Glimpses of Holy

A Blizzard Children's Message for Parents

2011-02-06T09:32:00.000-08:00

Snow covers Tulsa...still...with the promise of more to come (oh yay!). Church has been canceled and everyone is home. I know with each day you are growing more restless and you are running out of things to do with your children. Parents, this gives you the perfect opportunity to give the Children's Message today to your children at home!

No worries, I will walk you through it. Today's Gospel lesson is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount (from last week). Jesus goes on to tell us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world! You will need to gather a few supplies before you begin.

Here is what you will need: a plate, a piece of ice, a piece of string (yarn) that is wet, salt and a flashlight or a candle.
______________________________________________________

Okay kids, I have a problem for you to solve today. I need you to pick up this piece of ice with this string. You can't tie it around the ice. Just take the string and lay it over the ice cube and pick it up. Maybe you can try pushing the string and holding it on the ice. (Hopefully they won't out-clever you and figure it out). Do you think that I can do it? (Take the string and lay it on top of the ice and liberally sprinkle salt over the part of the string that is on the ice.) Okay, now we have to wait a minute.

(While you wait) What kinds of things to we use salt for? Why do we use salt?

Okay, let's try it. (Pick up the ice cube with the string; but, just before you pick it up, make sure the ice has not stuck to the bottom of the plate or your string will tear off the ice.) Wow! It worked. How did I do that? It was the salt. The salt made the string freeze to the ice.

In today's Gospel lesson Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth. Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

What do you think Jesus meant when He said that YOU are the salt of the earth? Here is an interesting way to look at it. The string is like God - He holds the world. The ice is like the world - the world can be a cold and lonely place and desperately in need of God. So, who is the salt? You and I are the salt. The church is the salt. It is our job to help the world come to God. That is our mission in life - to be like salt - helping our friends and our neighbors to understand who God is, how God loves them, and how that they can come to God, too.

Jesus also said that you are the light of the world. We are lucky that we didn't loose our electricity with this snow storm, but what if we did? What if our house was all dark and we couldn't see - what would we need? A flashlight or a candle. And even just one candle would have made the difference in the darkness. Jesus said, "YOU are the light of the world." You can make a difference in other people's lives. When they are sad or hurting, lonely or afraid, you can brighten things for them by sharing Jesus' love. Just like one candle can make the difference in a dark room, your light can make the difference in someone's life, too.

Let's pray: Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to be the light of the world. Help us as we try to live out His call to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Extra Credit: Sing "This Little Light of Mine" together!
_______________________________________________________________

Good job, friends! Let me know how it goes with your family. Since we won't get to see all of the cute things those kids say and do in front of the church, you'll have to share it with us.

Blessings to you and yours!

The Cost

2011-01-08T07:15:00.000-08:00

On Christmas Eve, a homeless man was found in our church. It seems that he has been staying there at night for quite awhile. Although the police were called, no charges were pressed and they let him go. An act of mercy on a cold Christmas eve.

He has since been back to the church, somehow finding a way to pry open a door to get in. Even I had a fearful moment of hearing him in the building and calling the police. We witnessed the police walk around our building with guns drawn only to find nothing. After a week of several trips by the police, our exterior door locks have been made unpriable. We are pretty sure he hasn't been back.

Breaking and entering is against the law, I understand. It's not safe for a stranger to be in our building, I get it. We are responsible for the safety of our congregation, I know. But somehow I still can't stop thinking about it. Who was he? What was his story? Who can blame him for finding a place with heat, a soft couch to sleep on and occasionally some food to eat in the kitchen?

Last Sunday I had the privilege of hearing my mom give the sermon at her church. She spoke about "the cost of Christmas." Not only what Christmas cost us monetarily, but what it cost us in terms of living differently because of the message of Christ's birth. She told stories about people all over the world who risk their lives to live out the Gospel. Many times as the church we build big building and provide expensive programming and yet neglect Jesus' call to help those who are hungry, thirsty, a stranger, without clothes, sick and in prison.

I'm not a big fan of Stephen Colbert, but recently I saw a quote by him that made me stop and think. He said: "If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it."

Without condition.

Four of our youth took a challenge to live homeless at the Salvation Army this past summer. They encountered many people who were good, faithful people, yet homeless. They built relationships with homeless individuals and families that changed their perceptions and misconceptions about who homeless people are.

And then there is the homeless man - Ted Williams - who has been all over the news this past week. The man with the golden voice. Such a remarkable story (and yet the media has to overkill and talk away the good). The man who says he has a God given voice and just wants to do right by it. The two things that struck me most about the story: He was offered a job by the Cavaliers - and after they found out about his rap sheet they were asked if it would change their offer. They said, "No. We believe in second chances." When I watched the original video uploaded by "ritchey" he had several updates on Ted just as the story was breaking. His final update said this: "Whenever you run across a story such as this, don't assume it'll take a life of its own, on its own. It won't. It can't. There are too many other stories that will drown out the one before it...If you care, you'll do it. Keep the faith, pay forward and always lend a hand..."

Which all leads me back to the homeless man at the church. Instead of doing something that would make a difference in his life, we let ourselves be gripped by fear. When I was in the building thinking he was there, I remember being so scared. And even though we have been told we did the right thing - somehow I feel as if we failed.

What does our Christian faith really cost us? It costs us an hour a week going to a worship service (and many times we think that the service is about us and what we get out of it, but is it?). It might cost us an hour in Sunday school or on a Wednesday night. But what does it cost us when it comes to living differently because of our relationship with Jesus? I know we haven't all been called to live radical lives - but when was the last time we stepped out of the safe comfort zone of our lives and really made a difference for the life of someone else? When was the last time we really lived our faith out in the world?

I'm still not sure I have the answer or if I've reconciled all of this. We walk a thin line of living safe, pretty lives and actually loving our neighbor. Sometimes it is really hard to practice what you preach.

Pilgrim Story

2010-11-24T11:01:00.000-08:00

Meaningful family stories that are passed down from generation to generation never seem to loose their significance. Thanksgiving always seems to be the time of year when I think about my favorite family story - one that has been passed down for over 300 years.

Since I was a little girl my grandmother has told me that I come from "good blood." I come from good blood because my great-grandmother told my grandmother that she was marrying into good blood on the day she and my grandfather announced their engagement. My grandfather Jean came from good blood because his grandmother was Grace Cushman ... descendant of Thomas Cushman and Mary Allerton. Mary Allerton came to America from Leiden, Holland in 1620 at the age of 4 years on the Mayflower. Thomas came to America in 1621 at the age of 13 years on the Fortune. We come from good blood.

It is fascinating to research and learn more about these people who are so ingrained in the history of this country and with whom I share lineage. Mary Allerton was born 362 years and 1 day before I was born...and on Sunday, she will have died 311 years ago. She was the last living survivor of the Mayflower. Mary sailed on the Mayflower with her father, mother, brother and sister for 66 days. She lost her mother to disease before they even made it to land. Mary was 5 years old when the Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Native people in the fall of 1621. There were 53 pilgrims (out of 102) who survived the first winter. 90 Natives were also present at the feast that lasted 3 days. Squanto and King Massasoit had taught the Pilgrims how to plant and harvest in the new land and had even shared food with them that first winter. Although they had endured much hardship and suffered many losses, they had much to be thankful for.

We have much to be thankful for as well. Even when times are hard and there is suffering all around, we have much to be thankful for. The brave Pilgrims came to this country is search of religious freedom. Freedom defines our country and I'm thankful and blessed to live in this great country. I am thankful to be free to serve God and follow Jesus without the persecution that many people face all over the world. I am thankful to be surrounded by a loving a supportive church family. I am thankful for the health and love of my family - near and far. I am thankful for friends - near and far, friends I've known for years and those I've just met. I am thankful for the experiences that have made me who I am today.

I am thankful for all of the big things but I'm thankful for all of the small things, too. I'm thankful for hoodies and coffee. I'm thankful for OSU football and the changing colors of the leaves; for smut TV and movies that make me cry. I'm thankful for facebook and google and ipods and cell phones. I am thankful for bonfires and wine parties; for snowflakes and Christmas lights. I'm thankful for clean sheets and pumpkin pie.

I'm thankful for dirty windows, because it means there have been children with dirty hands playing nearby. I'm thankful for dirty dishes because it means my family has plenty to eat. I'm thankful for piles of laundry because it means they have clothes to wear - although maybe too many. I'm thankful for the noise that fills my house because someday I know the child-like voices will be gone and my house will be empty. I am thankful to know who I am and to have people in my life who remind me when I forget.

Today, I am thankful for all those who have come before me, weaving the story of history - especially my Pilgrim ancestors.

My genealogy to Mary:

Mary Allerton (m. Thomas Cushman)

Eleazar Cushman (m. Elizabeth Coombs)

James Cushman (m. Sarah Hatch)

Seth Cushman (m. Abiah Allen)

Seth Cushman Jr. (m. Nancy Rundel)

David Cushman (m. Catherine Kennerly)

Thomas Cushman (m. Elizabeth Baker)
Grace Cushman (m. Clarence Whitlock)
Merle Whitlock (m. Ruth Riggs)
Jean Whitlock (m. Eileen Stitt)
Kim Whitlock Sisk (m. Kip Yarborough)
Kara Yarborough Farrow (ME!)

Show Up

2010-09-27T06:10:00.001-07:00

Pastor graciously admitted one of his shortcomings yesterday during his sermon. I guess today is my day to join him in confession.

I've struggled with a lifelong battle against...prayer. There - I said it. I don't have anything against prayer - I know how important it is in our faith - but I've never been able to quite see eye to eye with prayer. Not with God necessarily, just with prayer.

Last night I joined a group of people in a Contemplative Listening class with Sister Ellie Finlay. I carry guilt around about this "prayer battle" and thought I would go see if she could give me some insights. Being a nun - a figure she knows a thing or two about prayer. Pretty early on she asked us: "What is it that brought you here?"

I didn't disclose my battle last night but I think I was able to put it into words in my head. I think I struggle with prayer for two main reasons. First - God knows everything I would ever say anyway. He knows. He's told me before - "I got your back" - so I know He has my back without me even having to ask Him to have it. Anything I'd ever say, He's already heard going around in my head. Second - I'm tired of thinking about and talking about all the stuff constantly going around in my head. Sometimes I'm guilty of not sharing things with my family because I'm just so tired of talking about it! And if God already knows anyway, then I really don't want to talk about it. I know prayer is also about the relationship building stuff but so often I just fall away out of exhaustion.

I share this because maybe you can relate. Some people have flowery, beautiful prayers, but I don't. Some people can easily get up in front of a group a confidently pray. I can't. Sister Ellie confirmed what I knew - it doesn't matter.

We sat in silence for 2 minutes. I'm not a fan of silence...it creeps me out. Well, there was soft music playing so it wasn't completely silent. Anyway, we were just to listen. We didn't have to say anything and if our mind wandered we were to acknowledge the thought and push it aside. She likened it to sitting beside some you love and not having to say anything, just enjoy their presence. So I closed my eyes and cleared my mind. Every time I thought of something that I should tell God, it is almost as if I heard Him whisper, "I know." Over and over, I heard, "I know." So I stopped thinking and just practiced being.

How refreshing to sit with God and not feel like I had to say anything. Sister Ellie said that you just have to "Show up." It's not as if prayer is coming into the presence of God because we are always in the presence of God. He surrounds our every move and every breath. But Sister Ellie said that sometimes prayer is just bringing God to our "recollect." - intentionally bringing Him to the forefront of our mind.

We also talked about starting our day with prayer. That's sounds lovely but it's not something I do. In the convent, Sister Ellie was taught to start each day with reciting Psalm 63 as a morning prayer (at 5:30 am). She did suggest a couple of prompts to help bring God to recollect first thing in the morning. I thought that as long as I'm taking this 6 week class, I could try it out. So I wrote Psalm 63:1 on a post-it and stuck it to my alarm clock. "Oh God, You are my God, eagerly I seek You." Reciting the whole Psalm is a recipe for failure - so I decided to just stick with one verse. That's easy enough to remember. "Pray as you can, not as you can't." Maybe it's enough to bring God to recollect for now.

She taught us many other things - gave us other hints on how to live has Paul encouraged: "Pray without ceasing." I think I'll stick with these two things for now. I'm going to try to just show up at least once a day - and not feel like I have to say anything. And I'll start my mornings bringing God to recollect through Psalm 63:1. Perhaps what I purpose to do for 6 weeks, will bring my battle to an end.

I hope to share more of what I discover along the way. Maybe you can give that two minutes of listening a try, too. After all, He just wants you to show up.

A Day Off

2010-07-21T09:55:00.000-07:00

I'm taking today off. If my memory serves me correctly, it has been 17 days since I last took a day off. The past 17 days have probably been the longest and hardest I've had in a very long while. And although I'm not at work, I can't seem to get my mind off of work. So here I sit - ready to blog for the first time in months - hoping to clear my mind a little.

The past 10 days have gone something like this: plane crash, VBS x 5, VBS tear down, wedding, funeral, worship service/baptism, funeral, funeral.

I am tired. I need some normal to come back into my life. But in the same breath in which that sentence escapes, guilt creeps in. I get to go back to normal - Jill, Donna and Pam will never know the same normal again.

I know that God can use all things for good. I am certain this will be no different. I'm just not sure when the good will come.

There is so much that I don't understand, I can't understand, I'll never understand. I don't understand why planes crash and good people loose husbands, fathers, brothers and friends. I don't understand how life can change so drastically in the course of one day. I don't understand why I hold onto feelings of bitterness that I can't seem to let go of. I don't understand why those feelings show up at unexpected times. I don't understand how there can be so many different "brands" of Jesus and so many different interpretations of the Bible. I don't understand how people keep going with such dignity and grace after such tragedy. I don't understand what I'm supposed to say or do now. I don't understand how I haven't learned to keep my mouth shut by now.

What echoes through all of this not understanding ... is that God understands. His ways are higher, His thoughts are greater. I have hope that someday when I come face to face with my Maker, that my perspective will be broadened and all that I question will be answered. It's okay that I don't understand everything and it's a great lesson in humility to not have all the answers. I'm not God ... and that's one answer I'm good with. Faith is a life-long journey of growth - and through doubt, joy, trials, pain, enlightenment - with each step we get a little closer in pursuit of God. I pray that God keeps me thirsty, even when it hurts sometimes.

And when it hurts - the body of Christ is most evident. I have not quite been able to wrap my mind around how we went from VBS, to a wedding, to a funeral, to a baptism, to a funeral in our Sanctuary in the course of four days. Such extreme emotions. Such life and such absence of life. But what a beautiful picture it painted of the circle of life and the Body of Christ. Because through it all, the Body of Christ came together in community. The Body stepped up as I've never seen before. This community of believers came together to praise, to serve, to mourn, to celebrate, to sing, to cry, to laugh. The Body put aside any self-need to support and strengthen others in whatever way they could. Even strangers prayed, cooked, cleaned, and were present to help in whatever way possible. That is Church. I'm so proud to be a part of something bigger than all of our differences.

Life is so short. Life is so precious. Why do we spend so much time wrapped up in our own individualistic worldviews? Life is a gift - love while you can.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself. Who is your neighbor? Look around. Each person you see is your neighbor - and we are called to love. That's so hard - and I don't understand how to do it perfectly - but I'll keep trying.

You know why?

"When my last breath brings me to the feet of God,
I want to hear Him say I lived for His glory.
We are His story, we are His song -
a beautiful melody that shows the world His love.
When we're on this journey, when we're on this road -
we are apart of the greatest story ever told."
-Addison Road

I had a glimpse of holy this week...and it was you.

Phooey-dooey

2010-04-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

This blog post may get me fired, but here I go anyways.

It is a strange phenomena, but I'm starting to realize that the time that I question my faith the most is around Easter. I hear the familiar story, the same story I have heard every year for the last 31 years, and I think: "That sounds like a bunch of phooey-dooey. How can I really believe that?" I mean if you look at the story that the entire Christian faith is based on, it sounds a little crazy. When you step back and try to look at it from an unbiased, outside perspective - it sounds kind of far-fetched. A man who claimed to be the Son of God was arrested, did not fight against the ludicrous charges, was put to death on a cross, and then came back to life three days later. Really?

That's why I'm thankful for the story of Thomas in the Gospel of John. Maybe that's why John included this story, because he knew that there would be more skeptics than just Thomas along the way.

Thomas just couldn't find it in himself to believe that Jesus was really alive. All of his friends were talking about it. They all said it was true. But unless he could see for himself, he just couldn't believe. I love Jesus' words when He finally confronts Doubting Thomas.

"Stop doubting a believe...because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:27,29

This is ALWAYS the lesson the Sunday after Easter. It comes as surely as Easter itself. And every year I take comfort in those words. Stop doubting. Believe. Blessed are those who believe without seeing. Isn't that what faith is all about? Believing in something you cannot see.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

At some point, you just have to jump. That's why it's called taking a "leap of faith." Faith just doesn't make a lot of sense. But faith is what keeps me going. Faith is what drives me forward and what makes each day worthwhile.

I have faith in a faithful God. I have faith that God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I have faith that God's not done with me yet. I have faith that I will survive parenthood. I have faith in love over law and grace over condemnation. I have faith that beyond this place, there is a new heaven and a new earth where we will be in the presence of the Lord forever.

I have faith that sending Jesus was God's plan to redeem and restore humanity unto Himself. I have faith in Jesus Christ who was crucified, died and was buried. Three days later He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. He is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Even if it at times sounds like phooey-dooey - I have faith that it is true.

She Did What She Could

2010-03-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

This week I am reading in each of the Gospels what happened on each particular day of Jesus' final week. Today is Tuesday - the day Jesus did much of His final teaching. As I read these accounts, some several times because of repeats in each Gospel, I find it funny how you can read a familiar story over and over but one particular time something will stick out to you.

That's what happened to Elisa Morgan, a woman I met at the Children's Pastors' Conference in San Diego this year. I went to her workshop which focused on one sentence in the Bible. A sentence that I read again today. A sentence that was spoken on the Tuesday before the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord.

While He was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." Mark 14:3-9

She did what she could.

I often times get overwhelmed by the problems of this world. I usually don't even watch the news because it just stresses me out and makes me sad. Sometimes the darkness just seems so dark and there seems to be just too much that needs to be done. There are so many people hurting, dying, starving - so many who are lonely, homeless, living in fear - all over the world. How on earth is there anything that I can possibly do that will make a difference? My to-do list of personal things overwhelms me - much less the to-do list of humanity. I am just one girl.

Mary was just one girl, too. The girl of Mark's story is Mary - the sister of Martha and Lazarus, the daughter of Simon the Leper. Perhaps Simon was the leper that Jesus had healed at the very beginning of His ministry, just after He called Peter, James and John to be His disciples (Luke 5:12-14). Regardless, this family had become very close to Jesus. Jesus often stayed at their home in Bethany - this is also the same Mary that was found not working with her sister, but at the feet of Jesus listening to His teachings.

Mary loved Jesus and she knew that He loved her. She spent time in relationship with Him. She had heard Him foretell His death and resurrection and I can imagine she was confused and scared. Her friend, her teacher, her Lord had said that He would soon be put to death. There was nothing that she could do to stop it. But because of her deep relationship with Him, I'm sure she felt she had to do something. Her relationship resulted in a response. She did what she could. Mary lived loved and she showed her love to her Lord by anointing Him with extremely valuable perfume.

This perfume was made from nard and cost 300 denarii, nearly a year's wages. Nard was imported from Egypt. Mark tells us that she broke open an alabaster jar. Once you break open an alabaster jar - you have to use it all. There is no corking it for later, the perfume spoils if it is not all used immediately. Her actions are a big deal. In my mind, I can see Mary concocting this plan up in her head, acting impulsively, and then when the disciples indignantly rebuke her for being foolish - I can picture her holding her breath and thinking, "Oh crap. What will Jesus say? He's always telling us to help the poor."

Instead of rebuking Mary, Jesus reprimands the disciples and tells them to "leave her alone." In giving what she could give, in doing what she could do, she did a beautiful thing. Now think of how lovely the perfume smelled running down Jesus' head. This is Tuesday before Jesus is arrested on Thursday night. The likelihood of Him hopping into a shower is not good. The fragrance of this expensive perfume more than likely lingered with him throughout the rest of week - He could smell it during His trial, His beatings, and while He hung on the cross. When Mary did what she could, her blessing lasted much longer than that Tuesday evening.

What if we didn't worry about doing everything, doing it all, and being the best at it all? What if we did what we could and we didn't feel guilty about the rest? What if we lived loved - and out of that love, we did what we could, when we could for Jesus and others?

If you did what you could and I did what I could and every Christian did what they could - what could we accomplish together? What if we stopped worrying about all the darkness that surrounds our world and just concentrated on being a light that shines in it?

Today, I pray that you release the guilt of not being able to do everything and be everything to everybody. I pray that you do what you can to be His light in the world around you. I pray that this day, you live loved.

(Thank you to Elisa Morgan for inspiring this blog. Check out her book, "She Did What She Could.")

Big God Story

2010-03-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago I began to listen for the sacred echoes of God. I heard a speaker, Margaret Feinberg, define sacred echoes as repetitive, scripturally sound themes, events or ideas. She holds the idea that God uses these echoes to get our attention because He wants to teach us something. As I started listening and watching, I found that in my own life, this is how God often speaks to me. If He wants to make something known in my life, He echoes.

About three weeks ago, new echoes began. One day after we had returned from Israel, I was flipping through the channels, trying to find something interesting to watch during daytime TV (which I am not used to watching). Something caught my attention and I stopped on ‘Channel 47.’ Although I don’t usually watch this Christian station, I recognized that the man on the screen was in Jerusalem. Since I could identify the backdrop for his teaching, I stopped and listened for a moment. The man was talking about the return of the Messiah. He said when Jesus comes back, He will descend on the Mount of Olives and the mountain will be split in two. “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.” Zechariah 14:4 I had been to the Mount of Olives only weeks before, so the picture of this green mountain was fresh in my mind. I had briefly heard someone mention the mountain in relation to Jesus’ return when I was there. I continued flipping channels, not thinking much about it.

A couple days later I was reading my Bible. I hadn’t found any certain place that I wanted to land - just randomly flipping through - when I caught a word that was familiar to me from my time in Israel. I began reading in Ezekiel where He prophesies about the Valley of Dry Bones. I had seen that valley. I continued reading from Ezekiel when he describes the Messiah. “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd...my servant shall be their prince forever...I will set my sanctuary among them forevermore...my dwelling place shall be among them...” Ezekiel 36:24-28 I hadn’t ever just read through Ezekiel before.

A few days after that I went to the evening Praise and Worship service at my mom’s church. They have been watching Rob Bell’s Nooma videos series for their “sermon” time. The Nooma for that night was called “Trees” and it wasn’t one that I had seen before. In the video Rob Bell describes how there are two trees in the Bible. One is at the very beginning - the tree in the Garden of Eden, the Tree of Life. In the last book of the Bible, Revelations, John describes another tree that is in the center of the city of the new earth ... the place where we will spend eternity, where God will dwell with us once again. He says we are living in the time between the two trees.

We are living between the trees. I was fascinated by this concept. I had never spent any time reading Revelations, so when I opened my Bible the next day, I decided to find this tree at the end of the Bible. And there it was, just Rob said. I spent time that day going through the book of Revelations ... learning about the return of Jesus, the defeat of Satan, the new heaven and earth that will be established and the restoration of humanity. “On either side of the river is the tree of life...and the leaves of he tree are for the healing of the nations.” Rev. 22:2 - “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first earth had passed away...I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among the mortals. He will dwell with them...” Rev. 21:1

By this time, I was really paying attention. I thought that there might just be an echo occurring, but I couldn’t piece it all together. All this talk about the end-times and the Messiah had to mean something, but I had no idea what.

A couple other things happened along the way, but I forget now the specifics. A week later, though, I went to a Saturday night service and the Pastor started his sermon talking about the end times. “Okay God, I get it...but really I don’t,” I thought to myself.

The next day I left for San Diego to attend the Children’s Pastors’ Conference. I arrived to the conference in a much different place than I ever had in the past. I usually arrive to CPC depleted, empty, tired, done. This was the first year that I came without the need of being refreshed and renewed. However, I still carried an expectation to hear God speak, to see God move, and have Him guide and lead me in amazing ways.

With this expectation, I went to a workshop called Transformational Teaching by Dr. Michelle Anthony. She talked about the concept of teaching kids “The Big God Story.” The Bible is actually one, big story - the story of how God has worked throughout history, calling His people into relationship with Him. A story that begins with God creating the earth and everything on it; a story that continues in a beautiful garden in Eden and the first act of human rebellion. A story full of a God who wants to set things right and to redeem and restore creation to himself. A story that ends with the nations coming together to spend eternity worshiping the God who created it all. It’s a story all about Him - a story of which we play only a part. One story - between two trees.

So often we teach kids stories from the Bible but we only allow them to see pieces of the bigger story at any given time. Our kids can tell us about Moses and Noah. They know about Joseph and his coat of many colors and about Peter and John, the disciples of Jesus. So often these stories are fragmented, told in isolation. Many times we don’t put these stories into the context of the bigger story where God is central. We make Moses the main character or Noah the hero. In reality, God or Jesus should always be the main character and the hero. What if we taught kids about The Big God Story and shared with them the truth that they play a supporting role in this story, just like Moses and Noah, and Peter and Paul. God has worked through men and women throughout history and God can work through us, too. When we allow children to see themselves as a part of this bigger story, we invite them to feel the awe of being part of something way bigger than themselves. “We can tell them the concrete stories of history in the context of the bigger picture, and we can create opportunities for them to put what they are learning into action,” writes Michelle Anthony.

Michelle Anthony also says that we need to “make the Jesus of Revelation known to our children - to make Him the hero of our lives.” I’m not sure I would have gotten that if God didn’t start echoing to me weeks before. I’m not sure if I would have be challenged to make this mind-shift. The Big God Story might not have had the same effect on me - if He hadn’t started getting my attention (using the end of time) and if He hadn’t continued to echo. If He hadn’t started at the end, I might have missed the big picture.

“At the heart of our Christian faith is a story ... Unless the story is known, understood, owned, and lived, we and our children will not have faith.” John Westerhoff

May you know today that you are a part of the greatest story ever told. And may we strive to teach this story to our children.

Who You Know

2010-03-08T07:40:00.000-08:00

Fun Night is the biggest fundraiser of the year for my kids' school. The evening is full of carnival games, food, and Silent Auction baskets. My family joined in the fun this past weekend - and it was great, as always. Just before we were ready to leave, we had a brief mix-up in dinner plans. Long story short, we ended up with $10 worth of extra tickets for food. Lee tried to sell them back but the people at the ticket table just laughed at him. Poor guy. A friend said that she would take them and get the money back at the end of the night. "It's all in who you know," she said. Isn't that the truth? She took the tickets, gave us ten bucks, and that was that.

The next night I was invited to go to a Hoe-down school fundraiser with another friend. She had played the role of "Elvira" for the promotional videos and was able to bring a couple friends along at no charge. When we got there, instead of paying our $50 to get it, my friend said, "They are with me." Sure enough, our names were on the list and we walked right in-with free drink tickets, too!

Don't you love "knowing people"? When Lee worked in the restaurant business, I loved going in for dinner - complementary, of course, because I knew the manager. Sometimes it's free drinks at the bar because you know the bartender or free concert tickets because you know the band. Maybe it's just better service because you are friends with someone's boss. When was the last time you had an "in" because you knew someone?

It made me start to wonder .... is that what it will be like when we get to heaven? We'll arrive at the pearly gates and Jesus will nod His head and say, "She's with me." Now that is someone worth knowing! Free parties and free food is nothing compared to free life eternal.

Jesus gives us hints to the benefits of a friendship with Him:
"You are my friends if you do what I command...I have called you friends, for everything I learned from the Father I have made known to you." John 15:14-15
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:3
"For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those you have given Him." John 17:2

But just like it takes work to maintain good friendships on earth, the same is true for our friendship with Jesus. Friendships are two way streets and give and take; good communication is needed. Who wants a friend who just uses you for their own benefit? I don't think that we can just play the "I know Jesus card" and call ourselves good.

Jesus asks a lot from us. No one said that following Him was going to be easy. We spend a lifetime trying to figure out how to be like Him and trying to do what He would have us do. But even when we mess up, He loves us still. He never turns His back on us, as long as we keep trying. He's always there, waiting to welcome us back with open arms.

Now that's a friend.

Peace

2010-02-26T07:23:00.000-08:00

Our Israeli tour guide's name was Alan. Except for the time that we were in Jordan, Alan led us from site to site, explained historical events, read us Scripture, and helped us picture the Holy Land at the time of Jesus. Alan told us many stories - including his own.

Alan was a secular Jew who grew up in New Jersey. His family didn't practice religion and he didn't really care to know anything about it. When he was a young adult he visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. The experience changed him. It affected him so deeply inside that for the first time in his life he felt a desire to know more about his people. So he went to Israel. He lived in a Kibbutz (small Jewish community) for awhile and finally decided to become an official citizen of Israel. He has been there for 25 years now - and has become an expert of the history, the land and the culture. He is now a practicing Orthodox Jew - very devout in his faith.

One evening during dinner conversation, the Pastor over our group, Dale, was asked if he had ever spoken to Alan about his faith and about Christianity. Since they have been good friends for many years, naturally they have had many of those conversations. Dale said that although many things affect Alan's beliefs, there are two main reasons why he can't buy into Christianity - even though he has way more Biblical knowledge than I have.

First, he can't get past God's first two Commandments (Exodus 20:1-2):
1. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything...For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God...

You see, Christians have come in an built churches over everything and anything they think might be remotely related to Jesus - enormous shrines with gold and gody crosses, candles and pictures. The best (or perhaps worst) example was the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. When you walk in the church there is a rock - a wet rock - where they supposedly laid out Jesus' body after the took Him down from the cross. People were laying all over that rock ... wiping the water on their faces and their bags and their crucifixes. Bowing down to it and kissing it. And then you go up some stairs and there is a line that you can stand in - to see the rock of Golgotha. When it's your turn, you can crawl under a golden alter and reach your hand into a hole, to touch this "holy rock" - surrounded by ornate golden ... stuff. Then on the other side of the church you can wait in another line to enter this walk-through shrine of a room, which holds supposedly the tomb of Jesus. Again - gold threw up all over it. I just couldn't do it. It was so disappointing. And yet these churches are everywhere. They are at Gethsemane, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Mount of Beatitudes, over Peter's house at Capernaum, Feeding of the 5000 church ... the list goes on and on. To a Jewish person, to Alan, it seems like idolatry. I completely understand.

The second thing Alan can't get past is the Holocaust. Hitler, who was responsible for slaughtering of 6 million Jews (11-17 million people when you count the non-Jewish disabled, homosexuals and religious and political opponents), was a Christian. He used the Bible to justify his actions. He used the words of Martin Luther to further his cause. Over half of the Jewish race, wiped off the face of the earth in the name of Jesus. He just can't understand how a Christian could do this - and doesn't want to be any part of what Hitler was apart of. Regardless of the argument, I don't understand either. We went to Yad Vashem while we were in Jerusalem. Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. The site covers 45 acres containing a Holocaust History Museum, Children's Memorial (that honors the 1.5 million children who lost their lives), and the Hall of Remembrance that houses the names of every known person who was murdered. There is also a garden with trees planted in honor of every known non-Jewish person who risked their lives to save a Jew. I have been to Dachau, a concentration camp in Germany, and this memorial site brought back that same solemn, sad, eerie feeling that I felt there. It is hard to wrap your mind around all that happened during those seven years. I didn't think I could even make it through the Children's Memorial - nothing inside of me even wanted to enter. Their pictures, their faces, but 1.5 million lights are reflected in there, representing their lights that were put out early - it hurt my heart. The Holocaust still haunts most Jews.

I've been thinking a lot about Alan lately - about the path he has chosen. I've always respected Jewish people - I love to learn about their history and their culture. I think I understand their struggles a lot more now having been to their land. They have been fighting for their existence for thousands and thousands of years. Did you know that every Israeli person is mandated by law to join the Israeli army for at least three years when they turn 18? No college, no way out - you must serve your country. They are still fighting to survive. I know that the other side has their arguments, too. I was able to hear some of both sides of the story ... and the division among the land and the people is very sad. I'm sad they don't have the freedom and forgiveness Jesus can bring.

We are blessed to live in this country, to be Americans. We sit and argue about our differences, but our division is not actual life or death to our families. From the beginning, Alan and Shimon(our bus driver) would say, "Say a prayer for peace in Israel." By the end of the trip, I understood why that is so important to them. For the ritual of it all, I stood at the Western Wall and I prayed... "Peace for Fellowship" and "Peace for Israel."

An Ancient Blessing

2010-02-22T07:20:00.000-08:00

Israel is a very new country, in comparison to the people's history. These people have been occupied and ruled over for most of their existence. But on May 14, 1948, Israel declared their Independence. Still, much of the land that is now Israel was occupied and controlled by Jordan. Then during the "6 Day War" in 1967, Israel took control over all of Jerusalem.

For many years history has been covered by layers of soil. Periods of time, hidden by dirt and rocks. Possessions and tools of people long ago - waiting to be found. Finally, once inhabited caves and ancient villages that lay in ruins are now consistently being discovered by archeologists.

Just a few years ago a cave was discovered in Jerusalem. On the edge of a bluff, in a highly populated, modern part of the New City - somehow, someone found something ancient. I'm sure there is much in Jerusalem that has yet to be excavated - but in this certain cave artifacts were found dating back 2600 years. That is a long time.

The Israelites had just come home from exile in Babylon. The second temple was rebuilt, but it was small in comparison to what Herod would build hundreds of years later. 2600 years ago was the time period of the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. It was 600 years before Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem. That is a long time ago.

In this cave, among other things, was found a charm that would have been worn around a woman's neck. Inside the charm was a scroll and on the 2600 year old scroll was written these words (see if they sound familiar):

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace."

These are the words of Numbers 6:24-26. These words are spoken as a benediction most Sundays by my Pastor at the end of worship. This is the blessing I encourage parents to use to bless their children. These are the words I use to bless my children before they go to sleep. These are the words spoken and cherished by a woman 2600 years ago.

When we read Scripture, very rarely do we think about its history - we don't stop to consider how ancient the words are. Do you know who spoke these words? I didn't. These are the words that the Lord told Moses to speak to Aaron and his sons. It's called "The Priestly Benediction." These are actually God's words. Spoken to Moses for Aaron. Spoken to a woman living in a cave outside of Jerusalem. Spoken to you and to me thousands of years later.

How beautiful are the words of Scripture. I've always known that the Bible is sacred, holy, inspired, wonderful...but I think I've taken it for granted. Scripture is messy. Sometimes it is really hard to understand. It was written to and for and by people long ago. But it is alive, reaching across time and space, finding its way into our hearts. Sometimes finding us in a new way and changing our world forever. And that's what makes it so beautiful.

Overwhelmed & Adopted

2010-02-18T10:03:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed.

Although I won't be actually "working" for six more weeks, I already feel behind. I've double-booked myself several days, there are so many pictures to go through, so many blogs to write - memories to capture before they are erased from my mind. I think culture-shock hits harder coming home. Our America is so different...so fast paced. Being a mom is hard work. Technology surrounds and at times invades us. Not having my church home is kinda hard.

I think that I will slowly sift through my pictures and my notes. I hope to continue writing about my time in Israel, but I know that other things of this world will soon overtake it. But the blog that has most been on my heart is about adoption...

--------------------------------------------------------------

I have no personal connection with adoption. I don't know anyone who has been adopted and don't know anyone who has adopted a baby. The closest thing I know is that I thought I wanted to adopt a "Haiti-Baby" after the earthquake. But, I have no personal investment in what adoption means to real families.

Yet, I know the Bible is full of the mention of adoption. I have been told for years, and having been teaching children for years, that we are adopted into the family of God. I know it on the surface - but what does that even mean?

I witnessed the beauty of adoption on the Mount of Olives. It was one of my favorite moments in Jerusalem.

As you know, God made a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15, 17). God promised that he would be the father of many nations. Abraham's descendants are children of God - they are God's chosen people. History is full of how God has worked through them and with them - how God has blessed them and punished them. The Old Testament is their heritage.

A few years ago a Messianic Jew came to our church during the season of Lent. He showed us how Christ fits into the Jewish Passover - the symbolism between who He is and what Passover is all about. I was fascinated. Last year during Sunday school the children did a unit on Feasts and Festivals - learning all about Jewish holidays. You always learn by teaching - and I learned a lot about Jewish traditions. I decided then that I wanted to be Jewish. But I'm not Jewish. I know a little about my family ancestry - and I don't think that there is any Jewishness in there at all. But still I admire them and their history.

Being in their land, learning their history, hearing the stories of Abraham and David and their descendants - I was a little jealous it wasn't my history, my heritage. I love learning about genealogy and I want this to be apart of my genealogy.

But wait...it is. Abraham is my "father," too. God's promise to Abraham includes me - I am an heir. How can that be? Adoption.

"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will - but born of God." John 1:12-13

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:26-29

You see, God was the God of the Israelites. The other people of the world were mainly pagan. They worshiped Baal, or this god or that god. They worshiped idols. They built temples to Greek gods and Roman gods. It was the Israelites who believed that there is only ONE God. Even though there were many times they slipped away - forgot who they were, whose they were, they were God's chosen. Before Christ, my ancestors were most likely pagan. I am a Gentile. Gentiles were pagan and unclean in the sight of God - not heirs of the promise of Abraham. But God sent His Son, Jesus, for all people. To save all of humanity. To be the one God of all.

And so, as I stood on the Mount of Olives I looked around me. People from all over the world had descended upon this place. Languages from every corner of the earth could be heard. A beautiful sound filled the air - a song of worship. I looked and saw a group of Koreans who had gathered to sing praises to our God. A man played his guitar and lead the group in singing. Although I could not understand a word, I knew they were worshiping and I knew who they were worshiping. I stood in awe of the beauty of the moment. These people were definitely not Jewish. But, like me, they had become children of God through adoption - through the blood of Christ.

It is my history and my heritage. Through adoption I am a child of God - loved, saved, and redeemed.

Uncovering Holy

2010-02-13T12:05:00.000-08:00

We have spent the last two days wandering throughout Jerusalem. It's a very hard experience to explain. It's a very hard city to grasp. There is layer upon layer of human history here in this place. David built the first city here, the first Temple, it was a tent really, to hold the Holy of Holies (the Arc of the Covenant). His son, Solomon build a grand Temple upon the hill. It was destroyed as the Babylonians captured the Israelites. When they came back to Jerusalem, they built a new but small Temple. When King Herod came, he built a grand, immense, wonderful Temple. It was destroyed by the Roman around 66 BC. Then came the Ottomans, the Byzantines, the Muslims ... and I get lost in the history. Pieces of each era have been left behind. The Roman city lies far beneath the ground, except for the treasures the have been uncovered.

There are so many walls and so many gates. The streets of the Old City are very narrow and very crowded. Claustrophobia sets in quickly. It is just crazy! Every type of people, every race, every language you can imagine. No wonder Jesus spent most of His time along the Sea of Galilee - I would have too!

We went to all the spots you should see in Israel as a Christian - The Church of the Nativity, The Mount of Olives, The Garden of Gethsemane, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Garden Tomb. It is very hard to feel the holiness of these place when there are so many people around you. They feel like big tourist attractions - waiting in line, being pushed and shoved, and hurried along. Mostly they are gody shrines - cold and impersonal. Where is He?

What I do know of holy is that Holiness is not in these places. As intricate a part of the experience they are, Holiness is not found there (for me anyway).

Holiness is in your heart, in your soul - in the quiet places of your mind as you meditate on His words. Holiness is where you are ... right now. Not in Bethlehem or Jerusalem. Not on a rock or on a hill or in a cave. This is a land of much history. God left His thumbprint right here in human history - but He left it here for the rest of the story ... for your story ... so you can be where you are - saved by grace through faith. Though you don't see Him, though you don't see this land ... His holiness is inside of you. "Blessed are those wo have not seen and yet have come to believe." John 20:29

Holiness was felt on the steps of the Temple - uncovered from the earth. No church, no alter, no shrine. Hard, cold steps that have stood the test of time beneath the ground. Steps that Jesus came to at the age of 12 - when He amazed people with His knowledge of the Scriptures. Steps where Rabbi taught their disciples - where Jesus would have been found teaching His disciples. The steps where the Church was born on the day Pentecost when 3000 people were baptized. Here in the quietness of the stories recalled from my heart, His Holiness is felt.

I'm learning and discovering more about His Holiness each day. May you discover Holy in the depths of your heart this day, too.

Crossing Jordan

2010-02-11T12:29:00.000-08:00

I've spent the most part of the last three days in Jordan. It was an interesting experience and I learned a lot, but I'm glad to be back in Israel. Here's just a brief description of my experience.

It takes about and hour and a half to go across the border. On the way into Jordan, they checked our passports five different times and our baggage all went through security. The entire time we were in Jordan we had our own "Tourist Police" who traveled with us - everywhere we went. I think these police are mainly to help us feel safe (but I'm not sure he made me feel safer). He rode on the bus with us and never spoke. We went through many "police check points" - with guards standing with guns - and were always told "no pictures allowed."

Although the people of Jordan are very hospitable, they are very poor. They beg for money and follow you around trying to get you to buy their goods. I'm also pretty sure that they would take advantage of someone and cheat them out of money given the opportunity. The bathrooms were disgusting - sometimes just a hole in the ground - and very rarely with toilet paper. We learned quickly to bring our own tissue. They also expected you to pay or "tip" to use the bathroom. If you tipped, then they would sometimes give you a paper napkin to dry your hands.

There are also many people in Jordan called Bedouins. These people are nomads and still live in tents to this day. You could look out across the desert and see tents scattered over the hills and shepherds with their sheep. It's astonishing that people still live this way. The Bedouins we saw in Petra were descendants of Nabetians - they look like pirates to me (think Johnny Dep in Pirates of the Carribean). Some of these Bedouins still live in the caves of Petra to this day.

Our hotels in Jordan, however, were very lovely. They try very hard to empress visitors with their accommodations. And the food in Jordan was the best we've had. I had some Baklava last night that was to die for. The people are lively and friendly. They strive for peace. They love their king (King Abdulah).

Today we traveled the part of the desert that Moses and his people spent the last two years of their wandering in. It is a "vast wilderness." No wonder they complained so much. We went up to Mount Nebo - where God showed Moses the Promised Land. Moses never got to go there because he died on that mountain and God buried him there. French archeologists have been on Mount Nebo since 1933 looking for the tomb of Moses. They haven't found it. Something tells me when God buries somebody, He doesn't leave a tomb or a marker. Then we drove through the valley that Joshua led the people through on their way to Jericho. We didn't go into Jericho, but saw the lushness of the land. It was very green and grows good crops. Then over the mountain we went into Jerusalem.

Jerusalem. I'll tell you more tomorrow. I will say that tears overcame me when I laid my eyes upon Jerusalem for the first time. I did not expect that. We stopped at an overlook for a traditional Hebrew blessing with bread and grape juice. We sang songs of praise as we entered. We sat in silence as we drove through the Old City.

Amazing wonders lie ahead. David. Solomon. The Prophets. Jesus. Here.

Come and Eat

2010-02-08T12:36:00.003-08:00

People come to the Holy Land for one of three reasons.

Tourist come seeking souvenirs.
Scholars come seeking knowledge.
Pilgrims come seeking God.

Today I seek God. I seek His heart. I seek to deepen my affection for Him.

We began today with a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. The Sea is not as big as you would think. Standing in Tiberius, you can get a panoramic view of the entire Sea. Looking to your left (to the north) you see the shoreline where Jesus spent most of his time. Here you find Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, the place Peter was restored, where Jesus feeds the 5000, and so much more. To the north-east lies the beginning of the Golan Heights, starting at Mount Hermon (her-moan). Straight ahead lies land that belonged to Syria 2000 years ago and the place where swine came down the mountain side. You can also see to the south, although I’m not sure what lies there.

My story for today takes place along the north shore - the heart of Jesus’ ministry. In Capernaum. Jesus made this town along the Sea his home. From here He called His first disciples, Peter and John. He taught in the Synagogue and He healed Peter’s mother. The Gospels are full of the stories that took place throughout Capernaum. Today the town lays under ruins. A 3rd century city was built on top of it, but through many archeological digs, the Capernaum of Jesus’ day is being discovered.

When I think of the beach that Jesus walked along as He called His disciples - I think of soft sand. I think of warm sand getting between His toes as He walked along. Every time I have pictured these beloved stories in my mind, there is always sand. However, this is not the beach of Galilee. The shoreline is scattered with large rocks and the terrain is treacherous. I’m not sure how they walked along it in sandals (see picture on facebook).

It was also along this shoreline that Jesus appeared to seven of His disciples after His resurrection. They had gone home to Capernaum. Jesus had appeared to them but they still did not understand. Peter didn't get it. Peter only knew that he was a failure. He said to the others, “I am going fishing.” This isn't a leisurely fishing excursion he is planning, this is Peter going back to work. This is Peter saying, “I’m done.” Peter is going back to his old life.
After fishing all night and catching nothing, the disciples hear a voice calling out to them. “Have you not caught any fish? Cast your nets on the other side.” When they cast them in again, they were unable to haul it in because there were full of so many fish. It was then that John recognized Jesus and said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Peter immediately jumped into the water and the others followed in the boat. Jesus asked them to bring in some fish and then jesus said three very profound words: “Come and eat.”

This entire encounter is for Peter. Peter knew that He let Jesus down. He knew He deserved an “You said you wouldn’t betray me, huh?” He thought He was no longer any use to Jesus. But Jesus came to reconcile Himself to all people. Jesus sharing breakfast with Peter had huge meaning. Throughout the Bible, people share a meal as a sign of peace, a symbol of forgiveness. In Genesis, Jacob and Laban eat a meal together to part ways in peace (Genesis 31:43-54). In Exodus before he is given the 10 Commandments on stone, Moses and the people eat and drink before God (Exodus 24:9-11). In Leviticus the law states the Rabbis must eat a portion of every sacrifice. Even in the story of the Prodigal Son, the first thing that father does is call for a feast with the fatted calf.

This was Jewish culture. This was Jewish understanding. When you ate with someone who had wronged you, it signified forgiveness. Eating a meal was about reconciliation. Jesus having a meal with Peter showed him that he was forgiven.

Jesus eats a meal with us, too. Each time we take part in Holy Communion, we are taking part in this ancient tradition. Communion is about our reconciliation. Through the eating of the bread and drinking of the cup, our relationship with the Messiah is restored.

Today I saw this familiar story play out in a whole new way. This land has a way of taking the black and white words of Scripture and making them 3D and in color. The stories will never be the same.

We did a lot of other great things. Today wore me out and yet here I am typing at 10:30 p.m. Some other places that we visited that I will have stories for are:
- Caesarea Philipi
- Mount Hermon
- Dan ( and a 4000 year old entrance to Dan that Abraham once passed through)
- Mount of Beatitudes

Tomorrow I continue my pilgrimage in Jordan (where there probably is no Wi-Fi). I’m still seeking and still praying. I hope you are, too.

All People & All Places

2010-02-07T12:16:00.000-08:00

Tonight I sit along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Wow - who says that?

We pulled into Tiberias at sunset, so tomorrow I will see much more. Tonight, I will try to take you through the sites of the last two days. So much information, so little time.

Yesterday afternoon we went to Jaffa (Joppa). It is an ancient port city - the place where people would come when they were going to Jerusalem from across the sea. Here we saw the traditional home of Simon the Tanner. Peter was staying with Simon when He had a vision and was sent to the home of Cornelius in Caesarea. (Acts 10:1-32) We stood in front of this home and walked along streets walked by Peter. We listened as the story unfolded to us and heard the words read that Peter heard from the voice in his vision: "What God has made clean, you must not call profane." Then Pastor Dale said these exact words: "God was doing a new thing. It took courage for Peter to accept that go to Caesarea. We must be open to God doing new things today." And I heard the echo. "God is doing something new"...these are the words of Pastor Alan. These are the words of Rob Bell. God doing a new thing. He made Gentiles clean. A new thing. Because ultimately its about humanity. God wants to extend grace and mercy to ALL people. That was my lesson in Jaffa. All people? Yes, even them.

Jaffa also brings the story of Jonah. Jaffa is where Jonah went to hide from God when He didn't want to go to Ninevah. Jonah didn't think God would find him there, but he learned quickly that you can't hide from God. Why did Jonah not want to go to Nineveah. Because he was scared? No. Because he hated the Asyrians who occupied the land and he did not want them to receive mercy. He would rather them be destroyed. If he went - they would be saved. But Jonah goes and he is successful. Ninevaeh repents and they are saved. Jonah ends abruptly, with Jonah resentful. The theme of the Prodigal Son is a lot the same. The father extends mercy and the oldest son is resentful. Here is where Pastor Mark says, "God desires to give grace and mercy to all people. When God shows us something new, don't resist - follow Him." Was that another echo? Got it.

Today, we traveled along the coastline to begin in Caesaria for part two of Peter's story (from Jaffa). Here is where Cornelius lived and Peter came and the first Gentiles were reached with the Good News. Paul was also held here and gave his defense to King Agrippa. In Caeserea are the remains of a Theater, an Ampitheater, and a Hipitheater - built by King Herod. Caeserea was known as "Little Rome."

From Caesaria we turned east along the same passage ancient people would turn to go to east. The land becomes very hilly and it is the only way with a passage easy enough to take by foot (or bus in our case). For miles there are hills and cliff edges on either side. Finally you come through the hills and get your first look at the Valley or Jezreel - the Valley of Armageddon. (Revelations 16:13-16) The last hill to the north is Tel Megiddo. Tel means "hill" in Hebrew. This hill has 20-23 layers of human civilization - 7000 years of history. I have a hard time even wrapping my mind around that. From Megiddo you can see Mount Carmel - where the Prophet Elijah went against the god of Baal - and his fire (and God) won. We saw steep stone steps that have been untouched that Elijah would have had to walk up to enter the city of Megiddo. We saw ruins of the city King Ahab build and ruins of the "high place" where they would have sacrificed animals and children to pagan Gods (5000 years ago). In the distance you could see Nazareth, Mount Tabor (Jesus' ascention) and Mount Gilboa. These are mountains Elijah saw. These are mountains Jesus saw. Do I get it yet? Still I can't comprehend.

We left Megiddo, taking the same path through the Jezreel Valley to Nazareth. We just stopped for an overlook view of Nazareth. Today Nazareth has spilled onto and over the hills that once kept in a bowl. Today it is inhabited by mostly Arabs. Today Nazareth looks nothing like it did when Jesus grew up there. But Jesus would have climbed the hills surrounding Nazareth. Jesus would have looked upon the hills of Samaria in the distance. The same sun that set over Nazareth tonight, set over Nazareth and maybe Jesus once watched it. We took the path that Jesus' mother would have taken to Cana. We didn't stop in Cana - but I'm sure it doesn't look the same either. We took the same path Jesus would have taken from Nazareth when He went to Capernaum. I don't thing he traveled along a 4-lane highway - but he would have come through the valley. We entered Tiberias as sundown. We saw the first view of the Sea of Galilee that Jesus would have seen.

So much has changed. The modern world has rushed in and left only remnants of the world where Jesus lived. Yet, the sun remains unchanged. The sky, the stars, the water and the hills remain. And our God remains.

He is here. I am beginning to feel it. Tomorrow will be a big day. I look forward to seeing where I find Him.

May you find Him ... because you don't have to come the Holy Land to do it.

Bright and Shiny

2010-02-02T20:23:00.000-08:00

Several years ago my husband bought me a ring for my birthday. My "Jesus fish" encircled ring is sterling silver from James Avery. Just about every day you can see it upon my right hand, middle finger.

Yesterday during a trip to the mall, I stopped in to have it cleaned. This not something I have ever done, but my friend Jennifer does it often with her James Avery silver, so I followed suit. We dropped off our jewelry and started on my list of "I needs." An hour later we came back to retrieve our silver. When the associate pulled my ring out of the little felt pouch and I put it on my finger, I was in shock. I was in awe. I could barely believe what I saw. My ring that had once been well worn and well loved, scratched and dull ... was now bright and shiny. I didn't even remember it looking this great the day I received it as a gift. I guess I had just gotten sp used to it's lackluster that I forgot it's brilliance. I couldn't stop looking at my hand (and then I decided I needed a much prettier hand to wear such a shiny ring-where was my lotion?).

As we walked through the parking lot, Jennifer and I began pondering the similarities between that dull ring and our lives. So often we get used to being dull, lackluster, stuck in a rut...that it just seems normal. Our lives get dirty, stained, scratched and it just becomes the way we are. But I think God desires for us to be bright and shiny. In just minutes all the old grime was polished away from my ring and it was good as new. Jesus does the same for us. When we finally realize that we've become less than what God desires, He is right there to polish us up. We become "new creations" in Him every time we ask to be made clean. However, He loves us because He loves us - not because of what we do or what we don't do - He loves us because He loves us. He longs to see us bright and shiny...but He loves us even when we are lackluster.

Jennifer says that I'm going to go off on my sabbatical and get all bright and shiny while she stays dull and dirty. I told her she better stay away then so she doesn't rub her dirt off on my shininess. :) Actually, I hope to come back and rub my shininess off on her and everyone else. How else are we supposed to be a "City on a Hill" if we are not shining bright for the world to see?

May you remember that God loves you whether you are dull and dirty or bright and shiny. May you turn to Him today and ask Him to polish you up a bit.

A New Day

2010-02-01T09:24:00.000-08:00

In my attic are boxes full of journals. For years upon years I wrote down thoughts, feelings, dreams, questions, life. Then along came kids and ministry and somewhere that got lost. However, I love to write and so I've decided that since I am beginning this journey of my sabbatical today, I would begin journaling again. This time I won't use a notebook or pen - I'll try to be more culturally relevant and share my journeys with anyone who is interested. I want this sabbatical time to have a purpose. I know that God has great things in store for me. I plan to pay attention to His echoes and His whispers. I hope to not get caught up in life but to take time to be in His presence. Hopefully keeping track of it all will guide me to that end.

A song came to me last night as I eased into the evening of my last day. I had heard it before, but last night realized the searching of the song mimics the searching of my heart.

What Do I Know of Holy?
Addison Road

I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life "its" name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?

What do I know of Holy? For seven years I've been living and breathing God - sharing Him, teaching of Him, following Him, questioning Him. But what do I know?

I begin this two month journey with a seeking heart and with an expectant longing.

I seek God's Will. I seek His love and grace. I seek to reconnect and rediscover Jesus and learn more about who He is. Truthfully, I've become cynical and jaded lately. I've been slapped in the face by the feeling that some Christians just aren't nice. I wonder how some people can be worshiping the same God, following the same Jesus and reading the same Bible. Do have it wrong? Have I missed some important detail that makes my Jesus so different from the Jesus that others follow? Did I get a different version of the Bible?

I long to recapture that love and passion I once felt for my church and my calling. I know that I love my church and I love my job, but sometimes all the small stuff gets in the way of the big picture. I long for God's perspective to win out over fear and doubt. I know He sees the big picture and long to catch a glimpse of it, too. For I know: God is faithful. God is faithful. God is faithful.

And so I begin.