i must say i'm experiencing a bit of a culture shock being back in GA. it is 60 degrees outside, and i have absolutely nowhere i have to be right now. with all my endeavors in the great state of illinois, i really just don't have much time to figure out what to do with. most of my time is pretty much planned out for me (by my work schedules). so, i'm having a little bit of a problem. i feel like i should be doing something. i don't have anything that i really need to be doing. but i feel like i should. i'm not sure if this is just a natural response to a vacation away from a busy schedule or if this is God telling me that i've forgotten how to rest. i wonder if somehow i've tied activity to worth/importance somewhere in my mind and am now experiencing the backlash.
i'll be in GA 8 more days (most of those days' activities not being particularly scheduled out). hopefully, i'll learn to embrace this rest so that i can really enjoy every bit of time i get to spend chillin' with my awesome family and friends!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
no better place than now
i've come to the end of my first of two semesters here at willow creek mchenry county. it has been one of the most challenging experiences i've ever had to face. there is something about taking a risk that allows you to be in the place to accept the GREATEST reward. moving to the away from all of my family and friends was not easy. moving away from every ministry connection i have ever had was not easy. moving to the arctic tundra in which i currently live was not easy. but it was necessary. it took moving away from everything i ever knew to realize all that i had been missing.
one of the biggest things that i've learned from my time here has been the immediacy of the gospel. in my life. in your life. now. i think i've always just lived with a sense of tomorrow. God will do great things tomorrow. i'll push into who God really wants me to be tomorrow. i'll be love to a broken world tomorrow. this way of thinking is so prevalent in the church today. and in me. but it is so TOXIC. if there is no URGENCY in the gospel, then there is no gospel. TODAY is the day of salvation.
annie dillard said, "how we live our days is how we live our lives."
i have found that this statement could not be more true. i've seen it in my life. i think that this principle applies to the urgency with which we live our lives. so, looking forward to the holidays, take advantage of the opportunities you have everyday. with the people that you don't see that often. with the people you see all the time. with the people you're mad at in traffic or at the mall. let us be a people who live our lives with urgency and purpose. today. now.
one of the biggest things that i've learned from my time here has been the immediacy of the gospel. in my life. in your life. now. i think i've always just lived with a sense of tomorrow. God will do great things tomorrow. i'll push into who God really wants me to be tomorrow. i'll be love to a broken world tomorrow. this way of thinking is so prevalent in the church today. and in me. but it is so TOXIC. if there is no URGENCY in the gospel, then there is no gospel. TODAY is the day of salvation.
annie dillard said, "how we live our days is how we live our lives."
i have found that this statement could not be more true. i've seen it in my life. i think that this principle applies to the urgency with which we live our lives. so, looking forward to the holidays, take advantage of the opportunities you have everyday. with the people that you don't see that often. with the people you see all the time. with the people you're mad at in traffic or at the mall. let us be a people who live our lives with urgency and purpose. today. now.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
ode
today, i miss athens. here are some things that make the list:
jittery joe's @ 5 points, park hall, cine, blind pig, barberito's, north campus, downtown, 86f, the fam, courtney and k thor talking about 6 girl, milledge avenue, wesley, watkinsville fbc, will's mom's house, the fire pit at the farm, christmas tree hunt, the 40 watt, swat, jon's house, yin yang mocha, waterfall, the elephant dance, main library, practice rooms at the school of music, the botanical gardens, trapeze, tasty world, milkshakes at the grill, inoko express, beechwood chickfila, rafferty's with chris black, hamburger sauce, georgia theater.
yesterday, i ran across this poem that i wrote about a regular at jittery joe's 5 points.
A Jittery Joe
Each note from his guitar ministers to his surroundings. The song in the tree above him flies away but continually returns. Her home is the tree that shades his favorite place. His home is the bench between the outdoor restroom and the front door. The two garage doors at the front of the building, almost imperceptible, reveal that his favorite coffee shop used to be a service station. Now, from open to close, it is a home. It is his home, but I’m not sure he ever goes in. Hushed. The calm intensity adds to his mystery. Everyone sees him there, but no one says hi. I’m not sure he sees us. But I see him. I see him there, hazy sunlight peering through his horn-rimmed glasses to squinting eyes. His eyes are lines of satisfaction on a sun-dried face. A gentle voice leaks from parted lips, chapped by the ever present breeze. The indiscernible notes that result, minister to the addicts around him, seeking their daily fix. With every strum, the wind whips in approval around the ancient façade of the bustling landmark, satisfied with his tranquil ministry.
jittery joe's @ 5 points, park hall, cine, blind pig, barberito's, north campus, downtown, 86f, the fam, courtney and k thor talking about 6 girl, milledge avenue, wesley, watkinsville fbc, will's mom's house, the fire pit at the farm, christmas tree hunt, the 40 watt, swat, jon's house, yin yang mocha, waterfall, the elephant dance, main library, practice rooms at the school of music, the botanical gardens, trapeze, tasty world, milkshakes at the grill, inoko express, beechwood chickfila, rafferty's with chris black, hamburger sauce, georgia theater.
yesterday, i ran across this poem that i wrote about a regular at jittery joe's 5 points.
A Jittery Joe
Each note from his guitar ministers to his surroundings. The song in the tree above him flies away but continually returns. Her home is the tree that shades his favorite place. His home is the bench between the outdoor restroom and the front door. The two garage doors at the front of the building, almost imperceptible, reveal that his favorite coffee shop used to be a service station. Now, from open to close, it is a home. It is his home, but I’m not sure he ever goes in. Hushed. The calm intensity adds to his mystery. Everyone sees him there, but no one says hi. I’m not sure he sees us. But I see him. I see him there, hazy sunlight peering through his horn-rimmed glasses to squinting eyes. His eyes are lines of satisfaction on a sun-dried face. A gentle voice leaks from parted lips, chapped by the ever present breeze. The indiscernible notes that result, minister to the addicts around him, seeking their daily fix. With every strum, the wind whips in approval around the ancient façade of the bustling landmark, satisfied with his tranquil ministry.
Monday, December 8, 2008
allegiance
for the past few months, i've been thinking a lot about allegiance. allegiance to God. allegiance to people. allegiance to country. allegiance to party. allegiance to sports team. we all have allegiances. it's in our dna to identify with someone/something. the question i've been pondering is how sin contributes to and distorts this desire in our hearts.
we are all born with an innate desire to know and have relationship with our creator. throughout scripture, we see this play out. this is our identity: to be know God and be known by Him. we ARE His. however, our sin nature that we are born with (because of the fall) distorts this identity. we become fragmented. all of a sudden, our identity as CREATION and TREASURE of the most high God is not enough. it is too risky. not tangible enough. so, we try to find our identities in everything else (what we're good at. what we're not good at. who we know. etcetera.).
i think this is where allegiances come in.
we want to belong. we want to fit in. we believe in something, and find security in what that group means. i observed this over and over throughout the campaigns of the recent presidential election. each side told their people what they wanted to hear. security often dictates allegiance. i understand why the world operates in such a manner. however, i feel deeply convicted about the allegiances that christians are willing to forge. ARE WE MORE AMERICAN THAN CHRISTIAN?
the office of president of the united states is one of the most important and pivotal roles in the world today. however, placing all of our hope in what one imperfect man can do is one of the greatest tragedies i have seen in my lifetime.
psalm 130:7
"O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
this is just my humble understanding.
we are all born with an innate desire to know and have relationship with our creator. throughout scripture, we see this play out. this is our identity: to be know God and be known by Him. we ARE His. however, our sin nature that we are born with (because of the fall) distorts this identity. we become fragmented. all of a sudden, our identity as CREATION and TREASURE of the most high God is not enough. it is too risky. not tangible enough. so, we try to find our identities in everything else (what we're good at. what we're not good at. who we know. etcetera.).
i think this is where allegiances come in.
we want to belong. we want to fit in. we believe in something, and find security in what that group means. i observed this over and over throughout the campaigns of the recent presidential election. each side told their people what they wanted to hear. security often dictates allegiance. i understand why the world operates in such a manner. however, i feel deeply convicted about the allegiances that christians are willing to forge. ARE WE MORE AMERICAN THAN CHRISTIAN?
the office of president of the united states is one of the most important and pivotal roles in the world today. however, placing all of our hope in what one imperfect man can do is one of the greatest tragedies i have seen in my lifetime.
psalm 130:7
"O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
this is just my humble understanding.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
check this out
a dear friend and mentor of mine is the pastor of a church plant outside of richmond, va. he blogged about what happened at his church this past sunday, and i just want to share it with you. i was so challenged when i read it that i was seriously brought to tears. it is amazing to me how beautiful TRUE sacrifice is. i hope it encourages and challenges you as much as it did me!!!
check out his blog here.
check out his blog here.
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