1. How safe is it to use a shower that is heated by an exposed electrical current that has earned the nickname “widow-maker?”
2. Is it really odd that I like to sing Good Morning songs before I’ve had coffee?
3. Will Gigante the Gecko visit us again tonight?
4. How many drunk guys with machetes does it take to freak Brenda out?
5. When Emilee talks in her sleep, do I talk back to her in my sleep?
6. How can such simple ingredients make such delicious food?
7. How many Guatemalans can you fit in the back of a pickup?
8. Even though it was kinda weird and strangely liberating and I’m filled with expectation, will God really answer the prayer that Keith prayed over me to learn Spanish easily?
9. Would I really sell everything I have if God told me to, or is that merely a nice thought because I don’t think He’ll ever ask that of me (and if He did, my husband would flip out anyway)?
10. Do I have enough faith to believe that God will answer the prayer that I prayed over a desperate mother for health and protection for her family and for their physical needs to be met?
11. What can we do that will truly benefit the people we are here to serve and can it really make an impact and improve their quality of life?
12. What is my responsibility in all this?
13. Is this really about changing the situation for the poor, or should it be about changing the attitude of the rich?
14. Is it okay to serve people with the expectation that I will benefit even though I know that’s not the right attitude?
15. “Can an accident of latitude and longitude really be the difference between life and death?” – Bono
16. Why does God allow people to live in these conditions and allow us to live in our conditions?
17. What is God trying to teach me this week?
18. How unnerving is it to have a police escort through Guatemala City?
19. What would God’s perfect will look like on this Guatemalan hillside?
20. Since every person (pastors, Sarita, and several precious children) who has prayed for us has asked God to meet our needs, I'm struck with the question: What are my needs?
*Twenty Questions
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Bail, Jesus! Bail!
I can't imagine how tired he was. Jesus was just wiped out. Super long day. Super long week. So he calls all the guys together to take a cruise. They climb in and Jesus heads down to let the lap of the water on the boat lull him to sleep. That's one of my favorite places to nap: out on a boat in the middle of the lake. Ahh...
Now, I've taught this story of Jesus calming the storm to 2 year olds for the last 10 years. It goes something like this:
Jesus and his friends got in their boats. (Pretend to climb in a boat.)
Jesus went to sleep. (Hands to cheek.)
And a storm came and the rain came down. (Pat legs like rain. Wave arms like wind.)
And the thunder crashed. (Clap hands really big.)
And the boat rocked. (Sway side to side.)
And the disciples were scared. (Show me a scared face!)
And Jesus was sleeping. (Hands to cheek.)
"Wake up! Wake up! Help us!"
And Jesus just stood up and told the storm to stop. Say it with me, "Stop, storm. Be still."
Cute. The kids get into it. It's one of my favorites to do with them. Except I've been teaching it WRONG for 10 years.
I reread this story not too long ago and, um, the disciples weren't scared until after Jesus calmed the storm. That's a seemingly small detail, but it brought up a huge question for me.
What were the disciples expecting Jesus to do when they woke him?
These guys are fisherman. They had been in storms before. They knew what needed to be done. Now, I'm not a sailor, but I did go white water rafting once. Our guide told us the most important thing we needed to know was "BAIL!" When he said "bail" we were to grab our bucket and start bailing the water out of the raft as fast as we could. I think that's what the disciples expected Jesus to do. "Get up, dude. Grab a bucket and bail!"
But instead of following their plan and meeting their low expectations, he did something that they couldn't have known was even possible to ask for. They couldn't have fathomed his response. Just tell the storm to stop. Peace. Be still. And it scared the tar out of them.
How often do I do that? I ask Jesus for help and I know exactly how I'd like him to help. I don't usually give him a laundry list, but I often ask for him to intervene in a friend's life in a specific way or ask for discernment on a decision I need to make with options A and B. I'm limited in what I think the options are. And when He answers in a way I couldn't imagine, I'm shocked and in awe. I commented to one of my Honduran friends that I don't know why I'm always so surprised when God answers my prayers. His repsonse: You're not surprised He answers, you're suprised at the way he answers.
So I think I gotta stop asking Jesus to bail.
Now, I've taught this story of Jesus calming the storm to 2 year olds for the last 10 years. It goes something like this:
Jesus and his friends got in their boats. (Pretend to climb in a boat.)
Jesus went to sleep. (Hands to cheek.)
And a storm came and the rain came down. (Pat legs like rain. Wave arms like wind.)
And the thunder crashed. (Clap hands really big.)
And the boat rocked. (Sway side to side.)
And the disciples were scared. (Show me a scared face!)
And Jesus was sleeping. (Hands to cheek.)
"Wake up! Wake up! Help us!"
And Jesus just stood up and told the storm to stop. Say it with me, "Stop, storm. Be still."
Cute. The kids get into it. It's one of my favorites to do with them. Except I've been teaching it WRONG for 10 years.
I reread this story not too long ago and, um, the disciples weren't scared until after Jesus calmed the storm. That's a seemingly small detail, but it brought up a huge question for me.
What were the disciples expecting Jesus to do when they woke him?
These guys are fisherman. They had been in storms before. They knew what needed to be done. Now, I'm not a sailor, but I did go white water rafting once. Our guide told us the most important thing we needed to know was "BAIL!" When he said "bail" we were to grab our bucket and start bailing the water out of the raft as fast as we could. I think that's what the disciples expected Jesus to do. "Get up, dude. Grab a bucket and bail!"
But instead of following their plan and meeting their low expectations, he did something that they couldn't have known was even possible to ask for. They couldn't have fathomed his response. Just tell the storm to stop. Peace. Be still. And it scared the tar out of them.
How often do I do that? I ask Jesus for help and I know exactly how I'd like him to help. I don't usually give him a laundry list, but I often ask for him to intervene in a friend's life in a specific way or ask for discernment on a decision I need to make with options A and B. I'm limited in what I think the options are. And when He answers in a way I couldn't imagine, I'm shocked and in awe. I commented to one of my Honduran friends that I don't know why I'm always so surprised when God answers my prayers. His repsonse: You're not surprised He answers, you're suprised at the way he answers.
So I think I gotta stop asking Jesus to bail.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
God Is Not My Girlfriend
Majesty. Glory. Words that really aren't used outside of religious circles except to talk about the Queen of England, purple mountains or sing Bruce Springsteen lyrics. And Christians use them in such nonchalant ways that they have not only lost their meaning, but they make those outside the Christian bubble think, "There they go again with their Christianese."
Unfortunately, the words have lost their luster for me, too. I don't necessarily use them that often, but I sing them in every other song that runs through my head. I think I know the crux of the problem.
I have forgotten that God is really big. Not the Veggie Tales version of God is Bigger than the Boogie Man. I mean really, really BIG. Have you seen Planet Earth??? The ecosystems in this world are magnificently complex. Absolutely incredible. As phenomenal as our earth is, it's just earth. It's just one little speck in this massive universe.
Consider that in our little corner of the galaxy there are an estimated 100,000 sun-like stars, each with the potential of having an earth-size planet. But in the whole Milky Way galaxy? Try 100 billion stars. One Hundred Billion. In one medium sized galaxy. Psalm 33:6 says that God is a star-breather. Just whoosh...have a galaxy. (And scientists at NASA are surprised by how one of the galaxies that "should" be a baby is way older. Hmm, maybe God breathed right there in that out-of-place spot in the universe.) And we can't even estimate how many galaxies there are. As much as I love to read about new discoveries and think it's amazing what science is revealing, we just can't possibly know, much less understand, the complexities of this universe. And I wouldn't put it past God that this is just one universe of many.
And yet He knows my name. There are nearly 7 billion of us right now. And He knows each of our names. That just blows me away. What a majestic, glorious God!
Truly majestic. Astoundingly glorious. Meticulously personal.
Somehow I've dumbed Him down to being my bestie. My bff. My chum. My let's-do-lunch-and-hang-out-a-while girlfriend. There is a delicate balance in understanding His holiness, majesty and glory and having an intimate, real friendship with Him. And right now I need to recognize that God is not my girlfriend.
Note 1: You thought this was gonna be racy, didn't ya?
Note 2: I only used NASA research here because even though History Channel has a great series on the Universe, couldn't find any verification of the numbers they were throwing out - 6 billion solar systems in 125 billion galaxies. Appears History Channel has more info than NASA. Makes me question the validity of the series.
Note 3: Oh, and I'm still considering whether or not I think Jesus is my boyfriend.
Unfortunately, the words have lost their luster for me, too. I don't necessarily use them that often, but I sing them in every other song that runs through my head. I think I know the crux of the problem.
I have forgotten that God is really big. Not the Veggie Tales version of God is Bigger than the Boogie Man. I mean really, really BIG. Have you seen Planet Earth??? The ecosystems in this world are magnificently complex. Absolutely incredible. As phenomenal as our earth is, it's just earth. It's just one little speck in this massive universe.
Consider that in our little corner of the galaxy there are an estimated 100,000 sun-like stars, each with the potential of having an earth-size planet. But in the whole Milky Way galaxy? Try 100 billion stars. One Hundred Billion. In one medium sized galaxy. Psalm 33:6 says that God is a star-breather. Just whoosh...have a galaxy. (And scientists at NASA are surprised by how one of the galaxies that "should" be a baby is way older. Hmm, maybe God breathed right there in that out-of-place spot in the universe.) And we can't even estimate how many galaxies there are. As much as I love to read about new discoveries and think it's amazing what science is revealing, we just can't possibly know, much less understand, the complexities of this universe. And I wouldn't put it past God that this is just one universe of many.
And yet He knows my name. There are nearly 7 billion of us right now. And He knows each of our names. That just blows me away. What a majestic, glorious God!
Truly majestic. Astoundingly glorious. Meticulously personal.
Somehow I've dumbed Him down to being my bestie. My bff. My chum. My let's-do-lunch-and-hang-out-a-while girlfriend. There is a delicate balance in understanding His holiness, majesty and glory and having an intimate, real friendship with Him. And right now I need to recognize that God is not my girlfriend.
Note 1: You thought this was gonna be racy, didn't ya?
Note 2: I only used NASA research here because even though History Channel has a great series on the Universe, couldn't find any verification of the numbers they were throwing out - 6 billion solar systems in 125 billion galaxies. Appears History Channel has more info than NASA. Makes me question the validity of the series.
Note 3: Oh, and I'm still considering whether or not I think Jesus is my boyfriend.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Priceless
You know how you sometimes wish you could really savor the truly priceless things in life? And by priceless I mean they don't cost a penny! Since we've been doing Financial Peace University (and so glad we did it before the economy really went bust) we've been using only cash for everything other than church and bills. Unfortunately, I have five lonely dollars left until Friday.
So, what to do about my birthday today? I had thought about a pampering day - manicure, pedicure, lunch out - but woke up chanting my debit card mantra: Swiper, NO SWIPING! And honestly, I feel way too guilty about spending money frivolously, especially on myself.
I got up mostly on time and saw the full moon in the west and the beginnings of sunrise in the east. My wonderful husband wished me a happy birthday and left several wrapped presents for me to open with the kiddos before he hopped a plane to DC for business meetings this week. The kids got ready without too much hassle (the bakery cinnamon rolls I bought on the day-old rack for 80 cents was a great incentive) and the kitchen was clean when we left the house. Priceless.
A friend offered to watch Matthew and Jacob for me this afternoon and they have a blast playing with her kids. I had to completely convince myself that it was really okay to use my free combo meal coupon from Taco Bell on my birthday. I did. Fresco style. It was good. And priceless.
My childhood memories of my birthday are snow days, cold, dreary, find something to do inside days. Not that I didn't enjoy my birthdays - my mom always had some fun
project or surprise for me - but today's weather was incredible. Can't remember a birthday with 75 degree sunshiney bliss. So I headed to a wooded park near my home and took a walk, hiked a trail, watched some folks play frisbee golf (okay, that's just a really interesting sport) and made my own trail up a hill that didn't look like it would make my thighs fall off as I stood at the bottom optimistically. I watched a cardinal, woodpecker and two little finches hop from tree to tree. I even got really adventurous and climbed out on a huge tree that was growing over an embankment near a winding creek. Priceless.
Unfortunately, my end goal was to sit out on this beautiful tree and enjoy my surroundings. It should have been how I was going to get back to solid ground. I was up a
little higher than I anticipated (not sure the pic does it justice) and once I realized it might be a little difficult to climb down, it was hard to concentrate on what I was supposed to be enjoying. Still, priceless.
I picked the kids up from my friend's and got the older ones from school. Lots of happy birthdays from them and their friends. Once we were home, Emilee and her friend made me a birthday cake - heart shaped strawberry. While it cooled we rode bikes to the park down the street (yep, even me!) where I tried my skills on the monkey bars (failed), pull up bar (failed), twisty slide (moderate success), and crooked tunnel that Jacob looked back at me and said, "C'mon, Mommy. Can you fit?" Army crawl = success! Priceless.
Fixed a quick dinner while the kids decorated the cake. Emilee did "Happy," Matthew did "Birthday," Grant did "Mom" and Jacob, well, he tested the chocolate frosting. Oh, that is most definitely priceless! (And strawberry cake with chocolate frosting doesn't taste a whole lot like chocolate covered strawberries, but it'll eat.)
So, what to do about my birthday today? I had thought about a pampering day - manicure, pedicure, lunch out - but woke up chanting my debit card mantra: Swiper, NO SWIPING! And honestly, I feel way too guilty about spending money frivolously, especially on myself.
I got up mostly on time and saw the full moon in the west and the beginnings of sunrise in the east. My wonderful husband wished me a happy birthday and left several wrapped presents for me to open with the kiddos before he hopped a plane to DC for business meetings this week. The kids got ready without too much hassle (the bakery cinnamon rolls I bought on the day-old rack for 80 cents was a great incentive) and the kitchen was clean when we left the house. Priceless.
A friend offered to watch Matthew and Jacob for me this afternoon and they have a blast playing with her kids. I had to completely convince myself that it was really okay to use my free combo meal coupon from Taco Bell on my birthday. I did. Fresco style. It was good. And priceless.
My childhood memories of my birthday are snow days, cold, dreary, find something to do inside days. Not that I didn't enjoy my birthdays - my mom always had some fun
project or surprise for me - but today's weather was incredible. Can't remember a birthday with 75 degree sunshiney bliss. So I headed to a wooded park near my home and took a walk, hiked a trail, watched some folks play frisbee golf (okay, that's just a really interesting sport) and made my own trail up a hill that didn't look like it would make my thighs fall off as I stood at the bottom optimistically. I watched a cardinal, woodpecker and two little finches hop from tree to tree. I even got really adventurous and climbed out on a huge tree that was growing over an embankment near a winding creek. Priceless.Unfortunately, my end goal was to sit out on this beautiful tree and enjoy my surroundings. It should have been how I was going to get back to solid ground. I was up a
little higher than I anticipated (not sure the pic does it justice) and once I realized it might be a little difficult to climb down, it was hard to concentrate on what I was supposed to be enjoying. Still, priceless.I picked the kids up from my friend's and got the older ones from school. Lots of happy birthdays from them and their friends. Once we were home, Emilee and her friend made me a birthday cake - heart shaped strawberry. While it cooled we rode bikes to the park down the street (yep, even me!) where I tried my skills on the monkey bars (failed), pull up bar (failed), twisty slide (moderate success), and crooked tunnel that Jacob looked back at me and said, "C'mon, Mommy. Can you fit?" Army crawl = success! Priceless.
Fixed a quick dinner while the kids decorated the cake. Emilee did "Happy," Matthew did "Birthday," Grant did "Mom" and Jacob, well, he tested the chocolate frosting. Oh, that is most definitely priceless! (And strawberry cake with chocolate frosting doesn't taste a whole lot like chocolate covered strawberries, but it'll eat.)
The kids singing me happy birthday, Jacob belting it out and then helping me blow out the candles: Priceless.
So, pennies saved. Joy multiplied. Mind refreshed. God encountered. Absolutely priceless.
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