Tell me the story of Jesus

Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus, Sang as they welcomed His birth.
“Glory to God in the highest! Peace and good tidings to earth.”


Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.
Fasting alone in the desert, Tell of the days that are past.
How for our sins He was tempted,Yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor, Tell of the sorrow He bore.
He was despised and afflicted, Homeless, rejected and poor.


Tell of the cross where they nailed Him, Writhing in anguish and pain.
Tell of the grave where they laid Him, Tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender, Clearer than ever I see.
Stay, let me weep while you whisper, Love paid the ransom for me.

It all hangs in the balance....

"It was no longer a question of whether she should devote herself to her family or to her ministry in mission. God expected her to do both. Nor was it a choice between doing her own thing and supporting her husband's ministry. She knew that God would tell her how to balance her priorities" ~Dana Robert on the life of Susan Beamish Strachan, missionary to Argentina

This is encouraging to me, mainly because I often struggle with the whole issue of career and family. Just to clarify for you people reading that might not know me too well (which is doubtful), I do not actually have a family of my own, well, besides the basic mom, dad and brother. However, it is on the list of things to do. But, I also have this call to missions, which is, and I say this even without indefitnite experience, a job that is not for the faint of heart. it is a job that involves 110% everyday, all of the time. And I often think.... if I'm to do this job that is all consuming, how will I ever have time for a family? Does this mean I must choose? Now I know there are people out there who have done it before, and even been very good at having both a family and be on the mission field, but I, as of now am not one of those people. I would love to say that I will be, but the truth is I don't know if I will be. I am not good at balance...I'm an extremist. The things I love...I really love...the things I hate....I really hate. This is why I doubt this life that includes both missions and family. I realize this is not one of my most interesting journal entries, but let's face it....I'm not really writing for the viewing audience!

So I guess it's just a matter of balance....it all hangs in the balance.

This quote that I pulled from a book that I'm reading for missions class caught my eye becasue it gave me assurance that I would not have to choose. I don't have to choose between children or no children, I don't have to choose between a spouse's ministry and my ministry. God will provide for me priorities that I can implement into my life as I face various challenges and trials in life. I like that thought. It seems that in this case, I can have my cake and eat it too....as long as God is the one who baked the cake.....

that's right I just compared God to a baker....

Prayer of My Heart

O for a closer walk with God, A life that bears no stain
of earthly pride or vanities , A life that's not in vain!

O for a deeper, richer life With treasures stored above;
A life that soars o'er carnal strife And nestles in God's love!

O for a faith that's rooted deep In god's eternal Word;
A faith unmoved in time of trial, That's anchored in my Lord.

~K.Y. Plank

Immortal Invisible God Only Wise

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
But of all Thy rich graces this grace, Lord, impart
Take the veil from our faces, the vile from our heart.
All laud we would render; O help us to see’
Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,

~Walter Chalmers Smith

Why are we so afraid of dying.....

Today in class we talked about the stem cell issue. People were throwing the different sides back and forth, positive, and negative comments flew through the air. And all I could think about during this time was...why are we so afraid to die? Stem cell research is supposed to be beneficial because it can grow new organs, help individuals who have had spinal cord injuries, so on and so forth. And while this might be all well and good, I wonder, why do we need all of this? Yes there are treatments and medicine and doctors who can help with injuries or sickness, but where does it end? At what point do you stop playing God and start accepting that shit happens....sometimes life sucks, people get hurt and permanently damaged, and like it or not, people die. Why are we so afraid to take on the part of life that is suffering? Why are we always trying to deny that we are human. Why are we always trying to prove that we know better or that we know it all? It seems as though the phrase Live and let live should be followed with, die, and let die.
This world is a fallen world, there are bad things here, but the good news is that we don't have to bear those bad experiences alone. The issue here seems not to be, is stem cell research ethical? Instead the issue is, why isn't the church reaching more people, and providing them with the comfort they desire when they are looking death in the face. What stem cell reserach has to offer prolongs the inevitable, and in the process allows people who do the research think that they're coming close to being God. The church is responsible for reaching those who are searching for immortal life in a mortal world. They need to provide for those who are scared the knowledge that there is something after this life that is better. The church needs to remind people that while life can be good here, there is a God that is willing to take us in and care for us for all of eternity if only we will choose to accept him.

life....

how does it get to be this way....the choices and decisions we make that get us the poitn we are at is of great wonder to me. At various points in life we make decisions that define who we will be, what path we will choose. At the same, we choose what source of strength we will draw from in order to continue on that path. It's amazing how the culmination of choices and decisions can lead us to exaclty where we want to be, however as most are aware of the decisions can also take us in the complete opposite direction of where we want to be. I think that's the beauty of life....the possibilites, the things that we can acheive, the trouble we can get in to. All of these experiences create who we are, they teach us, they show us what is important in life and what is not important, what is worth fighting for and what we can choose to walk away from and be ok without.
There really is never any need to feel trapped or caught...I think it's all in the attitude, call me a stoic (which I am not) but if we see all of life as an opportunity a chance to learn then the world is our playground. We are free from the burdens of life. Rejoice in the Lord always, and agian I say rejoice. Realizing that this world is not our home, that there is something greater then ourselves for which to live is a freeing and liberating thought! Knowing that no matter what this life has to throw at us that we have a constant source of strength to draw from is something to be excited and optomistic about, somethign to be treasured and shared. There is a hope in the Lord that is not found in any other, and it is a hope that will sustain those who claim it as their own.

Why are we so afraid to treat each other with respect?

So the other day in ethics were were discussing what factors go into making a theological decision and/or reflection. One of the factors is personal experience. In dealing with this aspect of the decision making Lewis had us read an article on Feminism. When we got to this area of discussion, the room went silent. No one, including myself, wanted to discuss the topic, no one wanted to offer to anyone any possiblity of labling. This is too bed, not the lack of labeling, but the lack of discussion, because the article had some really insightful and interesting things to say.

The Article discussed how what is thought of as the traditional Chritian experience typically only accounts for the male experience. So often the female experience is grouped in to the title of "Man" in a general sense and not given considerate thought, this is too bad. The female experience, while not always, but typically has insight and views on God and faith that are foreign to the male experience.

The article, much to the shock and surprise of most christians (note sarcasm), did not call for placing these female experiences in a more favored position then that of the male. Instead it asked to be thought of as mutually valuable. And here goes my ranting, I promise not to do this for a while after this thought....

This my friends is what feminism is about. MUTUALITY. Not superiority, not equality, not role reversal, instead it is about a sense of being mutual. Of respecting each other in the differences and acknowledging the worth of both ends of the spectrum. We are not opposites, we are of the same genre, we have distinct differences, but are not limited to those differences, we are to love each other and value each other mutually.

Dr. Lewis put it this way, it's not about placing one sex over the other, it is about engaging with one another as human beings, it is about coming to each other in the image of God, to recognize that we are all the same fallen creation that is nothing without its creator. It is realizing together that the creator loves us and values us even if we have turned our backs on him. And in seeing this we should imitate this love.