Sometimes the experience of life is more important than where you are headed in life. I mean, sometimes we are so caught up in the vision of our future that present opportunities slip right through our fingers. Then we look back and wonder why we didn't take advantage of life when we had the opportunity. As Americans, we are so focused on the future, on "making it", on success and financial freedom that we forget that NOW is all we have. Now is the moment we have to make a difference. Now is the moment in which we have to live. The battle cry "Carpe Diem" that my friend Bill Moody is so fond of yelling out on youth trips at 6AM makes more sense to me the older I get. The moment is all we have. Each moment is golden, a precious gift not to be wasted and a treasure all by itself. Even the painful moments are ones that bring living into sharper relief. I pray that God will continue to make me fully alive and fully aware every moment that I breathe, and I pray that my children will learn to live their lives this way, too.
Carpe Diem!!!
Friday, April 27, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
1:03AM
So once again I find myself unable to fall asleep. I don't know what to blame it on...hormones? discomfort? pain in my shoulder? who knows...
The thoughts I've been having are probably the reason I'm still awake. They've been begging to be typed out in cyberspace for everyone or no one to read. Probably the latter! No matter who reads or doesnt read them, they still groan to be written.
I was thinking the other day about how, in the "ministry" we do so much to stimulate people to move forward in their relationship with Christ. Some of it feels like "bleaching headstones", all work and no real progress...no real depth. I have to remain focused on the outcome and not the means by which I get there in ministry...the outcome being the miracle of seeing people connect with Christ. The means are important, but they can't be without an end that has purpose. I fear that too much of our structure, too much of our urgency, too much of our time is spent in bleaching headstones. It amazes me that we've been entrusted to build the kingdom of God when sometimes the only tools we want to use are sponges soaked with bleach. So I struggle between the ease of having a structure that produces a measurable, predictable outcome and the challenges that real ministry demands. Real ministry demands that I pour myself out at the foot of the cross daily, hourly. It's sometimes a bitter wrestling match where parts of me are dislocated for sure. It's so much easier to meet a deadline and produce a program than it is to obey, but obedience is the only thing that's really going to produce anything that actually builds the kingdom of God.
It's now 1:23. I'll be exhausted tomorrow. And there were more thoughts as my body fought with my brain earlier when I was trying to go to sleep. But, as profound as I believed them to be, they were also fleeting...and so I'll call it a night.
Oh...and one more thought that I'll go into more detail tomorrow night at with the youth....At the wedding in Canaa, Mary, mother of Jesus asked him to help the family of the bride avoid some embarassment and public humiliation by producing wine from water. Jesus clearly told her it wasn't his time...and Mary completely ignored him! She turned and told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to having full confidence that he would honor her request. And Jesus did... He obeyed his mother. Think on that for a while.
The thoughts I've been having are probably the reason I'm still awake. They've been begging to be typed out in cyberspace for everyone or no one to read. Probably the latter! No matter who reads or doesnt read them, they still groan to be written.
I was thinking the other day about how, in the "ministry" we do so much to stimulate people to move forward in their relationship with Christ. Some of it feels like "bleaching headstones", all work and no real progress...no real depth. I have to remain focused on the outcome and not the means by which I get there in ministry...the outcome being the miracle of seeing people connect with Christ. The means are important, but they can't be without an end that has purpose. I fear that too much of our structure, too much of our urgency, too much of our time is spent in bleaching headstones. It amazes me that we've been entrusted to build the kingdom of God when sometimes the only tools we want to use are sponges soaked with bleach. So I struggle between the ease of having a structure that produces a measurable, predictable outcome and the challenges that real ministry demands. Real ministry demands that I pour myself out at the foot of the cross daily, hourly. It's sometimes a bitter wrestling match where parts of me are dislocated for sure. It's so much easier to meet a deadline and produce a program than it is to obey, but obedience is the only thing that's really going to produce anything that actually builds the kingdom of God.
It's now 1:23. I'll be exhausted tomorrow. And there were more thoughts as my body fought with my brain earlier when I was trying to go to sleep. But, as profound as I believed them to be, they were also fleeting...and so I'll call it a night.
Oh...and one more thought that I'll go into more detail tomorrow night at with the youth....At the wedding in Canaa, Mary, mother of Jesus asked him to help the family of the bride avoid some embarassment and public humiliation by producing wine from water. Jesus clearly told her it wasn't his time...and Mary completely ignored him! She turned and told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to having full confidence that he would honor her request. And Jesus did... He obeyed his mother. Think on that for a while.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Switchfoot revisited (AKA Susan and Tina's Great Switchfoot Adventure)
After suffering from massive disappointment that my husband would not be able to accompany me to see switchfoot at Campbell University, I asked my friend Lauren to go. Strike two...Lauren hit her dad's truck and was restricted. But alas, there was my outstanding and almost always available friend Tina who agreed to go with me!
I won't bore you with the details of getting there. It went something like this..
great weather for driving
ipod madness
new camera fun
bad travelocity experience (when i say bad I mean atrocious...I will NEVER use that service again!)
42 wardrobe changes with only two different shirts and two different pair of jeans
finally off to find Campbell University
OUTDOOR CONCERT! Woohoo! We were more than excited! I've never sat down for a switchfoot concert and I never intend to...outdoors dictates that you'll stand!
So, no details on the concert either...just a series of adjectives. AMAZING, CREATIVE, ENERGIZED, INCREDIBLE, FUN, FUN, FUN, EXCELLENT, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, INSPIRING, CHALLENGING. That probably doesn't come close to describing the musicianship and work ethic of these guys, but it will have to do. I'm always impressed with their commitment to great performance. They never disappoint onstage.
And here are some pix for your viewing pleasure. Needless to say, we were AT the stage. We were right in front of Tim, which was cool because I've never really been able to focus on him during a show and he is SO much fun to watch.
And for the best part....
I met them all! (Well, all except Chad. I don't know why this happened. I just couldn't get to him before their time to "mingle" was up)
Impressions of each....
Jon- incredibly warm. Very approachable. Very genuine and sincere. And he looks directly into your eyes, but not in an intimidating way. It's more like he's trying to absorb as much of you as he can in the small amount of time he has to talk with you.
Tim- sweet sweet sweet. And very gentle. And also really warm and genuine. He was particularly encouraging when I told him what I do
Drew- Funny, very nice looking, laid back, engaging, and humble. But outgoing and at ease with everyone he talked to.
Jerome- my "40's" buddy! Smiley and lively. Great sense of fun and humor. We bonded over our "old age"
Chad- will have to remain a mystery. I just didn't get to talk to him at all and barely got any decent shots of him.
Umm, yeah. It was an incredible night. And I'm glad that Tina was the one that shared it with me. We were definitely kindred spirits that night, and God put us together for those 28 hours because we both needed.
So, on to Creationfest 2007 in PA (June) and then Valdosta (August). I'm determined to meet Chad!!!
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