Our Windows

As surprising as it may be for some to believe, I get a joke emailed to me almost every day.  I thought this one was funny but also something very telling about it as well:


A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.

The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.

"That laundry is not very clean," she said. "She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap." Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?"

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."


 All too often this hold true in so many aspects of our lives.  Why is it that two people can be sitting in the same row next to each other (on a roller coaster, in a movie theater, in a restaurant, in a car) can have the same thing be seen, heard, experienced, but have such different reactions?  Most often, it is the way we see those events more than the events themselves, that makes the difference.  


This is why we can sit here in the U.S. with our comforts and luxuries (that we consider necessities) and look at places like Central or South America and feel bad for the way people have to live.  The people in the countries down there may or may not have electricity, more than one room, real walls, a floor, food for the day, and it is hard for us to imagine the suffering that must be going on and how God may have abandoned them to this destitute life.  The irony is that if you speak to Christians in these areas, who may be living day to day, not knowing from day to day where their next meal is going to come from, they will tell you that they are filled with joy.  They will tell you how very close they are to God and how much they see Him move in their life each and every day.  They will tell you that their reliance on God has brought them peace and joy beyond understanding.  Here is what is most ironic, the people in these countries will tell you how badly they feel about people here in the U.S.  They prayer for us and for us to know God more and to the extent that they know Him.  They prayer for us to have joy and peace.  And in a lot of ways, they are right.


Personally, I have problems with seeing people the way God sees them instead of seeing them through my limited, selfish, and judgmental eyes.  I don't look at the heart and I don't see the potential that God sees.  I don't see people as being made after God's image, full of hope and promise.  That is my prayer.  Like the song, I want to have God's eyes and to not only be able to see with His perspective, but to take action based off of what I do see.  I guess I am praying for God to wash my windows.

Chan's new book...

I shared with you guys a few weeks ago that Francis had released a new book called "Forgotten God: Remembering Our Crucial Need for the Holy Spirit"

I wanted to let you all know that its now available on iTunes for $4.95... I have been reading the book over the last couple of weeks since our study ended and I am really learning a lot about the Holy Spirit... it is definitely a view at a part of the Trinity I have not had in the past. If you get a chance to check it out on iTunes please do or if your not into listening to books (I have a hard time listening to books, would rather read and underline) then check it out on Amazon by clicking here:Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit


I will probably order the study guide video in a few weeks after I am done reading the book, so we can all share if your interested... RD

Hello all,

I was reading the short book of Colossians this morning. These verses made me think about all of us as we strive to interact and witness to our neighbors, unsaved friends, saved friends, co-workers, teachers, other volunteers...etc.

"Love wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone."
Colossians 4: 5-6.

Looking forward to tomorrow evening.
Kimberly.

Divine Conspiracy

Chris and I recently had the privledge of attending the Love & War marriage conference with John & Stasi Eldridge. It was absolutely well worth it. One of the main things we walked away with is what a Divine conspiracy marriage is. God knows exactly how to lure us into it. You remember, all the flowers, the nice restaurants, the way you look at each other, the fact that you found a girl who likes "guy movies", and you found a guy who seems happy when you tell him all about your new shoes! And then all of a sudden a couple years into it you're married and you realize that the person you fell madly in love with has a whole other side to them....and it's not a flower giving side or a "Sure , I'll watch Terminator Salvation with you, honey" kind of side either.

The truth is God lures you into marriage with emotion all the while He has a plan in place to transform you. He actually uses your spouse to save you from yourself. He uses marriage as a means to flush out your own brokenness. There is usually no one that sees us as fully as our spouses do, largely because they are the ones who tend to bring out the best and worst in us. God knows that and He designed it that way. The problem is that we as a society aren't sticking it out. It gets tough and 50% of us bail out on the amazing plan God has placed in our lives to actually make them more fulfilling and make us more complete. Instead, we need to understand that God provides us with spouses that He can use to change us into who He created us to be. We just have to be willing to face ourselves and the things about us that tend to surface in our marriages. When marriages begin to crumble it's not about changing your spouse, it's about changing yourself through the power of God! God brings that brokenness to surface so you can repent of it and He can heal it. This is not something you want to run from, it doesn't wokr....thus explaining the increased divorce rates among 2nd and 3rd marriages.

Long story short, pray. Ask God to reveal the areas you need transformed. Ask for His help and involvement in your marriage. Stop asking Him to change your spouse and start asking Him to change you. By all means don't get in agreement with the Enemy that your marriage or a situation in it is hopeless. From day one Satan's plan has been to divide and conquer but he will also be just as happy about a sedated marriage as he will a seperated one. So, work on your marriage, pray to protect it and most importantly never ever give up. You marriage is the perfect storm.

Coming Up Short

It is hard to hear the list of those who "have lived it" and not be humbled.  It's humbling to reflect my life against their's and it is even more humbling because my life doesn't include enough of these kinds of people (my wife hasn't already written about one and she will deny it, but I include her in that category).

On personal reflection, (which I understand is not the assignment) even now I still wrestle with my excuses and rationalizations.  I have come up with a decent list of why the people listed in Ch. 9 were able to do what they did and why I can't.  For starters, I have a wife and children.  I mean, I have a responsibility to them.  And I do, but does that really excuse my life and choices?  Or is that just a convenient way to justify my lack of stepping out on faith and not living a life that is Biblically founded.

Jamie and I have spoken many times about my feeling of a calling on my life to vocational ministry.  In answer to that hypothetical question of what I would do if money were not an issue, after spending a few weeks on a movie and lethargy marathon, I would want to be in some sort of vocational ministerial role.  But because of life choices made without seeking God's will, making that jump would be next to impossible in our current condition.  There are many things that could be done to better align the way we have been living with God's Word and we are becoming more intentional about those things.  (The iPad may be out of the will of God, I have to admit....I think God wants me to have one, but I really need to pray on it to help Jamie hear from God too)

The point is, that God did not call all of us to be missionaries in Ethiopia.  And if He did, the first step may not be getting on a flight.  The first step may be just taking care of what God has put in front of us for today.  For some of us, there may be someone whom we work with that could be watching our life example and when things fall apart, turn to us and what we have that they need.  Others might be to be the beneficiary of the person who is going on missions to Nicaragua.  Some might sponsor a child (or more) through different organizations.  Others may be on a continuing journey of obedience and availability bringing them from being afraid of the idea of talking with small groups of people to regularly speaking in front of large groups of people.  Others it may be to reach out to different ages or groups of people with encouragement and give attention that they may not be getting from anywhere else.  We can be "faithful with a few things" so God will "put [us] in charge of many things" (Matthew 25:21 NIV).

The important thing is not to be complacent and to keep following God.  Too often we will go through a trial that God allows, be drawn closer to Him, see Him deliver us, and grow in our relationship and dependence on Him... only to then fear experiencing the next big thing God has in store for us to bring Him even more glory.  I, as I don't want someone to think I am not talking to myself first, find myself more in love with comfort than with Jesus.  I buy the lie that suffering for the sake of Christ means I have to lose out on something.  Like giving up my luxury to have money to help someone who has nothing will somehow deprive me.  That is the lie I can no longer afford to believe.  Giving up what was never mine to begin with to benefit one who God wants to show Himself to can only benefit me in ways here on earth and for eternity.

My boy JC and the soldiers!

I want to tell you quickly about a guy named John Coleman and a group he started called the Soldiers of the Cross.

John wanted to reach the community for Jesus, he loved to sing and he had several of his friends that were pretty good so they decided to pull together a music group of teenagers to share the gospel. This group of teens started in a local church and then over the years with members coming and going they began to travel and sing in churches in the area, then reaching out to other areas of the region. The group wouldn't only sing but they had a message and shared with the audience what God had done in each of their lives.

I was introduced to this amazing group of people when I was about 16; I actually started dating one of the singers :). After dating this singer for a while I was asked to join them on the road a few times. It was exciting being able to see the entire production and how the group lived (on a big purple bus, with a tiny, tiny shower). After a few more months I began traveling with them every weekend, yes that’s right they traveled pretty much every weekend to a church or stage somewhere (Disney area was the best:)... what was amazing to me about this group was the fact that they were teens, and spending their weekends living the Crazy Love way... giving all of the glory to God for what they had been given and in turn sharing His gospel with thousands of people.

I can remember one church like it was yesterday - the group sang, John gave a knock down message and these folks started down the aisle broken and needing to be restored - well honestly this happened many, many times. It was just an awesome and amazing place to be. I felt like I was at a revival each weekend... These teens, now old, old adults :) have touched so many people with God's word. It was a blessing to be with them and get to know each of them, even more of a blessing to marry one of them. Their sacrifice of those weekends planted more seeds then many of them will ever know. To God be the glory.

Haleys

It is really sad that I couldn't think of anyone who lives like they did in Acts 2. I kept coming back to the Haleys. Our good friends Michael and Misti Haley were the youth pastor and his wife at our old church in Delaware. They didn't necessarily live like Acts 2 (no communal living or possessions all given away), but they definitely live some of that philosophy. They don't live like their house or things or life are their own. Countless times the youth group would meet at their house for parties or Bible studies. It was always destroyed by the end of the get-together. I remember once watching Misti pick up many, many Hershey kiss wrappers. I'm sure I helped pick them up, but it is completely different when it is your house. People would stay at their house, drive their cars, etc. They don't place all their value and self-worth on their possessions.
When God called them to move to Colorado to pastor a church, they left a lot of things behind in their house simply because they didn't have enough room to bring them. One item was a big screen tv. When Michael first drove the U-haul to CO with their son Derek and their dog, they didn't know where they would be staying. They just knew God would provide. And He did. He provided an apartment until they found a house. Someone gave them a van. I'm honored we had the privilege to do ministry with the Haleys. One last thing, perhaps the most impactful thing I will always remember about Michael and Misti is their trust in God to provide another child. Misti really wanted another child. She would pray God would take away her desire to have another child if that was not His will. They went through so much heart ache in the process. When Misti finally got pregnant after at least 10 years, we were all super excited. A few weeks later, she lost the baby. It was truly devastating to watch! To cut a long story short, the Haleys got pregnant again. She gave birth in CO, so we have never met little Dustin Eli. The day I saw the hospital picture of the 4 of them, it brought tears to my eyes. I thought how different the outcome would have been if they would have allowed themselves to become bitter with God over their miscarriage. It might have even destroyed their marriage. They might never have gotten to the point of the picture...to a family of 4. Sometimes I wonder how much we miss out on because we don't live like God intended. Thanks Michael and Misti! :)

Hit Hard

I was in bed doing my study and thinking hard about my assignment and my real life example of people who are truly wholehearted followers of Christ. I had several different people come to mind that have touched my life by example throughout my many moves and adventures. The Lord, however, has not led me to share any of those people tonight. He has brought me to tears by leading me to scripture...yes scripture that I have read before.. to guide me to begin to be one of those people. So that is what I want to share.
First, I MUST stop just hearing the word and letting the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making (ME) unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19)
I must TURN from worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them!!!(Acts 14:15)
I must consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord!
I must FORGET what is behind and strain for what is ahead..I must follow Paul's example, who was following Christ's example!!
I must truly understand that my citizenship is in Heaven. (Phil:3 12-20)
I must Rejoice in the Lord always..yes REJOICE!!
I must be content whatever the circumstances because I can do everything throught Christ who gives me strength.
I must let my gentleness be evident to ALL! (including my children)
I must not be anxious and I must think about true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy things.
I must let the Peace of God be with me. (Phil: 6-9)
God is there, waiting, loving , blessing me. I ask you all pray for the courage to truly let God change my life. Thank you.
Annette

My "Real life" Example

I racked my brain trying to come up with someone who I've witnessed live the authentic Christian life and sadly found it difficult. However the one person I repeatedly kept coming back to was my own child Alicia. I didn't respond right away because it is nothing I deserve the credit for. As proud as I am, I am in no way worthy of the bragging rights. Sure, Chris and I have decent parenting skills but her life is what it is because of the grace of God and her choice of obedience to Him.

I first witnessed this life lived out by Alicia in Kindergarten when a classmate lost his mother a few months prior to Easter. They were talking about Easter baskets and this boy mentioned that he didn't receive one. Without hesitation that day Alicia came home and emptied her basket and kept a few things for herself (granted she was 6)and put her basket back together and brought it to give to this child. She didn't ask permission, she just did it. A few years later we read an article in our local paper about a dead beat dad leaving his family to suffer financially and put in a position to go without Christmas. Alicia got on the phone to family and friends and started collecting donations. Within a weeks time we were at their door step with Christmas gifts for the kids that Alicia picked out herself, grocery gift cards and an envelope with a sponsorship to play baseball for the son who loved it and wasn't going to be able to afford to play that year.

Her whole life she has been this way. Sometimes it's her nature but more often it's her choice. She has always chosen to go without so others could have. Last year she could have sold her car and kept the money or used it for school but instead she had a friend in need and gave her car away to her. That's just who she is. She intentionally lives a God and others first life and it's amazing to watch.

I know most of you know her but I am simply in awe to say where she is right now in her life. She's 19 years old and sponsors on her own a single mother and 2 children through Compassion International. She will be heading back to Nicaragua for the third time for missions. She is buying gifts and cooking dinners for an atheist friend she is trying to reach. She is leading a Bible study to girls at school. She is giving out free chic-fil-a meal coupons to homeless people. She is volunteering at Hospice and anywhere else she can get a chance.

I know this is a bit lenghty but the most inspiring thing I've ever witnessed in her is her ability to forgive. It was almost 2 years ago when her biological father was dying of cancer. Chris is the only Daddy she ever knew and is the only Daddy she ever will. But this man who was her birth father, who abandoned her, her abused her mother, was a criminal with a drug and alcohol addiction was dying. The circumstances are too detailed to expand on but the reality is, she sent him a letter offering her forgivensss and gratefulness for letting her go. She told him how great her life was because of him, because he allowed Chris to adopt her. She let him know how great her God was as well. Beyond that, she made a commitment to go meet him. She did not want to but knew it was for him more than it was for her. Sadly, yet graciously he died a week before that time came. He also died a forgiven and changed man through the blood of Jesus Christ. And he died knowing that a precius child he so wrongly neglected forgave him.

I wish I could say that Alicia has had a wonderful problem free life but that would not be the truth. Our lives are not what they once were but through it all Alicia has done nothing but grow stronger and closer to the Lord. She inspires me and also scares me by her boldness, every single day and I could not be more proud than I am of her. In closing I want to share a response from her when I asked her about the medical profession she was choosing which at the time was oncology. I said " Alicia, you do know that a lot of your paitents will die and you won't be able to help them" and she looked me square in the eyes and said "Yea, I know Mom, but I want to be the last one who tried." Oh if only I could grasp this....just to be the last one who tried instead of being the last one who "intended" to. I love you Alicia Bailey.

Luke Warm and Loving It

Message from Francis in 2006 - Luke Warm and Loving It