My friend Skyler invited our small group to the greatest Fourth of July celebration I have ever been to. Seriously, it made me proud to be an American. Volleyball, wakeboarding, burgers, beer, and wonderful company. His neighborhood pooled fireworks for an hour-long private show at the end. Best fireworks I've ever seen.
Last Independence Day, I was in Burkina Faso. We forded rivers during a flash flood all morning to get to the school in Riahlo. Then, after a glowstick celebration with the children of the village, our driver backed into a bush and damaged the engine. An hour later, we were pulled over on the side of the road. I had just purchased an African cell phone and thought I had international texting. I texted the guy I was dating "can you text me directions to change a clutch on a Toyota Picnic. The text didn't send, but Gerard was able to call a friend with a Land Rover who drove our team back to Koudougou.
The year before, I invited myself camping with Chelsea and Al. No fireworks that year, either. Instead, we went to sleep early at our campsite at the hippie resort on Orcas. We woke up to a raccoon rummaging our dirty dishes. Al whipped the raccoon with a climbing rope and we all went back to sleep.
Before that, Megan and I "got cute" and went to Poulsbo for the 3rd. Then, my parents came over to enjoy a final Port Orchard fireworks display before I moved out of the Bremerton condo. Up until just now, I was thinking I spent that 4th of July in Mazatlan... but that can't be true.
And the year before that is detailed on a COTN blog somewhere. Julie and I orchestrated a July 4th barbecue at Casa Betesda for the interns and their host families. No fireworks, but plenty of hot dogs and rice!
This little trip down memory lane (recent memories, it appears) provides a snapshot of where God takes me. People and places change, but July is always a season of gratefulness. Sure, the good weather helps! The weight of freedom is even more meaningful to me, having spent a few summers abroad. God is unchanging in every culture, but uniquely understood.
I am grateful for His faithfulness. Grateful for the blessings of freedom, family, and warm days in Washington. I am grateful.
Friday, July 5, 2013
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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