Happy New Year!

Well, another year comes to a close. Every New Year's Eve I remember with fondness a tradition practiced at my Grandparent's home. It was not uncommon for my Dad's parents to keep their five grandchildren (including me and my brother) overnight on New Year's Eve. While we thought this was a great tradition, it is only as an adult (and a parent) that I now realize that this thoughtful gesture was likely done each year in order to free our parents up to go out for New Years sans kiddies! Nevertheless, we kiddies did enjoy ourselves. The highlight of the evening for us cousins was to see who could make the most elaborate or ridiculous hat to wear at midnight. Using construction paper and lots of bows, ribbons and paper left over from the recent Christmas mayhem, we set about our task and then at midnight we would all rush out into the yard sporting our creations making as much commotion possible with noise makers, horns and cow bells! We indeed "rang" in the new year, and Granddaddy topped it all off with fireworks!

It is fitting to celebrate the start of a New Year, for it is by the grace of God that we start even a new day! And it gives us yet another opportunity to praise Him for the most awesome new beginning He's ever given us -- new life in Christ!! That new beginning can happen for us at any time. For many, it comes early as we are raised in godly homes and the Spirit calls us at a tender age. For others, God may choose the teen years, or midlife. The Lawson's dear neighbor and friend, Bob, is celebrating a new beginning at the end of his life. Struggling with cancer for years, he had been struggling against God for his whole life. But here at the closing of his earthly life, in what will likely be his death bed, he has experienced a glorious dawning! His life is in reality now just beginning!! David in his visits with Bob has remarked that since giving his life to Christ, Bob's entire countenance has changed! He exudes peacefulness, where before he was agitated. He is smiling, joyful and engaging with visitors, rather than closed, hesitant and downcast. At a time the world would say should be his saddest hour, Bob is radiant with hope, peace and joy!

Likewise for Jenice's father who's recent hospitalization for heart trouble has given her and others the opportunity to talk to him about his real "heart" trouble, his need for Christ! And God has graciously seen fit to draw this man to himself at the twilight of his days who has worshiped idols his whole life, namely the god of money. That is grace, my friends! Who but our loving God would offer salvation to one who has shaken his fist in His face for over 7o years? And who but our loving God can surprise the hopeless with joy, give peace to the tourmented soul, and hopeful anticipation, not dread, in the face of death?

THAT'S the power of the Gospel! THAT'S the "foolishness" that the world mocks, but we know is the ONLY reality -- that we were dead in our sins, but Christ died for us and was raised from the grave that we might have eternal life! Not just that we might experience life after death, but experience the things of God's in this life -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control!

So, friends, Happy New Year, and may it be merry as we praise God for His abounding grace and mercy, love and forgiveness, hope and renewing power! I can't wait to see what God does in our midst in 2009! Just look at how he has blessed the close of 2008 with these two amazing miracles, like fireworks of celebration! Thanks be to GOD!

This Holy Christmas Night

Be Careful Little Eyes...

(photo taken in 2004)

Last evening, I sat down at my computer and checked one of the national news sites. There I was confronted with the headline and accompanying gruesome pictures from the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, where over 100 have been brutally murdered. My stomach sank. I sat there motionless staring at the carnage depicted before me. Suddenly, Matthew appeared from upstairs. Not having time to toggle to a different web page, and not wanting him to glimpse the bloody photos, I snipped, "Matt, go back upstairs!" He immediately complied, but I felt the pang of having raised my voice to him, and his confusion at my doing so. I went quickly upstairs to seek him out, and he was playing and seemed to have forgotten all about it in a matter of seconds. I gave him a big hug and explained that he had not done anything wrong, but that I didn't want him to see a scary picture that was on the news.

At 6:00 this morning, Matt came into our bedroom and, like many mornings, crawled in between David and me. As he snuggled into my shoulder, my mind went back to India, and I held him closer. I know that I will not be able to protect him from the horrors of the world much longer. His innocence, and Emma's, right now is so precious. Matt and Emma's tender hearts turn away from all things scary or disturbing. Last year, we had to leave the latest Veggie Tales movie ("The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything") before the first scene was even complete, because Matt found the bad pirate zucchini too scary!! Emma could not watch "March of the Penguins" because the discovery that some of the penguins die in those desolate conditions was too much for her to bear. We laugh, but this morning I thought about the children who were surely witness, and perhaps even victim, to the terrorism in Mumbai, and how their little eyes should never have to see such wickedness. Their innocence has been brutally stolen from them, never to be regained.

This Thanksgiving morning, I thank God for many things. My country, where such attacks are rare. Our armed service men and women who put themselves into those gruesome scenes so that we are protected from them. For the innocence of childhood, and the hope of innocence one day restored through Christ. Advent is upon us when we celebrate Christ's first coming into this world. And I say, Maranatha, Lord Jesus! Return!

Went With the Wind

Sometimes, you just need a good laugh. The Carol Burnett Show was my favorite as a kid! Carol was totally my hero, and I mimicked her at school every chance I could, earning me the "Funniest in the Class" award in 5th grade! But enough about my glory days (groan). I wish they still made TV shows like this, but unfortunately, they, like this sketch, have "Gone With the Wind". So take 15 minutes to sit back and enjoy!


PART 1




PART 2

Pray for our Country!

Election Tuesday is just around the corner and I doubt there is anyone who thinks this election is not one of the most important in our lifetime. I urge everyone not only to get out and VOTE, but also to PRAY!

• Pray that God's will be done in this election!
  
• Pray that whomever gets elected will uphold our country's Constitution and not seek to reinterpret and rewrite it according to their own ideals and agendas!


• Pray that our new President will have wisdom on how to keep our country safe from our enemies who, make no mistake, want nothing more than to see America destroyed! By the way, our enemies have endorsed a candidate. Do you know who?


• Pray that laws that protect innocent life will be upheld, and more put into place! How can we as Christians support legislation that directly violates God's Law?


• Pray that the man God chooses to lead us will be a man of prayer, seeking God's perspective and will on all matters. May he be a man who understands and acknowledges the Christian principles this country was founded upon and seeks to stand firm on those principles, not giving in to special interests or clanging voices who shout "Rights and Tolerance!" when what they really want is approval of their sinful behaviors.
  
• Pray that our freedoms which were fought for with the blood of our founding fathers would be upheld! May we as Christians always be able to preach, witness, and raise our children without fear! Brothers and Sisters, do you know that in many countries (even in Europe) this is not the case? There are many in this country who would love to label the preaching and teaching of God's moral law as "hate speech."


• Again, pray that God's will be done, that He would be glorified, and that He would be lifted up once again in this nation which He has blessed so richly. May our Lord's hand of blessing and protection never be removed from us. Pray!

A Project with Dad

My son has been begging us for something for over a year. He has been longing to have a bike ramp! Since store-bought ramps are pricey, David told him several months ago that perhaps the two of them could build one together. The idea of buying a ramp was exciting to Matt, but the idea of making one with Dad was over-the-top AWESOME! From that moment forward, we heard almost daily reminders from Matt about the project. "Daddy, when can we start building the ramp?" Well, yesterday, David borrowed a friend's truck and headed to Lowes. For the next 3 hours or so, David and Matt worked in the garage together. There is just something about a child's desire to work along side their Daddy. David could have built the ramp without Matt's help, but giving Matt the opportunity to share in the project gives Matt not only a sense of accomplishment, but a stronger bond with his Daddy.

God doesn't need our help when it comes to the fulfillment of His plans. But isn't it wonderful that He wants us to work with Him on His most wonderful project -- the redemption of the world!? I wonder why we are often unenthusiastic about working along side our heavenly Daddy? We should be like Matt, asking when and how we can help, anxious and excited not just about the final product, but for the chance to learn from the Master and gain a closer bond with Him!

Putting Things By

Autumn is the time of year that folks "put things by," a phrase which is old-fashioned, but much needed these days! As a child, I have vivid memories of helping my Grandma and Grandaddy wash and scald Mason jars so that they could be filled with stewed tomatoes and set aside for use throughout the following year. Of all the things he cans, my Grandaddy is probably most famous for his chow-chow. If you are not familiar with this Southern delicacy, chow-chow is a pickled relish that you put on other things to eat, primarily pinto beans! It is a combination of chopped cabbage, green tomatoes, cauliflower, onions and green & red peppers, cooked with pickling spices and vinegar and then canned. A steaming bowl of fresh-cooked pinto beans with chow-chow on top and a big hunk of buttermilk corn bread were a common and much-anticipated meal around my house growing up.

My Grandaddy is now 91, and a week ago I sat him down at his kitchen table and told him that I simply must have his chow-chow recipe! To me, the idea of this tradition being lost one day was unthinkable! Of course, like many folks who are working from age-old traditional recipes, Grandaddy doesn't work from a written recipe, just years of experience and eye-balling amounts and ingredients. But after a while, I managed to write out the gist of this family secret, and rushed home to begin preparations for attempting my first batch! Sunday night, I chopped and chopped vegetables and soaked them in salty water overnight. On Monday morning, I began the cooking process and canned my very first chow-chow! David and I tried some on the four-bean soup I had made the day prior, and while I can't say that it's as good as Grandaddy's, it was very good for my first attempt, and I think Grandaddy will be pleased! Most of all, I was excited that a tradition was being preserved (no pun intended). It was also a reminder of how quickly our heritage can be lost. One generation is all it takes for us to forget about our past. How urgently important it is, not just to preserve our family's story, but to instruct our children in the ways of the Lord, lest the next generation forget.

Putting Things By:

Today, the smell of vinegar-soaked vegetables waifed through the house hitting anyone who entered with the unmistakable smell of Autumn. I carefully followed Grandaddy's instructions, constantly testing, tasting and worrying whether or not I was doing it correctly. After all, this was not just chow-chow, it was a family tradition! This was my childhood memories being packed into pint-sized glass albums! Completed, I stood back and admired the colorful product -- green, gold and red. Each pop of the lid upon opening a new jar releases a flood of images and feelings. As the tangy-sweet smell escapes I recall suppers of pinto beans and corn bread around my childhood table; standing tip-toed in my Grandma's kitchen struggling to reach the jars I was helping to wash, my tiny hands perfect for the job, she said, because they could reach all the way inside; the smell of stewed tomatoes; the sweet taste of purple grapes picked from the vine; the feel of October beans in my hands as my brother and I shelled and admired their pink stripes and speckles; the warmth of the wood stove in their den, and the feeling of perfect contentment . These were Autumn activities which repeated themselves every year at my Grandparent's house. Grandaddy's mother taught him the importance of "putting things by," and his basement shelves are proof that he heeded her words of wisdom, row after row of canned tomatoes, pears, jellies, and of course, chow-chow lined up like colorful, glass soldiers awaiting their orders! The days of really needing to can vegetables, make jams, store apples, onions and potatoes, and chop firewood for winter are gone, but I tell my kids, as they watch me pour the hot relish into another jar, stories of my childhood, of their Grandparents and Great Grandparents, traditions we have kept, and most importantly, faith that must be passed down. Indeed, the importance of "putting things by!"

McCain Brings Down the House!

John McCain delivered a side-splitting roast last night at the Alfred E. Smith memorial dinner in Washington. Where were these writers when it was time to prepare him for the debates?!!!!

Deliverance!

I got up very early this morning before the sun, and before the kids! Clutching my hot coffee mug, I settled onto the sofa to catch the morning news, our dog Jack curled up at my feet. I flipped through a few channels, and the movie "The African Queen" was on (Bogart and Hepburn, 1951). This is one of my favorite films, and I can never resist watching it, though I've seen it dozens of times.

It was near the end of the film, which takes place in the jungles of Africa during WWII. Charlie (a slovenly, gin-swilling captain of a tramp steamer) and Rose (the straight-laced spinster sister of a prim British missionary) make an unlikely duo who team up after the Germans destroy the Mission village. In what begins as merely an attempt to flee to the safety of civilization, they decide instead to strike back, and begin a treacherous journey down the Ulanga River in order to reach a large lake at its mouth. Therein lies the Louisa, a German boat which patrols the lake and all activity around it, preventing Allied troops from securing the region. Charlie and Rose devise an elaborate plan to sink the Louisa, but first they must make it down the Ulanga, which has never been navigated.

They brave being shot at, swarms of African insects, multiple boat troubles, and treacherous rapids which nearly dash them to pieces. At what should be the culmination of their efforts and heroism, at the base of the river they become stuck in an unnavigable tangle of reeds and high grasses. Unable to see above the reeds, they cannot tell where they are and assume that they are doomed to perish in the swampy, leech-infested bog. No longer able to push or pull their boat in any direction, they eventually collapse from fatigue and despair, and await a slow death.

What they cannot see, however, is that they are only 100 yards from the open water of their destination. Nor can they see or know of the rain storm that is beginning miles upriver in the mountains. As they sleep, the rainwater working its way downstream begins to flood the river and slowly makes its way to the marshes where their little boat sits embedded in mud. As the water slowly rises, the boat is eventually freed and begins to float again, and drifts naturally towards the open water. The sleeping occupants awaken to what appears to be a dream -- they are moving! They lift their weary heads and see their deliverance!

Sometimes it feels like we are stuck in that quagmire. We strive and trudge our way towards the finish line in our war-beaten little boats, experiencing great trials and yet little victories along the way, and just when we feel like all of our efforts for the cause of Christ should finally bear victorious fruit, our circumstances suddenly change and overwhelm us, and we can see no way out. Over time, despair, exhaustion, and hopelessness set in and we are tempted to simply give up because we have stopped moving forward -- so we think. But we must remember that God is always working and has already secured our deliverance! We will lift our head and behold the miracles He is doing on our behalf that were unseen by our limited vision, but absolutely planned by Him for our benefit and His glory! Full understanding and sight may not come in this life, but until then, we must not collapse under the weight of what we cannot see or understand. We must let Christ be our eyes, focusing on Him, and letting Him take care of the boat! And unlike The African Queen where Charlie shouts, "We did it!" when victory finally comes at the end, we will instead shout, "HE did it!" which is really the whole point, isn't it?

Bow Before Him

I took the kids apple picking last week, and was reminded why Autumn is my favorite season. The day was perfect -- crisp blue sky, warm but with just a little nip in the air. Seeing limbs bowing under the weight of their fruit is a picture of what my life should be -- bowing before Christ as I present to Him the fruit HE is producing!!! When our lives produce true spiritual fruit, we cannot help but bow and worship!

The Orb of Confusion!

My kids love the cartoon SpongeBob Squarepants! For those of you not familiar with this highly-sophisticated animated series, the show centers on its protagonist, SpongeBob, a sea sponge, his friends, and his job at the local burger joint -- the Crusty Crab. Like any good cartoon, the forces of good and evil are portrayed, and the series also boasts its own superheros, Mermaid Man and his trusty sidekick, Barnacle Boy, who are periodically called into action to fend off their arch nemesis, ManRay (who is eventually captured and imprisoned in frozen tartar sauce!). Like I said, it's highly sophisticated.

In one episode, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy go on vacation and leave their secret cave and all its hi-tech weapons (including the Boat-mobile) in the care of SpongeBob and his best friend, Patrick (a cognitively-challenged starfish). While surveying the cave, they discover ManRay, suspended in the frozen tartar sauce, and accidentally thaw him, whence he recommences his effort to take over the world -- WHAA-HA-HA-HA-HA (diabolical laughter)! On his way out, ManRay steals all of the superheros' secret weapons, leaving SpongeBob and Patrick defenseless --EXCEPT for one weapon he overlooked! The Orb of Confusion!

This grapefruit-sized orb, when switched on, renders anyone within a certain radius very confused, thus making them much easier to capture! SpongeBob and Patrick, of course, end up using the device on themselves accidentally, turning them into tongue-lolling, drool-producing, eye-rolling, stupefied morons incapable of doing anything but standing in place while uttering the classic "Duuuuuhhh!" -- essentially, not too different from their normal operating mode.

So, what on earth does this have to do with ANYTHING?! Well, I've been watching the election coverage and the financial crisis coverage for a while now, and have determined one thing. The Orb of Confusion seems to have found its way into Washington and is rendering our government useless! A resounding "Duuuuhhhh!" seems to be emanating from the halls of our Capital, and the mouths of the majority of our news media! Fortunately for us, we have a SuperHero who's always on the scene and who's plan cannot be thwarted even by Orb-stricken government officials, confused talking heads, or even our arch nemeses around the world! So, as I watch in disbelief the Orb in action, I can take heart that our SuperHero, God Himself, is on the job!

Just plain cute!

We were recently at the Virginia Safari Park where you get to ride a wagon through acres of countryside and pet and feed the animals which roam freely there. We had a great time, and upon our return to the main park area, one of the workers had an "animal encounter" waiting for us -- a hedgehog. I've seen them in photos, but never in person. We got to pet "Hedgie" and feel her prickles (which were down). Then the worker turned her upside down to reveal her soft belly. Well, I'm sorry, but I'm just a sucker for cute critters! So, I'm sharing these pics just because! Thank you, God, for delighting us with your creative heart!!!

Clear Direction!

Emma had soccer practice last evening. This year, she plays on an all-girl team of 8-10 year-olds. Last night, her coach put her in the position of playing Right-Center for a scrimmage with an all-boys team. In this position, the player should remain on the right side of the field, typically towards the center, but can travel up and down the field as necessary if they get the ball and can dribble it towards a goal. If they find themselves on the left side of the field, unless they have the ball, they should return to their position on the right to defend that side. All of this knowledge about what a Right-Center can and cannot do was confusing to her. As a grown up, my brain can understand the concept of defending a position, anticipating where the ball will go, returning to position, knowing when to step out of your pre-described bounds when necessary, etc. But for Emma, it created a frustrating ordeal. She found herself receiving orders from three different coaches (head coach and two assistants). One would tell her to stay in position, then moments later another would shout for her to advance on the ball, and then another would yell for her to fall back, etc. As I watched, I was impressed at how Emma patiently complied with each order, but I could tell she was beginning to feel frustrated. After practice, I told Emma how proud I was of her for not just throwing up her hands and walking away. She admitted that she was very confused at having so many people shouting seemingly contradictory directions at her!

I am SO glad that God has made it simple for us easily-confused children!! For those people who believe that there are many paths to heaven, I say what a horrible and cruel idea! If that were true, I would be so very, very confused, like Emma was last night! One path would shout "This way!" and another would prompt me to change direction moments later. I would be tempted to follow whatever path my emotions prompted, only to become frustrated when my emotional wind shifted or I came to another ideological crossroads.

If there are many "true" paths to heaven, then, implicitly, there are also many false paths. How would one know the difference? What a treacherous journey it would be, wondering all the time if I had really chosen a "true" path and not a false one. Some argue, "Well, its the sincerity." In other words, as long as you are sincere in your faith journey, then God will let you into His heaven! Really? Then Hitler must be in heaven, for no one was more "sincere" in his beliefs than he. And the radical Islamists are certainly "sincere" in their religious beliefs! And how awful to believe in many gods, like the Hindus, appealing to one "god" for this, and another for that. Who could keep it all straight and not go crazy!?

No, God knows that giving us One way is the ONLY way to keep us from straying. He doesn't shout one direction one day, and then shout another contradictory order the next! He is never divided, and never flip-flops in His plan for salvation. What a relief! A clearly defined path to reach the goal! Thanks be to God for the Cross of Jesus Christ that, like a pin stuck in a map to reveal the traveler's destination, marks our path to eternity, and His blood covers the road I am to take among the many twisting, turning options that would lead me astray!

The Rain Came!

Early Thursday morning, I awoke to an unusual sound these days -- rain! I poured myself a cup of coffee and looked out the window above my kitchen sink and saw a doe with her twins enjoying the weather! I had seen them before, but that morning they had an extra bounce, so to speak, in their step. The fawns would eat for a moment, and then erupt in play, chasing each other and leaping in the air. Their mother would watch them carefully while chewing on a juicy leaf knocked down from the rain. It was one of those little moments that delight the spirit.

The Rain Came

The ground was so dry,
The grass, brown from lack.
Weeks had gone by.
When would the rain come back?

Then it came!
And the ground drank deep
Of the gentle rain,
As if awakened from sleep.

A doe and her fawns
Came, delighted by the shower.
I saw them on my back lawn
In the early morning hour.

The little ones leaped
Among the drops,
While mother kept
Watch with each of their hops.

I smiled at the scene,
Remembering the way
My soul had once been
Like the earth was that day.

But the Reign came down
On my parched, dry heart.
And the joy that I found
Made my soul leap and dart!

Thank God for the rain
And all the little things
That remind us again
Of the Life that He brings!

The Obedience of Faith -- as taught by my dog!

I wrote this silly poem after we had our puppy, Jack, for about 8 months or so. If you've ever been a puppy owner, you'll understand! Thankfully, Jack has come a long way since then, and has learned obedience (mostly). I often wonder if I've come as far!

Jack

My dog, Jack, is quite a hound
Both joy and pain to have around.
Just when he’s tipped the garbage can
He cuddles up and licks my hand.

I tell him, “Come!” when he is out,
And just as I begin to shout
So loud I wake the neighbors up,
He ambles in, that scheming pup!

He nipped my hand the other day
When all I wanted was to play,
But didn’t see his precious bone
He wanted just to be his own!

To think I paid for this abuse!
If I could think of some excuse,
I’d put him up for dog adoption;
Yes, this would be a humane option!

Let someone else with great endurance
(And liability insurance)
Take on this rascal. I give up!
I’ve tried to train and love this pup…

But then I look at him and see
That I’m, in fact, a lot like he.
And God has yet to cast me out
Though often He has had to shout

For me to “Come!” I know I’ve been
Both joy and pain, like Jack, to Him.
So now more patience puppy gets
(perhaps that’s why God gives us pets)!

Entertainment Wasteland

Have you ever been flipping through the channels on your television and thought to yourself, "Man, there's all these shows but nothing but garbage on!" In reality, this thought typically replaces the word "garbage" with a less eloquent term, the likes of which I'm not comfortable including in my blog!

Well, to prove my point, that TV has really gone down the toilet, I was engaged in said channel surfing the other day, and ran across a show being offered by none other than the History Channel called "All About Dung!" I'm not kidding! I thought to myself, "It's finally happened. TV producers have at last figured out that we will watch anything!" After all, if viewers will actually sit through reality shows like "Wife Swap" without organizing open revolt and torch-and-pitchfork-bearing mobs to storm the TV studios, then why not take programming to its inevitable conclusion -- a show about dung!

Have I tempted you? Well, dear reader, just take a look at the show's description as found on the History Channel's website...

Join host Monty Halls as he investigates the historical, medical, scientific and evolutionary importance of poop on an excremental safari guaranteed to fascinate even the most squeamish of viewers. You'll be surprised by the amazing manner in which the world puts dung to use. Discover that through a 14,000-year-old human dung deposit it has been determined that humans inhabited North America 1300 years earlier than previously thought. Climb a 100-foot mountain of bat guano in Borneo that is teeming with insect life. Travel to India and view housewarming rituals using sacred cow dung as good luck. Finally Halls drinks coffee made from poop and investigates, through their large droppings, why mammoths might have disappeared.

WOW! Now that's entertainment!! So, the next time you are surfing the channels and thinking to yourself, "Man, there's nothing but (*bleep*) on TV!" remember, you're right! Why not just accept it? Then poop, I mean POP, yourself some popcorn, and grab a Baby Ruth or some Milk Duds, and sit back and enjoy!

. . .Of course, you could read a book.

Living Water

On our recent "stay-cation" we had lots of things on our to-do list. The week was not designed to be particularly relaxing, rather, an opportunity to get some much needed work done around our home! But, we did promise the kids that we would take one day to just have fun. So, finally on Saturday we headed for Craig's Creek thanks to our generous friends who let us use their cabin as home-base for the day! We spent the day wading, swimming, tubing and fishing in the many ripples and pools. Treasures were found -- an old milk-glass jar lid, green and blue slag from the old iron smelting days, crayfish, minnows, and lots of good skippin' rocks!

As the day came to a close and we made our way from the center of the babbling creek, where the water was clear, to the shore, we had to wade through the murky, still water near the edge. There, bright green algae grew beneath the surface, waving as in slow motion in the shallows, like long green locks of hair. The rocks were slippery and each step sent clouds of orange mud swirling around our toes. "Yuck!" the children cried! They did not like having to cross the still shallows.

I remarked to them, "Which part of the creek do you prefer to play in -- the middle where the water is rushing and moving, or the shallows where the water is still?" Naturally, they said they much preferred the moving water where the fish swam, the small rapids provided tubing and swimming adventures and the algae had no opportunity to grow on the rocks! "The Bible calls that kind of water 'living water' because it's alive and moving!" I said. "Do you remember who called Himself the 'living water?'" I asked. "Jesus!" they replied (to my relief). "Yes!" I said. "When we have Jesus in our hearts, it's like having a bubbling brook in our soul which is powerful, clear, and alive, overflowing with the love of Christ to others!" It was a small teaching moment that I was grateful for, and David said, "That's awesome! You should blog about that!" ;-)

Living water is mentioned a number of times in the Bible. In the Song of Solomon, it says,

"A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed. Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard, nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all chief spices- a garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon."

We are the bride of Christ, and to Him we are to be as a beautiful garden, producing abundant good things, and like a fountain, alive and pure! But, alas, we are all too often like the prophet Jeremiah described in chapter 2:

"Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. "

In ancient times, cisterns were made, hewed out of rock or from clay, to collect rain water for use when fresh water was unavailable or the rivers dry. Naturally, the water accumulated in these holding bins was not fresh and clean, like water gathered from a running stream. It's stagnant. It's a place where disease could breed in the stillness and heat. Jeremiah says, we forsake God who is the fountain of living water for our souls, and instead we make ourselves spiritual cisterns which hold worthless, inadequate, impure things. And not only that, but our cisterns are broken! We fool ourselves into thinking that we're accumulating knowledge, wisdom, treasure, happiness, etc., but when we go to draw from our self-made cistern, we find nothing there! It's empty! Life apart from Christ is ultimately empty, stagnant, and a breeding ground for sin, despair and death!

In John chapter 4, Jesus talks to the Samaritan woman at the well and tells us that HE is THE source of living water!

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

And in John chapter 7, Jesus says:

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

What a picture! And the inspiration for the name of our church, "Wellspring!" Why do we waste our time trying to fill our broken cisterns with the things of the world or unbiblical so-called "spirituality," when God has given us the gift of THE ONLY Living Water -- Christ who is pure, life-giving and cannot be contained! I look at the recesses of my heart which I have not brought captive to Christ, and I say like my children wading through the stagnant shallows, "Yuck!" I want to stand in the living water and be cleansed! I can not drink from my cistern -- it's empty! I can not offer a drink from my cistern to others, for even if I could the water would be undrinkable. I want the Living Water to feed me and to then flow out of me, for, like a rushing river, it cannot be held back or hemmed in. When I offer a drink to others, I want it to be from God -- the clean, clear, delicious truth of the Gospel!

And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;

the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and

he will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

(Revelation 7:11-17)

Change for Change's Sake

My 91 year-old Grandfather has a treasure chest in his basement! At least, that's what we grand kids always considered it! Descend the creaky wooden stairs to the basement, and pull the long string at the bottom to turn on the lights, and across the neat, well organized workshop sits a large chest freezer. On top sits a cloth-covered anvil which holds the chest shut. The sealing mechanism on the freezer broke years ago, before I can even remember, and the anvil is still there today! Granddaddy would escort us children over, remove the anvil, and the chest would magically open with a frosty cloud revealing the "treasure" inside! What could get a kid so excited about a freezer? Well, treats, of course! Granddaddy always kept his freezer stocked with Hostess products that he would buy at the local bakery store. He would get them in large quantities for very cheap whenever they would bake too many, or if they were "day old". Then, he'd just freeze them for us to enjoy. Honey buns and chocolate cupcakes (with the little swirl on top), Twinkies and Ho-Ho's were always in the freezer! I don't think there was ever a time when my brother and I visited as children that we didn't get to select something from that treasure chest! What bliss!! Of course, I can't speak for my parents who then had to deal with our sugar buzz for the rest of the day!

Recently, I was visiting Grandaddy and asked him if he had any treats in the freezer that the kids could select. To my astonishment, he said that he had not stocked any such goodies for years! WHAT? No honey buns??! No Hostess cupcakes with the little swirl and the cream inside? Not a single Ho-Ho?! Why, this is just not right, I declared! The treasure chest simply MUST have treasure! It's not natural! Grandaddy chuckled, of course, at my dismay, and I was playing it up for his benefit. But. . . there was a part of me that, deep down, was really upset, not that the kids would be denied a sugary treat, but that the familiar had changed! I can remember feeling the same way when the Roanoke Wiener Stand gutted their downtown store, removing the old wrap-around, formica counters and stools, and replaced them with modern fixtures and stand-and-eat counters! The walls now depicted a mural painted by a local artist and not the old racks of Wrigley's gum, candies and other wares. Cokes sold in the little glass bottles were no longer offered. The food remained the same, but the atmosphere just didn't have the same feel, and I felt sad by it.

What's going on with me, I thought? Am I just turning into one of those cranky old people who sit around a talk about the "good old days?" And I thought about where these feeling may be rooted. I think that humans are, at their deepest level, creatures of habit. After all, when God created Adam and Eve, the garden was a predictable place. Not boring, just predictably peaceful and delightful. It was perfect. It had a routine. Adam and Eve knew that each day would bring new delights and surprises, but they were in the context of their perfect, familiar garden, and each evening God would personally visit and they could share their day's adventures with Him on their walk. "Change" to Adam and Eve always meant something positive and exciting! A new flower is discovered! A berry is found that is sweeter than any prior! They learn a new skill, or invent a new game together! But when sin entered into the picture, suddenly their predictable, familiar lives were thrust into the realm of constant negative change and unfamiliarity! How frightened they must have felt! Suddenly, change did not always mean change for the better! Change had immediate negative implications as they walked out of their beautiful garden into a completely different world full of hostility, pain and confusion! And most importantly, an inward change had taken place. Their hearts were darkened by sin. They were afraid of God. They were ashamed.

Thus began our love-hate relationship with change! We love positive change -- a baby learns to walk, a fresh coat of paint brightens an old room, a medicine cures an illness. But negative change hurts us deeply at times. A friend moves away. A job is lost. An incurable illness strikes a loved one. A crime takes place. A parent dies. John the Baptist had the awesome job, however, of heralding the greatest positive change ever to come! He shouted "Change"! "Repent!" For the Kingdom of Heaven was coming! Jesus embodies change -- positive change. One could say that He changed the way the people thought about change! The people wanted to change their circumstances. They wanted to end Roman oppression. But Christ showed them that inward, not outward, change is required. Our biggest enemy isn't "out there" -- it's us! It's who's sitting on the throne of our heart, not the throne of our country, that needs attention! Our outward circumstances are not going to be perfected in this life, but our inward heart change will enable us to live here with the same peace that Adam & Eve had despite them!

When I cringe at the things I don't like being changed, I am really longing for "the good old days" that Adam and Eve had in the garden! I am longing for heaven and mourning the effects of sin. When I felt sad about honey buns not being in my Granddaddy's freezer, what I was really feeling was the painful knowledge that I know that one day my Grandaddy will not be in that house! I pictured myself opening his door, like I opened his freezer, and not finding what has always been there. But THANKS BE TO GOD who has given us Jesus Christ. For I can handle the negative changes in this life IF I ALLOW GOD TO CHANGE MY HEART! Faith gives me the ability to weather the rough changes because I am confident in what lies ahead! I will mourn, but not as those who have no hope! I will weep, but joy comes in the morning! I can look forward to God's upcoming, ultimate change to all of creation when Christ returns and I can finally taste of what Adam and Eve lost, knowing that it will never be lost again! This is why we preach to the nations. This is why we long for our children and our family and friends to know Christ! For we know the hope we have through Christ is true, and it changes everything in this life and the next! Change for Change's sake? Yes! God changes our hearts so that we might know His peace in this life, and participate in the final change when one day death is swallowed up in life! "Change!" we shout like John. "So that you will be changed!"

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Stretch

My Mom and I talk often of our respective growing-up years. I enjoy her tales of childhood during the "good old days" of the 40's & 50's (for a sample, see "Tunnel Vision" posted on March 28). This morning I was telling Mom about a lemonade stand the kids had set up in our yard a few days ago. We talked about how, these days, one cannot just let children operate such a stand unsupervised, not knowing exactly who such a business may attract. We reminisced about how much freedom we had as children -- running through the neighborhood with our friends and returning home only when hungry or out of daylight! I have vivid memories of riding my bike through the labyrinth of streets around our home with my friends, playing kick-the-can for hours, bouncing from one friend's house to another, all the while my Mom knowing basically where I was, but not worried that I would promptly return home when I heard my Dad whistle for dinner.

My Mother's childhood was similar, but decidedly more dangerous! While my brother and I enjoyed relative free reign when it came to the outdoors, my Mom and her siblings and playmates took it to a whole new level! Playing outside unsupervised was a given, but the games they played would make a modern Mommy quake with fear! Cowboys and Indians was played with real rope used to tie up your captives, who often remained in said condition for hours! Deep, treacherous ravines which I would forbid my children from approaching within 40 yards, were opportunities for my Mom and her friends to practice their log-crossing skills! Fire was a common plaything and they would dig large pits for roasting potatoes on a stick! My mother was so good at hide-and-seek that once she hid so well that her friends eventually gave up on her. She waited for several hours before leaving her winning hiding spot. . . a large water drain pipe which led underneath the nearby highway! "Everyone had BB guns, knives, and slingshots" my mother remarked! "It's truly a wonder that we did not seriously hurt or kill ourselves!"

One popular game my Mother played all the time was called Mumbly Peg (or "Stretch"). The object of the game is to get your opponent to stretch his/her legs to the point where they can no longer keep their balance. Sounds innocent enough, right? So, how do you play? Simple, really. Two players stand facing each other. One stands with his/her feet about shoulder length apart. The facing opponent then takes their trusty jack knife and throws it near his opponent's feet (which were typically bare)! Where ever the knife sticks into the ground, the other player must then stretch the nearest foot to that spot, trying to keep his balance. This is done over and over until the player loses his balance and falls over. Then players switch spots. Sort of like Twister ala Charles Manson! Ah, yes, the charm of the "good old days!"

I think sometimes Christians feel like we're playing a game of Mumbly Peg with God. He keeps throwing the knife and we must stretch to meet His target. We succeed with one throw, but always fear the next, anticipating either falling over, or worse, getting stuck with the knife. We often fear what God will have us "stretch" to do, so we play it safe, sitting on the side lines and watching others play, or we quit the game all together. But then I remember that the stretch goals God puts before us are not pointless exercises for spiritual playmates with serious thrill issues, nor are they the contrivance of a heavenly bully attempting to humiliate us! They are meant to sanctify us, glorify Him, and fit us for heaven. When we teeter or fall, we are reminded that we are unable in our own power to reach God's standard, but we stay in the game because we love Him and want to please Him, not because we are afraid of Him. We have the opportunity to, in faith, stretch beyond our human capabilities and experience God's hand in our lives as He time and again steps in and makes possible what is impossible for man! We say, "I can't stretch to that point, God!" And He says, "I know you can't! But I can!" And the big difference between God's plan to mold us into His Son's image, and a game of Mumbly Peg? The only one who gets pierced is Him.

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.

1 Corinthians 9:25-26

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. Hebrews 12:1-3

Job Interview

When David was in Seminary, I worked as a recruiter for a management consulting company. This Python video represents every recruiters twisted fantasy to mess with their interviewee, but is also a great reminder that I'm glad that God doesn't find joy in messing with us in a similar fashion! Enjoy!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, to my sweetie! Fourteen years ago, I married a young, dashing accountant working in Washington, D.C. Since then, God has led us on an adventure which gets better and better each year. The adventure led us first to seminary, then parenthood, and then church planting. God has given me a wonderful gift in my husband! David, thank you for being my best friend, my companion for life, and such an awesome Daddy! I love you!

Independence

One of David's favorite things to do is wrestle with the kids. This is a fatherly duty, according to him, as mothers are to be soft and comforting, Daddies are required to be more rough-and-tumble! This morning, David had Emma in a good-morning bear hug on our bed. At one point, he pulled the covers over Emma's head to tease her, whereby she replied, "No, Daddy, I am keeping an eye on a particular spot in the room!" David replied, "What spot is that?" Emma responded, "The door!!"

I think it's interesting how even young children seek independence. All parents have heard the mantra, "I can do it myself!" from their children from the time they can talk! Even before that, what parent hasn't had little fingers struggle to get free from their grasp as they walk through a store or a parking lot! Efforts to aid a toddler in any activity often result in a pudgy hand pushing you away in an effort to do it themselves (and usually requiring: a) band aids, b) paper towels, or c) glue, as a result!). As a parent, you want your children to be able to do things on their own, but we are better able to assess what they can handle at any given time. And so, we demand obedience in things like holding hands while crossing the street, or helping our child in the kitchen until we feel they can maneuver independently in these areas!

Adults are not much better than a toddler when it comes to our demands for independence. And the One we kick against is much wiser than the very best parent. I know that Emma was enjoying her time with her Daddy this morning and feels safer in his arms than anywhere else on earth! She wants the security of knowing her Daddy's arms are there whenever she wants/needs them, but also wants to feel like an independent agent in the world. Just as Emma struggled to loose herself from her Daddy's playful grip, we constantly try to wriggle out of God's grip, don't we? We know that in His arms there is no safer place, but we still like thinking of ourselves as free agents in the universe! If Emma could get her "wish" of being free of parental restraints, she would not be happy. She would be lost, and in danger. Likewise, if we as humans could possibly have our "wish" and somehow manipulate God into just showing up when we call Him, like some cosmic genie, we would be wretched indeed. Getting what we want all the time is not happiness, it's just selfish hedonism. And we would miss the opportunity to know God! Emma feels loved and safe with her parents because she knows us, and respects us. We have a relationship and a bond that has been forged since her birth, and in her heart she knows that the boundaries we place on her independence are for her good. What a tragedy it would be to be deprived a relationship with our Heavenly Father, and only have his magic wand, so to speak, to fix our blunders or give us what we want all the time. But that's the human condition -- we are always trying to flip our relationship with God, putting ourselves on the throne!

God gives us true freedom, not independence. We will never be independent of Him, for every breath we take is a gift and the result of his sovereign hand upon the universe! Even in glory, we will be 100% reliant upon the grace of God every day! But we have freedom to live and move within His loving boundaries which are meant to bless us and glorify Him! We are also free from our slavery to sin, and the fear of death! This gives us yet MORE freedom -- freedom to live radical lives for Christ! Freedom to be risk takers for His kingdom, knowing that He is always holding onto us, like a loving father. This Independence Day, I am thankful not only for our country and the human freedoms we enjoy here, but ultimately for the freedom I have been given through Christ! Help me, Lord, to give thanks for the grip you have on my life and not resist your demand for my obedience and your efforts to keep me wholly dependent upon you!!

Raiders of the Lost Garage

I think there is a reason the words "Garage" and "Garbage" so closely resemble each other. At my house, the reason is clear! Yesterday I undertook the noble quest in search of my garage floor which has been unseen for over a year! In the spirit of the new Indiana Jones movie (but more closely resembling a Junie B. Jones book), I set out to see if the ancient rumors were true -- that there actually was a once-thriving garage on the end of our home, not simply the overgrown jungle of junk that currently resides there!!! Tools in hand (20 garbage bags, a broom, and a can of root beer) I hacked and swept my way through old toys, bags of clothing, Christmas decorations, pots, pans, and other various kitchen items, wrapping paper, party supplies, broken furniture and shoes, and made my way to the legendary mountain known as, "If I have a yard sale one day." Like any experienced climber, I evaluated the slope and my options for assent. I could take the more challenging course known as, "Leave the pile and actually have a yard sale in the near future, possibly making a whopping sum of $50.00" OR, I could opt for a route that, while less challenging, would offer an immediate mountaintop experience! So, yes, I chose option 2, stuffed my car to the brim and drove to the nearest Goodwill drop point! Three trips later, the mountain was all but gone and, lo, the garage floor, once only a rumor, began to reappear!! But I needed more supplies! So off to Lowes we drove, and home we came with a new, industrial-strength shelf! Picnic baskets, coolers, tackle boxes, wrapping paper, and holiday decorations were lifted off the floor and to their new home! I filled 8 trash bags with junk, like an archaeologist discarding the useless sand and dirt in order to get to the fossils underneath. More garage floor opened up and the excitement in the air was palitable! Not only was I excited, but the kids were too! Open space means only one thing to them -- play space! "Ooh, Mommy, can we ride our bikes out here? Can we use this room for a play area?!" Even our dog, Jack, ventured into the garage sniffing around as if saying, "I had no idea this room was even here!" Protective of my new found discovery, like a wild-eyed, paranoid prospector ala "Treasure of the Sierra Madre," I quickly laid stake to the space and routed my greedy claim jumpers! "No!" I shouted, "It's mine! All mine! Ha ha ha ha ha! (crazed, diabolical laughter)." Of course, I don't know if this newly discovered space will ever be used to actually house our car, but at least I can now make my way to the freezer without endangering my life! I may even plant a little flag on the top of it to mark the historic occasion!

A Fresh Start Awaits!

As May quickly comes to a close, I look forward to my favorite time of year -- Summer! It's not because of the weather, although I do enjoy trips to the lake or pool to cool off. In fact, I probably enjoy the Fall most because of the crisp temperatures and beautiful colors. But I look forward to Summer the most for the same reason most kids do -- Summer break! Now, many parents do not look forward to break, because suddenly their kids are home all day and parents must find ways to occupy their time. But as a homeschool Mom, I enjoy the break almost as much as the kids do! Then, in the Fall I feel re-energized to face another school year with a positive attitude. A fresh start!

I love the way God gives us fresh starts! My brother once commented that he was so thankful that God made day and night. He said, if there was never night, just an ongoing day in which we never slept, then if you had a bad day it would just keep going on, and on, and on, and on. . . . I had never really thought about it that way. But once again, God is pretty smart. Each morning that we wake up is a fresh start! Morning means a fresh start, Spring heralds a fresh start for the Earth each year, and of course ultimately the cross offers a fresh start through forgiveness!

Now hold on, because I'm going to offer one of my famous analogies here, so bear with me. No analogy is perfect and breaks down when taken too far but. . . that being said, I was thinking about how faith and sanctification are sort of like the rotation and revolution of the Earth which brings about daylight and the seasons. Faith, like the rotation of the Earth, gives us light. When the part of the Earth we occupy is turned away from the sun, it experiences darkness, night. But the Light has come into the world and, "...shines in the darkness" (John 1:5). Christ's descent into the world allows us to suddenly be able to see God for who He is! When we see Him through faith, the darkness we've been stumbling around in is lifted, and we have spiritual daylight! We are able to turn away from our sins and towards the Son! How sad are those who "...loved the darkness rather than the light..." (John 3:19).

But it's not enough that we see Him, we must be close to Him. We have light, but we also need growth! As the Earth is warmed the closer it is to the Sun as it revolves around it, so we are warmed in our spirit the closer we are to the Son! We grow and blossom through the process of sanctification. When we find ourselves wandering away from Christ, our souls grow cold and growth is slowed or inhibited. God wants us to see Him through faith (light), AND to have a relationship with him (closeness). He wants us to see who He is, but then He wants us to stay close and to be transformed into His image!

Just as night turns to morning and the Earth doesn't stay in perpetual Winter, we are offered both light and closeness through the forgiveness found in the cross of Christ! A fresh start, a Soul Spring, awaits all who turn not only to see, but to abide. And just as the Earth does not turn itself, our faith and sanctification are the work of God. He is the gravitational pull on our souls, just as the Sun pulls on the Earth and keeps it in orbit. Resistance would be foolish indeed. For if the Earth could resist the sun's pull, it would be catapulted into the outer reaches of space and destroyed. I'm so thankful that I am safe within the sovereignty and will of my heavenly Father!

So when you find yourself discouraged, caught in a cycle of sin, or wondering why your life isn't producing spiritual fruit, remember that God's forgiveness through Christ offers you a fresh start, but you must turn toward the Son and remain close when you feel His loving hand gently pulling on you!

To Weep with Those Who Weep

I was reading Kathryn Campbell's website today (http://www.kathrynskeepsakes.com/) and learned that Stephen Curtis Chapman's youngest adopted daughter, Maria Sue, was tragically killed in an accident outside their home yesterday. She was hit accidentally by the family car, being driven by Maria's teenage brother. Below is the text from the news release...

NASHVILLE, TN...5/21/08... At approximately 5pm on the afternoon of Wednesday May 21st, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN, {with the family SUV driven by her teenage brother]. Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters.

More than five years ago, Chapman and his wife MaryBeth founded The Shaohannah’s Hope Ministry after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China. The ministry’s goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and has provided grants to over 1700 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world. Chapman is a five-time GRAMMY ® winner and 54-time Dove Award winning artist who has sold over 10 million albums and garnered 44 No. 1 singles.

You can leave messages of condolence on the Shaohannah's Hope website (http://www.shaohannahshope.org/) Attached is the video they have posted in Maria's memory. It moved me to tears, and reminded me that for every orphan like Maria that we weep for because we knew her, there are thousands more who go unnoticed, and who suffer and die each day without ever having the chance to be part of a loving forever family like the Chapman's for even a small time. My prayer is that God will use this tragedy causing His Spirit to move many to give precious children like Maria Sue a loving home.

Getting the Point

The kids and I went last Monday with a group to the Virginia Safari Park near Natural Bridge. This is a drive-through zoo, where the animals roam freely over hundreds of acres of beautiful countryside. We boarded a large tractor-drawn wagon and headed into the park! Each passenger received a small white bucket full of grain pellets in which to feed the animals who would approach at various stops along the way. Our guide mentioned the various animals we would be encountering -- bison, antelope, camels, llamas, water buffalo, ostrich, zebras, etc. She told us that we could hold our buckets out to let the animals feed from them, BUT she said, she recommended that if the animal has horns or antlers, place a handful of pellets on the floor near the edge instead, and let them lick it up. Why, you ask? Because the animals are sometimes so excited to get the pellets, that you could accidentally get poked with horns or antlers trying to feed them.

Sure enough, as we made our first stop we were approached by a myriad of creatures -- llamas, water buffalo and Watusi cattle! I've seen the Watusi cows on TV before (large horned cows found in parts of Africa), but these horns are MASSIVE! So big that they almost look like dunce caps placed on both sides of the cow's head! Gentle animals, but I definitely did not want to encounter those horns, so we did as our guide instructed and let these animals partake from under our seats! It was really fun (albeit a little slobbery!).

OK, now the lesson I learned. I have found in life and in ministry that people are much like those Watusi Cattle. We all want to be fed -- we are needy people after all! We all need ministring to, we all need counsel, and we need to work together for the building of His kingdom! But sometimes when you are trying to help someone or just work along side someone, you encounter their horns. Unintentional perhaps, because we all have them, but it's not uncommon to get poked, even gored from time to time! Learning how to "feed" and work with our brothers and sisters can be tricky. We need to rely on our guide, Christ, to direct us on how best go about it -- take it out of our hands, so to speak. After all, we are all beggers just telling other beggers where to find bread! When I try to feed others out of my own bucket of supposed wisdom or strength, I can get hurt, because counsel or ideas not well received, or our deeds not recognized as we think they should be, have a way of jabbing at our pride, our self-esteem, and our feelings. Differences in personalities can cause horns to become locked together, and sadly, we can even decide to use them as weapons! But when we follow our Guide's instructions, our horns needn't be so threatening! God tells us everything we need to know about how to live and work together in peace, how to mentor one another in love, how to resolve conflicts, etc. And I can receive those things from others because my own image is not at risk. My identity, as David preached, is rooted in Christ, not in myself and my own works or "wisdom". It's not about me, you see! Ooh, that was hard to type! But it's really not! It's about Christ, and His Kingdom! So, following my guide's instructions, I can give constructive criticism, advise, correction, etc. without crushing someone's spirit, and I can receive it without being crushed! And real forgiveness flows out of this godly dynamic! We are all going to encounter each other's "horns," from time to time, so I want make sure I am following God's Word on how to keep from accidentally poking someone! I'm also hoping that as God sanctifies me, my horns will actually become smaller and smaller!

Fishing

As you probably know by now, I love to fish. It's one of my favorite hobbies. My family did a lot of fishing growing up, and we practically lived at Smith Mountain Lake during the summers! Bass, perch, crappie, and yes, even carp were fair game (although we never ate the carp -- not that there's anything wrong with that!). The opportunities to go fishing nowadays are few and far between. Dear friends of ours invite us occasionally to their family's cabin on Craig's Creek and I enjoy not only great fellowship, wading and playing with the kids in the creek, but a chance to wet a line and try for a few trout or bass! This past weekend, Wellspring had its annual Women's retreat at Camp Bethel. Camp Bethel boasts a number of spring-fed ponds always stocked with trout! Big trout! I caught one two years ago during our free time, that was literally the biggest fish I had ever caught! For a trout, it was a monster nearing two feet in length. Unfortunately, I was alone and could not hold both the fish and my camera to get a shot of it with me. This year, however, I came prepared! I had a camera AND a witness (not to mention a cooler!). Free time rolled around, and I headed for the pond. My friend Sara joined me after a while and was witness to my first catch -- a nice sized trout! I held him and asked Sara to get a picture of me and my prize. She obliged, but could not figure out how to turn the camera on. My hands, of course, were busy holding a very wiggly, strong fish, so I attempted to instruct her with words while pointing to various things on the camera with the fish's head! This of course got us giggling, and it's a wonder we didn't drop the camera and the fish in the water! After our amusing photo op, I threw the fish back in the water (dumb!) because I didn't have my cooler with me, and I thought it unlikely that I would catch another. But lo and behold, I caught another even bigger than the first, this time with my friend Suzanne with me who held onto the fish while I ran for the cooler (thanks, Suzanne!). This whopper was followed by two others, smaller but still very respectable! They all got put on ice and taken home. Dinner! David was a good sport when I got home Saturday, and promptly cleaned the fish for me. Let me tell you, the outsides of these beautiful trout are a lot prettier than the insides! But in order to enjoy our delicious catch, the insides needed to be cleaned out! Thanks, sweetie!

So why tell you all of this, except to brag about my superior fishing abilities and creative camera techniques? Well, I was thinking (dangerous). Our retreat this weekend was entitled, "What's going on upstairs? Building a godly thought life." The Bible says that "As a man thinks, so is he." Our outward appearance and works can be really good looking, even God-honoring. But the Bible reminds us that our true self is on the inside, and typically the toughest spiritual battles we face are the ones raging between our ears! It's easy to look really good on the outside, but what's going on upstairs? Are my thoughts being brought captive to Christ? Am I sinning in my thoughts towards others? Am I harboring unforgiveness, resentment, or guilt? Do I need to change the way I think about myself, about others, about my circumstances, about God? How can I clean out my mind, like David cleaned out those fish? Our speaker, Joyce Ames, said that we begin by "thinking about what we're thinking about." I need to go fishing, so to speak, in my own head. And when I "catch" something that's not biblical, I need to correct it -- with prayer, with confession, with right thinking that is in accordance with His Word! A good litmus test is Philippians 4:8. . .

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

When what's going on in our minds is biblical (never perfect, mind you, but striving for godliness), then we truly please the Lord. For outward "good" deeds done with wrong motives, or accompanied by ungodly thoughts, are really a lie. God looks at the heart. God doesn't just settle for the "catch." He wants our "insides" cleaned out! My outward self will pass away, and my insides, my soul, will stand before God in eternity. That's the real me. How I long for my mind to be cleaner than my best day of outward "goodness." So, I'm grabbin' my rod (of correction -- God's Word) and goin' fishin'! Join me?

Walk On

"Emily's Entourage" in the blue shirts participating in the JDRF Walk for a Cure in Charolotte, April 19. My mother, Carolyn is in the left foreground, Matt is in the wagon (naturally) being pulled my Emily's sister, Meagen. Emma is to the right of the wagon, and my brother, Brian is in front of Emma with the blue backpack. Emily can be seen just over Brian's right shoulder, with the blond pony tail.

Emily's team had 39 walkers and raised more than $10,000!

Emma with her cousin, Emily.

On Friday, the kids, my mother and I drove to Charlotte for the Juvenile Diabetes Walk for a Cure held on Saturday. Many of you know that my beautiful, 12-year-old niece, Emily, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just after Christmas 2006. Since then, she and her family have been through the inevitable ups and downs of such news. The fear of the unknown, the worry, the "why me" questions, and the incredible lifestyle changes associated with diet and insulin injections. But through all of the sadness, they have leaned heavily on Christ for their sufficiency. Their church family, their extended family, their friends, and even complete strangers have come along side to offer encouragement and support. Emily has been incredibly strong, taking so much in stride despite the four or five daily injections, the detailed carb counting, the doctor visits, the constant finger pricking, and the feelings of being "different" now from her friends. God has been very sweet to her, placing others in her path who are going through the same thing, providing caring adults in her school who are knowledgeable about diabetes to help in her care, giving her opportunities to attend camps for kids with diabetes so she can see that she is far from alone, and providing friends just like her to talk with.

Now that a year has passed since her diagnosis, home life for Emily and her family is different, the same, and even better. What I mean is that, yes, things are different. There have been huge changes which are noticeable daily. Emily's condition is factored into everything they do, everywhere they go, everything they eat, and everything they plan. But much is the same. They continue to do the things they love. Both Emily and her sister, Meagen, still enjoy dance classes, YMCA scouting, band, swim team and all the things they loved before. Emily is learning how to live with diabetes, not let it define her. And in some ways, their lives are better. They have weathered a severe storm and have seen God's goodness throughout. They have experienced God's provision and sufficiency like never before, and have seen the body of Christ spring into action all around them. They hold tighter to one another and tighter to Christ, living with gratitude for every day.

Emily and her family -- my brother, Brian, my Sister-in-law Elizabeth, and Emily's big sister, Meagen, are an inspiration. This trial has not stolen their joy. They walk on. And so should we when faced with the inevitable suffering of this life. Thank you to everyone who supported my trip to Charlotte with your prayers and donations. And thanks be to God who walks with us and gives us hope.