class="text 2Cor-11-24" id="en-ESV-28997">Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.</span> <span class="text 2Cor-11-25" id="en-ESV-28998">Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;</span> <span class="text 2Cor-11-26" id="en-ESV-28999">on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;</span> <span class="text 2Cor-11-27" id="en-ESV-29000">in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.</span> <span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001">And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches." (2 Cor 11:23-28)</span><br />
<br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001">WHAT!? Why is this guy telling us to rejoice? How is he in the middle of all his trials so jubilant? </span><br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001"><br /></span><br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001">I think it is more simple than I'd like it to be. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001">Its because Paul was content in the Lord beyond his circumstances. He found more joy in Christ, in communion and fellowship with Jesus than he did in life. He reveled more greatly in the truth of the gospel of Jesus than he counted his life valuable. He even says this earlier in Philippians. Paul not only was content, he rejoiced in Jesus, in the truth that in Him all things are made new; that a day is coming when Jesus will make all things right. In this we rejoice, that in Jesus we have found our "Yes" ... "Far as many are the promises of God, in Him they are yes" (2 Cor 1:20) .</span><br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001"><br /></span><br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001">So how did I get here? Because on Tuesday I went from being sad to sulking in self pity because I have an IV in my arm for three weeks, thus interfering with my perfect little world of self interest; to not only accepting my circumstances, but to rejoicing in them. There are many benefits to being told I cannot go back to work for a few days, to going through these passing trials ... </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001">... I get to be with my wife all day long, help get her classroom set up</span><br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001">... I have more time to rest = get well sooner</span><br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001">... I have more time to spend in the Word & in prayer</span><br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001">... I can sleep in some</span><br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001">... go to the beach</span><br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001"><br /></span><br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001">Plus more. But the point is that in the midst of trouble there is a lot of blessing. In the midst of trouble there is a calm that surpasses logic and rational thinking. Indeed the Lord does say, "</span><span class="verse-num" id="v46001025-1"></span>For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. ... Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Cor 1:25 & 31). Not too mention that we are over flowing with gratitude that the infection is minor in terms of what it could be, that I was only dehydrated, that my kidneys are happy again, that I have an amazing team of doctors who are smart and awesome. Not to mention that I have my best friend to be by my side at all times. Mere is my favorite. Not to mention that Jesus is perfecting us to more fully reflect His goodness and worth to a world around us who is in dire need of Him<br />
<br />
So, I'll end now. There was a timing for weeping and mourning. Its over. Now is the time for laughing and dancing.<br />
<br />
I hope you'll find in the trying times of your life that there is not only a time for weeping, but also a lot of time for laughter. The Lord is good, and in Him we find our yes and our rejoicing.<br />
<span class="text 2Cor-11-28" id="en-ESV-29001"><br /></span><br />
<br />Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-44196586971835091092012-06-08T12:24:00.004-05:002012-06-08T12:24:53.722-05:00Learning to liveIts not always easy learning to live. Sometimes its quite hard, for 10,000 different reasons.<br />
<br />
For some ,its learning to juggle too much, too many demanding forces, too few hours in the day, or pressures from inside ourselves and pressures from without. Some its getting a job, some its the insecurity of a present job, finances, and all of the uncertainty that life can throw at us.<br />
<br />
For some - for me - its learning to except where or rather <u><i>what</i></u> the Lord has called me to.<br />
<br />
But first, let me be absolutely clear, this is in NO WAY related to my marriage, our church, or city. I love my wife with my entire being and could never have asked the Lord for anything more in a wife. She is amazing and exactly the companion I need for my life, and I am exactly what she needs ... as far as needs can be met in another human. Ultimately we both depend on Christ. She is the apple of my eye, and the joy of my coming home in the afternoon (which has been strongly reinforced since she is currently out of town). She is my comfort and my home. The world settles when I'm with her ... and that is not an exaggeration. To come home to her is the one of the best parts of my life, ever!<br />
<br />
As for our church, well the Lord lead us to it in unquestionable fashion and quickly too. In fact I was attending before Mere was here with me. So when we were married and she moved up here with me, we jumped in with both feet. Our small group is our family here. They are awesome and diverse, bringing a lot to the table. They are the fellowship and community we prayed for.<br />
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As for our city, well we live at the beach! Need I say more? Really, I don't think I do.<br />
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<a href="http://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/hampton-roads/images/L_building2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/hampton-roads/images/L_building2.jpg" /></a></div>
As for me, well sometimes its the role I fill at my job. Mostly I enjoy my job. I will not say I love it, I don't really ever want to love my job. I'd rather love the living that happens outside of my job, the living that my job enables us to have (and Mere's job too!). I experienced this sense as soon as I began my current job and it reoccurs every-now-and-then. Its a feeling of thick purposelessness.<br />
<br />
I do not want to sound prideful or arrogant, but I think I have a good mind, sharp, and useful ... perhaps not the most, but nonetheless a strong, scientific oriented mind that I want to use. I do not like mindlessness, not all the time. There is too much time on any given day where I am simply not challenged. I think it is fair to say that a job should be fulfilling - not ultimate by any means - but hopefully it can be fulfilling in some mild capacity. Often, lately mine has not been. So I struggle ... sometimes a lot. (Perhaps here is where I deserve a sharp rebuke for my complaints about my job when many I know are in need of a job.)<br />
<br />
But several things come to mind, all of which I am very grateful for.<br />
<br />
First, is 1 Corinthians 7;17, "<i>Only let each person lead the </i>(specific & current)<i> life that the Lord has <b>assigned</b> to him, and to which God has <b>called</b> him </i>(for it is his place)<i>.</i>" This is not only reassuring but encouraging, because I can recall the very clear way the Lord lead me here to this job. But more than that, this job is not my life. It does happen to take up a lot of time I'd like to devote to other things, but that is not reality. This job is only a facet of my life. My life is reality is with my wife, with our church and community group ... my life is the relationships that I am involved in everyday. Relationships!, that is where value is found! That is where purpose is found as we grow in every relationships to see our God given purpose of exalting Him in each one, and leading others to grow in Christ. Even those at work ... which seem to be a lot harder. The parentheses above are my own input, correct or incorrect they fit with what I am reading and learning in the Scriptures.<br />
<br />
I am called to my current job. Perhaps lowly, perhaps mindless at times, perhaps a lot of things that I wish could be different. But it is the job the Lord has assigned and called me too, and it is a part of the life - the time, the place, the circumstances, the relationships - God has graciously given to me. So, I recall this verse from 1 Corinthians when needed.<br />
<br />
1 Cor 7:17 also leads to the part of His body that I serve as. Romans 12:3-8 states, "<i>For by the grace given to me I say to
everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to
think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure
of faith that God has assigned.<span class="vn"> </span>For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,<span class="vn"> </span>so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.<span class="vn"> </span>Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;<span class="vn"> </span>if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;<span class="vn"> </span>the one who exhorts,
in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who
leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." </i>The HR AREC needs a representative of Christ there, I am not the only one gratefully, but more is better is it not? I am assigned and called the AREC to serve Christ by representing Him faithfully to all I am in contact with in all that I do.<br />
<br />
TALK ABOUT VALUE & PURPOSE!!!! Just as God spoke to Adam and Eve saying, "Multiply and tend the garden," so God has spoken to me (more figuratively) to serve in the capacity I am currently in. I am bestowed with the high calling to bring about the Kingdom of God to the HR AREC, whatever that may look like. I am to be working to restore all things to Him, both people and the physical world with which I work so closely.<br />
<br />
Ultimately, these longings I feel for purpose are wrapped up in the person of Jesus Christ. He is my Savior and He is my life, whether I always act or believe that way. His gospel is the hope of all hopes, and when it comes right down to it, at these moments I must diligently with aid from the Holy Spirit preach the gospel to myself, for I so readily forget it.<br />
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Thankful for my lunch hour to work this out!!!<br />
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<br />Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-68085484126546903932012-05-30T07:51:00.002-05:002012-05-30T07:51:52.736-05:00A Deceitful Heart<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I am amazed by how troublesome our hearts prove to be. They can be sources of complete corruption & the darkest of evil. Consider the ever quoted Jeremiah 17:9, "<i><span class="text Jer-17-9" id="en-ESV-19367">The <b>heart is deceitful</b> above all things,</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Jer-17-9">and <b>desperately sick</b></span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Jer-17-9">who can understand it?</span></span></i>" Furthermore Jesus speaks saying, <i><span class="text Mark-7-20" id="en-ESV-24479"><span class="woj">“What comes out of a person is what defiles him.</span></span> <span class="text Mark-7-21" id="en-ESV-24480"><span class="woj">For from within,<b> out of the heart</b> of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,</span></span> <span class="text Mark-7-22" id="en-ESV-24481"><span class="woj">coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.</span></span> <span class="text Mark-7-23" id="en-ESV-24482"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum"></sup>All these evil things come from within, & they defile a person” </span></span></i><span class="text Mark-7-23" id="en-ESV-24482"><span class="woj">(Mark 7:20-23)</span></span><i><span class="text Mark-7-23" id="en-ESV-24482"><span class="woj"></span></span>. </i>I've experienced this in my own life, in my own heart and traversed some pretty dark places myself due to my own folly. I'll resound in praise with Paul when he says, <i>"<span class="text Rom-7-21" id="en-ESV-28097"></span><span class="text Rom-7-22" id="en-ESV-28098">For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,</span> <span class="text Rom-7-23" id="en-ESV-28099">but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind & making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.</span> <span class="text Rom-7-24" id="en-ESV-28100">Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?</span> </i><span class="text Rom-7-25" id="en-ESV-28101"><i><b>Thanks
be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!</b> So then, I myself serve the
law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin"</i> (Rom 7:22-25).</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
But recently, Mere & I, met some new friends who are incredibly deceived & blinded from <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%204:3-4&version=ESV">ear itching lies</a>. Its sad, frustrating, & absolutely astonishing to learn, to increasingly understand what it is they have come to believe. It is an absolute fraud! - Let me say, I'm going to stay vague about who & what I am exactly referring to, just so you know. - Its blasphemous & upsetting, it violates my love & pride in God, urges me to boast all the more fully to them & all about how great my Jesus is! He is hands down the best, you can bank your entire existence on that!!! He'll always prove faithful and good, and greater than you could ever imagine.</div>
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
My God - the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit - is the only ONE. There is none before or after Him, as is stated so plainly, <i>"<span class="text Isa-43-10">Before me no god was formed,</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-43-10">nor shall there be any after me.</span></span><span class="text Isa-43-11" id="en-ESV-18517"> I, I am the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, </span></i><span class="indent-1"><i><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span></i><span class="text Isa-43-11"><i>and besides me there is no savior"</i> (Isa 43:10-11, see also 41:4, 44:6, & 48:12; see Rev 22:13). And when someone - or a group or organization - proclaims that which is false, its must be met with truth in love.</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Isa-43-11"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Isa-43-11">If you happen upon this, pray that Mere and I will move forward in our new friendships with these folks in love and in bold truth, spoken with mercy and grace. Pray the Spirit will open their hearts and ears to hear and perceive all spiritual truth, that Christ is King and Savior their only and ultimate need. Pray we would be inspired by the Spirit when in conversation!</span></span></div>Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-80700627592738167202012-05-23T07:49:00.001-05:002012-05-23T07:49:41.572-05:00things God doesThere are things God does that are expected - not deserved - but perhaps expected, because I know His nature, how He is ... indeed I know Him b/c He has made me to know Him!<br />
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Then there are things God does that are so unexpected that it takes me by surprise like a slap in the face would ... a really great & welcome slap in the face. Perhaps these unexpected happenings increase as believers grow up in Christ, or perhaps they increase! I don't know, nonetheless He surprises me ... & on days like Tuesday, a lot!<br />
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I'll begin with Mere's day on Monday. She was stopped by another teacher at her school who commented upon the "sweet spirit" with which Mere carries herself. Mere' s response was to note it was the Holy Spirit in her, and the conversation went on from there as Mere met another believer at her school! What a great answer to prayer, especially after our conversation just before school that morning. He is so good, knowing that encounter was the encouragement Meredith needed.<br />
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Now, for my day from Tuesday. It began as I was trying to figure out some changes to my insurance coverage. I require a degree of extra medical care with all my "health issues," which are actually blessings from the Lord. Right now at work, I have the chance to adjust my coverage so I am taking advantage of this so that I can possibly transfer my lung transplant care to <a href="http://www.dukehealth.org/services/transplants/programs/lung/">Duke University</a>. On my current plan, Duke is not only out-of-network but not even covered by my plan. Boo! So, I was planning on changing to have out-of-network coverage. It'd be more expensive per month and per visit to see them but worth it since they are top in the nation for lung transplant care!<br />
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However, as it turns out, I can switch my insurance coverage to a different provided through the plans offered by my employer, without having to upgrade my plan (ie: increase my premiums)!!! I am - already have - switched my coverage to a different company for the basic coverage and now Duke is in-network and I am will not be paying an unnecessary premium increase for it!!!<br />
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All this is to say ... I had asked several people to join in praying with me that the Lord would work it out for my insurance changes to be effective ... and little did I know that He'd blow my mind and show how gracious He is to honor a little faith! Not only was it effective, but I will not be spending any more money than I have been!!! This is huge!!! I mean, we are not loaded or anything, so saving $360 a year is great news!!!<br />
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I have to consider, this is a taste of life in the Lord's kingdom, where the unexpected should become the expected, not because I deserve these blessings, but because we serve a God who is big and good! He is the God who said, "<span class="text 1Cor-1-20" id="en-ESV-28367"><i>Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?</i></span><i> <span class="text 1Cor-1-21" id="en-ESV-28368">For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the</span><span class="text 1Cor-1-21" id="en-ESV-28368"> folly of what we preach to save those who believe.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-1-22" id="en-ESV-28369">For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,</span> <span class="text 1Cor-1-23" id="en-ESV-28370">but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,</span> <span class="text 1Cor-1-24" id="en-ESV-28371">but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.</span><span class="text 1Cor-1-25" id="en-ESV-28372"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-1-25" id="en-ESV-28372">For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." </span></i><span class="text 1Cor-1-25" id="en-ESV-28372">(1 Cor 20-25). Things is the kingdom might just be a little backwards from how we tend to think they should be!</span><br />
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<span class="text 1Cor-1-25" id="en-ESV-28372">So in all this, let me in accord with Paul state, "</span><span class="text 1Cor-1-31" id="en-ESV-28378"><i>Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord!</i>” He is good and He is worthy!</span>Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-44581640790793993022011-12-01T09:12:00.003-06:002011-12-01T09:16:55.689-06:00Thanksgiving in the Sky<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Are we still an awe-inspired race? Are you a human being with a sense of “amazement” about you, a sense of “wow,” a feeling of wonder?</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It is easy not to be. But at times I am reminded of my own ability to be awe-struck; for what could be considered “common-place” to still strike at my heart, and fill me up to the brim with wonder like a young boy watching massive earth-moving equipment, or a space shuttle launching, or men in heavy suits running into a burning building. I know the feeling because I used to be that little boy. At times I still am, and now at times I am the one driving those machines (albeit they are not quite “massive”).</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You see, I was flying home for Thanksgiving to Birmingham, where are my fiancé, my family, my future in-laws, and friends. The point is not actually that I was awe-inspired that I get to see them, although I was supremely thankful (But I was also excited to see them, especially my fiancé, but my family too!). It was the flying that had me thinking along these lines. You see, from the day I first experience flying until now ... I get giddy like a child the night before Santa comes. I was giddy like the night when I was 9 years old and my family and I were flying to Maine the next day to celebrate my 10th birthday with family at a cabin my grandparents used to own. That night I, slept in the very clothes I was going to be wearing on the plane the next day!!! My older brother made fun of me. Ha. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Thats the kind of inspiration I am talking about. Its an excitement to be felt in the depth of who you are, at the core of your being. Granted, I did not sleep the night before traveling home for Thanksgiving in what I wore while traveling, but I was excited about my travels. And as best as it could have been, I had a window seat! I am so thankful for little things like that. I sat next to this really kind and loving young couple, who were clearly in love (not in a gross PDA kind of way, but in a good flirty kind of way). It was just a nice flight.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We took off through a thick layer of clouds, it was stormy and overcast that morning in Virginia Beach. Before we pierced through the clouds, I could see as far as forever ... and there the sun was breaking through in majestic fashion, with its striking rays of light warming the earth below. Then the clouds, like a white out. Then the sun and bright, perfect, spotless blue skies, with the thickest, most cotton-like layer of clouds below you could imagine! It honestly reminded me a of sea, rolling gently with waves ... I could really almost see it rise and fall. It was ... awe-inspiring!</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And of course I would be far out of place to go on and on about the beautiful creation I witnessed from a bird’s eye view, without mentioning and raving on about the God who created it all!!! Its amazing ... because He is amazing. It is awe-inspiring because He is awe-inspiring. Its the truth. Consider David’s own proclamation of God’s handiwork, “<i>The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.</i>” (Ps 19:1-2) This is the absolute end of creation, the magnification of its Creator. As we rose above the clouds, all I could do was look with child-like wonder and thank my God for such a demonstration of himself.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And then I did it all over again from Atlanta to Birmingham, and I have no problem with that. The flight does not get old. I truly enjoy them. I am like a kid when I am around planes, I am awe-struck. Ask Meredith. She has flown with me and knows how I can be. I always mention something about how amazing it is that we climb into a hunk of metal, use the air to propel us forward and upward and before we know it, we are moving through the skies and the heavens at 100’s of miles per hour. ... WHAT??? I know, it is so insane. And then to think we often do not bat an eye about FLIGHT, but instead complain! We should all be ashamed of ourselves for loosing our sense of wonder. I am when I do.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And if this is not enough to be amazed with, consider what David says later in Psalm 19, “<i>Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent form hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD , my rock and my redeemer.</i>” ... Basically what David just said is that as a human being, he is not even aware of all of his faults and in order to be blameless and holy before the Lord he (all of us) are dependent upon the Lord to enlighten our dimmed vision to see where we may stumble both known and unknown, both willingly and unknowingly. We need a God - a SAVIOR - who is so gracious, that he will be willing to keep us from destroying ourselves!!! If He keeps us and warns us, guides in righteousness then our meditations and words and lives will be pleasing and honoring to Him. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">THAT IS AMAZING. It is also all we need to be thankful, not that we don’t have countless blessing to be thankful for too.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So, stay awe-struck and be thankful. Happy belated Thanksgiving.</span></span></div>Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-56038759693051744242011-10-09T12:03:00.000-05:002011-10-09T12:03:19.548-05:00There's No Menthol in HeavenI might be taking some liberties here, but humor me for a few moments.<br />
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Two days ago, my throat was sore. Yesterday, I lived on cough drops as my achy throat grew increasingly sore & raw feeling. This morning, I thought I was going to fall over dizzy when I first woke up as my sore throat turned into a full blown sinus infection. <i>O joy!</i><br />
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Head full of gross gunk? - ✓<br />
Outrageous sinus pressure? - ✓<br />
Dizziness? - ✓<br />
Etc, etc, etc? - ✓<br />
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So, its menthol to the rescue!!! One of the best homeopathic treatments for a cold/sinus infection is what I call a <i>head steam</i>!!! Its fantastic. You need...<br />
<ul><li>Menthol/Camphor rub</li>
<li>Eucalyptus leaves</li>
<li>Evergreen needles (I have used eastern red cedar needles, pine needles, etc)</li>
<li>Large pot</li>
<li>Stove</li>
<li>Water</li>
<li>Towel </li>
</ul>Heat the water up, once heated keep it on <i>low</i>! Add the first 3 ingredients, drape the towel over your head and your head & towel over the pot. Then enjoy the powerful vapors rushing through your heard, clearing everything out!<br />
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However, as good as this is, it is truly not that great.<br />
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What is <i><b>great</b></i>, is Christ's promises spoken through Paul when he declares, "<i>But our citizenship is in heaven, & from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,<b> who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body</b>, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself</i>" (Phil 3:20-21). Also see 1 Corinthians 15:42-49!!!<br />
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Not that a glorified & perfect body is ultimate, I think it is far from ultimate, but it is a joyous promise. In heaven, having received a body that is made like Jesus' eternal & glorious body, there will be no stupid sinus infections, no sickness, no disease, no death!!!* And if there is not those things, there will be no need for menthol!!!<br />
<blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: The only way I can figure there would be menthol in heaven is if it enhances the eternal pleasure of the saints ... but seeing that we will have Jesus, face to face .... I have my doubts. </span></blockquote>Thus, there will be no menthol in heaven!<br />
Just saying.<br />
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*I know this could possibly sound trivial to some, to think a puny sinus infection spurred on this dramatic lamenting for my restored heavenly body. But I trust, if you know me, then you know there is a background to this far greater than a meager sinus infection (even though I do feel pretty lousy). I know there are those who are suffering in ways I never dare to imagine. I know there are families in great anguish as cancer & other terminal illnesses grip ever-tighter around a loved one. I know there are those who are physically handicapped, stricken all their lives, desiring to be able to walk & run freely, yet cannot. I know there are those who are mentally handicapped, who they themselves will undergo some of the most dramatic restorations we dare to imagine!!! In that coming day, I rejoice!!! So, please do not think I am ignorant or unmindful of those in much more dyer circumstances than my own, I am. This is just where my thoughts meandered this morning as I lay in bed, hung my head over a menthol steam, etc.Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-3244794608076127732011-09-23T08:04:00.001-05:002011-09-23T08:07:51.955-05:00At what cost?Reading has got to be one of God's greatest gifts to man. Not only because of His written word, the Bible, but also because of the 100's of other books of great value that add a lot of needed perspective for this limited-sighted American (me).<br />
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The book? A classic in Christian biography ... <i>God's Smuggler</i>, the tale of Brother Andrew and post WWII behind the Iron Curtain.<br />
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The following excerpt is Brother Andrew's assessment of a Kingdom couple (Abraham & wife) who had willingly and joyfully given up everything in communist Bulgaria, in the late 1950 or early 60's, for the sake of the glory and kingdom of Christ in a time when to be Christian was outright blasphemy against the "State."<br />
<blockquote><i>It was 2 hours including the rest stops for us, before we rounded a rocky ledge, stepped behind a screen of wind-twisted pines, and were standing in front of the goatskin tent where Abraham lived. He looked more than ever the Biblical patriarch as he welcomed us to his home. In a moment his wife had stepped outside, as composed as though visitors were dropping into their mountain hide-away every day. She was as tiny as her husband was big, a slender erect little woman with skin like wrinkled parchment. Only their eyes were alike, blue, childlike, trusting. I looked at this woman who had once had a house replete with rugs, cupboards, linens - servants, probably, for they had been well-to-do - and though that I had never seen a face more content with what life had brought</i> (pg164).</blockquote>This is why I was so struck by this particular paragraph, outside of the unimaginable consequence they were facing as Christians. Recently - yesterday - I signed papers for what is to become mine and Meredith's home. We are so excited, and so so grateful for all the provision that has preceded this moment so that we can afford a home in Virginia Beach. More than that, on our fairly modest budget (by relative standards) we are getting a lot of house - that is not bragging unless it be bragging on behalf of the Lord's grace toward us.<br />
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I guess what gets me, is that as Mere and I talked about what we want verse need in a house, our standards from the get go were fairly high. And here, these warriors from the past are showing me that even what we need, is not what we think. I am not saying that just because they lived in a goatskin tent, that Mere and I should, or anyone else for that matter ... because the point is not what we choose to live in or with, but how we submit and follow the Lord. I just know, based on what we both want in our home (which, the Lord provided more than our wants even), that it would be hard to lose the little we have and move into a goatskin tent on the side of mountain for the sake of the Lord's work. It just is a massive dose of perspective in a world with less and less true perspective.<br />
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Having said that, we have high high hopes that what has been provided for us - our incomes and home, talents and time - that we will honor the Lord greatly and that our home will shine as a house where all are welcome, where the hungry get fed, the weary find rest, and whatever else. And those are not just cliché phrases, I mean that. I desire to find the balance of opening our home to those in need, for the sake of the name of Christ. That is, we both want to be good stewards of what the Lord has provided.<br />
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So I ask myself, what I am willing to give up for the sake of the Lord? Will I follow Him wherever - EVERY WHERE - He might take our family? What about you?Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-83568707604732091592011-09-18T20:06:00.000-05:002011-09-18T20:06:33.213-05:00I don't have a dream!What an absurd statement that would be. I would rebuke you for such a declaration; & I hope you would me.<br />
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As I am beginning this new phase of life ... there is this drawn out beginning of about 4 months ... a new phase that includes a "real life" job, "real life" responsibilities, & marriage. Its safe to say that its a new phase. Anyway, as I transition into it, I am mindful of the question, "What are my dreams? ...What is the most outlandish, crazy, & farfetched dream I have?" That's been in my head & heart a lot recently. I guess change stirs everything up again. I am okay with that!<br />
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These thoughts also make me mindful of one of my favorite quotes of all time, "<i>Care more than some think is wise; Risk more than some think is safe; DREAM more than some think is practical; Expect more than some think is possible.</i>" This phrase strikes a the core of my being in ways I do not know how to explain.<br />
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As for dreaming, I think I have lost some of my ability to dream the impossible. My imagination is diminished, to a degree. I think reality can do that. That is why we must get out & find adventure, come face to face with risk, & push the limits of the status quo. When I say adventure, I mean action-packed, on-the-edge of your seat, life-giving adventure! Get out & rock climb, be intimidated by the height & then laugh in its face, climb a mountain, play in waves that scare you, ride you bike too far one way knowing you have the same distance still to go to get home, run until your legs give out, serve the unserved, love the unloved. Do stupid things - with in reason. Go streaking or skinny dipping, I don't care ... DO SOMETHING! I say these things, because they break the pattern of what we have come to tamely call "reality," or "life." These things give life. They are practical, & tangible. I think it helps to awaken our souls to the dreams God has given us that are hopefully much, much larger than we are ... dreams need be grandiose & ridiculous!<br />
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So, I commit to as often as I can, finding a source of adventure & taking advantage of it. <br />
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I am 100% convinced that we are each given a dream bigger than ourselves, & if that be they case it means we each have a purpose bigger than ourselves. Now, I have what may sound like a simple answer, maybe even cliché ... but that is because we don't fully understand (I am included in that). The only thing beyond us is God. He made it that way. The God-sized dreams of life are because He is the author of them, & has invited us to share in living out those dreams as He makes the impossible happen. If He is the author, than our purpose is to display His ability to make the impossible, the impractical happen. In short, our purpose is to glorify God, by being agents of His glory in Jesus Christ.<br />
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So I am fully convinced that big & over-the-top dreams are a necessity of life ... otherwise we get molded into some hum-drum routine. I am not down with that. So, maybe you're thinking, "Well, you have all this high & lofty talk of dreams, what are yours?" If you were thinking, thanks for asking.<br />
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I have had two magnificent dreams for probably the last 10 years, & they've yet to change.<br />
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First & foremost, I have ambitions & dreams of being overseas engaging a world longing to meet its Creator, with its Creator; ambitions of being used in some meager or magnificent way of spreading the Kingdom of Christ, of how He invites people to join Him in His unusual means of conquest...love, grace, mercy, holiness, & justice. It is inevitable & drawing nearer with each passing day, that He will make it happen. So I want to be about it, both here In Virginia Beach & there ... wherever "there" is.<br />
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An unbearably close second to that is to have a my own family. You may think these are small dreams, but I have a different take. What amazes me most, is that I am participating in this second one coming to fruition, right before my very eyes! I've met, dated, & engaged my soon-to-be-wife & as I have told her often, as much as I asked from the Lord for "the girl he had for me," I did not ask enough ... because I got a lot more goodness & amazing-ness than I ever knew to ask for. She is amazing, an answer to a long prayed prayer, & perfect. I think that right there is to dream more than some think practical. Because what I know is this ... there is nothing even remotely logical, or explicable about two sinners joining their life together & expecting it to go well. We are both too selfish, left to our own devices that is...THAT IS NOT PRACTICAL. Yet, we are convinced by God's everlasting love & the covenant of grace we have with Him in Christ, that He will provide more than sufficiently what we need to be a living example of that very covenant, the one Christ made for His bride, the Church. So the soon-to-come day when we both say "I do," its not an option, we will have covenanted with each & before God, & are therefore dedicated to each other for life.<br />
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We will join our lives together as one, to pursue what extravagant & outlandish dream He has for us as a family, both while here in Virginia Beach & there, wherever "there" is. I am set for adventure, for I believe that I am the follower of a wild, & untamed God who is far to creative to let me be bored in life; because He calls you and me to be completely abandoned and recklessly His, releasing the care of self into His control, and then we are free to be use by Him.Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-67460726576302186292011-09-14T20:47:00.000-05:002011-09-14T20:47:28.771-05:00Starting AdulthoodThree weeks ago I asked the 10 year old son of a friend of mine, "How old do you have to be to be an adult?" His answer surprised me. He said 20. We all laughed because he took about a minute or two to think it over, and answer with a question "20?"<br />
<br />
Good thing for me, he is wrong. Adulthood begins when you start paying for everything. In my case, by God's grace that has not happened until now. I am aware of how fortunate (and spoiled) that makes me. But my folks are the most gracious and giving people I know, so they have been so good to me to "help me out" these 25 years.<br />
<br />
But adulthood has officially been reached when you begin to pay for everything. It begins when you start working a legit 8-5 job, and realize how much you took for granted all the free time of the college years (and maybe a year or more afterward too). I have realized how much my dad has given of himself day in and day out, for longer than I have been alive to provide the kind of life I had growing up. Granted, all we - the Sleepers - have is because Christ secured all blessings at the cross, both eternal and temporal, tangible and invisible alike. But that does not mean my dad has not worked hard and diligent for many years to provide for us in the way he has/does/will.<br />
<br />
It also goes to show me how much he must have given of himself, not just the hours and sometimes the really long hours, but the setting aside of self to meet the needs and more often than that the wants of his family. I cannot remember once where his desires superseded the family as a whole. Not once. My mom, brothers, and myself have always said, "He is the most giving and generous person I know." that statement was true then, but now, O BOY! Now it rings with new depth of meaning and significance, because as I sit here I am constantly thinking how I can even now less than 4 months from marrying Meredith, I am thinking how am I going to best provide for her? How will I tangibly and really put her first, ahead of me every single time?Not just in the theoreticals and hypotheticals.<br />
<br />
And that is when I recall I have two examples, no make that three. I have my dad, who has been married to my mom for 35 or 36 some odd years. I have my older brother, who has been married to Brooke for 4 and 1/2 years, and I also have CHRIST and the CHURCH. One of those stands tall above the other two, you figure it out.<br />
<br />
So, as I begin my adulthood phase of life, I am excited, a bit stressed out (trying to get this new life up and running), a bit anxious with anticipation of all the new coming my way tomorrow, next week, in November, and especially in January. But not so anxious about January, just thrilled out of my mind!<br />
<br />
So, how old do you have to be to be an adult? ... I hope there is no set age, because I don't ever want to grow up fully ... you know, I still want to have some child-like playfulness about in the next 60 years.Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-16748324156952646122011-09-10T22:45:00.000-05:002011-09-10T22:45:26.052-05:00Some DaysSome days are deceitful.<br />
Or perhaps its the depravity of my heart that makes me feel this way.<br />
<br />
Today began with me joining up with some men from a local church that one of my co-workers goes to. He invited me. The breakfast was good, the fellowship uplifting, and the Word was brought in a big way!<br />
<blockquote>Sidenote - I have had basically zero fellowship with the Body of Christ Jesus since moving here, mainly for reasons out of my control (hurricane one week, 1/2 marathon blocking the street week two). So this hour or two was more than past due. It seemed to me to be a bit of a small taste of a land flowing with milk and honey. It was sweet. It was thirst quenching, life-giving, and inspiring. Further, it was re-enlightening as to why we - the Body, the Bride of Jesus our Lord and Savior - have each other; why the Body exists! Ultimately, we exist to give glory to our heavenly Father who is worthy of our praise. Second, the Church exists to make us useful for the sake of Christ. Alone, I flounder, struggle, and eventually wind up stagnant. That is why we need the Church.</blockquote><br />
Back on topic - why some days seems deceitful...<br />
<br />
That breakfast set the tone for my day. Most of it, until one particular moment. Circumstances do not really matter - as much as I'd like to gripe and complain about them - its not good, or worth it. But due to certain circumstances I was unable to watch the 2nd half of the Auburn game ... and was in fact interrupted early through the 2nd quarter. Well, I was in a terror trying to find a place to watch the game. I had by this time already been sucked deep into the grip of SEC and more importantly Auburn football.<br />
<br />
The interruption basically let loose from inside of me, a side of me I despise. And there it is ... the day is not so deceitful as my heart is. For my heart can rejoice and be jubilant in the Good News of Jesus one hour (one moment) and turn right back around and curse the ground, the air, whatever is nearest because I cannot watch some <i>precious</i> game. I can wake up and feel the weekend freedom and infinitely more the freedom in the Gospel; and then reject it all to be accosted by my own self-involvement.<br />
<br />
In that little instance, my whole day changed. MY plans were interrupted. Bam. Done. I was pissed and remained that way for a long time. Talk about living in the flesh, sometimes it would seem the old man is alive and well, and not so old.<br />
<br />
And even now as I sit here, that one instance is still not out of my mind, far from it. My perspective on it is increasingly right, but I am still battling my feeling of embitterment. Still battling the disrespectful comments running through my mind. Still praying for grace to choose forgiveness, to choose mercy and grace in light of grace and mercy bestowed. Its actually amazing.<br />
<br />
As you might imagine, I do not feel like a million bucks right now. Far from it. I feel like a failure, and my pride is hurt by my own failure to keep up with my own expectations of myself, as if I am not as in desperate need of the Gospel as I actually am.<br />
<br />
So, I am going back to this morning in my mind, in my heart, and in the Word. Colossians baby! ... What matters? A fleeting football game some kids are playing ... or this, "<i>HE is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by HIM all thing were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through HIM and for HIM. And HE is before all things, and in HIM all things hold together. And HE is the head of the body, the church. HE is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything HE might be preeminent. For in HIM all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through HIM to reconcile to HIMSELF all things whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of HIS cross.</i>" (Col 1:15-20).<br />
<br />
I am going to say #2 matters more, and most. That's where I must find myself...at the cross with all my nothingness to offer, with open arms to accept the everything HE gives.Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-66270574466132229002011-08-24T09:38:00.000-05:002011-08-24T09:38:45.948-05:00Does this make me a Hokie, cause I feel like a tiger.Yesterday, in 13 hours, I left a life in Birmingham AL that I have known for 10 years, for a new life in Virginia Beach, VA. The only word I have for it is surreal. Simply put, it does not seem real.<br />
<br />
Being married to Meredith in four months seems more real to me, than actually being in Va Beach ... for good, not just for a trip. I am here to stay. Its bizarre. My family and I moved to five different cities growing up, but its been a long time since I have permanently relocated, so I've grown a bit unfamiliar with the feelings associated with such changes. But it is <i>good</i>; its good because I am bought and loved by a <i>good</i> God. He does all things well. In Genesis he rejoiced at the <i>good</i> work of His hands in creation. Each new day passed and He proclaimed to a universe reverberating with His glory, "IT IS <i>GOOD</i>!" This is not surprising, because He was simply - yet in no unmistakable fashion - declaring with absolute certainty what is true of Himself, of His character. That He is <i>good</i>.<br />
<br />
Thus reason and logic would lead me here ... This is also <i>good</i>. I'd even say <i>great</i>! Which leads me to ask, "Why the mixed feelings?" The answer is simply, with multiple facets.<br />
<br />
I had to say goodbye to the girl I love, the girl I am head over heels for, my fiancé. Show me a guy who has to leave his fiancé for a time who is not grieved and with a heavy heart, and I'll show you a guy who does not love her well or right.<br />
<br />
I had to say goodbye to my mom and dad and little brother, who I have had the pleasure to living with for the last year, albeit unexpected.<br />
<br />
I had to say goodbye to friends I love, even to friends who recently moved to the area that I've known since living in Auburn.<br />
<br />
I dropped everything I've grown to know and love all for a new location, new job, new friends, new culture. It may come as a surprise, but the culture of Birmingham AL and Virginia Beach, VA are NOT the same. Sorry, I am not trying to sound like some martyr or something, this is just the flow of thoughts in my head and heart right now.<br />
<br />
BUT ... I am excited. I have not doubt this will be a <i>good</i> place, a <i>good</i> life. Christ has poured blessing upon blessing out and grace upon grace over me, to give me the desires of my heart. So I am moving forward, praying that I keep this mindset and to press on to live the best life I can. I feel almost like I've been given the chance to start over, or at least again. ... I feel as though I am running full steam ahead, in light of God's blessing to the next phase of life. And its very exciting.<br />
<br />
I guess I just have one question. Since I am going to be working for Virginia Tech - starting tomorrow - does this make me a Hokie? 'Cause I feel like a Tiger! (And I know my answer to that one too).Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-40345099626113321022011-08-21T23:23:00.000-05:002011-08-21T23:23:39.143-05:00happeningsThere are many happenings to report. The happenings are all a reflection of God's grace, providence, and provision overflowing my cup. Its His love in my life, and it is all for His glory.<br />
<br />
Good things happen to lousy people. I can testify to this. My life is living evidence of this. Why lousy? The Bible explains this in great detail. ...<br />
<br />
In my own natural state, I hate God - the Creator, Sovereign, and Father of all men - in my natural state - left to my own devises - I hate Him. Why? Because in my natural state I love self more. Thus I am well acquainted with the crowd who cried "Crucify! Crucify!" that dark day years ago, as my God saw it best to raise up the only perfect and only righteous Man the world has ever known upon a rugged cross of wood, so that my wrath, your wrath, all wrath due to all men from a holy and just God would be lain upon Jesus' shoulders. He bore in 3 hours, what you and I could never pay in an eternity in hell. In doing so, He lived the life I could never live and died the death I deserve to die. In it all, He made me His own.<br />
<br />
Therefore good things - check that - great & marvelous things happen to lousy people, because I know the Gracious God of all who pours out undue blessing, because He loves me to extents I will never be able to explain. All I know, is blessings overflow. A lot.<br />
<br />
Happenings...<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Jan 21st 2011 - Meredith and I start dating (a strong testament to God's grace in and of itself since she is way - WAY - out of my league).</li>
<li>May 2011 - What appeared to be a secure future employment opportunity fell through. Vanished.</li>
<li>June 2011- I began to hunt for a real job, or as a friend called it, "a big boy job" ... It was not a bright prospect in this economy, as I soon found out.</li>
<li>July 14th 2011 - I received a call from folks at Virginia Tech, desiring to set up a webcam interview ... 15 minutes later I got an email from some folks in Missouri about flying me to their operation for an interview ... think: FREAKOUT!!!!</li>
<li>July 18th - Interview with Va Tech</li>
<li>July 21st - 6 month dating anniversary with Meredith!</li>
<li>July 23-24th 2011 - Initial trip to MO for an interview.</li>
<li>July 31 August 1st 2011 - Traveled to Va Tech for round two interview</li>
<li>August 2-3rd 2011 - Meredith and I fly to MO again for round two of interviews.</li>
<li>Shortly after these two trip the Lord opened doors for the Va Tech position to be the one I accepted.</li>
<li>AUGUST 5TH 2011- the woman of my dreams - or beyond my dreams said YES to MARRYING me!!! Meredith and I are engaged and set to be married in January 7th 2012 ... 50 weeks to the day of when we started dating.</li>
<li>And now it is August 21st, and in 31 hours or so I am set to leave Birmingham AL and move myself to Virginia Beach, VA ... for a while to come I imagine, and soon thereafter Mere will join me as we are married, and we begin our life together .. and i cannot wait!!!</li>
</ul><div>Life has just happened. Its been a whirlwind & the ride has been amazing. All things consider, they have left me in need of catching my breath, because its been taken time & again this year as the Lord has shown Himself to be more & more amazing. And still in some sense, I know I am just at the tip of the iceberg, of God's great & amazing nature, and of life itself.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Moving forward, all I can think is, "I cannot wait! Let's do this!"</div><br />
<br />
Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-53204400084749355452011-05-27T00:59:00.000-05:002011-05-27T00:59:03.797-05:00day tripsJust wanted to throw it out there ... day trips are totally under-rated & need to be taken more seriously, & enjoyed more frequently! They are treated like the red-headed step child of weekend/week long backpacking trips, & are generally neglected. Even sometimes given a bad wrap.<br />
<br />
Mere is done teaching for the year tomorrow!... So day trips are in store!<br />
<br />
Little River Canyon? - Check<br />
Sipsey? - Check<br />
Desoto Falls? - Check<br />
Cheaha? - Check<br />
Locust Fork? - Check<br />
<br />
Shall I go on? Those are just a few places I want to take her! I cant wait!<br />
<br />
Day trip, I salute you & look forward to our coming days together!<br />
<br />
I am sure there'll be some pics to go along with some hopefully awesome stories!Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-42032165446977243362011-05-25T14:17:00.000-05:002011-05-25T14:17:32.382-05:00PastI am very mindful today, that when the past haunts, all we have - for those who have found their all-in-all and their certain, unwavering hope in Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior - is the hope of tomorrow, the hope of a future, & the hope of eternity where all faces, long streaked with tears, are forever tear-free & all the entangling aches & pains of yesterday are totally erased because all that will be before us is the glory of Christ Jesus, fully revealed in complete & full glory!<br />
<br />
The pain of the past drives me to the foot of the cross of Christ, where all my hopes are (& must continually be), because as the pain of the past reminds me, I am a very fallen, desperate man capable of great sins, & therefore in need of a greater Savior! Thus, the Good News is the Gospel, because Jesus' capacity to forgive is greater than my capacity to sin - past, present, or future!<br />
<br />
And so, as I consider the past, pushing on for today & tomorrow, in the words of the Avett Brothers, "Maybe I don't have to be good but I can try to be at least a little better than I've been so far" ... with the idea that the Christian life is not one of absolute perfection, although that is the desired end, but today & tomorrow are holy direction, not holy perfection. I am mindful of Paul's exhortation to push on past what is behind, striving to lay hold of whats ahead, "forgetting what lies behind & straining forward to what lies ahead."<br />
<br />
Christ lies ahead! My eyes, my hopes are set on Him alone.Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-41709050710468118732011-05-15T15:06:00.000-05:002011-05-15T15:06:33.268-05:00El Jardin {parte dos}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The garden is slow to show lots of progress. Here is a bit of a check list...</div>El jardin es lenta para mostrar el progresso. Pero, aqui esta un lista de las vegetales con el progresso.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicImqW8QHhLVErRKzxE1aiadiIFT1q18BRWd07JQKyQiX8jWgUZCBirgT4WWXfSf4vesZBeNk6BjHZxq53kx1H8HOxrkvaSB1vSMvBM6mitHK9aa3aqzZK7nezwNNwFt-1JV4gf2wdAmA/s1600/P5150881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicImqW8QHhLVErRKzxE1aiadiIFT1q18BRWd07JQKyQiX8jWgUZCBirgT4WWXfSf4vesZBeNk6BjHZxq53kx1H8HOxrkvaSB1vSMvBM6mitHK9aa3aqzZK7nezwNNwFt-1JV4gf2wdAmA/s320/P5150881.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first radish!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><ul><li><strong>Radishes/Rabano:</strong> great, almost ready to harvest {son bueno, casi lista para cosechar}.</li>
<li><strong>Green beans/Frijoles verde:</strong> look good & are growing, no beans yet {estan creciendo, no hay frijloes todavia}.</li>
<li><strong>Summer squash/Calabaza {?}: </strong>a degree of yellowing , but we're working on that, no fruit yet {esta amarillo, no hay frutas ahora}.</li>
<li><strong>Basil</strong> & <strong>Cilantro/Albaca y Culantro:</strong> these were both re-sown, they are coming up prolifically now {los dos se volvieron a sembrar, hay un montone de estos}!</li>
<li><strong>Green onions/Cebollas verde:</strong> initially we sowed these & transplanted them ({hey're so delicate/estan muy delicado}. Meredith & I sowed more in a permanent spot in the garden <strong>{</strong>al principo sebramos estos y transplantarlas, <span class="hps" closure_uid_z3u8fr="786" title="Click for alternate translations">hemos</span> <span class="hps" closure_uid_z3u8fr="787" title="Click for alternate translations">sembrado</span> <span class="hps" closure_uid_z3u8fr="788" title="Click for alternate translations">más</span> <span class="hps" closure_uid_z3u8fr="789" title="Click for alternate translations">de</span> <span class="hps" closure_uid_z3u8fr="790" title="Click for alternate translations">un</span> <span class="hps" closure_uid_z3u8fr="791" title="Click for alternate translations">lugar</span> <span class="hps" closure_uid_z3u8fr="792" title="Click for alternate translations">permanente</span> <span class="hps" closure_uid_z3u8fr="793" title="Click for alternate translations">en</span> <span class="hps" closure_uid_z3u8fr="794" title="Click for alternate translations">el jardín}</span><strong>.</strong></li>
<li><strong></strong><strong>Tomatoes/Los tomates:</strong> our original round of tomatoes just kind of crapped out {both those we transplanted & those we did not}. go figure. we re-sowed these as well I guess we'll let them mature a bit more before we transplant them this time {los primeros tomates no son buenos, volvemos a la sembro tambien}.</li>
<li><strong>Okra/Okra:</strong> its just kind of there. not much growth {simlpemente, estan alli, no un crecimiento mucho}.</li>
<li><strong>Watermelon/Sandia: </strong>I need to dig & prep a hole outside of the garden to provide it adequate space to grow down the hill. we have two watermelon plants {necesito excavar un hueco afuera del jardin, porque sandia necesita una grad cantidad de espacio. tenemos dos}.</li>
<li><strong>Carrots/Zanahorias:</strong> we just did not sow enough to begin with, so we sowed a lot ... should have lots of carrots {no tenemos muchas, entonces vamos a sembrar muchas mas}.</li>
<li><strong>Peppers/Pimientos:</strong> we have a mystery hot pepper {3 of them}, jalapenos & bell peppers ... they're all a bit slow, but I think they'll pick up {tenemos una misterio pimiento picante, jalapenos, y pimientos dulce. son lentos ahora}.</li>
<li><strong>Cantaloupe/Melon{?}:</strong> it did not even germinate, we sowed again {que no germinaron! hemos sembrado mas}.</li>
<li><strong>Spinach</strong> & <strong>Lettuce/Espinaca y Lechuga: </strong>our spinach looks puny, we sowed more. the bibb lettuce & butterhead are struggling. we sowed more {es insignificante. son luchando. y uno tiempo mas, hemos sembrado mas de los dos.</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">That's what we have thus far. Here are some pictures. Enjoy! ... </div><div style="text-align: left;">Que es lo que tenemos en este momento. Aqui hay algunas fotos. Disfruta amigos!...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwAdIodVtyHEtj55rC_Vlz2lJDy6mUqNXty2NnMZvwBeP9oTfll_oQWUDGRCTsSglx0u8AMzcEgTaSbOF9qZGm0HmBFkYd5nMVxbaGBXTpnbeCciQGcHTrJdursc9iwd27QJoi1gs8W8/s1600/P5150876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwAdIodVtyHEtj55rC_Vlz2lJDy6mUqNXty2NnMZvwBeP9oTfll_oQWUDGRCTsSglx0u8AMzcEgTaSbOF9qZGm0HmBFkYd5nMVxbaGBXTpnbeCciQGcHTrJdursc9iwd27QJoi1gs8W8/s320/P5150876.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All our radishes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDzfyylvcI7hCCo_kTIJePeCVTD-V2R3ej6x-IDw6PkSeqDjftHb96I4L0GD_C53K0AVNOwB-cXU7JxdzZ-x1Rfw5YEBBKAz7RolivY4F8ELj5VG-drgsIj5mnu6H4v3s6gX1FdpSkKo/s1600/P5150878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDzfyylvcI7hCCo_kTIJePeCVTD-V2R3ej6x-IDw6PkSeqDjftHb96I4L0GD_C53K0AVNOwB-cXU7JxdzZ-x1Rfw5YEBBKAz7RolivY4F8ELj5VG-drgsIj5mnu6H4v3s6gX1FdpSkKo/s320/P5150878.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 14px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Ready for harvest!!!<br />
</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisusZXGG366uYwE1drOmFnYWiHnvH2QIC8z-Z11ZFdrBFA0RtWcqqo51plLe9MqC-3-nqoMoUaeZGulzQqsTfVDW7SJ-nyUE1coNydp6zxdHCgKvchdZfaaU7lW8775nnJOM2pgOTeGTo/s1600/P5150872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisusZXGG366uYwE1drOmFnYWiHnvH2QIC8z-Z11ZFdrBFA0RtWcqqo51plLe9MqC-3-nqoMoUaeZGulzQqsTfVDW7SJ-nyUE1coNydp6zxdHCgKvchdZfaaU7lW8775nnJOM2pgOTeGTo/s320/P5150872.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 14px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Cilantro seedlings.<br />
</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEbb_KXMpDglTJbq1q9Qfsgso9VZaxAUYWa53N9IFFo8CHgMcUD81MzcZVp23ADkR7snjvxZExi6Td5zYJQ6_FOGL_jW0G7f6A47wo_K-iz-SwX0TDyWcLBnZ6fj7K7uxCW1XK8fmhNA/s1600/P5150873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEbb_KXMpDglTJbq1q9Qfsgso9VZaxAUYWa53N9IFFo8CHgMcUD81MzcZVp23ADkR7snjvxZExi6Td5zYJQ6_FOGL_jW0G7f6A47wo_K-iz-SwX0TDyWcLBnZ6fj7K7uxCW1XK8fmhNA/s320/P5150873.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 14px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Basil!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjGWZR7a2uWVvbfGetH1rn-D7NFcxK-KeTHX3kdhaieXjK4fexHtfV4PsPfdp1jRq5kvzIsdUaDcpSL4WcCf61SLuCo0RBxkFlQPq-Wo2PaE3Uor3ep1TsIEzAbFpEMA6FjaZB-KxXPY/s1600/P5150874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjGWZR7a2uWVvbfGetH1rn-D7NFcxK-KeTHX3kdhaieXjK4fexHtfV4PsPfdp1jRq5kvzIsdUaDcpSL4WcCf61SLuCo0RBxkFlQPq-Wo2PaE3Uor3ep1TsIEzAbFpEMA6FjaZB-KxXPY/s320/P5150874.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green beans, lettuce & broccoli.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG084d622kxOF0diyXFFbh0BJ9EzWkPWHZZ6YdA8_R211x99arO0YtKlprm7CjX_sNb8QDxA7XLv6jDMJzWWEk8qqIxz_5uD_DFVURIrHGJ_pcKqNE_9lfYtikUWMGd9OZ5kqZSFh8VA/s1600/P5150870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG084d622kxOF0diyXFFbh0BJ9EzWkPWHZZ6YdA8_R211x99arO0YtKlprm7CjX_sNb8QDxA7XLv6jDMJzWWEk8qqIxz_5uD_DFVURIrHGJ_pcKqNE_9lfYtikUWMGd9OZ5kqZSFh8VA/s320/P5150870.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 14px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">All the re-sown seeds!!!<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Also, I think we are about to try our hand at strawberries. The plan is to take small plastic buckets, drill holes in the side, all around, fill it with soil, and plant the strawberries all around the outside of the bucket ... and as they grow they can just hang off the side for us to harvest them. Once these get going there will be pictures! I am excited about the potential, if the birds dont eat all of the buds (like last year)!<br />
<blockquote>Tambien, pienso que nosotros tratamos producir las fresas. El plan es tomar cubos pequenos, con huecos en el lado, llebar con tierra, y plantar las fresas en el cubo. Entonces, cuando que crecer vamos a recogerlas.</blockquote>Lastly, to my spanish speaking friends ... please let me know how my spanish is throughout this post. I did most of it myself, only using a translation aid for my lack of vocab. All the grammar is basically my own doing! So...let me know! Thanks!<br />
<blockquote><div style="text-align: left;">Finalmente, para mis amigos que hablan espanol, por favor hagamelo saber como mi espanol en este post. Muchas gracias!</div></blockquote>Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-91921151799044612412011-04-27T22:24:00.003-05:002011-05-15T11:39:18.694-05:00El JardinMeredith and I have started what we hope will become a fairly significant garden! We are using a couple of raised beds, and a hillside bed we constructed. Our aim is several fold ...<br />
<ul><li>To grow & produce our own organic & fresh veggies & fruits</li>
<li>To spend as little as possible & produce as much as possible</li>
<li>To produce sufficient amounts to be able to give some away</li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSSGutYqpNL9JEea5vN_azxqn6Cb01rhKJTNsuPudJDPKUK_hgfB2xclN8KCehybX9liP0k5DfXSkBeN1AP09FJPq0yqWqJAzo-mwMFhP1osPUB1lv-9VrPJn-EhJzBpOViKbdmNWo8s/s1600/P3270435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSSGutYqpNL9JEea5vN_azxqn6Cb01rhKJTNsuPudJDPKUK_hgfB2xclN8KCehybX9liP0k5DfXSkBeN1AP09FJPq0yqWqJAzo-mwMFhP1osPUB1lv-9VrPJn-EhJzBpOViKbdmNWo8s/s320/P3270435.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Haiti, about 3" of topsoil which is extremely shallow</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>Having said that, we are seeking to use all organic techniques (as much as we can control). There is some real significance to organics, not to mention it is a simple way of making yourself mindful of the 100's of 1000's around the world who must garden organically simply by their God given places of life (where access to synthetics is limited or cost prohibitive). So, we are using various meals (ie: bone meal, blood meal, etc) for nutrient inputs, as well as using a live composting method (or trench composting), where basically we are burying what will become our compost before it is decomposed, then covering it with our layer of soil. This expedites decomposition, since its already in the soil, nutrients will be readily available as it decomposes. This is a technique often used to re-establish top soil in areas where erosion has degraded top soil layers. As the materials decompose, they re-introduce micro-organisms to enrich the soil again.</div><div><br />
</div><div>We began with seed (organic seeds, to the best of our knowledge), simply because it is so much more fun to see entire plants come from something as small as a seed! Also, purchasing seed is much less expensive than purchasing pre-grown plants. Further, nursery grown plants are almost always produced utilizing synthetic inputs.</div><div><br />
</div><div>We sowed 19 different plants or varieties of plants. We have had about 90% germination rate, with only our cantaloupe & basil not germinating. We've sown more basil, &are going to sow cantaloupe again to see if we have better results. The repertoire of plants is as follows: basil, broccoli, carrots, cantaloupe, cilantro, green beans, green onions, bibb lettuce, okra, a generic hot pepper (not organic), Jalapeños, Bell peppers, radishes (a great little spice to a salad), spinach, summer squash, sunflowers (for fun and beauty), Beefsteak tomatoes & Yellow Pear tomatoes, and watermelon!</div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KGqhOR9OfbtU0UNJIoNFp386jcECDG1pCUyQtZcxMoqL2T5GOCysj1pzqA9wyflTRYE5lY6F8WmSFX3DX7nS2wcMg-4i630HKCqrxPguS3q0dXLgh4wdvHjJOv8Dn5KBT3wQoF8iWtw/s1600/P4250866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KGqhOR9OfbtU0UNJIoNFp386jcECDG1pCUyQtZcxMoqL2T5GOCysj1pzqA9wyflTRYE5lY6F8WmSFX3DX7nS2wcMg-4i630HKCqrxPguS3q0dXLgh4wdvHjJOv8Dn5KBT3wQoF8iWtw/s400/P4250866.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st half of the hillside garden, planted w/ 12 of the 19 plants</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEE_F_3hC8ARDQSJ3UOH6BhBHjyG9_xgeb_UAwNdBeY_kSv5rj336QvpH4lBeS1_N-CJdWrWZccs5C63DWCfIclL3oucvmRcRDAgG-N-gkcMp0XtAOapwCmcrPwuSMh4Nj8-AXt4yP8Wk/s1600/P4250859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEE_F_3hC8ARDQSJ3UOH6BhBHjyG9_xgeb_UAwNdBeY_kSv5rj336QvpH4lBeS1_N-CJdWrWZccs5C63DWCfIclL3oucvmRcRDAgG-N-gkcMp0XtAOapwCmcrPwuSMh4Nj8-AXt4yP8Wk/s400/P4250859.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transplanted radishes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFrJWkb-1Q88-cs0jk1MT846QKpWT0fjeSERcv5AybWM6_Ht4tzILSnz8MDjFju7BsR1omCqeFsS6zsUkWzCPaehyphenhyphenw9hGsfqfE1OgCPawSncmrd9wn8c5tGBRXZH9Uq-dhDHu-W_BQzg/s1600/P4250860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFrJWkb-1Q88-cs0jk1MT846QKpWT0fjeSERcv5AybWM6_Ht4tzILSnz8MDjFju7BsR1omCqeFsS6zsUkWzCPaehyphenhyphenw9hGsfqfE1OgCPawSncmrd9wn8c5tGBRXZH9Uq-dhDHu-W_BQzg/s400/P4250860.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 15px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Extra green beans, lettuce, & broccoli<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuM_Ih5N1oV2usorCwqGrNkhIXPJNlmolxHRDeIK1dvhNnfNurbP9k4fnkwH3XgL_AGiTA7dD9zj-I_ftfB1HubBzPuHOwEz2PzPyyFvaUTw1Zwsw6oUATW-U4f2luMDncYKOHqySCQE/s1600/P4250858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuM_Ih5N1oV2usorCwqGrNkhIXPJNlmolxHRDeIK1dvhNnfNurbP9k4fnkwH3XgL_AGiTA7dD9zj-I_ftfB1HubBzPuHOwEz2PzPyyFvaUTw1Zwsw6oUATW-U4f2luMDncYKOHqySCQE/s400/P4250858.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A raised bed for cilantro & basil.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Perpetua;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div>Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-76920817466683864082011-04-11T13:44:00.000-05:002011-04-11T13:44:05.177-05:00Haiti - Part II<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYxtQGXNhsxoCrR3OX6WH6xIcdf51dSfwtTmVKkv4jpGuf9dr7YoUMgTbk_Dh1-1kPpJg_2beX0CkKQEIMnVmMxTHCK1HkYjBuyCeJwO_nrktg5nuAgbaVoTCm0X7mf4LOQNtezk01Ds/s1600/P3280583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYxtQGXNhsxoCrR3OX6WH6xIcdf51dSfwtTmVKkv4jpGuf9dr7YoUMgTbk_Dh1-1kPpJg_2beX0CkKQEIMnVmMxTHCK1HkYjBuyCeJwO_nrktg5nuAgbaVoTCm0X7mf4LOQNtezk01Ds/s320/P3280583.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the 1st clinic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>While in Haiti, we visited 3 of the 13 feeding centers to provide basic medical care for the people of the local communities. This is something that was - at the time - totally foreign to me. I have never participated in a health clinic, and has actually in some sub-conscience way decided that I never would, since I was not remotely close to being a medical professional of any sort & because I have no immune system. I was wrong.<br />
<br />
The clinic grew more and more "rural" as the week went on. I say "rural" because they were all in a remote part of Haiti, but the latter two especially were off the national highway that most of our travels in country centered around. The latter two exhibited a totally different set of ailments as the first one.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPqKAYSfrsmp_3nPsoDW_MYVxENJwjalrw-THnScS_Hv66TNGzWiqWtWpYjM7v9sqY7Vamod9CQeMkl7UY0_S0d3m5bjPb0tP7r6SMr0VNA7y9xNDlrT-tZs_U7OBHg8Ser9ubQuiUvI/s1600/P3310698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPqKAYSfrsmp_3nPsoDW_MYVxENJwjalrw-THnScS_Hv66TNGzWiqWtWpYjM7v9sqY7Vamod9CQeMkl7UY0_S0d3m5bjPb0tP7r6SMr0VNA7y9xNDlrT-tZs_U7OBHg8Ser9ubQuiUvI/s320/P3310698.JPG" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 14px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Maybe the gentlest old man I've ever met<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Several passages of Scripture filled my mind and heart as I witnessed the need and at time desperation of these hurting people for a simply touch of love, look of concern.<br />
<br />
Initially I looked upon all the people I saw with reference to how Jesus perceived a massive crowd,<br />
<blockquote><i>And Jesus went throughout all the cities & villages, teaching in their synagogues & proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom & healing every disease & every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few, therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest."</i></blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aLs84oJIQQtOWLuWMXcRnL6sIIlshYm0oJKAVkTAc57DC6IDHz1dOfV7QRWR1pzJUn8MSuD9fJbS4xwAoj5uyQcU8H1uYOgUtLVe1q-9hG5c8I36ddnCiw9tttLyXLcGb66RXVx85VA/s1600/P3280588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aLs84oJIQQtOWLuWMXcRnL6sIIlshYm0oJKAVkTAc57DC6IDHz1dOfV7QRWR1pzJUn8MSuD9fJbS4xwAoj5uyQcU8H1uYOgUtLVe1q-9hG5c8I36ddnCiw9tttLyXLcGb66RXVx85VA/s320/P3280588.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old man with chest congestion</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Shortly after that I was a bit convicted actually about my attitude & subsequent view of these people. I looked upon them - meagerly as Christ did - but more so as I actually saw them. My attitude came across a bit haughty as I sat later that day considering this passage and my attitude. I viewed them as needing me, our team. After all, we were the educated Americans and we had a doctor with us. So! My heart was broke and changed quickly. And the compassion I thought I had felt for them gave way to true, Christ-like compassion & an aching heart for them. Afterward, they appeared to me not as sheep needing a shepherd (although this is an excellent analogy), but as broken, survival-driven, hurting people in desperate need of a supernaturally powerful God, who alone can heal all their hurts and pains, who alone can redeem them.<br />
<br />
Later, an obvious passage flooded my mind, "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." As my attitude was changing, so my view of the people at each clinic was changing. Nothing changes that they need Christ most, above all more than any medicine or vitamins we could pass out. That does not change. What changed was what I saw in them. Christ's words here are clear, "you did it to me" ... hard to mistake what he meant. So, I realized as I watch a people in need gather around at the 3 centers, I was witnessing the identification of my Savior with the people considered the least in all the world! I realized, that in some way, I was witnessing the face of<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNK0eMUleyDDn4Rldh-vYREDeUdqJNSIGuBKkroHHnd2KSIDJhEo5ORefFzNkpHRrctHVmw26unn3cOnHM9xLRQB5bb-PcxIrYJPrD646B0Y_1OrR5aycHnAAOBm0BCCoaLUlc9H4zZ-g/s1600/P3280589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNK0eMUleyDDn4Rldh-vYREDeUdqJNSIGuBKkroHHnd2KSIDJhEo5ORefFzNkpHRrctHVmw26unn3cOnHM9xLRQB5bb-PcxIrYJPrD646B0Y_1OrR5aycHnAAOBm0BCCoaLUlc9H4zZ-g/s320/P3280589.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 14px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Each member of this family had some ailment</td></tr>
</tbody></table> my Savior in these people, for as surely as He said, "<i>Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.</i>" Christ is with those who are ailing, and these people were & are ailing. So, instead of seeing them as needing me, I saw them as ministers to me.<br />
<br />
And just the other day, as I was reading in Mark 3, I understood the desperation of people the world over and throughout all time - it does not change. Hurting people are hurting. Period.<br />
<blockquote><i>Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee & Judea & Jerusalem & Idumea & from beyond the Jordan & from around Tyre & Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him, to touch him.</i></blockquote><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRRTlzl5Q59TW5v6-2QuBNaSJY4nB5n4ySliPBjywBkhqB9vpxQ86RiFVNw59555vFKbrBPUJV6ZZmVi_kY2_GVRthpAMgIcbLobZHW8GTpb_1UpmwOmLchejCrq87IDcdSCF8q20CUo/s1600/P4010746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRRTlzl5Q59TW5v6-2QuBNaSJY4nB5n4ySliPBjywBkhqB9vpxQ86RiFVNw59555vFKbrBPUJV6ZZmVi_kY2_GVRthpAMgIcbLobZHW8GTpb_1UpmwOmLchejCrq87IDcdSCF8q20CUo/s320/P4010746.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3rd clinic where the people were pressing in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This screams desperation to me. People living in a fallen world are always desperate for something, only sometimes that know it & other times they do not know it. Ask a disease stricken person, they are keenly aware of their need for healing and thus are vividly desperate for healing and help. The above passage says "so that all who had disease pressed around him," because they knew that if they could only touch him they were healed! Like the woman with the hemorrhage. The Haitians we sought to serve with basic medical attention were desperate too! They knew we could help, by God's grace, and that we had resources they did not, nor would ever have access to. Thus, they cam to us. At one clinic in particular, this passage has a new mental image attached to it. The Haitian people at the 3rd clinic were swarming ... the crowd never grew unmanageable (size-wise), but it also never shrunk. For every person we saw, another showed up. We had so many that we eventually - because supplies were lacking - had to dose out vermox (de-worming medicine) and vitamins to all, and leave it at that. Throughout the afternoon there, we repeatedly had to ask them to back up because they were continually pressing in upon us (not like they did Christ, but it helps me understand this passage better).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1-iyHmw62ovNRumoRoibZv8cxl7GMVEZs_w7ggxyagfkwF8MCjv5_V7f0_XkhERhkF9clbFyOfuNJvF1YTJB-_0LE-4R2CvAdFhTCjAOKLHK6fLKYToLTU8guYSAHC5egGZt_Alo5ws/s1600/P3310696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1-iyHmw62ovNRumoRoibZv8cxl7GMVEZs_w7ggxyagfkwF8MCjv5_V7f0_XkhERhkF9clbFyOfuNJvF1YTJB-_0LE-4R2CvAdFhTCjAOKLHK6fLKYToLTU8guYSAHC5egGZt_Alo5ws/s320/P3310696.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2nd clinic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And with each patient, we prayed. Often we were able to ask if they knew Christ. If they said no, we asked if they wanted to or not. So, the Lord opened many doors, to many hearts. For all that I am grateful. And from hundreds of hurting people, I learned how Christ has and does view me, and how he has great compassion upon me and all who call upon His name.Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-47532052693814611482011-04-06T16:38:00.000-05:002011-04-06T16:38:40.065-05:00HAITI - Part ISo, I am going to share the public (ie: less personal & private) aspects of my "processsing" from my recent travels in Haiti.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR07T4LPYC7Ryp9jl6qD88Q8Gvi-9zM2O9tgQcgsa9nYu7G6s4GaSUbDX9lR9ZQ0K5EU1r9aClZgWVGEqbN5H3i9IrYLSJuG8GN8dCH0BYAPEL__cxusUNYfYISaoj29A-XdYyk9KwhXc/s1600/P3290609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR07T4LPYC7Ryp9jl6qD88Q8Gvi-9zM2O9tgQcgsa9nYu7G6s4GaSUbDX9lR9ZQ0K5EU1r9aClZgWVGEqbN5H3i9IrYLSJuG8GN8dCH0BYAPEL__cxusUNYfYISaoj29A-XdYyk9KwhXc/s320/P3290609.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This way to the Matthew 28 orphanage</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I visited Haiti for 9 days, working with a local ministry there (Bohoc, Haiti), <a href="http://www.matthew28.org/page22.php">Matthew 28</a>. It was started & is currently facilitated by two American men, but all day-to-day operations are overseen by an entirely Haitian staff. Matthew 28 has two purposes - 1) Share the gospel & glory of Christ with all in the Central Plateau of Haiti, & 2) To care for orphans in the area. And to my best understanding their priorities - although closely knitted together - do go in that order. If they are caring for orphans & the community at large without sharing the gospel, then they have become obsolete (I don't think thats too harsh a statement). I would say their priorities are right on target. They are involved in a number of tangible means of ministry, two dominant ones are the orphanage housing 69 children, and supporting 13 feeding center's which provide 50 children (ages 6 & under) with 4 meals a week. Each center is connected and lead by a local pastor, so the gospel and good news of Christ is intrinsically interwoven into each feeding centers operations. Another ministry avenue (which is where I am involved) is producing tilapia to provide much needed protein supplementation to the children at the orphanage & families in particular need. So, thats Matthew 28.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoGEO3XiIKl3agcPvFUA8IbaFnsnpWMNbqr0jKm8uODpXxScUeImSPFSbuXNZVciiqnF2I3CRGnQ3DOWWiDJgLW3YNoqreydvYRUSocE5KGa4JIL9PwKlnvu_0FHCi1Vk5EKRxMTv6CE/s1600/P3300666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoGEO3XiIKl3agcPvFUA8IbaFnsnpWMNbqr0jKm8uODpXxScUeImSPFSbuXNZVciiqnF2I3CRGnQ3DOWWiDJgLW3YNoqreydvYRUSocE5KGa4JIL9PwKlnvu_0FHCi1Vk5EKRxMTv6CE/s400/P3300666.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A desolated landscape, reflecting a desolated people</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Lesson I</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Don't ever under-estimate God. If you know me, then you know my "health situation" ... that I have Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes, and am the recipient of a double lung transplant 7+ years ago. These impact my daily life in seemingly meager ways, because God has provided for me to be supernaturally healthy on this side of transplant, for which I am continuously grateful. As such, He has provided me with opportunities to live and travel internationally in the last 1 & 1/2 years. This is bit surprising since I am also immunocompromised (ie: I deliberately suppress my immune system because of my transplant), thus (supposedly) being more susceptible to sickness. Remember, supernaturally healthy!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In light of that, I have to be mindful of what I expose myself to in diligent efforts to be a good steward of my physical gift of life. So, upon learning that my doctors gave me approval to Haiti for this trip, I was thrilled. I told them about the living condition, the disease exposure, etc ... They replied, "Take some extra water purification tablets." That was it, a major shock to me.</div><blockquote>SIDE NOTE - I don't worry about my health, a gracious outpouring from the Lord. I simply am not concerned, because I know the Lord is sovereign over my life. So, I am responsible with my lungs, but I am also going to go - without hesitation - to any location I am certain the Lord is calling me to. He made it very certain that I was to be in Haiti, another story for another time. So I went, with great expectations & huge anticipation & with a sense of grand adventure, for God Almighty is full of wildness and adventure!!!</blockquote>I arrived in Haiti on Saturday the 26th of March. After a conversation that night about the reality & presence of diseases (malaria, typhoid, cholera, etc) in the area & in all of Haiti, I grew a bit reserved and contemplative. Come Sunday, I was actually fairly freaked out. My thoughts went a bit like this, "O what have I done? Have I made a mistake, acted foolishly, following my hard-to-wrangle sense of adventure? Did I mistake generosity for an act of God? Did I fail to adequately describe this to my doctors? I cannot get sick! I cannot go home to Meredith or my family sick! What the hell?" ... It was a jumbled diarrhea thought process.<br />
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This is the first time I have been legitimately concerned about my health and what risks I was exposing myself to. And I am well aware that my life does not only affect me. In God's providence, many many folks from all over the Southeast and from different parts of the world have been a part of my life. If I do something foolish, to result in sickness/death then it affects all of them too. Thats a big responsibility to carry! Like they say, there is a first time from everything. I did not like this <i>first</i>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHG8bz5Rae6RSpxMuAUjVHgUtSowtAynel3-6DI59G8_nxk8tSYG4BM8aS-vcgxG8CmuFvUqQ2z4-kagAx6EAz1ysXqWxAPNUwtKNeSqIN9sJcX7IV2EeZmRIE4D0vdGN3Ax_fvzvB3Q/s1600/P4020834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHG8bz5Rae6RSpxMuAUjVHgUtSowtAynel3-6DI59G8_nxk8tSYG4BM8aS-vcgxG8CmuFvUqQ2z4-kagAx6EAz1ysXqWxAPNUwtKNeSqIN9sJcX7IV2EeZmRIE4D0vdGN3Ax_fvzvB3Q/s320/P4020834.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the clouds </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Before I knew what I had done, I had second guessed God's good & gracious providential hand. I had under-estimated His power, might, and sovereignty. Going into this I knew (& know now) that He had absolutely ordained this trip in my life. No question! And all of a sudden, with a subtle lie - which I believed - I had undercut God & His faithfulness. The Bible is clear about God's faithfulness, "<i>Your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds</i>" (Ps 108:4), which is to say, His faithfulness knows no end!<br />
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And in His faithfulness, prior to leaving He had given me Colossians 3 to meditate on throughout my trip to Haiti. As I referenced back to chapter 3 (which I highly recommend) I read verse 3, "<i>For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.</i>" Nothing else needed to be said or explained. Christ had dealt a death blow to my doubt and faithlessness. As He has said, "It is finished." It was finished again - not the same thing - but my doubt & concern was laid waste. As it was slain & fell dead as a vitally wounded beast, it gave way to the light of life, the power of God, the power of Christ who has defeated death at His resurrection never to taste death again, having once and for all tasted death for all who shall call upon His name.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>New life flooded my being</b>.</div><br />
Not only was I at peace, but I was exuding confidence. I was at peace if I contracted an illness; but more so I was confident that since God had seen me to Haiti in the ways He did, that He would - in Christ - see me home to Meredith, my family, and friends to report upon His goodness, the deep despair of Haiti, and the Hope of nations, the Hope of Haiti, CHRIST JESUS! Because my life is hidden with Christ in God nothing can touch me - even death has no stake or claim upon me, or any other who has been dipped in the precious blood of the Lion & the Lamb. Psalm 91 says, "<i>A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you</i>," which is shortly followed by my life verse, "<i>For He will command His angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways</i>." (vv7 & 11).<br />
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So, did I encounter God in Haiti? O hell yeah I did, in ways I never expected, this being the first of them. So I rejoice to share this with you. I commend to you my Gd, the Almighty whose faithfulness reaches to the clouds ... and with my commendation, I offer my greatest gratitude and praise to the Lord, for I have tasted afresh His presence and love.Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283022455903945551.post-13022072908399700792011-03-23T22:27:00.000-05:002011-03-23T22:27:19.561-05:00Transplant Travel...<div style="text-align: center;">So this is a fairly accurate depiction of what it looks like for me to travel abroad (or domestically for that matter). I just thought it was an interesting growth or progression of medicines.</div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvvKnnW4CfeR_N2PLFw3_rCvWYjxBarK72PmgkohL3EK6BfAiVyJJRwn5x2U2PC3MPtC8cJL7QWSa7CG9m5NsItOjWdPRfCLYl1vAgxV0Skn_cHiXsuuFA-TPwV527Dzv7BeqO-5HZHc/s1600/P3230251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvvKnnW4CfeR_N2PLFw3_rCvWYjxBarK72PmgkohL3EK6BfAiVyJJRwn5x2U2PC3MPtC8cJL7QWSa7CG9m5NsItOjWdPRfCLYl1vAgxV0Skn_cHiXsuuFA-TPwV527Dzv7BeqO-5HZHc/s400/P3230251.JPG" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basics: Zpac, Allergy pills, AD, & tylenol </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add: All morning meds + malaria meds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaqQ8WyTWtNSKc3JrXQJQ9MGNiYENpqGeqeSofalzO-8UFPs_sx3jiRv_zi7215ud33pNiWGtEa6rvAHp8IqoLlxK5nkJvuObnbJzmwNCKhxwafl-HiKFH1Aa7DWtv9X_724ELjWcXHY/s1600/P3230253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaqQ8WyTWtNSKc3JrXQJQ9MGNiYENpqGeqeSofalzO-8UFPs_sx3jiRv_zi7215ud33pNiWGtEa6rvAHp8IqoLlxK5nkJvuObnbJzmwNCKhxwafl-HiKFH1Aa7DWtv9X_724ELjWcXHY/s400/P3230253.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add: All am & pm doses & diabetic supplies</td></tr>
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</div>Sleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033908167018132741noreply@blogger.com0