It's finally here! SUMMER CAMP!!
Pray for lives to be transformed by the relentless love of God. Pray for broken hearts to be made new. Pray for the beautiful story of salvation to be lived out loudly. Pray for blessed rest. Pray for deep, uncomfortable, lasting change.
Let's see what God has planned for this week. :)
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Meet Jesus. He'll mess you up.
While many of the books I'm reading this summer are about Jesus, not very many of them agree. Well, not just books, but sermons too.
For instance, I've been re-reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. We're reading it as a team with our summer youth apprentices at church (a group of 20 high school students who have committed 3 days of each week to learning, serving, and praying together). A major theme in Crazy Love is that God is relentless in His grace. Exorbitant, even. Every story ties back to love, grace, and mercy. Lots of mercy.
Then, today as I was packing for youth summer camp, a reading of one of Jonathan Edward's sermons came on. It was titled "Sinners in the hands of an angry God." The major theme was that every person is by nature a child of wrath and deserves to die. Every story ties back to justice, consequence, and wrath. Lots of wrath.
Now before I get too far, I realize the two extremes are not mutually exclusive. But still, how can God be so merciful that His grace is relentless? How can God be so pure that He cannot tolerate sin? How is Christ ALWAYS the third way? I can handle extremes when one is good and one is bad. Even if one is just "better". But Jesus has this messy way of being both extremes, without compromising either. My brain explodes in faith. Jesus is messing up my theology.
I've got some friends who always talk about Heaven. They talk about Heaven invading Earth. And not in the "whenever Jesus comes back" sort of time frame. They're confident that we can experience Heaven now. That the Kingdom of God is here. My theology hasn't been big enough for this idea, yet. Still reading what God's word has to say...
As I keep reading, keep listening, keep talking, keep learning, I pray for God's wisdom and discernment. Frankly, I'm not that smart. There are much smarter, more persuasive people out there. But a lot of them are wrong.
Like Paul wrote:
"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.For the wisdom of this world is foolishness beforeGod. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHESTHE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS ";and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS."--1 Corinthians 3:18-20
We don't get to decide who God is. No one gets to decide what His Word says...well, except for God. So I'll keep reading through the stylistic clashes of Holy Spirit encounters in California, reformission in Seattle, and nonviolence in Philadelphia. But, I'll fix my eyes on the Crucified One.
"The danger is that we can begin to read the Bible through the eyes of America rather than read America through the eyes of the Bible." --Shane Claiborne & Chris Haw, Jesus for President (2008)
For instance, I've been re-reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. We're reading it as a team with our summer youth apprentices at church (a group of 20 high school students who have committed 3 days of each week to learning, serving, and praying together). A major theme in Crazy Love is that God is relentless in His grace. Exorbitant, even. Every story ties back to love, grace, and mercy. Lots of mercy.
Then, today as I was packing for youth summer camp, a reading of one of Jonathan Edward's sermons came on. It was titled "Sinners in the hands of an angry God." The major theme was that every person is by nature a child of wrath and deserves to die. Every story ties back to justice, consequence, and wrath. Lots of wrath.
Now before I get too far, I realize the two extremes are not mutually exclusive. But still, how can God be so merciful that His grace is relentless? How can God be so pure that He cannot tolerate sin? How is Christ ALWAYS the third way? I can handle extremes when one is good and one is bad. Even if one is just "better". But Jesus has this messy way of being both extremes, without compromising either. My brain explodes in faith. Jesus is messing up my theology.
I've got some friends who always talk about Heaven. They talk about Heaven invading Earth. And not in the "whenever Jesus comes back" sort of time frame. They're confident that we can experience Heaven now. That the Kingdom of God is here. My theology hasn't been big enough for this idea, yet. Still reading what God's word has to say...
As I keep reading, keep listening, keep talking, keep learning, I pray for God's wisdom and discernment. Frankly, I'm not that smart. There are much smarter, more persuasive people out there. But a lot of them are wrong.
Like Paul wrote:
"Let no
We don't get to decide who God is. No one gets to decide what His Word says...well, except for God. So I'll keep reading through the stylistic clashes of Holy Spirit encounters in California, reformission in Seattle, and nonviolence in Philadelphia. But, I'll fix my eyes on the Crucified One.
"The danger is that we can begin to read the Bible through the eyes of America rather than read America through the eyes of the Bible." --Shane Claiborne & Chris Haw, Jesus for President (2008)
Monday, July 19, 2010
summer schedule
While the weather often forgets that it is summer, I have not forgotten. In fact, I am embracing every opportunity summer brings. Sometimes, that means long, winding hikes through the mountains. Other times it means sleeping in until 11:45 (like today).
I enjoy this freedom...maybe a little too much!
Reading a few books this summer:
Culture of Honor by Danny Silk
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
I enjoy this freedom...maybe a little too much!
Reading a few books this summer:
Culture of Honor by Danny Silk
Just starting book #4, but I think this is enough to keep my activist-self busy through the lazy days of summer.
A section of Isaiah 11:
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
knitting
My dear friend Amanda is visiting me. She's teaching me how to knit.
It's hard.
It's supposed to be a scarf...
It's hard.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
first mountaineering expedition
It was an extraordinary adventure. Perfect weather. Good conditions. Beyond my existing skill set...but everything worked out. Here's a few more pictures of the adventure:
The ascent:
The descent:
I didn't realize how scared of snow I can be. Maybe it comes from growing up in rainy Western Washington. But, with the help of some new friends, I quickly learned how to self-arrest. By the end of the descent I even had a little fun glissading. Happy to have my ice axe safely stowed away now, though!
The verse that my heart kept praying on snowy ridgelines:
"And He set my feet upon a Rock making my footsteps firm." Psalm 40:2
Thursday, July 8, 2010
I just LOVE summer!
It's 10:04 PM and my 3rd floor apartment has been trapping hot air all day. According to iGoogle, it's 87 degrees Fahrenheit right now. It's glorious. I LOVE summer!
Today has been pretty bomber, as far as days go.
It started with a coffee date with Joy, sharing the highs and lows and lessons from my recent trip to Mazatlan. Then, Jeannie and I adventured to Tacoma. We had lunch at Jimmy John's (delicious!!!) and then bought an ice axe from REI. Really. Excellent shopping adventure.
And to make a good day even better, we tried to go to a Mariners game. I say "tried" because our family went all the way to Safeco field in Seattle. The cheap seats were sold out, so we ended up walking back through Seattle instead. Even that was fun!
Finally I came home to my apartment with so many surprises in the mail. A new teaching certificate. A wedding invitation. A new book to read. A snapfish photo album of my favorite Mexico pictures. YAY! I love mail!
Tomorrow I'm going to climb some mountains with a group of friends. We're going to climb "The Brothers". They're the twin peaks I can see from my classroom window. So exciting!
Yay for summer!
Today has been pretty bomber, as far as days go.
It started with a coffee date with Joy, sharing the highs and lows and lessons from my recent trip to Mazatlan. Then, Jeannie and I adventured to Tacoma. We had lunch at Jimmy John's (delicious!!!) and then bought an ice axe from REI. Really. Excellent shopping adventure.
And to make a good day even better, we tried to go to a Mariners game. I say "tried" because our family went all the way to Safeco field in Seattle. The cheap seats were sold out, so we ended up walking back through Seattle instead. Even that was fun!
Finally I came home to my apartment with so many surprises in the mail. A new teaching certificate. A wedding invitation. A new book to read. A snapfish photo album of my favorite Mexico pictures. YAY! I love mail!
Tomorrow I'm going to climb some mountains with a group of friends. We're going to climb "The Brothers". They're the twin peaks I can see from my classroom window. So exciting!
Yay for summer!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Independence Day
"I have swept away your sins like the morning mists. I have scattered your offenses like the clouds. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free."- Isaiah 44:22
Thursday, July 1, 2010
mission in your hometown
Last night our team made it back to Seattle from Mazatlan. It was a beautiful surprise to have my parents pick me up at the airport!!! :)
Leaving for 12 days reaffirmed the call I heard last summer. God keeps asking me to live, learn and love in Kitsap county. That's where the mission is for my life. At least for now.
In Mazatlan, I had a short conversation with a YWAM staff member at the base where we were staying. It was during breakfast one morning, and I was thirsty. I went to go fill my water bottle at the cooler, but it was blocked by the YWAM worship team practicing for the morning worship service. Our conversation went a little like this:
Me: "Could I please slide behind you to get some water?"
Staff: "Sure"
Me: "Okay, thanks. I didn't want to disrupt your practicing."
Staff: "You're going to be a good missionary some day."
Me: "Oh, I'm a missionary already. Just in my hometown."
Staff: "Well, sure. Every missionary serves in their hometown."
Me: "Yeah, I guess. I just mean, sometimes God calls you to the mission back in the town where you grew up."
Staff: "Mmmm. That can be hard, can't it."
And the truth is, it can be really hard. But really beautiful, too.
Over the course of the trip, my passion was stirred for the people of Mazatlan. There are many leaders of the church who are reaching out to their neighbors, families, even enemies. It was incredible to be a part of the soccer VBS camp, to watch men and women of Mazatlan share God's love with children from the community of Flores Magon. Mission in their hometown. Inspires me to the mission in my hometown, too.
Leaving for 12 days reaffirmed the call I heard last summer. God keeps asking me to live, learn and love in Kitsap county. That's where the mission is for my life. At least for now.
In Mazatlan, I had a short conversation with a YWAM staff member at the base where we were staying. It was during breakfast one morning, and I was thirsty. I went to go fill my water bottle at the cooler, but it was blocked by the YWAM worship team practicing for the morning worship service. Our conversation went a little like this:
Me: "Could I please slide behind you to get some water?"
Staff: "Sure"
Me: "Okay, thanks. I didn't want to disrupt your practicing."
Staff: "You're going to be a good missionary some day."
Me: "Oh, I'm a missionary already. Just in my hometown."
Staff: "Well, sure. Every missionary serves in their hometown."
Me: "Yeah, I guess. I just mean, sometimes God calls you to the mission back in the town where you grew up."
Staff: "Mmmm. That can be hard, can't it."
And the truth is, it can be really hard. But really beautiful, too.
Over the course of the trip, my passion was stirred for the people of Mazatlan. There are many leaders of the church who are reaching out to their neighbors, families, even enemies. It was incredible to be a part of the soccer VBS camp, to watch men and women of Mazatlan share God's love with children from the community of Flores Magon. Mission in their hometown. Inspires me to the mission in my hometown, too.
Go home to your people and report to them what great things God has done for you,
and how He had mercy on you.
-Mark 5:19
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