Currently The Shack By William P. Young see related

Where are the children?

Okay, I tried doing this on Facebook, but it just doesn't give enough space to rant.

Mark 10: 13-16 - "The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them.  The disciples shooed them off.  But Jesus was irate and let themknow it: 'Don't push these children away.  Don't ever get between them and me.  These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom.  Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in.' Then, gathering the children in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them."

Last night on the news was a segment about a veterans group who spent their days making little wooden toy cars.  Each one had his own task in the process, and did it faithfully.  These toys were then boxed up and sent over to Iraq and Afghanistan where our soldiers distributed them.  The clip showed a school.  These kids went nuts over these simple wooden toy cars.  The reporter mentioned that most of these children went from school out to the fields to work, and many had never had a toy in their lives.  Some of these children were at least 10 or 11.....never had a toy.  That tore at my heart and made me cry.  I volunteered at PADS last night.  I took some coloring books, cheap sketch pads, and crayons.  For one little girl, Arielle, you would have thought I had brought a priceless treasure.  She spent the entire evening when she didn't have to help set up or eat dinner coloring and tracing pictures. She made a picture for Valerie, the other volunteer, and me.

Too many children are growing up in this world not being able to experience the innocence, the simplicity, the freedom and fun of being children.  They are forced to become more mature in the face of war (the child soldiers in Africa), poverty, homelessness, being kidnapped and sold as slaves (aka prostitutes), illness, addictions (their own or that of their parents), dysfunctional families, abuse, etc.  This breaks the heart of Jesus who weeps for these young ones.  Shouldn't we be doing more to reach out?

Currently Reading Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy With God in the Busyness of Life (Revised Edition with New Bible Study) By Joanna Weaver see related

Be still...

                 "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10a)

My deepest desire is to know God more and to love Him more.  A couple of weeks ago my pastor gave a message about making time, carving out a niche from our busyness, just to be with our Father.  He said only by spending time with Him will we really develop that intimate relationship.  God gave us the process in the above scripture.  "Be still..."

I confess that's a problem for me.  The few times in my life when God has gotten my attention and put me in situations where I am almost (I'm human...hence the "almost.") totally concentrated on Him have been wonderful.  I've come away renewed, focused, energized, purposeful, and with a sense that I am deeply loved by my Father.  One would think that having had those experiences I would be more consistent in finding time daily with my Lord.  But I still struggle with "be still."

Most days since I renewed my acquaintance with my Savior (about six years ago), I have awakened with the words of a worship song running through my brain.  The song may vary from day to day.  I don't know why this has occurred, but it is a wonderful way to start the day.  I'll lay in bed for a few minutes, savoring the message of the song.  But then...I hit the ground running.  Assignments or reading for school, tasks for church, or household chores all pull me into their grip immediately.  Sometimes, and not even this is consistent, I can squeeze in about 15-20 minutes of reading a daily devotional and/or Scripture. Then it's back into the thick of the day.   Paul says in Romans 7, "I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.  My decisions, such as they are, don't result in action. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. (The Message)"  I want to, but I can't "be still."

After several weeks of that pace, I feel parched and starved for time with my Father.  I long for a place to go that is peaceful.  In the book I am currently reading, Having a Mary Heart In a Martha World by Joanna Weaver, the author suggests finding a space in your home to designate for a quiet time.  This doesn't work for me.  My apartment is small, and it is impossible for me to seclude myself from things needing attention.  I need to find a retreat to help me "be still."

I grew up in western Massachusetts.  There are mountains to sit and gaze at, absorbing their beautiful and majestic presence,

country roads to stroll down, often not meeting a car or another person for long periods,

or streams to sit by and listen to the gently moving water amidst the other sounds of nature.  "Be still..."

I often find myself longing for my church, Reunion, to have its own building - a sanctuary I could run to and remove myself from all the tasks clamoring for my attention.  (Although, if I'm honest, I would probably still have a hard time there as well - I would still be "doing.")  And even when I do eventually find a space where I can detach, it usually takes me about two hours for my brain to stop wandering and "detox" from the treadmill I'm on. "Be still..."

I know to conquer this dilemma will take an intentional act on my part. If any of you reading this have any solutions, let me know.  In the meantime, I still struggle with "be still."

Currently Reading "Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?": A Psychologist Explains the Development of Racial Identity By Beverly Daniel Tatum see related

Make a difference

 As you can see I'm currently reading "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?"  It's a book about racism, but I was caught by this story the author told in her introduction.  It was printed on a mug she received after donating to a charity:

                                                                                                                                                                         A young girl was walking along a beach.  To her amazement, she came upon thousands of starfish. Washed ashore by a storm, they were dying in the hot sun.  The girl began to toss starfish back into the sea, one by one.  After a while, a man approached her.  "Little girl," he asked, "why are you doing this?  There are thousands of starfish on the beach.  You cannot possibly hope to make a difference!"  The girl was discouraged, and dropped the starfish in her hand.  But a moment later, she bent down, picked up the stafish again, and tossed it as far as she could into the sea.  She turned back to the man.  Smiling brightly, she said, "I made a difference to that one!"  Inspired, he joined her.  A crowd had gathered, and soon others joined in.  Before long, there were hundreds of people tossing starfish back into the sea and calling out, "I made a difference to that one!"  After a while, their calls subsided.  The girl looked up.  To her amazement, she saw no starfish on the beach.  Each one had been tossed back into the sea.

Go and make "a difference to that one!"  Every life we touch, we've made a difference - for good or for bad.  Choose to make a difference for good to someone - anyone - a friend, family member, co-worker, or - really stretch it - a total stranger.  Think of the difference Jesus Christ made in your life by redeeming you and setting you free.  Introduce Him to others through your words, through your actions, through your life.  His command to us was to "go."  What are you waiting for?  Start making a difference now.

Currently Reading Grow Your Church from the Outside in: Understanding the Unchurched and How to Reach Them By George Barna see related

                  American Idol winner David Cook

          Dancing with the Stars winner Kristi Yamaguchi

Lately I haven't blogged.  I guess I keep waiting until I have something that seems to be gnawing at me rather than trying to blog just for the sake of blogging.  (Plus school is now out so I have more time to think about things other than papers, quizzes, tests, and presentations.)  Well, this has been gnawing at me for a few days now.

I have to admit I don't get the whole "reality TV" phenomenon.  People are arranging their lives around these shows.  The two shown above seem to be the hottest ones right now, but let's not forget about Survivor, The Amazing Race, etc., etc., etc.  The viewers become enthralled every week waiting with heightened anticipation to see if their favorite person/team will make it to the next round and they will be able to enjoy their talents a little while longer.  They practically go into mourning if their pick is ousted and there is great jubilation "throughout the land" when the winner is announced, including appearances on all the network TV shows (This is news?????  I guess it beats all the horrible, depressing things happening around the world.), all the talk shows, and all the entertainment news.  The winners' images appear everywhere for at least a month.  Some of the very talented go on and build careers, others sink into oblivion.  I admit all of this is mildly amusing, but hardly life changing to anyone except the winners and possibly some of the runners-up.  About the only change in the lives of the general public is they have the opportunity to waste more time doing something mindless.

Here's my conflict with all of this.  (And believe me, I'm directing this musing at myself more than anyone else!)  Why can we put so much enthusiasm and energy into something this insignificant but when it comes to being enthusiastic and energized regarding things of faith we clam up or are too tired or just plain lackidaisical or even apathetic?  How many of us greet each day with an "on the edge of our seats" attitude, waiting to see God's miracles worked out around us?  How many of us approach the throne of grace with heightened expectancy and awe that the God of the universe will communicate with us?  Do we dive into Scripture with an "I can't wait" attitude to see what the Holy Spirit will reveal to us?  Do we rearrange our lives on a regular basis, regardless of all the tasks awaiting us or the tiredness in our bones, to go be with fellow believers to celebrate God's love for us or to pray or study together and learn from one another, to serve one another?  Or does all of that potentially life-changing activity take too much energy, too much thought, too much sacrifice?  Yes, I said the "s" word - sacrifice.  And do we leave the comfort zones we've created to step out and share with others?

Here are some statistics that have blown me away over the last several months.  The U.S. is the fifth largest mission field in the world.  The Chicagoland area had a net loss of 500 - yes, you read it correctly - 500 churches in the last year while the number of unbelievers is on the rise. 

I think it's time all of us, myself included, take a look at what is important.  I have to ask myself, if I truly believe that Christ gave me the greatest gift of all by reconnecting me with my heavenly Father, and that a relationship with Christ truly changes lives, and that my place in heaven is now secure for eternity, then why am I not taking every opportunity to let a lost world know about this?  Why is so much time spent talking about the latest winner of a reality TV show, but so little time is spent talking about the Victor over sin and death and evil?  Why isn't my enthusiasm about my Lord and Savior bubbling out of me?  Why can't I rearrange my life for Him and His people?  Why do I prefer to sit in the comfort of my home doing something totally inane?  What are my priorities in this life? 

Will the reality TV go away anytime soon?  No.  But neither is the need to serve a lost world.  Let's turn off the TV and get out there and talk about God's love, serve the disenfranchised, encourage our brothers and sisters in the faith, and celebrate our incredible Lord. 

Currently Reading A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America By Ronald Takaki see related

I know it's been months since I've posted anything, and I'm sorry for that.  School has kept me extremely busy.  But events of the last few days have pushed me to break my blog silence.

As I was on my way to school yesterday, I thought, "I can't wait for this day to be done."  I wasn't facing anything horrendous that day; I enjoy all of my classes.  I guess I was looking ahead to the weekend - I had to work today; I have a paper due on Tuesday which needs to get finished this weekend; I have my book discussion group on Sunday night.  A full plate of activity. And then I had to stop myself.

I couldn't help but wonder how many of the students at NIU, sitting in that lecture hall listening to a geology lecture were thinking, "I can't wait for this lecture to be over."  And then it was - in a very, very tragic way.  Six students killed, and the gunman taking his own life.

Lives ended - other lives shattered. Those that survived that senseless act of violence have been changed forever.

So I had to stop myself.  Then I got to wondering how much of my life I spend wishing it away.  We all do it at times, especially if we're facing something uncomfortable, painful, frustrating, sorrowful. Or if we are anticipating a wonderful event.  I realized then that I really need to learn to live in the moment.  I know that is a bit of a cliche, but it's true.  The moment right now is the only time we have here on earth that we can be certain we have.  The next moment we could be gone. So even if the moment isn't something pleasant, it is something to celebrate and thank God for.

For those of us that have a real relationship with Jesus Christ, death doesn't scare us.  We know where we will be spending eternity.  But how many of you who check in on this blog can say that you have that same assurance?  I don't normally plainly state what I believe, but maybe now is the time.  For those of you that I know and love, have you talked to God lately?  Have you confessed your sin to your heavenly Father, and asked Jesus Christ to be your personal Lord and Savior?  If not, what's stopping you?  If you aren't sure what I'm talking about, or if you have doubts or questions, please contact me.  You can send me an email off this blog page.  I'll be happy to communicate with you.  Don't let another day pass.  It will change your life.

For those of you who do know Christ, celebrate each moment.  Love completely, give generously, celebrate everything in your life - especially those you love.  God's blessings are bountiful.  Stop and appreciate them. Thank Him for them.