Life: Abundant and Invigorating

There are simple things in life which bring a smile to my face and invigorate me each day. Here are some examples (in no particular order):

1. A shower first thing in the morning (for me, it is like other's shot of caffeine in the form of coffee)
2. Singing (along with almost any form of music)
3. Watching someone experience an "aha" moment while encountering the message of the gospel (or experiencing one myself)
4. Kissing my wife (hey, maybe I'll get some brownie points)
5. The exuberance and innocence of children (especially watching the little ones run)
6. And, for those who are West Texans, a beautiful and awe-inspiring sunset.

Blessed be the name of the Lord! Those are just a few of mine--what are some of yours?

God, thank you that you provide us with joy for the journey! May we all find enjoyment in the simple things!

"Reya"

On Sunday at Highland Mike Cope delivered a good thought-provoking sermon regarding community which was centered on a passage in Proverbs. His thoughts inspired further reflection on my part. Maybe this simple passage will do the same for you...

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.
Proverbs 15:17

I am reminded that we are designed for community--created to love God and each other! What really matters if we don't have love? The greatest of this world's "pleasures" don't mean squat if not experienced within the context of a life of love...is it just me or could that be the sound of a "resounding gong?"

When Sara and I first moved into our apartment here in Abilene we were blessed to quickly meet our neighbors Bio (pronounced Bue like blue without the L) and Daisy. They are a couple from Brazil with two very cute and precious little girls. One of the first nuggets of wisdom Bio shared with me was based on a traditional saying in Brazil. He said something to the effect of, "a good home means nothing without good neighbors." According to their culture even if you have your dream house it is impossible to enjoy it without good neighbors. What an obvious yet radical and somewhat counter-cultural statement all at the same time. The focus is on people and not possessions, on loving and sharing with each other and not on living for yourself.

Growing up, I don't remember having the best relationships with neighbors. It seemed they pretty much kept to themselves and of course we were probably just as much to blame. Now, having a greater understanding of both sides of the coin, I realize the abundant blessing of relationship with good neighbors and the joy that comes from community when we love each other. From that day on, Bio and I decided to call each other Reya, which in his native tongue means something equivalent to the combination of friend, brother and neighbor! Maybe we could adapt our own proverb similar to the one above:

Better a shack with good neighbors where there is love and community than a dream house with bad neighbors where there is hatred and division.

I pray we can all learn to be reya to one another as we seek to live out love in community!

May God bless our efforts...

The Warranty Way

Up until this past Saturday my faith in "warranties" was deteriorating. In fact, I was beginning to hate warranties. Let me explain. Over the last year we have been battling with a certain company (cough, Best Buy, cough) over the consistently worsening condition of Sara's laptop. We have had to take the computer in four times in the last 8-9 months because it would not work properly for various and complicated reasons. Normally, even though it is frustrating, it would not be as big of a deal except that the closest store to us is located in Fort Worth (translation: 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive, one-way each time). Every time it was sent off, it would return with the same results--some seemingly non-important parts replaced followed by the suggestion to restore the settings. So with hopeful expectations we returned home only to find the same problems plus additional technical headaches non-existant before we sent it off in the first place. Go figure. So, since the problem could not be solved, it meant yet another joyous adventure east on I-20 toward Dallas.

Fast forward to Saturday which was a mere six visits later, and you could imagine my cynical attitude as we walked into the store to pick up our little patient once more. I mean, what's the point of a warranty if it can never be exercised to the consumer's advantage? However, by the time we walked out of the store my cynicism faded because the amazing had just happened. In my hands I held the receipt to a brand new laptop computer to replace the old one still under the three year warranty. Not only did we have a new computer but it was better, faster, and stronger than the old one. And, to top it all off, there was a hundred dollar rebate with this new computer that we received for free as well. Talk about a deal. Even though we went through multiple headaches, frustrations, and miles, I guess you could say I quickly renewed my commitment to the warranty way. Finally, a victory for the "average joe" consumer.

Needless to say, some of the first words out of my mouth were, "Where do I sign for a new three-year warranty?"

Did I mention I love warranties?

Ps (The only unfortunate aspect to all of this is that it diminishes my chances of getting an ibook anytime time soon. But don't get me wrong--I'm not complaining!)

Who Am I?

How many times do we ask ourselves that question--who am I? It is a question that relates to all of us. It is so important to our existence that there are those who spend a large part of their lives in search of the answer. We want to be able to determine our identity in order to give our lives purpose. In that search it is easy to want to find our identity in each area of life. I am a student, a husband, a son, an employee, a minister, or you fill in the blank. We wear so many "hats" that it doesn't take long to realize how confused about our identity we really are. Around every corner more and more things compete for our attention. The temptation to compartmentalize becomes an itch needing to be scratched. Our family life is speparate from our professional life which is separate from our spiritual life and so on. Before we know it we are lost in the abyss of some multiple identity disorder. And, once again we are confused, left to sort out the inconsistencies while still asking ourselves the all too familiar question--Who am I?

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own posession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10

Do not be confused. The message is clear for those of us who believe. Our identity is found in Christ alone as the people of God, as children of the King! If we live out our identity in this way we will be centered not on who we are and what we do but on who we are in Him. Everything else is just another aspect of our identity. May we not be afraid to take hold of the truth of our identity. I hope you will be blessed through reflection on the words of this song.

Who Am I
(Lyrics by Mark Hall; Music by Casting Crowns)

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You're

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours


Hi, my name is Mike. I am redeemed by Christ, a child of God, a servant of the King!

Who are you?

Written On My Heart

"These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD , the God of your fathers, promised you.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you-a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant-then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD , who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."
Deut. 6:1-12

We read this scripture together on Sunday night at small group and talked about what it means to have the word of God written on our hearts. When I start to think about what I have written on my heart, or at least imprinted on my mind, I realize how many insignificant and trivial things have found a home in the deep recesses of my thoughts. Useless facts and trivia abound--By the way, do you know the human head weighs eight pounds? Sure, there are flashes of scripture and (if you know me) numerous moments of spontaneous song but other than that, what do I really have written on my heart? I think it is an appropriate question of introspection for all of us.

During my time at a church outside of Nashville there was an elderly man, Brother Williams, who each week would take the opportunity to vocalize some form of scriptural exhortation for all of us. Whether or not I always agreed with his theology or application of scripture was of little importance compared to the encouragement I received from the overflow of what was written on his heart. He believed in sharing the message of scripture with anyone who would listen and many did.

At times it's easy for me to be "satisfied" with where I am because my life as a seminary student is full of the Word of God--isn't it? The truth is, it is probably easy for a lot of us. I look up to those who are at a point in which it is not. But surely I don't forget the Lord, all He is and all He does! Sometimes I just wish what came out of my mouth was more than the daily happenings, current news, or sports headlines. Don't get me wrong, I do not intend to chastise myself or anyone else because these things are not bad. I just do not want to lose sight of the importance of the internalization of the Word of God and all things of God. Ultimately I want to be satisfied not in myself but in who I am in Him!

I want to be able to do more than say, "hold on a minute and let me find that scripture to read to you." I want to be more like Brother Williams whose outward expressions of the Word of God was simply the overflow of a heart after Him. However, we should be careful that the emphasis not be on the rote memorization of scripture as much as on the outpouring of our hearts as we continue in relationship with God and interact with His Word. Afterall, out of the mouth comes the overflow of the heart!

Hopefully we all have something to say...

I'm Still Alive

For those of you that have worried...do not any longer. I am alive and breathing, but hopefully and most importantly, I am finished with my blogging hiatus. I can give the usual excuses like: school was wrapping up for the semester (translation--smacked head-first into paper and project deadline), or my parents were visiting for the week all the way from sunny Florida (which they were and we had a good time together), or I have been lazy and just did not get around to posting (probably partly true), but where's the fun in those excuses. Maybe I should just revert back to old-school favorties like the dog ate my computer, or my brain simply malfunctioned and shutdown because of theological overload for the semester, but in the end the reality is still the same: I just haven't blogged. So, I vow, pledge, commit, or maybe some other word a little less serious and not so over-zealous, to start afresh among the blogging community. I've kicked off this new effort with my own extreme blogover (or makeover for the slower ones), in an attempt to do away with the old to usher in the new. I hope you like the face lift. Maybe it will inspire me and fan the flames of thought so deep within--or maybe not. So with that said, look for future posting's soon. Maybe tomorrow, or the next day, or if I'm lucky, next week.

Ministry in the Midst

Let's face it. We live in the midst of a hurting and broken world. Every day there are people trying to pick up the pieces of their broken lives. We cannot escape the reality of a fallen world. However, we can realize that a fallen world cannot overcome us! What does that mean for us...empowerment! God can work through us to foster healing and restoration in the lives of others.

I would like to have the answers to the questions. I would like to help hurting people. Sometimes, I wish I could be Mr. "fix-it" man and put the pieces back together. But, maybe that is not my purpose. Instead of focusing on a ministry of "doing," (although that is part of it) maybe I would be better suited to focus on a ministry of "being." After all, I am not a doctor, a savior, or superman! Therefore, my purpose, our purpose might be better understood in terms of Henri Nouwen's idea of a "wounded healer."

"No minister can save anyone. He can only offer himself as a guide to fearful people. Yet, paradoxically, it is precisely in this guidance that the first signs of hope become visible. This is so because a shared pain is no longer paralyzing but mobilizing, when understood as a way to liberation. When we become aware that we do not have to escape our pains, but that we can mobilize them into a common search for life, those very pains are transformed from expressions of despair into signs of hope.

Through this common search, hospitality becomes community. Hospitality becomes community as it creates a unity based on the shared confession of our basic brokenness and on a shared hope...A Christian community is therefore a healing community not because wounds are cured and pains are alleviated, but because wounds and pains become openings or occasions for new vision. Mutual confession then becomes a mutual deepening of hope, and sharing weakness becomes a reminder to one and all of the coming strength."

My purpose is not necessarily to "do" but to "be"--a listener, a fellow sufferer, an image of the love of God in Christ, a wounded healer!

"Even when we know that we are called to be wounded healers, it is still very difficult to acknowledge that healing has to take place today. Because we are living in days when our wounds have become all too visible. Our loneliness and isolation has become so much a part of our daily experience, that we cry out for a Liberator who will take us away from our misery and bring us justice and peace.

To announce, however, that the Liberator is sitting among the poor and that the wounds are signs of hope and that today is the day of liberation, is a step very few can take. But this is exactly the announcement of the wounded healer. 'The master is coming--not tomorrow, but today, not next year, but this year, not after all our misery is passed, but in the middle of it, not in another place but right here where we are standing.'"

The One who came to us in the midst in the form of Jesus Christ, calls and empowers us to minister in the midst! In all things, may the Great Physician use his healing power to work through the lives of us who are wounded healers in a broken world!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any comfort with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

(Quotes from Henri Nouwen's, "The Wounded Healer")

Been a Long Time...

I know it's been a long time since I've updated the blog and that disappoints me. I've been so busy lately that I haven't had much time. But, no excuses, right? Sara and I are heading to Fredricksburg this weekend so she can run in a 10k race. She has been excited about it, so it should be a fun time.

I am really excited that the semester is coming to an end. Don't get me wrong, I love the learning but sometimes I long for the rest that comes from summer vacation. I'm taking one class--Revelation--in June so I am looking forward to some downtime and some extra curricular reading.

A lot has happened since I last posted. I will take a small moment to divulge some of those happenings. We went to Oklahoma for Easter weekend to spend some time with the Siner family. It was a great weekend and a blessing to be with family. I am so thankful that we celebrate together with a Risen Lord! We also got to celebrate a few birthdays as some of them fall within a month of each other. All together it was a great time of celebration. I wanted to post specifically for Easter but I guess it will have to wait for another time.

I also got a second job with the bookstore on campus. It is a great opportunity even though it adds to my workload so I am looking forward to having fun with it.

Lately, I've been thinking about a few things which I will hope to address in blog format pretty soon, at least if I have anything to say about it. Here they are:

1) I've reflected quite a lot this semester on what it means to participate in a "ministry in the midst." This reflection has been sparked by some intense involvement in the lives of those with chronic illness and I guess it helps that I suffer from something as well but I hope to reflect more in depth about what I consider that to mean.

2) A secondary issue, in regard to the above, is about the issue of identity. It is easy to confuse our identity with what the world calls us to be but I believe that we have a higher calling and a greater identity in Christ.

3) Finally, I got to listen to Luke Timothy Johnson and he mentioned something that sparked some thoughts which I hope to address later. "You can find Christians everywhere, but it is difficult to find church." The quote was in reference to the people of God living in community. Think about it and we can dialogue later.

Until we meet again...May the Lord bless and keep you!

A Hope Worth Living For

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
--Romans 5:1-5

Life is a journey. No one ever claimed it would be easy. Pain and suffering pervade our very existence. Many times we feel as if we have no control when life is spiraling downward. You've probably been there. I've been there. It is a reality of this life...a reality of our existence on this earth. We all experience difficulties in different degrees, some more than others. There are times in life when we can't explain our circumstances. We don't have the answers for the "why's." We don't understand why one person, one family, one people suffers over another. I cannot tell you why one man dies of cancer at the age of 35 while another lives to the ripe old age of 85 able to enjoy the "fruits of his labor." Nor can I explain why one child is left abandoned in the street to grow up parent-less while another grows up in a happy home without a care in the world. Yet, there is hope!

Even though we don't understand the "why's" we can understand the "who." In the midst of the mess...God is still God! He cares for the fatherless and is close to the broken-hearted. He is God who is not afraid to reach down into the dirty state of our existence. He walks beside us along the journey in good times and bad. He is our Creator and Sustainer...in Him we place our Hope! And what is our hope...

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
--Romans 5:6-11

We can't escape the reality that there are hurting people all around. What we can do is realize that we all participate in a ministry to hurting people--sometimes it is for others around us and other times it is for you and me. Our ministry is one of healing, one of rest for the weary, restoration for the broken...a message of hope for us all. Hurting people must be provided with hope to continue. Sometimes we must be able to redefine for them that hope which already exists...that is the hope we have in God through Jesus Christ.

Consider this quote from a book entitled, "Don't Waste Your Sorrows:"

"God never would send the darkness if he felt you could bear the light
But you would not cling to His guiding hand--if the way were always bright
And you would not care to walk by faith, could you always walk by sight!"

So, when darkness falls and things happen in this life that we cannot comprehend try not to worry about the "why" but take comfort and refuge in the "who"--the Great I AM, the one who has shown his love to us through his son Jesus. Receive his rest and rejoice in the restoration He brings!

That my friends...Is a HOPE worth living for!

In My Weakness...

He is STRONG!

I've been volunteering one day a week with the H.E.R.O. program which is a rehabilitation program involving the use of horses. I work with two young boys, one is 4 or 5 and the other is 7. Both boys experience some form of autism and my time with them has compelled me to reflect on the lives of the "weak." I can't help but wonder what life is like for those with mental disabilities such as autism. At first glance it would seem that kind of life would be miserable. It rules your life forcing you to adapt to its fluxuating whims. A chronic illness not only wears on the bearer of the illness but on the family surrounding that individual. I would assume if they had a choice they would choose to lead a "normal, healthy life." Yet, there is joy. Joy which springs forth from broken cisterns. You can see it in their eyes...and in their infectious smiles! Somehow it seems they know the truth that...

In their weakness...He is strong!

I know how they feel...I know life isn't always a celebration. Though I don't live with a mental or cognitive disability, I do live with a physical one. I know what its like to live most days in pain. Medical treatment can only help so much. Arthritis controls my life...at least to an extent, it impacts the way in which I live. Sure, there are times when I question why. There are points when weakness challenges my faith. There are days when I wish I had a choice in the matter. But, though the darkness may last for the night, joy comes in the morning!

In my weakness...I remember He is strong!

However, it is not just people like these boys or myself who experience lives of disability. No, the reality is that we all find ourselves to be broken vessels. We all are weak in many different ways. The beauty of the mystery is that His power is made perfect in our weakness! God takes the simple things of this world, that which is considered to be weak and with His strength works through them for His glory! What might be considered one man's "trash," in the hands of God becomes "treasure!" I may be a "broken cistern" but this cistern will spring forth with joy for in my weakness, I am strong when I am in the hand of my Creator! I will boast in Him alone!

Praise God whose power is made perfect in my weakness! May the "broken cisterns" of the world say so!

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." --I Corinthians 1:25-31


I came across a manuscript by Leonard Sweet along the same lines. It is worth the read if you would like to. Here is the link -- "Trash Cans or Treasure Chests" Enjoy!