In this life I have found there is:
a time to laugh and a time to cry,
a time to Facebook and a time to not Facebook,
a time to persist and a time to let go,
a time to be playful and a time to be serious,
a time to do and a time to process,
a time to allow and a time to disallow,
a time to say yes and a time to say no.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Isolate Isolation
Isolate means to remain alone or apart from others
Independent means not connected with another or each other
I have learned recently that for some tasks (like sitting down to write this blog), isolation is good and even necessary for progress and success. Isolation allows one to hear his or her own thoughts and focus without distraction.
However, I have discovered recently that there are many things that should not be tackled alone. In ministry, Jesus had 12 disciples, 3 of which were really close to him and went nearly everywhere with him--minus his all night or early morning prayer sessions, which were, appropriately spent alone. He also sent his disciples out to do ministry in pairs. Other pairs include Paul & Silas, Peter & John, Moses & Aaron, Naomi & Ruth, Father, Son & Holy Spirit (a Trio in this case). I believe the only thing Adam had to do alone was name the animals--and perhaps he had a cheering squad of angels each time he named an animal.
The point is that life done alone, ministry done alone, and working alone can be unnecessarily burdensome, stressful, wearying, unproductive and lonely.
But when you have two or three or more, it often yields new ideas, differing perspectives, in addition to accountability, camaraderie and even laughter.
Thus I suggest that we isolate isolation. Send isolation to its own corner--until, of course, it's needed for a perfectly healthy reason.
Independent means not connected with another or each other
I have learned recently that for some tasks (like sitting down to write this blog), isolation is good and even necessary for progress and success. Isolation allows one to hear his or her own thoughts and focus without distraction.
However, I have discovered recently that there are many things that should not be tackled alone. In ministry, Jesus had 12 disciples, 3 of which were really close to him and went nearly everywhere with him--minus his all night or early morning prayer sessions, which were, appropriately spent alone. He also sent his disciples out to do ministry in pairs. Other pairs include Paul & Silas, Peter & John, Moses & Aaron, Naomi & Ruth, Father, Son & Holy Spirit (a Trio in this case). I believe the only thing Adam had to do alone was name the animals--and perhaps he had a cheering squad of angels each time he named an animal.
The point is that life done alone, ministry done alone, and working alone can be unnecessarily burdensome, stressful, wearying, unproductive and lonely.
But when you have two or three or more, it often yields new ideas, differing perspectives, in addition to accountability, camaraderie and even laughter.
Thus I suggest that we isolate isolation. Send isolation to its own corner--until, of course, it's needed for a perfectly healthy reason.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Seeking the lost...from the comfort of a Benz
This week one of our kitties ventured out from the safety of his home. Our home.
Once my housemate and I realized he was missing, we immediately went looking for him, of course. We traveled north, south, east and west, searching street after street and block after block. As night drew on, so did the unwelcome plummeting temperatures. The 70s became 60s and the 60s, 50s.
But! Our anxious journey was soon cushioned by the welcoming heated seats of my housemate's Mercedes Benz. After heating our seats to the individual temperature of choice, we adjusted them to our position of choice: elevated just over the dash board, slightly reclined, brought forward enough so our feet could rest at a comfortable angle below us. It was indeed the most luxurious search ride I had ever been on.
At one point during the ride, I began humming the tune Seeking the Lost, and I thought of the irony of what was happening. How often have we resolutely decided to seek the lost but wanted to do so without leaving the comfort of our churches, our homes, or our social group? Probably lots of times.
The problem is that you cannot adequately seek the lost from a position of comfort. The reason why the lost are not with you is because they are in some other place. You have to move from where you are--your area of comfort--and get out to look for them.
The following day, we did a bit of searching on foot which enabled us to look in little hidden alleys, behind bushes, obscured driveways. It was a much more thorough search.
We still didn't find him.
But on the third day, he rose. :) From where, we do not know. But he came back! And we are most relieved to have our kitty back where he belongs--in the safety of his home. Our home.
And what rejoicing there was when he returned!! (but that's another story...:)
Once my housemate and I realized he was missing, we immediately went looking for him, of course. We traveled north, south, east and west, searching street after street and block after block. As night drew on, so did the unwelcome plummeting temperatures. The 70s became 60s and the 60s, 50s.
But! Our anxious journey was soon cushioned by the welcoming heated seats of my housemate's Mercedes Benz. After heating our seats to the individual temperature of choice, we adjusted them to our position of choice: elevated just over the dash board, slightly reclined, brought forward enough so our feet could rest at a comfortable angle below us. It was indeed the most luxurious search ride I had ever been on.
At one point during the ride, I began humming the tune Seeking the Lost, and I thought of the irony of what was happening. How often have we resolutely decided to seek the lost but wanted to do so without leaving the comfort of our churches, our homes, or our social group? Probably lots of times.
The problem is that you cannot adequately seek the lost from a position of comfort. The reason why the lost are not with you is because they are in some other place. You have to move from where you are--your area of comfort--and get out to look for them.
The following day, we did a bit of searching on foot which enabled us to look in little hidden alleys, behind bushes, obscured driveways. It was a much more thorough search.
We still didn't find him.
But on the third day, he rose. :) From where, we do not know. But he came back! And we are most relieved to have our kitty back where he belongs--in the safety of his home. Our home.
And what rejoicing there was when he returned!! (but that's another story...:)
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Siri mislead me.
If you're an iPhone user, you have probably asked Siri to take you somewhere using the Maps app. How did she do?
For me, she normally does a good job and leads me where I want to go. Normally.
But there were a couple times this summer where she led me down the wrong road and sometimes even to a dead end. This happened just recently, and I promptly alerted Siri to her grave mistake and threatened to shut down app and open Google maps.
But I had an experience earlier this summer that helped me give her grace in these situations.
You see, I had followed Siri's directions as I was searching for a park, and I turned down a narrow, country road. It was beautifully lined with trees on either side, and I even got to witness a wild animal take its time in crossing from one side to the other.
It wasn't long, however, until I realized that I was definitely on the wrong road. I realized there was no trace of the caravan that I had been following! Or any other vehicle, for that matter. I promptly made a U-turn and exited back onto the main road. Where was my group?
I drove around a little further, made a few wrong turns into a housing complex but finally followed the signs that pointed me to my destination.
As I turned onto the correct road and entered the park, I soon realized that I was driving at the rear of my caravan! I couldn't believe it! After all of my wrong turns and wrong roads I drove down, I still ended up driving in line behind my caravan! Once we got out of our vehicles, the other drivers stated they did not even notice that I was missing for part of the time.
This experience offers hope for missteps and wrong roads taken in life. Because with Christ in one's life and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, although one may take the wrong way in life, God can lead us back right where we should be.
It also helped me have mercy on Siri.
For me, she normally does a good job and leads me where I want to go. Normally.
But there were a couple times this summer where she led me down the wrong road and sometimes even to a dead end. This happened just recently, and I promptly alerted Siri to her grave mistake and threatened to shut down app and open Google maps.
But I had an experience earlier this summer that helped me give her grace in these situations.
You see, I had followed Siri's directions as I was searching for a park, and I turned down a narrow, country road. It was beautifully lined with trees on either side, and I even got to witness a wild animal take its time in crossing from one side to the other.
It wasn't long, however, until I realized that I was definitely on the wrong road. I realized there was no trace of the caravan that I had been following! Or any other vehicle, for that matter. I promptly made a U-turn and exited back onto the main road. Where was my group?
I drove around a little further, made a few wrong turns into a housing complex but finally followed the signs that pointed me to my destination.
As I turned onto the correct road and entered the park, I soon realized that I was driving at the rear of my caravan! I couldn't believe it! After all of my wrong turns and wrong roads I drove down, I still ended up driving in line behind my caravan! Once we got out of our vehicles, the other drivers stated they did not even notice that I was missing for part of the time.
This experience offers hope for missteps and wrong roads taken in life. Because with Christ in one's life and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, although one may take the wrong way in life, God can lead us back right where we should be.
It also helped me have mercy on Siri.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
The power is yours!
Have you ever looked with awe and wonder at the amazing and seemingly invincible leaders of the Bible? Of course we know they are not invincible since they are dead, but it can be easy to think that when we read the accounts of how Saul killed thousands and David his ten thousands. (How is it that David was never killed in all those battles?)
The good news is that regardless if it is someone you admired from centuries ago or someone even now in the present day, the same power that rested or rests on them can be yours!
When the mantle of leading the Israelites was placed on Joshua, he was anxious and self-distrustful (Patriarchs and Prophets). But, God gave him this assurance: "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."
The good news is that regardless if it is someone you admired from centuries ago or someone even now in the present day, the same power that rested or rests on them can be yours!
When the mantle of leading the Israelites was placed on Joshua, he was anxious and self-distrustful (Patriarchs and Prophets). But, God gave him this assurance: "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."
The next words God says are, "Be strong and courageous!" (exclamation mark, all mine)
Therefore, there is no need for fear or anxiety because the same God that was with the leaders of the past assures you that He can and will be with you, too. Be strong! and courageous!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
It's too much.
As I was preparing to leave Chestnut Hill Church today, Sister Laura (the Administrative Assistant) and I heard a knock. It was a delivery of 2,000 pounds of books.
Since I was not expecting this delivery, I was completely unprepared for this, and there was no one around to help us carry in and stack all those books.
As we began our daunting task in the sultry afternoon, two young friendly guys came over and offered to help us. How quickly the boxes were put away! We were eternally grateful for the gift of help.
It reminded me of the experience in the Bible where Abraham was visited by the Lord and two angels in Genesis 18. In this visit, He posed the question, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (v.14).
Perhaps you're feeling like me today, that there are things too hard--or are at least completely overwhelming. Take courage, my friend. God sees your struggle and stress. And whether or not He sends two angels or two men--or even what appears to be nothing at all, know that He sees, He cares and He is sending relief to you.
But just in case you do have a couple of guys come to help you out, be sure to be very nice to them, because--
"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2
Since I was not expecting this delivery, I was completely unprepared for this, and there was no one around to help us carry in and stack all those books.
As we began our daunting task in the sultry afternoon, two young friendly guys came over and offered to help us. How quickly the boxes were put away! We were eternally grateful for the gift of help.
It reminded me of the experience in the Bible where Abraham was visited by the Lord and two angels in Genesis 18. In this visit, He posed the question, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (v.14).
Perhaps you're feeling like me today, that there are things too hard--or are at least completely overwhelming. Take courage, my friend. God sees your struggle and stress. And whether or not He sends two angels or two men--or even what appears to be nothing at all, know that He sees, He cares and He is sending relief to you.
But just in case you do have a couple of guys come to help you out, be sure to be very nice to them, because--
"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
God hears West Oak Lane
I was recently most encouraged last week when I gathered together with hundreds of other people from the surrounding neighborhoods and listened to the earnest prayer of the one who began the meeting.
He prayed for our streets, our children and schools and for the restoration of brotherly love in Philadelphia. It is only God who awakens within us a hatred for sin and a yearning for a complete transformation of heart, mind and soul in His people.
At that moment, I sensed a unity with my neighbors in the desire for change...and the hope that change can and will come because God has heard the cry from the multitude of voices in West Oak Lane.
He hears the cry of the many.
He hears the cry of a few.
He hears the cry of--you.
"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1
He prayed for our streets, our children and schools and for the restoration of brotherly love in Philadelphia. It is only God who awakens within us a hatred for sin and a yearning for a complete transformation of heart, mind and soul in His people.
At that moment, I sensed a unity with my neighbors in the desire for change...and the hope that change can and will come because God has heard the cry from the multitude of voices in West Oak Lane.
He hears the cry of the many.
He hears the cry of a few.
He hears the cry of--you.
"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1
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