This is the new love of my life (sorry Blake!)
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Tired...
Not just tired like I want to take a nap tired. But the tired that is deep down within. I feel like I am running on empty. And when you are in ministry, running out of a place of emptiness is not good.
I just want to get away for a couple days. And spend it with the Creator of the Universe...spend it with My Redeemer... spend it with the lover of my soul.
So that I may be refreshed.
I just want to get away for a couple days. And spend it with the Creator of the Universe...spend it with My Redeemer... spend it with the lover of my soul.
So that I may be refreshed.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
A Cup of Coffee and the Bible
Tonight, after I sat at home for a while as my parents helped Blake pack, (I mean, did stuff for the wedding and house, yeah....whoops...but really, I did...do stuff....) Blake and I went to Starbucks.
One of our favorite things to do is just to be able to sit and talk....talk about life, talk about work, talk about our day, talk about the future, talk about whatever. But lately, our lives have been so crazy that we haven't been able to do that.
But tonight, we made time. And it was wonderful. We were able to stop and just be. And nothing else in the world mattered. And we connected. And it was good.
And after we sat for awhile and talked, we opened up our Bibles and read Amos 1 and 2, and talked about its significance back then and our lives today.
And it was good. So good.
Some of my favorite times have been when we were able to stop our lives, sit down, and just enjoy life together.
One of our favorite things to do is just to be able to sit and talk....talk about life, talk about work, talk about our day, talk about the future, talk about whatever. But lately, our lives have been so crazy that we haven't been able to do that.
But tonight, we made time. And it was wonderful. We were able to stop and just be. And nothing else in the world mattered. And we connected. And it was good.
And after we sat for awhile and talked, we opened up our Bibles and read Amos 1 and 2, and talked about its significance back then and our lives today.
And it was good. So good.
Some of my favorite times have been when we were able to stop our lives, sit down, and just enjoy life together.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Our New McCaffrey Home....
Blake and I are fortunate enough to be purchasing a home right now. It is a new home, as we found we could buy a new home for the same amount that we could buy a 20 year old home.
McCaffrey is who we are buying from. They act as the seller, the builder, and if you let them, the lender.
We have had so many problems, it is ridiculous. The house itself is very well built. They produce a great product.
But nobody in their organization seems to know what the other is doing.
For example, when trying to figure out closing costs, we had to call three different people, and they were telling us to call the person we just got off the phone with. The funniest part is when the appraiser said the same thing, without us even mentioning it to him.
Our house was painted the wrong color. The interior designer never returned our phone calls, as well as giving us the wrong information, or misleading us on numerous things.
We had our walk through on Saturday. There are numerous minor things that need to be fixed before we close on Wednesday. But my favorite is they installed one of the wrong appliances. We were suppose to have a microwave/hood combo installed, and they didn't install it.
We are extremely blessed to be able to live in our new house once we are married, and I don't want you to think I am complaining, but if I never had to deal with anybody from McCaffrey ever again, I think I would be ecstatic.
McCaffrey is who we are buying from. They act as the seller, the builder, and if you let them, the lender.
We have had so many problems, it is ridiculous. The house itself is very well built. They produce a great product.
But nobody in their organization seems to know what the other is doing.
For example, when trying to figure out closing costs, we had to call three different people, and they were telling us to call the person we just got off the phone with. The funniest part is when the appraiser said the same thing, without us even mentioning it to him.
Our house was painted the wrong color. The interior designer never returned our phone calls, as well as giving us the wrong information, or misleading us on numerous things.
We had our walk through on Saturday. There are numerous minor things that need to be fixed before we close on Wednesday. But my favorite is they installed one of the wrong appliances. We were suppose to have a microwave/hood combo installed, and they didn't install it.
We are extremely blessed to be able to live in our new house once we are married, and I don't want you to think I am complaining, but if I never had to deal with anybody from McCaffrey ever again, I think I would be ecstatic.
Equality
On Friday night at The Bridge, we had our annual Missions Month Kickoff. This year, we had a Haitian Duet and Shaun Groves perform.
We had a great turn out. Everything ran smoothly. 1/4 of the congregation was able to hear about the month of February and how we will be partnering with Haiti.
Shaun Groves is a phenomenal performer. On stage, he was comfortable, he was funny, he related to the crowd...he made those in the audience feel like they were sitting in a living room swapping stories. And his music was outstanding as well.
But the best part of the evening was when he stopped to speak. Since he works with Compassion International, he does a concert and then shares his heart and scripture, and then asks the audience to sponsor a child.
The scripture Shaun used and the words he spoke were powerful. I have seen poverty. My heart breaks every time I think about it. But it is so easy to get caught up in life here, in the US. To always want the next great thing, there is always something bigger. He spoke on Exodus 16, how God instructed the Israelites to take only what they needed (quail and manna) for the day, their daily bread. And to not take more than they needed, as it would rot. In 2 Corinthians 8:13-15, Paul speaks to the church in Corinth, asking them to give to the Church in Jerusalem who is hard pressed. If they give from their plenty, those in Jerusalem will not go without. And everyone will have just enough. The word equality is even used. And Paul quotes Moses from Exodus 16.
God desires for their to be EQUALITY. We don't live in a world of equality. Not when the wealthiest 20% of those in the world consume just over 76% of the worlds resources. Not when a billion people entered the 21st century not being able to read a book or sign their name. Just over 1 Billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water and 2.5 billion lack basic sanitation. 1.6 billion people live without electricity.
As a Christ follower, what do I do with this information? There are over 2,000 verses in the Bible on the poor, the widow, the orphan. Jesus says "Whatever you have done for the least of these you have done for me"
So although I won't be wondering where my next meal is going to come from, or if I will be able to drink any water today, let alone clean water, there are billions in the world who will ask themselves those questions today.
We had a great turn out. Everything ran smoothly. 1/4 of the congregation was able to hear about the month of February and how we will be partnering with Haiti.
Shaun Groves is a phenomenal performer. On stage, he was comfortable, he was funny, he related to the crowd...he made those in the audience feel like they were sitting in a living room swapping stories. And his music was outstanding as well.
But the best part of the evening was when he stopped to speak. Since he works with Compassion International, he does a concert and then shares his heart and scripture, and then asks the audience to sponsor a child.
The scripture Shaun used and the words he spoke were powerful. I have seen poverty. My heart breaks every time I think about it. But it is so easy to get caught up in life here, in the US. To always want the next great thing, there is always something bigger. He spoke on Exodus 16, how God instructed the Israelites to take only what they needed (quail and manna) for the day, their daily bread. And to not take more than they needed, as it would rot. In 2 Corinthians 8:13-15, Paul speaks to the church in Corinth, asking them to give to the Church in Jerusalem who is hard pressed. If they give from their plenty, those in Jerusalem will not go without. And everyone will have just enough. The word equality is even used. And Paul quotes Moses from Exodus 16.
God desires for their to be EQUALITY. We don't live in a world of equality. Not when the wealthiest 20% of those in the world consume just over 76% of the worlds resources. Not when a billion people entered the 21st century not being able to read a book or sign their name. Just over 1 Billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water and 2.5 billion lack basic sanitation. 1.6 billion people live without electricity.
As a Christ follower, what do I do with this information? There are over 2,000 verses in the Bible on the poor, the widow, the orphan. Jesus says "Whatever you have done for the least of these you have done for me"
So although I won't be wondering where my next meal is going to come from, or if I will be able to drink any water today, let alone clean water, there are billions in the world who will ask themselves those questions today.
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