A Time...

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Last week, it seemed, was a time for death. Lena's brother passed away after 3 months of health complications. One of my college classmates was killed in a motorcycle accident. The president and a large number of top officials of Poland were in a plane crash and lost their lives. 2 kids died in a house fire in my home town. These are just the ones that touched my circle of influence in some way.

I don't always understand the reasons God does the things a certain way. I don't know why Lena's brother lived to be in his 70s, and my classmate Mark only lived to be 23. But I'm thankful that God is in control of all of our lives, and he has our days numbered. These deaths didn't happen outside of his plan for the overall scheme of things. He is going to provide healing and life to those who are mourning right now, because that's how God works. So I don't have to understand, but I do need to trust and praise Him no matter what.

Encountering Other Religions

Actually in both of my classes this week we are looking at the topic of encountering other religions and the Christian response. I think this is an area in which I used to be pretty rigid. No other religions are correct, and Jesus is the only way to salvation. I still believe that Jesus is the only way, but I feel like I have been able to approach other religions with a bit more of an open mind.

I appreciated this quote from my Missiology textbook: "A missionary can be uncompromising without being vindictive or mean-spirited. By focusing energy on positively living and teaching the truth rather than constantly attacking lies, missionaries will be more effective in encouraging people people to change allegiances and follow Christ".

I appreciated this quote because it offered a solid middle ground in between two extremes. As Christians we are to love the people around us and I think this means lots of listening and respect for what they believe. But we must also remain solidly grounded in the Bible and our beliefs. Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life and our job and privilege is to share that with others.

Ode to "The White Car"

My car has had several issues this week, and in order to process it all and relieve a little stress my sister encouraged me to write a memoir of sorts of my car. I don't have a special name for it, but for the longest time my family simply referred to it as "the white car" (as opposed to the red car which belonged to my sister and the gray car belonging to my brother).

I have been driving this car for 8 years, since right before my 16th birthday. I used it to take the driver's test to get my licence, which took place in the thriving metropolis of Pierce, Nebraska. It was a great little car because it had lots of zip and the heat and AC worked great (this seemed particularly impressive at the time I guess to compared to other vehicles we had).

I have put a lot of miles on that car since my 16th birthday. I was the first kid in the family to start driving so I got to shuttle siblings to church activities, baseball practice, and all kinds of things.

I remember packing up my things to head off the day after I graduated from high school to go to staff training at Timberlake Ranch Camp. I drove back and forth every weekend so I could spend that time with my family.

Then I packed up the car again for my freshmen year of college. My car saw a lot of miles through the 4 years driving back and forth to Northwestern. Since I was one of the few of my friends who had a car I got to be the chauffeur on many occasions which was great. Through the years we made trips to Lifelight, Sioux City for bridesmaids dress shopping, wing outings, and countless Walmart runs.

And now my car has served me faithfully (well, up until last fall) in Texas. Even with the various issues over the last 9 months or so I am still grateful for my little white car and being able to get to school and back and all the other places I need to go. I'm not sure how much more the white car can take, but I'm grateful for the past 8 years. Considering the car is almost as old as I am, it has lasted quite well.

The Task Remaining

In the Perspectives course I'm taking at my church we have moved from the history of missions to a look at how the Gospel is communicated in other places and cultures. Last week we looked at how God is moving forward with His passion to see all the people groups of the world have the ability to hear the Gospel in a culturally relevant manner. Our study included the following definition.

Strategic: people pursuing a God-given vision live with strategic intent. The vision virtually captures them. They no longer dream about what could happen. They become convinced that certain things must happen. They make choices as if each day held abiding value. They are not driven by obligation. They live in the dignity and liberty of knowing they give their utmost for God's purposes.

My organization talks a lot about strategy in how we live. It is important to be strategic in the planting of churches for their growth and reproduction. But how am I to be strategic sitting in an office here in Plano, Texas? How does God want me to live each day in dignity and liberty? I am pondering these questions and putting them out there for you to mull over as well.

Image-Bearers of God

Last night Lena and I watched the movie Hotel Rwanda, about the genocide that took place there in 1994. A million people were brutally killed, and the movie tells the story of a man who put his own life on the line over and over to save his family and over one thousand others he kept in his hotel. It was a very intense movie, because of the violence and the emotions the characters went through.

The thing that stuck out to me from whole movie was a statement that a journalist made to the main character, Paul. Paul was asking if he thought the raw footage the journalist had gotten of the killings would mobilize people in the West to help stop the violence. The journalist said that when people saw the footage they would say, "Wow, so that's so sad and horrible". But then they would go back to eating their dinners and go on with life like nothing was happening.

This struck me because I did the same thing just recently. Lena read me a story from a Voice of the Martyrs magazine about the persecution of Christians taking place in North Korea. I said, "Wow, that's horrible, we have it so good here". But, what did I do then? Nothing. If I really cared about my brothers and sisters in North Korea, couldn't I pray for strength and God's special grace for them? Couldn't I tell others about the persecution going on there, and try to find ways to make a difference?

So, why do we ignore the atrocities going on around the world, and go back to our dinners as though nothing is going on? I admit, sometimes it's hard to empathize or understand when violence or tragedy doesn't touch us directly. But all of us, whether we live in Rwanda, North Korea, Italy, Colombia, or Texas, are created in the image of God and we bear His stamp. I think this gives us the duty of taking care of our fellow image-bearers. I'll be honest, I haven't quite figured out what it all means. Do we in the US step in whenever another country is in conflict? What can we as western Christians do about persecution that takes place? Prayer is an awesome way to start and so important, but is there more that we need to do?

I don't have all the answers, or any really, but watching the movie really challenged me. I'm going to start by praying for the Christians in North Korea and then I am going to trust the Holy Spirit to prompt me when the next move is necessary. If you have any thoughts you would like to share, please let me know!

The Glory of the Impossible

In both my Missiology and Perspectives classes I have been learning about the eras of missions history and the pioneers who saw many come to Christ and who laid the foundation for the movements to Christ we are seeing today. Some of the people I had heard about or studied before, such as William Carey, Adoniram Judson, Hudson Taylor and David Livingstone. Others I am learning about for the first time and their stories have impacted me with the power of God's working in their lives.

One person in the latter category is Samuel Zwemer. He became a part of the Student Volunteer Movement in the late 1800s and served in the Middle East for over 20 years. He went on to be a writer and speaker, opening up the Muslim world and training people to go and serve among Muslim peoples. He challenged people to go to the fields that were unoccupied by other missionaries.

In 1911, he wrote an article in the Student Volunteer Movement publication The Unoccupied Mission Fields of Africa and Asia called "The Glory of the Impossible". Here are some quotes from Zwemer, and from others that he included, that really stuck out to me.

~ The challenge of the unoccupied fields of the world is one to great faith and, therefore, to great sacrifice. Our willingness to sacrifice for an enterprise is always in proportion to our faith in that enterprise. Faith has the genius of transforming the barely possible into actuality.

~Does it really matter how many die or how much money we spend in opening closed doors, and in occupying different fields, if we really believe that missions are warfare and that the King's glory is at stake?

~ When [Adoniram] Judson was lying loaded with chains in a Burmese dungeon, a fellow prisoner asked with a sneer about the prospect for the conversion of the heathen. Judson calmly answered, "The prospects are as bright as are the promises of God".

~ From Bishop Phillips Brooks- "Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle".

Samuel Zwemer was not an extraordinary Christian (that I know of) but he was a man who was passionate about seeing those who had never heard come to Christ. His dedication and love for God and for God's people is such a great example for all of us today.

Running the Race

With the closing ceremonies this evening the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics are over. It has been an amazing 16 days of medals won, records broken, and memories made.

I remember my first Olympics in the summer of 1996, when they were held in Atlanta. My mom was telling us about the Opening ceremonies and telling us we were going to watch them. I was used to watching golf and Husker football on Saturdays and to this 10-year old watching sports of any kind was the MOST boring way to spend my time. So I know at least I, and maybe my siblings too, put up a big fight with lots of complaining. But, my mom won out and after seeing the parade of athletes representing nations from around the world, I was hooked. I will never forget seeing the USA women's gymnastics team win gold that year.

There are many reasons why I love to watch the Olympics. Each athlete has worked so hard to earn the privilege of competing in the Games, and I love to see them give their very best, even if they don't win gold. I love the emotion of winning, the spirit of the underdog who shocks everyone, the team spirit and the fun of the sports represented in both the winter and the summer games. I appreciate when those who do not win show respect and great sportsmanship.

These winter Olympics have given us many great stories of grace under pressure, heroic triumph under adverse circumstances, and dedication and love for the sport. I am sad to see the Games over for another 2 years (until the summer games) but I'm thankful I got the chance to see so many of the great moments.

The Christian life has often been compared to a race. We are Olympians in a way, striving to win the race to which God has called us, striving to the finish line and aiming to do the very best we can. I have been inspired by the great athletes I saw over the last 2 weeks, and I hope that I can honor God with the talents He has given me and run the race not for earthly medals for the crown in heaven.

Last Reflections on Love

Valentine's Day was several weeks ago, but I have still been reflecting on the theme of this month- love. Hearing comments from friends, seeing a chick flick last weekend and just looking at our world in general has provided me with many pictures of what love is NOT.

1 Corinthians 13 is a very familiar but beautiful picture of what love really is supposed to look like. Here are verses 3-7 in the Message version .

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Loves doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Loves doesn't strut,

doesn't have a swelled head,

doesn't force itself on others,

isn't always "me first",

doesn't fly off the handle,

doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

doesn't revel when others grovel,

takes pleasure in the flowering of the truth,

puts up with anything,

trusts God always,

always looks for the best,

never looks back,

but keeps going to the end.

We don't get much farther than verse 4 to see the contrast of this world's idea of love. In the NIV it says, "Love is patient". People don't really know the meaning of being patient these days with fast food, speedy checkout lanes, going 70 MPH in a 60 MPH zone, and every kind of convenience you can imagine. I'm thankful that God is patient with me. He shows us the kind of relentless, never-giving-up kind of love we are supposed to show to each other.

I thought this phrase was great: "Trusts God always". That's what love is supposed to be like. When I'm relying on God for everything, I think this brings joy and peace and allows us to have more room in our hearts to share God's love. It also increases our love for God, and helps us grow closer to Him to learn more what real love looks like.

I guess love isn't just a theme for one day or month out of the year, but should be theme of our whole life. God's picture of love is a whole lot different than the world's picture of love, and as we grow closer to God we can know more of what this love is supposed to look like.

Your Life is a Symphony

Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.

My Child…Your Life is a Symphony

You are to Me a beautiful song. Your life is a sweet symphony that I Myself am composing note by note. I take your failures, your tears, and your triumphs, and I turn them into a glorious harmony that will be sung in the heavens for all eternity. All your thoughts and deeds are laid before Me like notes on a page. Every choice you make is a significant chord in an eternal arrangement. Don’t let the noise of the world destroy your magnificent melody, My beloved. Seek Me in the quiet stillness of the morning, and I will fill your heart with divine music. Stay in rhythm with My Spirit throughout the day, and I will make your life an irresistible melody that will linger like sweet perfume in the hearts of all that journey with you. Walk with Me in absolute surrender, and you will draw others to Me in a rhapsody of praise.

Love,

Your King and your Composer

His Princess: Love Letters from Your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd

A Different Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. This might seem strange considering the fact that I have yet to find a “significant other” to send me flowers or chocolate or other such typical Valentine’s Day gifts. The holiday means so much more to me, though, than just a romantic time of the year.

Part of this is probably due to the fact that my dad often made Valentine’s special in my family. He frequently got a sweet store-bought card for my mom along with some Turtles or other candy. I remember several occasions when he gave handmade cards to my siblings and I. He would write the reasons why he loved us and why he was proud of us. Sometimes he would get pizza and Mambas and other goodies for us kids to have while he and my mom went out to dinner. I think this is part of why I love to give cards to people on Valentine’s day and other occasions. I think we should tell our friends and family that we love them on more than just February 14th, but Valentine’s day does provide a special time to show how much we love those around us.

Valentine’s day for me is also a time to dwell in the great love that my God has for me. Not just any God would send His son to take the punishment that I deserve. Sometimes we get so caught up in other things that we gloss over the awesomeness of God’s love. 1 John 3:1 says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (NIV). I love that word- lavished. God’s love for us is so abundant and amazing.

Because of God’s great love, we are able to love each other. What better day than Valentine’s day to share Christ’s love with someone who might not feel like they are loved. One of my favorite Valentine’s verses comes from the Message, in Ephesians 5:1-2: “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that”.

This Valentine’s day instead of buying your obligatory chocolates, pray for a person who you know is struggling and might need an extra dose of God’s love. Send someone a secret Valentine’s card sharing with them how much the Heavenly Father loves them. Send flowers to someone who might be alone this Valentine’s day. Take someone out to eat or perform a “random act of kindness” for someone who needs to see the light of Christ. I encourage you to make this Valentine’s day different, a day to show those around you how much you care about them and also dwell in the richness of God’s love for you, and pass that on to others.