Equator Bound

In September I will be a part of a team going to Kenya to live life for a few days with the workers and children at an orphanage there.  I am sure there are things that I will experience that no picture or story from another person could prepare me enough not to be completely overwhelmed by the experience.  I am very much looking forward to it.  God has worked to bring about the opportunity, and I am loving watching Him work already.

The other day I went to the globe in the front office and spun it around to Kenya, I wanted to look at it, think about it, take it in.  I was annoyed because the line of the equator on this globe is so big it covers names of countries and cities.  Then it hit me.  This country is on the equator! How did I miss that, why did I sign up for this, and who can I commission to make air conditioned clothing happen?

Clearly hyperbole rises again, but I didn't know it was an equatorial nation.  I am amazed again at the change only the Spirit of God can bring about in a person.  Never have I ever wanted to go near the equator...until now.  God has been preparing me not just since I've decided to go, but before then.  Whether it is having VBS be on the hottest days of the year or getting healthy so that I am able to handle heat better, all of it is working together.  He is the champion tetris player.  I am one piece, and He is making my piece fit with what He is doing over there, and that is so unbelievably awesome.  Not way cool awesome, awe inspiring - awesome. 

God will provide

I have the privilege to be the contact person for my church's ministry with the Salvation Army donations.  We don't always have things to drop off every week, and I have to admit, I use to be annoyed that we couldn't have something every week to give people in need.  To be honest, I am a slow learner and I will probably be annoyed again, but God is at work and he is teaching me, He allows me to be blessed through this ministry, and I am learning that He always accomplishes His will through those who are willing to do His work.

Sunday I started to leave church and realized I hadn't picked up the donations.  I went back in and was handed a bag of travel sized deodorants.  I took them, thinking what a great idea that was and was hoping they would be needed.  I wished there was some kind of food that we could have given thinking that was the biggest need for them.  But, you get what you get, so I took them, put them in my car and left them there for Monday after work delivery.

Monday was gorgeous and I was hoping to go outside for a walk, but I had to leave work early due to an appointment and then thought I'd continue down to the Salvation Army and drop off the donations.  I rang the doorbell, it was the beginning of the Star Spangled Banner, to which I had to sing the rest of it while waiting in the entryway for someone to come and answer the door.  They are not always quick to answer the door, mostly because they are busy, but sometimes I think they don't hear it.  I opened the door to the outside to get some air, thought about coming back next week...thought to myself (the Spirit directing) there is no reason to be in a rush, you have all night, and things you planned can start anytime.  So I pushed the doorbell again, sang again and one of the residents said they would get a worker to open the door.

The door opens and I am greeted by one of the calmest, kindest persons I have ever met.  I handed her the bag of deodorants and without the slightest hint of surprise she told me that she was so thankful because they had just stocked the shelves and deodorant was the one thing they needed.  It was a bit strange to see someone explain such a God thing with such normal tone and expression.  My guess is she has seen it many times over, and I have a hunch that if I were truly looking for it, I'd see it much more often too.

She asked what church I was from and told her, and she was so thankful for the ministry our church has given to the people who find themselves in need of help for housing, food, and clothing.  Once a month the women's group makes dinner and serves it for them.  It has become a bit of a local buzz, that you don't want to miss that meal.  Amy and Friends is what they have come to be known as and I would say that is a very accurate description.  Sitting with people you may not otherwise run into during the course of your day, making them feel special with a meal you would eat yourself, asking questions, and listening, who doesn't want that?

I left there again, humbled to have been a small part of the blessings God is pouring out to these people. They may not know Him, but I am not called to minister to Christians only.  A neighbor is a neighbor and I am to show them the love of Christ through my obedience to Him.  It doesn't matter what I wish I could do, you give what you have, you do what you can, and God takes it and multiplies it, and He provides what He provides in His timing, and in His way, even when you can't see how in blazes it will work out.

Oh if I could learn this and cross it off the life lesson list and really get it.  Being human I will learn this again, and again, and again.  The experience from Monday is an ebenezer of  sorts, so I will have to revisit it when I see no way of the provision happening in my life.  I need to remember His faithfulness, and trust Him, not my ability to play tetris with my life.  He can see all the shapes, so why not let Him fit them together?

Genesis 22
¹³ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram^[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Traps That Have Beset Me.

I hear from time to time people describing something happening to them that is beneficial to them, and then say that God is good.  This makes me think about the reasoning to that statement.  Doesn't that make the deciding factor as to if God is good, our perception of the situation?  If what is beneficial to you is detrimental to me, is God good for one of us and not the other?

God is good outside of anything that does or does not happen in our lives.  I believe most people believe this in theory, yet the practice is a far cry from doctrinally sound theology.  God is the I am, if he is good, He is good all the time.  Goodness is not happiness, it is godliness.  I am not looking to mince words, I assure you I am far less concerned with the words as I am with what can happen when we correlate our benefit with God's goodness. 

I am not implying that people cannot say that God is good when something good happens to them.  Of course He is, but He is every bit as good when the dog has died, the tires are flat, the money is gone, and sickness sets in.  Perhaps we should train ourselves to say this regardless of our circumstances and to show the discipline in realizing His goodness amidst disappointment as well as rejoicing. 

Iron Pigs, Take Two

Eleven is the new social awareness. I took my eleven year old niece to the Iron Pigs game a few weeks ago. We had tickets to a batting practice viewing, but since her younger brother decided not come along with us, the allure was far less compelling for two chic chicks. Instead we found ourselves driving around town looking for sunglasses and flip flops.

I remember being little and having a thousand questions and asking about things people didn’t think I could know. Television can be a great educator if we allow it to be. It is for this reason I am surprised when I am surprised by her questions and comments.

With all the inflection of shock and horror of someone three times her age, she recounted to me that she saw Lady Gaga on the Grammys wearing a meat dress. “Her dress was made out of meat.” She said. To which I internally cried that she knew who Lady Gaga is and that she is now inundated with crazytown, the world in which she lives. I tried to move the conversation to things more wholesome with little skill. I got out my ipod and played some songs I thought she would like. She likes Pink, so seemingly innocuous after Gaga. While listening to Pink I found some others I thought she would like. I played a Beatles song she didn’t know, but she correctly guessed the band, and then told me her favorite song of theirs was Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. She knows it doesn’t mean anything; she just likes it, along with Sgt. Pepper, Eleanor Rigby, and Hey Jude. I’ve never been so proud!

The night was full of fun at a baseball game, meeting up with Aunt Jen, food that is overpriced, almost missing the fireworks because of getting the best corn on the cob in the world, getting trinkets at the stand, and soda again being spilled.

Before the night was over I was told her first date would be at Friendly’s, asked when disco died and even more alarmingly asked what she would be like if she was a gangster, made her eat a hotdog given to us by one of Molinari Oswald’s clients, and educated on the proper etiquette at a baseball game waiting to go to our seats.

When the game was over we sat in the car until the lines were gone. While we waited, I got out the ipod again and she found the Veggie Tales album and we started singing along to the Second Chances song. It was fun to sing and be crazy with our water bottle microphones and the freedom to pretend to be gospel singers. She told me I should go on America’s Got Talent for Opera. I thanked her, but assured her I haven’t got the talent for that. It is nice to know that though she is eleven and knows who Lady Gaga is, is learning the Beatles masterpieces, and questions how she would be as a gangster; she still likes hanging out with me singing into impromptu sound amplification systems in front of imagined crowds of fans. I always knew we would get along just fine, but there is nothing like looking over and wondering if she is having fun and knowing by the look in her eye she is. And more than that, knowing I had something to do with it!

Am I Part Of The Problem?

It is weird that when I was in the apartment, I was writing pretty often. Since I’ve been at the house, I have written one post. Not that I haven’t thought of anything, maybe because some things need to be said at times and at other times, it doesn’t matter if other people know what you think. There is a balance of voicing thoughts and opinions that I am still in the process of perfecting.

Here is one I have been dwelling on for a while.

What is the deal with Republicans?

You see, I am a card carrying Republican. I think that the basic premise of the party, at least historically, is sound and makes the most sense to me. However, I have realized in conversations with those that do not hold my party affiliation, that there are some vast disconnects between ideals, and practice. I wish I was much more up to date on things and could have really intricate discussions with people regarding politics.

What I have learned is this. If I don’t know something, I need to say so, no need trying to pretend I know if I don’t. I will ask questions, really trying to listen for the answer, and not think of a rebuttal, this isn’t a debate for credit. If immediate silence on my part makes the other person feel like they “win” so be it, a thought through response is better than a quick one. (still practicing) Google, is my new best friend, cross referencing tool, over informative place for all things “news". Most “news” today is biased; I need to look for facts outside of opinionated adjectives. I can learn from those who disagree with me. Having a D behind your name, does not equal religious infringing moron, having and R behind your name does not equal conservative Christian hero. I need to put into practice the ideals I have.

It is the last thing on which I would like to elaborate for a spell. I was talking to one of my bosses during one of our many long conversations on politics. The most infamous of these conversations was when he came into my office said, “Not to start a long conversation, but what do you think of Sarah Palin right now”, and then left two hours later.

On this particular occasion, we were talking about social programs and the role of government in the issues we face as a nation. I have heard many times that a lot of people have issues with Republican practices because they are cheap on social funding. And many think Democrats, raise taxes to hand it out to people who don’t work. The truth is, when we oversimplify things, it may be easier to deal with them, but it does not take into account the individual and the fact that many people using social services really need the help. These people very well may have jobs, love their family, be responsible, etc, etc,. But, in keeping with the generalities, I stated that the real problem is that the church at one time took care of the needs of many of the people in the community. There has been a pulling away from being the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us and so the government, seeing the need, filled in to meet the need. This, created a larger government, and created more ways for people to abuse the system because let’s face it; it is difficult to keep tabs on millions of people collecting things. (There are a myriad of counter motives to this altruistic action I am certain, but for the sake of this blog, let’s just hope for the best as far as the reasoning for the government beefing up public works projects.)

So, mid sentence as I was blaming the church as a whole, I realized that I am part of that church as a whole and that I was doing nothing to help those around me. I may sponsor a child in Dominican, or give some money to the latest mission team, but why do I look outside the contiguous US for missions?

If all the people who call themselves Christians would be aware of and fill a need, we could greatly reduce the need for social programs, limiting government, and getting back to a more streamlined, historic view of governmental roles, the reason I am Republican. I am using the Republican party as an example, because I am one and know a lot of people in the party, and a lot of them call themselves Christian, though neither one is a requirement for the other. Republican, Democrat, Green, Independent, whatever your affiliation politically, if you are a Christian, you have a first priority to emulate Christ. He met needs, He cared for people, He fed people if he could, and yet, He turned some away later when He knew they were taking advantage of Him. We are not to be foolish with resources; we are to be selfless with our resources.

I know a lot of my friends who are Christians and Democrat, are Democrat for the social issues. They want to help people. And it is not to say they are letting the government do it all. Many of them are very giving of their personal resources. I guess my convoluted point is this; for so long I was speaking politically without realizing the first call to action was and is to speak as a Christian. To know that whatever government model, whatever party holds the most power, my goal and action should not change. Instead of worrying about who will be running in 2012, and who said what about whom, I should be wondering if that person I saw cross the street in Pottstown that looked a bit rough around the edges has a place to sleep tonight. I should be wondering if there is anything else I can do for the food bank, or the Salvation Army. Instead, I am all too inclined to watch 20 minutes of news, catch something from Fox, balance it out with CNN, and then get caught up in a rerun of Friends, or google Stefon, or whatever else that doesn’t matter five seconds from the end of it much less for entire lifetime or even more truthfully, an eternity.

So, my admonition to myself is to do this: To look for the practical ways to show the reason I am a Christian. To take may faith out of the walls of a church that may or may not have a steeple, to get rid of a list of things I do or don’t do, and to allow the Spirit of the Most High to lead me to do His work. This is not going to be easy for me. I live in the land of theory and easily dissected right and wrong, safe and foolish, and repeating to do lists. But, if I am working to be the body of Christ and serve as Jesus served, government models and party affiliation will take a back seat to the task at hand of serving those around me who need. And in by doing I will be putting into practice my ideals of government, and then I will be practicing what I believe. And when someone asks me why I am doing what I am doing I will say it is because I am so thankful for what Jesus did for me, and not because I’m a Republican.

How Much Time Do We Have?

So, I have a question about recent events that is most likely going to have some people think I've gone off the deep end. My question is this. Can we say that Harold Camping is definitely wrong in his prediction? I mean, in hind sight yes, the day came and went, but now he has moved it again. Though we can say he is wrong for claiming to know, how can we be certain he is wrong as in it will not happen?

I believe the Bible. I believe that Jesus will come back one day. I believe that no one, even Harold, does not know the day or the time. However, if he is wacked out for saying he definitely knows the day and time. Aren't we wacked out if we say that we know it definitely won't be that day and time? Isn't that doing the same thing, just in the reverse order?

When the buzz was about that the world was "suppose to end" on the 21st, I heard people say we know if won't be the 21st. But we don't know that. Every second, every day is a 50/50 shot at the rapture happening. I just imagine someone who doesn't really know much about all of this asking someone who does, and that person saying, it won't happen the 21st. If all it took to be certain the rapture would not happen, was to say the rapture would happen, then I can say it will happen every day for the next ten years and in doing so, make certain I had ten more years to do whatever in blazes I wanted to do.

I think it unlikely to be the time Camping says, but how can I think to know anything about such topics when the Son of God doesn't even know? Is that giving us a false sense of time? Redeem the time because the days are evil, work to let people know that even though wackos twist the truth, the Truth is that one day Jesus will return and a whole lot of stuff is going to go down. So if it is in the next two days, three years, or twelve centuries from now, we are to live like the next second is the last. And yet, we/I push it out of our minds and think, I have time, I have time. If that sense of time is anything like me getting ready in the morning, then Lord help me, because it will come quickly and unexpectedly. How can I dawdle, when there is an unknown deadline looming?

Something Different?

Well, I’ve moved. Yep, totally out of Mertztown and back in the even more thriving metropolis of Pottstown. Actually comparatively speaking, it is a big city. No corn fields or cows, but culture all the same. There is a lot going on. Moving to a different city, getting rid of a lot of things, and moving back into the house in which I grew up. I know what you are thinking. And no, it was not a necessity, but it is a good opportunity. A win win of situations, with a whole lot of compromise and adjustment to boot!

At times I have thought that I am a complete moron for even considering such a thing. Then I realize that often when we are told to do things, it doesn’t always make a lot of sense in the traditional sense. But, it is an answer to prayer.

You see, I began praying about about six months ago, that if it would be possible, God would allow me to move closer to my church. I would drive home from music practices, or small groups looking at an hour’s drive and being exhausted, just wanted to be home. Not to mention if someone had a need or I had a meal to take a grieving family or new mother, well, there were challenges.

I never thought God would work it so that my parents would be in another state for most of the time and that I’d be in their house with my sister. Not my first choice, but I see already in this first month, that God is blessing me and I am seeing Him to be faithful, as He always is.

There will be challenges, I will continue to sin and have a terrible attitude at times, but I am work in progress and He is faithful to complete this construction site of a human.