Have you ever wondered what God is up to? I mean really and truly. Think about it. God is actively present and at work in the world and every single human being is fulfilling some sort of purpose for His greater plan. phew. It is a lot to consider. But I digress...God is on the move.
The day after my daughter's heart surgery I submitted a resume for Print Creative Director at World Vision. The first month was filled with anticipation. The second month, it waned. And so on, and so on, and so on. There were occasional interviews, even a video conference (first one!). Still haven't heard if they are seriously considering me or not. But that isn't the end of the story.
Out of nowhere, the Director of Communications at The Alliance announced he was leaving to take a professorship at Taylor University. Next thing I know I'm applying for that job. Well sort of. I talked both to the VP ( a tremendous leader and man of God...and no I'm not kissing up) and the Director ( a passionate soul in love with Jesus and His church) and they both thought I had promise. But the fact I was not a member of an Alliance church would make it impossible for the organization. (Insert collective sigh).
But just a bit of time after that they asked me to consider the web manager position. WHAT? I didn't see that one coming. But there it is. Now I have changed the trajectory of my career...or rather God is driving my career another way...and as of the 6th of August 2008, I hold the title of Web Manager of the U.S. C&MA. Go figure.
So there it is...the latest and greatest (to date). Looking forward to what Papa is up to. And by the way, I've read the Shack and it rocks!
8.23.2008
4.07.2008
On Prayer and other mumblings
One of my favorite topics is prayer. And one of my heroes is A.B. Simpson. I was reading from a book on his life by A.E. Thompson and read this illustration on what Simpson's perspective on prayer is about.
"His (Simpson's) confidence in prayer was rooted in his knowledge of the immeasurable reaches of redemption, and because of this he could not only ask boldly himself but lead others to ask and receive. When a young lady came to his office to ask him to pray for her, he finally solved her perplexities by saying, "Suppose a friend were to deposit $100 at Macy's and say 'I want you to get whatever you wish', but you were to say, "Mr. Macy, I would not dare to buy a hundred dollars' worth. Would he not say, 'The money is paid and is to your credit; you are very foolish if you do not get the benefit of it.' That is the way we go to God. We have nothing to present to Him as a claim, Christ has been deposited to our credit, and God comes and says: 'in His name ask My help as far as that credit will go.' You have not any right, but He has the right, and He gives it to you. 'Oh,' said the young lady, 'I see it. Why, I think I could as God for anything, now.'"
What think you of this credit, given freely to us if we will accept it? Do I truly believe that God welcomes me to partake in this transaction? And do I seek His will in it? many questions and thoughts barrage my mind in this...
"His (Simpson's) confidence in prayer was rooted in his knowledge of the immeasurable reaches of redemption, and because of this he could not only ask boldly himself but lead others to ask and receive. When a young lady came to his office to ask him to pray for her, he finally solved her perplexities by saying, "Suppose a friend were to deposit $100 at Macy's and say 'I want you to get whatever you wish', but you were to say, "Mr. Macy, I would not dare to buy a hundred dollars' worth. Would he not say, 'The money is paid and is to your credit; you are very foolish if you do not get the benefit of it.' That is the way we go to God. We have nothing to present to Him as a claim, Christ has been deposited to our credit, and God comes and says: 'in His name ask My help as far as that credit will go.' You have not any right, but He has the right, and He gives it to you. 'Oh,' said the young lady, 'I see it. Why, I think I could as God for anything, now.'"
What think you of this credit, given freely to us if we will accept it? Do I truly believe that God welcomes me to partake in this transaction? And do I seek His will in it? many questions and thoughts barrage my mind in this...
3.22.2008
Darkest before the dawn
We've all heard that one before...it's always darkest before the dawn.
Here we are, Saturday night before "the Big One." And I'm struck by how it must have been on this day for those that followed Jesus 2000 years ago. They had put all their hope in this man that they knew be the great king.
And they had just watched 24 hours earlier this one being brutally killed in a way that only the worst criminals of the day were "taken care of." Pretty dark, indeed. No sign of the dawn.
Unlike those that have followed since, they didn't yet have the rest of the story. He was to come back from the dead...and they didn't know it. All their hopes were dashed and they were left utterly alone. Sometimes I feel that way...utterly alone with all of these thoughts rushing in and out of my consciousness. Right in the middle of this darkest of nights...there I sit.
But there it was; the morning. "Let's go to the grave." What kind of person does something like that? Wasn't it bad enough to see him bleed, die, and get ripped from that blasted tree? Why go to the site of his final rest? The pain must have been palpable. But sometimes the memory and desire for the good times overtakes the sadness and loneliness, and we just want to be near the object of the memory.
But what is this? Someone has scared off the guards and stolen the body! He is gone. The one moment of peace from the darkness has again been stolen. Where is he? What have they done with him...the one who was our hope?
As the sun crept over the horizon the realization rushed in. He is gone. But is he alive? Not to know just yet. The men leave, and the woman is there. Utterly alone. Weeping. Completely broken in her place of sorrow. Like me, sometimes. Then the voice.
"Why are you weeping?"
"They have taken the master and I don't know where to find him." This one that held such hope for me...he is gone and I don't know where to go. Where do I go to get close to the object of my hope?
"Mary."
That voice. I know that voice. I know the name he calls because He has called it many times. "Teacher!" And my heart jumps back to life.
The dawn has broken through and the time is new. And I barely remember the darkness of Saturday night.
Here we are, Saturday night before "the Big One." And I'm struck by how it must have been on this day for those that followed Jesus 2000 years ago. They had put all their hope in this man that they knew be the great king.
And they had just watched 24 hours earlier this one being brutally killed in a way that only the worst criminals of the day were "taken care of." Pretty dark, indeed. No sign of the dawn.
Unlike those that have followed since, they didn't yet have the rest of the story. He was to come back from the dead...and they didn't know it. All their hopes were dashed and they were left utterly alone. Sometimes I feel that way...utterly alone with all of these thoughts rushing in and out of my consciousness. Right in the middle of this darkest of nights...there I sit.
But there it was; the morning. "Let's go to the grave." What kind of person does something like that? Wasn't it bad enough to see him bleed, die, and get ripped from that blasted tree? Why go to the site of his final rest? The pain must have been palpable. But sometimes the memory and desire for the good times overtakes the sadness and loneliness, and we just want to be near the object of the memory.
But what is this? Someone has scared off the guards and stolen the body! He is gone. The one moment of peace from the darkness has again been stolen. Where is he? What have they done with him...the one who was our hope?
As the sun crept over the horizon the realization rushed in. He is gone. But is he alive? Not to know just yet. The men leave, and the woman is there. Utterly alone. Weeping. Completely broken in her place of sorrow. Like me, sometimes. Then the voice.
"Why are you weeping?"
"They have taken the master and I don't know where to find him." This one that held such hope for me...he is gone and I don't know where to go. Where do I go to get close to the object of my hope?
"Mary."
That voice. I know that voice. I know the name he calls because He has called it many times. "Teacher!" And my heart jumps back to life.
The dawn has broken through and the time is new. And I barely remember the darkness of Saturday night.
3.10.2008
The world as I see it...
has many layers. Kind of like an onion.
To quote one of my favorite movie exchanges:
Shrek: Ogres are like onions.
Donkey: They stink?
Shrek: Yes. No.
Donkey: Oh, they make you cry.
Shrek: No.
Donkey: Oh, you leave em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin' little white hairs.
Shrek: NO. Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.
[sighs]
Donkey: Oh, you both have layers. Oh. You know, not everybody like onions.
And not everyone likes the world, either. Whether it's politics, their life situation, their job, their own body...everyone that I've spoken with is pretty much in the same boat.
Something I've discovered, though. You don't need to be in your boat alone. We will try to fill our boat with all kinds of things to make us think that our layered world works. Money, homes, cars, even good acts like serving at a shelter or soup kitchen tend to layer our lives with good things. The only thing I've seen is it weighs down the boat.
Maybe it's not about what you have in the boat...but more like who you have in the boat. It's not about where you are sailing, but who is leading you. Insert good Sunday school quote here..."sounds like the answer is Jesus."
Yep. That is my answer for what is going on in my boat right now. Some may call it a crutch, some delusional thinking. But I humbly respond that it's not so much about what others think, it's only about what Jesus thinks.
To quote one of my favorite movie exchanges:
Shrek: Ogres are like onions.
Donkey: They stink?
Shrek: Yes. No.
Donkey: Oh, they make you cry.
Shrek: No.
Donkey: Oh, you leave em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin' little white hairs.
Shrek: NO. Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.
[sighs]
Donkey: Oh, you both have layers. Oh. You know, not everybody like onions.
And not everyone likes the world, either. Whether it's politics, their life situation, their job, their own body...everyone that I've spoken with is pretty much in the same boat.
Something I've discovered, though. You don't need to be in your boat alone. We will try to fill our boat with all kinds of things to make us think that our layered world works. Money, homes, cars, even good acts like serving at a shelter or soup kitchen tend to layer our lives with good things. The only thing I've seen is it weighs down the boat.
Maybe it's not about what you have in the boat...but more like who you have in the boat. It's not about where you are sailing, but who is leading you. Insert good Sunday school quote here..."sounds like the answer is Jesus."
Yep. That is my answer for what is going on in my boat right now. Some may call it a crutch, some delusional thinking. But I humbly respond that it's not so much about what others think, it's only about what Jesus thinks.
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